15 Pupemont

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[6:42 PM] DM: 15 Pupemont 3Y20

On the Spine between Croysa and Lustris Citadel

It's Xilyra's Whisper, the winter solstice. There's three inches of snow on everything, but they've restarted the fire and Ry has warm drinks ready as everyone wakes.

[6:43 PM] DM: It's cold and calm, but as the sun rises, you can actually see it. The clouds have passed.

[6:43 PM] Seirixori: Seir points up at the sun, "That is a lie."

[6:44 PM] Urrak: "This snow is bullshit," Urrak says as she joins the others. She pours herself some coffee, "Fluffy white bullshit."

[6:45 PM] DM: Urrak gets hit with a snowball that bursts apart in spectacular fashion across her back. When she turns, she sees Rukiya grinning and brushing the snow from her gloves. "I think it's beautiful."

[6:46 PM] Ryleigh: Ry laughs at Seir's comment. "Haven't you ever wondered why the people of Ascus worship the Sun God? Just wait until the sun is covered by clouds - you think it's cold now..." she whistles.

[6:47 PM] Urrak: Urrak brushes the snow out of her hair, "Oh boy, I'd love more cold."

[6:47 PM] Seirixori: "No. I refuse." Seir claps her hands together, muttering something and a shield of fire surrounds her. "...if only this lasted longer."

[6:48 PM] Ryleigh: "You're no fun, homashoc," Ry says, trying to decretely scoop snow.

[6:48 PM] Brimeia: "How are you not freezing your tail off too?" Brimeia squints at Ryleigh.

[6:48 PM] DM: Talon comes back to the fire after checking on the horses. "Glad I brought the extra blankets. The horses are fine. Thanks for your help last night."

[6:48 PM] Seirixori: "Because she doesn't have one." Then she points at Ryleigh, "I am plenty of fun, thank you."

[6:49 PM] Ryleigh: Ry grins at Seir's statement, then throws the ball of snow she has at Bri.

[6:49 PM] Brimeia: Bri is mid eyeroll when she gets smacked with cold and yelps.

[6:49 PM] Ryleigh: "Snow ball fight," She says, almost like an explination of what she was talking about this morning.

[6:49 PM] Brimeia: "Hey!"

[6:49 PM] DM: Gunnloda grumps and cuddles close to Seir.

[6:50 PM] Brimeia: Bri does her best to smoosh together a ball and flings it back at Ry.

[6:52 PM] Ryleigh: Ry dodges, scooping up another bit of snow and making her snowball. She attempts to throw one at Rukiya.

[6:52 PM] Urrak: Urrak tucks and rolls out of the way. When she gets halfway up, she scoops a handful of snow and packs it. She hucks it at Ryleigh's side

[6:52 PM] Seirixori: Seir puts her arm and tail around Gunnloda, grinning to herself as the snow melts a little under her feet. Very okay with not trying to throw cold things.

[6:54 PM] DM: Rukiya dodges the snowball, but while Ry's distracted by Urrak, Rukiya gathers a handful of snow and jumps on Ry's back like a piggy-back ride... before shoving the snow down Ry's back under her cloak.

[6:54 PM] Brimeia: Bri tosses a snowball at Urrak while she's distracted throwing at Ry.

[6:57 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh gets nailed by Urrak's snowball, then when Rukiya jumps on her and pours snow down her cloak she yelps and in dramatic fashion she falls into the snow with Rukiya still clinging to her. "Betrayal!"

[6:58 PM] DM: Rukiya laughs, but screeches from the cold and leaps back up. "Nope. Ground's cold."

[6:59 PM] Ryleigh: Rolling over onto her back, Ry starts to move her arms and legs, then stands up. She says something in elven to Rukiya and points at it.

[7:00 PM] DM: Brennys just shakes her head. "Light's wasting. We should probably get going."

[7:01 PM] Urrak: Urrak tosses the snowball she'd made behind her, "Aye, right. We should go."

[7:02 PM] Ryleigh: She presses a kiss to Rukiya's cheek, then pulls her hood back up and covers the lower half of her face with her scarf. "Okay, I guess you're right."

[7:02 PM] Seirixori: Seir helps Gunnloda to her horse and then instead of the forest wolf she shifts into one completely made of fire. "Refuse." She reiterates.

[7:02 PM] DM: And as the camp gets put away and you get back on the road... that's a good place to call it for tonight.

[2:04 PM] DM: After your impromptu snowball fight on the winter solstice, Brennys leads your party down the Spine once more. "We will probably reach the crossroads tonight and say goodbye to the horses in the morning. Enjoy their company while you can."

[2:06 PM] Ryleigh: "It's been great not having to walk the entire way," Ry says, with a smile.

