Mushrooms don't have seeds

[Ebiris]

[18:08] <@Kotono> A few days pass. The tavern's most of the way done on the outside, Rashen leading you all to making good time. It's a hot day and eating out of the sun appeals. So for lunch the party heads back to the kitchens. On reaching there, you find the Missus sitting on the floor. The purple panther is eating a rather large hunk of meat as she pets it. "Oh, you have the strangest guest," she says. "He
[18:08] <@Kotono> asked for all of you by name."
[18:09] <@Porridge> "Oh, news about Myann?" Porridge asks, hoping it's good.
[18:11] <Feather> "Good day," Feather greets the panther, unable to forget that very panther eating someone's innards and careful to stay on his good side.
[18:12] <@Kotono> The meat is finished off quickly, the panther licking up all the juices before it responds. "Yes. The water of the spring is touched by life energy. Myann's growth has been accelerated by it, says Kral."
[18:13] <Gildas> "...Ah, that makes sense." He nods to the panther's words.
[18:13] <@Porridge> "That's good, right?"
[18:13] <Feather> "Is that good?"
[18:15] <@Kotono> "Her mantle has developed faster because of it," the panther continues, "Kral wanted to confirm that mushrooms bloomed wildly when Myann first entered the spring, and if you remember how fast it was. In addition, focusing on this has lead Myann to developing a spell that creates a growth causing mushroom."
[18:16] <@Porridge> "Hmm... they were definitely there the next day..." Porridge frowns trying to recall. "Oh, and when she touched the rocks underneath she was covered in mushrooms herself in seconds."
[18:17] <Feather> "Yeah, pretty sure the grass near the spring had them, where she was sitting. Right then, not even a day after."
[18:19] <Gildas> "I am... I believe that they were there the day after she drank, not the day of." He adds. "If my memory serves me correctly."
[18:21] <Feather> "So that, uh, mantle of hers. Was it already developing before all this? And did it stop developing by now?"
[18:22] <Gildas> "I imagine it had been developing since she was cursed. Or it started when she was freed." He surmises.
[18:24] <@Kotono> "It is still developing. Kral says that a fey is born with the potential and inclination for a mantle. It is still growing and that is why I am here," The panther continues, "Meadaigh seeds would help ease her accelerated mantle development," he says, "But they only grow in the fairy's side."
[18:25] <Feather> "How would we know what to look for?"
[18:25] <Gildas> That isn't news he wanted to hear. "...The fairies that live across the stormgate, by any chance?" He decides to offer, thinking that members of the Circle are probably aware of them.
[18:27] <@Kotono> "I do not know any stormgate," The panther replies laconically, resting its head atop its paws. "There is a passage to the fairy side within traveling distance of here. Meadaigh seeds grow in water lillies on the fairy side. Find a body of water there and you'll find the seeds inside the lillies."
[18:27] <@Porridge> "And who knows how many fairies," Porridge groans. "This is gonna be trouble."
[18:28] <@Kotono> "Indeed it does!" Hylath's voice rings as he strides into the kitchen, "It sounds like trouble, and trouble brings forth heroism!"
[18:28] <Gildas> "Ah, perhaps it has a different name. The archway in the sky during the rain." He waves his hand and shakes his head. "Do you know how we can cross to the other side? The last circle required... something unpleasant."
[18:29] <@Kotono> The panther cocks its head to the side, its voice suddenly far more attentative. "That old story survives?"
[18:29] <Feather> "That passage won't be guarded by a grimy naked elf, would it?" Feather asks with a wince.
[18:31] <@Kotono> Hylath looks about, seeing no one pay him more than a glance. "Ahem," he clears his throat, "I'll just go prepare myself for some heroism, since I'll be going with you," he announces, "If you're going off to do heroic things. Yes."
[18:31] <@Kotono> As the panther gets slowly petted and rests on the kitchen floor, "No, but hold on that. Tell me about this stormgate story. Where did you hear about it?"
[18:32] <Feather> "Alright," Feather tells Hylath distractedly. "Just try not to get transformed into a blob."
[18:33] <@Porridge> "Sure, more the merrier," Porridge nods distractedly.
[18:33] <Gildas> "From him, actually." He indicates Hylath. "He mentioned a story about spirits that you could visit during the rain... that would pay you to return to the world of the living." He looks thoughtful for a moment. "A bridge was supposed to appear at the top of the canopies."
[18:34] <Gildas> "I actually went out on a whim... and found it. It was quite an interesting place... stone pyramid buildings with golden tops." He will take out the ant figurine and show it to Panther. "I am not certain where it was, but I think it was a fairy realm..." He goes on to explain the multi-colored flowers and small... female creatures.
[18:36] <@Kotono> Hylath slinks off, blushing a little bit. As he goes the panther listens raptly, "That story. A derivitive of a far older story." Then he freezes as Gildas continues, "You found a skygate? One full of pixies and pixie matrons?" With a deep purr as the panther's eyes flash, "You are fortunate to have lived up to the story, for the payment is that you are allowed to return in good order."
[18:38] <Gildas> "I had a feeling that was probably the case." He admits. "Hopefully nothing else happened that I am unaware of."
[18:39] <Feather> "Did you leave behind a kid?"
[18:39] <Gildas> "I certainly hope not."
[18:40] <@Kotono> "Fortune smiles on you," The panther says, "Skygates lead to places of power on the fairy side."
[18:41] <Gildas> "Hm... well, it's good to know that in case we ever need to call on them for something. Hopefully this trip will be a bit less eventful."
[18:42] * Feather winces. "That, and it means there's a portal to them just over our heads. And from them, too."
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Skygates only open during storms and other disturbances, and then not for long," The panther continues, "It is rare for them to be used, so say the legends of the past times."
[18:43] <@Porridge> "I thought it went with the rain?" Porridge asks.
[18:44] <@Kotono> "Storms bring rain," The panther replies with a slight growl of annoyance, "But on occasion other abnormal weather patterns can cause them to open."
[18:47] <@Porridge> "Not what I meant," Porridge shakes his head, annoyed too. "I meant if there's rain there's a skygate, doesn't matter where it is. You saying there is one above this place all the time that only opens when it rains instead?"
[18:50] <@Kotono> "Skygates move," The panther says, "They aren't easy to pin down and they aren't stable," he says. "Not every sprinkle opens them, either."
[18:50] * @Porridge nods, having gotten what he wanted to know.
[18:54] <Gildas> "Which direction should we travel in to find the gate, by the way?" It'd be good to find that out before they leave...
[18:55] <@Kotono> "To the point again," The panther seems actively annoyed, rising up now. "And away from ghosts of the past." The panther stalks back and forth, the Missus stepping back and away as its tail swishes through the air. "The nearest portal is not far from the speaking tree. It is at the bottom of a ravine, hidden away from notice on both sides by the Circle. You may use that one if you wish, but be
[18:55] <@Kotono> warned. There are usually Fair Folk nearby. There's another one near the town of Willowford."
