The Journey Never Ends (Original Fantasy Quest)
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Just go normally without announcing your visit
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri
Eternal_0bserver
(Unverified Bookworm)
- Location
- Earth, Northern Europe
[X] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri.
Another close vote... I was thinking of maybe updating tomorrow morning or even this night, but might have to be later. If a tie remains I think I might have something in store but it won't be as clean as the Fae-Touched/Aura of Awe compromise. Or maybe I'll flip a coin, but that feels kind of unsatisfying. I don't know if I should be happy at how close votes have been so far haha.
Edit: I'll close the vote in 16 hours, at 30 minute mark. If the vote is still a tie, a voter may vote for either of the tied results to determine who wins. I suppose I'll count people who voted for something that wasn't in the tie to change their vote too, but might need to make a new post for it.
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- Location
- Outside the Box
- Pronouns
- She/Her
IMO the best way to resolve a tie for a quest is, if the vote is tied after closing the vote, to let the next person to vote be the tiebreaker. Gives people a lot more motivation to vote, and gives more meaning to the choice than a coinflip.
Giving unique results for tied votes, on the other hand, can encourage people to intentionally cause tied votes. Which is rare, but I've seen happen, and it doesn't feel nice for everyone voting normally.
Volume 1: Chapter 2 - Sumeri
[X] Just go normally without announcing your visit: 8 votes
[X] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri: 6 votes
[X] Post on social media about your visit before you go: 2-3 votes
Alright, you guys picked the speedy option, and you'll get to have a slight head start on making connections because of it.
[X] Try to find a way to go through the border and secretly enter Sumeri: 6 votes
[X] Post on social media about your visit before you go: 2-3 votes
Alright, you guys picked the speedy option, and you'll get to have a slight head start on making connections because of it.
You shake your head. Honestly, you don't really know much about social media. You'd be leaning heavily on your manager to write out posts on all your accounts, and asking her to be involved in what is essentially espionage seems improper to you. There will be better times to use it. Besides, you don't know if the cultists could truly do something with forewarning, or how the church or authorities would respond.
Getting the drop on cultists was tempting, but the risk wasn't worth it. Trying to bypass the border on your own risked both discovery and taking longer to get there. Finding less legal means or help added people who might know of your plans. All the while you could be approached by upset authorities at inopportune times, which the cultists might have a hand in. You tilt your head in thought. There was something you could have used to arrive there quickly and secretly… but no, best to save that when you need it and not when you have viable alternatives.
In the end, Captain Shel's advice was right as it usually was in this era. This wasn't the age for overly-complicated plans hatched by masterminds in dark, unassuming rooms in a palace or in the depths of a wizard's tower. Nowadays, most everyone had detailed plans and operations that could only be fought with quick decisive action or proper logistics. You finish booking a flight and turn to rest before the journey.
You sit in the midst of a large sea of people, all enjoying the amenities offered in the large commercial airship. Though it was usually more crowded and slower than smaller flying vehicles, it was something that most people ended up using due to the lower prices and more comfortable flight. You vastly preferred it to sitting in a cramped area with two strangers, and hopefully being one among the many passengers here will lessen the risk of being discovered.
Head down and pretending to focus on your tablet, you surreptitiously eye the people around you for anything noteworthy. Airships also offered more opportunity to socialize, though many people usually still don't want to be disturbed anyways. The lounge area currently had a number of tables and seats spread around it, with people eating, chatting amongst each other, and watching what was displayed on the screens placed around the area.
Your eye is immediately caught by a human of the cloth, the devout follower of the Light currently speaking to a few people who seemed to have approached him not too long ago. He appeared old and weathered, but the genial smile and genuine passion in his eyes showed that he still retained some youth. The hierarchy of various institutions of the Light was always a bit strange and different depending on where you were, so you can't really tell if he is a high-ranking member of the faith or not.
Getting an early in with the Light followers before you even arrive at Sumeri could be invaluable though. The religion isn't entirely without fault despite Archbishop Ismael's best efforts, but you've directly seen the improvements made in the institutions of faith. Their sanctuary will most definitely be a safe haven devoid of any cult's influence, and they will surely have some information to offer you about any cult activity. Perhaps they may even provide a place to stay free of potential surveillance and sabotage. And costs, you note dryly.
Then again, did you really need to talk with this priest to achieve all that? You don't think they will turn you away or dismiss your concerns like other places would if you appeared like some annoying tourist ranting about demons. If they recognize you, they might even ask to host you first before you could get it out.
