As Denair steps into the second Blue portal she feels the same sort of familiar tugging at her essence and the sense that she can control her destination. On other hand, when Meredith steps through the first Blue portal a small *ding* is heard and then she feels herself pulled inexorably forward and downward, appearing out of one of the Red portals...on the second floor!
Now that you know Lazarus is on the right track you begin to put his suggested plan into action. With some trial and error you suss out which of the Red portals on the 2nd floor will transport you back to the 3rd. From there you climb the stairs up to the 4th floor and then test out the two Blue portals, finding that the second one whisks you back down to the 3rd floor. From there, further experimentation reveals that the third Red portal whisks you back to the 4th floor! Surely that should solve the puzzle and remove the barrier, right?
And yet...when you arrive back on the 4th floor a rather loud *BZZT* can be heard and then nothing else happens. You get the feeling that you're on the right track but that there might be a step or sequence missing from the pattern you'd been following.
As you stand about attempting to puzzle out where you went wrong in the sequence, a halo of purple light surrounds the piece of paper that Seripan had given to you. When it fades, you're surprised to see more writing upon it that hadn't been there before! It reads:
'One portal of each color on each floor changes floors, except on the 1st and 4th floors.'
What the what? That's your handwriting!
Hey wait...this looks like Meredith's handwriting!
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"Alright Frankie, hold still." She uses his wand to mend his wounds.
"Ack." Meredith uses Frankie's wand once before a spark shoots out across her arm. "Dang. I can't use yours until tomorrow. Let me use mine."
Another shock shoots up her arm. "That's it from me for now."
Though extremely puzzled by the new addition to the note being written in Meredith's hand, there's not much else to do but consider the information you've gained and attempt to incorporate it into your sequence.
Lazarus suggests trying the other Blue portal on the 4th floor but that idea quickly goes nowhere when Meredith emerges from one of the Red portals on the same floor - and quickly has to clamber off of the gear mechanism that she finds herself standing on!
Rereading the note and the new clue written upon it, you all realize that there is only one floor-changing portal on the 4th floor and that you've already figured out which one it is. You'll have to adjust the sequence at a different point...
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Lazarus takes another look at the drawing, then hands it to Yorad. "Nope, no mention of 'alternate' that I can see."
Then he spots the words written in Sylvan on the back. "Ah, yes. I see. "Alternate' and 'Progress in an orderly fashion'."
"Okay. Let me think on this for a moment." The samsaran falls silent, meditating upon the puzzle.
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"All right. Let's try this," Lazarus says. "Let's attempt to follow the numbers in sequence, using the stairs and the portals. Enter the floor marked 2 and climb the stairs to 3. On 3, enter one of the blue portals. If my theory is correct, then we should reappear on floor 2. Assuming we do, then we enter the red portal there and, hopefully, arrive back on floor 3. If all that works, we should take the stairs up to floor 4."
"Selecting the appropriate red and blue portals may take some trial-and-error, but thanks to our prior use of most of them, we should be able to narrow things down considerably."
"Climb the stairs to second floor and enter the portals as we already have. Then, climb the stairs to the third floor, and enter the portals there. Finally, climb the stairs to the fourth floor, and enter the portals there."
He considers all the stairs the team will have to climb. "That's a lot of repetitive climbing, but it seems to meet the criteria to 'alternate' and to 'progress in an orderly fashion'. It might work, opening access to the top."
"Don't forget to avoid the portals that throw us into the gears."
Denair sits down, next to Frankie. "Umm, okay." All of Lazarus's puzzle talk goes right over her head.
Though it's quite difficult to make heads or tails of this strange 'puzzle' that seems to have been put in place, Lazarus takes a few moments to consider the new bit of information and comes up with an adjustment to the original sequence you followed. Starting from the 1st floor you hike up the stairs to the 2nd. Recalling that the relevant Red portal sent you up to the 3rd floor you, by simple process of elimination, determine that the Blue portal hovering above the gears must be the other floor-changing portal on this level. And it is! With a *ding* you pass through and appear back on the 1st floor. Having done this, the rest of the puzzle finally clicks into place!
