Haggling, Part 5
Log Info
- Title: Haggling, part 5
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Ashes, Baz da Ork, Edinaz, Josselyn, Nels
- Place: The Lake in the Felwood
- Time: Saturday, September 12, 2020, 8:37 PM
- Summary: The battle with the water elemental continues! Edinaz, Tenoc and Baz attack with only Baz landing blows. Some more fighting and shooting occurs. It is Nels the gungoblin who finally finishes the water elemental off with several rapid shots of his thunderbelcher. It explodes, soaking everyone, and then it is time to swim again. Nels and Baz stay ashore, while Ashlee flounders and Edinaz and Josselyn bring up boots, boots, boots and more boots as well as a monkey statue. Nels bothers the statue and a bearded gnome, thankfully also wearing some clothes, appears and demands to know why everyone is stealing the boots from his boot pool. Apologies and explanations are given, that the party is there to trade for a gem. The gnome is overjoyed! Everyone can give up their boots! The more they liked them, the better. Grumbling, all who wear boots hand them over and receive a gem. A long, barefoot trek back through the swamp to the witches ensues, and the adventurers arrive before leeches eat off their feet.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing =-=-=-=-=-=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face Baz da Ork 7'0" 320 Lb Orc Male 7' 320 pounds of metal, muscle and stupid. WAAAGH! Edinaz 6'10" 296 Lb Half-Orc Male Grey-skinned half-oruch, extensive black ink. Josselyn 5'5" 145 Lb Human Female Ordinary city guard, with a crossbow. Nels 3'7" 42 Lb Goblin Male Tall, for a goblin, and athletic. Close-cut black hair. =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool Otyugh I am stinky! =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Recap
Nels peers as Josselyn fires her crossbow into the water, and he gawks. Maybe the thing is closer to the surface than he realized? He thought it'd be too deep to affect, but maybe not? He pulls more ammo from his bandolier, slides back the bolt, and puts them in individually, muttering a small benediction for each. He then takes aim at the water and fires off all three rounds, hoping good fortune favors him. He hits the water all three times, sending small plumes into the air and causing a lot of gunsmoke. Did it hurt the monster? Hard to say.
Josselyn repeats her previous action, reloading her crossbow and rapid firing blue bolts into the water.
Ash moves closer to the closest person to her on the shore, probably Nels or Josselyn. There's not a lot she can do at range and she's annoyed her spells aren't helping. She glares, letting this anger seep into her gaze, and flow and focus into the water elemental attacking Tenoc. Hopefully this will throw it's attacks off.
The elemental is besieged and beleagured! It's humanoid, easily twice as a tall as one of you, and with lengthy, watery arms! Watery arms which hold Tenoc.
- Watery arms which lift Tenoc.
- Watery arms which hurl him straight at Baz.
Meanwhile, Aros is kind of hiding behind a tree.
Now
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Edinaz is gonna back up and throw a javelin!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14
Edinaz backs up, flinging a javelin.
>ploop<
Missing.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "tenoc will attack with their ancestrla weapon!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16
Tenoc advances, swinging with his ancestra weapon. It slices water, and only water.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (18)+11: 29 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6+6: (6)+6: 12
Baz moves in, landing a vicious slash with his blade!
It's not looking too happy, the elemental.
<OOC> Nels will full attack shooting the elemental GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (12)+12: 24 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (18)+12: 30 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Nels rolls 1d12+8: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Nels rolls 1d12+8: (11)+8: 19
Nels slides more brass shells into his thunderbelcher and chants a bit, making the runes glow. He shoulders his weapon, fires off three rounds, thunder sounding and smoke billowing out, and he scores two hits. He'd be hard pressed to say how good his hits are against the water-creature, but he's at least doing a bit of good. He hopes.
<OOC> Josselyn says, "Deadly aim, full round attack rapid shot." GAME: Josselyn rolls weapon14-2-2: (10)+16+-2+-2: 22 GAME: Josselyn rolls weapon14-2-2: (19)+16+-2+-2: 31 (THREAT) GAME: Josselyn rolls weapon14-2-2-5: (16)+16+-2+-2+-5: 23 GAME: Josselyn rolls 1d8+4+4+3+1d6 cold: (8)+4+4+3+(4 cold): 23 GAME: Josselyn rolls 1d8+4+4+3+1d6 cold: (7)+4+4+3+(6 cold): 24 GAME: Josselyn rolls 1d8+4+4+3+1d6 cold: (6)+4+4+3+(2 cold): 19
Josselyn reloads and fires her trusty crossbow with new bolt after new bolt. If the weapon is good enough for the city guard its good enough to take down any threat in her estimation. "Wish there were weak points" she mutters as she loads another bolt and fires it into the water monster.
