"Child," Eirlys asked softly. "Is there something in your cage that maybe shouldn't be?"
Starting to catch his breath, it’s clear the Thyrnn momentarily considers lying to you all. However, looking over at Swim’s crossed arms and Eiko’s curious gaze, then back behind, the Wrangler decides better of it. Jamming the end of his stick into the wet dirt, the young lad twists the glass on the device, and raises it ever so slightly…
Almost instantly, thick black legs spring out from within the jar! A thin but dangerous-looking proboscis attempts a few furtive stabs, and for a couple seconds the party sees a fuzzy yellow and black body within, dusted Aether-purple. The creature has a face containing a dozen eyes to each side, all furious, and a mouthful of tiny but razor sharp teeth snap aggressively as a high-pitched droning noise fills the air, reverberating out from inside the container.
The Wrangler, gloves smacking the appendages back inside the cage with one hand, carefully reseals the glass with his other arm. Wordlessly, he grins at the party, as though what he’s just shown you should more than speak for itself…
Swims recognizes it immediately: the lad has caught himself a Violet-Mottled Aether Queen Bee. The Wrangler’s not wrong to hold the find close: this thing is *valuable* to the right person, a rare and highly sought after creature prized by apiarists, florists, musical conductors and mechanists alike. You’ve also identified what’s headed your way through the rains: *swarms* of the little buggers, coming to save their Queen
"Are you willing to throw your life away for that prize, whelp?"
The Thrynn now looks at the otterkin with a wary eye, and pull’s the Wrangler’s Friend in close to his chest. The whelp glances around at the others then to his back once more, paranoid about an ambush from all sides. “D-damn right!” the lad forces out defiantly, the look on his face fearful but determined.
The Wrangler likely isn’t going to give up his prize willingly
"How long do we have? We might be able to pull up a tent if we're quick..." Pause, back at their 'guest', "And if the swarm decides it has no more reason to stay."
If you started immediately, you could likely put up the tent in time, but it won’t stop the swarms if they still sense their Queen within
How long does Ember's sense roll think we have till they get here?
In roughly one PC action a piece, they will be in “able to notice you” range. In one further PC action a piece, they will be in “closing to violently engage” range. You don’t have their exact numbers, but you sense *a lot* of them out there
Look team, I blow things up and I read books. I am specialized. Which I figure should be good when blowing things up or reading books.
That is... not the current situation lol. Best options would be run or hide, probably, as Austin said. I'd vote run probably? This kid has been doing an "ok" job running away on his own, maybe with some ICONs involved it'd work out? But if we do that, maybe a Team Action would be better? I need to be dragged along haha.
Or I could make a big boom and attempt to scary them away. BOOM BOOM!
"Are you willing to throw your life away for that prize, whelp?"
The Thrynn now looks at the otterkin with a wary eye, and pull’s the Wrangler’s Friend in close to his chest. The whelp glances around at the others then to his back once more, paranoid about an ambush from all sides. “D-damn right!” the lad forces out defiantly, the look on his face fearful but determined.
"The foolishness of youth," Eirlys stated plainly. "Willing to throw your life away, though you are clearly over your head? I can run through the night, child." The aging Lopen gestured towards the fog and the approaching swarm. "Can you?"
She turned towards Ember and Swims. "Can either of you help this lad see reason?"
(if not, eirlys is seriously considering breaking the lantern to force him to leave it and flee)
"The only reason I'm considering is how quickly I leave him behind." Ember says aloud as he keeps looking at the oncoming swarm.
"We have moments before they are on us. If the kid won't leave his prize, then we can leave him to figuring out how he'll keep it. But I'm not standing in the way of this swarm."
"But... do you know how rare these are? Imagine what we could learn from them? Like, how are the others in the hive even tracking the queen at this distance in the dark and heavy rain? What if we could learn to do the same!"
Rare and intriguing thing found? We can't leave it alone! Haha, I'll go along with the more callous plan, but Eiko's gonna at least have to voice some opposition here
Feel free to retcon if you feel your character would have interrupted it, but it sounds like we're all agreed keeping the thing is a Bad Idea. I'll hold off on rolling until we've all reached consensus, but I assume a Command roll.
The otter's eyes don't leave the Wrangler's staff once his prize is revealed and he appears to be making some calculations in his head. A tent won't save them from an angry aether bee swarm attempting to recover their queen. They could run with the prize, but his koi was bred for looks, not speed.
With surprising swiftness for someone with legs that short he's up in the Thyrnn's face, one hand on the stick. "Kid. Either you let this thing go or I am throwing the stick at the swarm, and you with it if necessary."
“Well…” the Thrynn is at a loss, water dripping off his nose as he considers “Running Through The Night”. “No, I can’t do that…” he shouts back at Eirlys, with juvenile frustration and clear lack of conviction. “But I could…run…like… real fast!” Despite some visible soul-searching, the lad doesn’t seem to have much more to offer to his argument than that.
And the Wrangler is nearly knocked from his feet as the otterkin strikes from out of nowhere, locking wrists with the lad and pressing him to his knees! The Thyrnn fights back for a few brief seconds before quickly realizing he’s utterly outmatched: with a slight whimper the Wrangler relents, sinking his ankles back into the mud, still clenching hold of his prize with a weakened grip. “Please.” the fellow implores S-T-G, defeated and openly begging. “You don’t understand…this is my ticket! “Family Kelm doesn’t suffer a coward!””
Swims-to-Glory: you can take the Wrangler’s Friend from this guy however you’d like, violently or otherwise. Please describe how you take the staff, and what you do with it when you have it
Then: what does the party plan to do with regards to the young Wrangler? He’s gonna be displeased when Swims takes the Queen Bee away from him: even *more so* should you do something other with the find than “promise to care for it temporarily”
The buzzing becomes audible overs the sounds of the rains...
Deferring to what Swims wants to do with the stick-cage; if he doesn't want to break it / wants to give it back to the kid eventually, Eirlys can pick up the kid and carry him. It might allow us to put distance between us and the swarm; worst case, we could ditch the stick-cage.
If Swims wants to just toss it aside, Eirlys is still happy to pick up the kid and run
The buzzing is making the koi anxious as it air-swims around in quick, panicked flicks of motion, the normally silent affair accompanied by the crinkle of canvas it's encased in. Its master watches the kid's face, weighing something in his mind, "Then tell them I stole it from you."
With a quick yank he pulls the cage from the Thrynn's graps and jogs a short distance towards the approaching swarm before raising it in the air, "Cas, da se vrnis domov..." He fiddles with the item's clasps and opens it up, looking more confident than he feels that the queen won't just immediately attack him.
The whelp, stretching forward to attempt one last grasp at his Wrangler's Friend, instead flails face first into the mud. Pulling himself up slowly, the Thyrnn looks on aghast as S-T-G and Pridi sprint towards the incoming bees with the caged Queen held aloft. "What's he doing?" the Wrangler cries out rhetorically to the rest of you. "What does he think he's doing right now!? By the Hundred-Swords, just who *are* you people??""
As the otterkin twists open the cage and lifts the glass, a different sort of buzzing than before emerges from the container: melodious, almost pleasant, in spite of the droning quality? The sort of three notes that gets in your head and stays there in spite of yourself.
Off in the mid-distance, the other swarms attempt to harmonize along...
