Poppy Cotton's page

Poppy gives Ruka a side long glance. "There iz nothing to forgive. Group iz strong. Ve vill make it DESPITE their plans.", she assures her.

As the party continues, the hedge witch admires the castle and it's construction. Despite the hast of their missions, she couldn't help but appreciate the achievment. It was easy to imagine those catapults in their glory days, despite the rot and greenery that had infested every nook and cranny. She couldn't help but wonder if they'd ever fired at an invading army or only in drills.

Once they reach the fork in the road, she briefly hesitates before approaching the northeast door, turns on a heel towards the group and wordlessly motions a thumb up at the entryway as if to say, "Why not this one?"

Poppy grumbles. The silence is too much. Her teeth start to grind as paranoia sets in. Just as she's about to break it, Lor-Sinn gets there first. She nods at their words and offers quietly,"I agree, ve should proceed vith caution, ze might've set traps or an ambush." her point emphasized by her eyes narrowing.

"Solid plan, Ruka. Ve'll follow your lead." , she offered gratiously despite hersadness by their lack of time to harvest the mobat. The gnome hustles with the rest of the party back to the sight of their previous fight, lighting another bit of flayleaf in her pipe. Poppy takes up her position in the middle of the room, arming herself with her crossbow and a decidely determined look. She readies an action to fire at the first enemy that pops up into range. Then I'll drop it and start crossing my fingers for the nearest ally that needs aid.,she considered.

Readying action to fire.

FINALLY, the cascade of cackles ceased in a coughing fit, the magic sputtering before fading away. Poppy takes a few breaths, interrupted by the odd chuckle and takes in her surroundings. Though tempted to pick apart the fallen birdfolk, she again felt it would be received in poor taste, and instead visibly ignored them, favoring the pathways before the group.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 Regardless of what she finds or doesn't find she does the following.

After a moment, she motioned with an iron pan that had fallen loose during the battle. " Nicely done, all! The eastvard vay seems vorth exploring."

Poppy, now more laugh than gnome, suddenly has a moment of brief clarity, as swords hacked and spells fired, the viscera flowering through the air reminded her how dangerous their situation was. they were in the middle of a battle! and that made Poppy laugh more, but before that, she managed to click her wrist and gesture a spell of guidance for Ruka, to aid her with the last foe.

Five foot step. Move action for cackle, Guidance on Ruka.

Poppy briefly wonders how the others manage to think, act AND speak in the heat of the moment. So much chaos and they just nonchalantly whip out these classic one liners. The gnome had only a moment to be jealous before suddenly bursting into a deep chortle that quickly inflates into a full on cackle, the mental image of each badass party member practicing a personalized battle cry in private was too much to bear, though it admittedly was more expected of Asuka. As Poppy's red locks bounce from giggling, she motions to Ruka with her lit longpipe to try and include her in on the joke, but can't manage to formulate much of a sentence.

Poppy casts Hex Fortune on Ruka and then Hex Cackle for her move action. The order is fluff.

Poppy had nodded to Spivey's request, and even harder at the party's assurances. It had been nice to recieve a warning of the castle's inhabitants. a favor they would most certainly return in kind.

Upon sight of the guards, the gnome went wide eyed, turning to Asuka, before looking back and forth between the two sets of avianoids, and finally furrowing her brow. Perhaps these individuals should stay OFF tonights menu...

Swallowing hard, she quietly whispered in a series of clicks and caws, asking her friend in heavily accented

The gnome thenarcs ger neck to look up at the group with a serious expression, whispering"Who of us iz the stealthiest? Are ve ALL to attempt to cross unnoticed? Perhaps plan B could be a distraction, da? I humbly offer my shapechanging abilitiez if needed." she finished with an involuntary and yet still unnervingly wide grin.

2nd level spells! 2nd level spells! lol But for real, The true draw is the feat. Brings Poppy Cackle which is lovely with Hex vulnerability and Fortune, making her the parties good luck charm. And thanks for looking out, Sam.
Witch 3
HP: 3+1+3=+7 [23 in total]
BAB: 
Saves: +1 to Fort & Ref [ 1fort & 5 ref total]
Favored Class Bonus: +1 skill point

Skills: 2+1FCB+ Int+3 
Bluff +1  
Sense Motive +1 
Stealth +1 
Perception +1 
Knowledge Nature +1 
Climb +1

Background Skills  
Craft (Alchemy) +1  
Linguistics(Tengu) +1

Feats: extra hex

Class features:  
Hex: Cackle

Spells : 
0 lvl Mend, Spark, Daze, Guidance 
1st lvl 2xHex Vulnerability, Ill omen
2nd lvl Blindness, Glitterdust

Poppy watches the tiny woman with quiet admiration. Ten years was not an insignificant amount of time. Spivey's dedication to her beliefs was daunting, especially after the loss of someone so important. All alone, she still does what she thinks is right. Poppy couldn't help but wonder if she possessed such strength in HER convictions. Breaking from her introspective considerations, she cleared her throat and made herself known.

