The Cult of Hunger - RPLOG
Participants
Date
6/2/479
Log
Rain patters gently through the trees, but it has not dampened the spirits of the beings gathering in the little clearing deep in the forest. A plethora of beings of all shapes and sizes are mingling with one another in the light of warm, crystal lamps that fill the clearing with light. It is easy to spot members of the actual inviting group, since they all wear similar loose robes and cloth masks over the lower half of their faces. Something about remembering the silence of their forbears or something like that.
Lucas found himself cautious, but curious about the flier he found. The thought of returning to nature piquing his curiousity, though the location seemed perilious. He invited his brother to join just in case, along with some equipment he had picked up as a precaution for his impending job with Pontius good. A cape draped around his shoulders, armor tucked in underneath his clothes, a cane in hand with a concealed weapon. He was ready, but optimistic, hoping something good would come of this visit. As he arrived at the clearing he stopped, raising an eyebrow at the beings in their robes and masks.
A being in a magnificent suit of armor that covers their whole body is making their way to the strange meeting, intended on observing it for now. Not an inch of skin or fur is visible under the richly decorated metal of the full plate they are wearing. The white armor even has what must be decorative wings on its back. They walk slowly to the gathering and look around as they reach it, assuming a firm stance and crossing their arms before their chest as they wait for whatever is supposed to happen to happen.
Shliek scampers into the clearing. He is clearly wearing some insulated clothing, the reptile clearly not too happy about the cold temperature. He's got a hood covering his eyes, though his snout sticks out, and a scarf around his neck. All of his clothing is drab and colored brown, grey or black. Though not actively hiding he also does not make an effort to be seen, stayng just outside of the light aura of the lanterns.
Tezky sticks next to his brother, not minding the rain whatsoever as an otter. He wasn't totally big on cults in the woods at night, but he couldn't let his brother go alone and, if truth be told, he was interested in what exactly returning to nature meant. He did enjoy camping sometimes, but civilization had all the good food. The otter wears a clay orange shirt and a bandana with the Heavy emblem. A thick tool belt is around his rather large waist, bearing a smithing hammer and wallet, etc.
Siyu is driven, by a cart, it has been a long time since he returned to the lands of the Sweetwater, and to the city of Promise, a long time indeed. He has a cart, full of goods, rich spice and interesting things. He has been away traveling, he needed to get away. The hustle the bustle, the loss, he just wanted to leave and express what he was originally, and still was at heart, a merchant. So it is that merchant, from the distant deserts, who finds himself upon a rainy gathering, with a covered wagon. He blinks very lightly and stands. He is short, only 3 foot 10, dressed in leathers for riding, an oil cloak, and a wide brimmed hat. He has long flowing black hair, he's let it grown longer and longer as he traveled, down to his knees now. His frame exotic, with wide hips, a pretty face, strong muscled legs, an interesting creature, "Hello the camp?" he calls out in a smooth voice. Perhaps unaware he stumbled upon a meeting of one thing, or another.
Mazurek has not been seen in quite some time. The Dragon has been living in the ocean for quite a number of months, his draconic abilities allowing him to survive with ease. Living on fish and kelp and whatever else provided sustenance down there, he had chosen to go for a flight for the first time in a while, though he did need to rest from time to time to recharge his power reserves. The gathering down in the forest attracts his attention after a couple of hours and his curiosity gets the better of him, flying down toward the clearing. He was growing tired by then, his magics starting to fail him completely. He lands just inside the firelight, dark body completely uncovered except for a loincloth.
A snow leopard is already casually intermingling with the crowd, having arrived at the gathering much beforehand the others. They're dressed casually, perhaps wearing folded over pants this time in the day due to the combination of wind and water from the sky. Nothing extravagant. At the arrival of a few, familiar beings, she manages to work her way out of the primary throng of people to where the entry road is, leaning against a tree at the edge of the clearing is. "Hey, hey."
Jera is at home in the trees, in the rain. The kit fox keeping his hood over his eyes as he enters, watching silently from the side. A bow remains sttapped behind his back. He waits to figure out what is going on.
