"Ah, a money thing. We don't use it within our clan, so Mr Nevarish had to explain it to me on the way here from the mountains. I guess he couldn't cover everything. And I take it 'retire' doesn't mean to leave for a last, deadly battle here?"
You all make your way past the Hall of Oracles and toward one of the Biblioplex book gardens. These pockets of nature within the building are quite a refreshing sight. The smell of pleasant flowers, rich soil, and fresh cut grass fill the air. There's even some ambient bird song and insect buzzing amidst the trees, shrubs, and dense foliage, though you're not sure if that's made from actual animals or just a sonic illusion. Witherbloom students dressed in green and brown robes tend the space, trimming the hedges and watering the plants while some simply study. Another group of students appear to have set up a small picnic in this lush arboretum.
Nearby, a male orcish student with pale green skin, brown hair, thick glasses, and pronounced tusks dressed in a Witherbloom uniform is seated next to a series of various potted plants. A wooden arch spanning above him, seemingly made from woven-together branches and vines, spells out the words "Fantastical Horticulture Society," and a message spelled out in dark flowers just beneath it reads, "Apply today!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Robin steps into the lush arboretum and looks around. "Now, some of these beds are not what they appear..." She comments as she starts to look around. She moves among the plants and shrubs, looking for something different, that is not what it appears. "Do you think some of the plants are fake?" She asks her companions as she mvoes among the plants.
To Canon: "Nah. Some of the city-folk who come across the village and stay for a while talk about it. Basically you stop working and live off what you earned your entire life. But that's a looooong way away, so I don't think about it that much."
Jedavii gasps as he walks through the book gardens. "It's almost like home again. Our village is a small lil' place, tucked in the woods, so this is nice. Feels cozy!"
"Do you think some of the plants are fake?" She asks her companions as she mvoes among the plants.
"Only one way to find out, I guess! The clue list said to pat them, so..." He reaches down, giving one leafy plant a gentle stroking as one would pet a dog or cat.
He touches a few other plants, and runs his finger through the earthy soil. They reach the arch, where the gith speaks to the orcish student: "Hi! We're taking a tour of the place, doing a scavenger hunt and stuff. I'm Jedavii, who're you?" He gestures to the arch and the flowery message. "Your work looks pretty great!"
Robin, your investigation proves fruitful: While investigating the greenery, you find that some of these shrubs possess more life than others - they are awakened! Both Robin and Jedavii pat a shrub on their heads wreathed with crowns of leafy foliage, somewhat by accident, and the shrubs look up at them with their "eyes" that are no more than small holes in their bark. A wrinkle in the wood stretches to form a mouth.
"Ya-ha-ha, you found me!" They say with chirpy little voices. The leaves on their head part, revealing small plush toys within them. Jedavii's shrub appears to have revealed a Fractal Mascot doll, while Robin's has revealed a Spirit Statue Mascot doll. These are cuddly Strixhaven mascots. The shrubs chirp some more. "Take your prize! Take your prize!"
The orc looks over to Jedavii and gives a solemn nod. "You have my thanks, Jedavii. I am Urzmaktok Grojsh. Many of your fellow first years have come through here seeking the shrubs - it seems you've found them. Excellent work, reminds me of my orientation scavenger hunt last year..."He says in a somewhat gritty tenor voice. He turns his attention to the whole group. "Be sure to each pat the head of a shrub, now. They seem to have an uncanny ability to know which College one is interested in going into. Will wonders never cease? Oh, perchance, are any of you interested in joining the Fantastical Horticulture Society?"
"Nice." Robin says with a smile at the awakened plant. She gives it another pat as she pulls out the little doll. She smiles as she moves back to join the others. "See what it gave me?" She asks them, holding up the plush doll.
It appears to be a plushy representation of a marble statue. Parts of the statue appear to be cracked, but are filled in with shimmering fabric as if magical energy was holding the statue together. The subject of the statue appears to be a smiling female human in draped robes and a crown of flowers holding what appear to be stone tablets. This is clearly meant to represent a spirit statue, a common sight on the Lorehold campus.
