[Deleted]

The swathing stench of madness and power exuded from a rather unusual drainpipe near the entrance to the Rogueport Sewers, as though another path had been opened from the usual large, green pipes. The grey, cobble-brick pipe looked... off. It was large enough to fit creatures upwards of ten feet tall within, if one were to wager what gathered within. There was no sign of this elusive 'Ancestor' person, nor was there any other indication that this place might be where the group that had signed on to hunt riches would say, except the letter that had been sent matched the insignia on the wall, said letter having been sent to Groose, Captain Falcon, Arle, and Revali. The halo, with those five ticks, was also given a skull underneath, radiating an unnaturally dark energy, even for this world, something that Groose and Revali might be familiar with on some planar level. Evil of the most profound nature akin to that of the most vile creatures from their universes. 

Bodies of skeletal creatures, and the remains of koopa shells alike loomed ominously like a battlefield, but among the rubble, a most mysterious appendage lay there, twitching. Some black-purple tentacle, writhing and contorting. The presence of any hero would cause it to fade away. Perhaps it was right this way, perhaps that thing was meant to be a warning. Perhaps, an omen. The packs each team member was given corresponded to their ability to carry, but the packs themselves felt empty almost, as though the burden of carrying such pivotal, life-saving materials was an easy task.

There the skull loomed over the pipe, fractured and glowing a deep, sinister red. The Ancestor's voice echoed in the heads of all the heroes once they arrived...

"Our land is remote, and un-neighbored. Every lost resource must be recovered..."

Torchlight is at 100!


(NOTE: Stress should be recorded by each player in this mission, and tracked alongside damage. I will keep track of torches, resources, and other supplies that are gathered along the way)

PROVISIONS

24 Food Packets (Evenly divided on preferred food of each character)
16 Torches
1 Skeleton Key
4 Shovels
4 Antivenom
4 Herbs
4 Bandages
4 Laudanum

[TartoonHand94]

A mighty caw roared down from the shining heavens as the most bodacious bird, the Black Loftwing gliden down from most high. Upon it’s back rode the most handsome strapping dude with the slickest pompadour in all of Skyloft.
Without so much as giving his bird a chance to land, the hero of this story lept off, doing a sweet triple somersault and nailing the most richeous super hero landing ever seen. “Nailed it!”

“Have no fear, ” he cooly stood to address his followers “The Great Groose is…” he began, opening his eyes to realize something was off. Looking around, his suspicions were confirmed. “…Aw man, we’re the only ones here!” He complained to his Loftwing who came to land beside him.
“Think if we go back up for a spin for like ten minutes they’d all show up so we can do it again?”
The only reply he got was a non-descript caw.
“But still, on the other hand... Where Is everybody? Did they all just sleep in, wake up late and take extra long to do their hair because their hair gel was almost out and they had to make do?” He pondered out loud. “I mean it’s one thing if you wanna make an entrance but…”
Taking another look at the surrounding the desolate and foreboding environment.
“Come to think of it... Are we even in the right place? I mean sure I’m the best map reader around so there’s no way I could be lost but…” He insisted, pulling his map out for another check. Nope, unfortunately, he was in the right place. The letter matched the insignia on the wall.
“…Nope, th-this...is the place... Bummer.” He whimpered, still keen on leaving and coming back later. “…Maybe they all went in ahead? Not the brightest thing to try without me to protect them, but who knows?…” He pondered further.
“Hello?...” He cupped his hands and called into the grey cobble-brick pipe. All he got back was his own echo and… A voice!
“Eep! W-who’s there?” He flinched cowardly before calling again. “If you’re trying to creep me out, I’ll tell you from now it’s Not gonna work! This is Groose you’re messing with so don’t mess with me!”


Groose
Damage: 0%
Stress: 0
Status: Normal

[Coolshaymin]

A wind picked up in the location in the sewers that the group was meant to go to for these so called riches. A rather strong wind for one being underground in this desolate area. Flying on that wind was a birdman with his custom made bow strapped to his back and a quiver of a large assortment of arrows, two Hylian Daggers to his side as he was prepared to fight some pretty intense evil. Sure enough, this place began to remind him a lot of Calamity Ganon. A thought that filled him with anger and bitterness. He failed to protect his Kingdom from that monster all due to that portal and that spawn of his that was specifically made to take him down. He can only hazard a guess at what became of Hyrule aftwards. Still, this place was even darker than he was expecting it to be.

