2024.01.09 Horsing Around

2024.01.09 Horsing Around
Miranda leads a group of Changelings to rescue a Unicorn from becoming Ogre poop. Much fish and rum are promised. This was a planned event and Plot.
IC Date	01.09.2024
IC Time	Day
Players	Miranda, Erin, Amberlee, Micah, Zeller, Hardy, Kieran, Mopey Mule as ST
Location	Great Western Woods - Dreaming
Spheres	Changeling

Erin spend time doing silly things but made sure everyone was protected. Once everyone has the oakenshield on she puts her branch and what is left of spring water away. She will have to gather obviously. She then nods "I think we are ready" the little black cat rubs against Erin's leg. She smiles and pets him and looks to Miranda.

The Great Eastern Woods are huge and anyone not careful could find themselves lost in them for a good while, but using Roanfur's map helps narrow the travel down to the 'suspected area' Thunk should be in. Indeed, it doesn't take long to see the teltale signs of a huge ogre's passing - branches broken off of trees, some trees simply uprooted, and large footsteps in the softer ground around streams and rivers. From the looks of this, there are quite a few tracks, indicating this IS his usual stomping grounds (quite literally). Most of the tracks indicate going or coming from the steeper foothills close to the mountains in the distance.

Miranda has had the map and directing the others with her on their way. The obvious signs make it easy enough to gesture around. "I think we found something at least. Let's look around carefully. See if there are any signs if this Thunk has been around here recently, or if Elara has been too. Search carefully, but not leave a lot of notice we are here. We have surprise still on our side."

A creature lunks along beside Amberlee. Beauty and the beast. She's dressed 'down' in some hiking gear with sturdy boots, a long sleeved shirt and a pair of pants with enough pockets for everyone. The twisted little creature that hurries along beside her, loping, rather than walking, grumbles with just about every step. He mutters quietly to himself and occasionally gets distracted and Amberlee just grabs him by his tail and jerks him along with them. "Pay attention, Bubs. We may need you here."

Erin is towards the back of the group just kinda keeping their rear in watch, Kringer is towards the front withoever is leading them. She nods to Miranda looking curiously around for any clues.

Micah arrives after getting the invite the night before. Dressed for adventure and armed with a sword, knife and bow with arrows in a quiver on his back he waves to the others. "Who's got two thumbs and is ready for adventure?!" Thumbing his way he poses for just a moment and then looks around and falls into step with the group. "What was the whole deal with this adventure? Hunting something or someone?"

For the most part, this area right at the edge of what Roanfur marked on the map is quiet...kinda sorta. Its assumed this would be the fringe of his hunting area and the tracks do indeed indicate further in to the center of the marked area. Like he's made no effort to conceal his passing.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Amberlee rolls Perception + Investigation vs 6 for 3 successes. 1 1 4 +6 +6 +7 8 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Miranda replies to Micah, "The whole deal is that we are looking for Elara, a chimera from RoanFur the centaur's herd. She's run off to prove herself and try to take out the Ogre known as Thunk. She most likely is in trouble, and could be his next meal. We need to save her and bring her back with us. Give her a new home."

Amberlee follows along, but she pauses here and there, never getting too far from the group. "The tracks are fresh. Day or two, tops. Heading.." She motions toward the obvious direction the tracks go. "Nothing I'm picking up out of the ordinary, though."

Erin and Kringer are just looking around. Specially making sure something doesn't sneak up behind them or something. She looks to Micah and nods before looking to Amberlee "Guess we go that way?"

Zeller has arrived.

Micah nodding to Miranda there is a smile to Amberlee and Erin as they move. Stringing his bow and reading an arrow there is a sniff at the air and then another towards the tracks. "Seems a good guess. Maybe we can help Elara against this troll too. Help finish the quest? Or just bring'em back?"

