Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Saoirse just covers her mouth, which doesn't really make sense as a reaction to Hemlock's telepathical admonishment, but makes perfect sense for the conversation that is happening aloud. 

Anyone looking at Lam can easily see his surprise as Hemlock starts speaking into his mind- it explains the faces everyone had been making, but also raises a bunch of new questions. After a moment, he dutifully relaxes his face back into a neutral position. He nods out loud, without really thinking of what that looks like to the outside conversation. He thinks to Hemlock, “Can I tell Sha you are doing this?” but has no way to tell if his message can reach its intended target. To try to distract himself from reacting too much to Hemlock’s information, he watches Tesfaye and waits for them to answer the question he’d asked about if Esmerelda and Semmer are here now.

The meaningful looks are long enough that Sha can definitely tell there is some communication happening, although it's not immediately clear whether there's actual telepathy or just subtle body language until they recieve Hemlock's messages.. It is not silent though, as Tesfaye chatters on, oblivious to all undertones. They've knelt by Frederico, and are wholly engrossed in a secondary medical examination.

"Yeah, Esme and Semmy are both around village tree last I saw. Esmerelda talked a bit to Rhys, and I think Semmer was helping to prep lunch. Oh depths, this boy is missing a whole lung. A complete pneumonectomy, in the field! Was this accomplished by mixed magics.and surgery. Fascinating! Most practitioners are stuck with single traditions, leaving this sort of work unfeasible. The magics I've encountered on my journey already, I swear, enough to fill a whole tome! I do think my thesis work will end up being on the bardic magics innate to indigenous storytelling traditions, but just this is a case study in itself. You guys are amazing! Let's head on up to get him to.his father though, any reason I shouldn't go ahead and bring us up?"

<So you're coming to my way of thinking I guess. Can't trust anyone, least of all a powerful goody-goody pacifist like Rhys.>

"I still think that they're too trusting, and maybe they learned something from... the way I left. But I wasn't expecting to see then again, then. I don't think this will be so fun."

- Actually, it's not going to be fun for other reasons, too. So, maybe, it won't go that bad in your particular case - Saoirse replies, realizing as Tesfaye speaks that he didn't know about Federico's lung. How could they have known? The kids weren't there when they did the surgery. Her memory was playing tricks on her, surely because of the weariness of the day. Thing was, if Tesfaye didn't know about the lung, then Federico's father didn't either. And that was one particular piece of information she had hoped they wouldn't need to announce themselves.

She sighed. Well, the good thing was that the more Tesfaye keeps speaking, the more the genasi realizes that they can't a doppelganger. It would take an incredibly good impostor to simulate all that knowledge and amazement. In any case, this didn't change the fact that they should share with him as little info as possible. 

Hemlock is concentrating on his telepathic communications, and not really listening to Tesfaye, but he assumes they would ascend as soon as they were on the lift.

Sha after helping with Tesfay’s load of bandages and supplies, notices a very awkward series of pauses looks nods eye contact, and yes he hears the timing and naming of arrivals that doesn’t make sense… he quietly gets on the lift ready for come what may.

Lam is impressed by Tesfaye’s ability to deduce what happened in the field just by examining Frederico. He nods when they say “Let’s head on up,” ready to ascend the lift at any time now that everyone is on board.

The lift ascends, and Tesfaye continues to talk about storytelling magic and culture in the tree, which they seem to think raises evidence to some sort of unified arcane theory. They remain oblivious to the tension within the group.

When the lift reaches the top, you can clearly hear the crowd on the north branch making lunch ready, but the central area is almost completely empty. Only Frederico's father and Rhys stand waiting to greet you. The tall Elf immediately crouched down to.his boy, holding him, thanking you all profusely, and crying tears of relief. You can also hear Frederico groan out "¿papá? Se puso mal ahí, papá. Siento que no puedo recuperar el aliento." The words aren't happy, but they are proof that he's OK.

 Rhys gestures for you all to step aside as the reunion takes its time, and speaks at a volume designed to be heard only by you without seeming like a conspicuous whisper. "I am sorry to welcome you home with news of terror, but you must know: I believe that there is an imposter among us. I returned to the tree as quickly as I could when the forest cried out to me that a dryad had been killed. And yet, I have been able to account for all.of the dryads, and spoken alone with many. Esmerelda.may have been acting strangely, but not enough that I thought to restrain her without more proof. You must be careful who you speak to, and help me to deduce who does not belong. Any ideas?"

Hemlock listens to Rhys with a look of concern, and speaks to his fellow druid in the druidic tongue.

