2022.06.02:Lost Island
Lost Island | |
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Dragged into the Deep Umbral via Dream to solve a mission Quest. | |
IC Date | 6/2/2022 - 2 week long PRP |
IC Time | ALL, ST - Yelena |
Players | Players in the scene. See below. |
Location | On a creepy island. 1 of 3. |
Prp/Tp | Prequel to Snotra's Tomb PRP |
Spheres | Gaian |
Theme Song | Gilligans Island |
Prequel Day 1: How they Got There:
It was a safe, but highly managed down to the last minute trip to Russia for Jordan. His wife stayed behind, arranging a few last details on the house as they were in the middle of renovations for the second floor. They've been putting in new bedrooms this spring and there were only a few hangups with the blueprints. Yelena, being the bossy one of the two, stayed behind to oversee. Sunshine, Kai, and Kes were left with their Grandfather, and Anton - his right hand man, most likely googling over the new twins and spoiling Sun with ice-cream when Jordan left for back home via bridge.
When he does arrive back home, he'll see his sister already left to go visit back with his parents. The house is quiet and empty in the early evening. Bags are packed by the front door as if they were still having a destination to get to. The two still plan to join everyone else in Russia to meet the delegation from Italy. But it was to be a planned vacation at the Aral Sea Caern, along the sea where the clean-up had made the water safe once more to swim in. Both were looking forward to it.
In the kitchen, Yelena is arranging take-out containers and a draw string backpack from their favorite taco place down the street. Going to Russia meant losing the Mex-flavor they came to love so much, and she was going to bring some for her father and friends to enjoy and taste! But for now, it seems she's got plenty of the kitchen packed in her cooling ice-pack backpack of dinner fun.
It was so odd, a mostly empty house. Normally there are all number of sounds - children, sister, wife... all making a comforting cacophany for the big man. But not this time. He stalked through the house, checking on each room and the Den. Then he moved back downstairs, coming into the kitchen where Yelena was busying herself with packing up foods. "You know, we could likely pack some seasonings so we could make the food there, too." He smiles.
The big man moves up behind her, kissing her neck. "Are you trying to spice up Russia?" He wonders, hands moving to her hips. "Did we also pack more photos of the children?"
"I did everything you asked me to do," Yelena smiles as he walks in to greet her. She leans backward slightly against his much larger frame to feel his warmth. "Welcome home, my sweet." She lowers her hands to brush over his. "Pictures are packed in the suitcases. Some video for Poppa before they all get too big. And yes, spices."
Yelena glances upward to the spice cabinet. "Great idea. I don't care too much for Russian cuisine. Meeting you after having a life time of rice, spiced me forever." She sasses toward him with a chuckle. "Anything else you want to pack and bring?"
The children have already left for the Aral Sea Caern. It must be round two, because Yelena didn't go with the first trip wave. Jordan's sister has left to go visit family of her own back home and the house seems very quiet and empty on the beach. Luggage sits by the front door as if there's still someone planning to go soon.
In the kitchen, there are scents of Mexican food being tucked away in a picnic backpack, the cooler kind. Yelena zips up the bag tight, and all the take-out containers still need to be disposed of. No cooking before a big trip for her! Jordan is with her, and the two are making last minute plans of any thing else of mind to pack.
"I never doubted that, love." Jordan says with a grin. "And thank you. It's so quiet in here, now." A chuckle as he hugs her to him. "I am sure your family will love the photos. They have enjoyed the digital ones we've sent - but these might do better to be framed and put on their walls."
"Russian cuisine is... different. Definitely not as spicy." A grin from the Qualmi. "I think we've packed everything we need - unless you are wanting something for comfort?"
Arriving right around that time, Vasyl lets himself inside. Vasyl has long just considered himself family enough to walk in without knocking. "Hello?" he calls out as he sets his own luggage down.
The Silver Fang elder begins to pace the home on the look out for those he considers family for the trip.
"Quiet is nice, from time to time. It is just so unusual around here." Jordan smiles, giving her a squeezy hug. "So long as our children are not a burden, or trouble for them." The man chuckles. "I know Sunshine can be a handful when she gets in one of her stubborn moods." "Weapons... perhaps a smaller blade, easier to conceal as to avoid upsetting your father? Katanas are quite nice, but... they are a bit obvious." A wink. As she mentions he's her comfort, he grins. "I will be sure to wear fur more, so you will be warm in the night." A look to the door as Vasyl enters. "In the Kitchen, Vasyl. Come on in." He says, kissing the top of Yelena's head.
One failed moonbridge later: ....
Day 2:
Vasyl and Yelena landed on the island. Lyric joined in soon after. Jordan landed on the beach. This log is missing from the batch for view.
Day 3:
The lull of ocean waves can be heard in the distance. It's a soothing sound to awaken to, until there's an intermittent crashing of water upon some larger rocks not too far away from where Reno awakes.
When Jordan awakens, he'll feel some sand in between his fingers, mixed in with some dry vines along the ground and ocean grass tucked in between the heavier palm trees inland on the island itself. He's most likely on the ground as if dropped from the sky itself, but there shouldn't be injury. No more than a bruise or two from being plopped onto an island that feels all too real.
There's a slow and steady warm breeze flowing, and it's making the palms rustle above. He's a short distance from the beach itself, but the slope of the jungle inward is still thin enough to see and walk through.
In the near distance, there's voices. Human ones. Female, and male sounding. Someone is bitching about...
Yelena tells Vasyl, "There's big spiders in that antique of an airplane. BIG as pie plates! And I am not capturing them. No way. Nope. Big fat nope. Come roar them out or something."
"Ill take care of it." Vasyl says with a slight chuckle as he takes a few steps towards the plane. Getting growly in the spirit realm of an island. "Not all of the spiders are bad you know..." he tries to defend
There's a rustic crashed airplane in the island jungle. The door is thrown open now and propped with a big stick to keep it from swinging back. The front windows are smashed out with vines and big ferns growing out from them. There's also a pile of debris newly growing where Yelena was throwing out trash for a fire later. Mostly, it consists of old wooden crate pieces, and moldy cloth tarps.