(1) Floors 1 & 4 each have one floor-changing portal
(2) Floors 2 & 3 each have two floor-changing portals
(3) You have to pass through the portals but alternate colors (red & blue)
(4) You have to ascend through each floor in order, which necessitates using the stairs
Steps
Climb to the 2nd floor and pass through a blue portal to the 1st floor.
From the 1st floor, take a red portal to the 2nd floor.
Next, climb to the 3rd floor and pass through a blue portal to the 2nd floor.
From the 2nd floor, take a red portal to the 3rd floor.
Then, climb to the 4th floor and pass through a blue portal to the 3rd floor.
Finally, from the 3rd floor take a red portal to the 4th floor.
After a lot of hoofing it up and down the stairs and playing with portals, each of you take the last red portal to the 4th floor. This time, as Jan and then the rest of you file through, you all see a purple gate open up within the barrier that otherwise blocks the way forward. Finally, the top of the Clock Tower is open to you - but what awaits you there?
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"Not all fey tricks are bad." Denair huffs. "Besides this one makes perfect sense. If you know the solution." Denair is lost in thought as Meredith runs upstairs. "W-wait!"
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Frankie huffs and puffs as they finally get to the end. All that stair climbing wasn't great for his short legs. "Whew, I feel like I just played two games of kickball at the same time!" He tugs on Laz's robes and looks up at him "Thanks for figuring this out, you're really smart. Way smarter than me and Yorad for sure." He gives Yorad a side-eye and snickers at the sweaty headed man with the hat.
Before they finally head up Frankie takes a healthy slug of syrup then washes it down with some cold cocoa "Woooo now I'm ready!!!!"
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Relieved that the team finally found a way to the top, Lazarus pauses before crossing the threshold of the purple portal.
"Caution seems prudent." The wizard-priests casts shield of faith and uses his wands to cast monkey fish on himself and bless on the entire team. He stows those and grips his wand of magic missile.
"Ready when you are."
After taking a few moments to prepare for whatever might lie ahead the group of you ascend the remaining few steps up to the tower belfry. The top of the Clock Tower is swathed in bright light, and barriers of glowing violet block any view of the town of Uringen. The numerous gears that drive the clocks spin and tick in time, and with every twitch of the second hand, a shudder runs through the room. Between the gears of the clocks, a thick, silver-gold substance drips out crackling with arcs of red and blue.
A strange-looking woman with leaves, twigs, and flowers woven into her hair stands here, holding up a small vial to the dripping substance. At the sound of your footsteps she turns, a puzzled frown marring her otherwise beautiful features.
"কি? কিভাবে আপনি বাধা পাস?"
Her hand twitches toward what looks to be a rather glossy, green, and heavy-looking mace hanging at her side; you also see a composite longbow slung over her back.
"কোনো ব্যাপার না. যে কেউ আপনি, আমি আপনাকে সতর্ক, আমি এই ঘৃণা আমার পুনরুদ্ধারের মধ্যে কোন প্রতিরোধের নষ্ট হবে।," she continues. Even with the language barrier for some of you, the intent in her tone needs no translation - it's clearly a warning. "দূরে! এই স্থানটিকে Shyka এ কার কাছে ফিরিয়ে আনতে আমার কাজ আমাকে ছেড়ে দিন।," the woman continues, gesturing towards a symbol hanging around her neck that depicts a broken hourglass.
"What? How did you pass the barrier?"
"No matter. Whoever you are, I warn you that I shall brook no resistance in my restoration of this abomination."
"Away! Leave me to my work to return this place to Shyka to whom it so rightfully belongs."
You recognize the symbol as the holy symbol of Shyka the Many, one of the Eldest - divine fey creatures of tremendous power said to be able to reshape the very fabric of the First World on a whim. You also recall that Shyka's primary interests are entropy, reincarnation, and time.
This creature is another fey known as a dryad. Dryads are tree-fey who prefer secluded woodlands far from humanoids in need of lumber. Dryads’ main interests are their own survival and that of their beloved forests so it seems strange to see one here. That said...she also seems to be considerably more powerful than most dryads.
