Tests

Misha, Ray (Erin, Balthazar)

"Y-yeah... What she said. Sorry I hit you with a rock," Erin says.

The face in the tree stares at you silently for a few seconds, then fades into the bark leaving behind a faint impression where it had been.

Erin takes off the cloak and tosses it on Misha, then takes over for Balthazar.

Balthazar rolls his arm. "Alright. We'll swap back in a bit. Don't try to go too fast, now."

You continue along the path, getting the vague sense of being watched. It doesn't take long until you spot the face again, distant and just off the path, still watching. Still staring.


Rishan (Fenian, Hero, Gwyn)

Hero takes a few steps back as the spell is cast, then runs and jumps. He lands right on the edge of the water, barely keeping from falling over as the rest of you make your way carefully over the damaged bridge.

"Haha! Not the slightest bit of doubt," Hero laughs. He sets the crate down for a moment and dusts himself off. "Well then, shall we proceed?"

Gwyn dives down, past a tree, then quickly shoots back up. She circles around and perches on a nearby branch. "...Small flying creature," she says. "With wings. On its back. Back shaped like you wingless ones." She gestures at Fenian and Rishan. "It had a bow and was looking this way."


Selfless, Cantrelle (Iora, Alice)

You move down the riverbank a bit, looking for somewhere deeper so Iora can swim more easily. When you find a good spot, she lies on her back at the water's edge, and Alice helps position her cloak and the crate on top of her. With a little push, Iora slips into the river and disappears under the water. You're able to track her progress by watching the crate slowly bobbing along the surface as it makes its way across.

Meanwhile, the rest of you move across the damaged bridge. Without a huge box, it's not terribly hard. Alice skips between the solid-looking sections, her foot slipping out from under her at one point as she lands on a slick spot. She catches herself and moves a bit more carefully the rest of the way.

By the time you reach the other side, Iora is already lying on the beach, legs in the water, crate resting on the ground beside her. "I di-i-i-i-id it," she says.

"You did!" Alice says. "Good job. Aren't you cold, though?"

"I'm f- Oh... Something's grabbing my a-a-a-ankle," Iora says.

"Um... What?" Alice asks.

"Something's trying to pull me back into the wa-a-a-a-ater," Iora clarifies.

You can barely make out the shadow of something vaguely humanoid and about her size just under the water.


Rachael (Colette, Darius, Jake)

"...So..." Jake says.

"Well, if it's not going to do anything, maybe we should just ignore it ourselves. This feels like it's a trap that will activate if we initiate something.

I can take back one of the handles if you all want."

Misha, Ray (Erin, Balthazar)

"I'm fine for now," Erin says.  She stares at the tree from the corner of her eye.  "You two rest a bit and watch ahead for any trouble.  Let me be close with Misha for a while."

You continue through the forest.  A few more trees - or are they the same being jumping between trees? - watch you as you go, but none of them bother doing anything.  You swap a few times as you go.  You think you're getting close to your destination, with Balthazar and Erin carrying the package, when you run into another complication.

You hear a meaty thud.  Erin grunts and drops the box, grabbing her head in pain.  "Ow!" she yells.  "My horn...  What did that?"

Balthazar is quick to set his side down and crouch low.  "I don't- ow!"  He grabs his shoulder.

Misha feels something give her hair a sharp tug, and Ray feels something whack him in the shin.  A faint sound of giggling rings out.

Rishan (Fenian, Hero, Gwyn)

Fenian thinks for a moment.  "Well, it sounds as if it could be pixies?  They like playing pranks, but they are not particularly dangerous.  Usually."

"But if they were asked to assist with the test...  Could they become problematic?" Hero asks.

"I have not met any fae in person in quite some time..." Fenian says.  "I do not know.  But they are usually willing to make deals."

Gwyn scowls.  "Hrmph.  Wingless ones can talk, I will deal with them.  Remove them and they aren't a problem anymore."


