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Round 2
Lowering her head and shielding her eyes/face with one arm, Morwenna does not succumb to the blindness created by the floating pollen grains in the cloud around them. She positions herself in a total defense stance (as a standard action) until she can orientate herself better and see the Blood Maize. =====
Round 1
She looks at the plant creature near Taldo and it dawns on her what it is. "It's a Blood Maize! Careful of its leaves - they are so sharp they can rend your flesh deep and wide! They absorb spilled blood and can uproot themselves to move without impediment!" Morwenna warns her companions. Morwenna carefully moves around and comes to stand on the other side of the creature (C8); flanking with Taldo. Thrusting her shortspear, she strikes at the creature,
managing to bypass its defences and hits it for 3 damage. ---- ----
==== Morwenna happily accepts the offered plum from Taldo and wiping the fruit on her britches, takes a bite and tastes/savours the warm sweetness. "It is good," she says with a smile. When Taldo then hands her the parchment which Daryl discovered in the unearthed pouch, she places the plum between her lips and begins to silently read the message. When she is done, she hands it to Uzziah and takes the plum from her lips and takes another bite. "Ramona is expedition leader and would know the names of the first colonists, I am certain of this. Keep the note safe and we can show it to her when we meet up with them again." Taldo's Perception 16 & Survival to track 7:
There are no discernible monkey goblin tracks to be seen ... Perhaps the coastal wind and any rains brought by the Eye brushed/washed them away... You do note some very small holes in the softer soil of the garden - they appear like very small aeration holes and there are only a few. They are nothing like the holes/tunnels made by the Ankhegs and nothing that would cause you much concern.
Hearing and heeding Daryl's request, Morwenna turns her gaze back to the plum tree and examines its branches, trunk and ground housing its roots. "This tree appears to be grafted. A clever gardener, indeed. Such trees can bear fruit within a year after planting. If you, too, consider the tropical clime, it may have helped the fruit drop and ripen sooner than the common plum trees you are used to in your own lands. Possibly within six months. I have no knowledge of the soil composition or nutrients of this new land, but it has been said the soil is very rich and I suppose that, too, helped in the maturing process. We may be able to locate the farmer and they can give you a more definitive answer, Daryl Bohannon."
Morwenna's turquoise eyes look to Taldo and she smiles and nods, "Yes, of course, I will help you, Taldo," and makes to follow the ranger to the larger of the two patches.
Watching the last of the small aggressors fall, Morwenna steps lightly around the dead Ankheg Nymph before her and wipes the blood from her spearhead on the grass growing alongside the vegetable patch. Her torn thigh aches with the movement, yet she would remedy that soon enough. She notices Daryl examining the ground and tunnels, before loading his crossbow and collecting some of the ripe and edible vegetables. Morwenna cast her eyes around the group, marking each of their wounds, from small to serious. "The healing energy I can call forth allows me to aid those who are connected to water. I shall tend to them first and then to the others." Stowing her shortspear across her back, Morwenna grips the small vial of liquid around her neck, and whispers, "Sṓizō"; the sound like lapping waves. Harnessing the energy of the deep, Morwenna sends it out toward Uzziah and Taldo, including herself in the two streams of healing energy.
"We must be careful for the remainder of this day. I can only call upon the Guardians' grace one more time this day." Stretching/flexing her thigh, she is happy to see it is hale and strong. Removing the healing wand from her pack, Morwenna points the wand first at Ezekiel (who appears more wounded than the men), then Daryl and finally Uzziah to heal the remainder of his wounds.
As she carefully stows the wand back inside her leather bag, Morwenna adds in soft melodic voice, "Keep the healing potions for now. They may come in useful this night and in the days to come." Then Morwenna moves back into the garden patch and begins to drag the dead Nymphs out, one at a time and mindfully so as to not come in contact with any venom on their mandibles. "We should pile them up and burn their bodies. The scent of blood will draw other creatures. And I, for one, would rather my vegetables are not covered in blood."
Round 5 Morwenna moves 15 ft along the garden row to flank with Uzziah. Thrusting her shortspear at the Ankheg Nymph #4, she attacks.
The spear presses through the creature's skull, killing it!
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Round 3 Tired of the biting and spitting creatures and heeding Aeracian's warning, Morwenna drives her finely crafted shortspear into its carapace.
The Ankheg Nymph between Morwenna and Daryl suffers 8 pts of damage, and, even though it is very badly injured it is still upright. =============
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Taldo's Know. Nature re moles:
The small rodents mainly live in burrows underground and there are many varieties of moles. Perhaps they live in this patch, beneath the nutrient rich soil.
