Festival: Jungle of Whispers

Living Green Festival: A patch of jungle near Shibuya has become overgrown by plantlife. Rumors tell that mysterious voices seem to be coming from within the dense undergrowth. A team of adventurers has been sent out to explore the jungle and find the source of the strange happenings.

(OOC: Exploration-based event. Card+Concept for rolls. Max party size: 10)

Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Edge of the Jungle

The lands of the Eastal Free League seem to be the most affected by the Living Green Festival, and the strange influence it has on plant growth. Large swaths of greenery mean that there is ample place for the growing wilds to take hold.

One such area is a patch of jungle near the newly re-formed city of Shibuya. Prior to the event, it was simply an unremarkable stretch of forest. Now, there is a thick, leafy canopy, marked with thick vines and humid air.

Most unusual, however, are the reports of strange almost ghostly whispers that have been heard throughout the forest. It is enough to keep most of the Landers away from this section of the Jungle, too afraid of what sort of creature might be the source of the sound.

The Hunters Guild is not afraid of such things. They have reached out to nearby Adventurers, seeking to find those who might be brave, or foolish enough to explore these unknown woods.

The party gathers just on the outskirts. It looks as if someone has recently been trying to chop down trees, here, but their job is left incomplete. The axes are left strewn in the grass. Whatever they heard, it must have been enough to frighten off the Landers.
Mizuki
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    Mizuki looks at the axes strewn about. "They were trying to reveal the source of the whispers..." Her ears flick a bit. "D'you think this is gonna be the creepy type of whispers or are there just little gnomes living in the underbrush or something?"

    Her ears flick again. "I should hear it if anything's here, right? Although... I guess if were fangs don't hear it better than everyone else, then maybe it's a telepathic whisper, rather than a verbal one..."
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

When there's somethin' strange
In your local wood
Who you gonna call?

ADVENTURERS

They ain't afraid of no ghost!

Prophylaxis has seen far too many dead bodies to be too bothered by the kind of spectral threats that are supposedly lurking within the Eastal jungles. He's augmented his usual doctoring attire with a sturdy-looking rucksack and a half-dozen pouches ready to be filled with interesting herbs and spices hidden within the winding wood. "Huh," he says, nudging an abandoned hatchet with the toe of his boot. "Maybe we've got an angry dryad? Too bad all these Landers ran off before we could axe them anything."

There's a beat as the good doctor adjusts his backpack.

"Well! No use waiting around," he says with a smile, "Shall we be off?"
Goldenblade
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Goldenblade has arrived, takes a look around. "Well, they," she eyes the discarded axes, "left in a hurry." She'll look around on the ground for maybe like strange tracks or anything. She's keeping her ears open, but can only shrug at Mizuki's comment. She'll go over and pick up an axe and give it a try on a nearby tree, in case the sound draws out any ghosts.
Shiruba
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Shiruba is not about to let the various responsibilities she's been entrusted with keep her from some good old fashion exploring!

That the thing that needs exploring is near one of those responsibilities is just a fringe benefit. As well as a possible problem if they don't find out what's causing the eerie sounds.

Though the wolfgirl's first stop is to crouch down and inspect one of the abandoned axes. "No sign of fighting. They must of been literally scared away." She gets back to her feet, staring out at the forest just beyond them.

"Something filled them with immense.. treepidation."
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek takes time to put on his attire, and places on the gear which he will wear. Looks like it is the normal dark attire with the beltcape, and with sword along the back sheath as well. The man nods a bit to the party, while he thinks about it, watching.
Estelle
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Estelle considers the axes a long moment, arms crossed across her stomach. There's an idle swish of her tails, alongside the thoughtful look. "I don't think they were trying to find the source of the whispers. More likely some of those who reported them. All of this new growth represents a bounty of resources, fresh wood included." One pale hand pulls from the other arm, the silver thread of her gloves shimmering in the light as she gestures towards the axes. "This is likely an attempt at logging for profit, or perhaps with construction in mind. S pity the stars did not smile upon them."

Then she pauses, and looks over towards Prophylaxis at his words. Her ears briefly pull flat, and she shakes her head at the pun. And they remaion down, as Shiruba joins in. Still. "... Hello again, Doctor. And... Setsuna, was it?" She gives a nod in greeting to those familiar faces, before sweeping her silvery gaze along the rest of their party. "I am Estelle, should you need to get my attention, and I shall be doing my best to bring the Blessings of the Stars upon our adventure, and provide a guiding light in the dark."

Her piece said, for now, she turns her gaze towards Shiruba and Goldenblade, watching their investigations and attempts closely. As a 'squishy' she's keeping back from the treeline for now.
Setsuna
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    Setsuna walks through the worksite and looks around the site slowly, making his way along the perimeter before looking towards the jungle doc. " Hey Doc, I know they said they were hearing whispering but are there any plants or spells that could induce some form of mass audio hallucination." He walks towwards the center of the site and shrugs, "I mean I am the last one to disbelieve ghostly anything, but its always possible something else made the workers get up and leaf."
Gwen
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Gwen is singing, "Welcome to the Jungle o/~"

She was happy to take this job, it was more experiance and better credit with the guild. So here she was in good spirits and she'll be. She'll pause to inspect an axe and pick one up to put into her inventory she may have use of it.

"If they ran off must have been bad, also proves the lumber crew was not stupid."

Gwen woudl run too if she was not some supernaturall powere elf girl now. She will however start to look around.

She'll look to Estelle for a moment.

"Hello! I'm Gwen Pendragon good to meet you."
Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Following the Whispers

It isn't far into the forest that they first begin to hear the same strange sound that must have frightened off the Landers. It has a strange, eerie tone to it. Sometimes the voice seems to fade away entirely, quiet for long moments, only for it to rise again, humming a strange melody through the air.

The sound is still quiet, though, as if it were still at a great distance. There are plenty of other sounds that make picking out the specifics of the sing-song tone more than a little difficult. Though it does seem to have some unique qualities that someone with a keen ear might pick up on. Specialized senses might be able to determine the directionality of the sound, as well.

