eleventh bolt ⚡ semi-closed log ➞ treasure hunt

[ramuhs]

Who: The Treasure Hunt Group, the Hideaway crew, and friends
Status: Semi-Open to anyone who has good CR with those in the group and would be interested!
Where: Mysterious island
What: Group sets off to find that treasure before that Hawk Jimins does!
Warnings: None...probably.

I. APPROACHING THE ISLAND

It's a bit of a sail to the island, so there is ample time while on the Enterprise II for those meeting for the first time to greet and get to know one another. For those who may not fare well with those rolling waves, there is enough medicine and rooms that can be used for their own comforts.

But as they near their destination, those tall mountain peaks rising up on the horizon, the once calm waters will turn choppy and darken, the skies shifting from clear blue to cold, bustling gray. As the crew work to keep the ship steady, they'll hear an ominous rumble and bellow before something long and snake-like appears. A large sea serpent, one that doesn't look too dissimilar from the one depicted from Alhaitham's treasure map piece (thanks man) rises up to attack the ship! It's all hands on deck as other smaller mobs scale and jump onto the ship—some sea krait that seem to act more like plundering pirates.

In fact, that's what they are—a band of sea pirates ready to try and take those seeking the "treasure" of the island. Well at least that's a good, if perilous, sign they are on the right track! Unfortunately for the krait, there's a prominent lightning user and many well skilled fighters so this shouldn't be too difficult, right?

II. ESTABLISHING A BASE

After managing to get through the battle, and navigating past some wrecked ships, they find a safe, secluded harbor to dock. This is mostly so they can avoid any potential other treasure hunters, like Hawk Jimins, from noticing. Hm, maybe they should have left that serpent alive for that group—

In any case, it's a safe place for them to dock, unload supplies, and start pitching camp. While the ship is also free to use for room, surely some may prefer sleeping on solid ground. The ship itself is also in need of repair after all that fighting, so most of the Hideaway's ship's crew will tending to its repair so that they can sail off at a moment's notice. After all, they have no idea what is on this island, and while they would like to find that treasure, Cid is not too keen on anyone losing a life over this.

They estimate to be on the island for a few days, and while they've brought plenty of supplies, it never hurts to stock up while here. Everyone is also expected to help out—no slacking off here! Getting water, helping cook, tending fires, helping with any injured or carrying things to and from the ship, every little bit helps! Even though there are many who are not part of the crew Cid will treat and expect everyone as if they are. But not to worry—it's still a friendly atmosphere, and in the evenings meals are always served with gusto and allow everyone to just sit back and relax after a long day of trekking through this strange island.

III. THE ISLAND

According to the map, these are the main features of the island:

• Large mountain range with
  
• some rivers that empty out into a large lake.
  
• There is a large settlement of some kind near it, with large fields and
  
• forests and hills surrounding it.

And while such features do exist, upon exploration the island is found to be...strange. Very strange. It's as if some kind of weather magic catastrophe occurred so that while there is a predominant type of environment, there are also large patches of...odd.

Overall, the island is gloomy. It is consistently overcast without much sunlight with a cold brisk wind that comes and goes. Not too cold to bring snow, at least not during this time of year, but cold enough to need a jacket at least. It's also gloomy enough to bring anyone's mood down if they're not careful. Most of the environment will reflect as much with plants commonly found in similar climes and the earth a bit hard and almost barren outside of the few forests and fields. Which seems a bit odd since the map seems to indicate something more lush... The animals are also not too extraordinary, and they will encounter common ones such as foxes, deer, wolves and bears closer to the mountain.

But then there are those odd patches, and they are not isolated or consistent to one part of the island or the other. A patch of forest swathed in warm sunlight—and always in sunlight even during the night. A part of the lake completely frozen over while the other part is warm, almost boiling, and yet another is perfectly clear, cool, and fresh. Rain falling on an open field. Torrential blizzard on specific spot on the mountain and searing heat where the snow has completely melted to leave barren rock right on the other side. These odd occurrences continue on and on the further they explore, and where two extreme climate settings meet there is a small area where everything seems to be twisted around. A tree half frozen and half burned. Flowers and brushes overgrown from constant rain and sunlight.

And somewhere in the center of it all is an old, long abandoned town. It's clear whoever used to live here moved out, or perhaps already plundered by someone else who has passed through, as there is not much left. Time has eroded much and plans have grown over the walls, but the buildings remain intact. The architecture is from a time centuries ago, but there are hints that this is not some backwater village. Remnants of old technology can be found, many of which are older—and in some cases more advanced—than what's currently around. Ice boxes and coolers, heaters, stoves, electrical wiring—things that could be found in current day Escordvi, yet in a place that looks to have been left behind hundreds of years ago.

In the nearby fields and farms, there are signs of "modern" agricultural technology. Devices that would have helped with plowing and sowing fields, irrigation systems. While they did not have modern Earth vehicles like tractors and used the still common use of large animals, the remnants of plows and wagons are well made and even have some kind of device or stone that reduces its weight, potentially to make it easier for those who push and pull it.

