Shadow in the wilds - RPLOG
Participants
Date
25/4/477
Log
A fine early morning in Firmament, right out by the Academy Square and just within the hallowed eaves of that fine institution of knowledge. Beings ply along the hallways, set on their own business, but off to one side a small group of Cliffsiders waits impatiently, clearly either reluctant to be in the presence of so many dirty Sweetwater folk or just unused to this sort of wait.
A flick of Flora's tails, a small blink, and she moves into the area on the back of her golem. Silently, she observes the Cliffsiders, shrugging lightly and simply taking a place in the line-up.
Angus checks the strap of his musket once more, always making sure that the thing didn't break or become damaged since last he check as he stands there, eyeing the cliffsiders curiously. He had heard that a group was looking for samples, but he didn't expect to meet so many cliffsiders here, making him a little paranoid as he just observes for now.
Asher patters across the square, a little note in his hand that he copied from the guild notice board. He looks up and smiles when he sees Angus. "Angus! Wait up!" he squeaks, breaking into a jog to catch up and join the company around the Cliffside Alchemists.
Issi makes her way in behind Angus and Flora. Mostly curious, since Cliffsiders aren't known for liking Sweetwater at all. [Samples? For what? There can't be that much 'glorious' Cliffside could need from here.] Oh, right no one can hear her.
Bite sways into the academic district, curious what might be going for trade, although she herself has no fancy chemicals to trade off, with the exception of plundered treasure. She approaches the group with a giggle and waves. "Hey there sssweeties, what are you all up to? I heard you were all trying to make a few trades?" she says as she looks them over and tries to spot anyone with whom she might converse, who is pleasing to the eyes, although this quality is not seeked too hard.
A robed badger enters the academic district, his arms folded as he walks aroud looking for the Cliffside alchemists. He can't believe this isn't some sort of trick on their part, and just had to come see for himself, approaching just behind Bite and the others. Even though he's from Cliffside, himself, he still doesn't trust these beings that much and keeps a suspicious eye on them.
"Well, yes, we ARE looking for a trade," one of the Cliffsiders, a clever-clanned parrot, replies, looking over the group plus some others who've gathered in anticipation of the bounty. "Your fellows over here have promised that they could help with a small problem we had, and we...well, we're willing to share some of our older papers with them for it. You mercenary types can have a bit of coin, or if you'd like, a copy, although one wonders what you'd do with such things..." he goes off mumbling for a bit before remembering he has an audience.
"Anyway, I'm sure you all know what willows are, and that the bark is commonly used in what the layman terms "dulling potions". Problem is, we're not looking for just any willows, but those from your lands beyond Silvervein pass. Word has it that the natural life there has changed over the last twenty years due to - uh - the presence of these things you call shadows, and we'd like to test that hypothesis with regards to certain compounds such as the ones that can be found in willow bark. About this much -" he makes two balled fists - "should be enough, really - first one that gets back with what we need gets the reward. Oh, and we can tell, so don't just skip outside the city walls and go a-scrapin'. Hard to say with some folk."
"Flora would like to know what the papers are about, yes," she mumbles, her tails flicking behind her as she looks at the parrot, before she listens carefully to the descriptions given, ears perked lightly as she does.
She seems calm and collected, making sure to keep a close eye on each of the Cliffsiders, looking from one to the next from time to time.
Angus crosses his arms and glares at the Cliffsiders. "This research better be worth the effort, beyond the Silvervein pass is not the most...friendly of places for beings." After commenting he goes back to being silent as he checks the holsters of his pistols, making sure they were secure as he gets ready.
Issi hrms. [Silvervein. What would my kind have to do with changing anything? We don't do anything to... Unless what you call the 'malaise' does something. It certainly has an effect on beings.] She nods, willing to go there. While the papers might be old, Cliffside is called the city of magic for a reason after all.
Asher nervously tugs at Angus's pant leg, "They don't mean we have to go out to Mossy stone, do they?" The little corgi has heard terrible things about the lost city on the other side of Silvervein and would really not verify the stories. "I'm happy to go gathering samples, but I don't think I want to test myself against. . ." he trails off a bit, "Well, you know." The corgi glances over at the Cliffsiders, wondering if they even know what they are asking for. He follows Angus's example and checks his weapons, a pair of daggers and his modified musket. "Do you mind if I stick with you, Angus? Just in case?" the little canine asks.