[18:55] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[18:55] <@Kotono> "To the point again," The panther seems actively annoyed, rising up now. "And away from ghosts of the past." The panther stalks back and forth, the Missus stepping back and away as its tail swishes through the air. "The nearest portal is not far from the speaking tree. It is at the bottom of a ravine, hidden away from notice on both sides by the Circle. You may use that one if you wish, but be
[18:55] <@Kotono> warned. There are usually Fair Folk nearby. There's another one near the town of Willowford." The panther's tail is almost hypnotic, seeming to blur as it draws attention to it. "It is a farther trip and unguarded, but the chances of meeting Fair Folk on the other side are less."
[18:56] <Feather> "The longer trip sounds better if it means no fighting."
[18:58] <Gildas> "Whichever you all feel is best to go to." He offers, not caring one way or the other.
[18:59] <@Porridge> "Just how badly does Myann need these seeds?" Porridge asks, thinking haste might be better.
[19:01] <@Kotono> "Getting them sooner will help her," The panther says, "The odds of removing her fey side are not good," he says, "But the sooner she gets them, the more time Kral has to try. Going this fast also increases the risk to Myann."
[19:02] <@Porridge> "Right, I say we take our chances with whatever fairies we find there then," Porridge says.
[19:02] * Feather looks between Porridge and the panther. "Yeah, I get what you're sayin'. Let's do this."
[19:04] <@Kotono> "When will you leave?" The panther asks next, "I will need to guide you."
[19:04] <Feather> "Now's good."
[19:05] <@Porridge> Turning to the door Porridge shouts, "Hylath, we're going now! Get a move on!" and grabs his own ready gear and some food for the road.
[19:10] <Feather> His own gear is close by, and Feather is always ready to be on the road at a moment's notice.
[19:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then. Ready to move along?
[19:21] <Feather> OOC: Sure
[19:21] <Gildas> OOC: yahp
[19:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[19:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 37." [1d100=37]
[19:28] <@Kotono> The trip isn't a terrible one. Besides a brief incident with some thorny underbrush, the party makes good time. Hylath serenades you with a more or less on key song in elven, singing about battle and heroism. Not long before sundown you come to a thicket of trees. It looks utterly unremarkable. "Here," The panther says, "Focus on going through and don't think about turning around."
[19:28] <Feather> "Right then. Thanks," Feather tells the panther before following its instructions.
[19:29] <@Porridge> "Better not sing," Porridge advises Hylath. "Don't want to give them any ideas about entertainment." Then he follows behind Feather.
[19:29] * Gildas does likewise! Focusing only on going forward!
[19:33] <@Kotono> "Oh? Entertainment sounds good," Hylath follows, "Imagine the songs that can be sung about coming back from the homes of the Sidhe!" Past the thicket is a steep hillside. You go down it, finding the bottom to be clear of debris, save for a single circle of roses. They're in full bloom, despite no sunlight reaching down here.
[19:35] <@Porridge> "No, dammit. Entertaining for them is cutting you open to see what pretty patterns your blood makes on the ground!"
[19:36] <Gildas> He shakes his head, deciding now isn't the time to start an argument. "Hm... I hope this one isn't activated the same way as the old one."
[19:36] <Feather> Focusing on going through rather any sort of outlanding entertainment, Feather steps into the circle.
[19:37] * @Porridge waits to make sure Hylath understands before risking leading him into the den of the enemy.
[19:39] <@Kotono> "Wh-what?" Hylath stares at Porridge, turning rather greenish. "That's absurd! Ther'es no entertainment in that!"
[19:40] <@Kotono> Feather steps into the circle! The roses open wider, glittering red dust filling the air! In a flash, Feather is gone! OOC: #evildunes in a sec if they don't follow quickly.
[19:41] <@Porridge> "They don't think like that, Hylath. Make sure you understand, any provocation, any excuse, and they'll do something horrid. Do you get it?"
[19:41] <Gildas> He looks over at the other two and steps into the circle himself, going after Feather.
[19:45] <@Kotono> "Then heroism will just have to save the day," Hylath nods, "Very well."
[19:45] <@Porridge> "Just be cautious as well as heroic," Porridge says, having done all he can and stepping into the circle, thoughts on going forward.

[Ebiris]

[18:01] <@Kotono> The four step into the circle! There is a buzz of disorientation as you feel like you're flying. Flying amid a swarm of many, a droning buzz the only noise. When this clears, you stand in a a sea of roses. Roses as far as you can see, the hillside rising up covered in them. The air is thick with pollen and it's warm, humid and stuffy here.
[18:01] * Nephrite is now known as Gildas
[18:02] <@Kotono> "This-achooo!" Hylath sneezes, sniffling after. "There's a lot of ro-achooo!" Another sneeze as he fumbles in his pocket, coming out with a kerchief. Wiping his nose, "Pardon."
[18:05] <@Porridge> "Damn, no sign of water... Gildas, want to fly up and have a look for us?" Porridge asks.
[18:05] <Gildas> He nods. "I'll take a look." So he does! He shapeshifts and flies up to get a better look of the area.
[18:07] <@Kotono> It gets hotter as you fly up. It's unpleasantly warm as you ascend to the canopy. No water's nearby, but the forest all around is quite thick and limits visibility. However, you do see there's a path up the hillside that's been cleared.
[18:08] <@Kotono> After the honk of blowing his nose, "I've never reacted like that to roses before," Hylath says, "Are they a new species?"
[18:11] <Gildas> He returns to the others after a moment! "There's a path going that way." He indicates. "It's hard to see anything through the foilage, but I think that is our best bet."
[18:12] <@Porridge> "Fairies," Porridge says dourly as if that explains everything. Listening to Gildas he frowns, the path would surely lead to fairies... but going off the beaten path in this world wouldn't end well either, most likely.
[18:13] <Feather> "Let's try that path," Feather suggests.
[18:15] <@Porridge> No better option, sadly.
[18:16] <Feather> With no objections, Feather starts headed that way.
[18:16] <@Kotono> The party travels up the hill and to the path. The roses are left behind, the muggy heat dying down. It's more tolerable as you follow the path, yet you are surrounded at all sides by dense forest. As you do...
[18:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[18:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 46." [1d100=46]
[18:18] <@Kotono> You walk for a half-hour without incident. The path continues on - but to the left side there's something. A droopy tree, barren of leaves. Instead white daisies grow from them and hang heavily. From the middle of the daisies vines hang, and on the tops of the vines huge berries grow. They're dark blue or black, so close that it's hard to tell. Each one is huge, a few feet in diameter and surely
[18:18] <@Kotono> weighing over a hundred points. Yet the vines support them without any noticiable sag.
[18:19] <@Kotono> *hundred pounds. Gah.
[18:20] <@Porridge> "Could eat well on those if they weren't probably cursed or poison," Porridge says, looking over at the massive berries.
[18:20] <@Kotono> Porridge has enough knowledge to say they look a lot like blackberries. The smell rather good. Not quite like blackberries. More like strawberries of all things, freshly cut strawberries.
[18:21] <Feather> "Yeah," Feather agrees. "Might turn you into a fey tree if you ate them, or someone would say you're rude for stealing them?
[18:21] <@Porridge> "Something like," Porridge agrees, thoughts of his body sprouting berries as Myann does mushrooms making him shiver.
