[Story] Expedition I: Lake Kagamihara

[Xyza]

Khrysa

"Oh, is there something special about that dew?" Khrysa observes Rahat taking a taste. Assuming the centaur felt it was worth gathering, Khrysa began casting a family Shape Waterspell to manipulate liquid, useful for mixing broth precisely or making delicately crafted desserts. She caused the dew to gather into larger bubbles, then dropped them into her jug.

As they continued on, Khrysa had her breath taken away by the scenery. It was quite a spectacular view...even before taking into consideration the strange, dream-like aspects of it like the knoll's geometry and the faded horizon. The mushrooms were also eye-catching with their bright colors, but she preferred to leave handling the potential toxins to the experienced gatherer. Instead, she continues to look around in awe, her gaze following the trail of white smoke up to the opaque sky. "I still don't know what this place is..." Khrysa murmurs, her thoughts drifting to an old fairy tale about children being trapped inside a glass ornament.

[Kaigen]

Originally Posted by Xyza

"Oh, is there something special about that dew?" Khrysa observes Rahat taking a taste. Assuming the centaur felt it was worth gathering, Khrysa began casting a family Shape Waterspell to manipulate liquid, useful for mixing broth precisely or making delicately crafted desserts. She caused the dew to gather into larger bubbles, then dropped them into her jug.

Rahat's eyebrows went up as she tasted the water, but she waited to see if she would feel any tingling on her lips or tongue before she swallowed and responded. "It is slightly sweet, and tastes clean and pure. I think we would do well to collect some to brew the tea with." That covered "sweetness." They seemed to be coming along in their preparations. Thankfully, Khrysa had a way to collect the dew in quantity, as Rahat could not immediately see a way to get more than a mouthful from any individual frond.

Rahat had seen many different vistas in her travels that she would not have imagined prior to leaving the desert, but the mushroom field was clearly something else, and that was confirmed by Khrysa's reaction. "I do not know what it is either, except that it cannot be natural." There was no judgment in Rahat's tone. While natural cycles were important to her and her order, there was always a use for the artificial. She pointed towards the smoke rising from behind the curly hill. "Perhaps we will find Argritte over there."

First, though, her attention was drawn to the mushrooms. One of the voices had said "plump and red," so she looked for a suitable specimen of blood red color. Putting on gloves and taking a knife, she cut one stalk free and examined it. This was dangerous territory. All toxins were a matter of degree, but Rahat knew some mushrooms had toxins that could have terrible effects with even a tiny piece. She gentled squeezed the mushroom cap to see if anything would ooze out before wrapping it in a cloth. She could take the step of testing some on herself, if need be, but it would be foolish to do so if there were someone on the other side of the hill who could tell her if they were safe.

[briar]

Lake Kagamihara Briarheart Hollow "The sunrise at Lake Kagamihara is pretty famous. You see, when the sun hits those glaciers just right...well, guess you should stay up and see for yourself, eh?" -- Overheard from a passerby in Tradewinds

📅 11th Day of Second month in the Summer season.Aiou, 334 After Union / After UnificationA.U. Terrain🌄 Travel & Camping Base TN is ERROR.??????? Weather🌞 Travel & Camping Modifier is ERRORHeavy Fog; 30°F Time of Day⏱ ERR:OR ?? Locale Info A quiet, out of the way lake famed for its solitude and crystal clear waters, it is overlooked by Mount Seneschal, the tallest and most iconic of the Reigncrown mountain range. Legend has it that the emblem on the Rouge flag was designed after the view of the mountain from this lake. In the Summer and Autumn, it is a common destination for hikers and campers, and features a small lodge where one can rent small boats to venture onto the lake. Environs: Lodge Area, Northern Lakeshore, Southern Lakeshore, Twinspring Grove Locale Info Background Music Khrysa 🩸 14/14 • Current Stamina💪 3/3 Rahat 🩸 21/21 • Karma for this Locale🍀 2 • Current Stamina💪 2/3

