21 Pupemont

20 Pupemont- 21 Pupemont - 31 Pupemont (Back to Logs)

[2:27 PM] DM: Asdun, 21 Pupemont 3Y20

## Fytulk Timberlands

[2:28 PM] DM: The day is cold, calm... and the clouds have returned. You continue your trek through the Fytulk.

[2:32 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh stay closer to Brennys today as they make their way through the forest.

[2:32 PM] DM: Around midday, Brennys stops abruptly.

[2:33 PM] Ryleigh: "What is it?" Ry's voice is low, just a whisper.

[2:34 PM] DM: She points at tracks in the snow. Anyone who has survival or nature can make an intelligence check.

[2:34 PM] Seirixori: ((15))

[2:34 PM] Urrak: ((8))

[2:39 PM] DM: Everyone can tell that there's one track that crosses the path, but that there are several others that all generally seem to go the same direction.

[2:40 PM] Seirixori: Seir tilts her head as she studies the tracks. "They're animal tracks. Deer and... rabbit."

[2:41 PM] Ryleigh: Ry doesn't seem to relax at the news. Her head still swivels around like something might pop out at them at any moment.

[2:41 PM] Urrak: "What're they runnin' from?" Urrak mutters to herself. She unsheathes her sword.

[2:43 PM] Seirixori: "They're headed somewhere, not away from something. Hmm, maybe to a food or water source, or shelter?"

[2:45 PM] Urrak: "Another storm maybe?" she scrapes her sword through some snow, thinking.

[2:46 PM] Seirixori: "We can always follow them, if we're curious enough."

[2:47 PM] DM: Brennys: "It's strange. Game trails don't look like this."

[2:47 PM] Ryleigh: "What do you think we should do?" Ryleigh asks Seir, deferring to her decision.

[2:50 PM] Seirixori: Seir let's out a huff as she thinks, "Well, if these are unusual in how it looks... then it's probably a trap of some kind, or a warning. But if it's a trap I'm not sure why we would follow it? Unless they think we need the food... Or they know we--" she stops herself from rambling on. "I want to ignore it, we have no reason to follow, but ignoring it means they're just going to keep trying if it is a trap."

[2:52 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh nods. "Okay, then lets keep going."

[2:54 PM] DM: So you continue on. You can see more and more tracks through the snow. Those of you who know what to look for can see that some are a bit older (though clearly not older than the last snowfall) and some are fairly fresh. They aren't exactly following the same path you are, but it's close.

[2:56 PM] Seirixori: Seir, her foresty wolf self, growls in frustration and quietly mumbles, "I wish I could use my staff right now."

[2:57 PM] Ryleigh: "So you could talk to the trees?"

[2:57 PM] Seirixori: Seir nods, "Hey trees, what the fuck?"

[2:59 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh laughs.

[2:59 PM] Urrak: Urrak laughs as well, "Truly." She looks around as they walk, "This place...it's somethin' else."

[3:00 PM] DM: The wind blows through the trees and you could swear the leaves are laughing.

[3:00 PM] DM: Brennys pushes forward. "It's unsettling is what it is."

[3:01 PM] Urrak: Urrak walks up alongside her, "Don't worry, we've got yer back. This forest ain't gettin' th' best of me."

[3:01 PM] Seirixori: "Do you think maybe it isn't the elves making the creepy things? ...Have we already talked about that?"

[3:02 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh rolls her eyes.

[3:10 PM] Ryleigh: “I might be, but the Fytulk has its own magic. It’s own way of being ‘creepy’.”

[3:12 PM] DM: Eventually, the tracks stop going the same general direction and head into the forest, then behind you as you cross over this odd starburst pattern of tracks.

[3:13 PM] DM: You continue on until you reach camp.

[3:20 PM] Ryleigh: Ry helps set camp, and once the fire is going and they’re all gathered around it, she says, “Seirixori and I found and spoke to the Shadar Kai last night...”

[3:21 PM] Brimeia: Bri's eyes widen. "And? What happened?"