He landed on the ground, adjusted his Champion Tunic and pulled out the letter... This was the place... And he even heard someone else's voice. It was a big, strong looking man with a large bird he did not recogonize. Still, he did not recogonize a lot of things on this planet. He also talked to himself. Whipping up another miniture gale, Revali took to the skies and flew past the man with a corkscrew before flying in a shuttleloop to land, just showing off a bit. "So, you were also invited? You don't really look like much. Still, with my skills we should be able to easily get that treasure and leave this dungeon in one piece. We'll see if your bulk matches your skill in the meantime," Revali declared cockily, the Rito grinning in a smug way. Hm, this man somehow reminded him of Link. Can't say why, they held no resemblance in the slightest. However, there was this distinct feeling he had to one up him.

"It's the one that gave us the message, calm down. We still have two more invitees if I had to guess," Revali stated again as he took a moment to make sure his bow was still in good condition. Fortunately it was, despite him not really having too much time to tune it some more.

[Mr. Game & Watch]

At that very moment, the echoes of both heavy metal and actual metal screeching entered the ears of everyone in the surrounding area. The source would soon be found as the Blue Falcon drifted around the corner barreling towards the duo waiting for the arrival of their other party members. The vehicle showed no signs of stopping, the engine revving louder and louder as the machine got closer to their position. At the very last second though, the air brakes were put on maximum power, ceasing the aircraft right before anyone became road kill.

The canopy popped up, as did Captain Falcon’s head. With a quick smile, he leapt out of the driver’s seat, doing a couple flips in the air as his body flew over the other two’s and landed face first on the ground behind them. “Oooo!” he hollered before he pulled himself back up and raced toward the two bird men. He laughed heartily and placed both his arms around the duo’s shoulder lines and pulling them in like they were close friends. “Ha ha! YES! Just a couple of bros heading into certain doom! I miss these days!” he announced excitedly. He briefly paused, as though he forgot something that heavily pertained to the statement he made. His eyes briefly fell upon his vehicle. Did he remember to pick up Little Arle before he came here? He couldn’t remember.

He broke off from the great big man hug as his nose flexed. Something smelt off. “Does anyone else smell madness?” he pondered as he meandered over to the rather sinister looking pipe. He wafted a bit of the stench coming off the object, being immediately repulsed. The last time he smelt something so diabolical it was Black Shadow! Or maybe his boss, Death-something, he could never remember that guy’s name. Either way, he fanned it out of his face rapidly, pulling his head back. “No! That’s definitely power!” he corrected himself. He stoked his chin lightly and then looked back to the group. “That means there’s some big bad beasties down there! Let’s get’em!” he chanted with a pump of his fist.

HP: 150%
Shield: 50%
Stress: 0
Status: N/A

[Mari]

The gentle pitter-patter of some small creature could be heard from behind the group, almost difficult to pick up over the various voices. Rather than a stray cat or some other tragically abandoned pet in the sewers, however, a little babby emerged from the pipe! Little Arle looked around, anxiously nibbling at one of her fingers as she emerged into the area. Was she lost? Little Arle looked around for a moment, seemingly unfazed by all the skeletal remains in the area. Yeah yeah that's real spooky but--Oh hey, it was Groose! She knew that face! Arle quickly removed the hand from her mouth and waved it at Groose, smiling brightly. "Hi Mister Goose~! Hi Captin Falcin~!" Arle chirped, seeming to struggle slightly with Groose's name in particular.

“Mistress Arle, my analysis indicates that there is an 82% chance we have reached our destination.”

The spectral form of Mirage Fi emerged from Arle's pouch of hammerspace^(TM), standing before the group to face the little girl and speaking directly to her. She did not seem to regard anyone else in the room. Arle looked up at Fi, giving her a blank look for a long moment. " . . . What's a 'persind'?" Arle hesitantly asked, unable to grasp that word entirely.

“Percent. Adverb. A number representing something's potential out of a maximum of one-hundred.”

"...Oh." Arle lamely replied. She had no idea what an adverb was, and wasn't entirely sure that she understood what a percent was either. A moment later, Captain Falcon's encouraging words gave way to a pair of pumped fists. "Yeah~!" Little Arle enthusiastically shouted, before taking a moment to lowkey sniff at the air. "...It smells kinda familiar!" she mused aloud, but was unable to make anything of the revelation. Maybe it just smelled like dank dark dungeons!

