182nd page

[curseshit]

You broke the curse! Or well, the weird spanish guy doing magic is on that right now, finishing it up, but the group should be fine. Or fine and fine.

The townsfolk is as confused as you are. Some of them have been under the spell for years. The guards are giving up their weapons as they realize they don't want to fight for this guy. It was all for the money. He used them. If you want to question him while he's still alive you better keep him safe inside the church.

[ mission: deal with the post-traumatic stress. ]

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[crapbirds]

[ after a few hours he's done with the trees. the oldest one will have to wait though since he needs it to get back to his hotel. ]

[ sets the basket full of saplings on the ground and puts a hand over it. slowly the saplings start turning into soil. ]

[sawedoff]

[holla npc. he found most of his junk by now. still missing some miscallanies. notably his clothes. it's a tough world when val wants to keep you dressed as a priest.]

[sets bag down nearby and clears throat]

Any word on Thelma to duke's Louise?

[i want to burn those things so bad you have no idea the restraint]

[crapbirds]

[ you stay away. they need to be recycled. it's the gentle way. looks up from his magic and shakes his head. ]

No, not much. He didn't say anything?

[ well he has a vague idea of who it could be but. ]

[sawedoff]

[yeah as long as it doesn't get recycled into the next rich douchebag's hands]

He peed a little.

[tilts head, mouth shrug. what can you do. it was too much for the sad sack. couldn't take the pressure.]

Nah, squat. What's not much? C'mon, Pursuit of Happyness, you want these dicks running around screwing your good name over? Gimme somethin.

[crapbirds]

[ you try so hard and it gets you nowhere. finishes with the thing and gets up. now he has basket full of dirt. it's going to his backyard don't worry. his daughter will plant evil carrots into it. ]

It's... [ glances at the sky and scratches his jaw again. they never told him about the map but he's starting to have an idea what's going on in here. ]

If you are up to what I think you are, I have some advice for you. Stop while you still can.

[sawedoff]

[blinks in confusion for a solid couple seconds. this was supposed to be a cut and dry break the spell bag the baddie job so the big bad allusion catches him off guard. admittedly it's been a while since they've seen hide or hair of anything having to do with the big picture]

What? What d'you know about it?

[pulls hands free from pockets and steps closer. u know somethin we don't daddy daycare]

[crapbirds]

I cannot help you, I'm sorry.

[ don't guilt trip him any further dean pls. he already feels bad. there are some lines he can't cross. ]

I know it's selfish of me, but I simply can't. I have my daughter to think about. Do you understand?

[ tilts his head slightly. you see those two crows on the roof of the house next to them? yeahh. ]

[sawedoff]

[doesn't follow the look because he isn't going to draw attention but yeah. you're mixed up in evil crow mafia. okay. is there anything in this place that hasn't been gangbanging them with evil from the getgo? the towns. the trees. the pie. what next, the air]

Yeah, I get it. [moves a hand to rest at his shoulder, steers him away from eavesdropping avians] Look, I don't know what kinda crap you stepped in, but obviously we stepped in it too. We're just tryin to get out of here. I mean these are our lives you're talking about. Can you at least point me in the right direction. Give me a way to turn, man, anyone else that knows somethin, and I'll leave you out of it.

[this is the first break he's gotten in months he's not letting it go]

[crapbirds]

[ well he's not in the mafia yet. he's just trying his best not to step on anyone's toes. ]

No, I'm afraid all I can say is that you have to stop. Don't go any further, it will only bring misery. Give up.

[ he feels sorry for these people he really does, first his daughter messing with them and god knows what crap they went through to get here. this world is not kind to outsiders and he knows it. he was never in the same situation though. ]

But if you ever need a break, maybe I can help. I want you to have this.

[ hands him a root. yes it's ugly and looking kinda dead. apparently appeared out of nowhere. you can have it. ]

No tricks attached, I promise.

[sawedoff]

[takes it with a grimace, turning it over in his hand like he just handed him a turd. which it basically is. thanks for the consolation prize, dick.]