As your eyes shift subtly away from him, you momentarily catch someone gazing intently at you before slowly looking away as if she was just looking at something for a bit too long without realizing. Hmm. The gnoll, dressed in impeccable business wear, stares and types at her tablet as if that was what she was doing the whole time before she looked away to rest her eyes. It's a good act, so good you're not sure if it is an act.
If something like this occurred at the airport when you arrived, you'd be more wary. They probably don't have an observer on every single airship going to and fro the different nations though, or the problem is much more severe than you thought. This could be some random businesswoman who follows you on social media and recognizes your face. A third party or unrelated organization might've just noted your presence, for good or ill.
Or it really could be a completely normal gnoll who looked in your general direction too long. Are you really going to investigate everyone that looks at you a little wrong? Even if she was part of something bigger, would talking to her be worth it? You have no idea what you would gain besides a better idea of who she is.
Finally, you look towards… you rub your eyes. What in the Light is that? You spot five very out of place figures sitting around a table talking loudly to each other and playing some game. One is dressed in a set of armor that almost looks like it could've been part of the Crusades with some minor adjustments here and there. The human woman, or girl possibly you think to yourself when you catch sight of her youthful face, is smiling widely as she speaks over the frankly worrying amount of food and plates before her.
The rest are turned away from you, but you spot what looks like someone wearing a musketeer outfit from two centuries ago, another wearing something approaching a cross between a battlefield medic and a cleric's vestments, a person dressed in some very conspicuous "stealthy" attire, and a strangely normal looking person looking somewhat embarrassed with his shoulders hunched sitting at the table.
Are they… an adventuring party? In this day and age? You almost can't believe it. The sight is… nostalgic, in a way. You're tempted to go over and pull over a seat. Making friends with like-minded people was something instilled in you as important long ago from all the people you've followed. It's been a long time since you really conversed with such a group ever since traveling shifted from more daring adventures to a tourism everyone partook in. Does some form of the adventurer's guild even exist, still?
Your fingers tap your leg nervously. Of course, this could all be some ruse or prank getting your hopes up. What was it your manager called such people again… cosplayers, you remember. They likely weren't at all related or in the know about any cult activity either way. Besides… you don't know if you really want to get close to such a group again. They were all so young, wouldn't you just ruin the atmosphere or open yourself to pain again?
Choose One:
[] Go talk with the priest. You can get an early in with the church and perhaps some prior knowledge of the situation.
[] Approach the suspicious gnoll. You should investigate her and confirm your suspicions on her identity.
[] Sit with the… adventurer's party? It's been a long time since you've seen something like this, and you're curious.
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Kermie
ON HIATUS - SORRY
- Location
- Away.
- Pronouns
- Any
Well, now I'm curious about that. Hopefully we'll get to see that later.
Aw man… no maniacal dark lord laughter and plans? Sad.
That's really promising. We could totally go with…
Nope, nevermind.
[X] Sit with the… adventurer's party? It's been a long time since you've seen something like this, and you're curious.
Even if they're just nerds, I have to know what their deal is.
- Location
- Outside the Box
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Approach the suspicious gnoll
The adventuring party are absolutely cosplayers playing a tabletop RPG of some kind. Meeting them while thinking they're a real adventuring party might be really funny, but it also might be really painful. So, I think I wanna gamble on the gnoll, see if she's in the know about something useful or not.
The adventuring party are absolutely cosplayers playing a tabletop RPG of some kind. Meeting them while thinking they're a real adventuring party might be really funny, but it also might be really painful. So, I think I wanna gamble on the gnoll, see if she's in the know about something useful or not.
[X] Go talk with the priest
Praise the sun!
Praise the sun!
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X] Go talk with the priest
Well, Deirdre is still thinking about this in a mission-oriented fashion and may or may not be biased. All I'll say is this
It would be really funny to see her try to be cheerful and trendy, wouldn't it? Ideas for later, maybe.
[X] Sit with the… adventurer's party?
If they're a real adventuring party, she should probably be updated on the status of the industry in modern times. If they're cosplayers, she'll probably be both horrified and amused (and they'll be astonished to meet the last elf). Either way, good times.
If they're a real adventuring party, she should probably be updated on the status of the industry in modern times. If they're cosplayers, she'll probably be both horrified and amused (and they'll be astonished to meet the last elf). Either way, good times.
- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Sit with the… adventurer's party?