The night passes uneventfully though out of the jungle canopy, and with no fire, it is surprisingly cold (for those of you who aren't predominately made of gears at any rate) and a variety of howls and strange animal sounds unlike anything you have heard previously has you on edge anytime you hear them. Anytime you think about it you can't shake the feeling of being watched from within the distant tree line but you see nothing concrete to make you feel like it is anything more than paranoia.

The dawn breaks and brings with it a chorus of, more familiar though still exotic, birdsong. In the light of the morning there is no sign of the smoke you saw at sunset or, when you strain to look, no obvious sign of what had caused it save for to the South you think you can make out a clearing in the otherwise thick jungle.

With the first breaking of the light, Skitterlung, hacking with the cold, rushed out to his cockroach traps to see if he caught anything special, giddy to see what friends await him.

Kaine awoke from his troubled sleep, feeling not a bit rested. Blearily he wiped the sleep from his eyes and wrapped his cloak more snugly against himself, pulling the hood back on.

Stamping his feet to get his blood flowing again he walked over to the edge of their campsite and looked over at the horizon, at what appeared to be a clearing towards the South.

"I say we head North West, where we saw many columns of smoke last evening. More people means civilization, though it could also mean raiders or bandits. If we are careful we should be able to determine that before getting too close," he announced to the others.

[Cavalier heals 2 HP during the night's rest]

Cavalier sat at the edge of their camp, looking southward. It had been sitting like this for most of the night, relaxing and keeping watch. It had seen, like the others, the smoke from the southern areas, and so it had decided that any attacks would more likely come from that area if.. For some reason they had been seen and such.

"I suppose. Of course, personally, I am not much for the ways of stealth and scouting, so I won't be of much use. Though I hope I won't have to use what I am good at."

The clockwork rises in one fluid motion, the gears of the creature ticking smoothly.

Gren pulled himself out of his earth pit slightly chilled but not as cold as some.

" I must admit you might be right about heading North West but we cannot stay in the jungle forever so any direction is better than none" replied the molekin

As you break camp, such as it was, Skitterlung has enough time to check his traps and finds no cockroaches but a brightly coloured insect, some type of beetle you would imagine, flits around within. It would be simple enough to take should he wish.

With that done you forge ahead North West in the direction you saw the columns of smoke the evening before. The jungle is as dense and unforgiving as it was the previous day but whether it's the early start or just the fact that you're now just used to it for some reason you find the going less difficult than yesterday.

You haven't been travelling for more than an hour or so before you get again the unmistakeable feeling that you're being watched. Casting a careful eye around the area you think you can make out a short figure concealed in a thick patch of undergrowth off to one side.

Cavalier was the icebreaker cruising through the jungle. A moving beacon to take cover behind, it forges on with little regard for itself. It does what it needs to, to go on. Ducking. Sometimes walking sideways. Pushing through. It wasn't made for this, obviously, but alas, little luck for that.

As it sees something some ways away, it turns to face it. "Who goes there?" it says, earnestly. If it was to attack them, it chose a poor position, and if it was just curious, it wanted to give it a chance to introduce itself.

Kaine had been following Cavalier's lead, letting the tall Clockwork push through the undergrowth rather than inflict any more unneccesary punishment on his own clothes and skin.

As he usually did, he became a bit lost in his own mind, his body automatically going through the motions of following Cavalier and avoiding any errant root that threatened to trip him.

When the Clockwork turned suddenly and addressed something, or someone unknown, it jerked Kaine out of his reverie and he immediately crouched into a defensive stance, holding his staff in front of him with both hands.

"Show yourself!" he called out to the barely seen figure in the undergrowth, trying to sound authoritative.

Skitterlung had happily taken the little bug, and checked to see if it would eat smaller bugs or, perhaps, bits of plant matter or some pieces of fruit.

When the small figure appeared, Skitterlung leaned forward, hopeful that he would see something like a goblin which would be friendly to their group.

Gren kept quiet not wanting to overwhelm the little creature with lots of voices so kept his distance and allowed the others to talk to it

Who - or what - ever is watching you reacts at the first of Cavalier's words. With a rustle of leaves and cracking of wood the figure turns and flees.

As it goes to run you get a clearer look at it for just second. You can make out that the figure is short, perhaps only four feet or so in height, and darkly coloured with a flapping cloak billowing at it's sides - an unusual choice of attire for the temperature. It rushes off into the trees at ground level, moving upright on two legs and navigating through the trees with the skill of someone used to the environment.

Skitterlung started grumbling as soon as it turned away. "You scared it off, talls! With your threatening and height and vicious faces." Skitterlung rushed up ahead of the group, tried to clamber up on a tree to watch the figure recede.

