On the road
12 Summes, 333
Fate
LAST TIME!
Daina and Slavina went Between to take a look at what those weird mechanical hounds were, and hoping to gain insight as to what they were doing sniffing around through Hometown. What they found out was that these things are Not Of This World (TM) and potentially powerful.
Afterwards, Slavina besought the protection of the local bee god.
Slavina
So Slavina would gather everyone together so she can communicate this once and be done, on account of her tongue is all cut up so talking hurts right now.
-
Slavina reports that she was able to secure the support of the Lady of Bees, who will use her power to protect and hide us from the things hunting us.
-
The blessing she has provided us is very fragile, and Slavina is totally certain it will not hold up long under assault from the doom doggies.
-
If (when) the Bee Lady is damaged or diminished in the course of protecting us, Slavina has promised we will restore her to her full glory. Everyone in our "family" is part of this pledge.
- Slavina expects that failing to keep the promise would have Very Bad (tm) results. She's not sure exactly what, since these thigns are hard to predict, but would give possibilities like the permanent emnity of the Bee Lady and all her allies, or all the bees in the region losing their ability to fly.
Any questions for her on this before we get going?
Daina
no questions but Daina seems a little rankled to have her oath be given without her being consulted. She does question if the Lady would appreciate some sort of offering before they move on.
Slavina
Slavina doesn't think it would be unappreciated, but it's not super necessary. So whatever Daina would like to do :)
Aaren
Aaren will thank Slavina for doing the WayFinder THing (tm) and then ask her (later, privately) to please tell Aaren next time so Aaren can be prepared for this kind of oath-thing.
Slavina
She'll apologize and say she'll try and do that
Fate
Okay! So!
To sum up the situation:
- You guys have parted ways with the caravan.
- Aurika is now off to begin her pilgrimage to Hometown.
- You are in town and have been for a couple days now.
- There are otherworldly mechanical hounds that have your "scent". (Or at least Daina's and Slavina's.)
- You are all under the delicate protection of the Lady of Bees.
- Your shopping's all done.
- You are headed to Tír na Tearmann from here.
Anything else y'all wanna cover before we proceed?
Slavina
Sounds good to me.
Aaren
Nope, although if everyone could mention in their opening pose their characters general behavior so I can get a sense of the eggshell level that would be great!
Slavina
I will keep that in mind!
Fate
Well, we aren't getting started with RP just yet. But yes, we'll get there.
Daina
I'm guessing we're stocked up and have journey appropriate clothes and gear?
Fate
Aye!
Loral, remind me: What's Slavina's Wayfinding method for this trip again? Does she Wayfind at every checkpoint or does she do one big Wayfind-y type thing at the beginning of the journey and it carries through the length of the trip?
Slavina
I think we did one big wayfinding at the beginning to get a vague general sense, but she's been doing checks at every big stop to get detailed info about that leg of the trip
Fate
Okay. Lemme check your stats real quick.
... Your average Wayfinding roll is 6.
WELL ALRIGHT THEN.
Slavina
XD
Don't forget if it's a routine Liudzi activity I get to add 2 dice from my knack :D
Fate
Even better.
In that case, I'm gonna have you roll just to see how much info you get about the next leg of the journey.
Slavina
9
Fate
The signs in the Wayfinding powders are strongly drawn, offering no neutral terms.
The way forward is through twisted waters, between the equally twisted fingers of the lost spirits therein. Through the place where the nearby river narrows—where no one has emerged once submerged—is the doorway to the next strange world. It must be entered head-first, as though the surface of the water were the ground and the depths the sky.
It's a perilous path to tread, where waits the eager maw of She-Who-Hungers, or perhaps the thin, firm hand of Giltine.
Slavina
From what slavina can tell is the head-first thing literal, or metaphorical?
Fate
Definitely leaning towards literal.
Slavina
.....Can Janin even swim?
Aaren
Aaren can sing him gills.
It's no big.
Fate
Janin cannot swim.
Daina
Daina requests retractable fins pls?
Aaren
Doesn't Daina have a fish song?
Slavina
Slavina isn't the best at it either. I mean, she can doggy paddle in a lake, but that's about it
Aaren
Okay, okay. Aaren can give everyone gils and we can tie ourselves together. I can ask Megan about retractable fins when we get there.
