The Road to Discovery

Nalvis holds his axe in the air triumphantly and says, "I thought I was going to miss him at first, but then he moved right into my strike." He says to Vik, "Thank you for helping me overcome my doubts, my friend, and for that well placed throw."

Mekric looks down at the dead lizard and despite her joy over the victory, she cannot help but feel sorry for the creature. "So I guess we're going to learn how to skin a lizard now," she says softly with a curl in her lip.

Arbrine slaps Nalvis on the back and says, "Next time I'll have to move faster if I want any action." She will put a hand on a part of the lizard not gushing blood and attempt to determine with Way if any of the lizard parts have proclivity.

The three will help their friends with breaking down the creature and preparing the skins and meat for transport.

Lizard Meat Is Still Meat

Kwargrow said:

Nalvis holds his axe in the air triumphantly and says, "I thought I was going to miss him at first, but then he moved right into my strike." He says to Vik, "Thank you for helping me overcome my doubts, my friend, and for that well placed throw."

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Vik retrieves his harpoon, examining the bone tip.
"Thank you, my friend. My father, may his spirit find rest and comfort, would have been proud of that throw. Let us see to preparing the beast for consumption."

Kwargrow said:

Mekric looks down at the dead lizard and despite her joy over the victory, she cannot help but feel sorry for the creature. "So I guess we're going to learn how to skin a lizard now," she says softly with a curl in her lip.

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Veera nods, mostly to herself, since she is not looking at the others but has moved off into the rough.
"It should not be too much more difficult than skinning a shark. I will make a fire to cure the meat. This should safe us time in travel for the next few days since we will not have to hunt."

Kwargrow said:

Arbrine slaps Nalvis on the back and says, "Next time I'll have to move faster if I want any action." She will put a hand on a part of the lizard not gushing blood and attempt to determine with Way if any of the lizard parts have proclivity.

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Quill harrumphs.
"That was mighty quick for such big fellows. Nice swinging, you two."

Quill kneels down by the fallen lizard to run her hands lightly over its body's surface trying to feel any fluctuations in Way lines, like Arbrine.

Kwargrow said:

The three will help their friends with breaking down the creature and preparing the skins and meat for transport.

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After 10 more days of travel the friends reach the nearest and largest of the known villages that border the marsh. The Norikadians have traded with this particular village in the past, which is why Quill knew of its existence. The village is populated by mostly Hebrians, which is the same people who inhabit Eastaboga. The village also contained a few families of other tribes but the language of trade was always Eastabin, with a smattering of Norikadian.

It is the faint smell of smoke that inundates the friends from a day away that alerts them to possible wrong. The smoke can then be seen from a few hours distant. Once moving into the cleared area of the village proper, the friends can see that several houses have been put to the torch and still smolder. Whatever has happened here, it was a few days past, as the remaining villagers seem to be in a process of clean-up. A funeral pyre is being prepared upon a small vessel as the friends make there way toward the center of the village.

The villagers are not hostile, but seem reserved. A middle-aged man standing at the beach of the river looks about and addresses the arrival. He speaks in the Eastabin tongue.

"You looks as if you have walked all this way from the fishing village out on the rocky sea. Has trouble befallen it as well?"
[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 5
bone arrows: 10
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Lizard Meat: 120 bricks
Lizard Skin: 60% cover
Muddle Leaves: 2 measures: Muddle x2[/sblock]

Nalvis holds up his hands to show they are not hostile and says to the man, "I am Nalvis. These are my sisters, Mekric and Arbrine, and our friends, Vik, Veera, and Quill. My sisters and I are not from a village, we lived on the sea shore with our parents. Our home was attacked and our parents killed, and we are seeking those that did it to settle the account with justice. We met our friends as we began our quest, but I will let them tell their own story. What has happened here?"

Mekric listens to her brother and cringes at how much he tells. For all they know the criminals they seek are in this village, and will now be alerted to their hunt. She does not interrupt though, standing silently close to her brother and watching the middle-aged man for his reaction to what is said.

Arbrine looks around as Nalvis talks, taking a closer look at their surroundings. She makes sure no one is trying to sneak up and ambush them.