Challenge Options:
Song vs 8           - Try to determine the source of the sound
Transformation vs 7 - Try to determine the direction of the sound
Tracking vs 10      - Look for signs of passage in the thick underbrush

On Success: You will be paged with what information you discover.
Mizuki
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    "Is that... singing?" Mizuki tries to listen, ears turning this way and that, but the other adventurers are noisy, and the sound is so faint...

    Eventually she climbs the tallest tree nearby and listens from there. Looking around with eyes and ears, until finally both look north.

    She climbs back down and points. "It's coming from that way... I think."
Goldenblade
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Goldenblade can't make out the quiet tune she almost hears, nor can she figure out where it's coming from. She will rely on some of the others, who hopefully have a better ear for it than she does. This would not be difficult. "Too noisy," she grumbles, walking around the clearing and peering into the distance. She drops the woodaxe in her inventory, she never knows when she'll need somethng like that. At least it seems like there aren't any monsters nearby. Unless something's driven them all off.
Shiruba
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Shiruba stands up, and takes a moment to notice the various people that have arrived to investigate. For a moment her gaze rests on Estelle, and nods briefly to the fox. "Hello! I don't believe we've properly met before, but formal introductions will probably have to wait."

With that said she turns her attention back to the forest as the group ventures inward. Her ears are up, but her attention again turns downward, and after a short distance she stops and takes out her survival knife to cut away some overgrowth. "These plants really are floursihing fast." With the tangled growth cut away she finds some footprints. Or more accurately boot prints, like the heavy leather ones adventurers or loggers would of worn.

Shiruba stands, but unlike Mizuki, she turns to face south. "I would say you're right Mizu. These tracks are going south, and their placement is wide enough apart to be a running stride. Whoever made them was running, and running -away- from the source of this mystery."
Prophylaxis
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"Well if it isn't the astrologian from the other day," Prophylaxis says with a cheerful note. "Good to see you again! Let's hope your fortune telling is enough to outfox this supposed-specter, eh?"

The puns.

They do not stop. They will not stop.

E v e r.

It seems as though the good doctor is too preoccupied with checking inoccuous-looking bushes and picking through thick foliage to actually contribute meaningfully to the sound-tracing effort. He's no good at this sort of thing anyway, best to let the others take the lead while he searches for herbacious loot!

"You know," he says, absentmindedly checking a particular bush... Only to pause when he picks a big ol' boot out of the underbrush. "For people with such big feet, those lumberjacks sure ran out of there in a hurry. It's always a shame when one's bark is worse than one's bite...!"

E V E R.
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"Or maybe we really /should/ be afraid of this ghost," he murmurs, holding the boot out for all to see. "Judging by this, it seems like it may be the type that likes to steal men's soles."
Merek
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    Merek looks around a bit to listen to the whispering, although he then would look to the whole of the forest, and notices Estelle when she introduces to the party. "Merek," he notes, then he takes a look at the weapon which he wears, "What?" There's a moment while he places a hand along the hilt of the weapon, the why would be anyone's guess about it.
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    As the group enter the forest Setsuna notices the sound of the whsiper along with the others, As others point out the direction Setsuna stops and begins to cast his spell, "Spirit of the wind seek the source of the voice." Sadly his spell disipates and never comes back. Looking back at the group as he shakes his head with no further information. However apparently others were having better look then him, and he lets them take the lead this time.
Gwen
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Gwen looks around for a moment she's trying to track the song but even with her hearing? She's having no real luck in finding where the song is coming from it. Her ears twitch but she has no luck in trying to find this.

"I'm not having anyt luck pinning it down. Do I need to call Frank Castle? The Punnisher is badly needed at this point."
Estelle
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The fox's ears perk as she catches the sounds, the flaps flicking and twisting as she tries to track it. "Someone keep an eye on me? My horoscope was promising for the day, but there's no need to tempt fate." She takes a few steps off of the path, careful of where she's stepping and of her dress getting caught on foliage - and she makes sure her tails, at least, are clearly visible, if just by the tip. But then there's a huff, loud and sudden.

"... It's just a bird, doing as they do and mimicing a sound its heard," drifts pack, even as Estelle heads back to rejoin everyone. "Rather colorful, though - I don't think it's from this region? Doesn't look like anything I saw when exploring here Before. A pity it isn't night; that makes it hard to consult the stars..."

The puns, of course, only get a Look from her. She doesn't distinguish them with anything further.
Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

The Field of Lost

After the first section of dense foliage, the jungle seems to give way to a strange looking clearing. It seems odd, in a place like this, at this time of year, for there to be a clearing at all. The primary plantlife here appears to be thick shrubs with large flower buds sticking out in all directions.

As the Adventurers approach, the flower buds seem to open in proximity to them, revealing an absolutely gorgeous array of flowers. They have petals which fade from vibrant colors to a bright white at the center, with darker veins of color running along the center of each petal.

However, as they open, they also begin to give off a strange white powder that hangs lightly in the air. The pollen has a sweet scent to it, enough to draw people towards the flowers.

Challenge Options:
Herbology vs 8      - Identify the pollen as a danger and protect yourself
Air vs 10           - To try to clear the air of pollen
Evasion vs 10       - Identify the danger and try to run through.

On Failure: The pollen causes the Adventurer(s) to hallucinate. Choose a person, living or dead, from one of your character's +memories (It may not be a person that is trapped in ETO). They begin to see this person, who then attempts to lure them further into the field of flowers.
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Setsuna follows along, he may not of heard or seen anything help but at least he wasn't a burden. He could be helpful next time he was sure. As they come to the field he reaches down to touch one of the flowers to notice a moment later the white powder. As with all problems he looks to magic to begin to try and protect him from any effects, "Spirits of the forest..." He trails off as he sees a kid in the field of flowers. All words, and thoughts lost. " Wha... What are you doing here?"
    Setsuna takes off at a full speed towards the kid , into the flower field. "KOICHI! You aren't suppose to be here ! " Continuing to chase after the kid Setsuna keeps running , every so often stopping and then running back and forth deeper into the field. " Come back here! You aren't suppose ! Why!"
Goldenblade
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Goldenblade is just following the group at this point, walking through the flowers, breathing in the pollen. She's lucky she doesn't have allergies, but she's always been fine with them. That said, she does hear something. "Hanako?" she gasps, shocked. "What are you doing here?" It's a reasonable question. "Have I come to join you?" she wondres, wandering deeper into the field, "it still seems like this silly game. Hanako, wait for me..."
Shiruba
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

While it's true that plants have been growing in overdrive due to the World Event, the fact that the environment changes so drastically from forest to flowering clearing is still enough to put Shiruba a bit on edge. It can be seen in the way her ears stay stiffly alert and her tail flicks with wary anticipation behind her. Being the experienced explorer that she is, she's not taking any chances.

