middleofsomewhere | Swirling Consequences Start

Swirling Consequences Start

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sometimes Lioriley was envious of the variety of abilities mages from other worlds wielded; unrestricted by elemental opposites and soul-alignments. She stared, impressed, at the shield that shimmered to life before her, dark eyes shifting up to Rezo and then over to the treetops once more.

"Thank you." She said, wincing when another rock and an acorn were tossed right at her, instinct making her recoil with a hand on the branch just above her; the objects bouncing off the newly form shield. "How long should this last, in theory?" Aka: how fast should she start gathering leaves.

“Either until I lose focus,” he says, “Or until your shield absorbs too much force to maintain integrity. Which should take a while, unless they somehow find something that hits harder than a rock.”

The main problems are that first, Rezo needs to keep at least part of his attention on maintaining the shields, so instead of firing back or gathering leaves he’s hanging onto his branch with his brow furrowed in concentration; the second issue is that said shields aren’t that big so while their heads are being guarded, the monkeys can aim for the limbs.

For example, a rock the size of a child’s fist has just smacked into Rezo’s thigh. Ow.

"Let us hope they do not." She said, sparing one last look up to the beasts in the trees before turning all of her focus to gathering leaves. If Rezo was going to be distracted protecting their heads from getting pelted with rocks, she had better be quick to finish.

Unfortunately, the shields only seemed to make the monkeys more inclined to attack; now annoyed they weren't hitting the sweet spots on their targets. More rocks and acorns rained down from the treetops, mostly striking the shield, but sometimes slimming across her arms and torso, threatening to knock her shears from her hand or - even worse - have her toppling off the branch.

"That should be enough - ah." A rock right to the shoulder punctuated that thought. "So unnecessarily aggressive."

For the most part, Rezo does an admirable job keeping his focus on shielding the two of them, psychically willing the shields to move alongside them, particularly Lioriley who is actually trying to move around.

This focus does, however, flicker somewhat when he hears that ah. Not enough to drop the shields, and he quickly forces his attention back to maintaining them, although not without suggesting:

“Have you considered returning fire?”

Since these animals are apparently doing their level best to break Lioriley’s neck, and all. Honestly, he’d do it himself if it didn’t require him dropping their shields. Just a few aero bombs to try scaring the little beasts off.

"I had." considered it, but hadn't wanted to waste time counter-attacking the monkeys while she was the only one gathering the herbs. There was also the chance that doing so would only anger them further — and if they escalated from throwing things to outright attacking and launching themselves at her...

A rock pinged off the trunk and ricocheted into her shin, causing another soft noise of alarm and half-stumble that would have sent her off the branch if she wasn't quick enough to catch herself again. Alright. Fine.

She stuffed the leaves she had gathered into her bag and raised a hand, flicking her wrist toward the closest monkey and tossing a few balls of ice in its direction. When they hit near its feet they seemed to melt, spreading quickly along the branch to slick it with ice that caused the beasts to slip and fumble; distracted for the time being. "That should buy us a moment. We should head out soon." snip snip snip first. Whenever Rezo was ready, though.

Honestly the indignity bothers him more than the stray hits do, but worse than either are the moments when he hears her taking a hit and he tenses, afraid she might take a fall and he’ll have to blindly try to catch her.

He hears, and vaguely senses, the burst of magic a few feet away. He’s not sure what exactly she’s done but he can hear the monkeys chattering with alarm and there’s definitely a break in the pummeling. While Lioriley works on snipping and packing up, Rezo takes the breathing room to adjust his position so that he’s tilted in Lioriley’s direction, poised to jump.

“Just say the word, and I’ll come for you.”

As she had feared, the monkeys seemed a little more agitated now that they had been attacked; frustrated by their inability to keep their footing overhead. Before they could properly retaliate, Lioriley cleared the leaves and noted their movements - a few of the beasts swinging down toward her and Rezo. She made the executive decision to leave then.

"Now would be ideal." She said, perhaps just a little harried while she watched the monkeys descend toward her, her foot tapping against the branch as if to indicate her location to the priest for better alignment.

Rezo drops the shielding spell and, with a speed that is perhaps surprising coming from a priest, leaps forward, using an air spell to propel himself towards Lioriley. He maybe uses more velocity than is required; certainly, the way he winds up half-tackling her when he grabs her is less than elegant.

He’s not exactly trying to knock her over. He simply wants to get her into his arms, safe, as fast as possible, before their opponents have time to regroup. And when he feels his own feet slip, well, that’s when he tightens his arms around her and recasts levitation.

And if she wants to yell at him, then at least they’ll have time for that while they gently float to the ground.

