[Game Thread] Chapter 1: The Spider Farm

[ArionNaomi]

Siren was just about to follow along after Korin and Sheryllin when the elf's reaction to her advice caught her attention. Horror surged through her. She acted as if she had been ordered, shoulders slumped, almost as if expecting reprimand...

"Sheryllin... I- I didn't mean... I'm sorry..." Tears pricked at her eyes. What could the woman have gone through to make her so cowed? Sure she was really skinny and her choice of attire was odd.

Siren felt horrible, like she had singlehandedly dredged up a piece of Sheryllin's painful past. The tone of obedience bothered her just as much. It had just been a suggestion. She would never think to order anyone around, ever.

Fidgeting uneasily, she followed behind the others. Thankfully she was far enough away from Korin that when he discovered the lavatory she wasn't hit by the smell. "What an interesting new smell you've discovered there, Fish..." She jibes playfully. When he points out what he saw in the cage, she sobers instantly.

"Well, I suppose we could go down and find out if they're down there, at least once we're done scouting these buildings... Fish?" She looked over at her best friend and froze, following his line of sight to a very naked Sheryllin.

She scowled. Fish was staring at her. Siren looked around sharply, noting his gaze and his mouth opening and closing. Siren wondered with a pang of jealousy and hurt if he would stare like that at her if she undressed.

Wait, jealousy? Where had that come from? Sure she liked Korin, but he had never made any move on her... Never looked at her that way. Jealous. Yes she wanted him to look at her like that.

But she felt bad about being jealous of Sheryllin, given her earlier wilting and sudden obedience.

He was her Fish damnit! But he wasn't ever really hers was he?

After an eternity, he looked away. She cleared her throat a little. "Hey, Fish, you okay there?" She asked, her voice weak, her mouth dry. "If it was me changing like that... Would you, erm, look at me like that?" She blushed profusely.

"Er not that I would be trying to do it in front of you... It's just you, erm, looked like you might like her... I dunno... Forget about me." She walked a couple steps forward and hung her head. Why had she said anything? She was just going to hurt herself with that train of thought. Great going Siren.

"So spiders... You think they went down, right? Where those webs are?" She tried to carry on nonchalantly, but came off as more twitchy than cool.

 

Fish = Korin
Amazon = Raza
Shortie = Dalwinkle
Birdie = Tryanne
Red = Thorin
Shelly = Sheryllin

[Nade]

Korin jumps. Siren's words startle him. He turns his face towards her, blushing again as a guilty expression crosses his face. Was I being that obvious? Coughing, he covers his mouth, trying to cover his embarrassment. Then he hears her words, and Korin looks at her, confused at what she says. She tries to walk past him, to study the cage. Reaching out, Korin touches her shoulder gently, stopping her in her tracks. Turning her to face him, his eyes meet hers......and his throat goes dry, even as he says in a soft voice, "Squirrel......?" And in that second, as his eyes hold hers in his gaze, Korin wonders.....about this strange girl whom has been his constant companion since childhood. With whom he cannot envisage a life without. His Squirrel whom, despite his sometime flippant nature, that he holds close and would protect against all the world if he could. His Squirrel whom, if he could absorb the pain that she had been through....if he could take it away he would have done so without even the slightest hesitation.... Looking at her, he asks again, suddenly find it difficult to speak....."Squirrel......?" Then he grins, clasping her shoulder tightly. "That is a really funny joke Squirrel. You stripping in front of me? That's a good one bestie." Walking over to stand with her next to the cage, he looks down to the hole and the webs with an appraising gaze. To her question, he nods his head. "Yeah, my guess is that they went down." It was at that precise moment that Korin remembered something that had happened earlier. His gaze moves across to Tryanne for a second, before moving back to Siren as he says, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Waving over towards Tryanne, Korin beckons her to come towards the cage. "Tryanne, perhaps now is the right time to burn something." Korin's eyes sparkle as he looks to the others, wondering if they have caught onto his line of thinking.....