Morwenna tilts her head at the question; the sun making her eyes glisten like the sea. "Not if you make them into a stew." She sounds serious for a moment, but then you see the corner of her mouth quirk upward and the mirth playing in her turquoise eyes. "I have not prayed for the spell which allows me to speak with animals this day. At best, I may be able to charm it into not biting you." Morwenna gracefully steps around the vegetables, weeds and small holes in the soil to stand on the other side of the hole Daryl was pointing his crossbow at. She cast a keen look over the holes/tunnel mounds, pondering something she has noticed.
Quietly to her companions, she says, "Daryl Bohannon, these tunnel mounds do appear similar to those made by moles; yet I believe they have been made by something other by the way the earth has been turned and the size of the tunnels." Morwenna grips the shortspear in her hand with purpose.
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Morwenna had been quietly observing and listening as the males took turns to speak and venture reasons as to what had happened to the original colonists. When asked about her gear, the druidess stated simply, "My waterproof pack is filled with rations for two days, drinking water, rope, blanket, flint and steel, a mess kit, personal items and I have a wand of healing - not fully charged, but it is still helpful. My weapons are the shortspear you see in my hand and a dagger at my belt. I have lacquered leather armour for added protection and a few gold coins in my pouch. I had hoped to fish and search for fruits to supplement my rations. I am willing to share whatever I can find or catch with the group." Then her eyes began to change colours as silent thoughts moved in her head. She smiled and added, "The healing potions are a fortuitous find. And the magical shirt could be useful to the right person. Coin may not seem valuable in this moment, but if ships pass the island, there could be opportunity to trade or buy from and sell to them." "One has mentioned investigating the farms to the south and another the dock . Which will it be first?"
He was found? Was he orphaned or deliberately abandoned? Eagerness to know more of the story was gnawing at her, yet Morwenna curbed her tongue. Her irises changed from a deep green to a light blue-green as she watched Taldo. Steadily, with a gentleness to her voice, Morwenna added, "I would like to hear some more, when we have time to rest."
The druidess approved of his good manners, yet she wanted to reassure the man that it was not necessary, "Daryl, please call me Morwenna. Such formality is not required between travel companions and friends."
"I do not wish to pry, yet you glance at the bay from time to time. What is it you seek to find or resolve? Perhaps if you speak your thoughts aloud, the rest of us may provide our own insight." Morwenna smiled encouragingly at the man. Being she was quite a curious creature herself, she wished to know what he was looking for.
Morwenna turned her gaze to Daryl and replied softly, like wind brushing waves, "I saw a dark shadow 'neath the dock. It looked like a sunken boat, yet I swam further down the bay before coming to shore, so I cannot say for certain. I, too, think it is strange there are no fishing boats. You are clever to notice such things."
Another Morwenna grew thoughtful as she reflected on the man's words, "I, too, have been taught to hunt; mainly for protection of my family. I was born with a certain grace - it makes me quiet on my feet. It helps during a hunt."
Morwenna smiled and her eyes shone with a turquoise light, "I must admit that I did not. I enjoyed the swim and the challenge of reaching shore before you." She gave a gentle, sweet laugh as she looked to each of the people around her.
Morwenna's demeanour turned thoughtful and she replied steadily although still pleasantly; her accent pretty on the ear the more you get accustomed to it, "My father is one of the Merfolk of Stormshoal, beneath the waters along the edge of the Eye of Abendego. I cannot say if he has visited Outsea for I divide my time between my mother and father, when I am not exploring on my own. Most of the Merfolk of Stormshoal are isolated and keep to themselves due to the stormy waters of the Eye." Uzziah's Know History 10: You have heard the tales of Merfolk who distrust land dwellers so much that they do all in their power to conceal their presence from them and protect their territories. Yet, there have been great and tragic stories that tell of romances between Merfolk and landwalkers - but that their love is always doomed to tragedy and separation. Children born of these momentary and rare unions are called Mergs - half Human, half Merfolk. You believe Morwenna to be such a child.
Morwenna noted Daryl's glances to the Peregrine, and she turned around and watched as if waiting on something to happen. It was then the party on the beach noted the shouts coming from the ship just inside the bay. The anchor had been raised and order must have been given to start heading north toward the second, designated landing spot. Morwenna lifted her hand to bid them farewell - yet, only those with the scope would see her doing so. Like Ramona. She watched the ship catch a fair wind and gain speed before turning back to the others on the beach. "We will meet them in two days."
