The party moves forward into the blizzard. After what seems like a little while there is an almost jarring transition and suddenly, a beautiful garden, filled with faeries! As you stand there, gaping at trees ripe with fruit and a few beautiful little pixies dancing around happily with each other, you see a young girl with a head full of hair running through the garden, playing and giggling. She stops, seeing the people, and simultaneously looks delighted, concerned, and wary.
The characters feel that this is a respite from the storm, which rages fully just beyond the cove that this area makes. It’s warm, and perhaps there’s even a hotspring or something like that. A large tree with ripe, delicious looking fruit dominates the center of the area, at the base of which is a large stone with undecipherable runes. Throughout the area is beautiful flowers and the occasionally remnants of some structure.
The girl looks at you and says, "New Faces? In my secret garden? I didn't think anyone knew. Promise me you won't tell other people. Where'd you come from?"
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Wednesday July 27th, 2022 8:11:32 AM
The Twins are instantly suspicious. "A land far, far away from here." "We won't tell anyone about your garden."
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Wednesday July 27th, 2022 4:04:42 PM
Honor is hallucinating. There can be no other explanation. She has heard about this happening sometimes, to people very near death. Perhaps it is a kindness from the gods, sparing her from her final suffering. She closes her eyes and begins to pray.
SteveM - Elron | AC 23 (21 if raging), HP 64(24)/64, DR 2/-- Wednesday July 27th, 2022 7:52:13 PM
Elron flops down an spreads out, the better to soak up warmth. Even so, he feels it will be hours before he is properly warm. From his undignified position he talks to the possibly-hallucinated young lady.
"We was headed back to Stowecroft when we ran into a storm, and somehow ended up here. Don't matter how we found it, 'cause we don't know. Just matters that it's warm. It's pretty, too," ha adds, thinking that last bit might seem more important to her.
Mundhildur Karadottir, Jotun singing giant (7'4" or 10'5" as needed) (Kim) AC 19 Touch 13 FF17 HP 61/69, also 4 non-lethal Wednesday July 27th, 2022 8:09:14 PM
"Hello, girl," Mundhildur says, as she returns her longspear to her quiver, and sinks to the ground, legs crossed, back straight. "I come from mountains afar off from here. And we just came through a snow storm, leaving behind wolves that seemed to be stalking us. What a lovely respite this beautiful garden offers. I am Mundhildur, of the Jotun. Might I ask your name, sweet face?"
Zeoll (AC20) | Bill the Camel (AC20) | Cayzle d20+12=14 ; d20+16=33 ; Wednesday July 27th, 2022 11:23:27 PM
Zeoll looks at the girl. Is she of the fey race?
Knowlege Nature 14
Either way, he bows deeply. "Zeoll, a liontaurr, at yourr serrvice. I hope you will not mind us seeking a bit of warrmth and shelterr in your lovely place?"
He engages her in conversation with the others in the party who speak. He tries to be friendly
Diplomacy 33
A Fairy Garden? - DM Hugh | Asimov and Irony Thursday July 28th, 2022 2:27:33 AM
Asimov says, "I'm Asimov a human tinkerer and this walking tower of metal is Irony my Mechanical Minion. Charmed I'm sure. Do you live around here?"
The twins are suspicious and say they come from a land far far away and promise not to tell about the garden
Honor thinks she is hallucinating, closes her eyes and starts praying
Elron plops down to better soak up the warmth and explains they were headed back to Stowcraft when they got caught in a storm. He explains they don't know how they found the garden but it is warm and pretty.
Mundhi further elaborates on Elron's explanation and mentions the wolves, introduces herself and asks for the girls name.
Zeoll studies the girl to see if she might be fey but she appears human to him. He introduces himself and asks if they may seek warmth and shelter in her lovely place.
Asimov introduces himself and Irony and asks if she lives around here
The girl says to Munhildur, "I am Kyria of Aeschlepios, I guess"
Kyria says to Elron, "It is a pretty garden and secret too. It used to be a temple but something happened a long time back. Since then most people don't like the area and faeries and other creatures come here to be safe. They are my friends. Promise me you won't tell anyone about it like your friend did?"
