Event: Day 301 [OPEN]

[bastionpc]

Who: Everyone who wants to be involved, plus a ~*~surprise guest~*~
Open: Open
When: Day 301
Where: Roathus Lagoon
What: oh look it's time for a core
Format: action
Warnings: none yet

[When Nathaniel calls for one of the all-too familiar meetings regarding cores, he looks pretty unhappy. In fact, he looks like he has some bad news to give. Whatever it is, everyone should come listen, because it's pretty important!]

Comments

[daughterofursa]

[It's only a little mud, guys, quit being worried about getting dirty. Also her crush is backing her up, not that she's like... giving Aoi's vote more weight just because she likes her or anything BUT ANYWAY Zuko is not inclined to change her mind.]

We're a large enough group the small animals have been avoiding us. I think we'll notice anything bigger.

[Zuko draws one of her swords to help clearing the spots where the grass is thick and starts forward into the mud. High boots were an excellent choice here not that she has any other shoes.]

[bastionpc]

[An through the mud they go! Fortunately, the mud itself is not very deep. Even at the deepest parts it only goes up to barely enough to cover someone's toes. It will eat up any shoes that are not tightly affixed to a foot, though, so watch out.

The tall grass is indeed the biggest problem for the time being, though. Zuko cutting it down helps, but eventually the group will suddenly see large spikes spitting out of a patch of grass at them. Said spikes look big enough to do some serious damage, so watch out!]

[twinked_witch]

[As the spikes start shooting, Megaera steps forward. Then...]

Mage armor!

[A glow forms around her body, helping to reduce the impact of the spikes hitting her - and thus not anyone else.]

Need to torch that source or something!

[fireburn]

[azula does her best to get out of the way of the spikes. it's not as graceful as she might've been without MUD on this way she didnt want to go, but it's okay. torching is definitely her specialty but this whole limit has her wondering if they shouldn't conserve. she casts a look over at zuko.]

Sister - would you like to do the honors?

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha darts out of the way, and draws his sword. If they want to conserve...}

I can take it out if we need to get up close.

[Speed's always been his thing. If he can go fast enough to dodge around gunfire, he can probably handle a plant.]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[Rob's general lack of speed, combined with his poor reaction time against fast ranged attacks and the mud, doesn't help this situation very much; one of the spikes grazes him on the left side of his rib cage, passing cleanly between two ribs and leaving a deep gash. He lets out a pained grunt but maintains his grip on his sword and remains alert for further attacks, wishing he had a decent ranged attack option.]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko deflects a spike with her sword, frowning. She gets what Azula is doing by asking her to take care of it, but she's not going to argue and with Rob getting hit, she's not going to wait for Otoha either.

She blasts the plant with a fireball and turns to Rob.]

How bad were you hit?

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[With the immediately-visible threat gone and Zuko's question, Rob takes the time to examine the wound, delicately pulling a scrap of fabric from it. It's certainly bleeding profusely, but it didn't hit anything vital. It hurts, but he has a high enough pain tolerance that he doesn't look too inconvenienced by it.]

I'll live. Guess this's as good a time as any to see exactly how well these potions work, eh?

[So saying, he pulls out a bottle and quaffs the potion, then clenches his teeth as his eyes widen. The blood rapidly clots and the wound begins visibly closing. It's taking its time, and will likely take a couple of minutes to fully heal, but it's working and he isn't bleeding nearly as much as he was before. There's no immediate danger to his health beyond the surrounding plant and animal life trying to kill them all, though he's still clenching his teeth.]

Accelerates the pain of healing too. Makes sense I guess. We can keep moving. The effect should last five minutes, so any other injuries I get'll start healing on their own. Might as well get my money's worth out of the potion, right?

[bastionpc]

[Firebenders sure do make for quick work of killing plant monsters!

These plant monsters are not the type to run away when overpowered like other monsters are, though. What with them being rooted in the ground and all. So they will be a semi-constant hassle during the entire trip, and precautions will need to be taken.

More importantly, when one of them is broken, this green, hazy pollen of sorts starts to seep out of it and fill the air. It's slow enough that everyone can step back, but it looks like it will take time for the cloud to settle and for the air to be safe.

Do you wait, or do you press on?]

[four_quarts]

[...Yeah, Ghaleon's just going to have one of those gas masks ready, because knowing this group, they'll decide that pressing on is a fantastic idea, and he sure as hell isn't risking getting exposed to what might be a hallucinogen. Having the sole medic be incapacitated (or a potential threat) would ruin everyone's day, you know.

