In search of the Fountain of Youth(Dovie)
Date: 2025-09-01 19:40
(In search of the Fountain of Youth(Dovie):Dovie)
[Mon Sep 1 2025]
In a dense jungle outpost deep in Eastern Navorost/span>/spanThe jungles of Eastern Navorost breathe with a life all their own. Hot, dense, and ever-watchful, there is a sense that this place is alive, even if hidden from plain view. The air here hangs thick with humid tension, the kind that clings to the skin and fogs thoughts, promising a thunderous downpour at any moment. Every leaf seems oversized, every vine a coil of waiting muscle, draped in dew and swaying with secrets. Insects buzz in maddening choruses, from high-pitched whines that slip beneath helmets to deep, resonant drones that vibrate through the underbrush./span>/spanAmong the sea of tangled green and shadow stands a wooden outpost, half-sunken into the foliage. Built from dark jungle timber and patched with salvaged cloth and metal, it is barely visible beneath the creeping ferns, mosses, and flowering vines that have reclaimed its walls. A crumbling sign, barely legible through the lichen, hints at a name long forgotten. Wooden walkways creak underfoot, leading to raised platforms strung between trees like crude watchtowers./span>/spanBird calls and distant howls echo unnervingly through the trees, mingling with the steady drip of condensation and the restless stirring of things unseen. Twisting roots rise like ribs from the forest floor, knotted and slick with moss. Trees tower in impossible shapes, some with glowing sap that pulses faintly like a heartbeat. Spiral-shelled beetles the size of dinner plates scuttle beneath broad leaves. Butterflies as large as hawks float by, and in the distance, something feathered and scaled lets out a rattling, prehistoric screech./span>/spannight, about 74F(23C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey clouds. The mist is heaviest At High and Washington/span>/span There is a waxing gibbous moon.
Dovie taps her satellite GPS attachment on her phone. “Obie’s on the way, he’ll be here soon.” She nods to Amber and Lillian. “Fascinating information and very helpful to know.” She looks around the jungle, warily. “I suppose we’ll see what we’re up against today…
Standing near a wooden outpost is a lanky man, seeming to be in his late 20s or so, dressed in an explorer’s uniform that doesn’t really fit. His sleeves are rolled sloppily, his boots are half laced and his satchel is stuffed with random odds and ends of things, including a dented waterskin. With sandy blond hair and hazel eyes, the man waves to the approaching group. “Heya! Are you all here for the-” he looks at a scrap of paper in his hands. “Expedition with the Concord?” He looks around between Gabriel, Obadiah, Sofia, Esme, Lillian and Amber. “I’m Duncan! Alester told me about the trip and I’m hoping to impress the Conchcord.”
Obadiah steps out of the mirror and back onto line with Dovie
Esme considers Alester for a moment with a subtly dubious expression, but just nods once. “Nice to meetcha.”
Amber offers a lazy salute towards Duncan, “Yo.” She glances to Dovie, looking to see if this was expected.
Sofia sizes Duncan up for a beat, sharing a look with Esme before asking the man, “What exactly are you here to do, Duncan?”
Lillian gives the lanky man a polite, finger-wiggling wave and a faint smile. “Hey. Sounds about…” And then she trails off upon noticing the others’ reactions, looking to Dovie for her lead now.
Duncan points a thumb at his chest proudly. “Thanks! What’s your name? I’m technically Duncan Duncan the Third, but you can just call me Duncan. The numbers get confusing, numbers are confusing.” He waves to Amber and Lillian while Dovie grimaces. “Alright well if Alester said you could come along…”
Duncan turns to Sofia with the biggest puppy-dog goof smile, “Here to make an impression! Go on an adventure and work my way into the group!”
Dovie squints at Duncan, but sighs, pulling out her map. “We shouldn’t lose any more light… it’s already getting dark. I was given the map after the latest full moon, we’re looking for a group of arcanists here in the jungle called the Verdant Circle… rumor has it they’re protectors of the fountain, have been for generations and generations since the dawn of whenever.”
Obadiah glances to Gabriel, Sofia and Esme as he stands kind of close to them and Dovie, letting them take a the lead.
Duncan looks eagerly around at the group, exuding that golden retriever energy.
Esme leans over to whisper something to Sofia before straightening back up. “Esme.” She introduces herself to Duncan with a faint smile, nodding to Dovie. “Yeah. Best to get moving.”
“Dark isn’t too big a problem for me, but probably fuck-huge Wilds monsters or something waiting to eat us out here…” Amber gives a shudder at the idea, “Which way we go?”
Sofia grins back to Esme and replies coolly, “Possibly both, fun! Oh, and I’m Sofia.” Her ears perk up as Dovie mentions of the Verdant Circle and she says, “I’ve heard of those guys before! From a gardener actually, when I mentioned we might be getting in new plants from Novorost. Apparently they’re in tight with the fae, made a lot of bargains and stuff in the past. Maybe that’s news we can use.” She pauses and glances to someone. “Say, you aren’t from the Verdant Circle, Are ya, Dunk-Dunk-Duncan?”
