Eastern Slip [6/15]

[17:09] Regulus says, "While I was out exploring to the Far East, I discovered something few others have noticed"
[17:09] Regulus says, "A passageway to the fabled Eastern Slip - a lush land of sweeping hills and forests. Perhaps the last untouched wilderness in Esshar"
[17:10] Leni looks on in absolutely amazement and wonder; Regulus, whether he intended to or not, has grabbed her attention very, very well.
(Leni)
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[17:10] Armondt asks, "What exactly do ya intend to do with it, if the idea is to leave it untouched?"
[17:11] Regulus says, "Well... not quite untouched"
[17:11] Regulus' smiling fast waned a little, growing darker.
(Regulus)
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[17:11] Regulus says, "After I explored these lands, I was met by the archdruid Aerlon. We discussed my discovery and agreed that this place needed protection from colonisers and... more occult influences"
[17:12] Regulus asks, "I trust you have heard of the demons that have been plaguing our lands of late?"
[17:12] Armondt says, "Sure, yeah."
[17:12] Regulus says, "Everywhere I go they seem to be there - lurking"
[17:13] Regulus says, "And I could feel their prescense lingering on the Eastern Slip, waiting to take it over into their domain as they are trying to do for the rest of Esshar"
[17:13] Regulus says, "Me and Aerlon decided that an adventuring party would be needed to protect the Slip from this demonic threat as well as wandering folk"
[17:14] Leni nods, she nods so much that her head threatens to fly for her shoulders.
(Leni)
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[17:14] Leni says, "No, yea! That sort of stuff has to be protected! Or people'll ruin it! Like they always do, ugh."
[17:14] Armondt didn't seem quite as hooked on as Leni appeared to be, his arms folded across his chest. Certainly, there were still yet more questions to ask.
(Armondt)
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[17:14] It was not often that Regulus met somebody with as much enthusiasm as himself when it came to adventure. He was beginning to take a liking to Leni.
(Regulus)
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[17:14] Regulus says, "The plan was to build a simple, unobtrusive guild tower on this slip"
[17:15] Regulus says, "Containing powerful magics to ward off the demonic threat"
[17:15] Leni asks, "Why build stuff? Couldn't you like. Just grow a tower instead?"
[17:15] Leni says, "Seems way nicer. And then you don't have to disturb nature as much."
[17:15] Regulus says, "From this the Order of the Spring would watch out for this wilderness and conduct its operations to scourge demonkind from Esshar before they could take over"
[17:16] Regulus looked confused at the suggestion, and more than a little impressed.
(Regulus)
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[17:16] Regulus says, "You can do that? If so it sounds perfect"
[17:16] Leni says, "I've never tried, but people here live in trees."
[17:16] Armondt says, "I... figure we might be able to help with contractin'."
[17:16] Leni asks, "Just like that house north there, see?"
[17:16] Armondt says, "Growin' a buildin', construction, makin' a tree grow nice and tall that maybe ya can set up wards from up top."
[17:16] Leni points to the great tree house just to the north.
(Leni)
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[17:16] Regulus says, "Those are real trees? Incredible"
[17:16] Armondt says, "But I ain't totally sure about joinin' an organization in full. Ain't our type of deal."
[17:17] Regulus says, "At the moment 'tis just me"
[17:17] Regulus says, "I was hoping to recruit more in time"
[17:17] Leni exclaims, "Well, yeah, but we can still help!"
[17:17] Leni says, "It's people that like what we like, Arm. At least that's kinda' what it sounds like."
[17:17] Regulus says, "On my own... well, my magic is hardly great. I could not hope to pull this off"
[17:18] Regulus asks, "Would you consider joining this enterprise Leni?"
[17:18] Regulus says, "It would surely be a gateway to adventure if nothing else"
[17:18] Leni asks, "Yeah! I mean, it's all to help keep people and demons from messing up nature, right?"
[17:18] Leni chirrups happily, but looks back and up towards Armondt to appraise his expression.
(Leni)
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[17:18] Leni says, "Arm can come too, right? "
[17:19] Armondt still seems to hold onto his skepticism, looking Regulus over with a quirked brow.
(Armondt)
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[17:19] Regulus says, "If he pleases, the more help the better."
[17:19] Armondt says, "As long as we ain't made to try and go warrin', I suppose it's alright."
[17:19] Armondt says, "Growin' somethin' to help keep it safe and untouched seems fine t'me."
