Seeign everyone prepare for the hike to the cave, Silent goes to grab his pack, helping Jivaji with his animals in the meantime. As usual, something about him spooks the animals, but the bird-man's calming presence makes them manageable. Silent gives the Jivaji a helpless shrug before heading back to the front of the group.
As he passes Tam, he points to his shoulders questioningly.
Jivaji nods his appreciation to Silent. "Thank you. It is chore enough to lead a donkey while NOT in a jungle."
After seeing Silent's unspoken offer to Tam, Jivaji pipes in, "Say, Tam, I think Fazmir is familiar enough with you, if you wish to ride him. If you prefer not, we could certainly drape one of these elf girls upon his back. You would not mind that, would you Fazmir?" Jivaji pats the horse's nose in a familial manner.
"Silent, if you still have some of that greenery you found earlier, Fazmir will be quite friendly. I will take Asha, she would only make you regret your offer!" An amused chuckle gurgles out from the prominent beak.
Silent looks at the animals, then shakes his head. He pulls out his slate-board with a slight smile.
No thanks. I'll trailblaze. No need to make friends with future meal.
He grins broadly when he shows Jivaji the board.
Then, still smiling a bit, he takes his place at the front of the line, nodding to Mac and Aldo on his way forward.
Tam shrugs at Silent and nods at Jivaji. "I'll only slow you down, Silent. Besides, I've never ridden a pony before. I used to use them to haul lumber a time or two, but never actually rode one."
As Joe picked up the bound Drow, she begins to stir. "ugh. Ur...huh? What's going on? Where am I? Who are you people? What's going on?" Suddenly she starts wriggling and panicking. She over exerts herself and ends up wrenching on Joe. She is now awake but quite nauseated from the spider poison.
After Silent puts his board away, Jivaji cocks his head to one side, "well, Fazmir is no pony, to be sure.", he says to Tam, but then turning back to Silent, he adds "And he is DEFINITELY no meal. I hope that much is abundantly clear.
"It follows your command? And the cave is no more than an hour from here? That sounds reasonable to me."
"Sounds perfect, now let's get going, shall we?"
She speaks in a strange language, if you speak polyglot and make a linguistics score of 10 will allow to understand what she is saying.
She goes on complaining as you carry her to the new location
She speaks in a strange language, if you speak polyglot and make a linguistics score of 10 will allow to understand what she is saying.
She goes on complaining as you carry her to the new location
Linguistics
Feeling the nice stream of grossness shower him, "That's alright little lady, I didn't need that shirt anyhow. Or my boots. And I can change pants as well. Possibly check into some new armor. My belt isn't looking so good neither." He shrugs. "Got no idea what you just said but, I'm doing fine!" He says emphatically, with a big smile. "You ain't doing so good though by the looks of what you just spewed all over me. Don't worry, I got you, you gonna be all right. It's just some critter poison that's got your tummy all in a bind." He notices she's just staring at him blankly. "Cannn..youuuu..understandddd..me?" He asks, trying to be clear as possible.
At Joe and Gylwinth's responses, the Drow attempts to speak?. "You.....not.....enemy?"[/b]She asks in a very labored common.
"Right. We friend. We not hurt. We help." Eltumal says, trying to keep her calm.
A big ol' Joe smile forms, "Nooo! Heck no! We...are...here...to...help...you! We...gonna...be...friends. I...am...Joe. Jooooe. Or Mac. Whichever. Do...you...have...a...name?" He asks still smiling, hoping to keep her at ease.
I'll try and speak Elven to her.
She looks to the rest of you. She looks deep into Joe's eyes. "Friend? Joe. a smile slowly crosses her face. It bares a hint of maliciousness more than gratitude. "Joe" she gestures to herself. "Kaime" She puts her hand on Joe's face. "My Joe."
At Eltumal she looks at him with a puzzled expression.
Kaime goes back to admiring Joe.
Joe, oblivious to what a drow represents, blushes a bit with the attention he's getting from her. "Well alright! Kaime. Nice to meet you, Kaime!" He tells her smiling, then remembers, "I mean; Nice...to...meet...you...Kaime!" He says, mighty proud of himself as he feels he's making progress.
After nearly being devoured by Spiders, Nye needs a drink. He uncorks the keg and swallows down some of the amber ale. he trudges along morosely as the seek out the caves to create a hide out thinking that the sea would have been a much better choice.
