File: 1397084730563.png (1013 KB, 800x524)

1013 KB PNG

You awaken from your nap to discover it is much later in the day. Based on the color of the sky, it’s currently late evening. You feel refreshed from exertions during your earlier aura practice, and you stretch your arms as you examine the surroundings. It seems that while you were asleep the wagon arrived in the forest on your way to your destination.

“I’m telling you, we passed that same stump ten minutes ago!” a voice asserts. You recognize it as Lisa, who seems to be arguing with Squire Richard.

“And I am telling you that as I was the one who marked the stump,” he retorts, “I would recognize it. The stump I marked was next to a tall oak. I don’t see any such oak here, do you?”

Before she can come up with a rebuttal, Lisa notices that you are awake.

“Ceil! You’re up,” she begins, “Sorry if we woke you, but I was trying to tell Richard that he’s gotten us lost.”

“Lost?” Richard exclaims, “I’ll have you know I’ve traveled this road many times. I even marked that stump that you insisted we kept passing. We haven’t left the path either. How could we be lost?”

You ask which stump they’re discussing, and Lisa points out one next to the side of the road. You study it carefully. It’s rather small, and looks as though it has been dead for a while. You notice an X has been carved into its side.

“We’ve passed this same stump multiple times,” Lisa continues, “I’m sure of it. I just don’t understand how.”

“I keep telling you it’s a coincidence,” Richard sighs, “There must be a dozen stumps that all look the same in this forest. It’s only natural that travelers would mark them to prevent themselves from getting lost.”

This argument clearly wasn’t going anywhere.

>Side with Lisa, you need to figure this out
>Side with Richard, it’s probably nothing, and you are still on the path
>Ask Lady Shabboneau for her input
>You should set up camp for now
>Other

In any case, Roll 1d20.

Rolled 20

>>32423887
>Other
just tell Lisa to get pidgey to scout and find the way, shouldn't be too hard

>>32423887
>Side with Lisa, you need to figure this out
and
>>32423963

File: 1397097110741.jpg (56 KB, 480x600)

56 KB JPG

"Alright, how about we have Pidgey scout out the area for us?" you suggest, "He should be able to help."

"Good idea," Lisa says as she gives some quick instructions to Pidgey. Mainly she wants to figure out if you're still on the main path or if you've been going in circles on a side route.

After you all watch Pidgey take off into the sky, you sit down to await its return. You're still curious about that stump, so you glance over the side of the cart. As you scan the ground, you slowly come to the realization that the stump has somehow vanished while you were focused elsewhere. You quickly scan all around, wanting to make certain you were looking in the right spot. After confirming your suspicions, you turn to your friends.

"The stump is gone," you state plainly. The two give you a strange look before you gesture to the vacant spot. As they look on, they slowly come to the same realization that you did.

Pidgey returns a few moments later, gesturing down the current path. It seems you are headed in the right direction.

"This is getting weird," Lisa whispers, "Stumps don't just move, or vanish, or whatever happened to that one."

The only question was what to do about it.
>Full speed through the forest, get out of here as quickly as possible
>Keep up the previous pace, and keep your eyes peeled
>Stop here for now, you want to figure out what's going on
>Other

>>32424232
>Other
maybe try to see if we can catch any residual aura from the "stump"
then just move on at the same pace, while staying focused on any weird/similar aura we can cross

>>32424232
>Stop here, figure out what's going on.
It'd be helpful if we could mark a sure path for later travel.

File: 1397086867965.png (169 KB, 320x240)

169 KB PNG

You focus on the stump's previous location with your aura. It doesn't appear differently than any other parts of the forest floor. There's not even any sort of markings in the dirt from where the stump was. You get out for a moment to dig at the ground a bit, though it doesn't seem like any trace of the stump is left.

"Let's keep going the same as we were before," you say, "If we kept passing that stump, maybe we'll find it again."

