A Macabre Seeming, part 1
Log Info
- Title: A Macabre Seeming, part 1
- Emitter: Culix
- Characters: Paenitia, Aryia, Pasithea, Gadget
- Place: H02: The Felwood
- Time: Monday, May 17, 2021, 2:02 PM
- Summary: Patrols in the Felwood of late have noted a surprising change- thick brambles often grow in the dark forest, but lately they have begin to become much more prolific and numerous in a particular spot. Cursory investigation has shown that the brambles are not growing randomly- but seem to be forming rudeimentary walls, complete with archways. What's more, strange glowing lights have been spotted throughout the thorny hedges. As such, the guild has been asked to dispatch adventurers to investigate this strange new growth and see if they can't find its source. The heroes discover a hedge castle, filled with witchlights and pixies who invite them in. Despite most of the party's protests, Paenitia does so, advancing Ramirez into the maze. The others follow. When they are surrounded, they attack. The pixies had been calling to 'play', and Paenitia holds her strikes. Pasithea starts off with a magic missile, then regrets it. Gadget attempts to escape while Aryia grabs at the little beings, trying to take hostages. Pasithea manages to put most of them asleep, while Paenitia struggles to hit even one, and Gadget and Aryia decide to flee, uh, explore the maze further. Finally, the last pixie surrenders and says she has a tale to tell.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a curious look about her. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Pasithea 3'2" 38 Lb Halfling Female Tall female lucht, willowy, Hair dark as night. Gadget 3'6" 38 Lb Gnome Female Beautiful and unnatural. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-= The best animal companions of all time -=-=-=-= Ramirez, the Ivory Steed Hippogryph Male An ivory peacock-gypsy-andalusian, Paenitia's mount. Mr. Jinglewidget Capucin Monkey Male An inventive monkey, Gadget's familiar. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Culix 3'2" 36 Lb Goblin Female Beady-eyed goblin female in leathers and hood. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Another day, another job from the adventurer's guild. This time, the client is the Alexandrian standing military. During their routine patrols of one of the most (relatively speaking) traficked routes through the Fellwood, they ran into an unusual structure- a thicket of brambles, grown rather specifically into tall walls and arches in a strikingly regular pattern. The bramble also seems to be host to all manner of pale lights, according to the report, though the patrol kept their distance.
Most concerning of all, this bramble patch sprung up seemingly overnight- no signs of it were there a week past when the patroll last ventured this far into the woods. Given its proximity to the path, the City is anxious to get to the bottom of its source, and as such a bounty has been posted at the guild, for adventurers to investigate.
Those accepting, will be given a map showing them roughly where in the fellwood the place can be found.
<OOC> Culix says, "Or you could attempt diplomacy" GAME: Paenitia rolls diplomacy: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Aryia rolls diplomacy: (10)+-4: 6
If anyone knows, they aren't sharing their trade secrets.
Aryia dejectly gets nothing and prepares for long distance travel with the map that was given to her. She also grabs a couple of torches on the way out. Might be useful against plants.
"Ho! My friend, do you know about the plants?" Paenitia is pestering fellow adventurers at the Explorer's guild, to little avail. The little Lucht, resplendent in her red armour and feathered cape is a strange sight, especially with her mask, and a spreading reputation of being potentially a little crazy.
No answers are forthcoming. She crosses her arms, "I doubt this organization. Knights are sent to deal with the plants, the druids to deal with the sewers, and the death clerics to make nice with the contessas."
She spots Aryia, familiar from their recent adventure, and the sewers. As far as the Red Knight is aware, she has no druidic tendencies, but... she strides over with her arms wide, "Hola my friend! I am taking the bushwacking job. Do you know about the bushes?" Aryia gives a wave and a light smile before shrugging up to her pointy ears. She holds out a few half finished pages towards Paenitia. A lot of half finished questions about bushes and a recent job posting. She tuts, shrugging again. Looks like she's on the same job as well.
Pasithea comes shuffling up in her sleepy way. A few steps at a time and pausing to snooze her way through to another step. She finds her way blocked by a long feathered tail A tail she knows well enough to look up and smile. "Greetings... Paenitia and Ramerez.. "She prys open an eye, spotting the semi-familiar face of Aryia who she gives a nodding off nod.
Paenitia looks over the sheets, one quick nod to acknowledge them all, "I have the same questions, and the same no answers. It look like you and I. You plan to walk or to ride Ramirez this time? He will be flattered."
Then, she spots Pasithea getting tangled up in her steed's plumage. Beautiful plumage. She rushes over, makes two bobbing thrusts with her head at her fellow Lucht, little pecks stopping short of her cheeks with a 'smck' sound, "Hola my friend! You will come with us? We are on a strange adventure with bushes!"
Late to the party, the mostly-metal gnome arrives with a curious, dapper monkey, spiffing as his gnome is beautiful. Gadget takes the hood of her leather cloak down and moves quietly forward. She's not trying to be stealthy, but it's clear she doesn't want to make too big a deal of asking what's going on.
What they know:
A strangely orderly thicket of brambles has popped up, and the brambles have weird glowing lights in them.
Pasithea grins and nods with her eyes closed, opening them afterwards. "I am ...most willing to go. Your fine feathered... mount is a most.. comfortable resting place. Smooth gait that he... has."
