Dantes gives Gelik a warm smile. I knew you of all people would understand. Thank you.
When Kythas reviews the maps, Dantes will be nearby in case he needs some help from someone with geography knowledge. Smuggler's Shiv, eh? You could be right about that. Still, I wouldn't give up hope. We're resourceful folk here.
When Kythas has the cooking well along, Dantes will make a point of trying several of the components that are to be served up, then tell Kythas Keep an eye on me in case I have a bad reaction to any of the foodstuffs. You probably should give me half an hour to digest before calling the food as ready. Dantes will then wait until after everyone else has had a good portion before taking any more food.
After Kythas approaches Jask about serving as a healer, Dantes meets his gaze with a mirthful grin. Well done, my friend.
After the dinner, Dantes will go around the campsite, also making sure equipment or provisions are up off the ground so air moves under them (using driftwood or wreckage). If possible, he'll try to rig hammocks for as many people as possible.
When everyone is close to the camp as dusk approaches, Dantes will say to all We should post guards in case any threats come from the water or the jungle. I can see well in the dark, at least a short distance, so I am willing to volunteer for a shift in the middle of the night. And for that matter, we should have someone designated as a guard during the day, whose only task is making sure that nothing harrasses us or our camp while the rest of us go about foraging for food, exploring and looking for ways to get rescued, or rescue ourselves. Whoever does this would have to be disciplined enough to resist helping with chores and such tasks; they would have to be focused on their vigilance.
"If you wish I have a trick I learned that will purify any taint from our food and drink before ingesting". "I always use it when I'm in the wilds...though I'll admit I'm more used to jungle than shore", Lilly says nodding her head towards the jungle.
She then take the parts of the crustaceans that nobody else wanted to eat, and feeds them noisily to Eyeball.
"The night poses no problems for me either, but I must commune with the forces of nature to refresh my tricks". "I'll be glad to take the watch from deepest night to dawn". "I believe we should begin to explore tomorrow...maybe there are other survivors, or other people on the island".
Kystra nods at Avarthiel's suggestion. "I think it would be fine if they knew as well."
"Those are good suggestions, Lilly. We certainly need to know more about this island. I wonder whether I would be best to come exploring with you or stay and help guard the camp? Well, I suppose that we can decide in the morning."
The elf draws a long breath, looks round to check that all of the cast-aways are within hearing, then nods decisively and explains the contents of the captains journal.
Kystra has made a discovery that should be shared with the rest of the group."
Dantes listens closely to the description of the journal entries, his expression focused and intent.
It sounds like that supports Kythas's estimate that we are on Smuggler's Shiv. That's actually good news. We have rumors to go off of to tell us what to expect here. And if we can find an intact vessel or construct a sturdy enough raft, we have an idea where we have to go to get back to civilization.
I think very quickly we need to start exploring the area around us. If there is anything of use, or anything that is a threat, the sooner we get out there the better. Maybe if half of us stay to guard the camp and the other half form a search group?
There is a soft murmur of outrage between the other five as the news are announced. Gelik fills the air with more Gnomish profanity, starting to wander aimlessly around the firepit. Ishirou and Jask both remain seated, their expressions thoughtful. Aerys storms to the edge of the camp, where she starts to punch a tree. Sasha rises to her feet with a sigh. "So we were wrecked on purpose, is that's what you're suggesting? Kovack was mad, it sounds like, with that book. A little madness never hurt anyone," she smiles, almost sadly, "But... you don't suppose Ieana had something to do with this?"
When Aerys returns, her face is red and sweat is running down her brow. She is fiddling her fingers, her eyes darting around the camp. When Dantes makes his suggestion... "Splitting up during the day? Might be the dwarf's got the right idea. Might be the isle more dangerous than we want to think, so the more we know, the better."
"You're certain this is the Smuggler's Shiv?" Gelik asks, after his profanity has ceased. What you think is profanity.
"I think I will stay in camp," Jask says quietly. "This isle does interest me - but I am old."
"I'm with Jask," Sasha grins. "As I mentioned, I happen to know a thing or two about inflicting pain... to intruders," she adds. "I reckon I could adapt to this life too. Find food for us all, if need be. I'll let you guys decide."
Avarthiel is deeply relieved that the cast-aways have taken the news of their former captain's treachery so well. Well, for the most part. I can understand why Aerys is so upset. Betrayal is always personal.
