ZenFox42 |
Arabella takes the opportunity to re-iterate everything to Marko about how to operate the aircart.
No sign of any masses of Orc tribes. I'll assume you'll get a message to the mayor to that effect one way or another.
Both the special edition of the newspaper, and the mayor's speech, emphasize that contrary to a rumor that was started this morning, WeMadeIt is under no immediate threat of Orc attack. However, the Guard is making every effort to stay alert, scouting parties will be doubled, and Guard drills increased. Despite these merely precautionary measures, there is no cause for alarm.
You have dinner, and sleep well. A new day dawns, what do you want to do with it?
Marko Montaalvo |
Gathering supplies and anything else we might need. Maybe some ropes and climbing gear. We all get into the aircart and using the crystal compass as a "compass" head it the direction it points.
Sending WindDancer out on CAP (combat air patrol) every so often to circle us and reporting back. She can rest and then do it again.
"Off we go! May the gods protect us."
ZenFox42 |
The night passes without incident, and you continue on the entire next day. By the end of the day, the compass needle still hasn't changed direction, but it does seem to be pointing a little more "firmly" in the direction you've been travelling.
Setting up camp for the night? Doing anything else? Any round-the-campfire conversations?
Xvark |
Sorry for my longer-than-expected hiatus. I don't think Xvark has done much besides listen and observe with interest everything everyone does. He does offer to pilot the flying vehicle, though.
Devouring his allotted provisions with gusto (and much smacking), Xvark paused with his mouth full to look at WindDancer - his ears and antennae swiveled her way, as well.
"If she goes, how does she find us again? We stay here?" he asked with his mouth full, dribbling bits of food.
WіndDancer |
Easily rivaling Xvark's enthusiasm over the meal, she briefly pauses in her noisy and messy attack of the delectable fruit to cock her head at the little creature. "Wwwndnsssr fffnd Cnnnrrr," she declares. "Ffflll llltlll-bgkh nnnsssd," she clarifies, briefly touching a paw to her chest, then her head, before returning her attention to the juicy fruit.
Which -- respecting an earlier request from her little-big -- she's eating on the ground, not on Con-nor's shoulder.
ZenFox42 |
Sorry, didn't think to check to see if he'd have a Piloting skill! So, yes, for future reference.
Xvark, thinking that this "ship" must work the way any other spaceship must, confidently grabs the controls and...the aircart starts to go into a dive! Marko grabs the controls and levels out.
Maybe it's because Xvark is used to flying in space, where there isn't any gravity...
Marko Montaalvo |
... So after a few tries with Marko at the co-pilot seat, Xvark gets the hang of flying the machine.
The party continues on for "X" number of days, without incident as the mountains continue to grow larger in the distance Is the Rocky Mountains or is the The Blue Ridge Mountains. As the party gets even closer, the needle on the compass takes on a more steady, firm point.
The landscape below the group changes from the forest land of WeMadeIt to the more elevated type of forest (if Rocky Mountain type). The group, may have flown over a few determined pioneers, perhaps the group lands and warns them about the possible trouble so they can be prepared. The grateful land owners may have even given them a home cooked meal and some travel rations for their trip.
If the party flies over/near any orc camps, identifiable by the multiple camp fire smoke in the distance, the group may land and send K'Don to the camp for a brief recon.
As the party nears what appears to be the location of the compass point, they dispatch Wind Dancer to report what was observed, Pioneers, Orc Camps etc. Approximate distances based on the flying machine rate of speed, anything unusual... And waits for WindDancer's return before continueing...
Sorry, Zen, if I overstepped my story writing authority, but there was some "color" missing, probably due to you not being 100%, so I thought I would lend a hand, please tweek to what was in your imagination.
Xvark |
Nice description, Marko!
Xvark is taking WindDancer speaking (more or less) totally in stride. Of course little winged beings speak on this planet. It would be weird if they didn't! (Next: Xvark doesn't understand why dogs and cats won't answer him. Rude!)
Determined to learn to pilot the little airship, Xvark does his best to learn from Marko. So strange that it doesn't have the controls he is used to! He can't even find a gravitic dampener anywhere.
