Kintobor

"We are making it back to the hall." Zaria replies to Merei, smiling wearily. "Things may be bleak, but that is no reason to get complacent on me." "Well, the Hydra being contained to the cargo section no longer seems to be the case. Do you know anything about the whereabouts of Doctor Linda Greenlaw?" Zaria asked the dwarf.

What if we limited the amount of times Meditate could be used? As in you can only meditate once per mission?

"Oh, I didn't mean to sound offended, dearie." The dwarven woman replies. "I can't say I know much about chimera culture, or the cultures of many other species, but I think it's important to have an open mind when dealing with strangers. It tends to bring in more profits." The dwarven woman giggles to herself. "Are you here for the festivities? Or are you here to see Mr. Fix-It? We get so many visitors nowadays ever since he moved in." -Meanwhile...- Cassandra leads Bers towards the far end of Knothole, through the crowds and merriment-making to a rustic looking manor house on a hill. The house was painted a muddy red, with gardens surround the grounds. Frost-bitten flora sprinkle the white, snowy ground with pinks, whites, oranges and purples. Like most of the town, the manor house is adorn with Harvest Week decorations: garland, branches of holly and sprig, and other bushels of fragrant spice plants accentuate the home's pillars and balconies. A large sun room extends from the house, full of tropical plants and bushes. As the two approach the front door, it opens to reveal a small, purple winged lizard. "Cassandra! You're home!" The dragon wyrmling pipes up, it's wings flapping excitedly. The dragon recoils at the sight of Bers. "Wh-who's your... um..." "It's alright, Clover. This is Bers. He wishes to duel to me." The dragon's nervousness increases, as he steps back to hide behind the door. "... you're going to fight him?" "Well, no. We're going to spar." Cassandra swiftly draws her rapier, levelling it towards Bers. "Alright, we need to lay down some rules. We are not fighting to the death. First to fall over loses. No preparation prior. Just your skill with your sword and your wits. No ranged weapons. Do these terms sound fair to you? Perhaps you'd like to make a wager?" Cassandra smirks, enjoying the excitement as Clover peers out from behind the door, equally curious as he is terrified.

Perhaps meditate can only restore half of a PCs Spirit and always activates at the end of combat? So you always get back at least half your spirit at the end of combat instead of meditating?

Zaria holds a hand out to help the dwarf up. "It's time to get you to safety. My name is Zaria, and I am a priestess of Varuth. We've been sent to help you. Mind giving me your name?" Zaria asks the dwarf. She knew she looked weary from all this death surrounding her, but she knew if there was one person who needed protection, she had an obligation to help.

Zaria makes an attempt to wake up the dwarf. She kneels down and begins to speak to him, shaking him if need be. "Are you alright? It is not safe and we need to get you out of here. Varuth's guidance will be with us, friend."

Yelana Insight Check (DC:2): (1,2,4,6) Two Successes Yelana comes to the conclusion that likely what the mayor is interested in is Bers combat prowess, and less so a desire to flirt with the adamite. Yelana Stealth Check (DC: 2): (1,4,6,6 +1 Success) Four Successes Yelana Persuasion Check (DC: 5): (1,4,5 +1 Success) Three Successes Yelana successfully sneaks up behind the two humans in the crowd, but does little to deescalate the situation. Upon speaking, the man jumps in surprise. "GAH! What the- who the hell just sneaks up behind people?!" "Are you trying to agitate my brother, girl?" The woman asks Yelana bitingly. "Don't give me that lip! I saw you eavesdropping on my sister and I! Didn't your mum ever tell you it's rude to stare?" As the man begins working himself up into a furor, the woman puts a hand on the man's shoulder. "C'mon, let's move along, Toby. There's no reason to start a scene." Toby turns from his sister back to the two heroes and exhales sharply, snorting as he does so. "I'm keeping my eyes on you two. You're both a bunch of sneak thieves if you ask me." Toby responds, pointing to himself with two fingers and then throwing them back at Yelana and Polaris. The two humans walk away from the stall and into the crowd. "I have no idea what was up with those two, but how about a cookie to get your mind off of that bit of nastiness, eh?" The chocolate chip cookies are soft and warm, the chocolate chips inside gooey and rich, while not being too sweet to become overpowering. The cookie was close to divine. "My husband does all the cookies and pastries while I knead and bake all the breads and pretzels we sell. Traditionally dwarves would use a family forge for many purposes: the word hearth and forge are same in the dwarven language. You bake with the forge, you heat iron and metal in the forge: it is a place of creation and community. Families come together and pass down their skills and traditions around the forge."

Zaria stands up and moves to the other person on the floor, looking them over to see if they're injured.

