Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
"Oh, not again!" The flaming pumpkin cried. He began vigorously patting down his robes with one hand, while swinging the ladle in the air, until the fire went out. "Ugh! The hazards of wearing flowing garb near a bubbling cauldron. I really should bring in some buckets of water.
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes! My name is Barley. Barley Shiverpins. And yes, I was cursed with a pumpkin head - and a lapse in common sense - by a disgruntled old witch years ago. It was Preston's fault, really. I told him we shouldn't sneak into her house, but oh no, my brother thought it would be funny to 'borrow' her cat and try and turn it into a panther." All the while, Barley the pumpkin head went back to the cauldron to stir once more, adding a pinch of this and a dash of that. "Only, it didn't work, did it? Abbott thought it would be hilarious to change the spell mid-way, saying a tiger would be cooler and, as I knew would happen, the whole thing went utterly wrong.
Can you guess what my brothers and I managed to transform the cat into?"
Ivy frowned. His story was very confusing, but maybe he was talking about the dog? "Um, the dog?" She really didnt know. "Or some kind of hybrid?" She thought that would be really cool to see, and as for Preston, she wasnt about to let him know his brother was dead by her hand.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Barley waved his free hand in the air, dismissively.
"No, no. A pumpkin! We changed the witch's cat into a bright orange pumpkin. Ah, the irony of it all! He - the dog, that is - is Abbott, my youngest brother. Well, he is not a dog. Or, at least, never was. Before we were cursed, my youngest brother had WANTED a dog, so the witch thought it funny to turn him into one. And Preston, my middle brother, he was always coming up with crazy plans and had a constant desire for pie. So the witch made him mad and yearn for pie. Preferably cherry. I shut him in a room upstairs. No need for locks though. He can't seem to open a door anyway. You didn't happen to hear him when you were up there, did you?"
Ivy glanced over at the dog in shock. He had been a person? She looked back at the tall pumpkin named Barley. "Wow. And, uh, um." For once Ivy was at a loss of words. "I hit him in the head with water, he kept grabbing for me." she looked embarassed.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Ivy nodded, still looking ashamed. "Yes to both. Im sorry, I didnt know he was cursed."
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Barley Shiverpins went back to stirring the bubbling concoction after adding a dash of yellow powder to the mix. The cauldron's hot contents changed from blue to green to orange to pink as the pumpkin-head Barley glanced at Ivy, wondering why she looked so ashamed. Then it clicked.
"You don't think he's dead, do you? Oh, no no no! Preston will recover in a few days. It wouldn't be the first time his flame has gone out."
Ivy let out a sigh of relief. This was the first time she felt bad about killing something, and she was glad se hadn't actually killed him. "Yes, my dagger was stolen by three creatures with skulls for heads. They wouldn't give it back and ran here. I cant find them." she looked hopeful. "Could you help me find it?"
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Ivy took the whistle with a small smile. "Thank you." She said, trusting it to bring the theifs to the person blowing it, she brought it to her lips and carefully let her breath out into it, then brought her hand down, waiting.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Was the whistle broken? It had failed to make any sound that they could hear. But a few moments later, a secret hatch opened in the wall and three familiar cute, little critters came sliding into the room. One was still carrying Ivy's dagger.
Barley put the ladle down, folded his arms and tapped his foot.
"What have I told you three about stealing, huh? Don't try taking what you can't carry, don't get caught and DON'T. GET. SEEN. Now, how many of these rules did you break? No, not three. Eight?! Now you're just being silly. One! You broke ONE of those rules.
Now give the girl back her weapon. Go on, hand it over."
Barley's stern look seemed to work its magic as the critter holding her dagger stepped forward, timidly, and held it up to Ivy.
Ivys relief was evident as she bent to take the dagger from the creature. She held it carefully, looking it over to make sure no damage was done to it before slipping it back down her dress where she always kept it. "Thank you so, so much." She said, turning to Barley. "Is there anything you need help with? Any ingredients for the cure?" She liked this pumpkin head, he was a lot nicer then Preston, to her at least. And she wanted to help them if she could.
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Ivy's dagger was undamaged. The critters regrouped and disappeared through the secret hatch they came out of.
Barley grabbed his ladle and looked into the cauldron. "No, I think it's done." He said, optimistically, before scooping some of the contents up and pouring them into a bowl on the floor. Abbott came over to the bowl, sniffed it, then began lapping the pink liquid up.
"Fingers crossed, he should return to a normal human state."
And so they waited...and waited...Abbott scratched behind his pumpkin head, looked up at his brother and...
Nothing.
Barley sighed. Disappointed.
"I must have missed something. Or maybe I boiled it for too long." He gave Ivy a weak smile. "I'll have to go back to the drawing board. Do you...do you think I could call upon you in the future. If I need an ingredient, that is."
Ivy gave him a bright smile. "You sure can. Ill go anywhere, danger doesnt bother me at all." She brought her hand up to touch where her dagger lay hidden under her clothes. "And you helped me get my dagger back, so I figure I kinda owe you. And its not damaged." She looked at Barley. "Im sure youll make the cure."
Tauer [M:150:160:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=540&page=1#18960][b]While the Light's away, the Shadows will play.[/b]
Barley Shiverpins' smile brightened at Ivy's words of encouragement.
"I sure hope so. It would be nice to be human again."
He extinguished the fire beneath the cauldron and offered to show Ivy out. Abbott padded alongside his big brother as they made their way up the stairs. Barley would have to check on Preston, too, once the girl left.
From the cellar door above ground, Barley waved his goodbyes and thanked Ivy for stopping by. The trio of critters appeared out of nowhere and waved her off as well.
(This was great fun! 5 Acclaim & 30 Gold for you, missy.)