It's a busy afternoon to say the least.
Most ally cadets have completed their drills and are recuperating in their personal tents. The more energetic ones may be in the mess hall-the only wooden structure in the whole encampment, losing their advance pay in a round of cards or comparing the size of their bruises. The canopy of the trees provides protection from the waning sun and all over camp you can hear everyone making preparations for the coming night. There's a loud crash as a supply of dense wood falls to the ground, the pulley system trying to bring it to the top of one of the large trees had broken.
You five find yourselves in the Taskmaster's tent, a rather spacious area that's fancy enough to have a chair and table. Seated in the chair, was a very gruff Joraga Elf. His arms flex with muscle at each movement and his bare chest shows the culmination of a century's worth of battles and victories.
And he is very irritated with you.
"Remind me," he commands, tossing the sheets of paper in his hand behind him. "Who are you and why are you bothering me?"
Tes smiles at the Elf and states In Elven,
She then reverts to common, "Taskmaster... hmm it appears we do not know your name. Very well Taskmaster it shall be until more formal introductions are made. I am Tes Il Stone of the Kor. My problem is quite simple, there is no repository of knowledge here suitable for me to continue my work. I joined this effort to expand my own knowledge of the enemy.
So far I have been taught the value of physical strength and endurance. Important disciplines to be sure. But if such efforts would have defeated the great enemy there would be no need for this gathering. What is truly needed is knowledge, only with knowledge will be claim victory".
Glancing around the room at the others present she continues to smile despite their obvious differences from she thining to herself, After all we will need the combined powers of all disparate races to defeat this greater evil no matter how unpleasant they may be or appear to be.
Kala En was about to try to ingratiate herself with Elven as well, but chokes on her words instead as a brief giggling fit overtakes her.
Either this is the fabled bravery of the kor, or the woman has never seen Joraga elves before. From what I remember learning with the Tajuru, "child of the woods" won't earn you any favors.
She touches her coral totem and closes her eyes for a moment to regain her composure, then speaks: "Sir, I'm Kala En, and while I appreciate the diversity of this camp, I did not come here to drill. I've trained in the basics with my mentors. No, I've come to save Zendikar."
After dropping the heroic pose, she adds: "Also that goblin keeps trying to replace my rations with rocks. Who gave him mess hall duty?"
"Socks best for eat! Fishy person grow up healthy and strong!" Kick-lick says, balancing on one foot. "I just here to learn stuff, but they only teachin' me how to see those funny little lines on paper. I want to learn stuff about the world!"
"Also," he says, leaning in conspiratorially, "Fish lady doesn't like goblin cooking. It makes me sad, and she gets scary when she laughs."
He then looks back to Kala. "You lucky! When I was young goblin, noone gave me socks! I had to have rocks! I didn't have socks until I was seven, and even then they were stuffed with rocks!"
Vitrius sets to picking up the papers the taskmaster had thrown behind him, surreptitiously glancing at them as he sheaves them into a neat pile. He knew the others from training, but hadn't spoken to them much out of that context. As he heard the Elven language, a familiar longing burst into his head. I should endeavor to learn that tongue. It is far more beautiful when spoken by a native speaker. Vitrius then notices the taskmaster looking at him expectantly. He sets the papers down on the table in front of him and bows low. "Vitrius, of House Girsen. If I may, there is an apparent disdain for our kind in camp. Though I have done my best to conceal my feedings, others have taken it upon themselves to replace our stock with rotting meat rather than fresh butchery. As you are aware, we are not the kindest when we do not feed properly. I fear the worst if my brethren and I can not eat in peace." As he finishes, Vitrius sweeps a hand to indicate the other vampire in the tent.
"Tis okay. We should suffer the slings and arrows if it helps bring our army together; but forgive me. I have not properly introduced myself. My name is Sir Phaerlin Amoxin. I am here to test my mettle against the forces of my enemies. Only then shall I become worthy of the title 'Paladin'."
The Taskmaster eyes you all with a mix of annoyance and fatigue. He turns to Tes.
