Astrid and the Hollow Heart [CYOA]

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#64

[quote=“Fefnir, post:63, topic:2025, full:true”]
Unless the shovel is somehow made of iron, we should probably survey the area. I’d prioritize finding escape routes, but if we catch anything the Fae might not be paying attention to that we could swipe, that wouldn’t hurt.
[/quote]The shovel is an iron shovel, it’s also somewhat rusted.

Escape routes are literally any direction away from this camp, all of which is thick forest. It’s still dark, probably approaching 2 or 3 AM.

The only things you see that would be remotely snatchable were the aforementioned wineskins and basket of food. Looks to be nuts and fruit and vegetables. And well, the fiddles the two fae are playing but trying to swipe those would be ludicrous.

#65

Hi I’m back. :smiling_imp:

Begin Operation Ludicrous:

Look around me, are there bright flashy flowers or anything of a bright color?
:siren: Are there any mushrooms? :siren:

#66

You kneel down and look at the forest floor. You mostly see ferns and other plants that grow in low-light under canopy, and no flowering plants in the vicinity.

However, you do see a ring of small mushrooms growing out of the forest floor, around the entire circumference of the clearing. You did not notice them until you explicitly looked for them. They are mostly white or brown button mushrooms that you’ve seen often in the forest, and you’re foraged for them before.

#67

Well poo.

:thinking::thinking::thinking::thinking:
We’ll come back to that.

Continuing Operation Ludicrous:


I don’t really like Ludacris songs 99% of them are about how rich he is and how much he gets laid. :expressionless:

Step 1:
Gather up some ferns and such and weave them into a crown, place that on our head. Gather the black char from the head of our torch and paint our face up. We’re not trying to look warlike, we’re trying to look bizarre and silly. And, since we’ve got this dark stuff on our hands, let’s make smears down our arms too.

#68

Just post a whole plan if you’re going for the vote and not just “free action” gathering information Jenner.

To clarify: Generally anything that wouldn’t immediately put Astrid in danger or affect her relationship with a NPC is free to do and won’t really take any appreciable amount of time. I’m never going to punish you for gathering more information or asking questions. But anything that could be “controversial” or is a major decision is going to come down to a vote.

1 Like
#69

Okay!

Here are the goals of Operation Ludicrous in no particular order:

  • Steal shit from fae folk.
  • Lie fantastically.
  • (Optional but recommended) Get wasted with fae folk.
  • Steal a fiddle.
    - Acquire a fucking sweet fairy tattoo from actual fairies.
  • Escape
  • (Optional) Belly flop into that mushroom circle.

Here are the steps I am going to proceed down in my efforts to see Operation Ludicrous to completion:
Step 1: Make and wear a crown, paint ourselves up to look foolish.
Step 2: Brazenly walk out and approach the clearing as highly obvious as we can.
Step 2.5: Engage the fairies in conversation.
Step 3: COMMENCE LYING.
Step 4: With the justification of our lies, help ourselves to their shit.
Step 5: Claim we can play the fiddle. [LYING INTENSIFIES]
Step 6: If given a fiddle to prove it attempt to play it.
Step 7: Escape.

At any point in time down this 7 step program I invite anyone to interject because this is not the Jenner Fun Time Hog the Thread Zone, this is a thread for everyone and I just have a terrible idea that I’m trying to see through. I invite derails gladly

#70

Start picking those mushrooms. Still banking on the Fae being too drunk to do anything bad if they catch us.

#71

Talk to them, they seem nice enough, but under no circumstances enter the faerie circle. See if they will give you some food. Also, Do none of the things Jenner suggested, I don’t disagree with maybe trying to outsmart the Fae, but not like that.
And again, do not enter the faerie circle.

#72

Don’t enter the circle of mushrooms and ABSOLUTELY DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING OFFERED. As for actual actions to take, we can greet the Fae, but we must be honest and not tell them our real name.

#73

Isn’t that dishonest?

I’m not sure we know that’s a fairy circle. @heyboots told us what we know and that wasn’t listed.

We have some root vegetables with us, we could exchange our food for some of their food or have a pot luck.