Green stepped forward and put an arm on the goblins shoulder

"next time my friend we will allow you to do the talking if we come across a lurker I the jungle. Feel free to step forward and confront them" he gave the little man a reassuring pat before walking off down the trail they were following

Cavalier looks at Skitterlung as he skitters off, his porcelain mask still stuck in the same expressionless, serene face it had always had. It did not understand how it had, allegedly, had a vicious face. If the creature that fled was this much of a coward, that a simple call out was enough to scare it, it did not care much for it as a potential threat. It kept walking.

"Stay and pursue it if you wish." it simply says, but Skitterlung was probably quite a ways away by now.

Kaine remained tense for a few moments as the strange figure dashed off into the tree's, then allowed himself to relax his stance. Whatever it was, it was not a mere beast, for beasts typically did not clothe themselves.

Still, they could not follow it at the speed it moved through the trees, so Kaine turned and began following Cavalier again. "Try and keep an eye out for it, in case its spying on our movements," he called out to Skitterlung up in the trees.

There are no further lurkers in the jungle for Skitterlung to take the lead with and you see neither hide nor hair of anything beyond the 'normal' jungle wildlife for several hours. Then your hot slog through the jungle is interrupted by the unmistakable sounds of conflict echoing through the trees for a short distance away. Shouts of anger and strange animal grunts ring out alongside the clash of weapons.

Approaching cautiously you come, still concealed in the undergrowth, to the edge of a clearing within which a battle, if that not be too grand a title for a struggle between some seven people. In the center of the clearing is a large pit, the branches and leaves still clinging to the sides suggesting of a deadfall trap, and the screams of agony from within lead you to believe at least one person, or thing, lies within. Standing at the edge stand three bedraggled humans - you're sure you recognize them as sailors from the Sunset Mist - with their backs to the pit and wielding a mixture of swords and piece of wood clearly scavenged from the wreck.

Arrayed against them are four of the strangest creatures you have ever seen. Three of them are short creatures, about five feet tall, covered all over in silvery hair with short black horns jutting from weirdly misshapen heads which look like a mix of human and some animal. They stand upright on two hoof-like feet and in their humanoid, albeit hairy, hands they clutch a selection of primitive weapons such as stone axes and blades. They circle the men by the pit in fighting crouches, occasionally lunging forward with an attack before backing off. Standing slightly further back from those creatures is a hulking form - that of a large man, easily some seven feet tall, by darkly tan and with the head of a large, horned, bull. Completely naked he stomps at the ground with mighty hooved feet and clutches a huge club in a two handed grip, snorting the air as he surveys the combat before him.

Unhappy at the prospect of attacking these short people in defense of those tall people, Skitterlung moves into cover in the brush, waiting to see how Gren, the other short one, responds to this situation before acting on his own merit.

Gren was close enough to make out what was happening though his eye site wasn't the best at long distance.

He took a defensive stance clawed figures spread.

"well my friends do we try to rescue those being attacked or move on.... I would attack as it would be a sign of weakness for a moleskin to not show his strength against others but as I am one I will abide by the groups decision"

"We should be able to take the three creatures, especially if we attack from the rear while the sailors attack from the front. The problem will be that...thing," Kaine whispered, gesturing towards the large, bull headed form.

Turning to glance at Cavalier he added, "We will need you to keep it busy while we engage the rest, then together we can all gang up on it and bring it down."

"I will engage and keep its attention. Provide me a sign and I shall attack."

It felt some form of comfort in receiving orders. It hadn't, for some time, but nostalgia hits hard when it does. The makeshift club it carried, was brandished in its hand, as it readied to charge from their position.

"OK lead the way I'm not going to be able to hit anything let alone see them clearly until I'm up close so the quicker we do this the better" grunted the molekin

Cavalier goes charging out into the clearing, heading for the larger target that it intends to engage and hopefully, make short work out of. With the club in hand, it swings at it. However, as good as any attack can be to hit, if it doesn't hit hard, it doesn't matter a whole lot.


23:51, Today: Cavalier rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Attack Roll.
23:52, Today: Cavalier rolled 1 using 1d6.  Club Damage.

Skitterlung, frowning slightly at the decided course of action, nonetheless loaded a stone into his sling and threw for the short creatures.

OOC: 09:30, Today: Skitterlung rolled 19,6 using 1d20+2,1d6.  attack + prospective damage.

As soon as Cavalier moved, Kaine gripped his staff firmly and said, "Let's go!" before running towards the creatures facing the sailors.

He darted towards the leftmost one, driving the end of his staff at the base of its skull with both hands.

---

ooc: Taking a Slow Turn Move Action: Move into range. Action: Attack Roll (Finesse): 03

Gren started to run towards the blurry outlines before him as he got closer he made more detail out.

As he moved he spread his arms out his thick claws catching the light.

Once in the thick of it he hit the first target that presented itself

Ooc

12:19, Today: Gren rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Melee attack

12:19, Today: Gren rolled 2 using 1d3.  Damage.

