Am'sheri Caravan

"Hruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhgh!" The greatfoot in front of you raises her head high, a length so great it nears, then crashes the jungle canopy. For a moment, blessed sunlight breaks through the perpetual greensky. "Hahhhhruuuuuuuuuuuun!" she yells, and the caravan master, a sith-makar rushes up and taps her with a quirt, to get her attention.

Slowly, around you, the caravan grinds to a halt. You're all here--as guards, as merchants. As the curious or guests--a grand caravan of goods returning to the jungle, and bearing Alexandrian goods. Swiftclaws, those riding raptors, nip and snarl at one another as the caravan halts. Drivers yerk at the reins, and call out to one another. One can hear the sound of wheels grinding and leather creaking.

All in all, you're just fifty strong, and it's been hell. Mosquitoes, the size of goblins. Plants that first nibble the toes, like gentle pondfish--then open wide, and wider--ready to take in a full-sized oruch. The oppressive heat, the humidity that confuses the line between jungle and "oh hell I just took a dunk in a river," all combines to make you forget, or nearly forget--how gorgeous it is. Brilliant flowers, lush forest. The gentle call at nighttimes of the--

"--hunter-casste ssays listen," one of the sith-makar nearby says. Word gets passed along, down the caravan.

<OOC> Jenner ...cues them anyway. ;)

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Also, guys: feel free to make up and RP your own reasons to come along! <3"

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "The caravan you're part of is returning from Alexandria, to Am'shere! It's laden with goods and gold, as well as ambassadors from Alexandria's Green. The Treaty between the sith-makar and Alexandria is the first of its kind--and the Green was heavily involved in that brokerage. Given that and its rare destination, there's all sorts of reasons to come along. :3"

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Also. You've been traveling for at least four days. It's hot. It's sticky. ...it's gorgeous. ...there are mosquitos the size of goblins. ^^;"

Merek is with the others that came to the caravan, while he has on his black attire cloak which is adjusted about him with the hood up also. He is listening to folk while he settles back on the wagons to watch folk as well.

If it wasn't for magic...

Kisa would be very uncomfortable.

Thankfully there was magic -- with Jazz hands magic -- to help her along the way. While she sits in one of the wagons of the caravan guiding it along with a canopy overhead that hides her from the sun when it does manage to poke through the greenery overtop. Her mouth pulls to one side, then the other, and she leans along with it before calling out "WHAT'S THE HOLD UP?! I have textiles that need to be sold!" -- and a spider for Alba, maybe, perhaps, there is a chance.

She was wearing an impossible skirt and a short-sleeved t-shirt top. The impossible skirt was volumous and could probably double as a pillow.

<OOC> Beaglefinder XD

It is the most unusual application of magic that one can imagine, buuuuuut...

"The force behind Mystic Armor does seem sufficient to hold back the worst of the biting insects," Jenner writes in his travelogue, dark quill scribbling from where he rides upon one of the wagons. "Likely it would not be so by a magically-induced or deteremined swarm--" He pauses, grimacing as he slaps his neck. Ahem. "--but for occasional creatures, it should be sufficient. Shall study more as the days come." He pauses, glancing as he hears Kisa's voice with a chuckle. "Also-- no wolves in Am'Shere. Can see why-- temperature entirely not conducive to wearing fur! Perhaps in deeper climate..."

Seldan, another guard with the caravan, after passing back the message to those behind him, pushes sweat-soaked, strawberry blonde hair away from his face. It's a good thing for him that most of the journey has been under forest canopy, because what sunlight they have seen has already turned his ivory-fair skin pink. He is very uncomfortable, his shirt plastered to him beneath the light surcoat over his armor that looks more like robes than anything. He hasn't said much for most of the journey, and seems more inclined to listen, watch, and learn.

The caravan slowly, slowly halts. That creak of leather. The groan of wheel and schlorp of junglemud. A scaled hustles past, spear in hand. The greatfoot at the lead bellows again--the sound, as mighty as it is, getting caught in the lushness of the rainforest.

