[Coolshaymin]

The Misty Bog laid down in front of them as the source of the signal was pinpointed further into the dangerous territory. Few trees and safe chunks of lands rested upon dangerous looking muck. It would probably be a good idea to avoid falling in because it looks like getting out of there would be very troublesome. In the far distance there looked like there was some lights shining but it was too far to tell for certain and it would definitely take effort to get there. The area was coated by a purple mist as well.

On the ground though the group may notice a lone music box which was strangely out of place in this bog. Who could of left that there? Regardless, there is no telling what is going on with this Wario person but considering the dangerous area, a quick pace would probably be a good idea. One should not be hasty though, since one wrong step could lead to more danger.

Ready?

Go!

[TartoonHand94]

The murky puddles of the Misty Bog began to ripple with radiating rings as the very wetland itself trembled for the oncoming vehicle. Driving without wheels but rather gliding across its own smooth, wet bottom instead, a large glass-like structure ploughed through the fog. Atop this glassy mass sat two hooded figures. One driving, one apparently guiding the way.

“We there yet?”
“No idea.”

As their transport faded into view, it became clear that this was no vehicle at all: it was a just a huge hunk of… Ice? It was a mobile ice berg! And it was getting smaller… It was melting!
And lo and behold, the riders could now be identified too. It now made perfect sense that they travelled by way of ice, for these were the Ice Climbers. Nana in the Pink parka beside Popo in the blue.

“We’re almost there.”
“Are you sure?”
“We’d better be.”

Popo was right, as the ice floe they were riding was almost gone. Deciding their ride was over, the pair each picked up a mallet in one hand and took each other by the other and leapt off, just in time for it to join the rest of the muddy water of the bog.


“Where are we?” Nana asked timidly, gripping Popo’s hand tighter as she looked around them.
“Again, no idea.” Popo answered not much more prepared. The misty fog made their location complicated to confirm.
“Should be bog.”
“Purple mist…” Nana pointed out the colour of the fog. It was familiar indeed, but not in a good way.
“Just like mountain…” Popo frowned, gripping his mallet tighter.

Besides the fog, only several dozen silhouettes of trees could be made out to be surrounding them, as well as the glimmer from several dozen more puddles of muck surrounding the scant dry land they were standing on.

“Look a light!” Nana’s eyes finally spied, beaconing faintly from beyond the mist.
“Let’s try-” Popo began to lead before losing his footing.
He almost fell directly into the dangerous muck had Nana not grabbed his hand in time and pulled him back to safely. The fog couldn’t hide the gratitude on his face.
“...another way.” Popo sheepishly finished his sentence.

Pacing cautiously along the edge of the pool, looking for a path forward, the Ice Climbers encountered something else on the wetland ground. Popo nearly stepped on it too.
“What is that?” Nana asked more curious than anxious this time. Everything about this place was strange to them, but this item seemed blatantly out of place even to them.
“No idea three.”

[PSYCH]

Out from the curtain of fog marched a figure bathed in a light that fought to scythe its way through the purple gloom. She used her staff both as a walking stick and also as a warning for her steps ahead in case the swamp decided to deepen before she planted a foot on it. Her free hand was held above her head, holding up a magically summoned light to guide her way. Her face was stoic despite the tangle of trees towering eerily over her small white form, warped by the illuminations she cast around her.

Clearly, this was not White Mage's first time in a dangerous swampland. When you have ventured down beneath the marshy caves of Elfheim and the rotting earth of Melmond to fight the walking dead lurking beneath, your heart becomes steeled to these sorts of adventures. Though White Mage had to admit, she did not usually make these sorts of trips on her own, and her courage might have faltered slightly had she not summoned a magical light to keep her company.

The robed mage stopped and frowned, banishing her light temporarily to check her notes for the coordinates pinpointing the source of the radio's signal against her map. She could've sworn she was getting close. Suddenly, in the darkness, there was muffled sound and the suggestion of voices. White Mage looked up and recast her light in an attempt to push aside the fog. She moved forward, hoping whatever had made the sound was friendly.

"Hello?" She called, keeping her voice friendly, "Popo? Nana? Can you hear me?" She now regretted having not arranged to meet the Ice Climbers at a safer location and travel up together. This was not the sort of place someone should wander around alone... she wondered if this was exactly what Wario was doing right now, trying to make his way through the fog, his cries for help smothered by the purple haze. Two short figures appeared dimly in the near distance, skirting the wetland by a pool ahead of them - to the White Mage's great relief, their appearance matched their entry on the data module.

