Initiative Zaine
Initiative Tulip
Zaine drops to a knee. "Said I was gonna shoot you," he says, pulling back the hammer of his musket and waiting for the geiers to get close before firing.
As the geiers go past, Tulip tries to plug one out of the sky with her jaws.
"Here birdy birdy," Faith calls out. "Here birdy birdy birdy."
Faith pulls Charity and attacks whatever vulture is closest to him, giving preference to the large old ones.
Once the geiers make there presence obvious, namely once the pair drops below the 500-ft mark, Faith blesses both Zaine's gun and Áine's bow giving them a little divine guidance.
Zaine drops to a knee. "Said I was gonna shoot you," he says, pulling back the hammer of his musket and waiting for the geiers to get close before firing. The geiers plummets to the ground, smashing like a melon in the open clearing where you'd been planning on camping.
"Here birdy birdy," Faith calls out. "Here birdy birdy birdy."
Áine shoots three times, dropping the second bird, which falls into the ankheg field. Seconds later the ground erupts a odds bug creature which sprays acid on the corpse prior to chomping into the bird.
The small vultures remain in the sky circling, obviously ready to drop down and dispose of the corpse in your camp.
Pakshee looks around at what would have been a very nice camping site - but is now more than a bit blood-spattered, but also somewhat close to the ankheg chumming ground. "Maybe we go a little bit further?"
Assuming you move on a bit, the well-trained survival senses of the group are able to find another more than suitable camping site, even in the growing dark.
Three days after you convince the vultures that you are far from an easy meal, you know you'll be in Kalabuto by dark. Just a few hours out of the city, you a tall and leafless boab tree stands alone in a clearing, its wood burnt black. A circle of tiny bones surrounds the tree. Over a dozen human bodies hang from the branches, making grisly silhouettes against the blue sky. More bodies lie on the ground at the base of the tree, frayed ropes still around their necks. A circle of tiny bones surrounds the tree.
"These are likely enemy dead. So we should be safe." Zaine pats Tulip on the neck.
About a 100' out from the tree, a smile begins to play around Áine's lips. She glances sideways at Faith, "Your lucky day, my friend." she says, running a hand down the length of her bow, then nocking an arrow.
"These are likely enemy dead. So we should be safe." Zaine pats Tulip on the neck.
The corner of Áine's mouth quirks, "Yup. Likely enemy and undead. All good." She continues forward.
Or begins firing if the group would prefer taking these things out at range.
Faith sneaks a glance at Pakshee, and grins. "Every day's my lucky day, Áine. They just don't all know it."
Áine starts to pick off the undead from a distance, (likely muttering "I hate undead," under her breath as she is wont to do.) She is able get all of the twitching zombies on the ground to fall back to the ground, non-twitchy. When you get close to the ring of bones on the ground - which none of the zombies crossed, you can see that the corpses still hanging from the tree are just as animate as the ones on the ground had been (before introduction of steel and wood).
The pineapple fields and date palm orchards that ring the ruins of an ancient city in which the inhabitants of Kalabuto squat are no where near the size as those that stretched for a full day beyond the walls of Eleder, but it still takes a good hour to troop past the agriculture. While much of the ancient city has been reclaimed by the jungle, both the high places (inhabited by those with money) and a good swath near the river has beaten the ever hungry jungle back.
After a brief argument back in Eleder, Kassata and Glaur agreed on a contact in Kalabuto - a once-miner named Cheiton who they told you to find at the Shrunken Head Tavern. After working your way past overgrown ruins for a bit, you start seeing signs of habitation, including a number of street-rats. Once of them, a skinny girl dressed in pants and a over large shirt grins at you, her teeth bright against the near black of her skin.
She holds up a stone, wood and string bauble, "Good luck charms, only a few copper for a bit of luck."
Faith claps Áine on the shoulder once her work is complete.
"Like shooting fish in a ..." Faith pauses for a moment. "Carnival game?"
He takes a closer look at some of the de-animated dead.
"These things are probably plague vectors," Faith says . "We shouldn't leave them in the open air. We should finish off any that are still undead, salt them, and burn the bodies."
"I'm always up for luck," Faith says, handing over a few coppers. He leans in, conspiratorially, "Traveling with Tulip and Zephyr here, we make our own luck," and winks.
