[IC] The Wild Beyond Witchlight

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Hither

Bavlorna's Cottage

As Brutrumukk, Jub, Aurora, Zavakri, Vansel, and (maybe) Gabriel enter the tunnel, they first notice a moldy scent hangs in the air in this dark, L-shaped hallway.

As they continue walking down this hallway, the party start to feel this strange sensation wash over them. It's not painful by any means, but it is noticeable and foreign. Jub, Brutrumukk, and Gabriel would recognize this feeling from their time at the Pixie Kingdom: They're shrinking down! The process is slower than before, but this is definitely what's happening.

Brutrumukk only

As the conga line continues, the people in the line chant along with the word conga, "How low can you go? How low can you go? Limbo!"

Upon reaching the end of the hallway, it would seem as though their way is blocked by solid wall.

Highest Passive Perception: Aurora

Aurora would be able to notice that there is a mouse hole here. It's blocked by a door.

The door is barred on this side by a steel needle...

OOC

Mini Bav rolled a 12 on their Wisdom Saving Throw against Tasha's Hideous Laughter. I believe that meets Jub's DC and succeeds. It is no longer laughing and it is retreating.

Map of Bavlorna's Cottage once again

[rush99999]

Brutrumukk

"How low can you go? How low can you go? Limbo!"

"Limbo!" Brutrumukk exclaimed along with the others as he felt himself slowly shrink down. As the conga line neared the solid wall at the end of the secret passage, Brutrumukk performed a U-turn, leading the line back the way it came. As he did so, Brutrumukk noticed that the tiny old woman on his head had stopped laughing. "Finally got it all outta yer system, eh?" Brutrumukk asked as he took the tiny old woman off of his head. "Just what was it what 'ad you laughin' so 'ard?"

[Lurking Krog]

Aurora

The strange sensation that slowly washed over Aurora caused her to pause briefly. By the time she noticed it the shrinking process had already taken a quarter of her original size. With a resigned sigh, she continued to follow wondering how long she remain this small. Perhaps it wouldn't be that long, and if it would last awhile it would make traversing the swamp more challenging. Rounding the corner in pursuit of the drunken bugbear, she was mildly surprised to see a dead end. Least that was until Brutrumukk had turned around to go back and she was able to see the mouse hole with a door in it.

Aurora waited until Brutrumukk was distracted before looking at the door blocking the hole. The needle that barred the door made her think this lead somewhere that probably should be avoided. At least until after dealing with the hag. She stayed for a moment try to listen to what might be on the other side of the door. Once the moment passed she turned to follow the others back out the hall. "So shall we try to find the source of the smell?" She asked as she started to use the same spell as earlier to generate the smell of a hearty beef and vegetable stew with fresh baked bread.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Hither

Bavlorna's Cottage

When Brutrumukk grabs the Mini Bavlorna and holds it and talks to it, the party can see that it was trying to get out of the rope and grip but to no avail.

After Brutrumukk speaks to it, it speaks back, "Don't hurt me! Spare me! If you spare me, I'll...I'll give ya password! Password to Mirror! It take you to Carnival!"

Brutrumukk Only

Upon reaching the wall, Fellwing comments, "I can sense him...The path to Shieldwing is just behind that wall--Wait, Brutrumukk, where are you going?"

She seemed surprised and confused when Brutrumukk made the U Turn and started leading the conga line out.

The tiny old lady answers Brutrumukk, "I heard a very funny joke! Do you wanna hear?"

Meanwhile, Aurora presses her ear to the wall and she is able to hear beyond the wall. It's not surprising considering that the other sources of sound would be bigger than she is now...

Aurora Only

Aurora hears two familiar voices beyond the wall. There's no doubt about who these voices belong to!

It's Charm and Bavlorna!

"Hmhmhm, Those visitors were quite...plucky. It's interesting how they asked about Widdershins. I'm sure you remember your sister's, the Bitter End's, warning..."

"Hah! They don't even know what it is!"

"Ah, but the fact they know the word...that means that at some point, they will learn what it means, and they must currently know that it's your weakness. If I may provide some advice, I think it might be time to take a little vacation and visit one of your sisters..."

"Hmmm....Perhaps you're right. They won't be able to leave Hither anyways. I can wait until they meet their demise and come back..."

"It's a wise decision, Bavlorna,"

[rush99999]

Brutrumukk

"I can sense him...The path to Shieldwing is just behind that wall--Wait, Brutrumukk, where are you going?"

"Well I was thinkin' o' followin' that scent." Brutrumukk said. "But if you reckon Shieldwing is behind that wall... reverse conga!"

"Reverse conga!" The conga line exclaimed in reply as they all began conga dancing in reverse.

