Salted Sands (A Caves of Qud-Inspired Cultivation Quest)

The morning tide brings the telltale taste of ash to their lips.

Kell hadn't even bothered trying to sleep, knowing that he'd struggle to even close his eyes let alone drift off to slumber. Not only because of the monstrous threats lurking in the shadows, but because the fires in the distance burned the whole night long.

Why would the fires still burn if there was anyone left to put them out?

It was the question that kept him up, the words playing through his head over and over again stripping him of any hope of sleep. By the time the dawn-edge pierced the horizon, the fires had only just began dying down.

The trip back was done in silence, for there was nothing to say when surrounded by the ruined dreams of past, present, and future. A single cart was all it took to carry the children, so it was all the men of Surran took with them from the once-Nordenite campsite.

It was only as Surran came into view that the blanketing silence was ripped asunder. A choked gasp slipped free of someone's throat as the taste of ash mixed with the smell of charred flesh. Bodies, dozens of them, litter the black-burnt rubble of a village called Surran. Some large, some small, all once someone with a name, with a story, with hopes and dreams, only to be reduced to piles of blackened flesh and scorched cloth.

Hundreds of black-feathered carrion birds circle overhead as they sound their cries of joy. One lands on a corpse, just before the horror-stricken cart, and swallows the morsel of flesh in its beak, "Behold, men of hope, and witness all that remains of your futile efforts!" The taunting crow dips its beak and rips free a fresh chunk of meat from the too-small body, "Nothing but a feast for my kin and me!"

A rifle barks and the crow disappears in a cloud of feathers as a cawing chorus echoes. Surt steps forward and cycles his weapon's bolt, the spent shell falling to the ground in a sharp clatter as he fixes each and every carrion-feeder with an evil eye, "Begone, spirits of ruin, and go bother some other poor soul!"

Mocking laughter is all he receives as the flock takes wing and retreats on their black feathers of death. Surt waits until they've all disappeared before his head and shoulders fall together. Lifting a hand overhead, he waves it in a broad circle, "Go... I don't know, go see if there's any survivors. Maybe the gods know mercy?"

Kell stares at the retreating forms of his comrades as they do just that. Each heads towards their familial home, each hoping to find any shred of hope in a burnt-out ashtray. Deep down, they must know they walk to hellish sights, but not a one can bear not knowing.

Which is exactly why Kell's feet take him towards the hillside house—his house.

Except, except it's not there. Where once stood—and should still—the proud home of the Nakeshi, now is but an empty lot of barren soil. Kell stares, brows furrowing deep crevices on his face, as the wind whistles in the distance.

There's nothing left of his home.

Kell is far from certain on how he's supposed to feel about this. Relief that he doesn't have to see his dead mother? Sorrow that there's no body to bury? Anger at whatever took his mother from him?

All Kell really feels is that odd emptiness inside, the same that arises whenever something truly awful happens. Like when his dog got picked off by a mountain beast. Not even the faint swirls of feelings that swirl about his being have anything to say.

The sharp report of a single gunshot breaks the silence as one of the once-defenders takes his own life. A tragedy, but understandable in the face of such despair.

As Kell gazes upon the empty ground of his once-home—his father, uncle, or any of the other men who went back nowhere to be seen here or in Surran—he's left with a list of responsibilities.

First and foremost, before any idea of revenge can be had, bodies must be buried. After that, though, Kell has a choice to make: north or south?

Shelter can be found in Nash to the north, where the Baron's rule is strongest. Though there is no love lost between the Surranese and the Baron, he is honor-bound to look after those under his care. He will provide what little aid he must.

However, the village of Melka to the south is both closer and will provide far grander aid to Kell and his sleeping siblings, thanks to their connection through their mother. Unfortunately, that same aid will likely not be extended to the other Surranese, forcing them to go north to Nash while Kell and his siblings go south.

What does Kell do?
[ ] North, to Nash
[ ] South, to Melka

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+3 XP for surviving a battle
+1 XP for surviving the intro arc
Final XP: 4

How do you wish to spend your 4 XP?
[ ] Write in

(Please vote by plan)
0~0~0

AN: And so, Kell finds his home gone and Surran a pile of ash. Will he go north, to the Baron's Nash, or will he go south, to his kin's Melka?

As the intro arc is now over, the update rate will slow down to the stated weekly. Sometimes, things may proceed differently, but that's what I'm aiming for.


Explanation of Stats and Skills and how Leveling Works
Stats govern how many dice you roll when doing the relevant activity (Every X = +1 Dice). Skills govern the numeric modifier that is added to the roll (Every X = +10). Purchasing a new Stat or Skill costs 1 XP, with every level after that costing an additional 1 XP.

Stats are more general than Skills. For melee Stats you have 'One-Handed', 'Two-Handed', 'Polearm', and 'Unarmed'. For ranged Stats you have things like 'Archery', 'Crossbows', 'Firearms', and 'Throwing'. For noncombat Stats you have 'Social', 'Craft', 'Movement', and 'Perception'.

Skills are more specific than Stats. To use Movement as an example, you might have 'Acrobatics', 'Swimming', 'Athletics', and 'Stealth' as Skills.

If something is not represented here, you may make it up yourself (pending approval from me, of course).

25-minute moratorium