Robin smiles as she shows it to the others, hugging the statue close. "This is the best day." She says as she grins at the others. "Do you othres want to find a plant, or are we ready to head out to the gallary?" She will help anyone as they look for more awakened plants, or even do the search herself if someone wants her to find them one instead.
Marius walks through the garden in search of his own shrub, his sharp elven eyes scanning for the subtle differences that would mark an awakened plant.
Jedavii's fractal mascot appears to be a greenish-yellow fox, made of patterns of glass-like fractals shaped into an origami-like pattern.
He nearly squeals with glee as he holds it, and immediately sticks it to his shoulder, where it sits, nuzzling his cheek whenever he turns his head that way. "He's so cute~"
Taking a moment to settle in with his new friend, he returns his gaze to the orc. "Urz... mak-tok? Yeah. Urzmaktok. What sort of stuff does the society do? Probably a lot of stuff to do with the gardens here? It looks really important but I'm not too good at plants - I asked my Auntie Petals if I had a green thumb and she said it's about as green as my actual thumb." He gives a thumb up, showing his skin, which at the thumb is more yellowish than greenish.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Canon approaches the shrubs cautiously—in the northern mountains, a plant that moves on its own is likely to turn out to be a needle blight—but seeing the others unharmed he looks around for another of the creatures.
[Inverigation 15]
He’s at a loss, though, until Robin points out a few likely specimens…
No investigation checks necessary - once the shrubs are pointed out, it's easy to find them. They let out laughs as you pat their heads, and their leafy crowns open up to reveal more cuddly Strixhaven mascots. Both Karrion and Marius find two small inkling plushies, complete with glowing purple eyes and adorable, mischievous grins.
"Oh, trust me, I know a thing or two about green thumbs,"Urzmaktok smiles, setting down the book he was reading and giving Jedavii a thumbs up. "Anyway, we at the Horticulture Club utilize a blend of magic and gardening to cultivate new strains of magical plants, typically for use in potions and brews or to plant them elsewhere on campus. As you can guess, we've recruited quite a few prospective Witherbloom students, but every now and then we get a few folks from Quandrix and the odd Lorehold, Silverquill, or Prismari aspirants. We'll accept anyone from veteran gardeners to amateur planters. There is so much to learn from the plants around campus, though they're often overlooked. So... what do you think, would you like to join? Or any of your friends, maybe?"
Jedavii sighs, shaking his head. He sits down and continues to pet the plant. "Sorry. I like plants, but I don't think I'd be that good working with them. Best to leave it to you and the other students; the gardens'll probably look better for it!"
"I'll definitely come to visit the gardens." Robin says as she pats another awakened plant. "Not going to join the club though, I an not so interested in plants as all of that." She shrugs apologetically. "I love to look at them, and enjoy being around them, but tending and growing them, not so much."
"I would join, but if I did, I wouldn't have time to sleep," Marius says with a rueful smile, affixing the inkling plushie to his shoulder. "There's just too many things that look interesting."
Canon lifts the plushie at arm's length. "I… don't understand what this is, or what purpose it serves, but… I will protect him with my life." He brings the mascot closer and says fondly to it, "I think I will call you… Clyde," before tucking it gently into a loop on his belt.
Looking up he becomes aware of Urzmaktok's hopeful look. "Oh, sorry, I don't think plants are," he glances sceptically at the shrubs, "for me."
"Do we want to head on to the gallery now?" Robin asked the others, giving a smile and curtsy to the plant club person. "We have but one more clue to finish, then we are all done. Will you excuse us so we can finish up?"
Hark, distracted and scattered slightly more than usual, realizes the party is about to move on. "Ah, a moment, please!"
He then begins to give a variety of shrubs a light pat on the head, hoping that he too will become the beneficiary of a Strixhaven mascot. "I must admit, this is rather intriguing. Ah, the suspense!"
Hark pats the head of a shrub, and the fronds on its crown open up to reveal another mascot, this one in the form of a Fractal mascot, complete with shimmery green-blue fur in the shape of the same hard light structures that make up the real fractal mascots of Quandrix college. With that, all of you now have a cuddly Strixhaven mascot!
(OOC: Be sure to add these to your inventories on your character sheets!)
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“I think they paid someone to make a portrait of them, and the painting got hung in the gallery. That’s a commission, I think.” Jedavii replies.