Their claim seems fairly on the level to Cedric, who nods as he listens to the explanation given by the Cliffside alchemists, though he rolls his eyes slightly at their continued reluctance to admit to the presense of shadows. If they don't believe it's anything of concern, why couldn't they just make the trip themselves, the badger wonders to himself. Well, starting an arguement in the middle of the place wasn't going to solve anything, so he simply nodded in reply. Those papers could be fairly valuable, depending on the contents. He steps over to Angus and Asher with a nod. "Alright, sounds like fun!"
Siyu has some level of alchemical knowledge. A little bit at least, still he wasn't quite sure if it was alchemy, or adventure they were looking for. Either way the rodent wanders in, a bit late, swishing his hips and coming to check to see what the fuss is all about. Dressed in mail and leather this time around. "Hm, actual alchemical research? Interesting. I am curious if you've studied any other shadow afflicted plants or is this your first attempt..."
The parrot frowns at Flora with an expression that can only mean "what does this rube want?" "Well, everyone knows that alchemical reactions occur faster when you heat things up. The problem is, by how much? We've developed a particular model that links not just the temperature, but concentrations of the associated reagents with the speed of the reaction, and the team back at Cliffside has performed hundreds of experiments to validate its predictive power - or at least, when it comes to iodine, although we hope to have a more generalised expression soon."
"We don't *know* if they really have been changed," he explains in reply to Siyu's question. "That's why we're here to find out. Frankly, some of out colleagues believe that this whole shadow thing continues to be a hoax, but we don't take unnecessary risks. Now, if you would please...?"
A browraise, a nod as Flora looks at the parrot with... A similar reaction. She mumbles a tad, before nodding. "This should prove... Useful for LongTech Industries, yes," she rumbles with a grin, before moving back, still resting on the back of her golem, looking along the pathway and... It seems she's already doing headmath of some sorts, as if trying to remember a few things.
Angus unslings his musket to afix his bayonet to it as he turns to smile at Asher. "I hope they aren't talking about mossy stone, but sure you can stick with me. I'll make sure to watch your back." As Cedric moves near he gives a nod, picking up his rifle to rest it against his shoulder, giving Asher a wink as he speaks. "Welp, time to go tree hunting." Before he heads off in the direction of Silvervien.
Issi doesn't say anything, well not in Being. [I have yet to see any of my kind do anything to local plantlife. I find this suspect.] Still, she goes along with the others, keeping her daggers in hand. Somethings going to try to attack. That's basically guaranteed in Silvervein.
Asher hurries after Angus. It's a good thing that Fenris has been working him so hard. A few weeks ago the corgi would have been hard pressed to keep up with Angus for more than a few blocks in the city, now he felt like he could run forever! Well, not forever, but at least as far as Silvervein! The corgi pats the hilt of his newest knife as he trails after the fox, he was no slouch with his weapons, either.
Cedric follows after the others with another nod, checking his bag to make sure he'd brought the right tools for the job. He wasn't too worried about the trip, really. It was a good opportunity to get out of the city for a while.
Siyu just follows along, bringing his alchemical and his healing mixtures, hopefully he won't have to use them.
It's a bit of a distance's travel all the way up north to Silvervein and through the pas, but by and large everyone makes it through. From this side of the pass' mouth, one can see the narrow entrance leading to an old camp off to the side, the griffon rock some way into the distance, and if one squints hard enough, the still-cursed town of Mossy Stone. The dirt roads are still largely abandoned and falling into disrepair, but usable - the problem is, there's so much ground to cover and most of it dangerous at that - this is shadow territory, after all. Where would one start to reasonably look for willows?
Siyu looks up at the mountain pass, "Well the willow likes cold tempretures, so up high we have a reasonable chance of finding one." he peers around, a glance to mossy stone and he shudders and quickly looks away. "There's a mountain willow I heard of, if we wanted to avoid the valley. It's a quick grower, if we look for a place that was cut or burnt we should find it."