"Ve should all be enviable of your perseverance in thiz chaotic area. You describe such horrendous monstrosities stalking so near, and yet you stay. Asuka iz right, if anyone vere to test our intentionz, I vould prefer it be someone as noble as you." Poppy announced with a small curtsey and warm smile, before turning to rustle through her rucksack.

"Dear Kaji haz already offered our services in part, iz there anything else ve could offer to aid you?", the gnome asked bouncing forth and brandishing a sweet lemon cake toward Spivey temptingly. "Besides clearing away said beastiez."

Poppy, less than confident that her bolt would hit ANY combatant, nonetheless reloaded and fired at the second creature with her light crossbow.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

But to her wide eyed shock, she managed to contribute some harm,the bolt finding purchase in the monsters hide. This was especially surprising as she'd been distracted by Lor-Sinn's words echoing in her head. Her mouth watered at the very thought of boiling these crustaceans into some kind of chow, though she was uncertain as to what form that might take. Never had she seen such a gloriously massive sea beast. Would she even be able to convince the others to drag them back? Ameiko's situation took precedence, of course. Regardless, she was gonna need MUCH more butter!

"That's it?" Poppy asked, cutting into the moment, so unimpressed was she. Poppy had stared at the bowl intensely, her head cocked to one side hoping for...anything! The anticlimax was palpable. Giving a huff, she unleashed sleeved spoon and dipped it quickly into the bowl, holding it under her nose and gave it an exaggerated sniff. She was sure her gnomish constitition could withstand a great deal of abuse but eyed Lor-Sinn for confirmation of it's safety. and most otherraces take for granted how much you could learn from something by eating it.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Poppy had watched nervously as the group did their best to aid her afflicted cooking partner, feeling helpless that none of her hedge witch level curative magics would not be enough. Even the venerable Koya seemed at a bit of a loss. She watched quietly from the sidelines, pacing back and forth, whispering in Sylvan, afraid to offer assistance as a platitude, and knowing there was not a lot that could be done.Until the others discussed the topic of vaults and ancestors did Poppy finally snap out of her mental flagellation. Never had she had a such a complicated Caravan trip,and imagined that if she stayed with them for long, this might become a regular theme.

Extreme circumstances call for extreme action.

Though she bemoaned the idea of moving so far once again without her mobile home, but nonetheless, tightened her backpack laces and made a mental check of her supplies, almost joking they turn back for a delicious loaf of parmesan bread that was sure to raise everyone's spirits, but quickly thought better of it.

As the group sets out for the lighthouse, Poppy slipped in between Sam and Asuka in the marching order, and offered a comforting pat to her hummingbird companion, nestled quietly on her shoulder.

" You think there's something vorse than valking bones out there?", she asked openly, casting her gaze out to the vista before them.

Humming to herself quietly, Poppy set about prepping for dinner, chopping this and whisking that. She'd appreciated the largely uneventful journey so far, despite the recent commotion regarding the young ward the caravan had taken on. She couldn't help but watch the man out of the corner of her eye with suspicion. She usually didn't mind being hired on with less...desireables, but usually each caravan had a mood. Many heroic and noble individuals reside in this encampent and she saw only trouble coming from mixing the two.

She let out her anxiousness with an audible sigh, scrunching up her face for all to see and resumed her meal prep. She'd collected quite the collectiom of ingredients, accounting for bulk after several discussions with Sandru. She spent much of her personal funds to ensure a steady supply of treat items such as fresh honey, exotic fruits, and coffee.

Tonights meal consisted of reseasoned leftover potato soup and slow roasted honey garlic chicken and greens. No significant monster related parts were present in any of the dishes. She decided to introduce them slowly to her more, eccentric cooking qualities. She was their only source of food and didn't want to lose anyones trust. Plus she was in a bit of a drought of monster parts and was currently in the market. Maybe a little danger was worth it if she could get her hands on a giant snake or cockatrice tail. Her thoughts drifted back to the Courtesan card Koya had pulled. Was she two faced in the same way as the masked figure from the card? Unsettlled by the thought, she threw herself into her work

Cooking: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

She turned to Ameiko and shook her bushy locks, frizzying this way and that, with a single finger in the air. "Just the one talent. But if I am going on second adventure AND covering a caravan, I vill need budget for food supplies. Do not worry, I vill pay if ve need extra."

Poppy noticed and then snorted at Lor-sin's stare.
" Iz joke! Iz joke! Ve make deal, you keep Poppy safe, and I'll make sure you get first bowl at mealtime." The gnome dropped the fork with a clatter, holding up her hands in faux supplication.

She then began pulling her mane of hair into a large braid and listing off all the items on her shopping list. "New butter churner, larger pots, loads of spices-" She stopped midbraid , her eyes narrow and lazer in on Sandru," I must meet vith your grocer!"

Poppy is for sure willing to cook for the caravan and can also drive her own cart!

You're also more than welcome to store your crafting supplies on Poppy's carriage if it helps. She's got a good deal of room up top.

I am also open to splitting the cost of the wand!

Excited to see some of those 'fun' arrows, Kaji. Boxing glove arrow, incoming! Lol and that Any-Tool, looks super useful!

