Post
by ChrisDDickey » Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:37 pm
You are reading the writings of Truck of the Deep Servos, Windling Warrior.
Self proclaimed "Renowned hunter" Ralc Dheman has declared his intention to slay the legendary ape, Kh'ong, in the Servos Jungle. I have seen Kh'ong before, he is a magnificently massive ape, taller than most buildings. Conservationists in Throal feel this largely peaceful, if enormous, ape is one of the great wonders of Barsaive, and necessary to the elemental and spiritual balance of the Servos. Like-minded Adepts rush off to thwart the hunting party and save Kh'ong. Kh'ong's range is not far from that of my tribe, so I felt this would be a good time to visit my tribe. We asked around and found that he had hired dozens of beaters and bearers as well as a few archers and swordsmen. We also heard that he bought a huge amount of poison, and rope.
We stopped in Ironbark Grove to resupply and check on Raic's passage, I had the pleasure of meeting Aethrillia Redwing, a local Beastmaster and famous naturalist. We learned that Ralc had not stopped in the grove, but that some of his hirelings had attempted to purchase some fresh supplies, but Aethrillia had run them out of town. In Ironbark grove I bought 6 riding goats and about 1200 pounds of goods, mostly ironmongery (pots, pans, knives, hatchets, arrowheads, etc) and cloth goods you don't see much in the deep jungle, in the hope that I could deliver a bounty to my tribe.
We took the path to Griffin Falls, and by the time we crossed the river at the falls we were less than 4 days behind the party we were tracking. That night during the dawn watch we noticed that one of the goats was gone. I did an Astral Sight and spotted a big Lizard Cat carrying a dying goat away. (Later, after discussing it we decided it was a Skulk). I immediately attacked it and got it to drop the goat, and ran it off with many wounds. In the meantime another of the Skulks shot it's tongue out a huge distance and entangled R'edtarian and started to drag him away. The others rescued R'edtarian and managed to drive that Skulk off. We also came upon evidence that somebody was attacking the safari. Whomever it was seems to like throwing crude pots of scents that attracts certain animals (including Skulks).
Halfway through the third day we heard a commotion up ahead. We hid the goats and approached with stealth. We saw Ralc Dheman arguing with his human male bodyguard and the female elvish trapper. One was saying that the mission was a failure, and that they should leave the Servos immediately. The other was saying that they ought to rescue the beaters and bearers that were being massacred by the natives a short run away to the north. Raic insisted that since he had detected Kh'ong just a short skulk to the east, that now was the time to go poison him. Roic ended the argument by heading east, but then they seem to have noticed us and took cover.
We made a plan and started to advance on their position. They apparently had a better plan then us, because as soon as we started forward the two archers, whom we had not seen, fired into our flanks. The battle was short and unequal, One archer, and Roic fled. The other archer, the beastmaster, and our friend Daler were rendered unconscious. During the fight Strata broke the barrel of poison the bodyguard was carrying, so both of them were each coated with enough poison to knock out a 50 foot tall ape. they both ran out into the jungle fleeing or chasing, and then fell unconscious an inconvenient distance from everybody else. fortunately everybody eventually made a full recovery. The same could not be said of the beaters and bearers, who were mostly slaughtered by the jungle natives. Orlam went to treat with the natives and found that only one bearer was taken captive, but he persuaded them to release him to us.
We next went to my home village, which was only about one day away. I presented them with the goods I had brought, and the goats. I had a great homecoming, mared only by having to report that my cousin Mazor had died while adventuring out of Throal. After several days of feasting and celebration we returned to Throal.