Kyria says to Zeoll, "You can stay here I suppose but wouldn't you be more comfortable in an inn all proper like? I know you said you just came through a storm so resting here must seem like a good idea and all but wouldn't a bed be more comfortable than the grass?"
Kyria says to Asimov, "The village of Aeschlepios is where I'm from. It is easy to get to and nearby. Just a few minutes walk."
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Thursday July 28th, 2022 7:28:57 AM "This spot is just fine thanks." "We were planning on sleeping on the ground tonight anyway." The Twins say. They have no interest in following strange fairy ladies deeper into the weird magic realm that will probably age them 100 years or something.
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Thursday July 28th, 2022 1:45:29 PM
If she's dying, she might as well be comfortable. Honor sits down and continues praying.
Zeoll (AC20) | Bill the Camel (AC20) | Cayzle Thursday July 28th, 2022 9:55:20 PM
Zeoll laughs and describes the life of a nomadic shaman -- "It is a life of sleeping out of doors, in part."
The liontaur promises to keep her secrets safe.
Mundhildur Karadottir, Jotun singing giant (7'4" or 10'5" as needed) (Kim) AC 19 Touch 13 FF17 HP 61/69, also 4 non-lethal Friday July 29th, 2022 2:42:18 AM
"A safe place for your friends the fairies is an important secret to keep. Hi, fairies!" the giant maiden says to the wee folk in the area.
"Let me ask, Kyria of Aeschlepios, do you suppose this might be a safer place for us to rest, than the area you come from? For, we are in need of rest, and healing, and the warmth of this place is a blessing to us."
A Fairy Garden? - DM Hugh | Asimov and Irony Friday July 29th, 2022 3:41:59 AM
Asimov says to his companions, "Shouldn't we at least visit this town after we rest here for a bit? I mean it seems like our choices are rather limited. If we go back the way we came we'll presumably hit the blizzard again as I can still hear it raging even from here but if we press on we'll get to a village. Wouldn't anyone else like a warm bath?"
To Kyria he says, "I won't share your secret. You say the fairies are your friends? What are their names? Also are we allowed to eat the fruit here?"
================================
The twins say this spot is fine as they were planning to sleep on the ground anyway
Honor figures if she is dying she might as well be comfortable and takes a seat
Zeoll tells Kyria about the life of a shaman and promises to keep her secret
Mundhi remarks on the garden and says hi to the fairies before asking Kyria if she thinks the garden or the village would be safer
Asimov tries to sell the others on heading into town and asks Kyria about the fairies and the fruit in the garden before promising to keep a secret
With respect to Mundhi's question a thoughtful look on Kyria's face appears. She finally says "I don't know. I mean the people in the town don't trust me because of my mum, but I don't know why. My mum is the nicest person in the world. I mean i love to play with the other kids from the village who used to come here but now they don't anymore. So I mean this place is a safe haven but it seems like many from the village don't like it for some reason but personally i prefer here but thats just because the fairies treat me better than the villagers. I don't understand why they have a problem with my mum."
Kyria says to Asimov, "The fairies have various names but the ones with us now are Kettlebelle, Fluc, Wonderlily, HifflePiff, Waterbund, Polethius, Kimberflu, Hypotenor, Omurica, Tipinie-doo-dah and Moe. As for the fruit, help yourself."
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Friday July 29th, 2022 9:01:39 AM
The Twins still expect another shoe to drop. If children aren't coming here to play anymore then perhaps it's prejudice, or perhaps something bad happened to them.
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Friday July 29th, 2022 3:55:20 PM
There is a conversation happening, but since it's part of the hallucination, Honor pays it no mind.
SteveM - Elron | AC 23 (21 if raging), HP 64(24)/64, DR 2/-- Friday July 29th, 2022 7:11:27 PM
Elron gathers that there's more to the story of this former temple. "People is funny sometimes," he tells the girl. "So, if you don't get along with th' people in town, why do you think it's th' best place for us to go? Where do you sleep?"
