[ 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?"

[youwillbeunequaled]

He blinks at her in surprise. "Me? Well, yes, that could be possible..."

He's just not sure how to take that. Hopefully not because her role as a healer prompts her to pursue him. She has been invaluable in keeping up his maintenance, but he also laments how often he's had to go to her for healing.

"No matter the reason, I am glad you are here, Maribelle-dono. You seem to be in exceptionally good form today, as well."

Referring to that confident smirk she is wearing.

[troubadamsel]

Her ego enjoys the stroking, thank you.

"What can I say? I'm good at what I do, and what I do is something that's often needed. I could hardly turn down such a quest."

[youwillbeunequaled]

You're welcome.

"Hopefully neither of our talents will be needed on this quest. But should they be, I am pleased to have you at my back."

As they walk along, Tonbokiri decides to bring up what's on his mind:

"Maribelle-dono, what do you think of Archer-dono?"

[troubadamsel]

"Archer?" She supposes it's not completely out of left field, given he's why they're all out here.

"I do think he tends to pick at his own wounds too much... but otherwise, he's a complete gentleman."

[youwillbeunequaled]

He is pleased that Maribelle-dono has such a fine compliment for his friend.
Nodding thoughtfully, he asks, "Has he shared with you what those wounds are?"

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?"

[youwillbeunequaled]

"I know both men, however I am closer to Archer-dono."

Giving the white-haired man a slight bow as they walk, he continues, "Thank you for joining us today. I know that Archer-dono will be glad for all the people willing to assist with this foray. If I may ask, in what capacity did you join? Fighter? Healer?"

Tonbokiri had been amused by Archer asking for 'cooks' in the forum, but if they are out overnight, it might be a good thing.

[wordsinthesoul]

Thancred does his best to return the bow, not entirely used to doing so on the move. "I hope to be able to be of assistance," he assures the other man. "As to my ability- I have some little amount of healing, but I feel I may be bet suited to fighting if we need it. Otherwise- I can do what I can to assure our comfort out here. And yourself?"

[youwillbeunequaled]

"With such diversity of talents, you shall certainly find ways to be of assistance." He grins reassuringly, then at the question holds his sheathed spear out before him.

"I am first and foremost a spear, and to that nature I remain. However I have also found opportunity to grow a variety of other talents since being granted this form."

He pauses there, glancing at the man to see if he's confused him already. "My apologies. Having said that, perhaps some introduction is in order. I am one of the Three Great Spears of Japan, Tonbokiri."

[wordsinthesoul]

"Indeed!" Thancred smiles back, before turning his attention to the spear, looking it over curiously. He listens intently to Tonbokiri's words, nodding- before raising his head after a moment, looking him over. "A spear- you mean, you are one, yourself? How did this come to be?"

[youwillbeunequaled]

Tonobkiri smiles in satisfaction - ah, a man who takes him literally.

"Yes, I do mean exactly that. If I may, I shall explain what I am from the start. In the world I am from, spirits can come to live within well-cared for items after a hundred years. In the time I am from, a Saniwa, a sage, can summon forth the spirits of swords and give them human form. I am one such spirit - the spirit of this very spear, Tonbokiri."

Taking a hold of the sheath of his spear he warns, "I am named for when I cut a dragonfly in two without moving, and my blade remains keen. Please do not reach for it." (Because everyone tries to touch it. Seriously.)

Unsheathing the spear, he lets the man look at it and take in his story for a moment. The symbols on the blade do match the ones that can be seen on his chest underneath his battle uniform, so that should be sufficient to corroborate the story.

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.”

!

[youwillbeunequaled]

Tonbokiri blinks in surprise at the statement of the obvious, then laughs heartedly.

"I suppose I do not think about my uniform that way. But this much," he indicates the thorny branches, "is nothing." He then pauses heavily, his expression falling. "...I suppose there is the chance of the thorns being poisonous though. I will be cautious."

[noholdsbard]

“I should have advised you to wear armor.” Or at least some sort of thick padding, because he sure does feel rotten that others of their number must also be suffering quite a bit from the thorns. Never mind if there are healers—he still remembers the last time the town had been engulfed in such spiky vegetation.

“Perhaps my cape…”

[youwillbeunequaled]

He can't help but laugh even more. "I am wearing armour."
He then glances at the mentioned cape. "Would that hold the thorns back well? It does look somewhat thick."

[noholdsbard]

Not enough armor, mind!

“As to that…not very much, I am afraid.” If anything, that’s more to ward against the cooler climes of Britain if not to serve some ceremonial purpose.

“Perhaps for just this once you should be at the rear, Tonbokiri.”

[youwillbeunequaled]

More for ceremonial looks than for practical use. He sees.

The suggestion to take the rear makes him raise an eyebrow.

"Are you that concerned about the thorns? Again, I assure you that I will be cautious. However, as you are one of the leaders of this mission, I shall move as you direct me."

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.]

[youwillbeunequaled]

[Ah, this girl.
He'd never found out her name... He wonders how things went with her dog.]

Thank you.

[Holding the thorns back does go much smoother with two people, but it doesn't take long for Tonbokiri to notice that the girl is restless.
Would asking her questions distract her sufficiently though?]

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

[He pauses after both names, to give her time to shake or nod her head.]

[uuuh]

[Berserker's still tapping her foot while he asks the question, but it distracts her enough to quell some of the more obvious fidgeting.]

Uh-huh! [It's in response to "Archer," and she nods slightly as she says it.] Nuuuah... [They know each other...compatriots, you might call them. They may not be from exactly the same time, but at least their world is a shared one.]

[youwillbeunequaled]

[Despite that oddly neutral-sounding 'nuuuah', Tonbokiri visibly brightens.]

I'm pleased to meet another comrade of Archer-dono's. Did you only meet him once coming to this Town- to Chroma? Or did you happen to know him from before?

[Again, pausing after each question. It makes for a slow conversation, asking yes or no questions, but Tonbokiri is patient and curious to learn about the girl as well.]

[uuuh]

Mmmm... [It's a little complicated, but...

Eventually, Fran does nod her head with a soft "uh-huh" in response to the first question. It's true they only met for the first time upon her arrival here, at least on her end. Though Archer claimed to know her in some other circumstances, their meeting here was the first for her.

She looks skyward and, momentarily distracted by the tree-raked canopy above them, stays fixed in that position for a moment, silent and still, as if they'd never been talking at all.

Then, sooner or later, she seems to regain her bearings. She gestures to herself with the hand that isn't effortlessly holding back the underbrush.] Ber-ser-ker...

[Then she turns the hand in Tristan's general direction.] Aaaa...rcher. [It's an attempt to highlight their classes so that Tonbokiri might understand the relationship between them.]

[youwillbeunequaled]

[The girl is apt to take the oddest and longest pauses... He starts worrying that asking even this much is too intrusive to her. But then she gives him a further answer.

It takes Tonbokiri a beat, but her attempt entirely pays off.]

You are a summoned being as well, then?
With the borrowed name of Berserker?

And you are from the same world as Archer-dono, although you hadn't met before coming here?
Even so, I hope you find it reassuring that you have a comrade from home near you, Berserker-dono.

[Ah, he is pleased that he at last has a name to call her by.]