Something to Tlahco Bout
Log Info
- Title: Something to Tlahco 'Bout
- GM: Ravenstongue
- Place: Mictlan
- Summary: Something's up in Mictlan again! Miquitlani calls for aid, and Dirk, Khepri, and Vaera answer. They track down the kamadan that's been hunting people in the woods, and after a short battle, put an end to them. Food is served as a reward!
Mictlan, early afternoon.
There is something wrong again with Mictlan. The briefing from the guild is relatively straightforward... again. It states that travelers through the area have been found dead, with their throats torn out and partially eaten. Witnesses have also reported seeing large creatures stalking through the foliage that surrounds Mictlan, using the natural landscape's plethora of bushes and brambles to hide themselves. The large tracks left behind have looked like...
"Very big cat tracks. They're no good," Miquitlani, the priestess of the Death-Singing Dragon, intones. "Cats are useful. Cute, too. But I am allergic, oye."
The priestess Miquitlani is an older sith-makar woman, having shrunk a bit with age. Her dark-green scales have seen their share of brighter days and are hidden mostly under dark robes. The symbol of Vardama that the sith-makar know her by best hangs from around her neck, and she mumbles a song to herself in the language of her people as she stirs a pot over her personal fire. She has refused any and all attempts to help ("Ay, sit and wait. We will talk," she insisted), and eventually, the peppery sauce that's simmered in the pot is ladled onto two layers of thin 'wraps' that were made from ground corn and filled with seared mushrooms. The guild report had said to talk to her for more information, as she's a reliable source of local information and was instrumental in helping the last batch of adventurers who came out to Mictlan on a job... but hadn't noted her tendency to feed the people who come to her for aid.
"These cats are too big to be cute cats, no, and they eat people, so they are no good. Eat, tepilhuan," she commands, putting a plate down before every adventurer. Even Khepri gets mushroom tlahcos. She gets her own plate last, sitting at the head of the table. She is, after all, the host. "I believe they stalk like the ocelome," she says.
Miquitlani's good orange eye blinks, and she groans a little in exasperation. "How you say...? Oh. Jaguar," she says. "I forgot the word in Common. Ay, I am old, forgive me. I would hunt them myself if I could, but I cannot, and I must care for the dead we are finding. I can answer any questions you have, too, but I know less about these than I did the ahuizotl. No one has gotten to see them clearly yet--none who are alive."
There's always someone who thinks it's a bird, so it must eat like one. Khepri is seated politely, but when a plate is put before it, the war golem tilts its head quizzically. Forget eating; Khepri's mask lacks a mouth port anyways.
In an attempt to avoid a diplomatic faux pas, Khepri inquires, "Are the bodies being carried off, eaten, or merely killed and left behind? A creature that hunts for meat is one thing, but one that hunts for sport is much more serious."
Dirk has never been to Mictlan. And he -would- say that if you'd seen one forest, you've seen them all. But the humid jungle landscape is nothing at -all- like his native forests. Still, the old snowbeard is never one to shy away from a challenge. And he'll certainly be able to bring his tracking skills to the table. He can hunt giant people-eating cats as easily as anything else. And so he sits at the table, listening Miquitlani intently. His tricorne rests in his lap, his thunderbelcher is leaned up against the table, and Lulu perches atop his shoulder.
Those tlahcos, though... the ranger's big dwarven nose twitches as he scents the delicious aroma coming from the pot, and his hefty middle gives an angry-sounding rumble. It was a long way from Alexandria. "Ohh, -bless- ye, missus!" he booms cheerfully as the plate gets set before him. He wastes not time, picking up one of the tlahcos and laying into it with dwarven vengeance. "ROMF!" He listens further, chewing and swallowing with a nod. "Well, missus, yer in luck! I can track down those nasty kitties, nae worries!" Lulu hop-hop-hops along Dirk's shoulder, and flutters her wings to get down onto the table. Hop hop hop. She stoops over his plate, head tilting left and right. "Hoo?" With a soft chuckle, Dirk separates out a morself for her to peck-peck at. Khepri is given a look and a nod. "Aye, yer nae wrong there, lad," he says. "If they're killin' fer sport, that means they might not just be kitty cats. They could be intelligent." He leans over to the golem's plate. "Ye goin' tae eat those?" he inquires, eying those delicious tlahcos. Just sitting there. Taunting him.