The bit of properly prepared paranoia pays out though, as she's quick and aware enough to step back when the flowers put their colors on display, likely a distraction from the powder they're polluting the air with.

Shiruba draws one of her trademark arrows and notchs it in her bow, the rumble of air turbulance briefly heard as she's drawing it back. "Winds of change, clear our way .... Typhoon Shot!" she chants, and fires the air empowered arrow. The cyclonic force whirling around the projectile blows a large portion of the powered in the opposite direction away from her.

Others aren't so lucky and start to wander off, which is an unfortunate way of proving her unease correct. "Don't let them stray too far! Hopefully it will wear off."
Gwen
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Gwen is on edge she's not liking this as she keeps with the party, thankfully they have found their way so far. She does not like the flower at all something isn't right about them as pretty as they are. Something is up with the powder she doesn't like it. She doesn't even want to breathe it in. Who knows what it is.

"GALE OF SWORDS!"

Gween rapidly swings her blade swlhing causing guts of wind to clear out the pollen in her way.

"Keep together and keep moving!"
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    They steal men's souls? "Perhaps the same could be said of all disembodied voices..." Mizuki mutters. And then she looks at Estelle. "Your... horoscope? Seriously?"

    The group heads north. Mizuki stops, surprised when the flowers open up like that. "Okay, that's pretty..."

    And then she sees a glimpse of someone at the opposite edge of the clearing. A slim man in glasses with flowing red hair and black robes, glancing around and then turning to walk into the forest.

    "Wait, Bleys!" Oh right, of course he wouldn't recognize her. "Marcus, it's me, Sam! Wait up!" And she charges off through the flowers...
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek seems to be a little bit distracted by the weapon, then it looks like he can't identify with the herbs. Then it begins to release that pollen, and he looks to the field of flowers. "... You, it can't be," he would note, then he takes a moment to look around, "... Impossible," the man begins to draw the weapon of his while he begins to walk along into the fields. The man keeps from swinging into everything in the way. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!"
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Puns are always good, no matter what the punbelievers try to tell you! Or at least, Prophylaxis seems quite satisfied with the quality of his jokes, even though he may be both biased and something of an exception! But when he notices that the laughter, groans, and sounds of willful attempts of ignorance begin to die off, he looks up from his herb gathering with a mild quirk of the brow.

...Only to see a field of absolutely gorgeous flowers. What are those, he wonders? And... why did they open only when the adventurers draw near...?

Then he sees it-- that pollen, floating gently on the breeze. With sudden alarm, he presses a cloth over his mouth, only to find that other members of the adventuring party are falling victim to the (apparently hallucinogenic!?) dust!

He won't have that. And he certainly won't have anyone wandering off to become fertilizer for a mysterious flower field. Without taking the cloth from his face, Prophylaxis mutters the words to a familiar cantrip. Thick vines suddenly shoot out from his sleeves, wrapping around Setsuna and Mizuki at the ankles. "Hold on," he growls, then /pulls/, aiming to trip the both of them and send them sprawling-- so that he can draw them back out of danger by force!

Also, out of the way of a crazy man with a scimitar and an intense hatred of flowers.
Estelle
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A clearing full of bushes isn't normally suspicious. But given its departure from everything else, the vixen is quite wary of it. She doesn't know enough to even guess at what the plants are, of course, but. "Anyone know what these are? Or if they're useful for anything, besides looking quite pretty?" She keeps back, as she has been, letting the Tanks take point. Even if she is tempted to weave a couple into her hair, to stand out against the dark tresses...

Of copurse, then the clouds of pollen hits the air as Setsuna disturbs things, and she touchs on her magic. She has the perfect spell for the situation, actually; "Oh Pegasus, the mighty steed, aid me in my time of need. By your wings' gale, wrap me in a windy veil! Aero!" She doesn't rush the chant, as much as she might wish, wrapping herself in a bubble of swirling winds that sweeps the pollen from the air around her and forces it down near the ground. But she does notice something else going on, and she huffs out a harsh breath.

"They're seeing things." She comments obviously, as people shout names and start chasing after them. She doesn't know those names, but she does know that such distress and confusion in the wake of inhaling the pollen is an ill omen. "Stop, don't chase phantoms! The only people I can see are those of us who walked in together! Whomever you see, whatever they represent to you, hold fast and regroup." A beat, as a sword is drawn. "And hold your weapons, we don't need you striking /us/."
Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

This Challenge is Bananas

While multiple members of the group find themselves under the sway of the strange, hypnotic plants, luckily a few people succeeded in blowing the pollen far enough away for them to regain some semblance of their sanity. Those images from their past seem to linger, like still images amongst the sea of flowers. Enough of a distance for them to realize that this is only an illusion in their own mind. This, too, begins to fade as they put the field behind them.

The shadowy canopy of the jungle may just be a welcome relief after escaping the dangerous field of flowers and whatever phantoms they brought back from the depths of the Adventurers' memories.

There seems to be little safety here, though. The strange sing-song sound they've been chasing is louder in this part of the jungle, suggesting that they are on the right track. However, the sound also seems to be irritating some of the animals who call the jungle home.

There is a call that echoes from the branches, followed by an answer, then... as if from nowhere, many small furry forms appear from the trees. Monkeys. So-many-monkeys. They peer down at the Adventurers with wary eyes, obviously alerted to their presence. Fighting them seems like a bad idea, but perhaps they can be reasoned with...