[17:20] The wizard seemed as excited as Leni, although he did not look as nature-attuned to Armondt's inspection. Still Regulus looked like a friendly enough fellow who, regardless of his reasons, seemed willing to see this project through.
(Regulus)
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[17:20] Regulus exclaims, "Excellent!"
[17:20] Regulus asks, "Perhaps I could show you the Slip first then?"
[17:20] Leni exclaims, "Y'know, Finnley's the High Lord here and stuff. You could talk to him too, I bet more people here in Myll'd love to help!"
[17:20] Regulus says, "It is quite the journey I'm afraid, but less so if we take a boat"
[17:20] Leni asks, "Slip? Where's it at?"
[17:20] Regulus says, "To the far east, past the magical university"
[17:20] Regulus made a mental note of High Lord Finnley. Definitely a fellow to look out for.
(Regulus)
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[17:21] Armondt says, "It might be we've seen that place before."
[17:21] Armondt says, "We've both of us been all over Esshar."
[17:21] Leni says, "Mhm, we do go all over."
[17:21] Regulus asks, "Would you like to accompany me there?"
[17:21] Regulus says, "I assure you 'tis quite the sight"
[17:22] Regulus says, "Everywhere else I have been has had at least a touch of civilisation not far from it"
[17:22] Regulus says, "But this place is verdant; wild"
[17:22] Leni says, "Ugh, yeah. Civilization's everywhere. It suuuucks."
[17:22] Leni asks, "Wanna go check it out, Arm?"
[17:22] Armondt says, "Yeah. Let's get goin'."
[17:23] Regulus says, "Very well"
[17:25] Regulus says, "Hmm..."
[17:25] Regulus says, "University... where was it..."
[17:25] Leni asks, "Uuuh...Isn't that southeast of here, Arm?"
[17:25] He glanced around him briefly. It was somewhere east of this point.
(Regulus)
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[17:25] Regulus says, "Southeast sounds good"
[17:25] Armondt says, "Yeah, this is all lookin' mighty familiar."
[17:25] Regulus exclaims, "Ah hah!"
[17:26] Regulus says, "Good thinking Leni"
[17:26] Leni says, "Thanks! We come here sometimes to hang out, cuz no one comes here anymore."
[17:27] Regulus sighed a little as he saw the university.
(Regulus)
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[17:27] Regulus says, "'tis a shame this place is still unopen"
[17:27] Regulus says, "I would have liked to study here"
[17:27] Leni says, "It's okay, it's got ghosts on the inside."
[17:27] Leni says, "Not all of them are nice."
[17:27] Regulus says, "I had heard of people exploring the place"
[17:28] Armondt says, "Nature'll take it back over time if people leave this place alone long enough."
[17:28] Regulus asks, "Do you know who owns the place?"
[17:28] Leni exclaims, "Nope!"
[17:28] Leni asks, "I think Os?"
[17:28] Leni says, "I dunno. I'm gonna put trees all over it though."
[17:28] Regulus pointed southward, where the cliff dipped downwards to a dark cave.
(Regulus)
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[17:29] Regulus says, "At first I thought this might be an interesting dungeon or sorts"
[17:29] Regulus says, "It takes a jump, but when I went through..."
[17:29] Regulus says, "Well, I told you what happened"
[17:29] Leni toddles off to the cliff, peering down.
(Leni)
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[17:29] Armondt says, "That's it, huh."
[17:29] Regulus asks, "Shall we?"
[17:29] He smiled and prepared to jump.
(Regulus)
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[17:30] Landing with a scuffing of loose rocks, Regulus skidded to a halt.
(Regulus)
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[17:30] Regulus says, "See you both on the other side"
[17:30] Regulus exclaims, "I'll leave you to experience the wonder in your own time!"
[17:30] Leni asks, "Arm? Wanna jump us down?"
[17:30] Regulus says, "Good luck"
[17:30] Armondt says, "...I ain't too sure about this."
[17:30] Armondt says, "Instinct's tellin' me it might not be the best idea, but.."
[17:30] Leni says, "Huh?..."
[17:30] Leni asks, "You think it's...like, something bad's down there?"
[17:31] Leni frowns, peering down the cliff's edge again.
(Leni)
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[17:31] Armondt asks, "Only one way to find out, right...?"
[17:31] Armondt says, "If ya wanna go down, we'll go ahead on down."
[17:31] Leni says, "I guess so."
[17:31] Armondt says, "Just hope that this stranger is as good as his word, or else..."
