85: Your primitive intellects can't possibly comprehend...

[Ebiris]

[12:40] <@Ebiris> The journey back towards Illie's tree is a little shorter than the journey to the valley, by virtue of being mostly downhill. Nonetheless it draws perilously close to the appointed hour by the time the grove comes into view - though now the trees are utterly cloaked in a vast dome of tightly knit thorns. Liamae looks up to the clear midday sky as you approach, "Cutting it close... wish I had my telescope to make some final observations before it hits," she comments worriedly.
[12:41] <Rudy> "So, you know, if this fails, the meteor is going to hit us and we'll all die too?" notes Rudy, a little nervously.
[12:41] <@Henrietta> "How far away do we need to be to survive?"
[12:42] <@Ebiris> "It really could," the sorceress admits, "Being anywhere within ten miles of it is dangerous, and it could easily land right on top of us if we're sticking by Illie's tree."
[12:48] <@Henrietta> "Umm. Well, you could all go, then?" Henrietta offers hesitantly. "Just in case?"
[12:48] <Rudy> "But you won't."
[12:49] <@Ebiris> "If you stay we all stay. That's what being an adventuring party means," Liamae says with a shake of her head.
[12:51] <Rudy> "Do we have some part to play in this ritual?" asks Rudy, after a moment.
[12:53] <@Henrietta> "W-Well." Henrietta coughs, and tries to regain her composure. "Illie said I would, at the very least. We should go and ask her what the ritual entails, precisely." And then she tries to head into the dome, calling out, "Illie? We are back."
[12:57] <@Ebiris> There are gaps at ground level that one can work through, and inside the grove looks as it did the last time except shrouded in shadow, very little light making its way through the dome of thorns. "Hello!" the hat-wearing dryad waves to the approaching group, standing in the clearing with three other women. The first two are familiar, Silke echoing Illie's wave and Tarlari merely watching. The last is a woman with the pointed ears of an elf but the sort of curves Zani could only dream of - especially if she were dreaming of Lucie. She's as naked as Illie, unlike the slightly more modest Silke and Tarlari, though her long silvery-blonde hair provides for her the vaguest semblance of modesty in covering up some parts that it hangs over. Her expression is one of sadness and ennui, barely taking note of the new arrivals.
[13:00] <Rudy> Rudy finds it necessary to politely avert his eyes!
[13:00] * Lucie meanwhile finds it quite impossible. Risking death for altruism, suddenly worthwhile.
[13:01] <@Henrietta> "Hello!"
[13:01] <@Ebiris> Liamae doesn't seem all that interested in the nymph, focusing more on Illie. "So everyone's here? The meteorite will hit just after midnight, will that be enough time for your ritual?"
[13:02] <@Henrietta> "Please say yes!"
[13:05] <@Ebiris> "Yes, it should be," the dryad smiles pleasantly, "With all four of us and... hmm, there's four of you as well, that could help actually... well, anyway, I think we can make it work," she concludes with a nod, prompting Tarlari to pick up.
[13:05] <@Ebiris> "We will embody the four seasons and combine our powers, taking the tree with us into the Spirit of the World. There it will be safe, no matter what invaders assault the Body of the World."
[13:06] <@Ebiris> "This is high powered magic, and a great secret as well," Silke chirps, "You should all feel privileged!"
[13:07] <Lucie> "And I guess all of us go with the tree?" Lucie assumes.
[13:07] <@Henrietta> "That... that is great!" Henrietta exclaims, reenergized. "What should we do? When do we start?"
[13:07] <Rudy> Their quest for profit has certainly lead them to a strange place. "We're very grateful," says Rudy. "How would we be assisting?"
[13:08] <@Ebiris> "I guess that makes up for not being able to watch the meteorite's fall," Liamae smiles.
