AoP 014

6:20 PM] The Merciless Ocean: So, previously.

[6:20 PM] Coppelia: ((On dragonball z))

[6:20 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((On Misplaced Agression))

[6:22 PM] The Merciless Ocean: You guys arrived in Samu Praslin, a largely human port city among the Obu Islands.  Once there, you joined Cyranus on a journey to a tavern as he felt a need for song on this night of the Green Moon.

[6:23 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Once there, Cyranus basically borrowed control of the tavern minstrels to play a little Danse Macabre to generate a sort of offering with Coppelia.  This offering seems to have worked, as Cyranus's stump was replaced with a magic, glowing, green hand.

[6:23 PM] The Merciless Ocean: In exchange for helping him, he gave each of you a special black coin of bad luck, which you may use on one opponent.

[6:24 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Also, Cyranus shared a note with Jaden written by Entropy.  She was announcing she was heading off again.

[6:26 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Once all that nonsense was settled, you guys found your way towards three hunters, Robdell Ubett, Ulluk and Zora.

[6:27 PM] The Merciless Ocean: After talking with them, they announced they were hunting a hag who has been stealing and eating children...they claim.  You have since joined them on finding this fey witch.  If only to learn what's actually happening.

[6:27 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Or, in Jaden's case...in a misplaced sense of vengence.

[6:28 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: (( 🙂 ))

[6:28 PM] The Merciless Ocean: So, having tracked your way into the woods, you guys spotted the witch's home...a large cabin set upon towering chicken legs.

[6:28 PM] The Merciless Ocean: And that's where we pick up.

[6:28 PM] Saiph: Hey, cool.  You guys see that?  I thought housebirds were extinct on this plane!

[6:29 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Could i roll something to know about Hag homes?))

[6:29 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((You can try a history check))

[6:29 PM] Olenna: ... can we get one of those, do you think?

[6:29 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((4!))

[6:29 PM] Coppelia: Writes out I only know of them from fairy tales

[6:29 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Sorry Jaden, this is not your field of specialty.

[6:29 PM] Saiph: You have to get one as an egg and hand raise it, pretty much.

[6:30 PM] Olenna: Well... we will have time.

[6:30 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: It wouldnt fit on the boat, i don't think

[6:30 PM] Saiph: True!

[6:30 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Ulluk: "Or, make one from a chicken with fey magicks."

[6:30 PM] Saiph: That's weird.

[6:30 PM] Olenna: A chicken mightn't like it.

[6:30 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Ulluk: "I suspect the hag don't much care what the chicken likes or don't likes."

[6:31 PM] Coppelia: ((I forget did we confirm if this was some Fae bs??))

[6:31 PM] Olenna: She might not, but we do.

[6:31 PM] Olenna: Well, I suppose we ought to go and knock on the door.

[6:31 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((You have not confirmed fey influence, but fairy stories is where Coppelia would know of them))

[6:31 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora draws her sword.  "Two swings to one of those legs and I can make a strong knock."

[6:32 PM] Coppelia: ((Would identify reveal Fae influence? Or anything else about it?))

[6:32 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: pulls out his hammer "I could make a leg buckle i bet"

[6:32 PM] Saiph: Manners are usually the best way to go with Fey.

[6:32 PM] Saiph: If it's Fey.

[6:33 PM] Olenna: ... don't knock down the house. The house didn't eat any children.

[6:33 PM] Saiph: tries Speak with Animals.  "Hello noble house bird!"

[6:33 PM] Coppelia: writes manners in general are a good starting point

[6:33 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((It could, potentially...but you'd have to go and hold onto the house for a full minute to cast identify...and that's if you do it with a spell slot.))

[6:33 PM] Olenna: sticks with the boy who brung her.

[6:33 PM] Coppelia: tilts her head, then approaches the house

[6:34 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Saiph, make a persuasion check.

[6:34 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The house is walking, btw.

4 PM] The Merciless Ocean: It's not just standing there.

[6:34 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia walks after it

[6:34 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Are you attempting to be sneaky?

[6:35 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: follows after them, hammer in hand

[6:35 PM] Saiph: ((16 persuasion!)

[6:35 PM] Saiph: (That's good for me.)

[6:35 PM] Coppelia: ((Im attempting…caution? I don’t know about sneaky))

[6:36 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Ok, well, the house hears Saiph's cawing, stops...turns and looks down right at you.  Or...seems to look at you?  Hard to read intent in a house.

[6:36 PM] Coppelia: stops and looks up at the house. She gives a polite wave

[6:36 PM] Olenna: waves.

[6:37 PM] Saiph: Hello!  I am called Saiph.  Can I know what you're called?

