[Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

Tracking Induks - what possibly could go wrong?

54th of Ymiden 722

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From Tried's Mouth to the mysterious Tower, the waters around Scalvoris and the island itself hold a vast array of secrets, just ripe for discovery. Here are landmarks, jungles, mountains, forests and islands of note.

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Winston
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

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54th of Ymiden 722
Beard envy.

When Vega spoke of Darius' beard, Winston nodded solemnly in agreement. If anyone chose to probe beneath his demeanor of levity and excitement, they would find the ferret to be truly envious of the beard and not in any way mocking... unlike Vega. He was just pleased to be here.

Then more people turned up. Winston beamed at Balthazar and gave him a jolly wave.

As Vega and the others described what they saw in the tracks they found, Winston could see it when it was pointed out, but he would have had no idea otherwise and as his eyes left the details behind, he'd turn back to see nothing but a big old splat again.

Vega: *Looked in the hole.*

Winston: *Looked in the hole and nodded in agreement.*

Vega: *Looked at the tracks.*

Winston: *Looked at the tracks and nodded in agreement.*

Vega: *Looked at the waving man.*

Winston: *Looked at the... this time they were gone before he even caught a glimps.*

When the bird flew over however, Winston ducked down low on Vega's shoulder. Big birds overhead always made him a little uneasy and he was in no mood to take chances. One fowl swoop and he would be gone, in one... Um... yes.

Vega gave the instruction for them all to take the rope, which Winston diligently passed along. Whomever ended up behind Vega, would have some rope thrust in their direction with instructions to hold on firmly and pass it along. Vega had spoken and Winston had listened without hesitation. He was sure to do a head-count as they set out.

As they went, Winston soaked it all in. He growled at the pink blossoms, poked his tongue out at the puddle and all the time, faced with his rear to the front and his face to the rest of the party as instructed. He watched for everyone, totally at easy with the fact that Vega had the front covered. Using crude semaphore in the form of pointing and head-shaking to support the spoken instructions, he passed along the information as clearly as he could manage.

He considered just for a moment, traveling along the rope... to the other person... to get a better look at the rest of the party... but no sooner had the thought entered his mind had it been followed by Vega's boot and he thought better of it. He remained firmly lodged in her shoulder.

The rain was rubbish, it had to be said, but the thunder didn't bother him, not until it was accompanied by lightening and large falling, flaming branches!

Winston yelled at the top of his lungs. "MOVE!" He made no effort to leave Vega's shoulder. Quite the opposite. He grabbed on with both hands and pinched the material of her top between his knees ready to brace. Of the two of them, he considered that she was almost certainly faster, more nimble, more aware of her surroundings and generally speaking less likely to jump from the fire into the frying pan and he was staying aboard for the ride.

Yes and then...


The branch fell, separating the group in two. Anyone that wished the keep hold of the rope, could very well end up being squashed. The front half could proceed in their pursuit, but not if they didn't want to leave their companions behind, even if only temporarily.

The branch was easily large enough to cause significant obstruction and was, for now, also on fire.
word count: 595

Appearance

When standing at his full height, Winston towers a full 1 foot and one blueberry tall. A fact he will happily demonstrate before flicking said blue orb into the air with his nose and then eating it with a snappy grin.

His eyes are dark and sharp, ringed by dark brown fur upon the bright white fur that sets off across the rest of his face.

Equipement

Winston usually carries the following on his person:
  • Cassion's Locket hangs snugly around his neck.
  • Winston's Fairy Bell hangs from his tool-belt attached to his hip. It's 'ringer' is often bound by a small piece of cloth to prevent it giving away his position while in the wilderness.
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Woe
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

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As far as Woe could tell, none of the companions had spotted him or his Kutzeldaur, where they hid amidst the tree canopy's shadows. The cadouri's nature was confirmed when it began speaking and vocalizing concern and upset as things turned from bad to worse, and worse to damn near catastrophic.

Why this group of forged were entering the domain of a Induk which they had no business engaging with was beyond Woe's reckoning. He'd considered that he might reveal himself to them, a few times into the procession into the jungle, but in the end decided against it. Let them test each other against the ravages of Scaltoth. She would be victorious, and they would come out either stronger or having fed the Death spirit that ruled the place.

