"Do we have to wear funny helmets now?"
"Only if it makes you happy!" Carver laughs.
"I don't like the helmet." Calvin grumbles, running a hand through his green hair. "Too stuffy."
Gideon smiles at the welcome, shaking hands with Carver and thanking him for the chance. "My own wayfinder, huh? I'll look forward to it! Those are very interesting little tools." he remarks, already nearly giddy with excitement.
Carver takes several notes about the dais and the illusion, then you head back to the colony. It is early evening by the time you return. The Pathfinder presents Gideon his new wayfinder.
Calvin resumes his duties, but also will travel with his party back out to collect more berries. If he can, he will actually dig up some of the berry bushes to transplant back at the colony so they can have a more reliable source of the apparently very useful fruit.
Gideon will assist Calvin in the effort to transplant one of the bushes, first finding a suitable location to transplant the bush to and digging the hole for it and collecting materials that should act as good fertilizer.
Once preparation has been made, the archaeologist Calvin to collect the bush, ensuring that they have strips of cloth and a bucket of water so they can soak the strips and wrap them around the roots of the bush to further ensure its survival of the move.
With any interim time, Gideon tries to get any information from Carver regarding his new wayfinder as he can, not to mention bouncing what knowledge he has of the Azlanti civilization off of the fellow dirt-jockey, hoping he will do the same and allow the pair of them to learn from each other.
Gideon also takes a moment to give a report to Perrell of what they discovered at the site of the recording apparatus since it is her role to give advice on relics and ruins they discover, offering to escort her to the site and let her get a look at it herself and see if she might be able to offer further insight on the what the Azlanti in the decemveritate helm might be talking about when referring to the blot in the sky and sharing the idea that it might be related to Earthfall, as Carver had suggested.
He takes time to go visit Kulena as well, again thanking her for the candy she'd given him earlier and seeing if there's anything she needs help with while he's there, or if there are any materials she is in need of that he can try to bring back while he's out and about. He takes time to make small talk as well, trying to learn more about her interests and her reasons for coming to the colony in the first place. He goes to Eamon to see if the Erastilite has had any issues or problems or even been made aware of the situation with the spirit of Silas they had met when they first came there.
He additionally checks with Ramona to see how the overall colony is progressing and where she thinks his attentions should be focused within the colony itself and what assistance he could render that would be most useful to the long-term survival of the group, now that they are getting more established on the island.
Finally, he checks in on the others of the crew who had been nervous about the journey and had come close to causing a general panic on the ship when they first arrived, making sure that they are more settled in and not as on edge.
Calvin and Gideon are able to successfully transplant the blueberry bush to the colony, allowing it to take root.
---
Gideon and Carver compare notes about ancient Azlant, and the Pathfinder explains to his new recruit how the wayfinder functions. Notably, he describes how one can slot an ioun stone to unlock different resonant powers of the wondrous item.
---
Perrell accompanies the bard to the dais and marvels at the illusion. Unfortunately, she has no further insights to share as to the topics of his speech.
---
Kulena appreciates Gideon's visit. Straw and other roofing materials are plentiful in the colony, so the thatcher doesn't need much in the way of supplies. She speaks about how boring and routine her life in Andoran had become, and how she craved adventure in the great wide somewhere. She joined the expedition in search of an exciting life on the frontier.
---
Gideon finds Eamon and Kurvis sharing the large house next to the chapel. When asked about issues, Eamon grins. "Well, the facilities are great, but I have to live with this grumpy-gus! He's perpetually in a foul mood!"
Kurvis huffs. "Yes, well, you snore! I pray Abadar gives me the strength to survive this ordeal."
Eamon laughs. "Besides that, the neighbors leave something to be desired. Up all night moaning and rapping on the walls, throwing things around. It's enough to wake the dead!"
Kurvis rolls his eyes. "In all seriousness, the poltergeist in the chapel seems to be tolerating our presence for the time being. We're doing what we can to keep his spirit calm, but I do hope we can find out how to lay him to rest sooner rather than later. The colonists are reluctant to attend services in a haunted church!"