He's just going to be quiet, subtly keeping an eye on Rob for any signs he might need any assistance. ...Well, and keep an eye out for giant monsters, because as any seasoned traveler knows, an adventure party in a swamp will inevitably encounter a giant monster.]

[amphibian]

[Any attempts to move forward will be met with Aoi reaching to pull people back by the arm or shirt back, if she can grab them in time.]

We'd better wait for it to clear... [JAWSON'S BOG WAS SOME SHIT]

[daughterofursa]

[Look, Ghaleon, they can be responsible adult-like people. Zuko isn't about to charge on through those suspicious clouds of smoke either.

At least, not without testing first by pressing a gas mask to her face and edging into the thinning haze. These things are supposed to keep them safe, right?]

[twinked_witch]

Best to take our time. Take a drink while the air's fresh...

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha inches forward, frowning at the gas masks. Does he need one?]

Should I test it?

[four_quarts]

[Thank you for being sensible, Meg. You are earning many respect points with Ghaleon for that.]

...Only test it if you put on one of the gas masks. At this point it would be an unnecessary risk to do otherwise.

[Please no repeats of the pooping and yelling incident or even anything similar...]

[bastionpc]

[There will be no yelling and pooping this time.

However, anyone who touches that cloud of spores with bare skin will find that their skin goes tingly. Things like fingers, elbows, and such will be a bit sluggish in response for the next fifteen minutes or so.

Anyone unfortunate enough to inhale the spores will find their lungs going numb and their breaths difficult and shallow.]

[daughterofursa]

[Zuko listened well enough that she's actually wearing long sleeves for once, but it looks like her fingers are going a little numb. She tries to shake out her free hand once she's past the cloud.]

...it still does something even if you don't breathe it in. We'd better just avoid it.

[Which means they'll have to keep moving slowly, ugh. At least no monsters are bothering them, yet.. She expects that'll change once they reach the core.]

[bakegarasu]

[He pulls back a little bit. He can't afford to slow down. He tucks his hands into his pockets to keep them safe.]

[amphibian]

What'd it do? Are you okay? [Worry worry fret!! it takes her a second to quit worrying about Zuko long enough to notice Otoha trudging along.] Hey, were you listening?! It's not safe, come back and wait a minute for it to clear!

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

If they all make clouds of spores when they're destroyed that'll make things harder.

[His wound is closing nicely, but this does leave a gap where the long-sleeved shirt he's wearing doesn't protect him. Hopefully this won't pose a problem later.]

[daughterofursa]

I'm fine. Just lost a little feeling.

[But thanks for worrying. She frowns ahead at Otoha.]

Hey. What good is it going to do you to get there ahead of everyone?

[If the rest of them are taking their time, he'll just wind up facing some giant plant monster on his own and dying.]

WARNING: Your characters have a very real chance of permanently dying from this point on

[bastionpc]

[We're about to find out if it will cause a problem!

The cloud of spores takes another 3-ish minutes to disperse, after which it is clear to walk and continue through the swamp.

Surprisingly clear, actually.

In fact, this entire area looks as though it has been recently cleared out and made safe for living in.

Weird.]

[legendary_can_opener]

[Is that the corpse of an anklegator? Is that a huge black dragon that is feasting on its corpse? The answer to both of these questions is yes.]

[Behind the creature, glowing brightly is the core that the party has been searching for; nestled in a large pile of shards]

[The dragon is an alert creature, unfortunately, and raises its crimson eyes as it takes in the newcomers. It flairs its massive wings, eyes narrowing, before her (yes her) voice booms out]

Take not a step further, trespassers.

[twinked_witch]

[There was Megaera being uneasy at the quiet... And then there was Megaera being very visibly uneasy at the presence of what she instantaneously recognizes as a Black Dragon, possibly one from her world or one much like it.

If she was correct about this, then she was very, very much in trouble if she got at all angry. A mature black dragon's breath... Would kill anyone here besides Megaera in one shot, and leave Megaera weak enough that her fate would be as a rather foul-tasting snack.

This was, to put it lightly, a delicate situation.]

... We apologize for the trespass. We were merely seeking something we believe to be near this place.

[Good news was, she was dealing with a highly intelligent being. That meant that communication was an option - and their best hope of getting everyone out of here alive with the core in tow.]

[daughterofursa]

[That is in fact a dragon. Zuko's eyes widen in surprise, but she immediately sheathes her sword. Dragons are not for fighting--partly because that's disrespectful and partly because it's just a Really Bad Idea.]

We had no idea we'd find a dragon here. We didn't mean to disturb you.

[Although that sure looks like she's hoarding the core they need. That could be a problem.]