[Immortals' Tongue] In this place of wrath and tears

[Pegasus]

Prologue:Martha's Harbour

Martha, for so she had been called before, sat on the cliff edge and she looked out at the boat which came. Her bright blue eyes shone as the moons light shone across the waters surrounding The Island. There she sat, tears falling down her face as she looked at the harbour from which he had left two trials ago. He had left to do what they knew must be done, yet now she was alone. Without him, who she had loved for so much of her life, Martha was bereft. Here, on the cliff above the harbour where they had laid in each others' arms and cursed the sun which sunk into the molten sea, bringing the sign that he must leave, she watched the boat as it drew near.

It brought more explorers, she knew. Even that could not bring a smile to her pale and tear-stained face. Martha would do anything for Her, but it had been a bitter pill to swallow. To lose the man she had loved so well, so long. Still, it was done and she bowed her head in prayer, that she had the courage to do what must be done.

As she thought of him, of their life, Martha's gaze did not stray from the approaching vessel. Would their children be proud, she wondered? Would they hear what their parents had done and, in hearing, be proud? It was too late to worry. Now was the time to act and so, Martha stood. Her white dress stood in stark contrast to the dark skies, the winds whispping it till it clung to her body like a lover. Over her head, she held her torch aloft like a beacon of hope.

40th Vhalar 717

Even as they approached the island, it became obvious that something was not right. Dark clouds swirled above it, lightning struck the ground and the very air was charged. The ship which took them over had a lot of superstitious sailors who did not like the look of it, not one little bit. But they went, they took the group there. They'd been well paid, but that storm was not a natural thing.

Not a natural thing at all.

Still, the waters were calm enough and the adventurers who had agreed to return to Immortals' Tongue did so. Five of them in total there were that trial, plus the three members of the Elements. They weren't on the boat with them. Instead, they flew above and alongside them; always watchful and overhead. Protecting them. So that meant that the group got the chance to get to know each other, or to discuss strategy before they arrived.

As the island grew closer the charge in the air caused hairs to stand on end as lightning flashed and thunder roared. There, standing on the cliff above the harbour where they would dock was a woman. The moon behind her illuminated her form, dressed in white and she raised a torch high above her head. She held it there for a moment and waved it gently to them.

Then, as they watched, she threw herself off the cliff. The thud of her body shattering on the rocks below carried across the night air and that was the sight which greeted them as they arrived on Immortals Tongue. The blood which stained her dress looked like roses on lace and yet, her face was untouched. She had a serene smile on her face and her brown eyes seemed almost happy.

Objectives:

1.Respect for the Dead? Decide what to do with the body.

2. Chart your course: There are two sets of ruins which previously had been explored (Flora and Fauna). The eye of the storm does not seem to be over either of them, but more towards the center of the island. Decide where you'll go - cast your vote, and it will be determined in the next mod post.

OOC Info

!

Message from: Pegasus

Welcome to one of the Vhalar 717 moderated threads! You have been split into groups. In this thread we have: Pash Tio Kali'rial Kura Qit'ria One post between mod posts please. No posting order. You may, of course, control your own NPCs, but not mine. There are a number of hidden objectives throughout the game. I will let you know if you unlock them. I will post again on the 14th October. We will operate on a "three strikes and you're out" basis. May the Immortals have mercy on you all

Other stuff!

None this round.

[Qit'ria]

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"Speech"

Qit'ria was a wreck, head slumped over the side, hair stringy and riddled with sweat, her legs splayed out beneath. Thankfully for the more prudish types, she was wearing her breeches today and not her loincloth, for any concern over accidental lewdness had left the woman after the third time she'd vomited over the side of the ship. She hated ships. They were a blight upon these waters. She loved swimming, fishing, hunting water creatures. But ships? Those could all burn and sink and disappear for all she cared.

There was just something unsettling about being on a ship. She'd taken one from Desnind to the east continent a few years back and that had been horrible enough. She'd decided to travel on foot as much as possible from that point on. This was only the second time she'd been on a ship since then. And most certainly not enjoying it. Some of the sailors had even teased her, considering the waters were pretty calm.

Qit'ria peered upward at the flying Elements as someone called them. She didn't know who or what they were, but apparently they were helping them on this mission. One that Qit was already beginning to regret having accepted. Whoever the man was at the market that recruited her as a "huntress as skilled as herself" was gonna get a kick in the teeth when she got back. Qit didn't participate much in the plannings of this mission, for it was quickly evident that she was the least experienced in this sort of thing. She'd follow along, and help where she could. At the very least, she could throw a javelin halfway decently, and help if creatures were an issue.

It didn't take long until the sky was darkened by clouds, and lightning flew all about. Qit could feel the hairs on her neck standing on end. The closer she got, the less she liked this situation. Something was not right here. This was not a place people were meant to go to, the island and seemingly nature itself didn't want them there.

The dock was coming into view, and Qit was elated. She stood up, though still clutching at the railing, feeling wobbly and dizzy from the journey. Getting on proper land was the only goal in mind now. At least until that woman bounced off the ground and the sickening thud of impacted flesh and cracking bone filled the air. Qit hadn't seen the woman upon the cliff, so she had no idea if she'd been pushed, fallen, or jumped, but the arrival at the dock was now not as joyous as it would've been.

