Q'Barra: Facing Truth

[Pebele]

In the interest of keeping this moving, I'm going to assume that Charles also gave his consent. Onward!

Once everyone had agreed to take part in the mission, Headmaster Goludov straightened and cleared his throat.

“I expected no less of all of you. I will be honest, the six of you were hand-picked for this assignment. Don’t let it go to your heads; but you are all very talented and we need more students like you.”

He moved back behind the desk and shuffled through one of his hastily arranged stacks of papers. He removed a map and what appeared to be a letter from the stack before looking back up to the group.

“This is a map of the area we need you to scout out. It is not entirely up to date, the Havenwood Settlement is one of the newer settlements in the area, as I’m sure you all are familiar with. We were going to send a survey team up to take a look at the new borders in a few weeks time. At any rate, we’ve received several messages over the past week from villagers. They are all the same, claiming that the village is being raided, items stolen, animals missing.

No one has been harmed, not that we know of. The reports claim that there have been more sightings of Deep Mist lizardfolk in the area. But no claims of attacks. It’s perplexing, if the lizards wanted war, why don’t they just make it?”

Goludov’s voice trailed off and he wiped his brow with one hand.

“At any rate, what I need for you to do is go to the settlement and find out what’s going on. You should be welcomed by the villagers, they're expecting some sort of aid. If you can, put a stop to it. If you can’t, just get back here and I will take over. As I said, we can’t send a whole platoon off traipsing through the jungle with no idea what they’re doing.

That’s the situation. Is there any further information you need from me? And who will take the map?”

He held out the map in one hand, and looked to each student in turn.

 

[Rolzup]

"I...," Darrick begins, tentatively, and then pauses for a heartbeat. "I," he continues, confidently this time, "Would suggest either Charles or Sepoto take charge of the map. Sepoto, I believe that you have the most...ah, experience with the lizard-folk, yes?"

 

[EvolutionKB]

"I was going to suggest you take it Derrick," Kaelan begins, "you seem a capable leader. I know how to find my way back if I get seperated. I assume Charles can do the same. Who else can get along in the wilds, besides us?"

"Headmaster, what do you know of this particular lizardfolk tribe? Have they been on general good terms with the people of Havenwood, before these incidents? How many lizardfolk are capable of combat if it comes to that?

 

[Yeoman]

"I'm not sure, I think I'd also be more comfortable with Charles or Kaelan carrying it. If it comes down to it, at least we can count on either of you to navigate us through the jungle. Regardless of whomever holds it however, let's get back to the matter at hand. Since Kaelan is asking about the lizardfolk, I'd like to ask about the settlers. Have there been any incidents with them previously? How long as the settlement been in place? Were there any new developments in the area?"

 

[Rookseye]

"Sepoto knows the jungle well and the ways of the lizardfolk are familiar to me. Just so, perhaps the leader of this journey should carry the wayfinding papers. I will be of truth, it is of little use to me. Goodfolk of Newthrone such as you may need the wayfinding papers to find their way through the rain forest, but to Sepoto and his senses, the eyes, the nose, and ears suffice."

Sepoto glances pointedly at Charles before continuing,

"I know Charles to be a collector of the wayfinding papers, and more familiar with them than I. His jungle-lore is esteemed by me as well. Perhaps he should take them?"

The shifter scratches at his armpit nervously, shifting from foot to foot, obviously uncomfortable in this setting. He feels the eyes of Darrick and Catherine upon him and shrugs self-consciously when he recalls that some among the Newthrone-folk prefer to be the sole 'tellers-of-what-to-do' and 'where-to-go' for their tribes in such endeavors.

 

[Pebele]

Goludov places the map on the edge of the desk and takes his spot in his chair. He clasps his hands together and closes his eyes, mulling over Kaelan and Catherine's questions.

"We don't know much about the Deep Mist tribe, because we haven't had much contact with them before. I know they are poison dusk, and I also know that their village near Havenwood is rather small. I can't give you exact numbers, because, like I said, they've kept to themselves till now."

He opens his eyes and looked to Catherine. "The folks who started the Havenwood settlement are farmers. They're real 'live off the land' types. Some folks don't like the way they look after their own, if you know what I mean. They aren't city-folk, they don't see authority the same way as city-folk do. But they're good people. They look after themselves and they don't scare easy."

Goludov flipped open a ledger and glanced at a few pages before answering the other questions. "The settlement has been around for a little under a year. The area was cleared over a year ago, and then building started. It was pretty easy going, as far as we know.

The only other information we have is that there was some talk about some expedition going through the area a few months back. But we don't have any records or information on it, so it may well have just been rumors."

 

[EvolutionKB]

[sblock=ooc] Here is a knowledge(nature) check if it applies to poison dusk lizardfolk: Knowledge(Nature): Poisondusk lizardfolk; 1d20+4=23 [/sblock]

 

[Shayuri]

"Have there been any expeditions to this village since the attacks started?" Trebuchet burbles pleasantly. "Or is there anyone here currently who came to us from the village since the attacks started? Surely the news of the raids was brought here by someone. I believe an eyewitness would be useful to question."

 

[Pebele]

For Kaelan:[sblock]
A poison dusk lizardfolk is between 3 to 4 feet in height, weighing 42–52 pounds. Its tail is 2 to 3 feet long, and its scales shift color with its mood. The poison dusk are so called because they favor poisons. They are stealthy and prefer not to fight head on, instead laying traps or poisoning water supplies.[/sblock]

 

[Pebele]

Goludov looks to Trebuchet and nods. "In fact, yes, the latest report was brought to us by Sentinel, one of the children's caretakers at the orphanage. He had gone to Havenwood at the request of a..." He looked down at one of the papers on his desk before continuing.

"A Miss Gilda Cooper. She had asked the orphanage to take in some of the settlement's children, but said they were unable to make the trip here. Sentinel and a few other Warforged made the trip to escort a group of 3 children back here.

When the group arrived, they were told about the raids and asked to please keep the children safe."

Goludov looked back to the group and folded his hands. "Sentinel has been with the school for a very long time, I have the utmost faith in his truthfulness and his abilities. He informed me of the situation, but said that the group saw no evidence of lizardfolk on their trip to Havenwood nor on their trip back. You can find him in the orphanage if you wish to speak to him further.

Is there anything else you need answered?"