...The warmth of ages, far away from harm again...
Autumn came, and it did what it always does. It dried the grasses growing amongst the Fitzgibbon Farm into a forest of impenetrable tinder, making easy places to hide for the very small...but also a harder to climb and clamber and push through. It turned the leaves red and yellow and brown and began to bring them down in droves. It gave the mornings and evenings and night, especially the nights, a cold bite that hung in the air the way a snakes fangs were hidden in its mouth. There was frost in the morning, apples all day long, a few hardy crickets in the evening (though those were getting rarer and rare...) and a falling quiet at night as all the creatures found their warm nests and places to hide from nature's cruelty.
But to go back to the grasses; they were so very high, Nearly knee high to a man, and so twice the height of a tall rat or a tip-toeing hedgehog, and even more than that to a mouse or a shrew. Even the chickens were tired of the grass, having relegated themselves to staying close to the chicken coop where so many avian feet and so much scratching kept the vegetation torn down. And of course the grass around the barn stayed pretty short, making the grassing from the tall grass to the edge of the monumental building always a harrowing experience.
The sun was starting to set when Farmer Fitzgibbon and his oldest son, Paul, finally left the barn, leaving behind the flicker of lantern light on the table as they departed, discussing this and that as they crossed the barn-lot and heading through the beaten trail in the grass back to the back gate of the fence surrounding the farmhouse. The interior of the barn was lit by that one single lantern after that, and that's when the little animals living around the barn began to appear, poking their heads out of holes in boards, dens under tables, clambering through gaps in stalls, all gathering around the dreaded tractor, and its newest, deadliest implement.
The bushhog.
A particularly skittish young mouse stepped up gingerly to the picture of the boar on the side of the new device and let out a meek "wooow" as they reached out to touch the tough steel.
And that's where you came in.
Everyone, and by everyone I mean the animals, because of course the humans knew of their new tool, had heard of this devastating new delivery that Farmer Fitzgibbons had brought home on a trailer a few days ago. And as you examined it, you started to see folk around you that you knew...and also hear them, talking and chittering, some loud enough to understand and others not so much.
But all of that was drowned out by the voice overhead.
"She's a beaut ain't she? Yeh she is." The possum said overhead from the rafters. "Why I reckon she be 'bout as deadly as that there ol' plow! You just give that Farmer a day or two and once he's figured out whatever is he's workin' on there he'll fire that thang up and he'll kill everyone still livin' in the fields. Hope ya'll ain't got no loved 'uns out there. Glad I live in this 'ere barn!"
And just because possums are that way, he grinned, fat and wide and toothy, and laughed his little 'heh heh heh' laugh.
A small hedgehog pushed through the crowd gently, trying to be polite as she goes, saying excuse me, pardon me as she moves past the other small folks to get closer so she can get a good look at what the commotion was all about. Peanut has a little white face and white underbelly, with a head and back full of brown quills that she keeps covered under a light brown cloak so as to not accidently stick anyone she gets close to. Also, as the weather turns, she finds it quite nice to keep the chill out during her first autumn outside in the elements.
Her nose twitches as she looks the bushhog up and down. The thing was enormous. She was used to seeing large things, having lived some of her life in the farmhouse, but most of those large things were softer and comfy looking, almost welcoming. This was all sharp edges, teeth and menacing. It made her shudder.
Then when the young mouse, what was his name? Ralph? George? Shoot, she couldn't remember.. actually touched it, her eyes grew a little wider out of surprise and well admiration if she was honest with herself. Then came the possum. She hadn't had much interaction with the creature, but the little she had, she tried to avoid him if she could.
She looks around to see if any of her friends are close by, and asks them, "What does the possum mean, kill everyone still livin' in the fields? Are we...are we in trouble?" she looks back to the menacing creation and swallows hard.
A sinewy, burly brown and white rat scampers out at the sound of Peanut's voice only to stop short when he looks up and sees the 'machine.'
Num walks over to it, two hand axes swinging from his thin belt, and a larger great axe strapped across his back rising and falling with his breathing.
He reaches out a calloused hand and bangs on the side of the bushhog.
