Of Blood and Honor (Might and Magic RP)

"Miss Sellira, there is an old saying about bar visits - that they must always end in one of three 'throws': throwing up, throwing around, or throwing out. In that sense, perhaps we are fortunate to have only encountered the last." Richard had finished his drink in annoyed silence and followed the others out, his ire now divided between Naratus and the shrill-voiced Kristoph.

Crickets chirped mockingly in the distance.

"So, before we were so rudely interrupted - maps?"

edited 25th Aug '15 5:05:31 PM by Pyrite

"Oh, right...well, I don't think you're going to like this," Kristoph says, fishing around in a pouch on his belt. Finally, he pulls out a crumpled piece of paper and unfolds it.

The map, if it can be called that, is extremely crude. Most of it is just green scribbles on what looks to be a very rough approximation of the size of the island. Only two locations are marked: the first seems to be the town where you currently are, and is noted with a simple "Here". The second looks like some sort of...archway, and is marked with a strange word: "Morcarack".

"Believe me, I tried talking to everyone about it. This one old man was the only one who took the time to draw something like this, and his hands...well, old age had done a number on him." Kristoph sighed, looking sheepish. "This is why I said we'd have to comb the jungle..."

Shylocke had to crane his neck to see the map, and clearly cringed when he saw what he was looking at. This was less than ideal, but, contrary to his employer's opinion, was still better than nothing. He pointed at the archway marking, saying, "This area would likely be a good place to start. If it's the moon temple we're looking for, then we have that last piece. Even if it's just a landmark, I'm willing to bet scavenger hunt items would be stashed there, and if we grab some of it, there's less to go around." He knew it was a bit of a long shot, and the arch could very well be miles from where it was marked on the map, but it was something to go on.

...what in the celestial heavens is a 'Morcarack'?

On his part, Richard stared in bemusement at the "map", unable to make head or tail of the barely-legible marks - and eventually gave up, focusing instead on the goblin's suggestion. "That may not be wise, Shylocke. At least Mister Kristoph knows the location of the giant dragonfly eggs, and it might be better to secure those first before blundering through the jungle."

Kristoph nods. "The dragonfly nests are all along the northwestern part of the island. We should have no trouble finding an egg there. The trick being fighting off any ones that attack us."

"With that said, I agree that this Morcarack place would work as a landmark, so we might head there after we obtain the egg. And if it turns out to be the Temple of the Moon, well, that makes it easy."

Kristoph took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for getting us thrown out of that tavern. But you - we all - need to work together if I'm to win this contest. And trust me, once I am Lord of Harmondale, I will have access to the town's accounts. You all will be well paid...and I may even have additional work for you after that."

"Hehe, sounds good and sweet to these long ears, milord" says Sellira with a low bow, all smiles as she considers the path ahead "Then we have a plan. To slay dragonflies and then to find the moon temple. Hmm the items you have secured at the moment... go them with you or on a safe locale? Will be needing bodyguards for the night?"

Looking at the map Naratus commented, "Not much of a clue but it's the only one we have so..."

Richard shrugged. "Promises are always welcome, but I hope you are one of those who can put their money where their mouth is. Now, shall we go and look for the dragonfly eggs?" With luck, one of our rivals will have a better map and poorer judgement.

"Now?" Kristoph said, "It's kind of late in the afternoon, so we wouldn't have a chance to do anything about the temple until tomorrow." The young man looks at each of you. "I'm...okay, I really don't want to spend any more time in the jungle than I have to, and having to go out there twice...I don't like it. But that would be faster. So, I suppose we can go get the eggs now, and then tomorrow we'll search for the temple."

"Any objections?"

"I got no professional objections against such a course of action... and we got thrown out quick enough that I'm not drunk enough for it to be an impediment in my fighting. If you wish to go out now, then as the one paying I'll follow you wherever you wish~" says Sellira merrily.

Shylocke merely shrugged at these suggestions, having no preference one way or the other. He'd worked with worse, and less time to prepare. "May as well get it over with now. We still have enough time to get in and out, and then rest up for our search tomorrow. But, of course, the executive decision is yours, as you're holding the purse strings."

