Editor’s Note: “Love American Style” was an anthology comedy TV series, 1969-1974. Aside from having almost anyone who was anyone appearing at one time or another, it also served as a stealth TV pilot vehicle – in the case of this (randomly picked) title sequence, for the later TV series “Happy Days”. It has nothing to do with Clove or Rozinande except my brain phonetically went there as I tried to think of a session title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNHuI0Pw0m8
Intro
- Marvel at the new, larger-text character sheet!
- Discuss what you did with your characters for upgrades!
Last Time …
Crossed Stream of Souls to Serdak’s domain! Demons! Demons feeding on fungal waste from the creepy tree!
We defeated Serdak …
… and emerged in the Dancing Forest!
This Time …
Mizzle wants a moment. Prisma finds a spot to land.
The forest is … creepy.
Rest? Ooooookay.
Mizzle doesn’t want to do anything. And wants not to do it here.
Sits around and mopes.
Prisma and AP are of to the side, wondering what to do.
TBs glance over with concern.
Mizzle is just staring … and NOT reading a book.
TBs will just train – stay close to camp because they’re wary … and also to keep an eye on Mizzle.
Saraid will talk to the animals.
And do some practice katas … and learn that she’s a Mutant.
(She adds a bond of Affection for Prisma)
Mizzle is in a funk … for a while.
(They add a Bond of Mistrust about the Elves.)
Saraid brings some food and a canteen to Mizzle.
They sit.
- Mizzle has the book for their quest, but not sure what will happen after that … stay there or keep traveling … and why … and "seen a lot of stuff … and lost grandfather oak … and say goodbye to Sir Orbis. Everybody goes away. :
- Wants to see old stuff, but all new stuff. “Too much to see and too little of me.”
- Saraid says many sage things. Prisma can help M travel faster.
- Mizzle misses playtime with other kids … which was underwater, so don’t know any abovewater games. (Describes them to Saraid)
- Sara - we can figure out some kids games to play. The TBs will come up with something sneaky.
- Mizzle - let’s play some games. And what games would elves play?
Would You Like To Play A Game?
Sara - game with an acorn. pitching pennies with Mizzle. TBs will watch this round (do they have to each only throw one coin?) …
Many rounds are played, and Mizzle is distracted.
TBs propose the famous “Find the Smelly Piece of Trash Coin” game. Standard for their family.
They hide it pretty well.
Mizzle can’t find it, quite.
Saraid is scarmbling about, trying to cover as much territory as possible, and …
… someone shouts. “Ye daft fool, stop causin’ trouble there!”
Clove
Young girl.
“Didn’t the trees scare you off? (No) Are you a druid?”
“We should have scared you off with the trees.”
She’s very upset that there are more of us.
Name is Clove.
Comes back with Saraid.
“You’ve been causing trouble, haven’t you?” Necromancer’s tree. Surdak.
“Oh, yeah, we beat him.”
Face in hands “Are you dumb, or I-just-don’t-know.”
Mizzle looking for Lixana who lives around here.
“Why are you looking for Mom?”
Book with a demon Saevus, created by Lixana.
Back to my house.
TBs into the clank.
Clove says mean things about the clank.
The TBs grab the “hidden” coin on their way, and folow.
Through the forest
She leads us to a cabin at a fork in the road.
Mutters and moans.
Goes in, brings out a satchel …
Saraid jokes. TBs mutter.
Clove mixes some stuff … drink this. It get rid of the spores.
Mizzle explains that she thinks we’ve inhaled spores.
The spores are from Serdak to control people … get sick, die, come back under his control.
Sir Orbis is brought up – Clove thinks he’s scary and is snarky about it.
Saraid drinks. Tastes okay … then the burning in the blood starts. “Ew, that’s weird!”
Ten minutes, and it’s more just a sting.
Mizzle drinks. He seems okay.
TBs.
- Shiny is dramatically brave.
- Tiny is emotive.
- Whiny is stoic.
Mizzle digs up that Clove’s people are getting tired of travelers becoming Serdak-fungoid slaves and becoming a problem.
“So, wait, you went through the stream of souls and you’re all fine?”
“I did a ritual.”
Get into a discussion of magic and terminology. What she understands from Mizzle makes her actually apologetic.
"You and people of your village keep encroaching and everything … " which is about Saraid, which causes lots further conversation.
Turns out she’s 34yo. “I know, still an apprentice.” She’s stunned at how young we all are.
Invites us in and make tea.
Kind of stalling on Lixana.
Good thing if we’ve put a stick in the spokes of the Necromancer (Serdak). Long conflict between Serdak and Lixana.
Great Trees of various kinds, connected into the Stream of Souls, forming a river between them. Druids like her look after the Stream.
We have a demon with us. But it’s tiny. And … not bad.
She demurs, but will let the monkey stay.
Kettle whistles. She pours a dozenish cups of tea.
We … tell our story. Truthful, but taking it easy on her.
Puts a cloth on the table with the symbol of the Lamenters on it. Some of Serdak’s followers had the symbol on their cloaks.
She’ll go to Fletz (capital of the Elf Kingdom) after her apprenticeship.
Her mom was worried about her going to Fletz. They’re big on tradition and doing things “just right,” and wouldn’t be happy with a half-elf was being taught druid-lore. They demand perfection. She’s trying, though.
The truth outs. “You won’t be able to speak with my Ma. She … left. Two or three years. She’s left me here by myself before – I’m an apprentice. Get lonely, but … can send messages to other druids through the stream.”
Had a big fight with her mom before she left. Got so mad at her for stupid things. Protecting her, keep her from doing things wrong or silly, won’t let her go take The Test..
Mizzle needs to figure out about the demon diary, and Lixana will need a message sent to her. Clove is reluctant.
She makes a guest room for us. She’s going to go off and do “druid stuff,” even though everyone is offered to help.
Take us to another building, breaks out blankets and pillows.
She heads out …
Mizzle documents everything he knows about Surdak, to distribute peoople.
Saraid tidies.
TBs watch to see if anyone approaches.
Mizzle thinks Clove needs to be judged on her own merits (by the elves, at least).
Also concerned about the Necromancer – he got away so we don’t know where he is causing mischief.
We’re not far from Rose (and the Paw Post?) – or do the elves have their own version?
And then …
Rest … until peace is broken by the sign of a scream. From the woods. A woman, in terror and shock. Back into the woods we run …
Can’t find … until we hear something like a mirthful chuckle, but in a weird way.
And then a looming figure appears … a large plant creature, chuckling, holding a squirrelkin. "It seems a new prize has come to me!
Fight!
Next time!
