Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit,kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance

You could try a produce fungus on the thing's face to see if anything reacts. But may as well just try to avoid their line-of-sight.

>>949574
Necromancer territory? No thanks. How about we just keep moving while in old quarry town. Start moving east, taking cover amongst the buildings alongside the road.
...any chance the necromancers have stolen any of the artifacts you're searching for?

Doomsby 2020/04/11(Sat)18:12 No. 961578 ID: e7c7d3
File 158665395391.png - (196.70KB , 800x600 , atoak22-1.png )

>Produce fungus to see if it reacts.

<action>: Cast spell -1 Energy
I summon a fungus onto the impaled skeleton. An undetermitable species of mushroom sprouts from the the thing's eyesocket. A few tense seconds pass by as I hold my breath.

Nothing seems to happen.

Perhaps it is just decoration after all. Or perhaps something did happen but is merely not reactive on this end. Like a silent alarm. I don't think paranoia is unjustified in a place like this. Still, there is nothing for me to act on and I'd be uncomfortable in waiting around to see if something happens.

>Necromancer stole any artifacts

Most certainly. Under usual circumstances, mage-knights would hunt down and bring necromancers to justice. Our order's versatility in both martial skills and a wider range of the arcane meant that those who disgraced the dead were in no position to offer much resistance. During the chaos of that night, however, there were many opportunities to catch many mage-knights unaware. Any relics that they were trying to escape with would be scavenged by anyone with an iota of sane thought. Whether the necromancers purposely sought out mage-knights for revenge or were merely opportunistic remains to be seen.

Doomsby 2020/04/11(Sat)18:13 No. 961579 ID: e7c7d3
File 158665398442.png - (384.27KB , 800x600 , atoak22-2.png )

>Move east, taking cover

I continue moving through the ruined buildings, going parallel to Clay Road. I try my best to keep the road within my sight. As always though, the ruined buildings and rubble make for a long and tedious obstacle course. It takes me about an hour do make the same distance that would've been 20 minutes on the street. Still, I've just about at the intersection that'll take me north to the academy.

Then I hear the sound I've been dreading the entire time. A raspy, piercing cry, like a faulty steam-whistle, rings above the broken roofs. I see one of the flying creatures circling above me and is shortly joined by another. Their screams echoing each other as they try to pin my movements down. For my part, I give them little chance. Diving into cover whenever they approach into a dive. They let out a frustrating rasp each time they have to return to their circling and I take advantage to maneuver to the next bit of ruins.

Doomsby 2020/04/11(Sat)18:13 No. 961580 ID: e7c7d3
File 158665401356.png - (277.05KB , 800x600 , atoak22.png )

Unfortunately, I could only throw them off for so long. I move into a rubbled alley way when one of the creatures commits to a dive towards me. Still, the terrain is on my side and I jolt into a broken house, moving against it's momentum.

<Action>: Feint -1 Energy

The bizarre thing crashes into a wall, breaking the weak plaster and dazing the creature. A nauseating amount of dust mixed with loose hair and skinflakes is churned up in the creature's thrashing. I'm able to put what used to be rooms between us when a cry from above reminds me that there is a second one waiting to strike.

I have mere moments before the first re-orientates itself or the second one takes the chance. Currently, I'm standing in a room with no roof but little debris. I have a clear opening to move towards the street. I cannot say for sure, but the next ruin appears to have a plastered roof. Certainly nothing that would hold up if these things decide to get more aggressive. I am but three buildings away from the intersection of the main streets. Moving more back into the district is also an option, it'd offer more cover but dangers also lurk there.

How should I deal with these things?

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance

>>961580
I kindof want to Produce Lasting Fire on the dazed one. Maybe the second one will realize that you're too dangerous to attack and will leave after that show of force?
Melee combat seems unwise due to how long their beaks are. Keep moving. May as well head into the street again, since you're already getting attacked by the fliers. Dash into cover again as soon as the one up above tries to dive towards you.

Could you use 'Seal (Lasting) Fire' to catch one or both of them and escape while they're stuck?

