Active [The Republic - Paizu Mountains] - In The Hall of the Monkey King - (PT 2)

[Develius]

---

---

Location:
Old Watermill
Mentions:
| Maverick Six [Lenara Alstadt] | Rev IX [Samantha Nag'hagalgrim] | Gadg8eer [Gadg8eer] | Darkbloom [Thomas Carter] |
​

---

The Sleeping Brute

As the creaky wooden door slowly opened, the first thing the party would quickly notice was a horrendous smell emanating from within. The best way to describe it was a concoction of rancid decaying meat and sweaty musky body odor of someone who hadn't bathed in over a month at least. Flies could be heard buzzing around manically as several flew out into the fresh air outside. Despite the one opening it, Lenara wouldn't enter the depths. No one but Gadg8eer would have the courage to look directly inside with his super high-tech night vision goggles, braving the stench and steeling his resolve against wanting to puke.

The room was cleared out, with furniture pushed to the side or otherwise destroyed. The floor was decrepit and ruined from many years of torment from the weather. Moss and ivy clung to the walls, while grasses and weeds grew from the cracks in the stone on the floor. There was also a good deal of caked blood smeared around with shattered bones of all shapes and sizes littering the ground. There was a small pile lain to the bottom right corner where the door had opened. There was even a cleaned top skull of a humanoid tossed aside against the wall, with its lower jaw missing.

Of course, the most prominent thing was the big brownish-green thing laying fast asleep in the middle of the room.

Its back was facing away from the party, snoring loudly as its body bellowed upwards before descending into a rumbling exhale. Its body was brutish and muscular, with light coverings of bristly hair running down its back and bottom. Many scars - some big, most small - adorned its muscular back, hinting at a harsh lifestyle. It was certainly a humanoid, but its structure resembled something more bestial. One could dare assume from the glance it was some sort of bear or ape, but not much of the head could be seen from their angle. It mmubled incoherently between breaths, shifting briefly to scratch its rear before coiling back up in his default sleeping position.

It didn't appear to even notice the party's sudden intrusion... but was it wise for the party to disturb it?

Seeing the dreaded uncertainty from a distance, Chacha climbed from the carriage and approached the group slowly with hesitating steps. "H-Ho... what is... going on?" he asked cautiously, almost scared of looking inside himself, "Found... something?"

 

[Maverick Six]

Lenara "Len" Allstadt

Interaction: Rev IX Gadg8eer Develius @Scoobie Darkbloom
Titles: Human, Squire, Rotia Nobility Bastard F
Language Key: Common | [Terran] |

Spoiler: Important Stuff

Goal: Obtain Rank in local Adventurer Guild (Republic)
Point Boosters: None
Wanted or Criminal Titles: None
Buddy Skills, Masterwork Skills and Complex Assets: None

​

The Mill​

---

The hair on the back of Lenara's neck stood on end as she received a mild chastisement. "I'm sorry!" She choked out with an urgent whisper. She covered her mouth instantly with one hand.

She looked left. Then she looked right. Then she looked at the mill. There appeared to be no movement. At least, for now.

Within moments, she had two hands on her blade as she held at the ready. However, remaining patient, she simply held her position -- not wanting to mess up the information gathering of those who were better at it then here, and also not being sure of what to do. Something was there and in that room, but what it was and what it's intentions were, was all but unknown. She could try to appraise it, but appraisal could be felt and required her to get closer.

Thus she only thought of hypotheticals.

"I don't know what to do with this. It could be one of them. Or a threat to the village. It might be something else." She couldn't tell for a certain. What she could tell however was that putrid smell which started to flood the room.

Part of her was swearing to herself, wishing she'd asked if any villagers were missing. Despite her obvious fear, she moved carefully forward as she hugged the wall next to the doorway, ready to plunge in to the room at a moment's notice.

As Chacha approached, Lenara. "Something big. Scary looking." She said, making motions of height with a hand over her head -- standing on her tippy toes. Maybe Chacha knew.

Either way however, it seemed as though this thing was worth learning about. It was just a matter of how.

---

Spoiler: Actions

HP: 3/3 (D Grade Speed)
Armor: 2/2 (E Grade Light)

Actions: 0/3

1.

Cooldowns:
Len
F - 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
None

 

[Rev IX]

Samantha Nag'hagalgrim
​

Samantha spectated the show from a safe distance, and yet, she managed to experience most of it from where she stood. The pungent aroma of decay reached her nose, making her reminisce on some of her past experiments. Resuscitation, organ transfers, and some more medical procedures that leaned towards necromancy in some aspects. Yet that was not here nor there.

As she trained her eyes on the group snooping around whatever that rotten building held inside. She was on high alert, just in case trouble was about to pounce on them. Alarms rung when Chacha also approached. The scholar silently rushed to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Shaking her head, while also trying to usher Chacha away from immediate danger. Quietly speaking to him, likely reaching just his ears "Don't risk it. Without a guide, odds of succeeding go drastically down."