Dovie nods resolutely at Esme, getting her weapons from her heavy duty backpack. “Yep, this way,” she starts taking off towards the north, trudging through the jungle undergrowth. The air is hot and heavy and the sounds from the forest are loud: bird calls, insect noises of all kinds, and the whisper of the breeze every now and again.
As they march ahead, Duncan stays close to Amber and Lillian. “My mum makes a stew that smells JUST like this jungle!” he guffaws before scratching his head, “Well like, sorta. Less bugs and more carrots!”
Lillian briefly looks a bit more fascinated by the man. “Duncan Duncan the Third…” she mumbles to herself. She looks like she wants to ask so many questions about his name and family history, but she uses all of her self-control to stay focused on the task. “Do you know if the Verdant Circle is going to take issue with outsiders coming to meet them in search of the thing they’re protecting?”
Sofia grins back to Esme and replies coolly, “Possibly both, fun! Oh, and I’m Sofia.” Her ears perk up as Dovie mentions of the Verdant Circle and she says, “I’ve heard of those guys before! From a gardener actually, when I mentioned we might be getting in new plants from Novorost. Apparently they’re in tight with the fae, made a lot of bargains and stuff in the past. Maybe that’s news we can use.” She pauses and glances to Duncan. “Say, you aren’t from the Verdant Circle, Are ya, Dunk-Dunk-Duncan?”
Obadiah gives a wave, “Obie Mercer. Of those Mercers.”
Well if Duncan is going to stay close, Lillian might as well ask her burning question. “Does the name ‘Duncan’ have some kind of significance of your family for you all to keep the name Duncan Duncan going between generations? Oh, right… I’m Lillian, by the way.”
Esme falls quiet as she follows along, keeping an eye out through the undergrowth and around it for any possible danger.
Dovie calls out to Lillian as they march, “No idea,” she says cheerfully. “We’ll have to see. Rumor has it they’re tied in with the local fae somehow, but I figure some of us are fae here, so hopefully we’ll see… eye to eye?” It’s hopeful, this suggestion.
She nods at Sofia, relieved. “Oh good, good.”
Duncan, meanwhile, whirls around to face Sofia. “Nah! I’m in a knitting circle though? We’re the Knit Happens Circle!” he says proudly before gasping at Obadiah. “Wow! A real Mercer!” As Dovie leads the way, he continues chatting with the others, shaking his head at Lillian. “Just the Duncan clan!” he says, cheerfully. “Lotta people think we’re involved with Dunkin Donuts. But we’re not. Well, we think we’re not, my Aunt Dunlap thinks maybe someone stole the idea from someone in the family…”
“I always kinda assumed Wildlings just eat the bugs,” Amber admits over to Duncan in turn, not paying a whole lot of attention as they trudge. “Blake,” she gives by way of introduction, not clarifying that it’s her last name.
Esme lifts her gaze skyward as they walk, “I hear wings flappin…” She cautions the group, not immediately on alert for agressiveness but just making sure people are aware.
Esme says “Like gettin’ closer“
Gabriel is following along in relative silence but at the mention of wings getting closer he’s already reaching for his pocket.
Dovie leads the group ever forward through this suffocating jungle, saying little while the newcomer Duncan seems to fill a lot of the space with endless chatter. Eventually they come to a canopied area. The sound of a bird in distress reaches their ears and as they move along, they would find a giant baby macaw/span>/span“Oh my god it’s the McDonalds bird!” Duncan cries out, pointing.
“Hope you’re real skilled with those knitting needles then, Dunks,” Sofia grunts back to Duncan as they wind along. She hears the flapping herself, pivoting over to the bird that he points out. “I thought the McDonalds bird was that horrifying yellow thing with pigtails. This thing seems… decidedly cuter than that.” She strolls on up towards the bird, keeping a fair distance, but getting a closer look nonetheless, still seeming pretty casual.
“McDonalds bird?” Lillian repeats. She opens her mouth, again just about ready to ask this man tangential questions about his life, but instead closes it and looks at the bird more closely. “Do you know if there is any benefit to hunting a baby McDonalds bird over an adult one, Duncan?”
“McDonalds bird?” Esme echos, confused, she slows her steps though, keeping her bow up – not at the trapped bird but at the surrounding area in case the birds cries draw trouble.
“Okay, I know jack shit about animals, but I know if you try to save a baby bird the mother comes and pecks your face out,” Amber chimes in, warily, keeping on the far edge of the group, “Do we need a bird for something? Maybe we should just carry on and let nature take its course?”
Obadiah wanders through the jungle taking note of all the things as the usual suspects keep tabs on the flora and fauna of this far off place. “I am getting the willies about this place,” he says fondling his dirk. “Too… nice.”
