Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

Fin bows as he takes the proffered figurine. "You are most kind my friend...and you have some very nice wares there. That is a fine bow, and a better one than mine; but I'm afraid it's pull is a bit beyond my strength. Perhaps the next time we're able to call upon you, I'll have both the gold and the strength for that exquisite bow...

"Well met, my fine merchant friend. 'Twas a pleasure to meet you and you can be sure, we will be calling upon you again in the near future, so I hope that'll give you time to restock as well..."

He bows again before turning to Quasit, handing her the figurine. "Here, Q, you had best keep a hold of this in that handy bag of yours..."

"Ah, well, if you need something else, it would only take me a few days to hunt it down, assuming my old contacts still recognize me," Zilvazaraat boasts. "You might even send the raven with a list next time you wish to make some purchases. I would ask, however, that you meet me somewhere like this."

He waves at the surroundings. "Travel between planes is imprecise, but this is a very tiny plane. Even if I end up on the other side of it, I'll only have a short walk to get to you."

Basically, given enough time Zilvazaraat can hunt down nearly any item for you. He has a purchase limit, but you're unlikely to hit it until the last module or so.

"Say Zilv, we actually came across some magical armor and stuff out in the yard in the belly of a carnivorous begonia. A nice breastplate and flail." She pulls the two items free of the haversack.

"How about a trade? We'll give you both these items in exchange for that Elemental gem and the scroll of Elemental Body. Whaddaya say?"

Fin knows best to leave negotiations to Q, so he thoroughly scours the two rooms in this building in the meantime, looking for anything of note…he particularly examine the chimney in the room to the north since Syvet mentioned that as the exit…

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 16 + 2 = 31

Zivazaraat examines the breastplate and flail for a few moments.

"I'd give you the gem for these two, but not the scroll with it," he decides after a moment. "The enchantment on the weapon and armor is quite basic, you see."

Fin looks in the fireplace in the room on the north and sees ladder rungs built into the chimney leading up.

"Perhaps it might be best to see if we come across more treasures here before working out a trade." He suggests though isn't so sure about how good or bad of a deal the one being counter offered is.

Fin walks back into the room where the negotiations are still going on. He sidles alongside Quasit, whispering, ”I found the exit, exactly where the cat said it’d be; stairs up the chimney. As for this negotiation, if you can’t get a deal to your liking, perhaps we can sell what loot we’ve found to this merchant and bargain later?”

Zivazaraat examines the breastplate and flail for a few moments.

"I'd give you the gem for these two, but not the scroll with it," he decides after a moment. "The enchantment on the weapon and armor is quite basic, you see."

"Well, perhaps, but look at the craftsmanship on the flail and breastplate themselves. And mind you, these are items that survived unscathed inside a carnivorous plant that completely dissolved everything else about its unfortunate wearer. These are items good enough to be given any enchantment you might care to put upon them, the work of master blacksmiths. Maybe if I sweeten the deal with another 200 gold pieces? Or, if you prefer, we found some other interesting magical items out in the garden?"

She shows off the 4 oils of goodberry, the wand of plant growth, the wand of speak with plants, the jar of defoliant polish and the six flasks of alchemical defoliant found in the greenhouse area.

"Maybe one of these items could round out a nice deal?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Selena is looking over the wares while Quasit barters, then she ckears her throat, "Ahem,if you'd please toss the ring in as well, I'd appreciate it."

Look at you, making me do all this math. :D For future reference Zilvazaraat mostly works at 'normal' market prices--you get half the buy price of anything you sell. Though all the haggling does help you get a little better of deals.

Zilvazaraat looks the items over. He waves off the alchemical concoctions (the defoliant polish and the alchemical defoliant), not interested in them.

"For the wands and the oils, I would trade you the ring," he states. "But I cannot afford to give you the scroll, the ring, and the gem for what you are offering. You must understand, my contacts are no doubt in shambles at present. It will take me longer than usual to move my inventory, which will of course make it more difficult if you should desire my services in the future. So you see, this is really helping you as well as me."

"Fine, the breastplate, the flail, the wands and the oils for the Elemental Gem and the Ring. Deal?" She holds out her hand.

Zilvazaraat shakes Quasit's hand. "A pleasure doing business."

After the trade is complete he waves grandly to you all. "I look forward to working with you again, but for now, I must bid you farewell."

And with that, he vanishes.

Without a word, Quasit tosses the ring to Selena and pockets the elemental gem.

