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Due to busy/swamped RL, Kallik's player has asked me to bot, and if this is long-term I have a side quest in mind for them. Not gone, just on their own narrative for now
Learningto sees the rock will heal itself in the next few minutes. Everyone is distracted and interested as the large machine brews tea. The surface world is so strange.
Learningto takes comfort knowing that Qizzlvutz, Hroof Hroofa, and all her myco children will be safe. Safe from the Observer, and safe from Abnaki the Declarative-in-Training. She knows her way through many levels of the library. The rock slowly closes behind them, and no one notices. The rock-ogre burrows deeper. Qizzlvutz dances, Hroof follows, and Learningto thinks.
Qizz / Kallik are welcome back whenever they feel available :)
"(Dig) and (run)." Learningto stays calm, like you should when running from a fire.
survival, aided by Qizzlvutz: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 35
Young mycos are always more flexible shifters than elders, and Qizzlvutz is no exception. The young, burbling myco sprouts eyes of various shapes, suzes, and curvature to accomodate the mist-ridden landscape. The monotonous gray terrain shines bright and clear in their eyes, and Learningto feels that first tug of bittersweet sorrow in watching a beloved child start to become truly independent. How much longer until Qizz becomes a better tracker than Learningto?
survival, aided: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 32
"A (wending) path, like life itself. Never straight or easy, but our pods (know) the way."
Learningto Survival: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 = 28
random encounter, only a 1 is bad: 1d12 ⇒ 7
Learningto guides you through higher ground, avoiding the valleys where the wispy distortions seem to gather and clot. Great Forest is alive with insect sounds and earthy spring smells, but you still cannot shake the feeling of solitude. Something waits at Uluru, and the forest holds its breath.
**
It is twelfth candle.
Learningto finds a large mushroom, nearly house-sized with a cap that spreads above you like the branches of an oak. "This (is) a good place. (Eat) here, (rest) here."
To the Samen, Abnaki, and Gabriel, she continues, "We (arrive) at the Uluru plateau soon, tonight or tomorrow morning. What (is) your plan? (Do you want) to (arrive) by day or night? Do we (burrow) under somehow, or (try to fly) in?" The myco has no real idea on the limitations (or lack thereof) of your powers, and is curious to see what you will do.
Samen, Learningto leaves the slow turning to some of the mycos, while also reminding Hroof Hroofa to guard against the snakes stealing the food early.
She finds you still a bloody mess, and inquires whether she might bandage your wounds for you. Learningto makes a very competent medic, reciting little remembering poems under her breath as she works.
heal check Learningto: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 = 37
7 HP back, and you will gain the remainder back after resting tonight.
Learningto survival: 1d20 + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 8 + 3 + 2 = 26
Heap is a natural place to learn about things, and the tunnels gave excellent lessons on keeping one's sense of direction. This Forest seems almost absurdly simple to navigate after memorizing the thousands of tunnels around Heap.
you make good time, and it could be as little as 2 more days until you reach Uluru.
2 is encounter, 1 is bad encounter: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Learningto subtly keeps the influence of this Speaking creature away from Qizzlvutz. The elder myco does not flinch at the cost of some of her few remaining years, though the sudden feeling of exhaustion is most unwelcome. The child must be kept safe. She smiles wanly at cavorting Qizzlvutz, happy to know that what matters is what lives on.
Learningto smiles at Qizzl's antics, happy that the young myco can still find joy in small things.
Learningto helps the salamanders navigate the cold, wet ground of the wilderness after the rains have passed. She also helps set up a roaring for the two snakes to huddle against in the night. Though they are powerful allies, they are also temperamental and needy. Treat them like exotic flowers, gently, blooming in Heap for all to enjoy and use their poisons only when necessary.
She also gives the other mycos more freedom, away from her gentle guidance. Hroof Hroofa is finally starting to make sense of watches of logistics, and shows endurance easily twice that of an average elen. Qizzlvutz, that precious little squirming ball of energy, can still find joy in life, and Learningto takes great comfort in that. If they can keep that love of living in their heart, then all else will follow.
With patience and kind words, Learningto herds the militant myco faction led by Hroof Hroofa, as well as the salamanders, toward the edge of the clearing as the time approaches to leave. She is unclear if the salamanders are truly meant to be traveling with them, but she knows for certain they should not be left here.
last chance for prep / etc before we leave the Tribe of Peace! It will be all of you , Learningto, the other mycos, and our best friends the salamanders.
Learningto Ellen makes sure the child is safely (for some shifting use of the word) with their companions. Though Learningto yearns to go with them and see these wizards of magic, she realizes the snakes are staying behind. She decides to figure out some way to put them to gentle use. Everything can have a good use when all is fair and all is considered.
