Quest Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

[Prophet]

38th of Spring, 517 AV
Early Morning
Deeper in the Old Forest

The sounds of birds communicating with the first rays of Syna started off softly then grew as the chimes piled up. Morning had come to the travelers in the forest and this day was showing a bit of promise. The forest floor seemed to be on a slight downgrade which aided in the trudge but the trees had begun to change as well. The dense undergrowth and thick smattering of trunks had given way to larger and older trees. Giant oaks, silver poplars and even some cedars towered up towards the Ukalas. As the trunks widened so did the space between them. The massive branches didn’t even start until one got two or three times the height of a man and the upper ones formed a dense canopy which cooled the ground below by allowing only indirect sunlight for the most part. The underbrush –once a waist-high hazard – was now more or less just groundcover. Vines, thorns, bushes and moss clung to everything but it had lent itself to being less of a bother than previous days.

All of this was due to the feeling that the adventurers were getting smaller. The other benefit to this evolution of the forest was a much longer line of sight. The further one walked down into the basin, the further one would be able to see as the trees would continuously grow taller, wider and sparser as the day went on. As the party got closer to the star, they would get the knowledge that this part of the Wildlands was very old –at least older than anything in this part of the region.

Within a bell’s time of leaving their camp and heading towards the heart of the forest, the common wildlife would become prevalent. Critters and even small game could be seen gallivanting about without a care for the outsiders though the undisturbed surroundings would make it seem like no one ever ventured into this realm for quite some time -if ever. The way for the adventurers was easy going and the soft sounds of the natural world gave off the sense that everything was as it should be. Nestled between a huge maple tree that was leaking a honey-colored sap and a downed fir tree was a rock that had a most peculiar shape.

The thing was covered in some kind of strange moss that seemed to have a color shift at two points. The side of the rock that faced the oncoming group was flat –almost shear- and the moss upon it was a furry brown that was reminiscent of fuzzy caterpillars. Closer inspection would reveal that it was just moss but was covered in tiny little beads of various colors. The top of the rock formation didn’t look very natural at all. It had parallel grooves that had been worn into it over time or even, perhaps, made. The moss that coated this face was only in spots and most of these were on the far end where the crumbled piece of stone was closest to the forest floor. The colors of beads varied here as well, one was even speckled but the moss underneath was a light blue like the sky on a clear day.

Finally, the last side of the boulder that could be seen was jagged and appeared broken as if it had fallen from somewhere. This was pointed down the trail towards the fallen star’s last known location and was covered in a deep purple moss but this was less furry than the others and only had white beads. All in all, the scene was interesting especially in the varied patterns of the stone and the distinct differences in the moss and the soft sacs that rested upon them. A curious hand could take and squeeze the beads to reveal that they were firm, mostly uniform aside from color and were full of a gooey pulp – Berries! They lacked any powerful odors but there was plenty of evidence that something had been eating away at them since the coverage was constantly interrupted regardless of color. The more one watched and contemplated a bite, the more it became apparent that the berries shifted in color depending upon how the scant shards of light and shadow hit the orbs.

BerriesYou are welcome to try the berries or not as it suits your PC. Should you wish to eat one, you must roll for your color. PM me with a chat log that shows your name and the time along with a 6-sided die roll. I will give you’re your color and the blessing or curse that goes along with it. 2 colors are blessings, 2 are not and 1 could be either depending upon your character. Should you roll a 6, reroll as there are only five colors. That is all.

[Clyde Sullins]

38 Spring 517- Morning

The first thing Clyde noticed about the changes of their surroundings was the trees. Before what had been relatively dense young trees was giving way to less overgrown woods with older and bigger trees. Under their arms they were shaded from the rising sun, a nice cooling considering the heat they'd been experiencing after the missed winter.

Their travel a bit easier Clyde headed along on foot, at least until he got tired and needed to mount up. For now he simply walked along with Cha in hand, feeling the hum of the not a star's aura on his periphery attention, a small bit of his mind and a single strand of aura focus stretching out from Cha's skin reaching outward and keeping him aware of it and its position.