Village on the Edge of the Marsh

Kwargrow said:

Nalvis holds up his hands to show they are not hostile and says to the man, "I am Nalvis... What has happened here?"

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Vik makes a slight bow at the mention of his name, which is a custom among the Hebrian who do not clasp hands like the Norikadian do. He adds to the admissions of Nalvis.
"We three are from the fishing village out on the rock sea. Our village was completely destroyed, our people all killed, and our boats burned. We three were spared because we were away in the mountains hunting sheep."

Kwargrow said:

Mekric... does not interrupt though, standing silently close to her brother and watching the middle-aged man for his reaction to what is said.

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Veera looks about at the smoldering houses then adds.
"Your village seems to have come under attack as well. Can you tell us what transpired here?"

Kwargrow said:

Arbrine looks around as Nalvis talks, taking a closer look at their surroundings. She makes sure no one is trying to sneak up and ambush them.

OOC: roll: 27

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The man who originally spoke, turns back from looking at the funeral boat.
"Perhaps you should push on. We do not need..."

An older woman who had been approaching from one of the more central dwellings interrupts the man's harsh words.
"Mitsune! These young people are not involved with what has befallen us. You know this. We will offer the courtesy of our custom even in the face of this travesty. It is my heartmate on that funeral boat. Come children. We will share tea and discuss this dilemma."

The woman beckons toward a building which looks to be a meeting hall. She speaks to others as she continues, sometimes given quiet commands. This woman is obviously in charge.
[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 5
bone arrows: 10
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Lizard Meat: 120 bricks
Lizard Skin: 60% cover
Muddle Leaves: 2 measures: Muddle x2[/sblock]

Before they follow the woman, Nalvis says to the first man, "We are not here to bring more misery on your people. We will help if we can."

Mekric will lead the way through the village, following the woman to the meeting hall.

Arbrine skips along behind them, blocking out the unpleasant scenes.

THe Clan Leader

Kwargrow said:

Before they follow the woman, Nalvis says to the first man, "We are not here to bring more misery on your people. We will help if we can."

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Mitsune flares his nostrils slightly but does not respond. It appears he has little faith in the assistance of six young adults, especially strangers.

Kwargrow said:

Mekric will lead the way through the village, following the woman to the meeting hall.

Arbrine skips along behind them, blocking out the unpleasant scenes.

Click to expand...

The elderly woman leads the friends into the Meeting Hall where she begins to brew tea in a clay pot. She moves with a smooth and meticulous hand belying her one of her age.

"Mitsune is angry, as he should be. Everyone handles trauma differently. He is rather stoic even in a good situation."

Vik questions.
"You said that the man on the funeral boat is your heartmate?"

The woman nods as she continues to watch the tea, not looking up from where she sits on the floor at the low table. She gestures for everyone to join her.

"All in due time. We shall share tea first."

She pours tea from the clay pot into seven clay bowls. She spins one of the bowl all the way around, blows on it, then takes a sip. She then passed a bowl to each of the friends. After she has savored about half of her bowl, she begins.
"Two days ago, several small sailing vessels came up from Eastaboga. My own son in the lead boat, He had gone to the city when the rumors of the war had reached us. The Rice Field War, travelers are taking to calling it. The workers were said to have risen up to overthrow the emperor. Terrible business, war, but that is a different story.

The emperor was evidently disposed. Now the militia is in charge, well at least its general is. 'All things in common for the good of the people' they keep saying. I would bet the nose on my face it does not work out that way. Anyway, our son... sorry it will take some time, my son returned with soldiers. 'Ethnic cleansings' they called it, 'a need to purify the land'. Prejudicial butchers with swords is what they were. They killed everyone in town who was not Hebrian and burned their houses and skiffs. When my heartmate protested this carnage, our own sun killed him too.

They then sailed off from here, still heading upstream. I figure they are heading to the other villages of the marsh."
[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 5
bone arrows: 10
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Lizard Meat: 120 bricks
Lizard Skin: 60% cover
Muddle Leaves: 2 measures: Muddle x2[/sblock]

Stunned by the old woman's words, Nalvis sits back and says nothing.

Mekric sits forward, moved by her tale. "I'm sorry, we don't have your name yet. Ethnic cleansings means they killed anyone not Hebrian? Could that be why our people were killed? Why would anyone do such a monstrous thing?"

