Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 2, Ch 1.3 Bannihar
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 2 Chapter 1.3
Bannihar The Long Road Ahead
With only two out of four votes in for this group, the result ends in a tie, it's left up to the Author Contributed Characters to weigh in. Considering Kayte and Raes' trust in the Goddess, they are more inclined to stick to the Highway and depend on its enchantment. Roarg and Sebastian have no trouble taking the long way to the north "just in case". The end result is to take the long route north since it wins with 3 votes. The current count on modifiers for this chapter is +++ Delay and - Favor based on group decisions thus far, but this may be subject to change based on future votes. For now, however, the party continues onward.
Traveling around the vale turned out to be far more of a time consuming venture than anyone had projected. The original estimate was a three day detour, but as the third day came and went it was made rapidly apparent that avoiding the Sylvan lands was going take longer by far. Despite the expense of time, however, nobody could deny that the trip almost bordered on peaceful.
Other than a night time vermin raid on their supplies the travelers were left alone by the surrounding lands. During the fourth night off of the Highway Jules identified a lone Wurm scouring the countryside a good distance away but it soon moved on after the party snuffed the campfire and and fell silent. Despite the relative peace of their surroundings, Kayte continued to pray to the Goddess for protection, setting the Divine Shield every time they stopped for the night, and renewing the prayer before they left in the morning.
By day, Sebastian spent most of his time in the sky splitting his hour between making slow circles over the moving wagon and launching sorties out ahead of the group along their line of travel. One such scouting trip even saved the party from encountering a small herd of Snap Jaws. Sebastian spent the entire rest of the day bragging about his eagle-eyes and the skill with which he kept everyone's entrails safely stored away inside their bodies; he didn't fall quiet until Elias casually asked if anyone would object to him crafting a beak-muzzle.
And so it was, on the afternoon on the fifth day that the party finally completed their detour, descending a slight slope in the plains toward the waiting Highway where it emerged from the Sylvan lands. Lord Raes, Roarg, and Sebastian split off from the group to quickly scout out the Highway to make certain the divine protection was still in place. Iskiy suggested moving a little further east before meeting up with the Highway, and, after another hour, the party finally rejoined the road after nearly a week of cross-country travel.
"We're behind schedule, but we're safe." Kayte noted the moment 'The Risen' had its wheels firmly on the Highway.
"In the scheme of things," Roarg offered, giving the reins a light flick to get the tethered beasts moving again, "it's easier to recover from tardiness than it is to recover from death."
"Not too bad." Sebastian noted, alighting on the back of 'The Risen', glancing around, "Not as fast as flying, but you made it."
"Lord Raes?" Iskiy inquired, glancing back toward the low lands.
"Yes?" the Champion inquired, looking to the antlered wolf.
"There's a wagon by the side of the road back there." Iskiy motioned toward the trees.
"Stop 'The Risen'." Lord Raes directed of Roarg, and the badger complied.
"It looks damaged." Iskiy added.
"Broken down?" Elesin questioned, sitting up and stretching.
"It was attacked." Jules noted, peering across the distance, "I can see battle damage even at this distance.
"Survivors?" Lord Raes asked, turning to look at it.
"Hard to tell from here." Jules answered.
"Sebastian?" Roarg suggested and, not two moments later, everyone was covering their faces from the down blast of the gryphon's wings.
Sebastian gained some altitude, and then quickly crossed the distance, circled over the site twice, and made his way back. He came in for a landing on the Highway next to the transport and spoke up, "Yea... it was practically blown apart." he confirmed.
"Did you see any survivors?" Lord Raes asked. He glanced to Roarg, who shared a nod with him and hopped off of the driver's bench, ready to follow.
"I didn't see any bodies." Sebastian shrugged, nimbly springing up onto the bench the badger just vacated.
"Then we'd better see if there's anyone there that needs help." Kayte noted, sliding over the seat and toward the ground.
"Wait by the carriage." Lord Raes told the priestess, picking his shield up from the seat next to him, "We don't know if there's still danger nearby."
"We also don't know if my healing will be needed." she argued.
"I'll be going and the Goddess can heal through me." the dog reminded her.
"I'm coming." the wolf countered, reaching up to grab her staff out of the wagon bed.
"You're staying." Lord Raes stated flatly.
"Priestess..." Elias spoke up.
She turned to look at the armadillo, "Tell him I'm coming." she requested of him.
He sighed in response, "We need a Divine Shield with the wagon." Elias pointed out, "If everything is safe and they find someone who needs healing they can call for you, or else bring them to you."
"Yea..." Sebastian noted, ear-like feathers sticking up on either side of his head as he cracked a beaky grin, "You can stay here and keep Elias company."
