Yanistah profusely thanks Eizzach as the scholarly gnome handles her the requested items.
"I used to own a similar set, back in Magnimar. I remember staying up late in the dim candlelight, writing notes and deciphering old tomes chronicling the mysteries of the High Heavens. How far seem those times now" she sighs as if talking to herself, wielding the pen with some sort of nostalgic care. Seeing the expression of discomfort in the gnome's face, however, she's quick to focus once again on the present issues. "But I'm bothering you just as your ailment's spreading - even when the only one who can do something about it is none other than you. Please, don't delay taking care of yourself any further on my account" she deferentially says.
After a little while spent in a futile attempt to sketch some sort of map, Yanistah quickly realizes how taking her innate sense of direction and transposing it on paper would prove a more difficult task than estimated - leading her to try to enlist Lalaru's aid in the matter.
"You see, if this thing I've drawn right here is that cliff, and this is the river we've been following... Wait, I think I'm getting this all wrong" she blurts out, frustration very plain in her voice.
You wait out the heat of the day, then begin the long trek back to camp. You follow along the river, making your way to the camp. Travelling along the river is easy, until you come to the head. You begin travelling across land and learn that travel is much slower this way. You estimate you are still 2 hours away from camp by the time the sky begins to darken.
Such a fool I am - or did I think that making our way through this jungle would have been as easy as strolling though the Varisian highlands? I still have so much to learn about this world - Falayna wills it that I live long enough to actually have the chance...
"The sun's setting and we're still a couple of hours away from the camp - shall we press on?"
I'd rather not sleep in the bush. I say we press on to camp.
Vazio will cast Dancing Lights for whoever takes the lead.
"Agreed. Hopefully we'll make it back before too long."
Beginning to feel a bit better, Eizzach had taken a brief interlude to see to Malthu's treatment.
Eizzach tries unsuccessfully to apply the same paste to Malthu's rash, but it doesn't seem to respond as well. You move forward in the darkness, opressing sounds all around you. Animal noises come close, but none seem to come too close, until as you finally come close to camp, you hear the sound of large wings overhead. As you look up into the night sky, whatever creature was there seems to be gone, but you can still hear it's wings retreating into the night.
You make it back to camp without any further incident. When you arrive, you find that there is a small pile of food, waiting in the trees. It seems Sasha was able to find 8 lbs of food.
"Doubly agreed, we don't know what comes out at night in this place."
You move forward in the darkness, opressing sounds all around you. Animal noises come close, but none seem to come too close, until as you finally come close to camp, you hear the sound of large wings overhead. As you look up into the night sky, whatever creature was there seems to be gone, but you can still hear it's wings retreating into the night.
"This island has a way with sating one's curiosities - in all the wrong ways" Yani tries to joke, discomfort quite palpable in her voice.
You make it back to camp without any further incident. When you arrive, you find that there is a small pile of food, waiting in the trees. It seems Sasha was able to find 8 lbs of food.
"Nice work Sasha - I've tried to do some foraging of my own during our scouting but I'm clearly not quite the huntress you are. If you don't mind, we'll gladly have dinner now; I can't speak on behalf of the others, but I'm starving".
Later, as they're sitting by the fire eating, Yanistah takes out the map she and Lalaru have been drawing, describing their findings and recounting the events of the day.
"Master Vazio suggested - and both me and Eizzach agree - to move our camp further south. This location right here" she dryly says, pointing at the map, "would provide us with a continuous supply of fresh water as well as being better defensible, nested as it is between the river and a cliff. Moreover, it would give us scouts a more advanced starting point for our expeditions" Yani concludes and falls silent, allowing the others to give the proposal the proper thought.
Nichelle was sprawled out near her alchemy apparatus, and raised her head as the others returned. "Oh hey guys! Any eventful happenings?" While she had not exactly lain around all day, she was tending to the apparatus more than anything else, and was feeling the fatigue of the heat that had faded and the cost of paying attention to something for so long. Her head flopped back down onto the leaf that she was using to keep the sand out of her hair. "Meet (and defeat) any locals?"
"Not really, no. We spotted some sort of flying predator's nest on a cliff just east of here, and we heard a very ominous flapping of wings on our way back to the camp" she recounts, still shivering at the thought. "But as far as encountering any locals, be they people or beasts, we've had no real occasion of truly flexing our muscles".
"Still, we've found some traces left by Captain Kovack and that Varisian scholar. They're still alive - and apparently headed for the interior, whatever they might be looking for there" Yanistah adds, showing Nichelle Ieana's scarves.
Right. So we know there is something big and nasty that flies out there. Anyone on watch tonight needs to keep that in mind. I'll take the middle shift again.
After grabbing a quick bite, Vazio finds a spot to curl up and fall asleep.
"Last shift for me, then, same as last time," Eizzach says, settling down by the fire himself. "Hopefully this blasted rash will clear up by then."
"Speaking of which, sorry that I couldn't help you much, lad," he says to Malthu. "I'll give it another go tomorrow."