It struck Clyde as odd that the place that they were travelling into, which he assumed was growing ever closer to their destination, was of a place differing from the other bits of woods they'd moved through. Perhaps it was simply because it was further inland, or perhaps it was so for another reason. Whether it was this reason or another Clyde supposed to himself he wouldn't likely know the reasoning until he further understood what they were seeking.

As they further traveled Clyde noticed another oddity, the wildlife. Normally in Clyde's experience animals and such fled when people approached, but these did not seem to be doing so. They seemed, to Clyde's mind, indifferent at most. Perhaps if he'd known more about the wilds or hunting or animals this would have meant more to him, but as it was it was more a curious note of a fact than anything of meaning.

The next odd thing Clyde noted was a rock, one that to his Glyphers eye looked altered in some fashion, though not truly Glyphed in and of itself. Still, having done enough changes and engravings he noted the odd changes to the stone, beyond the colors and things on its face, and into the odd grooves and things that surely he reasoned didn't occur by chance or randomly but were made by some external force.

Whether this was a person or some animal, or even some odd weather pattern he couldn't say, but inquisitive as always he pondered away at its oddness as they moved.

Clyde was more interested in the odd shapes on the stone and its structure, the worn off or cut off or crumbled bit, more so than the odd colored vegetation.

Speaking to the general travel party, or perhaps to himself, Clyde spoke out loud some of his pondering.

“Now, I wonder what happened there. That stone seems a bit odd... I don't think rocks normally come that way. Something must have happened to it, to make it that way. Or someone must have done so. Though I can't imagine to what end.”

[Sayana]

As the landscape opened up to taller trees and less ground vegetation, Sayana tended to ride almost exclusively since she didn’t have to dismount when fighting against branches in her face. The trees were not only taller, but thicker and older. The ground still had its fair share of fallen branches, weathered from the canopy above, but it was easier to walk or ride in a straight line and one could see much further as well. Sayana used this to her advantage and trotted this way and that among the trees, glad of the freedom it presented.

Fondly, she kept an eye out for Clyde but he seemed to be managing alright either walking alongside his more sedate horse, or riding at a slow walk. Sometimes the Eypharian even reined in her mare to look up in awe at the sheer height and massive trunks of these trees. With roots that bulged upon the ground, it was an impressive sight to the native desert dweller.

Occasionally she kept an eye out for Faradae. The dark grey eagle had become familiar over time and sometimes Sayana found herself jealous of the swooping dives and lofty soaring of the bird. At least she had Stardust, her mount, who could take her rushing through the woods. With a sharp squeeze of her knees and a whispered word faintly laced with hypnotism they set off at a swift canter down the sloping terrain.

She didn’t want to exhaust her horse, especially with the additional equipment and supplies being carried, but it was much too tempting to run with the wind through her hair. After a brief run, she turned round to head back towards Clyde. The mage was still making his slow way through the woods, however as she got closer she realized she had missed something.

Sayana caught a glimpse of light blue and purple, both striking colours in a forest of greens and browns. She urged her horse closer and dismounted at the foot of the huge maple tree. As it became clear that it was a large boulder-like shape, she could see the mage already approaching clearly interested.

“Clyde! Is this the Star? Did we find it?” She cried out ecstatically as she rushed to the rock. Yet even though the colours of the mosses resembled the blue and purple streaks seen in the sky, once she got close it became more evident that the colour was from the vegetation growing on it. Her multitude of hands fell upon the various vegetation, looking and examining the different coloured mosses that grew on each side, along with the almost shimmery berries that cluttered the surface.

With a short run and a jump she scrambled onto the boulder, using the moss to avoid getting her knees scratched up. “I could be Queen of the Star!” She called out while standing on top of the boulder.

Clyde’s calm assessment of the rock seemed to confirm that it wasn’t the source of the aura they were tracking. So despite her enthusiasm, it was slightly tempered by the knowledge that they hadn’t yet reached what they were after. Still, the vegetation intrigued her and she bent down to pluck about five berries from the top of the rock.

