Arabesu
Registered User
Episode 2a
The small hill turned out to be a lip to a massive crater easily miles across. Yens and Rowyn had lain down on the ridge to survey the area. Over three hundred yards away they could see a herd of huge reptiles grazing on grasses and tree sized ferns. Far to the south they could see jagged mountaintops.
“Those lizards shake the ground when they walk. Like thunder. Thundarlizards. That’s a good name.” said Yens to himself.
“They are actually called diplodocus.” Came Urol’s voice from behind him.
“Get down you fool, or they will see us and attack!” urged Yens with a motion.
“Oh don’t be silly.” Urol continued his lecture, “They are herbivorous and not the least bit aggressive. Still, I would not approach them unless you have a death wish; they are prone to stampede and weigh easily over thirty tons each.”
“Like giant cattle.” Added Rowyn.
Yens scowled at her for joining their conversation.
“The analogy is apt, but I would consider them more similar to the wild herds of elephants in Q’barra. They forage over large tracts of land and unlike most reptiles they are homeotherms.”
Yens: “Huh?”
“Warm blooded.” Said Rowyn.
“Right-O, Rowyn. I am impressed. You know your zoology well. Where did you study? Let us descend and tell the others. Did you know that they have twenty stomachs? I once had opportunity to study the spines of a young fossil found in…”
Yens watched as Rowyn and Urol returned to the milling group of colonists and adventurers. She is ingratiating herself with him to win him over. Who will be next? Klem? Tavey? He frowned; he might need to take preemptive measures to stop her.
They group headed east, keeping just north of the rim of the crater. After their ascent to the rim earlier, Urol had revised his guess at their location. They were on the northeast part of the island, not the extreme north, as he had originally thought. While this was good news: they were closer to Farshore, it also meant that they would soon forge through unfamiliar territory. He suggested one of two tacts: east toward the sea and then south along the coastline or directly south over the crater and through the mountains. Each path had its own difficulties, but the group agreed that the coastal path was wiser since they might be able to find Farshore even if Urol became incapacitated. Only Avner dissented, suggesting that the direct path would take them there much more quickly, albeit with more possibilities for getting lost.
Urol had also suggested that Kira avoid use of her avian form. “Many of the scavengers on this island such as the Tyranosaurus key off of the presence of soaring and circling buzzards and you might attract undue attention.”
“That T-rex we fought was a hunter, NOT a scavenger.” Injected Yens.
Rowyn snickered.
“Not entirely correct my good man.” Corrected Urol. “They will kill active prey, but just as often will steal meat from those who found it first. You see they have these large nasal bulbs, consistent with their use of olfactory…”
They continued on with Urol blathering on about various topics while Yens and Kira gratefully took turns scouting ahead.
After a time, they became aware of horrible sounds coming from just past the crater wall.
“Oh we must save it, it’s just a baby.” Cried Urol as the watched the grizzly seen a minute later.
Yens rolled his eyes. From his vantage at the crest he counted no fewer than six terrorbirds harassing a “small” thunder lizard. It thrashed about with its whip-like tail while trying to flee the birds. The terrorbirds, on the other hand, seemed to be herding the beast directly toward them. Presumably the slope of the crater’s interior wall would offer some advantage in taking down the larger creature.
Bounding down the slope, Yens charged into the scrum.
“Watch out for the tail!” Yelled Urol.
As if on cue, the tail of the diplodocus bowled over two birds and swept toward Yens. He ducked and the tail just missed him, but he was still nearly flattened by the air displaced in its wake. Better not get hit by that thing.
Stabbing with his rapier, he wounded one of the remaining four terror birds. The two that had been knocked prone were lagging behind, but would not catch up unless the melee halted. Curiously, two of the remaining birds then broke off to attack each other. The fourth bird kept pace with the dinosaur but refrained from attacking, instead letting out a cacophony of squawks and squeals. Unbeknownst to Yens, Tsuan had evened the odds thanks to a confusion spell.
The tail passed through again, but missed both Yens and the two remaining birds. A quick stab killed the bird he was fighting and sprint took him ahead of the diplodocus and out of range of the tail. Caustic acid covered one of the lagging birds while Kira was suddenly on top of its companion, a panther wrestling a turkey. The last bird finally stopped to consider the meaning of existence and eventually died at Yens and Amilla’s hands. The winner of the terrorbird-on-terrorbird duel, suddenly found itself surrounded by enemies as its prey lumbered off. It too was quickly dispatched.
Camping with the crater at their backs, the group feasted again for another night on roast terrorbird.
After most of another day's travel they were within site of the ocean. Urol suggested they head south, using the coastal jungle for cover.
Near evening, they came upon the ruins of a tribal village identified as Olman. The jungle had absorbed this village and the ruins appeared to be infested with all size and variety of spider, bold enough to refrain from fleeing at the humanoid’s approach. Yens was about to skewer one with his rapier when Kira stopped him. Kira had spotted a shack or hut made from webbing material. Approaching with greetings in Sylvan, Kira was able to coax a wizened areanea from the hovel. After a brief discussion, Kira informed the party that there was another terror bird nest just after the next ravine and that the spiders of the area would leave them alone if they refrained from killing. Lithira, the areanea, also suggested negotiating with the terrorbird flockleader since the flock was very large.
Using speak with animals, Kira was able talk the group past a terror bird nest and was even given a magical cloak since the terrorbird leader was so grateful that they “not kill.”
The group then ascended into the foothills that lined the eastern coast. After the going became too treacherous, they decided to explore a potential pass that went right under one of the mountains. With torches at hand and roped together they entered a dark cave.
