In reply to Korkas (msg # 469):

Seeing the discomfort on Korkas' face, Tealon added "There would be need for land based watch ad work too, how else could we locate any caves?"

In reply to Tealon Holdron (msg # 470):

Korkas grunted in acceptance to Tealon and then looked to the two commanding women. He stood there silently his arms crossed slightly with his left handing holding his right wrist as he awaited instructions or actions from the others.

"I'm with grunts over there, I'm a land scout that means my best work is on solid ground preferably when it's under foot and not hundreds of feet below." Morrison said though he did like the idea of setting up a shot from that high up as one couldn't get a clearer line of sight then above.

In reply to Korkas (msg # 471):

Don't mind me Korkas, I'm just glad to have land under our feet for a change. Morrison, it's a great view, but so should it be from the top of the hill.

Danyka, I have plans to draw up and to talk with the ship's Captain about a habour

Tealon remembered his arrival to the Resolute, in the basket of the balloon, it was the height and rocking motion, similar to when he landed on the ship, seasickness didn't sit well with him. The opportunity to bd in control in the skies, the smooth flight... He broke out of his revery.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:49, Sat 23 Mar 2019.

"My idea was something one of the instructors mentioned," Katrin further explained. "He called it 'tactics of mistake'. He said it's like in a duel, where you can feint to draw off your opponent's weapon from defense. We get the Promaxim to commit to a small action at first, then to a larger one next time, and then another larger one. He then thinks that we've committed all our forces and launches a major attack against us."

"Instead, he's fallen right into our trap. He finds that our forces aren't where he expected them to be. Not only that, but what he doesn't know we also have is superior firepower."

"I'd like to get him to surrender, along with his men, rather than have to kill them all... or even most of them. If I'm right, most of them would rather not be in the army. I'm sure the Promaxim uses conscription and coercion... threatens to arrest or outright torture and kill their families unless they serve in the army."

"He just seems like that kind of guy. The only reason he hadn't gotten around to torturing the crew of the trade ship was because the master trader was cooperating with the Promaxim."

"Now, I didn't say this was going to be easy, but we need to figure out what our steps are. It's one of the reasons I suggested Tealon pose as this god and tell the mountain tribes that it'll be bad for them if they continue to aid the Promaxim. I'm sure he's threatened to invade them... hey, maybe that's one of our steps? Get him to commit forces to such an invasion only to find them traipsing all over everywhere trying to find the mountain folk. Remember, they can attack from the air!"

In reply to Katrin Eason (msg # 474):

Iolenna stands nearby watching.

In reply to Katrin Eason (msg # 474):

His mouth opens in shock.

oh, that's what you meant. What if they test and try to see if a spear can penetrate my chest? He was far from being a coward but didn't intentiona.... The thought stopped as he realised it's exactly what he did when he jumped off the ships crow with wings affixed.

Ok, whats the plan? When the time comes, be as exact as you can, I don't want to mess that up.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Sat 27 Apr 2019.

Korkas stood there quietly watching, his gaze shifting from each face to the next studying them and their intentions. He was ready to do what needed to be done, he was always ready for that.

"While I could be wrong about this," Jheridan finally speaks, "I get the impression that the only thing this Promaxim seems to value is might... force of arms."

"Now, admittedly, from what we've seen, there doesn't seem to be too many options here in Zu for taking control any other way. Politically would be an option, but that might take too long, and it's a lot easier to mount opposition."

"So, what I'm thinking is... we do a couple of raids on his resources... whatever we decide those are. I don't advocate killing people, even if that is one of his resources, but just relieving them of their weapons would be a toll. Obviously, though, if they are trying to kill us, I'm going to attack back."

"Also, while the ordinary soldier is probably there because it's the easiest thing for him to do, the officers are probably officers because they are as vicious as the Promaxim."

"We do these raids. Maybe the first two or three are fast and they don't know what's happening. After that, there'll be more guards, more security on remaining resources. When we hit these, we make it look like it was a tough fight... whether it is or not, and if they pursue, they almost catch us."

