Post by Joliette Thorne on May 12, 2008 3:15:56 GMT -5
--Mangrove Beach--
Saiyah soon had her palm to her face, clearing away the crusted salt, and bits of sea-weed from the hair. It was quickly after she'd 'woken' up that her eyes shot open wide, a sharp, pinching needled like pain could be felt behind her. She instinctively snapped her tail, trying to shake away the pain; the only thing she managed to do though was send a large crab soaring back out to sea. 'Take that too!' she though to herself, for if she could express herself with words, she'd be yelling at the ones who stripped her of her weapon last night. Well, now she was -sorta- awake and slowly slithering back up to the camp fire that the psion had made last night.
Arysel snickers at the snake woman and turns to regard Portea with a shrug, "Other than mud, "She gestures with a sigh to the ruined skirt, "And a few places I've already seen, I didn't run into anything, least of all dart blowing pygmies. I think Tene's wrong, I think her Orc friend probably ate them all."
Portea nods slightly and glances around. "Well let's just hope he isn't hungry whenever we do run in to him." He replies softly, glancing over at the naga. "You look like you could dry out a bit."
Tenebrae was face down in the sand beside the remnants of the fire, snoring, one arm thrown across the tattooed chest of the equally unconscious Adair. So she wouldn't hear the crashing footfalls that lumbered from the western swamps, the low rumble of a roar that one might feel tickling the base of one's feet purely by the effect of its pitch on the flesh. And, more's the pity, she wouldn't see the great, scarred face that emerged through a stand of bamboo, a twist of features permanently etched by the bite of a shark into a grimacing scowl. He'd have been wearing one anyway, above the twin tusks that jutted from his lower jaw, one with the tip missing. Hands the size of hams parted the thick stalks with a creak and rustle. Gomrak was home-- and none too pleased to find his island once more over-run with food species that were not his own. The vasty cannibal roared again, loud enough even without his amplifying conch to send all wildlife scurrying, and made his best attempt to charge from the bushes. But it was more of a sorry limp, his right leg dragging, and yet he'd have made a fair effort at making them all a meal had he not spotted white wings, and did those white wings not hide a form who spoke with a sweet, bell-like voice he knew. "WOMAN!" The lumbering creature stopped, almost nine feet of muscle and little brain standing unsteadily, while blood puddled about his wound, and cast his piggish eyes about for the vampiress.
Eyren feeling that at last she was somewhat returned to her former state of cleanliness, makes to wade back to the shore when Sahtya, who'd been silently watching on ran to the waters edge. Waving her arms to first catch Eyren’s attention, she begins to motion in that silent language of hands; first pointing at Eyren then at the assembled group further up on the shore. Eyren after reading her words looks down at herself and quickly submerges herself once more, a light blush creeping to fill her cheeks. Trapped, she was trapped in the water as her clothing was now soaked through to the point of indecency. Sahtya catching the look of sheer mortification that crossed her mistresses face motions once more with her hands then runs back to the whalebone hut. She returns in short order with a large, and rather tattered blanket. Motioning once more with her free hand Sahtya makes to stand directly in front of Eyren acting as a shield of sorts, holding the blanket open that she might wrap Eyren in it as soon as she got close enough. With a grateful smile to the girl Eyren rises once more from the water and practically flies in to the obscuring confines of the blanket. "Thank you friend" she murmurs before steeping once more on to the beach. "Oh is that sailor awake yet?" she asks Sahtya as she skirted her way around the others; headed to procure a change of clothing in the hut. "If not we'll have to remedy that in short order, as I am bound to get out of these clothes."
Arysel turns quickly to the edge of the trees, spying the orc and the blood pool that seems to be getting bigger and bigger as he stands there "Gomrak!" Arysel would wave her arm to get his attention, "She sleeps. Quiet your voice." Smiling at Portea Arysel would simply wander over to the hulking beast, "Do you remember me?" She actually prayed he did..she'd hate it to be heard that avian's tasted like chicken.
Isen emerges from the jungle, stepping quietly in the wake of the orc. He'd been following the beast for some time, hanging back in the undergrowth. The lycan looks like he's had a rough night; numerous scratches on his tattooed torso ooze blood, and his pants, too, are ripped. But, he has a gleam in his eye, and a small smile on his face as he begins to approach the camp.
Adair felt his eyes jiggling inside his skull as he slept, making him dream of an earthquake. With the continued stops and then the deafening noise, he bolts upright, the arm draped across his chest tossed aside as the creature came into his sights, his hand seeking the handle of his blade.
Portea turns towards the massive orc and sets his mind to work at absorbing each and every detail that he can. "Seems like he does remember you." He comments softly, magnifying his voice just enough for it to carry to the avian’s ears.
Saiyah simply blinked. As if having a oh so lovely encounter with the fish-people wasn't enough- she now had a nine-foot orc bounding down across the beach towards her and the group. 'Lovely' she though as her hand reached for the non-existent trident.
Eyren emerges hurriedly from the hut at the almost thunderous crashings she'd heard from outside. She freezes in place as the origin of the noise is soon found. The orc, Gomrak she'd assume from the brief descriptions Tenebrae had given her. He was a beast, scarred features made more monstrous in the afternoon light, and the gore of blood that pooled at his feet added to the gruesome picture he made standing not 6 feet away. "Oh my" she murmurs, squeezing the hand of Sahtya who had promptly moved to cower behind Eyren at the sight of the beast. Eyren takes in a sharp breath as she watched the winged woman approach the beast with seemingly no forethought. "Crazy" she murmurs once more. Frantically Eyren looked about for Tenebrae; finding her still asleep beside the now dead fire. "Perhaps, someone should .. uh wake her?" She turns and catches sight of Isen who didn't look much more well off than the orc. "My goodness Isen what ... where have you been?"
Arysel stops in front of the orc, eyeing him and down as she crosses her arms, "You're hurt, friend. Let's let Tenebrae sleep off her whisky and go back to your hut. I'll fix you, like you fixed me." Pushing a stray bit of hair out of her eyes, the Avian heads off towards the hut. Not even waiting for Gomrak, or even to look back to see if he'd follow.
Tenebrae groaned a bit. Really, that pirate was taking his toll on her as drinkin' buddy. Blinking back flecks of sand, the world to her was still a comfortably excruciating blur. She wasn't awake enough yet for the after-effects of several bottles of whisky to kick in. Gomrak, meantime, was snarling at Isen, and Eyren's entry to the hut made him roar again, and drag forward another three feet in an attempt to gut the interloper. But his leg wasn't helping, and still a good distance from both Mate and medic, he looked about for things to throw at them, until Arysel spoke his name, her soft order stilling him, his great ugly head moving up and down in a nod. Still, he did not appear too happy about all this, each of those present with weapons drawn receiving a rather hostile lift of lip over tusk and glare as a promise he'd go down fighting, and probably take a couple with him. Except Arysel, unarmed, and whom he secretly quite liked. Squinty orc-eyes glanced toward the hut. Tenebrae stirred when Adair threw her limb aside, and groaned, eyes cracking open. "Mmmfh. Wha...?" Untangling herself from the cloak that'd concealed her, she thought she was in Rynvale.
Isen grins and gestures back toward the jungle, the tangled foliage likely accounting for the various scrapes and cuts on his body. "I explored," he says to Eyren. "There's sandy areas out there that sink. Nearly died." Overall, he seems most exhilarated, if a bit tired.
Portea is still just standing perfectly still, essentially analyzing the orc with his raptor like gaze. He tilts his head this way, and that, not even bothering to draw his cutlass since there really is no need for it. "Interesting.." He mutters to himself, angling his head back to gaze into the orc's eyes. "Might want to let her take care of that for you." He says quietly, motioning towards his leg.
Saiyah kept just behind the driftwood long, dark green eyes staring across with the man with such tension, it was almost as if it could be cut with a knife. Her arms were held before her like a boxer would, her tail slithered back and forth- ready to move at a moments notice. It was only when the avian seemed to halt the creatures charge that Saiyah blinked and lofted a brow, now curious. A glance was shot in Tenebrae's direction as her low mutter was heard as she woke up.
Eyren rushes over to Tenebrae as she gauged from the groan and the fluttering of cloak that she was awake enough to tend to the beast; the menacing lunge he'd made towards her not lost on the medic. Dropping to her knees beside Tenebrae she promptly makes to shake her shoulders vigorously; paying no mind to the strong scent of liquor that hung about her half-sleeping form. "He's here!" she whispered frantically taking note to keep her voice at that pitch as any louder might in theory make Tenebrae's head explode, as the mother of hangovers would be fully ignited. "Tene, that .. Gomrak he's come to pay you a call. Now, up pretty and give him a smile won't you? He ... he's in a bad way and oh do wake up!"
Adair side steps back towards Tenebrae, "Mornin' sunshine." He'd mumble then give a nod of his head to the orc, "Friend of yers?"
Tenebrae, while Eyren shook her til her fangs rattled, was slowly coming to the realisation that she was not in Rynvale anymore. The world was no less a blur for the shaking she was given, Eyren's words made some sort of sense at least. "Gomrak?" If the medic stopped trying to wake her, she'd grope for a bottle. She found a pirate instead. Or one of his limbs. Or something. "Wha? Huh, yeah." She staggered upright, and would likely have fallen right back down had Gomrak not managed to limp the several yards across the sand to where Eyren and she were, and swept both women up like rag dolls, each lodged under one green-skinned and highly odiferous armpit. Then he'd bend to Adair, that tusked face thrust forward in a hoarse and stinking roar that might shift dreadlocks a little. The limp back to the hut was a painful one, for both he and Tene.
Isen slips silently into the hut, one hand gripping his sword hilt as follows the orc that had abducted Tenebrae and Eyren. He makes as little noise as he can, so as not to alert the beast.
Saiyah held the thick piece of drift wood in her hand as it raised high above her head. As she watched him disappearing into the hut, she hucked it violently towards the back of his head, hoping if at all to grab his attention before the three were lost from sight inside.
Tenebrae was swinging and groaning, and the lump of wood would bounce off the orc's head like a rubber bone, and with as much effect. He grumbled a bit, and entered the hut without looking back.
-- Whalebone Hut --
Eyren can only blink as she is plucked like so much light-weight refuse from the sand; her mind not even allowing for the sharp scream that she was sure would have pierced the air had she been in a proper state of mind to do so. As it were she was left mute, and breathless by the stench that soon assailed her nose soon after the impromptu abduction. From her vantage point she could see the frantic shape of Sahtya, trembling and helpless as she chased after the retreating beast. She made to squirm a bit that she might catch the eye of the men below; her eyes saying what her voice could not at that moment. "Oh gods above" she thought inwardly, "This is how it shall end. Not in fire and ice but ... of asphyxiation" Yes for if the orc didn't manually kill her, his smell most certainly would take up the slack.
