“It is as he said. Looks like we get to crash a party.”
Chef enthusiastically nods.
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"The story has taken a sudden twist. I thought we were at the end of the tale, but we are bound for another act."
Fluff Fang nods with agreement of the others in the group as they toss back their cape and declare, "it seems our friends are in another manor. Let's continue there and see if we can return them safely!"
Now that you know where your fellow leshys are being held, there's little else to do but finish nosing around in the basement workshop. In addition to the main workroom and Darius' bedroom, you discover a cluttered storeroom in the northwestern corner, packed with alchemical tools in various states of repair, prototype candles, and fragments of crystals. While searching this room, Chef Popcorn and Jackpot zero in on a few things that could prove useful - two moderate cognitive mutagens and two moderate quicksilver mutagens.
There's also a stewpot sitting on the table in the main workshop that's filled with a tepid, bland-looking vegetable stew. Doesn't look like Darius is much of a cook.
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Satisfied that they had found anything of import, Scary Gourd goes over to Darius and says “Don’t mess with the fey! We prefer being nice, but as you’ve seen that doesn’t mean we can’t protect our forest and our friends.”
“This is a friendly town. You should get to know the people here and interact with them instead of staying cooped up here all the time.”
They then march off up the stairs.
Chef wants to go now, they're unhurt and why wait for the party? Her friends are in danger! However maybe it's best they wait.
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"Remember! If our fellow leshies go missing again, we'll look here first." But Jackpot can't keep a stern expression for long. So he waves farewell to Darius and calls out sunnily, "Have a nice day!"
When they leave, Jackpot says, "Let's nap in the forest, then rescue our friends!"
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"I hope you have learned not to steal away from the forest. Usually the stories go the other way, but still turn out for the same ill consequences. Hopefully you learn and know that there is a lovely community around you to join with and not worry about invitations to posh parties packed with political posturing."
Fluff Fang joins the others in heading out as they concur, "it is tempting to end this now, but a rest would be helpful. Especially given the journey we need to make to get to the manor. Walking in with our leaves, stems, and roots worn out from our race forward."
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"R-right...nothing but the straight and narrow for me from here on out!" Darius promises, shaken but relieved to have escaped the group's wrath with his life and shop more or less intact. You exit the shop, careful to lock the door on your way back out.
Though you're all in agreement that it'd be best to return to the forest for now to rest and prepare for tomorrow, Fluff Fang does take a little time to ask around town about Lady Constance. They learn that not only is Lady Constance filthy rich but that she has a large amount of sway in the town of Rosentry, which says a lot considering Rosentry is largely a glorified vacation town for nobility. Parties and galas are a regular occurrence at her estate, where her fellow nobles often jockey for her favor...or forgiveness for perceived slights. However, one other detail emerges that Fluff Fang finds potentially worrisome - it's rumored that Lady Constance possesses sorcerous powers, though of what sort no one seems to know. Hopefully the rumor is just that - a rumor - but it might be a good idea to be mindful of magic shenanigans, just in case.
After Fluff Fang's information gathering is complete, you all return to the nearby forest and settle in to get some rest and make plans for the next day. One way or another, you're determined to return with your missing leshy friends!
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The night passes uneventfully and when morning comes, you rise and set off for Rosentry after enjoying one of Chef Popcorn's filling breakfasts (or perhaps something more simple, such as a bit of morning sun or drops of dew from the canopy overhead).
Your trip to Rosentry is also blessedly uneventful, with there being relatively few travelers on the road and no obvious dangers to speak of. In fact...the closer you get to Rosentry, the more you notice that the land seems to take on an almost sterilized appearance. Instead of fields of wheat and wildflowers, you see large, sprawling estates with impeccably manicured and clipped lawns. Rather than native trees, there are carefully trimmed hedgerows. There are almost no insects to be seen or heard and the only sign of natural life comes from the occasional songbird stopping in to visit a birdbath or the distant sight of a horse in tack, porting a cart of supplies to one of the many fine homes that make up the majority of the town.
As you reach the town proper and begin making your way towards the address given to you by Darius, it's actually rather surprising just how *little* attention you earn from the local citizenry. A few curious glances here and there, perhaps, but little more. Which is strange, considering the reaction your presence garnered in Petalbrook yesterday. In fact, it's almost like they've seen leshys before.