You burst from the treeline to the obvious surprise of all present in the clearing. It takes a few moments for everyone to register your presence and just who you might be and in that time you are upon them drawing a ragged cheer from the beleaguered sailors.

Cavalier crashes into the bull headed creature which meets his charge with a roar and a swing of it's own club which manages to deflect enough of the clockwork's blow so that it only causes a glances injury.

Gren and Skitterlung have greater success with their target. The molekin's claws and the goblin's well flung stone send one of the smaller goat-things reeling, badly injured. Unfortunately Kaine's target managers to skitter out of the way of his attack and crouches extra low, ready to spring with violence in it's eyes.

Seeing the reinforcement the sailors redouble their efforts - two of them focusing on the unengaged goat-things and the other charging to Cavalier's assistance!

OOC: All the creatures will take fast actions, as will the sailors save for the one charging for the bull-thing who is going to act in the slow turn. You can act now if you want to act fast or just let me know if you want to hold back for the slow turn.

Having engaged the bull-creature, Cavalier hopes to make the combat last as short a while as possible, and tries to hit the creature with the club as it attempts to fend off attacks with its free arm. However, under the stress of it, there was no good angle of attack.

---
Fast Action Attack, most likely a miss. Yikes.
22:42, Today: Cavalier rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Attack Roll, +1.

Skitterlung launched a stone from his position again.

OOC: "22:10, Today: Skitterlung rolled 4,6 using 1d20+2,1d6.  attack + prospective damage."

Yeesh!

Kaine thrust with his staff again and again, but his hasty and frantic blows were too far off the mark.

---

02:09, Today: Kaine rolled 3 using 1d20.  Attack Roll vs Beast (Finesse).

Gren moved on a blur of claws on stocky legs and stout arms

Ooc

11:08, Today: Gren rolled 17 using 1d20+1.  Melee attack

11:08, Today: Gren rolled 2 using 1d3.  Damage.

Gren's attack tears another great gouge out of the creature's flesh and, despite the misses of Kaine and Skitterlung, it turns and flees with a squeal of pain - racing away towards the treeline the far side from where you emerged leaving a trail of blood.

The two sailors fighting the goat-things fare similarly. One manages to deliver a mighty blow of his belaying pin into a creature's horned head, the crack audible throughout the clearing, driving it to the ground but not quite finishing it off. The other sailor is less successful and misses his attack to take a nasty cut to the ribs from a jagged flint knife.

A short distance away the two giants, Cavalier and the bull thing, trade attacks without success - swinging away at each other but unable to land a solid blow. The distraction does give the third sailor enough time to drive his sword into the creature's side drawing a bellow of pain and rage.

OOC: Never send a human, goblin or giant clockwork robot to do a moleman's job! Everyone has now acted so it's the start of another round. As per normal either take a fast action or let me know if you're holding for the slow turn.

Seeing his clockwork companion trading blows Gren ran up behind the bull like creature and attempted to attack it

Ooc

20:55, Today: Gren rolled 3 using 1d20+1.  Claw attack

Skitterlung turned his attention to the large creature.

OOC: "16:14, Today: Skitterlung rolled 11,4 using 1d20+2,1d6.  attack + prospective damage."

Kaine was elated as the goat-things fell, and move to attack the remaining goat-thing that had struck one of the sailors. Just as he was about to strike a bellow from the bull-thing distracted him and his blow flew quite off the mark!

---

22:30, Today: Kaine rolled 1 using 1d20.  Attack Roll vs goat thing (Finesse). Wow! :(

Having failed so far to do any damage to the creature, Cavalier instead opts to do something a bit more radical, and summons all the force it can to knock it down, in an attempt to let others take advantage of this and put it out of its misery.

---

21:27, Today: Cavalier rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  Strength attack roll to Knock Down vs Agility.

If target is larger than me, 1 bane/level, if smaller, 1 boon/level. If I succeed, it is knocked prone.

Cavalier's change of tack takes the bull-creature completely by surprise and with a roar it pitches over backwards, slamming hard into the ground while lashing out wildly with it's club.  Unable to defend itself it is easy prey for one of Skitterlung's stones and a stab from the sailor though Gren's claws can't quite manage to penetrate it's hide. It spends the next few moments clambering to it's feet - now clearly badly injured.

Seeing their large comrade fall both the remaining goat-men, without waiting to see if it lives or not, break away and flee for the woods. The two sailors fighting them give chase with wild abandon, hacking and swiping at their retreating backs.

As the bull think came to his feet Gren swept in low with another attack

Ooc

21:43, Today: Gren rolled 1 using 1d3.  Damage.

21:43, Today: Gren rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Melee attack

"Stop! Come back, we need ye here!" Kaine yelled at the sailors chasing the goat-things. Swiveling his head at the bull-thing as it clambered to its feet, Kaine moved quickly to join the others flanking it and thrust with his staff at the bull-thing's head.

