The Wader of Sangris part 4 has started at Outside Arx - Saffron Chain near Hissah - The Caldera.

When the night passes without any major incidents the S'Ki people seem content that the Wader has no objection to your visiting the lake. They show you a path down to the rusty-red surface and warn that the lake itself is poisonous to anything but the birds and certain types of fish. Some of them hover nearby clearly wanting to watch.

The lake is more of a massive puddle from depth alone and it seems that you should be able to wade across to the central island of mud-baked waders nests. Simple. The birds do look kind of agitated though..

Domonico wields Raptor's Reach, a rubicund-tipped cornel-shafted Dory spear.

Calla is dressed sensibly in one of her short toga dresses, but even as they come to the lake, she looks out at the shalow waters a frown forming on her forehead. "Wasn't there something in the legend about using stilts to get to the middle of the lake?" She comments quietly to her group.

"/Bone/ stilts," Medeia agrees. She's in her leathers and rubicund and aeterna, as usual.

Domonico walks with the group, his spear at the ready again just in case there are any birds... or bird gods that become deserving of a stabbing. The stern Count surveys the area carefully, letting the others talk as he watches for danger.

Stretching his arms up as he woke, the Lord Martino Malvici got a better nights sleep than other nights. Mostly because he was kept under lock and key in a tent guarded by siblings. Oh what fun...

"Bone stilts? Well I am not sure I packed them with me." Twisting his lips, Martino's hands are resting upon his trousers as he glances over his shoulder for if there is any trees nearby, "What if we lifted the egg up and called a bird across?"

Thea too is dressed in leathers, muttering to her brother,"No. I am NOT swimming the damn lake." She surveys the area however, asking,"Isnt there a boat?"

Nope. No boats.

Medeia surveys the shore line and surrounding flora, trying to get a feel for what might be a decent alternative to bone stilts. "I wonder why bone? Does wood not hold up to whatever is in the water?" She looks for a falen branch or similar to poke into the water.

"Right, bones." Calla shoots a thankful smile in Medeia's direction before her frown deepens a little bit. Then to Martino, "I think the idea is that we have to actually return it to appease the Wader, not get it mostly there and have the birds do the rest. They really only fed us fish, so I suppose they don't have any cow or sheep or somesuch bones laying around...I wonder if it has to be bone, or if anything non flesh would work."

There is actually a remarkable lack of anything tree-like close to the lake but after a bit you do find a shrub with a woody stem and a somewhat-petrified bird corpse. Poking the branch-stick into the water doesn't cause anything immediate to happen but the branch does look rather slimy when you remove it.

Domonico hmmphs, "Can't we just hurl it to the island?" he sweeps his gaze around the place as he mulls ideas over in his head.

Its improbable that you could throw any item that far and even more improbable that you could hit a specific target if you did.

"Mmmm, yes it is strange to be /just/ bones." Martino's brow is furrowing as he turns his eyes away from over his shoulder to Medeia and Calla. Nodding his head as he points his fingertip off to the shrub, "I shall have a look what is back there, I mean the water might not be /too/ bad really since the stilts are giving them height to avoid the... skin touching the water?" Shrugging, Martino turns and wanders off slowly, inspecting the shrub before gagging loudly, "Ew. Dead bird."

"We're trying to maintain a level of respect for the people and their traditions..." Calla says in lowered tones to Domonico. "Otherwise I might just agree." Then Martino's disgust is registered and she goes to check out the dead bird he is referencing. "A big one? How are it's bones?"

Thea goes off to look around the lake a bit before she hears Martino. Jogging over to see the bird, she goes to inspect it,"Ive seen things youve--,"she starts. "This isn't bad."

The dead birds feathers have changed to a weird stonelike consistency and its shrivelled body is also grey and hard. The bones are all there, intact, and in their original form it seems, but the biggest bone is its leg and its only about as wide around as Calla's ring finger.

Domonico settles into sentry mode as the others examine and explore, eyes keeping up rather than down as he stands guard.

@emit Following Thea toward Martino's alert of the dead bird, she notes the stone-like petrification. "I wonder what caused this? Did it land in or drink the lake water?" As she is wearing her gloves, she carefully crouches and examines the bird to see if she canfigure out if the source of the petrification was external or internal.

