Was going to fire upon the buffalo thinking of a great meal opportunity, instead changes targets to the lion....
Shortbow Attack
Damage
Confirm critical
Watching Blaze leap onto the charging animal's back, Doc just shakes his head. "Ten'll get ye twenty he end's up in m' tent in 'bout three minutes. Guess it's time t' change targets."
"'ere kitty kitty kitty.." Doc chuckles, dropping another round down the tube, still comfortably perched in his chair. "Le'sse how ye like one o' these.
Initiative Order: Sentis, Doc, Blaze, Grusk, Darkbiter, Ryuko, Kaavel, Animals, Camp
Just before Blaze mounts the buffalo, Doc hurls a tanglefoot bag at the lion - scoring a solid hit upon it's body. The lion is covered with the sticky material, restricting it's movement and causing it to roar in anguish.
Taking careful aim Grusk releases the arrow from his bow and it strikes true, spearing into the lions neck and striking deeply.
Seeing that the lion was on it's last legs, Darkbiter and Ryuko add their bowshots to the attack hitting the lion solidly in the torso. With a whimper the lion collapses to the ground and stops moving.
The presence of a rider on it's back is not to the buffalo's liking, and it thrashes around trying to throw it's human cargo.
In the background you hear the natives chattering away to each other in Polyglot. A few words are able to be heard clearly above the din:
Still no sign of movement from your Corporal's tent, though a faint sound of snoring can be heard.
Darkbiter seeing the situation with the buffalo clearly in hand turns around to the porters, and replies in their tongue.
The camp is still in relative uproar, so you don't get anyone replying to your query. As you haven't taken any actions this round you could probably go and find someone to query directly if you like.
...how tragic that our camp interupted this most noble of Nature's happenings? Hunter and prey trapped in life's circle once again. I'm not that familiar with the mind of beasts but maybe it will let me guide it away now that the threat has passed...
As the buffalo bucks around, Blaze carries out an elegant dismount to the side landing on his feet.
"So much fer dinner one wants tah rides it tha other wants tah make nice.......How does lion taste?"
Blaze, not wanting to kill the buffalo, hits it in the back of the head with the butt of his scimitar
"That idiot's still trying to kill the damn thing." Cort says... annoyed at Blaze still doing so. "Sunny! It's backing off... get your sunkissed arse out of there before you ruin Green's mojo." He turns at the questioning voices in Polyglot. "Oh no. Someone is missing. Just when I thought I'd be back to sleep soon."
Blaze gives the buffalo a slap on the backside with his scimitar and with a start it begins moving away from the camp.
Darkbiter turns and grabs the nearest porter he can and gets the following response from him
I sure didn't expect my first night to be this exciting. I presume it's just a taste of what's to come with this group...
I walk over to Blaze and extend my hand Thank you for not slaying that poor creature. I'm Sentis, a friend of Darkbiter's and a new recruit. I must say that was quite the daring maneuver you pulled jumping up on that buffalo
Darkbiter will follow the porter to see what the problem is.
Those who follow the porter approach the other side of the camp, where Musangi is already standing - seemingly having calmed down the remainder of the porters now that the lion is dead.
When you approach he states: "I thank you for stopping the lion, many could have been killed had it reached the camp. It seems as though one of the porters Mtumbo has decided to desert, it is not unknown to happen."
After telling Ryuko to gather the others as their work wasn't done yet, Darkbiter pulls Musangi off to the side away from the porters, and starts asking him questions about where he hired the porters, who all knew of the destination, and if anyone would have an interest in stopping the expedition from reaching it's destination.
Musangi responds to Darkbiter's questions as asked. The porters were rounded up from local villages and did not know of their destination apart from the fact it is in the jungle. At the query of who would want to stop the expedition he ponders for a few moments before responding that he has no idea.
The expedition leader Vankerman arrives as this questioning is taking place. Nodding an acknowledgement at the squaddies he asks "Musangi, what has happened? I've heard that we lost a porter?"
"Yes Fundi, Mtumbo is gone."