Can I say, seeing Glal play the biggest bastard this go-round after getting to watch Lucky Jack and Sweet Iskra in action has been just *chef's kiss*
Swims-to-Glory: The Aether Queen Bee is...strangely compliant, at the moment? Maybe she senses your intentions? So, what's your plan with that cage you've got there? And are you holding off on that plan until the others have taken action, or...?
For the rest of you: the Wrangler has started openly weeping. At the otterkin stealing his prize, the fight has gone entirely out of the lad...well, almost. There's a look to his eyes that suggests the Thrynn would likely *bash* S-T-G with a large rock, given an opportunity. He's pulled himself up to his knees in the wet dirt, but no further, staring helplessly at whatever Swims is about to do next
Do you answer his question as to who you all are? Do you attempt to force him to come with you, either with words or by physically carrying him? Or decide to now ignore him, and make to hide or run from the swarms while there's still time? The bees are getting closer...they'll take note of S-T-G and Pridi *very* soon...
He was just going to let the queen go, then hoof it back/away from the angry swarm as fast as he can, however if others want to take actions that alter that first that works also!
Also, apologies if I took the spotlight again, side effect of playing an egocentric character.
Given the convo on group actions, Ember could do a group Traverse to lead us all quickly down a side path/trail to avoid the swarm and let them fly away.
"Swims!" Ember yells out as he begins to move, "Drop it and let's move!"
Ember corrals the group from the road, pushing them off into the bushes on the side. "Follow me, and closely. Someone grab the kid too." His eyes darting ahead, he clocks the trees, bushes, and openings in between them to drive the group deeper into the forest, off the road, and generally away from the Swarm and newly freed queen.
Group Traverse roll, so spending 2 effort. Assuming the "grab the kid" can be bundled together to drag the Wrangler with us.
Eirlys picked up the Thyrnn youth, letting the pretense of frailty drop away as she hoisted him over her shoulder. The aged Lopen settled in to the pace set by Ember, attempting to keep the lad as comfortable as possible.
"We are Watchers of the Way. You asked for help, and we have provided help without violence. No lives have been risked; no blood has been shed." She paused for a moment before continuing. "I may have performed more funeral rites than there are hairs on your head. You'd think they'd start to blur together after a while, but each one is a unique point of grief. While not all are tears and wailing sadness, the worst. Well." Eirlys paused for effect, and looked at the Thyrnn she was carrying. "The worst are when parents bury their children.
"I know you might see us as villains at this moment, but consider what may have happened had you not stumbled across us. You were already out of breath. How long until you collapsed, in the road or in the woods, with no one to find you as that swarm descended upon you? What would have happened had you never come home? Have you no loved ones who would hopefully look up every time a door opened, only to be sad that it wasn't you returning to them?"
The elder Lopen wasn't really expecting an answer, but let the question hang in the air in case she was proven wrong.
Happy to roll Endure for carrying the kid as needed.
The otter does not need to be told twice, the moment the queen is free he's legging it back to the group, the Wrangler's cage stick in one hand and the koi's reins in the other, soon jogging alongside Ember, "Well..." Huff, "Let's hope..." Puff, "The swarm isn't hungry."
At the precise same moment, S-T-G rips off the cage, the Queen Bee aggressively springs free, and the party makes for a side path in a mad dash, cutting through the forest, down a hill, up a ridge, and far off the main road as the buzzing builds to a full crescendo behind them!…
So despondent is his affect that the Wrangler doesn’t even bother resisting as the Elder Lopen scoops him up like a half-empty sack of flour and takes him with the party. The Thrynn hardly seems to be listening as Eirlys scolds him for his impulsiveness over her shoulder, patiently trying to get the youth to see the senselessness of his actions.
“So, the Watchers are back, eh?” The Thyrnn muses languidly, barely registering being carried by the older rabbit. A few heavy sighs later, he adds to the Lopen’s question of family, “Ha! I bet Pa would like to see me dead, after this.” The lad moodily pouts over Eirlys shoulder, his tone morose and fatalist. “Worked and saved up for three years to buy these leathers an’ this kit from him, three years! An’ the last bit was on interest payment to my older brothers fer bringing in that “trophy”. “A Kelm son delivers his part for the family!”, Pa’d always say. “No free rides and no hand outs!” “You’ll earn the name Kelm like a true Thrynn, or you’ll die trying, so help me Meso!””
Hugging tightly onto the loping form of Eirlys without even seeming to realize it, Meso further frets to himself, “…this puts me behind my dim-brother Loriel…Gods, this probably puts me behind Lunkhead-Kol!” Anxiety building, the Thrynn attempts a few calming deep-breaths. “It’s alright Meso, we can….I will simply run away,” the lad finally whispers to himself.
Before he can continue, a teeming angry cloud, the buzzing no-longer-harmounious, breaks out from the bushes behind you all. A tiny mob of seeker bees, droning triumphantly at finding their Queen’s kidnapper, advance on the party…
Nearly out-of-the-woods, a single swarms of the Aether Bees have followed you into the brush (the probably dozen or so others, that would’ve been a full battle, are back protecting their Queen). How do you move to handle them?
With just one swarm, what would be the Risk/Effect of just trying to blast them back and out of the way with Smash. By the time they regroup we can just be out of the brush probably?
With just one swarm, what would be the Risk/Effect of just trying to blast them back and out of the way with Smash. By the time they regroup we can just be out of the brush probably?
Controlled/Powerful: On a failure, you'd all be looking at your choice of the following: the next leg of the journey being a trek/roll through Wilderness instead of Main Road (to avoid the bees and Queen back on the path), a loss of Clock Segment you'd otherwise have earned for this trail (for angry and vicious insects hounding you on the trek for the next couple miles), *or* me doing something awful to Meso (because the idea of S-T-G leaving personally aggrieved parties behind him everywhere he goes makes me giggle)
On a success, the bees are utterly and completely destroyed, you're all in the clear to return to the road about half a mile from here without harassment, and you can advise the impressionable young Meso on what to do with his life now that he's fleeing from Pa Kelm!
Eiko, please describe how you blast the pursing swarm of Aether bees into a fine mist...and how small bits of them end up all over everyone's clothing and gear!
Everyone Else: the despondent Wrangler Meso has quietly announced that, given the loss of his rare catch, he's planning on fleeing from his overbearing family. You'll find the Thrynn still bitter over the loss of the Queen, but quietly grateful to you Watchers that he's still alive. Do any of you give him advice on where to go/what to do next? He'll likely listen to those who (he'll in time realize) just saved his life (with the *pointed* exception of Swims, who he still glares at occasionally and would likely do the *opposite* of whatever the otter suggested)
The Clock ticks, big hand on the four. Still plenty of time to get to the Ferry before nightfall, if you keep this pace...
As the swarm of drones bursts out from the bushes into view, Eiko stops running and turns to face them. Sigils along her hands and neck appear and start to glow faintly as she channels more Aether, weaving the power together internally. Then just a second later, she unleashes the energy in a white-hot web that shoots out from her hands. The bugs, and nearby branches and bushes, are split into steaming specs and chunks, and the web dissipates a few feet after leaving her hands.
As the clattering sound of the bits landing on the ground ends after a few seconds, Eiko looks around at the damaged foliage around and winces. "Oops... I thought I adjusted the Aether to pass harmlessly through the plants, but I guess that didn't work right..." she says in a half-distracted apology, wondering what went wrong. Oh well. More experimentation to do later!
