Realistic Fantasy - Underdark Expeditions - M/M

Started by Xurtan, April 24, 2024, 11:31:30 AM

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Xurtan



There are no shadows in the Underdark.
There is no room for imagination in the Underdark.
It is a place for alertness, but not aliveness, a place with no room for hopes and dreams.
-R.A. Salvatore


PREFACE

As the last vestiges of sunlight fade into a memory, the descent begins. The path narrows, the air grows cooler, and the earth itself seems to swallow all who dare to tread here. This is the threshold of the Underdark, a realm where beauty and terror intertwine like the roots of ancient, gnarled trees. The walls glisten with moisture, reflecting the faint luminescence of bioluminescent fungi that cling to the jagged surfaces like celestial constellations cast upon the earth. Stalactites loom overhead, dripping with the slow, steady rhythm of time unmarked by the sun, their tips giving birth to stalagmites that reach up as if in prayer to the  darkness above.

The scent is a mélange of damp earth, decaying wood, and the faint, metallic tang of unseen minerals. It's a smell that is both alien and intimately familiar, a reminder that life—strange, persistent life—thrives in these hidden depths. A symphony of subtle sounds fills the cavernous spaces: the distant drip of water, the soft whisper of wind through unseen passages, and the occasional skitter of some creature lurking just out of sight. It's a place that demands respect, a landscape carved from the very bones of the earth, where every shadow could hold wonders or horrors—or both.

Here, in the embrace of the Underdark, the world above seems like a dream, and the journey ahead promises the kind of adventures that will become the stuff of legend. Here, beneath the surface, where darkness reigns as the eternal sovereign, bands of souls venture forth, each driven by their own clandestine motives. The Underdark, long sealed from the prying eyes of the world above, has unfurled its shadowy tendrils, beckoning these adventurers into its enigmatic embrace.

They are not mere wanderers but chosen emissaries of the surface nobility, tasked with piercing the veil of the unknown. Their mission: to chart the uncharted, to uncover relics of bygone eras, and to ferry these treasures back through the labyrinthine expanse from whence they came. The journey is fraught with the need for vigilance, for the Underdark is avaricious, ever-hungry for the light and life it cradles. Resources are as precious as the rarest gems nestled in the rock, and the party must ration with care, lest the darkness consume them whole. Obligations weigh heavily upon their shoulders, for the nobles' gold that funds their expedition comes with the heavy price of expectation. Each artifact retrieved, each secret unearthed, is a debt paid, a step closer to freedom from the gilded chains that bind them to their benefactors.

Threats lurk in every shadow, creatures and denizens twisted by the absence of the sun, their forms and intentions obscured by the perpetual gloom. Combat is a dance with death, each encounter a test of survival against foes as cunning and ruthless as the caverns themselves. Yet, amidst the peril, there is wonder. The Underdark is a tapestry of natural marvels, its landscapes a puzzle to be solved. Passages wind and weave into mazes, their patterns a challenge to the keenest minds, promising the joy of discovery to those who can decipher their secrets.

And beyond survival, beyond the thrill of exploration, lies the ambition to claim a foothold in this forsaken realm. To build a presence where none dare to claim dominion, to carve out a sanctuary in the heart of darkness—this is the ultimate testament to their resolve. Here, in the bowels of the earth, legends will be forged, and tales of bravery and treachery will echo through the ages. For the Underdark is not just a place but a crucible in which the mettle of the bravest is tested, and the echoes of their deeds will resonate far beyond its stygian borders.



GAME DETAILS

Whew. That was quite a bit for not saying a lot, huh? So basically, as to the story, in short, centuries ago, the Underdark was sealed. No one quite knows how, or why, or what went on in the dark after that point. Recently though, a hole was found--a crack. This stirred great interest among academic circles, but an even greater stir among nobles. Imagine being able to show off a dark elven artifact at your next salon!

Consequently the nobles are sending out small bands of adventurers, each competing against each other, and we are one of these bands. Maybe we're friends, or brothers, or have never met. Either way we need to trust each other to survive, to pay off the debt to the nobles, and grow into our own strength and talents.

This will be a game about forging and testing bonds, protecting, expanding, and building a base, paying the nobles back and keeping up with their demands, exploring the Underdark, and managing resources. It sounds like a lot, and it might be. We might play multiple characters, or maybe we're just a lone pair, whatever sounds more interesting.

Though I'm looking for a serious take on fantasy, that doesn't mean it needs to be doom and gloom all the time. I expect downtime as we rest up in base, flirting and smut as our relationship builds, and also just seeing various wonders down in the Underdark. Maybe a 70/30 plot to smut ratio, up to 60/40. 

I tend to play teasing, arrogant types, sure of themselves and their strength or power, for what it's worth. So bring your naïve Clerics, your innocent spellcasters, your cocky thieves, and let's talk shop and build on this idea! I like tropes of doing bad things for good reasons, making the best of bad situations, and shades of gray. That said I tend to like to play against morally good characters, even if that makes for some strife with my own. It makes for a fun dynamic. Still, nothing is set in stone. A lot of this will come down to you and your interests, because this is a collab game first and foremost.

The perfect writer probably posts at least 1-2 times a week, and is really interested in pushing the lore and story along. If you're enthusiastic about Dungeon Meshi and all of its particulars, I suspect we'll get along fine. Realistic fantasy is something I tend to be quite fond of, especially when things have reasons for the way they are.

If you're still with me, thanks for sticking it out, and I look forward to hearing from you!