[18:22] * Feather very carefully turns around to look behind him.
[18:23] <@Kotono> Feather doesn't see anything behind him, save for a single egg-shell. It looks like the egg of something on the large side, bigger than a typical reptile or chicken's egg.
[18:23] <@Kotono> *anything unusual, gah again.
[18:23] <Gildas> "We probably ought to keep moving, then, yes?" He offers, giving the enormous berries another look over before starting to move.
[18:24] <Feather> "I suppose that's a possibility," Feather speaks out loud. "But will someone here really be insulted if I didn't try them?"
[18:24] <@Kotono> "Are there seeds?" Hylath peers at them, "Growing these could solve hunger for entire villages."
[18:26] <@Porridge> "They'd probably play hell on the groundwater," Porridge adds, determined to see the bad in everything here. "Anyway, we're only here for these lily seeds, lets keep moving."
[18:26] * Feather waits for a bit to see if he will get his answer.
[18:27] <@Kotono> "I made them myself, just yesterday," The voice seems to come from some distance. It's feminine and rather soft. "Aren't they beautiful?" There's a sensation of something on Feather's shoulder, "I need an entertaining name for them or they'll be forgotten..."
[18:27] <@Kotono> Hylath turns away, "They would consume a lot of groundwater," he concedes, "Mmmm, simple farmers may not realize that until it's too late. You'd need to grow them by lakes and other ample sources of water," he concedes, "Ah well, what can we do but learn...eh?"
[18:27] <Feather> "Vineberries?" Feather suggests, giving up on looking for the source of that mysterious voice. "Descriptive names are great."
[18:28] <@Porridge> Starting at the voice from nowhere, Porridge looks around a bit before shrugging. "Bloatberries?"
[18:28] <Gildas> Gildas turns his attention back to Feather but keeps quiet.
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Hmm, hmm," The voice comes from Feather's shoulder, a soft spoken and down right quiet voice. But at the same time, the scent of strawberries is becoming overpowering as a runny liquid trickles down from Feather's shoulder. "I like them, but they need more. Bloated Vine Berries!" You hear a little thump, "Yes!"
[18:31] <Feather> "Do you, uh, want me to try one? I didn't wanna be rude or anything."
[18:32] <@Kotono> "Both of you," The liquid runs down Feather's shirt fast, leaving behind dryness. When it hits the ground it hardens, becoming an egg shell. The weight leaves his shoulder, "Try them! Try them heroically! Try them and entertain us!"
[18:33] <Feather> "Can do," Feather muses, approaching one. "While we do, would you mind terribly telling us where water lillies are around these parts?"
[18:34] <@Porridge> Fuck! Should've kept his big mouth shut! Remonstrating himself in his head, Porridge gingerly approaches the tree, picking a single huge berry in both hands.
[18:35] <@Kotono> "Maybe I can take you," The creature offers, "Do it, all of you now! Take the berries! My children!" The sound of cracking egg-shells from all around, "Watch!" Porridge finds the berry's lighter than he'd expect. It's still heavy, but more unwieldy than anything else.
[18:36] <Feather> Heroically, was it? Magic changes Feather once more into the appearance he had while under the fey's influence, and he lunges for the berry with his hands, grasping it tightly and biting right into it!
[18:36] <@Porridge> Grimacing, Porridge opens wide and bites out a comparatively tiny piece of the giant berry, chewing thickly and swallowing it down.
[18:37] <Gildas> He looks over at Hylath before approaching the tree. He looks at the other two with a slight grimace, hoping nothing bad happens.
[18:38] <@Kotono> It tastes...good. Like fresh blackberries with a hint of...garlic? It's not quite right and the taste works in spite of it. The berry's thick, almost meat like and warm inside. Hylath meanwhile comes over, "Heroically?" He clears his throat, "Allow me to recite the ballad of the fourth High Justifier, then."
[18:39] * Feather keeps on biting into the berry until nothing is left, short of awaiting his judgement.
[18:40] <@Porridge> He tried it, he's not going to finish it so Porridge drops the berry. It doesn't taste horrid, but the possible side effects don't bear thinking about.
[18:42] <@Kotono> Before you, the other trees silently twist. You are soon surrounded by bloated vine berry trees! "Oooooh!" The female voice gasps, as Feather consumes the berry! He feels tremendously bloated and full, but he did it. "That resolve! That unyielding performance!" The voice comes from nearby Feather, "Clap for this one!" Before you, the newgrown trees raise vines up, berries brought together to
[18:42] <@Kotono> 'clap'! This causes the berries to burst, raining down berry juice all over.
[18:42] <@Kotono> Hylath just stares as he's splashed and splattered, "...what?" he says, voice entirely dazed.
[18:43] <Gildas> Suddenly, Gildas finds himself juiced in more ways than one. "How... impressive." Is about the only thing he can muster to say.
[18:44] <@Porridge> Porridge sighs and shakes himself to try and get the juice off.
[18:44] <Feather> The fey liked it, which could just as easily be bad as good. For now, Feather just waits out the applause to see if they get their directions or, at least, a chance to leave.
[18:46] <@Kotono> Again there's something on Feather's shoulder, followed by a soft whisper into his ear, "It's too bad you smell like mushrooms," she says wistfully, "I'd make you into the prince of bloated vine berry trees," Her tone is teasingly warm, "Ahead," she whispers, as to the side a new path forms, nature parting before you.
[18:47] <Feather> "Uh, thank you," Feather responds, and with a glance at the others starts headed that way.
[18:47] * Gildas will as well!
[18:47] <@Porridge> "Yeah, thanks," Porridge nods, at least they got off easy.
[18:48] <@Kotono> "...thanks?" Hylath says, following and looking utterly dazed. As he catches up, "How did...those trees...and the vines...?!"
[18:48] <Feather> "Don't think about it."
[18:49] <@Kotono> "Don't think about it," The female voice sing-songs, coming from next to Feather as you walk along.
[18:49] <@Kotono> "Don't think about it," A chorus of dull, grinding voices come from all around you. As if the trees themselves were speaking.
[18:50] * Feather is quick to follow his own advice, content to walk ahead.
[18:50] * @Porridge neither thinks nor speaks, lest he draw attention his way.
[18:50] <@Kotono> "...I...ah..." Hylath sputters and follows, looking around sharply every few steps.
[18:50] <Gildas> Gildas is about to remark to Hylath before the chorus kicks in and he shuts his mouth.
[18:51] <@Kotono> "Think about this instead," The female voice says, "I'm sure you'll face a battle when you get to the lake. You won't get your seeds so easily. Be ready," she says, before sounding farther away and then, "Bye! Good luck, mushroomers!"
[18:52] <Feather> "Thank you, again," Feather responds, deciding that politeness and short responses are his best bet in this situation.
[18:52] <@Porridge> "That was good to know at least," Porridge says, though he never expected it to be easy.
[18:53] <Gildas> "A lake monster...? Or a lily monster?" He ponders as they walk.
[18:55] <@Kotono> The walk takes perhaps twenty minutes. At the end you come to a large pond or perhaps a small lake. It's borderline. The surface of it is choked with lillipads and blooming lillies.