Slavina
OH Mel, Daina can turn other people into animals too right?
Fate
Daina does have a fish song.
Daina
Yeah true
or was it a dance? cause most of her stuff is a dance
Slavina
I think it was a dance.
I remember her teaching people the wolf dance.
Fate
Excuse me, dance.
Daina
Yeah and I think she can teach someone the fish dance if they want? and we've got a few days of journey to practice right?
Slavina
Probably. If not, we can just camp by the river till we all know how to be fish?
Aaren
When she did it before people watched her and turned into the animal.
Fate
That narrow part of the river is an hour outside town. But yeah, camping works.
Slavina
Oh that's way easier!
Aaren
So like, it may not even take that long, just the lenght of the dance.
And Daina has a Human song to turn everyone back, right?
(I remember her turning us all into wolves, but I don't remember how we got back.)
Daina
I -think- so cause she probably had to have one before anyone would try being a wolf
heh
I need to make a note of her dances so far.. later though
Fate
(Dances.) :)
Okay. So the current plan is to go out to the river while Daina dances the fish dance and turns everyone into fish, ja?
Slavina
Yup! But...... uh..... hungry spirits?
Daina
except maybe Esta since she can be a waterdog?
Fate
Also, I'd like to ask... Are you bringing...
- The cart?
- Chauncy?
- Seedless?
Daina does not have a goabbit dance, and Aaren singing Chauncy back to normal shape would take years. And Seedless is a blackberry bush.
Esta would opt for wearing her skin, yes.
Daina
ah shite
Slavina
Could we put the cart and Seedless inside Frankie, and maybe send Chauncy back with Aurika?
Aaren
But. But. CHAUNCY MILK IS VITAL TO OUR ONGOING HEALTH!
Daina
the cart seems likely, I'm not sure about seedless though..
Fate
... Uh... no it's not? (The milk that is)
Aaren is vital to your ongoing health.
Aaren
Megan! Protein and calcium!!!! Aaren can't just MAKE SHIT UP!
Slavina
Daina can grow us a milk plant :P
Aaren
Seedless and Chauncy could hang out in someone's yard until we get back?
Fate
You guys should have no trouble brain-controlling finding someone who'd be willing to do that for you.
Daina
I was thinking what if we put lots of rocks into Seedless and Daina helped him become fish shaped... and then he could come along?
Slavina
I guess why not?
Aaren
Instead of rocks, could she root him into her?
Rocks might make him heavy at the wrong time.
Fate
You can put Seedless in Frankie. It's not a problem.
Daina
ok cool
Fate
FRANKIE IS ENDLESS. FRANKIE IS ETERNAL.
Aaren
Okay. Aaren will spend the days we are in town finding a safe place for Chauncy to board until we get back, in a home that will keep him well if we never get back.
Slavina
Awwwwwwww
Daina
Daina is real sad and gives Chauncy lots of hugs and grows a patch of his fav food nearby. T.T
Fate
Janin will help her. Because he knows the local language. And he grew attached to Chauncy. :(
Daina
awwww
Aaren
Coo. Aaren is very grateful.
Fate
Alllllrighty. Gonna have a quick exchange with Loral off to the side here...
Daina
okie
Slavina
I'm reporting the results of this since megan BRB'd!
Uh so uh..... Janin is going back to Bakersfield. Because on account of this is approaching "notarize your will" levels of dangerous and he's kinda got plans that require being alive. So since he likes Chauncy and his dad is well-equipped to care for a goabbit (Dad's a large animal veterinarian), Janin will bring Chauncy with him.
Aaren
And hopefully this whole thing will take ten seconds and we'll be back before he leaves.
Daina
that's adorable as hell though
like come with me goabbit buddy
Aaren
Agreed.
Fate
Alrighty. So the plan is... Janin and Chauncy are leaving the party. Y'all are Frankie-ing the cart and Seedless. Daina's dancing you into fish (except Esta, who gets to wear her skin). Anything else?
Daina
can Aaron fish and keep her human vocals?
Fate
Nope!
Slavina
D:
Daina
maybe gills and fins for her then?
Slavina
Daina better make herself into a really tough fish then, 'cause she's gonna be the one doing all the protecting us stuff!
