[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.
|
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hellshaped) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
epidemiology2016-05-09 06:34 pm
no subject
They turned their backs on Chrollo, who had dropped out of a tree, landing soundlessly behind them. The birds all flew up at once with flapping wings shrouding the sound of a skull being pierced with a pen. Chrollo ripped his pen free of the first cultist's head, stepping over its corpse with ease as he drove his heel into the next cultist's left knee. It snapped and they screamed before Chrollo broke its next by grabbing both of its horns and twists its neck sharply in a clockwise gesture. That left two guards, both spotting Chrollo and lifting their spears in unison.
He smiled, the pen in his hand dripping blood in the grass.]
I thought you would be distracted a little while longer. This is bad, isn't it?
no subject
Turns out she's right.
There's a sort of sick horror in how easily Chrollo kills, and she's quick to jump to her feet and charge out of hiding. She's not quite quick enough to stop two deaths, but maybe she can stop two more. She grabs for Chrollo's arm with a dark scowl. She may be short her usual strength (which is good news for Chrollo's arm), but her grip still isn't light or easy to resist. ]
Don't fucking do that!
no subject
She saved them for the moment, but they didn't really see it that way.
Chrollo, dispassionately, replied.]
They're prepared to gouge out the eyes of their neighbors for profit.
[Chrollo was guilty of the same sin. He was smiling because he knew it. He and the Nalawi were only different in their levels of desperation. Chrollo commited heinous acts for the benefit of the spider. The Nalawi fed their egos. When he stole power, it was to satisfy himself.
To him, they were competition. Even so, he looked to play the card he knew best.]
Have you seen what they were going to do to you for the sake of regaining power just to stroke their own egos?
[He faced Ramir in her anger. Chrollo's eyes steeled. Had he misjudged her?]
They shouldn't receive mercy--just like when we destroyed the beings that came from the mountain. How is it any different to kill someone else who's a threat to your life?
no subject
Yeah, I think I noticed, thanks. [ She holds tight to his arm, her glare fierce as her voice stays low. ] It's not for their egos, it's because they're fucking scared and don't know what else to try.
[ She drops his arm at something just short of a throw and whirls her attention toward the remaining guards. She has no weapons and no enhanced strength, but you'd never guess it from the large, looming threat of her body language. ]
Did you see how fast this guy killed your friends? Get the fuck out of here before I do you even faster!
[ They hesitate only until she starts on a swift course toward them, then they turn and disappear into the undergrowth. They might be crazy, but they're not stupid. ]
no subject
In a short time, we've found the natives are bloodthirsty and keen on maintaining power for their own sakes. Even among their elder council members, they fight on a daily basis. They wiped out another race. If they fear anything, it's losing control of their power.
[Chrollo had a sense of kinship with them, but he refuted it for the sake of taking advantage or them. He stole three of their gifts, after all.
Chrollo stopped his arm when Ramir nearly shoved it. He watched her intently. He wanted to know where she really stood.]
You're sympathizing with people who were ready to treat us the same as cattle. Fear drives animals to become more dangerous. Fear drives people to random atrocities.
You can't let pity kill you.
no subject
I don't give a shit, and they're not gonna kill me. They're not worth killing.
[ Not very eloquent, but it's all she's got when she's only paying about half attention to the conversation. She finally slides a glance toward Chrollo again with narrowed eyes. ]
You get one down alive, though, you fucking point him out to me. I'm gonna make those assholes regret everything.
no subject
He didn't need to snap her out of it. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision on her part--at least to the extent he had initially thought it was. Chrollo looked at Ramir for a moment in a way he hadn't, before. He was genuinely intrigued.]
No. They aren't worth it. [Even so, they were bodies that could count towards proof that he meant business. Chrollo didn't mind sending messages that grave. Bodies were the same as dolls to him.]
I'm sorry, by the way. I misjudged you early on. [He turned to look to the camp. Chaos has slowly begun to return once more of ALASTAIR's own invaded from different points. He began walking in the direction of a guard's post that was still somewhat manned.]
I'll keep one alive for you. [Though, as much as he respected Ramir's pride, Chrollo was sure that he would kill again before the day was over. There were plenty among the cultists who had seen Chrollo shortly before he stole gifts from members of the Council.]
Though, I'm not sure if you're an expert in creating sort of 'regret' you want. Are you willing to accept advice on it?