[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.
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epidemiology2016-05-09 06:34 pm
Rescue
Even so, he was sluggish compared to the norm.]
Hell, there's a lot of these clowns~! We may not wiiiin!
no subject
So, given his base temperament, he's not really in the mood for Ban's attitude.]
Don't say stupid things like that. Didn't you tell me that you're immortal?
[As he swings his sword to lop a leg off of a cultist that was gunning for his head.]
no subject
[Another Nalawi came rushing at Law from the side. He must have seen how broad Law's swings could get and decided to change rushing at him where the swing was weakest.
Ban reached over with one hand and gestured to him. The Nalawi's spear vanished--leaving the cultist gaping in confusion as it realized it was unarmed. Well--he gaped as long as he could before the backswing of Law's sword caught him in the throat. Even if it wasn't the strongest part of the arc, the Nalawi had been made defenseless by Ban's magic. Ban had been carrying the stolen spear, pilfered by Snatch. Weakened as he was, Ban could still use it effectively enough against someone whose momentum put them at a disadvantage.]
'Surviving' isn't the condition for victory.
[Suffice to say--Ban was obviously not the type to fight honorably.]
no subject
No, seriously, not to be outdone, he's muttering to himself as he picks a stick up off the ground. And a moment later, that stick is another Nalawi spear, and a cultist is taking a swipe at Ban's other side with... A stick.]
See, that struck me as exactly what the condition for victory is in any fight. Please, enlighten me.
[He says with a heavy tone of sarcasm.]
no subject
His hand swung aside in an open handed slap which sent the cultist across the camp and through a wall of a hut. Ban wasn't smiling as he usually did.]
There's no real explanation for it, but-- [He offered Law a shrug.]
How often d'ya survive a fight and feel like you've really won?
no subject
I hadn't taken you for the deep thinking type. [Pausing to take out another cultist.] If I survive that means I can keep pursuing my goal. That seems victory enough.
no subject
[There was a gong-like sound as Ban hammered one of the cultist's head into a cold cooking pot. They went down like a sack of seeds and Ban stepped over to them to grab a poker from the cooled ashes beneath.
He spun it once along his fingers. Hard iron would do.]
Life gets boring as hell when all you do is survive, though. Don't you think I'd know that much?