seedga-09

[Space Oddity]
[Ascent II - Sanctuary]
The weather has been kept at bay by your bedrolls, tents, and the sanctuary itself.
You wake slightly before the sun breaks the horizon, but as the sky begins to merge palettes.
Mesica and her pups are nowhere to be seen, though the curved indentations in the ground show their sleeping spots.
Tiphaine sits up and affects a double-armed stretch and yawn, producing a sound that is a mixture of popping joints and grinding metal.
"Up and at'em everyone!" [_]
Ridwan gets a little fire going so he can have some hot coffee and breakfast since that's not going to be an optioon for lunch.
Alida starts packing up her bedroll before heading towards the fire for breakfast
Issa wakes in a fey mood-eyes still glinting, hood pulled up tight even as they approach the fire. They say little, giving greetings only when spoken to first.
Alida: Alida nods a good morning to Issa, "Hope the weather stays this clear for the day up." She passes a packet of coffee from her rations for Ridwan to brew.
Ridwan: "Hopefully."
Claret doublechecks his packs, and his scabbard. "It can change pretty quick."
Zephyr: "Fortunate to have place of solace on mountain. This one did not expect such luxury on the climb." He seems to be eating some rations before the group decides to head out.
Eidolon wakes in a series of increasingly-elaborate stretches and things that might be complainy yawns; every so often you could look at a Maxwellian and see a Hundred. "Mmmm."
Tiphaine shuffles through three books that she has spread out along her forearm- "Weather report says it should still be clear for a while yet. We're making good time!" Her assistants are tending to packing the camp, another moving to share the cooking fire with Ridwan.
Eidolon wakes up pretty fast once he's got at that coffee, though. "Time to make the most of that clear weather, then."
Issa nurses their cup of coffee, gloved hands wrapped tightly around it.
Ridwan: "Feeling alright, Issa?"
Issa: "I am well." They smile a bit, tightly. "Fear not for me."
Ridwan nods, before returning his focus to his food.
Camp is packed, and sunrays begin to find their way around the canopy.
[OOC] Alida: -1 ration for me for the day- for the record
It's time to mosey.
[OOC] Issa: Same, one supposes
[Ascent III] [Progress: 0 / 20]
The treeline thins between you and the next planned ridge.
Eidolon glances at Issa as he packs up his bags- not worry, just amiable interest. He's not a morning person either; his eye is dim. But there's still a mountain to climb. And…
Eidolon: "…hm. We're being watched."
Ridwan: "Ah… the big, scary creature from before?"
Alida: "Oh? Is it that thing the mother wolf warned us about?"
Issa is instantly alert, eyes flicking around the snow and trees about them.
Eidolon: "I… don't know. I assume so."
Claret takes point a bit, raising a gloved hand against the glinting light. "…Might wanna try cutting up the west ascent." [I think I'm gonna try A Choice of Paths.]
Alida: "Lead the way. I've got your back." Alida moves up behind Claret and ensures her waepons are ready.
Issa: "I shall range out and keep watch, if you agree," Issa adds, quietly.
[OK] Outside of the clearing, the treeline continues a way, and there's an obvious path forward, toward the evetual summit, and then another which starts to wind around, into a rocky series of bluffs.
Claret rolled 5d6 and got 2, 3, 3, 3, 6 ( Total: 17 )
[OOC] Claret: Is the obvious path the Fast one?
Ridwan: "So long as you're not worried about getting caught alone, feel free."
[No.]
Claret sniffs the air a bit, points out the winding path. "Could cut off some time that way."
Issa: "I shall remain in sight of the group. I wish merely to give a chance of advance warning."
Eidolon: "We've got your back."
[Taking the winding, rocky path?]
[OOC] Alida: I vote yes
Zephyr nods to Claret before heading off in that direction.
[OK.] [Progress: 3 / 20]
Claret picks his way carefully around the bluffs. Heavy boots and careful steps.
Leaving the forest for the bluffs, the path forward is on a slight incline, and there are bare spots where the rock is bare, free of snow. The mountain sharply rises next to you as you continue, implying a savage climb lied down the other choice….
Hachi-Roku rolled 6d100 and got 68, 98, 42, 46, 43, 65 ( Total: 362 )
Around a crag, you spot a series of torn tarps and tents set against an outcropping.
Ridwan: "Huh."
Issa approaches them warily, eyes scanning. "Meals for the direwolves? Or the greater foe that follows us?"
Alida: "Odd place to make a camp with a Sanctuary so close by." She scans the crags around the camp for lingering threats
Zephyr glances first at Ridwan and then the tarps. He's mostly curious how long ago it looks like these were set up.
Upon approach, this camp seems to have been abandoned for weeks. Upon slightly more approach, there's the obvious remains of chewed rubber boots, torn clothing, and strewn about climbing gear.
Ridwan: "Yeah, it is pretty odd."
Zephyr surveys the wreckage before raising a hand. "Smoothskins are not alone."
Claret checks the climbing gear - grapnels and chain, if any. He's eyeing it as practical salvage.
Ridwan: "- Still?"
[OOC] Issa: Do the remains look wolf-chewed?
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: Insight me
Alida swings at a small noise, dagger drawn in a flash of movement, "Zephyr is right, there's something else here. Eyes up."