"The huge mans don't like us Peanut. They all trouble. And their big weapon are trouble." Num says, his accent marking someone from elsewhere. "Does it make bulls sleep? I hear the huge mans say a bull sleep on rosebush."
With fur as white as freshly fallen snow, Theodore stands out in the crowd. He's lean, and relatively short for a rat, but he's still taller than most mice. He ignores any odd looks directed his way, and gives a friendly hello to anyone he comes in contact with. His bright red eyes sparkle with excitement as he gazes upon the massive machine.
The young rat wears a dark cloak over him as a small attempt to cover his bright fur, and he carries nothing but a small dagger, which looks to have been made from a large thorn, and a book which are both secured to a leather belt at his waist. "Jerad! Can we get closer? I want to see inside that thing!"He exclaims, trying to push his way through the crowd without waiting for his guardian. Truth be told, he'd had to do a fair amount of convincing in order to even make this trip outside the rosebush. Even though he's about a month into adulthood, his parents still don't like him venturing out without protection...and many many promises that he will be careful. He tries his best to keep those promises...buuut sometimes he gets a little too excited. Like right now...Despite all the talk of death... His home can't be in danger of this thing can it? The farmer won't tear out the rose bush...will he? That's where most of Theodore's family lives now, aside from some extended family on his mother's side.
Eventually, he manages to get close to the bushhog and scamper around it's base. He examines the teeth excitedly, and is almost about to climb up the thing when the Possum speaks up. That is when the full realization of how dangerous this thing is dawns on him. Not that he wasn't aware of that before...he'd just..forgotten about it for a bit. He pulls his paw away from the massive teeth, and turns to listen when he hears the talking begin again. To his surprise, he sees...a hedgehog?! He'd never met a hedgehog before! He almost scurries over to her before he realizes what she's talking about. This bushhog thing might not put him in immediate danger, but to the rest of the farm... He glances over at Jerad, then walks over to the hedgehog and the big burly rat who's talking to her. "Maybe we can find a way to delay the bigfolk from using this? Or at least figure out when and ware they will use it first?"
A tall rat carrying a spear with a small strip of cloth tied to it like a banner, and a round wooden shield on his back stands beside Theodore. His fur is mostly black, but faded on his paws, and his eyes are a dark brown. He's a lean fellow, whose height makes up for his lack of width."Hold on Theo..."Jerad raises a paw in futile attempt to get his young companion to wait, only to watch the smaller rat scamper off into the crowd. At least Theodore is easy to spot thanks to his white fur... wait... that's actually not a good thing. Well, right now it is anyways, as he was asked to keep watch over the youngling. His height is helpful too, as he stands nearly a head taller than most other rats.
Sighing, he waits for the energetic rat to return. He's concerned about the creatures in the field as well, and would deeply regret hearing if anyone got hurt. Perhaps he should offer to help evacuate... Then Theodore returns, asking if there is a way to delay the big folk from using the thing. "I... Hmmm." His voice is deep, but soft as well. "I don't know. Thought it would be good to warn those we can. Hopefully if there is anyone here with family in the field, they can warn their loved ones before anything happens." He eyes the machine, "Perhaps we can find out when they intend to use it." He shakes his head, mostly at himself. Then notices an unfamiliar rat banging on the side of the machine, who is he and where did he come from?
Clive has been crouching in the shadows. He prefers to not be spotted by anyone, especially the strange ones who returned from the NIMH. However he wasn't going to let Peanut go out there alone. He sneaks to a spot nearer the machine, speaking out from the shadow of the tractor when Peanut asks about safety. "Unless he cuts the tree down, we should be safe enough. But I don't trust him not to cut the tree down. Also, everyone else will still die, including the mice at the corn field who first welcomed me to this farm. I've had to leave one farm before, I would rather not flee from this one too so we need to stop it. You can tinker, do you think you can stop this?"
Indy, too, has been hanging back, keeping to the shadows. In truth, he is somewhat in awe of this new machine, however destructive it might prove to be. Edging closer, he confirms for himself, the dangers the other smallfolk have been discussing.
Similar in size to a mouse, the shrew’s head is decidedly pointier, his legs shorter. He wears leathers, seemingly crafted from an old pair of work gloves, and a plastic helm that was almost certainly from a toy. His coat is a greyish-brown, his eyes nearly black.