>>961612
Seems fair

Doomsby 2020/04/23(Thu)14:59 No. 963289 ID: e7c7d3
File 158767916179.png - (172.56KB , 800x600 , atoak23wip.png )

>Produce Lasting Fire on the dazed one

As the creature in the building orientates itself, I alight it with arcane fire.

<Action>: Cast aspected spell -2 energy

It let's out a grating screech as fire engulfs it's sickly skin. In a panic it claws out of the walls of the broken building and tries to to take flight on crackling wings. To no surprise, it quickly crashes into the street. The ever burning flames refusing to abate as the thing crawls pitifully on the ground. Not a merciful death, but I doubt it would have given me one.

>May as well head into the street again

While it turns to to ash, I move to the street as well. Cover is all well and good, but mobility is better.

Doomsby 2020/04/23(Thu)14:59 No. 963291 ID: e7c7d3
File 158767919570.png - (266.75KB , 800x600 , atoak24.png )

As if on cue, I hear the other creature let out a cry as I see it plunging towards me. The speed of it's dive giving me little time to react.

>Casting seal lasting fire on the creatures

The creatures would need to be closer in order for a spell to affect both of them. At least for this particular spell. Since I'm sure of the demise of the other one, I focus my magic at the more immediate threat.

<Action>: Cast aspected spell -2 energy

A large sphere of fire encompasses the monster. Unfortunately, the momentum from it's dive is enough to break through the flame barrier. Flash-fried from the heat, it continues to barrel towards me. I quickly roll out of the way before it crashes into me and I manuever back into the ruins.

<Action>: dodge -1 energy.

Doomsby 2020/04/23(Thu)15:00 No. 963292 ID: e7c7d3
File 158767922789.png - (190.50KB , 800x600 , atoak25.png )

Winded, I lean behind a door frame and assess the situation. The creature lashes about, seemingly using it's tongue to try to sense me. Perhaps the fire has blinded it. It's strange that it doesn't seem to be retreating, instead is determined to seek me out. It's not acting like a normal animal, but then again, it clearly is not an normal animal. While it thrashes about, I hear the cries of the other creature choke out as the sticky smell of burnt fat fills the air.

The sphere of fire still lingers in the air, thanks to the Lasting aspect. I can guide it around without casting another spell, but to move it at a useful, combative speed would still take effort on my part.

Despite what must be considerable pain, the creature seems to have calmed down a bit. It moves it's tongue in a more deliberate manner, taking tentative steps forwards. Seems I don't have a much time to catch my breath before I should act.

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance


Note: Another action that takes energy will deplete a point of stamina, and the energy bar will be refilled.

Note: While the energy bar is empty any defensive actions cannot be taken and the enemy's attack will damage Endurance directly instead.

>>963292
Guide the fireball onto it!

Retreat your feet to meet the heat(of your mobile fireball).

Guide the fire to the window and push it through advancing toward the creature. If you can hit it, great, but if it comes at you through the doorway head first, you can maybe behead it.

This may set the building on fire and possibly burn this place to the ground, but worst case scenario you can dip into your stamina and cast 'Seal Fire' on it. But i mean, if it burns so what, this place seems pretty shitty anyway.

Doomsby 2020/05/06(Wed)00:04 No. 965322 ID: e7c7d3
File 158874869347.png - (238.01KB , 800x600 , atoak26.png )

>Move the fireball onto the creature

I lean out of my cover and start directing the blaze towards the wretched thing. By now it is facing me, and sends a few flicks of it's tongue in my direction. Oblivious to the growing source of heat nearby, the creature starts to move forward at me. I keep my stance, trying to manuever the flame to intercept its advance. The monster still moves forward deliberately, ignorant to the fire that surely must be felt by now. I retreat back into the building before it reaches the door frame. It once again searches with it's tongue, as the flame sphere starts to engulf it once more.

It stares at me.
It stares at me with blind eyes and all I can do is stare back. The fire descends and enwraps the creature like a lethargic cloak. boils of pus and fat form and burst upon it's skin as it's slowly consumed

And it stares at me.

