Ch.1: "By the Fire" / Village of Ogygia

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles and squeezes Hess' hand, then looks at Kell. "We might not need a spell to make us deaf, if we can just find a way to plug our ears and still fight."

She turns and lets go of Hess's hand to try scaling the tree.

Her hands must be too slick with sweat to let her climb, but the vines coil around her and lift her up anyway. Leto blinks as she sees the woman sitting on a branch, and waves in greeting. "Hello."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell starts climbing the tree, but her new chiton swings free, revealing more leg than Kell is comfortable showing, so she has to hang by one arm while she covers herself back up. Aphrodite was right about one thing - climbing trees in chitons is for lunatics!

Kelleia:2D6-1 → 5(3 +3 - 1)#Acrobatics check to climb tree

Eventually, though, she makes it down to where Leto and Wu Chen are.

"Greetings," she tells the woman. "I am Kell Silvertide, and this is Leto. We are planning to hunt the breel, and since we just saw you on the Hearthvision and know you to be Wu Chen, we were told we should talk to you about our plans. How are you today?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Wu Chen opens one eye. Her eye shifts left, then right. She stands, balancing effortlessly on the branch, and opens her left hand, fingers tight. She presses her right fist to her left palm. She bows.

Smiling pleasantly, she says, "You are Kell." Her voice is soft and gentle. "You are Leto."

Though one of the burned ones, she seems to have recovered quite well. Even in the eyes of a nymph, the woman has perfect skin, texture-wise. The damage from the fire is a discoloration. The pattern is similar to the camouflage that some hunters wear, but in shades of beige. Part of the smoothness of her skin is due to the lack of hair. Though nuns are known for shaving their heads, they tend not to shave arm hairs. Wu Chen doesn't even have eyebrows. Apparently, all her hair was burned off and can never grow back. There are nine white dots burned onto her head as well, but these appear to be self-inflicted.

"You go through all this trouble climbing through tree just to meet me? Oracle bring you here? Huh…"

She extends her arm upward—then she's gone! Leaves and petals are falling where she once stood.

A second later, the nun lowers herself in front of Kell and Leto. The nun's right arm is raised above her, and her left leg is raised almost vertically above her head while her right leg points straight down. Each foot is pressed against a different branch, both of which are almost six feet apart from each other. Her loose pants apparently are meant to accommodate such flexibility.

She may have been suspended by a wire, but our heroines can't see it. They do see a gleam shoot downward into her sleeve—a subtle flash, like light reflected from a coin. The nun then relaxes her arms and seems to be sizing up the huntress and the nymph.

"In temple, I read about Artemis and her friend Callisto. You two are splitting image, and you want to hunt breel?" She laughs. "You are brave like goddess, too! Maybe too brave, but Oracle would not give away my position for no reason. Tell me Kell and Leto, why you are interested in this fight? You have good reason, I think I will be interested too. Please. Speak. I am all ears."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto watches the nun in fascination, and jerks in surprise when she vanishes. Leto's astonishment only increases when Wu Chen reappears, in a position that seems somehow awkward and graceful at the same time.

She listens and tilts her head at the talk of goddesses, and took a deep breath before she spoke. "Thanks to the Oracle, we've seen what the breel can do. I don't want to let it kill anyone else if I can possibly help stop it."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell tells Wu Chen, "Well, we have a couple of reasons actually. The first is a friend of ours was due to be killed by Judge Xarris - we rescued her, and we killed the Judge. Unlike with the rest of the Orange Phoenixes, though, we weren't burned in doing so. For what we did, however, there is a price on our heads, and Buck L'Orange rescued us just like he did all the Phoenixes. We aren't officially Phoenixes, by the way, though we do carry the purses." And Kell taps hers in illustration of that point.

"Anyway, our friend left us out of fear that the judge's son, who she beat pretty badly, will recognize her, now that he's out of his coma. She went with several of the hunters who work with the Phoenixes to hunt the breel. At the same time we saw you on the Hearthvision, we saw the breel eat one of them, Wallace the Wall. Since Wallace was a friend of the Phoenixes and the Phoenixes helped us, we want to deal with the breel."

"The fairies told us to tell you that when the breel screams or screeches, nobody can move. Not only did the hunters freeze when that happened, but those of us watching the hunt via the Hearthvision froze as well. My chiton will zap anyone who tries to touch me or worse without my say, and Leto here has a shock trap, but we need a way to deal with the screeching of the breel. Can you by chance suggest anything to help with that?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Wu Chen seems satisfied with these answers, though saddened by the news of Wallace's death.

"He had hard time adjusting to his burns. He never did heal right, and wore full suit of armor to hide himself. Karl and Goros are not Phœnixes, but Buck welcomed their assistance with Iron Wall. He was doing well, but… everyone here in village heard loud roar ring out. I was hoping just eat stag or tiger or other animal. Not person. Not someone I knew.