[13:13] <@Ebiris> "Each of you should look within yourselves, and decide between you which season you feel is the best match for you," Illie explains, "Then you'll all partner up with one of us and support us through the ritual. I will embody Autumn," she draws herself up, "When the trees shed their glorious cloaks in one brilliant display to strengthen themselves for the coming trials."
[13:13] <@Ebiris> Silke picks up here, "I will embody Spring, when new life blooms and the World is renewed."
[13:13] <@Ebiris> Then Tarlari draws herself up haughtily, "I shall embody the savage Summer, when life runs wild and profuse, confident in its immortality."
[13:13] <@Ebiris> Finally Hypathiae speaks for the first time, her voice making one's heart beat faster even in her misery, "And lastly I will embody Winter, when everything must end or endure."
[13:15] <@Henrietta> Confidence and immortality don't suit her, and neither does a renewal of the world, probably. "I like the idea of Autumn the most," she voices. "Umm, would it be alright if I helped you, Illie?"
[13:15] <@Ebiris> "That would be wonderful, Henrietta," the dryad smiles, beckoning her over.
[13:16] * Lucie quickly realigns her romantic self-image from Autumn to Winter. "Think I know a few things about enduring," she volunteers, removing her ever-present hat and smoothing out her hair.
[13:17] <@Henrietta> Strengthening herself where she alone might be found wanting is very much a good fit for Henrietta, and she comes over to the hat-wearing dryad with a smile. Besides, she can really relate to seeing life as a series of coming trials.
[13:17] <@Ebiris> "Then we will endure together," Hypathiae says, stirringly bright blue eyes staring at Lucie. "I am Hypathiae."
[13:20] <@Ebiris> "The fiery hot Summer I think suits me well," Liamae says, strolling over to Tarlari who nods seemingly relieved.
[13:20] <Rudy> He doesn't have much of a choice, here... But god, his head! It's full of stupid comments. "I'm partial to creation," he says, bowing to Silke. "Let's make sure this place has at least one tree left, from which the wood can grow anew!"
[13:21] <Lucie> "That's the best way to do it," Lucie says, trying to adopt something of Henri's perpetually encouraging tone but not really having the experience for it. She walks up to her partner and gently squeezes her hand, because it sounds like a little human contact would do her good (that's all, really! Probably).
[13:21] <@Ebiris> "Then lets create this one last chance for Illie and her tree together!" Silke cheers bounding over to Rudy on her frog-like feet.
[13:24] <Rudy> He musn't pat her on the head like a child. She's way older than him! Probably! Instead, he gives a little cheer.
[13:29] <@Ebiris> Hypathiae only returns Lucie's squeeze limply. "Come," she bids, drawing her away from the great dryad tree towards the others surrounding it, "We must align our spirits and will together, and I will share with you the secrets of Winter."
[13:29] <@Ebiris> "That's right," Illie speaks up, "We have time and we should use it well, lets share what knowledge we can with our partners to ensure the ritual succeeds," she says, gesturing for Henrietta to follow her to the treeline well away from Lucie and Hypathiae. Tarlari and Silke do the same with their respective partners, leading them to relative solitude to whisper the secrets of the natural world, expanding their minds to the possibilities and realities of the World, preparing their minds and bodies to channel the essence of the four seasons in harmony...
[13:29] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta gets +1 cha, Lucie gets +1 str, Liamae gets +1 con, and Rudy gets +1 int. Everyone gets +2 to knowledge (nature)
[13:34] <Rudy> This is really interesting stuff, and Rudy vows to learn some more once he has access to more conventional forms of education. "Silke, I understand. I've always busied myself with figuring out how to create things," he muses. "But for me, it's never been about the natural world. Or rather, to build a house, to extent, you have to reject that world in favour of your own vision. My magic works in
[13:34] <Rudy> a similar way, I think. But I hope not to need it, for this."