Glad to hear it! I have similarly returned.

Poppy bit her lip. This was not part of the plan. Three years of writing. 3 rejections, including the last time she tried decades ago when the publisher last executed The Complete Adventurers Almanac. This was a chance at an old dream to get her recipes immortalized

On the other hand, Sandru was going...
Additionally, for some reason it felt like she was abandoning the others if she didn't go. But she'd only REALLY known them all for a couple of days. To be fair, those days WERE more eventful than the last couple thousand. They all seemed so excited by the prospect, most jumping at the chance. Was she a fool for even thinking of not joining?

Was this mornings rampant fortune some kind of message from Jun? Was she MEANT to use it to help them? In a world filled with Gods, Demigods, Devils and more, Poppy didn't see much reason in being an atheist or denying the possibility of destiny and the like. She also didn't see any real purpose in CHOOSING a faith as she'd made her deal long ago.

Maybe. Just maybe, if she showed the publishing house what she had so far with the promise of more from their journey to Brinewall, they'd give her an extension? It was a big ask and ultimately a risk. Could she have her cake and eat it too? She'd need a bit of kismet on her side. Luckily...

"I vill of course be applying for the position of caravan guard." she announced with a smirk and a thrust of a fork.

Poppy wakes groggily, clumsily searching for the ingredients to her custom hangover cure and by chance found the majority of ingredients in her shelves.
Half asleep she lights her mobile oven and crafts a meal of eggs and a small bowl of blueberry, banana oatmeal. She finishes the brunch with a cup of lemon ginger tea and a flay leaf stuffed longpipe, sifting through the haze of memories last night.

As she watched the street from her carriage window she admires her garden and munches her meal watching the folk that passed along the streets in the early midday. She considered the past days events and what her next move might be when she noticed something odd after a few minutes, people seemed to be having particularly fortuitous days. One person found a silver coin in the muck, almost walking past. Another, a dwarven smith nearly falls after placing a new shop sign but lands perfectly, a one in a hundred chance. A stray dog successfully steals from a nearby vendor, snatching a whole leg of mutton for himself.

Poppy's eyes brightened at a sudden realization. And whispered,

A soft fluttering of movement filled the carriage as a colorful tiny figure entered her sightline. She observed the carved food hummingbird flit about head height, watching her curiously. She offered a hand to the food sculpture she'd crafted to serve as a vessel for her patron, where it hovered momentarily before landing. Sculpted of watermelon and apple, the details were extensive, fooling any who didn't take time to observe it.

She'd kept Jun hidden from even her journey associates as she was uncertain how she'd be recieved. Truly she was an oddity, and they'd both had past instances of attempting snatching or noming and had to report. Poppy assumed the likely hood of such an event occuring on an ADVENTURE was perhaps increased, so they played it safe and ket her out of sight.

Poppy couldn't hold back her cheshire's grin at her companion over new found ability and how much of a game changer it was. She took a long draw from her longpipe before admitting with a shrug,

"Guess it's my lucky day."

Witch 2
HP: 3+1+3=+7
BAB:+1 
Saves: +1 to Will
Favored Class Bonus: +1 skill point

Skills: 2+1FCB+ Int+3
Bluff +1 
Sense Motive +1
Stealth +1
Perception +1
Handle animal 1
Performance:(Teppanyaki Show)+1

Background Skills 
Craft (Alchemy) +1 
Linguistics(Halfling & Varisian) +1

Class features: 
Hex: Fortune

Spells :
0 lvl Mend, Spark, Daze, Guidance
1st lvl 2xHex Vulnerability, Summon Monster

Poppy spent the evening drinking and sharing stories with the group, eating her fill and staying up way later than she was used too. She made sure to speak with Sandru a bit and offer some light flirting but largely just enjoying time with her friend. She made sure to have a chat with whatever whichever of the group stayed awake but lost track of who she'd talked to by the end and largely gave up, instead substituting courage with liquor.

Unless something else happens, she ends the night drunkenly walking to her carriage, embracing the familiar aroma and falls asleep in her hammock.

I'm not even sure SHE knows what she wants yet! Lol But you pegged her right, she's doing it out of insecurity to some degree. She's playing the slow game.

Poppy's eyes widened at Bethana's lack of tact. S**$! Forgot all about her. Her body seized, a glare barely masked by a clenched grin.
"SO GOOD TO SEE YOU, BETHANA.", she attempted to loudly interrupt the halfling, before she blabbered too far.

Hoping her associate understood, she parted ways with a less strained grin and made a concerted effort to unwind. She got herself a plate of food and joined in the revelry. Telling stories, eating plenty, and drinking more than necessary. She would be sure to help Bethana with the morning dishes to thank her for her understanding...if she didn't stay up too late. She was sure to save a huge plate upon Ruka's request.

"Ish not mine, but ish PRETTY good.",she jokingly slurred as the younger Kaijitsu returned before she raised a glass.

Poppy considered imaginary fates for her comrades as they walked, quickly dismissing them as she was no soothsayer and rarely considered herself any level of wise.

