Tales of Fantasy & Wonder Vol. 1

VIII - Launch of Lil' Hopeful

Launch of Lil' Hopeful

Game IIX                                                                        November 1st, 2017

A month has passed since the establishment of a new camp south of the ruins, beside the causeway and beach. A new craft was also being brought to its completion, its top half visible above the sand line and pit that cradled it. The weeks had been busy for the crew and Theo, the former working under the barking orders of First Mate to wrestle the craft together from the wreck and south beach foundations (found earlier by Theo). The ranger kept the party fed with game hunted from the fern forests and sea tides, setting traps and foraging for anything that he could add to the ship.

Returning from one such expedition, the woodsman detoured from his journey back to camp to speak with Xammy, who had remained hidden just outside the range of the sailors movements. Theo had kept in contact, and now their dialogue shifted to the possibility that Xammy might be left behind on the island. Working to change this outcome, Theo reminded him to keep strong, and if this worst scenario should happen, he promised to hire a vessel back to the island as soon as he made landfall back in Yhorgii.

Examining a pair of pits he had been deepening over the last few weeks on his return to the southern camp, the ranger had been hopeful to catch some of the raptors that were beginning to creep around, drawn no doubt to the presence of man flesh. Already carrying a few hares on his belt as success from earlier hunting, he finished his journey back over the ridge and gullies without further pause.

First Mate hailed him shortly after arriving into the activity around 'Lil' Hopeful', the salvaged vessel being named by the sailors as a lucky omen. They speak of what they know of the islands ahead (having noted them on the initial journey before the wreck of Faelie's Bluff), and the fresh water they have in supply. With only small water bladders and a few larger skins to share between the twelve men, they plan to anchor off Griffonlair, a large isle north of their current locale. Griffonlair is known amongst sailors as an island occupied by its namesake, although the exact truth of this legend is questionable.

Interupting the conversation, a sailor returning from a patrol warns that his companion Manny is missing, lost near the edge of the forest. Theo and First Mate follow him to the place he last eyed Manny, and there are tracks indicative of both a man fleeing into the fernery, and the talons of raptors in pursuit.

A search party, made up of First Mate, Sandy, Jerac, and Theo take up arms and enter the rainforests at the summit of the southern mountain, along its west side. Theo interprets the signs with some hope Manny is still alive, and a distant voice gradually rises in volume as they continue. Bringing the party to a holt at the shaking of a large elephant ear leaf, Theo soon calms them and presses on, having deduced from this sign and another (a bobbing light) that Xammy had silently joined the group when they passed his own hidden camp in the pursuit.

Manny is soon tracked vocally to a native pine tree, its peak waving under the sailor's weight. Three raptors are pacing under the morning shadow of the tree until they scent the arrival of other men. Theo and Jerac recognize the leader of the beasts as the surviving male from an earlier encounter, having a coloured frill neck among other recollected markings.

Jerac and Theo step out from the others to engage the lizard king, leaving the other two to individually bring down the remaining pair of beasts. The lizard king's place in the raptor hierarchy is soon proven with a vicious bite through Theo's armour as well as wounding the half orc as they weaved and slung their steel at the primeval creature.