Tenebrae, along with Eyren , was set down on the rough pallet on the floor. The orc himself shuffled to his hammock, turned and fell back in it. Another roar, this one of pain, and he sat up a bit, peering in the gloom at Arysel.
Tenebrae said to Eyren, "Sorry..." She'd give the medic a grin. "At least he didn't eat you."
Arysel blinks up from the crude table, pots of unsavory smelling ointments lay open and strips of semi-decently clean cloth were laid out in readiness for mending, instead, Arysel is greeted with the sight of Tenebrae and the healer in quite a precarious position, a stalking Lycan and a wood chucking snake. With a deep sigh, the woman would move around the table, cursing as her mud caked skirt is caught on the edge of the rough table, tearing with and a loud rending sound. Sighing, she'd make sure to go to the mainland later and get some proper clothing. "Just what in all the sweet heaven's name is going on here? Gomrak, put them down. Isen, calm yourself." She'd simply wave a hand at the scaly one, not quite sure what to say to her.
Adair stepped into the hut, he had been contemplating what the odor was that had plagued the Captain’s nostrils from the ferocious roar the orc had given. Standing off to the side, he'd level squinting green eyes onto the creature as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Isen , seeing that the kidnapped women were not in any real danger, takes himself back outside, not much caring for the stench of the orc.
Adair said to Gomrak, "Release the women. I don't care how big yeh be, won't stop me from tryin' ter limb yeh."
Tenebrae gave Adair a meek little wave. Gomrak was clearly less and less comfortable with the crowd in the hut. His leg was a mess, bone exposed and flesh flapping, He eyed Isen and the Captain redly, and looked to Tenebrae as though to tell her she owed him one-- again. Tene smiled at the orc, spoke a few coarse words in orcish to help him understand the situation.
Saiyah gritted her teeth as she shook her head. Slipping the hardened make over her face, she once more began to slither her way across the remaining distance betwixt her and hut. She came upon the entry way and paused, peeking her head around the corner as trying to not be seen; the last thing she needed was to be hauled off in such a crude manner- or even worse, something chucked at her. Instead she lifted brow from behind the mask as she watched the pirate run his mouth- oh how she hoped this would not end bad.
Tenebrae said to Adair, "He's a seafarer, it's alright, a friend, too. Was wrecked here, years ago. Dun stir him up? " She was pretty glad the orc was suffering blood loss, really.
Adair eyes the creature for a moment, before lifting himself from his lean and turns to go back to the beach. "Scream, or somethin' if yeh need me."
Arysel pushes past Adair on her way to the hammock muttering her excuses and a haphazard apology, "You big lumbering beast, what got into you? You were meant to follow, not kidnap." Though the words were harsh, the tone was kind. The avian's capable hands wandered over the smelly orc's body, seeking out the most serious injuries, "Who or what did you tangle with this time?" The most pressing injury was the leg, mangled as it was, it would be beyond her skill to heal, "Eyren. I need your assistance."
Eyren lets forth an oomph as she is set down in the same unceremonious manner in which she'd been snatched up. For a moment she is still, inwardly cheering that for the moment, all seemed well. "Gah, yes thank the great ones for such small miracles" she mutters in response to Tenebrae's breezy observation. Struggling to a sitting position she is almost bulled over by a charging Sahtya who promptly proceeded to throw her arms about Eyren, silent tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ugh, yes yes I am fine Sahtya see? No broken bones, no blood."
Tenebrae wasn't going to say much, her hangover stoppering any desire for chitchat. Instead she'd watch the healers and the orc, and wish she'd been able to grab some hair of the dog on the way. Gomrak winced-- not that you could tell-- and of course could neither comprehend Arysel's words fully nor reply, but her by twittering and fuss he got the point. "Gomrak kill." Well, it was something.
Tenebrae said something to Gomrak in orcish.
Tenebrae said to Arysel, "He was out in the caves under the peak. Fell down a hole of some sort, wasn't there yesterday.. I dunno, he's hard to make out. But his leg's a mess."
Arysel said to Tenebrae, "Can you tell him, no killing and that this is really going to hurt?" Turning to Eyren, Arysel will wait for the healer. "I can't do this by myself."
Saiyah continued to keep silently just out side the entry way, careful not to alert her presence to the orc. She seemed a bit confused now; first he came and charged them, then kidnapped the two, and now was -somewhat- resting calmly as he waited to be healed? Ok- sure, she could go with it, and in a way, it sort of reminded her of the drider she had met years back, how hostile he was, but yet still had his own bit of a civilized way to him- So, for now the naga would keep just at the edge of the entry way, silently watching.
Tenebrae said to Arysel, "I think he meant he'd killed something down there. I think..." But she obliged, and another stream of orcish rattled over her lips. The orc seemed calmed by it, whatever she said, and leant back in his hammock, a soft growl doing for a groan of pain. Tene frowned. "You'll be alright, Gom. Good healers."
Tenebrae caught sight of Saiyah's shadow moving outside. "Be out in a moment."
Tenebrae gained her feet - which felt rather like loaves of bread - and nodded to the three. "I have to see what they're up to out there. All under control here?" She gave Gomrak a hopeful smile.
Arysel nods and waves Tene off,” We’ll be fine. Though, I think I may have to learn Orcish in a hurry."
Saiyah thought it best to just take heed to Tenebrae's words. Seemed everything was ok...well, for the time being at least. So, for now she'd do what she saw fit and leave the healers to do their thing.
Tenebrae grinned. "He gets the gist of most things, if you point. I'll give you crash course tonight, if you like." With that, she'd make her way out, almost tripping on the naga's tail at the entrance to the hut.
-- Mangrove Beach--
Portea walks back over to the remnants of last night's fire and lowers himself down beside it, not wanting to take up space in the hut. He grabs a piece of wood and lies it across the slow burning embers.
Isen emerges from the hut, taking a deep breath to clear his nose of the smell of the orc. He turns his gaze to Portea, and says, "I mean to explore this island today, with the rest of you. I could only go so far last night, by myself. We need ropes, from the boat, as well as rations. We'll have to row back to the ship to get those."
Portea glances over at Isen and nods. "Alright, sounds like a plan." He looks over towards where the ship is. "Might as well go get the supplies now, don't you think?"
Isen nods as well. "Seems like a good idea. They'll be busy patching that monstrosity up for some time, I think. Maybe they'll clean him, too." He steps quickly to the boat, taking a seat at one of the oars.
Portea chuckles softly to himself as he rises up, swift steps carrying him over to the boat. "We can only hope." He replies quietly, taking a seat on the other oar.
Adair walks to the edge of the beach, standing in the gentle surf with arms crossed and eyes narrowed at the horizon. "Bloody creature." He mumbled, and a slew of harsher words as he waited for whatever was to be done in the hut.
-- Aboard Eternity--
Isen begins to row, quite enjoying the steady strain of pulling against the water. He blatantly ignores the mer-folk, having neither the time nor the patience to deal with them at the moment. Upon reaching the ship, he'd announce his presence, then climb speedily up the rope ladder, already yelling for the crew to bring the necessary supplies.
Portea climbs up after Isen and gets to work helping to load supplies into the boat for the return trip.
Isen ensures that there is plenty more rope, as well as food, drink, and clean bandages.
Isen vanishes into the 'cabin' for a moment, emerging with fresh pants and a small wooden box. He hurries back down the ladder, keeping the box at his feet. He waits for Portea before taking up the oar.
Portea leaps down into the boat, sitting down and taking up his oar before nodding to Isen. "I do believe that's everything."
Isen nods back, and again starts rowing, beaching the boat upon arrival, and starting the unloading process.
Portea joins Isen in the unloading process, systematically stacking things near their make-shift camp site.
Isen takes a seat down next to the stack, after the last bit has been unpacked. He gazes at the hut for a moment. He speaks, half to himself, half to Portea. "I wonder if they'll be much longer..."
Portea shrugs slightly as he sets another piece of deadwood onto the slow burning embers. "Hard to say." He replies softly.
Isen takes the little box that he had brought with him, and opens it. A black paste fills the interior, giving off no discernable odor. He begins to smear this paste on his various daggers, the ones at his wrists, two from his belt, and two strapped to his legs. The sword remains untouched, though, and Isen stows the box back in the rowboat.
Portea lofts a brow and watches Isen bestow the black paste to the various blades. "What is that, if you don't mind me asking?" He inquires softly.
Isen graces the psion with a feral grin, settling down in his previous seat. "That is poison. It comes from an plant in Sage forest. It has the helpful effect of paralyzing the victim. It is powerful enough to take down oh, say, a raging orc, should the need arise."
Portea chuckles as he flashes a smile back at the lycan. "Quite useful." He says with a note of humor and appreciation.
--Mangrove Beach--
Saiyah was just lifting the mask off her face as she slithered back down to the beach when she spotted the two men about. She shrugged, figuring it was probably best to go ahead and inform them of the current situation back at the hut- just in case they were curious.
Tenebrae would follow Saiyah back to the beach, one palm resting on her cheek. She'd have to speak to Adair about possibly rationing the whisky.
Saiyah was already reaching into her pack to grab the bottle filled with parchment when she heard the vampires quick pursuit behind her. She paused, turning to give a slightly wave and continued on her way. The bottle was put away- no need to waste paper when Tenebrae was about to tell them.
Isen nods to Portea, raising his head to see the women emerge from the hut. He gestures to the stacks of supplies, and calls out to Tenebrae, "Everything's set and ready to go."
Tenebrae blinked. "Go?" She crumpled back into the dent she'd left in the sand earlier. "Go where?"
Portea looks over towards Tenebrae and Saiyah and smiles. "How is everything going?" He asks softly, carefully projecting his voice so that it won't carry too far.
Tenebrae flapped a hand at Saiyah by way of greeting. She'd not had much of a chance before, armpit and all.
Isen gestures out to the jungle. "I only got so far last night...there's plenty of unexplored space out there. Surely it'd be a shame to leave without at least looking for things of value. Besides, the crew will take a bit more time to fix up the rigging and the sails...we took a bit of damage in the storm."
Tenebrae said to Portea, "Things are... odd, as usual." She winked at the psion, but Isen's words had her frown. "I'd be avoiding the jungle for now. Gom said the Pygmies are out there, drumming. That's never good. But there's a path out west I never explored, maybe there's something there-- it's where Gom was, when he was injured. He doesn't go places that aren't useful."
Saiyah looked to the lycan as he made his proposal. She nodded, and rather liked it- what with being a wandering hunter and all. She liked to explore and search for new places and prey, surely this was yet another chance to do just that.