The buzzing back at the Main Road remains constant, but dim: the sea of drones seem to have no interest in pursuing the source of the Aetheric-explosion that just thoroughly ended their comrades. Soon, the sound of the bees will begin to fade away entirely…
Meso the Wrangler lowers himself (in as dignified a manner as he can) from Eirlys’s shoulders, a distant and inscrutable look in the lad’s young eyes. The Thyrnn wipes a bit of glowing purple goo from his face, clearly in quiet awe at Eiko’s display of raw power, and Eirlys’s hidden strength. Nodding a silent (and more than a little ashamed) thanks to the Lopen, and then looking about the rest of you, the lad wonders, “Huh. You really are the new Watchers, then.”
“I suppose I should thank you…for my life,” the young Wrangler admits ruefully, wiping mud from his sleeves, and tear-streaks from his face. “If those toothy buggers had caught me out, I’d have likely been done for…but still…” the Kelm son’s shoulders dip in shame and defeat. “…I was so close…”
However, bouncing back with a look of youthful determination, the Thrynn declares to you all, “So…I’m going to run, now! Make for somewhere in the Valley, far, far away from Pa Kelm and my brothers. To hell with spending the next half decade shoveling’ shit for another chance, right?”
The Wrangler rips the Kelm patch from his garb, the fabric still coated in mud and purple-splatter. Giving the symbol one final look, Meso tosses the thing into the mud with a sigh. “You wanna do me a solid, Watchers…” the Thyrnn asks hopefully. “…you meet anyone of my Da’s people come looking for me? Just tell em’ I died, alright?”
Meso the Retired-Wrangler will make for a random point in the Valley, unless one or more of you should choose to point him elsewhere. Anyone who wishes to pick up his Goo-Splattered Kelm Family Wrangler Patch may do so, in case you think it might come in handy later.
You will all shortly arrive at a crossroads upon Amra’s Folly, under the threat of grey, stormy skies…
He was just going to let the queen go, then hoof it back/away from the angry swarm as fast as he can, however if others want to take actions that alter that first that works also!
Also, apologies if I took the spotlight again, side effect of playing an egocentric character.
Oh, to be explicit here, I've never ever had the problem in a PbP game where I thought someone was posting too much. So have fun with it!
"Meso, is this as well-thought-out as your last plan? I mean don't get me wrong, I love going where the fates take you, but there's a difference between that and just reckless... Well. Wish you luck!"
I don't think Eiko will care much about the patch.
Swims-to-Glory sits on the ground, panting and struggling to catch his breath after that sprint. There's only so far you can push a short pair of legs. He doesn't comment on the kid's speech, at least not until he's out of earshot, "Bit dramatic, isn't he?"
Not a hint of irony or self awareness. The otter notices he's still clutching the trap stick and gives it a once-over, "Anyone want the stick? Maybe use it with something safer, like a kitten..."
He pushes away the koi who is currently attempting to nudge his cheek, "Nehi no..." With a grunt he gets up and starts removing the mount's faux armour, folding the waxed cloth and sticking it back in its pack, then doing a quick check to make sure nothing was lost.
When catching the eye of either Eirlys or Eiko he gives them a nod. Apparently they've made it off The Shitlist and moved to The Less Shitlist.
Swims-to-Glory sits on the ground, panting and struggling to catch his breath after that sprint. There's only so far you can push a short pair of legs. He doesn't comment on the kid's speech, at least not until he's out of earshot, "Bit dramatic, isn't he?"
Eiko grins in response. "Nothing wrong with a little drama! It adds spice to life, and I bet he'll learn a lot. Or die. Hopefully learn!"
The Wrangler rips the Kelm patch from his garb, the fabric still coated in mud and purple-splatter. Giving the symbol one final look, Meso tosses the thing into the mud with a sigh. “You wanna do me a solid, Watchers…” the Thyrnn asks hopefully. “…you meet anyone of my Da’s people come looking for me? Just tell em’ I died, alright?”
Eirlys waved her hand at the fatalistic attitude. "One failure, and you're running away? Child, everyone suffers more failures than successes in life. You bit off a bit more than you could chew, but we were here to help you spit it out. Don't give up: try again. Aiming high is admirable, but perhaps try something within the reach of a novice. As you become more comfortable with your limits - and your potential - then you can push yourself, reaching for the heights."
The aging Lopen retrieved her gnarled staff and resumed the elderly affectation. She patted the youth on his cheek before continuing. "Don't you worry about making your Pa proud. Work to make yourself proud. Do some odd jobs in a nearby town, maybe you'll hear about another creature to capture. You'll find your way, I promise."
Is it possible to fix his oversized equipment with a Tinker roll?
No need for a roll to Tinker with the Wrangler’s oversize equipment!
The brooding Meso listens thoughtfully to Eirlys’s wisdom in spite of himself. The Thyrnn’s ears turn bright pink as the maternal Lopen pats him with compassion, and begins to make minor adjustments to his garb. “You don’t know my Pa,” the lad warns the group ominously, putting his arms up so the Elder can loosen a collection of seams at the shoulders. “The Old Man’s mean as hell, and holds a grudge like no other. He ever finds out I cut and run, I’ll lose more than my freedom, if you catch my drift!”
“You’re right though,” Meso says, puffing his chest up and regaining a look of youthful confidence. “Should get back up on that Ironfeather, so to speak…if I make for Grimstalk, I bet I could hunt the Titan’s Toes for awhile…make a little money…maybe one day, send enough Dust back to pay for my gear.”
The Thrynn’s face lightens. He smiles gratefully at Erilys. “Thanks, Gran! I feel like maybe this is the start of something.” The lad secures his pack, waves pleasantly to Eiko and Ember…nods respecfully to S-T-G…and turns to depart. For a second he moves to retrieve the patch from the mud, but changes his mind. “Probably for the best Pa still think I’m dead…at least until I have his money.” Meso waves once more, than begins to head south into the jungle…
The monsoon-rains cease over the next hour, but ominous, dark-gray gloom continues to gather overhead above the trees as the crew marches west. The day goes by without sun, and thunder begins to build and threaten within the black clouds behind the leaves…
Embergaze circumvents the few lingering bee-swarms with practiced skill, leading the group carefully through overgrown jungle wilds for a treacherous quarter-mile-or-so as you all make your way back towards the cobbles and dirt of Amra’s Folly. The deluge of rain continues, and a damp hike soon finds your crew back on the main road. Overhead, thunder builds, and distant-but-closing *BOOM*s set your hair on edge
A couple miles more down the muddied path, the four of you come to a large overhead clearing and a crossroads. From this location:
- One road heads north (all uneven cobblestones, all ascending upwards towards Skyrender), climbs the foot of the Mountain towards further unseen heights. A large boulder along the trail has the word “SIGGE” carved into it in deep letters.
- Another passage, newly cut among the long-grass, leads into the jungles to the south. A large tree trunk nearby the southern route has 27 hash-marks carved into it; Churner’s claiming a nearby Dig
- Your group’s current destination lies straight through Amra’s Folly headed west, but due to the rains the walk looks completely flooded at the moment; the area is filled with a water level that nearly comes up to Eiko’s chest
As your crew approaches the crossing, you also notice that a simple wooden trader’s cart has broken down, directly in the middle of the main road. Two elderly individuals sit to either side of the crossroads nearby, taking shelter under hastily assembled tents. Each of the pair glares at the other reproachfully
The first stranger, an ancient Vodya who resembles a giant komodo-dragon, strokes the throat of his moaning-Ironfeather companion under the “SIGGE” rock, sheltering from the rain beneath a single great jungle tree and a roughly hung tarp. The great bird looks as though it’s pulled a muscle in its left leg, or possibly something worse. The Vodya is attending to a small fire and a pan of meat hash, and pulls the big-bird towards himself protectively as strangers suddenly arrive
The second fellow, a great bullfrog-kin wide as he is tall, strums a handheld-harpsichord beneath his own canopy, a campfire of embers struggling in the rain. His croaky-voice is ad-libbing a song every few measures, although he occasionally stops to breathe from or tap out a thin-stemmed pipe. A set of metal tools, clearly meant to service the damaged cart, sits unopened at his feet.