The party make their preperations- Gadget is filled in, they are assisting the guard in exploring a strange patch of bramble in the fellwood- and then they are on their way. The route is well traveled, at first- out the western gatehouse and down Kulthari road. They encounter a fair few others on their travels to begin with, wandering merchants, other travelers, a group of guardsmen.
As they draw nearer to the Felwood, the sky- bright and sunny, at first, becomes grey and overcast. The trees that line the roads slowly begin to change, bark darkening and limbs becoming twisted. They appear to have grasping hands and twisted faces when glimpsed out of the corner of an eye.
The path becomes less well maintained, the earth less packed. Roots occasionally protrude, as though to snag careless feet. The sounds of songbirds are replaced with the shrill calls of crows.
In the Darkwood proper, the plants all have a dark hue, with grey-blue leaves and midnight branches. Cobwebs spring up almost anywhere there is purchase for them, and dark shapes slither through thorny underbrush. Overhead, the sky churns- an endless threat of stormy weather, never made good on.
The air grows cooler, and a dense fog hangs close to the ground.
Gadget looks around on the ground, stooping over to peek under the brush, using a stick to push grasses aside. "Hey, any of you guys see any burrows? I want to ask the locals what's going on."
<OOC> Culix says, "Also- Survival if you want to try and find animal burrows." GAME: Gadget rolls Survival: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Paenitia rolls survival: (12)+2: 14 GAME: Aryia rolls survival: (14)+3: 17
Aryia follows along the route on foot, hands in her pockets and idly watching the scenery change. She'd never been this way before, and the subtle change of environment clearly unsettles her. Aryia sticks close to Ramirez, a worried look on her face. This can't be worse than the stupid flies. Or the warehouse. It's just a scouting mission.
At the question, Aryia gives a quiet whistle towards Gadget and points to a hole in the ground some ten or so feet away. She tilts her head to the side, a brow raised.
Paenitia rides Ramirez, of course, with Pasithea seated behind her. The peacock-andalusian's gait is smooth and slumber inducing. His presence is reassuring, a horse-powered bird that knows his mettel in conflict. He steps carefully, wary of Aryia and Gadget.
The Red Knight is alert, looking around, gazing upwards at the skies as they turn dark, then the cobwebs. "I do not see many trapped in the webs, nor burrows." Fortunately, there are others to point them out. Paenitia checks her weapons again, and remains vigilant.
Gadget moves closer slowly and cautiously. She bends her knees and leans down. If anyone were to sense magic around her, her gnomish voice would ring with it, for sure. "Excuse me," she says, softly. She very softly taps the ground in front of the burrow. "Excuse me, is anyone home?"
GAME: Gadget rolls Handle Animal: (3)+9: 12
At first there is no response, but eventually there is an irritated huff. Badgers are usually asleep during the day, and it seems that even in the Felwood this is the case. The occupant of the burrow makes it clear it is not impressed at being disturbed.
"I'm sorry to bother you," Gadget says. "I wonder if you could help me. You're a big, strong badger, but I'm just a little, squishy gnome."
GAME: Gadget rolls Handle Animal: (5)+9: 14
The irritated grunt is repeated, louder this time, and a paw-full of dirt is kicked out of the burrow right into Gadget's face as her response.
Gadget spits a bit away from the badger. "That could have gone better," she said. She shook her head to the rest of the group. "She's not feeling particularly talkative." Then, up at Aimarra, "Thanks for finding her, though."
On the back of the grand beast, Pasithea is all but asleep. Or at least she appears to be. She somehow stays atop the mount and every now anda again an eye opens. "If there are natural.... animals near.. to the hedges then it can't.. be too unnatural a ...cause." She speculates.
Aryia brushes a bit of dirt on her shirt that was flung and gives a thumbs up. She points to Pasithea and shrugs.
"He awaken like my uncle," Paenitia says with a laugh, shaking her head, "Let us move on. We will get no more from him."
Gadget accepts a handkerchief from the monkey with her. She wipes off her face and says, "Don't be too sure. Badgers are badasses. They don't take no crap from no stinking hedges!" She giggles and hands it back. "Hey," she says up to Paenitia, "can I get up on that?"
"Ramirez! Assist the Lady!" Paenitia says. Her mount extends a wing as she extends a hand, to pull Gadget up behind Pasithea.
As the group press further into the Felwood, the canopy of dark leaves overhead grow thicker, and the trees lurch over the road, as though pushing back against the encroachment of man. The grey sky casts little light, and less still makes it through to the forest floor. The color seems to be drained from everything, and the air is unaturally still.
Which makes it all the more unusual when they come upon their target- the bramble thicket. It is vibrant and green, despite the lack of light, and dotted with pastel colors spanning the rainbow which pulse softly light multi-colored candles. The brambles reach high, easily ten feet tall. And the vines they are made up of are thick and rubbery, tightly intertwined and dotted with a multitude of small white flowers and large woody thorns.
The bramble wall spans some two hundred, before coming to an abrupt right angle, and stretching off as far again. Towards the middle of it, the brambles twist and twine together, splitting apart and forming an archway- allowing passage beyond the wall.
"That is bait," Gadget says of the bramble thicket. "One hundred percent. It is inviting and looks quite nice in comparison to the rest of this place. Definite bait. Unnatural right angles and straight lines having bait for a trap."
