Seeing as this is the first time any of this has come up, Calia looks at Dawn in confusion. "What is 'Grill'? What is 'provision'? What is 'Edible fish'?"
Calia finally nods. "Need food. Aye Oh Kay." She whistles at the girls, and gets their attention, then begins rattling off orders in the local dialect. The girls all nod and begin digging into the crates. Two of them take spears from the wagon, each with an odd barb attachment they click on above the spear head, and move down the edge of the river with assurance. The rest split between cutting down saplings with hatchets, gathering up insects into a covered basket, and moving into the brush with baskets to begin gathering up plants and berries from the brush.
Calia hitches a quiver over her shoulder and picks a bow out of the pile of bows and then walks off into the brush.
Two hours later, Calia returns with a small lizard about the size of a rabbit with an arrow sticking out of it. One of the spear fishing girls has a fish that looks something like a cross between a gar and a catfish that's about 50 lbs. The girl with the fishing rod has 2 smaller fish that look almost like Earth fish, although they are black instead of silver. One girl has a basket of herbs and spices, while another has a dozen eight legged insects that look like a cross between a tail-less scorpion and a grasshopper, each the size of her hand. ANother girl has a couple of handfulls of green berries, and the last girl has four smaller roots that are purple in color. The girls all seem happy with their two hours of work and dig a pot out of the crate on the wagon and set up a fire and begin to clean fish and cut up roots and herbs, obviously making a stew with stream water.
"Hey Daniel, you need something?" Laine responds being out around the river to look at interresting flora to use for camouflage.
Daniel comes back with something that looks like a cross between a six legged ant-eater and a black bear, but it's about the size of a large dog. The animal is quickly and expertly skinned by one of the older girls, although shortly after they butcher it an argument begins over the pelt apparently.
Hudson shakes his head. "I think they're trying to decide whether to cure the hide or not."
Laine is also going out to try his hand at the hunt. "It's good to be out and relaxing with a hunt again, it's been so long since I had time for that."
With an unfair advantage using his sniper rifle, Laine returns after two hours dragging a massive lizard the size of a shetland pony that has a hole in the side of it's head. Calia gives a half bow when he returns, and the local girls all ooh and aah appropriately before taking knives to the thing and skinning it down. A similar argument erupts over whether to cure it's hide or not.
Laine returns from the hunt with a big boyish grin on his face. "I love the hunting conditions here such amazing wildlife to stalk, this one was a real trouble in the beginning. Biggest thing I've ever shot back home was a wilder beast but man these lizards are more fun to chase."
Caila shakes her head. "Not biggest, biggest is Teradraco." She tosses a stick about 60 ft up. "Eye there."
Laine smiles at Calia "It's the biggest lizard I've shot aside from those dragons the army who invaded Earth rode on. We don't really ahve any animal to compare with this, prehaps except a crocodile, it's a large water lizard in our world."
Tastes like chicken. Dawn strips another piece of the lizard off the stick she used to grill it. [b]From looking at what we have for a map, it's gonna take us a lot longer to get back than expected. Let's cook as much of this as we can. If we can get away with only stopping for two hours, we'll be much better off.[/ooc]
I will point out that I was able to provide meat with this indigenous weapon without expending limited ammunition and without the repercussions of a gun's noise. Daniel says, stating the obvious but shooting a look of "see" to Dawn.
Dawn chucks a bone towards Daniel.
How useful are those hides if tanned?
Calia has to speak with Hudson to get some more of the language barrier, and then Hudson translates. "She says the small ones are good for gloves or knee pads or hats. The big one can be used for leather armor."
The next day, the group heads out, with the hides tied to the remains of the iron bars, left to dry in the sun with the brains and some chemicals from Calia's pack smeared on the insides to soften the skin for curing.
The next day is half a day crossing the river, as the cargo on the wagon has to be unloaded, taken over on the LAV, then the girls taken over, then finally the empty wagon dragged over through the flowing water. Then everything reloaded up again after the LAV makes a last trip for the rest of the squad who'd been left on the other side.