“Definitely looks like trouble. I’m going to see if I can learn more, about his new contraption!”
His immediate curiosity satisfied, Indy noses his way over to the workbench, and begins to search for a new manual. The farmer rarely consults them himself, from what the shrew has seen, but keeps them in a drawer, nevertheless. This new one should be right on top, or perhaps it is still lying about, not yet put away? (Investigation: 18)
Num looks around at the others who have approached the machine and nods a greeting.
He then holds his hand out and touches the blades.
"Huge mans always danger," Num says. "Have food but danger. First huge mans talk of making a bull sleep on rosebush now this. Maybe time for all to leave and find Better Place."
Indy's examination of the work bench reveals there are no drawers underneath, but instead some shelving on top. A quick climb up the side brings him to the wide work area where the lantern is sitting...
The first thing Indy sees... Well, he doesn't actually see. He hears the sound of the warpick that sinks into the oil reservoir of the lantern just before he sees the surprised looking rat standing just on the other side of the lantern. The shocked rodent is indistinguishable in the bright light from the lantern, and shoves the lantern over as soon as the oil begins to leak.
The globe shatters, scattering glass in all directions. The lantern oil ignites, and fire spreads in the kerosene and covers the top of the work bench as the rat turns and leaps into the nearby shadows...
Peanut raises her two paws to her mouth as Num actually bangs on the machine. She waits to see if anything is going to happen and then breathes a sigh of relief. Raising an eyebrow, she asks, "The man says that bulls sleep in the rosebush? That doesn't make any sense. They don't even have any cows, let alone bulls."
She's a bit surprised as the white rat with the red eyes approaches, but she smiles, "Hi there. I'm Peanut. Delay? I'm not sure.. the machine sure is big though."she looks in awe of the great machine. Turning to the other rat that joined his friend, Peanut shrinks a bit as they make her nervous, "When? I'm sure it won't be long. Humans sure seem to like to try out their new toys right away."
Seeing Clive, Peanut seems to relax a bit and thinks as he asks her about tinkering. "True.. but where would one start? Maybe there are some wires or hoses?" She shudders though as she continues to look at the monstroscity.
"Ooh Num! Careful of that blade. I'm sure it's awfully sharp."
As the glass shatters, Peanut looks in the direction of the workbench and her ears lower as she sees the fire start. "Um... we need to get out of here." She starts pulling on Clive's fur.
Num looks at his paw when Peanut mentions how sharp the blade is. He reaches out again. "I don't know machines but know what huge mans said. Bull sleep. Not sleep maybe. Maybe nap. Bull nap. No not right. What another word for short sleep?"
Before Num can get an answer he looks where Peanut is looking too.
Num runs in the direction of the fire to make sure no one is hurt or doesn't need help getting away from the fire.
Clive feels the pulling on his fur, and looks up noticing the fire. He freezes, memories of his previous farm flooding back to him, and the fire that killed so many of his friends and family. He finds himself unable to move for a second, and then sees one of the rats who Peanut seemed to know running towards the fire, breaking him out of his fear (Self inflicted wis save 16). He shouts after him "You are meant to run away from the fire", and then he looks around for any young animals that really should be home (perception 24), picking them up and running out, carrying them to safety.
Finding himself confused at the strange rat's talk of bulls and sleeping, Jerad is caught up in trying to figure out this... can it be called a riddle? Wait... no he needs to focus on the task at hand, the Bushhog. Then something breaks, drawing his attention. His eyes go wide at the sight of the fire, "Theodore, get yourself to safety." He tucks his spear away on his back, then rushes towards the flames, following the strange rat that someone called Num. "Everyone, evacuate!" He is surprised when a mouse also joins in with helping get people to safety, which brings a small smile to his face. Alongside the two strangers, he helps to usher all of the small folk away from the fire, all the while hoping that Theodore has enough sense to get to safety.