The Red Knight and her Ivory Steed, plus two passengers, draw up and halt. Paenitia stares, looking the long length of the wall, upwards, at the archway. She glances at the surrounding Felwood, dark and sinister.
"It is a fairy castle in the foulness. Perhaps the sylvain work an assault to take back the land?"
She looks back over her shoulder at Pasithea and Gadget, "I must announce. You do not have to ride with me if this worry you."
Pasithea nods slowly. Her hands coming up briefly to cast her protective spell of armor. Her words sound slurred by sleep but the spell functions as normal. A brief shimmer of force coating her body. "I will.. dismount please." She says.
GAME: Aryia takes ten on Athletics: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Pasithea casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
"Ramirez! The Ladies dismount. Assist!" Paenitia says cheerfully. Her hippogrph turns his head, extends one wing then the other, offering a feathery slide to the ground to both while he watches with one large red eye.
Once they are down and clear, he fluffs himself to rearrange his regalia, then proudly struts forward. The peacock-andalusian and his little Lucht rider advance along the bramble wall, halting out front of the archway. Paenitia has her shield prominent, showing of the rusty patina of it, and a small red flag attached to her lance, which she carries upright.
In loud clear tones, she calls out, "Hola Bramble Castle! I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Harana, Knight of the Pillar and Paladin of Tarien. I seek permission to enter."
Aryia veers off to the side, a hand resting on a tree. She holds up a finger to the group before grabbing onto the wood and hoisting herself upward into the branches.
There's a few rustles before the shadow elf pops out of the tree upside down, hanging on a branch from her legs. She shrugs, giving a sideways thumbs and wiggles it between up and down before giving a few carefully praticed gestures. " Ahead. Not. Danger. Maybe." <Handspeech>
She detatches from the tree at a low point and easily lands on her feet before joining the group.
Now that she is nearer, Paenitia can hear sounds coming from within the brambles- they seem to dull sounds as readily as a solid wall, when the bramble hedges are between her and the source. Nearer though, she hears it. Childlike giggling off in the distance. "Come play!" "Come play with us!" "Come play!" girlish voices echo through the verdant halls. <Sylvan>
Meanwhile, from her spot nearer the hedge than the others, Gadget spies that the candle-like lights in the hedge are slowly moving. They seem to be some sort of catterpillar that is producing the light, though what sort would require closer examination. They are tiny.
Gadget leaves the hippogriff when Pasithea does, keeping clear. Mr. Jinglewidget (her monkey) lands on her back and shoulders, making scared monkey noises. "Hey, this is really baity stuff." She shakes her head. "Can you hear the voices in there? They're sirens or something, begging us to come play. Don't go in there, lucht!"
Pasithea slides down to her feet and a stumble. She keeps herself on her feet but sighs as the voices start up. Not that hse understand it. "Once more... we start with troubles." She calls out after Gadget translates. "We do not play ....with those we can not... see." And then she snoozes.
"I hear the voices." Paenitia replies, looking back at the group. "Girls, with the invite to come in and play. It is most assured, a trap."
She glances around further, there's not much to see other than another hedge wall. "I think it a hedge maze. They have not said no, but I will not enter alone."
Gadget says "We're not playing with you! We're not coming in! It's freakin' me out that you're calling from in there without showing your faces!" <sylvan>
Aryia moves closer to the party and looks unsettled.
"No fun!" The voices chime in unison. "No fun at all!" another says. "Come play! Come play!" yet another rings out, sweet and melodic. It seems they are stubborn about not coming out, nor showing themselves at the moment. <sylvan>
Gadget shakes her head. "Seklies," she says, "dryads, nymphs. I don't know. Fae are the strong arm of nature, and also it's disturbing, mentally deranged side. So, yeah, we know what's causing this, now, right? Creepy pixies or something. We can go back and get paid, right, guys?" She looks around at the rest of the party. "Right?" she asks, hopefully.
Aryia pulls out a page and scribbles down a few words. She shows it to those near.
"I saw fyre flyes," it reads. She shakes her head at Gadget.
Aryia she gestures to the eastern side of the bramble.
They were pastel colors, brighter than the catterpillars in the bramble, but the same range of colors.
Gadget makes two impotent fists, the unarmed, half-artificial gnome letting out a soft, "Dammit." She raises her hands, gathering magic in the empty space between her palms. "I assume burning the whole thing down would be bad for business, too, huh?"
Pasithea wanders her way paralell to the wall. The sleepy sorceress yawning as if all of this bores her.. or that she's just tired as usual. "Play ...what? With who?" She calls out to the wall.
Paenitia waves her lance, flapping her red flag at the castle. Ramirez stands proudly, then fans his tail. He's impossible to miss, with an immense arc of white feathers and red-eyespots.
The Red Knight faces the others, "The Guild might want to know more. These Fey, maybe they fight the Felwood, and should be left to do so. I can ask for hospitality, challenge that if they wish to fight, they fight me. We learn their mind this way?"
Gadget looks at Paenitia. "Am I really translating?" she asks. She shakes her head. "Okay, hang on, I'll ask."
