Allansia Adventure

Halbert is a little dazed

I am not the best for negotiation...

Zarbyn also adds, in the same low whisper, "And no killing. These are noble guardians of a powerful artifact, not Shareella's minions or even the Dragon Cult's minions."

After a brief pause to confirm everyone heard he adds, "But we can't leave without a Lotus petal."

Two fey approach from the bushes near the party. They are armed with spears. (You are about 50 feet from the black lotus)

A particularly fierce-looking leafy fey marches forward toward the party with puffed chest, his tiny spear on resting on his shoulder. (Clearly he is not the leader of this group, but he may be the most brave)

“You approach the Sacred Bloom of The Black Lotus. State your intensions.

A second leans toward him and whispers loudly enough to hear in the quiet gardens

“You practiced that?”

Without looking away from the party, the first mutters back:

“Quiet. I sound magnificent.”

From a shrub to your right, you hear voices in the tree. (It is clear there are many of these tiny creatures, each about a foot tall).

"That one's definitely a giant!"

Another voice: "Not all large folk are giants."

"Well, that one is. Look at his huge weapon! His feet are larger than Brindle's house."

"Brindle lives in a boot."

"Exactly!"

The self important one that spoke first to you jumps in.

"They can hear you Elliot. Quiet, I'm conducting business here! I need to tell them the rules."

Ruel, having paid his coin was momentarily taken back to the lands of his birth, the scent of the cherry blossom was on the air, and with it he was momentarily transported back to Hachiman, a child again amongst the cherry trees.

It was a strange juxtaposition then that he gazed on the child like fey creatures, having taken in Zarbyns words Ruel although still a relative newcomer in the group had been the Shoguns champion for some time and had represented his lord with more than just his sword.

Stepping forward he gave a low sweeping bow, fixing the lead Fey in the eyes, but giving over all the reverence he could muster "Surely with such a magnificent introduction I must be addressing the Guardian of the Lotus, please oh mighty Stewart, I would here these rules" Ruel gave another sweeping bow, ready to take the lead in the negotiating but happy to step aside should others wish to follow his lead.

The tiny guardians blink in surprise as the samurai bows deeply instead of looming over them.
The friend says, "He called you mighty."

"I heard." says the first.

"I am not the leader here, but....." he straightens and tries to puff himself up another inch.
" am second Steward Bracken-of-the-Third-Pool, Keeper of Root and Thorn, Watcher Beneath the Lily, Defender of the Sacred Bloom."

His friend interrupts,

"You forgot Mud."

"...And Its Mud."

The two study Ruel and the group for a moment.

"You bow properly, you listen before touching things. Both very unusual for big people."

He smiles. "Behind me is....T H E    B L A C K  L O T U S..!!!! He says, emphasising each word.

"Our rules are ancient and sacred. No stealing the Lotus, no touching the Lotus, no bleeding in the pool of the Lotus, no wizard catastrophes, and ....no lies spoken beneath the flower."

One from the bushes says, "Hey, I know those enormous people. They are the BOOM people that exploded the pirate ship!"

The second guard loudly imitates the blast: "BWOOOOOSH!", opening both hands to emphasize the explosion.

"Anyone who troubles Crimson Legion cannot be entirely terrible!", another from the bushes says, jumping out in front of Ruel.

"Still possibly terrible." (from the bushes), "Ask them if they brought snacks."

You count at least 10 fey now. Likely, they are all over the gardens.

(OOC: AI HAD FUN WITH THIS ONE: Talk bubbles aren't all quite right, but this will give you a better picture of what is happening)

Amdaeng shuffled forward slightly behind Ruel and then kneeled and performed a full Grarb Wai as she had many years ago at Temple.

Once completed she reached into her pack and pulled forth whatever she could find and arrayed it before her-

- a pack of travel rations,  a portion of Nings preserved meat, a tinderbox, torch, rope, waterskin and 10 gold pieces.

( Help Action)

The tiny leaf creatures stare at Amdaeng as if in a trance.

The loud one who earlier shouted BWOOOOSH now spoke in an awed whisper, "They know the old ways."