The light glistened and shimmered making them seem to almost change colour as she looked at them. Only now taking in Clyde’s comment, she glanced at the grooves and markings on the stone at her feet. It reminded her much of the mage’s cube of counter-magic. Leaning over just a bit, she could see the jagged edge of the back where the purple moss thrived.

“If this really was the star, it could have fallen and hit that pine tree and then landed here.”

As she spoke, Sayana pointed a rough path with her finger that involved felling the fir tree and landing where it now stood. She peered curiously out to where the path might have started and looked for any signs of rocky outcrops or cliffs.

Still holding a handful of the berries, Sayana jumped down from the rock and held up one berry between her thumb and first two fingers. Slowly she squished it, curious about the texture, ripeness and juices it might produce.

“Faradae, have you ever seen berries like this?”

[Faradae]

Faradae As they progressed deeper into the woods, the trees grew larger, dwarfing the group, but also allowing for clearer sight and simpler navigation. For that reason, Faradae spend more time on the ground now than she did in the air. With the canopy so high above their heads now, it was harder to scout from below than above. When she tried to break the shade of the trees and sail closer to the sky, she could feel the air thinning around her and it was quite impossible to spot the others below through all those leaves. To her great surprise, the animals here were not wary of their presence. Not of the sticks they were cracking with their feet, giving away their position and size, and also not of herself, despite the fact that most animals recognized her as a predator as clearly as they would have if she’d been cycling above them. They were not quite as oversized as the vegetation surrounding them, and they either they had not had intruders here for so long that they’d forgotten to be afraid of them, or they simply didn’t feel intimidated by Sayana, Clyde, their horses and herself. Faradae was not sure which option she found more disturbing. Something was not quite right here. While she still stared at the treetops above, wondering which birds hid between these leaves, and what stories they knew about the area, the other two moved ahead of her. She did not bother trying to talk to them, however – she had made that attempt many days ago, and the further they got into the heart of the Wilds, the less talktative the other birds became, much like the inhabitants of a reclusive village, reluctant to give up any of their secrets. She could not tell whether they were entitled or afraid. As a result, she was as clueless as the others were when she finally reached the strange rock, caught between a maple and half a fir. Both of them were already examining it, and Sayana was barely containing her curiosity. She asked herself the same questions as the eypharian did, but did not repeat them. Instead, she circled the object, looking at it from all sides, and absent-mindedly stroked the moss, soft as it was, and lightly touched the beads. Sayana was a step ahead, she had already extracted a couple of berries from the peculiar plant and turned them around in the light. Faradae balanced on her toe-tips, peering into the woman’s hand, then she proceeded to extract some of the objects from a different pod, herself. “I have no idea what these are,” she finally admitted, “but they seem to be edible. At least the local animals are eating them,” she added, pointing at various bare spots, “so I think I’ll try one.” Some birds could resist poisons that humans succumbed to, like that of the rowan berry, but as a bird of prey, she was not sure whether she shared that perk. Still, a single berry would surely not do much harm, and who knew, maybe they could be used as a spice in the future? Without giving the matter terribly much thought, she picked a random berry and stuck it into her mouth, hoping that it would taste sweet rather than sour.

[Prophet]

The berry solidified in color once it was plucked from the moss. Faradae’s light grasp held a berry that had dark speckles over a light color. Because of the size, it was hard to truly differentiate what the actual hues were aside from contrasting. It was a light taste or more along the lines of a non-flavor since there wasn’t much to spread over the tastebuds. Nothing would happen for a chime or two but once the juice of the berry mingled with the kelvic’s saliva and traveled into her system, it would begin to be absorbed. By the time it reached her stomach, Faradae would be experiencing the effects of the tiny fruit.

Faradae would have one sense suddenly become extremely sensitive and powerful. If it was sight, she would be able to see details from far away but would also be forced to squint as her eyes adjusted. If the kelvic’s hearing increased, she would be able to hear the skittering of tiny furred feet from dozens of yards away as well as the life-breath of the forest as it inhaled and exhaled with the creaks and groans of old, powerful branches high above her head. In the same token, should her excited companion choose to carry on a lively conversation, it may come across as yelling. The effect of a single speckled berry only lasts about ten to fifteen bells but should the woman shift into animal form, she would find all of her senses would be heightened to the same degree.

