Jan/Feb '23 Lite Challenge: Mistruun's Gondola > (Non- Entry)
> Since I have a golden compass. This is not an entry. I'm just going to have fun with a map where an adventure starts.
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Gears creaked above, turning away over the rune inscribed cables that span between the mesas above the vast Mistruun Forest. The Gondola lift acted as one of the few safe ways to move past the dangerous forest towards the Gadasan Highlands up on the massive plateaus. It was build many years ago to move over the heart of the forest to keep travelers safe.
Just glancing around the hanging structure, one could see all but a few anxious people. Even those who have made the trek multitudes of times, still gripped the railings of the large gondola as piercing howls sounded from the forest floor. Few knew what horrors waited in the rolling mists of those trees. Yet, most did not wish to know, hoping the gondola would once more make the trek safely.
But for that day’s journey, it was a necessity. Rumors and scarce envelopes from the highlands begged for any who was able to join the fight against an ancient oppressor. So, it began. The great journey over the forests and up the plateau.
Still, even with that tension hanging over every person on the Gondola, there was beauty there. The great trees of Mistruun was famous as some of them could be seen even going above the height of the Gondola lift, their mighty branches reaching for the sky and casting grand shadows over the canopies of the forest.
Right then gears slowed as the big gondola approached one of many mesas that harbored the anchors for the cables that stretched the distances.
Loud clicking sounds accompanied the sudden jerking of the slowing structure.
In the distance, a blink of light bounced off the old stone watch towers. Some say there weren’t just ruins, but there were actual villages in the Mistruun. Yet, those tales were often laughed off. The tales of the dangers of the forest was just too many to give credit to it.
Just then on the wooden platforms built on the closest mesa, a group of people in dark cloaks with a silver brand walked out to the edge, just watching the approaching gondola.
“You have been warned,” A voice shouted. “To stay out of our war. Now face the deep fogs of Mistruun.”
Suddenly, a large man with a glowing axe stepped forward and cut the rune inscribed cable with one mighty swing.
For a moment, the gondola felt weightless. Then the entire structure groaned as it swung down into the dangerous forest as it was swallowed whole.
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Let me know what you thought about that kind of start to a campaign.
I'm a bit conflicted if I should map the Gondola lift, which has several rooms. Or map the crash site in the forest. What do you all prefer?