Doomsby 2020/05/06(Wed)00:05 No. 965323 ID: e7c7d3
File 158874873078.png - (202.72KB , 800x600 , atoak27.png )

Any noises it makes in it's final gasps are muffled by the searing flames. Finally, it collapses on the ground and I am released from my mesmerized state.

>The fire may burn the building

Yes, you are correct. The fire starts to spread to the wooden frames of the structure. You are also correct that it may matter not. This building no doubt was already ravaged by fire, so the flames from my spell are likely to do little. Still, I don't not wait around, and climb over a broken wall to once again take to the street.

Doomsby 2020/05/06(Wed)00:05 No. 965324 ID: e7c7d3
File 158874875648.png - (229.80KB , 800x600 , atoak28.png )

In short order I arrive to the junction of Clay Road and Academy Street. A wide lane in front of me leads into the southern part of the Sun District. The street North will lead me directly to the Academy. South will take me past Old Quarry Town and the Sun District to the rest of the city.

There is a strange, rancid smell in the air, though my sense are tainted by the sticky scent of burnt flesh and I cannot fathom where the smell is coming from. At this South-eastern most point of the West Hills, the necromancers seem to have demolished a building an in it's place erected a morbid monument of sorts. The skies are currently clear of anymore of those flying beasts, but I could not say for how long.

If I were to keep to the main street, I could arrive at the Academy in roughly an hour. Plus, I can catch my breath a bit taking a path that doesn't require me to climb of debris. However, there are many large shops present at this location, there is sure to be one or two with intact and secure rooms. Perhaps now would be a good opportunity to find a place of sanctuary. Whether to set up a place of operations or just for a place to rest for now.

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance


Note: Another action that takes energy will deplete a point of stamina, and the energy bar will be refilled.

Note: While the energy bar is empty any defensive actions cannot be taken and the enemy's attack will damage Endurance directly instead.

>>965325
Well we learned something. These flying creatures are blind and don't feel pain. They seem to hunt by smell and sound. Which means it doesn't MATTER if you're out in the open or not.

Go into the main street, start looking into buildings. There's the possibility of a safe location sure, but you could also find supplies.

>>965322
>All I can do is stare back
... Like a train wreck, or like a basilisk?

Anyway, I'd say really the main road, but stick close to the side away from the necromancers. Hopefully it'll make you harder to spot, but more importantly you'll have cover to duck into when needed.

I'd say that we try our luck with one of the shops here.
Certain rooms would've been reinforced to thwart burglars, the longer was take out here the greater risk we run of getting into a fight we can't easily solve.

Doomsby 2020/05/06(Wed)18:58 No. 965468 ID: e7c7d3
File 158881668225.png - (168.09KB , 800x600 , atoak29.png )

>Check the buildings
>Keep away from the necromancer side

A prudent thought. I keep to the side of the Sun District. I gauge the sturdiness of various structures as a slowly walk up the street. Occasionally taking a quick glance inside a shop to assess it. While these buildings were clearly built to be sturdier than the ones in Old Quarry Town, they still suffered extensive damage. Most places i check have some sort of security flaw that makes me uncomfortable. Worse still, most of the shops dealt in things too delicate to survive a catastrophe: glassware, pastries, fashion, art and the like. Still, I continue on at a leisurely pace.

<Action>: non-strenuous activity +1 energy

The wind changes and my senses are cleared of foul smells as a sting of salt drifts in from the ocean. When the breeze dies down, however, the rancid scent returns and for a brief moment nausea returns to me. Finally though, I find a potential shop to search. The roof has caved in but seems to be held by the second floor. There are no large breaches in the walls, either. This seems to have once sold expensive wines. As far as I can tell, none of the stock behind the counter survived. However, if there was ever a place to have a secure cellar, this is it. There is double-edge of the building being intact though. Very little light is reaching in, and the back room is even darker.

Should I investigate this place, or move on?

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance

Can you make a torch? Produce Fire to light it. Or heck, could you Produce Fire to create an orb of fire which you could then control like a floating orb of light? Just gotta keep it away from flammables.

>>965470
Support.

But first maybe take a good couple of moments to listen to your surroundings. We might need that fire to defend ourselves if this place turns out to be occupied.