"Mmm how is the stick looking now Thea?" Martino's kneeling by the dead bird, twitching his lips as leans over it slightly to inspect, "I am starting to wonder if the water is what does this to the birds, or if not being /in/ the water does it. I mean this is all just a theory but... from the story. We know the water is not good and scoulds, we know they make stone eggs." Lifting his chin as Medeia comes across, Martino's lips curl smoothly to her, flicking his sharp greens to Calla, "So perhaps the egg can get on a raft and... is pushed? Although I am not sure how respectful that might be."

Medeia checks intellect and investigation at daunting. Medeia catastrophically fails.

Martino checks intellect and investigation at daunting. Martino marginally fails.

Poking and prodding at the dead bird determines that it is indeed stoney in texture and very fragile. The stone feathers in particular break away at the slightest touch. You think given its posture that it was probably an external source but you're not really sure how you would even determine that without dunking another bird in the water just to check.


Lagging behind the rest of the group is Baroness Ember Redreef. She's opted to take in the panoramic view, stopping a bit short of the end of the path to look around at the full vista and, for a moment, watch her compatriots as they investigate. The quartz egg remains safely tucked down her top, situated comfortably.

As the group discusses the logistics of how to get the egg back to where it's meant to be, instead of its current warm and comfortable resting place, Ember approaches and rests a hand on Medeia's shoulder. No, it's not to apologize for how a sleeping Ember rolled over and tried to big-spoon Medeia in the middle of the night in their tent. Instead it just seems to be to keep her from approaching the water TOO closely.

The bird is crumbling in Medeia's hands and, well, that's not helpful. She stands and steps back, brushing her hands against each other to get the resideue off her gloves. She's looking out over the water, at the Wader's isle, when Ember approaches and puts a hand on her. Medeia looks aside at the Bloody Baroness, then back at the isle. "Baroness... That boy? He told you how to pray to the Wader, didn't he?"

"I mean it could be..." Calla concedes carefully as she watches others do their investigations of the dead bird while keeping a safe distance herself... because caution is good. "There has to be a way to get it over there properly, but we may have to look for alternative ways soon enough." She replies to Martino for his suggestion of a raft. Then Medeia's question for Ember catches her interest.

The dunked wood is going a lovely shade of black.

Only its not really lovely.

Murmurs from the tribespeople who came to watch, spoken in their own particular language, can just be made out from their position up on a nearby rock formation.

"Ugh!" Martino's eyes roll for a moment as he realises Medeia's question, tisking as he pushes himself up to his feet from the bird, "That is a - very - good idea. It looks like, similar to the story and the egg, it crumbles apart in our fingertips," Wrinkling his nose, rubbing his fingertips together, Martino attempts to clear off the bone-dust as he nods to Calla, "Mmm perhaps we should walk around the shallow lake a bit as well. In case praying does not work." Lifting his eyes up slowly, Martino exhales as the tribespeople arrive, "Oh... or we get them to do it."

Thea looks over her shoulder, eyebrow lifted. "Why would--it be that hard to get them to pray? I say we get them to do it. Maybe we can--include ourselves?"

Domonico starts to idly wonder whether time would be better spent building a catapult to launch the egg back at the island. He pauses before he looks back at the water, grimacing at it as he rubs the charm of Mangata around his neck idly.


Ember arches an eyebrow at Martino's last suggestion. "Yes, we've earned something approximating their trust," she says dryly. "Now let's talk them into boiling themselves alive for their lake god." Ember does not sound terribly swayed by the idea, any more than that dunked wood looks truly lovely. The Baroness glances over to Thea. "...oh, yes, get them to pray, of course, I... misunderstood. ...prayer won't hurt us to try," she says. "I hope. Lady Medeia, Baroness Calla, do look away for a moment, please. And make sure Lord Martino looks away as well." This is because Ember's about to loosen her top enough to reach in and fish out the quartz egg.

"In the story," Medeia begins to explain, "The curious child asked the..." She sighs at everyone as she glances around at them. She shakes her head and turns away as Ember requested. She continues, slightly less amicably, "Perhaps the bone stilts were too obvious? Maybe since then, the lake has changed? If we are trying to /return/ the egg, the Wader may be willing to answer how to get to his isle again."