The blonde Silver Fang kinfolk has her hair loosely braided over one shoulder for now. She's backing out of the way for her tribal Elder to roar or scare the crap out of island spiders. She holds up her fingers to show she saw at least two inside. But the makeshift shelter they found still needs work. Lots of work.
What the shit?! Reno wakes up and blinks a bit. He pushes himself to a sitting position. Hat, oh! Good, it's here. Reno gets up and puts his hat back on, he dusts himself off and looks around. "Where the hell...?"
Reno has a chinese broadsword with white and sky blue streamers on the pommel strapped to his belt.
A low growl in the spirit tongue to drive off the spiders, <<Be gone, give us our space and we work in peace!>> A pause then as Reno arrives out of nowhere. "The hell? Reno?" he remarks as he turns suddenly at the unexpected arrival.
Yelena must really hate spiders because she makes a hard grimace of a face as not two banana spiders scurry out of the plane, but six of them!
Skitter. Skiiitttttter.
Her head turns when she hears Reno's voice, and listens as Vasyl call's the man's name. It's probable the spiders will go around Reno along that jungle path, but they won't harm him. Not today. "Hello?" She blinks. "How did you get here? Please tell us you found the way out."
Reno cracks his neck, "Vasyl." He says with a bow of his head. He looks to Yelena and takes of his hat, bowing his head. "Ma'am." He puts the hat back on, "Way out, I'm not sure how I got here. And where is here?'
Yelena approaches Reno with a few steps away from the plane once it's cleared of crawlies. "We don't know where we are. We were on our way to visit family in Russia but we never made it to our destination. There's three of us." One of them is not in sight, but the young woman shares, "Jordan was with us but he just went scouting the island for fresh water."
Reno nods, "I was asleep next to Six, in the Caern living area." He explains to her. "Folks call me Reno. Or ... he looks to Vasyl, the full introduction?"
Vasyl nods, "Yes the full introduction. Yelena is /my/ kin." he explains to the Stargazer. Emphasis on the my to show importance and meaning for Reno to interpet He turns then back to the plane and steps slowly within to help clear it out for their shelter.
Yelena lifts her gaze to Reno, "Have we met before? You do look familiar to me too." She nods back to Vasyl for introductions. "Formally, Lady Yelena and claimed by House Madovich." She gestures to Vasyl, as if he were house Madovich himself, "Kinfolk to the Silver Fangs. My father is Kolya Sorok, Blood of Iron and ruler of the newly rebuilt Aral Sea base. Twin sister to Lidya Sorok. Mother of three, and we'll be here all day if I go into lineage. I hope you don't mind if we skip all the legacies here. But I do like your hat, and you'll need it if it rains. And who is Six?"
Reno takes off his hat and bows deeply to Yelena. "It is an honor and pleasure." He stands up tall himself, "Hyrito Yancy, Half-Moon Cliath of the Zephyr Stargazers, rited Moves Like Quicksilver, born of man to Dances With Lotus, grandson of Lungtok, Way of the Winds Adept." He's got a little pedigree His accent is chinese, but occassionaly throws a midwestern drawl. He puts his hat back on and grins, "Most folks call me Reno."
Reno adds, "Six is a kin of mine. We're staying in the Sept for now."
There's still sunlight in the sky and fortunately some shade from the jungle trees shelters them. Yelena bows her head to Reno in greeting, but doesn't opt to shake hands. Besides, her hands are dirty from cleaning out the interior of the plane. "Can you truly move like Quicksilver?" She grins. "Reno it is. Well, wherever we are, I am glad another garou is here to aide us in finding another exit. Our three children are in Russia waiting on us to arrive."
She pauses, "Do you know your stars? Perhaps at night you can look at the constellations and find out which ocean we're bordering on? Atlantic? Pacific? Other?" She comments, "Jordan saw a sea turtle. But no other life yet to decide the probability of what direction. Borya, thinks we might be in a spirit pocket. Of some sorts."
Reno smiles a bit to Yelena, "If'in it would please the lady, I'd be happy to provide a demonstration." He looks to Vasyl, "If you're okay with that?" He looks back to Yelena, "I'm an amateur astronomer."
Yelena checks to see what Vasyl is doing by peering over at him a second. Then her attention falls back on Reno as the two converse. "Perfectly agree. So when the sun goes down, I bet we can see almost all the stars with no real city lights near by. Vasyl did see two other islands in the distance. But too far away to swim to. Maybe we'll get lucky and see lights over there at night?"
Stepping back several feet, Reno bows to Yelena as he takes off his hat. This is almost like watching a Tai Chi master doing Katas, or the Last Airbender kind of thing. The first thing you notice are his eyes change to his wolfen counterpart. He begins his kata by stretching out his arms, one shifts to crinos, the other to glabro, He pulls them back in, lifting one foot up to his side and spinning around.
As he spins, his form shift that of full Glabro, hands waving an intricate pattern in the air. Before he's fully front, you're staring at Moves-Like-Quicksilver in all his glory! He bends over like ducking under something, his form melting into Hispo then Lupus. At which point, he does a little bow, one paw forward to the Silver Fang lady. When he raises his head, he takes two steps forward and is back in human form. Most garou cannot do the partial shifting, it should be noted, let alone meld forms with such a fluid grace.
Also to note, the silver streak in his hair covers all of his forms, crinos, hispo, and lupus the streak goes to the tip of his tail, which is silver.
Yelena whoahs, "I've never seen that before! Clearly, that's an art of combat I've not yet experienced except in my immediate imagination. Your enemies must be pleasantly surprised." She grins as if appreciative of this new skill. "Stargazer secrets."
She hmms with a touch to her lips. "Do you like Mexican food? Our trip here survived my refrigerated backpack. I was bringing an army of tacos from our favorite restaurant to Dad's dinner party tonight, but if we don't eat them... they will go bad."