[2:07 PM] Seirixori: Seir chuckles from her place near Gunnloda.

[2:07 PM] Urrak: Urrak pats the horses' noses. "Thanks, buds."

[2:08 PM] DM: And just like that, the day passes. Brennys pulls her horse to a stop and looks around. Perception checks, please.

[2:09 PM] Ryleigh: (Ry: 10)

(Rukiya: 30)

[2:10 PM] Urrak: ((3))

[2:11 PM] Seirixori: ((16))

Gunnloda:: ((10))

[2:12 PM] DM: With the fresh snow on the ground, it's hard to see much of anything as far as ground disturbances, but what Seir and Rukiya can see is that there's a wide path between the larger trees headed to the west, though there doesn't seem to be a sign or an actual road.

[2:14 PM] DM: Brennys hops off her horse and pokes around a bit in the bushes to the side of the road before she seems to find what she's looking for. "Ah, yeah, here it is. We'll head west from here to find a campsite, but not too far. We'll want to lead the horses through this bit, and watch your footing. The road's been torn up."

[2:15 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh gets off Adventure, then whispers to her.

[2:15 PM] DM: She snorts and tosses her head.

[2:17 PM] Ryleigh: Smiling, Ry hums a soft tune and Adventure dissipates into little golden orbs that slowly make their way into the living things around them.

[2:18 PM] Seirixori: "I'm going to have to not be on fire soon, aren't I?"

[2:20 PM] Urrak: "Unless ye want t' call as much attention t' yerself as possible in hostile territory." Urrak says, smirking. "Y'want my coat? I can suffer fer a bit."

[2:21 PM] Seirixori: Seir huffs, "They already know we're here. And no, I have my own."

[2:22 PM] Urrak: Urrak shrugs, "Then jus' stay away from th' trees I guess."

[2:26 PM] Ryleigh: "Stay away from the trees," Ry repeats, lightly laughing. "We have to walk through the trees to get to Isonall."

[2:26 PM] DM: Brennys takes her horse's bridle in hand and leads her west, stepping carefully over the lumpy bits of snow-covered ground that was once road.

[2:27 PM] DM: Talon grumbles after ten or fifteen minutes and says, "Bren, there's no way a cart's comin' through here, or a horse at speed. Why don't we just camp here? Gonna be a pain to get the horses back to the road by myself."

[2:28 PM] DM: She glances back in the direction of the road and shrugs. "Suppose it's as good a place as any." She looks at wolf-Seir. "Wanna get your friends to make camp?"

[2:30 PM] Seirixori: Seir grumbles and in turns into a small whine when she shifts back and instead of doing the normal ritual, she immediately casts the spell, too cold to wait.

[2:30 PM] DM: Camp is made and fire is burning.

[2:32 PM] Urrak: Urrak huddles close to the fire.

[2:32 PM] DM: "How quickly do you wanna get to Isonsall? We can set a quicker pace or walk longer each day to get there sooner, but quicker means we might not spot something in time and both mean being more tired at the end of the day. Or if there's no rush, we can just take as long as we need."

[2:34 PM] Brimeia: "None of those sound fun," Bri grumbles

[2:34 PM] DM: "The alternative is being out in the snow."

[2:34 PM] Ryleigh: With Rukiya huddled in her arms and a blanket around them, Ry worries her lip and says, "I think we should be cautious. There isn't a reason for us to be careless, espeically here in the Fytulk."

[2:35 PM] Seirixori: Seir stands near the fire, staring blankly into it as she flips her fancy stick open and closed.

[2:36 PM] Urrak: "Aye, as much as I'm over th' cold, I ain't about t' piss off the forest by blastin' through it." Urrak half-grumbles. She holds her bare hands out towards the fire and flexes her fingers as they warm up.

[2:37 PM] Seirixori: "We can fly for an hour each day, if you want." She says it after a lull in the conversation, clearly thinking of something else.

[2:39 PM] DM: "I didn't mean 'blasting through.' I just meant walking a few extra hours each night. These woods give anyone the creeps and we might just want to get through it quicker is all."

[2:39 PM] DM: "Fly?"

[2:39 PM] Brimeia: "Druid," Bri answers simply with a grin.

[2:41 PM] Ryleigh: "You're the guide, Brennys, and whatever pace you feel comfortable taking us at, is fine with us." Ry pulls Rukiya a little closer. "If you don't mind me asking... do you make this trip often? And why?"

[2:42 PM] DM: She shakes her head. "Not lately. I used to, as a kid, when we had family there. When there was a road. I haven't been back in a couple years at least."

[2:43 PM] Seirixori: "Big birds," Seir mutters. "...or bats."