[13:39] <@Ebiris> Silke pouts far too cutely for a possibly centuries old fey, "You don't have to reject the World to build on it," she objects, "It gives its gifts freely - there are rocks worn and rolled down rivers for you, or shattered in quakes and landslides. There's mud and clay, formed over hundreds of millenia, squeezed out of the World's body for you to take. Trees grow and die in equal numbers, leaving lots of wood for you to use. It's when too much is taken - when you dig into the World to steal its stone, when you cut down more trees than have grown... when you do that, it's the opposite of creation, it's destruction that just has something pretty for you to admire after you've harmed the balance everyone else relies on."
[13:42] <Rudy> "I'll try to keep it in mind," replies Rudy. If he ever goes back to being an engineer- an increasingly unlikely prospect, given the talent for violence he's discovered in the past few months.
[13:43] * Lucie listens appreciatively--she'll never turn down learning when it's offered. Never know where the answers she needs might be hiding, after all. "I haven't got out of the city much before now," she manages eventually, adding, "so this is a new experience for me," and immediately regretting it. Well of course it's a new experience, how often do mortals participate in fey rituals? "What I
[13:43] * Lucie mean is, thanks. I know you lost something recently, hope it helps a little to know you're making someone's day better just by being here."
[13:45] <@Ebiris> Hypathiae looks down sadly for a moment before she forces her face up, eyes meeting Lucie's, "If I didn't then I'd lose two important people... no, more than that. I loved Blake, yes. But Illie has always been here as long as I've lived. Losing her would be even worse."
[13:49] <Lucie> Lucie nods. "Can't really tell you I know what it's like losing a lover," she admits, "because I've not really had someone worth the word. But I know everything's easier with a friend around. Friend's look out for each other."
[13:53] <@Ebiris> "Even with this pain, I wouldn't trade away the time we had for anything," Hypathiae smiles sadly, "Find one, you owe it to yourself," she urges, lithely rising to her feet now and stretching in interesting ways, "But I've taught you all you need to know for the ritual, and the others are ready as well. Lets rejoin them," she suggests as indeed the other three fey move back to the Illie's great tree with their assistants in tow.
[13:53] <@Ebiris> "We have shared our secrets and the Death foreign to our World draws near," Tarlari intones formally, "The ritual will be long and difficult, the World is too weak to provide such a reprieve easily. Are all prepared?"
[13:55] <@Henrietta> After all the terror and despair of realizing that Illie might be in danger, and the rush to gather her friends to stave off that fate, racing against time... Henrietta finds herself quite calm when the moment to participate in the ritual actually comes. "We will do our very best," she promises.
[13:56] <Rudy> "I'm ready," replies Rudy. "Let's get this done."
[13:56] * Lucie dons the godhat once again. "Ready as I can be," she says.
[13:57] <@Ebiris> "Everyone take position, then," Illie says, moving to a point North of her tree. Hypathiae takes the South, while Tarlari goes East and Silke goes west.
[13:58] <Rudy> Rudy joins the childish frog-girl at her position, standing behind her like some kind of cool, tall bodyguard.
[14:00] * Lucie accompanies Hypathiae to the southern edge of the grove, standing next to the next nymph and looking unlikely to grow tired of it any time soon.
[14:00] <@Ebiris> Silke reaches behind to find Rudy's hand, her cool and clammy webbed fingers pressing into his palm. "Focus on your spirit like I told you, don't push just bring it forth and I'll do the rest," she tells him as all around the other fey make similar demands of their partners.
[14:01] * @Henrietta takes position behind Illie. "This spell would not interfere with the ritual, would it?" she asks, placing a hand on the dryad's shoulder and casting Heroism upon her. "If not, I hope it would help."
[14:02] <@Ebiris> "No, that sort of magic should be fine," Illie shakes her head, "But don't cast anything else once we start, just hold your magic at the surface as if you were about to cast, that way I can draw on it easily to bolster myself," she says, taking Henrietta's hand in her own.
[14:02] <@Henrietta> In that case, Henrietta casts the same spell upon herself as well and nods her readiness.
