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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7566557" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Thanks for the kudos, carborundum! I will admit, I had to spend considerable time on Wikipedia while writing the ship-based sequences.</p><p></p><p>* * * </p><p></p><p>Book 11: A NEW WORLD</p><p></p><p>Chapter 259</p><p></p><p>The temporary camp was looking less temporary by the minute, as the shipwrecked survivors from the <em>Golden Gull</em> made themselves at home on their narrow slice of Weltarin. The sailors stayed well clear of the jungle, approaching only to cut down trees that they were using to build a bulwark around the nook where they’d gathered the salvaged supplies. They had found a few trees on the forest’s border that produced globular fruits that Quellan proclaimed safe, which they augmented with crabs they captured in the shallows along the edge of the beach. Thus far they were keeping busy, knowing that their survival remained tentative, but there were frequent sour looks directed at their former passengers, and perhaps more troubling, some muttering about the captain who had led them to this outcome.</p><p></p><p>Sond noticed the covert looks but ignored them as she walked over to where Bredan, Glori, and Quellan were talking quietly about the supply situation. The cleric was explaining how he could invoke the power of his patron to conjure food and water, but it would not be enough to sustain everyone there. Food seemed to be plentiful enough, but fresh water was going to be a concern if they had to remain here for any length of time.</p><p></p><p>They turned as Sond walked directly up to Bredan. The juxtaposition of the halfling woman and the human warrior might have been amusing if not for the iron-hard edge in the captain’s eyes. “Why are we here?” she asked.</p><p></p><p>“Excuse me?” Bredan said.</p><p></p><p>“This is where you wanted to be,” Sond said. “The Black Coast. I saw you staring at this spot on the map, back in Li Syval. And here we are. I think I deserve to know why.”</p><p></p><p>Kalasien, who had been sitting nearby, quickly got up and joined them. “Captain…” he began, but she held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear anything from you,” she said, then pointed a finger at Bredan. “I want to hear it from him.” Her voice was steady, but she kept the volume low, so their conversation would not carry.</p><p></p><p>Bredan met her eyes for a long moment then sighed. “We’re looking for a place where a Syvalian captain landed, centuries ago. We know it’s somewhere along the mainland coast, north of Fort Promise, but that’s all we know. We were hoping to learn more at the colony, maybe secure a guide who knows Weltarin better.”</p><p></p><p>“And what’s so special about this place you’re seeking? Are you just treasure-hunters, after all?”</p><p></p><p>Bredan looked at Kalasien, but the Arreshian agent seemed content to let him do the talking. “It’s not a treasure, not really,” he said. “But there is a ruin there that holds something important, something it’s vital we find.”</p><p></p><p>Sond looked at him dubiously.</p><p></p><p>“We had nothing do with the storm, of the things that attacked the ship,” Quellan said. “We’re trapped here now, just like you, and we’ll only survive if we work together.”</p><p></p><p>“I know that,” the halfling spat back. She shook her head. “I know the story you’re talking about,” she said. “Every Syvalian captain does.” At their sudden looks of interest she made a gesture of negation with a slash of her hand. “But nobody knows where this famous lost city is located. There are as many tales as there are tellers, each one claiming to know exactly how to find the place. For a while there were even expeditions that set out to retrace his steps. They all found the same thing: a continent teeming with hostile tribes and weird monsters. I could have told you all this before, if you’d been honest with me.”</p><p></p><p>“It would not have made any difference,” Bredan said. “We still had to come.” He didn’t say what he’d felt deep within his bones, since they’d arrived here: that this was where they were supposed to be. He hadn’t even shared that with his friends. If those vague instincts had come with something useful, like a map or a compass, then he might have revealed more, but at the moment all he could do was drift blindly on the vicissitudes of fate like everyone else.</p><p></p><p>“Captain Sond, we have to focus now on more immediate concerns,” Quellan said. “We feel that it is important that we find out what’s in the vicinity, in particular a reliable source of fresh water and someplace more secure to establish a camp.”</p><p></p><p>“The sailors won’t be happy about entering the jungle,” Kalasien said.</p><p></p><p>“They’ll be less happy if something emerges from the jungle and starts eating them,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“I thought your tiefling scout was checking out the area,” Sond said.</p><p></p><p>“He is, but he’s too smart to go too far alone,” Bredan said. “We were thinking we’d take a deeper probe tomorrow, maybe head down the coast a bit. You and your men can wait here for us. Whatever we find, we’ll return here and report back. If there’s nothing, then we’ll try the other direction.”</p><p></p><p>“All of you?” she asked. “It would be more reassuring if at least one of the healers remained behind.”</p><p></p><p>Glori and Quellan shared a look, but Bredan shook his head. “We stay together,” he said.</p><p></p><p>Sond fixed her intense stare on him for a moment but finally nodded. “I don’t like it, but it’s a wise course of action,” she said. “If there was only a way we could…”</p><p></p><p>She trailed off as they all detected a commotion coming from the other side of the camp, along the boundary between the rocky promontory and the jungle.