<OOC> Ashes says, "as before DC14, -2 on AC, will save 1 round, fail 6" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12 <OOC> Whirlpool says, "This time, it fails!"
Ash continues to watch the battle, and stay a safe distance from it. Near Nels and Josselyn seems like a good idea, so she moves closer to them. Best if everyone groups up. She continues to stare at the water elemental, glaring ill intent and wishing it to have an accident.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+5: (3)+5: 8 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d8+5: (6)+5: 11 <OOC> It is now Edinaz's turn! GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14 <OOC> It is now Tenoc's turn! GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+9: (15)+9: 24 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d10+6: (9)+6: 15 <OOC> It is now Baz da Ork's turn! GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+11: (14)+11: 25 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6+5: (6)+5: 11
The elemental is looking pretty badly wounded at this point, if one can guess it. It's mass is riddled with holes, and it's body starting to lose cohesion in flickers and gaps. Still, it presses its attack, landing two solid attempts on Baz that leave the oruch obviously drained from the desperate defense required ot evade them.
Another javelin is hurled while Tenoc joins the Baz's efforts.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (5)+12: 17 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+12: (16)+12: 28 GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Nels rolls 1d12+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Nels rolls 1d12+8: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Nels rolls 1d12+8: (12)+8: 20
Nels slaps three more rounds into his thunderbelcher and chants as he brings it to his shoulders. He fires three times, and his grouping is a bit better than last time. Not that it's hugely effective - he's shooting into water - but there's motion in the ocean,, and he's taking that as a good thing, and he keeps doing it.
As Nels' shots land, the water elemental *explodes* into a massive spray of water that, well...
Let's just say everyone feels suitably drenched.
"Good work," Ashlee says, complimenting Nels. Remembering some of that training from long ago. She is drenched, water explosions will do that. Her clothes stick to her, and some of the swamp water is washed away.
"You don't suppose that was the Scavenger Lord, do you?" She asks at random.
Josselyn shakes her head "Probably not, didn't look gnomish to me in any case. Though now it may be safe to go diving." she adds as a positive note. "That or keep looking for a gnome."
Nels is as surprised as anyone when the elemental bursts apart. But that's a good thing, right? "Quick," he urges. "Let's find that thing we need to find for the swamp people and get out of here!" The wet look is in, it seems, but apart from wiping it out of his eyes and wiping down his thunderbelcher, he ignores it. "It didn't look particularly gnomish, no," he agrees.
Edinaz stands there, being drenched. He drips, then shakes his head, spraying water for a moment. He looks around for a moment. "I think this is not it." He slides his hand over his forehead, just trying to get the water out of his eyes. The ashen Arvec walks over to Tenoc and Baz. They were injured. Still, some like toughing it out. "Do you need healing?"
She stares out at the lake, then calls in a loud, but still monontone, "Scavenger Lord! Come out come out wherever you are."
Josselyn joins Ash and calls out as well "We are here to bargain! We can help offer some really nice and shiny stuff!" she offers hopeing to pure the Scavanger Lord out. "Maybe they are just not home today?"
Panting MEGA-Baz sits down on the wet ground. Sheathing his scimitar as he does so. The welt forming on the side of his face damp with elemental wateryblood and sweat. "Oy. Dis da first time I've had to fight off a bath." The big Ork wipes at his forehead, then pulls a wineskin from his belt and takes a long pull on the pungent contents within. "Thirsty work battling da lake."
Nels peers at Baz and can't help but wonder, in stunned tones, "Do they normally submit to you without a fight?" He bathes a lot, after his recent curse was cured by a magical footbath, he's doing it a bit more often.
"Yes. All this water and nothing to drink." Ash says, glancing at Baz's wineskin, then back out at the fading ripples. She walks close enough to wet her feet and dig her toes into the mud.
