Journey Day 23 Sunbathing

The rest of the evening passes in quiet conversation until Honoria departs for her tent, leaving Syval to the remains of the first watch. Newly attuned to the Witch of the Fen, the swamp's heart leaves the group in peace and while a few wildlife here and there peek upon the campsite from afar, nothing comes close enough to trouble them.

As the dawn sun rises somewhere beyond the green canopy of trees it illuminates a white fog heavy with dew that hovers upon the grasses and around tree trunks. Later than most of the others to rise again, Syval shuffles out of his tent and stretches out as he stands to full height, still in human form but otherwise dressed for the day as he yawns heavily then looks about and sniffs. "Ahh, good air this morning. I think the swamp is glad."

"Breakfast has a good smell too," he adds upon eyeing the simmering pot of breakfast stew. Pointing a finger back towards his open tent, the young wizard draws forth his serving bowl and utensils then walks over to join the others. "So what plans do we all have for today?"

Neosodos lazily stretches upon his mistress' lap in a determined, asymetrical manner, giving tiny little kitten-sized roars.

Andie is currently gesturing slowly, causing the large wooden spoon to stir the pot of stew. "Given that I was up as late as I was, I was planning to take a rather lazy day, today. Sunbathing, I think, while I listen to all the Bog has to tell me."

Jyslin finishes a mouthful of stew and then considers Syval's question. "Well, other than maybe a patrol or two, I had not really planned on anything." Jyslin's whole purpose, it seems, is to follow Andie wherever she goes. "Tonight may be interesting. I'm hoping to spend some time communing during midnight watch."

Honoria already has her blade out and is working stone and cloth over it, cleaning and sharpening. "Maintenance, of course, and physical training. I may try to enlist you, and Jyslin, later. I have to make sure I do not lose a stride thanks to my sojourn."

Syval nods as he takes in the party's replies. "Those are all well and good, and I could use some rest as well after all the adventures we've had up until now. I would like to commune with the swamp too now that it's more friendly to us, so I may join you for a time if that's alright," he offers on his own account with a glance to Andie.

"Before we disperse what say we inspect the hag's treasures? I'd rather not leave them for fairies to take after all the trouble they caused," the green-haired wizard suggests.

Andie comments, "Why not just put the chest in the basement for now? We can work on examining that stuff later, when we are all fully rested." She clearly intends to be pretty lazy today. "The more the merrier for sunbathing, definitely."

Honoria hmms softly. "I really should walk out to the plains, to see if you were right about the hunnuli herd sticking around to see how we did." But she's not going to try traversing the swamp alone. Even now that it is no longer being corrupted by the hag coven, that's still stupid for the lady in heavy armor and without nearly so much woodscraft skills. MAIL: Mailbox purged. Name set.

"Inspecting magic items tires you? Fine, but I may look over it myself first," Syval chuckles even as he relents to the fen witch. Then when Honoria mentions the herd he spares a glance to Jyslin before suggesting, "Why don't you two set out together then? The sun's low enough you should get back around nightfall if the trails are favorable."

<OOC> Syval, accidentally arranging alone time with the wrong woman. Dip check failure. <OOC> Jhiao Ting Li hah! Jyslin glances at the lady knight. "Sure. I would be happy to run escort and guide, if you don't mind the company?"

The lady knight smiles and inclines her head. "Your company and talent would be most welcome, Jyslin. Thank you." To Syval, then, Honoria says simply, "You have a good day communing."

The ladies do not leave immediately, but Honoria finishes with her sword quickly, then finishes her breakfast and goes to get ready to move again. By comparison Jyslin just finishes her breakfast and stands back up when Honoria is ready to go. "You three have fun today. Neosodos, don't let Syval break a wing, OK?"

The tiny dragon sighs and grumbles. "Ruins all my fun, she does." he protests in good humor. <OOC> Syval says, "Phew, I think I finally got the rest of that liquid bandage off and my knee's okay to be left alone." <OOC> Syval says, "It's a bit redder in spots still, and shiny, but that'll heal up quickly enough I'm sure." <OOC> Jhiao Ting Li yays. "Yes, it should." <OOC> Syval says, "I keep thinking I see a little bit of gravel in there but I'm pretty sure that's just blood that's pooled up enough to turn black. Not that I have experience with it but I'm pretty sure I'd know if I had a bit of rock embedded in me for a month, ergo being uncertain means I don't." <OOC> Syval says, "Also repetitive in the typing which probably isn't a good sign for my poses. In either case I'm settled back in now so that should improve."

