"Perhaps this is what happens when they're not kept in check."
"Just think if some of us hadn't killed Big Flappy," Douena opines loudly. "He would have been happy to hunt monkeys for us." She couldn't find a clear view of the stars from beneath the jungle canopy and found the primate screeches distracting in her time to commune with Desna and is in a grouchy mood.
Urza will take last watch. He needs his beauty sleep after all.
Urza will take last watch. He needs his beauty sleep after all.
Sleep is initially difficult this first night in the jungle, due to the noise. However, you've slept in jungles before, and while not as noisy as this, they could still be quite noisy. As such, you eventually adjust and fall asleep. Tiredness from the day's journey certainly helps.
Early in the morning, during Urza, Lorenz, and Shokambe's watch, just as the first hints of light are returning, the jungle falls silent. The only sound is that of Shokambe's knife against his latest wood carving, and even that vanishes as Shokambe pauses in his work and looks up in start. There isn't much time to think about it or react, however, as a couple seconds later, the jungle erupts once more with the sounds of monkeys.
"I'm glad they finally shut up. Maybe we'll be able to get some sleep tonight."
"I'm glad they finally shut up. Maybe we'll be able to get some sleep tonight."
"A little late for that, isn't it?" Lorenz says. "The sun will be rising soon."
He frowns as the noise starts up again. "Wonder what that was all about." He looks to Shokambe, who shrugs.
"It is unsettling," Shokambe says, "but probably nothing."
As the sun does start to rise, the monkeys are just as loud as always, and those who were asleep through it all never notice a difference. After a quick breakfast, you pack up camp and continue through the jungle.
Despite the continuous yells of the monkeys, you do hear other sounds in the jungle, particularly the nearby river. Most of the time, you're not able to travel right beside the river due to the jungle growing right up to its edge, but you can always hear its rushing waters nearby. Occasionally, the jungle opens up a little near the river, allowing some slightly easier progress, a chance to refill water skins, and even a glimpse of the sun--well, it would allow a glimpse if the sky weren't also overcast.
Shortly before noon, as you're starting to think about breaking for lunch and the midday heat, you emerge into a thin bit of clearing by the river side to see a populated area. Several hippopotamuses are bathing in the river, but also about are a number of lizardfolk, including two standing on a rock near a couple of the hippopotamuses. All the lizardfolk carry longspears and shields, as well as morningstars strapped to their wastes. The two on the rocks have their spears pointed towards the hippopotamuses, but you're not entirely sure if they're trying to attack or herd the animals.
The lizardfolk all look in your direction as you emerge from the trees. For a couple of seconds, they stare at you.
Back away from them with hands held up to the shoulder height.
Douena waves cheerfully and calls out in Polyglot.
Tar'kanas moves out to get a better view -- Untari close behind -- drawing his bow out as he does. "What is your purpose toward these creatures!" He yells so as to be heard.
The lizardfolk on the rock look confused as Urza backs away, Douena calls out cheerfully, and Tar'kanas calls out accusatorily. You're not sure if they understand Tar'kanas's words as #1 yells back in Polyglot.
"Tarkanas, put away your bow." Urza begs. "Just leave them be. It would be nice to not fight everyone we meet. Let Douena charm them then we can be on our way. Peacefully."
Tar'kanas turns to the half-orc, thinks on it a moment and then nods as he puts his weapon away and returns his attention to the lizardfolk.
The lizardfolk seem to relax a littel when Tar'kanas puts away his bow; however, they don't put away their own weapons. #1 on the rock speaks again.
She turns to Shokambe expectantly.
Shokambe speaks up.
The lizardfolk sneer as Tar'kanas tries to speak, and they ignore whatever he has to say. They listen to Shokambe's response, but don't acknowledge his question. #1 speaks to Douena again. He finishes by slapping his spear against his shield in a slightly threatening manner.
Douena smiles. "They say we should get water here because we won't have the opportunity for a while. Be nice," her glare seems to fall on Pezock in particular. "They're not sure they like us yet. Oh, and those are their hippos so we can't have them."
Pezock notices Douena's glare. "I'm always nice!" he protests. He then marches up to the river's edge and pulls out his waterskin. He stares at the lizardfolk as he fills up his water.
Urza follows Pezock's lead and gets some water.