"Oh, thank goodness," She said to the twins as she approached, light in hand, "I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find you. I am White Mage, it is good to see you both..." She noticed their attention was drawn to something by their feet that she could not make out as they huddled together. "Are you alright? Is one of you hurt?"

[Coolshaymin]

The Bog seemed to bubble a bit as if signifying a welcome though stepping into the purple muck is probably a terrible decision. The purple mist hovered around but did not seem to be contamintaed, cursed or paticularly harmful. It may be that color from the water or some other source but that is just theory considering it can be a subtle kind of harmful. The co-ordinates mark that the location of the signal came from what looks to be East, in the same direction as the lights in the distance. There is some footing on the way there from the looks of it though there appears to be some bushes near it. The north looks like it could get to the same place but it may be longer and no telling if it is danger filled.

(Tutorial: You may do Perception Checks using Wisdom to check your surroundings once per turn. Objects may be hidden and results depend on your roll. Being cautious may be rewarding but failure to check on things can be equally harmful.)

The music box had a clear top with some environments like caves, forests, lakes and mountains on it in very incredible detail given the small scale. On the side was a crank that could be wound to play music if rotated even out of curiosity. The music that it played sounds a bit similar to this.



(Used a remix since I tried listening to the more music box sounding of the original and... it was earbleeding.)

[TartoonHand94]

The Ice Climber’s curious inspection of the music box was interrupted by a sudden voice. Both turned around, mallets at the ready. They were all set to inspect this mysterious stranger with their mallets when this mysterious stranger addressed them both by their names.
“Yeah we can!” Nana single-mindedly answered the voice.
“Wait a minute.” Popo shook his head upon realizing what the voice just referred to them both by name. “You know her?”
“You know her?” Nana answered his question with a just as confused question.
“…She knows us…” Popo scratched his head puzzledly. “How?”
“Who are you?” Popo asked the voice, raising his mallet to where it came from.

Luckily, soon enough the White Mage stepped into view and introduced herself.
“Hi White Mage.” Popo waved, relieved that the voice had a person attached to it.
“You know us,” Nana started,
“We know you.” Popo ended, glad about the difference her introduction made now. “And we’re fine.”
“Nice parka!” Nana marvelled at White Mage’s long white robe. However, she couldn’t help but notice the shape of her staff. “Your mallet’s funny.”

(1ayKZpPPp_1d20 Popo looks around)
(p_1d20+2 Nana looks around)

“We found this.” Popo showed White Mage the music box. Picking it up and inspecting it, he could see that this was fancier than any artefact found on the mountain back home.
“Turn the crank!” Nana suggested curious to see what the magic little box did. And so, Popo did.
1d20·1d20+2

[PSYCH]

"I am glad you're both okay, and that you recognize me." White Mage smiled, "I am here to help, just as you are." When the twins presented the musical box, White Mage crouched down to their height to get a better look at it. It was certainly an odd object to be left out here in the bog. Perhaps someone dropped it while travelling through... 

She felt an odd feeling of doubt in her stomach and stood up to take a look around at her surroundings.

(220VDrqU1d20+1 White Mage looks around)

Before she could stop them, Nana encouraged Popo to turn the crank on the musical box, which he did. White Mage gasped and lifted a hand as if to intervene, but it was much too late.1d20+1

[Coolshaymin]

Popo apparently so fixated by the mystical and exotic object known as a Music Box did not notice anything of note in the environment. Yep, this was definitely a murky place that kind of smelled. White Mage however was a bit more observant and could pick up that the bushes on the east path were rustling and it stretched, though, the gap between land masses had a boggy section, in fact both should probably be jumped over to proceed. Nana though was on top of the game when it came to noticing the finer details. She was able to notice what White Mage did but there was a significantly harder detail to pick up on. Though the north path seemed more clear, there was a faint in and out movement on the bushes that way, a bit too natural of one, almost as if they were breathing.

(The road splits here between a North and Eastern Path. However, there is a section of bog going forward that gets in the way. Roll a 12 or higher in STR to jump across and land safely on the other side. If you have someway to enhance your jumping power with something like magic, you can use an appropriate mod instead. However, if either is failed, you will land in the bog and getting out will be difficult, taking a STR roll of 16, if someone is not in the bog, they may assist their ally with a STR roll using both their mods  with an additional +2 added on for a 14 roll threshold to pull them out. Negative mods for the Assist just use the bonus +2 to the higher STR stat.)

