CH. 12: Wyvern's Island

[xelphyn]

Dhan come rushing out as quickly as his legs let him.
"Wait! I'm coming!"
After getting to the others he asks: "So, what are we doing again?"

[JadedDM]

By leaving her shark hide armor behind, Val feels a little less weighed down.

Thaddeus looks away, unable to face Ouragana or give her an answer. And so, she turns away.

Gallath decides to leave his falcon on the ship. He doesn't have any silver coins for Ouragana to enchant, so he uses a copper coin instead.

The party begins boarding the two rowboats, when Granite comes running out to join them, having forgotten what they were doing in the first place. Shortly after, someone else comes running out from down below, as well--Thaddeus. He's wearing a backpack. "W-Wait!" he says. "I wish to accompany you."

"What," Sierra says flatly. It's not a question, more of an expression of disbelief.

"Well, I have become fluent in the old tongue of Eonian, so I might be of use in translating any writing they find," Thaddeus explains.

"No," Sierra says, holding up her hands. "No, no, no. Are you kidding me? Do you know what your mother would do to me if something happened to you? Gods alive, man. Even I'm terrified of her."

"But Captain," Thaddeus protests, "I may never have an opportunity to do something like this again! Surely I deserve to have one adventure in my life? I won't be able to do anything like that after next year. Besides, I'm perfectly competent in a fight, as you well know."

"The whole point of sending this lot onto the island to get the cannon is so we won't risk any of our people," Sierra says. "Sending an officer, and my navigator at that, is a pretty big risk in my book."

Crestfallen, Thaddeus lowers his head. "I...I understand, Captain..."

===========

Val acquires an eternally bright silver piece and leaves behind her shark hide armor. She drops from moderate to light encumbrance.
Gallath acquires an eternally bright copper piece.

[Nuke]

OOC: Val leaves her battle axe behind as well

[HorizonsDream]

"Captain, I could try to keep him protected," Jocelyn says. Honestly, she was pretty sure they could use the help. "And I don't think any of us have the language skills that he has."

[BishGada]

Baeros calls upon his dogs, and while the other prepare for the landing he leans of the rails near Terra and asks her, "So deary, is there anything special besides a cannon", he winks with mischief considering the implications of the word, "I can bring back for you from this journey?" he smiles, "Mebbe a nice necklace or a belt that will emphasis your perfect, even small, features?" he stumbles again in his tries to be charming.

When Thaddeus runs after them and after the short conversation with Sierra Baeros adds, "Besides, if he comes with us, you won't leave us here even if we delay a bit more than three days, and so you won't miss the canon" his look shifts to Terra, "in that circumstances."

=====================================================
(OOC: Baeros will bring both Takit and Hopper with him. He knows they will like to be on a land again, and he trusts Hopper will stay out of combat if he instructs him to stay behind. It would also be better to have another set of high senses to warn them of troubles.

Baeros asks Ouagana to cast Continual Light on 5 of his arrows and uses leathers found on the ship to create covers of the arrow heads. He also paints the feathers to distinguish them from the other arrows.)

[Breila]

Ouragana's eyes grow big when Thaddeus comes running, she certainly didn't expect that. But she stays silent, even thought some part in her gets angry when he claims his fluency in Eonian. She, after all, was fluent in the language as well. She holds her tongue because she believes that she certainly couldn't persuade Sierra to let him come with her.

If he really turns back, she calls after him: "Are you really sure there is nothing I should know before I go?"

[spyguy1503]

Gallath speaks up. "Look, I understand that you want to protect your men, and I admire that. However, Thaddeus is well capable of taking care of himself, and we will do whatever it takes to protect him. Also, we may need his help. Perhaps there is a door with an ancient Eonian code on it, and only he can help us."

[JadedDM]

Terra laughs at Baeros' remark. "Sure. Maybe there's some dwarf-sized lingerie somewhere in that ancient wizard's lab. Anything's possible, I guess. I probably wouldn't bet good coin on it, though."

Sierra looks between Jocelyn, Baeros and Gallath. She seems a bit surprised that they would vouch for Thaddeus. "Hmm," she says, chewing on her lip. "Alright! But let's make it clear, I'm taking you at your word. You either come back with him in one piece or you don't come back at all, get it?" she says sternly, crossing her arms.