Arle Nadja
180 / 180 HP
55 / 55 Shield
0% Stress

Status: Normal

[Deleted]

The very air grew still, the place felt... alive, almost. As if the very entrance had a beating heart. There would have been a stress buildup, but Captain Falcon's Sheer Bravado warded off the stressful presence. His force of will seemed to overcome the pressure of taking the leap. A small glimmer of light surrounded... Groose! The Ancestor's voice rang through the group's heads, filling them with their duty. "This one. The raw bravado of his entrance may be spent, but his mind holds the secrets of a hundred horrors slain. Follow him." It seemed the pressure was on, and that if anyone were to try and make a move, that Groose would need to be the first! Of course, such pressure would require a bit of a steeled mind in order to take on. Given that this was the beginning of the dungeon, one wouldn't need much resolve to at least act prepared for this journey.

This was the first of many challenges, and the group wasn't even down the rabbit hole yet.

...if rabbit holes were massive, ten foot tall chasms into a sinister abyss. 

lDWPM3r5p_1d5
p_1d4(Nothing is in the hall!)

The First room was right ahead, the entrance was clear. The leader might be relieved to see that they were no traps, items, or monsters inside. What would have been another stress buildup was averted. Groose alone would hear the ancestor's voice echo further. "Strike a torch, proceed into the dungeon, but prepare yourself - Horrors of the likes from all of your travels, and more, will surely present themselves here..."

(Groose might take +2 stress! Roll a 1d10 WIS roll to avoid taking stress damage. 5 or higher resists stress buildup and could provide a boon if it crits)

Torchlight is still at 100, no one has moved into the dungeon yet!


PROVISIONS
24 Food Packets
16 Torches
1 Skeleton Key
4 Shovels
4 Antivenom
4 Herbs
4 Bandages
4 Laudanum

1d5·1d4

[TartoonHand94]

The hairs already standing on end on the back of Groose’s neck picked up an unusually strong wind for where they were. Turning to face the wind, and to shield his pompadour from it, Groose eyes beheld a sight that he had only seen in his dreams. Forget tiny birds, there was a giant bird man doing a shuttle loop to land. Whoever, or whatever this thing is sure could make an entrance. Still not a better entrance than his.

“Huh? You can Talk?!?” Groose gasped, getting into a defensive stance. “What kind of bird are you? Are there more where you came from? Are-you-some-freaky-unholy-hybrid-of-a-human-and-a-Loftwing-or-are-you-the-other-way-around-like-an-angel-and-Wait! What Do You Mean I Don’t Look Like Much?” Groose babbled a stream of incoherent questions before getting his priority back in order and taking a confrontational stance.

Revali was saved from Groose’s confrontational glare by the screeching echoes of an oncoming metal machine the likes of which he had never seen before either. Groose would’ve jumped out of the way, ducked and covered at an instant if he weren’t caught like a deerling in headlights. Luckily for him, it didn’t matter as the strange metal bird stopped in time and out of its head came some circus acrobat who did a couple sommersaults and then faceplanted behind them. Groose was still the best when it came to entrances. If only these two saw his, they’d be so jealous.

“…And you are?” Groose asked flatly before getting another look at the guy’s helmet now that his arm was around his shoulder.
“…Wait I know you! You’re that guy who beats up Link!” Groose’s voice raised as he made a double take between the captain and his racing machine. It was him! He was here! And he put his arm around his shoulder and he called him his bro! “I-I-I-I… am such big fan! You’re almost as cool as I am! You’ve Gotta show me your moves sometime!”

Just when Groose was ready to follow Captain Falco and the bird man into the cave, his razor-sharp ears picked up a tiny voice from behind.
“No it couldn’t be… A-Arle?!?” Groose shook his head in disbelief. “What are you doing here all alone in Man’s Country? This is no place for a little squirt like you!” He rushed over to her like a worried uncle. “Aw man! Zelda’s gonna kill me if she finds out about this!” He wiped his face in adult panic. “Unless…” Another idea crossed his mind. “This could be my chance to prove how good a babysitter I am! And once Zelda sees how great I am with kids, she’ll be My baby!” He plotted to himself, forgetting the kid in question was in ear shot.
“Alright kid, you can tag along with us.” Groose decidedly welcomed Arle, on one condition. “But, you’re gonna have to stick close to Me at all times and do as I say! Got it?”