"Well, let's be off then, Blader." Mayor Cassandra leads Bers through the crowd towards her home. MM Note: I'll be giving you an update soon regarding what happens next. "I would hope most of our contestants would be understand how to handle a firearm responsibly, but if something happens I will remember your offer. We do have some medics on site, but so long as you know what you're doing I won't step between you and someone who's injured." The baked goods stall had signage advertising the pastries sold: Stonehearth Bakery. A dwarven man steps forward, bundled up in a orange coat. The sounds of a cooing infant strapped to his back interrupt him occasionally as they laugh and blow raspberries. "Are you interested in any of our baked goods, their ma'am? All are made with hand-kneaded dough and baked in an authentic dwarven forge. Here, try one our cookies!" He holds out a tray of cookies for Polaris, grinning as he does so. The dwarven woman working the stall readjusts her thick, round glasses as she plainly addresses Polaris. "We sell bread, pies, cookies, tarts, cakes, pretzels, and... yeah, that's just about it. Anything pique your interest?" -Stonehearth Bakery- Ancient Grains Bread - 5 Credits Salted Pretzels - 5 Credits Fluffy Croissant - 5 Credits Vanilla Creme Pie - 10 Credits Black Forest Cake - 15 Credits Polaris Perception Check (DC: 3): (4,4,4) Three Successes While speaking to the dwarves, Polaris manages to overhear the two humans speaking to one another in a hushed tone. The male side eyes his partner as he browses the baked goods. "There's a lot of guns coming into town." "You're way too paranoid. Calm down, dude." "Paranoid?! I-I'm not paranoid!" The man raises his voice as he addresses his partner, looking around to see if anyone notices him. He looks at Polaris, squinting his eyes. "What are you looking at, furball, huhl?"

Zaria frowns in dismay at the state of the woman as she examines her. So much death, and for what? "I feel like we should at least speak to him before we do anything hasty." Zaria points to the man on the floor. "I would prefer not being jettisoned out into space."

I've been enjoying myself a lot, Legonater! I have lots to say once we wrap up, but engagement is not an issue on my end.

Zaria takes a moment to clean her blade of the muck staining it. She looks to Varen and nods in approval. "Well aimed, Varen. We all did well. Varuth's guidance is with us, surely." She looked to the corpse of the larger Hydra. A challenging foe had been vanquished by her blade. She calmly cleaved the claw from the creature and latched it to her belt as a trophy for later. "<Varuth, guide on the Great Path, accept this trophy as a token of my devotion to you; that you may give me strength and wisdom to lead my friends and I to safety, no matter the perils.>" She turns to attention to the injured woman on the floor and examines her, looking for injuries.

Yelana Insight Check (DC: 2): (1,3,4,5) Two Successes Although Yelana can't quite tell if Teclion's disappearance has anything to do with it, the mayor does look stressed. She looks tense in her shoulders and there is clearly makeup hiding dark circles underneath her eyes. Despite her greeting being amicable, Yelana also feels as if the mayor is suspicious of the party, her voice and consistent looking over of the heroes' gear and weapons suggesting such.

Zaria moves to D4, slicing into the final Sprout. She shouts as she swings her blade into the creature, putting her energy into a cleave she hopes will bisect the scorn-inducing creature.

"The marksmanship contest has been a tradition in this community for decades. It brings hunters, sharpshooters, and other talented figures to test their mettle with a rifle. If any of you are interested, I might be able to squeeze you in for tonight's big event. It's the last big event until the Daybreak Vigil on the final day of Harvest Week: the Day of Solitude." At the mention of Fix-It, Cassandra sighs. "I see his reputation has spread. If you want to see him you better get in the line. He's got a number of people seeing him at his workshop on the edge of town. Needless to say, I hope Knothole treats you well, Polaris; Miles." The man dressed in brown, rugged looking clothes lingers around a stall selling baked goods next to a woman in pilot's fatigues. The man's layers of clothing are accented with a simple silver necklace. He notices Polaris' gaze and looks at her before turning his attention back to his seeming partner, talking to her. It'd be impossible to listen in without getting closer. "Bladers? Can't say I've ever been called such a title before." Cassandra chuckles at Bers' comment regarding her. "Knothole's streets are probably not the most appropriate places for a duel. If you would like we could head back to my home and spar there: it's far enough away from the crowd that I imagine neither of us are going to hurt anyone else. I have a training course on the premise that might be to your liking." Yelana Culture Check (DC: 1): (1,2,5) One Success Yelana can astutely claim that the purple-skinned woman is likely a celestial of human heritage. Cassandra curtly returns the gesture, shaking Yelana's hand. "Sure. Then in that case, I do hope you find Knothole and the Harvest Week festivities enjoyable, Yelana." MM Note: So, I'm not entire sure what you're looking for out of this insight check. Can you be a bit more specific on what the insight roll you wish to make is in regards to? Also, fixing your stats.

There is a long and honoured tradition in Dungeons and Dragons of fungus just being the worst. I don't blame any player who hears a description for a mouldy hallway and decides that discretion is the better part of valour.