---

ooc: Move into range then attack
Attack: 13; Damage: 7

16:40, Today: Kaine rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  damage.
16:40, Today: Kaine rolled 13 using 1d20.  Attack Roll vs Beast (Finesse).

Skitterlung ignores the clambering away of the sailor-men. The less of talls, the better! Pursuant to this social stance, he took aim for the larger creature.

OOC: "22:08, Today: Skitterlung rolled 22,5 using 1d20+2,1d6.  attack + prospective damage."

With the creature off-balance, and the others attacking it, Cavalier swings once more in hopes that the thing would go down soon. This time, the hit was good and the force was great.

---

20 to hit, 6 damage.

23:17, Today: Cavalier rolled 20 using 1d20+1.  Attack Roll, +1.
23:18, Today: Cavalier rolled 6 using 1d6.  Club Damage.

Still recovering from it's fall the bull-creature proves easy prey to your concentrated assault and Cavalier's mighty blow brings it back down to it's knees where a mixture of hacking, clawing and beating manages to end it's life before it can take another swing. As the goat-men disappear into the trees the sailors regroup, sensible enough not to follow them into the undergrowth, and return to stand by you and the pile of gore that was the mighty bull-man.

Now that they are closer and the situation less fraught you recognise that the man who joined Cavalier's attack on the bull-thing is Monterey, formerly first mate of the Sunset Mist. He's a large, no-nonsense man with an angry scar running down his face and debilitating one eye. He gruffly thanks you for your assistance and introduces his two companions as Curtis, a short but broad-shouldered sailor and Marson, a man so covered in piercings it's a miracle he got washed up and didn't sink with the ship!

As Monterey starts to explain how they got there a groan from the pit makes the three men look up in surprise, "Damn, nearly forgot about Jeb! He fell into that pit trap there and looks like he's done busted his leg." A quick look down the hole, which is about ten feet deep, shows another sailor - this one covered in a myriad of bright blue tattoos - groaning in pain and clutching a leg which is clearly broken even to the casual observer. "We can't just leave him down there but he'll be a pain to try and get out."

Cavalier wipes the blood from the club onto the bull-creature, and hangs it back in the makeshift belt it carries. It observes the first mate, and though it can not show it, there is a spark of recognition. Cavalier had not socialised a lot with the crew, but it recognized some faces.

"I could try to lift him out." it suggests, looking down into the hole. That is, if it was even big enough for him to fit.

Gren stepped forward "leave this to me" he said as he stood at the pit edge then paced out a number of steps.

"please stand back" removing his robe to be left in just a cloth round his privates the molekin bent and started to dig.

His claw strokes were practiced and precise and before too long he had started to form a three sided ramp in the earth heading towards to pit. It looked a gentle slop wide enough for two men to walk down thus once complete wide enough for two men to carry a wounded man up it

Skitterlung merely watched on in amazement as he watched Gren dig to the trench. Truly, the shorts always have skills that are beyond talls, like Skitterlung with his bug raising.

Kaine leaned on his staff at the edge of the pit, watching Gren dig his way down to the injured man with amazement. He was ready to help bring the injured man upside in any way he could, and as soon as Gren finished with digging a path Kaine gestured at Cavalier to move down with him to help Jeb back up to his mates.

Gren's particular talents make digging out the injured sailor a fairly simple challenge. Once down Cavalier's prodigious strength is sufficient to lift him out to safety. Once out this man, introduced as Jeb, is effusive in his thanks. Even a fairly cursory examination shows that the leg is broken and he won't be walking on it anytime soon.

Once their companion is safe Monterey, clearly the spokesman of the group, gives you an overview of their time on the island so far. It is a story not dissimilar from yours. They found themselves washed up what you work out must have been further west than you were. They sheltered for the rest of the day at the feet of some strange statutes they found on the coast and then, in the morning, made for the same smoke you saw. They managed to make it to what turned out to be a small village but it was filled with "those monsters" and when they were seen they were attacked. They managed to flee but then Jeb hit their deadfall trap and they had to make a stand - that was when you came upon them.

Monterey looks at you and rubs a hand through greasy hair and over tired eyes, "We'll need to move as I 'spect more of those creatures will be on their way soon enough and I don't fancy to take on any more of 'em. Inland looks like the only option left to us but I would welcome your views. You seen anything in your travels which looks like we might find some people hereabouts? Well, people who won't want to eat us!"

"We's seen a short who has got scared away by the other talls. No threats or daggers from the short." Skitterlung explained at a safe disjuncture from the sailors, who he suspected harbored him ill will after he became a castaway on their ship.

"We saw another plume of smoke some place over there," Kaine said, pointing in the direction they had seen the other plume of smoke. "Perhaps we should go take a look there, unless that was from your campfire?" He added glumly.