Flora nods in agreement and mumbles softly as she continues watching Siyu and the others. She's made sure to take all sorts of tools with her, ranging from some simple, lightweight crafting-apparel to her twin graspers and various other objects. Best to be prepared, after all. For now, she'll let Siyu lead the expedition, at the very least, her tails swaying behind her.
Angus nods before his gaze turns to Mossy stone as well, frowning as he pulls back the flint hammer on his musket. "Lets just hope nothing decides we look like a tasty snack." He keeps his weapon at the ready as he turns to check on Asher, before following Siyu, eyes darting from place to place as he looks for potential threats.
Issi doesn't have much to offer aside from the same threat paranoia that seems to be running through most of the expedition. At least the rat knew where he was going. She follows behind, fairly sure, shadows or no, Mossy Stone was best avoided for now. Even if there were, who knows if their like her, or even capable of of thinking.
"Willows grow near water, right?" Asher says, uncertainly, "Should we be looking for a river or a stream?" The little canine sticks close to Angus and draws one of his knives. He's heard that there are bandits out here and would rather be safe than sorry. He conspicuously does NOT look toward Mossy Stone, suppressing a little shudder.
Cedric follows Siyu and the others along the path, nodding a little bit. "Sounds reasonable enough to me." he says in agreement with the others, looking around for any signs of willow. His eyes also dart around a little to make sure nothing is trying to sneak up on them and eat them or something equally gruesome.
Siyu is leading the group away from Mossy it's true, he doesn't want any part of it. Still he trecks on, a staff in hand, and he looks up at the hills and the peaks and the valleys, looking for a break where there was a fire, or a landslide, or, an old bit of logging, someplace where new willow would have grown.
Both Siyu and Asher aren't too wrong. Off the beaten trail, there are any number of small mountain streams, mostly fed by snowmelt, and this section of the rolling foothills is largely clear of thick woodland, being mostly scrub and grassland. Of course, drinking from any of the streams is suspect at best, and hopefully the tall grass doesn't hide anything...there are sections where the grass has been burnt away in previous wildfires, though, and several small stands of trees by the water...one of them might prove fruitful in the search.
Another tailflick, another nod, and Flora steers her golem by the waterside to examine everything, making sure to steer well clear of the taller grass as she looks to the others and picking one of the tree-rich areas to inspect. Of course, she remains ever wary of danger, making sure to keep her graspers closeby.
Asher glances around at the small groves dotting the landscape, then points to a nearby clump of trees drooping over a little mountain stream. "Over there!" he calls, "That's a healthy stand of willows." The corgi would recognize the tree anywhere. Dad had sent him to fetch his own switch often enough. Asher smiles a little at the thought, then grimaces a little at the memory.
Angus steps up to the water side and looks around, his musket at the ready as he just stands watch. "Still can't beleive they want us to risk our necks for just Willow bark, damn cliffsiders.....No offense." He turns to Cedric, giving him a smile as he didn't mean to actually insult the Badger before he turns back to watching the tall grass, the Asher's call causes his ears to perk and he turns to start walking towards the clump of trees.
Issi had actually been looking through the grass, for Blade Grass of all things. If this whole thing was true, then maybe it had some interesting properties. Regular Blade Grass was dangerous sure, but it was sharp, might be good for something other than lacerating unsuspecting hikers. Thankfully she was wearing gloves, and full leather armor. The snake gives up her hunt when she hears Asher start calling out. Business before personal research.
Cedric just gives a slight shrug at Angus' comment, and it doesn't appear to bother him too much. "None taken. There's a good reason I didn't stay..." he chuckles a little bit as he follows Angus over towards the cropping of trees, with a nod. "This looks about right." he says, peering at the willows.
Siyu nods, "It's a start to chemistry, frankly I'm surprised they found enough people who could do math in Cliffside to come up with their theories. But here we are. Helping advance the course of science is a worthy risk, wouldn't you say?" he'll pull out some bark scrapers. After all this is supposed to be for gathering medicinal bark. Getting ready to get a harvest.
The stand of willows Asher's selected is quite the sight - by the side of a small lake where a stream's flow has collected in a natural depression in the terrain. The long, drooping leave and branches, the faint fragrance, even in this side of Silvervein, the grass, which appears to be less wild and more clipped...