Gadget takes a slow, deep breath and considers the proper words and grammar to put forth Paenitia's request. "We have many questions. My friend wishes to ask for your hospitality. We would know your intentions toward, within, or against this place." <sylvan>
More voices join in the chorus, as they begin to call out, "Tag!" "Hide and Seek!" "Pin the Briar on the Tallfolk!" a chorus of chitters follow this last statement. "Come play with us! We'll tell you everything!" "Yeah! Anything you want to know! Come play! We're sooooo bored. Come play come play!" they call out. It seems they understand common, even if they are chosing to continue talking Sylvan. <Sylvan>
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Gadget rolls Perception: (15)+3: 18 GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (11)+10: 21 GAME: Pasithea rolls perception: (3)+6: 9 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19 (Ramirez Perception) GAME: Gadget rolls 5: (6)+5: 11 (Mr. Jinglewidget Perception)
Realization dawns - some of the voices are coming from the caterpillars in the brush. Taking a closer look reveals that they have fat-cheeked, elfin faces at the end of their caterpillar bodies.
The Mul'niessa's skin crawls.
Aryia leans in towards the brush, her tilting her head to the side and squinting her milky eyes before a tinge of horror crosses her face and she takes a few steps back.
"Bramble Castle!" Paenitia calls out, "I seek hospitality as a Knight of the Pillar. Grant it to me and my companions, that we enter and leave unmolested. If you seek the fight, then I am the one to challenge, yes? I come in."
She rocks her knees to make Ramirez advance when something catches her eye. Possibly the same thing the Mul'niessa has noticed. She halts him, continues to stare at the brambles, then lowers her lance. The point is slowly extended towards the brush, offering it as a perch. She asks cautiously, "Hola strange one, are you a friend?"
Gadget watches Aryia's reaction and shakes her head. "I don't think we want in, Lucht," she says. "They understand us fine. They're absolutely trying to bring us in there so they can kill us, though. That's absolutely what's happening."
One of the caterpillars cralws onto the tip of Paenitia's lance, slowly inching its way up it. Now that it's out of the brush, it can be seen more clearly by the others. Instead of the insect head Caterpillars typically have, this one has a humanoid face- specifically, the fat-cheeked face of an elven infant. It continues crawling up Paenitia's lance, if she allows it, and will even try to climb up onto the Lucht's shoulder. It seems when alone, their voices are too tiny to be heard from anywhere but up close.
Aryia frowns heavily at the sight and rubs her calf with the top of her opposite foot.
Gadget reaches out and plucks the caterpillar up. "Okay, you. That's quite far enough." She holds it by its wriggly mass at arm's length.
When the Caterpillar is picked up, it squirms about, its tiny voice coming out in little squeaks. The voices from the hedge maze rise up again, "Rude!" "Mean!" "Let her go!" "Nasty! Horrid! Rude!" the call out accusatory. It seems that they are aware of what's going on this close to the edge of their maze, even if they don't make themselves known.
Paenitia laughs, watching Gadget, "Many things try to kill me. It is their way. I do not hold the grudges. What does the little one say?"
She leans forward, speaking quietly in words that won't carry to the hedge. Hopefully, "Do not squish, that will start the fight that may be avoided. The baby nymph can be put back in the bush."
Where... well the Red Knight has no idea what will happen.
Gadget is beset by the accusing voices. She moves to the brambles and gently puts the caterpillar on the most generously outcropping bit of vegitation without touching anything she doesn't have to. "Didn't hurt her!" she called out. "Don't know you. Rules of nature, right? Threat, food, or a mate? Play isn't on that list! Are you planning to kill us, eat us, or hump us?"
The voices grow quieter, they titter amongst themselves for a while. Eventually they seem to come to a decision, "We never knew tall folk were so cowardly." a voice calls out. "Fine, we'll tell you one thing. But if we do, you have to play with us!" "Yeah! That's fair!" another voice echoes.
Finally, one of the fireflies comes fluttering in from the west, staying inside the bramble- but now she is closer, it's clear to see she is no firefly at all. A tiny elfin girl, with moth wings, who glows in a pastel yellow color beckons to them. "The Bramble King is sleeping. That's your freebie! If you want to know more, you have to come in! You have to! It's fair!" she insists, beckoning towards the group to follow her.
Gadget takes a few steps back as the pixie approaches. "I'm scared to," she says at the flying creature.
'Ruuaaaaaah! Ruuaaaaah!' Ramirez agrees with Gadget. His world is entirely threat, food, seeking a mate and obeying his mistress. The strange fairy-bugs are caterpillar enough to qualify as edible, even if they aren't much of a meal. The little flying girl is even more interesting.
"No Ramirez, we do not eat them. They speak." Paenitia cautions, well aware of her peacock-andalusian's dietary preferences. He'd likely eat the brambles too, giving the opportunity. She pats at his neck, cooing, "I get you something better, when we are back."
The Red Knight watches the tiny elfin girl, then looks to her companions. "You are under my protection. On my honour, I will get you out safe if we venture in. I would see the king, and it seem, we are in a bargain now. These are bad to break."
Aryia picks up a pebble. Unable to really understand what all the noises were, lacking in education to add to conversation, and being unable to add to it physically, she gently lobs the stone past the threshhold underhanded.
The pebble flies across, nothing of note occuring.
The sight of the pixie makes her flinch. At least the flies were more straightforward.
