|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 11:23:50 GMT -8
 Button's PassButton's pass is an extremely narrow mountain pass through the Library, a treacherous northern mountain range. The Library got its name from the sherpas who were able to climb it, as they had to develop the ability to read the wind and stone condition to be able to survive. Button's Pass was named after its discoverer, the brave Issac Button. The name was taken from his journal, which was found next to Button's frozen body halfway up the pass by another expedition. Despite being extremely dangerous, Button's Pass is the only way through the Library, save for climbing directly over the sheer cliffs.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 11:29:33 GMT -8
Having just been dropped off by sherpas, a tall, red-headed woman with blemish-free skin and a soft face stepped onto the crags with a staff in one hand and a backpack over her other shoulder. The wind blew her hair as best it could, being braided up, but nevertheless showcased her shapely legs by moving her blue skirt enough to make her regret her clothing choice for climbing mountains. She looked up at the crags, a raised eyebrow in confusion.
"This...isn't a library at all." She said to herself, defeated. Sighing she pulled out a strange green stick that seemed to be crafted to be smooth and rounded. At the tip was a grey, lightless stone. As she held it up, gem pointing towards the mountains, she would move it every once in a while as if detecting something. Every once in a while the gem would glow a little blue before fading again as she continued to search for something magical in nature.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 11:52:05 GMT -8
The gem would glow faintly every now and then, indicating small pockets of magic here and there. Usually, it would point to a small cairn or a standing stone. Other times, it would indicate a small burrow in the ground. A minor magic creature, perhaps? Regardless, everything her little wand indicated was a very weak source of magic. If she looked up, she would see dark clouds start to blow in. That wasn't good at all. The sherpas had warned her about this. A snowstorm on the Library was often fatal, even to the most experienced explorer.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 11:56:08 GMT -8
She squinted as she looked up to the storm.
"Nuts...A snowstorm can't be good for my skin."
By now the sherpas had left so no point trying to get their attention. She put away the wand and looked around for a cave to bunker down in before the blizzard rolled in. With one hand she pulled out a small booklet and flipped through pages.
"Maybe I have some vanilla cupcakes still...."
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 12:09:47 GMT -8
Debbie would spot a small cave several hundred feet up the path. The term "path", however, was rather generously used here. A more accurate term, perhaps, would be "trail of rocks that was slightly flatter than the rest". Reaching the cave before the storm arrived would be no small feat, but a skilled adventurer would likely make it. Who knew what would be in the cave, though? Bears roamed this mountain range, hungry and vicious.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 12:13:37 GMT -8
As she noted the cave, Debbie began her trek in that direction with her staff (converted to a walking stick for the journey) in hand. Every once in a while she would adjust the backpack over her shoulders but would otherwise spend most of her concentration merely keeping an even footing on loose stones. She wasn't stupid enough to wear heels, but wearing what were essentially slip-on shoes was no better. Debbie cursed her ignorance in not wearing proper attire for such a trip but kept telling herself Just make it to the cave, we can cook up something there... over and over as she hurried along as best as the tall woman could.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 12:29:00 GMT -8
Debbie slipped and stumbled her way up to the cave as the winds grew stronger and the clouds moved in. Within minutes, the storm was upon her. Snow blew in her face and caused the rocks to become slippery and even more treacherous. However, she would be able to make it to the cave with only a few bumps and bruises from falling. Once inside, she'd spot a small campfire, and a young girl in a red cloak warming her hands by it. The girl looked up at her, then let out a disappointed sigh.
"Hello. Are you here to hide from the storm?"
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 13:02:37 GMT -8
Not expecting someone already here, Debbie's surprised said it all. She shook the shock off and nodded.
"Y-Yes, I am. Sorry, I didn't realize someone was already here....mind if I share the cave with you?" She asked. From her backpack she pulled what looked like chocolate cupcakes, protected by wrappings.
"I can provide a quick snack as payment if you'd like."
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 13:24:28 GMT -8
The girl nodded, looking up at the offer of cupcakes.
"You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like. I'm leaving soon, anyways. I'm just waiting here for my mother. Are those cupcakes?"
She reached for the chocolate cupcakes, hungrily. Meanwhile, the storm continued to rage outside, stronger than ever. It was doubtful that anyone would be able to survive out there. Who knew, though. Perhaps the girl's mother was a sherpa or something.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 13:26:20 GMT -8
The cupcakes would taste delicious, rich chocolate coupled with vanilla fudge. Debbie sat at the fire with her legs crossed.
