Dnd:AnimalPlanet:LucanJournal
From RainGamersWiki
Lucan's Journal
April 17, 2009
Given directives by Elder Council to head out and gain evidence and mapping of the underground area on the mainland.
Travelled across the water, fought some baddies, travelled some more, fought more 'bot/'droid type dudes. Flung loads of very lethal arrows and discovered that having a blessed Coyote background coupled with the Ranger stats definitely equals certain doom for one baddie at a time. And if he's got a pal standing close, that pal is also going to meet pointy death. Throughout the slaughter of mechanical enemies, we managed to trudge forward until we found a map of the underground in a clear coat. Returning with that, the Elders were well pleased with our efforts.
June 14, 2009
Council sent us to Midpoint Island to see about the 'cave' there for repopulation, as well as to determine if it was possible to render the island to be fully safe.
We were dropped off at the edge of the Island (where the remains of Treasure Island still allowed). I encountered a small pack of wild dogs, which looked tasty. Unfortunately they had other ideas. By the Unmaker's breath, we slew and stewed them.
We found the cave at the end of the road, with a bear and a pair of cubs. After much, much, much silliness we finally felled her and her cubs. We searched the cave further, but found little else of value.
{The more Lucan fired his bow, the more the bow seemed to sing oh-so-quietly. Every kill brought the bow's voice more and more clearly to the coyote as he fulfilled the Unmaker's call to him. He heard and started to listen, finding his sighting to be guided more and more by the bow, finding those weaker points in the prey that were more vulnerable. The more he killed, the stronger the voice of the bow became, until finally the string and the wood seemed to start glowing just a shade of their own volition. Indeed, as that glow flowed over his hands and over his armor, he felt that harden as well, becoming more sturdy with certain shadows starting to arise over it, looking vaguely leaf-like. The blood and marks on the armor seemed to be absorbed into the make of the leather, toughing it up of its own volition. The coyote knows there is more to come of his armor, but where it all will lead, only the Unmaker can know. Lucan clearly doesn't mind the changes, as they're just keeping him safer. And after all the Unmaker's will isn't always immediately clear.}
[Chose to take an extra feat rather than the XP as reward for updating the wiki.]
July 12, 2009
We continued on our merry way to the second bore hole. Upon entering, a magical ball of light was placed on my head courtesy of Kohana. I started to walk forward, and discovered a new potential prey that seemed to flee through a door tucked in behind a collection of mobile dens that clearly were placed in such position to prevent easy passage through the corridor. Kohana found himself a new toy: a book!He gave it to Sadian, who was able to translate it somewhat. After a very clear message from the Unmaker, we continued forward, and eventually came to the door. After, that is, discovering the rock salt chunks in the rubble at the far end of the tunnel.
Opening the door, after Shinte checked for traps/locks, I found a passage winding down and to the left from the doorway. I found wet tracks that Kohana identified as possibly human. Leaving the vulpines behind to guard the mobile dens, we proceeded, and found a metal staircase with several more corridors beyond. Coming to the end, with a twist once more in a corridor, I noticed a pair of bone white 'creatures' with almost no hair, very little clothing, and large foreheads, and almost sickened me. They vanished around the corner, after I tried to call them as friends. When I followed them, some of their friends ambushed. It was a very unfun sort of combat – it seems the Unmaker has decided to give us a little excursion into 'undeath' to remind us of the nature of the world. After Maya meeting the Raven Queen once for a brief time, we were eventually able to reduce the 'humans' to smoldering remains.
We recovered ourselves as best we were able, and headed back up to the mobile dens area. From there, we opted to continue up the hill to the pile of destroyed machinery and whatnot. Crossing a catwalk over sharp, pointy rocks, we found an entry into a large, round area. Upon opening the door, with bow drawn and readied, I exposed a series of beetles to our eyes, our fangs, our doom. However, these, like the humans, will doubtful make good eating. Some turned out to be fire beetles, others entanglers, and both sets really sucked the lives out of us, in every sense of the terms.
July 26, 2009
{Took 250XP reward for updating WIKI since last time, foregoing the 2 free 20's. Continuing from the previous end session, in the laboratory.}
After checking for more beetles, we opted to buckle down and enjoy a Full Rest (stop). Through the night as most of the party slept, the building made all sorts of settling and creaking noises. In the second room, with the tables, we discovered a puddle of sorts, that seemed to have killed some rats. It seemed there was some sort of lightning trap. The Kohana and the thief managed to undo the trap together. It seemed that the Kohana was a little too intent on getting the 'boxes' and 'UPS' (computers and a rack mounted UPS unit) back working, and was more than a little too willing to use up our valuable time doing so. He saw the light, and we opted to continue exploring the Island.
