2021-11-02: Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky (Side A)
- Log: 2021-11-02: Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky (Side A)
- Cast: Ethius Hesiod (GM), Eleanor Klein, Seraph Clarine, Marivel Armitage, Seraph Nimue
- Where: Celesti Wastelands
- Date: November 02, 2021
- Summary: ARMS investigates the rumors of the improbable oasis within the wastes of what was once Celesti. (First of seven runs of the one-shot Alcidamas Village Dig.)
============================<* Celesti Wastelands *>============================ Decades ago, the nation of Celesti ripped itself apart in a vicious civil war. Outside of a handful of settlements, its former territories are lifeless. The remains of trenches, bunkers, and barbed wire lines serve as lingering reminders of the conflict--scars that have yet to heal. The earth is dry and barren, and much of the groundwater has been contaminated by biological or chemical weapons. Travel through the Wastelands is treacherous. The roads are pockmarked with shell craters, and Reapers have been known to haunt its blasted plains. A handful of functional rail lines cross the wastes, but these travel directly to their final destinations. The shattered remains of ghost towns dot the landscape. Some may yet hold things of value, but experienced travelers know better than to go treasure-hunting on a whim. The war-dead of Celesti do not rest. Ghosts aren't even the strangest things one can find here. As the war dragged on, both the Congressional Knights and Aquvy Union dug up ancient weapons to aid their efforts--including, it's rumored, ARMs from Zeboim. These rumors draw both the daring and desperate into the wastes, and more often than not, to their end. BGM: Shin Megami Tensei IV - Blasted Ichigaya
DG: A party led by Eleanor Klein is now entering Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Wood You Lend A Hand *>=====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Alcidamas Village, as it's called - it's more of a proper town by now - is
easy to approach by foot. Skilled warriors have come together to help patrol
the roads and keep it safe from ne'er-do-wells. All remarkably cheerful, if
cautious. They're happy to give you directions to the place. The grass gets
greener and the sky clearer the closer you approach.
It turns out the people of the village are currently organizing a whole lot
of freshly cut lumber along the route you are taking. Turns out the route
you're on isn't one people usually take, and they accidentally blocked it
off. With your help in moving the lumber aside, you'll be able to clear the
way for yourselves - or anyone else that might be taking this off-beat path.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The whole rumor about that oasis of land, water, and sky has gotten to be a big enough deal that maybe there's a non-zero chance it's an Odessa ambush or something. It's gotten enough people talking, enough people nervous, that there has to be some reputable channel with skilled Drifters on tap to confirm the truth. The truth is...
The Celesti Wastelands live up to their name so well that the only reason it hasn't won the exclusive right to call itself the wasteland is because Elru, Slayheim, and the Gunsmoke Desert would want to clear their throats and have their say. The journey going along the known routes to the supposed location of this paradise is - as expected, kind of sucky!
The Seraphim will take notice first of everyone - there's something in the air that's different. Weird, but maybe not... bad? Maybe? Following where that feeling goes, leads to the first improbable sight that is not 'healthy blades of grass.'
But friendly warriors and sellswords, waving a friendly hand to the oncoming crowd. The grass isn't only greener over there, the sky feels clearer and cleaner. They say this is 'the way to Alcidamas,' which confirms that there is a place by that name.
They also reveal there's a problem. What could it be? Roving monsters? Bands of thieves? More spiritually poisoned bad feels monsters?!
...Nah, it's more the team's taken a route most people don't, and they accidentally blocked it off because they're stacking a whole lot of freshly cut lumber. (Let that sink in. Freshly cut lumber, in this part of Zoara. The grass blades rustle, as if they were to laugh and say, 'yes, we get that a lot!')
Shouldn't take long, but if anyone wants to help move it, they'd be much obliged too.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor Klein is very interested in the rumors of this beautiful oasis in the wasteland of Celesti. If true, it could be the start of the land starting to heal here somehow--or else might have some other explanation that would be somehow important. If nothig else, seeing life on Filgaia is wonderful! ...So Eleanor is hopeful that it's real, and not just a rumor, though she has to temper that expectation with simple reality: the Celesti Wastelands are terrible.
But there are... people here, an the sky is so clear. "Oh?" Eleanor says. "Why, thank you!" for the route towards, and then Eleanor considers. She looks to the grass, to the lumber... "Amazing," she mentions. "It looks so... fresh."
Then she considers. She looks around at her friends and then at the friendly sellswords, who are not she is sure expecting Eleanor to step towards the woodpile. "...Allow me," she says with grace, and then her Power Bracelet glitters gold-and-red as she walks up and starts hefting lumber like it's nothing.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, Wood You Lend A Hand. You aren't carrying anything. You have 52141 Pennies.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
Rumors of an oasis appearing within the Celesti Wastelands... it's hard to tell what truth there might be to the rumor, which means their best bet is to go investigate things for themselves just in case.
Clarine notices it as they approach - that strange sensation in the air that she can't quite place... She frowns, a confused expression crossing her face.
"Everyone... can you feel that? There is... something to this place. I cannot quite place it..." Clarine says. Before long, they find... people! They point the way to Alcidamas... but it looks like there's a slight problem. There's lumber in the way... Fresh lumber, which is a strange sight.
"Hmm. How odd..." Clarine observes with a tilt of her head. She can't really help with the lifting directly... but what she can do is cast a strength-enhancing spell over the party!
...What they decide to do with that is up to them.
DG: Seraph Clarine has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Wood You Lend A Hand.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel is naturally curious about anything that might be involved in restoring Filgaia and so she has come along. on this venture. Marivel approaches with the group at a leisurely pace. She frowns thoughtfully as she sees grass growing greener with every step. She starts tosay something--but is shortly asked to lend a hand as she is quickly kinda buried under lumber to carry.