Josselyn shakes her head "Well looks like we might have to try swimming again then. Hopefully there is nothing else in this lake thats an issue." She says looking to the others, in part if there are volunteers.
So who volunteers> Who's going swimming? Tenoc was going to last time being all sithy but perhaps others should help.
Slowly the MEGA-Baz contracts down into NORMO-Baz. The big Ork sighs that he is no longer giant Ork. Looking over at Nels those spike covered shoulders go up and down in a shrug. "Usually? Nevah fought one before. Normally the fighting is me daughters using spears on me till I get in one. Vicious little monsters dey is. Den they throw soaps at me and lock da door till me outer layer melts off." Turning his head towards Ash, Baz offers over the wineskin, the contents smelling of fermentation, spices and apples. Like some kind of inquisitor floor cleaner.
Edinaz looks at the water. "Anyone staying on land?" He ties his swords to their scabbards with an extra loop of rope, just in case, then starts towards the lake.
Nels peers at Baz, and decides, "They must be brave girls." He wouldn't want to see Baz in the bath. He's not going in the lake, himself, he's too small and scrawny for that. "I'll stay," he offers to Edinaz. "I'll ... keep watch, yeah."
Ashlee takes the wineskin with a soft nod, then a long slug of the wine. "Thanks." She hands it back. She doesn't have a lot to divest, although perhaps her familiar should stay with her satchel. "I can look around the shore."
She looks over at Nels, "Can I borrow your Kayak?"
Josselyn places her crossbow in a safish spot "Don't let any harm come to it please." she says before tying her own rope off to join Edinaz. "Figure an extra pair of eyes is probably worth it." she says making her own way into the lake.
GAME: Josselyn rolls athletics: (9)+11: 20 GAME: Ashes rolls athletics: (6)+0: 6 GAME: Edinaz rolls athletics: (18)+8: 26
Nels ohs, nods to Ashes, "Sure." He'll finish fiddling around with setting it into kayak mode and pass it over to her.
"Eh, if I youse going I'll stay here and rest a bit." The big Ork says. Settling in to wait for the results of the swim. It probably taking a few days for him to get out of all the spike covered armor on his form. Taking back his wineskin he digs around in his other pouches looking for something to eat.
So you search.
Through the silt and the sand and the mud on the bottom of the lake bed, you search, diving again and again.
You find things, to be sure. Junk, mostly. Boots. Old fishijng tackles. Boots. ... copper coins? ... boots... A statue of a dog ... boots...
Seriously, what's with all these boots?!
Eating and swimming is bad, so apparently is drinking and swimming. Despite the kayak and her best efforts, Ash does not swim well. She spends more time flailing and hanging onto the kayak than finding things. She brings up what she can, which is probably little unless she gets lucky and finds some boots.
Edinaz pops up, "Boots!" He calls out. He disappears again. When he pops up again. "More boots!" Again. "More fucking boots!" He treads water, then asks, "Maybe someone was dumping bodies in here?"
Josselyn takes a deep breath and dives down again, another boot. Which also suspiciously look likes the boots she is wearing. Why would anyone throw hard working boots in a lake? Its a travesty! Still she tries again, diving down again.
Nels peers at the boots and statue that are dregded up to the surface. He pours out water and mud, and will out the boots, since there's four of them at this point, on the statue-dog's feet. Who knows what triggers magic, anyhow?
"Maybe the water elemental was eating everyone who the witches sent here, and these are their boots." Ashlee says, sputtering and puttering around on the lake.
"What are you doing with my boots?!"
There's a gnome here now, emerging from the water. He's shoirt enough to be a gnokme, anyway, but you can't really tell beneatgh all the clothes and beard. SO much beard. Wrapped around him. Everrywhere. ALL THE BEARD.
He is wearing some pretty great boots, though.
There is low whistle from Baz at the Beard-Gnome. Unable to grow one himself, he strokes his bare scar covered chin as he eyes the Gnome of many whiskers. His hand absently thumbing the handle of the dagger in his boot. Images of the big Ork running around with a long flowing beard dancing through his head. Santa Baz, Baz the Lumberjack, beads and skulls tied into those luscious locks. Then he blinks a few times and makes a throat clearing noise. "Oy, iz day im? Is dat the Scavenger Beard?"