Mundhildur Karadottir, Jotun singing giant (7'4" or 10'5" as needed) (Kim) AC 19 Touch 13 FF17 HP 61/69, also 4 non-lethal Saturday July 30th, 2022 3:51:02 AM
Mundhildur thinks names are very important, and she tries to match each of the eleven names to the right fairy. She repeats the names, and asks if she is saying them correctly. She repeats her name to the fairy folk.
"I do feel myself beginning to warm up. My fingers are tingling." She stretches, and yawns, then apologizes for yawning. "I do feel quite nice in the place. Oh, Kyria, and oh, fairies, is there anything you need for us to do for you?" she asks. "I mean, anything that is good, and right, and possible, without us violating other commitments we may have made."
Zeoll (AC20) | Bill the Camel (AC20) | Cayzle Sunday July 31st, 2022 5:14:36 PM
Zeoll sees that Honor is unusually quiet and asks her if anything is wrong. "Maybe you can sense evil in the arrea, my dearr?" he suggests.
A Fairy Garden? - DM Hugh | Asimov and Irony Monday August 1st, 2022 12:55:06 AM Asimov picks one of the pieces of fruit off a tree and starts eating it. He says to Kyria, "You said the villagers don't like your mother, why is that."
=========================================
The twins are waiting for the other shoe to drop. Thinking the children stopped coming because of prejudice or something bad happening to them.
Honor thinks the conversation is a hallucination so she pays it no mind.
Elron explains that people is funny sometimes and asks why if she doesn't get along with the people in the town why does she recommend it and where she sleeps.
Munhildur thinks names are important and tries to match each name to the correct fairy before asking if there is anything if Kyria or the fairies need them to do.
Zeoll sees Honor being unusually quiet and asks if she senses evil in the area
Kyria says to Elron "Well the village is a nice enough place they just don't like my mum for some reason. As to where I sleep well I sleep in my bed in my mom's house which is in the village. I just come here a lot when I play. I don't know why the other kids stopped coming but the fairies are my friends."
Kyria says to Mundhi and Asimov "I don't know if you can do something and I don't know why they take issue with my mum."
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Monday August 1st, 2022 4:10:30 PM
Honor opens her eyes and smiles. "Hello, Zeoll," she says. "Are you in this dream, too? I don't suppose it matters. We're all dying. It shouldn't be much longer."
SteveM - Elron | AC 23 (21 if raging), HP 64(24)/64, DR 2/-- Monday August 1st, 2022 7:48:30 PM "Oh, I see," Elron tells the girl. "Brain fogged from the cold, I guess. So, you get along fine with the folks in town when you're in town, but they don't like comin' here? If'n you don't mind -- I'll be happy t' sleep in a bed in town if you think folks'll be nice to us, but right now I'm enjoying th' warm. So unless we're gettin' in th' way of your games, I'd prefer not t' go just yet." Elron stretches a bit before continuing to talk, "So, does your mum also come here?"
Zeoll (AC20) | Bill the Camel (AC20) | Cayzle Monday August 1st, 2022 11:19:45 PM
Zeoll tries to snap Honor out of it. "This is not a drream, miss! You'll see. We'll last the night just fine in this sweet place."
He again thanks the party's host for the hospitality. He makes sure Bill does not leave messes.
A Fairy Garden? - DM Hugh | Asimov and Irony Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 1:04:00 AM
Asimov says to the others, "Try the fruit. It is delicious. I mean I could plop down with the rest of you, but wouldn't it be nicer to head into town sooner rather than later?"
===================================
Honor opens her eyes, asks Zeoll if he is in this dream too and then tells him they are all dying and it shouldnt' be much longer
Elron says his brain must be fogged from the cold after he figures out what Kyria said and asks if Kyria's mother comes here
Zeoll tells Honor it isn't a dream and that they'll last the night in this nice place. He thanks their hosts and makes sure Bill doesn't leave any messes
Kyria says to Elron, "Well enough I suppose. I mean they don't trust my mum and some of that ill will extends towards me but as I said I don't know why because my mum is one of the nicest people I know. As for her coming here I don't know. If she does it isn't when I'm here."
You just notice it but there appears to be a sadness in the eyes of the fairies when they turn their gaze towards Kyria.