[2:44 PM] Ryleigh: "Why isn't there a road anymore? I know the nobles there fell out of favor, but... is that reason enough to stop patrolling the road."

[2:45 PM] DM: She frowns a bit. "Do you not-- I don't usually ask, but why are you going there?"

[2:46 PM] Ryleigh: "I recently discovered that I have family there..."

[2:48 PM] DM: "Still there? Are you trying to get them out? I thought everyone who was getting out got out... a decade or more ago."

[2:49 PM] Seirixori: Seir finally sits down and sets her device on the ground, open, and stares at it while Ryleigh and Brennys talk.

[2:50 PM] Ryleigh: "I'm hoping too, yes. She isn't there by choice. She's there... because of me, and I need to get here out."

[2:53 PM] DM: Brennys frowns and looks into the distance for a moment. "The road was destroyed by Tilman after he laid siege to the city. It's all but cut off from the rest of Ascus, forgotten at the end of a dead road. Everyone loyal to Tilman fled and most of those who didn't want to stay did too. It's been... what, fifteen years or so?"

[2:57 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh's eyes widen. "Oh... I-I didn't know." She worries her lip, while staring into the fire. "I'm only 20 - 21 next month - and I grew up in Falberk. I didn't know anything about Isonsall until recently."

[2:57 PM] Urrak: Urrak quirks an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything.

[2:59 PM] DM: Perception checks, please.

[3:00 PM] Ryleigh: (Ry: 21)

(Rukiya: 15)

[3:00 PM] Urrak: ((3))

[3:00 PM] Brimeia: ((11))

[3:00 PM] Seirixori: ((27))

Gunnloda: ((8))

[3:04 PM] Seirixori: Seir tilts her head, the light in her eyes shifting slightly as she looks to the trees, but doesn't otherwise move. "Should we talk to them?" Seir asks quietly, suddenly.

[3:06 PM] Ryleigh: "To who?"

[3:07 PM] Seirixori: "The elves."

[3:08 PM] Urrak: "Nosy little fuckers," Urrak mumbles.

[3:08 PM] Ryleigh: "I suppose we could try," Ry says.

[3:09 PM] Brimeia: Bri quirks an eyebrow at Urrak. "We're in their home, you know."

[3:10 PM] Seirixori: Seir stands slowly, leaving her staff, and heads to where she spotted the grey elf.

[3:11 PM] Ryleigh: For once, Ry will stay put.

[3:13 PM] Brimeia: Bri watches quietly, ready to help if needed.

[3:15 PM] Ryleigh: "I don't like that she's going alone... but the last time they were very upset by my presence."

[3:17 PM] Brimeia: "They do seem .. aggressively particular."

[3:20 PM] Ryleigh: "They have every right to hate humans who carry Asten's symbol on their shield," Ry says with a long exhale.

[3:20 PM] Urrak: "That an'...Well last time we were here..." Urrak stops herself.

[3:22 PM] DM: Brennys turns to Urrak with a frown. "Are they  hunting you? That's something I think you should have told me before I agreed to this."

[3:23 PM] Ryleigh: "No no," Ry insist. "Or... I don't think they are. I believe we've just encountered them more than most because we take more chances in the Fytulk than others do."

[3:24 PM] Urrak: "Aye, they're jus' keepin' an eye on us. I don't think they're actively wantin' t' hurt us." Urrak folds her arms

[3:24 PM] Ryleigh: "And I don't think its us. I think it's just travelers in the Fytulk."

[3:27 PM] Urrak: "Hopefully."

## Seir and the Shadar-Kai

[3:12 PM] DM: When Seir looks away for half a second to maneuver around a snow-covered rock, just outside the fire's glow, then looks back to where the elf was, the branch is empty.

[3:16 PM] Seirixori: She hums to herself. "I know you're still here. I only wished to speak, to... reassure that we aren't here to do harm. Though I doubt the words are worth anything."

[3:17 PM] DM: A voice comes from somewhere to your right. "Then why do you come?" Then to the left. "What is your purpose?"

[3:19 PM] Seirixori: She doesn't turn her head, but the hair on the back of her neck stands, "We're trying to get to the city along the mountain. Trying to find family."

[3:21 PM] DM: A voice, from in front of you, "Come, closer. Let us speak... away from the light."

[3:24 PM] Seirixori: Seir takes a step back, "No, I'd rather not. That is all I had to say."

[3:27 PM] DM: "If you are not here to harm, we are not. We may have an offer for you... when you are ready to trust the darkness." There's a slight jingle of metal on metal, then there's no sound.

[3:28 PM] Seirixori: Seir stands there a few moments more and then makes her way back to the others.