</p><p></p><p>They couldn’t see immediately what was happening, but a number of men had gathered around some of the fallen logs they had been clearing for their shelter, and there was a lot of shouting going on. But as they hurried in that direction there was a flash of flames as Xeeta, who had been over by the main cache of supplies, hurled a series of <em>scorching rays</em> into the forest.</p><p></p><p>“What’s going on?” Bredan asked as he ran up to her.</p><p></p><p>“I didn’t get a good look at them,” the sorcerer reported. Flames had engulfed one of the smaller trees, but the forest was so damp that it seemed unlikely that they would spread enough to threaten their camp. “I think one of the men was hit.”</p><p></p><p>The companions rushed over to the fallen logs. The sailors had taken cover behind some of the scattered rocks and smaller trees, and several were pointing into the forest. Only a few had crossbows, which they were quickly reloading. One of the sailors was on the ground not far from the fallen logs, with some kind of spear stuck into his belly. Quellan immediately ran over to him to offer aid.</p><p></p><p>“What happened?” Glori asked the others.</p><p></p><p>“They looked like cats, like bloody cats!” one of them said. “Walkin’ upright, like men!”</p><p></p><p>“Cat-men,” Kosk said dubiously.</p><p></p><p>“It’s true,” another said. “I swear it.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, we already had fish-men, so I suppose cat-men aren’t beyond the bounds of probability,” Glori commented.</p><p></p><p>“I think I hit one of them,” one of the archers said. “They ran off real quick, once the lady started throwing fire.”</p><p></p><p>Bredan, his sword in his hands, had gone over to check the trees. “They’re gone now,” he said. “I don’t see any blood or bodies, but there’s plenty of ground cover here. I’ll have Rodan take a look when he returns.”</p><p></p><p>“Assuming he didn’t run into them first,” Sond said. By the look on Bredan’s face the thought had occurred to him, but he said nothing.</p><p></p><p>“Should we go after them?” one of the sailors asked.</p><p></p><p>“We’d only end up getting lost, or ambushed,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“Think they’ll be back?” another sailor asked.</p><p></p><p>“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Sond said. “All the more reason to quickly build up our defenses here, gentlemen.”</p><p></p><p>The sailors all nodded, their earlier grousing forgotten in the face of this new threat.</p><p></p><p>Quellan helped the injured sailor to his feet. The wound in his belly was gone now, healed as if it had never been, but he was still a bit tentative as he rejoined his comrades. The cleric held out the spear. It was fairly short, maybe four and a half feet long, with a head of sharpened stone.</p><p></p><p>“Primitive,” Glori said.</p><p></p><p>“No less deadly for it,” Kosk noted.</p><p></p><p>“All right,” Sond said. “Make sure that fire goes out, the last thing we want is half the forest burning down right in front of us. Everyone else, back to work.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7566557, member: 143"] Thanks for the kudos, carborundum! I will admit, I had to spend considerable time on Wikipedia while writing the ship-based sequences. * * * Book 11: A NEW WORLD Chapter 259 The temporary camp was looking less temporary by the minute, as the shipwrecked survivors from the [i]Golden Gull[/i] made themselves at home on their narrow slice of Weltarin. The sailors stayed well clear of the jungle, approaching only to cut down trees that they were using to build a bulwark around the nook where they’d gathered the salvaged supplies. They had found a few trees on the forest’s border that produced globular fruits that Quellan proclaimed safe, which they augmented with crabs they captured in the shallows along the edge of the beach. Thus far they were keeping busy, knowing that their survival remained tentative, but there were frequent sour looks directed at their former passengers, and perhaps more troubling, some muttering about the captain who had led them to this outcome. Sond noticed the covert looks but ignored them as she walked over to where Bredan, Glori, and Quellan were talking quietly about the supply situation. The cleric was explaining how he could invoke the power of his patron to conjure food and water, but it would not be enough to sustain everyone there. Food seemed to be plentiful enough, but fresh water was going to be a concern if they had to remain here for any length of time. They turned as Sond walked directly up to Bredan. The juxtaposition of the halfling woman and the human warrior might have been amusing if not for the iron-hard edge in the captain’s eyes. “Why are we here?” she asked. “Excuse me?” Bredan said. “This is where you wanted to be,” Sond said. “The Black Coast. I saw you staring at this spot on the map, back in Li Syval. And here we are. I think I deserve to know why.” Kalasien, who had been sitting nearby, quickly got up and joined them. “Captain…” he began, but she held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear anything from you,” she said, then pointed a finger at Bredan. “I want to hear it from him.” Her voice was steady, but she kept the volume low, so their conversation would not carry. Bredan met her eyes for a long moment then sighed. “We’re looking for a place where a Syvalian captain landed, centuries ago. We know it’s somewhere along the mainland coast, north of Fort Promise, but that’s all we know. We were hoping to learn more at the