- IC Time: Sat Mar 09 15:33:11 2019 ***
- OOC Time: Sat Mar 09 15:33:11 2019 ***
After traveling the loop trod a ways, the group of Poppy, Haruki and Whiskey arrive at Gnarlwood. The only event along the way so far was Widget get distracted by an Animmaculate squirrel, it's gears a fascinating Shiny that she needed to investigate. She asked the others to go on without her, and they agreed. It is important to note that Whiskey had not requested Widget on this trip, but simply offered that she could come.
After arriving, Whiskey says "Ok, so we're looking for Catseye Clover, which should be around here somewhere. Do you two want me to look for clues on where it might be, or would you prefer to?"
So much walking! So much... lots and lots of walking, and Haruki's getting a bit tired. He's nowhere near as talkative as he was with Poppy earlier. He is looking around in search of any clover but doesn't seem to find any. "Why don't we all look for clues? I don't hear any meowing."
Perhaps noting the magician's lack of talkativeness, Poppy offers Haruki an arm, then arches an eyebrow at Whiskey. "What do you mean by 'clues' ? Last I checked this shit doesn't grow feet and wander around - although god knows I've seen some pretty weird shit out here, so I suppse that's possible." The siren grins cheerfully. "Or do you mean just trying to figure out where the fuck it's likely to be growing? Being a non-gardener, I'll ask what kind of environment it likes, since fuck all if I know."
-> >> Poppy to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 3 Successes
< 3 6 7 7 8 9 10 >
================================-> >> Wits + Survival No Flags << <-
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 1 Success
< 5 6 7 9 >
================================-> >> Wits + Survival No Flags << <-
GAME: Whiskey spends 1 Willpower with reason: Professional Training:Survival asset skill
-> >> Whiskey to Here << <-===========================================
Rolled 14 Successes for an exceptional success.
< 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 >
=====-> >> Wits + Survival.Adroitness + 4 + 2 9-Again and Rote << <-
"Triffids. Audrey 2." Haruki says. "Bulbasaur. Mandrake. There's no Womanduck though. Clover grows in grass. Catseye clover is similar? But it can't be because these trees block out the light and stop grass from growing unless there's clearings? Or everything is upside down and because they're catseyes they like the dark. Or maybe it just makes them easier to find." He's very careful to avoid any thorns. To not touch any plants. And to stick with Poppy. The various noises of the forest... well that's kind of scary.
Haruki, Poppy, and Whiskey work together to find three patches of Catseye Clover. Together, they've located a bootload of fruits, all located within a large clearing a bit away from the edge of the trod and hidden by a thick screen of trees.
Haruki takes Poppy's offered arm.
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 4 Successes
< 1 2 2 7 9 9 10 10 >
============================-> >> Resolve + Composure No Flags << <-
Poppy gives Haruki a curious look. "What the fuck is a Triffid?" The fact that that's her only question does make one wonder if she recognized everything /else/ in the list. She doesn't seem bothered by the magician's proximity, although it's unlikely she's missed that hint of fear. Returning her attention to the search, she grins cheerfully as after a short period of time they've located quite the growth of the clover. "Goddamn," she says, then glances around, opalescent eyes scanning the surroundings.
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 1 Success
< 1 5 6 9 >
===================-> >> Intelligence + Investigation No Flags << <-
-> >> Poppy to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 6 Successes for an exceptional success.
< 1 1 1 2 3 5 8 9 10 10 10 10 >
===============-> >> Intelligence + Investigation + 1 No Flags << <-
Whiskey is new around here, at least within the last century, so he hangs back and lets Poppy and Haruki see if the coast is clear to the clearing, which is a mouthful. "I wonder if I could breed a Triffid.", Whiskey says, staring off into space for a moment. Then he comes back and adds "I've got you covered", he holds up his bow, "Lets move up and see if there's anyone there."
Haruki manages to resist the urge to throw himself into the hedgefruit and start eating! He does sooo good. He doesn't stuff any of it into his mouth as much as he really, really, really wants to. No. "Triffid. Giant plant. Lashes out with a tentacle to blind people. Walks." He clings to Poppy's arm and his gaze is darting around their surroundings more, the shadows seeming darker, even scarier than they were, perhaps. "Nonononono!" he tells Whiskey.
Poppy gives Whiskey a sideways look. "I mean, you probably /could/ but I'd make sure you can keep it from fucking rampaging before you do," she says frankly. "Unless they're rooted." She grins cheerfully at that suggestion they check things out, gaze shifting back to the clearing as she absently pats Haruki's hand on her arm. The gesture might be a bit more comforting if her touch weren't slightly cool, skin a bit too smooth, but the intent is there. "Mm. Something's been crawling around in that shit already, although who the fuck knows what. I'd keep an eye out for something about the size of a fucking breadbox."