Marivel struggles to lift it up because she's a vampire, yes, but also more importantly a nerd and nerd tends to triumph in matters such as this.
"Eleanor," Marivel says. "Ahh--Clarine... Thanks. A bunch??"
She looks to Eleanor for a moment but doesn't voice her suspicions just yet. A bit early for that!
Naturally she tries to blow off as much of the work as she can but, well, the party isn't large enough that she can avoid it entirely. Darn!
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Wood You Lend A Hand. You aren't carrying anything. You have 52141 Pennies.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.
Nimue isn't attached to Eleanor at the hip, but Eleanor is one of the people who manages to get her to think of something outside herself and move forward in a meaningful way; accordingly, when Eleanor takes interest in something, it's hard for Nimue to decide it's boring. She's here, of course, even if she's been having the time of her life hiding out in a book in Eleanor's pack, as is the custom.
She looks thoughtfully at the lumber for several moments, tapping her chin thoughtfully. Then she pulls, from her *own* pack, a bottle of something unidentifiable which may not even be drinkable by humans. She looks at the lumber again, chewing at her lower lip, then at the lumber one more time.
"Yeah, nope." She sits back and begins drinking. It smells suspiciously like a petroleum byproduct. It's fine, Seraphim are barely bound by the conventions of physical form anyway. "You guys have fun with this one!" she says, with a big smile.
DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Drinks toward her party's challenge, Wood You Lend A Hand.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Wood You Lend A Hand *>=====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Alcidamas Village, as it's called - it's more of a proper town by now - is
easy to approach by foot. Skilled warriors have come together to help patrol
the roads and keep it safe from ne'er-do-wells. All remarkably cheerful, if
cautious. They're happy to give you directions to the place. The grass gets
greener and the sky clearer the closer you approach.
It turns out the people of the village are currently organizing a whole lot
of freshly cut lumber along the route you are taking. Turns out the route
you're on isn't one people usually take, and they accidentally blocked it
off. With your help in moving the lumber aside, you'll be able to clear the
way for yourselves - or anyone else that might be taking this off-beat path.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
=======<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky - Round 1 *>========
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>============= =======================< Results - Wood You Lend A Hand >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Power Bracelet 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Nimue 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Stolen Drinks 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 0 --(21)--> 21 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 0 --(21)--> 21 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Eleanor Klein 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Eleanor Klein has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Our Stories Thus Far *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Your party's invited to come relax and enjoy a meal with the locals. There's
plenty of food to pick from! The excess of ingredients has sort of spoiled
the locals, so there isn't much in the way of technical cooking skill that
can only come from working with scarcity. They make up for it with variety
and heart.
They're happy to swap stories about how well things are going - such as how
their lives improved immeasurably after a beastfolk helped bring everything
together. (Their current mayor now, one adds.)
Enough about themselves! They want to hear how things are going out there.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Eleanor helps move the lumber at a pace that it would take more time to write and describe the goings on than it would for her to be done with it. (Nimue, if she so chooses, can sit back and lounge on the lumber and go on a very brief ride when Eleanor picks up and drops lumber somewhere else. Nimue, as always, wins in the end by doing very little.)
Marivel, at least, will recognize that the lumber is made from a tree that was native in these parts. 'Was' is the operative word, because the Celesti Civil War sure ushered a lot of things into presumed extinction! This tree is hereby not one of them. Or no longer one of them?
"Wow, you lot worked through that qui-- oh! Oh, travelers!" That's not an exclamation of fear. The few settlements about the wastes people find, they are often understandably wary. Not this lot! An aging woman happily introduces herself to the group (that she can see) while the nearby guards and guard-analogues are stunned to silence as to how Eleanor just trivialized a prospective afternoon's work just like that.
The sun up above is high under a partly cloudy sky. In this part of the world it can get pretty hot, even this close to the ocean, but... the weather feels great. You can actually breathe the air and not feel like you're breathing in things that might slowly cut your lifespan by a few days!
To the Seraphim, it's still... weird.
"We're puttin' on lunch!" Calls another. "Care to join us?"
Lunch! First things first: not a cannibal cult, it's all leafy stuff. Second things... second: the produce here could rival Lunar. It's fresh, it tastes great, and it doesn't taste like anyone put anything weird in it. The actual cooking is of so-so quality, as if they haven't quiiiiiiite figured out how to make the most of the abundance they have here. But what is abundant is the food! Plenty to share.
"C'mon down, have a seat, both of you!" They can't see the Seraphim. "Don't worry 'bout payment! More 'n enough for everyone! Thanks to our mayor!"
A person of interest! They'll go on and on about how great things are here. How much one chooses to indulge is up to them.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor does not know these... suspicions. But she doesn't quite place the strange feeling, either. Maybe it's a Seraphim thing? Eleanor wonders about the greenery, though. "Hmm... I wonder," Eleanor answers Clarine, but shakes her head.
When she is STRONGK she moves the lumber. It's fine. She is also a nerd, but a nerd with the right kind of magic, and doesn't begrudge Nimue not helping. Quite the opposite, Eleanor shows off a little. It's fine.
"Hello!" Eleanor greets the woman, and she smiles to the guards and such as she nods to everyone. "Lunch? Well, if you're inviting us..."
Eleanor is glad to discover it's not cannibalism. She does surreptitiously check to see if they see the Seraphim though--just noticing whether or not they seem to recognie their presence at all.
But ah, they can't. Eleanor looks apologetic at Nimue and Clarine, but only briefly.
...On the other hand, that means they can eat if they feel like it themselves!!