Reno grins, "When you live on a ranch, you eat what's served. I'll eat anything that doesn't give me indigestion more than twice." He takes a second to catch his breath. "Depends on the day, sometimes I am Crouching Tiger, some days I'm Chris Tucker." He straightens the streamers on his sword. "Kailindo is an art form, a way of life. You have to be in perfect unision, mind and body. I have been studying since I was ten."
Yelena laughs. For those that know her, that is a rare thing for her. And Reno manages it just fine. "Good. Then it's tacos for dinner before we have to eat whatever is scavenged." She glances over at Vasyl, "Hopefully we find a doorway home before we have to eat campfire surf." She clarifies, "My sister and I were spoiled by Prospect local cuisine. It's hard to go back to anything else now."
She offers him a tour of the world war II looking plane. "Want a tour inside this piece of junk? And if you were ten," her mind goes back to his earlier study. "Then how old are you now?" Her chattering will continue until her Elder interrupts, or finds more serious tasks for them to do.
Reno nods, "Sure, planes are cool." He says. "Isn't there a rule about asking someone their age?" He teases, before coming around. "I'm twenty. Twenty one is just around the corner."
Vasyl returns from the plane just in time to see the display of Kailindo. "Impressive. I havent actually met a practitioner." he remarks. "It cant be easy." he adds after considration.
Yelena makes sure Vasyl is aware she is taking the Stargazer into the plane for protocols sake. Awaiting his nod, then she's offering that short tour. The plane is wedged in between trees and vines that have grown over it for the past 80 years it looks like. The metal is intact with some rust, but it's worthy to keep any rain out if they can find a way to patch the windows up in the pilot's seating area. Any dead bodies have already been removed. No foul smell, as whatever was in here was picked clean. No bones. Just must smell and plants already torn out of the seating area.
"It was full of crates. I made it through three of them before you arrived. Most full of old wool blankets, and air drop junk that has disintegrated. Found some spare parts to a radio with the circuitry rusted. Old uniforms. Some ration packs that rodents got into. Plenty to burn. There's still some in the back if you want to bust those open. Best thing I saw is some field gear to cook with. One cast iron pan, but thats it. Did find some old tins with oil in them. But....smells horrific." It is a big enough cargo plane for a group to bunk in.
"Its a fine bunk." Vasyl replies. "Its not ideal. It isnt the Russian paradise you were expecting for a vacation....but we are alive and will find our way home." he comforts.
Yelena gives a soft sigh to Vasyl, "Kes and Kai I know will be fine. Sunshine I worry about." She doesn't use her formal Fang name, when in private with him. It's easier this way. "She's aware enough to realize something isn't right. And I have her favorite kittens she left behind in Jordan's pack. She left them on the sofa at home. That's what we get for rushing them through. But safer in Aral Sea then here." Right?
She walks back over to him and wraps one arm around his waist to squeeze. "This might be the Universe's way of telling you that you need a secret key, to a secret door, that opens from anywhere, to take you and your family back home whenever it pleases you. And if it's not a gift you can obtain now, then make it one." She teases with a smile. "Please."
Vasyl slips his hand about her waist, a soft rumble escapes him and he kisses the top of her head. "Our family..." he begins, "Prospect and the Aral will be forever linked and we will find safe passage to connect our worlds always." he promises her.
Yelena leans into him to rest her head against his chest after he rumbles. The softness of the wolfish rumble is a reminder of her family now. "Think my Dad is most likely freaking out about now. Out of all the packs he has now at his beck and call, which ones do you think he'll send after us?"
Vasyl nods, "Oh there is no doubt that your father has marshaled all of the packs and spirit allies to find us." he muses. "You are Fang kin and vital to us, not to mention well loved."
Yelena lifts her face up to smile. It's affectionate. A familial gesture of pack and claimed by tribe. "You are his current heir. So I would think he'd have his entire house up in arms at this point. And here, Jordan told me to only pack one hunting knife. But I did pack a smaller glock. But now I wish I brought my rifle. Once I get the interior settled for resting in between shifts of watch, I'll work on getting some kind of hunting platforms up in the surrounding trees for look-outs. Once that's done, I think we can sit down to eat what food I packed."
Vasyl says, "Borya can help our hunt and our way home."
Part 2 NIGHT FALL: Combat at NIGHT: First Round of Combat with the Plant Carnivore Humanoid Shifters. Combatants:
Vasyl: Bill the gas station attendant, Farmer Bob, Bitching Sallie School Girl, and the Town Barber.
Jordan: Librarian, WW 2 pilot, Farmer's Wife Jean in her cooking apron, and their 18 year old looking son Tommy wearing a plaid shirt.
Lyric: Fisherman Old Man Took - still has his lucky lewer hat on, His fishing Buddy John who is a veteran with one wooden leg, and an annoying girl with pigtails Tammy in her pink dress. Timbo - a german shepherd dog which is the plant eating monster, that was too dumb for a human disguise.
Day 3: Jordan's Return.
Stepping out from the forrested areas, is Jordan. He's got a large military dufflebag, and is strapped with weapons. Rifles, knives, pistols - all tethered to a military flak vest. The Qualmi looks about, looking for Vasyl, Reno, Lyric... anyone. "Hey! Anyone up? Everyone all right?" He calls out.
Vasyl blinks when he sees Jordan return armed to the teeth. "Jesus Jordan. Look at you." he laughs softy. "Where have you been? How did you leave? Do we have any clue what is going on and how to end it? We have a theory here..."
It's dawn here on the island. The sun is coming up over the horizon of clouds over the ocean, and the colors are brilliantly lit. Yellows with reds now seeping across the sky as the blue ocean sparkles. It's high tide now, coming in and sweeping through what black lava rocks remain on the beach, including the cave tubes.
Starting to unload, Jordan sets the weapons down carefully, leaning them against the bag. "C4 in there too, we need to be careful." He explains, before retrieving a note and offering it over to Vasyl. "Tell me your theory, then read this note." He says, still unburdening himself of the weaponry and such. "We've got food as well as a Fetish Flask to pour out fresh water for Yelena."
