Places to Chat
DnD Solo Write
Chatterbox: Inkwell
DnD Solo Write
DnD Solo Write
The Prologue, starring Danie, Esthaenie, and Adelram:
The mist wound thick around the meadow as Danielle Amora picked her way across, cloak dragging through the dew-hung grass. Her boots were soaked through, toes clenched against the chill that drifted across the way.
Ahead of her, Adelram stalked through the fog, feathered arms clasped in reverence.
“This is as far as I shall take you. Be wary and wise, Amora.” The kenku’s beak clicked as he spoke, silhouetted by the light of the moon. His simple brown robe draped in billows over his shoulders. Danielle liked the man: he was quiet, and honest, much unlike most kenku. Adelram was an excellent monk and guide.
“Thank you, Adelram,” Danie said, wrapping her cloak more tightly around her middle. She winced at the tremor in her voice. Adelram nodded solemnly and began to leave when he paused.
“Ms. Amora,” he said, raven-like head bowed, “if I may… why are you here? There is naught here but a meadow, last I heard.”
Danie’s ears turned pink. “Do you know the Oracle of Verineth?”
The kenku shrank back. Danie regretted her words, wincing under her mask of calm. She was a fool to tell him.
“You spoke to the Oracle himself?” Adelram said, half-terrified and half-reverent. Danie’s eyebrows quirked at the hint of awe in his tone. She straightened.
“Yes, I did. And he said to come to this meadow, outside Graywing City.” Danie crossed her arms, but doubt ate at her all the same.
Adelram, however, looked satisfied. “The Oracle is wise, and trustworthy, despite being a filth--”
Adelram’s eyes widened. He put a hand to his beak. “Amora, I did not mean to speak in that way. I hope you understand.”
Danielle nodded. “I get it. And I know what he is. I’m not afraid of them.” Her voice went just a bit too high on the last word.
Adelram nodded, casting his eyes down. “Until we meet again.”
Danielle gave him a weak smile. “So long.”
He vanished into the mist without a sound. Danie shivered.
She walked forward, eyes scanning for trouble, ears pricked for the sound of pursuers. She was a rogue. Rogues prepared for the worst.
There were no footprints on the ground. The wet earth sucked at her feet as she walked, caking her boots and dragging her backward. She grumbled under her breath.
She dragged her boot along the ground until she came to a toadstool. It was green, like her cloak and hair, and almost blended into the grass but for the pulsing glow that came from within the bulbous top. It was a flight fungus.
She stopped in the meadow and screamed in irritation.
“A flight fungus?” she called, “I walk for miles to get to the city, pay 30 diamonds to hire a guide, and I get a flight fungus?”
She swooped down and plucked it, eyes blazing in blind irritation. Flight fungi were common around Verineth, and almost completely useless. One bite meant fifteen seconds of flight, and only fifteen. They couldn’t even be useful enough to give more than one bite, either. They crumbled to powder after the first nibble. Danie growled and crumpled the stalk in her hand. There went the last of her money until she bartered or stole for a meal. There went three days of walking. By the gods, she had had enough of Oracles.
A thunderclap drowned out her screaming. She tensed, waiting for rain, but it never fell. An electrical storm. Perfect. She looked up to the sky, daring the lightning to hit her. It would be preferable to her current existence.
A flash of golden lightning illuminated the woman in the clouds. Danie stopped shouting, suddenly sobered by the sight.
The woman hovered, violet dress billowing against the clouds, curls of red hair scattering across her back. Two ivory wings curved against her back as she levitated in the clouds.
An angel? Danie watched in awe as the woman’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, deep gray-green eyes glazed with lightning’s glow.
The woman began to fall.
Danie’s breath caught. The woman pitched backward and fell, unconscious, skirts twirling in dizzying whorls. The flight fungus grew heavy in her hand.
Danie took a bite from the fungus and felt it crumble in her hand. She stepped off the ground and began flailing, trying to make it to the falling woman. Thirteen seconds left.
She picked up some speed, wind battering her face, and swept in under the falling woman. Danie wrapped her arms around the tall woman and tried to slow the descent, breath wheezing through her lungs, grasping for oxygen. Seven seconds left.
Danie slowed in the air and readjusted her grip on the winged elf. The woman curled against her. A strained sigh escaped Danie’s lips. She was safe.
The woman’s eyes fluttered open, bleary in the mist. She blinked twice and let out a ragged cough.
Danie’s vision faded for a moment. In her mind, she saw the dark, gaunt face of the Oracle of Verineth, laughing, the third eye stitched to his forehead glowing with scarlet light. She shuddered.
She snapped out of her reverie when the gorgeous woman screamed and punched her in the face.
submitted by Brookeira
(October 24, 2017 - 8:10 am)
(October 24, 2017 - 8:10 am)
Woahh, element, those are cool!
(October 31, 2017 - 9:43 am)
Thanks, EG! Omg, these are amazing!!
(October 31, 2017 - 10:34 am)
There will be a new part soon! Hopefully by Friday. In the meantime, be awaiting a thread based on this to pop up (contest!)