## Back to Camp

[3:29 PM] Seirixori: Seir comes back, somewhat quickly, looking creeped out and confused. She doesn't say anything right away as she sits down and looks at the fire.

[3:30 PM] Ryleigh: "What happened, homashoc?"

[3:30 PM] Brimeia: "...Everything ok?"

[3:33 PM] Seirixori: She slowly nods, "I think so. As long as we don't harm anything, they won't either..." she trails off and looks at Gunnloda, then Rukiya, then Ryleigh, before looking back to the fire. "They possibly have an... offer." Seir shrugs, "Also a tiny jingle of metal on metal, which I think might mean they left?"

[3:34 PM] Urrak: "Well that sounds...terrifying."

[3:34 PM] Ryleigh: "An offer. For what?"

[3:35 PM] Seirixori: "I didn't ask. It... uh, it involves trusting the darkness."

[3:35 PM] Brimeia: Brimeia's eyes are wide as she listens.

[3:35 PM] Brimeia: "Well, that's not ominous or anything."

[3:36 PM] Seirixori: "Which, you know, the darkness doesn't mean anything other than a lack of light, but what's in the dark..." Seir shakes her head and rubs her face. "So, we're-we're fine."

[3:36 PM] Urrak: "Nope, nope, nope" Urrak shakes her head, "That's suspicious as hells."

[3:37 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh's head swivels in the direction Seir had gone to speak to them. "I'll go next time," Ry says, her eyes still fixed on the forest.

[3:37 PM] Seirixori: "No." Seir says firmly. "Absolutely not."

[3:38 PM] DM: "I agree," Rukiya adds. "You've had enough darkness."

[3:38 PM] Seirixori: "If you even think about doing it, I'll walk in there without hesitation."

[3:39 PM] Urrak: "We didn't bring ye back so ye can go off an' die again."

[3:40 PM] Ryleigh: "I'm not saying I'm not afraid of whatever it is, but someone needs to know if they're following us and why."

[3:40 PM] DM: Talon shakes his head. "You're all mad. I'm leaving at first light." Then he retires into the tent he's been sharing with Brennys.

[3:42 PM] Seirixori: Seir snorts, "Then maybe I will do it. I at least have a bunch of ways to get myself out - if necessary."

[3:43 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh rolls her eyes, and finally looks back at the camp fire. "Taking first watch again?" Ry asks Seir.

[3:44 PM] Seirixori: Seir's eyes narrow a bit, "No. I'll take it with you."

[3:45 PM] Ryleigh: Chuckling slightly, Ry nods. Then she stands, lifting Rukiya as she does and telling everyone goodnight.

[3:45 PM] DM: As everyone retires for the night, first watch perception checks from Urrak and Bri?

[3:46 PM] Urrak: ((15))

[3:47 PM] Brimeia: ((14))

[3:47 PM] DM: You don't appear to notice anything.

[3:47 PM] DM: Second watch, Ry and Seir?

[3:48 PM] Seirixori: ((16))

[3:48 PM] Ryleigh: ((12))

[3:49 PM] Ryleigh: "Didn't trust me to not storm off into the woods?" She says it with a smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes.

[3:51 PM] Seirixori: "I didn't trust myself," Seir laughs lightly. "Granted, we tend to do stupid things when we're together sometimes." She shrugs, "So I figured either way I trusted you to either stop me or at least know what to do if something did happen."

[3:55 PM] Ryleigh: Ry wraps a blanket around Seir and sits next to her, rubbing her hands together in front of the fire. "I'm sorry its so cold here. I tried to warn everyone." There's humor in her eyes.

[3:57 PM] Seirixori: Seir huffs as she huddles into the blanket, "I think all my heat ends up going to Gunnloda. The cold is not fun."

[4:01 PM] Ryleigh: "Sometimes it is," Ry says, smiling fondly. "Without the cold there's no snowball fights, or ice skating."

[4:01 PM] Seirixori: "I haven't done either of those things," Seir teases.

[4:03 PM] Ryleigh: "I'll get you with a snowball before we leave." Ry nudges her. "Sometimes though, the cold is bitter and the wind seems to cut right through all your clothes. I'm pretty sure Avery and I lived in a constant state of cold until Kizer took us in."

[4:05 PM] Seirixori: "Terrible," Seir mumbles, burrowing more into the blanket.

[4:08 PM] Ryleigh: Ry wraps her arm around Seir, and they continue to make conversation. When its nearing dawn, Ry stands and goes to the edge of the woods. She folds her hands behind her back and stands very still until the sun peaks through the trees, at which point she does her usual routine - singing to change her spells, and braiding her hair as she does.

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