Nels looks at the boots, looks at the dog statue, looks at Ashlee, nods slowly. "Sounds likely," he agrees. "They sent is here .... wait a minute," he protests. "If they sent us here to get eaten, then they didn't have the cure at all and just wanted to get rid of us." Now he's annoyed. But then the gnome arrives, and he shuts up.
Josselyn emerges from the water and tries to squeeze some of it out of her hair "We were looking for you in fact." she responds to the gnome. "We have a fantastic trading opportunity if you have a moment to listen." she says as she pours water out of her own boots.
Edinaz swims back towards the shore, letting the boots drop to the floor of the lake once more. He starts to rise, water falling off of him as he does so. Others talk, so he looks serious. Serious. And wet.
Ashy Splashley heads to shore, one arm over the kayak, the other and her legs trying to propell her in. She finally can touch and walks out of the shallows, streaming water from her clothes. Bath achieved. She pants a little, dropping the kayak back off with Nels, "thanks."
First, she flings her head around, shaking water out of her hair, then her ears. Huge goblinoid ears, that can swallow up gallons. She ends up hopping on one leg to clear her left. She faces the gnome next, so much beard. She gets straight to the point. "I have boots to trade. We want a gem."
"...lookin' for me?! Here to steal mah boots, more likely!" The gnome points a clawed finger at the lot of you.
"What are you doin' with mah boots?!" He asks, loudly. "And what are you loo -- trading opportunity?" He cants an ear in your direction.
"Now what's this tradin' opportunity."
Nels takes back his kayak and looks at it suspiciously. Did he fail to set it correctly, causing Ash to sink? He'd feel kind of bad about that. He peers critically at it, works a lever back and forth, sighs a bit. Maybe it was his fault? He feels bad, though at least everyone came out OK. Apart from wet.
Lifting up the dog statue Baz tries to fit it on his armor next to his own dog tattoo. Failing that he sets it down and makes his way over towards the rest of the group. Watching and listening, and occasionally stroking his imaginary beard. Thinking of the happy sun filled prancing he could do with an axe in each hand and it's flowing length matted to his chest with the blood of his enemies.
Edinaz starts to drip dry. "No. We have more boots for you." He holds up his hands. NO BOOTS HERE.
Ash has a boot, of course. She got lucky. She takes it over to the gnome. She stares at him, her eyes beady in her dark sockets, all the makeup on her skull-tattoo running. Smeared bees, smeared ivy and flowers. At least her piercings are fine, but now she looks like a skeleton that had a gardening accident. After a long look she says in monotone, "Sorry."
Sodden steps along the shoreline take her to where she left her own boots, which she collects and returns with. She holds them up, waves a hand towards them in presentation. "These are officer issue, cavalry boots from the Blar Military." Still monotone, "slightly used."
"...well! They do say you can't know someone until you've walked leagues in their boots. If you're going to offer me your boots in excvhange for something, I'd like to know what it is you're trying to bribe me for, to say nothing of who sent you?" The gnome tucks his beard around his shoulder, staring at the lot of you.
"Right, then. Off with the boots. I'll take all of them." He points. "But what is it you're wanting in exchange for them?" He looks excited. Boots!
Nels's boots are on the table as well? He sighs, but has an idea where this is going and there won't be any point in arguing. He's got plain black leather boots that have seen better days, but he'll tug them off and pitch them at the gnome's feet. See, he's contributing.
Josselyn looks at her boots "We need a gem of yours so we can trade for a cure for a disease. All very terrible all of this, really. Also these boots are standard issue Alxandrian City Gurd boots. Very sturdy and properly worn in." she notes with some pride.
Edinaz pulls his worn, battered leather boots off. He stares at them sadly, and holds them in one hand as they drip, drip, drip forlornly into the edge of the lake.
"Hah! Youse could live in my boot. Wot you gonna trade for that kinda space?" Baz rumbles up. He pulls the axe from it's hip mount and taps the side of his leather and metal marching boot. The spikes on it longer than the fingers on the Gnome's hands. "Er, des boots 'ave seen half da continent and killed more people den kidney's have emptied in dis pond. Dey is treasures dey is."
"Mine rode a lot of horses, and I did a lot of walking." Ash says, worried that she did not upsell her own well enough. She shakes them a little, so they might draw some attention, then nods in Josselyn's direction, "A gem. Like she said."