He shrugged, maybe he was being overdramatic about the chances for their downfall. He wished them no ill-will, but nor did he want to be a part of whatever fool's errand had called them there. So he took flight with the Kutzeldaur, breathing shadow and then darting through it with a swift burst of flight into the darkening sky. He left the companions behind him.
Off Topic
Yes, and Then...


Another lightning strike came down, quite randomly disintegrating the branch that had separated the group. Now a small brush fire was spreading, and would possibly cause more damage if someone didn't put it out!
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Balthazar Black
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?


54 Ymiden 722
It was quite an interesting group that had gathered and due to certain members, it was a group he was fairly confident Elisabeth would have been safe traveling with. He didn't know about her plans to venture into the jungle but he'd done it before as well. Everyone needed to have their own stories to tell. That didn't change that he was happy to see her again. Traveling with the company often seemed to keep him from spending long stretches in Haven so any time he could have with her, he'd enjoy as best he knew how. Elisabeth was quick to make formal introductions, which didn't often occur to Balthazar once he had recognized a face. He knew where he'd seen Vega before, but the details on introductions had slipped his mind.

Other voices seemed to come from the trees around them but his senses lead Balthazar to believe it was not something as dangerous as the beast he fought the last time he crossed through the forest. It didn't have the same smell or the same hard-footed walk. Probably another traveler who'd show themselves and if they did, Balthazar would address them then. Until then he was content to track the movement around them with his ears and track the group with his eyes.

Vega had a unique way of... well... being. She had a wonderful bluntness to her and Balthazar liked it. It made him feel better than when he had to mince and mind his words around political schemers. Her words cast his memory back to the battle with Rhaum and her questioning of his sanity- or will to live, caused him to smile slightly. Had he not encountered the large beast in the jungle before, he certainly wouldn't have considered the dangers she spoke of as seriously as he did now. It was part of the reason he wanted to know why he could feel Elisabeth in the jungle.

"It's not my first trip through the jungle but you are right about the danger. I was on the way out with another group when I sensed my wife and felt compelled to find out why. I'm glad to see she didn't come alone." Balthazar replied in a passive but kind tone. Her questions were fair and they were similar to what the mage was thinking when he saw the group the first time. Regardless, Vega moved on to begin examining the prints and Balthazar watched curiously. He was no real hunter on his own, well at least not for conventional animals. Humans tended to be easier to find for him.

It didn't take long before the source of the voices made itself known. A wild man emerged from the thick trees and watched the group for a trill or so before beginning to disappear back into the foliage. Balthazar had only passing moments to note the markings and strange jewelry adorning the man but it was enough that he'd remember it to investigate later. A strange bird call, and the man was off ahead of them, following in the path of the footsteps. He moved too quickly for Balthazar's senses to track alone and the mage hadn't considered attuning until it was too late and the man was too far off. Strange... he didn't like the feeling that they were being watched and reported on by the tribes. The second bird call furthered the idea that someone was tracking them but Balthazar could only keep his ears open for other warnings.

Vega warned them to avoid the pink blooms because they would produce a pollen that could render someone unconscious and Balthazar had to admit, he wanted to harvest it. The pollen might be useful in the development of sleep bombs or similar weaponry. However it would be better to find a source and buy it than to try and play with it in the jungle. If something went wrong, it could go very wrong.

Thunder boomed ominously and the sky began to weep around them as a tropical bird perched itself on a tree branch and watched the party. Balthazar opened his focus to the call of the elements to avoid further weather-based surprises. A storm wasn't too hard to predict at this point in the season, but with Robin leading the rest of the company back out of the forest, the only people really fit to make a good shelter were the ones around him. Vega was quick to decide that she was going to follow the tribesman who Balthazar had initially assessed as a threat rather than someone looking to get help. The mage's eyes drifted along the path of massive footprints but he was not mad enough to leave the group now. His people would be well on their way out and he'd be alone... apart from his two diri.

Vega produced a rope with simple instructions for them to wrap it around their wrist in order to keep them together. Balthazar didn't particularly fancy the idea of having a hand bound to the group but he did like the idea of them staying together, so he did as asked using his left hand. Vega passed advice back along to them through Winston as they moved along the jungle and Balthazar's head twisted a little in curiosity with each new thing. Poisonous bark might be useful in bomb making as well... but poisons were tricky things that Balthazar preferred not to mess with.

