[selenia's quest.]

[dramatispersonae]

[wherever you are now, it's grey and half-lit; not quite day yet, but not too dark either.]

Comments

[glorious]

[. . .]

Do you need help?

[dramatispersonae]

[wiggle

wiggle]

[glorious]

[...That seems like a "yes".]

[Will try to climb up and help!]

[dramatispersonae]

[the metal needles are too thick and sharp. you are going to maim yourself if you climb.]

[glorious]

[...Can handle scratches but maiming is a bit much.]

[Maybe I can use the pole instead and poke it free...]

[dramatispersonae]

[you successfully dislodge the snake with the pole! it bounces to the ground along with a shiny silver coin.

...there's a second fire songbird stuck in its mouth, peeping. it's apparently too fat for the snake to eat.]

[glorious]

[picking up the coin first while I consider the most delicate course of action for saving the bird.]

[...suppose whacking the snake on the head with the pole will do.]

[dramatispersonae]

[THE SNAKE IS UNAFFECTED BY YOUR ATTEMPT AT ANIMAL ABUSE]

[glorious]

[...well this is awkward.]

You can't eat that. Drop it.

[dramatispersonae]

[YOUR AUTHORITATIVE VOICE DOESN'T WORK EITHER!

WHAT NOW, SELENIA GRANTS]

[glorious]

[...Oh no you didn't.]

[I am wrenching that bird out of your damn mouth even if it sears my hand.]

[dramatispersonae]

[that maneuver also fails

and now your hand is on fire . . .]

[glorious]

[insert a long list of every swear word Selenia can recall here]

[while frantically trying to un-set himself on fire.]

[dramatispersonae]

[you put the fire out quickly :|a

i hope that was the same hand that had the burned finger already]

[glorious]

[It was... conveniently my dominant right hand. which I seem intent on losing today.]

[VERY ANGRY LOOK AT THE SNAKE.]

You are going to choke to death. Spit it out.

[dramatispersonae]

[wiggle

neither it nor the bird seem particularly concerned :|a]

[glorious]

[...Fine. I give up.]

[I'll just...try to pick up the snake with the pole and guide him to the statue. Suicidal flaming birds and snakes are like light, right?]

[dramatispersonae]

[pole passes right through flaming animals

p...possibly you should try something else for now]

[glorious]

[I am a persistent man. Do not doubt my ability to spend an inordinate amount of time finding a solution to a problem.

I will be back.]

[But before I leave, I will check the stone pedestal one more time.]

[dramatispersonae]

[nothing else of note here!]

[glorious]

[...Then I am left with no choice. Time to go back down the path and scratch myself up trying to make my way through one of the other breaks in the tree.]

[I better get enough Seventh Fonons to cover all of these scratches.]

[dramatispersonae]

[this break gives way to a clearing with a hollow log and a tree stump!

there is a flaming, cheeping bird on the stump and a copper coin on the ground]

[glorious]

[Moving straight for that coin and picking it up -- just one left.]

[...But lets see what is in that hollow log first.]

[dramatispersonae]

[you have all the coins you need already, actually :Oa

the hollow log is empty.]

[glorious]

[...Wait, I do have all the ones I need.]

[Guess I'll make my way back to that flaming cat with them! MORE SCRATCHES.]