[RP] Crag's Secrets: Chapter 1 - Arrival

Shallan takes a deep breath, as the object stopped, before it's creaking groans indicated the danger wasn't over. "Come On!" and scurries out of the way, dignity long forgotten at this point.

Kimbek breathes a little easier now but still takes a cursory glance over everyone to ensure they are not hurt. "What are they throwing at us now?" He tries to guide others towards the edge of the clearing away from the danger of the swinging box and the potential danger of what it contains.

Ninety nine thunders! Sadur curses and not even trying to stand up Sadur rolls to the northern side, while keep talking he don't hear others talking at the same time. Probably none does. Bee in your beard! Who order a delivery?
Still on all four he tries to see if there is an exit.

Although it had been many decades since Bartholomew last saw the halls of the monastery, his disciplined daily training regimen had developed a set of instinctual muscle memories that was able to stimulate the spinal cord without explicit direction from the brain. As he leapt into the air—beard flying one way, hands the other—Bartholomew intuited the princess's plight. She was trapped by insidious vines or grasses that did not let her flee the impact zone! If he were to hit her, as he first intended, he could shatter her bones! Without conscious thought, he curled his body mid-leap and extended his staff. With a deft twist of his wrists Bartholomew was able to leverage the force of his jump to snap the vegetation without harming the princess. He landed in a roll, immediately desperate to snatch the princess from the disaster. As he arose, he saw the dwarf (whom he had not recognized) barrel into the clearing at full speed, grab Belladonna and the princess, and then aim directly at him. Bartholomew's eyes widened as the raw force of the dwarf and his inertial bowled him over, being off-balance from the leap, and straight out of the impact zone.

As the three of them hit the ground, a hideous shriek of straining and failing metal was heard, The container had stopped mere inches from the dwarf's prone body. Had they all been standing there, they would have been crushed to a pulp!

Princess, are you all right?, Bartholomew asked. He quickly looked her over for signs of trauma or mistreatment First Aid (Apothecary) Roll.

His immediate concern for the princess's well-being satisfied, Bartholomew rushed over to the dwarf and helped him crawl out from under the swaying container. As the dwarf got up, Bartholomew said I believe we owe you our lives, brave sir. I am Brother Bartholomew, advisor to our beloved King Leonidas. I presume you as well must support the rightful king if you are marooned with us. Forgive me, but I am at a loss to recognize you. How are you addressed?

At this point, Bartholomew registered the strange noises coming from inside the box. We had better see what is in there before the rebels fly away. We need all the resources we can amass if we are going to survive, let alone make it back home and return the rightful king, or his heir—at this point, Bartholomew looks sadly at Shalla— to the throne.

In all the tumult, Bartholomew could not remember anything about jackals in either religion or politicsNormal Failure on both checks in prior post. He would have to ask his companions at a suitable time. But first, survival.

"Princess, get behind a tree!"

Belladonna points to a particularly large specimen and then scoots over to Sadur to assist him out of the way of the swinging container.

"Thank you Mr. Sadur, I guess the air delivery is for you!"

Princess Shallan get back from her knees with the grace of a princess, only disturbed a little by quite a few pieces of grass and leaves in her fairy hair. Hearing Belladonnas recommendation of hiding behind a tree leaves her completely clueless as there are like few dozens of threes around them and she don't even recognize about which tree her trusty companion is talking about. Not to mention the fact, that it wasn't so obvious if she really was going to hide now, or not.

This confusion on princess face draws Bartholomew attention, making him worried for a brief second, but soon his worry fades away when he notices how stable and brisk princesses steps are. He's quite sure that everything is well with her, for now...

Together with Belladonna, Bartholomew help their savior - Sadur, who rolled in their direction - to get up from the ground practically getting him out of falling container's danger. Although to be be honest... Belladonna's help looked more like hanging on Sadu's shirt's sleeve when the massive dwarf raised from the ground, exchanging greeting handshake with Brother Bartholomew.

During this time Kimbek was trying to asses what is the state of survivors. To his satisfaction, he found that the vast majority of the survivors had sustained no additional injuries. But one specific thing caught his attention.
Then you all hear strict, but fluent and calm voice of Kimbek ordering everyone to get to the sides of the clearing, out of the danger of severed container and what can be inside of it. Many faces has risen surprised by the strength of his words and will - to check who is giving orders. Some even started to wonder who he is, as they thought that there is only one member of King's family with them, who traveled with them onboard their bloody air transport. The words had immense impact on them and everyone from The Rest took his orders to heart, fulfilling his recommendations immediately.Being in relative safety, someone from The Rest shouted, apparently not being able to hold his curiosity or excitement:
"What, the heck, is going on with this container? They wanted to provide us with some supplies or just kill us?!?"