The warty-patriarch greets you newcomers with a hearty wave and a warm smile. “’Ello’!” the Goblin yells, his voice nearly cut off by a nearby burst lightning. “Getting out of the storm? More than enough room here to wait out the lightning, if you don’t care to share a shelter!”
The Vodya agrees, although he gently adds, “Be sure to give Tin-Beak a good deal of space, though…he’s a bit riled after the cart turned because..” here the lizard-kin’s voice gets loud and accusatory. “..someone didn’t check the axle at the last stop!”
The frog-kin pish-poshes his companion, playing out the musical equivalent of a raspberry upon his instrument and blowing a thick plume of smoke in his direction. The Goblin makes introductions “My churlish friend pouting over there is Gidget. You may call me Xavier!” The frogkin rotates his head curiously at you all, especially taking note of Pridi. “What brings you all out on such a lovely day?”
The road west is currently flooded in the rains. You could still attempt to Traverse the area, if you really wanted to push and can’t afford to lose the time, but the attempt would be dangerous!
You could also take the southern path towards Dig#27 for awhile, see if you could get over the floodlands by cutting through the Wilderness again
You could also take these fella’s offer to take shelter here until the storms pass. It would cost you time, but it’s the only option where you’re not chancing getting struck by lightning
What would you like to do? Ask any questions you have, of myself or the stranded pair
Swims-to-Glory doesn't take any measures against the rain, both him and his mount quite happy to get absolutely drenched. If anything the koi is getting more and more lively as the storm goes on, requiring the rider to repeatedly reel it back under control.
The otter looks around the group and, getting the feeling that there's a consensus in the air, dismounts his fish, giving its reins a tug and pointing at its snout, "Ne predalec!" With that he lets go and the fish practically vanishes into the trees, leaving a trail of dispersed rain in its trail that hits the ground in a clatter of drops.
He shakes his head, "Barely move at walking pace normally, but get some rain and they all think they're the next racing champion..." Still making no attempt to get out of the rain, Swims-to-Glory nods to the two, taking an interest in the instrument, "Swims-to-Glory, Watcher. Not seen many who play that instrument around here, where are you from?"
Xavier the Elderly Bullfrog watches as Pridi vanishes off into the trees. Croaking approvingly, the Goblin remarks, "Been awhile since we seen a proper "flying-fish" in the Elwoods, ain't it old boy?"
Gidgit the Elderly Komodo agrees silently, stirring his potatoes about the steaming pan. "Lessen' you count what they been gettin' up to at the Whitewaters, o' course."
The old bickering pair say, in exact unison, "An' we *ain't*."
"That's a southeastern-coastal carp, is it?" the dragon inquires. Gidgit's metal-feathered companion Tin-Beak, now that the Koi has fully disappeared from sight, sits back and relaxes a bit, but still watches the strangers approaching nervously. The dragon-kin throws a few peppers and onions in with his potatoes, turning the meal over on itself while quietly observing your group.
Bulbous and amiable Xavier further compliments Swims, "She's a beautiful creature! Gonna wanna keep a close eye on her out here in these Woods...lots about' that'd like to eat or catch such an exotic fish..."
GM Fortune Roll: How Prized is Pridi?
Geth roll 1d6 for Gone' Fishin'
Chuckling, the Goblin steps from his tiny fire and cover to join the Otter out in the rainfall. For awhile, the old toad closes his eyes and stands still, the downpour washing over his slimy skin, throat sac filling deeply, before exhaling with relaxed satisfaction. A distant *BOOM* fails to shake the warty fellow's reverie. He smiles, eyes still closed, and asks of Swims, "You love this wet too, yes? Meself, I live for these rains...nothing like a good flash-flood to really keep this place nice and untamed!"
Xavier claps for joy when Swims declares yourselves all Watchers. "Well, that's absolutely fantastic! Means ol' Sleep's still kicking, then? Hey! Gidgit! Meet the new Watchers!"
The dragonkin considers you all once more, through a different lens this time: "Hrrm..yeh, suppose I could see it," the Vodya ruefully decides. "Old Bear's always had a keen but queer eye for these things...you remember Santiago?..."
The bullfrog nods sadly. "The poor lad...well!" his mood flips back again on a dime, and he claps Swims lightly on the otter's rain-slicked shoulder. "We're certainly privileged ta' meet the new class! Help yourselves, get comfortable, what's-our-is-yours and so on and so forth!"
At the questions of the harpsichord's rarity, the Goblin giggles. "Oh! This fancy fellow?" The bullfrog trills out a happy upwards scale, each note crisp and perfect. "Recently made a bargain with an Imperial for it! See, I used to dabble with the pan flute..." Playing the scale backwards and in half time (and then adding a few flourishes within the margins), Xavier gives Swims a mischievous grin and a wink, touching his finger to the tip of his nose
After Swims asks about the elderly pairs origins, both begin to laugh together, in spite of their current rift. "Well now, how long have we been here, Gidgit?" the Goblin asks playfully.
"On these roads?" the dragonkin responds, suppressing his own laugh. "Oh, a long time! A long, long time..."
Swims-to-Glory: A Sense or Study roll here could teach you *much* about these two Elders, but it would have to be good, and they're a keen enough pair to notice you stopping to size them up. You could also roll Charm or Control just to keep them talking in an attempt to learn more: the two seem to know *much* about this area and its people, are more than happy to talk, and currently have all the time in the world to share...*but*, if these two have lived long enough to have met multiple Watchers now, they'd likely balk at liars or tricksters along the road, and would assuredly have tricks of their own to match...
Well, this is a nice pair of kooks they've encountered. He nods, looking impressed at the dragon's knowledge despite himself, "Yes, a butterfly variety. Hmm, catch it? In this rain and without a rider to slow it down? It would take quite some expertise, either that or someone with a metal scaled breed."
The otter slowly moves his head from side to side, letting the rain reach every part of him, "Personally I prefer the sea, but this is a... decent alternative." He is clearly enjoying it more than he is trying to show.
His small ears perk when they bring up Sleep and other Watchers, "Oh, you're familiar with the bear? His reputation goes far for someone asleep half the time. Perhaps you can help us, we were headed for the ferry over Blackbrook but got sidetracked by some bees. Know the fastest way there?" He puts on his best Nice Otter smile.
Xavier the Frog ticks off some of the nearby dangers to Pridi, “Lotta big sinkholes out here just off the main path, leading to the “Beneath”…every now and then, the rains’ll drive something big an’ hungry out. If the Children of the Root mistook you all for Wranglers, or her fer’ a “catch”, they’d snatch her up first chance, an’ they wouldn’t ask nicely about it! Same with some of the Wranglers from the big-two families at Umbras Farmlands…”
Gidgit sighs thoughtfully at talk of open water and strokes Tin-Beak’s chin. “Heard fantastic tales o’ the sea from travelers! I’m sure it’s beautiful…shame I won’t ever get ta’ see it myself, but, ya’ know…” The dragonkin waves a hand under the Valley around him. “…this place is our home.”
