Natalyah looks at Uchendu with a mix of confusion and indifference. She wants to get off the island, she doesn't care about the morale of the others unless they're activly trying to get off the island. Then she looks at Atzi cleary eager to get moving.
Ishirou looks at Natalyah.."Is simple really..more people you keep happy..more people help you get of damn rock..look at Aerys..she ship captain..if we find boat then she can plot course to civilisation. Also Lighthouse is on south west coast other side of island will take two, maybe three days to get there I think if nothing try and kill us on way"
He points away into the distance across a seemingly impenetrable green sward
Your journey back to the camp is again uneventful..the only encounter being a snake that slithers away into the undergrowth as you approach.
250XP each for defeating Ghouls making Ishirou helpful and exploration.
Atzi helps to bury the items at camp and spends part of the day communing with nature as she contemplated the possible future of their exploration. After a hour she rouses herself and leaves camp to hunt, her hunting was extremely aggressive. Today she wanted a challenge...
She returns after a few hours, her and Quetza appear battered and oddly... satisfied, as they return bearing a large amount of fresh meat for the camp. She moves quickly to build up the fire and starts to cook some of the meat while preparing to make another pot of gumbo.
"So what is the plan?" Atzi's eyes gleam in the firelight and she smiles broadly at those nearby.
Ishirou looks at Natalyah.."Is simple really..more people you keep happy..more people help you get of damn rock..look at Aerys..she ship captain..if we find boat then she can plot course to civilisation. Also Lighthouse is on south west coast other side of island will take two, maybe three days to get there I think if nothing try and kill us on way"He points away into the distance across a seemingly impenetrable green sward
Natalyah stares at Ishirou, his words have clearly no effect on the half-elf. What choice do they have? Why should i try and make them happy so they'll be interested in leaving the island? . Not only does the half-elf ranger demonstrate a complete lack of finesse and social grace, the mere concept seems alien to her.
"The faster we get of this island, the faster you can spend your treasure", she finally says and starts the journey back to the camp. As she's walked past Ishirou she let's on a small smile for her triumphant final words.
"We should head start exploring to the south west of the island. Map the way to the lighthouse", Natalyah replies to Atzi then looks at Ishirou and adds "But we can't take it in one go. We have to be patient and map the area gradually."
"Aye de lighthouse would be de best way t'git off'n dees island, Hah, for once we be agree'n on som'ting U'Ken'doo"
You make it back to camp just before dusk(Atzi can hunt along the way)
Everyone is interested to hear what has occured today and there is general agreement that you need to move along.
Sasha's egg has hatched and she is feeding the fledgling Dimorphodon on strips of raw meat..Quetza goes over sniffs at the smaller creature and then shuffles back to Atzi's side.
Day 12 on the Island
Weather..Bright and Sunny(would it be anything else?)Stiff Breeze fom the North-West
Sea State...Rough[DC25 Profession (Seaman) to pilot raft]
Camp Morale...Good
NPC Disposition.....Helpful apart from Gellik who is Friendly
Food 53 Man days
Today you basically have two choices..head west along the inner curve of the island or West by South-West into the deep interior.You have already explored a days march to the south yesterday. Any Exploration beyond that will probably require you to move camp again which should be no problem with almost everyone else being Helpful.
Natalyah's harsh demeanor melts noticebly as she is confronted with the newly hatched Dimorphodon. She watches as Sasha feeds the newly born reptile. "You have his life in your hands now. Remember that."
Atzi's foul mood fades when she lays eyes on the newly hatched Dimorphodon, she smiles broadly as she cuts off a small piece of meat and mashes it up in a clay bowl. Once it was throughly mashed up she applied a little water and crushed it some more until it was more palatable for the newborn hatchling. As she presents the food to Sasha she looks on in wonder at the hatchling and chuckled at Quetza's reaction. "New life is sacred, I can say nothing more then what you know already. I had my doubts at first but now..." She smiles broadly revealing her teeth. "I am sure that you too will be a wonderful pair, especially when he gets older... If you need help, let me know friend. When we find our next camp I hope you will let me bless this union, it is a long ritual but it will be well worth it~"
Sasha grins and is quite amenable to you blessing the newborn.
You settle down for the night the jungles noises have become commonplace to you now..and youno longer jump at every strange cry..There is no disturbance during the early watches..however in the middle of the night when it is at it's darkest...
"Cutlass take the last watch, I like to be up in de morning."
Natalyah and Ishirou are awake for the middle shift.when the nearby forest sounds suddenly cease. then suddenly something crashes down by the camp fire..It's the torso of a large goat..well half the torso anyway.
Natalyah spends the watch in an alert silence, anwsering any atempts to start a conversation with a grunt that suggests efforts are better directed at keeping an eye out than for idle chatter.
Natalyah jumps to her feet and draws her blades in one motion as the peace of the night is disturbed. Her eyes dart from side to side trying to locate the source of the "goat missle".
Despite her keen senses Natlayah sees nothing that could have been the source of the rude interruption.
The forest sounds begin again gradually increasing till they reach their previous volume.
"Wait here, look after the camp", Natalyah tells Ishirou as she dons her buckler and then moves out into the darkness from where the goat came flying. She searches the near vicinity of the camp for any tracks left by whatever threw the carcas.
There is nothing in the vicinity of the camp to indicate where the carcasse came from..it might as well have fallen from the clouds.