[Huhart]

Dalwinkle tried hard not to stare as Sheryllin stripped down. The eyeful that he received would keep the little gnome contented for many a lonely night. He made note of Siren and she first bossed Sheryllin around, then tried, perhaps successfully, to control Korin with her feminine wiles. Was she trying to take leadership of their little band? Dal would much rather have Thorin in charge, but the dwarf seemed content with letting the others do as they would.

He moved over to the hole where the others were standing and peer down inside. Once again, Korin wants to burn something. "Burn it? Are you kidding? We should try to catch it and tame it. Cute little spider...it could be our mascot. Then, she could make silk for us!" He rubs his hands together, thinking of the spider spewing out a load of fine silken garments. "That slip Sheryllin just put on would probably sell for 50 gold pieces...and the spider could make us more...for free!""

[MossStone]

Tryanne frounds at the other gril, for steeling. Of course she is going to steal, these are crimals, never forget that no matter how normal they may seem. She grips her things a little tighter until Korin calls her over.

"Why?" Tryanne looks at Korin confused. "It's locked away and probably not even poisioniouse. It might be someone's frimure? Or Crop. " She looks at Dalwinkle a moment. "You can wear spider silk?" She asks in surprise and then shrugs."If you want to burn it though we can." Tryanne looks back and forth to each party member confused, all her life she's know who's orders to follow and who's pleads to ignore. Now she had, in reality no Master- no one to tell her what to do or when or why. It was unfathomable. and terrifying. Who in their right mind craves freedom? She wondered applied.

Panic begins to seize her as she looks from face to face fingering the brand on her neck. As her chest beings to tighten something else hits her. "Wait. The Spider is in the cage. No one fears what they have Mastered. That means whatever attacked that man is outside the cage." She said calming a little and then blushing, "right?" she adds softly.

[Lexkat]

Now wearing something more, Sheryllin steps up behind Siren and speaks softly. I believe the mage is correct. The caged is nothing to fear, unless it has been.... freed. We should be... she steps back nervously, rubbing her arms self-consciously. I... This one is sorry. She spoke out of turn again. And she drops to the floor, forehead on the ground and arms behind her back.

But before anyone can reach her to touch her, she scrambles away from the group, her hand fumbling for her dagger. No, I... I am f-free. The... the mage no longer owns this one. She... she is free.

 

 

Half-Elven Thief- 1

[MossStone]

Tryanne look at the woman in pity, What cruel Master tossed her out like that? She wonders. Did she do something wrong to be cast aside like that? She fingers her brand again defensively, grateful for the master she did have. Doubtless however Sheryliin didn't want eyes on her. Do you think we should check the next building then? She asks the woman in a easier tone then Tryanne's manged before, after all the two of them are near social equals.

OCC Sorry could not resist.

[Lexkat]

Sheryllin's eyes flutter, as she tries to think straight. "No, n-no no. Ask someone else." she says, waving her arms as if trying to deflect the question to the 'squirrel' and 'fish'.

 

 

Half-Elven Thief- 1

[Nade]

