The Autumn Country (Hunt for the Barley King)

Quote from Little_Red_Hunting_Hood >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >

 "Short-form fiction book. It's like watching a train crash from the inside in agonizingly slow motion. You get to see a man's inner thoughts as he freezes to death simply because he wasn't prepared, listening in as he tries and fails again and again to build a fire. Even his dog leaves him." He shakes his head solemnly. "Not pleasant."

 He frowns, looking up at the man.

”why would anyone write something like that?… what’s the point of a book without a happy ending?”

 "Not every lesson is nice. But they all have to be learned at one time or another. The man put himself in a bad situation, and in real life nature wouldn't be so merciful." He lets go and slithers back.

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

Quote from Little_Red_Hunting_Hood >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >

 "Short-form fiction book. It's like watching a train crash from the inside in agonizingly slow motion. You get to see a man's inner thoughts as he freezes to death simply because he wasn't prepared, listening in as he tries and fails again and again to build a fire. Even his dog leaves him." He shakes his head solemnly. "Not pleasant."

 He frowns, looking up at the man.

”why would anyone write something like that?… what’s the point of a book without a happy ending?”

 "Not every lesson is nice. But they all have to be learned at one time or another. The man put himself in a bad situation, and in real life nature wouldn't be so merciful." He lets go and slithers back.

 “I guess you’re right…” he looks as the man as he slithers away. “I never got your-…” he pauses. “I never learned your name… you can call me Amaris.”

Quote from Little_Red_Hunting_Hood >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 "Not every lesson is nice. But they all have to be learned at one time or another. The man put himself in a bad situation, and in real life nature wouldn't be so merciful." He lets go and slithers back.

 “I guess you’re right…” he looks as the man as he slithers away. “I never got your-…” he pauses. “I never learned your name… you can call me Amaris.”

 The burned being tilts his head for a second, then recognizes what the hesitation was. He chuckles. "Gardziel."

Quote from Capatin_Crunch >>

the emissary of lichen is in the forest, rotting animals with a touch

the emissary of worms is directing the cultists to gather wicker

the emissary of bones is flying, observing the creatures of the autumn country 

There's a flicker in the air, like an illusion appeared and disappeared in an instant. A man stands between two trees, his flesh burned and his skeletal frame too broad and bulky to be human. Smoke pours out from where his cheeks should be, and his eyes are mere tattered sockets with gleaming irises set into them.
"That looks like it hurts."

Quote from Capatin_Crunch >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

There's a flicker in the air, like an illusion appeared and disappeared in an instant. A man stands between two trees, his flesh burned and his skeletal frame too broad and bulky to be human. Smoke pours out from where his cheeks should be, and his eyes are mere tattered sockets with gleaming irises set into them.
"That looks like it hurts."

 "not.... for..... long" it rots a rabbit, the skeleton animating and joining the procession of bones "are..... you...... flesh.....?"

 "I do happen to be, yes." His voice sounds sad. "Why kill these things? What's the purpose?"

Quote from Capatin_Crunch >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 "I do happen to be, yes." His voice sounds sad. "Why kill these things? What's the purpose?"

 "it.... is..... my...... purpose...... to...... do....... as...... He....... commands....."

 "So you're just following orders?" He flexes his burnt, fleshless fingers. "That's not an excuse for causing pain."

Quote from Capatin_Crunch >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 "So you're just following orders?" He flexes his burnt, fleshless fingers. "That's not an excuse for causing pain."

 "not...... an....... excuse....... a........ rationalization........." a skeletal vulture caws

 He sighs. "I want you to stop. Are you able to do that?"

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

Quote from Former_Queen_Yvonne >>

The god-seeking flame watches with utter confusion at both this strange paladin and the how he shows not a single hint of fear around it. The golden orbs of destruction drift a bit closer to him, the sheer heat emanating from them nearly overwhelming even for him. He can tell the flame is staring into his very soul with curiosity and skepticism. "...WHY... WHY DID YOU DO THAT?... GIVE ME A TASTE... OF A LACK OF HUNGER... I MAY NEVER HAVE AGAIN?..."

Adeline solemnly sits with this answer for a moment. "I see. I'm truly sorry that happened." She begins knitting together her cocoon again as she ponders something.

 "Because you could have it again. All we need is time." Flames ignite across his body, but he doesn't react. "I can help you. I want to help you. I am here for you."

The two others go quiet. Neither seem to be used to sympathy.

It looks down at the flaming paladin with genuine confusion- it doesn't seem to be used to sympathy either. "...T- THANK YOU... EVEN IF I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'D WANT TO HELP ME... HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED..."

Adeline is at first worried about their reaction, worried she said something wrong. She focuses on her knitting to calm her nerves.

Quote from Capatin_Crunch >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 He sighs. "I want you to stop. Are you able to do that?"

 "i..... do..... as..... He...... commands......."

 "Then I will break you if I must." He strides toward the emissary.

Quote from Former_Queen_Yvonne >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 "Because you could have it again. All we need is time." Flames ignite across his body, but he doesn't react. "I can help you. I want to help you. I am here for you."

The two others go quiet. Neither seem to be used to sympathy.

It looks down at the flaming paladin with genuine confusion- it doesn't seem to be used to sympathy either. "...T- THANK YOU... EVEN IF I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'D WANT TO HELP ME... HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED..."

Adeline is at first worried about their reaction, worried she said something wrong. She focuses on her knitting to calm her nerves.

 "Thank you..." He susurrates through the blaze. "I know you didn't ask, but I'm helping you because no one else will, and you deserve better than that. We're all monsters somewhere in our hearts. You just wear that part more proudly than others dare to. I know that sounds overly philosophical, but I think sometimes we need to be a little pretentious." He chuckles.

*I think this might be a good place to end. Now, in the present time, hasn't the Flame been captured by Helianth?*

Quote from Capatin_Crunch >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 "Then I will break you if I must." He strides toward the emissary.

 the emissary stretches out a hand, white root-like structures growing from it towards you.

1st Attack: 19 Damage: 7

2nd Attack: 23 Damage: 9

3rd Attack: 14 Damage: 7

its necrotic damage of that makes a diffrence

 He takes the hand. The mycelium penetrates easily, but doesn't seem to harm him (10 AC but massive Temporary HP and HP pools). "Don't make me do this, amigo. It will be your last dance, and you deserve better."

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

Quote from Former_Queen_Yvonne >>

Quote from Baalzeboop >>

 "Because you could have it again. All we need is time." Flames ignite across his body, but he doesn't react. "I can help you. I want to help you. I am here for you."

The two others go quiet. Neither seem to be used to sympathy.

It looks down at the flaming paladin with genuine confusion- it doesn't seem to be used to sympathy either. "...T- THANK YOU... EVEN IF I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'D WANT TO HELP ME... HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED..."

Adeline is at first worried about their reaction, worried she said something wrong. She focuses on her knitting to calm her nerves.

 "Thank you..." He susurrates through the blaze. "I know you didn't ask, but I'm helping you because no one else will, and you deserve better than that. We're all monsters somewhere in our hearts. You just wear that part more proudly than others dare to. I know that sounds overly philosophical, but I think sometimes we need to be a little pretentious." He chuckles.

*I think this might be a good place to end. Now, in the present time, hasn't the Flame been captured by Helianth?*

Its flames make a reverberating crackling sound that he assumes is the closest approximation to laughing as well it can make. It isn't sure how to respond- sympathy is something entirely alien to the Ravenous Flame, and it has no clue what to do. "...THANK YOU..." Is all it can think to say.

*I think so too. And yes, the Ravenous Flame has been captured and likely reabsorbed by Helianth in the present time.*