Outside VII: Open longer than a 7-11

[Reinholdt]

This place is just as it sounds. It's outside.
Want a change of scenery? Go outside.
Always wanted to visit the beach? Come outside.
Looking to have a climatic fight on clifftops? Attempt outside.
Secret meetings being held where there's no cameras? Try outside.
Want an ambush without nasty base defenses? Yep. Outside.

Any and all are welcome here. There are no NPCs unless you bring them in. The major exception is the creepy eyed squirrel. The creepy eyed squirrel does not interfere with anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel is everywhere outside. The creepy eyed squirrel is always watching. The creepy eyed squirrel never sleeps. The creepy eyed squirrel can not be damaged, manipulated, or killed by anyone. The creepy eyed squirrel will eat anyone's very being who attempts to do so. Anyone can god-mode the creepy eyed squirrel. You may pet the creepy eyed squirrel at your own risk.

Other NPCs currently include:
The menacing crabs. These intimidating creatures are usually found by the shore.
The non-existant duck. You'll miss every time you shoot at it.

There is very little you can't do outside. However, like always, please follow the forum rules and general rules of conduct. Private conversations can be held outside. If it seems like a private (secret) conversation, please respect that. Those having such a conversation should do their best to indicate it as such. Otherwise, other characters may stumble upon you. Those desiring to spy in on private conversations should first PM those holding the private conversation, more out of courtesy than anything else.

There are many areas outside, and people can be in multiple places outside. In order to keep areas outside separated so there's no confusion, consider bolding your outside location at the start of each of your posts, like so:

The Fields

Reinholdt sets up various targets and practices his sharpshooting. All these events recently has made him a bit rusty. To his left, he notes the creepy eyed squirrel. Giving him the heebie-jeebies, Reinholdt decides to head somewhere else.

The Cliffside

Calublufiok broods over his latest scheme as he flies over the cliffs. The creepy eyed squirrel is watching him again. He finds occasionally landing and telling the creepy eyed squirrel his plans helps him find holes in his plotting.

Note Reinholdt and Calublufiok do not interact because they are in different areas outside. They could interact, if Reinholdt moves to the cliffside. Of course, various things like telepathy help bypass this. Also, please note outside has no major buildings, though minor ones crop up from time to time.

And most importantly, enjoy outside. That's what this is all about.

Outside now contains various Outside locations! Such as...

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[Dead Pine Lake]

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This lake lies in the middle of the forest. On the eastern shore, woodpeckers feast on the dead pines that give the lake its name. Sometimes one can find Lady Death here, the Aspect of Eve also known as The Grandmother, or Jedwiga.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Jedwiga.)

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[Greensbrook]

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A peaceful farming village overseen by John De Metz. Formerly home to Rocky the Render. Notable families included the Bobrow and Giles families.

[The Islands]

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An island cluster forms an archipelago along the coast. Some of the islands are settled, some not, but most are at least occasionally visited by the fishermen who work these waters.

[Gersemi's Island]

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Gersemi the seighkona lives on a small island in the archipelago with a single hut and a few sheep. Inside the hut, there is a single room, and a fireplace. A loom rests in one corner.

(Please PM happyturtle if you wish to interact with Gersemi.)

[Redbrick Falls]

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A mountainous, cliffy region with a prominent waterfall. A large quarry once was worked in these cliffs. Now, only a few scattered villages and solitary dwellings remain.

[Whitemount]

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A rather large town with some scattered farms and the seat of a duchy.

PM Reinholdt if you wish to add locations to Outside.

Special: Reinholdt will update the Outside threads and post new ones when it is time. Please don't post a new thread without his permission or he is away for an extended period of time.
Thank you.

[happyturtle]

{Gersemi's Isle}

Thanks. Melody smiles. But now I feel kinda foolish.

"We all do foolish things from time to time," Gersemi says, with a smile, and descends the ladder and returns to the hut.

[Neon Knight]

[Riverbank]

Corentin nods. "The ridge might indeed offer us an advantage."