Jask thinks carefully about Nichelle's question. No. I have no stories about glass and rain, though I feel I ought to. There are many stories that use such images as this to start.
Gelik speaks up at this point, Oh, aye, there are. The gnome proceeds to launch into one. Though by the end, glass and rain are long forgotten, as the story mostly concerned two lovers torn apart by strange increasingly bizarre and ridiculous situations. Finally, they are brought together and realize they can't stand one another. The story ends as they match away, each catching the eye of another and falling in love again.
Then all listen as Yanistah presents the plan to move. Most of the others seem amenable to moving the camp. Sasha speaks up for a moment, saying she won't be able to gather as much food on the move, but does not seem to think it a major objection. Once it's decided, Sasha comes back and begins asking eagerly after the flying creature. Did anyone see it? Is it very dangerous? I wonder if we'll get to see some when we move the camp. She wanders off, still talking about the possibility of seeing the creature.
Eventually all are left to sleep. The night passes with little incident. The glowing water starts up again
Then all listen as Yanistah presents the plan to move. Most of the others seem amenable to moving the camp. Sasha speaks up for a moment, saying she won't be able to gather as much food on the move, but does not seem to think it a major objection.
Yanistah reassures Sasha on the matter of foraging, promising that both her and Malthu will lend a hand in that regard.
Once it's decided, Sasha comes back and begins asking eagerly after the flying creature. Did anyone see it? Is it very dangerous? I wonder if we'll get to see some when we move the camp.
"I'm sorry Sasha - we've just found its nest and some markings. Personally, after the skirmish with those sea-creatures yesterday, I counted myself lucky to avoid it".
She would then volunteer to take first watch duty again, using the time to perform her daily obediences to Falayna. The day has tired her more than she would admit, though, and after halfheartedly performing some gymnastics by the light of the iridescent waters, she's already half-asleep once it's time to wake up Vazio.
Eizzach wakes up for his share of the watch period before the dawn, where he can spare the time to prepare his extracts for the day while on lookout. The past night's sleep had him feeling much improved, and his rash from the viper needle plant had all but disappeared.
Vazio spends his watch time staring into the depths of space.
Well, we've made it through one day. There might be hope for this group yet. Let's see if we can all survive tomorrow.
EDIT: Upon returning to the camp, Xabala offers Aerys the berries that they had found by the river. "I hope that this can assist in your attempt to remove the yoke from your back."
---
Upon awakening, Xabala communes with the Elements through her monkey familiar, Bindi.
Aerys accepts the berries with a grateful look on her face. That night she retires a little away from the others.
The next morning comes, the sun rising off to the East. The night's chill flees away and the day's heat begins to replace it. People begin getting up and working about the camp. Eventually, Gelik approaches, Well, are we moving camp this morning?
"I should think so," Eizzach replied. "If we want to ensure that we're set up by nightfall we'd best be setting off bright and early. Everyone else in agreement?"
Well rested after a dreamless night of refreshing sleep, Yanistah is ready to spring on her feet as soon as dawn rises. She opts to take advantage of her early head-start to gather some fresh fruit and berries for breakfast, which she then proceeds to share with the group.
"If we want to ensure that we're set up by nightfall we'd best be setting off bright and early. Everyone else in agreement?"
Having little if anything to add to Eizzach's statement, Yani only silently nods in heartfelt approval.
"Nggghhh yeah..." Lalaru manages to mumble in agreement, still not used to waking up this early.
Still feeling guilty for the way she woke up Lalaru the day before, this time Yani goes for a softer approach, crouching beside her half-awake form and offering her some of the fruits she picked up.
"Time to rise and shine, Lalaru. I've brought you a little bit of food to break your fast".
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Once everyone's ready to depart, she offers to lead the group along the same route they took the day before, keeping an eye out for edibles as they make their way along the cliff.
At some point during the march, she makes sure to check on Aerys Mavato and her condition. "So... Did those berries we collected have some sort of effect? It took quite a bit of slashing and chopping to get to them - not to mention the scratches - but if it helped in easing your affliction, I'd call it an effort well worth the outcome".
Compared to cold stone floor upon which I used to lay my pallet back in Magnimar, this island's soft sands feel almost comfortable. But to a creature like her, used to sleeping lulled by the waves, they most likely resemble a bed of thorns - and yet, she has no choice in the matter if she wants to stay within the safety of the camp.
"Indeed. A pity the Jenivere's lower decks have been all but washed away, or we could at least have scavenged some more conveniences. Though even then, if we're moving our camp today as we planned, we would have had a hard time carrying them with us" Yani muses in sympathetic yet contrived tone.
Really? A palanquin? Who does the fish think she is?
Vazio decides not to say anything as the group makes its way back to the promising camp site location.
It only takes an hour, and the camp is all packed up ready to go. You look up at the sun. The day is already starting to heat up. You've still got a few good hours of travel, but perhaps it is time to get going.