 

[Gadg8eer]

Gadg8eer​

Spoken Languages: "Common"
Literate Languages: Common

Construct Languages (SpyWear* F): <speak(analog.lang)=no>
Translated Languages (The Story So Far): <Terran>

*Construct Language Packs and cool AugReal HUD features not included. Requires 1 double-eye soul battery. Rated e10+.

---

Something about seeing piles of bones and a sleeping ogre-thing was like re-opening a very old wound for Gadg8eer.

He tiptoed into the room, picked up one of the skulls carefully, along with a handful of dust, dirt and human remains from the floor and a piece of string left over from the shredded clothes of the unlucky. Finally, he stuffed the skull with the materials and embedded the string, and then grabbed a couple small metal objects formerly owned by the deceased, which he smashed together to light the wick.

Finally, he gently pushed Lenara back out of the building and then whispered "Bomb. Everybody run."

---

Spoiler: Actions

HP: 2/2 (E Grade Speed)
Armor: 1/1 (F Grade Light)
Actions: 3/3

1. [Imaginateer] Build improvised explosive device with Artisan Tinkerer F.
2. Light improvised explosive device.
3. Run from explosion.

Cooldowns:
Gadg8eer
F - 0 Posts Remaining

Passives:
None

 

[Develius]

---

---

Location:
Old Watermill
Mentions:
| Maverick Six [Lenara Alstadt] | Rev IX [Samantha Nag'hagalgrim] | Gadg8eer [Gadg8eer] | Darkbloom [Thomas Carter] |
​

---

Upon Lenara warning of the danger in hushed tones, as well as a firm grasp on his shoulder by Samantha, Chacha's expression dowered as he'd would stop dead in his tracks. "B-Big and... s-scary?" he'd whimper cautiously as his eyes rapidly tried inspecting the outer frame of the door, "W-What is... in there?"

Yet before the baboon would get any sort of answer, Gadg8eer quickly alerted everyone that he planted a bomb and attempted to rush everyone out of harms way. Chacha was more than a bit bewildered as he was dragged away. "B-Bomb... what is bo-?"

*KABOOM!*

Within seconds a spark of light followed by a rupturing boom detonated within the old mill. Black smoke and debris escaped the ruptured windows and flung out the wooden door. While it was no means a truly destructive bomb, given it was hobbled together with whatever Gadg8eer could find, it would still cause a considerable deal of damage to the rugged interior... as well as stir the beast that was within.

"YEOOWAAAAAAAAAAAAGH-?!?!!"

The group would hear the deep and wild howl of the sleeping beast waking up in what sounded like a confused fright before hearing a crash coming from the opposite end. It was clear it didn't know what hit it... but one might take it as weirdly comical? Not that it intended to be but it was by no means a raging bellow of someone out for blood. Should they dare walk around or peer within the mill, they would finally get a good look at the now awakened sleeping beauty.

And "beauty" was certainly one its... weaker aspect.

They'd see the large humanoid groan dazedly, as if he'd been rudely awakened from his mid-day siesta, while he struggled to get onto his feet. A good look at his face seemed to determine that this was no ape. At least not in the traditional sense. His face was brutish and sunken in, while sporting a firm chunky brow-line, small pointed ears, a reduced nose, and a droopy mouth sporting two large tusks jetting from the bottom of his gums. Size wise he was certainly big, being easily taller then the party members, but not wildly so. Somewhere between 5'10 and 6 feet seemed accurate. Both of its dark-amber eyes were wild in its predicament as it finally caught sight of the party, before looking at its once humble sleeping abode.

"Wha-? Hur-? WOAAAAGH!" the dopy beast cried as he stumbled back on his bottom being utterly scared out of his mind as he scuttled a few feet away from them with his arms raised, "OGH PLEAGSE SIRS N' MADAMS! I-I BEGZ YA! I DIDN' DO NUTHIN' I SWEARZ IT ON ME KRUMP! OHHHHOOOOO - WHA' DO YOU WAN'?! I AINT HERZE TO CAUS' NUTHIN BADZ, HONEST-LIKEEEE!'" His accent was thick and slobbery like bubbling lard, bordering to near incoherence but still was understandable enough to those who'd pay attention. The brutish continued blubbering pathetically as Chacha continued to remain out of sight from the thing, though he was beginning to get more curious as to what exactly they tried to blow up.

 

[Gadg8eer]

Gadg8eer​

Spoken Languages: "Common"
Literate Languages: Common

Construct Languages (SpyWear* F): <speak(analog.lang)=no>
Translated Languages (The Story So Far): <Terran>

*Construct Language Packs and cool AugReal HUD features not included. Requires 1 double-eye soul battery. Rated e10+.

