To Scorn the Gods- Episode 5-2: Dark Nature

(11:02:26 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The three leave the church, and the village, and begin heading to the west... Fortunately, it seems the undead haven't gone out this far, so there aren't any encounters along the way. The first day passes, and the trees can be barely seen in the distance at the beginning of the second... Finally, they approach the looming forest as sunset approaches the second day.
(11:04:41 PM) Aelitethe: "Sunset on the second day, we're here? That's not very promising. It'll take about the same time to get BACK to the church from here, provided we can even get to the plant in time..."
(11:05:53 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Finding the cave might not be easy... You only have three days to search at the greatest degree of optimism possible.
(11:06:19 PM) Aelitethe: "Argh... At most, we only have three days to spare..."
(11:09:18 PM) Aelitethe: "...Do you have any bright ideas on where to start? I'm not honestly sure where the blasted place is..."
(11:10:06 PM) Ulyssa: "...well, if it's a cave, it's probably near a...rocky spot in here, right? It's not a hole, I think..."
(11:10:46 PM) Aelitethe: "Then, we should go in and try to find some sort of rocky clearing or area."
(11:12:18 PM) Ulyssa: "Right. ...let's be careful..." ONWARD.
(11:14:19 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Merely an hour after entering the forest, it's dark. The problem comes of what to do for sleep... If a fire is lit, it's not unlikely that one of the elves will see it. If not, wild creatures could wander across... Decisions, decisions.
(11:14:42 PM) Aelitethe: "This is kind of dangerous..."
(11:15:17 PM) Ulyssa: "I'm here, you'll be fine...but...how can anyone see in this..."
(11:15:39 PM) Aelitethe: "The elves have excellent eyesight."
(11:16:27 PM) Aelitethe: "If we were to light a small fire, we might get caught. But... This darkness."
(11:17:49 PM) Aelitethe: "Argh..."
(11:18:13 PM) Aelitethe: "Not sure what to do right now."
(11:20:19 PM) Ulyssa: "...I...if we can't see anything, we'll never find the cave in time. We're gonna need lights."
(11:21:02 PM) ***Aelitethe sighs.
(11:21:06 PM) Aelitethe: "Okay."
(11:21:23 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe decides to cast Dancing Lights.
(11:23:56 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: As Aelitethe dares to risk her magic, the area around her lights up. She can actually see rather far, all things considered! Not more than sixty feet, but it's certainly something, especially in the forest. She might want to move quickly. If the lights are seen from a distance and she doesn't let them be examined, she could be mistaken for a wisp...
(11:26:52 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...After a few more hours of wandering, there's no real progress. Getting a bit tired...
(11:26:55 PM) Aelitethe: "Hurry, Ulyssa, we must go and find the cave."
(11:27:21 PM) ***Ulyssa nods, and moves onward. Hunting! For caves!
(11:30:49 PM) Aelitethe: "..."
(11:32:00 PM) Ulyssa: "...I...we...should probably sleep soon..." Blargh. The time, it's dying.
(11:34:30 PM) Aelitethe: "..."
(11:35:13 PM) Ulyssa: "...just tell me when you're ready to rest..." HUNTING MORE.
(11:37:46 PM) Aelitethe: "I'll only rest when I know we're nearby... Grr..."
(11:39:10 PM) Ulyssa: "...Don't push yourself too hard, alright?" ONWARD.
(11:40:06 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: More hours pass, on through midnight. Hopefully they've been traveling in a relatively straight line, because finding the way back out otherwise would be very difficult...
(11:41:58 PM) Aelitethe: "..."
(11:42:03 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...The fatigue presses more and more strongly.
(11:42:03 PM) Aelitethe: "This is useless."
(11:42:26 PM) Ulyssa: "...Should we turn in for the night, then?"
(11:43:13 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: This would be much easier if you possessed a map that included details of the forests, but cartography isn't a preferred elven profession, and it'd be difficult for outsiders to get the maps anyway.