Eizzach's shoulders bear a much more modest load this time around; he doesn't have an extract active this time, and the whole group is available now to distribute the weight of the gear.
"Shall we be off?"
Yanistah loads on her shoulders all the weight she can comfortably carry. "Indeed. Let's go" she answers Eizzach.
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"What's the new ~yawn~ campsite like?", she could not help but ask Lalaru, her curiosity getting the better of her, even when she still tired.
"Oh it's nice, plenty of shade and a nice stream to lounge in. Yani could give you a more detailed look, or you you could just let your imagination run wild and build suspense."
"Basically, what Lalaru said. It's nicely nested between a river and a cliff, so it should be easily defensible. There's a waterfall nearby, where the river reaches the cliff's edge. All in all, you might call it pretty... picturesque".
"Spares me some foraging..." Yani half-jokingly replies to Lalaru, cracking her knuckles.
"Life is full of surprises," Eizzach muses, "there's just no guarantee that we'll like any of them. Speaking of which, what do you think the odds are that we'll run into that creature that's been leaving tracks about the island? I'm hoping we can at least get the camp set up before the misfortune befalls of having it stumble upon us."
Traveling along the cliffs, you move by the nest--which is empty again--and make your way to the new campsite. You finally arrive around noon. You can hear the nearby river as it moves swiftly over the edge of the cliff. The lush green jungle that surrounds you chatters with animal noises. The heat presses down through the canopy of trees overhead. There is a nice clearing here that will work for a campsite.
Xabala smiles as she enters the shade of the jungle. "Ahh, this is closer to things I am familiar with, but may be more difficult to keep an eye out for trouble."
"Indeed - I hope the the cliff and the nearby river will make up for that. Any threat coming from the mainland would either have to brave a long climb or take a substantial detour to reach our position. At least - any non-winged threat" she adds, nervously eyeing the sky above.
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Even with the midday heat creeping upon the group, Yanistah figures there's not too much time to waste if they want to have a camp set up before nightfall; she accordingly takes it upon herself to start unpacking their things and arrange them back into an acceptable base camp.
To anyone offering to help before the heat wave has somewhat subsided, Yanistah politely declines, claiming that "There's no need for more than one of us to go through this ordeal - let the tough girl handle that".
Too busy sweating under the hot sun, Yani is caught completely flat-footed by Lalaru's coils wrapping around her and, before she even knows it, she finds herself grappled by the merfolk courtesan.
Panicking a bit and pushing with all her might, she barely manages to slip out of Lalaru's muscular tail before she realizes they're both rolling into the river. The nearby waterfall and her utter lack of natatorial skills, instead of escaping, makes her cling to the merfolk Lady all the more.
Even trying to cling to Lalaru to the best of her ability, Yani apparently makes a poor excuse for a swimmer; that, combined with the waterfall's proximity making her somewhat nervous, has her soon pleading her friend to carry her back to the bank.
"I'm afraid the old Varisian adage is right - Shoanti and water don't really mix. But thank you for trying to teach me nonetheless. One day I'll have you make good on your offer - though I hope you'll go for a... less enthusiastic approach" she says still coughing up water.
"As for breaking down... Don't worry. I can take it. Everyone has a purpose here: Eizzach's a scholar and a healer, Xabala's a wise woman... and I'm good at lifting loads and kicking things. Perhaps that's the plan Falayna had in store for me: end up here so I can help you guys escape this island. I'm just... trying to do my part in my own, limited way." She smiles shyly before resuming her work.
On the way to the new campsite, Vazio scans the skies for any sign of what built the large nest. Not seeing anything does not ease his mind, however.
Once at the camp, he helps with getting things set up. He watches the mermaid and the tall human horse around for a bit, but does not seem amused by the frivolity.
When it appears that people have settled a little, he says to the group:
Perhaps Jarsk, Aerys, and the others can finish establishing camp here, and the scouting party can return to the abandoned campsite we found yesterday. If possible, I would like to track down our former captain, and have him answer some questions I have.
"I suppose that's worth a try," Eizzach concedes to the halfling. "Assuming that the good captain is still breathing, that is. Still, morbid as it is to say, even the presence of a body can at least answer one question about what happened to him."
"But what then, is my purpose?"
"Making it out of here. There are cities like Magnimar where people would gather in flocks to see your performances - we would be cruel to deprive them of such an opportunity. In the meantime, I'm sure Alton's rapier will have its fair share of chances to be put to good use" she concludes with a wink.
Perhaps Jarsk, Aerys, and the others can finish establishing camp here, and the scouting party can return to the abandoned campsite we found yesterday. If possible, I would like to track down our former captain, and have him answer some questions I have.
"I suppose that's worth a try," Eizzach concedes to the halfling. "Assuming that the good captain is still breathing, that is. Still, morbid as it is to say, even the presence of a body can at least answer one question about what happened to him."
"It should be feasible. The trail they left starts not far from here. I can lead you all there if you so wish."