Aury'tss decides to scatter the driest, crunchiest sticks she can find on the outside of the camp. Maybe this will help in case something tries to sneak up on us again. Hopefully nothing does, though!
Aury gets more comfortable in the camp, and picks all of the stones off of her section of the rocky beach.
"We should determine watches again. Grubgullet and I can go on watch first! Then we can go talk to the goat people in the morning, and try to trade for some clothing, or at least fabric to make some!"
"I'll be glad to take whatever watch we need me to take. I don't mind meeting the goatmen tomorrow as well, hopefully we can begin to create a lasting relationship with them."
"Hopefully they won't be too angry with us for being on their land, as that writing in the sky confirmed, it's sacred to them. But we don't really have anywhere else to go, unless they want to house us, I suppose."
While the others plan, Grubgullet entertains himself by trying to catch bugs in his mouth.
Day 2 - Evening
As the group settles in for a second night, secure in their new stronger shelter, they eat a solid meal of fish and fowl, accompanied by some edible greens. Everyone is a bit sore from the hard work. As the campfire crackles comfortably, you can tell further down the shore another camp has sprung up with multiple fires.
"Looks like the others have gotten through the day just fine, hmm? Maybe in the morning we will have the chance to talk to a few, and see what they experienced during the day." She sighs a little, "But I suppose we're the farthest north, we probably won't be getting much company!"
"I could even go scout it out, perhaps with one more of us, an see who it is."
"If it is some of our brethren, I would like to talk with them."
Well, we've already placed blind trust in a bunch of goatlings that attacked us without provocation. Sure, let's go hiking in the dark, through unknown territory!
Shaeyl shakes his head, why me. Picking up the crude wicker basket he'd spent the afternoon on, Shaeyl set his stone age, literally, tools into the basket and added some of the food.
Testing his leg, it was still sore from the battle that morning, he looked at the others. Coming?
"But why do you think we spent so long talking about watch shifts?" Aury asks the wayang, watching as he stands. "Just because we're not attacking them or watching them right now doesn't mean we trust them. That's why we're going to talk to them tomorrow, so see if we can trust them."
"I suppose going to visit for a bit wouldn't hurt." Aury places Wyrwin on one of the twisting horns growing from her head, and gets up as well, brushing sand off of herself.
Day 2 - Evening
You are pretty sure it is not Toleheimia's camp, but a goatling camp, and fairly large one based on the fires, which appear to be quite large bonfires. It is on the western shore probably between where camps 2 and 3 are/were. Its a good 2 mile trek for you of difficult terrain, it will take at least 45 minutes one way.
As the group moves towards the woods away from the camp, Aury yelps.
"I keep stepping on sharp rocks, can't we go in the morning when we're a bit more awake? We can't do everything in one day, after all."
Grub and Shaeyl 10:30-1:30
Shaeyl and Sly 1:30-4:00
Sly and Hseir 4:00-6:30 (Hseir fully rested, begins preparing)
Aury and Hseir 6:30-8:30 (Aury fully rested, begins preparing)
Others wake up around 9-9:30
Everyone prepared by 10:30am
"We could send one or two of us over, see what they're doing, who they are, and why they're here. I, of course, suggest myself."
"I don't want to talk to goat people. They poke hard."
"We could send one or two of us over, see what they're doing, who they are, and why they're here. I, of course, suggest myself."
Day 2 - Later Afternoon into Evening
As the goatling camp was being set up throughout the later afternoon and early evening, you try to make out what is going on down the shoreline but it is a ways away. The camp is big. You also think you occasionally see others from your previous groups there.
In the evening there comes a point where you hear the sound of trumpeting horns followed by two deep long heavy horn blasts. The lake seems to shake with the sound. You ponder the significance of that.
"Hmm. I still think we should wait until morning. We have a fire as well, should they want to approach us."
"Aww come on, if others are there, can't we go find out what's going on?"
Ok, let me know who is or isn't going to the camp and what approximate time.
