Argos: Angler's Spire

[Morkskittar]

 

[X]-[X]-[X]

Arrival at Angler's Spire

Atus – Waiting for the Storm and Tending the Engines

Tharr – At the Helm (Cut a Path)

Tolliver – On Watch

Park – Researching the Bloom

 

 

 

---

After a small amount of dithering, Tharr was ultimately convinced to take the wheel. The mothryn was skeptical, especially given all of the shiny technological marvels in the wheelhouse, but after a short while got the hang of things, though he was prone to steering the ship in fits and starts instead of smoothly, his eyes constantly flitting about. The other eventually adjusted to Tharr's steering, especially as the fits and starts eventually smoothed out to simple variations in acceleration, and the Argos left the chanting grove behind them.

Tolliver stayed on deck, eyes roving the treetops in an attempt to not think about whatever it was inside him eating his brain. Did flowers do that? Did this flower do that? No, of course not. This flower only wants to grant Tolliver his deepest desires... Tolliver shook himself to shake away the intrusive thoughts. These thoughts were the primary symptom of his infestation; if he did not maintain strict discipline over them, his mind would fall into patterns of thought and a desire to break into song and dance in honor and memory of the beautiful sheen of red the flowers had been, and to propagate and spread-

He slapped himself. He had to be very careful how he thought. Thankfully, the thoughts had become more stable, though not any less intense, since leaving the grove behind. It was almost as if he was no longer connected to the larger mass of blooms behind them; perhaps they had communicated with the infestation inside him via pollen or pheromones, and now that he was out of reach it was only him and flower; a battle of wills. A battle he could not possibly win, as the flower was great, and should be spread all across the world so everyone could see its beauty and-

Tolliver growled and yanked his mind from that train of thought. This was going to get tiring. At least he had no desire to jump off the ship and return to the grove now; the infected spring fox had abandoned them as they left, bounding across the leaves back to the red flowers. Thankfully, the other foxes remained as they were.

---

While Tharr steered fitfully and Tolliver tried to focus his mind on watching the waves, Atus and Park were belowdecks. Atus was frustrated with the sunny weather, and prowled the workshop and Biff, looking for minor things to fix and tinker with. He remembered the power he had felt channeling the storm-rail, and wondered if that sensation could be reclaimed.

Park, meanwhile, had a more definite goal in mind. Deciding to take out two birds with one stone, he experimentedCook + Tides Roll: 1, 3, 4, 6. Triumph! with the culinary properties of the manticore bloom. He started with the sample Tharr had shredded when ripping it from Tolliver, and experimented with lightly frying the blossoms, boiling them, and mixing them with other ingredients. He was wary of tasting them, but was sure that the samples were well and truly dead when he was done. He found that it made an absolutely foul tea that tasted not unlike the carrion weed he had, but that lightly sauteed with other herbs it added a delicious umami note to the cudaflesh dish he had prepared. It paired particularly well with garlic. He also noted that the petals had a light fungal aftertaste, and thus speculated that the blooms were literally parasitizing Toliver, converting his fungal flesh into floral blooms. The other thing Park found was that the pollen of the petal was very potent, and unlike anything else he had ever encountered; the pollen smelled sickly sweet, and actually reminded him of the scent ants gave off to communicate (or so an old friend had once told him).

When Park offered the prepared blooms as part of their evening repast, Tharr and Tolliver steadfastly refused to consume it, leaving Park to eat the delicious savory (and thoroughly cooked) blossoms on his own. He did not break out in his own infestation, despite Tharr's suspicions and fears.

OOC

A three-box track has been added to Park's sheet. He can spend an action during a montage or journey and consume a manticore bloom specimen to learn more about it. He must pass one Cook test (done), one Harvest/Tides test, and one Tend/Tides test to fill the track. When he does, he will be able to come up with a cure... which you will then need to acquire or make. The Cook box has been checked off. :)

---

The next afternoon, on another infuriatingly sunny day, Tolliver sounded the alarm. The spring-foxes were huddled on the ship's deck, and birds were fleeing from the canopies to the north. Over the Argos' longjaw, the sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves became increasingly audible. Tharr slowed the ship, and everyone came up on deck. In the distance, a large swathe of treetops shook and shuddered, though there was no breeze. There was something under the canopy.

Tharr shut off the engines, and they all waited and watched as the patch of disturbed trees began to curve away...

...and then rush towards them at incredible speed.

Tolliver shouted. "Go!"

Atus rushed down to the engine room while Park leapt onto the stormrail. Tharr gunned the engines, and Atus fed them more power. The Argos lurched forward and then moved so fast it actually briefly went airborne as it crested a particularly large wave. The patch of rustling leaves moved to cut them off, the Argos landed and then sped onward. Something heavy impacted the ship's side, sending them careening to port, and there was a sickening cracking sound. The rustling stopped, but the Argos sped onShip Stealth Roll: 2, 3.
Ship Speed Roll: 1, 3, 3, 6, 6..

That night, Tharr finally felt safe enough to slow down, and the crew quickly inspected their ships for any signs of damage wrought by the impact. Tolliver clambered back on deck holding a mostly-intact insectoid mandible almost as large as he was, tendrils of big flesh still hanging off of it. It had been embedded in the leviathan bone, leaving a substantial pockmark (but any structurally significant damage). The quartet admired it for a moment, and a few spring foxes sniffed it, and then they stashedA Giant Insect Mandible specimen has been added to your cargo; you can use it as a specimen, or potentially adapt it into some sort of ship upgrade. It is currently communally owned, so anyone can use it. it away belowdecks.

---

Two days later, Atus was on the top deck, watching the dawn break. He had high hopes, as something had blotted out the stars last night, and his patience was rewarded; the day was beautifully overcast, and to the west (where they were heading), the clouds looked delightfully dark and threatening. In good spirits, he roused the others, and Tharr found himself at the wheel once again. He had not been at the wheel for long when Tolliver noticed a light in the sky up ahead, and a towering spire. At first he thought it was like the bizarre Karaxes spires they had seen in the distance, but this one was different, and definitely artificial.

