Steel rings as Charlene swiftly draws her keen blade. She stands over Romycas, frowning. "Did they pursue you? Will they track you here?" She looks at the others keenly. "We may need to prepare for attack."
Bryn tries to stop himself gagging as Romycas literally pulls himself together. Inspite, or maybe because, he's seen a few horrorific things before the Norseman's stomach attempts to rebel as the skin is pulled taut and stitched up.
A releaved look crosses his face as Charlene approaches, though he words are troublesome. Bryn rocks upon the balls of his feet, alert to the possibility of danger.
"Belzac, sounds like they could be the ones with your intrument?" he nods to the stout man, voice still unsteady.
Leo furrowed his brow confused by this constructs actions he seems especially concerned about the girl insisting she is the priority, but wouldn't give her to the halfling so he could tend to her wounds. "Mister... it is very difficult to help the girl if you won't let go of her. I can check her wounds, bandage them, and use some plants to help her get better, but not while you're holding her. I need you to let me take her, don't worry I will be gentle."
Romycas heard the Halfling out, conceding to let him tend to the girl's wounds while the construct tended to his own. He found that his left foot had come loose some, so he drew the stitches taut once more. The girl would head to Leoian to be treated for her own injuries. Romycas then addressed the woman with the sword. "I do not believe they followed us here, but I cannot be sure. They would have had to spend time rounding up the slaves I helped get loose."
The half-orc child is much smaller than Leoian and seems to be little more than three years old but walks, even on the one leg while dragging the other with a strength that belies her size. She ducks her head as she gets near Leo and looks up at the others with some fear but also confidence.
She sits before Leoian and winces as she looks at her leg, "Bad tagac bites." The girl fumbles out and pouts, her big nose wiggling in distaste as she sniffs.
Finwa, even though tired, moves forward with Leo and looks at the little girl, "Oh. What horrible bites. What plants do you need Leo. I can call them up. She may need quite a bit. It looks like it's starting to become infected already. It's ok little one. We will care for you."
The woman sits on a rock while she waits for Leo to tell her what to grow there then looks at Romycas, "That was brave of you to save her."
"Slaves?" Charlene snarls, "Is slavery common here?"
Leo moves along with the girl and kneels down to examine her wound using some water to clean it somewhat. The halfling stares at the girl's leg not moving, and not responding to Finwa for a time. Finally he nods "Good,there doesn't appear to be any poison, Tagacs must not be venomous." He looks towards Finwa now responding to her offer to make plants "Thank you Finwa, I believe I know what I need. The half sized man begins describing the plants he wants to treat the girl, some that will numb pain,some that have antiseptic, and antibiotic properties "If anyone has anything I can use as bandages that would be quite helpful as well."
Turning back to the small half-orc girl Leo smiles reassuringly at her "Don't worry, the bite looks worse than it really is. We'll have you fixed up in no time. You might not want to walk on it for a while though. What's your name? I'm Leoian, but most people just call me Leo."
Looking around worried and knowing he has no practical skill in healing, he jumps at the chance to help. At the call for bandages, the Norseman looks down at his shirt. However sense cuts in, and he remembers that in his pack there is a roll of freshly laundered sheets.
Tearing one into strips, for they may need more as they are to combat the slavers. He moves over to the diminutive man;"Here, these are clean." he glance with what he hopes is a reassuring smile; "You'll be fine, in Leo's excellent hands."
Romycas felt relief as he saw the young half-orc's wounds being tended to, he himself having finished restoring his damaged skin. The one called Finwa addressed him. "Brave or not, I wish I could have saved the rest of them too." He murmured, glowing blue eyes downcast. He combed his fingers through his matted blonde hair. "There was no time to rescue everyone." He then spoke to Charlene, shrugging. "I would not know, I don't have much knowledge outside of how to repair myself. My creator designed me for demolition and repair."
At the words about those left behind, in the hands of the capitalist slavers Bryn's mood darkens. He had spent his life trying to stop the injustices of the unyielding machine against the common man. Slavery, being the lowest and cruelest aspect of the repugnant system.
"We can do demolition..." he says darkly. "Maybe that'll repair the lives destroyed by these things."
He leans against the side of the shelter flexing his muscles for the upcoming conflict.
Bryn moves to the entrance and looks out into the night, his eyes widen to struggle against the deepening gloom. A sinking feeling reflected in his heart. "You did a noble thing freeing the slaves but we must strike quick, decisively, before the slavers have a chance to regroup or harm those they recapture. They'll be separated, vulnerable..."