Once the shield dropped, Lioriley turned all of her focus on the aggravated monkeys also leaping toward her; completely unaware that Rezo's surge forward would be as swift and as aggressive as it was. So when he essentially tackled her she stumbled, the arm she had outstretched to cast a spell to further deter the beasts moving instead to wrap around the priest's neck, fingertips icy cold when they grazed his skin. For the second - or was it third? - time that day, she exhaled a very undignified yelp of surprise.

"Rezo!" It wasn't so much a reprimand as it was a shout of alarm and confusion, her eyes wide and her grip equally as tight around him. At least she had the foresight to sling her bag over her shoulder seconds before he grabbed her. "A bit of a warning next time, perhaps?"

He stifles a sound at the brush of icy fingers against his neck. It’s more surprising than painful, and probably justly deserved considering he tackled her.

“I will try to remember,” he says, voice slightly muffled by the fact his face is buried somewhere in her hair at the moment, “The next time we’re attacked by monkeys while climbing a tree.”

He tilts his head back, listening for any additional projectiles, but it seems the monkeys are about as startled as Lior was. Nevertheless, he suspects they shouldn’t linger once the touch the ground.

More contrite now, he asks, “Are you hurt anywhere?” Whether it's from the monkeys, or Rezo's somewhat aggressive rescue.

Lioriley could only hope that 'being attacked by monkeys while climbing a tree' would not be a common occurrence for them. Given the oddity of the day though, said hopes were not particularly high.

Once they properly began their descent, Lioriley shifted to grip the back of his hoodie instead of clawing at his neck in panic. His question was met with a soft hum as she looked down, confident that whatever minor injuries she suffered had surely already healed thanks to her regenerative abilities.

"No. Your shield blocked the majority of their attacks." She assured, cocking her head to try and look him over. "Are you?"

“No.” Rezo might have a few bruises, but it’s nothing that needs to be looked at right away. “And I am relieved to hear you are not either.”

His feet touch the ground and he drops the levitation spell, allowing gravity to fully settle in and root him firmly on the ground. Carefully, he loosens his grip on Lioriley, allowing her to slide down to earth as soon as she’s ready.

“Shall we head back to the inn?” Before the monkeys start throwing rocks at them again?

"Likewise." Given how violently those rocks were being thrown, it is a wonder he didn't end up with more than a few bumps and scrapes from the ordeal. Then again, they had been rather focused on her for whatever reason.

Carefully sliding out of his grip, Lioriley landed with a soft thump. After searching through her bag to assure none of the herbs were smashed and all her gear was where it needed to be, she hummed her agreement. "I believe we should, yes." She would say 'before it gets dark' but she thrived in the dark and Rezo couldn't tell the difference anyway, so the only real reason to worry about being out so late would be other local dangers. All of which she was confident they could handle.

She started heading in that direction, patiently waiting for her companion to join at her side. "I wonder if any others had so many hindrances during their quests."

Perhaps Lioriley drew their aggression because she was the one moving around more. Or maybe because she’s shinier and glowier than Rezo. Alas, the monkeys are not very communicative, so it shall remain a mystery.

Rezo maybe should have set her on her feet himself, because the brief moment of feeling the full length of her body slide downwards, against his own, is a very strong reminder of how closely he’s been holding her. Again.

He rather hastily steps back, internally reminding himself that he is one hundred and twenty something, not twenty.

“Excellent,” he says, not because returning to the inn is actually particularly excellent, but because he’s hoping that if he says words it will help keep her from noticing his moment of embarrassment before he returns to her side.

“I do hope not,” he says. “Or else I fear the local residents will have to be the ones to rescue us.”

Thankfully, Lioriley seemed too busy securing her tools and herbs to really focus on how quickly Rezo had retreated once he released her, nor any other signs that may have hinted to his embarrassment.

She laughed at that, cast one last glance up to the treetops, and then started down along the figurative path back toward the inn. "Now that would be quite awkward, I think." having to be rescued by those they were intending to rescue themselves? May as well just pack up, lie down, and wait for the train to return, being that unlucky.

"I will admit..." she said, "It was rather fun. I have not had such excitement in a long while." which was easier to say now that they weren't teetering on high tree branches, getting pelted with rocks, or being stuck in stick webs.

He practically beams when she laughs, the embarrassment of a moment ago easily forgotten in light of the fact she appreciated one of his jokes.

“Yes, it was,” he agrees, sounding almost surprised. And while he’s certainly had various kinds of excitement relatively recently, it hasn’t always been so… amiable.

It’s probably because of her, he realizes suddenly. Lioriley is an intelligent person, and good natured enough to handle all the ridiculousness they’ve just been through and laugh it off afterwards. With another sort of person, this day might have been simply frustrating, but instead he finds he’s rather pleased with how it all went.