Following the tracks closer leads into more rolling terrain that's still heavily forested, though now the evidence of the ogre's passing is clearer - trees that have been rubbed bare on one side from his constant passage, and the occassionl dead chimerical creature that looks like it took a swing from something very big and heavy.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Miranda rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 2 successes. 4 4 5 +7 +8 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Erin rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 3 successes. 1 2 3 +6 +7 +8 9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> <<OOC>> Erin says, "Kringer" <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Amberlee rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 3 successes. 1 4 4 +6 +6 +7 8 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> Dice! - Erin rolls 3 dice: 7 3 1 <OOC> Amberlee says, "And for bub" <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Amberlee rolls 7 vs 6 for 0 successes. 1 2 3 3 4 5 7 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Micah rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 1 successes. 1 2 +8 9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Zeller rolls Perception + Alertness vs 6 for 2 successes. 3 +6 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

The relative stillness of the woods seems to be broken by two intermittent problems: Ahead of the group, into the foothills, is a faint, frustrated feminine voice - not a smart thing to be doing out here in the woods where Shit Will Eat you. Behind the group, maybe off to your right a bit, there is a sound of rustling and cracking, something big moving through the forest. Doesnt take too much computing power to suspect what it might be. And it IS coming your way at a good clip.

Amberlee freezes. She looks from where the female sounds are and back toward where the crashing sounds are. "Bub, get ready to move," she tells him. It looks like everyone else pretty much hears what's going on, so she's lesss worried about them. Bub stops and looks up at Amberlee. "Huh?" He turns in a full circle and looks dumbly up at Amberlee, who sighs. Fortunately, he knows to follow her lead. She said be ready to move, so he is.

Miranda steps out here, and directs the others toward the sound of the female voice. "We need to protect her, especially before she does anything ill advised." Miranda is going to step out here and hopefully when this thing arrives, greet it with her regalness and at least delay things.

Erin looks back to where the girls voice is coming from and looks where the big thing is coming "Ok let's move to the girl as this will well we all are going to meet and easier to keep and eye on her before this he is on us.. let's move?" she suggest. She keeps her bow out though. She looks to Kringer and guestures to Miranda "Protect her" she tells the house size cat.

"The good news is," Micah says as he slips his arrow back into his quiver and slings his bow. Drawing his sword in his right hand and drawing his knife in his left he grins to the others, "This should be fun." With both weapons at the ready he gives Miranda a salute with his sword and then points towards where the larger creature, probably the troll seems to be. "I'll try to slow it down, just yell when I should run, like, when you have the girl." Turning away with a smile he roars out a wordless battle cry while moving to meet the threat.

Zeller jogs gracefully and -quietly- out of the woods, wearing a slightly worried expression. "Baroness..." he bows, "Fancy meeting you all here..." he chuckles. "Actually I was trying to follow you guys. Apologies for my tardiness." He bows again, "...it sounds like I wasn't the only one trying to follow you though." he adds pursing his lips. He whips his short sword free of his belt and turns toward the sound of the footsteps and walking backwards to join the others while keeping his eyes moving around the scene.

Miranda is glad to see Zeller. "Stand by me, while the others help the girl we think is over there." She gestures vaguely, as they hear the sound of the Ogre approaching. She nods to Erin and Kringer, and waits with her head held high for the oncoming threat.

As the rustling sound gets closer, the source of the noise slowly starts to break into view - perhaps fortunately, something that can be seen a good distance off:

Before you stands an absolutely massive example of a storybook cyclopean Ogre. Slate grey skin as if he had been chiseled out of the bedrock beneath your feet, standing a good 14 or 15 feet tall and probably weighing the better part of a ton, his build is thick and heavy, both pudgy in his curves and stacked with the musculature needed to move him around easily. The only clothing he has on is a bear pelt wrapped around his waist to 'thankfully' leave his naughty bits up to the imagination rather than leaving it all out on display. His head is oddly shaped, to accommodate that single large eye that doesnt leave a whole lot of space for the brain behind it. He currently carries a huge piece of petrified wood that sprouts several petrified branch stumps from the end, making it a conveniently spiked stone club that could play baseball with just about anyone in the party. He doesnt immediately notice the group and seems to be lumbering his way towards the female voice, humming a silly tune under his breath as he does so, dragging that petrified club in one hand.

