[Q2] fruit from the poisoned tree

Coco's transformation was impressive and effective, and soon Bethany could hear the tell-tale knocks hitting the caravan.  Cian, Elyon, and Ronan took advantage of the moment to begin their hunt while Bethany and Jareth wove a silent link between them all.  With two of them holding it in place it should be possible for it to hold even if one of them was distracted or had to put some effort elsewhere.  For how long only time would tell, but hopefully they would not need it for long.

Soon enough Ronan had caught someone and was looking for clues amongst the corpse.  However, this was a trap however cautiously they were trying to spring it, and so it wouldn't be long before more appeared - of that much she was sure.

She realized just a moment too late that with the others creating distractions and flitting about the shadows, it left two rather obvious targets in herself and Jareth.  She couldn't quite tell where Cian and Elyon had set up their maneuver, but when the danger sense she'd honed over the years started to prickle at the back of her neck she trusted it.  Turning swiftly, staff in hand, she loosed a small ball of lightning into the space behind her, its sparks leaping out to strike their ambushers, slowing or stopping them in their tracks for the moment.

"Four back here," she said to the others through their link.  "How many more from your positions?"

TLDR:

• The ambush has begun!
  
• Bethany cast a static cage, exposing and slowing four attackers
  
• She let the others know through the link about the four and asked how many more they see
  

He gave a series of small motions  to Elyon outlining where he would hitting.  A small cook fire where some of the group had gathered for a meal. Three, to be exactly where, in his wait, the fourth moved off out of sight. Not that it matters they would all be dealt with soon enough, but even still Cian found it mildly annoying. He would have rather killed four with two stones. Ah, well.  With a nonchalant air he, much like the reaper, stepped out of the shadow of a cart and with a quick, clean thrust of Ruaer  left one man dead while the other two scrambled. 

Elyon eyes! it would not do for his comrade to be left blinded as he drove all shadow him. Leaving both brigands fumbling and well as scrambling for weapons and distance. Would you dispatch the runner? gesturing to the one that had gotten his feet under him as he stepped up to meet the other who was rounding on him. Sounding calm and collected as if he were having afternoon tea. this one won't take that long. 

Even as the boot knife lodged in his bicep when he failed to sidestep fast enough. Eliciting a sharks grin more akin to a bearing of teeth than a smile. Slipping into the man's own shadow to leave him flustered long enough to hamstring him with Amnes. After all he had been so rude in putting a knife it his arm.

Quick then to put him in a sleeper hold until he was breathing but unconscious. His belt used as a tourniquet to stave off the man bleeding to death as he secured him to one of the wagons for later questioning. Bethany's question making him pause. One dead, one unconscious to be awoken later for questioning, one unknown...the fourth passed out of sight before I arrived. Elyon?

OOC:
Cian splits off to hit a small cook fire motioning for Elyon to follow. There were four but one left before Cian struck.
Kills one
Blinds the other two
In the commotion Cian is stabbed with a boot knife in the bicep. 
One runs, Cian asks if Elton can get him.
The other he incapacitated by hamstringing him and knocking him unconscious for later questioning

Coco's head tilted as she watched the others from her side, it wasn't long before ambushers began to appear. She was quite impressed by their powers and abilities, she couldn't remember the last time she had seen such a display. What was she feeling...? Happiness...freedom, she wasn't sure if she wanted to go back to Rivain so soon after their quest was over. Hearing Bethany's voice in her head made her snap out of it and telepathically respond, A few are coming my way, I can get them. You're all doing a great job. Two ambushers would start to go in her direction when they saw where the rocks were coming from, and Coco turned into a wolf, immediately running forward and tackling the largest one, his head would hit the ground, knocking him out.

A princess shouldn't be doing this, right..? Coco never thought of herself as a killer, but lives were at stake and it was practically self-defense. She hesitated, she could easily use her fangs to tear his throat, get her first taste of blood... Would it change her, would her betrothed Devante think of her differently if he found out..? Her heart pounded in her chest, the smaller ambusher suddenly running towards her with a dagger. She growled loudly and whipped around, sinking her teeth into his arm, forcing him to drop the weapon.