To Sasha, the elf says, "I myself would very much like to speak with Ieana," but does not elaborate.
As Kystra finishes talking to Avarthiel, she notices Kythas approach her with an odd item in his hand. Kystra looks at the wooden plate and smiles. "Well thank you Kythas. It does appear that I need some more experience in 'roughing it'. I've gotten a little to used to the creature comforts of home. I appreciate the effort you put into crafting me a suitable plate to help quell my idiosyncrasies."
"Avarthiel is just now gathering some of the others to tell the tale of the journal."
"You are most welcome Kystra, to tell you the truth, I feel just as out of place whenever we stay too long in the big port cities, it seems I spend the majority of my time either on our ship or worse, in the bars or jails."
Kythas half-smiles at the recent memories and then waits to see what the Captain's log reveals.
Seeking out Dantes once again the elf whispers nervously to the dwarf, "I have to admit I did not see this coming, I mean the Cap'n was Chellaxian and all, so betrayal was probably inevitable, but for the affections of a girl?" Kythas shrugged in disbelief at the notion. "Gold I would have thought him capable, not this. Anyway, I'd like the opportuntiy to speak with him for sure." he concluded, tapping the hilt of his curve blade suggestively.
If the seas haven't claimed him, then we have a reckoning coming with him. If he was pondering such a drastic crime, he may have worked out an escape, assuming his madness didn't prevent that rational thought. We need guards, more than ever, to make sure he doesn't sneak in here to try and finish the job. And perhaps we can set up booby traps to alert us if someone is coming as well. Do you know anything about making primative traps?
After a thoughtful pause, he adds This firms in my thoughts, more than ever, that Jask was innocent of the crimes he was accused. I know how you feel about the humankind, but I think he's of a different sort.
Pondering the dwarf's words regarding the Jask, Kythas surprisingly agrees wholeheartedly. "He is considerate and thoughtful it appears." the elf says, looking over at the recently freed human, "Two qualities that are rare in any race, especially so in his."
Pointing to Ishirou, he adds "That one too seems to be more competent than he would appear. I would like to go see if he can be of some use to us in the job of defending our camp, but be prepared to smooth things over just in case."
Kythas cautiously approaches the sitting human, waiting until he draws his blade to polish it before he engages the strange man.
"Ishirou is it?" he asks softly, taking his curve blade, still sheathed, off his back and sitting across from Ishirou as he proceeds, "You put that blade to impressive use today on the sands. You felled two of the creatures that would have dined on us before I could even react effectively. Kythas continues as he draws his own blade out to begin sharpening it himself, hoping the man would note the fine craftmanship of the weapon and not take the act as a threat. "It would be a shame not to put that elegant weapon you hold to use again should it be needed. Would you be able to help set up a strong defense to repel any that would attack us Ishirou?"
Kythas will sit patiently and await the Tian's answer... or attack.
When Kythas sits down in front of Ishirou, the Tian glances at the elf with no smile. His expression is sullen, and he deigns no reply until he rises to his feet. "...Very well. I will. But now I rest."
Watching silently as Ishirou leaves, Kythas remains seated for awhile, inspecting the brightly polished elven steel of his weapon as it gleamed slightly under the sheen of heavy mist. His mind temporarily lost in the past.
Lilly sensing that Sasha might be a bit of an outcast much as she is slowly approaches her after the meal. "Would you like to go with me down to the shore, and help feed Eyeball"? "He likes for other people to pay attention to him as well".
Diplomacy
Lilly then without waiting for a reply grabs her crusty feeding sling, and some cast off bits of the dinner, and heads for a more secluded place on the beach for the nightly feeding ritual. Enjoying the fresh breeze, the non-heaving land, and the sunset.
As the first night of camp continues, and the stars rise overhead, Avarthiel seeks out Kystra in the flickering firelight.
"Kystra, would you be able to talk to Aerys? She was very upset at the news of the captain's betrayal and ... well ... I think she would make a good guard for the camp. But not if she's thinking of wandering off to find revenge. I think you might be able to talk with her, find out if she will be our guard. She might also appreciate some bandages for her injured hands."
Sasha looks at Lilly at her request, though she doesn't say anything. Her intrigue for Eyeball goes a tad further - yet when you head off to the beach, she doesn't follow...
