River

From Greenthings

[20:17] Greenling: Last time on Shuffle!, there was a moving castle, a lynch mob, and a very sad old woman with strange hair.
[20:17] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: And very tasty noodles
[20:17] Inle`Brighteyes: and a chase scene
[20:18] Greenling: Where do our fellows recall being?
[20:18] Panther_Fist_Killer: I remember everything not moving anymore.
[20:18] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: Investigating the 'dark trail' that the woman mentioned, I believe.
[20:19] * Austere_Serpent is clearing large debris, unless someone requires some additional help.
[20:19] * Inle`Brighteyes was following the trail as well...
[20:20] Greenling: So Diviner has decided after running all this way to run all the way back. Inle is also going in that direction.
[20:21] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: Diviner huffs and puffs his way back to where the city used to be, keeping a tight grasp on his box.
[20:22] * Panther_Fist_Killer follows the two.
[20:22] * Inle`Brighteyes huffs and puffs as well. "Slow...down...already...sheesh!" Inle isn't exactly built for running...
[20:22] Greenling: Serpent: the townspeople for the most part will need quite a bit of help. Most of the buildings are intact, but the castle is kinda crumbly. Granted, it was a bit crumbly before, so that might've been the problem.
[20:23] Riel_Valerian: Riel was still looking about both for the girl he was looking for, Necromancers, and for why the town was pulled around.
[20:23] Austere_Serpent: "You really should see about hiring a good architect." Austere will mention this as he lifts another rock the size of a small ox.
[20:24] Greenling: "Oh my," the old woman swoons at Serpent gratefully.
[20:25] Riel_Valerian: "Oi! Kings, gather up!" He calls out to his crew as he looks around the crumbling rubble
[20:26] Greenling: Riel's crew passes Inle and Diviner going the other way, puffing the while.
[20:27] Greenling: They well arrive about ten minutes later, being mortal and not in a vehicle.
[20:27] Greenling: Diviner and Inle come upon that great black streak.
[20:28] * Panther_Fist_Killer would take his 'vehicle' to the trail, but it's way too obvious.
[20:28] Greenling: It seems to head south-to-north. Panther also gets there.
[20:29] *** The_Lady has joined #playershuffle!.
[20:29] The_Lady: The Lady's shadow falls upon the room
[20:30] Riel_Valerian: Riel looked down at them all. "What took ya so long?"
[20:31] *** Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood has joined #playershuffle!.
[20:31] Austere_Serpent: "Excuse me, Mr. Shouting-At-Others? Can you tell me what is going on? First the town moves, and some people rush here. Now they're rushing back?"
[20:32] Greenling: Breeeeathe-whoof.
[20:32] Greenling: "Yes boss!"
[20:32] Riel_Valerian: "Well if i know what the fuck was goin' on, I wouldn't be sendin' my boys out to check out what the fuck's goin' on!" He turned to his gang. "...well!? Go figure out what the fuck's goin' on! And if you find anyone trapped in a building, pull 'em out!"
[20:33] Greenling: Betrayal has been somehow blackmailed by his Deathlord to wander south in search of this dude with fox tails.
[20:33] Greenling: Supposedly this will make it harder for creepy shota things to ambush you or something.
[20:34] Austere_Serpent: "I see." Austere shakes his head, and begins to fastidiously brush the dirt from his hands, and clothing.
[20:34] Greenling: The Desolation Kings scatter.
[20:34] Greenling: Currently, Betrayal has also noticed the wide swath of dead shit and may or may not be following it.
[20:35] Greenling: Inle mostly notices that this is about carriage-length wide.
[20:36] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Give me a break. 'Just one little thing I need from you, my sword.' Tch. I wish he'd just tell if he wants me to do something, damnit, instead of threatening..." Betrayal's heading down the road, bitching to literally no one else.
[20:36] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: ...Though the general state of the place? That gives him pause. "...What? I didn't even do anything yet."
[20:37] Greenling: Diviner and Panther notice... hmm. This stinks like active use of something involving necrotic Essence. It's been a while, though, and you're not sure how long a while (with just a 3sux roll).
[20:37] Greenling: Betrayal will also notice there are suspiciously building-size-and-shaped... goddamn skid marks. And also a carriage and a Swift Rider and gods only know what else.
[20:38] Riel_Valerian: Riel pulls the hearthstone from the socket in his folded up Swift Rider and placed it on the golden bracers on his arm. "This don't feel right. Not in the least."