[6:37 PM] The Merciless Ocean: You hear futzing around inside and an old, green-skinned, warty woman opens one of the eye windows.  "I don't want a new broom!  Mine is working fine!"

[6:38 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The house itself doesn't respond, it just sort of...looks at you.

[6:38 PM] Olenna: Oh good, we haven't got any brooms.

[6:38 PM] Coppelia: approaches a leg and leans in to inspect it

[6:38 PM] Saiph: Oh, silent type?  That's okay.  Do you know if your resident has abducted any children lately?

[6:39 PM] Olenna: I'm Olenna. We heard somebody was eating children.

[6:39 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Are you from social services?  Those children were taken with their free consent!"

[6:40 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((14 insight))

[6:40 PM] Olenna: But did you eat them?

[6:40 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Jaden It's hard to get a read on this woman, as she's kinda...not right, it seems.

[6:40 PM] Coppelia: ((Does Baba Yaga/the house seem distracted? Enough for me to cast identify))

[6:40 PM] The Merciless Ocean: @Coppelia They seem to be not very focused on you.

6:41 PM] Saiph: ((22 insight.))

[6:41 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Not these ones, no.  None of them were naughty enough."

[6:41 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia places a hand on the leg and casts Identify

[6:41 PM] Olenna: Oh good.

[6:41 PM] Olenna: ... why children, anyway, that can't possibly very hygeinic.

[6:42 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Saiph The woman here seems to definitely not be from around here and...seems a bit off in the head.  Might want to approach with caution.

[6:42 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: tenses up

[6:42 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "It's my job!  I don't tell you how to intrude, do I?"

[6:42 PM] Olenna: ((22 insight.))

[6:42 PM] Saiph: Who gave you your job, Grandmother?  Cause that's pretty odd.

[6:43 PM] Olenna: .... somebody pays you to eat children?

[6:43 PM] Saiph: I mean, the natural world eats plenty of careless children, typically it doesn't need help.

[6:43 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Coppelia The house is definitely magic and the origin of the magic does seem fey.  School is a mix of transmutation and enchantment and it has the essence of a control spell on it.  Kind of like a dominate monster.

[6:44 PM] Olenna: You've been eaten six times.

[6:44 PM] Coppelia: ((Can I roll insight to see if the house is resisting this control? Is it unwilling?))

[6:45 PM] Saiph: nods at Olenna.  "See!  Nature has it covered."

[6:45 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((Sure))

[6:45 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Look, I am a cautionary hag.  A baba yaga.  Don't you have those?"

[6:45 PM] Coppelia: ((24 insight. Boom bay bee))

[6:46 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "Come down and fight, wench!  I shall see your flesh stain my blade!"

[6:46 PM] Saiph: Shhhh.  We're having a conversation, swordy.

[6:46 PM] Saiph: ((23 insight on this hag.  Can I tell if she's... actually a hag?))

6:46 PM] Olenna: No, I don't think we do. How naughty would they have to be to be eaten?

[6:46 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Coppelia You get the sense the house is more...like...a pet, and the spell is more like a collar.  Like, the house would rather just stick around with the witch, but it could get distracted and wander off if the witch didn't hold it.

[6:47 PM] Olenna: ((22 insight on the hag.))

[6:47 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((From both of your experiences, you do believe she is a fey hag.  A literal type of creature.))

[6:47 PM] Coppelia: ((Hmm interesting…what do I know of Baba Yagas from the stories I’ve read?))

[6:48 PM] Saiph: What did you do with the children, grandmother?  I feel like that's the reason we're all here.

[6:49 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Coppelia Most stories likely involve Baba Yaga trying to eat a child for being naughty, for breaking a rule or, in some case, because a parent sent them there for her to eat.  In a small number of stories, Baba Yaga instead transforms them into her own personal pets or household objects, and in one story, a girl goes to Baba Yaga to learn magic.

[6:50 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia tilts her head, then walks into view of the hag. She gives a deep bow, then reaches into her cloak and pulls out three gold nuggets, holding them up to the witch

[6:50 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "Well, they came to me and asked to be witches, so I am training them now.  But two of them were very rude, so I turned them into rats.  The three others have been crying since then, which is really just disappointing."

[6:51 PM] Olenna: Oh dear, I'm sorry.

[6:51 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((how high up is this house?))

[6:51 PM] Saiph: Ohhhhh.  Can I talk to them?

[6:51 PM] Olenna: Maybe we ought to take them off your hands.

[6:52 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Persuasion checks all around.  And Jaden, it's about 60 ft up.

[6:52 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((13 Persuasion))

[6:52 PM] Olenna: ((6. Oh dear.))