Such other things can be found around the town and farms, and it does seem as if it must have been prosperous. And yet, the current weather and how the fields now look barren with the ground dried and crack, make it seem it would have been impossible.

So how could all this be?

IV. TREASURE HUNTING

The answer to the strange phenomenon lies within the very "treasures" that they seek. While there could be rare valuables in gems and artifacts still stashed away somewhere, either by the original tenants of this island or by pirates and others who have come across this place, there is something that could be far more valuable.

There are strange relics, all of different forms, size, and functions that are near the strange weather phenomena happening all over the island. However, their exact location is still difficult to find, and then to even reach due to all the magic flux going around. There could also be monsters or animals whose nests or dens were made by the relic, and because of that they may be morphed due to the magic around them.

If successful, once removed from the land the relic will putter out and the magic will stop. Although the effects on the environment won't immediately go away, those with more active weather such as rain or blizzard will notice it starting to slow and calm. Examination of the relics will also reveal that they seem to be fragments rather than whole pieces, but they don't fit together. Hmmm. Attempting to use the relic afterwards will reveal that the powers have been significantly reduced, so while it will reproduce the weather effect from before, it will be much more limited in size, scope, and duration.

Scrounging around the town may not reveal much aside from old documents and blueprints of the tech and systems used by the people of this town. A few mention of "setting X weather" to different "levels," which sounds pretty strange, but perhaps it's a clue on the relics found on the island? However, there is a particular map piece that comes with a riddle:

Map Riddle Translation:

A treasure like any untold
Will be found by pirates bold
Seek where the weaver and baker meet
Along with the fishers and butchers on the street

Ruined now it may be
But the past you can see
Under the path, you'll then go far
To reach out among the stars

The location is definitely within the town, and for those who manage to uncover the secret entrance to this mysterious place, they will find the following:

The Secret Chamber:

Stony steps will lead deep underground to a large chamber that gets increasingly hot as one goes down. Not enough to be completely unbearable, but enough to wonder if a large fire or heater had been left. Inside the chamber, everything looks as if they were burned by some explosion. Charred remains of wooden bookshelves, tables, and chairs are the first to be seen, and at the back is a large stone table with a pedestal that used to hold something, but is now empty. Scorch marks are the strongest here, as well as the heat, and it's possible to detect strong, magical influence here.

Although it looks as if whatever survived the explosion had been removed, there are some scattered charred remnants of discarded papers that could hold clues of what this room was used for: torn pages about "harnessing the sun" and adjusting weather patterns, parts of strange illustrations as if to assemble something. There are also remnants of maps to other islands, some with large red X's that aren't ominous at all. Those random areas on the island that just have the sun on all day and night might have some relation to that. Perhaps finding all the relics that involve the sun might be different from the others? (Yes, go find them!)

Besides the treasure, there could be some valuable resources that could be found and taken back, such as foodstuffs, unique animals for their meat and materials, and some extra lumber for the ship.

V. WILDCARD

For anything else! As mentioned in the log, this will take a few days, around 3-5 days max and sometime early in the month. RP timey wimy shenanigans go— Although there's a lot of setting description, it's mostly to be a general idea for everyone to work with. Everyone is free to alter details and have fun with it to be more creative for the threads and findings! There is an ultimate treasure related to all this, so hopefully you picked up the hints 👀 But that can be a part 2 because there's enough going on and don't want to railroad this too much.

Make all the toplevels, pick any relic or place that interests you, and have fun!! There's no specific number of things to find and plenty of ways to overlap and have multiple versions of the same thing, so no worries on that front.

If you have any questions, there is a questions thread! Otherwise HAVE FUN.

Comments

[wherethereislight]

[His left ear twitches. Now that's a choice crew to recall. His expression remains as stoic as ever though.]

The captain's name? Purpose of the crew? [He'll pull out his shellphone in the meantime.]

[gruffier]

Cidolfus Telamon. [ It… feels strange on his tongue to use the full man’s name. Had he ever addressed him so properly?

Clive watches Shadow’s expression intently. Perhaps if he recognized the name, it would bring a small amount of relief that they were still here. Cid, Joshua, Jill… ]

Our… purpose was a bit loose, if we ever had one. A culmination of the residents on our star, as well as friends we’ve met along the way. We formed to help others- to give them an opportunity to live their lives as they pleased. Nothing more.

[wherethereislight]

. . . [His attention is on his shellphone now. Ignore the fact he texts like an old man. Holding the phone in one hand, tapping each letter with the other. There's an uncomfortable silence that stretches between then, with only the sound of him tapping on the phone and...he took a photo?]

[gruffier]

[ …

Wait, did he just—

Clive sits there, as if a deer in headlights. His sunburnt, sea swept, bloodied and bruised face blinking once when the noise of the shellphone goes off. Congratulations Shadow, you’ve likely just taken the single worst photo of him. Enjoy that on your camera roll. ]

Do let me know if I should smile next time.

[ His tone remains flat, unfazed. ]

Satisfied?