"...warrior-casste ssays move towards the ssenter," one of the sith-makar says, Izel. He scuttles up near Seldan, and then gestures along the line of the caravan. "Sshare words--you. Sshare words with other ssoftsskins." Spears are coming out, and atlatl--smaller spears that is, and their launchers.

There are fifty of you--it's been four days. A mixture of merchants, warriors, ambassadors. Of scaled and not.

Also, the mosquitos.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Jenner--btw, you've managed to catch one of the mosquitoes. A shaman-caste taught you how to put it on a leash. This scares other mosquitoes away, but it means it stares. At Jenner. Hungrily. With multifaceted, blood-orb eyes. ;_;"

<OOC> Jenner notes this in the Travelogue: The Doom of Tasty Mages. :(

<OOC> Beaglefinder XD

<OOC> Jenner shakes fist! X)

Merek opens up a little scroll he keeps with him to write in, then he looks to some of the others as well, then he looks to one of the sith'makar, "Your scales are pretty lovely," he winks from the hood, while he takes a staff with him to look at and examine also, working the piece.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Also--perception checks if you like. Prof/merchant, or anything else you'd like to apply. There's probably RP-related stuff can be learned. :3"

<OOC> Jenner hrm. Knowledge/Nature?

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Sure. :D"

GAME: Jenner rolls knowledge/nature: (7)+14: 21

GAME: Merek rolls perception: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)

<OOC> Merek says, "too busy flirting"

<OOC> Jenner BWAHAHA

Burai has reconnected.

Burai is here as a guest, or an observer as he likes to think of it. He's made the acquaintence of a fellow druid who advised him of the caravan. And of the opportunity for travel to a land so far away it is otherwise unreachable.

Seldan blinks in surprise at being singled out, and immediately looks down. "Yes, sir," is his only answer, as he moves towards the center as bid. He doesn't immediately strike up conversation, though, instead looking out to see what prompted the order.

GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (14)+2: 16

<OOC> Beaglefinder laughs. Welcome, Burai! There is a logger. :3

Burai has partially disconnected.

GAME: Kisaiya rolls Profession/Merchant: (2)+15: 17

<OOC> Kisaiya XD

<OOC> Seldan says, "Sense Motive. Sith'makar can be hard to read, but what's the general mood of the caravan? Are they nervous, expectant?"

GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (8)+7: 15

<OOC> Beaglefinder starts sending out pages. :3

Jenner glances over at the interruption, nodding without comment. He blows across the paper, a murmured cantrip to dry the ink swiftly-- he closes it as he stretches, glancing to his *other* side with a grimace. A glare.

The mosquito/fly/thing stares back. With red eyes. Hungry, hungry eyes.

"No biting," the mage warns darkly, moving down towards the others. "Or I'll shrink you again.

"The mosquito eyes. EYES.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Alright. RP funstuffs paged. Go on as you're able, and I'll be getting another pose out soonish. It'll reflect whatever y'all are doing in RP. <3"

Seldan peers out into the darkness, then glances at Izel again. -Oh.- "They are asking us to move to the center of the caravan," he calls out to his fellow humans in a voice with a strong Myrrish accent. "They want the sith'makar to the outside, and us towards the center," he tells the others, suiting actions to words and climbing up on one of the wagons to perch as close to its center as he can get.

Burai hears and obeys, finding himself next to the other Alexandrians. "Have any of you been to this land before?"

Soup has connected.

Kisaiya is still sitting on her wagon, looking about, her mouth pulling off to the side. She glances at Jenner, stares, then looks toward the caravan again. She shuffles from side-to-side up to her feet so she can get a better look over the carts. Her head tilts and she cranes up further, looking over the heads of some of the others, "Hmm... BLAH! The mud must be terrible." She puffs her cheeks out and flops back down into the seat, the impossibly floofy skirt creating a cushion for her as she waved as Seldan.