Duncan pats his badly packed russack. A little packet of tic-tacs falls out, which he scoops up, awkwardly as if it were contraband. “I got the knit sticks somewhere!” he tells Sofia as the group moves to examine this poor creature.
Dovie shrugs at Esme, glaring at Duncan a bit. “No idea, but…” she frowns. “I feel bad for this thing. What should we do?” She looks between Amber and Obadiah. “I’m down for whatever the group feels is the right thing.”
Dovie adds to Amber. “It wasn’t in the notes that Alester or the Concordat gave me, so… I don’t think so? But who knows. This jungle is mysterious.”
Though fearful and in pain, the baby bird mimics Esme. “McDonalds bird? Krrrraaa!”
“I think, with baby birds, you’re supposed to free them if you can but also try to avoid touching them?” Sofia says to Dovie, almost questioning her own judgment. “I guess if it were up to me, I’d just cut the snare free and let it go on its way. I mean it’s probably big enough that it can fly right now, right? Maybe? Or at least get back to its mom or whatever.”
Even though Gabriel is still reaching for a weapon he chimes in, “We could save it. It’s possible the parent isn’t around or maybe it’s intelligent enough to understand we helped. Either way we risk pissing something off.”
“It’s a cool bird,” Obadiah says with a shrug, “I’ll go along with the group though.”
“I’m surprised-” Esme starts and then blinks at the bird as it mimics her. “Yeah I was gonna say I’m surprised the ma ain’t already here…i think cutting the snare would probably be okay if we’re careful?”
“If this bird has been caught by locals, possibly the same locals we are seeking the help of, it might be unwise to free it,” Lillian offers to the group. “But also if they weren’t the people who caught it, or whoever was hunting it has abandoned it, then I’d rather free the poor thing.” She looks startled when it mimics Esme.
Dovie glances to Sofia, Gabriel, Obadiah, Esme, Lillian and Amber with a nod. “I think we got a little turn around, you all choose how we deal with the birdie, or not, and I’ll take a second look at the map while you do so,” she steps to the side, examining the map, her brow furrowed.
“Eeeh. I vote against, but seems like more votes for. So I’ll just keep watch from a safe distance while Sofia does it,” Amber suggests, inching away just so.
The big baby macaw struggles against the trap, the movement making it all the worse. “… Free the poor thing…” it echoes back to the group.
Gabriel chimes in with his thoughts, “I think we try to save it. Either way we’re risking angering something, so might as well make the attempt on the off chance it helps.”
Esme nods, “I agree. Help it.” She keeps a bit back herself though, still ready for danger.
“Or…” Sofia says with a clever smirk over to Lillian. “This bird is a surveillance device!” She raises a finger and then points it over to Esme and Duncan. “He repeated McDonalds Bird… free the poor thing… I mean, would be easy for someone to tell what we did here. My conscience is clear, I’ll free it.” She shrugs back to Amber cooly and begins kneeling, seeming that that’s the will of the group.
Sofia tries to keep her distance from the bird, lowering down to sever the snare by the loop.
The bird squawks, “Surveillance device! McDonalds bird! Surveillance device!”
“That you are buddy, that you are. And hopefully, not someone’s dinner, either. Fly free, McDonalds Bird,” Sofia says to the baby basketball bird as she slices through the snare, shooing them off in the vague direction of the nearest McDonalds.
As Sofia approaches the poor little big baby macaw, the thing continues to struggle and struggle, causing it more pain, but with that handy blade, Sofia is able to free the creature. It toddles from side to side, almost surprised at its newfound ability to move, squaking at Sofia. “McDonalds bird! Surveillance device!” It’s voice is steadier now, louder.
And meanwhile, as Amber looks around, the baby’s squawking is almost too cute to ignore… so cute that she may miss the sound of a larger wingspan when a sudden breeze fills the area.
A gigantic adult macaw/span>/spanDovie yells out. “OH FUCK!”
Esme springs into action
Amber stumbles as the large bird touches down, then just falls on her face at the screech. She’s mostly useless, but she can magic in the dirt at least.
Obadiah looks like he helped. He did not.
Lillian clears her throat after helping fend off the giant adult McDonalds bird. “Well, now I feel somewhat responsible for the care of this bird, considering it doesn’t really have a mama bird for that anymore…”
The fight ends as soon as it begins in a flurry of weapons and feathers and squawking! The giant baby runs off into the jungle underbrush, doubtless hiding while it’s poor parent is slain, colorful feathers flying everywhere. Dovie breathes hard while Duncan kneels mournfully at the corpse of the giant macaw, petting its head, closing its eyelid with his hand. “You were a good birdie…”
Gabriel sheathes his dagger and leaves the feathers for some of the others to pick up if desired, commenting, “Well.. It’s the thought that counts?”
