"We aren't exactly sure. But, if I were to guess it would give power, but also a powerful burden. It was the last wish of a friend before she passed on helping us protect the village. At least that is what it feels like. We didn't so much as hear the words as feel them from within."
Looks at Nala. "Because of her we found you. So I consider that the best result with or without power. You can come with if you want. Fate wanted you save. It means your destiny is great."
Nala attempted to sigh, but that aggravated her throat. Which lead to another coughing fit, as her lungs remembered that terrible sensation of being waterlogged.
"I'm not sure of destinies. That sounds... weighty. And I'm unhappy with the idea that my life was set on tracks by some cosmic being. If that is true, I am owed an apology. But... I owe you my life, and if you are correct, we will need each other. Even if you are not correct..." she trailed off, before digging into the pouch on her right side.
Her hand came out with a collection of different wild berries. She cupped her hands around them, and placed her mouth to an open spot near her hands before whispering a few words and then breathing upon them.
She then picked through the berries, grabbing five, and dropping the rest into her pouch. She ate a blackberry, wincing slightly, before holding the others out. "Here. They will give you strength."
Auric considers all that has come to pass as the others prepare to set out. "I don't believe my path coincides with all of yours anymore..." he states flatly, "Alyra's blessing passed out of me when I revived Nala... I will wait here and protect the captain and his men while you're gone."
Reiko watches the exchange with Auric and Nala with only a bit of interest. As he does so, he takes off his traveling coat and shirt, and tries to wrong the water out of them. After a few good squeezes he hangs them on a tree branch.
Now, for the first time, you can see the extent of his scars. Carved over his arms are magical writings in a spiraling design, while his back has glyphs and symbols that resemble nothing of modern arcane studies, and are arranged so that they form the shape of something similar to a giant tree inside a circle.
All of the scars are red, almost blood colored. After casting the healing spell on himself earlier, one of his forearms is blank.
He puts his bandolier and his supplies belt over bare skin, and then hefts his pack.
I am ready to depart. The sooner we find this stream and carry out Alyra's will, the better. I am forever indebted to her.
|
It's a crab, and it would be of no consequence at all if it wasn't easily wider than any of you are tall.
Nia'Nikta was looking around looking for a way to head up.
With a hiss. "Everyone get back. Seems we have some huge crab." Drawing her sword as she puts herself between the Boat crew and the creature as she pulls out her shield also taking a defensive stance.
Nala makes no mention of the scars until the tree, and then frowns. "Who did this to you..?" she asks before turning towards the water, where Nia drew her attention.
Reiko is far to busy looking inland to notice the foe behind him until Nia says something, and the surprise of yet another attack from the lake has him off guard, badly. So much so that he fumbles getting his katana unsheathed.
As the thing begins to creep out of the water, Nala moves forward, towards the creature, rushing to strike it down quickly, before it can become a real threat. Her skin literally ripples as she does so, and tiny horns press out of her forehead. Her body becomes significantly more toned in the process, before she tries to skewer the thing.
Nala withdrew her spear from the creature and turned back to the others. "Be careful of more creatures like that. I believe crabs are typically scavengers, but something of that size may be a hunter, instead. If it is still a scavenger, that means that creatures of incredible size are common here."
Her voice still retains the qualities of a voice that often went unused. "We should head up to where you are going, while the others prepare the meat for when we return. If you are hungry, my offer stands for the berries."
Reiki accepts Nala's offer politely, and answers her question about his scars honestly.
My best guess is that I did most of them myself, or had someone do them. My past is... forgotten to me. All I know is that I am somehow connected to the magic that has been plaguing this land. I was... a part of it. Titan magic is... horrid when carried out in the way that I was doing so in my homeland. Now, all I remember is how to carve spell energy into my skin and hold it for casting later. Useful, if not grotesque.
"There are worse ways to attain scars." Nala said, as she looked over the cuts, then began to study the flow of the island as Nia had before. "Why not use parchment?"
Nia would relax her stance and puts up her sword. "Indeed, I expect everything to be over sized here. It is an isle teaming with life despite its size."
Listening in on Reiko's explanation she would remain quiet at Nala's answer. After all, she could think of a couple of reason's why to use flesh and blood over parchment. Almost, every reason had to do with blood magics.
"Anyone have a climbing kit. If we set up pitons and ropes as we go up it should help our climb and give us something to hold onto. If we slip and fall it will also help. I suggest everyone get a berry if they can." Nia'Nikta would let everyone else have the berries. She would do fine. They needed their strength. She came out of that crash less banged up than them. "Sakuro, most of my magic is depleted so I will be relying on yours."
(Find the safest way up, and avoid hazards?)
"Well, how much time of the day do we have left?"
Antonio uses his rope and grappling hook to make the climbing easier.
"Feel free to rest all you like. But after something destroyed my vessel, then yours, and promptly sent something large enough to treat us as a meal to follow us out of the water, I feel that moving quickly is a significantly better option."
Nala said as she began to follow the stream inland. "Onwards and upwards." she finished, as she headed into the shade, and drew the pouch over the counterweight of her longspear, revealing the butt to be an everburning torch.
Nia moved up to Baldek. "I to would enjoy the rest but I believe if we can get to the top and finish what we came here to do the faster we can get off the island and get those people to safety. Who knows. Maybe will come across something that will help us even do that."
Reiko opts to pull up the rear. He lets everyone go in front before grabbing the rope and making his way along.
Nala slipped behind Baldek. "Be on the lookout for hazards. Sink holes, and unstable rocks... but also ambush predators. Do not underestimate this place. There is nothing more dangerous than a man's ego."
Aya goes behind Nala.
Nia would be behind Sakuro.
Antonio can go last, helping others up as he can.