"You are Hades' Angels, then? Factor of five reward is fake. Price on your head is nothing, so I am not least bit surprised descriptions look nothing like you. But if your friend really is six-foot-nine, that is ounce of truth to make lie believable. It is true, young Andel Xarris mention female attacker over six and half feet tall. Maybe your friend make correct decision. I am not correct person to question this.

"But I am glad you have come to me. I will help. Unfortunately, I cannot make all of us deaf. Specifically, I cannot make myself deaf. And I need to change outfits to do this." Her multicolored cheeks flush to a near-uniform pink as she faces Kell. "As nymph, you will most certainly question my taste in fashion. You may wish this outfit can blind instead of deafen, but if I wear this, I believe three of us can defeat breel."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell nods. "Yes, we're the 'Hades' Angels'. And there is a time for being fashionable and a time for being practical. While I enjoy being fashionable when I can, I think dealing with the breel is a time for being practical. So long as I don't have to wear your outfit, I think we'll be fine." And she smiles at Wu Chen.

"But what about you? Is there a way we can protect your hearing?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Cotton balls?" Wu Chen asks. "I think best plan is to protect me: after breel roars and you two are unaffected, Leto, you have shock trap? That is your chance to use it.

"Oh, and Kell, it sounds like your dress only works if you are planning to fight up close. Breel blood is acidic, so I have good news for you! You have blunt weapon, and I will use punches, kicks and headbutts up close, so we will not get breel blood on us. When I use my bladed wires, I will shoot the eyes. Same for you Leto. Breel is fifty feet long, so we shoot where Kell is not."

She points to the Temple of Demeter. "I am dwelling in temple during my stay. I will go there now to change my clothing so I can make this deafness idea work. I really think the breel will die today. I must admit I find this exciting! Shall we meet at the temple, or at Buck's?"

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says, "I can't speak for Leto, but I am pretty much ready to go. If there is a waiting area at the temple, I can put on my plant armor while you change."

Then she adds, "I'm kind of excited, too. Everyone seems to expect us nymphs to be just another pretty face, but I've always been curious to know what more we're capable of. This is my chance to see..."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"When you enter temple, just tell whoever answers you are awaiting Wu Chen and need room to change clothing. You are nymph. I guarantee you will have privacy, no questions asked. I am staying in upper floor, so you are welcome to come to my room, if you wish. My room is here."

Wu Chen points to a window in temple. For a split second, something reflects the afternoon sunlight between the nun's hand and the window she is pointing to about fifty or so yards away. She flies toward her window at a speed even a fairy can't match, then swings herself inside.


((@tbgg, roll for armor anytime.))

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto blinks as Wu Chen zips off toward the temple, then smiles at Kell. "I'm ready to go. I'll follow your lead."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

As our heroines walk the streets, villagers are commenting on all sorts of things…

The tree…

"A sign from Demeter!"

"A sign of WHAT?"

The fighting nun…

"Was that Arachne?"

"Nah, it's that nun who's always doing whatever a spider can."

Kell…

"Afternoon, milady."

"Oh. Ma'am? Uh. Can I help you with, uh… like, anything?"

Xarris…

"Murdering whores!"

"Meh. He had it coming."

And that mysterious roar…

"Got me wee ones hold up in the cellar."

"Why are we still outside?"

It's clear that our heroines are free to walk the streets. Nobody suspects them. When they enter the temple doors, the scent of flowers and fresh vegetation is almost overwhelming—in a good way. Despite being indoors, plantlife thrives her. There aren't many people, however. Only one, as far as you can see. She has her back to you. You can see her long brown hair and fair skin. She is wearing a sun hat (again, despite being indoors) and tending one of the gardens.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto clears her throat and smiles before addressing the woman in the hat. "Excuse me, we're here waiting for Wu Chen. My friend Kell here needs a room to change in private."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says, "I'm a nymph and I assume you know what can happen... Though your plant life might help quell that a bit. It's very lovely." And she gives the woman a smile.

Kelleia:2D6 → 9(4 +5)#Kell casts Plant Armor for battling breel

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Thank you, Kell." The gardener points out a path of stone steps with dark green leaves between the stones. As Kell glances downward she notices the flowers of these plants match her dress perfectly. They're periwinkles.

The gardener tells Leto, "Please join your friend. The path leads to the vineyard. No one is in there now."

As our heroines walk by the woman, she keeps her back to them as she is busy minding the plants. She is low to the ground and her hat has a wide brim, so Kell and Leto can't see the gardener's face or any part of her head. The woman doesn't turn away from her task, even when she speaks.

