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Homework asssignment for the weekend - have a post ready about your character's greatest fear (basically an introduction to a new scene). I think we'll roll randomly for the order. I'll narrate it from there. You are going to have to get through four characters' worth of fears before you can find the Carrion.
The chains are coming your way, undulating like snakes. You don't detect any malice from Osna - he seems to be disoriented.
Nothing so crude as an assault-- instead, all of you are outside a shadowy maze of grays and blacks. You feel certain your foe lies within.
Yep, that's the idea! :)
Can we shoot for Monday for an update on what Abnaki and Samen are doing prior to going to sleep (or entering the dream realm at any rate)?
The sylph families sit enraptured by Abnaki's tale, and are helpless to resist their great relief at his reassurances. They are ready to follow your orders to rid themselves of this creature, and ask whether they should sleep in the same quarters, or separately, to best support your efforts, and so on. The children repeat Abnaki's earlier alliteration in a singson verse, tiring themselves out for bedtime.
You feel the tang or fear --real, not manufactured -- taint the air. The sylph families shift and mutter among themselves, worried that you will bring the wrath of the Night Carrion upon them all.
Some of the other families clutch their heads, remembering things they do not wish to remember. "I can't sleep, I can't go back!" they murmur and cry.
That sucks - feet / walking injuries are a hassle. Take the time you need to recover, game will be here when you are ready.
There is an obvious reluctance to speak, but finally one of the children speaks up, one you haven't met yet. "The bird head. He took us through the valley, but now he eats up our nightmares. It's a vulture head."
Samen, you feel the mind touch yours briefly, like cold water slowly creeping up your ankles. You control your breathing, and the feeling recedes. The atmosphere immediately lightens, and all the sylphs begin to breathe more easily.
Samen, you briefly feel one extra mind amongst the sylphs - as you try to follow it, it jumps from elen to elen, trying to evade your detection. Abnaki and Gabriel, you see scared sylphs that simply want to feel safe again. A few of them show odd tics and twitches as Samen's gaze quickly travels around the group, but they are only momentary.
Understood - appreciate the update.
There are murmurs of agreement. "We're sick of living in fear!" a few from the group call out. Despite their obvious trepidation, they want to try something new. Their hope, for the moment, outweighs their terror.
Qizzlvutz is overcome by a sudden trembling - maybe the children are right to be scared! The shadows about the simpe table suddenly seem threatening. Qizz's fear seems to amplify the fear of the sylphs, and the food is pushed aside as elens look at one another with wide, nervous eyes. The conversation dies down.
Qizzlvutz (smells) the sweat of frightened children, but does not (understand) why. Food (is) good? Talking (is) good?
Abnaki and his acolytes have no trouble sweet-talking the various sylphs from the surrounding areas to join together for a feast. They all bring one small dish, and Abnaki's very words multiply the offerings until there is indeed a feast before you.
Turning her attention back to Samen, she says, “I think I can get everyone together tonight, we were planning on a ‘town meeting’ soon anyway.”
Her eyes take a faraway look. ”It’s difficult to remember most of that time, but now that you say red hair…there was a sylph I think, and she was arguing with the lights floating around a wizard staff. Kind of reminded me of siblings fighting.” She looks with fondness over at her younger brother and sister, who are still bickering about the finer points of heroism, and demeaning the other’s intelligence in that mean-but-loving family way.
Qizz, you seem to get five different responses from just the two children. The answers range from yes, to yes but scary, to no way, and at least he’s stronger than Sky, and then the arguments shift to whether simply being stronger makes someone a hero. Even two sylph siblings can’t agree on the subject.
While the myco priest of chaos and revelry entertains the children, the priest of madness and truth goes to find other converts. They are oh-so-helpful and ready to please. Qizz, the children take your hands and lead you in a game of 'ring around volcano'. ring around volcano
A brief crease of worry crosses Moira's brow, but she seems unable to worry for long - Abnaki's beguiling presence smooths over any ruffled feathers.
Moira fidgets at the mention of problems, but under your patient gaze she eventually says, "As I said, it's difficult to trust after seeing so many sylphs falling to madness. It's easier to survive her with all of us gathering food, but...it's survival. Nothing more." Twisting a cheap tin ring on her finger, she continues, "At first, we wanted to get closer with other families, but once a week there are the most awful noises. Laila and Rowan always hear it first, and sneak around to see if the others are alright. They have good hearts." She rolls her eyes to Sky as if to say, but not much sense. "There's always at least one family missing during all the noise, and in the morning there's food missing, or a water barrel destroyed, or a stack of firewood burned to ashes." She shakes her head. "It makes no sense. It doesn't seem like these attacks have a point beyond terrifying us and making our lives worse. I don't want to believe that one of these families is to blame, but Laila and Rowan find the same thing every time."