"We shouldn't leave them in the open air. We should finish off any that are still undead, salt them, and burn the bodies."
Áine follows Faith's directions to make sure the bodies are disposed of correctly
Áine smiles at the young girl in a friendly sort of way.
It takes a while as every corpse that had been strung up to the leafless tree proved to have risen as a plague zombie, but you have the time and you definetely have the skills. All of the undead are put down, then a mass burning is in order.
"I'm always up for luck," Faith says, handing over a few coppers. He leans in, conspiratorially, "Traveling with Tulip and Zephyr here, we make our own luck," and winks.
The girl's eyes get wide and she hands over five of the small trinkets. "They have to be seen to bring you luck." The girl says with a grin. She pauses before she moves off, "They are very good luck charms." Her eyes straying to the dinosaurs before moving off into the dark.
You find the Shrunken Head Tavern on the riverside boardwalk between an exotic hardwoods warehouse and a small copper foundry looking a great deal like a repurposed warehouse. Inside the large tavern floor, smoke seeps up from tallow candles but does little to proved good illumination. A number of dark skinned women and men dressed in brightly colored costumes work the floor of the tavern, shepherding drinks and occasionally getting up on a table to dance.
Off near the side of the room you see a burly dwarf his shoulder marked with the mining tatoo.
"You want something to drink?" Zaine asks Sasha. "Or are we going to be stern and wary?"
Faith offers around the trinkets. "Anyone else feel like being marked for luck?" Faith asks.
He strings a trinket around his neck.
Faith makes his way across the room to the dwarf. "Are you Cheiton?" he asks. Not exactly quietly, but not so loudly that it starts out in the middle of a tavern.
Faith offers around the trinkets. "Anyone else feel like being marked for luck?" Faith asks.
Áine takes one and wears it at her throat.
Faith makes his way across the room to the dwarf. "Are you Cheiton?" he asks. Not exactly quietly, but not so loudly that it starts out in the middle of a tavern.
Áine follows a bit behind Faith, though her eyes stray to the dancers as she tries to mimic some of their motions ..and actually isn't so bad, though obviously not practiced and whether or not there is any music, she hums to the beat trying to show appreciation for what she sees and hopefully not offending anyone -
Faith offers around the trinkets. "Anyone else feel like being marked for luck?" Faith asks.
He strings a trinket around his neck.
"When in Westcrown," Zaine says, accepting the trinket. "Of course, the suspicious soul wonders if we aren't labeling ourselves as easy marks."
He strings a trinket around his neck."When in Westcrown," Zaine says, accepting the trinket. "Of course, the suspicious soul wonders if we aren't labeling ourselves as easy marks."
Áine grin indicates that's exactly what she was thinking she was doing.
"You want something to drink?" Zaine asks Sasha. "Or are we going to be stern and wary?"
Sasha looks concerned about the dinosaur companions, just for a minute, when Athyra - decidedly - heads towards a stable with Jaji. The tall woman with her oddly accent and off cadence, "Jaji, I will make sure they are safe." The wild woman looking at the noise and sound from the tavern with distaste.
Sasha smiles at Zaine, "A drink," her fingers find the good luck charm around Zaine's neck, clearly remembering his words, "but only a small one." A quick kiss.
Faith makes his way across the room to the dwarf. "Are you Cheiton?" he asks. Not exactly quietly, but not so loudly that it starts out in the middle of a tavern.
The dwarf straightens up a bit, "Depends." He downs a quarter of the beer in front of him, "What is tiptoeing through the Tulips?"
Sasha looks concerned about the dinosaur companions, just for a minute, when Athyra - decidedly - heads towards a stable with Jaji. The tall woman with her oddly accent and off cadence, "Jaji, I will make sure they are safe." The wild woman looking at the noise and sound from the tavern with distaste.
Sasha smiles at Zaine, "A drink," her fingers find the good luck charm around Zaine's neck, clearly remembering his words, "but only a small one." A quick kiss.
"We'll check on them later," Zaine reassures her. He gets a couple drinks made from the local liquor.
The dwarf straightens up a bit, "Depends." He downs a quarter of the beer in front of him, "What is tiptoeing through the Tulips?"