Tolliver called out that Angler's Spire was just ahead, and Tharr adjusted course to head towards it.

The people of Angler's Spire had built up just as much as the people of Verdurance had built out. The mountain peak that sat at the center of Verdurance was low above the waves and wide, while the peak Angler's Spire was built on sat high above the waves and had a small footprint. The thin and tall mountaintop was itself topped with an absurdly tall and spindly tower that looked like it would topple if someone blew on it a little too hard. A flickering light shone at the tower's top, which was almost lost in the clouds, and a collection of wooden, bone, and stone buildings were plastered all up the mountain's steep slopes.

The mountain peak itself had large chunks carved out of it, likely cannibalized to make the port's titular spire, which was, spindliness aside, quite impressive. Tharr was more taken by the giant ship-sized rodentine skull set into the peak's base, and kept his eyes on it as he approached. As they got closer to the Spire, the Argos had to weave between the carcasses of giant insects, birds, and beasts that hung suspended on thick poles jutting out of the waves and guarded by suspicious-looking and heavily armed folks of all types. Most of the monstrous carcasses were impaled on flags, and four distinct banners appeared fairly often: a spider consuming a writhing centipede, a howling wolf impaled on a spear, a serpent and bird entwined in a death battle, and a fanged flower.

Tharr slowed as they approached and the impaled carcasses became thicker; they were eventually hailed by a hulking ektus standing atop a bone-made watch-tower who reminded them of their former comrade, Ford. Tharr pulled the Argos up to near the tower, and the ektus nimbly leaped onto their ship, causing the others to tense.

"You sail as if you do not know this place, as if it has been many moons since your last visit. Times have changed, friends; the Shudder has caused our once peaceful port to fall into brutal infighting. The Four Clans Major are at each other's throats, and each has seized one of the port's docks. I warn you, you will have to select one dock, and be marked as an ally of that Clan for your duration. It will be dangerous to encounter those docked elsewhere, or with other clans.

They paused.

"And I do hope you have brought evidence of your hunting prowess; your ship will not earn a berth without being able to prove that you are capable hunters. And take care that your chosen prize will impress your chosen Clan, yes?"

The crew noticed that the watchtower flew a flag composed of a gear crushing a squirrel; not one of the four banners they had seen staked out on the carcasses.

"Choose wisely."

Some further minor inquiry revealed some information about these four Clans:

• The Chitinate: Also known as the Bug Butchers, the Chitinate specialize in hunting monstrous insects. They are known to be the most friendly of the Clans Major (and excellent cooks), and their dock is on the northern end of the mountain, currently out of sight, at the base of a giant honeycomb dredged from the deeps.
• The Saitani: The Saitani are a proud Clan, quick to anger and to take offense. They are known for their prowess in the hunting of birds and reptiles, and are fearsome fighters, going out of their way to show their skills to each other and to others. Their dock is on the eastern part of the port, and is marked by a preponderance of hunting lodges of scale and bone.
• The Deathblossom: Not all leviathans are fauna, and the Deathblossom has devoted itself to the hunting of carnivorous plants in all forms that they take, sessile and mobile. Its members frequently imbibe spirits and hallucinogens, but are famed steeps as well as very knowledgeable hunters. They can be found on the western edge of the Spire, among the gardens there.
• The Fellowship of Fangs: The Fellowship is known for its distrust of outsiders and strong internal loyalty. They specialize in hunting the furry beasts of the wild seas, and are known for their patience and cunning. Their docks are the nearest, on the southern part of the Spire, beneath the oversized rodentine skull inset into the mountain.

OOC

Before you dock at the Spire, you must choose one of the above four clans to (implicitly) align yourself with, and present a hunting trophy to them to prove your worth (this will not consume the trophy; you just have to show it off). Tharr at the wheel can technically override you, but this is a decision to think about, as it will impact what you can easily accomplish at the Spire, as different Clans will have access to different knowledge, skills, and opportunities.

[yxanthymir]

---

Park Stadium | AspectsBloodline: Ardent

- Tough as Nails (4-Track Trait) - You’re a natural survivor. Rolls made to treat or heal an injury you're suffering from treat conflicts as triumphs.

- Ironclad Mind (4-Track Trait) - You are immune to hallucinations, mesmerics and mental compulsions.

Origin: Ridgeback

- Archaeodermis (2-Track Trait) - Your skin (or whatever you have as an outer covering) mimics the mountain you were raised on. You're immune to keen damage, as well as bites and stings from small creatures.

- Shamanic Idol (4-Track Gear) - Holds a sliver of power from a not-quite-god. Deals LR salt damage.

Post: Char

- Taste Test (4-Track Trait) - You're immune to poisons, and can determine their presence and characteristics by taste alone.

- Seasoned Cleaver (2-Track Gear) - As useful on the battlefield as it is in the galley. Deals CQ hewing damage. Increase impact when acquiring dangerous or disruptive specimens.

Extra

- The Manticore Recipe (3-Track Adventure) - Park can spend an action during a montage or journey and consume a manticore bloom specimen to learn more about it. He must pass one Cook test (done), one Harvest/Tides test, and one Tend/Tides test to fill the track. When he does, he will be able to come up with a cure. | EdgesGrace, Instinct & Tides | SkillsDelve: 0
Vault: 2
Wavewalk: 0
Hunt: 2
Study: 0
Sense: 3
Harvest: 3
Scavenge: 0
Tend: 2
Concoct: 0
Cook: 3
Rattle: 0
Flourish: 0
Outwit: 0
Sway: 0
Brace: 0
Break: 0
Hack: 0 | LanguagesLow Sour | ResourcesCook Utensils (Salvage)
Bag of Spices (Specimen)
Tonic of Health (Specimen)
Liquid Fire (Specimen)
Carrion Weed (Specimen)
Manticore Bloom (Specimen)

---

 

Park is satisfied with himself. He did a good piloting at the oven, a place with more importance than the helm. He steered his spoon and used his cleaver with a mastery he didn't think he had upon himself. Every movement a work of art. His cook experiment was a tremendous success. Even if his comrades don't recognize the delicacy he created. Such an exotic flavor! He cannot wait to try again.

