From her look out spot Lady Silvermoon she points at the sand some ways off to her left calling out to the others
"Something moving under the sand over there"
Baldwin shook his head, furrowing his eyebrows as he tried to make sense of the memories making themselves known in his head. He shook out his head, and then the rest of his body; he didn't have time to contemplate this now, they need to search those ships and then get where they can take some shelter.
And then Roger was here, even larger than he was before, back at the hospital. For some reason, this did not bode well with Baldwin. Not one bit.
Once she has a good look at the fog she climes down again
then coming back over to the group she says.
"We need to get inland fast, I have a really bad feeling about that fog."
Starts pulls her revolver and starts walking inland, not waiting to see if the others follow. she says back to them in a joking voice.
"Are you big brave boys coming, or dos a Lady have to face the wilds alone?."
She looks very small and vulnerable compered to the vast continent in-front of her.
Roger glances around and says "Alright, lets go see what is about, eh?" Roger unlimbers his blade and makes his way to the front of the group. Just to loosen up, Roger begins swinging his blade in a lazy arc and clearing a path ahead.
"Ah yes." Baldwin moved with the group, hoping for the best. A cold feeling tugged on one of his ears as they moved, and he steeled himself for whatever was to come
Man! Scared of some sand and storms. Still, not much reason to stay here...
Jack starts walking into the forests
and then in a 'quiet' voice "Did you see anything?"
Sallrana falls waits for John then walks next to him, letting the two big males cut the vegetation to make a path for her and John.
"That city looked some 6 to 7 days hard march from here.
She puts her revolver away and takes out her compass again checking it.
"I took a baring with my compass so we will should be fine going in its direction even in thick woodland.
She calls out to the two at the front.
"I little more to the left gents if you please, that's the heading we are going for."
She then puts the Compass away takes of she shaded classes put that in her bag to, talking out a more robust pear of shaded goggles to replace them.
"Well I must say its not a very nice day for a walk in the woods John. Once we get away from the sea fog I thank as you said, shelter may be in order. Do you have any idea what time of day it may be?"
She seems happy they are in a group and moving, that off sea was very disturbing.
Leaving the sand behind you, you begin to make your way through the hulls and spars that litter the beach. Every now and then you see the remains of a person or animal, nothing more than skeletal and always incredibly old. Although this puts some of you on your guard for a while, there are no signs of anything predatory on the beach itself, and the remains are always in or very near to some of the more damaged ships - you would assume they are simply the bodies of those who died in whatever catastrophe took down their vessels (although after several miles of travel and no lessening of the number of ships jutting out of the sand, whatever the catastrophe could have actually been is probably playing on your mind...).
, your study of the fog reveals that it is rolling in off of the sea - probably an atmospheric condition, with no supernatural elements. Still, the speed of its approach is slightly worrying - at the current pace it will catch up to you just after dark.
As the lady predicted, evening catches you before the rolling bank of fog. With Jack and Roger clearing the way and Baldwin and John watching the surroundings you feel that you've made good time. The mountains seem no closer but you can just about make out the fringes of what seems like a forest in front of you, and small trees are occasionally evident growing between or through the corpses of ships.
, you keep a particular eye out for any more patches of shifting sand, but see none. You got a general sense of uneasiness from the one that appeared before you set off heading inland, and don't want to stumble upon one accidentally if you can help it.
jack turns to Roger as he speaks.
Unless the others call a hold Sallrana will carry on, pointing them at the trees, she had taken her goggles off not and seems to be seeing better in the darkness than she was in the light.
"We need to press on into the tree line and off this sand. It worry's me things are moving around under us. They seem to be slow, but if we stop what ever kind of thing it is will have time to catch up with us."
Baldwin eyed the sand critically, looking for any more suspicious moving spots. This whole ordeal was very unsettling. Weren't they suppose to go to the mountains to test their new prosthetics? Apparently whoever placed them here didn't want to make this test, if that's what it even was, any easier.
He was happy with his spot in the middle, feeling a bit more protected. Sure, he could take care of himself if need be, but unlike the others (or so it seemed) he wasn't used to this sort of thing. Give him a forge and an anvil and he'd be as happy as a lark.
He eyed the darkening sky, before turning to Sallrana. "I believe you're right. We should at least get to the trees. That will get us away from whatever it is under the sand, and hopefully shelter us from this storm that's brewing."
Sallrana nods at Johns words.
Again he spots that the others have missed, I can see why he was made an inquisitor.
"My thinking as well John, and they are old bones, have you noted the lack of items, armor and such. This has me thinking Wreckers more than anything. They where skilled fast soon after the ship wreck. This is a ships graveyard yet for so many ship to be here, there would have to be a truly epic shipping line just off the cost. The other explanation is a little more harder and supernatural. Something captures ships out to see then beings them here to feed. This is more a dinning room than beach. So saying that lets get moving shall we, in to the trees fast as we can, before what ever is in this fog gets any ideas about eating us."
