#baronyofthesilverwolf

Gladiola sees the risk of failing morale, "Keep your team hungry, Briar"

"Right - a plant, so we can burn it up."

Madern is pretty good at Chicanery, and wonders if this effect is similar. He kens

Thistle HAS brought her flamethrower.

Madern can feel that there is definitely a chimeric component to the air, not quite chicanery though. Something vaguer than that, not quite akin to a Kithain art.

"A plant? Huh?" Briar clearly doesn't understand Thistle's plan.

"Like, a tree?"

Briar glances to Gwen, but her steps grow heavier.

"Some kind of...nebulous here.. not chicanery..." Madern mutters

"Nah, an industrial site. Sturdy."

"Used to make steel there, so it can HANDLE heat."

Gwen inquires "So will that burn up this thing you think? I mean... I guess fire IS a purifier"

"That's the plan. Now, of furkin' course, that means it's a plan."

"Where do the fireworks come in again?" Madern inquires

"We're gonna draw it towards the Bessemer converter, to try and condense it tight enough to light it up."

"The crucible SHOULD contain the reaction."

"Look, I know you guys hate when I coddle you" Dame Gladiola says "But I'm big and I'm tough and if something goes 'kaboom' please feel free to hide behind me for cover. Okay?"

"Citrine? You hide behind Balboa, got it?"

Briar has lagged behind, dragging her feet.

Gwen turns "Hey monster, come on"

"What's the point?" She says, her voice dull.

"It's this smoke" Madern is sure of that "I bet. Glamour in the air, it's not chicanery but it might be ...discourging us?"

The miasma seems almost heavier, grouping around them and clinging to Briar like a cartoon stink cloud.

"Hey Briar?"

"Whut." She mutters, now sinking down to sit on the ground, shoulders slumped. The fog clings heavily.

"Repeat after me."

"$%#@@#$$&&^^!!!"

"Hunh" She hesitates, then says "$%#@@#$$&&^^!!!"

She brightens a little, snickering at the naughty words.

Gwen looks appalled but clamps down on saying 'she's a child' and ratherl ets Thistle go on

"Hey Cloud! (*^^%$%$#$$#@!!!" She flips the smoke a double-barreled bird.

The edges of the smog clinging to Briar start to char and fizzle! "FUCKIN (#&%(&! That REEKS!" Briar cackles.

Ernie suggests "Insult it's mother. That always gets a reaction"

"YER MAMA IS A FART AND YER DADDY IS A TEA KETTLE!" Briar shouts at the air, and the smoke clears, down to 'normal' levels at least.

"What are you all sitting around for, numbnuts?! Let's get going!"

Gladiola smiles just a bit "You got it, Briar"

and she shoots Thistle a grateful upnod

A grin!

As they reach the county road that separates the Barony's owned forest land from the town proper, they notice that there is very little traffic. A few trucks rumble past, but the local's cars seem sullenly parked in driveways and garages, and the sidewalks are deserted.

A rumble overhead, and in the distance, a darkening visage... lurking over the town, menacingly.

It is not the sound of thunder, but something ominous none the less.

Madern observes, and gulps

"Daaaamn."

Gwen says "Unless I unleashe, I don't think I can make a breeze big enough to blow that away"

"And even then" She adds

"Bitchin...." Briar breathes.

Art looks daunted, and grips his sword hilt. "I hope that we have not bitten off more than we can chew."

This turn of phrase spurs Briar, and she spins to face them all. "NEVER! So what's the plan?"

Somewhat to the south is the once-prosperous, now derelict steel mill. To the north are somewhat empty areas, fields and open land. The Beast hovers over the town.

"Thistle said we might be able ot use the steel mill against it. How do we lure it?"

Briar considers. "I could try to intimidate it. I bet I could at least get it's attention. It..." She swallows, and scowls to hide any worry. "It seems to WANT to cling to us."

"Doesn't like sass or happiness or insults though" Mad Ernie ponders

"Let me try something? " Gwen looks to Briar "I got an idea that might lure it"