>>965470
Better yet, would Seal (Lasting) Fire allow you to create a ball of flame that doesn't emit heat?

Investigate. if the cellar is there and safe, we should look into making sure we have a back way out, just in case.

Doomsby 2020/05/09(Sat)19:25 No. 966053 ID: e7c7d3
File 158907755549.png - (239.97KB , 800x600 , atoak30.png )

>Produce Fire to create an orb of fire for light

I certainly can do that. With a moment of concentration and a tensing of my fingers, I produce a small flame to light my way.

<Action>: cast spell -1 energy

The fire hovers above my fingers. The heat soaks into my gloves but doesn't become unbearable. A simple light like this is easy enough to maintain and move around with. It will persist as long as I keep my concentration, and not get shocked or lose my nerves. No more attention needed than holding an oddly slippery candle, really.

>Seal Fire to manage heat.

Perhaps not directly. I could possibly seal the fire into an object to manage the heat, but that might also affect the light of the fire as well. To manage the heat directly, I would need other arcane words at my disposal. Something like Subdue Fire maybe, or Seal Hot Fire.

>Investigate
>Be cautious

I take a moment to gauge for any hidden threats. No sounds seem to come from within, and no movement in reaction to me creating a light. Slowly, I make my way to the back room. The light of my flame dances across a mess that flickers the light back. Glass shards from hundreds of broken bottles line the floor sparkle dark stains and collapsed shelving. A concerning trail of gouge marks and parted broken glass lead to the door I'm standing in. However, there are no apparent threats. My intuition says that this would be a perfect place for the undead to congregate during the day. Perhaps I'm just lucky that this place is empty, but the lack of zombies and the like leaves a feeling of unease at the back of my heart.

Still, I search around.

Doomsby 2020/05/09(Sat)19:26 No. 966054 ID: e7c7d3
File 158907758263.png - (207.93KB , 800x600 , atoak31.png )

I almost immediately come across a trap door. It's wood is swollen and warped from what I presume is spilt wine. A swift tug opens it easily enough. A silence greets me from below after the creaking pop of the door. Nothing stirs. Looking in, I see a step-ladder down and a corpse to the side of it. I move my flame back and forth to see if it reacts. It's non-responsiveness tells me that it is truly dead, just a remnant of sloughed flesh and stained clothes. Poor sod must've fell off the ladder and broke their neck when the disaster struck. Not a dignified way to go, but definitely one of the most peaceful, considering the circumstances at the time.

I climb down and take stock of the cellar.

The air is stale, musty, and various flavours of rot drift about. There is a distinct lack of the tart smell of alcohol. Thankfully so, as I glance at my flame. The walls of the basement appear to be solid stone, with any cracks or corners further sealed to keep out rats and moisture. The majority of the cellar is taken up by large barrels of what I presume to be wine. Dates are burnt onto their lids, and the two barrels closest to the stairs are tapped. On the far wall, shelves of cheese line the stone. Several packages have turned to blocks of mould, and any soft cheese are just piles of grime at this point. Still, there appear to be several wheels sealed in wax that seem to have remained preserved. There also seems to be a few smaller barrels marked to show that they contain pickles of a variety of vegetables. For myself, I cannot say whether or not they are still edible though.

This side journey seems to have borne some fruit. Should I rest here or take what I can and leave?

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance

>>966054
Rest for a little bit while you examine the body and get a closer look at what's down here. Hmm, does your magical flame consume oxygen?

>>966062
Support.

Doublecheck that you have an escape route, or barring that set up some kind of signal so if monsters come you get warning. Could be as simple as twine across the entrance and a brick thatll fall if the twine gets pulled.

Also question, could you 'Seal Fire' into your blade, and if you did would it be at all useful to have a fire-hot sword/ I figure it'd cauterize wounds when you cut, but that might actually be a bad thing in a fight?

Doomsby 2020/05/14(Thu)20:11 No. 966678 ID: e7c7d3
File 158951226464.png - (127.94KB , 800x600 , atoak32.png )

>Does flame consume oxygen?