"Oh, this?" She pats the rapier n her hip, the glint of the metal reflecting in the sun. "It's served me well when I was in the navy. Now? It's mainly for show." The elf furrows her brow in confusion before nodding at the offer for a duel. "Do you introduce yourself to everyone with a proposition for a duel?" She smirks. "I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to such an offer if you wish to spar. It's been awhile since I've had a need to draw it; it wouldn't hurt to get some practice in. I do prefer knowing the name of my sparring partner, though." "Fair enough." The elf responds, folding her arms. "My name is Cassandra Skyreach. I'm the mayor of Knothole. As such I'm helping keep an eye on the festival as it progresses to ensure things go smoothly." Cassandra eyes the heroes over, looking at their attire and gear before continuing. "All I ask is that you keep your weapons to yourselves and you don't cause any trouble. This is a quiet community, it doesn't need any more excitement."

Squinting in pain as another attack strikes her, Zaria turns around and slashes at Hydra Sprout A. "As long as I stand these creatures will find no respite from my blade; no place of rest or ease of burdens!"

"No no, I do believe your story. There are far stranger, far more curious tales that still happened to be true. The world we live in is at times stranger than fiction." Istifer nods his head. "I will be honest, I am not as knowledgeable about the Snow Queen as perhaps you were hoping for, but perhaps you should divine on her some more. I do not know what powers she might bestow, but communication with her should be dealt with cautiously. Faeries can be dangerous, and if she happens to be one I would not want to see you get hurt." The bus roars to life as the automaton driver takes their seat and starts the ignition. Istifer grumbles before turning to Polaris. "If you don't mind I am going to have call this the end of our conversation. I would be more than willing to talk with you in Knothole, though. I'll be staying at the town's inn if you wish to speak to me again." Istifer bows before taking his seat, the bus lurching forward as the party rode to their destination. --- After a few hours of driving the bus comes to a stop, the robotic driver announcing the destination in a tinny voice and reminding the passengers to not forget any belongings. Stepping outside, the air is cool and crisp, but not unbearably so. The village of Knothole was alive with activity: street performers played music and performed feats of dexterity and coordination such as juggling and acrobatics. The smell of spiced meats, baked breads, and mulling drinks filled the air. The sounds of laughter, cheering, and merriment rocked through the town's streets, all of them paved with dirt and patched with snow. In the distance a large swath of trees sprouted at the hills at the town's edge, beyond that tall mountain peaks. The town was almost picturesque in it's quaintness. The other three passengers step off the bus, Avgustus lugging his trunk behind him as it clanged against each step of the bus. "Well, this is where we depart for now. Polaris, take care. I'm certain we'll meet again. My daughter wishes to partake in the marksmanship contest earlier today after we've visited my brother." "I'd like to test my skill against some of you guys; see if I can't beat a mercenary at their own game." Jessi confidently grins and fires off a pair of pistol fingers at the group as she and her dad leave for the inn. "Ah, heroes!" Avgustus calls out, dragging his trunk behind him. "Well, I'm currently off to the inn and then it's off to see Fix-It. Maybe I'll see you there when you go to visit him yourself, hm? Needless to say, enjoy the Harvest Week festivities, and if you wish to speak to me I'll be staying at the inn! Goodbye for now!" The professor drags his trunk through the snow in the same direction the two elves went, leaving the heroes to mill about the town's gate. A large crowd had gathered around a green building, looking through the fresh pasties, pies, cakes and breads. Coming in behind them was a man leading a large, bipedal lizard. The creatures scales were a mossy green, and it's claws sharp and white. Crowds bustled over the music from a band as vendors shouted and residents and guests walked through the street "Freshly baked pies! Freshly baked bread! All baked in an authentic dwarven forge! Come one, come all!" "Now you listen here- all I care about is the safety of the community! I do not want to see your pistol tricks taking out a window or worse!" The purple skinned woman raises an eyebrow at the dwarf wagging a finger at her. "Sheesh, lay off it, old timer. I got better things to be doing than listening to you badger on all day about what I should be doing with my time." "Old timer!! How dare you speak to me in such a manner!" "Hey, you three." An elven woman approaches the party, a hand resting on the pommel of a glistening rapier attached to her hip. Her blue jumpsuit is similar in style to the ones worn on the Satyr's Song, the exception being her sky blue jacket. "Everything going well? I'm just checking in to make sure you didn't catch the wrong bus by accident. We don't get a lot of people from outside the community around here." -The Heroes- Polaris Ursaring [with M.I.L.E.S.] (samurai-turtle) -PARTY LEADER- 15 cycle old female "Chimeran" Character Points: 0 / 22 Vitality: 8 / 8 Velocity: 2 Strength: 2 Skill: 3 Smarts: 2 Spirit: 2 / 2 Proficiencies: Coding 1*, Engineering 1 (+1, tool), Medicine 1 (+1, tool), Melee Weapons 2, Nature 2, Short Range Weapons 1, Long Range Weapons 1, Spells: Healing Light, Spirit Ally, Credits: 32 Equipment: Mecha Strike (Standard, Kinetic, Melee Range Weapon), Utility Belt (tool) Grants +1 Engineering or Medicine Check Success, Inventory: Whirlwind Boomerang (Standard, Elemental, Short Range Weapon), Plasma Potion (x5), Pulse Cannon (Calibrated, Energy, Long Range Weapon) Other: Minor Blessing of Lorgothol (+1 Success to the next Medicine Check made by this character. This blessing disappears after the check is made.) Designation: B3R5 - 3rk (Dutch Thriceman) Age: Unknown, Gender: Mechanical, Race: Adamite Character Points: 0 / 14 Vitality: 6 / 6 Velocity: 2 Strength: 3 Skill: 2 Smarts: 1 Spirit: 1 Proficiencies: Melee Weapons 2, Intimidation 2, Athletics 2 Known Spells: None Credits: 85 Equipment: Chain-Greatsword (Standard Kinetic Weapon) Mecha-Plate (Standard Kinetic Armour) Inventory: Shield Booster, Energy Cell, Nanite Elixer, 2 Plasma Potions, Sawn-Off Shotgun (Standard Short Range Kinetic Weapon) Yelana Fennix (Classic_Spaceman) Unknown age Female Human Character Points: 1/15 Vitality: 6 Velocity: 3 Strength: 2 Skill: 3 Smarts: 4 Spirit: 0 Proficiencies: Artillery Weapons 1, Perception 1, Insight 1, Stealth 1, Sleight of Hand 1 Known Spells: N/A Equipment: Modular Sniper Rifle (Calibrated Energy Artillery Weapon, Ion Scope (Attachment: This Weapon Ignores Obscurement), Radiation Gauntlet (Standard Energy Armour), Farsight Goggles Inventory: Cloaking Generator, Hacking Chip, Translator Cube, Plasma Potion 2x Other: Minor Blessing of Lorgothol (+1 Success to the next Medicine Check made by this character. This blessing disappears after the check is made.) Credits: 60