Aryia crosses her arms at the suggestion before letting them dangle to the side and sighs. Nothing is ever straightforward with these ventures.
"You asked and we told!" The fluttering spite calls out after Gadget. "You have to now! You have to!" she says, stomping a bare foot in mid air and making frustrated fists with her tiny hands. "Come play with us! Please!? Pretty please!?" she calls out.
"Ramirez! Advance dressage!" Paenitia commands, snapping her lance upright.
Ramirez steps forward at a walk, each fore-talon raised high and dramatically in an flamboyant strut, to land firmly on the ground. His motions are punctuated my his well hidden back hooves, thumping down. His tail remains spread wide, an obvious challenge and a place for others to hide and follow. He marches through the arch.
Paenitia guides him with her knees to turn to the right. The left too sinister to pursue. They continue a knightly entrance, having fulfilled all protocols. The little Lucht's voice is very gleeful, her mask as always, a wide grin. "It may be the trap my friends, but I have not seen so nice a one in a long time. Come! I be the fool today."
Tensing as she crosses the threshold, Aryia follows the smiling knight.
The Fey squeaks and darts out of the way as Paenitia comes marching past her, and then hovers along behind her. "Yes, this way, this way!" she calls out after her. From further down the passage, more voices ring out, "This way! This way!" and giggle once more. So far, so good- no hostile moves. The inside of the maze is decently well lit, better perhaps than the forest outside, thanks to the hundreds of tiny caterpillars who make the bramble their home, each shedding light in various shades.
Gadget grips her dress with her mechanical hands in a nervous habit from back when she had fleshy mitts instead of clockwork ones. "If I feel anything tugging on my brain in any way, I'm leaving," she warns. "Play time is not an excuse to trap someone in dancing forever."
"You are my guide?" Paenitia turns her smiling mask towards the flying Fey, sounding cheerful and curious. "I say my name, you have one also?"
She is being cautious with her wording. The Dark Lucht is aware that some things can be taken too literally.
"I want to know if that happen," Paenitia looks around to Gadget, specifically not naming her in the Fey's presence. She checks on the others following Ramirez, and without any obvious threats presenting themselves continues forward.
GAME: Paenitia rolls sense motive: (14)+8: 22
They seem to genuinely want to play. How rough do they play, now that is the question.
Gadget barks, "Don't use your real name!" at Paenitia. She blushes. "Look, just use a pseudonym. True names are powerful. If you see me screaming and running back toward the entrance, you know, okay?"
As Paenitia rounds the corner, she sees more of the flying girlish figures. They gesture for her to keep coming, holding out their arms. "This way, this way!" they call out to her, drifting backwards slowly as they continue to beckon her further. She doesn't see an obvious way forwards, but who knows what tricky architecture a maze built by fae may have?
Aryia keeps following Rameriez.
Her chosen direction, it seems to end.
It is a fey maze. There may be illusions, deceptive gaps that are invisible until one is upon them. Or, the fairies want to see how gullable she is.
Paenitia can be gullable when necessary. She laughs, telling her companions, "I know. Come follow, we see what there is to see."
As she passes each of the flying figures, she tips her wide brimmed hat towards them, "Hola, well met." Once she and her mount have strut-stepped their way to the end, the Red Knight carefully checks for caterpillars, then touches the hedgerow in front of her. "Ha!"
At least, that was her intention.
The Fae don't quite let Ramirez and Paenitia pass them just yet- save the first, who remains where she was to continue directing the rest of the adventurers around the corner, the others continue drifting backwards beckoning all the time, cooing, giggling, "This way! A little more! This way!" they call out.
Once the whole party are around the corner, the fae giggle to each other. "Now we play?" one asks."Now we play." confirms another.
<OOC> Culix says, "Alright. Witchlights 5 through 8 just move this turn. Witchlight 1 casts a spell. Everyone roll will saves." GAME: Paenitia rolls will: (20)+4: 24 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Aryia rolls Will: (9)+3: 12, +2 if its enchantment GAME: Culix rolls 5: (7)+5: 12 (Gadget Will Save) <OOC> Culix says, "Witchlight 2 casts another spell, this one targetted at Paenitia. Will save." GAME: Paenitia rolls will: (6)+4: 10 Culix pages: You are Dazzled for 1 minute. I'll pose the spell in a moment.
The moth-girls share conspirational glances, and giggles, and then things kick off. First of all, Aryia and Gadget hear a terrible roar, coming seemingly from around the corner they just moved around. It sounds vaguely like a bear, but it's hard to tell. "Oh no... Bramble King wants to play as well~" the northernmost of the fey creatures titters.
At the same time, the one hovering in the air just ahead of Paenitia, who glows a shade of pink, flashes brightly, the sudden light disorienting the lucht knight.
The two furthest- both cerulean blue, move over to one another, clasping hands and leaning in close together while they watch the chaos unfold.
<OOC> Pasithea will zot with Magic missiles? GAME: Pasithea casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Pasithea rolls 2d4+2: (6)+2: 8 <OOC> Culix says, "That hurts her badly! Pose it."
The sleepy sorceress has been all but sleepwalking as they made their way in. When the attack goes off she startles awake. "Snakes!" Wait whut? Her hands come up and the arcane words usher forth misty darts of energy that buzz like angry bees to the foe behind them. Pasi then pants and blinks owlishly about.
