Faunaturia

[Zet]

Common Difficulty: Normal

A jungle located across the Swordsman Plateau on the way to the city toward the harbor. While it has been cultivated enough to allow humans to travel through it will be able to do so, doing so on foot will occasionally meet complications in the form of wild animals or the brigands trying to catch the unsuspecting individuals off guard. Thick and full of surprises, getting through the space will inevitably allow one to either head toward Lyenis the Harbor City or toward the other layer of the Swordsman Plateau, the Bladelands.

[shast]

From the Swordsman Plateau

He and his Entourage continued their march. Jax accepted that his companion wasn't too interested in discussing himself. If Sorins goals ever came to the forefront he would simply has to repay the favor Sorin had already done for him. It made for a clearer path in the now regardless and as they approached and began to trudge through the jungle Jax kept an alert eye on the surroundings.

[Wraith]

The next goal would be in sight, but the jungle was perhaps more perilous than it was first intended to be. There was overgrowth to and from, familiar signs once again for the silent one among them. And in the distance a black smog could be seen in the air, but what that meant after recent events could be anything. But the rustling of footsteps could be heard through the growths just the same, proof that people were still out and about. Though the rustling of the wildlife could be heard as well, the sounds of life and the jungle echoing out about them to at least show that the jungle itself wasn't on fire to produce the smog that could be seen up in the air. They could try to confront whoever was already here to try and ask questions or to simply continue their trek without the detour.

[shast]

A plagued sky, within a day of the events of Vildread and within a week of his own heisting. Too much for coincidence for Jaxs' tastes and it'd be well within reason to presume these three events werent linked. While Jax's personal code adhered to the survival of the fittest, his circle as a whole preached that the unnatural and natural worlds aren't to interfere with one another. What that specifically entails Jax doesn't fully understand but to him it simply means that when dark magic messes with the non-manmade world he was supposed to take issue.

These justifications were more than enough to detract him from their predetermined destination of the harbor city. In times like this Glenn would simply stop and ask someone, or Rita could just do some druidic magic with dirt and have the ground speak to her about its issues. Jax however does not have these talents. He's a brute who can read the land. So... that's what he'll do. He trudges through the jungle in the direction of the smog, and listens to the wildlife's movements as he goes. The direction they were heading and with what intensity would tell him the overall threat compared to normal if nothing else. While also looking for other averse signs besides smog that may alert him to what exactly could be happening, before it happened to them.

[Wraith]

Moving through the jungle, he could hear the wildlife. They were fighting, but not against the ring of steel or even against one another. Leaves were moving unnaturally not unlike the treant they had fought before. There must have been those here just as when he noticed the trees moving unnaturally back at the capital. Had they passed through here first before going to the capital or had this begun after? His expertise in the signs let him know that this was an ongoing problem, that the life had started changing in the environment due to riverbeds and the like shifting unnaturally. The jungle was fighting against itself, turning nature against itself as the smog came further without. It must have been coming from the harbor city then, meaning that things would likely escalate when they arrived there as well. Should he prioritize getting to his destination or seeing if he couldn't provide some aid into the jungle's dilemma of devouring itself due to the changes produced. The matter of what problem to confront first was in their hands, or whether to ignore both problems entirely and simply pursue their own path if possible.

[Phen]

Sorin wordlessly would notice Jax's intent, their path altering ever so slightly from the main path as he would eventually recognize the smog they were moving toward. Transitioning seamlessly from leader to follower when Jax expressed his intent to investigate. With their progress deeper into the side paths, he'd notice as well the turmoil within the Jungle. The wildlife wasn't normally this violent, or at least when he passed through nearly a year ago it wasn't in such disarray. The smog in question seemed to be coming from their eventual destination, the harbor to leave the continent and make their transition to the main human and lecross countries, so while they'd probably benefit from investigating the effects here in the forest, whatever was the cause would likely require some effort when they arrived, and before they had a chance to leave. Unfortunate that it would likely mean their exit would be hindered in some way, perhaps the assailants at Vildread had already blocked off the main point of exodus. Pondering this thought, he wondered what the true goal of the ones who took the city was. Clearly not to rule, for they drove out the people with their violent and vicious takeover, but did they need the people to stay here as well?

[shast]

Sorins shift in interesting matching his own Jax took it as an accepting sign to continue his search. The jungle was assaulting itself. Yet more signs pointing to the thieves that had looted his circle. Yet for the effect to linger without their presence here it must have been a powerful magic indeed, or perhaps it had been initiated with the Terram Lapis and kept active by some other font of power if such a thing were possible. Jax would determine if this were the case as he and his companion keep moving through the jungle.

[Wraith]

As they continued their pursuit through the jungle, they would encounter their first course of action that needed to be done. Four of the trees from before were active now, engaged with what appeared to be two separate groups. One was a group of individuals whose appearances easily led to the belief that they were brigands, likely beset upon by the preternatural changes that had occurred here. The other was a group of animals native to the jungle, both fending off two trees of their own. Jax and Sorin could work together to help one of the separate groups or to split up and each help a group of their own, as should either group fall behind the trees would carry that momentum to grow stronger and stronger over time as evidenced by their first encounter with them.

[Phen]

Four of the trees that had fended them both off fairly handily with just one, now split into groups of two and fighting with humans and native wildlife alike. He doubted the animals would stand much of a chance on their own while the likely brigands might be able to stay alive for a while on their own. The people of this country even absent from the towns shared their country's namesake, so they certainly wouldn't go down without a fight, but should the animals fending off the two fall they would surely be caught between and handily routed. It was a difficult decision without much time to ponder it, and even stopping to think Jax would surely have already taken action rushing ahead. If he was going to need to reveal more of his magic at least it would be better for him to make it clear he was not a force standing against people. As he rushed to stand behind the group of humans, grimiore in hand he shouted to Jax.