[3:22 PM] Seirixori: "They had an offer, as they said. On the surface it's actually not terrible and seeming of no consequence, exactly."

[3:23 PM] Brimeia: "What was it?"

[3:25 PM] Urrak: "Aye, what's th' offer?" Urrak sits up, genuinely interested

[3:29 PM] Seirixori: Seir chews on her lips a moment before speaking, clearly not really agreeing with it. "The Raven Queen offers to... take away your pain and sadness. She can numb the pain of loss."

[3:30 PM] Urrak: "Sorry...I don't follow."

[3:31 PM] Ryleigh: "To gain answers to the questions we seek," Ry finishes for Seir.

[3:31 PM] Seirixori: "Yeah, I forgot about that part."

[3:32 PM] Brimeia: Brimeia frowns. "Meaning what exactly?" Her expression looks skeptical

[3:35 PM] Seirixori: "She will, I don't know, I guess either block or hide away memories of sad things and in return answer questions we have. And she gets stronger in doing so." Seir pauses, "I don't know if that means questions we ask or questions that we have like... inside."

[3:35 PM] Urrak: Urrak chews her lip

[3:36 PM] Brimeia: "Sounds like a sweet deal. ...Gotta be some kinda catch right?"

[3:39 PM] Urrak: "I'd say givin' her power is th' catch. Or at least one o' them."

[3:40 PM] DM: Rukiya leans forward, still sitting as close to Ry as possible. "Power is exchanged all the time in every interaction. The question is whether it's a good person to give it to or what we think they'll do with it."

[3:42 PM] Seirixori: "Mhmm, and I am very uncomfortable with most of us even doing so for, what I hope, are obvious reasons."

[3:42 PM] Seirixori: "I do have other issues with it but..."

[3:44 PM] Urrak: "But?" Urrak quirks an eyebrow

[3:46 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh moves so her arm is around Rukiya, and cloak is too. She stares at Seirixori, waiting for her to answer.

[3:46 PM] Brimeia: Bri's eyes swivel to Seir.

[3:49 PM] Seirixori: "But I wanted to give the offer... without telling you exactly how I feel about it."

[3:50 PM] Urrak: "Yer not...gonna ask her t' remove yer mama from yer memory...are ye?" Urrak nervously cracks her knuckles

[3:50 PM] Seirixori: Seir laughs and it sounds very close to being too much.

[3:51 PM] Ryleigh: "No, she means she wants you two to decide if its something you're interested in before she expresses how she feels about the offer the Raven Queen made us."

[3:52 PM] Urrak: Urrak chuckles, "Ah, good." she calms down and reflects on it, "I...I might be interested. But it's...a big decision."

[3:54 PM] Brimeia: "It sounds like a good deal to me, but well...I've got a bad track with deals." She gives a dry laugh. "So by all means talk me out of it."

[3:57 PM] DM: Rukiya raises an eyebrow. "Just those two? There are four of us who weren't part of that conversation."

[4:00 PM] Seirixori: Seir takes a deep breath and let's it out slowly before she speaks, "I... don't want the Raven Queen to know about--" Seir stops to gather her words and squeezes Gunnloda's hand. "You have information about my wife floating about in that head of yours. Far more than the others. Not to mention I'm pretty certain Gunnloda cannot participate anyway."

[4:01 PM] Seirixori: "Even without my feelings on the subject, I don't really want to let people, or God's know about who my mother is."

[4:01 PM] Seirixori: She looks directly at Rukiya with her last statement.

[4:02 PM] Ryleigh: Ry intervenes quickly. "Of course, that decision isn't ours to make, homashoc."

[4:02 PM] DM: Rukiya smiles. "I didn't say I'd participate. I just didn't want to be left out of the conversation."

[4:05 PM] Seirixori: "I-- yes. Sorry, I didn't mean to-- Okay, I did mean to-- Sorry."

[4:06 PM] DM: Rukiya: "Apology accepted. I'm not about to just let anyone rummage through my brain. There's too much in there to risk."

[4:08 PM] Ryleigh: Leaning over, Ry presses her lips to Rukiya's temple.

