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    mianngu

    @mianngu

    ๐ŸŒ™ โค๏ธ๐ŸŒ™ LiveTale Embassador ๐ŸŒ™ โค๏ธ๐ŸŒ™
    She/her
    ๐Ÿ’ƒ DnD 5e ๐ŸŽฒ FATE RPG ๐ŸŒ™ Sailor Moon โ™Ÿ๏ธBoard Games ๐Ÿ“š Fanfiction ๐Ÿ“บ Fantasy

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    Best posts made by mianngu

    • That time the Dungeon Master ruined the campaign for you?

      Was there ever a time when the Dungeon Master (DM) did something that completely ruined the experience for you?

      This is a thread of caution and wisdom for all DMs. An insight into what ruins campaigns for players and how to avoid them.

      I had a DM who did everything in their power (which was considerable since ya know they are the DM) to prevent me from obtaining a bag of holding. For those who don't know, a bag of holding is a magical item that looks like a normal bag but can magically hold much more. In DnD 5e (5th Edition and the one the campaign was set in), a bag of holding is an uncommon magical item that costs between 100gp-500gp (DMG p135).

      It was a fresh campaign, we had played maybe one or two sessions, and I had mentioned that I would be looking for a bag of holding. Every major city after that, any place that looked like it could have something interesting or magical I would look. The DM made me roll constitution checks, notice checks, investigate, and perception. I could never roll high enough. My character would get exhausted just from looking. Other players would be able to find anything they needed right away, with no need to slog around the city.

      It got to the point where I stopped asking, stopped looking. But the DM couldn't let it go, they would bait me.

      "Hey did you have anything you wanted to look for?", rousing me to find the unobtainable.

      "No, I don't want it anymore."

      My dismissal produced a look of cutting disappointment across their face, and I realized that they enjoyed denying me. That I was never going to get it.

      The DMs twisted quest for power all over this one bag of holding completely turned me off the campaign, and it wasn't long before I decided I was out. A DM, who says no without reason, just for the joy of saying no, is a bad DM.

      I ended up leaving 5e behind and starting a FATE campaign, which has been wonderful. One of the best tabletop roleplay systems for those who want roleplay as the main course and not just a little roleplay salad with their combat meal.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • (GM-led) Devils In The Details

      The elevator dinged an obnoxious falsetto, torturing it's well tailored occupants as they struggled to escape the tiny prison. Faust felt his needling frustration cascade into rage as the doors jammed, forcing him to hold his breath and squeeze out sideways. A sharp yank halted him, his briefcase catching on the closing doors. With a snap and a ding, it was lost to him, descending back down the 666 floors to the lobby below.

      "Fucking Hell," he muttered.

      Grinding his jaw and running his hands through his chestnut locks, he cooled his high brows into impassiveness. Across the polished obsidian floors and mundane cubicles, the red mountains of ice loomed in the distance. Plumes of sulfur belch from the ground casting the sprawling metropolis before them in a tartar stained ichor.

      RedIceMountains.jpg
      (Original art created in December 2022 by D. Christopher.)

      "The deal you made with Brady, it has too many postponement clauses. It's a legal nightmare."

      Faust couldn't suppress the groan tumbling from his pinched lips, glaring to his right at Heina's quick approach. Her suit clasping in her assault across the tile foyer, red heels leaving scorch marks in their wake. He turned on his heel as she reached him, cutting off her beratement and forcing her to follow him. Let her stew, he thought, I really could have gone without the slither of eels this morning. Purposely, he strode toward the conference room.

      "Good morning, Heina," he called keepings his pace brisk, barely stopping to dodge the tiny underling drudes. Disgusting little vermin, he thought, watching as they scurried across the office carrying memos and coffee. .

      "Don't good morning me," she replied. The tingle of flames hissed at Faust's elbow, as she hounded his steps. "We will be incapable of collecting on him for decades!"

      Muttering he turned past the water coolers. "Sounds like a problem for legal."

      Faust growled at being yanked for a second time in one day, and pivoted so hard Heina almost crashed against him.

      Despite her abrupt stop, she speared him with a glare. Her bright eyes promising dealth by slow lapidation, a positively thrilling prospect.
      "You have your sights set high, Faust, don't piss me off."