"Welcome! Welcome!" calls a large being, his face covered and his voice rough, "Brothers and sisters! We have the pleasure of entertaining so many guests tonight! We are fortunate indeed!" And it is true. There are quite a few people not in the uniform of the group here. The robed figures make up about 1/3 of the crowd.
"We are gathered to celebrate the natural world and the natural order!" the speaker continues from behind his mask. The worshippers start to gather closer to the speaker where he stands on one side of the clearing. "We remember our ancestors!" the speaker calls out, "The noble, silent beasts from whom we spring!"
There is a murmur of agreement and assent from the other masked figures. Yep. Bunch of oddballs.
Lucas crooks up an eyebrow at the large hooded man. They seemed harmless enough, even if they did seem a tad off, but he held the handle of his cane tight as he walked closer, urging his brother forward. He smiled at Cirrus and walked up to her. "Hey there Cirrus, fancy meeting you hear. You know anything about these guys? I saw their flier at the inn and got curious but..." He looks at the large man. "I'm starting to think they might be off the deepend here."
The armored being tilts their head slightly and rolls their eyes inside their helmet. They are leaning on a tree, a bit on the side but close enough to listen to these whackos going on about their thing. Sure they seem harmless, but you can never be to careful with what is clearly some form of cult.
Shliek takes this moment as the leader begins to speak to try and climb a nearby tree so he can get a better vantage to watch and listen as all of the taller folks start to crowd in.
Tezky sticks close to the smaller otter, whether that's if he felt the need to provide protection or that he felt the smaller otter would provide such as unknown. He watches as various beings arrive, surprised that one was actually taller than him. "Hey Cirrus. Guess you were curious too?" He watches as the large being starts talking, wondering when they would elaborate a bit more.
Siyu ehs very lightly, "Oh...it's a religious meeting..." he says with a faint little tisk, and he adjusts his hat, letting the rain fall off of it, he's already moved on in his mind, not really interested in whatever they were peddling.
Mazurek steps further into the light, further revealing that he is as tired as he felt. Wings are drooping and his pace staggering. Right now it is all he can do to not simply fall over from being so exhausted. He is the largest creature present, but even then it is a battle for him to get to as close to the fire as he is allowed, outright flopping to the ground and deciding to sprawl out and get as much of the fire's warmth to wash over his tough, fleshy frame. He is definitely enjoying the rain, letting it just slide off of his body and add to the relaxing atmosphere.
"I can't pick up anything in particular. Noisy in there, y'know. From what I hear of the 'Natural World', I'm just figuring they worship the trees. Or a weird spirit or something." Cirrus notes, gesturing a hand to the robed figures at the edge of the clearing, shifting up against the tree just a little. "Either way, nice to see you, Lucas, Tez. Also, I ended up sharpening up one of my swords before we came. You know. Little extra help."
Jera stays quiet for now, but notices many of his friends as well. He keeps his position near the back of the group, almost at the periphery. Deciding to watch from afar, still! "Almost like the windrunner tribe, huh."
The speaker continues. "We are here to celebrate that great thing that drove our ancestors!" he roars out loudly, as beings gather closer. "HUNGER!"
The lights suddenly blink out, the fire sputters and dies and the clearing is silent except for the patter of rain before the night air is rent by a scream!
Lucas scratches at his chin as he looks at the group. "Well, hopefully there's nothing too-" His words cut off as the lights wink out, his grip on his cane pulling it up, one hand on the shaft of the cane as he holds the handle. "What in the world was that? Tezky, Cirrus, you two still there? Stay close, yeah? This is... kind of weird," he said, eyes narrowing to focus in the dark light, his long tail searching around blindly in the dark for his brother or the snow leopard.
Kazel straightens herself up from her leaning position and draws her spear and readies her shield. She squints into the darkness and goes through some math in her head to have some extra protection just in case. Despite all this, she remains in place, observing, albeit readied.
Shliek's eyes and pupils widen as the entire campsite is suddenly engulfed in darkness. He quickly goes completely motionless, trying to blend in with the tree as he attempts to ascertain what was going on and who was screaming. The hand not keeping hold of the branch slips to the hilt of his dagger...