Ridwan lowers his pack and puts his hand on his holster. Orbs already in the air and hovering around him in loops.
Issa rolled 4d6 and got 3, 4, 6, 2 ( Total: 15 )
Targets: ridwan
Eidolon: "Could be someone who didn't accept sanctuary. …also, whatever's watching us is… watching more intently now. Could also be a trap-"
So, Ridwan.
You don't hear it coming but you do see it- a glint catches part of your eye and there's a thin, blue *something* hurtling right at you. And you can easily dodge, given this alertness- but at this very same split second, a small -something- bursts around a tarp and lunges at you from below.
You can dodge one or the other, or both if you spend a luck.
[OOC] Issa: Both
Ridwan starts twisting out of the way of the incoming projectile, then groans before turning that into an awkward jump away from that spot as well upon feeling the ground shift. [-1LP]
Issa rolls away from the blue thing-then turns a graceful handspring, popping up and away from the sprung trap below.
Luck courses through your veins, and there's an excellent twisting dodge involved. You see the 2nd object now- a small mammal, a bit of a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit, like if you halved a rabbit's ears in length and the same for a squirrel's tail. But put them on the same mammal.
A cacophany of *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* echoes off the walls and these small creatures [Lapiorels] begin bounding off of walls, through snowbanks, from the ruins, from seemingly everywhere-
More blue streaks fly through the sky- they're actually sharpened rocks that violently embed themselves in the ground, and their launchers lurch into view-
Bulbous brown and black things, all round and multi-stump-legged. They writhe forward, a meter tall and twice in length, and so very rotund: [Carrion Crawler]
Ridwan: "Ergh. Live wildlife is always so much more rude."
But as they approach, the Lapiorels continue to bound about, it's chaos!
[Battle] [*chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt*]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mpPKbiVsa8]
[Field Effect - Lapiorel Frenzy]
[All PCs are functionally afflicted with Shock I] [This effect can be ignored one of two ways-
[OOC] Alida: AKA ration replanishment if you can down some!
Either: [Spend 1 luck to ignore the effect for your turn] [Lose 1 ration]
[Otherwise, you act as if under the effect of Shock I]
Issa!
[OOC] Eidolon: that seems like the opposite of ration replenishment to me!!!
[fuck brackets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mpPKbiVsa8 ]
Issa growls audibly as they slide into a patch of shadow, air warping around their body. [Mass Accumulator]
Issa rolled 1d100 and got 89 ( Total: 89 ) for Burst Check
Eidolon: "…don't like these."
Eidolon: "Move too fast to keep my eye on…"
Zephyr!
Zephyr kneels down gathering energy from his surroundings. [All Creation - Overdrive]
Zephyr rolled 2d4 and got 4, 3 ( Total: 7 ) for random essence
Ridwan: "Yeah, not a huge fan."
Hold on a second-
[OOC] Zephyr: Holding
Issa- at Shock I, that CoS is technically 104. Which is a failed action!
[OOC] Issa: What.
As the CoS for Mass Accumulator is 100!
[OOC] Issa: Nobody ever told me those actions could FAIL.
It's a quirk of the system that can come up from time to time.
[OOC] Alida: Normally they don't D:
[OOC] Issa: *dryly* I would have acted differently if I was aware it could /happen/
You can still act differently if you wish, nothing else has happened yet.
[OOC] Issa: I'll spend an LP. *shrugs*
[OOC] Eidolon: …wait the fucking burst check /is a CoS check/? I thought it was literally just "check for burst"
Then everything is well! You expertly dodge squirrels and slide into a patch of shadow.
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: 'burst check' is a misnomer
[OOC] Issa: Then you should name it /something else/
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: it's not an official name
[OOC] Issa: It's the only name I've ever heard anyone CALL it.
OK Zephyr go for it!
Zephyr tests out that WRIA sending a [Wind 2 - Quick] at the Crawlers.
Zephyr rolled 1d100 and got 55 ( Total: 55 ) for burst check
Weakness!
Zephyr rolled 1d8+14 and got 8 ( Total: 22.0 ) for wind damage
[22] [22]! The crawlers burble!
Zephyr then fires off an [Unmake] at Crawler A.
Zephyr rolled 1d100 and got 27 ( Total: 27 ) for burst check wind element
Zephyr rolled 1d8+23 and got 2 ( Total: 25.0 ) for wind damage
[OOC] Zephyr: 0x of every essence
[OOC] Zephyr: EoT
[OOC] Zephyr: Oh wait I'm sorry
[OOC] Zephyr: I can't actually do that I thought Unmake was explosion
[OOC] Zephyr: Where whatever you rolled was the element
(( No ))
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: I was doublechecking that because even with All Creation that didn't sound right
Zephyr swaps that to a [C-Air Swell and gets back an air essence]
[OOC] Zephyr: Yeah explosion is 'element is what you rolled' unmake is 'Most essence = element' sorry!
Ridwan!
Ridwan pulls himself up to a kneeling squat as he directs his orb's focus onto the Carrion. [Wildfire - Earth Combo]
Ridwan rolled d100+15 and got 16 ( Total: 31 ) for Fire
Fired! [Neutral]
Ridwan rolled 2d8+17 and got 1, 2 ( Total: 20 ) for damage and Inflicts Short Burning II to both targets.