"As I've told the head of the researchers, the caravan carrying the books you lot wanted was swallowed by the earth on the way here. No idea when the next shipment will get here."
He then moves onto Kala En.
"We've no need of heroes here. Heroics invite stupid actions in the field. Perhaps that's the reason why your elders sent you here. As for your rations problem..."
Then Kick-Lick.
"You're off mess hall duty for the time being. And tell your other clanmembers that if I catch one more wild beast you *tamers* can't control, we'll start barring every beast you try to bring in camp."
For Vitrius, he nods.
"We'll look into it. The first thing drilled into the newcomer's heads should be 'do not piss in each other's coffee' but it seems some trainee's need to run the initiation again..."
At the mention of the initiation, he smiles.
And lastly, Phaerlin.
"While your chivalry is...well, I would rather have an encampment that won't be at each other's throats after a week of *harmless* pranks."
"But this is all beside the point. I've noticed that your performance during training has been....less than ideal. As such, the training supervisors ahve asked me to give you something the Joraga would find challenging, in order to toughen you up."
He tosses a scroll case to Tes.
"There you'll find a pre-Eldrazi ruin that might contain some new information for our cause. Take these other four with you. Work together. Dont die."
From experience you can tell that this is the most you'll probably get out of him, instruction-wise. The Taskmaster is a simple warrior, who knows a few tricks about whipping people in shape. He understands the need for prepartions, but if sees you around camp tomorrow, he'll probably kick your ass.
Tes nods to the elf and turns to the others, "Let's find a place to unroll this map and figure out the best way to get to this location".
She exits the tent and seeks out a flat smooth rock that the group can stand around to discuss strategy as she slowly unfurls the map.
Vitrius raised an inquisitive eyebrow at his brethren vampire, but said nothing as they exited the tent. The pre-Eldrazi ruins truly intrigued Vitrius and to do more than just take care of messes around camp was just too good to pass up. He paid special interest in the map that Tes unfurled, noting every detail, committing it to memory. "I do not presuppose that either of you have any wilderness navigation experience? Mine is...limited."
"Sir." Kala En nods formally to the taskmaster, as if his words had any effect in dissuading her, and follows Tes outside as the group is dismissed to review the documents.
"You know," She turns to Kick-Lick as they walk, "I didn't have socks growing up either. Because I grew up underwater. And..." she pauses, unsure if she should connect the dots for the goblin and decides against it, "I didn't like socks much when I came to dwell on the surface either. To feel sun-warmed stone or grass wet with dew beneath your toes, is that not one of the pleasures of life on land?" She stretches, reminiscing of such sensations.
"Is this your first expedition? Worry not, Vitrius of House Girsen, I am sure we will find our way to the ruins. The wind pushes us onwards." Another light touch to her coral totem, and a gentle breeze blows at the vampire's back as Kala En calls it with Druidcraft.
"I have some wilderness navigation experience but not much, the mountains crags of my homeland is where I have spent most of my days. I have read a bit on the subject so I know the basic lore of woodland survival.
I think the first thing we should do is determine what we will need on this journey, as much I would love to get to know some of our vampiric brethren assembled here better I do not wish to be the snack of first or last resort..."
"No more cooking is sad."
After Kala talks to him, he appears to fall into deep thought for a moment. Then he turns and says, "Grass is good to eat. Rocks are also tasty with grass on them. Dew makes them better."
"I do not want to be snacks either. Taste yucky. Like flowers. Or snakes. Not good like grass and socks. Please don't eat me." He cowers slightly behind Tes. "You can eat the fish instead. She prolly tastes good!"
Vitrius cringes at the thought of eating his new comrades in arms. A voice inside him grows louder, but a grimace on his face and a deep breath quells it, for now. You're hungry. Shut up. You haven't eaten well in weeks. Shut. Up. He focuses on the breeze at his back, letting it soothe him. It was going to be a long trip. "I will not apologize for all of my kind, but I will tell you that I have no intention of feeding on any of you, first or last." He finishes and looks to the map. "I am sure that we can find an easy path there, though we need to determine how long it will take so that we can determine how much provisions we will need to acquire."