[6:52 PM] Coppelia: ((NAT 20 BAY BEE 25 TOTAL))

[6:53 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "...the gold for trade!"

[6:53 PM] Coppelia: Nods, lifting her hand with the gold nuggets higher

[6:54 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "No!  ...what?  No!"

[6:54 PM] Olenna: Rats aren't worth as much as children, though.

[6:54 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "Give me a moment."

M] The Merciless Ocean: The window slams shut.

[6:54 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Ulluk: "...I guess this is a solution."

[6:54 PM] Saiph: ((15.)

[6:55 PM] Saiph: There are probably better ways for the kids to become witches.

[6:55 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: They shouldn't be sold off to a Hag in the FIRST place

[6:55 PM] Saiph: They didn't.  They showed up.

[6:56 PM] Saiph: .... really, we're the ones buying them.

[6:56 PM] Saiph: Does that help?

[6:56 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ......No

[6:56 PM] Olenna: Well, we're not going to keep them obviously.

[6:56 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "I feel like killing her is the obvious solution you're ignoring."

[6:56 PM] Saiph: We might hurt her house.

[6:56 PM] Saiph: And it doesn't matter if you kill her.  She'll come back.

[6:56 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: We could get her OUT of the house

[6:57 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia turns and stares at Zora silently but creepily. She can’t glare so this is the closest she gets

[6:57 PM] Olenna: She will?

[6:57 PM] Saiph: Or another hag will come back.  There's always a Baba Yaga.

[6:57 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The house lowers itself down to the ground, the legs scrunching up underneath.

[6:57 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: But there wouldn't be one for a While

[6:57 PM] Saiph: No, you just wanna smash something.

[6:58 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia steps back and turns back to the house, holding the gold closer to her chest now

[6:58 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: No, i wanna stop a threat, which a Hag that eats people certainly qualifies as

[6:58 PM] Olenna: We haven't really established that she has eaten anybody.

[6:58 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: she said she hasn't eaten THESE children, impliying she HAS eaten kids

[6:59 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The door to the hut opens and a long green hand reaches out.

[6:59 PM] Olenna: Ma'am? Have you eaten children before?

[6:59 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "Define children."

[6:59 PM] Coppelia: Steps back again and shakes head. She puts the gold in her pocket and writes out Either you come out or we come in

[6:59 PM] Olenna: Small humanoid people.

[6:59 PM] Saiph: Younglings.  Larva.  Cubs.  The young of sapient species.

[6:59 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: starts to get ready to swing

[7:00 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "Some, yes."

[7:00 PM] Olenna: gets ready to pounce Jaden.

[7:00 PM] Saiph: When was the last time?

[7:01 PM] Olenna: I think you ought to stop. That's how you get kuru and things like that.

[7:01 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "This morning.  But don't worry, I've put him back.  He'll be with the others."

[7:01 PM] Olenna: ... put him back, ma'am?

[7:02 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "I reconstituted him from my stomach.  He's not happy, but he'll be fine."

[7:02 PM] Olenna: ... you can do that? That's amazing!

[7:02 PM] Saiph: You get used to it after like, the third time.

[7:02 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "You give the shiny rocks, I let the kids out."

[7:03 PM] Coppelia: writes Can we at least see the children to make sure we’re making a fair trade?

[7:03 PM] Saiph: Grandmother, the nice folks here really want to murder you for you know, the kid-eating.  Maybe you should move on to greener pastures?

[7:03 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: How about You let the kids out, you get to LEAVE?

[7:04 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((13 Intimidation?))

[7:04 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "...hmph.  Fine.  Hold on."

[7:04 PM] Olenna: pats Jaden on the shoulder.

[7:04 PM] Coppelia: bows in thanks

[7:04 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The arm retracts.  After a moment, seven scared children come flying out and grab onto all of you.

PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "You can have seventh as a bonus!  I forgot he was there!"

[7:05 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: LEAVE NOW

[7:05 PM] Saiph: Very generous.

[7:05 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hand outstretches again.

[7:05 PM] Saiph: pats the house.

[7:05 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia goes over to the window and holds out the gold nuggets

[7:05 PM] Olenna: Thank you, ma'am! If there are any others let us know.

[7:05 PM] Olenna: inspects whatever child has glommed onto her.

[7:06 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Roll investigation.

[7:06 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: puts his shield and himself between the Hag and whatever kids he can

[7:06 PM] Coppelia: ((17))

[7:06 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The arm grabs hold of Coppelia and pulls her in close, but not into the house itself.

[7:06 PM] Saiph: .... she wasn't part of the deal, Grandmother.

[7:06 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Not you, Coppy.  @Olenna

[7:07 PM] Coppelia: places a hand on the house to brave herself but doesn’t resist ((just realized sorry))

[7:07 PM] Olenna: ((18.))

