Based on his nocturnal activities, when Jolis clasps his shoulder in congratulations, Richard looks at his hand and moves away a little. Wash those in rum first man.
Jolis looks down at his hands, looking for something he can't see and walks away confused.
What is he talking about? Calluses don't wash off? Huh, intellectuals. What's ya gonna do?
...Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way
I can't wait to look in the mirror
Cause I get better looking each day...
----------------------------
....Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler,
The gambler,
The back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down....
-----------------------------
...Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!...
...Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way
I can't wait to look in the mirror
Cause I get better looking each day...
Miya is really happy with Reina, it was just nice to be with someone just for the pleasure of it. In the past it tended to be because of a contract or work. She has only been asked to kill twice and both times fate and stepped in to do her work for her, The 1st was a war band leader who got into a drunken fight and himself killed before she could do the deed, the other was the captain who had been lost in the storm. To just be with someone with out all that. At they they talked a lot, she wanted to know the history of the place, why the walls where broken outside, had there been a fight. Also the other villages, who lived in them. Also what of goblins and other underground dwellers, do the island have them under thire feet. Caves and such. What if flying thing, anything with a brain flying about?
She liked the cooking and the songs from Richard she did her best to learn. She spent time teaching Reina a few things, knife throwing and how to fight with the open hand and staff. She also asked Reina to show her how to Sow.
By the end of the week she was happy and when everyone looked at what Richard had done she was please they had done something.
When not learning from Seldarin, Lera seeks to find the juiciest gossip possible. She is also an incorrigible flirt but doesn't go all that far. None of the villagers really hold her interest for too long.
At the end of every evening, as the sun sets, Vitranna will climb the wall and play a song to the majestic winds of the island with her panflute...
Willing to issue some good ribbing as well as receive, Jolis asks Jhena, "So, what's going on between you and Kal? Huh?"
Jhena looks you straight in the eye, completely deadpan. "We have sex. But don't worry, I'm not the jealous type. If you decide to sneak into his bed when I'm not around, I won't get mad."
At they they talked a lot, she wanted to know the history of the place, why the walls where broken outside, had there been a fight. Also the other villages, who lived in them. Also what of goblins and other underground dwellers, do the island have them under thire feet. Caves and such. What if flying thing, anything with a brain flying about?
She liked the cooking and the songs from Richard she did her best to learn. She spent time teaching Reina a few things, knife throwing and how to fight with the open hand and staff. She also asked Reina to show her how to Sow.
While Reina hasn't seen many of the worst creatures on the island, she has heard stories about many of them. "There is a mountain on the far end of the island that people say is guarded by a dragon, but I think it's just some sort of giant lizard. They said it didn't even breathe fire or anything, so that's no dragon, right? I don't know about underground, but there's also a lake that's supposed to be bottomless, but no one's ever swam in it, so I don't see how they'd know."
"Gerard's village is on the west beach, and it's a lot like ours. Lots of kids and old people and wimps like me who wouldn't make it on their own. The other villages are all deeper in the jungle - that's where all the monster hunters and ruin divers go, and all the adventurer's like your friends searching for a way off of the island."
Reina is a quick learner with knives, but isn't as good with fighting close up. She is a good teacher though, and is able to teach Miya the basics of sewing over the few weeks together.
When not learning from Seldarin, Lera seeks to find the juiciest gossip possible. She is also an incorrigible flirt but doesn't go all that far. None of the villagers really hold her interest for too long.
Lera has no trouble finding gossip. Mary the halfling is especially chatty, and loves talking about what (and who) everyone else in the village is doing. Most of her gossip is rather shallow, but she does have a habit of letting slip important information that she doesn't know is important. That hard part is sifting through which tidbits are which.
Jhena looks you straight in the eye, completely deadpan. "We have sex. But don't worry, I'm not the jealous type. If you decide to sneak into his bed when I'm not around, I won't get mad."
Jolis chuckles, "Good to know." The big man was going to ask if Kal was the jealous type, but thought better of it: no need to create any tension between two strong personalities in the village.
"See ya later", said Jolis bidding Jhena farewell. The absalomian turned back to his fences, but not before getting an eyeful of Jhena walking away.You know. I'm getting good at this. Hmm. I wonder how much wood I would need to create a bar...
Valeriya also spent some time over the first week bartering for a new, lighter dress to better fit the warmer climate.
Packing this, her pouch now stuffed with herbs, her spell components, her bag, and her magical fox, she was ready for whatever the island outside the village had to offer.
"Hopefully this journey will end better than the last one. I have always wanted a real fur stole."
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Miya spends some time with the aid of some in the village making a long spear / staff.
She then works out with it to get the get it's feel
Richard, the usual early bird, gets up and tries to not to wake Megra. He had been bunking with the dwarf since they had started work together. He liked her work ethic and intelligence, but she had little in the way of a sense of humor. Still, It was a small price to pay for someone so efficient. They had accomplished great things in a short time.
