Stonebark Expanse – Boar Game: Part I
The whistle blew, and like lightning on a dry plain—Starters burst into action.
Some ran north into the thicker woods.
Mark darted between trees with a rope in hand and a half-eaten apple.
Zephyr Windshade had his hood up, scanning for movement with sharp green eyes.
Han Thalior, the quiet elf-born with silver gloves, murmured to the tree roots, trying to "negotiate."
Meanwhile…
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💥 Logan's Path: Chaos and Accidents
Logan shoved past a dense cluster of bushes, casually brushing leaves off his black-and-red athletic gear. His slide sandals slapped softly against the mossy ground.
Ahead, he noticed a strange wooden sign jammed crookedly into the earth. The faded bark letters read:
> "TAP 3x FOR A WHISPER OF THE WILDLINGS."
Logan raised an eyebrow.
> "Man what the hell does that mean…"
He shrugged—and accidentally knocked the whole sign over.
It cracked.
From the shattered stump, a swirl of pale green spiritual mist emerged and coalesced into a floating Dryad Spirit, her form elegant and glowing like moonlight passed through leaves.
She floated calmly, her translucent vine-like hair swaying.
> "Mortal…" she began, voice melodic, "For the Boars you seek, listen well—"
But Logan? Already gone.
He had jumped up a thick-rooted tree like a parkour-trained beast, leaping branch to branch, his eyes scanning far ahead.
> "Yo, I see movement! Might be them little tree-hog things!"
Down below, the Dryad blinked, hovering near the tree trunk, holding out a glowing leaf scroll.
> "You were supposed to hear the riddle…" she said, half amused.
She waved a glowing hand, trying to flag him down mid-climb.
> "Wait, reckless one! The boars flee to where the earth sings—!"
Up above, Logan adjusted his hat, looked down.
> "You say somethin'?"
The Dryad facepalmed, vines curling in embarrassment.
> "Just—ugh. Go northeast. Beneath the Stone Root Arch, they nap."
Logan smirked, catching the last part.
> "Appreciate it, Leaf Lady."
And with that, he leapt branch to branch like an urban ninja in a fantasy jungle, heading full sprint toward the Stone Root Arch.
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> 📜 Clue Unlocked: "Stone Root Arch – Boar Nesting Ground"
> 🍃 Side Interaction: Dryad Encounter – Not Used Properly
Meanwhile… the other Starters had no idea Logan already had a head start.
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Stonebark Expanse – Boar Game: Part I (Continued)
🦊 Elowen's Strategy: Brains Over Brawn
While Logan was leaping trees and spiritually annoying forest spirits, Elowen Starbrooks—ever precise, ever snippy—was rolling up her sleeves with a clear, tactical gleam in her icy blue eyes.
> "Boars aren't caught by chasing," she said coolly. "They're caught by baiting."
Behind her followed her tight-knit circle of girls:
Kira Dappletail, the demi-fox with lightning reflexes.
Seren Vellura, the pink-haired soft-spoken illusion caster.
Niya Bramblefern, the half-elf ranger with sharp eyes and a sharper tongue.
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🍎 The Apple Strategy
Under Elowen's lead, they were gathering apples by the dozen—pale red, star-blushed, sweet with a scent that drove animals mad.
> "They love these," Niya whispered, tossing one up and catching it. "Fresh batch."
Elowen pulled out a silky cloth and started wrapping a bundle.
> "We don't need to chase. We need to trap."
She nodded to Seren, who waved her fingers and created a faint illusion of moving grass to hide the bait spot.
Kira grinned wide.
> "Y'all gonna hunt. We're gonna farm."
---
As they set down their first lure zone, Elowen turned with smug confidence and spoke just loud enough:
> "Let Logan punch air and trees. We'll win with elegance."
All the girls laughed. A few nearby Starters overheard and nodded—maybe this wasn't just a chase game after all.
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🌿 Team Apple Trap Setup:
Location: Southern glade near the misted stream
Tools: Apples, minor illusions, patience
Current Status: Trap zone 1 active, trap zone 2 underway
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As boars squealed in the distance and dry leaves crunched under careless feet… a few of them caught the apple scent.
The hunt was on. But Elowen wasn't hunting.
She was luring.