[4:12 PM] Seirixori: Seir nods, "Yes. And as for my personal feelings on it... I don't like the idea of taking away pain or sadness. I don't like the idea of numbing any of it. It's why I don't like anyone drinking to do that, or anything else that has the same outcome. Yes, there have been instances where I have done that, a lot of it being in the moment and I'm trying to work on not falling into relying on it." She waves her hand, "Aside from that, I don't see how you could overcome any of that pain, sadness, or grief by just getting rid of it? We have countless examples," she laughs a little waving her hand to the group and pointing at herself, "of what happens when we try to ignore it or don't move past it. I'm working on it and I hope I'm improving at least a little bit, I know I fall back into it a lot, but I'm trying. If you constantly hide that pain, how do you really appreciate your happiness? Or anything really."

[4:13 PM] Brimeia: Bri gives her a sympathetic look.

[4:15 PM] Brimeia: "What if she doesn't take all of it? Do you think she could help me with my...problem?"

[4:18 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "I can't say I'm above numbin' pain of any kind, but... sayin' y'have t' have sufferin' to appreciate happiness sounds a lot like justifyin' suffering."

[4:20 PM] Ryleigh: "And like I said last night... sometimes suffering is just that. It doesn't make you stronger, or build your character, it just... hurts."

[4:21 PM] Seirixori: Seir's face scrunches and she frowns, "Right. I don't think I know how to- to explain it better."

[4:23 PM] Urrak: "I understand what ye mean, Seirixori. That was an attitude we had at th' Stronghold. What didn't kill ye, made ye stronger." Urrak fiddles with an earring, "I agree somewhat. It's worked fer me. But some memories are just...so painful." her eyes get glassy a moment before she blinks away the tears, "At the very least...I'd like to ask this Raven Queen exactly how this all works."

[4:27 PM] Seirixori: Seir just looks frustrated at not being able to find the right words.

[4:29 PM] Brimeia: "Are you worried about us losing ourselves?"

[4:29 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh puts her hand on Seir's leg. "Take your time and then try to explain again. We aren't trying to put words in your mouth."

[4:30 PM] Urrak: "Aye, sorry if it seemed that way." she rubs the back of her neck

[4:35 PM] Seirixori: "I'm-- I'm worried about someone taking the offer to numb something and then liking the feeling too much and continuing to go back to doing it. Even for small things." Seir nods to Brimeia, "So yes, I am worried about that."

[4:39 PM] Ryleigh: "I never thought I'd say this but... that's not our decision to make. We just have to trust that whoever wants to do this won't overuse, and remind them," Ry pauses to look at Urrak and Bri and Rukiya, "That they have the support they need to get through the pain without numbing it."

[4:43 PM] Seirixori: Seir laughs a little, "I know, I know, that's why we're talking about it."

[4:43 PM] Urrak: "Maybe we should all sleep on it. Make decisions with a clear head." Urrak offers

[4:51 PM] DM: Rukiya: "It might also be worth clarifying some of those things, if it's possible. Maybe continuing to do so isn't even an option. We don't know enough about the situation. She might be an ally. We don't know much about her except that she's somehow related to the Decimation."

[4:56 PM] Seirixori: Seir's quiet for a little bit and then she finally says, "I don't have control over the situation or enough information about it and I don't like it. I'm sorry for taking away the decision for some of you because I don't like it."  Her words are said to everyone but she looks mostly at Gunnloda with a glance or two at Rukiya.

[4:57 PM] DM: Gunnloda lifts her hand to press a kiss to it.

[4:58 PM] Seirixori: With a sigh she adds, "I don't really see any issue with at least finding out more, the Shadar-Kai have been truthful in their intentions and really, whatever else is following us is more of a problem than they are."

[5:02 PM] DM: Rukiya: "Did you learn something about that?"

[5:03 PM] Seirixori: "...Oh! Uh yes. Sort of?" She looks at Ryleigh.

[5:03 PM] Ryleigh: "They didn't really have much to say about. Just that we might have caught the attention of the nagpa?"