Richard heads to the makeshift shower outside her hut. He broke out the soap from his pack. It would be the first and last shower he would have for sometime. The cold water and weak stream did not dull the comfort he felt from becoming squeaky clean. He dressed quickly. Today was the day that Jolis had decided on to head out at dawn. That gave Richard about an hour before meeting the others at the gate.
The scientist made his way to the workshop. He lit the lanterns and looked around. He felt that he would never see this place again. There was no rational reason for the feeling, but it none the less filled him with sadness. Richard pulled some notes out of his pocket and laid them on the table. He patted the top of them before gathering supplies. A going away present for Megra; step by step instructions to produce concrete.
Richard borrows a couple of machetes from the pile of tools. He takes a compass and the map. He planned to give them to Jolis to distribute as they hike through the dense rainforest. He also grabs the Ghillie suits, which had been made to roll up like sleeping bags.
By the time dawn breaks, Richard is waiting at the front gate with his gear. He is sitting on a stool that he borrowed from the workshop. He greets the others as they approach.
Lera inspects the Ghille suits. "Interesting but will it fit over my dress? I'm not much of a trousers person."
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Richard smiles They were designed to help us, should we need to set up an ambush. You just throw it over yourself like a cover and move into position. Richard demonstrates. Then toss it off and go to work. Richard tosses it off with gun drawn and makes bang, bang noises
"I can imagine wearing a dress can help keep yourself from overheating", said Jolis as he walked up to meet the witch and investigator. "You know, easier to cool off, just lift the helm and feel a refreshing breeze."
The big warrior takes the offered ghillie suit, and examines it. Notices the branching design, Jolis snaps the cuff of his sleeve of many garments to wear warm weather clothes that match the ghillie design.
"How have you two been?"
Richard arches an eyebrow at the question. They see each other every day especially at the communal meal. He supposed that the fighter was trying to make small talk. He hated small talk. We were trying to decide how many fatherless children will be born to this village in nine months.
"I tell you, Richard, that in terms of birth prevention, I am always careful", conceded Jolis, with a slight bow. "But I have not mastered your level of birth prevention, as to stay away from young maidens entirely, especially if they are half-naked half-orcs dancing in front of you."
"I've also planted some Night Tea seeds around the village. The women here should have plenty of contraceptives for years to come."
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Struck a nerve, did I? Richard says matter of factly. It's good to see you're not a sociopath.
Miya spent the last few days with Reine talking and enjoying themselves. She worked out more seeing how Richard had little use for in the village now the water pips where down. Reine was nice but Miya was getting restless. On the day of leaving they eat with each other in silence and then made thire way to the once there the the others can see her giving Reine a last hug and kiss before Miya joined them.
She now carries a long spear, but much more. She looks back at Reine once as her lover headed back into the village. Then back at the others with a smile.
"So time to go."
She said, she did not take one of the odd suits.
"Struck a nerve, did I?" Richard says matter of factly. "It's good to see you're not a sociopath."
"'Sociopath?' You call me a 'Sociopath?' How dare you! You don't know the first thing about me!"
Lera whispers to Jolis: "What's a sociopath?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
I said *not* a sociopath. And I was speaking to Jolis. Not everything is about you...ego maniacal narcissist.
"I said *not* a sociopath. And I was speaking to Jolis. Not everything is about you...ego maniacal narcissist."
"At least I don't have to make up words to insult people."
-Posted with Wayfinder
All words are made up. That's how language works. You ready to go Yoko?
"Came down, everyone", Jolis said, but with a slight edge in his voice.
"Everyone's a little on edge about our expedition. I myself had three different people beg us not to go last night. Let's not tear each other apart, before the jungle's had it's chance".
Jolis interposes himself inbetween Valeriya and Richard, trying to calm both down.
Richard pulls two machetes in a quick jerking motion with one in each hand.
Very comforting. Here take these. I'm not going to be the trailblazer.
Jolis takes one of the machetes and eyes the edge.
"Thanks again, Richard." Then, the big warrior slips the edged weapon safely on his hip.
Noticing Viska nearby, Jolis reaches down to scratch the fox's ears.
Looking to Lera, "I imagine you will be keeping Viska close as we travel?"
Viska leans his head to allow Jolis to scratch better. He tips affirmatively to Jolis' question.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Don't be afraid to ask Viska your question he is a smart, independent fox. He keeps close to me so I can protect him but he can also scout things out himself."
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In the pre-dawn light, much of the village is still asleep. Without the need for daily water runs, they have the luxury of getting a later start to their day. A few have woken up early, along with some member’s of the Grace crew (who have integrated well to day-to-day life here), to work on other construction projects. Most of the efforts have been directed towards building new living space, although steady progress is being made on the archer tower.
Kal and a few others meet you at the gate to see you off. ”Stay safe. Don’t be afraid to come back here if you find yourself in trouble,” he says, shaking hands with everyone.
”As long as no one is chasing you,” Jhena adds, drawing dirty looks.