And Qit knew this to be a bad omen. A woman falling to her death right as they arrive at an island they shouldn't be at? Definitely a sign, and not a good one. Once the gangplank was dropped, Qit practically ran to leave ship, thankful to have proper ground beneath her, and that her legs were working as the gods intended. Hiking her pack up on her left shoulder, she splipped a javelin free from where they hung on her right shoulder. Gripping it firmly, she started toward the woman's body, slowly, eyes seeking out a hidden attacker that may have pushed her.

Once she was within spear reach, it seemed Qit was the first to arrive. The woman was bloodied, from where bones broke through skin, or where skin had burst like a squished grape. And yet, the woman's face was perfect and pristine, in a very unsettling smile. Reaching her javelin out as far as she could without forsaking her grip on it, Qit poked the corpse once, just to make sure this woman was dead. Qit didn't like this at all. None of it. It was all too unsettling for a superstitious woman like herself. She turned to look back at the rest of the travelers, cupping one hand over the side of her mouth, and shouted, "What do with dead woman? Toss in water?"

Vote

I vote for Fauna.

Created by Yolande

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[Tio Silver]

It had been two whole seasons since the last expedition to the ruins on the Immortal's Tongue had come to its tragic conclusion, but still the hard knot of fury that had formed in Tio's stomach when Alaiwa had been murdered hadn't faded. It tightened a little bit more whenever he thought of the small funeral service he'd organized for her when he'd returned; a sorry affair due to the fact that she'd had no family home of her own to make use of during the Scalvoris' customary death rituals, and that the default snowflake symbol used in the burials of strangers had been engraved on her headstone since he could find nobody who knew her well enough to tell what she would have wanted. The whole thing had felt impersonal, like a half-arsed attempt at going through the motions of a proper funeral without putting the proper respect for the dead into it, and the feeling that she'd deserved better than this had only made Tio more furious.

Tio was out for revenge tonight, and he was making no effort to try and hide it. This time around he wasn't going to be so useless as to stand around helplessly while whatever fod-sacks Lisarra had in store did whatever they pleased; he could fight properly with a cutlass now, his necromancy had grown strong enough to pull off some really terrifying tricks, and the mark of Syroa upon his back gave him access to a host of strange abilities. He was better equipped for a fight this time too, for over his black vest and fur-trimmed trousers was a masterwork chain-mail vest and a set of extravagant black leather gauntlets, greaves and faulds, with a black fur-trimmed jacket over them to keep out the cold. His cutlass and combat knife were strapped to the left side of his belt where he could get at them easily, and on the right side was his pistol crossbow and set of forty bolts, with one already loaded in case he needed to shoot something quickly. Inside his inner jacket pocket was the map of the Immortal's Tongue and ruins he'd gotten last time, his thrall Raton and the bag of Siren Marbles he'd created. Tucked away inside his backpack was his first-aid kit, spelunking kit, Taboo mask and the bones that comprised of his other thrall Risas.

However they weren't the only thing's he'd brought to prepare for this fight. To combat the swarms of man-eating bugs that'd attacked them last time Tio had brought the most effective bug replant he knew: fire! Inside a bag slung over his shoulder were 20 cans of burner fuel, 20 rags, six oil-soaked torches and a spare tinderbox, enough to burn a small army of insects in his opinion. He'd spent the first part of the journey opening half the fuel cans and stuffing them with a rag to make crude but effective firebombs, and had made it known to the others that anyone who wanted to use them were free to do so without his permission. The money didn't matter to him, what mattered was getting payback.

As the boat nearer the island Tio turned to the others, his usual good humor absent from his expression. "If things are still like they were two seasons ago then the ruins we're heading to are dangerous, really dangerous. As soon as we begin to get near a disease will take hold that'll make you hallucinate and turn violent, especially if you have Sev'ryn blood in you, and eventually turn into some kind of rot-zombie. It effects each race at different speeds, and all we know so far is that Sev'ryn start to turn in a couple of breaks whereas humans take a few trials. Last time we were here Kali and I discovered a room devoted to Moseke with blessed water that can cure the infection, so my suggestion is that we make a beeline straight there and secure the room before anyone goes crazy, then press on deeper into the ruins and see if we can find out more about what's going on here. If we can I'd also like to find out what happened to an old party member of ours called Petra who vanished on us and help her if possible, and burn anything that looks like a bug to ashes. Does anyone object to any of this?"

Just before the boat landed on the shoreline the sight of movement on a nearby cliff caught Tio's eye, and he looked up to see a woman there gently waving to them. Then, without warning, she threw herself from the edge of the cliff, and with a fleshy thud smashed down onto the rocks bellow. The boat landed soon after and Qit'ria hopped off first, dashing over to the woman and shouting a question of what to do to the others. But as Tio stepped off the boat he barely gave the woman a glance before turning his attention to the unnatural feeling storm before them.

"Leave her. We have more important things to do." He replied coldly.

Off Topic

I did some research on ye olde' thermal weapons and concluded that these sorts of improvised firebombs probably would be time-appropriate for Idalos, but if anyone disagrees shoot me a PM and we can sort out something else.

And my vote is for the Fauna ruins.