"Your mayor?" Eleanor inquires. "Would you tell me about them?" She indeed has a seat. "This is a very remarkable village!"
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Our Stories Thus Far.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
The lumber is moved! In the time it's taken for it to be moved, it seems they've drawn some attention because they're invited to lunch by some of the locals!
Clarine looks toward the others. So far, the people here haven't given any sign of being able to perceive Seraphim. She waves, just briefly, to see if any of the people catch it and return the gesture before following the others. She returns Eleanor's look, shaking her head at the apology. It's fine, she's used to it. She's not really the type to eat food for the most part, anyway... and this does provide a good opportunity.
While Eleanor and Marivel speak with the townsfolk, Clarine takes a moment to detach from the group somewhat and investigate their surroundings, looking for signs of anything untoward - or perhaps anything that might be related to that strange feeling this place gives her.
She keeps her crystal sphere close at hand, just in case anything needs illumination.
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Brilliant Sphere toward her party's challenge, Our Stories Thus Far.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel wrinkles her nose, scraping a small piece off with a talon as she holds it up to her eyes. Missing a few trees here or there is one thing, but missing a presumed extinct species in thick enough supply it's being used as lumber? Certainly, she doubts townies would appreciate conservation but something tells her there may be a fair number of these trees now. Somehow.
The locals seem happy to invite them to a meal? She munches on the food and periodically takes notes in her book.
"Your mayor huh..." Could it be another Elw, Marivel thinks. Mariel might be the last one left but as Vasil proved, it's pretty hard to definitely prove that elements of a race are entirely extinct. Much like those trees, she supposes.
"I haven't had materials to cook with on Filgaia this good outside of my gardens." Marivel murmurs and she has super science on her side. "Could you tell me about your mayor? What's their name?"
People are usually a bit more careless about names.
Eleanor is glad to discover it's not cannibalism.
Marivel tries not to be too dissapointed. She hasn't properly enjoyed spooky times yet.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Our Stories Thus Far.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.
The fact that the weirdness is *increasing* with settlement entry is... honestly normal for Nimue, but the fact that it's actually happening with people she's generally okay with around is noticeable. Sometimes she just gets uncomfortable around people, making it actually difficult to evaluate this type of feeling. Right now, though... this is a little extra.
Nimue sniffs at the food for a little while. She reaches out and snags some. Then some more. Then some more... then *even* more. If Clarine won't partake of food, surely Nimue can. Gut feelings are negotiable; bread, however, remains utterly non-negotiable. Or, well, really, all caloric intake is negotiable for a Seraph, but... the important thing is that Nimue is eating and doing so at speed.
For the most part, she's here to provide a second set of ears on the stories Eleanor hears. She's always... cautious, when it comes to these types of things, in a different way from her more visible pals.
"Hmmm... I've had better," Nimue mumbles.
DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Food toward her party's challenge, Our Stories Thus Far.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Our Stories Thus Far *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Your party's invited to come relax and enjoy a meal with the locals. There's
plenty of food to pick from! The excess of ingredients has sort of spoiled
the locals, so there isn't much in the way of technical cooking skill that
can only come from working with scarcity. They make up for it with variety
and heart.
They're happy to swap stories about how well things are going - such as how
their lives improved immeasurably after a beastfolk helped bring everything
together. (Their current mayor now, one adds.)
Enough about themselves! They want to hear how things are going out there.
=Dungeon Conditions: Save Point===============================================
=======<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky - Round 2 *>========
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>============= =======================< Results - Our Stories Thus Far >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 5 --(5)--> 10 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Nimue 5 --(5)--> 10 Pass Stolen Food 3 Wits Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 21 --(5)--> 26 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 21 --(5)--> 26 Pass Brilliant Sphere 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Eleanor Klein 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Save Point(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Eleanor Klein has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
==========================<* CHALLENGE - Good Game *>===========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
One of the benefits to the restoration of the local flora is that the fauna
have responded in kind. Though the environment can now support their numbers
just fine, it may not be a bad call to help keep some of it in check. Your
party has been called upon to help hunt some game.
Alternatively, if your party is not into that, you can still be tasked with
helping bring some economically useful creatures into captivity.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
"Our mayor... his name's Homer!" Says someone joining them with an inexpertly crafted but lovingly made salad. "Large fellow... a Beastfolk," so maybe an Elw? Mariel has been mistaken for one sometimes herself, this doesn't rule out Marivel's unspoken theory completely. (Yet.)
Clarine goes to take a look around on her own. What's worrisome here is that everything looks fine, even better than fine - it's almost like a piece of Lunar just grafted itself here. Nothing should be wrong... but as a light spirit, she can tell the sunlight isn't quite hitting this space right. The place is getting sunlight, the glades are healthy, but it feels like there's... an intermediary step that's off. What is it? It's nothing like anything she's ever felt.
No one notices Nimue stealing food (it counts if they don't know she's doing it). She's had better cooking by far, but the ingredients here - if they just had someone who knew how to really bring out the best, oh man. She, too, feels the breeze against her. There is a healthy breeze, but there's a rhythm to it that doesn't feel... completely correct? (Other Wind Seraphim across history personally discovering and attempting to emulate the high art of fart jokes notwithstanding.)
"The village was founded about two years ago," seguing back to interesting conversation, "almost all of us were just scraping on by, like anyone else... if it weren't for him, we wouldn't have the opportunities we have now to live a life in something other than squalor."
There's nothing but praise for the man. Filgaia has a spotty track record as regarding Beastfolk, so this may be a thing of suspicion... but as lunch winds down, there's a call that local fauna have been at some of the gardens again. This is interesting even if they stick around to hear out if they want to help hunt or not.
