"There is a ledge at the top," the wounded scholar explains.  "You can provide healing there."  He does not seem slowed at all by his wounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:38, Fri 15 May 2009.

"Healing is mostly your show holy man" says Zenobia grinning. She makes a bit of a comic show of sheathing her longsword (apparently to ward off the post combat shakes with a bit of a forced laugh).

"I'll just help out where necessary."

Jarsichok has moved down the wall to where Denala stands, but as soon as he holds out a hand to help her climb she screams.  "Get away from me you freak!  Don't touch me!"  The Echtinik withdraws his hand, but does not seem offended as far as any can tell.  He implores her to climb the rope but the ranger refuses, looking at him and the weaver-spun rope with disgust.  Finally Bedawry climbs back down, wounds and all and gently lifts the ranger onto his back where Zenobia had been.  From the ground to the ledge above he crawls of the side of the wall without ever touching the rope.  It is slow going but he makes it with no problem.

Jarsichok bobs once then climbs to the top well ahead of everyone else.  Once everyone is up, the scholar ejects a black spittle onto the rope which dissolves neatly all the way down into a crystalline powder.  "We are almost out," he states and points.  Up ahead there is a cave opening and bright light is streaming in.

Without waiting Denala sprints for the open land, fleeing the underground and the disgusting bug people as fast as she can.  Bedawry's shoulders lift and he blows out a long sigh, looks at the rest of the group with one of those toothy grins and trots after the frightened girl.

Genovia and Jarsichok are both wounded and the scout is wincing in pain, slumped against wall, and trying to recover her breath after the fight.

 Breathing hard as he comes over the edge onto flat ground he mutters several words of thanks giving to have survived the climb.
 Within a few seconds he moves over and begins to deal with the wounded and how to bring it to make them feel better.


07:18, Today: Tyler Darkwatch rolled 9 using 1d8+1. CL on Bawdry.
07:18, Today: Tyler Darkwatch rolled 2 using 1d8+1. CL on Genovia

07:23, Today: Tyler Darkwatch rolled 25 using 1d20+7. heal chk on Jar.
07:23, Today: Tyler Darkwatch rolled 13 using 1d20+7. heal chk on genovia
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Fri 15 May 2009.

Zenobia looks between Genovia and Jarsichok. She casts a healing spell on each of them.

-

Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 7 using 1d8+1. Cure Light on Genovia.
Zenobia Aurelius Gracchus rolled 2 using 1d8+1. Cure Light on Jarsichok

Genovia smiles up at her friends.  "Thanks, guys.  I feel much better now."  She gets to her feet and looks at Jarsichok.  "Would you mind telling us what all THAT was about?"

"I am truly sorry.  There are...elements of Echtinik society that do not agree with the king's peace.  They are rebels and a constant nuisance.  Those were barely morphosed and more brave than wise."  He sways back and forth while constantly rubbing his hands over the area where his wounds are.  "You have my sincerest apologies.  The rebel faction are xenophobic.  They, at one time, represented the majority of Echtinik society, but that has changed.  I don't doubt we will be met again as we make our way to Kradok territory.  I simply did not expect to be attacked so quickly."

The scholar seems agitated and keeps swaying back and forth and fidgeting with his wounds.

"Good to know that you have criminals, just like humans." says Zenobia a trifle sarcastically.

"They knew exactly when to hit us as well and guarded. Had to do it when we were leaving, without the guard, half way up a rope."

"How organized are these rebels and do they have backers in your kingdom's court?"

After a long pause, as if he was weighing the impact of his words very carefully in his mind, the scholar answered.  "They represent thirty percent of our population to one extent or another.  Some...most even, find contact with the other races merely distasteful.  They remain below ground and refuse to have nothing to do with the Kradok, the Anthros, whoever.  But some, about five percent, are militant.  They believe we are a superior race and the rest of the elder races are rightfully our slaves."  Jarsichok looked from Zenobia, to Tyler, to Genovia, and then finally down the long tunnel.  "Most of our kind are unaware of humans.  To most who are aware you are like animals, pets even, who learned to wear clothes and build crude shelters for yourselves.  Only a very small group of our kind acknowledge you as a kindred race, equal to us in spirit and will if not in physical strength and knowledge.  To us, you are a potential friend, and now ally in the face of the coming invasion."

Zenobia smiles..

"A small group is much better than none at all. Since you used the word we may I take it that you are a member of this small minority of your people who consider themselves friends to humans?"

 While it had been interesting to be in a city of intelligent bugs the sight of sunlight was most welcome despite having to squeeze his eyes for several seconds in the harsh shaded opening.

