Once you are suitably equipped Fran shows you back the way you had come and back to the main doors, "Well now you look the part of the fine fellows I know you are it's probably time you got some rest. The artefact in question will keep for a little while longer and I know you've had a troubling few days. The guest lodgings are yours, and your other companions, for as long as you wish to use them. I have plans for this evening but I'll have some supplies sent out to you. Perhaps if we meet tomorrow for lunch I can fill you in with a bit more detail on the mission at hand?"

Opening the door to let you through he makes an expansive gesture at the surroundings, "You are welcome to put your feet up but if you want to explore the jungle around here should be free from the more dangerous inhabitants for about half a mile in all directions. Beyond that there might be some...trouble but I suspect nothing you can't handle! If you do go further afield then I would recommend staying to the West side of the island, the broken ones on the East side can get a little more...fractious."

With that he ushers you in the direction of the guest house and sees you off with a hearty wave from the door. As you return to the lodgings you find the detritus of a meal, not quite as hearty as the one you had, and the sailors you travelled with asleep around the room and snoring the contented snores of those with a good meal inside them.

You now find yourselves with some free time but how do you want to spend it?

Nodding to Dr Fran as he left, Kaine gazed at the dozing sailors and then at his companions with curiosity.

"Well we have some time to ourselves it seems, should we get a lay of the land around the estate? Maybe see some more of these broken ones first hand, or rest here until tomorrow?" he asked them.

Kaine wasn't really partial to the idea of going looking for any more of the broken ones himself, they seemed violent, territorial and tribal; the battles the encounters they already had with them were testament enough to that. He did not doubt they would meet many more during their mission.

On the other hand, investigating the surroundings could yield some useful information, as could poking about the mansion. Kaine did have an idea of looking over Fran's library to see if there was any information about the artifact they were supposed to destroy, the cult it had corrupted or the history of the island itself.

"Or does anyone have any other ideas?" he added hopefully, in case anyone had a better way in mind to spend their time.

---

ooc: What time of day is it currently? Midday or evening?

Gren nodded at Kaine's suggestion " it might be good to understand the land around in case we have to make a hasty return from this misadventure we are going on" the molekin said with a dry chuckle

Cavalier had outfitted itself now, looking more proper as a machine built for war than previously. Thick brigandine came in shades of black, gray and dark brown, seemingly mottled with age, but still useful in what it was intended for. The bastard sword, despite Cavalier's own size, looked large in its hands, a menacing force indeed. Why, with this, it could do some actual damage, instead of the broken table leg it had been swinging as a club.

"I agree. Some proper reconnaissance might very well do us good. I personally have no need for rest, and as such, can continue on should you wish and be capable of such. I leave it up to you, but if my opinion is requested, it is such." it explains, as it fiddled with the buckle of the baldric kept on his back, over the cloak it had kept.

"Skitterlung agrees, we should scout about. Gren and me are shorts, understand things low down good." Skitterlung was rubbing a couple of acorns together, pondering something his mentor had taught him.

"If you move ahead, just be careful, please. I would be devastated if something happened to you." Cavalier says to Skitterlung, while also looking to Gren. Even though the hollow ring of the metallic voice conveyed no emotion, as it never really did, there was still weight behind the words. "I may not be apt at the art of subterfuge, but I can provide help in other ways, even better now."

He looks between the three. "Shall we, then?"

OOC: Time is mid-afternoon. About 3-4pm if you had the means to get something so exact.

"Ah, yes, the sun is only a couple of hands over the horizon, it is not late in the day. Gren and Cavalier, you are coming, yes?" Skitterlung got low to the ground, like a lizard, and moved forward toward the brush. He wanted to get a snack for his little bug friend, as well.

You set off promptly from the compound; the large main gates proving a tough, but not insurmountable, challenge to open especially given Cavalier's sheer power. At the sound of opening you can see the man known as Orson look out from a window but, when he sees it is you, he simply nods and his head disappears.

Outside you are in an area of slightly rolling hills; the forest seemingly having been cut back about half a mile in all directions leaving a wide open space of grassland with the occasional area of tilled soil being used as vegetable patches. A short distance away from the compound is a river, broadening as it runs North. You can see movement within the clear waters and from what you can make out the fish here, at least, look 'normal'.

