(PrP) Tunnel Crawl III

[Circe]

"Eh," the elf shrugs, "its fair Jimmy. Let it never be said that I ain't fair," laughing at her horrid pun. Tobias's blade is not the only one swinging. She bought a machete, might as well use it. She is swinging with her left hand, leaving the right free for the bigger gun if needed.

Not that she is doing much compared to their guide, merely trimming the path a little wider in spots. And often looking up to take a swing at any vine loops she saw.

"Ya know Mhairi? I'm startin' ta think ya made a good choice on magic tricks. My arm is gonna be sore in the morning," she was forcing her tone to be jovial, "but we're on an advent-cha, as the little guy said in that movie."

More quietly she added, "So did we have, like, a plan? Or do I just keep talkin' while you guys do the clandestine shit?"

Circe could've easily gone back to blathering, until a peep show was discovered. "Huh," she narrowed her red eyes, "not bad," was her response to the surprising sight. "There's way worse stuff ta find." She also wondered if her cell could take a picture.

[Seraphina]

An eyebrow was raised as she watched the elf and the guns.

A gentle shake of her head when another gun was offered. “No thanks, not my thing.” She hated guns.

She nods to the orge as he begins to lead them, hacking at the vines.

The mirror was unexpected, and she pauses to study it, wondering what magic enchanted it.

“Cannot say I’ve seen something like this before, kinda fun.” She says with a light shrug.

[Quick]

If Circe can be counted on anything, it's to not take things too seriously. The Elemental's mini tesla-coils eyes roll, but a little bit of a smile shows up. Teeny tiny one. Puns are still terrible.

1 success, tie goes to 'defender'

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-16 20:08:24		Quick rolls 6 to Manip + Subterfuge to notice cover-up (10 Again)		6, 2, 5, 7, 8, 3		1 success

Something is off about what Mhairi said - not in how she said it, but in the tells on her face. There's more going on there than, you know, what she said. Can't kid a kidder... Quick'll have to watch her. Make sure she's OK.

As said 'big guy' starts hacking away, Quick seizes that crucial moment to touch base with everyone. "Plan!?" he whispers tersely at Circe. "How about staying alive?" She doesn't seem nearly as nervous as he is. As she should be. They'd just armed up a cannibal with a firearm and are letting him lead them into who-knows-where.

Random mirror/glass/window thing. Girls getting dressed? Boring. Back to what's going on. Danger, and stuff. Quick tries to remind himself why they bothered to come back. They found the vines, the Gate... learned that the vines were supposed to block the Gate. Only real reason he can think of is to find out what's dangerous out here and keep it from spilling back over. Like freaky Ogres who don't like Freeholders.

Quick shoots a glance at the other two girls. "We find anything we'd rather not see back home? Think we should make sure it stays on this side. Maybe we find some cool stuff, which is cool, but if things get heavy..." He can't bring himself to say more where Tobias can hear them.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

The Thorns are thick, but brittle and easily chopped. The Hedge didn't want to prevent their 'adventure' but didn't wish to make it seem easy.

Then comes the Mirror. A gateway and a window. A dressing room where those girls will be at the most vulnerable. And now one of a pair of cannibals knew about it.

This couldn't stand.

Dully Mhairi makes her decision, walking up to the Mirror she looks on in fascination. Only to appear to trip into it. hopefully breaking it

"Oh shit I'm sorry! I just fell!"

  it's an accident I swear! 2 suxx

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-17 11:13:18		Mhairi Ankaa rolls 5 to Its an accident I swear! (Manpi 2 + subterfuge 2 + spec 1)		4, 10, 8, 1, 2		2 successes

[Yumyumcrow]

"Its a Gate," Tobias said while he unlimbered a drink bottle from his pack. He was drinking deeply while the group chatted, only looking round when he heard the dull thud and tinkle of glass as Mhairi blundered into the Hedge and its fruiting gate. The Hedge heaved, seemed to pulse and shudder as it consumed the broken shards.

Reaching vines snagged and snapped at the Elemental, reminding them all of just how hungry the Thorns could be.

"Damn!" The Ogre voiced as he watched the Hedge lurch that little bit closer. "We should move on..."

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Time passed strangely in the Hedge. I didn't help that the path was narrow and hemmed in on both sides by thick, impenetrable brush and foliage through which the shapes of tall trees could be discerned. At least the air, though still, was moderately cool. Occasionally, something flashed through the Thorns: a movement, a hulk of an automobile strangled by vines, a sound of loud music muted and obscured by walls.

Then the path intersected a larger byway, forming a T junction. To the left, the larger path continued into the dimly lit Green. To the right, the larger path continued on, widening to form a kind of glade. They could see the outline of a tower in the glade: picaresque with its long step and larger suite of rooms at the top, capped by a conical turret of terracotta tiles littered with sparks of tussocky vegetation.