"She brought offerings!" Another tiny fey curiously grabs the torch, smells it, and starts nibbling at it. 

Another says, "I believe these may be honorable boom-people."

Second Steward Bracken-of-the-Third-Pool says, "Is that giant travel rations?" He pokes at it with his spear a bit distrustfully as if he expects it to bite him.
"Well, you may all approach closer and look on our pride and joy, the magical Black Lotus, but do not forget our rules!"

One of the creatures, the smallest of the group runs toward Ning excitedly.

"BRINDLE, NO! You'll be eaten....again!", one calls in warning.

Despite the admonition, the little creature jumps onto Ning (who has grown considerably larger on Amdaeng's level advancement), and begins scratching behind her ear. Then she starts scratching behind the other. Brindle then puffs up proudly atop Ning's shoulders like a conquering hero.

"Behold, I have bonded with the forest titan!"

Ruel gave a nod of appreciation to Amdaeng, welcoming her contribution, if we are going to win over these Fey creatures and get the lotus petal then her actions will go a long way to facilitate it.

It was time to continue the negotiations. "We respect your authority and expertise oh mighty and wise Steward, and wish that you would educate a humble warrior on the rules."

Ruel lifted his head slightly "I can see that you have a masterful grasp of the world outside of these gardens, we did what we could to foil the ambitions of the Crimson legion, but there is a greater danger that threatens Allansia if not Titan itself." 

Ruel paused to let the words sink in. "We have been sent by Nicodemus,  on a quest to combat this danger. You know this to be true oh  Master of thorn and mud for is it not stated that no lies can be spoken Infront of the Lotus."

Ruel inhaled "I know also that we cannot touch the Lotus, but it is a Lotus petal we need in order to combat the ancient evil."

Ruel paused putting all his effort in his final words "So the fate of the world is in your hands Master Steward, is there any way you could gift me a petal or any gift or service I could tender, so that we could receive just one small petal. I'm sure will your wisdom you could interpret the rules, so this favour is granted."

OOC Persuasion 18 (if allowed advantage with help action 13 if not)

Halbert stands silently, eyes wide open to listen Ruel profondly in awe

Jherak is at a loss for words with all that’s going on. All the  fey commenting back and forth reminds him of some type of comedic on stage skit, with he and his friends as the audience. 
After observing their reactions to Ruel bowing, he decides it wouldn’t hurt if he too bowed as they asked for the ultimate favor of them. 

Perception on the fry’s reaction to Ruel’s request for a petal. Based on that, he will try to react favorably to persuade them to work with them. 19+5=24 

Jherak: (On a good perception roll Jherak notices a few things. First, as a ranger, Jherak notes that all of these fey creatures seem to be symbiotic, or connected in some way. Second, after Ruel's request, they have become serious.)

Second Steward Bracken and the others listen to Ruel with surprising seriousness. No whispering, no interruptions. Even the one one on Nings back is quiet, as she rubs the bears ear. Finally, as Ruel finishes, the tiny steward sighs and says,
"You speak sincerely for a large person. He gestures to the entire party. "You honor the grove, you respect our rules, and you ask instead of take."

He looks back at the black lotus. And pulls back some of the bark on his arms. "The black lotus is not merely a flower with petals to pluck." As the party looks on the lotus more closely, you see tiny veins of green-gold light pulsing through every petal. And....each of the leaf-fey bear the same patterns on their bark like skin.

One of the smaller guardians speaks

"We are the lotus and the lotus is us. We are part of it. As the Lotus lives, we live. As the land suffers, we suffer."

Bracken adds: "The Lotus bloomed early. We sensed that the land was wounded, the poison of evil spreading through root and river. Our magic can restore the balance.

The one known as Brindle (on Ning speaks up) "A petal may be given."

"You ask for a petal. A piece of the Lotus. A piece of us."

One adds: "To fight the darkness, the Lotus is willing to give of itself. But...balance must remain."

One continues (and you note that they all seem to be in harmony with each other)

"If we give a part of ourselves.....you must leave part of yourselves behind. This pact will last for a year and a day."

