Though all of them began to search, it would be
Catalyst--lagging a little behind--who would find the path. It wasn't through any help of Mother's--Mother lingered in her mind, in fact, as though she'd been waiting with bated breath for Catalyst to get a moment to speak with her.
"I do not know," came the simple answer, but it came with a rush of eagerness. This might be a place that could turn out to be
useful. It might be a place in which Catalyst could find something for the Hive. Mother urged Catalyst to keep her eyes open--and then gently pointed out a path that wound, switchback-style, back and forth up the steep cliffs ahead.
Even as the others searched, more booming roars and flashes of lightning were emitted from near the tip of the mountain above--or was that a volcano?--beckoning them onward.
Relic, in her sniffing search, would pick up a strange odor--but a new one, a different one. Though her magic may have failed her, she would--once lifting her gaze from the scent--find its source: a small herd of
massive beasts on a meadow along the hill-side, their camouflaging plates at first blending them perfectly with the grass. They were somewhat distant, but each beast was fully nine feet tall, nearly thirty feet long and covered in spines and plates. They grazed as they went, slowly ambling through the field and toward the jungle.
What were they?!
Relic has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Ogler!
V-Labradorite-One would find numerous lifeforms blinking up in its red vision throughout the island. Large and small, airborne and hidden in the jungle--shapes that were those of lurking predators and fleeting prey, or massive beasts lumbering along in herds. Though they were too far for most of their shapes to be made out, one very fat beast close at hand
was visible with a critical eye. Some six feet tall, the creature was extremely...
round, and if Labradorite squinted through the leaves it would make out a squat head suddenly extending up and out to a ridiculous length as the creature slowly began to browse on a bush.
V-Labradorite-One has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Benjamin!
As
Nidhogg scurried through the brush, he would encounter an even stranger creature: something like a spined, green squirrel, but almost lizardlike and three feet tall. Three of them dashed across his path and into the underbrush, though if he were quick enough perhaps he could capture one. It might not be wise, though: the spines looked dangerous, and the splashes of pink across the fur seemed like a warning...
Nidhogg has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Prickleback!
As
Obieth parted the trees with her magic, a graceful sight was visible in the sky overhead. Gray and white, bird-like creatures with eight-foot wingspans and brightly-colored crests, but featherless, dove and soared along the warm currents high above. Some of the more high-pitched, fluting calls were coming from them as they cried out, chasing one another through the air before diving down along the cliffs, skimming the surface of the sea.
Obieth has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Skimmer!
Kaimana's search along the jungle trail would shortly confront her with a quiet chattering and squeaking up ahead.
Something was very vocal, but before she'd have much chance to wonder, the sounds turned into screeches and hisses. Along the trail ahead, briefly visible, were several small lizard-like creatures snapping at each other over an enormous bone. This single bone held just a scrap of meat still attached, but the two-to-three-feet-tall creatures hopped and snapped in competition as they picked it clean. As Kaimana arrived, however, large glowing eyes snapped to her, and with squeaks of alarm the creatures dashed into the brush--unless, of course, Kaimana tried to stop them.
Kaimana has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Skrungler!
Khavur--trudging up toward the summit--would find a rather terrifying beast ahead. It had been browsing the bushes, picking fruit from a higher tree, which was made to seem easy given its eight foot height. The creature, despite eating fruit, seemed to be made for killing: long hind legs would grant it great speed; a snapping beak at its jaw was covered in hooks and pointed, bark-like teeth; and most importantly, the long claws tipping its muscular forelimbs were some two feet long and sharply curved. Six blue eyes snapped to narrow at Khavur, and the beast let out a sharp hiss; blue light, like iridescence but glowing, shimmered along its teal feathers. For a moment it seemed inclined to attack Khavur, but then common sense prevailed, the beast attempting to simply back away and vanish into the underbrush.
Khavur has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Ripclaw!
Madhukar, pushing off in her attempts to avoid Tsetse, would soon stumble on another beast in this living island. It was some distance off, in a clearing, but its head snapped to her nonetheless, large eyes blinking at the sight of her. It froze, seemingly uncertain whether she were dangerous, or something to be ignored. For a moment, she would have time to examine it: the creature was long-bodied, some four feet tall, with long hook-clawed hind legs and a hide pebbled black and white. White-tipped red bristles ran along its back, and red-tipped horns arched around its beaked face. A muscular tail was tipped with a spined club, and as it stood on its hind legs watching her, it seemed to come to a decision. The sudden
scream it let out was a horrible, discordant, deafening cry: harsh and hellish, perhaps a warning or an alarm call. It then tried to back away, beak clacking, to retreat--the echoes of its screech still ringing.
Madhukar has discovered a new Lesser Gembound: the Devilbeak!
Catalyst will be able to lead the rest up along the path, twining further up the mountainside, should they choose to follow.
The path, however, is narrow and dangerous, a switchback that curves right along the cliffs before doubling back left a little higher, then plunging into the thick and misty jungle as it approaches the island's peak.
Gembound should
roll to traverse the trail safely, if they wish to continue on. A
failure will result in a fall or injury, though hopefully minor; the Gembound may continue up the trail afterward regardless. A
critical fail may mean a broken bone. Successful rolls may proceed, and will possibly include the discovery of even more strange creatures as the group progresses.
Should the group choose to continue, they will--after a long and gruelling climb--reach the mountain's peak next round.
Players may choose to
double-post if they want their characters to roll to interact with the Lessers, for example to attempt a catch or kill, as well as proceeding afterward.