Turn of Fortune's Wheel (Gnomes' game)

Britari had listened to the Empyrean's answers, then noticed ashe seemed to start to lose interest again. But the pixies seemed to pass by at just the right time. "Goodberry Grove does sound intetesting!" she says enthusiastically. "I'm with Faith.  Let's join the pixies."

Eithne's Insight: 6

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Eithne's Insight: 17

'Kopoha seems genuinely interested in what you say, Eithne... but is not yet convinced' the Voices in her head say.
'The weight of her life and expectations still troubles her, poor thing!'
'Yes, it's true. But perhaps, if she continues to get a chance to exist without the crushing weight of expectations... she will open up more and figure out what she wants to do...'

For once, the Lone Survivor appreciates the multiplicity of perspectives offered to her and, taking the Voices' impressions to heart, she suggests to the Empyrean: "Come with us, let's unwind a bit with the Pixies! To a relaxed mind, the right thoughts come spontaneously, just like guests at a cool party!"

Kopoha stands up to her full, towering 18-foot height with a slight smile but a sense of hopefulness. "All right. Let's see if the tiny pixies will let us in their party." She'll follow you all over to Goodberry Grove, where the pixie's are already in full swing of merriment. As you all approach though, the magic of the pixies takes over and you are all shrunk in size! Most of you are shrunk to tiny size like the other pixies, while Kopoha becomes the size of a halfling! She seems quite delighted by this though and runs over to a stalk of mushrooms. "Hey! Watch this!" She begins to pick up an enormous mushroom stalk and give it a good toss (think Highland Games log toss) and turns to watch it tumble. "Hey pretty good huh!"

The pixies do not look particularly impressed.

Kopoha then spots a few forest animals watching among the edges of the grove and walks over to them with a wide smile. "Bunnies!" She snatches one and begins to cuddle it and give it pats and then dance around with it.

The pixies stop what they're doing, trying to assess the situation with this giant (to them) person running amok in their grove...

(To help Kopoha, make a Performance check to help make her actions more entertaining, and a Persuasion check to help convince the pixies of how charming Kopoha is with what she's doing. The DC for both checks is 12.)

Faith is good with performance: 13 (but rolled below average)

Persuasion (perhaps to help someone more persuasive): 18 (good roll this time)

Faith starts singing along with the music, with Lyrics providing a charming description of what Kopoha is doing. Not insulting or derogatory, just describing what she's doing in a favorable way. Faith feels her singing is a bit off, since she's composing new lyrics on the fly, but it's sufficient. 

It seemed rather kind of the pixies to shrink them all to their own size.  Or at least closer in the case of Kopoha. But Britari Is maybe a little shocked at the not smaller giant throwing the mushroom. And for a moment she feared for the bunny, but the resulting cuddles and dance was kind of cute.  

(Performance: 20, Persuasion: 9)

So, Britari tries to join in with the dance, complimenting Kopoha. "You and the bunny look adorable dancing!" And she tries to make up an explanation to one of the pixies about the mushroom tossing. "It's a traditional thing amongst her people. You know... lucky mushrooms. Except normally they're smaller... well, relatively." She's not sure she'd believe her own story!

Eithne knows full well that she's not particularly good at convincing others with words, so she leaves it to Faith, who fortunately proves perfectly up to the task.

The Savage Wanderer then encourages Kopoha, approving of her efforts to distract herself and have fun: "A truly remarkable throw. You are without a doubt the strongest and most dynamic halfling I've ever seen" she smiles.

Even seeing the Empyrean, thanks to her new, more manageable size, able to play with the rabbits leaves a somewhat... tender impression on the Lone Survivor. Again, she encourages Kopoha: "They're so soft and cute, aren't they?"

It's not as if the bitterness for the massacred tribe has been erased... nor has the desire for justice (or revenge) been forgotten. However, it seems, the exceptional nature of the situation has put the darkest emotions on hold... They will return—and they will be managed—but for now Eithne feels like she's in a state of peace. Even the Voices in her head seem to have taken a moment of silence.

Using his skill raising beasts of burdens on his farm, Rogferr will attempt to soothe the Forest Animals. 

During this time Rogferr will create a technicolored light show above Kopoha by having Hypnos fly over her while casting the light spell on the familiar.

Animal Handling Check: 14

Performance Check: 5

It is a strange sight perhaps, watching the towering woman shrink to a halfling size and yet still dwarf you in size but not everything else. But Kopoha seems determined to make a good show of things, perhaps trying to show off a little at first, a hint even of trying to demonstrate of capable and strong she is. Her affections with the bunnies though at first give an air of worry that she might...love them a little too much. But you all step in quickly, some of you adding to her performance and doing a fine job casting her in a more convivial light, as an entertainer and not a threat to the fun, and some helping persuade the unsure pixies that Kopoha means no harm and is simply trying to enjoy herself.

Some of you fared better than others but in the end, but in the end, Kopoha manages to party with the pixies and you all for another hour before she needs a break and leaves the pixies to sit down and rest again, the joy of the party waning. When you follow her over, she lets out a long sigh. If asked, she continues her lament from earlier...