"Your mother? Is she coming in this storm? That seems dangerous." She said, making conversation as she ate a cupcake of her own.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 13:44:53 GMT -8
The girl shook her head, biting into the cupcake. Her eyes lit up at the sweetness, and she quickly devoured the rest. It was almost certainly better than what she'd been eating before, whatever that was. If Debbie looked at the wooden plate by the fire, she'd see what looked like the bones of some sort of rodent.
"My mother won't be harmed by the storm, miss. Don't worry about her. She's out there, and she'll be just fine."
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 13:48:03 GMT -8
Debbie noticed how quickly she ate the cake. She pulled another cake from her backpack and offered it to the little girl.
"Who is your mother then?" She asked, scratching her head. For some reason it felt weird to her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 14:05:44 GMT -8
The girl devoured the second cupcake just as quickly, wiping her mouth off on her hand.
"Mmmph...thanks. My mother...well, she's a nice lady. She should be here any minute, now. She's never late."
She looked out at the storm, which raged even stronger and blew snow into the cave. All of a sudden, the girl's eyes lit up.
"Oh! She's here! I'll be going now, thank you for the cakes."
There was nobody near the door, as far as Debbie could see. Regardless, the girl stood up and walked out of the cave, straight into the storm. There was no way her cloak was even nearly warm enough to keep her alive out there, as thin and ragged as it was. As soon as she left the cave, though, the campfire suddenly went out.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 14:10:46 GMT -8
"Wait, hang on-" Debbie said as she reached out to stop the girl from running into the blizzard. As soon as fire went out, Debbie looked around in confusion.
"What the...."
As she continued to scratch her head she felt what seemed like two cat ears grow from her head. She jumped to her feet in shock before looking behind her. A matching cat tail.
"...shit, was that the polymorph cake?" She asked herself. Eventually she focused on the little girl running off into the blizzard. She approached the entrance to the cave, hoping to see where the girl went by looking outwards.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 14:16:03 GMT -8
The storm had escalated into a blizzard, making it impossible to see any sort of footprints or anything. However, if she squinted, she'd be able to faintly see the red of her ragged cloak as she walked away. Unfortunately, the girl would soon be out of sight, especially with all the snow blowing through the air. She couldn't possibly survive out there, could she? Even if Debbie cried out, her voice would undoubtedly be drowned out by the wind. The temperature in the cave dropped rapidly without the fire, and would soon become almost as frigid as the outside.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 14:21:15 GMT -8
Debbie rushed back to her backpack and began to rummage through it. Pulling out the booklet from before, she flipped through the pages until she found one page and stopped. She moved her finger down and tapped on one spot suggesting she found what she was looking for. From a wrapping she procured three light blue cupcakes and scarfed them down as quickly as she could, licking her lips and and fingers. If her calculations were correct the cupcakes she ate, being designed to ward off extreme cold, would keep her warm enough to run into the blizzard after the girl. She kicked herself for not preparing a vision-boosting cupcake, but this was good enough.
Debbie grabbed her staff and rushed out into the blizzard, moving in the same direction the girl went.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 14:45:48 GMT -8
The snow and frigid wind still chilled Debbie's skin and froze her hair, but the cupcakes kept her warm enough to keep moving. However, it soon became clear that the cold was the least of her problems. The wind was nearly strong enough to blow her off the edge of the cliff, and the path was treacherous enough on the best of days. The snow made it almost impossible to see, and Debbie would have to walk carefully to avoid slipping and falling to her death. The girl was barely visible, and seemed to have no problem walking through the storm.
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 14:55:14 GMT -8
Against her better judgement she continued to follow the girl, hoping to catch up with her. Debbie was confused and surprised at the girl's endurance in the blizzard. Even someone as large as the mage woman was being pushed around by the snow. Perhaps the girl ate one of her cupcakes that made a person extremely heavy? Either way she didn't want the poor girl to die in the cold. With no mother in sight she picked up the pace to keep from losing the kid entirely.
|
|
|
|
Post by Strangers and Travelers on May 18, 2017 15:49:01 GMT -8
Debbie's longer legs allowed her to catch up to the girl, but not without a struggle. When she finally ran up alongside the child, she would see that the poor kid's face was blue from cold, and that her eyes were almost frozen shut. The poor kid didn't even have gloves, and her fingers were quickly turning black from frostbite. Regardless, she continued walking, barely acknowledging Debbie's appearance.
"Mother is close. I can feel it. She's here somewhere, I just need to find her."
|
|
Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: May 20, 2024 10:40:55 GMT -8
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 15:54:36 GMT -8
Debbie reached out to grab the girl and pull her in close to her own body. She had hoped to keep her warm and take her back to the cave.
"Your mother's not here, sweetie." She called, "She's back at the cave waiting for you, where it's warm."
|
|