Kystra nods at Lilly's suggestion. "Certainly, I will do my best."
Kystra has a few reservations about appointing Aerys as a guard due to her need to be drunk. With a dwindling supply of alcohol though, Kystra decides that perhaps this might help Aeyrs keep her mind off not being drunk.
Kystra will approach Aerys and will at first exchange a few pleasantries and will offer her some bandages for her hands. Kystra will then ask, "Aerys we could really use you to perform guard duties for awhile. Would you be willing to help keep everyone safe?"
After dark has fallen and Dantes is sure there is enough wood gathered to keep the fire going over night, He'll make sure everyone is close enough to hear and address the group.
Tomorrow at first light, I would like to take about half of us and go away from the camp. I think it is important to scout for worrisome predators near by, other survivors, useful flora or fauna, or other wrecks that may have value to us.
If you all agree to this, then I will promise this to those who remain at camp: we will not investigate wrecks, approach other survivors, attack creatures or harvest plants unless we are sure the opportunity will be lost if we don't act right then. And each time we return, we'll give a full accounting of what we find to those who've stayed to preserve our camp site.
If that's okay, then for tomorrow I propose we go out at first light, returning for a midday meal and to sit out the noon heat. Then we go again in the afternoon, trying to return before dark.
After that, Dantes will wait for any discussion others may have on what he's proposed.
"Sounds like a solid plan." Kythas replies as soon as Dantes has delivered his speech, "I'll join you on the scouting team, the sooner we find a way off this rock the better."
"And of course Eyeball and myself will be part of the scouting party". We could head out along the shore to our right in the morning, and then in the afternoon head out to the left". "Kind of get a general idea about where we are".
"I am also eager to explore our surroundings and would like to go." Kystra says somewhat excitedly.
Aerys has been sitting in a spot a fair distance away from the campfire, seemingly gazing into the horizon. When Kystra approaches her, the half-elf looks at her with some scorn. Her eyes are slightly puffy and she looks to be upset or irritable. When Kystra offers her bandages, the scowl fades and she looks genuinely surprised. "Bandages? I... Yes. I think I might have broken something."
Aerys's hands are bloodied. Numerous cuts cover the knuckles; as Kystra begins to bandage them, Aerys shows no sign of pain. "Duties at camp, huh... Yes. We're in this together. I'll do my part."
Before you return to the campfire, Aerys places a hand on your shoulder. She whispers to you, "Could ... I talk to you tomorrow? In private? Or...no, nevermind."
She brusquely trods past you, as stern as she always is - yet you can't help but feel that she is slightly more trusting...
When Dantes gives his speech, the other castaways look at one another. There is a bit of silence, and then Sasha speaks up. "We're trapped on an island where the wildlife so far has tried to kill us. We don't know what's here, do we? Sure, we might want to be cautious, but unless any of you have first-hand experience with surviving in the wild, I don't think being reserved about wrecks, creatures and plants will be a good thing. Unless you usually have a habit of sampling a taste of everything you collect and kill."
"I'm not sure," Aerys nods somewhat reluctantly. "Yes, we need to be cautious. How will you be able to tell if the opportunity must be seized there and then? What if you find a wreck with what looks like an intact lifeboat? You wouldn't investigate to make sure we don't get our hopes up?"
"I agree with you, Dantes," Jask says with a half-bow. "I believe we should exercise caution. An island like this is dangerous. I believe he wishes to share it all with us in case we may know something of a particular creature or a sunken ship, to improve our chances of success."
"Truth be told," Gelik pipes up, "So long as I can stay here, you can do whatever you need to do. I'd rather not venture into these wilds."
Ishirou does not speak up at all. He seems indifferent.
Leaping to Dantes' defense, Kythas immediately interjects as soon as Sasha and Aerys have spoken, "I believe what my good-hearted companion is trying to say is that we won't partake in anything that may prove exceptionally foolish or detrimental to our continued survival as a whole by rushing blindly into every dangerous situation that arises." The elf will fight the urge to cast a bitter glare at Sasha as he continues, his voice beginning to drip with a small measure of vehemence. "As well as assuring you that it is not our intention to hop into said lifeboat, should we come across one, and leave your collected rears behind should we deem that the boat would better accommodate five than ten."