He took time to write it down in pictograms. He doesn't know how to read or write, so he created a pseudo language only he could understand.

But the circumstances appear to be dire when they reach the new port and a decision must be made. I dont like to take a side, but two options are good. De Xitinate (The Chitinate) or de Deafbloom (The Deathblossom) look right. I have friend at de Xitinate and de Deafbloom may help find cure for Tolliver.

He waits patiently for other opinion.

Actions

 

 

Edited March 21 by yxanthymir (see edit history)

[Moveslikejagger]

Atus felt consumed by a low energy funk for days. The encounter with the Manticore Bloom seemed to have impacted him as much as Tharr or Tolliver, but on an emotional level. He felt unable to concentrate, not even enough to be able to manufacture some gas masks for the crew. He sketched a few designs, but none of the designs stood out as worthy of his skill. He didn't even take measurements from the crew in case he settled on a design later.

In this strange emotional state he checked the magnetic engines, gave Biff an exacting inspection, stalked the decks, muttering about the sunshine.

Finally at dawn he saw sign. Dark thunderclouds in their path and his mood lifted. Angler's Spire came into view and Atus looked eagerly at the strange construction. When the hulking Ektus leaped aboard ship. a reflexive arc of lightning twisted around his fist before Atus seemed to relax and the man gave his information.

Atus seemed to ponder his words for a moment, listening to what Park had to say as well.

"I'd rather not be labelled in such a way. These local conflicts have no relevance to us. We are merely passing through on our way to Inkspill or Sarkosa. We need to use our time here to determine our next destination. Showing off a kill feels like a way to judge or evaluate us. I say we show the Bug Butchers that mandible to gain entry to the city and then spread out to find what we need. Just passing through, no need to get involved. I for one am relishing the incoming storm, as will others of my kind. Oh and you." Atus turns to the Ektus who'd jumped aboard ship, lightning curling around the Tempests' closed fist in emphasis. "This is the Argos. You jump aboard again without invitation and I'll show you to a railing before your feet touch the boards."

 

[yxanthymir]

---

Park Stadium | AspectsBloodline: Ardent

- Tough as Nails (4-Track Trait) - You’re a natural survivor. Rolls made to treat or heal an injury you're suffering from treat conflicts as triumphs.

- Ironclad Mind (4-Track Trait) - You are immune to hallucinations, mesmerics and mental compulsions.

Origin: Ridgeback

- Archaeodermis (2-Track Trait) - Your skin (or whatever you have as an outer covering) mimics the mountain you were raised on. You're immune to keen damage, as well as bites and stings from small creatures.

- Shamanic Idol (4-Track Gear) - Holds a sliver of power from a not-quite-god. Deals LR salt damage.

Post: Char

- Taste Test (4-Track Trait) - You're immune to poisons, and can determine their presence and characteristics by taste alone.

- Seasoned Cleaver (2-Track Gear) - As useful on the battlefield as it is in the galley. Deals CQ hewing damage. Increase impact when acquiring dangerous or disruptive specimens.

Extra

- The Manticore Recipe (3-Track Adventure) - Park can spend an action during a montage or journey and consume a manticore bloom specimen to learn more about it. He must pass one Cook test (done), one Harvest/Tides test, and one Tend/Tides test to fill the track. When he does, he will be able to come up with a cure. | EdgesGrace, Instinct & Tides | SkillsDelve: 0
Vault: 2
Wavewalk: 0
Hunt: 2
Study: 0
Sense: 3
Harvest: 3
Scavenge: 0
Tend: 2
Concoct: 0
Cook: 3
Rattle: 0
Flourish: 0
Outwit: 0
Sway: 0
Brace: 0
Break: 0
Hack: 0 | LanguagesLow Sour | ResourcesCook Utensils (Salvage)
Bag of Spices (Specimen)
Tonic of Health (Specimen)
Liquid Fire (Specimen)
Carrion Weed (Specimen)
Manticore Bloom (Specimen)

---

 

Park is confused and he looks to the others for help. Once again he didn't understood a single word from his companion, the ironbound. It is like he is talking another language.

Maybe someone can simplify it for him.

Actions

 

 

[Dr Jackal]

Tharr looks longingly at the spire. "The height. It has been too long that I am so close to the waves. I could do with some height. And some tea. But mostly height."

He takes a deep sigh when the Ektus leaps aboard. "Atus, have we not already had this discussion about potential friends and how we comport ourselves? And we must either choose a dock or sail onward. Not only are we hunting the Tyrant's Bloom, but our crewmate Tolliver is in need of assistance that none of us have been able to provide. Park is right. Unless there are objections, the Deathblossom is where we should sail."

He begins to wheel the ship around to the western port.

 

 

 

[Morkskittar]

Deathblossom, Angler's Spire: Montage

The ektus held both hands up in the face of Atus' wrath and took a step back. "No harm meant, but point well taken. Enjoy the port." The cactoid then leapt off the ship much more hurriedly than he had leapt on, the the Argos cut onward. Hearing no objections, Tharr steered their vessel around the Spire. The crew stood on deck, listening to the sounds of brawling and shouting coming from the Fellowship's quarter beneath the skulk, then the faint sibilant music floating out from the Saitani's scalehouses, vaguely reminiscent of the Manticore Bloom's chanting. As they rounded the northern end of the Spire, they caught a glimpse of a massive honeycomb, easily stretching halfway up the mountain's side, with ladders and stairs connecting the individual cells, each cell the size of a small house. The sound of green-sea shanties wafted over from the Chitinate's stronghold, mixing with the scent of honey and roasted elk-beetle.