"Finally, we make a big strike and let ourselves get cornered. That's probably the only thing that'll get the Promaxim out of his fortress. He'll want to claim the victory personally."

"Of course, we have to make it look like we've been had... and then turn the tables."

"One of the raids we can stage is we pick some warehouse or other building where we store all the weapons, then let the Promaxim find out. When he sends men to take it, we destroy it all right in front of his eyes!"

He stopped then, not only because he'd run out of ideas, but he wanted to see what the others thought.

In reply to Jheridan (msg # 478):

It sounds like both ideas could work, more so if they were all put together, both Katrin's and Jheridans

Looking from one to the other.  We need to set this base up as soon as we can.  We need resources too.  Digging and building are the main priority for the building, we need to make it so it's not spotted from any direction as a factory or warehouse.  That way, when your plans about being chased or nipping at his heals, takes place, they won't know to come here.

"There's no indication that they have explosives, though they may have from the trade ship," Katrina suggests.

"If we can get an estimate of how much they might have acquired... and assume they will use it without much skill... then we build to survive that."

"How hard will it be to dig escape tunnels? Maybe we'll get lucky and find some already there. We just need to camouflage the opening at the other end."

"Do we have any builders or architects or miners among us?"

Not really waiting for an answer, she picks up a shovel and heads for the dinghy. There was no way to get the ship close enough right now, but if they built a dock...

In reply to Katrin Eason (msg # 480):

I'm no miner but I am an engineer of sorts, a Mechanik mostly.

The Resolute has my wagon forge and gear. You can't use a shovel in the dinghy, as I said before, search the island, which we are doing, built a Safe Harbour then build the factory. If we use rock gathered from Digging, we could make it look very natural. He knew what was needed but not if they had enough manpower or resouces to manage it. As always, there were ways and means to overcome.

Whilst isolated, if we need to blow rocks up, I can sort that with my stock.

"I wasn't planning on digging in the dinghy," Katrin replies. "I was going ashore to start digging, even it's only to make steps into the hillside."

"Maybe you are right, though. Let's explore the island first. I doubt if we're going to find anything living on it, except maybe some birds."

Realising his mistake, Tealon became a little nervous once more, he hadn't felt this way since arriving on the ship.

Ah, of course, yes, the island. Ahem.
I was thinking more of if there were already caves etc. We all need to make a sweep. I'm heading for the top of the hill, I think Korkas and Morrison said they'd rather not fly, so I guess they'll help at the base.

With that, he strapped his wings on and took flight.

In reply to Tealon Holdron (msg # 483):

Iolenna knows all forms of heat and decides it is time to try to cool things down.

" The Island sounds lovely and actually actionable. "

"Okay, that sounds like a plan for the moment," Jheridan said.

"Korkas, how about you and I explore the left side of the island here. Katrin and Morrison can take the right side of the island."

"Other than caves, Tealon, is there anything specific we should be looking for? Personally, I'd rather build on flat ground, but I see your point. Whatever we want to build should look like it's not even here. The real question is: can we pull that off?"

Korkas had silently watched them discussed their options, nodding in agreement at the idea of a show of force and likely the motivation behind the Proximan. At Jheridan's request he stepped forward and nodded. He wasn't much of an explorer but he could make do where ever he was at.

Slinging his pack fully over his shoulder he moved towards the edge of the ship ready to head to shore.

In reply to Jheridan (msg # 485):

Tealon had just 'jumped' when Jheridan spoke up, so he called back as he circle around. Water, a spring near the hill with a flat area would be great.
If they found this, what he could do! He wondered.

Danyka!  Is there anything specific you want me to keep an eye out for when I get Skyward, as far as building goes, or just a suitable harbour spot?

Jheridan and Korkas head off to the left side of the island. It wasn't very big but the sides were rather steep so it involved climbing most of the way.

It was easier to start at the bottom and work your way up... simply because if you started at the top, you really couldn't see what was below you.