(11:43:50 PM) Aelitethe: "It's too dark and we'll just get lost, so we probably should..."
(11:45:47 PM) Ulyssa: "Alright then, time to set up camp..."
(11:46:10 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Thus comes the conundrum once more: Fire, or darkness?
(11:47:27 PM) Ulyssa: Everything that doesn't involve fire is done first, naturally. "...to go without, or to go with..."
(11:47:46 PM) Aelitethe: "Would you rather we get caught or we get eviscerated by wild beasts?"
(11:50:19 PM) ***Aelitethe sighs, clearly distressed.
(11:51:22 PM) Ulyssa: "....hmmm...." It's THINKING TIME. "If we're caught, and it ends in fighting, perhaps we could ask one? They might not listen...they probably won't...but it could be worth a shot, right?"
(11:52:08 PM) Ulyssa: "If it is, we should have light. If it's not, at least the beasts can't send more beasts after us. Or, at least it isn't as likely."
(11:52:21 PM) Aelitethe: "...Hmm..."
(11:52:27 PM) Ulyssa: "...It's also kinda hard to fight in the dark, though, so..."
(11:52:42 PM) Aelitethe: "We should probably take our chances with the fire."
(11:53:25 PM) Ulyssa: "Alright, then." A fire is lit, once she's done with the rest!
(11:54:52 PM) Ulyssa: ...She's sure not to set the forest on fire with it, of course!
(11:58:33 PM) ***Aelitethe sighs.
(11:58:42 PM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...You are able to get in a short rest before the light of dawn arrives, and the sounds of day come. You're still a bit tired, but at least you weren't killed in your sleep, and it's better than it was.
(11:59:26 PM) ***Ulyssa could barely sleep, knowing what could happen. Still did though. WAKIN UP.
(5/18/2012 12:00:50 AM) Aelitethe: "..."
(12:00:57 AM) Aelitethe: "Well, we're still alive. That's something."
(12:01:34 AM) Ulyssa: "...true. The less time we spend in here, the better." PACKIN UP.
(12:02:05 AM) ***Aelitethe tries to help Ulyssa with it :<
(12:03:22 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Once packed, you're ready to go! ...But to search for the cave, or the exit to the forest? ...Fortunately, regardless of the decision, Ulyssa at least knows the way they came! She could probably even follow their own tracks back!
(12:03:53 AM) Aelitethe: "Should we continue this way for our search?"
(12:07:19 AM) Aelitethe: "Or do you want to retrace our steps?"
(12:07:45 AM) ***Ulyssa ponders if she could simply write the way back, or if she doesn't quite know how THAT much.
(12:08:28 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Actually, she thought to map the way the first time around! She's pretty much as set as she could be
(12:09:06 AM) Ulyssa: Of course she did! "I'm fine. Let's keep going!"
(12:09:12 AM) Aelitethe: "Right-o."
(12:09:30 AM) Aelitethe: And so, Aelitethe decides to continue the search.
(12:09:41 AM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa helps, of course!
(12:09:47 AM) Ulyssa: And maps, too. Obviously.
(12:11:17 AM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(12:11:35 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...There's a few more hours of fruitless searching, but, around noon, you finally find it! Some rocks, and then... A cave!
(12:11:51 AM) ***Aelitethe gasps.
(12:11:56 AM) Aelitethe: "CAVE."
(12:12:42 AM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(12:13:09 AM) Ulyssa: "W-we should still be careful." And she is! But...yeah no crap she's going to that cave.
(12:13:22 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe attempts to shuffle about and search for the flower she needs...
(12:14:40 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Once inside the cave, you find the flower easily enough! ...But then you hear something...
(12:14:52 AM) Aelitethe: "Flower!"
(12:14:57 AM) Aelitethe: But wait. What was that noise? D:
(12:17:24 AM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa attempts to find out!
