HSI: The Island

You continue through the jungle, pushing your way through the undergrowth. Gonnar scouts ahead searching for passage to the tower. Halor, Fafnir & Mauve keep an eye on the landscape to identify anything dangerous. Soon the slippery rocks disappear under spongy undergrowth, and the canopy blocks out any sunlight. The jungle is so thick it's almost oppressive.

You continue, pushing your way forward when you hear the crash of waves - the water is not far off. Excitement builds as you realize that you are going to escape back into the sunlight. You eventually break out of the jungle and land on the dark sand of the beach. Ahead of you is the neverending blue sea. In the distance the north, you see the small island just off to the lagoon and realize you had veered to the west while pushing through the dense jungle.

The beach retreats north, back towards the lagoon. It also pushed south, disappearing behind the trees as it circles to the east. The dense jungle sits at your back - giving you another option to seek out that tower. The tower, unfortunately, lost in the trees to the east.

"Ah, we're kind of terrible at this, yeah? Probably need fewer lookouts." he laughs once he realizes they've gone astray. He swats flies away from his ears, an unconscious habit now. "Still beats riding in that boat. I think we should turn back and set up camp nearer to the ship. We can try our luck tomorrow and chalk today up as a lesson learned."

He turns to the magic user. "Say, Magus, you don't have any spells that might help us, do you?"

"Uh..." Mauve doesn't want to insult Gwydion but flora and fauna? Not only had she never heard those strange words but she wondered what could be so interesting about a few plants to cause such excitement in the man. In her mind, plants were for either eating or avoiding and maybe treating a malady or two. Who cared about anything more? So she feigned interest. No point in being mean and spoiling the man's fun.

"Oh yes? Aha. Interesting. Can you eat them?"

She shouts up ahead to the others. "What do you see? Is anything looking promising up there? Any sign of the tower?"

Fafnir shouts back. "Nope! Looks like we got turned around. We're not sure where the tower is. Magus Gwydion, you don't have any spells that might help, do you?"

Gonnar is crouched unhappily on a rock in a clearing when the group catches up to him, and he nods when he overhears Fafnir talking to Griffin. "I led us astray. This jungle is thick... not much like the wastelands. Tomorrow... someone else should lead."

"Bah, I hear you about the jungle. Thick as a Northman's chest hair! But we succeed and fail as a group." Fafnir says matter-of-factly. "Maybe Halor should take up navigation; a holy man with the Gods on his side. What do you think of this: Gonnar and I can watch for trouble, the Magus can ply his trade searching for grub, and Mauve... well the captain can do as she pleases! Either way, let's get back in sight of the ship and set out for the tower with the morning sun."

"That's not what I've seen," Mauve grins as her copper eyebrows curve upward. She thinks about the myriad of bare male chests she has seen in her lifetime.

"Its true. The jungle is thick. Too thick. Easy to be ambushed. It's a good plan. I'm all for it. Let's head back in the ship's direction and make a day of it tomorrow and get to that tower."

"Well, not every man can be a Northerner," he says with feigned pride.

"I have no magics to help us find our way." Gwydion admits. "I chose the more pragmatic path of attack, defense and persuasion. Gwydion sighs. "As curious as I am about that tower, perhaps we would be better off following the coastline. Much harder to lose our way when following the seacoast."

Gonnar is frowning as the decision is made to end their exploration and turn back, but he says nothing for a time. Eventually, on the way back, he offers, "Following coast is good idea, but we need to reach that tower. Think we should set of early tomorrow and commit to reaching it."

Day 2 - 8:00 PM to Midnight
You make your way back to your camp. The trip took a bit longer than expected and the day's light is giving way to night. Samuel immediately jumps to collecting firewood and getting the campfire going. Jack begins to unload supplies and prepare the camp for the night.

It is not long before you have settled for the evening. The last of the cooked Zip Bird is long gone. You are back to feasting on dried rations. The night brings cooler temperatures and it has turned out to be a pleasant night.

Halor offers to take first watch this evening.

Gwydion will the take the last watch.

"I'll be in charge!" Mauve pipes in with a playful smile. In truth, she is glad she will be able to sleep the night as she is exhausted.

Day 2 - 8:00 PM to Midnight
A full day of negotiating the thick jungle proved taxing for you all. Dinner was a solemn affair with little discussion. Each of you eating in silence as you pondered the best approach to navigating this strange island. The efforts of the day wreaked havoc on your hunger. Some of you pulling an extra ration or two as if trying to appease your frustration with a full belly. A cool night, full stomach and sore feet - most of you turn in early. All of you are fast asleep within a few minutes, leaving Halor to stare into the fire and consider the day.

The night passes slowly. Halor stands vigilant during his watch, keeping an eye on the trees off the beach. Every so often, he gets up and walks the treeline, watching for movement and listening for any noise. He listens intently for a repeat of the singing from the night prior, but the cantor must have taken the night off or moved on. No music tonight. He thinks to himself.

By the third hour of his watch, Halor has shifted his focus onto the tower. He moves down the beach a few yards - not so far as to leave the group unattended, but far enough to search the night sky for a glimpse of the tower. The moon is just a sliver in the sky, but the stars are in full force. There, to the southeast. Just barely visible behind the mountain peak. He is sure that's it.

What he doesn't notice is something slithering out from the bushes to his left. Whatever it is, snakes out from the undergrowth and along the beach. It slowly creeps up and stops just shy of his boot. The tip of the tendril curls as if sniffing or tasting the leather before shooting out and attempting to wrap itself around Halor's foot.

"What the-!?" he exclaims.