---
Ramona thinks things in the colony are progressing well so far. She tells Gideon that Alba Divenvaar has aked about aid in gathering more alchemical reagents to provide for the colonists in case of emergency. She also says Anya Sandstrider is organizing a boar hunt soon to augment the colony's stores of meat, and is looking for volunteers to help with that.
---
Now that they've settled into Talmandor's Bounty, the colonists who had previously been anxious seem to have calmed down significantly. Still, a lingering sense of unease clings to several of them. They're unlikely to truly relax until the fate of the first colonists is uncovered.
Tobar returns with his usual laconic mood and gets back to teaching Machi more about weaponsmithing, with an eye to getting her the skills needed to assist him around the shop as he turns out crossbow bolts and starts working on a crossbow for one of the colonists.
Not being terribly charismatic, he interacts with some of the other colonists are mealtimes, sometimes sharing a beer with one, or visiting after dinner for a game of cards or a chat with another, but he focuses mainly on staying productive. As the only trained weapon-maker in the colony, he is keenly aware that his skills are too important to lose, at least until Machi can do some of the simple work.
As the colony progresses Tobar seems satisfied with the developments going on. He stops by while Gideon is busy flitting around one day and says, "So, what's next on the agenda? We still aren't sure where the other colonists - the first group - went. Should we help with the alchemy or the boar hunt? I think I'm a little better equipped for boar-hunting; I wouldn't know woundwort from belladonna."
Calvin shrugs. "One isn't real and the other you don't want to put in your beer." he offers in response to Tobar's statement about plants. "I can help with scavenging herbs, and we can also fish for food too, but boar would be a help for the camp's food stores. I'm not much of a shooting kind of guy. More stabby, so if we go boar hunting I'll be there to keep them off the hunters."
Weyve spends much of his time visiting the site of the ruined temple. He takes paper and pen, and makes sketches of the plan of the site, trying to reconstruct what the building looked like when it was intact. He also makes crude drawings of the apparition that appears above the altar, sketching the man's clothing and appearance.
When not visiting the site he continues to operate as the village herbalist and healer.
"So, what's next on the agenda? We still aren't sure where the other colonists - the first group - went. Should we help with the alchemy or the boar hunt? I think I'm a little better equipped for boar-hunting; I wouldn't know woundwort from belladonna."
When the subject comes up, Weyve brightens.
"Well, if you need alchemical reagents, I'm your gillman. I've kind of been doing that already, but I can step up the pace."
"I can't say I know much about hunting boars, but I'd be happy to tag along and bring my crossbow. I could also summon a creature to give the boar a target to charge; that way the boar is less likely to hurt someone living."
After a bit of debate, you decide to join the boar hunt first. You seek out Anya Sandstrider, who is preparing to lead a group of colonists out into the woods. The Shoanti woman has her head shaved and sports several tattoos of runic and animal totems representing the moon and owls. She has been frequently trading for shifts of soldier duty and extra hunting patrols to avoid having to farm.
Anya gives you an appraising look, then speaks in a thick accent. "Good. More volunteers to hunt boars. You know how to fight. Not as soft as other people in colony." She grins at the other colonists, who look slightly offended but smile good-naturedly.
"I take this group and teach them how to hunt. Maybe you four hunt on your own? I know good spot where boars come by in late afternoon. I show you, you set up ambush or trap, yes?"
"Sure, Anya!" Calvin says, giving her a grin. He knows well how much she prefers to perform the other duties. Under the premise of getting directions, he stands close to her and winks. "Speaking of hunting, how goes your hunt for the pretty man? Break him in yet?" he whispers.
Anya barks a short laugh. "Ha! Not yet--he is still playing coy. Pretend not to be interested. But the chase is part of the fun, yes? I will tame him yet. Now, if only stinky blacksmith would get off my back..."
