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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AStott" data-source="post: 569036" data-attributes="member: 7825">Session 13: A Chill in the Jungle<Kent> Oaky, since we'll need 3 days of food, On the way out, Jannot will try to get the attention of either Kallick or Yentil.<Kheldar> Right, on your way down, you catch Yentil with an armload of bed sheets, headed out the door.<Kent> "Excuse me, but would we be able to get food for the road here or should that be elsewhere?"<Kheldar> She turns and cranes her head at you over the pile she's carrying. "Oh, um... you might talk to Kallick. He might be able to sell you something."<Kheldar> "Did you sleep well?"<Kent> Jannot nodds, "Yes, everything was rather nice. Thank you."<Kent> With that Jannot will walk back toward the dining/kitchen area that Kallick seems to favor.<Kheldar> "Oh good. I hope we'll see you back here again some time..."<Kent> Jannot glances back to her, "Yes, perhaps so." and smiles. Though realistically he doubts he'll see the place again.<Kheldar> Celeste stays and chats with Yentil while you head in.<Kent> okay.<Kheldar> You hear some banging back in the kitchen area.<Kent> Jannot will approach the kitchen and wait a minute to see if Kallick notices him.<Kheldar> You can see Kallick in there at a wash tub of some kind. He's scraping away at a pan.<Kent> Jannot clears his throat.<Kent> Gently.<Kheldar> He doesn't seem to hear you.<Kent> Ah. Louder, "Excuse me, Mister Kallick?"<Kheldar> He turns, hands held up, dripping. "Eh? Oh. I thought you were finished up."<Kent> "Oh we finished eating. Actually we're getting ready to leave. I wanted to thank you for the pleasant stay and the good food. But I was also wondering about perhaps getting some food for the road trip ahead of us."<Kheldar> He grimaces, then shakes the excess water off his hands and wipes them on a grubby towel nearby.<Kheldar> He stumps over your direction. "I suppose we might be able to do something. What exactly are you looking for?"<Kent> Jannot moves in a little bit. "Well, we're only going to be between towns for a few days, so, perhaps something cured that doesn't necessarily have to be cooked or heated. And maybe bread..." and Jannot continues to describe normal travel food...<Kent> Things that don't spoil quickly.<Kheldar> Right.<Kheldar> "I can put something together. Are you leaving now?"<Kent> "Well, soon. we were going to see if there were any others travelling North that we could group with. Other than that, yes."<Kheldar> "I don't think you'll find anyone headed that way, or they probably would have been here last night."<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."<Kheldar> "Ok, well, let's say one silver for three days for you and your wife. Some salted beef, some bread and the like."<Kent> A silver? that seems rather expensive.<Kent> hm. Well, does Jannot think that that is a reasonable amount?<Kheldar> Most likely. It's probably the salted beef that drives the price up. Fresh beef is cheaper, but... three days... in hot humid weather?...<Kent> Yeah... well, Jannot thinks. How much money do they have left?<Kheldar> Well, there is about nine and a half silver hidden in the bread, and just over one silver in your pouhc.<Kent> Right. "Well, okay then. but for a silver, I hope that that's some pretty good beef." Jannot says with a smile pulling it out of the pouch.<Kheldar> "I'll go put it together in a bundle for you." He stalks back into the kitchen.<Kent> Jannot thanks him and walks back out to the dining area.<Kheldar> Celeste is still in the entryway talking with Yentil.<Kent> Jannot won't go too close to them, but will try to hear what they're talking about.<Kheldar> Sounds like its just ... chit chat, nothing of consequence.<Kent> okay. Jannot will just wait.<Kheldar> There is some giggling from the girls, but that's survivable.<Kent> Jannot will glance over at them when they giggle. A bit nervous at what they're discussing.<Kheldar> After a bit, Kallick pokes his head back out<Kheldar> "Ah." He sets a cloth wrapped bundle on the counter.<Kent> Jannot moves over to him.<Kent> "Thanks for the hospitality." and moves to shake his hand.<Kheldar> "Yeah, well..." He awkwardly sticks his hand out and gives you an overly strong shake.