Portea seems to appear from out of nowhere, spontaneously generating next to you.
Portea nods slightly and winks back. "Might as well find out why he finds it useful, yes?" He interjects, rather likely the idea of seeing if there was anything of value.
Isen nods an affirmative to Tenebrae. "Well, we have plenty of supplies, at least. As to the Pygmies...perhaps I will find them on my own, sometime..."
Tenebrae shook her head. "I'd avoid 'em, without me or Gom. Tricky little beggars. Blowdarts. They don't kill, made for stunning monkeys out of the trees. But they do have bamboo spears that'll put a hole in you, and there's possibly hundreds." She glanced toward the forest trail. "They fear the sea, so we're safe past the forest boundary, in the swamp. I have a bit of a score to settle. Might join you on a trip, later..." She lay her head down in the sand. "Right now I just wanna...." She wondered where the pirate had gotten to.
Saiyah seemed to perk up at the mention of bamboo spears. Oh how she'd love to have one of those- or any weapon for that matter.
Isen nods again, and turns to look at Portea and Saiyah. "Alright, then...you two want to come with me, then? We have to find water...all our barrels are broken, though luckily the alcohol was saved...we'd have a mutiny otherwise, I think."
Tenebrae was already snoring.
Portea nods in return. "Sure, might as well be of use."
Saiyah shrugs and gives a nod. But first she'd have to dig into her pack to grab a piece of parchment and scribble out three big words. She held it to her chest like a judge scoring a performance and waited. The note read, ~ Any spare weapons?~
Isen casts a last glance at Tenebrae, then stoops to the supplies, taking up a backpack, and a long coil of rope, which he loops around his chest. Reading Saiyah's note, he picks up a spare blade from the pile, and hands it, hilt first, to the naga. Then, gesturing to the other two to pick up the same, he strikes out north.
-- Quicksand Pools--
Saiyah took the blade and wrinkled her nose to the weapon. She really didn't care much for swords, but was more partial to long spear or staff-like ones. Still, she wouldn't argue or protest, it was a weapon none the less, and one that would help her if indeed any of these pygmies were ran into. She gave the man a nod and dropped the mask back down on her face before slithering right off to his side and into where ever it was they were going.
Isen grimaces as the sweat already begins to run down his back, the humidity of the swamp hitting immediately. At least there were few bugs, in this particular area. wiping his face, he turns to the other two. "West, she said. I suppose we'll go west, then."
Portea nods slightly and starts off in that direction. "Good idea as any, I suppose."
Saiyah was thankful for the thick scales the coated most of her body, well, except for the upper human half. That was the only one suffering from the thick humidity of the jungle, but she didn't mind. This as like home to her. So, a quick wipe of her brow cleared away the sweat and a the push of her tail sent her following the two westward.
Isen stops, stock still. He stares down at the quicksand in front of him, recognizing it, knowing its danger. He glances across the stagnant-looking pool sighting a tree on the other side. Turning to Portea, he asks, "You can...do things with your mind, can you not? If we could secure a rope to the tree across over there, we could pull ourselves across." He glances at the naga then. "Or you...would you be able to make it across like the snakes and lizards do?"
Portea lofts a brow and tilts his head, settling his somber gaze upon Isen. "Yes, I can do things with my mind... What were you thinking about?" He inquires softly.
Saiyah too lofts a brow, though hers unseen behind the white mask. She eyes the quicksand with much curiosity and weariness; sure snakes and lizards could pass over it easily- but they didn't weight as much as she did. Still, the same concept of passing over the much as they did gratefully dawned on her and with a careless shrug, the naga nodded to Isen.
Isen shrugs his shoulders. "I don't want to risk one of us falling into the pools. If we can tie the rope around the tree, somehow, then no one will be lost." He pauses for a moment, considering. "Alright, we'll do this; you," he points at Saiyah, "tie the rope around your waist, and start over to the tree. Portea and I will hold onto the other end, ready to pull you out. Portea, if you can somehow aid her crossing with your abilities, that would be most helpful."
Portea nods slightly and takes a breath in preparation. "Will do." He says calmly, mentally preparing himself for the task at hand.
Saiyah nodded, her silent was of saying she understood. She slithered forward and holds her hand out for the rope, silently eyeing the thick muck of quicksand; she really hoped the same concept applied here.
Isen hands the rope off to Saiyah, and takes a good, firm hold of the other end. "Alright...let's do this, then."
Portea takes a firm hold of the rope as well, closing his eyes as he starts his task. He focuses upon the central goal of getting Saiyah across the quicksand, working to augment the sand with some ectoplasm in order to slow, and harden it enough for her to transverse. "Hurry..." He says softly, not wanting to test his limits.
Saiyah took the rope and quickly tied off an unbreakable knot known to her. She gave it a sharp tug and gave the two men one last look before quietly sighing. She felt rather awkward holding the cutlass in her hand while she was traversing over the unstable terrain, and so she looked about for a place to put it. The only thing she found at the time was the rope around her waist and shrugged while she slipped it between the rope and her scaly skin. She started out slowly, quite nervous still about the situation at hand, but none the less, confident in both the psion’s skills and the tight hold they had on the rope in case she did start to sink.
Isen keeps his hold on the rope, his attention slipping to the mysterious-looking pools, though he tries to jerk it back up to Saiyah from time to time, to check her progress.
Portea just continues working towards providing the naga with a semi solid surface to travel along, all the while keeping a firm hold on the rope.
Saiyah :: With each twist of her tail back and forth, bit by bit the cutlass had been sawing away at the thick rope about her waist. It was just enough damage that in time the rope would be severed, but so small that it would go un-noticed by the men and even Saiyah. As she slowly traversed over the pools of quicksand, she felt a slight pang of panic in her chest- either Portea wasn't giving that much of a mental hold, or the 600+ pounds of bone, muscle and all around naga goodness was just too much for the low viscosity of the quicksand, because one thing was for sure; she was half ways to her goal and already could feel her tail dipping dangerously low. She paused, not really the smartest thing to do, but she couldn't help but to glance back, as if checking on how things were back there.
Isen gives Saiyah a nod, the rope held in white-knuckled fists.
Portea opens his eyes and trains his raptor like gaze upon the naga. "Hurry!" He says forcefully, putting enough emphasis on the word to make leaves shake. He bolsters his efforts with more intense concentration. If she starts to sink too much, or takes too long, he plans on just tossing her to the other side with sheer force alone.
Saiyah did just that, she hurried. Her slither quickened as she sludged heavily through the thick muck, but as she made suck a quick hasty retreat to the other side, the cutlass had done its toll on the rope. Still, it went un-noticed and just as it would seem she was 3/4's the way there, her tail was almost fully submerged below the sand. She shook her head as she fought hard to slither forwards, but it was just so thick- her tail barely moved. She looked back, and have a frantic shake of the head; she was stuck and slowly sinking.
Portea 's builds up enough mental force and wrenches her from the quicksand, practically hurls her back towards this side of the pit. "Let's go." He says calmly, as if nothing had happened. He checks to make sure she's alright before darting back to the beach.
Saiyah blinked- was all she could do really. Her body was ripped violently like a turnip from the ground and only to be sent flying through the air back where she had started from. He hit the ground with a thud and lay there, unaware of the cutlass that had stuck quivering the ground inches from her head. She gradually gathered herself and shook her head- ok, so nagas couldn't traverse over quicksand like normal snakes could. She silently sighed as she slowly began to slither back into the jungle and out to the beach.
--Mangrove Beach--
Tenebrae was snoring gently on the sand, dreaming of who knows what, but now and then she'd mumble something about fire and her skirt.
Adair was caught in some absent minded abyss, and just now awoken from such, due to the mumblings of Tenebrae. He'd walk to her, the tip of his foot nudged gently into her side. "Wakie wakie, love."
Tenebrae snorted and rolled over, threw back her cloak and winced up into the light that was shadowed now by Adair. "Ugh... you. No wakey." She sat up anyway.
Adair offers his arm to lift her up, "Aye, me."
Tenebrae grasped the tattooed forearm and let him haul her up. She was a bit rumpled and smelled rather like an orc. She'd look to him, dismayed. " I have to change my clothes. Wash..." She glanced about, as though she might find a nice bubble bath, just waiting there on the beach.
Adair followed her gaze, looking about as she does, "Well...Yeh do have a faint stink about yeh, I must say."
Tenebrae's features formed into a light scowl. "Thanks. We also need to find water." Her mouth tasted like the bottom of a parrot's cage might. "Dunno where the others went." There were footprints in the sand leading north, though, and her gaze drifted that way. "Of course, I could just take a dip in the sea, but you'd have to close your eyes."
Adair sits cross legged with his hands in his lap and looks up, "O'course. Bathe ter yer 'earts content. I shan’t peek."
Tenebrae tugged his hat down firmly over his eyes, just in case. "Shan't be long." Barefoot, she padded across the sand and splashed out through shallows, into shoulder-height water. Rogue he was, she thought he had some decency about him. Still, she'd wait til she was in the water to remove the filthy things she wore, flipping them up on the sand as she did so.
Adair does consider himself to have a fair amount of decency, but the sight of a bare women would prove to be too much for any man, and so, with a little tip of his hat cast a sideways glance to the sea. Seeing her garments deposited upon the sand, he'd quickly snap his head back around and draw the hat over his eyes. With a sigh he fell to his back, hands behind his head and hat over his face.
Tenebrae splashed around happily for a short while, keeping a peridot eye on the beach, just in case. No-one in sight, the pirate apparently behaving himself, she'd bolt for the water for her pack. "Ow!" Something jabbed into her foot, and she was hasty to make her next call, "Don't look!"
Adair was too busy laying down and enjoying the simple sounds around him to really look up and see what had caused her to make such a noise, the last of her words assuring him it was nothing. If it had been something urgent, he'd have looked though, no doubt.
Tenebrae let out a soft curse at the bruise, having stepped on a seashell. She was dressed in a moment, sensible shoes and all. She missed the extra height her heels gave-- hard to look the bad-ass boss-lady at little more than five feet. Gathering her wet things for later washing, she flipped the shell Adair's way, unmindful of where it might land. "Pretty."
Adair lifts his hat to eye the shell that landed upon his stomach, "Aye, it is." He turned it over before pocketing it and rose to his feet, not bothering to wipe the sand from himself, or just forgetting. "All better now love?"
Tenebrae nodded, and knelt to the pack she dropped. "As soon as Isen and the others get back, we should fetch some barrels from the ship. We need to find water, and stock up. And once we've done that, I'd like to explore a bit more, if you're up for it?"