[20] [20]! They're heating up!
Carrion Crawler B burbles and spits a high-velocity rock at Eidolon! [Spear Spit]
Hachi-Roku: !Roll 1d100 ; 80
Hachi-Roku rolled 1d100 and got 24 ( Total: 24 ) for 80
Hachi-Roku rolled 1d8+28 and got 5 ( Total: 33 )
Inflicting 33 physical damage! The blue stuff following the spit continues through Eidolon, to hit…
Targets: ridwan
Ridwan for 10 Truestrike water damage!
Eidolon: "Augh-"
Targets: claret
Carrion Crawler A runs up and tries to flop its odd mandible-but-also-hard-rock-thing-in-its-mouth-called-a-calculus on Claret! [Digest]
Hachi-Roku rolled 1d100 and got 48 ( Total: 48 ) for 80
Hachi-Roku rolled 1d8+28 and got 2 ( Total: 30 )
For 30 physical damage, and Long K-Shatter I, and Long E-Shatter I!
Eidolon!
[OOC] Eidolon: christ hang on
Claret stumbles back as the beast crashes into him, suffering 25 damage and the shatters!
Eidolon runs forward, blade drawn, carves a big 'Z' into Crawler B to stay in-theme! [Monte Cristo] [C-Fire]
Eidolon rolled 1d100+15 and got 63 ( Total: 78 ) for 80
Still a hit, despite the leaping mammals!
Eidolon rolled d12+20 and got 1 ( Total: 21 ) for inflicts Long Taunt
Boom! [21]! Oh YEah the crawlers also burn!
It's way too hot at this elevation…
Alida!
[OOC] Eidolon: OwO are they W:Fire?
[OOC] Eidolon: Someone should find out. <_<
[OOC] Zephyr: W: Wind
[OOC] Eidolon: Rats.
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: I was reminding myself to remind the battle that the crawlers took Short Burning II Damage
Alida: !Sugar 1d100+15 ; Dagger- 80 CoS, 25 critical, 2DMG on scratch- Alida dashes forward to take a slash back at the crawler that rushed Claret [Synth Venom vs Crawler a]
Alida rolled 1d100+15 and got 86 ( Total: 101.0 ) for Dagger- 80 CoS, 25 critical, 2DMG on scratch- Alida dashes forward to take a slash back at the crawler that rushed Claret [Synth Venom vs Crawler a]
[OOC] Alida: -1 LP to hit
*chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt*- an expert dodge… still doesn't hit…
As that luck spent can negate the Lapiorel, but then your roll is still 86
[OOC] Alida: hrrmmm -2 LP, worth
A dextrous hit
Alida: !Sugar 1d8+10 ; Combo Air+4, Long Toxin and Short K-Shatter. M-Pin
Alida rolled 1d8+10 and got 2 ( Total: 12.0 ) for Combo Air+4, Long Toxin and Short K-Shatter. M-Pin
Striking for 16 damage, and enveloping the Crawler in a sickly green glow that also eats at its skin!
Claret!
Claret hefts his sword and slashes into Crawler A! [Attack]
Claret rolled 1d100+15 and got 58 ( Total: 73.0 ) for CoS 80 / 10
Claret rolled 1d8+13 and got 8 ( Total: 21.0 ) for Boosted by short Shatter!
A boosted strike into its soft body! [21]!
Hachi-Roku: …whoops!
Hachi-Roku: well
Hachi-Roku: the turn order won't change
Round 2!
[OOC] Issa: Real quick
[OOC] Issa: Short K-power to myself and Eidolon
Empowered!
The Lapiorels continue to chitter and bound about, and it almost seems like they're being herded by the Crawlers… or maybe they're just giving the large creatures a wide berth.
Issa, from the shadows!
Eidolon: "…damn things are -trying- to distract us…"
Issa: "Their thoughts…warped, perhaps?" Issa's voice is a rough growl. The air around them twists, and they launch themselves forward-a now-familiar strike. [Warp Strike, spending 1LP to negate the chittering.]
Issa rolled 1d100 and got 25 ( Total: 25 ) for 80% CoS, 40% Crit Chance
Out into the field with a crit!
[OOC] Issa: Targeting Crawler A, sorry, forgot to note
(Even at 25+15, that's still 40!) Crawler A takes it to the… face? Neck? Upper area region!
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: oh no wait you spend it to ignore IGNORE ME
Issa rolled 3d6+22 and got 2, 2, 2 ( Total: 28.0 )
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: i am good reads
[OOC] Issa: Ack, forgot the K-Power, that should be…
You connect deep with the Crawler - physically- violently physically for 31!
[OOC] Issa: Thank you.
Its guts tear wide open and splatter all over the rocks, your weapon, the scraggly tarps, some Lapiorels-
Eidolon whistles.
[KO]
Zephyr!
Zephyr rolled 1d4 and got 2 ( Total: 2 ) for Essence roll
(The guts are a mix of green and yellow for the record.)
Zephyr spends four of his essence to call upon an [Explosion - Quick] on Crawler B.
Zephyr rolled 1d100 and got 18 ( Total: 18 ) for burst check
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: +15 so 33…
[OOC] Zephyr: Water WRIA?