Price List
Bag (Large, Waterproof) = 6sn
Burner fuel x 20 = 40gn
Rags (20) = 4sn
Wrapped oil-soaked torches (6) = 3gn
Tinderbox = 5gn
Total = 49gn

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[Pash Raj'oriq]

If Pash was nervous to return to the Immortal’s Tongue or if he was eager, he showed neither. Quiet, calm, and thoughtful, the tall Biqaj spent much of the sail from town to the island that had once crushed his spirits sitting comfortably near the bow, holding Kali’rial’s hand if she wanted him to, a sea anchor in the storm they’d brought with them from Desnind. While his chosen form of meditation often required motion, to-trial was an exception, and he watched the calm waters of the harbor slip past the hull of their ship while wordlessly working to quell his hurts and fears, to tie away the sadness and loss. He carefully wove through his tumultuous tangle, weaving a thickly corded Quilt of his feelings, ensuring his own awareness of what threads were there lest they find themselves in confrontation with the Empath who’d manipulated Padraig, who he could only assume had been Yolande the Plague-Bearer. It wouldn’t matter, either way, for he hoped this time, this time, they’d find answers.

His meditation was not entirely magical in nature, however, for the trial spent sailing was the first real moment of respite after all that had happened and he needed every breath of it, desperate to right his internal course. He and Kali’rial had made the decision together to return to the Immortal’s Tongue because they’d both felt as though things had been left unfinished, unresolved. Wrong. Returning was a chance to set things right and to solve what had not been solved. It was healing and closure.

It was not vengeance. It would not be. No.

Pash was not built to be a creature of revenge, no matter how many heated emotions writhed at the edges of his tangle. He cut those away, knotted them back, kept their dark colors from slithering into the light of his carefully woven quilt. The storm that came upon them suddenly didn’t surprise him, not after all of Saun spent on the harbor escaping the heat, but this one was probably different. This one was probably something connected to the Tongue, remembering all of Kali’rial’s account of her experiences when combined with the strangeness of his own.

Lagoon blue eyes washed over his companions this time, all of them familiar, all of them ones he would, actually, trust his life to. Kura he knew was reliable, a huntress like Kali’rial it seemed and something more. Her political position clearly allowed them the Element escort that flew overhead. Qit’ria was also a huntress, and so along with his own dark-haired lover, he felt in very good company, indeed. It was only Tio he wasn’t sure he could recognize, the sharp-tongued blond dressed in armor and prepared while also clearly bent by his previous experience here. Pash refused the offer of explosives, having had enough of a brush with explosions of a different sort last time he was on the Immortal’s Tongue to know that weapons would not make all of the difference here in the end … at least in his opinion. Perhaps he’d just already fought far too much this season or perhaps he didn’t want to add any more fuel to the strange fires of the island than were absolutely necessary,

"Th’ disease—mine—" Pash was forthcoming with his entire experience if pressed, but willingly admitted his own brush with death, with whatever Lisirra’s Plague-Bearer had intended when she’d grabbed him, "—was b' touch. An’ yours may have been as well 'r may no’. Regardless, we'd best all be on our guard t' what an’ who we touch."

Pash agreed with some of Tio’s warnings, it was true, but not his methods, adding his own before he argued, "I don’ think we should go back t’ your ruins ’t all, ot djal. I’m sure your party member, Petra, like our guide Yolande, didn’t really disappear in th’ normal way. I still believe there may be a connection between your ruins an’ ours, which were never touched an’ never explored because … well, because our party then were doomed from th’ start."

Pash had no interest in taking Kali back to somewhere she didn’t want to go, though he understood Tio’s point as well as his need. Still, it seemed too dangerous, and the tall Biqaj would push the point that two—three—people had already died exploring those ruins and it was not worth the risk again. He also had the map of the ruins on him and suggested they start there instead, stating that with the knowledge from one perhaps they could be more cautious and better prepared in the second. Even so, the eye of the storm was distracting and it’s calm caught his gaze as their ship made its way toward the dock,

"Or, we stay away from either of ‘em entirely because we’ve already paid that price. Twice. M’haps we should look between them for clues o’ their connection, searching for our missin’ companions from th’ expedition while we’re at it. No’ matter how prepared we be, I’m confident th’ ruins will be waitin' for us. So we have time t’ explore a bit an’ see if we can find clues."

That was his piece and he said it, firm and true. He was dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and his vest, sleeves tucked into his leather bracers. He’d packed his domain bag with all of his kits, warm clothes, food, and various other supplies, quite certain he’d need some of it this time. His masterwork tamo daggers were prominent on his belt, but still he felt bare, naked: the broken pieces of his grandfather’s old mother-of-pearl inlaid lute tucked safely away back on The Muse in Scalvoris Harbor. Part of his heart left behind.

As he looked back to speak quietly with Kali’rial, hands reaching for her as the island drew to loom toward them in the storm, when the torch and the white of a dress caught his vision in the darkness that had fallen on them with the night. She waved at them and Pash opened his mouth to speak his thoughts in his lover’s ear for her comfort, only to hiss a string of expletives in surprise as this woman threw herself from the cliff she stood on, his calloused fingers curling into Kali’s clothing in surprise.

Already.

The Immortal’s Tongue mocked them from the start, welcoming their return with blood and broken promises.

"Chunta! If it weren’t for all th’ Immortals worshipped here, I’d say this place be cursed. May those that favor us have mercies an’ look after us while we’re here to help."