Following the directions you were given, you realize you're on the right track when you begin the hear the sounds of music and indistinct chatter. You follow the sounds until you arrive at what must surely be the Meliosa estate, a manor house of quite some size with an expansive backyard directly behind it. The entire property is enclosed by a 5-foot-tall cast iron fence, which is itself surrounded by a thick privet hedge. While you can hear the chattering of partygoers enjoying tea and conversation on the other side, the hedge completely blocks sight into the yard beyond. There does seem to be an exterior gate, also made of iron, that leads into the yard but it's locked - no surprise there.
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"This feels much unlike the cities I've shared with you myself. The streets I have traversed in my various missions were more akin to Petalbrook." Fluff Fang thinks on this a bit as they give a wavering of their hand as they consider. "Maybe with a few less flowers and twice as many bricks."
"I felt a hand more comfortable when we were creating such attention.
That might just be because I appreciate an audience."
Fluff Fang leans one way then the other as they try to get a good angle on the hedge wall and the others as they approach. "I have some experience in gaining access in places where I wasn't necessarily welcome, a number that I hope has decreased over the years but those lessons may prove themselves now."
Giving a bit of a bow as they step forward Fluff Fang says, "if you allow me to take the spotlight for a moment. I might at least gauge the strength of their locks"
Pulling a set of lockpicks, Fluff Fang searches the area carefully as they examine the gate before clamboring onto the hedges to get better access to the gate's mechanisms.
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If all else fails, Chef makes ready to smash open the gate and scream something like Oh yeah!
Each of you consider a different method to gain entry to the party beyond the hedge. Jackpot tries to hide himself and squeeze through both the hedge and the fence but quickly finds out that his pumpkin head is rather obvious and difficult to camouflage - not to mention fit between the bars of the fence.
Though this sort of B&E isn't usually something Scary Gourd does, they consider the obstacle and conclude that it *should* be possible to climb over the hedge & fence or slip through. They're certain that climbing would be the easier of the two options, unless someone happened to be particularly lithe and agile.
Chef Popcorn, as always, has a more direct approach in mind should more subtle attempts to gain entry fail. In fact, she's pretty sure that it'd be a lot of fun to crash the party like that...but she's also (generally) not so hot-headed that she can't wait to see if a better way is found.
Last of all, Fluff Fang considers the locked iron gate. They pull out some lockpicks and study the situation for a moments before getting into position and going to work on the gate. It takes a little effort but those efforts are soon rewarded when an audible *click* is heard. The gate is unlocked and the party beyond beckons...
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"Let's be the catering crew! I'm a really good artist of smells and burning stuff, after all!"
"I would admit the story would have been far more grand with an explosive entrance." Fluff Fang puts aside their picks with a bit of regret.
"An entrance like Chef Popcorn describes though may just be as good if not better as it will allow the tension to build as the heroes move into the gala." Fluff Fang thinks for a moment as they suggest, "If that plan doesn't appeal to your themes Scary Gourd I might suggest, possibly selfishly, suggest we present ourselves as entertainment."
Giving a flip of their cape to try to emphasize their color Fluff Fang continues, "maybe even from a traveling circus? There is a great deal of variety of entertainment or confections we might fit under that tent as it were. As long as we don't let the story languish at least."
"Florists seems like a wonderful idea. Although certainly more ghastly given my run-ins with a few looking to remove some weeds as they might say."
Fluff Fang postures a bit as they look through their bag as they consider, "I might not have any disguise on hand, but a florist is more of a state of mind."
They are a bit less certain as they finish that, but they pull out one of their thieves tools that could pass for a cutting tool at a glance to have at their side as they ready to saunter into the party.
Having decided to pass yourselves off as florists, you simply swing the iron gate open and stroll through as though you're supposed to be here. You enter into a well-kept garden with a large, open path that cuts down the center. Along the garden walls are patches of wildflowers that, while pretty in their own right, look quite foreign to this part of the world. At the center of the garden are arranged three glass tables, all set for teatime and currently playing host to five luxuriously dressed ladies and two fabulously dressed gentlemen. Further back, you can see a small band of musicians providing musical entertainment.
What quickly catches your eyes, however, are the centerpieces on two of the glass tables. There, trapped within decorative glass bell jars, are your two missing leshy friends! They're clearly unable to escape on their own and both of them sit slumped in their prisons, full of despair.
But your entry has, unsurprisingly, not gone unnoticed. At the sound of the opening gate the partygoers turn to stare with surprise and astonishment as you march into the garden. A haughty, prissy-looking woman who had been standing near one of the tables calls out, in an extremely polite and clipped tone, "I beg your pardon, but admittance to my party is by invitation only! Please leave at once."
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Scary Gourd turns their head and glares at the woman who demanded the group leave. Their leaves seem to glow red as if burning.