Their fates are there own. , she thought before the scent of glorious foods found them near the Rusty Dragon. Oh Gods, two days is far too long to be away from my spice rack.

Poppy froze outside the inn the moment she heard his voice. She quickly looked herself over, and huffed at how hours of travel caked her appearance. Uttering a few words in sylvan, and repeating her gestures from back in the fort, she drew herself a new image from the nearby shadows.

Standing near the back, was now nearly a foot taller, cleaner Poppy whose features were a little less exaggerated and more well proportioned; slightly smaller rounder ears,reeled in eyebrows, less bobbleheaded, etc. At the right angle the gnomish chef now looked a little half elven or even humanesque at a glance. Her clothes rippled into nicer crafted wears of someone with more money than she, but no where near ostentatious.

Straightening her posture and tweaking a detail here or there, she examined her visage in a soup spoon from her pack.

Better.

Hearing the others greet those indside, she quickly tied Arti next to Choke and patted them both before entering. She smiled unabashedly Sandru, irritatingly enamored with the idiot as he swaggered about. She registered the others and even nodded at Koya before calling out to Sandru playfully. Shaking the ring of goblin ears in the air before handing them off to Ruka and grabbing herself a plate of food.

Disguise Hex to make Poppy appear a little more human.

Poppy listened respectfully to the prayer, stopping the clanging of pans in her cleanup efforts to wait and watch. Her mind drifted to funerals past, lingering on her mothers until Lor-Sinn finished.
She always hated adventurers. Sorry maică. But the book chapter will be great! The publisher will love it. Maybe I should get a recipe from the Kaijitsu's...

The rest of her packing was done in silence as she considered the end of her one and only adventure. She couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. She smiled sadly at the group, wondering which of them would keep up the questing life. She liked to think living past a century tended to give her a little insight with people.

Asuka for sure. Nothing could keep that spirit down. The world would be safer for her efforts, no doubt. Kaji was the closest to one before this what with guarding caravans. He'd secure our trade routes well and should probably be put in charge of something important. Sam I could see being a renowned traveler but adventuring? He seemes to share my stomach for roughing it in the wilds, which is, not very well. But who knows, his resourcefullness and superior spellcasting could take him far. Lor-Sinn was an exceptional team player and seemed to be one of the most straightfoward people I've encountered. Small town guard with her heart on her sleeve, maybe she's just looking for a cause? But Ruka...seems frighteningly angry. Probably closest thing to a leader we've got and I trust her, but she seems so uncertain of her potential. To be fair, some people don't wanna be heroes or prove themselves. Some folk just WANT live. Maybe after slaying those goblins, she can find some measure of peace.

Twenty minutes later, Poppy held a dish of cheesy seasoned tomatoes, two-three per person. Hearing talk of ANOTHER shipwreck, she figured she'd offer her thoughts on the matter.

"It iz worth noting that I have just run out of supplies. This iz last of fresh foods as I did not realize ve'd be gone this long. If ve vant to continue, someone vill haf to hunt for lunch, second lunch and dinner. I haf no skill in the hunt but vill gladly clean and prepare vhatever iz found." She passed out the food and walked back to the beach edge to put out her fire as well as clean up. She continued speaking with a bit more volume to carry across the distance, walking backwards as she did. "That being said? If there iz vote, Poppy votes to return. Arti iz missing Choke and I am missing my hammock."

Poppy went to kick some of the bones and say something witty in celebration of the groups success, but stopped when the talk of burial surfaced and thought better of it.

Maybe I should put the bones I took, back..., she thought, but did not act on.

Poppy contemplated which group she should assist, but decided to help search the ship as she lacked the strength to provide much aid in that area. However she thought the group might appreciate a midday snack and set a fire a little further up the beach, but still within sight of the others and set to work crafting baked parmesan tomatoes in her miniature iron oven.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Alchemy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Use this perception if we can't take a twenty.

Poppy runs forth and continues her campaign of motivational magics, tapping Kaji with a forefinger before skipping around Samton, effectively circling him. Seeing how her group were largley throwing down serious damage at the skellys, she piped up with, "At this rate, ve'll have effectively dispatched more skeletonz than goblinz! I feel bad for stealing vork from other adventurerz!"

Drive by Guidance on Kaji and move arnd to behind Sam.

Then.

Poppy had spent the trip mostly in silence, a stoney glare painted across her face. She bounced along on Arti's back thankful her small size afforded her the opportunity to avoid the slog. Judging by poor Sam's appearance and struggle, this had been the right call. She'd have to remember to add mollasses and apples to Arti's next meal for being so helpful. To any outside observers, one could presume that Poppy was struggling internally with some drastic concern. Was it a moral issue regarding the occupation of adventurers in general? Was it regarding her recent brush with death? Or perhaps the momentous discovery of lost family members and a growing mystery surrounding the Kaijutsu family?

Hmmm, Should the bones be made into Broth Gravy or Stew Stock? Maybe bonemeal for garden? Decisions, decisions...