<Kent> "We'll be seeing you on the way back." and with a smile Jannot picks up the bundle and makes to leave.<Kheldar> "Good." He heads back into the kitchen.<Kheldar> As you approach the girls, they look over at you. They smile at each other, the Celeste says, "Oh, ok. I know what you mean... Looks like it's time to go though."<Kent> Jannot slows... "Um... something I should be aware of?" he says with slight concern and a touch of humor.<Kheldar> Yentil gives you a twinkling smile and heads out the door. Celeste smiles and comes to you. "Oh, just girl talk. You got the food then?"<Kent> Jannot shows it to her as he stuffs it into his sack. "It's salted beef and such. It should be able to last us to shershel easily, since we still have a little left from before." Shouldering the sack.<Kheldar> That should give you enough all told for perhaps 4 days of food each.<Kent> Right.<Kheldar> The two of you head out and begin walking north, up the road towards the jungle.<Kent> A little ways from the inn, Jannot will speak without turning "So, what were you and Yentil talking about?"<Kheldar> "Just talking. She's a nice girl. Kallick is her uncle, did you know that?"<Kent> Jannot shakes his head and smiles a little.<Kent> "Yoiu didn't say anything that might give the idea that we weren't married did you?"<Kheldar> "Of course not... Jon. I told her we were on our way to visit my family up in Miraj."<Kent> "Okay. I was just wondering. Sorry to pry." he smiles back to her.<Kent> "That food cost a full silver. We'll have to be sure to be careful. If our journey turns out to be too long, we could eat ourselves to death."<Kheldar> "Oh... Maybe when we reach Miraj or Freehold we can find some work."<Kent> Jannot nodds. It dawns on him that they really don't have any strategy or plan other than get out of the area.<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> true<Kent> "Perhaps we should think about that. I'm not sure what I could do other than what I've been trained to do for so long... but that might draw attention."<Kheldar> "Do you think people in other cities are looking for tanners too? I just figured it was in Zuqar..."<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "I certainly hope not. If they are... we're going to have a rough time of it."<Kent> "I can read and write. I could look for work as a teacher or a scribe of sorts... what about you? My wife, Anne?"<Kheldar> "Well, I'm not sure..."<Kent> Jannot chuckles. "We shouldn't be thinking about this sort of thing right now. It'll just lower our spirits and make the journey longer. The day is young, " he smells the air and looks at the sky... whats the weather like?<Kheldar> "Perhaps when we reach Miraj, my relatives can help us some."<Kheldar> Pretty much no change in the weather since recently.<Kent> Jannot nodds, "Perhaps. You know, if there are problems other than in just Zuqar, we might not want to involve your family... or maybe only let them know that you have arrived with no mention of me. But like I said, the weather is clear and the air is fresh..."<Kheldar> She nods. "We can see what things look like when we get there."<Kent> "Right." Jannot forces a smile, though he's now got something new to worry about - what will they arrive to face at Shershel...<Kheldar> So, you guys pass into the jungle. It's certainly different from walking through the fields around Zuqar. You have lots of shade now, although the air is definitely wetter.<Kent> Have we seen any strange animals? or travellers for that matter.<Kheldar> There are numerous bird calls, and you occasionally spot something skittering off through the trees along the ground.<Kent> Hm. like snakes or not quick enough to catch a glance?<Kheldar> No no, larger, like.. wild pig, yeah, that's it. Mostly just moving undergrowth though.<Kent> Great.<Kent> Hm.... tasty...<Kent> Well, Jannot will check to make sure his sword is easy enough to draw if need be, but It's just nature - nothing to fear... much<Kheldar> Around about a little before mid-day, you hear up ahead of you (out of sight through the trees), the sound of men's voices, and laughter.<Kent> well.. is the road windy?<Kheldar> Yes, somewhat. Some of the larger trees it was easier to move the "road" around.