TLDR

- She's impressed by the others abilities.
- Responds telepathically to Bethany about what's happening on on her side and says everyone is doing great
- Shapeshifts into a wolf and takes down two ambushers, trying to knock them out rather than kill...for now.

Amidst the unfolding chaos, Jareth honed his focus on the delicate task of maintaining the telepathic link he had played a role in establishing alongside Bethany. Gradually, the strain of this connection began to reveal itself, an ever-present hum that demanded his unwavering concentration. Thoughts and emotions from his companions seamlessly interwove with his own consciousness, a symphony of minds united in purpose.

Within him, a kindling curiosity blazed, ignited by a profound desire to unravel the intricate mechanics of this newfound mode of communication. The sheer marvel of it struck him—the shared understanding that transcended the limitations of spoken language. A hidden dialect that bypassed words, conveying intentions and emotions with sublime efficiency.

As the storm of actions and words surged around them, Jareth found himself drawn deeper into this unspoken network. His aim was to glean insights from his fellow adventurers, to ascertain their motives and tactical strategies in real-time. The elaborate tapestry of thoughts he encountered evoked a faint furrowing of his brow. Navigating this intricate terrain of interconnected minds was akin to threading through a bustling marketplace, each mental stall offering a distinct perspective. Nonetheless, his determination remained unwavering.

Amid the ebb and flow of thoughts coursing through the telepathic link, Jareth's silent voice echoed with a sense of awe. Remarkable… he marveled inwardly, the resonance of his musings unintentionally reverberating across their shared mental channel. An unintended disclosure that rendered him momentarily bashful, realizing that his unvoiced wonder had been laid bare to the group.

TLDR:

• Jareth focused on maintaining the telepathic link.
• He marveled at the shared understanding of the telepathic link provided.
• He sought to understand his companions' thoughts and strategies.
• Accidentally shared his sense of awe with the group through the telepathic link.

He follows after Cian with the ease of someone we'll versed in combat. Elyon quickly averts his eyes to avoid the flash of light. Then, he sprints after the runner. They make it only a handful of feet before the mage summons a ring of fire, cutting off his escape route on all sides. The ring snaps closed, engulfing him in a hot inferno. 

"Done." He says through their link. "The other is..." His eyes scan, looking for the one who managed to slip out of their initial reach. 

They're not too far, he doesn't need to give chase, cutting off their escape route with another blast of fire that would send them right back to him. 

Tl;dr: turns one of the brigands into beef jerky and forces the last one to come to him

@quest 2 - AILYN is our first nat 1 of the entire three quests; she should feel proud, or scared? I'd be proud, personally.

The group has captured all of the visible Eth members... but even still, some lurk in the shadows, enslaved by Elgar'nan to lend their magic to his cause. Have you figured it out yet, RONAN? Do you see the new, fresh, vallaslin markings across the humans face? Humans wouldn't usually have that, would they?

Have you just killed an *innocent*? No clues here, except the unfortunate fact you've killed someone with no free will.

One of the Eth members that's yet to reveal themselves from manufactured shadows causes an earthquake, to try to break the concentration that's between the members of this group. The quest has gone too smooth... too orderly.

With this 'quake, Bethany and Jareth's concentration breaks—there is no longer a telepathic link between the party members. In fact, if they try to re-establish that link? They'll feel like their body is overheating; an unfortunate side-effect to a hastily caste nullification curse.

But I wasn't done with the earthquake—the ground is unstable. BETHANY and disappears into the gaping maw of the sinkhole that's opened.

And what's down there? Because something's down there—BETHANY can hear the quiet scraping of claws, the lumbering steps of something that's much too big to exist in such a small space. The cave she's fallen into is illuminated by the soft glow of small worms.

TLDR;;

• Bethany and Jareth's concentration on the telepathic bond is broken, and a hastily cast nullification spell makes them feel like their mind is on fire when attempting to communicate via telepathy.
  
• Bethany has fallen down a sinkhole, and there's something big down there... Will you help her get out? Or will you help her deal with whatever's in the dark?
  
• Ronan learns that the person he's killed is likely enslaved; a human marked up with Elgar'nan's personal vallaslin... sus.
  
• Any injuries Bethany sustains from this pretty long distance fall into the underground, are up to Ailyn! Just remember... she's down there alone (for now).