Then Tharr rounded the corner to bring into the Deathblossom's quarter, on the western side of the Spire. Wooden scaffolding and planking that made up a labyrinthine docking system extended beyond the mountain on all sides, but it extended the furthest near the Deathblossom. Most of the berths were full, but Tharr finally managed to make a hairpin turn to cut off a slower barge-crawler and slide the Argos in between a small copper-hulled mulcher and a much larger ship with no visible means of propulsion, but that was covered in fungal growths, including a towering vibrant red mushroom with a spotted cap growing from where a wheelhouse would normally go. A mouth-watering smell came from this ship, with the words Grand Gourmet visible through its carpet of mycelial growths.

For a handful of scratch, a small gang of dockside youths agreed to keep an eye on the ship (in addition to the springfoxes, who had joined the crew on deck when they approached the isle), and the crew prepared to disembark as the sun continued to rise, eyes taking in the western district of the Spire.

Angler's Spire: Deathblossom District

Buildings, stairs, and paths of stone were carved into the mountain's slope, which was gentlest on the western side. The result was a mostly grid-like tiered arrangement, standing in stark contrast to the haphazard array dwellings and taverns found near the Fellowship of Fangs and the Saitani. Along the walkways and spilling out of most windows and doorways was a stunning range of flowers in many shapes and colors. Some floral clusters grew wild, while others were clearly cultivated. Scattered amongst the district were two massive floral heads, somewhat decayed; likely some sort of trophy from a battle with a monstrous plant. There was also a large towering spire of mushrooms near the top of the district, just before a winding path led to the base of the tower perched atop the mountain. Sweet-scented smoke and clouds of pollen drifted lazily from the gardens over the docks.

Visible Points of Interest

• House of Many Flowers: A particularly large manor-like house carved directly from the mountain in the middle of the district that seemed almost to be made of carefully curated arrangements of flowers, topped by a decaying giant toothed orchid. This building very clearly seems to be the headquarters of the Deathblossom Clan itself.
• Shroomtop: The area around the fungal spire near the top boasts an array of other shroom-like growths, as well as the prominently displayed remnants of fungal-infested beasts. A preponderance of ornate buildings carved from the mountainside are scattered among the shrooms, with flourishes that mark them as places of learning.
• Spicemarket: In the northernmost region of the district, bordering the Chitinate, the Spicemarket is more marked by scent than visual differences; the smells of an intoxicating array of spices and herbs drift from this cluster of colorful tents and buildings.
• Fallen Tulip: A massive withering pink tulip in the lower southern portion of the district tops an otherwise dour looking building of brick. In contrast to its depressing appearance, the sounds of music and laughter come from it; this seems to be the district's largest tavern and/or inn (for locals).
• Garden of Memory and Sorrow: A section of the city without buildings, instead containing a minimally maintained garden with exotic plants, including several carnivorous ones, as well as memorials to fallen hunters.
• Aster's Scar: A surprisingly ornate cathedral-like building, complete with a triptych of stained glass depicting scenes of flowers, bees, and a serpent, near where the docks meet the mountainside. Smoke rises from several chimneys; despite its appearance, this is a tavern and gathering house for transients just passing through.

---

Montage

Welcome to Angler's Spire, and a montage to begin with! As usual, your characters have several options before them that you can take, either individually or with one or more of your fellows:

• Explore: Go into the Deathblossom District and see what you can find. If you wish to use this option, please specify where you are going (either by heading to one of the above points of interest or describing something in particular you are looking for) and what you are looking for/want to do (find out about Tolliver's affliction, follow up on rumors about the Tyrant's Bloom, or something else). Alternatively, you can try to visit the neighboring Chitinate or Fellowship Districts, or else hang about the docks and make friends/foes with other traveling crews or gossip-monger. Use this option to acquire plot hooks or find out information.
• Acquire: You can pay a visit to one of the District's markets and use Sway, Outwit, or Flourish (plus an approriate Edge) to try and acquire a Specimen or Salvage. You can also use Gather to try and harvest a plant-based specimen from the flora all around (or one of the gardens), but this may anger the locals, especially if you roll a Twist. There are no suitable areas to scavenge or hunt. 6: Gain good resource; 4–5: Gain sub-par resource; 1–3: Gain no resource.
• Create: You can stay on the ship and combine two resources (specimen, salvage, whisper, or chart) to create temporary Aspects for yourself or others, the qualities of which depend on the resources used. Each Aspect will be used up forever when its track is filled. Use Concoct (and any two resources) to make a potion. Use Cook (and two specimens) to make a full meal. Use Craft (and two salvage) to make equipment. 6: Good Aspect related to resources used. 4–5: Aspect has downsides or is not quite right. 1–3: Aspect gives no benefits.
• Recover: You can take a breather to feel better and remove marks from tracks by spending a single resource, as well as taking an appropriate skill test (plus any appropriate edge). Healing (Tend, Concoct, Cook) uses a specimen clear a mark from a Trait or animal companion. Repairing (Rattle, Study, Concoct) uses a salvage to clear a mark from Equipment or mechanical objects. Relaxing (skill depends on character, but often social skills) uses a whisper to clear a mark from a Mire. You may choose to automatically take the conflict (4–5) result to avoid risking doing more damage. 6: Clear 2 marks. 4–5: Clear 1 mark. 1–3: Add one mark. On a twist, the resource is not consumed.
• Project: Work towards a longer-term goal, such as Park working towards his analysis of Tolliver's affliction.
• Special Actions: Use the Night Farm to acquire a fungal specimen or the Cuda Spiritvenom Sac to acquire spirit venom. Alternatively, do anything else you can think of not listed here!

[Moveslikejagger]

When Atus stepped upon the dock, the sights and sounds of Deathblossom quarter held no interest for him. The beautiful clouds called him more powerfully than the Manticore's siren song. Sparks curled around his shoulders like the hands of a lover, wishing to drag him away, yet the thought of his crewmates and their needs came to him and he felt an explanation was needed.

"Tharr, Tolliver, Park. I... I need the storm that approaches. I... " Atus' voice is a curious mixture of longing and shame. "We came to help Tolliver and find our path forward, but the storm. It calls to me. I can feel the approach. I.. I must seek the heart of the storm and listen. It has been too long since I felt a storms embrace. I wiĺl find you when it is over."