Daina
Sword fish!
Fate
Daina has yet to encounter a swordfish.
Daina
dang ..
Fate
Also Esta is a seal.
Daina
Can I be a seal?
Aaren
You mean a vicious river-leapord?
Slavina
Ooh do it doo it!
Fate
^ That
Daina
I feel like that's a dnace that happens
Fate
Yeah, Daina asked Esta if she could do that waaaay back when they first met
Daina
Sweet I'll do that then
bark bark
Fate
Alright!
Someone said something about tying each other together?
Aaren
Not neccesary if we're fish, I'm sure.
Fate
Alrighty!
Daina
might not be the best idea though... like protectors need to be free but maybe Aaron and Slavina should be tethered to one another?
Slavina
And Kelly?
Daina
Does Kelly wanna be a seal or a fish or ... should we just all be seals that seems to make the most sense doesn't it?
if Daina can dance anyone to fish she should be able to do it with seals as well no?
Slavina
Seals need to breathe though, and fish are more.... uh.... portable?
Like you could grab one of us in your mouth if you needed to!
Daina
true but if breathing is an issue then shouldn't we be worried about the peeps that are seals?
are we really overthinking this XD
Slavina
Yeah. I think we are XD
Plan is Daina and Esta = seals, everyone else = fish, hope we don't die. We all good with that?
Aaren
Yes.
Daina
sounds good to me
Slavina
Woot!
Fate
Okay!
Slavina
Go us!
Fate
In that case, I'ma set the scene.
Aaren
YAY!
Fate
14 Summes
It's a gray, drippy day as Aaren, Daina, Slavina, Kelly, and Esta move through the flowers, wreaths, and crosses lining the river and reach the rocky, mossy banks of the deadly section. It's calm, though, almost placid-looking, the water rushing gently enough to emit a soft, pleasant babble. All accoutrements have been taken into Frankie's keeping, leaving everyone's hands free—save Esta, who chooses to use one to clutch her skin tightly to her chest, and the other to hold Kelly's.
Compared to the usual rhythm of travel, an hour by foot is no time at all. Fresh is Janin's tearful farewell, his tight, trembling hugs offered to any and all; and Chauncy's puzzled head-tilts and inquisitive looks. Kelly left Janin with one of his noises—an anklet which, though battered, still has a beautiful cascading tinkle when shook. Esta offered Janin a heavily accented farewell in Kalba—the first Kalba anyone's heard her speak—and a elaboration in Hometown English which, while not very eloquent, was certainly flowery.
Slavina
Slavina said her goodbyes to Janin in private and, not wanting to risk changing his mind, gave a very quiet, reserved farewell at their actual parting. She has been near-silent since then - ostensibly because her tongue is still painful, but the careful and too-complete neutrality of her expression and body language suggest something else.
At the water's edge, she strips to the skin and gives her belongings to Frankie, and looks into the current. She swallows, thick with apprehension. "You're all prepared to die, right?" She asks, slow and a little blurred around the edges.
Daina
Daina gives Janin a cheery goodbye but doesn't leave doubt that she'll miss his face and gives him a smooch on the cheek if he allows it.
As the smaller group approaches the river and strips down she glances to Slavina and gives a shake of her head. "Hell no.. but I'm willing to risk it" she flashes a grin and waits for them to be ready to do the fish dance. To be followed by a performance of the seal dance. her seal look I will design later :3
Aaren
Aaren hugs Janin, finally winding up the long running conversation she's been having with him. ("You have enough food? We went over the way your nutritional needs have changed, do you understand it all?")
The extreamly emotional nature of the last couple of days has left Aaren half-way between frustrated and on-edge. As a result, her good-bye is perhaps more truncated then she would have liked.
All clothes stripped and bundled, and her hair bound up in a huge knot over her head. Aaren smiles at Slavina's question. "Of course." Her smile turns into a grin as the chill wind ripples across her bare skin. "The river is actually sideways!" She's singing her happy-calm song, trying to lean into an exciting moment, instead of worrying about if she should talk to Daina about how imporant this is.
Fate
Kelly offers little by way of response to Slavina, instead staring at the water as he doffs his clothes and drops them in the shadow, his eyes tracking invisible paths.