"I'm Theodore!"The young rat replies gleefully. Then he looks back at the bushhog, "Well, if I knew how it worked, I could figure a way to delay it....oh...I suppose they will use it soon." His face saddens then he looks excited again, "The possum said this was like a plow? Don't plows get pulled behind those other big machines? If we chew through some of the wires...." He trails off and then cocks his head towards the larger rat. Peanut called him. Num? "Do you mean doze?" He replies, a hint of pride in his voice. (He likes to think he has a wide vocabulary.) "Why would a Bull doze on a rosebush? And your friend is right! There are no cows here!"He stands up straighter when Jared comes over, "I hope you are right. But it would be a shame for everyone to lose their ho-"His words are cut off when the workbench suddenly ignites. He stands there staring at the growing flames, seeming deaf to Jerad's warning. Eventually the older rat's words register and he shakes himself. "B-but I'm supposed to stay with you! I promised Father-" His voice trails off when Jerad runs into the fray. ...and he continues to stand there, unsure of what to do.
Peanut is about to run off with Clive and then stands stock still as Theodore's words sink in. "Bulldoze?! You mean the man is planning to bulldoze your rosebush?!" Her eyes go wide and she clamps her little paws over her mouth again wishing she hadn't said the words aloud now staring at one of the rats that she assumed lived in the rosebush.
She reaches forward and grabs hold of the little white rat's hand and pulls him, "C'mon, we must get to safety and it's not here in this barn! Clive and I will take you to the rosebush, let's go!" and she starts running towards the exit.
Theodore lets out a surprised squeak when Peanut grabs his hand and starts to drag him away. "Bulldoze? Wah?" He starts, then shakes his head. Now's not the time to think about that. Regaining his footing so the hedgehog is no longer dragging him, he continues. "Uh. Ok! I'm sure my Father will understand." He glances back towards where Jerad ran, hoping the other rat stays safe as well, then looks back to where he's running. "I hope that fire doesn't spread."
Indy is too startled to react, for a crucial second, and is very nearly overtaken by the spreading flames! Casting about desperately for an escape, he reaches for the whip coiled at his waist, and lashes out with it, swinging to safety.
Sort of. His landing is not the most graceful, but he does not think he is on fire, at least? (Acrobatics: 14) The shrew follows the flight of the other smallfolk, hoping the scene has not attracted the interest of any opportunistic predators.
Well.. if there was a manual, it is lost to us now….
Flames are spreading across the top of the work bench as the animals in the room seem to turn and look and freeze all in unison, almost like they had rehearsed it. Then the crowd splits into three parts.
The first part are those who stand there watching in confusion, murmuring to one another, trying to decide what just happened.
The second part are those that immediately panic, scattering through the barn with squeaks and shrieks as they realize that their homes and livelihoods are dangerously close to total annihilation.
The third part is our heroes, some running toward the flames, some retreating back to a safe distance.
Indy swings down from the tabletop with little issue as Num and Jerad get closer, but things are already quickly escalating. The burning tabletop starts to crackle quietly as the wood begins to heat up, threatening to spread soon if something isn't done about it.
A variety of other animals in the barn are starting to quickly become more animated. A mouse mother goes running into a pile of debris behind the desk, shouting something about her kids. Another mother, this one a shrew, comes running through the barn with a trail of children behind her, everyone holding on to each other's tails as they go so that no one gets lost. Overhead, the possum watches this with a mixture of glee and concern.
"Hooo boy! Ain't that sumthin' eh? Heheh! I reckon we better get on outta here 'fore we get cooked up good!"
He begins to saunter along the rafter above, heading toward the open door to the hayloft.
While helping animals flee, Clive has a sudden realisation. "Forget about the fire, the Fitzgibbons will be here as soon as they notice flames, and you don't want to be caught here by them!" and he starts moving even faster.
Indy glances after the mysterious arsonist, but the rat with the warpick is nowhere to be seen… The hysterical cries of a mother mouse, dashing behind the burning desk, break him from his momentary musings.
He has never been one for heroics, but some actions simply must be taken! The shrew deftly burrows into the pile of debris, and begins searching for the endangered mouselings (Perception: 17).
https://youtu.be/H_I3SaTpdqM?si=ILH95ym-LauOmNM9
The Legacy of NIMH
Part I
Of Mice and Men
The little creatures run in from the cold...
...Back to the nest just like the days of old...
...There in the safety of a mother's arms...
...The warmth of ages, far away from harm again...