Calla averts her eyes politely when requested to before shooting a look in Martino's direction. "Lor Martino wouldn't dare peek, I'm sure." She teases softly. Then to Medeia, she nods. "It's not a bad idea really,. And like Baroness ember said, praying doesn't hurt. I'm not covinced though that the answer won't still be stilts." She looks over at the tribesman, "What if we asked them if they know where we can get bones big enough to make stilts out of..."

Calla checks luck at normal. Calla marginally fails.

Glancing away at Ember's voice, lifting his chin to the sky, Martino tisks at Calla's words, "Oh certainly not! I would risk upsetting someone. Asking to peek is always good practice after all." Turning his back from Ember, Martino's hands tuck behind his lower back as he mmms at Calla, "That sounds a good idea asking them, if the Wader is not on our side."

Domonico starts looking Martino up and down, hmmming quietly to himself. "Well... Martino is the tallest of us. We could probably make a good pair of bone stilts out of him if absolutely necessary." The lack of a smile from Domonico might cast some doubt on if he is joking or not.

Thea checks charm and manipulation at normal. Thea is marginally successful.

Martino checks charm and manipulation at normal. Martino is successful.

Medeia checks charm and empathy at normal. Medeia is successful.

Calla checks charm and diplomacy at normal. Calla is successful.


Ember is quick about retrieving the egg, at least. Keeping it held in one hand, she doesn't quite fully fix up her top afterward, in the spirit of all the classic adventurers of myth who showed off a bit of cleavage while engaging in feats of derring-do. Not that Ember is especially ample, but sometimes you just have to let the Bloody Baroness have her moments, for her self-esteem.

"...ask them to pray with us," Ember says, to the group. "Then copy my posture." Ember is apparently aware enough of her own limitations to avoid taking on public speaking herself. Before she kneels, she turns toward the chieftain's position and holds the quartz egg aloft, to confirm to him that it's in her hand. Then she turns toward the lake and kneels, setting herself into the same posture as before, but holding the egg in her fist outward toward the lake as though it might summon the Wader. "We can spend some time in the Shrines later to apologize to the Pantheon, if we must," Ember notes dryly to the group before she begins a silent, artless prayer.

Ember checks charm and theology at normal. Ember is marginally successful.

Medeia heads up to the tribespeople who are watching and seeks out any of the ones she spoke to the night before, and speaks with them. In quiet tones, she explains how she is hoping that the Wader may decide to be forthcoming now, because the intent is to return the egg. She asks them to join, understanding that they have already endured so much and that she wants to help them, wants them to be able to have peace and abundance again. She is in full on heart-on-sleeve mode, promising them all that she will join in. When she has convinced as many as she could, she goes back down by Ember to be bale to see what posture she is emulating and does so as best she can.

Thea tries to help Medeia. Honest. As she gives an inspiring speech, she gives her own. Possibly flubbing it

When Ember takes the lead with the praying, Calla nods in agreement before heading over to the tribespeople with one of her warmest smiles as she follows up Medeia's words with assurances that we are there only to help right a wrong that was done to them, and that if we joined our voices in prayers we could maybe alter the fortune of the S'Ki people and bridge the gap between them and the wading birds who used to help them. then she too will try and replicate Ember's posture and try really hard to look like she's praying, something pretty unfamiliar to her.

just a little. Maybe Thea helped. Just a little.

"See... well for us. We do not want to pray /wrong/ to the Wader. If we do that... isn't that going to make the Wader mad?" Martino's brow is furrowing in as he speaks with the leader's wife and the leader once more, his hands gesturing down to Ember attempting to pray, "And a mad Wader is worse. So much worse! So would you help us?" After speaking, Martino walks back down, turning in his leather boots, to stand somewhat further back from the praying and Ember in case clothes have not been corrected.

The S'Ki seem dubious about this whole praying idea but they dutifully line up, kneel down, and spend 30 seconds or so praying. Its possible they too are just mimicking Ember. Most of them give an almost expectant look to the lake afterwards as if expecting to see something. Alas. If anything changed its not something you can see. After the praying is done one of the S'Ki asks, "Are you going to take the egg back?"

Domonico doesn't pray in the same way as the others, squatting down near the edge of the water, spear planted in the ground for support and he holds a hand out, hovering over the water. Other than that, he is silent.

Domonico hmms, "Hot..." he murmurs to himself, turning his hand over as he feels the heat of the water.