Vaera was back yet again, and it didn't even require any visiting to the adventurer's guild to get her there. After all, threats to the surrounding area were supposed to be dealt with by the hunters and warriors, after all. The red makari sat down by the fire to recieve her food. This time she knew better than to eat beforehand. "It does not matter either way. If they are killing for food or sport, they are still killing people. They should be dealt with to no longer become a threat. That being said, knowing what we might be dealing with proves invaluable." Vaera chuffs. "Please bring some food out to Skielstregar if you have a chance, he was disappointed to miss this due to being on guard duty, with the rising concern for those around here."
Miquitlani laughs affectionately. "Of course, I can save something for Skielstregar!" she says. "He's a good boy who cleans his plate. I am so sad he couldn't come this time."
She looks at Khepri--and down at the inquisitor-golem's untouched plate. "Not hungry now?" she asks. "You can take your food with you." It's said less like a suggestion and more like an implied command.
"The victims are killed and eaten--what we find are the remains that they left behind. The guard patrols must scare off the cats before they can drag off the corpses to devour and lick clean." Miquitlani speculates in a rather curious way. She is a follower of Vardama, after all, and a subject that some would consider taboo is simply her way of life. "Either way, they are harming the People, and that must be stopped."
Khepri seems about to either pass the plate or politely refuse, but there is something to be said for third options. "Yes. I will take the food with me. It will be properly enjoyed." Resolutely, the golem does not look at Dirk.
Pursuing the thread, the Executor nods. "The dead should not be defiled. The words must be spoken. Whether the creatures are simple wildlife or something more malign, they must be stopped swiftly." Khepri's bird-like face nods slowly. "It shall be done."
Dirk looks hopeful as it seems like Khepri is about to pass the plate over to him. But then, that fateful decision is made, and the old snowbeard wilts. He decides to comfort himself by picking up his other tlahco and chomping it in half. Yeah, take that, tlahco! "Well," he says as he chomps and chews, licking the delicious sauce from his fingertips. "Intelligent or no... once I've got their trail, we can follow 'em wherever they go an' get 'em sorted." He crams the other half of his tlahco into his mouth, rumbling happily as he devours it. He's already feeling better. "Hells. Might see if I can save their pelts. Exotic furs always sell well in Alex."
"So they are intelligent to at least some degree, or have self preservation instincts. They may be difficult for a group of people to find if they are wary like that." Vaera chuffs."It is a small price to pay for their removal, but you should know that these are makari hunting grounds, and you would risk poaching if you were not already accompanied by a hunter from here. So be it."
Miquitlani sees the look on Dirk's face. It's awfully hard for softskins to tell the emotions that the makari have, but there's a glint of amusement in her good orange eye, and she ambles up from her seat and makes another couple of tlahcos, presenting them on another clay plate to Dirk. "Hungry people are good people," she tells him. "It has been many years since I was a Nest-Mother, but I still have fond memories of feeding the tepilhuan."
Not long afterwards, she sees them off, promising an evening meal if they come back quickly enough--and a morning meal if they come back late enough. With the Death-Singing Dragon priestess's food in their bellies, the adventurers make their way into the woods.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Survival checks, please, with a +5 bonus." <OOC> Khepri says, "Can I apply track?" <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Yup!" GAME: Khepri rolls survival+7: (7)+9+7: 23 GAME: Vaera rolls survival +5: (7)+13+5: 25 GAME: Dirk rolls Survival+8: (19)+12+8: 39 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay. Good news is that everyone finds the tracks. These do look kind of like big feline tracks, and we're talking some pretty big heckin' kitties. Dirk, with your supermassive score, you determine that these tracks are actually pretty darn fresh--probably within a few hours, if not sooner."
So of course as soon as the trio is out of sight, Khepri passes the wrapped tlahcos to Dirk and Vaera. "You will have more appreciation of them than I will," it explains. Its heavy khopesh in one hand, shield strapped to the other, it doesn't take long before the hunting party finds the tracks.
"Those tracks are sizable. They are unlikely to be friendly, cuddly, or cute." It pauses, considering. "The amnount of hunting is concerning. We may be dealing with a mated pair, plus a litter. An unfortunate turn of events for all involved."
Dirk lights up like a Yuletide tree as Miquitlani fixes him fresh tlahcos of his very own. "Ohh, -bless- ye, missus! That's so kind of ye!" He carefully wraps the tlahcos up and tucks them into his hip satchel for later. "I'll be enjoyin' -these- fer certain!" Lulu looks up at the elder Vardamite, fluffing her feathers and hoo-hoo'ing gratefully, before winging her way back up onto Dirk's shoulder. Rising to his feet, he sets his tricorne atop his head and hefts his thunderbelcher over his shoulder. "Right! Let's to it then!" he booms.