Tears begin to run down Arbrine's face, but she does not hide them. She clenches her fist in the air. "And you say there are going to attack more villages? We should try and stop them."

More Discussion

Kwargrow said:

... Mekric sits forward, moved by her tale. "I'm sorry, we don't have your name yet. Ethnic cleansings means they killed anyone not Hebrian? Could that be why our people were killed? Why would anyone do such a monstrous thing?"

Tears begin to run down Arbrine's face, but she does not hide them. She clenches her fist in the air. "And you say there are going to attack more villages? We should try and stop them."

Click to expand...

[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 5
bone arrows: 10
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Lizard Meat: 120 bricks
Lizard Skin: 60% cover
Muddle Leaves: 2 measures: Muddle x2[/sblock]

Nalvis listens to Mekric for the moment. She usually sees things that he doesn't.

Mekric says, "We do not have much, but we can trade if you wish. We have quite a bit of lizard meat if you don't have enough food. From what you are saying of this attack, following directly after the boats won't help anyone. We will merely come across more villages after an attack. If we can reach the Orngaddrin village before these 'cleansers' strike, we could help them with their defense. We should set out as quickly as possible."

Nalvis turns to Vik and says, "Sounds like at this Orngaddrin village we can get some proper equipment. I think it's the right move."

Arbrine wipes her face and adds, "I don't need to know the finer points of what's going on. I just need to know who to fight." Silently she thinks about her growing abilities, and how these 'cleansers' will be good practice for her.

Plans to Go Forward

Kwargrow said:

... Mekric says, "We do not have much, but we can trade if you wish. We have quite a bit of lizard meat if you don't have enough food..."

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Aikiku bows slightly from her seated position.
"You shall be welcome to trade with us as long as our relationship remains peaceable. As we are dependent upon the river and marsh for our livelihood, the loss of the sea faring folk of the far rocks will be felt. It will be good for both of us, I think, to reestablish a relationship. We do not have need of food at this time, but we will trade you fish for lizard, even swap, just to give each of us variety."

Kwargrow said:

Nalvis turns to Vik and says, "Sounds like at this Orngaddrin village we can get some proper equipment. I think it's the right move."

Click to expand...

Vik nods in agreement.
"My harpoon is taking wear and the girls are losing projectiles. I could not agree more."

Kwargrow said:

Arbrine wipes her face and adds, "I don't need to know the finer points of what's going on. I just need to know who to fight." Silently she thinks about her growing abilities, and how these 'cleansers' will be good practice for her.

Click to expand...

Quill retrieves the crude map she has been adding to since the beginning of her journey and lays it out on the low table, using the spent tea bowls to hold it flat.
"I have us here. Obviously I will need to continue to add to the area we have yet to travel, but could you guess as to where the next two villages might be by space."

Aikiku looks at the crude map and spans some points with her fingers.
"This is not a bad map. I am sure your skill will improve with use. I would estimate that the Hebrian village would be about 8 days by sail. I think it will take you 9 days to reach the second fork following the branch northward. None of this can be seen yet on your map, but at the first fork, follow the northern branch. At the second fork you will need to cross to head to the Orngaddrin village.

The soldiers will be heading back downstream by then. If you continue to follow toward the Orngaddrin on foot, the vessels should pass you about the second day. It will take them a day to travel what it takes you two. If the vessels were not over-laden, they would travel faster. Also, the Eastabin boats are made of timber, whereas ours are made from reeds. Our boats are lighter and faster, but do not carry nearly as much load.

This is all I the information that I can think to provide you. You will have to decide how you use it on your own. I have never had to plan a battle strategy. Despite your youth, your guess will be as good as mine. Oh, one point, you can try to force march to gain some time, but I would not recommend traveling more than 12 hours in a day. It will overly fatigue you."
[sblock=Character Data]Nalvis: full health
Mekric: full health
Abrine: full health
Rekyavik: full health
Renyaveer: full health
flint arrows: 5
bone arrows: 10
Quill: full health
javelins: 5[/sblock]
[sblock=Group Inventory]Lizard Meat: 120 bricks
Lizard Skin: 60% cover
Muddle Leaves: 2 measures: Muddle x2[/sblock]