Forcing as much calm and reassurance into his voice as he can, "We're all in this together, like it or not, and the point is that we will make decisions, unless they need to be made on the spot, as a group and that we won't leave any of you behind."
"Although YOU I'd like to leave staked out on an anthill." Kythas quietly thinks to himself as he finally gives in to his bitter distaste of the red-haired human.
Aerys rolls her eyes and meets Kythas with a glare cold as ice. When she speaks, she easily matches your vehemence, if not outdoes it. "What I meant was: say you do find a lifeboat on a wreck. You return here with good news, but when we all go to investigate, it actually has a great gap in it that would surely make it sink the instant you put it on the ocean. You really think that would be for the benefit of us all? Though at this rate, with your inability to lay aside that venomous affection to your red-head, I wouldn't be surprised if you did consider leaving the rest of us here on this island to rot."
Sasha is just staring at Kythas with a quiet cool, obviously unaffected by the bitter tone in the elf's voice.
"But of course it wouldn't sink, My Dear." the elf replied to Aerys with a twisted smirk, "Because we'd find a bucket for you to bail with as we set to Sargava. I'm certain that would be of more use to us than assaulting a tree with your fists?
Unrelenting in his verbal assault, yet keeping his tone only slightly mocking, he adds. Why, we'd just string a bit of this," withdrawing his opened bottle of rum from his pack and shaking it pointedly at the half-elf, "at the prow of the boat, and I'd wager we'd make better time to port on the jet of your bailing than we would on a galley with a full compliment of Ulfen rowers and a tailwind blown by Gozreh himself."
Aerys's eyes widen slightly as she clenches her fists, but when she speaks, it is with all the calm of the sea. "I guess I was mistaken, then. We're not in this together after all."
She collects her belongings from her part of the camp... and she leaves, ignoring any pleas or calls.
"Apparently the courtship is over." Kythas sighs aloud as Aerys disappears into the night. A bit taken aback that she actually ran off, but in no mood to chase down another half-elf for the second time in one day.
Looking at the rest of the group, he says flatly, "Well, I didn't expect her to do that!"
Kystra glares at Kythas, and runs off after Aerys. Once they are well out of earshot of the camp Kystra will match her pace but will not try to touch her or stop her. Trying to walk beside her she will ask, "I feel so sorry about Kythas' little tyrade. It seems all of us are out of sorts right now. That was not the Kythas I have seen during the trip... well not the sober Kythas. He had been sipping from the rum quite a bit."
Kystra will then slow her pace a little, hoping Aerys will unconsciously do the same. "It seemed you had something you wished to talk about privately. What troubles you friend? Please be assured I would take anything you provide me in complete confidence." Should Kystra see a fallen log anywhere, she will say, "please, lets sit so we can focus on talking".
Avarthiel watches the conversation between Kythas and Aerys. The elf does not intervene but is very pleased when Kystra follows Aerys into the night. Well that conversation went sour very quickly!
"You are quiet Ichirou. What are your thoughts? Is there anything else that we should do to secure the camp, or to improve our chances on this island?" Avarthiel hopes to draw Ichirou into a conversation and help him feel more like one of the group.
Once the initial rush passes from the heated confronation with Aerys, the elf finds himself strangely saddened and angered with his taunting actions towards the woman. Watching in growing self-loathing as Kystra goes off into the night after her, he swallows his fool pride and decides to act.
"What manner of fiend am I becoming?"
I was beginning to like that woman...
Grabbing Jask's manacles and key, he quickly swaps out his rum for the heavy iron bonds and heads off into the direction the two half-elves made off in. Taking it into his head to follow silently and watch unobserved before determining which approach to use.
Kystra
Aerys does not stop; she strides forward with determination. It doesn't take long before the Jenivere is in plain sight. When the wreck towards over you, Aerys wades into the water, to climb up to the captain's cabin, and then on top of it. You can hear her breathing heavily all the same. She sits down, both hands draped across her face. She starts to mutter, but not in Elven or Common...
"Bloody full-blooded piece of Elven scum. What in the nine hells was his problem?" She isn't addressing you; she's talking to herself. "How dare he? Fine, I have a problem with it! Fine! But it was irrelevant! I wasn't drinking, I didn't even mention it, that piece of-"
The string of expletives that follows grows angrier until it is broken by a sharp sniffle. She grows quiet after that. No sobs. No sniffles, no curses, no words. She's only staring out at the sea.
