Extreme Gardening - RPLOG
Participants
Date
25/9/476
Log
An evening out in the west over the Drytongue flats, that moment in time when it's not quite blazing, but the true cold of desert night hasn't set in, either. To the mountains bordering the south, a winding trail can be seen ascending towards one of the peaks, and it's at the foot of this trail that a single hooded figure awaits, sitting cross-legged in a meditative pose at the spot where the request has told the Freeswords to meet.
Thud, thud, thud... This is the sound that the robed figure makes while traversing the ground toward where the meeting is to take place. The creature is of the Heavy Clan, no doubt, and it is also one of the tallest creatures about. The robe has a hood raised over the head and a rather large tail with deadly-looking spikes over the last four feet or so is the only thing exposed to the elements.The clawed feet are wrapped in simple cloth to try and protect them from the cold(er) weather this far away from the city.
The figure that comes next has a lighter step, if only for the mass of the first and some decent padding. The dark fox peers around at the scenery as she walks, her usual gard either absent or covered by the platemail she wears. There's a sword at her side, and a small satchel of supplies slung around her shoulders. She does nod in greeting to both the Heavy and the robed figure as she approaches, the smile a bit fangy but pleasant.
Selena arrives at the flats, note in han. Briefly checking the details, she approaches the hooded figure. "Hello. You asked for beings?" She asks, looking back up at the teiceratops for a moment. "...I don't recall seeing any triceratops befoer." She observes, glancing about the flats.
The cold! Finally, a time where the lion's coat actually may assist when it comes to matters of environment. Happy as can be after a return trip from Cliffside, and with good news and drink, Dio heads over to the meeting sight and checks over his equipment. Sword, silver and sharp. Shield, still round and made of iron. Good enough for what may come. Hopefully. "Good evenin' lads an' lasses," he waves, soon giving his coat a good tuck and wrapping it around his body. "Lion at yer service."
Upon everyone being gathered at the foot of the trail, the hooded figure rises from her seat and throws back her hood to reveal a rather aged crested eagle, her feathers glimmering faintly with the sacred family of the phoenix - it quite clear as to why she doesn't need a light source, even as darkness falls over the flats. slowly, she dips her head at each of them in turn, then points up at the trail.
"I had been expecting more from Firmament, but...I suppose this will have to do. By way of introduction, I am the elder of Camp Firebough up upon this peak - we keep the place in good order for those who do wish to come to meditate. However, there's been a small problem on the trail in the last few days..."
Selena quirks an eyebrow and looks back over the figure. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. What kind of problem is it? if it's serious, after all, we shouldn't be spending too much time here on pleasantries." She replies, looking over in the direction of the mountains.
"Information is key." Ranawhin adds softly, settling a hand on her swordhilt as she looks up the path. "When did it start, exactly, and what clues do you have to what it is and why it's here...?" She looks back to the glowing eagle, gaze curious.
"Oh! Another phoenix," Dio exclaims, crossing fuzzy and scared arms across his broad chest. "Must be awfully nice in this kinda weather." The lion chuckles lightly and waves to the wolfess duo. "But anyways, yes. Lay down some information so we can clean things up fer ya real quick. You'll fine we're the best o' the best, worth two men each."
"I was just getting to that," the elder continues in her usual unhurried fashion. "You are familiar with tumbleweeds, aren't you? Plants that uproot themselves and drift across the land in search of water, whereupon they set down their roots once more? Something like this has happened. We're not exactly sure when that plant rooted itself squarely on the trail, but no doubt it was drawn by the spring near the rest stop. As one might expect, it's causing no end of trouble for pilgrims. We just need someone to get rid of it - it's proving to be quite a bit more resilient than razor grass."
Selena nods, tapping the paper in her hands. "So nothing that wasn't written in the job description?" She observes, nodding. "Then again, if it was something along the lines of a bone dragon I'd be more concerned; at least it isn't actively trying to kill anyone." she replies, stretching out before she glances over at the trail. "Well, If that's all..?"
Ranawhin nods, to both the Elder, Dio, and Selena, and then draws her scimitar from its sheath just in case as she begins heading up the trail. The padding beneath her armor does help with the normal clanging, and it doesn't seem to impede her mobility all that much. "I have my blade and some fire." She explains, glancing back to the others as her tail flicks from side to side. "What do you have to bring to bear against it...?"
"I see, I see..." Dio lets out a rather loud and stretching yawn, letting out slight hints of alcohol upon his breath. Was it truly drinking on the job if he didn't actually think he'd be doing a job this late at night? Regardless, it was much too late now. "Guess we'll just 'ave to cut 'em down then. Shouldn't be too big a problem if we work fast," he says, flicking the handle on his blade and starting up the path. "Got a bit o' both of those too, lass," he replies to Ranawhin.
The trail leading up Firebough Mountain is rocky and steep - the slopes are largely bare, save for the occasional large barrel cactus, and every now and then there's a flicker of movement in the darkness as some bit of local fauna takes advantage of the cooler atmosphere to get out and about. This far from the city, the stars are well-out, providing adequare illumination with which to see at a reasonable distance, and it's at a reasonable distance that the party comes across the object of their contention - a large, writhing mass of vines and leaves, firmly planted in the middle of the mountain trail.
It doesn't look particularly angry or even active - it's just THERE, a huge, thorny mass in the middle of the road, quivering angrily. Off to one side is a small, shallow cave with carefully carved stones set near the entrance and the steady drip-drip-drip of water coming from within - little wonder why the dried-up plant has chosen to root iself here.