----
The first few hours of travel are nothing unexpected. You’ve already scouted this far simply as a part of your daily chores and scouting. But with Grelda’s marching song encouraging you forward, it isn’t long before you’re in unfamiliar territory. The map you got from Kal has several fine notations and landmarks drawn on it, plainly legible but much too small to show up in a hypothetical art program that is not designed to capture such minor details. You’re able to keep the correct heading, even without any sort of path to follow.
Sensing something in the air, Valeriya casts her mage armor spell. "An armor against hate and rage; a force to surround and protect this mage."
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Jolis motions to the others to find cover in the nearby bushes. The big warriors brings everyone's attention to the carrion nest.
"Let's see if we can find a way around", whispers Jolis.
Having a large predator at our back might not be the best course. This might be a perfect opportunity to set up an ambush, before we are subject to one. Whispers Richard back
Seeing Val casting Miya follows,
As the other chat about what to do she runs each hand over the other arm and her clothing become green and brown matching the foliage.
"let me just see what we are facing"
She says, moving ahead a little of the others winking at
Viska as she dose.
She dose not move far, checking for web and trap as she dose.
Throughout the journey, Grelda set a lively pace on her drum. The steady rhythm fills the group with energy, allowing them to move twice as quickly through the jungle.
The half-orc notices some lingering tension between Richard and Lera, but decides it is none of her business.
When Miya goes to scout ahead, Grelda chants a spell to increase her speed in anticipation of a battle.
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"Good idea, Miya," Valeriya says as she uses her Sleeves of Many Garments to change her dress to a forest pattern to match her environment.
"Richard has a point. If anyone can hear the beast, we might be able to get it before it gets us."
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Richard breaks out his ghillie suit and quaffs two extracts. Lera, He whispers Can you set up communications so we can flank and still talk? The scientists moves in silently in as well.
Valeriya's eyes glow bright yellow and she intones "To speak a world away; whisper and it shall be on its way."
Lera's eyes come back to their normal mismatched appearance. "Remember you can only speak back to me so I will hear everything you need communicated through the spell."
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As Richard and Miya move forward, the amount gore and half eaten viscera becomes even more apparent. The nest, if one can even call it that, seems to be an opening into some sort of burrow. The closer you get, the more overwhelming the smell gets until it makes you feel like retching. Whatever vile creature would live in a den like this, you have yet to see any sign that it's nearby.
Contemplatively silent as usual, Vitranna holds her spear ready with both hands.
What kind of creature lives like this? Not even dragons would live in this filth! Reptile? Owlbear? Maybe...
Miya get to throwing range of the entrance.
"get yourselves ready, I'm going to flush this thing out."
She then puts her spear down and climes a tree, slowly and carefully.
Once in place she pulls out a flask of Alcamist fire, ready to throw it into the burrow entatence.
Jolis crotches down and moves forward to watch the flanks of the group around the nest.
As he moves forward, the big warrior replaces his machete with his crossbow, expecting trouble.
Wait Miya. There were to many carcasses with too little time between deaths. He could not imagine anything that would eat that much so fast. There was a strong possibility this was a pack predator. He looked for teeth marks on the freshest kill. give me a moment.
Hidden at the top of her tree she waits. As a Ninja she had no problem waiting, she was trained for it. She got into a position and had her bow ready, along with the flask of fire. The she was still.
Contemplatively silent as usual, Vitranna holds her spear ready with both hands.
What kind of creature lives like this? Not even dragons would live in this filth! Reptile? Owlbear? Maybe...
While you can think of many animals who would keep dead or rotten things in their dens, you cannot think of a single one who makes their den out of rot. The closest thing you can think of are certain insects and parasites that burrow inside of other creatures, but even that seems far-fetched for the sight before you.
Wait Miya. There were to many carcasses with too little time between deaths. He could not imagine anything that would eat that much so fast. There was a strong possibility this was a pack predator. He looked for teeth marks on the freshest kill. give me a moment.
It's difficult to tell which of these kills are the "freshest" but you are able to pick out one that hasn't started to decompose too heavily yet. Oddly enough, this one seems practically untouched, whereas the oldest bodies have several large chunks bitten out of them. Still, you are able to find enough to support your theory - there are signs of multiple creatures living in the area, along with fresh tracks headed west, in the direction you're traveling.
Richard says I found some fresh tracks. It looks like their pack hunters. I doubt, it's necessary to fire bomb the den. At best we'll be killing juveniles. Richard stands up.
Jolis, they head off in the direction of travel. If we can follow the tracks, we could either avoid or confront. Either way, we should be able to leave their hunting ground soon enough.
The big warrior nods.
"Sounds good to me. I don't want to stay here any longer than we have to", Jolis said, looking around the area in mild disgust.
Richard looks back at the fresh kill again. Untouched. Then it dawns on him in a moment of horror. Oh crap. It's a hatchery. Eggs planted in the host which hatch and eat their way out. He looks around at all the dead. This is not good.