<Kheldar> They're getting closer, and in fact, you spot some glimpses of movement up ahead through the trees.<Kent> Jannot will stop and motion for Celeste to stop and he'll listen for a bit. Are they moving or stationary?...<Kent> Hm... Do they sound (from their laughter) to be out of the ordinary? Menacing at all?<Kheldar> Not that you can tell.<Kent> Hear the sound of armor? Metal clanking or anything?<Kheldar> You can hear something metalic, but you realize that they must have an animal of some kind pulling a cart or wagon.<Kent> Well, they can't be afraid of everyone that comes down the road. After all, what would they do in heavy traffic? Jannot looks to Celeste and shrugs and starts walking forward again, but taking her hand in the process.<Kheldar> The two of you continue forward, and after just a little bit, you see a pair of men coming towards you. They're at the head of a pair of oxen pulling a pretty fair sized wagon.<Kheldar> They spot you quickly, and their talk dies out, though they continue moving forwards.<Kent> Jannot sighs in relief.<Kent> Jannot smiles to Celeste and then looks the wagon over. Is it just the two of the men and the wagon then?<Kheldar> Nope, behind them comes another wagon of similar size. This one led by one man, and behind that is another pair of men.<Kent> Ah, so it's a wagon train then.<Kheldar> All five of the men are armed, although none appear threatening.<Kent> good enough. As te two groups draw closer, JAnnot will step aside making sure that there is plenty of road space for the wagons to pass.<Kheldar> The first man past nods in thanks and greeting, but doesn't say anything on his way by.<Kent> As the second wagon draws up, Jannot will call up to him, "Hey there, how's the road up north?"<Kheldar> "Not bad," he says. "No real problems." He continues moving by.<Kent> Jannot nods to the fellow and will just wait untial they all pass.<Kheldar> They head on by. After they're just a little past and moving into the trees behind you, you catch someone say something you can't make out, and the whole group of them burst out laughing.<Kent> "Hm.' well, that was interesting."<Kent> okay. Jannot looks over to Celeste and smiles, "Shall we continue?"<Kheldar> She nods and the two of you continue.<Kheldar> About an hour after you guys stopped for lunch, suddenly something unusual happens.<Kheldar> Suddenly, Celeste cries out in apparent pain, stumbles, and drops to the ground.<Kent> Jannot draws his sword and crouches and calls to Celeste "Are you okay?" He spins around looking for attackers.<Kheldar> There is no response from Celeste. You don't spot anything out of the ordinary in the trees around you, although it occurs to you suddenly that it's completely quiet. No birds or anything seem to be making any noise.<Kent> Jannot moves to Celeste, still looking around and tries to rouse her or see what's taken her down.<Kheldar> She is lying on the ground, her eyes wide open. She seems to be shivering.<Kent> Jannot looks her over, is she injured? is she breathing? Do her eyes track movement?<Kheldar> You don't spot anything obvious. She is breathing.<Kheldar> No, she stares straight up, not appearing to notice you.<Kent> Jannot will examine her a little more closely, any darts or needles that may have been a projectile?<Kheldar> No, but you realize that she is... COLD... If she stays like this, maybe you could have purchased some fresh meat! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> Cold, as in literally ice-like temperatures.<Kent> Uh... Jannot sheathes the sword. How far is he from the ocean? How far from the coast is the road at this point?<Kheldar> You aren't sure. You haven't seen the ocean in a while.<Kent> Jannot will use his hands to try to warm her face. "Oh Celeste, What's wrong?" Then he picks her up in his arms to try to warm her and mutters a prayer to Qaran to please help her...<Kent> You don't seem to be warming her so much as she's cooling you.<Kent> Really...<Kheldar> As you pick her up though, there is suddenly... well, the trees around you light up as if there is suddenly a bright light somewhere around you.<Kheldar> In fact, as you check around, you spot... little tendrils of pure light coming out of the tips of Celeste's fingers.<Kent> How very interesting.