Qit’ria asked what to do and Pash scowled at Tio’s cold retort,

"Ze, we care for her." The tall Biqaj stated, already at odds with the blond treasure-hunter he’d nearly drowned with in the jungle just two seasons ago, "But don’ touch her. Wear gloves. Wrap her up. We can bring her back t’ shore an’ give her what she deserves, what anyone deserves when passin' from this life t’ th’ next: respect." Pash scowled, stormy gaze lingering on the woman’s face, calloused fingers straying to scratch uncomfortably at the scar shaped like a handprint hidden under the sleeve of his left arm, feeling it itch at the thoughts that crawled without permission through his mind and clawed at the hull of his chest,

"Mes'me perto—you're wrong. We don’ know her story. Everythin’ we do here is important, Tio." He didn’t bring up the slaves—Luna or Alaiwa. He didn’t but he could have. Instead, he made his point with a rough growl in his warm baritone, "Everythin’."

Pash hoped the Elements would do the work, for it was obvious he was wary to volunteer. He had gloves in his domain bag and was willing to dig them out, but only if no one else offered, only if it was left to him alone. He’d paid the price for helping once, but it was impossible for him to leave someone like that, someone dead and bloodied and uncared for, no matter how strange.

Off Topic

Flora ruins. Obviously. Or the storm. I can't decide. Pash can't either. I'm bad at voting.

All of Pash's supplies from his inventory are packed in various ways in his domain bag. In addition, he’s got his map to the Immortal’s Tongue and the map of the ruins tucked into his vest. Moe, our friendly moss savior from last trip, is in his little cup also packed in his domain bag. It worked once. Lucky charm! For this trip specifically, I have purchased 2 small waterproof tarps (10gn) and a first aid kit (22gn). I will add those to my ledger shortly.

[Kali'rial]

40th Vhalar, 717

Damn this place.

Kali’rial sat at the side of her lover, amber eyes burning as she glared at the dark swirl of clouds that roiled and thundered over the island. Beside her in the boat, Sarkis growled quietly deep in his chest, standing stiffly in full visible form as he matched her gaze. The huntress had agreed to come together with Pash as soon as she’d heard the plans for a return expedition, violent images of Kris and Alaiwa's deaths flashing brightly in her mind. The events of Desnind still dragged at her mind and her heart, and it would be a lie to say that she welcomed a chance to distract her thoughts. Karem had told her it was time to hunt evil, not sit by and wait for the chance to act. This was a hunt, no doubt about it. The Sev’ryn was absolute in her decision, yet even as they’d boarded the boat to sail over, the tanned brunette hadn’t let go of Pash’s hand. For the most part, she had closed her eyes to mediate. Occasionally she snuffled, a hangover from the disease that had plagued her in this very isle that left her sneezy and miserable in just the hint of cold weather.

In and out, breathing steady and calm. The forest, the log, the stream.

When they had become close enough for the sailor’s who had agreed to bring them start to get antsy, the southerner had opened her eyes, her hand gripping the Biqaj’s even more tightly.

”Lisirra has cursed this island, especially for us.” She said darkly, addressing Qit’ria to ensure her fellow Sevir was extremely clear on Tio’s warning.

”Last time we were here, I was infected. It made me angry, so angry I wanted to punch people. Hurt people. The Immortal Child has left her mark here, and Moseke seems to be trying to hold Her back.” Looking at Kura, the wolf-walker nodded to her.

”There is evil, and death here.” Listening to the man beside her give his own warning and advice from the terror’s he too had faced, Kali’rial stroked Sarkis’ velvet ears and mentally checked what she’d brought with her. The Sev’ryn was dressed in her oiled leather breeches and fur trimmed linen dress, black raw-hide bracers strapped to her forearms and hunting knife to her thigh. On her belt hung her quiver, restocked with forty master craft arrows, as well as her empty water skin and a pouch containing basic first aid herbs and her fire making kit. If they ran across any of Moseke’s vessels she was collecting that water. Her feet were bare, and around her chest was her rope and The Huntress. The brunette’s thick locks were pulled back into a tight braid that was then twisted into a bun, ensuring no stray strands could tickle her face. Her thick yak cloak was thrown over her shoulders, almost hiding the smaller woman in its folds.

As Tio cast his vote, Kali frowned. She felt conflicted. Absolutely, it was revenge that drove them. Or rather, avenging the fallen. Yet, the woman was almost certain Pash was right. After hearing his recount of events, she was certain the two ruins were tied together somehow. Perhaps there were never any answers in their disasterous place. Perhaps they were merely doomed to find death at the end of the road. Kali wanted to go to the other ruins, to explore more and maybe find clues that their own ruin’s had not held.

Before she got the chance to speak however, the wolf beside her growled a little louder. Turning to face the island again, the Sev’ryn breathed a soft sound of disbelief as she watched the figure in white plummet from the cliff.

”Immortals...” The southerner whispered, closing her eyes before the woman hit the ground and taking another deep breath. Opening them again as she breathed out, she released Pash’s hand to step off the boat. As Qit poked the body, Kali moved closer, the canine at her heels with his nose to the ground. Tio’s harsh comment brought her to a halt.

”No. Was Alaiwa’s funeral not enough to show you that if we don’t take the time to care, that no one will?” Frowning down at the broken and bleeding body, the huntress shook her head at Qit.