And it becomes evident that the group is not alone. Under the shade of the thickest part of the grove is a lean-to of sorts, where someone has tried, over a long time, to build a shelter of sorts. It's not exactly the best that a being can some up with - bits of stonework scavenged from other places, crudely fired bricks of mud, and it looks like someone has tried to make thatch from scratch, with varying degrees of success. A small drying spit is placed over a stone-lined firepit some distance away from the dwelling, and a few fish are speared over the ashes, clearly caught from the stream.
In the midst of all that is a grey wolf, looking out of middle age and approaching his twilight years. The fellow sits cross-legged before the firepit, staring into the ashes - the moment he notices everyone, he looks up and bares his teeth - although it's a little too frail to be threatening.
Issi blinks, staring at the frail wolf. This was not something she was expecting. [I am with them because they allow it. They aren't our enemy. Not anymore.] She seems curious as to what the Wolf is doing here, and why he has chosen such. [Though I am surprised. Why have you taken a host? There is no need to out here.]
Flora admits a soft hiss, before shaking her head lightly. "Is... Is mister wolf okay?" she asks with a flick of her tail, silently guiding her golem over and making sure it takes as non-threatening a stance as possible. Last thing she needed was for her golem to attack an innocent being.
Angus glares at the wolf as he appears, but as a precaution he lowers the flint hammer on his musket back down into the safety position just in case. "Is he....actually trying to live up here this close to mossy stone and the bandits?" He asks as he lowers his musket and stands up straight.
Asher yelps a little at the sight of the strange wolf and scurries back behind the others, keeping his knife handy, though he does not look especially threatening. "We didn't mean to scare you," he stammers out, though it seems that he is the only one frightened here, "We just wanted a little willow bark."
Cedric keeps back a little at the sight of the wolf, looking between him and the snake shadow for a moment, and pondering what they've stumbled across. He does nod a little to Angus though, "It's a bit of an odd place to set up camp, yeah..." the badger says aloud, scratching his cheek.
Siyu looks over the group, his knife still in hand, though the apperance of the wolf is a surprise. "Someone surviving out here alone?" he asks, "How odd, should we take him back with us, you think he's an old survivor?" he looks old enough. Though the bared teeth make him take a step or two back. He looks back to 1221 as she is staring at the wolf, and since uh, he doesn't speak shadow, "So...are we just staring at each other?" he asks
The wolf doesn't seem too interested in everyone else at first, instead choosing to focus his attentions on Issi - although the snarl does fade. At length, though, he does give everyone a half-hearted wave, although it's not quite clear what he means by that.
Issi shakes her head [Truth be told, it is. Those who stay true to the original path are probably the biggest fools, why kill a people that have done no wrong? But, that may not be for me to say. All I can tell you is if you don't wish to face those who still walk that path, then you can come to Firmament. There are those of us who do live there. Including myself. There's no need to think yourself a trator.] She gives a small nod as well, [Well, I was not expecting to find one of us living here, much less living within a host. But... I have seen more of us appearing, strange.]
"I'm sorry," the wolf says, finally standing, if shakily, and giving everyone a bow before sitting again. "For my appearance, that is. Old instincts. Please...your friend makes for good conversation. Take what it is that you need. I and my situation...are of no concern." [I do not wish to face them, but I do not wish to face you, as well. And most importantly, I do not wish to face myself. Is it running away? What happens when this shell expires? What do I do then? For now...I exist. Answers like these, one must find by oneself.]
A few blinks, a slight whine from Flora, and she seems utterly confused. "Is... Is mister wolf okay?" she mumbles, before gently guiding her golem over and pulling up a grasper to scrape about... Five times as much the bark as the Cliffsiders requested off of the tree. "Flora will take some samples for LongTech as well. Might be interesting to look at, yes," she mumbles. "Does anyone else want samples?" she asks curiously, stowing the scrapings away in a bag, before re-focussing her attention upon the wolf.
Angus shrugs a bit as he gives the wolf a smile as he removes his bayonet from his musket, moving over to start scraping bark off another of the trees. "Sorry for disturbing your home?" He answers, not really sure what to make of this one as he scrapes off just enough bark to fill the cliffsiders quote before stuffing it into a pouch at his side and standing back.
