Seaside 2: Rising Tides

[Shadowcaller]

The Jungle, For Spain!

The jungle isn't particularly dense but in the middle of the night the group might still have to watch out for roots, stones and other things all too easy to trip on. But just since it's night doesn't mean that the jungle is sleeping, quite the opposite actually. Their lanterns are attracting bloodsucking mosquitoes, moths and other strange little things. All around them they can hear croaks, whistles and screeches, the jungles inhabitants reacting to their presence.

But all of sudden they can see a light ahead, deeper into the wilderness. It looks like a campfire, could someone have come here before them or is it one of the natives? Moving closer they can see one primitive tent but no persons in sight. Looks like someone has made a camp.

[Aric Kale]

Beach, for Spain!

Montae cleans his blade while Lucero speaks.

Benaventa may only be an Inquisitor, but he knew that weapons must be maintained. His sword is also far lighter and thinner than the captain's. He wasn't looking to get into and combat.
{My brother in Christ, on the morrow, we explore!

God is on our side, and Spain is at our backs, Destiny is before us!}

~~~

Scouting, for Spain!

Julio doesn't even bother to turn to face Cristoval, whispering harshly, {Keep your bloody voice down...can you not see the fire up ahead?}
In a trice, his men vanish into the woods, leaving the soldiers behind. Not to worry, Julio returns momentarily.
{There is a small encampment...one tent and a fire...I do not believe we were seen, praise be His name, but we should be cautious. By the blood of Christ, try to be stealthy...}
A tall order, he knows. But the scout and his men are use to being sneaky in the woodlands, armed with naught but a flintlock pistol and a long dagger apiece.

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

Just because I like to consider myself smart, doesn't mean I don't always think of these things.

Inside the final locker is a cybernetic arm, slightly adjustable so it can be used by different people. It contains a miniature clean power supply, and the hand can be removed and replaced with something else that fits a standardised port for tools or weapons. There's also a box of six chrono-grenades, which, when activated, have a fifteen second fuse before erecting a temporary stasis field around the target, freezing it in place. Whilst frozen, the target can't be interacted with, but neither can they interact with anything. The field lasts for twenty to thirty seconds.

The keycard was in the room because otherwise I'd either forget to put it somewhere or forget what it opened.

[Recaiden]

[Floating Space Station]

One can't think of everything. Maybe the unintuitive lock system is the fault of budget cuts or simply alternate security protocols.

Hunter takes out the limb, admiring it. How amazing. Didn't help whoever was here, but still. This is work no technology or glamour from her world could create. A3 will like it.
The grenades could also be useful. Mainly for fleeing, but also occasionally for rearranging a battlefield. Long fuse though. This is going to get thrown back at Hunter at least once.

Now oriented tot he artificial gravity, Hunter turns around to go explore the other rooms.

[Hattish Thing]

Scouting, for Spain!

Julio doesn't even bother to turn to face Cristoval, whispering harshly, {Keep your bloody voice down...can you not see the fire up ahead?}
In a trice, his men vanish into the woods, leaving the soldiers behind. Not to worry, Julio returns momentarily.
{There is a small encampment...one tent and a fire...I do not believe we were seen, praise be His name, but we should be cautious. By the blood of Christ, try to be stealthy...}
A tall order, he knows. But the scout and his men are use to being sneaky in the woodlands, armed with naught but a flintlock pistol and a long dagger apiece.

Cristoval sighs, crouching low in the heavy breastplate, struggling to lower his body down with all the extra weight. No matter how strong he was, crouching and trying to hide in iron would always be one of his least favorite things to do. He holds his musket forward as he hides, loading it and signaling for the others to follow. With a brief whisper, he replies. "{I see it, I see it! We are unseen, this is good. Once more the guiding fingers of God point us towards the way.}"

After a few seconds, he asks a rather foolish question. "{Now, will you be moving forward? I am... not often a scout, friend.}"

[Shadowcaller]

Scouting, for Spain!

There are no movements from the camp. It lies as still as ever with only the sounds of the jungle itself accompanying the Spanish scouting party. The fire still burns brightly however, causing the trees to cast long shadows in every direction. It's light doesn't reveal any inhabitants however, perhaps they're inside the tent?