[20:39] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "...hmm. Definitely something necrotic." He kneels down by the path and takes a bit of the 'road' in his hands, feeling the dirt.
[20:39] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Old, though." Panther says.
[20:39] * Austere_Serpent follows after Riel, chasing the Swift Rider.
[20:40] * Inle`Brighteyes pants heavily... "Looks...like...something as big as...a carraige...whew." She stands up properly, jiggiling as she does so. Yeah, running wasn't exactly her favorite thing in the whole world...
[20:40] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Mmhmm."
[20:40] Austere_Serpent: "It's rather rude" *pant pant* "to ride off in the middle of a conversa-
[20:40] Austere_Serpent: *pant pant* "-tion."
[20:41] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: ...Is this why he was sent here? He's going to pause to examine the skidmarks. At the very least, this wasn't something he saw often.
[20:43] Riel_Valerian: "Yeah, well, conversation is boring. Bikes are awesome." He used his right arm to lift up a large piece of rock, a small almost unheard whirring sound from his arm signaling the use of his greater strength.
[20:44] Austere_Serpent: "Nonsense. Conversation is what makes the world prosper!" Austere refuses to be outdone with arm, and lifts a block by the expedient of smashing his fist into it. "It allows for the flow of information, ideas, culture, and being picked up in bars."
[20:44] Austere_Serpent: *with one arm
[20:45] Greenling: The skidmarks are very strange. It almost looks like an entire town was yanked *through* the ground, way the hell over Eastwards.
[20:45] Riel_Valerian: Riel's eyebrow twitches. He pulls his arm back and wordlessly smashes a rock to pieces with his right arm. "It's boring."
[20:46] Greenling: Betrayal also sees a dude with fox tails a few hundred feet down.
[20:46] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: That is peculiar. "...What the hell could do that? Was he expecting me?" Time to look around for possible Sidereal ambush.
[20:46] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: Diviner stands and look to the rest of the group by the path. "Feel like doing a bit of exploring?"
[20:46] Greenling: He does not see any obvious Sidereals. Clearly this means they're going to pop out any moment.
[20:47] Austere_Serpent: "We're supposed to be clearing the debris, not creating decorative gravel for pathways, I believe." Austere reinforces this by shoving aside a chunk of castle taller than he.
[20:47] * Inle`Brighteyes exhales slowly and adjusts her hair. "Oh, sure! Why don't we follow this...um...black trail thing here?" She smiles, trying to resume the innocent, big-busted simpleton persona she typically wears
[20:47] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Hey, laugh all you want, Mr. Narrarator man. I had one jump out at me from underneath a bar counter. A bar counter. They were hiding as a stool- er, anyways. He shakes his head. "Time to get looking again..." Toward the others!
[20:49] Riel_Valerian: "I'm not supposed to be doin' anything but finding some kind of dead person who kidnapped my friend." His hair never seems to flip away from his distant away away from Austere, even though it almost seamlessly switches to the other eye if the covered one becomes the closer eye.
[20:50] Austere_Serpent: "A dead person who...kidnapped your friend? That sounds unsavory."
[20:51] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He nods, then begins walking down the path, box under his arm.
[20:51] Riel_Valerian: "You'd be surprised. One time it was a Dragon King. Had to drop him in a pool of magma."
[20:51] Riel_Valerian: "Another time it was some dude with long hair and a giant sword with a mother complex."
[20:51] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Mother complex, really?"
[20:52] Riel_Valerian: "Shit...shit happens." He kicks up a rock with his foot, spins and kicks the flat of it to send it flying into a weight-supporting rock to clear a road.
[20:52] Austere_Serpent: "You don't say? A Dragon King? A sentient one? How rare!"
[20:52] Riel_Valerian: "Rarer now."
[20:53] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: ...Wait a second. Hey, this could be over real quick! "Hey! You!" At least he's showing he can move faster than a disinterested shuffle now.
[20:54] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: !
[20:54] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: Diviner looks around, then spots Betrayal. "Um...can I help you, sir?"
[20:54] * Inle`Brighteyes blinks, turning towards Betrayal as he calls... "Huh?" She points at herself. "me?" :o
[20:55] Austere_Serpent: "Well, yes. But that seems such a waste. Think of all that bio-technology they had!" Austere sighs wistfully, eyes glazing over with the thought of ready access to such newly rediscovered forms of old technology.
[20:56] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Ignoring Inle, because it's in the brooding antihero contract you can't have good first impressions or something unless it's no fault of your own. "Yeah, you, with the tails. I got sent a long way to track you down."