"Ambush hunting sounds like a sound tactic to me. Hopefully it'll be a place where there are some good trees to climb...I'd rather stay out of reach of the tusks, thanks very much."
Anya leads you into the forest for a couple of miles before you come upon a small clearing lined with oak trees. "Boars come here later today. Good luck on hunt!" She heads off with her own hunting party, leaving you to prepare.
"Anyone got a deadfall or trap to set up, or should we just try to get an ambush spot downwind?"
"Ambush hunting sounds like a sound tactic to me. Hopefully it'll be a place where there are some good trees to climb...I'd rather stay out of reach of the tusks, thanks very much."
"That sounds like a good idea. If someone can help me up I should do that too."
Calvin will simply offer to give Weyve a boost. "C'mon, up you get."
You climb up into the trees downwind and wait for a while. A light shower falls in the early afternoon--a blessing for the two gillmen!--and eventually, after it dries up once more, two shaggy boars emerge into the clearing. They snort and root around, not noticing you watching from above.
Weyve whispers to the others, "Wait for me to conjure something, then start shooting!"
Weyve begins chanting to himself while still clinging to the tree.
Weyve finishes conjuring, and draws his crossbow.
A silver eagle with gold tips on the ends of its feathers appears on a tree branch! It waits for a moment as the shots streak down from various crossbows, and then with a screech it swoops down at one of the boars!
Gideon scurries up a nearby tree with relative ease, keeping his bow in his lap and waiting patiently for their prey to happen by. "Let me try and put them to sleep first." he says as they wait.
When the boars happen by, he quietly goes through the spellcasting, trying to get rid of one or both of the combatants before the fight even starts.
One of the boars falls asleep as Gideon completes his spell, leaving only one standing to fight.
From up in the tree Tobar does his best to take careful aim at fire at the boar that remains standing.
Calvin raises his spear and throws it.
As Gideon completes his spell, so does Weyve. An eagle appears and rakes at the boar, but fails to hit.
Tobar shoots the boar with a crossbow bolt while Calvin hurls his spear, impaling the animal in the side. The boar squeals in pain and anger!
Gideon picks his bow up from its resting place, nocks an arrow, and takes a shot at the skewered boar!
Gideon skewers the boar again with another arrow, the projectile sticking deep into its flank.
Wounded and enraged, the boar lashes out at the closest threat--Calvin's eagle. However, the bird dodges the beast's tusks.
Tobar reloads, squints, and fires again, knowing that it's going to take several hits to fell an enraged wild forest boar.
Weyve thinks for a moment.
I'd better try to keep it where it is. If it runs off into the bush we lose it.
Weyve pulls out his foci and begins casting another spell. His eyes grow dark and a black mist seems to pour off his body. The strange shadows surge towards the boar, and circle around it.
The eagle screeches and claws at the boar.
The eagle flutters and tries to balance in the air, but fails and instead settles to the ground in front of the boar.
Out of options, Calvin draws his sword and prepares to jump down onto the injured boar.
Weyve calls upon his magic to trap the boar's shadow to the ground, preventing it from running away. His summoned eagle tears into it with both talons and its beak, leaving the boar bloodied and dying. Despite its fatal wounds, it continues to fight on!
Tobar and Gideon lodge more bolts and arrows into the boar's hide as Calvin gets ready to jump down just in case it breaks free.
The boar tears into the summoned eagle with its tusks, and it disappears in a burst of feathers! It tries to run, but only gets a few feet, its shadow trapping it in place!
With nowhere to go, the boar's demise is an inevitability. It's a simple matter to walk up to the sleeping boar and slay it as well.
When the second boar falls, Gideon looks to the others triumphantly. "Well...now all that's left is to get the meat back to Talmandor's Bounty. Should we rig up some kind of sled or drag-strap or something? I don't fancy carrying that much meat on my shoulders..."
Calvin sheaths his sword and nods. "I can pull one of them on a sled myself, so we just gotta worry about the other one."
"If we get a long pole we can tie it's feet to the pole. And then carry it, one person on each end."