”Don’t touch the body with your bare hands.” Turning her gaze onto the wolf as he came closer, Kali gave him the same instructions in their silent speak. Sarkis growled again and moved to give the dead woman a wide berth.

Damn this place.

Vote

Kali is voting for Flora this time. She wants to compare what they found to what Pash’s ruins describe, perhaps there are better clues to tie it all together. Perhaps there are not. Lol.

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura leaned back in the boat, her eyes closed as she listened to waves of the sea. A casual glance would give the impression that she was asleep, but if one looked, they'd notice her tapping the forefinger of one hand against the back of the other. The Mortalborn was wearing her masterwork black leather armor, with her hooded black leather overcoat over it, also a mastercrafted garment. Her bow, quiver, and axe were all with her as well, and she had her Nights Glow Gem glasses tucked into a pocket of her coat. For the moment, she wasn't wearing her helmet, it was instead resting on her knee.

When the rest of her group spoke up, Kura opened her eyes slightly. Kali'rial and her friend, also from the docks, had their objections to Tio's plan. Tio was interesting as well, none of the charm he'd had at the murder mystery. The other one was a complete mystery, but if she was willing to fight, she'd welcome her as an ally. Still, she sat up to add her own objections to Tio's plan. "I spoke to one of the people who had been here before, from the same group as you, I think." she said, gesturing to Pash. "His story points to one fact that we can't afford to ignore. The presence of at least one Plague-Bearer on the island means that there's an intelligent design to what's going on here. Whether they've explored the ruins before the first two academy groups arrived or if they were using the groups as disposable bodies, going back to the ruins would be foolish." she said, before looking directly at Tio. "Odds are good they're well aware of this spring of Moseke's. Which means they're likely to have booby trapped it completely. And that's even assuming they haven't completely desecrated it. Going to that spring would be unwise." she said, her tone calm, collected. "I know you want to save your companion, but if she can be saved, we'll have to do this smart. If we get killed because we rushed in, we'll do no one any good."

In truth, the note that the disease here affected sev'ryn more strongly didn't worry her that much, for all that she was part sev'ryn. She was Mortalborn, and thus tended to be more disease resistant. Still, she'd have to keep an eye on her temper while they were here. It was the two Mortal sev'ryn she was more worried about, they would likely be more susceptible to the disease. "Also, these Plague-Bearers have had time to work on their disease, it may very well be stronger now." she said as they approached the island.

The way the island greeted them could only mean good things and Kura let out a groan of annoyance. "Well, someone feels dramatic, it seems." she said as she stepped out of the boat. The moment her feet touched the ground, Phelan materialized next to her, his demeanor indicating he was ready for trouble. At the same time, Kura opened her coat and held her arm inside it for a moment. When she pulled it out, Speck, who had been asleep, was perched on her wrist and completely alert. "This owl is special. Blessed, and I have the same sort of connection to her that Kali'rial and I have with our wolves." she said, lifting her arm as Speck took flight. "Get to the top of that cliff and tell me what you see." she said, curious if the woman had been pushed or if she had fallen.

Then talk turned to what to do with the dead and Kura stepped forward, up to the body. "Hold on a moment." she said, kneeling down next to it. Kura's gauntlets protected her hands, so she opened one of the dead womans eyelids, looking for any signs of Yithnai, Lisirra's blessing. Whatever she found, she reported it to the others, then waved at the person in charge of their Element escort, calling him down. "Soldier, your name and rank, please." she asked politely, having failed to get the information beforehand. Once she had it, she nodded. "The moment this happened," she said, gesturing at the corpse, "this ceased to be an academy operation and became a military one. Now, in such a case, do you defer to me as the only council member present, or do you take command as the ranking military official?" she asked her tone formal. Once she had her answer, she nodded again, then turned to her companions.

"Phelan, go scout ahead." she said, and the wolf nodded and took off. "Kali, could you have Sarkis do the same? We'll all be safer with them up front." she said, her tone polite. Then she turned to address the group. "We care for our dead. We don't want restless spirits following us if we can avoid it." she said, though the warm spot over her left shoulder indicating Cally's presence indicated at least one perfectly well rested spirit following the group about. "Now, it would be foolish of us to head into the ruins directly, but just as foolish to do anything without a plan. Padraig told me there's a camp near the Flora ruins, and they're the closest. Let's head there, lay out whatever maps we may have, then make a plan from there, all right? We'll never get anything done without a solid plan."

► Show Spoiler

Vote 1: Respect the dead.

Vote 2: Flora ruins, but only so far as the campsite.

Other: Will the military defer to Kura after her question? Does the dead woman have glowing Yithnai eyes?

Luffles you, Peggles!

[Pegasus]

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole...

They each spoke, each considered and there was some dissent, some agreement. Each of them as individuals, then as a group, they moved.
Qit'ria
The Sev'ryn was chock full of superstition and she walked to the corpse, poking it with her javelin. There was no way that anyone could be alive after that fall and in the state that this woman's body was in and she did not move. Satisfied that there was no life in the stranger, Qit suggested that they throw her into the water!

