[ Open ] FIELD TRIP FIELD TRIP FIELD TRIP

[noholdsbard]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: The forest!
WHEN: Backdated to the 20^th–21^st
WHAT: Some knights lead an expedition into the forest to find a chicken
WARNINGS: Probably nothing…for now

[ Upon the 20^th, a new message pops up on the network feed, from a certain #6363F9. ]

This is Archer. Due to the efforts of Sir Berkut and I, we have uncovered yet another clue as to the history of this realm.

Many of you might remember the sorry tale spoken of by #FFFFFF himself. We learned a great deal about that young man of Blue and the path he had taken into the forest. A few days ago, the locations of certain landmarks have been made known to us. We propose to conduct an expedition into the forest in search of the hen of legend, that we may yet find some way of learning this world’s history and perhaps prevent the forest from encroaching into town.

Needless to say, the journey will be difficult. We have need of fighters as well as healers, cooks, navigators, and others of the sort. If you wish to join, you will find us assembled at the edge of the forest north of Flavo at dawn. You may address your queries to me. Thank you.

[ And sure enough, there will be a small party already gathered at the appointed place at the dawn of the 21^st. Tristan will be happy to welcome you into the group since Berkut’s going to be a sourpuss about this no matter what. :’( ]

Preparations
[ This is where everyone’s getting briefed before heading out into the forest. You’ll be given the necessary infodump as well as a few instructions.

Using the remainder of his ink, Berkut has drafted a serviceable map noting the various landmarks and overall direction, which others are free to peruse and from which they can take notes of their own. Pry the map from his cold, dead hands though (unless you're Tristan). In addition, you will be instructed to gather supplies here before heading out. Characters should bring their own food and the like, or be prepared to forage/hunt in the forest. Expecting freebies from others is poor form!

Once the preliminaries are done, you’re free to spend the remainder of this time however you wish. Offer to team up with someone, question the party leaders, find a meat shield to hide behind, draw up your own maps, or simply give the intrepid adventurers a hearty sendoff! ]

The Forest
[ The adventure begins! Though it won’t be too strictly enforced (at least where Tristan is concerned), you will be instructed to please walk in something that even halfway resembles a formation. Healers and support to the center; those with combat experience to the vanguard, rear, and flank; the works. Or don't. Berkut will only judge and not be responsible if Keigo loses his head (thus spoke Tristan, "How sad"). Maimed limbs and lost teeth are not covered by the field trip's healing insurance.

Unfortunately, the forest seen in their visions is different from the present-day location, so finding the right path won’t be easy! You might want to break up into teams to search out specific landmarks and other useful stuff as you make the trek, or help set up camp when the group takes a rest stop, or fight off whatever forest creatures happen to stumble your way! Or maybe try to liven up the trip with a little game of Eye-Spy or even outright sneak off on your own adventures! No one’s going to judge—okay, Berkut might judge a little.

Whatever the case, it’s going to take a long time and a lot of trial and error to find the clues the forest has hidden away. ]

The Destination
[ The strength of your bonds will eventually prevail, however, as you finally locate a large stone covered in strange mossy patterns. You will be informed that the site of the hen must be very near. You’ll have to suffer through a thorny, overgrown path like in the story, but hey, nothing like a trial to strengthen your bonds, right?

Of course, once you reach the fabled site of the chicken, you’ll find…nothing! Wow, that was a waste of time. Feel free to search around just in case though, or set up camp and rest for the night. It’ll be a long and grueling journey back to town. ]

---

OOC: As part of the ongoing event, Berkut and Tristan have combined their inks to recreate a vision based on #FFFFFF’s forum post. Further details here and here!

TL;DR version:

• There is a way to find the location of the chicken from the story, but it definitely won't be easy.
• Strong bonds with people of a lot of colors will make the search easier.
• The journey itself will probably last only a day or two, but that’s not set in stone, so feel free to fudge timelines if you want.
• The chicken won’t actually be there, though, since the conditions aren’t right for its reappearance. However, those who enter the chicken area will, according to the mods, “have a very strong sense that there WILL be something there at some point… just not yet.”
• Basically, consider this an open mingle that’s available to everyone whether or not they have CR with Tristan or Berkut. Have fun, get lost, take pictures—you do you!

Comments

Tonbokiri - open prompts

[youwillbeunequaled]

Of course, Tonbokiri's got Archer's back.
And Berkut's, whether the young man likes it or not. [ ^.^ ]

[Forest: OPEN prompt]
This gathering is perfect timing, in Tonbokiri's mind. He's come to the realization that he should learn more about Archer as to better understand him. To that end, this outing is just the thing. You can tell much about a man by the comrades he keeps.