"All right, let's get out of Baba Yaga's Victory Garden and have a look at where we are."

She heads for the ladder.

Fin nods and warily climbs up the chimney’s ladder rungs…

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 2 = 27

Fin comes up the ladder and through a trap door into another fireplace, which sits in the corner of a snug one-room cabin. The walls are lined with shelves filled with assorted knickknacks, a small cauldron sits over a fire in the center of the room, north of which is a table with a small wooden bowl with an egg in it.

Fin looks back down to Quasit. ”Looks safe to come up, Q…we’ve found the hut part of this contraption any way…and the cauldron’s up here. There also appears to be a door leading out…”

The Elf pulls himself completely into the room and gives it a once over, to include looking out the windows to discern what may lie outside…

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 16 + 2 = 36

Quasit climbs the ladder and makes her way to the door, then opens it for a look outside.

As soon as Fin fully enters the room, three ravens suddenly appear circling in the air in the center of the room. They caw out in eerie unison, "Baba Yaga has gone on, off to see her only son. But a trail she left behind, if the breadcrumbs you can find!"

Then they dive to the shelves, pluck off a stuffed two-headed eagle, an iron spur, and a drinking horn, and drop them on the floor next to each other. Then they grab a bearskin rug and drop an elephant tusk and a small hand mirror on it. They then repeat their rhyme before vanishing.

Looking outside, you can see an unfamiliar mountainous landscape covered in snow. It seems to be twilight, given the dim light--you can even see a few stars.

Most of the items on the shelves seem like random junk, though... you do recognize a certain plague doctor's mask, bundle of hair from a giant, dragon scale, and gold nugget. There is one jar of ointment that detects as magical, and an outfit on a hook next to the door that also radiates magic.

I'll assume someone detects them and identifies them as 4 doses of flying ointment and a habit of the winter explorer

Selena catches the ring Quasit tossed to her and identifies it to confirm it is as claimed, before wearing it.

Upon the birds leaving, " Staying here Tez?" She teases Tez before heading for the items, "Umm, doesn't that seem like a few keys for the cauldron? And a mirror to see with too." Selena said as she examined the items.

Fin frowns as he shakes his head. ”Those can’t be keys to the cauldron or this would be a short trip; we had to leave the hut last time to find the keys so likely we’ll have to do the same here…

“I wonder if that housekeeper is around this incarnation of the hut?”

Fin calls out loudly, ”ZORKA! Are you here, by chance?”

Quasit gets up into the room just in time for the raven's floor show. Naturally she watches the spectacle with close attention, and her hand unconsciously drifts to her sword hilt as she inches back toward a corner.

And then they're gone and she steps out now for a real look around and a good view of the chosen items. She looks around at the others as the assemble in the room after climbing the ladder.

"Who's Baba Yaga's son?" she asks.

And now she moves to the doorway and opens it. Her shoulders slump.

"Ugh. More snow. Snow, snow and snow." She shuts the door angrily. "Doesn't this dumb hut ever go somewhere nice?"

" Staying here Tez?"

Tezuzu cocks his head at the question. "I wasn't planning on it. Though it seems like a nice enough cramped little attic." He looks about the room impassively, then his head suddenly turns sharply to look at Selena again. "Ah, the ravens. It was a joke at my expense. Yes, I see. Most clever." His tone of voice does not suggest he finds it all too clever.

"Umm, doesn't that seem like a few keys for the cauldron? And a mirror to see with too."

"Certainly they are keys, that much is clear." says Tezuzu. "But I agree with Findurel -- I think these items are meant as clues. To help us find 'the breadcrumbs' that will lead us to the actual keys we need."

"And I have no clue who Baba Yaga's son is. To be honest I didn't think it was possible -- I imagined the old girl spawned parthenogenetically... like a wasp, or a flatworm. Perhaps she adopted? Most interesting."

He trails off as he casts detect magic and examines the items.

"Ah yes, the paste will help one fly. And the outfit is ensorcelled to protect one from the cold, and even to help one hide in snowy environs. It's actually quite a clever bit of survival gear."

"Do you think that Fin's assessment and mine are exclusive somehow? Does it not occur to you that maybe these keys take us to places where we might then find the next breadcrumbs? Still, looking around here before leaving is a good idea." Selena spoke with exasperation.

With the snow cloak, Selena looks it over, "Has some nice enchantments, but as I am fine in the cold without it, perhaps someone else should take it."