The Goblin croaks in agreement. “Aye! S’why I was so happy to hear of the Bear’s health…Brother Kuma loves this place as we do! Walked these paths when they were still just branches cut through the endless wilds…first as a Traveller, then a Member of the Faith…finally one of the Gatekeepers, although the two of us ent’ seen here on the trail in…oh, how long’s it been, Gidgit?”
“Fair decade now, I’d say,” the dragonkin responds sadly. “Maybe a bit less. Feel like it was before the last big cold snap. Camped with our old friend at this very crossroads, you remember? Took a bit of a holiday!”
Xavier claps his hands together with delight. “That’s how we should spend our time!” The frogkin takes a puff of his pipe, then plays out a quick, joyful tune on his harpsichord.
The frogkin puts a playful finger to the air before Swims-to-Glory. “Tell ya’ what, my whiskered friend! Join us for a meal, a drink, a bit of a gab…let us get to know the new Walkers of the Way…and you play me at a game o’ dice! Give an old boy his diversion, an’ I might just know a shortcut out towards that end o’ the river!”
The dragonkin looks warily at his friend for a brief moment, but decides to say nothing, shrugging with resignation. Instead, he turns towards the others in the group. “An’ you ken invite your shy friends ta join us out of the rain, if they’d like…we won’t bite! I know I’ve seen the horned fellow before, and I believe I may have met the gentle Lopen once upon a time…but the fiery little one is new to me!”
Watchers: The Old Travellers Xavier and Gidgit have invited you to join them out of the rain and thunder. They’re fascinated by Swims-to-Glory (and Pridi), and seem to already have a passing familiarity with Eirlys and Embergaze, somehow…
You may engage them in questions or conversation, partake of their food or drink, attempt to repair the cart or heal the injured Tin-Beak, or (as Xavier has politely requested of S-T-G) offer to play the Old Travellers at games of chance! I will be asking for rolls on all of these actions: as you may have surmised, the situation is *not* quite as it appears…
For Swims-to-Glory only:
Something about the smell of smoke from this close, and the music, and even Xavier’s voice is…disorienting? Intoxicating? Confusing? Not in an unpleasant way, mind…the otter feels loose, relaxed… maybe even slightly sleepy. The Old Travelers both smile at you with kind eyes…
For Eirlys and Embergaze only:
Where would these guys even know you from? Do you know *them*? Sense or Study Fortune Roll to find out!
And Eiko: you’re the only one apparently “unfamiliar” here. How do you introduce yourself to the strange roadside pair?
...strange...Ember does think he knows these two, somehow. You've never actually met in person, but the Trogg has definitely seen this pair all across the Valley on his travels, probably half a dozen times by now, right? Ember could've swore he witnessed the dragonkin atop the feathered steed Tin-Beak, saddle-less, just on this last journey over with the Horned Grandfather...didn't the dragonkin even wave over to you as you saw him? Haven't you smelled that specific blend of herbs and spices that he's cooking upon the wind, a good handful of times along this route?
His name *isn't* even really Gidgit a strange voice in Ember's head informs, as though in a dream. But *don't* remind him of that...
And the frogkin was naked, singing and scrubbing himself in a pond on your last journey up towards the Garrison and the Tigatawn Hills...you've probably heard that voice of his and that music on the wind many of the times you've travelled through the Umbras, between here and the northern Valley. Hrrmp...isn't the road up north even called "Xavier's Route"? Probably just a coincidence...
Swims-to-Glory
Talking Xavier the Goblin into cards vs. dice you get for free- playing and *beating* him will be a Charm or Excel roll! Upon a win, you'll learn more about this pair, the Valley, and the shortcut you desired to find...on a loss, the Goblin will "take" something from you...
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Starting to catch his breath, it’s clear the Thyrnn momentarily considers lying to you all. However, looking over at Swim’s crossed arms and Eiko’s curious gaze, then back behind, the Wrangler decides better of it. Jamming the end of his stick into the wet dirt, the young lad twists the glass on the device, and raises it ever so slightly…
Almost instantly, thick black legs spring out from within the jar! A thin but dangerous-looking proboscis attempts a few furtive stabs, and for a couple seconds the party sees a fuzzy yellow and black body within, dusted Aether-purple. The creature has a face containing a dozen eyes to each side, all furious, and a mouthful of tiny but razor sharp teeth snap aggressively as a high-pitched droning noise fills the air, reverberating out from inside the container.
The Wrangler, gloves smacking the appendages back inside the cage with one hand, carefully reseals the glass with his other arm. Wordlessly, he grins at the party, as though what he’s just shown you should more than speak for itself…
Swims recognizes it immediately: the lad has caught himself a Violet-Mottled Aether Queen Bee. The Wrangler’s not wrong to hold the find close: this thing is *valuable* to the right person, a rare and highly sought after creature prized by apiarists, florists, musical conductors and mechanists alike. You’ve also identified what’s headed your way through the rains: *swarms* of the little buggers, coming to save their Queen
The Thrynn now looks at the otterkin with a wary eye, and pull’s the Wrangler’s Friend in close to his chest. The whelp glances around at the others then to his back once more, paranoid about an ambush from all sides. “D-damn right!” the lad forces out defiantly, the look on his face fearful but determined.
The Wrangler likely isn’t going to give up his prize willingly
If you started immediately, you could likely put up the tent in time, but it won’t stop the swarms if they still sense their Queen within
In roughly one PC action a piece, they will be in “able to notice you” range. In one further PC action a piece, they will be in “closing to violently engage” range. You don’t have their exact numbers, but you sense *a lot* of them out there
That is... not the current situation lol. Best options would be run or hide, probably, as Austin said. I'd vote run probably? This kid has been doing an "ok" job running away on his own, maybe with some ICONs involved it'd work out? But if we do that, maybe a Team Action would be better? I need to be dragged along haha.
Or I could make a big boom and attempt to scary them away. BOOM BOOM!
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Life on the road is hard, you survive through your wits, and if this kid doesn't have any....
Honestly, it's either a leave him and run, or rip the thing from his hands moment in Ember's eyes.
She turned towards Ember and Swims. "Can either of you help this lad see reason?"
(if not, eirlys is seriously considering breaking the lantern to force him to leave it and flee)
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"We have moments before they are on us. If the kid won't leave his prize, then we can leave him to figuring out how he'll keep it. But I'm not standing in the way of this swarm."
Rare and intriguing thing found? We can't leave it alone! Haha, I'll go along with the more callous plan, but Eiko's gonna at least have to voice some opposition here
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The otter's eyes don't leave the Wrangler's staff once his prize is revealed and he appears to be making some calculations in his head. A tent won't save them from an angry aether bee swarm attempting to recover their queen. They could run with the prize, but his koi was bred for looks, not speed.
With surprising swiftness for someone with legs that short he's up in the Thyrnn's face, one hand on the stick. "Kid. Either you let this thing go or I am throwing the stick at the swarm, and you with it if necessary."
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[edit] What did I say! That one die made all the difference!
Geth, roll 4d6k1 for Spooking a Child
And the Wrangler is nearly knocked from his feet as the otterkin strikes from out of nowhere, locking wrists with the lad and pressing him to his knees! The Thyrnn fights back for a few brief seconds before quickly realizing he’s utterly outmatched: with a slight whimper the Wrangler relents, sinking his ankles back into the mud, still clenching hold of his prize with a weakened grip. “Please.” the fellow implores S-T-G, defeated and openly begging. “You don’t understand…this is my ticket! “Family Kelm doesn’t suffer a coward!””
