seedga-15

On the coast, in a tropical bar- Zephyr was approached by the toucan Familiar Samnonrothons- who brought three pieces of information in tow.
One - that a former associate, El-Saquel Mohnarn, was being hunted by a modern security company: the Kilgori Steel.
Two - that El-Saquel knew of the whereabouts of a dragon, one he has named 'Jewel Beast.'
Three - That the Jewel Beast may yet return, an ominous threat if there ever was one.
Gleaming, beautiful scale in hand, the party took a ride on a drunken, loud tour bus up into the depths of Tierra del Cielo heights, letting off some passengers at a hot springs, but the party has a different goal, deep within the jungle.
[To the safehouse.] [0 / 12]
"Cast a wide net, the Kilgori have," chirps Samnonrothons. "Slowly they've pulled in the edges, and master has lost a few other hiding spots already."
The starry night sky mixes with the lush canopy above. Numerous chirps, caws, buzzes, and the rustle of foliage makes the jungle seem as loud as a bustling city square- or maybe it's just an echoing effect.
Ridwan: "So… if you don't know where *exactly* we're headed, then I suppose we'll simply have to [Blaze A Trail]."
Ridwan heads out from the bar and into the wilderness.
Ridwan rolled 4d6 and got 3, 2, 5, 6 ( Total: 16 )
Zephyr nods back to the exorcist. "No where to go but straight, this one thinks."
[OOC] Ridwan: +2 Progress, next travel action has +1 die
Some of the noise about quiets as you tromp through the growth, cutting away annoying branches and vines that impede your progress.
Issa tilts their head up at the sky. "Enough stars are visible that I might make use of them. Shall I try?"
The work is making you a bit more sweatier than expected, due to the humidity.
[2 / 12]
Ridwan: "Never hurts to have more points of reference, go for it."
The stars are yours to read.
Issa rolled 6d6 and got 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 6 ( Total: 20 )
Issa tilts their head back, spinning in slow circles for a bit, before pointing up. "The foliage is…trying…but see, there? The Matron is clear enough." The raise their hand, fingers and thumb spread, measuring along them. "That way, I think."
They sigh. "Would be better if I could see more stars, but…agh. One apologizes. Best one can do."
The Matron's guiding visage illuminates as a guide- the footing is obvious, the path is clear.
Eidolon: "One day, we will travel to a land in which clouds have been banished by law." He nods, gravely.
Eidolon: "Trees as well."
[3 / 12]
Zephyr: "One will find such a place if they are patient. Though we do not have the luxury of time."
Issa chuckles, softly. "I believe the…" They close their eyes briefly, searching memory. "Asanian…Essinian? Argh, translation unclear. The As-Es-something Empire tried."
Their face takes on a musing expression. "Though it ended…badly."
Eidolon grins. "We would be there at the behest of the spritely cloudkin, seeking succor against the cloud-hating tyrants, and a great fogbank will roll in on our victory- but until that point, you'll be able to see every star in the night sky." -and then he stops rambling, listens to Issa. "…I wouldn't imagine they'd have success in such a venture, no."
There's something particular about this area. The way the trees stand, the way the route winds… [Signs of the Past] [If Zephyr undertakes this task, +1 die.]
Eidolon looks around. Swivels his entire body. While he was musing, something caught his eye, and he's not sure quite what. [Signs of the Past]
Issa pulls a face. "No, not really. According to the history book I read, the empire dissolved when their capital was torn apart by…inappropriate…use of weather magics…"
Eidolon rolled 4d6 and got 3, 5, 6, 3 ( Total: 17 ) for Insight
Eidolon: "Their capital reduced to a cautionary epitaph: Just bring an umbrella instead."
Zephyr muses to himself for a moment. "Large tornado tear apart smoothskin town? Hand in unknown calls to danger."
Issa nods sagely. "I believe their state religion was, quite understandably, replaced by a series of cults based around weather worship."
You're not exactly a botanist. But. Comparing these tropical trees, with others you've spent well enough time around while in Tierra del Cielo:
The trees and foliage in this area is thick, nearly vibrant. Vivid, enlarged, striking in how they flourish.
Secondly:
There's a clearing in the jungle. There's never a clearing, unless it's manmade, but this clearing shows no signs of industrial meddling. The ground dips in this clearing, large enough to be nearly two Zephyrs deep, and wide enough for three trucks to easily fit side-by-side… but to get such trucks here would be an impossibility without clearing great swaths of jungle up to this
Hachi-Roku: point.