[18:56] <Feather> Having reverted to his ordinary self, Feather looks for any lillies near the shore.
[18:57] <@Kotono> There's plenty by the shore. No need to look hard.
[18:58] <@Porridge> "Grab the seeds and I'll watch your back?" Porridge readies his axe.
[18:58] <Feather> "I'll go for the seeds?" Feather volunteers. "Yeah, much appreciated."
[18:58] <@Kotono> "Good fortune. I'll support you with rousing stories if you need help," Hylath promises.
[18:59] <Gildas> Gildas looks around for anything out of the.... well, out of the ordinary-er than normal.
[18:59] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception.
[19:00] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
[19:00] <@Kotono> Gildas doesn't see anything awry.
[19:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to try taking seeds or what, Feather?
[19:03] <Feather> OOC: YEs
[19:06] <@Kotono> Feather goes to the nearest lilly! He reaches for it but a suddenly buffet of power forces him back! Before you, the lillies just before thes hore gather together in the water! From them three beautiful, identical women emerge. Each is about seven feet tall or so, perfectly bone white skin. They wear naught, no color tone differences on their body at all, as if their entire form was bleached.
[19:06] <@Kotono> They have matching white hair and lovely features. The only color on them are dark purple eyes, as they sing, "We bloom to meet you! I am Glory," The first sings. "We bloom to meet you! I am Lily!" The second carols. "We bloom to meet you! I am Yuri!" Then together they sing, opening their arms wide as if to hug you, "We'll squeeze those filthy, rotting mushrooms from you!"
[19:08] <Feather> "Can we just get the seeds?" Feather asks, on the off chance this doesn't need to turn into a fight. "We'll squeeze the mushrooms after."
[19:09] <@Porridge> "That could sound so dirty..." Porridge mutters looking at the nude triplets. Oh, if only they weren't fairies...
[19:09] <@Kotono> Hylath snickers, a rather loud and high-pitched sound. It has a distinct note of panic in it as he stares ahead, transfixed.
[19:09] <Gildas> Lily monsters. Well, in a sense, he was right... He just stays silent.
[19:14] <@Kotono> "You want our seeds?" Singing together once more, "Why should we give them to you?" Then Glory sings, "I bloom to know! Tell me, who are they for!" Lily is next, "I bloom to know! Do you love her?" Finally Yuri is last, "I bloom to know! What say you of the Prisoner of Mushrooms? Is that the one?"
[19:15] <@Porridge> "Uh, yeah, Yuri's right, so that answers Glory's question," Porridge says, somewhat failing at looking them in the eyes since they're so much taller than him... that's his excuse anyway.
[19:16] <Feather> "They're for the, uh, Prisoner of Mushrooms, yeah," Feather responds to them, nodding at Yuri. Keeping his eyes on her face, he adds, "Do you wanna get anything for them?"
[19:19] <@Kotono> Yuri's gaze travels to Porridge, and with a smirk, "I bloom to tell you! If you like them so much, I'll help you get your own!" Then Glory sings, "I bloom to tell you! We have all we need! Why should we help a prisoner?" Then Lily sings, beckoning forth, "I bloom to tell you! What is love? Is love facing this for another?"
[19:20] <Feather> "She's not a prisoner no longer. Does that help?" Feather asks uncertainly. "Why shouldn't you help her, anyway, if you have everything you need and it's no trouble for you?"
[19:21] * @Porridge quickly redirects his gaze upwards. "Nah, no thanks. Don't quite have the, ah, carriage for them."
[19:23] <@Kotono> The three fey look to each other, exchanging long look. Then as one they sing, "We bloom to tell you! You are not women so we are not greatly interested." As they sing, a shimmering knife of wood appears on the shore of the lake, "Show us how far you will go."
[19:23] <@Kotono> *long looks
[19:24] <Feather> "Okay," Feather agrees. "What am I supposed to do with that knife?"
[19:25] <@Kotono> "We bloom to tell you!" The women open their arms wide, "Take that knife and show us what you will do for the seeds!"
[19:26] <Feather> Shrugging, Feather picks up the knife.
[19:26] <@Porridge> Would've been easier if they just had a fight. "There's two ways he could use that knife to answer that question..."
[19:29] <@Kotono> "So...how are you going to answer it?" Hylath asks, "Feather?"
[19:30] <Feather> "Yeah, look," Feather says, addressing the three plant women. "Myann got into her trouble by fighting someone like you in the first place, so if I do that I ain't gonna help her, am I? And if I do something crazy-like as kill myself, she'd just blame herself a lot. That's no way to go either, if I wanna help her. Guess I could cut myself to show dedication, but from experience dripping blood in
[19:30] <Feather> this here realm isn't a good idea, is it? Twists things. If you're not interested in men, then won't a man's blood be sorta bad here for you?" He shakes his head. "I know you said you have everything you want, but maybe there's something you'll find funny or there's a favor another like you needs done and you'd rather not waste time on? Then say so and I'm your man. Give us the seeds for Myann,
[19:30] <Feather> and I'll be back to honor the deal after."
[19:33] <@Kotono> The three again exchange long looks. It is Lily that speaks, "That is enough," she says, not singing. "That sort of resolve and wisdom is its own entertainment. Finding an answer beyond those presented often is." Her voice is bemused and calm now, like the gentle ripples of water on the lake's surface. She sinks down and below water, out of sight. Yuri smiles and follows wordlessly, but Glory
[19:33] <@Kotono> lingers. "The Prisoner of Mushrooms? Things are getting interesting again. Especially since what he said was all wrong. Meddling, hm?" WIth that final little question, Glory sinks below the water ahead. Lillies float up to the shore, plenty of them now.
[19:34] <@Porridge> "Who's 'he' and what's this about meddling?" Porridge wonders after the titillating triplets vanish.
[19:35] * Feather scratches his cheek as he stares at the lillies. That went much better than he expected, but rather than dwell on his luck he just heads to pick enough seeds for two, just in case something happens to one batch they would be carrying back.
[19:37] <@Kotono> The seeds are picked without incident! OOC: Loot post.
[19:37] <Gildas> "I wonder if it's the person who put Myann in the curse in the first place?" He finally speaks up.
[19:39] <Feather> Handing one set over to Gildas for safekeeping, Feather backs away from the shore. "Dunno. But let's head back?"
[19:39] <Gildas> He takes it and nods to Feather. "Let's."
[19:40] <@Kotono> Thus the party goes back! But after a minute or two ahead, they find the path back to the main path is gone! Only thick, untamed forest lies ahead now.
[19:40] <@Porridge> "Gildas, do your thing?"
[19:40] <Feather> "Guess we're gonna count on you again, yeah."
[19:41] <Gildas> He crinkles his nose at the lack of a path. "One moment." Shapeshift! He will try and fly up!
[19:44] <@Kotono> Up Gildas goes! He goes up, seeing untracked forest far and wide! Only going up to the top of the canopy, just below breaking out into the sky above, can he see the main path. It's roughly ahead, but he can see that there is a natural 'path' and several nasty, subtle gorges and hills below. The sort you could stumble on blind and take a bad fall.
