A simple Quest about exploring a strange wilderness and learning its many runes. Features elements of mechanical exploration and discovery as well as wilderness exploration and discovery.
RUNE: Revive Unfortunately Naked, Explore
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 19
- Recent readers
- 0
- Threadmarks
- 3
-
Statistics (3 threadmarks, 1.6k words)
User Total Magnusth 3
Who are you?
- Location
- Denmark
You wake up.
That was a mistake.
The first thing you notice is pain everywhere. A sharp pain up your back, a deep, dull pain filling your head, a feeling like fire and ice in your eyes. A slow, lazy pain making itself known in your legs and everywhere else.
You're lying on something hard and cold, something rough and dirty, full of sharp little things digging into your skin.
For a little while, you just lie there, in with the pain, and sharp, rough things, the rough, hard, thing below you. Eventually, your addled mind begins forming questions.
Where are you?
How did you get here?
Who are you, even?
.
.
.
Unfortunately, no answers are forthcoming. You just don't know. But lying there, with your thoughts, trying to gather yourself, you do remember something. A Rune, one you know well.
Which rune?
[ ]: The Flame Rune.
The Rune of fire and heat, of roaring bonfires, flickering hearths, dancing candle flames. A powerful Rune, ancient and elemental.
[ ]: The Wind Rune.
The Rune of the winds, of storms and breezes, tornados and soaring winds. A powerful Rune, ancient and elemental
[ ]: The Death Rune.
The Rune of endings, final and absolute, of the darkest domain. A terrifying power, deep and dark.
[ ]: The Strength Rune.
The Rune of strength, of heavy loads, strong backs, and unrelenting force. A primal Rune, as old as flesh.
[ ]: The Animal Rune.
The Rune of noble Beasts, of fowl and fish and everything that walks or flies or swims on four legs. A worldly Rune, lively and deep.
A Rune. A piece of the world, a glimmer of knowledge, a symbol of ancient power. A small comfort, but a comfort.
Still, you'll have to get up at some time, look around, find out where you are. Who you are. All of that. You take a deep breath, sending a jolt of pain through your lungs, and try to sit up…
without success. Your elbows and your back and your ass press into the small things you're lying on and you give up before you move as much as an inch.
Eyes first.
You open your eyes, fearing a blinding light, but for the first time, you are lucky. the light is low and dark, and your eyes are spared a searing pain. They take a moment to adjust.
You are in a cave, and a dim light shines in from the mouth of it, casting grey shadows all around you. You turn your head slowly, and determine that you are laying on cold stone, and the things pressing into your skin are small pieces of rock and gravel. You are wearing nothing but loincloth and your skin is covered in deep scratches and bruises, hidden under a layer of dirt and grime. You turn your head and see something lying besides you.
What is it?
[ ]: A spear.
A crude bronze head on a crude shaft, but it looks sturdy enough. Useful for fighting, possibly for hunting. Could only be thrown very poorly.
[ ]: An iron knife, a hunter's knife.
Good for skinning, whittling wood, and other survivalist tasks. Not made for fighting, but better than a sharp rock.
[ ]: A leather satchel.
Looks mostly empty, but there might be something in there. And a satchel is useful for carrying things, if you find anything to carry.
[ ]: A throwing-stick.
A primitive weapon, made for hunting and for war. Good if you don't want to get up to prey. Could be used as a club, if necessary
[ ]: A half-burnt journal.
Perhaps it has some answers?
[ ]: A waterskin.
It looks full.
[ ]: A large leather cloak.
Protection from the elements. You could sleep under it, too.
[ ]: A clay cooking pot.
It smells like there's food in it.
[ ]: A large tabby cat.
He looks to be in a bit better condition than you are, and nuzzles you affectionately. Might be trained to hunt?
Whatever it is, you slowly rise and pick it up, then turn to the entrance of the cave. Time to face your surroundings.
You do not know who you are.
HP: 7/??
__________________________________
Welcome to RUNE: Revive Unfortunately Naked, Explore. This is my new Quest, or rather, a rerun of an older one i ran elsewhere. As always, my quests use approval voting. What is approval voting? Approval voting means you can vote for as many options as you want and should vote for all that you approve of. Basically: go down the list and go "yeah, that's cool, that's rad, i like that, hm, that's interesting" and vote for those.