Autumn came, and it did what it always does. It dried the grasses growing amongst the Fitzgibbon Farm into a forest of impenetrable tinder, making easy places to hide for the very small...but also a harder to climb and clamber and push through. It turned the leaves red and yellow and brown and began to bring them down in droves. It gave the mornings and evenings and night, especially the nights, a cold bite that hung in the air the way a snakes fangs were hidden in its mouth. There was frost in the morning, apples all day long, a few hardy crickets in the evening (though those were getting rarer and rare...) and a falling quiet at night as all the creatures found their warm nests and places to hide from nature's cruelty.
But to go back to the grasses; they were so very high, Nearly knee high to a man, and so twice the height of a tall rat or a tip-toeing hedgehog, and even more than that to a mouse or a shrew. Even the chickens were tired of the grass, having relegated themselves to staying close to the chicken coop where so many avian feet and so much scratching kept the vegetation torn down. And of course the grass around the barn stayed pretty short, making the grassing from the tall grass to the edge of the monumental building always a harrowing experience.
The sun was starting to set when Farmer Fitzgibbon and his oldest son, Paul, finally left the barn, leaving behind the flicker of lantern light on the table as they departed, discussing this and that as they crossed the barn-lot and heading through the beaten trail in the grass back to the back gate of the fence surrounding the farmhouse. The interior of the barn was lit by that one single lantern after that, and that's when the little animals living around the barn began to appear, poking their heads out of holes in boards, dens under tables, clambering through gaps in stalls, all gathering around the dreaded tractor, and its newest, deadliest implement.
The bushhog.
A particularly skittish young mouse stepped up gingerly to the picture of the boar on the side of the new device and let out a meek "wooow" as they reached out to touch the tough steel.
And that's where you came in.
Everyone, and by everyone I mean the animals, because of course the humans knew of their new tool, had heard of this devastating new delivery that Farmer Fitzgibbons had brought home on a trailer a few days ago. And as you examined it, you started to see folk around you that you knew...and also hear them, talking and chittering, some loud enough to understand and others not so much.
But all of that was drowned out by the voice overhead.
"She's a beaut ain't she? Yeh she is." The possum said overhead from the rafters. "Why I reckon she be 'bout as deadly as that there ol' plow! You just give that Farmer a day or two and once he's figured out whatever is he's workin' on there he'll fire that thang up and he'll kill everyone still livin' in the fields. Hope ya'll ain't got no loved 'uns out there. Glad I live in this 'ere barn!"
And just because possums are that way, he grinned, fat and wide and toothy, and laughed his little 'heh heh heh' laugh.
DM of AURYN
The Depths of Subternia - Escape from New York - Princess of Destiny
A small hedgehog pushed through the crowd gently, trying to be polite as she goes, saying excuse me, pardon me as she moves past the other small folks to get closer so she can get a good look at what the commotion was all about. Peanut has a little white face and white underbelly, with a head and back full of brown quills that she keeps covered under a light brown cloak so as to not accidently stick anyone she gets close to. Also, as the weather turns, she finds it quite nice to keep the chill out during her first autumn outside in the elements.
Her nose twitches as she looks the bushhog up and down. The thing was enormous. She was used to seeing large things, having lived some of her life in the farmhouse, but most of those large things were softer and comfy looking, almost welcoming. This was all sharp edges, teeth and menacing. It made her shudder.
Then when the young mouse, what was his name? Ralph? George? Shoot, she couldn't remember.. actually touched it, her eyes grew a little wider out of surprise and well admiration if she was honest with herself. Then came the possum. She hadn't had much interaction with the creature, but the little she had, she tried to avoid him if she could.
She looks around to see if any of her friends are close by, and asks them, "What does the possum mean, kill everyone still livin' in the fields? Are we...are we in trouble?" she looks back to the menacing creation and swallows hard.
A sinewy, burly brown and white rat scampers out at the sound of Peanut's voice only to stop short when he looks up and sees the 'machine.'
Num walks over to it, two hand axes swinging from his thin belt, and a larger great axe strapped across his back rising and falling with his breathing.
He reaches out a calloused hand and bangs on the side of the bushhog.
