[Nexus] Random Places and Plots 5

[The Bushranger]

[Cheval de Desordre]

The menu is laden with rich and sumptuous dishes, some of them rather odd and otherworldly.

Dani, of course, quickly decides to place an order for pate de foie gras...

[Eadin]

[Prison]

Like Cat would care about the axe. Good riddance.
And Cat and Freddy make a run for it! To the tavern!

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Cheval de Desordre]

Dani, of course, quickly decides to place an order for pate de foie gras...

[Cheval de Desordre]

Chris spends more than a while staring confusedly at the menu. After more than a bit of decision making, he finally decides on a relatively mundane item. A roasted giant prawn (not the alien, the crustacean) with sweet and spicy sauce, served with a side of stuffed portobello mushrooms.

The fine glass of wine is implied.

[Zefir]

Necanth Prison- Train --> Cavern

The cavern beyond the crack in the wall is very large, surprisingly so in fact. The floor has many stalagmites reaching up towards the stalactites hanging from the ceiling. A path has been hacked through the stalagmites; they have been smashed out of the way by pickaxe and hammer, the shattered stone piled up against the sides of the road.

Necanth Prison- Train --> Cavern

Zefir will after all follow the path, but he goes slower and watch out for danger. A path build by humanoid beings can be a trap after all.

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- Outside New London

Whilst they are about half way there, crossing a patch of rubble in the floor, three orcs jump out from under it brandishing weapons. The largest orc is clad in hide armour made from stitching the uncured skins of several humanoids and their guard uniforms; it leaves his arms bare, and his legs are covered to just below the knees. He's got dark green skin and he's carrying a club made from a stalagmite. Next to him is an orange-skinned female orc with three large tusks. She's wearing a cloak made from a minotaur's skin and nothing else. In her meaty palms she carries a length of wood studded with gemstones and topped with a large crystal. The third orc is a runtish thing, probably with a bit of goblin blood in him, and he has pale purple skin. He tosses a sharpened splinter of somebody's thigh bone from hand to hand and grins, revealing shattered teeth replaced with chunks of crudely carved stone. "Dere's a troll to get thru 'ere. Pay up." The large orc smiles as he speaks. He's lost most of his teeth, and has had them replaced with an eclectic mix of dentures from other creatures.

Necanth Prison- Cavern

The path leads, eventually, to an area where rocks of a different type seem to bubble out of it. Several of these 'bubbles' have been chipped out of the wall and smashed open, revealing them to be geodes of glowing crystal. However, there's not enough shards left to provide a serious source of light, but a pickaxe and a hammer lie nearby should Zefir wish to try mining one. Or the path continues onward.

[Eadin]

[Prison]

Oh hey! Trolls!
"Sorry, we don't have any trolls with us!"
Cat will give Troll person a cheeky grin.
"Might try asking more nicely, wouldn't want to lose more teeth! Those replacements don't look good on you."

[Rebonack]

[Prison]

Cat has the right idea.

Freddie is getting pretty perturbed with this place. Mostly because of how obnoxious it is. Though the fact that he's getting really hungry doesn't help either.

He scowls at the orcs as soon as they speak up.

"We're not giving you anything. Aside from your lives if you chose to walk away right now."

That might seem like a hallow threat.

Especially since Freddie and Cat appear to be totally unarmed.

But then... tough words from unarmed people usually suggest that they are in fact armed. Just not in an obvious way. Which is all the more dangerous.

[orb_of_blood]

Shifter Hold

Marty backs down and frowns. No....I....fine. You're happy then. Fine....I will leave. Please....where do you think Shada went? I'll never come back here....I just need to find Shada.

"I told you, the Free Holds. West, most likely. Or... you ought to hope she didn't head north. If she went to the Hold of the Tyrant, she isn't ever coming again. Now get out of my camp." I don't think the glare the Shifter's giving Marty could be any more venomous than it is. Although, I suppose that's understandable, as Marty did just risk getting them all killed...

[Hattish Thing]

Shifter Hold

Marty juat nods worriedly before leaving, trying not to shrink under the other elf's gaze. He looks around for his guide.