Swims-to-Glory: you can take the Wrangler’s Friend from this guy however you’d like, violently or otherwise. Please describe how you take the staff, and what you do with it when you have it
Then: what does the party plan to do with regards to the young Wrangler? He’s gonna be displeased when Swims takes the Queen Bee away from him: even *more so* should you do something other with the find than “promise to care for it temporarily”
The buzzing becomes audible overs the sounds of the rains...
If Swims wants to just toss it aside, Eirlys is still happy to pick up the kid and run
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
With a quick yank he pulls the cage from the Thrynn's graps and jogs a short distance towards the approaching swarm before raising it in the air, "Cas, da se vrnis domov..." He fiddles with the item's clasps and opens it up, looking more confident than he feels that the queen won't just immediately attack him.
As the otterkin twists open the cage and lifts the glass, a different sort of buzzing than before emerges from the container: melodious, almost pleasant, in spite of the droning quality? The sort of three notes that gets in your head and stays there in spite of yourself.
Off in the mid-distance, the other swarms attempt to harmonize along...
Swims-to-Glory: The Aether Queen Bee is...strangely compliant, at the moment? Maybe she senses your intentions? So, what's your plan with that cage you've got there? And are you holding off on that plan until the others have taken action, or...?
For the rest of you: the Wrangler has started openly weeping. At the otterkin stealing his prize, the fight has gone entirely out of the lad...well, almost. There's a look to his eyes that suggests the Thrynn would likely *bash* S-T-G with a large rock, given an opportunity. He's pulled himself up to his knees in the wet dirt, but no further, staring helplessly at whatever Swims is about to do next
Do you answer his question as to who you all are? Do you attempt to force him to come with you, either with words or by physically carrying him? Or decide to now ignore him, and make to hide or run from the swarms while there's still time? The bees are getting closer...they'll take note of S-T-G and Pridi *very* soon...
Also, apologies if I took the spotlight again, side effect of playing an egocentric character.
"Swims!" Ember yells out as he begins to move, "Drop it and let's move!"
Ember corrals the group from the road, pushing them off into the bushes on the side. "Follow me, and closely. Someone grab the kid too." His eyes darting ahead, he clocks the trees, bushes, and openings in between them to drive the group deeper into the forest, off the road, and generally away from the Swarm and newly freed queen.
Group Traverse roll, so spending 2 effort. Assuming the "grab the kid" can be bundled together to drag the Wrangler with us.
Geth, roll 2d6k1 for Traverse
"We are Watchers of the Way. You asked for help, and we have provided help without violence. No lives have been risked; no blood has been shed." She paused for a moment before continuing. "I may have performed more funeral rites than there are hairs on your head. You'd think they'd start to blur together after a while, but each one is a unique point of grief. While not all are tears and wailing sadness, the worst. Well." Eirlys paused for effect, and looked at the Thyrnn she was carrying. "The worst are when parents bury their children.
"I know you might see us as villains at this moment, but consider what may have happened had you not stumbled across us. You were already out of breath. How long until you collapsed, in the road or in the woods, with no one to find you as that swarm descended upon you? What would have happened had you never come home? Have you no loved ones who would hopefully look up every time a door opened, only to be sad that it wasn't you returning to them?"
The elder Lopen wasn't really expecting an answer, but let the question hang in the air in case she was proven wrong.
Happy to roll Endure for carrying the kid as needed.
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
So despondent is his affect that the Wrangler doesn’t even bother resisting as the Elder Lopen scoops him up like a half-empty sack of flour and takes him with the party. The Thrynn hardly seems to be listening as Eirlys scolds him for his impulsiveness over her shoulder, patiently trying to get the youth to see the senselessness of his actions.
“So, the Watchers are back, eh?” The Thyrnn muses languidly, barely registering being carried by the older rabbit. A few heavy sighs later, he adds to the Lopen’s question of family, “Ha! I bet Pa would like to see me dead, after this.” The lad moodily pouts over Eirlys shoulder, his tone morose and fatalist. “Worked and saved up for three years to buy these leathers an’ this kit from him, three years! An’ the last bit was on interest payment to my older brothers fer bringing in that “trophy”. “A Kelm son delivers his part for the family!”, Pa’d always say. “No free rides and no hand outs!” “You’ll earn the name Kelm like a true Thrynn, or you’ll die trying, so help me Meso!””
Hugging tightly onto the loping form of Eirlys without even seeming to realize it, Meso further frets to himself, “…this puts me behind my dim-brother Loriel…Gods, this probably puts me behind Lunkhead-Kol!” Anxiety building, the Thrynn attempts a few calming deep-breaths. “It’s alright Meso, we can….I will simply run away,” the lad finally whispers to himself.
Before he can continue, a teeming angry cloud, the buzzing no-longer-harmounious, breaks out from the bushes behind you all. A tiny mob of seeker bees, droning triumphantly at finding their Queen’s kidnapper, advance on the party…
Nearly out-of-the-woods, a single swarms of the Aether Bees have followed you into the brush (the probably dozen or so others, that would’ve been a full battle, are back protecting their Queen). How do you move to handle them?
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Controlled/Powerful: On a failure, you'd all be looking at your choice of the following: the next leg of the journey being a trek/roll through Wilderness instead of Main Road (to avoid the bees and Queen back on the path), a loss of Clock Segment you'd otherwise have earned for this trail (for angry and vicious insects hounding you on the trek for the next couple miles), *or* me doing something awful to Meso (because the idea of S-T-G leaving personally aggrieved parties behind him everywhere he goes makes me giggle)
On a success, the bees are utterly and completely destroyed, you're all in the clear to return to the road about half a mile from here without harassment, and you can advise the impressionable young Meso on what to do with his life now that he's fleeing from Pa Kelm!
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Everyone Else: the despondent Wrangler Meso has quietly announced that, given the loss of his rare catch, he's planning on fleeing from his overbearing family. You'll find the Thrynn still bitter over the loss of the Queen, but quietly grateful to you Watchers that he's still alive. Do any of you give him advice on where to go/what to do next? He'll likely listen to those who (he'll in time realize) just saved his life (with the *pointed* exception of Swims, who he still glares at occasionally and would likely do the *opposite* of whatever the otter suggested)
The Clock ticks, big hand on the four. Still plenty of time to get to the Ferry before nightfall, if you keep this pace...
Geth roll 1d100 Main Road
As the clattering sound of the bits landing on the ground ends after a few seconds, Eiko looks around at the damaged foliage around and winces. "Oops... I thought I adjusted the Aether to pass harmlessly through the plants, but I guess that didn't work right..." she says in a half-distracted apology, wondering what went wrong. Oh well. More experimentation to do later!
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Meso the Wrangler lowers himself (in as dignified a manner as he can) from Eirlys’s shoulders, a distant and inscrutable look in the lad’s young eyes. The Thyrnn wipes a bit of glowing purple goo from his face, clearly in quiet awe at Eiko’s display of raw power, and Eirlys’s hidden strength. Nodding a silent (and more than a little ashamed) thanks to the Lopen, and then looking about the rest of you, the lad wonders, “Huh. You really are the new Watchers, then.”