"Clywais hefyd y goedwig yn llefain. Pa ddoethineb a roddodd i chi?", he asks.

 Over the mind link, he will say, "A simple test. Would a doppleganger know the languages of the original?".

Rhys answers Hemlock's question in common, apparently just making sure that all of you can understand his meaning. (Hemlock or Saoirse, or Saffron, can make an insight check, because they know why Hemlock spoke druidic. Sha or Lam can also try of course, though at disadvantage because you don't know it was meant as a test.) "Less than you may hope, dear Hemlock. When a dryad is injured or killed, her tree cries for help and in despair. As you know, one tree's voice can flow through the whole forest, through roots and the fungal network, even under the river. I was across the water when I heard it, so the message was simple and diluted: An aberration had killed a dryad, with necrotic magics. Yet, as I said, all dryads are accounted for. You must have been nearer when it happened. What do you know of the attack, or the possible imposter?"

Saffron responds telepathically to Hemlock and Saoirse. <A doppelganger won't learn new languages just by changing shape, but Vince has had a few in his employ for many years. I'm sure he's instructed them to learn as many languages as they can. Druidic though... I don't think they would have been able to learn that.>

Tesfaye leans in, having heard Rhys' warning to you all. "An imposter? You mean like a shapechanger? This is terrible, but I may be able to help! Is it true that your moonbeam has a deleterious effect on altered forms? I read once of a potion designed to revert shapechangers to their true form, and I think with some help from a Caster able to do that, I could make a large amount of it very quickly, and a design to cycle it! Within an hour! In a book on fantasical design, i even read of a fountain in the form of a thin waterfall of a potion with this effect at the entrance to a bank. They called it "thief's downfall." We could just splash everyone!" Tesfaye is quickly getting the faraway look they sometimes have when their mind turns to designs and mechanics and away from the personal and social.

Saffron scowls in anger. Tesfaye's suggestion struck a nerve. "So anyone whose form is changeable, anyone for whom magic is part of the way they present themselves in the world, anyone of my species or several others, all of us would be exposed, no matter how innocent, to the judgement and fear of the village? No, I do not want to force that on any community."

"I am sorry, young Saffron, but Tesfaye's suggestion may be wise. I am certain this village can handle difference, and there are few among us anyway who go in altered form. I can even help provide some of the moon's magic to her solution, and help to convince everyone to submit to the test."

"Their" Tesfaye corrects the common mistake absently, unoffended.

"Apologies, young friend. Meant nothing by it. But the rest of you, what do you think of the Tortle's plan?" 

João and Leonor flitted off towards the north branch shortly after arriving, hurrying to tell their family and friends that they are home safe. The tall Elf stands up from Frederico, and approaches your group carefully, waiting for a moment when you are ready to speak with him. He clears his throat slightly, impatient to hear more of how to care for his boy, but deferent to the heroes who saved him.

Having heard Saffi's telepathic response, Hemlock relaxes slightly when Rhys manages to answer his question, even though he does use common. He does tense slightly when it occurs to him that magic to understand language is fairly commonplace compared to that of speaking another language.

"We would do well to be careful, you are all correct", he says idly as he looks hard at Rhys, and then decides to also make use of his firbolg heritage and opens his senses to magic.

Insight: 4+6=10 (Passive: 16)

(OOC: Hemlock has cast detect magic to see if Rhys is using something like comprehend languages)

Quote from PolarisUnmoored>>

Hemlock is able to tune out almost everything in the room and focus in on Fitzwhistle's head, where the faintest strand of magic can just barely be seen - clearly designed to be disguised, some mix of enchantment and the evocation of telepathy or sending. These thin strands of magic weave together, in a line pointing generally north, but more than a foot away from the gnome they become too faint to see or follow. There is a source, somewhere, and that source must be incredibly powerful to exert a continuous influence for such a long time. Hemlock has never seen magic like this before, but will find it easier to see now that he's seen it once (I had set the DC to 20 in my mind, so nice roll). The collar Sebastian wore is a pale imitation of this power, a fraction of the intricacy, magnitude, and threat of whatever holds Fitzwhistle under sway.

The same faint hint of a far-off power is present here, with Rhys, as was with Fitzwhistle before his rebirth.

Rhys does seem to be just being honest and open, otherwise. Hemlock, roll deception if you try to hide your reaction to all you see.

Hemlock tries to hide his reaction, but his eyes go wide at what his vision shows now that the strands of magic are visible to him.