Marivel will find there's a kind of deer that also were on the brink of extinction thanks to the change of environs, but looking out now... there's sure a lot of them. Some other traditional garden pests of the times before Celesti collapsed, too. To think in such a short span of time they'd need to seriously consider culling!
They hardly put up much of a fight, as if the hard lessons of the wastes are but a distant memory to their instincts now. Furthermore... there are indeed a lot of those trees that have been cut for lumber, growing strong and healthy.
It's something, all right. First things first, though, hunting! Maybe they might be in the mood for a second lunch!
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor wonders about that--outside Marivel's super-science gardens? That's certainly something. Eleanor keeps an eye on Clarine and Nimue, in case they catch something she doesn't. But her questions get some answers! And that's good.
"Homer! Well, I hope I have a chance to meet him," she answers, and then she listens about the origin of the village. Apparently he did a great deal... it is surprising, on many levels. But the gardens--ah...
"Forests," she comments. "This is... beautiful." A pause. "But if they want us to do a bit of hunting, I can do that."
Eleanor pulls a small golden revolver. "Between this and a few Crests, it shou,dn't be too difficult."
She doesn't have a particular problem with hunting for food.
The Crest in question is her Knightscrest, of course! It will empower all of them and hopefully make the job faster for all involved.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Knightscrest toward her party's challenge, Good Game.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
It's strange. Everything looks fine, but feels wrong. Clarine's brow furrows. And the light... It's off. With a frown she returns to the others.
"...I do not think I like this place. The people seem nice, and it seems very healthy and lovely, but..." Clarine murmurs quietly, trailing off as she can't quite put words to her thoughts.
As for the current task at hand... Clarine won't participate in the hunting. She can understand the need for it - it's a natural thing - but as one who doesn't require food herself it doesn't feel right to participate.
But she does, however, have no problem supplying some curatives to her friends to keep them healthy in the process!
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Panacea Bottle toward her party's challenge, Good Game.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Homer Marivel mouths. But she nods. "Thanks. Maybe can pay him a visit sometime." If Homer was able to make this place work without either draining the rest of the planet or powering the growth through human sacrifice or something even worse than her imaginings, she'd probably best be ready to bargain for some of his secrets. The only person with this kind of green thumb she knows WOULD be Mariel but it's hard to imagine MAriel building something like this all the same.
Marivel hasn't considered some kind of timespace manipulation yet or planetary transplants yet.
It's too bad the chefs here aren't that great, she thinks. Ah well.
"Well peace does tend to help the planet restore itself, strange as it may seem. War is pretty wasteful."
Hunting! Marivel would normally be keen on HUNTING but she isn't really eager to kill animals in a place like this. She's just nervous enough--but it might be helpful to learn more if they help with the CAPTURING of said animals so she will inflict a SLEEP spell on the deer which won't help lull it into a cage or anything but luckily she can get Hob and Nob to do the carrying.
"You do not like this place huh...?" Marivel asks. "It feels wrong to me too, but I can't act based on instinct alone."
She pats Clarine on the shoulder lightly. Her hand smokes briefly but Marivel ignores it. "Just keep calm. If we need to make a quick exit, I'm counting on you to lead us out."
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Good Game.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.
The fact that everything is so nice here -- everyone is nice and tolerant, the food is good-in-theory, but... there's something about the place-ness of it that feels utterly off. Her nose scrunches up a bit. She chews an undifferentiated mass of greens she has compressed into a ball with sufficient windforce to be a single, biteable, contiguous object. "Hmmm. This whole premise seems goofy," she muses aloud. That's all she really has.
Nimue also has no problem with hunting for food. It's part of the natural order of things, and she generally likes eating food. She even specifically likes eating meat -- savory dishes are her favorites. (Not that she doesn't like sweets too, but...)
Forming back up with Eleanor, she basks in the power of that Crest for a moment -- and snags a few curatives from Clarine, too. "... Yeah, this place sucks," Nimue agrees with her, after a moment. "I'm -- used to clean-seeming places with gross vibes, and this is definitely, uh. The most that."
Nevertheless, that means the *fauna* are probably *also* the most that, which means Nimue is perfectly content to hurl grenades at them. Ah, grenades: the solution to all of life's problems?
DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Gadgets toward her party's challenge, Good Game.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
==========================<* CHALLENGE - Good Game *>===========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
One of the benefits to the restoration of the local flora is that the fauna
have responded in kind. Though the environment can now support their numbers
just fine, it may not be a bad call to help keep some of it in check. Your
party has been called upon to help hunt some game.
Alternatively, if your party is not into that, you can still be tasked with
helping bring some economically useful creatures into captivity.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
=======<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky - Round 3 *>========
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>============= ============================< Results - Good Game >============================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Knightscrest 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Nimue 10 --(5)--> 15 Pass Stolen Gadgets 2 Combat Effects: Embolden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 26 --(5)--> 31 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 26 --(5)--> 31 Pass Panacea Bottle 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Eleanor Klein 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1) Effects: Cleanse|Embolden(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Eleanor Klein has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
====================<* CHALLENGE - A Good Problem to Have *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
As it so happens, some of the village's fruit harvest is about to spoil.
They simply do not have enough mouths to feed, and consider it a waste to
just throw it all away! All the items here are ready-to-eat, like apples and
pears.
Why not grab a snack? Or two, or three. They're some of the best you will
ever have sunk your teeth into. You're on Filgaia, a land of not so plenty.
Why not dig in?
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The animals do not stand a chance. Against grenades, or Crest Graphs, or anything. Marivel's able to capture a deer with the help of a sleep spell, and looking from the outside in... nothing wrong or weird about them, they look exactly like ones she may have seen before everything went 'everyone drop everything, dig up exotic weapons from the ground, and apply liberally to each other.'