Esme fires off a couple quick arrows, mostly acting on reflex. “Hholly shit.” She takes another step back, staring at the maccaw. She frowns a touch, picking up one of the feathers and examining it a moment. “If we come across it again maybe we can uh, help it or something.” She offers to Lillian
Amber didn’t even magic, really. Just laid face-first in the dirt. Only once it’s clear the violence is done does she get up and dust herself off. “See? Kindness just makes orphans,” Amber grumbles awkwardly, adjusting her clothes.
The giant baby macaw/span>/spanSofia braced for the attack with her hunting knife out and came out not terribly worse for the wear, a few scratches on the forearm. She didn’t launch any attack of her own, but breathes out a sigh of relief once the thing is downed, glancing over at the feathers strewn on the ground a bit sadly. “If anyone’s thinking that’d be an adorable pet…” she mentions casually, “…just look at what they grow into. Maybe something the locals would like, but I’m gonna guess not terribly suited for New Haven life. Also. Surveillance Device.”
“Surveillance Device!” the injured bird repeats.
Lillian gives the baby macaw a sympathetic smile and crouches down, offering out two hands towards it. She has no fucking clue what exactly she thinks she’ll do with the bird if it actually hops over to her hands. “A baby bird with an injured wing and no parent is as good as dead. We’ve done literally nothing here but waste our time if we don’t at least attempt to get it a home somewhere — whether here or New Haven.”
Esme carefully stows the feather away, “That, or Aishia might have some insights into caring for it too.” She figures. “But…coming across someone here is probably better…”
Duncan scratches his head. “Do think it would eat McDonalds? It kept saying McDonalds.” Dovie shakes her head and sighs, “I think I’ve figured out which way to go,” she tells the group, “But if you want to take this thing with you, you can try, Lillian. Its wing seems a bit banged up.”
“What are you going to try to feed it, chicken nuggets?” Sofia deadpans back at Duncan, letting out a sigh and saying, “He was just repeating you and everyone else, dude.”
“You could turn into a cat and eat it. Then it’s not a waste,” Amber suggests over to Lillian, though she keeps volume down some to avoid spooking the bird despite the suggestion.
The baby macaw, large as it is trots towards Lillian. Its cautious at first, but then decides, for whatever reason, that Lillian is friend, not foe. The ball of feathers hops into her hands and begins preening its uninjured wing. “Chicken nuggets! Chicken nuggets!” It squawks in a voice similar to Sofia’s.
Duncan points emphatically at the baby macaw. “See??? I told you! It wants Mickey D’s!”
In the background, Dovie pinches her nose and sighs. “We ready to roll? I think we just need to course correct a little bit towards that way,” she points towards the north.
“Shapeshifting into a panther does not mean I have to eat a panther’s diet,” Lillian hisses back to Amber. She keeps her gaze concentrated on the bird like she’s going to try to hypnotize it or something weird like that that, then pulls its basketball-sized body up to her chest and rises. “Okay. Sure. Ready. I’m sure this little guy will help us somehow, someway.”
Esme says “Anyone else want one of these feathers? Otherwise I’m callin’ dibs“
Dovie shakes her head, “I’m good, but you all feel free!”
Lillian says “I would say yes, but I probably have hundreds of feathers already.“
The baby macaw coos at Lillian.
“We’re not taking it home, though,” Amber warns over to Lillian, “Remember I don’t do pets.” But she starts off to follow Dovie’s direction, bird-hater apparently not taking any stray feathers.
Sofia shakes her head and says, “Cute feathers, but bad vibes for me.” She looks back over to the macaw and shakes her head with a rueful smile. “Didn’t mean for you to…” She pauses, then silences herself, apparently not wanting the baby to repeat ‘orphaned’ or anything similar.
The bird squawks, “Bad vibes for me. Bad vibes for me.”
Esme nods toward Lillian, “Fair point.” She adjusts her weaponry a bit, ready to set back off after plucking up the remaining feathers after they go unclaimed.
Dovie leads the group further into the jungle. The going is tough. It’s hot and sticky and there’s bugs everywhere. Including a few giant mosquitoes the size of baseballs that hover in the distance, luckily not yet having run into the band of explorers. Duncan walks next to Esme and Sofia, regaling them with tales of his favorite McDonalds meal mash ups, whether or not they want to listen…
Lillian pets the top of the baby macaw’s head. “It’s fine, Amber. I’d like to think of this little guy more as a companion rather than a pet.”
The group would find a set of ruins in the jungle. Easy to miss with how everything looks to be a similar color and these ruins are no exception with how the vines and plant life has grown over it, cracking the hard stone and making it look as if it were a natural outgrowth of some sort. There are a group of figures standing around a fire that burns bright green. The group wear green robes in similar hues to the plant lifde around them, and what can be seen of their skin shows off skin that has been tattooed to look like bark, small strange runes inscripted alongside the lines. The sound of chanting rises in the air and as the group gets closer, the sound of chanting grows louder, and louer…
One of the robed figures looks up, straight in the direction of the group and calls out: “Halt. Who goes there? What business have you in these hallowed, sacred spaces?” The air is heavy and thick, the chanting making everything all the more ominous.