Aldo stoically keeps watch as the elves communicate in languages that he has no knowledge of. " The cave shouldn't be too far now, should it?" He interjects, his eyes turning to look towards the sky as he ponders on how many hours of daylight they have.
Tam struggles to stay mounted on the mule, the unconscious form of the halfling Levis tied behind him. He attempts to follow the discourse between the dark elf and the others, but his grasp of Elven is limited to asking where the privy is.
"So, are we planning on staying in these caves for a while? I mean, longer than a day or two? If we are, I'd like to make some furniture, maybe a table and beds. I miss my bed."
Silent continues leading the group, using his blade to hack away impeding branches and plants for the pack animals as his eyes, ears, and nose constantly test the environment for threarts. Inwardly he laughs again the the funny bird-man's response to his joke. Everything's food if you're hungry enough… give it time, bird-man.
The thought makes him look back at the rag-tag group. He laughs at Tam's words. Poor guy... probably should just get used to the floor as a bed. For the millionth time he evaluates them all, the survivors, the fighters, the useful, and the dead-weight. He watches their new arrivals, too.
At best they might be willing to help us out here… at worst? Well, I'll have to make sure to keep a watchful eye on them.
He goes back to watching as he pushes on through the endless jungle. Should be getting near that cave now.
Kaime looks at Gylwinth and then glares at him. She then turns her attention back to fawning on Joe. "My Joe." She is caressing his cheek and just looks at him with complete fascination.
After a good hike, you all arrive at the cave. Just as it starts to rain. The fog lingers several feet behind this cave. Once inside, you notice that it seems quite cozy, The is grass that seems to act like carpeting and several smooth rocks that look like they'd make good stools, or even a couple big enough to act as beds. The cave goes about 80 deep and is 45 feet wide. There is also a loft in the wall 20 feet in and to the left of the entrance. The loft is 5 feet off the ground. It is 2 feet high, and 10 feet wide. It appears to go about 20 deep. There is nothing living in this cave that you can find. Though with the grass everywhere, there is no where to safely build a fire.
Joe as you try and set the Drow down, she puts her arms around your neck and pulls you in for a kiss. Just out of the blue, no warning, and clearly to the rest of the group, no notable motivation.....except that Joe must simply be that attractive......to her at least. When she is finish, takes a moment, she simply pulls back smiling, "My Joe." She says again.
Tam stares at the dark elf and her new toy. "Um, guys? What did you say to the dark elf? Did you sell her Joe? Not that I'm against that, since he seems pretty into the idea, but did we at least get a good price for him?"
Jivaji had begun to unburden Asha when the drow woman displayed her affection so amorously. The sight causes him to pause for a good 6 count, before continuing his task. "I will, um, check out the cave... just... 'holler', if you need us Joe." Jiviji snickers too himself as he secures Fazmir and Asha, then gives the cave a thorough inspection.
The fog wall is about 160 feet behind the cave entrance. The cave does not go into the fog.
Joe, caught by surprise from the drow woman's actions, doesn't fight it one bit. When she pulls away, Joe's face turns a bright new shade of red from this newfound attention from her and the comments made by the others. Unable to stop smiling, he speaks to her in an dreamlike state, "I tell you what Kaime, I sure like being your Joe." He says, still smiling, as he completely forgets about putting her down.
Silent watches Mac and the dark-skinned elf for a few stunned seconds before shaking his head. Awkwardly he disengages himself, pausing only long enough to catch the scent of the three strangers before helping Jivaji do a fuller search of the cave.
When people begin looking settled in and an opportunity presents itself, he pulls Eltumal, Tam, and JIvaji over to an unused portion of the cave.
He pulls out his slate board, on which he's written a simple message.
Hand Speech Lessons?
He then signs to Eltumal.
For whoever sticks around to learn, Silent surprises you by being a decent teacher. Despite his rough appearance, he has a quick mind and a patient temperament, going over a concept or sign as many times as it takes a person to pick it up.
Once their first training hour ends, he thanks everyone in Hand Speech, expectantly waiting for them all to respond in kind. Then he finds whomever is on watch and relieves them. As they walk back towards the cave, he pulls out his slate board.
Tell everyone I'll whistle if there's trouble. Wider patrol area this time. Yell if I'm needed.
Then he nods, putting up the slateboard and pulling out his curved blade before disappearing into the jungle.
After thoroughly inspecting the cave, Jivaji collects his animal traps, and attempts to trap all of the obvious pathways to the cave mouth, targeting the choke points between trees. He leaves the largest and most visible pathway open. On this pathway, he runs his string under a cover of leaves, taut but invisible. To the end of this string, obscured by a mass of leaves at the base of a tree, he ties a clear brass bell.
