Q'Barra: Into the Emerald Forest - Part II

[Urko]

Matilda and Dargin travel upstream

Matilda must wait until well after dark to “liberate” one of the river runners. An old Orien retainer half-heartedly patrols the dock, but with her dimensional leap ability it is a simple matter for Matilda to get past him. It might occur to her to wonder just why security measures are so poor. The boats are simply tied to the docks - no attempt has been made to lock them. Of course, very few have the ability to operate them, so perhaps the Couriers feel stronger measures are not necessary.

In any case, she is able in short order to paddle away from the dock and drift downstream to a prearranged meeting point with Dargin. Malk is a little wary of the strange craft and almost leaps into the water in fright when the elemental ring is first activated, but the halfling shaman is able to reassure his companion. A couple hours upstream from Newthrone the river runner passes a patrol boat, lit from stem to stern. Oddly, though, the patrol boat keeps its distance and issues no challenge, although Matilda and Dargin can clearly see a few crew members on deck. Matilda is forced to put ashore later in the night when a furious storm strikes the river like a hammer blow. For a while, it's difficult to tell where the rain ends and the river begins, but after an hour the rains subsides to a gentle patter, then a thin mist, allowing them to proceed. It is not long after dawn when they sight a dock with a stubby watchtower that Matilda recognizes as their destination.

Go ahead and continue to interact in character if you wish. The next time I post you will be introduced to the group.

 

[Urko]

Inspecting the scene

After a few minutes of looking around, Erin makes a couple discoveries that help make sense of the seemingly randomly chruned grounds. Among the many footprints, humanoid and reptilian, she notes several long furrows, as if something, or perhaps many somethings, were dragged from this spot. Near where one of the furrows begins she finds several arrows jutting, like strange feathered branches, out of the ruins of a banana tree. The furrows disappear in the tree line. Tracks are few. Xavier may have been able to find more.

Eff Flat turns up a more tantalizing – and sobering – clue. Nearly buried in the mud he finds the familiar gold and azure triple cross that symbolizes the Sovereign Host. As he holds it mutely up for inspection, each of the party recalls seeing it around Borden’s neck.

 

[Urko]

Kolbek answers questions

Kolbek shakes his head at Sanae’s query. ”No, they’ve never taken prisoners before. Always crops and tools. The casualties we’ve had have been people who happened to get in the way, but it seems like they’ve done their best in the past to avoid contact. This is definitely an escalation.” He turns back to gazing moodily at the ruins of the shed.

Erin’s questions pull him out of his reverie. ”It’s funny that this particular building was hit. It was a drying shed for a very specialized crop. Kef. It’s a drug. When dried and smoked, it gives a hazy look into the future. Least, that’s what the mystics claim. It’s popular all through the Principalities. The raw stuff was here in the field, but it looks as though they got most of that, too. Don’t know what they’d want with it. Up to now, they’ve only taken food, and you can’t eat kef. Poisonous.” His face grows dark. ”I wish they would eat it.”

Kolbek rubs his face and looks very tired. ”I don’t know anything much about their religious practices. Nature worshippers, I think. The Eldeen folk would probably get along with them, I imagine. I’ve heard of lizardfolk doing blood sacrifices, a few of the Cold Sun tribes and especially some of the blackscale are notorious for it. But I’ve never heard of the Three Feathers doing it.“

He is about to say more when dog suddenly points his nose skyward and howls plaintively. Soon everyone can identify the cause of his distress as the banshee wail of a river runner. Kolbek glances, uselessly, in the direction of the river, lost among the mist and trees. ”Bit early for the couriers to be out.” He reaches out to pat dog. ”Quiet, beast. It’ll pass soon enough.” He is proven wrong, however. The sound grows in intensity, as if approaching the dock. After a moment, it cuts out as if the ring had been deactivated. ”Now what?” Kolbek stares into the fog in exasperation. ”Guess I’d better see what’s going on. Feel free to come along, or you can keep poking around here.” Without waiting to see whether anyone will join him, the dwarf trudges off across the fields.

 

[Dayspire]

Erin

After listening to Kolbek, Erin kneels down and inspects the furrows. She removes her gloves and takes a pinch of dirt with her fingers, lips moving. She then stands and brushes her hands together.

"Xavier made a good showing, Borden as well I think." Erin points to the tree line. "Looks like Xavier saw them coming. Got a few. Perhaps several. Then the Three Feathers dragged them... along with their own dead... off over there."

Erin walks over to the ruined shed, donning her gloves once more. She rummages around the wreckage for a moment, and then gingerly grabs a piece of dried plant. "I hope you don't mind," She says. "But I would like a sample of this kef so that I may examine it further." She then deposits the plant into her belt pouch.

"Now..." Erin unhooks her morningstar from the belt prong and hefts it. She gazes into the mist, towards the dock. "I think perhaps we should ready our weapons. We have been beset by enemies from all sides, and I trust these unexpected visitors not a whit."

I will then go with Kolbeck to the docks, and prepare for battle (hopefully not!). If there is not a shred of kef left to examine, I'll edit the post.