Swimming With The Fishes unlocked. NPC reaction adjusted!
No one listens to me! unlocked. Qit'ria will receive a specific consequence at the end of the thread Tio
Tio warned people what was coming. In many ways, after all, he and Kali'rial were there two who understood what they were facing. He was here for vengeance and maybe even the memory of a young woman who had died in his arms. However, he barely glanced at the woman who was dead here, in this moment and instead he put forward a clear rationale for where he thought they should go.

I guess they pushed him too far! unlocked. NPC reaction adjusted!
No one listens to me! unlocked. Tio will receive a specific consequence at the end of the thread Pash
Pash listened to Tio, listened to his argument, but he disagreed. His own logic was different, although arguably as sound as Tio's. Was logic even really an option, here, in this place? Still, Pash also voted for caring for the body of the woman, although he would rather someone else did it.

Respect for the dead unlocked. NPC reaction adjusted!
We did it my way! unlocked. Pash will receive a specific consequence at the end of the thread Kali'rial
Kali'rial supported the logic of her lover and she was quick to act as translator for the other Sev'ryn in the group. She made no comment about what they should do with the dead woman other than to say that they should give her wide berth. Yet her vote for where they went was clear. To see that which she had not seen before ~ and not to return to that place of darkness.

Don't touch that! unlocked. NPC reaction adjusted!
We did it my way!unlocked. Kali'rial will receive a specific consequence at the end of the thread Kura
And Kura was the voice of logic and reason. She ensured that she was clear and she spoke without pulling her emotions into it. More than that, she involved the Elements who landed and asked what might be a very logical, and important, question. Certainly one that set her apart from the others, as she revealed herself as a member of the Council of Scalvoris. What would it mean for them as a group?

Respect for the dead unlocked. NPC reaction adjusted!
Name, rank & serial number unlocked. Kura will receive a specific consequence at the end of the thread

All....

So, they had the situation and there seemed to be a lot involved. There were discussions, Pash said that the body should be dealt with but he seemed to be in a minority of one and was reticent, although willing, to do the deed himself. However, Kura stepped forward and knelt next to the corpse. Opening the woman's eyes was not necessary, as they were already open. They seemed happy, serene and they were a deep brown colour.

Only one of the Elements landed. A young man in leather armour and as he climbed down from the Scalvwing he had ridden on. He looked at Kura and he gave a slight smile. Maybe mid twenties, the man seemed to have a good amount of Biqaj blood, though there was human or sevir in there too. "My name is Treloar and I am Air Troops. I have command of the three of us. But you are wrong," he said to Kura with a polite smile. "A woman throwing herself off a cliff in an apparently unrelated incident doesn't make this suddenly a military matter. Even if it did, the Militant is the Council member with command of the Elements. No other." Was he making a push back? Well, yes he was, but it was tempered somewhat. "However, ma'am, I'd be most pleased if we were working together. My orders were to work with the group and protect them. Not direct them." He gave a smile to each of them. "But if I need to grab and drag, and apologise later, be assured I will. My men are checking whether she jumped or if there is some unseen reason for this. We'll cover her over now, keep her safe from predators, take her with us when we leave."

That was not, it seemed, something he was going to negotiate on. When his two men returned, that was what they did. They never at any point touched her. Treloar introduced them as Don'ial (a Sev'ryn female) and Sten (a human male). They were efficient, used gloves and so on and fundamentally wrapped the body in a tarp and then placed it on a high rock ledge where the water would not get it.

Of the cliff above, there was nothing reported back either by Speck or the Elements. It was, basically, just as it should be and it looked like she had thrown herself off.

And then, they moved. The group had decided to go to the Flora ruins, by majority vote. Treloar walked with them, his Scalvwing taking flight with Don'ial and Sten, who took to the air, keeping an eye out in order to be able to see what was up ahead. When Team Flora had walked here, it had been bright and clear, sunny and fine. However, the weather now was much more what those who were in Team Fauna had been used to on that fateful trial. The storm raged around them and they could see, as they approached, that the clouds themselves almost seemed to be in the shapes of things which frightened them.

As they walked, following the path which was more than a little tricky to do, and made worse by the slippery-when-wet nature of stones, they each had a feeling of being watched. The wolves and owl all felt that there was something not right in the air. It was charged and almost static-filled. It filled their mouths with a bad taste. For the group of travellers, it was quickly apparent that this place was not welcoming them in with open arms.
Within a quarter break, they were walking along when, from the right of them there was a rustling in the trees. It was a split trill before the attack happened and was all the warning they had. Three creatures burst out of the treeline. Each one maybe six or seven foot tall, covered in a deep purple moss yet with human, or biqaj or sev'ryn eyes glaring balefully out. They moved with lightning speed. They didn't have weapons, as such, but as they charged in, each of them roared.

The sound was terrifying and as they roared, they lifted impossibly long talon-like nails which sprouted from their fingers and attacked with them. They, too, seemed to be dripping some kind of strange liquid.

As the moss-covered creatures charged in, the one attacking Pash was joined by a very strange looking creature. It seemed to be a sort of hybrid of a variety of canines, with hollow black eyes. It, too, was covered in strange moss and it was foaming at the mouth as it screamed at him. The scream itself caused the air to shudder in between the thing and the bard and Pash felt the sonic-sounding attack assaulting his ears. In this first instance, it was shocking and painful but not yet debilitating.