"Ah, a money thing. We don't use it within our clan, so Mr Nevarish had to explain it to me on the way here from the mountains. I guess he couldn't cover everything. And I take it 'retire' doesn't mean to leave for a last, deadly battle here?"
You all make your way past the Hall of Oracles and toward one of the Biblioplex book gardens. These pockets of nature within the building are quite a refreshing sight. The smell of pleasant flowers, rich soil, and fresh cut grass fill the air. There's even some ambient bird song and insect buzzing amidst the trees, shrubs, and dense foliage, though you're not sure if that's made from actual animals or just a sonic illusion. Witherbloom students dressed in green and brown robes tend the space, trimming the hedges and watering the plants while some simply study. Another group of students appear to have set up a small picnic in this lush arboretum.
Nearby, a male orcish student with pale green skin, brown hair, thick glasses, and pronounced tusks dressed in a Witherbloom uniform is seated next to a series of various potted plants. A wooden arch spanning above him, seemingly made from woven-together branches and vines, spells out the words "Fantastical Horticulture Society," and a message spelled out in dark flowers just beneath it reads, "Apply today!"
Robin steps into the lush arboretum and looks around. "Now, some of these beds are not what they appear..." She comments as she starts to look around. She moves among the plants and shrubs, looking for something different, that is not what it appears. "Do you think some of the plants are fake?" She asks her companions as she mvoes among the plants.
Investigation: 10 (Passive is 18 though.)
To Canon: "Nah. Some of the city-folk who come across the village and stay for a while talk about it. Basically you stop working and live off what you earned your entire life. But that's a looooong way away, so I don't think about it that much."
Jedavii gasps as he walks through the book gardens. "It's almost like home again. Our village is a small lil' place, tucked in the woods, so this is nice. Feels cozy!"
"Only one way to find out, I guess! The clue list said to pat them, so..." He reaches down, giving one leafy plant a gentle stroking as one would pet a dog or cat.
He touches a few other plants, and runs his finger through the earthy soil. They reach the arch, where the gith speaks to the orcish student: "Hi! We're taking a tour of the place, doing a scavenger hunt and stuff. I'm Jedavii, who're you?" He gestures to the arch and the flowery message. "Your work looks pretty great!"
Robin, your investigation proves fruitful: While investigating the greenery, you find that some of these shrubs possess more life than others - they are awakened! Both Robin and Jedavii pat a shrub on their heads wreathed with crowns of leafy foliage, somewhat by accident, and the shrubs look up at them with their "eyes" that are no more than small holes in their bark. A wrinkle in the wood stretches to form a mouth.
"Ya-ha-ha, you found me!" They say with chirpy little voices. The leaves on their head part, revealing small plush toys within them. Jedavii's shrub appears to have revealed a Fractal Mascot doll, while Robin's has revealed a Spirit Statue Mascot doll. These are cuddly Strixhaven mascots. The shrubs chirp some more. "Take your prize! Take your prize!"
The orc looks over to Jedavii and gives a solemn nod. "You have my thanks, Jedavii. I am Urzmaktok Grojsh. Many of your fellow first years have come through here seeking the shrubs - it seems you've found them. Excellent work, reminds me of my orientation scavenger hunt last year..." He says in a somewhat gritty tenor voice. He turns his attention to the whole group. "Be sure to each pat the head of a shrub, now. They seem to have an uncanny ability to know which College one is interested in going into. Will wonders never cease? Oh, perchance, are any of you interested in joining the Fantastical Horticulture Society?"
"Nice." Robin says with a smile at the awakened plant. She gives it another pat as she pulls out the little doll. She smiles as she moves back to join the others. "See what it gave me?" She asks them, holding up the plush doll.
It appears to be a plushy representation of a marble statue. Parts of the statue appear to be cracked, but are filled in with shimmering fabric as if magical energy was holding the statue together. The subject of the statue appears to be a smiling female human in draped robes and a crown of flowers holding what appear to be stone tablets. This is clearly meant to represent a spirit statue, a common sight on the Lorehold campus.