[14:03] <Rudy> "Be careful, alright?" says rudy, breathing deeply.
[14:03] <Lucie> "My spirit's not been the nicest one around," Lucie admits, taking her partner's hand. "But I've never been one to give up and I'm not likely to start now. So, uh, you just draw on that part and we'll be alright, I bet."
[14:08] <@Ebiris> "As it is Winter, I shall begin," Hypathiae announces, her fingers soft and smooth as she accepts Lucie's rougher grip. "End of the eternal circle, I call on you," she begins, her voice swelling with power and presence, "Time of Death. Time of Darkness. Time of Cold. Time of Endings. Winter hold your dominion from my heart, Winter embody yourself in me!" wind stirs around the domed clearing, a zephyr blowing up the nymph's hair as it surrounds her, billowing upwards!
[14:08] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie, make a strength check
[14:09] <Lucie> roll 1d20+4
[14:09] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4 and gets 17." [1d20=13]
[14:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15
[14:09] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+15 and gets 34." [1d20=19]
[14:13] <@Ebiris> Hypathiae arches her head back in a soundless cry as the wind around her gusts forth in an icy wave! Frost rimes the ground from her feet, spreading outwards towards Silke and Tarlari, but far more focused on the tree. And up her arm from where she hold's Lucie's hand, a chillingly familiar discolouration begins working its way up, scaly grey and scarred with strange patterns. Her eyes are like chips of ice rather than the serene deep blue they presented before, and the air freezes before her mouth as she speaks, "Winter... has come!"
[14:17] * Lucie is struck with the horrible impulse to let go in disgust at seeing that affliction on someone else, but she doesn't. She does, however, stare in quite open shock upon noticing it.
[14:17] <@Ebiris> Now Silke speaks up, holding Rudy's hand tightly, "Abay yourself Winter, you are not alone," she speaks against the frozen earth creeping towards her, "Beginning of the circle, I call on you!" she cries, "Time of Birth. Time of Joy. Time of Renewal. Time of Relief. Spring hold your dominion from my heart, Spring embody yourself in me!" she concludes shrilly, the ground under hers and Rudy's feet softening and darkening.
[14:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: Int check, Rudy
[14:19] <Rudy> roll 1d20+2 intelligence!
[14:19] * Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+2 intelligence! and gets 12." [1d20=10]
[14:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15
[14:19] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+15 and gets 19." [1d20=4]
[14:22] <@Ebiris> All around the pair, fitful growth starts to break through the softened soil, tiny green shoots budding through and spreading much as Hypathiae's ice did, albeit far more slowly, not as much respite as Skye hoped for judging by her expression before her back goes rigid. From behind her Rudy can see a sickeningly familiar mouth appear on her shoulder blade, opening and closing hungrily and dribbling down acid that scars the sprite's bare back. "Spring..." she gasps, struggling to get the words out, "Has come!"
[14:23] <@Ebiris> *Silke
[14:23] <Rudy> Ugh. He couldn't be more revolted, but what can he do?
[14:26] <@Ebiris> Opposite them Tarlari draws herself up with Liamae's support. "Brightest of the eternal circle, I call on you!" she pronounces haughtily, "Time of Life. Time of Light. Time of Warmth. Time of Conflict. Summer, hold your dominion in my heart, Summer embody yourself in me!" she calls, a heat haze beginning to manifest around her, warping the air like a mirage.
[14:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[14:26] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[14:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15
[14:26] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[14:30] <@Ebiris> But the haze starts to dissipate, a lance of ice suddenly erupting from Hypathiae's direction straight for Tarlari's heart! The plains Queen barely has time to widen her eyes in horror before the lethal icicle is intercepted by a ray of fire from Liamae's free hand. "Warmth of Summer, endure even beneath the stars!" she says with the tone of someone improvising their heart out. Luckily Tarlari catches on and recentres herself, the dissipating flames of Liamae's spell being drawn towards the fey...
