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Post by Kai Rose on Feb 20, 2021 16:57:03 GMT -8
It hadn't fallen on deaf ears, the call for camp, nor had the paleness of the Oracle fallen on deaf eyes. She let them get started, noticing where Ben was squirreling himself away. Once food was out, she brought some over to him. The Polychromatic radiated chill, doing her best to help the Oracle bring himself down from whatever he'd Seen.
"How you doing, man?"
She offered the jerky and her canteen, a friendly gesture in unfriendly times.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 21, 2021 18:43:46 GMT -8
The Runnerswift looked up from his mug of campfire coffee as Rowan approached. "Should be fine. Is it a catch in a contract, or did you do something you feel bad about, and don't want to talk about it?" He winked, before watching Kai interact with the twitchy Oracle. "Nice job with the spiders and scouting. You keep good company!"
Ben took the offer of food, though he was clearly forcing himself to eat it for the sake of knowing he needed to. He took a breath and mumbled a few sounds before he rode over whatever neurological glitch had caused the sudden stutter, "Not great. Finn, Linden, and Firebringer'll take watch. They can figure out their sleep schedule." The statement was firm, despite him not having the title or rank to make that call.
Lancelot, who was clearly listening as he minded the camp equipment, exhaled quietly. For the Chatelaine, it might as well have been an annoyed snort. He looked to Buck, but waited for the Oracle to formally throw his weight around, or rely on his motley member with the impressive Mantle to say something on the matter.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Feb 21, 2021 20:10:44 GMT -8
Linden was in the middle of a set of stretches when they heard Ben speak and paused, one arm pulled tight across their chest by the other. Looking to Finn and Firebringer, they shrugged casually and let their arms drop. The man was an Oracle, there could be a reason for the declaration. And even if there wasn't, what was the harm; someone needed to do it and it might as well be them. "I'm good for that, and happy to take first, just need an idea of who to wake next." Their gaze turned to the group at large, not wanting to pressure their fellow Summers or agree on their behalf. Being told what to do, or what they would do, in this context was like the bite of a fly to them, itchy but a nonissue; they knew it wasn't that way for everyone.
Transitioning back into their stretches, they hooked an arm up and behind their own shoulderblade as they scanned the area for a good place to keep watch from.
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Finn
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Played by Swift
Posts: 139
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Post by Finn on Feb 22, 2021 13:52:35 GMT -8
Finn nods once at the assignment, then follows up with, "I'll take second watch. Give me half an hour to get some food and I'll turn in."
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Firebringer
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Elemental Ifrit, Presence 3 (Intimidating)
Posts: 634
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Post by Firebringer on Feb 22, 2021 19:16:13 GMT -8
Mmm Oracles. She knew what that crap meant. Bad things. Some people might have thought that kind of thing was a bunch of superstitious non-sense, but it's a big red flag if there is this much bother. Okay. Settling down camp. First watch.
"Sounds good." She responds, though it kind of irked her in a way. Just an immediate order. But meh. Could be worse. She is thankful for Linden speaking up first about someone to take second watch. Strategically, it is better to have that kind of thing sorted about ahead of time instead of 'figure out your own sleep schedule'... Actually. That might have been the part that pissed her off more. "Thanks, Finn. Anyone else willing, would be legit."
She begins scanning the area, looking for a good spot for her fiery butt to not give off too much unnecessary light. The struggle with being a wee torch perpetually.
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Post by Rowan on Feb 23, 2021 9:45:47 GMT -8
He kicked up some dirt with his foot. "The former. In case, you know. We need to bounce."
"That part's easy, actually. I used to be prey, so I know what to look for." Awkward pause. "Thanks. they mostly tolerate me."
He shot a glance at the She-Wolf. Despite her friendly demeanour, there was something deeply unsettling about the Knight. He wanted to go talk to her, now that Ben had officially written him off watch duty, but he didn't dare. Perhaps Autumn calling to Autumn.