The Geomancer eyed the gryphon warningly, then offered a hand out to the priestess, "Stay... please."
Ignoring the gryphon, Kayte locked gazes with the armadillo for several seconds then let out a sigh. She accepted his offered hand and climbed back into 'The Risen' with an indignant grunt, "Alright." she relented, "But I'm getting some salves and ointments ready just in case."
"Iskiy." Raes noted to the antlered wolf once he was assured of Kayte's obedience, "Stay with the Priestess."
Iskiy nodded, "I'll keep watch."
"Good." the dog agreed, "Elesin, stay here."
"And just when I thought things might get interesting." the kangaroo objected, one leg already on the ground. With a sigh, she pulled herself back up into the carriage.
Lord Raes glanced to the other Wild Lander, "Jules... with us."
Jules took plenty of time climbing down off of the transport and paused. The Wild Lander then spared a few extra moments to check sword and armor.
"Any time." Roarg offered.
"I'll be right behind you." Jules acknowledged, taking up a spot 10 yards behind the rest of the scouting party, "You people are so loud I'll let you attract all the attention."
Lord Raes, apparently not interested in arguing the case further, headed back along the road toward the site of the damaged wagon. Roarg walked beside him, "Are you sure you should be bringing your shield?" he asked the Champion, "Iskiy said that Divine Shields attract Sylvans."
"I don't plan to activate it." the dog responded, "But it still works just fine for stopping attacks."
With little more to be said, Lord Raes and Roarg proceeded on in silence, Jules almost a dozen yards behind. They kept a measured pace, somewhere between urgent and cautious. Once the wagon drew closer they slowed. Jules moved up to join them and they approached the transport with care, all three scanning the nearby trees.
"I don't see anything." Lord Raes offered quietly.
"If there ARE Sylvans nearby you won't." Jules explained, "not until they attack."
"That's comforting." Roarg noted.
"It's not supposed to be." the Wild Lander countered, "It's supposed to get you to keep your eyes open."
The three proceeded, on guard, with attention focused on the trees nearest to them. As they drew closer to the tipped-over wagon, Jules slid to the front of the group. Kneeling down next to the back-end of transport, Jules spoke up, "It was being pursued... tipped there..." the Wild-Lander motioned to a curve in the pathway further into the woods, "and came to a halt here after skidding the distance."
Lord Raes glanced where Jules had motioned, "The wagon must have been going very fast."
"The steeds broke away and galloped off in that direction." the Wild-Lander motioned toward the side of the road.
"That makes no sense." Raes spoke up, "The should keep running forward toward the open ground, not change direction and head back into the forest."
"It makes sense if they're being Glamored by Sylvans." Jules countered, "They have charms and glamors that they can use... not unlike the fey."
"Or elves." Lord Raes added with a scowl. The discussion would have continued, but it was interrupted by the sound of a hoarse groan.
"There!" Roarg noted, pointing to the overturned wagon. The three went immediately to it, spreading out along its length before attempting to leverage it up on its side. They strained for several minutes, adjusting their grips and positioning twice before they managed to work the broken transport into a manageable position.
"Jules..." the dog grunted, hefting the weight in his paws, "Go." he motioned with his head, and the Wild Lander wasted no time moving beneath the propped up wagon, leaving Roarg and Raes to hold it up.
"One survivor." Jules called from beneath the wreckage, "Keep holding... I'm pulling him out.
The light within the tree-covered area was poor to begin but adding to it the twilight hours, it was getting even more difficult to see by the minute. Once Jules had the survivor out, Lord Raes took him from of the Wild Lander's grasp and they all made a quick retreat along the Highway out of the vale. It wasn't until the three emerged into the open that anyone got a very good look at the individual they saved.
"Oh Goddess..." Jules stopped immediately.
"What?" Raes asked, hefting the survivor up more carefully onto his shoulder, "What's wrong?"
The Wild Lander slowly traced the edge of the unconscious man's muzzle, speaking with a shaky voice, "He's a thylacine..."
* * * * * *
Chapter 1 continues for the travelers from Bannihar. The party made it safely around the Sylvan lands and get back to the Highway when they notice something...
At this point, the group is going to have to figure out what they can do to help this unconscious traveler:
1) Take a detour to get him to the closest Wayside and leave him (+ Delay, + Favor) 2) Bring him with and have Kayte heal him (- Luck, + Favor and +1 Major Fatigue for Kayte) 3) There's no time and no supplies. Loot what he has and leave him. (+ Luck, -Favor)
Contributing Readers have until Thursday, November 17th at midnight to vote.