[20:56] Riel_Valerian: "Thinking makes my stomach hurt.' He lets out a sigh, reaching back into his pack to pull out a beef sandwich and starts taking big bites. "The boys better find something damn quick."
[20:57] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He turns slowly, hand going to the bracelet on his right wrist. "...may I ask by who?"
[20:57] Austere_Serpent: "Well, if you're really that bored, I suppose we could go follow the others. Didn't that one rather thin lady call you by name?"
[20:58] Riel_Valerian: "Yeah. She was just following me. Always does." He looked back at the path. "Fine. Not like we're doing anything around here." His stomach rumbles as he takes another bite of a sandwich.
[20:59] *** Kitsunemimi-Maiden has joined #playershuffle!.
[21:00] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Catching that, one of his hands straying to his back. "My boss. Forsaken Passion Amidst something or another. You know his name, I'm guessing."
[21:01] Riel_Valerian: "Oi! Dude with the loud voice and the jumping! You comin' or just gonna dick around here?"
[21:02] * Inle`Brighteyes frowns very hard at Betrayal, then walks over towards him... "Hey...you know, not talking to someobody is...rude!"
[21:02] Greenling: A couple of the Kings are helping escort Madame Roshia around and apparently being flirted with, a couple more are helping injured people out of the castle.
[21:02] Austere_Serpent: "Me? I didn't realize I had been loud! Quite sorry." Austere makes his way towards Riel. "Are we walking, then?"
[21:02] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: A slight nod, tugging a bit of string from the bracelet. "Did he say why?"
[21:04] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Tilting his head back some. "No. Or if he did, I wasn't really listening. I figured if he was so insistant, you'd know why."
[21:04] Riel_Valerian: Riel looked up at Austere. "...we can ride, but you're pretty fuckin' big."
[21:04] *** Kailan has joined #playershuffle!.
[21:05] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Stopping. Looking over at Inle. "...What do you want?"
[21:05] Austere_Serpent: "I can hang on to the edge?"
[21:05] Riel_Valerian: Riel shifts his shoulder and lets his pack drop, the Swift Rider unfolding as it fell on the ground. He plucks the hearthstone of sunlight and coiled dragons from his bracer and then placed it on the front of his bike, feeling it start up. "Just get in the carge net."
[21:06] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I know why I am being hunted by another. Your lord's reasons are unknown to me."
[21:07] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: Serious fox is serious
[21:07] Inle`Brighteyes: "..uh.." She blinks. "Um...why exactly are you here? And besides...do you know anything about the castle or anything?" :o
[21:08] * Austere_Serpent shrugs, and heads for the cargo area, folding himself into a surprisingly small bundle.
[21:08] Panther_Fist_Killer: "I don't think he does, he's new here, and this stuff is mostly old." Panther Fist tilts his head. "Well, the movement, no so much..."
[21:09] Riel_Valerian: Riel swings his leg over the Swift Rider, the wheels beneath him spinning faster as he revved it up. Sunglasses flipped from his coat pocket and over his eyes, flicking his hair over the shades. "Hold on in that net." He revved and then took off, the Swift Rider leaving trails of fire in the air behind them.
[21:11] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "I'm here because my idiot of a boss sent me halfway across the damn world without telling me why I was supposed to find him." He's going to unsheathe and idly spin one of his blades. "And to be honest, I'm starting to get pissed off."
[21:11] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "About as much as I am to be hounded by a dead twat who wants to turn me into a doll, I wager."
[21:12] Inle`Brighteyes: "Aw...poor you..." Inle pouts, then gives te Abyssal a friendly hug...said hug being enough to smother the poor warrior...
[21:14] * Austere_Serpent sits patiently in the cargo net. Hoping that it doesn't break from his weight, because falling really does hurt.
[21:15] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Dolls? Wait a second. Are we-" brb marshmellow hell. "What the...? Hey, lady, what're you doing?! I don't mind, but I'm in the middle of a conversation here...!"
[21:15] *** Kitsunemimi-Maiden is now known as Leili_Hua.
[21:15] *** Kailan is now known as Strife.
[21:15] Riel_Valerian: "Just don't jiggle around so much." The scenery flashes by in reflection of Riel's shades, driving the screaming banshee along the road until he could see the rest of the group in the distance.
[21:16] * Inle`Brighteyes lets go. "Sorry...I was hoping that would make you less angry. Did it work?"