Challenge Options:
Handle Animal vs 7  - Try to convince the monkeys you are not a threat
Negotiation vs 8    - Try to trade the monkeys a shiny trinket
Cooking vs 8        - Bribe the monkeys with food

On Failure: Seeing you as a threat, you are leapt on by at least one (though possibly multiple) of the monkeys. You are bitten. You gain a status debuff of (diseased). Your character begins to feel sick and break out in purple dots. This must be treated by a healer (Light) or physician (Pharmacy) after this scene either through RP or legwork.
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek looks to the place while he seems to be searching for what he saw, even as that hallucination would begin to shimmer away. He seems to be watching while he lifts up his weapon, "... The sword, it doesn't like the place, this forest..." The man looks to Shiruba, then a look forward along to the next of the many challenges. There's a look to one of the monkeys, while he begins to use magic to make a little trinket, then nods a bit.
    The man looks along to the party while he shifts attention that way.
Setsuna
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    Its all thanks to the doctor that Setsuna doesn't get to far instead he simply ends up screaming at the ground about someone named Koichi. He prattles on and on about seeing someone and needing to go after him but as they get a way from the flowers Setsuna calms down a little. Taking a breath Setsuna says, " I think I have a spell to calm them down. " He begins to cast and a sweet pollen smell moves up into the trees and pisses off the monkeys. They let Setsuna know this by jumping down and biting and clawing him. Eventually he beats the monkey with his staff and the monkey withdraws but he didn't feel too well now.
Goldenblade
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Goldenblade is finally broken out of her hallucination, and sinks to the ground on her knees, sighing, eyes shut tight. "Oh, Hanako," she sighs, hardly paying the moneys any mind until they're almost on top of her. She looks up in alarm, holding her palms up, "Wait, no," she shouts, "Whaaaa?" and she scrambles out of the way, bitten and gnawed on. She swats them away after a brief scramble, but she's already got the DISEASED debuff. She looks like she feels awful, and holds her belly as she swats any any nearby monkeys with her sword.
Shiruba
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Shiruba lets out a sigh of relief as blowing the pollen away seems to be lightening the effect on others. "Everyone grab a person to make sure they follow, and let's not stick around to see how fast these flowers respawn."

But getting the venture back on track is a bit of it's own hassle, as the group wanders deeper into the jungle and is beset upon by banana loving tree dwellers. "... I didn't know Yamato -had- monkeys," Shiruba notes. Well, she doesn't have many options, maybe she can scare them off?

She pulls one of her arrows, giving it enough arcane energy for the electrical charge stored in it to light it up and spark, and waves it at the monkeys. "Go on, get! Shoo! We don't have any bananas!"

This... turns out to be a mistake as the monkeys dogpile on the cait sith, biting and scratching several times before one finally manages to grab the 'long shiny' and run off with it, with the others following trying to grab it from him.

"... Ow ..." is all the now sickened wolfgirl sprawls on the ground has to say.
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    "Aah!" Mizuki cries out as she hits the dirt, and turns to see... Prophy commanding vines, rather than flower monsters or something?! "What are you DOING?!" But then it's explained that it's an illusion. Oh. That makes sense. But it looked so real... As she gets to her feet and looks again though, the image seems... less real, until it fades away completely. She still has to fight the urge to go talk to him though. Just in case it's not an illusion...

    Well, after that she's left in a rather solemn mood, quiet as they walk further through the jungle.

    And then there are monkeys. "Um... Nice monkeys. Niiiice monkeys..." She imitates a monkey, scratching at her sides and leaping from one foot to the other while curling her tail. "Oo-oo-ah-ee-ee-eeee!" And well, the monkeys leave HER alone, apparently, but go after the others. "Hey! Wait! Stop!" She starts throwing kunai at the monkeys, but so many have already been bitten...

    "What's that debuff symbol? I've never seen it before... Are you... sick?"
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

First evil flowers, now... Now /monkeys?/ A troupe of monkeys, scurrying out of the trees like terrified animals (which, to be fair, they probably are. The party /did/ just drop the equivalent of a windstorm on the area a few moments ago). Prophylaxis eyes the beasts warily, holding his arms out in a placating gesture, "Easy now, friends. No need to get--"

A monkey jumps on his shoulders.

A MONKEY CHOMPS HIS SHOULDER.

"AUGH!" Prophylaxis yelps at the pain and the sudden feeling of unease. Having a monkey on your back is bad enough, but the speed with which that nausea presented itself-- these monkeys have /filty/ mouths. Instinct kicks in before his brain can come to a more reasonable conclusion. The good doctor's hands suddenly BURST INTO FLAME as he launches a fireball directly at his feet. A wave of heat and light wash outwards, blasting monkeys away and outright disintegrating the one on the good doctor's shoulders. When the smoke clears, Prophylaxis lays, groaning, on the ground. He... shoves something into his arm-- a syringe full of some kind of glowing, green fluid-- and depresses the plunger. With a sound of incredible discomfort, Prophylaxis pushes himself upright and glances around at the rest of the party...

...He's going to have his hands full after this... This... Monkey Business...!
Estelle
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"We don't want to linger in this clearing too long, yes." The fox agrees with her fellow Cait Sith, being caught up in another pollen barrage would bode ill. But they press on, and then... Monkeys. She stares up at them, considering, even as they do show signs of agitation. "They're rare, but they do exist here, yes." At least, based on knowledge of the real world. That's somewhat topical, right?

Still, she attempts to calm the monkeys, showing off some minorm, shiny trinkets. "Still, you just need to keep your voice calm, your body language open, and-" and what is never said, as an aggressive monkey decides to take the baubles by force, jumping down while screaming and lashing out. A hard bite has a yip of pain pulling from the fox amid shocked gasps and shakings, and then it's gone - and the handful of distractions with it. She's shaking herself out, not liking the sudden onset of ICK, pale fingers moving up to trace at the bite... even as she starts developing the sweats and showing splotches of purple. It isn't a good look for the vixen. Still, she feels physically unwell. It shouldn't affect her casting too much, right?