After leading the assembled people in either prayer or the imitation of prayer, Ember stands and turns toward the tribesperson who called out to her. "The story of the egg thief called for stilts of bone," Ember calls back. She looks over at Domonico, watching his hand over the water, hearing his verdict. "Would the Wader have me boiled down to a bleached skeleton to return this egg? I should hope not," she says back to the tribespeople. "I'm rather attached to my sinew." Her eyes cast back out at the lake, and the Baroness briefly frowns. "If we leave to go hunting for a means of transport," she says, "we risk appearing as though we're abandoning our quest right at the edge of completion." She kneels again, not to pray, but to hold the hand that clutches the egg just over the water, as though she might get a sense for its temperature by bringing her knuckles close.

"Yes, we are planning on taking it back, but we don't have any stilts like in the story," Calla explains to the S'Ki person who spoke up. "Do you know where we can find some?"

Glancing left-right-left again, Martino's forehead furrows in as he asks, "What if we got them to bring bone stilts to us?" Glancing further over his shoulder, across to the tribes people, Martino's lips are twitching as he notes, "One of the younger ones might be quicker than us as well..." Then, curling his lips, Martino smiles across to Calla in nodding agreement.

Calla's question isn't answered immediately. First the S'Ki looks back at one of the people who were schmoozed last time. When he nods the woman looks back to Calla and nods. "Yes. For all of you?"

"Yes, for all of us if you could." Calla replies, beaming brightly. "Thank you so much."

Medeia just stays on the ground in prayer position because she's out of ideas and... well now she's just annoyed about the stilts, so, she's gonna stay on the ground for a moment.

"You know... if there is a way I can /avoid/ trying to balance over boiling water that turns things black and... not great looking..." Martino's fingertip angling to point at Thea's stick, "But. You are going to make me. Aren't you?"

Thanks to the good relations you've built with the S'Ki people it really is that easy. They vanish and a bit later come back with six pairs of stilts. They appear to strap to the lower leg and raise you about three foot off the ground. "Be careful." the lady says "Water hard to wash away and hard to know how deep sometimes."

Domonico shakes his head at Martino's comment, "If you do not feel safe with doing that then you had better stay here on land. I would rather not have to have to explain to Kaia how you got all burned."

Thea glances at Domonico and huffs,"He can try it on land. If he fucks up, then you know he cant do it.."

Thea checks perception and survival at normal. Thea is marginally successful.

"Well that was easy." Calla lowers her voice to only include the group when the tribespeople are off fetching the stilts. "I wouldn't dream of making you do anything you don't want to Martino." Though she looks a little uncertain herself when the stilts are brought back and handed out but she straps a set on all the same and takes her chances.


Ember stays knelt down, and glances over at the similarly not-standing Medeia. She wags her eyebrows, once, like she's sharing a private joke with the woman or something. "Stay close to me," Ember says to the Saik, quietly. As the bone stilts are brought over, Ember stands and walks toward Calla. "Baroness. This is your domain. I think it only right that you be the one to present the egg to the Wader." She holds it out in offering before everyone straps up.

Domonico nods, "Good idea Thea. Actually this might worthwhile everyone practicing this first to get used to them."

Calla checks perception and survival at normal. Calla marginally fails.

Ember checks perception and survival at hard. Ember marginally fails.

Exhaling as he rolls his eyes, Martino replies, "Look I am not being the /only/ one staying back..." Flopping his rear onto the floor, Martino begins to tie stilts around his feet to bring himself up, "And, hey. If I do a practice I will just fail the real thing." Carefully, steadily, Martino tests.

Martino checks perception and survival at normal. Martino is successful.

Hot caustic lake water 20 inflicted and Ember is harmed for minor damage.

Hot caustic lake water 20 inflicted and Calla is harmed for minor damage.

Domonico checks perception and survival at hard. Botch! Domonico is simply outclassed. This is monumentally beyond them and the result is ruinous.

Hot caustic lake water 80 inflicted and Domonico is harmed for serious damage.

As the stilts get handed around, Medeia refuses. That just won't end well. She looks at everyone else. "I'll be here, with the medical supplies. Try not to need them?"