We have yet to explore the Eastern complex, by the shore. A Western complex, and the Eastern shore and the foot of the bridge to investigate. It was suggested and agreed that we should explore the rest of the shoreline. We started off in the South, and moved back around to the East. We discovered that most of the buildings and piers and the like were either destroyed by water/weather actions, or from a fire that 'put paid' to most of the human buildings. On the bridge itself, there were a huge volume of cars that were pointed toward the Oakland side of the bridge. Walking along the bridge, about 1/3 the way over there was some sort of catastrophe and we were forced to abandon the small side-line area in deference for the 'main' bridge part. Upon walking around that blockage, I heard some rattling noises, and we were set upon by 4 super-sized snakes. After a great deal of damage dealing and pain and blood, we were successful without losing a party member.
After taking a short break, and healing up fully, we continued forward and examined the rest of the bridge. I examined the shoreline when we got there, with assistance from the paladin, the thief, and a failed attempt from the Kohana. There were many flocks of animals at the shoreline, as well as a good deal of fish and aquatic mammalian animals. This is clearly more food on the hoof than we have seen before. We discussed some preliminary plans for barring off the end of the bridge to allow for the People to have hunting parties obtain food for the Island and our Homeland.
We then returned and examined the rest of the perimeter. Moving on to the western compound, we examined it and found that nearly all the den's of the former inhabitants had been destroyed and burned to the ground. There are many areas with concrete flooring and piles of bricks only. Perfect for later settlement. After finishing the preliminary recon of the Island, Kohana then performed his magical prowess to rebuild the 'UPS' and one of the glass boxes. He then managed to get it 'On' and we befuddled through various things on the computer. I am still convinced that the box is haunted, and Kaliska seemed to hold the same view when it started to talk to us using actual words rather than the text on the glass frame. I finally had had enough of this game between Kohana and the Demon In The Box, and finally had to intervene by removing the cord lest Kohana become so enamored of the Demon that he became the new host for the Demon. We argued for a while and finally concurred that the glass box would be left here until the Elders are with us later to interrogate the box safely and ward off any further possession if there is a case for it.
We then took the evening to rest again, in the tower. In the morning we took what steps were necessary to bring all the meat remaining to the docking area for the boat the Elders sent to us. Loading up we were able to get back underway and back to the Island of the People. Upon our return, we were brought immediately to the Council and requested of our story. Sadian then undertook to sing our tale, given his training. He did an 'ok' job of it, I suppose. A little goofy and flowery in places, but hey, the Unmaker has made flowers for his reasons and purposes. He seemed to light-report/ignore a couple of important things, such as the UPS room and the journal he found.
August 9, 2009
We were given about a week+ to relax and recover and resettle ourselves. Then, we were summoned back to the Council Chamber, and given the new task investigating "Ee-Ka" (Ikea) for getting better solutions for settling the new island we just made safe for the People. During our dismissal, I inquired whether we would receive a proper reception if we returned in victory. The council speaker said that those in 'Service to the Council' (not the People) would receive what was earned.
At the landing, shortly after walking to the main black road, we were set upon by a set of 6 boars, two of which were huge and more dangerous. We were able to destroy them in slow, but steady attack and death. We took a lengthy rest after dressing the boar carcasses and turning the meat over to the boat which was called back and we were able to send more food back.
Moving on, we were able to look down into a basin with approximately 500 large metal boxes floating in the waters. We strove to determine means of returning one or more of the boxes to the main island, and then determined that we should simply leave this process to the Lynx clan to figure the best means as this is their main drive anyway. We went forward on the hunt for this Ikea plan. Continuing along the black road, we came upon a metal-hole fence holding 'safe' an area with multiple pools of water, some clear and some very not. Moving to a specific tube of water, we were almost immediately set upon by a group of mushroom-men. I know this from my experience with the past training of my people. We were able to chase the Sovereign off the edge and take it out of combat and then just beat down the rest for a more simplistic, albeit lengthy, combat.
August 23, 2009
After taking a short rest, on the 10th day of our pack's life and just after defeating the mushroom evil, we continued forth. We arrived in a broad expanse of asphault and concrete which (Doug) was able to translate some of the signs from the previous humans. Something about visiting our 100% recycled store. After entering, after defeating the lightning trap at the door, we then defeated the metal walkway up and continued.
We searched through this massive den, and I came to realize that the Unmaker had shown me the danger of what the Elders may well have sent us to this razed tribute and temple to the losses of the previous humans. They lived far outside the realm of the world; they removed themselves from nature. I brought this up to the pack, and they scoffed at the notion. Perhaps my new kin are already on their way to becoming fat, lost, useless. I shall endeavor to keep them from such a wasted fate. As we continued, various members managed to find things to occupy them.
As we descended to the lower area, we fumbled with this and that, one playing with the haunted/possessed toys left behind, endangering us all once more. Finally, the games being done, we headed outside, and a haunted alarm went off as we started out. I managed to disable half of it with a single arrow, definitely guided by the Unmaker's hand. With the siren song disabled, we walked out and were confronted by 7 drakes, clearly summoned by the alarm. After barely defeating them, we set about forming a camp at the doors to EEKA.
