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istainion
CHARACTER: Graelor "Blight" Swiftbreeze
CLASS: Fighter LVL: 03
LVL PROGRESS: 60%
Day 30: Insect repellant 30 -> 29, incense 10/10 (Streth 19)
NOTE: Met Silkbite, the fairydragon
After the foreign voice interrupted our chatter and considered us a "heartwarming display of bonding over a campfire" we collectively demanded it to reveal the appearance. The voice sounded strained, but it sounded funny and cooperative, hesitant with a "It's not so easy, hang on."
The thrill washed all over me as a small creature that looked like a butterfly crossbreed with a dragon and some canine creature appeared in front of us. She looked so cute! She had the size of a cat.
Mr. green bossman demanded to know who she is, and she didn't hesitate to make it a show on her own. I could feel myself urged to applause when I saw the display of a small creature with the common tongue respond. "The great fairydragon Silkbite!" She's so incredibly adorable! Rathyn, you seeing this?!!
And the fun didn't stop there when the mention of playing a game was made. Slamming down onto the surface beneath I became curious about the game. But the game was quite disappointing! I could feel the muscles of my face pull my mouth much lower than its original position when she mentioned a mere exchange of questions. Why not call it an interrogation instead?! Man, I'm sure I've been through some of those in MY life! ... They must be answered with sincerity. Eventually they accepted.
The first question was directed at Jasper. I guess lizards like lizards in the end! ... But the question was nowhere near the ones you'd hear during an interrogation. Instead, it was asked if he would do something in a certain situation. If he would steal from a noble, but this treasure of his holds emotional value that is tied to the last memory of his daughter. The large lizardman took a long, long time to intensify more of his thinking, I swear I could see the fairydragon's eyes enlarge with anticipation. Then she got disappointed when he said no, he would not steal it with that knowledge.
The next question went to the bunnymeal Arden as bossman sometimes refer to him as. And this time it was again about theft, a purse was involved with the embroidery of its owner that he'd find. And a similar question followed. Would he take it? Well, yes, he said, he will takes what belongs to him, Arden answered. Joy filled the fairydragon that giggled in various of circles up in the sky. But, Arden said, he'd leave the purse where it was. Considering the gold his, as a finder, but the purse belongs to the owner.
Still drunk on the joy she had, her attention for the next question went straight to Rathyn that waved to earn it. Let's ignore that I waved more enthusiastically than he did! And again! Something similar to the other two questions followed. Man, this fairydragon has a lot in common with the dragons. It's all about hoarding those goods, huh? Theft once again! But, this time Rathyn is the one who catches a thief. The hood will fall down when he does, and it reveals a terrified child. The question is ... Will he let go and let it make its escape?
All our eyes were resting on the elf when he suddenly said that he'd let the kid go. Silkbite withdrew and pouted a little. "Interesting, all of you have the mind of the thief, except for the thief." Her gaze resting on Arden that immediately defended himself. It will last for half a week of entertainment. It forced a chuckle out of me, that must be such a boring lifestyle! When will we play a real game?!
The tables turned and it was our turn to ask questions. The first question was pointless, regardless of Silkbite claiming to know all the answers and it being a bluff. How to solve the Death Curse? Well, it's simple, find the source of the cause. I could feel us collectively slapping our palm against our face.
But when they asked about the frost giants, something much more interesting was dropped. Silkbite overheard more of the roots of the cause. They are hunting a man down that stole a powerful ring, most of Chult is looking for him, and it seems this group even made contact to him. I can't believe it, guys! They were so close to the source and let it go away! Hahah!
The next question was closer to what we wanted to know ... We all need to find what keeps the lich alive, a phylactery. She doesn't know, but she said "If I need to hide the source to bend nature, I'd put it in Omu." She chuckled, wishing us luck to figure that out before she disappeared into nothingness.
Man, I hope she'll return one day. I just met her and I already want her to be my companion. We all went to sleep after that.
Day 31: Insect repellant 29 -> 28, incense 10/10 (Streth 18)
NOTE: -
The mild rain and the absence of joy in the morning reminded me that we are in fact still in the jungle of Chult. Of course, the heavy rain that followed didn't help! And neither did the nasty slime trail of some Flail Snail. We resume to pointlessly chase after the group's friends. Man, would Rathyn go this far for me as well?
We faced no other encounters by nightfall.
Day 32: Insect repellant 28 -> 27, incense 10/10 (Streth 17)
NOTE: -
During our travel we discovered an interesting target for fire practice, because when the target was hit, we received 2 explorer packs and a 2 person tent. Yeah, that was all the enthusiasm for today.