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Stonebark Expanse – Instructor's Dialogue
🌙 Between Mirella Glimmershade and Aelun Lighthollow
As the boar challenge unfolded, with some students sprinting, others scheming, and one reckless jumper bothering Dryads, the two instructors—Mirella and Aelun—watched from a distance near the wooden perimeter.
Mirella crossed her arms, her shimmering blue robe fluttering faintly as she observed the different groups.
> "Hmph. It's turned into a gender-based competition, hasn't it?"
Aelun, golden-haired and always a touch amused, sipped a warm herbal draught.
> "Unintentionally, yes. The boys are split—clashing styles, zero cohesion. The girls, on the other hand… they've formed a pack."
Mirella shrugged.
> "Not what we designed for this challenge, but still… interesting, nonetheless."
She glanced to the side, where one solitary girl leaned against a twisted bark tree, away from all the others.
Black corset. High collar. Pale skin. Blank expression. Ink-dark lips.
> "Except for her," Mirella added quietly. "That one."
Aelun followed her gaze, and raised an eyebrow.
> "Ah. The quiet one. Doesn't speak. Doesn't smile. Doesn't even eat with the others."
Mirella nodded faintly.
> "Reminds me of… Princess Viola Hollyhock."
Aelun blinked.
> "The one from the Duskmire Court? Noble blood, always in mourning attire?"
> "Yes," Mirella said. "She never spoke in full sentences unless summoned. Dressed like grief itself… but her command over shadow elements was unmatched."
A gust of wind blew past, ruffling the quiet girl's dress. Her arms were crossed. Her eyes—gray and cold—watched everything without judgment.
Mirella added, almost to herself:
> "If that girl's anything like Viola… we may want to keep a closer eye on her."
Aelun nodded solemnly.
> "In silence hides the sharpest edge."
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⚠️ Instructor Insight Log Updated:
Student Dynamics Observed
Girls forming alliances — apple-based trap tactics
Boys scattered — individualistic approaches
Gothic girl = anomaly, high potential
Similarity to Princess Viola Hollyhock: Class S Shadow Mage from Duskmire
Training challenge continues… and the shadows may yet shift.
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Stonebark Expanse – Boar Game: Part II
🐗 Chaos and Coincidence
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Logan, ever the unfiltered whirlwind of muscle and speed, had finally locked eyes with a Stonebark Boar.
> "Ayo, I got one!"
The small boar—fur bristled, eyes wide—froze for a second, and then took off like lightning.
Without hesitation, Logan bolted after it, feet pounding the forest floor, brushing through ferns and snapping twigs with every step.
But in his full-chase fury, Logan accidentally charged into a thicket where four more boars had been quietly grazing.
> SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
In an instant—boar stampede. They scattered in all directions, startled by the loud human blur.
One boar skidded right into the north zone, crashing through the branches near Zephyr Windshade's team.
> "That's ours now," Zephyr grinned, stepping into motion.
Zephyr lunged and activated a quick burst of minor wind manipulation, corralling the boar into a trap with Mark and Han.
Capture: Successful.
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Meanwhile in the southern glade, where the Elowen Strategy had been carefully brewing:
> 🍎 The Apple Box.
Elowen had crafted a neat little wooden box, filled it with the juiciest apples, and placed it on a mossy platform, hiding nearby with Seren and Niya.
When the panicked boars fled from Logan's path, the scent trail from the apple box was too much to resist.
Like moths to flame—six boars veered off and ran toward it, crashing around the box, nosing it greedily.
> "Now," Elowen whispered.
Kira dropped a net illusion, Seren reinforced it with sound distortion, and Niya zipped in with a blur, locking in the bait zone.
Six boars: Captured.
Elowen flipped her ponytail with cool confidence.
> "Told you. Elegance."
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🗒️ Boar Game Standings – Midpoint Check
Logan – 0 boars, 100% chaos, indirectly helped everyone else
Zephyr's Team – 1 boar (thanks to Logan's stampede)
Elowen's Team – 6 boars (strategic genius)
Gothic Girl – ?? (Status unknown. May or may not be hunting shadow-boars.)
Others/ Teams- 4-7 boars.
Mirella scribbled notes while sipping berry tea. Aelun chuckled.
> "Logan's wild style may be reckless… but effective in a backwards sort of way."
Mirella smirked,
> "Like a catalyst. One big, loud, unintentional catalyst."
And somewhere in the trees… the last few boars prepared to make their final stand.