Fin shrugs. ”Just as before, I think the last keys brought us to the place where the next keys will be found,” he says as he points to the snowy environs seen through the window. ”Out there somewhere…the breadcrumbs provided by the ravens are likely clues about the two keys we need for our next jump. Why else would they drop three items two distinct times? Clues for each of the two keys, methinks…”

After Selena looks over cloak, Fin shakes his head as well. ”I have no need of it either, as I’ve become fairly acclimated to the cold…besides,I already have the cloak that best suits me…”

"Ugh. More snow. Snow, snow and snow." She shuts the door angrily. "Doesn't this dumb hut ever go somewhere nice?"

"Maybe cluckers has to stay in the cold? Do you not like the heat boy?" Maka affectionately patted the chicken hut as she talked to it.

"And I have no clue who Baba Yaga's son is. To be honest I didn't think it was possible -- I imagined the old girl spawned parthenogenetically... like a wasp, or a flatworm. Perhaps she adopted? Most interesting."

"He might be a super old witch like her. Or maybe he isn't even a person? There are all kinds of stories of evil magic users giving birth to all kinds of things."

Fin shrugs. ”Just as before, I think the last keys brought us to the place where the next keys will be found,” he says as he points to the snowy environs seen through the window. ”Out there somewhere…the breadcrumbs provided by the ravens are likely clues about the two keys we need for our next jump. Why else would they drop three items two distinct times? Clues for each of the two keys, methinks…”

"That's how it's been working so far, and the witches have been very consistent with their trickity trick tricks. I just hope this time we don't have to spend forever in a stupid dungeon."

Looking outside, you can see an unfamiliar mountainous landscape covered in snow. It seems to be twilight, given the dim light--you can even see a few stars

"Looks like it's already getting late here, do we want to spend the night in Cluckers?"

"Do you think that Fin's assessment and mine are exclusive somehow?"

"I did not say so." huffs the tengu pedantically. "Mind you manners, whelp." he adds, wagging a taloned finger at the halfling.

"Looks like it's already getting late here, do we want to spend the night in Cluckers?"

Quasit nods and sighs. "Yes, I suppose we've done enough for one day. Let's toss Froggie and Jeeves out onto the compost heap, then set up a camp here in this cabin. Then I'm gonna eat a damned quince."

A trap door you hadn't noticed before opens in the ceiling and Zorka sticks her head through.

"Oh, there you are. Not here very often. Far too dusty. Dusty dusty!"

Her head disappears back above and you can hear her sweeping.

"Zorka! Can you tell us where the Hut has landed?" calls out Quasit at the sweeping sounds on the ceiling.

"And could you cook us something to eat please? Quasit wants quince if you have any." Maka and Maka's stomach added to Quasit's calls.

The sweeping stops, and shortly after the little creature's legs poke down through the trap door, followed after by the rest of her as she jumps down. Zorka lands lightly and walks over to one window, looks outside, mutters to herself, then walks over to another and looks.

"Oh, right. The dragon planet," she states. "T-something? Baba Yaga doesn't come here much. So it is dusty!"

"Dragons!?" One of the few topics that could cause Maka to ignore her hunger brought her full focus to Zorka. "I don't know what planet means but everything is better with dragons! Are they the ones with the keys? Do we get to fight any? Do you think they'll want to be friends? I'll bet we can and they do!"

"Oh, right. The dragon planet," she states. "T-something? Baba Yaga doesn't come here much. So it is dusty!"

"Dragon planet?!?" says a very alarmed Quasit.

"Wait... we're on a different planet now? And it's a planet of dragons?"

She begins to pace about nervously. "Oh wonderful. Terrific. This crazy mission just keeps getting better and better. At least up til now if things went really badly I could start walking south and eventually get home! But now I can't even do that!"

"Zorka, can you make waffles? I'm starting to think a quince isn't gonna cut it." she says hopelessly, squeezing the bridge of her nose.

Fin arches his eyebrows upon hearing Zorka’s answer, a look of surprise clearly showing on his face. ”We’re not on Golarion? A different planet? Erastil’s antlers! I didn’t think we’d be planet hopping…”

"Dragons!?" One of the few topics that could cause Maka to ignore her hunger brought her full focus to Zorka. "I don't know what planet means but everything is better with dragons! Are they the ones with the keys? Do we get to fight any? Do you think they'll want to be friends? I'll bet we can and they do!"

