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Monkey Mischief and Herbal Pathways

Scene details

Setting: In which our heroes, departing from Rosia in search of traces of the Ankhialeans, are immediately derailed by two side quests.

Log


 For all the natural beauty about them, Ivo, hand on the tiller of the Romancing SaGa as it slowly cruises up the river, seems ambivalent. This close to the great city of Oradia, the little tropical islets that populate the river delta are neatly cultivated, fragrant orchards rich in fruit and flowers soon ready for transport to Rosia.

> BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmrwvbwgrjM

  From what the party can see from the SaGa's deck, the people who dwell and labor here seem to work hard and play hard, industrious and effective in the cooler hours and playful in the shade when the heat and humidity grow difficul to tolerate. The further out they go, the more the river branches and the more the islets become untamed or instead support independent hamlets and tribes.
 Our heroes have ventured forth from Rosia in search of the mysterious Ankhialean village, where those responsible for the attack that disrupted the Vampire Ball's preparations may have hidden themselves. But their only lead is the elaborate beadwork found for sale by Daiby and matched with a related relic in the Rosian Vanguards Association HQ. To strike out on foot (or on wing, for an elite few) would be laborious and ill-advised without more specific information. Thus did Ivo recommend that they begin with another river cruise, stopping at likely townships and asking about the beadwork for leads on where to find the Ankhialeans.
 This is the requisite "Do you know where sailors hang out?" part of the quest.
 As the tributary on which they cruise tilts eastward, deeper into the jungle, Ivo glances over his shoulder at his friends, quirking a smile, and then glances up at the canopy.
 "Piloting the SaGa is the least I can do," he quips, "since I'm the one who keeps us earthbound. Rui can turn into a bat, Reize can turn into a bird... should I ask Fabroxo to give me wings?"
 What about Daiby? Maybe she'll ride a flying serpent.
 "Or maybe becoming a better climber would be good enough."
 Ivo adds this as, while they begin to pass a peaceful little village around the river bend, he sees a cluster of monkeys nimbly scampering along the canopy, able to use entangled branches to move from one side of the river to the other, passing overhead.

Ruidosa doesn't get seasick as she leans over the edge of the boat and watches people.

She smiles and closes her eyes as Ivo mentions his desire for wings. "Wings take practice. Me and Tranquila would bump into each other a lot when we we're learning." she says. She turns around and away from the edge of the boat and walks over to Ivo.

"Climbing would be easier, but why don't you just practice to get there?" she asks. "Find someone willing to train you and practice." she says. "Mom trained us in flying." she says.

Reize Seatlan rolls 1d2.
Comment: 1 Reize is good 2 reize is loopy af
Roll(s): 2. Total result is 2.

The toughest battle for Reize yet.

  The young explorer had been dealing with the seasickness in the only way that he can: Medicine. Reize has been taking the experimental medicine. Ideally, the medicine that Ivo gave him is supposed to help deal with the sea sickness.

 

The toughest battle for Reize yet.

  The young explorer had been dealing with the seasickness in the only way that he can: Medicine. Reize has been taking the experimental medicine. Ideally, the medicine that Ivo gave him is supposed to help deal with the sea sickness.

  On one hand, Reize is handling well against the sickness. At least, he has not succumbed to fallen into the seasickness or even Sea Madness. Maybe it is attributed to the fact that they're not at the sea. At worse, Reize would just have to deal with the motion sickness while on the boat.

  There's.. just another issue.

  Reize is leaning onto Ruidosa, clinging onto her while having a goofy smile on his face. "Rui..~ Rui..~ My dependable Rui~." His senses are all over the place. This has made him a bit clingy as he murmurs, "I am strong against the water. Yepyep!" He looks over towards Ivo, "But I can't turn into a bird! I'd be flying above everyone right now to look around..!" There is a squint, "...Ivo. ...uhh... why are there two of you? ...the other you has a lot longer hair than the other."

 

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=15.
Comment: Fail: Reize is hallucinating. Success: Reize has seen beyond the veil
Roll(s): 9. Total result is 9. This is a failure (by 6).


 Short-Haired Ivo returns Rui's smile with a grin.
 "Practice is so tedious," he replies lightly, leaning into a foppish aristocrat persona that belies how dedicatedly he has studied how to wield Hauteclare. "I much prefer innovative shortcuts. Perhaps Fabroxo and I can craft a set of climbing gear and test it out in the Oradian jungle."
 Now that's a scene premise.
 "Or if I must learn, I'll accept only the best of teachers. If your mother can teach flying, can she teach climbing too?"
 As he asks his, his expression goes from playful to deadpan watching Reize try to cling to Ruidosa.
 "We've got a natural climber right here," he adds. "Should we stop at this village and see if we can find something else to alleviate the symptoms?"
 Yes. What Reize needs most of all is *another* strange herb to counter *this* strange herb. If we keep piling them on, eventually, he'll achieve his final form.
 "Reize, don't listen to him," Long-Haired Ivo says, in the secret words that only our fearless leader can hear. "I've come from the future to warn you. Do not, under any circumstances, allow anyone to climb a tree. Disaster will befall you. The waters shall consume you. Herbs shall rain from the sky. In a bad way!"

