Legends of Hawaiki 2: Where the Wild Things Are

[wolff96]

"Well, I didn't personally see the spirit. But during the swimming race, it created an enormous whirlpool and tried to drag down those in the water."

Wai shifts his gaze from the spirit to Tu-Ru and continues, "And then it vanished. It reappeared and attacked my large friend. He told us it looked like a Jellyfish and sort of like ink-markings. But when he tried to get rid of it, he was able to tear it from his arm and crush it."

"I don't know if it was killed or merely driven off, but the spirit certainly meant to kill those it could. Do you know of it, or anyone that would?"

 

[Tonguez]

"Whirlpool? Jellyfish?" the sprite repeats whilst pondering the tale

"She lives in sea, children play whirlpools. She hates. Don't talk.

Don't know jellyfish. Ink-markings? tatoo? not from here. From somewhere else"

Pausing the sprite grins obsequiously and rubs its potbelly "Tane forest, Tangaroa sea. Don't know Sea. You talk Moko-kanifa, talk Urufeta. In Cut, at Waihoro they know."

Elsewhere
A thick green muck covered the surface where mosquitos and other small insects came to rest. Beneath swimming through the fetid water came a large and bulky creature, thick boney ridges lined its back extending from the base of its broad head to the end of its long muscular tail. It rose its head up through the much momentarily exposing its short snout, huge powerful jaw and terrible teeth.

Yes this was the place it had been sent to. They would come in the morning, he had been told, Moko-kanifa and his clan would be waiting...

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Tatiki thrusts again. This must end. I ask forgiveness from the greenthings and the ancients for what I must do. It is not my nature to kill.

 

[Seonaid]

Lani nods thoughtfully. "That's what we're sent to do, I believe."

 

[wolff96]

Wai nods to Lani's comment.

"Still, I have to admit it would have been nice if we could have saved all that walking..." Wai grins hugely.

Like a young child with a new toy, Wai wanders around the clearing, using his magical senses to study the sprites. He is careful not to step on any of them or bump into them, but he circulates around.

The awe at seeing this magical spectacle is written large on his face.

"This is so amazing... You realize that?" Wai asks, looking over his shoulder at Lani. "Think about how few people have ever really seen nature spirits like this... I don't think I'll ever forget this day."

 

[Mirth]

Puna Tani, Tatiki and the Nanakia
The ancestors hear Tatiki and guide his arm as he thrusts the bolt of flame deep into the plants stem. It is enough to distract the bloodseeking vines and allow Puna Tani to rise.

His face terrible, feral and soaked in his own blood, Puna Tani swings the war club ripping the vines from the plants stem, terrible in his fury! "we have you marked little one" the voices in your head scream "we can take you whenever we choose!"

The plant is still alive and new vines still move about but you have bought enough time to either withdraw or plan your next attack

The nanakia stands for a moment as if watching and then turns and flees back into the forest...

"Then take me, if you dare!" Puna Tani screams aloud, redoubling his savage attack on the plant. Blood now covers his face and upper torso...

 

[Seonaid]

Lani smiles, somewhat amused by Wai's reaction but also quite awed herself. She settles on the ground and watches those sprites she can see without magical aid.

 

[Tonguez]

Tatiki & Puna Tani

His muscles burning with the pain of the effort Tatiki again strikes against the plant the flaming blade cleaning slicing through the vines and even into the main stem from which pours the plants thick yellow sap. His druidic training tells him that the plant is ailing and soon will fall.

Even so vines wrap about his feet and another strikes hard against his head sending him sprawling backwards. The air knocked from his lungs Tatiki finds his vision blurred and his head reeling, trying to retain conciousness, as the vines tighten their grip upon is bruised and battered body.

Seeing his companion thrown back Puna Tani steps forward a picture of savage horror as the blood from his wound flows down over his shoulders and chest. With equal savagery he strikes into the plant burying his war club into the collapsing stem of the plant

The plant convulses and uncontrolled vines whip about in the plants last death throws - the plant is all but dead, the forest groans

In the shadows of the distant trees two sharp and beady eyes watch approvingly ...

Wai, Lani & Tu-Ru

Although many of the sprites have withdrawn from view there are still some who have remained in closer proximity and are easily observed. A number of insects and frogs sit amongst the foliage indistinguishable from natural creatures except in their proximity and abundance here.
Others like the Potbelly sprite, and the girl maintain more humanoid forms and a few appear as hybrids between man and beast.

Off to oneside the girl-sprite sits amongst a crowd of others each of them inspecting their newly acquired treasure and whispering in their strange voices that sounds more like the wind amongst the leaves then a true language.
The potbellied sprite wonders off towards a large rat that stands gazing down towards the Cut. Others lounge about or talk or play or make love, and as Wai moves amongst them they like up at him with equal curiosity and smile - like an old grandmother smiling indulgently down at a child.

Through the lingering mage sight Wai sees the Haze extending some distance beyond the surrounding foliage in a great circle arround them, a perimeter. He also notes that a few of the sprites - with the forms of spiders and birds - have begun to work upon the foliage, shaping it, tangling it and binding it together...

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Tatiki shakes his head trying to clear it and slashes with the flaming blade one last time. Puna Tani! Are you going to be alright? You look like death.

 

[Tonguez]

Tatiki shakes his head trying to clear it and slashes with the flaming blade one last time. Puna Tani! Are you going to be alright? You look like death.

The plant slumps dead to the ground its vines dropping limp and useless around it.
Both of you are exhausted, Puna Tani covered in blood, Tatiki bruised and aching with pain in every muscle. But even in the confusion of the aftermath you recall that the sap from this killer vine, being derived from the blood of animals can be harvested, boiled down and use as a healing salve. A valuable but rare comodity for obvious reasons...