Gibble's Feet

Thickening Woods
  The trees thicken slightly around you but your path is still clearly visible having been worn down by many feet.  The land under foot becomes a little more rugged as you sense the terrain becoming slightly more uneven.
[Exits: east west]
(Charmed) A large cave bear lumbers along.
(Charmed) (Translucent) A mist of ectoplasm vapor fills the air.
A large black bird with distinctive yellow eyes perches on something unseen.
(Red Aura) Xultantris the Cultivator of the Swarm, Murmurer of Discontent is here.

Kassieti tilts his head to the side.

Kassieti says in Divine 'You can't be serious!'

[Xultantris] 'I'm always serious, Kassieti. You know this. I take my dealings in twisting the strings of these pests quite importantly.'

Gibble shrinks back a bit, sensing a bit of unease about the area.

Kassieti growls, 'I aught to cut some of those strings about .... ' trailing off and stopping, he then turns his eye on you. 'We've seemed to have drawn a crowd.'

Gibble wrings his staff in his hands uneasily at the new found attention.

Xultantris glances down 'Ah. Look at this one.'

Kassieti tilts his head to the side and looks at you with a single eye.

Kassieti shifts his voice to that of you, 'Is there something you wish to know, you?'

Gibble stands a bit straighter, stiffer, at the gaze.

Kassieti speaks with your voice, 'Oh! You can settle the debate.'

Kassieti nods to himself.

Kassieti speaks, sounding exactly like you, 'Does that sound appealing, Watcher?'

You say 'Well, hrm. It is not often stands in the presence of any of those of your stature... uh, hrm.'

[Xultantris] 'You'd trust this one to settle what we speak of? How immature of you.'

You say 'I would not be opposed to voicing my opinion on things, nope.'

Kassieti closes his eyes and takes a breath, 'Really?  You want to try that angle?'

Gibble grips his staff just a bit harder.

Kassieti speaks with your voice, 'Ah, good.'

Kassieti clears his throat.

Gibble glances anxiously between the two here.

You nod at Kassieti.

With a clearly over stated sigh. Xultantris rolls his eyes.

Kassieti continues to mimic you, 'Xultantris here says that the Watchers dance on his strings. And whenever possible, he likes to infest the feet of them first when they don't do his bidding. Says it hurts more that way. I say otherwise. Is this true?'

Apilla rides in.

Apilla blinks innocently.

Kassieti speaks, sounding exactly like you, 'Drawing a crowd indeed.'

Apilla says 'What's all this?'

Gibble glances down at his feet, 'I have felt no such infestation.'

Xultantris idly plucks the strings of his harp.

Kassieti follows your cadence, 'No? Drawn and quartered?'

Gibble motions to Apilla for silence, a single outstretched hand palm down at his side.

You say 'Nope. No drawing or quartering here, nope.'

Kassieti tilts his head to the side and looks at Xult with a single eye.

Gibble glances furtively in Xultantris' direction.

Kassieti then turns his gaze back to you.  'Which would hurt more is the question.'

Apilla raises an eyebrow.

You say 'Oh, I would assume the drawing and quartering, yes.'

You say 'Though slow pain is sometimes worse.'

You ponder the question.

Kassieti looks at Xultantris, 'He thinks that being drawn and quartered is what he'd prefer.'

You say 'But an infestation can be stopped, with enough skill and knowledge, yes.'

A sly chuckle is heard coming from behind the mask of Xultantris.

Gibble begins to look a lot more anxious at the direction of this conversation.

[Xultantris] 'The infestation is far more useful. You could ask the church their opinion if you deem it needed.'

Kassieti says in Divine 'I'm well aware of what the Church thought.  Watched them do nothing as your pet laid siege to them.'

Gibble shrugs his shoulders slighty, 'Victim of their own apathy, indeed.'

The porcelain mask on the undulating mound of insects cracks wide, forming a devilish grin.

Kassieti says in Divine 'The question is what to do about Gibble.  You shouldn't infest him like that.  He needs his feet.'

Xultantris looks at you.

[Xultantris] 'Gnomes can function without feet. I imagine Brambus will make him something. Care to wager?'