"I'll make sure we rout these accursed trees, so stand tall in the meantime while I help this first group. Those animals don't stand a chance alone so they'll need someone sturdy to support them!"

[shast]

Divide and conquer was a shrewd tactic to employ given that not days prior just one of these fiends had fended the duo off. However Jax while Jax did not care much for the humans plights he could not allow the very land itself to go against its bestial natives. While somewhat paradoxal to his belief that all manner of creature should be able to stand tall on their own merit. This unnatural blight on the land too superceded his own beliefs. Clearly Sorin believed differently as he rushed to the humans side. Jax himself readied his bardiche and threw himself into fray alongside the jungle animals.

[Wraith]

Trees moving of their own volition certainly was out of the ordinary, something they all well knew now. To this end, they would choose to divide their forces to try and surmount the threat while able. Jax would serve as the bastion against the threat while the brigands and Sorin would have to find their own way to combat the trees without the same defensive measure in their favor. It meant that things on either front could get dangerous swiftly, but with no other options available to them, the battle would begin in earnest.

[Stalking Menace]

[Phen]

The battle could have gone better, at least for him. As the two treants fell and the immediate danger subsided, so too did the roiling shadow around Sorin and provided a moment for him to catch his breath. As he felt his stamina return to him, his shadow no longer capitalizing on it for protection, he pulled from his cloak several medicines. Downing two bottles of rejuvenating liquid quickly and with a grimace from the harsh flavor and gritty texture. As he recovered from the taste, he planted a seat on the ground and applied the ointment he had to the various scratches about his body, quick to apply them to his still humanoid skin first before treating the ones appearing on the scales. He did his best to stay out of sight still, as to let Jax absorb the glory of victory and assistance and hiding his own shame at not being able to hold his own. He had informed the Strikers they were helping to their assistance, but quickly fell to the wayside and wasn't much help at all. Looking down to his shadow and staying on the outskirts of the group, an inkling of a thought manifested for him, one he had well supressed when he had been able to simply flee in the past.

Perhaps it is overdue for me to learn what is actually within rather than just letting it protect me.

[Sorin revives with 15 VP at the end of the battle, and uses 2x Potion and 2x Remedy to restore 26 VP and 180 HP. Bringing HP to 292 and VP to 89]

[shast]

The final treant lay cut and shredded around the small clearing. Jax instinctively looked around for any other potential threats. As each being lowered their guards he was the last to even semi relax himself after he caught sight of Sorin. Going from actively looking around to simply keeping an ear out. He sits down and lets out a heavy sigh. It had been a close battle yet again in the end. To go from battling one of those treants and having to retreat to four and succeeding was a clear sign of his growth. It was still a far cry from what the dark armored cavalier had mustered and he was only a servant to the white robed man. Jax let out another sigh. It would be some time before he'd reacquire his relic. The jungle would just have to hold out until then.

He pats one of the beasts as it goes by and thinks about the next course of action. There was still the billowing cloud in the horizon. Jax motions one of the remaining men over and points to it, then flips his hand over as if motion a 'what?'.

[Wraith]

With victory at last theirs, the beast would let Jax pat it without issue, their allegiance earned through the trials of combat. They would have to see to their dead for the brigands while Sorin mended himself, sorting their own supplies as they noticed Jax motioning to one of them. It looked like he wasn't one for speech, which meant they had to figure it out. One of them did just that, speaking up at his mention as he was likely asking a 'what happened here' and the animals, while also speechless, had less odds of being very vocal about it.

"We were minding our own business when some freak of nature just came by and held up some strange rock. Next thing we knew the jungle just started attacking us. Lost a good number of our crew thanks to that. We lost sight of the dastard, but one of them definitely made way for the harbor. Looked like they were in all black too."

It was likely before they encountered the problem over at the capital, meaning it was a different one than what happened there. But then it still meant that helping the harbor would be an ordeal all of its own. And their hands were tied as well, meaning they would quite possibly have to brave the harbor itself in order to get away for now and make way for the destination desired. The animal would nudge back at Jax to get his attention, looking away from the harbor's billowing cloud and instead deeper into the jungle, as if there was something in that direction that was of interest to the others as they all seemed intent to head that way.

[shast]

He had all but confirmed the white robed figure was the cause of these treants, but this witness testimony was the last nail in that coffin. There were many abilities the Lapis had that Jax didn't understand and that the druids never used, only spoke of. That this fiend used it in such ways led to thoughts of many other secrets within the relic. Jax nods at the brigands knowingly and sighs yet again. At the beasts prodding Jax brings himself to his feet and beckons for Sorin with an inviting wave. Perhaps their work in the Faunaturian jungle wasn't done yet.

[Phen]

Sorin patted himself down and dislodge some of the dirt that had kicked up on to his robe and cloak, now having better composed himself his shadow returned to its most natural state only slightly darker than the light would normally provide. Unfortunately the time on the ground in this jungle would lightly soil the edges of his robe, to which he grimaced slightly with distaste. In only a few days he had dirtied his nice clothing in some way that he would need time to wash it out, but when that time would be allowed was another story altogether. Putting the thought out of mind, he approached Jax and nodded simply to the brigands there, still trying to avoid eye contact with the ones he thought he had failed in his assistance. As he closed the distance and stood beside Jax he would take notice of the animals that had taken a liking to the giant, and were beckoning him to go further into the forest. At least in their comfort around Jax they'd pay Sorin little mind was his thought.

"I suppose getting out won't be quite the simple task that I expected it to be. Besides now that you've made yourself a hero of the jungle, we should at least make sure there aren't any other pressing issues we can deal with before our attempted departure."