Whiskey nods, and starts to move forward, eyeing the clearing and motioning to the others. His bow is out, and an arrow nocked, just in case.
"Maybe it's a rabbit," Haruki says. "Rabbits love clover." He's trembling a bit, and most definitely sticking with Poppy. "It's probably just a cute fuzzy rabbit." He tries to convince himself.
"I mean, around here, those fucking things are more like the goddamn bunny from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' but sure, we can go with that." Real helpful, Poppy. The siren's gaze is rather sharp as she scans their surroundings. "So can you keep an eye out for shit while I grab clover and stuff it in a bag?" Haruki is given an inquisitive look, then.
Whiskey nods, "I'll also keep an eye out while you harvest, and then you can return the favor." He stands at the ready, eyes scanning the edges of the clearing for movement.
Haruki nods at Poppy, and starts looking in the ground. "Droppings. They're a good way to tell what's around if you can't see it. And footprints. And teethmarks. And just listening and not speaking."
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 0 Success
< 3 3 6 7 7 >
===========================-> >> Wits + Investigation No Flags << <-
->> +Fruit <<- Poppy successfully harvests some catseye clover.
Poppy nods to Whiskey, then grins sharply at Haruki. "That too," she says dryly, eyes glinting with humor, even as she slips over to the patch, keeping an eye out for anything else looking for the clover. Assuming nothing moves, she makes quick work of collecting some of the clover, humming absently under her breath, perhaps in spite of herself; the sound is eerie, almost amelodic.
->> +Fruit <<- Haruki successfully harvests some catseye clover.
Whiskey continues to cover the others as they harvest. So far, so uneventful. But it's the Hedge, does it every really stay uneventful? "Good so far folks", he says.
Haruki follows Poppy and he's good. He's really good! He doesn't go diving into the clover. He does... he does look for any sign of what creature she saw but then he gets distracted and starts looking for four leave clovers and... uh did he remember to take a bag so he searches his backpack and pulls one out, and then is Poppy finished? No matter for he okay proper tools, he checks in his backpack and removes some scissors and he starts cutting clover. Wait should he take the roots too? Maybe. Should he stuff some in his mouth? NO!!!! Okay it's getting harder and harder to resist the putting of the leaves in his mouth especially with so many but he can wait. He can! Snip snip snip. Okay a few he tries to dig up by the roots and see if he can transplant them and NO EATING NO!!!
->> +Fruit <<- Whiskey successfully harvests some Catseye Clover.
Poppy mms absently at Whiskey's reassurances, carefully stowing the Catseye she's collected; it seems that despite her apparent readiness, the siren does have a few small bags on her. Maybe she was a Girl Scout in her previous life. She keeps a half eye on her task and another half eye on Haruki, perhaps sensing a bit of the mortal's internal struggle.
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 0 Success
< 1 3 4 4 5 6 >
================================-> >> Wits + Composure 8-Again << <-
Whiskey collects a number of bags of clover, and some bags that are not harvested but intended for use as transplants. Once he has finished harvesting, he stands, and looks up puzzled.
-> >> Poppy to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 0 Success
< 1 2 3 3 3 5 7 >
===============================-> >> Wits + Composure No Flags << <-
-> >> Whiskey to Here << <-===========================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 1 1 1 2 4 5 5 9 9 >
===============================-> >> Wits + Composure No Flags << <-
Whiskey looks at the others and says, "Can you hear that? I could swear I heard, well not a meow, but a cat sound."
Okay so maybe Haruki wants to roll in the clover a bit because... BECAUSE!!! If it's not in his mouth it'll be okay. Nope, he hears no meow sounds and he's a bit distracted and he did at least check first there were no traps before lying on the clover. SO NICE!!! HEEEE!!!
Poppy quickly stows the rest of the clover, straightening before being distracted by Haruki. "Jesus fucking christ, Haruki, this is /really/ not the time." Despite her words, her expression is amused. "Your brother is going to look at me like a kicked puppy if I let something happen to your ass." And then Whiskey is alerting them, and the siren looks around. "Haruki, get up." Her tone isn't nasty, but it's sharp and discordant enough to hopefully break through the lure of the hedgefruit.
-> >> Poppy to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 3 Successes
< 1 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 >
===============================-> >> Wits + Composure No Flags << <-
Poppy notices that from out of the north end of the clearing comes a ferocious RAWR! Well, it would be ferocious if it had quite a bit more volume and didn't end in a cough. A small tiger cub can be seen on the north side of the clover. It looks at Haruki, Poppy, and Whiskey, then darts away north before returning and mewling. It does this two more times. Each time when it darts away it darts in the same direction. The cub has a mangled ear, like it has been rubbing up again something hard. The cub is an automatiger, an Animmaculate hobgoblin composed of gears, pistons, tubes, and bristles.