Ruidosa La Crima is clung to. She sweatdrops a little in her discussion which probably alleviates any possible attempt to kick Ivo in the shin for mentioning her mother. Good work. She looks to Reize and frowns a little. "You guys need to stop testing strange medicines on him. Maybe if the village has proper medicine shops?" she asks as she eyes the quaint little village, which probably doesn't have a proper medicine shop.

She sighs. "Well if that's how you want to learn how to climb that's your perogative, but easier climbing gear that makes anyone a natural at it would sell well in various places, most likely." she considers.

Pause. "Mph. I'd need to ask Tranquila the specifics. She knows better but she isn't here right now."



  His eyes widen at the future Ivo. A premenition?! Reize has to act on it! While he remains clinging onto his fiancee, helooks up at Ivo and Ruidosa before he shakes his head fervently, "No climbing trees! The trees bring bad fortune!" There is fear in his eyes, "the waters will consume us! You know that I can't swim! The herbs will fall from the sky! In a bad way! I don't know the bad way! But the herbs seem to spell trouble!"

  Reize looks at Ivo and Ruidosa with a resolute expression, "We need to deal with the sabotours so they can stop interrupting the ball!" Pause. "...Also maybe find out more about them. We can't let lost knowledge remain lost."

 


 "We've become quite the entrepeneurial party," Short-Haired Ivo remarks to Rui, his grin a little lopsided. "First the crab restaurant, now a line of everyday magitech. Shall we open a swimwear store while we're at it?" A sizable subset of his available crafting Schematics do seem to involve innovations in that field. "I wonder if the Oradian Vanguards would host a pop-up shop. We could give them a cut earmarked for repairs to their building."
 He really just likes their fine old building.
 "I'm sure that Fabroxo would eventually be able to--"
 He falls silent at Reize's warning. For once, Ivo is truly speechless, utterly still. Well, one of them is, anyway. Long-Haired Ivo is nodding vigorously, eyes wide.
 "Right," Short-Haired Ivo finally says. "We should find out as much about the Ankhialeans as we can." So he's just going to completely let Reize's initial words pass without comment. "That young woman who led them seemed convinced that the royal family had persecuted her tribe. I've seen so sign of such things, and barely anyone seems to know who the Ankhialeans are, but... then again, I didn't know about the Shadowguard until they attacked us. I think there's a lot about Oradia we don't know and, right or wrong, we might as well learn from as many perspectives as we can." He pauses, then looks to Ruidosa with a somewhat more subdued expression, his tone softening. "I would hope that would be helpful to one who may assume authority over these lands... though if any association with enemies of the state would compromise us somehow, we should take that seriously, too."
 Then again, if it were Ivo, maybe he'd find being branded a rebel to be freeing somehow. Well, more likely, he'd dream of that and, in reality, choose loyalty to his family over a libertine life, regretting it all the while. But now he is approaching genuine empathy for Rui and, as the dice have previously established, that's a bridge too far, for now.
 "Reize, there is only one serious consideration," Future Ivo, the *true* Ivo, says. "You must ally with the treefolk. Only this can stem the tide of nightmares. Behold, they approach you!"
 A couple curious monkeys, hooting softly, have hopped down from the canopy above onto the railing that surrounds the deck of the SaGa, curiously examining the party as their ship slowly begins to pass by the village that, yes, probably doesn't have a proper medicine shop. But hey, you never know!



  Reize carefully considers Ivo's comments about the Ankhialean tribe. He folds his arms, looking quite serious with a thoughtful look, "... Yeah. The Shadowguards." His expression sours, "...I want to kick a certain one in the face."

 



  Reize carefully considers Ivo's comments about the Ankhialean tribe. He folds his arms, looking quite serious with a thoughtful look, "... Yeah. The Shadowguards." His expression sours, "...I want to kick a certain one in the face."

  However, when Future Ivo tells him of the treefolk, Reize immediately releases his hold from Ruidosa. He approaches the edge of the Romancing SaGa to call out to the curious monkeys. "Ooooi! Treefolk! We need your help!" He waves his hands up, beckoning for them to come over.

 He is trusting 'future Ivo' in the endeavor.

 

Ruidosa takes in Reize's warning with a wide faced awe. "Reize. What the are you talking about?" she asks, swearing in spanish a moment. She then watches Reize detaches from her and goes call for the treefolk as she blinks rapidly and looks over to Ivo.