Day 2 - Evening/Night
As the groups mingle amongst the goatlings, darkness rolls in. The large bonfires illuminate and warm the camp. Torches on stakes form a perimeter about the campsite. Lined at the shore are the funeral pyres for the nineteen goatlings and battle goats slain. While great honor is afforded those who fell in battle, there is some awkwardness as many of the killers are here in the camp, and despite their feelings about battle prowess and bravery you sense some remorse from the other goatlings, perhaps even some uncomfortable looks. As the last ray of sunlight passed beneath the tip of the western mountains, a small brazier was lit, when that brazier burned out a short time later, the funeral pyres were lit by shamans who sang a quick prayer in goatling. Those who have been studying the language make out little, but the basics involve the spirits of the ancestors guiding the fallen on a serene journey to the afterlife so that they may watch over the living and guide them in the future, in life and in battle. They speak of those who had just fallen as well as those who fell in battle or to other reasons in the past year. Music is played but the great horns and mighty drums are silent. Instead smaller drums, and lighter instruments are played, pipes and flutes and maracas made from gourds. The music is very fast and there is a lot of quick stamping designed to shake the ground. The sound of over a hundred pairs of goatling hooves on the rocky shore creates quite the noise. The wind blows the smoke, heat and luckily the smell of the pyres out over the lake to the east. The initial ceremony takes some time, and is followed by feasting with oat and seed cakes, dried fruit and some sort of fermented mash. For those who try the mash, it is quite sour, but packs a solid kick. Smaller dance circles break out and random music is played before the next ceremony.
Golden Ram is seated on a large chair overlooking the ceremonies, on a raised platform of wood and stone. He is surrounded by the Elder Council and his circle of grizzled warriors. Next begins a ceremony of the elements. It is explained that this will call spirits of nature and give thanks to the wind and rain, to fire and to the earth. It asks that those spirits continue to provide for the goatlings in the new year. All of the young goatling warriors form circles for this dance, and they begin to move in and out opening and closing the circles. The dance is not as quick as the funeral dance, less structured and more rhythmic. The music and singing is more sing-songy and they use a variety of instruments, some emulate vuvuzelas and others are like didgery-doos. The overall noise is like an ebb and flow of angry bees buzzing in and out. Golden Ram actually rises for this one and moves slowly in place, waving about a large sceptre in ritualized movements, with a little imagination you can see where the movements are designed to symbolize the elements as he moves through the motions. It appears to be largely ceremonial as those versed in spellcraft don't see anything arcane or divine actually happening. For all the singing, dancing and instruments you don't notice any spirits or anything very spiritual really, although perhaps more fermented oat mash might help.
Finally there seems to be preparation underway for the final Ceremony of the Lake. The great drums are brought forward and the giant horns are placed in position.
"Fine, fine. I don't see the need to exert ourselves further, but we can go,"
Day 2 - Night
After the Circle Dance of the Elements, things seem to quiet down as people prepare for the final Battle Dance. As it is set up some of the shamans and elders tell stories about ancient goatling heroes, and regale those who would listen with mythological tales.
The giant horns and massive kettle drums are manned by their musicians. Golden Ram stands on his platform and waves his sceptre. Everyone seems to quiet down. He addresses the assembled group, speaking, strangely enough in both Goatling and your ancient Common tongue, speaking twice in both languages. You suspect he may be aided by magic.
"Normally it is not the place of the Chief to attend the Ceremony of the Lake, this is for the warriors to demonstrate their battle skills, to come here and with the shamans, find their spirit with nature, and in battle. This year is special. Fate has sent us visitors from lands far beyond our world. These visitors have tested our warriors in battle, and our warriors fought bravely. Those who fell in battle today will be remembered, and those who lived through the battles will teach others. It is important that we learn from these visitors, because beyond our lands there are others who would see us gone. The dwarves and their allies take from our forests and dig in the earth for its wealth. Our lands shrink slowly over time, because we cannot match their magic and powerful metal despite our battle skills. These visitors have shown us that we are behind the times. I will speak with the visitors in the morning and see if they are willing to help us in exchange for our aid to them. Before we look to the future we must celebrate our past, and honor our warrior spirit. The Ceremony of the Lake is many things, but the Battle Dance is the culmination of the event. Our ancestors look on and the spirits of the world will judge us poorly if we do not show bravery in battle, cunning and stealth, resilience, wisdom and fortitude. Let the world know that our ferocity is strong and that our enemies will tremble before our battle drums!"
