Bad Grapple Spoils the Bunch

## Synopsis

In Season 2, Chapter 40: Bad Grapple Spoils the Bunch, Harriet huddled with the party in advance of her sparring match, hoping that if she could just plan out the correct strategy – she might overcome the disadvantage of whatever sickly liquid was churning through her stomach.

With her opponent looking brawny but rather flat-footed, it was Safira's estimation that she ought to stay quick and mobile – advice that was used to great effect in evading almost all of the brute's first few volleys of attacks.  Unfortunately, with Harriet's weak constitution and the fact that her fists were making limited contact against an ethereal target, she was quickly whittled down by the few punches she was unable to deflect.

After getting knocked down, we tried to buy her as much time as possible before the second round began – and using Erland's theatrics, enough attention was drawn that Graven was able to apply a coat of silver powder to Harriet's fists to help with the problem of diminished impact.

Safira wasn't able to convince Carvel that a tag-team match would be more entertaining for the patrons, but she was able to speak with an insistent capybara companion who'd been watching from the sidelines.  David believed he'd identified a pattern in the way the ghost was fighting – mirroring Harriet's attacks from previous exchanges – but despite relaying this tip and thinking that we had the upper hand, all it took was one more powerful counter to send her sprawling to the floor.

As the spirits returned the lounge to its usual arrangement, Carvel came to collect his winnings – though as a show of good faith and sportsmanship, he was still willing to identify two of our plants (as long as we made good on our wager).  Orba, unsatisfied in having so little to show for this sidetrack into the woods, proposed an alternative: we keep the money, he analyzes all the plants… and in exchange, she helps release him from this eternal cursed cycle.

A prayer and a demonstration was enough to pique Carvel's interest and he began to examine the flora we'd foraged: dulasca, eelsod, red rotala and more – weeds and flowers with useful and varied effects that thanks to Orba's magical plant could be safely stored until we needed them.

Just before it seemed we'd had all our questions answered, Harriet produced a lead-lined red satchel that up until now we didn't know she possessed.  Immediately upon opening it, Erland had a visceral, feverish reaction that was impossible to conceal – so it was little surprise when Carvel explained the bag contained a clump of myconid spores – the very same kind that was the catalyst for the experimentation at the Chaki Mountains harvesting yard.

Now was not the time, however, to have a longer discussion about what to do with the spores – for a charred, smoky smell began to seep into the basement – and it dawned on us that these sinner spirits were cursed not only to relive their debauchery, but their demise as well.

Running for the exit, Orba pleaded with the remaining ghosts to try and break free from their prison here, but they were unmoved and resigned to their fate – so when we emerged topside it was alone in the church that had now been consumed by spectral flame.

Apparitions of the men and women who had set the church ablaze so many years ago had surrounded us – and with no intent to negotiate, our choices were to fight our way out or perish.  Rather than attack us directly, the spirits concentrated their efforts on dragging us back into the fire so we could be "cleansed" – which unsurprisingly sounded nicer than the reality of being burned alive.

It was a struggle between deciding whether to stand our ground or run – especially after Graven promised his deity that he would see these undead extinguished – but finally we made the call to flee, which was welcome news to Harriet who had already considered leaving to save her own skin.

When we were far enough from the village to feel safe, we struck a bargain to obtain the bag of myconid spores – handing over ample wealth to combat the obvious trepidation that Harriet was experiencing.  We weren't sure what we were going to do with them, but we figured it was better in our hands than someone else's – and as we said our goodbyes, we prayed that sleep would be upon us soon.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: eleven natural ones were rolled in this Chapter. 1 each by Anthony and Riley, 2 each by Deirdre, Jordan and Matt, and 3 by John.