      Faust had had enough of her hounding for today. The darkness pulled to him and he loomed over her, his pulse clamoring for first blood.

      "He wanted the addendum, so he got the addendum," he growled. She took a step back, fear blossoming in her eyes.

      "How could I say no to the return of the notorious Brady Thom to the NFL? And Heina," he paused to throw the words over his shoulder. "He won't live decades anyway, greed is hard at work and now I've got my elephant".

      Faust cast his gaze forward, reaching the conference room doors, black shapes visible through their frosted glass. Muffled voices indicated the meeting had already begun. Fuck, he thought. The boss was eager to land the next big one. Schooling his features once again, he clasped the handles moving confidently across the threshold. With a smug grin he thought, it's time to hunt.

      [
      [
      [
      [
      [

      Welcome to Brimstone and Co, the up and coming soul collection agency. For thousands of years, demons have been corrupting mortals and using their souls to power the intrinsic magics within the fifth dimension known as Hell. Demons must carefully locate potential souls, souls who have the capacity to achieve infamy. The more renowned or reviled the mortal becomes the more powerful their soul will be. Beware rival demons aren't above poaching potential souls and the costs of achieving a mortals dreams must be weighed against their souls worth. Everything comes with a price, but prestige and power lie with those capable and cunning enough to delivery the most potent souls .

      This is where you come in!

      Brimstone is located in downtown Shaitan and is run by the ambitious Lulu Kaachu, a power-suit filled with persuasion and topped with cascading ivory locks. Her relentless drive has propelled Brimstone from a distiller of backwater souls to the new heavy contender in Hell's soul scene.

      Lulu Kaachu
      lulu kaachu.jpg

      Twitter: YD@ydh2101 THE CEO

      Demons come in any and all specialties. Using their unique abilities they must locate souls and initiate first contact. These souls have the potential for infamy and the wider they are known the larger your score. Barter, persuade, and haggle them into eternal damnation. The key is to convince them can never reach the potential they dream of without YOUR help.

      Examples of Potential Demons:

      Soul Seeker - These demons have the ability to sense and locate mortals who display the necessarily talents and vices to propel them into the collective conscious of mankind. There souls are imbued with the cerebral energy, creating super wells of mystical energy.

      Negotiator - These demons fill any space with an aura of charm and charisma. Using their honey coated voices, they disarm mortals, luring them into eternal traps.

      Illusionist - Using mystical energy they are capable of changing realty to suit their vision, but even small changes come at a steep price.

      Fighter - These demons preventing the poaching of assets by competing corporations.

      Whether you are a veteran hunter or new hire, negotiator or a soul seeker, Lulu considers you a valuable asset to the team. Work your way up the corporate ladder, go out into the hunting fields of mortal Earth and get those signaturesโ€ฆ signatures of blood.

      Welcome to the team!

      Character Name:
      Demon Species and/or Sin Choice:
      Appearance:
      Personality Type:
      Gender/Pronouns:
      Position/ job/responsibilities:
      Key Ability* :
      Goals:
      Secret:

      *need not be magical, examples - illusions, human possession, tracking, soul analyst, fighter (watch out for rival demons), persuasion, sin specialist (uses a select sin to push the mortal to greater potential) , if you have something else in mind go for it!

      posted in Role-play
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: That time the Dungeon Master ruined the campaign for you?

      @TableTopProphet

      You're right, the trademark of an amazing DM is how well they adapt to the spontaneity of their players while maintaining a coherent storyline. I think I fail in this particular regard, as my players love to spiral into murderous little 2 years olds bent on making dragon transformers (oh please ask so I can tell you) out of deception rolls. Maybe they see I have created a holy sanctuary, rife with proof that there are fouler games afoot. But they don't investigate (probably my fault, my breadcrumbs are too small) and even I'm surprised when they just blow it up, consequences be damned. But I just love to watch them work.

      I like to think that my approach at least makes everyone happy, and they aren't sitting around waiting to die. Wait.... Do you think they blow stuff up because they are WAITING TO DIE?

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • Dear Professor...

