[IC] The Delivery Quest, Part 3

The living tree tries to resist Beartrand's grip (defend)...

The Sprites try to resist Esther's gust spell attack (defend)...

The Sprites are shocked by Ivario's impressive announcement -- they weren't expecting Innis to have skilled 'body guards.'

Distracted by Ivario's orb, the Sprites are hit by the gust of wind and they spiral violently out of control, pushing them off into the distance!

The wind, however, has little effect on the animated tree, being firmly rooted to the ground; yet Beartrand's bear-grip nearly snaps its twig arm, causing it to let go of Innis. The tree's human-like face contorts from the damage and it disappears from the trunk.

Then, a different human-like face appears (morphs onto) another tree trunk on the other side of the trail... it swings a 'punch' at Beartrand with one of its branches, attacking him from behind..

Meanwhile, Yarbi runs in to help Innis back on its feet and to lead the mushroom away from danger.

Innis strikes a look of clearly being conflicted. On the one hand, now that she realizes there are others aware of her new identity, who may be hunting her while she's handicapped, she could use the help of new friends. On the other hand, she doesn't want to bring any more trouble to them.

"Thank you all. My spellbook was at my home, last I saw it, directly west of here.

About finding the oracle. You may follow me as far as you are willing to risk me as your guide...

Going to my home is not in the wrong direction of the oracle, but it would require we make sharp turn northward after reaching it. This would also require going off-road directly into the dark forest. Being off road may have its advantages, but we may also run into more things...

What's more, I can't be sure my spell book will still be there... Being a master of protective spells, naturally I left a number of precautions, security measures, alarms, and locks in place, but there's no knowing how much damage my failed spell did. And, if there are other parties actively looking for me, we can be certain they'll look for me at my home.

Another option is to continue the trail north-west. It has the advantage of being a more straight line to the swamps where the oracle lives.

Now, about that cabin you see there, probably best if..."


Yarbi suddendly interrupts, "Look! Look what I found."

Yarbi was listening, but has since move closer to the cabin; the cabin door is ajar and something inside the cabin has clearly caught Yarbi's eye -- the door and cabin are both unusually oversized...

"...best if we not trespass," Innis finishes.

"Thank you all! Very well then, we shall travel west!"

Innis then looks at Esther, "Well, my full name is Innis Odergan," she says.


The cabin is a little ways west off the road. Yarbi takes a peak inside the cabin and finds an oversized wooden dining table inside with oversized chairs, that is towering high above him. When Yarbi stands back, he can see jewel-encrusted goblet, silver candle holders, and several golden and silver utensils set neatly at each seating place (four of them) at the table.

"I know it doesn't belong to us, but imagine if the owners could part with a mere jewel or a single utensil. Then we'd be set with a 'great treasure' we could use to pay the ferry keeper when we're ready to go home... perhaps we could ask..."



Suddenly the ground begins to tremble, like the steps of something very large in the distance...