So as the group sets out, Tonbokiri travels through the (loosely bound) formation, looking for people to make conversation with.

"Did you come at Archer-dono's invitation? Or Berkut-dono's?"

[Destination: OPEN prompt]
Tonbokiri has read Mr. White's story on the forum, so he is not too surprised when their path brings them to a thicket of thorns.
Carefully using his gauntleted hands and his spear, he moves some of the thorn branches out of your way.

"Here. Be careful to not get caught."

And if the person passing by looks likely to the task: "Might you be able to hold the branches beyond this out of the way for others?"

[Feel free to message this account or private-plurk kohakushuurai if you'd like to make up something unique!]

Forest

[troubadamsel]

Maribelle gives him a little smirk, feeling more confident than usual.

"Who's to say it wasn't because of you?"

Forest

[wordsinthesoul]

Thancred tilts his head, curious, but he offers Tonbokiri a smile. He's helping out here, so Thancred assumes he's a good person. "I've met Archer, but not Berkut yet," he answers. "What of yourself?"

destination!

[noholdsbard]

“Thank you, my friend.” If his smile is a little tense, he’ll make that clear soon enough as he hacks away any more encroaching branches with his sword.

“But are you certain you should be in the front? You are hardly wearing any armor.”

destination

[uuuh]

[Oh, it's the man with the boar. She wouldn't have taken him for a combat-ready adventurer from their previous meeting, so Berserker is a little surprised to see him in the ranks.

She nods when he asks her to hold the overgrowth out of the way. She's plenty strong enough, and it should be simple to do.] Uh, uh.

[Berserker might have underestimated just how many others will need to walk though, however, so after she accepts the task and is left standing holding the branches, she becomes a little fidgety, her weight swaying back and forth impatiently as she starts to build up tense, unused energy.]

forest or camp

[rebeliune]

a.

[ Of course Mordred didn't bring food. She could hunt her own, but that takes effort, and it's easier to sidle up to someone and shamelessly say: ]

Oi, I'm starving. Give me something to eat. [ Not even a please. ]

b.

[ During any quiet periods during the journey, Mordred's voice can be heard, dramatically reading out something for all to hear. ]

"There! All a-glimmer, a chicken. Hope at last! His heart did quicken." Ah, jeez, it's too funny! That idiot really wrote a poem about a bird? I guess he can't do anything like a normal person.

[ Or feel free to overhear any of the other lines, because she'll be reading the whole thing out at one point or another... even if she has to constantly pause for laughter. ]

A

[troubadamsel]

Say the magic word.

[Oh, this is going to end well.]

forest!

[scooptimistic]

[ Maya has, of course, brought along many tins of canned crab--

And although she is reluctant to share them, for Mordred? She will certainly offer her a can. ]

Do you really need to eat? [ It's curiosity rather than judgment, at least. ]

A

[superioritis]

No.

[ This is his apple. ]

If you're to eat, you must supply the food yourself.

a Camp

[queenofminiskirts]

[She's brought...a lot of food. Like she's planning to feed a small family but actually, it's all for herself. But you know, even though her metabolism is all out of whack because of Plot Reasons, she still smiles and gestures at her small pile of food.]

Sure. As if I could ever deny a cute girl anything~.

[She even winks.]

a

[pyrafect]

Of course.

[ And here, she gladly hands Mordred some smoked dragon jerky, lightly peppered. ]

You're going through a lot of food, aren't you?

a

[artorian]

[ Saber wordlessly hands Mordred a raw potato. ]

a

[discernments]

I do not mind giving you something, if you earn it.

[ She's not here to give freebies. Jeanne encourages; she doesn't enable. ]

a;

[neronian]

[ Not even a please or thank you!! Not that Nero expected much else. She did bring some jerky, however, which was!! Midway to her mouth before Mordred so rudely interrupted. ]

You are more than an able enough warrior to fend for your own food.

b.

[uuuh]

[It's getting a little irritating to hear Mordred burst out with lines every time. Each new recitation has her grimacing and grumbling in mild irritation, waving vaguely at Mordred as if that might discourage her.

She also knows there's really no discouraging Mordred, though. When she starts up again, Fran tries to ignore it or otherwise drown it out in her mind, but she can't help but end up overhearing.

How sad, how tragic, this unfortunate tale of woe!...]

