Gatherine finished rebraiding her hair and styling it into its uniquely pinecone fashion,looping the longest braids around her neck and tucked under her chin.She used her gunsmiths kit to clean her gun,carefully reloading the ammunition it already held to use later on.
She shook the grit and sand out of her clothing before redressing,using the raft and bundle of canvas as a privacy screen.She fitted her lamellar leather armor back onto her plump frame,slipped her buckler onto her arm, and shuffled her way over to the others.
The dwarf maid gave a jaw-cracking yawn and asked,Oi,now what?
Your training and instincts suggest to you that your location is the inlet marked further northwest on Alton's map of the island. link
Mugambi hands a damaged sextant to Iolana.
Tol peers at the map. "Those questions look like they're marking two similarly shaped inlets. Maybe Alton was just guessing where we were? There's no harm in looking at the other one, since it's on the way to most anywhere else on the island. I do think we ought to make a point of finding some fresh water though. I got no desire to drink brine."
"Well I am not wandering through that diseased nastiness. I'm staying here until we are rescued. 80 gold to anyone who can build me suitable shelter .. and yes fresh water! In the meantime .. I am going back to sleep before it gets to be 1000 degrees again!" He retreats into the shadiest spot under the makeshift shelter, and curls up .. hat resting on top.
Tol sits on the ground near Gorra, appearing quite absorbed in sharpening his axe. He speaks calmly, and quietly, but deliberately. "Ah... Respectfully speaking, Mr. Gelik, but you commissioned us to keep you alive for one day after we get to Eleder, and I'm a dwarf that keeps to my word. If that means tying you up and throwing you over my saddlebags, so be it. I don't fancy hauling water across the bush to bring it to you, all while wondering if you've been eaten up by cannibals and ghouls. I reckon we best stick together for now." He looks up from his work to raise an eyebrow toward the more wilderness-savvy members of the group for confirmation.
Gatherine held out a hand to the conflicted Jask and smiled reassuringly at the dusky skinned human.I'd appreciate it if you'd come alongside us--never know who could turn the tide of a situation from bad to better.Of course,it's your choice.We'd love to have your help either way.
To Gelik,she cocked a hip and snapped,Don't think for a minute that you'll be sitting cozy here while we're out trying to find a way off this lump of sand.Besides,who's gonna protect you if we're off in the jungle?Sasha?And,who exactly killed those bugs that were going to eat us alive? WE did.And who killed the giant one that killed Alton?WE did
The dwarf maid offered her nastiest sneer.Now get that arse moving.
Jask turns to Tol .. "Don't worry .. she'll be back. I think it might be good for me to work on a secure camp .. we don't know how long we gonna be here. I think Aerys and I can protect ourselves .. and don't underestimate the gnome. That pouch on his belt is no coinpurse .. some sort of arcanist I gather."
"Trust me on this .. I will take care of things here - you go find that captain. Just don't go so far you can't get back here by nightfall, eh?"
Iolana ponders what to take with her.
After trying the various weights of her gear,she turns to the people who will be traveling with her.
"I'm at full capacity with just one change of clothes,armor,scimitar,bow,backpack and book with reagents for spells.I'ld need to bring either rope,another outfit,lamp and oil and bedroll but they weight too much for me.Can someone help me?"
Tol shrugs his shoulders. "If you think this lot will be safer here, I won't argue. And that is a nice trick you've got there with the water," he nods to Jask.
"Miss Zerengo, I'd be happy to carry your extra gear in Gorra's saddlebags." He pats the horse's flank affectionately. "There's plenty of room."
The very first step you take into the foliage causes a ripple of movement through the tall grasses .. every step sends up a cloud of miniature moth-like bugs .. tiny lizards scatter and the insects chitter in waves of sound. The undergrowth is so thick you rarely can even see your feet through the mass of green.
There is a slight incline as you travel east southeast. Averin leads you around the perimeter of the densest foliage .. but far enough from the cliffs to the left to not need worry about a misstep leading to a tumble.
As the terrain rises the grasses thin out. A certain species of tree seems to dominate the area to your right .. branches sprout into vine-like foliage that hangs like beaded curtains as far as you can see.
Among the wall of sound you hear a loud bullfrog-like growl .. similar to the warning of a large cat, but different - more reptilian..
Obscured by foliage on a rocky crag, you see what looks like a large nest of woven vines several feet above your heads. ..off to the left side, about 30 feet further down the path. You see a large beaked and winged lizard thing peer over the edge of the nest..
Gatherine's ear twitched at the odd,guttural growl like that of a bullfrog announcing its presence.Her eyes scanned the foilage around them before her gaze focused on what appeared to be a nest--with a bizarre lizard-bird peering over the edge at them with slitted gold eyes.
Sucking her teeth,she jerked up Sneezy Dragon and aimed at the thing lest it decided to jump down onto them.She struggled not to holler and hissed out in a loud whisper as the creature watched them steadily approach.
Averin had thought that he had a pretty good grip on nature and the outdoors before he set sail on this little adventure. 24 hours in this exotic country showed him just how much he had yet to learn as he peered up to the nests of these new creatures. This jungle was both exhilarating in it's newness and slightly terrifying as his inexperience seemed to be leading the group. For now the safe route - "better safe than sorry" was a popular phrase for a reason, and until he knew what to expect out here he was happy to give the natural fauna a wide berth.
"I agree, Mugambi. It doesn't seem like it'd be too hard to go around them and since there could be more of those things I think it'd be smart to try. That is, unless anyone has experience with these things and knows a better option."
There appear to be three nests.. can't see if there are any eggs or hatchlings inside from this angle, but there is one large bird sitting in each nest.
Skirting around the birds' nests seems to quiet their squawking. After you pass their territory and veer back near the coastline, you see another wrecked ship a quarter mile offshore - wedged and crumpled among three pillar-like rocks.