Adair nods at her words, "Explorin' sounds a bit more fun than loungin' about 'ere."
Saiyah slowly made her way back down to the beach, the thick muck of the quicksand still cacked to her tail. By now she had slid the mask back up to rest flat on her head while she held in one hand the useless cutlass- well useless to her, she just wasn't good with swords. She quickly spotted the few others on the beach and quickened her pace, coming to a halt before them.
Eyren slips quietly from the whalebone hut, fatigue etched in the deep lines that framed her eyes, a light bruise on her left cheek. "The avian, she had to fetch something or other, so I have set him a draft to keep him asleep until she gets back, as it is a job that would be best performed with at least three." She speaks to Tenebrae, one hand going up to rub absently at the bruise, complements of Gomrak, who hadn't taken too well to having a syringe of Opium shot in to the tough skin of his arm.
Portea walks along beside Saiyah. "Well that was an adventure." He says, mostly to himself.
Saiyah hears Portea and shoots a slight glare at him.
Tenebrae glanced up as the others arrived en masse, grinning at Saiyah and Portea's state. She guessed they'd been off in the swamps or somewhere like it, both of them rather dirty. "Ello all. Got a little job for us." Eyren's emergence had the vampiress frown with concern. "How is he? Won't lose the leg, I hope?"
Tenebrae said to Portea, "Ere, did you find water?"
Eyren said to Tenebrae, "Oh, no, I've set a blend of lilly and sage to preserve the flesh and it will make patching him up a bit faster actually. He will be fine. Though the sleeping draft isn't going to last forever." She tugs absently at a strand of her hair, "Should she not return within the hour I'm afraid Sahtya and I shall have to tend to his injury ourselves, for the sake of keeping the leg attached to his body.""
Tenebrae nodded to Eyren, only slightly relieved by the news. "He'd not last long out here, one-legged. And I'm not sure he's fit for the mainland anymore." Not with those eating habits, anyway.
Saiyah decided it's best if Portea told Tenebrae about what had happened, meanwhile, she'd slither on down do the waters edge to wash up a bit.
Eyren laughs nervously at Tenebrae's statement, casting a weary look to the hut once more, which was thankfully still relatively quiet; save for the thunderous snores that shook the hut ever so slightly. "All the more reason to save that leg .. at any cost."
Portea said to Tenebrae, "No, we didn't make it past the quicksand pit... But we're still alive, which is good enough for now, I suppose."
Neither of the replies did anything to quell her frown, but Tene'd nod to both. "Thanks for your efforts. Isen... he's not back..?" Her gaze drifted to the shore, and Saiyah.
Saiyah was to busy splashing about in the water, rubbing off the muck and cleaning off. She gave a quick glance to the crashing waves out yonder and blinked. It was the head of a mer-person popping its head out of the water- and even more, it was waving her trident. Those bastards! She glared and raised her hand, saluting a oh-so-lovely finger before spinning right back around and slithering back up to the vampire.
Tenebrae said to Eyren, "Did you find that ointment useful? We might go find some berries, soon, I know which ones he uses. But there's a trick to making it, that I do not know."
Eyren said to Tenebrae, "Well, I believe that it will aid in allowing for the wound to heal a lot faster once we've managed to set the bone to rights. It did wonders for the sailor. I'd say thanks to the acting agents in that ointment he'll be back manning the ropes in about 4 days as opposed to the usual 4 weeks." She smiled wryly, "I shudder to think of what a chore it'd be to keep that great beast content with his leg elevated while we waited for a proper cast to do its work."
Tenebrae winced and nodded her agreement to the medic. She'd turn to Saiyah, then, an eyebrow raised, glance cast out to the now-empty waters. "Friend of yours?"
Saiyah furrowed her brow, glaring at the vampire before she made for her log. Yes, it was her log- not theirs, here's. And she'd be damned if that was taken too, she leaned against it and tugged out a small scroll of paper and laid it on a flat board of drift wood she'd found and begin to draw once more.
Eyren turns from Tenebrae then catching sight of Sahtya who'd been standing dutifully in the shadow of a mangrove tree, her eyes flickering from first Eyren's then Tenebrae's face. Eyren offers the girl an apologetic smile, having forgotten to use her hands as a means of including the girl in to the conversation. "Forgive me friend" she signs hurriedly with her hands. "I still forget that you not only see with your eyes, but you hear as well." The going was rather choppy, as Eyren was still attempting to bring to memory all the signs required to say all this. "The lady Tenebrae" she brought her right hand in to a sweeping arc, before her fingers formed a T to represent Tenebrae, "She says that maybe soon we'll go hunt for the berries used to make that ointment you liked so much." She stilled her hands then as Sahtya began to sign back to her. Eyren smiles at the completion of the sequence, "Yes I thought you'd like that"
Tenebrae shrugged lightly. "Might go ask Gomrak for his secret ingredient. Mind waiting here?" She would stalk up behind Saiyah, and poke her lightly on the shoulder.
Eyren turns from her conversation with Sahtya to address Tenebrae. "Yes you can try, though let me know if he is truly awake, as he will be in a lot of pain once the opium has worked its way clear of his system, and I'd hate for you to be the first thing he decides to lash out at." Eyren is careful to keep her hands in motion as she speaks to Tenebrae that Sahtya might not feel excluded again.
Tenebrae saw the sense in that. Even though she was the only being the orc might've called friend in many a year - even if she was never really too sure what'd happen if he got too hungry -- caution was needed. "I know.. I'll have a hunt through his papers." The orc had a basic literacy in his own language, and perhaps she could make some of it out. "Be right back."
It seemed to be the day for Tenebrae to frown. She was doing so as she returned from the hut, with a ragged parchment in her hands. "Oh, brilliant." It was a mutter, and on reaching the beach she handed the paper to Eyren. On it was a picture of some strange-looking mushroom. "This is going to be interestin'." She'd let the medic study it a moment, while she bent and picked something up, the item tossed toward the naga. Back of her head, actually.
Isen wakes from his nap, rubbing grit and sleep from his eyes. He looks around, nodding blearily to the gathered crew members.
Eyren watches Tenebrae emerge from the hut, her ears perked for any other sounds of unrest from within. Satisfied that nothing was amiss she turns to look fully at Tenebrae; the frown that creased her brow not boding well for the explanation hoped for behind the proper construction of the ointment. Eyren takes the ragged bit of parchment from Tenebrae, her eyes dropping to the paper. There was etched upon it a crude drawing of some sort of mushroom, it looked familiar, yet she needed better lighting to know for sure. "Hmmm" she muses; a pursing of lips accompanying this flash of clarity "Sahtya, be a dear and set your light over this" Eyren signs, tucking the paper beneath her arm to free her hands for the task.
Tenebrae said to Eyren, "That's not your normal mushroom, pet." She sighed and pointed into the jungle. "We'll have to fetch it from in there. Deep jungle. And they bite."
Tenebrae looked to Isen, then. "We have to fetch barrels. Did you find water? There must be some, but Gomrak's out to it on opium, and I can't ask him. Still, best we have vessels handy, eh?'
Saiyah set aside the sketch she had going to lean in curiously to the two. Mushrooms eh? She secretly wondered if they were anything like the 'dust' Tenebrae had given to her, and slithered up towards the vampire. She poked her shoulder this time and held out a note.
~The note reads..~ What is this mushroom that we have to hunt down now?"
Eyren turns from her study of the plant and shakes her head at Tenebrae. "Oh dear, that was what I was afraid of, and here I was set to fetch my medics book." she smiles ruefully nonetheless "Well then onwards and onwards?
Isen turns his gaze to Tenebrae, rising and brushing himself off. "I think that I heard the sound past that sinking sand. I'll row back to the ship, to get them. I need to get some other things of mine, too." That being said, he makes his way toward the rowboat.
Tenebrae nodded to Isen, and replied to both women at once. "Ugh, it's horrid. And in Pygmy territory. We might be lucky and snag one at the forest edge. You game?"
Isen rows off toward the ship, once more ignoring the mer-folk, obviously preferring to pretend that that don't exist.
Saiyah laughs, well, more like grins. She lifts her body and forms an S with her tail as she places a piece of paper on her stomach and scrawls out a quick note before handing it to Tenebrae.
~The note is a bit sloppy- but what do you expect from someone writing in the dark..~ Game? Oh you know very well I'm -game- for a nice little hunt. Though- there wouldn't happen to be any other weapons about would there?
Tenebrae was already donning her armour. "Might be wise to wear protective clothing. There's poisonous plants..." Once more, she frowned. This time at Saiyah. "Got some leather strips, of they'll come in handy?"
Tenebrae rummaged in her pack a moment.
Eyren nods once more, taking a moment to sign to Sahtya the plan and that she wanted her to stay close to the hut should Gomrak start to stir. "If the avian has not returned by the completion of this little adventure, we shall have to set his legs to rights ourselves." She drops her hands to her sides and only shakes her head at the various protests that Sahtya was signing in return. "No" she mouths, "Stay here" she motions to the hut once more then turns from the girl, closing out the conversation. "I'm ready when you are" she says to Tenebrae.
Saiyah shrugs at Tenebrae. Sure, why not. With the monsters and creatures she'd seen about the land, the hunter had actually finally began to think wether or not it was a good idea to nab some armour. She hated using it- but the way things hit around here, it might be wise.
Tenebrae grinned to Eyren, whilst she rummaged. "Very well. We must first.. ow!" Pulling her hand back, she'd suck a drop of blood from her finger. "Sucker's sharp." The offending object was tossed - handle first - Saiyah's way, closely followed by a wad of leather strapping. "Dunno how much that'll cover. Wish I had more."
Eyren follows the movement of both women and opts that perhaps traipsing in to the boggy unknown of the jungle dressed as she was might not be the smartest idea. With a wry grin Eyren sets to digging about in her own pack for more suitable clothing.
Tenebrae said to Saiyah, "There you go, watch the point and don't ..." she raised her voice for emphasis, "... whatever you do, say the word 'gharughniphill' while.. oh." Her smile was sheepish. "Never mind.""
Tenebrae turned toward the trail into the swamps. Yup, she was frowning again.
Saiyah crossed her arms and gave Tenebrae a 'Real-cute' stare. She however did hold the blade back out to her, she couldn't use this, hell she had better luck with the cutlass. The leather though- that was quickly wrapped about her arm. She slid the mask back down over her face and slithered up next to Tenebrae, waiting for them to disembark.
Tenebrae put the hideous blade - the use for which it was regularly employed might pale even the tough naga, were she inclined to explain it - back in her pack. She glanced to them both. "Right. Try not to make any noise. If you see a giant beetle, run."
