Lotus and the Cobra [IC]

[Robbert Raets]

Adus eats and drinks as little as is politely possible, relying on his Ring of sustenance as usual. (Unless it tastes really good.)

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Yudhistra bows and sits at the table. "Thank you, sir. This meal looks excellent." He will enjoy the meal and make conversation throughout, but will not bring up the attacks or ask about the beast until Ranja opens the subject.

 

[National Acrobat]

Mira accepts the hospitality, "under these circumstances, your hospitality is most gracious. If you will permit me, when it is time to send the child's soul on, I would like to be present. I am always very sad and angry when an innocent is robbed of their life in such a fashion. It goes against all that is proper and civilized. The Great Bear weeps when children suffer a fate such as this." Mira sits, cross legged, whereever the group is directed to do so.

 

[Mirth]

"You are most kind, friend Ranja," Zhanyong says as he bounds into the house and jumps up to sit in a windowsill. "A blessing on you, your family and this house for your goodwill and generosity. Could you toss some fruit over here please?"

After eating some of the fruit, the brahmin smiles and continues, "Could you bring us up to present on the situation? We have gotten some details from the lama, but I would like to hear you describe it firsthand."

 

[Tonguez]

(ooc I'm assuming that Arjay and Jval are now with everyone else and follow along with the group to Ranja's home)

The Steepe nomad follows along respectfully not wishing to raise the ire of these strangers but knowing that this may be his only chance to discover what happened and find the Yogi Sarkuman.

He sits silently and accepts the food offered and listens...

 

[Yellow Sign]

After the meal is finished, the children are taken from the room and a serious look appears on Ranja's face. "It is a terrible thing that has happened to our villiage and I fear more blood shed before it is through." with a heavy sign he continues "About a month ago, our elephant trainer was found dead next to the watering hole where he usually took the elephants for their bath. The elephants where gone. Disappeared into the forest. It appeared that one of the elephants killed him. A few days later, the body of Priva, a local seamstress was found. She had been out washing clothes by the stream and when she didn't return her husband went looking for her. Her head had been crushed. It was a horrid sight. Believing it to be the work of a rogue elephant, I sent my two best hunters out to trap and kill the animal. The next day, their mangled bodies where found infront of my house. The looked like they had been gored and trampled to death. And now this. One child is killed and her brother is missing. I fear for the worse. I need you to find this monster and kill it before it can murder again."

[OOC: Yes Arjay and Javal are with the group. Sorry for the delay in posting everyone I just was overloaded the past few days]

 

[Mirth]

Zhangyong thinks on Ranja's words for a moment and then bounds out of the windowsill and to the door, pulling himself upright when he gets there.

"It seems that every moment we spend not catching whatever killed these people is a moment when someone else could die. We should be about our mission post-haste," the brahmin pauses before leaving, "Ranja, you mentioned that there several elephants. How many are we looking for total?"

 

[Tonguez]

"A rogue elephant" Arjay grimaces "yes that would explain what happened at the hut we passed just outside the village - although I would think that an elephant would leave more tracks than we saw there.

I will assist but may I first ask you about the Yogi Sarkuman - if I may speak to him this day I can be ready to assist against this elephant much sooner"

 

[Yellow Sign]

Ranja looks to Arjay. "The old hermit? I almost completely forgot about him. I hope he is alright. He lives in a cave on Old Baboon Hill. It is south of the villiage about a hour's walk.

He then answers Zhangyong's question. "There were three elephants. A bull and two females. We found the body of one of the females about 2 weeks ago. It had been dead for at least a week."

 

[Robbert Raets]

After everyone has asked their questions and gotten their answers, Adus will ask if tracks have been found and where the elephants were kept before the escape. He will also inquire after familiar routes or places the animals may have.