In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
In the northeastern portion of the forsaken realm, many of the people live off of the land. Whether it is from the food they grow by themselves on their farms, the stag and boar they manage to hunt down in the northern forests, somehow, they manage to make it work. Recently, however, there have been reports about something descending from the north that spooks the local wildlife and takes livestock from the local farmlands. While no residents have gone missing, people say that it is only a matter of time before “The Beast” strikes again. This is why they called it in with the magic knight squads, hoping they can settle the matter once and for all.
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[attr="class","shadowsSub"]Details
Maximum Number of Players: 2
[break]Minimum Word Count: 1500
[break]Location: The Forsaken Realm
[break]Special Requirements: For starters, you are to discuss with the locals what they have seen, heard and tried to do to keep the beast out. Naturally, none of what they tried helped, and all of their “information” in terms of how the beast might look is based on hearsay. The only bit of useful information they might be able to provide is where the last attack, or rather, livestock theft took place, as there have been no signs of any animals being killed, just disappearing. Go there, look for tracks, and get ready to track it north.
[attr="class","shadowsSub"]NPC Information
What NPCs are in this mission? Please fill out the template for any notable NPCs. While those you have to socially interact with during the mission are not required, any enemy that is presented in the mission must be listed here.
Post by Kingsley Farebrother on Apr 16, 2024 19:48:33 GMT -5
Kingsley Farebrother
He who fears not the blade he wields has no right to wield that blade.
Kingsley had grown into an adult in the Common Realm, which while quaint and humble, was still somewhat enjoyable compared to life in the Forsaken Realm. Those who called the furthest reaches of the Clover Kingdom home lived rough lives, dominated by their struggle for food and shelter. Many were on the fringes of the Strong Mana Zones, and thus at the mercy of any wild Mana Beasts that explored past their borders in search of food. It was the duty of Magic Knights to repel such creatures, although they often responded only after bodies were found or citizens reported missing. It was a sad truth in the Kingdom of Clover - since the Magic Knights were concentrated around the Capital City, their presence in the wilds was more often called upon rather than naturally spent there patrolling. Kingsley had seen his fair share of Magic Knights growing up, but their missions often involved using the Common Realm villages as stopping points, rather than points of interest themselves. So getting a chance to return to one such village was just what the young knight needed to escape from the hustle and bustle of the castle town, Kikka.
Kingsley had just finished the mission in the Common Realm when a messenger bird arrived with word from the Purple Orca Headquarters; the message began rather strangely. He was to stay put and await extraction by a member of the Coral Peacocks? Curious at the reason behind it, the young knight skimmed the remainder of the parchment and felt his lips tighten into a line at what they had to say. A meager hamlet in the northern Forsaken Region had reported missing livestock, and had preemptively requested assistance from the Magic Knights before someone lost their lives. It wasn't rare for the Capital to take such a request seriously, but it was a nice change of pace to hear that no one had lost their lives yet. But an exfiltration to the hamlet by a member of the Peacock Squad? Kingsley's feet ached from the feeling of hard stone and soil against his soles, so he welcomed the news of a mage with transportation magic. Lacking such abilities on his own, the Purple Orca Knight had often relied on borrowed brooms, favors from other Orcas, and in worst case scenarios, walking until his legs gave out beneath him.
Kingsley glanced at the position of the sun in the sky, and began to perform mental math to figure out how long this journey would take. Arithmetic was a tailor's best friend, and he surmised that at an average travel pace, it should take but two hours if they went straight there. The mission briefing asked that he wait for his teammate at the northern gate of town; the road running east to west across the Common Region forked at the center of this village, providing traders from the Forsaken Realm with a path back to civilization, as well as a common route for Magic Knights who were earthbound to travel out to the border of the Spade Kingdom. Taking a position outside the village walls, Kingsley breathed in deeply the smell of the nearby meadow, its rolling hills abundant with wildflowers at this time of year. The peaceful atmosphere here reminded him of the quaint village he grew up in. Though he rarely had time to visit, the letters sent by his mother ensured him that things were alright back home. The young knight's moment of repose was then interrupted by the sound of wheels against the well trod dirt road that bisected the commoner village.
POW 08
DUR 14
STA 15
SEN 12
CON 12
WORD COUNT: 601
TOTAL WC: 601
ITEMS IN USE: Magic Knight Mantle
BATTLE NOTES: Kingsley patiently awaits his ride to the Forsaken Village, and reminisces about the calmness of village life.
