Jade Adventures Part One - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
24/5/479
Log
It was early morning when the ship had anchored into a small coastal hamlet. It was a trading vessel, so the lodgings weren't the best, and it wasn't bound for Auroon itself, but it was the best bet for getting in without waiting for who knows how long. The sun was just beginning to warm the land and the fog had rolled in thick from the tall forest of trees just outside the village. And it was noisy. Not the noise of beings in a village, which was comparatively quiet this time of day, but the noise of the myriad morning wildlife in the rainforest. Birds and bugs of the non-Being variety chirp and squawk and generally just give off the ambient life. Rixo is just disembarking, stretching out and giving a hearty yawn. "Haven't been to this little town in ages," she says, glancing up and into the fog.
Fenris follows Rixo off the boat, carrying her luggage, since he carries none of his own. "I'm not sure this place awas even here last time I was here!" he says amiably, "Where to first, Sensei? Should I find something a little more local to wear?"
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out with a quiet sigh, Rixo turns to Fenris and smiles. She packed lightly at least. "There are a lot of little places like this scattered around throughout the forest. In the true spirit of the land, a lot of places just pop up wherever a person of renown decides to kick up their boots. As for where we go first... That is your choice," she says, folding her hands in front of her. "You are the hero of this story. I am simply here to accompany, observe, and guide as needed."
Fenris laughs, hefting Rixo's bag on his shoulder. "I always feel better after I've got some local clothes, a little local food in me, and I suppose there must be a local shrine we ought to visit." The tiger takes the lead, sauntering gamely forward toward the tiny settlement.
And tiny it was! The buildings numbered such that a being could count them on their fingers. And by their nature, the buildings that served as both home and shop were cloistered near the dock, readily available for the traders coming to and from the seas. Of course, they managed to be near the town exit at the same time, an almost straight road leading from one end to the other. "A shrine? Hmm. Not that I can think of. There are only a few places that come to mind where Creators and worship of the First Text are significant enough to warrant shrines. Shouldn't be too hard to find a place to buy clothes, though. Even a small town like this has a seamstress. Food on the other hand... Well, that's up to anyone you can try to convince to supply a meal! Otherwise we'll probably be hunting our own."
Fenris snorts. "Not that kind of shrine," he says, "Like you said, odds are good that there is or was a master of renown here. Always good to pay respects." The tiger looks around and shrugs. "Well," he says, "If there is no chance of a cafe. I guess we had better hunt something down ourselves and we'll see if I can still cook like a Jadelander."
"Oh, well! That kind..." Rixo rubs her chin. "We do not often have shrines to the masters, but... I suppose you could visit the home of their descendents and offer your respects that way. That is not unheard of," she says, before glancing around. "And yes, hunting would be the best bet. These small towns to not offer much in the way of accomodations, since there are not many travelers, you see."
Fenris nods at Rixo. "You never know if you'll get lucky and learn a thing or two from a retired master, or his students," he says, "But breakfast first!" The tiger fingers his ornate pendant for a second, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Then he carefully sets Rixo's bag down and slips into the foliage.
Rixo shoulders her bag and slips off towards one of the small, open-front shops while she waits for Fenris to return. The foliage is expansive. Once outside of the town, it's just trees and greenery as far as the eyes can see. Which isn't even very far, given all the fog and the density of those trees. Warm and humid, as could be expected from a rainforest.
Fenris stands very still as soon as he has found a quiet spot a ways from the trail, listening for the cry of certain birds he remembers from his past travels. He produces a pair of long, thin darts from within his coat. Then he stands in patient silence.
The birds are all around! At least, it certainly sounds that way. So many noises and cries of different creatures, and the occasional snap of branches in the distance heralding the frantic flapping of wings of birds escaping a forest predator. One, in particular sounds close, if Fenris has a bind to catch a bird. Within the a few yard radius, most likely.
Fenris does not try to look for the bird, knowing that he would be inlikely to see it in the jungle greenery, but breathes out gently before holding his breath and throwing a dart toward the sound of the bird cry with a flick of air magic.
As it turns out, Fenris might have been just fine looking for the bird with his eyes. For shortly after the dart is thrown, one of the birds falls silent from the chorus and falls from the tree. It's a brilliant, vivid shade of purple, with long tail feathers. One of the many, largely nameless birds that make up the fauna of the rainforest.
"Hmm," Fenris hums, stepping into the brush to retrieve the brightly colored bird, "I think I remember the purple ones being good. Not poisonous anyway." The tiger quickly plucks the beautiful tail feathers from the dead bird, then goes about the work of dressing it with a practiced hand. After he is finished, he murmurs a few words of thanks to the bird, then leaves the offal and the bits he does not want for forest scavengers. Then he strides back toward the path, keeping an eye out for any useful or familiar herbs. "Sensei?" he calls, looking around, "Now we just need somewhere to cook. You don't have any friends around here, do you?"
Rixo, by now, was waiting near the town center. Which was mostly just a well that the locals used as the communal watering hole. "You can just call me by name, you know," she says, grinning. "And no, can't say that I do. But I've never met any bad Beings around here. If we have something to offer them in return, I am sure someone would be happy to lend us the use of their kitchen." She holds her arms out, then, presenting a neatly folded outfit of forest green fabric. It was a hunter's garb, done up in the simplistic style that many Jadelands tailors are known for. A green tunic reinforced with dark brown leather in strategic points, and a pair of pants to match. "You did say you wanted some local garb, yes?"
Fenris raises the carefully dressed bird with a grin. "That is perfect!" he says, "Thank you. Hold on to it for me until after I get cleaned up." The tiger looks around the square for a likely home with a bit of activity. No need to wake someone. He stands away from the door and calls out a greeting. "Hello!" he calls happily, "We are travelers looking for some hospitality. I have brought a dressed bird as a gift!"
