Hobbes 'Rat Trap' Bitterleaf |
"You're still cute, in fact I know that Neverhome thinks so too." He says nodding to the young barbarian.
Lyosha Neverhome |
Neverhome arches a suspicious eyebrow at Hobbes as the conversation unfolded.
Zsestrian is a witch? Preposterous.
Sigrun Jagrsdottir |
With a chuckle and a conspiratorial wink at Percy, Sigrun goes back to securing the camp against the elements as much as possible.
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie laughed. "Oh sure he does! My sister was the one that got the attention. I just... I just dont want to stand out anymore.." She looks at Neverhome and blushes. "Plus, the only one here who likes me is my sister. But I don't mind." She smiled, but then walked off to sit by the fire. Once there, she sat down on a log and put her chin in her hands, thinking. "He doesn't like you. You know that right?"
"I know... Even if he did... No good would come of it."
"You're not worth his time anyway."
"Why are you always so mean to me!! Who even are you!?"
"Oh come on, don't pretend like I'm not you. Pathetic."
Allie, for no reason, bursts into tears and runs into the tent made by her sister and her.
Poor Allie. Allie is such a b!&@@.
Lyosha Neverhome |
Neverhome slaps the back of Hobbes' head. "Look what you did!"
Hobbes 'Rat Trap' Bitterleaf |
"Ow, watch it. Why don't you go talk to her. Sheesh, I try to not offend anyone and I offend everyone." Hobbes just shakes his head and goes for a walk away from the camp.
Lyosha Neverhome |
Grumbling Neverhome will walk over to Allie's tent. "Miss Allie, may I come in?"
Percy Silvershaper |
Percy is so incredibly relieved that the party has agreed to help with her sister. For the longest time it's just been the two of them. With this recent development, however, Percy was afraid she couldn't take handling Allie and a brave new world as an adventurer. The party's willingness to help means more to her than they can know.
So she just sits and lets Allie be herself - her true self - for the moment that it lasts. Then she bursts into tears again. Percy just sighs and puts her face in her hands.
Could this trip start out any worse? Well, yes, it could have, but I wish it started out better.
Zsestrian Raven |
Zses and Crow will remain frozen in place during the twins' outburst, thoughts flashing trough the witch's mind.
Wait, is she blowing our cover off?
Why are they mad at me now!?
Familiar? Because the goat and the human-headed bird aren't a familiar, right?
no no NO! Don't talk about the Black Rider, it's dangerous! We're in hostile territory!
Since when I'm a witch!?
What. In. The. Nine. Hells.
As Allie leaves to learn the pseudo-satyr's song, Zses mutters to himself.
"Good thing they know I'm a witch, because I sure don't..."
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
When Percy first expresses her worries to the group, Zses will remain silent.
Oh, she was only murderous. Awesome. And now her sister is worried because she's become murderous and a jerk? What, before she burned people alive all in good fun? I may not remember a single thing about myself, but I know that roasting someone alive is not the best way to make friends.
And now it's a witch's fault! I should start counting the minutes before they start saying that she's acting like that because of me!
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
When Allie leaves in her tent, Zses will speak for the first time in minutes.
"Ok, if you want to hear the opinion of the evil spell-slaving witch (you still have to tell me what you're basing that on): you said she wasn't always like this (she was just an innocent arsonist before)? From what I gather, you left her alone for some time (I wonder how many people she roasted in the meantime...) and met her again at the portal, correct? Did she already was like this when you left her? Did she already had that weird bird-fairy with her?" he will say to Percy, still obviously offended by what the twins said before.
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie peeked out of the tent at Neverhome, her eyes red. "I guess you can come in, if you can fit..." She sniffed and sat up, crosslegged and waited for Neverhome to come in.
Lyosha Neverhome |
Neverhome will crouch into the small tent and sit down before Allie. "Is there anything I can do for you milady?"
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie tilted her head. "For me? No. I don't think so..." Allie hid her face, blushing a bit.
Percy Silvershaper |
When Allie leaves in her tent, Zses will speak for the first time in minutes.