[7:07 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "What are you?  ....you are...interesting."

[7:07 PM] Olenna: She's a who, not a what.

[7:07 PM] Coppelia: lifts her head, tilts it, then signs I am what my master made me

[7:07 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Olenna, your child and the other children are remarkably unhurt.  But you can kind of tell which one was eaten by the petrified, distant gaze.

[7:08 PM] Saiph: goes over to Copellia and puts a hand on her shoulder.

[7:08 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hag smiles.  "...I hope we meet again someday."

[7:08 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hag releases Coppelia.

[7:08 PM] Coppelia: nods, then looks at her hand on the house, then signs please treat them kindly

[7:09 PM] Olenna: picks out the petrified one and takes their hand in her own red-gloved hand. "It's all right. I'm Olenna, these are my friends. We came to rescue you."

7:09 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Coppelia: "You, starchild.  The wilds of Arborea have treated me well, in the past.  I wish you a pleasant journey."

[7:10 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((She points at Saiph when saying that, btw.))

[7:10 PM] Saiph: Thank you, Grandmother.

[7:10 PM] The Merciless Ocean: At this point, a crossbow bolt has loosed and lands way off to the side of the house.

[7:11 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Rob: "Dammit!  So hard to aim with this thing.  Oh well."

[7:11 PM] Saiph: Hey!  The house didn't do anything.

[7:11 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: looks at the kids,  frowns and Casts Detect Magic

[7:11 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Anything off about the kids?))

[7:11 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Jaden The kids are shockingly clean of magic

[7:11 PM] Coppelia: Turns sharply, her whip out. She flicks it to wrap around Rob

[7:11 PM] Olenna: I think I've got lemon drops in my bag if anyone wants one.

[7:12 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "You both get out of my way, or I run you through with her and this stupid house!"

[7:12 PM] Saiph: Nah.

[7:12 PM] Olenna: Zora... what happened to you?

[7:12 PM] Saiph: goes over to the bolt and tries to gently pull it out.  "This might hurt, sorry."

[7:13 PM] Olenna: ((I think the bolt missed the house, didn't it?))

[7:13 PM] Saiph: ((Oh, I misread, never mind.))

[7:13 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((It did.  Dude rolled a nat 1 on the attack.  I debated him hitting one of you, frankly.))

[7:13 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "You cursed me!  You cursed me, witch!"

[7:14 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "...have we met?  Did you sell me the broom?"

[7:14 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: stares at Zora (Does SHe have any magic coming off of Her?)

[7:14 PM] Olenna: Oh dear. What kind of curse?

[7:14 PM] Olenna: takes out the bag of lemon drops and offers one to the kid, taking one herself to show they're safe.

[7:14 PM] Saiph: ((20 insight on Zora.))

7:14 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Jaden She does.  From her eye. And from her sword.

[7:14 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Your eye?

[7:15 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Saiph Zora's on the verge of a rage.

[7:15 PM] Coppelia: Raises her arms and spreads them in front of the house

[7:15 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "OH!  The blind girl!  I fixed you!  ...you are bad at showing appreciation."

[7:16 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "YOU FIXED NOTHING, YOU WARTY OLD MONSTER!"

[7:16 PM] Olenna: ... what happened?

[7:18 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "I lost my sight when I was a baby.  Illness took it.  This old woman...she said she had a potion that'd help me see again.  I rubbed it in my eyes every day...and I could see...but it wouldn't stop.  My right eye...it sees people's deaths.  Their worst fears.  Such terrible things, and it WON'T STOP!"

[7:19 PM] Saiph: Ooooh.  Yes.... grandmother, primes don't deal well with esoteric mysteries of the universe being constantly exposed.

[7:19 PM] Olenna: ... oh dear.

[7:20 PM] Olenna: offers all the kids a lemon drop, thoughtfully.

[7:20 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Some of the kids take them.

[7:20 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Could i try to roll arcana or something for that?))

[7:20 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((For what?))

[7:20 PM] Saiph: notices the kid clinging to him, suddenly, and offers it a goodberry.

[7:20 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Nevermind,  my brain went kaput for a second))

[7:21 PM] Olenna: I don't suppose you'd be willing to fix it?

[7:22 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "...um...I can check what I have in my cupboards."

[7:22 PM] Olenna: Thank you.

[7:22 PM] Saiph: Lenna is really good at talking.

[7:23 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Rob: "Um...yeah, hi.  Sorry to interrupt but...I'm kind of just hear to kill her and take her head.  Lots of people paying good money for a hag head.  ...soooooo...if you wouldn't mind just...moving out of the way."

