Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost

[ArcticFox]

"I'm Lianna." She said with a small nod. Her revulsion needed to be put aside once again. And once again in favour of saving another supernatural. For some reason she didn't see Blaine and Danielle as supernaturals at that moment, she saw them as people that helped her even though she tried to be as unlikable as possible back there. She owed them both and would try to return the favour even if it meant bargaining with a vampire. "Rose, can you do anything for him?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Nothing substantial," Rose broke eye contact once again. "My supplies are with the coven. I didn't expect the Summit to become a blood bath, much less betray my comrades."

Marla's brother hummed. "Vampires live a long time, so how about ancient remedies?"

Rose made another face. "I'm not that old. Besides, to make any of that stuff work we'd need a lot of..." She paused massaging the bridge between her eyes. "Wait, the Bramble Roots are phytomancers," she sat up straight and looked towards the front of the group. "This place is probably crawling with natural antihistamines."

Lianna could ask the witches for more help or, if given an ingredient list by Rose, she could ask forgiveness rather than permission and search the cave for herbs to save Blaine.

- Ask the witches
- Search the cave
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I'll ask the witches..." Lianna sighed, wondering how she kept on getting into these situations. She approached Danielle again, being the most comfortable around her, and asked, "Would anyone in your coven be willing to help Rose there find some herbs to clear our werewolf ally?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

Danielle turned, brows lifting. "Oh? Ahh, is it the Goldhound? I mean... he's a man but it should be fine... I think." She glanced towards the other witches ahead. They grew tense the deeper they guided the group into the cave. Danielle turned with a sheepish smile. "Actually, um... maybe not." Her smile faltered. "Still, I want to help. What plants do you need?"

Lianna could send Danielle to Rose for instructions or she could take the responsibility into her own hands.

- Let Danielle handle it
- Search the cave yourself
- Search the cave with Danielle
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Let's see with Rose." Lianna offered. Somehow she would feel more at ease if she was involved in this whole situation. Hopefully she'll be a better mediator this time.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Danielle nodded and broke away from her coven sisters to meet with Rose, who had just lifted Blaine back onto her shoulders. "Are you Rose?" The vampire in question nodded. Despite the height difference between herself and Blaine—Rose couldn't be taller than five foot two or so—and her thin arms, she carried him with relative ease, though his feet did drag on the floor. "What ingredients do you need?"

"He has the list," Rose nodded towards Marla's older brother, who passed over a small piece of parchment with several, hastily scribbled herb names. "I need as many of each as you can find."

"Let's see... stinging nettle? We have that near the dining hall, I think... and, uh, butterbur? Butterbur, butterbur... I'm not su- OH!" Her voice broke and she coughed with a wince. "We have that. And... garlic?" She quirked a brow at the vampire.

Rose simply shrugged.

- Ask about the garlic
- Search for ingredients
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

Rose would not be able to touch the garlic, but Lianna assumed that Danielle or herself would help if needed. She just nodded at the list and turn to the witch, "Let's find them quickly."

 

[Cartoonicat]

And so the two set off, breaking away from the group into a small tunnel attached to the main hallway originally barred by thick, thorny vines. With a flick of her wrist and a focused chant, Danielle ordered the entryway clear. None, as far as the two noticed, had seen them leave.

"I'm guessing the girls will situate everyone around that area," Danielle explained. "While it's technically part of the temple, sacred grounds, whatever you'd like to call this place, it's not the heart. Think like... a really long foyer." She smiled. "It also has easy access to the rest of the base. See?" Danielle pushed aside a curtain of flowered vines to reveal a compact village a couple of hundred feet below.

Bramble Root Coven
​

While the stone-carved village looked relatively abandoned, something about it teemed with life. Perhaps it was the flora crawling along the rocks or the gentle beam of moonlight that cast a warm glow. Danielle looked drastically out of place in her clothes, which matched more with Violette's style than the natural look of the Bramble Root Coven.

"Psst!" Danielle waved her over to a hallway arch carved into the stone. "This way," she whispered, "and be quiet. Only a few of us went to the Summit—the rest are probably sleeping."

She disappeared into the hallway.

- Follow Danielle
- Turn back
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Wow, this is huge," Lianna said, her voice a hushed whisper. How many witches were there? And how many more covens like this existed? To imagine all of them performing blood rites made Lianna's skin crawl. Pushing that thought away, she focused on following Danielle.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Mhm," Danielle hummed. "It's kind of empty, though. Bramble Root used to be a wild coven until Mistress Gul began accepting city girls... two-hundred years ago? Three? Anyway, this place is meant to hold the entire coven, but only about half actually live here." She shrugged and lead them through a darkened hallway with arches on the right side that opened up to the cavernous space. Eventually, they reached stone steps and the witch began to descend. "There are no windows here, so be careful; it's dark."

Lianna could follow Danielle into the dark, enclosed space or she could try to find another way down that didn't leave her so vulnerable.

- Follow Danielle
- Find an alternate route
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

She trusted Danielle in the Summit, she will trust her here, Lianna decided. It did not leave her feeling any less vulnerable though and she found herself placing a hand on the butt of her shotgun as they walked through those dark hallways, just in case.

 

[Cartoonicat]

The pair descended the stairs quietly and, upon reaching the bottom, Danielle poked her head out of the archway. Moonlight streamed in from the outside, highlighting her features: Fair, unblemished skin save for the scar tissue along her neck and dainty features that contrasted her shaggy short hair hidden by an elaborately decorated cap. After a moment, she hid back behind the arch wall and gave Lianna a thumbs up.

"Do you see that building?" She pointed towards the nearest building with a whisper, though it was still a wide stretch of open space away. "On the count of three, we go straight for it." She began counting down silently with her fingers.