As your ride resumes, the sky slowly darkens as the sun sets. Fortunately the flames of the Ponyta provide suitable lighting, and you keep your senses alert to anything unusual.

Eventually, Lisa spots the stump once again, and you all grow quiet as you approach. Richard slowly brings the carriage to a stop, prepared to draw his sword.

You focus your eyes on the stump before looking towards it with aura. As you focus in, you sense the energy of the forest as you move closer to the stump's location with your vision. However, you soon reach the treeline, and are forced to pan backwards. Perhaps you just missed it?

As you center in on the spot, you find something rather peculiar. The space where the stump is located seems empty. Not empty like the air, since the air still registers with your aura vision. This is something else, something that your aura can't seem to perceive. It's almost like a yawning chasm. It makes you shiver somewhat.


"Ceil?" Lisa asks, "What's wrong?"

Her voice snaps you out of your focus. You have no idea what that stump is, although it doesn't seem good.

You need to try and get rid of this thing

>It might be some sort of monster, try attacking it
>Maybe you can talk to it?
>Continue through the forest, trying to ignore it
>Other

In any case, Roll 1d20

Rolled 8

>>32424785
>Maybe you can talk to it?
stump, tell me your secrets

Rolled 10

>>32424785
>It might be some sort of monster, try attacking it

Do you only take the first roll? I forgot.

>>32425065
i think it's the first 3

Rolled 15

>>32424785
>>Maybe you can talk to it?
Teach me the secrets of Illusion and huggy dark type Fox monsters, oh stump of mystery.

File: Spoiler Image (578 KB, 1026x725)

578 KB PNG

You hop out of the wagon, inching your way towards the stump.

"Alright, I don't know what you are, but I want you to stop following us."

The stump continues sitting in place. It doesn't seem to be reacting.

You sigh in frustration. Even if this thing could understand you, it's clearly not willing to do anything about it. You poke at it with your foot. It seems solid, though it doesn't react in any way.

You glance up to the sky. Night seems to have fallen at some point, and you glance back at your group, sitting in the wagon. You'd need to set up camp soon at this rate.

As you walk back to your group, you spot something in the corner of your eye. Turning quickly, you focus on it. It seems to be a small point of light, flickering and swaying deeper in the forest. You continue to watch for a moment, and you realize the light is getting closer. It seems to be headed directly for you all.

You still had some time to decide how to handle this development.

>Go by yourself to investigate the light
>Send someone else to investigate the light (specify)
>Ignore the light, continue along the path
>Other


>>32425091
Yep, best of three.

>>32425195
>Go by yourself to investigate the light
shiny!

>>32425195
>>Other
Stay together, check the light with Aura. Don't split up under any circumstances.
He how it continues to react, if it still comes closer or if it tries to lure someone away from the group.

File: Spoiler Image (239 KB, 634x880)

239 KB PNG

You move forwards a bit, staying next to the wagon, but ready if you need to fight.

You focus out with aura, trying to tell what the light is. As you focus in, you quickly recognize what you're looking at. It seems to be a woman with a large staff. At the end of it seems to be a lantern, though you've never closely studied fire under aura before.

You scan the woods for any other people, though it seems like this woman is alone. She can certainly see your group from where she is, due to the two Ponyta's flames.

Vanishing stumps were one thing, but random travelers you could handle. You wave her down as she approaches the treeline. She stops beside the path, and you get a look at her without your aura vision. Her clothes are rather dark, and fairly elaborate for hiking in the woods. The lantern on the end of her staff is simple and black, with glass covering the interior flame.

"Greetings," she murmurs, "Are you finding your way through the forest safely?" She glances over each of you as she speaks, pausing for a moment afterwards.

"Well, there have been a few strange things," you reply, "You probably wouldn't believe us though."

"Many a strange things finds us in these woods," she states, "If you are troubled, you are welcome to stay in my cabin. I can assure you it's perfectly safe there."

You nod as you turn back to discuss her proposition with your group.

"Well, a cabin does sound nicer than camping in the woods," Lady Shabboneau comments.

