Quester RPG: SEASON 1 REBOOT - Day 1: Merchant Glade

[NyaNyaLily]

"I'm dog food"

OOC: Say, wasn't Shrooblord the host?

[Master]

Confused over this sudden turn of events, I warily approach the new arrival, and exchange greetings and introductions with caution. Indicating the nearby general store, I explain politely our goal. Perhaps this new arrival was a confused shopkeeper?

Coughing through the fumes, I inquire:

Excuse me, good metallic being. We wish to purchase the goods contained within this "Warez Store," are you capable of assisting us?

[BadEyedBill]

Udongo isn't here, so he doesn't introduce himself to the thing he hasn't met.

[Ambidextroid]

WAREZ... SHOP...

The robot hums for a moment, and then replies

I WILL ASSIST YOU, CREATURE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NO RECORD OF A "WAREZ SHOP" IN MY DATABASE.

[Master]

Satisfied that the situation is resolved, I know enter the shop, and press a bell in the hopes of attracting the shopkeeper's attention

OOC: Given how we're about to go shopping, how will the exchange of goods work?

[Ambidextroid]

OOC: Say, wasn't Shrooblord the host?

OOC:

[Marklar]

Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine, seems unfazed by the smoke - he probably doesn't even notice as he's so accustomed to the smoke in the Royal kitchens - and casually states:

You must be Chimney. Tales of your appearance and sightings of you in this area are quite the hot topic in the Royal kitchens. How nice of you to assist us.

Seeing as Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine, has his trusty 2 week-old baguette with him and that Master seems to trust Chimney, Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine, waddles along [towards the shop] confidently.

OOC: Yes, Shroobs is the GM and Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine is the character. Marklar is the player

[Ambidextroid]

MY MEMORY APPEARS TO BE CORRUPTED; I CANNOT RECALL MY SERIAL CODE.

Chimney looks up in thought, and sees the smoke bellowing from his head.

HOWEVER, IF THAT IS WHAT THE LOCAL HUMANS CALL ME, THEN "CHIMNEY" WILL DO.

Chimney follows Master and Shrooblord, lumbering slowly behind and leaving large, angular footprints in the soil.

[NyaNyaLily]

OOC: Let me rephrase that, I thought Shrooblord (the host) was the one who drove the story.

[Shrooblord]

OOC:
Sí, dutch, and I did get what you mean when you said that the first time.

But keep in mind that some things in this game are moving behind the scenes... as long as you ask me beforehand what it is you wish to do in the story and you get my A-OK in advance of your posting, you can write what you like.

Creativity and having fun is more important than strictly relying on me to advance literally every detail of the story (although critical aspects of the game, of course, are what I control, yes); things like character introduction like what Ambi did are not narrative-breaking or story-disrupting, but rather, incredibly flavourful and much encouraged.

However, as for Master! You tried to enter a non-existent shop! You see, the General Store you mentioned was backwards towards the Royal Castle, but the Dark Forest has no General Store; only just now has the Party crossed a signpost that read that there would be a merchant further along the long path, somewhere in front, beyond the darkness.

You do not know yet where this merchant is.

But you will. Right now. xD

IC:

Day 1. Mouth of the Dark Forest, entrance
Perhaps Master was dazed by Chimney's fumes, because he seemed to walk up to a nearby tree and request to see the shopkeeper. Waiting politely, he then began pointing out nice features about this shop, pointing at dead leaves and crooked branches.

Maybe the dreadful, thought-staunching air in this forest was playing tricks on his mind?

However, Shrooblord advanced along the dark, uneven path leading deeper into the forest, leading the way, happily humming something about croissants, jam and dinner ladies. He waved back towards the rest to follow him. He seemed to know where he was going.

Somewhat further along this path, some of you looked behind to see the light of the forest entrance fade into nothingness. Soon, you would be surrounded completely in darkness. But your eyes have begun to adjust to these new conditions and appreciate a scala of strange, bio-luminescent fungi and mosses that riddle the stems of these dark giants, lining the path and revealing artworks of biological wonder.

A new-found appreciation for the forest begins to live in the party at the display of these stunningly intricate colourful light shows. Though their shine is but faint, in this void of night it is all too clear.

Further along the path, their strength seems to dwindle. For their is light at the end of the path! The end of this strange, horrific, nightmarish forest? At last!

A shadow looms in the light. It looks like a man. And a stall. The merchant? He is still a while away, but the adventurous in the party might sprint ahead and meet him ahead of the rest, while their slow, clunky gait slowly catches up with those quick-footed ones.