He then enters the cave again. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have set traps around the immediate perimeter of the cave mouth. I have struck small marks on the trees directly to the right of each trap, but you can avoid them altogether by only entering and exiting the cave entrance area by the main path, between the large flowering jungle bush, and the palm tree." He emphasizes his reference by pointing directly out of the mouth of the cave.
"That pathway is also trapped, but with a bell alarm. Simply avoid the decaying fern leaves upon the ground. Or, if you wish to alert us all to your presence, do not!" Jivaji chuckles momentarily at his own joke.
After finishing his presentation, Jivaji finds himself being led away to a secluded area of the cave by Silent. Upon reading the chalkboard, Jivaji's eyes light up, and he nods agreeingly. "Yes, a good use of our time, indeed."
Jivaji proves to be a very good student, primarily in his ability to mimic the hand-movements so expertly, but also is moderately adept at remaining sharp and focused. At the conclusion of the lesson, Jivaji echos Silent's address
While discussing watch order, Jivaji pipes in "I do not mind taking any watch, I can see well in the low light, much as I suspect some others of you can. Unfortunately the moonlight will provide us no benefit at night time, I suggest that, unless one of us can see through the dark, we remain at the cave mouth during the night."
Tam enjoys the sign language lesson immensely. When Jivaji begins to speak of watches, he nods. "The Beast can see in the dark, though I cannot. I will take watch during the darkest of the night."
Joe coming out of his reverie, gently puts her down, speaking to her as slowly as possible. "Gonna. Go. Help. Others. Be. Right. Back. Kaime." He tells her unable to keep the smile from fading. Strolling over to the others with quite the confidence, "Alright fellas, I can help with a watch. It'd be best if I took one during early morning or just before sunset. I can't see too well in the dang dark." He looks over to Tam, nudging him in the shoulder. "No, little buddy, they didn't sell me to her." He looks at him sternly, but then breaks into a wide grin. "But she sure is a cutie, ain't she?!" He slaps him on the back. "Whooo!"
Joe's "slap" sends the halfling to his knees, coughing on the cave floor.
Jivaji begins to set up traps after the sign language lessons. Jivaji manages to find many fallen and broken branches from which to make furniture and more traps. However he is only able to find enough food for himself.
Joe sets Kaime down. She reluctantly lets go. Once Joe leaves her, she begins to pluck webbing out of her hair.
The rain is falling harder as night begins to fall. Watches commence.
When Tam's watch comes, he takes a minute and concentrates. Suddenly his form begins to glow and is enveloped by the white demon ape with the burning red eyes. It lopes to the entrance to the cave on all fours, hunkers down on its haunches and stares off into the dark night, occasionally picking a flea from its fur and munching it contentedly.
Perception: with darkvision
On his watch, Aldo will do his best to conceal himself, and watch the cave entrance diligently, as he had been trained by the Darpuul Town Guard.
Jivaji returns from his day watch with a double armful of branches, some rather sturdy looking, and some looking supple and sinewy. "Tam! Look at what I have found. Certainly not the fine timber you must be used to working with, but good wood, nonetheless."
"Also, I was unable to find much food in this unforgiving land. I found only enough for 1 person." Beckoning Joe over, Jivaji hands him a large piece of treebark, laid open like a plate. Heaped on the bark is a collection of berries and a couple of delicate, aromatic flowers (though quite edible, Jivaji assures him). Whispering, and barely able to keep the mirth from his voice, he adds "I think it would be only decent for us to consider our guests first, perhaps you should be the one who brings this to your friend." Then, turning to everyone else, "People, keep a lookout for food. It seems to run scarce in this area."
Jivaji then sits down and begins whittling a few pieces of natty wood down.
Joe's "slap" sends the halfling to his knees, coughing on the cave floor.
Joe winces. "Sorry little buddy." He helps him back up. "There." He helps brush him off. "Alright! We're good here!" He lets everyone know.
Jivaji returns from his day watch with a double armful of branches, some rather sturdy looking, and some looking supple and sinewy. "Tam! Look at what I have found. Certainly not the fine timber you must be used to working with, but good wood, nonetheless."