"Are you sure?" Calla asks Ember before taking the egg herself and tucking it into the front of her toga, her rope belt keeping it from falling down as she makes her way out into the water to lead the group. She tries her darndest but there still a learning curve and a couple of times she gets too close to others and her legs are splashed with their steps, once she catches an unseen dip in the lake floor and her foot goes briefly under the water. Each time she hisses with brief pain of contact, but doesn't stop.

Sinking the stilts down into the water, the Lord Martino Malvici's extra three-foot of height gives him such a vantage point over the smaller people below him. Flickering his eyes to watch Calla dip the egg down the toga, he hums hush to himself while smoothly sinking the stilts into the water, "I could get used to this height." Carefully, inspecting the ground, the Malvici Lord stilts through and avoids a few buckles from others.


"Quite sure. The S'Ki are more useful speaking of their debt to Baroness Vaevici than Baroness Redreef." Ember nods to Calla as the egg is handed off, and then looks back over her shoulder to Medeia, giving the woman a deeper 'I understand' type nod. Then Ember fixes herself up with some stilts and... it could go worse. It really could. But every time the boiling water hits her, either from a splash or from her stilt coming down on a rock rather than the lake floor, the Bloody Baroness makes a deep, silent grimace without taking her eyes off the other Baroness, or the island ahead of them.

With the party venturing out onto the water the birds get more and more agitated. A number of them give threat displays, much like the one on the bridge, but for now they just sort of gather around you in a mob that stays just out of lunging range.

Thea carefully uses her stilts, eyeing up the birds. "Please stay,"she mumbles. She gives a quick check of her brothers before she goes again.

Domonico, after striding confidentally across the dry land first to get the feel of the stilts and walking on them, wades out into the water. He doesn't get far as within a few steps his right stilt comes down and keeps going, sinking into what might have been a particularly soft part of the lake bottom. There was no time to correct it and the Magnotta Count pitches into the caustic water. The cry of pain that erupts from him as he hits the water is... rather loud indeed as it burns his exposed skin and some even gets into his eyes.

There is considerable splashing for a moment before he rights himself, barely and hauls himself out of the water back to shore, teeth gritted in pain before he falls to the ground, trying to wipe the horrendous liquid from him. "Fuck!"

Ember checks luck and dodge at hard. Ember is successful.

Calla checks luck and dodge at hard. Calla fails.

Martino checks luck and dodge at hard. Martino is marginally successful.

Thea checks luck and dodge at hard. Thea is marginally successful.

Medeia checks wits and medicine at hard. Medeia is marginally successful.

In almost the same moment that Domonico's splash and expletive echoes through the air a sudden whoosh sounds practically underneath Calla's feet. A moment later two jets of boiling water shoots skywards between you and the island before falling down in a particularly unpleasant version of rain. Domonico is saved by virtue of already being half-way to shore but everyone else (except, somehow, Ember) gets splashed to varying extents by the cascading water.

splashed with boiling water 15 inflicted and Martino is harmed for moderate damage.

splashed with boiling water 15 inflicted and Thea is unharmed.

splashed with boiling water 25 inflicted and Calla is harmed for moderate damage.

"Mmm... we've got the birds... we've got... ugh!" Martino's grip tightens on the stilts as he continues to move through the waters, his fitted burgundy shirt catching some of the boiling water while others rains upon his neck as he ducks, "Th-- we there y-yet?" Complaining already, Martino's eyes narrow as he continues to stilt-walk across with the group.

Calla is stepping a bit more carefully after her earlier troubles, her arms stretched out to each side for balance as she pokes the lake floor tentatively before commiting to each step. She wobbles a bit when the sound of someone splashing into the water is heard behind her and she turns her head suddenly to see who it is. While she's watching Domonico get to shore, nervously chewing at her lower lip, she fails to notice the geysers of boiling water right in front of her and gets splashed considerably as she is closest to the spraying. Instinctively her arms move to protect where the egg is lying under her dress, even as she lets out a muffled cry. Once the obscene rain stops trickling down, she sets her face with frim determination and continues onto the island.

@emit Watching as everyone else takes off on stilts, Medeia feels helpless for an entire second before seeing that they are getting splashed and will need to be rinsed off when they return to shore. She quickly goes to the tribespeople and asks if they can spare any containers of clean water. She has no idea if she'll get it, but she heads back down - they know where to find her at any rate. The waterskin she /does/ have in her satchel is brought out, along with some rags. It's about that time that Domonico goes down and she's scooping up that waterskin. When he gets to shore, she springs into (cautious) action, trying not to get any of the lake water on herself. "Count, hold still a moment, please! Here is a rag, I am going to use this waterskin to rinse your eyes first."

