The Qadiran grimaces a bit at the pain, but otherwise sucks it up. "Thank you Sentis. I refuse to let this blasted jungle best me"
As Doc is still not full-time: ; ;
Cpl Valorious comes out of the Vankerman's tent with a scowl on his face. Addressing the squad "The money wants to press on. Any of you fairies who think you've got a more silver tongue than me are welcome to try and convince him if you like. Otherwise, be ready to move out in an hour."
The porters crowd around Sentis as she removes the maggots from the squaddies, obviously impressed with her skill. The ones that have infestations of their own request her ministrations as well. Sangoma is working on the porter that had four stings off to the side with Musangi ... and it doesn't look like it is going well.
Darkbiter will share his information about the strange shaman and the excess of monkeys with the rest of the squad so that they know what to keep an eye on as they travel.
Second verse same as the first!
Damage
Current Health
8/14
"Had tah chase tha one down a bit, Doc yah got more o tha drink?"
Anyone feeling charming enough to talk Vankerman into staying? Let me see those wounds Grusk. Wow you're looking rough. Id better heal you as well. Especially if we're to keep moving.
I will also help any of the porters still suffering from bug stings.
Darkbiter, do you think this shaman will continue to be a threat?
"Thanks fer tha healin I bet tha a*$%%$$ in tha woods caused tha flies tah do tha!"
Blaze sighs at the drunken, belligerent, ineptitude of Icy. "Let me go see if I can gain us a night of rest. I'm usually pretty good at talking to those in charge" The lithe man puts his shirt back on, straps on his scimitar and heads over to Vankerman's tent.
"Greetings Mr Vankerman. We have not yet been formally introduced. I am Memluk Seljuk, though my friends call me Blaze. I am very sorry about my Corporal's attitude, he sees you as just a source of money, not caring much beyond getting paid. He says you wish to leave immediately, but if I might be so bold, I'd advise against that. A fair amount of us guards have been bitten by those foul insects from earlier, and thus could greatly benefit from a night's rest before pressing on. Also, a number of the porters were bit as well, including one who seems like he might not make it. I have little knowledge of these jungles, but if he dies, I think it would be quite prudent if we were to properly dispose of the body in such a way as to not cause disease, infestation, etc.
Clearly, this is your expedition, and we are but guards and guides helping you achieve your goal. However, for us to do our jobs and do them well, it would be best for us to gain an extra night's rest."
Robert is standing in the tent, his arm freshly bandaged. "An empassioned speech, Memluk is it, but I am unmoved. As I explained to your Corporal when I hired you on I was under the impression that I was to be getting soldiers, not a group of babes barely weaned from their mother's teat. We continue on." before motioning for Blaze to leave the tent.
He follows Blaze out of the tent, then moves to where Sangoma and Musangi are tending to the badly injured porter. "Will he make it?" he enquires of Musangi as though talking of the weather.
Musangi looks up from the still body of the porter and shakes his head. Robert continues "Split his load up among the others, we must be back on the move soon. Leave the body." before returning to his tent to complete his preparations to get back on the march.
Musangi and Sangoma sigh before moving to carry out Robert's instructions.
In Ignan "May the Dawnflower take you, vile man" Blaze mutters as he walks away.
When going under the knife Cort is extremely nervous, knowing how many important arteries are in the shoulder and how much he would really truly dislike to lose both his arms.
Cort smiles... greenish, as the maggot comes slimily out of his arm. "Thanks Sentis. I guess you can put me back together anytime friend, if you do that good a job, thought that would be much worse." He sits down for a bit and makes sure to clean the wound and keep it bound, then replaces his armor. He shakes his head at the treatment from Vankerman. "The man served honorably. He deserves a burial at the least. Who will help mewith it, the faster it's done the less the money will complain."
Cort works quickly on digging a grave, saying a few words to Shelyn for the small beauties of the dead man, and then covering him. It's not a great grave, but it's the best he can do with so little time.
Cort mutters in varisian, shooting dark looks at the Corporal and Vankerman as he finishes and readies to march again.
Musangi and a few of the porters assist Cort in giving the poor man a rudimentary burial. When finished, Sangoma says a few words in Polyglot by way of rememberance.
Lets hope I dont have to patch any of you up too much Cort. The jungle is bad enough without allof us being injured. Keep those wounds covered. I will help you with the burial of this poor man. It looks like our employer doesnt understand the danger of leaving a corpse exposed to the senses of the more than numerous predators around here.
Ill help with the burial, scrub up and then put out the fire I was using to boil water before repacking and shouldering my kit. Checking my weapons; I'll move to the back of the group and check our backtrail.
-
Im worried about this shaman Darkbiter saw. I dont think he wants us to find this temple and Vankermans lack of concern for the jungle dangers and our health will see more of these men die out here...
Location: Sargava, inside the 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)
18 porters
The march resumes once more with Musangi directing the way while Darkbiter and Grusk scout ahead. The mood of the march is more grim than yesterday, and a few of the porters gaze lingered on the shallow grave before they started walking. Only Vankerman and Cpl Valorious moods seem unchanged.
During the early part of the march Sentis passes around the lemongrass oil he prepared. Most of the porters eagerly take some and smear it behind their ears and across their chest. Cpl Valorious is a conspicuous refuser, scowling at Sentis as he offered it. He occasionally swigs from a rapidly emptying skin of cheap wine.
After a couple of hours the expedition comes to a large river alongside a waterfall and a small cliff . The waterfall spills into a reasonable sized lake at its base. The river is a good 60ft wide, though looks to only be about thigh deep. The water is not very fast moving, though is still murky and choked with silt. At the top of the cliff, the river appears to be less wide and faster flowing.