Amberlee grunts quietly. She doesn't want to leave Miranda here, but.. A Wild Zeller appears. "Be careful," she tells Miranda, then turns to head off with Erin. She thunks Bub on the back of the head and he turns to follow Ambs.

Miranda clears her voice and announces, "Excuse me, Mr. Thunk?" She uses her outdoor voice, but with the polite tone of one of her station. "Mr. Thunk, I am the Baroness Mereid Gwenet ni Dougal, of the Capricorn Glade. Could I have a moment of your time?" This is risky, but she wants to try to deal with him first. Not just battle.

Micah stops his rush when he sees the large cyclops and then hears Miranda trying to address it. Slowing to a stop he looks from the cyclops back to Miranda and crew. Lowering his weapons he nods a little and heads back her way to stand with that group.

Erin heads off with Miranda to get or see to the girl. She does leave Kringer there to protect Miranda. She also doesn't want to leave Miranda but better go get the girl that's the quest. She looks to Amberlee "let's hope she's not harder to deal with than the cyclops"

Zeller lowers his blade and stands tall beside the Baroness. The blade's tip is pointed towards the ground, but he is ready for whatever may unfold. His demeanor suggests- "Don't start no shit, won't be no shit." He remains quiet by Miranda's side.

So Amberlee and Erin head off quickly towards the female voice while the rest of the group stop and prepare to confront Thunk. The more immediate scene first since it happens right away: Thunk DOES seem to catch Miranda's call and slows down, squinting a little and altering his course to approach the little adventuring party. He stops maybe a good 15 feet off and sizes up the ones remaining, before grunting, "You little peoples know Thunk name?"

For Amberlee and Erin, the female voice is a good distance up ahead so it will take more than a round, even with a 17 yard jump, to get there.

Miranda smiles to Thunk, and offers her hands out in front of her in a welcoming gesture non-threatening. "Yes, you are quite famous, Mr. Thunk. In fact, I've come to see if there is anything that I.. well, we can do for you. Is there anything you could use out here in the woods? Anything we can have brought to you, or keep away from you and your home?"

Erin continues to move as fast as they can to the girl with Amberlee and her bestie. She does look back from time to time.

Kringer sits down right next to Miranda and licks his paws aww look isn't he so cute.

Amberlee doesn't waste any time, but she still moves with some amount of caution, constantly looking around to make sure there's no ambush.

Zeller inclines his head towards Miranda and a slow smile plays across his face. He turns to look at the Ogre and nods his smile remaining "You kinda remind me of a friend of mine."

Thunk seems paused for a moment while Miranda talks, still looking a little confused while he drags that club up to lean on it. With a little shake of his head ha grumbles, "Thunk don't need nothin. Got dinner at home. Why dontchu shorties go back to yer castleplace? Woods dont like shorties thrashin around."

With Amberlee and Erin, it doesnt take much more travelling to find the foothills cave that apparently the ogre is using as a home...and it stinks like it. The female voice is coming from inside the cave and is swearing up a storm like a sailor, and sounds like it's been crying.

Erin wrinkles her nose once they get to the cave and she sighs "Why do they always smell sheesh" she looks around to make sure there isn't a trap or something as she looks to Amberlee "Well let's go get the girl" she will go in with her being catious.

Miranda knows she needs to stall for time. "I must ask, Mr. Thunk, as it is so rare to meet someone as large as you. What would you normally eat for dinner? It must be difficult to keep up with as much food as you need. Would it be helpful if I were to ensure there is more of your chosen food available for you in the woods?"

