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[img]https://i.imgur.com/JHhrrzF.png[/img]

[color=EFD7AD][i][b]Location[/b] [color=bdbdbd]⋗[/color] [/i][/color] The Forest
[color=EFD7AD][i][b]Interactions[/b] [color=bdbdbd]⋗[/color] [/i][/color] Simon [@Prosaic], Manon [@PatientBean], Phalko [@CasLink], Stormy [@Blizz]
[color=EFD7AD][i][b]School of Magic[/b] [color=bdbdbd]⋗[/color] [/i][/color] Necromancy, Illusion & Divination
[color=EFD7AD][i][b]Items[/b] [color=bdbdbd]⋗[/color] [/i][/color] 1 Dagger, small component pouch 
[img]https://i.imgur.com/15FWbtH.png[/img][/cell][cell]
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[color=2c2e2e]_[/color][img]https://i.imgur.com/fzX25TY.png[/img]
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	It was overwhelming how quickly their group of two - Simon and herself - had grown. All of a sudden Zhalia found herself with a handful of people at her disposal offering to help find the traditional herbs in spite of picking them yourself not being the main go-to in the US anymore, hasn't been for the longest time. Of course there were always people still adhering to older traditions but in a world full of large cities and shriveling nature, it was hard to get to the resources sometimes and she knew this. Some people also didn't see the point in it. They could buy the herbs or even raise them in little pots or gardens themselves, there was no need to go hunting in woods. Especially woods such as these.

	Her eyes trailed over the tree line before she began to confidently step closer. It seemed the people present were concerned about the woods. She gave a smile to the last person who joined them, a man with a beard she would recognize anywhere so long as he wouldn't shave it. She had seen him in the food tent earlier with two other witches, delighted about cake. "[color=EFD7AD]Oh? People are talking about me already? Only good things, I hope.[/color]" Of course, she knew that wasn't true. Some people were more concerned hiding their whispers than others. "[color=EFD7AD]Zhalia is right[/color]", she confirmed for him.

	Both Manon and Simon expressed some... reluctance? was it?... toward heading into the forest that stretched out before them. Phalko turned out to be the third person, naming the woods "dangerous". Zhalia felt like someone was trying hard to keep young people out of this area for some reason. Her best guess was that Miss High And Mighty Lina Calvo wanted to make sure no one passed out drunk here or had wild teenage sex. [i][color=EFD7AD]Petty reasons.[/color][/i] Zhalia inwardly scoffed at Calvo's bad attempt. Wasn't she aware that no such rules could keep rebellious teenagers out of such a tempting area? [i][color=EFD7AD]You can take the witch out of the woods but you can't take the woods out of a witch. We belong here.[/color][/i] If Lina Calvo wasn't full of shit - and as much as Zhalia wished she was just someone looking to control people's sexual activities and alcohol intake, she knew she wasn't. Lina Calvo was bad news and she was smart and cunning. So, if Lina Calvo was indeed scared of the woods then Zhalia had just found her new favorite place. With longing eyes, she looked upon the green. If Lina Calvo feared these woods, Zhalia would claim them.

	"[color=EFD7AD]Thank you for your help[/color]", she said to the group. She had expected to walk into this alone and now she was accompanied by four other people. It was a turn of events she hadn't dared hope for. Maybe this could be a new beginning after all?

	As Zhalia began to head into the woods, she found the others following her. Some more reluctantly than others, but they all fulfilled their part in the quest and began to look for the needed herbs. She didn't expect to find all herbs in these woods, let alone without delving deeper. But as they began to chit-chat and Zhalia crept deeper and deeper into the woods, she noticed some of her companions beginning to slow their pace. She kept pressing on, determined to penetrate deeper into the forest. Her heart was light and full, the twigs around her ankles, the leaves brushing against her head, it all felt so much like home to her. She could not fathom how anyone could feel fear when they treaded these parts. It was wonder and it was beauty. And it was far away from the loud electric world out there. The witch pushed deeper, all the while looking for the herbs needed, collecting some nettle and some other things into the component pouch that hung at her belt. After fifteen minutes of slowly delving deeper, she began to realize that something was amiss.