Selfless, Cantrelle (Iora, Alice)

Cantrelle quickly shoots a rock into the water.  It makes a sharp thud as it impacts what should be water.  A solid form materializes in the shape of a hand, letting go of Iora for a moment.  Alice grabs Iora's arm and starts dragging her backwards further onto shore.  As soon as Iora is clear of the water, Alice tosses her aside and grabs the box.  "Mine," she hisses at the shadowy figure in the water.  "I'm not failing another test!"

The shadows in the water coalesce into a small orb that slowly breaches the surface.  A blank green ball of algae stares up at you without eyes.  A smile slowly spreads across it, far too wide and filled with razor-sharp fangs.  It shifts up and down like laughing for a moment.  "Share," it whispers.

Rishan takes a moment to consider slowly making their way closer to the edge of the wood with Hero in tow "Right OK, Fenian you'll attempt to make parlay if all goes well this won't be an issue if not that's why you'll have Gwyn nearby. Gwyn remember our priority is to get through the woods not maim every fey you come across priority is escape. Hero stick with me might be a good to get a Soul Heat ready for if we need to run" They explain before placing down a Nightshroud.

Rishan (Fenian, Hero, Gwyn)

Rishan and Hero disappear in darkness, while Gwyn flies up to a tree branch and stare down.  Sulking.

"Hello," Fenian says.  He pauses for a moment, then walks forward and starts speaking loudly in another language that Rishan isn't familiar with.  He seems a lot more comfortable speaking like this.  After a moment, a small humanoid creature comes creeping out from a fallen log nearby, carrying a tiny bow.  It could easily fit in your fist.  That bow wouldn't do much worse than being stung by a bee, probably.

Another two appear, one on a branch and the other flying on a set of wings moving too fast to see.  They stare at Fenian, answering in what Rishan assumes is the same language.  The group talks for a few minutes, going back and forth, the bows never lowering.  After a few minutes, the pixies turn and fly off into the brush.

"Ah...  They said they were out hunting for berries and happened to run into us," Fenian explains.

"Hunting... berries?" Hero asks.

"It is a quirk of their language," Fenian continues.  "Anyway, I told them about a bush I saw the other day.  We can proceed.  Oh, they warned us that there was a spriggan nearby."

"What?" Gywn asks, still in a bad mood because she didn't get to eat the pixies.

"They're tiny creatures that grow huge when they're annoyed," Hero says.

Gwyn frowns.  "Hmph."


Selfless, Cantrelle (Iora, Alice)

"Share... box?" The figure clacks its teeth violently.  "Confused.  No.  Share flesh.  Want eat YOU."  The creature leaps out of the water.  Some of the algae drips off, revealing a shark-like face and a humanoid figure, with webbed hands and feet.

Alice leaps up from the box, pointing at the creature threateningly.  Iora continues to lie on her back and stare at the thing.  "Oh... you're a Daaaaagon.  They're really bitey, but not very strong or fast out of the waaaaater.  And not very scary in the water eiiiiither."

"So...  We can just beat it down?" Alice suggests.

The monster lets out a bubbly laugh and advances slightly, clacking its fangs.


Misha, Ray (Erin, Balthazar)

Ray disappears into darkness.  "Hey!" a small voice calls out.  "He disappeared!"

"Whack harder!" a slightly deeper voice calls out.

There's a whooshing sound as something flies through the nightshroud, missing Ray.  Then it swings again, this time connecting with his knee.

"This is... annoying!" Balthazar yells, grabbing his hip.

Misha feels something sharp stab into her ankle.  Enough to draw a bit of blood.

"Ooooooow!" Erin yells.  "Let GO!"  She flicks her tail violently, then swings around and slams it into a tree.  There's a hard thud.

Balthazar unleashes a gust of wind, sending some loose leaves and dirt flying.  There's a small disturbance visible where the dust seems to be bouncing off.

"Well done Fenian" Rishan says giving him a pat on the back "Did they get any more specific about where this "Spriggan" is sounds like something we'd best avoid if we want to pass swiftly through the rest of the woods?"