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: Neutral
[OOC] Zephyr: -1 LP to burst
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: Bursting
Zephyr rolled 2d10+25 and got 1, 6 ( Total: 32.0 ) for explosion
An explosion of essence rocks the jiggly Crawler for [32]!
Zephyr then fires off a [Breeze] at Eidolon and Claret.
Zephyr rolled 1d100 and got 41 ( Total: 41 ) for burst check
The heal goes off!
Zephyr rolled 1d8+10 and got 7 ( Total: 17.0 ) for Healing
[OOC] Zephyr: EoT
Ridwan!
Ridwan quickly takes a shot at the Carrion, hoping to drop it before it can attack again. [Roaring Bear]
Claret nods to Zephyr. "Appreciated."
Ridwan rolled d100+15 and got 21 ( Total: 36 ) for 80/20
Hit!
[OOC] Ridwan: also lion braclet
Ridwan rolled 2d6+12 and got 5, 1 ( Total: 18 )
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: rawr
Blasting the Crawler into chunks! [KO]
[+6 EXP]
Ridwan: "Whew."
"Yeoooooooooooooooow! Away! Away you little- things! Grah!!" Tiphaine and crew are swinging what weapons they have in long arcs to keep the Lapiorels at bay- though once the second crawler falls, the little creatures make themselves scarce, very quickly.
Ridwan: "Alright, furballs. You next?" Ridwan trains his gun on the smaller beasts.
[OOC] Zephyr: Applying +2 Drive from Bravery
Alida takes a few pot shots at the little beasts as they scamper.
Their *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrt* *chrrts* can be heard retreating, into the distance.
Ridwan: "Everyone still alive?"
Alida you nail one in the side and it did NOT die, it's leaving a weak trail of blood as it half hobbles across the bluffs, and it's slowing down, slowing down…
[If you want one ration, I'm gonna need you to stalk up to it and kill it.]
Alida: !Sugar 4d6; Stealth
Alida rolled 4d6 and got 1, 3, 2, 3 ( Total: 9 ) for Stealth
It sees you coming, Alida.
It knows the face of death.
And it's…
well,
Alida: !Sugar 2d6; Survival
Alida rolled 2d6 and got 4, 6 ( Total: 10 ) for Survival
"YEah! Yeah I think… I think we still got everything!" There's glances exchanged across the crew, and then a few words of assent- "Lost a bit of rations though."
Hachi-Roku rolled 1d6 and got 3 ( Total: 3 )
Alida mutters under her breath "Come here you little blue jerk…"
[There might be problems unless the party provides them with a total of 3 rations.]
[OOC] Issa: I'll provide from my stash.
"Aw, you're a real stomach-saver, Issa! Thank you!" Tiphaine fistpumps into a bicep flex!
Ridwan: "Hrm. That's not great. All the more reason for Alida to eat that little sucker then, I suppose."
Eidolon: "Adorable AND delicious."
Issa: "Ridwan…" Issa hesitates. "Might you check for evidence that these creatures were influenced, as the mother-wolf said things might be. Some…mystic…" They run out of words, and shrug.
Alida - its little chest is pumping furiously, it lies on its wounded side, red blood slowly coating the snow beneath it, its one good leg kicking futily into the air.
You don't sneak up on it at all.
But you do Survival it.
[+1]
[Tastes real stressed…]
[Progress: 5 / 20]
[OOC] Alida: -1, I add it to the missing rations)) Alida is immensely pleased with her hunting skills
Ridwan: "Sure, that'll give everyone time to sort out whatever needs sorting out." He nods to Issa, then pulls out some vials. After spreading the contents out around the camp and critters, he then lights a match and focuses intently on it.
The small flame flickers in the altitude.
(Y'want to roll something?)
[OOC] Ridwan: Insight, probably?
Ridwan rolled 4d6 and got 1, 6, 6, 6 ( Total: 19 )
You start piecing it together…
[Utilize the Insight table]
[OOC] Ridwan: 1] Who caused this? [2] What truth hides beneath the surface? [3] What's some way I can use this?
Eidolon sidles up to Issa. "Whatever it is stopped starin' at us, by the way."
Issa hisses, softly. "Does it drive them to this?"
Eidolon: "That I don't know. But they seem connected." He watches Ridwan, curiously.
Ridwan rolls his head around his neck.
Ridwan: "The lingering resentment in the area is focused on those… giant bug things. It's reasonable to assume they're what did the camp in. I'm also picking up on some… hrm. There's not really a word for it, but it seems pretty clear that the bugs were influencing those fluffballs, not the other way around…"
Ridwan: "Something still feels off though. It's… a bit too planned for a random monster attack. Getting the impression there's something else at work, too, but the impression it's giving is way too vague to narrow anything down."
Alida: "Huh, didn't take them for psychic beasties."
Ridwan shakes the match out before returning his focus to the group.
Ridwan: "So you could be onto something, Issa."
Issa shakes their head. "Too many questions. Not enough answers. And this place…warped out of shape."
Eidolon: "Bugs were herding the crawlers, but what was herding the bugs…"
Issa: "Mmm. That which was watching us, I think."