Amberlee squints at the cave. "Bub. You go first. Call out." Amberlee puts a hand on Erin to let Bub get at least a few yards ahead. HE can check for traps. She played D&D one night with the fucking Garou kin. She knows how this shit goes. IF it's all clear, she and Erin can head in when Bub calls out

"That's no way to treat a friend." Zeller shrugs, muttering to Miranda. He looks over towards the Pooka, "You have a best friend just like him, don't you?"

Thunk seems to be taken aback by this offer, and blinks that big eye a few times, "The big horseys are good eatin, but they runs too fast, Thunk cant hardly ever catch em. Gotta do bears and fish. But bears, not so many of em...." For the moment, he seems unaggressive, like noone's ever bothered to just talk to the big lunk before.

For Erin and Amberlee, no, the cave does not appear to be trapped. INSIDE, despite the squalor and mess you would expect with an Ogre, there is a roughly tied together cage that has...a unicorn! White of fur save for the blotches of mud and blood that are marring her coat, with a thin long horn that still seems miraculously intact despite the damage the rest of her body has taken. One of her forelegs is clearly snapped and she's sunken down on one side, leaning into the wooden bars so she can favor her broken leg. She's maybe 6 feet at the shoulder and slim of build - if you have any sort of judgement on the age of equines, she's maybe a 2 year old. "You touch me and I'll ram this horn through your tiny balls!"

"Back, Bubs," Amberlee says. Bub gladly retreats and hides behind Amberlee. "Hey there. No balls. Promise. We're here to rescue you. I can see that you're hurt, but we need to get close to help you. Do we have your permission?" Amberlee holds out her hands, palms up, fingers splayed open

Micah looks from Thunk back to Zelle and then shrugs a little. "Like Thunk?" Trying to make sure he doesn't intrude on the conversation he motions between Miranda and the cyclops and adds, "Should I dazzle him with my wit? Is that what you're going for?"

Erin looks at the poor unicorn and sighs softly as she slings her bow and nods "We can heal you so we can get out promise no funny business"

Miranda looks briefly to Zeller, but only very briefly. She says softly, "Certainly, try to dazzle him. We need to keep his attention." She steps one step forward. "Horses they really are a lot of trouble. I'd think you'd enjoy a new fish dinners. I have a friend that could supply you with King Crabs and all sorts of seafood, but the crate load. Delivered right to your cave. So you can spend time doing other things."

"But he EATS horses!" Zeller hisses back quietly at the Baroness, "Don't tell Viridian I said any if this." then he raises his voice. "Yeah... horses are gross man. And she does have a connection for the kingliest of crabs. She is royalty herself after all."

The unicorn glares at Amberlee and Erin with bloodshot eyes, as if seeing for the first time that no, these two arent the Ogre. She struggles a little like trying to get back onto her hooves and grunts, "Please just get me out of here before he comes back. I cant break the wood bindings. I can barely stand up."

Thunk grunts a little, "Thunk never had no King Crab. They come with a little crown on them? Foods gettin sent to cave would be happy good. Dont have to go hungry no more..."

Micah slips his weapons away and then asks of those close by. "Did anyone bring any food right now?" Motioning to the others he asks, "Anything really, food related."

"Yup," Amberlee says. She hustles forward, giving Bub a little shove backwards. Don't worry. She'd literally die for him. That's just how they treat each other. So she, and presumably Erin as well, hurries forward to slice through whatever they need to cut through to get the cage open. "Erin, I don't have any healing thingies. You're going to have to do it."

Miranda offers to Thunk, "I can have the food brought to you this evening. And then every night. The King Crabs are called King because they are huge. Very filling. I can have her bring other large fish, like Tuna, Swordfish. Very filling for a large person like yourself. If you want your crabs to have a little crown, I'll be sure that happens. Do you like anything to go with it? Have you had rum before? My friend also makes that. It is a very tasty drink."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> MopeyMule rolls 4 (4 dice) vs 6 for 1 successes. 4 4 5 +6 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

ERin sagely nods to Amberlee "yes I can heal her" she does have a knife because Erin always has some kind of tool or another and plus she has arrows that are sharp, both together get the unicorn free. She raises her hand "I have to touch you to heal you may I do that?"

