A sour fog...

[Muse]

So it did happen that even in the cold of winter, a strange and unsettling smell of old socks in week old rain boots did slowly creep over parts of the Mistwood. Merchants passing by on the road might swat at the occasional fly and wonder why they have the rotten luck to have to deal with a gnat swarm or a particularly pesky mosquito so very early into spring…

But wait- it was surely still winter? Certainly it was too early for the strange pockets of warmth to cause the fog to settle and creep around the base of the Mistwood trees. Overactive birds or the sounds of spring, when there should be none. Crickets? No… that wouldn’t be right either.

It is a general unease of season, just out of the corner of the senses. Something too sweet is on the air.

And then a cold winter breeze blows, and the tree branches creak. Dry autumn leaves toss about on the breeze, and the frost is still crisp and cold in the morning. Maybe nothing is off after all.





…right?

[grivel]

Two black panthers stalk the Mistwood with hackles raised. They sense a disturbance in the balance of nature and seek a source. Upon encountering the strange fog, their bodies shift and elongate, becoming two females on two legs. One changes form again and as an air elemental blows the fog away and quickly plucks a flower. The fog returns as she floats away.

[offduty]

The lone black panther returns to the Mistwood that evening. When she see's a patch of the fog, her body shifts and elongates. The Redhead would make herself comfortable beside one of the strange patches simply watching it. As night turns into morning she begins asking it questions throughout the day. "What are you?" "Is someone controlling you?" "Are here because of the undead that walked this forest?" "Why are you here?" "What is it you want." As dusk settles over the forest she picks up a stick and begins twirling it through the fog watching the patterns. She makes a ticking sound with her tongue as if counting how long it takes for the fog to return. She can be seen leaving the woods when she runs out of food and water, only to return a few hours later with new supplies.

[Muse]

Warm. It’s simply too warm and it can’t be ignored. The air in the Mistwood clings to the skin and shrouds the trees in a near constant haze of fog. It feels as a distinct of a change as if one walked from the cold dry crisp of winter into the warmth of a cave. The dampness of the air is heavy and hangs over everything. Insects lazily chirp and buzz around. The ground is entirely covered in spring flowers and the trees are not just budding now, but leaves grow on the branches- dripping dew.

Underneath all the warm air and spring flowers, something smells of water rot. No longer coming in on the wind, the smell of sickly sweetness is in the air to any who enter the wood. And by the day, it only feels a little bit warmer than the day before.

Spring is here.

[mandene]

A slender, petite figure stalks the edges of the fog. Skirting silently around it at at about 2 feet distance, the figure leaves few traces, if any, of its presence.

At one moment in time, at an out-of-the-way spot, the figure stops to watch the surroundings and the fog. Shortly after, a second figure appears and almost instantly enters the fog. Keeping distance, the first figure settles down, and waits.

[offduty]

The black panther stalking the woods slowly begins to elongate changing her form. Simi slowly stands and stretches as she watches the petite figure in silence. She only makes an effort to speak if and when she's spoken to first.

[mandene]

To slender for a human or dwarf, and too tall for a gnome and a hin, the figure appears to the observer to be an elf on the shorter side. By the time the panther approaches, the elf is already showing signs of boredom, yawning ever so often.

Noticing the observer, the elf would remain silent. She would though, at first, show mild signs of surprise and discomfort.

[mandene]

Unless Siri makes an attempt to talk to her or stop her, the elf would leave.

[mysticalkas]

*a farmer looking fella by the name of Gill watches from outside the woods, if anyone sees him he might look to be talking and arguing with himself*

*PM sent*

[offduty]

Simi can be seen returning to the woods after being away for the night. She makes herself comfortable again by the old woman's camp staying just far enough away to not be intruding on the woman. She fights any goblins that come near. Taking samples of their blood to have it tested.

// PM sent

[Unknown]

Insects. Bugs. Flies. They are everywhere within the Mistwood, leaving its denizens and travelers under near constant assault of the pests from occasional wasps to full swarms coming down from the trees.  More crude campfires fill the corners of the woods as local denizens struggle to stave off these foul clouds. 

Over it all, the repeated rainfalls, ground slick underfoot, intense warmth, and buzzing airborne populations rampant, fog clings to the lands. 

A sickly sweet scent of change...


Putrescence

[dajuke]

A group of five individuals enters the forest and investigate what they can, taking observations and samples from the area around the old lady's house. Taran, Kali, Marister, Simi, and Cat'lyn strive to find answers. They see the butterflies and the shaft of light. Musings follow.

They avoid any wisps of fog or walking through water in their endeavors.

[Mysto]

*a little wild elf peeks into the outskirts of the forest, his nose sniffing about curiously. he settles himself on the edge as if waiting on something*

[offduty]

Simi marched back into the Mistwoods, Chi flying frantically around her head trying to make her stop. "Chi this is my home too. I honestly don't know if the Lizardfolk has anything to do with this, but I'm going try and talk to them. At the very least we will find out how it's affecting them. At the very worst we find they are the cause of this. Either way Chi it has to be done."

Building a small stone altar Simi fights off the disturbance she feels coming from the woodlands around her. Kneeling in front of the altar as she enters a trance-like state. After several hours the sun begins to set the redheaded woman stands, dismantling the alter she slips the holy symbol of Ubtao back around her neck. "It is time Chi" She walks calmly into the Lizardfolks camp. "May Ubtao be with us."