"Briefly,", Jenner admits in answer to Burai, "But that was a very long time ago. Before the Mist and the Vanishing." He shrugs, stretching gingerly. "As part of an initial merchantry detail. I'm not sure we ever got beyond the caravansary. Granted, that was before the alliance and agreement." He glances over, one good eye sparkling with silent mirth. "I'm told the mosquitoes were much bigger then. Carrying off a full man in plate armor for later.... dining."

"YES!" Kisa tosses her arms up as she answers Burai, "I've been here a number of times. Trading. Jobs. You kinda name it! It's a fun place." A wave to one of the Sith-makar as they pass by, "Pieces of your best!" Kisa calls out the greeting.

<OOC> Jenner dies.

<OOC> Beaglefinder :D

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Heya, Soup!"

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "There is a logger. <3 If someone could help him get caught up, would be amazin. Also, guys--addcom lc=LahChan if you'd like to add the local channel, and gossip during RP. ^^;"

"I have not," Seldan answers, acknowledging Kisaiya's wave with one of his own. He pushes a sweat-soaked lock of hair out of his face again and adjusts where he stands at the back of one of the wagons. "I suppose that it is a good thing to go anywhere once." Unspoken in that is the notion that he has zero intent of coming back if he can help it.

The poor mosquito. It stares, hungrily, at Jenner. One could imagine no greater starf than those eyes--those blood red eyes. Eternally hungry. Eternally needy. Starving. Starving. ...and then inexplicably, those blood-red spheres flick to the left, then right and it flings itself towards the jungle at the edge of the "road." The leash yanks taunt and vibrates--but the mosquito doesn't give up!

"ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz!!!" it buzzes, its teeny voice hungry and at once, furious at the leash keeping it from whatever's beyond the wall of plant and shadow.

The comment by Merek earns an odd look. "You ..." the sith-makar says and--the muzzle rumples. "Thiss one is not /perversse/, ssoftskin," they reply. Male, female? It is hard to tell! The usual tells are not there, among the scaled! Regardless... "...now get yoursself towards the--!!"

A sudden cry from the greatfoot cuts off all conversation. A spear lodges itself in that great neck, and thick red blood oozes from its source.

"KSSSRHURR HSS VSSK KRRU UURU SSKSAA VTHHHH!"

"...they ssay drop our weapons. They are taking the caravan!" Izel replies, her voice terse. She has her own spear out by now and other scaled have moved in close.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Perception if you like; low light vision matters. ^^;"

GAME: Soup rolls perception: (8)+7: 15

GAME: Jenner rolls Perception: (11)+11: 22

GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (19)+2: 21

GAME: Burai rolls perception: (3)+8: 11

GAME: Merek rolls perception: (14)+14: 28

GAME: Kisaiya rolls Perception: (18)+9: 27

Merek lifts up his gaze a bit and points, "A lot of figures," he says, "I'm not sure what they are, they scent kinda like brine," he adds.

Riding high on his mount, the small Gnomish Knight Soup, keeps his lance pointing skyward. The mount for it's part, a massive Dire Corgi seems to be having the time of it's life despite the fur, bugs and mud. A wide tongue lols out and occasionally it snaps at the air taking great mouthfuls of bugs and steaming air. Soup, the knight on it's back however is quiet in his misery. Having long since become vacume sealed inside his armor with sweat and irritation. He's given up on swatting at the bugs, instead simply centering on the edges of the forrest. His head tilting as he sees something. Blinking through the layer of grime over his eyebrows beneath his dog-head shaped helm. "Mal." He says warningly to the Corgi which juts it's ears up in response and turns slowly to look as directed. As the pair begin to shift towards the enemy, a monkey falls out of the Corgi's furry mass. Shrieks once in terror and skitters away into the underbrush trailing brown and white foot long hairs in it's wake.

<OOC> Beaglefinder nudges phone. X) This may take me about 10 mins. So I apologize for that, but I'm here. ^^;

"Whatever they be, they reek of evil," Seldan calls out, loud enough for softskins and sith'makar alike to hear him. "We are not overmatched, I think, if we stand together!" He draws his own longsword in a rasp of leather on steel.