"You know," Zeller adds, "A spot of rum would be nice... I think I could outdrink you big man." He grins looking over at the ogre. "Micah? You can outdrink him too right? And... uh, no, sorry, no food on me right now. It would just make the alcohol have to work harder to kick in."

Thunk shakes his head slowly, "Thunk never had no...rum. Thunk be happy to get box of fish sent to cave, but....uh...what does pretty lady want for sending Thunk fishes? Even ugly goblin folks never give Thunk anything without wantin something. They always trying to trick Thunk and steal his shinies." That eye narrows a bit, "You aint here for Thunk's shinies, are you??"

Back in the cave, Elara has managed to get to her three hooves, leaving the broken leg bent at a painful angle. Watching Amberlee and Erin, she just nods her head and hisses, "Okay. Please...."

Amberlee moves closer. She isn't quite sure HOW she can support the unicorn, but if there's a way for her to do it, she absolutely will. Other than that, she just waits for Erin to do the thing. "Miranda and the others are out THERE dealing with... I assume your captor. But we'll circle around the other way, okay? Get you someplace safe."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Erin rolls 11 vs 6 for 3 successes. 1 1 2 2 4 4 +7 +8 +9 9 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Erin closes her eyes as she lays her hand gently on the unicorn and concentrates. She hasn't used the necklace in a while apperently and opens her eyes "How is that, can you move?"

Miranda shakes her head, "No, no, not your shinies. No, we are looking for allies. Recently a bad man, a Thallain, came to take away a young one of ours. We were protecting her. While we were able to stop him before he killed her and us, we thought it would be good to have back up. In case there is something worse coming our way. Would you be willing, in exchange for the food, join in any fight to something that would try to destroy the Woods?"

Elara sniffs a little and tests out the leg after the visible broken bone seems to have miraculously knitted itself up. She winces when putting her weight on the leg, but says through her sniffling, "Still hurts...but I can stand on it, yeah. Thank you. You said you can get us out of here without him seeing? He's faaaaaast. Faster than I thought the big thing could move."

Thunk grunts again and watches Miranda and Micah and Zeller, "Um. Okay. Thunk maybe try some of that rum stuff. And if you bring Thunk boxes of fishes, then yeah, Thunk can help beat on stuff what tryin to wreck th'forest. Thunk LIKE the forest."

"Kind of, yes," Amberlee says. She reaches into her prodigious cleavage and pulls out a bracelet. "Take this. Um... in your teeth? Probably not around a hoof. Just take it and go quietly to your right out of here. We'll go left and make sure that there is a distraction. It doesn't make you invisible, just puts you on the 'do not notice' list. Can you meet us back at the Grove? Do you know where that is? We will get you completely healed from there."

Zeller clicks his tongue, sheathes his sword and folds his arms across his chest. "Someone tough like you could have made a huge difference. I didn't represent myself very well there." he sighs. "Maybe we could train together too, when we bring you food. Maybe then I could be of better service to my friends."

Micah pats his belly, his weapons already sheathed, "We can go help find that food to send on over." With a look to the others he then asks, "Should we head out to go do that now?"

Erin touches her neckalce "I can do it again when we get somewhere more safe.. you can still move so that's important.. " she nodsnods "We will make sure he doesn't come after you.. you good?" she looks to Amberlee "Wonder how they are doing" she says softly to the other woman.

Amberlee nods to Erin. "Go with her, then. Get her back to the grove. I'll go check the others. I can always teleport if I have to. GO with her."