Esta makes a thoughtful noise in her throat. 'Hold on.'
She pads around Kelly, circling into his line of sight, her head slightly tilted. It's not long before his attention's caught; and once it is, she gives him a vigorous kiss (her skin bundled fast in her fist, which is pressed firmly to the small of her back). Then, when they part, she throws a look over her shoulder to the others, tossing her hair, and says, 'Aye, good to go now!'
(She's been cheery this whole time, but fiercely—almost angrily—so, as if her cheer were a weapon with which she strikes out in the dark. There's also a restless edge to her movements, like the world can't move fast enough.)
Kelly offers a light half-smile. 'Now I'm ready to stay.'
(He's been fairly at ease, perhaps the most relaxed of this group! But he's always been a hard read.)
'Save it,' Esta retorts, 'and make sure not to cark.' She offers him a wink, then pointedly regards the rest of the group. 'So, we doin' this or what?'
Daina
Daina actually giggles at the display from Esta and gives her a little up nod of 'you go girl' sort of feelings, her grin feeling a little more real now. "yup I don't think we can prep any more than we have."
Slavina
Slavina pulls her gaze away from the water to look at Daina, with no change in expression along the way.
Daina
Daina looks to Slavina and questions. "You think we aught to do something more?"
Aaren
Aaren holds up a hand, to emphasise her singing of "stop".
"Hang on, Slavina, will you do an offering first? The river is really hungry."
She unbundles her rags and starts pulling out food. "I've got trail mix, honey, a small fruit tree..." The items arrive from various pockets. She looks up. "Maybe blood?"
Daina
Daina considers 'How about some sun bread?" she offers "can put a lot of warmth in it... ?"
Slavina
Slavina blinks an oh-of-course blink. She nods, crouching next to the water. She dips one hand in and watches the patterns the ripples form around it.
can I get a tip on what sort of offering is appropriate using the wayfinding role I already did?
Fate
Sure!
Slavina
Slavina withdraws her hand, letting the water drip back into the river with a small shake to free it. She shakes her head. "It needs to be very big, and it will only buy us some time. Something like a big piece of bait, maybe."
Slavina's going to make a roll to lower our difficulty with an offering, but it's stupid hard so I need y'alls help.
Aaren
Got a plan?
Daina
Daina hmms and thinks on it a few minutes as she worries her lower lip. She then looks up and questions. "how about.. some seaweed.. like a lot of it..and... speshul .. you know?" She pauses and after some more discussion building from that and onward the group comes up with the idea of a tree. One that leans over the water and loses fruit regularly to feed the spirits. Everyone is into the idea it seems but after some thought they agree that would take longer than they're willing to spend. Daina perks up though and holds up her finger to indicate to wait a moment. She then has Frankie barf up the sunfruit plant, if possible or the cart if need be to get it out of the cart herself. that fine for all?
Aaren
Fine for me!
Slavina
Same here!
Fate
Okay. Y'all can roll and add up your cumulative rolls. Every 5 successes nets Slavina another dice with which to make her offering roll.
Slavina
Whoa that's not a lot D:
Daina
[so we add both our totals and you go from that?
I'm wondering if Kelly can help as well by finding the best place to put the tree maybe?
also can my green thumb knack count towards this, it's no a new new plant but might as well be with the changes?]]
Fate
That's correct—and sure, Kelly can help. You were thinking of him using his special sight to find someplace? Also, I'll halve the Green Thumb Knack—no, it's not a new plant, but it makes sense for her to be especially good at modifying her creations too.
Daina
yay okies thanks :D]]
can I use gardening fertility or must it be gardening magic since it's a pretty magical tree?
Fate
I thought we weren't doing a tree?
Daina
sorry meant plant
Fate
Oh! Fertility would work.
Daina
coolies thanks
Fate
I need some more selling on Kelly's help, though. For what purpose is he finding a place?
Aaren
He's finding the best place to feed it, the place where the current will take the fruit to the hunger most effectivly?
Daina
for place where the magic is strong in the earth, and gathers the sun? oh or that
XD
Fate
Okay!