In the distance you see that Corporal Valorious has roused himself and is approaching with a foul look on his face.
Skins the lion field dresses it and hangs the carcass upright beside the fire....
"Dinner, errr breakfast..."
Blaze shakes the hand of Sentis "Your welcome. Didn't think the poor beast was trying to hurt anybody, no sense in hurting it back. I've jumped on many a camel back home, but that's the first time I've tried to jump onto something that big. I'm Memluck by the way, though most call me Blaze, or Sunny" He says with a big, almost childish grin. He clearly had a blast attempting to ride the buffalo.
Well met Blaze. Uh, whats a camel?...
...better yet who's that sour looking guy over with the others?
"It's a type of riding animal native to the desert and my homeland Qadira" He says this with a bit of pride, obviously proud of where he's from. In a bit of a whisper he adds "That's Corporal Drunky McGrumpypants, aka the guy whose in charge of us"
Darkbiter asks the same questions of Robert before finding his squad mates and updating them on the missing porter, the sweet smell he noticed both in battle and near the missing porter's tent, and the information he got from their employers. Seeing Sentis, he smiles, "It is good to see you, old friend. It will be nice knowing that at least one other person is familiar with the jungle."
"Yes, yes. I'm sure the jungle is your great friend if you know it well. I'm miserable in this heat and wet." Cort walks up and sizes up Sentis. Offering his whole left hand. "I'm Cortland Broadcloak of Brevoy, though most call me Cort for short. Good job with the buffalo. Though I was hoping it would take Sunny here off our hands." He laughs until he sees the Corporal approaching, his expression turning sour. "Wonderful. The drunk graces us with his presence. I suppose we won't get more sleep tonight. Tracking porters away through the jungle... fun."
Vankerman listens to Darkbiter with an air of indifference, not paying much mind to his comments "I don't see what the fuss is about, this porter fellow obviously found the work too taxing and decided to abscond. He was probably just after the signing bonus he got. We have to break camp soon, and I'm not going to waste my time chasing down a runaway porter" before adding to Musangi "Split his load amongst the others, I want to be ready to march in four hours." and retiring to his tent.
Musangi nods to Vankerman, shrugs his shoulders at the squaddies and starts addressing the porters
Valorious weighs in with "Righto boys, you heard the money. Help the inbred with the carcass if you want or stand around talking about your feelings with the treehugger, but be ready to go in four hours". He waits around to see if anyone is going to question his authority, and give him a chance to vent his hangover.
If no-one comes forward, he stumbles over to the fire - stopping to empty his bladder on it before going back to his tent.
" We should at least track where the porter went for a short bit. The sweet smell being in both the porter's tent and near the rampaging animals bothers me a bit. I fear we may be being led into another situation where both our employer and our beloved corporal are in over their heads. Anyone care to come with me? I don't plan on going far, just far enough to see if the porter's trail could lead back to where the animals came from."
@ Darkbiter - The jungle can be a very unforgiving place for those ignorant of its ways. This group might have a chance with you leading the way.
I take the offered hand of Cort with my left also Well met Cort. While Im glad that there wasnt any more senseless killing I am more saddened at the fate of the majestic lion. Our presence here disrupted his hunt and probable meal. A true loss to the jungle. Is our corproral that bad?
Taking the dressing down from Valorious in stride. ...he's a bit gruff but nothing compared to the hatred i felt from my elven 'family'...
@ Darkbiter - What is this sent you speak of? I will of course follow the trail with you. No one not familiar with her ways should wander off in this jungle.
"Iah will be ready tah march with warm lion in mah belly."
Lays the beasts heart on a rock near the fire and also the liver, those he is going to eat and soon!
DM
No problem being singled out!
Also don't cry if my PC takes damage!
Blaze laughs at Cort's comment "You just want me gone so I won't around to beat you in a duel again. Come on, we have a few hours to kill, and there's a couple of tricks I want to teach you." If Cort follows him, Blaze takes him to an open area and starts showing the other duelist some tricks on how to strike with his innate grace and agility as opposed to raw power.