Gren brushed the dirt off himself then dressed "smoke might be another village of beast people it might be prudent to go cautiously if we do not wish to fight again" he said as he finished putting his gear back into place.

Cavalier felt a slight bang of regret. They had beatn these people and attacked them, but only after their fellow survivors had entered the village? So they were, in fact, the intruders, and not the courageous defenders? It did not voice this concern, though, letting it stew in its inner thoughts. It was perhaps at that moment that it felt very unlike its old life, where there had always been a purpose to the violence - never anything like this.

"Are you well enough to travel?" it asked, softly, but still with that deep, metallic ring.

The sailors gather up what little belongings and equipment they had and nod their agreement to the plan of heading for the other sign of civilization. They confirm that the other fire you saw wasn't theirs - they had a very small affair on the coastline. Jeb is the only man injured enough to have any difficulty travelling and, half-suspended between two of his companions, he manages to make fair speed. As you travel through the trees you again find yourself feeling that you're being watched but this time you have no sign of from where and have little choice to proceed.

The injured man slows you down surprisingly little as the additional help provided by the sailors makes hacking your way through the undergrowth much easier than it had been previously. You make fairly good progress and, as the sun is starting to set, you find the jungle thinning out and the land opening out into a series of lightly wooded hills. By your reckoning you must only be a mile or two from where you had seen the smoke and you are about to press on when you see movement on the hill top in front of you. Silhouetted in the setting sun you can see a shape on all fours prowling around and, even at this distance, you can tell that it is huge - surely at least the height of a man at the shoulder. As you watch it raises it's head into the air and lets out a tremendous barking roar though it doesn't seem at this point that the thing has seen you...

Kain swore as he saw the massive shape, his eyes widening in fear. "If that thing catches our scent, we are done for," he whispered to the others. "Lets hide until it moves away."

Looking about for the nearest tree, Kaine moved behind the trunk and tried to calm his breathing and the (to him) loud beating of his own heart.

Skitterlung rushed into a bush, where he could observe the goings-on from a safe place.

While he was under there, of course, he checked on his new bug friend quite briefly, making sure to check that it had been feeding on the smaller bugs, fruit, or plant matter--perhaps all three?

Was this the wrong time to check? Yes, probably. He was quick about it.

Gren grunted and found a bank and within moments had dug himself a small cave like structure in the earth big enough for 3 people to hide in and beckoned the sailors and in.

He then covered it with a thin layer of earth with holes in for air.

Turning to the others he shrugged and dug another one for them.

You spend the night in your respective hiding places; Gren and the sailors underground, Kaine up in a nearby tree and Skitterlung under a bush (with his bug which, it turns out, prefers plant matter to the other proferred food stuffs). Cavalier remains in the open but given he has no scent it seems less desperate that he hides.

As night falls the creature in the hills moves on, dissapearing into the gloom and, thankfully, not appearing to come your way. You can hear it's strange barking roar intermittently throughout the night which makes sleep hard to come by but the night passes otherwise uneventfully (albeit cold and uncomfortably) and you are not attacked. Of your strange animal 'friends' from the woods earlier in the day there is no sign.

As dawn breaks you gather and make a breakfast from your dwindling supplies and what can be rustled up from the treeline. As Gren digs the sailors out from their hole in the ground they grumble incessently and seem even more bedraggled than they had previously but are otherwise alright.

As you start to get ready to move out, or at least discuss how to proceed, there is a crashing from the trees to your left. As your hands fly to weapons and you get ready for action the undergrowth parts and a man, an honest to goodness human male, emerges into the sunlight. The man is big, well over six feet and wide as a bear, with a huge bushy beard; black as night but starting to streak with silver. He wears an enormous poncho though the blue and green pattern is splashed with red liquid and his gloved hands drip with the same thick red substance. Seeing you he pulls a floppy hat firmly down on his head with one hand and clutches a thick wooden staff with the other before heading over towards you with a purposeful stride...
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:50, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

Cavalier had indeed not done much. The automaton had done what it had been told, if anything, and waited out the night. It was getting used to such; remaining inactive or idle while the others rested. Of course it did not complain, for it had often much to ponder instead.

As the day continues on, and the giant approach them, it speaks calmly.

"Stay your weapon. We do not wish to fight unless necessary." While it speaks, its hands hover at its side, though the right one is still and always close to the handle of the club, if the man would get any hostile ideas when it got closer.

Skitterlung had spent a good part of his morning preparing plant matter for his new friend, as well as letting him out to crawl across his fingers for a bit. He thought that he might get this bug a friend in time.

When the giant man crashed through the trees and shrubbery, Skitterlung rushed to stand behind Gren, in a manner that could perhaps be construed as cowardly. But, he had noticed that Gren fought with his hands, and he trusted Gren more than the tall folk.

Gren dug himself out of his hole then went to help the sailors before looking for some dried food to eat in his pouch.

