dogventure take 2

[dramatispersonae]

[You're standing in the middle of a crossroads in a misty forest with low lighting. It looks... basically like the Black Woods that you just left! You can hear a faint, helpless sound of crying from somewhere — a child? but you can't tell what direction it's coming from.

The paths around you lead in four opposite directions, which we may as well call North/East/South/West/Dennis. What now...?]

Comments

[takeabow]

Hello?

Hello?

Can you hear me?

[barring a response she'll head… east]

[putitdown]

[ there's no response! the sound of crying doesn't abate or grow stronger as you travel, staying faint and steady.

the east trail winds immediately deeper into the woods, though the trees don't become much thicker; this is an area of old giants, broad-trunked smooth-barked deciduous things that tower above you. there's rich dirt beneath your feet, and the trail becomes more and more irregular as you go. ]

[takeabow]

[she's soft-footed and in her element here, deliberate and vigilant. She can't help but pause for a moment and rest a hand on the smooth bark, gathering herself before persistently picking her way along the trail]

[glorious]

[first things first; try to see if the crying child will help with directions at all:]

Where are you?

[putitdown]

[ no response, alas! it continues unabated. ]

[glorious]

[frowns deeply, then heads South]

[aprettygirl]

*can she climb a tree? she's trying, anyway.*

[putitdown]

[ she sure can, if tree-climbing would be possible for her here! the trunks are very broad and smooth-barked, and the first branches are pretty far up. ]

[aprettygirl]

*making a DECENT EFFORT to pull herself up the trunk, huffing a little in the chilly mist . . .*

[precedented]

[ cocking his head before going north ]

[putitdown]

[ the trees start to thin out in this direction! there are a few rays of sunshine piercing the canopy, and the trail seems a little sandier, drying out. there's even the odd shade-friendly wildflower poking up here and there on the side of the path. ]

[precedented]

[ keeps going, keeping an eye out ]

[appleofhiseye]

Hello...?

[wandering north to see if the sounds get any closer]

[putitdown]

[ there's no response to the call!

the trees start to thin out in this direction! there are a few rays of sunshine piercing the canopy, and the trail seems a little sandier, drying out. there's even the odd shade-friendly wildflower poking up here and there on the side of the path. ]

[appleofhiseye]

Uhm...

[can I walk off the path and take a look around]

[alltherightmoves]

Where are you? Are you all right?

[putitdown]

[ no response... the crying doesn't change in any way. ]

[alltherightmoves]

Tell me where you are!

[goneastray]

Oh, who's out here?

[putitdown]

[ no response... the crying doesn't change in any way. ]

[goneastray]

[ Does trying to scent the air pick up anything from any of the directions? ]

[madeofsilver]

[looking behind her, over her shoulder. she shifts her grip on the long bow and then heads south.]

[putitdown]

[ the path is marked out clearly! it quickly grows darker as he progresses, the trees in this direction crowding closer and closer together as the soft gloom under their canopies deepens. it's not exactly ominous, just... watchful. ]

[whereismypie]

[crying kiddies, crossroads, none of this looks like good news.

he'll think for a moment and then decide to head east.]

[putitdown]

[ the east trail winds immediately deeper into the woods, though the trees don't become much thicker; this is an area of old giants, broad-trunked smooth-barked deciduous things that tower above you. there's rich dirt beneath your feet, and the trail becomes more and more irregular as you go. ]