Vasyl says,"The Theory is super basic but...destroy the lava tubes fill it and flood it, being the Volcano crashing." "The island is the problem?" he begins to explain. "Anything killed returns to the island but not during the day. They cant handle the light. Even my gifts will drive them back."
And where is Yelena... certainly not on the island as they know. The note is given to Vasyl which reads in Kolya's handwriting, "Deep umbral dream realm. Dream spirit attached to Jordan's right shoulder here. Named Diabros. It's trying to communicate with Jordan. Solve what it wants. We are attempting to communicate with it to join a fetish. Better to control the realm from here with it if possible. Others pulled in to help Jordan solve what it wants. Riddle. Enigma?
Orders: Priority
- 1: Get Alonya out. Can't survive there.
- 2. Survive.
- 3. Solve the engima and return home. #4. Jordan has a whistle to use for Borya to communicate with me as needed. It might not work.
Note: Yelena woke up and relocating her to the Heart. Performing a ritual to bond her to the Caern here. Also, may or may not work. Little Ones are safe. Alanna is here now also to tend to them. Your bodies are safe. We will be waiting and vigilant. The sigil of Kolya's SF crest is inked on the page.
"That is is a deep dreaming realm, makes sense as to why it was so ... odd. And hard to determine." Jordan explains. "I was awake for a few moments, where Kolya explained things. He geared me up, and provided that information." He murmurs. "I need to sort out how to communicate with Diabros, and solve his riddle."
Vasyl considers everything for a few moments. "Yelena safe for now is a good thing." he exhales. "Ok so we need to speak to whatever this spirit is? Christ could risk a summoning but it seems to be hostile...but that doesnt mean it is." he adds. He seems to be working through ideas in his head aloud.
Jordan thinks on that, having removed all the gear. "We are to lead, you and I. Obviously." He shrugs. "I am no spirit tender - I would rather try to coerce the spirit without ritual. Summoning or binding may aggravate it." He says, honestly. "I saw the spirit when I woke up, but..." A shrug. "I've little experience aside from working with my Jamak."
Vasyl says, "Same. I am a galliard not a Theurge." He pauses a beat, "I hope all of those theurges out there are trying to help." he chuckles.
Borya rests up in a tree nearby. The falcon peers down at Vasyl, <<The Theurges in Aral Sea are working together. I sense they are attempting to communicate with me now about Jordan. They want to know if he made it back. I have answered them.>> You paged Jordan with 'If he looks at his bare right shoulder. The spirit area where he was holding the dragonfly dreamer, now looks like a tatoo. Inked on his skin. A tribal dragonfly.'
"I am definitely second guessing destroying the tunnels and volcano." Vasyl admits. "It could be it needs help down there? We just have no information to go on." he grunts.
Jordan looks at his shoulder, hrming. A tattoo is there, a tribal dragonfly. "That's new. I might need to focus on that and meditate." He says, quietly. "We could certainly take a look - we have supplies, so our staying here should not be so troublesome for us."
Borya flits his wings. He's listening from above but also keeping vigil on the surrounding area for enemy threats. <<There is a strong surge of garou energy surrounding your bodies. The Theurges must be performing their ritual.>> He gives a regal fluff of feathers.
"Based on the way they reacted to my light if we go in with me using my gift we may be safe." Vasyl points out. "Its certainly worth the effort...may get us some answers."
Yelena lands up near the lower edge of the volcano. It's still up the mountain, but she's inwardly cursing once she wakes up. She blinks upward into the sun, "I guess that ritual failed." Not good. She's also carrying a significant amount of gear in a camping pack that she dropped when she fell to the ground. Or is it poofed on the ground? She feels something heavy on her back, and finds out she had another rifle slung around her when she wasn't looking. Sneaky garou.
But the blonde kinfolk has a secret whistle too. And she blows upon it. But this one isn't for the same purpose Jordan's is for. This one, is more for the ears of a certain spirit falcon. A silver fang pitch plays short and fast for his sensitive hearing. No telling if there's predators this high up the mountain or not. She also doesn't know about the sunlight.
Down near the beach, Borya suddenly takes flight without warning and goes airborn. He goes searching for the sender of the falcon whistle.
'Borya conveys, <<Someone else has landed on the island. It's Alonya. I see her in the black rocks below the mountain's peak.>>'
Vasyl glances up as Borya moves. "Borya? Yelena?" he rumbles. "We have got to go." he declares rather suddenly to Jordan and is in a run towards Yelena's position. <<Stay on her Borya.>>
Jordan and Vasyl are currently on the beach. It's sunrise, in the morning. The large bastet man has a huge military grade pack of gear. Some guns, a flak vest, some serious tools, and camping survival gear. And Vasyl just ran sprinting up off the beach into the jungle!
The sun was coming up last time Reno was here. He comes walking out of the jungle, looking confused again. Jordan's new, but Vasyl isn't. He turns to try and catch up with Vasyl, "Where's the fire?"
Yelena makes sure the safety is on the rifle she's carrying before she walks over to pick up that pack that fell in the rocks. The whistle she tucks back down under her shirt, and hides the chain attached to it. She's higher up in the jungle now, and takes the daring journey to begin the climb downward. Carefully. The pack she slides evenly over her shoulders, "Holy Fuck this is heavy, Dad. What the hell did you put in this thing." She slides it off her shoulders again before she breaks something. Walks a few more feet with it, and then drops it to the ground again. THUNK! "This is garou heavy." She groans. At least this high up she has a vantage point of the area. She can see the beach in the distance, but the jungle is in the way, and its a steep climb downward.
"Collecting my mate." He says to Reno, sprinting off after Vasyl - the gear shed by the makeshift camp. He moves surefootedly, quickly - no slowing or stopping. Trees are used for more momentum, free-running as best he can. "Come on!" He growls back, trying to follow Vasyl, who is following Borya.