"I heard a very funny joke! Do you wanna hear?" The tiny old lady asked as they moved back to the wall.

"Oh I definitely wanna 'ear that." Brutrumukk said eagerly. "Don't be shy. Tell us."

[XxFellsingxX]

Jub the Peculiar

Jub gave a loud sigh as he felt himself shrinking down just as he did back at the Pixie Kingdom. "Here we go again," he muttered to himself. He could sense himself starting to get a little more apathetic towards the weird things this realm threw at him. Maybe at some point, he would stop being surprised altogether.

Eventually the mini Bav stopped laughing, and Brutrumukk asked what the creature had found so funny in the first place. Jub considered explaining to the bugbear about the the Hideous Laughter spell, but got the sense that there was little point. Given that Brutrumukk's perception of events seemed incredibly warped by the alcohol, anything Jub tried to explain at this point would probably be lost in translation.

And besides, what the mini Bav said in response turned out to be far more pressing.

"Don't hurt me! Spare me! If you spare me, I'll...I'll give ya password! Password to Mirror! It take you to Carnival!"

"Oh good, you can speak," Jub replied, his voice a mixture of relief and dull surprise. "Wasn't really sure what I was going to do with you if you couldn't speak." He was a little curious though. While they didn't need it right now, he assumed they'd need a way back to the Carnival when they finished with... well, whatever this was.

Before he could respond, however, Brutrumukk beat him to it, "Oh I definitely wanna 'ear that. Don't be shy. Tell us."

"Err, yes! What he said," Jub added. It seemed like the bugbear and he were on the same page again, for once.

[Dark Cloud]

G A B R I E L

Seemingly unperturbed by the shrinkage of size as he followed behind the goblinoids, the half-elf only really half listened to the conversation with a perpetual look of annoyance on his face. Frowning with arms crossed, tapping a finger on his arms.

[Lurking Krog]

Aurora

"Well that changes the plan again...." the elf muttered to herself and Brutrumukk turned around. She wasn't sure of they were in any condition to face Bavlorna or her companion Charm. They did need to move quickly so that Bavlorna did not leave here and visit one of her sisters.

Rory quickly went towards where the door was to block the way momentarily. "Wait!" She said through gritted teeth trying to minimize the noise. "Bavlorna is through this door with her guest still. I did not think we wanted to try this yet! There is more that we need to discuss but right now is definitely not the time due to the circumstances. Shieldwing will need to wait. Rory kept her voice in as firm a tone as a whisper would allow.

[Dark Cloud]

G A B R I E L

"By Corellon's blue star," the bard muttered shaking his head before turning, not waiting for the restcof the party as he began to walk back the way they had came "We're going back, get a fucking move on." karma was a bitch but it served a hot plate of delicious comeuppance for Gabe who took this as a tiny win for him, smirking as he walked away.

Still it'd be better with alcohol, guess the bugbear could enjoy his buzz for the half-elf for the time being.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Hither

Bavlorna's Cottage

The lornling looks to Jub expectantly and asks for reassurance, "You spare me? Yes? Yes?!"

After it receives an affirmative answer, the lornling nods rapidly and says, "Okay! Okay! Give you password! Uhhhh..."

It seems to be trying to recall what the password. She proceeds to attempt to say the password,

"Blunder Scratch? Bangle Stash...? Banter Catch! No...Bandy Crasher?"

Brutrumukk Only

"OK. OK! Here we go!"

The tiny old lady then proceeds with the joke, "What did the fish say after hitting a wall?"

After a moment, the tiny old lady delivers the punchline:

"Dam!"

Stargaze, Fellwing, and the conga dancers all proceed to laugh raucously at the joke, like it was the pinnacle of comedy!

[rush99999]

Brutrumukk

Upon hearing the amazing joke the tiny old woman told, Brutrumukk, the drakes on his shoulder, and the entire conga line all burst into raucous laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA! HOO HOO HOO! OHOHOHOHOHO! That's the funniest thing I've 'eard in days!" Brutrumukk exclaimed.

"That it is." Skobeloff said as he got his laughter back under control. "But we should get back to the task at hand. Shieldwing is on the other side of this wall. All we need to do now is figure out how to get through it to reach him."

"Wait!" Shadowflowers suddenly called out, causing the conga line to grind to a halt. "This wall has got a door for the quest still. You did not see it because of the darkness, yes! There is no more that we need to discuss and right now is definitely the time for circumstances. Shieldwing is just this way."

"Well, you 'eard the lady." Brutrumukk said to the drakes and conga line. "Shieldwing is just this way. Conga!"

"Conga!" The conga line called back as Brutrumukk led the way to the door.

