Remembering Watermelons

Log Info

• Title: Remembering Watermelons
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Rocky, Seyardu
• Place: W03: Mictlan
• Time: Thursday, July 08, 2021, 8:03 PM
• Summary: Cryosanthia shares a mutual memory of Rocky and her childhood with Seyardu, to help the silverscale comprehend colour. The memory is very engrossing, of when they were nestlings and helping Elder Clutch-Mother K'thay bring harvested watermelons to their tribe's storehouse. It's as if Rocky and Seyardu are reliving the memory of when he was a pebble with a friend. Am'shere watermelons are very sweet, but also covered in defensive spike, and vigorously attack the two nestlings. Battle ensues, with bees attempting to steal the watermelons from them. The small Sith'makar successfully smash three of the melons, and a bee makes off with the last, before Grandma K'thay arrives and interrupts and the memory finishes. Seyardu is overjoyed, having experienced colour for the first time, even if things seemed very unusual. Rocky and Cryo concur, the memories of younglings are hard to relate to as adults, and might not be entirely accurate...
• Encounters: CR5, XP1800, up to CR7, XP3000 depending on how dice, how scene was going
  • (4) CR2 XP600 Cactus Leshy as Am'shere Spiked Watermelons (Hostile, one Random)
  • (2) CR2 XP600 Giant Bumblebees as Giant Bumblebees (Random Hostile)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing in order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Rocky        6'8"     460 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A grey Sith in armor, bit like a statue.
Seyardu      5'6"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint.
=-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
=-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Mictlan

Cryosanthia has been taking a few days to relax at the Sith'Makar refuge near Alexandria. Lily is off playing kick the ball with some small younglings. The pink Kobold wants to play with children her age, but they're much larger and Cryo has insisted that this time at least, she should choose an ego-bruising over a body-bruising.

So she's off causing trouble while Cryosanthia is making herself somewhat useful. Participating in the speaker training, both as a student and an expert on softskins. She has her insights from her time in Alexandria. Cooking, hunting, are not her strong suits, so she leaves that to others.

A certain request from Seyardu has left her thoughtful. The silverscale wishes to take her up on her offer to share a memory. The whitescale finds herself unusually reluctant. Memory sifting, memory shifting, was something her Fey Mistress did a lot, and while it's not exactly evil it could become a bad habit.

Especially if the temptation to edit is indulged.

"So!" Cryo says brightly, "I can't think of a good memory of mine that doesn't... have problems. And the ones that aren't mine are... odder. SO! I thought I could find a good one of River Stone's, and share that with you instead."

She looks at Rocky, "That's why I asked you here," then Seyardu, "Sound good?"

Wide, wide grin.

Rocky chuffs quietly and falls still for several long moments. "Saa, This One does not object, but is unsure. Is simple Warrior, not Shaman. Sharing memories... stories told around campfire, not in ritual."

At the small village away from the jungles, Seyardu had been staying. She had been working to remain busy, helping with the rituals of the shaman caste, with cooking and preparing meat and hides, things she could do to stay busy now that she was recovered. The thought of experiencing shared memories was on her mind as well though. How it may give insight into what so many others had told her about. So, when Cryosanthia seemed to have prepared, the silverscale was quick enough to take some time for it.

"Yes, I understand, if you cannot think of one fitting. But if Rocky has one, I am sure that it would work just as well, though I still know little of the process." They reply, looking between the two. "I am curious, if it will truly allow me to see the world as you both do normally."

"Oh, it's easy. I'll do all the work." Cryosanthia says, her left hand looping through some motions. Her arm sparkles and some spell goes off. Her eyescales glow. She stares at Rocky, her eyes glittering, her focus intense. "I'll ask you a few questions and see what comes, and then I'll follow the memory down and share yours with me, and then I'll give it to Seyardu."

She glances at the silverscale, then back at the granitescale, "So, think of something really colourful and interesting, lots of contrast. Just, lots of colours."

Rocky falls still again, considering. Colorful and intresting? He's a boring regular guy, even his scales are gray. But, he tries, thinking back. Some vivid, something coloful, something important and clearly remembered... His wide tail swishes across the ground as he ponders, eventually falling still. A memory. Colors. Flowers, hundreds, in bright reds and yellows and orange, framed by dark green leaves, with dark grey water in the shadows beyond, contrasted with brilliant sparks of silver and gold sunlight filtered through the leaves... and the dark blue of a massive Death Lizard, strolling past the terrified young warrior caste.

