FLUFF: Jammers: Italapate/Lellyn Summary II

The Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

I'm afraid it's been a slow winter for the Jammers, and i got behind
on posting turn summaries.  I've got at least two more after this
before the Spelljammer list is back with the current Jammers turn.
I'll post them day by day this week.

I hope folks are enjoying these, if there is a consensus that they
suck I will be happy to stop posting them. Let me know what you folks
think. (My players should feel free to comment as well:))

Lellyn and Italapate have been separated from the main group.  This
is their last 'separate' summary, as they rejoin the group at the end
of turn 44.

Website: http://lost.spelljammer.org/Jammers/

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...
{} = Actions and descriptions within these brackets take place within
the psionic mindscape and are OOC knowledge for all accept the
parties directly involved.

IC:

Italapate and Lellyn awake roughly at the same time.  They are
light-headed and their mouths feel extremely dry, but their minds
seem clear.  They find themselves bound, arms behind their backs and
feet tied together, by vines.  They are sitting on a bamboo floor
inside a small hut.  The door, woven fronds in a bamboo frame, is
closed, but sunlight peaks through.  The jungle sounds of calling
birds can be heard from outside the hut.

After a few moments the door is opened and a dozen small humanoids
scamper in and drag the bound pair outside.

The creatures look like a cross between raccoons and monkeys. They are roughly
halfling-size and have 4-foot long tails.  In addition, they have membranes
of skin stretching from arm to leg.  They wear no clothing, but have
leather harnesses for carrying weapons and gear.  The warriors carry
small daggers, blowguns, and spears.  They tend to move on all fours
(or on three extremities if carrying something), but stand upright
when not moving.

The settlement consists of six wooden platforms built between several
large trees. Each platform is supported from below by wooden braces.
The platforms are also supported by a web of knotted ropes, like the
cables of a suspension bridge. A number of huts, varying in size,
have been built on each of the platforms. A safety rail runs along
the edges of the platforms and they are connected by a series of rope
bridges.  Everything is small, built to halfling scale, as the
creatures themselves are.

One of the creatures, his raccoon-like face painted with blue and red
tattoos and many feathers and bones hanging from a headdress he
wears, comes and stands before the two.  He chants for a few moments
while shaking a carved stick, and then says, "Now I speak your
tongue, for little while.  You watch the Dead Ones, those who destroy
the trees.  Why?"

The creature watches intently during the long pause in which Lellyn
and  Pate just sit silently. "Why do you not answer?"

Pate clears his throat.  "Ah, forgive me, honored Squirrell.  It took
a moment to clear my head from whatever was on that dart of yours.
We watch those that raise the dead, because they are our enemies, and
we seek to stop them.  Those that have no respect for the Way of Life
are the enemies of all that do."

"Hmm." The creature considers for a moment then says, "I am Tupa,
Priest of the Waana Clan.  You do not look like the other ground
dwellers.  Your friend, especially, is very different. Who are you
and where are you from?"

"I am Italapate, highest ranking shaman of Coyote on the Rock of
Bral, far beyond your stars and wall.  I am not like the other
dirtkickers you've seen, and am the sworn enemy of the Lady of the
tribes that defile the dead."

Lellyn continues to rest against the wall of the hut, his eyes
slightly unfocused but beginning to track on his surroundings. "I am
Lellyn Al'Rashazad, a humble troubadour. Among my people I am
considered a keeper of songs and lore. I share with Italapate a
disliking for those that disturb the rest of the honored dead, for
what ever purpose. Were it in my power those that have done this
thing would be punished and the dead returned to their slumber. It
was to that end that we observed the camp from cover that our
presences remain unknown until such time as we are prepared to act."

Tupa nods, "But the ground dwellers have always used their dead for
work.  We know not how.  But now, they destroy many trees.  They will
soon destroy the trees of our village.  Do you know how they get
their dead to work? How we can stop them?"

Shifting to a slightly more comfortable position Lellyn replies,
"There, friend Tupa, you reach the heart of the matter. As to how the
dead are made to work, I can only tell you that it is through vile
magics... the exact nature of which I know not. Perhaps a master mage
would know more details. Unfortunately there are none we can consult
at the moment.  As to stopping them, as yet we had formulated no
workable plan. The danger to your people increases the need of
stopping these evil magicians greatly. Perhaps we could work
together, thus pooling our knowledge and resources to end this threat
to us all."

"Maybe." Tupa agrees.  "But we would need to know more of you.  The
ground dwellers have never bothered us within memory,  though our
oldest tales tell that they hunted us once long ago.  But those who
leave closest have been changing over the past years.  Then, a year
ago this began.  We thought they would stop when they had built
enough canoes, but they seem to need more and more canoes.  And
always they go for largest trees, drawing them toward our village.
So we cannot trust those ground dwellers we have known longest.  We
cannot trust you on your word alone. Will you permit me to petition
the spirits to probe your souls?  If we knew the balance of your soul
it would go far to salve our doubts."

"For myself, I have no objection to the spirts of this place being
consulted. However I can not speak for Italapate." Turning slightly,
to meet the gaze of his companion, the corner of his mouth turning
upward in a slight grin Lellyn addresses Italapate. "How say you
then? Shall we meet the spirits of this place together, or will you
wait to see what befalls?"

Pate grins.  "Waiting never helped anybody.  Let's go!"

Tupa nods, "Thank you."  He takes his carved stick and again shakes
it at Lellyn while chanting.  When he's finished he stares into
Lellyn's eyes for a moment, nods and moves on to Italapate.  He
repeats the process, including the eye stare.

Then Tupa says, "Neither of you are devoted to evil, that is good."
He grins broadly.

Italapate and Lellyn are then led to a large breakfast feast they
share with their new hosts.

Date/Time: Morning, 10th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC

**************

Over the next two days Italapate and  Lellyn enjoy the hospitality of
the Waana clan.  they discover that their hosts are called 'phanaton'
by the natives, and have some discussions with Tupa, but none of the
other phanaton have access to linguistic magic like Tupa.  The pair
watch the undead lumberers at work from their tree perch and rest but
no obvious plan for foiling Sanar's plans comes to light.

By the afternoon of the third day among the Waana clan they are
growing restless... and tired of fruit.

Date/Time: 1:30 pm, 12th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC

--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer@????????.net