Atus seems as jittery as a drug addict needing a fix. With those words he raises his glowing eyes to the storm cloud heavens and begins to move away, heading in the general direction of the Spire. He smells like ozone, and his spinning heart can faintly be heard, as electricity randomly appears across his body. The electricity is joined by muttering. Words like "more altitude", "South by Southwest,". "She approaches heavy-laden with power."

Most of his attention seems elsewhere from the here and now. Only tangitallly connected to reality. Enough that he will avoid any obstacles that won't get out of his way, like buildings or plants.

OOC: Atus is taking an explore action. He will commune with the storm, climbing the Spire as far as possible.

[CraterShip]

 

Tolliver remains at the fore of the starboard hull as they reach dock, his eyes scan across the cityscape. Not fully unlike the high sentinels he grew up on, but with a different take. The four clans of Angler's Spire may spread beyond this place, but were unfamiliar to him still. From the ektus' description, Deathblossom was a good choice, and he nodded his approval at Tharr's choice.

Both Tharr and Atus seem dead set on finding the highest altitude possible. Tolliver decides to let them find their own path for a time, while he checks out the lower levels. Perhaps when the all return, they may piece together a larger story. For his own part, he was most interested in what people may know about the siren song flowers which had wormed their way into his own body - a point driven home as he notices a small red sprout on his forearm and he scratches it away. Once fully docked, he disembarks with a wave to his companions.

"I will return by nightfall - be careful in the meantime," he calls to the others, his eyes narrow at Atus' strange mutterings. Perhaps Park will find something of a cure while they stay, but Tolliver intends instead to find merriment. Nothing like a good drink and loud music to forget about what ails you, and he may find more information about their ultimate goal in the loose-lipped tendencies of those who drink too much.

OOC

Tolliver will head to Aster's Scar - intent on three things: drinking, making friends, and listening for stories of the Tyrant Bloom

 

[Dr Jackal]

Tharr stares at the spire for a long time, then sighs. "I wish you luck in harnessing your storm, Atus. There are other things I must do."

He examines the signs pointing toward the Garden. "Carnivorous plants and fallen hunters, both of which might prove advantageous to investigate."

 

OOC: Looks like a good place to pick up information on the Manticore and the Tyrant's Bloom.

[Morkskittar]

Deathblossom, Angler's Spire: Montage/Scenes

 

Atus—Storm Communing

Park—To Be Decided

Tharr—Exploring the Garden of Memory and Sorrow

Tolliver—Exploring Aster's Scar

---

Park tidies up around the ship while the other three head as one into Angler's Spire proper. Both Tharr and Tolliver slow for a moment as they pass by the Grand Gourmet, enthralled by the smell wafting from it, then hurry to catch up with Atus, striding with purpose. The docks are a crowded mass of shouting people of all bloodlines, cargo flying to and fro, hammers and chisels hard at work, and carts stacked high with food and supplies pushed by brazen hawkers. Amongst the bustle and confusion are quieter sorts, eyes shadowed and features obscured, with dangerous weapons peeking out from robes or slung over backs. These are the hunters themselves, who stand aloof from the otherwise busy daily life of the port.

The edge of the docks is marked by an iron trellis in the shape of a gate, graced with large roses. A pair of keen-eyed ardent stand beneath it, noting everyone who passes through. One is constantly writing in a small ledger, while the other simply glowers. As the trio pass by, the glowering one snorts derisively, but makes no move to impede their progress.

Tolliver peels off from the other two first, taking the short path to the cathedral-like tavern the dockworkers called the Aster's Scar.

---

Aster's Scar—Tolliver

One of the towering double doors that opened up onto the tavern was open, watches over by a surprisingly muscular and bulky gau. The gau stopped him and asked for his name and that of his ship, in gaudimm. Tolliver responded in the same tongue, and the gau bouncer gestured him in. The interior of the Aster's Scar was cavernous, hammering home that it had been built in the rebuilt ruins of a long-crumbled church. A balcony ringed the high-ceilinged room, and a pipe organ used up the entirety of the far wall. Amongst the chandeliers were cages, two of which were empty, and two full.

The first cage held a distant cousin of Tolliver's, a heavily scarred floating mushroom with fungal fibers dangling beneath it. The second cage rattled and shook, and occasionally roared, and the gau stopped in his tracks to look up at it. It looked like an uprooted red-and-yellow flower whose step and roots had formed themselves into the shape of a wolf or large feline, and whose fanged blossom made up its head. A pair of bright red tongues, each nearly a yard and a half in length, lashed out from the maw at the center of its petals, flickering down towards the patrons below. When it roared, several of the drunker patrons roared back.

Tolliver quickly found the bar itself, in front of the organ, and placed an order for a strong drink, and then looked around and listened. Most of the talk around him involved discussion of the "lion's mane" and "its mate," and jokes and braggadocio about how they would kill the beast when it did show up. They laughed down one old ketra who muttered something about how "some manes travel in packs, and not just pairs."

Tolliver filtered through the false bravado—a task that become exponentially harder with every sip—until he heard what he was looking for, in two places. Beneath the floating tentacled mushroom, a pair of well-dressed ardents with heavily plumed hats were in deep conversation with an ironbound that looked to be made of a collection of cooking utensils and pots and a surly looking mothryn resting their hand on a harpoon that looked twice as heavy as he was. It seemed that the two large-hatted ardents were pirates from Sarkosa hunting the Bloom, and were cautiously trying to pry information out of the other two, who were members of an entire crew of chefs, chars, and steeps who wanted to turn the Bloom into either a salad or a tea... or possibly both. They, in turn, were trying to extract useful information from the pirates. Tolliver considered inserting himself into that conversation.

Another conversation, at a small table on the edge of the room, Tolliver only noticed because one of its participants shouted briefly about a "tyrant." A thickly cloaked individual was resting their skeletal webbed hand on a cylindrical case; the type that valuable charts were stored in to avoid damage. Opposite him, a hulking ketra was looking increasingly agitated. Tolliver's ears picked up a discussion of a "map" to the "Bloom's last surfacing" and something about "clues there."