7 from Kelly
Daina
Daina smiles at the small plant and kisses on of the leaves before digging a hole in the ground where indicated and unpotting the plant before setting it down. She pauses a moment to enfuse the earth with a touch of her own warmth to urge the roots to stretch and grow into place before the earth is pushed back over and she steps back and starts dancing around the plant in a semi circle. There are many arm motions going upwards and fingers splaying outwards. She laughs softly and sings a hometown song about the sun shining. The smallish plant starts to shake a little and then a small burst of growth followed by a slower more even process. Finally it's taller than the cart and the fruits have doubled in size. She then climbs the side of the plant to reach a branch. She closes her eyes tightly and channels warm into one specific fruit. Using her own ability to photosynthesize to help with the infusion. Once she feels the fruit can hold no more she plucks it and gives teh plant another smooch before hopping down and bringing the fruit over to Slavina "I'll grow you another plant once we get to the other side of this" she murmurs with a small .. reserved smile.
Aaren
Aaren takes a deep breath, pausing in silence for a long moment to listen to the song of the river, and the hunger swirling so enegmatically through it.
Today, she is blue and grey- the colors she wants to be when she 'goes fish' as Daina so colorfully puts it. Her hair, dark green like the river weed, is braided, knotted, dreaded, piled on top of her head. (With white highlights, it looks uncomfortably like frogspawn.) Despite the chill, she hasn't bothered to put her panchos on.
Aaren listens to the slow dirdge of the river and the jig-song hiding below. Then, one voice at a time, she joins in. The babbling, the quiet rush, the roar of water over far hidden rocks. She draws it out, and draws out the hunger (alien enough to set the teeth on edge, but so familiar that it makes the listeners shiver, an ancient memory of something endless and unsaitable.)
Aaren holds it there, singing the phrase again and again in ever changing repetition, until Slavina drops in Daina's fruit bursting to the juicy skin with fire and warmth.
Aaren's songs surge and shift in response, finding the end of that endless hunger, drawing it to, not a close, but a temporary pause. A fullness, the peace of an hour, a day. A momentary rest in the endless cycle of need. The clutching, sticky ache turned inside out, made into an almost-turgid fullness.
Rolling singing singing to convince the River that it is Totes Full.
Channeling Harmony- trying to get the river's hunger to be in line with what's going on with it and its needs.
Stunt vote please
Daina
I vote yes, the descriptives are great
Slavina
Yes on stunt, I like the description of each voice!
Aaren
22 From Aaren, that's 4 dice.
Thanks, guys. :)
Fate
So, with a 7 from Daina, a 7 from Kelly, and a 22 from Aaren... that's 36. Six dice total
Err, seven
Slavina, you may roll whenever you like.
Slavina
Slavina waits by the water, patiently, while the gods work around her. While the water rushes past her. Poised at the brink. She closes her eyes. Listens to the river's murmur. Its cold breath (the Hungry One breathes such breath).
Slavina opens her eyes and looks at the god. She nods her thanks and accepts the offering-to-be. It's solid and weighty in her arms, rounded, pale. Warm against the skin. She holds it to her bare breast (what else has rested there?)
She cradles the fruit of the gods. Kneels by the water. Music swells around her and she hums a wordless harmony with it. Soothing. (A lullabye?) This fruit will never grow to a tree. This fruit has a different fate.
The lullabye comes to an end.
The river flows down Slavina's cheeks.
She kisses the offering on its head, and releases it to its death.
Stunt vote please?
Aaren
Yes! Nice memory call back there! Brutal.
Daina
yes stunt and yes brutal
Slavina
cool beans! I would like to stack some things if that's okay.... I'd like to use my Liudzi knack plus my mirror knack because she's making the fruit seem like a living being. I'd also like to channel duty if that's okay.
Fate
Yep. It all checks out.
Slavina
27!
Fate
So that's -9 to the Diff y'all will be encountering.
Aaren
Whoot! Go Loral!
Fate
The fruit splashes into the water. For a moment, the burbling goes silent.
It's an almost restful silence.
Slavina
Slavina stays kneeling where she is, eyes closed and head bowed, hair covering her face. Her voice is rough and thick with blood. "We should go now."
Daina
Daina nods a little "alright but maybe Aaren can heal your wounds a bit first? blood in the water seems .. less than ideal?" she suggests quietly.. her voice and frame keeping a soft distance.