[5:05 PM] DM: Rukiya perks up a bit. "Nagpa? That's what they said?"

[5:07 PM] Seirixori: Seir nods, "That's what they called them. They were wizards that worked against the Raven Queen and were punished and now they're cursed."

[5:09 PM] Urrak: "Oh. Great." Urrak deadpans

[5:11 PM] Brimeia: "Why are they following us?"

[5:12 PM] Seirixori: Seir shrugs, "We draw attention, quite easily."

[5:14 PM] DM: Rukiya: "I saw an old Elven word connected to the... things. Here. I've never seen it used before or since, but the pronunciation could be nagpa. Did they say anything else?"

[5:15 PM] Seirixori: "Not about them, no."

[5:15 PM] DM: Rukiya reaches into a place in her armor and pulls out a small notebook and starts flipping through it.

[5:17 PM] Ryleigh: Ry says something snarky in elven you Rukiya.

[5:18 PM] DM: She nudges Ry. "Here. You said they were wizards that worked against her?" Her eyes widen. "They're the reason the ascension failed."

[5:19 PM] Ryleigh: “Really?” Ry suddenly looks more interested.

[5:22 PM] DM: Rukiya flips through more pages. Anyone who's trying to look can see that they're little more than symbols and letters, hardly anything resembling an actual language that can be read. "I think so. I haven't found anything else on them, but if they were wizards working against her, during her ritual... and then the ritual failed... and nobody's heard from her or them since, really. I can't be sure," she adds, glancing at Ry, "but... maybe they know something."

[5:23 PM] Seirixori: "The...wizards?"

[5:24 PM] DM: She nods. "The nagpa."

[5:25 PM] Seirixori: Seir laughs a little and looks at Ryleigh, "See, Rukiya should have totally gone with." Seir yawns a little as she says, "So we need to find them too then?"

[5:25 PM] Seirixori: "Or... uh follow those tracks next time."

[5:28 PM] DM: Rukiya frowns a little. "I don't know what the tracks were about. As for the nagpa... maybe that was what happened the other night," she says, looking at Ry.

[5:33 PM] Ryleigh: "With the random storm?" Ry taps her chin. "Possibly... but that type of weather isn't unusual for this time of year."

[5:33 PM] Seirixori: Seir laughs a little, "I did say I could do something similar, it wouldn't be far off to think they can too."

[5:34 PM] DM: "No... the other thing."

[5:34 PM] Ryleigh: Ry's eye widen, and she softly exhales, "Oh."

[5:35 PM] Brimeia: Brimeia looks confused. "What thing?"

[5:36 PM] Ryleigh: "I had a dream the other night, and it was likely magically induced. Maybe the nagpa are responsible."

[5:36 PM] Urrak: "What kinda dream?" Urrak tries to not look terribly confused

[5:38 PM] Brimeia: "Doesn't sound good..."

[5:38 PM] Seirixori: "I'm not entirely sure the kind of dream is what we need to focus on. Other than the fact that it's possible... as well as what happened with Brennys."

[5:39 PM] Brimeia: "Oh, right. That does make more sense. So what do they want from us? Can we stop them?"

[5:40 PM] Seirixori: "I think our only option is what Rukiya implied, to ask them."

[5:41 PM] DM: Rukiya: "She was approached in a dream by someone pretending to be someone else, telling her to dig up secrets when the time came."

[5:41 PM] Ryleigh: Ryleigh looks relieved when Rukiya answers.

[5:43 PM] Brimeia: "Okay. Beware of tricky dream people. Got it. How do we talk to the creeps?"

[5:45 PM] DM: Rukiya: "Short of waiting for them to try to contact us or shouting in the woods, I don't know."

[5:47 PM] Seirixori: "I can ask the trees," Seir laughs a little bit. "Or we wait."

[5:47 PM] Urrak: "I mean I can absolutely shout int'a these woods," Urrak jokes

[5:51 PM] Seirixori: "I'll see if the forest knows if anything is close by in the morning, I know I won't get exacts, but other than that I guess we'll just see what the day brings."

