[IC] Chapter 2-4: You Hear Them Whispering in the Crowns of the Trees

[DM Surranó]

Toot identifies the woodland being as an "ordinary" satyr. The rest of the "casualties" are ordinary animals.

"That's settled then?" Portho asks, looking at Shanna, as if she were the one speaking up the least lately.

[Shanna Rendin]

Shanna winces at the gruesome scene...then has a thought.  She taps her chin a few times then slowly turns to Toot as she murmurs "Satyr...Satyr...Are satyr not fey, good Druid?"  She gives him a knowing grin as she nods marginally to Portho.

"Settled, yes.  What else have we to do here other than be next in line?"  Nevermind she'd been basically saying that for the past half hour...or however long it had been since she'd identified the serial-animal-and-fey ravager.  "Shall we all adjourn to the perennial?"


((Apologies for not being around.  Been struggling with a shoulder issue that's kept we in bed and on pain-killers for awhile.  I'm not scheduled to see my doc till the 14th  ...but I'll manage.))

[DM Surranó]

As the team rearranges marching order and descends on the steep path they can't help feeling like they are being watched.
Once beneath the trees once again, Cranberry pops into view out of thin air. She flutters around on iridescent wings (like those of a dragonfly). Her cloak is tied into a neat bunch on her back.
"Meet me at Crystal Meadow," she calls, then zooms out of sight, zigzagging nimbly around the trees.

Private to Toot

This new aspect of the elderly fey woman helps Toot recall what this creature is. She's a pixie.

The path is not so hard to recall and, unless the party decides purposefully on avoiding Crystal Meadow, they eventually arrive there safely.

Those that enter the meadow first in line can see Cranberry standing next to the ancient oak, flapping a few more with her wings before closing them, then pulls a cord just beneath the collar of the cloak and it unfurls on her back once again. She produces her gnarled walking stick and waits expectantly for the party to get closer and gather around her.

[Toot]

Toot arrives somewhere in the middle of the pack.  He felt being in the lead or in the back made him feel too vulnerable, which was something better suited to one of the others.  Preferably the gnome but any of the others would do.  

If no one else volunteers, Toot will explain everything they found out.

[DM Surranó]

OOC - propelling things forward a bit but feel free to add some bits marked [GROVE] (on the way back) or [MEADOW] (before the party enters the next scene which is the middle of this post.

As the party starts to explain their findings, Cranberry nods and raises a hand to interrupt.
"I'm not the one you tell. Let me lead you to our leader."
She walks up right next to the tree and caresses the century-old bark. Barely visible, the outline of a door appears.
Turning to the party, she notes:
"Know that Mistletoe lives a withdrawn life, elusive even, and this is one extreme occasion that she lets you into her presence. Bring forth your most respectful form when meeting her. And be careful. Beyond this door is her realm. One bad move and you may be trapped inside to eternity."

With that, she makes a move as if sliding the door open, and while the door doesn't seem to move, she steps through what looks like solid bark and disappears.

Those that follow experience no resistance when stepping through the bark and arrive in a weakly illuminated space much less confined than the external dimensions of the tree would suggest; the place is like an irregular earthen cave, intertwined with roots and vines, but fairly easy to navigate. The light is emitted by fluorescent mushrooms and various species of fireflies and glowworms all around. The scent of fertile, wet soil floats in the air.

Private to Shanna and Merri

The girls have no hard time guessing that this is a pocket dimension. If there's way back, it may be anywhere, not necessarily on the spot the team entered.

Behind the roots and vines stands Cranberry, and next to her another creature, looking like a half-elf at a first glance. Her blond hair is decorated with twigs and leaves, her limbs and part of her torso are covered by bark, and her bark gauntlets have even sprouted some twigs. In the cold, flickering green light it looks as if her skin were tattooed to resemble the pattern of a tree trunk. The only piece of clothing she wears is a rough cloak, or maybe a kind of sheet or blanket, wrapped loosely around her body. She stands there, obviously nervous about the situation.

   

Private to Toot

For Toot, it is obvious that the creature is a dryad.

Private to Lugar and Merri

Those with the keenest eyes notice that it's no armor, no gauntlets, and no tattoes that look like an oak. They are all part of the creature, just like the twigs and leaves within her hair.

"Come--" she starts to speak, but her voice is cracked as if she hasn't used it for days, if not years. Clearing her throat, she starts again, but her voice is barely more than raspy whisper. All must remain silent to understand the words that come heavily on her lips. "Come closer and sit. Tell me about yourselves and what you've found on Upper Myridon Plateau."

OOC - leaving some breathing space here for everyone to react. If you are fine and has nothing to say, just note here or in OOC thread. I'll continue in two days even if someone doesn't post.

[Silent Giant]

"Come--" she starts to speak, but her voice is cracked as if she hasn't used it for days, if not years. Clearing her throat, she starts again, but her voice is barely more than raspy whisper. All must remain silent to understand the words that come heavily on her lips. "Come closer and sit. Tell me about yourselves and what you've found on Upper Myridon Plateau."