Eyren falls in behind Tenebrae giving a small wave to the pouting form of Sahtya.
Saiyah soon had her palm to her face, clearing away the crusted salt, and bits of sea-weed from the hair. It was quickly after she'd 'woken' up that her eyes shot open wide, a sharp, pinching needled like pain could be felt behind her. She instinctively snapped her tail, trying to shake away the pain; the only thing she managed to do though was send a large crab soaring back out to sea. 'Take that too!' she though to herself, for if she could express herself with words, she'd be yelling at the ones who stripped her of her weapon last night. Well, now she was -sorta- awake and slowly slithering back up to the camp fire that the psion had made last night.
Arysel snickers at the snake woman and turns to regard Portea with a shrug, "Other than mud, "She gestures with a sigh to the ruined skirt, "And a few places I've already seen, I didn't run into anything, least of all dart blowing pygmies. I think Tene's wrong, I think her Orc friend probably ate them all."
Portea nods slightly and glances around. "Well let's just hope he isn't hungry whenever we do run in to him." He replies softly, glancing over at the naga. "You look like you could dry out a bit."
Tenebrae was face down in the sand beside the remnants of the fire, snoring, one arm thrown across the tattooed chest of the equally unconscious Adair. So she wouldn't hear the crashing footfalls that lumbered from the western swamps, the low rumble of a roar that one might feel tickling the base of one's feet purely by the effect of its pitch on the flesh. And, more's the pity, she wouldn't see the great, scarred face that emerged through a stand of bamboo, a twist of features permanently etched by the bite of a shark into a grimacing scowl. He'd have been wearing one anyway, above the twin tusks that jutted from his lower jaw, one with the tip missing. Hands the size of hams parted the thick stalks with a creak and rustle. Gomrak was home-- and none too pleased to find his island once more over-run with food species that were not his own. The vasty cannibal roared again, loud enough even without his amplifying conch to send all wildlife scurrying, and made his best attempt to charge from the bushes. But it was more of a sorry limp, his right leg dragging, and yet he'd have made a fair effort at making them all a meal had he not spotted white wings, and did those white wings not hide a form who spoke with a sweet, bell-like voice he knew. "WOMAN!" The lumbering creature stopped, almost nine feet of muscle and little brain standing unsteadily, while blood puddled about his wound, and cast his piggish eyes about for the vampiress.
Eyren feeling that at last she was somewhat returned to her former state of cleanliness, makes to wade back to the shore when Sahtya, who'd been silently watching on ran to the waters edge. Waving her arms to first catch Eyren’s attention, she begins to motion in that silent language of hands; first pointing at Eyren then at the assembled group further up on the shore. Eyren after reading her words looks down at herself and quickly submerges herself once more, a light blush creeping to fill her cheeks. Trapped, she was trapped in the water as her clothing was now soaked through to the point of indecency. Sahtya catching the look of sheer mortification that crossed her mistresses face motions once more with her hands then runs back to the whalebone hut. She returns in short order with a large, and rather tattered blanket. Motioning once more with her free hand Sahtya makes to stand directly in front of Eyren acting as a shield of sorts, holding the blanket open that she might wrap Eyren in it as soon as she got close enough. With a grateful smile to the girl Eyren rises once more from the water and practically flies in to the obscuring confines of the blanket. "Thank you friend" she murmurs before steeping once more on to the beach. "Oh is that sailor awake yet?" she asks Sahtya as she skirted her way around the others; headed to procure a change of clothing in the hut. "If not we'll have to remedy that in short order, as I am bound to get out of these clothes."
Arysel turns quickly to the edge of the trees, spying the orc and the blood pool that seems to be getting bigger and bigger as he stands there "Gomrak!" Arysel would wave her arm to get his attention, "She sleeps. Quiet your voice." Smiling at Portea Arysel would simply wander over to the hulking beast, "Do you remember me?" She actually prayed he did..she'd hate it to be heard that avian's tasted like chicken.
Isen emerges from the jungle, stepping quietly in the wake of the orc. He'd been following the beast for some time, hanging back in the undergrowth. The lycan looks like he's had a rough night; numerous scratches on his tattooed torso ooze blood, and his pants, too, are ripped. But, he has a gleam in his eye, and a small smile on his face as he begins to approach the camp.
Adair felt his eyes jiggling inside his skull as he slept, making him dream of an earthquake. With the continued stops and then the deafening noise, he bolts upright, the arm draped across his chest tossed aside as the creature came into his sights, his hand seeking the handle of his blade.
Portea turns towards the massive orc and sets his mind to work at absorbing each and every detail that he can. "Seems like he does remember you." He comments softly, magnifying his voice just enough for it to carry to the avian’s ears.
Saiyah simply blinked. As if having a oh so lovely encounter with the fish-people wasn't enough- she now had a nine-foot orc bounding down across the beach towards her and the group. 'Lovely' she though as her hand reached for the non-existent trident.
Eyren emerges hurriedly from the hut at the almost thunderous crashings she'd heard from outside. She freezes in place as the origin of the noise is soon found. The orc, Gomrak she'd assume from the brief descriptions Tenebrae had given her. He was a beast, scarred features made more monstrous in the afternoon light, and the gore of blood that pooled at his feet added to the gruesome picture he made standing not 6 feet away. "Oh my" she murmurs, squeezing the hand of Sahtya who had promptly moved to cower behind Eyren at the sight of the beast. Eyren takes in a sharp breath as she watched the winged woman approach the beast with seemingly no forethought. "Crazy" she murmurs once more. Frantically Eyren looked about for Tenebrae; finding her still asleep beside the now dead fire. "Perhaps, someone should .. uh wake her?" She turns and catches sight of Isen who didn't look much more well off than the orc. "My goodness Isen what ... where have you been?"
Arysel stops in front of the orc, eyeing him and down as she crosses her arms, "You're hurt, friend. Let's let Tenebrae sleep off her whisky and go back to your hut. I'll fix you, like you fixed me." Pushing a stray bit of hair out of her eyes, the Avian heads off towards the hut. Not even waiting for Gomrak, or even to look back to see if he'd follow.
Tenebrae groaned a bit. Really, that pirate was taking his toll on her as drinkin' buddy. Blinking back flecks of sand, the world to her was still a comfortably excruciating blur. She wasn't awake enough yet for the after-effects of several bottles of whisky to kick in. Gomrak, meantime, was snarling at Isen, and Eyren's entry to the hut made him roar again, and drag forward another three feet in an attempt to gut the interloper. But his leg wasn't helping, and still a good distance from both Mate and medic, he looked about for things to throw at them, until Arysel spoke his name, her soft order stilling him, his great ugly head moving up and down in a nod. Still, he did not appear too happy about all this, each of those present with weapons drawn receiving a rather hostile lift of lip over tusk and glare as a promise he'd go down fighting, and probably take a couple with him. Except Arysel, unarmed, and whom he secretly quite liked. Squinty orc-eyes glanced toward the hut. Tenebrae stirred when Adair threw her limb aside, and groaned, eyes cracking open. "Mmmfh. Wha...?" Untangling herself from the cloak that'd concealed her, she thought she was in Rynvale.
Isen grins and gestures back toward the jungle, the tangled foliage likely accounting for the various scrapes and cuts on his body. "I explored," he says to Eyren. "There's sandy areas out there that sink. Nearly died." Overall, he seems most exhilarated, if a bit tired.
Portea is still just standing perfectly still, essentially analyzing the orc with his raptor like gaze. He tilts his head this way, and that, not even bothering to draw his cutlass since there really is no need for it. "Interesting.." He mutters to himself, angling his head back to gaze into the orc's eyes. "Might want to let her take care of that for you." He says quietly, motioning towards his leg.
Saiyah kept just behind the driftwood long, dark green eyes staring across with the man with such tension, it was almost as if it could be cut with a knife. Her arms were held before her like a boxer would, her tail slithered back and forth- ready to move at a moments notice. It was only when the avian seemed to halt the creatures charge that Saiyah blinked and lofted a brow, now curious. A glance was shot in Tenebrae's direction as her low mutter was heard as she woke up.
Eyren rushes over to Tenebrae as she gauged from the groan and the fluttering of cloak that she was awake enough to tend to the beast; the menacing lunge he'd made towards her not lost on the medic. Dropping to her knees beside Tenebrae she promptly makes to shake her shoulders vigorously; paying no mind to the strong scent of liquor that hung about her half-sleeping form. "He's here!" she whispered frantically taking note to keep her voice at that pitch as any louder might in theory make Tenebrae's head explode, as the mother of hangovers would be fully ignited. "Tene, that .. Gomrak he's come to pay you a call. Now, up pretty and give him a smile won't you? He ... he's in a bad way and oh do wake up!"
Adair side steps back towards Tenebrae, "Mornin' sunshine." He'd mumble then give a nod of his head to the orc, "Friend of yers?"
Tenebrae, while Eyren shook her til her fangs rattled, was slowly coming to the realisation that she was not in Rynvale anymore. The world was no less a blur for the shaking she was given, Eyren's words made some sort of sense at least. "Gomrak?" If the medic stopped trying to wake her, she'd grope for a bottle. She found a pirate instead. Or one of his limbs. Or something. "Wha? Huh, yeah." She staggered upright, and would likely have fallen right back down had Gomrak not managed to limp the several yards across the sand to where Eyren and she were, and swept both women up like rag dolls, each lodged under one green-skinned and highly odiferous armpit. Then he'd bend to Adair, that tusked face thrust forward in a hoarse and stinking roar that might shift dreadlocks a little. The limp back to the hut was a painful one, for both he and Tene.
Isen slips silently into the hut, one hand gripping his sword hilt as follows the orc that had abducted Tenebrae and Eyren. He makes as little noise as he can, so as not to alert the beast.
Saiyah held the thick piece of drift wood in her hand as it raised high above her head. As she watched him disappearing into the hut, she hucked it violently towards the back of his head, hoping if at all to grab his attention before the three were lost from sight inside.
Tenebrae was swinging and groaning, and the lump of wood would bounce off the orc's head like a rubber bone, and with as much effect. He grumbled a bit, and entered the hut without looking back.
-- Whalebone Hut --
Eyren can only blink as she is plucked like so much light-weight refuse from the sand; her mind not even allowing for the sharp scream that she was sure would have pierced the air had she been in a proper state of mind to do so. As it were she was left mute, and breathless by the stench that soon assailed her nose soon after the impromptu abduction. From her vantage point she could see the frantic shape of Sahtya, trembling and helpless as she chased after the retreating beast. She made to squirm a bit that she might catch the eye of the men below; her eyes saying what her voice could not at that moment. "Oh gods above" she thought inwardly, "This is how it shall end. Not in fire and ice but ... of asphyxiation" Yes for if the orc didn't manually kill her, his smell most certainly would take up the slack.