[17:31] Leni asks, "...Let's check it out. At least a lil'?"
[17:31] Armondt says, "Alright."
[17:31] The wizard meditated peacefully before the spotless ocean, his face just as serene as the landscape. It was nice to be back.
(Regulus)
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[17:31] Armondt says, "...huh."
[17:31] Leni exclaims, "...Oh my god!"
[17:31] Regulus says, "Welcome, my friends, to the Eastern Slip"
[17:31] Leni exclaims, "IT'S HERE! WHOA!"
[17:32] He smiled
(Regulus)
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[17:32] Leni goes bug-eyed, and starts losing her mind absolutely. She laughs and wiggles her toes in the grass.
(Leni)
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[17:33] Regulus was glad to see Leni so excited - her enthusiasm was infectious.
(Regulus)
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[17:34] Armondt takes a brief survey of the place as it is. A large, mountainous bit of terrain that seems to be... absolutely impractical for any kind of colonization, at least from a brief survey. He immediately starts to scale the mountains, his eyes narrowing. Some kind of boy scout-like instinct just activated in Armondt's brain.

Now he was using that instinct to get a good look at the area - something that has truly been forgotten. "Y'weren't jokin'," he says, while clambering up the rocky face of the cliff like a goat. "Couldn't tell ya my thoughts for now, but soon as I get a li'l further along to see this area for all it's worth, I'll let ya know."

And with that, he continues his climb.
(Armondt)
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[17:34] Leni exclaims, "Does anyone else know what's here? It doesn't look like people come here a lot!"
[17:35] Leni asks, "HEEEY! ARM! SEE ANYTHING COOL!?"
[17:35] Regulus says, "I don't think many do yet. "
[17:35] Regulus says, "If they would, something would be built here"
[17:35] Armondt exclaims, "NOT SURE YET! THERE'S A LOT MORE UP NORTH!"
[17:35] Regulus says, "I have explored the coast - it goes a long way northward"
[17:35] Regulus says, "There is forest in the high hills but it is hard to reach"
[17:35] Leni asks, "Yeah, it'd be just like people to ruin something cool like this. Wanna come with us while we take a look?"
[17:36] Regulus says, "Sure."
[17:36] It was nice to see this place again.
(Regulus)
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[17:36] Regulus says, "Ooh, I have not noticed such passageways before"
[17:37] Regulus says, "If you can find a way up to that next layer we can explore the forest"
[17:37] Regulus exclaims, "Excellent!"
[17:37] He was impressed by Armondt's climbing skills
(Regulus)
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[17:37] Regulus says, "This place is even bigger than I thought"
[17:37] Regulus says, "If anybody had found this place it might have become a city by now"
[17:37] Armondt says, "Y'gotta be kiddin' me..."
[17:37] Regulus says, "It's almost the size of Osrana"
[17:37] Leni exclaims, "This is the best!"
[17:37] Leni exclaims, "Haha!"
[17:37] Armondt asks, "A li'l cave leads out all the way here...?"
[17:37] Leni exclaims, "There's /no one/ here!"
[17:38] Regulus says, "Almost ironic that the greatest treasure in Esshar should be so simply hidden. I'm thankful that it was - or it would no longer be a treasure."
[17:38] Leni is positively giddy at this discovery, eyes sparkling with excitement. She stands at the edge of the cliff, cups her hands around her mouth, and hollers for all she's worth.

The noise echoes across the rolling plains and the mountainsides. And no one shouts back to complain about the racket.

Which obviously, along with the abundance of trees, makes this place perfect.
(Leni)
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[17:39] Regulus says, "This may be the only place in Esshar where you can be truly alone."
[17:39] Regulus says, "The only wilderness, at least"
[17:40] Leni exclaims, "There's some, like back in the main land, but not like this!"
[17:40] Leni says, "There's always people running around or doing wars or fighting about this or that or trying to make dumb buildings they'll never use."
[17:42] Armondt sits upon the edge of the strip, just... staring out. And for some insane reason, they traversed the cave so far that they reached somewhere that was absolutely impractical for anyone to reach. "...T'be honest, Reg, I ain'te ven sure if anybody would wanna use this land. Not to say that it ain't great, but gettin' here is a huge pain."

"A big enough pain that only the most curious folk would make it here anyways." He places the side of his fist over his lips, and just thinks. He mulls over the practicality of an entire nation, whether it be Osrona, Nysea, Ilburg, Theria, or just about anyone, and he can't see it.