Once they're in the jungle, he's on the prowl. Thunderbelcher held loosely with one hand, while sweeping through the undergrowth with the other. It's not long before he freezes in his tracks. "Here we are!" He runs a fingertip around the impression in the soft jungle soil. "Pretty damn fresh too, I'd say! They cannae have gone far!" He leans in a bit closer, his shaggy white brows furrowing. "Hrm... there's... three. An' I think Vaera's got the right of it. I think one of 'em might be a cub. Its footsies are smaller'n the other." He looks up with a determined expression and starts trundling forward. Nimbly, he ducks, weaves, and hops through the tangle. One would never know it was his first time in a jungle setting!
Vaera is moving relatively quickly and calmly through the dense forests around Mictlan, but still remaining prepared for any threat that might be around. Still, that did not stop her from pointing out a few things. Namely various upturned masses of soil and broken roots that Skielstregar had removed violently from the ground.
"Yes, more than one, which is strange for large cats." The makari nods. "If it is close by, now is our chance to catch it, at least."
The track trio that Dirk identifies is easy enough to follow. All three members of the party are spry and fit enough to make it through the environs around Mictlan, aided by the fact that it's sunny out and the afternoon hour provides them with some light left in the day.
Eventually, the tracks lead to a path that veers right before making a sharp left, on account of continuing on flatter ground than the hill that springs up from the earth on the right. The areas around the path are covered with thick foliage.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Perception checks, please." GAME: Khepri rolls perception: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Dirk rolls perception: (20)+12: 32 GAME: Vaera rolls perception: (9)+13: 22
Khepri is perceptive enough to follow the tracks, but still seems puzzled by the whole encounter with Miquitlani. "She was very insistent we eat. I do not understand the best way to explain to her that I do not do so." The beaked countenance turns to regard Dirk and Vaera. "I do not wish to offend her. She is a devotee of the Harpist as I am."
Continuing in this vein, the golem remarks, "Living creatures spend a great deal of time on the subject of food. It is very puzzling and I have no frame of reference for it."
Dirk stops as the party approaches the rise in the land. He goes stock-still, lifting a hand up in warning. He looks over his shoulder, silently pointing at his ear then off into the treeline. Hunkering down, he grips his thunderbelcher as he peers forward, scanning the underbrush.
Vaera takes a moment to listen to the forest around them, and she slowly comes to a halt, hefting her thunderbelcher up and to a more readied position. "Tell her, it is better to not waste the food than take hospitality that would do nothing." Vaera chuffs. "A concern for a later time. On your guard, harpist."
>Crunch.< >Crunch.< >Crunch.<
That's not Dirk eating more tlahcos. That's coming from the woods...
<OOC> Dirk says, "Is there anything I can see that would let me make a Know/Nature roll to get an idea of what we're dealing with?" <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "This particular creature necessitates a Know/Arcana check." GAME: Dirk rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (10)+3: 13 GAME: Dirk rolls Shoot+5: aliased to Ranged+1-2+5: (6)+10+1+-2+5: 20 GAME: Dirk rolls Shoot+5-5: aliased to Ranged+1-2+5-5: (18)+10+1+-2+5+-5: 27 GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4+1: (10)+4+1: 15 GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4+1: (3)+4+1: 8 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Very solid strike. It is bloodied." <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "However, that does not knock it out. It draws forward and breathes on everyone. Fortitude saves, please." GAME: Vaera rolls fortitude: (7)+9: 16 GAME: Dirk rolls Fortitude: (3)+9: 12 GAME: Khepri rolls fortitude: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Dirk rolls Fortitude: (7)+9: 16 (free reroll)
A large jaguar creature, easily nine feet tall, charges out from the forest. The collection of snakes around its head hiss and interweave around each other, ready to strike. The kamadan, as Dirk knows it to be, lunges forward and breathes a strong misty gas onto the party, even after taking a collection of shots from the dwarven hunter.
But the adventurers shrug it off.
Dirk's sucks in a deep breath as the beast makes its presence known. "Beards o' me fathers!" He swings up his thunderbelcher, eyes narrowed. "That's a kamadan, everyone! Don't let those snakes nip ye, they're probably poisonous!" He draws his bead and fires off two shots in quick succession. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! Both bullets find their marks, slamming into the great feline's body. As that gas gets spewed onto the party, his eyes get wide. He sucks a deep breath and holds it, clapping his hand over his mouth and nose. "GMMMFLPH!" Fortunately, he does not succumb to the vapor!