Two of the S'Ki nod and hurry off towards their settlement.


Maybe Ember's prayers did make a difference. Her stilt catches on something at the bottom of the lake, and the Bloody Baroness pauses to take care in moving forward, so she doesn't trip and take a dunk like poor Domonico. (Ember did look over her shoulder to make sure that he made it back to shore. Honest.) That pause is what keeps her from being caught in the geysers, just a step too far back to be caught in the explosions of water. "Baroness! Lady Thea! Lord Martino!" Ember barks as she turns her head, to avoid catching scalding droplets in her eyes. "We're almost there-- We can't give up now..."

Domonico manages to stay still for a few moments as Medeia pours water to rinse his eyes and he mutters something about Mangata as he lets the Saik work on him. "Wine. Water. In pack," he manages to say, gesturing over to where he left the supply pack.

Thea's eyes round as Domonico falls. Usual instinct would cause her to run, but she's walking on burning water right now. Then Martino and others are burned with the water--as well as herself. She winces at the pain, thanking the Gods for her leathers. Gritting her teeth, Thea keeps going until the end.

As the water finally dies away the next problem immediately begins. This time it comes in the form of massive birds flying straight at you whilst others try to to gouge pieces out with their beaks. You have to get through them to get to the island but it seems relatively close. Surely this will be the last trial.

Ember checks dexterity and medium wpn at hard. Critical Success! Ember is spectacularly successful.

Calla checks dexterity at easy. Calla is marginally successful.

Martino checks perception and dodge at normal. Martino marginally fails.

Pecked and Battered 10 inflicted and Martino is harmed for minor damage.

"Watch out for th---" Martino's right hand points up to the birds flying and beginging to get aggressive with him, his eyes narrowing to try and make a break for it to the land. He does, partly. He stays on his feet, Martino's stilts digging into the waters as he wades through but no matter how much he tries turning. The peckers get him, snipping at his shoulders, his neck, "Ugh ge--get off. I--" Waving his hands about, wobbling slightly more, Martino tries to shoo the birds as he plows forward to land.

Thea checks dexterity and small wpn at easy. Thea fails.

Pecked and Battered 20 inflicted and Thea is unharmed.

Thea hears Martino. Really. She does. But it's too late. They narrow in on her and swarm. Thea starts waving her arms around, dagger in hand. She doesnt want to KILL any! And what happens? "You feathered fuckhead, give me back my dagger,"she yells, tugging on the handle. Thea.is.wrestling.with.a.damn.bird!


When the sound of the birds begins to rupture the air, Ember growls. She draws her sword -- somehow, on pure instinct, keeping her balance while she does so -- and immediately moves in front of Calla, to cut out of the air any bird that dares approach the Vaevici Majestrix. "KEEP GOING!" Ember roars, sounding like she's close to actually losing her temper, which suggests that Ember's normal angry, intense self is her with her temper kept in check. Calla has the egg, so Ember defends Calla. She'll send the Malvicis rum later as an apology.

Calla's arms tighten around the stone egg she's carrying when the birds streak towards them, bracing herself... Until Ember comes in like a saviour and moves in front of her to keep the birds at bay. She doesn't have time to stop to thank her, instead reacting to the Bloody Baroness' roar instantly, and moves as quickly as she can towards the island, not stopping, or even looking around, till she gets there.

The birds just keep coming as you press up onto the island nest-site and start hunting for the wader's nest. Its difficult not to step on eggs and chicks as you try to make your way through the protective adults. Eventually though you find a cluster of four other stone-quartz eggs in a stoney depression. Is this the nest?

There is no obvious side effect from killing one of the birds. The die as easily as you would expect birds to die.

Gasping as he lands upon the island, sinking his knees down into it, Martino quickly adjusts to remove the strappings and escape away from the waters. Groaning as the tiny chicks cheep-cheep, Martino lifting up his chin and hand to point across to the stoney land, "Egg. There and... ugh. This sound." Shuddering, Martino looks at the tiny birds as he sighs, "It is like far too many small children." Groaning as he pushes himself back to his feet, the Malvici Lord is taking stock of his attire. Adjusting, straightening it, drifting his eyes over the others as they arrive in their own tatters, "You know, once, I washed up with just a shoe. Was a good night."