Moments later, his concern about having his hands bound was realized. Lightning struck a tree beside them and it caught ablaze quickly. The mage reached his free hand out towards the flames and called for the fire to calm down and dissipate but the damage done to the tree was already too much. The tree was beginning to spit and the group needed to either move out of the path or stop it. He wasn't sure he could conjure a quick enough and strong enough blast of wind to move the tree but he knew that if he did, the fire would rage far worse than it had before.

"Forward!" Balthazar shouted as the flaming branch came down in a small effort to keep them from being separated. He tried to move with Vega and Winston but if forced to by the tree, he would separate from the two of them to make sure Elisabeth was not hurt. Shortly after the branch struck the ground, either dividing them or not, another bolt of lightning struck it and sent splinters all around. Flaming splinters that soon ignited the ground around them. For this, Balthazar had the same response he did the first time. He reached out to the element of fire, his kin, and very firmly asked it to stop. In a matter of trills the flames, already being beat down by the rain, began to dissipate. The fire might be behind them, but there were other problems on the rise.
Yes and then...


As soon as the flames begin to dissipate, other figures become clear to see in the wreckage from the fallen tree and branch. While they disappear with equal skill and difficulty to track, it seems clear that they were watching the group. They leave behind similar trail signs as the first and they certainly had the same markings over their bodies- although they sport somewhat different jewelry. Anyone who could track the first tribesman would be able to track the others, but they all seem to be moving in the same direction.
word count: 1284

Visible Mutations/ Marks

Mutations
Defiance: Skin always glows faintly and he is warm to the touch. His is also the center of a field of static electricity so people get shocked touching him on occasion.
Rupturing: Orange etheric cracks spider-web up his arms to his elbows. His eyes and the glowing cracks going down his cheeks glow dark blue.
Transmutation: He has a series of emerald, glowing cracks on his right pectoral.
Marks
Bellinos: His fingernails are always black. The color fades into his fingers.
Celarion: A dim glowing ring surrounds his left forearm.
Palenon: A silver lightning shaped mark about the size of a hand stretching up towards his torso.

Scars

  • Oops, Oops, Ouch: Balthazar Black has twenty scars across his back from a lashing as well as scars on his hands and arms from jagged rocks on Faldrass. There are two scars on the sides of his abdomen from being stabbed and a slash across his back which blends in with the whip scars.
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Elisabeth Black
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

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As always, with these kinds of things, events coalesced quickly. It wasn’t Elisabeth’s first traveling circus, so to speak, but each situation consistantly brought a unique series of challenges. The great teacher of life – experience. Each challenge allowed new perspectives and insight, regardless of whether the task was successful.

Almost as soon as brief introductions were made and a plan hatched prompted by Vega’s assessment, Scaltoth ramped up the pressure. Not before Vega could convey a few tidbits of advice, though – something Elisabeth knew from experience not to take for granted. The only reason the young mage was prepared as well as she was, via traveling bag, was because of the redhead’s teachings.

Elisabeth, having been with Vega, Balthazar, and Darius during stressful situations, knew each would react differently. Winston threw a wild card into the mix, but the young leader wasn’t too worried about that – good people surrounded him.

Herself? Long gone were the times of panic and stress at the chaos. Being dumped or wandering willingly into madness was commonplace, so her head stayed clear, even as the strange man appeared, disappeared, and the storm approached.

Wincing a bit as the drops began to splash against her face, Elisabeth listened as Vega forged ahead with a plan, asking those coming with her to lash themselves to a community rope. Seeing more reasons to follow the plan than not, she did as the redhead instructed. Balthazar would insist on her being behind him - Elisabeth knew this to be true - so she automatically did so, anchoring herself with the rope.

The storm presented a challenge in more ways than one. A familiar tug within her began its recognizable push, wanting her to reach out and touch the elements. The pull became more intense as time passed, but the young mage resisted it for one reason – it wasn’t necessary. Balthazar would already be on top of whatever the elements had to tell him and with greater accuracy.

