SEPTEMBER EVENT: SKULLY'S ANGELS

[sailmods]

[around 10:30PM, after Friday has returned from bringing all the other guests back to the ship, she parks the tender just off the shore, idling. she sticks her head out of the door.]

Good luck! Just come get me if you need anything! [beat] But, only if it’s something I can do without stepping outside! [beat] Have fun!

[she then pops back inside. they’re on their own, for now.

the salamander villagers have returned to their homes for the night, it seems… all but one, a smaller one, bedecked in leather armor and carrying a spear. they watch the group as they leave the beach, eyes fixed… and then, slowly but distinctly, they toss their head in the direction of inland, and turn away from them to begin a sort of watch.

perhaps that was salamander for good luck. you’ll need it.]

Comments

[makesomedeals]

[Max finally recovers from laughing at Number 6 going down in whatever the opposite of a blaze of glory is, shouldering his rifle and rolling his eyes at that pep talk.]

I'm with Darcy, a temple with dozens of traps where we have to solve arcane puzzles.

Or it'll be two feet into the jungle and disappoint all of us.

[fonomena]

[With the passing of the sun down the horizon, the summer feel of the beach has reduced considerably, the air cool to take in with even breathing. Somewhere in the middle and to one side of the loose gathering about Skulduggery here, Jade outwardly seems entirely at ease--comfortable as he could hope to be in the accustomed blue of his Imperial Forces uniform--stance even, both hands tucked quite casually into his coat pockets, and expression neutrally impassive...until Skulduggery delivers his bit of a pep-talk sort of speech, anyway. This, and the remarks Darcy and Max supply about it, bring about a slight and vaguely amused sort of smile.]

These sorts of things always do seem to like being in temples. Probably in the middle of some sort of insufferably complex architectural maze, yes...though I'd be quite happy to be disappointed about that, myself. [Please let this venture not actually be in a jrpg dungeon trope structure, please......] I do also hope this thing is at least a physical object that actually can be carried. [Considering the captain's tarnished track record of correctness already...looks at the Very Evidently Sentient salamanders...] But I suppose that's a bridge we'll cross when we get there.

[It's a good sign to start, at least, that they won't need to resort to native murder out the gate just yet. Jade doesn't even actually appear to be carrying any kind of arms whatsoever...but rest assured he's thoroughly prepared, in his own way. From the fonic component elements of the spear hidden in his right arm, to the array of travel elixirs and medicines sorted in his inner pockets: two pineapple gels, two holy bottles, a dark bottle, a panacea bottle. For all the good these things may or may not do, going forward...

All that aside, of course, fonic artes have always been his tool of choice on most any mission he's ever run in his life...and those have no need to be carried. He's about as ready to step into the jungle beyond as everyone else, once they're all in agreement about moving in.]

[ninetoes]

[You lot have all brought far too much crap. How the hell are you supposed to be nimble in a jungle if you're walking around like pack animals. Provisions? Water? Amateurs. He's got one shiv and one sword and that's enough, thank you very much.

Check back with Izzy in six hours and see how he feels about the previous statement then.

He'd listened to Skulduggery's attempt at a pep talk like a soldier taking orders. Which were.. not really orders at all but it's the best they're gonna get. Looking for something, somewhere, with no further information. Great. Love that.]

RIGHT!

[He claps loudly for attention. Not his first rodeo. Circle up, assholes.]

You lot! You heard him, the longer we stand here, the longer this is going to take. Keep your wits about you, don't fucking touch anything, do not engage unless engaged with, is that clear?

[Izzy doesn't wait for a response, he just turns on his heel and starts towards the jungle.]

[decohere]

[oh excellent, with Izzy at the front he's the most likely to get attacked or run into traps first. glad he's in agreement that he's the sacrifice.]

[saltwaterlungs]

[ Darcy repeats 'don't murder Izzy' in her head over and over like a mantra until the urge to kick him for pulling rank and treating them like dogs or children fades.

Of course the fact that she immediately follows after him is beside the point. It's the principle of the thing. While Izzy takes point, she's keeping an eye out for anything coming up on either side. ]

[sailmods]

[welcome to the jungle, we got

trees. many trees. bushes. i think i just saw a frog. wild.

the scenic view continues for the mile it takes to get past the point where the villagers were intervening; they may see a scattered amount of warriors, pairs of two or four on seeming patrols, along the way, but they drop off entirely once they reach that point. and maybe the reason for that becomes a little obvious.

there is a camp site in a shoddily cut clearing a mile and a half inland. a small fire blazes, an empty spit set up on it. one of the familiar blankets from the village is spread out a short distance away, with an even more familiar half-empty bottle on it.

>explore?]

[light_mischief]

[Hm. The fire means that whoever's made camp can't be very far away. Half drunk bottle, empty spit -- either dinner was good, or the camper was too slow and is drowning their failure in drink. Either way, they're not likely to be gone long.]

Remember, don't touch anything. [He keeps his voice low, lifting his hand to feel for an approach near the edge of the firelight.] Not long before whoever made camp comes back, and we need to be gone by then. Look for anything unusual, then let's keep moving.