---

Eyes widening, Gadg8eer stepped forward apologetically. "Um... I'm sorry. We, uh... We thought you were someone else seen around this area recently. I kind of... assumed... those bones were there because, um... I thought you ate someone. My bad, I guess I have some traumatic issues to work out. Are you okay, at least? I didn't know how powerful that would be when I made it, I'm really, really sorry I jumped to a conclusion about you." he said, honestly ashamed of himself. "If you're hurt, I promise I'll try my best to help you. This was my fault, I owe you that much."

 

[Maverick Six]

Lenara "Len" Allstadt

Interaction: Rev IX Gadg8eer Develius Darkbloom
Titles: Human, Squire, Rotia Nobility Bastard F
Language Key: Common | [Terran] |

Spoiler: Important Stuff

Goal: Obtain Rank in local Adventurer Guild (Republic)
Point Boosters: None
Wanted or Criminal Titles: None
Buddy Skills, Masterwork Skills and Complex Assets: None

​

The Mill​

---

While there were some concepts that Lenara wasn't familiar with -- Lenara had an instinctive reaction to that one. "A b-bomb?" She'd never seen one in person but she'd heard of their use and known of mages referring to spells as something similar. Instinct took over and just as Gadg8 said to run, she gulped down her spit and then booked it. Once outside the mill, she covered her ears before --

BOOM!

An explosion rattled the shack and a howl of pain accompanied it. Opening her eyes, Lenara ran back into the shack with sword in hand as whatever was in their sounded the farthest thing from dead. Clutching her sword, she got back in to run into the shack. Yet what she had seen once she ran in -- what she saw brought her eyes to almost water.

"This is all my fault." She said. "I should have come to a decision sooner."

Now wasn't a time for crying however. While he didn't look like her, what she saw in front of her was simply a man who was sleeping peacefully in a beat up and smelly shack, minding his own business. Then he'd gotten blown up. She thanked the gods that he was alive. If she hadn't hesitated, then maybe they could have to a better decision.

Eventually this all culminated as Lenara came to making a decision to do what she should have done.

"We're sorry!"

Clank. The sound of Lenara dropping her sword to the ground. [Other]

Approaching the orc, she walked forward with open palms and nothing in them. Raised as a noble, Lenara had access to both social skills and combat oriented ones. However, many of her family found her too empathetic for her own good. Too often had she tried to talk to monsters in the field and she was often weak in combat. Her lack of deliberateness and outright clumsiness made her seem a lackluster canddiate for the Alstadt name.

However after hesitating here, moving to attempt to console and persuade him came almost instantly to her. [Let's Talk!]

"Shh shhhh! We're sorry! We're sorry!" Moving forward as if to form a barrier between her party and the beast.

"We made a mistake! We thought you were a bandit! This is my fault. We should have found a way to check first." She said.

Slowly but assuredly, Lenara walked forward towards the man with her hands raised. If he'd allow, she'd gently touch his shoulder in an attempt to calm down, hopefully the gesture augmented by the fact that she was unarmeed.

"We'll tell you why you're here in a second. But are you hurt?" She said looking the man over. "Sam. Could you come over here and help this man out?"

She didn't exactly know how hurt he was and wasn't really well-versed in medicine or healing.

"We're here, looking for a bunch of bandits who only take ape and monkey beastkin. And there's a lot of bodies here. We thought you might have been one of them. Maybe you can clarify....?" Was he in a clear enough state to answer?

---

Spoiler: Actions

HP: 3/3 (D Grade Speed)
Armor: 2/2 (E Grade Light)

Actions: 2/3

1. Other - Lenara drops her sword.

2. Let's Talk! - Persuasion F, Etiquette F - Lenara speaks with someone in some attempts to appeal to rationale, emotion, and cultural custom to get someone to see her perspective. - Grade F - 0 Post Cooldown

Cooldowns:
Len
F - 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
None

 

[Darkbloom]

While Thomas was inspecting the bones, he didn't hear the warning about the bomb. So when it went off he nearly jumped out of his skin and scrambled to hide behind a conveniently placed rock. Then the inhabitant of the building appeared, pleading for them to not harm him anymore. Thomas leaves the cover of the rock and slowly approaches the group. "I'm just as surprised as you are, I didn't hear the warning about the bomb. Please, let me see if I can help you a little bit." He raises his staff and casts [Temporal Healing], which will slowly rewind time on the minor injuries and fatigue. It's not as good as a cleric spell, but in the absence of clerics it works. After that, Thomas listened to the chatter around him, having lowered his staff to the ground. A few questions come to mind but he doesn't ask them out loud, such as What is a krump? Where did he come from? Did he see anything suspicious when he first encountered this space? Some questions were silly, others were following a much better thought process. Maybe someone else would think of them so he wouldn't have to.

Spoiler: Actions

Temporal Healing (Healing F - 7 pts, Magic D - 21 pts)
Gently rewinds a person’s body a few moments in time to alleviate minor injuries or fatigue.
[Healing F, AOE E, Duration E, Range E, Targets E, Selective E]

Develius Gadg8eer Maverick Six Rev IX

 

[Rev IX]

Samantha Nag'hagalgrim
​

While keeping Chacha from the vanguard, Samantha looked around to see which one would venture first. Eight's answer was a bomb. Her eyes simply widened as the explosion took place.

