The Western Jungle (PbP)

[Tellerian Hawke]

Merin says, "Let's try to get a bit closer, so we can pick up on one or more of the conversations. We should try to scout around, and get a good look at the village, to ascertain how well they've been able to recover since our attack, and to see if there are any weak points in their defenses."

Merin then begins to augment himself, by manipulating Way. He assumes that the others will prepare themselves in a similar fashion; once everyone is ready, he will lead the way toward the village, confident in his stealth abilities.

Spoiler: Base Rolls for Various Tasks

Clairaudience = 28
Dampen Sound = 39
Hide = 81
Bend Light = 58
Soullessness = 79

 

[MacConnell]

Matumbo speaks in Deviard, "I used to despise the Da'Roneh..."

Though none of the other three can understand him yet, they listen to all of his words, sensing their emotive portent.

OOC: Each character improves in Deviard by 1%.

If Matumbo can recognize the 'hint of a structure' he will identify it to the Seekers.

Surveying the entire valley as much as possible before relocating, it dawns on the party members, including Matumbo, that the rim of the valley is the top edge of a caldera from an ancient volcano. The valley formed after it, long ago, blew out its top and became dormant. Looking across the canopy to the other side, the tell-tale signs of distinct smoke can be seen rising on the other ridge.

Matumbo points to the smoke and says, "az e'pulet a fe'm kova'cs."

Realizing that he is still speaking in Deviard, he translates. "That building is the metal smith."

Seeing the location of the smith, Matumbo is able to postulate the location of several mines and the temple. He fans his hands to indicate the scattering of individual living quarters. The temple he warns has dangers. That is where they train the Echoes. He also notes, as if surprised he did not notice it first thing, that the Da'Roneh appear to have cleared all of the undergrowth within their village proper.

Merin says, "Let's try to get a bit closer..."

Merin then begins to augment himself, by manipulating (Waylines)...

Using the gambit of skills available to them, the party first takes note of the provided information concerning the Deviard, then begins to assess the Da'Roneh village. Not particularly needing to get too close, the men take most of the remains of the day to move around the outskirts.

Guard stations or observation posts have been constructed on the north and south ends of the village, which is the route by which the Deviard would have to approach them. It is also noted that nothing new has been developed on the northern end, which has egress to the Western Jungle outside the valley. The southern end of the valley does not appear to have any opening.

Smaller structures, indicative of individual homes, skirt the edge of the village. A few larger building can be seen to occupy the central area. A few people are seen gathering supplies and food from the central lake, whose waters have risen with the Drenching Season. All other Da'Roneh seem actively engaged in training for battle. No one is very friendly with one another. It is difficult to gauge numbers, perhaps a hundred residents.

Away from the observation posts in the north and south, it appears that several individual homes may be entered by stealth, without much risk of discovery by ones outside those structures. As the days wanes to a close, the party returns to the lookout post to discuss their options.

OOC: All characters receive 2 DP.

 

[Kwargrow]

To be sure he is understood clearly, Matumbo says in Ansylin, "We could try sneak in, but Matumbo not so good with that. Fighting with bow and blade better for me."

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Merin says, "We should sneak into a few of these outer-perimeter houses, and kill a few residents discreetly, so as to thin the herd before we go in hardcore. What say the rest of you?"

 

[MacConnell]

To be sure he is understood clearly, Matumbo says in Ansylin, "We could try sneak in, but Matumbo not so good with that. Fighting with bow and blade better for me."

Sheldon nods his head toward Matumbo. "With all that undergrowth cleared, sneaking in will become more difficult the further we penetrate; but with you on a bow, it allows you to keep an eye out for us from farther away. Merin and I should go in first, you and Vadin should follow."

Merin says, "We should sneak into a few of these outer-perimeter houses, and kill a few residents discreetly, so as to thin the herd before we go in hardcore. What say the rest of you?"

Sheldon takes a deep breath and runs his left hand through his hair, pulling it back from his face. "Naturally, I would like to balk at such a suggestion. It makes me feel bloody, but these people has as much chance of becoming civil as a disease ridden coyote. They are more monster than men."