[IT WOULD REALLY HELP IF THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR......]

[saltwaterlungs]

[ Skulduggery has said very specifically not to touch anything... But that totally doesn't count if there's something under the blanket, right? Is there any visible lumps under it? ]

1/2

[sailmods]

[there's a pretty large lump-]

[makesomedeals]

How do we know what it is if we don't touch anything? We didn't come here to observe a museum.

[ Does it count as touching if he pokes it with his gun? Cuz he's going to lift the edge of the blanket with his rifle. If there's nothing interesting he'll be backup for Skulduggery wherever he goes.]

2/2

[sailmods]

[- yeah it's a glock 43.]

[makesomedeals]

[ Well that's awesome. He'll be taking that, thank you. So much for not touching anything.

He can be convinced to let someone else use it, but for now, increasing his arsenal ]

[decohere]

[It's an ugly blanket so don't mind Ghost just grabbing the corner of it and hoisting it off the ground, ready to smother the fire.

She pauses for any objections. Just to be polite. This team thing is already very hard.]

[saltwaterlungs]

[ Thumbs up as Darcy investigates the bottle. Just the same regular rum as encountered earlier? ]

[fonomena]

[It's the effort that counts, Ava!! Very considerate gesture here, you're doing great.

Anyway, a gun has already been unearthed, so that's pretty... interesting. (Not a weapon of the salamander people, Jade would wager. So there's been somebody else altogether here, recently...?) Ava's intentions now are quite clear too, even with the mask on, taking up the blanket like that and clearly considering the fire. Jade drifts over beside her as she pauses, eyeing the fire as well and then glancing her way.]

Wanting to put this out, are we? Do you suppose something might happen if you do? ...Or that something might be found?

[Eh, he's not going to stop her, either way. They can always reignite another fire quickly enough. Not exactly like anybody's using that blanket anymore at this point, either...]

[light_mischief]

[Seeing a gun in the middle of the jungle is... not ideal, but at least it's enough forewarning that they aren't the only people out here tonight. Looking for the same thing, or something different?

Well, while everyone else tears the campsite apart, Skulduggery is on the outskirts, looking for any sign of tracks or a trail. He keeps his hand up, feeling for any movement within... IDK like 20 yards? A reasonable distance away.

He is absolutely expecting one of the others to grab a cursed item at any point. Just waiting...]

[sailmods]

[someone walks into that perimeter.]

[light_mischief]

[Skulduggery turns his head and lifts his free arm to gesture at the others -- aaaaand the fire goes out, smothered under the blanket. There's no hiding their interference at this point, but the lack of light will make it easier for them to avoid detection.

He snaps his fingers, lighting a candle flame of fire between them, and carries that light as he quickly approaches the others. His voice is only a hiss,] Someone is coming. [And then he points the opposite direction of where he felt the disturbance. The order is clear as he extinguishes the flame: HIDE.]

[ninetoes]

[Ah shit. And here Izzy was trying to not fucking die by scouting around the opposite side from Skulduggery. Which means he’s either directly in the line of whatever is fucking coming or perfectly positioned to hide.

So much for not fucking touching anything. He presses up against the nearest tree. Tree? Here’s hoping.]

1/3

[sailmods]

[a dark shape - human, tall but within normal parameters, hunched under some sort of burden - exits the treeline.]

Dark as shit... If those little fairy fuckers put it out with their damn soup again... Ah, forget it. Let's just...

[the air around them crackles.]

2/3

[stormpirate]

[a bolt of lightning strikes the ground before Izzy, so if he manages to not become blind, he gets his first glimpse of their host: a tall woman, carrying a bloodied hunting knife and the corpse of a boar, her expression impassive as she looks directly at him.

the darkness returns.]

3/3

[stormpirate]

-- What the FUCK?

[hello izzy bet you wish you could see shit as you get linebacker tackled into the fucking ground.]

[decohere]

[well that bit is easier than the don't touch things order, grabs Max's arm and poof they're invisible]

[saltwaterlungs]

[ Shit- Darcy withdraws her knife and holds it between her teeth as she scrambles up the nearest tree, vanishing from sight. It's already dark, but she's not taking chances. ]

[fonomena]

[Really, talk about almost serendipitous timing, as precisely as Skulduggery's hissed warning syncs with the snuffing of the fire--

As the aura of investigation across the small camp frosts over in an instant--Skulduggery and Izzy ducking into opposite ends of the perimeter, Ava reaching for Maximilien about the both of them vanishing, Darcy scaling a tree and passing from sight as well--Jade's promptly stepping away from the fire pit too, a single sharp glance cast in the direction Skulduggery had pointed before he's taking several wide strides for the nearest large-leafed bit of foliage at the edge of the camp. Tropical plants at this size lend pretty decent cover, at least...

The urge to summon his spear is immediate, but Jade suppresses it. Not yet. ...Let's try seeing what they're dealing with first, here...]