Realm Quest - A Fantasy Text Adventure

[Raziel]

Yea, I know, but I guess that is true, she doesn't have the rank that we did as Darde. Still though, this boy is important, we need to find some way to get him away from them

[Cadorean]

Saying that we need to find a way isn't a way. We're stumped on this end, and would very much like suggestions.

[stagnantAntler]

With no other options in mind, Girri pulls Aristan aside "can I have a word Aristan". The lieutenant stops his conversation with the southman and turns her way. "Something important?" Girri looks over at the southmen and whispers to be sure they can't hear "I think we should get that boy away from them." Aristan looks puzzled "but he can't speak, he's not gonna be of any use to us."

"I know-" Girri says uncomfortably "I just feel bad for the kid." Aristan gives Girri a knowing smile "he reminds you a little of someone you know doesn't he?" Girri looks straight into Aristan's eyes for a moment, he's got a smug look in his eyes. As much as Girri wants to deny it, Aristan is right "I guess he does." she admits.

The smug grin on Aristan's face turns a little more compassionate "I know the feeling. If you still think the boy would be better off with us than them, I can think of a few ways, but he'd be your responsibility, if he's really a resistance member, he'll do anything to escape."

Girri doesn't doubt the man could find a way, but is it worth having to look after a captured resistance member? Girri isn't so sure.

[Cadorean]

I think we can figure out a few ways to keep the kid immobile. It's worth it if we can.

[chimericWilder]

Yes ofcourse get to it. hop hop hop.

[Raziel]

Yes, let us takeses the boy

[stagnantAntler]

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Yeah, sorry for the hiatus. I've been staring at this page for days, writing just a few lines and then giving up. It's a relief to finally get this out there.

"I'm willing to make the sacrifice if you can get them to hand him over to us." Aristan gives her another smug grin "wait here then, I'll sort things out." Aristan gives a gesture to the corporal and the two move away from the group. They talk in muffled voices for a while and while the corporals face turns from friendly to outrage and then resignment, Aristan keeps a grin plastered on his face.

Eventually the two leaders salute each other as they come to an agreement. "They're taking the boy" the corporal says with a sigh. The southmen all look very surprised, one in particular is enraged. "You can't just hand him over! We've been through underworld and back for that boy!"

"That's not your decision to make private." the corporal says "Besides, I'm not giving the boy over for free, we've been given ample compensation." the corporal faces Aristan again "you promised me a guide."

Aristan smiles and calls for one of his privates "Henre! Would you be so kind as to act as a guide for these southmen and make sure they get everything I promised them. Oh and this" Aristan fishes some parchment out of a saddlebag and writes something on it "give this to the good major, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

The soldier Aristan called for grabs the rolled up piece of paper and takes his place among the southmen. The corporal seems satisfied "good, give them the boy!" a couple of the southmen shove the prisoner towards Aristans group. "May the godking guide you" Aristan says in closing as the southmen saddle up and get ready to ride off. The southman that complained before gives Aristan a mean look before turning his horse around.

Girri's eyes follow the southmen for a while before Aristan gets her attention "you'd better get acquainted with the boy Girri, he's yours to look after from now on." Girri pulls a hand through her hair "how did you get them to agree?" Aristan shrugs "with good payment and a little bit of a threat. Plus, I got a feeling the corporal was eager to get rid of the kid. I don't think he was lying when he said the kid killed some of his men." Girri's eyes wander to the muted boy. It's hard to imagine he could be so dangerous.

The boy returns her stare with a scowl. "Don't look at me like that. I did you a kindness," Girri says, offended "at least like this you'll be able to avoid torture in the capitol." The boy looks away, whether out of embarrasment or opposition Girri can't tell.

Girri looks back at Aristan, he's smiling. "I can tell you two will have fun together" he jokes. Girri gives him a scowl rivaling the one she just recieved. "This is what you wanted though isn't it?" Girri sighs "I guess it is"

Aristan swings around "great, I think it's time to get going, we have a lieutenant to find."