"Yeah," Lisa agrees, "She seems rather friendly. A bit odd though."

"Okay," Sir Richard begins, "I know I said earlier that those stories about witches weren't true, but I'm heavily reconsidering my position. I say we get as far away from here as we possibly can."

Well, that was two votes in favor and one against, the final decision would likely fall to you, however.

>Stay at the cabin, it's a good option
>Something still seems off, you'll continue on your way
>Other

>>32425643
>Stay at the cabin, it's a good option

What could possibly go wrong?

>>32425643
>Stay at the cabin, it's a good option
yeah, let's go

>>32425643
>>Stay at the cabin, it's a good option
Maybe she'll have pokemon friends for us to hug!

File: Spoiler Image (18 KB, 245x245)

18 KB JPG

You nod to your group before heading over to the strange woman, who seems to be drawing lines on the ground with her staff.

"We'd be glad to take you up on your offer."

"Ah, excellent," she smiles, "I'll wait here as you gather your things."

Your group hurriedly gathers up most of your supplies, although the wagon is a bit to large to fit through the treeline. There's nothing too valuable in it, so it should be safe for the night. You pull it off to the side of the path before you all depart.

Your group then begins the trek through the woods. It's rather dark, so you're thankful for the woman's lantern as well as the two Ponyta lighting your way. The minutes stretch on as you mostly walk in silence. The forest is also eerily quiet. Fortunately you don't see the stump anywhere nearby again.

Eventually, you arrive at your destination. Calling it a cabin was something of an understatement, as the building is closer in size to an inn or a small manor. It would've been very difficult to build such a thing out in the woods.

As you approach the front door, your guide uses her staff to hang her lantern on a metal pole beside the front walkway.

"I'll take your horses to our stable, go ahead inside the front door. Sharron will keep you company until I return."

You nod as she walks off to the side of the house with the Ponyta. The rest of you head into the front door, finding a rather warmly furnished living space just inside. You leave most of your travel supplies near the entrance as you walk in. You look around the room as you try to find Sharron, and you eventually spot a small head poking out from above one of the couches in the room. As your eyes meet she ducks down.

You wander around to the other side of the sofa, finding a young girl hiding behind it. She smiles as she sees you. You notice she's holding a doll under one of her arms.

"Lana didn't say we'd be having guests," the girl giggles, "She's really boring though. Never wants to play anything."

(cont)

File: Spoiler Image (198 KB, 736x975)

198 KB JPG

"My name is Ceil," you start, "Are you Sharron? Is Lana your sister?"

The girl nods vigorously in response, jumping up from her hiding place.

"It's been so long since we had guests. I keep trying to get Lana to play with me but she never wants to play. Never brings guests often either, so I only get to play with my doll," she rattles on, "But now there's all of you to play with! We can play games and tell stories and trade secrets and make cookies and draw stuff and-

"Sharron, calm down," an unfamiliar voice calls from another door. Looking towards it you see yet another woman. Just how many sisters does Lana have?

"But mama," Sharron mumbles, addressing the woman who just entered.

"I'm sorry about that," she says to you, "We don't get visitors very often here. My name is Maggie. I live here with my daughters, though I suppose you've already met both of them?"

"Yes, Lana offered to let us stay here after she found us stopped in the forest."

"Well, we certainly have plenty of space," she continues, "There are a number of rooms upstairs you can use, as well as a kitchen. I'm afraid we've already had dinner earlier, though you're welcome to cook something for yourselves."

You nod, and she leaves the room once again. Lana enters from the front door as well.

Well, it seems you've got some free time if you want to spend it.

>Speak with someone (specify)
>Head to the kitchen to get some food
>Head upstairs to a guest room, spend time on something else (specify)
>Other

>>32426338
>Head to the kitchen to get some food

>>32426338
>Head to the kitchen to get some food

>>32426338
>Speak with someone (specify)
Sharron
Let's humor the kid

>>32426338
>Other
Scope the place out with aura.