The map shows a portion of the area you are currently in, Towertree Forest, and some of the surrounding area. It seems the ruins take you out of the forest to the a barren landscape. A large symbol marks your destination.
As you unscroll the map, you find 5 vouchers as well, good at the arm's master's supply tent to outfit yourselves for the journey.
From what you can tell, it's going to take at least five days to get their on foot, accounting for possible obstacles along the way.
"We can hunt our way through the forest. No point worrying much." She regards her supply voucher with curiousity. "I don't know about you my friends, but I've got most of what I need stored at my bunk. Still, I'd like to know what these can net us. Shall we?" The merfolk beckons with a smile and a nod towards the supply tent, and heads to it.
"Agreed, Lady En. Let us see what fine supplies we shall garner from our noble expedition against the ancients."
Vitrius nods as he looks at the voucher. "It'll probably take about five days to get there, we should possibly gather enough supplies for at least half a week, so all the pressure will not be on just one of us to feed the rest. " He then reads the voucher as they walk to see exactly it entitles them to.
Your group makes its way over the the supply tent, to find the human Armsmaster, Garric, sleeping soundly in front of the tent. As you draw nearer, he rouses from his slumber.
"Ah, Oh!"
He falls from his seat in a startled motion, and quickly stands up.
"Oh good, thought you were the Taskmaster for a second. He'd have my ass if he caught me napping again."
He brushes himself off, and straightens his clothing.
"How can I help you?"
Tes smiles and hands her voucher to Garric. "Our vouchers and perhaps something extra in the way of trail rations for sealed lips..."
"Put up trip wire. Attach it to bell, set up outside, and then you can hear when the Taskmaster is coming. Or got a dog. Both work."
Vitrius corners one side of his mouth up in a half smile at the goblin's fast ingenuity. "Or simply have enough self-discipline to stop napping while on duty." He then awaits his turn to hand over his voucher.
Garric raises an eyebrow at Tes's remark.
"Oh really? Is that how we're doing this?"
He procedes to gather up the vouchers, go back into the supply tent, and emerge with a bundle of items.
"Here you are. One trusty machete, a blazing torch, rations for week's travel, an explorer's scope, and two sets of blood blossoms."
At first glance, you can tell the equipment is subpar. The machete has knicks in the blade, and the explorer's scope looks like there's a crack in the lens. The blood blossoms, a plant introduced by the mythic Sorin Markov served to nourish and sate the appetites of vampires for a time (though it would only last so long before vampires would crave true blood), looked a bit faded and were obviously not the freshest of quality.
Garlic smiles at you all, and makes a shooing motion with his hands.
"All the things an expedition needs." Kala En doesn't reach for any of the supplies to allow the others to take what they want, and then collects whatever is unclaimed. Much of her equipment serves the same purpose, and she doesn't have the magic to fix the spyglass. "Well, almost everything. But we've already got the expeditioners gathered. Any final preparations to make? I'll grab my stuff and we can use what remains of the daylight to get started."
She ducks away to the quarters to put on her sharkskin leathers and set her scimitar at her belt, putting her explorer's pack and shield on her back. She dramatizes to the friends she's made (and any idle passerby) the danger and importance of the mission she's been assigned, perhaps even resulting in a few tearful goodbyes.
Tes sighs at Garric, "I was jesting".
She inspects the equipment, "If this is the best that veiled blackmail can produce I understand why you sleep on the job Garric there is not much to guard".
Tes nods to Kala, "Agreed".
She likewise heads to her own quarters to gather what little she has for the journey informing the Kor she has become close with that she hopes to be back soon with something of value to aid the cause.
Phaerlin collects one of the blood blossoms without comment then heads to his quarters to collect his belongings.
Vitrius takes one of the blood blossoms, giving a nod to Phaerlin before picking up the rest of the gear before parting. "Shall we meet at the cook fire when we are ready to leave then? I'll just carry all this then."
"That should be fine Master Girsen."
"I cook socks for you, o.k? They taste better than goblin. Dirty ones very tasty."
