The party had reached a moment of indecision. A Beginners Cave indeed, a Beginner Murdering Cave! If this thought went through your mind in these final moments. You were likely not alone. The shade's Trinity fakes continued to be slain only to be replaced. The Shadow Cloud preparing some unknown attack, and yet even when you were so deep in shit and the door to turn around and run was so close...
You stayed.
You fought.
You put your life on the line just as the Starcalled always did.
Foolish? It would be up to the world to decide.
Once again another series of attacks. knowing full well by now that the pain transfer would be swift and your life possibly ended, Unknown continued to take direct damage, not able to hide behind its shadowy veil.
It screeched, this time not in rage, not in painful fury... but in uncertainty. Perhaps the first inkling of whatever fear would be like for it? Had for the first time in so long it found prey that would fight back? Its tail emerged from the miasma pool, it swayed excitedly yet still uncertain how to proceed. It had not preyed upon such things in so long. It was so accustomed to freezing its prey through its screech and then just playing with it until it was bored, much like..
Chesire.
The creature's ears perked up. The Shadow Cloud dissipated.
Chesiiiiiire wherrreeee arrrrre youuuuu?
Unknown began to sway, its grin somehow getting even wider. The voice! So much to get excited about! And so Unknown began to shrink. It pulled its miasma towards its body, leaving the Travelers to freely breathe again. Its four limbs began to twist as it bent over and fell upon two of them then the other two as hind legs.
"Prrrrrrr...."
As the world around you seemed to freeze frame beyond your control. Some of your party members may have noticed various things at this point.
@Athena surely saw the sudden manifestation of energy in the room. Although she could not seem to turn to face the source of this energy in any amount of time. The energy that passed was running parallel to the chamber they were in rather than within it.
@Seto Kurama for whatever reason was more aware of the movement. He could see her. A blur yet very much human. At least in shape.
@Kyra Vashtana would feel with her Primal Aura the creature's sudden change in temperament. It purred as it dashed and dimensionally jumped into the newcomer's arms.
@Herrscher shadows would immediately retreat to her side. They would whisper among each other If she listened perhaps she would hear them. The name...
"Elica Mirg dear narrator, oh I'm sorry DM! I'm not even canon so you can stop being so dramatic! Welp, maybe in
@Vesuvyan headcanon I can be the main character. Alas..."
Unknown or rather, Chesire, leaped into its long-awaited master's arms. The black and red-clad female, was no longer a blur as she stood between the exhausted party and held the horrible abomination close to her face. Smothering it with affection,
The more you watched the more you realized.
Was this someone's pet?
The casually dressed raven hair continued to cuddle the monster.
"Oh did you miss mommy? Yes, you did, yes you did! My little baby *commence cooing and baby noises*."
The now happy pet owner relaxed her grip as Chesire fell to her feet and began to speed around her, rubbing and purring all the while. Elica Mirg would give the slightest of glances at
@Jin and rolls her eye.
.
"What are you looking at edgelord? You make me think of my old teacher when I was going through a phase. I pop edgelords first cause their reactions are funnier. Go get a life before you lose a life eh?'
After the very casually delivered threat. Everyone had gotten their tag, So it was time for the... urgh.
Exposition.
"Oh yeah. I suppose you guys need some answers? We can't have a just cause now, can we? Allow me to oblige. I've been looking for my darling kitty Chesire for some time now. He likes to get up to a bit of mischief now and then. Just like his mommy."
She rubbed her leg against him and then a wink at the camera in her head before continuing.
"This dungeon here is where he decided to hang out while mommy was busy and away. He was mad cause I left him alone, so I needed some bait. Spreading the rumor that this was a Beginners Cave sure helped. What is this dungeon? *Shrugs* Some place, doubt it's important to the game. Or not! Once there's a answer, it's not any fun anymore."
A curl of her lip as her visible eye gleamed slightly.
"When he came out to play, I thought to just come to get him but then... you all went to work and well... kyeheh. I decided to let the game play out. That's why the game exists, to be played right? What sort of game reaches the ending before it even starts? Any real gamer would agree."
She reached down and picked up her weird-ass cat. A sly, yet sincere smile to the party.
"Ahhhh, anywho! That's the story folks! So sorry to put you through all that drama! Maybe someday I will repay you for playing with kitty some. Or who knows... maybe I'm just your ex you blocked from your Metaventure friendlist way back then? No one can say but we all do love a classic, WHAT A TWIST!!! Riiiiiight? Toodles♥, enjoy your stay in wonderland."
She reached up and began to push back her hair with the back of her free hand.
"I sure intend to!"
Her hair parted.
The party was alone in the chamber.
At least it was quiet after all that screeching...
Notice
Travelers Gate Boss Challenge
[ Unknown: The Mischievous Shade ]
CLEARED
- You may report this Boss Challenge to the Trinity Center and receive 50 TP!
- @Zelrius has used up that TP however his small altering of fate may have been what the team needed to pull through.
Note From Pandora: Thank you for joining this challenge! With its conclusion, the tradition of my Beginners Cave dungeons has come to an end. While I hope those had in some way acted as a tutorial for several systems in place during each season they were run, everything (including the entirety of TS someday) must come to an end eventually.
Perhaps another DM in the future will carry on the tutorial level ez as pie beginner challenges. For me, this is a new era. I hope you enjoyed it and will return to my future content with improved knowledge from your experiences.
I have a lot in store for you...