Mundhildur Karadottir, Jotun singing giant (7'4" or 10'5" as needed) (Kim) AC 19 Touch 13 FF17 HP 61/69, also 4 non-lethal Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 2:27:57 AM
Quietly, Mundhildur asks a few of the fairies. "Why so sad, fairy folk? What pains your hearts so?"
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 8:15:42 AM
The Twins are ready to move on from weird magic grove. Whether that's back out into the storm or forward into the village they don't really care either way anymore.
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 4:33:48 PM
It's the smell that finally convinces Honor. She might hallucinate the sights, the warmth, the conversation. But she's pretty sure she wouldn't also imagine the smells of crushed grass and ripening fruit. She looks around her, truly looks, for the first time.
"How did we get here?" she asks, puzzled.
SteveM - Elron | AC 23 (21 if raging), HP 64(24)/64, DR 2/-- Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 7:36:59 PM
Elron thinks they'll be heading to town, and he's got a bad feeling about that. Between that feeling and still warming up, he's not in a hurry to go.
(We should be regaining non-lethal damage fairly quickly, but not a few minutes of conversation quickly.)
Zeoll (AC20) | Bill the Camel (AC20) | Cayzle Tuesday August 2nd, 2022 10:13:30 PM
Zeoll asks who needs healing? A good night's rest here should take care of the nonlethal damage, right? We can go to town in the morning.
A Fairy Garden? - DM Hugh | Asimov and Irony Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 12:39:11 AM
Asimov concurs with the Twins and Elron that they should head into town.
(OOC: Is that 3 votes for heading into town, 1 vote for staying here and 2 undecided?)
Mundhi quietly asks a few of the fairies why they are so sad
The twins are ready to move on from the magic grove
Honor is finally convinced they aren't dying and asks how they got to be where they are
Elron thinks they should head into town but he is not hurry to go
Zeoll asks who needs healing and is still in favor of spending the night here
Moe the fairy says to Mundhi, "You'll have to find out for your self in due time. It isn't my place to say but perhaps the town could yield more information."
Kyria says to Honor, "Well you walked here silly, though from the other direction most folks take."
Mundhildur Karadottir, Jotun singing giant (7'4" or 10'5" as needed) (Kim) AC 19 Touch 13 FF17 HP 61/69, also 4 non-lethal Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 6:22:25 AM
"Thank you, Moe," she answers quietly.
Then, with the group, addressing the girl, Mundhildur asks, "May we sleep here a while, then come with you to your town, good Kyria? Or would that put you too late in returning?" Then she looks around at the fairies. "From stories I've heard, though, might it occasionally be dangerous to fall asleep among the fair folk?" she asks them with a smile. "Or would you watch over us?" ========== Edit: Fixed punctuation
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 6:30:54 AM
The Twins shake their heads. "We will not sleep here." "Sleep in town." They don't say it out loud but they do not trust this magic grove that's warm but right next to a raging blizzard.
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 6:31:50 AM
The Twin's don't really need healing, rest will probably fully restore them
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 1:46:30 PM
"I suppose we should at least try to get to this town," Honor says. "We don't know if we even can. We might take two steps and wind up back in the blizzard."
SteveM - Elron | AC 23 (21 if raging), HP 64(24)/64, DR 2/-- Wednesday August 3rd, 2022 8:26:39 PM
After Honor says they may wind up back in the blizzard, Elron is even less inclined to go. He does not trust the magical blizzard that somehow abuts this warm and pleasant place. "Best not draw th' attention of any snow sprites." Still, he can't help but add, "What do you get when you cross a cold wind with a feather? A brrrrrr-d!"
A Fairy Garden? - DM Hugh | Asimov and Irony d20+10=20 ; Thursday August 4th, 2022 12:14:30 AM
Asimov says to Honor, "What if we went back to town with the girl? Surely we woudln't be swallowed by the blizzard if we had a local guiding us to town."
======================
Mundhi asks Kyria if they could rest in the garden first before returning to town or would that put the girl at being too late to return. She also asks the fairies about stories she's heard saying it is dangerous to sleep among the fair folk or would these friendly fairies watch over them.