[21:16] Greenling: Betrayal can hear a familiar, barely-smothered giggle in the back of his mind.
[21:17] Greenling: This is followed quickly by "shush, he'll hear us!" "shh-sorry" "giggle" "shh" ...quiet.
[21:17] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Oh damnit not right now. "...Damnit, was I followed?"
[21:18] Greenling: Quiiiiet.
[21:18] * Panther_Fist_Killer looks around for what might have followed the deathknight.
[21:18] Strife: Why, yes, yes you were.
[21:18] * Inle`Brighteyes looks over at Diviner, then at Panther... "...Um...what's everyone looking at?"
[21:19] Riel_Valerian: He pulls up a short distance from the group, stopping the Swift Rider in a small skid before letting it rest. "Alright, out before I turn it off."
[21:19] Panther_Fist_Killer: "I dunno, he wondered if he was followed, and I just wanted to make sure it didn't look like anything that might be dangerous." Panther Fist says.
[21:20] * Austere_Serpent unfolds himself from the cargo net. Quite literally, as the sounds of joints clicking back into place creates a loud enough pop that it can be heard over the lingering roar of the engine.
[21:21] Austere_Serpent: "Thank you for the ride."
[21:21] * Panther_Fist_Killer jumps and turns to look at the loud pop.
[21:21] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "I guess it was nothing. Sorry." Let's not let these other people know I'm a wanted homicidal dead man. Well, aside from the other potentially homicidal dead man.
[21:21] Riel_Valerian: "Yeah yeah." Riel gets off the Rider, pulling the Hearthstone from the bike and letting it fold back up into a pack.
[21:22] Austere_Serpent: "Apologies, I didn't mean to to disturb anyone," Austere continues, pulling his left shoulder back into place with another *ker-rack*, "forgive me, please."
[21:23] * Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread gives Betrayal a 'perhaps we should speak privately?' sort of look.
[21:23] Inle`Brighteyes: "But...uh...shouldn't we be following this streak first?"
[21:23] * Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood nods, looking a bit over to side.
[21:24] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "I just need to talk to him. You'd better get going if it's that important."
[21:24] * Inle`Brighteyes pouts. "But..."
[21:25] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I'll catch up with you in a minute."
[21:25] Riel_Valerian: Riel put his sunglasses away, pulling a sandwich out to devour. So much talking! It's so boring! He sets the Swift Rider pack onto his back, heading to look over the road.
[21:25] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He smiles, somewhat comforting if you disregard the stiching holding up one corner of his mouth.
[21:26] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Hey, didn't you want to follow some necromancers?" Panther Fist asks Riel.
[21:26] Riel_Valerian: "Yeah. It's what I was frickin' looking for."
[21:26] Inle`Brighteyes: "Well, why don't we follow this black streak. Then we can find the necromancers that way. Black is necromancer, right?" :o
[21:27] Riel_Valerian: "I guess so. Necromancer or angsty teenager."
[21:27] *** Leili_Hua is now known as Kitsunemimi-Maiden.
[21:27] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Well, it's necromantic. It could easily be some necromantic war weapon and not the makers that left this." Panther Fist muses. "I should probably get Steamfaust, but it'd be too easy to see."
[21:27] Austere_Serpent: "Or it could be a number of other things, perhaps?"
[21:28] Inle`Brighteyes: "Wellll...why don't we look? come on!" She giggles and begins walking down the streak..
[21:28] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Walking to the side, then, that Diviner was looking at.
[21:28] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Well, like I said, it's necromantic essence. It could be human users, machines," Panther_Fist_Killer walks off, listing other possiblities as he goes.
[21:28] Riel_Valerian: Riel grabs another sandwich. So dang much talking...
[21:29] * Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread follows behind, string released back into its bracelet and box under arm.
[21:29] * Austere_Serpent goes along, discussing the possibilites of one usage of necromantic Essence over another.
[21:30] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I really need to find a cache egg for this thing..." He shakes his head. "At any rate, what were you saying before the rabbit woman tried to suffocate you?"
[21:30] Inle`Brighteyes: "Come -on- Riel! you might get to punch somethin!"
[21:30] Riel_Valerian: "Ain't nothin' here."
[21:31] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Right. You mentioned dolls or something? So, are you working for... what's their name... Artisan?"
[21:31] Inle`Brighteyes: "Well, let's find something!" :d
[21:32] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Not so much working for as getting the hell away from." He motions to the soulsteel needlework on his face. "Her doing."
