Chapter 1: The Arrival

Once you are ready, you leave the temple behind, heading into the jungle as you follow the map. As you push forward through the dense undergrowth, it quickly becomes clear that this will not be an easy journey. The trees around you tower to heights of 100 feet or more, their dense canopy of woven branches and creeping vines allowing only traces of sunlight to reach the forest floor. Fortunately, both AJ and Al seem to be able to see through darkness unimpeded. Dalton and Novac would be stumbling through the treacherous undergrowth blind, though, if not for the dim light AJ's body gives off, a faint glow illuminating the area around her.

Aside from the darkness, though, you frequently find your path blocked by thorny shrubbery, sudden ravines, or other obstacles that force you to find an alternate route. The journey is grueling, and it isn't long before you find yourselves drenched in sweat from exertion and the humidity, your clothes sporting numerous rips and tears. The map shows the settlement is only 10 miles away from the temple, but even traveling that far before nightfall may prove to be a herculean task.

The jungle around you is alive with a riot of life. Birds, monkeys, frogs, snakes, and an infinite profusion of insects chirp, screech, and buzz, creating a cacophonous chorus to accompany you.

Al remembers the old adage that "moss always grows on the north side of a tree." While that might not actually be the case, it's a good baseline to start from, and he feels confident as he leads the group in the right direction.

As he walks, though, he starts to become aware of an innate connection he seems to have with the prolific flora of the forest. The subtle movements of the leaves seems to be almost a language unto itself. Maybe even a language he can speak?

The vines and moss seem to whisper back in a voice only Al can hear: "That way...

To Al, the undergrowth seems to move slightly, as if beckoning him forward in the direction you were traveling...

The talk of giant spiders proves to have been an omen for what would come. For at this moment, two enormous ticks, each the size of a small dog, scurry into sight at the edge of AJ’s glowing light! The blood-sucking parasites move with surprising speed as they dart towards you!

Dalton's fists skid harmlessly against the tick's carapace. He steps away, but the ticks scuttle forward to attack. The first one bites his leg, its barbed mouthparts latching onto his flesh! It wraps its legs around him and holds tight as it starts to drain his blood! The other tick bites at him, too, but he is able to fend that one off. Still, he is starting to feel drained as the attached tick greedily sucks down his vital fluids!

Neither AJ nor Novac are able to land a good hit on the tick sucking Dalton's blood. Fortunately, Dalton takes matters into his own hands. His fists glow with energy as he strikes down at the tick on his leg, scoring a critical hit. The arachnid splatters into chunks of ichor and carapace, splashing Dalton with his own blood that had been drained. The violent removal of the tick leaves a deep, bleeding wound behind.

Undeterred, Dalton immediately lashes out at the other tick, leaving a deep wound behind. Al capitalizes on the injury as he moves in channels primal power into his hand, transforming it into a claw with which he rips the tick apart! The fight is over, but Dalton continues to bleed.