Then they turn to the other party goers and in a less menacing manner says “We are here to free the kidnapped leshies. It is an insult to all sentient creatures that these plant spirits be imprisoned and then put on display in this way!”
Entropy follows behind his plant, his ears flatten against his head as he gives a growl.
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Jackpot looks dismayed as his grand entrance is usurped, but being the amazing actor that he is, he decides not to lose sight of the main goal. He flutters his hands, looking very much the distressed artist and drama queen. "Also... we are very famous florists, and can tell you that lavender was last year's favorite flower. Displaying it now..." Jackpot tsk tsks and begins pulling fallen pine boughs out of his head. "Darling, it simply will not do. Here, let me make you a perky and aromatic centerpiece out of this pine. It's so fresh, it's positively precocious!" He approaches. "Let me remove those lavender leshy centerpieces with something truly festive!"
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Chef tries to aid Jackpot.
"Some florists are just really scary, it's part of the trade. But we can be nice too! We can make you better centerpieces for sure!" She tries to demonstrate her skill using some nearby trigs.
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When Jackpot pulls some pine boughs out of his head, Scary Gourd is distracted. “Are those bruorsivi pine boughs from home?”
In Sylvan they say “If so, should make for a nice bonfire!”
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Joining with the others Fluff Fang adds, "absolutely. While your skills at party-craft are certainly unmatched in their field, it would be a travesty to turn down the skill of a skilled florist and we are by certain the best."
Fluff Fang gives a bow as they affirm, "anyone who claims otherwise is a mere posy poser."
With a flit of their cape they say, "those pieces are far too small for a glorious gala like the one you are portraying. To leave now having seen them would be a travesty upon my spirit and I could certainly not allow it. Replacing them with flourishing flora of fabulous fragrances would delight all and properly portray your parties."
The assorted nobles, who had been initially been struck speechless by your sudden entry, seem completely charmed by the sales pitch put forth by the group. Bits of excited and intrigued chatter can be heard at the three tables.
"You know, the little gourd fellow has a point. Lavender *is* lovely but blooms change with the seasons, after all!"
"Of course, but...pine? A bit unusual for our current warm weather, is it not?"
"Ah, but that's just it! Instead of a mild spring blossom, turn expectation on its head and go for a sharp, winter scent and look. Positively genius, I think."
"Why do they not hire more florists such as these? After all, who better to handle plant arrangements than other plants?"
"I know, right? I think I might hire them myself! My birthday party is in two weeks, as you know..."
"Wait a moment...didn't the one with the unsightly frown say something about 'kidnapping'??"
At that, Lady Constance clears her throat. She doesn't seem put off by Scary Gourd's attempt at intimidation - instead, she offers a smile to the assembled crowd. However, you notice that her smile does not reach her eyes.
"Well! I must admit that I was certain that lavender was in this season, but it seems my sources must have been mistaken. Of course they were," she remarks, her tone sickeningly saccharine. "I must also admit that your methods and manners - arriving here unannounced and uninvited - are a bit unorthodox. Perhaps even eccentric? But of course all great creatives seem to boast at least one or two eccentricities, do they not? All that said, since you have so kindly and generously offered your services for my humble little gathering, how could I refuse? And my dear friends seem quite enthused about witnessing your creative passion! How could I refuse them the opportunity?"
Lady Constance continues to smile, but you hear a hint of steel slip into her voice. "That said, I must admit that I am rather fond of my little lavender pieces. Creations of my own, little animated distractions for my friends and guests," she remarks with a wave of her hand. "So of course I will be keeping them; after all, they are still quite lovely and would be just as lovely adorning a sunny windowsill as they are out here in the garden. Surely you understand such attachments, as fellow artists? Of course you do."
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"As a chef I mean florist I would never steal someone's recipe and say it was my own. What a terrible thing for an artist to do. You didn't create them. Darius took them and trapped them."
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"I've known these leshies to travel the forest my honorable Lady. You well have performed the presentation, but these poor things are not your creation. There is artistry in what you do, and they well may have played their part in your work if you asked, but the prisons of glass make a very poor display my wonderful Lady."
Fluff Fang says this as they toss their cape back and present to the crowd as much as Constance.
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" Lady Constance gasps with a wide-eyed surprise that is almost as childish as it is insulting. "These are my own creations! I will admit they are not nearly as advanced as your charming selves, of course. Yet I have found their capabilities to be on par with those of hounds and other such creatures, so they still make fine companions, in their own simple way." The party guests shift awkwardly in their seats and none of them seem willing to answer Scary Gourd's question...nor look Fluff Fang in the eyes.