Issi nods to the Wolf. {I understand. I won't force it. I do wish you luck though, whatever your endevors might be.] She waits for the others to finish their task, before waving them over. Seems she has a bit to explain.
Asher relaxes a little as the wolf speaks. "Th-th-thank you," he stammers, "Sorry to disturb you." The little dog looks around uneasily while the others harvest willow bark. He does not have much interest in the Cliffsiders' reward, but he does not want to get caught off guard out here. "Maybe you should return to Firmament with us, Sir," he says, looking around, "It is dangerous out here." He nervously follows Issi's hand motions.
It looks like everyone else has just about fulfilled the request, but who knows how much of this is going of the quality that the Cliffside alchemists desire. Better to be safe than sorry. Cedric moves towards the copse of willows with a courteous nod to the shadow-touched wolf to take a few samples himself. Hell, maybe they'll increase the reward a little bit if we drown them in willow bark samples. "...Or we could just drown them, that'd be fun too." he starts to mutter aloud to himself, his own thoughts spilling out verbally. He blinks a little bit, hoping nobody heard him, and glances around for a moment before stepping away from the trees and stashing his samples away in his bag for the trip back. "That should just about do it, I think?"
Siyu nods his head a bit and he looks again at 1221, "So who is? I mean. he can come back with us" he agrees with Asher as he'll get his own small sample. After all he doesn't want to damage the trees. Trying to make sure there is a responsible harvest and that none of them get taken too down bare. "There the trees should be fine. If nothing else there's some medicine to be had in the extra bark now too"
A long silence. "I...cannot come with you to your dwellings, to your...city. But your offer means a lot to me." More silence, and then his voice cracks. "Maybe I will, sometime, before this shell expires. But not today. Please, help yourselves, and watch your step on the road back. This grove is safe, but I cannot say the same for the land beyond."
To Issi, [Convey my regards to those of your nest, who are better able to forgive themselves than I am. I would do it myself, but after so long in a host, I begin to understand what is meant when it is said speaking to another in the flesh is more powerful.]
Flora blinks a few times as she finishes up her collection of treebark, grinning broadly, before looking over her shoulder. "Flora will see the rest once back, yes!" she rumbles with a grin, her golem dashing off into the direction of the academy with a grin. "Flora will share the reward, though. Flora will just be there first to beat other groups, yes."
Angus shrugs as he watches Flora dash away on her golem, putting his bayonet back into its sheath. "Sooooo, guess its time to go back?" He asks as he starts walking back in the direction of Firmament when everyone is ready.
Issi hrms, seems like it would be best to explain on the way back. [It is a powerful thing. I just wish to prove we can be trusted despite our original goal.] She nods to the wolf, waving to him and heading off with the others, trying best to explain what happened, since no-one could hear them.
Asher gives a friendly wave to the old wolf, then trots quickly after Angus. "I'm glad to be leaving Mossy Stone as far behind us as possible," he says as he comes up alongside the vulpine noble. The little corgi has not put his dagger away yet, however.
The badger is more than ready to go back, nodding to Angus and the others. Cedric heads back to the path with them in the direction of Firmament, taking a moment to look over his shoulder in the direction of Mossy Stone with a visible shiver. "Yeah... I'm ready to not be here anymore, let's head back already..." he says, listening to Issi's explanation with marked interest along the way.
Siyu blinks a little bit as Flora just...runs off...okay. He gives a faint little sigh, "Well I can't keep up with a golem." is his simple observation. He winces, "I think we'll walk back yes...if our friend isn't going to join with us?" he looks at the wolf once more. He'll dig around in his bag some and pulls out a small satchel of medicines. After all his medicinal knowledge is what lead them here. He offers the small alchemical first aid kit to 1221, "Can you give this to him. He might need it if he's out here alone..." he gives a nod again. Not quite wanting to get too close to the wofl and freak him out. But he's ready to go along with the rest of the group.
Issi hms? She nods to Siyu, quickly running back to deliver the kit. She knows he'll be fine, but being within a host does necessitate things like this. Besides they have changed, even if they can't face what they did. After a few moments she comes running back, again trying to give a good explanation for the silence, since even though beings could possibly learn it, it seems like not many will or have.
