I've Been Through the Desert on a Horse with No Name

[theskyaccepts]

Who: Tsuna and you!
Where: In the Desert
What: To complete his sentencing, Tsuna has led an expedition out into the desert to find the ruins of Tresed, and see if anything has changed Last time
Warnings: Risk of injury and possible death, hallucinations, monsters. Additional warnings to be added if needed.
OOC Notes:
-You do not need to have responded to the OOC Interest Check or the IC Interest Check to join in. Please feel free to dive right in!
-Timeline wise, ICly the expedition will return prior to the 15th so that we're all back for the event, but please don't feel you have to rush anything
-On a more personal note, while there is a risk of death with this expedition and if that's a direction you're interested in going for please do, I would also like to keep the body count to a minimum if possible. The ramifications of leading a bunch of people to their deaths is not necessarily something I want to play out with Tsuna at this time. Thank you!



The Expedition and Scouting Parties

The thing about deserts is that they are harsh environments. Unforgiving, some might say. The sun beating down, the wind whipping sand, the sound of monsters making their way through the desert. It's not the kind of place anyone would really want to go into, and yet, Tsuna is determined. Whether it is the effects of his sentencing or his own backbone finally making itself known, he has led this group into the desert for answers. It's not easy, and it weighs on him, but his face is set as he sends out small scouting parties, consulting maps and other information that he has, hoping to find the ruins of Tresed.

Sandstorms are prevalent in the area, so small scouting parties are being sent out to try and find some paths through it. Going out too far runs the risk of getting lost, injury, or potentially death. There are some monsters about, but they also have to contend with the storm.


The Oasis

But eventually, relief comes. An Oasis is discovered with clean, fresh water and edible vegetation. A respite from the harsh winds of the sandstorm. It's a chance to catch their breath and consolidate what they have learned so far. But as is so often the case in this world, things are quick to go awry. Mirages, of course, a key part of any desert expedition, start to appear. Images from that previous trip out to the ruins.

If you were on that previous trip to the desert, you've seen these images before but something about them seems off, wrong, not quite right. Warped, some might say.

If this is all new to you, you're seeing something that's happened before. But if it is wrong or right, who's to say?

But it might not matter if you've been in the desert before or not, because this vision is from the perspective of one of the Shadow Creatures that attacked before, and were ultimately killed. It comes with feelings of aching hunger, despair, and mindless fear in those final moments.

Or maybe it isn't an image of the desert at all. Maybe it's something far more familiar. An image of home, in the past, the present, or the future.

The Message and Returning Home

A message appears on the Chosen's tablets. Text, barely legible but undeniably a message:

FIND ME

But despite searching, and Tsuna will want to be thorough, the source will not be found, and they will be unable to trace it.

It's not much, but it is something. And they can return to Aldrip with that knowledge. One thing is clear though. They are not done with the desert yet.

Comments

[digthefuzz]

Ghosts... Wow... [He gives a nervous laugh.] We might not need any ghost stories. We might end up starring in one!

B-but yeah! Sure to be lots of variety out there. And probably a few monsters who look like yours truly! [He knows very well that he looks like a devil, after all.]

[solitarysoul]

I sure hope not...ghosts creep me out.

[He blinks at Kurt. Look like him? He guesses the other guy could look pretty scary if he wasn't so friendly. But his idea of monsters still mostly matched up with what he'd seen during Termina and none of them looked like Kurt.]

I guess. Mostly 'monsters' here are some sort of animals so I'd expect that first.

[digthefuzz]

I can't say I'm the biggest fan of them either! But I guess we should be prepared for anything.

[Well, he's glad Levi isn't quick to agree with him being the stuff of monster stories, at least.]

True, most monsters are just nasty creatures. But then you got stuff like ghosts and vampires. Ones that are more on the human side! At least in comparison.

[solitarysoul]

[Oh, right, Vampires were monsters. He always thought they were cool but he hadn't really thought of them much since he started seeing real monsters.]

Or, like, werewolves, right? I guess you can't always tell a vampire or a werewolf if they look human. But I don't anyone here is a secret vampire in disguise.

[Except maybe Vincent, even though he said he wasn't.]