A small glimmer of light surrounded Groose. And oddly, it wasn’t from the bright lightbulb hovering above his head either. And for the fourth time this post, a voice followed.
“Huh? There’s that voice again!” Groose looked around annoyed until he heard what it has to say. “Though it has a really good point. You guys should follow me!” He nodded in accomplished agreement. “The voice said so!” But hold on Groose. What Was the voice? Who was the voice and Where was it coming from? Why did it choose you? What does it want with you? Do you even care? It already dubbed you leader.
These questions didn’t bare down on Groose’s mind one bit, but the pressure of being leader…Kinda did?

tqaUqHCnp_1d20-2

“Come on, Men!-and Arle.” Groose roused, striking a torch. “Let’s get this show on the road! Onward!” He lead them marching to the into the first room ahead.


Groose
Damage: 0%
180/180 HP
65/65 Shield
Stress: 0
Status: Normal1d20-2

[Mr. Game & Watch]

Just as his bravado was at its peak, face stoic and fists clenched with excitement, Little Arle stumble onto the scene. His expressions melted into a bubbly baby face as he cutely waved hello back to the little girl. A bold little girl that adventured as hard as one of his bros always melted his heart, it made him so hopeful for the next generation of heroes. It almost made him want to cry.

That mattered little now as a voice entered his head once more. He proudly took a stoic stance, assuming the bodiless voice’s words were directed at him. As he soon realized though, the glow was on another fellow, a man with pecks and chin so chiselled it could only rival his own. Well, if he was to lose out to anyone at least it was a fellow bro! That wasn’t all though, apparently this goose of a man was also a big fan of his! Captain Falcon nearly blushed, he waved his hand at Groose to humbly wave off his own hype. “Now now, Link is an excellent fighter in his own right, but uh-” he eased in and then subtly leaned closer to Groose “-he relies a bit too much on weapons and items to do the fighting for him” he quietly elaborated and backed away again. “It’s all about physical prowess! I’ll show you once get to those beasties that need bashing!”

With that said, Captain Falcon unquestionably followed his appointed leader into the depths of the tunnel of evil. To his dismay, there were no evil beings that needed his fist’s autograph just yet, but that time would come, hopefully. He trusted in his bro that he wouldn’t be led astray. His lip quivered as he thought of that, a rush of nostalgia flooding his mind. “Not being the captain of this crew reminds me of my days as Cadet Falcon! That spry little rascal is the reason I have back problems these days!” he announced as he wiped his helmet’s visor as though he was wiping away his tears.

HP: 150
Shield: 50
Stress: 0
Status: N/A

[Mari]

((Guess I'm skipping Coolshaymin too! Not sure whether she wants to continue, but I'mma postin' my wall.))

Little Arle gave Groose an incredulous look. "Pfft, people don't turn back into babies! . . . Do they?" Arle sassily corrected before less than confidently asking, seemingly completely oblivious to the fact that she was undergoing such a transformation right now! She had also taken Groose's words a bit literally. Then again, why would anyone lie to someone smaller than them? Why, that didn't make any sense at all! Arle decided to accept this premise. "Oh, okay!" Arle went on to reply, stepping closer to Groose at his request. She wasn't sure what to think of what was happening, but she understood that it was important to listen. "...Hey Mister Goose! I gots an idea! Why don't you babysit Zelda if you wanna show her how good you are at it?" Arle innocently asked, really just not getting it at all with him.

She looked around for the source of the voice in her head but much to her curious frustration was unable to find it any which way she looked! A voice without a face? Now that just wasn't fair. She quickly moved to join Groose and Captain Falcon in proceeding. "Light!" Arle incanted, conjuring a pink'ish white ball of magic in the palm of one hand to help light their way. "...Hey Captin Falcon? If you were a cadet, does that mean somebody else was captin?" Arle curiously asked, a bit absent-minded about their dungeon quest. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she needed something to do to keep her focused. If anything though, it was perhaps impressive that she could even keep up with the idea of a hierarchal ranking structure at the age of five.

Arle Nadja
180 / 180 HP
55 / 55 Shield
0% Stress

Status: Normal