Okay, the weird thing is that it's gotten fat. They are eating as well as anyone else! Nimue does bring up a point: the whole place seems odd. So many parts of Filgaia have gone without for so long that the idea that anyone being open to sharing what appears to be an utter miracle with everyone else... this place should suck.
Maybe it does? To the Seraphim, there is something very weird without definition or precedent, that might only be perceivable to elemental spirits like themselves. But nothing obviously 'bad,' yet. Except for some of the fruit that's about to spoil. That's about to be bad.
"Heyyyy," says a farmer who has only one arm, "y'all want some fruit? Help yourselves! We got... I know there used to be a word for a crop that's larger 'n usual? Whatever that is! It's that. On top of that!"
Fruit! Including some that are considered a delicacy now because it's nigh-on impossible to grow some of it anywhere else! Free fruit! Who wants more fruit? How much more can you eat? How much more should one eat?
...Aside from some of them on the verge of spoiling, there is zero (0) things wrong with the fruit by any measure. It's just a lot of fruit, and an invitation to help oneself to as many as they can eat, carry, or throw at one another!
(wait... no never mind, that sounds rad too)
<Characters> Ratatoskr says, "I think he's more terrified he's about to go off the script of his entire existence and hopes he's not in trouble for failing to blow up on the proper cue"
<Characters> Ratatoskr says, "mis"
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor can't imagine what this Homer must be like. Other than 'big, and nice' apparently. She wants to know his secrets, too. And while she is used to better chefs.. the sheer freshness goes a long way.
"It is," Eleanor agrees with Marivel. But with Marivel reluctant to actually kill the animals, Eleanor holds back, and only takes a couple if needed; she's willing to go with plan 'sleep them' if desired. ...She does discourage grenades. Because that doesn't leave very much meat.
It feels wrong... Eleanor considers. "So far to me it feels less 'wrong' as 'weirdly placed'. I could see this place on Lunar, almost."
But it is odd--it's healthy/ animals, too. But the fruit--"Oh, are you sure?" Eleanor answers. "...A surplus?" she wonders. And she will... take some fruit!
She doesn't throw any. She takes some for herself, and some for later, and makes use of her Power Bracelet to--
...Okay she doesn't really need power bracelet for a snack. But she has it.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Power Bracelet toward her party's challenge, A Good Problem to Have.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
Clarine nods as Marivel replies and pats her on the shoulder.
"...Very well. I will keep a look out." She replies. She looks toward Nimue, too, as she echoes her sentiments. She feels a little relieved, at that - if Nimue feels the same way, if it's not just her, there must be something to it. "Yes..."
But the hunt goes off without a hitch, and there's a surprise afterward - they have a surplus of fruit, so they're giving some away!
Clarine studies it carefully, then looks back to the others.
"...Perhaps we should take some back to study...? It may give us an idea of what is happening here..." Clarine considers. If they agree, she'll sneak some into her sleeves for safekeeping.
DG: Seraph Clarine has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Good Problem to Have.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.
"... No, definitely wrong," Nimue replies, to Eleanor. "This would definitely still be weird on Lunar. Not as weird? But trust me, like, you don't get to be a thousand-mumble without being able to notice when the vibes are nasty." That's all she has to say on the matter for now, though. This environment doesn't provide great ways for her to track that feeling beyond 'it's kinda bad.'
Nimue considers whether to even eat at all. In the end, she decides it's better not to, this time... but she does take Eleanor's cue to take some home. She begins shoveling things into her bag.
"Hmmm..." Experimentally, though, she does try a *little*; specifically, she bites an apple, sucks out a bunch of the juice (very easy -- wind powers!) and then pours a bunch of lemonade into it. Then she tries eating that.
This experiment probably does absolutely nothing. She is simply rubbing objects on objects like she's in an adventure game.
DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Drinks toward her party's challenge, A Good Problem to Have.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Sometimes good things DO just happen, Marivel thinks, sometimes a place is just fortunate. But at this point, Marivel is tired of feeling uneasy and is just going with it. She's going to EXPORT her worries to Nimue and Clarine and THEY can ring the alarm bell if something goes from 'weird' to 'AHHHHHHHH'. They seem best suited to it.
"Just let us know if we should start skedaddling or setting fire to things." Marivel says airily. "Putting on too much a feeling of unease may upset our hosts and so far they've been nothing but spoooOOooOOookily kind."
She wiggles her fingers ominously.
She nods to Clarine. "I'm a little more willing to kidnap fruits and vegetables than animals. Seem plentiful enough."
She collects an APPLE and puts it into Hob's mouth.
"Quarantine mode, Hob."
The mouth seals shut with a FWOOMP.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Good Problem to Have.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
====================<* CHALLENGE - A Good Problem to Have *>====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
As it so happens, some of the village's fruit harvest is about to spoil.
They simply do not have enough mouths to feed, and consider it a waste to
just throw it all away! All the items here are ready-to-eat, like apples and
pears.
Why not grab a snack? Or two, or three. They're some of the best you will
ever have sunk your teeth into. You're on Filgaia, a land of not so plenty.
Why not dig in?
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
=======<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky - Round 4 *>========
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>============= ======================< Results - A Good Problem to Have >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 15 --(5)--> 20 Pass Power Bracelet 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Nimue 15 --(5)--> 20 Pass Stolen Drinks 1 Brute Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 31 --(13)--> 44 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 31 --(13)--> 44 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Eleanor Klein 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Tire(2) Effects: Cleanse|Strengthen(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Eleanor Klein has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
======================<* CHALLENGE - Everything Is Fine *>======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"So you're the travelers I'm hearin' so much about!" The voice belongs to
large, aging (60's?) beastfolk of a vaguely pig-like form who still looks
strong enough to knock just about anyone flat. Not that there appears to be
any mean bone in his body, as he approaches your group. "Thanks for stoppin'
on by Alcidamas. I'm the mayor, Homer Mecone! You can just call me Homer. I
sure have been sayin' this a lot lately to people like yourselves! Gah ha ha
hah!"