During my evening prayers, unfortunately the Unmaker communicated to me a new path. One not quite as focussed on concealment as being a shield and wasp for His plans. Following the instructions, I dipped my armor in the blood and bile and venom of those creatures, used one of the teeth to create an eye charm, and brought the bow to a new level as well, though this did nothing to silence the voice of the bow in my mind. I can only hope the Unmaker has no plans to remove my mind or soul prior to the time of Joining In the Clearing.
October 18, 2009
(Lost journal update from previous session: on walking through the area, we encountered several automated bots and managed to take them out eventually. We then ventured back to Ikea after dropping off Kaliska with her people to get back to the People.)
On entering Ikea once more, we discovered a secured area that we were able to enter. Upon investigating, we found several pieces of oddity. We discussed the options and possibilities of the room, and continued forward with more discovery.
During the exploration, a gun was found in a safe. Shinte was playing with it, and that was taken over by Sadian. Inyan decided he had to try and learn the thing for use. I kept far away from this cubfoolery, letting the idiots learn the lessons of the past and the insight of the Unmaker their own way. A puzzle was found elsewhere as well, which drew the fox's attention as all shiny things seem to do. It was a spirit box found by the mage, which was not dancing for him as he clearly expected. Upon gaining access to the box, he played games with it for a time, and then finally we decided to walk through a door with a stairway down. We landed at a point with a big '1' displayed. There were many shelves and things, but nothing of interest. We then continued down lower to the full basement.
Several large pipes and conduits led to a cross intersection. At the end of one of the corridor we were following, a door 'rested' in the frame, sort of. Upon opening the door fully, we encountered a sewer system that had actually cleaned itself up relatively well. Kohana, the mage put a light spell on the warrior's axe. There upon it revealed the first 3 of several rat-men (People style), and combat ensued. In a very painful, bloody, annoying way. In a I-was-the-only-one-to-die sort of way.
November 15, 2009
{Those that updated the WIKI got a free non-critical 20-roll}
Continued with the rats. Upon Kohana's efforts at understanding the rats, we then started following the former leader, Hanshan, back to his lair. On the way, Kohana had been translating everything for us. They are quite aware, and rather adept at hiding in plain sight as well. They rival Shinte infact. As we continued, Kohana clumsily interrogated the rat for some information, and we eventually found the upward shaft of his lair which I successfully climbed and then had to assist those that were not so adept at climbing (Shinte and Kohana). Going through a very close doorway, we then arrived.
His lair is quite interesting in the rope webbing around the walls, and the various bits and bobs that were secured in there. It is clearly meant to be more homely for him, but overall it lacked any sense of style, form, or the Aristotelean Unities. Shinte pushed strongly for the food that made the rats smarter, but Hanshan insisted that occur early morning the following day. His fear of the Hunters (creatures with leathery wings) prevented him from taking us this evening, as well as getting up on the roof of his building. We camped out there for the evening, and in the morning we all climbed back down to the ground to continue forward.
We had Hanshan lead us along the road to the 'Smart Food'. He then led us into a building with various sounds and experiences with heat and such. Hanshan, upon the exposition of Kohana's Mage Hand spell, becomes intensely curious how the wolf did that. Kohana cleared a path for us all across an expanse of broken glass. At the end of this corridor, was an unlocked door with a keypad. Hanshan demonstrated how the door opened, and immediately upon its opening, Kohana and Sadian had an irrestible desire to eat this 'clay chunk' inside the door. Kohana did so, and in so-doing, he managed to start a seizure and then woke up moments later. However, I observed Hanshan move up the ceiling vent and away.
I could hear the Unmaker's Will being spoken to me, to eat one of the blocks. Upon convincing the Pack to do so, I took one and achieved -1 Str, +1 Dex through the experience. Next Shinte and then Inyan took pieces and each gained their own benefits from the Unmaker's Divine Blessing. We then undertook to find more of these cold boxes, as neither Sadian nor Maya wanted to partake of the benefits. We found several more, but all were no longer functional. Then Kohana tried to find Hanshan through the expedient of simply shouting out. Upon shouting out, 3 rather hefty crocs came around a corner and started a rather unpleasant brawl. The largest was the worst of the batch and strained all of our skills, given how challenging it was to harm/injure in any meaningful fashion. After swallowing Maya, and attempting to do the same vs. Inyan, we were eventually able to crush the creature with a herculean effort from everyone.
We then returned to the building that contained Hanshan's lair, but found the entire building to be collapsed as though from the inside. We then went to Ikea, to crash for the night once again in the human dwellings. Apparently the pack felt it was acceptable/amenable to bring along Maya's rat pack (6 of them) back as well.