Uuuuuuuuh... [All three parts of that line just say the same thing. How redundant.]

[noholdsbard]

[ OOC: Prose & action are fine! ]

i. Preparations
With the preliminary instructions (mostly delivered by Berkut, since he’s the one with the voice that carries) done, Tristan sets off to make his own preparations. Now he’s sitting on a fallen log off to one side, tuning his harp as he watches the bustle around him.

He’ll smile and nod as you approach, setting aside his harp to give you his full attention.

“Was there something you needed?”

ii. On the march
He marches at the vanguard, of course, even if he’s not quite leader material like certain others in their number. It would be poor form for him to do otherwise.

It’s a relatively pleasant day today, even if they are currently mired in the ominous shadows of the forest’s creepy colorless trees. They seem intimidating enough at the edge of town, but within the woods they loom perhaps too closely, as if attempting to sap the energy from the party.

And well, that won’t do, so he pulls out his harp to play a gentle tune. In the meantime, nobody had better get themselves lost, or Tristan will shoot his harp at you and reel you back to safety like a fucking yo-yo at the first sign of trouble. And he will not miss.

iii. Camp
With camp all set up, it seems as good a time as any to review their position. Perhaps you wish to consult him on that matter; perhaps you are merely approaching to say hello. In any case, you’ll find that he’s busily rummaging into his pack, looking increasingly distressed even as a certain loud, boorish voice breaks up the lull.

“It is not here,” he murmurs, looking as if he might just die on the spot. Or at any rate vanish into an incorporeal state.

“I—I cannot find it anywhere. Oh, this is truly the worst, this is—this is a tragedy…”

iv. For want of a chicken
“How sad…”

In his heart of hearts he’d known that the fabled hen would not be here. After all, it had been stolen away, and neither he nor Berkut had ever received any clues as to its whereabouts now. Though there is the potent sense that something might happen there eventually, for now it seems fruitless to continue on searching the clearing where the hen had once been.

So now he sits, close to the campfire this time around, brooding as is his wont. He’ll look up as you approach, though he offers no smile for the company—

“Forgive me. It seems that this was a fruitless endeavor all along.”

v. Wildcard!

iii

[troubadamsel]

My, isn't that curious? It usually seems like Archer always has everything together. Cautiously, she began to approach him from behind. "Archer...?"

iv

[superioritis]

"On the contrary."

In contrast, Berkut doesn't look so disappointed. He's traveled farther on rougher terrain many a time. As far as he's concerned, the journey itself was nothing. As for the location . . .

"What matters is that we found this place. If we must come here again, the path will have already been made clear."

camp

[rebeliune]

"Looking for this?"

Mordred takes a break from her dramatic reading to wave his journal about in the air with a grin... only to reopen it and start again.

"By the chicken his love has failed... and then he grew pale, because he didn't hide his journal well enough! Hahahahaha!"

iv

[queenofminiskirts]

In contrast, Kaoru is all smiles still. "Hey, don't you know it's rude to look like that in the company of a cute girl?"

Then she'll sit down beside him, close enough that their shoulders are touching. She makes herself comfortable, with her knees draw up. "And I wouldn't say it was completely fruitless. We did find something even if it wasn't what you hoped it'd be."

iii.

[artorian]

Saber hasn't tuned in to Mordred's recitation yet, having audibly blacklisted Mordred as she has for most of the day, but she does notice Tristan looking harried as he digs around in his pack. She stops and looks down at him curiously.

"Archer?" she speaks up, mindful of the others in camp. "Have you lost something?"

iv

[espritdecorpse]

He's been more like a will-o-the-wisp than a proper party member, appearing and disappearing before and behind the group throughout their travels. It never seems purposeful, just a matter of his apparently seeing something interesting and vanishing into forest, before popping back into view. Anyone who's glimpsed his face has always seen him smiling; the only thing that's missing is his constant laughter.

Not that people ever usually notice a void.

His footfalls are silent as he sits down cross-legged before the campfire, its warm glow lighting his face, while the rest of him seems to bleed into the forest's grey shadows. He doesn't speak right away in response to Archer's apology, just gazing into the fire with his fixed smile.

After a while, he turns to the man and asks, "Were you hoping to give it to someone? The hen, I mean."

[troubadamsel]

Preparations

[Maribelle is checking over everyone's equipment and supplies... which does make her look like she's sneaking into your things. She's not a thief, even if she's acting like one - she just wants to make sure everything is up to code. Just her specific code.]

