Wild:34 The Beastlands

Starring: Nathaniel, Bo, Fuelwen, Splat , Brilla
Guest Starring: Selkies, Cat People Things, dire rhinos, Theodore the Narwhal
Challenge: Demons, Conflagration Ooze, Brilla's addiction to cute, voluntary meals
Location: The Beastlands
Date Played: 11 Apr 2010

Ambush

Fuelwen: "Oh, save us! Save us!" Well, that I'm not so concerned about. But I don't mind slaughtering demons, and it feels wrong to be in the Beastlands without having a good fight, even if this plane doesn't completely agree with me. I have to admit, I'm quite proud of myself for this particular battle. The demons generally focused their attention on me, using all of their spells and abilities, and even survived the explosion of the Conflagration Ooze. I wasn't able to land many blows of my own, but I withstood theirs. It wasn't dramatic or noble, but it was a fine test of my mettle.

Obviously, our party and the dire rhinos that had been disrupted by the demons had no trouble disposing of the demons.

Based on instructions found on the head demon's body, I was able to guide the party back to the catpeople village.

The Village

Fuelwen: The village had been besieged by the demons, invaders from another plane. Our aid during the battle made them grateful, and they offered to help us find our way back to our own plane.

Selkies

Fuelwen: They, themselves, couldn't do it. But they summoned selkies. Beautiful, blubber-laden selkies. Fast and sleek prey, so tempting and delicious. Still, I couldn't just lay into them. We needed their help. They escorted us to their town, deep beneath the ocean. Again, they couldn't help us directly, but suggested that we could win our way back by aiding Theodore, a narwhal, reach the Glade of the Unicorns.

Gathering this information took time. During that time, my interest in eating a selkie became known to a local cultist, one interested in experiencing all sensations. He was actually interested in being eaten, since he was due for a reincarnation so that he could experience life in a different body. At the time, I thought it would be interesting.

It wasn't. Ugh. It ranks as one of the more uncomfortable experiences of my life. It wanted it done in a temple, with spectators. That wouldn't have been so bad, if not for the fact that it refused to fight or struggle at all. Which wouldn't have been too bad, except it died with my first bite. The whole thing just felt wrong, like I was some stupid whale just waiting for food to fall in my mouth while I swim.

Ugh.

And then, this sensationalist, he reincarnated and asked to tag along as we helped Theodore. Suffice to say, one does not expect one's meal to tag along. Awkward and disturbing, to say the least.

A Whale of a Tale

Fuelwen: Theodore the Narwhal wanted one and only one thing- to be escorted to the glade of the unicorn where he could live among "his kind". Old, infirm- he was prey. But I needed him alive if we were to leave the Beastlands, so I held my claws in check. Bo used spells to make him capable of travelling on the land, and we escorted him. My wilderness skills aided me in hunting the glade.

Once found, we dropped Theodore in a hole. In a fit of charity, I made sure the badgers digging it knew to keep it salinated. I know the discomfort of fresh water.

The unicorns granted us a vial of unicorn blood, the component we needed to activate the portal and return to the Wilding.

On the Seas Again

Fuelwen: We escaped without further incident, but were treated to a novel sight: the Pink Priaprism, resting on the beach of Lull. That's unexpected.

While we investigate, I'd like to linger on Lull just long enough to get a keen falchion crafted for myself. While it will occupy two of my claws, it will do significantly more damage when I fight upon the land.