[Beans]

[Cheval de Desordre]

Chris spends more than a while staring confusedly at the menu. After more than a bit of decision making, he finally decides on a relatively mundane item. A roasted giant prawn (not the alien, the crustacean) with sweet and spicy sauce, served with a side of stuffed portobello mushrooms.

The fine glass of wine is implied.

Carrie seems to be thinking something over, but glances and smiles at her husband and girlfriends now and then.

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- Held Up By Bandits

The large orc scowls. He doesn't appreciate the humour, and doesn't get the joke beside. The nearly-naked orc hag pipes up next, with a weedy and high-pitched voice. "Club'ead there meant 'toll' as y' gits well knew. Hand o'er y'r cash, humans, or we loot it from y'r cold, dead corpseses." The other orc doesn't respond beyond grinning evilly.

[Zefir]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

The path leads, eventually, to an area where rocks of a different type seem to bubble out of it. Several of these 'bubbles' have been chipped out of the wall and smashed open, revealing them to be geodes of glowing crystal. However, there's not enough shards left to provide a serious source of light, but a pickaxe and a hammer lie nearby should Zefir wish to try mining one. Or the path continues onward.

Necanth Prison- Cavern

Hmm glowing crystals. Not a bad idea to take some. That way he can maybe safe the energy zefir needs to keep the flame up. Zefir takes the tools and head for a bubble he thinks will be fine. After all he don't want the cave to collaps.

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

There's no risk of a collapse being caused by the mining- the geodes are in a vein of light yellow rock that is distinct to the dark brown rock holding the roof up. But mining out a geode is an arduous process, and will likely take quite a while. It's about half-way out now. There's no sign of the miners as of yet.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Carrie seems to be thinking something over, but glances and smiles at her husband and girlfriends now and then.

[Cheval de Desordre]

Chris smiles back, setting down the menu. "What are you thinking of, honey?"

[Beans]

[Cheval de Desordre]
Well, the gyoza platter looks good...
She shows him the picture on the menu; it does indeed look good.

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Cheval de Desordre]

"Hmm...that does, doesn't it?"

"...I don't know. I've had a bit of trouble myself deciding what to have, honestly."

[orb_of_blood]

[Shifter Hold]

Shifter Hold

Marty just nods worriedly before leaving, trying not to shrink under the other elf's gaze. He looks around for his guide.

The Shifters let him go, though he's followed by harsh whispers and a few muttered curses as he leaves the camp.

His guide is quite blissfully ignorant, kneeling next to a pond and playing with three frolicking fox cubs who may or may not truly be animals. Her gloves are off, revealing wickedly sharp claws that she wields with care, not letting them scratch the young critters. But when she sees Marty, she turns, yanks them on again, and rises to greet him.

"Did you- er," She coughs once, deepens the pitch of her voice, and begins again. "Didja learn whatcha wanted ta know?"

[Eadin]

Necanth Prison- Held Up By Bandits

The large orc scowls. He doesn't appreciate the humour, and doesn't get the joke beside. The nearly-naked orc hag pipes up next, with a weedy and high-pitched voice. "Club'ead there meant 'toll' as y' gits well knew. Hand o'er y'r cash, humans, or we loot it from y'r cold, dead corpseses." The other orc doesn't respond beyond grinning evilly.

Cat will weep as her dreams of becoming an orc comedian are shattered.
Or not.
"Look, really. Just go. We're no match for you and it's easier for everyone to just go their own way."

[Hattish Thing]

Outside Shifter Hold

I...I guess.....we're to head one of the free holds. She would have gone there. I hope.... He does smile a bit at the brownie playing with the animals.

[Rebonack]

[Prison]

What does Freddie do?

Well...

A whole lot of nothing, really.

Aside from flex his fingers just a little.

He's pretty sure some foxfire to the face will serve as a lovely way to discourage these dumb creatures. Might even be able to distract some of them with a clever enough illusion.

Also?

He's pretty sure he's going to get to nom them.

Yay nomming!

[The Bushranger]

[Cheval de Desordre]

Spoiler

Show

Carrie seems to be thinking something over, but glances and smiles at her husband and girlfriends now and then.

Chris smiles back, setting down the menu. "What are you thinking of, honey?"