Using poles and sleds, you carry the heavy boars back to Talmandor's Bounty. Anya and her party have returned with a single boar, but they cheer when they see your prizes. "Good hunt! We eat well tonight!" Anya proclaims.
Gideon takes advantage of the free time that the group has to commission a darkwood shortbow that he can use to replace the one he currently has, knowing that the material will help him with the accuracy of his shots.
He will also approach Ramona and ask if there's a trade or skill he could help out around the colony in the times between the tasks they're assigned to complete. Seeing the others assist materially in the building of the colony makes him want to contribute as well; perhaps he could work with the person preparing the boars to learn butchery or something along those lines.
As has become his habit, he pays a visit to Kulena, just to see how she's doing and to talk for a little while. He also makes an effort to talk with as many of the colonists as he can, just trying to get a general sense of the colony's overall disposition, making sure that in particular he visits with the younger members of the expedition, people like Tesswyn and Medrinnah, to see how they are adjusting to their new lives on the island.
The blacksmith Luetin scoffs a bit when Gideon asks him to make a bow. "See these muscles? I got 'em from hammering steel, not whittling wood. It's barely a test of my talents." Despite his bluster, he agrees to make the weapon for the bard. It will take about a week to complete.
---
Ramona smiles at Gideon when he asks how he can help out around the colony. "Well, the Bountiful Venture Company chose you because of your skills with survival and exploration. But if you'd like to do more, we'd welcome the assistance. Anya's cleaning and preparing the boars with Hondren--if you'd like to learn butchery, I'm sure they'd be happy to teach you."
---
Kulena has begun to look forward to Gideon's visits. She has a little gift for him this time--a bracelet of opalescent shells that she collected along the beach. The thatcher asks about the boar hunt and listens to the bard's recounting with interest.
---
Generally, the colonists have a positive outlook. Having fresh meat to eat has gone a long way to increasing their morale. Tesswyn seems happy to be here on the island, an improvement from her hard-knock life in Almas. Medrinnah, though, is surly and withdrawn, seemingly resentful of her mother dragging her along to live out in the middle of nowhere.
Tobar spends his days working in the shop, churning out pieces and springs and stocks as he starts working on light crossbows for the colonists' defense. He keeps training Machi and works on explaining to her a bit about how spring tension works and on the winding mechanisms for crossbows.
In social hours at lunch or dinner Tobar takes the opportunity to get to know Daib and Geoff, the carpenter and architect team, and brings Machi along...
"If we find some of the others, or more people decide to come here after us, we'll need more housing," he mentions over an evening ale. "I don't know if we have any lumberjacks in the current crop of recruits. What's the plans for the town look like?"
Daib Joiner is pale with a shock of red hair and worry lines around his eyes and forehead. Geoff is bald and dark-skinned and wears a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles.
"Yes, we will definitely need more houses," says Geoff. "I believe a third wave of colonists will be coming once we start producing a profit for the Bountiful Venture Company. Your friend Weyve provided some preliminary plans for an expanded palisade wall. The additional homes will be built within that area as we continue to expand. We'll also be building additional shops and businesses once the economy starts to boom."
"We have a few carpenters who can moonlight as lumberjacks," Daib says, "but we're going to need a lot of lumber for all of the buildings we are planning. After the next supply ship arrives, we're going to need to survey the island and secure the forests so that we can start the logging process."
"Sounds like more map-making. Good chance to mark other spots where we find useful natural resources, too," remarks Tobar.
"I wonder what kind of other odd critters we're gonna find?" he continues. "An' of course we'll probably see more of the old ruins. Say, if we can empty out one of those ruins, would it be worthwhile to establish a part of the colony there? Maybe use some of the old stonework, shore up some of the buildings?"
Daib shrugs, but Geoff shakes his head. "I don't think we have enough soldiers to spare in order to defend anybody out in the wilderness. With the first colonists missing, we're pretty short-shifted as it is already. Probably better to try to gather what resources we could from the ruins and bring them back here."