[14:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+15
[14:30] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23." [1d20=8]
[14:32] <@Ebiris> And from her they explode across the clearing, battling back the ice as trees above burst into greenery and starkly brilliant flowers erupt and bloom from the ground. Even phantasmal animals manifest, a moose, a bear, and several squirrels skittering about in ghostly fashion. As silvery starlight shines down from within the domed barrier, the phantom bear does what's natural and savages the moose. Tarlari's voice has an almost sensual purr as she announces, "Summer has come!"
[14:35] <@Ebiris> With Illie and Henrietta as the only ones left, the dryad squeezes the redhead's hand comfortingly before she begins, "Last brilliance of the eternal circle, I call on you!" she declares confidently, raising her free arm, "Time of Colour. Time of Sloth. Time of Harvest. Time of Plenty. Autumn, hold your dominion in my heart, Autumn embody yourself in me!" she intones resolutely, a wan reddish yellow light emanating from her.
[14:35] <@Ebiris> OOC: cha check, Henri
[14:36] <@Henrietta> She had spent far too much time watching in horror what was happening to the other fey, but Henrietta manages to refocus herself on the ritual before Illie's time to take the stage comes. Even if something strange happens to her, this is just one of those trials they are preparing towards and she will help her deal with it to the best of her ability, just as she is now sharing everything with
[14:36] <@Henrietta> the dryad she wants to save so much! She squeezes that hand back, and focuses herself....
[14:36] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+7
[14:36] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[14:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+20
[14:36] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+20 and gets 21." [1d20=1]
[14:42] <@Ebiris> Brilliantly red and gold leaves erupt upon Illie's head under her hat, looking every bit as glorious as she had promised before. And around her the trees bloom with their own red canopys, phantom seeds falling like rain while long wheat and other grain like plants shoot up from the ground, ripened and full. "Autumn," Illie announces in satisfaction, "Has come." With all four seasons in attendance, each of the participants begins to shine with light, pulsing back and forth in a steady ryhthm... almost like a heartbeat. And that light slowly crawls inwards over the seasonally prepared ground towards the tree in the centre. As the ritual draws towards its climax, Silke hisses urgently to Rudy, "Take it back!" while Hypathiae looks meaningfully at her disfigured arm and then at Lucie, "It is nearly done, withdraw your spirit, please."
[14:44] * @Henrietta admires the lovely leaves for a long moment before returning her attention on the ritual as a whole.
[14:46] <Rudy> It's easy to drag himself away from his state of focus, but Rudy has no idea how to get rid of such an abberation once it's already taken root.
[14:46] <Lucie> "I'm--I'm sorry about that," Lucie says quietly. "I didn't know that would happen, it never has before." With some actual reluctance, but an apologetic expression, Lucie focuses on drawing herself back into, well, herself.
[14:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: will saves, Rudy and Lucie
[14:47] <Lucie> roll 1d20+12
[14:47] * Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[14:47] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[14:47] * Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[14:49] <@Ebiris> The affliction crawls back down the nymph's arm, leaving silky-soft pale skin in its wake, Hypathiae nodding in approval and then focusing her attention on the tree which the pulsing light has begun to slowly crawl up its trunk. Meanwhile the acid-dripping mouth slowly seals itself back up, leaving Silke's back unmarred... except for the long acid burn running down her back under where the mouth appeared.
[14:51] <Rudy> "I'm sorry about that," says Rudy, wincing. "Really, I am."