Clifford made his way down the road sitting in his origami wagon reading his reports he was given. His captain gave his a mission to go to the forsaken realm and investigate “The Beast” That was going around kidnapping and killing livestock. Clifford was more than happy to help with this task. Those people often relied on their livestock to have something going around. But stealing and killing them was something that needed to be stopped. He wondered why he was given this particular mission. But who is he to question it? Clifford gave some thought about where he was going. He'd never been to the forsaken region before, Not because he didn't want to go…Just never had a reason too. A problem he seeks to fix in the coming days. If he was going to be a good magic knight, he needed to know the land better than he did at the current moment. He needed to know what was going on outside the city where he spent most of his time. The people In the forsaken region, were just as important citizens of the Kingdom of Clover as the city dwellers were, at least in his eyes though many would disagree with him.
However, there was a little bit more to this mission than investigation. He had to make a quick stop. He had to pick up one of his comrades from my different squad. A magic knight from the Purple Orcas. He was a bit curious why they were blending squads together, Perhaps they were just so short handed that they didn't really have a choice. Or perhaps they wanted to start forming more unity between squads. The reasoning really didn't matter to Clifford, he was just happy to have some company and back up on his mission. He only hoped that this person wouldn't be too difficult to work with. He could conform to others quite a bit. However, if they were going to be difficult on his first mission, this would be a challenge. Either way he pushed these thoughts aside as he hadn't even met the person yet , all he knew was they were waiting to be picked up at the northern gate of the common region. So he just looked ahead the gate to his meeting point in sight. He smiled eager to get started with this Purple Orca, hoping they were an interesting.
Clifford's paper wagon would roll past decades as he looked down to see a magic knight in a purple orca robe. The wagon would come to a stop in front of him as Clifford looked down at the man smiling at him.
“Hello there, I'm Clifford of the Coral Peacocks. I do believe you're the one I'm here to pick up so if you'd be so willing to give your name and climb aboard we can set off.”
He said in a jovial tone as he gave a wave with his arm. And hand inviting him up onto the paper wagon. There was a small part of him that wondered if he was laying it on a little thick, but it didn't really matter to him. This is who he was. Once the Purple Orca climbed aboard and was seated the Wagon would begin to move them to there destination to the forsaken reigon.
Post by Kingsley Farebrother on May 2, 2024 16:48:36 GMT -5
Kingsley Farebrother
He who fears not the blade he wields has no right to wield that blade.
The sounds eventually gave weigh, a carriage of white riding down the town's road. It came to a halt alongside Kingsley, the blonde man atop it offering a welcoming open hand to him. The more he inspected the carriage, the more he came to suspect it was paper. The mana behind the magic construct had a similar nature to Kingsley's own, the cloth attribute being another thin material derived from biological material, yet distinct enough to be different. Taking the man's hand, the Purple Orca introduced himself before taking the first step onto the wagon. "The name's Kingsley." The intimate hand-to-hand contact became somewhat of a handshake, a showing of trust between the two Knights as the brunet was pulled up onto the vehicle.
Clifford was a kind fellow, the sort of guy you could look in the eye and tell everything about him, front and center. He was rail-thin and tall like Kingsley, but had lengthy golden locks hanging from all sides. An open collared white blouse revealed his neckline, and a pink and black mantle sat atop his shoulders. Though it was different from the average Magic Knight mantle, it was still well made, with fine golden stitching and an almost checkerboard like pattern of diamonds, alternating between pink and black. Contrasting Clifford's colorful outfit was the rather plain looking wagon he steered, which while impressive from a magical point of view, was a construct of blank white paper at the end of the day.
The wagon picked up speed as it passed through the town's meager walls and into the outside world. Kingsley figured these two hours would be a good time to take in the landscape and prepare for the investigation they were assigned. "Have you ever been to the Forsaken Realm before? This is only my second time." The Purple Orca said, looking at Clifford in the periphery of his vision. Memories of his recent journey to the Cursed Forest flickered through his mind, and the wounds he had sustained fighting the Hag's monsters. Though he had since healed, Kingsley still felt the phantom ache of his injuries in his arms and legs.
As the wagon continued down the road, the landscape became less and less appealing, the rolling hills and woodlands of the Common Realm giving way to the bleak tundra that was the northern Forsaken Realm. Willow trees and conifers sparsely dotted the horizon ahead, and wildlife grew fewer and fewer. The smooth trod of the road shifted to a bumpy and unforgiving path, clearly not a place people traversed often. The wheels of the wagon held firm, and Kingsley felt every bump of the vehicle against his posterior. "Not much longer before we arrive, I'd wager. Let's make a game plan before we strut into town and make fools of ourselves."
Post by Kingsley Farebrother on Jun 26, 2024 10:15:28 GMT -5
Kingsley Farebrother
He who fears not the blade he wields has no right to wield that blade.