[Cheval de Desordre]
Well, the gyoza platter looks good...
She shows him the picture on the menu; it does indeed look good.

[Cheval de Desordre]

"Hmm...that does, doesn't it?"

"...I don't know. I've had a bit of trouble myself deciding what to have, honestly."

"Oooh, that does look good! I think I'll want to try one of those!" Dani declares, grinning cheerfully.

[Zefir]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

Zefir isn't in a hurry, even if he lost his sense of time here. After all he isn't used to long time hard work and makes a break first. Right now he notice that he hasn't brought anything to drink with himself. For now he will be fine, but after getting the lights he should seek for something to drink.

He will return to the work after a 15 minute break.

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- Held up by Bandits

"We'll let y' go on y'r way soon 'nuff. Just hand o'er y'r goodies first. 'Coz y' ain't a match f'r us, 'n we can take y'r goodies from y'r corpseses." The hag-witch smiles viciously. She's confident that she and her companions can take them. Cat and Freddy are, after all, outnumbered.

Necanth Prison- Cavern

It won't take too long to get the geode out, though it needs to be snapped in two before it gives off any light. There's two paths leading further into the cavern from this light-geode mine; one on the left, and one on the right. The one on the right is slightly wider.

[Zefir]

Necanth Prison- Cavern

Zefir will head for the wider way. After all his fighting skills need more place.^^

[Eadin]

[Necanth Prison-Cavern]

Too much confidence is a bad thing. The orcs will learn that soon.

Cat will sigh. '' Look, either believe me or not. We're not giving you anything. So don't bother.''

[Rebonack]

[Prison - We're At the Bandits Actually]

This is probably the most talkative batch of stupid bandits that Freddie has ever had the misfortune of dealing with. At this point he's wishing they would just hurry up and attack so he can kill them all.

The presently human looking Huldra rolls his eyes.

"Well come on then. Either kills us or get out of the way. We're going to die of old age at this rate before we have to worry about you lot."

That 'a boy, Freddie!

Mock the murderous bandits!

Is there ever a time that isn't a wise course of action?

Rebo can't think of one!

[Earl of Purple]

Prison- Bandits

Clubhead the Bandit Orc whacks his club unbelievably fast at Cat's head. The hag-orc, meanwhile, points her staff at Freddy and says "Blammo!" With that word, strands of purple webbing fly from the crystal and try to wrap themselves around Freddy and prevent him from moving. They are, however, extremely flammable. Runty, meanwhile, approaches, grinning his stone teeth and looking forward to having Freddy bound and helpless.

Prison- Cavern

The wider path leads to a small camp. There's a pile of old guard uniforms, cushions, and blankets to make a bed and a pile of empty food tins and a chipped terracotta bowl half-filled with greenish goo, all lit by glowing geodes. There's also a bucket of water. There's no sign of whoever lives here. No other path leads away from the camp.

[Rebonack]

[Prison - Bandits!]

Remember that finger flexing?

Both of Freddie's hands shoot up as he cups them together, sending a gout of ghostly blue flames rushing forward like a flame thrower! As is oft the case with the foxfire Freddie is able to decide what he wants to torch and what he doesn't.

In this case he feels like torching whatever the orc just shot at him and any orcs that might get caught in the cone of fire.

FWOOOSH!

Upon cutting loose with his power Freddie's control on his Beguiling Illusion slackens a bit.

Two fox tails sneak their way out of the base of his spine...

[Eadin]

[Prison- Bandits]

The orc might find his victim gone, instead standing face to face with a very big cat.
A sphinx demon to be exact!
It'll grin at him, seemingly not being bothered by the club.
Instead it will pounce on the orc, fangs ready to tear him up!

[Earl of Purple]

Necanth Prison- Bandits

Clubhead was not expecting that. He can't defend himself from the pounce and starts to scream, his club dropped. He's absolutely terrified.

Freddy's fire cone engulfs all the hag-orc's magic webbing and the hag-orc herself. She drops her staff and starts screaming as she slowly burns to death.

Runty sees all this and starts running off, dropping one of his shivs as he goes. He and his mates got their bums whacked.