Just as he was about to tuck in something else burst into their camp.

Turning he felt Skitterlung dart behind him which uncharacteristically prompted him to place one clawed hand on the little goblins shoulder to reassure him while his other hand stayed at his side though his clawed fingures were suddenly spread ready to attack while dried food found itself dumped on the ground

The man closes to about ten feet before noticing the suspicion he is being watched with. He looks somewhat theatrically behind him and, seeing nothing, turns back towards you with a face erupting into a broad grin. He maintains the hold on his staff but opens his arms out wide in a gesture of supplication. He then speaks in a booming voice, "Hold friends, I come in peace! We don't see strangers on the island very often and when I got word that we had some newcomers I just had to come and see for myself. You've picked a magnificent time of year to come, the weather has been absolutely divine for weeks. How are you finding the stay so far?"

Had Cavalier been able to, its eyes would have narrowed. It did not fully trust the man yet, but so far, approaching them alone and speak as such did not suggest it to be hostile.

"Unwelcoming and hostile, so pardon our reaction." Its hand, resting near the club, moved slightly away from it, trying to adopt a more casual stance - as casual as a huge clockwork could, that is.

"And me, Skitterlung, it's been a bad visit. Too many talls I don't trust, too many shorts don't trust me. Lost my roaches. Not much eating." He gave a wheezing cough as he finished talking.

He kept a hand near his sling in case the tall man threatened them suddenly.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Wed 19 Aug 2020.

Kaine had just finished breaking his fast after spending a very uncomfortable night in the treetop, and so was caught off guard as the strange man crashed through the trees into their campsite.

Staring at the red liquid on the man's clothing with suspicion, Kaine gripped his staff and used it to propel himself to his feet, catching the man's eye and saying, "We have found this place to be a bit inhospitable good sir. Would you care to introduce yourself, and tell us where you are from?"

The man looks rather taken aback at the negative response to his question and reaches one hand up to scratch his beard, smearing red from his gloves through it as he does so. He tuts thoughtfully for a few seconds before speaking, "I'm very sorry to hear that, you should have sent word ahead and I could have made sure you were suitably greeted. I suppose the things in the jungle could be a little daunting if you don't know your way around but the broken ones should have been on hand to assist. Oh well, nevermind, no lasting harm done."

At this the sailor with the broken leg, Jeb, spits loudly on the ground and audibly grumbles about 'lack of harm'. At this the newcomer seems to notice him for the first time, "Ah, that looks like a nasty break. I'm sure we'll be able to see you right back at the house. Of course you'll all come? We would love to have you for lunch!" He points vaguely in the direction you had been heading, to the source of the other smoke you saw, and starts to turn to go before remembering "Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Dr Fran Markov but everybody here just calls me Dr Fran. I live here on the island with my ward and a small staff, been here for years. It really is a lovely place when you get used to it. Now, shall we head to the house? It's only a couple of miles."

Cavalier's head turns ever so slightly, empty eyesockets behind mask focusing on its companions. It was their call, it concluded.

Something about the man's tone and words, not to mention his appearance, made Kaine inwardly recoil; nearly every instinct of his warned him of danger. But they could not part with an opportunity to see to Jeb's broken leg; they would not be able to move with any speed in the jungle as long as Jeb was with them and in his current condition.

"Very well, our companion could use rest and healing. We would be most grateful for any help," Kaine replied to the strange man, slowly and evenly. He gestured with his staff for the man to take point and lead the way.

Skitterlung nervously moved up and around to Gren's side, slowly setting his sling back in its place on his belt. He did repeatedly look back and forth between Gren and this strange man, as well as his other companions, to see if anyone would have a different take.

Kaine, whom had become something of a spokesperson for the group it gathered, had agreed to the suggestion - though it did not catch the tinge of uncertainty in his voice. Its head turns back to the wild man, waiting for it to lead their way away. Though it would keep its eyes on him...

Gren looked over at the others and nodded.

They might as well follow the strange man anything to get them out of the jungle

The newcomer's face breaks into a huge smile, "Capital, capital! We'll see what we can do to help back at the house. We just need to detour to pick up my things." With that he heads off towards the part of the treeline from which he emerged earlier.

As the sailors gather their things Monterey whispers quietly to you, "I don't trust 'im. First sign of any trouble I'm stickin' him with this" he gestures to his sword "so just keep him distracted." With that he, and he rest of you, follow Dr Fran into the woods.

A short distance in he comes to a stop in a small grove at the center of which is a bush covered in bright red flowers. Nearby is an easel and art supplies which Fran busies himself packing up. Given the fairly chaotic state of the paints it seems likely that this is the source of the red liquid he has been slowly smearing all over himself in the short time you have known him. The painting, though half finished, is already a fairly capable study of the flower in some detail. Seeing you look Dr Fran is happy to provide further information, "Art is my little hobby you understand. This island has such wonderful flora and fauna I think it's important to document it as much as possible. There are so few visitors it would be such a shame if nobody ever saw any of this."

