Dima is on the road to Awich. It's early evening and everything seems peaceful. The stars are just beginning to appear overhead. Awich is to the North-East, about two days' walk from him. He notices a sudden stirring in the heretofore-still-bushes behind him, finds that there is a bush moving behind him.
Speaking to the bushes, moving away from the bushes: “Is this a game to you."
When he turns to look back after his unhasty retreat, he'll see shrubs and bushes lining the path; everything is still and quiet once more.
Dima is displeased by this. He asked a question thank you very much.
He scans the bushes. Scans the trees. And, you know what. he's just going to stay where he is for the moment. Hand brushing against his dagger. Listening, listening. And he'll try one more speaking gambit: “If it's money you're after, you'll find it's simpler to ask. I'm in no mood for games."
While he's at it, he’s just going to add in Undercommon, “Fucking noxious prick."
[ q: while dima's looking around, 1) is there anything he knows about this particular path/patch of the trail? news he might have heard? 2) is there any strangeness of sound or silence?
SURV: 13 PERC: 4]
He would know this stretch of road is barely carved out of greater wilderness; however, although many creatures inhabit the area, the ones that live near humanoid-trafficked areas tend to be little more than nuisances. He would also know many travelers have sustained strange slashed wounds, but have all been reluctant to talk about what happened.
Perception-wise, he sees bushes and shrubs.
As Dima stands there, wary (?) and inspecting the treeline, one of the shrubs rustles, its branches beginning to tremble as if jostled by some animal. The shrub uproots itself and moves toward Dima, lashing out with its branches.
Dima casts Chill Touch on the offending buSH. Dima somehow crits the hit on the shrub for 12 damage.
The shrub turns brittle and motionless as though in the dead of winter; its leaves shrivel and shed, and it falls sort of...sideways.
Clearly, he has killed this plant. Well done Dima, Bush Slayer.
Dima would like to inspect the plantly remains and see if he can tell anYthing about the magic animating it? Or rather if there is any trace to tell by?
[ARC: 8]
As far as he can tell, there's nothing interesting about the shrub, and in fact he has no proof he didn't imagine the entire encounter.
Dima kicks the bush's remains. Frozen as it is, it breaks down further into brittle pieces. Like he dunked it in liquid nitrogen and smashed it.
[ …q: can dima scoop up some of the remains in a vial. keep it for later? or for ditching if he gets tired of looking at it ofc ]
It's pretty easy to bottle up. Dima now has a trophy of his first kill of the adventure.
[PERC: 11]
Dima isn't sure, but upon giving a perfunctory glance around the area, it seems as though there are fewer shrubs than before. Almost as though - if there were more - upon perceiving the gruesome death of their comrade, a lot of plants noped the fuck out.
Dima takes this as a sign that he has done his job well and given the shrubs an apt fright!
He nods to himself. gives the bush's meager remains a final stomp. And says not super quietly, "Yes, we'll SEE if you try that again."
Then quieter, to himself, "Godsdamned shrubs. As if any SHRUB were equal to a Voronin.”
Prelude: Ill-Natured Shrubbery
Speaking to the bushes, moving away from the bushes: “Is this a game to you."
When he turns to look back after his unhasty retreat, he'll see shrubs and bushes lining the path; everything is still and quiet once more.
Dima is displeased by this. He asked a question thank you very much.
He scans the bushes. Scans the trees. And, you know what. he's just going to stay where he is for the moment. Hand brushing against his dagger. Listening, listening. And he'll try one more speaking gambit: “If it's money you're after, you'll find it's simpler to ask. I'm in no mood for games."
While he's at it, he’s just going to add in Undercommon, “Fucking noxious prick."
[ q: while dima's looking around, 1) is there anything he knows about this particular path/patch of the trail? news he might have heard? 2) is there any strangeness of sound or silence?
SURV: 13 PERC: 4]
He would know this stretch of road is barely carved out of greater wilderness; however, although many creatures inhabit the area, the ones that live near humanoid-trafficked areas tend to be little more than nuisances. He would also know many travelers have sustained strange slashed wounds, but have all been reluctant to talk about what happened.
Perception-wise, he sees bushes and shrubs.
As Dima stands there, wary (?) and inspecting the treeline, one of the shrubs rustles, its branches beginning to tremble as if jostled by some animal. The shrub uproots itself and moves toward Dima, lashing out with its branches.
Dima casts Chill Touch on the offending buSH. Dima somehow crits the hit on the shrub for 12 damage.
The shrub turns brittle and motionless as though in the dead of winter; its leaves shrivel and shed, and it falls sort of...sideways.
Clearly, he has killed this plant. Well done Dima, Bush Slayer.
Dima would like to inspect the plantly remains and see if he can tell anYthing about the magic animating it? Or rather if there is any trace to tell by?
[ARC: 8]
As far as he can tell, there's nothing interesting about the shrub, and in fact he has no proof he didn't imagine the entire encounter.
Dima kicks the bush's remains. Frozen as it is, it breaks down further into brittle pieces. Like he dunked it in liquid nitrogen and smashed it.
[ …q: can dima scoop up some of the remains in a vial. keep it for later? or for ditching if he gets tired of looking at it ofc ]
It's pretty easy to bottle up. Dima now has a trophy of his first kill of the adventure.
[PERC: 11]
Dima isn't sure, but upon giving a perfunctory glance around the area, it seems as though there are fewer shrubs than before. Almost as though - if there were more - upon perceiving the gruesome death of their comrade, a lot of plants noped the fuck out.
Dima takes this as a sign that he has done his job well and given the shrubs an apt fright!
He nods to himself. gives the bush's meager remains a final stomp. And says not super quietly, "Yes, we'll SEE if you try that again."
Then quieter, to himself, "Godsdamned shrubs. As if any SHRUB were equal to a Voronin.”