NoteEvery time you pick a berry, you must roll. If you grab a handful, you will roll once and that is the color they will be. If you pick four handfuls, roll four times. Remember that 6 is a reroll. Because of the diversified nature of the effects, the quest will not move on until the consumption has finished. Furthermore, if you pick and save- roll now so I may log it in my notes for later and you will know what color berry you have.

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde simply shook his head at Sayana's excitement, having come to the odd and incorrect conclusion that this was what they'd been seeking.

Apparently she thought his comments noted more excitement than he'd emitted, or else assumed that he'd be completely unexcited should they reach their destination.

“This isn't the Not a Star Say. I think I'd do more than note its odd shape if this was that. Its just a rock. You know Say, not all rocks look the same, and the Not Star isn't even a rock.”

Clyde had been more focused on the stone and its markings, more so than the vegetation on it. He'd noted the odd colors, but not paid attention to the small berries scattered about on it.

Sayana's theatrics warranted little more than an eye roll from Clyde, as he focused instead on the task at hand.

“Trust me, when we get there if you don't know it by sight I'll make it clear we've found it.”

Both Faradae and Sayana seemed more interested in the plants than the stone itself, odd in Clyde's mind as it had clearly been altered and messed about with. Plants simply grew naturally, he knew, and plants finding purchase and growing across a rock was nothing odd. True, he supposed to himself, they might be new plants they'd not seen, but the rock surely was more interesting right then.

Faradae's note about the berries having been eaten and missing brought his attention finally to the plants, noting the odd gaps and such she had pointed out where they were gone. Something then had been eating them.

However he was more thrown off when Faradae decided to suddenly eat one of the unknown berries, apparently assuming that since they had been eaten by animals they were safe for her as well.

“I'm not sure how wise it is to eat them, even if others have. But if you want to examine them, store some for later inspection. For now we have a mission, and we are nearing our goal. Lets continue, and get where we are going before another day passes and others have a chance to get there before us.”

[Sayana]

There was certainly curiosity and mild surprise when Faradae so readily put the berry into her mouth. Sayana certainly knew that some berries were edible, she had picked raspberries before, and others could be used for herbal purposes, but it seemed like the kelvic trusted the instincts of the surrounding animals judging by her comment.

For half a chime, Sayana watched curiously to judge the bird’s reaction and occasionally glanced to see if there was other wildlife about that she could gauge how edible or toxic the berries were. After several moments with certainly no negative reaction and not even a sign of disgust for an unripe or sour berry, Sayana finally caved to her self-created peer pressure. If Faradae, a simple kelvic could sample a berry without any ill effects, then Sayana was going to sample two.

The Eypharian popped two of the shimmery and almost greenish berries into her mouth. There was a sour tang to them and as a result, Sayana chewed and swallowed them quickly. Both competitiveness and pride motivated her as if it was a dare. However, her tone soon became dismissive. “Two is enough for me. Not my kind of berry.”

Sayana rolled her eyes at Clyde’s insistence to use the term ‘not a star’, but she inwardly glad that he would point out the fallen star when they did find it. If it wasn’t immediately clear upon seeing it. They had been traveling for over a score of days now and she was getting anxious to find it.

She nodded at the mage’s suggestion to keep moving. “Yes, let’s get going.” After pocketing the two other berries in her cloak, more out of habit than the desire to keep them, she strode over to Stardust. Partway across, she was struck by a blaring and sudden headache causing her to stop for half a tick. Trying to steady herself, she made it to her mount but then a sudden bout of coughing erupted. Keeping a couple hands on her horse, she bent hacking heavily and with her eyes and nose getting all watered up. As if coming up for air, she took several deep but trembling breaths to regain her composure.

“I don’t think those were meant for me…”

Just as the last word left her mouth, she doubled over as her stomach lurched. Her breakfast, mostly cooked rabbit meat, was soon brought up in a mess on the forest floor near her feet. “Bloody petcher,” she spoke hoarsely as she wiped her mouth on her sleeve trying to settle her stomach. “I thought I cooked that thing.”