One by one, the little fey begin speaking the offerings.

Each voice comes from a different creature.

Each one in the groove that is present says a different one. Each of you must pick one to give. It is a roleplaying thing, and must be something that would impact and be meaningful to your character and your roleplaying. It will impact how your character will act in certain situations. You may also come up with your own if it is fitting for your character. Think of the (Weaknesses/ personality characteristics in player development, in D&D and in other role playing games. You are coming up with a weakness of sorts. (like quick to temper).

“Give us your cowardice… and courage shall come easier.”

“Give us your pride… and insults shall lose their sting.”

“Give us your greed… and gold will hold less power over you.”

“Give us your curiosity… and mysteries will trouble you less.”

“Give us your temper… and your fire shall cool.”

“Give us your need for praise… and silence will no longer wound you.”

“Give us your distrust of authority… and commands will seem less bitter.”

“Give us your soft heart… and suffering will weigh less heavily upon you.”

“Give us your wanderlust… and the road will stop calling your name.”

“Give us your superstition… and omens will lose their power over you.”

“Give us your suspicion… and strangers will seem less threatening.”

“Give us your ambition… and the need to rise above others will fade.”

“Give us your stubbornness… and the world will bend more gently around you.”

“Give us your caution… and hesitation will leave your hands.”

“Give us your vanity… and mirrors will no longer matter.”

“Give us your jealousy… and the triumphs of others will cease to wound you.”

“Give us your loneliness… and solitude shall no longer ache.”

“Give us your patience… and action will come swiftly to you.”

“Give us your certainty… and doubt will open new paths before you.”

“Give us your guilt… and old failures will trouble you no more.”

Then, just as the last words fade into the stillness of the grove…

…the party hears another voice.

Not spoken aloud. Not from the fey.

It blooms silently within your mind like ripples spreading across dark water.

Ancient.
Gentle.
Immense.

And unmistakably…the voice of the Lotus itself, the heart of this being.

“Each of you must choose.”

The petals of the flower seem to move on their own.

Green-gold light pulses softly through the flower and the tiny fey alike as they all sway together in harmony.

“And once a choice is made…”

“…another may not claim it.”

As the party quietly considers their choices, the grove remains solemn for all of six seconds before the tiny fey begin whispering loudly again.

One points at a party member.

"That one should definitely surrender stubbornness. You can tell by their eyebrows."
Another gasps, "What if one of the Boom People gives up caution?"

Another responds, "absolutely not!"

Brindle scratches Ning behind the ear, "Can someone surrender multiple tempers? Some large folk appear to possess several."

Another tiny guardian nods wisely.

“Greed is a good one to surrender.”

“Mm.”

“Very freeing.”

“What did you give up, Brindle?”

“…Height.” Says a heckler. The group starts laughing.

Ruel feeling awesome in the presence of the Lotus, knows what he must do. Slowly, methodically he undoes Natalie's whip from his belt and places it on the ground before him.

"This whip is all I have left of a soul that helped me find meaning when all was dark, her help to me was above the value of any gold." Ruel sets his jaw as he continues the emotion flowing through his senses.

"This morning I missed her a little less than before, my pain becoming tolerance and acceptance, but I would feel this pain like I did yesterday and live with it, I would feel this loss as you feel the loss of the petal, because through sacrifice there is strength." Ruel took another deep breath.

“Give us your soft heart… and suffering will weigh less heavily upon you. A pact is made on my honour." Ruel intoned.

Amdaeng looked to Ning and her mind lingered on Lira and the many other opportunities for connection she had let lapse or avoided over the years because of her fear of rejection especially outside of Chiang Mai.....

Her eyes filled with tears for a moment and she blinked them away, sacrifice.......she had sacrificed blood, honour and standing before.........now she would sacrifice her heart.

" “I give you my loneliness… that solitude shall no longer ache.”

Halbert thinks he can give up what he wishes the other would gave up as well:

“ I Give you my suspicion… and strangers will seem less threatening.”