The grass in the clearing is flattened and sparse- the brown dirt below is easily visible.
Eidolon: "…hn. That's unusual."
Zephyr continues his stride, taking note of the unnatural clearing. [Signs of a Monster]
Eidolon: "Forest like this… which is unusual in the first place, look at these -trees-… you shouldn't see a clearing like that. Someone's been taking care of this place, maybe?"
Zephyr rolled 5d6 and got 2, 3, 1, 5, 4 ( Total: 15 ) for Advantage
[OOC] Zephyr: -1 LP for 3 successes. What made that?
Zephyr does not pause long and continues to walk through the jungle. "Trouble still lurks in woods. Smoothskins keep ear and eye out for trouble, yes? Tracks are not recent, but they belong to Jewel Beast itself." [+2 Progress]
[OOC] Eidolon: +1 progress for my signs of the past I think also
Eidolon: "….ahh, that'd explain things, then."
Altogether that's [6 / 12], yep.
Ridwan: "Always."
Issa blinks, hard. "That's…very very big."
Ridwan: "I mean… if they aren't that big, we call them lizards instead of dragons, so stands to reason."
The branches wave against the wind. The hair (or fur) stands up on the back of your neck. (Maybe an arm plate rattles? Maxwellians are so weird.) [Dodging Patrols]
Issa: "One should scout ahead then. Stealthily."
Ridwan nods.
Issa: "One shall return, shortly." A small smile, and then bright hair is contained under their hood, and they're doing an excellent imitation of a shadow.
Issa rolled 4d6 and got 1, 2, 4, 1 ( Total: 8 )
[OOC] Issa: Spending 1 LP for a success
Issa returns after a time. "You're correct, there are others. Two Hundred, possibly a familiar, and a Golem. Their path led away from mine, but might not stay so…"
Ridwan: "Hmm. Yeah, they *would* have patrols combing the woods…"
Issa: "The familiar and golem were leading. The Hundred, searching."
Samnonrothons, who has been busy just trying to keep up, warbles nervously. "Ohh- oh that's them, that's the Kilgori."
"New recent additions to their forces have been golem supporters, vanguards… expensive, but used in the most dangerous positions."
Ridwan: "On the bright side, if they're still combing the woods its unlikely they've found our guy yet, so that's good."
You're making good progress, no less. [7 / 12]
Ridwan takes a moment to consider the rest of the information Issa's brought back about the lay of the land and the patrols, then works out some ways around them in his head, before presenting them to the group. [A Choice Of Paths]
Zephyr: "Must take care to cover tracks of our own, this one thinks. Lest we lead them to target."
Ridwan rolled 4d6 and got 4, 2, 3, 3 ( Total: 12 )
[OOC] Ridwan: -1LP, and which one is the fastest
Issa: "One can help with that, Zephyr. Stealth is one's specialty!"
So there's a sharply descending path that'll have you hugging the cliff walls so that you don't plummet to your death far, far below. That's the fast way, and even faster if you do fall.
The other path circumnavigates a tumultulous rock formation… ah, but that's the slow one.
But you're going for speed, so. [10 / 12]
What's ahead of you is [A Difficult Climb], but it's more like [A Trecharous Descent]
Same rules as A Difficult Climb, but the flavor is that you're going down, not up.
And if you fall, well… no you won't die, but you'll still get that Wound.
Ridwan: "I think we can probably get completely free of the patrols if we stick to that narrow cliff passage, but… Well, it's up to you guys."
Issa shrugs. "Treacherous paths but going DOWNHILL sounds like a welcome change."
Eidolon: "It's a good thing I'm not afraid of heights. I'll go first, find the safest path." [A Difficult Climb]
Eidolon rolled 4d6 and got 1, 1, 2, 2 ( Total: 6 ) for Prowess
[OOC] Eidolon: fuck me how many LP do I have to spend to wring a success out of that
[OOC] Issa: 3
[OOC] Ridwan: at least 3 and then decide wihch Bad Things don't happen
Eidolon makes his way most of the way down, carving markers and a few new handholds into the rock face- and then stumbles, at the very end, landing in a sad little pile, wings all crooked.
oh no it's cute
Eidolon stands, unsteadily. Looks up. "Okay, well, I… figured out the way NOT to go." [Wound (10)] [Wearied]
Issa picks their way down as quickly as they dare, fluttering around Eidolon, trying to dust them off and pick them up.
Ridwan winces a bit. "That is always good to know. You alright?"