'And what of those slaves lost in the woods? Will the same fate befall them as did Hugh's family...' then a thought strikes him; 'Perhaps Hughs family might be amongst the slaves.' he looks over at the child with big dark eyes, destroying his night-vision but filling his heart with hope.
Finwa finishes calling up the plants that Leoian requires then looks at Bryn and Romycas while taking deep breaths to gain her energy back. She was still sleepy inside but this new issue had given her a boost enough to become more awake for the time.
This was a frightening concept to go up against slavers. It was scary enough thinking of how to get Mittens' balloon but this. Then again ...
"I have an idea!" She calls out to the others happily, "We are going to need to scout the place out and find out the details of it first but if Leo, Mittens and I go for the balloon we can make a disturbance to get the attention of the Gomo-toothy things once we are high enough that they can't get to us. While they are caught up looking at us everyone else can work on retrieving the slaves!"
The little lady looks about with a big smile on her face as she had not thought so well since getting to this place. Her science was a thing of the past since she could not use it in a medieval society so she had to work on something. Planning seemed to work at least a bit and she hoped her ideas were good.
They needed to come up with ideas and it seemed like the others were too stunned to do so as well. Except Bryn and Leo. Charlene seemed to be lost as well. It was not surprising as they all were thrown into new territory and trying to figure out where they stood now. All that they knew was gone. Leo was good in the woods so it wasn't so bad for him but the rest of them ... It was best to just think of the now, she decided.
Charlene regards Finwa with confusion. "Wait, what? Why are we retrieving slaves? I mean, is slavery even illegal here? Our mission is to get the balloon. I'm not sure what you mean, get up high where they can't reach you. Do the Gormtooths live among tall trees? Are they unable to climb high? We don't know any of that, do we? It seems like you're making a lot of assumptions that, if incorrect, could put your lives at risk." She looks around a bit and realizes how callous she might have sounded. "Sure, I mean we can rescue the slaves and all. I just think we should do it together, not split up and get all of us killed by diluting our forces. And that pushes our recovery of the balloon back even farther. I'm not sure Mittens can stand that."
"In fact, if we end up in a combat situation and I have to quickly discharge energy in such a way that any assailants find shocking, well, then I am in for an effective lobotomy pretty ahead of schedule," says Mittens with uncertainty. "If slavery is a legal operation in this world, there's not much we can do. We'd have to protest the institution! I'll make you all protest signs when we get to my balloon, I'm sure I have supplies to make protest signs in there."
At the word 'lobotomy' Bryn forlornly shouts; "Nooo!" before looking around and then down guiltily, however an idea slips into his mind as the cascade of dark hair flicks across his features.
"We're a long way from Fair'aven," Belzac says at last, having taken the past several moments with a grain of salt. His hand never moves far from the large holster on his belt, but he never shows any hostility towards Romycas. Stroking his long, braided beard, the dwarf continues.
"The mayor don't like it, but aways from town, there ain't no rules 'bout slavery or nothin', because there ain't no one to enforce 'em. Out here, it's all 'bout what you can take. Dem critters from before take hair, slavers take slaves, and dem Gomoks take my damned instruments. Might take yer lives, too, if y'all mess dis up. So listen to the the Tall Woman an' don't split up."
The giant construct rose to his feet. "None of you need to risk yourselves. I can go alone to deal with the slavers. You clearly have your own mission to attend to." He said gruffly. Suddenly, realization dawned on him. "I did not give my name. I apologize. My name is Romycas, I think. My creator didn't deign to give me a name, so I picked one for myself." He muttered the last bit, still bitter at how he was created simply for expendable labour.
"No Romycas, I will go with you. Though it seems slavery is not illegal' he says with some distaste; "it is certainly reprehensible."
"The released slaves, people" he corrects himself; "are trying to escape, running free. We can help them...."
He looks around, with wide eyes - though there is a slight hesitancy in them; "The slavers are the Gormotooth's that have Mittens balloon and Belzac's instrument?"
"What?"Charlene grimaces at Brynjard, "Do you know that the slavers are Goromotooths or are you guessing? I thought the Gorms are some sort of animals, while slavery - while reprehensible - takes some level of intelligence and organization. And if you can be patient, Mr. Romycas, we can all decide which way to go -- together. We are stronger in numbers." The acerbic manager sets her jaw firmly.
"Know? Of course not. My knowledge of this land, like yours, is limited. However how in good conscience can we leave people to roam the woods unguarded?" Bryn's voice is filled with emotion.