[wherethereislight]

[Cid has a copy on his phone now too. Looking up at Clive, he pockets the shellphone and approaches his injured leg, kneeling down.]

Move your hand. [He sets down the med bag, taking out a few more items. A spray, more gauze, ointment, all the basic items to dress a wound.] Prepare yourself for a long walk. Hideaway's base of operations is further inland.

[gruffier]

[ Just what Clive needed. More blackmail for Cid to use against him.

He tenses as Shadow approaches, hand curling around the sword in case he wasn't convinced, but the order comes as a bit of a surprise. Prickly thing, this one— and a more forceful medic than Tarja. Maybe the two of them would have gotten along...

Clive will once again comply, if only for a split second before his eyes widen. ]

The Hideaway's— then you're here? With them?

[wherethereislight]

A temporary partnership. [Until the mission is complete. Clive hasn't quite moved his hand aside, so he'll move it for him to get to the wound. He removes the gauze, the bleeding has slowed. He'll start to wipe the area a bit more with the gauze before picking up the ointment.]

Don't move. [The hedgehog doesn't really give him much time to prepare as he starts spreading the ointment over the wound. It will sting, a lot, but eventually there's a cooling effect after it settles over the wound. Once complete, he picks up the spray and covers the area with it. If at any point Clive complains, he's ignoring it. The wound at least doesn't look as terrible as before, protected from infection and outside intrusion. He grabs a fresh piece of gauze to press it against the injury once more, then will proceed to wrap it up in an adhesive bandage roll.]

[gruffier]

[ You're really giving him an emotion whip lash over here, Shadow. Are you going to heal him or kill him, Clive doesn't know anymore—

But a temporary partnership. That's all he needed to hear for his heart to start rapidly pounding in his chest. It was difficult to remain still as Shadow worked through his injuries, squirming at the sudden impatience he felt. He hissed outwardly as the ointment is applied, eyes scrunching closed and a sudden tightness to his muscles forcing him to grab at the sand beneath him. It's not the worst pain he's ever felt, so Clive forces himself to stay still for as long as his the bandages were being secured. ]

Do you know others from the crew? Are they were as well?

[wherethereislight]

[Both. He's going to keep Clive on his toes :)]

Who are you still hoping is there? [Despite him willing to assist Clive, there's still that distrust from him. Once he finishes wrapping up the wound, he collects his things and moves to stand, taking a few steps back. If Clive wishes to stand, he may.]

[gruffier]

[ Clive is all too eager to stand. In fact, he may be standing up a little too quickly, his legs buckling underneath him. He'll manage to catch himself though, and with uneven breaths will nod a bit of thanks to Shadow. ]

A woman named Jill. [ He responds a bit too quickly. Too desperate. ] And Joshua... have you heard of them?

[wherethereislight]

[He looks annoyed for a moment, watching them get up faster than they should. Don't hurt yourself even further.]

...Yes. [One more than the other. There might have been a glint of familiarity in his eyes when he mentions Joshua. But all he was looking for was confirmation they know what they're talking about. He turns, taking a few steps. He doesn't go far, making sure Clive can even walk.]

[gruffier]

Take me to them. Please. [ His tone drops briefly at the last word. It wasn't begging perhaps, but more of a plea that dripped with something a bit deeper.

Yet that was all the motivation he needed to stagger forward, relying on his other leg to take most of the weight as he walked next to Shadow. ]

[wherethereislight]

[...] We'll be walking for a while. [He starts moving ahead. His pace slow, to see what Clive can handle before quickening his pace. If it comes to it, he'll carry the man the rest of the way. Right now, he has the impression they rather walk the whole way themselves.]

[gruffier]

[ ... And walking he does, indeed! He stumbled the first couple of feet, adjusting to the new sensation of the bandages, but eventually Clive does get the handle of his own two legs again.

Yet despite how slow Shadow may be walking, Clive is determined to pick up the pace, hiding a wince ever so often as they continue on. He at least has more of a pep to his step when hearing that the others were there. ]

[wherethereislight]

[He sees that. How they try to quicken their pace.]

Do not worsen your injury. [They can try to hide it, but he can still hear their pain when they put pressure on that leg.]

[gruffier]

I'll be fine. [ All but a moment ago he seemed content with leaving Clive to bleed on the very shore that he washed up on.

Very hard to read, indeed... ]

Am I at least afforded a name?

[wherethereislight]

[Look man, he don't know you. And you can't trust what you see all the time ok. Be grateful he eventually patched up your injury :/ ]

Shadow. [They're going to have to climb up a hill shortly, where the open plains will eventually turn into a forest.]

[gruffier]

[ Oh, he's grateful!! ... Just his face doesn't show it all that much. At least if what he said was trust and his companions were here well... he can at least not nag Shadow anymore. ]

Shadow. Right.

[ Noted, and he's walking a bit more steadily now too until that climb comes... ]

[wherethereislight]

[Unless Clive actually struggles, he won't slow as they reach the slope.]

Who are they to you? [The silence between them had stretched until Shadow decides to initiate conversation.] The people you named.