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Frankie the Flash stands before the woman, his muscles tense and his body alert, thanks mostly to the insane amount of sugar pouring into his blood stream at the moment. He gives a funny face as the woman speaks, not understanding a word she says "Huh? Do you speak regular? Please?" He pleads his case, hoping they can resolve things over cookies and milk.
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"I recognize the symbol, depicting a broken hourglass, hanging around her neck. It's the holy symbol of Shyka the Many, one of the Eldest - divine fey creatures of tremendous power said to be able to reshape the very fabric of the First World on a whim. Shyka's primary interests are entropy, reincarnation, and time."
"This creature is another fey known as a dryad, tree-fey who prefer secluded woodlands far from humanoids in need of lumber. Dryads’ main interests are their own survival and that of their beloved forests, so it seems strange to see one here. That said... She also seems to be considerably more powerful than most dryads."
When the dryad speaks, Lazarus translates for the team, still under the effects of his samsaran magic's comprehend languages spell-like ability.
He whispers, "She says, '"What? How did you pass the barrier? No matter. Whoever you are, I warn you that I shall brook no resistance in my restoration of this abomination. Away! Leave me to my work to return this place to Shyka to whom it so rightfully belongs.'"
Lazarus nods at Lil Frankie's diplomatic overture and adds in the Common tongue, "Francis is correct. We'd like to resolve this impasse peacefully, if we can. Perhaps there's a way we can work together to restore things to the way they 'ought' to be. A 'win-win' option should be satisfactory to all. If you're more comfortable in Sylvan, one of our colleagues speaks that First World language."
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Meredith enters the portal, her hair covered in vines. Denair enters behind her, a mass of leaves protecting her front. She expected a gremlin or another... bag, but whoever this woman is, Meredith tries a peaceful approach and drops her longsepar to raise her hands.
Meredith looks at the woman, trusting Lazarus and his words. She speaks in sylvan.
"Boss, ask her where her Home is. Is it nearby?"
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"Ummm..."
Taking a hint from Meredith, Jan lowers his axe. But unlike his companion, the Ulfen warrior is unwilling to drop it to the ground.
"By Gozreh! The Fey are obviously powerful here. I knew something like this was bound to happen." Jan shakes his head slightly and chuckles in an attempt to ease the tension and calm his own emotions.
The dryad blinks as she's suddenly bombarded with chatter from all sides, mostly in Common and a little in Sylvan. She quickly holds up her hands, indicating that she'd like your attention and silence.
"I am...glad...to see that at least one or two of you are familiar with my native tongue," she begins, nodding at Meredith and Denair. "But I will humor you and speak in your 'normal'. I am Henbane Allseasons, servant of Shyka the Many. For her, I walk the branching paths of time rather than remain bound to a tree as many of my kind are."
Almost idly, Henbane pulls another small vial out of her pouch and turns to the dripping silver-gold liquid, allowing it to flow into the vial. It hits each of you that this strange liquid must be the temporal essence that you were tasked with retrieving.
"The pathways flow through this circle. Did flow. Will flow again. You know they have damaged the circle, the people of Uringen have?" she asks, her voice dreamy and vague. "Shyka bid I walk the pathways to this place again. Much has changed since I was here last. Will change. The heelstone is destroyed, and was used in building the tower. Heelstone will have…been a waypoint. And will be again. The town and clock tower must be destroyed, and a new circle drawn."
Seems like Jan was indeed right. Whether she knew it or not, Reckless Rhona's meddling with the fey circle that stood on the site seems to have had far-reaching repercussions that are only just coming to light. You also remember that Seripan had said something about how Mather Mithra had supposedly made an appeal to The Many to cast out the humans of Uringen. In light of that, perhaps Henbane's appearance here at the time of the convergence isn't entirely coincidence. But in spite of all this, it seems that you might have averted disaster after all...