colony, maybe secure a guide who knows Weltarin better.” “And what’s so special about this place you’re seeking? Are you just treasure-hunters, after all?” Bredan looked at Kalasien, but the Arreshian agent seemed content to let him do the talking. “It’s not a treasure, not really,” he said. “But there is a ruin there that holds something important, something it’s vital we find.” Sond looked at him dubiously. “We had nothing do with the storm, of the things that attacked the ship,” Quellan said. “We’re trapped here now, just like you, and we’ll only survive if we work together.” “I know that,” the halfling spat back. She shook her head. “I know the story you’re talking about,” she said. “Every Syvalian captain does.” At their sudden looks of interest she made a gesture of negation with a slash of her hand. “But nobody knows where this famous lost city is located. There are as many tales as there are tellers, each one claiming to know exactly how to find the place. For a while there were even expeditions that set out to retrace his steps. They all found the same thing: a continent teeming with hostile tribes and weird monsters. I could have told you all this before, if you’d been honest with me.” “It would not have made any difference,” Bredan said. “We still had to come.” He didn’t say what he’d felt deep within his bones, since they’d arrived here: that this was where they were supposed to be. He hadn’t even shared that with his friends. If those vague instincts had come with something useful, like a map or a compass, then he might have revealed more, but at the moment all he could do was drift blindly on the vicissitudes of fate like everyone else. “Captain Sond, we have to focus now on more immediate concerns,” Quellan said. “We feel that it is important that we find out what’s in the vicinity, in particular a reliable source of fresh water and someplace more secure to establish a camp.” “The sailors won’t be happy about entering the jungle,” Kalasien said. “They’ll be less happy if something emerges from the jungle and starts eating them,” Glori said. “I thought your tiefling scout was checking out the area,” Sond said. “He is, but he’s too smart to go too far alone,” Bredan said. “We were thinking we’d take a deeper probe tomorrow, maybe head down the coast a bit. You and your men can wait here for us. Whatever we find, we’ll return here and report back. If there’s nothing, then we’ll try the other direction.” “All of you?” she asked. “It would be more reassuring if at least one of the healers remained behind.” Glori and Quellan shared a look, but Bredan shook his head. “We stay together,” he said. Sond fixed her intense stare on him for a moment but finally nodded. “I don’t like it, but it’s a wise course of action,” she said. “If there was only a way we could…” She trailed off as they all detected a commotion coming from the other side of the camp, along the boundary between the rocky promontory and the jungle. They couldn’t see immediately what was happening, but a number of men had gathered around some of the fallen logs they had been clearing for their shelter, and there was a lot of shouting going on. But as they hurried in that direction there was a flash of flames as Xeeta, who had been over by the main cache of supplies, hurled a series of [i]scorching rays[/i] into the forest. “What’s going on?” Bredan asked as he ran up to her. “I didn’t get a good look at them,” the sorcerer reported. Flames had engulfed one of the smaller trees, but the forest was so damp that it seemed unlikely that they would spread enough to threaten their camp. “I think one of the men was hit.” The companions rushed over to the fallen logs. The sailors had taken cover behind some of the scattered rocks and smaller trees, and several were pointing into the forest. Only a few had crossbows, which they were quickly reloading. One of the sailors was on the ground not far from the fallen logs, with some kind of spear stuck into his belly. Quellan immediately ran over to him to offer aid. “What happened?” Glori asked the others. “They looked like cats, like bloody cats!” one of them said. “Walkin’ upright, like men!” “Cat-men,” Kosk said dubiously. “It’s true,” another said. “I swear it.” “Well, we already had fish-men, so I suppose cat-men aren’t beyond the bounds of probability,” Glori commented. “I think I hit one of them,” one of the archers said. “They ran off real quick, once the lady started throwing fire.” Bredan, his sword in his hands, had gone over to check the trees. “They’re gone now,” he said. “I don’t see any blood or bodies, but there’s plenty of ground cover here. I’ll have Rodan take a look when he returns.” “Assuming he didn’t run into them first,” Sond said. By the look on Bredan’s face the thought had occurred to him, but he said nothing. “Should we go after them?” one of the sailors asked. “We’d only end up getting lost, or ambushed,” Glori said. “Think they’ll be back?” another sailor asked. “I wouldn’t rule it out,” Sond said. “All the more reason to quickly build up our defenses here, gentlemen.” The sailors all nodded, their earlier grousing forgotten in the face of this new threat. Quellan helped the injured sailor to his feet. The wound in his belly was gone now, healed as if it had never been, but he was still a bit tentative as he rejoined his comrades. The cleric held out the spear. It was fairly short, maybe four and a half feet long, with a head of sharpened stone. “Primitive,” Glori said. “No less deadly for it,” Kosk noted. “All right,” Sond said. “Make sure that fire goes out, the last thing we want is half the forest burning down right in front of us. Everyone else, back to work.” [/QUOTE]
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