Rahat & Khrysa Through her quick thinking and practical solution-finding, Khrysa collects the water, forming it into a single large droplet in the air and afterwards filtering into an empty jug she'd been carrying around. Once she's stoppered it and placed it delicately back inside her pack, the two continue on, inevitably arriving at the aforementioned open glade. Once there, Rahat goes about harvesting and touch-testing one of the dark red mushrooms. When squeezed, the cap of the shroom releases a puff of thin, powdery substance into the air, and then quickly wilts in her grasp and becomes no more than a dried up scrap. The powder itself doesn't seem to have any immediate effect on the air, though it sparkles slightly as it falls back to the ground, reminding the centaur in many ways of the way sand dunes from her homeland glitters in the sun. Unless directly inhaled or touched, it doesn't seem to permeate their senses...

Storyteller Notes For now, we'll call the special water the Khrysa collected "Sweet Water". She was able to collect half a jug full, which is about 4 servings.

[Xyza]

Khrysa

Khrysa tries a little of the sweet dew herself off a leaf she didn't collect from, smiling and nodding in agreement to Rahat's observations. "Yeah, this should be good for tea!"

"Perhaps we will find Argritte over there."

"Errr...who was Argritte agai-...oh, right!" it took some racking of her brain, but she eventually remembered the words of the Queen at the beginning of all this. Her thoughts had been even more scrambled than usual while exploring this strange land, and other important morsels of information like 'plump and red' also weren't at the top of her mind; it was fortunate that her companion was much more focused.

"Yes, let's go take a look! Even if it isn't the butler, it might be somebody else who can help!" It felt like a while since they had encountered anyone who wasn't a disembodied voice or glowy-leaf-bird.

[Kaigen]

Rahat leaned back as the mushroom puffed powder into the air, even holding her breath and taking a few steps back to avoid the cloud. If the mushroom was that eager to get its spores into her, she was not going to oblige it. Not until she knew more. Covering the shriveled cap with the cloth, she tucked it into a jar and securely closed the lid.

Taking a careful breath, she nodded. "Let's take a look, then." Rahat moved to round the hill, watching her step lest she accidentally set off another cloud of spores.

[briar]

Lake Kagamihara Briarheart Hollow "The sunrise at Lake Kagamihara is pretty famous. You see, when the sun hits those glaciers just right...well, guess you should stay up and see for yourself, eh?" -- Overheard from a passerby in Tradewinds

📅 11th Day of Second month in the Summer season.Aiou, 334 After Union / After UnificationA.U. Terrain🌄 Travel & Camping Base TN is ERROR.??????? Weather🌞 Travel & Camping Modifier is ERRORHeavy Fog; 30°F Time of Day⏱ ERR:OR ?? Locale Info A quiet, out of the way lake famed for its solitude and crystal clear waters, it is overlooked by Mount Seneschal, the tallest and most iconic of the Reigncrown mountain range. Legend has it that the emblem on the Rouge flag was designed after the view of the mountain from this lake. In the Summer and Autumn, it is a common destination for hikers and campers, and features a small lodge where one can rent small boats to venture onto the lake. Environs: Lodge Area, Northern Lakeshore, Southern Lakeshore, Twinspring Grove Locale Info Background Music Khrysa 🩸 14/14 • Current Stamina💪 3/3 Rahat 🩸 21/21 • Karma for this Locale🍀 2 • Current Stamina💪 2/3

Rahat & Khrysa The duo carefully treads through the mushroom fields, keeping closely to the path lest they disturb the menacing mycelium around them. Fortunately, it is clearly worn, winding its way whimsically around the greensward in a way that is...rather obnoxious really, and long. Why so many unnecessary curves? Whosoever design this ambling way must clearly have been either mad, or they really liked walking. At long last, Rahat and Khrysa stand before what appears to be...a stump. A hollow one, rather, with a grate over it, from which is belching the white smoke that they followed here. The path ends at, and there's no other clear, nor obvious entrance. The stump is about a foot in diameter, and the grate appears to be affixed to it, with nary a handle to pull it forth with. They do spy a padlock hanging down on the inside of it, locking a latch within that seems so suggest its openable from that side, though how on earth someone is meant to fit inside the shaft is anyone's guess especially since it doesn't appear to go straight down, either. The only hint at what may lie beyond is a soft, orange glow from somewhere within, and the faint aroma of what is very recognizably black tea. Unfortunately, the grate is much too narrow to get more than a finger through, and the latch hangs down too far to reach. Beyond the stump, there is a small mailbox standing near the end of the path, the flag on it raised. Oddly enough, this, too, has a lock on it, though at the very least, anyone could interact with it. Also present is a conspicuous-looking bench that appears much nicer than it has any right to be, especially given that its sitting alone in an open field and is wholly exposed to the elements. Rather, it looks like it belongs in a noble's sitting parlor, or perhaps in a luxurious restaurant. Other than this odd little gathering, it appears to be nothing more than a strangely shaped hill. With a chimney, apparently. Nor do the duo see either hide or hair of their mysterious quarry.

