Quest # 9.5 "Missing Kids?"

[OGRE MAGE]

OM, average-sized human grownups or kids?
Do they see us?
Thanks.

The longer you stare at them......

They appear to be normal sized human grown-ups to Jack.

One of them seems to be limping badly through the sand.

They are walking towards you, so you could assume that they see you, but they aren't waving at you or anything like that.

It looks like it might be a small group of adventurers heading back towards Beachtown.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan peers at the adventures approaching and recognizes the beaten-down look of a day gone awry...

[Urson]

Luther

Luther glances at Rollo, a bit surprised. He extends a cautious hand toward the dog, hoping to make peace. Don't worry, buddy. I'm one of the good guys.
Seeing the strangers, Luther holds his place, watching.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger darts for the jungle.

Crouching low, he hopes no one that far off will notice his small size.

[SirOwen]

Rollo

Rollo sniffs Luther's hand cautiously, a little unsure of this human that growls like another dog. He has seen Avaala (Master! Master calls me 'Good Boy'! Master pets me! Master scratches itches! Master feeds me! Gives me bed!) talk to this man kindly. A deep, rumbling "Hurumph" comes from inside the Mastiff as he pushes the side of his head against the man's hand, willing to accept more attention, as well as smear a goodly helping of drool on him.

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Rsises an eyebrow at Lightfinger's exit but then turns back to the approaching adventurers. He tries to look none threatening but stands his ground, ready to draw his sword if needed.

[SirOwen]

Avaala

Standing still as the other group approaches, Avaala looks to Monocar. "Well, you seem to be feeling a bit better today. I'm glad you came along. I just hope the kids didn't run across whatever got a hold of those guys. They look a little whupped."

The mage hopes that his light banter isn't betrayed by the whitening knuckles grasping his staff if this other group turns out to be hostile.

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Offers a brief smile to the mage. "Pholtus is good at healing hurts. The other cleric was very helpful, too. Thabks for the assist last night, by the way. I guess I was more worn out then I thought." looking at the slow but steady approach of the group he adds. "Stay behind me. Watch our backs and we'll keep them off of you. That's how my brother and I used to fight. I'd get in close and keep them focused on me and he'd throw his magic at them. He's mostly a bookkeeper now... kinda miss him. I should write a letter home. Let everyone know I'm okay..." his eyes remain wary of sudden moves.

[Storm11]

Saracen will grip his flail and shield tightly and move to the front of the party, ready to protect the foolishly dressed from harm. Eyes wary he wonders if the wicked little monsters they are searching for have been at their mischief with this new group of humans.

[Inferno]

Jack, lost boy:

Jack nocks an arrow and continues to report what his young elf eyes see. "Grownups. One's limping. Coming right for us."

[Urson]

Luther

Luther grins as Rollo reluctantly accepts him.


He turns to face the approaching strangers Hello the group! We're peaceful! Hope you are the same!

He loosens his sword in the sheath and waits for a reply.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey peers down the beach. "Hmmm. Are you sure? I don't see anything. ...oh, wait... you mean those three. The little smudges there? Well, I hope they're friendly. I suppose they can see us too, then?" Chauncey waves his arm over his head in a wide half circle, hailing the approaching group. "A simple test ...to see if they're friendly," he says.

[OGRE MAGE]

Missing Kids!
Waterday, 24th of Reaping
Mid Afternoon, Hot, Muggy, Buggy
3 Hours Walk West Of Beachtown

Your group discusses options and slowly advances towards the oncoming strangers who are also making their way closer to you. At one point, they stop just at the edge of the tree line and circle around something on the ground, soon resuming their approach. Chauncey waves his arm enthusiastically, but they do not wave back.

As the group of four adventures draws nearer, you get a much better prospective of them. There is one short elf and three humans. One of the humans is a mean looking female fighter type. She seems to be the least injured of the bunch, but they all look as if they have been out here for weeks. Their skin is all badly burned and you don't see a spot on them that isn't covered with an insect bite of some kind.

The three males are obviously very badly injured, one of them is limping along on a makeshift tree branch crutch while the other clumsily carries his injured companions sword and shield. The elf's head is crushed in and wrapped loosely with dirty, badly bloodied bandages. His robes are equally filthy. Most of you think that you recognize at least two of these people. It's possible that they were on the same ship with your main group when you came to the island, but with the way they look now, no one can be certain.

The female strides forward in front of the others once they get close enough to hear Luther ask if they are peaceful.

"Aye! We are! And if you're planning on a little fun and adventure you should go right back the way you came. There is nothing out this way but pain and death! Now step aside, please. We need to get ourselves back to town before any more of us fall!"