He is a bit subdued around Connor, though whether this is due to guilt over the death of Alex, or because he saw Connor make another alien explode, is not clear. He does try to make friends with the other humans they meet, grinning at them and offering hugs. He is somewhat confused when one of the pioneers they meet screams and hits him with a broom.
K'Don doesn't appear to want any hugs, either. Maybe Xvark should reconsider his greetings... The big orc smells determined. What is he so focused on? This requires attention.
ZenFox42 |
I've been debating whether or not to have an encounter while you're camped for the night, but let's go with what you wrote.
Finally one day, the compass starts to turn to the left as you're flying along, indicating that you're passing by a strong source of crystals.
For the next couple of hours you use the compass to get on a more direct heading, and it looks like you're flying directly towards the tallest mountain peak around.
"Now that we know where we're headed, probably a good idea to land and hide the sky-cart really well. The compass can take us the rest of the way on foot" Katana speculates out loud.
Xvark |
"Remember," Xvark agreed, squinting at the passing scenery in search of a good spot to hide their vehicle. After a bit of discussion, he allowed that it might not be the best place high in a tree or in a cave that might be owned by a grizzly.
"There?" he asked, pointing one of his little arms at a gully with a windfall.
ZenFox42 |
So, not a surprise to the players, but hopefully dramatic enough...
As the party begins to trek northwards towards the huge ominous mountain peak, a shooting star (bright even in the full daylight) suddenly streaks in from the west. It sinks deep into the mountain with no immediate effect.
But then slowly, you feel thru your feet a steady rumble, like a mild earthquake. And as you watch, the entire mountain slowly seems to crumble downwards from within, until there is nothing but a hill to remind you that the mountain was even there.
K'Don Son of Ugal of HouseUshah |
K'Don needs a reaction roll to Xvark sudden appearance on his shoulder.
I'll make a roll and Zen you can just modify it to suit what you think I should roll against.
Reaction, Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 51d6 ⇒ 5
I'll take that as a success.
K'Don grumbles at the sudden appearance of Xvark and instead of just swatting him off his shoulder, as a poor reaction roll would have intailed, he begrudgingly tolerates the little guy on his shoulder.
ZenFox42 |
A few moments later, a...very large metal box...with windows...(sort of like a large carriage) comes swooping out of the sky from the west. There are bright lights coming out of its four bottom corners. It continues to drop, getting closer and closer to you. As it settles to the earth, you feel a hot wind coming from it.
As it settles to the ground, the bright lights and the hot wind fade out.
ZenFox42 |
As K'Don approaches the metal box, about the size of a small one-room house, everyone hears a hissing sound, and part of the box starts to unfold, lowering to the ground to make a ramp.
You see what can only be described as a human-sized insect walk out on two legs. With one of its four arms, it holds up a translator ear bud for all to see, and inserts it. It gestures for you to do the same.
Once that's done, it says "We believe that particular threat to your civilization has been removed. There was a large underground...factory...creating war machines. It has been completely destroyed."
ZenFox42 |
"What more explanation is needed other than the threat has been removed? There was a huge...city underneath that mountain, populated mostly by creatures like that one" (pointing at K'Don) "that were creating weapons and...machines of large-scale destruction. They have been destroyed.
We are the...'Thranx' would be the closest word you could pronounce. We heard of you thru tales of your exploits on the prison ship, and would ask your assistance with a task."
Xvark |
Xvark didn't like the proposal - once they were on the ship, how could they refuse the task if they didn't like it? - but he could see the four-limbs were intent on going, so he shrugged and rode K'Don's shoulder as they approached the ship. He took in the ship's lines and form with dark eyes; what sort of ship was it? A lifepod, maybe?
Xvark |
Xvark nodded to Marko, as he had seen other four-limbs do in the affirmative, but he didn't elaborate. Time enough to do so when the Thranx weren't listening. He understood that they were very literal and emotionless beings, but that didn't preclude them from taking offense.
Xvark sat down on K'Don's broad shoulder, dangling little feet. "Going okay with me. You?" He looked at K'Don, Marko and the young, dangerous hoo-man with depthless eyes.