Tossing the bottle of Plasma Potion onto the floor, Zaria leaps back into the fray. Moving to B5, she strikes the Calyx, looking to end the creature's existence.

Stepping back, Zaria grimaces at the wound puncturing her side. The pain surges through her as she groans. Grabbing for her pouch, she finds and downs a Plasma Potion, moving to C4.

I have had a lot going on in my life at the moment. I run a Dungeons and Dragons campaign on Fridays and I also spent most of my spare time at home preparing for dinner tonight. Tomorrow will see the mission move to Knothole.

Zaria nods at Merei's assistance, continuing her assault as she steps forward to C5, slicing at the Hydra Calyx. "My blade will bring us through to the end of this nightmare!"

"The aether can be a dangerous place." Istifer responds, crossing his arms. "It is both a part of our world and yet so far apart from it. Indeed, I remember when the aethernet went online. That was... goodness, years ago at this point. A century, maybe? Nevertheless, it is good to see you have a penchant for helping those in need. There are many problems plaguing the Arm. We could use more helping hands." "Hmm... there are stories of a nature spirit known as the "Snow Queen". I will be honest with you, as much as I am at home in the outdoors and attuning to the world around us, nature spirits are fickle, flighty beings. The Snow Queen, as her formal name implies, considers herself a ruler of icy realms and a harbinger of winter. There are stories that claim her to be more than just a nature spirit, but that she comes from the realm of the fae, and it is through the use of her snow bees that she sends messages to her followers and prepares for the coming winter. There are clerics of Buloros who refer to her as a patron of winter's wrath; of the destruction and bleakness of the cold, and a renewed hope for spring. Indeed: everything comes in cycles: spring, summer, autumn, and winter; life, death, rebirth; seasons of peace, and seasons of revolution. It is this cycle us priests of Buloros dedicate ourselves to, and we ensure that the world does not stay stagnant. If she is referring to you as a cleric, then clearly she wishes to grant you some spark of her power for praying or divining to her." Removing one of his gloves, Istifer reaches into a bag and grabs a handful of dirt. H clutches his hand, squishing the dirt as clumps escape between his fingers before gently opening it, revealing a small, pudding flower slowly growing upward. "A small pinch of the power Buloros grants me. I imagine if you were to follow this path the Snow Queen wishes you to follow she might grant you some of her power, too." "It should not be too long... a few hours at the most. Hopefully the weather doesn't sour." Avgustus closes the chest and sits with Bers. "Ah well, we can always look out the window and enjoy the rolling scenery!"

Zaria recklessly moves to C4, striking the Hydra Calyx.