She inclined her head when Taldo assured her he was hale and well after her magic. "I am not priestess. I am druid and my powers come from the ancient spirits of the seas whose powers reach as high as they do deep; into the heavens themselves to stir the squalls and storms. I call them the Guardians of the Deep as my father's people have done before me." As she spoke, Morwenna's eyes swirled, turning all the colours of the ocean in each moment and then settling on a clear, light blue.
Pointing westward, past the entrance of the bay, she replied, "It jetted too fast to catch its exact backward path, yet it seemed to be heading toward the entrance of the bay, just behind the Peregrine. It does not mean that is where its tribe is hidden. They are cunning creatures and if they do not fight to the death, they move with speed and stealth and lurk. It may have reported our presence and the deaths of the other two. Be must be mindful."
Morwenna noted the movement of the arbalist and then Taldo's swift pursuit, "We are strangers, here. Best to move as one." With that, she took her boots off her shoulder and put them on her feet. Securing the leather sack more comfortably over said shoulder, Morwenna made her way to the path leading into Talmandor's Bounty; her footfalls graceful and quiet; shortspear ready in hand. Daryl's checks: Perception 22 for threats: You spy none. The only voices to be heard are the ones from your party. There is an uncanny quietness/stillness. Survival 11 to notice terrain and tracks: The beach inclines to the east and gives way to grassy shrubs and trees on each side of the worn path. Looking down you see no tracks leading into or out of the settlement which strikes you as most strange.
As Daryl lowered his weapon, she smiled. "There is nothing to apologise for. And the ship was filled to the brim with colonists and alike - that we have not been acquainted until now is reasonable." She watched as Daryl dragged the boat from the tide line and she nodded at the wisdom of it.
"You dispatched the two in the water quite swiftly. I chased the third out of the harbour - it was sneaking up to the boat as I was swimming to shore. I managed to stab it once with my spear before it jetted away and I would not follow. If there were three in the bay, then I would hazard there is a tribe of them nearabout. Best one doesn't take on a band of Grindylows on their own. They are brutish terrors relishing in the misfortune of others." Seeing the strips of cloth binding the wounds on Taldo and Uzziah and noting the others did not appear similarly injured, Morwenna placed her gear and spear on the white sand and moved to the shoreline where the water lapped playfully at the sand. She immersed her feet into the sea and then taking the vial around her neck gently in hand, Morwenna drew upon the power of the Guardians of the Deep and the fluid inside the vial began to glow iridescent blue as did her eyes. A soothing wave of healing energy moved out from her, enveloping Taldo and Uzziah. Drawing again on the power she felt within her, Morwenna released a second wave of healing energy toward the two.
"Do you feel better now?", gesturing to their bandages. Then her expressive eyes fell on Uzziah and she smiled a little brighter, "Good to see you again, Uzziah," and remembering her manners, nodded to the giant dodo, "and you, Ezekiel."
Daryl's question brought her to attention as did Taldo's sweet request, and she moved from the water and collected her belongings before speaking, "I am a capable scout and can make my way on land and in water. As you have just seen, I have been trained in the healing arts and can, by the grace of the Guardians of the Deep, call forth a little magic to heal those in need. I can fight somewhat, too; enough to protect and be in battle alongside others. And I have a certain way with animals - better with those in the ocean, yet capable with the land varieties."
Taldo: At first glance Morwenna appears human, although you note the fine gill slits on either side of her neck camouflaged by the tattoos and the delicate webbing between her fingers when she lifted her hand to grip the vial around her neck before she healed you. When you look down at her feet, you can see the same delicate webbing between her toes. So, she is certainly part human and part something other...
Daryl:
Daryl, you do not sense any malice or falsehood coming from the young woman before you. You, however, do note, that her eyes change colour again as you continue to level your weapon at her, even if it isn't entirely in a threatening manner. Her eyes are a piercing silver-grey at present.
"My name is Morwenna Blue. I sailed on the Peregrine with you all. We did not keep company, well not with all of you, but I do know your names, Daryl Bohannon." Again, you note the curious accent and melodic voice. Her eyes stray to your fine crossbow and then back to your face, "You may lower your weapon. I do not mean to attack you." Once again her eyes change colour, and the silver becomes filled with a bright green. "I have been tasked by Ramona to aid you in investigating the settlement." |