"Think about it. If ya lived here, in order to get all the way back to Esshar, you'd have ot jump up and down that cliff, then travel this huuuuuuge-as-Hel tract of land." And who would be willing to do that, aside from the people most likely to spend their energy getting around like it was water?
(Armondt)
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[17:42] Armondt whispers to Leni: We oughta come back here later. Tonight, maybe.
[17:43] Regulus says, "That's what I thought too, at first"
[17:43] Regulus says, "But then the demons in this land spread further, and further"
[17:43] Regulus says, "They care not for mere physical boundaries"
[17:43] Leni whispers to Armondt: Yeah! Ohmygodthisisthebeeeest.
[17:43] Leni says, "That's...that's a good point. Oh man."
[17:43] Regulus says, "Before long, I realised they would corrupt this place "
[17:43] Armondt says, "Well, think about it."
[17:43] Armondt asks, "If we built a tower near that cave, wouldn't it draw as much attention as possible?"
[17:43] Armondt says, "People would think there's some kinda colony buildin' up here anyway."
[17:43] Leni exclaims, "No...But I was gonna grow up all kindsa' trees at the school anyway!"
[17:43] Leni exclaims, "And it's right by this!"
[17:44] Regulus says, "They said the same thing about Illburg"
[17:44] Regulus says, "But with a few stairs etched into the rock, I wouldn't be surprised if this was made into a fortification of some sort"
[17:44] Regulus says, "People would fight over it because it's here"
[17:44] Regulus says, "the last wilderness of Esshar"
[17:44] Regulus says, "They always do."
[17:44] Armondt says, "Yeah, and settin' up a whole tower here would make it clear that this is a point of interest to begin with."
[17:45] Leni says, "Arm's just saying you shouldn't set up a tower to make it obvious it's here. That's all."
[17:45] Regulus asks, "Perhaps we could set the tower up here then, on this cliff head?"
[17:45] Leni says, "Maybe...you could grow something over the cave. To kinda' hide it."
[17:45] Leni exclaims, "Or just a big tree. Or use the academy that's already there!"
[17:45] Regulus asks, "That would be interesting. A potent illusion perhaps?"
[17:45] Armondt says, "Yeah. Might be that concealment is the name of the game here."
[17:45] Leni says, "Just grow it over with stuff, and bam. Make it real clear nobody's home."
[17:45] Regulus asks, "Do you know of any druids powerful enough to do this?"
[17:46] Armondt says, "Well, Leni could do it, I'm bettin'."
[17:46] Leni says, "Uuuh. Oh, man. I could try. It might take time and stuff! "
[17:46] Leni says, "There's really not lots of druids anymore. Loads keep dying or disappearing I guess."
[17:46] Regulus says, "Of course we'd still want to leave the entrance over for some, lest the wonder of this wild only be experienced by us three."
[17:47] Regulus says, "It looks like you might be this wild's best hope then, Leni, if so druids are left"
[17:47] Leni says, "I could ask Fin! He might know. But I'd be real careful who I told about what was here."
[17:47] Leni says, "People just...people just /ruin/ stuff."
[17:48] Leni says, "But maybe he'll know someone."
[17:48] Armondt says, "I figure Fin could be trusted, if he cares as much for the Grove as he does."
[17:48] Armondt says, "Vale."
[17:48] Leni says, "Mhm. S'true."
[17:48] Leni exclaims, "We'd have never known this was here if you hadn't told us...Thanks so much, Reg!"
[17:49] Leni says, "The soil here feels great, and I bet there's loads of worms, and there's so many trees."
[17:49] Leni practically vibrates with visible excitement.
(Leni)
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[17:49] Regulus almost blushed at Leni's thanks. It was not often that people did so.
(Regulus)
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[17:50] Regulus asks, "So, what do you both think. Shall we form the Order?"
[17:50] He pitched it to them; the threesome
(Regulus)
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[17:50] Armondt says, "I think makin' a fully-minted organization over this would be the same thing as settin' up a tower, if ya ask me."
[17:50] Regulus says, "Armondt the dashing rogue, Regulus the evoker and Leni the druid; protecting the last wilds."
[17:50] Armondt says, "We ain't need to be so fancy."
[17:51] Regulus says, "I'm a fire wizard - fancy is my middle name."
[17:51] Armondt says, "All that we gotta be are people. People who care about keepin' nature natural."
