Looking for Rocks - RPLOG

Participants

• Cassidy
• Fenris
• Rev
• Rokarion
• Sara
• Thelergramor

Date

23/10/477

Log

It's a warm, sunny afternoon in the maritime district, while three skunks sit near the boarding platform for one of the airships they have rented to take them where they need to go. Two females and one male, from the looks of things, and their engaged in idle chat as they await the hired help. "Think any of them will be good with plants, or will we have to do that ourselves?" "I'm not sure. But I call not-it. Someone will have to stay behind to make sure the research doesn't up and vanish!"

Sara, having noticed the call for assistance leaves the Freeswords inn, takes a few steps away from the doorway and takes a deep breath of the city air before checking her current gear. "Hm.. think I'm ready.." she mumbles before slinging a satchel around her neck and hanging it to her side. Afterwards, with the job ahead of her Sara makes her way through the city and on her way to the docks and makes a quick scan of the area. "Are you the people that had posted the request?" she asks as she makes her way to the trio, "I'm Sara.. I've come to offer assistance."

Fenris arrives at the docks in the comfortable guise of Bernard Bernard, the Saint Bernard! "Heard ye needed a botanist," he says, tapping his silver fox-headed cane along the dock, "Thought I might join in, if ye don't mind an old hound dog like meself tagging along." The portly, aging Saint Bernard is wearing his white linen suit and straw hat, perfect for strolling around in the autumn sun. "I've dabbled in a bit o' gardening meself, ye know," the canine grins, and tips his hat to Sara and the Blackbacks.

Walking on up to the shipyards, as shirtless as ever, is Thelergramor. Wearing a hoodmask made to blend in with swamp-ish backgrounds, all leafy and dirty looking, in stark contrast to a really noble, expensive looking red cloak. Hefting a large cannon, bigass sword on his back, pistol belted to his chest, the wolf is probably armed too heavily to look like he came for the plants. Gives Sara nad Bernard a nod in greeting and looks over the skunks. "I'm here for the botany, yes." His cannon says otherwise.

A young jasmine arrives at the Rocky Crags, clad visibily in their usual body covering, brown heavy cloak. Rokarion strode forward towards the three skunks, wearing his usual serene expression on his face. Rokarion stopped near the group, his jasmine scent wafitng around mixing with the smell of the sea, before adding in after those already present, his voice as calm and polite as always "I am assuming you are the researchers who needed help with botany? I think that my skills might be sufficient for the task at hand." He says, before nodding politely to those present. Even the "flying" Wolf.

Rev steps out of his room in the freeswords in the black furred wolf takes a momment to lock up his room. Before heading off with his felling ax in hand, and his kiseru pipe clamped between his jaws. Along whith his zweihander steapped to his back. The wolf makes his way out to the shipyard where the others have already gathered. While not giving off the appearancd if one interested in botany. The wolf has come more to learn than anything."Well I take it from the small crowd that atleast some of you are the researchers that requested help"

One of the skunks steps forwards and beams a happy smile. "Yes. I am Luther, and these are my partners and family, Catherine and Maribel. We are indeed looking for assistance. Please, come with us. Let us waste no time! It's quite a journy, after all. We will answer all of your questions on the flight." The two females nod in turn and move to board the airship with Luther. "We were experimenting with a cure during the time of the 'plague' that ended up debunked. But rather than throw our research out, we kept on with it. And we might have stumbled upon something interesting! Unfortunately, we require herbs that do not grow locally in order to test it. That's where you come in," says the one introduced as Catherine.

"Huh.. yeah, heard about that plague, quite glad it was cured." Sara mumbles as she follows right behind the skunk crew onto their ship. "Though what do you mean, 'something interesting'?" After boarding the plain and setting the satchel aside the lizard looks to the others that had answered the call and offers each a friendly nod in greeting, though remains generally silent. "Now these herbs, will you need a specific variety, or will any do at this point?" she finishes before looking down to the satchel and rifling through its contents once more.

Bernard smiles and carefully eases his way up the gangplank before looking for a likely spot to sit. "I'm out o' Cliffside, meself," he says, "I suppose I may be able to lend a hand." Finding a likely seat on a low barrel, the portly canine eases himself down with a grunt, resting his hands on the cane held between his knees. "An' the Lass there has a good question," he says in his gruff voice, "What is it ye're lookin' for?"

Thelergramor looks over the gathered group again. Nods. Approves of the beings that showed up. "Right, nice to meet you Luther, Catherine and Maribel. So... How long is this trip gonna be? Because I do have until... next month. Or the month after. Or even next year." Glances around, boarding the ship, and wondering how the skunks are related. For completely innocent reasons. Sits near Bernard with a nod.