Storyteller Notes ------------------------

[Xyza]

Khrysa

Though a little fatigued, Khrysa mostly enjoys the elaborately winding walk along the path...perhaps she was one of those who did really like walking. Once they arrived at their destination, though, she looked around confused. She had been expecting a mystical cozy cottage perhaps, or at least some kind of semi-permanent campsite set up. Instead...there was just a stump with a grate, a mailbox, and a bench.

She looks around a little to make sure she wasn't missing anything, though it was pretty obvious there weren't any other structures around. "Err....hello? Hello? Anyone here?" she calls out into the empty space, and then down the grate, for whatever good that would do. Khrysa then perplexedly tilts her head at her companion, wondering if Rahat had some understanding of the situation that she didn't.

[Kaigen]

The path is oddly looping, but Rahat feels there must be a reason for that somewhere, and it seems the easiest way to avoid further disturbing the mushrooms, so Rahat sticks to it. Perhaps it has a spiritual meaning, like the labyrinths the sages sometimes drew.

The lack of a house, or even a door, at the end of the path is confusing. Rahat examines the grate, but unless Argritte is very small (and doesn't mind a lot of smoke), it doesn't seem a likely entrance. The smell of tea emanating from it does feel promising, though. Even if this isn't Argritte's place, they may be able to barter for some tea leaves. And if someone is brewing tea, them surely they are home to greet visitors.

Rahat looks around further, and her eyes fall on the box with the raised flag. She seen something like those in some of the towns she's passed through. She looks for Khrysa and catches her giving a quizzical look. Rahat points to the mailbox. "Those are usually placed right outside the entrance, right?" She approaches it, and, for lack of any better ideas, she calls out "Argritte, are you here?" She looks about some more for anything that looks like a door or flap.

[briar]

Lake Kagamihara Briarheart Hollow "The sunrise at Lake Kagamihara is pretty famous. You see, when the sun hits those glaciers just right...well, guess you should stay up and see for yourself, eh?" -- Overheard from a passerby in Tradewinds

📅 11th Day of Second month in the Summer season.Aiou, 334 After Union / After UnificationA.U. Terrain🌄 Travel & Camping Base TN is ERROR.??????? Weather🌞 Travel & Camping Modifier is ERRORHeavy Fog; 30°F Time of Day⏱ ERR:OR ?? Locale Info A quiet, out of the way lake famed for its solitude and crystal clear waters, it is overlooked by Mount Seneschal, the tallest and most iconic of the Reigncrown mountain range. Legend has it that the emblem on the Rouge flag was designed after the view of the mountain from this lake. In the Summer and Autumn, it is a common destination for hikers and campers, and features a small lodge where one can rent small boats to venture onto the lake. Environs: Lodge Area, Northern Lakeshore, Southern Lakeshore, Twinspring Grove Locale Info Background Music Khrysa 🩸 14/14 • Current Stamina💪 3/3 Rahat 🩸 21/21 • Karma for this Locale🍀 2 • Current Stamina💪 2/3

