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

Worry not, Great Sage. She was in the same boat. Her usual response to any and all problems was magic in some shape or form, and it was honestly embarrassing that it had taken longer than a minute for her to even suggest it. Had precarious angles and close proximity to the priest really rattled her so much she couldn't think straight? That alone brought another flush of color to her cheeks; and not for the first time she was glad for his inability to see how flustered she looked when she glanced up at him again.

"Do not remind me." She managed after a moment. Rezo would be able to hear the crackling of the sticky vines around her trapped hand as they froze over. He'd also be able to feel her carefully shift afterwards as the plants tendrils shattered, her hand free and her shears finally tossed off toward a safe patch of dirt nearby to be dealt with later. Doubtful they'd do much for the webs anyway.

"I will free your hand first. Be prepared to move it directly up about three inches and then back - you should be able to avoid getting stuck again." She said, reaching up to set her palm over the back of Rezo's captured hand; the sharp, cold touch of her ice spreading fast along the webs, breaking apart before he even thought to move back.

Rezo withdraws his hand from her back, trying to allow her more room to work. It isn’t long before he catches the crackling sound of ice forming, and the sharp scent of frozen sap. A few moments later, his own hand is plunged into a bitter, lancing frost.

Rezo’s jaw tightens, but he otherwise doesn’t complain, or even flinch. He’s handled far more painful things than a bit of ice. He lifts his hand, withdraws it; with his hand free it’s also easier to move back, so he will no longer be looming quite so severely over Lioriley.

He takes a moment to massage and reflex his hand, confirming that no real harm has been done.

“That was tidy work,” he remarks.

"Thank you. I hope that was not too unpleasant." She answered as she reached back, the process of freezing and destroying the webs repeated for those in her hair and along Rezo's legs once she was able to sit up and reach them.

"Back two steps and you will be clear of them." With that, they should have been free to move - but just to be sure, the Lunari took the time to clear the rest of the plants around them, careful not to shatter the fruit cups they had come for.

When all was said and done, she sighed and stood up, the shears Rezo had dropped in her hand. "Well. That certainly was an...adventure." she reached out, gently nudging the handle of the tool against his hand. "Your shears - if you wish them returned." Though if he wanted to take a break after that, she wouldn't blame him.

A shiver goes through him before he can repress it as the cold hits his leg, but as with the hand, at least it’s a brief experience.

“It wasn’t as unpleasant as remaining trapped would have been,” he points out, taking a step back. Certainly, he would not have wanted to wait there for some peckish wildlife to find them.

Clear of the treacherous vines, Rezo takes a moment to enjoy the freedom, but he still accepts the shears when he feels them bump against his knuckles. “I do. I believe we can make actual progress now that we’re no longer having an adventure.”

Lioriley pointedly made sure not to comment on how being so close to Rezo might not have seemed so terrible if they weren't trapped. Ahem.

She chuckled and stepped back enough to give him some breathing room, attempting to fix her hair while walking toward her own discarded shears. She decided, while she stood near where the tool had fallen, to tie her hair up and out of the way this time — on the off chance she happened to topple into another patch of vines, at least she wouldn't yank any more out. Hopefully.

"Let us hope so. We have more to do and no need to waste time tangling with webs." She agreed, soon setting back to work in the patch of plants she had managed to clear of dangers. "Tell me if you happen across anymore, and I will be sure to freeze them." if he didn't take care of them himself at this point.

Rezo is, perhaps fortunately for Lioriley, entirely oblivious.

Her chuckle manages to coax a smile from him and he listens to her rustling about in the remains of the spider plant for a moment before rejoining her.

“I may just borrow your strategy next time, but thank you.”

He gets to work without complaint, reassured that at least they’ve gotten through one disaster relatively unscatched. And more importantly, that they know what to do if it happens again.

For the next little while, Rezo is content to work his way through the patch, snipping and stashing the blooms away until he has a nice little pile in his sack. Presently, when he stops being able to find any more, he straightens, turning in the direction he can hear Lioriley moving about.

“Do you see any other flowers,” he asks, “Or do you suppose we’re done here?”

"Of course."

Lioriley stayed close for those first few minutes - and only once she was certain neither of them would be in dire need of assistance again, did she wander off a few feet away to cover more ground and gather as many flowers as she could.