-End of intermission-

"This is it" Crimson says, stopping in front of a bush that's been broken open with axes. Behind the bush is a simple wooden hatch, similar to the one Darde remembers from the cellar of his family's house. Crimson and Darde help each other lift the hatch, revealing a hole and a ladder. There's no light down there other than what's provided by the skies light.

"Kampt! light!" Kampt is the firewielder from Raale's squad. With a wave of his hand a fire erupts over his hand and moves slowly through the hatch. There's not much to see down there other than dirt, but Darde motions to step down the ladder. Kampt goes first, making sure to hold the fire steady, then Crimson. Darde waits for Pine and Feint to move down the ladder before he finally steps down it at the last one.

While Kampt and Feint were sent by Raale and Cearn, Darde personally requested for Pine to come along. She's a bright girl and he's had alot of good talks with her ever since the group settled outside Graylawn. Darde takes a last step down the ladder and finds himself in a passage. Beams of wood hold up the ceiling of the passage, while simple steps of dirt lead downwards.

"Crimson, you lead" Darde commands. The slim man slowly moves down the steps, despite his status as a prisoner and slight hobble, the man looks less nervous than the rest of the group. It's a strange feeling being underground like that. As the group moves, Darde studies the wood work holding the passage together. While the planks have clearly been cut and positioned by regular men, their positioning can only have been done by a wielder. They're held together simply as if they've grown that way and are sometimes mixed with the roots of trees from above.

The small group passes several rooms on the winding path, but after looking into a few it becomes clear that they're mostly empty, though a few still hold sacks of rotting grain or half empty barrels of simple ale. The group soon reaches corridors leading in several directions. However, Crimson seems to know the way as well as the back of his hand. On the way the prisoner explains the functions of the rooms they go by. Many of them are made as workshops or storages the same as those in a city, but Crimson explains how most of them are unused by the resistance. Though they do come by a few places that have been in use quite recently, among them a simple smithy with a lead pipe that leads to the surface according to Crimson.

"We're getting close to where most of the resistance was set up" Crimson explains "What would you like to see first?" Crimson has already explained what the hideout is like before they went. Darde isn't sure they're going to find anything down there that can help them, but he had a few things in mind before they left.

---

Chambers: There are several simple living facilities in the underground hideout. The resistance mostly lived in a very specific area. Taraka would have made his bed in one of those rooms, perhaps he left something behind.

Horalos' study: This is where one of the most important men of the resistance spent most of his time. Taraka apparently studied under the man as his students and would have spent much time there as well.

Stores and production: While the resistance had little time to make weapons and tools, they did have a small space where their craftsmen would work and where food and equipment was generally stored. Knowing their tools of trade might give some insight into finding and capturing Taraka or other members of the resistance.

Training hall: Apparently a specific hall was used for practicing with weapons. Crimson seemed eager to show the place off, though Darde isn't sure if he's gonna find anything interesting there.

Fungal farms and livestock: Apparently part of the resistances food came from the fungus found in parts of the hideout, they also had animals living under the earth, used for their milk, eggs and meat. If possible, Darde would like to see if anything remains and bring back what he can to his village. He doubts he'll find much interesting information down there though.

[chimericWilder]

Study. Now. Go.

Also, does Crimson know if them other guys visited here? With any luck they mightve just holed up in Graylawn until we came.

[Cadorean]

Study, then living quarters, then training hall, then stores and farm.

[stagnantAntler]

”Study it is then” Crimson says, leading the group forward guided only by the light of the floating fire. Darde has a feeling that the slim man could find his way in complete darkness, he never stops to think about where to go or looks around to figure out where he is, he just walks. ”I've lived here for most of my life” Crimson answers at Darde's request ”so I know my way around. I have to say, there's something comforting about being back down here. It was a place of refuge, where no one could get to us.”