Kythas
As you advance trying to stay hidden, Kystra and Aerys are out of sight within minutes. After a long while you come to the Jenivere. Aerys is staring out over the ocean, and she is quiet...
Avarthiel
Ishirou looks at you, somewhat surprised. He rubs his beard ever so slightly as he glances at the others. When he speaks, his voice is a dour as always - though his eyes seem to have lit up. "I am inexperienced with survival like this. I do not think I can contribute anything other than traps or brute force."
He grows slightly hesitant. "I... do have maps. Promising maps. Treasure maps. One map mentions Smuggler's Shiv, now that I think of it. I would like to find this treasure, but I cannot do so alone. I do not know how useful this map is..."
"This isn't good." Kythas mutters under his breath as he watches the pair of half-elves from a perceived "hidden" spot behind a small outcropping of rocks.
Wishing he had the foresight to bring his bow, the green-haired elf continued to loose silent profanities at himself and the two women on the ruined ship. "Insanity..." He thought quietly as he observed, wishing he could get a better hiding place for listening, but not seeing an open that wouldn't risk the women spotting him with their sharp vision.
"Venemous affection indeed." he whispered to himself, unable to shake Aerys' accusation from his thoughts. The image of the red-haired human laughing at him mockingly becoming impossible to dismiss.
I can't do this... he finally admitted.
Defeated, he turned his back on the women and the Jenivere and collapsed into a seated position against the rocks. His head in his hands pounding and with no drink or resistance left to fight them, he let the memories claim him.
Kystra will call up to Aerys before she approaches her. Kystra will again repeat her words she called out to her while she ran.
Kystra will try to calm he down and will then ask her again what she wanted to talk about.
Avarthiel keeps talking with Ishirou, "If our camp is attacked, then brute force may serve us well. And your cunning traps could secure some of the easier entry points."
The wizard thinks for a long moment, looking at his long, clever fingers in the firelight. He sighs, then says, "The master said, 'That which cannot be done alone must remain undone for a friendless man.' I think you did well to talk of the maps - but it is yours to decide when to share with the others. I will say this though - if we work together, I believe we will escape this island. And maybe escape with more wealth than when we arrived."
Avarthiel judges that talk of wealth, and wealth that can only be gained by working with the team, will be most likely to keep Ishirou working with the team.
Kystra
Aerys remains unresponsive until you reveal that you understand and speak Polyglot. She turns to you teary-eyed, her face glisterning in the moonlight. She seems momentarily stunned before she turns back to the sea. "...no. I said too much... I wish to be left alone for now."
Avarthiel
"Do you prefer my traps, or my blade?" he asks you. "Your master sounds wise. I will try to find the map to share the knowledge with you."
In Polygot Kystra will say, "I can understand you are troubled now, and I certainly don't want to be a source of any more trouble for you. I also do not think you should be left alone here. This is a dangerous place. You may not currently care, but I do. I can not leave you alone but I will cetainly leave you with the peace you desire. I will tend to your wounds and then let you sit in solace, but I will be nearby. When you are ready to return to camp, just let me know. When we return I will ensure you are not bothered by anyone if that is your desire. But know this. I wish to be your friend, whether you want to be or not. If you are not prepared to return to camp I will if necessary drag you back to camp, for your own good. I will do this not because I wish to be mean to you, but because I am your friend." Kystra smiles and will conjure forth healing magic to mend her wounds. Kystra will then withdraw to a safe spot where Aerys and her can see each other.
The sounds of Kystra's voice as as she begins to speak words of magic shakes Kythas out of his dreary mental state and he pushes the overwhelming presence of guilt and pain out of his head.
Turning his attention back to the Jenivere and the two half-elves, he watches as Kystra's prayer sheathes Aerys with a soft glow of benevolent-appearing light.
"Come on Kystra, talk some sense into her and lets get back to camp." he pleads to the oracle, just under his breath. "I promise, I'll let her be."
His ears straining to hear more of the conversation, but the only pieces he can make out are in a language he hears often in these parts, but never took the effort to learn.
Avarthiel makes a small seated bow to Ishirou, and replies, "You traps, please. I am hopeful that Aerys will return and agree to guard the camp with her blade. Do you need help finding the maps?"
