Relic Hunters in Tekumel (IC)


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Angelina
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The ceramic pots going out to the rough-looking river men and their boats smells pungent, and you recognize the scent of crushed white foam shrubs, normally found in colder portions of swamps. It seems that the local villagers are trading a sticky substance comprised mostly of the crushed white foam shrubs, which could be coated on weapons. The leaves of white foam shrubs acts like poison ivy from where you are from, though much more severe. Seconds after coming in contact with the shrubs, there is a chance for those touching it to become paralyzed and wracked with feelings of gut-wrenching and harmful pain. In some cases, the afflicted can even die in rigid agony.

In return, the villagers are receiving pots filled with silver hlash, the Tekumel silver coin. It seems that the villagers are trading poison for silver, and the more you listen to the conversations, the more you realize these rough-looking men are likely river pirates and bandits working with a larger band to the north. In fact, the more you hear, the more you realize that these are likely also the bandits whose dealings Handsome Jack and company were sent to investigate.
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[section]As she walked, Briony thought of Rolfe's palms. On her skin. How his calluses felt when he touched her neck. She shivered against the night air and forced her mind to keep focus. "C'mon, mules," she quietly groused, grasping the reins and pulling on the pack animals. She skirted the edge of the village and headed toward Bella, Elizabeth, and Zephia. When she got there, Angeline was missing. Briony frowned. "Where's Ange?" she asked Bella. [/section]
 

Bella remains silent once Bri gets there. When asked where Angelina is Bella motions with her head toward Angelina's location. She keeps her crossbow trained on the pirates.
 

A feeling of dread fills the redhead as she figures out what is going on. She knows there is a job to do and she knows why she simultaneously feels like she is going to throw up. Angelina waits a little longer, hoping to get a better idea of the current home location of the bandits. Then she returns to the group, carefully, as to not get impaled by any of her very capable crew.

She suddenly becomes visible outside where they are waiting. She speaks in soft, worried tones. "Girls, we've got more trouble than we realized. Or, well, a different sort of trouble." Her eyes dart to her sister guiltily before she sighs. "It's poison. They are trading coins for poison. Terrible, painful, deadly poison that is likely going to be used on our unsuspecting friends." She lets that sink in. "We have to make a decision, do we finish our current mission? Or stray from the course, then try to finish it later?" She locks eyes with Briony, knowing there are things unsaid that can currently stay unsaid. "They ARE very capable."

Angelina looks to the bright moon and stars, her own memories distracting her. "They would come for us, and most of you know that."
 

Zephia whispers, "You mean Jack and his crew? The poison is intended for them? Why?" Zephia kept her tone neutral. This was unexpected and she wanted to see how it played out before she made any decisions about her own plans.
 

"I don't believe the poison is specifically for them; however, the villagers are trading the poison for coin to the Pirates that Jack and his crew were sent to investigate. It could have easily been us looking for the Pirates instead, if the clan had decided to send us there rather than here. Knowing this we should be extra cautious of any weapons used against us." Angelina sighs again. "That's the difference, they don't know about the poison and it's extremely deadly. And we do. Them not knowing could cost many lives."
 

Zephia considers her next words carefully. It was a gamble as she only the vaguest outline of a plan, but, this was an opportunity, possibly the only one she would get.

"Then we should go. Warn Jack at the very least."

Now all Zephia needed to do was get her hands on some of that poison.
 

[section]Briony listened hard, not sure what she was hearing. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but snapped it shut when Zephia started talking. When Zephia mentioned leaving without stopping the villagers' poison trade, Briony quirked at eyebrow. She didn't, however, cut in on the conversation. When Zephia was done, Briony was silent a beat. "I agree we need to find a way, and quickly, to warn Jack. And Rolfe." Briony passed the reins of the mules to Elizabeth. She unbuttoned the clasp on her sword sheath and drew her weapon. "As for the rest--whether to leave the villagers to their nefarious trade, or squelch it here and now--well, I never could resist stomping in a mud puddle. If you take my meaning." Briony swung her sword and took two steps toward the closest gaggle of villagers, making her meaning clear. She stopped and looked back at the others, standing a little apart from them. "Poison's a dirty trade. I want no part of it. Nor do I want to condone its use on unsuspecting friends. I say we put the leaders to the sword."[/section]
 

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