Once packed up, in a large sack Dr Fran hoists over one mighty shoulder, he leads you on a path through the trees skirting around the edge of the open hilled area. After about an hour heading South (whilst given a running commentary on every tree, plant and animal you pass from Dr Fran) you come to something which resembles a track, or at least the clearest path through the trees you have seen since coming to the island, and after about a further hour you leave the jungle and enter a large open area.

Located on a low hill in the centre of a comfortable area of rolling grassland is what looks like a large manor house surrounded by a wooden stockade, about seven feet high, of sharpened wooden stakes. From the angle you approach you can only see one entrance - a sizeable wooden gate built into the North wall. As you approach you can see that closer to the house the ground is taken up by an expanse of vegetable and flower gardens.

Dr Fran points with his staff and booms, "Home sweet home!". As you get within shouting distance of the walls he shouts again, deafeningly loudly, "Orson! The door!. Looking at you almost apologetically he shrugs, "Sorry for the delay, we have to keep the gate closed to stop some of the more...boisterous wildlife getting in. My man should be here to open it but I suspect he didn't expect me back so soon so he might be tending to something else. While we wait I haven't asked how you got here! The supply ship isn't due for another few weeks and even that rarely brings visitors so what brings you to my little slice of heaven?

Following the large man in silence, Kaine is pleasantly surprised at the reveal of the partially completed artwork. "You have some talent good sir," he politely remarked, looking at the partially completed work.

The remainder of the journey proved to be more relaxing, as Kaine felt some of the tension from their encounter drain away. After all, what were the chances an artist could secretly be a cannibal or any other type of horrific person. Still, it never hurt to be on guard; Kaine's own master had appeared to be a feeble old man rather than the potent warlock that he was.

When they left the jungle and reached the manor Kaine exhaled in relief; some civilization at last. If nothing else, at least they could look forward to a proper bath.

"We were shipwrecked only about two days ago, and wounded up on shore along with the wreckage," he replied to Dr Fran. "It is strange you have been living alone here for some time, do the wild beasts of this island not pose any danger to you?" Kaine added curiously.

Skitterlung followed along, always cautious of this tall man. He eased only slightly when he found out about the man's artistic practices--after all, many short folk were renowned for their artistry of various sorts. Goblins for their scraping--Skitterlung had a scraped piece of his own, of course--dwarves for their carving, gnomes for their machining. The tall folk had arts, of course, but these were strictly inferior--art was always a second thought for tall folks.

Coming up to the manor, his sense of alarm kicked in all over again. Well-to-do goblins always stayed in sewers or alleyways, and having a manor was as certain a sign as any that a tall was ill-mannered, prejudicial, and thoroughly invested in flushing undesirables out of the local environs.

He voiced just such an opinion to Gren: "Skitterlung doesn't trust the tall, Gren. Big house, big stamping and stomping boots coming down on short heads."

Gren followed the others his sight might not be as good as them but his sense of smell was so he used that to study the area around him.

Looking down at his now little green friend "do not worry if there is stomping and stamping the big one will find Gren is not for squishing stick with me and you will be fine" he said with a smile on his big wide mouth

Cavalier was - unsurprisingly - not very talkative. It found some companionship in Caine, but Gren was a strange creature, and Skitterlung even more so - and his talk of tall folk surely rubbed off on the clockwork. It assumed the tiny thing did not trust it, so it did not particularly confide in it more than it needed to.

The journey was long and dull, as it were, and it found little humour in the strange doctor that aided them. However it afforded the automaton plenty of time to think. Think of its plight here, stranded on some remote island with wildlife at large. It never assumed it would be in this sort of a life, now that it was free. Or was it?

"No one will be allowed to stomp you. We protect each other." it says, calmly, slightly leaning down to say it to Skitterlung.

Your host, beaming with pride the whole way back from the praise for his artwork, looks genuinely shocked at hearing you were shipwrecked, "Good Lord, are you all alright? (this gets a derisive snort from the injured sailor) "I had no idea, you must think me quite flippant!

As he continues to apologise you hear a grunt of exertion and the gates begin to swing open revealing a huge man the other side. Clad in a simple monastic robe he stands nearly eight feet tall and is almost as broad. He hauls open the gates one at a time to admit you entry and then gives a small nod of his bald, but thickly bearded, head to Dr Fran who waves his thanks, "And I don't live here alone my dear fellow. This strapping chap is my man, Orson. My major domo, Felix, will be around here somewhere and there is also my ward, Delphi. We do get the supply ship every few weeks and some visitors on that but it's usually just us; and the Broken Ones obviously but they aren't much for conversation." He leads you through the gate, his huge manservant stepping to the side to let you pass - there not being enough room for both him and Cavalier in the gateway despite it's large dimensions.