Henbane suddenly blinks and a sharp awareness fills her eyes, as though the immediate world around her - including you - has come back into focus for a moment. "Work together? This site must be rededicated to Shyka. Has been rededicated. But...yes, yes, I see it now, branching far and away from this place, a pathway where Uringen remains. The tower is the circle, there. Can become the circle. New stones bind the tower and circle together. Will bind, have bound."
"You have placed these stones. Will place them? Yes, you must place these stones," Henbane insists. "Then time's pathways will flow again through this place as Shyka intended. Shyka placed the heelstone here herself, you know. Here and there and many places, many, many places across these realms. And her faithful walk the pathways of time in her service."
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"Makes sense, I guess. So Rhona must have taken some of the Heelstone to build this tower. She wasn't aware of how it would disrupt the branches of time."
"Hey wait, Henbane. Where can we locate the stones? We will gladly repair it. More travelers from the First World are welcome here, as long as they come in peace. Also, is there anything we can do to get that vial you hold? It may help future researchers so they don't repeat this kind of mistake again. Or ever."
Meredith makes a note to write a hint for that portal puzzle. Might come in handy later. Or maybe it came in handy already. Time is weird.
"You walk the tree of time? Time is your home?" Denair falls quiet as she tries to understand Henbane's Home. "She can go wherever and whenever she pleases. If we could convince other Dryads to find new Homes, they could explore the world, too. Everyone would be able to travel freely."
She looks up. "Yes, we'll fix the damage and make this tower a symbol of the First World and this world's cooperation. Um, do we call this the Second World?"
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Frankie relaxes a bit as the woman speaks normally but he has trouble following what she says. He looks at Meredith and Denny frequently as they seem to know what's going on more than he. "You want us to move rocks around? I mean.. I guess I can move some rocks.. the small ones maybe if someone tells me where to put them!"
Frankie starts to get charged up about helping with a new project and fixing what was messed up in the past "So will this make the town whole again? Or will half be frozen and half still work ok?" He scratches his head and looks around for a good spot to grab up some of that drippy silver goop.
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While Yorad is relieved the strange dryad was not hostile, her words had a spellbinding quality on him...not to mention her lovely form. To distract himself he tries concentrating on her words...which only result in him getting a blinding headache.
How in the Hells are you supposed to follow this time stuff. That ways leads to insanty!
"Yeahhh, uhhh sure we can help you replace what was misplaced Miss..." his voice trails off uncertainly.
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Lazarus listens to the dryad, fascinated. Hands pressed together against his chest, palms facing one another, the samsaran leans forward in a slight bow.
"We would be happy to replace the stones, repair the circle, and rededicate this site to Shykla, Henbane."
He casts enhanced diplomacy and retrieves a handful of empty vials. "Would you mind if we collect some of this temporal essence? We would better understand Shykla's mysteries, if we are to carry out this important task. Can you offer us some guidance about how we should proceed?"
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"Mm...I think...I think the little town would remain as it is now. Will remain. Has remained," Henbane replies to Frankie. "Replacing the stones will take some time...has taken some time? I must enchant them, imbue them with Shyka's power, first. But there will be time enough to do this...should be time enough."
When Meredith and Lazarus inquire about the temporal essence, Henbane blinks and looks down at the vial in her hand as though seeing it for the first time. "Oh. Hmm...yes, yes I believe you may. Temporal essence, you said? Fascinating! And I see...yes, leaving this tower as it is now, allows for this essence to flow. Shyka has the rights to it...will have, has had. But. You are all most agreeable and I have little else to repay it with."
She offers the current vial in her hand to Lazarus.
"I think, I think, I think...that we must wait for convergence to end before any stones can be placed. Will be placed. And the hour is late and I am...am..."
Henbane actually smiles - a tired, weary smile.
"I am tired. Walking time's pathways is...taxing. I would like to see the night sky. Tomorrow, we will place the stones. Or will it be yesterday? Hmm."
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Jan is somewhat is awe as he addresses the Dryad.
"I am glad to learn that the damage done here can be fixed. I am also glad of the kindness you have shown the people of this town despite the trouble it has caused in the First World. If I may ever be of service to you in the future, I give you my Sacred Oath that I will answer."
