[Nexus] Random Places and Plots 4

[Beans]

[Hedgetown]
The clawed girl nods.
S'right. Where's there to go?

[Quinsar]

Another town, not far from here, pretty small. Get some supplies, a real meal...

[Moofin Bard]

[Hedgetown]
Kodi's stomach grumbles at that.
Alright then lets go!

[Beans]

[Hedgetown]
Mal is forced to agree, getting up with an air of reluctance.

Deadtime swiftly approaches me.

[Gullara]

Swamp of Not-Quite-Sanity

Nimrod was not being held upside down. Besides which, he was put down last post. "Good." Then, the otyugh turns to Jasmine. "They're trying to bring back their god, or maybe goddess. Whatever, they're dead. The deity, not the cultists. They seem to be overly fond of throwing people down a well. I generally tend to try and avoid them, so I don't know much about their god, whatever gender it may be. Fortunately, the cultists are short, with hairy feet. They are very good shots with their slings, though." Yay, a cult of evil(?) halflings with a sacred well.

"I see. Thanks for telling us." Jasmine says. Hey, at least they got some info to work with now. Even if it is limited.

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

Dorota raises her head and narrows her eyes.
I'm Dorota Brońska, an alchemist. I seek the herb that will guide me towards the Divine Fire as was promised to me. We're also seeking this poor child's mother.

[The Quest]

"Oh, is that all?" Behind them, the branches of the trees bend down to block and cover the road behind them, the trunks creaking as the bend. "That's all people bother me about; seeking something or seeking a lost seeker. It is merely a trifle, but before I will grant you anything, I will confront you with one final challenge: a test of riddles. Do you agree?"

Quest

Crissy reaches down to put a hand on Alice's shoulder, trying to be comforting to the girl - and to hide how worried/scared she, herself, is.

"Just as long as the riddles are fair, like, truly fair and not just fair to you," she says, matter-of-factly, trying not to let her voice waver.

((Just collecting this for easier responses.))

[Morty]

[The Quest]

Dorota nods grimly. I agree. She's confident in her rational mind's ability to see through the deception of the fey.

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

The deep voice chortles. "I do so love it when they jump through my hoops. Hm. That's an interesting thought. Is it braver to follow the commands of someone else, and having to trust them, or to think for yourself?" The branches behind them quivered. "Your first riddle: Thirty white horses upon a red hill, now they champ, now they stamp, now they stand still. What am I?"

[The Bushranger]

[The Quest]

"Teeth," Crissy answers, after only a moment's thought. "They're teeth."

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

"Correct." Alice hugs Crissy a bit tighter and looks up at her, a slight smile on her face. "Let me think of another...."

"Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man's father is my father's son."

[Morty]

[The Quest]

Feeling like it's her turn to answer, Dorota ponders the possibilities and implications before answering.
That man is my son.

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

"Correct, again."

"One final riddle: On yonder hill there is a red deer. The more you shoot, the more you may, you cannot drive that deer away."

[The Bushranger]

The Quest

Crissy smiles down at Alice, then looks up at the new riddle.
And frowns. Once or twice over the next few seconds looking like she's about to speak, then shaking her head and continuing to think...

Finally, though, she speaks up, almost hesitantly.

"It's the sunrise, isn't it?"

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

"Yes." And then the trees begin to part, shuffling and moving through the earth to reveal a path before them. It leads up to a hill, behind which the red sun rises in the sky. At the peak, they can see a waving red plant, it's leaves the same brilliant hue as the rising sun; and instantly, they know it is the object of their quest. One of their quests, anyway.

[Morty]

[The Quest]

Dorota beams... but then her smile disappears. There's our plant. But where's Alice's mother?

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

"I... cannot return her to you, as I do not have her. Not mine are those that fail this place. But she is not lost. Her daughter will find her when she is brave enough."

There is a pause. "It's a pity. The only thing she was afraid of was not being able to return to her daughter. And it came true, because of that fear."

Alice buries her face against Crissy.

[Morty]

[The Quest]

Dorota swallows. Can... can we help her? We promised we'd try to get her mother back.

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

"Of course you may. But that is for another time, another place. You have the plant. It is time to leave this place."

[The Bushranger]

[The Quest]

Spoiler

Show

"Yes." And then the trees begin to part, shuffling and moving through the earth to reveal a path before them. It leads up to a hill, behind which the red sun rises in the sky. At the peak, they can see a waving red plant, it's leaves the same brilliant hue as the rising sun; and instantly, they know it is the object of their quest. One of their quests, anyway.

[The Quest]

Dorota beams... but then her smile disappears. There's our plant. But where's Alice's mother?

[The Quest]

"I... cannot return her to you, as I do not have her. Not mine are those that fail this place. But she is not lost. Her daughter will find her when she is brave enough."

There is a pause. "It's a pity. The only thing she was afraid of was not being able to return to her daughter. And it came true, because of that fear."

Alice buries her face against Crissy.

[The Quest]

Dorota swallows. Can... can we help her? We promised we'd try to get her mother back.

[The Quest]

"Of course you may. But that is for another time, another place. You have the plant. It is time to leave this place."

"Can you...please tell us at least where to start looking for her?" Crissy asks softly.

[Neon Knight]

[The Quest]

"She must learn three kinds of courage to find her mother. The courage to stay rather than to leave, the courage to kneel rather than to stand, and the courage to leave rather than to stay."

"Only once she knows these things can see find the path to her mother."

[Moofin Bard]

[Hedgetown]
Mal is forced to agree, getting up with an air of reluctance.

Deadtime swiftly approaches me.

[Hedgetown]

Kodi, whose tail would be wagging if he had one still, gets up and goes to stand by the demon.

[Quinsar]

Let's go!
She begins to walk out.

[Beans]

Let's go!
She begins to walk out.

[Hedgetown - Population: Dead Animal]
Mal follows the demon, sticking close to the man who had, hours before, been her co-scavenger and furred heating blanket.

[Moofin Bard]

[Hedgetown]

Kodi follows along behind the demon girl. He sniffs around at everything he sees and looks a little disappointed. Can't smell as good.

[Quinsar]

Nope, human's have terrible noses.
Through the woods!

[Beans]

[You Are Now Leaving Hedgetown - Home of the why is everyone dead]
Mh.
You'll g' used to it.
She follows the demon through the woods warily.

[Moofin Bard]

[Hedgetown]

Kodi seems to love the woods. He goes off every now and then and comes back.

[Quinsar]

She leads them through the forest, and,they are probably stopped by something...?

[horngeek]

[Mid-Childa]

Abigail and Jamie will appear here, on top of what looks like a glowing circle. A woman is waiting for them when they arrive, and Abigail grins. "Hello, Nanoha. This is Jamie. Jamie, this is Nanoha. Or Captain Takimachi."

Nanoha smiles back. "Hello there."

[The Bushranger]

[The Quest]

"She must learn three kinds of courage to find her mother. The courage to stay rather than to leave, the courage to kneel rather than to stand, and the courage to leave rather than to stay."

"Only once she knows these things can see find the path to her mother."

Crissy frowns!
But nods, slowly.

===

[Mid-Childa]

Abigail and Jamie will appear here, on top of what looks like a glowing circle. A woman is waiting for them when they arrive, and Abigail grins. "Hello, Nanoha. This is Jamie. Jamie, this is Nanoha. Or Captain Takimachi."

Nanoha smiles back. "Hello there."

Jamie waves at Nanoha, then curtseys.
"Jamie Misaki Catherine Druid," she introduces herself formally. "It's an honor to meet you, Captain Takimachi."