"Technically speaking," Zaine says, "we tiptoe with the Tulip."
"Technically speaking," Zaine says, "we tiptoe with the Tulip."
The dwarf smiles into his mug a bit, "Yep, I'm Cheiton." He motions to the nearby bar and one of the dancers brings over a pitcher and some mugs.
"Captain Lewynn got in touch a bit back, told me to expect you." He makes an expansive motion, "If you need anything before you move on or want any messages sent back that is all on me." He motions to the tavern, "Captain said to either open a tab for you here or have you stay in my home, which is just a few streets away."
The dwarf sits up, "So how can I help your grand expedition?" A grin, "Since helping with logistics has been my job since I got tired of mining."
"Captain Lewynn got in touch a bit back, told me to expect you." He makes an expansive motion, "If you need anything before you move on or want any messages sent back that is all on me." He motions to the tavern, "Captain said to either open a tab for you here or have you stay in my home, which is just a few streets away."
"The offer is appreciated, but I want to stay nearer to the animals," Zaine says. "Tulip doesn't like being all that far away from me for too long. As for logistics, I'll cede the floor to the others. Long as I have powder and shot, I'll be just fine."
At some point, later in the evening, Zaine gets a bottle of fruit juice, and a bottle of watered wine, and some snacks, and finds Sasha. "Hey, I was thinking you and I should go out into the stables, spend some time with the kids, and make Athyra feel welcome. I figure she has the most in common with you and I, strange as that is."
"Captain Lewynn got in touch a bit back, told me to expect you." He makes an expansive motion, "If you need anything before you move on or want any messages sent back that is all on me." He motions to the tavern, "Captain said to either open a tab for you here or have you stay in my home, which is just a few streets away."
The dwarf sits up, "So how can I help your grand expedition?" A grin, "Since helping with logistics has been my job since I got tired of mining."
Áine glances at Faith, not wanting to speak out of turn, "That depends. ..just to clarify, you're only asking about us and not the entire expedition, right?" she takes a breath, "If you're talking near term wants, you can tell them I would absolutely love to get my hands on a Swarm Bane Clasp before entering the Expanse. ...longer term? Well, I can't afford them yet." she says with a self-deprecating snort under her breath and a small shake of the head. She catches herself with a thought, "Oh, and Apprentice Cheating Gloves, yeah, I don't have the gold, but I'll figure out a way to get it if there's one of those available." she chuckles to herself. "Hey, a girl's got to have her comforts," she says in a smaller defensive tone regardless of whether anyone actually gives her a look, "and you wouldn't believe how much of a time & health saver they are in long term boggy situations." she continues rambling, more to herself then those she's with, "Yeah, good supply of anti-plague an' anti-toxin always useful, ...an arrows, but we already told them all 'o that."
"We are holding up well," Faith says. "I have nothing to add to my colleagues' requests. Information is always welcome, however."
"Are you from this area? What can you tell us of--" Faith gestures vaguely "--other places we may encounter?"
Faith grins at the dwarf. "And please allow me to buy you a drink."
"The offer is appreciated, but I want to stay nearer to the animals," Zaine says. "Tulip doesn't like being all that far away from me for too long. As for logistics, I'll cede the floor to the others. Long as I have powder and shot, I'll be just fine."
"Your friends," the dwarf says considerately, "best I could have offered them was my living room, so I understand not taking me up on hospitality."
"If you need more ammunition, the captain did get some advance packages sent up the river."
"If you're talking near term wants, you can tell them I would absolutely love to get my hands on a Swarm Bane Clasp before entering the Expanse. ...longer term? Well, I can't afford them yet." she says with a self-deprecating snort under her breath and a small shake of the head. She catches herself with a thought, "Oh, and Apprentice Cheating Gloves, yeah, I don't have the gold, but I'll figure out a way to get it if there's one of those available."
One of the dwarf's eyebrows lift, "Don't think I know anyone in town that has either of those, but if you think you know when you'll have the capital, I can arrange for it to go along with your supplies later."
"We are holding up well," Faith says. "I have nothing to add to my colleagues' requests. Information is always welcome, however."
"Are you from this area? What can you tell us of--" Faith gestures vaguely "--other places we may encounter?"