After a brief chat, he makes a peculiar offer. "I bet you're wonderin' how
we've been doin' so well, and... hey, I figure the cat's outta the bag. I
warn you... you ain't never have seen anything like what you're about to."
That sounds ominous, but he waves it off. "Ahh, don't worry bout nothin'."
Homer takes you to see a large shrub-tree... thing, atop a hill. It seems
colored a hue that just bleeds outside of the visual color spectrum. It
seems to be on fire in an equally improbable color, surrounded by leaves and
fruits making fractal patterns that come shy of breaking three-dimensional
comprehension. Though utterly alien, there is nothing untoward about its
surroundings. Around it, the air is at its freshest. The ground at its most
fertile. It also happens to have a horizontal, glassy 'window' with a
smiling face that seems to lean forward to look at you in a way that doesn't
involve any part of it moving.
"Meet Demetrioi!" Homer introduces them. "Friendliest li'l... uh, maybe not
so li'l? Friendliest... Demetrioi you'll ever meet!" Homer seems to struggle
to describe it, but doesn't linger there. "Brought it with me here from
further out, some time back." He doesn't say where, and abruptly changes the
subject. "B-But as you can see... Demetrioi here gave em clean water, fresh
air... brought the soil back to health... and all it seems to want in turn
is to have friends." What a bargain, his grin says! "Go on! Say hello!"
:o hello and salutations i am demetrioi :) today is a wonderful day :D
Its voice is difficult to describe, but it is outwardly friendly and in good
cheer. Aside from its unsettling appearance, there is nothing untoward about
its actions or manner.
Go on, make a really freakin' weird friend today. (Unless you'd rather
disengage, politely or otherwise.)
BGM: Star Ocean Faithlessness and Integrity - Like a Lost Child
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
More produce! More produce to procure! Nimue experimentally bites into the fruit, and she will find... it's tasty. It's good. Whatever feels wrong about the place, there's nothing wrong with the fruit. She may be confronted with a difficult and radical idea: things may actually be... better than it looks and feels?
Something still feels off. It's not a bad call to collect as many as one desires, as the farmer here is all but giving it all away. Why not? Run tests, have a distressingly large percentage of all of Filgaia's edible food in one's hands (it's not that bad, maybe), maybe even walk off with the entire damn cart if Eleanor feels like flexing her Power Bracelet. (They might let her do it.)
Everyone really has been 'spoooOOooOOookily kind.' If Hob has onboard instruments for detecting chemical agents of ill nature, well, there's none. It's just a good apple, and also a healthy worm. (...the worm is a normal worm, a kind that was once also eaten on purpose as something of a custom in this part of Celesti.)
Then, they hear a voice. "So you're the travelers I'm hearin' so much about!" To a large, aged (60's, maybe?) beastfolk of a pig-like form, hale and hearty. "Thanks for stoppin' on by Alcidamas. I'm the mayor, Homer Mecone! You can just call me Homer. I sure have been sayin' this a lot lately to people like yourselves! Ga ha ha hah!" He stops, rubbing the side of his head. "Ahhh, no, first time in a li'l while. But I sure will be sayin' that a lot!"
So, a brief chat, and the obvious - he even volunteers to show why they've been doing so well, with the warning you haven't ever seen anything like this. To not worry about 'nothin'.'
The closer they get to it, the closer the Seraphim can feel 'it.' To the corporeal, to see and behold it...
If the description just stopped at a large shrub-tree thing atop a hill, that is technically correct. It misses out on how the colors seem to go just beyond the visual spectrum, that there's a flame of an equally improbable color, and leaves and fruits making fractal patterns that three dimensions seem inadequate to capture.
It looks so wrong. (To the corporeal. To the nature spirits here: WHAT THE ________________________, fill the blank inappropriately.)
Yet, the land, water, and sky, is at its purest and cleanest without apparent compromise to the surrounding environs. The wastelands didn't seem any worse off than usual coming here, but it's also hard to imagine it being any worse.
"Meet Demetrioi!" Homer introduces them. Friendliest... Demetrioi they'll ever meet. "Brought it with me here from further out, some time back-- b-but as you can see... Demetrioi here gave 'em clean water, fresh air... brought the soil back to health... and all it seems to want in turn is to have friends." Homer grins. "Go on! Say hello!"
There is a glassy 'window' with a smiling face that leans forwards, with a placid smile. It looks at all of them. Even the nature spirits. It sees them.
o hello and salutations to all six of you i am demetrioi :) today is a wonderful day :D
Six? Oh, it must be counting Marivel's little helpers. Its voice is difficult to describe, but there is nothing about its manner that suggests hostility. Nothing untoward about what it's doing (beyond existing). There doesn't appear to be any crazy mind-altering rays happening.
...
What will you say in greeting?
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"I see," Eleanor answers. She didn't become a wizard by ignoring evidence in front of her; if both Seraphim and Marivel are nervous about this place, there must be something to note. But with Marivel taking it easy, Eleanor has an easier time engaging with the people as just being very nice. "I'll do that," she answers Clarine, and takes some extras, too. They can study all of them and, if nothing's wrong, perhaps make a pie or two!
Mmm, pie. She doesn't take off with the whole cart, but only because she's too polite for that.
