Volcano's Land - A New Beginning

Game Master Miner Cotren

Ibinu nods at Krzysztoff, "Excellent work, sharp one. My thanks for that."

He looks at his guards with concern, "Just... I think we have to try talking. Wait here, if we don't come back then come in force when the guard arrive. If we can't handle it, it'll take most of the city working together to even have a chance."

He embraces Sophia whispering, "I'll be back."

Turning to glance at the other blessed and their retinues, "But I can't speak for you all of course."

Sophia returns your embrace, giving your hand a quick squeeze before letting go.

Edoardo says to Etrah, "Keep Inam safe, ok Mr. Shining Bright Phoenix and all that?" And to the rest of you, "You'll have your time to talk, but just don't take too long, ok? City gets nervous when they hear you are not around."

"If things go poorly, we should be easy to find....follow the sounds of violence." Sequoya says flashing Kallik a feral grin.

With a determined look on her face, Sophia walks back to Ibinu. Her voice is casual, a contrast to the look in her eyes. "Changed my mind. If Kallik has Sequoya to look out for her, and Inam has Etrah, you need a second pair of eyes, too." She winks. "And a second pair of horns."

assuming you go forward

The Greenwoods, between eyeblinks, are back in their previous formation - there is now an unbroken wall of them behind you.

The Young Elder lies several blocks away, looming in the distance. An entire neighborhood is now completely shadowed by its branches.

Taking offense at Sophia's analogy, Krz says to Kallik, cursing with an unfamiliar word,
No, you have me, and Sequoya has Mishipeshu. Unseelie! Doesn't that ele ever remember the non-elenoids?

Matching Sequoya's grin. No clue if it is a good thing. She needs a counterbalance but it is really wonderful to not feel at odds with those around her. Walking swiftly to put herself in the lead.

Sighing and thumping the blade against her her thigh. You look like an axe to them. And more eyes on me gives them comfort. I am not the easiest tempered... At one point the three of us watched out for each other. Suppose I messed that up.

Ibinu smiles and takes her hand as the traipses over, "Good point my dear. More horns are definitely needed in this group anyway."

He smirks for a second imagining a much better looking phoenix then steels his resolve and waves the group forward, "Shall we?"

who is carrying the leaves that Tareasca claimed were part of the plant attack against her? you hear a rustling whisper from your pack

The Stems are completely deserted - you see no elens in the old, mossy stone buildings that used to belong to the Steams. There is ankle-high grass beneath your feet, and small saplings are working their way through cracks in the fritan streets.

No elens...but still you have the feeling of being watched.

everyone but Inam basically

You see subtle faces in the greenery around you, lurking in the leaves and hiding in the bushes. Twigged smiles flit away from your vision.

Ibinu whispers, more out of caution and respect than anything tactical, "So it seems nature is indeed taking back some of the city here, uh... good." He keeps ushering the group towards the quiet elder.

No one officially took the leaves, but Mishipeshu is tracking the scent so I'd guess Sequoya has them.

reasonable!

Closer to the Young Elder, you see dozens of basket-huts hanging from the gargantuan branches of the demigod. Oread eyes peer out of the huts, but they are too far away to make out any expression.

In each of your minds, separately, you hear the amused baritone laughter of Odebie of the King's Tribe. What's yer purpose here?

this is in your head, so I'd like you each to answer separately

Approaching with the others, Etrah close behind, she frowns. 'This doesn't seem right...so much has changed in this land in such a short time...'

Hearing the voice in her head, she frowns. 'Can it hear my thoughts too? Or is it limited to spoken words? I'll give Kallik a chance to do the talking here...'

Turning to Kallik, she grimaces. 'She can do this.'

Growing more agitated at the lack of oreads. It wasn't that long ago that she was here. Before she ruined any of the faith she had been earning back. Grand screw up... So angry. And I have every right to be. I did not want to send her away but I did. Bian might be dead.. Everything is crashing around me. Feel like the ash followed me

Flinching at the intrusion and digging her nails into both her palm and the wooden handle. Peace talks Odebie. I do not want blood. Im tired of it. I am looking for two elen and information about an attack in the stone part of the city.

No blood. Peace talks. Two elens. Hmm.

Yes, come to the heart of my domain, oh emissaries of peace, and we shall see how peace talks.

Ibinu stays quiet, trying to put up a mental shield around his thoughts. Instead he hums and internally sings a jaunty ifrit tune from his childhood.

A soft green carpet of grass grows and shows you the way to the Elder, and down the taproot tunnels.

There is more than two. And a peace talk entails neither side attacking. Its for us to figure out how to reach a middle ground.

Biting back a growl and moving follow the new grass.

Kallik, you asked about two missing elen, I think that was what it responded to when it said 'two elen'.

Ibinu follows along the green-grass highway.

yes, you asked about two elen, and you are all being invited inside

Kallik and Sequoya notice it takes much longer to reach the "throne" room than last time.

Down taproot tunnel, ankle-high water and shallow seaweed tugging and annoying,

Past mushroom ceilings and violet lilac walls, snuffling curious dandelion carpets tickling,

Through luminescent seeds and spores dancing in the air, fragrant and fruity and pinkish,

You come at last to a furious knot of rootballs and briarpatches that resemble some mockery of a throne. The same oread with frogskin eyes and a wide emerald smile sits upon the tanglewood chair now, watching you.

you all have the vague sense that Krz is using his connection to the Feyhome to ward the Blessed (and Etrah, Sophia etc) from some of the mental effects of this environment (and Mishipeshu would be doing the same for Sequoya)

Ibinu's eye twitches and he subconsciously digs his claws into his palm, the pain helping to keep his focus. He glances over to see Sophia doing the same.