Robin smiles as she shows it to the others, hugging the statue close. "This is the best day." She says as she grins at the others. "Do you othres want to find a plant, or are we ready to head out to the gallary?" She will help anyone as they look for more awakened plants, or even do the search herself if someone wants her to find them one instead.
Investigation: 19
Marius walks through the garden in search of his own shrub, his sharp elven eyes scanning for the subtle differences that would mark an awakened plant.
Jedavii's fractal mascot appears to be a greenish-yellow fox, made of patterns of glass-like fractals shaped into an origami-like pattern.
He nearly squeals with glee as he holds it, and immediately sticks it to his shoulder, where it sits, nuzzling his cheek whenever he turns his head that way. "He's so cute~"
Taking a moment to settle in with his new friend, he returns his gaze to the orc. "Urz... mak-tok? Yeah. Urzmaktok. What sort of stuff does the society do? Probably a lot of stuff to do with the gardens here? It looks really important but I'm not too good at plants - I asked my Auntie Petals if I had a green thumb and she said it's about as green as my actual thumb." He gives a thumb up, showing his skin, which at the thumb is more yellowish than greenish.
Canon approaches the shrubs cautiously—in the northern mountains, a plant that moves on its own is likely to turn out to be a needle blight—but seeing the others unharmed he looks around for another of the creatures.
[Inverigation 15]
He’s at a loss, though, until Robin points out a few likely specimens…
[Inverigation 17]
No investigation checks necessary - once the shrubs are pointed out, it's easy to find them. They let out laughs as you pat their heads, and their leafy crowns open up to reveal more cuddly Strixhaven mascots. Both Karrion and Marius find two small inkling plushies, complete with glowing purple eyes and adorable, mischievous grins.
"Oh, trust me, I know a thing or two about green thumbs," Urzmaktok smiles, setting down the book he was reading and giving Jedavii a thumbs up. "Anyway, we at the Horticulture Club utilize a blend of magic and gardening to cultivate new strains of magical plants, typically for use in potions and brews or to plant them elsewhere on campus. As you can guess, we've recruited quite a few prospective Witherbloom students, but every now and then we get a few folks from Quandrix and the odd Lorehold, Silverquill, or Prismari aspirants. We'll accept anyone from veteran gardeners to amateur planters. There is so much to learn from the plants around campus, though they're often overlooked. So... what do you think, would you like to join? Or any of your friends, maybe?"
Jedavii sighs, shaking his head. He sits down and continues to pet the plant. "Sorry. I like plants, but I don't think I'd be that good working with them. Best to leave it to you and the other students; the gardens'll probably look better for it!"
He looks to the others.
"I'll definitely come to visit the gardens." Robin says as she pats another awakened plant. "Not going to join the club though, I an not so interested in plants as all of that." She shrugs apologetically. "I love to look at them, and enjoy being around them, but tending and growing them, not so much."
"I would join, but if I did, I wouldn't have time to sleep," Marius says with a rueful smile, affixing the inkling plushie to his shoulder. "There's just too many things that look interesting."
Canon lifts the plushie at arm's length. "I… don't understand what this is, or what purpose it serves, but… I will protect him with my life." He brings the mascot closer and says fondly to it, "I think I will call you… Clyde," before tucking it gently into a loop on his belt.
Looking up he becomes aware of Urzmaktok's hopeful look. "Oh, sorry, I don't think plants are," he glances sceptically at the shrubs, "for me."
"Do we want to head on to the gallery now?" Robin asked the others, giving a smile and curtsy to the plant club person. "We have but one more clue to finish, then we are all done. Will you excuse us so we can finish up?"
Hark, distracted and scattered slightly more than usual, realizes the party is about to move on. "Ah, a moment, please!"
He then begins to give a variety of shrubs a light pat on the head, hoping that he too will become the beneficiary of a Strixhaven mascot. "I must admit, this is rather intriguing. Ah, the suspense!"
Hark pats the head of a shrub, and the fronds on its crown open up to reveal another mascot, this one in the form of a Fractal mascot, complete with shimmery green-blue fur in the shape of the same hard light structures that make up the real fractal mascots of Quandrix college. With that, all of you now have a cuddly Strixhaven mascot!
(OOC: Be sure to add these to your inventories on your character sheets!)