From the last thread.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli stirs and wakes up, automatically looking for Tranquil.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

Tranquil doesn't appear to be about...
If Milli searches, she'll find a small note telling her that Tranquil had to go take care of a few things at the temple, but should be back relatively soon.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli finds the note after a short search. Hmm. So she has a bit of time on her hands.

First, check to see if Tranquil left anything that smells yummy out. Second... I dunno. Poke around in her things?

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

As luck would have it, there is a fruit and nut based bread cooling on a small rack near the oven...
Very tasty and fresh.

As for the second, well, Vael assumes Milli won't be too inquisitive about the various creepy objects in Tranquil's house, however, she does find a small collection of books, and what might be Tranquil's private journal.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Munching (with appreciative mmm's) on a slice of the bread, Milli decides to take just a peek in the books.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

A large number of books are filled with various information on necromancy and the underworld. However, there are also a slim pair of books that contain recipes (mostly for baking), and another which appears to be a novel of some kind.

The journal remains temptingly unopened.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Unable to resist the temptation, Milli decides to...

Peek over her shoulder to see if there is any sign of Tranquil returning, then to peek into the journal.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

Hmmm, Tranquil doesn't seem to be coming back...
To the journal!
Milli is greeted with poetry... but, as Tranquil hinted at before, this poetry isn't very good. She's obviously not too experienced at it, and there is a certain emotional depth it is lacking.
Looking through a few more pages will reveal a few actual journal entries of different days- notes of different things she's seen and noted. Most of them aren't overly significant, but a few detail odd events between the underworld and nexus.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli checks the most recent entries.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

There are two entries from a recent date.

One of them is dated from when Milli first arrived. Tranquil detailed her fears that this would be no different from interacting with any other person- that Milli would fail to understand the way she thought, lived, and what her goals and hopes were.
How can I expect someone who still lives, and has not seen or felt the underworld, to understand what I feel and know?
At the very bottom of the entry are a few more words, added later with a different quill.
She doesn't understand.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli sighs, looking down at those last words, staring at them for a while before looking at the second entry.

[Dirk Kris]

Gersemi's Isle
"Charles Patrick" is hard at work, making repairs.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

The next entry is a little more hopeful, and very recent- it was made this morning, in fact. She can see that Tranquil is somewhat more satisfied with things, but there is still a note of hesitation and uncertainty. Clearly not all of her fear and worries have been dispelled.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Well, Milli will just have to do something about that!

Milli moves to replace everything before Tranquil returns.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

...time passes.
Milli may slowly get the feeling that the contents of the note implied she'd be back before noon, and its getting past that point now...

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli begins to get nervous. What could be keeping Tranquil? Surely she intended to be back before now?

Milli heads upstairs to the cemetery proper.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

No sign of Tranquil in the cemetery...

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

A flutter of wings announces Milli's change into a keen eyed bird of prey. She flies up and circles the cemetery, looking around for any sign of Tranquil.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

She's definitely not in the cemetery... but she might notice something occurring at the edge of the city.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli does notice this, and wheels in the sky to head towards it and get a better look.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

By the time she gets there, whatever occurred is over... but she can see a group of people quickly heading off, and Tranquil slowly walking towards the cemetery.
Very slowly. In fact, she might be limping.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

...

Oh, dear.

Milli swoops down beside Tranquil, shifting back quickly into her trueform. "Tranquil? Are you okay?"

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

Tranquil gives a grimace.
"Not really."
She has a few bruises, and she's limping pretty badly.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli's eyes widen as she moves to support Tranquil. "What happened!?"

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

"Just some disagreeable people..."
Tranquil says with a sigh, shaking her head.

[Neon Knight]

[Cemetery]

Milli tries to get Tranquil to stop so that she can look at her injury. Not that she has anything more than the most basic of medical skills.

[AmberVael]

[Cemetery]

Tranquil isn't really so bad- some bruising and a bit of a sprain are the worst she's suffering.