"Oh that's beautiful..." The whitescale murmurs, sifting through Rocky's surface thoughts and capturing that. She immediately follows up with a second casting of a different spell. Once more her scales twinkle, and light flickers from her chest and spirals out down her arms.

This time her horns glow. Facing her clutch-mate, it's odd and intense. Her pupils go wide and distant as she experiences his memory.

One of hers is shared also, a simpler one of resting beneath a waterfall. There's not much to see, the falling water distorts all vision. It's a flood of other sensations though, the sounds, the interrupted scents, the coolness of the pond she's laying in. The strength of her tail as she stirs the water.

The exchange is almost complete, nothing untoward is experienced by Rocky. Cryosanthia seems to lose focus, saying, "What is that!" Then laughing.

The ritual is over in a minute. The whitescale grins at Seyardu, smiling widely, "It's crazy, you have to see this!"

She casts the spell a second time.

Rocky remembers the colors, but it wasn't the real focus at the time. But memories are mutable things, shaped by context and perspective. The bone shivering fear of a massive predator mere feet away is harder to recall, warm and safe in a far distant camp. Other memories are more immersive, and the greyscale relaxes the minor tension from his own recollection, focused upon the simple pleasures of water. Not his memory, but one easy to relate and connect to other times swimming.

The silverscale was nearby, watching as the memories were shared. It didn't take long, but she nodded once it was finished, looking relaxed and happy. "It was something beautiful? Then it sounds like something I should see. If I can even comprehend it, that is. It may sound hard to think of good memories at first. But when you have not seen as I do, Anything would be interesting to behold."

The silverscale paused, thinking for a moment before she nods. "Depending on if it works, I could share one of my own, so you might understand how things look to myself."

"It was, very beautiful, and frightening and exciting. The Hunting Lizard was massive! Let me show you. There was also a funny thing." Cryosanthia says, as she casts her spell again. Her horns shimmer once more with magic, and Rocky's memory is shared with Seyardu.

The terrible lizard, it's size, the feeling of fear. The scent of it, his own and of the great beasts. It was pure power to emulate, perhaps becoming a forgotten motivation. Be big, be strong, never be afraid again.

"Something funny, as well? That sounds good as well. Shared amongst many, is good." The silverscale nods. There was a moment as she was lost in the memory. The fear of the creature, yes, but also of inspiration. Though she paused, breathing a bit more heavily. It was a lot to take in all at once. Awe, disbelief, all manner of feelings from the silverscale.

"I did not know there was so much variance between the flowers. Even the light looks different colors in places." She says slowly, almost unable to process all of it. The massive death lizard almost the last thing on her mind.

It's right at the end of the memory of the Tyranasaurus Rex that another one sneaks in. Possibly it's what distracted Cryosanthia. It is very bright, colourful, and everything seems so large.

The T-Rex has become Elder Clutch-Mother K'thay, one of the older Sith'Makar that tended the nests and eggs. A grandmother or great-aunt equivalent, which is an odd thought to have but perhaps is one of the whitescale's filtering in.

Something long forgotten by the granite-scale, it was evoked by the association in size, and the sensation of panic. Granma K'thay had not boiled the watermelons before bringing them to the stores. Rocky was helping her carry the baskets, Rocky and a friend, through the marsh. Granma K'thay kept getting further and further away. She didn't hear when he called for her to wait.

The watermelons kept falling out of the basket, which was frustrating for the nestlings. It got worse when they started attacking them.

It's so vivid, this memory of very young sith'makar. One clearly is Rocky, as a nestling, though there's a second. Seyardu is not able to receive a good self-image. Looking down, she sees herself, as youngling, experiencing this. Though she was never there, it must be another that was present. Observing, participating, somehow.

It's like her own experience now, becoming her own memory.

Everything is huge. The nestlings are tiny. The flowers, the leaves, the sunlight, bugs and bees are much bigger than they actually.

And the watermelons are attacking!

Am'shere watermelons! They fight back!

Or, did it feel like a battle, since they were so difficult to handle? Always poking and pricking. Am'shere watermelons are more like cactii, with lots of spikes. Spikes to protect the beautiful, sweet juice inside that's vibrant and red.

They may even be a little hallucinogenic. They are popular fruit.