She turns to point back at her dilapidated group and you notice she is carrying a large sack filled with some human head size roundish objects. (adult human )

Actions?


Luther 13/13
Jack 10/10 CL, DM, RM, 1/1 first
Monocar 12/12
Lightfinger 10/10
Saracen 12/12 2/3 first
Chauncey 6/6 CL, DM, RM, 1/1 first
Avalaa 5/5 CL, DM, RM, 1/1 first
Raythan 6/6 CL, DM, RM, 1/1 first / 3/3 first (cleric)
Alordan 10/10

[Storm11]

What happened to you out there? Do you want some water?" Saracen asks stepping forward and offering his waterskin.

[SirOwen]

Avaala

Avaala steps out from behind Monocar and speaks to the woman who came forward. "Please ma'am, we're not out here for any kind of glory or fame. Some children have gone missing from the village. They came this way, gathering coconuts. But they are very overdue. Have any of you seen them?"

[Inferno]

Jack, lost boy:

Jack puts his arrow back in its quiver and watches with wide eyes and shut mouth.

Trying to make himself unnoticed as the grownups talk at each other, his hand slowly, quietly moves to a pouch that holds ingredients for casting faerie spells.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger watches, listens, and wonders What's in the bag?

[Urson]

Luther
By now, Luther has calmed somewhat. His eyes are less wild, and his hackles have settled. Yeah, we really need to find those kids as soon as possible.

He turns to the others. Any of you that want to go along with these folks and help 'em get back to the village, go right ahead. I'm sorry, but I gotta stay on finding the children.

To the woman leading the group, Gods speed to you. Keep a sharp eye, and stay near the treeline- there's a sea troll along here someplace, he may decide you're easy pickin's.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger emerges from the greenery.

I'm for finding the kids, He announces, No offense, My Lady, kind Sirs, but the children and I are all that's left of who's had positive contact with the Monkoons. You understand this behooves all who wish to live on this island. By the way, what precisely was it you made a point to walk around on your trail a few minutes past?

[OGRE MAGE]

Confirming your group as friendly enough, the woman is content to stop for a while to share some information.

What happened to you out there?"

"We set out yesterday. A group of six of us, lightly equipped so we could cover more ground. That was a bad idea. Everything in this jungle was trying to eat us, not excluding these damn bugs!" She swats and kills a huge dragonfly buzzing around her face.
"We faced some huge lizards that stampeded us. We had to run away from them. Then we tried sleeping out in the open for the night. The bugs ate us alive. If you don't have a tent or some other means of shelter out here you can forget about getting any rest. We nearly died just from being out in the open after dark last night. It is impossible to sleep and the casters couldn't replenish their magical energy because they couldn't rest."

As if that wasn't bad enough, this morning we accidentally stumbled across a giant insect that shot acid at us from out of its ass. It was the damnedest thing I've ever seen. Tark and Slarl both fell to it, their faces and bodies literally started to melt right in front of us. We got the hell away from that thing too. I've heard them things are all over this island. I hope I never see another one, that's for sure!"

Avaala
Some children have gone missing from the village. They came this way, gathering coconuts. But they are very overdue. Have any of you seen them?"

"No, thank the gods we didn't see any kids out here. It looks like you found one of em right there. Why don't you just ask him?" She points to Jack who is reaching into his bag with his mouth shut tightly, trying to keep the flies from landing in it.

Luther
I'm sorry, but I gotta stay on finding the children. Gods speed to you. Keep a sharp eye, and stay near the treeline- there's a sea troll along here someplace, he may decide you're easy pickin's.

"Ya I heard about ol' Scraggly from the water gatherers. He sounds like a good one to run away from. The problem is, if you stay too close to the water, you could get grabbed and eaten. If you stay too close to the tree line, you could get grabbed and eaten. I prefer to stay close to the middle where the sun burns you badly but only the little bugs try to eat you."

Just as the 4 strangers were starting to relax and about to take some of Saracens offered water, the thief steps out of the bush and scares them back again.

Lightfinger emerges from the greenery.
I'm for finding the kids! No offense, My Lady, kind Sirs, what precisely was it you made a point to walk around on your trail a few minutes past?

The woman turns to smile at the pretty halfling and pats the lumpy sack she is carrying.

"What? These? Coconuts? Ya, they were just laying there at the edge of the jungle neatly piled in a stack of 12. I thought it was the jungles way of telling us......Thanks for playing. Here's your consolation prize. These things are good for you, especially out here. Im sure you've already noticed that there ain't much for food to eat around town. And the rations at the Hi-Lo cost a fortume! You gotta take what you can get, right?"