Over the mental link, the others hear, "Oh good gosh!".

Deception: 4-1=3

Saoirse is listening to both the public and the private conversation with growing concern. And from the corner of the eye she can see Federico's father patiently waiting to talk to them, which makes her anxiety grow. Nothing that she can't handle. She only needs to breath a little, calm herself and face each problem one at time.

"Calm your fiery thoughts, fiery head", it's been long since she has felt the need of saying this to herself.

Quote from FairIthilien >>

 "Calm your fiery thoughts, fiery head". Her mentors at the Order had repeated this to her so many times that she had begun to use it herself as a letany to help her calm down.

She also ponders about Tesfaye's proposal. It reminds her of something Saffron said some time ago.

Quote from PolarisUnmoored >>

 Saffi chimes in: "I don't know about your order, but I can criticize that true king blighter. It was during his rule that changelings were required to all be registered or exteminated, and it's that law's fault that I grew up as a freak and a circus side show."

No, no, and a thousand times no. This sounded too much like something the so called True King had allegedly done before. Did the blood hunter have proof that he did it? No. But did she needed it? No. That name she had blindly worshipped for so long now simply revolted her and she didn't want to do anything remotely similar to anything he would may have done.

At this point, and though she still repeats the letany in her mind, little flames begin to appear in her hands. The letany is not working this time. Has she seen that much today that she just cannot take anymore?

This is the final drop. After hearing this, the blood hunter just turns to Hemlock first, and then to Rhys and Tesfaye.  

- Stop it already! Stop. Enough of your druidic and magical chatter, and your crazy plans. I've had more than enough for today. I've seen and done enough - her gaze turns to Federico for an instant - An hour, if not a damned night, is all I ask for. To rest, to meditate on what's happened, to collect our thoughts. To get cleaned or, gods forbid!, even tend to our wounds.

As she finishes saying this she rubs her temples and it's pretty easy to see that her hands are burning hot, though it doesn't cause her any harm.

- And, please, can someone with medical knowledge explain to him - and points to tall Elf - what he needs to know to care for his son?

With this, she nods to Federico's father, and then leaves to find a little peace in the emptiest spot she can find in Village Tree. As she gets away she says over the mental link:

"I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. I hope this at least distracts everyone from whatever it is you saw, Hemlock. I'll find you guys later".

 (Saoirse's insight check was a 15).

Lam looks between Rhys, Tesfaye, and Saffron as he tries to follow their conversation and determine what would be the best move. A potion to discover shapechangers sounded like a great idea until Saffron pointed out that it would target more than just malicious doppelgängers. They’d have to figure out who aside from Esmerelda was out of place, but would they even know what the impostors would look like? How could they tell the difference between a resident shapechanger and someone with intention to harm? He looks between his friends who still seem to be communicating silently, though he cannot be sure what conclusions they’ve come to. Once more, Lam feels out of his depth- this situation feels like it has to be handled delicately, which is the opposite of his strength. He wants to just break something- preferably whatever something is infiltrating them at this moment. Still, he puts a claw to his chin as he tries to figure out how to put his thoughts to more proper words.

Just then, Saoirse snaps. Lam watches her, wide-eyed, as she reaches her limit and storms off. He frowns and watches her leave, half-lifting one arm as if to make a move to go after her, but stops and turns back to the conversation. He can be more helpful here, right now. He thinks really hard to identify the immediate objectives- answer Rhys, and also help Frederico’s father like Saoirse just said.

First he turns to Rhys. “Could we do the potion… but only with dryads… and only by themselves? Not around everyone?” His low, gravely voice contains more than a hint of uncertainty as he suggests it- he looks at Hemlock to see his friend’s reaction, but does not wait for one from Rhys. 

Instead he turns right to Tesfaye. “You know what we did with Frederico. Do you know what he needs? Could you help me?” He gestures to Frederico’s father, and it seems he wants to go talk to him.

Sha also turns to Fredrico and his father, “There are many things that you should know please let me help.”  With that he leads them to a more private area and begins explaining the necessary steps to full recovery and the danger of pushing to hard to soon minimum 2 weeks rest…

medicine 12

Rhys seems to all of you to be himself, and trying to help. He notices Hemlock's reaction, but misinteperits it to be awe at his power and at the revelation that he carries a staff of the woodlands. He winks at the younger Druid, with the confodence of a professor who knows the heights they've achieved and expects their students to one day surpass them. That mysterious look of wisdom is quickly wiped from his face, however, as he looks abashed by Saoirse's outburst and you are reminded that no amount of wisdom is a vaccine against social discomfort.