[19:46] <Gildas> He comes back down! "It's... ahead, but..." He frowns. "There are several spots where you can fall if you're not careful going through here. It's very uneven."
[19:46] <Feather> "How about we keep on going and you'll fly up and come down to warn us if we're close to that or stray from the path?"
[19:47] * Merc-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz is now known as Merc
[19:47] <Gildas> He nods. "I should be able to."
[19:48] * @Porridge uses his spear as a cane to check the ground ahead as he walks in front. A bit slower but a lot safer.
[19:48] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Make fort saves, all. +4 if you have Endurance.
[19:49] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[19:49] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+15
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+15 and gets 30." [1d20=15]
[19:49] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:49] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[19:50] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 nonlethal Feather and Gildas
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 nonlethal Feather and Gildas and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[19:50] <@Kotono> roll 1d4 lethal Feather and Gildas on top of the nonlethal
[19:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 lethal Feather and Gildas on top of the nonlethal and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[19:52] <@Kotono> It's hard going. You have to hack through tons of underbrush, clear the way and generally go slow. It takes three hours to make it roughly halfway. The work is downright exhausting, the realm itself seeming to be contrary to your efforts. On top of raw fatigue that comes on you far too fast, Feather has a tangle with a briar patch and Gildas smashes his wing on a deceptively close branch going
[19:52] <@Kotono> up once. At this rough halfway point, you notice that the light above is starting to dim. It's going to get dark fast here, based on what you know of the normal side of the Vastwoods.
[19:53] <Feather> Camping in this realm would be the height of foolishness, even if their mission wasn't on short timetable.
[19:53] <@Kotono> Hylath trails behind, sagging and with a rather nasty welt across his face, via a whipping branch. "This is..." he wipes his brow, "Damned hard labor."
[19:54] <@Porridge> "You're doing better than most who'd end up here," Porridge consoles him. "Anyone got magelight?" Pity Myann isn't here, she's always reliable.
[19:55] <@Kotono> "I..I can," Hylath says, "Can someone spare a healing spell or draught? I fear I'm about to take a most unheroic nap. I can manage a cantrip."
[19:56] <Feather> "Can only produce magic light for a few minutes," Feather responds, shaking his head, before glancing at Hylath. "Ah, that? That I have. Here, drink this," he says, offering one of the healing water vials.
[19:56] <@Kotono> It's guzzled down, Hylath immediately perking up. "Much better, my thanks, humanfriend," he says, before tapping Feather's blade. It glows with light, illuminating the darkening wood.
[19:57] <Feather> "Looks like we're good to go," Feather muses, proceeding.
[19:57] <Gildas> "I can do it as well, if we need more. I prepared a few since Myann wasn't coming with us." He says, following along for now.
[19:57] <@Kotono> roll 3d8+5
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d8+5 and gets 16." [3d8=6, 3, 2]
[19:58] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to continue on, y'all?
[19:58] <Feather> OOC: Yes
[19:58] <@Kotono> OOC: Who's leading the way?
[19:58] <Feather> OOC: I'll do it
[19:59] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a perception check. You can sub in survival or K:N instead ifyou please.
[19:59] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 19." [1d20=10]
[19:59] <@Kotono> On the party goes, when suddenly...!
[20:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 flatfooted AC, Feather? Forget if you have uncanny dodge or not
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 flatfooted AC, Feather? Forget if you have uncanny dodge or not and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[20:00] <Feather> OOC: I do, it doesn't help
[20:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+7 and improved grab times
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+7 and improved grab times and gets 13." [1d6=6]
[20:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 CMD?
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 CMD? and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[20:01] <Feather> OOC: 21
[20:01] <@Kotono> It plummets from above! A long green vine, wrapping around Feather! It squeezes him painfully hard, his ribs protesting in pain! But after a moment Feather escapes, gasping for air! OOC: Init here.
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 vine
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 vine and gets 4." [1d20=4]
[20:02] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 9." [1d20=6]
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Hylath
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 Hylath and gets 22." [1d20=20]
[20:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Hylath(22)>Feather(9)>Vine(4)'
[20:02] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:02] * Feather lets all that pain out in a scream!
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 16." [1d20=9]
[20:02] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1
[20:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Hylath(22)>Gildas(16)>Feather(9)>Vine(4)'
[20:02] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 and gets 9." [1d20=8]
[20:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Hylath(22)>Gildas(16)>Feather=Porridge(9)>Vine(4)'
[20:03] <@Kotono> Hylath stumbles back, "Quickly! Remember the ryhme of the great trees! Strong as a tree! Solid as an oak! Long-lived as the forest!" He chants the story, filling the party with an odd valor! OOC: Inspire courage+1. +1 morale to saves vs fear, attack roll sand weapon damage rolls. Gildas.
[20:05] <Gildas> "Feather, are you all right!?" He wastes no time, suddenly he's an angry bear, bearing (hah) down on the vine, trying to bite into it!
[20:05] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12." [1d20=3]
[20:06] <@Kotono> Despite the encouragement, Gildas can't get through the underbrush and ahead fast enough! His bite is short, missing! OOC: Feather.
[20:07] <Feather> "Who'd be alright after that?!" Feather exclaims, unsheathing his blade and slashing through the vine before leaping back.
[20:07] <Feather> roll 1d20+10 zap
[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+10 zap and gets 25." [1d20=15]
[20:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Hits.
[20:07] <Feather> roll 1d10+6+5d6 last is elec
[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d10+6+5d6 last is elec and gets 30." [1d10=4][5d6=6, 5, 4, 1, 4]
[20:08] <@Kotono> Feather slices through the vine! He cuts deep, but the electricity in his blade fails to penetrate! It's like the vine isn't there, the voltage sliding off harmlessly! OOC: The joy of many plants being elec-resistant or immune. Porridge.
[20:08] <@Porridge> "Alright, enough of this!" Porridge growls, dropping his spear and unslinging his axe, heaving it forward on the follow-through right into the vine!
[20:08] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 -2pa
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 -2pa and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[20:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Hits.
[20:08] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+10
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+10 and gets 19." [1d12=9]
[20:09] <@Kotono> THWACK! Already cut by Feather's blade, the vine's form can't resist a secondary axing! It's cleaved clean in half! Half falls to the ground and goes still, while the half that still hangs from above goes limp! OOC: Free act. Ow.
[20:10] <Feather> Cursing, Feather backs away before drinking the healing water from his second vial.
[20:10] <Feather> roll 3d8+5
[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 3d8+5 and gets 16." [3d8=3, 7, 1]
[20:10] <@Porridge> "Great, now we gotta watch up as well as down," Porridge grumbles and recovers his spear.
[20:11] <Gildas> The bear growls and shapeshifts back! "Indeed. Let us be careful."
[20:12] <@Kotono> Thus the party forces their way on! OOC: Fort saves again, y'all.
[20:12] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[20:12] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
[20:13] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+15
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+15 and gets 23." [1d20=8]
[20:14] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[20:15] <@Kotono> More effort. More hours pass. The party is bone-weary tired when they at last return to the trail. You're not by the bloated vine berry trees and it's pitch dark save for your light.
[20:16] <Feather> "Almost there," Feather says, like a mantra.