Falling, flaming branches? That was a new one. Elisabeth didn’t need to be told twice to move, already doing so before the words died from people’s mouths. Blessed with a well-honed reaction time, she reacted just a split-second after Balthazar, a heartbeat behind him and safe for the moment, or as safe as one could be in Scaltoth.

Her eyes darted around, checking on everyone to ensure they were safe. It was just then when she noticed figures hovering at the perimeter of her notice, there one moment and gone the next.

“Do we follow them?” she asked. Softly bellowed was probably a more accurate term, as the rumbles and thunder made it hard to converse at normal levels.

Yes and then...


Through flashes of light and booms of thunder, the jungle came alive as if their very presence quieted the normal rhythms of Scaltoth, but in being confronted with the storm, all bets were off. Birds flew past them. All manner of animals rushed through their clearing, heading in approximately the same direction as the mysterious men.

And then they all heard it – a roar. The sound rumbled through the air around them - devastatingly almost. As auditory intimidation went, it was a pretty good example.

Those with honed detection skills could isolate the roar and deduce that its origins were somewhere behind where they were – the direction the animals had fled from.


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Woe
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

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When did they install a revolving door in the Jungle...?


"What..." Woe struggled with the flight reins of his dragonling, as it turned around and went the other way. The opposite direction he was intending for it to go. Really, sometimes dragonlings had a mind of their own, but this was all too much. At least Opal had been obedient. "What are you do.... Where are you going?!"

Woe growled as the dragonling turned on its nose and flew back toward the companions. Woe could almost sense the disgust on his dragonling, as her brow furrowed beneath her fearsome horns. Did she think he was a coward, and that was why he left? No, that had nothing to do with it... He...

He had to admit he felt out of his depth, out of his element in stalking the group. While Woe was certainly comfortable enough on the margins, stalking the companions through the Scaltoth to figure out what they were up to, Soz apparently was not at home with the idea. She wished to show herself, a fearsome shadow against the flashing lightning above the canopy. As she alighted to the ground, out of line of sight of where they'd left the companions but well within ear shot, her howling shreik pierced the air, sending reverberations of intimidation throughout. Woe felt the power behind her roar, and without quite understanding what he was doing, he let an exhalation of terror exit with his breath. This went not toward the companions, but in another direction.

There was no purpose to it, that Woe could tell. Just hearing his Dragonling's protesting howl had some effect on him, and he let his
terrifying power unleash itself on the beasts of the Scaltoth. That even then were emerging toward the group from the east.

Off Topic
Yes, and Then...


And yet, Woe could've chosen his target better. As the beast he unleashed the terror upon was none other than an Oh'deer. A snarling herbivore that nevertheless had bite that it was more than willing to use. Oh'deer did not flee from a threat. When faced with something they feared, they rushed into it headlong, as a herd, ready to rend the flesh from bones and bite with their fangs.

There was a herd of them, nearly a dozen Oh'deer of various sizes and some with sharpened antlers. They answered the call of terror from Woe, and veered from the party, off toward him. Woe had only a moment to conjure his shadowy whip, before the first was arriving. Soz craned her neck, and the Oh'deer for a moment reared back as well, cowed by the sight of such a strange and large creature as a Kutzeldaur. Then the dragonling bit down on the Oh'deer, and flung it aside, against the ethick trunk of a tree.

Woe had summoned his shdaowy whip by then, and began lashing it out at the rest. If they wouldn't answer to terror, perhaps they would to pain.

"Oh'Deer" Woe shouted, for all in the vicinity to hear, as he exhaled terror upon the remaining deer that tried making for the group. He could hold them for a time, but without the companions to flank the Oh'deer, he would surely be overwhelmed.


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Darius Baer Bottom
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

Rewards Requested

Notes/Warnings: An adventure that got started, but was not completed. Elisabeth was not able to complete her knowledges before this request was raised, so she may have a few to add later. :)


Thread: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?
City/Area: Surrounding Waters & Landmarks

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Done!
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Re: [Scaltoth Jungle] The One With Fire, Ice, Song, Soul...and a Ferret?

Elisabeth Black


It's too bad you guys never finished this thread; it was a fun read as far as it went. The "Yes, and then..." box idea was quite clever, and I hadn't run across it before.

Elisabeth, lemme know if you want any more knowledges.