Now.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Knowledge Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Poppy marveled at the ship, despite the fact that it had seen far better days. From what she could make out, it's design was quite different than the ship's she had seen previously, though she'd only ever sailed once or twice in her life and there was very little left to detail differences with any degree of certainty.

At the sight of more Skellys facing their group down, Poppy slide out her knife and positioned herself defensively behind Sam and the frontliners in the hopes of avoiding another sucking chest wound. Passing by Lor-Sinn, she grazes her armor, providing a little magical support as Poppy was depleted of her more heavy magics.

Scrunching up her face in a mocking fashion, she hissed out a goading call to their boney opponents. "Pleaze, do not mind us, ve are boat inspectors and The Blossom iz long overdue. Do you have necessary paperwork?"

Guidance on Lor-Sinn and moving by Sam.

Have fun and safe travels!

Poppy who had been examining a wand and confering with Sam over what it might be, doesn't even argue before taking the potion. The ache in her chest was getting pretty severe and she wanted to feel good about their victory. "Thank you, Ruka. Vell done on that final blow as vell. Noroc!" She gulped down the strange liquid, ignoring it's potential contents, where they'd found it, and imagining how long it had been there.

I've drank worse.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Her body released it's tension as the pain flittered away. In only a few moments, her freckled flesh had mended and she gave a great sigh. She stretched a little and noted that only a small mark remained. While not back to one hundred percent, she felt significantly better but her siesta ended once she noticed Kaji pull a scroll of all things out of a sword handle. She attempted to read the the words but only had a vague handle on the language. She kicked herself for not making a greater effort to pick it up before this, but tried all the same to decipher its general meaning or even a few words here and there.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Spellcraft on wand: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

And just like that, the fight was over. In just a few seconds and even fewer strikes, the skelly crumbled, but not before cutting Asuka gruesomely. She watched with concern as Ruka saw to their feathered ally's wounds and cradled her own. She woke from her stupor at Kaji's question.
"Poppy iz out of curative magix. Uzed last on Ruka." It was then that she noticed the grouping of Lor-Sinn and others inspecting the spoils of the fight and a clutch of potions caught her eye. She saw other items of potential magical function, but felt Sam might have a better handle on those and left them for him to inspect at his convenience.

"Maybe vone of those could help?", she offered, moving slowly towards the containers to inspect them throughly, pushing aside more treasure than she'd ever seen in one place. She'd concocted a few elixers in her day for profit and otherwise, and hoped that experience might aid her here.

Spellcraft Potions: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Whew!

Her eyes lit up at the realization of what they had discovered. "Ha! Beton!", she exclaimed before grabbing the bunch, carefully laying them before Asuka and the others, detailing each ones purpose and strength.

Poppy, overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotion as she watched the choatic melee breakout. Having spent the bulk of her magics, she saw little recourse but to either use her crossbow, which was about as effective as throwing a herring into the fight what with how many were dog piling. Worse she might even hit one of them. Instead, she decided to aid Lor-Sinn once more, approaching just outside the fights reach and brushed her less bloody hand against the horned ones armor.

"Stab him good for me, da?"

Guidance to Lor-Sinn and move action straight up to behind her unless that provokes.

The Gnome nodded at Ruka's words and acknowledged that there business here was not through. Poppy, still sore from the wound she refused to heal, decided she could hang back in the scuffle, instead healing Ruka under the guise of a reassuring pat after everyones pep talk. "Ve have a much more likely chance of finishing this if you are at full strength or az close az I can get you..", she told the warrior before moving forward.

Before combat CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Illuminated by the pale light of her spell, she could tell this skelly seemed different. The her darkvision let her see him, the light painted a more threatening picture. Alone. Armored. Aggressive. Ruka had barely entered the area when it had clattered to life. You're a threat. No jokes for you.

Pushing through the pain, she turned to Asuka and pulled a tiny pouch from inside her satchel, pouring forth a smidge of it's contents onto her palm. A dull grey powder gathered at the center, which she held up to her lips with one hand and blew toward the Tengu's direction. As her hand had emptied, she pursed her lips creating a thin whistle in the still cavern air. But with her other hand, she took her pointer finger and thumb, lining them up above and below Asuka from her perspective, and pinched them slowly together until she was about half her size, which would mske her roughly Poppy's height!
"Sper să mă ierți. This may be a little disorienting, but like I mentioned this morn on ride here, you'll be much harder to hit and the bigger THEY are... ", Poppy trailed off, saving her breathe for the when the spell took affect. She gripped the loaded crossbow at her side, fully aware it's usefullness in this fight would prove less than.

Reduce person on Asuka!

Poppy watched with a menacing glee she rarely let surface, as the skellys were broken into pieces by her companions. She let out a loud sigh and laid on her back, giving a couple claps to the group before quickly stopping from pain. Ow. ow. ow.ow. Message recieved. No clapping, got it. From the corner of her eye, she watched as Ruka rejoined the land of the living and grew solemn upon hearing her words. I'd been reckless too. Almost made it the whole way through without a scratch. Now I'm bleeding on my notes.

