2.4 Mercer Business

"At the mention of cake, an astounded mumur whips up from dozens of places all around them as grapevine talks with grapevine. "Cake? Did she say cake? Is that code? Wasn't Cygna trying to make cake this morning? Is it a password? Why haven't we heard of it before? Did she remember to sift the flour? That's very important. Cygna sifted through passwords this morning. Cygna is in mourning over her deadly cake. They seek Jaime. They brought cake....

After a few seconds, the landscape all around Hiems and Azura shift as every path but one suddenly grows thick with vegetation. A score of massive grapevines, as thick as Azura's tiny arms, wrap together to form a giant, unnecessarily helpful arrow, pointing down the remaining path. The disgusting squelching/squeezing/stretching noise fills the air as they move.

Assuming the magi take this subtle hint, they begin walking down the only path left to them. However, after a few dozen paces, the voice of the grapevines becomes apparently less unified. The single path splits into two. Regardless of which choice they take, it later splits again. The grapevine are urgent, eager for you to go on, but now many of them are suggesting you go in different directions.

Eventually, you find yourselves in front of a window in the manor house. Viscaria Lynchis, looking slightly older than Azura, clad in a white toga and much silver jewelry, stares out the window with her amethyst eyes. A slow broad smiles creeps across her face. "Hiems! I heard you'd fallen in love with Cygna and planned to show her your true feelings with a blueberry tart! But why did you need to put Jaime in a red hat? Anyway, we're in here. Who's your friend?"

She gestures for you to both climb into the window. Behind her, Cygna is scowling about something, and Amos is sneezing.

(Please join the lab scouting thread.)

For the record: Hiems will be very wary. Okay, he supposes the plants are mostly allies, but that's the point of treachery: It comes from those you trust.