The one which attacked Kali'rial had a companion also. Of all things, it looked like a dead rabbit. But the thing was bigger than any rabbit she'd ever seen, it had more teeth than any rabbit (or, precisely, as it flew at her she might realise it was a flunny) had a right to have and it, too, had the moss growing on and in it.

Kura was attacked by just the one. No strange companions for hers. However, the three moss-zombies (for want of a better word) attacked with the aim of ripping off their victim's face. Long, liquid coated talon-like claws moved with lightning speed and, unless stopped, would be hitting face-flesh in a heartbeat.

Objectives:

1.Don't Die!!

2. Keep each other alive!

OOC Info

!

Message from: Pegasus

We are in a state of COMBAT and your actions must be within an appropriate timeframe. Please be aware that everything you do after you hear the rustling of the leaves is in that timeframe. What you do before is fine as far as time is concerned. One post between mod posts please. No posting order. You may, of course, control your own NPCs, but not mine. There are a number of hidden objectives throughout the game. I will let you know if you unlock them. I will post again on the 21st October, or sooner if you all post. We will operate on a "three strikes and you're out" basis. May the Immortals have mercy on you all

Other stuff!

If you're using language in your post and writing the actual word - please put a translation in an ooc at the end ~ even if you've got links in your siggie. Thanks!

Also- format and the idea of the things being unlocked etc. Massive thanks to Straylor, who ran one of the best threads I've ever been in, a long time ago in a faraway place. I hope he finds us here one day - but props to him!

[Qit'ria]

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"Speech"

Qit'ria was already not enjoying this group effort. She'd asked a simple question, and was given a wide variety of answers. The one man, who she thought was named Teeyo, said to just leave her. That answer was fine by Qit in all honesty. Qit wasn't fully sure what it was they were doing here, but the death of someone unnecessary was far from important. Let someone else deal with her. But then Pash said to care for the corpse. Seemed like a waste of time. And he said to not touch her. So Qit went down to the shoreline dipped her spear tip in the water, then dipped into the sands over and over, to scrub it clean.

She decided that since she didn't care about this corpse, she wasn't going to help deal with it. Qit didn't really know this Lisirra that Kali had mentioned to her, for she wasn't the type to follow any of the Immortals. Maybe slight sayings to go with Moseke, but that was just from habit of her parents. Tired with all this talk, for Qit really wasn't one for talk, she left the group to their discussions and collaboration. She had no patience for such a thing.

Her superstitious nature had certainly been replaced by the annoyance. And she greatly would've preferred the previous worry. Before the group had decided which set of ruins to go with Qit was already walking in further on the island, studying the topography. There were stones and water everywhere, and the storm raged on around them. She felt this gave her the advantage over her companions. With her bare, leathery feet, she wouldn't slip nearly as much on the wet stones. She was already testing her footing on them, standing atop them, hopping around them.

Finally, the group had decided to get moving, and Qit slipped in among them. She never let herself be in the front or the back, for those were the most likely to get picked off by predators. Safety within the group. She kept her javelin in hand the whole way, using it as a walking stick when needed. Her remaining javelin hung over her shoulder, her sword strapped to her breeched thigh. The air felt a bit cold for the southerner, and she wrapped her cloak around her shoulders.

And as they walked, the hairs on her neck stood up. They were being watched, she knew it. Her eyes searched the surroundings for any sign of a source, but it was futile. Qit hated this feeling. She felt like prey, not the predator she knew herself to be. So she shrunk her form as they walked, hunching down a bit, to seem smaller, less threatening to whatever was watching them. It helped she was already smaller than most of them.

The rustling to the right caused Qit's eyes to snap over in that direction, her feet pulling her to the left reactively. She pulled her javelin up and over her shoulder, but keeping it pointed in front of her, bouncing much like a scorpion with its tail, defensive, crouched down. She struggled to keep her eyes open during the initial scream from these... monsters. They somewhat resembled people, very tall people. And they were fast, and loud. And purple. And Qit could feel that fear in her stomach, the same whenever she met a real threat. It was this fear that had kept her alive.

And it seemed luck was on her side, for none of the creatures were coming at her specifically. As Qit backed away from the initial onslaught, she took in the situation. Pash had two enemies on him, Kali had two on her, and Kura had one. Pash was bigger, and Kali was the closest thing to brethren among the people in the group. It made her decision easy. She'd support Kali. So Qit carefully move around her fellow Sev'ryn, until she had a bit more of a clear shot. Then she raised her javelin a bit higher, and back to her ear. Without a roar of her own, she twisted at the hip, stepping forward as she chucked her javelin forward at the rabbit, aiming to toss it straight down its toothy maw.

Created by Yolande

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[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Nothing about the corpse indicated the presence of Yithnai, so Kura noded her agreement that the body should be treated with all honors and care they could afford in their situation. As for Air Troop Treloar, she raised an eyebrow when he said it wasn't a military operation yet, but kept her sarcastic comments to herself. "Thank you for your care, Troop Treloar. And I apologize for my lack of knowledge in exact protocol. I haven't quite had time to learn it yet." she said, her tone showing she did actually regret that she wasn't fully familiarized with Scalvoris military protocol. "And if you feel the need to pull us out, I'll understand. I won't necessarily be pleased, but I'll understand." she said, smiling slightly before she stepped aside to let the troops cover the body.