(12:26:28 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...You see a group of small , vaguely humanoid but very blue and very ugly creatures, and three man-sized spiders inside the cave. ...You also hear noises approaching behind you, and when you turn, see a few more of the creatures, and one more spider!
(12:26:53 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe recognizes the creatures as mites... Weak but very foul-tempered fey
(12:27:47 AM) Aelitethe: "W-w-w-what...! So many...!"
(12:28:41 AM) Ulyssa: Surrounded. Lovely. SWORDS DRAWN. "I...it's too late to turn back now!"
(12:31:08 AM) Aelitethe: "Kill the spiders first!"
(12:32:06 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe has a chance to do something before the danger is too close!
(12:32:19 AM) Ulyssa: "Got it!"
(12:33:10 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...In fact, perhaps she might want to hide! There's a nice closed off spot she should be able to get to out of the way...
(12:33:33 AM) Aelitethe: "I'm gonna hide somewhere, okay? I don't think it'd be too safe for me to stay out here. I'll pop out to heal you if you need it, okay? D:"
(12:33:58 AM) Ulyssa: "A-alright!" SHE...CAN TOTALLY DO THIS!
(12:34:11 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe attempts to run off to the closed off spot AND HIDE.
(12:34:59 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: She's not invisible, and it'd have been hard for her to not be seen going there, but she's out of the way and mites don't tend to deal with what isn't right in front of them. She should be okay!
(12:35:39 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa can't help feeling very very outnumbered, but that certainly won't stop her from fighting, will it?!
(12:36:13 AM) Ulyssa: Sure as hell won't! The spiders meet her steel! ALL OF HER STEEL! Or is it iron? WHATEVER IT IS, ATTACKING!
(12:39:12 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa is able to slash one of the spiders with her cutlass! It isn't a deadly blow, but it definitely hurt!
(12:44:30 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa is able to avoid as a few of the mites and the wounded spider counterattack! ...She swears she just barely felt something brush her ankle... But there's no blood, so oh well!
(12:45:22 AM) Ulyssa: "A-ah!" Swarmed like this, here...not greatest feeling!
(12:46:09 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: One mite from the back does slip by and go at Aelitethe, stabbing her in the shin! Another two attack Belle, one just barely nicking her.
(12:46:19 AM) Aelitethe: "Kyaa!"
(12:52:20 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Belle closes her eyes, one hand on her chest, and suddenly a bright light shines around her! She drops on all fours, and you see something you never would have expected...  She's now a winged wolf. Her fur is mostly golden, but her paws are black, as is her muzzle and the tip of her tail. The feathers on her wings are black as well, but gold lines the outer edge, points radiating out over the feathers.
(12:54:04 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: She moves almost in a blur as she spins. Two of the mites still near her are able to back away, but the last is snatched up in her powerful jaws! She shakes her head from side to side, tearing it apart and tossing it to the side like a used doll.
(12:55:13 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Aelitethe! Outside of staring in awe at this beautiful and surprising transformation, what are you doing?
(12:56:17 AM) ***Aelitethe is visibly annoyed at the mite that stabbed her, deciding to bash the mite in with her quarterstaff. "Away with you! >.<"
(12:57:21 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The mite is squashed like the bug its name calls to mind. Quite effortlessly!
(12:57:46 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa is obviously trying not to die, but that's a little hard with SUDDENLY, WOLF! Still, she has to try somehow!
(12:58:43 AM) Ulyssa: ...?! That's...well....TALKING ABOUT THIS LATER. For now let's just try to finish off that spider! And maybe get a mite with a smaller weapon.
(1:04:25 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The mite doesn't even so much cut in half as squish apart. The spider, however, lets out a shriek as it dies!
(1:07:48 AM) Genshuku [~Genshuku@Rizon-3227C6A1.hsd1.il.comcast.net] entered the room.