Cort and Blaze duel for a while. Both working up a hearty sweat as they exchange banter and slight taps. "I'll beat you one day camel-jockey" Cort says as they head back into camp. "I've never seen anyone outside Brevoy who could strike like us. I'm surprised anyone else has that much finesse."
Location: Sargava, at the outskirts of Laughing Jungle
NPCs: Steel Wolves Squad – Corporal Ielorion ‘Icy’ Valorious;
Vankerman Expedition – Robert Vankerman (Expedition Leader)
Musangi (Second in Command); Ossana (Musangi’s sister)
Bartholemew Vankerman (Robert & Ossana’s son)
19 porters
Over the next few hours the camp gradually dissolves under the ministrations of the porters, and is ready to resume the march as ordered by Vankerman. Valorious then gives the orders to the squad to form up for marching.
Musangi places himself at the head of the main expedition column so as to assist in guiding the way, while Cpl Valorious falls in alongside Vankerman.
After a couple of hours marching across the plains, the group comes upon the jungle proper. The vegetation grows more dense and trees grow higher and laden with vines. Animal sounds of myriad sources can be heard in the distance and the air grows thicker and more humid (if that were possible).
Vankerman gathers Musangi and the Wolves "The location I seek is a good distance inside the jungle, though how long it takes to get there depends on what sort of progress we can make. Musangi will lead the main body of the expedition as guide, though I expect your men to scout slightly ahead as well."
"If you need any further preparation before we continue, please do it now. Questions can be directed at Musangi" he then turns to his son tousling his hair, and walking slightly off to the side pointing out various trees and birds that can be seen.
"If we are to scout ahead, we need to at least know general direction and distance, so that we can secure a safe and proper path. Also, some idea of what the temple looks like so we can distinguish it from the other ruins that fill the jungle would be a good idea." Darkbiter mentions to Musangi, hoping to at least get enough information that he can lay out a proper route for the group that minimizes danger and their impact on the jungle while making sure that he can actually get them there.
Musangi lets loose a hearty laugh and smiles "Temple is that way friend." pointing directly into the heart of the jungle "Don't be worried what it looks like yet, there are still some days before we will see it. I will set the way as we walk."
Grusk gives a nod to darkbiter....
They then space out and walk into the jungle,
"Bout 11 feet apart, sound right tah yous?"
Darkbiter bites his tongue at Musangi's response, hopeful that he at least, knows something about the jungle, unlike Icy and probably Robert, who Darkbiter was already starting to be wary of, as his attitude was one that could cause serious problems in the jungle. "Works for me, Grusk." he says as he takes up a leading position.
While they're stopped, Blaze wanders around nearby, not leaving the group but not apart of them either. His hand is on his scimitar, as this jungle makes him edgy.
He finally makes his way over to Darkbiter "Ireallyhopeyoucanguideussafelythroughthisjungleihatenotbeingabletoseetoofa rinfrontofmeandtheconfiningnatureofthejunglefreaksmeoutabit"He says in a rush of nerves.
Kaavel looking around as the group walks towards the jungle seeing the sights wondering to himself "Did my master walk here? Did she fight some of the beasts that we might have to fight on our way to this temple."
Musangi leads the way as you commence your delve into the jungle. The heat dims slightly as you get beneath the canopy, though the air remains heavy and sodden with humidity.
The initial going is relatively easy, and the porters are in good spirit joking with each other in Polyglot. You are still able to walk freely without needing to cut your way through the undergrowth.
After an hour or so of walking, Musangi calls a halt for a short time in a clearing about 30ft across and sends a porter climbing up a nearby banyan tree to confirm his bearings. Bart Vankerman walks forward slightly "Look father, the banyan tree is in fruit - there are plenty of figs" bending down to pick one up.
As the groups stops in a clearing Kaavel hears a soft sound not knowing what it could be he asks Darkbiter.
"What creatures in this jungle make a soft buzzing sound?"