That seemed to go well. I hope that Kystra succeeds in talking to Aerys; and that Kythas keeps his foot out of his mouth, at least until tomorrow.
Dantes mumbles to no one in particular Well, she's always welcome back as far as I'm concerned. Too few of us remaining as it is.
Dantes will find a place in the camp to rest, in a hammock if he was able to rig some. He'll watch the direction that the ladies slipped off for a little while, but realizing he can't do much about it, he'll let himself get to sleep. After all, he expects to be woken for a watch in a few hours.
Evening turns to night. Aerys stays unmoving from her seat on top of the Jenivere, until the sun begins to rise. The night has passed by quietly, with no toil or trouble to break well-needed sleep...
Kystra
You awake from your sleep by gentle prodding. A red-eyed, tired Aerys is sitting next to you, and she points to the morning sky. "It's morning. We survived the first day... but... who knows how many more..."
"We... you shouldn't linger here. The others are probably anxious about you." Something is off about her, more than simply the lack of sleep...
You feel hungry too.
Kythas
The morning sun is part of your awakening; so is a small crab pinching your exposed legs. As you stir, it skitters away. Fatigue must have overcome you last night, as you fell asleep in your scrying spot. Aerys seems to be communication, from what you can tell - she is talking to Kystra. It doesn't look as though she slept...
You don't feel well either...
Avarthiel, Dantes & Lilly
With the dawn of morning, the entire camp seems to have woken up. Ishirou is already treading around the outskirts of the camp, his face determined. He is dragging vines from the trees around carefully, sharpened sticks on his back.
Gelik and Sasha are trying to get a fire in the firepit, Both of them seem a little off today - Gelik in particular is rather skittish when you all emerge from your shelters, while Sasha lets out a nervous laugh, with none of her former heart. As the fire begins to crack and burn, she gets to her feet. "I'll... I'll get some of our food. Can't survive on empty bellies..."
Jask is sitting cross-legged by the shelters, performing his morning prayer...
A: (F)
G: (F)
I: (N)
J: (S)
S: (F)
A:
G:
I:
J:
S:
Avarthiel:
Dantes:
Kystra:
Kythas:
Lilly:
Lilly yawns and stretches as she awakes to the insistant prodding from her rotten fish breathed companion. "Alright, Alright already". "I'm awake". raises up and looks around the camp at her mates predicament. Seeing that some of the others look to be a bit out of sorts, she goes to each of them and inquires about their health...feeling their heads for fever...asking them to stick out their tongues etc.
Heal Check - Kythas
Heal Check - Aerys (If she holds still long enough)
Heal Check - Gelik
Heal Check - Sasha
"Well, so much for keeping stealthy." Kythas muttered to himself as he woke to the morning sun gleaming down on him and a vicious ache all over. "Well, that's what I get for passing out on a pile of rocks." he mused, casting a glance down at the small crab that was inspecting his leg. "I'm not dead yet, little fellow." he groaned, although he had certainly seen better days.
Ignoring the crustacean's futile efforts, he limped to his feet, cursing everything he could think of as his muscles cramped, stomach churned and head stung. Looking back to the Jenivere, he saw that the two half-elves were still there as well, also waking.
"No sense in playing hide-and-seek anymore." he thought.
Red-eyed and sore from head to toe, Kythas tentatively approaches the pair on the ruined ship, calling out to them as he closes.
"Well, we survived our first night on this pile of rocks and sand, how about we head back to camp and try to find our way back to civilization together?"
Fighting against the throbbing aches and pains, the elf tries to stave off urge to collapse into the surf for an extended nap as he waits, swaying slightly, for their answer.
Dantes will comply with Lilly's morning check. He'll get up and stretch for a few minutes. He will then rummage through supplies for a few minutes, followed by an approach of each PC and NPC.
Dantes hands each person a day's worth of the dried rations. He'll tell each person in turn Please keep this on your person. If anything goes wrong and we are away from camp longer than expected or forced to flee without time to grab anything, this will help you sustain yourself until we can regroup and forage.
To Gelik he'll add You are doing a masterful job so far keeping morale up, despite Kythas's insensitive words that sent Aerys fleeing. Thank you for your service to us all.