It's a steep run upward for the shifters. Yelena left the heavy bag behind. Certainly someone can come up and collect it later, right? That's her logic, as she begins to walk the trek toward the beach. It's easier for her going downward, then shifting her weight up heavy volcanic rocks. And once she gets a sizable distance, she lightly blows on the whistle again to signal the falcon.
The spirit bird swoops down to brush by her. She feels it near, even if its not entirely visible to her in this place. Not unless it wants to manifest completely. She's satisfied she's been located, and then about an hour or so into the journey, she'll meet up with the rest. "It didn't work," she tells them. "They tried, but that thing on Jordan dusted us pretty good." Like a drug. Looks like we're doing sprint chases. Reno falls into pace, though he's unencumbered by gear. He sprints on past Jordan and slowly catches up to Vasyl, "Where'd the fancy gear come from?"
Making his way up toward Yelena he skids to a stop at her, "Safe? Safe." he huffs. A faint smile, "The gear was brought in from outside the dream." he explains then to Reno. "There is a spirit we need to solve for to be released."
Yelena leans forward to hug Vasyl once he gets to her first. He's squeezed, and then she hugs Jordan very tight as well. "Welp, I didn't die. Mission accomplished. I heard some of it and Dad stuck a note in my vest for you." She's got on another military grade flak jacket. "I couldn't carry the bag they forced on me. I dropped it aways back. It's heavier than hell too." She eyes Reno, and waves to him with a smile. "We're so screwed. Glad you are along for the journey. We brought food I think. Something about Jordan having all the food and some water. I got the bricks I think. No idea what is in there. AND, something I needed to tell you guys, but now I can't remember. It's slipping from me fast." She adjusts the rifle on her back again. And then slides it off and hands it over to Reno to carry if he will.
Reno takes the rifle, "I'll go get the other pack." He says. He looks at Yelena curiously but takes off back up the trail.
Yelena will dig out the note for Vasyl and the ammo cartridges for Reno when he gets back. "Thanks, don't kill yourself carrying it if we have to divide it up." She calls after. Yeah, he's quick. Stargazer Ninjas. Already she's feeling too hot wearing all her gear and begins to unfasten the vest. "Do we have time for a swim on the beach? Or are we like, needing to find that boat and get off the island?" With the near gear, she's not in any hurry to be finding a way to build immediate shelter.
In her many pockets, she finds a bottle of sunscreen. Great! She flips it around to the backside and finds a note taped to the back with a funny baby pic making goooogling eyes, and giggles. It's Kestrel, being tickled by Alanna - Vasyl's Mom. How cute! "Figures the roo wouldn't remember to pack sunscreen. Your mom had a hand in my gear." She seems delighted and shares the tagged note to the rest.
Vasyl smirks as Yelena brings up a swim on the beach. "Actually Yelena we...your father in particular. Think its best you go back to sleep so you are safe and leave this mess to us here." be explains as he shoves the note in his pocket.
It takes a few minutes for Reno to find the backpack. He'll find it though and hefts it. He adjusts the straps and gets it comfortable before slinging the rifle again. He starts hiking it back to the group as quickly as his legs can carryi him safely. Yelena gives a look back at Vasyl, "But I just got here." A long pause, "Right now?" She sighs, "If that's the case, then lets get back to wherever you made camp and I'll start giving you all my gear. Before you know it, you'll be building frontier town on the beach." She's holding back her crankiness in general at being ordered to bug out again. As if she had control over that AT ALL. Nope.
She hugs Jordan once more, as if she weren't planning to leave his side for the rest of the walk back to the beach. But she will turn her head to see Reno catching back up with them. "Isn't it heavy? I swear there are bricks in there. No idea what's in it, or I can't remember." She checks another pocket on her vest and pulls out a few wrappers with jerkey in them. "Should have packed a fishing pole." "When we get back to camp, I'll open it and find out." Reno says. "But we need to get moving, we're burning daylight." "Reno is right, Eventually It will be exhausting for me to constantly be using my gifts to keep us in the light." Vasyl adds, "We need to do as much as we can during daylight."
Yelena tries to keep up with the makeshift pack here and bounds down onto the sand once they are free from the trees. She beelines it to the camp. IR... hopefully not the actual resurrection ground. And smiles for once, at the fresh air coming in from the ocean. "So much better."
The SF kin strips off her vest and sets it down with Jordan's giant military looking bag. She then strips off her boots and rolls up her pant legs before going into the shallow water to cool off. Once sure her feet are secure on the wet sand, she turns to look at them again, "Are we building a bonfire, or what are we doing first?"
DAY 4:
Sun is up and it looks about lunch time. It's the perfect day within their deep umbral dream realm. The breeze is flowing that allows things to not be too uncomfortable hot. There are two sets of tents up on the beach now, with a makeshift camp forming. There's big metal poles dug into the ground, which was in her bag earlier that she couldn't carry. Within the metal set are solar lanterns. It's not perfect lighting, but it's enough to set a barrier. Not tested as of yet, but it's a start. The other implement is a spool of razor sharp wire that threads these light poles to keep enemies out and climbing over. It's possible they could jump, but the light wouldn't be friendly.
Yelena has a tent flap open with the windows zipped down. "This looks like a prison camp. If we are here a longer period of time, we're going to have to build a fort you realize. Swiss Family Robinson style with lights, or some kind of renewable light source each time we blink home and back." A sleeping bag goes down and then she's working about setting the interior of the tent to be more comfortable. A folded blanket becomes a padded seat, and then she's hanging trinkets up in the ceiling of the tent that also glow in the dark.
"I know." Vasyl agrees as he removes his shoes at the entrance to the tent and sets them aside. Heading within to help her out, or perhaps after so many have blinked in and out he just wants the comfort of being close to her. "If you go again and its just me...I'll begin to put up a wall with the tree branches. It just needs to be a barrier to slow them down enough they are easily disposed of at night...until we can figure out our way of ending this once and for all."
It is just them now. No Lyric cat - who's name they don't know yet. No Reno. Who blinks out A LOT. And Jordan is gone again. Vasyl has been the only steady constant so far. "You haven't left this place yet really. You must be exhausted. Come lay down on the bed I just made. Rest."