"I hope you two can keep my sister out of trouble. Don't think I didn't see her earlier, climbing that tree. I saw you climbing the tree as well. You both had different hair at the time, and I can only imagine what would happen if a nymph really went around wearing nothing but a hat!

"The tree has Demeter's blessing. So does your staff, Kell. You are safe here, as is your secret. From the vineyard, you can take the spiral stairs up to Wu Chen's room if you wish."

The woman rises and walks away with a basket in one hand, gardening tool in the other.

When Kell casts her magic, the leaves are exactly like the ones she saw on the path. Hundreds of periwinkles sprout from the leaves. Their color really is an exact match to the fabric of her chiton.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell peers at the woman and says, "I had a feeling that when that tree grew, it had to be more than my magic. I've never done anything like that before. Demeter does great magic. Though why the goddess of love and beauty wants her nymph having a staff blessed by Demeter is a bit beyond me." Then she adds hastily, "Not that I'm complaining or anything. It was really amazing magic. Please thank the Lady Demeter for me."

"As for Wu Chen, we'll do our best, but we are heading out to kill the breel. Though maybe you already know that - you seem to know an awful lot. Still, we'll do our best to guard Wu Chen's back."

As she and Leto head toward the vineyard, she asks the huntress, "Was it just me, or did that woman seem kind of otherworldly to you?"

Almost like she was the goddess in disguise or something. Maybe even Demeter herself.

When the two arrive in the vineyard and her armor becomes periwinkle armor, Kell squeals in delight. "I think I'm going to like having a goddess-blessed staff. This is awesome!"

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto grins at Kell's question concerning the woman. "I was thinking the same thing."

She laughs at Kell's delight. "It's certainly come in handy today. I think we have a good shot at killing the breel."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Our heroines her a tinkling of bells long before Wu Chen lowers herself down the space in the middle of the spiraling stairs on an invisible wire.

She is wearing a gaudy outfit with an animated ever-pattern of bold, vivid colors. One would call the design loud, but the bells on the nun's necklace, belt and pointed shoes make the outfit literally loud. When she steps within fifty feet of our heroines, all they hear are gongs. Conversation is impossible until Wu Chen stands perfectly still for a second.

"Are you kidding me?" she asks Kell. "Bad enough your sweat does not stink, but now even your clothing smells like fresh flowers? Life is not fair," she sighs. "Anyway, this clown suit is called Pantsuit of the Ring Master. If I move or dance in the way fighters dance, anyone near me hears loud bells. The purpose is to distract opponents so they cannot hear conversation from their allies or the approach of my allies, but this should protect you from the roar. No promises.

"While I am saddened by the death of Wallace, the breel will not have seconds. If it turns out I am wrong about the bells, at least we will not be harmed in a way we cannot heal. I brought along one health roll, blessed at the hearth, and some sake to help me fight drunken boxing style. It is effective style for one who can hold her liquor. Marybe you know this?

"Oh, and I brought special wire fu weapon as well. I cannot zip around town with these short wires. They are Electric Wires. Less reach for swinging, but there is chance of zapping breel. Many hunters have been preparing for this monster. Wallace is not the first to fall to it. We were all too focused on the lightning, so it is fortunate you heard roar through Oracle.

"I believe we will succeed today. Leto, we will need your skills to find breel. Please lead us. I will remain sixty feet behind so conversation is possible. Stealth is not, so be aware of this."



((Feel free to move through Tigerwood. You can post in the woods discovering what breel tracks look like, and can keep going until you reach a clearing full of breel tracks. Leto can figure out where the breel's cave is without a roll.

My next post will likely be at the clearing, unless player interaction gives me a reason to post elsewhere.))

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto blinks in astonishment at Wu Chen's outfit, and smiles at the explanation. "I hope it works."

At the mention of sake, she nods. "Akantha used sake to bolster her strength against Xarris and his men. It's very effective!"

Leto leads Kell and Wu Chen quickly out and through the woods. She stays away from the denser areas, knowing the breel would prefer to move in clear spaces. When they reach a clearing, it doesn't take her long to find a set of tracks that must be the breel's -- paw prints as big as a person on either side of a huge, slimy rut in the dirt and grass. Leto stays away from the slime, fearing it might be acidic.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The slimy trail is gross, but mostly harmless. It might be sticky or slippery, depending on the depth of the slime.

It's hard for Wu Chen or Kell to tell which way the trail moves, though either would have a 50% chance of guessing correctly. Leto can determine direction by the more subtle drag marks between the claws and the slime.

Leto finds the place where the breel lifted off. It's impossible to determine flight direction. However, Leto is able to follow the tracks where Akantha, Karl and Goros chased the flying breel. The path is a straight line, but it leads to water. Unfortunately, the water leads to a plateau that looks impossible to climb.

Wu Chen says, "If you two do not mind swimming with your clothing on, I can get us up there."