Some very large bees are bumbling around nearby, interested in the flowers. Two small Sith'Makar younglings haven't caught their attention yet.

Elder Clutch-Mother K'thay has vanished into the jungle, her heavy footsteps fading.

The watermelons have fallen out of the basket and are rocking on the ground nearby.

The basket fell too, all by itself. It wasn't dropped. At al.

It was strange to find oneself in the memories of someone else. But it was fun, still. Even with the looming threat of the clutch-mother, she could remember the fun of helping out that was there. Even when the melons began to revolt against their harvesters. Luckily, the youngling had picked up a large stick off of the ground at one point that was tucked underneath an arm. Perhaps without the obstruction to their grip, the basket wouldn't have fallen to begin with. "I knew it, the fruit was not to be trusted." They hissed. "Together we can fight them back!"

And they strike at one, with their trusty 'blade'.

GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+3: (2)+3: 5

The blade strikes true, beating back the vile gourd. The young sith seems pleased with herself.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "1 & 2 attack Rocky, 3 attacks Seyard, 4 rolls around"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15 (Melon 1 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19  (Melon 1 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8  (Melon 2 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22 (Melon 2 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17 (Melon 3 Slam)

Am'shere watermelons are covered in spikes, to dissuade attempts to eat them. They also are capable of moving on their own, at least, that's how the memory goes. The colour fruits roll about lashing vines at their youngling harvesters. They'll not go back in the boxes!

Despite their active resistance, they don't cause much damage.

<OOC> Rocky says, "take a swing at mellon1"
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (8)+10: 18
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+4: (3)+4: 7

Rocky chuffs. The mellons, they roll. They roll with spikes. Spiky rollers. Spikes that might injure, injure G-ma K'thay. There is only one thing to be done; break the mellons, stop the rolling, stop the spikes, save G-ma. It is the Duty of a Warrior.

With a mighty battle cry that echoes for several feet, the young warrior strikes with his trusty weapon, entrusted to him by the ancients long ago, one of the wise old teenagers, almost a week back. The blade stikes true, but the dastardly fruit rolls on.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "bees, do things, 1-4 go after the mellons, 5 Rocky, 6 Seyardu, 7-10, the nearest reeds"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d10: (7): 7
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d10: (3): 3

The bumblebees fly around. They're also pretty frightening. They buzz with an ominous drone towards nearby reeds, and one of the seems interested in the watermelon struck by the silverscale.

Heavy footsteps fade into the distance.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "Another strike at the nearby melon!"
<OOC> Seyardu says, "And they're going to pick up the basket they dropped to use as a shield."
GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (7)+5: 12

The watermelons were still rolling menacingly across the ground, and now they sought to strike back against them! Thinking quickly, the young sith reached for the basket they had dropped, using it as a makeshift barrier against the lashing tendrils. Better equipped and emboldened, they struck out against the melon.

Turns out that baskets can be relatively cumbersome when held as such, and they over-correct for the weight, stumbling through their attempted swing.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, Rocky's two mellons gang up, one trying to help the other grapple him,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#3 shoots a needle at Seyardu."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#4 1-2 attacks Seyardu, 3-4 rolls away from her, 5-6 goes after the bee"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (3): 3
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#1 aid another CMB, #2 CMB"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (1)+2: 3 (EPIC FAIL) (Melon 1 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (20)+2: 22 (Melon 2 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: Melon 2 damaged Rocky for 3 points. 56 HP remaining.
 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18 (Melon 3 Needle)
GAME: Melon 3 damaged Seyardu for 1 points. 39 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "roll DC13 Fortitude Save or be sickened 1d3 rounds"
GAME: Seyardu rolls fort: (9)+8: 17

The watermelons are not going back in the box. The pair fighting the little granite-scale have decided to coordinate their attack. One rolls at his feet, and just bumps into him. The other one however, gets a vine around his neck. It's pulled up, thumping against his back.

His scales are thick, but this melon has spines that will penetrate the heaviest hide. He feels the points poking in.

The other melon, in response to the silverscale's vigorous beating, fires a spike at her. It also stabs through scales, and a sickly thin red fluid leaks out of it. It stinks. One is not supposed to eat the rinds, not without boiling them first. This is important. It softens the spines and neutralizes the fluid in them.

Granma K'thay explained this. Or would explain it. It's something she said around now.