She weighed whether or not to chastise Eight for going for a very Kong-like approach, announcing something happened here to who-knows-who in quite a large radius. But, for one, she wasn't doing much to contribute at the moment, and second, he failed at killing the sleeping ape.

The scholar let go of Chacha and brandished her weapon, ready to jump at the... panicking... non-apekin?

The confusion was shaken off when Lenara called for her. Letting the "Sam" slide for now. She slung her blade back, and went over to the peculiar figure. While performing her Basic Triage - checking for visible cuts and bruises, breathing abnormalities, normal cardiac activity, internal wounds, the works - she asked a couple of questions to keep her patient distracted from the touch of her gloves and her tools, with some more relevant questions mixed in. "What is your name?... How old are you?... How many fingers am I holding up?(two)... What are your kin named?... Do you feel this?(a needle pinching his left leg)... What about this?(A gentle squeeze of his right middle finger)... Have you lived here long?... Follow this finger with just your eyes..." following the standard procedure, even if she didn't expect much to come from it, as he was preemptively healed by Thomas.

 

[Develius]

---

---

Location:
Old Watermill
Mentions:
| Maverick Six [Lenara Alstadt] | Rev IX [Samantha Nag'hagalgrim] | Gadg8eer [Gadg8eer] | Darkbloom [Thomas Carter] |
​

---

A Proppa' Chat-Like

The brute would make no effort to attack, though he'd pick up and hold up a piece of sharpened bone that he would use to defend himself if necessary. He was acting very much like a cornered animal. Yet thankfully he was much more passive then "raging mad". His sniffling and blubbering would subside a bit as the party would reveal that they wouldn't harm him further, though he was still nervously guarded. "I-I'z naht a bandit!" he replied to Lenara's thought of him being such, "I'z 'ought yaz all were! S-So if yaz not banditz thenz wut-"

Before he could finish, Gadg8eer would make his own formal apologizes. But as the kid mentioned the belief about him and the bones, the brute replied, "O-Ohz I atez em..." he replied in a deadpanned expression as he stared at the party with a blank stare. Realizing what he just said to a couple of 'umies, he proceeded to raise his arms out towards them in a panic. "WAITZ! WAITZ! WAITZ! I'Z DIDN' KURMP EM!" he cried out flusteredly to make his position clear, "T-THEY'Z WAZ DED WHEN IZ F'UND EM! HUNEST TRUTHZ! I-Iz never krumped an 'umie beforez, norz would Iz eva'! I-I sawz a kuple of z'em dedz by dat 'ere ruined karriage by da riverz and I waz soooo 'ungry like Iz didn't eatz for dayz and ya knowz the 'umie corpses were pazt-tenzed alreadyz and goin' ta wastez so me thinkz nuhbodiez gonna knowz and soz I atez em and lain dere remainz in ere when me waz dun and... andz..." He felt very guilty by the end of his confession as he gave a sad frown and pouted with tears in his eyes. He even dropped the bone shard to his feet.

Indeed, Lenara would remember the crashed carriage that she checked by the river a minute ago... his explanation seemed to check out.

"Tiz waz me fault fer presentin' me-self likez so... Still Iz... acceptz ya proppa 'pologiez." he replied to the party's collective apologies, "But Iz... erm... okay, me thinks?" the brute questioned as he began padding his meaty hands on his body. Aside from a few stray cuts on his burly form, a scorch mark could be seen upon his back still smoking from the bomb. He didn't seem terribly bothered by it but it still looked pretty painful. Upon touching it he'd flinch with a hiss escaping his overbitten lips. "O-Ohz me guezz daz noot good aint it?"

Though his pain would be alievated by Thomas' efforts, as he used his healing magic to fully cure him of his ailment. The brute seemed to be amazed by this display, gasping as his expression became full of wonder and gratefulness. "Oi! Tanks ya kindz zir!" he remarked graciously to the wizard with a knee-bent bow, "Youz a miracle worka' with yerz fancy magikz!"

Seeing Samantha approach him suddenly caused the brute to take a nervous pause as he let the silver-haired woman check him out and would answer her questions appropriately:

S: "What is your name?"
G: "Gork."
S: "How old are you?"
G: "Uhhh... tirty-six (36) yearz, me thinkz?"
S: "How many fingers am I holding up?"
G: "Duhhh... tüz? (two)"
S: "What are your kin named?"
G: "Orkz... w-withz a "kay (k)" at da end. Noot a "see (c)" or-az "kuu (q)" or nuthin' likez zat."
S: "Do you feel this?" (a needle pinching his left leg)
G: "OWZ! I-I duz..."
S: "What about this?" (A gentle squeeze of his right middle finger)
G: "Uh-Huh"
S: "Have you lived here long?"
G: "N-Nuh-uh - I'z comez frum da woodz furder south-like... uhhh, beenz 'ere fer likez a day? (roughly a full day)"
S: "Follow this finger with just your eyes..."
G: "Uhhhhhhhh... (barely follows, looks almost cross-eyed, but is responsive)"