[20:17] <@Kotono> "Yes. Praise be all the ancestors in the far land," Hylath pants, shoulders slumped as he stumbles along. Around you the dark forest is naught but shadow, the occasional rustle of sound complimenting it.
[20:17] <@Porridge> Porridge is silent, not wasting breath on words.
[20:18] <Gildas> Gildas stays silent as well, glancing about occasionally, but not looking for anything in particular.
[20:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Make perception, y'all.
[20:18] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[20:19] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[20:19] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[20:20] <@Kotono> As you begin to walk again, Porridge can see odd shimmers in the darkness. Like the darkness is rippling oddly...OOC: Make an K:A check, Porridge.
[20:20] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+2
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+2 and gets 15." [1d20=13]
[20:20] <@Kotono> Under certain circumstances, invisible creatures make small disturbances that allow them to be detected. Those shimmers look like such things.
[20:21] <@Porridge> "Don't look now, but I think we're being followed," Porridge says. "Invisible fairies I think."
[20:22] * Feather keeps on walking ahead, not even nodding in response.
[20:23] <Gildas> He nods to Porridge and follows Feather's lead.
[20:23] <@Kotono> "Being a hero is...difficult," Hylath murmurs, "Such challenges merely to bring back seeds! We must be vigilant until we are home."
[20:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Going on, y'all?
[20:23] <@Porridge> Until they do anything hostile they may as well hope it's nothing more than observation.
[20:23] <@Porridge> OOC: yep
[20:24] <@Kotono> On you walk. On blistered feet and exhausted legs you go, on and on in the night. At last, at long last! You reach the slope, going down into the ravine of roses! All that's left to do is to go down the slope and through the portal.
[20:24] * Feather leads the way!
[20:26] <Gildas> Thank goodness. He follows suit, hoping there are no more surprises waiting for them.
[20:31] <@Kotono> Down the party goes! You reach the portal, stepping through to the other side! No final surprises, no ambush - just a return to the dark, sleeping Vastwoods at night. Made it! OOC: That a good place ot pause until Tuesday?

[Ebiris]

[18:15] <@Kotono> Thus the party stands in the real world once more. Utter exhaustion laps at each of you, but you have made it! OOC: Ball's in your court, what will you be doing now?
[18:15] <Feather> "Let's press on till we get to our panther pal?"
[18:16] * Ebiris is now known as Porridge
[18:16] * Gildas nods. "Trying to rest in a place like this probably isn't safe."
[18:16] <@Porridge> "Sure," Porridge forces back a yawn, rather hoping he can find a river or pond to fall in before he sleeps anyway, given he's been walking all day covered in drying bloated vineberry goo.
[18:18] <@Kotono> Your trip back up is tiresome. A mere ravine is like a mountain to heroes in this state, but you soon reach the top. Awaiting here is the panther, gnawing on a giant red and white dotted mushroom.
[18:19] * @Porridge gives the cat a tired nod of recognition.
[18:21] <@Kotono> He looks up from his mushroom and licks his chops. "Do you have them?" he asks in Sylvan.
[18:22] <Feather> "Yeah. Gonna bring them back yourself?"
[18:22] <@Kotono> Hylath murmurs something unintelligable before saying, "The seeds? Yes. Feather, you have them, I think?"
[18:23] <@Kotono> "Yes." Rising, you see a large kerchief has been tied to his neck. "Put them in this. Then listen. Close your eyes and listen."
[18:23] <Gildas> "We have some extras, in case." Gildas offers, holding onto one of the sets of seeds.
[18:23] <Feather> "We got some extra, just in case," Feather says, placing the ones he got carefully into the kerchief.
[18:24] * Feather snorts and shakes his head at Gildas.
[18:24] <@Kotono> The seeds are taken! "This will help," Is your reply, "Now close your eyes and listen."
[18:24] * Gildas shrugs with a small smile. "Would you like the extras as well?"
[18:24] <Gildas> He blinks, but does as he's instructed.
[18:24] * Feather closes his tired eyes.
[18:25] * @Porridge closes his eyes and tries not to fall asleep on his feet.
[18:26] <@Kotono> You can hear Myann's voice! It sounds faraway and a bit distorted, but it's her. "Now would you like some mushrooms? Mushrooms are important, you should have some. Please take some mushrooms. Toadstools are beautiful, eat them. It would make me happy if you treasure these mushrooms I am giving you. Let the fungus grow inside of you. Today we all love these mushrooms. You are a mushroom. We are
[18:26] <@Kotono> all mushrooms. Please eat the mushrooms. The fungi are your friends so you should love them. Build a home for all the mushrooms you have."
[18:27] <Feather> "That's mighty... unsettling," Feather mutters, opening his eyes in surprise.
[18:28] <@Kotono> "She is learning about her mantle," The purple panther explains, "Tonight her voice travels far. Any can hear it if you know to listen for it."
[18:29] <@Porridge> "Good... for her?" Porridge says, finding it rather creepy himself.
[18:29] <Feather> "Maybe she could tone down this whole part about fungus growing in people?"
[18:30] <@Kotono> "It is not her voice, but the voice of her mantle. Which is her, but it isn't." The panther's face looks aloof and annoyed, a perfect look of feline exasperation. "I don't understand it, but Kral seems to."
[18:31] <Gildas> He opens his eyes and nods. "It is like a voice in the back of her mind... She probably could not hear it until now, and now must take the steps to make it quiet."
[18:31] <Feather> "So if it's removed, no more mushrooms. And if she masters it, no more creeping out every elf she meets with mushrooms and a happier time for Myann as a result?" Feather shrugs. "Sounds good to me."
[18:32] <Gildas> He tries to suppress a yawn. "I think that is correct."
[18:32] <@Kotono> "Exactly," The panther says, "I must go and deliver these." With that the purple panther turns and hurries off into the forest.
[18:32] <@Porridge> Porridge gives the panther a lazy wave. "Lets go find a place to sleep?"
[18:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Goign to camp out, y'all? Any watches?
[18:33] <@Porridge> OOC: I'll take middle watch
[18:33] <Gildas> OOC: I only need two hours of sleep, so I can go whenever.
[18:33] <Feather> OOC: First
[18:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[18:34] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 90." [1d100=90]
[18:37] <@Kotono> The night passes without incident. The party sleeps like logs! When the party rises? They find it a fine morning. There's been some wild mushroom growth here and there, but nothing terribly overwhelming. As Hylath eats his iron rations, "I never thought I would welcome iron rations, so long as they don't taste like mushrooms," he says, "But at least we have triumphed heroically. Now," Looking
[18:37] <@Kotono> about, "It's only proper for a new ode to be written about this trip. About how the demon-bear ripped through the underbrush higher than the sky, how the animalistic power of the swordsman cleaved through a dozen Sidhe and how the towering rages of the barbarian cowed the sun itself from the skies."
[18:39] <Feather> "When you write this ode, can you switch it from the fey to some minions? Because last thing we want is some rumors of killing fey to start."
[18:39] <@Porridge> "I dunno, someone might put me on the spot ask me to cow the sun again and I'd look a right idiot," Porridge muses, guessing he's the barbarian there. Not that he's offended, it's just another lifestyle.