File: 1397096501091.jpg (14 KB, 320x240)

14 KB JPG

You decide to head to the kitchen. You hadn't really had a chance to eat since this morning, although you'd somewhat been able to ignore it due to all the weirdness. Until now, that is.

As you exit the room, you find that the rest of your group is following along. You also spot Sharron sneaking after you, though she's not doing a very good job of staying hidden.

Entering the kitchen, you find the shelves filled with a large number of jars. Each seems to be filled with dried herbs or similar ingredients. You don't really recognize any of them, so instead check the cabinets. It takes a bit of searching due to the variety of foodstuffs, though you eventually find enough ingredients to make a stew. Fortunately, there's a large empty cauldron set within the fireplace. Lisa helps you cut the vegetables as Sir Richard fetches water to fill the cauldron. Lady Shabboneau sits at the table, as Sharron attempts to engage her in conversation. It's rather one sided, as Sharron continues to ramble while Lady Shabboneau seems to just nod inattentively.

It takes the better part of an hour, though you've soon served up a large helping of stew to all of your friends. It's not the best meal you've had, though it's somewhat better than what you had for breakfast. Though that could just be due to how hungry you were.

After you finish, you help Lisa wash and put away the bowls as you consider what you want to do with the rest of the night.

>Talk with someone (specify)
>Go practice with Riolu and Froakie outside
>Go meditate in your room
>Other

Rolled 16

>>32426750
>Go practice with Riolu and Froakie outside
Friskier gotta Git Gud mang

>>32426750
>Talk with someone (specify)
Talk to Sharron about her family, perhaps why they live out in the woods.

>>32426750
>Go meditate in your room

>>32426750
>Talk with someone (specify)
Sharron.
just small chatting and info gathering, i guess

File: 1397089390890.jpg (8 KB, 216x233)

8 KB JPG

As your group breaks off, you decide to talk with Sharron a bit. It seems she wandered back into the living room during dinner.

"So Sharron," you begin, "Why does your family live out here in the woods?"

"That's 'cuz mama is an apothecary," she says, carefully sounding out the longer word, "There's lots of rare plants and stuff, although I think it's too boring. What's your home like?"

"Well, I live near the ocean-"

"The ocean! I've never seen the ocean before. I've always wanted to see it. I played pirates with my doll once, although mama got mad when the water got everywhere."

"I don't think I've ever seen a doll quite like yours before."

"Mama found it for me. She said some other girl lost it, and that made the doll sad. So she gave it to me to keep, that way its happy."

"Have you ever noticed anything strange in the woods?"

"Not that I can think of. Most of the time it's people freaking out about nothing. Like seeing stumps disappear or stuff like that. How silly right?"

"Yeah."

The two of you talk for a while more. You mostly tell her about some of the other places you've been. She seems to be enraptured by your stories. As the hours drag on though, she slowly seems to nod off. Lana gently picks her up and carries her off to her room, leaving you alone.

Seeing as how it was getting rather late, you decide to head upstairs to one of the guest rooms as well. After discarding your gear, you crawl into the rather lush bed and prepare to get a good night's sleep.

>Roll1d20

Rolled 13

>>32427302
Ruh-roh Shaggy.

Rolled 15

>>32427302
nightmare doll?

Rolled 8

>>32427302
Prepare for DOOOOOOOOOM

File: Spoiler Image (289 KB, 1280x1024)

289 KB JPG

Suddenly, you find yourself in a forest, much like the one you were traveling through earlier today, though this time the air is much more still. It's almost as though the forest is dark and lifeless.

As you wander through the empty woods, you find your breathing becoming more and more panicked. You can't see anything, though your eyes dart back and forth searching for something. You blink your eyes and try to use your aura to see something, though each time you try you reach only empty blackness.

You've begun running. You're not sure why, but your body started moving on its own. You aren't even sure if you're running towards something or running away. As you dash through the thick fog which seems to have sprung up from nowhere, you begin hearing a familiar voice calling out in the distance. It's Lisa's voice! She's trying to find you.