      My dearest Professor Waddlesboro, I am in desperate need of your assistance!

      amelia3.jpg
      Dr. Amelia Diggsdeep

      Dr. Amelia Diggsdeep, is an elven archeologist of the highest caliber, academically speaking of course.

      library.jpg
      Library within the Tower of Lightsworn

      Long devoted to the ancient texts within the academic tower of Lightsworn. She has dug deep within its volumes and through rigorous diligence uncovered the location of the ancient halfling city of Snacking.

      ruins of snacking.jpg
      Ruins of Snacking

      She has recently abandoned her beloved library on a quest to discover the hidden treasures within the city, but her exuberant youth can only take her so far. She has sent you a letter requesting your aid with the many riddles and puzzles that her books just can't seem to answer. Enclosed within her letters, you are titillated to discover, are all the clues needed to solve these puzzles. Using her vast network of colleague's and magical correspondence, she hopes you can help her unlock the ancient city's secrets and maybe those of some other colleagues as well!

      Cordially yours,

      Amelia

      Character Name:
      Character description(physical, race, age, ect) :
      Background/schooling:
      Gender/Pronouns:
      Area of Expertise (ie linguistics, epigraphy, fossils, dwarfs, dragons ect):
      Trouble (vice):
      Fun fact:

      This is a non-GM-led game. Please feel free to contact one of your colleagues if you need assistance with a project or a dig that has you particularly befuddled.

      posted in Role-play
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: Mounts?

      @Mariano

      I love how Wow turned part of the game into basically pokemon and let you battle your vanity pets. I could spend hours on it just going around collecting them.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: Help! Running a campaign for some new to dnd players.

      @Alexander-Salkin

      Oh I didn't think about the Paladin overshadowing them. My partner was going to play a paladin because of the versatility. But maybe now he should reconsider. Thank you!

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: Help! Running a campaign for some new to dnd players.

      @Alexander-Salkin

      I woke them up in a cave, how very DnD of me. They got to explore, fight (baby owlbears), and stumbled upon a secret door. Who would have thought? I was a little disappointed though. I had a color puzzle that I had seen on reddit and thought was fun and simple. Purple Door - Red/Blue/Yellow Torches. Light the right ones (red+blue = purple) the door opens. I didn't even get done describing the room before they had figured out the puzzle. Shrugs. Could have been worse. At least they got it.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: (GM-led) Devils In The Details

      @mianngu
      @Hanzilla
      @KaeZero
      @SwampCreature

      Lulu's head whipped up at the abrupt slam of the conference room door, the space empty as the door continued to reverberate in protest. Her lips creased into a thin line as she methodically rearranged the scattered papers before her.

      "Val," the word fell from her lips with merciless promise.

      "If you break my door, it'll be filing and storage for you all next week. With no lemon juice for your paper-cuts this time." She rolled her head to stare at the Imp over her shoulder and speared her with a dare-to-be defiant stare.

      "Can't have you enjoying the experience," she continued with a sweet smile spread wide to reveal glistening fangs then turned back to the rest of her team.

      They were scattered about the large U-shaped conference desk but barely filled a quarter of it. Within its center stood a high-backed chair, a monstrosity covered in black velvet, perfectly positioned to allow its occupant reign over the room. Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights covered most of the wall behind it.

      "I've gotten word that a new temporal rift is opening. It's smaller than normal, which is good for us... less competition. But, there is a big prize inside."

      In an effort to shake the lethargy from her limbs, Lulu rose and paced the room. Sloth demons, damn useful she thought, but she would have to get a 3rd cup of coffee after this meeting. She stopped in front of Lazareth and pushed his legs from the table, his large frame falling forward quickly, and situated herself saucily in their place.

      Lulu appreciated the silence that permeated the room, you couldn't cultivate this level of focus, her team knew the stakes. She had bribed a Seer way too much mana for this tip and her silence. They had to pull this off, and soon.

      "I've been told it will gateway you to 1961, but not where. Being so close to present days leaves us a lot of leftover transport mana."

      With a push from the table, Lulu made her way toward her seat, trailing fingertips over the fringe of Asta's mane. The demoness practically leaned into her touch. Business first. She repeated the mantra a second time before flopping into her seat and draping her leg across the arm.