We have found victims and this. - SG shows the satyr's belt

[Shanna Rendin]

OOC - propelling things forward a bit but feel free to add some bits marked [GROVE] (on the way back) or [MEADOW] (before the party enters the next scene which is the middle of this post.

As the party starts to explain their findings, Cranberry nods and raises a hand to interrupt.
"I'm not the one you tell. Let me lead you to our leader."
She walks up right next to the tree and caresses the century-old bark. Barely visible, the outline of a door appears.
Turning to the party, she notes:
"Know that Mistletoe lives a withdrawn life, elusive even, and this is one extreme occasion that she lets you into her presence. Bring forth your most respectful form when meeting her. And be careful. Beyond this door is her realm. One bad move and you may be trapped inside to eternity."

With that, she makes a move as if sliding the door open, and while the door doesn't seem to move, she steps through what looks like solid bark and disappears.

Those that follow experience no resistance when stepping through the bark and arrive in a weakly illuminated space much less confined than the external dimensions of the tree would suggest; the place is like an irregular earthen cave, intertwined with roots and vines, but fairly easy to navigate. The light is emitted by fluorescent mushrooms and various species of fireflies and glowworms all around. The scent of fertile, wet soil floats in the air.

Private to Shanna and Merri

The girls have no hard time guessing that this is a pocket dimension. If there's way back, it may be anywhere, not necessarily on the spot the team entered.

Behind the roots and vines stands Cranberry, and next to her another creature, looking like a half-elf at a first glance. Her blond hair is decorated with twigs and leaves, her limbs and part of her torso are covered by bark, and her bark gauntlets have even sprouted some twigs. In the cold, flickering green light it looks as if her skin were tattooed to resemble the pattern of a tree trunk. The only piece of clothing she wears is a rough cloak, or maybe a kind of sheet or blanket, wrapped loosely around her body. She stands there, obviously nervous about the situation.


"Come--" she starts to speak, but her voice is cracked as if she hasn't used it for days, if not years. Clearing her throat, she starts again, but her voice is barely more than raspy whisper. All must remain silent to understand the words that come heavily on her lips. "Come closer and sit. Tell me about yourselves and what you've found on Upper Myridon Plateau."

OOC - leaving some breathing space here for everyone to react. If you are fine and has nothing to say, just note here or in OOC thread. I'll continue in two days even if someone doesn't post.

Shanna Always presents her best self to others.  Whether it's a face or that she truly is that amazing is anybody's guess.  As Cranberry leads them through the passage in the bark, Shanna raises a curious brow for a moment, then the scent hits her.  Everything is different here.  So much so that all Shanna has to do is turn her head to glance over at Merri and, seeing the same look in her eyes, knows immediately that this is fact.  They are all somewhere else.  Shanna could spend years, decades, researching this place, devouring the knowledge with the same rapacious voracity (Yes, I know that's somewhat redundant ) he does any other such morsel.  She shares a knowing glance with her fellow arcanist and resumes listening to what is being said...or not said.  She observes the strange tattooed creature and instinctively knows that she is the owner of this realm, as addressed by Cranberry.  Insulting her would not be smart regardless of whether she could even be beaten by the group.  Such thoughts and actions were irrelevant.

In any case, Shanna prepares to converse with a transplanar creature as she knows she always should: with great caution.

"Come--" she starts to speak, but her voice is cracked as if she hasn't used it for days, if not years. Clearing her throat, she starts again, but her voice is barely more than raspy whisper. All must remain silent to understand the words that come heavily on her lips. "Come closer and sit. Tell me about yourselves and what you've found on Upper Myridon Plateau."

We have found victims and this. - SG shows the satyr's belt

Shanna glances at the 'Giant' as he presents evidence and raises a finger in addition to his comment.  "We have also deduced the cause of all the damage and devastation.  It would appear that a dragon, a Green to be precise, stalks this land."

[Silent Giant]

"Come--" she starts to speak, but her voice is cracked as if she hasn't used it for days, if not years. Clearing her throat, she starts again, but her voice is barely more than raspy whisper. All must remain silent to understand the words that come heavily on her lips. "Come closer and sit. Tell me about yourselves and what you've found on Upper Myridon Plateau."

We have found victims and this. - SG shows the satyr's belt

Shanna glances at the 'Giant' as he presents evidence and raises a finger in addition to his comment.  "We have also deduced the cause of all the damage and devastation.  It would appear that a dragon, a Green to be precise, stalks this land."

Yeah, a dragon - he nods and heave a sigh - But I am sure you know better your neighbour than us. - he crosses his hands

[DM Surranó]

Mistletoe allows herself a half-hearted, nervous nod on Shanna's information and on Giant's wits but refrains from replying, awaiting for the others to provide their attention as well.
(OOC - will wait 20 more hours for the others to add their tidbits; it's not a novel per se)

[Merrinna Starsong]

Merri doesn't have any information to add. Green dragon pretty much sums it up.