At the sudden movement and rising tension, the shadow elf spins around and runs back towards the entrance. Rameriez was blocking the forward, might as well get in a better place in the back. She brings her fists up and bounces on the balls of her feet. If she had to punch a bear in the face to get out of here she'd do it. Why can't any of these expeditions not be so terrifying?
<OOC> Paenitia says, "My plan is sub-optimal, but I think I must, because Knightly code." <OOC> Paenitia says, " say a bunch of things 5' step, Ramirez full attack non-leath, NL for my attack also" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8-1-4: (16)+5+-1+-4: 16 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4-4: (12)+4+-4: 12 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4-4: (3)+4+-4: 3 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4-4: (14)+4+-4: 14
"Ah! So bright!" Paenitia is momentarily blinded, then overwhelmed with colours and spots in front of her eyes. Still, she laughs, then says, "My friends play hard, flying ones. How hard do you wish to play?"
"Ramirez! Claws in!" So ordered, the peacock-andalusian steps forward and swipes at the flying fey. His talons are curled, so it is almost as if he's boxing. His beak, likewise, is more of a swish-strike than a snap. It's clearly not how he prefers to fight, and he misses completely.
His mistress does no better. Paenitia stabs with her lance, and the girlish fey dances easily around it, even tugs tauntingly on the red flag, pulling it off to use as a tiny cape.
Still, the Red Knight laughs again, "If you test us for your king, you will see we are worthy. Yield and you will not be injured."
GAME: Gadget rolls weapon3: (14)+3: 17 GAME: Gadget rolls damage3: aliased to 1d4-1: (2)+-1: 1
Gadget is NOT having this nonsense. She makes a tight fist, a blade the size of her forearm displacing her knuckles downward as it snikts into place. She moves to the outer wall with a shout of intensity and slashes at the wood, her feeble, gnomish strength apparently not augmented by the flimsy clockwork.
GAME: Culix rolls 19: (2)+19: 21 (Fey stealth) GAME: Pasithea rolls perception: (16)+6: 22 GAME: Gadget rolls Perception: (20)+3: 23 GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (19)+10: 29
The one struck by Pasithea's magic missiles lets out a shriek, her wings smoking and tattered, she makes a beeline back around the corner, trying to dip out of sight. Though they loose sight of her, the trail of wispy fumes from her ruined wings give away the path she took away.
Gadget says, "We see you!"
Meanwhile, the one dancing around Ramirez and Paenitia's strikes giggles and sticks out her tongue at the knight, "Missed me, missed me, now you have to kiss me!" she teases, and then flies away giggling. The other two- the ones holding hands, each gesture with their free hands towards Paenitia and Pasithea, sending incessant nursery rhyme tunes to invade their thoughts, but both prove to have minds too strong for the fae's tricks.
<OOC> Culix says, "5-8 move again, still not where you can see them." <OOC> Culix says, "2 Withdraws" <OOC> Culix says, "4 and 3 cast Daze at Paenitia and Pasithea, respectively." GAME: Pasithea rolls will: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Paenitia rolls will: (13)+4: 17
Pasithea blinks more rapidly as she shuffles closer to the Pae and Ray. Her heartbeat visible in her throat as she fights off the sleep to stay aware. She catches sight of the smoking fey and winces, even after being the subject of their spells. "Sorry! SORRY!" She calls back to the smoke.
<OOC> Aryia says, "aryia will go to 3,1 and grapple #5" GAME: Aryia rolls CMB+2: (15)+4+2: 21
Aryia moves up to the corner that leads back to the entrance, her peering around it before hissing with her teeth bared. She whistles sharply at the party and holds up 5 fingers and points from where they came. The elf tears around the corner, grabs one of the pixies out from the air and clamps her other hand around their head while glaring at the three advancing.
Aryia took a hostage.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "Charge, Spiritedly, non-lethally. I'll go for 3, Ramirez will beak-bop 4" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+4-4-1: (11)+5+4+-4+-1: 15 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4-4+2: (5)+4+-4+2: 7 (Ramirez Beak)
"No, we are not sleeping!" Paenitia laughs, full of delight. Her giggles turn back into words, a high pitched parody of the fey's voices. "I thought you wanted to PLAAAAAAAAY?"
While she can't reach their tweeter-like tones, she is a Lucht, and gets close. She sounds genuinely gleeful and cheers her mount onwards, "Ramirez! Soft charge the right."
Her peacock-andalusian surgest forwards, leaping and gliding through the hedges, seemingly at home. As a mystical, fantastical magic creature, perhaps he is.
The Red Knight meanwhile, aims her lance at the one on the left, ready to swat. "I catch you, you will feel my kiss!"
Which hopefully will be better than her attack or Ramirez's beak-bop, which both miss.
Gadget makes a fist with her other hand. She keeps her back mostly to the wall and moves to the nearest interior corner of the wall, bramble or not, as a second blade snikts out of her left arm. She sits, hiding behind metal knees and blade arms as Mr. Jinglewidget jumps over her and hides behind her even farther into the corner, peeking out from behind her. Tears stream down Gadget's face as she audibly, but without words, wishes she hadn't come.