 Moving after Danela, I can imagine that being underground like that is hard for someone who spends most of their life outside but its behind us now for now. Gently touching her shoulder, If you need to talk i will be nearby.

 Letting her recover as she needed to he moves back to the others and checks over their wounds like a mother hen. remember to keep that wound clean until it scabs over. One more scar to bear witness of the courage of the person.

Bobbing in acknowledgement, Jarsichok spreads his hands in apology...a very human gesture.  "Yes.  I am your friend.  Your race fascinates me.  Please take no offense at my words, but you do not have the physical hardiness of the elder races, yet your race is able to survive and even flourish.  You have no one individual that stands out, but that does not matter for your strength is in your race, collectively.  It is somewhat of an Echtinik trait."

Denala whirls around to face the scholar.  "We," she snarls, "are NOTHING like you!"  Before anyone is able to react, Denala disappears into a forest of nearby trees.  These trees are low to the ground, so much so that Bedawry's head can be seen above them as he chases the young ranger.  Unlike the trees of his homeland, which he could climb and move faster than even running on the ground, these small, densely packed trees hinder his larger figure.  Minutes later he returns and shrugs, unsuccessful in his chase.

watches and listens to Jarsichok, and then at Danela's departure.

"It seems as if we have some of the same feelings among us as well.  I will admit I was a little unsettled at first, but knowing that your race has the same problems as ours does helps a bit.  It seems as though we will need everyone in this together if we are going to be able to make it out of this."

"I am glad that you have not judged us too quickly.  Come, I will lead you to the Kradok."  Jarsichok leads the group surely through a hill-covered landscape replete with the low, bushy trees.  The party's wounds heal, except for the faint ache from the missing ranger, but nothing too unusual happens for several days.

Four days out from Kradok lands, the group runs across the first Kradok they've seen since leaving human lands.  It is an ancient female, wide as she is tall, with muscles twined about her arms and legs like roots of an oak tree.  Her long brown hair adds to the earthy look.  Her age is not the decrepit age of an old human, but the immovable agelessness of the mountains.  Each movement, each slow and easy breath indicates wisdom and patience.

Her clothes are bunched up by the river, which flows in front of a beautifully crafted stone and metal house.  The river is very wide and possibly deep most of the way across.

The Kradok woman wears her under garments, some woolen ensemble that has been dyed black.  She stands with her oaken legs almost entirely submerged in the water, still as a tree on a breeze-less day.  Her back is to the shore and she is out quite a way from it.  In her hands is an ornate javelin, glowing with magic even in the afternoon sun.

Suddenly, she moves.

In a flash, the javelin darts down.  At first, the group expects a nice sized fish to come up out of the water at the end of the weapon, but it comes up only bloodied.  Then the water comes geysering up in a spray that engulfs the Kradok.  When the water subsides, she is nowhere to be seen.

A few seconds later, she surfaces wrestling a fish three times her size.  The fish is bleeding profusely from several wounds and thrashing about angrily.  The Kradok woman has it by gills, holding on and struggling to get the thing to shore.  As big as the fish is, the powerful legs of the Kradok are stronger still.  Inch by inch the Kradok brings the monster up out of the water.  Bedawry rushes down to help but the old woman snarls at him.

"Back off, furrball!"  She finally manages to drag the thing to shore, and wacks it a few times with a meaty fist the size of Tyler's head until the fish stops flopping around.  "Don't steal mah fish, fuzzy," she growls at Bedawry (who appears highly amused by the Kradok's antics), then dives back into the river.  Moments later she resurfaces with several more of the spears.

"Well, don't just stand thar gawking like a bunch o' goblin youth.  Grab the little fella' and drag 'im up to tha house.  I'mma gonna get descent so the young man thar," she points at Tyler, "stops starin' at me naked body."

When no one moves, she narrows her eyes.  "You are plannin' on comin' over far dinner, aye?  Well...GET MOVIN'!!!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Sat 23 May 2009.

Zenobia, finding this all very amusing, she looks around at her companions with an expression of bemusement.

"With such a courteous invitation how could I refuse?" she says, grinning broadly.

Zenobia heads on over to the Kradok, apparently quite at her ease.

 With a well hidden smile, he looks to the others and at the large fish, "Umm, was thinking of your unusal fishing method, not the state of your dress. Ok, where do you want this ..fish?.

 With help he drags it into the kitchen and works on gutting it and triming the fins. Looking at the others with a silent question, When we get to the kradok high council, who is going to do the speaking of our mission?. maybe Zenobia?