”I think I know what you mean” Pine comments ”I've felt uneasy since we left Tearingskies. There's something about being surrounded by walls that makes you feel safe.” The others agree, though Darde doesn't comment. To him the walls have always been a prison, keeping him from his family, he finds it hard to imagine how something like that would be comforting.

After rounding a few more corners the group enters what Crimson announces to be Horalos' study. The place is simple, but surprisingly high lofted compared to the other rooms they've been in. There's a few pieces of wooden furniture in the room; tables, chairs and a few bookcases, along with some lazily scattered carpets. “It's a throne room” Feint notices, pointing to a heavy throne carved in granite in the far end of the room. “Or at least it was” Darde agrees, studying the carpets that are clearly old banners now serving a less grand purpose.

As interesting as the observation is, the more important thing is the book cases lining the walls. There's not many and they're far from filled, but at least they look untouched. Darde feared that the westmen had gotten to them. As Crimson explained earlier, the westmen have already been in the hideout, but without Crimson as a guide. Darde can't imagine finding his way around the place without Crimson leading them, but the westmen were probably afraid Crimson would have lead them astray.

At Darde's command the group starts looking through the bookshelves, sorting the books and papers on one of the simple tables in piles according to their subject. Reading all the books now would be troublesome with the lack of light, but Darde decides to bring 10 books along, enough to learn something from, but not too many to overburden the already tired group.

---

7 records signed and written by Horalos himself

17 records of various authors mostly containing stock taking of the resistances resources

4 records by various authors from the dead kingdom of “Swan”, which Darde knows as the name of the surrounding area before it was gathered into the Kit'aegan empire by the godking.

1 record by the now deceased lord of Swan. The man who chose to create the underground hideout they're now in.

A collection of maps of the hideout made by the original builders some of which have been written over to correct changes

3 separate collections of maps of Aegar and it's surroundings from before the nation was gathered

1 current map collection of Aegar resembling those Darde knows from the capitol

A book entitled “chemistry” with no author

10 volumes with details of craftsmanship like sewing and blacksmithing

2 volumes concerning “Dreamwalking” by Kartusan authors

[hector212121]

Grab dreamwalkings.

[chimericWilder]

Obviously we're taking both dreamwalking books. We should flip through the chemistry book and see if it is really about chemistry, i have a feel that it is not. We should probably also take the lordly record and perhaps some of those Horalos wrote. We should look through them all in order to determine which are more likely to be more relevant, likewise with the other swan books. And is there any reason we cant bring an extra map? Those are somewhat less heavy than books.

[Cadorean]

I want them all, my inner hoarder is viscerally upset by your tiny number

Grab the two dreamwalking books, grab "chemistry," grab the Swan Lord manuscript finish up with Horalos' works.

[stagnantAntler]

Obviously we're taking both dreamwalking books.

Grab the two dreamwalking books

Darde doesn't hesitate to take the books on dreamwalking. Pine gives him a nod and he hands her the books. Darde is pretty sure Pine knows he's a dreamer and he's pretty she is as well, she's brought the subject up a few times.

grab the Swan Lord manuscript

The script by the lord of Swan seems too obvious to pass by. Feint eagerly pick up the volume at Darde's request.

We should flip through the chemistry book and see if it is really about chemistry, i have a feel that it is not.

Darde isn't really sure what "chemistry" means, so he flips through the book. It's mostly text in a hand and dialect that's hard for him to read, but the book is divided into several sections, five of which contain detailed pictures of the five elements; fire, water, earth, metal and wood along with a short section on a 6th element. Intrigued, Darde decides to bring the book.

We should probably also take the lordly record and perhaps some of those Horalos wrote. We should look through them all in order to determine which are more likely to be more relevant, likewise with the other swan books.