This Quest is meant to be relatively low-effort for me. Ideally, I will post short updates 2-3 times a week, faster if/when it makes sense.
As a side note, I will not be answering any mechanics questions. Those are there for me to know, and you to discover and explore.
That was a mistake.
The first thing you notice is pain everywhere. A sharp pain up your back, a deep, dull pain filling your head, a feeling like fire and ice in your eyes. A slow, lazy pain making itself known in your legs and everywhere else.
You're lying on something hard and cold, something rough and dirty, full of sharp little things digging into your skin.
For a little while, you just lie there, in with the pain, and sharp, rough things, the rough, hard, thing below you. Eventually, your addled mind begins forming questions.
Where are you?
How did you get here?
Who are you, even?
.
.
.
Unfortunately, no answers are forthcoming. You just don't know. But lying there, with your thoughts, trying to gather yourself, you do remember something. A Rune, one you know well.
Which rune?
[ ]: The Flame Rune.
The Rune of fire and heat, of roaring bonfires, flickering hearths, dancing candle flames. A powerful Rune, ancient and elemental.
[ ]: The Wind Rune.
The Rune of the winds, of storms and breezes, tornados and soaring winds. A powerful Rune, ancient and elemental
[ ]: The Death Rune.
The Rune of endings, final and absolute, of the darkest domain. A terrifying power, deep and dark.
[ ]: The Strength Rune.
The Rune of strength, of heavy loads, strong backs, and unrelenting force. A primal Rune, as old as flesh.
[ ]: The Animal Rune.
The Rune of noble Beasts, of fowl and fish and everything that walks or flies or swims on four legs. A worldly Rune, lively and deep.
A Rune. A piece of the world, a glimmer of knowledge, a symbol of ancient power. A small comfort, but a comfort.
Still, you'll have to get up at some time, look around, find out where you are. Who you are. All of that. You take a deep breath, sending a jolt of pain through your lungs, and try to sit up…
without success. Your elbows and your back and your ass press into the small things you're lying on and you give up before you move as much as an inch.
Eyes first.
You open your eyes, fearing a blinding light, but for the first time, you are lucky. the light is low and dark, and your eyes are spared a searing pain. They take a moment to adjust.
You are in a cave, and a dim light shines in from the mouth of it, casting grey shadows all around you. You turn your head slowly, and determine that you are laying on cold stone, and the things pressing into your skin are small pieces of rock and gravel. You are wearing nothing but loincloth and your skin is covered in deep scratches and bruises, hidden under a layer of dirt and grime. You turn your head and see something lying besides you.
What is it?
[ ]: A spear.
A crude bronze head on a crude shaft, but it looks sturdy enough. Useful for fighting, possibly for hunting. Could only be thrown very poorly.
[ ]: An iron knife, a hunter's knife.
Good for skinning, whittling wood, and other survivalist tasks. Not made for fighting, but better than a sharp rock.
[ ]: A leather satchel.
Looks mostly empty, but there might be something in there. And a satchel is useful for carrying things, if you find anything to carry.
[ ]: A throwing-stick.
A primitive weapon, made for hunting and for war. Good if you don't want to get up to prey. Could be used as a club, if necessary
[ ]: A half-burnt journal.
Perhaps it has some answers?
[ ]: A waterskin.
It looks full.
[ ]: A large leather cloak.
Protection from the elements. You could sleep under it, too.
[ ]: A clay cooking pot.
It smells like there's food in it.
[ ]: A large tabby cat.
He looks to be in a bit better condition than you are, and nuzzles you affectionately. Might be trained to hunt?
Whatever it is, you slowly rise and pick it up, then turn to the entrance of the cave. Time to face your surroundings.
You do not know who you are.
HP: 7/??
__________________________________
Welcome to RUNE: Revive Unfortunately Naked, Explore. This is my new Quest, or rather, a rerun of an older one i ran elsewhere. As always, my quests use approval voting. What is approval voting? Approval voting means you can vote for as many options as you want and should vote for all that you approve of. Basically: go down the list and go "yeah, that's cool, that's rad, i like that, hm, that's interesting" and vote for those.
This Quest is meant to be relatively low-effort for me. Ideally, I will post short updates 2-3 times a week, faster if/when it makes sense.
As a side note, I will not be answering any mechanics questions. Those are there for me to know, and you to discover and explore.
Alaric
⠀
[X]: The Death Rune.
[X]: The Animal Rune.