[18:40] * Quits: Soul (~Soul@99-177-222-135.lightspeed.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net) (Ping timeout)
[18:41] <Gildas> He smiles. "You could always do it by knocking someone out cold, in theory." He chuckles after that. "Should we return to the farmstead for now?"
[18:41] <@Kotono> "I confess it still makes my blood freeze when you so casually disrespect the Sidhe," Hylath shivers and rubs his arms up and down. "I could write minions, but those are so less heroic than facing down the Sidhe!"
[18:42] <Feather> "Yeah, see? If your blood chills just at the name, think of how horrible it would be if one of them decided to avenge all those fallen."
[18:42] <@Porridge> "I don't disrespect them to their faces unless I figure I've got good odds on killing them in the next few seconds," Porridge admits.
[18:43] <@Kotono> "Wise points," Hylath murmurs, "I will take this under creative advisement." He rises at that, "But I only wish to get home and have a soak in the healing spring now."
[18:44] <@Porridge> "Yeah, may as well get moving," Porridge agrees, gathering his stuff.
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 64." [1d100=64]
[18:48] <@Kotono> The trip back home is without incident. On arriving in the afternoon, you find that the day's work has hit a pause. The Missus, Robert, the brood, Brutes and Rashen are sitting around the picnic table. Here a woman plays the flue, a warm and upbeat tune. She wears travelers clothes supported with leathers. Her head is bowed and hidden by the flute and her forward spilling purple hair. Her hair
[18:48] <@Kotono> is an unreal sort of purple, vibrant and -alive- for lack of a better word. She looks fairly young, probably not far from her teen years, but it's hard to tell from here. She rests against a rather large backpack. She looks rather familiar, actually.
[18:48] <@Kotono> *flute
[18:49] * Feather gives their gathered friends a wave as he approaches.
[18:50] <Gildas> As they walk back to the farm, Gildas perks up at the sight of the purple hair, looking to the others. "Say, isn't that... ah... I believe... we met her outside Clearbrook...?" He can't quite remember the name, though...
[18:51] <@Porridge> "Eltia?" Porridge asks, his memory jogged by the recent reminder from the druids.
[18:54] <Gildas> He nods to Porridge. "Yes, I believe that was it."
[18:57] <@Kotono> "Eltia?" Hylath takes a good and long look, starting to smile a bit. "A rather lovely humanfriend and a performer too." Meanwhile Eltia finishes her song, clapping following. She rises and bows, "Thank you!" she waves, "Thank you," she waves to the party.
[18:58] * @Porridge waves back, walking over. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon. Did you find Clearbrook okay last time?" He never saw her there when they got there, and no one mentioned her that he recalls, enough to have found it a bit strange.
[19:00] <@Kotono> "Welcome back," Robert turns, "How'd your field trip go?"
[19:01] <@Kotono> Rashen's munching on a loaf of bread, methodically devouring it. He raises it up in greeting to the party.
[19:01] <Feather> "Successful," Feather responds, grinning. "Sounds like there'll be an ode sung about it."
[19:01] <Gildas> "I think we can all agree we are just happy to have returned safely." He nods to Robert.
[19:01] <@Kotono> "Hi there! Oh...are you the ones who I met by those red flowers?" A fist hits her open palm, "I remember you now! Yes, I found Clearbrook."
[19:02] <@Porridge> "Better'n expected," Porridge says, briefly turning away from Eltia before resuming their conversation. "Hope you got there and left before all that trouble hit it the second time, then."
[19:03] <@Kotono> "Trouble? I didn't find any, so I did," she says with a little smile, "Does anyone have any requests? A silver coin buys a song!"
[19:06] * @Porridge hands her over a silver coin. "Just somethin' relaxing, thanks," he says, wanding to unwind after all that running around and camping out. "Yeah, not had a lot of luck that town."
[19:08] <@Kotono> "There's a lot of hard-luck towns around here," Eltia remarks, before striking up a slow and soothing flute melody. In the meantime Robert comes over, "By the way," he says quietly. "There was a message from below while you were gone."
[19:09] <@Porridge> "Oh, what's the word?" Porridge asks, moving to sit down nearby.
[19:09] * Gildas looks to Robert, stepping over to listen!
[19:10] <@Kotono> "There's some crystal mine you did magic in or something?" Robert shrugs, "I didn't get the straight of it, sounded like you'd know what it meant. Said it has some kind of charge."
[19:11] <Feather> "Sorta, I guess. Is that a bad thing?"
[19:11] <@Kotono> "I don't know, but that shaman is going to come by in a few days to talk to you about it," Robert sits down and listens to the music, savoring it before going on, "What all did you do down there?"
[19:12] <Feather> "Fight those ant pests, pretty much."
[19:13] <@Porridge> "Yeah, there were dozens of them," Porridge says, getting his axe and holding it up, "Killed so many the axe practically thirsts for their blood... if'n they had any, I suppose."
[19:14] <Gildas> He nods. "I think it might've left an imprint of the battle..."
[19:15] <Feather> "Don't know if it'd make a difference," Feather muses. "The gold vein them kobolds wanted isn't near it."
[19:15] <@Kotono> "Right," He says to that, kicking back to enjoy the music. OOC: Is there anything y'all wanna do around the farmstead while you have a chance, or do you want to skip along.
[19:16] <Feather> OOC: Skipping's fine
[19:16] <Gildas> OOC: I can't think of anything, save for refilling any potions with the water.
[19:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:22] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 98." [1d100=98]
[19:25] <@Kotono> That night everyone is abed. Eltia stays the night, resting up. Yet the night-time rest is disturbed! A loud THUMP on the roof is enough to shake the entire house!
[19:25] <@Porridge> Porridge jumps in surprise at that rude disruption to his trance, running outside to see what cause it!
[19:26] <Feather> Hoping it's not Gildas's half-fey kid, Feather makes his way outside, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
[19:28] <Gildas> Probably hoping the same thing subconciously, Gildas likewise can be found with the others outside!
[19:30] <@Kotono> The party rushes outside! You are joined by Eltia, who stumbles out in a borrowed nightgown. Brutes stumbles slower behind you, as the various half-elves crane their necks out of the windows! OOC: Make perception, y'all?
[19:31] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+13
[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[19:31] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:31] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
[19:32] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11  and gets 21." [1d20=10]
[19:34] <@Kotono> Porridge can hear something on the opposite side of the house, from above. Like something's rolling across and down the roof.
[19:36] <@Porridge> "Something's up on the far side!" Porridge shouts, running around to that side so he can see.
[19:36] * Feather follows suit, trusting in Porridge.
[19:36] <Gildas> Gildas shapeshifts into his Aerial form to fly up and over to get a look from above!
[19:37] <@Kotono> The group races to the other side! You get there just in time to see a broken, battered raptorian falling from the roof! He's bloodstained and broken and falling towards another painful meeting with the ground!
[19:38] <Feather> The least Feather can do is try to catch him.
[19:39] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a dex check, Feather.
