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<blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 730674" data-attributes="member: 96">Session Twenty-Two, Part Three: MantruDi'Fier pushed at the bearskin, frozen stiff over the tiny tunnel entrance to the cave. He could hear it crackle under the pressure, and a spear of light pierced the tiny cave.&nbsp; The travelers blinked awkwardly in the sun and snow-glare, dragging their equipment out and preparing for the journey down.&quot;At least this is easier than getting up was,&quot; Di'Fier commented as he wrapped a rope around himself before lowering himself over the edge.&nbsp; &quot;I just hope that the way off of this island is in the City of the Gods.&nbsp; I don't feel like climbing that again.&quot;&nbsp; He didn't let the thought that there might not be an escape enter his mind.They climbed down the inner slope of the bowl-shaped ridge, towards the azure lake they could see below.&nbsp; The slope lessened, until they were able to walk rather than climb.&nbsp; Soon, it was too hot for the cloaks, and they were left abaondoned in a smelly pile by the side of the trail.&quot;I never thought I'd miss cold like that,&quot; Dru grumbled, wiping sweat from her brow.&nbsp; She looked out over the lake.&nbsp; &quot;I'm really hoping that fishing village is not the City of the Gods.&nbsp; If it is, the Gods have a lot to answer for.&quot;Shesara pointed.&nbsp; &quot;It's probably on that island.&nbsp; I can just make out some buildings...&quot;&quot;Let's stop at the village anyway,&quot; Benares said.&nbsp; &quot;We can ask the people there about the City.&nbsp; Maybe they'll know something that can help us.&quot;&quot;Then again, they might come after us with spears.&quot;&quot;Don't be so negative, Dru,&quot; Di'Fier chided.&nbsp; &quot;I'm sure they-&quot;&nbsp; The first spear landed about ten feet away. &quot;...oh.&quot;&quot;We haven't even done anything yet,&quot; Dru complained.&nbsp; &quot;Shesara, do you think they speak Tanaroan?&nbsp; Maybe you can talk to them.&quot;Shesara bit her lip, and moved forward uncertainly.&nbsp; &quot;Uta motaga bomo deneg!&nbsp; Tanaroa getaru!&quot; she called out, and the approaching natives lowered their spears warily, but continued to advance.Di'Fier grinned and raised his empty hands. &quot;Let's show them we're peaceful.&quot;&quot;Easy for you to say,&quot; Dru shot back. &quot;You could wipe out half of them without even touching your sword.&quot;&nbsp; Still, she raised open hands in greeting.The natives slowly encircled the tiny band of travelers.&nbsp; One stepped forward and spoke rapidly, and Shesara turned to the others.&quot;I can mostly understand him.&nbsp; Their language is different than Tanaroa's, probably from so much isolation.&nbsp; But if the legends are right, sometimes people from the villages come here, so they've remained close enough to be understandable.&nbsp; He says they're going to take us to see their chief.&quot;<img src="http://www.io.com/~jeffj/b2sep.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> &quot;That's the chief?&nbsp; I thought the old guy was the chief.&quot;&nbsp; Dru studied the carving warily, as if she expected it to come to life at any moment.&quot;Fano - the old man - is the talking chief,&quot; Shesara explained in a whisper. &quot;He speaks for the chief.&nbsp; The one with the crippled arm is Umlat - their priest.&quot;&quot;Why...&quot; Fano's voice struggled with words made unfamiliar by long disuse. &quot;Why you have come to Mantru?&quot;Di'Fier looked at the others, then took a step forward.&nbsp; &quot;We are lost travelers.&nbsp; We were shipwrecked on this island, and we seek a way home.&nbsp; We thought that perhaps if we traveled to the City of the Gods, we might find such a way.&quot;Fano nodded, an expression of sadness falling over his face.&nbsp; &quot;I am sorrow you travel this distance,&quot; he began.&nbsp; &quot;Gods no longer are in City of Gods.&nbsp; Now, island is taboo.&nbsp; You may not go there.&nbsp; But you may stay here in Mantru.&quot;Di'Fier nodded slowly.&nbsp; &quot;Did another man, a pale man like us, pass this way long ago?