lifeaftr | Exploration Event: Gorilla Warfare

EXPLORATION EVENT: GORILLA WARFARE

Who: Lup, Taako, Muffet, Wade, Shepard, Roy, Edward, Guzma, Ardyn, Laurent + any others, with permission
What: Well done, survivors, on pushing forward with your explorations! Your explorations will now push back.
When: Sep 22
Where: Ensō D8
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Part I: You Had Me at Hell-ow
Islanders may have noticed it, by now, whispering a bassline within their dreams, or in the periphery of their hearing among the waking world: drums. Great, booming drums, deep like rumbling thunder in a thick haze of sun-heat. South of the island, where the air tastes thin of salt, where the surf hisses and breaks against the cliffs, drowned out by an ungodly rhythm of objects beating against logs, against bone, against anything that produces a sound unpleasant enough to the ear.

The three adventurers who had the misfortune of uncovering the source of this sound had been wise, indeed, to turn back for reinforcements. Perhaps you're one of them. Stand together, intrepid explorers... for when you push through the thick ferns, it would take quite the wild mind to anticipate what awaits you in the wide clearing that opens up.

The clearing itself, easily the size of a soccer field, sits in a blaze of sunlight and wide strokes of rippling jungle grass. Fallen logs and pools of glimmering water stretch forward across the landscape. On all sides of the clearing, a line of thick, green trees form vast ramparts of foliage, walling in the area with almost militaristic efficiency. And in the distance, past the pools and logs and trees, rises an enormous structure carved from pointed stone and glossed with beautiful, blue-green ivy, shimmering like gray fog in the heat-haze.

Yet the mysterious structure isn't the only of its kind to be found here. From the boughs of trees hang nests, fashioned from branches and leaves and tightly packed mud; no bigger than shacks, with vines trailing from the mouth of each one to the jungle floor. These nests are small and seemingly precarious, but appear to offer sturdy shelter against the elements.

Were these the only discoveries to be made. Unfortunately, they didn't build themselves -- and their architects very quickly show.

They start in ones, and then twos, and then threes: from the opening of each nest, every branch wider than an inch, crawling from the wide knots of fallen trees, the monkeys begin to emerge. Primitive weaponry of spears and stone axes, walnuts jammed between their large, yellow teeth as they shove grapes into blowdart guns and load rocks into their fibrous slings. The biggest and surliest apes crouch with stern looks and what appear to be wooden firearms perched in their grasp.

Dear, brave explorers, it would seem that you are intruding, and that these irate simians have every intention of shooting you should you dare to tread closer.

And it’s gonna hurt.

Part II: An Apeeling Aftermath
Should your adventuring party manage to drive the apes off into the forest, the abandoned battlefield plunges into an immediate hush.

Now would be the time to lick your wounds. Investigate, if you are inclined to such things.

There is nothing of particular interest outside what had been immediately observable -- save one detail. On the far side of the clearing, a massive door formed from gnarled roots stands between the impenetrable underbrush and the mysterious structure beyond. Scrawled on the thickest root is a message -- well, more like a hieroglyphic of sorts, depicting a great number of humanoids bent in worship at the foot of an enormous, squiggly triangle. Presumably, this sad polygon represents the temple rising high above the treetops.

Unfortunately, this is where the exploration must end; the door is impenetrable by definition, and no amount of prodding, prying, or even fire will prove effective. At this time, it would appear that the door is simply not meant to be opened, and the temple beyond not yet meant to be discovered.

Thankfully, there is always the prospect of loot to occupy one's interest.

Should characters turn their attention to the ravaged battlefield, they will find a great haul of resources for their efforts. Granted, perhaps only a fraction of it is usable -- broken coconuts and smashed bananas aren't likely appealing to anyone -- but those who are brave enough to climb into the abandoned nests can find an assortment of primitive weaponry made from stone and sticks, to include spears, slings, and blow dart guns. Perhaps even a coconut gun or two has escaped the battle in working order.

Certainly enough of the weaponry is salvageable, at least, for the explorers to take home one item each -- if they so choose.

Other than weapons, the nests are stacked mostly with straw bedding, reserves of fruit, and jars of clay, all of which may be carried out as prizes. Strange, isn't it, how the place almost resembles a military post? In any case, there is nothing else to be done here.

Surely nothing of import will come of this.

Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the Locations Page, which has details regarding the starting areas and a handy map for those who feel better with a bird's eye view!

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Exploration Event: Gorilla Warfare

This is probably getting to a wrapping point, unless you want to play it all the way to the retreat?

Nope, we're good!