The sound of footsteps thudded casually down the steps behind them, but Danielle didn't seem to notice. Lianna, however, did. At a quick glance, Lianna noticed only one place to hide: A barrel in the corner of the small room, assuming it was empty.

- Go now
- Hide
- Wait
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

No need to hide now. Lianna decided she would hope that whoever was coming was friendly. So she continued following Danielle and ran after her.

 

[Cartoonicat]

Upon counting down to three, Danielle ran into the open. However, just a few steps in, a voice sounded from behind them. "Danielle?" The witch in question froze before turning around with a nervous smile. The woman who addressed them stood in the archway. "What are you doing in here? And who is this?"

"This is, uhh, my friend-" Danielle tried.

The woman startled with a frown. "Is that blood on your blouse?" Blood from her previous wound had stained Danielle's blouse a deep crimson and she'd not gotten a chance to change it since. The woman stepped back, eyes landing on Lianna as if registering then she might be a threat. "What happened at the Summit? Where are the others?"

"Umm..." Danielle looked reluctant to answer her.

- Tell the truth
- Make up a story
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"Everyone is gathered in your... salon." Lianna said, not knowing what word to use, "The Summit turned bloody but I think that your coven did not suffer any losses, madam. However, there are other wounded that have sought shelter with you and Danielle and I have been trying to locate some herbs to treat them."

 

[Cartoonicat]

The woman blinked rapidly, registering Lianna's words. "There are more outsiders? No wonder Mistress Gul is agitated! You-" She paled. "You didn't bring any men, did you?"

Danielle seemed to shrink with a nervous laugh. "Well, uh... about tha-" Her head whipped to the side, a bright red hand-print decorating her cheek. The slap echoed, cutting through the otherwise quiet night. "...I'm sorry."

"Return to your quarters," the woman's voice grew cold. She looked to Lianna, "And you, along with your party, must leave immediately."

- Beg
- Bargain
- Threaten
- Leave
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"We can't leave!" Lianna protested, "We have wounded in there. And children!" She frowned, "The rest of your coven was kind enough to let us come with them, how can you be so heartless?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

The woman faltered at the mention of children, but she quickly shook her head. "No, no, no, you don't understand," she said. "Mistress Gul-" A warm humidity permeated the area and her eyes widened. She looked around. With the sweet scent of flowers came the faint buzzing of flies, the sound growing louder by the second. "She's here. She's here, you have to hide."

Underfoot, a squishy moss had begun to form. Several corpse flowers decorated the area, but Lianna saw many opportunities to hide: Barrels and crates and a wheelbarrow filled the space, along with a large campfire and full food rack. Not to mention the nearest building, which is where Danielle and Lianna were initially headed.

- Hide outside
- Hide in the building
- Don't hide
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I did not drag all those people this far only to have them thrown out." Lianna gritted her teeth, "Let me talk to your mistress." She said, standing in the same spot, waiting for whatever was coming to materialise.

 

[Cartoonicat]

"How admirable," came a disembodied, almost buzzing voice. Both witches stared at Lianna in surprise. The nearest corpse flower expanded in size, growing and stretching until its leaf became the dress of an abnormally tall woman who sprouted from its singular inflorescence. From her head sprouted thick vines that moved seemingly of their own accord. Thorns jutted from her shoulders, elbows, and knuckles where fingers should have been. Flies danced around her waist. Mistress Gul leveled Lianna with a stare, pupilless eyes so white they may have been glowing. "Unfortunately, I do not endorse charity cases."

- Introduce yourself
- Apologize
- Argue
- Bargain
- Plead
- Say nothing
- Other
- (Optional): Show respect

 

[ArcticFox]

"Of course not." Lianna said, trying to force politeness into her voice, "However, there surely must be something I can offer in return. What would you want in exchange of letting the people up there take sanctuary for the night? And gather some herbs we need for the wounded?"

 

[Cartoonicat]

Mistress Gul's looked Lianna up and down, the only indication being the slight movement of her head. She hummed with mild interest: "Make me an offer, Hunter." As far as Lianna knew, nobody had told Mistress Gul her identity and she herself had never interacted with the demon before.

Making deals with witches and wolves and vampires were one thing, but bargaining with a demon may hold higher consequences. Lianna didn't know much about them—nor did most Hunters, even those specializing in witch-hunting—or how to defeat one, should she need to. Most were rumored to favor human sacrifices but, according to Danielle, Mistress Gul did not.

Lianna didn't have access to much, being so new to Steamhaven, but she knew several people who could provide something. Clara had her wealth; Dan had profound knowledge; Patrick, his weapons; and so on. Assuming they cooperated.

- Offer wealth
- Offer knowledge
- Offer weapons
- Offer something else
- Try a different tactic
- Other

 

[ArcticFox]

"I have nothing else to give you, but myself, mistress Gul." Lianna said. While she had friends with more to offer than her, she could not bargain with their lives, knowledge or wealth like that. It was not hers to give, "I am a Hunter, as you already know, and killing is my speciality. Even you must have enemies."

 

[Cartoonicat]

"Oh?" Mistress Gul threatened to smile. She crossed her arms casually and not one, but two vines protruding from her back reached forward to brush, feather-light, against Lianna's arms, hair, and face as if inspecting her. "I wonder, Hunter... can you kill a demon?"

- Yes
- No
- Ask for details
- Say nothing
- Other
- (Optional): Shy away from the vines

 

[ArcticFox]

Lianna stood her ground, not wanting to be taunted by the creepy demon. She had all those people up there and she had to make it up to them. It was after all partially her fault that everything that gone to hell like that.

"I can certainly try." She answered finally. After all she hunted everything supernatural, a demon was just a larger prey.