Aaren
"Go ahead and start, Dainushka." Aaren begins singing the song that will clot Slavina's tounge up real good. "This will be done in just a moment."
Daina
Daina squeaks and puts her hands over Aarens mouth "Wait!"
"She might need to keep it.. "
Slavina
Slavina's throat works and she shrugs. "You can make it not bleed, as long as you don't make it whole."
Daina
Relaxing faintly she lowers her hands from Aaren's mouth and smiles apologetically to her. "Sorry .. wasn't sure and didn't want to ruin anything"
Aaren
Aaren stopped instantly as Daina squeaked, then resumes again when Slavina clears it. She gives Daina a smile. "No, good job. That was an excellent thought."
Daina
Daina smiles a little to that and gives a nod, appreciating the reassurances.
She then starts the fish dance and keeps it fairly slow till the others start and catch on. Some parts are quick and wiggly others are lazy and swaying.. a great deal of space taken up by all the movements as she at one point playfully makes a fish face but then is back to being serious about the magic working.
Aaren
Aaren starts following last. She was all geared up to go, but at the last minute loosing her voices proves to be a struggle. After a long, frozen moment she takes a deep breath and then begins the dance.
Slavina
Slavina takes a moment to gather the energy to do as is required. But once she does, she does so with abandon: the last thing she wants is to draw this out.
Fate
Kelly watches her, careful and intent. He's danced with Daina before, but missed out on being a wolf while he was away on his apprenticeship. Now he's making up for it with his intent gaze. It isn't until he's sure that he follows along, with a strong, careful certainty.
Esta, on the other hand, simply slips on her skin and lounges on a rock, watching them with liquid black eyes, whiskers twitching.
Fate
It begins right away, the moment one slips into the water.
Cold, grasping fingers which feel like inescapable eddies, pulling in the dark towards the submerged alcoved river walls, where stone maws wait. There's no bottom in sight; the depths are black, impenetrable.
STUFF
Fish get +3 temp dots to their Dex rolls while in water.
Seals get +4.
All sea critters get Athletics: Swim at 3 dots (if they don't already have it).
EXTENDED + CONTESTED ROLL
(Everyone faces their own)
Total Diff: 20 11
Roll Interval: Until they catch you
Roll: Dex + Athletics: Swim
I can be sold on others.
Their Roll: 10 6 dice; and every two rounds they get +1 success to their roll.
How this goes:
- You roll.
- They roll.
- Compare the rolls.
- If you roll higher than them, add the difference to the total Diff.
- If you roll lower than them, subtract the difference from what you've got so far. If they reduce you to below 0 (in the negatives), you don't make it.
- You can try and surface, at which point your Diff is what you've accumulated so far +6.
- You may spend however much Legend you like on any roll.
Does this make sense?
Slavina
Yes but I don't like our chances XD
Aaren
Wait, when I roll higher then them I add to my difficulty?
Fate
Yep.
Aaren
So, I don't actually want to roll?
Ever?
Fate
Err, I mean your total against your Difficulty
Aaren
OH. Okay. Sorry.
Daina
if the bigger creatures go first the fish can get bonuses in our eddies?
Slavina
If we already have athletics do we add that to the 3 we get from being a fish?
Fate
No.
And Mel... sure, if you're willing to take a penalty to your roll.
Aaren
We have to beat an 11 to get to saftey, right? The +6 is just to get out if we get despret?
Fate
Correct.
Aaren
Can we give extra success to other people?
Fate
Sure, if you're willing to take a penalty to your roll.
Daina
what penalty?
Slavina
Can I sell you on the idea of Dex+wayfinding, since Slavina is.... finding her way through the currents?
Fate
Depends on your approach. Looking at -2 dice at least, though.
Wayfinding is ritualized, so... not likely? But try I guess?
Slavina
That's okay, it was a stretch
Aaren
I'm ready to do the first roll!
Slavina
same here
Daina
I think I've got it yeah
Fate
Okay!
Aaren
Aaren flips herself into the water and dives, the scatterd sunlight glinting off of her silver fins.
10 from Aaren.
Fate
Not how that works, Elena.
Aaren
I'm waiting for you to finish rolling your spirits and then I'll add what they roll to the 11, right?