“I suppose I should thank you…for my life,” the young Wrangler admits ruefully, wiping mud from his sleeves, and tear-streaks from his face. “If those toothy buggers had caught me out, I’d have likely been done for…but still…” the Kelm son’s shoulders dip in shame and defeat. “…I was so close…”
However, bouncing back with a look of youthful determination, the Thrynn declares to you all, “So…I’m going to run, now! Make for somewhere in the Valley, far, far away from Pa Kelm and my brothers. To hell with spending the next half decade shoveling’ shit for another chance, right?”
The Wrangler rips the Kelm patch from his garb, the fabric still coated in mud and purple-splatter. Giving the symbol one final look, Meso tosses the thing into the mud with a sigh. “You wanna do me a solid, Watchers…” the Thyrnn asks hopefully. “…you meet anyone of my Da’s people come looking for me? Just tell em’ I died, alright?”
Meso the Retired-Wrangler will make for a random point in the Valley, unless one or more of you should choose to point him elsewhere. Anyone who wishes to pick up his Goo-Splattered Kelm Family Wrangler Patch may do so, in case you think it might come in handy later.
You will all shortly arrive at a crossroads upon Amra’s Folly, under the threat of grey, stormy skies…
Oh, to be explicit here, I've never ever had the problem in a PbP game where I thought someone was posting too much. So have fun with it!
"Meso, is this as well-thought-out as your last plan? I mean don't get me wrong, I love going where the fates take you, but there's a difference between that and just reckless... Well. Wish you luck!"
I don't think Eiko will care much about the patch.
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Not a hint of irony or self awareness. The otter notices he's still clutching the trap stick and gives it a once-over, "Anyone want the stick? Maybe use it with something safer, like a kitten..."
He pushes away the koi who is currently attempting to nudge his cheek, "Nehi no..." With a grunt he gets up and starts removing the mount's faux armour, folding the waxed cloth and sticking it back in its pack, then doing a quick check to make sure nothing was lost.
When catching the eye of either Eirlys or Eiko he gives them a nod. Apparently they've made it off The Shitlist and moved to The Less Shitlist.
Eiko grins in response. "Nothing wrong with a little drama! It adds spice to life, and I bet he'll learn a lot. Or die. Hopefully learn!"
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The aging Lopen retrieved her gnarled staff and resumed the elderly affectation. She patted the youth on his cheek before continuing. "Don't you worry about making your Pa proud. Work to make yourself proud. Do some odd jobs in a nearby town, maybe you'll hear about another creature to capture. You'll find your way, I promise."
Is it possible to fix his oversized equipment with a Tinker roll?
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
The brooding Meso listens thoughtfully to Eirlys’s wisdom in spite of himself. The Thyrnn’s ears turn bright pink as the maternal Lopen pats him with compassion, and begins to make minor adjustments to his garb. “You don’t know my Pa,” the lad warns the group ominously, putting his arms up so the Elder can loosen a collection of seams at the shoulders. “The Old Man’s mean as hell, and holds a grudge like no other. He ever finds out I cut and run, I’ll lose more than my freedom, if you catch my drift!”
“You’re right though,” Meso says, puffing his chest up and regaining a look of youthful confidence. “Should get back up on that Ironfeather, so to speak…if I make for Grimstalk, I bet I could hunt the Titan’s Toes for awhile…make a little money…maybe one day, send enough Dust back to pay for my gear.”
The Thrynn’s face lightens. He smiles gratefully at Erilys. “Thanks, Gran! I feel like maybe this is the start of something.” The lad secures his pack, waves pleasantly to Eiko and Ember…nods respecfully to S-T-G…and turns to depart. For a second he moves to retrieve the patch from the mud, but changes his mind. “Probably for the best Pa still think I’m dead…at least until I have his money.” Meso waves once more, than begins to head south into the jungle…
The monsoon-rains cease over the next hour, but ominous, dark-gray gloom continues to gather overhead above the trees as the crew marches west. The day goes by without sun, and thunder begins to build and threaten within the black clouds behind the leaves…
Embergaze circumvents the few lingering bee-swarms with practiced skill, leading the group carefully through overgrown jungle wilds for a treacherous quarter-mile-or-so as you all make your way back towards the cobbles and dirt of Amra’s Folly. The deluge of rain continues, and a damp hike soon finds your crew back on the main road. Overhead, thunder builds, and distant-but-closing *BOOM*s set your hair on edge
A couple miles more down the muddied path, the four of you come to a large overhead clearing and a crossroads. From this location:
- One road heads north (all uneven cobblestones, all ascending upwards towards Skyrender), climbs the foot of the Mountain towards further unseen heights. A large boulder along the trail has the word “SIGGE” carved into it in deep letters.
- Another passage, newly cut among the long-grass, leads into the jungles to the south. A large tree trunk nearby the southern route has 27 hash-marks carved into it; Churner’s claiming a nearby Dig
- Your group’s current destination lies straight through Amra’s Folly headed west, but due to the rains the walk looks completely flooded at the moment; the area is filled with a water level that nearly comes up to Eiko’s chest
As your crew approaches the crossing, you also notice that a simple wooden trader’s cart has broken down, directly in the middle of the main road. Two elderly individuals sit to either side of the crossroads nearby, taking shelter under hastily assembled tents. Each of the pair glares at the other reproachfully
The first stranger, an ancient Vodya who resembles a giant komodo-dragon, strokes the throat of his moaning-Ironfeather companion under the “SIGGE” rock, sheltering from the rain beneath a single great jungle tree and a roughly hung tarp. The great bird looks as though it’s pulled a muscle in its left leg, or possibly something worse. The Vodya is attending to a small fire and a pan of meat hash, and pulls the big-bird towards himself protectively as strangers suddenly arrive
The second fellow, a great bullfrog-kin wide as he is tall, strums a handheld-harpsichord beneath his own canopy, a campfire of embers struggling in the rain. His croaky-voice is ad-libbing a song every few measures, although he occasionally stops to breathe from or tap out a thin-stemmed pipe. A set of metal tools, clearly meant to service the damaged cart, sits unopened at his feet.
The warty-patriarch greets you newcomers with a hearty wave and a warm smile. “’Ello’!” the Goblin yells, his voice nearly cut off by a nearby burst lightning. “Getting out of the storm? More than enough room here to wait out the lightning, if you don’t care to share a shelter!”
The Vodya agrees, although he gently adds, “Be sure to give Tin-Beak a good deal of space, though…he’s a bit riled after the cart turned because..” here the lizard-kin’s voice gets loud and accusatory. “..someone didn’t check the axle at the last stop!”
The frog-kin pish-poshes his companion, playing out the musical equivalent of a raspberry upon his instrument and blowing a thick plume of smoke in his direction. The Goblin makes introductions “My churlish friend pouting over there is Gidget. You may call me Xavier!” The frogkin rotates his head curiously at you all, especially taking note of Pridi. “What brings you all out on such a lovely day?”
The road west is currently flooded in the rains. You could still attempt to Traverse the area, if you really wanted to push and can’t afford to lose the time, but the attempt would be dangerous!
You could also take the southern path towards Dig#27 for awhile, see if you could get over the floodlands by cutting through the Wilderness again
You could also take these fella’s offer to take shelter here until the storms pass. It would cost you time, but it’s the only option where you’re not chancing getting struck by lightning
What would you like to do? Ask any questions you have, of myself or the stranded pair
Penny Arcade Rockstar Social Club / This is why I despise cyclists
The otter looks around the group and, getting the feeling that there's a consensus in the air, dismounts his fish, giving its reins a tug and pointing at its snout, "Ne predalec!" With that he lets go and the fish practically vanishes into the trees, leaving a trail of dispersed rain in its trail that hits the ground in a clatter of drops.