Erin nods to Amberlee "Roger" she looks to Elara "Come on let's get going"

Miranda smiles, "Perfect. Zeller, Micah, I'll send word to Deirdre to meet you at the Glade. If you can bring the first crate here and rum, then we can get Thunk all setup tonight, and then perhaps you can learn more of those skills with him." She looks back to Thunk and then pulls a necklace out of her bag. It is very shiny, and while long on her, it is still small to Thunk. "To seal our deal, I offer a shiny for you. It's made of Gold, and has shiny jewels on it." She holds it out and places it on a fallen tree for the big guy to take a look at. Stepping back then, since she does not want too close to him. "You can keep it with my promise to uphold the deal to bring you large crates of fish to eat so you do not go hungry. In exchange for your help if the Woods are under attack in the future."

Thunk nods slowly at Zeller and Micah, "Um. Okay. Thunk'll wait for ya at cave? Gotta start a fire for dinner. Can share if you bring lotsa this rum stuff." He quiets again to listen to Miranda, sinking down on one knee so he can crane his head down and scrutinize the necklace while he listens to the deal she's offering. One big hand paws at teh gold while the cogs in his head slowly turn, "Uh....okay. Thunk can do that, yeah yeah."

Elara nods at Erin's comment and tentatively steps out. When Amberlee offers her a trinket and explains, she eyes it for a moment before, indeed, taking it in her teeth since she has no pouches to place anything in. She's at least able to muffle around the item, "Okay. Can go now...."

Miranda loses one Willpower <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Miranda rolls Contract + Fae vs 6 for 1 successes. 1 2 3 3 4 5 +7 9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

"Yeah, we'll bring it to the cave. Let's wait just a bit though before we head there. The light in the cave probably isn't good enough to really see how beautiful this necklace is." Zeller smiles at Thunk. "How long have you had this Miranda? It's an amazing piece. I'm kinda jealous Thunk..."

Erin nods and waves to Amberlee as she heads off with Elara making sure to wide circle back to the Glade.

Kringer stops grooming and rubs against Miranda as if to say something not that they practice what Kringer is saying but at least the cat seems happy to rub against her leg.

Once Erin and the unicorn are gone, Ambs smacks Bub to get him moving, because that's how it works and she hurries along, veering off to one side to approach from over THERE instead of by the cave. If Thunk doesn't try to murder her, she'll come and step right up next to Miranda and just give her a little nod.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> MopeyMule rolls 5 (5 dice) vs 6 for 2 successes. 1 5 +8 +8 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============-------------> <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Erin rolls Wits + Stealth vs 4 for 7 successes. 3 3 +5 +8 +8 +9 +10 +10 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Miranda tells Zeller, "I'm a jeweler and crafter of House Dougal. Items have been passed down, and I've created many. I'm very proud of all that I have made." She reaches down to pet Kringer, seeming to understand. "Yes, let's get the fire going. Can we help? It is lovely out tonight, and we can make this a wonderful night. With lots of food for you and drink!"

For the time being, Thunk is oblivious about how he's being robbed of his dinner. Instead, the big ogre sits down in the grass with a thud that can be felt in the surrounding area. He even sets his heavy club down so he can pick that neckals up with both hands and pet it with thise thick fingers, "Yeah. Sparkles in the light. Is Pretty. You be back soon with the fishes and the rum, yeah? And pretty lady can come tell me when someone's hurtin the forest. Thunk'll hit em with m'club. Thunk can go get some wood for fire to cook the fishes..."

Elara manages to slink away with Erin without making enough noise to attract attention from the Ogre.

"Definitely!" Zeller nods to the ogre, but leans over to mutter to Miranda, "He's not getting the pony express treatment though..." He straightens and pipes back up, "Fish and Firewater, a match made in Heaven!"

Amberlee taptaps Miranda on the shoulder as she comes up alongside and she nods back the way they came. Just a check in. All is well.

Erin will easily get Elara back to the Glade and will try to heal her again while they wait for the others to return.