So she moves over to Shiruba, pulling out her wand and waving it above the wolf-girl. "Monoceros and your healing horn, defend us from the ills you scorn. Make hale and hearty of the ill, you healing light I know instill."
Gwen
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

So Monekies so many monkies? Well she has an idea maybe she can trade some food with the monkies to let them pass. Sadly the creatures do not like what she has to offer. There are monkey screeches and soon Gwen is assaulted by them she fends them off but not before one gets her on the neck and she's suddenly not feeling good and she's not feeling so good. She'll finally get past them and does notice she has a debuiff for some sort of sickness. She'll take a moment to focus and use a healing spell to purge herself of the effect, but there's no time to do any one else, they will have to wait till later. "Monkies...ugg."
Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

The Snapping Bramble

The monkeys seem to be only one of many strange creatures that call this jungle home. Many seem to have arrived only too recently, following the spread of the flora caused by the Living Green Festival. Luckily, most of them keep a wide distance between themselves and the Adventurers.

Here, the plantlife, itself, has become the danger. Thick, thorny vines curl into a mass that blocks the way forward. There are strange pods that stick up from the vines, their maws open, looking like rows of long teeth looking for something to snack upon.

The path through this dangerous bramble looks hazardous, but there are a few places that someone who is light of foot enough might be able to sneak through. Otherwise, they are left with trying to deal with the threats one by one.

Challenge Options:
Sneaking vs 7       - Try using light feet and agility to sneak by
Earth vs 9          - Try lifting the earth to make a safe path
Water vs 9          - Try using water to fool the plants into closing

On Failure: Your character is caught, either by the thorns or one of the plants. In addition to taking damage, you lose feeling in one of your limbs. You gain the status effect (Numbness) with a countdown timer of 7 days. It does not restrict the use of that limb or body part, but whenever you use it, it gives a very distracting pins-and-needles sensation.
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek looks to all of the people that are diseased, nodding a bit in thought. "Alright, well I can work on one of you," he notes, then he walks up to Estelle while he lifts up a hand, healing energy beginning to shimmer while it would work to cure the woman. There's a nod along to the fox, "Alright," he maneuvers to the next challenge, while he would weave an enchantment upon the soil, bringing up Earth Magic to draw a path.
Goldenblade
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Goldenblade is not having a good night, it seems, but she's not dissuaded, even with the about-to-puke feeling and the purple dots on her face. The illusion of her wife was kind of cruel, but she's determined to get through this challenge somehow. She starts sneaking through what seems to be a gap, if a small one, but an inopportune shift and she's instantly wrapped up in thorns.

With her health sinking lower, she grimaces and draws her swords, which burst into flame, and she cuts through the remaining foliage with lightsaber-like efficiency. That's not to say that she's got away scott free, she's limping noticably and when she sheathes her swords, it's to try to massage some life back into her leg. But all she gets is pins-and-needles.
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


     The purple spots come quickly as the disease debuff kicks in on Setsuna. It really emulated diseases well too, his head was heavy, body was aching. as he steps forward slowly, step by step. At least his legs were staying under him. As they come to more plants Setsuna doesn't even wait as he bangs his staff on the ground, " I curse that which grows, strangle the life out of that before me. " Shadows of vines travel across the ground as several plants in Setsuna's way just shrivel up and die. " Ok have a path..." He trails off as he catches himself by his staff and braces himself against this.
Shiruba
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Shiruba eventually rolls over and starts to get to her feet. "Even I am starting to get a bit annoyed with this forest..." However the foxy cait sith comes to her aid, and the spotty itching that was starting to spread is slowly fading away again. "Thank you." She would of done the leaderly thing and inist others be healed first, but it looks like most of the group was able to do so for themselves or others, so isn't going to object. "Let's keep moving."

Moving on... into more overgrowth it seems. This time of a prickly and dangerous variety. "Can you still hear the sounds?" she idly asks of Mizuki, who pinpointed the song's direction before. Just to double check to be sure before going after this obstruction.

Again she draws an arrow, this one with a stone arrowhead, and fires it in a high and narrow arc to land amongst the brambles. There's a rumble and several large stones erupt from the ground. Enough for her to climb onto and put her mountaineering skills to jump across like the edges of cliffs.

The the brambles are quickly finding their way up the rock columns, and just as Shiruba is going to jump off the last one a thorny branch lashes up to grab her leg! It quickly snaps off from her being in motion already, but it was long enough to leave a thorned ring around her ankle digging in.

Not that she notices until she lands, and that's when the 'leg falling asleep' jolt shoots up it, causing her to stumble. "Gah!"
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    The group fights the monkeys but EVERY TIME ONE DIES IT SOUNDS LIKE A BABY CRYING. "WHYYYYYY?! Why would you use that sound effect again?!" Mizuki shouts to the heavens!

    And then there are brambles. /Aggravated/ brambles which attack people. Mizuki has to very carefully move between the clear spots, but is fortunately too ninja-stealthy to alert the plants. ...Whatever sensory organs it is they have, exactly. Well, it's game logic, 'an opposed roll' is enough, isn't it? She winces as she sees others get brambled, but she daren't call out while close lest she alert the brambles near her and suffer the same fate...
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Monkeys with malicious mandibles! Who knew that something so simple could almost waylay an entire group of hardened (albeit less so now, thanks to the Black Wave) adventurers!? What a mess...!

At least they don't have to worry about them anymore. Probably. Unless the thing making all this noise is some kind of Monkey Boss. Prophylaxis makes sounds that are universally understood as those belonging to someone Not Having A Pleasant Stroll as he makes his way after the rest of the party.

Two of them are still sick as dogs. Or perhaps sick as monkeys? In either case, he's going to need to break out the medical kit after this, but first...

First, they have what looks to be the world's worst carnivorous thorn patch. Prophylaxis stares at the strange, brightly-colored pods and wonders what kind of venom they must secrete to look like that. He recognizes, of course, that that's not how venomous animals work. They don't get brightly colored because they're venomous, the two just happen to often go hand-in-hand.

Either way, he decides quickly that he wants nothing to do with these things. His staff whirls in his hand as he walks through the familiar motions of another favorite spell. "Old Wood which lay eternal beneath the earth, swarthy tree of ages whose brambles bind the world, rise and claim all which is rightfully thine! Seize my foes--" He sweeps his staff in a wide arc, scattering a haze of violet light that had been accumulating around his feet into the bramble thicket. "--Thorn Bind Hostage!"