Selena shrugs, looking over the large 'tumbleweed'. "I don't fight often, but you'll see what I can do soon enough." She replies, peering at the thicket of thorns for any points of ingress it may have in the rock. "Well, it's surprising to hear water in the desert but there you go. Stranger things have happened, I'm sure. That said, I'd rather not damage the mountain if I can avoid it. That doesn't end well."
"It's hard to damage rock with fire." Ranawhin points out easily, before shaking her head. "But it looks well-hydrated, and green growth is also hard to burn. It aso looks like a rather dangerous opponent up close, with so many lines of attack." She frowns, showing off the teeth at the edge of her mouth as she considers the problem. "If I had a heat spell, instead, we could try dessicating it first. But I'm loathe to close with it."
"I've certainly seen what the lass can do," Dio nods, recalling the past events he's had with Selena. "She's got quite a frightenin fire thingy that'll really spook ya. But I suppose that's fer ya to find out soon enough. Maybe." He looks towards the mass and lets out a low whistle in amazement. "If it did come an' attack us, perhaps we could set a small trap fer it o' something. That, 'r just do things the ol' fashion way." Setting traps for grass... Dio couldn't help but chuckle.
Ranawhin pauses, examining the area and then to Dio and back, thoroughly. "... Say, big guy. Do you think we could sneak around and see how it reacts to a boulder or two coming tumbling down against it? I mean, it'd be a bit rough skirting it on this slope, but there's got to be a large rock we can roll into it betwen ourselves..."
Selena looks up at the cliff at the suggestion of dropping boulders on the huge weed. "Well, The cliff actually looks stable. There aren't many rocks about, but..." She shakes her head, then looks back at the plant. "There's enough space it shouldn't be a problem, though. I'd still debate it being a good idea, though."
Dio looks around and then points to himself. "Who, me?" After realizing he's obviously the only one she could be talking about, he coughs into his hand and brings out his soul pendent hidden just under his shirt. "A boulder ya say? That's an interestin' plan ya got there. I'm all fer it. Might take a good chunk outta that mass down there." Taking a moment to listen in on Selena's opinion, he gives a nod. "Bah, it'll work just fine! Let's just do it. Nothin' ventured, ya know how it goes. Anways, I'm ready when ya 're."
Selena quirks an eyebrow at Dio's comment. "And sometimes it's better not to try something that could backfire. Keep to the inside of the trail, if you would." she requests, pursing her lips for a few moments as she regards the mountainside again. Shortly after, the wolfess gestures towards it, carving a chunk of rock from the mountain and easing it into a roll; ideally landing towards the center of the mess of branches.
The boulder falls, rolls some way down the path and right over the thorny tumbleweed-like plant, the latter being squashed like a ball of steel wool. Unfortunately, the mass of vegetation is surprisingly springy and the boulder doesn't quite stay on the plant, instead going straight over and off the cliff edge. After a long while, there's a massive thump from below, followed by the sound of something splintering.
Turning back to the plant itself, it's a little squashed, but hasn't suggered that much damage, being light and spongy all over. Something that's carried all over the place by the wind has to be such, right? It seems that the elder was right in how resilient this particularly annoying oversized weed was...
Ranawhin slides her free hand along her blade, smearing something along it.
Selena keeps burning back foliage of the plant, taking care not to allow the tumbleweed to turn the resulting cinders against her with blasts of wind and energy to force them back, venting a fog of noxious chemicals further back into the back of the plant to poison it from within. Of course, when trying to do so much at once the effect is diluted somewhat - but it works for her part.
Ranawhin joins in burning back the plant, using her poisoned, dark-gleaming blade to cut it back where possible. But it's going to take forever to buff the sap from her armor and sword afterward, and now she's going to have to pick leaves and vines from the plates and the padding, as well, for the hits it does get in against her.
Chop, chop, chop, chop. With his trusty saber, Dio slices and chops away at any vines that come within his path. A quick look to his piece of steel reminds him that he should take up regular blade maintenance from time to time, especially considering how blunt it's been getting. But luckily, his shield was still in tip-top condition to assist in deflecting what blows he could for the party. "Phew," Dio exasperates, wiping his brow. "Not a bad fight, eh?"
Indeed, now quite thorougly decimated from the party's little show of extreme gardening, the tumbleweed's roots are loosening their grip upon the ground, and a wayward gust of wind sends it over the edge, careening into the darkness below. Well, that sure saved the trouble of uprooting it - the path is now reasonably clear once more, and the entrance to the little rest stop unblocked. Now that the obstruction's gone, faint lights are visible from near the mountain's peak, presumably the camp that the elder spoke off, still some ways along the trail.
Selena stretches herself out and looks back into the cavern water was heard from. "Well... There's some water there. I say we get a drink for ourselves and speak with the camp and elder. They'll probably be glad that thing's gone.
Ranawhin nods in response to that, the fox rather happy for the idea of a drink - and something to help wash her stuff off. "Sounds like a plan. I've got some travelbread to share, if you'd like?" she starts to make her way towards the cave, pulling out a rough cloth as she goes.
Dio sheaths his sword and straps his shield upon his back once more. "Bit parched myself lasses," he comments, quite eager to get himself out of the cold. "An' ya brought some bread to share? I think we're gonna be great friends already." Chuckling once more, he heads off down the path to investigate.