She leaned over to the pile of bones and regained her grin. But it was worth it. Adventure complete. She sat up and collected the head and femur of the skelly who nearly fell her. I think it best we leave your recipe out of the book though. She thought hungrily, stuffing the acquired remains in a free rutsack, equally eager to examine how the bones connected. Was it ALL magic? Did any ligaments remain? Her mind buzzed with a multitude of questions. She'd have to examine them and the spider's this evening.

All the while she'd listened to Asuka's speech and felt it was a nice capstone to the affair. "That'z all of them then? Rest of cave iz purely academic, da?" her attempts to stand ellicited an intrusive hiss of pain. She placed a hand over her chest wound and began to whisper some dark encantation, but stopped and made a deep groan, not from pain this time, but over a sudden realization.

"Oh, but the fireworks."

Poppy screamed as streaks of blood pooled from her chest to the cavern floor, replaced by white hot anguish. Her body trembled from shock, but the roar that filled the cavern was more than just from pain, it was fury.

"Nenorocitule!! *Gah!*-Al naibii de rănit!" Poppy released a string of expletives before falling to a knee. She pawed at the mangled flesh across her clavicle, gritting her teeth at the thought of bone scraping bone. She'd couldn't remember the last time she was in such mind numbing pain.

She applied pressure to the wound with her left hand, and tried to slow her breathing as her mind was a swirl of panic, pain, and hostile passion. All of which subsided momentarily, as pieces of the skellys fell to pieces before her. Wincing, she glanced up at her allies, who'd formed an effective wall between her and the remaining undead.

Poppy cracked a smile at Asuka's words and coughed out a chuckle, before shakily leaning forth and limply tapping her feathered friend on her side. "You skelly's are so screwed."

Even more Guidance!

After a minute or two of quiet amoungst the group at the sight, Poppy couldn't put a lid on her nervous energy any longer. "Valking bones..." Poppy said with quiet excitement, her eyes widening at the sight of the skeletons. She couldn't help but wonder if they would make any kind of a dish worth eating. She salivated over the challenge.'A recipe has no soul, you must dream them into the meals that could be.' Arch Chef Kel always wrote. Would the others think that's weird though...nah

"Of course they're tallfolk skellys. Couldn't have been kobold or pixie bones.", she joked, attempting to inspire a little courage in those who'd actually be fighting.

The gnome quickly snapped her fingers four times in a row, each snap creating a swirling ball of light above her head like a crown before shooting off into the dark cavern. Squinting, she adjusted their motions with her stare, dodging and weaving revealing as much of the area as possible, for eyes keener than hers. "No hiding for you!", she jeered, hoping her party would share in her belief that facing fear with brightness and bravado was sometimes worth losing the element of surprise.

Dancing lights!

Poppy playfully slapped Lor-Sinn on the back in celebration. "Perfect!"With the battle finished, Poppy stepped around her party and did her best to collect as few web strands as possible on her person. Seeing the wound covered arachnid she gave a small gasp at it's size and spent a second grateful she wasn't the one going toe to toe with it.

"Nice vork all! Now let's see vhat bits you have to offer..." , the gnome whispered the last part while breaking out her tools. "Two minutes please.", she asked of the group, holding up two spindly digits, before diving in knives first.

Craft Alchemy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Making quick work of the corpse, she ended up with a partially ruptured venomgland, some fangs and a hairy chunk of carapace. She hastily joined the others as soon as her task had finished, admiring her trophies and future meal bits. "Vhichever vay you choose, you can't go vrong as far as I'm concerned.", Poppy chirped secretly hoping for a beastie around every corner.

Poppy could barely make out the fight before them but knew it might be something serious if it lasted much longer. The groups frontliners were becoming a force to be feared now that everyone was learning how to work together. Though Poppy couldn't speak to their efficiency as much an expert like Kaji could, but she knew a bit about teamwork from working in many a kitchen, and could see some semblance of cohesion forming.
"One more try!", she whispered to Lor-Sinn, repeating the gesture and rhyme from before.

Guidance on our tiefling friend

Poppy perked up at hearing that a large spider blocked their path and rushed from the rear to the horned ones side. "If you can get in before it's over, thees might help." Her words were accompanied by an odd gesture and the slightest of brushes on the shoulder, prompting a feeling of confidence to surge forth in Lor-Sinn.

After offering the spell to bolster their chances, Poppy barked further up the cavern to her allies in the fray. "Try not to rupture venom sac! Goes vell vith squash!"

Move forward and cast Guidance on Lor-Sinn.

A cave. Perfect. Poppy had spent her early decades trapsing through mountain to feed many a dwarf miner and had grown an appreciation for a good cavern.

Poppy loosely tied Arti to a nearby tree, behind some foliage and vines to keep him vaguely camouflaged. Don't want him getting stuck in case danger comes this way.

Poppy had been considering her companions for most of the walk, agonizing over her luck of finding such a fine group of adventurers. For instance, the care with which Ruka treated Arti, couldn't help but make Poppy grin. "We can judge someones heart by their treatment of beasts.". She wasn't sure where she'd read that but imagined it applied to Ruka. Even when dealing with the goblins, a creature she despised for perfectly legitimate past reasons, she put effort in trying to be fair. All potential qualities of a good leader. She'd have to tell her such, soon.

