Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost

[Cartoonicat]

As told, Clem set Danielle carefully on her feet. She smiled in thanks. The rookie witch's comfort around humans seemed odd in comparison to her coven sisters, who exchanged glances and conversed quietly upon asked for help. Lianna caught wind of "cave" and "patron" alongside mention of rule-breaking.

"Since our coven is comprised of wild and city witches," one woman began to explain, "we have safe areas throughout the forest as well as Steamhaven, but..."

Another one chimed in. "Our patron believes in traditional gender-exclusivity. We are not allowed to bring men there." She bit her lip. "I don't know how we can help."

Lianna could try to convince them to break their patron's rules or she could suggest another idea.

- Persuade them
- Threaten them
- Hide in the ruins of Bellmere city
- Flee to the forest
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"It would not be for long," Lianna said, looking around anxiously for any signs of pursuit, "We just need to hide out for the night and we'll be out of your hair tomorrow. Besides those vampires might be coming for you soon anyway, and if that happens we will happily provide the stakes." Whoever was their patron, Lianna knew that she wanted nothing to do with them. And she hoped they didn't want anything to do with Lianna's group, "We won't interrupt your spells, you have our words." She turned to her Hunters, "Don't they?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

While Clem and Aunt Muriel seemed uncomfortable with the idea, their disdain did not rival Clara's. "I'll protect myself is what I'll do," she said. Meanwhile, Fiona looked like she might be sick. Dan had yet to converge with the group since the second explosion, but Lianna could see him flitting about, retrieving items from the broken stone road.

The witches exchanged glances before one sighed. "We are going to be in so much trouble... Alright. You can come with us, but please behave and don't stray. The last thing we need is attracting attention from the full-wild covens," she nodded towards the flaming library. "You've already seen one's 'hospitality'."

Danielle smiled brightly. "Ooh, this is exciting-" Her voice broke again and, instinctively, her hand flew to the scar tissue. She cleared her throat, forced to settle down. "I believe I even saw some vampires join our fight near the end. I wonder if they survived... Are we taking everyone?"

"We'll take those who wish to come," said the witch. "Let's go, then. We have a good ten-minute trek before reaching the trees."

- Rally the Summit survivors
- Look around some more
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

While Lianna was grateful to everyone that took her side when the vampires attacked, she had her group to take care of as a priority. She wouldn't go out of her way to call everyone over, or attract any unwanted attention, but if they found someone who wouldn't outright attack them on the way to the coven's hideout, she would persuade the witches to accept them. After all, it is only fair, not matter how silly it was for a Hunter to try being a medium between supernaturals.

But before that, "What is it?" She asked Dan, approaching to peek over his shoulder.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Oh!" Dan startled and looked up at her. "Just collecting shrapnel for later use, really... ah! But I did find this," he held up a blue hat pin, shining and vibrant in near-mint condition despite its obvious antique design. "Reminds me of when I was little, all the fancy women donned pins like these."

- Ask where he found it
- Ask to have the pin
- Leave him to it
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna grabbed the pin out of his hands instinctively. Then she realised what she had done and hurried to explain, "It's mine. I must have dropped it when I was running." She said, quickly pinning it to her vest. Was a certain vampire trying to contact her again?

 

[Cartoonicat]

Dan's brows lifted curiously, then he smiled. "Well, I am glad I found it, then," he said. Ruckus came from the library ruins, causing Dan and what other survivors heard it to peer over. Movement from the second story windows forced people to their feet.

"The Bramble Root Coven will offer shelter until morning," announced the witch, "but we have to go. Now!" A few individuals split from the group, opting to go their own way, but the majority stuck together. Wolves helped witches and witches helped humans and, what appeared to be a vampire, ran beside the Child Stealer's eldest son, still carrying Blaine.

And like that, the dam had broken: Vampires poured out of the open windows and gaps in the walls, landing gracefully on the ground below.

Clara grimaced and peered over her shoulder. "They're like insects, crawling out of a rock." From several feet away, the twin vampires stuck out their tongues at her.

