Lotus and the Cobra [IC]

[Mirth]

Zhangyong bows deeply to the great Lama before mounting his horse. "Lead the way, Mira," the monkeyman says as he curls his tail around his chest. Seeing the looks from the others in the group, he says by way of explanation, "Vanarans learned quite quickly when they began riding horses that two tails don't make a right."

 

[Robbert Raets]

Adus bows his head to the Lama with great respect, and mount his own steed as well.

He turns his head to Mira, and speaks in a surprisingly gruff voice: "Lead on, Devapala."

Though not unfriendly, Adus Chwian answers any questions directed at him en-route with an as short as possible answer. He does not come across as a very sociable man.

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Before the group sets off, Yudhistra will take make a quick review of the animals and packs to make sure that everything is in order. He will then take a position near the front of the group so that he can keep a lookout on the road up ahead.

 

[National Acrobat]

"Let us ride, wasting no time in reaching our destination. I believe that if the Brahmin is having such serious visions, that something truly terrible must be happening. I am glad to have your company on this mission."

 

[Mirth]

Although he is normally chatty, Zhangyong gets the sense that this group isn't interested in superfluous dialogue. The silence of the ride only made him miss his old group of devapalas even more. Vanu, Apanar, Rushi and all the rest lying dead in the jungle. Dead at the hands of the vile Yuan-ti and their comrade-in-arms, Loda the betrayer. If that was even his real name. To think that his own devapala, his own right-hand man, could have been so devious, so evil. The thoughts of death and betrayal were too much for the vanara - he had to say something to get his mind off his past.

Looking at Yudhistra, Adus and Mira, the brahmin asks sheepishly, "Have any of you been to Peoket before?"

 

[National Acrobat]

Mira is grateful for the icebreaking conversation. "Yes, I have been there once or twice before. It was on official business however. I have often wanted to visit with a chance to linger and see more of the area. Alas, duty does not afford me that luxury."

 

[Robbert Raets]

[gruff]"I have passed through it on my journeys once or twice, but I do not tend to linger in urban areas for long. I am at my best out here, in the wilderness."[/gruff]

 

[Yellow Sign]

Mira, Zhangyong, Adus, Yudhistra

As the group takes leave of the temple and the city of Bhalluka, the country side changes from many plots of cultivated land and huts to tall open grassland with patches of thick forest. Water buffalo wallow in ponds still full from the monsoons of a few months ago. It is a uneventful five days that pass. You find lodging in villiages that dot the road. But as you travel farther west the viliages become more spaced apart. Finally on the fifth day of your travels at noon, your tired horses reach the villiage of Peoket. A score or so huts line a dirt road. A small river meanders it's way through the villiage with several small wooden bridges spanning it. The laughter of childeren and the activity of the other villiages that you have pasted are absent here. A pair of men in leather armor and holding longbows stop you as you enter the town. "Greetings Travelers. What business do you have in Peoket?"

 

[Yellow Sign]

Jval, Arjay

As Jval walks over to examine the ruins of the hut, he can tell that something powerful pulled or pushed down a section of a wall causing the whole hut to collapse. Clothing, toys, pots, and pans litter the area around and in the hut. Picking through the debris, Jval is startled by a form which rises out of the ruins. A large king cobra fans it's hood as it stares at Jval.

The snake sways back and forth as it lets out a long hiss.

OOC: Suprise round. The Cobra is focusing.
First Round Init.
Cobra 24
Arjay 13
Jval 7

The Cobra is holding it's action waiting for Jval or Arjay to act.

 

[Daiymo]

Jval stands perfectly still. In an even calm voice he says, "Master cobra, I wish you no harm. Be at ease."

As he speaks Jval concentrates, manifesting far hand. He targets a nearby piece of clothing and visualizes picking the fabric up and dropping it on the cobra, covering it.