Tenebrae, along with Eyren , was set down on the rough pallet on the floor. The orc himself shuffled to his hammock, turned and fell back in it. Another roar, this one of pain, and he sat up a bit, peering in the gloom at Arysel.
Tenebrae said to Eyren, "Sorry..." She'd give the medic a grin. "At least he didn't eat you."
Arysel blinks up from the crude table, pots of unsavory smelling ointments lay open and strips of semi-decently clean cloth were laid out in readiness for mending, instead, Arysel is greeted with the sight of Tenebrae and the healer in quite a precarious position, a stalking Lycan and a wood chucking snake. With a deep sigh, the woman would move around the table, cursing as her mud caked skirt is caught on the edge of the rough table, tearing with and a loud rending sound. Sighing, she'd make sure to go to the mainland later and get some proper clothing. "Just what in all the sweet heaven's name is going on here? Gomrak, put them down. Isen, calm yourself." She'd simply wave a hand at the scaly one, not quite sure what to say to her.
Adair stepped into the hut, he had been contemplating what the odor was that had plagued the Captain’s nostrils from the ferocious roar the orc had given. Standing off to the side, he'd level squinting green eyes onto the creature as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Isen , seeing that the kidnapped women were not in any real danger, takes himself back outside, not much caring for the stench of the orc.
Adair said to Gomrak, "Release the women. I don't care how big yeh be, won't stop me from tryin' ter limb yeh."
Tenebrae gave Adair a meek little wave. Gomrak was clearly less and less comfortable with the crowd in the hut. His leg was a mess, bone exposed and flesh flapping, He eyed Isen and the Captain redly, and looked to Tenebrae as though to tell her she owed him one-- again. Tene smiled at the orc, spoke a few coarse words in orcish to help him understand the situation.
Saiyah gritted her teeth as she shook her head. Slipping the hardened make over her face, she once more began to slither her way across the remaining distance betwixt her and hut. She came upon the entry way and paused, peeking her head around the corner as trying to not be seen; the last thing she needed was to be hauled off in such a crude manner- or even worse, something chucked at her. Instead she lifted brow from behind the mask as she watched the pirate run his mouth- oh how she hoped this would not end bad.
Tenebrae said to Adair, "He's a seafarer, it's alright, a friend, too. Was wrecked here, years ago. Dun stir him up? " She was pretty glad the orc was suffering blood loss, really.
Adair eyes the creature for a moment, before lifting himself from his lean and turns to go back to the beach. "Scream, or somethin' if yeh need me."
Arysel pushes past Adair on her way to the hammock muttering her excuses and a haphazard apology, "You big lumbering beast, what got into you? You were meant to follow, not kidnap." Though the words were harsh, the tone was kind. The avian's capable hands wandered over the smelly orc's body, seeking out the most serious injuries, "Who or what did you tangle with this time?" The most pressing injury was the leg, mangled as it was, it would be beyond her skill to heal, "Eyren. I need your assistance."
Eyren lets forth an oomph as she is set down in the same unceremonious manner in which she'd been snatched up. For a moment she is still, inwardly cheering that for the moment, all seemed well. "Gah, yes thank the great ones for such small miracles" she mutters in response to Tenebrae's breezy observation. Struggling to a sitting position she is almost bulled over by a charging Sahtya who promptly proceeded to throw her arms about Eyren, silent tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ugh, yes yes I am fine Sahtya see? No broken bones, no blood."
Tenebrae wasn't going to say much, her hangover stoppering any desire for chitchat. Instead she'd watch the healers and the orc, and wish she'd been able to grab some hair of the dog on the way. Gomrak winced-- not that you could tell-- and of course could neither comprehend Arysel's words fully nor reply, but her by twittering and fuss he got the point. "Gomrak kill." Well, it was something.
Tenebrae said something to Gomrak in orcish.
Tenebrae said to Arysel, "He was out in the caves under the peak. Fell down a hole of some sort, wasn't there yesterday.. I dunno, he's hard to make out. But his leg's a mess."
Arysel said to Tenebrae, "Can you tell him, no killing and that this is really going to hurt?" Turning to Eyren, Arysel will wait for the healer. "I can't do this by myself."
Saiyah continued to keep silently just out side the entry way, careful not to alert her presence to the orc. She seemed a bit confused now; first he came and charged them, then kidnapped the two, and now was -somewhat- resting calmly as he waited to be healed? Ok- sure, she could go with it, and in a way, it sort of reminded her of the drider she had met years back, how hostile he was, but yet still had his own bit of a civilized way to him- So, for now the naga would keep just at the edge of the entry way, silently watching.
Tenebrae said to Arysel, "I think he meant he'd killed something down there. I think..." But she obliged, and another stream of orcish rattled over her lips. The orc seemed calmed by it, whatever she said, and leant back in his hammock, a soft growl doing for a groan of pain. Tene frowned. "You'll be alright, Gom. Good healers."
Tenebrae caught sight of Saiyah's shadow moving outside. "Be out in a moment."
Tenebrae gained her feet - which felt rather like loaves of bread - and nodded to the three. "I have to see what they're up to out there. All under control here?" She gave Gomrak a hopeful smile.
Arysel nods and waves Tene off,” We’ll be fine. Though, I think I may have to learn Orcish in a hurry."
Saiyah thought it best to just take heed to Tenebrae's words. Seemed everything was ok...well, for the time being at least. So, for now she'd do what she saw fit and leave the healers to do their thing.
Tenebrae grinned. "He gets the gist of most things, if you point. I'll give you crash course tonight, if you like." With that, she'd make her way out, almost tripping on the naga's tail at the entrance to the hut.
-- Mangrove Beach--
Portea walks back over to the remnants of last night's fire and lowers himself down beside it, not wanting to take up space in the hut. He grabs a piece of wood and lies it across the slow burning embers.
Isen emerges from the hut, taking a deep breath to clear his nose of the smell of the orc. He turns his gaze to Portea, and says, "I mean to explore this island today, with the rest of you. I could only go so far last night, by myself. We need ropes, from the boat, as well as rations. We'll have to row back to the ship to get those."
Portea glances over at Isen and nods. "Alright, sounds like a plan." He looks over towards where the ship is. "Might as well go get the supplies now, don't you think?"
Isen nods as well. "Seems like a good idea. They'll be busy patching that monstrosity up for some time, I think. Maybe they'll clean him, too." He steps quickly to the boat, taking a seat at one of the oars.
Portea chuckles softly to himself as he rises up, swift steps carrying him over to the boat. "We can only hope." He replies quietly, taking a seat on the other oar.
Adair walks to the edge of the beach, standing in the gentle surf with arms crossed and eyes narrowed at the horizon. "Bloody creature." He mumbled, and a slew of harsher words as he waited for whatever was to be done in the hut.
-- Aboard Eternity--
Isen begins to row, quite enjoying the steady strain of pulling against the water. He blatantly ignores the mer-folk, having neither the time nor the patience to deal with them at the moment. Upon reaching the ship, he'd announce his presence, then climb speedily up the rope ladder, already yelling for the crew to bring the necessary supplies.
Portea climbs up after Isen and gets to work helping to load supplies into the boat for the return trip.
Isen ensures that there is plenty more rope, as well as food, drink, and clean bandages.
Isen vanishes into the 'cabin' for a moment, emerging with fresh pants and a small wooden box. He hurries back down the ladder, keeping the box at his feet. He waits for Portea before taking up the oar.
Portea leaps down into the boat, sitting down and taking up his oar before nodding to Isen. "I do believe that's everything."
Isen nods back, and again starts rowing, beaching the boat upon arrival, and starting the unloading process.
Portea joins Isen in the unloading process, systematically stacking things near their make-shift camp site.
Isen takes a seat down next to the stack, after the last bit has been unpacked. He gazes at the hut for a moment. He speaks, half to himself, half to Portea. "I wonder if they'll be much longer..."
Portea shrugs slightly as he sets another piece of deadwood onto the slow burning embers. "Hard to say." He replies softly.
Isen takes the little box that he had brought with him, and opens it. A black paste fills the interior, giving off no discernable odor. He begins to smear this paste on his various daggers, the ones at his wrists, two from his belt, and two strapped to his legs. The sword remains untouched, though, and Isen stows the box back in the rowboat.
Portea lofts a brow and watches Isen bestow the black paste to the various blades. "What is that, if you don't mind me asking?" He inquires softly.
Isen graces the psion with a feral grin, settling down in his previous seat. "That is poison. It comes from an plant in Sage forest. It has the helpful effect of paralyzing the victim. It is powerful enough to take down oh, say, a raging orc, should the need arise."
Portea chuckles as he flashes a smile back at the lycan. "Quite useful." He says with a note of humor and appreciation.
--Mangrove Beach--
Saiyah was just lifting the mask off her face as she slithered back down to the beach when she spotted the two men about. She shrugged, figuring it was probably best to go ahead and inform them of the current situation back at the hut- just in case they were curious.
Tenebrae would follow Saiyah back to the beach, one palm resting on her cheek. She'd have to speak to Adair about possibly rationing the whisky.
Saiyah was already reaching into her pack to grab the bottle filled with parchment when she heard the vampires quick pursuit behind her. She paused, turning to give a slightly wave and continued on her way. The bottle was put away- no need to waste paper when Tenebrae was about to tell them.
Isen nods to Portea, raising his head to see the women emerge from the hut. He gestures to the stacks of supplies, and calls out to Tenebrae, "Everything's set and ready to go."
Tenebrae blinked. "Go?" She crumpled back into the dent she'd left in the sand earlier. "Go where?"
Portea looks over towards Tenebrae and Saiyah and smiles. "How is everything going?" He asks softly, carefully projecting his voice so that it won't carry too far.
Tenebrae flapped a hand at Saiyah by way of greeting. She'd not had much of a chance before, armpit and all.
Isen gestures out to the jungle. "I only got so far last night...there's plenty of unexplored space out there. Surely it'd be a shame to leave without at least looking for things of value. Besides, the crew will take a bit more time to fix up the rigging and the sails...we took a bit of damage in the storm."
Tenebrae said to Portea, "Things are... odd, as usual." She winked at the psion, but Isen's words had her frown. "I'd be avoiding the jungle for now. Gom said the Pygmies are out there, drumming. That's never good. But there's a path out west I never explored, maybe there's something there-- it's where Gom was, when he was injured. He doesn't go places that aren't useful."
Saiyah looked to the lycan as he made his proposal. She nodded, and rather liked it- what with being a wandering hunter and all. She liked to explore and search for new places and prey, surely this was yet another chance to do just that.