As this was taking place, Chacha would finally peak out to get a look at the party's newfound acquaintance. There seemed to be a hint of shock or... perhaps some sort of recognition in his eye briefly before he began to slowly walk over to get a closer look at Gork. Lenara would clarify what the party was doing here and asked the ork if he had any insight to them. Gork looked to flinch at the mention of them. "I-Iz think I 'eard a c'uple of em gits trottin' by a bit a agoz..." the ork replied as he attempted to recall what he knew, "A-Aint seen 'em... dey didn' seez me eitha. But deyz was talkin' reaaaaal funny-loike, I'z didn' unda'stand a single word dey said!"

"Did they... speak... like this?" Chacha asked before speaking a random phrase in bestial.

Gork seemed to recognize it as his ears perked up. "Y-Yeahz! Dat soundz mighty like em..." he replied with an eagerness in his tone, "Youzes lookin' fer em?"

"To... stop them... yes." the baboonfolk nodded as he gripped his stick tightly, "But you... what are... no... why are you... here?"

The ork took a moment as he produced a hesitant groan. "I'z uh... I'z lookin' fer mah lady-friend... Brieky-Boo." His face blushed upon mentioning his significant other. "She gone missin' fer de past couple o' dayz. Said she be lookin' fer a few shroomiez for a stewz. But she din' return when shez said she wouldz and Iz got very worried-like and tryda find 'er. Iz foun' tracks and fur left bah 'er 'long wit 'er scent and it led meh 'ere so farz after dayz o' travel. I wuz mighty tired loike n' all and soz I found da karriage Iz, er, told ya 'boutz and drank from da riverz befer settlin' in dis ere mill and then 'eard the bandit fellas travel by laterz on and then nowz youzes came in. I-I dunt know anythin' elze 'side from dis and Iz miss her lots and Iz dun knowz where she might bez...!" Again he became distraught by the loss of his girlfriend and began sobbing a bit more.

Chacha was deep in thought for a moment before glancing back at Gork with an intrigued look in his eye. "I've... seen someone... like you... when I was... slaves to... bandits." he said, causing the ork to briefly look up with newfound hope in his eyes. "R-Really?" he asked hesitantly as he eyed the baboon closely in attention. Chacha nodded. "I think... couple days ago... before this party... freed me."

"W-Waz it lil Brieky-Boo?" Gork asked intently with worry in his eye, "W-Wut wuz 'er name? Wut wuz she loike?"

Chacha shook his head "Don't... know... if her." he replied sadly, "Only passed... by her... a few times. She was... with... another group... not in mine. Big-boned... like you. Maybe it was... her?"

 

[Maverick Six]

Lenara "Len" Allstadt

Interaction: Rev IX Gadg8eer Develius Darkbloom
Titles: Human, Squire, Rotia Nobility Bastard F
Language Key: Common | [Terran] |

Spoiler: Important Stuff

Goal: Obtain Rank in local Adventurer Guild (Republic)
Point Boosters: None
Wanted or Criminal Titles: None
Buddy Skills, Masterwork Skills and Complex Assets: None

​

The Mill​

---

As Lenara listened to Gork speak, she was attentive. Though at one point in the conversation, an uneasy smile appeared on her face. "I don't know if eating beastmen remains is any better but it's okay. At least they're dead." She said. The topic had never come up where she was from. Nervously, she scratched the back of her head.

While he was distressed at first, it seemed like he wasn't as violent as he could have been. Lenara sighed out of relief and for the most part, remained quiet as the others had their parts to play. Thomas had healed. Gadg8 had apologized. And Samantha assessed him to make sure he was alright -- as well as gathered a bit of information on him with her questioning.

"All is forgiven." She gave the Ork a small curtsey gesture [Etiquette F], despite lacking any sort of skirt with her adventurer gear. A "bastard" daughter of a noble was still yet a noble taught in their ways.

Picking up the dragon-scaled blade she wielded, she rest it on her shoulder.

"We'll need to be careful with identifying who our enemies are. This bandit group may all be monkey and apes. But that doesn't make every monkey, ape and otherwise our enemy." Her eyes look about, falling upon Chacha, Gadg8 and Gork in particular.

"Gork, you can do what you like. Or you can come with us to try and save your lover. I suggest finding another shelter though, as this place is practically a crime scene...."

She looked about the filthy place, filled with bones and other signs of corpses.

However, her eyes were to the door.

"We should get going either way. We're losing daylight and we at least want to get to the camp by nightfall."

With that, Lenara would walk out of the mill, her eyes scanning the area as soon, she found herself taking out a map to chart the proper way. Whatever decisions the group may have come to, with or without Gork, Lenara would seek to go down the path and start making her way to the Monkey King's Hall -- though not without her allies at her back.