 

[SelcSilverhand]

"Arrrrrrroooooooooooophhhhhuuuuuu" Malk moans again where he lies in the middle of the boat. He's been upset ever since getting onboard. It was all Dargin could do to keep him from capsizing them with his thrashing about when they started the Ring. Once he settled he lay down in the center and moaned constantly. At first Dargin fretted over him until he decided his partner would be fine, if unhappy.

For Dargin, the trip was also unnerving, but he managed to hide it a bit better than his mount. The jungle seems so restrictive, closed in. Everywhere along the river is dense jungle, twisted vines, and brilliantly colored plants. It is a stark contrast compared to the low, rolling hills and flat grasslands of his homeland. At least his companion was pleasent to speak with. He would point out different beasts, plants, and insects he could identify and share some knowledge with her. Some could be used for medicine, others aphrodesiacs, poisons, or some that tasted good when properly cooked. Catching a particularly large green dragonfly, he plucked the wings off and held it up to her. "This is a Puddlejumper, they can grow bigger but the younger ones taste sweeter. Here, they are best when freshly caught!"

 

[Pebele]

It was obvious to everyone that Sanae was very displeased with the current situation. Her features were hard and dark as they surveyed the scene. With a scowl she looked towards the trees and released her held breath with a long hiss.

She was about to speak when the sound of the ship made Kolbek act. she unsheathed her greatsword and nodded in agreement with Erin. "We shall never let our guard down again on this mission. Not even for a second. I will take the lead, if that is acceptable."

Without waiting for Erin's agreement, Sanae sidestepped her to follow directly behind Kolbek. She kept her weapon at the ready and moved towards the dock with as much caution she could muster in her angered state.

She have to think more later about the shed and the curcumstances surrounding Xavier and Borden's disappearence. But for the moment she only cared to know who was approaching and what, if anything, they wanted with the team.

 

[Yeoman]

Matilda exchanges small talk with Dargin as they continue toward their destination, in between Dargin's ecology lessons, Matilda shares stories of her life in House Orien. Pointing out all the highs and lows of general house life, she carefully avoids revealing too much about herself. Watching Dargin catch the giant dragonfly, Matilda shuddered despite herself as Dargin brings it over to her. As he offers the puddlejumper to her, she quickly responds,
"Sorry, I'm not a really big bug eater. Would that be talenta cusine at it's finest? Besides, unless you want to see the inside of a tree, I suggest you let me concentrate on keeping us afloat. One more thing, is your friend there, alright? I've seen cats handle water travel better than this."

Eww...damn halflings.

 

[SelcSilverhand]

Dargin shrugs, pops the dragonfly into his mouth, and crunches it noisily. He speaks around his mouthful of bug, "Somfume 'aflin's merchanmfhs 'ave a sayin' "Your lossfh is my gain". Ahhh, sweet and juicy, not like the dry locusts on the plains. Most people who haven't tried insects wouldn't consider them a delicacy, but they've never had roast Turan beetles. Delicious, they're like eating cruncy peanuts." He sighs, wishing he had some now. "Malk likes them too, I should get him something to eat as well. He doesn't like the motion of the water as he's used to having his feet firmly planted on the earth. He actually has gone swimming before, but the movement of the river is giving him a sick stomach. He'll survive though, this experience will only serve to make him stronger and more adaptable." Malk moans again and Dargin goes over to reassure his partner. "Don't worry friend, we'll be off this boat soon. I'll catch you a crunchy snack in the meantime."

 

[Urko]

Second arrival at Steadfast Reach

As Matilda eases the river runner to the dock, a dwarf in the watch tower calls out, ”That’s far enough. Stay in the boat and keep your hands where we can see them.” He points a heavy crossbow in their direction. His companion, another dwarf, tugs on a leather cord that lifts the hood off an everbright lantern set into the top of the tower. For good measure, he pulls a horn off a peg and blows out one quavering note.

In almost no time at all, Dargin and Matilda see a group of people round the corner of a paved path that terminates at the dock. Another dwarf, with rich clothing and a determined expression, is at the head. Behind him are two tall human women and a pair of warforged. Dargin immediately recognized Erin, Sanae, and ‘he has no name,’ but the copper skinned ‘forged is unfamiliar to them.

The lead dwarf steps forward. ”State your business and be quick about it.”

 

[Urko]

Going to the docks

Despite the dwarf's shorter legs, Sanae and Erin have to hurry to keep up with Kolbek. They can hear him angrily muttering to himself as he trots across the fields and around the house. A horn sounds from the docks. Kolbek looks over his shoulder and grunts "Better keep your weapons handy and eyes sharp," and moves even more quickly.

A boat similar in design to the one that brought the party here is sitting at the pier, the occupants warily regarding the watchmen who keep them covered with crossbows from their tower. Erin, 'he has no name,' and Sanae immediately recognize the halfling shaman who just two days ago declined to join the expedition. The pilot, a human woman, is unknown to them. Kolbek challenges them to state their business.