[21:33] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "So you're trying to get revenge, then? I guess Passion meant for us to work together."
[21:33] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Revenge? Not in the least. I'm looking for a way out."
[21:34] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "A way out?"
[21:35] Riel_Valerian: Riel kicked at the black streak. "I don't see nothin'.'
[21:35] Austere_Serpent: "Yes, let's find something. Perhaps...OVER THERE!" Austere points in a random direction!
[21:36] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He nods. "From under them."
[21:36] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I know there's a way to...I just don't know what is it."
[21:37] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Think I should explain necrotic soil rot to him?" Panther Fist asks. "Also, is it me, or did this route split?"
[21:37] Inle`Brighteyes: "...Or we could...FOLLOW IT!" Inle grrrs and walks over and behind Riel, then begins pushing him along the trail. >.<
[21:37] Austere_Serpent: "No one ever falls fot the over there joke." Austere pushes up his glasses to notice that he was pointing the way they'd come from.
[21:37] Riel_Valerian: "Oi! OI! Quitcher pushin'!"
[21:38] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "...Then I've got no clue why the hell I was supposed to find you. I think Passion's aware I'm supposed to be killing Artisan, but I don't have any reason to get from under �them.�"
[21:39] Inle`Brighteyes: "Well, then walk! DX"
[21:39] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I couldn't tell you, to be honest. Perhaps your liege wanted me to give you information on her holdings?"
[21:40] Riel_Valerian: "Bah! Crazy woman!" He steps up the pace, keeping her from pushing him as he heads for the South first.
[21:40] * Austere_Serpent continues to follow the path.
[21:41] *** Kitsunemimi-Maiden has left #playershuffle!.
[21:41] Greenling: Panther can tell that this was left maybe a week or two ago, but no more than that.
[21:41] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Tch. I guess anything helps. What've you got for me?"
[21:42] Panther_Fist_Killer: "South seems as good as any direction, and if not, Steamfaust will get us north quick."
[21:42] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He gives a quick rundown of the facility, making care to note the various nasty beasties and the reality engine that keeps the place in one piece during wyld storms.
[21:43] Riel_Valerian: "Figure we can check out the Forest first. It'll be easier to notice the dead things there."
[21:44] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I have a reason to get away from them, at least. Something to do with my naming, but I've never been able to remember what."
[21:45] Austere_Serpent: "South it is, then, so long as we're not just blindly wandering."
[21:45] *** Strife is now known as Kailan.
[21:45] Austere_Serpent: "Not that we can exactly miss this trail, I would suppose."
[21:46] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Like I said, if we go the wrong way, I think we can make it up using Steamfaust."
[21:46] Inle`Brighteyes: "Yay!" Inle bounces a little, glad that they're finally going SOMEWHERE
[21:47] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He pauses, then shudders. "Is there anything else you need?"
[21:48] * Austere_Serpent attempts to keep eyes on the trail. And not on the bouncing....young lady.
[21:48] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Can't remember? Strange. I guess if it was something like that for me, I'd be interested. Anyways. Thanks for the information. I can't wait to stow this bastard's head in and be done with it."
[21:48] Riel_Valerian: Riel scratches at his bare chest beneath his coat. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe at least there'll be something there to fight."
[21:49] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "I wish you luck."
[21:50] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "I get this feeling I'll need it... You got a name you go by?"
[21:50] Greenling: "Ask him out, doofus!" Betrayal hears inside his mind.
[21:50] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Diviner of the Final Thread. Yourself?"
[21:51] Greenling: "Hsss" "Shhh" quiet.
[21:52] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: He sighs and shakes his head. "Betrayal Edged In Blood. The Bloody Beast. Mister Monster. The Walking Massacre... they really got inventive with some of those wanted posters. Pick one, I don't really care."
[21:54] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Wanted posters?"
[21:54] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: Ear twitch
[21:55] Greenling: You may have seen them.
[21:55] Panther_Fist_Killer: "So," Panther Fist asks his traveling companions, "I don't suppose any of us are actually great trackers are any of us?"
[21:55] Riel_Valerian: "Not entirely." He pulls out another sandwich.
[21:55] Inle`Brighteyes: "Uh...I don't track..." o.o
[21:56] Austere_Serpent: "I'm not completely unskilled. But usually I track game."
[21:56] Greenling: At least the trail is easy to follow...
[21:56] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Same here. Also, somebody tell me if it starts to get really hot."