<OOC> Culix says, "#5 tries to Escape Artist free." GAME: Culix rolls 9: (13)+9: 22 <OOC> Culix says, "6 and 7 poke and prod at Aryia. 8 attempts to tie her shoelaces together." <OOC> Culix says, "You get an AoO againt 8 as it enters your space." <OOC> Aryia says, "oh. Er, alright, I'll do it. Nonlethal" GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Culix rolls 3: (13)+3: 16 (Fey CMB) <OOC> Culix says, "Alrighty. 4 and 3 take withdraw actions. As they can fly, they will go up and over Paenitia and Ramirez." <OOC> Culix says, "2 casts a spell on herself." <OOC> Culix says, "Oh, and #1 continues to flee."
The Fae Aryia plucks out of the air squeaks in surprise, and wriggles about in the Mul's grasp. She wriggles and squirms and wiggles and manages to pop back out of the grasp, fluttering her wings indignantly and puffing out her cheeks in annoyance. Her friends dart past her, surrounding Aryia- they dart in to tug at her clothing or poke her. One darts down to between her legs, tugging on one of her bootlaces- but she's not strong enough to get it undone.
Meanwhile, the two holding hands dart left and right, dodging Paenitia and Ramirez's attacks. They fly straight up into the air, blowing raspberries at the Knight as they dart overhead, ending up behind her- and still holding hands.
Against the far wall, the remaining Fae presses a hand to her chest and closes her eyes, and her bodily glow intensifies slightly. The injured Fae, the one who first lured them inside, continues apace away from the adventurers, rubbing her eyes.
<OOC> Pasithea says, "Hmm.. cast sleep on 3 and 4." GAME: Pasithea casts Sleep. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 GAME: Culix rolls 3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Culix rolls 3: (12)+3: 15
Pasithea's eyes snap shut and she slumbers, yet even while alseep her hands lift and she casts the spell closest to her heart. The air in a wide berth about the two closest Fey seems to shimmer with rosey dust and one of the fey slows to a halt, sleeping in the air. Pasi's hands lower and she snoozes on..
<OOC> Aryia says, "Aryia will flurry the one to the west, nonlethal" GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (14)+5: 19
Frustrated at her hostage getting away, she swipes at the one beside her with open handed slaps while stepping away from them. Aryia bares her teeth equal parts annoyed and worried.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "continue to be the fool, Non-lethal charge #2, lance and beak-bop" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+4-4-1: (4)+5+4+-4+-1: 8 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4-4+2: (1)+4+-4+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL)
"Soft charge Ramirez," Paenitia coos, then shouts cheerfully, "I come for my kiss!"
The pair surge forward, flying towards the taunting one. Her glow is even brighter, and as Paenitia gets close, she loses her in the spots in her eyes. Ramirez does even worse, biting into the hedge.
The gnome has metal arms and legs. Hardness like iron. The question becomes, if she climb the hedges...would they hurt her? It is quite possible they might. The thorns are an inch long. There is a ceiling besides. One she might be able to squeeze though, it's less tightly woven than the walls, but that would definitely hurt.
<OOC> Gadget says, "Gadget's getting out of here." GAME: Gadget rolls Athletics: (3)+-1: 2 GAME: Gadget rolls Fortitude: (12)+4: 16
Gadget looks up as if praying to some higher power. However, the light coming through above has to be coming from somewhere. A look of determination comes on her face. She stands. Mr. Jinglewidget knows that look. He jumps onto her back as she turns to face the walls. Climbing enchanted brambles in a fae-infested fell forest isn't a common situation for her. She gets her first foot in what looks like a climbable bit of the wall, then jabs her arm in. As she lifts her body weight, stabbing her other arm into the brambles, her heel touches the ground. She looks down as the brambles she chose arn't holding her weight. Mr. Jinglewidget touches her face. Gadget steps back from the wall and looks at Mr. Jinglewidget's hand. Blood. Her blood. She looks through the swarm of bloody awful fairies and tries to find the new way out. Game. This is a game. Not a killbox. Maybe there's a way out. Freebie...she doesn't lose her look of determination.
<OOC> Culix says, "#1 flees. #2 withdraws. #4 snuggles up with #3 and goes to sleep anyway." <OOC> Culix says, " #5, #6 and #8 move up and continue to harass Aryia harmlessly." <OOC> Culix says, "#5 provokes moving into her space. #7 teases Gadget." GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (3)+5: 8 <OOC> Aryia cries in being bullied
The first pixie they saw, with the yellow glow, continues her flight away from the mean mean adventurers and their mean mean magic spells, all the way around the distant corner and out of sight. One of the two holding hands yawns widely and wipes a tear from her eye, her wingbeats slowing. The other is yoinked down an inch by her companion's descent, and she flits around to scoop her and makes sure she lands safely, at the base of the thorny brush. "Heehee, you got us I guess~" she says to Pasithea and then she lays down next to her friend, tucked away safely.
The one Paenitia charges at flips up into the air, doing a graceful pirouette as she dances out of the way of the blade. "Nu-uh, only meanies kiss with cold, cold metal!" she retorts, and then flutters away.
The Fae surrounding Aryia move up with her, continuing to harass her. They tug back her hood, dart back and forth between her legs, around her head, giggling at her all the time, "Too slow~" "Can't catch me~" they titter at her.