Nels does not feel the need to upsell his boots. This gnome's the one asking, they must be pretty good if he wants them so much. His socks are gray and have holes in the toes and heel.
"So you're not here to steal my boots, you're here to trade. Looks good. I like these boots. But I'm going to need to know what you were lookin' for in mah boot-pool to begin with!"
The gnome cackles. "Actually, I just keep 'em there so nobody steals 'em. But it looks like you killed my guardian. Gonna have to summon another one," he says with a heavy sigh.
"Ah, a gem. A gem. I don't have any gems..... oh... OHHH! THat gem! The water clearin' one!"
Nels nods to the gnome. "Yes, the water clearing one," he agrees. That -was- what they were after? He's all mixed up now, with our revolving goals. "I think it's what we want?" He looks at his allies for confirmation.
Josselyn nods to confirm "That is precisely what we are looking for. Should be a nice easy trade right? These are pretty good boots after all." She notes holding hers up.
Ash looks around at Tenoc, Edinaz, Baz and Josselyn. Waiting. Finally the guard confirms Nels' question. She nods, she does not smile, she raises her boots a little again. She's had them a long time. They've been through a lot. Lately, the sewers. They were cleaned really well however. A great trade!
"Mmn. Yes. I'll give you the gem. Throw your boots in the water."
He nods towards the pool.
Apparently.. that's... where... the boots go?
GAME: Baz da Ork rolls strength: (4)+5: 9 GAME: Ashes rolls strength: (13)+0: 13 GAME: Nels rolls strength: (13)+2: 15
The Big Ork seems on the verge of contesting this situation with magic and steel. Then finally with a sigh that seems to reach all the way down to his toes. He removes his boots and hurls them into the water. His wide scared and calous covered feet looking more like tree stumps then flesh. They don't even make the edge of the water, and sheepishly the Ork walks over to them, lifts them up and throws them again. This time managing to hit the lake.
That seems simple enough. Ashlee leans back, then flings hers. She makes the lake, and a good distance out. Of course, her boots are a lot lighter. There is a splash, then a bloop. They are gone. Goodbye boots. It's been a long haul. She will miss them.
And if she gets leeches or blisters on her feet from the walk back, that regret will only grow.
Josselyn looks down at her socks and takes those off too and folds them into her pack, no point in getting them all dirty too. She then thrown her own pair of boots in the lake as well.
"...there's one more of you waitin' in the bushes over there. I don't hjave *his* boots."
The gnome points out.
Aros cringes. His boots too?
Very well.
"For the woman I love," he yells, and then throws the boots into the lake.
Nels hrmphs as he prepares to toss his boots into the water. Sensing a bit of competition, he wings them sidearm, and gets a skip out of them before they sink.
Edinaz tosses his boots into the lake. "Fuck, I loved those boots." He looks sad, genuinely sad.
"All the better," says the bearded scavenger lord to Edinaz.
"The sith'makar doesn't wear boots." Ash says, now that everyone's are in the lake. She continues to stare at the gnome. Part one of the exchange seems done, so she asks, "Can we have the gem?"
Edinaz nods miserably, and turns away before he ruins the deal with the anger on his face.
"Very well, then. I'll trade you the gem. You're fortunate you broughj me such high quality boots with such stories to tell. I look forward to listening to them."
He waves his hand towards the water, and indeed, a larwge opal seems to merge from it, grasped by a watery hand. It holds it out towards the shore for one of you to take.
The big green fist closes over the gem and reels it in. Baz peers at it, and tilts his head. "Oy, dis is wot we want?" He asks, sniffing it, then he seems to try it out against the worthless gems and shiney glass he has pounded into his armored chest to form a holy symbol to Kor. "I kinda expected moah?"
Nels peers at the gnome, stuck in a lake in the woods listening to boots. He decides that Alexandria's weird factor just went up by at least three points tonight. "Mine can tell you all about foot fungus," he agrees solemnly. I have to use a special powder."
"Opals were once living things that got compressed into stones." Ash offers as a random explanation. She holds out her hands towards Baz so she might take it. Other than that fact she has no real way of telling if it's what they're after. It's bad to let opals dry out, that's the other fact she knows.
