To New Horizons(2nd ed game, game thread)

[Encard]

Evon felt relief and a bit of surprise at the lizarmen's apparent indifference to his passage. When their howling battlecry began, he quickly followed the initiator's gaze out to the lake, then glanced back at the non-lizardman pair and called, "Any idea what's going on?"

While trying to hear any answer that might come over the protracted howling, the young man quickly turned to look back at the lake and gazed intently at the spot where the first lizarman had pointed, taking a couple steps back at the same time. Evon barely caught himself as he stumbled over something half-buried in the sand, and the slight blush of embarassment that crept over his cheeks looked more like a bruise than a healthy, rosy tint - there wasn't much of anything about his pale, gaunt face and body that looked healthy. He was used to stumbling, however - the forest had given him a nice scrape or two to remind him of his brief run. Evon's left hand moved back to hold the edge of his shield, while with his right he slowly checked to make sure his short sword and darts were still where he'd left them, gazing into the distance all the while.

[ 01-19-2007, 12:44 AM: Message edited by: Encard ]

[Armen]

Tamora experienced shock, closely followed by relief at the ululation and then the lizardmen’s departure – she had been worried about how she was going to attempt to communicate with the hunters. She wasn’t even sure what she was going to try to say!

As soon as the lizardmen started away she stood up, pulled on a hooded green cloak that had been fastened across her back and bent to retrieve her spear. Her expression grew thoughtful as she saw Lorath put on his wizard hat – she had heard of wizards (and their hats) on her recent travels but hadn’t had the chance to talk to one yet.

There’d be time for that later though. Shelter from the coming storm would be welcome - maybe vital if the haste of the natives was any indication. At least it should be obvious to the lizardmen what the newcomers wanted if we were all stood out in the rain!

She nodded to Lorath, “I agree.” She paused for a moment recalling the earlier exchange with Bas on their way from the snake clearing. “I’ll be behind you”.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Gan Vahnsen

"Or not." The half elf returned at Lorath's 'suggestion' and Tamora's agreement. "My preference is that we put as much distance between the lizards and ourselves as possible. Heading towards those huts might be viewed the wrong way. I suggest we press on, weather the storm and continue."

He glanced at the others, "And once we're past that, if we're going to stay together, I suggest we elect a leader. While there is safety in numbers, I do not fancy the prospect of being skewered because we hung around too long."

[Man Who Fights Like Woman]

Lorath laughed and turned over his shoulder as he continued forward. "If you wish to die out here in the rain, then don't let any of us stop you," he shouted. "The rest of us will be warm and reasonably dry while this storm passes us over."

[Armen]

Tamora turned back to Gan and regarded him for a moment.

"Press on to where?" she asked and then held her hands out wide as if to indicate the whole wide world around them "'Continue' to where?".

She shrugged, dropped her hands to the side and sighed. "We were already heading to this village and for all we know those of our companions that aren't here are still heading there or are already there. The lizard hunters will soon let it be known if we are unwelcome."

She nodded as if to herself as she continued, "I agree though - if we are to travel together we need to understand our roles and our duties. But first we need to get back together"

She turned and headed to follow Lorath.

[ 01-19-2007, 12:07 PM: Message edited by: Armen ]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Gan Vahnsen

"To a nice warm inn." The half elf forced a grin, "Why camp out in a hut when we could be drinking and surrounded by pretty wenches? A ramshackle hut is not to my tastes. But if we're going, let's go."

[PurpleXVI]

Evon

At first, Evon could see nothing, but then slowly he became aware of something very subtle which might have been what the lizardmen had seen. V-shaped wave, shallow but wide, heading slowly but surely for the village which seemed to be the home of the lizardmen.

The adventurer could see nothing for sure under the surface, a few fuzzy blobs, but with all the distortion caused by the water, it might as well have been drifting clumps of seaweed or jellyfish.

Before he could examine it more in-depth, the first rain started hitting the lake, churning up the surface and hiding the location of the wave, and whatever was causing it.


Everyone

The wind started to pick up as Lorath, followed by Tamora and Gan, stepped out from the treeline to find Bas, Anne and Evon there, with the third looking out over the lake while the first two seemed to be talking.

Further up the beach, making impressive speed, they could see the lizardmen still racing away, kicking up sand and continuing their echoing cries. At the village, it seemed that either the cries had reached the residents, or one of them had spotted the same thing as their hunters, for suddenly it was a hive of buzzing activity. Lizardmen villagers were pouring out from their huts, emerging from hiding, carrying bundles and young off into the jungle while a handful of warriors gathered on the beach, facing the water.

The rain falling from the clouds above was like a solid, advancing sheet, making it's way across the lake towards them, stretching out over the jungle as far as they could see and darkening everything further. Occasionally a particularly powerful gust of wind from the west would carry some rain to them, but for the moment they were still dry.

[ 01-19-2007, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: PurpleXVI ]

[Man Who Fights Like Woman]

Lorath looked at the lizardmen panicking in their small village, apparently trying to run away from something. He pulled his hat down to keep his hair from blowing into his eyes and mouth, and made sure his backpack was tightly secured to keep water out. Something was going on. These lizardmen surely didn't go berserk every time a particularly powerful rain storm hit, did they?

It was then that he noticed Evon staring at the lake. He approached slowly, fully aware of the fact that they were still strangers, but he had to ask him something. "Do you see anything in the water that can be causing this sort of commotion?" he asked, nearly having to shout due to the wind. As if to emphasize the commotion he pointed toward the collection of huts, and pulled his robe tighter.

[Armen]

As they emerged from the tree line Tamora took in the scene in front of her. Clearly the lizardmen village was threatened by something and judging by the attitudes of the hunters and the movement of their families that something was coming from the lake. She felt a chill of recognition. Movement, isolation and constant patrols usually kept surprise attackers away from her own people but occasionally something slipped through. The response of the lizardmen was more frantic than it would have been at home but there was no mistaking the seriousness.

She scanned the lake surface but could see nothing as yet. As she unslung and strung her bow she heard Lorath ask Bas, Anne and an unknown stranger if they had seen anything.

[Kazilan]

Bas was captivated by the scene before him. A strange species rallying to confront danger while a storm front swept in, this was an opportunity to observe this environment under multiple stressful conditions. A smile crept on to his face, and as the others appeared from the trees the druid offered Tamora a nod.

Bas then walked to the edge of the lake, pulling the hood of his cloak up over his head. He looked up at the clouds to give him some sense of the movement of winds in this land, and to judge if this storm was natural or the result of supernatural forces. After examining the sky he bent down and dipped his fingers in the water. He brought his fingers to his lips to determine if it was similar to water from home, then swept his eyes across the surface starting near his feet and finishing at the shore by the village.

His demeanor during this scene was calm and controlled, the grip on his staff light. Bas was accustomed to being out in storms, and enjoyed experiencing the different expressions of nature.

[ 01-19-2007, 10:01 PM: Message edited by: Kazilan ]