She starts to run toward the treeline at light jog. She seems a lot fitter than may at 1st be suspected. She also dos not seemed to be fazed much about what is going on, she all calculating and decisive, almost as if she was tried to be like this.
Roger turns to Jack and says "I ain't seen nothing, except beach in both directions, and that" he says, pointing to the massive ship graveyard. Man, to be able to point at things again. Maybe the gods really do exist? "Ya, being able to stand is a minor miracle. T'was just thinkin on the fact that whatever gods did this to me, I should thank"
Since with the exception of Jack the general consensus seems to be to build a shelter, Roger moves to the first tree he sees and shouts "TIMBER!!!!" then begins swinging like crazy.
Roger lands a solid blow with his massive sword, and looks around for a moment before winding up for another one.
Seeing Rogers chopping she stops and says back to him.
"Little bit more inland don't you think. we are still in the mist of ship wreaks, some more distance in land would be better."
She she moves close to a wreck and looking around once more sending HexQin high into the Air.
Now they are some way from the site they arrived at she wants to know just how empty the wrecks are.
whats was also worrying her was she did not remember the operation that mended her brown back. Just some vague images and words, being away from the capital city and the treatments they had to offer she would not have had to make such a deal to get back on her legs. But being in the back of beyond she had to find help for herself.
Now She was the other side of the ###&&&ing contentment, luckily not alone but still. If she ever made it back to make a report it would be a long one.
She had to let all that go now, be in the here and now, deal with keeping alive and take it from there. The dull and stupid classed now at the Intelligence Academy now seem like the best rainy days she ever spent. It was the training that made her pack the odd thing in her bag, things now they would be very useful. Mind you the poetry books would have to go for kindling, so not all bad news then.
Then a thought hit her, "O gods what if I mean some wood Elfs, gods no, dancing round a fire, in leaf pants and spiking in the woods shooting bows. Hell's balls I hate bows, no hot paths, or indoor pluming and bear feet!."
She shuddered at the thought, wild Elfs where known to have no scene of decency going around half nude.
Roger listens to Sallrana and slowly lowers his blade, his grin sinking a bit. then he shrugs and goes to where the sand was supposedly moving and stabs his blade into the sand. Let's see what happens now Roger thinks, grin returning to his face.
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John hurries beside Shallrana
I would think wreakers, or perhaps salvagers too, but this all happened a long time ago. Also look how far inland some of these wreaks are. This place either has an incredible tide, or...I think it was a tsunami.
John turnns to Roger do you think you could make a little less noise, we are in a probably hostile place. Lets not draw attention to ourselves. If you want fire wood, gather some drift wood. There is plenty of it. As for shelter, lets move deeper in the trees. Does any one have a tent or canvas?
Turning to John, Roger says "You know how you survive in dangerous territory? I learned the answer to that question a long time ago. You find the biggest, meanest thing in the area and you kick it square in the jibbley bits. Besides" he says, a patronizing tone creeping into his voice, "we wouldn't want them sneaking up on us in the middle of the night and kicking us in the jibbley bits, now would we? better to get it over now, says I." As almost an afterthought, he says "Oh, ya, me name is Roger. Roger Hornsby, esquire, at your service" he says as he mimics the motions of doffing his hat.
Jack watches disgustedly as Roger tries to attack whatever creature lives here
How much like Man, to attack without plan or reason besides mistrusst.
Looking over Roger, it's clear that he has a cloak, his armor, and his sword...and that's it. no survival gear, no rations, nothing.
Baldwin agreed with John, looking around for some drift wood. "I don't have either of those, unfortunately. I do have some rope that we can use to tie up a tarp if someone else has one."
Looking at John and snaps her fingers as if she has just worked something out.
"I could have this all wrong John. what we could be looking at here is an inland sea. A land locked sea where this vast so called beach may in fact be whats left of the sea line as the seas waters evaporates away. That may explain the color of the water and the lack of life. Its caustic John, very high mineral content or such. That would also explain the bleaching and eating every thing like metals."
She looks around
"We could be looking at the outcome of a large very old geological event. An Inland sea where the sea bed was risen coursing a tidal wave that beached and mashed the ships around us, Hell's it must have been some event and some sea. A vast wave racing along the see and depositing the wrecks here."
Now you know shes not just a silly vain and air headed elf noble woman, the stuff shes talking about its cutting ages science. That and the fact she has a fire arm that seem to be far more complected than any, any of you have seen before. Points to this Elf noble woman being far more than she looks.
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John looks at roger with a cold glare
This isn't a back ally where you can bushwack some unsuspecting victim, or a prison yard where you can beat up someone to prove your mark. This is a howling wilderness, and thus far I have seen no water or game to speak of. Maybe you should stop being the bravo, listen up and learn . Then perhaps you might live through this. Stavation is a cruel death, and dying of thirst is worse.
Then in a more conciliatory tone he says Roger, think about it. Do you even have any food or water? Anything but your sword and armor? I have some food, but not enough for all of us, not for long. We need to work together.