[21:56] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "It took my master awhile to actually get to me. I sort of... killed everything in my way."
[21:56] Greenling: It goes on south for quite a while.
[21:56] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "...ah."
[21:57] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "It's a lot more complicated than that. Anyways... let's go see what your friends are up to."
[21:58] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He nods, then heads down the path.
[21:58] Austere_Serpent: "Why would it be getting hot? I doubt we'll be travelling so far south as to go to the Elemental Pole of Fire, after all."
[21:59] Panther_Fist_Killer: "I have had problems with heat in the past. Rather embarassing, really."
[21:59] Riel_Valerian: "Is what baths are for."
[22:00] Austere_Serpent: "Alright, if it should become unpleasantly warm, I'll be sure to inform you." Austere considers this. "Or the sight and sound of fire may be an adequate alert."
[22:00] Panther_Fist_Killer: "I... nevermind. Thanks for agreeing to help."
[22:01] Austere_Serpent: "Of cvourse. After all, I'm not too familiar with this area. And having companions to chat with is much better than just making my way town to town, repairing this and that."
[22:01] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Heading down the path, down the path, shut up voices in my head I'm not into dudes, heading down the path~
[22:01] * Inle`Brighteyes sidles over towards Panther. "I'm sure you'll be fine. It's not like we're in the desert." <3 She gives him a little side hug ^.^
[22:03] Greenling: It seems like it'll take most of the day to get to the river.
[22:04] Greenling: On the plus side, the trail starts widening aout three-quarters of the way down.
[22:04] Greenling: (*out)
[22:04] Greenling: It gets kinda dark and creepy, and more things are dead, and in the middle of the dead swath, things start growing.
[22:05] Riel_Valerian: Riel raises an eyebrow. "The hell's growin' out here?"
[22:05] Austere_Serpent: "I say. This is rather peculiar!"
[22:05] Panther_Fist_Killer: "This is not a good sign."
[22:05] Inle`Brighteyes: "Huh..."
[22:06] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "What isn't?" Diviner eventually catches up with the group, then spots the plants.
[22:06] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Hmm."
[22:06] Greenling: You can see it starting to grow into an adorabe little black-and-green hedge after a while.
[22:07] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: Following because why the hell not, he's not particularly eager to take on a deathlord alone. "...Never seen that before."
[22:07] * Austere_Serpent takes a closer look at the plants.
[22:07] Inle`Brighteyes: "..." She blinks, then gently pokes one of the hedges with a stick...
[22:07] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Neither have I."
[22:08] Greenling: A pretty flower opens for Inle, then *pop*s.
[22:08] Greenling: A hazy mist is in the air around it.
[22:09] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "...Let's burn it."
[22:10] * Inle`Brighteyes blinks at the flower, then eeps, quickly coering her face and stumbiling back
[22:11] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "That may not be...a..." Diviner gets a good noseful of the mist mid-sentence.
[22:12] Austere_Serpent: "Aww, a lovely bouquet." Austere pulls a cloth out to wipe the mist from his glasses. "Dreadfully bothersome, however."
[22:13] Panther_Fist_Killer: "What the hell was that?" Panther Fist asks.
[22:14] Austere_Serpent: "I'm not too sure, honestly." Austere reaches down to pluck one of the flowers, the better to examine it.
[22:14] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Man, don't do that."
[22:14] Greenling: Serpent is fine. Betrayal is fine.
[22:14] Austere_Serpent: "Ah, you should all maybe stand back, then?"
[22:15] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "I don't trust anything that thrives out here."
[22:15] Greenling: Inle feels a little woozy, Panther feels sleepy and is having trouble staying awake, Riel and Diviner konk over.
[22:15] Inle`Brighteyes: "uhhh...my head hurts...sleepy..."
[22:16] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: And thud goes the foxman, thankfully missing the box.
[22:16] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Ya shee, idz a sop. Sopa. Soporific." Panther yawns out.
[22:16] Austere_Serpent: "Ah. This is a rather large bother." Austere looks at Betrayal. "I don't suppose you can carry one? I should be able to manage the other three."
[22:16] Riel_Valerian: "ZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzz" His stomach rumbles loudly.
[22:17] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "...See? I said to burn it. But no, don't listen to me..." Nudging Riel with his foot. "Damnit, they're down."
[22:17] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Sure, I got whicher you don't."
[22:18] Panther_Fist_Killer: "I can burn them if" Yaaaawn, "needed."