OOC:
I know I've been a little inconsistent with my timing in posting these updates, but I've been rather enjoying it, seeing you all spin off of each other's posts at your own leisure and posting a round-up afterwards.

Tell me, do you enjoy that format more, a less constricted, more open dialogue of actions? For combat encounters, we'd still have to adhere to the "one post per turn" format for sanity's sake, but in non-combat we could keep the current format of less well-defined 'deadlines' and multiple posts-per-turn-allowances?

PS
Yes, Master, I will explain the exchange of goods shortly, when you arrive at the Merchant's.

[Ambidextroid]

OOC: I'm in favour of keeping the current system, I quite like the in-character dialogue.
There seems to be some confusion now and then, and I think​ maybe this could be avoided by summing up the situation and our options out of character (but maybe only in the more complex scenarios, this current station for example seems pretty simple). I don't know if it's really necessary, just an idea.

[Shrooblord]

OOC:
I try to make the more obvious options clear from the text and subtext in the narrative, though players should feel free to come up with all kinds of things they could try. Part of the fun of the story is making it up yourselves as you go along, so giving you a bunch of options would feel like limiting your creativity.

However, if you'd rather like to see options listed at the end of a post, I could do that too.

[Ambidextroid]

OOC: No no, I see what you mean, it does sound much better that way

[Master]

With the fumes clear, I realise my mistake. Seeing the eyes of my companions in the distance, I resolve myself to not get left behind, and sprint hastily to catch up to them.

Wait for me, my good fellow friends!

[BadEyedBill]

Udongo is still not present and therefore does not walk to the not-presumed merchant he cannot see.

[Marklar]

Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine, waddles along towards the shop when he suddenly realizes something: Udongo isn't there. He tries to scratch his beard, but is reminded that he cannot as his chest is too big. Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine, saw Udongo walking in the right direction, so he is not that worried. He does make a mental note to notify the group when Udongo isn't found at the merchant's, though.

[Shrooblord]

Day 1. Dark Forest, Market Glade
You arrived at an opening in the dark forest roof. The light was almost excruciatingly bright, compared to the darkness your eyes had adjusted themselves to.

In the glade, a market stall was propped up against an ancient tree, somewhat ramshackled together from old branches, logs and dead leaves. But, it looked quite impressive, and it had a large display which could hold many items.

But where were the items? Indeed, the stall was empty, and so was the rest of the glade, save for a lone figure standing in the centre of the field, apparently awaiting you. They were cloaked in dark robes and beedy eyes from under a large, brimmed hat glared at you.

The entire party gathered at the end of the path and looked towards this stranger. They didn't seem to make a sound, or a movement. You felt their prying eyes locked on you, searching, inquiring, detecting. The faintest of shudders in their shoulders seemed to indicate what you perceived as a chuckle.

Suddenly, there's a rushing sound and a large crack of twigs and leaves breaking underfoot. With a burst of plants preceeding him, Udongo Mtu jumps through the dark forest wall just to the right of the path you came from. A plant is still clinging to his arm.

The stranger didn't seem surprised. He didn't even take note of Udongo until he finished searching the others with his eyes.

[NyaNyaLily]

Well, we didn't come this way for nothing. So let's get closer and check if there's anything for sale.

[Marklar]

Shrooblord, the knight who dislikes people with long hair but likes haute cuisine, turns to Undongo

Ah! There you are! I see you found a new path to this place and even managed to make a new friend. Congratulations

He gestures towards the plant.
He now turns his attention to the stranger

Greetings shopkeeper! May we peruse your wares?

As he notices that the place is empty, he adds

If you have any?

[BadEyedBill]

Upon bursting forth most elegantly from the thick underbrush, Udongo stands upright, hands on his hips, carefully moulded pectoral muscles forward, the majestic sunflower attached to his arm swaying awe-inspiringly in the light breeze.
"Greetings, companions! Have you found the shop yet? Allow me to introduce my newest and most glorious friend - Friedrich, the Handsome Helianth!"
He pauses a moment, noticing the dark figure who hides their face. "Say, Dark Figure Who Hides Their Face, why do you hide your face? Do not feel ashamed for your visage simply because it pales in comparison to mine. Confidence is the truest form of beauty!"


Artistic impression of Udongo's most elegant forth-bursting exercise

OOC: Aww yeah, let's get this party started!