Kick-lick spends about 10 minutes snooping around the camp, looking for any spare clothing to put into his backpack. He goes as far as stealing it off of washing lines if he has to.
Once her goodbyes are complete, Tes heads to the cook fire to meet with her new allies and begin the journey to the ruins.
You return to the lakeside that serves as the communal area for merfolk in the area. As you approach, a youngling approaches you. Though his fins haven't fully extended into adulthood, it seemed as if he was accepted early for his arcane might.
"Kala! Kala!" he eagerly calls to you as he makes his way towards you.
He treats as an older sister, someone he can depend on and can show off to. Though, as he approaches you can see some others nearby whisper to each other, glancing at you too. It seems that others are concerned that a Emeria, is taking advantage of a Ulan.
"Looks like they caught something good for dinner. Are you hungry?"
Your in your private tent, your personal books stacked around you in teetering piles that threaten to tip over. You absentmindly adjust each tower as they sway a little to much to one angle, all the while examining the tools you received from Garric.
It does seem that the spyglass, while sturdy, could benefit from a new glass. Unfortunately, none of the supplies you own could fulfill such a purpose.
"Tes, you in there?"
One tent flaps lifts open and the peering head of Cas rim-Core peeks inside. You remember her as the gifted climber that helped you with the trek to the encampment. Without her, you'd be sitting in an empty tent, bored out of your wits.
"Dinner is ready if you're not too tired. I know how some of the drills can wear you out."
"Master Amoxin..."
As you return to your private quarters, you are greeted by one of your "cattle" as your people call them. In return for blood and sustenance, you offer them protection. And it doesn't hurt that the process of feeding on willful volunteers can bring a euphoric tantric sensation. This servant in particular followed you from your home, and serves you from his own free will.
"Would you care for a feeding sir, or perhaps a bit of sparring to help you relax into the afternoon."
Jaskin was a strapping young man and not shabby with a blade himself. He had been born as cattle, and even now in his late twenties seemed perfectly content with his role. He was even supportive of your decision to go against the family values.
There it was again...the sensation of hunger. By now you have learned to control your urges, but that didn't mean you could deny your physiology. Your masters at one of the Great Houses were understanding of course, and were able to find those to volunteer for your feeding, or even by pay.
But now, away from home, you find yourself hungering. Luckily, there seemed to be someone willing to aid you. A brief message later, she approaches your private tent.
"Hungry again, are you?"
She enters brashly, a human wearing armor from top to bottom. Her hair is cut short and she has a fiece look in her eye. Someone of her vitality would be able to endure your feeding from time to time. As mediator explained it to you, she was used to such rituals back home.
Hungry. Socks. Rocks. Yum.
You make your way back to your campsite and then to everyone else's campsites nicking a sock here, an old shirt there. You even managed to find a shiny gold rock locked in a chest, behind a guarded tent, in the middle of the human encampment. Shiny things taste the best!
However, when you return to your private area, a collapsed tent in the hodge-podge of other half torn tents, you find another goblin rooting through your things. And in his hand, your dragon scale.
"You know I'm always hungry! I could eat all the fish in the sea, if I had the chance! But tonight I cannot stay for dinner. This expedition is so important, I have to leave tonight. But hey, no tears! Maybe I will find a scroll for your studies in the ruins."
"Jaskin my faithful squire, I have a mission that I must attend to. I will return shortly; While I'm gone, secure our belongings and make sure that we are as provisioned as we can be."
EDIT: Realized I'm using a rapier.
Vitrius approaches the cook fire, somewhat less pale than before, and sets to inventory his things.
"Really?"
Cas ponders for a moment.
"If you wouldn't mind, then I'd like a few books to read while you're away. Though, I prefer stories to long droning texts about ancient history if you have them."
She smiles at you.
"Want me to grab some dinner for you if you're busy packing?"
"Oh."
The news of your eminent departure makes him crest fallen, evident by the drooping growths on his cheekbones.
"I'm not a kid you know. In a few more years I'll be as tall as you are. But if you really have to go....make sure you take care of yourself okay? There's some talk about how merfolk can't pull their weight."