"The huge mans don't like us Peanut. They all trouble. And their big weapon are trouble." Num says, his accent marking someone from elsewhere. "Does it make bulls sleep? I hear the huge mans say a bull sleep on rosebush."
Num bangs on the side of the bushhog again.
With fur as white as freshly fallen snow, Theodore stands out in the crowd. He's lean, and relatively short for a rat, but he's still taller than most mice. He ignores any odd looks directed his way, and gives a friendly hello to anyone he comes in contact with. His bright red eyes sparkle with excitement as he gazes upon the massive machine.
The young rat wears a dark cloak over him as a small attempt to cover his bright fur, and he carries nothing but a small dagger, which looks to have been made from a large thorn, and a book which are both secured to a leather belt at his waist. "Jerad! Can we get closer? I want to see inside that thing!" He exclaims, trying to push his way through the crowd without waiting for his guardian. Truth be told, he'd had to do a fair amount of convincing in order to even make this trip outside the rosebush. Even though he's about a month into adulthood, his parents still don't like him venturing out without protection...and many many promises that he will be careful. He tries his best to keep those promises...buuut sometimes he gets a little too excited. Like right now...Despite all the talk of death... His home can't be in danger of this thing can it? The farmer won't tear out the rose bush...will he? That's where most of Theodore's family lives now, aside from some extended family on his mother's side.
Eventually, he manages to get close to the bushhog and scamper around it's base. He examines the teeth excitedly, and is almost about to climb up the thing when the Possum speaks up. That is when the full realization of how dangerous this thing is dawns on him. Not that he wasn't aware of that before...he'd just..forgotten about it for a bit. He pulls his paw away from the massive teeth, and turns to listen when he hears the talking begin again. To his surprise, he sees...a hedgehog?! He'd never met a hedgehog before! He almost scurries over to her before he realizes what she's talking about. This bushhog thing might not put him in immediate danger, but to the rest of the farm... He glances over at Jerad, then walks over to the hedgehog and the big burly rat who's talking to her. "Maybe we can find a way to delay the bigfolk from using this? Or at least figure out when and ware they will use it first?"
A tall rat carrying a spear with a small strip of cloth tied to it like a banner, and a round wooden shield on his back stands beside Theodore. His fur is mostly black, but faded on his paws, and his eyes are a dark brown. He's a lean fellow, whose height makes up for his lack of width. "Hold on Theo..." Jerad raises a paw in futile attempt to get his young companion to wait, only to watch the smaller rat scamper off into the crowd. At least Theodore is easy to spot thanks to his white fur... wait... that's actually not a good thing. Well, right now it is anyways, as he was asked to keep watch over the youngling. His height is helpful too, as he stands nearly a head taller than most other rats.
Sighing, he waits for the energetic rat to return. He's concerned about the creatures in the field as well, and would deeply regret hearing if anyone got hurt. Perhaps he should offer to help evacuate... Then Theodore returns, asking if there is a way to delay the big folk from using the thing. "I... Hmmm." His voice is deep, but soft as well. "I don't know. Thought it would be good to warn those we can. Hopefully if there is anyone here with family in the field, they can warn their loved ones before anything happens." He eyes the machine, "Perhaps we can find out when they intend to use it." He shakes his head, mostly at himself. Then notices an unfamiliar rat banging on the side of the machine, who is he and where did he come from?
Clive has been crouching in the shadows. He prefers to not be spotted by anyone, especially the strange ones who returned from the NIMH. However he wasn't going to let Peanut go out there alone. He sneaks to a spot nearer the machine, speaking out from the shadow of the tractor when Peanut asks about safety. "Unless he cuts the tree down, we should be safe enough. But I don't trust him not to cut the tree down. Also, everyone else will still die, including the mice at the corn field who first welcomed me to this farm. I've had to leave one farm before, I would rather not flee from this one too so we need to stop it. You can tinker, do you think you can stop this?"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Indy, too, has been hanging back, keeping to the shadows. In truth, he is somewhat in awe of this new machine, however destructive it might prove to be. Edging closer, he confirms for himself, the dangers the other smallfolk have been discussing.