The next night involves more hunting, and then the subequent morning has Calia looking in the distance about mid morning. "Something caintsola brightly ahead, it say eee eee eee like you, over and over, no meaning." Caila says to Daniel, squinting into the distance. After a few minutes, a spec appears in the sky on the horizon. She leaps to her feet on the moving LAV, and draws her sword. She begins to speak in the odd drowning cat language as she glares at the growing dot.
"Well Rainwater it looks like you might be able to get your native armor after all.
"What do you see?" Laine says as she jumps to her feet.
From his position on the gun Daniel uses his field glasses to try to better see what has Caila's attention.
Daniel can just barely make out what looks like a helicopter in the distance.
It shortly becomes clear that the approaching 'danger' is an AH-64. As the copter comes closer, Daniel can reassure Calia that it's not an enemy. The unit's personal comms begin to pick up broadcasts, and they find that Angel 5 is approaching and requesting a sit-rep.
Once the unit confirms they are well, if slightly singed, the chopper makes a few passes to get video, and offers to pass on any comms to base as it hovers a few hundred feet up.
The girls on the wagons are scared at first, but then give ooh and aah sounds as they watch it zoom around and roar in the air.
Dawn informs the Apache they were delayed by an encounter at a burned out village and had rescued the survivors of the village. She'll give a fuel and supply status as well as their expected ETA to base.
Daniel, you're gonna want to get back in uniform before we get to base.
"Understood Sierra 8, will relay situation to HQ. Angel 5 over."
While Dawn is discussing things with Daniel (specifically about his current kit), the radio headsets crackle again. "Scout 8, this is Angel 5. HQ understands your situation, and is dispatching two M35, repeat, two Mark 35's with an escort to pick up your refugees. Find a good spot to hole up until they reach you tomorrow. Angel flight will locate your position and guide them in. Angel 5 over."
"Thank god it was only a helicopter, one of those dragons would have done us in quickly out here."
"Sounds good to be able to get the girls to safety, and we can continue to explore this place at a better pace. Where do you think we should be heading next Dawn? Daniel?"
Lets ask our eyes in the sky if they see any great places and our local expert too. Daniel recommends. Then through his headset he responds Angel 5 this is Scout 8. We copy. Do you have a recommendation or two from your vantage point on where we might choose to lay low at? Scout 8 over.
"Scout 8, Angel 5. Give me 5 ticks. Angel 5 Over." The chopper goes on a long wide loop and then returns. "Scout 8, Angel 5. There is a ravine with a stream about 5 klicks ahead. Suggest you hole up there. Angel 5 Over."
Before responding Daniel asks Hudson to run the location by Calia. If she does not give a reason to not go there he will respond Roger that Angel 5. Headed to said ravine now.
Calia is busy studying the helicopter with extreme focus, but once the question is explained a couple of times, she waves one hand in a 'how the hell should I know' manner.
The LAV parks in the ravine over night, and the next day, close to noon, the chopper returns and the convoy of M35's and HUMVEE's comes out. Again, Calia seems to twig to the chopper long before anyone else even hears it.
National Guard troops deploy from the M35's, some going onto watch, while others begin digging out duffle bags. A Major is in charge, and get's a sit-rep from the LAV crew. The Major, a leather faced man in his 40's gives Calia a salute, apparently taking her armor and weapons as indication she's a combatant roughly equivalent of a soldier.
They pass out what, to the squad, is obvious surplus uniforms that someone dug up to the local girls. The uniform pattern is the old woodland camo pattern discontinued in 2006. The fatigues are also the old style, rather than the newer style fatigues. Still, the girls duck behind the LAV and change into the clothes, some giggling as they figure out how the buttons and belts work. Combat boots and socks are also handed out, although several of the girls have to put on double pairs of socks to fit a boot on, even using the smaller ones. Finally though, the girls are all dressed in clothes for the first time. They strap weapons to their hips using local weapon sheaths. The Major raises an eyebrow, but doesn't object too much given the age and primitiveness of the weapons.