Haruki's like a cat that's got into the catnip. It's so nice! Snapping isn't so nice, no! And he's... well there's a slight problem with inhibitions and the hedge and he has been in here a while and he is tired and he just needs a rest and it's so nice and it's a good thing he hasn't noticed the tiger because.. wait did Poppy mention his brother. "Itsy'd eat it all! It's what bunnies do." He does wave a hand up in the air maybe seeking a hand up? It's rather aimless.
Poppy, who is paying attention more than Haruki or Whiskey, sees a bit mnore, the cub is trying to get them to follow it. They can ignore the cub, which is obviously in distress, or they can follow her to wherever she wants you to go. She seems desperate.
The siren's attention flickers to the cub and she frowns. "Jesus fucking christ that thing's cute as fuck." Her tone is suspicious, however, and after a moment of watching it, Poppy sighs harmonically. "Aaaand it wants us to follow it, I think? Wow, this screams 'trap.'" Looking back down at Haruki, she grasps that aimless hand, pulling the magician to his feet, should he cooperate. "Up we go, Merling."
SQUEEEEE!!! SO CUTE!!!! Haruki wants to... he wants to... AWWWWWWWW!!!!! "It needs help. We should help it." And he's already following to try and do that, no longer scared or worried or anything but HELP THE KITTY!!!!
"So, I guess we should follow it then. Eyes sharp folks. Haruki, stick with us. I guess we all want to help it,", he looks to Poppy for confirmation, " but we have to be careful." Still, he'll move forward to follow, if Poppy indicates agreement.
"Oh god, Haruki, please do not make me wish I had a fucking leash," the siren mutters, the choral nature of her voice making the swearing sound much nicer than it ought to. She at least doesn't let go of the magician's hand. "Please don't make me scare goddamn sense into you." Poppy nods to Whiskey. "Yeah, let's go see what the hell it wants. Hopefully this isn't a 'no good deed goes unpunished' situation."
Haruki tries to tug Poppy along with him because... because KITTY!!!! He's not pulling hard though and really he just has eyes for the tiger cub. "If we had the magic to speak to cats we could find out what it wants or the babelfish in our ears."
->> +Fruit <<- Whiskey successfully harvests some Catseye Clover.
->> +Fruit <<- Whiskey successfully harvests some Catseye Clover.
Before he forgets, as they travel, Whiskey gives a number of bags to Poppy and Haruki. "I have more than enough, and I promised to share."
They go only a very short distance and see a full grown Automatiger laying down against a tree, it's feet bound in some animated chains. The chains don't appear to be attacking, and come together in what looks like a plate with movable pieces, very much reminiscent of an image tile puzzle, except there are no images, only bumps." There is blood on the puzzle, where something has apparently tried to open it.
The siren is not putting up with being dragged, although she's still moving forward. Her step is wary, and she's keeping an eye out for whatever it is that they may be being dragged to. As Whiskey offers the spare clover, however, she smiles cheerfully at him. "Kind of you," she says, making it disappear with a free hand. Looking back to the puzzle, Poppy sighs. "Okay. So somebody fucking locked up mama. I really don't want to leave her locked up, but fuck all if I know if she's going to eat our goddamn faces." The blood is given a sharp look, however, and as she draws closer to the bloody lock she sniffs slightly, lips parted as though tasting the air.
Whiskey says, "I'm ok with puzzles, but not great. How about I stand guard while you two try to free her?" True to his words, Whiskey has bow out, and pointed away from the tigers. "Despicable what some will do."
Haruki's focused on the poor tiger. "Do you have any healing fruit? Should we give it?" He's a little wary himself seeing the creature but does it look threatening? "We have to free her." He goes to investigate if there's a less obvious way, not touching anything but... he's searching in his backpack and he removes a packet of organic chicken jerky with catnip. Some for tiger cub. Some tossed towards the large tiger as a peace offering. "You can make things perfect." He says to Whiskey. "Can you do the opposite?"
Poppy flashes Whiskey a grateful smile. "Thanks," she says, then looks to Haruki. "Jack and shit, unfortunately, although I could certainly fucking dig around to see if I can find anything." She studies the pair. "Mom's fine; only the baby's bleeding." The siren grimaces at that, then moves over to look at the lock a bit more closely. The Hedgebeast is given a considering look. "Okay, so can you talk or any shit like that?"
The automatiger looks up, her bearing regal despite obvious pain, and say "I can. Please free us. I do not know who set this trap, but I wish to go with my cub and rejoin by pride. I do not need healing, and my cub will heal itself. What I do need is freedom."