---

Spoiler: Actions

HP: 3/3 (D Grade Speed)
Armor: 2/2 (E Grade Light)

Actions: 1/3

1. Use [Etiquette F] to give a curtsey.

2.

Cooldowns:
Len
F - 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
None

 

[Darkbloom]

Gork had appeared to be in bad shape but the spell Thomas used had cleaned him up. Which told him something no one else may have thought about: this guy was tanky, even without armor. He did feel bad about Gork's lover, though Thomas himself had no such experience in that area. "I agree with Lenara. You can join our party if you like, but if you're worried about your lover, you can take care of that. As for the rest of us, time is of the essence. The faster we can get this done, the better off everyone will be."

Speaking of time, Thomas wanted to get his magic improved as fast as possible. For all he knew there could be a world ending threat on the horizon, and if that was true he'd have to rise to the rank of master wizard in order to save as many people as he could, if not everyone. Signs of such a threat hadn't shown their faces yet, though it was a close call with the hellflies on multiple occasions. Consulting the map in the group's possession, if they all left within fifteen minutes they should be able to make it to the camp location easily enough.

Develius Maverick Six Gadg8eer Rev IX

 

[Gadg8eer]

Gadg8eer​

Spoken Languages: "Common"
Literate Languages: Common

Construct Languages (SpyWear* F): <speak(analog.lang)=no>
Translated Languages (The Story So Far): <Terran>

*Construct Language Packs and cool AugReal HUD features not included. Requires 1 double-eye soul battery. Rated e10+.

---

Realizing the situation of the Ork was confused and desperate, '8' made the same concession that Lenara did. "Oh. Oh god, that... sounds awful, but as long as you didn't kill them, survival comes first. I understand, it was a last resort."

Deciding his mistake was extremely important to avoid the next time, he grabbed a large branch left broken off a nearby tree by the general carnage in the area, and followed quietly behind as the party decided to get out of the area, sweeping up the footprints to hide their tracks using the leaves and other branch ends. He even took the effort to make it seem that the explosion had killed anyone in the area, but only in-so-much as not erasing the footprints from when they got to the mill. This slowed him down but he only focused on the footprints, as nothing else about the situation seemed worth changing considering he doubted anyone could analyze DNA or find fingerprints if they cared to know who had been there.

 

[Develius]

---

---

Location:
Old Watermill ---> Secret Backdoor Entrance
Mentions:
| Maverick Six [Lenara Alstadt] | Rev IX [Samantha Nag'hagalgrim] | Gadg8eer [Gadg8eer] | Darkbloom [Thomas Carter] |
​

---

"Demz utta baaaahzturds..." Gork growled angrily upon Chacha's consideration that his girlfriend might be kidnapped. His fists audibly dug into his callous palms with an expression of desperation and rage in his sunken eyes. If this was true, then there was more to this then he imagined. He was at least relieved that the party wasn't here to truly rid him.

"I will... see to that." Chacha replied to Lenara regarding them being careful in identifying who was an ally ape and who wasn't, "But I... think... you will know... when you... see them."

His expression paused upon being asked if he wanted to join the party. Of course he had the option of leaving on his own if he so desired, but it took him a second to think about it. With a sniffle in his nose he picked up the bone dagger before giving a confident look. "If demz truly got em handz on meh love," he grumbled with "Iz swearz I krumpz the livin day'ights outta em monkeh brainz!" He finished his statement looking at Chacha, before quickly apologizing, "Ermz, not youz o' course."

He glanced back to the group. "But yehz... Gork woodint mind-ta join yaz if youz be all willin' ta 'ave meh. If me love iz in danga, thenz itz meh responsabilleh to save 'er!"

Chacha smiled and nodded in approval. "Very good." he stated gladly to Gork before looking at the rest of the party, "Then let us... move... forth. We aren't... too far... from secret entrance."

"Oi, uh, lemme jus' gatha me thingz real quick-" Gork would scutter back to the mill to pick up a makeshift fanny-pack and filled it up with several more sharpened bones before he was ready to move on.

---

Spoiler: BattleMap

With their newfound partner, the group would eventually resume their trek towards the secret backdoor entrance to the Monkey King's lair. Chacha led the carriage to where they needed to go, eventually spotting the obscured path leading right into the mountainside. The path entrance was narrow and overgrown, though there were signs of light use being seen in the rustled brush and natural debris casted to the sides. It was nonetheless too tight for the carriage to enter in comfortably. Should they need to turn around they'd have the force the horses to walk backwards and that would be a serious detriment in the event they encountered danger on the roard. Thus the party was forced to leave the carriage in the nearby woods and travel the rest of the way on foot.