Broad as he willed his awareness to be, Ronan still found himself all-consumed. In an instant of realization and grim understanding, his fingers froze in their rough handed search of the corpse sprawled at his feet. His features read indifferent, his almost bored expression hiding the deepening dread rising from the darkest pits of his stomach. Damnit Marcus he said under his breath, the scene around them erupting in enough chaos to make the comment inaudible. He knew this one. 

There was rarely honor among thieves, but Marcus had always been one of the reliable ones. Gloved hands creaked as he centered the lolled head of his friend by his chin. His eyes narrowed further. Curious that Marcus Durand, a human, would be marked the way of the elves. There was no denying the markings. Vallaslin in its true iteration, servitude. Fuck. He choked out before standing up quickly at the sound of crumbling rock and unsteady ground. 

Suddenly earth moved, opening its greedy maw with suspicious accuracy and swallowed it's offering. His reaction was delayed, like his senses were coming to terms with the situation in slow motion. Not only was a very good friend dead at his hand, but now they were quite literally down a party member. He sprinted to the edge of the cavern, stopping just short of the ledge as he peered down into the void. The fuck if he was letting a Hawke die on his watch, he'd never hear the end of it. 

Sound off Hawke! Her being alive was the first step in the process of saving her. From there they might work out the particulars as a team, willingly or otherwise. 

TLDR;
Ronan has realized that he killed someone he knew very well, and has noted the odd placement vallaslin on a human. He stands back up in time to see Bethany falling and runs to the edge of the hole to see if she's still alive and hasn't been eaten by the Rancor yet.

Things had been going smoothly, the hastily made plan working in their favor, but that could only last so long.  The ground began to rumble and shake beneath them, and before she could react it gave away completely beneath her feet.  She reached out, hands trying to grasp anything to keep her from falling, but the only thing she caught was air.

The way down was a blur, rock and root taking their toll as she spend toward the bottom.  She tried to summon a gust of air to soften her landing, but even that seemed to backfire and she hit the ground hard enough to black out.

When she came to her entire body ached.  Her head was throbbing and when she opened her eyes the light from above seemed too bright and she couldn't quite seem to bring everything into focus.  As awareness began to spread through the rest of her body, other pain points made themselves know - a wrist, ribs, a leg - something was wrong with each but exactly what would take more concentration than she'd been able to manage so far.

There was a shout from above, but it took an extra moment for it to register.  Was someone calling her name?  "I'm alive," she yelled back, but she didn't sound like herself.  It was weaker than usual, perhaps even a bit uncertain.

When she attempted to move pain shot through her body, causing her to falter.  A more careful examination would reveal that a rib or two was likely cracked, but something had left quite the gash along them as well.  The wrist, her left, was fairly useless in its current broken state.  Luckily, the knee had gotten off with a mere sprain.  Not good, but it could have been worse given the distance.

A jolt of fear went through her when she heard the tell-tale scrape of claws against rock, the ground shaking ever so slightly as footsteps began to rumble toward her.  A faint growl accompanied them, and Bethany knew that she was in serious trouble if she didn't find a way out of here before whatever it was caught up with her.

She tried to reach out through the link she and Jareth had woven, only to find herself repelled with a searing pain.  She stopped, it eased, and she took a breath to try and refocus.  Her next yell up was slightly more confident, if laced with pain, "I'm not alone down here, there's something big coming!"

She fumbled around for her staff, eventually grabbing it and leaned against the side of the cave.  There wasn't any cover to speak of, so she needed to be ready when whatever was coming showed itself.  In the meantime, she tried to focus enough to bring her magic to bear on her injuries, but she wasn't terribly confident in what she could do given the lack of focus her head wound was causing.

TLDR:

• Beth's pretty injured by the fall, including a concussion that's making it hard for her to concentrate and cast
  
• She let them know she's alive and that (the rancor) is coming for her
  

The world shifted with a cracking heave. Throwing him into the side of the wagon before him as the presence that was  the telepatchic link went dead. Alarm flared. He not know the position of the other party members save for Elyon. Those around him dead or unconscious offered no anwsers to what was happening. They were spilt up and if reforcemnt were to arrive. Because at this rate with how ill timed an earthquake were to occur why not a bloster of cutthroat are their heels? They would be picked off. Thankful this human he had hamstring was slight. Easy enough to carry for the most part. Grimacing at the pain in his arm from the still embedded knife. He should deal with that. Later. After he knew were his companions were. 

