Note to self. Avoid creepy bug people.
Unlike the humanoid members of the group, Scram is delighted with the bugs as he finds they squish very nicely when he pounces on them with his razor sharp claws. Once the bugs are all dead, he gives a loud rumbling purr and looks at Hawke expectantly knowing that the man quite often gives him treats for a job well done.
If you dedicate a few moments to removing ticks, you notice that it's difficult. A few of them leave angry-looking red welts on your skin that itch painfully.
A few moments after the earth tremors subside, the elf glances about him. Satisfied that all is well for now, he stands up and dusts himself off, seemingly to distance himself from his earlier panic. He takes a deep breath, and continues. "My friends are pegasus riders - like me. I have ways to catch the light and refract it skyward, creating an emergency signal for my friends to follow, but without higher ground it's not going to do me much good. That's why I'm going toward that volcano..." he points at it, off in the distance. "But I got attacked by that rampaging monster almost as soon as I landed on this island. Since I've been marooned here, I've been scratched, bitten, chased into a tree," he begins counting off his woes on his fingers. "and I just want to get home." he sounds rather pathetic as he finishes his little speech.
Hawke would check twice to make sure that he had removed the last of the annoying bugs from his skin while trying to keep from subconsciously itching the bites.
Seeing the expectant look upon Scram's face, Hawke would take a quick glance around to make sure that the other's attention was on the elven stranger before reaching into his bag for a small piece of jerky to toss to the overgrown house cat.
He didn't trust this newcomer. He had seen the lights calling to the beast beyond and any signaling light would make him suspicious at this point.
None the less, he kept his thoughts to himself while he took some time to reequip his armor.
"We're moving in the same direction as you. It would probably be safer for you to travel with us towards the volcano."
Assuming everyone is ready, Dambreth and Scram move forward towards the island center.
"We're moving in the same direction as you. It would probably be safer for you to travel with us towards the volcano."
Assuming everyone is ready, Dambreth and Scram move forward towards the island center.
In the midst of getting moving again, Dambreth turns to Temellen and in a casual tone asks "What were you carrying when you left the beach? It almost looked like you were carrying someone else."
Olivius falls in behind the ranger in the sincere hope that nothing else creepy assails them on this comfort-forsaken island. His instincts tell him that the troubles were just starting, but a thief can hope, can't he?
Si-Yi wonders silently what in the world is the "pegasus" that the stranger purports to ride. Is it dangerous? Edible? Only slightly dangerous and edible, but extraordinarily foul-tasting?
In the midst of getting moving again, Dambreth turns to Temellen and in a casual tone asks "What were you carrying when you left the beach? It almost looked like you were carrying someone else."
At your words, Temellen's face darkens. "I managed to steal a small chest of valuables from the captain's cabin before I abandoned ship with the dinghy. The blasted thing was heavy, and ornate...but I had to drop it when I was being chased by that creature, whatever it was. I saw those strangers axe-man over there was fighting pick it up and run off into the trees that way." he points, slightly to the left of your original beeline for the volcano.
Olivius, the heat of the sun is continuing to beat down on you, making memories of your past life in the city rise to the surface of your mind. What memory of home comes to mind first?
The elven barbarian is quiet as he falls in step behind Temellen and Dambreth. His eyes are still scanning the trees around him alertly, but his mind wanders back to legends he has heard of pegasus. You've never seen one before, or know exactly what manner of beast it is, but you know that they can fly faster than a falcon in a dive and can carry riders into battle. The tales describe them as magnificent steeds.
Your group ventures into the jungle. You've only been walking about 20 minutes when Scram's ears perk and he stops suddenly, cocking his head.
Seeing the cat's sudden actions, Hawke starts to scan the area around them with more care. Something had caught the cat's attention and he did not feel like having whatever it was catch him off guard.
Scram cautiously moves forward a few more steps, past some thick trees and into a more open-view spot where you all can follow. Before you, the ground slopes downward at a steep but navigable angle for some distance. At the bottom of the slope, you see another break in the trees, and in that break is a pit. The pit is huge, almost half a football field in size.
The wind blows against your face from in front of you and you catch what might have given Scram pause - the faint scent of sulphur.