Faith grins at the dwarf. "And please allow me to buy you a drink."
Cheiton smiles, "Happy to give you any information I have." He motions around at the many ears in the tavern, "How about I serve you a real dinner at my house where we can talk without all and sundry over hearing your plans?"
He motions to Zaine, "Or since it is late, how about we met there for breakfast. I can pull together what I think will be helpful and you all can decide on questions."
"In which case, I'll take you up on the offer of a drink, friend." Giving Faith a bright smile.
One of the dwarf's eyebrows lift, "Don't think I know anyone in town that has either of those, but if you think you know when you'll have the capital, I can arrange for it to go along with your supplies later."
"Well....if you'll sell some other stuff for me, I can get the clasp." she says a little dubiously, "but...shucks, I guess I got a little carried away." she looks a little down cast. "Maybe I'll send for it later if I get lucky." she says, clearly disappointed.
"Well....if you'll sell some other stuff for me, I can get the clasp." she says a little dubiously, "but...shucks, I guess I got a little carried away." she looks a little down cast. "Maybe I'll send for it later if I get lucky." she says, clearly disappointed.
"I'll make sure to line up a buyer if you know you'll want one in the future."
"The day I went from initiate to priest," Faith says. "It is traditionally the shortest day and longest night of the year. Sitting vigil and contemplating."
"That is the day we will celebrate." Faith looks at Pakshee. "The day I met you is also one to celebrate, but not as a birth day. And we have most of the year until that day comes around again." He puts his hand on hers.
She squeezes his hand, thinking, "We still have a while your vigil day." A little smile, "I hope we will have much to celebrate by then.
Faith accepts the bite of tiramisu, then offers one to Pakshee. "It is a job that I do gladly. But you are diverting your entire life to follow me into the jungle. Not so easy."
Her head cocks to the side, [b]"I do not think I am giving up much, balanced by what I get being with you."
As soon as you step into the stables you hear a questioning chirp - and all of the horses in the stable stomp nervously. Towards the back of the stable is an open area for saddling horses and Tulip happily moves from the middle to greet you. Athyra, charring something meat-y over a smokeless fire, nods in greeting, Jaji at her side. Zephyr chirps sleepily from the rafters.
The horses shuffle in nervous tension - promising that their riders will have difficult mounts the following day.
He motions to Zaine, "Or since it is late, how about we met there for breakfast. I can pull together what I think will be helpful and you all can decide on questions."
"Breakfast sounds good to me," says Zaine.
He sets down what he brought by the fire. "Hey, Athyra. Brought some stuff to eat and drink. Figured you might enjoy it. Some fruit juice, some wine -- don't worry, I had it watered -- and a few snacks. Looks like you have dinner going."
Zaine greets Tulip with an affectionate nuzzle, going nose-to-nose with the predator. "Hey there, you silly bird."
Then he sits down by the fire, across from Athyra. "Thought we could keep you company for a little while, if that's all right."
"I'll make sure to line up a buyer if you know you'll want one in the future."
"Maybe you can ask them for me." she starts, looking a little pensive, "I have a more valuable item, an Insistent Doorknocker, that might be useful a lot later on. Could I trade it for the Swarmbane Clasp, then as soon as I have the funds, buy the knocker back at the same price... plus maybe a little interest?" she worries her lower lip a little. "the Clasp is a lot more likely to be useful traversing the jungle." she purses her lips, "don't know what they'll say, but I'd appreciate it if you asked." then her expression softens and becomes more playful, "and I'll join Faith in buying you a drink as well!" as she motions for a waitress.
"I might be able to find someone who could float you a loan with the doorknocker as collatoral." Cheiton says, "I'll look into it while you're in town and let you know if you have any takers."
Athyra moves to lean against Jaji, giving the pair room at the fire. After a moment of back and forth chirps between Jaji and Tulip, Tulip settles down behind Zaine - on the opposite side of the small fire from Jaji. Athyra cuts a small stripe off of the meat before turning it over the fire. She offers the knife to Zaine and Sasha, "It is different to have company," she takes the offered fruit juice, "but not bad as I thought it would be." A little shrug, "But you all are different from all the other humans I've met." She scratches Jaji, the dinosaur chirping happily.
