Silly Plots 2: Electric Boogaloo

[Recaiden]

By way of anchoring, Omiko chooses to pick up the whole boat with her robot arm and place it (a little awkwardly) onto shore.
"Let's climb some trees!" is the suggestion that answers Clara.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

"Okay, you can do that. I'll be over here." Clara says. Though Omiko's last display means she could probably just climb a tree and carry Clara up there if she felt like it.

[Recaiden]

Clara is a lot softer than a boat. It would not be comfortable.

Omiko scurries up a tree like a, well, that animal she resembles, and then hops off from branch to branch, heading inland.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

"What- hey! Omiko!" Clara calls hastily, heading into the undergrowth to try and follow Omiko.
If the cat gets high enough this might not be likely.

[Recaiden]

All she says is "Come on!", without slowing down at all, clambering higher and further into the swampy canopy.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara groans. "I can't see you!" she calls back and heads forward. She tries to keep going forward to avoid getting lost, but she'll stick to the path so as to not fall into a six-foot pool of swamp water.

[Recaiden]

"Look harder!" comes some bad advice, the voice sounding from further away.

The swamp is kind of dark, despite the summery brightness of the day; the leaves soaking up all the light. But there's something, off the path. A lantern? A ball of swamp gas?

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara narrows her eyes. A lantern? That would mean habitation, and that means people. She slowly steps off the path toward the light, though she's careful to watch her step and not fall into any pools or anything. Hopefully.

[Recaiden]

It must have been further away than it seemed; it takes a lot of careful picking one's way through the swamp to make progress. But eventually the light draws closer and closer and then can be seen burning in a little lamp hanging from a colossal tree-stump, pretty much all gnarled roots.
The giant stump is carved with little windows and a door, but seems completely surrounded by swamp water.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara frowns and draws her sword. Using it as a probing stick, she tries to gauge the depth of the water so she can safely approach the house without falling into any deep water. Not that the water would really be a problem but it would be awfully gross.

[Recaiden]

Seems like the water is deeper than her sword is long, although she does find one little patch within reach where it's only about 8 inches.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara gingerly steps into the shallow spot and repeats the process. She should be able to reach the house without too much trouble at this rate.
She hopes.

[Recaiden]

Just a hop, skip, and a jump, and then four more hops.
The house stands before her, only the gate in the little picket fence separating her from the great round door and cheery little windows.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara sheathes her sword and goes to open the gate in the picket fence. She doubts there's any bell or anything to ring besides just knocking on the door.

[Recaiden]

There's a knocker on the door, a metal lion holding the ring in its teeth.
If Clara tries to use it, it'll bite her.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara yelps as she's nipped. Then she groans in frustration, and angrily bangs on the door with her uninjured hand.

[Recaiden]

After a moment of banging on it, the door opens just a crack, and a creaky voice inquires.
"Who's there?"

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

"Uh, hi. My friend's been looking for her crew that got marooned somewhere. Have you seen any ships or people passing by recently? Also, your door bit my hand." she says, trying to be polite but kind of mad about the bleeding thing.

[Recaiden]

"Oh, come in, come in, let me see to your hand. You should be careful with it, you know."
The door swings open, revealing a messy room arranged around a bubbling cauldron, and a hunched figure with only their bulbous grey nose protruding from their hood and shawl.

"As for ships, though, not many sail through the swamp. There was, hmm..."

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara warily steps in. Another witch? What are the odds?
"Uh, why exactly do you have a door that bites people?" she asks the man as she does so.

[Recaiden]

"Oh, I do forget to feed it sometimes, silly me. Not many visitors, as I mentioned, I must have mentioned."
"Now, let's get you a bandage and some soup. Always good to have something warm after you've been cut."
He rummages in a little bag and comes out with some gauze and tape and an old tube of antiseptic ointment, which will then be applied to Clara's hand (unless she insists on doing it herself or something).

In the kitchen across the way, pots and containers stir themselves to begin cooking.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara will let herself be bandages.
"Ok, where was I...right, ships. Did any pass the island recently?" the actress asks again.

[Recaiden]

"Oh, yes. My little friends saw this nasty pirate ship sweeping off north a fortnight ago, and it came back by five days past, going, hmm, west? Then there was the freighter that wrecked the next island over - what a waste. And a spaceship flew over two nights ago. Didn't see much of that, no, no."

Ingredients are hurling themselves into a stew-pot. Chicken, carrots, celery, chili powder, etc.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara smiles.
"Great, thanks, I- her stomach growls loudly.
-can probably stay for soup. Who are your little friends?" she asks.

[Recaiden]

"Oh, you know. The birds and trees and water voles."
He waves at the kitchen.
"Do have a seat while things finish up. Do be careful, and don't go poking into anything."
Then he scuttles out the back door, leaving Clara more or less alone.
A wooden spoon is now busily stirring the bubbling pot.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara blinks as the man hurried away, but she isn't phased. Idle, she moves around the room to examine the things around her. There's obviously magic here, so what does this man collect? If she finds a soul in a bottle she should probably run.

[Recaiden]

There couldn't be said to be a collection of anything. There are lots of candles, all mismatched, a few burning, some hovering, others in fancy holders. That jar appears to have a live rabbit in it, while another one has a sleepy little pixie. There are small figurines that seem to be solid gold crowded onto shelves, all facing the walls. A stuffed alligator is mounted over the main fireplace. The ceiling is patterned with polished stone like a mosaic - showing the rising sun. There's a half-open box full of peculiar bone-wax hedrons on a coffee table besides a vast wooden grimoire.

Salt and pepper are shaking themselves into the stew.

Would Clara recognize a bottled soul if she saw it?

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara's curious about the book, but she knows not to go around looking into possibly magic books unsupervised. She's watched enough movies to know that. With a sigh, she sinks into the offered chair and waits for the witch(?) to get back.

[Recaiden]

It's just a few minutes, as the stew simmers and dishes itself up, before the figure who lives here bursts back in from the back door.
One can hear wolves (or perhaps very large lizards) howling in the distance until the door slams itself closed behind him.
"Eat up, my poor injured guest."
He takes a bowl from the table and carries it off towards the front door, to feed to the knocker. The blood of innocent actresses is merely an appetizer, after all.

[Deathkeeper]

Swamp Island

Clara looks for a bowl, unless the wooden spoon that's been stirring the pot serves her itself. She gives the mixture a sniff while the guy is away just to make sure it doesn't smell like he put anything gross in there.