You refill your water supplies, all the while under the watchful eyes of the lizardfolk. However, they don't make any aggressive moves against you (as long as you don't make aggressive moves against them). As you start north again along the bank of the river, the lizardfolk move aside to let you pass, each turning as you pass to keep an eye on you.
A low snarl comes from Pezock as you pass by #3 and #4, and they each take a step back, spears raised. But it doesn't escalate beyond that. Pezock snickers a bit one you're well past them.
-- no encounter
-- no encounter
-- no encounter
-- no encounter
-- no encounter
-- no encounter
The remainder of this day's travel is unremarkable. Indeed, the same is true of the next several days. The weather is hot and humid. Sometimes, you're under the full canopy of trees, and other times, you get to see a bit of the sky as you trudge along the riverbank. Every day around 1 p.m. or so, there is a heavy downpour that varies in length between 15 and 90 minutes, followed by a dense mist that lasts for another 10 to 30 minutes or so. There is frequently rain at other times of the day too, though you're generally spared getting too wet due to the canopy of trees. The cacophony of monkey screams is ever present, rain or shine, except...
Shortly before dawn each morning (during Urza, Lorenz, and Shokambe's watch), there's a brief moment when the screeching stops and the jungle falls into total silence. It only ever lasts for a couple of seconds, then starts up again. Each time, there's no indication of why, and nothing terrible comes crashing out of the jungle to attack. Nonetheless, the brief moment of silence is strangely ominous.
This day starts off bright and sunny (a rarity). A few rays of the sunlight even manage to penetrate the trees, bathing your campsite in a warm glow.
.
Makoa is on edge during the silence, eyes searching the jungle. Quiet forests meant something dangerous was close. Jungles were harder to see through though...
Urza looks forward to the few moments of quiet. He 'sets his watch' by it every morning.
"I have no explanation for it," Shokambe says in response to Lorenz's questioning. "I haven't travelled through this jungle very much, but the little I have, I've never experienced the monkeys shutting up like that."
"I'm just reminded of the strange things that started happening when we were on the Shiv," Lorenz replies. "They turned out to be because of that chupacabra thing. The things that happened were different, of course, but I can't help feeling they're similar somehow."
Douena gasps. "It's the ghost of Big Flappy!" she states with conviction. "He's returned to haunt us. I told you we shouldn't have killed him!"
"No, that wasn't what I meant!" Lorenz replies. "I meant it reminds me of the way Big Flappy stalked us, not that Big Flappy was back and doing it again! And if we hadn't killed him, he would have kept stalking us."
"How do you know he isn't still?" Douena argues stubbornly. "After all, he shows up during your watch every morning, 'Beastslayer.'"
"Pezock was just as involved in the fight," Lorenz retorts, "but there's nothing weird happening during his watch."
"Pezock is on watch with me," Douena reasons, unperturbed, "and Big Flappy knows I was on his side." She seems to sense the skepticism in the group. "No one believed me about the vampire snake-people, and they turned out to be real!" she reminds them.
Tar'kanas looks to Douena with a stone-like visage. Big Flappy and vampire snake-people. I dare not ask, he thinks to himself as he wisely remains silent.
"All I know is that I appreciate the few moments of quiet.... and that Douena has been right about many unusual things before. I can't say that I believe her, but I know enough not to discount her feelings. I'll be keeping a close watch next time the jungle goes quiet."
Mahjik nods affirmatively, "By all accounts, if there's something that can quieten a monumental horde of monkeys, it is likely dangerous. Hey... if there was a big flappy, what about a big monkey? Shokambe? Is there such a thing?"
Shokambe thinks for a moment and nods. "It's possible. There are certainly giant apes in this jungle. More than a few, I'd say. Probably quite a few big monkeys, too."
"All I know is that I appreciate the few moments of quiet.... and that Douena has been right about many unusual things before. I can't say that I believe her, but I know enough not to discount her feelings. I'll be keeping a close watch next time the jungle goes quiet."
"I'm not saying it's not something strange going on," Lornez says. "I said from the start that I thought it was weird and reminded me of Big Flappy. I just don't believe it's Big Flappy's ghost. Oh, whatever." He lowers his head and sighs.
"But it could have to do with the vampire snake-men. Which is the reason we're here in the first place."
"And vampire snake-ladies," she puts in quietly.