Colostle: Session 2- The Abandoned City
The Next Morning
Jaiyana wakes the next morning and begins investigating the abandoned village. Her hopes are raised that there might be some clues that might lead her in the right direction, seeing as the crest of the Purple Flame was emblazoned on the wall so near to the village.
Oracle: Does Jaiyana discover anything regarding the Black Army and The
Rooks of the Purple Flame in the abandoned village?
The Draw: Q ♣; Yes with a Bonus!
Oracle (Story Generator): What kind of clue does Jaiyana Find?
The Draw: 8 ♥, 8 ♠, 2 ♣; Escape from Shady dealings for love
While searching through one of the abandoned homes, Jaiyana discovers a Journal prominently left on a desk. A hastily scrawled note sits next to the journal. "For those who might come after, I'm sorry. I hope this journal will lead to answers..." Jaiyana reads the note, her brow furrows in some confusion. "Well that seems ominous. Though it seems like it was left with a purpose" Picking up the journal she begins to read through the pages.
Oracle (Name): Whose journal is this?
The Draw: 5 ♣; Soriq
Soriq's Journal
To whoever finds this journal. I am sorry for what I have done. First an introduction. I am Soriq, a researcher into the origins and workings of Rooks. Almost half a year ago, The Black Army pressed me into working for them in researching a strange group of Rooks they had discovered in a far away Room. They said that these Rooks were dormant, laying idle near an ancient ruin. The only thing they gave me was a drawing of a crest that was emblazoned upon the rooks; a purple flame. At first, my curiousity overtook me. I did not question why they wanted information about these Rooks. I dug into my collection of tomes discussing Rooks, searching for any mention of this strange crest. I did not know that their intentions were to use these Rooks to bolster their army. Once I began asking questions, they took my wife hostage. They threatened her. If I did not continue my work, they said my wife was as good as dead. I pressed on. During my research I discovered that these rooks could be controlled. Something, likely within the ancient ruin that they surrounded, could allow someone to bend the Rooks to their will. Unfortunately I could not hide my findings and keep my wife from danger. I gave them everything. After they had what they wanted from me, they left. They took all of my tomes discussing the Rooks. I wish I could give you more, but there is no more I can do than leave this record of what they Black Army is seeking. They promised they would return to the village once they had secured control of the Rooks. They promised that they would lay waste to our village. We have no choice now. We will abandon the village, looking to escape from the destructive path that these monsters promise to spread across the Roomlands. I am sorry that I have given them this power. I only hope that they will not be able to work the device, whatever it is, once they discover it. Though that is not a risk we are willing to take. Hopefully we will find a new home, safe and secret away from the Black Army and The Rooks of the Purple Flame..."
Jaiyana closes the journal, sitting stunned for a moment. "Well I suppose this is some answers at least... How long ago was it that the Black Army came here I wonder. I hope the people of this village were at least able to find some place safe. And that this Soriq is able to find some peace. The guilt of their actions will surely weigh on them for the rest of their lives..." Finding nothing more of interest in the village, she packs her things and hopes that the road ahead will lead her to this ruin the journal mentioned. Hopefully the answers to stop the Rooks of the Purple Flame will be found there.
Exploration Phase 2
Exploration Score: 3
The Draw: 10 ♦ A Camp of people... They Capture you, 5 ♥ A Dead Body, K ♦ A
Massive Rook
Jaiyana starts out from the village in the early afternoon. Though the day's travel will be cut short, she's happy that she discovered the journal. With a better sense of what she is looking for, she sets out with renewed purpose. As the day drags on into the evening, she begins looking for a place to camp for the night. The forest begins to thin out, and she finds herself on the edge of the forest looking out onto a vast plains. In the distance she spots a camp just off the road. "Travelers? I wonder if they were displaced by the Black Army as well? It might be risky, but I can hope they will be friendly. Though approaching them so close to the evening might be unwise. I'll double back and find a place to camp then seek them out in the morning." Just as she is about to turn back into the forest to find a place to camp for the night, she hears rustling of brush behind her. As she turns she finds herself surrounded. Five armed mounted quickly surround her, pointing bows and spears down at her. "Well now, what have we here. Quickly, Naya, bind her hands. We'll take her into the camp. She'll be spending the night in a cage with the others tonight." Before she can protest anything, two of the armed scouts grab her, tying her hands behind her back and gagging her with a musty old cloth. They throw her over the back of one of the mounted and carry her off towards the camp.
They take her to a cage looking hastily yet sturdily constructed. Without any further words, they take her gear and throw her in without even removing her gag. There are 3 others in the cage that look terrified and malnourished. Another body lay on the other side of the cage, not moving. The other prisoners shy away from her, obvious fear stopping them from helping Jaiyana. The body laying on the other side of the cage remains motionless. With no options for recourse with her captors, Jaiyana settles in, thinking about any possible way she might escape the sudden poor situation she found herself in. The cage is made of sturdy wooden bars, tied together with thick rope. With begrudging surrender, she settles in for a long and uncomfortable night.
In the middle of the night, she awakes to a massive commotion in the camp. "A Rook! Its massive! Its coming right this way! Quickly everyone, take only the necessities we must flee!!" A call is raised in the camp. A rook is coming and they're leaving. No one seems to be thinking about letting the prisoners go. Jaiyana rolls to her feet, trying to get the attention of someone as they hurry about gathering supplies to leave. No one pays her any mind. After fruitlessly trying to get some one to let them free, Jaiyana begins searching the ground for anyway to free herself. The hand of the dead body catches her eye. they are clutching something tight in their hand. She leans down to inspect it, pushing the body's hand open with her knee. She finds that the person had found a sharp rock! It appeared they were trying to cut their bindings loose but died before they were able to finish the job.
Jaiyana quickly bends down and picks up the rock. She begins rubbing the rock on her bindings behind her back. After a time, she finally feels the ropes hold on her loosen and her hands are freed! Pulling the gag from her mouth, she motions to the other prisoners. "Look, I can cut the ropes of the cage to free us, we need to leave this place and quickly!" She sets about cutting the ropes of the cage, keeping an eye on the others of the camp as they scurry about in their haste to leave. No one pays the cage any mind. Jaiyana cuts through several of the binding ropes, letting her pry the cage open enough that she thinks they can squeeze through. She unties the ropes binding the other prisoners just as she hears the rumbling of the massive rook approaching.
"Quickly, we must leave this place!" The prisoners continue to shy away as she pries the cage open. She motions for the others to leave, and they do so quickly. With their freedom, they all run off towards the forest, not waiting for Jaiyana. Shaking her head, she curses under her breath. "Suit yourself. I don't need to babysit you lot anyways." She escapes the cage and quickly finds her pack sitting outside of a tent nearby. Shouldering her pack, she runs off into the forest to escape her captors and avoid the approaching Rook. After what feels like hours of running, she collapses to the ground. She finds a copse of trees to take shelter in and then falls into a deep exhausted sleep.
A bit of a lucky break for Jaiyana! Some answers that she's seeking have been revealed. A new destination for her journey to progress towards. A difficult situation arising, quickly resolved by the approach of a massive rook! Next time we'll see if she can pick up the trail that leads toward the ancient ruins that seems to hold the answers behind what the Rooks of the Purple Flame are!
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