Rokarion took a deep breath from the salty air, before walking up the gangplank, and into the airship. The jasmine follows the group as they ascend, giving Bernard a quick and discreet glance when he mentions his place of birth, before adding to the questions, "So, we are going to Cliffside? Ummm, I am assuming that it is just a business run, and we are fully expected there? I would prefer not to be breaking any laws by going there illegally or anything. And if I may add, what exactly is this herb's purpose, and what have you discovered about it?" The plant being says, as still as calm as he spoke, before stanidng next to the Thelergramor, and Bernard. Better the crazy wolf you know than strangers or at least he hopes so.

Rev nods, and follows the skunks. The fit wolf reaches into a small pojch strapped to his hip, and withdraws a small nugget of rolled up. hair thin strands of plant like substance which he tucks into the tip of his kiseru, and lights. "So What is this intresting thing you stumbled upon?" He asks as he glances to each if the ithers, and nods politely in greeting. While settling into a corner , and puffing out small cloud of smoke.

Luther gestures to Maribel for her to explain. "She is our alchemist most knowledgeable about Cliffside matters. I'll let her fill you in on that." The female skunk nods and adjusts her glasses as she settles at the table, shuffling about papers before holding up one with a sketched out plant. "Yes, we will need a specific one. This one, to be specific," she says, holding up the sketch to show to Sara and the others. "Rockweed, it is called. As for what we're doing with it, well... We've discovered a salve that might function sort of like dulling potion, but you rub it into your skin, instead of consuming it. Mostly used for joint pains and aches. It's not particularly exciting, sorry. But it's something." Catherine looks towards Rokarion as the airship lurches to a start, beginning its voyage. "Yes, we have permission. We won't be going to the city, anyway. We're headed for the countryside. And we won't be gone -too- terribly long. A simple trip there, we find what we need, and come back."

Rev eyes the sketch while qhietly puffing on his pipe. "Hmmmm Now there wouldnt happen to be with plants that shares similiar looks with this Rockweed would there?

"Mm?" Sara asks as she looks up as the herb is mentioned, "Huh.. interesting look. Not gonna make any promises on if I'd find any. I'm mostly here for the muscle, but I /will/ try." she then rises out of the kneeling position and back to her feet and nods, "I wouldn't say it's not exciting, atleast not yet.. you never know what the day might bring." the lizard probably speaking from personal experience in that regard. "While this salve.. if it does what you say it does, it sounds like it'd be pretty damned useful. I do hope our trip will be both successful, and to see.. well.. that on the market soon after."

"Oh, I should say that is exciting enough," Bernard says with a twinkle in his eye, "Mind if I see that drawing up a bit closer, Lass?" The old hound squints at the sketch. "Aye," he says with a nod, "I know the stuff. Didn't ever hear as it was good for aught." Bernard shrugs and passes back the sketch. "Grows all over on the cliffs," he says, "Guess ye don't grow it much about here. Too hot."

Thelergramor gives a slight start as the airship lurches; still not a fan of them. "...Damn airships." Shakes off the unease from being about to fly. "Uh... what Sara said. All that. Yeah." Snorts, focuses on the pretty skunk women from behind his hood to take his mind off the airship doing its... flying. Shrugs, walks over to Sara. Offers a potato. "Hungry?" Glances around, unsettling is the fact that he has no alcohol for the trip. Looks back, nods to Rev and Rokarion.

"Hmmm, quite interesting." Rokarion says looking at the sketch, committing it to memory and immediately recalling hearing the name, and seeing the plant before. Rokarion, noticing that there is nothing else he would like to know, simply took out a notebook, and a pen, and began jutting down words on doodles, on the parchment, before asking, his gaze still on the book, "When are we going to reach Cliffside? And are we allowed access to the ship's deck?"

Rev eyes the sketch while quietly puffing on his pipe. "Hmmmm Now there wouldnt happen to be with plants that shares similiar looks with this Rockweed would there? Would rather not get into anything that ends up giving me a rash becuase it looks like the plant we are looking for" The wolf asks while having moved on from looking at the sketch, and back to the skunk herself. The wolf snickers when he sees Thelergramor's reaction when the airship lurches.