[Aric Kale]

Scouting, for Spain!

Julio does not even bother replying to Cristoval...better to let him shoot his guns and not worry about the more complicated things.

The two scouts return, reporting no signs of movement, so the Head Scout tells one of them to return to the captain and give a full report.

Julio and the other scout return to the small camp, both edging closer to the tent, listening for signs of life.

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

The next door leads to a control room, of sorts. Consoles and control panels are against the walls, though many of the screens have been smashed, with control pads, keyboards and other technological bits and pieces ripped out and heaped in piles. There's an anachronistic antique armchair in the centre of the room, with elegant carved ebony legs and red silk upholstery; though the latter has been ripped and much of the stuffing has been ripped out. This room is better lit, of sorts; the remaining screens are giving off a pale green glow, as strange letters and numbers scroll past in endless rows of error messages, warnings and priority alerts.

[Recaiden]

[Mysterious Floating Space Rock]

Hunter looks over the panels quickly and shakes her head. Can't read a word of that.

This doesn't look like the result of a crash.
She readies one of the overpowered elephant rifles taken from Tenjin's servants. Something might still be here.

On to the next room.

[Hattish Thing]

Scouting, for Spain!

Julio does not even bother replying to Cristoval...better to let him shoot his guns and not worry about the more complicated things.

The two scouts return, reporting no signs of movement, so the Head Scout tells one of them to return to the captain and give a full report.

Julio and the other scout return to the small camp, both edging closer to the tent, listening for signs of life.

As Julio does so, Cristoval continues to gaze forward before whispering an order towards the Head Scout, nodding towards the pair of musketmen as he does so. "{I say we move forward, and shoot before they can act! No doubt the damned things be the godless heathens we've heard of. We should burn this place to the ground, a tribute to our God!}"

The other men nod, clearly supporting this idea.

[Shadowcaller]

Scouting, for Spain!

They can't hear anything from the tent, not even the sound of breathing. Perhaps whoever is using it is out? But as they come closer a human figure suddenly comes out in the fire light. It appears to be a black haired woman, though for them she probably looks as if she dressed like a man with breeches, a slouch hat and a coat. She isn't carrying any weapons however and is showing her palms as a sign of peace. "May I ask why you're sneaking around my encampment gentlemen? It's considered rather rude in my culture." While her exact features are hard to see in the middle of the night she has a light brown skin tone and appears to be an completely normal human being.

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

The next room was an armoury, though all that remains has been broken, smashed or at the least, damaged. There's a pile of energy weapon components heaped in the centre of the room, though there's little to tell which is a barrel, which a focussing device, which a trigger, and which is something else entirely.

Propped in the corner, behind a cabinet with a door that's been ripped off and shredded, is a ten-foot glaive with a small energy field generator built into the blade. When activated, the energy field makes it more effective at cutting through things. Poking out under a desk is a metal box that seems to have been missed by whatever destroyed everything else.

[Recaiden]

[Mysterious Floating Space Rock]

Someone definitely did this on purpose.

Hunter grabs all the shattered components. She knows someone who can use those.

Momentarily sets down her gun to loot the power weapon. Definitely something out of the ordinary about a two foot backpack swallowing up a ten foot glaive.

And as for the box! Tries to slide it out a bit, and then open it. Settling for just opening if it won't move. But that's after poking it a bit from the side.

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

The box can be moved, and looks like a military-style ammo box. Unfortunately, there's no ammunition inside. There is, however, a very technological bracer in it. It's adjustable, predominantly a titanium/copper alloy, so it's a nice colour and quite strong, and has a small energy force projector built into it, so it functions as a lightweight shield.

[Recaiden]

[Mysterious Floating Space Rock]

Hunter takes the time to figure out the device and set it over her arm. A little extra protection can't help.

On to the next room.