Qizz, the children tell their own stories to you, though they are clearly imitations of Abnaki's, talking of magic roads and special houses that go through dreams and bad places and always end with families happy and safe.
Feels like it's just been me and Samen for about a week -- is everyone doing alright? I've got spring break with my kids coming up, so I'm ok with taking a brief hiatus before we jump into the middle of our next adventure/story. Can I get a quick update on how everyone is doing? Good to post, or need a week off?
The children immediately rush over to Abnaki, their shyness forgotten. They tug on his hands, asking for a story.
The little sister pipes up, "We think one of the families turns to monsters on Fallenday!" Moira gives the girl a glare to quiet her, and says, "Don't bother the els with your stories, Laila!"
"There are six families scattered around this area but it is...difficult to trust." Her eyes flick up toward the dead Sky, and an absent Moon. As she spreads out the rations and adds a small amount of her stew, she continues, "I know of no other threats, but we were witness to a minor miracle - an el with the head of a bird led us through the Valley. He told us not to breathe, to believe in the air in our souls, and we traveled through without dying." Her voice takes on a faraway tone, and her two younger siblings look toward the horizon dreamily, as if they might see the miracle again.
She tentatively takes your hand, emboldened by your kind tone.
With the heavy burden of fear gone, she begins weeping. She beckons the children over to receive your touch as well, and they all embrace you, for the simple elen (or human) comfort of a friendly hug. When their tears begin to dwindle, she says, "I'm Moira. We don't have much, but the forage is good in these parts with so few around." She gestures to one of the more intact stone dwellings. "Will you join us for acorn and potato stew?"
The sylph ele emerges from the bushes, face paler than pale from fright. She seems young to be a mother, an older sister seems more likely now. She has not heard your quiet assurances to the children. Struggling to keep her voice even, she says, "From what I've heard, you Moon-creatures and new gods prefer willing sacrifices." She glances at the cavorting mushroom-people behind Abnaki. "If I become your servant, or spill my blood willingly, could I have your word to spare my siblings? I cannot live any longer if I lose another family member." The children have stopped dead in their tracks, unwilling to run from their sister, but unable to say a word. The stink of their fear is acrid.
Are we good to post this upcoming week? Let me know how everyone is doing.
You hear soft crying coming from the bushes, then two small sylph children are suddenly running in fear away from you. A sylph ele, perhaps their mother, shouts in fright for the children. They look over their shoulders as they run, plainly terrified of the unearthly specters that have materialized from thin air.
Samen's powerful thoughts propel you all through void and color; as your eyes clear, you are in the middle of tall grasses amidst crude stone dwellings. The mostly abandoned tribal area does not surprise you - Cedar Smoke was never a powerful Tribe, and after Samen's father abdicated the chieftain's seat, it never recovered. Most oreads likely migrated to other Tribes, or joined with the ever-growing Tribe of Peace. The true shock is the surreal, purplish glow on the near horizon - a Breathless Valley stretched vertically to completely block the way south. The light is irritating, causing your eyes to water if gazed at too long. You hear rustling in the bushes, though whether animal or elen is unclear.
Nope, no wealth. If you asked for a stipend, the Tribe of Peace would likely give you some GP for your services. Yep, you can swap out the rings if you'd like.
Appreciate the update. Real life and self-care comes first.
Gabriel, Hakka seeks you out one last time. "Here. From one who worries about change just as much as you do." His dark, grim face gives a sardonic smile for just a moment. He hands you a stone, and walks away.
understood - I will make that happen.
A plate of cookies rises up from the stone table, created by Abnaki's incidental suggestion. Qizz is delighted, and deposits their face directly on top of the cookies, growing additional mouths to taste with.
Abnaki being scary again :) Kind of reminds me of the portrayal of Caligula from the old series "I, Claudius", starting off sane and reasonable, and falling into moods of "I am a living god!"
Hakka frowns, but it is an expression of thought, bot disapproval. "Hmm. Even stone changes in the wind and rain, yeah? Ok, I think I understand." His eyes focus on Abnaki. "I'm not for allowing oreads to worship no new god though." His voice is flat, dangerous.
Gabriel, a sour-faced oread warrior (you remember his name is Hakka, the one who challenged Samen and his psychic powers the last time you were here) walks up next to you, also surveying the scene. "You don't trust this magic too, eh? It's too much change, too fast. How can our traditions remain when the stone beneath our feet seems to shift and crumble?"
I'll leave the scene open for today if anyone wants to add anything, then we'll rest, start a new day, and figure out where to go from here!
Abnaki, some of the oreads begin laughing hysterically at the mycos antics, and you realize that your followers just may have learned the ability to instill hideous laughter from you.
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