Maribel folds her hands on the table and places a few copies of the sketched plant out on the table for the contracted to take as they please. "We should be arriving sometime in the middle of the night, if all goes well. We are traveling light. Though you may wish to wait til morning, once we get there, but we will leave that up to you, since you will be doing the legwork. And no, nothing similar that we know of. There aren't terribly many plants on the crags. That said..." The skunk trails off for a moment and pulls up another sketch. This one of a fungus of some kind. "If you happen upon a cave and decide to go spelunking for whatever reason, there will be a bonus if you find this. It's not required of you, but it's for a side project of ours. Stonetop, it's called. Grows near the entrances of caves, typically. Now, please. Enjoy what snacks and drinks we have for the duration of the trip! You are indeed permitted to go up on deck, yes."

As the potato is offered Sara looks to Thelergramor and offers him a warm smile, "I'm good, though thank you for the offer, Thelergramor. It is good seeing you again, by the way." The brief greeting ending just in time for her to turn her head to listen to the skunks latest update, "Mm.. guess that'll make our lives a mite easier, I'll do my best to not let you down. Now, if you'll excuse me I'll wait down below, do take care, all of you." Sara admits before reaching down, grabbing the satchel and heading to one of the bunks below for a bit of rest.

Bernard grunts as he rises from his seat. The portly Saint Bernard ambles over to the table and looks over the mushroom sketch. "Aye, Lass," he says, "Old Bernie will keep an eye out." He stretches and yawns widely. "S'pose I'll go rest these old bones for a spell while we travel," he says gruffly before tottering off to find a seat more comfortable than the barrel he had been using for a little snooze.

Thelergramor smiles and shrugs before pocketing the potato. "Ah, alright then. Nice to see you too, Sara." Internal monologue: 'Should've opened with the flower!' "So... Stonetop? Is it edible or..?" Shrugging, and after receiving his answer would do as Sara did. Heading below deck to get away from the open air. And then pace about nervously. For the whole trip, never once dropping his cannon.

Rokarion takes the sketch of the rockweed offered, and put it inside his sketch book, before giving the Stoneup a deep glance, and taking a sketch of it if it is also offered, if not he would simply draw a sketch out of memory. Rokarion would spend the rest of the day at deck, reviewing some of the books on him dealing with plants, and enjoying the fresh air. The rest of the journey would be spent with him drawing some sketches of the scenery accessible to him only on an airship, the beautiful blue sky, and the white clouds.

Rev takes a look over the fungus sketch then upon commjtting it to details. He makes a stop to gather some snacks . And spends what is left of the day snacking, and smoking his kiseru, and for the most part keeping to himself.

The airship makes its journy without trouble, fortunately. No flying monsters, no great weather storms... And they arrive on schedule. The skunks hadn't stopped their research save for a short nap, deciding that if science never sleeps, nor should they! The misfortune comes as they vessel arrives at their destination, coming to a rest near a cliff face and lowering a gangplank to allow descent. Unlike the sunny skies of Firmament, it seems to be raining out here in the wee hours of the morning, the sun just barely starting to creep into the horizon. It's not a heavy rain, thankfully.

Bernie appears on deck, a plain black umbrella in one hand and his cane in the other. "A beautiful Cliffside morning Lads and Lasses!" he chuckles, "Couldn't ask fer better, so says I!" The portly hounds makes his way to the gangplank and serenely starts to stroll along the cliff, keeping an eye out for the plants that the Blackbacks are looking for. He should be alright on his own for a bit.

The heavy thud, and shudder of the ship reaching land has quickly wakes Sara up who groggily rises into a seated position, and rubs her eyes. "A.. are we here?" she asks noone in particular before she shakes her head, doing her best to dispell the drowsiness. As the drowsiness finally lifts Sara rises to her feet, gathers her things, and makes her way to the steps leading outside, "Well.. hope this wont make our searching difficult" she mentions before pulling the hood of her cloak over her head in a simple attempt at protecting herself from the rain. "Huh.. either way, the place looks.. nice. I'm guessing there will be no time for some serious exploring, then? Just find what we're looking for and return?"

Thelergramor did no sleeping whatsoever on the trip; answers Sara as his pacing eventually just brought him over by her. Not creepy at all... "Think we are there, yeah." Follows her above deck. Pulls his cloak around him; then notices it's raining. Smiles, enjoys the rain. Almost regrets wearing his maskhood today. Awaits answers to the important questions that have already been asked.

The jasmine is probably one of the first to notice the weather change from his location at the main deck, a welcome change in his case. The youthful plant being does not bother with using his hood, but only adjusts his heavy cloak to cover all of his body to prevent anything from getting wet, while keeping his head, and double blossom of a hair exposed, enjoying the sensation of rain droplets on their petals. Rokarion follows the group descending down the gangplank, and taking a deep breath as he reaches the ground, before giving his equipment when last check, and standing still, waiting for the others.