OOC

Tolliver can try to make friends or extract information from either of these conversations, but only one of them; whichever he feels would be more fruitful or fun. :)

 

---

Tharr and Atus continued making their way up the steepening mountainside, engaging in an oddly mismatched debate about the meaning of death. Deeper into the Deathblossom District, clouds of pollen frequently obscured visibility, and the sweet scents of flowers sometimes caused Tharr to stop a moment to catch his breath. In a truly odd series of spectacles, the pair of them witnessed uprooted and chained flowers of prodigious size dragged through the streets or loaded into carts like livestock. They both also discovered that Tolliver's affliction may not be so unusual; several of those around them sported floral or fungal outgrowths from their bodies, though none of them were the deep red that Tolliver's blooms were. A few individuals looked to be more parasitic flower than person, and on one occasion it was the flower that spoke, not the attached ketra. Then they were at the wall marking the entrance to the tiered Garden of Memory and Sorrow. Atus carried on upward, while Tharr ducked inside the garden.
 

---

Garden of Memory and Sorrow—Tharr

The garden was aptly named, though Tharr quickly discovered it was more of a monument to fallen plant-hunters than a true garden. There were gardeners tending the plants, of course, but the central focus of the garden were the headstones—in truth, mostly made from treated wood and not proper stone—and mausoleums of fallen heroes who had conquered, or been conquered by, floral foes. Had Tharr not known that flora could sometimes be just as fierce as fauna, he would have found it ridiculous.

Here lies Popola Devolan, who faced down the Lunar Lily and its transformation and shrieked back at the Malevolent Mandrake.

Here was one Morikai Delver, who pierced the heart of the Midnight Shroomspire and sliced the blossom from the stem of the Berserker Rose, and was felled by the dreaded Decadew Crawler.

Behind this door lies Liontamer Shasta, who defeated the colossal lion's manes known far and wide as the Terror Twins, then was defeated in turn by time itself.

Around each monument was a personalized garden of flowers and fungi that represented their conquests, life, and death. Tharr was touched by the beauty of it, even if all of the names (of both hero and botanical foe) were unknown to him.

There were no mentions of the Bloom, though he suspected much could be gleaned about possible dangerous megaflora from further study, until he reached an alcove at the far end of the garden. A mothryn gardener, fleeing from something, bumped into Tharr, dropping his shears. The gardener mumbled a fast apology, scooped up the shears, and continued fleeing. Curious by the gardener's behavior and by the sounds coming from around the corner of a particularly impressive stone mausoleum (Brentford the White, conqueror of the Snapdragon Monarch).

He peered around the edge of the stone edifice and witnessed a crowd of about a dozen individuals, all gathered in front of a very unimpressive wooden monument set in a poorly tended garden of dahlias and daisies. Not particularly impressive flowers, Tharr thought.

Standing in front of said monument was a wild-eyed ardent, clutching a bundle of squirming tubers in one hand and waving the other free hand about in a frenzy. Tharr noted that the man had at least three—no, four—pink dahlias growing from various parts of his flesh.

"The Bloom has come upon us once more, and the nonbelievers glorify those heretics who turned aside from its call!" The ardent kicked viciously at the monument, splintering it. "It graces us with its presence, and all that we do is hunt it and use it for our own selfish ends, or destroy it at the bidding of its eternal foes, the unenlightened!" Another kick. "We believe! We serve the Bloom! We will carry out its will to be blessed with eternal life when it surfaces. We serve the Bloom!"

"We serve the Bloom!" about half of the crowd answered. The other half looked skeptical.

The preaching ardent bent down and grabbed a small mothryn, who flinched from the touch. "Are you ready to accept the Tyrant's Bloom and hear its call, that Monarch of Monarch, Emperor of Flowers, Master of Secrets, and follow its bidding?"

The mothryn started to answer, but the ardent interrupted. "A new follower of the Bloom!"

"A new follower of the Bloom!"

The mothryn squirmed, but the preacher's grip was strong. Two of the cheering individuals in the crowd stepped forward and grabbed the struggling victim. Before Tharr could react, the preacher then plunged one of of the tuber's in his hand into the chest of the mothryn, who let out a soft shriek before collapsing into a gibbering heap. "A new follower of the Bloom!" he crowed.

"A new follower of the Bloom!" the crowd echoed.

Those at the back began to back away slowly, and the preacher's eyes latched onto them. "Do we have doubters among our ranks?"

Behind Tharr, footsteps sounded, and he saw the mothryn gardener return still some distance away, flanked by a burly ektus and a dangerous-looking ketra armed with the sharpest and largest pair of gardening shears Tharr had ever seen. Around the corner, the believers had moved to block the doubters from fleeing, and the preacher had grabbed another victim (this time a spineless ektus), though they struggled less than the mothryn had.

OOC

Tharr can do whatever he feels is best in this situation; intervene, wait and watch, or forestall the gardening enforcement squad. Or something else entirely.

 

---

 

The Spire's Base—Atus

Atus continued on well past the gardens, and then found himself standing at the bottom of a steep stone staircase that ended before a thick pair of wooden doors emblazoned with the sigil of the Deathblossom Clan. Atus climbed, unbothered by the effort required, which would have winded most fleshier beings. He stopped before the door, and found himself looking at a thin gau with a blunging head and three irregular eyes. The gau was standing at ease, a bizarre pre-V rifle held casually in her arms, a heavy-looking tank on her back.

"We have another supplicant, do we? Do y'want to ascend the Spire?" Atus looked back over his shoulder, at the approaching storm. In the distance, he could see sheets of rain. Lightning flashed in the darkening clouds. It would be another hour or two before the storm itself hit.

"Mighty big tempest coming our way, ain't it? I reckon its Dajel's Folly again. She swung by this time last year too, yelling at us all scary-like. Old Furkuur up the spire said she wanted what was hers back, and wasn't none too happy we refused to give it back." The gau shifted her posture, and Atus noted that despite the relaxed pose, they looked ready to fight at the drop of a hat. "'course, it probably would have helped if she'd told us exactly what it was she was looking for, mm? Probably something related to her old crew. They say she was once a sailor who got lost in a storm, and then became it. Been wandering around the Range for nigh on fifty years, now. She looks angrier than normal, if that's her."