(November 1, 2017 - 8:02 am)
Yassss! This is awesome!
(November 1, 2017 - 9:19 am)
Yes oh yes oh YESS it is indeed, Leafpool!!! I need to find out how to play DnD because I lovelovelovelove roleplay fantasy stuff!!!!!!!!!! I am so making charries inspired by DnD and checking out the DnD contest thread!
(November 2, 2017 - 7:55 pm)
Eris sipped her third pint of ale with a scowl on her face. This wood elf was insane. Beautiful, yes, adorable, absolutely, but completely insane.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Illaeara said beside her, nonplussed.
The wood elf grinned. “I’m Starflower, of course, from the wood elf kingdom of Vrinsa. I have work for your party, world-saving work!”
“I’m sure. Eris, will you stop that?” Illaeara hissed, glaring at Eris’ fourth mug of ale.
“Shove it, phantom,” Eris said, downing the pint in one sip. Illaeara huffed.
“You could be a tad less… vague about the nature of this world-saving work.” the wizard said. Eris flicked a bit of foam at her. Illaeara kicked her under the table.
“I agree. What are the dangers, Starflower?” Esthaenie asked, brow furrowed. Starflower laughed. Eris blushed. Her laugh sounded like a quick strum down a lute in the middle of a maypole fair. She mentally berated herself and ordered another round, face pink.
“Oh, don’t worry! I’ll accompany you. Anyhow, it’s not as though the fate of the universe hangs in the balance! It’s only the fate of the world. You’re at least 20% less likely to die a horrible death!”
Starflower beamed and sat back, content. Eris snickered. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Danie and Esthaenie, bemused and a tad less confident than when they walked in, and Illaeara, eye-lights bright scarlet in irritation. She turned to Westward and scowled. He was staring at the wood elf like a lovestricken idiot.
Well, ha. Eris met her first.
“Thank you, Starflower. My fears have been put to rest. When do we start?”
“Great! We’ll set off-”
“She was being sarcastic,” Danie said, picking her teeth with her dagger. Starflower deflated.
“Sorry. Your humor is too subtle for me.” The druidess said, slumping.
“Look,” Eris slurred, “Illaeara’s humor is about as subtle as Westward’s flirting when he’s had too many pints.”
Westward looked as though he were about to strangle Eris. Eris smirked.
“Anyways… we’d be stupid to trust you and stupid to help. We have no idea what we’re up against. So you can go take your quest and shove it--”
“We’d be glad to assist you, Lady Starflower.” Westward said.
Eris’ head whipped to the side. The room swam for a moment. She cursed her drunkenness. Lovesick idiot! Eris let out a snort and rolled her eyes.
“Like I said, stupid.”
“What in the Great Underdark, Westward?” Illaeara snapped, eye lights pure red. Westward flinched, taken aback, then smiled.
“Speaking as a person of lawful good alignment, it would be wrong not to assist this woman. Are we in agreement?” He said, turning to Starflower. She beamed at him.
“No!” Esthaenie said, aghast, “I’m trying to lay low, if you’ve forgotten!”
Danie put a hand to the avariel’s shoulder. “I’m in agreement with my ava-elf friend. This is a suicide mission.”
“Yeah, what are we,” Eris began, “some kind of Suicide Squ-”
“Eris, for the love of Corellon, stop imbibing that ale. You’re going to sing those idiotic songs again.” Illaeara said, taking a sip of her tea.
“I’ll idiotic your songs into next week,” Eris said, trying her best to be threatening. Judging by Illaeara’s eye-lights, blue with amusement, it wasn’t working. Eris slumped against the table.
“I can offer you… hmm… how about one billion gold pieces per party member?”
Eris’ head shot up. “I’m in!” she shouted, instantly sober.
Danie was nodding vigorously while Esthaenie blanched in shock. Starflower shrieked with joy and gave Eris a kiss on the cheek. Eris turned to smirk at Westward, who turned red and tried to contain his rage. The four turned to the silent member of the party.
Illaeara’s eye-lights were multicolored with confusion. “I--how--how do we know you’ll give us the money?”
“Simple!” Starflower said, “I’ve already put one million into your accounts at the bank.”
There was a long pause. Danie nodded and dashed out, footsteps receding into the night. The others waited in silence. Eris snatched another ale tankard. Illaeara yawned quietly. Westward looked at her with a mixture of hope and apprehension.
The pounding of Danielle’s footsteps grew louder. Eris could hear her panting as she ran. The door burst open again.
“HOLY FL-” Danie began, eyes bright with excitement. The table erupted. Westward was smug, Esthaenie hugged Danielle, and Eris cheered drunkenly, banging her tankard against the table. Even Illaeara’s eye-lights turned turquoise with barely-contained excitement.
The table quieted down. West, Star, Danielle, and Esthaenie turned to look at Illaeara. Eris lurched in her seat and barely managed to turn.
“So,” Westward said, grinning, “ready to learn how we save the world, Illaeara?”