[19:39] <Feather> roll 1d20+1
[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+1 and gets 12." [1d20=11]
[19:40] * Joins: Soul (~Soul@99-177-222-135.lightspeed.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net)
[19:40] <@Kotono> Feather is skillfully fast! He leaps up to cover the last bit of ground and catches the raptorian! After landing, Feather can see he's woundedin several places, flesh torn open. His body is burning hot, brow covered in dried blood and sweat. But most of all, he's breathing. Irregularly and badly, but he's breathing.
[19:41] <Feather> "Hey, Gildas!" Feather calls out, setting the raptoran on the ground.
[19:42] <@Kotono> "He got the wrong end of it," Eltia hangs back, making a face.
[19:42] <Gildas> The bird shapeshifts back before landing, Gildas himself running over. "Oh dear... let me see what I can try and do." With that, he gently will place a hand on the wounded Raptorian and chant a healing spell!
[19:42] <@Porridge> "From who or what, though?" Porridge asks, looking upwards. You'd think flying would leave one safe from most hazards of the forest.
[19:42] <Gildas> roll 2d8+5 CMW
[19:42] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 2d8+5 CMW and gets 11." [2d8=2, 4]
[19:43] <@Kotono> Nothing unusual above. His wounds mend somewhat, the worst of them lessening and a few minor injuries gone entirely. But he's still hurt and burning up.
[19:44] <Gildas> "Let me try again... This one won't be as potent, but he's still injured." He places his hand on him again and murmurs something!
[19:44] <Gildas> roll 1d8+5 CLW
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d8+5 CLW and gets 7." [1d8=2]
[19:45] <Gildas> "That should do for now... but we should probably get him proper treatment..."
[19:45] <@Kotono> More of his wounds heal, but he's still somewhat wounded. Not as bad as before, though he's still clearly burning up.
[19:45] <Feather> "Why don't you bring him into the house?" Feather suggests. "I'll go fetch the potions."
[19:45] <@Kotono> "Got beaten like a gorgorath," Brutes comments as he catches up.
[19:47] * @Porridge picks him up while Feather goes to get the potions, "Can surely find a place for him. Bet he's got a story," he says, starting inside.
[19:47] * Gildas nods and will help Porridge as best he can and try and clear out some room to put the injured fellow.
[19:48] <@Kotono> OOC: What's your plan for treating him?
[19:48] <@Porridge> OOC: give him some healing water?
[19:48] <Feather> OOC: Some to drink, some to go over the open wounds
[19:49] <Gildas> OOC: Gildas is going to use Detect Poison on him.
[19:50] <@Kotono> Once laid down, it's the party, Eltia and the Missus. Robert herds the brood away and back to bed in the mean time. Spring water does wonders to finish his healing, but he's still burning up. Gidlas can detect he is indeed poisoned. OOC: Craft alchemy or a wisdom check, Gildas.
[19:51] <Gildas> OOC: Can I substitute Herbalism?
[19:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:51] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[19:53] <@Kotono> He is poisoned by wyvern poison. Several doses. How he's alive is anyone's guess, this is enough to knock out a dire bear.
[19:54] <Gildas> "It's ..." He looks completely baffled. "Wyvern poison!?" He looks up at the others. "I've never even seen one in these parts..."
[19:55] * Feather shrugs. "A first for me, either. Think he's gonna pull through?"
[19:55] <@Kotono> "I've heard a few dragons are said to live around here, but never wyverns," Eltia pipes up. "They aren't native."
[19:55] <Gildas> "It's difficult for me to say..." He frowns.
[19:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Heal check could help here.
[19:56] <Gildas> OOC: Oh! I have the Healer's Kit!
[19:57] <@Kotono> OOC: Go for it then.
[19:57] <@Porridge> "Could've been a poisoned blade," Porridge suggests, frowning, "Does look mauled more'n cut, though."
[19:57] <Gildas> roll 1d20+13 Heal, +2 because of the kit
[19:57] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+13 Heal, +2 because of the kit and gets 18." [1d20=5]
[19:58] <@Kotono> He's in a bad way. He'd likely have died from the last fall if not caught, or soon died on the roof. He's been brought back from the brink of death, but the poison still in him is still enough to do him in. Antivenom or magic to affect the same would help. Otherwise his odds are 50/50 at best.
[20:02] <Gildas> "This isn't... this is very serious... Do any of you have any antivenom?" He looks up at the others. "I know a spell to delay poison, but it doesn't have any effect on what's already been done..."
[20:03] * Quits: Feather (~DarkFlame@bzq-84-111-136-12.red.bezeqint.net) (Ping timeout)
[20:03] <@Kotono> Here the Missus speaks up, "Some herbs can help," she says, "You can fix up some antivenom with the right ones."
[20:03] <@Porridge> Porridge is clueless, his typical approach to poison being to walk it off.
[20:03] <Gildas> He suddenly perks up. "Wait! Yes! I think I could muster a spell to neutralize it... That would take some time, but we could try herbs in the meantime."
[20:04] * Joins: C2 (~DarkFlame@bzq-84-111-136-12.red.bezeqint.net)
[20:04] * C2 is now known as Feather
[20:05] <Feather> "I'll try to mix the herbs," Feather offers.
[20:05] <@Kotono> "I'll help," The Missus says to Feather, "I have some herbs in the pantry if you need some."
[20:05] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21." [1d20=12]
[20:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 aid another irrelevant
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 aid another irrelevant and gets 13." [1d20=7]
[20:06] <@Porridge> "Don't suppose you know any lullabies to help him endure?" Porridge asks Eltia.
[20:06] <@Kotono> OOC: How long doe sit take you to prep your spell, Gildas?
[20:06] <Gildas> OOC: One standard action is the casting time.
[20:07] <@Kotono> OOC: I mean the othe rone that takes time to muster.
[20:08] <Gildas> OOC: Oh, I just meant since he'd have to prep it as a spell. It's the same one.
[20:08] <@Kotono> "I know a few," Eltia reaches into the front of her nightgown and withdraws her flute. She begins to play as Gildas casts delay poison and Feather and the Missus prep up some antivenom. From here the night passes...OOC: More.
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 12." [1d20=5]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[20:09] * Quits: Soul (~Soul@99-177-222-135.lightspeed.stlsmo.sbcglobal.net) (Ping timeout)
[20:10] <@Kotono> By dawn the raptorian's fever has gone down a bit. The worst of the poison looks to have passed. He's still out as a vigil is kept over him. He's not still anymore, stirring in his sleep. In broken Elven he utters as he begins to thrash on the bed, "Above above above! Dragon above!"
[20:11] * Feather winces.
[20:12] <Gildas> "Was he fighting with others...?" He wonders, trying to gently restrain him so he doesn't fall out.
[20:13] <@Porridge> "Never saw anything in the sky after he fell down here," Porridge says.
[20:14] <@Kotono> He's strong, taking several seconds to pin down. He slowly stills.
[20:14] <@Kotono> "He might have fought it and gotten away
[20:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah.
[20:14] <@Kotono> "He might have fought it and gotten away?" Eltia yawns right after saying that, "Made his escape."
[20:15] <Gildas> "Hylath will have an interesting time with the song about this one..." He lets out a breath. "We'll just have to find out the story when he wakes up..."