TUW: Welcome to the Jungle

[redraider629]

Vadin will look at the trail and see if he can sense any animals close.

 

[Sylvar B.]

Saemund finds himself mindlessly handling the slate and for some reason decides to visually examine it and discover if it has augmentation properties.

 

[MacConnell]

Day 237: Merin and Tor

Since the coal is useful for smithing armor and weapons, both Merin and Tor will try to use it (with Indigo's permission) to find more where that came from.

OOC: Role-Play Note: I stated that Indigo added this to a pack horse. Anything on the pack animals is always party inventory. Any character can use party inventory, but I am aware you are indicating politeness in your characters.

Indigo says,
"This lump of carbone, like that plate of slate Saemund found, should have come from higher up in the mountains that hold this jungle to its coast. We would need to move upland to try to discover more, and this may take some time, but we should not split off from the party.

Any of the rest of you want to move upland to see if we can find more coal?"

 

[redraider629]

Vadin feeling that he probably will not find anything on the trail, and not willing to separate from the group to look, decides Indigo's idea is a good one. "Let's go upland and look for coal, perhaps I can also find some animals there." He then adds "I wonder how these minerals found their way down the mountains."

 

[MacConnell]

Day 237: Moving Upslope

Vadin... decides Indigo's idea is a good one. "Let's go upland and look for coal, perhaps I can also find some animals there." He then adds "I wonder how these minerals found their way down the mountains."

Has the party begins to move upslope, the answer to Vadin's question presents itself, as travel slows dramatically and the horses have to be towed at points.

Due to the incline, any disturbance uphill would cause materials to slide or roll down, possibly dislodging others. That particular lump of coal could have been dropped or dislodged years ago.

As the party continues upward, the vegetation thins somewhat and the humidity drops some, as well. Feroz is able to take back to the sky as overwatch.

After about an hour of travel, Vadin points out a game trail running perpendicular to the slope. The path follows a bit of a ridge that allows for horizontal travel. Northward, the particular path rises further into the mountains and becomes more narrow than the horses could follow. Southward seems to widen, and it is the direction the party was originally travelling, anyway.

At this altitude it is unlikely the path belongs to tapir, it is a more reasonable deduction that the path is used by some type of goat or sheep. Following the path, the peak curves eastward, and the party realizes that the path is leading toward a previously hidden valley.

As the path dips back toward lower elevation, there is a split. A much narrower path continues eastward. The broader path continues downward toward the valley.

It is late enough in the afternoon that the split in the path seems a good place to stop for the night.

Sheldon says, "We should look around some before it gets too dark. We may find fresh game upslope, but we do not really need it. There is no telling what we might find in that valley."

 

[Kwargrow]

Sannit strokes his beard as he looks around, leaning on his spear. His dark hair is at it longest length that the others have seen, and he has an eager gleam in his eye as he stares at new places. "I would like to see this valley," he says.

Bolo pets Intrinsic and the horse nuzzles against her. Her black curly hair almost completely obscures her face and the jagged scar on her cheek.

Turtle plods along the people. He hopes he never sees another city again.

 

[MacConnell]

Day 238: The Hidden Valley

Sannit strokes his beard... "I would like to see this valley," he says...

In the morning light, the newly discovered valley has an almost surreal feel to it. From the party's vantage point at a higher elevation, the foliage is sparse enough to view the scene below. All bu the tallest trees of the canopy is obscured by a fog. At this altitude, there is a significant enough difference in the temperature of the valley and the swelter of the jungle below to create the natural fog each morning. As the sun rises higher, the fog clears even as the party eats breakfasts and each person prepares himself for the day.

The uniqueness of such an isolated location has created a wondrous micro-habitat, being at marked altitude from the jungle below and completely cut off from the desert to the east. The sounds coming from the small birds, insects, and frogs are similar to the surrounding jungle but occasionally penetrated with an unfamiliar chirp or call. The canopy below is thick enough that the party will lose their eyes in the sky as Feroz will not be able to see through it forcing him back to limb hopping as the party travels. Turtle is almost overwhelmed with a myriad of new smells.

The trail widens as the party nears to entering the thicker foliage. Once fully into the trees the party pauses momentarily to allow themselves to acclimate to the change. This particular game trail continues downslope and is crossed several times by other smaller trails.

After a couple of hours of slow travel, a small lake can be seen farther downhill and sounds reach the party's ears that resemble those made by the labors of people. The sounds at this point are considerable indistinct and of no specific direction. Nothing untoward has been seen, at this point. This particular high valley is blessedly cooler than the jungle below, especially with the much lower humidity.

 

[Sylvar B.]

Saemund dismounts and walks next to his horse to make it easier to navigate the foliage. He addresses the group, it would be interesting to see what people have inhabited this valley and advanced so far to busy themselves with tasks that are loud enough to reach out ears. They may even become some interested trade partners. Should we seek them out? If we do it may be prudent to simply observe them at first, so that we may ascertain whether they are likely to be hostile.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

As Merin hurriedly sketches out the landmarks they have covered so far this morning, he nods, and says, "Agreed. We should see if these are the workers we're looking for, or if they actually live here, and in any event, we should ascertain their level of hostility."

 

[MacConnell]

Day 238: Moving into the Valley

Saemund dismounts and walks next to his horse to make it easier to navigate the foliage. He addresses the group, it would be interesting to see what people have inhabited this valley and advanced so far to busy themselves with tasks that are loud enough to reach out ears. They may even become some interested trade partners. Should we seek them out? If we do it may be prudent to simply observe them at first, so that we may ascertain whether they are likely to be hostile.

As Merin hurriedly sketches out the landmarks they have covered so far this morning, he nods, and says, "Agreed. We should see if these are the workers we're looking for, or if they actually live here, and in any event, we should ascertain their level of hostility."

Indigo responds as well.
"I would rather err on the side of caution. I am for observation before any deliberate revealing of our presence."

At the party's current location, vegetation is sparse due to the altitude and allows for a good view of the more heavily canopied valley below. Merin is able to make a decent overview sketch, estimating dimensions. Moving along the height before descending, the party can see that the center of the valley is covered by a small lake. There is a narrow break in the canopy to indicate.

Traveling down, this path leads directly to the lake. It seems obvious that regular travel of animals circumnavigates the waters. Unlike the Lunaedriac upon which Bergbaulager sits which is crystal clear, this lake obviously has no outlet or flow and appears as dark as the night sky, lending to a mystery of what might be hidden within its depths. Its level is determined by rainfall and evaporation. It is more reminiscent of that swamp the party discovered some weeks back.

The edge of the lake is covered in reeds and cattails. This being the driest time of the year, the lake appears to be at its lowest, showing obvious muddy tracks of various animals pushing through the tall reeds to get to the water's edge. Quiet examination of the immediate area to determine a possible direction of continuation reveals several interesting things.

There was apparently a battle here, several years back, between 2 differing peoples. The outcome of such appears to have been one of mutual loss. At the east and west edges of the old battle scene, discouraging markers have been placed to designate territories. It appears this valley is still home to 2 differing peoples, neither of whom is friendly and still hold animosity with each others.

Finally, the sounds of activity echo very faintly through the valley and across the water but still give no indication of their exact nature or location.