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"We'll take care of keeping the lighthouse going. Gelik and that post nasal drip mephit have become fast friends - the little bugger should do well watching for ships."
"We don't know... she and the other woman left the base camp, but not with us. There is a chance that these plant pygmies nabbed them if their territory is the lion's share of what's left unexplored."
Tol walks around the top of the lighthouse scanning all directions. "Well I guess all that's left of the plan is to lay it out. Jask, Ishirou, Gelik, and I will hold down the camp, watch for ships, and keep the fire burning."
"Good. Thank you. I trust your judgment.... And I agree. We've done enough for this island if you ask me. Why don't you folks take it easy for the rest of the day, get a good night's sleep, and we'll work out a plan in the morning. Jask, Ishirou, and I will keep gathering wood."
Everyone gathers for lunch, and eke stories out of those of you who had not slipped away for rest. The native women listen through Jask's translations, and consequently react to the juicy bits several seconds after the others. By the end Tol has to stop them from worship-like bowing on their knees... "Now now... that kind of ego-puffery is the last thing Miss Gatherine needs." He groans as he lifts them to their feet. Gatherine:
You start to notice how old Tol is looking... He does not seem to be thriving here. He looks worn out. Tol then gets to business. "So we have a few things on our plate. Obviously, get off this island, but it'd be nice if we could at least make an effort to find that pair of headstrong ladies."
Gatherine: "Gatherine... We want off this island. They want off this island. There are enough things on this accursed blemish of land that want to chew off our faces... we should do everything we can to avoid the same temptation toward each other. I'm not telling you ya hafta hold hands and skip around the red oak tree... but like the mighty dwarven phalanx, you gotta know the fellas to both your right and your left are with ya."
After a brief contemplation on the glory bestowed upon his ancestors in the phalanx, he slaps his thigh "Tell you what lass. I'll have a talk with the captain. If what you are saying is the unvarnished truth, his delivery doesn't sit real well with me... but that's the thing with growin up. You meet all kinds of people in the world. They're used ta dealing with people in the way its done in whatever they're doin... and if what you are workin towards is bigger than your piddly squabbles and tender honor, you find a way to work it out. Don't burn yourself up lookin for a fight, Miss Gatherine, or you'll find yourself popping a vein in your head before you even reach 100! Save some steam for the... poo-flinging monkeys?" Tol looks at Gatherine with a raised eyebrow... unsure if he had her correct terminology.
Truk sense motive:
You do not detect any unease or other signs of hidden hostility. The Tian man does appear to be sizing the two of you up in a similar fashion, however. "And you... Trushtog? eh?" Tol takes Truk's hand and places his other on top. He then nods repeatedly looking over the battle scene as Truk'tosh speaks. "Aye... believe so. Had a couple willful lasses run off on their own. Norm'ly I'd say they could take care of themselves, but... on this island..." He shakes and bows his head "Can't say its too likely the young ladies are still with us. " He then takes Cale's hand "Captain?! Ha! What are the chances?! Certainly a pleasure, sir. Of course, sir... I certainly understand. I am quite looking forward to a job-well-done-lie-down myself." He then looks again at Gatherine; still smiling...
Several approach from the northeast at a slow pace. The group is lead by a half-armored dwarf on a horse. On either side an behind him walk Mugambi, Jask the Garundi, Gelik the gnome, and a man with a staff who appears to be of of some Tian descent.
"A well won victory my friends... and new friends. Mugambi mentioned you were captives here as well? It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Tol Cherthand. I was named guardian of Miss Gatherine here... but I am starting to agree with her that I may not be needed in that regard any longer." Tol proudly ruffles Gatherine's hair under her tricorne, and slaps her on the back before offering his hand in greeting to Cale and Truk'tosh.
While Mugambi deals with Roocha, and drags the armor back... Tol speaks and points to trees ahead of you and to the right. "Gorra and I will wait there - in the thick of those trees near the main trail. We will charge in at the sound of Gatherine's first shot. Ishirou? With me?" Ishirou nods.
"I think it is best to steer clear of that beast for a while Miss Gatherine." Tol tosses one of his last pieces of rations near the cave, and Barlo scoots off to gobble it up. "And if you get a chance, take a look at Kekkaw's rifle... I don't think it should still be smoking." Iolana spellcraft:
Kekkaw and Ishirou join you in setting up camp here. After the poison bushes are mentioned, they begin clearing it from the site... Ishirou expresses interest in staying here to recuperate while you deal with the cannibals.
"You all did well. Get some rest... " Tol grips Gatherine's shoulder paternally as he passes. "A spring, eh? That'll be good for Gorra I suppose." Tol squats down by the spring. He does a double take when he sees Barlo the glyptodon peeking out from the bushes.
"Go on ahead, I'll wait here." Tol starts unpacking Gorra's saddlebags. "I'd like to climb up and take a look myself, but... I'll wait for a smaller audience. You be careful with that Glyterdon thing, just stay clear of it."
You move on. Another half mile or so further, you come to a bend in the path which turns to the right. Tol looks down the bend and points to the treeline "This must be near the clearing where I saw the group pass. Which would mean the hill we are looking for is to the right, I believe." He then turns in his saddle and points west... just south of southern end of the butte you have been traveling east of. There is no immediately visible trail, but it looks manageable. Very few trees, and you can see actual ground between clumps of foliage on the ground.
The funky citrus smell pings Tol's taste buds, causing him to start to salivate... and make him slightly more reluctant than Mugambi to rule out the fruit. He nods and speaks while he steadies Gorra -- sneezing out gnats.
"Uhh couldn't have been more than..." He glances over at Ishirou. "..six or seven?"
Tol shrugs then nods thoughtfully in response to Iolana's question "Certainly could be. I saw no others, but the closer we get to the camp, the more likely we'll have run ins." Tol looks to Syndlara and Gatherine... "Ready to move on?"
You find Tol and Gorra in a well hidden shallow cave. There is a fairly easily scaled climb to the top of it. Tol leads you there, just above the canopy of trees. "Well hidden here. Take a look." To the southeast you see several small gaps in the trees... enough to make out a worn trail. Tol points out where the trail bends east, there is a clear view. "The group that took Jask and Gelik... I saw them there. They must have decided to move on to the main camp... there." He points south to something sticking out of the blue-tinged horizon. It looks like the top of a lighthouse... maybe 6 or 7 miles away.
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