Heading along the base was tricky, since there were a few places that simply dropped off into the cove...  no ledge, no beach, nothing to walk on, so you had to climb a bit then to get over and around that area.

It's on the third such climb that you spot what appears to be a cave at the water line... possibly a grotto. Only with some elevation and the light hitting the water just right can you tell it's maybe a 20-foot high cave opening, though only about 3 feet of it is above the waterline.

Once you reach the top and have a similar view regarding elevation and the correct angle of light can you see that the eastern tip has a submerged reef that extends maybe 100 feet out into the sea. It looks like part of the island had broken off and slid into the water at some point, but coral seems to have taken the opportunity to build up the debris into a reef.

It also looks like there might have been a building on the part that collapsed, as he can see what looks like the corner of two walls sticking up out of the water for a few feet.


Katrin and Morrison took the right side of the island. There was a bit of sandy beach along most of the cove that turned to rocks for the last 100 feet or so. That side of the steep side of the island seems to be a bit unstable, but perhaps not in a short span of time. The rocks no doubt fell down from above, but none of it looks particularly recent.

However, as you pick your way over the rocks, you spot one stone that appears to have marks on it as if it had been worked with hammer and chisel. It matches the other rocks in composition, though, so it probably came from above. Looking up, you can't see anything that would indicate just where it came from.

Moving around the western end of the island to where the side wasn't as steep, you see that there is a sandy shoal there, stretching out from the island and making a curve to the north. It's not very long, maybe 60 feet total, but it acts as a breaker for the waves. The area inside the curve isn't large enough or deep enough for the ship, but it is a potential landing site for small craft. It looks like it'd probably be completely submerged at high tide.

You can see that most of the south side of the island is a sheer cliff that drops straight down into the water. Hard to make a landing there, but a boat could get close enough so that a person might be able to climb up the rocky cliff.

From the shoal to the top of the island is a shallower slope, much easier to climb though movement is somewhere between a walk and a scramble or a crawl and a climb at times, just not as strenuous as an outright climb. Also less dangerous.

At about halfway, you come across a small rivulet cross the 'path'. Its source seems to be somewhere off to the left along the rock face. It crosses the route you've been taking and disappears somewhere off to the right. It's clearly spring fed.

It isn't until now that you begin to suspect that the route you've been taking actually is a path. Looking back down, it appears to be so. You also realize that there were stones placed at strategic places for handholds or stepping stones. They could have been naturally occurring, but it seems a bit too coincidental.

Grasses have grown up along the route, hiding its appearances, especially from below.

By now, you've also realized that the cliff face is a nesting place for a number of sea birds.

In reply to GM StarMaster (msg # 489):

Korkas pointed towards the partially submerged walls "Possibly something close beneath the surface. And that cave opening in low tide might be useful. Should go check it out."

"Good eye, Korkas," Jheridan responds to the Trollkin's observation.

"Do you feel like going for a swim?"

"Personally, I'd want to study it a bit more to see how the tides affect it. And I'd definitely want to have rope tied around me before I went in... so that I can be pulled out if something goes wrong."

"Of course, there might be another way in... either natural or man-made... assuming there's anything in there in the first place."

"Let's keep looking."

Korkas shrugged and nodded, he wasn't in charge so if the other didn't want to go diving into the water he wasn't going to volunteer. He started examining the area to see if there were any other ways about that could lead to where they were interested.


OOC: Search is +0 if that is more applicable, Spot is + 6


15:56, Today: Korkas rolled 16 using 1d20 with rolls of 16.  Spot or Search.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Tue 11 June 2019.

In reply to Korkas (msg # 492):

Ioelenna shrugs.

"I guess I could go for a swim and look around."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 21:19, Sat 22 June 2019.

"Right! I forgot that you have that protective... stuff," Nicollo says.

"While it's hot and humid out here in the air, it's cooler for you in the water, but the water is also fairly warm."

"If you think you are up for it, by all means, see what you can see under the water. No one can go with you, though. You'll be on your own."