Dambreth looks down at the pit..."Could the beacon be in that?" he asks the group.
Dambreth is a bit startled to see blood on Hawke's side. As he looks at the blood, he's again overcome with the odd sensation of seeing a person in shades of reds, and yellows, and greens. Without conscious thought, he reaches out a hand to the glowing red area on Hawke and calls on his new found power.
The bright red area is now noticeably dimmer.
As you approach the clearing the smell of smoke and sulfur clouds the air and a faint drumming permeates throughout the earth. These sensations grow stronger as those who approach the sounds and smells see a group of dark skinned, dark haired people clad in clothing made from the plants in the region. With many of the men covered from head to toe in black tattoos with intricate patterns. In the middle of this camp with crude yet sturdy dwellings made of reeds and mud is a great bonfire.
Two young boys, their skin free of any of the black patterns on the skin of the older tribe members spar with oddly shaped clubs with the sharp teeth of carnivorous animals embedded on the sides. Meanwhile, a slightly older teenage boy covered in vaguely scale-like patterns beats a drum as he stares into the fire as if he's in some kind of meditative trance. In the middle of it all, a cloudy eyed dark skinned woman with flowing black hair and swirling black patterns on her face converses anxiously with the large man in the middle, who sits on a chair.
The man in the chair is perhaps the most imposing one of all. He is large and bulky, bordering on corpulent. He's easily more heavily tattooed than anyone there, with tattoos going all the way up to his forehead. His medium length hair is pulled back to show even more of the black canvas he's turned his head into. The patterns swirl around his dark, hardened eyes. He sits in beside of a wooded statue of a humanoid creature with a great big snarling mouth. He wears the same symbol around his neck.
He gazes at the woman, stoically listening to her concerns before he raises his hand to silence her and with that the camp stands still and the drumming stops.
The large man stands up and speaks in a deep booming voice.
“Ulani, my most trusted adviser has told me of the changes in the spiritual landscape of the island. These are trying times for the Tribes of the Eye. A great wave is coming, and we must train here in Demon's Maw. Remain strong. As warboss and avatar of Ku, I must turn to the Seizer of Lands for guidance. Kukailimoku, soaked in the blood of his enemies, prepares us, makes us strong, makes our ships strong to weather the oncoming storm. Praise Ku!”
the other members of this small tribe repeat back to him.
Olivius's first memory is that of the days of high summer when he was a lowly roof runner. The flat plastered tops of buildings in the city would always burn and ripple in the heat, much like this island. He remembers his feet burning with every step as he struggled for months to prove himself.
This island was full of unpleasant things and conjured painful memories. He hated it.
-------------------------------------------------------
Olivius hides himself in the jungle bushes from the edge of the sulphur pit. These people looked as likely to eat him as say hello.
Dambreth with Scram at his side slowly approach the big man and his tribe, empty hand held in front of him. He senses no evil intention from the group and his connection with Gaia seems to urge him forward.
"We are strangers on your island and request your hospitality."
The tribespeople gasp in alarm and shy away from Dambreth's giant cat as he approaches the tribe. Scram, unsure of these new people in a large group before him, lets out a low warning growl and lowers his massive frame on his haunches, ready to attack in any direction, in a defensive posture. One of the boys who was sparring with the other boy runs and hides behind his mother's skirts, while the other, braver and more reckless, brandishes his club at the intruders. Ulani, seeing the boy threatening the newcomers, swiftly steps forward and draws the boy back.
Many of the tribesfolk are looking at Hawke and Olivius curiously and in some cases with fear in their eyes. Elves are elves in every point of history, so Si-Yi and Dambreth, along with Temellen, are not unusual sights for them, and Sinathel is still in parrot form disguise, but they have never seen humans of your skin color before. The drumbeat of the teenaged boy continues unabated - he knows it is a matter of honor for him to continue the meditation trance-beat until instructed not to by Kano.
Olivius steps up next to his human companions for observation. These folk were obviously barely past rubbing two sticks together. Best not spook them any more than his appearance already has.