	Around their ankles, fog was floating. It wasn't the usual fog that would engulf your calves but a fog that stayed consistently low to the ground, covering it so you could trip if you weren't careful. Her eyes narrowed as she crouched down to run her fingers through the curiosity. "[color=EFD7AD]I have seen this before...[/color]", she mumbled to herself. But it was impossible. [i]Absolutely impossible.[/i] Her eyes carefully searched the tree lines around them when her heart sunk into her chest.

	Before them, appearing as though a shadow taking shape, a large black dog-like figure stepped around the trunk of a big tree. The creature's eyes were dead-set on the group of witches before it, shining white orbs in its otherwise dark appearance. It was haunting. Zhalia forced herself to begin to breathe again as she realized she had instinctively held her breath upon spotting the creature. Her heart was pounding but she forced a silent and slow breath to fill her lungs and slow her heart. Within seconds the panic lifted and her face showed nothing but collectedness. Her eyes fixated on their sudden opponent, Zhalia didn't dare move.
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[color=steelblue]O P P O R T U N I T Y[/color]
[i]All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess.

[color=steelblue]˃[/color] Characters may mistake the creature for the Black Shack.
Expected reactions: Fear, panic, fleeing the scene, urging people to escape from its gaze, seeking help, telling authorities (such as Lina).
Unlikely reactions: Engaging in combat, studying the creature, remaining entirely calm, ignoring its presence.[/i]

The Black Shuck is a mythical creature said to be made of dark energy, a specter that wanders areas of desolation. It is widely known as an omen of death and has often been described as a black shaggy dog with fiery eyes. It is said to attack by draining someone of their life force. Many deaths have been attributed to sightings of this creature, including Divination visions of the Black Shuck. It is said that no one survives an encounter with the Black Shuck once it has laid eyes on you.[/color]
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[color=gray]Depictions of the Black Shuck in old grimoires and witch's recordings[/color]

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/236x/16/ed/f5/16edf556424d1235edd57d87850a802b.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/236x/77/a6/41/77a641946559ed1e9ef0a055c19cba1e.jpg[/img]

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[color=gray]What the creature in front of you actually looks like[/color]
[img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5e/eb/a3/5eeba3d0e4d57dc00158edb5d96338bd.jpg[/img]
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[color=steelblue]F O R  M A N O N[/color]
[i]All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess. You may ignore this information if you like.

[color=steelblue]˃[/color] Your [/i]Danger Sense[i] is blaring. During the trek into the forest, you noticed that your danger sense was alert but it wasn't quite clear where it was coming from. Now it is crystal clear: Your senses tell you that this creature in front of you is dangerous to you. You might expect something bad to happen. 

[/i][You met a new creature. Next time one of these is near, your danger sense might be more accurate in depicting the danger.]

[color=steelblue]F O R  S I M O N[/color]
[i]All information below is at your disposal. You may base your character's reaction and decision on how much of this info they possess. You may ignore this information if you like.

[color=steelblue]˃[/color] [Before Entering] Through your [/i]Intuition[i], you notice Zhalia being nervous about the woods which quickly shifts into excitement. Her intentions don't seem malicious as she walks you into the forest but you notice that there is more to it than just collecting herbs. Some emotions and intentions are unclear but you feel that she is aware of something you seem unable to determine as of yet.

[color=steelblue]˃[/color] [Upon Meeting The Creature] If Simon is still suspicious about Zhalia at this point, he could decide to tune into his [/i]Intuition[i] once more to see if he picks up on something. This would require him to not run from the encounter or attack the creature for the moment as he needs to focus on it. 

[/i][You may also try to lean into your intuition about any other character if Simon deems it necessary.]


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