"It's not just my parent's approval, because if it was just me it might be easier, but my sister, Alethira, she's amazing at everything! I love my sister and have great respect for her, and I am certain my parents favor her. Who wouldn't favor their child is great at everything, right!" She sighs again with a slight slump. "I have to find a way to prove to my parents I am just as amazing as she is, or at least as worthy as she is, worthy to be their daughter and a future god." She looked at you all again, "Any ideas?"

Britari does ask Kopoha what's wrong after the sigh. She listens attentively to the response. At the end, she glances a moment at the others, seeming reluctant to speak, but she does anyway. "In my view, while there are some few who seem great at everything. They breeze through life. That's their fate. But so many more must struggle. Life pulls at them and they struggle. It doesn't make the former better and the latter lesser. The universe rarely makes your path easy. But you deal with what comes and you strive to do your best. Through sorrow you become greater."  She pauses briefly to look at the Empyrean. "You prove yourself by dealing with the chaos of reality. You trudge through the bitterness of moments where you feel inadequate. You find moments of happiness. You discover a way to persevere and finally come out on top. Through tragedy you can find triumph. And for most that is the path to greatness." She gives a thin smile. "And then your parents, your sister, others...  and most importantly you will be proud of the result." (Persuasion: 13) 

She realizes she said a lot. Britari stands, stepping back a bit. From all she'd learned so far of Kopoha, she imagined the giant woman wanted an upbeat response. Fun and frivolity seemed to be what she sought.  She had spoken her own beliefs. Of a reality from a voice that seemed to be within her head. She hopes it helped more than it hindered. 

"The pint is you don't need to prove anything to anyone, Kopoha" Eithne, after a brief consultation with the Vocies in her head, tries to summarize and simplify. "Your family loves you for who you are. And, as I said before, you just have to decide what you truly love to do with your life. If you commit to being yourself... believe me, no one will ever be better than you at that."

"You know storms well," the Savage Wanderer concludes "you now that a rainbow comes next."

"Anyway, if you're up for a different adventure than usual," the Lone Survivor tries to suggest "we're in need to find the Portal to Arborea, as a step in a mission to uncover important secrets. You could help us find it—and become part of our quest. As the bards say, it seems that helping heroes in quests is a very godly task..."

Faith answers, "I understand your feelings. I have a twin sister hope, who is MUCh smarter than I am. She's able to master devastating magic entirely on her own. Even with the help of a god, I can't come close to matching her capability for destruction. But I can do things she can't do, healing instead of destroying. In the end, we are both capable, just different. Everyone has something they are good at, you just need to find what it is you can do that your sister can't. Instead of trying to match you sister's strengths, find something she can't do and learn to  do that."

Kopoha listens to you all again, watching each of you in turn, her once more large frame away from the pixie influence. She seems to muse over your ideas, suggestions, and encouragements for a long few moments. She at least looks up again with a small smile. "You may be right. I think I need one more win, if you will. At to show my sister I can have a winning streak for once. Maybe she'll be nice and give me my maul back." Kopoha gives something a resigned sigh at that last comment but then stands up and looks around for a minute. "There! I want to do that!" She begins walking off toward a remarkably quieter part of Sylvania.

As you start going after her (presumably) even the trees simmer down, the upbeat boistrous revelry of the gate town getting muted behind you, as you come by a silent glade, a ring of standing stones surrounds a fallen menhir. The toppled rock is laden with an inviting but unattended feast.

DC 12 Arcana or History:

Passing on, you can see stone memorials in the not too far away, large and small and in-between. There, in a space in the midst of them, a deathly looking man stands with a retinue of skeletons and other morbidly dressed persons, standing around rolling balls across the sprawling lawn, playing what appears to be a game of bocce. "Ah! Finally a true sport to best others at! I will play this one too!" Kopoha states confidently.

I forgot, here's a picture of Kopoha having fun in Sylvania!

Faith Arcana check: 7

She has no clue as to what the unattended feast is for. 

Eithne's History: 6

Eithne doesn't know what to make of the unattended feast... and is perplexed by her encounter with the deathly-looking man standing with a retinue of skeletons and other softly dressed people.

'We don't like this, Eithne...' the Voices in her head are no less concerned than she is. 'Don't come any closer!'
'...Or rather, move away, perhaps...'
'In a place full of celebrations, you're not going looking for trouble and danger, are you?'

But the Lone Survivor has no intention of abandoning Kopoha; so, despite herself, she forces herself to stay by her side.

(Britari Arcana: 19) 

"Oh! The game sounds wonderful, but did you see this wonderful repast?" Britari says, motioning towards the toppled rock with the feast upon it. "You really should have a taste. It's a meal worthy of your greatness. And a small bit of nourishment is just what you need to do your best at playing that game."  She pauses dramatically. "I have heard of places like this, it is called a Champion's Henge. It's meant for those who are about to undergo a challenge." 

(OOC - It seems like this is more Deception, but if it must be Persuasion the bonus is the same: 25) 

Eithne trusts Britari, so she in turn encourages the Empyrean: "Well, better be as prepared as possible, right, Kopoha? Come on, let's eat something before the match!"

And the Savage Wanderer, while the Voices in her head sigh with relief, momentarily steps away from the gloomy players to set a good example.

(OOC: You saying this to everyone or just Kopoha?)