Atus looked behind the door, at a winding stone path cut up the rest of the mountainside to the base of the tower itself. Atus was fairly high—he could see the Argos from here, as a small model far below—but he could be higher.

"Oh, you wanna pass? Sorry, but Deathblossom's got to keep our end of the bargain. Only worthy hunters can pass, and I don't see any Hunter's Pass or a suitable trophy. Run down and grab your biggest hunting trophy; see if the Deathblossom Cabal won't approve it as being good enough, or if you're in a rush, I may be able to make a snap judgment." She shrugged. "Or you can simply enjoy the view from up here."

OOC

Atus has encountered an obstacle, but also some potential new information of interest, especially to him.

---

Atus, Tharr, and Tolliver are all now in scenes. @yxanthymir, Park can still take his montage action when he's ready, and can even join one of the others if he wants.

[Moveslikejagger]

Atus dimly acknowledged the presence of Tolliver and Tharr, but only realized they had peeled off from his path when he found himself walking alone.

Before it really registered with him he stood in front og the chatty Gau with her Pre-V rifle amd torrent of confusing words.

Supplicant. Perhaps other Tempests are treading the same path. Atus thought to himself as one word registered. He felt like too much information was coming at him from too many directions. The storm spoke to him in loud tones. He could feel her power already stretching out across the heavens. The interplay of ions. The glorious charging and tumultuous movement of air and shifting power.

"Dajel... " Atus said. the name escaping him like whispered steam from a boiler. Atus shook his head, the words of the Gau slowly penetrating what passed for his conscious mind. With difficulty Atus focused his glowing eyes on the Gau. "Dajel comes. An hour at most. I must be higher to commune properly. If I stay here... If Dajel speaks to me... You will be in danger. Lighning all around... So good."

Atus looked at the clouds again and the approaching storm. Sparks were thrown off his shoulders and down to the ground, as if he wore a cape of trailing sparks, that glinted off his metallic skin and made his form sparkle. The smell pf ozone around him became stronger. "Trophy?" Atus pointed to the Argos. "Not enough time to get to the Argos and back before Dajel comes. I am Atus Zolev. Tempest." Atus waved his hands and sparks formed shapes in the air around him. The outline of Cuda with its toothy maw. The spark picture changed and showed a tiny Biff shooting into the air above the Cuda to recreate the moment of its death. "I killed the Cuda that hunted the Firefly and consumed half their crew. I channelled the stormrail and my bolts arced inside the beast and I felt the touch of its spirit venom. It tried to consume my soul. Yet with the help of my friends we prevailed."

Atus ended the sparkshow and brought forth the sample of Cuda spirit venom he carried and showed it to the Gau. "A sample of the Cuda venom as proof of my claim. Ask any of the crew of the Firefly to verify. Or wait until after Dajel passes and I will take you to the Argos. You can taste the flesh, and see the remains in our cargo hold. You may test my strength if you feel the need. Or claim anything but the venom to ease my passage. " Atus showed the Gau everything on his person, the chart, small music box, scratch and salvage. "Please, she lands soon."

OOC: Atus hopes to convince the Gau to let him pass.

[CraterShip]

 

Tolliver was enthralled by the pipe organ, an instrument of such size would never sit in his old home. Too much weight would sink the blasted thing before it could play its first note. He orders a stiff drink of what turned out to be fermented sugars of some kind mixed with a dark bubbling liquid. It went down smooth and smelled of vanilla and spices.

As he watched the thrashing, roaring beast in the hanging cage above, he listened to the crowd for remarks of what he may find useful. After a short while, two such conversations catch his attention. The closer of the two - the one with what appears to be pirates and chefs prying information from one another is first. He cocks his head to listen to their bargaining, and after a short while realizes that neither seem to know much about the Bloom, and are both actively trying to pry information from one another. Likely a fruitless task, and - if he joined - would likely just be a third voice doing the same. Shortly after dismissing the group, a shout of TYRANT from a dark table in the back draws his eye.

Studying the back table, Tolliver can make out what appears to be a map case, which firmly grasps his full attention. He turns to the barkeep and orders a bottle of the vanilla - spice drink, which he carries as way of introduction to the pair at the table. The agitated Ketra looked to be in need of a calming drink after all.

OOC

Interested in the map case and the dark figure at the second table. He will introduce himself as a fellow hunter of the Bloom and offer to drink and share stories of recent passages.

 

[Dr Jackal]

Tharr nods toward the gardening crew in silent agreement, then unlimbers his bow and nocks an arrow. With one hand, he holds the bow and arrow, and with the other, he takes out the vial of spirit venom.

He sighs quietly and steps forward, holding the vial aloft. "I know not who you are, sir, but you will be unhanding the ektus. Then you and our parishioners will leave, and the mothryn and those others who wish not to hear shall not go with you," he tells the preacher.

He nods to the gardeners. "You may note that we are outnumbered. This is true. But I hold here spirit venom, and I assure you that this arrow will go to where it is sent. So: your flock may survive, but if you yourself wish to preach tomorrow, you will do these things as I say in this moment now. Or else your squirming potato-heart shall be burnt most unpleasantly from your chest."

 

 

[Morkskittar]

Deathblossom, Angler's Spire: Montage/Scenes

 

Atus—Base of the Spire

Park—To Be Decided

Tharr—Exploring the Garden of Memory and Sorrow

Tolliver—Bartering with a Tzelicrae and Ketra at the Aster's Scar

---

Aster's Scar—Tolliver

Tolliver, persuasive drink in hand, made his way over to the ketra and what he assumed was a tzelicrae. As they continued talking, Tolliver quickly determined that the ketra was trying to buy the chart off the tzelicrae, who was demanding a steep price: a quite absurd weight of "rare culinary flesh." The ketra was trying to talk him down, but the tzelicrae remained calm and firm, which was only agitating the ketra further.

