IoK Saline – Session 5

“No… listen to what I’m asking?!?  WHERE DID THE WOLF GO?”

Cranic was ready to choke this chipmunk.  Talking to animals sounds like such an amazing gift until you realize what they have to say. 

“West I think… but a wolf once tried to eat me!  I swear, I was minding my own business when the blasted thing leapt out of the bushes and chased me clear across the forest.  I mean, look at me!  Why waste all the effort, I’m just a little thing.  That wolf and his mates could have taken down a fat boar or a deer, but ‘No’, he wants to nibble on poor Buttons.  I mean, what did I ever do to deserve…”

“STOP… Just stop chattering!  How long ago did you see this wolf… and short answers, please!  I don’t have much time.”

The scene to the others must have seemed surreal.  Cranic looking up into a tree and chirping away to a gray chipmunk… hands waiving and a look of frustration.  By comparison, the little gray rodent appeared to be loving the company.  Little paws gesturing widely as it chattered away in shrill squeaks and clicks.

“Well it’s not just one.  Like I said, if you would just listen, he had mates.  About a dozen of them I think.  Mind you, I’m not good with numbers.  I’m just a chipmunk, you know.  I call myself Buttons, I do.  I’ve seen many things… once, there was a bear near my tree.  He tried to eat me!  Jumped right out of the bushes and chased me clear across the forest.  I mean, look at me!”

“Bloody Hell would you just stop talking!”

At this point, the hobok had taken all he could stand.  He hated speaking with animals.  Never did they simply get to the point.  He believed it was the novelty of being able to express themselves.  Without the touch of Dramic enchantments, animals were animals.  They lived simple lives; predictable and quite.  They slept, ate, mated, and died.  Nature, in a chipmunk’s nutshell.  But every now and then, he needed to know something they couldn’t otherwise express.  That’s when he would ‘gift’ an animal for a moment.  It was a simple incantation, taught by his father alongside his knowledge of husbandry and riding.  A little gift from the slave masters, and many hobok consider it to be two steps away from the same magics that rose their kind from animals.

The incantation waned and Button’s demeanor returned to that of an average tree rodent. 

‘Wolves, hunting wolves… and asking the advice of squirrels about how best to do it’ he mused.  Cranic wondered if Buttons would remember his name once the spell had passed.

They had been all through these woods by now.  For the past two days, the pack had circled their camp.  Hunting for signs of golyn or any other danger which would threaten the miners.  It wasn’t difficult work, but the constant drizzle and damp made the stroll through the woods an uncomfortable one.  He was caked with mud up to his shins and would swear that the leather of his lamellar armour was softening.  It would need to be waxed when he had time, but for now he would just accept the chafing.

Cranic looked to Gar.  The hynn had a mild limp today, no doubt from the snare he had stumbled into the evening prior.  A red line of raw skin beaconed through his fur.  Could have been worse.  What if the trap had been poisoned?  Ket had identified a rare flower that grew here, some form of anesthetic.  No doubt the golyn were aware of it as well, we were within their marked territory.  Must be why the snares were set… to keep the wolves away from the leechlings.  Not that much bigger than a chipmunk.  Unfortunately, one of the little biters spotted them and ran.  Gar’s impatience got the worst of them that day.

When the pack returned to camp, there was silence.  The constant damp had taken its toll on all of them.  It was also the last day of the fresh meat, so there was no pleasant aromas coming from the fire tonight.  Just a dull hiss as the rain fought with the embers.  Gar turned in as did the srylian, preparing for their night watch.  Cranic took his place beside the human and began their silent watch.  The two had come to a general understanding by now, having spent many nights working together without a common language.

‘Could I use the same incantation on a human as I did on Buttons?’

Armin didn’t seem to understand the smile that briefly passed Cranic’s face.

 

Session recap:

Party has explored 10 of the 24 zones over the past 2 days.  5 days remain before party should plan on heading back to miners’ camp. 

Wolf snare traps were discovered in the North East corner of the grid.  9 were recovered and are now being used to protect the camp.

‘Spirit Wood’ trees were identified to the South West. 

‘Maiden’s Tears’ flowers were identified to the South.

Wolves are expected to the West, potentially a dozen.

A bear is in the area, potentially to the North West.

During the discovery of the snares, a golyn appeared to have spotted the party and ran North.  Party was unable to catch it.