Naratus also just shrugged. "Oddly enough I find myself in complete agreement with the goblin."

"Then let's go," Kristoph says, and gestures towards the edge of town. Your small group sets off.

Most jungles exist because of combination of heat and humidity. The jungles on Emerald Isle soon prove to be no exception, leaving all of you sweaty as you move through the brush. Kristoph himself seems particularly bothered, apparently not fully adjusted to the island's weather. He slows down every few minutes to wipe his brow. Of course, his thick clothing, seemingly unsuited for this, does not appear to being doing him any favors...

During one such stop, you hear the first telltale buzzing sound of dragonfly wings. It could be a nest...or it could just be them flying about, doing whatever it is that giant dragonflies do. Either way, you're faced with a choice of what to do next.

Shylocke wasn't too concerned with the heat or humidity. He'd always been the sort who could do without creature comforts. However, he found himself with the problem of his rather unsubtle colleagues. He understood they didn't need to be stealthy just yet, but the noise they made as they marched through the jungle still put him on edge. Furthermore, Kristoph's poor choice of attire meant that anything downwind could smell all of them a mile away. Shylocke silently cursed his luck, but kept on nonetheless.

When the droning of insect wings drew close, he wasted no time in attempting to vanish into the brush. He dropped his voice into a whisper. "Can anyone tell how many are in the area?"

Sellira unslung the bow she was carrying, getting it ready to shoot if anything seemed particularly... aggressive. However at the question of how many there are she shrugs her shoulders with a little smile and says "I could climb a tree and tell you, if you like"

Naratus moved his hand down his spear to the lance grip. A flying foe was best dealt with the longest weapon you had if you didn't have a bow.

Shylocke gave an affirmative grunt to Sellira, pulling his dagger out of his boot. He really didn't like getting his hands dirty, but there was a strong chance this would have to be done.

"One moment," Rich said, holding up his hand. "There's a metaphysical question I keep forgetting the answer to: do animals have souls?"

He ducked behind a tree with surprising speed, and decided that it was always a good time to check.

Rich casts Detect Souls.

edited 4th Sep '15 3:28:06 PM by Pyrite

At the first hint of philosophy, Sellira is only pushed faster into climbing the nearest tree as fast as she can to get away from it. Hopefully she'll get a good look at the dragonflies too.

edited 5th Sep '15 11:56:15 AM by daltar

While climbing trees was not the forte of a knight his horse did give Naratus a certain height advantage and he used it to look for danger.

Shylocke squinted up at the sky. This was about to get hairy, and he wanted to make things run as smoothly as possible. Time to resort to cheap tricks and cold pragmatism.

Preparing Fear spell as reaction.

From their perches, Sellira and Naratus can see about half a dozen giant dragonflies, all buzzing above and around a specific clump of bushes not too far away. The spell that Rich had cast reveals the same thing, along with the minor detail that there seemed to be no larger living beings under those bushes, just a handful of various small insects.

Kristoph, meanwhile, had immediately dived into the bushes next to Shylocke and was currently crouching there, looking around fearfully. Obviously, the young man isn't used to dealing with dangers like the rest of you. It's clear that you can expect no direction from him, and you will be the ones to decide how to proceed.

Naratus reviewed his spells. The dragonflies were mundane opponents so his ward wouldn't be necessary but he raised the Hour of Power within himself. Any combat would surely be over before then.

"Yups, half a dozen... If someone else doesn't mind taking the vanguard I'll be shooting them down with my bow as support. If no strong man wants to take the lead then don't worry. I'll draw my steel and let you all follow after me" teases Sellira as she knocks an arrow onto her bow.

Shylocke raised his dagger and nodded to Serilla as he heard the droning of wings continue. Scanning the sky, he cleared his mind of the coward on his flank, and prepared the cheapest trick in his arsenal.

Is this one of the rare cases where Telekinetic Backstab is advisable?