"And thank goodness for it," Syval laughs softly. Having started last he is also last to eat and so the wizard is just finishing up once Honoria prepares to depart. "Safe travels to you both and luck favor you with the herd's scouts."

Once the two blondes set off, the young wizard turns back to the remains of breakfast and invokes a fresh casting of his favorite incantation to help Andie with clean-up.

"Thank you again, Syval. That was very kind of you, to volunteer those two to head off together. Jyslin would have been very bored lounging about all day, and I would hate for Honoria to miss her opportunity." Andie offers. "And thank you for your help with cleanup. I appreciate it." Most importantly, of course, the young dragonoid is good at cleaning out the cooking pot before he cleans up the cooking pot; food is always best kept inside the gullet of a hungry dragon.

Neosodos stretches out a bit more, unseated now that Andie is cleaning up. "We should work on your flying. But maybe tomorrow. Honoria did ask me not to break your wings while she was away." he teases good-naturedly.

"It's only right that they get to make the journey, and I think they're both more interested in Hunnuli than the Heart," the dragon-touched wizard responds modestly as he alternately cleans and tidies the cooking utensils. With magical aid it's a quick and spotless process. "This will leave you without your gifts of poison berries throughout the day. Do you think you'll manage, Elder Brother?" he asks with a teasing grin towards the Eldritch Wyrm.

<OOC> Syval yawns. >.< "Guh, muse where did you wander?" <OOC> Syval says, "Sorry that one took a bit." <OOC> Jhiao Ting Li grins. "Given they are the first horses to tolerate Jyslin's presence in over five years, yes. I imagine you are correct." Andie observes quietly.

Neosodos turns towards Syval and licks his beak visibly. "Surely I can convince you to find a few, after all of the effort I am putting into teaching you." the tiny dragon protests. Oh yes, these two definitely come off as brothers, with this teasing going on. And Andie looks rather wryly amused at it all.

"I /may/ know where to find one or two bushes on the path Jyslin and I took yesterday," Syval hints vaguely. To Andie the young man nods smiling. "That was weird for me too but stranger for her I'm sure. I've only ever ridden summoned horses; they both seem to have more of a connection to other animals."

"That will draw us some attention if we join a caravan up to Aramis, but I trust you're both used to such things by now. I only hope Wishwell village doesn't have too many dogs," he hopes, naming the animal with sour distaste. With the breakfast tidied, the young mage dusts his hands with satisfaction. "There. Now if you can please reopen the portal I'll move the treasure for safe keeping."

"Plenty of dogs in Wishwell Village, or at least there were the last time I was there." Andie replies. But don't ask her when that was. "They're common especially in small towns and villages because they are such good guardians, alerting their people to trouble."

The witch then gets up and moves over to lay down the satchel, murmuring a word softly and drawing it up to reveal the opening into the basement of her hut in the Dread Bogs. "Here you go."

Syval grumbles quietly to himself as he heads over to the fateful treasure chest. "Well I hope they at least don't keep near the shops or you and Honoria may need to purchase for us, to say nothing of board for the night..." Once he's upon the banded wooden chest still with stripes of quickdirt buried in its seams, he stops and eyes it carefully, then the weredragon loosens his robes and shifts his form - just in case.

Taking hold of either handle, the transformed wizard hefts the chest easily and walks it to the portal - tucking his wings and tail as he passes through.

"No new prismatic trap. Seems it can't recharge," he note with dry humor upon stepping back out a few seconds later.

<OOC> Syval says, "Not least because a self-resetting magic trap for a legendary spell would be absurdly taxing, and probably shatter the chest across 20 different planes." <OOC> Syval says, "To borrow Tolkien's idea of 'more magic than a door can hold = no more door'." <OOC> Jhiao Ting Li heh. "All too true." "I'm sure we can work something out." Andie promises Syval, and lets him go.

At his comment about the trap, Andie nods. "I am reasonably certain whatever focus they had prepared for the spell trap shattered in the release of the spell. That's why they chose such a powerful trap."

Ruffling his wings and then stretching them out once he's fully within the swamp again, Syval takes a deep lungful of air and glances towards the Heart Tree. "I'm still amazed they could even cast that, no matter how many there were. I thought hag covens enhanced their existing magics, that was something new entirely. Rituals are far different things from the common Art holding spells in the mind..."