December 27, 2009
{Characters updating the WIKI got a natural 20 for the day}
We slept through the evening successfully. In the morning, we spent a good deal of time discussing what to do and where to go, and even what to report back to the Council. While Kohanna was summoning the birdy messenger, I noticed a HUGE metal thing similar to the metal 'policemen' we encountered previously, walking with a robotic canine type unit as well. Shortly after that, the dog thing extended some sort of platter/plate out of its muzzle and *pinged* the party with some ultrasonic bullshit thing. Sadian let out an "EEP" from the pain and drew the attention of these two creatures. He tried to make amends with his spell, but only managed to annoy the dog as it came close enough to breathe heavily on Kohanna. I tried to disrupt the attack and succeeded with some cheering from Kohanna and Sadian. A nasty, lengthy, sound-laden fight ensued. After the larger creature finally fell, also by my arrow ( I dealt the final blows to both creatures today).
Kohanna started to naturally investigate the shiny for stealy-stuff. He definitely was a Coyote in his previous life. I noticed that Inyan was skulking around the periphery of the area, and when asked he said it was because he fell in battle. We headed off to the shore to await the response from the bird sent to Kohanna's great-grandfather. As we departed, I noticed a mechanical bird (think mini-dual winged helicopter) homing in on us and then following us as we walked toward shore. As we stopped, it stopped. Upon arriving at the shore, the return-bird came and suggested that at best we send some of the ratlings back, but not to return quite yet as some of the factions that were pushing for colonization were becoming more voiciferous. As the return-return-birdy took off from Kohanna I noticed a flashing light from the Home Island.
It was a message in felinid that I couldn't decode. Upon reading it outloud, however, Sadian was able to relay it to us which told the ships in the harbors to stay at sail and stay away from the Island proper. As soon as the message finished, a large black cloud rose up over the Island, and soon after we all heard a muffled explosion. Leaving that behind for a time, we opted to then split the party with 5 spokes and me in the center to watch what the drone thingy did. After enough time with the other members of the party leaving the center, it simply summoned more with enough to watch us individually. We then opted to leap into the sewers to try and evade the drones and then continue to head south to investigate more of these mechanical things and their source.
After wending through various twists and turns in the pipes, we were able to arrive somewhere else. From within the ruined building, there were many pieces of evidence of the former occupants and their fixation with paper and books. I exited first, and checked to see if there were the drones that had followed us, but apparently we did manage to lose them. (It was a school and the hallway, OOC) Mt. Climans High School.
As we continued out into the area, and on our way to "Market St.", we noticed a good many 'drakes' flying around in the air. And across the large black expanse of their paths, we noticed a HUGE drake land on a building. We opted to avoid that area altogether for the time being. We headed back west and located another those 'BART' places with more of the large maps of the area and the routes of these ridiculous mobile dens. The map was transcribed, and Kohanna started looking for points of interest in the maps. We then opted to hit the FD (fire department) and across the street was the OST FIC (post office) with loads of lights on inside. In the FD building, 2 story of concrete and brick, we found a huge mobile den with a skeletal driver. We also found various shiny things around that were essentially worthless, though Inyan managed to find a decent axe for himself from in the house. We opted to kip down for the night here as well. We then gained another level.
January 10, 2010
{Gained two rerolls for updating the WIKI/forum}
Upon resuming our motions vaguely forward, the mages were in favor of sending multiple birds to the council and to various folk for our most trusted sources. After that, we went to sleep. Upon awakening, the magi spent a bit flinging spells and magics around, and then the real mage went ahead and searched through the stone structure to find more shininess.
We received a word back from the mainland in the form of a missive sent from Shinte's father, asking that we return to talk to a wildcat captain. Upon arriving, Shinte's father stated that the council is in disarray, and some councillors were even advocating open revolt. He stated that he had set fire to the Council Hut to forestall things. He said this will hopefully give the pack enough time to accomplish our goal: to find The Enemy to unite the tribes, even if we are to become that enemy. The fox wished us to find the Enemy enough to warrant expansion as well. Upon mentioning the island we cleared off is not enough space to warrant any lengthy stay to this issue. It struck me then that perhaps a suitable enemy to warrant such a joining of the Tribes is a small band of insurgent People living on the small island cleared off. An omnipresent threat, that would never be wholly removed. I went off to pray to the Unmaker for inspiration as to whether or not this idea is insanity; offering some smaller People for the greater good.
We then proceeded back to (The Port) the container area to investigate the containers for future development/expansion for the People. Eventually, we opted to have a small scounting range, which I determined the basic outline of the mushroom people's territory. Upon reporting it, we opted to investigate the Post Office ("ost ffice"). Due to the solar panels on the roof, the lights inside the building were still showing at times through the night as we slept in that area. We made it inside the building through a combination of my picking locks, and Kohana's magical efforts. We all poked and prodded around, amusing ourselves. I then unlocked a few small doors. Sadian was able to wriggle through the larger door area (post office box) into the other room behind this wall - Kohana got stuck in his attempt and blinked his way over there anyway. We explored the sorting room and the half-glassed in room (office). As Kohana was playing with the stuff in the office, I went back out and collected several of the posters around the room with the three different human languages focusing on the ones that had the pictograms so the rest of the People could be educated on the hazards and dangers of this world.