Ridwan slowly climbs down after them.
Eidolon: "Nothing''s bruised but my dignit- well, no, that's not strictly true. Nothing that I won't heal from, anyway."
Zephyr nods back to the Maxwellian. If they said they were okay that was that it seems.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Samnonrothons gingerly flutters down. "Best that nobody else was around, that sounded like a mighty painful wreck! Also possible that master didn't hear it and come out, spells blazing…"
"Watching that fall was painful enough- to fire on a downed enemy after that would just be cruel," cuts a feminine voice from across the way, from behind… a tree? A few vines? Hard to pinpoint, right now…
Ridwan: "Mmhm."
Issa is immediately between Eidolon and their best source for the voice, knives out.
Ridwan: "Much appreciated… friend(?)"
A person steps into view- garbed in layers of muted greens and browns, dark brown skin showing between the spaces between glove and sleeve, neck and oddly oversized, floppy, witchlike hat. Which they then remove- they wear a metal-and-plastic facemask that is connected to two hoses that snake around to metal tanks on their back- a form of Mana Tank.
The non-hat hand moves up to tug the mask away from their face- she's young, possibly no older than twenty, with slightly pointed ears poking out from the sides of long, black hair.
Ridwan glances between Zephyr and the elf for confirmation, but he's already relaxing.
"Sam…well done," she sighs. "But two weeks was pushing it."
Eidolon bows, a little stiffly considering the circumstances.
Issa lowers the knives but does not sheathe them. "You would be our target-excuse me, our goal, then?"
Samnonrothons hops forward a few paces, and then turns to the party. "Everyone, may I introduce you to Commander El-Saquel Mohnarn, last surviving member of Grandmount," they say, bowing with a flourish, wing gesturing to the lady.
Ridwan: "Ridwan El-Mofty." He gives a nod, while rising his own mask.
Zephyr crosses his arms gruffly. "Smoothskin is fletchling of kin. Where is Moharn? And why call for Zephyr Seventeen."
The woman nods. "Mine's an inherited name. Just don't call me 'Junior.' Pleasure to meet you." Her eyes move to Zephyr. "And to meet you."
"Moharn the first? He died. Three months ago," she recalls, uncannily casually.
"Specifically, killed."
Ridwan: "Ah. Hm."
"There's a history to be told along with shown." She walks toward the cliffside and turns before coming too close to the party. "You picked a fortunate spot to crash and burn. We're not far from shelter."
Zephyr glances to the familiar with them. "Vouch for credibility?"
Samnonrothons dances about from one foot to another. "One hundred percent, sir Zephyr. My allegiance fell to her upon the late master's passing- that I only recently had singed feathers from that day replaced…" He sighs, wistful and pained.
"Come on, don't fall behind," says El-Saquel, not wanting to speak louder than a barked command. She's circumnavigating the base of the cliff.
Eidolon follows, straightening out bent filigree.
Ridwan follows along! Would be kind of silly to turn back now, even if it's not *exactly* who they were expecting.
Issa follows-but keeps a close eye on their "host," Eidolon, and Zephyr. Their trust is, for the moment, contingent on Zephyr's, and THEY do not seem sure. So neither does Issa.
El-Saquel leads you around the way from your landing point- at a point, it seems like the cliffside is heavily overgrown. She cuts toward the cliff at this point, brushing aside some of the vines- it seems like there's a hidden path that goes into a cavelike area. "Take care to not disturb the brush. It's barely what keeps this place hidden.
Ridwan: "Yeah."
Zephyr is not the stealthiest of Hundred, but he does tromp through with some consideration.
A few paces in, El-Saquel picks up a lantern, and its light casts across the walls. The space is small- and once you all file in, you'll have to be fairly comfortable with being close. There's barely enough space for a double-tired cot, a small workbench with reloading equipment atop it. A few closed footlockers, an arrangement of sacks that if disturbed, smell faintly of salt and
Hachi-Roku: dried meats.
Ridwan: "Cosey."
There's a pause in El-Saquel's movements, and she smiles ever so slightly. "It is, isn't it?"
Ridwan nods, as he finds a wall to lean against.
Eidolon tucks himself up against a wall. Leaning against it, really, favouring one ankle.
Zephyr: "Why is company hunting smoothskins to begin with?"
"Right to the point. I expected that." El-Saquel pops open a footlocker- inside are some small firearms, a few unopened iron rations, and something fairly large- basketball-sized, wrapped in a cloth, which she picks up.