Her sluggish mind started to piece things together and for a moment she was suddenly concerned that the berries were far more toxic. She rushed towards a bag and started rummaging through it muttering, “Tolm, no not Tolm. Azhiltu? No, a berry. What was that berry?” She was looking for the jile berry, a berry to ward off poisons by inducing vomiting. Only after several moments of rummaging did she realize that whatever berry she had just eaten had induced just that. She only somewhat grasped the irony of the situation, but it did cease her frantic attempts to do something about it. Either she had gotten rid of whatever the poison was by throwing it up, or she was going to have to suffer the effects, whatever they ended up being.

“Does anyone have ginger, or…?” She felt her stomach lurch again but she managed to suppress it with more long breaths. “But we should be going.” There was faint determination in her voice. She wanted to see things through and she didn’t want to be the one slowing down the group. With much less energy and enthusiasm than normal, she mounted up on Stardust and set off at a slow walk while opening her medicine bag to try to find something that might help.

OOC Note :

I assume that she carries her medicines and herbs since they wouldn’t take up very much space and can be crucial if something were to happen out in the wilds like this. Even if she does have a herb that might help, she might not remember their attributes as well (especially the less often used ones) given her current state.

[Faradae]

Faradae Faradae could feel the stares of the other two as they waited for her to show some reaction, and as expected, Clyde belatedly advised against consumption. Well, it was too late now, as she had already swallowed them. On their way from her hands to her mouth, they had taken on a colour of mottled light and darkness that was hard to determine, and it carried no real flavour, it was neither sower nor sugary, as most berries were to attract insects or birds or keep them both at bay. She did not feel inclined to try another one of the tiny fruits. However, while the taste of the berry she had eaten was rather disappointing, its effect was not. It started with a low, barely audible rustling that quickly increased in volume until it was a constant noise. Was something approaching through the undergrowth? She turned her head towards her companions, but to her surprise, they showed no reaction. Was she the one hearing this? Was this berry acting like a drug, letting her hear things that were not there? She took a single step towards Sayana, trying to warn her, and it sounded much louder than it should have. The thump of her footstep sounded as if the weighed at least four times as much as she actually did, and the rustling – the sound of grass moving in the breeze, she realized – rose to almost uncomfortable heights. More sounds were tugging at the edge of her attention, shrill birdsong, piercing the relative quiet of the forest with bladelike voices, and what she could only assume was the stamping of rabbit feet. It sounded like the mammal was right in front of her, but it was probably well out of reach. She had to shake her head to focus. Before she had a chance to react, Faradae could hear individual plops when Sayana crushed two berries between her teeth. The woman did not grimace, but she verbalized her displeasure a moment later. To Fara, it sounded like she was shouting, and she flinched a little. Her new sense of hearing could compete with her eyesight, but it would need some time getting used to. Maybe this was not too bad. Once she learned to tell sounds apart and categorize what was normal and what was not, her increased auditory ability might even come in handy. She would be a better scout this way, she could hear a river far away, could tell when a predator was approaching. It would be harder to surprise them. She plucked another handful of berries from the moss without looking at them too closely and dropped them in her pocket, much as Sayana had. For later, when the effects wore off, in case she needed them again. And she was not alone with the effects – Sayana had eaten berries, too. Faradae wondered whether her effect would be stronger, since she had eaten twice the dose, but to her surprise, the other woman did not seem to have problems with her senses as she approached her horse, but rather, her stomach. An unripe berry would not have elicited this effect so quickly, Faradae knew. She had upset her own stomach often by eating unripe fruit and the reaction was never as fast or violent. Worry surged through her as she approached Sayana. What if this berry was truly poisonous to humans? It was potent; a single small orb had evoked a huge effect on herself. She also knew that a relatively small dose of banewort was lethal to most people, though she did not recall specifically how many berries a human could eat before they perished. Sayana was not human, of course, but closer to it than to being a bird. She had not the least inkling of what plant may or may not help against nausea. If Faradae was to brew someone a tea to ease symptoms, the mixture was more likely to worsen the symptoms than to cure them. Sayana seemed more versed in these things, but it was evident, that in her current condition, she could not quite trust her memory. Fara could do little to help. “Sayana, are you sure-” She had to stop for a moment; the sound of her own voice rang in her skull like somebody was screaming directly into her ear canal. “I’m sorry, that berry improved my hearing to outperform my eyes. I’ll need some time to adjust.” And I’m sure a headache is on the way. “In any case, are you sure you can continue like this?” The wilds were evidently hostile, after all, and a sick person was better off in a resting spot than on a horseback in the realm of aggressive slugs and suspiciously trusty wildlife, in her opinion. “This is partly my fault. I should not have eaten any of these berries in the first place. I understand that we are in a hurry, but if you get any worse than this, we might be sorry if we don’t let you rest.”