GAME: Rocky rolls cmb: (20)+8: 28

"Yipe!!"

Rocky sounds another mighty battle cry, and totally not a cry of pain when he gets stabbed. With cunning and skill, the warrior breaks free of the melon's grip, and not flailing in blind panic at all.

The bees bumble around. One moves to the next set of reeds, the other starts towards the silverscale's watermelon, then turns part-way and goes after the other one that's rolling through the swamp.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d10: (4): 4
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d10: (8): 8

The bees fly around. Heavy stomps approach! The trees rustle! It could be a T-Rex!

GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

"The melons, they try to flee!" The sith-makar shouts to their cohort as they wrestle free of the constricting vines, and they turn their attention to the fruit still attacking them. They wince a bit from the stinging of the spike, their resolve reaffirmed to protect the clutch-mother from them, if they were capable of such heinous wounds. They wind up for a strike sure to smash the melon in two-

And the ground shifts and slides beneath them, mud sending them slipping to the ground. They are too busy climbing back to their feet to strike again.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Rocky's 2 will attempt a coordinate grapple again. Seyardu's will strike"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#1 Aid Another CMB"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (20)+2: 22 (THREAT) (Melon 1 CMB Aid Another)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9 (Melon 2 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11 (Melon 3 Slam)

The watermelon vines are getting everywhere. They entwine through the Rocky's feet, over his tail, perfectly set so the other melon can latch on like it did before. Except, it doesn't. The second one, shrugged off, fails to reattach.

The silverscale's melon bounces after her flailing attack, lurching out of much to slam at her stomach. Except it can't quite bounce high enough and she escapes injury from its spikes.

The melon that the bee is chasing rolls further away, though the swamp. It is getting away!

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (7)+10: 17
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+4: (6)+4: 10

Rocky hisses in annoyance, striking at the melon yet again. The rind cracks, the flesh within visible for a moment, yet still the spikes roll on.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d10: (9): 9
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d10: (2): 2

The bees continue to mind their mysterious ways. The one flying from reed patch to reed patch flies to another reed patch.

The one chasing the rolling watermelon gives up. There's one punched into the ground over by the lizardling. It buzzes that way.

Thump. Thump. Thump. The large and looming form of G-ma K'thay breaks the treeline.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL) (Bee 2 CMB)

Bzzzrrt... plop. It ends up face first in the marsh. It's dive bomb was a little too deep.

GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

Back to their feet, and ready to strike again! There was a vine that had swept beneath their feet surely, but now they were prepared for such occurrences. Another strike was readied, directed at the melon! But it seemed the gourds were craftier than they looked. They had laid a trap, a spike on the ground right where they were stepping for their swing! With a grunt of pain, they slipped again with only one foot on the muddy ground, tumbling back down to the jungle floor.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#1 helps #2 CMB on Rocky. #3 attacks Seyardu. #4 1 seyardu, 2 rocky, 3 bee#2, 4 rolls north"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (16)+2: 18 (Melon 1 Aid Another)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24 (Melon 2 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Melon 2 damaged Rocky for 2 points. 54 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (1): 1

The watermelons keep fighting back. The little River Stone feels vines entwine again, and this time the second melon is attached to his back and bumping the back of his head. Painful spikes!

As the silverscale slips and falls again, the mellon she is fighting rolls and thumps against her head, but deflects.

The final fourth one, rolls her way as well.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4-2: (3)+10+-2+2: 11 (-2 Grappled, +2 Flanking with Bee)

Rocky is again impaled, yet carries on, fighting thru the ouchie to strike again. Yet the rooling spikes dodge aside, unhindered by Sith or bee.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#1 flies to the other set of reeds, #2 tries to grapple #1"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4: 9 (Bee 2 CMB on Melon 1)

The other dangerous bee attempts to pick up and fly away with one of the granite-scale's melons. It has to dig itself out of the muck first, and by the time its accomplished that, it fails to grab the husk or vines.

The flower-visiting bee continues to do so, but it could turn at any moment. It's a bee! Bees are dangerous!

A giant terrible lizard thunders closer. The nestlings are completely distracted by their challenging battle.

GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (5)+5: 10

River stone's comrade was not having a good time, despite their valiant effort. It was getting hard to make out the sith-makar from the mud and bits of vine and grasses covering them. But still they fought on, wiping their face clean and striking again at the beast, but the blow was blunted by the thick rind of the fruit. They were proving quite the formidable opponent, it seemed.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Mellon #1 slam attacks Rocky. Mellon #2 keeps grappling, going for a pin"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "#3 attacks Seyardu, #4 1-2 Seyardu, 3-4 Rocky, 5-6 Bee #2"
<pre>GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 (Melon 1 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 (Melon 1 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (9)+2+5: 16 (Melon 2 CMB) (+5 continuing grapple)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Melon 2 damaged Rocky for 2 points. 52 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL) (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (1): 1 (Melon 4 targets the silverscale)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (5)+6: 11 (Melon 4 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21 (Melon 4 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Melon 4 damaged Seyardu for 4 points. 35 HP remaining.

The melons continue to bounce and batter at River Stone, to little effect. The one trying to crush his head, tries harder and ends up slipping and falling back into the marsh.

The silverscale is having a tougher time. The stubborn melon she's been focusing on rams her again, and ends up slipping underneath her. It falls in a hole she made falling down, then is stuck for the moment.

The one that rolled furthest away is rolling back. This painfully bounces off her tail, piercing her with its spikes.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay! you have flanking and no grapple penalty. make the roll"
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4+2: (1)+10+2: 13 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Seyardu says, "This memory clearly isn't the most reliable one."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Same, that's really high. Yes. Not a reliable memory"

Rocky breaks free, whirling around to strike down at the melon, bringing his sword down... his sword... the grey scale picks up his sword again, looking around to make sure no one noticed that.

The melon noticed. The melon will remember.

Then melon must die.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Bee2 tries to steal mellon1. Bee 1, 1-3 goes after those melons,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "4 bothers Seyardu, 5 bothers rocky"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24 (Bee 2 CMB Melon 1)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1 (Bee 2 damaged 1 HP)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d5: (1): 1 (Bee 1 goes after Melon 2)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8 (Bee 2 CMB)

That bee! That bee is going to steal the watermelon! It buzzes in, taking advantage of little River Stone's fumbled attack, and grabs the vine. The bee is poked by spines, but seems undeterred

The other bee breaks off from visiting flowers. It's going to steal the granitescale's melons too. It buzzes down, landing nearby, but doesn't grab the violent fruit just yet.

And the ground shakes.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "5 foot step to 10,12, and another strike at the injured melon!"
GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (5)+5: 10

There was a lot going on. Were the bees friendly? Were they accomplishing enough? one of the melons kept bumping into their shin, and it was starting to hurt just a bit. And now there were two after them! It was time for a tactical withdrawal, back to where River Stone was grappling and clashing with the others. They make a swipe at one nearby, but the stick gets lodged on one of the spikes, and they spend a moment pulling it free.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "mellon1 tries to escape bee2's grapple. Mellon2 tries to grapple Rocky."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Mellon3 tries to hit Seyardu. 
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Mellon4 tries to trip Seyardu so she lands in the basket she's using as a shield"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (3)+2: 5 (Melon 1 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (20)+2: 22 (Melon 2 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: Melon 2 damaged Rocky for 3 points. 49 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (3)+4: 7 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (9)+2: 11 (Melon 4 Trip)

It's crazy.

The watermelon attempts to free itself from the bee's pincers, and fails.

However Rocky feels the other one fasten around his neck and bump into the back of his head again.

Meanwhile, the silverscale is being buffeted. One bouncing off her knees, the other going for her ankles, seemingly attempting to knock her into her own basket-shield.

Ineffectively. For now.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4-2: (9)+10+-2: 17  (-2 Grappled)
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+4: (10)+4: 14

Rocky is no druid, but when Nature comes to help, he knows his cause is righteous. Leaving the melon and bee to fight it out for the moment, the warrior turns focus to the grappling mellon, raising his stick/blade high and smashing down, breaking of a couple spikes. Spikes that will threaten no Sith again. The rest of the melon, still a danger.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Bee2 tries to fly off with Mellon1. Bee1 tries to grapple Mellon2"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 (Bee 2 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21 (Bee 1 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2 (Bee 2 damage)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1 (Bee 1 damage)

The bees! The bees! The bees! They're everywhere! All two of them.

The first attempts to fly off with one of Rocky's melons. It's successful! In flying away. It loses its grip on the melon. The bee notices this after a short buzz, and turns around and comes back.

