Random Plots and Places 12: More pseudorandom than we care to admit

[Gullara]

This is a thread for plots not large enough to need a separate thread, or locations that don't fit anywhere else. If you'd like a location permanently indexed in the first post, PM the creator of this thread..

Longer lasting or more serious plots might fit better in the Serious Plots thread. This thread is intended for events that aren't as structured as Serious and not as long lasting. If you aren't sure which thread fits your plot best, then just pick whichever one is less busy at the time.

Rules

1. Use [Location Tags] or [Plot Tags] on your posts.
2. Each location or plot is under the control of its creator.
3. Play nice.

Archive

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Random Plots and Places 11: Still more random than you!
Random Plots and Places 10: Results may not be between 1 and 10
Random Plots and Places 9: What a crazy, random happenstance!
Random Places and Plots 8: Adventures! Thrills! Groceries!
Random Places and Plots 7: Cat Herders Wanted
Random Places and Plots 6: Chaos Theory included
Random Places and Plots 5
Random Places and Plots 4
Random Places and Plots 3
Random Places and Plots 2
Random Places and Plots 1

This thread is managed by Gullara. I will create the new thread when this one reached 50 pages. Please contact me for updates to the OP.

[Recaiden]

Would Sarina be surprised to find a bunch of snakes and attached person brightly outlined up on the porch of her treehouse? Because there is in fact one Alexis up there, sitting outside the door, in her 'normal' clothes (which are still seen much less often than her uniform).
"Hi!"

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina's face brightens, and she trots over to give Alexis a hug.
"Hey. What are you doing here? I didn't even tell you I'd be gone today." she asks, certainly not upset.

[Recaiden]

"I came to see you! It's not like you snuck into the forest in the dead of night with no one seeing you."
Alexis rises smoothly and steps over to embrace Sarina. Her face doesn't do any particular thing - she's not good at facial expressions - but one of the snakes bops her on the nose in a friendly way.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Hugs! Sarina giggles.
"Thanks, Alexis. Had a rough day. I'm not a spider or a tree-nymph and I've been trying to understand both. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to." she admits with a sad shrug.

[Recaiden]

"Today wasn't a great day for me either. But maybe it'll be better now."
Alexis offers her a little pot with a single white-blue flower in it. The thing just appeared from nowhere.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina takes the pot with a smile, setting it down near a window for light.
"It's pretty, Alexis. Where'd you get it?" she asks.
Sarina wonders if she could ask Message for guidance on her mission now that she's ticked off the Queen again. Would Message help? She's already asked for plenty. But normal people pray all the time for guidance. It must be fine, right?

[Recaiden]

"They grow outside of town. The goddess planted them, back when she was mortal."

As Alexis could tell you, it's always fine to ask for guidance. You can't always expect an answer.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina gives Alexis a quick hug.
"Well, thanks. Having you around makes everything better. And maybe you can help me with this stupid job of mine, some time. Figuring people out is hard."

[Recaiden]

Alexis is probably glad.
"People will tell you a lot about themselves, if you just nod and listen."
She slips inside and takes a seat somewhere.
"What seems to be the trouble?"

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina sighs, pulling up a seat.
"They made me a princess of a bunch of spiders that I can't seem to empathize with, and I'm an ally of a bunch of tree-nymphs that are horrendously weird as well as seemingly there just to make our relationship weird." she admits.

[Recaiden]

"Can you do your job, though? If you focus on getting the work that they need done, empathy will come in time."
Alexis leans in, and the snakes rise up, intrigued.
"Well, spirits can be very strange. But 'just to make our relationship weird'?"

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina blushes, but stares at Alexis dramatically. "They're all hot naked girls, Alexis. All of them except Grandmother Tree. It's very distracting."

[Recaiden]

Alexis does manage a blush. The snakes twist every which way and look around the house.
"I...see."
"Do you want, ah, me to, distract you?"

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

"Only if you want to. " Sarina says with a massive blush.

[Recaiden]

"That's not the most...committed answer." Alexis observes, biting her lip.
Still, she stands, takes hold of the top button of her shirt, and - draws the curtains.
Even if nothing else happens, it's good to have a bit of privacy.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Curtains can be drawn. I'm sure they'll find some way to have fun.
That night, Message, I know we're pretty committed to making sure I can keep the spiders at peace with the Town, and that's why I went on this little quest to understand the spiders and these tree-nymphs even though I'm so different from them. Alexis might be right that I just need to give it time. But if you don't think so, I'll take whatever help or guidance you think appropriate. It's nice to know I'm not alone on this.

[Recaiden]

Patience, Sarina.

Another day, Sarina may be woken up or interrupted in the woods by a horrible cracking crunching sound and a large something falling to the ground outside.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina's eyes fly open, and she bolts out of bed, though it turns out that the sound is outside and not a (direct) threat to her. Stupid deer instincts. She pulls on a shirt and slides down the ladder, looking for the source of the noise.

[Recaiden]

Looks like it was just a fight between some guy (with a sword and a briefcase) and a giant spider.
Actually, that might be cause for some alarm.
It's a wolf-spider, body about ten feet long, legs a lot more, and it's been sliced neatly in half, which as you might imagine renders it quite dead.
The guy is Winds, and as usual he's without a shirt and his sword is still spotless as he puts it back in its scabbard. He seems to be walking this way.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina stares at the guy, and starts to back away towards the ladder.
"Please tell me that was one of my non-sapient neighbors." she says in a panic.

[Recaiden]

"That was one of your non-sapient neighbors, miss." The way he says that is unconvincing. But most of the wolf spiders are feral.
Winds lifts up the briefcase, pressing it into Sarina's hands.
"Here. Only open it when you absolutely have to."

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

"Uh, okay, but what is this?" Sarina demands as the package is shoved into her arms. What the heck is going on here?

[Recaiden]

"Peace In Solitude. Once you've opened it, keep quiet until it's over. Okay?"
Winds raises his eyebrows. This is important to remember.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina raises a very incredulous eyebrow.
"Can you say that again in a way a sane person would understand?"

[Recaiden]

"Starting when you open it and ending the next time you get home after opening it, you must make as little sound as possible."
Winds's wide eyes intensify.
"Do you understand?"

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

"Yeah, but like, why are you giving this to me? Who are you? What actually does it do?" she demands to this stranger being very intimidating and vague.

[Recaiden]

"You're going to need it. I am 'Burning Winds'. It helps; you don't want to know in any more detail."
His eyebrows retreat to their normal height, and he gives a bow.

[Deathkeeper]

Treehouse

Sarina gives a wave and lets the guy leave, if that's what he's bowing for. She has every intention of taking this case back up to the treehouse and examining this thing for magic. How is she supposed to know when she needs something when she doesn't know what it is?

[Recaiden]

"Good night, Sarina."
Off he goes, past her towards the far side of the Wode.

Back up in the treehouse, well, of course it's magical! An old, slippery, tentacled, nonparallel sort of magic. It doesn't like being too close to other magic things, and does something to the mind and the eye.