He pauses for a moment, thinking. "I still think we should spare younger couples and children even if it means we will have to return and conquer these people again."

Ideologies can readily be discussed on the move. The four men leave their confiscated outpost and move back through the Fat Man's Misery Pass. Since conflict is more often occurring with the Deviard from the northern end of the village, the group decides to begin their insurgency from the southeast, picking a point about the middle of the southern end and where the pass enters.

Merindell and Sheldon, each concealing himself by the augmentation of manipulated waylines, quickly take the ladder to a random house, Sheldon pauses half way to the top, blinks into view, and motions for Vadin and Matumbo to move in.

With professional efficiency, the four men are up the tree and inside the hut without anyone from the outside seeming to give notice. Once inside, however, contrary to their ravenous nature, a young female grabs her suckling babe to her chest and screams as the young man lunges to attack and ensures his quick death.

The maternal instinct seems to be able to alter the hostility of even the most vile of beings. The woman only screams the once, holds her child with both arms, and edges away from her intruders. The woman clearly could be no threat even if she chose to be. The words are not important, for Sheldon speaks them in Centrin, but the woman and child both immediately succumb to the suggestion. "Why don't you lie down."

The hut is small and narrow, but it has several opening for viewing in most any direction and is circumscribed by an exterior walkway. With the volume of the initial scream, it should only be a matter of a minute or so before someone arrives to investigate. The room itself seems fairly defendable, even against a sizable onslaught, if no one decides to set it on fire.

"Well, do we stand and fight or do we take this to the ground?"

 

[MacConnell]

For these veterans of several battles, the adrenaline does not rush into the system immediately. It eases into the bloodstream to become more of a force when action is imminently necessary. In the few seconds before any hostiles arrive, the subconsciousnesses of each man begin to assess the information accumulated as this destination was reached.

The entire village is arboreal, probably a calculated advantage for the agile and lithe Da'Roneh, especially against their stockier enemy across the lake, the Deviard. The huts, the ladders, and the bridges are all constructed of poles made from the cane that grows predominantly in and around the southern end of the lake. The usable cane is from the width of a man's arm to the width of his leg. The rope and lashings are made of various vines and sisal fibers readily collectible from the jungle.

The huts are all mounted at about the same level but their distance from the ground changes as the land is significantly sloped. Some of the outer trees hold more than one structure, probably familial residences. The larger structures more centrally located and nearer the lake are difficult to fully see due to impediment of the jungle canopy.

The Da'Roneh are likely only hostile toward other people since a myriad of colorful birds and small monkeys flit about the tress of the village proper. Though this enemy must hold some sentiment for their own kind, the sounds of those approaching to investigate the source of the previous scream do not seem to be hurried. If combat were limited to the mundane realm, this small hut would be an ideal choke point against a larger force, but the possibility that some of the elder Da'Roneh could and would ignite the thing calls for a change of venue.

A strategy must be developed that would cause some but not too many of the Da'Roneh to give chase. For too many might cause the battle to be spilled out of the valley and into the eastern scrub. This needs to be avoided. Being in the greater open expanse of the desert scrub would more readily allow the party to be surrounded.

 

[Kwargrow]

Matumbo will exit the hut, leaping down if feasible. He will quickly find cover and use his bow to fire at any hostile Da'Roneh he sees.

Spoiler: Rolls

75, 97+05

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

"I still think we should spare younger couples and children even if it means we will have to return and conquer these people again."

Merin nods, "Agreed. In a perfect world, I'd rather parlay with these people, and establish some sort of truce. But you're right, they're all touched by evil, in their mind, and perhaps in their very souls."

A strategy must be developed that would cause some but not too many of the Da'Roneh to give chase.

Merin follows Matumbo down; on the way, he whispers hurriedly to both his comrades.

Merin whispers "When they see the dead husband, they're going to be up in arms. I don't see how only a few would respond to such a bold incursion. However, if this happens, perhaps we should try to pacify them? And possibly use them as a distraction when we return?"