"Battalion Seventeen and Grandmount were annihilated decades ago. Whims of nature sent a beast their way, and many died."
"But unearthed evidence says otherwise." She opens up the cloth. It's wrapped a few times over, but eventually produces-
A number of small, fist-sized rocks. Dark red stones, almost resembling blood clots.
You've seen something like this before.
Ridwan: "Hmm…"
Ridwan: "…Any idea what those are? Last time I saw something like that was in a… very different place from here."
"A large payday was in store for the companies. A payoff, commemorating the peace between Siquirres and the Tirrases colonies," says El-Saquel, taking one of the rocks in hand.
"Father and I never uncovered what really happened that day. But a year ago, the Jewel Beast struck again."
Eidolon swivels in the direction of the little red rocks.
"The decades ago massacre annihilated everything, to the point of few survivors. You, him. Maybe one or two others."
"This 'recent' attack, we believe to be directed."
"The massacre of the colonies and companies has a gaping mystery that none researched."
"What became of the payment for the companies?"
Eidolon: "…one which relates to these rocks? Or is that a coincidence."
"Tall tales of lost lucre or ruined riches never surfaced." El-Saquel nods toward Eidolon.
"Very related."
Eidolon: "You had my attention to begin with, but now you've got it twice."
"Fater spent years poring over faded pages, ruined records…" El-Saquel sits on the lower cot. "-it's difficult to make a dead city speak. Even more, to understand it."
Issa is also watching, listening intently-the knives having vanished at some point prior to entering the cave.
[OOC] Hachi-Roku: *father
"The peace talks of that day were to be an alliance. Joining forces from coast to coast of Tierra del Cielo, a band that all what crossed would have to pay tribute," she swings her feet a bit.
"But the colonies themselves hired mercenaries for dirty work."
"How would it be possible?"
"You would need another force. Overwhemlingly powerful. Unpredictable. And completely controllable."
Eidolon: "Very exacting specifications…"
"Father traced the path of a relic- from the depths of a Chronanthus Cradle ruin, across the seas, and into Tirrases' possession." She holds her hands out, cupped. "An object only described as a garnet, of unusual magic power."
"If it would look like something…" She nods towards the dark red stones within the cloth. "Probably not far off. But those are inert."
"This hypothesis is only very recent. And only off of the effort of the latest Jewel Beast sighting."
Issa frowns deeply, staring at the stones. "I feel like we have been led along a trail."
El-Saquel hangs her head. "Much after this isn't information, only instinct. Finding magical stones… numerous ones exist, but of these specific qualities?"
Eidolon: "In the past, we've seen those stones in the possession of monsters. Monsters that seemed to be being controlled by a will other than their own. Does that fit your theories?"
Issa shakes their head. "Instinct is the mind tracing connections we can feel but cannot see." They look between Eidolon and their host.
El-Saquel looks up with a pained frown. "It does."
"The endpoint- that something exists that could direct the Jewel Beast."
"That something did, decades ago, and does so today."
Eidolon nods to Issa, and then to El-Saquel.
"Who?" El-Saquel shrugs. "Easy to say it is the Kilgori Steel does. They were pursuing us, from several kilometers away, well around Mount Impossible's base, and further."
"But the 'why'… I don't know."
Issa sighs softly. "Ahh. That mountain. Again."
"And father didn't, even to his grave."
Zephyr: "Mercenaries look for here, yes? Answers will come."
Eidolon: "One wishes for the opportunity to ask them at swordpoint."
"When he died, it was not to Kilgori's hand. But to beasts. Small drakes…" She nods toward the stones. "Upon fleeing and slaying, I retrieved those."
Eidolon: "…ahhh."
Ridwan: "May I?" Ridwan ask, reaching for the stones.
El-Saquel nods to Ridwan. "What monsters produced the stones you saw?" she asks, now leaning forward.
Ridwan: "We found them inside of a group of crawlers, that seemed to be following the instructions of some kind of mountain hare."
Eidolon gives a description of the crawlers, the… things my brain is refusing to render as anything other than lapinions, and the entire strange ecosystem on that damnable mountain.
Ridwan holds a stone up to the light, squinting and comparing it to the memory of the stones they saw on the mountain, while seeing if he can detect any remaining traces of energy, magical or spiritual.
El-Saquel leans their chin into their cupped hands. "The mountain… crawlers… it is similar, and related. But if it's directed, the motive…?"
Ridwan - nothing unusual about these rocks.