[X]: An iron knife, a hunter's knife.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: A large tabby cat.
I've been using a similar method of voting for nearly three years and never knew the name looooool. Learn something new everyday. I'm really hoping we go with the death rune and cloak, but the rest would be fine too.
[X]: The Animal Rune.
[X]: An iron knife, a hunter's knife.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: A large tabby cat.
I've been using a similar method of voting for nearly three years and never knew the name looooool. Learn something new everyday. I'm really hoping we go with the death rune and cloak, but the rest would be fine too.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]: The Wind Rune.
[X]: The Strength Rune.
[X]: The Animal Rune.
[X]: A waterskin.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: The Strength Rune.
[X]: The Animal Rune.
[X]: A waterskin.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]: The Flame Rune.
[X]: The Death Rune.
[X]: The Animal Rune.
[X]: A spear.
[X]: A leather satchel.
[X]: A waterskin.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: A clay cooking pot.
[X]: A large tabby cat.
[X]: The Death Rune.
[X]: The Animal Rune.
[X]: A spear.
[X]: A leather satchel.
[X]: A waterskin.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: A clay cooking pot.
[X]: A large tabby cat.
- Location
- Denmark
No relation whatsoever, and it's not conciously inspired by it either. Expect no Orlanthi here.
[X]: The Wind Rune
[X]: The Strength Rune
[X]: The Animal Rune
[X]: A leather satchel.
[X]: A waterskin.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: A clay cooking pot.
[X]: A large tabby cat.
[X]: The Strength Rune
[X]: The Animal Rune
[X]: A leather satchel.
[X]: A waterskin.
[X]: A large leather cloak.
[X]: A clay cooking pot.
[X]: A large tabby cat.
Lay of the Land (update 1)
- Location
- Denmark
You pick up the cat, which yawns, cutely. You feel it in your hands as it purrs, the resonance between it and the animal Rune deep within you. Holding it to your chest, you walk out into the light.
It is late in the morning, and the sun shines brightly on the badlands before you. The cave you woke up in opens out to the side of a tall hill, and you have a good view of the area, though heat mirages make it difficult to see much in detail. It is rolling, hilly badlands, dominated by bare rock and steep cliffs. Brownish dust and dirt cling to hillsides and stubborn shrubs eke out a living in the soil. Here and there are gleaming white rocks sticking out of the ground at strange angles.
It is already hot, and the sun has not yet reached its zenith.
To the north and northwest, you see the land cast in the shadow of a large, looming storm front. It is more than a day away, you think. You hope.
To the west, the land stretches on as far as you can see. There is more of the gleaming rock, and much could be hidden between the hills and outcroppings.
To the south and southwest, it is much the same, but you see a little more greenery, and even what looks like grass covering one of the hills in the distance.
To the east, the land rises, hill after hill, around a great mountain. There is green on its slopes and white at its top.
To the northeast, closer than the mountain, much closer, you see a large, triangular construction of the white, gleaming rock.
Below you, perhaps 300 or 400 feet below you, it looks like a small valley cuts between the rocks and hills. It runs to the northeast and the southwest, before bending out of sight. You think it might continue in those directions, but you cannot be sure. You put down the cat, which walks around you for a moment, then seems content to follow you.
There is nothing more for you here. Where do you go?
[ ]: North, towards the storm
[ ]: West
[ ]: South, Towards the grass-covered rock in the distance
[ ]: East, Towards the great mountain
[ ]: Into the valley below me, to follow it northeast
[ ]: Into the valley below me, to follow it southwest
You do not know who you are.
You have a cat.
You have the power of the animal Rune
HP:7/??
It is late in the morning, and the sun shines brightly on the badlands before you. The cave you woke up in opens out to the side of a tall hill, and you have a good view of the area, though heat mirages make it difficult to see much in detail. It is rolling, hilly badlands, dominated by bare rock and steep cliffs. Brownish dust and dirt cling to hillsides and stubborn shrubs eke out a living in the soil. Here and there are gleaming white rocks sticking out of the ground at strange angles.
It is already hot, and the sun has not yet reached its zenith.
To the north and northwest, you see the land cast in the shadow of a large, looming storm front. It is more than a day away, you think. You hope.
To the west, the land stretches on as far as you can see. There is more of the gleaming rock, and much could be hidden between the hills and outcroppings.