Finally, one spies Gadget falling from the brambles she tries to climb. She covers her mouth, pointing and laughing. "You look so silly. Try again! Try again! I bet you land on your butt this time!" she taunts.
GAME: Pasithea casts Sleep. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15 <OOC> Culix says, "So in that case, it will target #7, #8, #6 and Aryia who is immune, at which point its out of juice." GAME: Culix rolls 3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Culix rolls 3: (9)+3: 12 GAME: Culix rolls 3: (5)+3: 8 <OOC> Culix says, "Ok, those three fall asleep. #5 is still awake." <OOC> Paenitia says, "5 is where? Aryia's bum?" <OOC> Culix says, "Pretty much XD in her space, bothering her."
Pasithea watches the fey briefly. The second one joining the first to nap making her smile with half hooded eyes. She turns her attentions back towards the others and moves along calmly now towards them. Her eyes drift closed again and once more she casts the mystical spell of sleep causing the trio about Aryia to flutter and then sink towards the ground. "Sleep... dream. Know peace... rest."
The spell washes over Aryia with nary an effect, her casting a confused glance behind raised arms towards the sleepy mage. She looks down at the pixie tugging her shoes, and frowns heavily, shooing it away with a hand as she jogs down the row. Gadget seems to be onto something.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "okay. Lance away or dropped or whatever, going to charge and grab," <OOC> Paenitia says, "Ramirez also, going for a grab." GAME: Paenitia rolls cmb+4-1: (13)+3+4-1: 19 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+6+2: (6)+6+2: 14
"Okay. I play with the glove then." Paenitia calls back, taunting they fey. She shoves her lance towards her holster and rises to her feet on her saddle. Leaning against her mount's neck, she hugs herself in place with one arm, reaches out with the other. "Ramirez, grab the cherry."
The peacock-andalusian surges forward, another long, gliding leap, landing clop-clop-claw, reaching with a talon.
Paenitia is just a little bit faster, and manages to snatch the pixie out of the air. "Now you kiss the smiling face!"
Lightly, so not as to hurt her, she bops the fey against her mask.
Hopefully. It is metal, but rusted steel and a long ways from pure, and hot like the land it came from.
<OOC> Culix says, "Just making sure. Alright, so, you're stepping on #7?" GAME: Gadget rolls weapon0: (13)+2: 15 GAME: Gadget rolls damage0: aliased to 1d3-1: (2)+-1: 1
The pixie bitch deserves payback, but mockery doesn't weigh evenly against death. The gnome plans to flee, and she'll make sure one of her footsteps breaks a wing. Then, book it.
Gadget watches the fae fall from their lofty spots. She stomps on the one who mocked her, as a reminder that playing does not include hurting people or you risk a gnome stomping on your fragile wings. She uses the wing as a spring-point to begin running as fast as gnomishly possible, desperate to get out of here, her knife-hands cutting through the air as Mr. Jinglewidget rides her like a cowboy...cow monkey? Like a cowcapuchin, which is fun to say.
As the pink fairy is caught by Paenitia, she squirms helplessly, "Nooo nooo~" she says between fits of giggles, before finally huffing and pouting after the boop. "You got me..." she says. Moments after drifting into a peaceful slumber, the one Gadget stepped on is rudely awaken and yelps in pain as her wing is stepped on. She shuffles along the floor back up into the hedge and rubs tearful eyes, "Meanie..." she mutters after the fleeing gnome. "I thought gnomes were supposed to be fun." she adds.
With her other allies falling asleep as well, Aryia's one time hostage looks around, and puts her hands on her hips. "Ok... ok, you win, you win." she says then to the adventurers. "A promise is a promise, we'll tell you about the Bramble King..." she says then, and flutters over to take a seat on the bramble, gesturing for the adventurers to come closer.
Aryia skids to a halt, her making an exasperated gesture at everything around her before stomping back. If she could growl, Aryia would be rumbling by now.
"Sleep well little beauty, that was the fun game." Paenitia says, nudging Ramirez to advance slowly. As he comes on the other sleeping fey, the Red Knight slips off his back and carefully slides them onto her shield. She's covered it with her feathered cape, and is using it as a makeshift bed.
She catches up with Pasithea, and checks on her sorceress friend, helping her up on Ramirez if she needs it. She comes to the corner, rests her shield so the other sleeping ones can use it, and looks at the remaining awake one who seems willing to talk. "I listen."
To her companions, "Come, there is a tale to be told."
Pasi blinks awake as Pae and Ram move up beside her. She offers the smiling mask a smile and takes the offered help to get back up. A few moment's longer and she's asleep against Pae's back, almost snoring. Tuckered out by the excitement.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
24 Witchlight 2 1
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22 Witchlight 5 1
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19 Witchlight 3 1
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18 Witchlight 8 1
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17 Witchlight 6 1
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17 Witchlight 1 1
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16 Witchlight 4 1
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16 Witchlight 7 1
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9 Pasithea 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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>> 4 Aryia 1 <<
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4 Paenitia 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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1 Gadget 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds remaining)
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==============================================================================
<OOC> Gadget's eyes grow black as night. "Which one mocked me? That bitch dies."
<OOC> Paenitia laughs! "It was me Dio!"
<OOC> Culix says, "I was not expecting a Jojo reference."