Kano nods approvingly at Ulani's actions and then takes moves towards the drumming boy and claps twice to snap him out of his trance. It could be difficult to snap out of such trances. Many people ended up feeling disoriented. Kano knew from experience. He then eyes the panther and the foreign humans before turning to the elf. The large tattooed man moves up to the creature and the outsiders. It was true the tribesmen had seen elves before, but Kano rarely spoke to elves or even foreign people. He prefered not to speak if it wasn't necessary. Times demanded that he parley with others beyond his usual duties in spreading Kukailimoku's word however. If Ulani was right, he would need to talk to some of the other tribal lords soon.
"And so the elves and two no-breaths from off the island seek refuge in the Demon's Maw." he gives a slight bemused smirk. "Times are worse than I thought. This beast is controlled by you yes? Not closely but, I've seen tribes work this way before. Calm it down and keep it away from the children so the burgeoning hunters don't get any ideas. Then you can indulge me concering who you are and what brings you to the Burning Eye tribe's lands.If it goes well, you'll have safe passage through these lands, and what little shelter we can provide. This way our preparation can go on as Ku would have it."
Hawke would nod his head in appreciation to Dambreth as he feels the urge to scratch the bites lessen with the shrinking of the wounds.
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As they made their way through the encampment, Hawke would walk with confidence. Numbers did not frighten him. Little did as it was anymore and when they met the man he assumed was the leader of this tribe, Hawke would stand firm and unwavering despite the man's bulk.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. My axe does not discriminate based off of size, he would think to himself.
"Well, erm, I'm...Temellen," Temellen starts, stepping forward uncertainly. "I'm an...elf from the mainlands - I was captured but escaped, and now I wish to signal my friends from that mountainside so they can rescue me." the thin elf points one long finger at the mountain.
"And these are my comrades," he continues, gesturing at the rest of you. "We've only just met, but they saved my life from those strange bug-men and a huge monster. I owe them my life."
Kano, the bug-men of the island are known to you. They have strange customs and hostile ways - though there is rarely overt conflict between your peoples, they are a blight on your lands nonetheless, intimidating and threatening your people. You see Ulani's eyes narrow as she glances at you at Temellen's words.
The stone structures had been reclaimed by the jungle. Thick vines and roots had wormed their ways into cracks and crevices, shifting and sometimes destroying the structures. But at the same time, the structures still stood the test of time and nature, and she could respect the buildings for that. She climbed over the uneven stones, further into the temple. The spirits of the inhabitants were around her, and at times, she thought she could feel the spirits in the stone and trees. Then, she felt it, something calling her. Something from inside the structure of the ruins. Curious, Sinathel made her way carefully inside following the feeling and the call. As the the inside grew darker, she paused. While she could not fully shift yet, she could partially, and she focused on her eyes, enhancing her ability to navigate in the dark ruins. Deep in the temple, the calling became the strongest. The source was in this room! She dug and searched, her hand brushed something smooth. Her eyes grew wide as she found the location of the spirit. Clearing the rubble, she discovered a relic, in the shape of a large jeweled beetle. With its golden rainbow shell, it seemed almost alive though it was really just an image. It seemed to almost glow, and that glow was seeming to get stronger the longer she held it. Soon the room was alight, and she could see something on the walls, hidden behind dirt, vines and roots. Holding the beetle, she gently moved them out of the way, brushing the wall clean. Whispers she barely understood formed in her mind as she revealed the walls.
Sounds, noises, thoughts, insects, beetles. Images filled her head as her fingers traced the walls. Images of people she did not recognize, with all sorts of insects flying out from their hands, disappearing into swarms flitted through her mind as if imprinted as a secret in the walls. As she pulled her hand away, the buzzing fell to the background. This beetle, correction the spirit in this beetle, she held in her hands had been important to this people, granting them magic in exchange for their servitude in the form of worship.
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Sinathel lands on Dambreth's shoulder. Watching the members of the tribe from her perch.
"And as I said before we are strangers to your land. We are on a quest for Gaia herself and hope that you can aid us. Have you seen or heard of a beacon on the island?"
"The bug men are no small problem on the island these days. Many of our older warriors and hunters spend time fighting them these days more than anything else. Some of the others here know of their ways...their rituals. I put no stock in breathless rituals, but it never hurts to know." he turns to Ulani as if she had something to day, but continues on after a short pause.
"Bee-cun." the tribal ponders. The words sounded strange to his tongue.