Darde looks through Horalos' work, his hand is no easier to decipher than that in the chemistry book, but at least the language is more like what he's used to. Horalos writes without much structure or thought for the reader, but two of the books are clearly from before the gathering of Aegar when Horalos was an advisor for the lord of Swan. The others all seem to have mention of the resistance, though Darde isn't quite sure which order they're written in, especially since Horalos seems to have deliberately left pages blank in the middle of the books for additions on subjects.

As Darde finds Taraka's name in one of the books he decides to at least take that one.

likewise with the other swan books.

As for the other records from Swan, Darde only looks them over briefly. They're mostly trade transactions and stocktaking, the sort he's seen plenty of in the capitol, but the authors often write personal notes in the midst of the long lists of now useless information. Darde finds mention of the resistance hideout in one, then simply known as "the tunnels". Another is full of little poems that Darde is pretty sure stem from the realm of dreams. Darde pauses as he looks through a third and spots a familiar name. Honest, son of Lankner. Darde's grandfather, it must be him, his father was named Lankner.

Trying not to get too distracted, Darde looks through the last volume, but doesn't find anything of interest. "We should get going" Feint says, the group is starting to get bored waiting for Darde to finish his reading. "Just a second," Darde says.

Perhaps he should just bring all of Horalos' books, he doubts the others are as informative. Then again, he'd really like to read what that book has to say about his grandfather.

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A page from "Chemistry" by an unknown author

Considering my family's name and blood

I suppose it's ironic that a man by Swords would grow to be a scholar in one of the great families. I have spent countless miles of study of my family tree to see where this rich blood might originate, but I'm left with no answer. Where do these refined abilities come from if not from my blood? Why do they only appear in me and not my father or brothers? Perhaps it is a drop of blood passed down through the generations simply waiting to be awakened. I even wonder sometimes if perhaps I was misplaced as a child, a noble placed into a family of peasants. But even so I love my family, despite their poor blood and I think of them often when I go to sleep.


My abilities have only grown since I first came to house Thunder and served under the young lords and ladies. I would sometimes spar with my eager young master Helias and though I never showed it back then, I knew my understanding of the elements far surpassed his. While Helias only understood and worked in metal I could wield at will metal, fire and earth. Wood and water were untouchable to me, but I could sense them and I eventually the secret of shaping them became apparent to me as well.

Even among the high lords, such an ability was remarkable, but rather than parading it around, I hid it, pretending to only had the mind for metal. As I started my research on the elements, I kept secret my ability to feel and shape the elements and pretended I had only studied with my eyes, ears and nose. My studies were so precise that most assumed I had help from lords who honed the other elements, so that is what I pretended. I explained on several occasions how my lords were too humble to stand in the light and prefered to use their half blooded servant to present their findings.

Of course as important as my research was to me it was never seen as much more than party conversation among the nobles. To them my life's work was nothing better than a fool showing off his tricks. I pray that my writings will be preserved and that someone will find a use for them. For they are my life as little as that life might matter.

[chimericWilder]

oh we're definitely taking the book on our grandfather and yes actually just bring all of horalos books in addition to the others

[Cadorean]

I agree with chimeric

[stagnantAntler]

oh we're definitely taking the book on our grandfather and yes actually just bring all of horalos books in addition to the others

Oh great. No you can't just add more books, you have to stick with 10 total.

[chimericWilder]

Curses

just do it anyway! we can carry them all easily with our wielding.

[stagnantAntler]

Curses

just do it anyway! we can carry them all easily with our wielding.

Levitating stuff for extended periods of time isn't as easy as you make it up to be. Besides this isn't up for debate 10 books is all you're gonna get whether you like it or not, so choose or I'll do it for you

[Cadorean]

We've got 2 dreamwalking books, 1 chemistry book, and 1 book on our family history. Fill the rest of our 6 books with Horalos's works.

[chimericWilder]

We're coming back for the rest when we're done with the rest of the place, though!

If it mysteriously collapses on our heads ill know why.

Also we're also taking the Swan fellows book, and we'll take those of Horalos' books that look bestest if we have any kind of idea which those are.