(1:09:04 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Ulyssa dodges the onslaught of the spider! She just takes a dagger to the ankle for her troubles. Annoying little buggers.
(1:09:21 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle is slightly less lucky, and lets out a howl as the spider injects its venom into her
(1:10:35 AM) Ulyssa left the room (quit: Ping timeout: 240 seconds).
(1:12:07 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: In retaliation, she bites deeply into it! She spins around and tosses it all the way across the cave, her wing catching one of the mites and doing much the same to it!
(1:12:09 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: AELITETHE!
(1:12:15 AM) Genshuku is now known as Ulyssa
(1:14:48 AM) ***Aelitethe leaps out of hiding and angrily hits another mite with her quarterstaff. "Leave us alone!!"
(1:14:58 AM) Aelitethe: >:<
(1:23:50 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: AELITETHE CRUSH PUNY MITE
(1:23:56 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Yeah, it's gone
(1:24:08 AM) Aelitethe: >:<
(1:24:14 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ULYSSA! You still have about five mites and two spiders around you!
(1:24:45 AM) Ulyssa: This is problematic! Spiders are dangerous. THE CLOSEST ONE IS DEAD. COMPLETELY. Hopefully.
(1:28:53 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Closest? Which one is- Screw it, she'll just CUT THEM BOTH IN HALF RIGHT NOW! And so she does. She and the others effortlessly mop up the remaining mites afterward
(1:29:09 AM) Aelitethe: ... "And take that! AND THAT!"
(1:30:11 AM) Ulyssa: stab stab stab stab slash slash slash slash
(1:30:15 AM) Ulyssa: SLASH
(1:30:22 AM) Aelitethe: BASH
(1:30:58 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: BITE SPIN WINGSLAM AROOOOOOOO
(1:31:03 AM) ***Aelitethe checks her person for the flower.
(1:31:37 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The flower is unharmed! ...It's a little bloody after that battle, but boiling it should help with that.
(1:32:00 AM) Aelitethe: "...Well, I can fix that. We should hurry and return to the church so I can make the medicine for the girl."
(1:33:20 AM) Ulyssa: "...whew..." DID they get the flower in the meantime? She's completely forgotten! ...But it's there, yay! "Right!" ONWARDS.
(1:35:39 AM) Aelitethe: YES. ONWARDS.
(1:37:12 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...This is a pretty good map Ulyssa made! She could probably sell it once she got back to the capital. ...You know, to someone stupid enough to enter the elven forest.
(1:37:31 AM) Ulyssa: There's someone!
(1:39:33 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: The three make progress back outside... Actually quite a bit more quickly than they went in! ...However, they aren't quite out yet, when they hear something... A voice! "Ka'len? What is it? Is something wrong?"
(1:40:22 AM) ***Ulyssa casts a worried look to Aelitethe. OH BOY OH GEE. NOT SAYING A WORD HERE.
(1:41:20 AM) Aelitethe: "...Um..."
(1:42:48 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...You sense someone? ...Intruders..." You can actually hear the low growl of a wolf next to the voice.
(1:43:00 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...Footsteps, approaching closer
(1:43:10 AM) ***Aelitethe whispers. "They found us?"
(1:44:11 AM) Ulyssa: Nod nod, whisper. "Either get caught or run."
(1:44:54 AM) ***Aelitethe responds in a whisper. "They might chase us!"
(1:46:10 AM) Aelitethe: "Should we make a break for it?"
(1:46:12 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Closer...
(1:46:44 AM) Ulyssa: Whisper. "...Yes. If they see you, it won't be good to stay put."
(1:47:03 AM) Aelitethe: Mutter-whisper. "Let's get out of here, quick!"
(1:47:42 AM) ***Ulyssa gets out of here. Quick.
(1:47:51 AM) Ulyssa: Or at least, you know, attempts.