Gibble glances up to Xultantris quickly, 'Erm, yes, I would, and do, yes.'

Kassieti looks to you.  'Really?  You'd like to wager?'

You say 'Not with my feet, nope!'

A sly chuckle is heard coming from behind the mask of Xultantris.

Gibble begins to hop around on his feet a bit, 'Quite partial to them I am!'

Kassieti speaks, mimicking Apilla exactly, 'What about you, silent one?  A wager?'

Insects start to flood the ground under your feet. 'They may be my feet now.'

Apilla says 'I'd just like to see the feet removed, honestly.'

Apilla says 'Perhaps make some earring out of them.'

Apilla shrugs helplessly.

In the midst of his levitation, Gibble rises just above the increasing mound of insects beneath him.

Apilla says 'They're quite small, would make nice earrings.'

Kassieti mimics your speech patterns, 'Oh, dear.'

Kassieti says in Divine 'Brambus.'

Brambus arrives from a puff of smoke.

Apilla grimaces painfully at the thought.

Xultantris nods at Brambus.

Brambus looks around, 'What!  Where's my workbench!'

[Xultantris] 'Brambus. Can you replace Gibble's feet should they be removed?'

Gibble glances to Apilla, a look of concern, and a slight look of 'I warned you' on his face.

You peer intently at Brambus.

You say 'Brambus... surely you would not...'

Brambus looks flustered, 'Wha..what?!'

Apilla says 'Oh come on, it's just your feet, not even a whole leg!'

[Xultantris] 'Pests these Gnomes. Focus Brambus!'

Brambus looks around and the company kept here on the road, 'Oh.  Oh no.'

Apilla peers intently at Brambus.

Apilla says 'What bout Brambus's feet?'

Apilla licks his mouth and smiles.

Brambus backs away from Xultantris, slowly.

As the levitation fades, Gibble settles back to the ground, the insects running rampant over his feet.

Gibble begins to hold his breath a bit longer each time.

You nod at Brambus.

Brambus says 'Could you, erm. Repeat the question?  Please?'

Xultantris seems irritated at the statement. 'Can you. Gnome. Brambus. Replace this gnome, Gibble's feet. Should they be removed.

Xultantris peers intently at Brambus.

Kassieti mimics Brambus's speech patterns, 'You need not answer any of his questions, Brambus.'

Brambus looks confused, 'I .. erm.'

Brambus sheepishly says, 'Yes?'

Xultantris glances back to Kassieti. His mask stoic.

Apilla shows his approval by clapping his hands together.

Apilla says 'Oh joy!'

You say 'No, you cannot mean that Brambus!'

The porcelain mask on the undulating mound of insects cracks wide, forming a devilish grin.

Brambus shrugs apologetically at you and mouths the word 'sorry'.

Gibble beings to breath much heavier now, a growing look of concern darkening his face.

[Xultantris] 'So, back to our question Gibble. Now that we've cleared that up.  Which would you prefer?'

Gibble in a higher pitched voice than you've ever heard Gibble speak, 'Neither!?'

Kassieti mimics Apilla's voice perfectly, 'You may wish to not be so happy about your feet, Apilla. He was also talking about stealing a rogue's shadow, too.'

You say 'Is... is that an option, hrm?'

[Xultantris] 'Kassieti. Care to see something fun I've learned from these mortals?'

Kassieti says in Divine 'I know what you're going to do.  Doesn't matter what I say, you'll do it anyway.'

Apilla hides behind Kassieti.

Xultantris winks at Kassieti.

[Xultantris] 'Gibble. Kill Apilla and I'll spare your feet. Apilla, if you fail, I'll take yours.'

Apilla blinks innocently.

Apilla shakes his head.

Xultantris idly plucks the strings of his harp.

Apilla says 'He cant even take your feet.'

Apilla snorts derisively.

Xultantris peers at you intently.

You say 'Uh, not sure the accuracy of that statement, nope.'

Kassieti says in Divine 'This is your default challenge, Xultantris.  So basic.'

[Xultantris] 'Oh it is such fun. Do open yourself.'


** NOTE: Apilla had previously offered Gibble to attempt to attack Kass and Xultantris before they could go for Gibble's feet. **

Apilla says 'Gibble, you sure you dont want to take up my offer?'