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"Well then, Lady Henbane, we shall see you on the morrow," Lazarus says.
He turns to leave, then at the top of the staircase, he looks back at the servant of Shyka, one eyebrow arched. "Please, for our sake, not 'yesterday'."
As soon as everyone's concluded their business with the dryad, the wizard-priest ushers the team down to the base of the clocktower.
"Ah, Seripan, there you are." The samsaran waves her on. "Please take us to the Lords-Mayor. We have much to discuss."
Let's hope they approve of our agreement with Henbane...
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"Oh yes, of course," Henbane remarks, waving an arm vaguely. "Yesterday, tomorrow, the flow of time is relative. And thank you, Tall Warrior. Perhaps such an event may or may not come to pass? Hmm."
As you turn to make your way back down the tower you notice that Henbane seems inclined to accompany you. "I said I wished to see the night sky, yes? And the convergence is soon to be over. Is over. Has been over. Oh, one moment. It is time."
The dryad motions for you to wait. A few seconds later a tiny purple portal opens up near Meredith, pulling at the note in her hand. Looking down she sees her own handwriting disappear...and then the note is pulled from her hand and into the portal. It then vanishes with a soft *pop*.
"Now we may go," Henbane smiles, completely unfazed by what just occurred.
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"Traveling from Home is tiring, but it's beautiful. And surprising. It's so fun. I'll show you around the town!" Denair runs up and grabs Henbane's hand.
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"Right. Thank you, Henbane." Meredith stows her longspear. "There are portals that opened all over this tower. It threw my friends around, but to Denair and I, it felt... familiar. I- I've never been there before. I don't even know what there is-"
Meredith is caught off guard when a portal appears and drags her hand in. She sticks her hand into the portal and starts writing, instinctively.
"Time is weird."
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Frankie looks on excitedly back and forth between the speaking parties, his little brain trying to piece things together before FINALLY understanding she is coming with them and he and Denny get to show her around town! "OOooooOOO we can show you the sky, and the ground, and all the fun places we've yet to find! Let's goooo!" He grabs Denny's hand and starts to spin his wheels to speed up the process.
"And this is Frankie the Flash! He's... human... ish. But he's really active and friendly. I keep telling him to stop drinking syrup though. But human customs are weird."
Henbane smiles dreamily, allowing herself to be pulled along by Denair who is being pulled along by Frankie. "You and your Meredith...yes, I can see why the portals felt familiar to you. After all, these portals carry, have carried, will carry, the essence of the First World - just a hint, but just a hint is just enough. Just enough for anyone who bears a connection to that place to sense it, to control it."
"You said that fey and humans live together here in harmony," she continues as the group descends down the tower - using the stairs, this time. "Hmm...perhaps...perhaps there will be things to learn from such a coexistence. Have been. There will be much to tell Shyka when I return!"
As you step outside the tower and back into the cool night air you do indeed find Seripan anxiously flutter-hopping about but her expression brightens considerably when she sees you. "Hey! You're alive! That's great, I thought that you all might've...uh..."
The little grig stops and stares at Henbane.
"Who are you? When did you get here? I thought I knew all the dryads in the area! How are you able to be away from your tree?"
For her part, Henbane doesn't even seem to register Seripan's words, so enthralled is she by the sight of the night sky.
"Hellooooooo! Hey! Listen!" Seripan huffs, now fluttering about the dryad's head. "Are you their prisoner? Oh my gosh, that has to be it! That lickspittle sent you to crash the tower party and then the tower! This is all your fault!"
She whips around and nods at Lazarus. "Mister Lazarus, sir! I'll help you escort the prisoner to Mayor Ogden and get all this sorted out!"
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Eager to help you escort your 'prisoner' to the Mayor, Seripan zooms ahead of you and beckons you onward towards the square. As you enter, you see that the square is deserted and filled with bits of broken glass and other debris; some of it from your earlier battle but some more recent. The portals still twinkle and shimmer in the light but seem to be growing more insubstantial with each passing second.