A little sigh, "I hope the second leg doesn't take too long and the rest of your expedition is kind to Jaji."
"Different? How so?"
Athyra thinks for minute, mostly trying to find words. "All the other humans that come into the wild, they only want to hunt." She pats Jaji, "Or to steal egg and sell them to other humans."
She shakes her head, "You have purpose, help, and take good care of our friends. Different." A pause, "Plus the old man says you have purpose."
Zaine thoughtfully chews on the meat. "A purpose? Honestly, I don't really know. I don't think I've ever really had a purpose. Mercenaries exist because there's always fights that happen that people would rather not fight themselves. Or ones they simply can't fight themselves. This? This is a treasure hunt. I don't know if it's a capital-P Purpose or not."
"I might be able to find someone who could float you a loan with the doorknocker as collatoral." Cheiton says, "I'll look into it while you're in town and let you know if you have any takers."
"Thank you." Áine sighs, "I hate to take out a loan, but it just might be worth it."
Cheiton shrugs with a half smile, "Also depends on if you think you'll be running into more swarms or recalcitrant doors." He motions to one of the bar staff, who comes over. A short conversation later and a semi-feast comes out from the kitchens. "They have rooms for each of you set aside upstairs," the dwarf comments as he digs into the food, then motions to a green leafy dish. "You should try the nightshade, no one makes it better than Inyene." After a good meal and a liberal hand with the drinks, Cheiton takes his leave.
Athyra smiles at both answers, "The old man, he say big P purpose." She shakes her head a bit, "Old man mucks about with gods more than Jaji and me." She takes a bit of the fruit drink, smiling at the sweetness. "Important treasure?"
Cheiton shrugs with a half smile, "Also depends on if you think you'll be running into more swarms or recalcitrant doors."
"Well, jungle, plus figured we've got to find the place first...and there's always the chance of finding something worthwhile on the way." she shrugs, "but yeah, that's why I didn't just sell the knocker earlier to get it."
Áine nudges Faith (or whomever is closest to her) awake and silently puts herself against the wall with the window, nocking a blunt tipped arrow.
She smiles a little, "I should make sure Jaji and me don't go soft when we are shepherding your friends."
Zaine pauses, thinking it over. "Of course, that implies we're a%*#&@+s." He shrugs. "I'm at peace with it. What about you, Athyra? What are you doing tagging along? You don't have any material needs. There are plenty of more righteous causes out there if that's your thing."
You are jolted awake by a shrill signal whistle and a brilliant glittery flash outside the window. Outlined by the bright burst of light outside is a armed person, who had been quietly trying to creep towards people to slit throats in the dark.
She smiles a bit, "It is the time of growing, not nesting. My friends can, should, take care of themselves. So I went back to the bad place, death place." She motions to Zaine, Sasha, the tavern where Faith and Aine are (presumably). "Now there is no reason to be at death place. So I want to help those that were able to do what I could not."
"Plus Jaji old. Don't want him to die in a dominance fight."
Áine lets fly a barrage of arrows into the face and shoulders of the intruder. She's not in a very forgiving mood.
Initiative
Zaine pokes his musket out the window and fires, then quickly reloading.
Faith stands up and squints at the figure. ”Surrender or die,” he says. ”I give you a choice, they won’t.”
Faith gestures vaguely in the direction of the others.
Following the shrill whistle and explosive bright light, you hear the slam of arrow into wood - and the softer thuds of arrow perforating flesh. A abbreviated scream and a heavy thud from below.
From the direction of Faith's room, you hear his steady voice, "Surrender or die, I give you a choice, they won’t."
If the probable fate of Áine's intruder hadn't been enough to punctuate Faith's words, there is a familiar loud boom of Zaine's musket.
Pakshee's nose curls at the noxious smell but she remains upright sitting in the bed. Grumpily, and more than a little sleepily, she tells the intruder, "You will not hurt Faith."
"You picked the wrong room, pal," Zaine says, shooting him again.
Áine runs to then hops up on the window sill. If her assailant is still moving she releases an arrow into him, if not, she will scan the area for any other potential attackers and (if none) run down the wall, tuck and roll, and then check for a pulse.
Faith frowns. "So be it."
Faith casts, draws Charity, and attacks the dark figure directly.