Enjoy your rewards!
  • XP: 15
  • Knowledges:
    • Detection: Catching a flicker of movement from a far-off vantage point
    • Etiquette: Letting your ride know you've run off and where you are headed is only polite
    • Endurance: Sustained running for extra long distances
    • Endurance: Slowing pace to conserve energy when it's not an emergency
    • Tactics: Proceeding quietly through hostile territory is a sound tactical decision
    • Investigation: Sometimes the clues don't add up

Woe


It's too bad you guys never finished this thread; it was a fun read as far as it went. The "Yes, and then..." box idea was quite clever, and I hadn't run across it before.

Poor Woe. Getting shanghaied into an adventure by his own dragonling! I guess somebody had to heed the call to adventure.

Enjoy your rewards!
  • XP: 15
  • Knowledges:
    • Stealth: Staying still and far enough to evade attention, but still keep watch.
    • Mount: Climbing atop a mount and then setting it off to fly after a group stealthily-like
    • Tactics: Heading off any threats by scouting around a group on foot
    • Mount: Knowing your mount's capabilities and using them to the fullest
    • Mount: Flying beneath the canopy of a jungle.
    • Stealth: Maintaining silence even while on the wing.
    • Mount: Dealing with a willful mount can provide challenges all on its own
    • Psychology T2: Reckoning with the mind of a willful mount, and intuiting its reaction to his direction
    • Intimidation: Using Fear breath weapon to scare up wildlife

Darius Baer


It's too bad you guys never finished this thread; it was a fun read as far as it went. The "Yes, and then..." box idea was quite clever, and I hadn't run across it before.

Darius has a nice beard. Sorry, that bit was so funny it mostly crowded out the other stuff that happened in my mind.

Enjoy your rewards!
  • XP: 15
  • Knowledges:
    • Mount: It's much easier when you're the passenger.
    • Field Craft: Different environments have different hazards.
    • Tactics: It is important to cover all the bases.
    • Stealth: Softly-softly!
    • Leadership: Consider how the morale of others might be affected before saying anything.
    • Detection: Recognising the distinction between different sets of tracks.
    • Field Craft: Heavier objects cause deeper imprints in the mud.
    • Investigation: Question everything.

Vega


It's too bad you guys never finished this thread; it was a fun read as far as it went. The "Yes, and then..." box idea was quite clever, and I hadn't run across it before.

Vega having to babysit Winston as well as play den mother to pretty much everybody else sounds pretty on-brand for her. The rope idea was intriguing, but it didn't turn out that well with a burning tree falling onto it. I found myself imagining the rope catching fire, and then the fire crawling up the rope like a fuse, while an unseen band of tribesmen plays the "Mission Impossible" theme on their bongos and flutes.

Enjoy your rewards!
  • XP: 15
  • Knowledges:
    • Mount: A well-trained and intelligent animal can be a great help to a novice rider
    • Mount: Always be aware of safety even when flying
    • Mount: Steering by voice and touch
    • Animal Husbandry: Always check your dragonling to make sure she's ok after a flight
    • Hunting: Determining height and weight from a track
    • Hunting: Determining the way someone moved by their footprints

Winston


It's too bad you guys never finished this thread; it was a fun read as far as it went. The "Yes, and then..." box idea was quite clever, and I hadn't run across it before.

My first Winston review ever! I think... Not only is the character entertaining, but the style of posting is novel, and kinda all over the place in a good way. I love it!

Enjoy your rewards!
  • XP: 15
  • Knowledges:
    • Athletics: Balacing on a moving platform
    • Mount: Moving with your mount
    • Detection: Looking for something you know is there but to far away
    • Mount: Shoulder-mounted ferret
    • Hunting: Tracking in carnage
    • Hunting: Following the lead of a master huntress
    • Field Craft: Jungle

Balthazar Black


It's too bad you guys never finished this thread; it was a fun read as far as it went. The "Yes, and then..." box idea was quite clever, and I hadn't run across it before.

Aww, man, Balthazar finally gets out into the jungle for some alone time and his wife shows up?! Well, not alone. You've got Fuego. And some other spirits. PM me if you want to add any knowledges.

Enjoy your rewards!
  • XP: 15
word count: 812

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