<Kent> Yowsers! Jannot is in shock, but still holds on to her. Is she still cold?<Kheldar> Oh yes, definitely.<Kent> Jannot will mutter the prayer for help again.<Kent> ... and one for protection for himself as well.<Kheldar> The light that comes from Celeste's fingers seems to puddle on the ground about you. You realize that your legs are beginning to feel a little cold, but you also notice that Celeste has start to shiver less.<Kent> Wow, how odd. Jannot will stand up holding her.to him, trying to warm her as much as he can.<Kheldar> Your arms are beginning to feel numb. The cold coming from her is really quite... amazing.<Kheldar> Imagine cradling an ice sculpture...<Kent> If he lets her go will she stand or is there any response from her?<Kheldar> You haven't felt any response from here. Other than her shivers, which are now relatively far between, she is essentially limp.<Kent> Limp? not frozen?<Kheldar> No, not frozen. Limp.<Kent> Jannot will hold on to her until his arms hurt with the cold. Until it feels like he's getting frost bite.<Kent> And continue to pray for her... actually more like plead.<Kheldar> The light has stopped coming from her fingers. It still continues to pool around the two of you, feeling something like a cold mist.<Kheldar> She almost seems a little warmer.<Kent> Jannot will start to try to talk to her. Ask her if she's okay.... any physical response?<Kheldar> No, but you realize suddenly that she hasn't been blinking.<Kent> Um... well, that would only alarm Jannot if she was conscious and she wasn't blinking...<Kent> Jannot continues.<Kheldar> After a bit, it does seem like she's warming up a bit. The light around you is beginning to fade somewhat.<Kent> Wow. Jannot Begins thanking Qaran, but retains hold of Celeste.<Kheldar> After a bit, the light has completely faded. A bit after that, Celeste has returned to a somewhat normal temperature, although she still is not... responding.<Kent> Jannot will try to get a response from her. Shaking her. Trying to get her to follow hhim with her eyes. Is she stil breathing?<Kheldar> Yes, she is still breathing. Slowly, and normally.<Kent> Huh. How strange. Jannot has NO idea what's going on, but he looks around for an open area to try to put their things and bring Celeste off the road.<Kheldar> You put your belongings next to a tree, and are just picking up Celeste to move her, when her eyes blink a couple times and her hand comes up to her head, "Whoah, did I trip or something?"<Kent> Holding Celeste in his arms, Jannot just stares at her for a couple seconds. "Um... Yeah, you fell." He proceeds to carry her off the road to the belongings.<Kheldar> "Did I black out?"<Kent> He sets her down on her feet. making sure tha she can stand okay.<Kheldar> She is a little unsteady, but seems to be ok.<Kent> "Jannot still stares at her. "Well, I guess you did, but that may have been because you get ... um... well, cold enough to freeze the sea!" he says fairly gently.<Kheldar> "I... oh no..." She doesn't exactly seem ... surprised.<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> Jannot steps back and sits down, looking at her. "Is this... normal for you?"<Kheldar> She gingerly sits down, a few feet away.<Kent> Jannot just continues to watch her.<Kheldar> aaaand... enough for today... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> <Kent> NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO<Kheldar> Kidding.<Kent> .... oh boy do I have some choice words...<Kheldar> [gm busting up laughing over here]<Kent> man oh man... I WILL crawl right through this phone line...<Kheldar> Do I look scared? You haven't managed to do that yet despite your numerous threats...<Kent> .... psjdfj oikd; podkfosd alednk....<Kheldar> ahem<Kent> okay.<Kheldar> She sighs a little, then says, "It hasn't happened in a long time."<Kheldar> "It used to happen when I was a girl..."<Kent> Jannot closes his mouth and thinks for a bit... "Are you a mage?"<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> good guess<Kheldar> "No. My parents tried to find out what was happening to me. No one really knew, although of course they couldn't afford any who really might have known. As I got older, it just kind of... stopped happening."