She sighs, "And if you leave this place and I am alone here? I wish Borya could stay with me at least, but I can take care of myself. I won't like it. But I can survive until one of you returns." She holds out her hand to him.
"I'll never leave you." Vasyl assures, even if he isn't certain that he can keep that promise, but he will do all he can. He heads over to the bedroll and moves to lie down. "I do not know if Borya moves with me, but lets hope he can stay." he says as he settles down.
DAY 5: 2nd Combat Scene. The Lava Tubes and the Lost Tablet to Snotra's Tomb.
Vasyl's familiar is now flying behind him, until the island comes rushing forward like a speck of land from the dark sky. Whooompf! The cooler air from the ocean sweeps in and she shivers. It's not as warm tonight as it's been all the other nights. "I really hope a storm isn't coming in." "If a storm comes through I am certain its going to be a fight." Vasyl admits. "Lets hope not." As they get closer to the camp and he works his way carefully through the barriers he remarks, "We need to end this. I think I need to just go into the tunnels."
She walks over to the tent to unzip it, and finds one of the larger military packs. Sealed in heavy plastic she finds clothing. It's dry, not damp.
Angry now, Jordan stalks towards the camp - using his senses to guide the way. Hands clench and unclench, trying to work out the tension as he moves quietly through the night. Darkness doesn't particularly bother the Qualmi. He keeps his ears and eyes open, making sure not to stumble into any unexpected danger.
The silver fangs also poofed for a certain unspecified amount of time. But now they are back and seemed to have already trekked back to camp. The campground is on the beach, but away from the water and any risk of tide washing in around them. It's surrounded by metal poles with sharp wire to keep the riff raff plant life out, and is glowing now like a corral with solar lights. Within there are two tents that provide some shelter, both glowing and illuminated by solar lights hung from the strings.
By now, Yelena is stepping out of one tent and struggling to get her military gear clothing on around some new accessories she is wearing. "I got the ankle prison monitors around the pants, but the long sleeve shirt was a bitch to get around my wrist bracers." She tells Vasyl. "I had to cut the sleeves off with a knife. I couldn't find scissors in the first aide kit." Her new bracers now glow in the dark and are illuminated much like the lunar light Vasyl had coming out of his entire SF roo earlier. She's a beacon, and a deterrant hopefully now to pests. "I can't get boots on with these ankle bracers. You'd think Dad would think of flip flops at least?' She pouts. "I have no shoes."
Vasyl is back at the camp, in fresh clothes from the gear there. "Your father probably didnt expect you to want to go with me into tunnels."
When Reno was last here, he had picked up Yelena's pack and rifle. Well, here he is again. He looks around and wrinkles his nose. "Well, it could be worse." He says to himself. He hefts things and turns his senses on overdrive. Once he adjusts, he begins the walk back towards the beach. Luckily he remembers the way.
There's a very loud screech down the right of the path from Reno. One of those THINGS is very very close now. As he nears he can hear it taunting him. <<Hello?>> It's the town barber in his red bow tie. A male voice says, <<Don't you want me to walk with you? It's so much better to have company for long walks don't you think. And if you are really good, I'll give you a shave and a haircut too, buddy.>>
Thunder rumbles in the distance followed by a very dim bit of lit up sky out over the ocean. It's far out at sea for now.
Blood sprays! It lands on the bark of a jungle tree, and at first looks red, but slimes up as black ichor. The grin on the barber grows, as two rows of sharp teeth snap back. He has the sickening smile of a demented demonic plant as it seethes. Even wounded, and with the hole gaping through his chest from the bullet, it continues to walk forward. Creepy fucker, just keeps moving. He's not dead yet, and not quite in range to pounce, but he will in a few seconds.
The creepy barber now has black talons sinking outward from his fingertips. Yeah, this isn't any REAL town barber. As a gunshot rings out, the big man launches in that direction. Sprinting as quietly as he can, using his catlike reflexes and grace to make quick work of the distance between him and the fight. <OOC> Jordan claims that one.
Oh shit, that didn't do it! Reno starts running and then LEAPS into air, he sommersaults, shifting in mid air and turns as he lands, bracing and pulling the trigger again!
<<Borya!! Eyes on where that gunshot came from.>> Vasyl tells his spirit familiar as he pushes Yelena behind him. Always so protective. Yelena gasps from down on the beach where she's pushed behind the Silver Fang. She draws in that sharp breath when she hear's the gunfire.
"Vasyl! That can't be Jordan. He doesn't use guns... not really. Reno, or the black cat guy?" HE doesn't have a name yet. "If they aren't here yet, they soon will be." She means the island predator horde. Oh yeah.
Down on the beach steps out from the jungle a 6'4" tall clown. The orange hair is crazy afro. The suit is white and red with green spots, and his clown shoes look like bananas. The grin on this guys painted face makes his red round clown nose bob. And every single one of his teeth look like pointed daggers.
Yelena backs up a step. "Oh shit...that's a new one." The clown isn't approaching the lit up camp on the beach but he is standing vigil staring at it. It lurks.
As he runs, Jordan shifts - the beastly warform blurring into shape. Faster and faster Russet Paw bolts - coming up behind the barber. As the shot blasts off a chunk of the creature, the Qualmi slashes claws up and through the beast. Sharp, curved talons rip up and keep going - the head bouncing away. <<So tired of this island.>>
Firing another burst, Reno steps back as the warform comes flying past him. He takes his finger off the trigger. "Let me get this gear to be beach, I'll drop the gun too." He growls. He turns back towards the beach and slowly picks up speed.
A flash of lightning brightens the sky for a split second. It takes a long time before the thunder follows in its wake. Vasyl doesnt leave more than a few feet from Yelena yet. Relying instead on Borya to be his eyes and his claws. "If they get in real trouble Ill go out there but I dont want to leave you. Then we hit those tunnels and try and end this." The tall clown winces at the brief flash and then it grins again widely at Vasyl.