[7:23 PM] Olenna: Oh, we're not doing that.

[7:23 PM] Saiph: Nah.

[7:23 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: I get it, really, but can we JUST get these kids home?  Its more important

[7:23 PM] Saiph: Monster hunters are rarely in it for the right reasons.

[7:23 PM] Coppelia: ((Can I roll to wrap this guy up with my whip))

[7:24 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Sure, roll an attack.

[7:24 PM] Saiph: We used to hunt them in Arborea.

[7:24 PM] Olenna: I mean... for one thing she won't be able to fix poor Zora's eye.

[7:24 PM] Coppelia: ((19. Whip it good))

[7:25 PM] The Merciless Ocean: You do manage to entangle him in the whip.

[7:25 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Rob: "...ok...not cool."

[7:25 PM] Coppelia: signs with her free hand you are “not cool”

[7:26 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: If you miss another Shot like that you could hit one of the kids,  so just Sit tight for a minute

[7:26 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hag comes out of the hut with a small satchel.

[7:26 PM] Olenna: leans over and whispers into the kid's ear who got eaten.

[7:27 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hag walks over to Zora: "Bend down please."

[7:27 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora still looks like she may cut the hag in half.

[7:27 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((10 Insight on the Hag?))

[7:28 PM] Olenna: ... she needs to be able to reach or she won't be able to help.

[7:28 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((The hag seems...like she's always seemed.))

[7:29 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora grumbles but does lean down.  The hag throws a bunch of dust in her face.

[7:29 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "OW!  FUCK! WHAT IS WRON--Wait.  ...Wait."

[7:29 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora pulls a hand away from her face.  He purple eye now matches the other one.

[7:30 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "...I just...see normally."

[7:30 PM] Olenna: Did it work?

[7:30 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Is the magic in her eye gone?))

[7:30 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "There you go!  Warning, purple may look a lot like indigo to you now.  That's normal."

[7:30 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((It is))

[7:30 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: The Magic in your eye is gone too

[7:31 PM] Coppelia: watches Baba Yaga curiously while still holding onto the whip

[7:31 PM] Saiph: ... I mean, I liked the asymmetrical look, but not having the veil of mortality constantly peeled back from your every perception has to be a plus, right?

[7:31 PM] Saiph: offers a thumbs up.

[7:31 PM] Olenna: I don't think I'd like that.

[7:32 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: turns to the hag, still blocking her from the kids "......Thank you, now leave, Please"

[7:32 PM] Coppelia: taps the hags shoulder to get her attention

[7:32 PM] Olenna: Thank you, ma'am.

[7:32 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Baba Yaga: "Okie dokie!  ...I'll look elsewhere."

[7:33 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Rob: "No you, hurn...won't.  Zora!  Get her!  Now!"

[7:33 PM] Coppelia: tugs on the whip to quiet Rob and taps the hags shoulder again

[7:33 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hag turns to look at Coppelia.

[7:34 PM] Olenna: I don't think that would be wise.

[7:34 PM] Saiph: ((25 insight on Rob.))

[7:34 PM] Coppelia: quickly, almost as if she forgot she signs “thank you”, hesitates, then taps her throat

[7:34 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Saiph You get the sense that Rob's a hunter through and through and was looking for a "score"

[7:35 PM] Saiph: keeps an eye on him.

[7:35 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "...your neck looks nice."

[7:35 PM] Olenna: I think she's wondering if you could help her with her voice, ma'am.

[7:35 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora walks away.  "Let it go, Rob.  We can find a score elsewhere."

[7:36 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "AH!  ...maybe...can you come into Billy with me?"

[7:36 PM] Coppelia: Looks surprised, begins to nod then turns to look at the others

[7:36 PM] Saiph: Can Olenna or I go with her, grandmother?

Saiph: She's our friend.

[7:37 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "You can all come in, so long as nobody kills me."

[7:37 PM] Saiph: I don't think the kids would want to go back in.

[7:37 PM] Olenna: We're not going to.

[7:37 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Zora: "Hey, doll girl...let Rob go.  I've got him."

[7:37 PM] Olenna: It's all right, I'll stay outside with the children, Saiph.

[7:37 PM] Coppelia: Follows her in, releasing Rob with a flick of her wrist

[7:37 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: I'll stay out here

[7:37 PM] Olenna: I've got more lemon drops. I think I'm all out of taffies, though.

[7:37 PM] Saiph: Maybe you should go, you're better at talking.

[7:38 PM] Olenna: All right.

[7:38 PM] Saiph: leans in and says something to Olenna.

[7:38 PM] Olenna: tells the kids, "I'm going to go with my friend and you can stay with Saiph. He can listen to the stars and talk to animals."

