The Elders of New Hope have summoned all of you to the Long House this evening. You trudge, or fly, up the hill with whatever family and friends you have as the sun goes down.

The path up the hill to the bailey is lined with torches, even though the sun has barely set and the twilight gives enough light to see by. The smell of burning pine sap fills the air.

As you all enter the Long House, where the villagers of New Hope gather to celebrate or confer, you see the village chief, Elder Tarkan Brell, at the high seat at the far end of the hall. The older pure strain human beckons you forth, and you are brought to the front of the hall.

Most of the village seems to have gathered for this important event. As you make your way through the hall, past the long fire pits and tables, friends and acquaintances give you words of encouragement.

As the six of you gather at the front, Elder Brell raises his hands for silence. It takes a minute for everyone to quiet down, as there is a lot of excitement in the crowd. Brell gives a smile, his white teeth shining through his gray beard -- a sign of his excellent health. "We have gathered tonight to celebrate. These six village youths have come of age, and are ready to take the Trial of Adulthood. Tomorrow, they will set out from New Hope to explore the wilds. There is no set goal for them to achieve, only that they test themselves and come back with something of use to the village.

"Buzz Weaver, Sebastian, the others will count on you to guide the way. Morgan Clutch, Day Vine, the others will count on your knowledge and skills. John Smith, Wigglesworth, the others will count on your protection. Work well together, and you will succeed."

Elder Brell raises his arms, and the serving sentients bring in the food and drink.

"Tomorrow, you set out to earn your right to call yourselves adults. Tonight, we feast!"

Each of you is led to a table where your loved ones wait, and are served food and drink appropriate to your kind. Once the meal is concluded, you are once again called up before the assembly. Brell suppresses a belch behind the back of his hand. "Well, now that we've had our feast, is there anything you would like to tell us, or ask about, before you set out on your journey?"

Day Vine sits down by his best friend(s)..from school?  .Any takers on this one? Since we never said  who  knows whom...

"I feel both  excited and scared at the moment.  How are you feeling?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:58, Sat 09 Sept 2023.

John Smith is a big, strong guy, but young and inexperienced, and isn't good at public speaking, so he just weaves and bows.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Sat 09 Sept 2023.

The plant "monster" taps its doll and a slow and deep "Wigglesworth" emits as its perpetual smile, some think it's in hunger as the fly trap never turns down an opportunity to eat, is turned on every being it simply calls Meat. Its never eaten anyone who was alive, but who knew if it wanted to.

A few summers back it had appeared and just hung out around town and, so long as it didn't attack anyone, it was left well enough alone. It had even silently, and without asking, shored up the town's wall. It didn't say much, which lead folks to believe it was either dumb or slow.

At the feast it munched on every offered piece of meat and even snatched up scraps that the humans couldn't eat. Buzzworth would catch it staring at him when he got close, obviously a holdover from its less advanced cousins, the hungry smile releasing a dollup of fluid from the spikes that doubled as teeth.

When it was given the order to protect, it nodded it's massive head slowly and then stood to lead the way out.

Morgan shifts away from Wigglesworth as everyone is called before the assembly again. That odd plant probably doesn't mean any harm but, as someone who had intentionally avoided it the entire time it was here (understandable considering its creepy doll-necklace), Morgan doesn't trust Wigglesworth. Knowing that John isn't much of a speaker (not that Morgan is herself), Morgan is the  one to ask the elder a question.

"Um, I know we're just supposed to find something of use, but is there anywhere you would recommend we try looking? I- if that's not against the rules of the trial, of course. Or maybe if there's anything we should look out for to stay away from? L- like a five-armed shark, or something?"

A five-armed shark? On land? Great. Now everyone here is going to think you're an idiot, Morgan! Uncle always told you to think before speaking. Should've just let John ask the questions. Or Sebastian...

Morgan continue to beat herself up with her internal monologue while waiting for Elder Brell's answer to her dumb questions.

Elder Brell considers the question seriously, despite Morgan's stammering. "Hmm. I've never heard of one with five arms, but land sharks are a hazard. They're mostly found in the Dry Lands, and yes, best to stay away from them if you can."

Irita Sanchez, another of the village's Elders and also a PSH, considered the local Wise Woman, speaks up. "Look for anything that looks useful from the Before. The Ancients had devices that could work miracles, as you've surely heard. But keep your eyes open for knowledge first. It's great to have an artifact, but it's better to know how it operates."