Josselyn nods "Right, lets get this back to the ladies so we can get our cure. Thank you very much!" she says to the gnome. "Good luck with your boot collection!"
The Big Ork murmurs something under his breath, invoking the basic cantrip for detect magic and the gem grows strongly of mystical energy. "Huh." Baz murmurs, then peers at Ash and her reaching hand. His nostrils flare once, then he shrugs and simply deposits the glowing gem into Ash's grip. "Oy, so he gots da shoes. Does dat mean I got ta carry all this stuff back again?" The big Ork grumbles as he sets about hoisting up the satchels he brought with him, though now shoe-less. He casts a longing look at the beard of wonders.
Ash takes the opal, "Thanks." She holds onto it, sliding one hand over the surface and staring into its depths. The black ones are legendarily bad, they come in other colours, depending what died before it became a gem. Oddly iridescent and pearlescent, she stares at it.
After a moment, lost in the beauty she says. "This is an ancient water elemental-crafted gem that purifies water. Like he said. When active it can also dilute alcohols and toxins."
She looks over at Aros, stares with her skull face and runny makeup, "This is why the witches need it to cure your wife."
She slips it in her satchel, grabs the bag of barter goods and drags it. "Let's go."
Nels ehs, "It dilutes alcohols? That's a powerful curse, be careful with that!"
So... you leave the bearded gnome (and your boots) behind you.
That's great, right? Now you're... walking... bare foot through the forest. That's not so bad. But then, well... you begin to recall where it is ytou're going.
You are now walking barefoot.
In increasingly marshy territory.
Nels's socks are getting wet now, so he takes them off and stuffs them in his pack. He was sure there was a goblin army knife setting for boots but he can't seem to find it for all his fiddling. He gets the kayak twice, and a mallet, then a woodsman's axe, and he sighs. "Boots," he grumbles.
Ashlee walks, her feet sinking into soft mud and muddy water. It's sort of refreshing and deeply unpleasant at the same time. She used to go barefoot through the woods a lot as a child hobbo, no so much as an adult. With a naturally monstrous heritage, it's not so bad. Still, her feet start to itch after a while, and she checks them for leeches.
The best she can manage with her cavalry knife is the canvass travois, which might be the tent with a few wrong lever-pulls. She's got the bag of stuff on that as she sludges forward.
Josselyn grumbles as she walks, her usually cheery demeaner gone as she tries to keep the driest paths. "Better not catch anything from this. Going to buy myself the best boots I can find when we get back to Alexandria. she mutters under her breath.
As his hide is like iron (feat), walking without his boots isn't too uncomfortable for the big Ork. The big foot prints filling with water as he squelches along. "Oy, I wonder if we can use any of dis stuff I am carrying to wrap up our feets? I am not looking forward to how many burrs I'm gonna have ta knife out of skin when get all da way back ta the city."
Edinaz tramps forwards as well, picking his way, mostly trying to not-step--on thorns. He squelches along, bad mood intensifying.
Nels finally gets the snowshoes setting on his knife, shrugs, puts them on. Now he at least doesn't sink into soft ground as we slog back to the witches.
GAME: Ashes rolls fortitude: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Nels rolls fortitude: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Josselyn rolls fort: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Edinaz rolls fort: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Baz da Ork rolls fortitude: (8)+9: 17
Well ...
... you're able to endure it.
Of course, bugs attack your bared feet. Of *course* you step in things you wish you hadn't. Of COURSE you bare-foot wade through silt-lande marsh floors.
Aros puts on a brave face but he's just not made for this. He's miserable.
Finally, after a foot retending eternity, you reach the hovels of the witches once more. All appears quiet here at the moment.
Ash has gone through a lot. Every step an unpleasant sluicing into the marsh, and it's crept up her pants, undoing all the accidental cleaning swimming in the lake provided. She's tired, she's got all these bites, her hobgoblin skin has not proved as durable as she might have wished, and that bag of barter loot seemed to grow heavier.
So, it's a relief when she finally arrives, although her voice remains devoid of emotion. She simply calls out, "We're here. We have the gem."
<OOC> Baz da Ork says, "Lol, the love story of the ages. Against all odds, for the love of his life; he chucks his shoes in a lake. AND OUR LOVEEEE WILL GOOOOOO OOOOON!"