Illaeara paused and sighed. “Alright, we’ll hear her case.”
Westward whooped and moved to embrace Illaeara, then thought better of it. He slowly shrank back in his chair, ears pink.
“So, erm, Star,” Danielle said, breaking the silence, “what’s wrong with the world?
Star’s face turned grim. “The Vakashards are being hunted.”
(November 3, 2017 - 8:37 am)
Neato! Can't wait for the next part!
(November 3, 2017 - 12:42 pm)
*Claps enthusiastically* I love it!
(November 3, 2017 - 3:15 pm)
Should I know what Vakashards are? Well, I guess I'll find out. I'm really stuck on this, Brookeira! It's awesome!
(November 3, 2017 - 3:25 pm)
They’re an original invention of mine, so no, you shouldn’t know. ;)
(November 3, 2017 - 5:08 pm)
Brookeira, I love this!!! I completely cracked up on that last part!!! Azkiel says oofz. What did you run into, crazy?
(November 4, 2017 - 2:15 pm)
New part coming Wednesday or Thursday! Top!
(November 6, 2017 - 9:01 am)
Westward nearly tripped over Danie’s cloak, the voices of his companions dull and droning in his ears. He caught himself and gave her a glare. She shrugged and continued onward, hopping over a stump.
“The Vakashards are impossible to reach.” Esthaenie said from the front of the party. Starflower shook her head.
“They’re not impossible. We need to reach Verineth, then Vrinka-Wood, then Varisol, then Vosikoth.” Starflower said.
“I feel that someone in the distant past had a fixation on the letter V,” called Illaeara, lagging behind at the back of the party. Her heavy cloak was dragging her down, and seemed to snare on a thornbush every other step. Her eye-lights were purple with resigned embarrassment.
“Try to keep up,” Westward called, absent-minded, staring at Starflower’s hair as it cascaded over her shoulders. She was dressed in a woven fabric of verdant vines that hugged her figure and trailed delicately through the grass. Thornbushes shied away from her, unwilling to hurt her. She let out a sigh.
“The shard in Vrinka-Wood is relatively safe, what with the druid cadre on watch day in and day out. Anyways, the shard of Vosikoth is by far the safest. It’s buried deep within the stronghold of the dark elves. No sane person would venture there.” Illaeara paused to wrench her cloak from the stump it was caught under. Westward let out a snort. Illaeara’s eye-lights turned pink with embarrassment. He felt a bit guilty, and turned back around.
“Someone might be able to reach Vosikoth’s shard, but Varisol’s shard is so high in the air that even avariel cannot reach it without suffocating. There isn’t enough air.” said Esthaenie.
“Gee, you sure seem to know a lot about avariel,” Star said innocently. Esthaenie stiffened, going sheet-white. Westward winced.
“Yes--well--I-”
“Yeah, because she is one. Thought that was obvious.” Eris said, ruffling a chestnut-toned hand through her hair.
“Oh, that makes sense! Can I see your wings?” Starflower smiled. Esthaenie sputtered. Danie looked ready to pummel Eris into the earth.
“No use. She won’t sell them.” Illaeara said. She was now around forty feet behind the party, struggling with a particularly aggressive thornbush. “Also, isn’t there a shard in Vilimount?”
Starflower frowned. “There was a shard in Vilimount.”
Illaeara gasped, though Westward barely heard it. She was around sixty feet behind, boot lodged in the side of a tree stump. “It has been stolen? How? It’s under ten miles of sheer rock---”
“What?” Danielle called, straining along with the others to hear the wizard.
Illaeara muttered to herself angrily and pulled at the stump. She was just getting her boot free when she took another step forward and groaned.
“There’s another thornbush here. My apologies.” she shouted. Westward huffed and stomped toward her, boots crushing the plant material beneath. He stopped just short of her and looked down. The thornbush was attacking her with gusto.
“Get free or I’m using Operation Princess on you.” Westward said, unable to suppress a smirk.
Illaeara turned to look at him, enraged. “I am a wizard, and I will coat you in weevils, do you understand? I will coat you in spiders, cockroaches, anything I can get my hands on, and when you wake up screaming for someone to pour a bucket of water on you, I’ll get Starflower to help me geyser you with it. Do you hear me? I-”
“You aren’t free, Operation Princess is a go.” Westward said, grabbing the thornbush and ripping it away. He swept his arms under her and picked her up. She was slender and hardly weighed a thing as he carried the fuming wizard carefully back to the party. Eris was on the ground, cackling. Danie chuckled. Esthaenie tried to keep a serious expression.
“Aww, that’s so sweet!” said Starflower.
Westward quickly dropped Illaeara, blushing.
“When we make camp,” Illaeara said, lying prone on the ground, “I will cover you with ants.”
(November 6, 2017 - 9:35 am)
Ack! I can see that Brookeira just posted a new part, but it hasn't showed up yet! *Goes off and sulks in a corner*
(November 6, 2017 - 10:09 am)
*Gives Brookeira thumbs-up* More! You should publish this or something!
(November 6, 2017 - 10:41 am)