<Kent> "Wow. Well... Um. Is there anything that I can do to help you when it happens? Have you ever tried to ... freeze things other than yourself?" In spite of himself he does smile a little.<Kheldar> She gives you a rueful smile. "I doubt there's anything you can do but wait. It hasn't ever hurt me."<Kent> Jannot nodds. <Kheldar> "When I was a little girl, I used to wish I could do things with magic, but I never could."<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "Boy, aren't we a pair. So all my... praying and warming... wouldn't help a thing, huh?"<Kheldar> "That's not really true. It made you feel better. Made you feel like you were helping. That's important."<Kent> Jannot laughs... "But now it just makes me feel a bit stupid." and he smiles.<Kheldar> She sees to be completely serious, not smiling. "It's not stupid."<Kent> "Oh. well. Okay then. Um, thank you. But, how often is this going to happen?"<Kheldar> "I don't know. When I was younger, they were never more frequent than perhaps once every couple weeks."<Kent> Jannot sighs to himself. "Have you ever had the ability to know when it was going to happen before it did?"<Kheldar> She shakes her head. "I wish I did..."<Kent> After a pause, Jannot asks, "Did your parents find out nothing about the ...phenomenon?"<Kheldar> "Some... doctors thought I was cursed. Others mumbled something about strange blood. Most just shook their heads and didn't seem to know anything."<Kent> Jannot stands up, "Well, you gave me quite a start there, but I suppose you're allright. There was also light coming from you. Like it was coming from inside you..."<Kheldar> "Yes, pooling on the ground... I'm sorry, if I'd known, I would have warned you. It hasn't happened in such a long time."<Kheldar> She nods, "we'd better get moving again. We were going to make good distance today..."<Kent> Jannot looks her over and, satisfied that she's come to no harm, picks up his sack and smiles at her. "Well, I was afraid mostly that you were being hurt, but since you're fine..." <Kent> This little side adventure ... how long was it... 5 minutes?<Kheldar> hard to guess, with the trees over head, but it felt like maybe between a half bell and a full bell all together.<Kent> So, Jannot was holding on to an Ice Sculpture for ... 45 minutes?<Kheldar> No, that counts the ... thawing time, and chatting, etc.<Kent> okay. So we lost between half an hour to an hour.<Kent> alright.<Kent> Jannot mentions to her, "By the way, another thing I noticed when you became.... cold, was that the animal life around the area seemed to know that something was going on. The whole area just became silent... birds and all.<Kheldar> "That's... interesting..."<Kent> "Maybe what's happening to you is more than just inside you. dunno..."<Kheldar> She quietly considers that.<Kent> And they continue their travels.<Kheldar> Yes... Now I think I'll call a halt. I need to prepare a couple things for next time.<Kheldar> heh heh... Interesting events, eh?<Kent> Um... yeah. That was wierd. Perhaps she's a mage and doesn't know it...<Kheldar> From what you've heard, mages are made, not born. For the most part it just takes hard work (and perhaps a little innate talent).<Kent> OH?<Kheldar> Something like this is not something you've heard or read about.<Kent> Okay. Didn't realize that. Nothing about... ice elementals? or fairies?<Kheldar> Well, there are certainly tales about those kinds of things...<Kheldar> Shoot, you could learn some magic if you had someone to teach you. Although you might not be real good with it.<Kent> allright.... Okay. I'll bear that in mind.<Kent> Boy. Just cuoldn't have the trip to Shershel be uneventful, eh?<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Hey, do you really like the alternative of something like that happening ... say in the middle of the eating area at the last inn?<Kent> well, that's what I'm (Jannot's) concerned about now...<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /><Kent> Maybe investing in a hand-drawn cart would be prudent.<Kent> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> Just dip her in a bucket of water and sell off the ice for profit... takes care of your money worries...<Kent> There's an idea. Nice ice for sale 10 cents a pail.Next time... Fellow Traveler</blockquote>

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