Elyon. May we regroup with the others? feeling a little better with having the man at his side.

Ooc: Cian can't figure out if the earthquake is magical per roll. Regroups with elyon to try and find the others. Is carrying the dude he hamstringed.

Coco's senses were then deprived of the other party members' voices as the mind link broke, the clamor of the world drowned by the quake that reverberated through the earth. Bethany's sudden disappearance, swallowed by the vast expanse that had opened up, was an alarming sight. Bethany! With a swift shift, she transformed into a hawk, her form defying the limitations of her human shell. The skyward ascent granted her a bird's-eye view, a circling sentinel above the growing chasm. And then, like a seamless transformation, she reclaimed her human embodiment, finding herself at Ronan's side. Her lips, stained with the blood of her earlier adversary, pressed into a determined line.

Bethany? Hold on, Coco's words were a resolute pledge, her voice brimming with a blend of concern and urgency. She peered into the yawning abyss, where darkness cloaked the fate of Bethany. Frustration mingled with determination as she reached within herself, tapping into the wellspring of her nature-infused abilities. With deft intent, she summoned forth a resilient vine, a verdant lifeline extending downward into the unknown depths. We have to find a way down there, Ronan. The effort etched lines of concentration onto her features, the energy of the earth coursing through her being.

Coco's gaze shifted to Ronan briefly, before returning to the chasm that separated them from their companion. Can you see down there? Her voice carried a thread of hope, tinged with apprehension. She took a steadying breath, her grip firm on the vine that she had summoned to bridge their worlds. I'm sending down a vine you can climb… We'll get you out of there, she called, her nature magic tethered to her determination. Yet, even as she worked to aid Bethany, a flicker of uncertainty gnawed at her. How long could she sustain this display of power before fatigue claimed her, and the fragile lifeline she'd woven dwindled away? The seconds ticked by, urgency underscoring every heartbeat as Coco straddled the delicate balance between her capabilities and the task at hand.

TLDR

- Coco noticed the mine link broke but saw Bethany fall in the distance and focused on that instead.
- She over to the sinkhole by Ronan’s side and summoned a vine in an attempt to get Bethany out.
- Suggested to Ronan that he could climb down to get Bethany if it doesn’t work and told Bethany she’s sending down the vine.
- Coco is lowering the vine in the hole, there’s no guarantee it’s long enough to reach Bethany though.

Jareth's mind seared with pain as the telepathic link shattered, leaving him feeling like his thoughts were ablaze. The instability from the quake further disoriented him, and he tried to warn Bethany, but the chaos and noise of the moment swallowed his words. He watched in helpless dismay as she fell into the darkness below.

Coco's arrival brought a glimmer of hope, her nature-infused magic extending a vine towards Bethany's aid. The desperation and urgency in the air began to clear Jareth's mind, his determination resurfacing. He steadied himself, willing the throbbing headache to subside.

Drawing from the depths of his magical abilities, Jareth took a deep breath and summoned his own magic. Spirit magic, the taboo that once surrounded such powers has hurt many, and he hoped that the world had moved beyond its misconceptions. With a swift, fluid motion, he summons a Spirit Wisp, conjuring a helpful ally to augment Coco's abilities.

The spirit's presence radiated a comforting and ethereal energy. It hovered beside Jareth and Coco, intertwining its essence with their efforts. The combined might of Coco's magic, the spirit's assistance, and Jareth's own resolve amplified the power behind the extended vine.

As the vine extended downwards into the depths, supported by the combined might of their powers, Jareth's voice, though strained, resonated with unwavering determination. You've got this, Coco. We're going to get her out of there.

All that was left was to wait. Their determination as solid as the earth beneath their feet. In this crucial moment, their combined efforts would determine whether they could rescue Bethany and face whatever awaited in the darkness below.

TLDR:

• Jareth summons spirit magic.
  