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

The next room has eight cages. One is still intact, containing a strange, purple-furred creature with six legs and a yellow-scaled head on a serpentine neck. It's cowering at the back of its cage, possibly for good reason, as six of the remaining cages have been ripped into with the creatures inside pulled apart and devoured. The last cage had something burst out of.

[Recaiden]

[Mysterious Floating Space Rock]

At last, an explanation. Monster breaks out, kills as much as it can. Including the crew? What were they carrying here?

Hunter looks around to make sure this room is empty, and then tries to let out the little thing.
"You'll be safe now."

[Slii Arhem]

[Coveside -Undersea]

Mimi soon finishes with her kill and stows away her trophies in what small amount of storage space she has. Maybe something to hold a few more items would be a good idea. But anyway, she refocuses her attention on Riss. "What's this place?" She swims up closer and peers past the muse. "Let's go see." She decided and swims right inside. That little hunt sure left her full of energy.

Coveside - Undersea

It's old, and made by hands. Or maybe it's not old, just abandoned? Hard to say, it's not got any plant or animal life on it and it really should even if it's only a few weeks abandoned. Misha tries to push her thoughts through the link to Riss, unsure of its stability since it was drawn in uncertain sands. She glides through the water with little movement, only allowing enough solidity to be seen and ignoring obstacles by slipping around them fluidly. She'll allow her senses to expand throughout the water surrounding her as she enters the tunnel at last, diffusing herself even more to get a feel for all the solids within it, and anything that's causing vibrations beyond the movements of her two lovers.

[Terumitsu]

[Coveside - Through The Hatch]

Misha would detect quite a bit. The particulate matter in the water was much more metallic than outside the chamber, suggesting her first assumption about age was correct. Plus, she would definitely feel the vibrations of... Something beyond the walls although the hatch and the gauges on the far side was where it seemed to be the strongest. Examining the holes in the floor would lead into a twisting maze of pipes although it probably wouldn't take her terribly long to figure out that it was some kind of airlock system... Although if she had picked up any knowledge about valves in her time spent with the muse, she would likely be able to guess the mechanisms involved in the system's activation were hydraulic and mechanical rather than electrical... In any case, other than tanks for air and water as well as the valves, there didn't appear to be much else to the system.

"Maybe there's some kind of filtration system in those holes in the floor? You'd have a better chance to say if that was true or not, Misha. As best I can tell, we could probably open up the other side there if we closed this hatch first... Doesn't look like there is any actual locking mechanism other than the wheel here so... I guess the water pressure keeps it sealed whenever it's not completely full like this... That's clever although I'd say it's limited help against something with greater than human strength... Or maybe someone who's just very dedicated." Riss sent, first examining the inside and then the hatchway. Of course, she likely was having an easier time looking about in this gloom than would be expected but given how Misha didn't necessarily need human senses and how Mimi's suit helmet had a few enhancement functions, it was rather unlikely that any of them would be given much trouble in actually finding anything. "We could easily get out if we wanted to go in further... Which I wouldn't be adverse to doing if the both of you are up for it. Though I'd need to re-set the spell if we do, Misha, because we'd be cut off from the rest of the sea which I sorta used as a medium this time."

[Aric Kale]

Scouting - For Spain!

Julio releases a burst of Spanish profanities, having believed himself to be stealthy...now he was being approached by some English woman (assuming Nexus Common is english because why not) wearing the garb of a man.

He draws his pistol quickly, the other scout copying the motion.
{Who are you? What is this place, and where are the Natives?
We saw no British flag on the coast...}

The soldiers hiding in the forest will be able to hear them easily enough.

[Hattish Thing]

Scouting, For Spain!

The three musketmen look towards their leader, crouched beside them. The man ponders for a few seconds over the figure a wile away's uniform, completely believing her to be a man. The slouch hat signified that he was either military or an Inquisitor. She looked Spanish enough, with the right skin tone and hair, but for a supposed military man, where were his weapons? Most peculiar. He doesn't give the signal to fire down upon the creature, but nor does he instruct his men to lay down their arms.