Xultantris's Nibble MUTILATES you!

Gibble glaces to Xultantris, 'I have no qualms with the Avian, nope. He seems to have his own will about him.'

You grimace painfully at the thought.

[Xultantris] 'Do you care for your feet, or no?'

Gibble turns and faces Xultantris, his whole demeanor changing.

Brambus takes several steps back away from the pair.

Apilla grins evilly.

Apilla nods at you in agreement.

You say 'I would rather my own feet, than become a point of interference in the signal.'

Gibble puffs his chest out a bit and steadying himself.

Apilla tells you 'Let's kill em.'

Apilla looks at Xultantris.

Xultantris plucks on his harp. A rumbling is heard. 'I'm bored with you two, I pet is coming.'

Brambus mutters to himself, 'I suppose I could make stumps out of sharpened sticks....'

The Giant Tarantula walks in.

** The Tarantula attacks Gibble. Apilla joins in and we kill it. **
** Gibble heals the poison and plague, Apilla is still affected by it after a failed accupuncture. **

Apilla spits in utter disgust!

Xultantris frowns.

Kassieti says in Divine 'Stop!'

Kassieti shifts his voice to that of Apilla, 'Odd for you to join him after you were more than happy for your feet to be cut off.'

Apilla says 'Saving my own feet.'

Gibble turns to Apilla, 'You should cure yourself.'

Apilla shakes his head.

Xultantris looks at Apilla.

Kassieti speaks, sounding exactly like Apilla, 'Really?'

'Lest you do fall victim to this one,' Gibble says as he motions to Xultantris.

Apilla says 'Only a monster would kill me after I helped him.'

Apilla peers at you intently.

Xultantris seems to be getting upset. His mask curls into a frown looking around.

Kassieti says in Divine 'Is your power waning, Xultantris?'

[Xultantris] 'Far from it.'

In a fit of rage, Xultantris sets the area ablaze with a blast of demonic napalm!
Apilla is unable to withstand the blast of , being mortally wounded!
Screaming, and unable to withstand the blast of , you double over in extreme agony!
[STALKER]: 'Gibble has been defeated by Xultantris.'
You are too hurt to do anything for a while.

The porcelain mask on the undulating mound of insects cracks wide, forming a devilish grin.

Xultantris explodes into a mass of insects which all scatter and seek shelter.

Kassieti continues to mimic Apilla, 'Oh, my.'

Kassieti speaks, sounding exactly like Apilla, 'He's got quite a temper, doesn't he?'

Kassieti shifts his voice to sound like you, 'Beware. He might be after the treant, you.'

Kassieti stretches luxuriously.  Kinda makes you want to doesn't it?

Kassieti flexes his muscles...what a stud!?!

You say 'I saw his rage once before, though directed to Dendrovaron.'

Kassieti speaks, sounding exactly like you, 'You both may wish to keep one eye open for a while.'

Kassieti frowns.

You say 'I do not think I will be sleeping well for quite some time, nope.'

You shudder at the horror and repress tears.

Kassieti nods.

Apilla says 'I will dream of feet.'

Kassieti speaks with your voice, 'I must mitigate his damage.'

Kassieti turns inanimate before crumbling into a pile of small rocks.

Apilla pats you on your head.

Apilla says 'Our feet.'

Apilla winks suggestively at you.

Thickening Woods
The immediate area is covered in blood and gore. Debris lay everywhere, and the smell of burnt flesh is in the air. Scorch marks from some sort of divine power lay remnant to the destruction caused here.
[Exits: east west]
    The immediate area has been reduced to smoking rubble.

Gibble looks about the rubble strewn area, 'Such destruction.'

You feel something cold and wet lick the soles of your feet.

Gibble dances to and fro at the sensation upon his feet.

You say 'Stay away!'

You say 'I really must go think on my levitation'

Gibble glances about the ground, 'I feel I may need it for some time now.'

** A FEW HOURS LATER **

A messenger hands you a scroll marked "note"

note read
[ 14] Apilla: thinking of you...
Fri Jun 19 02:59:44 2026
To: Gibble Immortal
It's just a poorly drawn picture of two tiny feet.