Jenner is reluctant to let the mosquito go; proven more effective than magic (HERESY) at driving other biting creatures away! The wizard's lips narrow with a grim expression; following eyesight and a careful glance of his own as he searches near, his eye glittering with the first raw touch of energies-- swift magic, flowing smoothly. "What are they?" he asks, quiet murmuring to Burai in common tongue. Channeling and focusing (and mosquitohawk buzzing angrily!), he works to ready the spells at his command, eye gleaming. "How can one reek in a jungle? *Everyone* reeks...."

"Brine?" Burai echoes. "Then they are some<OOC> Seldan fixes that.

Seldan has just completed another spell when the sith-makar walks up to him. He's managed to get most of the mess out of his face and hair, and part of his clothing as well, but the fair skin is definitely pink in places, but the whispers and hisses draw his attention. His eyebrows lift, and he nods, murmuring something in response, then goes over to the side of the road, gathering a dozen or so leaves of a particular plant. These he twists and breaks, applying the resultant clear goo in places on face, arms, and hands, and in one place where a spear had managed to graze him. He's still twitching occasionally, but seems to be slowly pulling himself together. He even manages to clean and sheathe his blade, although he isn't quite listening to those around him, other than the one sith-makar.

He nods when that is done, relaxing a little more, and murmurs something once again. looking up only as the rain begins to fall. Wet is better than icky.

There is a quiet sigh from Soup, he lowers the mask of his helmet to keep the rain out of his eyes and simply pulls himself into the saddle atop the Dire Corgi. Leading the Corgi over towards the greatfoot he knudges the Corgi. "Mal! Stick!" The great jaws of the Corgi reach out, dropping the squeeky enemy to the Earth and pulling the spear free with a quick snap. Then the pair pass on by. The Corgi happily chewing on the spear as Soup pulls out his lute. The small sweat, blood, grime, mud and now rain soaked Gnome struming at the strings. "Time to march on bye, feel the rain like tears we cry. Try to hold my head once more up high, but learn that here even the flies want you to die. I think I felt my pants sigh, giving up on being ever again being dry."

<OOC> Beaglefinder XD

Whirlpoopin' has partially disconnected.

"...sshaman," Mazatl says, and thumps their tail. Laughs. "You assk questions like one! ...ssa. And you sspeak as a keeper," to Soup, sounderingly. Then, "Thiss one will check with the hunter-casste. That is their domain. Onsse the bodies are moved, one ssuspects we will be on the way. If they ssend word, one will ssend Izel," Mazatl thumps tail again, and moves towards a group of lean scaled. Lean-bodied scaled, bearing spears and atlatl. One or two, a bow.

Seldan and his murmurs get a few noted looks. The one who'd whispered thumps their tail, before moving away.

Before long, Izel does show--and says hunter-caste says things are ready to move, again. And here, you've got choices.

"We losst ssome of the sswifts, and one of the carts," Izel says to Seldan, as he'd worked as a guard with her, earlier. "...thankss to ...sshaman..." mage "Jenner, the bodiess are loaded. We've readjusted the loads, and freed up ssome sspace--but more of uss will have to ride."

Then, she looks to each of you. Oh. Ohshit.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "So! Some of you will need to ride swiftback. Or--arm-wrestle Kisa for a place on the cart. >.> Swifts are cantankerous raptors that were turned into riding-beasts. The upside is, they're fast. The downside is, well. ...they are raptors. ^^;"

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "It's up to you how well your character does, or if you sneak a spot onto one of the carts. <3 Please use your responses to mould your story a little, and maybe challenge your character. :3"

<OOC> Beaglefinder > A famous author once wrote, if you can't make your characters suffer. Who CAN you make suffer? >.> Or, go with heroism. It is all up to you. <3

<OOC> Seldan laughs.

<OOC> Beaglefinder :3

<OOC> Seldan says, "I'm going to go with the old fashioned method, I have no idea how he'll do."

GAME: Seldan rolls 1d100: (88): 88

<OOC> Beaglefinder XD

<OOC> Jenner will takes option 3: OVerland Flight. Will ride neither wagon NOR raptor! SAVE S BACON.