Glancing down towards the web-strewn tunnels, Korin shivers slightly. He did not like spiders. Not one bit. In fact, in hindsight, if he had taken the time to think a little bit harder about running to the rescue of a place called “Spider Farm”. And Dal was talking about saving the spider…… Korin shudders slightly at the thought of it. He hated spiders. “You seriously want to tame it…? What if it’s a big spider? A really big spider. Like, bigger than you.” Narrowing his eyes, he looks to the gnome. “You don’t really think spiders are cute do you?” And then Tryanne makes the point about whatever attacked the farm being outside the cage, and Korin shakes his head. “I see your point, I really do, but….” Burn the spiders! He sighs in disappointment. “Fine, okay then. We save the burning for whatever is outside the cage.” All thoughts of spells and burning spiders however are immediately put to one side at Sheyllin’s words and actions. She speaks up for a moment, concurring with Tryanne and then…… ……she seems to go to pieces emotionally. Watching her, Korin’s heart breaks for what she must have been through to feel like that…. To believe, to not feel that you are equal, or even worthy to be able to speak or voice an opinion. Such a thing is inconceivable to the gentle-hearted, naïve prankster. It is not something he has experienced. It is not something he would ever want to experience. He glances to Siren, horrified at what he is seeing. Walking over to the stricken girl slowly, Korin holds his hands out wide and speaks to her in a soft tone, the same way that one would perhaps speak to soothe a terrified fawn. “Sheryl…..I am so, so sorry.” His expression is one of sorrow. “Whatever happened to you, you are free now. You are one of us, and you deserve to have your voice heard, as an equal.” If Sheryllin lets him, he enfolds her in a hug, trying to hold back the tears he feels coming to the fore at what must have been something terrible for her…. “Nobody owns you now. Nobody will ever own you again. I swear this to you, on everything that I am, that whatever has happened to you Sheryl, it will not happen to you again. You are free now. Always and forever.” If she allows him to, he holds the stricken girl tightly to him.

[Lexkat]

No holding. Her dagger will get between him and touching her. She's not ready for that yet, but she does listen to his words.

[Nade]

As she holds out the dagger, pointing it towards him, Korin nods slowly, keeping back from her. A sad expression crosses his face as he says, "I understand. I still mean what I say though. Nobody will ever do that to you again." He looks to the others, nodding at them in turn. "You are one of us, and you always will be."

[Huhart]

Dalwinkle tried to answer the barrage of questions that were thrown at him.

You can wear spider silk? "Uh, I think there's a bit of processing involved. You put the webs through that spinning..wheel..thingy then in that ...loom...gizmo. Err, you girls know how to do that, right?" This statement wasn't winning him any points.

You seriously want to tame it…? "I...uhh...thought you might like to. You Some gnomes have the stereotypical belief that all humans are farmers, so animal husbandry would come naturally to them.people are good at that sort of thing."

What if it’s a big spider? Like, bigger than you. "Aw come on, they're not really that big..." <Gulp> "Are they?"

You don’t really think spiders are cute do you? Dal sighed. "You know what...just forget it." He kicked a pebble into the cage. It got stuck in the webbing about half way down. Below, a rustling sound was heard. "Bird-girl is right. The spiders are the farmer's property. We should leave them be."

Feeling somewhat defeated, Dal heads off for the next building. "I'll go check the door..." he mutters.

 

Find/Remove traps=35%

Dice Roll:

1d100

2

Detect Noise=25%

Dice Roll:

1d100

37

[ironbeard]

...well, she would be a passable lassy with some meat on her bones and a nice beard....Thorin thought as the young woman stripped down. Then her naked body brought back memories of Ellena. The forbidden love...why was that always the best kind, he pondered and then turned away from the woman. She seems to be having some memories that are troubling her.Thorin thinks rubbing his beard.

The fairly simple journey to this farm...this spider farm...seems to have awaken many different and many similar thoughts in several of the party. Including my self. he wonders and then follows Dal to the next building.

"I'll watch your back, Dal." he says.

[ArionNaomi]

Siren stared into Korin's eyes for a moment. Could he, could he really? Then he grinned and joked with her. The moment was past. She smiled back, but it did not reach her eyes. "Ha... Haha... Um yeah, joke, right you know me..." She looked to the floor cheeks burning with shame. No he didn't feel that way about her. He probably never had. Probably never would.

"I can't see a benefit in killing what we were sent here to save, by setting fire to everything, Fish, but I promise to protect you from the spiders," she said agreeing with Birdie.

When Sheryllin speaks up, Siren is glad, she's taking initiative, offering an opinion- oh no wait, she was groveling again. The very action itself, followed by her straightening up and holding her dagger out, saying she was free... It tore at her heartstrings, no matter the jealousy she felt earlier.