&quot;&quot;Yes.&nbsp; He teaching was your language.&quot;Umlat's face clouded over at these words, and he rasped out a few of his own.&nbsp; &quot;He is gone.&nbsp; He brought curse on island. You not will follow him.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="drnuncheon, post: 730674, member: 96"] [b]Session Twenty-Two, Part Three: Mantru[/b] Di'Fier pushed at the bearskin, frozen stiff over the tiny tunnel entrance to the cave. He could hear it crackle under the pressure, and a spear of light pierced the tiny cave. The travelers blinked awkwardly in the sun and snow-glare, dragging their equipment out and preparing for the journey down. "At least this is easier than getting up was," Di'Fier commented as he wrapped a rope around himself before lowering himself over the edge. "I just hope that the way off of this island [i]is[/i] in the City of the Gods. I don't feel like climbing that again." He didn't let the thought that there might not be an escape enter his mind. They climbed down the inner slope of the bowl-shaped ridge, towards the azure lake they could see below. The slope lessened, until they were able to walk rather than climb. Soon, it was too hot for the cloaks, and they were left abaondoned in a smelly pile by the side of the trail. "I never thought I'd miss cold like that," Dru grumbled, wiping sweat from her brow. She looked out over the lake. "I'm really hoping that fishing village is not the City of the Gods. If it is, the Gods have a lot to answer for." Shesara pointed. "It's probably on that island. I can just make out some buildings..." "Let's stop at the village anyway," Benares said. "We can ask the people there about the City. Maybe they'll know something that can help us." "Then again, they might come after us with spears." "Don't be so negative, Dru," Di'Fier chided. "I'm sure they-" The first spear landed about ten feet away. "...oh." "We haven't even [i]done[/i] anything yet," Dru complained. "Shesara, do you think they speak Tanaroan? Maybe you can talk to them." Shesara bit her lip, and moved forward uncertainly. "[i]Uta motaga bomo deneg! Tanaroa getaru![/i]" she called out, and the approaching natives lowered their spears warily, but continued to advance. Di'Fier grinned and raised his empty hands. "Let's show them we're peaceful." "Easy for you to say," Dru shot back. "You could wipe out half of them without even touching your sword." Still, she raised open hands in greeting. The natives slowly encircled the tiny band of travelers. One stepped forward and spoke rapidly, and Shesara turned to the others. "I can mostly understand him. Their language is different than Tanaroa's, probably from so much isolation. But if the legends are right, sometimes people from the villages come here, so they've remained close enough to be understandable. He says they're going to take us to see their chief." [img]http://www.io.com/~jeffj/b2sep.gif[/img] "[i]That's[/i] the chief? I thought the old guy was the chief." Dru studied the carving warily, as if she expected it to come to life at any moment. "Fano - the old man - is the talking chief," Shesara explained in a whisper. "He speaks for the chief. The one with the crippled arm is Umlat - their priest." "Why..." Fano's voice struggled with words made unfamiliar by long disuse. "Why you have come to Mantru?" Di'Fier looked at the others, then took a step forward. "We are lost travelers. We were shipwrecked on this island, and we seek a way home. We thought that perhaps if we traveled to the City of the Gods, we might find such a way." Fano nodded, an expression of sadness falling over his face. "I am sorrow you travel this distance," he began. "Gods no longer are in City of Gods. Now, island is taboo. You may not go there. But you may stay here in Mantru." Di'Fier nodded slowly. "Did another man, a pale man like us, pass this way long ago?" "Yes. He teaching was your language." Umlat's face clouded over at these words, and he rasped out a few of his own. "He is gone. He brought curse on island. You not will follow him." [/QUOTE]

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