Chapter 1: After the Storm

[mTeasdale]

"Maybe it would be wiser to get to that well before rescuing your father ? I know we are really powerful (Jaali tries to look really serious when saying that), but we could use all the help we can have, no ? So if this well can get us even stronger..."

[quozl]

"Power is in the mind. Focus. Let us go this village. They may prove to be allies against the pirates."

[MevlyTM]

Maju looks at his companions, and speaking the Desert Tongue (so the tribesmen don't understand) says, "It seems that the desert may contain a council of wizards. It's intriguing, to be sure. However, they are likely quite powerful. If we need to confront them, we must muster all the strength, and allies we have." Maju indicates the tribesmen. "A lone witchdoctor is likely an easier enemy than an entire council of wizards, or the pirates for that matter. Furthermore, if we defeat the witchdoctor, we will be able to enlist the help of the tribesmen. They may become important allies if we must fight the pirates, or the wizards, should it come to that. What's more, since the witchdoctor occupies a 'place of old stones' like the wizards, I fear that they're in league with one-another. Thus an action against the witchdoctor may provide insight regarding the wizards themselves, which may be quite useful should the need to confront them arise. Thus I propose that we take the time to help these tribesmen first."

[mTeasdale]

"We should not lose time then, let's get to the village right now !"

[SerGavin]

indeed, let us be off.

[Longman]

That looks like a decision.

You pack up your camp after lunch and move in a south-westerly direction, towards some tall forest. Teruk's choice of route surprises you, but he says it's better doing that than going through the grasslands, where the large numbers of plant-eating dinosaurs tend to attract lots of the meat eating ones as well...

At about 6pm, you have made it down the mountain and are pausing for a break when Teruk stops and calls out: "It's all right. You can stop hiding. They are our friends now!"

At once, 3 of the villagers from last night (the ones who ran away) step out from the foliage. It turns out they have been following you at a distance, afraid to challenge you but not willing to leave Prince Teruk behind.

"Sandak Teruk," says one. "We found more incomers. A woman and a man. They have the same sort of gear as the rest of these people. They were attacked by a leopard just now, but they fired at it with more of their thunder-sticks, like the one that killed Mogar". (He looks angrily at the halfling as he says this.)

The other 3 members of the villager group are now keeping an eye on the pair of incomers, who are now making a camp about a mile away from your location.

PS - in further conversation with Teruk it becomes apparent that the strange white wizards of long ago no longer exist on the island. Only their ruins, and the remnants of their magic. Teruk doesn't even know how long ago they were here, or how long ago they left. I know your decision to go to the village was based partly on a misunderstanding about that, but I decided to push on anyway.

If you change your mind now, and decide to go to the desert ruins instead, you have not gone far out of your way. All you have done is go down the mountain on the west side, so far.

[mTeasdale]

"And where are those two people now ? Was the woman with us last night ?"

[Longman]

After some translation by Maju, the villager replies.

"I think you mean the woman that was with you all, the one with the dog, who fell out of the tree? No, it wasn't her. We saw the giant pillar of flame come up from your camp, and we followed you since this afternoon. But we have not see that woman at all. This woman is new. She has much darker skin. The man, too. But they are incomers, that is for certain. They are about a mile away. Shall we confront them, or leave them be?"

Teruk addresses the rest of you: "What do you think? Can we trust these new people? Or will they be like that woman Sonja, and try to murder you while you sleep?"

[SerGavin]

It could be Maroo from the beach, the priest and her slave.

[quozl]

"I will approach them. Please, lead me to them."