With a look of both delight and relief, Thaddeus bows to the captain. "Thank you, captain!" He then joins the others and nods to Jocelyn, Baeros and Gallath. "Thank you all. You won't regret this, I swear." He begins boarding the rowboats with them.

Once the two rowboats are loaded up and lowered into the sea, the occupants begin rowing to the shore. It's a beautiful day--warm and sunny, but not too hot. One might call it perfect beach weather. There isn't a cloud in the sky. After about ten minutes or rowing, they reach the shore.

==============

(OOC: Val can't leave her battle axe behind; it's currently with Andar, on the Seleya, likely in Sanctuary by now. She never retrieved it from him. Along with Val's two waterskins and Jocelyn's bedroll.)

Baeros acquires 5 eternally bright sheaf arrows.

Thaddues slightly approves (+1) of Jocelyn, Baeros and Gallath.

Thaddeus temporarily joins the party!

(OOC: Feel free to decide on the marching order before you set off.)

[spyguy1503]

Gallath will go in the middle. "Baeros, can I have one of those arrows?"

(OOC: I guess she did technically leave it behind.)

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn looks at all of those gathered on the beach. "Baeros, maybe you and your dogs should take the lead?" she offers. "Val can be in the back. I'll be behind Baeros, and the rest of you can be in the middle."

[Breila]

Ouragana falls in line behind Jocelyn, taking Thaddeus with her. "It's good to have you here" she smiles at him. "I'm sorry I didn't speak up for you, but I don't think my word matters with Sierra."

[JadedDM]

Brock watches Ouragana and Thaddeus, and shakes his head. "Another mage. Just great," he mutters. He approaches Jocelyn. "Hmm, still wearing my old lucky charm, are you?" he asks, noticing the ring on her finger. "Glad to know it's kept you out of trouble."

"It's good to have you here. I'm sorry I didn't speak up for you, but I don't think my word matters with Sierra."

"It's quite alright," Thaddeus says. "I'm glad to be here. The captain doesn't usually change her mind like that. So when she said I couldn't go, well...to be frank, I was crushed. I thought I wouldn't get the chance to have at least one adventure before I leave the Bullring."

While Baeros considers Gallath's request, Val puts on her chain mail. Hopper starts sniffing around, overwhelmed with numerous new scents. Takit manages to exhibit a little more self-control and stays at his master's side.

The beach they are on is deserted. The sand is white and extends about 90 yards toward the island until it gives way to lush jungle greenery. The jungle is quite thick and there are no visible paths or roads, so it looks like they'll have to hack their way through.

=============

(OOC: I guess she did technically leave it behind.)

(OOC: I admit, I was tempted to just say, "Oh, she left it behind alright. She left it way behind!" and just leave it at that.

As for marching order, how does this look?

Baeros (8)/Takit (12)/Hopper (12)
Jocelyn (8)/Brock (3)
Gallath (8)/Dahn (4)
Ouragana (12)/Thaddeus (12)
Val (8)

The number next to the name is the character's current movement rate. Total party movement rate is 3.)

[Breila]

"You didn't tell me you were leaving the Bullring" Ouragana says to Thaddeus. "I hope you'll tell me why, when we have time. Right now, I think we should concentrate on the task at hand."
She looks ahead at the thick jungle, then sighs.
"So, what do we have for directions?" she asks, herself as much as anyone else.

(OOC: what does she remember from her studies with Thaddeus?)

[HorizonsDream]

"Hmm?" Jocelyn says then looks down at her finger. "Oh, yeah. It has been useful in keeping me safe," she admits. "Thanks again. I just hope I'm able to keep the rest of you guys safe during this little adventure."

[JadedDM]

Ouragana recalls the details of the holographic map she studied for the past week. However, that map is hundreds of years old and wasn't very detailed. She knew the island's shape and that it was about three miles from north to south and around four miles from west to east. She also knew that the mansion was reportedly in a dale near a lake.

Each big hex is a mile long. Each little hex is around 350 yards in size. Point "A" is where the rowboats landed, and thus the party's current location. Point "B" is where the mansion should be.

Wyvern Island 01.png (1009.61 KiB) Viewed 5688 times

As she had paper and an ink vial and quill, she could conceivably start making her own map as they travel, if she so wished.

"Thanks again. I just hope I'm able to keep the rest of you guys safe during this little adventure."

"Eh, pretty sure it's my job to keep you safe," Brock comments, shading his eyes from the sun as he stares off toward the jungle.