"Oof...they really did a number on the square," Seripan remarks with a shake of her head. "Cerotious said you guys killed some of them but there were more lurking about; I think the Travelers had to come and chase them off."
It's eerily silent as you start making your way across the square, the only sounds the crunching of glass underfoot and Frankie's continuous chatter. Even Henbane has fallen silent, looking around at the destruction with a slight frown on her face.
*SHK-CHING!*
*SHK-SHHNK!*
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From out of nowhere, two small creatures that resemble rather gray, drab elves appear and strike at Jan and Meredith! While Jan's armor deflects the incoming blade, Meredith isn't so fortunate and the blade sinks deeply into her side and leaves her bleeding profusely. What's more, she feels a painful burning beginning to spread out from the wound!
"Get them! Don't let them leave this place alive!" comes another voice from somewhere close by as fiddle music fills the air.
"Woo, play it man!~" whoop Orange and Purple, seemingly finding inspiration in the music.
These two are evil fey creatures known as quickling cutthroats. As the name might suggest, few can match their speed.
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Voice
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Meredith + Denair
Lazarus
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Orange
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Frankie
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Purple
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Jan
Yorad
Active Conditions: None For You
Meredith + Denair and Lazarus are UP!
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"They're a pair of evil fey creatures known as quickling cutthroats. As the name might suggest, few can match their speed. They're resistant to __________."
Hearing the music, Lazarus adds, "They're not alone. Someone we can't see is playing a fiddle. He listens, trying to locate the source of the music.
The wizard-priest uses his wand to cast bless on the team.
As he draws out his wand and blesses the group Lazarus is quick to warn you that the two quicklings share the common fey resistance to any weapon that isn't forged from cold iron.
With his companions bolstered, Lazarus looks around for the source of the fiddling...and is quickly able to determine that it's coming from behind a hedge just a little further into the square. It's mildly strange because there doesn't appear be anything there but he's certain that's where the source of the music lies.
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Voice
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Meredith + Denair
Lazarus
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Orange
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Frankie
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Purple
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Jan
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Meredith + Denair are UP!
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Denair has a new friend and tries to talk to Seripan. "Huh? No, she's our friend. This is Henbane. Her Home is the branches of time. What a way to change your mindset. It's like how the Boss and I bonded. She's not a prisoner, but- hey, Boss. Look out!"
"Quickling cutthroats! I'll surround this one, boss." She quickly runs behind the purple tinted cutthroat and tries to clobber it.
"Don't touch my boss!"
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Meredith thinks about Henbane's words. They make sense, but she's never heard it before. How could the First World feel familiar if she's never been there before?
Not that it matters right now. Wherever these things came from, she's bleeding and something was on those raids.
That poison hurts and she can feel her coordination fail her. "Stinkin'... whatever you are. It's not over yet!"
Though quite clearly surprised by the sudden attack both Meredith and Denair leap into action, teaming up on the Purple Quickling. While Meredith's longspear strike whiffs over the quickling's head by the smallest of margins, even with Lazarus' blessing, Denair rings the creature's bell quite thoroughly! That said...she does notice that Purple seemed to shrug off the extra bit of damage that flanking with Meredith would normally afford her.
And though she tries to fight against the poison Meredith can feel it continuing to burn through her veins.
Orange, instead of standing and continuing to engage Meredith, falls back - opening himself up to another strike from her as he does so.
The quickling moves with a speed that puts even Frankie the Flash to shame, its shape blurring and shimmering as it darts away to the south and leaps through a Red Portal . It then reemerges from a Blue Portal over by the fountain and approaches Denair, maneuvering around in order to avoid a second retaliatory strike from the eidolon. As it does, it calls out to Henbane.
"Hey! You! Why aren't you helping us!? You should be helping us destroy the tower and the town!"
The dryad simply shakes her head. "The time wasn't right anymore. Your request only made sense at the later time."
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Voice
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Meredith + Denair
Lazarus
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Orange
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Frankie
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Purple
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Jan
Yorad
Active Conditions: Bless
Frankie is UP!