Hmmm... not quite what I expected, but I suppose it shall do. This was rather last minute, after all.

Forest

[It's a long journey, and not everyone here is used to those. As such, when Maribelle spots someone who is lagging behind or looks tired, she climbs off her horse, and heads towards them.]

Here, climb on. Until you feel better, you can ride. Not for too long, mind you. But just enough.

Destination - A

[Ouch. Thorny times were Not Fun. Maribelle's used a basic Heal on her horse, but she might glance at you if you suffer any wounds as well.]

Oh, that won't do at all, we can't risk it getting infected. Come over here right now.

Destination - B

[All that for nothing? Someone isn't taking this well.]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

[Maribelle is that someone.]

All that time, food, travel, and there's NOT A SINGLE THING TO BE FOUND?! Is this some sort of joke? A nightmare? A punishment? THIS IS TOO FAR, CHROMA, TOO FAR!

Preparations

[superioritis]

[Once instructions are given, Berkut, who expects them to be carried out to the letter, makes himself scarce for preparations of his own. Upon his return—with his war horse trailing beside him, led by the reins—he sights Maribelle overlooking a pack.]

Are these yours?

Lan WangJi - Open prompts (will match format)

[alittlespicy]

The Forest

[ WangJi is in the rear, keeping an eye out for anything that might follow or threaten them. And to make sure that nobody is left behind, no matter what.

He tends to keep silent, unless somebody talks to him... or unless somebody tries to stray from the group. ]

Should not give in to temptations, away from the goal. So the story said.

Cooking

[ WangJi would not offer to cook, on his own.

But if certain people attempt to do so, who are making a mess out of it (examples: Wei WuXian - sorry, but not everyone can eat that - or Xie Lian - that's more weapon than food) attempt to do so, he will quietly but very, very firmly take over.

Not easy to guess by his pristine white flowing robes look, but he's actually rather good at it, giving separate sets of food, one with no spice at all, and the other somewhat spicy. ]

Destination

[ WangJi stares at the bramble. Then at the party.

Then, for once, raises his voice. Slightly. ]

Does anyone need to go over?

[ Because he can fly people over it. ]

Wildcard

Hit him up.

cooking!

[noholdsbard]

[ Well it’s hard not to be drawn to him given that tantalizing smell, though he’s more interested in checking on Wangji rather than taking a bite himself, since Servants don’t need to eat anyway no matter what Saber says. ]

It seems that Blue Saber’s appraisal of your cooking was no mere exaggeration.

[ Not that he’d ever accuse her of exaggerating, but… ]

closed to berkut

[pyrafect]

[ It's been months since she's seen the young prince, months since that time, and it's never once left her mind how badly she had hurt him, even if the enchantments of Chroma had played a large part in it. When she sees him for the first time in this long while, she almost second-guesses coming along the journey at all...

Thankfully, he only regards her professionally, if a little more stiffly, than she recalls the man behaving, but given the circumstances of their falling-out, she can hardly blame him. She's still truly sorrow for her actions and words back then, and his decision to stay away from her cannot be blamed. In fact, she's surprised that she hasn't pushed more away...

Isn't it better this way, actually, that those she cares about stay away from her? She wasn't even meant to be on any earth, originally, anyway.

But that doesn't mean she can't express her concern for him, now that they're finally making their way through the thorny overgrowth.

She'll attempt to strike up a conversation with him in the meantime. ] There's... quite a bit of it. [ The thorns that impede their path. She reaches out to one of them, bringing out a flame. It quickly ignites and spreads to the vines, incinerating the ones directly in front of them on the spot. Ashes fall from her unclenched palm to the ground. ] ...But maybe this means like we're getting close, like in the story.

[superioritis]

[ In the interest of keeping the damage to a minimum, Berkut dismounts his horse to traverse the path mired in thorns. This puts him at an even pace with Pyra, whom he hears more than he sees. His gaze is fixed on the beaten path ahead, watching for landmarks to guide the way.

Absence has not made the heart grow fonder. The anger he'd felt has, on the other hand, receded to a dull indifference.

Had the words she'd uttered so irreverently been the truth, or had they been lies fed to her by Chroma? For while he hadn't been pressed into spinning falsehoods, he'd encountered others who had. Over the course of this period they've spent apart, Berkut can't deny that he's wondered this from time to time.

No matter. Either way, he won't allow her (or anyone else) in so easily, even as he steps through the opening made from her power. ]

We will know for certain once we reach the clearing. Complacency before the journey is over will only serve to weaken you before its end.