Rahat & Khrysa Rahat finds nothing that would suggest an entryway, but the path ending here suggests they are in the right spot for one. Where could it be? "I say!" comes a tiny voice, but, interestingly enough, not from the direction of the grate. Rather it comes from above, and the two companions turn their attention to the sky where they behold a curious sight. There, flapping its...wings?...some thirty or so feet overhead, is, of all things, a gray and white cat, the likes of which is easily an arm-full in size. From head to rump, the animal is a little more than a foot and a half long, and instead of regular feline tail, it has a long, flowing tail plume that easily doubles its overall length. Meanwhile, its spotted, silvery wings span at least half again, making it look much bigger than it actually is. It circles, descending a little, and repeats itself in a voice that is decidedly human-sounding. "I say, you there! This is a private residence! And anyway, the one who dwells here is presently away. What is it you want? Come now, speak your peace or be off with you." It remains hovering some distance in the air, watching the two of them carefully. It seems clear that it does not trust strangers.

Storyteller Notes For whatever reason, I thought I'd posted here already. Apologies for the late post!

[Xyza]

Khrysa

Khrysa is somewhat startled by the voice, then very startled when she sees the source of it. There were all sorts of entities out in the world, and this part of the world seemed even stranger than most, but it was still surprising to see a flying talking cat. She recovers a little and tries to speak politely to it as she would anyone else, though the situation is awkward.

"Um, so you're not the one who lives here? W-well, we're on a quest to make tea! For the Prickly Queen, because she said...things. We were just wandering at Lake Kagamihara then ended up here somehow? And we need to find ingredients and maybe Agritte...?" she looks over to Rahat for a possibly more put-together explanation or anything she missed.

[Kaigen]

Rahat squints up at the flying cat as Khrysa offers an explanation for their presence. This would certainly be a story to tell the Sultana someday, if she ever makes it back to Ankhtenakas. Thinking of all this as a story she can tell someone later helps. It implies that she will make it through.

"We're sorry to intrude, but when the Queen charged us to prepare her tea, she said that Argritte would know how she prefers it done. Could you tell us where to find them?"

[briar]

Lake Kagamihara Briarheart Hollow "The sunrise at Lake Kagamihara is pretty famous. You see, when the sun hits those glaciers just right...well, guess you should stay up and see for yourself, eh?" -- Overheard from a passerby in Tradewinds

📅 11th Day of Second month in the Summer season.Aiou, 334 After Union / After UnificationA.U. Terrain🌄 Travel & Camping Base TN is ERROR.??????? Weather🌞 Travel & Camping Modifier is ERRORHeavy Fog; 30°F Time of Day⏱ ERR:OR ?? Locale Info A quiet, out of the way lake famed for its solitude and crystal clear waters, it is overlooked by Mount Seneschal, the tallest and most iconic of the Reigncrown mountain range. Legend has it that the emblem on the Rouge flag was designed after the view of the mountain from this lake. In the Summer and Autumn, it is a common destination for hikers and campers, and features a small lodge where one can rent small boats to venture onto the lake. Environs: Lodge Area, Northern Lakeshore, Southern Lakeshore, Twinspring Grove Locale Info Background Music Khrysa 🩸 14/14 • Current Stamina💪 3/3 Rahat 🩸 21/21 • Karma for this Locale🍀 2 • Current Stamina💪 2/3

Rahat & Khrysa The flying-cat-thing gives a bit of a pause, observing the duo below, but ultimately lands on the little mailbox. As it does, its large black talons press menacingly into the wood. "Her Majesty's messengers, is it? Take care when uttering that name in this place, she is not overfond of it," the creature's tone is curt and dismissive. "You would do well to address Queen Alyskrandaricroix by her name and title, Or, if that is too much for your silly humanoid tongues, 'Her Wondrous Majesty' or 'Her Illustriousness' shall do as well." The cat clears its throat, but it comes out more similar to the hacking noise of a feline with a hairball. "I am Ser Brookshire, and it is my distinct honor to serve as Queen Alyskrandaricroix's eyes and ears in the Shadow Labyrinth. You said just now that you seek Argritte, the Royal Alchemeister, yes? Unfortunately, as I have said, they are not presently home...though, actually, it is quite fortuitous that you have come. You see, Argritte has run into a spot of trouble and could use the deft hand of someone with apposable thumbs as you both seem to have. Supposing they work, of course." The cat gives only a brief moment's pause, then speaks up again, "Should you accept, follow that path to your left." When you look to your left, you see an oddly well-worn path that leads back into the grey woodland. Odd...was that path there before? "I shall fly ahead and await you at the path's head. But be warned: you must endeavor to ignore any other beings you meet. Do we have an accord?"