Still, you get the sense that the guests are quietly strained by all of this. While it's not likely any of them will openly act against Lady Constance - they seem almost afraid of her - some of them might be inclined to offer assistance on the sly, if able.
"Now, as your concerns should be adequately addressed, I am certain my delightful guests are eager to watch you begin your work..."
Lady Constance glances at her guests before giving you another sickly-sweet, expectant smile. The guests, on cue, begin offering enthusiastic nods and calls of encouragement.
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Glancing at the crowd Fluff Fang thinks for a moment as they give a cast back their cape with a flutter. "Well I would not describe them so lightly my prestigious Lady." Gesturing to the tables Fluff Fang note, "their capabilities may yet surpass your expectations. Like anything else they just need the right resources, encouragement, and of course, opportunity to step forward and flourish."
Fluff Fang gestures at the tables to covertly deliver their impressions of the guests and chance they may be willing to aid covertly.
Heading to the table without a leshy, Fluff Fang says, "this looks to be a excellent place to start as this table feels so austere so lacking a centerpiece an so set apart from the flourishing gardens that surround. If they watch the expert performance before them, they must miss the beauty of the curated flora that are just behind their backs as well as being too far away to savor the fragrant scents that come from long and far away." Fluff Fang goes around the table making dramatic motions at they gesture from one side of the garden to another.
They head to the garden's edge as they get close to the exotic flowers and closely point to several of the flowers as they try to draw attention to the far side from the garden away from the two leshy filled tables.
Chef whispers: I thnk they're creating a distraction! Are any of you good at sneaking?
Fluff Fang, ever thinking on their feet, offers up a distraction to keep Lady Constance and her guests occupied...and it seems to be working! They move towards the opposite side of the garden from the tables holding the lavender leshys, hoping to keep all eyes on them and away from their companions. Meanwhile, Jackpot attempts to take advantage of said distraction and attempts to sneak back to one of the leshy-laden tables. He's got it all planned out, ready to swap displays and discretely pop one of the lavender leshys into his empty pumpkin head.
And for a moment, it looks like it might work. But then two things happen. Fluff Fang, as they scan the border of exotic foliage quickly spots several figures hiding within! At about the same time, a voice rings out, "Mistress! They attempt to deceive!"
All heads turn towards the source of the noise as four figures emerge from within the hedge of flowers - four leshys like yourselves, except these are all clearly exotic specimens rather than native plants. You see a small, lithe-looking honeysuckle, a tough and wiry bamboo, a flowing cape of wisteria, and an enormous specimen of mint. The mint and the honeysuckle point at Jackpot in a very exaggerated manner, having seen through his efforts to be stealthy.
"Well then. I suppose you leave me no choice," Lady Constance sighs dramatically, though there's a clear tremor of real anger in her voice. She raises her hands and claps. "Ohhhh babies! These weeds have overstayed their welcome. Be good little dears and get rid of them for me!"
Heeding their mistress' commands the four strange leshys turn to face you, ready to rumble! Somewhere in the back, the band grab up their instruments and strike up a rather fitting piece for the occasion.
Mint advances with surprising speed, moving up to Fluff Fang and attempting to engulf the dandelion within its leafy mass!
You find yourself completely enveloped by the odorous mint! Not only does it hurt.... + ... but you're grabbed, hindered , and you can't breathe.
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Mint Orange
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Fluff Fang
Scary Gourd
>Entropy
Jackpot
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Bamboo Yellow
Wisteria Blue
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Chef Popcorn
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Honeysuckle Red
Active Conditions:
Environmental Conditions:
Fluff Fang, Scary Gourd, Jackpot may act!
Entropy eagerly bounds up to Mint, narrowly avoiding knocking over one of the tables on the way. He then attempts to bite down on Mint.
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◇ Lingering Performance
◈ Inspire Courage
Are you ready Fluff? Uh-huh
Entropy? Yeah
Scary? Okay
Alright leshies, let's go!
At the last moment, Jackpot fails to call out Chef Popcorn's name, but he knows Popcorn will still groove to the beat. Jackpot nods to the band, and starts singing his own lyrics to their music.