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Looking at John and snaps her fingers as if she has just worked something out.
"I could have this all wrong John. what we could be looking at here is an inland sea. A land locked sea where this vast so called beach may in fact be whats left of the sea line as the seas waters evaporates away. That may explain the color of the water and the lack of life. Its caustic John, very high mineral content or such. That would also explain the bleaching and eating every thing like metals."
She looks around
"We could be looking at the outcome of a large very old geological event. An Inland sea where the sea bed was risen coursing a tidal wave that beached and mashed the ships around us, Hell's it must have been some event and some sea. A vast wave racing along the see and depositing the wrecks here."
Now you know shes not just a silly vain and air headed elf noble woman, the stuff shes talking about its cutting ages science. That and the fact she has a fire arm that seem to be far more complected than any, any of you have seen before. Points to this Elf noble woman being far more than she looks.
John thinks about that for a minute.
Perhaps. But I can't think of any where on the continent there was an inland sea. But it could be. You looked at your compass before. What direction are we heading, north or south?
She takes out her note book and Pen making some notes in the dusk-light
"Listen to what the John says Rogue, it may be the fast time in your life a Judge ia actually trying to keep you alive."
She smiles at this and go's back to her notes reading off
"The sea is to the north of us, I place us the other side of the Katterfein mountain range from Barrjka City John"
Although there are now trees around you, they're sparse - equal in number to the ships, no more. What you would think of as the 'forest proper' is still some distance away.
Roger, you stab at what you think might be a patch of shifting sand and withdraw a skewered crab on the end of your blade - too small to have made the first disturbance, some miles back, but possibly edible all the same.
When Roger hits the tree the wrecks around you tremble slightly, and you feel a cooler breeze than usual along your exposed skin.
Jack is clad only in simple clothes, a large satchel slung over his shoulder, and carrying a broken stub of ship as a club.
Sallrana stands and looks then it becomes clear, she points
"John I am wrong again, when one has removed all that is possible then only the impossible is left. I was not 100% but now I am, the ship wrecks are moving, shifting to point at us, it's just detectable but I have been keeping tabs and they are. The ships you are seeing did not wash up here, they moved here."
Then to jack.
"I agree right now we need to get away from the ship wrecks"
, the ships are from many different schools of design, some of which are vaguely familiar but none of which you recognise fully.
Walking fast to get to the mean trees She looks a bit baffled when she says.
"The ships here came from meany places, some the other side of the continent, that us a true sea, but this is not a true shipwreck site. I think the ships you see here where moved here by a means unknown, whats more they still have the power to move, slow but move they do."
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The ships are moving? Are you sure?
John looks at the wreaks in amazement.
Lets pick up the pace a bit, but lets move at a steady rate. A forest is not a good place to run in the dark.
In the growing gloom john suddenly says that's strange, I can see in the dark now. As he turns to face the others they see that his eyes are faintly glowing red. It is something you could miss if you weren't looking for it.
well that will come in handy
"spoken like a man who never had to fight off the rats and other ..... things for a crust of bread. A jungle is a jungle is a jungle, even when it's a desert." Roger suddenly becomes very still, cocks his head, glances at the wrecks, and says "Well, looks like we got the attention of the biggest bloke in the room. "
Looks over at Roger.
"See John, he's spotted it to, So lets shake a leg shall we, and get into those woods. If any one needs light let me known but it would be best if we went on in the dark."
And she speed up walking to the woods.
"Come along, lets not get the ghost ships get us what."
"Thank you, yer highness." says Roger with a mock curtsy, the exact same grin still on his face.
Looks at Roger with a sweet smile and says.
"Why Mr Horsby I did not suspect you where so skilled in the fine art of subsequence. Lumber jack and path clearer and now this. You really are a man of some talents, what ever will you astound us with next."
She turns and is once more walking at pace.
Baldwin gave a minute shudder. This place gave off almost the same feeling as his little friends on a very bad day; like the one that had taken his legs. The fact that the ships were turning toward them didn't feel like a good thing. "In my experience with things like this, things that make no sense in the regular scientific world, it is best to, if you'll excuse my vernacular, get the heck out of dodge." amAfter saying his peace, he followed along rather quietly, even if he was a might bit twitchy. The tinkling giggle that followed him sounded again, making this whole thing even more disconcerting.
You almost miss it as you travel past, but after another hour of walking you spot your first signs of what you would think of as life.
A bright red cloth hangs limply from one of the nearby wrecks, half-hiding the splintered wound in its hull. The inside is dark but John, as well as anybody else whose gaze is suited to the dark, can see a clutter of objects inside - bedrolls, waterskins and crab-shells litter what you can see of the floor.
The ship itself is large, sunk into the sand at a 45 degree angle so that the figurehead points to the dirty clouds above you. The prow of the ship is carved to resemble some kind of stylized toothy fish, and the vessel looks to be made from a mix of pale wood and rusting iron.
Sallrana keeping back from the mouth so as not be be jumped by any one in there, looks in to see what is there, but dos not go in.