- Run with the group
- Create a distraction
- Break away from the group
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

There were too many of them to be fast enough. And those damned vampires were too agile for the walking corpses that they were. Lianna thought for a moment if she should stay back, but that would only be foolish, she wouldn't be able to fight them off by herself. But there was something that could be done.

"Dan! Can you throw one of your explosives behind us?" Lianna asked, "Or can we set some booby traps fast enough?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Ah! Yes, but one moment..." Dan wrenched one of the explosives from his bag and slowed to tinker with it, falling several feet behind the group.

- Grab Dan
- Let him tinker
- Throw the explosive
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Walk and tinker, Dan!" Lianna growled, grabbing his arm to drag him along, "And hurry up, please."

 

[Cartoonicat]

"I am handling a delicate contraption capable of blowing our arms off, do not jostle me!" Dan snapped, and it may have been one of the first times Lianna had ever witnessed him do so, much less aimed at her.

A click sounded from the explosive and Dan chucked far it behind them. It burst upon contact and, unlike the blasts before, this one sprayed blood and shrapnel in every direction. What few vampires didn't get hit stopped to check on their wounded allies.

- Snap back at him
- Apologize
- Praise him
- Run in silence
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna couldn't help but stare at him wide-eyed for a moment, processing. Did he just yell at her? While others would have gotten a smack in return, she only smiled at Dan, shrugging her shoulder, "You say that for every thing you make and I'm still in one piece." However, seeing the mess it made of the vampires, she reconsidered, "Perhaps you were right about this one."

 

[Cartoonicat]

Dan sighed in relief as they ran. Turned apologetic eyes on her. "I did not mean to snap. Tinkering with devices of such volatile temperament are... stress-inducing," he said, "I apologize."

- Forgive him
- Don't forgive him
- Ignore him
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I know, I know," Lianna reached out to pat his back, "I'm sorry for almost blowing us up as well."

 

[Cartoonicat]

​

Dan smiled and the two pressed on, quickly catching up to the fleeing survivors.
-----
As expected, it took roughly ten minutes to reach the forest. Beyond that, guided by half of the present Bramble Root witches, the group navigated easily through the forest. Only once did someone trigger a pitfall trap, but the witches' vines caught and carried them back to safety. The group arrived at their destination within the hour and without any added scars.

Illuminated by torchlights overhead stood a massive shrine to some sort of tentacled being. Moss-covered pillars accented a dark, hollowed portion of the statue that led deeper inside.

With a sigh, one of the Bramble Witches turned to the group. "I understand not all of us share the same values and beliefs but, to the Bramble Root Coven, this is a holy place," she said. "On top of that, we are asking far more of our patron than we ever have by inviting you in. So... please be respectful. Do not touch anything without our—... no, actually, just don't touch anything." She gestured for the group to step inside. "Women first, if you would..."

"What?" Both Aunt Muriel and the Child Stealer spoke at the same time. They exchanged ruffled glances before addressing the witch again. "I'm not splitting my team," Aunt Muriel said, "and I am especially not leaving my son to come in last."

The Child Stealer nodded. "My pack stays together."

- Compromise
- Argue
- Do nothing
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Miss... werewolf..." Lianna started then continued awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I have not learned your name yet. If you are worried for your boys you can come in as the last of the females while they comes in as the first of the men, so technically you will be a step apart." She suggested. "And, Aunt Muriel, please, we've come far enough. There's really no need to argue now. The witches did not need to extend their hospitality yet they did, the least we can do is follow their lead now." Besides, whatever creepy deity did they worship in here, Lianna was not eager to anger it.

 

[Cartoonicat]

The Child Stealer regarded Lianna and Aunt Muriel carefully. "Eden," she introduced herself. Standing next to her daughter, Marla, the two appeared so similar they could be twins, if not for the obvious difference in age. Blonde hair with dark roots; tired, blue-grey eyes; weathered, in Eden's case, fair skin; and tall, well-built frames. Eden watched Aunt Muriel curiously but said nothing.