You follow the sound until you reach a clearing, spying Lisa on the other side. She turns toward you and her eyes brighten as she spots you, smiling as she waves to you. You begin to smile and wave back, though your smile fades as you see, something fade into the air behind her. It's some sort of monster of inky blackness. It's details are warped and twisted. It's arms aren't even attached to its body, the thick claws just floating in the air.

You try and call out, though you find no sound emanates from your mouth. You begin dashing forward, though as you do, the clearing seems to stretch in front of you, expanding as quickly as you can progress. The wicked beast raises it's claws, sliding them through Lisa's hair, though she doesn't seem to notice the things presence at all. You look on in horror as the creature abruptly shifts one of it's claws, drawing a trickle of blood from Lisa's shoulder. You're still running at your top speed, though it almost feels like you're getting farther away. You want to cry out and tell her to run, but your voice is gone. The claws drift upward again, closing in on her neck.

(cont)

File: Spoiler Image (1.39 MB, 1024x1207)

1.39 MB PNG

Your heart beats rapidly as you watch the creature hover its talons above Lisa's neck, as though it were mocking you. Slowly inching his claws closer and closer, certain that you'd be forced to continue watching as you struggled in vain to reach her. You saw how quickly it moved earlier, it could easily end her in an instant, but it seemed to only want to torment you. You find your legs moving in slow motion, matching the speed of the claw. The clearing is no longer stretching, and you find yourself closing the distance.

You come to a slow realization that this was no chance, however. This was merely the monster toying with you once again. You knew as soon as you got close he would finish her right in front of you. Despite this, you found yourself moving forward, continuing to approach.

As you get halfway across the clearing, you watch helplessly as the wicked claw is raised, ready to come down in a single vicious strike.

Abruptly, a dark form leaps from the treeline, flinging itself at the other creature. It strikes cleanly, causing them both to crash away from Lisa. You find yourself moving at normal speed once more, dashing to Lisa's side. As you look on, you see the first creature battling with the knew one. Your helper seems to have the same form as Sharron's doll. The claws of the evil creature slice at it repeatedly, though each wound is instantly stitched back together. The doll responds by hammering against the mist with its arms. Despite the effort however, it seems to be losing. A horizontal slice flings the doll backwards at your feet, though this time the wound doesn't close.

As the creature approaches once more, you feel the dread from earlier, though this time it lasts only a moment. Soon, a gout of blue fire seems to erupt from nearby. You look to see the vague form of a lantern, spewing the attack from it's center. It seems to burn away the mist entirely, and you feel yourself finally relax.

(cont)

File: 1397094037224.jpg (55 KB, 512x512)

55 KB JPG

You open your eyes, finding yourself in bed. Sitting up suddenly, you glance about the Room. Riolu seems to have been trying to wake you up for a bit, though his face brightens now that you have. Froakie seems to still be sleeping, though he doesn't look like he's having any bad dreams like you were.

You notice that Sharron's doll has been tucked under your arm. Glancing out the window, you also see that Lana's lantern is now hanging outside your window, rather than on top of the post near the ground.

This forest was starting to get to you.

Heading downstairs, you find your friends as well as your hosts eating breakfast. It's simple porridge, although you find yourself surprisingly famished.

"I'm sorry if you didn't sleep well Ceil," Maggie starts, "You see, your room is under a certain part of the attic where there's a terrible draft. It causes a lot of noise."