Clifford's silence made Kingsley uneasy at first, until he realized the Coral Peacock was just as inexperienced, if not more so, than himself. It could be hard to come up with a plan under pressure, but it was the sort of thing that Magic Knights did, and would have to improve at if they wanted to live longer. Even something as simple as investigating a wild beast required a delicate hand, lest they scare away their sources or come off as ineffective and unnecessary. The people of the Forsaken Region rarely trust Magic Knights, especially in times such as these, when demons run rampant until Captain-level fighters reach the scene. To overcome that reputation, Kingsley knew they would need to be best foot forward and always a step ahead of the game.
"I'll do the talking, just keep your wits about you and let me know if you see or hear something fishy." He felt strange, giving orders to the blond mage, but Kingsley also felt the rush of adrenaline from the situation. Though there was no fighting in his immediate future, this investigation would be a battle on its own. Every move would matter, and every word a strike against the mystery plaguing this village and its people. "Looks like we're here." The carriage slowed down at Clifford's command, going from a full gallop to a meager trot to avoid looking suspicious or reckless to the townsfolk.
Sunken faces and tired eyes turned to face the two knights as they rode past, a chorus of struggling citizens silently begging for help. If they kept losing their livestock, these villagers would only grow thinner and thinner, wasting away from lack of food and resources to trade. In the Common Realm village of his adolescence, Kingsley recalled the visiting traders that regularly came to the village. Life in the Forsaken Realm necessitated journeys out to the Common (and occasionally Noble) Realm(s) for survival. The wool, cheese, meat, and eggs they sold ensured a small but steady flow of Yul back out to the fringes of the kingdom, where the economy was as dull and still as the short winter grass that grew here in the tundra.
The carriage came to a halt outside the largest house in the village, although it was by no means a massive dwelling. A large cattle skull was held over the doorway, marking it as a ranching house. Kingsley hopped off the papercraft carriage, walking towards the door. A small wreath was nailed to the door, adorned with local flowers and other prairie debris. Careful not to disturb the decoration, Kingsley wrapped his fingers into a fist and firmly knocked the door. "Hello? This is Kingsley, with the Purple Orcas. We've come to respond to your request for aid!" The dark wooden door creaked open, a pair of tired yellow eyes peaking out from the gap. "Magic Knights? I didn't ask for your help..." The man's voice was gravelly, like that of a lifelong smoker. As he grumbled under his breath about the state of the Kingdom, the man began to close the door, no longer interested in the two knights outside his door. Acting quickly, Kingsley stuck his boot in the door, preventing the rancher from ending the conversation.
Kingsley cleared his throat, furrowing his brow at the curmudgeonly cattle owner. "Sir, someone in this house filed a report about some missing livestock, and we've come to investigate. Is there anyone else who might've filed the report?" He wasn't going to let a grumpy old man turn this mission into a black star for his squad. As he held the staring contest with the yellow eyed man, Kingsley heard footsteps from within the house, and a girl's voice ring out. "Daddy, what are you doing? I asked the Magic Knights to come help so we don't starve!" Suddenly, it all clicked in the Purple Orca's head. Stubborn papa wouldn't admit that he was in over his head, so the farmer's daughter asked HQ to send someone.
The yellow eyed rancher relented at the sound of his daughter's voice, no longer squeezing the width of Kingsley's foot with the door. The brunet mage breathed a sigh of relief as the pressure on him disappeared, and he was allowed to enter the home along with Clifford. The furnishings were all handmade, presumably bartered for or made by the family themselves. Though the space mostly matched the father's gruff attitude, periodically he could see the touches of the daughter's presence, a vase of flowers here, a cross stitch of a horse there. The young girl couldn't be older than 14, but in her eyes was the maturity of someone who did what had to be done, regardless of what others thought. "I'm glad you came. Daddy refused to call for help, but if we keep losing our livestock, the whole village is going to disappear overnight!"
Kingsley brought out a small parchment and sharpened piece of charcoal, taking notes as the girl spoke, explaining what she knew about the missing livestock. A figure stalks the village at night, after everyone had gone to bed. Her father and the adults call it a "cattle rustler" but she has heard the noises it makes through the windows. It didn't kidnap the cattle, it consumed them like a child ate fruit, grasping massive fingers around the cow and wrapping its lips around the circumference of the livestock easily. The details were fuzzy, but Kingsley began to have an idea about what was going on here. This was more than just a hungry Mana Beast. If the girl's words were true, it could be a demon raiding the village at night.
Feeling satisfied with his report, Kingsley thanked the girl for being honest, and his mind raced for a solution. "Continue to keep your livestock in the house at night. I'm going to let HQ know about what's going on here so we can get backup. This is going to take more than two Knights to solve." Steeling the unease in his stomach, Kingsley exited the rancher's home and boarded Clifford's paper carriage, glad that the sun would be up for several more hours. He didn't want to be out on the road when night fell, but knew that he would soon return to the village, hopefully strong enough to defend these people and their property.