[5:51 PM] Ryleigh: "Shouting into the tree probably isn't a good idea," Ry says.

[5:52 PM] DM: Rukiya: "Are you able to do that now, or tomorrow?"

[5:53 PM] Seirixori: "Oh, I mean, I can do it now. I ... don't know why I just figured they weren't here right this second."

[5:54 PM] DM: "Do you have a better idea?"

[5:57 PM] Seirixori: "No, not really." Seir doesn't even move from where she is, just grabs her staff and twists it in her hand for a second and then looks over towards some nearby trees. "Are there other people nearby? Or have any been by here recently?"

[5:59 PM] DM: There's a rustling of branches and leaves around you.

[6:00 PM] Seirixori: Seir stands, "Hmm, any creatures that are not animals?"

[6:00 PM] Seirixori: To her friends she asks, "I have an idea, but also does anyone have a better question to ask?"

[6:02 PM] Brimeia: "Uhhh if they saw anyone following us?"

[6:06 PM] Seirixori: "Only animals around here. Uh my idea is to... leave. Not for long, a minute max. But it's to ask the plants and trees that we passed getting here."

[6:08 PM] Ryleigh: "Just... take someone with you," Ry look uncomfortable.

[6:08 PM] Seirixori: "Uh... I can't."

[6:08 PM] Brimeia: "Why not?"

[6:09 PM] Seirixori: "That's not how the spell works," she laughs a little. "I've only done it back at the guildhall, but I can move through the trees. Pretty far, but not for long."

[6:09 PM] Brimeia: "Oh."

[6:10 PM] Seirixori: "I can do that now, or we can just wait and I can ask whenever we feel someone other than the Shadar-Kai watching us."

[6:14 PM] Ryleigh: "Which is it that you want to do?"

[6:15 PM] Seirixori: "I can wait, it was more an offer if we wanted to find out now."

[6:17 PM] Seirixori: She thanks the trees in druidic and sits back down. "Sleep now and we'll work on more tomorrow?"

[6:18 PM] DM: Gunnloda snuggles back up to Seir. "Sounds good t'me."

[6:19 PM] Urrak: "Agreed." Urrak stretches her arms and yawns

## Bri Dream

So while you're sleeping, you have an extremely vivid dream. You're sitting in that room in Halolis where you first met Eya, and you hear the sound of sharp heels coming up the hall. You feel uncomfortable, your scar starts to itch... you just know that she's going to walk through the door.

The doorknob turns, but as the door starts to open, you hear, "You know what, fuck this." And a burly, muscular body-builder of a human man steps around you and puts his hand to the door, shutting it. He leans against it casually as the sound of thumping on the other side gets louder.

"You," he says, looking at Bri. "You don't even know how powerful you are, do you?"

Another voice comes from behind you. "Of course she doesn't. That's what a life of being put down does to a person." A thick, solid hand lands on your shoulder. Looking up, you see another human, and in that moment, you recognize both these men as those who appear when you rage to help you protect the others.

The first kind of squints at you, like he's sizing you up. "This fuckin' devil has been fuckin' with our family for long enough. What's done is done, but you are strong enough now to fight back."

"And you're not alone," the second says as he kind of turns you with his hand on your shoulder. When you turn, you see what has to be hundreds of people stretched out where there used to be a wall. People of all genders, mostly human with some tieflings mixed in, some big and strong with dangerous weaponry, others with tools of their trades or stacks of books in their hands.

"We'll hold this door shut. You get out there and make our family proud," the first says after giving you a moment to look over the crowd, seeing your own features reflected back towards you.

"You're going to do big, important things with that group of yours. Things that'll make up for what this fuckin' devil did with that fucker Crotamis. Just make sure the world knows the name of Brimeia Pantazis."

[8:52 AM] DM: And with that, you now have access to your 10th level ancestral barbarian ability to commune with your ancestors.

20 Pupemont- 21 Pupemont - 31 Pupemont (Back to Logs)