Assuming he can find her, when he takes the rations out to Aerys, he'll say the above line and add I know its not my business, but you are always welcome with us. At the very least, you deserve to take advantage of the supplies you helped salvage and the camp you helped build. Then he'll quietly go back to camp to gather the people together who are going to leave camp to scout. He won't deliberate exclude any of the others who'll be staying behind, he just doesn't see a need to bother them from their duties.
We should come back before the midday heat. I'm thinking we just do a quick loop nearby, follow the coast one way or the other, or try to make for a high point to get a vantage view. We can go out again after the midday heat has passed and go a different way.
Kystra is startled slightly when she is woken up. She frowns at having falling asleep while trying to watch out for Aerys, but smiles to know that she is alright and did not leave on her own.
She hears Kythas call out from below. In Polygot she'll tell Aerys, "fear not if he starts to go off on a tirade again, I'll use my gift of enchantment to make him eat sand." Kythas will laugh slightly after that, to let her know that she is joking... mostly.
Kystra can feel her stomache churning and will try to momentary take her mind off her hunger by taking a sip of water from her wineskin. Just as she removes the top, the contain slips from her hands. Kystra quickly recovers it, but not before a few lifesaving mouthfulls of water have escaped.
Kystra's face goes flush, however within a few seconds she calms herself replacing the overwhelming amount of anger with a slim smile and the composure of acceptance.
Avarthiel wakes early and is already meditating by the time that the rest of the camp stirs. The wizards sits in the centre of a carefully drawn circle, spellbook open in lap, eyes closed, for about an hour.
Finally the elf rises, stretches, and searches out some breakfast. Ishirou gets a wave and a smile, and Avarthiel fetches him a plate of fried bug meat and some water.
"That sounds like a good plan Dantes. Let's wait for Lilly to finish looking at people's tongues, and then move out."
Aerys whispers to you, in Polyglot, "I...I'm sorry for running off. I... was hurt. Ky...Kythas has the right of it, I have a... problem with the bottle. I want to...quench this thirst once and for all, and I...heard there might be ... a... cure here on the Shiv. Some sort of...berry..."
Aerys looks ashamed and sad when Kythas calls out to both of you, though she follows without question. She thanks both Lilly and Dantes for the check-up and rations, before she crawls into one of the shelters. There's snoring following shortly after - she must have collapsed from fatigue.
"I am glad you found her," Jask tells Kystra after his meditation, throwing an occasional glance at Kythas. You can't quite tell what his expression is. He then turns to all of you. "You are going to explore today?"
Gelik and Sasha are fine - though they do seem to be very uneasy with the current situation. What you determine for Gelik isn't sickness, but fading hope - and you assume the same for Sasha.
Aerys is similar - but alongside the lack of fire in her eyes are several tell-tale signs of withdrawal: she's shaking and twitching, she's sweating from the palms of her hands, her pupils are dilated... though she is also sleep-deprived. You do know alcoholism is a horrible disease, though, and it is very likely that Aerys suffers from it... Her condition is not well.
Kythas seems fine, though there is something off about him too. You cannot tell just yet - it may take a couple of days before you will know for certain.
Gelik nods quietly at Dantes' encouraging words, with a faint smile on his lips.
To Jask. Yes, we'll start exploring shortly. We probably won't go too far at first. Just to start to look for threats or resources nearby.
Aerys: Kystra remarks, "Kythas I fear suffers the same affliction, and perhaps finding hims some of those berries would also be useful."
Jask & Others: "After some breakfast I should be ready for a small exploration."
Kythas thanks Lilly for her evaluation of his physical condition, resisting the urge to make a joke about an itch as he hops up and shoos her pet away from his ear with a playful push.
"I'm ready to go when everyone else is." the elf proclaims as he makes a few last minute preparations.
.
Lastly, before he leaves, he will approach Aerys, despite the withering glances of Dantes and Kystra to apologize for his words.
Kythas
You cannot see Aerys's face as you give your apology, and she seems to be asleep at first. She responds momentarily. "...thank you, Kythas. I'm sorry too. Please let me rest today..."
"We'll take care of her," Gelik nods. Kythas's humble apology seems to have raised the spirits of everyone in camp - except Sasha, who is quietly staring into the firepit, nibbling on the foodstuff Dantes gave her.
"Be careful out there," Jask tells you when you prepare to depart."