The path that Musangi is setting leads across the river and beyond. Calling a short halt, he comes to consult with the squad "We must keep going that way, but have a choice. Do we ford the river here, downstream, or climb and ford it above?"
Kaavel marches silently while thinking of what the jungle could do.
Perception
"Keep a careful eye out darkbiter, darkbiter?. Where did yah goes?"
-
[b]Above the water will be moving fast and we'll need to travel a ways before it slows. And yoru men will be exhausted from the climb; those that make it. Moving downriver is the best option in my opinion.
-
I just might know a good place...
-
Above the water will be moving fast and we'll need to travel a ways before it slows. And your men will be exhausted from the climb; those that make it that is. To then have to wade through a river headed to a waterfall will be certain death for the weak. Moving downriver is the best option in my opinion.
-
I just might know a good place...
Blaze smiles a bit at the mention of climbing "I could use a good climb, help me work out some kinks, though I doubt many others feel that way"
"Whatever we do, bear in mind we are being watched by someone, and they seem to be using the entire jungle to do so. I ask again, who would have an interest in tracking us? Because a local tribe wouldn't normally care enough to go the lengths that have been done. This is something I have to know if I am to figure out how to track them."
Musangi knuckles his forehead in thought "This shaman you speak of sound like a Ju-Ju man.... They are the spirit men for some of the deep jungle tribes. I have not heard of them working with reptile before though."
He spends a few moments in thought before continuing "There is tribe I know where we might take shelter. If we push hard we may get there tonight."
What I think my friend most wants to know is would this Ju-Ju man and his tribe want to keep us from getting to the temple?
Turning to Sentis, Musangi addresses him "I would need to see his spirit mask to know his tribe...." he throws a furtive glance towards Vankerman as his voice trails off. "We must keep moving if we are to reach refuge... I cannot talk now, but perhaps tonight..."
"Than by all means, lets keep moving."
Turning to Dakbiter I say in Orc tlez git baj, beg baj.
Kaavel listens as the others in the squad speak about what to do than he says " The climb with all the equipment would be difficult. Downstream seems to be the safest bet for us to keep moving."
Darkbiter simply nods at Sentis and starts moving to where Musangi suggests is the best place to cross.
"Hope tah get a good nights rest tonight."
"Hope tah get a good nights rest tonight."
"Bah, one night o' noise an' bugs an' yer already b*+@#in'. I'll fix ye a drink t' help ye sleep t'night."
"Tha was tha drink I needed whilst he was diggin fer a tunneler in mah chest!"
Accepts drink....
Nodding at the decision to ford further downriver, Musangi leads the expedition that way. After a few hundred feet you reach a natural ford in the river and prepare to cross.
The river is not deep, and it does not take long to get ready. A quick check of everyone's legs to make sure that no open wounds are going to bleed in and attract unwanted attention. Just as you are about to start across the river, you see a figure emerge from the jungle on the opposite shore. You see a lizardman come out from the jungle riding a velociraptor.
The dinosaur is colored mostly black, with red markings on its belly. The lizardman shares the same markings, and is wielding a spear. Stopping 10ft from the opposite shore he calls out in a deep and heavily accented Common.
"Man-things, you are nearing Pazoko land. Know this, you are not permitted. If you cross past, we will not be friendly. Ware the hibiscus line." before baring his teeth in a snarl. He waits for your response.
(aside)
"Have yet tah sees a damn friendly thing in this jungle, nice horse though....."
Its not going to be any fun crossing this river with a tribe of lizards...uh, on lizards wanting to do us harm. We'll be sitting ducks.
Musangi whispers as an aside "The hibiscus line is past the village we seek tonight, we should not need to worry their attention until at least tomorrow"
Thats a relief. But I'm guessing that we'll eventually have to enter their lands?
-
Musangi nods at Sentis "Yes, our path eventually leads that way"
Looking back and seeing Icy with his head tilted back and a wineskin raised to his lips...those guys were right about him...
Pazoko! Is there no way to gain peaceful passage through hibiscus lands?! We have no violent intent to you or your people!
The lizardman bares his teeth "You must talk to our chief if you wish to barter passage. You go to the village of Lotaz?" Musangi nods "Our chief will meet you there when the sun is at its zenith tomorrow"
Darkbiter stands quietly, watching for trouble, knowing that talking is not his strength.
"Holy Hells." Cort practically jumps out of his skin at seeing the lizardman and raptor on the other bank. "That... is a big lizard." He says after a moment to calm down. He catches his breath and looks at it, studying carefully. Broken scales at the shoulder, and those on the bottom of the arm... lighter... perhaps weaker? He shudders a bit. The man-thing I could deal with. Sure he has scales but he's just another humanoid. The big one though... Cort looks at the teeth and doesn't like his chances.
"Nice coloring though... very pretty. Cort jokes, tipping his scarlet hat with his maimed hand. "Anyone else seen one of those? If we're heading into a tribe of them I'd like to know what they can do. Just in case things turn ugly." The noble keeps his voice down so only the group can hear the last bit.
Do you remember what I said about the pretty things in the jungle Cort? They're the most deadly. That thing has to be dangerous. Looks fast for one...
I seem to remember hearing about these hibiscus once. Strange customs or some such......ah, but it eludes me...
Kaavel looks at the lizardman and the beast he is riding on with a calm face. He stands looking as the other in the squad talk about what should be done if fighting one of the beasts.
Message delivered the lizard man and raptor turn and stalk off back into the jungle.
The expedition then fords the river without incident and continues on it's trek.