OPEN PLOT LOG ★ THE CULT [LEFT BEHIND]

[hellshaped]

[closed] INTO THE WOODS. At Ramir's request, Hellboy has accompanied her into the jungle, looking for clues as to this rising cult of Ryba. It's dangerous stuff, cults, particularly when those cults have a penchant for sacrificial mutilation: missing villagers can only spell disaster for the recruits themselves down the line, so it's best to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible. Hellboy is worried about the missing half of their team, but until the storm dies down, there seems to be no better way to pass the time than walking around in creepy jungles looking for possible cannibals. THE RESCUE. After Hellboy's warning and the necessary preparations, it's time to rescue King and Ramir -- and as many captured Nalawi as you can. The camp is by one of the largest estuaries on Pu'ulai, camouflaged by native flora and hidden in the shadow of the volcano Nalalona. The cultists have removed King and Ramir's magitek jewellery, but the tracking beacons are still active, making it easier to find them than without. The well-hidden camp is creepy, filled with ramshackle tents and poorly-made effigies. There's a pool in the middle of it all, filled with brackish, murky water. Ramir, King, and a small number of terrified-looking Nalawi are all bound, kept on the far side of the camp. The cultists are all dressed in hooded black robes, doe and stag alike. They are all without their Gifts, but that does nothing to temper their ferocity at intruders into their camp. Despite their diminutive size, they know the forests better than any ALASTAIR recruit, and are suited to blitz attacks on any would-be rescuers; they may pop out of the underbrush in small, seemingly endless waves. They also have sharp hooves and the stags' horns are dangerous, capable of goring anyone who doesn't get out of the way of a charge. The cult is surprisingly large, so it may take some time to defeat them all. Whether you want to spare them or destroy them is up to you -- but it's clear that the cult has no plans for mercy whatsoever. EXPLORATION. Now that the cultists have been dispatched (one way or another), the camp is free to explore. If any cultists are captured for questioning, they'll speak in gibberish and violently lash out at anyone who comes too close. The only thing they'll say that makes any sense is that Ryba is hungry -- Ryba the devouring one has eaten all the lesser gods in the world long ago, and now she needs more. All around the camp are various effigies (poorly crafted from dried kelp), shark's teeth, and other junk of the sea. There are tents scattered around that may be explored; they are filled with mundane paraphernalia such as books, combs, and other trinkets of sentimental value. If one didn't look at the horrors outside the tents, it might be confused for a refugee camp. The pool in the middle of the camp is filled with black water and disembodied Nalawi eyes, its concentrated magical energy more potent than even the water out in the ocean. There is a single doe in it, floating face down, the latest sacrifice before the cultists were interrupted; not dressed in their black robes, she is one of the missing villagers who was not so lucky. If she is turned over, it can be seen that her eyes have been gouged out. The surviving kidnapped villagers are badly shaken up but have no answers as to what happened other than they were captured by what they refer to as a "death cult." Apart from some slight hunger and dehydration, none of them are injured. They're just glad to be alive, and ask to be escorted back to the Pu'ulai temple.

Comments

[heavyhitter]

[ His answer gets a laugh from Ramir. So, he's nothing they were looking for — she figures it's probably still pretty good that they ran into him. ]

My huge red buddy's right, you shouldn't be out here. Practice your aim somewhere other than the depths of the jungle while people are going missing.

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy is quiet while Ramir speaks, glancing around slowly (so as not to knock her off) as he takes in all the little pebbles scattered around. This kid doesn't have the best arm, which makes him wonder...]

You're not usually like this, are you? I mean you're usually stronger.

[He tilts his head slightly to speak backwards to Ramir.] We should let him come along. He's probably better off with us instead of walking back alone.

[agrizzlysin]

[King doesn't clarify that he's practicing out here in the depths of the jungle so that he doesn't accidentally hit anybody. It wouldn't help him plead his case. Instead, he sighs, dropping his rather useless rock to the forest floor before hopping down himself.

Thank goodness this stupid mission hasn't taken away his balance too.]

I fight with magic. [He figures those four words say it all.] But I can't sit around twiddling my thumbs while people are still missing either. Where are you two going?

[heavyhitter]

[ Ah, another magic guy. ]

So you're super useless right now, huh? [ She sighs, then, down at Hellboy: ] He can come along, but he can't have my seat. I earned this fair and square.

[ That's totally a point worth ignoring King's question for. It's important. ]

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy's tone has now gone as flat as his expression.] Ramir...

[Is he going to have to stop her from fighting a kid? He might have to stop her from fighting a kid.]

We're looking for the bad guys. Our people aren't the only ones who are going missing. [He juts his chin forward.] C'mon. We could always use another set of eyes.

[agrizzlysin]

I have my own legs, thanks.

[He huffs the response, arms crossed over his chest in an over-the-top attempt to look like he doesn't care. Which, naturally, makes it obvious how much he cares. Just because he's super useless right now doesn't mean he likes to hear it.]

And mine actually work.

[Which he demonstrates by marching alongside his new companions, energized by spite.

Yeah, Hellboy might have to stop her from fighting a kid.]

[heavyhitter]

[ Please, why would she descend from her throne to fight a kid, she's totally fine. She just snorts, settling comfortably again. ]

Alright, have fun with that.

[ She turns her eyes lazily back to the jungle around them, back to enjoying this fun new vantage point. There's rustling around them, which she only half registers -- probably just birds, or something. (Definitely not birds, but a city girl really has no shot at realizing the difference.) ]

Okay, let's get this search brigade on the road, right? We got so many trees to stare at.

[hellshaped]

[What a motley crew this is. At least there's safety in numbers, or so they say... not that Hellboy is really worried about himself. Even in his powerless state, he is still big and tough. These other two, though, he's not so sure about.]

Just make sure you don't get distracted by... yourself.

[She's chatty is what he's saying. Though Hellboy should maybe follow his own advice; he's so distracted by Ramir that he doesn't notice the rustling...]

[agrizzlysin]

[King would have been on alert in an instant had he still retained his abilities. He could sense power from a formidable distance. All of the woulds and coulds in the universe can't change the fact that he doesn't have those abilities right now though, and he's still rather haughty.

Luckily for all three of them, the forest has always been his territory. King knows the difference between a bird shaking some branches and a bigger problem. It just takes a roll of his eyes for him to realize there's anything there at all. By that time, he's certain he hears something behind them too.

Feud forgotten, King comes to an abrupt halt.]

Are you two sure you were alone when you came out here?