Storyteller Notes Planning to regularly schedule GM posts every Friday from this point forward. May post faster as able. See the OoC thread for more explanation.

[Kaigen]

Rahat's eyes widen as the cat corrects them on the proper form of address for the Prickly Queen. "Thank you. Queen Alys-kranda-ricroy"—she stumbles a bit over the proper stresses—"did not deign to have herself announced when we found ourselves in her presence." She also makes note of Ser Brookshire's reference to the "Shadow Labyrinth," a name for the place they have found themselves, and a fitting one.

Lifting up her hands and flexing her thumbs to show their functioning, Rahat frowns at Ser Brookshire's instructions. "I am a healer and willing to help, but what do you mean when you say 'ignore any other beings you meet'?" It is one thing to ignore the stares and jeers of passersby, or else threatening postures, and quite another to ignore people in need of help, and that's only considering "beings" that look and act like people.

[briar]

Lake Kagamihara Briarheart Hollow "The sunrise at Lake Kagamihara is pretty famous. You see, when the sun hits those glaciers just right...well, guess you should stay up and see for yourself, eh?" -- Overheard from a passerby in Tradewinds

📅 11th Day of Second month in the Summer season.Aiou, 334 After Union / After UnificationA.U. Terrain🌄 Travel & Camping Base TN is ERROR.??????? Weather🌞 Travel & Camping Modifier is ERRORHeavy Fog; 30°F Time of Day⏱ ERR:OR ?? Locale Info A quiet, out of the way lake famed for its solitude and crystal clear waters, it is overlooked by Mount Seneschal, the tallest and most iconic of the Reigncrown mountain range. Legend has it that the emblem on the Rouge flag was designed after the view of the mountain from this lake. In the Summer and Autumn, it is a common destination for hikers and campers, and features a small lodge where one can rent small boats to venture onto the lake. Environs: Lodge Area, Northern Lakeshore, Southern Lakeshore, Twinspring Grove Locale Info Background Music Khrysa 🩸 14/14 • Current Stamina💪 3/3 Rahat 🩸 21/21 • Karma for this Locale🍀 2 • Current Stamina💪 2/3

Rahat & Khrysa "Her Majesty, Queen Alyskrandaricroix," the catbird repeats sharply, as if doing so will somehow solve the difficulty of saying such a long and winding name, "is of a mind that, as her name is known near and far across the land, to not know of her Radiance is, itself, a grave offense against her name and crown. That she should be obliged to speak of such things herself is, quite simply, the height of insolence." The cat-bird eyes Rahat for a moment after this, its expression stony and austere, but in a way that a teacher often looks at a student rather than a haughty noble looks at a peasant. After a moment, the creature clears its throat. "As for your second question...to put to very simply, not all creatures in this world can be counted on to mean you profit or kindness. In fact, many will seek to do you harm, and will use all manner of tricks to draw the unwary into a place where they can exercise their power over you. A call for help or a proffered hand could just as easily be a lure to drawn you off the path."

Storyteller Notes ----------------

[Xyza]

Khrysa

"Oh!" Khrysa gasped, not realizing the rudeness of her manner of address. "Alekscry...er, Alicekrande...Alyskdrandaroy..." she whispered under her breath, trying her best to grapple with the pronunciation. Perhaps she would just stick to one of those titles instead.

"A pleasure to meet you, Ser Brookshire!" she greets, relieved that owl-cat-knight's name was simpler at least. "Yes, we would love to help Argritte with that!" she agrees while instinctively following Rahat in showing off her functioning thumbs.

She is more quiet while pondering the feline's warning to ignore any they encountered along the path. That sounded easy enough, but she had a twisting feeling that it might not be, especially when Brookshire referenced tricks like false calls for help. It would take vigilance to resist that instinct.