We spent the better part of the day scouring this poor office area, myself making sure there is a good deal of space for us, as well as the mailbags for each of us to have a little space on the floor, to have a bit o' padding and comfort so far. After sleeping in the new location, we headed out with Sadian taking a small detour to the foot of the bridge to discover a blue box (Igloo) with a sampling of the bear language for later comparisons. We then travelled off to Ikea to Arcane Lock everything to secure that building as well. After that was done, we loaded up many of those blue bags with 'stuff' to send back to the Island.
We then sent this 'stuff' back along with a container of meat to the Island and then takes us to the San Francisco side. The closer we got, the more nervous the capt. got. We were dropped off after the capt. backed the boat to the landing, and it was definitely hinted that we're not expected back now, at all, because this area is *that* dangerous.
Upon landing, I started exploring around the landing area to try and determine if there are immediate dangers. We then argued about where to go and settled on a building to try and fortify and establish as the base of our operations. Upon finding it, we discovered that the door was electrified, and that we were being watched from afar. Upon checking, the shadow detached itself, swooped at us, and revealed itself to be a harpy from legend.
February 7, 2010
{Everyone that updated the WIKI/forum got 2d8 addon rolls}
Harpies attack. It took only 4 go-rounds of pure pain to deliver the final blows to them all. Their shrieks and cries will haunt my dreams for months to come, I should expect. Upon their demise, and the rescussitation of Kohana from his fall, we were able to remove their pouches and belts, and then we headed to a remaining large, grey den to recover.
After checking Inyan's little breakdown of oddities, we then opted to get out and check the harpy lair once before trying to get into the Federal Reserve building. I ended up climbing up myself having the strongest skills for climbing and jumping. Upon the top, I found the skeleton of the building coupled with several hanging sacks and hammocks. I retrieved one of the sacks, and took it back down the building to the group and gave it to Kohanna. From there we opted to start investigating the Federal Building. Finding the lightning fence, Kohanna managed to do his magicy things and got into the small shack to turn off the lightning fence. Moving to the only apparent doorway, I discovered that it was barred and spiked on the bar, from the inside. Sadian did something, and the bar slid away, and thus began our explorations into what could be a very, very secure fortress.
We waited while Kohanna Arcaned Lock'ed the door once more, and during these minutes, I counted out steps from the nearest corner to the doorway, with my eyes closed, in case we needed to flee in the darkness. Moving down the hallway, we noticed several doors sealed off with clear 'stuff' (plastic). Cutting through the hallway barriers, we then found the stairs up. There, we opened the door and Inyan walked through, and was 'cleansed' and made stinky. We explored several other rooms (2 offices, a janitorial closet, a conference room, and two cube farms) before we arrived at the rolling door at the end of the hallway: Firedoor A7. Kohanna then Arcane Locked all the doors backward with our assistance (diff. 38) and we explored the bottom floor thoroughly. When we explored there, we found another artifact, some sort of cold weapon that Kohanna kept.
We slept in the conference room, and slumbered. And gained a level.
February 21, 2010
{2d8 for updating the wiki/whatnot}
We slept peaceably enough during the night. During the evening, some of us also determined what the small box things on the wall seemed to work the light sources in the room we chose to sleep in. Also, we determined some of the pattern in the hallway lights that emerged as on for 1 hour every 4 hours.
We approached the rollup door at the end of the hall. I checked the door and there appeared to be remotely locked by some 'external agency' (CIA?) and it is monitored. The lock itself unfortunately was beyond my ken. Listening at the door, the door itself seemed to be humming but nothing else seemed to make it through the particularly thick door.We all assisted in the ritual of Knock and managed to get through the doorway's locking mechanism without destroying the Arcane Lock in place. However, doing so also seems to have triggered the monitor in place on that lock.
In the next hallway, with another rolling door at the end, there were two doors off the hall, one to each side, and I noticed that the walls themselves were much thinner than before. I tried to keep the pack from going much beyond the levels of the doors. I also noticed that the rollup doorway doesn't seem to be as heavy duty as the previous one. I had Inyan help me open the door into the room on our left. It was, of course, empty with metal plates covering the area that would have held windows. This room is carpeted as well, and against the south wall are stacks and stacks of boards and the wood is bolted through with the bolts on this side of the wood preventing seeing what is on the other side. It turned out to be a table. I pulled the lever and opened one of the 'thin' walls, revealing that it indeed retracts back and opens up to the hallway. The other room operated the same way.
Upon checking this new rollup door, as well, I was able to unlock it without much difficulty. On rolling it up, we saw something looking humanish but all in white with a very distorted muzzle (gas mask). It ran, and I attempted to slow it's flight with a shot to the leg, but I missed wide. It fled behind one of the far doors, and then hit a Big Red Button. Another door came down, locking this creature that doesn't walk like us into that area. A klaxon sounded and then there were various noises behind the other thin walls.