Oh it's been getting so hard
Looking for leshies to set free
Your creations get so deranged
Non-native species are what I see
Oh, I see a plant in the back as a matter of fact
Mint weighing a quarter ton
Wisteria in the corner you know is going to floor ya
'Cause she thinks she's the passionate one
Oh yeah! The florists enlightening
But others their rescue sighting
Then the band began to play
Our heroes say, 'We're saving the day'
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
And the dame in the back said, 'Everyone attack'
And it turned into a backyard blitz
And our friends in our corner said, 'Buds I want to warn you
It'll turn into a backyard blitz
Backyard blitz, backyard blitz, backyard blitz, backyard blitz!'
Jackpot sends a rock harmlessly at the Wisteria Plant that goes crashing into the bushes.
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As the leaves begin so surround Fluff Fang, they try to push further back to avoid missing a beat in this story.
They aren't able to break free of the narrative's grasp as they vanish into the mass of mint.
Fluff Fang struggles to escape but finds the greenery to be seemingly endless. Drawing their rapier to hand they hold their breath as they try to pierce through the veil of vegetation.
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+ Grab
Unperturbed by this new development, Scary Gourd uses his magic to add a little extra 'oomph' to Entropy's bite and then commands the leopard to take a bite out of Mint. Entropy obliges, bounding up and chomping down hard on the fragrant leshy. Mmm, that'll take care of that post-breakfast breath!
Opting to take advantage of literally having musical accompaniment to the battle, Jackpot strikes up a rousing song that inspires courage in his friends. He tries to follow it up with a thrown rock at Wisteria, but the projectile crashes into the bushes.
Fluff Fang, unfortunately, finds themselves engulfed by the pungent mint and struggling to breathe! Rather than continue to struggle, they hold their breath and viciously stab at the engulfing foliage in an attempt to cut themselves free. While it's not quite enough to cut free, they take a small measure of satisfaction in the damage dealt just the same.
+
Bamboo trundles up to Jackpot, who's still uncomfortably close to one of the tables, and attempts to punch him in the face! But Jackpot moves his cheerful gourd head out of the way and punch whiffs. "You won't escape the long arm of the Fantastic Flora Four," Bamboo rumbles as it somehow manages to bend its body back...like, way back. He'd be great at limbo.
Wisteria moves to engage Popcorn. She glides up and throws a punch that manages to connect - and as it does she grabs hold of Popcorn and gives her a painful squeeze!
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Mint Orange
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Fluff Fang
Scary Gourd
>Entropy
Jackpot
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Bamboo Yellow
Wisteria Blue
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Chef Popcorn
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Honeysuckle Red
Active Conditions:
Environmental Conditions:
Chef Popcorn may act!
It makes me SO MAD you betrayed fellow leshies! Chef rages and swings at her captor!
+ 4 Fire
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As enraged as she is, Popcorn can't shrug off the squeezing power of the Wisteria - but maybe she doesn't have to. Rather than try to free herself, she instead begins swinging her war flail about and manages to give the Wisteria a painful blow that blackens and burns her leaves!
"Yeooow!" she squeals. "We betray no one! We serve our creator!"
Honeysuckle steps up to Jackpot and attempts to deliver a pair of punches to his cheerful gourd face but manages to miss the mark both times.
"Sss...I'll wipe that silly smile off your face one way or the other," they hiss.
It's at this point that the guests finally come to their senses and rapidly begin moving out of the way of the melee, most of them retreating further into the garden or into the hedge. One of them, however, reaches out and snatches something from the table in front of her before turning and heading toward the gate. She makes a show of rattling the bars, seemingly in a panic, before glancing around and furtively shoving something at Scary Gourd - it's one of the lavender leshys, still trapped in their glass jar.
"Take it quick before she sees!" the noblewoman whispers.
Mint, not appreciating the leopard up in his face, manages to punch Entropy once on the snoot but thankfully doesn't seem to do a terrible amount of damage. After trying a second punch and failing, he hustles next to his pal Wisteria, dragging Fluff Fang along for the ride.
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Mint Orange
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Fluff Fang
Scary Gourd
>Entropy
Jackpot
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Bamboo Yellow
Wisteria Blue
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Chef Popcorn
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Honeysuckle Red
Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +1
Environmental Conditions:
Fluff Fang, Scary Gourd, Jackpot may act!
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“Thank you!” Scary gourd quietly replies to the good human that brought him one of the captive leshies.
Scary Gourd then turns his gaze on Mint and says in Sylvan “You are a betrayal of your very essence. The human only enacted a ritual, capturing your spirit in that vessel. Your spirit is one of nature. Helping this completely artificial garden is a betrayal of your very essence!”
He then commands Entropy to continue attacking Mint.
He then turns to Bamboo and says “Same goes for you bendy-grass! How can someone so flexible get stuck in such a rigid role?”