(1:47:56 AM) ***Aelitethe follows Ulyssa >x<
(1:48:40 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...As soon as you start running, the footsteps quicken. If you look back, you'll see a silver-haired elven woman, and a wolf, both rapidly closing on your position. Especially the wolf. "Stop!"
(1:49:35 AM) Aelitethe: "Eek! What do we do?!"
(1:51:05 AM) ***Aelitethe trips over.
(1:51:20 AM) ***Aelitethe doesn't land on the ground though, but rather stumbles.
(1:51:24 AM) Aelitethe: >_<
(1:51:56 AM) Ulyssa: "G-Give us a good reason to stop!" STILL RUNNING. RUN AND REASON. NOT THE KIND OF R&R SHE WANTS RIGHT NOW.
(1:52:47 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...The wolf closes the gap between Ulyssa can even turn around to help Aelitethe. It hovers over her threateningly, but makes no move to attack. The elf catches up quickly too. ...And mutters something before gesturing at Ulyssa. Roots come out of the ground and wrap around her legs quickly, tripping her to the ground.
(1:53:18 AM) Aelitethe: "Kya..!"
(1:54:34 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...Now that I have your attention. Explain the reason you defile these grounds!"
(1:55:15 AM) Aelitethe: "We were leaving! I was just looking for medicine for a very sick friend of mine..."
(1:56:01 AM) Ulyssa: "A-ah..." ...This is not a good time to say that they just gave her a good reason. In any case, she can move her head, so she nods in the affirmative.
(1:56:04 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...Medicine? What sickness is it that you needed to retrieve it from this forest?"
(1:56:04 AM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(1:56:17 AM) XephyrEnigma [~MobileXep@Rizon-76C5DD72.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com] entered the room.
(1:56:26 AM) Aelitethe: "Scale fever."
(1:56:53 AM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(1:57:59 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...I see. I shall take your word on this... Very well." The roots around Ulyssa's ankles withdraw back into the ground. "I shall escort you to the edge of the forest. My name is Kisal."
(2:00:02 AM) Ulyssa: "I...well..my name is Ulyssa." A bit startled at the unexpected hospitality, she stands, slightly shaken by...well, everything.
(2:00:05 AM) ***Aelitethe takes a deep breath.
(2:00:08 AM) Aelitethe: "Thank you."
(2:00:46 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "...You are lucky that none of my harsher comrades found you. That would not have been good for yourself or your friend... Be warned, if you ever return to this forest, I cannot guarantee your safety. My duty only allows mercy once."
(2:01:41 AM) Aelitethe: "I'm well aware."
(2:03:06 AM) Ulyssa: "Thankfully, we shouldn't have a reason to come back..." Shiver.
(2:03:13 AM) ***Aelitethe sighs and says nothing to that.
(2:03:56 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: "So long as you know... Come. This way. I'll know if you turn away." She begins walking away, obviously expecting you to follow her
(2:04:45 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe follows Kisal.
(2:05:34 AM) ***Ulyssa follows! ...This is the right way, right?
(2:05:48 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Seems like it!
(2:07:12 AM) Ulyssa: Well, that's good! Not being lured into a death trap. No need to pray! That'd probably be a terrible idea anyway!
(2:07:39 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: ...She leads you out of the forest rather quickly, in fact! You get the feeling you shaved several hours off of your journey.
(2:08:40 AM) Aelitethe: "Thank you. We will be on our way now, and we hope that we won't intrude on sacred grounds again."
(2:09:45 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Kisal nods. "Very well. I wish your friend a fast recovery."
(2:10:00 AM) ***Ulyssa nods vigorously. Definitely not coming back here, and there's 20 reasons why. "...Thank you."
(2:10:23 AM) Aelitethe: "Come on, Ulyssa. Belle. Let's go back."
(2:12:03 AM) DEATH-INCARNATE: Belle nods.
(2:12:10 AM) ***Aelitethe petpets Belle.
(2:15:22 AM) ***Ulyssa goes back. Yay, they're alive!