Instead, he watches the negotiations.

((He's skippable until something to start combat occurs.))

[Shadowcaller]

Scouting, For Spain!

She actually have a holster for a flintlock pistol and a a scabbard for a rapier hanging from her hip. She doesn't have either of these weapons in her hands though. "At ease, I'm no threat, gentlemen." She replies but makes no motion. "My name is Vallery Jarven and I'm what they call an adventurer." She eyes the scouts, not sure what to make of them. They did seem rather trigger happy however. "This island is called Jaguar Island and the natives would be in that direction." She points further into the jungle. She wasn't going tell them they were in the nexus though, better not try to confuse them too much. "Is there anything else I can be of assistance with?"

[Aric Kale]

Scouting - For Spain!

Julio spits to the side, replying in broken English, ...how long English pigs been in...Jaguar Island? Speak, woman!

His gun is raised high, and he does not trust anyone who speaks anything other than Spanish.

The Head Scout does take note of the empty holster and scabbard, subtly motioning for the other scout to circle around Vallery and get to the tent.

[Shadowcaller]

Scouting - For Spain!

Vallery seems nonchalant to the circling scout, or perhaps she simply doesn't notice it. "A bit less than a day. I just came here sir, and I'd like us to have a polite conversation. There is nothing to be gained by insulting one another. I'm sure I can help you out with whatever you're here for." She replies.

[Aric Kale]

Scouting for Spain!

Julio glowers, put off by Vallery's easygoing nature.

The scout will attempt to search the tent while Julio distracts this strange woman.

My captain has claimed this land for Spain! You will return to our crew...

[Shadowcaller]

Scouting for Spain!

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize this was your land now." She makes a quick nod as apology. "I could indulge you with my continued company however at the condition that I'm allowed to keep my weapons. Surely you don't think I could pose a threat to so many men even with weapons?" She looks at him questioningly.

Inside the tent they will find a rucksack, a simple sleeping bag and a map of seaside laying on top of it. The rucksack looks completely black inside. He can't see anything and if he starts rummaging around in it with his hand, he won't feel anything either. It seems mysteriously empty.

[Aric Kale]

Scouting for Spain!

Julio refuses her request. No. Follow unarmed or die now.
Where is gun and sword?

The scout exits the tent with the empty sack and the map, his weapons sheathed and holstered.

{You, go to Cristoval and tell him we have a prisoner, then take whatever you have to the captain.}*
As for you, girl...walk.

The scout rushes on ahead to do as commanded.

*{Spanish}

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

It looks that way, yes. But none of the bits of monster scattered about the room match the observable anatomy of the one that survived, so whatever the critter that escaped is? It's not one of the purple-furred yellow-headed things.

I didn't say how big it was, which was a mistake on my part. Its legs are short, and it's very thin, but it's over two metres long. It slinks over to Hunter, and coils around her feet making a yipping noise. It is attempting to communicate telepathically with Hunter, but unless she's naturally telepathic she won't be able to hear it. If she isn't telepathic, she should vaguely feel slight contentment, worry and possibly a bit of minor fear.

[Recaiden]

[Mysterious Floating Space Rock]

Not such a little thing then.
Wasn't likely to begin with; one supposes the creatures could be cannibalistic, or driven to such by long confinement, but it's always been more likely that it's something bigger and scarier.

Hunter isn't telepathic, but is empathic, and the feelings come through bright and clear. She goes to pat the thing on its oddly-colored head as lightly as she can manage.
"Don't worry now."
And hefting up the gun again, carefully tries to step over the beast and into the next room. Sure to look up and down when entering a new area too.

[Earl of Purple]

Mysterious Floating Space Rock

The critter follows Hunter, staying close behind her heels. The next room is the living quarters, with eight bunks and associated chests at the foot thereof. Seven of the beds are soaked in blood, gore and miscellaneous organs, the eighth is neatly made. There's still no sign of whatever created all this havoc, though the state of the corpses suggests the same creature as whatever slaughtered the animals in the cages.