“You should try Burger King sometime.” Esme comments dryly to Duncan at some point during the walk. She quiets as they get closer to the ruins though, tensing subtly as they draw closer to the chanting too.
“You should try Burger King,” the baby macaw calls out. The main robed figure turns to survey Esme, Lillian, and the creature. “Who is this… Burger King? We know no kings, nor queens in the heart of the green dark.”
Sofia sets her jaw tightly as she walks with a squawking macaw in one ear and a squawking knitter in the other, seeming almost relieved that her growing violent impulses are greeted by a sketchy circle of druidic looking figures. “Mmmm. The Verdant Circle, I presume?” she asks the group, before casting her gaze off to the central figure, not identifying herself or the group just yet.
Lillian is now starting to giggle at the macaw’s echoes. “A distant tyrant that was merely a subject of gossip for us.” She nods her head respectfully at the robed figures.
Amber lingers near the back for now, content to let others handle this.
The main robed figure stands straight. At their full height, they tower close to seven feet, looking down at the explorers as they spread their hands. “And who calls to us?” they ask, their tone haughty. Their gaze moves back to Lillian, “Words carried on the wind return with shadows attached,” they warn Lillian.
Dovie clears her throat and steps forth. “We are in search of the Fountain of Youth.”
The tall figure laughs. “You and many others.” They gesture to their robed companions, who quickly step forward behind the main one in a line. “Identify yourself, and speak truth to the beating heart of the jungle of why you are worthy of such knowledge.”
A second robed arcanist hisses, their voice oily as they add after their leader: “An empty hand gathers no harvest. The well answers those who bring water,” it hints.
“I don’t particularly care for the fountain one way or another,” Sofia remarks to the robed arcanists casually enough, arms folded and glancing warily from side to side as if expecting an ambush at any moment. “I’m just here to make sure my friends don’t die in the process. Though, my horse, Honse de Leon, does strike me as someone who’d have a special interest in the fountain.” She looks back over her shoulder, but disappointingly, her horse is nowhere to be found.
Lillian goes quiet with that warning, and shivers uncomfortably at the feeling of something else. She looks to her companions to see if they might have any answers.
Obadiah shifts his weight near the back of the group with Esme and Gabriel, watching Dovie and Sofia take charge
The leader looks to Sofia, “You wish to offer this Honse de Leon in exchange for safe passage then stranger? Where is this beast of burden?” Its tone is entirely serious. Dovie seems to have gone dry mouthed, glancing between Sofia and the cultist. Meanwhile, Duncan seems excited at seeing the green hued flames.
“Oh, they need an offering for safe passage,” Amber slinks over and nudges Lillian, “Offer the bird. We can’t even feed it Wilds food.” She’s quiet about it, again trying not to interrupt too much.
The baby macaw squawks, “Chicken nuggets! Burger King! I’m just here to make sure my friends don’t die in the process.”
Esme studies the altar for a moment, a sense of unease settling over her as she considers some possibilities. She glances to the others a moment and then clears her throat lightly, speaking up. “My name is Esme Chandler-Wei.” She gives them a name, for better or worse, “And I think the better question is why should knowledge be locked behind worth?” She does consider something though, in the wake of the question to Sofia’s offer.
“Nothing but a bunch of highway robbers dressed up as arcanists.” She tches. “But I have something you might be interested in. Something that would bring you and your companions even closer in tune with the jungle.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Lillian hisses back to Amber. “What if they see it as offering something that isn’t our own? You know, since it came from the forest in the first place.” She does seem to consider the idea nonetheless, but watches Esme carefully before making any decision on offering it.
“Honse couldn’t fit through the gate,” Sofia laments on back to the chief arcanist, though doesn’t seem terribly sad about this fact, instead seeming intrigued by Esme’s potential offering.
The lead aracanist turns it severe gaze back to Esme. There’s a sneer upon its features as one of its cronies begin to chime in:
“The hand that offers must also be ready to open.”
“The door only opens for those who leave something behind.”
“The scales never move without a weight on both sides.”
“No boon is born without a burial.”
“The altar remembers every offering.”
“To call the storm, one must give it thunder.”
The voices of the cultists grow and grown until the leader holds up its hand for silence.
Silence ensues… and the leader begins to speak, not bothering to address Sofia’s mention of gates and honses. Instead, they direct their gaze back to Esme. “What have you to offer, Esme Chandler-Wei?”
Dovie’s eyes are wide, seeming unprepared for all of this, her expression very much a deer in headlights, though she nods subtly at Esme, grateful and anxious in equal measure.
Obadiah looks around at the gathered group and asks no one in particular, “Wait… I am the most experienced archanist here aren’t I?” His eyes settle on Amber, “Or you maybe.” He purses his lips, “I feel like we should be doing something.”
“Just hedge. You’re probably better,” Amber admits to Obadiah at this, “But they want a sacrifice, and we have something so… maybe it’s fine.” Still, she looks curiously to Esme.