“Thank you for inviting me along,” he says. “If I’d tried doing this alone, I don’t think it would have worked out as well.”

It was a lot easier to laugh after the fact, now that they were safe and sound. A few moments ago she worried she might be healing wounds or potentially killing the aggressive wildlife which, at least for her, would have soured the mood a bit. As it stood, it was all just kind of...funny. A story they could both look back on and laugh when they retold it.

"I should be thanking you for joining me. Without you I would have had to scale those trees myself, and likely would have gotten stuck in a web more than once gathering as many herbs as we needed." She countered, apparently still amused as her soft giggles continued while she spoke. "We make quite the team."

As the soft sound of her laughter continues, Rezo starts to feel an odd tugging sensation in his chest. He isn’t sure at first where it comes from or what it means, and it takes a few moments before he realizes.

He feels… wistful.

He knows it isn’t wise to get too closely involved with the others from the train. But if circumstances were different… If he were a different person…

Then it would be rather nice to be friends with her.

“I’m glad I could be of assistance,” he says gently. He’s still smiling, but it’s a little smaller, a little more pensive, than a few moments ago.

If Lioriley noticed the slight change in the upward turn of his mouth, she didn't make it obvious. They were having a good time — there was no need to potentially make it awkward, especially if she had just been imagining the sudden and very small change in his disposition.

So instead she just continued the idle conversation, passing the time as they walked while keeping an ear out for any potential dangers. With no monkeys flinging rocks or dralites deafening them, they would eventually make it to their destination. Mission successful.

"The herbs you collected are sufficient enough for you to study, yes?" She asked as they closed in on the tavern. "Or would you like more?"

Idle conversation is strange, but pleasant, much like the rest of this situation has been. Rezo’s conversational skills are somewhat rusty, but with Lioriley it’s easy enough to fall into a friendly back-and-forth and he almost misses the changes in the terrain and the atmosphere that signal they’re getting close to the tavern.

“No, these will suffice,” he says, in response to her query. “I won’t have time to study them for a little while anyway. After this, I was planning on going out to help with the road work.”

Which he had been perfectly happy to do- and still was, really- although it’s a bit disappointing to realize this little interlude is almost over.

"Would you like me to hold them for you?" She asked, figuring it would be better to keep the herbs safely tucked away in the inn instead of carrying them around. Unless he already had a plan for them.

Lioriley did her best to hide any of her own disappointment. "I intend to remain at the inn for some time and aid in crafting those potions now that we have the ingredients. Hopefully I will see you when you are finished?"

“If it wouldn’t inconvenience you,” he says. Although he suspects even if it did, Lioriley wouldn’t let him know about it.

As for whether she will see him later…

“Most likely. I plan on spending the night at the inn, so I shouldn’t be hard to find. And of course, if you will be holding onto my samples for me, I’ll need to collect them at some point.” Maybe not tonight, or even in the next couple of days- he’s not sure how long this mission will last, but it seems they’ll be here a while- but eventually.

(So if she wants an excuse to speak with him later, Lioriley’s certainly set herself up with a good one.)

"I would not have offered if it was." Which was partially a lie, because she would have offered regardless; thus proving his assumption about her absolutely correct. But that wasn't the point!

Concocting an excuse to speak with him also wasn't the point; just a happy coincidence that holding his supplies for him also meant the chance to interact more than they might have otherwise. She wouldn't deny how much she enjoyed their time together, even if the last few hours had been somewhat hectic and a little embarrassing.

She stopped just near the front doors of the inn, turning to face him. "I will make sure there is a bowl of stew ready and warmed up for you, then. I can take your things now, if you like."

“Ah, of course.”

She will need to give him a minute to unpack, handing back the shears, sack, and so forth that she had loaned him. He does pause briefly over the cotton- “I think I should take this with me. Apparently, the dralites aren’t being a nuisance in just the forest.” - but otherwise it’s an efficient transferal.

When he’s done, Rezo hefts his rucksack back over his shoulders and pauses. Not sure what to say, but smiling warmly.

“I will look forward to that stew,” he settles on.

Lioriley waited patiently and took the supplies as they were handed over, keeping them cradled in a bundle in her arms for the sake of convenience. No point in packing them away only to take them out two minutes later once she settled inside the tavern.

"It is very good." She assured him as she turned on her heel, her own smile evident in the cheery tone of her voice. "I will see you soon, Rezo." and off she went into the inn.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Swirling Consequences Start

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rezo tries prescribing violence

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being mutual medical nerds, i imagine their idle conversation would make most people queasy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek4tu3w648k

^ quote from those unfortunate enough to hang around them both at the same time

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