Tiphaine taps a metallic finger on her metallic cheek. "It's not unheard of for creatures to be working in tandem, even beyond parasitic relationships, but…"
Eidolon nods.
"It's definitely something /unusual/, for sure! Oughta write another paper just on this! Get cross-published!"
Ridwan: "At any rate, we know what signs to look for now so we should be able to avoid future ambushes from both the bugs and critters."
Alida: "What do you think Zephyr, are the elements in order here or… do they… not work like spirits do?" She trails off as she realizes that she has no idea how either of those actually do work.
Eidolon: "How many fields are you trying to overturn at once?" He grins.
Zephyr: "Earth is earth. Snow is snow. Changes in the elements represent a change of climate. At best beasts would move because habitats did change."
Tiphaine pounds a fist to their chest. "Does the plow care whether it digs an acre or a kilometer! But really, we aren't equipped for a -proper- animal study… it'll have to wait for next time. And probably someone more specialized in it… and…" She flusters. "I got excited, okay!"
Zephyr: "Impossible mountain always snowy, yes?"
Tiphaine nods. "Even in the hot season, which is technically /now/."
Ridwan glances between Alida and Zephyr, then laughs. "We should would be in trouble in the elements decided to start manifesting as spirits, yeah."
Tiphaine shoots a quick glance between Zephyr and Ridwan. "Does… can that happen?"
Zephyr muses to himself. "Terrifying world, that would be. One could purge heat from an area by defeating spirit? I know not of such feats."
Ridwan: "Not as far as I'm aware, but I mean… stranger things have happened. Ghost smog, and all that."
Alida: "Well I mean, they look similar with the conjuring and manifesting and what not!." Alida readjusts her pack, slightly embarrassed. "I think we're burning daylight."
Zephyr nods back before [Blazing A Trail] at the head of the pack. "This one suggests progress before nightfall."
[Part the rock in front of you!]
Eidolon seems suddenly intensely distracted thinking about the implications of all of this for deliberate control of the weather, and follows behind Zephyr.
Zephyr rolled 4d6 and got 6, 3, 3, 5 ( Total: 17 )
[Two successes] [Spending them both, I assume?]
[OOC] Zephyr: +1 Progress, +1 Progress + next persons travel action gets +1 die
[Progress: 7 / 20]
It's getting late… someone Roll Wayfaring to locate a site.
[OOC] Ridwan: i'll take it
Ridwan rolled 5d6 and got 6, 1, 1, 6, 4 ( Total: 18 ) for Making Camp i assume
Zephyr: "This one suspects that something new has taken place here on the Impossible Mountain. Though what cannot be said."
[OOC] Zephyr: -place +residence
A fine place is scouted- there's a curve in the side of the mountain that goes inward a bit, almost cavelike, but perhaps a bit too shallow. It'll protect from the wind well enough.
[Someone can hunt if they want to]
Ridwan pokes his head out after checking around inside. "Good news, no bats or bears so this'll be a really good place to hole up for the night!"
[Also someone needs to make a Wayfaring check to 'complete a project' which is 'set up camp,' but are unable to select the HP/MP recovery options under Wayfaring. But you're already protected from the weather…]
[…so really, someone should roll a Wayfaring check and get 1 success to have the night pass uneventfully.]
[Or, y'know,]
[Something could happen.]
[OOC] Claret: Oh, I'll do that.
Claret rolled 5d6 and got 3, 5, 4, 3, 6 ( Total: 21 ) for Wayfaring
[Sturdy, secure camp.]
Claret sets up camp in the windshadow of the bluffs.
Ridwan: "You all set up camp, I'm going to go see if I can hunt something up before daylight fades entirely."
Ridwan rolled 6d6 and got 1, 3, 2, 6, 4, 2 ( Total: 18 ) for Big Hunting
Ptang! You got something…
Alida: "I'll join you if you'd like, if for nothing than the buddy system out here."
[OOC] Ridwan: wow only one pass haha
[Choose your Hunting Success]
Ridwan: "Sounds good to me."
[OOC] Ridwan: We don't run into trouble
[Well, you're empty handed, but also without worry.]
Night falls, fire is set, and you get cozy in this little alcove near the top of the world…
Ridwan: "Must've scared 'em enough with the earlier fight."
[Everyone eat a ration.]
[OOC] Alida: -1 ration
Ridwan consumes some jerky.
Morning breaks. The wind howls a bit sharper than yesterday.
Still you persist in the shadow of the summit.
Tiphaine is up early, clacking two somethings in her hand- looks like she took them from the Crawlers, earlier.
Eidolon blearygrumbles at the noise but then curiosity takes over. "What're those?"
Alida: "Seems early for that noise" Alida starts the familiar action of breaking camp.
"Ah, these! They came from inside those crawlers, look!" She holds one up, and the light doesn't catch it because the sun isn't up yet, but it's a dark red stone just a bit smaller than her fist. They almost look like blood clots.
But they're way big, and far too solid.
Ridwan: "…Huh. What kind of gem is that? … Do bugs usually eat gemstones?"
Eidolon: "Oooh. That looks gross! Lemme see." He scoots closer, and in so doing rather clearly demonstrates several of his priorities at once.
Claret heaves his pack over his shoulder and strolls close. He's standing further back than Eidolon though.