Fin smiles at Maka’s enthusiasm but shakes his head. ”I wouldn’t get my hopes up, Maka, unless it’s for fighting dragons. Every dragon we’ve faced yet on this quest has been hostile…”

Quasit nods and sighs. "Yes, I suppose we've done enough for one day. Let's toss Froggie and Jeeves out onto the compost heap, then set up a camp here in this cabin. Then I'm gonna eat a damned quince."

Fin nods to Bulvi before turning to Quasit, saying, ”Bull and I can take out the garbage…”

The Elf lays his bedroll in a corner as he turns to the housekeeper. ”Zorka…is there a bath or pool in this particular version of the hut?”

He then heads to dispose of the corpses downstairs…

"Dragon planet?!?" says a very alarmed Quasit.

"Wait... we're on a different planet now? And it's a planet of dragons?"

"Okay what does planet mean?" Maka watched Quasit's pacing with concern.

Fin arches his eyebrows upon hearing Zorka’s answer, a look of surprise clearly showing on his face. ”We’re not on Golarion? A different planet? Erastil’s antlers! I didn’t think we’d be planet hopping…”

"Golarion, wait I know that. That's what the Inner Sea calls Dharatee, right?...Oh so planet means grah. Oh!...oh...oh?......OH!" Maka's face twisted about as her brain worked on translating the situation the party found themselves in.

"A whole grah or uh planet of Dragons!? Oh but they probably have all KINDS of fighting styles. And food!" Excitement quickly replaced confusion as Maka continued to process. The fire monk wrapped her arms around Quasit, bringing the human into yet another back breaking hug.

"Don't worry Quasit, this is going to be great!"

Fin smiles at Maka’s enthusiasm but shakes his head. ”I wouldn’t get my hopes up, Maka, unless it’s for fighting dragons. Every dragon we’ve faced yet on this quest has been hostile…”

"Yeah but a whole planet of them! We'll have more fights and more friends than we know what to do with! Oh this is going to be great. I have a good feeling about this." Maka's joy literally radiated in waves of heat as excitement go the better of the fire monk.

Sakitu listens to the others with growing confusion till eventually she has to ask. "What do you mean another planet? I mean, I know what planets are cause my dad would point the out in the night sky. But how could we be on another one?"

Is Tez going to roll for that Knowledge Geography?

Sakitu listens to the others with growing confusion till eventually she has to ask. "What do you mean another planet? I mean, I know what planets are cause my dad would point the out in the night sky. But how could we be on another one?"

Is Tez going to roll for that Knowledge Geography?

Tez has a +1 on his Knowledge Geography so he can't make a 35.

Quasit sighs. "Welcome to the world of teleporting magical chicken houses, I guess." she says. "I don't know how far away we are from our homes now, but I'm guessing it's probably, like, hundreds of times farther away than any of us have ever been from home before. Still, it could be worse, at least we're still on the same plane. Right?"

Right about this moment, Maka swoops in and crushes her in another of her monster hugs.

"URRRPP!" says the startled rogue, before going limp in the monk's clutches. "Maka, if we fell through a portal into Hell, you'd be excited about all the devils you got to fight and all the spicy food they probably had. I guess the best we can hope for is that these dragons won't all be evil and bloodthirsty."

"Besides, why do you care so much about fighting styles? You're like a dragon now yourself: See Enemy--Roast Him With Fire--End Combat. The only people you punch any more are Bull and Fin, and only because they seem to enjoy it."

"No pool in this hut. No waffle iron, either," Zorka mumbles, seemingly almost as much to herself as to answer the questions.

She doesn't answer any of the questions about dragons.

The only people you punch any more are Bull and Fin, and only because they seem to enjoy it."[/b]

Fin shrugs. ”Don’t knock it, Q…the way I figure, every bruise put on me by Maka is one less pounding I get from an enemy…and the enemies we face don’t pull their punches…”

"No pool in this hut. No waffle iron, either," Zorka mumbles, seemingly almost as much to herself as to answer the questions.

The Elf sighs. ”Well that’s not good…what good are living quarters without a bath?”

After disposing of the corpses, Fin returns, looking out the window at the new planet…oddly, it looked much like their old one…

He ponders for a while. ”So Q, what’s the plan for the morning? Scout and sees what lies before us?” Then nodding to the stuff the ravens dropped on the floor, he adds, ”…and then see where these breadcrumbs might lead us?”