[17:51] He grinned.
(Regulus)
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[17:51] Leni snickersnorts.
(Leni)
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[17:51] Regulus says, "If we all worked together, we could raise the resources to grow a tower here."
[17:51] Leni exclaims, "Yeah! We can just be quiet about it. But help things here!"
[17:51] Regulus says, "And from that tower we could keep this place free of demons and colonists"
[17:51] Leni asks, "Wouldn't it be easier to do that just outside the entrance though?"
[17:52] Leni says, "Like on the academy grounds, since no one's using it."
[17:52] Regulus asks, "I suppose, but wouldn't the University owners object to us constructing an Order base?"
[17:52] Regulus says, "I doubt it is entirely abandoned."
[17:52] Leni says, "Pffft. They don't have to know it's a base."
[17:52] Leni exclaims, "I guess when I grow trees all over it we'll find out anyway!"
[17:52] Regulus says, "So a concealed entrance? That could be interesting..."
[17:53] Leni says, "Mhm. If there's stuff growing all over, they won't think twice about some more stuff just growing over the entrance. Probably."
[17:53] Armondt says, "We did talk about concealin' the entrance rather than drawin' attention to it..."
[17:53] Regulus says, "Although it would be nice to have our Order's base here, in the wilds it seeks to protect."
[17:53] Regulus says, "I mean... look at this place."
[17:53] Leni asks, "Maybe, I think hiding it though's most important. Right?"
[17:53] Leni says, "Hiding it and finding people we can trust to keep it nice."
[17:54] Regulus says, "Well, there's no better hiding spot at the moment for an Order's base than up here. As Armondt said, plonking the base above the entrance might draw more attention."
[17:54] Regulus says, "We can still hide the entrance itself."
[17:54] Armondt says, "Either way, I ain't sure a tower needs to be constructed on either end. As long as this place can be hidden, but not in such a way that's too dramatic."
[17:54] Regulus says, "'tis true"
[17:54] Leni exclaims, "I think hiding the entrance comes first. Then we can figure out what to do!"
[17:55] Regulus asks, "If we wanted an Order Base, perhaps we could simply rent a place in Myllenoris?"
[17:55] Armondt says, "I don't think we gotta be an order, Reg..."
[17:55] Regulus says, "Aww, but it'd be fun."
[17:55] Regulus asks, "Besides, what happens when demons come a'calling?"
[17:55] Leni says, "We can be, like, a secret order."
[17:55] Regulus says, "Yes, that sounds great"
[17:55] Leni nods, with a feigned air of sagacity.
(Leni)
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[17:55] He grinned, almost like a child.
(Regulus)
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[17:56] Armondt says, "Yeah. We ain't need a guild, we ain't need a buildin', we ain't need anythin' /remotely/ official."
[17:56] Regulus says, "... But it'd be cool though."
[17:56] Armondt says, "Maybe. But that kinda thing can attract attention as easy as anythin' else."
[17:56] Regulus asks, "Come now, are you saying you never dreamed of joining an adventuring party as a child?"
[17:56] Leni says, "Mhm. Maybe we can just...pick a meeting spot, instead of having a base. That'd be super cool."
[17:56] Leni says, "And like, secrety."
[17:56] Regulus says, "Ooh, yes"
[17:56] Regulus says, "That could work"
[17:57] Leni grins too with similar child-like enthusiasm. She bounces a bit in place.
(Leni)
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[17:57] Armondt says, "Can't particularly say I have, as far as adventurin' parties are concerned."
[17:57] Regulus looked honestly confused. Was it just him who was like that as a child?
(Regulus)
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[17:58] Regulus says, "Still, it would seem wrong to simply drape a few vines over the entrance and give this place no more protection."
[17:58] Leni says, "Oh, no, I definitely wanna help protect it for sure."
[17:59] Regulus says, "Perhaps we could also help root out the demon problem in Esshar. While they're around, after all, this place can never be truly safe."
[18:00] Leni says, "I bet Fin'd know plenty about that too."
[18:00] Leni says, "We could head back to Myl- I saw his wife there, she might know where he is."
[18:00] Regulus asks, "Do you know where we might find Fin?"
[18:00] Regulus says, "Oh, that sounds good"
[18:00] Leni says, "He's usually in Myllenoris."
[18:00] Regulus says, "I'll follow you in that case Leni"
[18:00] Leni asks, "Alright! Ready, Arm?"
[18:00] Armondt says, "Yeah."