Defiled Dedication - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/11/476
Log
Another somewhat muggy afternoon out by the coastal mangroves, although the onset of winter has made it somewhat cooler and less humid than usual, with the accompanying decrease in the number of insect buzzing around. A small group of rangers have arrived from Firmament on various transports along with the hired Freeswords, looking deathly serious as both beings and goods are unloaded onto the mud trail that leads to the beginning of the boardwalks. Several briefings are going on concurrently, each to small, individual groups of rangers, and everyone is pulling their proverbial socks up, as it were.
Selena arrives, stretching out and looking around the briefings. A glance to the request that had been posted, and then she moves towards the nearest being that looks to be in control of things. "Excuse me, you were looking for some beings to help in your investigations?" She queries, hazarding another vexed look at the other beings present. "This seems a little more serious than the note implied."
Angus sighs a little bit, a little annoyed that he was once again in this swamp. Hopefully this time there was no encounter with an Old one, but if there was hopefully this time they would be able to handle it! He tips his hat, looking around a bit before he follows Selena over towards the Rangers. "Evening everyone, so how are we going to do this?"
With the hint of alcohol brushing off his figure, Dio makes his way to the briefing with a slight sway to his step, complimented by a somewhat lost look within his eyes. Mane in a bit of disarray and prized coat creased and various places, the lion finally immerses himself within the briefing area. "How ya do- HICCUP! - doin' there, fox-kit," he waves. "An' ya too, lass! It's been quite awhile since I've seen ya last."
At the request of Angus, Mirana walks along behind him, not too far off. She takes it slow and easy, "Sweet brother, this better be important, I've got the kits down for a nap, and they should be out for a few hours, and I know things went easy, but..." she is cut off as she looks around the place. "So, this is where you have been running off to sweetie." she says. Looking around, she notices Selena and Dio, "Good evening Selena, sweetheart Dio." she says with a bright smile. She watches the actions of the beings unloading their cargo, pondering a moment, "Sweetie, Angus, any clue what is happening?" she asks.
Rixo slept for most of the way there, but from behind her greathelm it was probably hard to tell. Indeed, when they arrive and she awakes, she stands and hops out of the transport as if nothing had happened. After taking a moment to make sure all of her plate is on properly, she hoists her shield and makes her way over towards the others. "Fine day for a jaunt in the swamp, eh?"
"Thank you all for coming. It is indeed somewhat more serious than we'd implied." There doesn't seem to be any one singular being in charge, but the closest one gets to is a clever-clanned owl. "We were a a bit short on hands, even after sending out missives to much of Sweetwater - most of us can't leave our posts, since our duties involved watching the land of our posts, and when things start changing in an anomalous manner there's cause for concern. Whatever Francis wrote of in his report, it sounds a bit incredible, but changes to the local ecology are always taken seriously."
"From here on out, we're splitting into small groups - best to cover as much ground as possible without being vulnerable. Freeswords, you'll get someone to lead you around. What we're looking for are beings - anyone is out of place further into the swamps - and depressions in the ground filled with...an unknown substance not much unlike tar. If you DO encounter any of the former, the suggested action is to not alert them and instead see what they're up to. We don't want them to know we're on to them just yet."
Selena nods politely as the situation is explained a little (Lot) better than the document she carried. "That seems reasonable enough; I've got no objections." She replies simply, looking back to the others gathered in the area with a somewhat tired-looking smile. "Dio, I haven't seen you in a long time either... Mirana. And that armor looks familiar; Rixo, wasn't it? I haven't seen you for even longer. I suppose this isn't really the time to ask how you've all been, though."
Angus frowns at the explanation. "Why don't we just go back to the same location that we found last time? We have to spirit dedicants. We can fight the old one." He comments bluntly, still angered by the words that the 'Lord of Decay' had spoken to him. He still wanted to get revenge.
"Good day to ya, Lass of Sudden Disappearance," Dio waves, stumbling a bit as he turns around to look at Mira. "Jus' all kinda 'appy -HIC- reunions. Shame we're on the clock an' don' 'ave any time to catch up fer the moment." After another violent hiccup, the lion returns his attention to the briefing at hand. "So to be more specific," he comments, "Ya want us to see what those cultists 're up to, ya?"
Mirana looks over Dio a moment, "Sweetie, if you are going to answer missions, you shouldn't be drinking. What would your clan think?" she asks, smiling very warmly to Selena, "No time for long greetings, but I'm doing alright, and very happy everyone else seems to be." she says. A tap to Angus with her staff, very slight, "Now sweet brother, lets not go looking for a fight, unless we are sure it is one we can win." she says, "Rixo, Sweetie, good to see you too." she says. Listening to the grave situation, the motherly vixen ponders if this was a good idea coming out here, but, then again, a threat to the land would be a threat to even her most intimate family eventually. "A guide of some sort would be best darling, thank you, but please, give me a moment to prey." she asks. Deplomacy might not be the best ability to have ready, so she takes the distraction to switch her gems around unseen.
Rixo thumps a plated fist to her breastplate and give Selena a curt bow. "Right, no time for long chats, but long story short I have been well!" She turns back to the others. "I am ready to go on the word. I will let those more familiar with the place take the lead, certainly. I come out here seldom enough."
The owl cocks his head at Dio. "That would be it, more or less. Francis was more or less adamant about the term...and look, here he is now."
As if on cue, the coral snake detaches himself from another group of rangers and steps to the group, giving Angus and Dio a nod by way of greeting the familiar faces. "Looks like the cavalry finally came," he says to them, giving everyone else a glance. "And seems like you brought your own people, too. Took them long enough, but here they are - me, I'd have liked the whole Sweetwater army at my back, but they're good folk and will do for now. Let's go back to that...that place and see if we can't find anything to warrant more folk here, shall we?"
Selena rubs her forehead for a moment. "I did just say this was hardly the time or place for chatting, didn't I?" She comments back to Mirana before turning back to the front. "There's no reason to be waiting, then... where are we heading, and when are we heading there?" She asks simply.
Angus turns to face Mira a little bit. "I agree with you sister, but considering this thing has taken over a hundred innocent beings lives. There is no point in letting it linger so it can kill again." Turning back to Selena he gives her a smile. "A small cozy place in the swamp. I want to make good on my threat to Akros, if you would help me?" Not to mention he wanted to get revenge for Alef, who was still recovering from the spell she created to help them flee.