"No more herbs. Like ever again at this rate." she says curtly. "Or much less of it. This is too much!" she says, "Whatever this is, it's too much!" she says.

"We do need to chase them as for.. The Shadowguard. And all that, don't worry maybe we're on official business for now." she says bluntly. They aren't. She can pretend they are.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: Can the Short-Haired/Fake Ivo react to the treefolk in time?
Roll(s): 15. Total result is 15. This is a success (by 5).


 Ivo is nodding sagely at Ruidosa. Truly, 'Whatever this is, it's too much!' could be the slogan for the average Star Chaser adventure. He opens his mouth to say something, only for his eyes to widen slightly as he sees the little monkeys, summoned by Reize's enthusiastic call, beginning to approach their herb-enlightened leader and inspect him, curiously trying to pull on his scarf and tug on his accessories.
 "Hey! None of that, now!"
 They can't exactly interview monkeys about the Ankhialeans, and there's no need to layer a second wild goose chase atop of the one they're already on. Procuring a red elesphere from his cloak, Ivo tosses it up the deck, where it pops harmlessly but noisily like a firecracker. Some villagers from the village they are passing look up in interest from their work as the monkeys screech and scatter, for the most part leaping back to the canopy above.
 "Noooooo!" Future Ivo cries. "What have you done!? You've ruined us! Ruined us! All is lost! There is no hope! Escape, escape the water, flee your doom! Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
 He melts into a puddle, literally, in despair.



  Reize established contact with their saviors. He is oblivious of the conversation between his fiancee and Ivo. However, as the firecrackers go off and the monkeys flee, Reize gives out a despairing cry, "Nooooooo!" He immediately leaps out from the ship, splashing into the waters at the shore.

 "akdashahfaksdsajhdas i can't swim!"

  ...yeep. That is Reize. "Treefolk!---ahggnnn--waaaaaiiit!"

 

Ruidosa La Crima sulks. "God dammit can't I take a boat ride without doing this... HOLD ON~" she yells as she turns into a bat and flies down towards the water to start to try to lift Reize out of the water, after Ivo chases away the 'treefolk'. Did Reize mean the monkeys anyways? Don't they climb trees? Why trust them then!?

"Awrgh we're making a scene!" she cries as villagers look onwards as she squeaks as a bat.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: Nothing to see here! All is well!
Roll(s): 17. Total result is 17. This is a success (by 7).


 Ivo approaches the railing of the SaGa as Ruidosa, in bat form, valiantly attempts to rescue the thrashing Reize from his self-inflicted predicament. He gazes out at the onlooking villager, who seem even more interested in the bat than in the boy. The party may be close enough to Rosia that local villagers would be accustomed to the notion of wandering vampires, if not necessarily accustomed to meeting them. Perhaps they are curious about Rui the way they would be about a celebrity sighting.
 "Please do pardon the disruption, friends!" Ivo calls to the bystanders with a warm smile, attempting to project calm and confidence such that Reize's ongoing screaming might be socially overridden somehow. "Our friend here has just had a little herbal reaction."
 As one, the villagers nod knowingly to each other, murmuring 'ahhh' and 'of course,' and begin to go back to their work.
 "Should we stop here for a bit," Ivo asides to Rui, lowering his voice a bit in the hopes that she will hear him but the villagers will not take themselves to be addressed, "or just drag him back on deck and try to move on?"
 Operation Herbal Override is still an option, after all.



 Reize cannot swim. It shows as he flaps around in the water, flailing. He had tried to get away from the water, only to fall into its clutches.

 ...Reize should be thankful that he has a vampire that loves him. It is when Ruidosa reaches out in her bat form to grab him that he finally gives up. What's left of Reize is foaming in the mouth as his eyes spiral.

 ....Meaaaanwhile.

 One of the 'treefolk' manage to get in contact with Reize before! They managed to procure his bracer! They now hold one of the Ankhialean bracers. This elicts large amount of proud screeches from the monkeys on the other side. They got their treasure.

 

Ruidosa La Crima, through much endurance, manages to bring Reize back on deck. She pants as she turns back into her humanoid form with a huff and eyes Ivo. "We can rest." NO OPERATION HERBAL OVERRIDE IS NOT AN OPTION GO AWAY.

"Reize why are you like this, stop filling my fiance with strange medicines and concoctions you... you jerks!" she says as she starts to cry.

WAAAAAHHHHHHHH!