She shook her head and stood, adjusting the pack on her shoulder. "Not that I can see currently. Would you still be willing to search further in for those purple star leaves? I understand if you would rather return after our bit of fumbling."

Hearing her stand, Rezo moves to put away his own supplies. “Fumbling?” he says, trying his best to look innocent. “I cannot recall what you speak of.”

And now that he’s probably confused the poor woman with his terrible attempt at a joke, he moves over to her side. “I think we have more than enough time to hunt for some star leaves.”

Wait. Did he really not remember? "With the— oh." As per usual, it would take her far too long to understand that he might have been teasing — pretending that the whole thing hadn't happened. And when she did she blushed, embarrassed twofold by the reminder of the moment and the fact that she was so bad at catching jokes she might have sounded like an idiot. Just end her already.

A nod — then remembering that he wouldn't see the motion, a muttered: "O-Of course. Let us be on our way, then." if she wasn't sure she had to stick close to him for both their sakes, she might have scurried off right then to give her a few seconds head start to compose herself. Alas. She stayed beside him as they headed further into the scrublands.

His eyebrows raise at her flustering, though he smiles. Generally, when people miss his jokes, it’s because they assume he’s too serious a person to make them. In Lioriley’s case, it seems that she’s the serious one. Or rather, not so much serious as straightforward. He hasn’t known her long, but he thinks that word suits her better. Straightforward.

Whereas Rezo is all twists and turns and crooked pathways.

Taking pity on her, he changes the subject as soon as they start strolling off. “The trees we’re looking for are supposed to lack branches near the bottom, correct?” That, at least, is something he can search for.

Thank all the gods for that subject change. Lioriley cleared her throat before speaking, once again nodding out of habit.

"Correct. Making it all the more difficult for us to obtain our prize. If you are willing to use your levitation spell, I could easily watch for any potential threats - such as dralites or monkeys that may wish to hinder us."

Talk of the levitation spell does remind him of a slight inconvenient quirk of the spell.

“I should warn you, the levitation spell is designed only to be used on the caster. If you’re hoping to harvest the trees yourself, you will need to hold onto me long enough for us to get up there.”

He expects they can work something out if Lioriley’s reluctant to do so, but at this point he’s fairly sure she won’t be horrified by the thought.

Just when she thought she was free of potentially embarrassing scenarios. Not that it had to be - but given their luck so far...

"'Twould be quicker if we are both harvesting the leaves." And he wouldn't be floating up, literally blind, while she watched from down below for dangers. All she had to do was get onto a branch and go from there. "That should be fine, so long as you are comfortable with doing so."

“It is no trouble at all,” he assures her. In fact, he’s had to carry plenty of people in the past, including swordsmen in full armor. By comparison, he thinks holding onto Lioriley won’t pose a problem. Even if monkeys start throwing rocks at them.

This day is just full of bizarre hazards, isn’t it?

The whole world was, apparently. Lioriley had to wonder how chaotic dealing with dralites and giant chinchillas might have been and if she dared to ever find out.

"I will be sure to be swift once we are there, then. Oh-" perfect timing. Not far off the spotted a few trees with significantly less branches near the bottom than those they had been passing. "We are close."

At some point in the future, perhaps Rezo will be able to tell her.

What he says now is simply “Excellent,” in response to the quick discovery of the star-leaved trees.

And as soon as they get within range, he’s going to take a moment to check the trees for himself, (“Is this the right one?” he’ll ask her.) running his hand over the bark to get a better idea of the texture, seeing if the scent of the tree is at all distinguishable from others. He’s not sure if he’ll need to identify this tree much in the future, but it at least satisfies some of his curiosity.

Once he’s done, he turns to Lioriley and holds out his hand. “Are you ready?” he asks.

She would confirm his query easily enough, noting the striped bark that could be felt as much as seen. The distance between the branches was obvious too, with the lowest being far out of most any normal person's reach.

"Yes." She confirmed after quickly checking that she had everything in order. Taking his hand, she let him guide her into whatever position made it easiest to carry her, not wanting to just jump into his arms and take up more space than necessary.

Rezo pulls her close, wrapping an arm around her back. He doesn’t immediately have an idea of the best way to carry her, although he’s well aware that she’s significantly shorter than him and thus, probably on the light side, even if she’s a fully grown woman.