Day 33: Insect repellant 27 -> 26, incense 10/10 (Streth 16)
NOTE: -
Nothing is happening! Nothing! Just some fog and rain and experiencing rejection. Ouch, man, I thought I had a chance. At least we decided to head to this Protector instead now, rather than chasing a fever dream shaped like frost giants and old companions?
Day 34: Insect repellant 26 -> 25, incense 10/10 (Streth 15)
NOTE: -
Oh man, the navigation man got us lost! ... Yeah, we looked around like lost children trying to find home, except the jungle is no such place for comfort. No other encounters met today. Even when the fog lifted! Oh wait, we're back here? Oh, you're kidding me!
Day 35: Insect repellant 25 -> 24, incense 10/10 (Streth 14)
NOTE: -
AH! The fog is back! But the weather and tracker man got us back on track! Yes, he gets more and more nicknames as we go! Listen, I need to keep it somewhat interesting for myself. Come ON, Shaggy! No other joy was to be had, but I started picking up a hobby for idle singing.
Day 36: Insect repellant 24 -> 23, incense 10/10 (Streth 13)
NOTE: -
And the fog is making another round! But! Still on track. We will arrive soon. Oh FINALLY, is there fun to be had?!
Pretty lady Azaka told us to halt all of a sudden. And said that she cannot get closer than her current position. She has some 6th sense or what is it? Well, I suppose she's too much of an angry kitten not to have at least a 7th.
She pointed in the direction we must take without her. Bossman Smuck asked if she is disallowed to enter, but Azaka answered that she is quite particular about who may approach. There will be an audience awaiting us, but only if we are worthy. OH! OH! A TRIAL OF WILL? That sounds fun!
She set up camp and parted ways. I feel quite bad about leaving her out there on her own, but ... Hey, maybe she'll miss me if I'm gone for long? Or perhaps she, too, will consider me worthy after surviving! Wait, will I die?!
Upon approach we encountered something akin to the ruins of an ancient civilization, much like a pyramid with many stairs to climb. There was something off about it, it gave off a mysterious atmosphere.
Curiosity brought us closer to the first stairs.
Challenge 1
On the stairs there were many thorns attached to branches that seemed like they would hurt on the way to the top, so to bypass this, we tried to make way to the next level. Yeah, that didn't quite work out ... A field of protective magic made sure that we wouldn't cheat. Meaning, these stairs are the test to see if we are indeed worthy.
With the suggestion to use Vorn accepted, we made our way past the thorns. It was shown by the massive amount of damage he took along the way, made it clear that this trial was not to be played with.
That's also when we discovered that he can actually repair himself, like wow! Can I heal myself as well by just existing? I mean ... I suppose time does heal?! But that fast? It's like the regrowing of a vampire as the rumors claim!
Heading the way down ... Didn't cause harm for some reason? Then after a while Jasper claimed to have seen a small creature with a mask and an orchid in its hands. And the thorns shrink while its in its possession. I wasn't sure if he was going crazy, but Jasper did carry an orange orchid in his palm and had no issue walking around the thorns that would shrink in his presence, but only around him. Vorn came to pick up the rest of us.
Challenge 2
The next stairs we needed to cross was awaiting our attempt, but the stairs turn into gravel and we would fall and teleported back to the start. No matter how fast we run to pass them. The orchid was neither enough. Jasper made an attempt to find yet another one of these nature spirits, and noticed one with a chameleon mask. It carried a parrot feather and an orchid.
We collected the parrot feathers on the same floor we stood, and when we tried to cross it with a feather alone, it wasn't enough. So I hurried to the previous floor and obtained the orchids for everyone to hold. We solved the mystery and we could finally cross!
Challenge 3
The next floor had ... A more interesting approach to cross. Poisonous snakes were scattered everywhere around the stairs, and now having figured out that the nature spirits give us the clues, but the display wasn't to everyone's liking.
We were tasked to use the orchid to wack one of the snakes, and use the feather to calm it. Then we are supposed to place ourselves onto the ground for the snake to crawl inside our mouth and become one with us, so we slither, like a snake, up the stairs.
I had to chuckle loudly to see the nature spirit move like that!
I let Rathyn do it first, after all, he's the craziest between the two of us, and to see him follow those instructions was quite the show! Man, watching him consume that snake ...! I did feel that shiver running down my spine, but the result was too funny to look away from. That didn't exactly look natural at all! Hahaha! I need to praise the protector for this one! Oh! My turn!
It didn't quite work out for Arden or Jasper to let the snake crawl inside, but apparently Vorn was able to do it and helped them past the obstacle. I think I cried more often by just watching Vorn and the others than I did in a year. Those who nearly died were rescued by bossman and vorn who just carried them up as a snake. Hahaha! I can't believe we all made it to the top where the shrine is! Wooo! Good work! Good work!