It does require air, as with regular fire. It also doesn't work underwater unless you're willing to put your life at risk by brute forcing arcane energy into it. For the current circumstances, however, there should be enough air to sustain a light. While the floor and walls have sealing, the room is not airtight. Especially considering the wooden boards making for the ceiling.

>Set up an alarm

This does feel like a prudent thing to do. I move a broken table top and lean it up against the backroom door frame. Then, out of sight, I balance a solid piece of debris on the edge of the table top. Fairly rudimentary, but most things would have to move the board to get inside, pretty much guaranteeing that the chunk of debris will fall and alert me.

>Rest

With that bit of security in place, I return to the cellar. I'm sure to close the trap door behind me as well. Even should the first trap fail, there's no possible way to open the cellar door quietly. I locate a candle and light it with my flame. I will no longer be able to control it, but it's definitely easier this way. Returning to the shelves of cheese, I take stock of my options. Most of the fancy stuff that I wouldn't have recognized have long since gone rancid. I grab a small wheel of old cheddar and I gauge what's available when it comes to the pickles. Taking one of the small barrels that seems to have remained sealed, I open it and am immediately struck by the strong tartness of brine and vinegar. It appears to be a container of pickled carrots. I'm still not sure how to tell if they're still viable or not, but pickling is a way of preserving food and I've definitely taken bigger risks as a student. With a bit of water from my supplies, I sit down to enjoy my simple meal.

<Action>: rest with non-ration meal +6 energy, +1 stamina

It is now the middle of the afternoon. -1 stamina

>Examine the body

I'm not fond of the idea of searching through rotted, former flesh, but after I finish my food I-

*Thunk*

Something made the debris drop. It is quickly followed by the sound of the broken table falling and cracking on glass shards. What ever is up there is not being subtle. I hear multiple footsteps moving about, crushing glass in their wake. They stop and start in unison. The same creature? I pick up my blade.

What should I do?

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance

Uhh, hmm. Can you open the trap door a crack to see what's up there? Might want to move the candle so it doesn't shed light onto the trap door, first.

I say that we take cover behind something and then full on snuff the candle.
There should be enough light coming in from the trapdoor if it's opened to illuminate the intruder if they come this way.

Avoiding a conflict would be the best outcome, otherwise we will use surprise to our advantage.

Moving in unison implies a single controller. One creature is sensible, so is commanded undead, or trained subordinates. With the necromancers about, I would bet on the undead.

Can you use Seal Fungus on the trap door to make sure it stays shut? that could trap you inside though. Probably should have tried to disguise the trap door first, damn.

if there's any way light could leave the room you'll want to snuff that candle out though, and hide. maybe when they come to check it out you can sneak back out, or at last get a surprise round.

Doomsby 2020/05/28(Thu)10:59 No. 968280 ID: e7c7d3
File 159068879660.png - (129.63KB , 800x600 , atoak33wip.png )

>Snuff candle

In a split second I jump up and pinch the wick of the candle. The cellar is immediately consumed in darkness and there is a brief pause in the shuffling upstairs. The movement returns, searching about in the room above. I reach and pick up my kopesh while slowly moving into a defensive position. I move to the wall behind the step ladder, stepping softly and catching myself holding my breath. I silently chide myself and resume to regulate my breathing while whatever is above starts scratching at the floor.

>Seal fungus on the trap door

That certainly is doable. In my past experiences, the strength of the seal depends on the amount of surface area the fungi have. However, the problem with that plan is as such as you've mentioned. Sealing the enemy out would also trap me in.

>Sneak open the trap door for a peak

Unfortunately, the trap door is too warped to open it silently. I thought it would be a boon, alerting me to anything that tried to sneak in, but it turned around into a detriment. Speaking of, whatever is up there has started scratching at the trap door now, putting to rest any thoughts of opening it stealthily. Strangely, I don't hear the ring handle being moved. Instead, the scratching seems to be at the edges of the door. i prepare myself for when it opens, but that moment doesn't come. The scratching stops, and in a brief moment the footsteps start to recede away.

I wait a moment. I am once again accompanied by silence.