[7:39 PM] Saiph: waves at the kids.

[7:39 PM] Olenna: nods to Saiph.

[7:41 PM] Olenna: also leaves him the lemon drops and heads into the house with Coppelia.

[7:42 PM] The Merciless Ocean: You enter the hut and see a large wooden room covered in knick-knacks and trinkets, as well as various bottles and weird things just...hanging from the ceiling.  She leads you over to a table and chairs and motions for Coppy to sit on the table.

[7:42 PM] Olenna: What will the cost be, ma'am?

[7:42 PM] Coppelia: Coppelia walks in, lowering her hood as she looks around. She sits on the table but still looks at all the Knick knacks

[7:43 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Hmmmm, need to see what I can do first.  ...will accept a strand of hair or ball of lint up front, though."

[7:43 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The hag looks around and sees your mouth is painted on.  "Tricksy."

[7:44 PM] Coppelia: Lifts her hair in question, then touches her painted lips

7:45 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Do you have a way for me to look inside?  I don't wanna get too clinical here, if I can.  I once crawled up an ogre's ass and that turned me off of the experience."

[7:45 PM] Olenna: ... I hope the ogre didn't mind.

[7:47 PM] Coppelia: hesitates, then nods. She removed her cloak, then her top. Her chest is like a dolls, smooth with a few of the gold filled cracks like on her face. She fiddles with a latch on her side and pulls away her chest, revealing the gleaming brass gears inside

[7:47 PM] Olenna: looks away, politely.

[7:49 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Ah...there we are.  Let me see here."

[7:49 PM] Coppelia: She moves to her neck, undoing a similar latch and revealing the gears of her neck. If one were to look closely, they are some gaps

[7:49 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The Hag sticks her whole upper torso into your chest, Coppelia.  It's...a bit tight.

[7:49 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Hm...not broken.  Unfinished."

[7:50 PM] Coppelia: nods tightly, afraid to move otherwise

[7:50 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The Hag leans in.  "...can you write your pop's name, dear?"

[7:51 PM] Coppelia: She nods, quickly writing down her masters name ((I actually forgot what I named him let me look back in the personal chat))

[7:52 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((Ok))

[7:55 PM] Coppelia: ((I’m not finding it. Can I just retcon a new name? I can’t remember what it originally was😅))

[7:55 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((Sure.  How does Giovanni work for you?))

[7:56 PM] Coppelia: ((I was going to name him Arthur De Leon. A combination of the names of the creators of the original ballet))

[7:56 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((Ok, Arthur De Leon it is.))

[7:57 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Hmmmmmm.  I know someone for you to look up."

[7:57 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Sydney Rattenberg, goes by Sid Rat, most places.  Ask around and find him and he might be able to make those gears for you."

[7:58 PM] Coppelia: Perks up, repeating the sign for “thank you” over and over again

[7:58 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Ok.  Now, payment.  Hair please."

[7:59 PM] Coppelia: Nods, working a hair out of her braided crown and handing it over

[7:59 PM] Olenna: You're not going to use it to bewitch her, are you?

[7:59 PM] The Merciless Ocean: She takes it, and holds it up to the light for inspection.

[7:59 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "NO REFUNDS!"

[8:00 PM] Coppelia: Nods safely, as if this was obvious

[8:00 PM] Olenna: There probably would be violence if you did. That's all.

[8:01 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "I can't control her like that.  But is useful.  Thank you.  Go now."

[8:02 PM] Coppelia: replaces her neck and chest pieces, latching them closed and redressing, returning her hood over her head

[8:03 PM] Olenna: Oh, good.

[8:03 PM] Olenna: offers the witch a taffy.

[8:04 PM] The Merciless Ocean: She takes it cautiously.  Looking at it, uncertain of its purpose.

[8:04 PM] Olenna: It's candy. You eat it.

[8:04 PM] Olenna: Much better than children.

[8:05 PM] Coppelia: nods in agreement, securing the hood

[8:05 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The witch peers at it, then shoves it into her face.  She begins choking.

[8:05 PM] Olenna: ... you do need to chew it, ma'am. And most people do take the wrapper off.

[8:05 PM] The Merciless Ocean: She spits it out.  "...wrapper?"

[8:06 PM] Olenna: The wax paper around the outside.

[8:06 PM] The Merciless Ocean: She removes the paper.  "...fascinating."

[8:06 PM] The Merciless Ocean: She bites the taffy this time and chews.  "...it's sweet."

[8:07 PM] Olenna: It's mostly sugar.

[8:07 PM] Olenna: Thank you, ma'am.

[8:07 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Hag: "Please.  Call me Aunty Yaga."

