Lorenz watches the creature's birth from a safe distance with amazement. The thing looked remarkably repulsive but he was wise enough to keep that notion to himself.
"I think your plans sound like fine ones, Sasha," he said finally, his voice filled with wonder. [b]"They certainly act a lot like birds from what I've seen. And I'm sure it'll learn quickly. You already handle it so well!" He smiles broadly in admiration.
"Toss it up and down," Sasha contemplates. "Sounds good. Thanks, Makoa!"
When Douena responds, she looks at the gnome and grins. "Well, I'd be willing to throw you in the air, Douena, but the flying is entirely up to you. If you don't succeed, don't blame me. As for a name, I don't know yet. What do you think?"
"Thumb or Lil' Flappy Nevah." Makoa suggests. "Or maybe Dimo."
"You'll be staying behind to look after it, won't you?"
"Oh, definitely staying behind," Sasha says. "I'm not going to leave him sitting here undefended. When he's strong enough, he'll come hunting with me. Until then, the group's eating fish." She smiles.
"Oh, definitely staying behind," Sasha says. "I'm not going to leave him sitting here undefended. When he's strong enough, he'll come hunting with me. Until then, the group's eating fish." She smiles.
"Not out of your pouch, I hope," Douena says, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "Can I talk to him now?" She waits for Sasha's okay, then creeps up close to the tiny hatchling, her chin almost in the sand to look in his eyes. Hello, little flappy," she croons. "I'm your Aunt Douena. We're going to learn to fly together; yes, we are. Who's a good little flappy? Who's a cute little flappybite?" She sits up. "If he's a boy, maybe we should name him after the first mate," she suggests. "He's the one who saved us all and brought us to the island where we could find him." She eyes the flappybite critically. "Does he look like an Alton? Or a Devers? Or a Matey?"
Mahjik looks very serious at the mention of Alton, his eyes becoming a bit misty. But then he nods, and smiles, "I think... I think that is a very good idea Douena. Please Sasha?"
Sasha contemplates for a moment and looks carefully at the little flappybite. It squeaks in response and she gives it some more food. "Alton," she says. "I like that."
"Alton's a good name," Aerys says. "I think I'll write a poem about him. Both the dimorphodon and the first mate, I mean." She wanders aside, a contemplative look on her face.
As the initial excitement over Alton's hatching starts to pass, Sasha carefully moves the nest and the little flappybite to the east side of camp, placing them in a more secure location under the back side of the giant crab.
"Alton's a good name," Aerys says. "I think I'll write a poem about him. Both the dimorphodon and the first mate, I mean." She wanders aside, a contemplative look on her face.
"Hope it's shorter than the last one she wrote," Douena grumbles under her breath as Aerys moves away. "Can I help you, Sasha?" she jumps up as Sasha begins to move the nest. "Can I carry something? Can we dress him up in little clothes? I think he would look good in a hat."
Urza wouldn't mind taking the day to rest at the camp. Trying to not look weak or sick he suggests, "We've been so worried about survival and getting off the island that we've not spent any time just enjoying the place. This is a fine opportunity for us to stop for a day and take in the beauty and wonder of the island." Urza sleeps the day away.
Douena spends some time tucking Urza into his bedroll and sponging his brow and is just about to start on Mahjik when little Alton lets out a squeaky squawk and Sasha decides to feed him again. Poor Mahjik gets a very rough and cursory tuck-in before Douena runs off to watch the feeding.
Mahjik's time is spent largely in quiet, sleepy contemplation - but since Urza, Jask and he are lying close together the occasional conversation lights up between them. Mostly encouraging - but for others it is hard to follow the slurry numbness-induced leaps of mental levity.
Makoa spends some time sitting against a tree before the urge to take his pack of phantom wolves and hunt becomes to much. He walks over to Lorenz.
"Do you want to help me with some hunting? I can't stand sitting around for long, and something other than the fish Sasha promised would be nice to celebrate Alton's hatching."
Makoa spends some time sitting against a tree before the urge to take his pack of phantom wolves and hunt becomes to much. He walks over to Lorenz.
"Do you want to help me with some hunting? I can't stand sitting around for long, and something other than the fish Sasha promised would be nice to celebrate Alton's hatching."
Lorenz smiles in surprise at the invitation. "I'd enjoy that. I think it's a good idea to stay close to camp for the day but it's also good to have something to do.
Quickly gathering up his equipment, Lorenz sets out with Makoa.
Quickly gathering up his equipment, Lorenz sets out with Makoa.