One of the chicks attempts to peck Martino's foot.

Ember checks dexterity and dodge at hard. Ember is marginally successful.

Domonico still is getting washed down on the shore by Medeia, wishing he was in the cool embrace of the sea right now.


Ember slashes at attacking birds, keeping close to Calla, seeking to defend her fellow Baroness at all costs. Once the shore is reached, Ember sheathes her sword -- the charmingly named Blood of Redreef -- and sets to undoing her stilts. "Is anyone hurt badly?" Ember asks of the group. She looks down at the many baby birds and frowns, beginning to step as gingerly as she can to avoid disrupting the island too much and kicking off yet another saga of the Wader's resentment. She glances back at the others again, and her amber eyes realize that their clothing is fraying. "...I would advise we act quickly," she says, "lest you all find yourselves rather... unprotected."

"Oi you!" Martino leans forward, his left hand waving as the chick going for his foot to try and shoo it off. Replying afar, Martino's says, "I'll stay here there are... just too many tiny birds, they all look too... vicious."

Calla also sheds her stilts once they are at the island so she can move more freely. "I am fine, I just want to get this done so we can brave the trek back." She is trying really hard to avoid stepping on any actual baby birds, as she looks through the different nests. When Martino calls out about finding a possible spot, she wanders over to the stone depression where other stone eggs are resting. "This has to be it." She hopes at least, digging the stone egg from the inside of her dress before gingerly placing it next to its kin in the stone nest, tensing just a bit expectantly as she waits to see what happens.

Calla returns the egg to the nest and two things immediately happen. One bird tries to bite her butt (only to be deflected by Ember's overwatch) and a handful of long grey flight feathers fall into the depression in such a space that Calla could collect them if she wanted. Meanwhile the vicious chick continues its over-enthusiastic attempts to murder Martino's boots.


To the people across the lake, Ember reaching out to swat the bird away from Calla's butt really does just look like Ember grabbed the Majestrix on her ass.

Calla doesn't even realize that a bird was coming for her posterior when Ember knocks it away, looking over her shoulder to see the bird get punted away from her. "Thanks." she says rather gratefully before reaching back down to pick up those grey flight feathers. "I think we are done, lets get out of here and leave them in peace."

Thea is still reeling from bird attacks. She stumbles about TRYING not to step on eggs and babies. She does hear some crunching noises, causing her to flinch. Nope. Doesn't want to know. "Please. Yes. Before I develop a phobia..."

Martino checks composure and empathy at hard. Martino is successful.

"You... bird. Ugh!" Martino's tearing his foot away and steps closer to the edge of the island as he makes distance. Narrowing his eyes at the tiny chick, the vicious beast of the island. Lifting his chin only at the moment that Ember is swatting somewhat near Calla's ass, "Well... I guess I should have stuck to the party Baroness then." Muttering to himself, Martino's gathering stilts and getting ready once more.

The retreat from the island is fraught with mamma birds attacking people and the awkward needs to manage the treacherous footing without stepping on any of the so-ugly-they-are-cute hatchlings. The attacks continue for a short distance away from the low lying nest-island before ending almost suddenly. Nothing else happens on your way back to shore.

At about the same time that the main group returns to the shore the S'Ki turn up with the casks of water that Medeia requested. Just in time to let you wash the worst of the almost soapy water residue from your skins and stop anything worse than a blister or two from developing.


Once the egg has been put back into its place, Ember sets her hands on her hips for a moment, looking around like she expected some kind of... something. The Wader, rising up to give a big nod of approval or something. Instead, there's a handful of feathers. Ember purses her lips in a thoughtful, brow-furrowed look and then looks over to Martino: "Sticking with me is... almost always good advice, in a dangerous situation." Ember arches a brow instead of smiling. "Almost always." Then it's back to shore, slowly and carefully.

After only a couple harrowing moments on the way back to shore, Calla finally heaves a sigh of relief when they are back on the shore and immediately after shedding her stilts, goes for some of the fresh water to clean off the soapy film from the lake water, making sure to drench her clothes to stop the caustic properties.