[8:08 PM] Coppelia: signs Thank you Aunty Yaga

[8:08 PM] Olenna: Thank you, Aunty Yaga.

[8:08 PM] The Merciless Ocean: She signs back.  "You are welcome.  I hope we meet again."

[8:08 PM] Olenna: bows to her politely and heads out with Coppelia.

8:09 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Although, her 'again' reads more as 'agait'.

[8:09 PM] Coppelia: holds a hand to her mouth and her shoulders shake, as if she were giggling silently. She waves genially

[8:10 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Aunty Yaga sneers, but smiles after.

[8:12 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((I'll say you guys leave.  Just letting the boys finish up before merging y'all again.))

[8:12 PM] Coppelia: After they exit she taps Olennas shoulder and signs I don’t think she’s evil at all. Just odd

[8:12 PM] Olenna: No, probably not.

[8:13 PM] Olenna: Though it is hard to say sometimes. That was my last taffy.

[8:13 PM] Coppelia: Better taffy than children

[8:14 PM] The Merciless Ocean: So, you head out and see Jaden and Saiph entertaining the kids.

[8:14 PM] Saiph: has Druidcrafted a dirtcastle decorated with flowers and glowing moss.

[8:15 PM] Coppelia: uses prestidigitation to rain sparkles over the castle

[8:15 PM] Olenna: Yes. I was going to trade it if I had to, since the last taffy is always the most valuable one, but.

[8:15 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Everything all right?

[8:15 PM] Olenna: Oh yes. Goodness, that castle is the nicest one you've made all month.

[8:15 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: is waving his cape around him, and in a flash of mist disapears, to shock the kids

[8:15 PM] Saiph: Not a lot of sand or dirt on the boat.

[8:16 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Anyway, its late and we need to get these kids back to town

[8:16 PM] The Merciless Ocean: One of the kids, a scrawny young boy yanks on Olenna's cape...which is the living sheet.

[8:16 PM] Olenna: That's true. Yes. It's a longer walk with shorter legs.

[8:16 PM] Olenna: Oh, be gentle. That's Al.

[8:16 PM] Saiph: Oh, I've got an idea.

[8:16 PM] Saiph: Whats your favorite animal?

[8:17 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "...bears."

8:17 PM] Saiph: One for bears.  Any others for bears?

[8:17 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Two girls raise their hands.  The one boy who got eaten screams "Grizzly!"

[8:18 PM] Saiph: All right!  Bears it is.

[8:18 PM] Saiph: turns into a big grey bear.

[8:18 PM] The Merciless Ocean: There's a bit of gasping, but the two girls cheer.

[8:18 PM] Saiph: goes over to them and crouches down, encouraging them to climb up.

[8:19 PM] Olenna: He was a bear for two whole years once.

[8:19 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Several do.  One of the kids who...seems to still be a little ratty opts out, though.

[8:19 PM] Saiph: nods at Olenna.

[8:20 PM] Olenna: We worked out a bear sign language.

[8:20 PM] Coppelia: Stands back, watching calmly

[8:20 PM] Olenna: Jaden, are you all right?

[8:21 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: looks at Olenna opens his mouth to say something, then pauses and says  "I Don't know,  probably not"  then he picks up and kid and starts walking back to town

[8:22 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "Are you a witch like the old lady?"

[8:22 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Who is he asking?))

[8:22 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((Olenna, but it's kind of to the group.))

[8:22 PM] Olenna: Oh, no, I don't think so.

[8:23 PM] Saiph: says WE'RE ADVENTURERS, but it's in bear, so.

[8:23 PM] Olenna: Saiph says "We're adventurers."

[8:23 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: I am definitely not a Witch, and i don't think any of my friends are either

[8:23 PM] Olenna: I am magic, but not that kind.

[8:23 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "Do you know how to change people?"

[8:24 PM] Coppelia: wonders to herself if she’s a witch. Probably not. Maybe? Hmm…

[8:25 PM] Olenna: Not really. I'm better with illusions, and other kinds of spells. A bit of healing, a bit of other things too.

PM] Olenna: A lot of people don't want to change.

[8:25 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "...ok."

[8:26 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Do you Want to Change?

[8:26 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "...my dad says I'm not right.  I thought if I could change, I'd be better.  And then he'd be happy again."

[8:27 PM] Olenna: How does he think you're not right?

[8:27 PM] Saiph: plods along, as Bear Saiph.  All of his animal forms tend to have the same coloration --- a deep slate blue/grey with silver tips.

[8:27 PM] Saiph: grumbles at the boy's comments.

[8:27 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "...just...some things..."

[8:27 PM] The Merciless Ocean: He looks at the other kids.