The LAV crew is informed that they are to return with the convoy for debriefing. He invites Calia to ride in the lead HUMVEE with him, speaking passable local, but she declines politely and climbs up on top of the LAV, taking her usual spot. The Major attempts to talk her out of it, but whatever the argument is, she politely but firmly ignores the Major. After a couple of attempts, the Major recognizes an impasse and nods, giving orders for the Convoy to get back on the road.
Leaving the wagon behind (it's cargo now in a M35, while the girls are in the other M35), the convoy can hit speeds up to 35 MPH, and by the next morning, it reaches the main base.
Even in the couple of weeks while the LAV was out, things are accelerating. More prefabs are up, and by the airfield (which now has a pair of landing strips dug out slowly being filled with concrete) are several hangers. Skeletal Bell UH-1Y Venom's (3 in total so far) are being constructed in the hanger by teams of mechanics.
Calia's eyes seem to cover the entire base, her head pivoting back and forth like a well oiled turret, tracking things with precision and smoothness. Her eyes linger on the radio towers, her head canted at an odd angle as she shakes her head with a look of annoyance on her face for a moment.
Finally, the group stops and unloads. The younger girls are escorted into a prefab building that has a large conference room where food has been set out for them. Calia makes sure they are safe, and once she realizes that the only interest in the girls is from doctors and mess officers, she smiles and reassures the girls before allowing the Major to escort her into the HQ building.
The LAV crew is directed to another building, but before they can begin their debrief, an out of breath junior officer arrives and gives them orders to head for the HQ ASAP.
Upon arrival, they are informed that Calia refused to cooperate unless the LAV crew was there. Once the LAV crew is present and seated, surrounded by enough brass to make a few hundred artillery round casings, the squad's debrief begins, this time handled by all that brass, including a 3 star General from back home.
"I am Calia Menthara, Ni'Basharan, and Basharan Guardian. I am on my Journey. I had heard that a force of Sorcerers had invaded the Empire via the Gate, and thought that destroying such a force would be valuable experience toward my Mastering. I traveled for several weeks, and was in the village of Mole Vale, when the troops of an Imperial Baron, Baron Gorvas, entered the village and began attacking and rounding up the villagers. I killed a few dozen of his men, and two of his Magi, but his field commander found the little ones where we'd hidden them. He swore on his honor to leave them alive in the village if I surrendered, as he would gain much from capturing a Guardian. I felt I had no choice, so I surrendered. Once I was fully restrained, he killed the adults in the village while their children watched, then picked the prettiest girls from the young women, and locked the rest with the corpses of their parents in the village inn. His men then fired the inn, leaving the children to burn alive as he road out of the village, keeping his oath in letter, if not in spirit." Calia's face is impassive as she speaks, but there are gasps around the room, and the translator's face is a little pale and green as he translates.
"We had been out of the village for a few days when a roaring demon beast appeared. The Magi called on the Heavens to smite it, and while smoke rose from it, it awakened the demon and the demon reached out and smote the Magi in the shoulder, maiming him and rendering him unconscious. The Baron's Guards, afraid I would get free, tried to kill me. The girls from the Village placed themselves in the way of the arrows, two becoming seriously wounded. The Demon then rained hellfire and brimstone down on the guards, slaughtering half their number in hellfire. The rest of the guards fled like the cowards they were. The Drafkon pulling the wagon panic'd as it realized a demon beast was behind it, and it fled, tipping the prison wagon over. I was able to free myself, and the village girls, from the wagon cage and gather my equipment when the demon beast finally arrived, and I realized it was not a demon beast, but just a construct built to look like a demon beast. Very effectively so."