You take a turn around the perimeter of the cleared area; the edge of the forest seeming much less foreboding in the broad daylight. The river, when you reach it, is crossed by a small neatly constructed wooden bridge at each end. You can see occasional movement beyond the treeline and strange animal noises occasionally break out in the distance but nothing threatens you in your exploration.

While multiple small tracks and animal trails lead into the trees in all directions there are three main trails leading deeper into the island. Well worn trails follow the river both North, presumably to the coast, and South-West, presumably to it's source. Another trail leads pretty much dead South.

Skitterlung occasionally paused to make note of certain things, perhaps not always what most others would take note of, but facts that seemed important to him.

First, he noted the fish, thinking: The shortest of the short are unchanged. Why not the fish, too? Why the taller land-animals? Some fish must belong to this island just as the broken ones. Do they breed elsewhere? Perhaps the shortest have been overlooked.

The second thing he noted was the placement of the paths away--one straight south, and paths along the river. None toward the East, at least not immediately--but the animals move in every direction, as their nature dictates.

He would share his speculations when their initial scouting had finished.

Gren followed his little companion, for a Molekin he was actually starting to feel comfortable around these above ground people, and particularly the little one in front of him.

He took a deep breath of air he felt relief after being in the manor house for so long. It was good to feel the earth under his large leathery feet.

He crouched and smelt the earth to see if it was fertile or had it been soiled like the creatures the lived on the island.

Kaine had never been much of a woodsman, so left the reading of the trails to the others as they reached the three main trails leading deeper onwards. The warlock pondered their options, stroking his beard with one hand thoughtfully while the other rested on the pommel of his newly acquired scimitar.

"Well, our hosts did not mention anything of what lies to the South, so perhaps we scout that out?" he said finally with a shrug.

He did not much care whichever way they chose, it felt good to be outside after having eaten and rested well over the past day; Kaine felt confident and eager to see what other secrets this mysterious island might divulge.

Gren's familiarity with earth and soil makes it fairly trivial for him to identify that the ground her appears fertile and 'normal'. Whatever is effecting the fauna here doesn't seem to impacting the dirt.

Cavalier merely shrugs.

"South seems as good as any road. Something to get us started at least."

After some time along, Skitterlung turned to his friend, and asked: "Have you noticed anything, Gren?"

The path to the South makes for a fairly easy journey through the trees; it's clearly well used and the foliage appears to have been cut back deliberately to keep it clear.

After a walk of perhaps a mile the path widens out into a large area where the trees have been clearly hacked back to form a clearing. Inside the clearing is a primitive village of perhaps a dozen huts and other wooden structures. Moving between the buildings and milling around the village are a handful of the 'broken ones'; half-human and half-animal creatures who move around the buildings interacting with each other with a mixture of bleats, grunts and growls.

Initially only a couple of them notice you but, as more do, all the creatures gradually turn to silently face you and the sounds of village life fade away. Eventually every creature in the village is staring at you in silence but certainly none seem to be taking any hostile action towards you.

Gren stepped slightly forward with his hand held out. He didn't feel any hostility towards them so he didn't want them to think they were hostile either.

Also for the first time he felt connected to the land about them, he felt the earth beneath his toes and felt a slight calm fall over him.

"I am Gren" he said in a clear but not loud voice as he place his left hand on his chest before raising it again. " We mean no harm and do not wish to disturb your village"

Skitterlung walked forward as well, showing his hands to be perfectly empty. Then, he pointed briefly at his face. He spoke, with a heavier-than-normal goblinoid accident: "Skitterlung-a."

The creatures in the hamlet initially start to back away as Skitterlung and Gren step forward but, upon seeing no hostile intent, they stand their ground and after a few short minutes one of the things - something which appears half man and half goat - edges forwards and bleats out in halting, broken words, "Are you guests of Diosamblet? His guests welcome here". It then proffers a dirty looking waterskin towards you as if it was some kind of offering.

Skitterlung reached for it reverently, partaking of the water gently. If there was anything strange in it, he hoped his tough goblinoid stomach could take it.

The creature passes the skin over and Skitterlung takes a sip, mercifully tasting clean fresh water which appears, for now at least, unadulterated.

At the sight of the newcomers partaking of their drink you can sense a visible shift in the villagers. While most of them remain staring at you it seems somewhat less intense and some of the creatures at the back of the crowd seem to even return to going about their business.