Location: 
Human Village, Riverside, Julene’s cabin - >Forest of beasts
[@Pyromania99][@Click This][@Asuras][@Psyker Landshark][@VitaVitaAR]
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“...I remember those three.” Juelene replied with a frown, nodding a simple greeting to Dragan. “The Alchemist…Charlotte, I think. She looked more like a charlatan and a harlot more than any medicine woman, but she did make me some pretty good healing salves. Showed me how to make them, too. Those other two kept to themselves, but helped us with the beasts while they were here. Seemed like decent enough folk. That Rhea lady…” She paused. “...well, if I wasn’t looking at a bunch of weirdos in front of me I’d say she was the oddest thing I’ve seen all my life. Reminded me of stories of divine servants my parents used to tell me about.” She’d idly comment, turning her head to Giselle.

“...Frenwhat now?” She’d frown. “If you’re asking about the lamps, its neither. They’re Silver Light Lamps. I don’t know where we first got them, but the villages around here started makin’ ‘em shortly after the sun fell. They contain remnants of divine power. It's why the beasts are scared of ‘em just a bit. Not enough to drive a frenzied or hungry one off, but the light discourages ‘em just a bit. Helps plants grow even underground, too.” Julene moved away from where she was leaning on the wall, heading over to what was ostensibly the kitchen and open up a storage barrel. Some scraggly looking green vegetables were plucked out and laid on the counter top.

“I think the redhead wants to rest a bit more, lass.” Julene said to Giselle, using a thumb to point towards Akyasha. “You all wanna go to the forest, be my guest. I can’t leave…something might happen to the village in the meantime.” She’d say, pulling some preserved meat from a beast carcass off a nearby drying rack. “I’ll have you guys whipped up a nice good meal by the time ya get back though. Least I can do for your help.”

Assuming there was nothing else they wanted from Julene, though, getting to the forest would prove not too difficult, and whoever was willing to go would find themselves standing at the treeline, not too far from the river. From here, they could smell what Luna had earlier. Blood. Faint, but if it was this strong, it was no small amount of it from wherever it was coming from upstream.

So they’d cross the river at a shallow portion where the water wasn’t terribly deep a bit further down. The beasts they could see growled and gnashed their teeth, but ultimately didn’t otherwise engage, they were far too weak, scared of the vampires intruding on their territory. It wasn’t until they were well into the forest, past the foliage of the dead trees that the scent of blood grew stronger. What exactly it was and where it was coming from was unclear, but it had to be nearby.

As the group entered into a small copse near a tributary of the river, however…


They could hear it before they saw it. Something swooped overhead, a strong gust blowing past them and shaking the dead, old branches of the forest. The group had moments to react before a creature slammed into the ground in front of them, a large beak the size of a train lashing out with a gust of powerful moving wind, ripping the ground to shreds in its path with a baleful shriek.

Location: 
Forest of Beasts
[@crimson Paladin]
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“Good, good, eheh. Then, as a show of good faith I shall depart at once to try and learn more about this ship.” The Witch chuckled. “Ah, how rude of me. My name - Charlotte. Charlotte LaChance, if you must have a name! No need for honorifics or anything. Charlotte will do. Madam Charlotte, if you’re feeling particularly respectful.” A little cackle as the witch would close the journal, stuffing it back in her robes.

“Until then! Good luck in your endeavors and all that. Don’t dawdle around here, nothing to see. Except me, and if you stay I might start thinking you’ve fallen for my charms, eheheh.” Charlotte would offer Argus a toothy grin before turning back to her table, taking the vial of freshly taken blood and placing it in a protective case. “Valuable, Valuable. Can’t let those fools have it, isn’t that right…eheheh…”

Seemed Charlotte was no longer willing to engage and was muttering to herself as her fingers moved between various other things on the table…before stopping, perking up her ears and glancing towards the Pirate.

“...Say, Mister Pirate.” Charlotte said. “You any good at fighting?” She’d ask. “You may wish to draw that fancy blade of yours. A beastie is nearby and I do believe its spotted the beautiful flower that is myself!”

It wasn’t long before Argus could hear it, a low, bestial growl of some incredibly large beast, the ground thudding as it walked and came clearly into view.

It…looked like a bear. Sort of. It had a vaguely bear shape, walking on four leg, but also had the features of a boar. Its teeth had grown into long, deadly tusks that curled up from its lower jaw and curled down from its upper jaw. Its rear claws seemed to have deformed into deadly, strong looking hooves. Its fur was dirty, mangy and matted, and it stood at nearly teen feet tall on all fours - it could have easily crushed a full grown man with its muscle mass.

“...Ooh, that things pelt is quite warm. I could make a lovely blanket out of it.”