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Post by Kai Rose on Feb 23, 2021 13:30:03 GMT -8
Kai considered the Oracle's Totally Not A Request a moment. She was the ranking Summer present, but when it came to Hedge Nonsense, she was inclined to trust the Autumn Courtier -- regardless of how blunt he might have been about it. "Thanks for the heads up, Ben," she said, giving a little nod. Already, Linden had volunteered for first, and Finn second. Good stuff. "I trust the Oracle's call when we're out here; this is Autumn's wheelhouse. Linden's first, Finn second. You've got third watch, Firebringer. Let the rest stay in their tents and holler if something's going down." She wasn't going to try to command a Knight of Autumn, or Artemis's Bane, but she had no difficulty giving a suggestion to them in the form of an order to the Summer Court.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 23, 2021 14:34:36 GMT -8
As everyone settled into the alcove, out of sight of any wandering manifestation, Linden takes point on what looks like a half of an office floor that jutted over the pass. It was a hop, skip and a jump back to camp with lots of hiding places and a clear view of the corridor they traversed along. There was a dull, off-black quality to the shadows, the metallic grinding of their Mantle the only sharp sound in their ears. A dull flash far, far in the distance momentarily is of interest, but after several minutes of calm, they readjusted their position. A different shimmer catches their attention, and upon closer inspection, several polyps started to sprout from the greener parts of the concrete along the Trod. The morning glory sprouted from the chromatic moss, with veins of bioluminescence bathing the world in soft, ethereal glow as insect noises come to life without the influence of the Mantle. In the distance, they could hear a soft, childish humming drifting through the thinly gathering mist and ghostly instrumentals accompanying. Comparing it from the earlier flash that reminded them more of military shelling, they appear unrelated in nature. It was a lovely sound, tugging at the Inner Fae. The Metalflesh shook it off, their connection with Acadia weak in the anchors of humanity. A small child emerges from the pool near the camp, settling on the boulder to pick the twigs from her hair. If she noticed the music, she paid no mind.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Feb 23, 2021 22:28:41 GMT -8
From their vantage point, they watched the child warily. It could be nothing more than a denizen of the Hedge minding their own business, but the proximity to the camp put their teeth on edge. It was heartbreaking, to imagine someone so young living there, and generally unsettling; on a good day Linden wasn't a huge fan of children and that was just the mundane ones. Let alone the ones that could just as easily be hobs.
But if all this one was looking for was a place to comb her hair in peace, fine. Maybe she lived there and they were the ones passing through her space. Either way, the Ogre looked her over for any overt signs of danger and tried to tune out the ethereal music.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 23, 2021 22:35:37 GMT -8
Hair placed in order, she seemed more concerned about getting herself looking respectable before she waded back into the water. Looking up, the reflection of a moon that didn't exist was caught in the surface, in which she proceeded to drag into reality.
Holding it triumphantly aloft while her bare feet balanced on the rock, she smashed the blue plate like a gong with one of the sticks. The thunder rang through the valley, and wisps began to appear.
She seemed to be heralding a procession? She was quite excited about it.
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Feb 24, 2021 22:29:52 GMT -8
As the wisps began to appear, Linden began to retreat. Quietly, they retraced their path to the camp and woke Kai as gently as they could. With a finger pressed to their own lips, they gestured from her to their own eyes, and then toward their post. Hopefully she would understand there was something they wanted her to see.
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Post by Kai Rose on Feb 24, 2021 22:53:34 GMT -8
Kai woke, her eyes snapping open as she started upright. She saw the Metalflesh's signal and found her feet, following quietly after the Ogre with her hand on their shoulder. Once they could get a line of sight on the creature, Kai looked around and put two and two together. Hedge critter was doing a summoning. A gong was ringing. This was strong enough to mess with a Trod, which meant it was pretty powerful. Whatever coming was big. Wisps were appearing, and the music was enticing...
She gestured back to the camp and tugged Linden along. Once they were on the way and out of earshot, she muttered, "Whatever that is, it's strong and we don't want to fuck with it. We've got a covered camp. Keep quiet... let's hedgespin the cave door shut and let it blow past. Pull the ivy, and I'll weave it with emotions."
Caution and fright would cover their path this night, concealing them from whatever unknown enemy this was...
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Linden
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Presence (3) Steady
Posts: 325
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Post by Linden on Feb 25, 2021 9:35:47 GMT -8
Bent down slightly to hear Kai's low voice as best they could, Linden gave a firm nod. They straightened and began to pull the ivy into groups they thought she could work with, their movements intent but not urgent. It wouldn't do to attract attention by scrabbling around and making a mess.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 25, 2021 11:11:55 GMT -8
The girl added her humming voice with the ethereal cacophony, waving the gong as the liquid moon rippled into a fading mirage. Wading back into the water, she momentarily dipped her hands, eyes watching the surface as she hauled a blade from the pool. The thorns split and retreated as it dragged and cut along the floor of the Hedge.
It was almost as big as her.
Looking down the line of the Trod, she pointed in the direction the Lost had come from, towards Las Vegas' Freehold, and the wisps started drifting like ghostly fireflies.
As the ivy slithers and coats the entrance to the camp's alcove, she fixed her baby's breath wreath upon her brow and wiped the water from her nose.
The sword bounced idly along the stone as it trailed behind her, looking back over her shoulder as a flash and thunder rolled through the maze-like valley.
The music grew louder, approaching from a distance.
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Post by Kai Rose on Feb 25, 2021 20:28:05 GMT -8
So far, so good. Kai kept a finger up to her lips and weaved the ivy further, shifting its properties on the inside from ivy to a soundproofed layer of acoustic mineral wool in the colors of the ivy. It was another subtle shift, but one that should soundproof their cave. With a bit of luck, they'd move right on past...
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