[22:18] Austere_Serpent: "Thank you." Austere first throws the bloom he plucked back into the hedge, then leans over, scooping up Inle and Riel, one over each shoulder.
[22:19] Greenling: Continuing south?
[22:19] Inle`Brighteyes: "Er...uh...I'm still awake...yaknow..."
[22:19] Austere_Serpent: "Ah, my mistake. I wasn't sure. Would you prefer to walk, then?"
[22:19] Inle`Brighteyes: "..though I don't mind being carried by a big strong man like you..." She giggles, running finger along Serpent's back
[22:20] Austere_Serpent: "And I could carry that little fox-tailed one." Austere blinks, and shifts Inle so she can ride on his back. "This should be more comfortable for you."
[22:21] * Austere_Serpent then tosses the fox-man on the now free shoulder.
[22:23] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Got everyone clear?" Panther Fist asks.
[22:23] Austere_Serpent: "Then, on to the South, a bit more? Avoiding the flowers this time, little miss?"
[22:23] * Austere_Serpent backs up a few more paces, just in case.
[22:25] *** Quin has joined #playershuffle!.
[22:25] Inle`Brighteyes: "Of course." she giggles and nuzzles Serpent's neck.. "I didn't catch your name..."
[22:26] * Panther_Fist_Killer aims his firewand at the flowers, debating if firing would be a good idea or not.
[22:27] Austere_Serpent: Austere's skin begins to flush. "I-its...hell, call me Austere Serpent. Or Austere. Or Ser. Or 'hey gorgeous'."
[22:27] Riel_Valerian: Riel simply snores at whoever's carrying him.
[22:27] Greenling: Suddenly, a panda appears!
[22:28] Inle`Brighteyes: "Mmmm...that's a pretty name...I'm Inle Brighteyes..."
[22:29] Austere_Serpent: Austere twists his head to look at her. "No false naming there. The last time I saw anything so luminous I was blinded for a week."
[22:31] * Panther_Fist_Killer ignores the flirting, and walks down the path, avoiding any pointy things he can see, or flowers that look in the least like the sleep flowers.
[22:32] * Inle`Brighteyes giggles at that. "You're so sweet..." She coos and snuggles against his back, something very soft smooshing against Austure's muscles
[22:33] Greenling: There are lots of pointy things and sleep flowers, but they are also easily avoidable.
[22:33] Greenling: You get down to the river, and the hedge disappears. That's the good news.
[22:33] * Austere_Serpent makes sure one leg moves after the other, down the path. Quite careful to ensure nothing should touch Miss Brighteyes, oh no. Riel and the fox? Not so much.
[22:34] Panther_Fist_Killer: "When we leave, I'm going to use lots of firedust on all those plants."
[22:34] Greenling: The bad news is that the river- a major intersection between here and the sea- has been almost entirely stopped up and now looks more like a horrible misty boggy fen surrounded by sobbing Guildsmen and other traders.
[22:35] Greenling: Inle and Panther are by now fine. The other two are beginning to wake up groggily.
[22:36] Riel_Valerian: Riel gives out a cough, his eyes opening. "...what the fuck did I drink?"
[22:36] Austere_Serpent: "Nothing. A flower popped in your face."
[22:36] Austere_Serpent: "Think you can stand up, or do I need to keep you on my shoulder?"
[22:36] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Some flower. Can I stop carrying your heavy ass now?"
[22:36] *** Kailan has left #playershuffle!.
[22:37] Riel_Valerian: "fudgeya." Riel slid off, rubbing his head like a bad hangover.
[22:38] Panther_Fist_Killer: "So," Panther Fist asks the Guildmen and traders, "what happened?"
[22:38] * Austere_Serpent sets the fox-man on his feet, one hand on their back to make sure they don't fall over, as well.
[22:38] * Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread stands a little wobbly, then shakes his head to clear it. "What was that?"
[22:39] Austere_Serpent: "Flowers born of something necromantic, probably. I'd conjecture they serve as a lure for a predator, as well." Austere rolls his shoulders, perhaps not accidentally causing Inle to bounce on his back.
[22:41] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "...lovely." He then looks about and goes o.o upon seeing the river.
[22:42] Inle`Brighteyes: "Oof...hehe..." Inle climbs off of Serpent, standing beside him as she eyes the crying men... "Looks like something weird's been effecting the river. It's all...misty :o
[22:43] * Austere_Serpent finally notices the river.
[22:43] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Sirs? Can you hear me?" Panther Fist asks again.