He flicks his hair across his shoulder and looks to Charlene with big sorrowful eyes, a practised look that melted the heart of many a fan; "You are correct we need to stick together, I won't wish to lose any of you magnificent people."
"How about we at least sneak out, see if we can confirm who the slavers are?" he offers; "Or we can light a fire and have the escaped slaves come to us." he adds an alternative, whereby they are on the defensive.
Charlene bows her head. "If you're determined to go after the slavers, then let's go - let's all go. Maybe some of them can be of help with the Goromtooths, too. Mister Romycas, can you lead us there? Our not-fighters can carry the child and perhaps scout for us, very quietly."
The giant construct nodded his head. "Gomorotooth sounds familiar. Perhaps they are one in the same as the slavers." He mused, then stood up. "It will take some hours to get there." He said, looking towards the others to see if they were confirmed to come along.
At the words 'some hours', Charlene gently slides the long sword back into its sheath, settling it with a small *click*.
"Is it in this direction?" Charlene points in the direction they were heading to recover the balloon. "If it is, then we're all going the same way anyway. Poor Finwa's building will go to waste, but we will get to our objective all that much faster."
"If dem Gomoks an' slavers are the same, then it makes our job that much easier," Belzac says, brushing a thumb over his nose. "No point in wastin' more time. If we get a movin', maybe we can get the drop on 'em."
"We at least had a rest and a good meal." although his advice may be being taken, Bryn nods respectfully to the manager - knowing that she has thought of all the outcomes and is working for the safety of the group. Whether she is or not is unknown, but the musicians trusting nature and loyalty, in those he believes deserves it, is enigmatic.
"I can carry you, if you are too tired from crafting this..." he waves his arms at the magnificient splendor. "You'll be safe in my arms." he adds with a sly but jovial wink.
He nodded again, forgetting to account for mortals who get tired and hungry. "Yes...very well." He stated, sitting back down again to double check that his stitching was secure again. "And if your balloon went that way, I know not. I was inside a cave much of the time I spent there."
Leoian comes over to the others discussing what they are going to do, having finished tending to the little girl's wounds. He looks to Bryn and frowns a bit "If Finwa is too tired to walk on her own, she is certainly too tired to attempt to invade this slaver camp. Perhaps you could..." He was about to suggest Bryn carry the young girl instead but thinking of how the man has indicated intention for mating with nearly all the females they have met along the way, and that he seems to especially prefer much smaller women, the halfling decides it might not be the best idea to trust the young defenseless orc girl to him. "Err never mind, I suppose I could carry the girl if she is comfortable with that. At least until I'm needed to scout ahead."
He thinks about this situations and wonders aloud "What if this is some kind of trap?" He blinks and looks towards Romycas "Err.. not to say you are not trustworthy sir, but we don't know anything about you other than you were created for destruction and repair... there is a lot of risk in what we're considering."
Finwa yawns and looks at everyone as they speak, her head turning this way and that as they do so. She's hearing what they say and nodding but not speaking because of being so tired.
So they were going to get going right away? That would probably be best now that their situations had changed. She knew she would not be able to walk for quite a while due to being tired but at least there was this sheltering being left for any other travelers and they could probably use it on the way back.
If we get back. Her eyes opened up in fear of that thought then bit her lip as she fought back her worries of these Gomoktooth creatures. She looked to Leo for some reassurance then took a deep breath, Quit thinking like that. We will be fine. We need to look at this calmly and with good strategies.
The little lady took a few deep breaths in through her nose and out her mouth in time with the breeze. It was such a lovely night that one would think it should be horrible as with the situation they would be walking into, whatever the situation truly was.
"Somehow it will be used." Finwa comments to Bryn as she gets a look up at him. He wasn't far away but it seemed as if she had been being sheltered by Leo. The woman took another deep breath, "Either of you is strong enough to carry me. The girl isn't big either so shouldn't way much. She's very young. Well... if we are going to get going we might as well get at it."
Finwa stands and rubs Leo's shoulder then gives him a kiss on the cheek before going over to Bryn as Leo had said.
"I nawt small! I thwee years ol an am big nough." The girl snaps then gets a grumpy look upon her face with one lower tooth jutting over her lip making her look very cute, "We get Mama now?"
She looks to Romycas with big, teary eyes as she thinks of her mother still back in that lonesome cave.