The Twins say they will not sleep in this magical grove and instead insist on heading into town
Honor suggests they try to head into town but raises the possibility they'll end up back in the blizzard
Elron is less inclined to go to the town with the possibility Honor raised then cracks a joke
Asimov asks the group if they head back to the town with Kyria if that might prevent any chance of them winding up in the blizzard since the girl doesn't appear to have been impacted by the blizzard at all
Kyria says to Mundhi, "I don't know. How long do you folks normally nap for? I can't stay here all the time as I still eventually have to get home for supper and bed and I've been here a while already."
The fairies say to Mundhi playfully in unison, "Won't you just have to sleep here to find out what happens?"
Sense Motive DC 21 Highlight to display spoiler: {The fairies are just messing with you and mean you no harm}
Kyria says to Asimov, "I suppose I could show you the way to town personally if it would make some of you feel better but not all of you promised to keep my secret so I would prefer if you all did before we left" (OOC: I believe Honor was too busy thinking they were all dying to promise the girl they wouldn't tell about the secret fairy garden)
(OOC2: I think the new totals now stand at 3 votes for heading into town, 2 votes for staying here and 1 undecided if Asimov, The Twins and Honor want to press on but Zeoll and Elron want to stay?)
Zeoll (AC20) | Bill the Camel (AC20) | Cayzle d20+16=22 ; Thursday August 4th, 2022 12:27:58 AM
Sense Motive 22
Zeoll laughs along with the fairies joking. They mean no harm.
"I just thought it would be saferr staying herre forr the night. But if ourr host wants to head back, let us accompany herr!"
Mundhildur Karadottir, Jotun singing giant (7'4" or 10'5" as needed) (Kim) AC 19 Touch 13 FF17 HP 61/69, also 4 non-lethal d20+7=10 ; Thursday August 4th, 2022 5:23:33 AM
Mundhildur laughs. "It's like you all practiced it together ahead of time to say it like a fairy chorus!" She is not fully certain whether or not they are joking, but figures, with what Kyria told them, and Zeoll suggested, that heading on to the girl's town might be the best thing to do.
She gets out of her bag a bit of food. She takes some of her sugar, and pours some into a bag, so they have about a quart. And a little pouch of cinnamon. Some salt. And some flour. And vegetables and fruit, and lays it out. "A few gifts for our new friends," she announces, and points to each item, naming it. "The sugar and cinnamon you want to use just a little to sprinkle on other things. Some things go better with sweet things, like the two I mentioned. Some benefit from salt. Now, not too much of the sweets, or the salt, all at once, or you can get sick! But a little bit goes a long ways." She slices a few apples into many slices. Then she takes a slice, and cuts into four small pieces, since the fairies themselves are rather small. She pops a clean bit into her mouth. "A nice juicy sweet apple all by itself." Then sprinkles a tiny amount of cinnamon on the next bit. "Mmmm - apple and cinnamon are very good." Then a fraction of a pinch of salt. "Oh, that brings out a different taste." Finally, a few grains of sugar on the last bit. "Sweet on sweet! Almost too much of a good thing!"
Now that she has demonstrated her taste test, she further partitions each slice into 4 bits, seasoning 3 of the 4 bits as described, and invites each fairy to take his or her 4 bits of apple.
"You can have fun with the rest of the food. Nice meeting you all! But, perhaps we should be leaving."
Mitch - The Twins HP 55/65 (11 nonlethal) AC 29/15/27 Thursday August 4th, 2022 8:39:53 AM
The Twins remain skeptical of everything and don't follow Honors lead in taste testing.
Honor Bright (Kathy) [AC 20; HP 31/50] Thursday August 4th, 2022 1:44:21 PM
"Oh! Of course I'll keep your secret," Honor says. "But I don't like to lie. When people in town ask where you found us, what will we tell them?"
SteveM - Elron | AC 23 (21 if raging), HP 64(24)/64, DR 2/-- Thursday August 4th, 2022 10:39:51 PM
Elron can tell which way the wind is blowing -- toward town right now. But if it's a suddenly cold wind, folks are likely to hear about it.
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