The second bee is also a watermelon thief. It grabs the one grabbing the granitescale. He now has a watermelon and a bee attached to his head.

There is the roar of a terribly angry lizard.

<OOC> Seyardu says, "Going to 5 foot step to 10, 11, and strike at melon #2"
GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (6)+5: 11
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7

The silverscale was skipping over vines, sliding in the mud as the beat a retreat back to where River Stone was assailed. Covered in mud, the small sith-makar was quite a sight. "Stay still, River Stone!" She shouted, and with a mighty sounding roar, interrupted as she spat out some mud, she brought her stick down on the malevolent melon with a mighty smash, tearing the vines off of their comrade, and sending it tumbling to the ground.

"The battle turns!" She shouts to Rocky, standing a bit taller and looking proud.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "1 goes after Rocky, CMB trip attempt to put him in the basket. 2 is burst,"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "3 & 4 roll after Seyardu and bump into her (slam attacks)"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (13)+2: 15 (Melon 1 Trip) (Fails)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 (Melon 3 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 (Melon 4 Slam)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11 (Melon 4 Slam)

The watermelons are persistent. The one that a bee is trying to carry off, attempts to trip River Stone into his box while the bee is on its distracted flight.

The pulped, malevolent melon, leaks sweet juice and seeds into the ground.

The other two tumble after the silverscale, bouncing off her heels and tail, too mud-covered to do any real damage with their spikes.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4+2: (10)+10+2: 22
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+4: (4)+4: 8

Rocky sees bees. This is okay. Bees attack mellons. This is okay. Bees fly off with melons. This is okay. Bee grabs on to his head. THIS IS NOT OKAY.

The Warrior freezes, holding rock still, until the mellon is smashed an the bee somewhat separated. Turning, the greyscale unleashes that anxious energy, smashing the first mellon into spiky pulp.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "1-3 Bee goes after a mellon, 4 stings Rocky, 5 stings Seyardu"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22 (Bee 1 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17 (Bee 2 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2 (Bee 1 damage)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2 (Bee 2 damage)

The bees seem confused. There were melons there a moment ago. There was a sweet rain, and then, no melons!

There are other melons, and they bumble their way over, flying an erratic path which doesn't take them directly past the little lizards. Both hover low and grab at the melons with their legs. Both seem successful in catching hold.

The air is filled with the smell of old dragons.

GAME: Seyardu rolls weapon6: (5)+5: 10

There was two down! And two still after her, bumping and poking, and continually trying to get a grip to pull her legs out from under them. It seemed that she really did not have a firm handle on the ground that day, and yet again the silverscale was taken off her feet, tumbling into the makeshift shield she had been holding. To Rocky, he saw a pair of legs and a tail sticking out of the basket, flailing wildly. This wasn't right! The melons were the produce being carried back to camp, not them!

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "3 is going to attack Seyardu, 4 is going to try to trip her into the box"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4-2: 12 (Melon 3 Slam) (-2 grapple)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (5)+4-2: 7 (Melon 3 Slam) (-2 grapple)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20: (15): 15 (Melon 4 Trip)

Such carnage! Such loss of plant life! Two of the melons are pulpy messes, seeds and innards splattered in a small radius.

The other two continue their assault on the silverscale, the damaged one battering at her legs, while the other circles in and with a sudden movement it's vines fasten around her ankles and she's falling.

Into the basket!

<OOC> Rocky says, "move to 11:11 and attack mellon4?"
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (2)+10: 12
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+4: (2)+4: 6
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "damages but does not destroy the mellon"

Rocky chuffs, wiping a bit of mellon juice off his face. Eyeing the situation, the Sith rushes to aid, striking a quick blow to the melon that cracks a spike and sends juice flying... right into his face.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "bees do CMB grapples to maintain and fly off with the melons"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4+5: (13)+4+5: 22 (Bee 1 CMB)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4+5: (6)+4+5: 15 (Bee 2 CMB)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Rocky you can AOO the bee or the melon being carried out by the bee"
<OOC> Rocky says, "Mellon. Bees are friends, obviously"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods! "Make ze roll."
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (20)+10: 30 (THREAT)
GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (15)+10: 25 (Confirmed)
GAME: Rocky rolls 2d10+8: (9)+8: 17

Bzzzzzzz!

With great bumblebees comes great...

The bees fly away with their pilfered melons. One tantalizing dragging it past the granitescale's face. The other slips down the path, easily escaping the silverscale in the box.