Romycas' jaw set with all the plans being made, he was just to lead them from whence he came. Then the little girl looked at him and his glowing blue eyes were softened. "Yes, little one. We will get your mother back soon. I won't leave her to those animals much longer."
Varga watched the whole scene in slight disbelief.
Funny little hair stealing animals was well pretty funny and very much something he would credit to the Mittens Post-Deathmatch Safari, but rescuing slaves? What a bizarre turn of events...maybe it was the camera crew that Varga had yet to see? He knew there was a reason behind all of this that had to do with ratings. Yes, that was it!
Varga understood now. The sweet young girl mauled by animals, the construct with the heart of gold, tales of slaves to draw them to a place where "grateful" people would follow them around using Belzac's "instruments". Obviously a well planned ploy for the sake of ratings. Varga laughed. "I always knew you would do anything for ratings, Mittens. This is a good one. It even kindsa got a theme, too!"
Varga points at the little girl and says, "Dorothy!"
Varga moves his finger to Romcyas, "Tin Woodsman!" Then Finwa gets "Toto!"
Varga continues. "Munchkin. Let's say Lollipop Guild, what the hey," Leoian receives. "Bryn...you're either the Wizard or the Scarecrow...probably Scarecrow."
"Charlene...you're Belinda, maybe? Unless you wants to be one of the Wickedy Wishes," Varga intentionally mispronounces.
Varga eyes Belzac and then shrugs, "Guess yous 'n' me are just card soldiers or something...all's good. After all Mittens obviously playing the part of the Lion. And we're all off to get the Wizard's balloon and get to Kansiff!" He tilts his head for a second and thinks. "That doesn't sound right, but whatever. Someplace on that one planet Terra or wherever."
Varga sweeps his hand sharply and the force blade forms in the blink of an eye. "Knave of Spades reporting for duty! Let's go get the camera crew!"
"What? You think I'm like a cowardly lion or something? I'm not a cowardly lion. How is that obvious? I'm like a warrior Dorothy, and that girl is the cowardly lion. She seems pretty freaked out here, and I'm pretty brash," says Mittens to Varga. "Also, if this is a thing for ratings, you don't say that on camera! Come on, work with me here."
"Rocks n' stones, what in blazes are ya talkin' about?" Belzac asks Varga, utterly baffled by his aged pop culture references. Not that he has any idea that those are what they are, of course.
"An old musical, Belzac." Bryn says moving to the doorway and looking out into the dark night. Getting a smoldering brand from the fire he gets ready to venture out into the night. "Lets' go, the soonest done the quickest we can get Mittens to her balloon." his tone concerned for the clever kitty.
"We're super foreign. One step beyond regular foreign," Mittens replies to Belzac's question, "He's making a cultural reference to a culture that doesn't exist in the here and now. Oh, right, I'm supposed to pretend we didn't actual do any cross-dimensional time travel for the poor guy's sake." Mittens gives a slow wink at Varga. She is remarkably bad at winking, and it turns quickly to a blink.
The group hurries on out towards the Gomoktooth territory to find Mittens' balloon and to release the slaves from their confinements. Along the way is fairly peaceful mostly because Leoian has noticed any threats and proceeded to gainfully direct everyone away from these problems.
They slow down and stop at the edge of the fields in which the beings have dedicated as their own and can see that it is a fairly large camp containing a primitive form of village. There are adult and young Gomoktooth there but as it is not even early morning yet they are mostly sleeping. Some sit about looking as if they are sentries but not quite.
The most disturbing part of camp are the animals which have taken up sleeping around the beings there. They are ugly, almost dog-like creatures but their resemblance to dogs is only due to their attitudes.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g130/Fern-lynn/tagac3_zps5d832a26.jpg
Not to mention that at every 2-5 camping sections there is at least one of these cook pits:
There are barred caves but the bars are mostly tree parts and some people tied up in trees. Romycas catches sight of one of the trees holding up a being with sandy brown ears and hair but he'd not seen this one for a long while.
Charlene frowns, pulling back to their hiding place behind a broom shrub near the camp. Leaning towards the rest, she whispers, "I don't want to slaughter a village. It looks like a lot of noncombatants there. Mister Romycas, can these Gomoktooths be reasoned with? Or should we just cut our way in and release the slaves? Those dog-goyles are going to come after us, I bet. Is everyone armed?"
Romycas shrugged his massive shoulders at Charlene's question. "They seem pretty intent on cooking the prisoners. I do not believe they are the reasonable type." He mused, his glowing blue eyes turning towards the prisoner with the sandy brown hair, frowning. "We have to save them."