"It kinda is!" she chirps. As you edge closer, you can definitely /smell/ them- of bile and gunk. She runs her thumbs over them and turns them around a bit.
Upon close inspection, they seem just like slightly polished rocks, and the redness… -might- actually be dried, hardened blood!
Claret: "…Not the color those things bled."
As if thinking that, Tiphene starts with "But the insid- yes! Exactly!"
Issa peers carefully over Eidolon's shoulder. "The blood of what they /ate/?"
She excitedly points at Claret, rapidly thrusting pointer fingers while gripping the rocks.
Eidolon takes a deep breath. You know that thing cats do when they're trying to remember a scent? That's the thing he's doing. "Hnnn. Scavengers."
Claret purses his lip. "Got a hunch that clotted up to crystal before they ate it." (He does not offer the basis of this hunch.)
"Even more exactly!" Tiphene now points at both Claret and Issa, she's got enough arms to do that, and she gives Eidolon a pained look at Eidolon as she realizes she might have to start hopping on one leg to point at him, too.
Alida looks at Claret questioningly. "That knowledge from before you were a mercenary?"
Eidolon: "So what bleeds crystals?"
"…don't know!" Tiphene responds, happy at even having no answer.
Claret rolls his shoulders. "Somethin' like that."
Claret: "Don't know what did it. But it's wrong, and it could real easy drive bugs mad."
Ridwan: "That might explain the bit I was having trouble working out yesterday, yeah."
Eidolon: "…hn. Something left the bugs a tasty snack, then, knowing that it'd drive them into a frenzy."
Ridwan: "That thing that's been watching us might be a little more cunning than I was giving it credit for."
"I was juuuuust about to ask if you think we'd find the answer, but after hearing that, I'm less confident in confronting it. But…" Tiphene fidgets, shifting from one foot to another, her pointing subsided, palms up with both rocks in hand.
Ridwan: "Oh, I suspect we'll have a run in by the time this trip is done."
Issa: "Is it connected to the force that's been driving the animals mad…?"
Alida: "It seems conniving enough to be the same, so I'd say probably."
Ridwan: "Seems that way."
"An interesting curiosity which could prove to be lethal! If I weren't possibly dehyrated I'd wet my pants thinking about it." She calls out to the crew. "Don't forget to keep drinking waterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr- even though you're cold you're still sweatingggggggggggggggggg!"
That goes for all of you, too.
Ridwan: "Very true!"
Claret looks down at Tiphene. "Is your canteen short?"
Tiphene headtilts. "No, it's about average depth, why?"
Claret: "Just checking."
Eidolon: "Our working example is of it… doing a thing that drove animals mad, so I think it almost -has- to be, at this point."
It's time to mosey.
[Progress: 7 / 20] [Yeah, it's a long one.]
Issa: "Shall I scout ahead? Now that we know there's a malevolent force involved…"
Eidolon: "Hmph. Only way to go is up and hope it gives us a better vantage point, then. I'll go first this time, carve out some handholds." [A Difficult Climb]
Ridwan: "And now that we've got more signs to look for, too." Ridwan nods to Issa.
Issa nods to Ridwan, then Eidolon. "Lead the way then. But be careful."
Eidolon rolled 4d6 and got 6, 3, 2, 1 ( Total: 12 ) for Prowess
Utilizing the same outcropping that protected you, you climb upwards…
[One success]
Eidolon climbs, and climbs, and climbs, and the thing is, he just doesn't /stop/, even when he slips and tears a gash through his foot on a sharp rock [Wounded], even when he's exhausted by the point he finally hauls himself up to a place with a decent path forward, and turns to give someone else a hand. [Wearied]
Ridwan winces a little, as he observes Eidolon securing a pathway. "Glad I'm not the one finding a way up this thing… you're even tougher than you look."
The seen strength here, pulls with a weight six times its effort.
Zephyr follows the safer of the actions Eidolon took, leaving himself largely unharmed during the climb.
Alida scrabbles up the cliff face with help and catches her breath at the top. "Wouldn't have made it up here without the way you found."
The slip was perhaps no accident, caused by a tension in the belay rope from a slip of one of Tiphene's porters, or perhaps a cut of the wind that he bore, and that this cliff was as dangerous as it was protective…
But the view is really starting to give its all- the horizon noticably curves, and the Wave Coral Sea is in view, past the edge of Tierra Del Cielo.
A carpet of greenery runs up to the base of Mt. Impossible, and from this side, The Summit's Shadow (the bar, not the phenomenon) is long out of view.
Can you see civilization from this remote place? Can anyone see you, under any circumstance?
The expanse of Mardias lies below you, yet still above it looms, in a journey that persists without relent.
Claret reaches the top of the climb - slower, carefully. He's carrying a heavy load.
Claret looks out - and then, back and up, over his shoulder. More to go.
Claret: "Top of the world."
Ridwan: "This high up, and it's still that far from the top…?"
Move, creatures, upon the skin of the rock, naked and primal, that counts only in eras.
Eidolon staggers to his feet. With difficulty. And just… watches, with a look of rapture on his face. Worth it. Already, it's worth it.
Alida: "Guess it's named 'Impossible' for a reason."
[Progress: 10 / 20]
Tiphene takes a deep swig from a canteen. "It's a marathon, not a sprint, but altogether a lot of people call it a 'death march.'"