<OOC> Khepri says, "Everyone gets +1 to hit, +1 vs fear effects. Yay!" GAME: Khepri casts Bless. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14 <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Moving up at all? :)" <OOC> Khepri says, "Move to 10,16."
When the jaguar spews its noxious gas, Khepri simply walks through it unfazed as though it were morning fog. "By the will of the Harpist, you will be brought to heel." The golem raises its shield, and intones, "Her blessing be upon us." A shimmer of gray light, and a wave of energy pulses outward, touching Khepri as well as his companions. Yes, even Lulu.
The khopesh slices back and forth in the air, as the Executor moves to engage.
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19
The young kamadan that Dirk had spotted in the tracks bursts out of the treeline, too, and makes a beeline straight for Khepri. He tries to gnaw at the inquisitor, but his teeth are small. His snakes are small, too.
<OOC> Vaera says, "I'll... step back and shoot the big cat thing" <OOC> Vaera says, "10,18" GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+12-3: (3)+12+-3: 12 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+7-3: (18)+7+-3: 22 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+6: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+6: (7)+6: 13
Vaera ducks back as the jaguar creatures pounce on the group. The red makari takes one knee and sends one round from the thunderbelcher straight through one of the beast's shoulders, and quickly loading another through the side, the second lands square in it's chest, sending it crumpling to the ground.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Unfortunately, Kamadan 2 comes out of the woodwork. Rawr. It breathes on everyone again. Fortitude saves unless your name is Khepri. :)"
<OOC> Vaera says, "... I think Sith-makar are immune to sleepy effects :("
GAME: Vaera rolls fortitude: (9)+9: 18
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "They ARE. HUH."
<OOC> Khepri says, "I didn't know that either."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay, well then, just roll Fortitude if you're Dirk. XD"
<OOC> Khepri says, "Poor Dirk :)"
<OOC> Dirk says, "x.x"
GAME: Dirk rolls Fortitude: (13)+9: 22
Where one kamadan falls, another one rises. This one tries to aid the little one that's come out of the woods, breathing more of that awful sleeping gas, but...!
Oh. Oh, that didn't work, either. Uh oh.
GAME: Dirk rolls Ranged+5: (3)+10+5: 18 GAME: Dirk rolls Ranged+5-5: (6)+10+5+-5: 16 GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4+1: (1)+4+1: 6 GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4+1: (8)+4+1: 13
Dirk yelps as the kamadan jumps at the party. He nimbly skips back, racking his thunderbelcher in mid-skip. He plants his feet firmly on the jungle soil and swings the weapon up. "HAVE SOME O' THIS!" he snarls. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! Two more shots ring out, thunking squarely into the feline's furry form. "-That'll- teach ye tae go nibblin' on innocent folk!"
<OOC> Khepri says, "Khepri opts to start whaling on the younger kamadan." <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Sir, that's a cat, not a whale." GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6+1: (7)+7+1+5: 20 GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (6)+4: 10
Khepri turns, catching the smaller kamadan's blows on its shield. "They seem to have grown accustomed to easy meals. We will have to exterminate them." The khopesh pulses with a soft glow as it begins to rise and fall, and Khepri hacks into the creature's flesh, spattering blood as tie war golem fights with a kind of metronomic, mechanical focus.
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+1: (9)+1: 10
The small kamadan is not going to take this lying down. Bloodied and raging, it snarls and gnashes at Khepri, followed by a whirl of claws and an attempted strike from the snakes.
None find purchase, however. It's a bit like watching a kitten trying to gnaw on the tail of a large dog.
<OOC> Vaera says, "pew pew on big cat" GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+12+5-3: (5)+12+5+-3: 19 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+7+5-3: (18)+7+5+-3: 27 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12: (1): 1 GAME: Vaera rolls 1d12+6: (5)+6: 11 <OOC> Vaera says, "7+11" <OOC> Vaera gives RT a slushie <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "It's hanging on by a thread! Pose it!" <OOC> Ravenstongue woah, a slushie. ... Hey, are you trying to bribe your GM? Because it might work. XD
Vaera loads another round into the thunderbelcher, and takes advantage of the creatures attacking the others to line up another shot, which strikes the beast soundly, followed by yet another wounding blow. "The beast falters! Just a bit more and they will be down!" She shouts to the others.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Kamadan sees smol kamadan having a heccin' trouble. It decides to be a good parent. As good of a parent as you can be when you have a mane full of snakes." <OOC> Khepri deadpans, "F***." <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Steps forward and full attacks." GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+2: (11)+2: 13 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d3+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d3+3: (3)+3: 6
The remaining large kamadan goes forward. The offspring is having difficulty... So it decides to step in and even things out.