And soon... they get to meet the mayor! Eleanor is very friendly and nice to him, happy to accept his welcome. "It's lovely to meet you then, Homer. My name is Eleanor. This is a beautiful village you have here!"
And soon.... soon even Eleanor gets in on things going weird, because this thing looks strange. She can practically feel how pure the environment is here. And they meet...
"Well hello there, Demetrioi," Eleanor greets pleasantly, putting on a brave face. She glances around to the others, and then says, "...You have a beautiful home! You seem to be doing quite well for everyone."
"...But I think my friends might have some curiousity about how!"
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Everything Is Fine.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Clarine has posed.
The fruit seems... fine? It's strange. Clarine still can't place that feeling. And then, as they're considering that, they're approached by a man - the aforementioned Homer. Clarine studies him curiously.
...She finds it odd, too, that he then volunteers to load them to the source of their good fortune. But the closer they get... the more that feeling of wrongness intensifies as they approach...
...something. Clarine can hardly really put words to what that 'something' is beyond... Demetrioi. Who apparently has a glassy window with a smiling face.
Things have indeed, in Clarine's mind, gone from 'weird' to 'AHHHHHHHH', to use Marivel's wordings. She has half a mind to bolt, but... Demetrioi can see her, see all of them - acknowledges even Hob and Nob.
It makes things worse! But it does make her want to know even more... 'what in the world is going on here??'
"...Y-yes." Clarine agrees as Eleanor says they have some curiosity. "I have... not seen anything quite like... you, before."
Is it a machine like Kamui and the others, or something else entirely? Clarine can't tell. If it was the former, she would at least have something to go off of. Idly she keeps her crystal sphere at the back of her mind, ready to draw it out for a quick flash if things go awry.
DG: Seraph Clarine has used her Tool Brilliant Sphere toward her party's challenge, Everything Is Fine.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel listens to Homer. Homer Mecone?! She doesn't recognize the name. Instead she asks, "Are you from around here, Homer?" As she's trying to narrow down the situation in her mind. She considers the mayor for a moment. Certainly looks like... it could very well be anyone from Filgaia. She doesn't sense any deception--
"You will be?" Marivel asks.
But he's willing to show her the SECRET of the town so willingly that she sets that aside for a bit.
She slides her goggles down over her eyes upon seeing Demetrioi. She adjusts the 'rings' around a bit. Silently, she writes down what she sees in her notebook and unleashes a very faint growl.
"Like the Sorcery Globe. Beyond Filgaian Science." Marivel says, pushing the goggles back up. "Something like nanotech but not neccessarily the same as the Filgaian variant." She crosses her arms thoughtfully. "Doesn't seem to be doing harm but I'll have to have an ARMS investigation squad drop by every once in a while to make sure everything's still okay. Do some soil testing to make sure there's no longterm parasites or nano-residue..."
She looks to Clarine--and then to Eleanor. Oh. They're just chatting.
She doesn't have the temerity to even look ashamed. "Hey demetrioi. Today is pretty wonderful. Where are you from?"
You aren't carrying anything.
You have 52141 Pennies.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Nimue has posed.
This is the least Nimue has liked anything in a very long time. She follows along behind Eleanor, and her hand remains very much ready to withdraw and place grenades in all locations at all times. This is amping up her paranoia in the worst imaginable way, but that actually makes her want to stick close rather than cut and run. At this point, she's starting to feel like she's made some genuinely irreplaceable bonds!
What a horrid feeling.
As she follows along, Nimue turns her attention forward rather than glancing side to side, and is greeted with...
"... Ew. Ewwww. Don't try to be friends with me this fast. You're making it weird. Ew." This at least finally puts a face -- for a given value of such -- to the anxiety she's had since she got here. Something is imposing some kind of structure on this place. "So, like -- what's the catch here?" she asks, fishing out her sling-staff. She doesn't really do anything with it except fidget, but she fidgets *a lot*.
She fishes out some of her own food and experimentally puts it on the ground. Just a little. Just to see. The thing is new and she feels bad, so she has to know how it reacts to things, to determine whether this is an extra badness layer or mere deep unfamiliarity.
DG: Seraph Nimue has used her Tool Stolen Food toward her party's challenge, Everything Is Fine. DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. Armitage toward her party's challenge, Everything Is Fine.
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
======================<* CHALLENGE - Everything Is Fine *>======================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"So you're the travelers I'm hearin' so much about!" The voice belongs to
large, aging (60's?) beastfolk of a vaguely pig-like form who still looks
strong enough to knock just about anyone flat. Not that there appears to be
any mean bone in his body, as he approaches your group. "Thanks for stoppin'
on by Alcidamas. I'm the mayor, Homer Mecone! You can just call me Homer. I
sure have been sayin' this a lot lately to people like yourselves! Gah ha ha
hah!"
After a brief chat, he makes a peculiar offer. "I bet you're wonderin' how
we've been doin' so well, and... hey, I figure the cat's outta the bag. I
warn you... you ain't never have seen anything like what you're about to."
That sounds ominous, but he waves it off. "Ahh, don't worry bout nothin'."
Homer takes you to see a large shrub-tree... thing, atop a hill. It seems
colored a hue that just bleeds outside of the visual color spectrum. It
seems to be on fire in an equally improbable color, surrounded by leaves and
fruits making fractal patterns that come shy of breaking three-dimensional
comprehension. Though utterly alien, there is nothing untoward about its
surroundings. Around it, the air is at its freshest. The ground at its most
fertile. It also happens to have a horizontal, glassy 'window' with a
smiling face that seems to lean forward to look at you in a way that doesn't
involve any part of it moving.