      "You need to secure the mortal, initiate their soul, and seal the deal before anyone else arrives." A glass of viscous red liquor appeared in her hand and she took a sip.

      "I don't need to remind you to be frugal. Illusion, compulsion, and pathokinesis will be the most mana efficient."

      "Asta," Lulu turned to the negotiator, not missing the bulge of her eyes and her red cheeks turning impossibly more crimson. For a second, Lulu wondered if that color could bloom in other places. A thought for another time.

      "I'm sending Bob the analyst with you. If she says it's worth it, do whatever you need to secure the soul."

      With a flick of her wrist, she drained the contents of her glass and rose, swooshing her hair in a wide arc.

      "Your meeting a senior negotiator in the field, are there any questions?"

      @TableTopProphet

      The streets of Liverpool were crowded, flooded really, people brushed past in a pace that said they had nowhere to be. Fate glared up through the early morning sun, eyes drawn to the NEMS sign displayed over the storefront and back down again to a clerk busying about a large display of guitars in the window.
      Rolled up under his arm is the newest issue of Mersey Beat, the musical magazine all the Beatniks are talking about. With a grimace, he unfurled it. Four youths looked up from the cover, all electric guitars and leather jackets. Fate read again Lulu's message written in elegant script below their stoic expressions.
      Locate Bran Stein and get him to The Cavern. If you can secure his soul great, but we need him for the elephant hunt.

      The door to the storefront jingled, Fate's eyes slid past the customer exiting, to a man in a suit behind the counter. The familiar pull of fate settled low in his belly, the hunt was on.

      posted in Role-play
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: How do you choose names?

      Nothing is more frustrating than sitting on a character and being unable to finish them because their name keeps alluding you. In my current campaign, I've started naming evil characters after evil corporations and change the spelling so the inflection is different. My players haven't picked up on it yet, and it gets rid of my writers block.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: (GM-Led) Memaw's Kitchen

      @TableTopProphet

      Omg! Take your time, I hope your partner feels better soon!

      posted in Role-play
      mianngu
      mianngu

    Latest posts made by mianngu

    • RE: Would You Rather...?

      @merlin

      But pig fish are so cute!


      Would you rather make a deal with an obviously evil djinn or a talking yorkie who may not have magical powers but promises he will do his very best. Bonus if you tell me your wish!


      I want the Yorkie. He would be the bestest boi and even if it didn't come true, he would still be loved forever.

      I would wish for a best friend for my daughter. She is only 9, but she hasn't met her person yet. That one person who gets you through thick and thin, who doesn't need to see you all the time, but when they do it's like no time has passed. The one who cries with you and laughs and is your everything. She needs that friend and I would ask for a good one. I hope bestest boi delivers, but maybe he can help anyway.

      โค


      Would you rather be a stablehand in a castle devoted to training the last remaining rideable dragons or a dryad of the forgotten forest protecting your grove from the ever-encroaching desert?

      Tell me why!


      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: The homebrewed rule you had to make and why you had to make?

      @Alexander-Salkin

      I also recently saw a rule around rolling 1s that I absolutely love! I play a lot of FATE, where a fail doesn't mean you don't succeed, just succeed at cost. I prefer this. But this person had their players roll to confirm combat 1s.

      If you rolled a natural 1 (crit fail) then they had you roll another d20.

      If the second roll was equal to or less than your level, then you just missed your attack. If you roll above your level then it's a true fumble.

      The rationale was that lower-level adventurers were more likely to drop their weapons, whereas a seasoned level 20 fighter should almost never. A level 20 fighter is someone who is so skilled that even if they miss, they shouldn't be hurting anyone.

      I love this rule for 5e combat.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • Tell the Truth now!

      Let's play a fun game! Answer the question below truthfully, then post your own!

      What bug are you deathly afraid of and why?

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: What video games do you keep coming back to?

      @Alexander-Salkin

      World of Warcraft. It's my comfort game. I know how to play and at this point, there is so much nostalgia that I don't even need the next expansion. I'll just run around in the Burning Crusade a bit, nab some new pets and roll 3 more alts then abandon them at level 40. I say that and then they came out with a playable dragon race. I'm a sucker for a dragon.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: What time of day do you let your creation demon out?