Still the elf defered to her and Fish. "I... No. Don't ask me! You have a unique opinion that we value! I'm no leader! I don't want to be leader, I just offer a suggestion, which is all we ask of you. It's not out of turn. It's never out of turn." She watched Korin try to hug her and get rebuffed.

Ha! She almost smiled smugly. Almost. The confliction came back and while she felt sorry for the girl, the jealousy was still there. Fish didn't look at her like that.

"Okay, I get no guys touching, but would you let me hug you? It's how friends console one another. How we make eachother feel better. It's rather therapeutic if you want to give it a try..." Unless she's stopped, Siren will give her a very soft, light, hardly touching hug.

Then she turned to Dal. "Shortie, not all women can spin and weave. I have the seamstress skills of an ox. Can't sew, weave or any of that to save my life. And it may seem contrary, but animals and I don't get along, let alone spiders... But we are trying to save a spider farm so... I can't kill them all."

 

Fish = Korin
Amazon = Raza
Shortie = Dalwinkle
Birdie = Tryanne
Red = Thorin
Shelly = Sheryllin

[MossStone]

Tryanne nods sadly, "I never learned to either, or even to sew- though I am hoping to pick up embroidery now that I have to..."I can't tell them why- they will think I am a runway. And I surely can't tell them about My masters death. She looks over at Dalwinkel a moment."But I can cook, well- so when we're done I can make us breakfast." It was the truth too, her master didn't trust his other servants they way he had trusted her. She had taken over making his meals after that ungrateful scullery maid had tried to slip hensbane into his sausage one morning. She had seen the bottle slipped into the woman's sleeve when she had come to take it to him. As a reward Lord Pathtosen had even let her help skin the woman alive and salt the wounds as they went. She wondered if her skeleton was still mindlessly working in the granary, milling out barley for the Lord's mill.

Sounds started playing in her head again at the memory,and for all it was quite a pleasant one, it was followed fast by memories of the poison that had killed him poison that she had brought...I should be executed,my bones should be rotting away right beside hers. She had to resurrect him! That way she could at least go to her death with him knowing she had always been faithful. The music was louder now though.. almost drowning out her thoughts completely.

"Would you like a candle?" She says to the gnome, almost desperately. Why am I even hear, farmers won't have the answers I need? The long term. She needed to think in the long term. She also needed to figure out if she missed anything just now do to the music.

She turns from him back to the frighten girl back again. She has no idea why the woman is so upset, or why it upset Squrl? Was that her name, but matters between freemen were not her right to intervene with unless asked. Wich was a shame because she would really like to know where Sheryilln and Dalwinkel learned to set of traps. And Why.

"What do people who do this sort of thing for a living actually do?" Tryanne mumbles to herself.

OCC Notes from a Spinner and Weaver Funfact: A few years ago someone managed to milk a bunch of spiders, and make a gorgeous shawl and a cape out of the spider silk. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/article...n-spider-silk/ (Cheek out the videos at the bottom, they are amazing and beautiful.) Also if anyone needs Spinning and Weaving info for this game :P Let me know I do both

[Huhart]

Dal turned to Thorin and said snidely in a low voice, "Refering to Siren, not TryanneShe can't sew or do other girl stuff, then wonders why pretty boy picks the slave girl over her...""

He turned around to see the rest of the group have followed him to the next building. [Let's say we are at E2-F3].
Tryanne just volunteered to make breakfast. "When I was in prison, they gave me a delicious dish, I think it was called gruel. Do you know how to make that?" By the tone of his voice, it seemed he was being sincere, not joking. "I asked the guard for the recipe, but he was just rude...Must have been a secret family recipe."

He peered closely at the doorway, to ensure there was no traps. Vulture girl offered him a candle, which he found peculiar. "You can light a candle if you want, but I don't see the point in it. I can see perfectly fine in the dark." He wondered about humans. They acted very strange sometimes. She started to mumble something which he didn't quite understand. "Do you mean how I know how to find traps? My mom taught me!"