"Meet Demetrioi!" Homer introduces them. "Friendliest li'l... uh, maybe not
so li'l? Friendliest... Demetrioi you'll ever meet!" Homer seems to struggle
to describe it, but doesn't linger there. "Brought it with me here from
further out, some time back." He doesn't say where, and abruptly changes the
subject. "B-But as you can see... Demetrioi here gave em clean water, fresh
air... brought the soil back to health... and all it seems to want in turn
is to have friends." What a bargain, his grin says! "Go on! Say hello!"
:o hello and salutations i am demetrioi :) today is a wonderful day :D
Its voice is difficult to describe, but it is outwardly friendly and in good
cheer. Aside from its unsettling appearance, there is nothing untoward about
its actions or manner.
Go on, make a really freakin' weird friend today. (Unless you'd rather
disengage, politely or otherwise.)
BGM: Star Ocean Faithlessness and Integrity - Like a Lost Child
=Dungeon Conditions: Madness==================================================
=======<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky - Round 5 *>========
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>============= ========================< Results - Everything Is Fine >======================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 20 --(5)--> 25 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Nimue 20 --(5)--> 25 Pass Stolen Food 3 Wits Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 44 --(5)--> 49 Pass Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seraph Clarine 44 --(5)--> 49 Pass Brilliant Sphere 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Eleanor Klein 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Madness Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Eleanor Klein has successfully explored Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky!
============<* Alcidamas Village - Oasis of Land, Water, and Sky *>=============
===========<* CHALLENGE - Best Friends Forever For a Day (4 of 4) *>============
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Everyone gives their greetings, however earnest or otherwise, and
Demetrioi's face smiles a little wider. (Is that a good thing? It doesn't
seem like a bad thing, but...)
:) nice to meet you :D be happy and healthy and harmonious world okay :)
Somehow, even if you were hostile or even attempted to strike it, Demetrioi
comes off as pleased. (Homer might be a little less accepting but doesn't
bring the mood down.)
Homer takes you all aside, away from Demetrioi. "I'm real happy that
Demetrioi there's only ever known people happy 'bout what they do." There's
a sad little laugh there. "Ain't that many people who get to live that kinda
life, eh? Far as I know, they're gonna be here for a long, long time. Longer
'n any of us... can't even think what it's gotta be like."
The pig-like beastfolk sits down, his advancing age catching up to him. "I
think they know that. The few times they talk 'bout it, they think in the
long term... real long numbers, longer 'n any of us have." He exhales
peaceably. "Long as life's as good as it has been the last two years...
we're in good hands." Beat. "Branches! Gah hah hah!"
It's about time for supper. You see other villagers come by and give
Demetrioi love and attention, which it equally appreciates. Nothing seems
off about the villagers or their behavior otherwise, and supper is tasty.
Everyone parts on amicable terms. Hey, maybe everything's fine after all,
even if you might not be sure what to make of... you-know-who.
Homer has to excuse himself from further discussion to continue with mayor
business, and sees your friends off.
As everyone takes their leave, your path isn't far from the hill Demetrioi
roosts. Their monitor-face turns your way, at which point they have
choice(?) parting words.
:) as long as everyone and everything is happy i am happy :D good day
everyone no no no best day everyone :)
BGM: Star Ocean Faithlessness and Integrity - Spending Time With You
=Dungeon Conditions: Secret===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Before it all begins, Homer shakes his head at the question about being from around here. "Nope, further out from Zoara!" Nonetheless, the subject moves quickly. Henceforth, the idiom is no longer 'elephant in the room.' It is 'barely observable plant-like phenomena on the hill.' No, that will never catch on, but... Homer seems to have anticipated the prospective nervousness, but he is counting on his hand. One, two... three and four. He doesn't count up to six.
) thank you i am glad you are happy with it :D everyone else i've met is happy too :)
That's their response to Eleanor. Its face tilts within the screen about the curiosity to Clarine but does not say anything. Demetrioi stares.
o i haven't seen anyone like me either :) it is all right i would enjoy their company too just like yours :)
Whether Clarine would agree is up to her. As Nimue comes forth and leaves an offering, the... thing rustles, its branches and leaves moving in ways alien and really hard on the mind if they try to apply logical sense of how these parts bend and move, picking them up and holding it in its hand.
o this looks good why thank you :) i will make sure to share this too :D
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Before Homer can ask if he saw what he did, Marivel does not shy from the difficult questions and assertions, like he might know a little something about at least a few of those words. "Ain't had any problems, nobody's gotten sick... don't mind sharin' soil," there's some nervous laughter there.
And then Marivel addresses Demetrioi with an all-important question.
) i am from here and i have never been anywhere else :o i am sure it is very nice elsewhere too :)
Some things can probably be inferred by this response, if taken as from the perspective of a conscious being with all the limitations of a concrete period of existence.
:D it is truly nice to meet you all :D be a happy and healthy healthy and harmonious world okay :)
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Demetrioi continues to enjoy Nimue's offering in a vague fashion. Homer explains he's real happy that Demetrioi's only ever known people who have been happy about what they can do - how not many get to live that sort of life. How they could be here for a very, very long time... and seems aware of it.
But he's optimistic about it. Everyone here appears that way, and it's about time for supper. More meals! Filgaia tends to starve so you can't blame people for finding novelty in being able to eat a whole lot! Other villagers come by and give Demetrioi love and attention and it's... really strange to see something so weird just taken as normal.
It's about time to go, but the best path out is within seeing distance of Demetrioi, whose monitor-face turns their way.
) as long as everyone and everything is happy i am happy :D good day everyone no no no best day everyone :)
No immediate samples Marivel takes and goes over turns up anything alarming, but something like this... things could take a turn in some direction once more know about this place.
Whether that's a good direction like it has for the once hopeless and destitute people ekeing out the barest possible continued existence... who knows.