"Ok, if you want to hear the opinion of the evil spell-slaving witch (you still have to tell me what you're basing that on): you said she wasn't always like this (she was just an innocent arsonist before)? From what I gather, you left her alone for some time (I wonder how many people she roasted in the meantime...) and met her again at the portal, correct? Did she already was like this when you left her? Did she already had that weird bird-fairy with her?" he will say to Percy, still obviously offended by what the twins said before.
You are a spell slaving witch because you have a creepy as sin bird who doesn't know his own native tongue, you cast spells, and you laugh incessantly in battle. All things witches do.
But to answer your questions, yes, we met again at the portal after leaving her alone to guard a newly abandoned shack. She has always been a cherry arsonist and I resent the implication that burning things down is inherently bad. She wasn't like this before. All mean and nasty.Oh, and no on the bird... Thing. That's new. She used to have a goat. She loved that goat. I'll have to ask her about that.
Lyosha Neverhome |
"There must be something that I can do, it pains me to see milady cry." As he talks his tone is sincere rather than flirtatious, even if the only solution to these scenarios is to find whatever is causing the crying and punch it repeatedly.
Zsestrian Raven |
"I'm not creepy!""I don't laugh in battle!" Zses and Crow will say in unison.
"Yes, you do." Crow will retort to the witch, who will give a puzzled look to the avian and the gnome."Do I?"
"Anyway, maybe there was something at the shack: we've seen a lot of undeads around, maybe she found a place that was full of Negative Energy or something. If you say that she wasn't at all like this, I doubt that the change in her personality is natural. It may actually be a curse of some kind, or maybe some dangerous thing slipped out of one of those Winter Portals and affected her in some way...That bird-thingy looks really suspicious, for example-"
"I liked Gruff" Crow will butt in the conversation "I don't like Mini-Allie. But even it was scared when Big-Allie got mad." the bird will observe with a croak.
"And, look..." Zses will continue with a sigh "I'm sure you have your reasons to hate so much people that use spells , but I really don't want to do anything bad. But the really scary thing..." he will start a melancholic smile "...is that you may be right. I don't remember a thing before a year ago. I may actually be an evil witch, I may be a terrible person: maybe I even have something to do will all of this Winter thing, and I can't know that! I don't know who I am, and that's terrifying..." Zses will take a deep breath before continuing. "I only have this scarf, Crow, and this spells or abilities or witch powers or whatever, and I didn't even know that they had to do with witches until some hours ago!" he will finish, holding tight to the Desnan amulet.
Vashti Amela |
Vashti pulls a flask from her coat and takes a slow pull from it, letting the fiery liquid burn her throat on the way down as she makes her way next to Nayda and sits down beside her.
She wordlessly hands her the flask as she watches the fire and their guest.
Its the last batch my nephew made. A little bit of home for me, that's the last of it. It will not stop the heartache, but it will lessen it for the evening. I can not lessen your burden, nor your pain. But, perhaps, I can help you carry it until you can stand again. A mother always knows. This lot may not understand you, I do...
Vashti Amela |
"I'm not creepy!""I don't laugh in battle!" Zses and Crow will say in unison.
"Yes, you do." Crow will retort to the witch, who will give a puzzled look to the avian and the gnome."Do I?""Anyway, maybe there was something at the shack: we've seen a lot of undeads around, maybe she found a place that was full of Negative Energy or something. If you say that she wasn't at all like this, I doubt that the change in her personality is natural. It may actually be a curse of some kind, or maybe some dangerous thing slipped out of one of those Winter Portals and affected her in some way...That bird-thingy looks really suspicious, for example-"
"I liked Gruff" Crow will butt in the conversation "I don't like Mini-Allie. But even it was scared when Big-Allie got mad." the bird will observe with a croak."And, look..." Zses will continue with a sigh "I'm sure you have your reasons to hate so much people that use spells , but I really don't want to do anything bad. But the really scary thing..." he will start a melancholic smile "...is that you may be right. I don't remember a thing before a year ago. I may actually be an evil witch, I may be a terrible person: maybe I even have something to do will all of this Winter thing, and I can't know that! I don't know who I am, and that's terrifying..." Zses will take a deep breath before continuing. "I only have this scarf, Crow, and this spells or abilities or witch powers or whatever, and I didn't even know that they had to do with witches until some hours ago!" he will finish, holding tight to the Desnan amulet.