Ridwan: "Well, in that specific case… with the crawlers acting as a vanguard, the hares could keep a safe distance from their prey while on the hunt."
Ridwan: "So, parallels there if your theory is correct."
Issa shoots a glance at Eidolon-so much they want to talk about but not HERE, not NOW.
"Hunted by a company. Attacked by beasts, but by who's hand or what's will, unknown. Basts on a mountain arrange in formation and strike at climbers." El-Saquel sits up straight once more. "It… is a whole lot to comprehend."
"Is such a coincidence, or will, possible?"
Eidolon: "It almost must be possible. We only need to discern the mechanism of action."
Ridwan: "Between what I know of possession and beast taming, it wouldn't be terribly surprising to me." Ridwan puts the stone down after a few minutes.
Ridwan: "I'm not feeling anything from the stones themselves so they're… *probably* a byproduct of whatever process is happening…?"
El-Saquel nods and looks to Zephyr. "Weeks before his death, father spoke of an old soldier that surived, besides him. You've said little, but I believe you interested in the end."
Eidolon: "An inert form, left over after the exhaustion of the monstrous catalyst."
Issa: "Do you have any idea what it is made of?"
Ridwan: "I mean, if I had to take a wild guess…"
Ridwan: "Blood would be my first one."
El-Saquel shakes her head. "Crack them open, it's like chipping off of a boulder. Smells faintly of blood. Tastes faintly of copper."
Zephyr: "This one is having difficulties coming to terms. Had considered gold to be taken from dragon, as such beasts do. A pawn, though…"
[OOC] Zephyr: by dragon
Ridwan nods vaguely at El-Saquel.
Zephyr: "Had this one not seen such rocks on Impossible Mountain, would discredit smoothskins idea."
Issa: "Yet, taken with the whole of our adventures…." A sour look. "…our stories…"
Eidolon looks wry. "All the facts just happen to line up."
El-Saquel considers these words, with a hint of a confused eyebrow raise, but shakes it off. "Then, where do our instincts lead next? Interrogating Kilgori foot soldiers probably worthless… but their directed intelligence and officers? Maybe. Or maybe- deeply investigating the last attack site of the Jewel Beast?"
The decision is open to you, adventurers.
Eidolon: "…inclined towards investigation rather than conflict until we know exactly what we're coming into conflict -with-, myself, but I'm open to being convinced otherwise."
Ridwan: "You said your father spent the rest of his life investigating the sight, yes? I… well, I *can* imagine us finding something he missed, but I don't know that I'd give it good odds. Questioning someone high up in the mercenary company, though? That seems like wholely new ground to tread."
Issa: "One might see any research materials you have." Issa shrugs. "One used to investigate tomes. Make history speak>"
Zephyr: "Should investigate jewel beast. Soldiers are looking for this one, yes? Will likely be keeping eye on place as well expecting visitors."
El-Saquel nods to Issa. "Some tomes we had were saved from the drake attack. I can give you those."
"The last Jewel Beast appearance wasn't too far from here. With Kilgori about, spending enough time there without combat will be difficult." She snaps her fingers, and an arc of lightning sparks from her hands. "So be ready for combat."
Ridwan: "I had a hunch a group going by the name of " Kilgori " might not be overflowing with diplomats."
"From there… maybe we learn specifics about their marching orders," El-Saquel nods to Ridwan. "Names project strength."
Eidolon: "Can probably pick a few of 'em off that way, figure out who we should be targeting."
"It's a plan." El-Saquel punches a fist into a palm. "There's not a lot of room, but we can have a rest here, if you snuggle."
It's not a full rest, but you can get rid of Wearied.
"We can set out again under new darkness."
Eidolon: "I'd appreciate that."
Samnonrothons flaps their wings about, sending the smell of dried meats about. "Then lie back, relax legs! A quick cashew dip I will concoct for you- tastes well with the dried lamb strips!"
"With work, we can one day sleep amongst the city, again!"
Ridwan climbs up onto the top bunk to free some up space.
Issa sighs, looks at Eidolon. "Bunk mate? Just don't poke me with any metal."
Eidolon chuckles. "My wings fold up quite nicely."
Zephyr stares at the bunk beds before shaking his head. How was he going to fit under one? Or over one for that matter. It was a mystery.
It's warm, in this tiny cove. The occasional sprinkle of casual magic helps circulate a breeze, but it can't go close to the entrance, lest something pick up on your scent.
But for now you rest, and hope.
[To be continued.]

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License