Natalyah swears quietly as she is unable to discover the source of the carcas thrown into the camp. She retreats to the fire and continues her watch. "This camp is no longer safe, we need to move", she mutters to Ishirou in elven.
As her shift ends she relays the events to the next watchers. Then she falls into an uneasy sleep.
Cutlass will inspect the carcass.
Knowledge (appropriate)
Cutlass awakened by the sound of the carcass falling inspects it I's the front half of a large goat..the body bears the signs of claws and teeth on it..and Cutlass' best guess is that some avian predator dropped it into the camp.The question of whether it was by design or by accident remains unanswered.
Atzi and Quetza were both roused by the crash of the falling object and upon further investigation. Quetza sniffs at the corpse dismissively and moves back to bed down once more while Atzi continues to look over the corpse and yawn. After a few moments of checking it over and examining the wounds, she shrugs and finds a knife so she can skin and clean the remaining bits of the goat torso.
She hums quietly as she goes about the grisly work and ever now and again, with a blood stained hand, she tosses a log on their low burning fire. "Perhaps this is a gift from those Dimorphodons we tried to heal, yes? At least we will have goat meat for breakfast, it will give us something new to eat, instead of snake meat again~" She chuckles and smiles broadly as she continues to cut and slice away on the carcass.
The hide is not in a saveable condition but you are able to salvage enough meat to fy up for breakfast.
"Good time to get a move on before the sun rises too high."
I do want to move this on abit....I was waiting for Uchendu but he hasn't posted in days on any character he has on these boards so...
"Once everyone has completed their rest and eaten tyou are ready to push on again.
Atzi Survival roll please
Atzi wasn't pleased that the hide was savable but that was what you get from a predator left over. The morning passed quickly after that and she communed as normal with the mysteries of the natural forces before her and Natalyah led the group back into the jungle. Following Uchendu's plan they skirted the western shore and moved southward sticking along the coast as the searched for a new campsite.
Whatever hint of content Natalyah was showing after getting the treasure hunt out of the way is gone the following morning. The half-elf does not seem happy that no one seems to take the incident with the goat carcass as a threat.
Her tense demeanor continues during the trek, giving long and irritated looks at anyone she feels is making to much noise during the trek.
The trail leads you down from the plateau on which your camp site rests and towards the coast.
As usual brightly coloured birds and insects flit amongst the trees and massive ferns that make up the majority of the islands plant growth.
Finally you reach the cliffs that mark the edge of the land..there are a few ways down to the beach which here is broader and sandier than it was along the north eastern coast you were shipwrecked on. The islands shape has a lot to do with this as the broad and calm lagoon that its arms encompass does not scour the sand away.
However the number of fins you spot in the waters of the bay are a good reason not to want to spend any large amount of time in or on those waters.
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"Let's go down and follow the coast along the waterfront. Much nicer to walk when the sand massages your toes.
Turning towards Natalyah
"And before you explode again. I did notice the fins and I understand enough of nature to stay out of the water. I've survived so far and with Shelyns help I intend to carry on with it and to get off the island.
We are not that far off the coast. I was hoping we could even see the coast of the mainland on a good day. And I'm sure a half seaworthy ship will manage to get us off this island one day in the not too far future."
Atzi spent the trek thinking on the sudden arrival of the carcass, she knew that no predator would waste a kill like that. Also whatever had dropped it was fairly large to have been carrying something like that during flight. She did her best to keep her emotions bottled up until the next shock that came down on them.
As she let the sand run between her fingers she looked sadly off into the waters and the thoughts of 'rescue' were weak in comparison to the thought that this island was suffering. Or at least that how she 'felt', what caused this was beyond her. What could affect the natural world so?
"At least the fishing will be good and, yes, there are plenty of natural harbors for ships. But right now let us focus on finding a new camp and continue our exploring..."
She strides on with Natalyah and once they are away from the others she speaks quietly to her. "I mean not to judge but please understand what I am going to say. Although your anger gives you focus and strength, it also distracts. You are very talented friend Natalyah, I hope that one day you will harness your anger and not allow it to master you so. Eventually we will leave this island but I fear that..." She pauses leaving her thoughts unsaid, best not to indulge in possibilities. Not until they are realized, she smiled lightly her usual merry attitude was lacking as she paused in their trek and looked Natalyah in the eye. "I look forward to what you will become friend. But let us focus more on the here and now, instead of when the boat will come." She gives Natalyah a friend slap on the shoulder before picking up her shortspear.
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Amisi walks through the sand. She enjoys the dand around her toes - a reminder to Osirion for her. At the same time she is more alert as she has been in a while.
This island seems to affect people. Uchendu - their seeming leader to drive them onwards so far seems withdrawn.
The elven ranger often seems rash. And the sailor - very useful to get off this strip of land - but none to follow.
That would leave Atzi.
Amisi feels not prepared. She is the youngest and physically weakest of the group.but they have started to drift. It's time to get dire tins again, time to show a backbone. Time to get closer to getting off this island.
Natalyah, Cutlass - time to get moving. Don't stay back. It is beautiful here - but I'm too you to want to stay here for the rest of my life.
You walk along the white sands of the beach..the sun shines brightly the call off sea birds fills the air..and then..something stirs in the sands..A rounded shape heaves itself up and scuttles towards you it's pincers clicking ominously.
Natalyah
Cutlass
Amisi
Uchendu
Atzi
Giant Crab