[XxFellsingxX]

Jub the Peculiar

At the mini Bav's response, Jub gave her a look. "Do you actually know the password or are you just having me on?" he said. However, as he asked this, it seemed the rest of the group was heading back the way they came. He gave a loud sigh. "Today is exhausting..." he muttered,

[Lurking Krog]

Aurora

"No no no! Not this way. Not yet, we are not ready for this!" Aurora said is as firm a voice as a whisper would allow again. She positioned herself to block the door trying to think of another way to distract Brutrumukk from going this way. There was probably little way Aurora would be able to stop Brutrumukk, but she did hope that someone else might be able to come up with a way to get the bugbear to go another direction. "Jub is right about today being exhausting." She muttered to herself as she readied herself to avoid being grabbed and moved by Brutrumukk.

OOC

Aurora takes the dodge action while still blocking the way to the door.

[rush99999]

Brutrumukk

"No no no! Not this way!" Shadowflowers exclaimed in exasperation. "Not here, there's no way through this wall!"

"No way through this wall?" Brutrumukk asked in confusion. "But didn't you just say this wall's got a door fer the quest still?" Brutrumukk's answer came in the form of a porcine snort. The bugbear looked past Shadowflowers to see a boar standing next to the world. "Oh! The wall's got a boar, not a door!" Brutrumukk realized. "I must've not been 'earin' right when ya said that. Silly me." Brutrumukk paused to laugh then before continuing. "Yeah, the boar should come in 'andy later. Fer now though, we gotta find another way into that room. Shieldwing's gettin' lonely I reckon."

"We could try that door next to the stairs." Skobeloff suggested. "That might lead us to him."

"Worth a try I suppose." Brutrumukk said. "Let's 'ead there then. Conga!"

"Conga!" The conga line called back as Brutrumukk led the way to the door next to the stairs.

[Lurking Krog]

Aurora

Rory breathed a sigh of relief as Brutrumukk worked his was back around towards the way the party had entered. Whatever hallucinations helped in changing the bugbears decision the elf would probably never know. She offered a small quiet pray of thanks to whatever diety that might be looking over her for the change in fortune.

"Yes the stairs. I'm sure they will lead us to where we need to go next."

[rush99999]

Brutrumukk

Unfortunately for Aurora, she would find her hopes dashed as Brutrumukk began to conga his way towards the door that led into B10.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Hither

Bavlorna's Cottage

As the group makes their way out of the tunnel, those who are still sober find that they are still tiny upon exiting the secret passageway.

For Brutrumukk, the conga line is still going, and they are indeed leading into the study where everyone else was. The question of how he was going to get past this door has not even reached his mind...

[Lurking Krog]

Aurora

"Oh bugger it all. Jub try to get down and let's go. We've wasted enough time trying to get him to leave and if he insists on going into that room so be it. If I recall correctly he decided to leave us behind when Zav rushed into the room, and I've reached my limits to help someone who is not willing to be helped. If you wish to help him in his folly I will continue to help you so long as it does not risk the rest of us." Aurora half turned to head toward the door further down the hall hoping it lead to some path out here.

She waited, still in the diminutive stature from whatever magical affect the secret passage had. Part of her hoped Jub would find another way to persuade his friend to follow along, or follow himself. She wouldn't, couldn't in truth, blame him for being unable to. In the short time they have been traveling together, Rory had observed that Brutrumukk was impulsive and thought little if at all of any consequences of his actions. She did not wish the bugbear ill, she hoped for his own sake he would become less impulsive. Here and now however it appeared to her that no matter what she did, Brutrumukk was intent on going into the room Bavlorna and Charm. Knowing his usual nature, Aurora was not sure she wanted to be in the room when Bavlorna confronted Brutrumukk for barging into the room. She was sure Jub would likely not want to be in there either.

[XxFellsingxX]

Jub the Peculiar

Jub looked alarmed when Aurora suggested ditching Brutrumukk. "Well, we can't just leave him in this state!" he said, gesturing wildly at the bugbear. "Who knows what sort of trouble he'll get into if left unchecked?!" He decided not to draw attention to the fact that their presence had done nothing to dissuade Brutrumukk's actions in the past. Instead, he suggested, "How about I cast Hideous Laughter on him to stop him running around and... I dunno, we all try and move him out of here? Surely together we could carry him."

[Lurking Krog]

Aurora

With a brief moment of consideration Aurora nodded her approval of Jub trying the hideous laughter spell. She motioned to both Gab and Zavakri to get up closer to the two goblinoids and be ready to try to haul the bugebear off. The elf also grabbed the rope out of her pack ready to tie up Brutrumukk in order to help keep him from wandering off.