Similar in size to a mouse, the shrew’s head is decidedly pointier, his legs shorter. He wears leathers, seemingly crafted from an old pair of work gloves, and a plastic helm that was almost certainly from a toy. His coat is a greyish-brown, his eyes nearly black.
“Definitely looks like trouble. I’m going to see if I can learn more, about his new contraption!”
His immediate curiosity satisfied, Indy noses his way over to the workbench, and begins to search for a new manual. The farmer rarely consults them himself, from what the shrew has seen, but keeps them in a drawer, nevertheless. This new one should be right on top, or perhaps it is still lying about, not yet put away? (Investigation: 18)
Num looks around at the others who have approached the machine and nods a greeting.
He then holds his hand out and touches the blades.
"Huge mans always danger," Num says. "Have food but danger. First huge mans talk of making a bull sleep on rosebush now this. Maybe time for all to leave and find Better Place."
Indy's examination of the work bench reveals there are no drawers underneath, but instead some shelving on top. A quick climb up the side brings him to the wide work area where the lantern is sitting...
The first thing Indy sees... Well, he doesn't actually see. He hears the sound of the warpick that sinks into the oil reservoir of the lantern just before he sees the surprised looking rat standing just on the other side of the lantern. The shocked rodent is indistinguishable in the bright light from the lantern, and shoves the lantern over as soon as the oil begins to leak.
The globe shatters, scattering glass in all directions. The lantern oil ignites, and fire spreads in the kerosene and covers the top of the work bench as the rat turns and leaps into the nearby shadows...
DM of AURYN
The Depths of Subternia - Escape from New York - Princess of Destiny
Peanut raises her two paws to her mouth as Num actually bangs on the machine. She waits to see if anything is going to happen and then breathes a sigh of relief. Raising an eyebrow, she asks, "The man says that bulls sleep in the rosebush? That doesn't make any sense. They don't even have any cows, let alone bulls."
She's a bit surprised as the white rat with the red eyes approaches, but she smiles, "Hi there. I'm Peanut. Delay? I'm not sure.. the machine sure is big though." she looks in awe of the great machine. Turning to the other rat that joined his friend, Peanut shrinks a bit as they make her nervous, "When? I'm sure it won't be long. Humans sure seem to like to try out their new toys right away."
Seeing Clive, Peanut seems to relax a bit and thinks as he asks her about tinkering. "True.. but where would one start? Maybe there are some wires or hoses?" She shudders though as she continues to look at the monstroscity.
"Ooh Num! Careful of that blade. I'm sure it's awfully sharp."
As the glass shatters, Peanut looks in the direction of the workbench and her ears lower as she sees the fire start. "Um... we need to get out of here." She starts pulling on Clive's fur.
Num looks at his paw when Peanut mentions how sharp the blade is. He reaches out again. "I don't know machines but know what huge mans said. Bull sleep. Not sleep maybe. Maybe nap. Bull nap. No not right. What another word for short sleep?"
Before Num can get an answer he looks where Peanut is looking too.
Num runs in the direction of the fire to make sure no one is hurt or doesn't need help getting away from the fire.
Clive feels the pulling on his fur, and looks up noticing the fire. He freezes, memories of his previous farm flooding back to him, and the fire that killed so many of his friends and family. He finds himself unable to move for a second, and then sees one of the rats who Peanut seemed to know running towards the fire, breaking him out of his fear (Self inflicted wis save 16). He shouts after him "You are meant to run away from the fire", and then he looks around for any young animals that really should be home (perception 24), picking them up and running out, carrying them to safety.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Finding himself confused at the strange rat's talk of bulls and sleeping, Jerad is caught up in trying to figure out this... can it be called a riddle? Wait... no he needs to focus on the task at hand, the Bushhog. Then something breaks, drawing his attention. His eyes go wide at the sight of the fire, "Theodore, get yourself to safety." He tucks his spear away on his back, then rushes towards the flames, following the strange rat that someone called Num. "Everyone, evacuate!" He is surprised when a mouse also joins in with helping get people to safety, which brings a small smile to his face. Alongside the two strangers, he helps to usher all of the small folk away from the fire, all the while hoping that Theodore has enough sense to get to safety.