Learningto eventually comes in from the long discussions provoked by Samen's new and frightening magic. Not magic. She shrugs her shoulders, shifting her arms to exaggerate the gesture. Hroof Hroofa (the head of the myco warriors that came from Heap) can think of nothing but shooting sunbeams at distant enemies.
She takes some time falling asleep, head full of questions. What happens if you take the elements away from a myco? To take away shifting is to take away speech. What would happen to a salamander? Would it lose one of its heads, it personalities? Many things to shift around in her mind this night. Her dreams are vivid, but she recalls none of them.
"Ah, you (are) capable of shifting! I (wonder) if you (can be) taller too?"
Qizzlvutz applauds at the spectacle, thinking it to be a strange play, like it has read about in the cast-offs of Heap.
Learningto Ellen holds on to the little one, gently. With encouraging motions, the elder myco leads the younger. Idly, Learningto wonders if Hroof Hroofa is having any better success getting along with Hakka today. Both of those warriors are impatient, and intolerant of impatience in others.
Shaking her head to clear it and to focus on the wonderful now, Learningto smiles at Qizzlvutz. "How are you, small one, my brave one?"
As Samen and Gabriel discuss the more esoteric details of the spell, Learningto comes upon Qizzlvutz, who is still half-hidden in the doorway of the healer's residence. She whispers a soft words to Qizzl, and hugs it. She also keeps an eye on the snakes; Kessh-Amon is licking the outside of the potion bottle with a strange gleam in their eyes.
Learningto helps Qizzlvutz keep their enthusiatic sentences from becoming overly long. "Remember to let others speak, young one, and give them time to digest your words." As always, the small reminder is gentle.
Umik, for his part, seems fascinated thus far by your descriptions of Heap, the many rituals of dying, rotting, and rebirth, and so on. His brow creases. "Though I do wish to hear more from both of you tomorrow, I should attend to my chieftain. Wamblee should not be left unprotected from magical forces while he visits Slowly Rolling."
Learningto can clearly see the young one wants to be in quieter surroundings, and shepards Umik and Qizzlvutz to a wonderful-looking forked tree that seems an inviting place to sit. She has no concept of meetings in the elen sense of the word, so she does not realize her rudeness.
Learningto arches an eyebrow, every bit as sardonic as a surface-elen. In heavily accented Common, she says, "I speak this common tongue, young one. Instead of spells, you should listen." The old myco speaks carefully, and uses the strange verbs that are still so foreign to her.
"(Thank) you, story-grower. Your wisdom (is appreciated)."
"Why (would) a Tribe of Peace (destroy)? I do not (understand)."
Learningto holds Qizzlvutz like her own child, cooing and blurbling for quiet. Her shifting indicates the newest strangers. "Caution, young one."
Learningto weeps salty brown tears, overwhelmed by the beauty and strangeness of this open, windy place. "What a time to (be alive), young one!"
"I (did not say) none. Just not one of us five elements. I do not (know)."
Learningto's education has likely been limited to the four traditional gods / elements, along with the cultural assumption that Heap/Rot must be an element too
Ha, I think we have no healing / medicine knowledge among the group at all, which is quite appropriate these days. Ok, Learningto has studied from moldy old anatomy texts, and has noticed something.
"(These) bones (are) not fire, air, earth, nor water. And mycos (do) not (have) bones. Hmm." She hums thoughtfully to herself, all manner of toots and whistles coming from her myconian anatomy.
"Full of care, young one. These halls are not meant (for running and jumping)." Learningto's words are not a rebuke, as much as a gentle reminder. Her expression is full of apprehension. Thus far, she is the only myco besides Qizzlvutz to venture into the granite tunnels.
Learningto tentatively moves closer to the glorious, powerful phantom. There is awe, and perhaps a bit of fear, in her expression as she observes this phantom that can effortlessly banish the curse of the dark roots.
even though Abnaki is the only one that is getting this perfect interpretation, I still like showing the group what Abnaki is hearing, so I won't be using spoilers
"Ah, I (see) by the (look) on your face that you can (understand) me better now. You (are) very easy to (read). You are (banishing) the dark branches before our eyes! How?"
everyone else would roughly hear "face better, dark branches easy how?" Samen would be able to interpret it using only his lng. skill to mean "we can talk now. How did you defeat the branches so easily'?
Learningto's expression is a caricature of surprise. This aged myco has not seen a phantom so clearly manifested in decades. It is unheard of to see the dark branches pull back in fear of anything. Who are these beings that Heap has given us?