If she held on, they could probably ascend like this, leaving him with a free hand, but he doesn’t want to risk her slipping and plummeting to the ground. So he leans over, catching her beneath the knees, and sweeps her up so that she’s held in his arms, pressed against his chest.

Only then, it occurs to him that he maybe should have asked if she minded before he swept her up like this. She is very close to him in this position, and he doesn’t have the excuse of being trapped by spider plant vines.

…This should not be awkward. He is an elderly blind man. An elderly, blind priest, trying to help someone climb a tree, where they will probably get attacked by monkeys and bird-bats. He doesn’t need to overthink this.

Rezo shakes his head. “Well,” he says. “I think we’re good to go.”

Lioriley probably would have been fine with the initial position; her hands having already shifted to hold on tight to him. But when she felt her feet leave the ground and she answered with a rather undignified noise of surprise, all pretense of composure was lost as heat flooded her cheeks for the second time in as many hours.

Instinct had her arms looping around his neck, slender frame tucked against his chest. He could probably feel her staring at him; wide-eyed in surprise...and yet making no obvious indication that she was displeased. If he thought it was the best way to carry her up safely, then she trusted his judgement.

She would just ignore the way her heart thumped wildly in her chest; mirrored in the way her leylines pulsed.

"Ah...uh huh." She agreed, cursing herself for sounding as flustered as she felt.

Rezo isn’t sure if she is staring or not, but he instinctively tilts his head away. His expression isn’t as flustered as Lioriley’s, but he is unaware of his advantage.

Since he’s fairly sure the noises Lioriley is making are an assent, he finally casts the levitation spell and slowly, his feet leave the ground. His grip on Lioriley tightens as the two of them rise at a leisurely pace towards the upper level of the tree.

Calming himself, he turns his thoughts to the task at hand.

“Do let me know before we hit any branches,” he requests. He’ll be counting on her to let him know when they need to stop flying and start climbing on.

Lioriley finally tore her gaze away once they started to rise, turning her attention to the treetops and their ultimate goal where the high branches hung. If she focused on that, maybe she would be able to ignore the way her pulse pounded in her ears and how nice it felt to be held like that.

"Wait." She said, uncertain how difficult it would be for him to pause mid-movement. "There is something in the tree." She had only seen a brief flash of movement - it could have been anything. But given the current state of the world they were on, she didn't want to risk getting wailed on by a monkey either. Lioriley gripped one arm around his shoulders still, loosening the other to ready a spell of she had to. For a few seconds, she waited, saw nothing, and then very tentatively suggested they could move upward again. "As slowly as you are able, I would suggest."

“Yes, I believe those are called leaves,” Rezo informs her solemnly.

Despite subjecting poor Lioriley to another example of his deplorable sense of humor he does, at least, half-halt the spell so that they’re left hovering in the air. He waits patiently, listening for anything that might be rustling up above, until Lioriley gives the word for them to proceed. Then he resumes their gradual ascent.

That time, when she caught it, she didn't even understand how such a jest was meant to be funny. "I am serious." As she often seemed to be. She kept her eyes glued to the treetops, scanning back and forth for any sign of that movement the closer they came to the branches.

Once they neared their goal, she spoke again: "Just here should do it." Her free hand extended, gently rapping on a branch. "Watch your head."

“As you should be. Leaves are a very important part of a tree’s structure.” He continues on with the faux-solemn tone, but it’s betrayed by the way his mouth quirks. Come Lioriley, surely you can’t be too severe with the man who is carrying you in his arms?

Fortunately, they reach the branches before he can get much worse. He half-halts the spell again, assuming Lioriley intends to disembark.

“Easy does it. Do you need me to raise you a bit more?”

Sure she can! Though it was increasingly difficult every time she remembered her current position and got flustered all over again. "I think there are monkeys about." She finally clarified, mumbling the words just loud enough for him to hear. Thank all the gods he didn't have time enough for another comment about it.

"No. Thank you." She said as she carefully - and somewhat reluctantly - slipped out of his grasp and found her footing on the tree branch, arm around his neck shifting to grip his shoulder until she steadied. She moved slightly to the right of him along the branch and rifled around her bag for her shears. "In all seriousness though-" she began, snipping a leaf free. "-do keep an ear out."

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