"Once I had my equipment, the Soldiers of the Green Army had shown themselves to be no threat, and I saw no reason to kill them. Instead, they attempted to heal one of the wounded girls. Their healer was not very skilled in healing, although he appeared to be rather good at field surgery. By the time I had healed the first girl, he had performed enough surgery that the other would recover with time. Since my healing might be needed later, I decided to let the girl recover on her own, rather than expend more supplies healing her myself. The Soldiers of the Green treated the village girls with respect and dignity, and returned their heirlooms, the pitiful few remnants of their family they had, and I commend them for it, the loot was rightly theirs by conquest. Having found honorable enemies, I had no choice but to swear..." THe translator pauses here, and grimaces. "It's a word I don't recognize, and it's not part of the local dialect, it appears to be from a third language we haven't encountered before. As near as I can tell from what she has told me, it's something akin to a blood debt or life debt, a common thing in primitive cultures." The translator then continues. "We then began riding their demon beast construct back to the gate, trading language skills, and teaching them to survive on the local wildlife, which they didn't seem to understand. She uh, she says someone should be whipped for not properly training them to hunt off the local bounty when invading." The translator winces a bit. "Then she met more soldiers, who provided clothes for the girls, and then food and healers, and finally she sat here waiting for her.. and again another word I can't pronounce from another language, but something like bond holder or oath keeper, the ones she vowed the oath to."
A Navy JAG lawyer looks at the translator, and makes a cutting motion on their throat, and the translator nods. Then the JAG speaks. "Just a warning to the assembled parties, currently we have no information at all on the locals. These particular locals have been, so far, non-hostile. At least so far. However, they were prisoners, so we should keep it in mind that they may be lying. So please don't consider this confirmed facts."
Another JAG, this one a marine, nods. "We should also note, however, that the debriefs of our field people matched the local's story, so if they are lying, they've come up with a story that matches the forensics on the bodies in the local structure. Also note that we've had at least 4 reports of fired villages within a week's drive of our base, which lends credence to the idea that someone is killing the locals near us. And these are the first locals not to attack us on site."
Laine is happy to be back on base again, even if it's only a short while. he was hoping for a quick shower and a meal, but he didn't manage to get either before they were summoned to the HQ and so he tusked along.
Laine gives a debrief from his point of veiw. "The mission started out reallatively boring with nothing relly happening and we made good progress into the territory. After a few days we discovered smoke on the horizon and decided to go to investigate it, we hoped to find a village og town with friendly locals to start relations to benefit both us and them. But once we arrived it was clear sadly nothing much of some burning buildings on the werge of collapse, it was a horrible sight and it was even worse that it looked like all the local were forced into a churchlike building before it was locked and set on fire." Laine stops for a moment to clear his throat and drink some water to not dry out.
He then continues. "After some investigation I noticed two set of tracks leading out of the village in oposite direction, one being a kind of horse tracks and the other the wagon we had with us when we were picked up. We agreed that we would have a bigger chance of catchign the wagon rather the the smaller horses as it looked like it was heavyloaded from the deep tracks it made. We wanted to check for survivors and hopefully meet some friendly locals, but we soon learnt that it was a prisonner transport being led by people in the same kind of armor as those we have been fighting here and on Earth. While we discuss whether it was a good or bad idea to intervene with the prisontransport, one of their members used in lack of better word magic to hit the LAV with a lightningstrike. We then assumed battleposition, I put a sniper round in his shoulder and we drove in while using the Vulcan to provide coverfire." Laine stops as Calia starts her story of what happened. "That covers all untill we met her, she can take the rest it sounds like."
"PFC Scott Baker, Sir. Do we know anything of this... magic beside what was spoken during this debrief?"
There are several coughs from those in charge, and someone waves a hand. "We've had some reports of unusual weather, as well as some reports of oddly advanced technology mixed in with the primitive stuff. We suspect that this 'magic' is really advanced artifacts from other worlds brought through the gate in the past, or possibly through other gates. However, as long as we have an expert in the local 'magic' here, let's ask her." The Colonel in question turns to Calia. "What can you tell us about the 'Magic' that you use, that others use."
Calia listens to the translator, then begins speaking. "There are many schools of Magic, each has it's own strengths and weaknesses."
She takes a piece of paper that was put on her table with a pen, and smiles, before going back to talking. "Your paper is so nice, no bits of pulp in it, very smooth and easy to write on. Also the same thickness of every sheet. And your pens are very nice as well, I took one apart, very ingenious." Then she draws a symbol on the paper and holds it up. "Wizards use ritual magic, they can affect anything in the world, if they have an intimate link to it. Wizards can learn any school of magic. They can create magical items. They are Ritualists, and cannot use magic without performing a lengthy ritual. Most wizards are human. Humans created Wizardry several centuries ago."