Before moving on however to save wherever the brave businessman must be, the Ice Climbers decided to crank the music box much to White Mage's apparent fear. It was too late however as the Music Box returned their gesture with a melody.... Though, nothing else other than the pretty music the box makes happens. Looks like White Mage's fears were unfounded as this musical box was quite ordinary... Well, that is until partway through the melody a bright light shone that would briefly blind the group. Though the light soon died out and they were still in the murky bog. However, they would notice the air was suddenly cleaner and a beam of light shone from the music box and raced further into the mucky landscape, seeming to be leading them toward where the lights are. No bad effects seemed to occur for the group and the air seemed a light cleaner than normal for some reason. While it was certainly magic, the enchanted music box did not seem inherently evil but it wanted to lead them somewhere. Perhaps the musical device is connected to the man they were sent to find? Either way, maybe it would be worth it to try playing it again in future situations. Though, despite this, maybe White Mage can look into this magic just to double check.

(You can now play the Music Box to cause special effects that could prove helpful when used in the right scenarios. White Mage, since you are really close to the magic arts, especially White Magic, you can attempt to appraise the Music Box's Magic with a Intelligence Check. Though, this will remove your action to observe your surroundings for one turn.)

[TartoonHand94]

“Here to help?” Nana asked in echo as if she had forgotten that someone needed help at all. Quick to assess this, Popo whispered something into her ear, reminding them of their goal and why they were in this swamp in the first place.
“Oh right. That.” Nana nodded flatly as Popo went right back to admiring the music box. He was so impressed and mesmerised, he was practically reading the tiny details of the caves, forest, lakes, mountains on the like across its sides.

Waiting longer on her turn than her attention span, Nana took her time to look around them. A job she’d normally leave to Popo, but this was a brand new mission, and the extra scouting responsibility was exciting to her.

“Yep, definitely murky.” She nodded in confirmation. “And it smells.”
General observation out of the way, Nana squinted to find more subtle details in the poorly lit bog. For example that there was something familiarly off putting about the bush. They resembled the fluffy Topis from back home on the mountain, not for their abundance of fluff, not because Topis are white and these bushes were green, but because the bushes moved like they were breathing!

“P-Popo?...” Nana tugged on her partner’s arm to get his attention.
She wasn’t getting it just yet for as Popo turned the crank and pretty music box music played from the pretty music box, a blindingly bright light flashed.

“Ow!” Popo yelped as he blocked his eyes with his hand, almost dropping the music box. Nana opened the parka fluff she closed around her face to see a beam of light shone into the murky landscape, in the direction to where the other lights were.
Being an eskimo of very little brain, Nana decided to trust the music box more than the breathing bushes.

“Let’s go there.” Nana pointed Popo the direction the light was shining. Normally it was Popo who called the leading shots like this so Nana was really on a roll today.
“Okay sure, Nana.” Popo obliged, still rubbing his eyes.

(WTfaV2Xsp_1d20+3 Nana's jump across the bog.)
(p_1d20+2 Popo's jump across the bog.)

Perhaps Nana’s ambition was too bright for this dark swamp. She failed to clear the gap and splashed right down into the muck.
“Ew! My parka!” Nana complained as her one and only ensemble of clothing was now muddied. She looked like a chocolate covered strawberry now. Not one to give up on one failed jump, Nana sprang right up to try again.
(p_1d20+3 Nana's jump out of the muck.)
And like any good Ice Climber, she made it out on the second try.
Nana successfully made it over to the other side.
“Welcome back, Nana.” Popo congratulated her, patting her shoulder.
“I did it!” Nana cheered, hopping in place to celebrate her small success. Perhaps just to shake off the muck too.
“Come on, White!” Popo waved at White Mage to join them on this side.

1d20+3·1d20+2·1d20+3

[PSYCH]

“Oh!" Cried out White Mage as a beacon of light erupted from the music box. She was startled more by the sudden effect of it than by the light itself - the White Mage was well-accustomed to bursts of light manifesting in the air, and this particular beacon was clearly indicating towards another source of light to the East in the far distance. 