"I am just trying to keep us safe, Lianna," she said. "I have known witches to lure in travelers and string them up on pikes for their demons to feast upon. That isn't going to happen while I'm around."

Clara nodded. "I'm on Muriel's side; this reeks of a trap."

"Ummm..." Danielle inserted herself sheepishly into the conversation, "If it helps, our patron is vegetarian." She smiled.

Clara blinked slowly. "It doesn't, no."

"Oh, okay."

- Argue with Aunt Muriel
- Persuade Aunt Muriel
- Bargain with Aunt Muriel
- Ignore Aunt Muriel
- Ask a question
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Aunt Muriel, it's either we stay outside and get ambushed by vampires who will certainly kill us, or we go inside and maybe get made into stakes for a monster. I'd rather go with the maybe and hope that the monster is really a vegetarian." Lianna tried to reason.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Aunt Muriel glanced between Lianna and the mouth of the cave. "Fine," she relented, "fine, alright. Let's go." She looked to Clem, then. "Stay with Dan... and Dan?"

"Hm?" Dan snapped his eyes towards Muriel, having been taking in the sights.

"Pay attention," Muriel deadpanned.

The witches waved for the group to follow them and, one by one, they did. As instructed, women went first and the men entered last. Upon stepping inside, Lianna felt an instant presence surround them, yet she saw nothing but the stone-carved architecture and the Summit rebellion. Still, it felt like eyes were on them.

- Ask about the Bramble Root Coven
- Ask about the cave
- Ask something else
- Walk in silence
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna tried to stay close to Danielle, so she can get some clarification on the whole situation. Looking around she frowned, this was not exactly her ideal outing.

"Does your, um, patron live with you?" She asked.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"She does! Well, sort of?" As they walked through the halls, Danielle pointed out large inflorescences that bloomed from seemingly nothing every thirty feet or so. "Those are corpse flowers, and there are how our Mistress Gul travels quickly through the cave—and to the city, too." Upon noticing Lianna's discomfort, she smiled sheepishly. "Mistress Gul is strict, but she can be reasoned with... erm, sometimes. A-Anyway, it'll be alright. I'm sure of it."

- Ask another question
- Change the subject
- Say nothing
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Mistress Gul and corpse flowers... Lianna suddenly did not want to know anything more about this strange deity, or whatever it was. Instead she stopped to wait for her group to catch up. She wanted to check on Blaine. Perhaps ask Fiona to heal him as well, and definitely stay close to her so she doesn't freak out.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Blaine had changed hands—rather, shoulders, considering how he was carried—from Marla's older brother to the defected vampire. Said vampire, a pallid woman with a cross necklace and modest clothes, caught Lianna's eye. Quickly, she averted her gaze and continued walking with Blaine's arms draped over her shoulders. Beside her Marla's older brother, massaging his shoulders and stretching his arms as they walked.

Fiona walked several feet away, flanked on each side by Clem, Clara, Aunt Muriel, and Dan, though the latter often dragged behind to inspect the architecture and plants. It seems the other Hunters had the same idea of keeping Fiona calm.

- Address the vampire
- Approach Fiona
- Check on Blaine
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Satisfied to see Fiona taken care of, Lianna walked toward the vampire woman with Blaine in tow. She nodded, trying her best to remain civil in the presence of a vampire, though she couldn't force the warmth into her tone, "Can you put him down, please? I'd like to see how he is."

 

[Cartoonicat]

The woman met Lianna's eyes only briefly before stopping. Marla's older brother slowed, brow lifting. "The Nun healed him earlier," she said, "but the silver is still in his system." Sure enough, as the woman set Blaine on the ground, Lianna could see no physical wounds. The only indication he'd been in battle were the shreds in his clothes. Beneath them, on his once marred skin, were now blotchy, rash-like bruises in the shape of each claw mark the rat witch had left. "If excessive blood clotting doesn't kill him, the allergic reaction will."

"Rosie here is a doctor," said Marla's older brother.

The vampire made a face. "Thanks for outing my name... it's Rose, though," she said.

- Ask a question
- Demand she save him
- Do something else
- Other