In response to Charlene's query Bryn leans on a straight bow of hawthorn with a point to replicate a rapier. He adds; "Could we not just sneak to the caves. Maybe have Finwa bend the bows of those caught in the trees and run away to find Mittens balloon. In fact is that about here...." he cranes his neck uncertain of the vehicles appearance.
"A few could find the ballon and liberate it, whilst another group frees the slaves stealthily. Then hoist them to the airship as we make our getaway?!" his plan is too optimistic, but the thought of what may go wrong weighs upon his mind.
"How about it? Mittens leads a team around to get her balloon and Finwa leads a group to rescue the prisoners?" he asks softly leaning upon his wooden 'rapier'.
He nods to Bryn. "Go ahead. I need to go investigate something for a moment." He stated, then darted towards the trees where he saw an old friend. Carefully trying to sneak his way there, he narrowed his eyes so that the glow of them would be less intense. Beneath the tree containing Coresc, he smiled up at her and whispered. "You can come down now, Coresc."
Coresc's eyes opened as she attempted to turn her head. It was here that Romycas notices that she is not in the tree of her own accord as none of the others in the trees are either. She is tied there with vines around her arms, legs and neck and as the vines are tinged in browns and green they are hardly seen.
She almost chokes when she looks at him then groggily speaks with a dry, hoarse voice filled with pain, "Romy? I lost you ..."
The strange woman remembered when they had gone separate ways not because of wanting to but because of them getting lost while not together. It seemed from the look on her face that she blamed herself for this mistake.
Finwa was busy averting her eyes from the clay figures over the fires, trying not to have her latest meal make a return on her investment, "Those are people. They are eating people." She commented with no little amount of stomach upset.
"Me take a team?" She looks to Bryn in surprise, "What do we do about ... well ..." The cat lady was confused as to whether they should be doing anything further about these savage beings. They were eating people! But they were a tribe. But ... it was all "buts" and no clear, definitive line upon what was best when it came to these Gomoktooth humanoids.
Bryn looks confused to Romycas as he leaves the group, but assumes the 'man' knows what he's doing.
"Yes, with your group; sneak through the camp to those in the bamboo cages then you warp the wood to let them out." the words are quiet and easy, though he hopes it'll not strain the beauteous young cat-woman; "Whilst this is going on Mittens leads the other group to her balloon and liberates it."
"Then you and the captives run to the safety of the balloon, we all escape." he raises a eyebrow and gives a self-assured nod.
He looks to Belzac; "Hopefully your instrument should be near the captives, or with their treasure." he tries to reassure the musician.
Romycas noted what was happening with Coresc and the other captives in the trees, and proceeded to climb the nearest tree, with little effort due to his size enabling him to get excellent grips on the bark. Once he crawled along a stout enough branch, he started to untie his friend from the vines by prising them open using his bare hands. He then went to tend to the other captives in the trees. "Coresc... I know it hurts, but I need your help freeing these people."
The woman looked to Romycas and grimaced as he let her down as the pain was fierce. She'd been beaten and stabbed as if the lady had been fighting hard when she was caught.
"I will try." Coresc announced slowly and followed Romycas to help with the captives. It was hard going for the woman and she had a lot of trouble moving, "I take it ... you want me to port? I can't do many so where to?"
He shook his head. "Don't strain yourself, just untie them as best you can. I have some people here helping us. Just free these people here and go find a place to rest and recover. I'll patch you up." He stated, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Bryn, you seem to have the idea about what to do. So who goes on Finwa's team and who goes with Mittens?" Charlene seems fine accepting the tall musician's leadership.
Varga butts into the conversation oblivious to any apparent "roles" of leadership.
"So we needs somebody to create a diversion for as everyone to go sneaking, right? Well I am a diversion kind of guy. You just give me the signal, chief, and I will be making sure they are not paying attention to none of yous." Varga winks at Bryn.
Turning to look at Finwa, Varga says, "You'd best grow some vines around me or something, cuz once I start concentrating, I most like won't notice I'm in a tree and will fall on my head. But nothing so strong I can't be getting out again."
Without further ado, the blue-skinned psion scampers up a nearby tree using his own telekinetic abilities to help propel him up without putting so much pressure on the branches that they creak or make any noise not heard in forests with a bit of breeze going through their boughs.
He sets himself up on a sturdy branch where he has a semi-decent view of the camps, dawgoyles, and prisoners. Varga then shows a whole lot of teeth in a cheesy grin and gives a thumbs up.