[14:58] <@Ebiris> "Your magic is really gross," Silke mutters bitterly as the light inexorably rises until it reaches the very top of Illie's tree. And once it does the four fey settle themselves once more, no longer holding anyone's hands but raising theirs to the sky, "By the compact of the four seasons we call upon the World!" they chant in unison, "Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn, all are in attendance and all agree. Hide this place within your spirit, World, hide it and it shall work to undo the scar upon your body that will be made tonight. The way is clear. The way is open. Until danger passes. So mote it be." And as the female chorus ends, the light begins to pulse faster and faster, until it's constant brightness... that suddenly erupts! A wall of light expands from the heart of the tree in all directions, erasing the land, erasing the sky, erasing everything except this one tree and the eight people around it. A diffuse light fills everything, from now discernable source, and though you float it is not within air nor water, but something entirely different from either, a faintly familiar smell that can't quite be placed by anyone just on the edge of perception. "Tread carefully," Illie warns, "You walk on the spirit of an entire world."
[15:00] <Rudy> It's not his fault! And it feels alright when he uses it... Rudy shakes his head, and focuses on- not walking at all, as he can't see any need to move anywhere.
[15:00] * Lucie doesn't move. "Is it dangerous here? Shouldn't walk any, I guess?"
[15:01] <@Ebiris> "The World has made this place available for us," Hypathiae says, "It will be safe so long as we do not stray from the compact. Do not leave the tree, or you will become lost and never see the Body of the World again."
[15:01] <@Henrietta> "There does not seem to be anywhere to go," Henrietta muses, looking about. "All we can do now is wait, Illie?" she asks the dryad. "How will we know when it is time to return, or see what has happened?"
[15:02] <@Ebiris> "We will remain until the danger has passed, that was our agreement," Illie says, floating towards her tree and resting against it with a loving sigh. Here, floating in the ether, one can see it's at least twice the size it seemed on the surface, its massive roots spreading deeply and widely beneath where it would rise from the ground.
[15:03] <Rudy> "There's nowhere to go," muses Rudy, glancing around. "And even if there was, this would hardly be the time to go exploring."
[15:03] * Lucie sits down and settles in for the duration, then. Insofar as sitting actually means anything while floating in a bright void. But it feels more restful at least. "Don't need to warn me twice."
[15:04] * @Henrietta decides to follow Illie's example and float up to the tree. Far better to have something she can comprehend as physical than just float endlessly.
[15:04] <@Ebiris> "It is better you see it that way," Tarlari nods at Rudy with a rare show of approval.
[15:04] * Lucie watches Henri, then frowns and looks beneath herself, seeing nothing there. "Yeah, this is weird."
[15:05] <@Ebiris> "Your minds can't comprehend it fully," Silke says to Lucie, floating herself in towards the tree as well. "Don't try to think about it, you'll be better off that way."
[15:06] <@Henrietta> "Can you tell us, you think? What you see, I mean?"
[15:07] <@Ebiris> "It is better that we don't," Illie shakes her head, "It will only rouse your curiousity further. Simply be satisfied that you are safe, here."
[15:09] <@Henrietta> Being surprisingly adept at abandoning her curiousity if a very real threat appears, Henrietta nods in agreement. "What about the ritual? I was, well, I was wondering how it would know when it is safe back where we came from."
[15:09] <Rudy> Rudy floats up next to Liamae. "Are they calling us too stupid to handle things?" he whispers.
[15:10] * Lucie lies back, hands folded behind her head. Again, she knows it's just as well as standing, in this place, but it feels more relaxing. "Yeah, how long are we here? Should I, I don't know, try to catch a nap?"
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "The Spirit always knows what the Body is doing," Illie tells Henrietta while Liamae shrugs.
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "Hey, Rudy, why don't you explain to me how your magic works?" she asks, "I bet it's the same for them, even if it's simple to understand it's still hard to explain."
[15:13] <@Ebiris> Hypathiae responds to Lucie's question, "There's no harm in it. Time isn't the same in the realm of thought as in the physical."
[15:14] <Rudy> Rudy mulls over this for a moment. "I don't really understand how it works, though," he admits. "So I guess I really am too stupid! Hah. I'll fix that when we go home."