At his command, thorny vines of his own making spring out of the ground and collect the hostile branches and thorns in thick bundles, leaving a narrow clearing for the doctor to make his way through unaccosted. The others... May not be so lucky. Thorn Bind Hostage doesn't last for very long, after all...
Estelle
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"Thank you," the vixen murmurs, tipping her head to Merek as he cleanses the disease from her body, and "You're welcome" is sent Shiruba's way. The sudden wellness has her straightening up a little, as they all walk ahead - though she's keeping an eye on the two still afflicted, watching for any signs of what the disease does to them.

... still, the newest challenge does give her brief pause. Now she closes in with the others, as paths are forged ahead. She considers her own talents and ways that these things could be dealt with, humming softly to herself... and she sweeps her wand in a crescent shape leaving behind a spray of stars. "Corona Borealis, born by the Princess of the North, your gllacial winds I call forth. Bring along a blizzard's ice, paying forth the tundra's price."

And from that crescent of stars comes a barrage of frost and ice, cold and slicing chunks causing vines to wither and giving those grasping maws something solid to crunch down around.
Gwen
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Things are not over yet, she presses on the Monkeys are left behind. She now looks to see the strange plantlife.

"Note to self find the miracle grow used here." 5R
Then brambles don't look too pleasing to her she'll take a moment to trick the plant as she chants a water spell sending a jet of water to distract them so she can slip by.
Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

The Whisperer's Grotto

After a long journey, the party finally comes upon a location that seems as if it must be the source of the unearthly sound. It is loud here, as if it were echoing through the trees, but it still seems to occasionally fall silent.

It doesn't take long to realize that the sound comes and goes with the wind. Through the last few meters of thick underbrush, they emerge into a roughly circular area of cleared ground with a single tall tree at the center. Carved into the tree is a series of windows at odd intervals up along the tree's length. There is a wooden door that leads inwards, but it hangs slightly off the hinges.

Outside, there are many signs of a struggle. Leaves and branches have fallen across the yard. Inside, the home seems abandoned, but only just recently. There are clawmarks dug into some of the wooden walls.

Most interesting, however, is a strange set of wooden pipes that seem to be set in just the right way to catch the wind. This must be the source of the sound they have been hearing.

Then, as they step forward, a message appears: Quest Complete: Meet the Whisperer!

And yet, there is no one here. Everything about the location looks like it should be the end of a questline. There /should/ be an NPC here... And yet, whomever owned this strange home in the middle of the jungle seems to be missing. Is it a bug? A questline left unfinished? Or maybe it is a quest only just beginning...

Challenge Options:
Searching vs 7      - Search the abandoned home for clues
Divination vs 7     - Search for signs in the fallen leaves
Appraisal vs 7      - Examine the whisperer's instruments

On Success: You will be paged with what information you discover.

Note: This is the last GM pose/challenge of the event. What your characters decide to do from here on out is up to you. Legworks and investigations are encouraged.
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek nods a bit to Estelle, "You're welcome," he would note. He does begin to walk along and upon that next challenge would nod a bit to the party, "I don't notice anything," he says while beginning to appraise. Then he notices the wind picking up, before looking to the instruments. The man seems to take that hilt of the sword, while he speaks, "I don't want that noise, make it stop," he states. The man tries to place a hand upon the instruments to keep them from moving with the wind, even while he would take a look to the sword, "What?"
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Setsuna stumbles into the clearing and looks around noticing the sign first, " Oh thank god the quest is..." He stops and looks around at the clearing, " I don't see anyone to celebrate the quest completion or anyone to be called the whisperer." He looks at the others before he spins his staff, " Spirits aid me, give me your sight. " His eyes glow with a blue aura of magic as he looks around. He gravitates towards the instrument making the noise. " These were placed to scare people away." Looking at Merek, " Chances are we just wandered into someones home who went to a lot of trouble to keep everyone out. Maybe we don't touch anything that might be booby trapped."
     Setsuna hesitates a moment longer looking at the instruments before he looks around, "Kinda odd this place would only appear once a year and yet there is at least one person who seems all set up to live here."
Goldenblade
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Goldenblade gets here despite hobbling to get here, her face spotty, debuffs hanging off her. She's had a rough time. The game's been pretty kind to her so far, so maybe this is payback? Or just sometimes it's not your day. This has not been GB's day. So when she gets here, with no whisperer, she will look around the place. She finds signs of a struggle easily enough, but no tracks leading away. Clawmarks in the walls. Was the whisperer attacked by some wandering monster? "Anyone find anythng?" she asks.

She goes into the tree house, looking around, continuing her search. "What's that disgusting smell?" she wonders, holding her breath as she gimps inside. The kitchen! Ugh! Driven from the building before she can look around very long, she takes deep lungfulls of relatively clean air.
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

With all the malevolent flora infesting the jungle, Prophylaxis would have put good money on the perpetrator behind the mysterious sound being a badly offended dryad of some stripe. What they find in the clearing under the great tree, however, is anything but... that. "What is this?" The doctor asks the wind and the trees as he moves toward those strange instruments. Wooden pipes, almost like a pan-flute, but they've been arranged to... catch the wind?

They're not new additions, either. The way the earth has settled around each of the instruments, the accumulation of lichen and moss along their outer surface and the weather-worn finishing all suggests that they've been here for a long time. Years, maybe. The wood is identical, too, to the tree in which the house had been built.

...But there are some new additions. Modifications to the pipes made very recently. When he listens, it's through those modifications that he can clearly make out that eerie sound carrying through the woods. But how does it travel so far in a jungle of all places, and for that matter, why were these modified in such a way to begin with? Was this done specifically to call for help...?

"Did whoever lived here..." Prophylaxis murmurs, thinking aloud, "...Know that there was something hunting them? Is that why they made these changes? Or did the changes call whatever was responsible for all this mess...?"
Shiruba
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Shiruba mutters as her leg keeps tingling in and out of sensation while the group continues through the overgrown forest. Though it doesn't seem to interfer with her walking, so she will take it over the potential horrors those monkeys spread with that Disease status effect.

Any issue with her leg is momentarily forgotten when they find the clearing, and the strange tree-house it holds. Pipes that catch the wind to make sound? Is that suppose to be an instrument at that size?... Then the quest notice pops up.

