Of Jungle Deeps and Ocean Depths

[Jarval]

"It's not me they want, it's my ideas! I'd have shared them, but someone wanted all the glory." Mourn clarifies to Doran. "Everyone at the University wanted my notes, my research, and someone killed my mother for them. They'd have come for me too, if I hadn't fled so quickly. The poison used on my mother was very expensive, and she wielded more power over the Weave than I. It would take an assassin of great skill to get past her defences, hence my suspicion that the Royal treasury may be involved.

"Still, if you haven't seen me since my illness, then perhaps you're not one of them..." Mourn eyes Invelion distrustfully, but his panic seems to have subsided to some degree.

"It's good to see you again Invelion." In truth, he sounds anything but pleased by the elf's arrival, but even such a minor statement as this is quite a concession from Mourn.

Turning to look at the newly arrived grippli, Mourn waits until Invelion's attention is no longer on him before whispering to Doran.

"If he tries anything, don't hesitate to kill him..."

 

[Zerth]

*Tiana turns her attention to the two grippli as the situation between Mourn and Invelion seems to be in control for now.*

"And I am Tiana DeWine. Please pay no attention to the 'discussion' between the elves - I'm sure they just got carried away for not seeing each other in such a long time," she quips with a grin leaning into Erik's armored shoulder.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Doran looks quizzically at his employer, then sheathes his sword.*

"Sorry about that Invelion, Morun's just a bit jumpy. Accept my apologies," he says gallently, extending a hand.

*Erik tolerantly lets Tiana lean against him, then gets a cross look on his face and turns to the sword at his side.*

"Now don't be jealous, we've talked about this before," he says sternly, then nods at the grippli.

 

[Keia]

Rappai, Grippli Cleric/Divine Oracle (Jarrijan, Grippli Monk)

"I am Erik Von Horne, and this is Razor Sentinal," he says by way of introduction, patting his long sword. Erik is a fairly tall man, his black hair in a neat ponytail. He wears full plate, but it is slightly greenish and engraved all over with creatures of the sea.

*Jarrijan regarded with an ever so slight bow. He looked at the metal the human wore on his chest and was somewhat pleased by the scrollwork and design – though he would never wear such a thing. Jarrijan waited for the tall pale ones with the long hair to finish their discussion, or to just fight and get it over with.*

*As the two quieted, and the female made her introduction, Jarrijan bowed much lower and swept his hand to encompass all of them, but kept his head up and his eyes on the tall ones.*

“I am Jarrijan,” he said. “The wise one, Rappai, would speak with you.” Jarrijan kept his eyes on the group and made a motion with his hand. Within moments another Grippli bounded into the clearing. The Grippli appeared female, and with similar markings as the first, though with two distinctive blue markings that started near her shoulders and descended down but were covered by the dark green metal breastplate that she wore. She also wore a cloak, sandals, gloves and carried a darkwood staff.

“Greetings, tall ones, greetings,” Rappai said, “My name is Rappai and Rappai is the seeress of the Tealback tribe, seeress Rappai is. This spring . . .” she looked sadly at the little puddle, then continued, “Rappai has been watching this spring for several days, watching. Rappai would know your purpose here, your purpose indeed.”

She leaned all of her two foot height heavily on her staff and awaited an answer. Jarrijan stepped forward somewhat protectively in front of Rappai, but to the side, keeping his watchful eyes on the group.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"Well, Vi-Tach, I think it was, wanted us to go down there and take care of your 'Beast'" Erik says, with a bit of a grin at the thought of upcoming combat.

"Indeed," Doran adds, "We were searching for a different spring and they wanted an exchange of service for the information. So here we are."

 

[silentspace]

Quite curious, this mystery with Mourn. He has changed quite a bit. But there's no time to think about that now...

*Invelion takes Doran’s extended hand, shaking it firmly. Turning to Rappai, Invelion bows, and says.*

"Greetings, Seeress Rappai of the Tealback Tribe. I am Invelion, a mage from the distant Isle of Evermeet."

"Yes, we are on this mission for Vi-tach, Woodswalker of the Tealback Tribe," Invelion watches her reaction at this, "to remove the monster that chokes off your Sacred Spring. In exchange, Vi-Tach has promised us knowledge of another Sacred Spring, the Sacred Spring of Umbatoa, where Prince Undinar will retrieve a bottle of water as a gift for his father, Madripos, the Water Genie King."

"We are here to restore the Spring for your Tribe, if we can."

 

[Zerth]

"You bet we are," Tiana adds eagerly. "I think the beast is already shivering in it's lair. Say, why don't we go and take a look at situation ourselves? I'm just dying to introduce my whip to those beastly buttocks. It's not proper to keep a prince waiting, is it," she says with a nod in Undinar's direction, even if she herself is the impatient one.

 

[Jarval]

Mourn waits silently, letting his companions do the talking as he tried to watch both the grippli and Invelion at the same time. With a muffled squeaking, Thorik scrabbles his way out from under Mourn's chain shirt, loudly chittering his displeasure at his master.

 

[Keia]

Rappai, Grippli Cleric/Divine Oracle (Jarrijan, Grippli Monk)

*Rappai made no noticeable change in expression at either mention of Vi-Tach, though it is made more difficult no knowing grippli facial expressions.*

". . . We are here to restore the Spring for your Tribe, if we can."

“Good, good that you help. Rappai will help too, Rappai will,” Rappai replied. “Knowledge Rappai has, and more from Is-aycha and more if the spring were renewed, poor spring. Rappai was preparing to go into hole with only Jarrijan at Rappai’s side, only Jarrijan. More to end that which stopped my warriors the better, Rappai say.”

“Rappai will journey, journey to the spring with tall ones - after tall ones have defeated that in the hole, to make certain tall ones treat forest well, treat Grippli well, treat Rappai well, treat each other well.”

*Jarrijan stoicly looked on, only turning his head slightly to keep up with the conversation.*

 

[Erekose13]

Undinar slowly removed his foot from the hole as the commotion began behind him. Having readied himself for the drop into who knows how deep a whole, he was a little distracted as things between Mourn and this new-comer started. Seeing that the man was not the least bit on the offensive, Undinar stood back to let Doran and Mourn handle things. Once sorted out, he stepped forward just as the Grippli on the other side of the clearing made their precense known.

Introducing himself first to Invelion he said, "Greetings Invelion, I am glad that we are not short a wizard as both Mourn and Tholon are and were valuable members of this group. Thank you for joining us on such short notice."

Then as Rappai introduces herself to Erik and Tiana, Undinar makes his way through the group to stand in front of the little grippli seeress. "Please to meet you Rappai and you as well Jarrijan. We are indeed on a quest for Vi-Tach and are very greatful for your assistance in this matter. After we have restored your sacred spring we would be glad to have you join us in our quest."