[Prophet]

The forest seemed to sink the further one traveled but it was welcomed since the taller trees and gentle downward slope managed to protect the forest floor from the sweltering heat that had been building across the lands. Within the shadowed canopy, the old forest seemed to be the exact opposite of how it appeared from the outside. The gnarled tops and twisting trunks gave way to majestic hardwoods, towering pines and a cacophony of birds and insects that gave one the impression of balance in the world. The strangely colored moss with its shifting berries was becoming more prevalent as the underbrush shrank back to, basically, ground cover. If one were to look closely, the presence of the anger-inspiring slugs could be noticed in fallen timbers, deeper piles of composting leaves and the occasional mud puddle basin.

The rest of the day would be rather uneventful. Serene and full of life, the old forest only grew taller, cooler and more distinct as the paths wound down and in as if leading the adventurers to a central location. The general scope of the land might lend one to ponder whether or not the star had landed within this place for more of a reason than chance- an actual purpose to object having been cast from the Ukalas. It was a shivering idea that stirred something deep within the heart of the forest as a stiff breeze whistled from far ahead all the way up the pats and rattled the leaves high, high overhead.

No misfortune came. No terrible creature or unstoppable force bore down upon the travelers as they found themselves disappearing in the huge shadows of trees. The cool sensation of the wooded landscape seemed to rise up from the soil as it appeared to be drawing closer to night. In the waning bells between Syna’s glory and Leth’s pursuit, a strange thing occurred this deep in the glen. The same moss that had provided berries went through a unique transition every evening where the berries were absorbed back into the almost fur-like coverage. Unbeknownst to the trio making their way through the trees, this fuzzy growth was blasting spores into the air; a means of spreading its seed for germination.

Just as the last rays of Syna’s light were still peeking through the high branches, a nearby squirrel fell from the tree with a thud three yards from one of the horses. Inspection would reveal the animal to be in perfect health -aside from any damage caused in the fall- and fast asleep. When one might try to use magic in this situation, the mage will find any responses to be delayed, weak or inconclusive as if something was wrong. The more investigation one might do, the more he or she will feel tired as if pulled to sleep. As the chimes roll on, the effects grow stronger. A seasoned eye would see several other small animals already sleeping out in the open as if there was nothing to fear. The effects after several chimes are so strong that even the horses – big as they are – soon fall prey to the mysterious spores. They will not be led away and will try to lie down.

Sleep has come to the forest and those within its borders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the adventurers finally wake up, they are not where they were. The trio are unharmed, unbound but without any gear or weapons. There is no light aside from a small lamp burning oil under a shroud of some kind; probably some kind of ceramic. The dancing flame didn’t reveal much but it was far more illuminating than any magic. In fact, no magic of any kind seemed to work in this place. If one tried to call forth a divine gift or any kind of djed the answer would simply be –nothing. There was no magic to be found. There was no magic to give or take. It was gone.

The confines in which the travelers were kept were damp and smelled of the forest. The walls were thick, cool and made of wood. The graining looked natural but more than that it appeared to be solid. Not solid in the sense of structurally, even though it was, but solid like one large and uniform piece. The ceiling was unseen but an upward gaze revealed the chamber was generally round. Shadows towered far beyond the abilities of their eyes making the height of their cozy prison an unattainable fact. The sounds of a forest were muffled but there was something else taking place outside. It sounded like…voices.