But there's no one here. "Uh.. that's weird..." She peers in the broken doorway. The inside of the house is a mess. "This will take forever to sort though." So instead she pulls out her relic device and clasps it onto her arm, then holds it out and gives it a little electrical charge with her arcanery for extra effect. The radial light sweeps over the room, then dims as the focused light beam blips from the device. It pings the handle of a hammer sticking out of the disarray. The blips again, pointing out chisels, clasps, and other crafting tools... Maybe those pipes were meant to be an art display?

"Someone lived and worked here." Shiruba lowered the device. "I'd dare say they were probably living here for some time... and this event quest sprung up around them."
Gwen
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Nothing tries to end them this time but soon they reach the end and tehre seem to have been something strange here a home. A small one and it looks like something's happen there was a struggle of some sort here too. It's the pipes that get her attention she'll start to inspect them pretty hard.

"Huh what's this...?" She'll find sometrhing inside, she finds message containter, she'll pull it out but after that she can't get it open. It's beyond having to chase down her dad or a Marine to open a jar of pickles...

"MEssage tube here but I can't get it open..."
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    "I wonder who lives here...?" When the quest message pops up, she looks around, "Did you all see that too?" She sets to work rubbing the identification skill on everything, which brings the instruments' misalignment to her attention, as well as the signs of damage underneath them.

    "It's like something was scrabbling to reach the instruments but was too short... And I think they got knocked out of position. Perhaps this isn't the sound they're supposed to be making?"

    The catgirl reaches out to try and adjust the instruments' position, seeing if it makes the sound noticeably better or worse.
Reminisce
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

When Mizuki adjusts the position of the instruments, the sound coming from the instruments seems to only become that much more amplified. It has an unearthly, howling sort of sound that definitely sounds like it is some undead creature roaring out in challenge. This is likely what the lumberjacks had first heard, but the supports are too damaged to keep it properly in place without someone holding it there.
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek then was looking to the sword, although when Mizuki begins to adjust the instruments, the howling seems to make him take a shift to look to the woman, "DON'T!" Then he would begin to blink while he winces, the hand upon the sword shifting while he's driven to his knees, then he's placing a hand along his face, while he looks to the skies, "AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGH, MAKE IT STOP! TURN IT OFF!" Whatever it is, seems to be related to the sword, with a hand beginning to try drawing away from the hilt.
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Setsuna looks at the doctor and shakes his head, "The instrument, the noise , wasn't meant to attract anything. The intention was to ward off , well everything..." He stops as he turns to look at the instrument as it sounds like an undead creature. "Well thats a bit different then eerie ghost whispering." The disease debuff hits him and he has to sit down in the dirt and look on for a moment with a large wow at the instrument . "That would definately scare away pretty much anyone or anything. Except something else coming to challenge or mate with the scary noise." Turning to Merek and watching his response he stands back up. "
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Mizuki's fur goes all bushy as the sound gets WORSE. And yet... "It seems like it's SUPPOSED to sound like this... but why?" She doesn't plan to keep them in position, but startles at Merek's pained howling, letting them fall back out of position anyway. She rushes to his side. "Woah, what happened?! What do you hear? Are you alright?!"
Estelle
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"This is a rather nice tree home." Estelle notes, as she takes in the clearing. But while others focus on the home itself, and various items and traces scattered around the place, her gaze is caught by something near their feet.

"... Hmmm..." The vixen kneels down amongst the leaves, studying their patterns. She tips her head, ears twitching this way and that, as she listens to the breeze through the trees, to the birdsong all around them. Those silver eyes dart, here and there, to study the way each of them disturb it, the way they disrupt and enhance the patterns before her. Absently, she pull out a bag and shakes it, wood and bone and glass and ceramic all rattling against each other - and she gives it an errant flick, casting some of its portions out amongst the fallen greenery. She doesn't pay any attention to the others and their discoveries, lost in her own little world.

"... They weren't taken quietly. There was struggle, strife." Her tone is a little distant, tails lashing behind her even as they never disturb a leaf, directly or not. "They were no match for the beast that sought them, for the wolf's tread with ram's horns, for the rending claws and misshapen maw." Pale fingers trail just above the patterns. The cast lots almost form the pattern of Canis Major, in shimmering little stones and the symbols carved upon them. "They were taken, bound up in a sack and tossed along its back."

... it's only when Mizuki makes the instrument /howl/ that she snaps out of her trance, blinking rapidly as her gaze swings up towards her.
Shiruba
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Shiruba looks up from making mental notes and turns to peer at Merek when he starts having some kind of fit. "That's.. not good... Maybe it's suppose to ward off 'dark powers' like that sword?"
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Prophylaxis squints thoughtfully at the tonal change. "Fascinating. A sound like that... I don't think he was driving away people," he looks to Setsuna, then nods. "Beasts, maybe. I know if I was an animal I wouldn't want anything to do with that noise. But I don't think that's what he was going for--"

Merek... freaks right the heck out. Prophylaxis almost jumps out of his skin, but then he looks from Merek (now being tended to by Mizuki), Estelle's successful divination and then over to Shiruba... "I think you're onto something. Maybe we should check if this sound has been heard before. Or maybe..."

The doctor's eyes narrow. It's been ages since he's done anything related to musical instruments, but he still knows a thing or two. He leans over and muffles a suspiciously un-worn section of wooden tube. The sound weakens and quiets, but doesn't fade completely-- and returns once he draws his hand back. "I think these additions, here..." He points to a recently bored hole in one of the tubes, then at what looks to be a jury-rigged horn at the end of another, "And here, and other places. I think these were made to amplify the sound, to make it carry further. I think whatever this Whisperer was trying to keep away wasn't being affected as strongly as it used to be, so they had to amplify the volume-- but even that didn't save them, it seems. Or..."

"Maybe they had to boost the volume because of those lumberjacks cutting the trees at the edge of the forest? It seems more likely that they were trying to keep their assailant away, though. To drive back an evil spirit of... some kind."
Gwen
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Gwen looks to Merek and will walk towrard Merek for a moment.

"Why is it only effecting you?"

She pause for a moment to Shiruba and nots moving in the way.

