IC Story Thread: Chapter I, The Pride of Lions

Enise has just enough time to tug on Marabi's sleeve, virtually dragging her off of the prostrate woman, and brandishing her own staff like she would a prod to her sheep, controlling the aggressors' movements some.

It's not enough however to keep the zombie-like revelers at bay, and the four split off into pairs two setting upon each of the pair.

Grant and Rolen run ahead and shortly come upon an odd scene.

Marié is just outside of the winery villa courtyard to the south, and she is entangled in what appears to be ... a very out of place, overgrown rose garden, perhaps? Her clothes and limbs are ensnared and intertwined with brambled stems and vines. And on the far side of the growth is a half-elven lass in a pretty sundress swatting at the brambles futilely with a stick.

The growth blocks the entirety of the exit from the courtyard, so you would have to pass through it unless you seek some way around.

The girl startles and staggers back with a shriek, as Grant and Rolen rush into view, and Grant has both axe and sword in his hands.

Marabi starches one of the sloppy aggressors, and he goes down in a heap.

Enise takes off at Marabi's urging, and her lone remaining attacker follows her only briefly before ceasing the pursuit. His movement is too slow, and he just kind of stares off after her.

Marabi's aggressors come at her if she sticks around to collect her shield, but otherwise are easily left in the dust if she just flees....

Rolen starts burning away the overgrown vines and branches, but they seem to replace themselves as quickly as he can burn them!

The lass, meanwhile, still on the ground, scoots herself further away from the three, tarnishing the backside of her dress before finally standing and running most of the way toward the out-building.

Once away from the chaos of the out-building, Marabi and Enise see the scene with entangled-Marié and the others up by the winery villa.

As Marabi, and perhaps others even, join in on slicing at the ensnaring vines, everyone finds that they can't seem to make any progress in eliminating the stuff. It just seems to magically grow back as quickly as it is cut back.

However, before long the thorned branches and vines just seem to retract on their own and are gone.

The music that had been eminating from the out-building has noticably ceased, and for the moment things are quiet.

Perhaps unsettlingly so.

So as the conversation ebbs and flows, you all notice that the music has stopped. Indeed it's dead silent, except for your talking.

Perhaps after Marié inquires after the "bad musician" everyone looks over to the out-building, and you all see that every able body in the out-building is staring out the windows at you all. Completely still and silent.

The elf has come to one of the windows, and the half-elven lass stands just outside that window to the side, and both of them are staring at you all as silently as the rest of the wedding crowd.