You also have me now little one. I do not care who you had been, the person I see now is all I need. You are a good person and my friend. We have only ourselves out here now, we are all we've got, the sisters will come to that at some point.
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie sniffed again. "It was too long ago. You couldn't do anything even if you tried..."
Her tone changes again, and her body sits ridgid. The fire in her eyes die, leaving her eyes lifeless. "Leave, boy. Leave now before something... unfortunate happens." A wicked smile crosses her face.
Percy Silvershaper |
Already there... Percy mutters, then adds Except for you, Mr creeper pants. Mommy Vashti's word goes a long way, but I'm gonna need to see more good before I'm convinced you're not here for our livers.
Eredhaias Malynneil |
"She might even be for our livers even if she was good." the elf says as he shakes his head and looks at the group.
"We have plenty of differing opinions on witches. My mother was one, and I only know bits and pieces about her. She was the proverbial monster under the bed as far as my father was concerned. I learned that, to use magic, I had to train just as hard as I did to use a weapon or a piece of armor. Destroying people haphazardly seems to me to be the worst evil. But we've had plenty of chances to die, and we didn't, so maybe not all of us are so bad?"
Sigrun Jagrsdottir |
Sigrun sits down next to Percy. "In the same way burning things does not guarantee being evil, having the powers of a witch does not mean Zses is evil. We should judge his actions, not what we believe his nature to be."
Zsestrian Raven |
"Thanks everyone" the witch will say with a smile.
Mommy Vashti?
Lyosha Neverhome |
As the conversation outside heats up Neverhome will poke his head out to shout "Zsestrian is not Witch! And I will not abide disingenuous assertions that state otherwise!" before returning to the conversation with Allie. He is about to speak when the change overtakes her, causing him to furrow his brow and grit his teeth. "I will not leave friend in distress, and definitely not alone with... whatever else is in here."
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie doesn't say a word. She simply holds up her hand. Soon, a small flicker of fire appears in the center of her hand. chuckling coldly, she places her hand on the tent fabric, instantly ignighting the cloth.
She just sits there, unmoving while the tent fills with smoke; her eyes cold and dead, giggling to herself and never taking her eyes off of Neverhome.
Casting Spark.
Lyosha Neverhome |
Neverhome eyes widen slightly at the pyromanic act before the resolve into a simple roll. He will then, provided she doesn't fight back, pick up the gnome and tuck her under one of his arms before heading outside. "Hey Percy! Can I get hand over here!"
Percy Silvershaper |
Percy sands and walks over. What's up... Why are you carrying Allie like that!
Hobbes 'Rat Trap' Bitterleaf |
"Is that smoke? Nevermind it's out." Hobbes says looking up in the distance while he takes a walk.
Percy Silvershaper |
Fire.. Is out. Thanks Mommy Vashti! Now. Sister?! Suitcase?! What is going on? Does his have to do with why our tent was smoking?
Lyosha Neverhome |
"She started talking like different person then Fwoosh! Tent on fire. I believe we need to talk about this, or stuff her into the snow till she behaves."
Percy Silvershaper |
While I do love stuffing people into the snow, I have a feeling it won't help this.
She walks to her sister's face and looks up at it. What are you doing! That was our good tent! It took us weeks to steal enough coin to buy it!
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie just grinned that wicked grin and looked at Percy with deranged amusement.
Percy Silvershaper |
Hey! We agreed! No burning the tent! They're expensive, and I don't like sleeping in the open! You say you're sorry right now, young lady!
Percy puts her hands on her hips to show she's serious. It comes to mind that she's never performed this gesture before, probably because of the sensitive nature of her burned hands.
