Closed | Ladies Adventuring League #1

[coquettish_trees]

WHO: Evie, Freddie, Lexie, Gwen, Sonia, Wysteria
WHAT: Genteel ladies on their Nancy Drew + Tomb Raider + Babysitter's Club + Booze game
WHEN: Early Harvestmere
WHERE: A small ruin an hour's ride from Kirkwall
NOTES: Rated PG13 for some scenes of mild peril and rough unladylike language

One morning, it had been generally agreed upon that Kirkwall was a dour place that really could not be looked upon anymore that day lest a terrible ennui descend upon every single pair of delicately sloped shoulders.

And so, after a brief council, it was decided that a ride into the countryside for a picnic in the lovely crisp air was precisely what was called for. Baskets packed by servants, horses saddled by stableboys—or, in the case of the intrepid, by themselves—a procession of ladies departed the town in search of somewhere properly picturesque to spread themselves out and enjoy the day outside the grey walls.

Being as all are daring and fancy-free, the road is soon abandoned for the grassy low hills of the area, and it is at the top of one of these that a small and curiosity-piquing half-structure of stone is sighted, low enough between two hills that setting themselves up within it would save them from even having to see Kirkwall on the horizon. Besides, dear Freddie likes ruins, does she not? What lucky circumstance!

And so, the horses are tied in a small grove nearby, the blankets spread within the shelter of the ruin, the light repast unpacked, and perhaps most importantly, the wine poured. It promises to be precisely the kind of excursion that had been called for.

Comments

[vorbratta]

Sonia's quite enjoying the picnic and the opportunity to socialize -- and the breath of fresh air -- but she does have a tendency to wander. After grazing a bit, feeling contented, she explores the ruin at a meandering pace.

She almost doesn't notice it, but her boot catches on a rock and she trips forward, grabbing at one of the larger stones to balance herself, but her weight against it pushes it forward, and there's dark beneath it -- a space below. Curiously, Sonia nudges some of the other crumbled bits of wall out of the way until she can make out what it is.

"Oh! Come have a look at this," Sonia calls, waving the other ladies over. "I think there are stairs down here -- they've been covered up for quite some time, it looks like."

[coquettish_trees]

Stirring herself from her indulgent half drowse, Lexie pulls her hat back atop her head and props herself up on her elbows to look curiously in the direction of Sonia's voice. Dark against the stone that surrounds it, the uncovered pathway has a delightfully forbidden and adventurous feel to it that is enough to overcome even the siren song of continuing to enjoy a breezy afternoon of lying about and injecting remarks into bright cultured conversation at her leisure.

"Can you see where they end?" she calls over, "Oh, do say you cannot, for then we shall be put in the position of finding out for ourselves."

[aventuriere]

Freddie finishes pouring her wine (priorities, after all), but once that is complete she carries her glass over to investigate, taking a sip as she steps carefully between the rocks to join Sonia and Lexie.

"A hidden chamber!" she says, with obvious pleasure, "How marvelous, that is just what the afternoon required. Shall we light a torch and investigate?"

[elegiaque]

“It's not going to investigate itself,” is Gwenaëlle's philosophical contribution, though she does briefly take pains to check that she's remembered to be armed in some fashion today. One never knows what investigation might yield, and exactly how unyielding it might be—best to approach prepared, and with some measure of wariness.

Not enough by the measure of anyone not present, probably, but some.

[vorbratta]

Armed? Who said anything about armed? Certainly not Sonia, who owns an ornamental knife at most, but didn't think to bring it. She hasn't yet learned to be mindful of danger in the wild.

"I'm going down," Sonia announces definitively, tossing her hair back. "It looks deep...who's got a light?"

[coquettish_trees]

"I imagine if any of us thought to bring a torch it should have been dear Freddie." There is an expectant look directed towards the eminently well-prepared baroness.

"Elsewise I'm sure a few sturdy branches, shorn off bits of blanket, and the judicious application of brandy ought to suffice. I did find a bit of flint in case we decided to stay out into the evening and have a lovely fire."