EPONA

[soulping]

[ Upon stepping through the archway, you find yourself deep within a green forest, surrounded by trees, undergrowth, and the chittering skittering noises of small animals and insects. Behind you and around you, the trees and other vegetation close in on themselves; before you, a narrow but clear path beckons strongly. ]

[ Your normal skills are off, but you gain Basic Outdoorsmanship. ]

Comments

SECOND CHALLENGE: THE THICKET OF BRAMBLES

[soulping]

[ A small clearing spreads out around the path here, but ahead of you, the way forward is thoroughly blocked by a dense thicket of thorny brambles growing across the path and the nearby woods. You're going to have to find some way through them. ]

THE BRAMBLES THEMSELVES

[soulping]

[ The branches crisscrossing the path and surrounding trees vary in length and thickness, but all are covered in sharp thorns. None are too heavy or sturdy, especially compared to the thick trees around them; they could probably be pushed aside easily enough, if not for the thorns. Beneath the brambles the soft ground is mostly clear of additional growth, it having been choked out by the thicket of thorns. ]

THE CLEARING

[soulping]

[ Spread out around you are the decayed remains of some kind of encampment. Scraps of torn or rotted canvas are scattered about, as well as rusted metal tools: shovels, metal pots and bowls, pegs for the tents. There are also bits of rope here and there. Towards the edge of the clearing stand several mounds of earth with surprisingly rust-free swords standing in them. ]

Re: THE CLEARING

[acemedium]

[totally making a beeline for the swords]

Re: THE CLEARING

[soulping]

[Are you just checkin' them out, or actually trying to pull them from the mounds?]

Re: THE CLEARING

[acemedium]

[currently just touching the hilt and making 'ooooh' faces]

Re: THE CLEARING

[grandstanding]

[finally wandering over, to pick up a shovel. . . man, he wishes he could feel it, the way his regained skill should have let him do.]

Re: THE CLEARING

[soulping]

[you can pick up a shovel. It's rusty and the handle is rotted and splintery, but it should be more or less functional.]

Re: THE CLEARING

[grandstanding]

[gross. gathering that up, and a few pieces of rope and cloth.]

Re: THE CLEARING

[wingtamer]

[. . . pretty much collecting what he thinks would be useful: a shovel and some rope. . . .]

Re: THE CLEARING

[soulping]

[No reaction from the environment. You can collect that stuff just fine.]

Re: THE CLEARING

[moderndaywhitemage]

[... going for the biggest pieces of canvas and rope '^']

A MYSTERIOUS STATUE

[soulping]

[ Near the edge of the clearing is a worn-down statue that might once have been an angel or a bird. However, the inscription on its base is still very readable. ]

Change your heart to find me there;
You will see how I oppose the air.
I wait to greet you come your fatal end,
No more beneath you, now a friend.

[moderndaywhitemage]

[after calming down, heads over to check out what is left of the statue]

Change my heart? Whaaat?

Re: A MYSTERIOUS STATUE

[wingtamer]

. . Fatal end. . .

[angels. . . .??]

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

 

Re: DISCUSSION

[grandstanding]

[actually he's gonna just...

strip off his jacket and wring the water out of it, shivering uncontrollably. what a time to still have a cold.]

Re: DISCUSSION

[acemedium]

[also shivering a little bit]

...Schooler.... I hope you'll be okay.

Re: DISCUSSION

[wingtamer]

Are you alright?

[FLAME that was a stupid question to ask]

[moderndaywhitemage]

[there is nothing like being knocked out so they can drag your immobile body over water whoo... someone is just going to scrunch up in a ball and sit far away from the water and feel bad for a few minutes]

[acemedium]

[what if I hug you before going to look at swards]

[wingtamer]

. . . are you okay. . . ?

[i'm so. so sorry]

SUBMIT YOUR SOLUTION

[soulping]

 

Re: SUBMIT YOUR SOLUTION

[grandstanding]

[SOLUTION: hit the brambles with shovels until they relent, maybe hack at their roots where possible, and wrap up their hands and faces in the scraps of cloth/rope that can be found. some of that rope may have gone into Star and Flame's pockets too. the girls are given Blade and Flame's coats for further protection.]

Re: SUBMIT YOUR SOLUTION

[soulping]

[The shadows deepen somewhat ominously as you hack away at the brambles, and the trees shake slightly, but nothing bad actually happens. With your faces covered and the brambles forced into a retreat, you make it through the thicket with only the most minor of scratches, and then you're back on the path.]