EDIT: 7
He shook his head. "I'm not sure, but perhaps someone else would know...I would need to know more."
Olivius speaks up for the first time to attempt clarification. Beacon is like a great light pointing toward the sky. It could appear as a massive fire or as if the sun has moved to the earth, or something similar. The mouth of this volcano might do if it were larger and actively erupting.
Kano: Your tribe has been witnessing strange purple lights on the mountainside in the center of the island. None of the tribesfolk have been very keen on investigating it, as the volcano is sacred ground to all tribes on the island. You're not sure, but perhaps these purple lights are related somehow to what this human is talking about.
"You may want to head to the purple lights. To the great mountain in the center of the island.But I should warn you, its sacred ground to the tribes of the Eye. Think it not best to tread on sacred ground. But for those who don't follow the tribe's ways it may be different." He said as he glanced at the totemic statue behind him.
"We mean no disrespect but the will of Gaia calls us to do this. Would anyone in your tribe be able to guide as to the mountain?"
"This Gaia, is it a god? If so that is a noble thing. I respect that. But you need a guide. I can see why..." Kano surveys the camp slowly. The mountain of a man lets out a long, tired sigh.
That land was both sacred and a source of great shame. For years the chief godess of fire, Pel, the Devourer of Earth was said to have made her home in the volcano. No man, woman, or child dared venture there. The tribes still had a sense of loyalty to her to the point where even the newly converted adherents to Ku would not dare tread on those lands. But for the followers of Kukailimoku, there was another reason. It was the land of the dead. Many years ago, what was then the cult of Ku performed human sacrifice by hurling people, alive and screaming into the fires below. The followers of Ku would not tread that land out of both respect, and secret shame. If anyone was to tread in those lands, it would have to be one who could show the spirits the respect they deserved and could withstand the dangers there. Someone who rejected Pel's fire long ago.
"Me. It would have to be me." he says at last.
Kano: An adult male of the tribe, one of the hunters named Otan, steps forward when Dambreth speaks. He's known to be one of the more xenophobic members of the tribe, acting with hostility toward all non-tribe members. He speaks boldly and aggressively, out of turn for one as young as he is (16). "Who is this Gaia of whom they speak? The mountain is sacred to Ku! None may walk upon its slopes without His divine authority to do so! Begone, foreign devils, and take your devil cat with you, before I cast you out!" A few other hunters rally behind Otan, crossing their arms over their chests and posturing in typical male fashion.
Kano pauses for a while, just glaring intensely at Otan for a solid ten seconds. He then walks up to Otan as to get right in the youth's face. He speaks quietly but slowly overenunciates every single word.
"These foreigners know their place, Otan. Unlike you. They will seek Ku's authority just like anyone would. They will get their, thing and rid its taint off the island. I am not so foolish as to handle these no-breaths without conditions."
Kano says, glaring at Otan. He was put in a difficult position. He could not side against his tribe, but he could also not have his authority questioned.
Otan bristles as you get up in his face, staring back at you. The tension mounts as some of the hunters shift uneasily behind him. The two of you make firm eye contact.
Otan falters first. Without a word, he turns on his heel and marches off through the village. He looks over his shoulder at you, and his eyes are narrowed in contempt; he is too youthful to conceal it.
The ground beneath your feet rumbles again. Something has the spirits agitated.
Hawke would grin at the one named Otan. "The young one has some spunk. Though he overestimates his capabilities."
"You know, "Devil Cat" is actually a pretty fitting moniker. I mean, just look at him," Si-Yi says and nods towards the cougar. "A bit of sulfur and a pair of horns and even a professional demonologist would be fooled."
Sinathel reaches out, feeling for the spirits of the land and its inhabitants. 'I hear and feel your agitation. What is it that causes such a violent reaction from you?'
"You know, "Devil Cat" is actually a pretty fitting moniker. I mean, just look at him," Si-Yi says and nods towards the cougar. "A bit of sulfur and a pair of horns and even a professional demonologist would be fooled."
Scram proceeds to try to calm the fears of the islanders by rolling onto his back and purring as Dambreth reaches down to pet him.
Dambreth thinks about what he's learned about the earth spirits that may reside near a volcano.