Oh ,nopes
Fate
No. Although I guess it could work that way? But math
Aaren
I got it, I'll fix it.
DId you want us to roll our own spirits that are hunting us?
Fate
Nope, I got it
Daina
5
Slavina
(9)
Fate
(( Kelly: 7
Esta: 18 ))
Okay. I'm just gonna roll 'em all in one batch. Order goes Aaren, Daina, Slavina, Kelly, Esta—once the rolls drop, do me a favor and post the difference up in here.
HAH. Lotsa 1s there
Daina
is that a botch on them? :smile:
Aaren
Well, they were pretty full
Fate
No
Slavina
Slavina's a total 7 now
Aaren
Aaren is at 10, 10 -1, Aaren is at 9 now.
Daina
5-2 Daina is a big ol three, can I flavor it that she's lagging behind to watch their 6's
Fate
Sure!
Aaren
Esta is at 14 and Kelly is at 6?
Fate
(( Slavina: 7/11
Aaren: 9/11
Daina: 3/11
Kelly: 6/11
Esta 14/11—she made it through! ))
ROUND TWO BEGIN - roll at will. Next round they'll get +1 autos
Aaren
7 For Aaren
Slavina
5 for slavina
Daina
8 for me with legend spent
Fate
Kelly 9
Order: Aaren, Daina, Slavina, Kelly
Slavina
still at 7 total
Daina
can I trade with Slavina?
Aaren
Aaren is at 14/11. She's gonna stay in the water to help others make it.
Fate
Okay. That means that the spirits get a free roll against her for every round she spends in the water, which will subtract from Aaren's Diff successes.
Aaren
Okay, but I get to give every scuess above 11 to my friends, right?
Fate
No. You get to pick a roll which you think will help them, and for every 3 successes scored you grant them +1 dice
Aaren
How many rounds would it take to get out of the water and turn back into a human?
Fate
Uh... without Daina... never?
Aaren can't sing herself back 'cause she's got no voices.
(( Current tally
Slavina: 7/11
Aaren: 14/11
Daina: 9/11
Kelly: 14/11 ))
Aaren
Yes, I had been assuming that we would start counting from when Daina was avalible.
Fate
Then three rounds.
Aaren
Thanks!
Slavina
we can roll for the next round?
Fate
I think Kelly will stay behind too. He's got Duty and Loyalty.
ROUND 3: They get +1 success to their rolls now.
Roll at will.
Aaren
Can I roll Charisma and Command to force the hungry spirits to stop?
Or, well, to shout at them in Fishese to make them hesitate, I suppose.
Fate
At a -2 success penalty, yes!
Daina
10
legend 2 and valor 2
-2 to help Slavina?
Aaren
Aaren got 2 sucesses to stall the hungry spirits.
Fate
Okay. So that's unfortunately no dice granted
Slavina gets 4 extra dice, thanks to Kelly
Daina
no help from me?
Fate
I hadn't gotten there sorry
Slavina
get yourself to safety, Mel! I think Slavina's gonna be okay
Fate
Yes, it would be -2 successes to grant Slavina 2 dice
Daina
I mean she'd be trying to help, not knowing the numbers and all so sans meta gaming and all I'm in to help so it's 8 succs for Daina
Fate
Okay! Rolling for the spirits
Same order as last time
Aaren, Daina, Slavina, Kelly—and Aaren and Kelly count as if they made rolls of 0
Slavina
Slavina is now at 7+6=13 successes.... made it by a nose!
Aaren
Aaren is now at 12/11
Fate
(( Aaren: 12/11
Daina: 14/11
Slavina: 13/11
Kelly: 8/11 ))
ROUND 4! Next round, they'll get +2 successes
Kelly's the only one still in trouble
Daina
can I roll to intimidate the spirits with my seal feirceness and sharp teeth? XD
Fate
Sure, at -2 successes
Daina
do we have to roll to get out of the water or just say hey I'm out
Fate
You're just out
Aaren
Eerr, can I take a free action of Aaren checking on Kelly to see if he's still going strong?
Fate
Yes.
Daina
alrighty sploosh wet slap of blubber on land presumably and Daina rolls her seal form over and hops up to stand. Watching the water with worry.
