Desi cleared her throat, but her voice wouldn't come immediately.  Her blank white face tried to give away nothing, but clearly showed her anxiety. Why did they call her, but not her brothers? Was this famine really part of something bigger? And if the settlement was really at stake... She drew a breath to steady herself.

"I'll help, if I can. I'll do my best." She glanced back to to Abbi.

Abbi swallowed audibly, her eyes darting from the Elder to the Shaman to her friend.  And of course all her fellow villagers inbetween.

Keeping Desi's gaze, she nodded hurriedly, not trusting her voice to speak.

Hearing several of his Chosen assent, but not all, Chief Elder Sakai folded his arms and spoke.

"If you wish to decline, there is no dishonor.  Only the Guardians are warriors.  None of you are trained for this." He shook his head.  "Nobody is.  None below know the details of what is to follow.  If you wish to return to your homes, you may go now, and none will judge you for it."

He paused to allow any who wished to decline to leave...

Famine? That was a word meaning no food anymore. That's a bad word.

The trash panda looked up and scratched his muzzle in thought. Or maybe it was fleas.

After a moment he furrowed his brow and with great purpose, uttered...

"Okay!"

Juffi-wup projected the image of the sun making the plants grow. Then it changed to clouds covering the sun, the sun going away, and the plants withering and dying. Those present could tell it was asking if this scourge would affect the plant-people as well as the meaty-ones.

I'm assuming that will be an affirmative

Juffi-wup then projects its agreement to the mission. A short, bearded man with a big smile giving an enthusiastic thumbs up.
https://library.kissclipart.co...c0ff1d0cc5af861e.jpg

Turning to Juffi-Wup with some deference... as the plant folk were not part of his village... Sakai said, "I believe so.  No one is sure.  This has never happened before, but it's been foretold by our Shaman and the old texts."

To the rest, he continued.

"The stories say our people came from the rusted hulk of the old ship on the southern shore.  This is true, and it is false.  SOME of our ancestors came from there... refugees and castaways from a world gone mad.  But some of us descended from other stock."

"During the Last War, it is said a great ship of war fought a final battle and crashed upon our northern shores.  That ship's crew fled to our land and became part of our community.  But the ship was powered by ancient fires and the land around it became dangerous.  It has been taboo long before I was born."

He looked to Udo.

"Now something amiss in this taboo place is poisoning the land, the sea, the fish and the birds.  If nothing is done, this Isle, our home, may be uninhabitable within a year.  Once, when I was young we considered leaving the Isle..."

Udo rose at that.

"And that is why you will never walk straight again, old warrior," the Shaman said, his tone suggesting the camaraderie of two old friends.

"Every attempt to scout the land beyond, which we can all see on clear days, has resulted in failure.  But the options have narrowed," the Shaman said. "We must learn what we can of the Taboo Lands, and see if the Isle can remain.  But if not, or perhaps even if so... things will never be the same."

He produced a weathered parchment, folded into a small packet, that... once unfolded... provided a map of the island in antique terms.  Stylus could decipher the markings better than anyone else.  But the landmarks were wrong.  Obviously, the map was very old.

"To the Northwest you must go," he said gravely.  "Into the Forbidden Lands."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:07, Wed 28 Oct 2020.

Nic stared at the map, uncertain if he should be the one to take the map, unsure even if such an ancient treasure was even being offered to the small group, or if the memory of it would have to guide them. He stepped forward to study it, knowing he would not block the sight of anyone else. His eyes poured over it, sucking in as much as possible, as he spoke, "And there, seek.... what? How should we start?"

Stylus diligently took notes of the meeting.
Once the brave band of heroes left upon their journey, it would be his duty (of course) to record the events of this auspicious meeting for future reference.

In one way, he envied them ... the heroic quest, the excitement of escaping the mundane, the adventure of discovery.
In another,  he pitied  them ... for the taboo lands were cursed and haunted and corrupt, it was believed.

He wondered if the community would ever see these men and women again.  It was unlikely, given previous expeditions.
Though, he had to wonder, if their chance of success was increased due to Udo's sending them.  After all, if he needed to know what they discovered, would he not be expecting them to return with such data?   Maybe, just maybe, he'd 'seen' their return.