Rev looks up at the sky upon noticing the weather change, and empties out the bowl of his kiseru into a small ash pot strapped to his hip, and tucks his pipe away. Before following the others down the gang plank. Seemingly unbothered by the rain. Hoewever he does warily glance about in sesrch of any trouble. Better to be safe than sorry even if the trip is seemingly going to be a rather safe one. "So are we just going to set up camp somewhere, or search fkr these plants out in the rain?"

The skunks wave their hired hands off from the top of the stairs leading below deck before heading back down, leaving the group on their own in the rain and the still-dark morning hours. Just ahead of them is rock. Lots and lots of rock! A cliff, to be specific. To the left and right, however, they are offered ample room to move in either direction, and all -seems- quiet for the time being, save the chirp of crepescular insects and the sound of rain on the rock.

As she makes her way to the deck, Sara grabs one of the sketches of the herb she had been sent to find and stuffs it into the satchel, which like before had now been slung over her neck, and draped over her side. "Well.. let's see.. if I were an herb where would I be.." she mumbles as she taps an index finger against her chin for all of a moment before concluding with, "Uh, lets try.. this way." and walking off the gangplank and further into the cliffs.

Thelergramor peers out over the cliff. Yup. Rock. "Lotta rocks. So. Plants." And with that near random statement. Cracks his knuckles, hefts his cannon and heads off towards the edge of the cliff. Peers over it; looking for a cave set in the cliff. Planning! "One minute Sara."

Rokarion slips the notebook from under his cloak, and gives it one final glance, before saying, "I will be heading to the right. We will meet here later I assume?" With that Rokarion turns around, and heads lower down the cliff, searching for the plants, and enjoying the scenery while he is at it, one does not tend to come here much often after all. Rokarion, still walking not waiting for anyone in particular, takes out a smaller notebook, and a pen. In anticipation of something worth to note.

Rev for the moment just stays back, and watches the others wuile debating on who to follow. And after a moments thought he ends up deciding to follow Thelergramor since he atleast knows him a little bit. Even if he came off as a bit if a drunken asshole during their first meeting which led to a bar fight."Well I will be folllowing this guy. Who to ky surprise is actually sober." He says while nodding to thelergramor. Before heading in the other wolfs direction.

Sara begins the ascent into the higher cliffs, but it's still far too dark to see anything! Similarly, Rokarion doesn't manage to see any plants yet as he starts heading in the opposite direction, going lower. Thelergramor and Rev stay by the boat, it seems, and from up here Thel can see plants! They are all terribly far away down the sheer cliff face, though.

"Hm? What, you need something Thel?" Sara asks as she turns to face the man as he tells her to wait, though her question is left generally unanswered as she shrugs, and calls again, "I'll go that way, lessee if I can find anything.. call if you need anything!" With that aside, Sara continues into the darkened cliffs for a while and mumbles "Mm.. damn.." to herself as her eyes squint tight to try to make heads or tails of her surroundings in the darkness, "Where in the hell are they.." she finishes before continuing on that route she had chosen for herself, "Maybe something further up.." she mumbles along the way.

"Got some plants down there. Might not be the plants we need. Unsure. Too bad Cassidy isn't here... She can fly." Thel turns around, his first thought to go get rope. Changes his mind, heads in the lower direction, which he hopes at some point will get him down by them plants. Or, closer plants. Either way. "Come on, Rev."

Rokarion continues down the path, not finding anything of importance, at least the weather is nice. Rokarion takes note of what Thelergramor said and just presses forward down the cliff scanning his surrondings for anything of interest, and the plants he is looking for too.

Rev watches as Rokarion, and Sara head off in there own seperate ways. Before turning his gaze on Thel, and noddinf as he heads in tbe same direction as his fellow wolf. After all two sets of eyes are better than one, and of course in the off chance they get lost atleast he wont be stuck out in the middle of no where by himself.

Just when Sara might have seen something, she catches a water droplet to the eye! And while the rain persists, fortunately the sun is starting to come up enough that it's no longer so dark, at least. Rokarion doesn't find a plan down his path, but he finds something much better! A cave! Go figure.

Just when Sara might have seen something, she catches a water droplet to the eye! And while the rain persists, fortunately the sun is starting to come up enough that it's no longer so dark, at least. Rokarion doesn't find a plant down his path, but he finds something much better! A cave! Go figure. As Thel and Rev start down the same path, they'll probably eventually happen upon the same cave, and most likely Rokarion, but no plants yet for them, either!