Issa stands there for a long moment, staring out, letting the hood slip back from their head without thinking, eyes so very blue, cheekbones etched somehow higher on their face in this stark world.
Alida gazes out over the greenery before turing back to the seemingly endless task at hand. "Probably a good idea to do that scouting mission now that we've made the next level up."
For once, Issa doesn't respond immediately-they seem caught, looking out, standing out on a little spit of rock, skin pale enough to be near stone themselves, like they're not quite of the world below right now.
There's numerous murmurs of agreement to Alida's line. Reading the expressions of Tiphene and the crew, they're still in good spirits, understanding their task in which they take, but they shuffle closer together as progress is made, ever more aware that they journey at the edges of recorded knowledge.
In any case. The mountain makes no effort to put any of your feet in front of the other.
I, on the other hand, am akin to a listening adventure terminal prompt.
Alida, Issa, what does the journey hold next?
[OOC] Alida: Does this count as either a Looking Back or Moment of Wonder?
Y'know…
it does.
We'll do 'em both.
[OOC] Alida: Nice
Issa definitely cleared the Looking Back.
Eidolon, having basked in wild expanse… it's like the climb wasn't about sore arms or a twisting back or heavy legs, anymore.
The you, Eidolon, ascended, and being here…
What's a muscle or two? [-Wearied]
Alida, bright eyed thinker, you gain +1 die and +1 Progress to the next Travel Action you initiate.
[Progress: 11 / 20]
Eidolon inhales. Exhales. Even the air is different here. Sure, when he's scaling a cliff, it's "insufficiently oxygenated" , but right now? It's something new to experience, something wondrous.
Alida: "I think… I'll take the opportunity to scout. You went off last time, Issa. I'll be back"
Issa finally blinks, looks back-eyes of stone, eyes of crystal. Then they blink, and those eyes soften, and they flush a little. "One…one apologizes. One lost…time." They look disturbed, pulling their hood back up tightly around their ears.
Alida: !Sugar 3d6; Wayfaring- Charting a Course
Alida rolled 3d6 and got 5, 5, 3 ( Total: 13 ) for Wayfaring- Charting a Course
Ridwan pats Issa on the shoulder in what is ment to be a reassuring jesture.
Eidolon: "Lost time, but gained wonder. Say, rather, that we've gone so far up, and time's back in the foothills, waiting for us to come home."
Tiphene twists their shoulders, leaning in, hands wringing. "Um, is… is everything okay? Do we need some medicine or triag?"
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: *triage
A well charted course, Alida. What lies ahead for the party? [Choose two]
Issa jolts a little at the pat on their shoulder, but smiles, wanly, and again at Eidolon. Wordlessly, they continue on with the party.
Tiphene gives silent, questioning glances between the party, looking to take a cue from them.
Ridwan shrugs in Tiphene's direction before preparing to head out with Alida's intel.
Alida: An easy slope of fresh snow for a ways (Maybe the remains of an avalanche?) and then it turns into a series of large step like stone faces that are very windy, but not overly iced. Ever up and onward.
Mm. Alright!
Alida leads the way for as far as she can. "Hey Tiphene, what's the highest recorded camp on this trek? How far off are we?"
On top of that, there's a shift of clouds in the sky. [Waiting out the Storm] There's also an odd scent in the air. [Unnatural Passage]
(I'll call Alida's forecasts [Blazing a Trail] and [A Precarious Crossing])
Issa lifts their head, pulling in short, deep breaths of air-head swiveling back and forth as they try to catch the scent.
Also, since she initiated a travel action,
[Progress: 12 / 20]
Ridwan pauses for a second.
Ridwan: "I think I found that short cut after all, Alida."
Tiphene whips out a few books and spreads them across an arm, flipping through them.
"Let's see… recorded here… and then this entry.. but this was unverified…" One bicep flex later, all three books shut with a snap. "We're closing in on one of the highest known reaches! Only perhaps another… three thousand or so meters to go!"
Alida turns from the chart Tiphene is holding to face Ridwan "Well, that's good news. Where does it start?"
Issa pauses mid-sniff to stare at Tiphene. "Only?"
Zephyr: "Highest known means it could go higher, yes?"
"Until we break the record of highest-verified climbing attempt! The summit is probably, oh…" She tilts her head from one side to another, making some calculations. "-another ten or so thousand past that?"
Ridwan: "Nearby. Didn't notice it at first, but we paused long enough on this plateu for me to start sensing it."
"I mean, theoretically, people could have climbed higher, but none ever returned to tell about it," Tiphene nods, confidently.
Ridwan, I think the turns have all been taken,
So I think if you want to definitively lead somewhere…
Alida: "Well, we'll have to get back to record ours then. And I bet they didn't get to take any of the weird ways."
Issa blinks. "Maybe we could NOT end up in a ghostly war-camp next time?"
Ridwan shifts his satchel around on his shoulder, then begins to lead the way. It's a short, easy climb up from there they are, before leveling out into another small plateu, but this one only big enough for perhaps five people at a time. There's vines growing up along the cliff side that don't quite match with the foilage in the area.
Ridwan: "I think we should be good on that front this time."