Doomsby 2020/05/28(Thu)11:00 No. 968281 ID: e7c7d3
File 159068882417.png - (245.91KB , 800x600 , atoak34.png )

I wait a moment more before I climb the cellar ladder and placed my hand on the trap door. Caution makes me wait for a noise once more. Still silence. I take a deep breath and push on the wood. My entire body tenses as the panel opens with what seems like the loudest creak in the world. My wince lasts for several seconds before I exhale and take a peek into the back room.

The room is thankfully empty. It's hard to say what's changed, as it remains a mess. There is a faint new smell though. Kind of smells like... urine? It's an unpleasant, lingering thing at the edge of my senses and seems to be all over the room. I fully climb out of the basement, avoiding stepping on the broken glass myself. At closer look, I notice some of the larger shards have a dark, dull fluid on them. Whatever moved through here really was as careless as they sounded. My thick sole scales can withstand the majority of the broken slivers of glass, but it would be foolish even for me to step on these thumb sized blades.

I step into the store proper. It is unchanged from before. Motes of dust floating in the air and otherwise the stillness of death. I move to the entrance and scan the street. To the south where I came from, I see some skittering movement past the skeleton monument. Moving back to where I burnt those flying monsters. Curiosity scratches at the back of my mind, but I'm not going to chase down an unknown threat to satisfy it. I turn to look northward up the street. It's still clear and I move on.

Doomsby 2020/05/28(Thu)11:00 No. 968282 ID: e7c7d3
File 159068885109.png - (234.84KB , 800x600 , atoak35.png )

Finally, I have arrived at the academy.

<Action>: easy walk +1 energy

It once towered over the other buildings. It's splendour only passed by the castle proper. But now this bastion of discipline and learning is nought but a sunken ruin. During the night of black fire, the very ground seemed to have decided to swallow the academy up. Plumes of dust joined in with the ash and smoke as the halls and the rooms descended into the earth.

I was in the dorms at the time. I once again feel the dirt and grime caked on me, glued to my skin with sweat and blood.

Sweat and blood...

I shake my thoughts. The traditional entrances to the academy are blocked deep under ground, but the destruction has opened up new ones. A large hole in the roof of the main building seems to be the primary way in. My target, the Arcane Lexicon, is most likely in there, somewhere. I'll be entering into the study hall, if I choose to go that way. There would be several stairwells that would lead to the rest of the structure, but which passage ways or clear or obscured I can only guess.

It seems that something has burrowed and unearthed a way into the dorms as well. While my main objective shouldn't be in there, there's sure to be supplies. The building itself also had a lot more redundant corridors than the main halls. I can't even guess how far down I'll need to go, but the dorms are more likely to have an open, if meandering, path down. There were three points that the dorms connected to the main building. Hopefully one will still be there.

From here, I cannot see the sparring grounds or the Witch Pine grove. I will also need a seed, cutting or sapling for my quest. However, I don't have much hope that the exposed trees were able to survive the calamity. I also can't imagine that there'd be a way from the open grounds into the sunken buildings. Checking the area out is still an option though.

Spells:
_Conduct__|__Aspect__|__Element_ _Produce__|___Wild___|___Fire___ __Focus___|__Lasting_|__Wound___ ___Seal___|___Far____|__Fungus__

Inventory:
Treated leather outfit, kobold-sized kopesh, and belt pouch containing storage gems.
Storage gems: five days of rations and five days of water, a bedroll, a medical kit and lab, and four empty gems.

Health:
Energy

Stamina

Endurance

The academy's roof should make for a good vantage point, try and survey the surrounding area and see if you can spot the Witch Pine grove before heading into the study hall.

>>968281
>urine smell
So, some kind of wild animal visited your shelter and marked it as their territory. That confirms it wasn't undead, at least. Unfortunately it might take issue to you returning to the same location.

>>968282
Head into the dorms first for supplies, as that could make retrieving the lexicon easier.

>>968288
Actually yeah, better idea.

Scout the surrounding area for like an hour, to make sure when you exit you're not going to run into a surprise, especially if you're making a loud exit. Not just if there's anything around but if there's any signs of things that could come back later.