”Pretty much. We need to get the lay of the land. How cold does it get? Is there anything to eat here? Is breathing going to be an issue? Is it just dragons or are there people here? All that junk.”

"URRRPP!" says the startled rogue, before going limp in the monk's clutches. "Maka, if we fell through a portal into Hell, you'd be excited about all the devils you got to fight and all the spicy food they probably had. I guess the best we can hope for is that these dragons won't all be evil and bloodthirsty."

"Oh yeah hell must have super spicy food! See, not even hell is all that bad. We'll be okay." Maka said with a warm laugh.

"Besides, why do you care so much about fighting styles? You're like a dragon now yourself: See Enemy--Roast Him With Fire--End Combat. The only people you punch any more are Bull and Fin, and only because they seem to enjoy it."

"Because fighting styles are one of the ultimate forms of expression. They can reveal who your opponent truly is, who you truly are. Even more than with lanet hai!" Maka's excitement continued to swell as the conversation broached all her favorite topics.

"But also because you can't just know one style. Well technically you only know one style, your own, but that's sort of an advanced topic. The point is, studying and competing with others is the best way to get stronger. Besides, I'm still working on my flying techniques and who better to do that with than dragons?"

The Elf sighs. ”Well that’s not good…what good are living quarters without a bath?”

"We should have asked Zilvazaraat for a magic bathtub!" Maka grumbled as she realized the missed opportunity. "Don't let me forget to ask him next time."

”Pretty much. We need to get the lay of the land. How cold does it get? Is there anything to eat here? Is breathing going to be an issue? Is it just dragons or are there people here? All that junk.”

"I didn't even think of any of that, you're so smart Quasit! I guess there is kind of a lot that could be different on a different planet huh? Oh!" Maka suddenly burst into laughter as a thought entered her mind. "What if the dragons haven't seen any humanoids before!? We'll be so weird to them. They might even be scarred of us like with elephants and mice! AHAHAHAHA"

-----------------------

If it's okay with everyone, Maka is going to use the Obsidian Raven daily charge to send a message to her father.

"Hey Dad, it's Maka! Short message. On a quest to stop winter, Baba Yaga. Chicken house took us to a dragon planet! I love you!"

"Because fighting styles are one of the ultimate forms of expression. They can reveal who your opponent truly is, who you truly are. Even more than with lanet hai!"

Quasit puzzles over this for a moment, silently wondering what her style is. "I mean... do most people even have a style? Seems like most people and animals and monsters just, you know, lunge and punch and scratch and bite in a sorta wild random fracas. They're too pissed or scared to have a style. Or is 'Gone Ape-s&&#' a style?"

"But also because you can't just know one style. Well technically you only know one style, your own, but that's sort of an advanced topic. The point is, studying and competing with others is the best way to get stronger. Besides, I'm still working on my flying techniques and who better to do that with than dragons?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't really know about that. With flying I still need a spell and I'm still on the 'Trying not to wet my pants' stage of technique." jokes Quasit. "And as for forms of expression, I'll stick to my flute. And wisecracking."

Selena facepalms. "Quasit, style refers to how one fights. Even an idiot randomly flailing has a style. Different idiots will flail in different ways. I've only had the basic lessons so far, but that is one of the first things taught. In combat, you identify the patterns in an opponent's style so you can counter or exploit it. Of course, those with formal training tend to have similar patterns to those who trained them, leading to a sort of passing down of a style, and some groups are very explicit about using a well defined style. Either way, if you know the style already, you can spot it sooner and counter or exploit it easier because you'll already know the style. The same applies to any form of combat, whether fought with sword, spell, or words. That was the entire point of how I suggested the room was safe, I drastically altered my style so it would be recognized as false."

"Oh. Was I talking to you, Selena? Nope, not this time either." twitters Quasit pleasantly to the air. "So Maka, is sitting back behind your party doing nothing except sneering at them a fighting style? Asking for a friend."

”Pretty much. We need to get the lay of the land. How cold does it get? Is there anything to eat here? Is breathing going to be an issue? Is it just dragons or are there people here? All that junk.”