"Those with Blessings...?" she wonders aloud.
Learningto has extensive (although dated) religious knowledge, and will be aiding you and adding +3 to your roll, for result of 20
Learningto is limping along beside the long strides of Hroof Hroofa. Catching Samen's words, she says, "No, valuable. Not cheap. Hroof Hoofa only one voice among many. Stay here. Grow here.
Learningto is insisting thtat you stay close by, close to Heap, so you can learn to be part of the community.
"Hroof Hroofa. Invitation. Feast. For you." Learningto looks at each of you solemnly. "Hroof Hoofa is soldier. Mind full of weapons."
This new myco might be a captain/general of some kind, assuming the mycos down here are still ocassionally trying forays against the dark root invaders. You think that Learningto is saying you should go to the feast, but to keep in mind this soldier will be looking at you as potential weapons.
Learningto shrugs in response to Abnaki, the motion expressive in ways none of you can interpret quite yet. "Many generations of peoples. Many jumps, many falls. Very few jumps now. Fear, no bodies, fear gone forever."
They have been attempting to push through or destroy or dispel, etc these roots for hundreds if not thousands of years, and have not found success. In particular, the fear is losing their material bodies, which in a closed society of birth, death, recycling, etc, would be akin to losing one's soul in a different ideology.
Between Samen's linguistic skill and Abnaki's instinct for the shape of stories, and I'll be providing simple explanations of Learningto's dialogue. I want to preserve the idea that mycos have a very different mindset and speech pattern, But! I don't want to spend endless pages with you guys piecing together weird sentences. Hopefully this is a happy middleground.
Lerningto shakes her head at Samen's and Gabriel's words. "Cannot 'kill' Death. Must..." she is clearly struggling to find a word here in Common, "must life Death instead."
Qizzlvutz, if you want to RP the time you and Learningto were out here (it was about 30 minutes), just use spoiler tags. She does not answer your questions for now, but she does comfort you with a hug.
The same wispy blue light guides you and others out of the dim tunnels of music, and again you see other travelers taking different routes. Learningto and the small myco that was scampering about earlier are there when you emerge. The humming mycos continue their shifting songs, slowly wending through dissonance and harmony.
Before you have a chance to say anything, Learningto nods and says, "No escape. Roots surrounding. Death."
Learningto nods "Many questions, many thoughts." She looks at you for a long moment, weighing a decision. "Answers first." She leads you to a long row of perfectly spaced openings, all identical arches. The murals here echo that same shape, arcs of dark and light blues dominating the ceiling. There are mycos standing at each entrance, each making a low humming sound. The pitches seem to waver around each other, changing character as you pass each hummer.
The elder myco stops at one of these entrances. Her respiration is labored-- you gather that this walk, no more than two city blocks in Hearth, has taxed her stamina. "Inside. Guides. Answers." Her shifting body language seems to indicate walking.
Learningto looks over her left shoulder, even though nothing is there. She nods, and nods again. "Later, impatient one. Restful places first."
Samen, ignoring the fact she is talking to herself, Learningto seems to be indicating she will take you to a place of rest if you wish. Mechanically, you are all at full health, etc. It could conceivably be called the beginning of the day. You could also ask to be told more about where you are, what the heck just happened, etc.
Learningto looks at you intently, then her face lights up. "Heap is!" She points a finger, which elongates triple its normal length, to indicate the enormous pile of compost, dirt, bones, and offal. "Mysteries of Heap, many! Heap teller and giver, we listeners and getters. Knowledge."
she seems to be indicated that "they" didn't bring you back; things happen around the Heap, and they 'listen' to it in some fashion.
There is a slight delay as Learningto nods, absorbing your words. "Hailo, Same and Legion. Language sky-talk, like you."
Her brow wrinkles in a caricature of thought - the moldable faces of these people are extremely expressive. "Essens...elens? We *blorfk* elens." Her arms go upward in a grasping motion as she mentions elens.
Samen, you are starting to detect that Learningto has difficulty with spoken verbs in the Common language.
The most elen-looking of the mushroom people takes a few steps forward, her legs extending slightly to help with the task. There is a sense of great age about her, in the careful movements of her shifting body.
"Hailo, ones alive. I Learningto Elen. My people not sky-talk. What names?"
she has not yet noticed that Qizzlvutz has acquired a phantom, you are on the far side of the compost heap
Qizzlvutz is Kallik's new character, for those wondering
Qizzlvutz, your mentor's shifting, like branches in the stories, waves you forward, still encouraging. Still speaking in Common (or sky-talk, as many others call it) she says, "Now, time." Her legs shrink, showing she is staying in her place. It is your time to go forward.
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