"Of course master, as you command."
Jaskin immediately begins to take inventory once more, though he had already done so this morning. He does take pause though.
"Are you sure I should not accompany on this mission sir? How will you compensate for your...urges?"
The squeal of pain the thieving goblin releases seems to draw attention as you jam your weapon into its ass. He drops everything his grubby hands were carrying and races out of your quarters.
You pick up the dragon scale he left on the ground, examining it for damage. You safely stow it away on your person and proceed to your original task at hand.
"Watch it buddy. You're talking to a married woman here."
Bandage secure around her neck, she stretches and get's ready to leave.
"But thanks for the compliment. I'll let my husband knows I have another fan."
....
It seems you are alone the cook fire.
"But don't worry about me! Focus on growing bigger and getting ready for your own expeditions to come!" She doublechecks her equipment to make sure she's got everything, then waves goodbye to Riki and heads over to the agreed upon cookfire.
Kala approaches her allies at the cookfire. "I've got all my gear. Let's make tracks!"
"No, you should remain here. I have a blood blossom to keep me fed, and I we should be back before my cursed nature takes hold."
Arriving at the cookfire "I am also prepared to depart."
"I good. Other dummo try to steal my dragon scale." He says, holding it up. "I stab him in the bum!"
You sense that the weather will remain the same as its been, *nice weather for Zendikar, which is one without wild fluctuations. It should remain relatively nice, but that's most likely due to a high level spell cast by one of the many druids in the camp.
Vitrius nods at his companions in greeting as they arrive at the campfire. "I am also prepared for our travels." You notice his backpack is overflowing with things as he hefts it to his shoulders. "Lead the way my more naturally attuned friend." As they leave, he looks at Kick-Lick and shakes his head. The little git was going to get them into trouble, but Bloodchiefs be damned, he had the heart to get out of it.
Trusty machete: +1 longsword
Blazing torch: 10 Charges. Acts as the light spell for an hour per charge. May exhaust a 2 charges as a standard action for a burning hands spell.
Explorer's scope (damaged): Usable once per day, gives you advantage on Survival checks when navigating wilderness.
Blood blossoms: Able to sate a vampire's appetite for 3 days, but it isn't as fulfilling as normal blood. Should only be sued when needed. Can't be use more than twice consecutively.
-------------------------------------------------------
You all set out, ready to begin your long journey. This part is a bit of a skill challenge. Please choose a leader (or someone just go ahead and do it) and roll a survival check to determine how well you lead the party to the destination.
As they travel, Vitrius helpfully points out ways to conserve energy and travel more efficiently. He hands the Explorer's Scope to whomever takes the lead.
"Oh, forests are always a good time. You know, I've spent years navigating Murasa: Sunder Bay, Kazandu, the Living Spire..." Kala En twirls the Explorer's Scope when Vitrius hands it to her, and almost drops it as she moves to the front of the group (unless someone pushes her out of the way).
.
"But as I've said before, we've got the wind at our backs. It's sure to take us where we need to go." Kala En casts Guidance, listening to the sky and trying to make sense of it.
Total Survival: 19
"Fish are weird. I rode a dragon!"
You all set off on your journey with Kala en taking point. For any of you who imagined a land bound merfolk to be out of her depth, her prowess at navigating the tall forest is impressive. She is able to lead you halfway to the edge of the forest. A good many hours have passed and though you've seen a few predators and beasts, kala has been able to navigate around them without incident.
You break for meal as she sits down to a bit strained from reading the patterns of nature that has led to her success.
Tes is impressed at the Merfolks' skills in the wilderness and passes the time commenting on various flora and fauna that the allies pass as they trek through the wilderness.
Knowledge Nature
"We've got some daylight left, but we should start looking for a camping spot soon." Kala En chews on jerky from the rations supply and gulps from her waterskin.
"Trying to set up a tent by torchlight is a comedy of errors, trust me."
Vitrius smiles at the Merfolk, his fangs prominent in the dying light. "Some of us need no light to see by, but for the sake of solidarity, we should look for a decent spot to keep us safe through the coming dark."