Whiskey frowns, to Haruki he says "I can perhaps degrade the puzzle, but I don’t know what it will do if I do that and then I can't keep an eye out and we could get ambushed. You two have this, and if you can't open that thing then I'll try, but not having a guard worries me."
OH! IT CAN TALK! Haruki looks embarrassed since he probably hit it with some jerky and he's blushing and he murmurs a 'sorry' and he goes immediately to the puzzle in order to try and solve it. Only eww blood. First he gets out an antibacterial wipe from his backpack to clean it all off. "If you degraded it it might not work. I was wondering if you can do the chains." He nods. "I'm awesome at puzzles. I tried to beat Logan at them and I bought a few of the fancy ones that are so pretty to look at. But you can't always do them as they're supposed to be done. Sometimes you need to think outside the box." And then to the tiger he says. "I'm sorry for assuming that you could not talk."
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 1 2 3 5 6 6 9 10 >
================-> >> Wits + Subterfuge.Adroitness - 2 9-Again << <-
-> >> Poppy to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 2 4 4 5 6 7 7 7 8 10 >
======================-> >> Wits + Subterfuge + 2 - 1 No Flags << <-
Poppy doesn't look entirely surprised as the tiger answers her, with the bonus of being truthful. "We can fucking do our best," she says, appearing somewhat relieved as Haruki cleans the blood off of the lock. As the magician starts talking about locks, she grins. "Sounds like you're better at this shit than I am, but I'll peek over your shoulder."
"It's like Survivor!" Haruki smiles. "Eye of the Tiger." RIGHT. Puzzle. He has that to fixate on and to start with he just looks at it, thoughtfully, without moving anything, trying to work out what needs to be done in order to solve it.
The automatiger visibly cringes at the eye of the tiger reference. The cub, her job done, is stalking her mother's tail.
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 1 1 2 2 3 6 8 9 >
==================================-> >> Wits + Larceny 9-Again << <-
-> >> Poppy to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 2 Successes
< 2 4 6 9 9 >
=================================-> >> Wits + Larceny No Flags << <-
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 4 Successes
< 1 2 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 9 >
==============================-> >> Wits + Larceny + 2 9-Again << <-
-> >> Haruki to Here << <-============================================
Rolled 3 Successes
< 1 4 4 5 5 7 8 9 10 >
==================================-> >> Wits + Larceny 9-Again << <-
Whiskey looks around, briefly looking back at Haruki as he works, and then turning his attention once more to their surrounds. His bow is at the ready, and almost fires when a bush quivers, but it's only a flight of hedge-quail, their rainbow colors vibrant in the chill twilight air.
Haruki's a magician. He's actually something of an expert escape artist too, and as he said, puzzles and locks are his thing. Okay he's more in favour of thinking outside of the box, finding unexpected ways to overcome the puzzle set before them. Which means he pulls out his lockpicks and he starts investigating. He listens for clicks, checks for weakpoints, and sees if there's a way to open things without doing what he's meant to. It's not that he can't do puzzles, it's just... well he's better at it this way. Completely focused he works on trying to overcome the mechanisms and deactivate the trap. Click. Click.
Looking over Haruki's shoulder, the siren manages to avoid humming, murmuring a useful suggestion or two as the magician works; Poppy otherwise remains silent, although watches the tiger and cub as well, keeping track of both of them while trusting to Whiskey to note if anything seems to be approaching.
Haruki jams a lock pick in where he shouldn't, and there's some more twisting, clicking and he doesn't even bother with the puzzle itself. He can do that later. He deactivates the trap with a skilled ease and releases the lock, freeing the tiger.
The tiger slowly rises, so as not to alarm the others and nods its head in thanks to all three. "I appreciate what you have done. I will spread word of your deed to others of my kind, and should you encounter us again you will be welcome, if you obey the rules of hospitality. I regret, that I have no other gift to give you."
Whiskey nods, "Noble one, we hope to meet you again sometime in the future. In the mean time, hunt well and hunt free.", he says.
Poppy smirks at that bypassing of the lock but stays close to the magician as he frees the tiger. As the mechanical tiger gets to her feet, the siren gives it and the cub a wary, if respectful look, then grins cheerfully at that response. "Hey, I'll go with not being fucking eaten and people thinking nice shit about us as a reward, no lie." She glances towards Whiskey, nodding agreement, then checks Haruki for how he's handling things.
"Didn't help you for a gift," Haruki says. He is good. He resists all urges to hug the tiger, or ask to pet it because you don't do that. "Be well." And well now he's picking up the whole lock and chain mechanism, and intent on carrying it. "Freeing you was enough." Then he asks Whiskey. "Can we take the lock? It won't trap us will it? I wonder who set it. Maybe we can find out."
The tiger and cub head off north, and the others head back to Stoneheart. Fruit harvested, a noble beast freed, a good day's work indeed.
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