The small hill turned out to be a lip to a massive crater easily miles across. Yens and Rowyn had lain down on the ridge to survey the area. Over three hundred yards away they could see a herd of huge reptiles grazing on grasses and tree sized ferns. Far to the south they could see jagged mountaintops.
“Those lizards shake the ground when they walk. Like thunder. Thundarlizards. That’s a good name.” said Yens to himself.
“They are actually called diplodocus.” Came Urol’s voice from behind him.
“Get down you fool, or they will see us and attack!” urged Yens with a motion.
“Oh don’t be silly.” Urol continued his lecture, “They are herbivorous and not the least bit aggressive. Still, I would not approach them unless you have a death wish; they are prone to stampede and weigh easily over thirty tons each.”
“Like giant cattle.” Added Rowyn.
Yens scowled at her for joining their conversation.
“The analogy is apt, but I would consider them more similar to the wild herds of elephants in Q’barra. They forage over large tracts of land and unlike most reptiles they are homeotherms.”
Yens: “Huh?”
“Warm blooded.” Said Rowyn.
“Right-O, Rowyn. I am impressed. You know your zoology well. Where did you study? Let us descend and tell the others. Did you know that they have twenty stomachs? I once had opportunity to study the spines of a young fossil found in…”
Yens watched as Rowyn and Urol returned to the milling group of colonists and adventurers. She is ingratiating herself with him to win him over. Who will be next? Klem? Tavey? He frowned; he might need to take preemptive measures to stop her.
They group headed east, keeping just north of the rim of the crater. After their ascent to the rim earlier, Urol had revised his guess at their location. They were on the northeast part of the island, not the extreme north, as he had originally thought. While this was good news: they were closer to Farshore, it also meant that they would soon forge through unfamiliar territory. He suggested one of two tacts: east toward the sea and then south along the coastline or directly south over the crater and through the mountains. Each path had its own difficulties, but the group agreed that the coastal path was wiser since they might be able to find Farshore even if Urol became incapacitated. Only Avner dissented, suggesting that the direct path would take them there much more quickly, albeit with more possibilities for getting lost.
Urol had also suggested that Kira avoid use of her avian form. “Many of the scavengers on this island such as the Tyranosaurus key off of the presence of soaring and circling buzzards and you might attract undue attention.”
“That T-rex we fought was a hunter, NOT a scavenger.” Injected Yens.
Rowyn snickered.
“Not entirely correct my good man.” Corrected Urol. “They will kill active prey, but just as often will steal meat from those who found it first. You see they have these large nasal bulbs, consistent with their use of olfactory…”
They continued on with Urol blathering on about various topics while Yens and Kira gratefully took turns scouting ahead.
After a time, they became aware of horrible sounds coming from just past the crater wall.
“Oh we must save it, it’s just a baby.” Cried Urol as the watched the grizzly seen a minute later.
Yens rolled his eyes. From his vantage at the crest he counted no fewer than six terrorbirds harassing a “small” thunder lizard. It thrashed about with its whip-like tail while trying to flee the birds. The terrorbirds, on the other hand, seemed to be herding the beast directly toward them. Presumably the slope of the crater’s interior wall would offer some advantage in taking down the larger creature.
Bounding down the slope, Yens charged into the scrum.
“Watch out for the tail!” Yelled Urol.
As if on cue, the tail of the diplodocus bowled over two birds and swept toward Yens. He ducked and the tail just missed him, but he was still nearly flattened by the air displaced in its wake. Better not get hit by that thing.
Stabbing with his rapier, he wounded one of the remaining four terror birds. The two that had been knocked prone were lagging behind, but would not catch up unless the melee halted. Curiously, two of the remaining birds then broke off to attack each other. The fourth bird kept pace with the dinosaur but refrained from attacking, instead letting out a cacophony of squawks and squeals. Unbeknownst to Yens, Tsuan had evened the odds thanks to a confusion spell.
The tail passed through again, but missed both Yens and the two remaining birds. A quick stab killed the bird he was fighting and sprint took him ahead of the diplodocus and out of range of the tail. Caustic acid covered one of the lagging birds while Kira was suddenly on top of its companion, a panther wrestling a turkey. The last bird finally stopped to consider the meaning of existence and eventually died at Yens and Amilla’s hands. The winner of the terrorbird-on-terrorbird duel, suddenly found itself surrounded by enemies as its prey lumbered off. It too was quickly dispatched.
Camping with the crater at their backs, the group feasted again for another night on roast terrorbird.
After most of another day's travel they were within site of the ocean. Urol suggested they head south, using the coastal jungle for cover.
Near evening, they came upon the ruins of a tribal village identified as Olman. The jungle had absorbed this village and the ruins appeared to be infested with all size and variety of spider, bold enough to refrain from fleeing at the humanoid’s approach. Yens was about to skewer one with his rapier when Kira stopped him. Kira had spotted a shack or hut made from webbing material. Approaching with greetings in Sylvan, Kira was able to coax a wizened areanea from the hovel. After a brief discussion, Kira informed the party that there was another terror bird nest just after the next ravine and that the spiders of the area would leave them alone if they refrained from killing. Lithira, the areanea, also suggested negotiating with the terrorbird flockleader since the flock was very large.
Using speak with animals, Kira was able talk the group past a terror bird nest and was even given a magical cloak since the terrorbird leader was so grateful that they “not kill.”
The group then ascended into the foothills that lined the eastern coast. After the going became too treacherous, they decided to explore a potential pass that went right under one of the mountains. With torches at hand and roped together they entered a dark cave.