"Also, I was unable to find much food in this unforgiving land. I found only enough for 1 person." Beckoning Joe over, Jivaji hands him a large piece of treebark, laid open like a plate. Heaped on the bark is a collection of berries and a couple of delicate, aromatic flowers (though quite edible, Jivaji assures him). Whispering, and barely able to keep the mirth from his voice, he adds "I think it would be only decent for us to consider our guests first, perhaps you should be the one who brings this to your friend." Then, turning to everyone else, "People, keep a lookout for food. It seems to run scarce in this area."
"Hey thanks, Jivaji! I appreciate that buddy! Give me a moment and I'll go search for some food fer it gets to dang dark." He smiles as he slaps him on the shoulder. Taking the food, he moves back over to Kiame. "This. Is. For. You. Kiame." He tells her in a sweet a manner as a country boy can muster as he offers her the berries. "Food." He motions for her to eat. "It's. Okay." He shows her as he picks out the tiniest one to eat and eats it showing it's safe. "Ummm. Good. These. Flowers. Are. For. You." He then offers the flowers, along with a great big Joe smile, hoping she understood all that he's been trying to tell her.
Honestly I have no idea what you just said but it sure sounded intelligent. Keep up the work.
Kaime is fighting with the webbing when Joe arrived with the gifts. She looks at the food and eats it with out much question. The flowers she looks at with a very puzzled expression. She then looks at Joe. "No good eat." she sets them down. She waves her hands trying to get the web off. "Bah! Is sticky! she then smells herself. "I stink!" she then leans over and smells Joe. "Joe stink!" She grabs Joe by the hand and begins to pull him outside. "Come we clean!" Kaine drags Joe to the entrance of the cave and drags him out into the rain.
Joe's eyes go wide at the spectacle. "Dang you are a might pretty gal." He says in a trance like state. Patting his face to wake himself up, the widest grin he has ever grinned forms on his face. Joe then turns around making sure no one isn't looking and does as she commands. He strips his own clothes off as quickly as he can, his muscled body for all to see, and proceeds to get 'clean'. "Clean! Joe. Like. Clean!" He tells her excitedly.
Kaime is peeling layers of spider silk out of her hair in the rain when she notices Joe's bare muscular body. She pauses as he starts to clean of the bile she had coughed on him earlier. She then begins to stare at him almost entranced. Her cheeks seem a little flush.
Joe notices her staring and can't help but do the same. He moves up right next to her, his eyes remaining fixed upon hers. He places his hand gently on her face, caressing it softly. "Joe like Kaime." He stops and thinks a moment on how to get that across better. "My Kaime." He tells her, smiling, hoping that's easier to understand.
Nye looks about the cave with a look of disgust, "I supose this is going to be our new home then. We should have looked for a ship." The half-elf will find a corner to unroll his bedding and pull out his book of spells and study until sleep overtakes him, taking the occasional slurp of ale as he turns the pages.
Kaime realizes she was starring and quickly turned and began blushing furiously. when Joe mentioned "My Kaime" She stiffened. She turned to him with a look of confidence. "You strong, you different, you no Garansi, you make good husband for Kaime. I decide, tomorrow you meet mother! She mate us." She grabs Joe's head and gives him another big kiss. She finishes with a smile, then she grabs her gear and begins dressing again. She looks back at Joe. "Though she may kill Joe. But I not let her. Joe Mine!" If Joe has nothing else to say, the two of you will return to the cave.
Joe and Kaime return to the cave after their soak in the rain. Kaime has a big confident grin on her face. Joe.....well we'll see what his expression is like.
Joe is stunned from all she just threw at him. "Umm, okay?" Was all he could muster, not sure of really what to say, and unclear of the customs of these humanoids. And also not realizing he may have just finalized his execution. Putting his clothes and armor back on, he returns to cave with her.
Returning to the cave, his hair clinging to him, he walks in with that same confused look on his face. He notices Gylwinth and remembers him speaking to Kaime in elven. Moving over next to him, thinking he might be able to help, he lowers his voice to a whisper. "Hey Gylwinth. I ain't sure, but I think I'm gettin' married or some such. And it sounds like I'm gonna be executed by her mother during the ceremony. Or maybe after." He rubs the back of his wet hair. "On the plus side, it looks like me and Kaime get to have sex before I get killed though." He says as it all becomes a bit more clearer. "Hey, maybe that's when I get executed." He thinks on it a moment and then shrugs. "Anyhow, you think you can help me avoid being executed? I'd appreciate any help. She's a good looking gal, and I like her and all, but I ain't sure me and her mom are gonna get along to good. Killing me is really not the best way to start a relationship." He says as a matter of fact.