As we started to prepare for the obvious fight!, a panel in the ceiling slid open and a metal skeletal dog falls into the hallway in front of us all. It attacked, and did nothing to us. After a solid attack round from most of us, 6 new 'friends' tore through the walls on opposite sides of the hallway. I slaughtered the first metal pooch, and heard something in the ceiling moving. 2 rather mammoth dogs dropped and started attacking. After one round of their rather unpleasant anctics (ended up spending the remaining 3d8) two more dogs, seemingly of a different product line, dropped down behind us as well. Seems the creature that fled has been quite busy constructing these gholems. After a WHOLE LOT of pain and beatings and more painful beatings, we managed to kill everything. I delivered the killing blow to the bulk of the creatures, however, everyone contributed quite substantially.
As we started to recover from all the fight, we heard some bizarre noises from some small rounded cover thingys in the ceiling.
March 21, 2010
{All those that entered data into the WIKI got 2d10 to add/subtract in whatever combination}
Upon slaughtering all the beings, we were then in conversation with a round metal thing in the ceiling. We started to cast the understand language ritual to communicate, and during that time, the round thing made a noise, and then the door opened slowly revealing a white clad stranger with an artificial looking and smelling muzzle with a venting hole on the side.
Upon communicating, we determined this being is 47 'years old' 188 seasons old. He stated that he's been alone almost all that time, which I came to realize that if he is even remotely similar to our own People, he must be almost entirely insane. he mentioned something about 'The Plague' which was 80-90 'years' ago. This building was a refuge site that was sealed off from the outside world to prevent any one else from getting Sick. Some got sick (Mentally ill), though, and some just went crazy. He mentioned that he couldn't lose any 'real estate'; when a room is opened to the outside, he couldn't go there any longer. Exposure to this plague of which he seems afraid the symptoms become headache, coma and then hopefully death. If not death, then the humans can become monsters. There was much conjecture amongst the group that it could be the harpies, the mushroom people, the cave dwellers.
The human then asked if there was any way we could gather some fresh supplies for it. For no clear reason in the slightest, there seems to be consideration for doing so. My packmates seem to be losing focus on supporting our needs and goals. This human is insane, speaks in half-truths and gibberish and reports that it is dying already. It makes no sense to devote any of our time and energy to helping it survive any longer when the Unmaker has decreed that its tribe is to be removed. We should honor its passing with the proper gravity, but we should not be exerting ourselves on its behalf. Sadian for whatever reason chose to introduce us, and it eventually recalled its name to be Charles.
It then requested us to find it 'vegetables', more evidence that this creature is just prey. It made things up about its needs, its 'vitamin' requirements. It wanted to send us to a 'community garden' in some sort of park. The only reason to agree with this at all is that this creature might be able to provide us some insight and information on surviving these residual things remaining from their former lives. We were invited to bed down here, and rest.
Upon awakening after the full rest, we set off toward this garden. On the way, one of the main streets we walked across was cleared of the mobile dens. Someone, at some point, cleared the street for easy, direct access. As we crested another hill, was found a MASSIVE forest, with birds flying over with 8-10' windspans. Inside we found the remains of the roads, and followed said. As we moved through the forest, we encountered and/or saw evidence of various game animals. I also noticed that several of the trees in the area were marked by bears. As soon as moved past the wild turkeys, there was a loud 'ringing' throughout the area, coming from the North. We voted Inyan to climb a tree to try and determine the source of this, and while he was scouting I showed Kohana and Maya the marks left by the bears. Inyan mentioned that there two towers along the north. As we started forward, I managed to notice the ambush seconds before it happened.
The two creatures that appeared initially looked somewhat like stumps and vine covered, all in motion as they slowly moved. Taking our sweet time, we managed to slaughter them eventually. They got off some poison attacks, but overall they were only very difficult to hit for damage rather than being supreme issues.
Continuing forward shortly afterward, we tried to mark in our minds and on the map the place of the spring. Cresting the hill, we found a large bowl area, that looked to be a swamp. This was Stowe Lake, though it is no longer nearly as delightful. The suggestion was made and seconded to go around south of this, to avoid the swamp. It took us far out of our way, but we managed it. Continuing forward still, we found the highest peak in the park, and we moved up onto it and found a grassland with many, many 1 ton prey critters looking like bison but with lots and lots of hair.
We proceeded and eventually came across the garden area. Picking up the vegetables for Charles, we also managed to watch Sadian find some sort of growth that he seemed to find exceptionally appealing, that also made him more than a little loopy. As covertly as possible, I gathered some of that same herb even as Sadian took a 'big patch, purely for medicinal purposes'. We started back to head to the abandoned buildings in the forest, to camp down for the night with our harvest.