Her thoughts turned to Asuka, as their fine feathered friend returned and clapped in approval of the new outfit. "I know eef I vere a hideous undead I'd, vithout doubt, be flattered to be slain by someone so stylish." She admitted dryly before entering the cave.

Keeping one Cure light wounds and adding Reduce Person. Cantrips include Guidance, Stabilize and Dancing lights.

Poppy eyed the pitiable creature before her, its head facing a direction most living things couldn't manage, so she assumed he wasn't. She didn't know whether or not to laugh from the sudden twist in it's fate, but she certainly wasn't going to shed a tear. She'd known plenty of people who couldn't get out of their own way, and Muckbreath seemed like the poster child. There was an air of inevitability to the whole affair.That snap ended all ethical debate. It's just meat now. Still, outside was better.

A few moments of shock, Poppy briefly whispered in a lilting tongue, seemingly to herself, before unsheathing her knife and using it to emphasize her words to Kaji, "Promise kept, da?". She shrugs before leaning down to grab Muckbreath's limp wrist. Poppy dragged the goblin corpse out of the sleep room careful not to hit any unconscious party members and added twenty gold to the party's coffers.

From outside on the walkway she asks those awake, "Vhat say ve skip breakfast and make for thoze caves? I'll make up for it vith an early leftover lunch.". She was ready to put some distance between herself and the fort.

Poppy remember to collect the old chiefs head as well if no one else had yet. She stores it in a rucksack she doesn't plan on reusing.

Poppy dropped her hand from her knife sheath and occupied it by rubbing her temple with concern, head downcast in thought. Still shaken, she considered his strange words and what they meant moving forward.He's lost everything because of this adventure. He likes you because you were nice. No one ever taught him anything close to tact. A swell of pity drowned out her previous concerns and she paused a moment to think and explain to the group

" He sayz he vas protecting me from you all. Thinks I'm a...Queen?", she said cringing slightly from the absurdity of it all.

Rubbing her throat, sore from having to alter her voice speaking Goblin, she finally answered him.

She then proceeded to try and explain the concept of boundaries to the Goblin, fully aware that this might require an ongoing process.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Rolling both skills to try and introduce the idea of boundaries and personal space to the little guy.

Poppy had settled into the evening with a sense of comfort, happy for the opportunity to feed her fellow adventurers, grinning at the thought that that description now included her as well. Adventurer... . The journey so far had been filled with the weird and wild, like the wonders at the edges of one of Sam's maps, so to speak.

Here be dragons..., she mused. Many commonfolk never got to break out of their monotony, but gnomes more than most itched for the new and exciting. Fundementally, it was the same, she was still cooking and traveling as she would normally, but that dash of danger was sure to scratch whatever itch had been building up over the last couple decades or so. And best of all, her publisher had no reason to deny her cooking volume to the Adventerures guide anthology.

"You can't contribute to a seminal series on adventuring...if you've never been on an adventure or quest-like endeavor!", the response letter from StormHearth had declared and though disappointed at the time, she couldn't really fault their logic. But now, she had two new monster based recipes and a pile of Goblin ears that showed without a shadow of a doubt, whether she deserved to be in that glorious text.

Thanking the group for their efforts and especially Sam for being on perpetual dish duty, Reaaallly need to learn that spell. Poppy hunkered down for the night, and wondered what the next day held in store for them.

The first lesson of the next day was that tallfolk were damned heavy.
"Yow!", the gnome yelled as she found Ruka partially sprawled out before and on her. She rubbed her hip as a painful low throb took hold, early signs of what was sure to be a bruise. "Poppy iz not shoe-", the gnome started to say, until her eyes widened at the unwelcome sight of the familiar greenskinned presence, literal feet from her.Worse, his stench was all over her and her blanket. He SLEPT here with me?, she thought mortified. Sure he didn't DO anything as far as she could tell, but it was a violation, regardless.

Poppy stood up shakily, grogginess quickly dissipating as her hand flew to the sheathed butchers knife at her side, and took two large(ish) steps back away from her bedroll. She wracked her brain for the word 'boundaries' in the goblin lexicon, but quickly realized it was likely a futile effort.

She croaked out what was clearly a threat followed by a question, indicated by her inflection.

Poppy returns to the general area where the group was operating, bringing whatever ears she could salvage from the firepit. There weren't many left, but she thought one or two were still recognizable as ears? Maybe? If she held it this way? One she had collected under later scrutiny was most definitely part of a foot. Gold lost. Hmm...Had she ever eaten goblin? She stopped to pet Arti and consider her mental meal library when she heard Sam's question about resting. "Da?! Iz time to camp? Ura! Ce ușurare. Ve've missed two meals already! No vonder everyone iz so cranky. Ha!"

Poppy seemed to get a spring in her step at the thought of food. It wasn't just a distraction, it was a way of life. She jumped to peeling off cooking equipment from her mule, her eyes locked on a clearing devoid of swampiness, perfect for a blazing fire.
"Somevone please be best adventuring friend to Poppy and secure me a nice, dry sleep spot. Preferably in room vith fewest corpses. I'll revard vith best potato!"