“Something that’s one of it’s kind.” Esme pulls two things carefully out of her handy-dandy messenger bag. A bag of fine white powder that has an eerie sheen and a small jar of honey. “This powder. The honey’s a bonus so you can mix it and make it stretch. Since once it’s gone, well, that’s it.” She speaks in a measured, but confident tone as she takes a few non-threatening steps forward for an easier hand off perhaps. “But one taste of this powder and you’ll learn things about yourself that even you didn’t know about. So take this offering and let us through..” Putting an extra inflection in her tone as she attempts to do this deal.
The green flames flicker, burning brighter behind the arcanists. The leader surveys Esme, then moves its gaze towards the pro-offered items. After a long beat, it finally nods. Two cultists move forward to take the items from Esme. “This is acceptable, Esme Chandler-Wei, negotiator of knowledge. With another wave of the leader’s hand, a third cultist steps forward. “This is Embervine. They shall lead you forth to what your hearts desire, though know that The Pit ever-hungers,” they say ominously.
Amber nods a few times to Obadiah, squinting over to the flames before the third cultist.
“A pleasure doing business.” Esme nods once to the leader, eyeing the green flames a moment as the items are handed over. Then she’s walking confidently toward Embervine to continue on. Of course, this is a room full of cultists and surely they have some strange cultist stuff along with them. She takes the opportunity of mild distraction to sleight of hand lift something of interest just before they leave.
The cultists move the items to the altar and begin mixing the ingredients, chanting in a foreign language, more intent on doing their own thing now.
Meanwhile, Dovie exhales a sigh of relief, telling Esme. “Thank you. That was…” her eyes dart around, “Was that cocaine??” she whispers amongst the group.
Lillian opens her mouth, then closes it when Dovie asks her question. She looks at Esme. That was going to be her question, too.
“Awww, you were willing to give up that powder?! AND the honey?!” Sofia looks at Esme in mock disbelief, really playing up the deal. “Man, do you think it was worth it? They’re robbing us blind here!” She huffs and tries to look indignant, making a scene as they depart further on, following Embervine.
Esme whispers back to the group, “The last dose of Sammies I had. They’re gonna be fuckin’ zonked.”
The cultist identified as Embervine bows to the group, beckoning for them to follow. “I am Embervine. I shall be your guide to The Pit. There are many who come seeking the location, but few ready for what is expected,” the cultist says in a neutral tone. In the background, the baby giant macaw squawks: “They’re gonna be fuckin’ zonked! … fuckin’ zonked!”
“Huh,” Obadiah says to Amber before shaking his head. “I had a bad Sammie’s trip.” He gives Dovie a glance then blushes before moving forward.
“Not actually sure what that is,” Amber admits a little awkwardly, shoving hands deep into her hoodie pockets as she looks over the area.
Embervine leads the group down what seems to be a random part of the jungle, completely untrodden. It takes a good amount of time to work through the denseness and clutter of the foliage until at last, hours later the group arrives to a vast, hidden glade that opens up. Directions seem meaningless in this place suddenly. Hanging in the air is the scent of blood and flora.
Most strikingly, there is a lagoon of glassy water/span>/spanDovie looks around, her eyes wide. Even Duncan is struck dumb, looking around.
Embervine leads the group towards the altar, bowing to it as they approach.
Dovie totally did not do that, these orchids were totally here already…
Esme looks mildly fascinated at the area they enter into the area, gaze drawn curiously to the blooming flowers as she follows closer to the lagoon.
Lillian gasps as she takes in the glade. She looks around with fascination and breathes in deep as if trying to take in every sense to its fullest. She looks not at all bothered by that bloody smell, and she seems in fact to be drawn to the orchid stalks around the altar.
Embervine looks grave as they turn to survey the adventurers. Any who look down into the glassy water will see their own reflections… and perhaps something else underneath.
“It is time,” the cultist intones. “You have come this far. I can only assume that you have not come to this place in vain. Though if you wish to take from the waters, there must be something given to The Pit.”
Embervine wades into the shallows, kneeling in the water before the altar as they begin to pray:
“Womb of root and stone, we offer what you hunger for… by blood, your waters are kept sweet. By bone, your depths are made whole. By flesh, your tides give the greatest gift. Take this life, that your light may not fade, and let their marrow bind your blessing. In the silence of the jungle, in the shadow of the Circle, we kneel to your eternal hunger.”
Embervine raises their head, looking towards the group expectantly, gesturing for them to bring their sacrifice to the altar.
“Take this life…?” Dovie echoes, her face growing dark for a moment, her lips pursing in a line as she looks between the group, and then at the altar.
Sofia eyes the blood orchid stalks curiously, eyes bright. “Now I can think of someone at home who would enjoy one of these…” she muses. She follows Embervine’s lead for the time being, bowing to match his, and curiously asking, “What would one get in exchange for a life, I wonder? Does that all depend on the life offered?”