Or just humans who mutated or something. Those are the worst, I think. They used to be people.

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt feels like anything's possible here, though he's not sure if the chances of secret vampires among them are high.

But the last part gives him pause, and he looks hurt for a moment. Before he tries to realize what he means, speaking more quietly.]

Like - the kind of people who get caught in some kind of... chemical accidents, or something...? [The kind in sci-fi and comic books. Not like the real kind of mutant, himself.]

[solitarysoul]

[Oh, shoot. He forgot Scott and Kurt called themselves mutants. Oops.]

Um...yeah. N-not like people who were born different! People who were changed by something later. And then became dangerous monsters.

[digthefuzz]

Right. I thought that's what you meant! [He gives a little stern nod. Kurt doesn't hold it against him. It is a word that could have multiple meanings, he's just used to only one specific one being thrown around back home.]

Now that, yeah, that can be scary stuff. If someone loses themselves and gets changed completely. When something's not human anymore, but used to be? That's sad on top of scary.

[solitarysoul]

Yeah...when its not because of anything they did its pretty sad. But if they're dangerous...I don't know. Maybe putting them out of their misery at that point is good?

[He rubs his head.]

Sorry. That kinda got darker than I meant.

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt is taken aback by how quick he was to suggest that.]

Way, way dark, man. [He shakes his head.] I wouldn't go there even as a last resort. I'd think people should try to focus on curing them first.

[solitarysoul]

That would have been nice. But when I encountered monsters like that we had no choice but to fight. It was...an extreme situation.

[digthefuzz]

I understand. There isn't always a choice... When things are real bad, you pretty much have to fight. At least to knock them out.

[solitarysoul]

[Levi nods. He doesn't really know how to fight to knock out or disarm people, but does seem like the better option than just killing right off the bat.]

So, um....

[Topic change needed, give him a second.]

What do you think we'll find out here?

[digthefuzz]

[Kurt welcomes the topic change. It feels a bit uncomfortable wondering how much Levi may have killed in the past.]

A good question! I wish I had a good answer. I guess more about whoever lived out here in the desert, or something about this world. I want to believe we'll learn anything that can be helpful for our situation being stuck here. But I don't know if I should get my hopes up too much!

[solitarysoul]

I heard there was a city out here once. I don't know how long ago...I think Tsuna said it was in ruins? But who knows what state its in now.

[digthefuzz]

Probably still ruins. Then it might have some mysterious, ancient clues like in an adventure movie! ...Just as long as it doesn't also have any ancient evils sleeping there...!

[He shakes his head, recalling how Apocalypse was awakened back home.]

[solitarysoul]

Yeah, I don't except a functioning city or something...but I wouldn't be surprised if we found a ghost town.

[Perhaps a literal one. Ugh.]

...yeah. I hope not.

[digthefuzz]

There's a ghost of a chance, for sure! [He looks quite pleased with his own joke.]

As long as none of our scary stories come to life, I'm sure it'll be fine. Here's hoping it's more on the cool side!

[solitarysoul]

Yeah...but like an adventure would be cool. Like those pulp fiction novels or something. We could probably find almost anything in a place like this.

[digthefuzz]

Exactly! Or like Indiana Jones! ...Just with less face-melting please! It does really feel like anything can happen here. I'll just hope that some of those things that happen are more on the fun side.

[solitarysoul]

No face melting would be best.

[He chuckles a bit.]

Exploring ancient ruins does sound really cool. They always had treasure in them in books. I don't know what I'd do with a treasure, but it'd be awesome to find.

[digthefuzz]

That would be the coolest thing ever! You could make a collection or put it in a museum or something! It would be so rad.

[solitarysoul]

Ah, yeah, I bet the library or somewhere in Aldrip would display ancient treasure!

[digthefuzz]

Oh yeah? That would be awesome! It'd really add to the standard library decor. Ooh, and what if they name a wing after the dating adventurer who discovered it! I mean, I know it shouldn't be about the glory, but some glory would still be so rad!

[solitarysoul]

Well they've got to include who found it in any display for it!

[digthefuzz]

Exactly! It's gonna happen whether we like it or not. So I might as well love it! And see if I can make t-shirts about it!