      @Ezra

      I'm exactly the same way and it's so incredibly inconvenient. My kids often times wake up at 7am and by 10pm I'm so exhausted that my muse maybe hollering but I just fall asleep writing. I don't know if it's the quiet house or my ADHD but I've always been like this. Even in high school, I'd couldn't begin until 10pm. Alas, it's a morning person's world though.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: The homebrewed rule you had to make and why you had to make?

      @Alexander-Salkin

      OMG I love that! I've always felt hit points were done terrible and usually I just say max hit points. No one wants to end a fight after the second round cause they are squishy and I rolled well. But I love this idea way more! It feels fun and authentic cause dice are still thrown.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • The homebrewed rule you had to make and why you had to make?

      I'm interested in everyone's homebrewed RP rules or really any game rule you instituted and why!

      I'll go first!

      DnD -

      As a DM, I think I have a pretty common (maybe) homebrew rule of "If You Say It, Then That's What Happens". So in-game you saunter up to the big bad evil guy and in RL you snidely say, "I SPIT ON HIM." Well, there's no backing out now, I'm afraid. I think it helps give players a pause to really think about and engage with situations. Then occasionally they forget and act on impulse and shenanigans ensues.

      Boardgames -

      My family has a lovely homebrew rule of winner cleans up. Keeps the winners humble and makes losing a little sweeter.

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: Would You Rather...?

      @merlin

      So I looked up the Dresden files, which I'm totally gonna grab from the library, but I still have to go with the nostalgia of Harry Potter. I'm so terribly disappointed in JK Rowling and I wish it wasn't so hard to let go of everything I loved about Harry Potter growing up. All I want to do is go to Hogwarts, where's that damn letter. ๐Ÿ˜ž


      Would you rather live in a world that was at constant war with the aquatic people that dwell within the oceans or a world with sentient vegetation inhabited by technologically advanced tribes?

      posted in General Discussion
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: Planes of Marrow: Welcome to the Vagabond Arms!

      @merlin

      "Mr. Whitehorn, what is the meaning of this? Bringing feral Naguia upon our peaceful town! Unleashing them upon our citizenry!"

      The mayor waved his arm over the villagers that had crowded into the common room of the tavern, jeers of agreement rising from among them. He had hauled his considerably large self onto a considerably small podium the tavern owner Wendy had scrounged from a storage closet. It made an audible quack every time he shift his bulk, plumes of dust rising when he settled his pot belly with a pat. He offered the crowd a pitying grimace, fueling the growing unrest.

      Unrest he was sure to capitalize on thought Rowan. Not for the first time today, Rowan cursed his body's inability to get drunk. Faster healing, but no buzz. It hardly seemed fair at this particular moment. He settled for grinding his teeth as the mayor continued to enumerate his team's disgruntled antics.

      "My dear townsfolk, at this rate there won't be much of a town left to save!"

      "Mayor Laxduff, I would kindly remind you that I have paid the herbalist and the baker for all their destroyed property," Rowan cut in and to himself mumbled "twice".

      He had paid them handsomely for the handful of meat pies and flower pots destroyed in his brigade's growing pains. But Rowan had wanted to smooth out any hostilities between the villagers and the band, and nothing tramped down anger like coin.

      The cart and stall had been an easy fix, nothing compared to the damage caused to the villager's collective psyche. The whispers had traveled fast. An assault by men, beasts they said. The very men hired to save them. They had already been afraid, helpless against the assault before them, goblins and Nyx. Easier to confront the known enemy. Fury was a useful tool in the face of fear, fury turned toward him. Toward the feral Naguia he had brought to save them. Feral. He spat. The word disregarded the suffering his people had endured for years. The word feral turned them into animals.

      "Tell the beasts to leave," a faceless hackler called.

      "AYE, we don't need them!," Came an answering reply.

      "Now friends," the mayor soothed. "We should expect them to protect us! Protect us, and return the hard-earned coin we have paid them."

      The mayor turned an expectant gaze on Rowan, glee twinkling in his eyes.

      "Surely, Mr. Whitehorn, you wouldn't want the reputation of the Vagabond Arms tarnished by the activities of your mercenaries. A respectable gentlemanโ€ฆ" The Mayor drew out the word until all that rang in anyone's ears was "man". He meant a respectable man, not a beast like him. "Would ensure his customers are satisfied," the weasel finished.