• The Spirit Wisp's soft glow illuminates the area and hovers beside Jareth, exuding an aura of calm and aid.
  
• The wisp positions itself between Jareth and Coco, infusing their combined magical efforts into the extended vine to rescue Bethany.
  
• Jareth reassures Coco and expresses determination to rescue Bethany.
  

He nearly loses his balance when the grime begins to quake suddenly, using his staff to keep his feet on the ground. "What the hell?" The sudden silence accompanied Bethany disappearing into the ground, meaning they lost their link. He nods his agreement, jogging to where the others were. 

"What's down there?" Her voice was strained, given the height of the fall, she had to be battered. "I'm coming down." He says and, probably stupidly, begins to descend the vine to help her back up. 

Tldr:
Elyon regroups with the others
Climbs down the vine to help Bethany up

RONAN'S realization that he has striken down an old friend has unsettled him. The Reaper's run from his own mind many times before, but tonight there's something in the air that makes ignoring the feeling of death (new and old) harder.

For the duration of the thread, Ronan is going to feel like he might die. And as a result, when it's his turn to post, Grace should roll a dice (d20). d1 is auto fail, d20 is auto win, but otherwise she needs to roll a 14 or higher for Ronan to succeed the action that he's doing.

Actions being things combat and perception-related. Let's hope the dice favor our boy. @????? ??? ?????? please include your dice roll numbers in the tldr, just so we can track them. Something... good might happen, if you hit good checks.

This was no ordinary band of thieves they'd set upon. No. This was altogether something more. If for no other reason other than his sinking dread, Ronan knew this time to be wholly different. Nothing felt right. As he peered down into the void, adrenaline coursing through him, he felt an unfamiliar twinge. 

Damnit Marcus, you weren't meant for this kind of end. 

Dread like nothing before, an all consuming rampage of remorse filled him and he staggered back as if struck directly in the heart. He even clutched at the jerkin strapped over his chest, his jaw clenching. He was going to die, and it would be today. It would be now. It....

All of the sudden he snapped out of his spiral, and focused on the vine being lowered into the hole. If he was going to die,  it might as well be doing something worthy of song. Stay hidden Hawke, I'm coming down. He commenced an agile descent down the vine draped along the precarious earthen edge of the chasm. 

TLDR;
Was pretty sure he was going to die from grief over what he'd done, but managed to snap out of it in time to take advantage of the vine being lowered into the chasm. 

I rolled an 18 for his chaos check xD

No no no, they shouldn't be coming down, she just needed to get back up.  The last thing she wanted was someone else getting hurt on her behalf when it was her own stupid fault she was stuck down here.  She'd just have to figure out how to climb a vine with one good arm and leg, while the thing in the tunnel was getting ever closer.  She was a Hawke, this should be easy.

Doing her best to concentrate, she tried to expend a bit of creation magic to get herself into better shape.  It was never as easy performing it on yourself as it was on someone else, but she hoped she'd be able to get her knee in line so she had a chance of being able to run or climb when the time came.  Luck, or perhaps the influence of Jareth's spirit wisp, was in her favor and she managed to focus long enough to get her knee back into working condition.  It would be a touch stiff or sore for the next couple days, but it wouldn't be an issue for the time being.

Deciding to push her luck a little further, she then began to work on her wrist.  The focus she'd managed to grasp stayed long enough for the bones to slip back into place and stitch together before it slipped.  It still ached, but it would be functional enough for now.

However, the effort of starting to heal herself made the pounding in her head worse, and she doubted she'd do a great job defending herself against whatever was coming.  Her companions it seemed were determined not to leave her behind, with Elyon coming down and Ronan soon after.

They'd find her leaning heavily against the wall, gaze a bit unfocused.  "Elyon, can you bring down the tunnel entrance over there, block whatever's coming from getting to us?"  Normally she'd do it herself, but for the moment she was spent.  "And I'll need one of you to help me back up the..." words escaped her at the end and the best she could do was wave her hand in the general direction of the vine.

TLDR

• Rolled a 20 on healing her knee, so it's all better
  
• Rolled a 20 on healing her wrist, so it's also better
  
• Asks Elyon to bring down the tunnel to block the rancor from getting to them
  
• Will need help to get out of the cave