Tolliver gracefull spun an unused chair around and sat down at the table. Both parties looked his way, the ketra's brow furrowing in annoyance. "This is a private conversation, gau; move along!" The tzelicrae said nothing, simply drumming their fingers on the chart case. Tolliver pushed the vanilla drink toward the ketra, deducing quickly that they were in more need of it and that the spider hivemind would likely not partake.

The ketra eyed the drink suspiciously, and Tolliver said that he had overheard a discussion about the Tyrant's Bloom and thought that he might join in on the conversation; maybe sshare some informationTook an Outwit + Grace + 1 for a drink bribe test to slip into the conversation: 1, 5, 5.. Warily, the ketra sniffed the drink, then scoffed. "Vanilla? A weakling's drink." He shoved the drink back at Tolliver. "You keep that swill. You got any information worth anything, gau?"

The tzelicrae then spoke. "Ssay then, would you be interessted in a chart to the Bloom? Our friend here ssayss it isss not worth my price, but you seem a disssscerning fellow."

The ketra snapped back. "We're still dealing; don't offer my chart to others."

The tzelicrae rattled in what may have been a laugh. "You have made no reassonable offer yet. Maybe our new friend here will."

 

---

Garden of Memory and Sorrow—Tharr

The preacher pauses in their administration of their next tuber, taking in the mothryn. The gardeners then come up behind Tharr, but seem content to let him do the talking, or potentially, the shooting. To Tharr's surprise, the preacher focused on one particular aspect of Tharr's threatA Sway test, based on Tharr's approach; as Tharr lacks this particular skill, just one die with no Triumph! possible. Roll: 4.. "You think I hold a simple potato in my hands? Why, you show your ignorance with each word, and your unworthiness." The ektus still remained in the grasp of the believers. "But the Bloom's children can make all worthy. Let its seed grow in you, and you shall hear its song and be able to dance to its tune." Several of the assembled crowd - those with flowers growing from their flesh - nodded in agreement.

The preacher stared at Tharr for a long moment, and then decided Tharr's threat was genuine. "The Bloom would protect me from whatever it is you think to do to me. We will go, but not for you." The preacher nodded to those holding the ektus, who dropped him unceremoniously. The assembled them began to disperse without a word, sidling around Tharr and his bow and the gardeners with their gleaming tools, until only the ektus, the preacher, and a heavyset female ketra remained. The ketra picked up the unconscious and faintly twitching mothryn who had been stabbed with the preacher's tuber.

The preacher smirked at Tharr and the gardeners, then kicked over the wooden monument entirely. The gardeners hissed, and one clacked their shears menacingly.

Without another word, the preacher, his follower, and the unconscious mothryn began walking by the gardeners. The ektus stayed behind, still on the ground before the desecrated monument.

OOC

Giving Tharr a chance to intervene to stop them from wandering off with the mothryn victim if he feels it is appropriate, though he suspects this may result in a confrontation not so easily avoided. Otherwise, he can check out the monument, the ektus victim, or the gardeners.

 

---

 

The Spire's Base—Atus

The gau listens attentively to Atus' wordsThis requires a Sway test. As Atus does not have this particular skill, one die is normally rolled and a Triumph! is not possible. However, due to the advantage of name-dropping the Firefly, two dice are rolled. Result: 6, 6. Alas, a true Triumph! is not possible, but this is as close as Atus could have gotten!, unimpressed, until they hear the word 'Firefly.' "You defeated something the Firefly couldno't? They're with the Fellowship, not the Deathblossom; your words would not impress anyone here; might make most of 'em hostile, even. There's some bad blood between their captain and many of the Deathblossom hunters. Me, however, I know their harpooner; Kashi. We sailed together for a time, 'til he left. Terrible allergies; the pollen of our prey did a terrible number on him. Nearly killed him. Decided to chase fur instead of vine." The gau shook her head sadly, readjusting her spray-gun. "You've got no proof of your tale though, but no one would throw about the Firefly's name with no cause to back it up."

The gau eyed Atus. "Tell you what. I'll let you pass here on account of our mutual friends, but that's all." The fungoid pranced to a lever and yanked it, and the door swung open inward, forcing Atus to step back. "Go on up, then."

Atus did not hesitate, and passed the gau. The door gently swung shut behind him with dull thud, and he ascended the winding steps to the base of the actual tower itself. The tempest now stood on a stone platform as high as was possible without being in the tower itself. Pathways from each of the four districts all ended at this empty platform. There was no guard at the base of the tower, but there was a thick door. Atus pushed the door open and peered into a large room. A spiral stair wound its way upward on the edges of the circular room, and in the middle of the room was a pile of what Atus determined must be hunting trophies; both preserved and rotting specimens, or parts thereof, of rotting beasts, insects, serpents, and fanged blooms were piled on the floor. A massive lever was set into the floor near the far wall, and a sleeping mothryn was slumped against said wall.

The ceiling to this room was quite high up, but Atus could see a wooden trapdoor at the top of the stairs. He made the climb to said door, and gave it a push. It did not budge, no matter what he did. Atus felt a tingling sensation; the storm was approaching more rapidly than before. There was not much time left.

Dajel's Approach: [X]-[ ]-[ ]

OOC

There was a twist to Atus' success, but it has not yet become apparent. ;)

[Dr Jackal]

Tharr shakes his head, and his antennae dance and weave, darting angrily toward the preacher. The mothryn's words, however, are quiet. "Sir, the deal I offered was that the mothryn remain," he says. "You may retrieve his potato, if you wish and if its removal will not cause him irreparable harm. If these conditions are unacceptable, then I am afraid we are destined to have great difficulties between us."

He shakes his head and sighs. "If it's ka it'll come like a wind, and your plans will stand before it no more than a barn before a cyclone," he says. It's unclear whether he's speaking to the preacher or to himself.

 

OOC: Burning a Whisper for a twist. The preacher is willing to consider taking the potato back.