April 4, 2010
{2 free rerolls and choose which to keep}
After taking a short rest, we continued forward to start trying to enter a building. It is heavily reclaimed by the Unmaker with his flowers and plants. Inyan made a path into the building, through the front door, using his large axe. Checking the door, I figured out the physical lock and that there was an alarm on the door. Bypassing both, I stepped back and allowed Inyan to once again open the door, and inside there was a distinct smell of lightning and the air inside is substantially cooler than outside.
Upon entering a human head appeared on a shelf of glass beside Inyan's position and inquired as to his name. Giving it, it gave some little speech about this place. We all investigated various things about the room, though of course Kohanna spent most of his time talking to the disembodied head. Exploring various displays or the upstairs areas led us to encounter a series of living plants that were similar to but definitely distinct from the living trunks we encountered before. They were unamusing in that they would simply pin various pack members (including myself) to the floor with horrible spines and tendrils, or spit out viscous acid at us. We eventually felled all 6. We were then informed that the center was to close and heard the front door lock in much the same way as the wizard lock was put in place.
We then set about exploring the upstairs for anything of interest and places to rest and recover. In this communal dining area, we found two small rooms, and chose to bed down in one. As we slept, we all grew even stronger yet (gained a level).
May 16, 2010
{Missed last two games. Claiming the 2d10 for updating the Wiki before the illness laid me low. We also were elevated to Level 8 for the Council session; I advanced the skills as needed, and took the Resplendent Cloak +2 as an upgrade to the Ornament of Alertness, and the additional levels to upgrade the Deathcut armor to the Snakefang +2 armor instead.}
We were on a boat, headed back to the Island of the People. As part of the happenings thus far, we all received a 'sharp knife', and I received a large picture book that yields a +5 Nature benefit.
Upon the return to the island, while Kohanna and Sadian spoke with the captain and such, it became apparent that the People were there in adjulation, and were bumping and grinding and jockeying to be next to us and rubbing against us. Shinte, the new fox Elder, asked to speak with us before we got to Council and informed us of these. He stole us away from those who were clearly waiting for us in the crowds. Curiously, I noted as well that there was lower interest in those of us that had the special food from the Unmaker that improved us.
Foxes wolves and badgers are on the anti-expansion side. Wildcat lynxes and coyotes are on the pro-expansion side. The jackals haven't yet chosen a side; they seem to feel there is a third option. They feel the rats should be brought onto the Council. They also feel there should be an effort to reconnect with the bears. They're trying to court both sides to gain support for their plans, even though their plans may seem contradictory.
Each of us, on our way down and off the boat, was taken aside by those waiting for us to have a small discussion before retiring back to our clans, and then to the Coucil meeting in the morning. I spoke at length with the Coyote grandmother Elder and then with a few others through the day and evening. Things do not look good for The People.
June 13, 2010
{Received 3d6 for updating wiki}
So the mating happened, and took two days. Picking up after the 'fun', we heard from Shinte that our pack should be looking into making our own plans for what to do as the plans the Council may have for us might not be in our best interests.
Our net result was a plan to establish two colonies, potentially, one at the Science Museum and the other at Ikea. This will ideally be 140 volunteers, 20 from each bloodline. This is our 'backup' plan, in case the eventuality of the Council decision becomes a death sentence to us.
I spoke with the grandmother that spoke with me on the first night back again to determine the status of what's North of the island and what might have happened to the bears. Upon speaking with her, the herbalistic remedy to reality, she did say there was a great forest that lies to the north, and that the survivors of the bear bloodline live beyond that forest. There is no safe way through it, but there is a path around the forest along the coast. Pretending the bears do not exist saves 'us' the trouble of admitting we were wrong. The bears are reported to have gotten tired of the politics and games. I left to rejoin the pack at the boat.
On my return to the boat, there was an earthquake, one that lasted a good deal longer than previous ones (about 1 full minute or so). It seemed indeed that the island was groaning in agony. Kohanna managed to wrangle magic to make a Lower Water ritual just in time to save all the boats. This cost him consciousness, and Sadian was present to carry him away to safety while he snoozes. I ran around the shoreline, and pulled back as many People as I could. It seems that only about 6 adults and 3 pups were swept out to sea and lost. Upon completing the salvage of life, I went next to the priests of the Unmaker to validate what I'd heard. I got confirmation from a priest of Unmaker and The Raven Queen that heard the Island groaning as though in pain.
Night fell. And during sleep, I dreamt (after spending 1d6 to get above 15). I was perched atop the pyramid in SF. Below me I saw flights of harpies, in pairs and not. Below them were many members of the People wandering the streets. The People and the Harpies don't seem to be fighting at all. Looking back toward the mainland, there is a large pyre at the building where the dragon was perched. It illuminates the sky at all the black clouds. The Island is no longer there either, in its place a large whirlpool has taken up residence. The cloud cover extends everywhere, save for above the pyramid. Through this break in the clouds, I saw the full moon. Just before waking, a 'bird' streaked across the sky, leaving white streaks behind its wings. It seemed tiny, being either one of the smallest birds imaginable, or it was very far away and was massive.