Medeia is coordinating the casks of water and triaging the get Calla, Martino, Ember, and Thea cleaned as best they can be of the lake's caustic water. She calls for additionals rags, towels, or blankets - something in that vein, to help wipe away and dry her companions. It's hectic for a bit, but once everyone is settled, she's able to start passing around some burn salve and bandages.

Straightening herself and making her way back to shore, Thea goes back to shore again. Safely. Away from attack birds and not killed babies. Getting to her destination, Thea simply flops on shore, looking to Deia. "Need help?"catching her breath.

"Well... Baroness Ember I know a few /very/ dangerous situations to be in..." Martino's leans to Ember's side as they arrive back onto the shore, murmuring hush to her as he purrs, "Might need your help to pin someone down. Mm? Can you? Oh let me know." Flickering a deviously broad smile across to Ember, Martino walks across to the bucket of fresh water and gathers up scoops to slop over his face, ruining the hair's tight hold and washing away the last of the perfume, "Well, egg returned... hopefully that should see some peace around here."

After washing off the worst of it you return to the S'Ki settlement where the leader thanks you for your part in returning the egg and promises to repay the Vaevici's at some point in the future. You get to properly wash yourselves, and your clothes too, when you once again overnight with them. They all seem rather impressed by your feathers and several even offer to trade for them.

After that you retrace your steps back to the road, where again you join an escort, and from there go back into the city through that gory (and very smelly) boneyard the city seems to consider an appropriate first impression. The journey back is rather uneventful, especially considering the trials you went through on the way out there.


Ember is the least affected by the caustic water, somehow. "Is the Count well?" she asks Medeia, before she's even taken off her stilts. Then she looks to Martino as he leans in and purrs to her. "...careful, my Lord. If you ask for my aid, you may receive it in ways unexpected." She glances to where Calla is washing lake residue off of herself. Ember unlaces her blouse and untucks it from the trousers she's been wearing. Fortunately, she wears a bustier underneath, for modesty's sake. "Here," she says, "It will be more dignified returning to Sangris in this than a blanket." Ember herself does take a blanket, though, to drape over herself and at least somewhat cover her bustiered glory.

Takes the shirt from Ember with a smile of thanks. "I appreciate it." Calla says softly. She denies offers to trade for the feathers she was able to get, instead handing them out to the others if they didn't get any of their own. She does the diplomatic thing with the leader of the S'ki, accepting his offer of future repayment gracefully. She's in a pretty good mood for the rest of the trip back to Sangris, and plans an evening of entertainment to celebrate once everyone's recovered from the trip.

"Oh... sweet S'Ki... sweetness." Martino's struggling for words to describe the S'Ki Leader's wife as he approaches her, moving to settle the feather down in her palms. "Please, for you as part of the signs of trade for us. I'll write to you, of course. From home." Lies. Crinkling his eyes, the Lord Martino catches up with the group and follows with the group back to Sangris, "So... we are staying overnight? Baronesssss." Martino's voice rolling smooth tones to Ember, turning his chin towards her as he crinkles his eyes as he mmms, "That offer of yours? Might need help."

Martino's gift gains another promise that the tribe will offer their help at some point in the future. Its a little unclear if that promise has been given just to Martino or to any of you.

Thea almost died by birds(twice) and got burned alive. She's keeping this feather. Maybe to test it out. All she knows, it's not an ordinary feather. Thea does give Martino a very noticeable eyeroll as he talks to the wife. Again.


Ember sits patiently for Medeia's healing attention, and when it's over, the suntanned and scar-laced Redreef feels better than she has in... months. She keeps the blanket over her shoulders afterward, not so much out of modesty as just to keep from giving herself a sunburn. When Calla gives her a feather, she turns it over in her hands thoughtfully. "I would be happy to give you some grappling instruction, Lord Martino," Ember says, and she actually offers a little smirk. Just a little one. "I can demonstrate some rather devastating joint holds that would keep someone from getting up."

Before leaving, Ember seeks out the chieftain, and hands over her feather. "Tell the Wader that should they ever take flight and see the world a bit, they are always welcome in Redreef Shores." Ember wags her brows, and then moves to rejoin her Compact friends.

The chieftain seems to hold the feather in great symbolic esteem. Once it has been handed over he promises "If you return this way we will do our best to assist you Ember."