Aaren
Aaren, swimming desperetly in circles around the fish, listens to her brother's thundering heart for a moment.
Fate
It's calm, steady, certain. A hunter's heart, through and through.
Slavina
Slavina flops her way ashore as gracefully as possible for a fish, and tries not to flail while she waits to be defishified
Aaren
Aaren flips herself up onto the shore, gasping violently.
Fate
Esta watches, still in water-leopard form, one after the other, while the ladies each flop onto shore. Of bloody course, she wants to spit, but she simply waits there, silent and still.
Kelly got 13/11 this round
After a long, taut, eternity of a moment, a figure leaps out of the water. Its bronze scales catch the sunlight. Then it lands with a plap!, bucks on the rock, farther away from the water, then goes still, gasping.
Daina
Daina waits with breath held now out of the water for all their pack to make it. As soon as the last fin flips ashore she begins the human dance. Her wet hair slinging and slapping with the movements. Her motions a bit more up tempo than normal. Not wanting anyone to suffocate or have to flop back into the dangerous waters.
Fate
As Daina dances, her legs shake, her joints wobble, and certain moves seem to be a lot harder to pull off. It's as if there were some force weighing her down, or perhaps it's less weighing down and more sapping strength?
Still, she can do it—though it takes a little longer than expected.
So... Y'all get -2 successes to all physical and magical rolls in this strange world.
Daina
son of a
Aaren
Aaren is still gasping when her hair falls down her back, when her eyes spring open (still black from edge to edge). Her eyes run to each of her companions, then to the river, then to Kelly.
She squats. "Kelly?" She askes, eyes wide and voice shaking. "Daina?"
Daina
Daina snorts softly "yeah uh.. I'm not thrilled either.. " Daina radiates heat to get dry while calling out Frankie to produce clothes etc. Asking "Frankie.. do you know this place?"
Slavina
Slavina doesn't move immedieately upon turning human again. She lies flat on the ground taking deliberately slow but very deep breaths. Once she's rested enough to be able to move, she sits up with a whuffing grunt and looks around.
When she hears the tremor in Aaren's voice, Slavina crawls over to her and puts an arm around her. "Renina? This is Slavina. Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Fate
Kelly pushes himself from lying on his side to seated. His eyes are wide, taking in everything, processing nothing. A song comes from him as if of its own accord, his confused song. But something about it seems very strange now, so his song falters and fades.
It's not long before Esta shrugs from her skin, bolting off. After a couple of stumbles and falters as she finds her feet, she works her way up to a full run, then skip, then frolic, delighted laughter bubbling out of her. She stoops low to tear some grass, bringing it to her face and sniffing deep, then tossing it in the air like confetti before circling around.
A figure swoops low, at an easy pace, from one tree to another on the opposite bank. It appears to be some kind of swallow, but it's barely palm-sized.
Yes. It is Tír na Tearmann, reports Frankie.
Aaren
"The songs are wrong." Aaren sings—but a stumbling, broken song, as she tries to sing to her own terror and can't find it, no longer knows what it sounds like. She reaches out with fumbling fingers, trying to hold Kelly's hand, not even sure how far away he is.
Daina
Daina does a fist pump "We made it!" then to Aaren "it's .. different.. it's ok" she smiles "you can learn the new songs easily I'm sure" she tries to comfort Aaren after finding a moment of happiness in Esta's joy. She moves over to Aaren and grasps her hand in two of hers as she asks over her shoulder. "Can you find the forge of Ahlaam Frankie? I want to visit it if it's possible.." she turns her attention back to Aaren and puts her sisters hand flat on her face and continues. "We're right here with ya" muffled.
Fate
Adrenaline still running through him, Kelly stands and tries a few careful steps. His is a strange walk, almost fawn-like, but it's manageable. He starts towards Aaren, grasping at air for a try or two, but then finds her wrist, then takes her hand.
He tries singing his awe song. When it doesn't work, he gropes for a moment for a suitable replacement.
"Holy shit on a stick."
Esta laughs again, loud, barking, and raucous, folding to the ground with its breathless force.
I can. Frankie pauses. Would you like to know its location?
Daina
Daina nods and smiles "yes please' is sing songed over to Frankie.