Well...
>Confront her about it. This was all too weird (Roll 1d20)
>Let it be, you're probably just imagining things
>Other

Rolled 10

>>32428509
>Confront her about it. This was all too weird (Roll 1d20)

>>32428509
>Other

Explain our dream to her in detail

Rolled 2

>>32428509
>Confront her about it. This was all too weird (Roll 1d20)

Rolled 18

>>32428509
>Confront her about it. This was all too weird (Roll 1d20)

Rolled 12

>>32428860
so close

File: delphox.jpg (157 KB, 774x1032)

157 KB JPG

"Well, I actually did have a pretty weird dream last night," you begin. You recount the various events of the dream. Being lost in a mysterious forest. Coming across Lisa getting attacked by the creature, but not being able to stop it. The doll showing up, then the lantern's blast of fire. You also mention how when you woke up, Sharron's doll was under your arm, and the lantern was outside your window.

As you take the doll out of your pocket to hand back to Sharron, you also notice there's a small horizontal tear on the front of it's chest.

"Well, that certainly sounds like a strange dream," Maggie responds, "Although nothing that couldn't be explained from wandering in the forest for hours or having the fear of losing something important."

"But what about the doll and the lantern?"

"Well, it's possible that the doll reminded you of Sharron. The two of you talked a lot earlier, it wouldn't surprise me if your mind thought of her when looking for help. As for the lantern, you saw it when you were on the road, and it guided you out of the darkness, like in your dream."

"Then how did they end up next to me in my room?"

"Well," Maggie replies, "I don't know everything that goes on in this house. Girls, do you know how those got there?"

"Umm, well," Sharron starts, "I was up to get water, and then I walked past Ceil's room. It sounded like he was having a bad dream, so I tiptoed in and gave him Nena, since Nena always helped keep the monsters away from me when I was asleep."

"As for me," Lanna adds, "I placed the Lantern by your window for my own reasons. There was something I needed in the attic, and hanging the lantern there lights it up quite well. The handle is broken, so it can't be carried normally. You need to hang it off of something, or else you'd burn your hands.

"You don't have any shorter handles?"

"What do you think I was getting out of the attic?"

"Oh..."

(cont)

File: 1397094505083.jpg (46 KB, 512x512)

46 KB JPG

After you all finish eating, Lisa offers to help Lana clean the plates, while Shannon pesters Richard into showing her the Ponyta in the stables. Lady Shabboneau heads upstairs to her room.

"Ceil, would you join me in the living room for a moment?" Maggie asks you.

You nod, and you head over. As the two of you sit down, Maggie's look turns more serious.

"It's always the curious ones that make things so much more difficult."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll be honest with you. Entirely. In exchange, I'd rather you not tell anyone about this. As far as any of them shall ever know, this was all a set of coincidences surrounding your nightmare."

You nod slowly, wondering what's really going on.

"I'd ask if you believe in ghosts, although I suppose at this point you'd gathered that much. You can see things others can't. Your ability and ours are somewhat opposed. While yours is based on the life in all things, ours focuses on the other side of things. Things that appear empty to your eyes glow brightly in ours. Most people can't notice them at all. Strange things may happen, but they'll never observe them directly. Lana's lantern is one of the creatures, believe it or not, as well as Shannon's doll. However, only Lana is aware of hers directly. Shannon still hasn't truly grasped that we're...different from everyone else. I'd very much like you to keep this knowledge between us. This knowledge has caused problems in the past."

You nod once more, taking in the information. It was a bit hard to believe, although with what you've seen, it was the only explanation that made sense.

Soon enough, your group is prepared to leave once again. Shannon waves goodbye as Lana guides you back through the woods to your wagon. It seems to have been mostly left alone. Once you get all of your supplies in place, you set back down the path. You glance at the stump, which doesn't seem to have moved since you last saw it.

As you continue gazing at it however, you could swear you saw it blink.

>>32429303
That's going to end tonight's thread. Sorry for ending a bit early, but I'm going to have to call it here.

I'll try and stay on for a bit longer if you have any questions/comments.

Rolled 3 + 4

>>32429334
Fine by me. My internet keeps cutting out every few minutes. Stupid storms.

>>32429334
I'm fine maybe I'll stop procrastinating and get the hell off of 4Chan.


Who the hell am I kidding im here forever

>>32429334
it's fine
thanks for running

>>32429303
Thanks for running.