Beware the Monkey Men

The trek took an additional forty-five minutes through the lush canyon side, with tall pine trees and prickly bushes standing tall and proud overlooking the path. Though as the party neared the last stretch, they'd hear the faint commotion of bestial echo against the walls. "We... close." Chacha whispered as he motioned the others to stay quiet and crouch down. Slowly they'd make their way towards a large clearing, where they'd find cover against a large fallen tree. And to their right was the elusive entrance... but it wasn't unguarded.

Five entities stood watch at the mouth of the cave.

A pair of hairless simians wielding each a bow and dagger, stood casually against the rock wall. They appeared to be chimps, sporting green body paint that went down their backs and arms, and had a lighter tan-underbelly. In each of their hands were two chained leashes that held back two viscous looking furried quadrupedal predators, each roughly the size of a wolf but sporting a deadly arsenal of exposed fanged teeth alongside wicked-looking curved claws on each of their feet. They appeared to look as if they knuckle-walked to protect their talons from eroding on the harsh ground beneath them.

"Rot-hounds..." Chacha whispered quietly as he peaked behind a hole in the log that oversaw the entrance, "Very... dangerous. And fast..."

The fifth entity was just emerging from the cavern depths, being a gorillafolk sporting a more reddish-brown coat and a beard. He wore a dark-brown rawhide pauldron and a pair of ragged leather pants, all composed by a large silver ring that formed a belt around his waist. While they were all speaking in bestial, Chacha would be able to hear and relay roughly the following:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"~Look alive men. Report.~"

"~Nuthin' to see 'ere, boss. Other then birds... a rat... erm... bugs?~"

"~Have the hounds picked up anything?~"

"~Like humie-scents? Nuh-uh. Although they really wanted to rip apart a deer that passed through 'ere an hour ago. Deez folks are deceptively stronk.~"

"~Aaaaah, nobody's come down here in like... ever. This path is secret. Nobody's gonna pop up 'ere without us knowin' ahead. Besides who'd dare challenge us?~"

"~Have you not heard about what happened to Kobo's squad?~"

"~Wut 'bout it?~"

"~Naw naw, wait a minz - I remember hearin' something bout' that from Kafka last night when I ran inna him. Said his whole group got ambushed by a team of humies and that he was the only one to have survived. Mentioned something about em havin uh... big man with club. A gal with a sword. Someone wielding a scythe. And a gunslinger too. Mentioned them takin' one of the slaves hostage too... not that them lives matters much anyways, heheh.~"

"~Which makes it all the imperative you two knuckle-heads keep watch for any scouts! His majesty is already concerned about a potential encroaching counterattack from the villagers. He believes that they must've had help from a guild. Unlikely it may be to find them here, we must remain cautious of their approach from any and all. Kill any intruders that find their way here... send the hounds after them if you must. But if things get dicey, report back at once!~"

"~Sure thing, boss.~"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They are... on alert." Chacha whispered cautiously to the party, though his attention was more focused on Lenara and Samantha respectively, "They know... about... yesterday's attack. We need... a plan... to get in." He looked at the others for any strategies on how to move forth.

"I gotz sum bonez n' rockz to clobba demz wit." Gork replied, showing his fanny pack's collections of hard throwable objects and sharp bones.

 

[Darkbloom]

Thomas listens as Chacha relays the words to everyone. The enemy has no idea he's joined them yet. This was fantastic news. "Yes, let's make a plan. I'm not a stranger to fighting, by no means. But they don't know I've joined the team. And they don't know about Gork yet either. We can use this to our advantage. I don't need to show myself right away, but I may still be able to give you all a small boost while you take care of these guards and the hounds." Now that he thinks of the duration of the spell, it's a little more than a small boost. It's going to help them considerably in the fight ahead.

"Well, I guess it's not as much of a plan more than it is a strategy. Keep me hidden until there's nowhere left I can be obscure. Then I'll stand next to all of you to save the slaves and ruin anyone's plans at the same time while they think it's the same group of people fighting from yesterday. That's going to be the biggest shock. Now, how would you all like to continue with the plan from here? I hope I've presented a good idea for the time being." Gork was going to be a huge help. Literally and figuratively, especially with sharp rocks. Lenara has a giant-ass sword to cleave anyone in two. Gadg8eer was resourceful and quick witted. Someone like that could be a good leader someday.

As far as Samantha and Chacha go, well... Thomas was a little less sure of what they could do. There was a gunslinger and a scythe wielder, so it'd have to be one of those two since the sword wielder was Lenara and the big man with the club didn't fit Samantha's description at all. And the rescued slave... he clenched his fist, tight enough to make his knuckles turn white. They were making fun of the very link who had led them all the way here, and the baddies were going to regret everything they ever said. "Someone please do me a favor and knock their skulls together. It'll be an improvement to their lives." The ape men are going to find out exactly how stronk everyone was after today.

"What I'm going to cast on everyone will speed up your reflexes and reaction time, which will also make the enemies look like they're moving slower than they normally would. Especially those hounds, I'm the most worried about them." Thomas uses his spell [Time Acceleration]. The magic moves slowly through the group, enhancing the ally's and his own reflexes and reactions. "This effect will last for one full day. So we're all set. I'll now just go and find a bush or something to hide in." Thomas looks around for a bush a few seconds, and when he finds one he stashes himself in it.

