The Accursed Island [Closed]

[cityship]

Planet Designation: Forcellia
Status: Terrestrial, H-class.
Non-sentient life: Extensive flora and fauna.
Semi-Sentient Life: Yes.
Sentient Life: Homo Sapiens.
Water: 69.5% of the planet's surface.
Climate: Earth-like
Landscape: Varied.
Air: Normoxic concentration.
Air Pressure: 101.3 kPa (kilopascals) = 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch)
Sky: Blue, with variable cloud cover.
Sun: A class G2V, yellow star.
Warnings: Wildlife and plant-life can be hazardous. Humans can be hazardous.
Mission: Negotiate for or otherwise obtain the artifact known as the Scepter of Domination.

Forcellia, or at least the part of it that contained the clearing in which the group now found themselves, wasn't exactly welcoming. The ground was little more than rocky soil, the sky violet-grey and overcast. Here, it was evidently late afternoon, edging into evening. It was slightly humid, as if from a recent rain; faint clouds of steamy mist seemed to curl off the ground, partially obscuring their view of their surroundings. Scraggly trees rose up out of this mist here and there, as if grasping towards fresher air.

The villagers in the area had supposedly been contacted ahead of time, and this had been the place they’d agreed to meet the crew. Whether or not they knew anything about this supposed Scepter of Domination, however, was not yet clear. What the Scepter even did or how it might contribute to their struggle was even less clear.

In the distance, they might hear the occasional whinny of a horse, or the lowing of a cow carrying up to them from the distance, though it was difficult, if not impossible, to tell from which direction the sound was coming from.

Comments

ABANDONED LANDING SITE

[cityship]

Not a soul could be seen at the meeting site. Was this foreboding place really where they were supposed to be greeting the villagers?
[Subthreaded, feel free to threadjack!]

THE ATTACK

[cityship]

The ground began to shake, the rumbling almost imperceptible at first, then increasing in volume until it seemed to come from both nowhere and everywhere at once. Even as the quaking worsened, the air grew heavy and still. Then, out of the dense cloud cover, it came – the massive, reptilian head first, followed by a serpentine neck and an immense armored body. A red dragon, its burnished scales glinting in the low light of day. Four great, ragged wings kept it aloft as it soared through the sky toward the group assembled below.

As it approached, the crew suddenly heard a shout – a human shout. Someone was running toward them through the mist: a man, clad in the gear of a watchman. Probably one of the villagers. But before any could react, a bright, white-hot swath of flame shot out from the dragon’s open jaws, finding its mark in an instant. The man only had an instant to scream; he was reduced to cinders even as he ran to reach them.

Oh. Oops. Well, at least they'd sent someone out to meet the crew.
[keep it to one thread, please! No set posting order, and remember, you’ll get another crack at the dragon later on!]

NAVARRE VILLAGE

[cityship]

After the ordeal, the group was led to the town meeting hall, where they were to address the village matriarch. A few other individuals from the village flanked her where she stood, a woman in late middle age dressed in white robes, her only adornment a thin gold circlet above her brow. Her eyes looked tired, but she held herself tall as she addressed them, looking each in the eyes.

“I’m sorry your arrival here had to be so unpleasant. We’ve been dealing with the threat of Shooting Star for quite some time, but for new arrivals, it must have been quite a fright. My name is Neese, and I extend my welcome to you, travelers.”
[subthreaded, threadjack all you want! Tag the NPCs, or each other!]

THE SHADOW OF KASTUUL

[cityship]

Night had fallen, and the crew had been shown to the dwelling the villagers had prepared for them. The mayor of the village had once made residence here, before he’d abandoned the people for the prospect of living somewhere where it was not always on fire. So it was large enough to accommodate everyone, though some would no doubt have to share a room.

It was quiet now, save for the sounds of night: the occasional call of a bird, the sound of insects, and the occasional breeze. A few guards had been posted in the area, but the consensus was that another attack would not come so soon after the latest.

Those wandering outside might find themselves strangely drawn to an area just outside the village outskirts, as if called…
[Subthreaded, tag in the house, wandering the village, talking to Karla, etc. No set posting order for Karla, and anyone can butt in and ask questions.]