 Ivo lowers his head in compassionate sorrow as Rui begins to wail on deck, looking like a forlorn lover mourning her fallen beau, if her beau were foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. Oh, wait, actually, Ivo's just looking at the pommel of Hauteclare and fiddling with it.
 "Alright, looks like I can attune to it," he murmurs, glancing up at the monkeys hooting and hollering over their carnelian prize. "Good thing these Ankhialean relics are so strongly elementally attuned. Traces of fire aether follow those bracers like smoke." Now is not the time to try chasing down monkeys, not with Reize and Rui alike effectively out of commission for at least a while, Ivo thinks. "When the signal stops moving, we can track that bracer down."
 They ended up layering a second wild goose chase atop the first after all. But at least in this case, they'll know where they're going, which is more than can be said about the Ankhialeans' home.
 "Let's take a break in this village in the meantime, then," Ivo concludes, his tone a little more gentle as he addresses the wailing Rui directly. "I'll take a little time to show them the beadwork." It may not avail anything, and the people here may be much more interested in Rui herself, but it's worth a shot. "And I'll... try to find some proper medicine."
 Sure you don't want to try a different herb? You never know.
 "Bhbbhbhbh," says the puddle that once was Future Ivo. "Dooooo it. Dooooo it, Reize. Bhbhbhbhbhbhbhbh."

Reize Seatlan rolls 1d2.
Comment: Does Reize do a diffent herb?! Yes 1 No 2
Roll(s): 1. Total result is 1.



  This is the unfortunate thing for Ruidosa. She chose an explorer who will make many bad decisions. ... This is one of those times.

 The good thing is that they are making their way to a village in light of the fact that the monkeys made a nice get away with the bracer. Fortunately, they are easy to track thanks to Ivo's tracker.

 As for Reize? he had tried his luck with another herb. As the result, he is lying on his back, foaming in the mouth as his eyes are swirling.

 Yeah, he's pretty useless at this point until he recovers. Incompetence, hoooo!

 

Ruidosa La Crima is too busy crying to notice Reize going for another herb and by the time she notices he's already foaming at the mouth on his back and she looks to Ivo, past his looking at the Tracker as she approaches, getting to her feet, she walks over. "Let me see that." she says looking at the Tracker. "What's this...here..." she says leaning in...

She expects Ivo to lean in to see what she sees.

Regardless if this happens or not. She kicks Ivo in the shin repeatedly suddenly and hard, kick and kick and kicka!

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT! YOU STARTED IT YOU DEAL WITH HIM AND GET HIM OFF THESE CRAZY THINGS!" she demands.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: Can Ivo endure so long as the BURNHEELs are not brought to bear?
Roll(s): 11. Total result is 11. This is a success (by 1).


 Ivo looks down at the transcendent Reize and then up at the departing mob of monkeys. It figures they'd be instantly derailed on their adventures, but maybe something interesting will come of all this. And really, that's all he could ask.

* A new side quest has unlocked: "Monkey Mischief: Carnelian Crisis!"
* Reize has temporarily lost access to the Carnelian Bracers' fire-imbued attacks.

 "Hm?"
 Ivo then startles as Rui seems to suggest that there's something wrong with his aetheric sensor, leans in close--
 "Ow!"
 --and is kicked for his troubles. His shins never cease to suffer brutality. Yet as agonizing as her cruelty is, it cannot compare to the devastation inflicted when she wears the BURNHEELs. Thus, just barely, hardened by his past experiences, Ivo, gritting his teeth, manages to endure as she kicks and kicks.
 "It was-- ow-- for a good-- ow-- cause. Otherwise-- ow-- he'd be-- ow-- incapacitated with seasickness! Look, I'm sure-- ow-- the side effects will-- ow-- eventually subside."
 As the wounded Ivo tries to reason with Rui, Reize may find that the combination of herbs he has consumed seems to twist his world until, as though emerging from a darkened tunnel into the light, everything snaps into focus. Surely he is seeing reality as it *truly* is. And here, the true Ivo, who had melted into a puddle, reforms, clad in shimmering robes that glint like the water's surface. Behind him, angelic wings spread. Upon his shoulder is perched a monkey, who radiates benevolence, obviously the truest of Reize's allies.
 "Reize," the winged Ivo speaks unto him. "Reize. In your courage and perseverance, you have, as I hoped, pierced the veil of illusion that shrouds this world. You have discovered the Path of the Herb. Follow it now, in the depths of the jungle, to true enlightenment."

* A new side quest has unlocked: "The Path of the Herb."
* Warning: some side quests may lead to Bad Ends.



 One can say it is delirium. Another can attest that it's true sight. ...It's probably the former, unfortunately. Despite of their situation, the situation involving Ruidosa and Ivo are ignored as Reize can see the 'true', angelic form of Ivo.

 "...I shall seek true enlightenment! However... we must recover what is stolen! I shall need your help!" He reaches out, "I need your guidance for us to recover what was taken from us! ...Especially my vambrace!" He puffs his cheeks in annoyance. "Aid me in my journey!"

 >>> Reize is pushing forward to Monkey Mischief!

  Of course, Reize is unaware of the argument between Ruidosa and Ivo.