Upon waking, I helped rebuild the areas necessary. This went through most of the evening, and then I received a summons to the Council Chambers.
July 11, 2010
{1 free 20, counting as a critical for updating Wiki}
{Obtained Leatherman tool - +2 to dungeoneering and thieves checks}
We spoke with the Council after there was the Incident of the Black Box. Inyan reported that the box would show him the way and show him his death. Kohana showed us his new bear familiar spirit and did his ritual thingy to read the page of markings. No one could understand what it meant, so yet again the magics of The People show us much but tell us little. With all this evidence, why do the fellows of the pack not now believe?
The Council meeting was insulting. The badger elder is clearly one of the voices against our pack and our Holy Mission. In viewing this, I then intentionally insulted the badger elder, pushing for a duel indeed. It is high time they learn to respect our pack and our Holy Mission in the only language they would understand. Sadian eventually made our proposals to the Council regarding the settlements and tracking down the bears to the North. The response from the Council was that the new settlements was to be 'too dangerous and difficult to coordinate' so they intended to form a subcommittee to discuss it, but blessed our journey to the North. A clear indication of their entire lack of desire to follow-through on anything but getting us all killed.
So, I kicked his ass. Completely. I spent 2d6 from the last reward and the d20 from today's reward. I bashed him as he bashed me and eventually I drove him from the ring with the hammer as required for that type of victory. Then I gave a speech in the Council chamber in an attempt to assuage the fears they felt to this point from our pack. I assured them that there is no desire to become Councillors among the pack at all. I spoke, too, of our mental and physical prowess and that is was what carried us through, but that we are much better allies than enemies.
For the next two days, we were witness to the sheer volume of work toward setting up two new settlements off the island. First we shall be working to settle the area around Ikea and then returning to help settle the next group at our second settlement area. On the eve of the 2nd night, the Wildcats showed off their latest boat: a Spanish galleon style of 3 deck 3 mast ship they'd been building for some time.
On the third day, we opted to accompany the galleon on the western excursion back toward the Science Museum. We camped with the new settlers and after a couple of days headed back inland toward the bell tower to get more exploration taken care of. At the base of the clock tower, we encountered a very manicured swathe of grass between the edge of the forest and the bottom of the tower, about 50' across. I watched a bird land, just after I realized there was something wrong with the grasses. The bird jerked back and died, only to be retrieved by a seeming turtle type creature that retrieved the corpse. Shortly after Inyan was doing something with the dirt and finding a mesh in the dirt that seemed related to the problems with the bird's death, we heard the bells toll and some brown robed figures emerged and walked around the 'church' and then reentered. We discussed the options for entry, and fell into a two week catatonia while considering.
July 25, 2010
{Updates to Wiki netted another 3d6 to add to various rolls}
Inyan managed to jump across the lawn without much encouragement, trailing a rope along. Apparently the master stroke plan is to then tie off the rope at the side of the building. We then proceeded to scurry across. After that, I managed, with Kohana's assist, to disable the trap on the doors. Walking in slowly, we found several 'monks' in white and green robes polishing the pews. At the far end, there was another hooded figure in red robes with a purple sash with a staff.
Sadian greeted one and was 'shush'ed by the being. The same being approached and requested that we be silent during mass. (A Latin mass no less.) We mimic'ed what was necessary throughout, and then started talking to the robed beings. They said they were artificial intelligence in a semi-autonomous body -- robots. But at least they haven't attacked us yet. After speaking with them for a while, Kohana made a 'donation' and they gave us a tour of their 'Church'. Kohana and Sadian just about lost their masculinity from the squees from the 'organ'.
We departed and headed back to the new Colony. While doing so, I noticed a smell of older decay. I notice a good many spiderwebs around as well. Pointing all this out, I scanned the area visually to see what, if anything, was obviously amiss. I found the remains of a building across a clearing, from where the smell was originating as well. Scoring a 41 on my perception roll (snicker!), the building was recently occupied. It seemed a predator killed something near the entrance to the building, and then dragged it inside. It seems likely to be something with some sort of webspinning, and given the way the branches are bent and broken it must be a massive spider. I hear some noises from inside the building, as though of two mandibles were rubbing against each other rather quickly. With limited warning, we found the large spider springing up to the roof, and then he caught our eyes and thus instigated initiative.
Wow. Talk about a creature from the depths. After many strikes of heavy and mediocre damage, it seemed to have no impact. Spent 2d6 to deliver some righteous smiting, but then managed to boff poodle on the Splintering Shot attack in the round with the Action Point. The Unmaker gives and the Unmaker gives it deeper still, in the non-con way. We eventually managed to kill the spider, and verify that its offspring were nowhere to be seen/found. However, on the way back to the colony, I did notice that there were 'several' spider youth that were flitting along the treetops on parachutes of webs.