With his final words, the drummers all at once begin a thunderous attack on their instruments. The ground shakes louder than ever before, and the mighty battle horns are sounded, in what is a near deafening blast. None of you can imagine a time or noise short of something magic, or that of a lot of exploding black powder, that something was so loud. The goatlings assemble and begin dancing their Battle Dance. Their is a manic, fierce frenzy to it. Their eyes seem to glaze over a bit, and their movements and footwork are sure and quick. The drums hammer out different beats, and the horns, both the huge ones and the smaller ones, accompany them. The power of the noise shakes the lake, and you can see the water at the edge of the shore vibrating as tiny droplets spring up on the surface and plink back down with each blast of the horn.
As the dance and noise reaches a crescendo, a patch of fog rolls in from the lake, heavier and denser than the mist that formed on the lake as the evening came and temperatures dropped. There is a sudden surge as the waves slap the shore higher and higher, and you hear a mighty roar come from the water. Something big in the water is coming ashore....
Aury'tss looks alarmed, and tries to gather her companions to move away from the shore.
Aury looks around at the goatlings, trying to figure out what they are expecting and whether they are surprised at the roar.
The goatlings do not appear to use bows. You have yet to see one anywhere in their weapons. They are fond of spears and javelins or things like maces, clubs, cudgels.
A voice echoes in your head "Fear not mortals, I have heard your music and I have come from the waters to give audience." Within moments of that all of the large bonfires are extinguished, and many of the smaller perimeter torches are snuffed out. A few peripheral torches and the cookfires still burn dimly. "Behold the power of water over all! But do not fear, I do not come to harm, to maim, or to fight. I come to see your gathering at my lake." A huge shape takes form, emerging from the fog. A massive scaly turtle slips from the water onto shore. Its shell alone must measure fifteen feet across, and its overall length my be even greater, although much of it is concealed by the cloud of mist around it. In the near darkness, several small fires illuminate the scaly beast ominously. It lets out a long deep gutteral rumble, seems to sniff the air, and its large eyes move about independently taking in the camp and the party. The goatlings have all quieted. The music has stopped and the dancing as stopped. Somewhere, one of the goatlings half whispers
After that the hushed whispers increase among the goatlings and they seem quite excited.
"I am Akluzzar, ancient and wise. If you would come to me for wisdom, bring a sacrifice and receive my blessings!"
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Sly spends the early part of evening catching up on what the other groups had learned from the goatlings. However, the intensity of the battle dance causes him to seek out Aury'tss in case of malicious intent. As the water and fog finally part and she backs away from the shore, he puts himself between her and the 'water dragon'. "Sacrifice?," he mutters skeptically.
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"Well we know underneath those stones, now...", she responds to her taller friend.
Sly you know it is a dragon turtle. An Aquatic creature of the dragon type, with a wickedly dangerous ability to breathe a deadly cloud of superheated steam. They are also particularly adept at capsizing boats on the open seas.
At the mention that it is a dragon, Aury'tss looks even more alarmed than before. Remembering her time growing up under the tyrannical watch of a dragon that was quite fond of sacrifices himself, she takes several nervous steps away from the shoreline, staying behind Sly.
Probably a good thing you didn't knock on it's front door any harder...
Aury attempts to respond to the dragon turtle mentally.
"Yes that is where I sleep. Please do not enter my home, as I would not enter yours uninvited."
Aury nods, and then tells her companions.
"The stones at the bottom of the lake covered the Akluzzar's home, so we shouldn't go snooping there in the morning."
"I do not know where the closest city it. I know the dwarves have a fort near here. I know many of the large cities on the coasts of the human nations. Gerick, Torshire, Estwick, Narshalan, Campyonus to name a few. Have you ever been to any? Hmm, no I suppose you have not."