Which made Stylus' documentation of this auspicious meeting even more important.

Also, to note:   for the predatory based animals here ... Stylus has 'Prey Scent'.

The mutant’s body sends out waves of scent that will attract predators. The ML may increase the occurrence of wandering monsters, at his discretion.

Surely, in this proximity, and duration, you will have noticed it by now.

In reply to Stylus (msg # 19):

Certainly, Spot has, at the very least. Though that just means he's prone to slobbering on you.

The more he hears, the more sure Freddy is that he needs to be a part of this, not bothering to read the map, trusting his innate senses and gifts to get them back, which in his opinion might end up being the more important thing if it all goes down and the chaos that seems to be expected comes to pass..

"How long until we are to set out?"

He makes sure his words can be heard from where he stands..
This message was lightly edited by the player at 08:06, Fri 30 Oct 2020.

Sakai regarded Nic with the full weight of his gaze.

"You seek the other ship," he said grimly.

"And from there, the source of the poison that is ruining the water, the air, and the land. Or a way to stop such."

"Sir Plant," he said towards Juffi-Wup, "It is my plea that you escort and guide this party through your realm. The jungle valley lies between the village and the Taboo Lands.  Sheldon, you have skirted the border of those lands - you too may be invaluable."

"If you are willing, you leave in the morning."

Kaden scratched his chin, "Well, uh, I was supposed to go out with the fishing boats tomorrow. Keep them safe. But this sounds more important to me. I don't think we should get poisoned! If you want me to go, I'll go!"

He grinned suddenly, "Perhaps this time my brother can go and come home reeking of fish!"

Mawr was feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, much more than than even Kole.  But, he knew his place was with the party.  He would do his best to help solve the problem. So, meet at the village green at sunrise?

Juffi-wup transmits it's agreement: an image of the village green with the sun coming up from the horizon.

Sunrise? Ouch. This was going to hurt.

"Master," Stylus spoke up, but submissively, to Udo, "is there anything I should prepare for them?
I could copy this map?"
Just as Stylus hadn't quite clicked yet that he was also being invited to leave and investigate (he still figured that he was here to take notes), it didn't occur to him that the adventuring party might be taking the actual map from their archives (such a sacrilegious idea).

Nic, seeing no need to waste such a fine night sleeping indoors and talking to his family, suggests he could meet everyone somewhere later that day along their path, "I was going to sleep in the woods tonight. No need for me to trek back this way. I'll try to hunt something up for lunch, and meet you all at Split Tree And Laughing Rock," naming a familiar landmark.

"Indeed, Kaden," Sakai smiled wanly. "And with your talents, I'm sure you can arrange an overcast day for Desi, as well."

"I will be there to see you off.  Please share this with no one else."

In reply to Stylus (msg # 27):

"Why copy it?  Take it with you.  You will need it to guide them.  I will have one further gift for you on your journey in the morning," Udo replied.

For the moment not having anything to add, taking everything in, landmarks mentioned, times of departure, sure that his knowledge of the Island from all his travels will come in handy, Freddy decides to sleep outdoors as well, not feeling a need to go home as he carries everything he ever seems to need with him anyway, smiling just a bit, the ability to scrounge up whatever is needed from whatever they come across something that has benefited him in the past and he's sure will again..

Kaden glanced over at Desi and grinned, "Not a fan of the sun, are ya? Yeah, I should be able to arrange some cover for us as we go."

"Alright, off to home with me. Morning will come soon enough. See you all tomorroooooow...."

He runs off at full speed. Dangerous or not, this is the most interesting thing that has happened to him....ever!

Mawr ambles home, in no hurry,as there was little to pack but food.

Stylus' eyes shot open.
He was supposed to go WITH them?
He was allowed to go with them?

The emotions washed through him unchecked for a moment, before he nodded mutely to his mentor.
Ok, so he was going with them.
Right.
Going.  Away.  from the village?
Right.
Ok.

He moved unsteadily over to the map, and began to (overly) carefully begin to roll the thing up.

As others began to drift away for the night, Stylus watched them go.   opposing feelings still playing hide and seek in his gut and head.

Then, in a panic, he realised that he needed to pack.