Tezky sticks immediately by his brother, hand going to the hammer at his side. "Luc, I'm right here. Cirrus, you there?" At first he had agreed with the speaker, but when the lights went out and a scream pierced the night, he became less sure about what exactly they meant... He debates whether lighting up would be a good or bad move... Stealth or visibility...
Jera calls his wisp...and curses as he realizes that he was dabbling in something else. Well, he fans his hands hopefully, hoping that the fires of a phoenix stir even with his lack of fire proficiency...fighting blind was never a good thing.
Siyu gives a faint little tisk as he uncoils a whip out of his cloak, and it sparks to life. The firewhip crackles and casts some illumination, "Right then, I wonder who thought it would be smart to try a water mage in the rain. Hm?" he asks as he lifts the hat back and holds the whip up to see what's going on.
Awwww! The fire went out! The large dragon was starting to get comfortable here! Grunting, the dragon started to call something out but it is interrupted by the scream. Confusion sets in when that seems to be the only sound for the moment, at least near the fire. Before long, activity on the outskirts of the clearing catches his attention briefly, but he decides to not do a thing. Well, except for rising to a crouch to better be able to react, unable to see immediately around him but wanting to listen.
"Hunger? Well, this isn't the tree-hugging gathering I thought it'd be..." Cirrus draws her sword and her shield quickly, the metal rattling against the scabbard as the weapon comes to a ready, dropping herself down to a crouch. "Over here, Lucas! Tez, come over here, too. Follow my voice." The leopard's voice is a shouting whisper, finding it difficult to see three feet in front of her. She glances up. No moon in the sky. That explains it.
The dim glow provided by the plethora of illuminating items reveals a grim scene. The robed cultists have discarded their robes and masks to reveal that they are all predators of one kind or another with feral eyes that reflect the light and great tusks glinting with wet, red blood, standing hunched over the corpses of a swath of the guests to the camp meeting! An enormous gator lunges from the darkness toward Mazurek and a pair of wiry felines are throwing themselves at the pair of otters!
Lucas's tail curls out towards Tezky's voice as he moves back towards Cirrus's voice. "Shit, this was not what I expected. I hate having to fight like this. It's a good thing I took your advice and started training for my new job." As the items illuminate the scene he bears his teeth, drawing his dagger out and holding the caned sheath like a baton. He draws the cane up in an effort to block a lunging attack as he slashes out towards one of the felines.
Kazel Glows with anger, quite literally even as she call upon Heiour to give her strength and her tattoos start to blaze their light through her armor and helmet for a moment. The armored rodent sprints into the way of the gator and raises her shield at it, blocking the way to Mazurek and the tip of her speer next to it.
Shliek pulls out his dagger and runs along the brance of the tree he was perched in. He times his jump and leaps, aiming to try and land on the gator's back!
Tezky moves to go back to back with his brother, a technique they had employed in their youth to avoid the occasionally bullying in days past. When a canibalistic cat lunges towards him he falls back on the little training he'd had as a Heavy, swinging a powerful arm to interrupt the lunge with a hammer armed swing.
Siyu grunts, very lightly as he steps forward, lifting his hand up he focuses his power. The rain in the air begins to burst into steam, every raindrop in front of him turning into vapor. He shoves the cone of power in front of him, smashing the group of predators with steam that surrounds them, soaks their fur and clothing, and continues to fail. Parboiling them where they stand.
"Get behind me, dammit! Get my crossbow! Faster!" Cirrus raises her voice towards the otters, her shield raised high and sword at a ready, moving to block off the path between the other felines and them, using her shield to intercept any blows that may come from this.. The lighting is not helping, but it's something to work with. "Stay close, stay behind my shield. We're going to have to get the hell out of here. Too many of them."
Jera grins as he seems to have been one step ahead of the ruse. He finds a bush to try to disguise the illumination from his form as he draws his bowstring, taking aim. He hesitates between helping the otters and taking more targets....eventually deciding to just rain arrows instead. With all the practiced haste of a windrunner, he rains arrows in the black night sky!