The day passes by nice and quickly. Mahjik and Urza manage to get some good rest and sleep most of the daylight hours away. Douena helps Sasha take care of Alton while Gelik does some comedy routines to keep everyone entertained. Lorenz and Makoa head out hunting and bring back some more snake meat and a monkey allowing for a change from fish in tonight's dinner. The hot hours of the day are made a little easier by a gentle breeze blowing across the bay. The breeze picks up a bit in the later afternoon, heralding a short thunderstorm that breaks the relentless heat.
As the sun starts to lower on the horizon, and you're about to prepare the evening meal, a cry rings out from Ishirou on watch. "From the jungle!" he yells. As you look to the south, you see several of the cannibals breaking cover and beginning a rush towards the camp.
Order: Lorenz, Urza, Aakif, Douena, Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou, Makoa, Aerys, Mahjik, Cannibals.
Up First:
Lorenz responds to the alarm without hesitation, striding forward as he pulls his bow free and takes quick aim at one of the cannibals before loosing the arrow.
"I really need to get a better bow."
Urza is wrenched from his day long lethargy by the war cries (dinner call?) of the cannibals. He prepares his crossbow to fire at the approaching enemies.
"Pezock!" Douena cries, shoving the startled little flappybite's nest under the skirt of the crabshell. "Take Alton in there with you where no one steps on him! Sasha, do you want me to stay and guard him, or will you?"
Lorenz's arrow scores a grazing hit across the cheek of the lead cannibal, who barely pays it any mind. Urza prepares his crossbow.
Aakif leaps onto Soulwind and has the horse moving in the blink of an eye. They charge forward across the sand. Aakif pulls out his falchion as they go, guiding the horse with his feet.
As they reach the cannibal in the lead, Aakif swings down with his blade, slicing across the shoulder. Soulwind kicks with a hoof but misses.
Pezock peers out of the giant crab. "What's going on?" he yells angrily. Hearing Douena call, he grumbles and continues moving around the crab, right up beside Douena. Sasha urges Douena to go ahead, so Douena moves forward. Sasha holds her ground, watching Alton.
Jask gets out of bed and peers outside, while Gelik begins yelling out comedic insults at the cannibals. "Hey, you in the lead! There's a big horse in front of you, you dumb idiot!"
Ishirou moves towards the cannibals, drawing his katana as he goes.
Next Up: Aerys, Mahjik, Cannibals, Lorenz, Urza, Aakif, Pezock, Douena, Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou.
Makoa sees the cannibals charging from the jungle and decides to go meet them. He takes off running, going right through the firepit as he does so.
Aerys follows after Makoa .
Next Up: Cannibals, Lorenz, Urza, Aakif, Pezock, Douena, Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou, Makoa, Aerys.
Mahjik finds himself acting on instinct, bounding along with gazelle-like strides his pained body being suppressed by years of training.
Mahjik runs up just behind Aakif and Soulwind.
The cannibals yell and scream and begin their assault. #1 steps slightly to the side of Soulwind while #3 moves into the space #1 just left . With wild abandon in their eyes they both try to grab hold of Aakif and pull him from the saddle. Aakif swings at #1 as they try it.
Aakif's blade slices across #1's chest, and the cannibal tumbles to the ground in a pool of blood.
Soulwind pounds #3 in the chest with a hoof, but only winds the cannibal.
Unfortunately, Aakif's attack on #1 leaves him unprepared as #3 grabs his leg. Luckily, though, he is secure enough in his saddle that the cannibal is unable to drag him out of it.
#2 charges at Makoa, waving a broken scimitar.
His wild swing, however, goes wide.
#4 and #5 each charge at Soulwind, hoping to knock the horse from under Aakif.
Their blades cut across the horse's front and neck, drawing considerable blood.
Next Up: Urza, Aakif, Pezock, Douena, Sasah, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou, Makoa, Aerys, Mahjik, Cannibals.
Lorenz continues to move forward even as he readies another arrow. He aims at one of the cannibals attacking Aakif and looses.
Urza moves to CU 172 and casts Shield on himself.
Lorenz moves closer and lets loose another arrow. It flies true and strikes through the shoulder of cannibal #3 . Urza moves up and casts his spell.
Misty shapes begin to form around Aakif as he raises his sword for another strike. He swings it down at the most injured of the cannibals attacking him.
Unfortunately, the cannibal manages to avoid the attack.
The cannibal, however, is unprepared as the strange mist batters at him and has real physical effect.
Then Soulwind's hoof connects with the chest of the cannibal and finishes him off. He collapses in the sand.
At the camp, Pezock moves over and reaches down to pick up Alton. The little flappybite squeaks and squawks as he does so. Pezock also begins yelling out towards the cannibals. "I've got an army now! You don't have a chance!" He follows this up with a string of foul insults.
Next Up: Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou, Makoa, Aerys, Mahjik, Cannibals, Lorenz, Urza, Aakif, Pezock.