Give up on ever going home, but here, have a petrified root. Gee thanks. What the hell am I supposed to do with this?

[looks up at him equal parts confused and annoyed. he's had it with shady douchebags that can't cough up a straight answer]

[crapbirds]

It is a portal. It leads to my hotel.

[ holds up his hands, i'm sorry bro but it's the best i can do. ]

And before you say anything, I know things didn't go well the last time you visited but next time I promise it will be different.

Just plant it and it should be ready to go in a few hours. Use it any time you like.

Please accept it.

[ yeah he says that but it's gonna be wacky next time too in case we want more RNG scenarios just saying!! ]

[sawedoff]

Yeah I gotta tell you I don't see that happening.

[pockets it anyway. actually if there's a chance he can catch him without his windex birds shadow by showing up unannounced he might just go for it, but he's not gonna throw that out there and blow it, so]

Does this uh root portal come with a return trip?

[im not hiking my ass all the way through that mess again just to get back to the save point]

[crapbirds]

[ lmfao that would be just sad. how cruel do you think he is. ]

Of course, of course.

I'll take you back myself if it refuses to work the way it should. I owe you that much.

[ after all this apple thing was mostly his fault. should have gotten the money from somewhere else. ]

[sawedoff]

Yeah you do. [you really do. more than that. let's be real. scratches at his temple and looks down before casting a glance over his shoulder]

There's one other thing. Before you bippity bop back or whatever. You've been here a while, know about- some of the magic, right? Native magic or whatever. What do you know about a spell that can keep going after the caster's dead? Like long dead. Really freakin dead.

[more specifically how to stop a spell that can keep going. pulls lip behind teeth and watches him expectantly. pls. obi wan. give me something other than a free ticket to shenanigans. i don't want shenanigans i want my brother.]

[crapbirds]

No, that's not possible.

[ it's a big world and there's magic of all kinds, but he has been around enough to sound confident in his answer. whoever told you the caster was dead was wrong. ]

Spells like that do not exist.

[sawedoff]

[i'm sorry what. so we're on a spirit quest for a guy that faked his own death. why are we doing this again. i'm not your fucking errand boy muppet. get your own mystical item. i quit.]

[slowly. pats his back in thanks before moving away]

Okay, uh. All I needed to know. Thanks.

[i guess.]

[crapbirds]

You're welcome.

[ he could possibly tell you more but haha. maybe next time. without the birds. ]

[ watches him in silence for a second before turning away. it's that look you give to people you think you may never see again. ]

I wish you good luck on your journey.

[sawedoff]

Yeah. Take care of yourself.

[and ur little girl. who knows. he doesn't know what way is up with this mapquest crap anymore. maybe he'll open a b&b next door. shoots his back a look before hauling his bag back up and heading off to find the scoobies]

[crapbirds]

[ sorry for ruining your day. and the past week i guess? ]

[ heads back to the town center to walk through the portal and return to his own place. ]

[noshoes]

[ she has already helped daniel with the party search so now she's going to go solo on this.

walks up to him and tilts her head curiously ]

You are going back?

[crapbirds]

[ can't remember her from the party earlier but guesses she's an outsider as well. ]

Ah, yes. I have to get back to my daughter.

[noshoes]

[ looks at the portal with curiosity and then back at the group ]

Is there a big sea? Where you go?

[ she hasn't seen a real big body of salty water in so long and she thinks there might be more unexplored possibilities under the sea rather than on top of it ]

[crapbirds]

There is a big forest but the sea isn't too far away.

[ and we got baths. BATHS. ]

Why? Are you thinking of joining me?

[ he'd be more than happy to take her with him. the journey is no place for her. not that he'd refuse anyone who wants to give up the dangerous quest. ]

[noshoes]

[ she glances back for a moment again and smiles at him. she really loves these people but they aren't jason nor brett and they certainly aren't charley, her bff. he's a whale. ]

I want to search the sea. For answers. I can do that, but they can't.

[crapbirds]

Very well then.

[ a brave girl. ]

Have you bid your goodbyes yet?