"Maybe if we expose him to more of it..."

She looks to Merek it's clear she'll try to get in the way it he starts trying to smash things.
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek begins standing up while he becomes a bit more used to it. In that he would know what's bringing that about, and he nods to Gwen, "It's the sword. Whatever the instruments are doing," then he begins looking to the party, "I don't think that the sword wants to be around it," he notes. Then he's beginning to back away. The knight seems to relax when he does as well.
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"Estelle," The Doctor asks, producing a small journal and pencil from his pack. "You described a monster just now. Would you be able to draw it, or write about it in detail? I'm thinking of doing some digging into what exactly it might have been, and an accurate description would help."
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Setsuna stands back for a moment and rubs his head , it was starting to hurt. At Estelle's description and Prophylaxis suggestion Setsuna says, " I can try to help you find what did it. Nothing common comes to mind that would fit the description. " He wasn't the best monster catcher, but it was something he did, perhaps he could find a guy to trade the hunter's reward for information to or something.
Estelle
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"I'm a Scribe. I have charcoals and papers on me. Give me one moment; I'll leave everyone with what I saw..." And, putting deed to word she just does that. Sheets of paper are produced alongside her scribe's kit, and she settles in to make copies of what she saw; a large, almost lupine beast. The facial structure isn't quite right, though, nor is the massive pair of curving horns or the oversized claws. There's a bag over its shoulder, the right size and shape to be holding a person...

The illustrations are distributed to all who want one, even as the vixen considers her own carefully. "I'll be throwing lots and studying the stars tonight, I think. See what other glimpses and nudges I can get. But, it will probably be easier with some of their personal effects as a focus."

The fox turns towards the tree house, wandering up to go have a poke around inside.
Goldenblade
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Goldenblade looks around, but everyone seems to understand whatever's going on except her, and so with nothing to contribue, she will sigh and gimp off into the sunset with her new collection of status effects. She'll see about getting something done about it back in down. A quick pause by the edge of the wooded area and the axe she picked up at the beginning of this trek gets her a sapling of the right size to use as a crutch, and she will carry herself off. Home's too strong a word, but she'd really like to lie down someplace for about a week right now.
Shiruba
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Shiruba nods to Merek. "Then you probably should head back, for your own safety." That sword is really starting to worry her though. Amongst other things.

She trudges over to Estelle and Prophylaxis, her tail swish swashing more than usual to try and adjust her balance for her leg constantly tingling. "That sounds like an excellent idea, doctor. If you need the help of a Hunter dealing with it, ring me up."

Then calls after Estelle. "Try one of the crafting tools! They look well used, they probably carry a lot of personal impression or whatever it is you're looking for." She's not quite sure how Astrologans do their thing.
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Well! Estelle happens to be a scribe! Prophylaxis nods and puts the drawing, tucked neatly into his own stationary, back into his pack. "Thanks for that. Whatever that thing is, it certainly doesn't seem friendly. If we can hunt it down, we might just find where our missing quest NPC has gotten off to."

Then, Shiruba. "I'm sure I will," he offers the tingling archer a mild shrug. "I'm a doctor, not a monster hunter, and it seems like I might have my hands full treating the rest of our party, so any help you might be able to provide would be much appreciated. It almost sounds to me like we're after a hellhound or barghest or something, but those are just possibilities off the top of my head. You'd probably have better luck."
Merek
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

    Merek nods a bit to the party, while he begins to offer the friend request. The man walks a bit away while looking to the place.
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Mizuki replies dryly to Setsuna, "I don't want to see anything that would want to mate with that noise. ...Wait, do animals in this world even--" but then the fox girl is having a vision, and describes a monster... a monster Mizuki's never heard of. A wolf with ram's horns?

    "The sword belongs to the undead queen. Maybe it's supposed to keep away undead? Or... other things with that same dark or corruptive power..."

    Mizuki looks ponderous, then stomps a foot in annoyance. "We just don't know enough about the magic physics of this world! What even IS the source of the sword's power?! Back in reality, if we found a strange device and knew it ran on electricity, or knew it used radio waves, that would at least tell us SOMETHING..."

    She looks at Estelle's drawing. "Hmm. A krenshar? A leocrotta? ...Wait, it has a carries a big bag with it? Like the Krampus? But it's the wrong time of year for that..."
Shiruba
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

Shiruba takes one of Estelle's drawings for future reference. "I believe that's to indicate that it kidnapped our missing NPC," she remarks to Mizuki. "It's the right size to be a bag stuffed with a body."
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Mizuki rubs her chin. "Well, were they on the naughty list? I guess if this place only appears once a year, coming by on Christmas isn't really an option..."
Prophylaxis
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

"The heck is a Krampus?" Prophylaxis asks, being a Japanese man whose only real regular exposure to Christmas involves cake and KFC. "Sounds like some kind of sports injury."
Setsuna
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Setsuna looks over to the two debating the origin of the creature, " Shame we don't have the internet. Could just type in wolf with ram horns and see what pops up." He absentmindedly comments before taking another seat on the ground and contemplates for a moment. " So what would be funny is this creature was actually a different type of creature wearing a mask with a wolf skull and ram hornss." Its a thought at the very least, but not one that hold much water around this world.
Mizuki
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0


    Mizuki blinks at Prophylaxis. She can't remember if he said he'd gamed much before, but even if he has, not all gamers have the same exposure to a wide variety of mythology and legend, she supposes. "In some Christmas mythologies, he's like... the bad counterpart to Santa. Santa gives the good little girls and boys toys, and Krampus spanks the bad ones with a switch -- or if they've been really bad, takes them away in his sack."

    Mizuki turns to Estelle. "Was the monster carrying a switch? Like, a stick for hitting people with?"
Estelle
Overworld - 36 - -11 - 0

The vixen comes out after a little while, shaking her head. "... Probably going to need some help searching the place better. Not my forte, and things of import are likely hidden." There's a soft huff... but she does take some of the carving tools, for now. They're better than nothing, and likely do have some importance to them, for her purposes. It's also in time to catch questions, of course.

"That's all I saw. No switch that I noticed, just its claws." She gestures to the illustrations she handed around.