John Colbottom, yet another of the village Elders and its War-Chief, stands up. His green skin and three eyes are intimidating, but more so are his well-developed muscles. "I've taught you all at least the basics of combat, if you were willing to learn. You'll find many dangerous mutants and creatures out there. But remember, some could be friends. They don't want to die any more than you do, so remember to make peace where you can, but defend yourselves when you must."

LAND SHARKS ARE REAL?? WHAT THE FUCK??

Turns out Morgan's idiotic question was actually useful, if only to provide her nightmares with excellent fuel for the next few years. While swallowing the bile that rose to her throat in her momentary state of panic, Morgan grips her binoculars tighter and nods at Elder Sanchez's words. Thinking of the ones who came Before and their artifacts is a welcome distraction from the revelation of land sharks existing. In fact, it's such a distraction that Elder Colbottom's words go entirely past Morgan.

Buzz shows up...announcing himself as usual via his namesake. He could fly quiet when he wanted to, but it was always too slow. Its one of the reason he wanted the wagon. Carrying around his survival backpack weighed on him considerably.

"Day, Morgs, John-John, Wigs-Good to see you and scent your pheromones." Unlike most of the community, Buzz more or less just showed up one day. He said something about waking from his cocoon near a machine that trained school children. Clearly the machine did not teach very well, because he was never very good at social situations. Like his use of nick names to remember who people where. He also had trouble telling humans apart-as he turned to Morgan and called her 'John-John' and referred to John Smith as 'Morgs'.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:13, Mon 11 Sept 2023.

Day reaches out a vine to Morgan seeing her face pale and thinking she might be ill....

"Fear not, if such a thing swallows you, it shall swallow me as well, then it will have intestines filled with vine..... if it cannot be made to desist in the idea of eating us."

Day looks at WW understanding takes on his face as he considers the other plant...
See ooc......it will be a minute before I get around to that talk....

In reply to Buzz Weaver (msg # 8):

John inhales and try catching the smell of pheromones in the air... he not quite sure he gets it...

Morgan takes momentary solace in Day Vine's presence. And then he mentions his vines growing through the land shark's intestines. The thought makes Morgan retch and completely miss Buzz calling her by the wrong name. Again.

Sebastian hadn't been at table; rather, they had placed a bowl of wriggling grubs on the floor of the long house next to a bowl of water, and Sebastian had been happily slurping away at the food. He didn't have any of his family here; he was from just outside of town, but he was the only member of his roll who had mutated, and thus would behave in such an environment.

Sebastian raised his head slightly and sniffed the air, ~It is good to smell you again,~ heard Buzz Weaver in his head.

Day keeps moving forward as he has comforted Morgan by saying the wrong thing.....

"Buzz I knew you were bound to do a  fly by....you seem excited."

Day passes near John he laughs aloud while he sniffs the air for these mythical pheremones.....?

He even passes Sebastian who is enjoying plump grubs....

He comes towards Wigglesworth...
"I do not believe we have had a chance to become friends yet."

In reply to Sebastian (msg # 12):

"There is my business partner! How is the wagon and puller of said wagon doing?" He asked, very keen on Sebastian's presence.

Wigglesworth looks directly at Day Vine with it's odd smiling maw and then slowly tilts its head. Being this close, the other plant being notices that its skin seems to have an iridescent sheen to it much like a snake's skin might have. Reaching up, it touches the doll to make is speak the creature's supposed name and then it reaches out to touch Day Vine and says, "Not meat," like its made a decision. It stares for an uncomfortable amount of time before adding, "What friend?"

Day appreciates that he has been identified as not meat, that is a promising start...
"Friend is trusted for play and help."

He points to the others in the group interacting with each other...
"Safe place to be with friends...no fear no danger."

The 10' tall beast seems to think on these words as it gives out a noise much akin to a human's pondering hmmm. "Meat fear. Fear taste good." It then looks about the area, out into town, "Place not hit," taps its toy, "place good." Tapping his toy again, "Protect Not Meat." It's large head turns to look over the crowd of other beings as a tendril points out Buzzworth, "Even Best of Meat." The plant creature doesn't seem dumb, just it has a very limited vocabulary which makes sense given it classifies every sentient creature it meets as either Meat or Not Meat.

"Well that is a good start...."
Day wonders if the dicotomy of meat vs not meat is impacted if WW is hangry?


"I will speak to the elder and make certain meat is in ready supply."
Day does  exactly that....hoping for  extra food.