<OOC> Seldan says, "Oh wait."

GAME: Seldan rolls ride: (16)+6: 22

<OOC> Beaglefinder laughs.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Go ahead and pose, guys. And hey, you do pretty good! :D"

<OOC> Seldan says, "Why not use a Ride skill when you haven't a clue whether he'll manage or not."

<OOC> Beaglefinder laughs.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "It's a good idea. :3"

In the interim time, Seldan has managed to get himself mostly cleaned up, and his wits re-attached. When Izel shows, he listens carefully, then hesitates, looking over at the swiftclaws. "I have not ridden one before," he says hesitantly, eyes firmly fixed on the raptors. "But if you ask it of me, I will try." Knowledge is valuable, right? "The Dreamer calls us to learn all we can."

So it is that he ends up swiftback. Although not accustomed to the balance of a raptor, and his inexperience is obvious, he settles himself in the saddle, watching others around him, and quickly enough sorts out the differences in its gait, less-filthy surcoat streaming out behind him. He doesn't get to a full-out run, staying with the caravan as he is, but he doesn't get thrown and he doesn't get clawed or bitten. That's something, right? His confidence, tentative at first, increases as he manages to stay in the saddle.

<OOC> Beaglefinder :D

The raptor beneath Seldan keeps its pace--and soon, shows its name. As the man becomes more comfortable, the raptor begins to stretch its legs--a smooth, swift pace alongside the rest of the caravan.

Jenner chuckles in quiet humour, pausing as he listens to Izel's words with careful consideration. "Hrm," he rumbles thoughtfully, frowning. Considering. "I can remove myself from that consideration, at least," says, grimacing. "Unfortunately, the conveyance spell only works on me, else another would be better with it. Or using it to lighten our burdens." He spares a glance towards the swifts, ominous. Ominous!

Hungry, hungry raptors. EVERYTHING WANTS TO EAT HIM.

"...I shall fly instead," he amends his words, "Staying close to the caravan. It is better that way, honored ser."

Izel's eyes go wide and they thump their tail--before stepping away. The hunter-caste will go her own swiftclaw. A lean beast as lean as some of the hunter-caste, and take off alongside. Still, the mage's move does free up a beast--and things spread out a little better, a little more smoothly.

The one smallish sith who'd eyed having to share the drenched corgi probably breathes a sigh of relief!

<OOC> Jenner snickers!

Burai eyes the nearest swift. His expression is cautious. He knows how to guess at the moods and demeanor of wild crestures, if mood is even the right word for it. But these are something different, something unfamiliar to him. Not quite wild but not quite domesticated. Much like those who normally ride them, he supposes. Still he's never felt quite right riding creatures, wild or not. And much like Jenner he has his own means of travel so that he often does have to.

GAME: Burai casts Longstrider. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13

<OOC> Beaglefinder XD

<OOC> Beaglefinder <3

<OOC> Jenner chortles!

<OOC> Beaglefinder adds some Princess Peach details. <.<

Yet there is one thing that the raptors don't want to eat. The combination of armored, knightly attired, sweat, grime, blood and mud covered gnome mixed with the odor of a similarly distressed but also fluffy Corgi creates of bouquet of aromas that soon has the duo trundling along in the rear. Even if they may be faster then everyone. The carts straining to get away from the dank, the dog-dank, the dank that helps make sure that the trail they make through the jungle doesn't grow back quickly. Mosquitoes drop out of the air, monkies from trees, tropical bird species squawk and plummet to the earth. Of course every single one of them is gobbled up by the Corgi and added to the fragrant pastiche he leaves in his wake. Soup idly strums his lute, lost in dreams of baths, crisp air and a most importantly windows between him and the outdoors.

Possessing the floatiest of skirts, Kisa floofs out her pantaloons and hovers above the earth, along the trail.

<OOC> Beaglefinder laughs.

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Zoop is awesome. <3"

<OOC> Seldan laughs.

<OOC> Soup says, "My people shall know you as Shst'Lak-Ulush! / My own deed name? It is an honor, what does it mean? / The Stench that walks on four feet."