Yelena whispers, "It's so creepy. Yeah, I second vote you not leaving. I never dream of clowns. If someone else here does, they need to stop. You can blame me for the spider island, but not ... THAT." Borya is flying skyward and reports back to Vasyl, <<Jordan and Reno are in-bound to your location now. They are moving in the right direction.>>
The Were-Lynx shakes his claws free of the ick, wiping it on the plants as he follows Reno. A nod is given to the latter, cat-speak and wolf-speak don't jive well. Instead, he lopes along with the other man, a low rumbling growl coming from him.
The light poles set up around the resurrection ground just sizzles the predators before they can reform again. Smartest. Tactic. Ever. Oh, it might be Reno. You've never seen him dressed like this. He's running too. He comes bursting out on the beach. He sees the clown and runs foward, letting loose another burst.
High collared mandarin style full length tunic, white with the grayish blue accents of a stormy day, tops the ensemble. Buttons are simple silver styled stars. The pants are also white. Simple black sandals cover his feet, the streamers wrapping the pants tightly around his calves, tied off behind his knees. Peaking out the cuff of the jacket are a set of jade and hematite mala beads.
The clown didn't even see it coming until he felt the vibration of the ground under his feet. His head turns in Reno's direction! And then the rifle fires! BLAMMO! There's a new hole in the clown's suit, and it oozes guts, blood, and innards. The white spotted suit is splattered, as the tall devil clown flops forward onto the ground. He spasms violently until he falls very very still and begins disintegrating.
As the clown is murdered, Jordan shifts back down to enter the camp. "Things... need to be wrapped up." He growls, a bit irked. "Things are becoming more political in the real world. I am certain people are working to cause trouble." A shake of his head. "Do we enter the tunnels and finish it?"
That emptied the clip. Reno slings the rifle and makes his way to Yelena and Vasyl. He offers a bow to Vasyl and then a smile and bow of his head, "Despite it all, you're a vision, Miss Yelena." Always a compliment, but he turns his attention back to Vasyl. "I sill haven't checked the pack, been distracted." He says as unslings it. He sets the rifle down too. "What have I missed?"
Yelena steps out behind Vasyl now so she can be seen. Her head bows politely to Reno who knows how to compliment nicely! She gifts him with a smile, but she does look relieved they both made it back to camp. To Jordan, her brow lofts when he meantions politics, "How do you mean?" She looks between Jordan and Vasyl now. "I don't have shoes to go into the tunnels with you. Unless you plan to leave me here with Reno at base camp." She eyes Reno, wondering if he'll hate babysitting a kinfolk on demon plant eating island.
A cool wind blows up on the beach from the ocean. The temperature is slowly dropping from the stormfront moving in. There is a new scent of rain, but it's not exactly raining as of yet. Clouds begin to form out at sea.
Jordan looks up to the sky, before looking to Yelena. "Storms coming. Amon moved my body - he fears that things are taking a turn with everything in Aral. I am sure that your father's rivals will seek to use this as a political advantage." A frown. He /hates/ politics.
Vasyl nods to Jordan, "All the more reason we need to get this over with." he explains. "We cant take Yelena with us its too dangerous. Lets give her the tea wake her and then lets go in, lit up and ready to end it."
Yelena approaches Jordan and rests a hand up over his heart. She offers to soothe him as it's not a good thing to see him all agitated like this. "We ran into trouble too. I can't remember what happened but something bad happened when I left this place a bit ago." She glances to Vasyl. Maybe he remembers? It's all a fluff piece right now, remembering. Then she looks to her glowing bracers on her ankles and on her wrists. She's all tingling with spirit magic herself. "I think Dad gave these to me. Can't remember why, but it's like plant deterrant."
Her head turns to eye Reno, so easily let off babysitting duty now. Such a lucky bastard, ir... Stargazer. "Tea it is then?" Wolfman Reno archs a brow, "I could give her my sandals. They may be a bit big, but would lace up her legs easy enough." See, he's got her back. He nods though. "I will follow as ordered." He's a good Cliath that way.
Yelena eyes Reno's sandals. No doubt, Vasyl won't go for it though.
Vasyl rumbles, "I know she has the cuffs from her father to help protect her but we have no idea what we may run into. I dont want to put her at risk."
Reno shifts back to homid and begins going through the pack. "You don't think the three of us can protect her?" He asks curiously.
Jordan looks to Yelena, nodding a moment after. "Tea for Yelena. We can protect her, and she can protect herself with a weapon. But there are others that need her assistance." He says, looking to Vasyl then Reno. "We end this tonight."
Yelena must know where the tea leaves are kept. Vasyl had them before, right? As soon as she unfolds the leaf from the packaging, it will reveal to be a dried and very plain looking wrinkled leaf from back home. She pops it into her mouth and crunches it like a cracker. A dry one. Her face wrinkles, and she chases it with flask water. It's not exactly a tea... but its raw, and maybe goes down faster. She quietly gags. "It's awful. Just in case you wondered."
"We will see you soon Yelena." Vasyl says before giving her a hug. When he steps aside then he looks back to Reno and Jordan. "I want to end this, ready all you have." Well, that got shot down, he tried to help Yelena. He offers her a bow, "Be safe, Miss Yelena." He wrinkles his nose when she gags, poor Vasyl. He looks to Jordan and nods a bit, "Perhaps I should prepare then ... " and if you blink, you miss the transformation! Moves-Like_Quicksilver howls and stretches. <> he barks in the garou tongue.
Yelena gives Vasyl a warriors hug, and then gives him a fist bump to his shoulder with a grin. Reno gets squeezed! "Keep these two alive, soldier!" Her last look is at Jordan, and she says, "I wa.." she blinks out of existence. Damn those tea leaves.
Damn abrubt departures. Jordan stares at the empty spot where she stood, nodding. "Soon." He turns to look at Quicksilver and Vasyl. "Ready when you two are." He rolls his neck, stretching after.