The ancient Kradok woman works silently along side Tyler to clean the fish.  She is an expert and soon a number of large steaks (the fish is actually more like a shark) are sizzling on her grill.  It seems as is she is used to hosting a large number of guests as her kitchen is equal to that of any castle.  The aroma of seasoning that she scatters all over the meat wafts into the air and Bedawry's stomach echoes like a huge cavern.  In addition to the steaks, the Kradok woman mashes up some tubers, adding seasoning to them as well, and even tosses a salad with some green leafy vegetables, grated cheese, and some crumbled, dried meat of some kind.  There is a vinegar dressing to top it.  The lunch is rounded off by a stout tea.

Most of the kitchen is well built but no less ordinary than what a master cook from human lands might have.  The proportions are a bit wider and shorter, perhaps, but nothing at first seems extraordinary.  After the Kradok way-station, its actually a bit of a let down.

Then the Kradok woman begins to wrap the remaining uncooked fish parts and opens a wall out of which cold, condensing vapor wafts.  She stacks enough fish inside the freezing wall to feed her for at least a week.  Then, quick as a flash, she fills each of the glasses, already half full of tea, with numerous, small blocks of ice.  She opens up another wall next to the first section and places the pitcher of tea, the remainder of the cheese, and a couple of other items inside on ornate glass shelving.  There is even a mage-light glowing in the back of the section to provide light within to see everything.

Throughout the cooking and preparation, no one feels compelled to speak.  The lady indicates seats for everyone at her beautiful stone table.  The benches are wide and surprisingly soft for stone.  Once everyone is seated, the Kradok woman bows her head.

"Mighty Taphal, we give thanks far the tools that harvested our dinner, for the wondrous devices that cooked this bounty before us, and far the table design on which it is spread.  May this food fuel our bodies that we, yar ultimate device never wear out, always remain sharp, and ever be able to discover and implement more of your wonders.  By your hammer and forge, amen."  She looks up at Tyler and Bedawry.  "If'n you wish ta pray to yar particular gods at this time, we shall respect that and wait...so long as you aren't too long winded.  Aum famished."

 Very impressed with the skills of a live time to gain such speed at cooking and at the cold door that he is still attempting to wrap his mind around that her question had caught him off guard a second before adding his own..With the roll of luck, amen. before diving into the food himself, enjoying the taste of fresh fish and cooking.

 I see you have a large dining area, do you get many traveler coming this way?.  Umm, during our time in the kradok tunnels we didnt run across any other merchants or travels going either way, so as to make one wonder are things so bad on the road that travel is dangerous?.

Zenobia is not particularly impressed with the fishing. She is gobsmacked by the cold wall. Her people have cold rooms in their basements where vegetables can be kept for a while, but for the most part food needs to be wrapped in wax like cheese, pickled in salt or vinegar, salted or smoked. To see a cold misted space connected to warmth with a door simply blows her away.

How is that made? she asks, gesturing to the cold air compartment.

"Questions!  Questions!" the woman chuckles. "Ya don't even know me name!  I be Vandra Riverforge.  Yes, that is, I used ta get a lot of travelers headin' through to Anthros lands up north, but since tha' Evangiel's latest message, folks be hole' up in thar own kingdoms fer a bit, tryin' to figure it out.  Tha's why ya haven't seen anabody durin' yer trip."  She bites off a huge chunk of fish and chews for a moment.  "The icing closet is a Kradok invention involving our wizard forges.  It'd be too complicated ta explain it more'n that."

She looks at each person for a moment then takes another bite.  "Why don't you tell me yer names and what yer doing out this way."

"Lady Riverforge..." Bedawry begins.

"It's just Vandra, ya great hairy lug!" Vandra snarls around a mouthful.

Bedawary guffaws and nods.  "Vandra, then. I am Bedawry Longreach of the Anthros.  I was asked to come along by my elders to help protect Zenobia and learn all I can about humans and teach them all I can about the elder races.  We are close neighbors to them, just a bit east."

Zenobia nods at Bedawry's words, obviously in agreement. Indeed my people are seeking alliances with the elder races. If what the Evangeliel has spoken of comes to pass it will be a bad time for all the races.

 With a nod of respect over his food he smiles and then offers, and i am a cleric, sent to convey my respects to the eldar races with hopes of combining our strengths against the evil that is coming. I am glad to have made your aquintance, M'lady.

Zenobia smiles.."Vandra. Can you tell us where we might find the leaders of your people?"