The report from troops and owl both was disappointing, but not unexpected. "Well, that just opens all sorts of questions. Sadly, unless someone here has Zuuda, I don't think we're going to get the answers to them here." she said with a sigh. Still, it was time to move on. When she noticed Treloar joining them, she smiled at the soldier. "It occurs to me that we would be more effective if we knew each others abilities and limits, including those of Troops Don'ial and Sten. If you could explain what your mounts are capable of as well, Troop Treloar, it would be most helpful. I've done some reading, but I imagine that only gets one so far." she said, her tone cheerful despite the terrible weather. In the spirit of strengthening their co-operation, Kura explained the abilities of the Velduris wolves, the way they could return to spirit form and return quickly to their blessed, and that they were immune to disease. She also explained her own Mortalborn powers, though she explained them as having done some special tasks for Karem when she was younger, which was even fairly close to the truth.

She dutifully reported the feeling Phelan and Speck had about the island feeling not at all right, though it didn't deter the group. Still, she figured they could have been better prepared for the mossters that attacked. The screams were utterly horrifying, and Kura felt the cold grip of fear on her spin. Despite it, however, Kura grinned as she opened her quiver and pulled her bow. Fear was always there when battle loomed, and showing it would accomplish nothing for anybody.

A simple command had Phelan reverting to spirit form as both he and Speck came rushing back to the battlefield in a quick hurry. Fortunately, neither wolf or owl had been far away, but the attack was under way when they returned. "A single creature against me? I've been insulted." she said, her tone showing her confidence in her prowess and powers as she took a short hop back, taking a quick glance at what attacked the others as she put an arrow to her bowstring. A dog and a humanoid on Pash, a rabbit and a humanoid on Kali'rial, a humanoid alone against her, pull the arrow back. Qit'ria attacking the rabbit, take aim at her own enemy. "Phelan, deal with the dog." she said, taking a deep breath as 100 lbs of wolf materialized out of thin air and slammed into the howling-dog-things side, fangs and claws tearing. Release the arrow, aimed for the face of her own humanoid, draw another one before it hits. "Speck, check for others." she said as she sent this arrow downwind towards her foe as well. She was engaged now and the others would have to hold their own for a second.

► Show Spoiler

Kura's entire thought process while drawing that first arrow took about two-three seconds. She didn't notice what Pash, Kali, and Tio were doing because she didn't catch their movements in that time span.

[Tio Silver]

Thankfully the element soldiers dealt with the body quickly and efficiently, and so the group was able to get moving with minimal delays. Before long the party of eight was trekking through the abysmal weather towards the ruins team Flora had tried to get to last time, plodding along through mud and slippery stone whilst the clouds above formed terrifying silhouettes of snakes, skulls and other horrifying things. There was a wrongness in the air that made Tio's hair stand up on end, though what exactly that wrongness was he couldn't quite place. Once or twice he felt like someone was watching him and looked around at the others in the group to see if they were staring, but it didn't seem to be any of them. Perhaps he was just being paranoid? After all he had been having this strange feeling of being followed ever since Famula's day, maybe the freaky weather was just making that worse.

Even when in a bad mood Tio was still Tio, and Tio was not a brooder. The monotony of the walk soon became unbearably boring for him, and he took his gaze away from glaring at the path in front of them in order to look around at the rest of the team. The first thing that caught his attention was the three flying horses that the element troop members were riding. He'd heard people talking about them before, the incredible Scalvwing Steeds Egilrun was so famous for rearing, but this was his first time seeing them this close. They looked like a lot of fun! Maybe the soldiers would let him ride on one of them on the way back?

The second thing that caught his attention was that Kali had turned into a freaking werewolf! How in the blue blazes had that happened?! Her eyes had become those of a wolf's, and when she talked he was pretty sure he could see a set of fangs in her mouth! Not only that but she also had a pet wolf following her around, a very large pet wolf! He'd never told anyone this but he did have a little bit of a phobia of dogs, and being as wolves were the larger, scarier and infinitely more dangerous cousins to dogs Sarkis' presence made him quite a bit nervous. He tried his best to hide it of course, but whenever one of the wolves came too close to him he couldn't help but flinch away a bit.

"So, I see Cupcake's got in touch with her wild side." He murmured to Pash as they walked, a dry but familiar cheeky smirk growing on his face. It was half-hearted compared to his normally bubbly nature, but it was there all the same. "Tell me, how do you guys manage to make out with those fangs in the way? Gives a more literal meaning to 'eating your face' I guess. Should I avoid going outside during a full moon from now on?"

About a quarter break into their journey the first of their problems presented itself. A split second of rustling leaves was the only alarm they got before a horde of creatures burst out of the treeline and charged towards them. They seemed a little like the moss-zombies he'd seen last time in that they were covered in moss, but these were bigger, faster and way more tough looking. Perhaps the moss-zombies from before had grown into these... monsters. No, not monsters, mossters!

Luckily he'd brought just the thing for dealing with overgrown vegetation!

None of the mossters were coming for him, and so Tio dropped to one knee and grabbed a tinderbox and one of the torches from his bag. He took two peices of flint from his tinderbox and smashed them together to make a few sparks, which hit the torch and began to catch, but didn't have enough time to light and throw one of his firebombs. Hopefully the others would be fine without him for a little while.

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