NotesYou cannot fight the sleeping spores. Perhaps, in future ventures to this place you may be able to prevent being overwhelmed but only through IC research. There is no getting around the absence of magic. No exceptions. Any further questions can be taken to PM. Use the group PM that’s already circulating so the others can see the Q&A.

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde knew better than to say he'd been right when Sayana began to react to some of the berries she'd consumed. He had been right, of course, in his hesitancy to eat unknown plant life. At least on Sahova most of the plants were purposely made or grown, here in the wilds it was natures choice and who knew what would come about.

When Sayana began to grow physically ill, and sicked up the berries and other things, he assumed it was for the best. Clearly to rid herself of the noxious things was for the best.

Resolutely Sayana mounted up on her horse, letting it carry her along as before, though not with as much spring in her "step" so to speak for the journey, at least to Clyde's eyes.

Clyde soon found himself with a pair of females reacting somewhat oddly to the berries they'd eaten, and himself being the only fully functioning member of their party.

Sayana however seemed determined to press on, and so it seemed press on they would.

As they walked along and the day progressed Clyde focused ever more on the not a star and its aura, keeping it centered in his awareness so as to keep them on track, though at the moment the land seemed to be doing just that Clyde thought to himself.

It was as Clyde's eyes blinked for a few moments too long that he noticed the oddness. An animal falling from a tree. Another, still breathing, lying on the ground. He blinked his mundane eyes and his awareness of that star swirled out of focus, like an odd case of vertigo. When he tried to reach back out mentally his mind churned like a sack full of molasses. Oddly.

As he blinked again, finding too much time had passed for a normal blink, he puzzled about the oddness even more.

For a moment he saw a faint flash of an aura, a swirl of color in the distance, but it too evaded him like a light out of the corner of his eye. Unable to focus on it the aura bled out once more, leaving his eyes looking upon a mundane vista.

“Something... Swong... With... D'na-mals...”

Crossing his face in concentration Clyde tried once more to reach out through Cha, to find a hollow spot in his chest, like someone had scooped out his guts. Glancing down he saw that Cha was no longer in his grasp, but lying on the ground in front of him... Moments later he joined the staff, sprawled out asleep.

---

As Clyde became aware of his surroundings, his blinked heavily and looked about. The first thing he did was attempt to squeeze Cha in his grip, only to recall he'd stumbled and dropped her. She wasn't in his grip.

Still somewhat hazily, he began to look about, trying to find her, not fully processing his surroundings, focused on Cha as he was.

Growing somewhat concerned, Clyde focused on Cha in his mind, reaching out mentally for her through their connection and bond innately intertwining the djed's of Clyde and the staff through training and long term contact and interaction and understanding. Focused on the image, he attempted to "Sense" her in the way unique to magic staffs, and unique to those who had properly learned to wield them and began to unlock their intricacies. It was as innate an ability for Clyde as breathing,

And it failed.

Clyde sensed the hollow gutted feeling once more, the feeling of loss and emptiness, of something missing. His right hand twitched, giving off a short spasm as it tried to grasp something that wasn't there.

In a panic Clyde lurched to his feet, similar perhaps to how a drunken man might rise after losing his balance and sprawling on the ground. His breathing increasing, a bit of panic beginning to set in, Clyde turned about, taking in their surroundings, seeing it but not caring at it wasn't what he was looking for.

Begining as a whisper and quickly devolving into a yell, Clyde called out for his staff...

“Cha.... Cha?... CHA!!!”

He was alone.

The two woman of his party were no more than lumps of meat on the ground in his current awareness, as panic set in and he charged at the nearest wall, attempting to break it down and get to the other side, due to a stray thought that perhaps she was on the other side where he believed he had heard someone speaking.

If that didn't work he'd try again, yelling in between attempts, likely continuing to try until his legs gave out, he got through the wall, or someone new presented themselves with an indication that they had Cha or knew where she was.