A bit tired from the fighting and corpse disposal, Fin nods as he yawns. ”Sounds good, Q. I’m gonna hit the hay…I only need a couple hours of sleep and then I can stand watch the rest of the night, if you think it’s needed. G’night…”

The Elf settles into his bedroll in the corner, lying his bow within easy reach…he pulls his hood up and closes his eyes…

"Fighting styles? I think my style is 'not fighting'. I like that one best." Sakitu glances at Maka. "I mean, no offense Maka. I know you like fighting. But enough fighting talk for me. We're sleeping here tonight, right? There doesn't seem to be a lot of room. And did anyone bring food? I'm hungry."

I’m gonna hit the hay…I only need a couple hours of sleep and then I can stand watch the rest of the night, if you think it’s needed. G’night…

Sakitu watches Fin move to a corner of the room. The thought of putting her own bedroll close to his flits through her mind. She feels the heat of a blush rising on her cheeks and once again she is glad for the fur covering her skin.

Kazim

"Oh. Was I talking to you, Selena? Nope, not this time either." twitters Quasit pleasantly to the air. "So Maka, is sitting back behind your party doing nothing except sneering at them a fighting style? Asking for a friend."

"Sure is! It's pretty broad really. Selena was mean about it..." Maka stopped to give Selena stink eyes. "..but she is right that even randomly flailing and scratching is a style. Even paying other people to fight for you is a style, though not a good one."

"Fighting styles? I think my style is 'not fighting'. I like that one best." Sakitu glances at Maka. "I mean, no offense Maka. I know you like fighting. But enough fighting talk for me. We're sleeping here tonight, right? There doesn't seem to be a lot of room. And did anyone bring food? I'm hungry."

"No offense taken! I like your 'not fighting' style." Maka said with a laugh as she brought Saki into a back breaking hug. "And I'm hungry too, I don't think Zorka is going to cook us anything though..."

Rummaging through the magic bag, Maka pulled out trail rations and began to heat them through. The group might not be getting a fresh cooked meal, but they would still be getting a hot one.

A misty darkness slowly dissipates…

Fin weeps at his ill Mother’s bedside, holding her hand as he sees her exhale her last breath…

…the mist slowly returns…and then clears once again…

Fear struck, Fin looks on helplessly as he sees the mummy’s hand, with extraordinary quickness, reach out and rip his father’s throat out, just a split second after opening the sarcophagus…

…and the darkness repeats and dissolves once more…

Fin screams out in anguish as he sees Kezhia jump in front of him, the point of the Razmiran bolt meant for him emerging out of her left breast, covered with her heart’s blood…

…then Fin finds himself alone in the darkness until…

Three spectres appear before him: his sickly mother, his father with a fatal throat wound, among others, and Kezhia, the bolt still protruding from her. They all approach slowly, then stop, each pointing at Fin, solemnly speaking in unison. ”You FAILED us!”

Fin tries to scream but no sound comes out of his mouth. Forgive me…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…

==============================================================

Fin rises suddenly from his bedroll with a start…he’s sweating and breathing heavy. Not again…how long will these dreams torment me? Sleep…these little patches of death…how I loathe them…

He reaches down, lightly scratching Izzy’s head, more for his comfort than the croc’s. He looks around the room, hoping his sudden start went unnoticed, before grabbing his bow as he rises up…

Fin will stand guard for the rest of the night, gazing out the window at the stars of this unknown world, trying to push his nightmares out of his mind…at least for the night…

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 + 2 = 35

"..but she is right that even randomly flailing and scratching is a style. Even paying other people to fight for you is a style, though not a good one."

Well, I might be tempted to say you're overthinking it, but I can't argue with results I guess." shrugs Quasit good-naturedly. "When I fight, it's more reactive I suppose-- I just watch for an opening then go for it. I guess maybe that's a style, but there's not really any technique involved. I'm too much of a slob to practice any particular moves. I guess maybe that's why I get clobbered so much."

When Sakitu and Maka start talking about food, Quasit digs into her pack. "Three apples left. We should finish them off before they get mealy." she offers. She also pulls out a final hunk of brown bread and some greasy crumbly cheese and sets into it.

Upon learning that the party was stuck on some new planet, Tezuzu had seemed more amused than anything. He opens the door of the Hut and takes a few steps onto the landing, looking about and sniffing the air long and curiously. He even goes for a short walk circling the Hut, ambling about with his usual slightly bouncy step, humming lightly to himself. When he returns to the Hut, he shudders the frost off his feathers and stamps his feet loudly, then settles down to a delicious dinner of toasted crickets.

He offers to take the first watch, sitting in the upper room. Throughout his watch he sits crosslegged in the middle of the floor and casts his knucklebones over and over...