Starting with Khepri. Focused on Khepri, really. While its bite glances off the Executioner's mainframe, the claws manage to do some rakes into the war golem's armor in a way that's pretty unpleasant. That'll need a buff-out from someone later...
GAME: Dirk rolls Ranged+5: (12)+10+5: 27 GAME: Dirk rolls Ranged+5-5: (16)+10+5+-5: 26 GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4+1: (12)+4+1: 17 GAME: Dirk rolls dmg: aliased to 1d12+4+1: (4)+4+1: 9
Dirk narrows his eyes as the larger kamadan steps forward to start clawing at Khepri. He skips back another step, racking his thunderbelcher and swinging it up. CHK-BOOM! BOOM! One bullet punches a hole between the serpentine-feline's ribs, while the second goes clear through its throat. The kamadan gives a choked mewl, tottering on its feet before toppling over onto its side. Its snakes give a last raspy rattle before flumping down onto the ground, like a pile of particularly vicious spaghetti. "Hrmph! -Bad- kitty!" he growls.
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6+1: (10)+7+1: 18 GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (7)+4: 11 (free reroll) <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "It turns tail and run. Or attempts to. Khepri, wanna AoO?" <OOC> Khepri rolls it. GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6+1: (19)+7+1+5: 32 (THREAT) <OOC> Khepri says, "Oh lordy. Come on, baby, daddy needs a new pair of shoes..." GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6+1: (8)+7+1+5: 21 GAME: Khepri rolls 2d8+8: (6)+8: 14
Meanwhile, Khepri absorbs the larger kamadan's claw attacks, staggering but not falling. As the beast is felled in turn by Vaera and Dirk, the war golem sweeps its khopesh around in steady arcs, the first slash cutting deeper into the smaller cat-beast. When it turns to run, though, Khepri reverses its grip, stepping forward and slamming the blade down point first into its back... pinning it to the earth. There's a malignant hiss, and then the beast slumps in death, the corpse only twitching once when Khepri pulls its blade free. "Interesting culprits," it comments. "Unsure if their pelts will be saleable in Alexandria, though."
Dirk straightens as the last of the kamadan falls, the barrel of his thunderbelcher still curling with a wisp of smoke. "Hah! Nice fightin', friends!" he says. Khepri gets a grin as he hefts his thunderbelcher over his shoulder, planting his free hand on his hip and puffing up his burly chest with a grin. "Ahh, don't you fret, laddie. I'm sure I can get summat out of 'em. Those two are bloody -yuge-! Could make a whole bloody tent out o' one o' those!" He eyes the dead snakes. "Not exactly sure what tae do wi' -those- nasty things, though..."
Vaera keeps their thunderbelcher trained on the beast until it is certain the beasts are no more, at which point she chuffs and lowers the weapon. "That is almost certain to be what was going after the travellers. Unfortunate, but a necessary evil. I think you could likely get plenty of usable hide out of it. It would not be right to waste."
Khepri dispassionately shakes its khopesh off before wiping it clean. Inspecting the blade edge, before returning it to its sheath. "I am unfamiliar with Mictlan customs. Do we need to bring proof of our hunt? Are trophies required?" The golem inspects one of the larger kamadans. "However, these are most certainly our culprits."
Thankfully, this whole tracking and fighting endeavor didn't take more than a few hours. The adventurers take what they can from the aftermath and make it back to Mictlan at sunset, a brilliant autumn orange-violet haze that settles onto the village. The first thing you hear is Miquitlani humming happily as she pulls down two robes that are identical to the one she's wearing now from clotheslines. Considering the priestess's small accommodations and humble way of living, they might be the only two she has, but this doesn't bother her a bit.
"Ay, you were successful," she says, a wry sort of audible smile in her voice and a glint in her good orange eye. "I can tell. You are all walking taller. Even you, tin-man." A chortle leaves her as she leads the group back to her adobe.
Where another tlahco dinner is waiting. Spicy, warm, and full of love. "Eat," she decrees again. "You all deserve it."
OOC
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Also, map. Plague doctor=Khepri, gun=Dirk, owl=Lulu, dragon head=Vaera. https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mh9okrqqnm9"