Portea seems to appear from out of nowhere, spontaneously generating next to you.
Portea nods slightly and winks back. "Might as well find out why he finds it useful, yes?" He interjects, rather likely the idea of seeing if there was anything of value.
Isen nods an affirmative to Tenebrae. "Well, we have plenty of supplies, at least. As to the Pygmies...perhaps I will find them on my own, sometime..."
Tenebrae shook her head. "I'd avoid 'em, without me or Gom. Tricky little beggars. Blowdarts. They don't kill, made for stunning monkeys out of the trees. But they do have bamboo spears that'll put a hole in you, and there's possibly hundreds." She glanced toward the forest trail. "They fear the sea, so we're safe past the forest boundary, in the swamp. I have a bit of a score to settle. Might join you on a trip, later..." She lay her head down in the sand. "Right now I just wanna...." She wondered where the pirate had gotten to.
Saiyah seemed to perk up at the mention of bamboo spears. Oh how she'd love to have one of those- or any weapon for that matter.
Isen nods again, and turns to look at Portea and Saiyah. "Alright, then...you two want to come with me, then? We have to find water...all our barrels are broken, though luckily the alcohol was saved...we'd have a mutiny otherwise, I think."
Tenebrae was already snoring.
Portea nods in return. "Sure, might as well be of use."
Saiyah shrugs and gives a nod. But first she'd have to dig into her pack to grab a piece of parchment and scribble out three big words. She held it to her chest like a judge scoring a performance and waited. The note read, ~ Any spare weapons?~
Isen casts a last glance at Tenebrae, then stoops to the supplies, taking up a backpack, and a long coil of rope, which he loops around his chest. Reading Saiyah's note, he picks up a spare blade from the pile, and hands it, hilt first, to the naga. Then, gesturing to the other two to pick up the same, he strikes out north.
-- Quicksand Pools--
Saiyah took the blade and wrinkled her nose to the weapon. She really didn't care much for swords, but was more partial to long spear or staff-like ones. Still, she wouldn't argue or protest, it was a weapon none the less, and one that would help her if indeed any of these pygmies were ran into. She gave the man a nod and dropped the mask back down on her face before slithering right off to his side and into where ever it was they were going.
Isen grimaces as the sweat already begins to run down his back, the humidity of the swamp hitting immediately. At least there were few bugs, in this particular area. wiping his face, he turns to the other two. "West, she said. I suppose we'll go west, then."
Portea nods slightly and starts off in that direction. "Good idea as any, I suppose."
Saiyah was thankful for the thick scales the coated most of her body, well, except for the upper human half. That was the only one suffering from the thick humidity of the jungle, but she didn't mind. This as like home to her. So, a quick wipe of her brow cleared away the sweat and a the push of her tail sent her following the two westward.
Isen stops, stock still. He stares down at the quicksand in front of him, recognizing it, knowing its danger. He glances across the stagnant-looking pool sighting a tree on the other side. Turning to Portea, he asks, "You can...do things with your mind, can you not? If we could secure a rope to the tree across over there, we could pull ourselves across." He glances at the naga then. "Or you...would you be able to make it across like the snakes and lizards do?"
Portea lofts a brow and tilts his head, settling his somber gaze upon Isen. "Yes, I can do things with my mind... What were you thinking about?" He inquires softly.
Saiyah too lofts a brow, though hers unseen behind the white mask. She eyes the quicksand with much curiosity and weariness; sure snakes and lizards could pass over it easily- but they didn't weight as much as she did. Still, the same concept of passing over the much as they did gratefully dawned on her and with a careless shrug, the naga nodded to Isen.
Isen shrugs his shoulders. "I don't want to risk one of us falling into the pools. If we can tie the rope around the tree, somehow, then no one will be lost." He pauses for a moment, considering. "Alright, we'll do this; you," he points at Saiyah, "tie the rope around your waist, and start over to the tree. Portea and I will hold onto the other end, ready to pull you out. Portea, if you can somehow aid her crossing with your abilities, that would be most helpful."
Portea nods slightly and takes a breath in preparation. "Will do." He says calmly, mentally preparing himself for the task at hand.
Saiyah nodded, her silent was of saying she understood. She slithered forward and holds her hand out for the rope, silently eyeing the thick muck of quicksand; she really hoped the same concept applied here.
Isen hands the rope off to Saiyah, and takes a good, firm hold of the other end. "Alright...let's do this, then."
Portea takes a firm hold of the rope as well, closing his eyes as he starts his task. He focuses upon the central goal of getting Saiyah across the quicksand, working to augment the sand with some ectoplasm in order to slow, and harden it enough for her to transverse. "Hurry..." He says softly, not wanting to test his limits.
Saiyah took the rope and quickly tied off an unbreakable knot known to her. She gave it a sharp tug and gave the two men one last look before quietly sighing. She felt rather awkward holding the cutlass in her hand while she was traversing over the unstable terrain, and so she looked about for a place to put it. The only thing she found at the time was the rope around her waist and shrugged while she slipped it between the rope and her scaly skin. She started out slowly, quite nervous still about the situation at hand, but none the less, confident in both the psion’s skills and the tight hold they had on the rope in case she did start to sink.
Isen keeps his hold on the rope, his attention slipping to the mysterious-looking pools, though he tries to jerk it back up to Saiyah from time to time, to check her progress.
Portea just continues working towards providing the naga with a semi solid surface to travel along, all the while keeping a firm hold on the rope.
Saiyah :: With each twist of her tail back and forth, bit by bit the cutlass had been sawing away at the thick rope about her waist. It was just enough damage that in time the rope would be severed, but so small that it would go un-noticed by the men and even Saiyah. As she slowly traversed over the pools of quicksand, she felt a slight pang of panic in her chest- either Portea wasn't giving that much of a mental hold, or the 600+ pounds of bone, muscle and all around naga goodness was just too much for the low viscosity of the quicksand, because one thing was for sure; she was half ways to her goal and already could feel her tail dipping dangerously low. She paused, not really the smartest thing to do, but she couldn't help but to glance back, as if checking on how things were back there.
Isen gives Saiyah a nod, the rope held in white-knuckled fists.
Portea opens his eyes and trains his raptor like gaze upon the naga. "Hurry!" He says forcefully, putting enough emphasis on the word to make leaves shake. He bolsters his efforts with more intense concentration. If she starts to sink too much, or takes too long, he plans on just tossing her to the other side with sheer force alone.
Saiyah did just that, she hurried. Her slither quickened as she sludged heavily through the thick muck, but as she made suck a quick hasty retreat to the other side, the cutlass had done its toll on the rope. Still, it went un-noticed and just as it would seem she was 3/4's the way there, her tail was almost fully submerged below the sand. She shook her head as she fought hard to slither forwards, but it was just so thick- her tail barely moved. She looked back, and have a frantic shake of the head; she was stuck and slowly sinking.
Portea 's builds up enough mental force and wrenches her from the quicksand, practically hurls her back towards this side of the pit. "Let's go." He says calmly, as if nothing had happened. He checks to make sure she's alright before darting back to the beach.
Saiyah blinked- was all she could do really. Her body was ripped violently like a turnip from the ground and only to be sent flying through the air back where she had started from. He hit the ground with a thud and lay there, unaware of the cutlass that had stuck quivering the ground inches from her head. She gradually gathered herself and shook her head- ok, so nagas couldn't traverse over quicksand like normal snakes could. She silently sighed as she slowly began to slither back into the jungle and out to the beach.
--Mangrove Beach--
Tenebrae was snoring gently on the sand, dreaming of who knows what, but now and then she'd mumble something about fire and her skirt.
Adair was caught in some absent minded abyss, and just now awoken from such, due to the mumblings of Tenebrae. He'd walk to her, the tip of his foot nudged gently into her side. "Wakie wakie, love."
Tenebrae snorted and rolled over, threw back her cloak and winced up into the light that was shadowed now by Adair. "Ugh... you. No wakey." She sat up anyway.
Adair offers his arm to lift her up, "Aye, me."
Tenebrae grasped the tattooed forearm and let him haul her up. She was a bit rumpled and smelled rather like an orc. She'd look to him, dismayed. " I have to change my clothes. Wash..." She glanced about, as though she might find a nice bubble bath, just waiting there on the beach.
Adair followed her gaze, looking about as she does, "Well...Yeh do have a faint stink about yeh, I must say."
Tenebrae's features formed into a light scowl. "Thanks. We also need to find water." Her mouth tasted like the bottom of a parrot's cage might. "Dunno where the others went." There were footprints in the sand leading north, though, and her gaze drifted that way. "Of course, I could just take a dip in the sea, but you'd have to close your eyes."
Adair sits cross legged with his hands in his lap and looks up, "O'course. Bathe ter yer 'earts content. I shan’t peek."
Tenebrae tugged his hat down firmly over his eyes, just in case. "Shan't be long." Barefoot, she padded across the sand and splashed out through shallows, into shoulder-height water. Rogue he was, she thought he had some decency about him. Still, she'd wait til she was in the water to remove the filthy things she wore, flipping them up on the sand as she did so.
Adair does consider himself to have a fair amount of decency, but the sight of a bare women would prove to be too much for any man, and so, with a little tip of his hat cast a sideways glance to the sea. Seeing her garments deposited upon the sand, he'd quickly snap his head back around and draw the hat over his eyes. With a sigh he fell to his back, hands behind his head and hat over his face.
Tenebrae splashed around happily for a short while, keeping a peridot eye on the beach, just in case. No-one in sight, the pirate apparently behaving himself, she'd bolt for the water for her pack. "Ow!" Something jabbed into her foot, and she was hasty to make her next call, "Don't look!"
Adair was too busy laying down and enjoying the simple sounds around him to really look up and see what had caused her to make such a noise, the last of her words assuring him it was nothing. If it had been something urgent, he'd have looked though, no doubt.
Tenebrae let out a soft curse at the bruise, having stepped on a seashell. She was dressed in a moment, sensible shoes and all. She missed the extra height her heels gave-- hard to look the bad-ass boss-lady at little more than five feet. Gathering her wet things for later washing, she flipped the shell Adair's way, unmindful of where it might land. "Pretty."
Adair lifts his hat to eye the shell that landed upon his stomach, "Aye, it is." He turned it over before pocketing it and rose to his feet, not bothering to wipe the sand from himself, or just forgetting. "All better now love?"
Tenebrae nodded, and knelt to the pack she dropped. "As soon as Isen and the others get back, we should fetch some barrels from the ship. We need to find water, and stock up. And once we've done that, I'd like to explore a bit more, if you're up for it?"
Adair nods at her words, "Explorin' sounds a bit more fun than loungin' about 'ere."