She draws a different symbol on a new sheet of paper. "Sorcerers are not magic users themselves, instead, they are given their powers by demons. Each sorcerer accepts part of a demon's soul into their own soul, and gain magic from the bargain. Each sorcerer can use only one school of magic, but the bargain gives them full access to that school of magic, and the skills to use it immediately. This makes sorcerers very dangerous, needless to say, there are very few Healer Sorcerers. Upon their death, Sorcerers become demons, as the demon soul consumes their soul. Sorcerers cannot use ritual magic, and cannot create magical items. They do not 'play well with others' I believe is how you say it? Demons don't care what race you are, so sorcerers can be any race."
She draws a third symbol on a new sheet of paper. "Magi are highly trained combat magic users. Magi are fairly recent, only a hundred years or so ago did Wizards determine how to train them. They are highly restricted in the type of magic they can use, only offensive and defensive spells. They cannot use Ritual Magic, and they require a Magical Weapon to cast offensive spells, and a Magical Armour to cast defensive spells. They are quite often most puissant warriors even without their spells. Magi are limited only by what they can see, if they can see a target, they can use their magic against it. Blinding them, or disarming them, is the most effective method of dealing with them. Magi are able to channel much more mana into their spells than most magic users. All Magi are Human."
She draws a fourth symbol on a new sheet of paper. "Druids are highly specialized magic users that protect and nurture the land. They can learn the Schools of Animal, Plant, Healing, Movement, Protection and Warning, and Weather. Druids may only wear and use items made from natural materials that can be found in nature. They usually use iron cudgels, bows, bone sickles, and the like for weapons. They can make Magical Items. Druids can use their weather spells over many miles, not just near them. They are able to use Ritual Magic. Druids have existed for all of time, and many races have Druids."
Another page, another symbol. "Elementalists are magic users that are strongly aligned with one of the elements. Many Elementalists have the blood of an elemental in their veins. They may learn only one school, be it Air, Earth, Fire, Light, Darkness, Sound, or Water. They have a weakness to their opposing element, if any. They are able to make magical items aligned with their element. They cannot use ritual magic, but their spells can reach further than most magic users."
Another page, another symbol. "Priests service one of the gods. Human priests serve The Holy Trinity, other priests serve various other gods. Priests learn the schools that their gods allow them to learn. For example, Priests of the Holy Trinity cannot learn Necromancy or Darkness, Priestesses of The Silver Goddess cannot learn Fire, Light, or Necromancy. Priests use Ritual Magic, and can make Magical Items. A priest that falls out of favor with their god looses their magical knowledge. Priests gain access to additional mana from their god."
Another page, another symbol. "Witches worship the Great Silver Goddess, the Great Flaming Father, and the Wayward Daughter. The Silver Goddess is the larger moon, the Wayward Daughter the smaller moon, and the Great Flaming Father is the Sun. Their rituals often involve sacred circles, be they trees, stones, skulls, or simple chalk circles on the ground. Witches learn spells from the schools of Air, Communications and Empathy, Earth, Fire, Food, Healing, Illusion and Creation, Knoweldge, Mind Alteration, Movement, Necromancy, Plant, Protection and Warning, Water, and Weather. They cannot create magical items, but they can use Ritual Magic. Their Rituals allow them to reach anywhere in the world, if they have an intimate link. However, they require a specific number of witches of the same God or Goddess for ritual magic, numbered 13, to perform rituals. Each God or Goddess has certain restrictions on what they can or cannot learn.
Humans created witches several hundred years ago."