The left hand path was partially blocked by a lone Briarwolf, flat on its side and unmoving. A single, vacant, eye glared down the path at them.

"Bingo!" Tobias leered, looking at the Briarwolf. "Why don't you go and check out the fairy tale castle? I'll take my pick of the beastie."

And for book keeping: Mhairi Ankaa Saber Sloth looses 1 Glamour to the snatching Thorns.

[Circe]

Circe laughed at Quick's plan, "That's always step 1 of any good plan." And man was Quick being tense about this. It didn't do to show potential foes that they spook you. A cowardly target is more enticing then a brave one.

"No more peep show," it was hard to tell if Circe's tone was mockery or actual disappointment. "Watch it girl!" there was no confusing the tone of concern as Mhairi's tumble, "them thorns don't play nice ya know," as she helped Mhairi to regain her, accidentally, lost balance she quietly whispered, "If that was intentional, try tossing something next time."

And they journey fourth. And Tobias found some less morally questionable meat of a questionable nature. "Riiiight," the elf sheaths the machete and grasps her SMG with both hands. The Summer turns to her comrades with a smile, "So, watch Tobi chop up a dog or have fun storming the castle?" The elf pulls back the slide on the F shaped SMG loudly, "CASTLE!"

Circe will start heading to the tower unless she is stopped.

[Mhairi Ankaa]

But next time, like this time it might not be optimal to pick up a rock and throw it. The wisp thinks as the Throns snare and snatch at her hard gotten glamour.

Mhairi hisses through her teeth, it sounds like crackling and sputtering flames.

They are lead away step after step, Circe barrels on ahead, but Mhairi ever cautious leans her fell-flames to briarwolf, and the monster edging closer to him.

  

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-22 17:00:33		Mhairi Ankaa rolls 5 to Perception (wits 3 + composure 2) (10 Again)		2, 7, 3, 10, 3, 6		1 success

[Quick]

As one Elemental tumbles, the other winces. That's the end of the peepshow, though. Which suits Quick just fine. Seeing Mhairi suffering? Not... so much. Before Quick has a chance to help her, though, she's back on her feet.

And before Quick has a chance to answer Circe, she's off! He should probably go with her. Make sure she'll be ok. Plus now Mhairi is following her. Why are they following Circe? He loves her to death and all, but she's gung-ho as fuck right now. Whatever, though. Because, again, he should make sure she doesn't get hurt.

Before Quick moves too far, though, an ugly thought nags in his head. He doesn't know a damn thing about fae magic and weirdness, but what is a Briarwolf, anyway?

chance die success, behbee!

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-03-22 18:48:45		Quick rolls 1 to Int - 3 Occult (Untrained)		10		1 success

[Yumyumcrow]

The Briarwolf: predator of the Hedge. A hairy simulacrum of man and beast with a lupine-like head, hunched bipedal body and claws. They are said to run in packs. Often used by the Gentry in their hunts.

This one is alone and apparently dead, drowned in its own vomit; its maw is thick with mush and mushrooms. Not that Tobias the Ogre appears concerned by this as he inspects the corpse with gleeful abandon after shrugging off his heavy pack.

Circe bounds onward, into the glade. The light grows stronger as the Thorns retreat. The glade appears as a forrest meadow in spring. Moss holds fast to the ruined remains of tumbled trees; grass forms a carpet underfoot; flowers are everywhere and in full bloom. The air is thick with scent born from the very fairy tales of the forest.

The tower itself is a half remembered dream inspired by the likes of Disney and the Brothers Grim with its long thin stem and bulbous suite of rooms perched on top.

This tower has no door at ground level. Indeed, it would appear to have no door at all. There are large round windows on each side of the structure at the top; a couple are open.

Under one of the windows, Circe discovers a grizzly find: the shrunken body of a prince, broken by the fall from a great height. His body has already begun to decay, his silks fading and fraying with the elements and his bones becoming the picaresque setting for moss and fungi. As if this curious momento mori was not bizarre enough, it would appear to be at the heart of a disturbed mushroom ring.

Something has been snuffling around and eating the white capped 'shrooms.

[Seraphina]

The Nix turns as Mhairi falls into the mirror.

Or what was left of it which was then identified as a Gate. Though it seemed the Hedge and thorns were a little pissed at what happened.

With Circe helping the Wisp, she looks to Tobias as he points at something. A Castle?

Sapphires look into the distance and see it.

But it doesn’t create happy feelings for her. She knew those fairy tale castles weren’t always what they seemed.

And she wasn’t exactly rushing toward it. Let the elf go first.

The Treasured lags a little behind, wary eyes looking at the tower, not so pleasant memories threatening to flood her mind.