<OOC> Jenner dies.

Jenner has disconnected.

<OOC> Seldan says, "..."

<OOC> Seldan says, "I aspire to write half that imaginatively and descriptively."

<OOC> Beaglefinder hee's. <3

<OOC> Seldan says, "Thank the gods for Prestidigitation."

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Alright, guys. It is nearing 10 over here. So--I'mma wrap things up. A little shorter than I'd like, but--since there's been groundwork, s'easier to pick up again on a different tale. <3"

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "Also, if your character has an IC query they'd like to make, for the purposes of chardev--send it to me, and I'll do my best to address it, and get you something meaningful. And...one, two... ^^;"

So. Raptors.

Raptors and rain and magic and flight--and that's the way it is for the next few hours. After that, the rain breaks, and you make camp. Only to pick up again and ride those last few hours to...to...

Towards are great building just peeking through the deepjungle. One can hear voices and shouts. Hisses and laughter. Yet, one cannot see all of the details, not yet--at least until you head through the guarded gates, past the walls (dangers of Nar?). And they are WALLS, walls that Burai might make note of--half-made from living jungle. Possible things to ask about, once you've settled in.

And there--there, inside this something resembling a city, in the middle of jungle hell--are buildings. Small fires. And towards the center--a great fire--one great enough to spark joy into even the most gothy of Ceinarans. Even those who spend ages, writing in journals of muses and--

Past that, one can see the sun shining o'er the head of a great ziggurat. It's as large as a temple in Alexandria, and sith-makar move up and down its stairs, rendered ants by the size.

And, finally. Finally. They've cleared the jungle enough that one can see the SUN, and the blasted rain has stopped. Gone AWAY. And, and--the place smells like food, like cookfires. Like there might be bedding where bugs might NOT make unscheduled, nighttime visits (Jenner's pet mosquito's sad, sad eyes may haunt his memories for years to come). ...

"Pleasse, sshare food, sshare fire with us," the shaman is saying. What was their name? One can scarecely remember. There's bed. Food, ahead. And-- "We will sselebrate tonight, the caravan'ss return. All of our ssafe return, and give thankss with food and Fire to the Dragon Father."

Oh. Oh, yeah. There'll totally be a PARTY.

<OOC> Beaglefinder rar's. Thank y'all for taking this journey with me. <3 I'm sorry things rushed from time to time--it's a lot to pack into three hours. >.> But! Y'all are amazing, and I'll be handing out some additional rewards in a bit. Also, please don't forget the queries if you've any. ^^;

<OOC> Seldan says, "Let me sleep on it. I might well have some when I'm not brain-fried."

<OOC> Beaglefinder rar. <3

<OOC> Seldan says, "Does Seldan know who they mean by the Dragon Father?"

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "He's been in Alexandria long enough to put it together. :3"

<OOC> Seldan says, "Okay."

<OOC> Beaglefinder says, "They also follow the Green. Dana, Gilead (Hunter Dragon) are big ones. But, y'can just make up names along there. Go with what sounds right to you. ^^;"

<OOC> Soup says, "Yay! Was fun, thank you for the scene Beagle, and the RP everyone!"

<OOC> Beaglefinder hat-tips!

<OOC> Seldan says, "Oh, that isn't a problem. Seldan IC grew up Daeusite."

<OOC> Seldan says, "Thank you for running!"

<OOC> Beaglefinder rar!

<OOC> Burai nods, thanks all for the scene (specially Beagle)

<OOC> Seldan says, "But now, I sleep. Thank you for a lovely scene!"

<OOC> Beaglefinder rar!

<OOC> Seldan says, "And thank you for the help in getting involved."

Seldan has disconnected.

Merek has left.

JUDGE: Beaglefinder sends Merek back to his former location.

Soup has left.

JUDGE: Beaglefinder sends Soup back to his former location.

Seldan has left.

JUDGE: Beaglefinder sends Seldan back to his former location.

Burai has left.

JUDGE: Beaglefinder sends Burai back to his former location.