Frederico's father looks even more uncomfortable, as he almost begins speaking to Saoirse as soon as shebsteps from.the group, and immediately shuts his mouth again when he notices her scalding mood. He nods back to her, but there is fear in that nod.

Tesfaye's eyes follow Saoirse, and tear up with shame. They follow her a couple steps, managing to say "I'm sorry..." but not really knowing exactly what they're apologising for. They turn back to Rhys and the rest of you, downcast. They light up again a little at the suggestion of applying the potion just to the Dryads, though that is short-lived.

"Certainly, Lam, we must do at least that much. But if this imposter is clever, I fear they may already have abandoned whatever guise they arrived in, and moved on to impersonate someone else. Do you know which dryad was attacked in the first place?"

"Do what you must. I won't be a part of it." Saffi walks away in a huff. Eliza actually looks like she has agreed with Rhys in this debate, but she's not about to say that out loud. She follows Saffi off towards south lookout.

Tesfaye lights up once again when Lam invites them to help talk to the tall elf, and begins quoting a medical textbook at the man right away. "In mammalian humanoids, a complete one-sided pneumonectomy leads to fewer complications than one might intuit. With proper antiseptic and palliative..." Frederico's father looks at him as though he is speaking a nonsensical foreign language, and is relieved when Sha takes him aside and explains things in words better suited for someone who isn't an expert academic. Lam, Tesfaye, Hemlock, and Rhys are left standing in the awkwardness.

In relative privacy (though not complete, there is almost no somplete privacy in Village Tree), on the southeast branch, Sha gets his chance to explain the news. When they arrive at the family's little circle.of hammocks, Frederico's younger brother Filípe is there, the practice sword Saoirse taught him to hold still at his hip. Sha-Gravis' story is bleak and his telling is more graphic than the father is ready to hear, but all the necessary details are told. "You cut out his lung! ¡o Dioses, mijo!" After the full explanation, he pulls Sha-Gravis into a tight hug, and his cheeks are wet with tears. when he steps back. "Obrigado. Thank you, Thank you. You have saved my son, and he will live a full life. This will be a hard recovery though... he's always been so dedicated to the sword and the bow. We will get through it, together."

Saoirse is glad of the fact that most people in the village are at the North Branch cooking and eating, but still, it seems like there is always someone walking past in this open village. Kids running and chasing each other, someone rushing back to their bunk to grab something to show a friend, a young adult walking groggily towards lunch after sleeping straight to noon. She finds herself on the West Lookout after a minute or two, where the grpup had a private conversation with Rhys and Hemlocl just a few days prior. It seems that she is finally alone, until she hears small feet approaching behind her. It is Frederico's younger brother, Filípe, who had so excitedly taken to her lesson in basic swordplay. "Esta bien, señora Saoirse? Tú ves molesto. Puedo ayudarte?" The two of them are alone on the West lookout, high above the forest floor and out of sight of the rest of the community.

“Rhys, you must understand, you arrived back just after the attack. The forest told me there were two others that we believe are imposters. We need to know you are not one yourself”, Hemlock explains quietly.

”That is why I am being cautious. Please say some words in Druidic, to put my mind at rest”, he asks. “I will then share what we know”.

He turns to Tesfaye, “No-one can mimic your personality my friend, but please remain quiet and calm”.

"Is é rabhadh an leanbh is sine den eagna. That is a very clever test. There are a few other novice druids in the village who have progressed enough to know the language of the old wilds, and I will use the same test for them. I am very glad your mind is on our side, young stargazer.".

 "Oh that's brilliant - linguistic exclusionism as a defense against infiltration! Is that part of why druids have a secret lexicon in the first place?. I can of course say a few words in my people's tongue - though you won't understand them of course. ጓደኞቼ በጣም አሪፍ ናቸው። I hate to hurt Saffron's feelings, but it still seems to me like washing away all disguises and shapechanges is the safest solution. It shouldn't hurt anyone - just temporarily revert them to their natural forms.

"Very well, it is not a perfect test, but it is all I can think of beyond what you have discussed already", Hemlock says to Rhys. "Unfortunately we came across the body of Esmerelda in the forest just over 30 minutes ago. Her body had been scarred by necrotic magic, but thankfully she has returned to her mother tree to grow again".

He takes a deep breath in, and lets it out with a sigh. "We should find her and separate her from everyone before confronting her. If we can find her, that is".

"And Rhys, I really need to speak to you about another matter when this is sorted", he adds tentatively.