The odd, mismatched vines are definitely tropical in nature, but you're far, far too above the tropics for these to grow, let alone flourish.
Issa: "This time, he says," Issa mutters, mostly sotto-voce. "Yet one remembers last time…"
The vines snake along the ground but run towards a definitive point in the plateau, which reaches a sheer cliff…
Ridwan pulls out a small candle and sets it on the ground, before digging around in his gear to pull out some flower petals and seeds, both of which are scattered around the plateu. He then lights the candel, and waits for the smoke the thicken.
[Roll Mysticism]
Ridwan rolled 4d6 and got 3, 6, 1, 1 ( Total: 11 )
Ridwan: "…Oh, right."
Ridwan shakes his head, then remembers to pull off a section of the vine and set it aflame with the candle. [Additional success from Vagabon, for a total of 2]
Ridwan: "Nearly forgot this type both takes and gives. That could have been embarassing."
Issa just shoots Ridwan a very dry look. "Nearly forgot the left turn before the war-camp?"
From where the vines all seem to run and meet together, a soft, spectral figure comes into view. A human, clad in climbing gear- a bright, high-visibility jacket and green boots- lies on the vines in front of you.
Ridwan: "Something like that."
Issa grumbles. "Maybe one could summon that damn minstrel and have him teleport us up. He does it everywhere else."
Eidolon chuckles at Issa and Ridwan.
As Ridwan sets the section of vine aflame with the candle, the Human sits up, as though waking from a nap, and starts moving their spectral hands over the vines.
Ridwan: "Does what now?" Though his attention doesn't linger on Issa enough for a response, as he instead bows in greeting to the spectre.
He stands, and a spectral rope rises from the vine, and he offers the length to Ridwan. You realize you can't make out any details of the specter's face… but you sense that it is non-hostile.
Issa just stares at Ridwan for a second, then shakes their head, and focuses on the spectre.
Alida: "Can we get everyone through?" She gestures at the rest of Tiphene's crew waiting below.
Ridwan: "Thank you, friend." Ridwan nods and holds onto the rope, then shouts to the group. "Everyone up! I need to be last so this'll last long enough for everyone to use the short cut!"
The spectral rope attaches to your current gear like any other rope- touching it gives a sense of solidarity.
Claret does, indeed, get moving.
Alida assists in getting others hitched on and heads into the portal.
Eidolon bows to the spirit, observes the obscurity of its face, starts climbing up the rope.
The Human pulls on an unseen end of rope, and the world shifts below you- each step you take feels as though you are in place, but the world is moving. The plateau's edge takes a form as you step over it- of snaking vines and a land that is foreign to this hemisphere.
Issa hesitates only a moment-lowering their eyes before grabbing hold of the rope.
Your surroundings white out around you, but there is no wind, no snow, and you still sense that, somehow, you persist on the side of Mt. Impossible.
Ridwan: "See, no war-camp!"
Claret: "See no war-camp, yeah." (But it's nice to be out of the wind.)
Issa is…hunched, gripping the rope tightly, head down.
Alida's hand moves to the blade at her hip before shaking her head and regrasping the rope in both hands. "How long is this short cut, Alloci?"
Step, step, step. Your footsteps make soft crunching noises, as though you were stepping on snow. You might be. It's not particularly cold right now!
Ridwan glances around at something, before blinking and turning to Alida. "Roughly a disthenum."
Eidolon straightens up, after 'landing' here, wherever 'here' is, like he's listening to something. And then he nods, definitively and definitely, filled with determination.
Claret counts voices. "…Issa?"
Ridwan: "We're probably about eight destrhenums thorugh now."
Issa there is a…growl. The source is indeterminate. Issa steps onwards.
Eight destrhenums… nine destrhenums… ahead, there is a crack in the white.
Eidolon tilts his head at Issa, draws nearer when they move on, doesn't… say anything. Not yet.
Alida: "Probably best to pick up the pace."
Ten destrhenums… eleven destrhenums…
Ridwan: "Almost there!"
Twelve! You feel the cut of cool air on your cheek, and if you don't detatch from this spectral cord, you'll likely follow it… to a much, /much/ different path.
Claret feels something different - the air, vertigo in the heart. "-This our stop?"
You hear a few yelps- those with quick reflexes can see Tiphene and crew unhook the spectral rope from their clamps, and they fall through the white, white floor-
You hear landing sounds from not far away.
And the faint noise of continual mortality. As different from continual spirituality.
[Unhook yourselves to exit.]
Ridwan: "Yup. Cut the cord!"
Issa /tosses/ themselves away from the rope, tumbling ungracefully, landing in a heap on hands and knees.
Claret unhooks.
Ridwan does so, dropping out of the spectral road and onto solid ground.
Whoop- as you unhook, you all fall-
-only about a foot, though, and you easily find solid ground beneath you.
Zephyr stops traversing the rope before getting a take on his surroundings.
When you touch down, the white surroundings disappear, as though they were never there, and you find yourself on flat ground-
Eidolon gazes into the distance for a split second, curiosity burning- but yes, he detaches from the rope, and thuds onto the ground.
Flat ground… inside, somewhere. It's pitch black.
You're likely to be eaten by…
[Progress: ??? / 20]
[TO BE CONTINUED]

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