As in reaction to his words you see that the wooden container is starting to rise, apparently lifted up somehow by the flying pterodactyl crew... The big box is visibly severed, but still holding on and Something inside it starts to make even more ruckus then before.

What do you do?

Kimbek takes the situation in, allowing everything to settle coolly in his mind before reacting.

"Something in that box wants out." He finally asserted, then began to look around for a stone or something he could use to smash the wood.

Bartholomew looks at the container and tries to ascertain if it would be faster to attack the creaking metal chains or pry open the cover.

"I'm afraid I don't know as much about physics as the rest of you, but pretty sure extra tension on that chain will help it or the box to break."

She attempts a running jump to grab onto the box!

It was hardly her workshop, but Shallan had enough tools stashed around her pockets and aprons to work with, even if it had nothing worthwhile inside the container might make a the beginnings of a shelter for the night, she calls to anyone listening as she dashes back towards the container "Boost me up, I'll can get this unfixed."

Jump here, your highness Bartholomew said as he linked his fingers to create a stirrup from which he could boost Shallan to the top of the box.

Surprised at why are they trying to help captors to solve their logistics issue Sadur take care of his dog, Silver. Ho knows Silver may get too much involved when people behave under stress.

Kimbek also rushes over to help Bartholomew lift the princess up, or at least stand by ready to assist if required.

The dog was barking at the container and was dangerously close to it. Sadur simply calls Silver, Come! twice. Then order it to stay.

Belladonna tries her best to hold onto the side of the box, looking like a child hugging a particularly large bear. She can be unintentionally a step for Shallan to take up to the top of the box if needed!

Bartholomew[GS!] takes a moment to asses the container. Its walls look severed, but not from roll or fall of the container itself - it didn't hit anything in the end of a day. Its walls are severely beaten by the Thing inside of it - it certainly wants to get out. To pray it open indeed some heavy object or even better an axe would be needed. But it can be doable by some kicks or heavy blows from someone really strong. It would be even better if someone or something would continue to hit the walls from the inside... but how to encourage this?The chains attachment looks much more promising. It seams as the whole container is hanging on one, not fully tightened screw.Sadur[GS!] calls his trusty dog to him in order for the dog to be safe from what could happen with barely hanging container. The dog is apparently very well trained, as even in such unusual and stressful situation it obeys his master without a flinch, running immediately and sitting next to Sadur - like every good dog should.Shallan with a help of Kimbek and Bartholomew climbs the container without visible problems, get's to it's top, catches the chains and is ready to act, probably using her craft - that some used to criticize while they were still at the court. Her hair flowing with the container swings and little breeze, makes a perfect picture for someone that could be called The Artifcer Princess... in the future, if she will live long enough to become such legend.

Meanwhile Belladonna with a short run up, and a graceful jump catches and holds on to the container edge. She tried to look heavy and act as one. But even to her surprise - her weight was enough for the chains or their attachment to make another loud groan.

But she hears something else. As soon she attached herself to the container, she hears a muffled by the walls, but well hearable sniffing and then loud squeak. She knows those sounds way too well! She is now sure: it's Pipper, her Dryosaurus mount inside of it!
"But how?!?" - probably she thinks.

---

In the meantime - of our heroes desperate attempts to keep the opportunity that the Fortune apparently have given them, for themselves - the container was risen another meter above the ground and seems to be lifted with greater speed with each breath.

Princess Shallan is standing on the top of container ready to act. Bartholemow and Kimber are just next to it, probably worried about princess safety. Belladonna is still holding to the container edge, but is visibly loosing her grip [and will fall in a moment due to TF, so no further climbing without reattaching to container again in some way!]. Sadur is standing at some distance from all this chaos, at north end of a clearing with his dog sitting and perfectly aligned in line next to him. With some of the people from The Rest.

What do you do?

In the heat of the moment, Kimbek attempts to take the situation in, though he is glad the princess reached the top of the container safely.

"Do you think you can get it off the chain?" he calls up.

He allows an idea to form in his mind, realizing that his connection to the Spirit is not as distant as it once was.