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie sits there motionless and begins to laugh.
Percy Silvershaper |
Percy looks completely befuddled, and suddenly quite scared and confused. She looks up at Neverholme and says, Thats not my sister...
Zsestrian Raven |
Zses will follow after Percy, a puzzled look on his face when he sees Neverhome carrying Allie like a sack of potatoes. His expression will quickly turn in one of worry when the pyromaniac gnome starts acting more strangely than usual.
"Percy, can I...?" after asking her sister, he will cast Detect Magic on Allie, checking if any ill magical effects were at work. Doubt I'll find something, but let's try
Meanwhile Crow will approach Mini-Allie (or search for her/him/it). "Do you know something about this?" he will ask to the shapeshifting fey.
Your Benevolent Dictator |
@Zes: You detect no magic.
@Anyone with Mierul: When Allie's tent bursts into flames, she runs after Silence. "I'll get some help!"
H/S: 1d100 ⇒ 90
@Silence: Shortly after you begin your patrol, Mierul comes running up to you. "Something strange is happening to the little Gnome! She's lighting things on fire!"
Percy Silvershaper |
Percy is a dangerous cocktail of worried, afraid, desperate, and conflicted. On the one hand, her sister is dreadfully ill, she is sure. On the other, a witch was the best person on hand to detect the presence of magic. Her love for her sister and her fear/hatred of Zes and his creepy bird have her tied in emotional knots. Then the guilt comes in. We're there signs? Did she miss them?
Percy takes to wringing her hands unconsciously. If this new Allie was fun, or just agreeable, Percy wouldn't be so bothered. Three sisters are better than two, after all. But she wasn't. She was mean to a point beyond cruelty, tried to burn the tent down, and generally seemed to be more murderous than usual.
What was Percy going to do!
Lyosha Neverhome |
Seeing as the current situation was going nowhere Neverhome will hold Allie out in front of him and then to proceed to shake her like a rattle.
Zsestrian Raven |
Zses will drop his hands when the spell yields no results.
He will turn to Percy and shake his head. "Not a single trace of magic. At least we know it's not mind control, or a spell of some kind, but I'm not sure if that's better or not-" he will start, only to interrupt himself when Lyosha starts to shake Allie around "...and I don't know if that will help.".
Allie Silvershaper |
Allie stays limp for a moment, the same creepy smile on her face. Then, after a short while, she appears to go unconscious.
Percy Silvershaper |
Poor Percy is beside herself. Wait! What happened! Allie! Are you ok! She grabs her sister's feet (as that's all she can reach while Allie's in Lyosha's grasp) in an attempt to comfort.
Allie Silvershaper |
Allies eyes flutter and she wakes up, looking around. "Neverhome... Why are you holding me?" Her face turns beet red. "And can you please let me down. My sister is hurting my ankles..."
'Silence' |
He blinked at Meirul for a moment entirely unsure what to say.
"We had better hurry then."
He said offering her his pawlike hand to pull her up behind him on Mule to hurry towards the campsite.... he hoped the crazy gnome wasnt burning the Slaygon... or anything else really. Cause in this case fire wouldnt cause growth... it would just cause their deaths!
Lyosha Neverhome |
Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 9
"She was simply trying to make you taller." he'll say as plain as day as he slowly lowers Allie to the ground.
Sigrun Jagrsdottir |
Sigrun is silent, thinking of the best course of action to ensure everyone's safety.
Hobbes 'Rat Trap' Bitterleaf |
Hearing the commotion, Hobbes walks back to the campsite to find Lyosha and Percy holding Allie. "What?"
Percy Silvershaper |
Percy is near tears when Allie finally comes back. Sis! Something's wrong. You weren't your self just then. You even tried to burn down the tent!
Allie Silvershaper |
Sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Allie was super confused. "Why are you lying to me, Neverhome?" She looked at her sister and hugged her. "I don't remember! I don't remember!"
Little Allie flies up to Allieand hugs her face, trying to dry her tears. "Gornf JKJH! Fkrnfvsdldkth. JGfkjdfb!!!"