Aww. :slightly_frowning_face:
That would be rude though!

I accept this, Operation Ludicrous is nothing but terrible ideas.
Do the things anyway. :smiling_imp:

We have to eat those mushrooms too, at some point, they might be mind-altering which will be extremely good.

#75

Not eating or drinking is only try when in Faery though. Of course we have no idea what is true in this universe.

Also, Jenner, it is a circle of mushrooms, that is a faerie circle. If still unsure, there is fae in it. :wink:

#76

Ok! Nothing that immediately needs to be addressed, time for votes. Jenner your plan will take additional updates as things you do/learn may affect the feasibility of certain things so please make those suggestions again as they become relevant.

How do you approach the fae?

[poll type=regular name=fae]

  • Greet the fae (after doing a bunch of deceptive nonsense per Jenner)
  • Greet the fae (genuinely)
  • Avoid the fae completely
    [/poll]I’ll combine votes for greeting and pick the one with more votes, if it wins.

What about the mushrooms?

  • Don’t enter the mushroom circle
  • Enter the mushroom circle
  • Pick some button mushrooms

0 voters

Show results

Anything else will be addressed if and when it comes up, in future votes.

#77

We don’t have to lie! We can introduce ourselves as a spark hopped off a bonfire, or a locket with no picture, or a book with its pages ripped out; we just don’t want them to know we’re Astrid, as that risks giving them power over us. Also we don’t know if “Astrid” is a rude and nasty cuss to them, and we just can’t afford to be rude, right?

#78

All those things are lying! (And I’m okay with that.)

I’m also okay with technical truths.

Not that I’m the boss here.

But Operation Ludicrous is great and good and if I have my way we’ll have us a sweet fiddle.

#79

Technical truths are good. Giving away your first name is not the same as telling them all about yourself though, that’s all we’ve comitted to so far

#80

You decide to approach and greet the fae, though the circle of mushroom makes you slightly nervous. You step out from behind the tree you had been hiding behind and step forward into the light of the campfire, hands ahead of you with palms out to show you’re not aggressive .

The fae don’t immediately notice you so you call out to them in greeting. The two fiddling fae stop playing immediately and all four of them turn to you. Several tense moments of silence pass between the five of you until one of them speak in your language, their voice melodious and alluring to your ears.

“A human in the woods at this hour? Peculiar…”

One of the fiddlers chime in, addressing the other, their voice reminds you of the tinkling of wind chimes, “Why don’t we invite the human to join us? She looks positively harried.”

The fae chatter to each other in a playful, overacted argument about what to do with you, still in your tongue, as if they’re performing for your benefit. You hear a string of ways they could offer you hospitality, several of which you recognize from cultures you know you’ve visited in your past. After a minute of this, the first fae that spoke stands up and offers a hand to you.

“Please join us, Human. My name is Orchid.” They turn their head and you see an Orchid flower materialize in their hair, “this is Rose,” they gesture to the fae they were talking to, “and our musician friends here are are Juniper and Cypress.”

The other three fae wave to you and materialize similar tokens to indicate themselves, likely so you can keep their names straight. All four are smiling at you.

Orchid gestures to a stump by the fire, “Please. Miss…?”

They trail off and look at you expectantly.

How do you respond?

#81

Give them the name of your dad so they may become djinn!

Tell them that our name is Alice.

#82


Celandine.

#83

*How do you respond?

[poll type=regular]

  • Tell them your name
  • Lie, say your name is Alice
  • Lie, say your name is Celandine.
    [/poll]Lie votes are counted together

Whatever you choose, you sit on the ground outside the mushroom circle. It isn’t far enough away to be rude but it will be clear to them what you’re doing.

Additionally:

Question time is open
Regardless of your answer above, the fae are willing to respond to any question you have. Most questions are free. Any question that Astrid would understand to be incendiary, insulting or problematic will come up to a vote. Astrid is well traveled and she isn’t stupid but her knowledge of the world isn’t perfect.

Also, feel free to ask questions about what Astrid might know about any given thing, just don’t go nuts with it and ask me like 30 questions in a single post because I’m like, hella lazy.

#84

So what’s up with that emerald light?