“Bones keep the waters sweet. And they’re full of them,” Amber comments after Dovie, “Which I guess means it’s him, the bird, or DD3.” She shifts her weight, “Or was the job just to find the place, and now we’re done?”
The arcane cultist replies, their tone flat, unfeeling. “The world requires balance. Give and take. A life must be sacrificed for life to be given, or extended. Only the foolish would dare take the waters from the Pit without the proper sacrifice made.”
Dovie shakes her head at Amber, swallowing painfully as she grabs a glass vial from her heavy duty backpack, her hand shaking. “N-no… The Concordat want a vial of the waters from the Fountain of Youth… I didn’t realize…” she trails off, the weight of what is being asked for clearly weighing on her mind.
Duncan shifts uncomfortably, scratching his head. “I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but this pickle might be more of a whole relish tray…”
Dovie follows up to Amber. “What’s DD3?”
Lillian listens quietly for a moment, looking between all talking, before her gaze settles on Embervine. “Only the foolish would take from The Pit without the proper sacrifice? What are the consequences for the fool?” To Dovie, she translate Amber, which she is conversational in. “Duncan Duncan the Third.”
Amber follows up with a thumbs-up to confirm Lillian’s translation of the nickname she’d developed.
Obadiah glances at Dovie and then asks, “Do we have to kill someone?” He looks to Esme, “Or just like… let some blood? I can donate some blood to the cause.”
The bird, unaware of the severity of the moment, chimes in with: “Burger King! Burger King!”
Duncan scratches his head, not seeming to get it. “That’s a new one!”
Dovie clears her throat, taking a step back from Embervine and Duncan both, “I need to chat with my companions about something quickly, just, uh, one moment!”
She gathers the others to whisper in a huddle. “Yeah, I think… I think we have to kill someone. Like Amber said, there’s bones down there…”
While the group huddles, Embervine tells the group: “The consequences are dire.”
Esme considers the waters for a curious moment, “A vial of blood for a vial of water seems like a fair trade.” She agrees with Obadiah, but the bird gets a vague bit of side-eye anyway before she’s looking back at Embervine.
The cultist shakes their head. “This is not a mere drop for a drop. The Pit deals in death magic. It is the rule of equivalent exchange that a sacrifice is needed to keep the waters sweet.”
Esme just sighs and turns into the huddle with a nod. She murmurs to the group, “If we have to kill someone we obviously gotta kill him or the bird.”
Lillian speaks up in perhaps unsurprising defense for the bird. “He says it has to be an equal trade. Surely the life of a bird is not equivalent to the life of a person.”
Esme also briefly tries to trance the bird so it can’t say anything.
Sofia looks at her nails a moment and then back to the group, gently informing them, “I don’t murder. And I think that’s off the table for some others of us, as well,” she adds, with a pointed glance back up to Obadiah. “I’m just here to make sure you’re all safe.”
Dovie nods somberly towards Lillian. “Yes, I agree… unfortunately.” She glances towards Sofia. “I understand if you… can’t get your hands dirty here with that…” She takes a deep breath. “We’ve come too far for me to back out now,” she gnaws at her lip.
When Esme looks into the baby macaw’s eyes, those beady little eyes turn glazed and the bird shuts up.
“Do we go for the cultist then, or…?” Dovie asks the group. “A plan B?”
“I won’t kill anyone I know, but like- I eat people. I can do it and you all can look away if you need to,” Amber offers, her more flippant tones fading to something more grim and serious now, “Wouldn’t be the first time. Or I can just try to take some, since I’m already dead. So death magic might hurt me less.”
“No. You are not going to ‘just try to take some,'” Lillian sternly answers Amber, a glare directed her way for good measure. “DD3 or the cultist is fine. I don’t think many people are going to miss either.”
“All tha people against murder can head back the way we came. If the other cultists have tried that stuff, they should be pretty out of it and not question anything. The rest of us can handle this guy.” Esme is apparently in favor of Murder the Cultist, not the naive Concordant.
“I might feel less bad about the c-to-the-ultist,” Dovie murmurs, nodding at Esme. “Are we… are we good with that?” she checks with the group.
Gabriel chimes in after being quiet for quite some time, adding his opinion to the situation, “I’m always open to taking the ‘murderer’ hit if we need to get rid of someone.”
Lillian gives a quick thumbs-up, looking relieved that the bird is not on the chopping block.
Dovie turns to Sofia and Obadiah. “If you two need to wait to the side, that’s fine. I think between the rest of us… we should… we can take on one… surely…”
“Looks like the cultist it is. He’s probably already killed a bunch for himself anyway,” Amber reasons, giving a small nod, “Anyone out? Or we can jump him together. Hell, he might let us since this is his sacred duty?”
Sofia puts her fingers in her ears as they start discussing murder openly and then makes eyes at Obadiah, loudly saying, “Let’s uh… take a look at those flowers, huh?” She starts wandering over a bit more distant from the group, clearly not looking to be party to this murder.