[22:43] Austere_Serpent: "That's...not normal."
[22:43] Riel_Valerian: "Looks like a sewer. Eh, seen one, seen them all."
[22:44] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "So why are you guys trying to follow whatever made this?"
[22:44] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Curiosity, mostly."
[22:44] Panther_Fist_Killer: "They may have kidnapped people important to him and to me," Panther says, pointing at Riel at the appropriate point.
[22:44] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "...Curiousity."
[22:45] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He nod.
[22:45] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: +s.
[22:45] Austere_Serpent: "Pretty much. The moving town is related to this, maybe? I was getting somewhat bored, and this beats just repairing lights and objects for rich people."
[22:45] Greenling: One of the traders looks up at Panther.
[22:46] Greenling: "The river's clogged, and one of our boats is stuck in that rotted muck."
[22:46] Greenling: He points to what seems to be a shape in the swampiness.
[22:47] Greenling: "We can't get home, and we can't get in there without falling prey to the river. We've already lost people."
[22:47] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Ah." Panther Fist hrms. "I think I can clear this. But getting to Steamfaust will take time."
[22:47] Riel_Valerian: "Well, what's in the river?"
[22:47] Austere_Serpent: Austere politely excuses himself from the group, after dropping his pack with his books and other non-soakable goods. "I'm something of an aquatic specialist. Maybe I can help?"
[22:47] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Hey, Diviner. Think whats-his-name is involved?"
[22:48] Inle`Brighteyes: "When did this happen?" She approaches one of the traders
[22:48] Greenling: The Diviner does not have to go too close to realize that that mist smells very much like the mist that put him out.
[22:49] Greenling: "Just yesterday morning," they say. "We're waiting for an emergency caravan."
[22:50] Greenling: Serpent notices that and also that there seems to be a central point in the water from which this mist is emenating. A central point surrounded by strage shimmering dark shapes.
[22:51] * Austere_Serpent goes back and points it out to the others.
[22:51] Austere_Serpent: "Do you all think it would be best for me to go into the river and look at that?"
[22:52] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Do you think it's safe?"
[22:53] Austere_Serpent: "I would doubt that I have anything to fear from something in the water."
[22:53] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Ok. Now, if you're wrong, what do you say our chances are of rescuing you?"
[22:54] * Austere_Serpent considers this.
[22:54] Austere_Serpent: "Not knowing the full extent of your capabilities, anywhere from...3 to 91%."
[22:54] Austere_Serpent: "It's a bit vague."
[22:55] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Which what's his name? I can think of a few."
[22:55] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Well, it strikes me as a bit like someone lost control of their Resonance. ...Isn't your old owner in power here?"
[22:56] * Inle`Brighteyes walks over to the others. "If you guys want, I can get the traders out of the way...distract them some..."
[22:56] Riel_Valerian: Riel grinned as he reached into his pocket for a sandwich. "...let's see." He tossed the sandwich into the river.
[22:56] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: He shakes his head. "She's farther north, in Halta. We're closer to the Walker, I think."
[22:57] Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread: "Could be a resonance spike, though..."
[22:57] Panther_Fist_Killer: "Where do you get all those sandwiches?"
[22:57] Austere_Serpent: "I'll just...slip in from upstream." Austere drops his Fuel-Gun Launcher. "Please watch Incendiary Accusation for me. He can be slightly...explosive."
[22:57] Riel_Valerian: "Chick in nexus makes me a ton before I head out."
[22:58] Austere_Serpent: Austere heads for the river, a few hundred yards upstream....changing into his River Dragon form once underwater.
[22:58] * Austere_Serpent then rears up, roaring.
[22:58] Panther_Fist_Killer: "This is a nice... holy crap."
[22:58] Greenling: The Guildsmen scatter like frightened ants.
[22:58] * Diviner_of_the_Final_Thread lets out a little meep at the roar
[22:58] Betrayal_Edged_In_Blood: "Resonance spikes mean there's another agent in the area, usually." Turning. "What the...!?"
[22:59] * Austere_Serpent dives back under, heading towards the disturbance in the river. And gently nudging the trapped ship free.
[22:59] Greenling: The Serpent sees many shapes in the water. Small, dead shapes, rising out of the murk, a whole school of them, coming right for him.
[22:59] Austere_Serpent: The Serpent has a very large maw. And skipped lunch.
[22:59] Inle`Brighteyes: "What th..." Inle quickly drops down and low, her hands reaching for her swords...