Making a conscious effort to keep her hand away from the blade at her hip, Inam follows her companions warily.

'This could go poorly...fast...'

Forcing a smile, she remains silent.

Odebie of the King's Tribe never stops smiling, never stops staring. "Who would you see returned to your side, Kallik Feysister? Name her, and she shall be yours. As a token of the Stems' friendship."

Keeping her lips in a thin line but matching his stare. "Egret and Bian. Both were taken and I want both back."

Laughing, he waggles a finger. "No. I only have the strength to spare for one. Choose one. Swear to kill the one that stole her, and the magic will work for you." His face that of a wood-carved jester, leering.

Growling and shaking her head, "What strenght do you need? Can it not be lended?"

Odebie shakes his head, disappointed. "Would you cut a gift tree to count the rings, Feysister? Name and Swear. Name the loved one you would see returned and swear to take vengeance on the elen that wronged you. I am offering you a great gift. If you refuse it a third time, it will not be offered again."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Sequoya's eyes narrow as the studies the twisted Fey, suspicious of some kind of trap and trying to determine it's nature.

His eyes and mannerisms are unreadable - his amused glance could be plotting or simply capricious.

Ibinu can't hold back his ire, "Oh nice. We track the scent of the kidnapper here and now you offer us sooo magnanimously the choice to only get one of the victims back. Yeah sure, I bet Kallik will take your deal."

"Oh my. You may have tracked the scent of an attack ; an attack upon the Captain. But you did not track the kidnapper."

The tall sylph snorts, "So you just graciously admit to attacking a Captain of the Watch? Nice, the trial won't take very long. Are you just going to come with us or turn yourself in to the watch directly? Or... maybe tell us about the kidnapping instead?"

Odebie is waiting for Kallik's reaction, steeple-handed with anticipation.

Biting her tongue and tasting blood. Trying not to flinch at the bickering. That thing can get in her head so the questions she wants to ask are pushed from her mind. Digging her fingernails into her palm and swallowing the blood that is filling her mouth. Forgive me.

Glaring at Odebie, "Give me Egret."

He snaps twig fingers, grinning leafy satisfaction. "It is done."

Roots begin sprouting from the earthen walls, bearing Egret out of the dirt. She coughs at the dust. Pale. Breathing. Alive.

"Who took her?" Sequoya says coldly, her hand resting on her axe as she glares at Odebie

Ibinu waits as Egret is returned, his suspicions completely confirmed that this was all orchestrated by Odebie. He grits his teeth and waits for his moment.

"Kallik Feysister, have your moment of tenderness with your little bird then ask her who indeed did the taking."

Egret stirs, and whispers in Kallik's ear, her voice weak and airy.

Moving swiftly to wrap her arms around Egret. Glaring up at Odebie before looking down at Egret. Krz, can that thing make her believe that? Not that I mind. Shaking her head.

Tucking Egret into her chest and picking her up. Glaring up at Odebie, "There were other issues to discuss."

"If it wasn't you that had her, how did you come by her?" inquires Inam.

I don't feel any Fey presence in her mind. She's scared, but her memories seem real...

Odebie laughs at Inam's question, a sound echoed in writhing roots and undulating bark all around you. "I stole her! They were foolish enough to put her in a basement, underground. There is very little in this city that my roots cannot touch." He glances over at Ibinu and waggles leafy eyebrows, both mocking and threatening.

Nodding slowly, she considers 'This things reach has shown to be extensive...if it becomes...well this could be a rough situation.'

"So, why demand murder? What has killing and death brought any elen, aside from bringing us to the bring of war and killing a god?"

"You get what you give to the world. You give death and destruction, it will come to you in return. You give love, kindness, and understanding...then things will improve."

Guesturing towards the city, she continues. "It won't happen overnight. It can't after so many years of elen killing elen for little more than status."

"So, I ask you elder. Do you want to live in a river of blood? Do you desire the world to be ruled by chaos and lie in ruin?"

"I? I demand nothing. I have given the gift of life, much denigrated and insulted by all of you. I have also warned that such gifts of the Fey have natural consequences - cause and effect. But perhaps Kallik Feysister will seek love, kindness, and understanding, as you have lectured."

He surveys all of you. "Is that all from the Blessed for the time being? Demands, a sprinkle of rudeness, and the absence of thanks?"

"Perhaps I fail to understand... You stated Kallik had to 'swear to kill the other' for you to give her the one she requested."

"Sincerely, I took that as you were demanding it...not as 'natural consequences'"

Glancing around the room, she frowns. "We do appreciate the safe return of Egret..." trailing off, her frown deepens.

'This thing is...something else...'

"Would you be willing to explain why an attack on the captain lead us here?"

He raises a twig finger in defense. "That was not an attack, it was stealing!" His face show exaggerated worry. "Unless you are saying stealing is always bad, Oh Judgmental One, and I will be happy to put Egret back where she was before I stole her."

"As to what I was stealing, 'tis none of your business, Temple-dwellers."

"You said it was an attack." replies Inam, trying desperately to keep the frustration out of her voice. "Ibinu, the Horned one, said 'We track the scent of the kidnapper here' and your response was 'You may have tracked the scent of an attack ; an attack upon the Captain'."

"My question was how an attack on the captain would lead us here."

Glancing towards Etrah for assistance...she receives nothing. With a sigh, she continues "I in fact affirmed we 'appreciate the safe return of Egret'."

"In fact, I didn't ask what you were stealing. I honestly assumed it was just Egret, my bad..."

Shaking her head with vigor, she rubs her face. "Allow me to start over. Perhaps the miscommunication is my fault..."

Stepping forward, she bows. "Hello, my name is Inam. Pleased to meet you. Thank you for your help with Egret, though I worry about the ramifications that may unfold. How are you today?"