Sinathel, let's see a Discern Realities roll to "open your mind and heart to the spirits."
Dambreth: Your knowledge of spirits tells you that unless something truly catastrophic were happening, earth elementals would not be rumbling the entire island like this. They're certainly disturbed and...perhaps the best word isn't excited, but rather taut, like a tight bowstring. You think you know why. That volcano is due for an eruption, and it could happen at any time.
That's the scary thing about volcanoes - once they reach this volatile stage, where tremors are closer and closer together, the eruption itself becomes unpredictable. It could erupt right now, or it might not erupt for weeks. It's hard to say without precise instruments.
Olivius, you feel a strange tickling on your sixth sense, your instincts that made you into the thief you are today. Without any conscious stimulus, you feel aware of someone's eyes on you, sizing you up. Glancing around at the assembled tribespeople, they're all certainly looking at you, but what you feel is different. You feel like a wealthy nobleman walking through a dark alley at night. There's someone unfriendly with eyes on the back of your neck.
Olivius instantly switches into full-on theif mode when his sences light up and his stomach clenches. Outwardly, there is zero change. One of the best ways to throw an attacker off is to let them be predictable. He casually scans the tribe and the area, looking for anything that might give the identity of the thing that was triggering these instincts away, like searching for an undercover cop by looking for his body language and haircut instead of his badge.
He can't be sure, but that tree might have just moved...
Hawke would stare at Kano suspiciously while asking, "What conditions?"
Kano says nothing. Only turning to the great statue once again. He opens his mouth but no words come out. The tatooed man just solemnly mouths 'Ku will know'
Sinathel: all your long life, you've been attuned to the earth. The druidic path spoke to you due to your innate empathetic sense for the emotions of the creatures around you. You're aware that the animals of the island are agitated, and as you glance around, you see small animals scurrying across the ground in places, all heading one direction - the coast.
Kano: The will of Ku is part of your very being, your reason for existence. You sense no malice from He Who Conquers toward these strange newcomers.
You hear Hawke standing restlessly behind you, and the quiet murmurs of your people as they wonder what you decide to do. You have always heard Ku's voice the clearest of all of them.
A great doom hangs over the heads of each and every one of these travelers. The details are murky, but you sense that not one of them will meet a pleasant end. Regardless, you feel a great desire to aid them in their quest, for you sense worthiness. You're also aware that there's more to that parrot than meets the eye - it's glancing around very intelligently, and has striking green eyes the likes of which you've never seen on a bird.
Olivius: As you glance around, you see Otan leading his followers off into the jungle, toward the direction of the volcano. You also feel the bugs beginning to descend on your delicious skin once again, biting the back of your legs and neck.
Immidiately Olivius starts brushing himself off and smacking everywhere he feels a bite. Gah! Bugs!
A young tribeswoman that Kano knows as Allaya notices Olivius' obvious discomfort. With a small smile, she disappears into a hut, swiftly returning with a bowl carved from the husk of a coconut. In the bowl is a natural poultice that Kano's tribe creates.
The woman is in the blush of youth at around 20, and looks shy as she approaches the thief, proffering the bowl. She gestures wordlessly for Olivius to smear it on.
What is about to happen?
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is not as it appears to be?
"The spirits of the earth are disturbed. They can feel that the volcano will erupt soon. Soon could be right now or in a couple of weeks. If we desire to investigate the odd lights, we should hurry there as fast as possible"
At Dambreth's words, there is an exclamation from the tribe. "Numaloyo will erupt?" "It's just as we feared!" "Ku is angered!" "What will we do?"
Sinathel: answering your questions a little later
Olivius immediately starts spreading the concoction around liberally. It didn't smell the least bit good, but maybe that was a good sign.
He stops only when the sensation has stopped, he runs out of poultice, or is told otherwise. But he still pays attention and the thought of a mountain blowing its top with him anywhere near it sounded disastrous to his noble mission.
We should move. Quickly he says while trying to smear poultice between his shoulder blades.
Numaloyo? Si-Yi starts to go through his memories, trying to remember if he has ever heard about the mountain before... Or in the future, to be exact. The whole "time travel" thing is a bit confusing to him.
The elf finds himself remembering something, but part of him wishes that he would have obsessively memorized dates from an early age.