 

[MacConnell]

Spoiler: Contortion

Effectiveness: Mind + Commercial + Athletic + Coordination + Knowledge + Motility
Matumbo: 61 - 10(height in strides) = 51 {damage: 49% * 10 = 5}
Sheldon: 33 - 10 = 23 {damage: 77% * 10 = 8}

Spoiler: Projectile Assault

Effectiveness: Launch + Accuracy + Tranquility + d100
Launch: Body + Combat + Projectile + Motility
Accuracy: Mind + Commercial + Athletic + Prowess + Knowledge
Tranquility: Essence + Collegiate + post-Collegiate + Adhesion + Cohesion
Matumbo: 41 + 60 + 30 + 102 = 233 - 50(long range) = 183

Spoiler: Projectile Avoidance

Effectiveness: Avoidance + Analysis + d100
Da'Roneh: 15 + 19 + 50 = 84
damage: 183 - 84 = 99% * 11 = 10
Body: 8 - 10 = -2, incapacitated

Spoiler: Mystical Assault

Effectiveness: Bending + task + d100
Sheldon: 51 + 41(shock) + 83 = 175

Spoiler: Mystical Resistance

Da'Roneh: 10(conditioning) + 21(fury) + 50(d100) = 81
damage: 175 - 81 = 94% * 10 = 9
Body: 8 - 10 = -1, incapacitated

Matumbo will exit the hut, leaping down if feasible. He will quickly find cover and use his bow to fire at any hostile Da'Roneh he sees.

As soon as Matumbo is out the door, he realizes that a jump from 10 strides up would likely cause him some damage, maybe even break a leg, so he instantly discards the idea, hurrying down the ladder as quickly as possible.

Sheldon muses aloud, "Take it to the ground it is," and follows after the Deviard.

Matumbo realizes that the gigantic trees will provide excellent cover, but only temporarily. With the lack of ground cover, as the enemy moves about, any taken position will eventually become visible.

Sheldon has the same thought to jump but quickly realizes that it would be almost fatal for him to do so. ~I need to work on that skill.~

Merin nods, "Agreed. In a perfect world, I'd rather parlay with these people, and establish some sort of truce. But you're right, they're all touched by (malevolence), in their mind, and perhaps in their very souls."

Merin follows Matumbo...

Merin whispers "... we should try to pacify them..."

OOC: I use the words benevolence and malevolence in my languages, instead of good and evil, since good and evil both need clarifiers to be definitive. The other two words do not.

When the four men reach the ground, moving back toward the Fat Man's Misery, they see that between 10 and 20 young Da'Roneh are coming toward them at a jog. Others are behind them, apparently moving slower. As Matumbo turns to take a position to fire his bow, he sees that all of them are passing by the previously infiltrated hut without a second glance. The woman has appeared with her child, screaming something in Da'Roneh. It is loud enough but only Matumbo understands that she is speaking of the killed man.

Even at long range, Matumbo puts an arrow deeply enough into one of the youth to incapacitate him. As the arrow flies, a second Da'Roneh, for no explainable reason, begins to shake violently and falls to the ground convulsing. In the shade of the trees, it looked as if electrical sparks were dancing about the body as it fell.

Matumbo has seen something similar with the Deviard Benders, perhaps Sheldon has a similar talent in manipulating waylines. Whatever Merindell can do, it is completely different.

Even with two Da'Roneh down so easily, it would be suicide for the party to attempt to stand and fight. There is no choice but to continue to move. Sheldon hollers in Ansylin. "Let's head North, back toward the pass to the jungle!"

OOC: Each character receives 2 DP. Those not fluent in Centrin or Da'Roneh increase in proficiency by 1%, each.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Merin follows Sheldon and Matumbo without further conversation. If he senses anyone gaining on them, he will pause just long enough to turn, and clap his hands, sending a sonic wave of high pitched frequencies toward their pursuers; otherwise, he will pour on the speed.

Spoiler: Base Die Roll

Sonic Attack (Deafening Sound): 92+50(luck) = 142