"I'm Theodore!" The young rat replies gleefully. Then he looks back at the bushhog, "Well, if I knew how it worked, I could figure a way to delay it....oh...I suppose they will use it soon." His face saddens then he looks excited again, "The possum said this was like a plow? Don't plows get pulled behind those other big machines? If we chew through some of the wires...." He trails off and then cocks his head towards the larger rat. Peanut called him. Num? "Do you mean doze?" He replies, a hint of pride in his voice. (He likes to think he has a wide vocabulary.) "Why would a Bull doze on a rosebush? And your friend is right! There are no cows here!" He stands up straighter when Jared comes over, "I hope you are right. But it would be a shame for everyone to lose their ho-" His words are cut off when the workbench suddenly ignites. He stands there staring at the growing flames, seeming deaf to Jerad's warning. Eventually the older rat's words register and he shakes himself. "B-but I'm supposed to stay with you! I promised Father-" His voice trails off when Jerad runs into the fray. ...and he continues to stand there, unsure of what to do.
Peanut is about to run off with Clive and then stands stock still as Theodore's words sink in. "Bulldoze?! You mean the man is planning to bulldoze your rosebush?!" Her eyes go wide and she clamps her little paws over her mouth again wishing she hadn't said the words aloud now staring at one of the rats that she assumed lived in the rosebush.
She reaches forward and grabs hold of the little white rat's hand and pulls him, "C'mon, we must get to safety and it's not here in this barn! Clive and I will take you to the rosebush, let's go!" and she starts running towards the exit.
Theodore lets out a surprised squeak when Peanut grabs his hand and starts to drag him away. "Bulldoze? Wah?" He starts, then shakes his head. Now's not the time to think about that. Regaining his footing so the hedgehog is no longer dragging him, he continues. "Uh. Ok! I'm sure my Father will understand." He glances back towards where Jerad ran, hoping the other rat stays safe as well, then looks back to where he's running. "I hope that fire doesn't spread."
Indy is too startled to react, for a crucial second, and is very nearly overtaken by the spreading flames! Casting about desperately for an escape, he reaches for the whip coiled at his waist, and lashes out with it, swinging to safety.
Sort of. His landing is not the most graceful, but he does not think he is on fire, at least? (Acrobatics: 14) The shrew follows the flight of the other smallfolk, hoping the scene has not attracted the interest of any opportunistic predators.
Well.. if there was a manual, it is lost to us now….
Flames are spreading across the top of the work bench as the animals in the room seem to turn and look and freeze all in unison, almost like they had rehearsed it. Then the crowd splits into three parts.
The first part are those who stand there watching in confusion, murmuring to one another, trying to decide what just happened.
The second part are those that immediately panic, scattering through the barn with squeaks and shrieks as they realize that their homes and livelihoods are dangerously close to total annihilation.
The third part is our heroes, some running toward the flames, some retreating back to a safe distance.
Indy swings down from the tabletop with little issue as Num and Jerad get closer, but things are already quickly escalating. The burning tabletop starts to crackle quietly as the wood begins to heat up, threatening to spread soon if something isn't done about it.
A variety of other animals in the barn are starting to quickly become more animated. A mouse mother goes running into a pile of debris behind the desk, shouting something about her kids. Another mother, this one a shrew, comes running through the barn with a trail of children behind her, everyone holding on to each other's tails as they go so that no one gets lost. Overhead, the possum watches this with a mixture of glee and concern.
"Hooo boy! Ain't that sumthin' eh? Heheh! I reckon we better get on outta here 'fore we get cooked up good!"
He begins to saunter along the rafter above, heading toward the open door to the hayloft.
DM of AURYN
The Depths of Subternia - Escape from New York - Princess of Destiny
While helping animals flee, Clive has a sudden realisation. "Forget about the fire, the Fitzgibbons will be here as soon as they notice flames, and you don't want to be caught here by them!" and he starts moving even faster.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Indy glances after the mysterious arsonist, but the rat with the warpick is nowhere to be seen… The hysterical cries of a mother mouse, dashing behind the burning desk, break him from his momentary musings.
He has never been one for heroics, but some actions simply must be taken! The shrew deftly burrows into the pile of debris, and begins searching for the endangered mouselings (Perception: 17).
”Mouselings, to me! Fire, Fire!!”