"I agree, Nana," White Mage said as the light died down and the female Ice Climber suggested they follow the corresponding lights to the East as the source of light from the music box died down. But, in order to get there, she understood that there were obstructions in the way and tried to follow the athletic siblings.

eshEpWtyp_1d20 - 2 White Mage's jump across the bog

Not being the most athletic of magical scholars, White Mage's attempt to hop over the bog landed her smack-dab in the middle of it, soiling her white robe from the waist down in a filthy brown-green colour. Fixed directly in the bog, White Mage made an attempt to hoist herself out...

p_1d20 - 2  White Mage's escape from the muck

...and by a stroke of luck, she just about managed to pull herself out of the bog although her robes were now far from pristine though she hardly minded herself. She appreciated the twins cheering her on and gave them an exhausted, appreciative smile when she managed to get back onto her feet.

"I made it across too!" She said triumphantly to the Ice Climbers, "My parka is in a similar state to yours, Nana, but we made it across!" 1d20 - 2·1d20 - 2

[Coolshaymin]

The bog seemed to be no match for them to escape though the two that fell in were substantially dirtier. They were getting closer to the lights but it was still a trek from the looks of it. The path lead further east, past a large tree and more bog with the lights still shimmering in the distance. The land was more stable looking going on but the purple mist seemed to gradually return after the light destroyed it for a moment.

Though, directly next to them was a bush that was shaking... Even seemed to be shaking even more after their arrival to this side as if the rustling was reacting to their closeness and steps. Though, nothing was jumping out of the bushes to attack them so perhaps there was not much danger. You can probably check the bush to be safe, though maybe actually provoking whatever is in there might be a bad idea.  Though, curiosity could pay well. Otherwise, may be good to check your surroundings whether you stay or keep going to help the man that is assumingly being marked by this light... Or, whatever you'd think you would find following the signal of a mysterious box.

(You can either check the bush or head toward the big tree. Observing your surroundings may still pay off.)

[TartoonHand94]

“New fashion trend!” Nana shrugged, embracing the look. “Come on Popo!” She encouraged her partner, trying to pull and push him down into the bog. “Join us!”
“Hey!” As a man who preferred function as well as cleanliness over fashion and clean, naturally Popo declined. “How about No?” He grunted, trying stubbornly to keep Nana from pushing him off the dry land.
“What about light?” He reminded her, pushing her back in the right direction. “Follow the light?”
“Right. The light.” Nana sheepishly snapped back to attention, much to Popo’s relief. He marched ahead toward the lights, resuming the lead.
“Wee-woo! Fashion crime!~” Nana giggled to the muddy White Mage, imitating a police siren behind Popo’s back.

“You hear that?” Popo turned suddenly around to ask. Nana, quickly zipped her lip and innocently shook her head no as if she were hiding something in her mouth.
“Not you, That.” Popo hushed her to try to get her to hear what he heard, decidedly not caring about the noises she was teasing him with.
Nana jolted at the sudden realization of the noise and how close it was. She was quick to brandish a mallet and pound the bush flat. Demonstrating still why he’s the leader, Popo held her mallet back, signalling her to let him handle it.

Taking his own mallet, and a subtler approach, Popo snuck up on the bush, winding up his mallet like a baseball bat.

(P6Uv0y36p_1d20 Popo’s bush inspection)1d20

[PSYCH]

White Mage laughed quietly behind her hand at Nana's joke, enjoying her company but not wanting to offend Popo by ganging up on him too much. She was tempted to make her own siren alarm noises but decided against it - a sister was sort of in her right to tease her brother, but someone they had just met probably couldn't do that yet. It might even offend Nana to see someone else being mean to her brother.

She hushed up as quickly as Nana did when Popo whipped round having heard something. The three of them stared warily at the bush and thankfully Popo stopped Nana from attacking it directly. As he grabbed her, White Mage worried about the Music Box in Popo's hand in case it was fragile enough to break during one of the twins' little tussles. As Popo readied himself to approach the bush, White Mage approached him first.

"Here - let me hold that for you," She whispered, gently taking the Music Box from his hand to free him up for some two-handed mallet-swinging. As he started to move over to it, she had another thought.

"Take one of these as well!" She whispered again, waving her staff in a circle that temporarily glittered with lights that sparkled over Popo granting him some temporary shimmering protection.

((White Mage cast Protect on Popo! Popo's CON increases by 4 up to 12 for two turns giving him a +1 modifier!))