Saiyah slowly made her way back down to the beach, the thick muck of the quicksand still cacked to her tail. By now she had slid the mask back up to rest flat on her head while she held in one hand the useless cutlass- well useless to her, she just wasn't good with swords. She quickly spotted the few others on the beach and quickened her pace, coming to a halt before them.
Eyren slips quietly from the whalebone hut, fatigue etched in the deep lines that framed her eyes, a light bruise on her left cheek. "The avian, she had to fetch something or other, so I have set him a draft to keep him asleep until she gets back, as it is a job that would be best performed with at least three." She speaks to Tenebrae, one hand going up to rub absently at the bruise, complements of Gomrak, who hadn't taken too well to having a syringe of Opium shot in to the tough skin of his arm.
Portea walks along beside Saiyah. "Well that was an adventure." He says, mostly to himself.
Saiyah hears Portea and shoots a slight glare at him.
Tenebrae glanced up as the others arrived en masse, grinning at Saiyah and Portea's state. She guessed they'd been off in the swamps or somewhere like it, both of them rather dirty. "Ello all. Got a little job for us." Eyren's emergence had the vampiress frown with concern. "How is he? Won't lose the leg, I hope?"
Tenebrae said to Portea, "Ere, did you find water?"
Eyren said to Tenebrae, "Oh, no, I've set a blend of lilly and sage to preserve the flesh and it will make patching him up a bit faster actually. He will be fine. Though the sleeping draft isn't going to last forever." She tugs absently at a strand of her hair, "Should she not return within the hour I'm afraid Sahtya and I shall have to tend to his injury ourselves, for the sake of keeping the leg attached to his body.""
Tenebrae nodded to Eyren, only slightly relieved by the news. "He'd not last long out here, one-legged. And I'm not sure he's fit for the mainland anymore." Not with those eating habits, anyway.
Saiyah decided it's best if Portea told Tenebrae about what had happened, meanwhile, she'd slither on down do the waters edge to wash up a bit.
Eyren laughs nervously at Tenebrae's statement, casting a weary look to the hut once more, which was thankfully still relatively quiet; save for the thunderous snores that shook the hut ever so slightly. "All the more reason to save that leg .. at any cost."
Portea said to Tenebrae, "No, we didn't make it past the quicksand pit... But we're still alive, which is good enough for now, I suppose."
Neither of the replies did anything to quell her frown, but Tene'd nod to both. "Thanks for your efforts. Isen... he's not back..?" Her gaze drifted to the shore, and Saiyah.
Saiyah was to busy splashing about in the water, rubbing off the muck and cleaning off. She gave a quick glance to the crashing waves out yonder and blinked. It was the head of a mer-person popping its head out of the water- and even more, it was waving her trident. Those bastards! She glared and raised her hand, saluting a oh-so-lovely finger before spinning right back around and slithering back up to the vampire.
Tenebrae said to Eyren, "Did you find that ointment useful? We might go find some berries, soon, I know which ones he uses. But there's a trick to making it, that I do not know."
Eyren said to Tenebrae, "Well, I believe that it will aid in allowing for the wound to heal a lot faster once we've managed to set the bone to rights. It did wonders for the sailor. I'd say thanks to the acting agents in that ointment he'll be back manning the ropes in about 4 days as opposed to the usual 4 weeks." She smiled wryly, "I shudder to think of what a chore it'd be to keep that great beast content with his leg elevated while we waited for a proper cast to do its work."
Tenebrae winced and nodded her agreement to the medic. She'd turn to Saiyah, then, an eyebrow raised, glance cast out to the now-empty waters. "Friend of yours?"
Saiyah furrowed her brow, glaring at the vampire before she made for her log. Yes, it was her log- not theirs, here's. And she'd be damned if that was taken too, she leaned against it and tugged out a small scroll of paper and laid it on a flat board of drift wood she'd found and begin to draw once more.
Eyren turns from Tenebrae then catching sight of Sahtya who'd been standing dutifully in the shadow of a mangrove tree, her eyes flickering from first Eyren's then Tenebrae's face. Eyren offers the girl an apologetic smile, having forgotten to use her hands as a means of including the girl in to the conversation. "Forgive me friend" she signs hurriedly with her hands. "I still forget that you not only see with your eyes, but you hear as well." The going was rather choppy, as Eyren was still attempting to bring to memory all the signs required to say all this. "The lady Tenebrae" she brought her right hand in to a sweeping arc, before her fingers formed a T to represent Tenebrae, "She says that maybe soon we'll go hunt for the berries used to make that ointment you liked so much." She stilled her hands then as Sahtya began to sign back to her. Eyren smiles at the completion of the sequence, "Yes I thought you'd like that"
Tenebrae shrugged lightly. "Might go ask Gomrak for his secret ingredient. Mind waiting here?" She would stalk up behind Saiyah, and poke her lightly on the shoulder.
Eyren turns from her conversation with Sahtya to address Tenebrae. "Yes you can try, though let me know if he is truly awake, as he will be in a lot of pain once the opium has worked its way clear of his system, and I'd hate for you to be the first thing he decides to lash out at." Eyren is careful to keep her hands in motion as she speaks to Tenebrae that Sahtya might not feel excluded again.
Tenebrae saw the sense in that. Even though she was the only being the orc might've called friend in many a year - even if she was never really too sure what'd happen if he got too hungry -- caution was needed. "I know.. I'll have a hunt through his papers." The orc had a basic literacy in his own language, and perhaps she could make some of it out. "Be right back."
It seemed to be the day for Tenebrae to frown. She was doing so as she returned from the hut, with a ragged parchment in her hands. "Oh, brilliant." It was a mutter, and on reaching the beach she handed the paper to Eyren. On it was a picture of some strange-looking mushroom. "This is going to be interestin'." She'd let the medic study it a moment, while she bent and picked something up, the item tossed toward the naga. Back of her head, actually.
Isen wakes from his nap, rubbing grit and sleep from his eyes. He looks around, nodding blearily to the gathered crew members.
Eyren watches Tenebrae emerge from the hut, her ears perked for any other sounds of unrest from within. Satisfied that nothing was amiss she turns to look fully at Tenebrae; the frown that creased her brow not boding well for the explanation hoped for behind the proper construction of the ointment. Eyren takes the ragged bit of parchment from Tenebrae, her eyes dropping to the paper. There was etched upon it a crude drawing of some sort of mushroom, it looked familiar, yet she needed better lighting to know for sure. "Hmmm" she muses; a pursing of lips accompanying this flash of clarity "Sahtya, be a dear and set your light over this" Eyren signs, tucking the paper beneath her arm to free her hands for the task.
Tenebrae said to Eyren, "That's not your normal mushroom, pet." She sighed and pointed into the jungle. "We'll have to fetch it from in there. Deep jungle. And they bite."
Tenebrae looked to Isen, then. "We have to fetch barrels. Did you find water? There must be some, but Gomrak's out to it on opium, and I can't ask him. Still, best we have vessels handy, eh?'
Saiyah set aside the sketch she had going to lean in curiously to the two. Mushrooms eh? She secretly wondered if they were anything like the 'dust' Tenebrae had given to her, and slithered up towards the vampire. She poked her shoulder this time and held out a note.
~The note reads..~ What is this mushroom that we have to hunt down now?"
Eyren turns from her study of the plant and shakes her head at Tenebrae. "Oh dear, that was what I was afraid of, and here I was set to fetch my medics book." she smiles ruefully nonetheless "Well then onwards and onwards?
Isen turns his gaze to Tenebrae, rising and brushing himself off. "I think that I heard the sound past that sinking sand. I'll row back to the ship, to get them. I need to get some other things of mine, too." That being said, he makes his way toward the rowboat.
Tenebrae nodded to Isen, and replied to both women at once. "Ugh, it's horrid. And in Pygmy territory. We might be lucky and snag one at the forest edge. You game?"
Isen rows off toward the ship, once more ignoring the mer-folk, obviously preferring to pretend that that don't exist.
Saiyah laughs, well, more like grins. She lifts her body and forms an S with her tail as she places a piece of paper on her stomach and scrawls out a quick note before handing it to Tenebrae.
~The note is a bit sloppy- but what do you expect from someone writing in the dark..~ Game? Oh you know very well I'm -game- for a nice little hunt. Though- there wouldn't happen to be any other weapons about would there?
Tenebrae was already donning her armour. "Might be wise to wear protective clothing. There's poisonous plants..." Once more, she frowned. This time at Saiyah. "Got some leather strips, of they'll come in handy?"
Tenebrae rummaged in her pack a moment.
Eyren nods once more, taking a moment to sign to Sahtya the plan and that she wanted her to stay close to the hut should Gomrak start to stir. "If the avian has not returned by the completion of this little adventure, we shall have to set his legs to rights ourselves." She drops her hands to her sides and only shakes her head at the various protests that Sahtya was signing in return. "No" she mouths, "Stay here" she motions to the hut once more then turns from the girl, closing out the conversation. "I'm ready when you are" she says to Tenebrae.
Saiyah shrugs at Tenebrae. Sure, why not. With the monsters and creatures she'd seen about the land, the hunter had actually finally began to think wether or not it was a good idea to nab some armour. She hated using it- but the way things hit around here, it might be wise.
Tenebrae grinned to Eyren, whilst she rummaged. "Very well. We must first.. ow!" Pulling her hand back, she'd suck a drop of blood from her finger. "Sucker's sharp." The offending object was tossed - handle first - Saiyah's way, closely followed by a wad of leather strapping. "Dunno how much that'll cover. Wish I had more."
Eyren follows the movement of both women and opts that perhaps traipsing in to the boggy unknown of the jungle dressed as she was might not be the smartest idea. With a wry grin Eyren sets to digging about in her own pack for more suitable clothing.
Tenebrae said to Saiyah, "There you go, watch the point and don't ..." she raised her voice for emphasis, "... whatever you do, say the word 'gharughniphill' while.. oh." Her smile was sheepish. "Never mind.""
Tenebrae turned toward the trail into the swamps. Yup, she was frowning again.
Saiyah crossed her arms and gave Tenebrae a 'Real-cute' stare. She however did hold the blade back out to her, she couldn't use this, hell she had better luck with the cutlass. The leather though- that was quickly wrapped about her arm. She slid the mask back down over her face and slithered up next to Tenebrae, waiting for them to disembark.
Tenebrae put the hideous blade - the use for which it was regularly employed might pale even the tough naga, were she inclined to explain it - back in her pack. She glanced to them both. "Right. Try not to make any noise. If you see a giant beetle, run."
Eyren falls in behind Tenebrae giving a small wave to the pouting form of Sahtya.