      No, thought Rowan, I'm not a man.


      Sinette woke to the throbbing in her temples and a muffled ringing penetrating her ears. The high-pitched note spiraled in and out as she turned her head, like a fog horn off the coast. She felt sick, but couldn't manage to push herself off the small cot, arms buckling beneath her. It had happened again. She had gotten lost in the darkness. A third time submerged in a mire of fury, only to awaken with no memory of it. The panic began to set in, the pressure building in her chest and holding her down. Her lungs cleaved from trying to catch her breath. What horrible things had she committed this time?

      Large hands cradled her shoulders, Rowan appeared from a chair behind her. He looked ruffled and less kept than when she had left him this morning.

      "Slow, now. Your body is trying to protect you. But you're okay now. Everything's okay." He spoke slowly, each word deliberate, like he wasn't sure she could hear him.

      Sinette tried to focus on his face, but the pain pushed him in and out of focus. Closing her eyes, she willed the suffering away. The soft energy of the earth lay just beneath her fingertips, its gentle rhythms calling to her. With a sigh, she opened herself to it. A gentle quickening and the warmth of power suffused her, dulling her pain. But it didn't stop the tears from cascading down her cheeks.

      "I'm so sorry for whatever I've done," she choked. Sinette couldn't bare to look at him. There would be judgment, loathing, and worst of all fear. She knew that other people's fear could take things from you. There was so much to lose. A warm meal. A safe place. A friend. "I can leave. I won't stay."

      "I don't want you to leave," he confessed. "I want you to tell me what happened".

      She stifled a sob. "I don't know. I got angry and now I don't remember."

      "You and I both know there is more to that story," Rowan replied. He pulled the chair forward and sat, folding his hands patiently in his lap. "Why don't you tell me what you do remember."

      Sinette took a steadying breath, opening her eyes to focus on the ceiling. Rough-hewed beams braced the room, her gaze drawn to the cracking plaster along their length. The last person she told about the darkness was Ward. Now her brother was dead and she had killed him. Fresh tears dribbled down her cheeks.

      "I was arguing with Brandy. She was testing me. Testing me to protect you, I think." Sinette raised her eyebrows at Rowan, but she was met with a brisk nod to continue.

      "It doesn't matter why, I guess. But I was angry and then I heard them," She barely breathed, the last word hung heavy between them.

      "Who?"

      "My brothers," she whispered. "They were calling for me again. But I couldn't save them." Resignation stained her voice and her puffy gaze met Rowans. "I killed them, and now I hear their screams." She bit her lip to drive back the agony, glassy eyes pleading with Rowan to understand. She missed them so much, her sadness driven deeper by the guilt of knowing she killed them. She had done everything to save them, called every spirit she could muster. But the energies of the earth had forsaken her.

      Rowan sat back, the chair groaning under him. He crossed his arms, considering her words before asking "This kind of episode has happened before?"

      Sinette nodded in reply. "Three times now. Once when I was little, then again about 3 months ago. Now today." In a sudden burst of strength, she clasped his hand and drew it back to her.

      "Itโ€™s the maddness, the feral maddness that comes for every Naguai. I'm what every human fears, and I can't be allowed to hurt anyone else. Please, Rowan." Her nails clenched onto his fist, as she pleaded with him.

      "Please end this".

      posted in Role-play
      mianngu
      mianngu
    • RE: Planes of Marrow: Welcome to the Vagabond Arms!

      @merlin

      Sinette stumbled behind Brandy, the brunette stomped through the crowded square, rudely sidestepping villagers in her way. Her hurried pace did nothing to prevent the perfume of spirits from wafting behind her. Sinette felt dizzy. How was this woman still standing?

      Suddenly she stopped before a stall, Sinette pulled up short and slid past her straight into a man selling fresh eels.

      "Oh, I'm terribly sorry," Sinette squeaked. She hopped away, turning back to Brandy, who had stopped to inspect the wares. The stall was full of colorful vials and stone pestles. Bundles of dried herbs hung from the beams under the cloth ceiling. Blossoms of lavender, chamomile, and other small pots of fragrant flowers stood before the table.