Spoiler: actions

1. Cast [Time Acceleration] CD 5
2. Hide in bush

Develius Gadg8eer Rev IX Maverick Six

 

[Maverick Six]

Lenara "Len" Allstadt

Interaction: Rev IX Gadg8eer Develius Darkbloom
Titles: Human, Squire, Rotia Nobility Bastard F
Language Key: Common | [Terran] |

Spoiler: Important Stuff

Goal: Obtain Rank in local Adventurer Guild (Republic)
Point Boosters: None
Wanted or Criminal Titles: None
Buddy Skills, Masterwork Skills and Complex Assets: None

​

Cave Entrance​

---

"We'd love to have some help. We'll do our best to save your lover. I mean it. I'll put my life on the line!" She said, fist pounding against her chest over her hear. With that, they were off.

------

A forty-five-minute trek wasn't much for Lenara. She'd practically walked to the village from place to place. However, soon she found herself in a situation similar to yesterday and yet different.

As Thomas suggested something. "If you can do that, that'd be helpful. Also, if you could blow up a group of enemies, that'd be helpful! Mages tend to be pretty good at that. I have a bit of magic in this sword myself. I know I have to be careful with it....."

Crouched behind a fallen tree, Lenara listened to what Chacha said, her previously bright and cheerful eyes were now narrowed as she locked onto the cave with a focused and thoughtful expression. She tried to strategize and think for herself what would be a good strategy for the place. A few things came to mind.

"Chasing random deer huh...." She said, mentioning a seemingly useless detail.

"I'm gonna try to distract those two hounds. See if I can't get them to try to chase after some random deer for a little."

Thinking to herself, Lenara wondered what exactly she might try against them. The things in plans most people didn't consider.

"If that doesn't work, they might sniff us out and we'll just end up fighting them anyway. If it's anything like before, they might try to alert the others if it looks like they'll lose. So we should prevent that."

Looking over the group, it didn't seem like they were going to be the stealthiest bunch. But it didn't mean that they had to go in blindly.

"This will probably go loud. But optimistically, we might be able to split them up." It was taught to her in the Alstadt home that a leader was to be decisive. If there was anything her mother and father had agreed upon -- it was that hesitation meant defeat. Yet whether or not she actually knew the correct or full meaning of the phrase had yet to be seen.

"Here goes nothing." Lenara reached down and picked up a rock. And then, with the snap of her wrist, she'd flick it away -- trying to throw it off into the brush.

She could plan more and deliberate. But ultimately, it was going to be in seeing how things panned out before she could decide what to do. Hopefully, things didn't get as chaotic as last time, but what could one expect in battle except chaos?

---

Spoiler: Actions

HP: 3/3 (D Grade Speed)
Armor: 2/2 (E Grade Light)

Actions: 1/3

1. Other - Throw a rock into the brush East of her position, to try to distract the rot hounds.

2.

Cooldowns:
Len
F - 0 Post Remaining

Passives:
None

 

[Rev IX]

Samantha Nag'hagalgrim
​

Having done her quick evaluation, she was quick to pack the few items she used. "Subject in perfect health..." she muttered to herself, seeing as there was nothing else that may need her attention. Gork's low intellect showed even more as he explained his... dietary choices through his peculiar manner of speech. None of it was alarming to Samantha. Instead, she nodded as Lenara and Thomas urged the party to move on.

After a scenery-changing walk, the entrance to their destination appeared quite near. And yet, a quintet blocked their path. Sam took note of the odd "rat-hounds", as Chacha called them. Peculiar creatures. But that will have to wait. After hearing the conversation Chacha relayed, and his question for a plan, Samantha brought a reflexive hand to her chin, while also glancing at the rest of the group. Stealth wasn't something she knew much of. The best she had was set up a distraction. Yet not how or where to do it and make it effective.

Thomas hid in a bush and Lenara attempted to divert the rat-hounds' attention to some greenery to the side. Regrettably, Samantha found nothing she could contribute with at the moment, so she simply readied her scythe and braced herself for a fight. Just in case.

 

[Gadg8eer]

Gadg8eer​

Spoken Languages: "Common"
Literate Languages: Common

Construct Languages (SpyWear* F): <speak(analog.lang)=no>
Translated Languages (The Story So Far): <Terran>

*Construct Language Packs and cool AugReal HUD features not included. Requires 1 double-eye soul battery. Rated e10+.

---

When they got to the targeted destination, the problem with entry was making Gadg8eer draw a blank. Inevitable chaos was not his strong suit, he needed a way to gauge the situation. An idea did come to his head, however as he looked around it was clear that their environment was not suited to such an idea. "Um... Sam, right? You're a doctor? What do you have for materials and chemicals? Bandages, potions, whatever could be used to overload those thing's noses."