Though the clearing was more of a flatish rock, she nonetheless got to work setting up some her last firewood mixed with what dry kindling could be found nearby, which was admittedly very little. Snapping her fingers and uttering a whispered foul word, a small blue spark erupted, lighting some bark. Once nursed to a respectable height, the gnome broke out her metal utensils and got to work cooking baked potatoes in bacon fat with onions in one covered pan, waiting to split them and dash them with diced cheddar. In her cast iron Bedourie oven she placed six baked apples covered in brown sugar, she'd been saving to celebrate their victory and decided to etch them into cherry blossoms. And so, Poppy toiled away, happily getting lost in her work and relishing the emerging smells.

Cooking Alchemy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Artistry: Food Sculpting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Using Spark cantrip to start the fire. This is all with the assumption that we don't come under attack or no one stops her. With those rolls, she's clearly still processing the days events and so the food will be pretty but only decent in taste.

"And leave this part out, Asuka! I don't vant to read 'Love in the Time of Green Oni' or any such vulgarity!", Regular-Poppy shouted back up to the room as she descended the ladder.

Moving with purpose to distance herself from the goblin spouting love proclamations, she didn't even glance back when she heard something fall against the floor upstairs, cutting the strange language short. Her climbing slowed as she reached the end and caught muffled mentions of her name, one of them being Lor-Sinn

Somebody probably knocked him out, thank Asuka's God. Kaji's HONOR wouldn't allow anyone to kill the goblin. Even Ruka. But at this point, Muckbreath's problems were his own. Instead of climbing back up, she collected Arti and headed towards the bonfire of goblins to see if she could scrounge up an ear or two.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Regret seemed to be the order of the day as Poppy layed eyes on parts of a Goblin that most no one outside of Anthropologic circles would deem worthy of observation. Poppy could only stare wide eyed at the approaching nude Muckbreath offering itself to her, a battle between disgust, bewilderment, and amusement warred across her face. For a moment, the usually quick witted Poppy was actually at a loss for words and only a startled "Ha!", briefly escaped her lips before she could cover her mouth.

She attempted a stammering and halfhearted diplomatic response,

Slightly shellshocked, she offered an awkward curtsey to the Chief,

Poppy does NOT translate the new Chief's offer, nor her response. Some things are better off unheard.

Dropping the disguise hex. It's served WELL beyond it's purpose. Lol .

Goblin-Poppy blinked and briefly went cross eyed as the tingling feeling of Sam's cantrip evaporated the viscera painted across her face.
"If only such convenient magix vere available to me." Poppy offered Sam a gracious nod, followed by a knowing roll of her eyes.

Turning back to the gruesome reality before them, Poppy's expression turned stony before conveying the newly anointed Chief Muckbreath's desperate words to the group and offered her own sympathies to him with a bow. "Chief Muckbreath iz last of Licktoad Tribe. Sayz he iz lonely..."

Goblim-Poppy manages to ascend the stairs just as the second to last goblin is dropped by her comrades. Her timing was good, except it left her in the prime position to recieve a splash of blood across her face from either Asuka or Ruka's attack. She squinted just in time, but could't help but gag at the vileness smearing her face. "Bleh!" She froze for a moment in shock, finally glancing at the room and let out a small gasp. It looked like a butchers killroom, but if the livestock had had weapons. Gore stretched from one end of the room to the other, flecks and streaks touching even her panting companions brandishing their 'butcher's tools'. Today, her appreciation for their skill was equaled by her dread of it.

Her eyes drifted from her associates to the lone goblin rambling to what appeared to be a head. She winced at the image and used the opportunity to wipe as much of the fluid from her face as she could. Oh what absolutely not disturbing scene will I see next... She asked herself, trying to distract with humor. Seeing it was Muckbreath, she clomped her chunky wooden show covers across pools off blood, and spat out a Goblin worded attempt at comfort to the traumatized creature.

I have no issue with it! Poppy's a side character imo, a main character but not one of the protags. Beyond that, I don't mind equipmemt or abilities being uneven. It makes the story interesting and a little more realistic. I'm excited to see how it unfolds!

Goblin-Poppy jumped at hearing her name cutting through the chaos above her, and climbed faster to get as close to it as possible. At least Kaji is alive...maybe more can be saved! She cleared her throat and loudly croaked out a peace offering.

Would you like another Diplomacy roll, Shadowlord?

Massacre Avoidance: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Oof.Might be a bit too loud in there.

A queasiness overtook Poppy as she watched the blood pool out of the building outlined by the low hanging sun, sloshing morbidly artful patterns on the earth. Like something out of a campfire story.
She stared at the haunting image and wiped the sweat from her forehead as the shouts of pain and panicked screams in Goblin descended from on high. Gore was common in her line of work, but this... this was one of those moments she'd probably remember till her last. I could've stopped this. If only I'd been a little more convincing. Poppy swallowed her guilt, and ascended the steps behind Sam.