[8:29 PM] Olenna: What kinds of things?

[8:29 PM] Olenna: Maybe you could change them yourself.

[8:29 PM] Olenna: Or save up and find a mage to help you change them later.

[8:30 PM] The Merciless Ocean: He nods.  He seems a bit...uncomfortable.

[8:30 PM] Olenna: You can whisper it to me if you want.

[8:30 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((17 Insight?))

[8:31 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Jaden He seems to be talking about something very personal and you sense whatever it is, he's ashamed of it.

[8:33 PM] The Merciless Ocean: The boy whispers to Olenna. "I don't think I'm a boy all the time.  Sometimes I act real different and think I'm a girl.  My dad says that's wrong.  I want to fix it."

[8:34 PM] Olenna: Oh, I see. Hmm. Well, grown-ups mean well, but your dad isn't in your head, you know, and you are.

[8:34 PM] Olenna: He mightn't be right.

[8:35 PM] Olenna: And you know, sometimes people like to change back and forth. Saiph's a bear sometimes.

[8:36 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "I see that."

[8:37 PM] Saiph: growls in agreement!

[8:37 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "I can't do that, though."

8:37 PM] Olenna: Not yet. You might be able to learn to do it with magic.

[8:37 PM] Olenna: Or you could save up your money and see if you can find a wizard to help.

[8:38 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy nods.  "...but I'm not wrong?"

[8:38 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Nah, you are fine.  Hopefully your dad comes to see that too

[8:38 PM] Olenna: Oh, no, I don't think so.

[8:39 PM] Olenna: Unless it's a case of possession or something like that. But it's just a different kind of you, isn't it? If that's all it is, it's just a different kind of you.

[8:39 PM] Coppelia: ((I wanna performance of creation this kid a bunch of clothes but I don’t wanna assume I overheard anything T-T))

[8:39 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Olenna's clearly losing the boy.

[8:40 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "Ok...I'm Jessi."

[8:40 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Hey Jessi,  its good to meet you.

[8:40 PM] Olenna: It's nice to meet you, Jessi. I'm Olenna.

[8:41 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Jessi smiles

[8:41 PM] Olenna: I think you should be whoever you feel like you are.

[8:41 PM] Olenna: Saiph was a dinosaur one day, that was nice.

[8:42 PM] Saiph: nods vigourously!

[8:42 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Another kid, one of the ones riding Saiph, pipes up.  "CAN I BE A DINOSAUR!"

[8:42 PM] Coppelia: nods along to the conversation, pulling out her flute and playing a little tune. She prestidigitates some falling petals

[8:42 PM] Olenna: They like their feathers preened.

[8:43 PM] Olenna: If you learn magic, you might be able to learn how to become a dinosaur.

[8:44 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Boy: "I wanna be a dinosaur!  Then I'd eat Angela!"

[8:44 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Another girl riding Saiph grabs the boy by the hair, hard.  "NOT IF I EAT YOU FIRST!"

[8:44 PM] Coppelia: trills playfully and makes sparks form a dinosaur shape around the two kids

[8:44 PM] Olenna: Eating humanoids isn't a good idea, though.

8:44 PM] Olenna: It can make you very sick.

[8:44 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Its not a good thing to do generally

[8:45 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Cyranus: "It's rude!"

[8:45 PM] Saiph: In bear:  people are very dirty and often have diseases!

[8:45 PM] The Merciless Ocean: At this point, Cyranus emerges from the shadows, scribbling.

[8:46 PM] Olenna: Saiph says people are very dirty and often have diseases.

[8:46 PM] Olenna: He's quite right too. But you should especially avoid eating brains. That's how you get kuru.

[8:46 PM] Olenna: Hullo, Cyranus. We've rescued the children.

[8:47 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Cyranus: "Yes, I saw.  I was hoping for an epic battle, but there was still good tension and drama."

[8:47 PM] Olenna: And candy.

[8:48 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Cyranus: "Mmmm, candy makes a good snack, but not a great story detail.  Unless...mmm, I suppose I could include a recipe in the poem.  People love it when your recipe has a long backstory."

[8:48 PM] Olenna: Do they?

[8:49 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Cyranus: "I've been lead to believe so.

[8:49 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: History adds flavor

[8:49 PM] The Merciless Ocean: Cyranus: "INDEED!"

[8:50 PM] Olenna: looks very skeptical about this but doesn't object.

[8:50 PM] Olenna: Now, let's get the kids home.

[8:50 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: Agreed

[8:50 PM] The Merciless Ocean: ((I think that's all I have))

[8:51 PM] Jaden Goldtooth: ((Thats fine))

[8:51 PM] Coppelia: ((Sounds good! Great session!))