Feeling a little better at giving Popo some added protection, White Mage held her breath and took a quick glance around at their surrounding to make sure they weren't being ambushed by bog bandits using the bush as a distraction.

((qJ2Idg40p_1d20+1 White Mage looks around))

Popo: +4 CON for two turns
Protect: Cooldown 2 turns

1d20+1

[Coolshaymin]

White Mage was unable to see any signs of an ambush in the area... Other than, you know, the bush. Popo inspected the bush but strangely it stopped and there was... nothing really to see inside the bush. Welp, looks like it was the wind... Well, that is until something small, yellow, and red suddenly jumps out of the bush at Popo in the most terrifying of attacks... a surprise hug?

(Popo! A kid is trying to... glomp you. You... can just avoid it if you really want. Nothing really happens if you don't aside from a happy gamer.)

It was some elementary looking kid in some big goofy helmet with a visor and red outfit, with a yellow V on his shirt. He seems... oddly excited to see the group for one reason or another. "I can't believe it! It's the actual Ice Climbers! Popo and Nana! And even White Mage! It's like that time Wario called me in to make games all over again! I thought it was that scary clown again but you guys are MUCH better!" the strange kid said excitedly as if meeting them was a dream come true... Despite the fact they definitely did not know him yet he clearly knew their names... He also mentioned something about a scary clown which may of been why he was hiding in that bush... Though he seems way too distracted by meeting them to tell them anything more without being prompted.

A Wild 9-Volt has appeared!
Damage: 0%
Status: Normal

[TartoonHand94]

It was a good thing White Mage interjected when she did. In all of his suspense, Popo forgot he was still holding the music box. He was strong enough to wield his mallet with one hand, but he still ran a real risk of dropping the music box mid swing.
“…Oh. You’re right.” Popo whispered as he quietly handed the music box to her.
“Can I hold?” Nana whispered to White Mage, tugging at her robe to ask if she could hold the music box now. “What’s better.” Popo nodded, gripping the mallet handle with both mitts. He had only just remembered now how much better it is to bonk something using two hands. Winding up his mallet again, he was interrupted again with a pretty surprise. His eyes opened into wide 0’s and his mouth formed an O as he was showered in magical glitter of protection.
Feeling even more secure than before, Popo tiptoed over to the bush and swung at it. Much to his surprise, he felt no extra impact on his mallet even as it came out the other side. Despite its previous shaking, nothing was in the bush but bush. This didn’t make any sense to him.

Putting his mallet down and inspecting the bush by parting it with his hands, there was nothing in the bush after all except…

“Wah!” Popo yelped as he was glomped by a small yellow and red thing. Why was he dumb enough to put his mallet down so soon? He’d be asking that question if he weren’t frantically wailing “Get It Off!.”
“I’ll save you!” Nana valiantly proclaimed as she jumped to his rescue brandishing her own mallet. Good thing she didn’t take the music box after all.
“…Wait a minute!” She gasped, stopping short of putting 9-Volt like a croquet ball.

“It knows you?” Nana asked upon realizing he called Popo by his name.
“It knows you?” Popo echoed her question back to her upon realizing he called her by name.
“You know her?” He asked 9-Volt, having now stopped panicking.
“You know him?” She asked identically.
“You know us?” Popo asked, realizing that he addressed them as the Ice Climbers.
“It knows us!” Nana exclaimed upon realizing he did indeed.

	Popo	Nana
Damage:	0%	0%
Status:	+4 CON for two turns	Normal

[PSYCH]

White Mage looked at the boy, a little puzzled. She supposed the boy could just be a fanatical researcher on the Life Sphere Data Module... or a late-comer on this quest perhaps? She tried to listen to all of his excited chatter, picking up something about a scary clown driving him into that bush...

She knelt down to come to a height that was a little closer to both the Climbers and the fanboy.

"Yes, it is us!" She said cheerily, giving him a cheery smile. She thought to give him a pat on the back but thought he might suddenly glomp her arm.

"Have you been in that bush for long? We can protect you from a scary clown, don't worry! Do you remember which way he went?" She tried to subtly give him a look-over for any signs of injury...

((White Mage gives 9-Volt a look-over...  3OshWSDxp_1d20 + 1))

Popo: +4 CON for two turns 

Protect: Cooldown 2 turns

1d20 + 1