Something feels...

... very looming.

Rocky swings for the benches. Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss. And that was a HECK of a hit! Pulp showers down in a sweet spray as the bee flies off. Victorious, Rocky preens, as a shadow falls over the battle field. "G'ma K'Thay, we saved you!" So proud.

"Is everything alright, River Stone?" The sith-makar asks, muffled from the basket as the flailing died down, and she focused more on actively freeing herself. The basket tipped on it's side, and the muddy young sith stood back up, propping the basket turned shield turned helmet up so they could see the aftermath. "Good! The fruit will cause no more trouble. We should catch up, though. K'thay must worry."

"HSSSSST!"

A loud, and adult, hiss of anger halts the battle. Granma K'thay looms over the field, so tall she blots out the sun.

"Nestlings! What are you doing!" The ancient Sith'Makar sounds as angry as a primal dragon. She was worried, and had a right to be. Her charges sit in a mess of smashed melons, one of them playing in a box, both covered in mud.

There's a bee, buzzing around, attracted by the sweet carnage and bumping into the small lizards.

"This one told you to follow! Explain!"

In this moment, as terrifying as a tyrannosaurus Rex.

Rocky blinks innocently, with the clear certainty of a child in the right. "The melons tried to escape, but we caught them, beat them still. It was tough fight, but the bees helped. These melons won't hurt anyone ever again."

The sith-makar with rocky looked up from beneath their basket, finding the clutch mother towering over her. The basket went down, and Rocky could feel the worry in the moment, no where near as sure as Rocky. "K'thay, we were attacked by the melons while we were carrying them. One threw spikes at this one, and we needed to make sure they would not fight back before we continued bringing them to camp. This one, and River Stone, did not mean to make you angry."

"Look at the mess you've made of the melons!" The clutch-mother hisses. Messes in swamps don't really exist, but ruining the food is terrible. She's hissing up a storm, sounding ready to deliver a scathing reprimand.

"What is this one going to do with you?" She launches into it.

... and then the memory fades.

It's Mictland. There are no baskets and bees, no belligerent fruit. Only the whitescale sitting with hands on her knees, a glow fading from her horns. She looks between Rocky and Seyardu, grinning widely, focusing most on the silverscale. "Did it work? Did it come through correctly? Did you see colours, smell Am'shere and the fruit?"

Rocky blinks hard, falling still for a long moment before tail thumps onto the ground. "Saa, colors, smell... but was... big. And small. View of child, idea of child, not so clear as adult." Not that the greyscale is particularly old.

When had Seyardu sat? When she came to, she was in a seat on the ground near Cryosanthia and Rocky, blinking several times, and breathing a bit deeply. It was an experience, for one who had nothing to base it on.

"Yes, it worked." She notes. "This one did not know those melons were so... colorful. This one saw River Stone, he looks mostly as I see him now. But there was so much else. Felt so much younger, proud, like it was possible to stand up to anything with the help of those with me. But the colors, this one did not realize there were so many to home."

"I'm glad, I'm glad! I wasn't sure it would work. It was so much longer ago for me than you. This one might not have remembered at all without your memory to help." Cryosanthia says, cheerful, gazing at River Stone and sounding just a bit whimsical. She smiles at Seyardu, "Everything was so big, colourful and confusing, wasn't it? That... was well.. as a child, a nestling remembers."

She tilts her head, "So some things might not have been exactly as they appeared. Granma K'thay is always huge, when I think of her."

Her tail twitches behind her, energetic in thought, her head shaking with a wan, satisfied smile.

"This one was so embarrassed when she fell in the basket. Yes. Without doubt, the melon tripped me in."

Combatty

map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mb1zcr7drx8"

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     14   Bumblebees          
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     14   Seyardu          1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
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     9    Spiky Watermell     
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     4    Rocky            3  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
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 ==============================================================================

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Rocky     |SITH-MAKAR|Ftr        | 59  | 59  |29/27/17 | 22 | 8  | 3  | 2  |
|Seyardu   |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 40  | 40  |18/18/10 | 15 | 8  | 1  | 7  |
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Rocky     |SITH-MAKAR|Ftr        | 49  | 59  |29/27/17 | 22 | 8  | 3  | 2  |
|Seyardu   |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 35  | 40  |20/20/10 | 15 | 8  | 1  | 7  |
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