A dirt pathway strewn with gravel begins at the gate and leads up to the front doors of the main house; a smartly made two story wooden building with a thatched roof. The house forms a rough U shape with a central area, where the main doors are, and then two wings; one to each side. The timbers of the house are well-hewn and tightly made; whoever built it knew what they were doing. Several windows, shutters swung open in the sunshine, dot the walls of the building though most are on the upper levels. A side path juts off the main route and then splits with one fork going to a smaller, one level building (constructed in a similar manner to the main house) set up against the wall just to the right of the gate as you come in and the other running around the side of the house and going into what appears to be a side door on the right side of the main house as you look at it.

Dr Fran leads you to the smaller building and pushes open the door revealing a simple interior divided into three rooms around a central hall. Two of the rooms are clearly bedchambers, sparsely furnished with a table, chair, water basin and straw cot. The other room appears to be a communal area with a central fire pit and two cupboards. "Here can be your home away from home, this is where our guests stay. My apologies for the humble conditions, we don't get that many visitors, but obviously you'll be welcome in the house so this is just really for sleeping in. Shall I leave you to settle in and get ready while I check on lunch? I'll have some water sent out so you freshen up. When you're ready just pop up to the house and let yourself in; I'll be in the library it's just to the right as you come in." With that Dr Fran turns to leave you in peace though you can hear him muttering, "It's just so nice to be able to entertain! as he walks away...

As Dr Fran led them inside his abode Kaine looked around the manor curiously, wondering if their host had constructed this place or found it like this. Likely the former, given the place must be able to accommodate the large size of Dr Fran and his three companions.

They are not human surely, descended from giants perhaps? he wondered. It would not be polite to ask of-course, so Kaine refrained from doing so. His ears did perk up at the mention of the 'broken ones', and he wondered if they referred to the beast-men they had fought earlier. He kept it in mind to ask their host later, after they had eaten and rested.

There were a great many things Kaine wished to query their host about.

As Dr. Fran showed them to the guest rooms and turned to leave, Kaine propped his staff outside on of the bedchambers and said, "We thank you for your hospitality and generousness, good sir. I will gladly join you in the library after freshening up; someone to see to our companion's leg should be a priority though, if there is someone here who can help mend it and take care of the pain."

---

ooc: Would Kaine know what species Dr. Fran and his companions are? If not can I make an Intellect roll to determine if Kaine has heard of them?

OOC: There is definitely something odd about the physical dimensions of your hosts but Kaine hasn't heard of anything which might fit the bill. Dr Fran is more 'normal' in appearance, certainly in the face, whereas Orson very much has something of the other about him.

Cavalier has to bend down slightly to get into the house, but after some awkward maneuvering, it manages to get in. "There has been more comfortable logistics, but this shall suffice." it comments, once Fran had left, not wishing to insult them.

It sits down against one of the walls, looking to the others. "What is our plan for now? Are we to wait for these supplyships to arrive so we might leave the island?"

Having been impressed by the artificial tall one's prior words, Skitterlung settled in closely between Green and Cavalier, leering about around himself before pulling close to the others. "Don't trust this tall. Feels wrong to this one." He scowled as he leaned back, looking around the room for any signs of a spy or a new visitor.

Gren felt it to but couldn't put his clawed finger on it. The man had for all intense rescued them from the jungle, given them hospitality and done nothing untoward but still things were not as they seemed he felt it.

He gave the goblin a reassuring pat on the arm then went and cleaned himself up after all he still had dried earth all over himself and he knew humans hated dirt in their homes

After ensuring Jeb was as comfortable as could be given the circumstances while the water was brought it to fill the basins, Kain put his travel bag and staff by the side of a cot in one of the rooms, then stripped off most of his clothes and washed himself using the basin as best as he could.

Thoroughly enjoying the feel of the cool, clean water on his skin Kaine also wanted to wash his clothes but decided against it for now, he didn't know how long they would be staying here and wanted to get a proper feel for their hosts first.

"That would be the most apparent course of action, there is little else we can do," he replied to Cavalier, as he dusted off his clothing before putting it back on. He also glanced at Gren, Skitterling and the sailors to gauge their reaction. They had no other choice, aside from starving in the wilderness or falling eventual prey to those beasts they had fought earlier. And to be honest, spending the days perusing Dr. Fran's library and eating his food until the supply ship arrived did not seem like a bad way to pass the time.

Therein lay the problem of-course, nothing was free in this cruel world.

"I say we remain on guard, trusting only each other, but stay polite. Our hosts could be what they seem, generous and good of heart, helping those in need," Kaine remarked finally.

He was eager to go to the library to eat the lunch Dr. Fran had mentioned, and to talk with him some more once the others were ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Thu 17 Sept 2020.