      "Well baby bird, Rowan tells me you're an apprentice of medicine," Brandy began. She shot Sinette a glance from across the lid of a tiny jar of white powder. She sniffed its contents before tasting a bit from the pad of her thumb. Turning back to the stallkeeper, Brandy continued. "So tell me what you know about Hinter flowers?"

      "I'm sorry. I don't..."

      Brandy cut her off, arm sweeping the air between them.

      "What about Nesta's Nap weed?"

      "I don't know what..."

      "Falcum powder?"

      Sinette paused considering the woman's impatience. Brandy's hand tapped rapidly at her leg, eyes darting across the table without seeing anything.

      "Is this a test?" The words came out slow, temperate, so Brandy would see them as the question they were.

      Even so, Sinette's companion's eyes flashed. She swept into Sinette's side, bringing a hand up to gently tuck her shaggy bangs behind her ear.

      "What we're about to do, isn't some flippant questionnaire. If you get it wrong, there's no slap on the wrist. Instead, someone dies. So I need to know baby bird can you fly?" Brandy searched her face. Sinette knew the look of someone with something to lose. She had seen it in her own reflection often enough.

      "I'm young I get it. You may use Nesters Nap, to what? Sedate? Well, my process is a little more painful than what you're used to. But it doesn't matter if I'm mending skin or bone, it's quick." Sinette ran her finger along the edge of a particularly wilted plant baking in the sun just beyond the canvas roof's protection. Green lines webbed across its leaves in the wake of her hand. They fluffed and stretched, vitality gently lifting them back up toward the sun.

      "I can help, Rowan sees that," Sinette continued. She had always been good at reading people, their sighs and tells. She had spent her life watching her siblings, too many bodies, and her mother without enough eyes to keep track of them all. Nothing could hone a person's senses like 4 younger brothers with a penchant for mischief. She didn't miss the widening of Brandy's eyes or the soft intake of breath she made when Sinette mentioned Rowan's name. But it was lost in the gathering darkness that dwelled deep within her. Then her brother's laughter rang in her ears and then their screaming. Desperate pleading for her to help them, save them from the darkness. That malicious agony raged for an outlet.

      "Don't pretend to know anything about Rowan," Brandy snapped beside her.

      "You know I'm so sick of the suspicion. Of every good intention being met with questions and anger." Sinette pulled her touch from the vibrant plant. It shriveled into its pot, leaves turning an ashy brown. The plant crumbled and into the next pot the blight spread, each plant leeched until all that was left was a desiccated husk.

      "You care about him," There was no need to say his name, realization swept across Brandy's face, her mouth dropping in an audible pop.

      Sinette nodded in reply, the words tumbling from her now. "I use to care about people too. Gods, how ungrateful I was. You don't even realize it until they'reโ€ฆ gone." A bitterness lanced her words, she hurled them at Brandy, allowing her bleakness to wash over the older woman. "Then when everything you cared about is gone, youโ€™re a silent spectator as hollowness carves you open." Resignation twisted her face. Deep lines furrowing her nose and lips, all clenched to hold back the tears beading at her eyes.

      "In the end you embrace the devouring anger that fills you in. Because without it, well how would you even go on?"

      Sinette opened herself to the madness, the only feeling that could replace the hopelessness. A well of fury that fed her life now. Brandy watched as the young girl's features soften, rivets of tears cutting through her cheeks. The feathers along her skin, a delicate imprint before, curled and ruffled. Sinette's soft features were betrayed by the feral appearance of her other form.

      She fed the fury and felt it swell within her until it burst, a torrent of air sweeping the jars from the table. Brambles of thorny vines sprung amongst her feet, curling along the ground and clasping whatever lay close. Brandy stumbled back, clutching at the next stall to raise herself above the frenzied creepers.

      Sinette raised her chin, eyes leveled at the alchemist. "I understand your fear, yourโ€ฆ love." Her eyebrows raised in understanding. "What better person to have on your side than someone who has fought death and lost?"

      She hoped death came, swift and fierce, to claim what it had left behind. She was ready to settle that score.

      posted in Role-play
      mianngu
      mianngu