[15:16] <Lucie> "Feel like we've had this conversation before," Lucie says. "Nobody had answers then and I doubt that's changing any time soon."
[15:16] <@Henrietta> "But, well, would the spirit know if the rock brought something with it when it crashed?"
[15:19] <@Ebiris> Liamae pats Rudy's shoulder in a consoling gesture. "It's good to know your limits," she says as suddenly the realm shakes and dissolves... and you find yourselves back in Illie's clearing. It's pitch black, or at least would be if not for the fire burning merrily through the dome of thorns above. A few trees have fallen or are at different angles, and the ground is rather more uneven underfoot now.
[15:19] <@Ebiris> "The Spirit of the World knows all that transpires upon it," Illie replies before looking at Silke, "Silke, could you take care of that?" she asks, the nixie nodding brightly and gesturing upwards, a peal of thunder is heard, lightning flashing brightly through the burnt gaps in the dome before rain begins to fall down in a torrent to douse the fires!
[15:20] <Rudy> "We're done? Already?" murmurs Rudy, peering at the sky.
[15:21] <@Henrietta> "I will fly up to take a look where it hit," Henrietta voices, casting the spell upon herself and then offering Liamae a hand.
[15:23] <@Ebiris> "Better if we all stick together, so once we see where it is come back down so we can go there as a group," Liamae says, nonetheless taking Henrietta's hand.
[15:23] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile Tarlari leans over a hardy little bush and whispers something. "It's to the East," she announces, standing up.
[15:24] * Lucie stands up and summons her magical armor, just in case that rock brought something hungry with it. "How far?" Lucie asks.
[15:24] <@Henrietta> "Of course," Henrietta agrees, nodding in thanks at Tarlari and then flying up. Looking around from a high vantage point, and in particular to the east, should do for now.
[15:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: carrying Liamae?
[15:25] <@Henrietta> OOC: Yes
[15:26] <@Ebiris> "Either it's close and small or far away and big," the fey responds as Henrietta soars up into the rain, which is merely damp under the dome but she's practically hammered once in the open sky. Liamae clings to her tightly as both get soaked, looking East but having some trouble with the rain obscuring vision in addition to the darkness.
[15:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: spot you two
[15:27] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 L
[15:27] * Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 L and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[15:27] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+4
[15:27] * Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+4 and gets 15." [1d20=11]
[15:29] <@Ebiris> "There!" Liamae snakes an arm out to point as lightning provides an instant of illumination, a new crater seen piled up high about two miles away, big enough to see even at that distance with so many hindering factors.
[15:30] <@Henrietta> "Good eyes!" Henrietta cheers, before taking them gently down on the ground. "Two miles to the east, it appears," she tells the others.
[15:31] <Lucie> "Want to check this out in the morning?" Lucie suggests to the group in general. "When it's not dark and raining?"
[15:31] <@Ebiris> "Not a bad distance," Liamae opines, her torn dress clinging wetly to her, "We might even have made it without the ritual so long as we had a way to deal with the fires," she adds with a nod to Silke.
[15:33] <@Henrietta> "It still came quite close. I would not have wanted to leave things to chance...."
[15:35] <Rudy> "You can't take chances when it comes to life and death," voices Rudy.
[15:36] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, it was worth doing," Liamae agrees, "I guess we better put up some shelter if we're camping, but someone needs to keep watch in case anything comes from that crater."
[15:36] <Rudy> "You have any idea what sort of stuff might show up?"
[15:37] <@Ebiris> "Horrible, horrible things!" Liamae smiles brightly, "Or possibly nothing."
[15:37] <Lucie> "We can take turns?" Lucie suggests. "I've got good eyes--seems I can almost see anything out here at night these days--but I still need some time out from getting chewed on by that tree."
[15:39] <@Ebiris> "The plants will be my eyes," Tarlari declares. "Until we are sure nothing destructive is coming from that thing, I will remain." She gets agreements from the two aquatic fey in turn.