To the south and southwest, it is much the same, but you see a little more greenery, and even what looks like grass covering one of the hills in the distance.
To the east, the land rises, hill after hill, around a great mountain. There is green on its slopes and white at its top.
To the northeast, closer than the mountain, much closer, you see a large, triangular construction of the white, gleaming rock.
Below you, perhaps 300 or 400 feet below you, it looks like a small valley cuts between the rocks and hills. It runs to the northeast and the southwest, before bending out of sight. You think it might continue in those directions, but you cannot be sure. You put down the cat, which walks around you for a moment, then seems content to follow you.
There is nothing more for you here. Where do you go?
[ ]: North, towards the storm
[ ]: West
[ ]: South, Towards the grass-covered rock in the distance
[ ]: East, Towards the great mountain
[ ]: Into the valley below me, to follow it northeast
[ ]: Into the valley below me, to follow it southwest
You do not know who you are.
You have a cat.
You have the power of the animal Rune
HP:7/??
Last edited:
[x]: East, Towards the great mountain
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]: East, Towards the great mountain
Going East (Update 2)
- Location
- Denmark
You start towards the east, towards the great mountain you see there. It is hard, hard going, for the sunny badlands are full of cliffs and ridges, gorges, rocky outcroppings, and shap, white rocks.
You navigate them best you can, using the great mountain in the distance as your guiding star, though it is a hard, difficult way, and you find no passes or valleys which lead you where you go. The small, white rocks dig at your feet, and the sun bakes on your naked body from on high.
Eventually, however, as you climb a steep, narrow ledge and see a strange sight. There is a small raised dias, and on it a great statue, though you cannot see if it a man or a woman, carved out of beautiful white rock, gleaming like a beacon in the sun.
Below the statue, on the dias is an inscription, greatly weathered by time
"G...t S....... K..g, w.o b.ou... .. ..el b...a...n. .. ..l ...ds, cast ... ..e d..... .. ... e...h and ...s.. up ..m.l.s to ... .rue g.ds."
Your cat looks at the statue with the general indifference of cats.
Behind the statue, you find another strange thing: A rectangular block of white stone, perhaps a meter in length and half as wide, and upon it stands a stoppered bottle of some substance you do not know; pale, cloudy, and speckled with twinkling lights. There is a rune beneath it, but you cannot see what it is.
Your throat is parched from thirst.
Your Thirst is at 7. This confers a -1 penalty.
What do you do?
[ ] I take the bottle, and drink it immediately, to quench my dry, sandy throat.
[ ] I take the bottle, for later. I'm not sure if i trust the substance, but if nothing else i could always pour it out and fill it with water, when i find some?
[ ] I leave this strange place, moving eastwards.
[ ] Something else? write in.
You do not know who you are.
You have a cat.
You have the power of the animal Rune
HP:7/??
Thirst: 7 (-1)
You navigate them best you can, using the great mountain in the distance as your guiding star, though it is a hard, difficult way, and you find no passes or valleys which lead you where you go. The small, white rocks dig at your feet, and the sun bakes on your naked body from on high.
Eventually, however, as you climb a steep, narrow ledge and see a strange sight. There is a small raised dias, and on it a great statue, though you cannot see if it a man or a woman, carved out of beautiful white rock, gleaming like a beacon in the sun.
Below the statue, on the dias is an inscription, greatly weathered by time
"G...t S....... K..g, w.o b.ou... .. ..el b...a...n. .. ..l ...ds, cast ... ..e d..... .. ... e...h and ...s.. up ..m.l.s to ... .rue g.ds."
Your cat looks at the statue with the general indifference of cats.
Behind the statue, you find another strange thing: A rectangular block of white stone, perhaps a meter in length and half as wide, and upon it stands a stoppered bottle of some substance you do not know; pale, cloudy, and speckled with twinkling lights. There is a rune beneath it, but you cannot see what it is.
Your throat is parched from thirst.
Your Thirst is at 7. This confers a -1 penalty.
What do you do?
[ ] I take the bottle, and drink it immediately, to quench my dry, sandy throat.
[ ] I take the bottle, for later. I'm not sure if i trust the substance, but if nothing else i could always pour it out and fill it with water, when i find some?
[ ] I leave this strange place, moving eastwards.
[ ] Something else? write in.
You do not know who you are.
You have a cat.
You have the power of the animal Rune
HP:7/??
Thirst: 7 (-1)