Obadiah looks to Sofia and sighs softly and offers, “I won’t tell if you don’t.” He gives her a look though, sharing some unknown understanding before wandering away with her and looks around looking at his nails with her, “You know….” He offers, “We have both…”
Dovie nods as Sofia, and likely Obadiah, retreat, telling Amber. “Maybe better for us to have the element of surprise, just in case. Let’s get this done.” She stands, taking a deep breath.
“Go, go go!” Dovie shouts, loosening a bolt.
Amber runs in first, parrying the first blow of the spear. Then a few others as she and the others put a lot of holes in the cultist that weren’t there before.
Dovie nods to Esme, Gabriel, and Amber, looking relieved, but conflicted when Embervines body topples atop the stone altar, their blood flowing into the glassy clear waters. There’s a sudden rippling in the tides as the blood diffuses into the liquid… Unseen currents pull the corpse into the lagoon waters until eventually the body of the cultist disappears entirely, as if it never was…
Dovie kneels, pulling out a glass vial, sighing as she fills it up, corking it.
Dovie stands and moves back to the group after their grim task. “Good job everyone. We all good?” she asks, the hand holding the vial shaking.
Lillian sheathes her sword with a sigh and watches Dovie for a moment. “Do you think anyone will mind if we nab a couple of those flowers?” she asks before they go.
Esme lowers her bow after the group effort is over. She doesn’t look particularly conflicted, having decided this was the least offensive course of action that would get the job done. She looks to the vial curiously a moment and nods to Dovie. “I’m good. And I don’t think anyone’ll care.” She adds to Lillian
Gabriel pats himself down, checking for any stray holes or woulds before he looks around to the others to make sure no one has sprung any serious leaks.
Dovie shakes her head at Lillian. “I think it’s fine, just be careful with these wild flowers, I think I will try to take a specimen for myself,” she says, putting away the vial, and pulling out her plant container and a small hand-spade.
Sofia placidly ignores the battle, such as it is: really the open murder of the cultist, who’d likely killed so many to get to this point. She kneels by one of the blood orchids and takes out her knife, using it as a spade to shovel it out by the roots. “Definitely my plan. Oh. Where’d the guy go?” She asks this in a deadpan, not really wanting to know.
Duncan pops back up, having been trying to get a flower for himself. “Sorry everyone! I wanted to get a gift for my maw!”
Gabriel snoops around, a little, poking at a few various things in search of something while Duncan returns and begins talking.
“Job was done and went home,” Amber offers in response to Sofia in a way that might be considered true if you squint. She seems to have no interest in taking some water for herself. Or flowers.
Dovie repots one of the orchids into the container, packing it away safely into her backpack. “Alright, looks like I have an extra stalk here, does anyone want it? I already have plenty. Otherwise, all we need is to trek back the way we came.”
“I’ll take it.” Esme offers to Dovie, using her switchblade to get it free.
Obadiah picks at his nails and then smiles at Dovie and Esme before commenting back to Sofia, “Sometimes I wonder if we are batting for the wrong team.” He moves back to join the main group, “What’s up kids? Figure the problem out?”
Gabriel pockets something and meanders over back to the group.
Dovie smiles brightly at Obadiah, flecks of blood on her face, dirt on her hands. She nods. “I think we’re good, unless anyone needs anything before we head home?”
Esme says “I’m ready t’ get the fuck outta here“
Duncan nods at Esme. “Amen sister!”
Sofia makes a low noise of mild disapproval to Obadiah but nods as she rejoins the group, saying quietly, “Ready to leave whenever, yeah.”
“Ready,” Lillian agrees with the group.
Dovie leads the group out of the lagoon, back towards the ruins. The cultists don’t even give the adventurers a second look. Most of them are lying on the ground, staring up at the canopy above. Some are staring at the fire. They seem to be having some kind of sharing circle about what they’re seeing… which is… trippy, from the little that the band hears as they trek by.
Obadiah smiles at Dovie, “So pretty with blood on your face. I am good to go.”
Amber follows the others back, more quiet on the way out than she was on the way in by far.
“Thank you everyone, for participating. I really couldn’t have done this without you all,” Dovie tells the group, solemnly. Duncan nods and waves. “I’ve got to get back home to maw! Look me up if you’re ever in Washington State! Duncan Duncan the Third!!”
Sofia says “Get dunked o“
Sofia says “Get dunked on.“
“Be safe, Duncan.” Esme offers to the Concordant and gives Dovie a faint smile. “We’ve always got your back.” She assures Dovie.
Dovie gazes at the mirror. “We’re missing Gabe, let’s give him a moment.”
Dovie gives Esme and Obadiah a grateful nod. “Thank you, and thank everyone, again. Sincerely.” She watches the mirrorgate.
Dovie smiles at Gabriel. “Oh good, there you are.” She picks up her phone. “I’m just letting the Concordat courier know to meet me here.”