He shakes his head, "Barely move at walking pace normally, but get some rain and they all think they're the next racing champion..." Still making no attempt to get out of the rain, Swims-to-Glory nods to the two, taking an interest in the instrument, "Swims-to-Glory, Watcher. Not seen many who play that instrument around here, where are you from?"
Gidgit the Elderly Komodo agrees silently, stirring his potatoes about the steaming pan. "Lessen' you count what they been gettin' up to at the Whitewaters, o' course."
The old bickering pair say, in exact unison, "An' we *ain't*."
"That's a southeastern-coastal carp, is it?" the dragon inquires. Gidgit's metal-feathered companion Tin-Beak, now that the Koi has fully disappeared from sight, sits back and relaxes a bit, but still watches the strangers approaching nervously. The dragon-kin throws a few peppers and onions in with his potatoes, turning the meal over on itself while quietly observing your group.
Bulbous and amiable Xavier further compliments Swims, "She's a beautiful creature! Gonna wanna keep a close eye on her out here in these Woods...lots about' that'd like to eat or catch such an exotic fish..."
GM Fortune Roll: How Prized is Pridi?
Chuckling, the Goblin steps from his tiny fire and cover to join the Otter out in the rainfall. For awhile, the old toad closes his eyes and stands still, the downpour washing over his slimy skin, throat sac filling deeply, before exhaling with relaxed satisfaction. A distant *BOOM* fails to shake the warty fellow's reverie. He smiles, eyes still closed, and asks of Swims, "You love this wet too, yes? Meself, I live for these rains...nothing like a good flash-flood to really keep this place nice and untamed!"
Xavier claps for joy when Swims declares yourselves all Watchers. "Well, that's absolutely fantastic! Means ol' Sleep's still kicking, then? Hey! Gidgit! Meet the new Watchers!"
The dragonkin considers you all once more, through a different lens this time: "Hrrm..yeh, suppose I could see it," the Vodya ruefully decides. "Old Bear's always had a keen but queer eye for these things...you remember Santiago?..."
The bullfrog nods sadly. "The poor lad...well!" his mood flips back again on a dime, and he claps Swims lightly on the otter's rain-slicked shoulder. "We're certainly privileged ta' meet the new class! Help yourselves, get comfortable, what's-our-is-yours and so on and so forth!"
At the questions of the harpsichord's rarity, the Goblin giggles. "Oh! This fancy fellow?" The bullfrog trills out a happy upwards scale, each note crisp and perfect. "Recently made a bargain with an Imperial for it! See, I used to dabble with the pan flute..." Playing the scale backwards and in half time (and then adding a few flourishes within the margins), Xavier gives Swims a mischievous grin and a wink, touching his finger to the tip of his nose
After Swims asks about the elderly pairs origins, both begin to laugh together, in spite of their current rift. "Well now, how long have we been here, Gidgit?" the Goblin asks playfully.
"On these roads?" the dragonkin responds, suppressing his own laugh. "Oh, a long time! A long, long time..."
Swims-to-Glory: A Sense or Study roll here could teach you *much* about these two Elders, but it would have to be good, and they're a keen enough pair to notice you stopping to size them up. You could also roll Charm or Control just to keep them talking in an attempt to learn more: the two seem to know *much* about this area and its people, are more than happy to talk, and currently have all the time in the world to share...*but*, if these two have lived long enough to have met multiple Watchers now, they'd likely balk at liars or tricksters along the road, and would assuredly have tricks of their own to match...
The otter slowly moves his head from side to side, letting the rain reach every part of him, "Personally I prefer the sea, but this is a... decent alternative." He is clearly enjoying it more than he is trying to show.
His small ears perk when they bring up Sleep and other Watchers, "Oh, you're familiar with the bear? His reputation goes far for someone asleep half the time. Perhaps you can help us, we were headed for the ferry over Blackbrook but got sidetracked by some bees. Know the fastest way there?" He puts on his best Nice Otter smile.
Geth, roll 1d6 for Charming Otter
[edit] Barely likable. Seems right.
Gidgit sighs thoughtfully at talk of open water and strokes Tin-Beak’s chin. “Heard fantastic tales o’ the sea from travelers! I’m sure it’s beautiful…shame I won’t ever get ta’ see it myself, but, ya’ know…” The dragonkin waves a hand under the Valley around him. “…this place is our home.”
The Goblin croaks in agreement. “Aye! S’why I was so happy to hear of the Bear’s health…Brother Kuma loves this place as we do! Walked these paths when they were still just branches cut through the endless wilds…first as a Traveller, then a Member of the Faith…finally one of the Gatekeepers, although the two of us ent’ seen here on the trail in…oh, how long’s it been, Gidgit?”
“Fair decade now, I’d say,” the dragonkin responds sadly. “Maybe a bit less. Feel like it was before the last big cold snap. Camped with our old friend at this very crossroads, you remember? Took a bit of a holiday!”
Xavier claps his hands together with delight. “That’s how we should spend our time!” The frogkin takes a puff of his pipe, then plays out a quick, joyful tune on his harpsichord.
The frogkin puts a playful finger to the air before Swims-to-Glory. “Tell ya’ what, my whiskered friend! Join us for a meal, a drink, a bit of a gab…let us get to know the new Walkers of the Way…and you play me at a game o’ dice! Give an old boy his diversion, an’ I might just know a shortcut out towards that end o’ the river!”
The dragonkin looks warily at his friend for a brief moment, but decides to say nothing, shrugging with resignation. Instead, he turns towards the others in the group. “An’ you ken invite your shy friends ta join us out of the rain, if they’d like…we won’t bite! I know I’ve seen the horned fellow before, and I believe I may have met the gentle Lopen once upon a time…but the fiery little one is new to me!”
Watchers: The Old Travellers Xavier and Gidgit have invited you to join them out of the rain and thunder. They’re fascinated by Swims-to-Glory (and Pridi), and seem to already have a passing familiarity with Eirlys and Embergaze, somehow…
You may engage them in questions or conversation, partake of their food or drink, attempt to repair the cart or heal the injured Tin-Beak, or (as Xavier has politely requested of S-T-G) offer to play the Old Travellers at games of chance! I will be asking for rolls on all of these actions: as you may have surmised, the situation is *not* quite as it appears…
For Swims-to-Glory only:
For Eirlys and Embergaze only:
And Eiko: you’re the only one apparently “unfamiliar” here. How do you introduce yourself to the strange roadside pair?
Edit: Whoops, forgot the keep 1. So that's a 5.
Geth, roll 2d6 Sense Fortune Roll
His name *isn't* even really Gidgit a strange voice in Ember's head informs, as though in a dream. But *don't* remind him of that...
And the frogkin was naked, singing and scrubbing himself in a pond on your last journey up towards the Garrison and the Tigatawn Hills...you've probably heard that voice of his and that music on the wind many of the times you've travelled through the Umbras, between here and the northern Valley. Hrrmp...isn't the road up north even called "Xavier's Route"? Probably just a coincidence...
Swims-to-Glory
Talking Xavier the Goblin into cards vs. dice you get for free- playing and *beating* him will be a Charm or Excel roll! Upon a win, you'll learn more about this pair, the Valley, and the shortcut you desired to find...on a loss, the Goblin will "take" something from you...