Journal of Rollo Lavius 1

Entry #27 - Hanging with the Bonobos

(G27 31/10/08 OR)

This is Rollo writing again.

Forgive me, dear reader if things get a little confusing here. I feel it is important to record the adventures of my companions, but also to tell the tale of my lone exploits.

So, to go back in time for a while, on DAY 24 I flew as an eagle to where the Bonobo's lived and managed to find them on the afternoon of that day.

I stayed with the Bonobos until DAY 27 and recorded everything about them in my Beast Journal Entries #213 to #256.

They are fascinating creatures in all regards, quiet unaggressive and accepting of my presence.

At first I thought it would be a great idea to turn myself into a Bonobo with my Druidic abilities but after watching them for a while I realised that was a step I was unwilling to take!

For they are incredibly sexually precocious. For them, fornication has become part of the social structure, the coin that they use to run their economy and the salve that heals all ills. In short, they are constantly mating! Not only that, but the males pleasure not only the females, but other males and indeed themselves if no other orifice is conveniently at hand! How could I integrate myself into such a society and not be tainted by its dreadful lack of morals?

How, indeed, could I write down my finding for sending back to my father? No, I had to keep a sensible distance from these playful creatures and observe them from a dispassionate distance. I almost blanche at telling Raz about these creatures, he had a mocking tone that would instantly pick up on the awkwardness of the situation. I can just imagine the lewd gestures he would make at the thought of what I would be required to do to make myself more appealing to this group of primates in order to ingratiate myself into their tribe while I was in their form!

No, better not to dwell on such unwholesome dealings. By DAY 27 I had filled a whole book with notes and sketches and I had an urge to return home and meet Mashai again. Perhaps watching apes have non-stop sex for three days had made me desire her company again?

Joking aside, I decided to fly back to Sasserine.

As I flew north once more I spotted an interesting set of ruins poking out of the jungle and decided to land to take a look.

As they appeared worth a look I landed and hopped around a bit to look at the statues and pillars.

Some giant beetles were nearby, but they paid me no heed until I made the mistake of turning back into my human form so I could take some notes and rubbings.

A flaming sphere spell quickly dispatched them though.

I then found some steps leading under the temple runs which led a stone door. Luckily I had my 'shape stone' spell ready so I moved it out of the way and continued. In the next chamber I encountered a giant spider, but a summoned crocodile chased it off. Finally I found myself at another door with a sort of puzzle device that locked it.

...to now return to my notes on how the others were doing...

Back at the cove on Day 31, Raz, Shifty, Nobby and Mashai continued into some caves and found evil mutated beings that attacked them. Some of them were like twisted and deformed hyenas but there were also large mutated lizards and the god's know what else lurking in the dark.

Some were chained, but broke their chains and attacked. The companions fought bravely but it was a bitter and bloody combat. Poor Mashai was already addled with disease and had all but lost her wits even before the combat began, and despite being healed by Nobby near the end of the fighting still rushed to help Raz. Her bravery was her undoing as these foul creatures had a habit of exploding once they had been dispatched and she caught the full blast of the last one as it died. It fills me with great sadness to know that Mashai is now dead, but at least she is with her sister now and in a happier place.

Once the combat had ended, Nobby gathered together some drift wood and burned the body. I can't help but think of the four women that have lost their lives since I have been in Sasserine. Shesara, Jasmine, Ayesha and now Mashai. All brave women, but I think they chose a life that did not suit them. Living by the sword is a trade for the likes of huge brutes like Raz, or lurkers like Shifty who both have a knack for survival. It isn't a trade that suits women I feel, who are more delicate and better suited to the kitchen or raising children. I may mention this to Nobby some time, she is a robust sort, but I fear for her life frankly. Perhaps she might be persuaded to find a nice gnomish lad to marry and settle down and forget about having any more adventures?

Poor Mashai. We had become more that just friends after the party at Teraknin Hall. I think I could have grown fond of this tall silent woman, but alas I will never know. She died as she lived, but I feel terribly sorry, and in some ways responsible for her death.