Low tide. Lightning flashes and the sky rumbles around them. Storm is moving in but still no rain yet. The cave tunnels appear to be empty of water, and large enough for a crinos to walk within if hunched over. There's no sign of the predators on the beach. They either hate the storm, the lightning, the glowing beach corral, or Reno's gun.
There is nothing friendly or fluffy about this creature! Standing over eight feet tall, covered in dark brown fur, there's a platinum streak that runs from it's left eye, down its side to the tip of its tail. This rage filled monstrosity has the head and facial features of a wolf, maw filled with teeth ready to rend flesh. Muscles ripple and bulge as the beast holds its balance. Long arms end in talons that could probably rend steel. It's ugly and hideous, bringing back all the images of the monsters of lore.
Vasyl readies himself, calling upon ancestors and gifts and whatever he may need for an assault in the cave when he is then prepared to fight. "What is...this stuff? A childrens book?"
Quicksilver still has his pearls too! So a snack and a gift! Woohoo!! The smile is a toothy one. <>
Borya flies over, <<Belongings to the dead. Leftovers from victims they kill or eat.>>
The biggest lava tube is easy to duck in under. Water drips from the ceiling in a slow dribbling. The wet sand under your feet feels smooth, except for random items rotting that poke up from below. A few seashells broken are dashed against the sides and the further you go in, the tube elongates and can be seen through Vasyl's lambent flame.
It's eerie within, with two sets of tracks dragging inward to follow. And as they get in deeper, they will hear quiet voices whispering, muffled mumblings.
Moves-Like-Quicksilver can see exceptionally well right now, all of his senses are turned into everything. He sort of leads the way, becasue well, he would try to. He's sniffing at the air and listening for anything out of the ordinanary
The brighter they are as a group, now that Jordan's armor is all aglow with his tribal beauty, they will begin to see that the sand and black rock terrain becomes bumpy. Upon closer inspection of the ground beneath their feet they will realize they are walking upon bones. It is not a good feeling, as it feels they are walking into a very lost place, where the treasures of the dead have been stolen and gathered by those that eat.
Luggage and bags rotting line the interior walls as they get to a much larger chamber, and to the right the tunnel turns closer into the mountain and they begin to trek further within.
A creature scurries off, screeching that it hates the light. So far, it seems there is no resistance. As no light has been seen within these caverns for a very, very long time. All around them, they smell seawater, and seaweed stench.
"Jordan." Vasyl says as he glances to the Bastet, "Look at who this book is written by? How is this possible? Alonya Sorak Fisher? Yelena? That doesnt make sense?" he rumbles as he steps forward letting his light fill the lava tube.
"Stay close to me. To my light." Vasyl commands of Reno and Jordan. Fang dagger in hand at the ready.
Quicksilver is watching, while Jordan and Vasyl discuss who gets Yelena's 'book'. He tilts his head and leans over, picking up old coins. He's following their trail.
Bones and jewels lead a deathly trail into another cavern. The further they walk, and the light illuminates, they'll be walking on top of wet sand with an inch of water flowing over it. The glint of dirty gold, half encrusted can be found on old spanish coins scattered throughout. It's as if someone littered old treasure here from its victims and didn't give a whim. The bones were the real treasure to the predators that lived on this island. And the further they go back, one will finds a few chests belonging to a sunken ship, more or less. Those are shut tight. But even further back on a pedestal of stone, rests an old wooden ship box. It's wet, and rotted, with an ancient padlock. It sits there as if forgotten.
As they continue along, Jordan shifts up to his warform again - ready as needed. His eyes go to the coins, as well as the other glinting items. He's not scooping up anything just yet, carefully studying the situation.
"On the pedastal." Vasyl points out and slowly he begins towards it. He studies it like Indiana Jones studies the golden treasure. Then he just reaches for the padlock to break it free, using his armor like a lever.
The lock crumbles like a shell of rust and age over time. This may be a dream realm, but it's still real to some extent within its boundaries. The iron of remnants now is left in Vasyl's hand, as the box is now unlocked.
Being a broke, homeless Stargazer, he picks up the trinkets. Go with his necklace! Woohoo! He tucks them away, turning back to Vasyl and Jordan.
Russet Paw crouches low, ready for anything. <<What are we supposed to find?>> He chuffs, scratching at his shoulder. He moves closer, keeping an eye on the box with Vasyl.
"I dont know but maybe we are about to find out." Vasyl remarks as he then reaches forward and opens the box slowly with his left hand, his dagger in hand on the right. "Here we go..."
Quicksilver crouches as well, ready to spring on anything that comes at them!
Once the ancient box is opened, the illumination by the trio, reveals a shimmering stone tablet within. It's large enough to fit inside the box exactly to its carved measurements. And upon the tablet itself, there appears to be Viking Runes of Old Norse carved within. There are a few garou glyphs that can be interpreted by the wolves present. The old language for 'Map to the hidden gate of Snotra's Tomb.' The name of a Fenris is intact upon the stone tablet - perhaps of the author of such a map, 'Redclaw - Skaldskaparmal'. "This...is interesting. Get of Fenris writing?" Vasyl mentions glancing to Reno, the fellow garou. Then he reaches forward to take the map and look to unfold it to see if its a map of the island itself. Looking for some idea of where to go next, and what the next part of the puzzle is.
The very second Vasyl mentions Get of Fenris writing, there is a spirit entity that flows off of Jordan's right shoulder. It moves with an ethereal body and with wings like a dragonfly. It zips around them and then alofts to land on top of the stone tablet within the Galliard's hands. It flickers light, and then it enters inside the tablet, as if moving through the thick mass to push within. Once it settles and disappears, a new glyph appears on the tablet for 'Resting place'.
And what was up is now down. You all are tossed out of the realm as if it were contorted into a flip of the island, and where it was dark is now light. Every one of you is now awake, and in your designated place before you fell asleep and were drawn here. Reno has a few spanish coins, and his necklace. Jordan has his book. And Vasyl, awakes with the stone tablet within his bare hands.