Douena gives Pezock an uneasy look over her shoulder when she hears Alton squawk, not entirely sure the unstable bird-man won't throw the hatchling as a weapon, but reasons that Sasha is nearby and won't allow any harm to come to the flappybite. She runs up to Lorenz and touches him on the elbow. "Desna guide your arrow," she blesses him.
As Douena blesses Lorenz, Sasha eyes Pezock carefully and moves towards the fight, drawing her rapier and kukri along the way. She reaches Makoa .
Jask watches, but does not move in at this time. Gelik, meanwhile continues to make jibes at the cannibals' expense .
Seeing Sasha approaching #2 from one side, Ishirou moves into the opposite side and attacks.
Ishirou's blade carves into the cannibal's back. The native's eyes go wide from shock and he stumbles forward slightly. He's still standing, but he looks ready to fall.
Next Up: Aerys, Mahjik, Cannibals, Lorenz, Urza, Aakif, Pezock, Douena, Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou.
Makoa lunges forward and bites at teh cannibals thoart, hoping to finish him off quickly..
..and grins as the native drops to the sand, the blood making Makoa looks almost demonic as it drips from his fangs and moves to stand at Mahjik's side.
The cannibal goes down in spray of blood as Makoa gleefully joins Mahjik.
Aerys moves up closer and prepares to attack any cannibal that moves a little closer.
Next Up: Cannibals, Lorenz, Urza, Aakif, Pezock, Douena, Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou, Makoa, Aerys (subject to readied action).
Mahjik shuffles around Aerys and elbows the cannibal before him.
The cannibal ducks easily beneath Mahjik's blow. He and the other cannibal still standing obviously decide they've taken on more than they can chew. They pull aside, carefully avoiding Mahjik and Aakif, and then darting into the jungle .
Next Up: Urza, Aakif, Pezock, Douena, Sasha, Jask, Gelik, Ishirou, Makoa, Aerys, Mahjik, Cannibals.
Douena watches the survivors melt into the jungle with consternation. "They know where we are now. They'll be back with more of them. We're running out of time!" She looks around the group helplessly. "Pezock! You think that crab of yours is portable?"
"Yeah, run, you cowards!" Pezock yells after the fleeing cannibals, who most likely don't hear him. He looks at the little baby flappybite which is squawking in its tiny voice. "Don't worry, little one, you can eat the ones that didn't get away."
Hearing Douena's question, he turns to look at her. "Portable? Do you see how big it is?" He shakes his head in wonder.
Makoa moves forward and growls something in a strange language that sounds like a order. The vines and roots around the cannibals begin to lash and grab at them, his phantom wolf pack trying to hold them in place...
Lorenz moves forward another 20 feet, even knowing that there was very little chance that he'd be able to hit one of the fleeing cannibals and shoots again.
Lorenz looks to Douena and smiles broadly.
"Good. Let them come. If they attack us on our own ground, we'll have the superior position. They can't sneak up on us with the jungle so far away and they'll only thin their numbers. I think we want them to keep coming here, Douena. That's only good for us. With our numbers and our abilities, they might as well try to attack a stone. Have you seen how poor their weapons and armor are?"
Despite the distance and cover, Lorenz actually manages to hit one of the fleeing cannibals (#4).
Everyone else has basically considered the battle over, but suddenly the plants in the jungle begin to twist and turn. The cannibals cry out in alarm and surprise.
The two cannibals manage to duck and twist between the shifting vines and roots and remain mobile. Screaming, they keep going.
Astonished at the way the jungle awakened to grab at the cannibals, Lorenz almost forgets to act. Then he runs forward.
"Maybe we should try to capture one for interrogation!" he shouts behind him. "If we can learn more about their numbers..."
Mahjik barely breaks his stride as he sees the jungle come alive. "Douena? Since when does Desna help you so directly?" He moves as far as he can to follow the cannibals.
Douena checks on the fallen cannibals. She makes no move to help the ones that are bleeding out, giving them each a grudging send-off into the next world: "Get them where they're going quickly, Desna; we don't want these coming back again." The third one, she hesitates over. "We have one alive, Lorenz," she calls after him. "Whether we want him or not," she grumbles under her breath.
Mahjik pushes his way into the jungle, getting close to the edge of the entangle effect as the cannibals push towards the other side of it. Lorenz runs up to the edge of the jungle.
Vines and roots wrap around the legs of #5, holding him back while number #4 continues on and gets free of the entangled area. #5 struggles to free himself.
He manages to pull the plants off him and continues on. He's fallen some distance behind #4. However, he is still well ahead of Mahjik, the closest party member, who will have to either go through or around the entangle effect (unless Makoa dismisses it).