A final page, and a final symbol. The LAV squad recognizes it as the symbol she etched into the LAV's armor. "Bisharan Protectors are all either Bisharan or Ni’Bishar. Bisharan Protectors are steeped deeply in the ways of magic, but are sworn to use that magic to preserve life. This is not pacifism, Bisharan Protectors are trained in combat and combat magic, and are extremely dangerous. This is the preservation of life overall, and it is often required to prune the bush to make it flourish. Bisharan Protectors cannot use Necromancy, otherwise, they are capable of using any type of magic. They can create magic items, and use ritual magic. Protectors have three ranks, Acolyte, Journeyman, and Master. Acolytes are those who have just started training. They are not allowed to cast spells without permission of a Master. Journeymen are those who have completed Acolyte Training, and are required to journey into the world and further their studies on their own. Masters are those who have returned from their journeys and can prove themselves Masters. Only Masters may take on Acolytes. Journeymen can only use magic to further the preservation of life."
The translator continues after she stops talking. "I think I mistranslated her words earlier, Guardian instead of Protector, it's hard, the meaning seems slippery. Also, I assigned 'magical' group names from English mythology, as seemed appropriate, the local names she used are almost impossible to pronounce. I think she's using Bisharan language mixed in with the local dialect, it makes it hard to translate."
Dawn nodded with Laine's report, I noticed that Calia seemed to indicate that the Bisharan and NiBisharan are natives and the humans are not. It might be a good idea to see if she is able to detect radio waves. I've noticed that she was reacting to our radios on the LAV and in the base.
After Calia's description on magic she asks, what do you know about who can learn these? Other than the demon option.
"I'm curious about this druidic magic, it sounds like it could help this base and be a good addition to help us understand the lands. I'm just not sure any of us would be able to use it without giving up our weapons. What do you think about that Calia?" Laine asks trying to understand if those powers would be something he could use without retiring his favourit rifle.
Calia listens, and then shakes her head. She speaks for a bit, and then the translator translates. "She says that you can't just become a druid, you have to be taught, and it takes years to learn. And you'd need a Druid to teach you to be a Druid. And no Druid would approve of our constructs, they are bad for the plants and trees and animals."
The translator frowns. "I think she means our vehicles, which aren't exactly easy on the environment. If I understood her correctly, the words she used were indicative of 'foul and smelly things' with regards to the machines. I don't think she likes the smell of diesel exhaust."
"So in regards to magic we would in most cases have to find people willing to teach us the application of using it? I wouldn't mind a few tricks if I have the ability to call magic down." Laine says looking over to Dawn. "Imagine a sniper hiding behind an illusion."
"Sounds useful. I wonder what the healing magic can do. Can it cure what the modern medicine can't? Can it heal diseases and injuries faster and more efficient? Calia, you said you healed one of the girls, so you know healing magic - what are its limits?"
After a brief consult with the translator... "Given sufficient training, knowledge, and power, there are no limits. However, practically, a competent healer should be able to restore anyone who is alive and in more or less one piece to a point where they can recover on their own. As with most things, gathering more knowledge and power takes increasingly more effort."
The translator shrugs. "If I understand her correctly, I think she's describing a steep learning curve."
Dawn considers Calia, there are plenty of documented cases in history where training was a lengthy drawn out process, usually for the benefit of the teacher, and rarely due to the nature of what was being taught. It's likely that this world doesn't have modern teaching techniques.
Dawn turns to the brass, it would be a good idea to see how many of our troops are capable and willing to learn some of this stuff. If no other reason than to better defend against it. Dawn waves an arm out towards the base, our LAV got hit from about a mile by a lightning bolt that fried some of our electronics. That mage was standing in the open where we could see him. The next one might not be.
The generals humph. "Before we try that, we should likely get samples of the alien tech that's allowing this 'magic' and ensure it's safe to use."
Debbs agrees with the brass, not quite willing to believe that real magic is possible. Since she does not have much to add at the moment, she stays near the back and keeps quiet, but focuses her attention on Calia, trying to get a better "read" on her.
Well how about it Calia? Would you be willing to lead a group to where some of these 'magical' artifacts could be acquired?
Calia responds through the translator. "You already have a Magi Mace and Armour, First of Class Private Daniel Puddle tried to wear the armour, but it was too big." A ripple of mirth runs through the room, and the translator turns red. "Oh! PFC Daniel Rainwater, sorry."