Expedition Log 2

[Royal Peasant 444]

Spoiler

 

Expedition Log 2

This was our second venture now into the unknown land brought to us by the strider. With an entirely different group, yet still with the same connections to the guild as previously before. With one muscular lad from the last group joining in with us again. Who knew had a desire to etch the markings of one rather towering, and impressive creature we had discovered this time. The expedition was a little shorter than our previous one, as we experienced first hand the prowess of the predators hunting within these lands. But I will get to that later. First off we gathered together to make sure we had all the equipment we needed, weapons, armour, food, and equipment. And then designated roles for everyone that was going to take part. Guard, Scout, and researchers.

With our team of six set up and ready we headed back to the strider once more and began the process of travelling through the lands. Its a real bonding experience being cooped up in the giant carapass with your comrades for days on end. I'll tell you this. You learn things you never knew before. Like how moss can be rather giggly, the competitive spirit of cooks between a ame and a goblin, and the relaxed nature of the crew when we begin to make up games of word association to help pass the time.



We landed back upon the island but found ourselves in a new spot that we haven’t been before. And saw the markings of a battle on the shores with dried blood and what appeared to be the scraping of some large beast against a tree. One of our members had issues waking up so we left them on the strider for their own safety as we reached the shore and began to advance after checking the blood. Intending to try and find our old camp to help us map the island, but just as we were doing that a powerful roar rippled through the land that for a moment made us think there was a dragon on this very land. Cautious now, but with our goal of research in mind we began to venture forward to investigate the source.

   

Not surprisingly then the travel was long, the light flowed in and out as the roar seemed to stretch further and further away. Something was happening on the island that was causing the beasts of the land to scatter and move about as birds flew high to avoid the cause. During our trip we managed to discover our old camp that we had vacated with our supplies when returning home previously. With that discovery we knew where we were in the land and could plan ahead for that. But first! We needed to find the source of that noise and document it.

And discover it we did, a creature I would later document to be ‘Crimson Spite’, with red scales with a slight purple shine to them that appeared to be standing over the remains of a beast they had been hunting and had slain. One of the creatures was acting as look out, watching the lands around it while the other feasted on the meat they had. We dove into the bush and began to hide to not draw attention to ourselves, but it did appear that some of the noise we made attracted its attention as the scout looked upon our direction. Though thankfully we didn’t disturb them enough to break the path of nature they were trodding.



They appeared to have powerful, but small jaws compared to their body, and a strong tail that looked capable of striking with small claws resting under the top of their body to grab hold of things. Wandering a closer inspection of what was going on we slowly crept closer within the bush. Gathering our wits about us and attempting to conceal our forms and our approach as much as possible as we clung to the flora that was acting as a rather impressive coverage for us. Allowing us to go undetected to our advantage.



It was in this advantage that we were able to get a closer inspection of the creatures, seeing the gleam of their scales, and the hint of their prowess that they would fight with. Not entirely sure on what use the spokes that appeared to be on their back might have, but a guess was held that they were a form of protection from attack themselves. A thought of what nature of creatures would hunt such large beasts we couldn’t imagine at the moment. In the peaceful moment we began to sketch their forms and discuss the potential of the creatures and what traits they might have that we have yet to witness.



It was of course, at this point that a powerful roar, the true source of the call we had felt piercing through the entire land, revealed itself as a massive titan of a beast began to charge across the land. Massive jaws of powerful fangs out stretched and small claws ready to grasp and rake through flesh as it charged with a frenzied hunger towards the predators. We were shocked for a moment and the young adventurous lad of our group was struck with awe and wanted to mark himself with the appearance of its form.

It was here that our missing member of our crew had caught up to us, soaking wet but we didn’t have time to question why that was as they drew up their shield upon their arm and lined up against one of our green members. Hood and goggles observing them and allowing them to blend in rather well. Though I think she was more awed by what we had discovered, or perhaps a little frightened with how quickly she dove into cover at our mossy girl's word. But  I can’t say I would have done any different.



It didn’t take the beast long to reach the others with its powerful legs and talons dragging it through the earth with speed. If that creature had been chasing us we would have had no chance to escape without using the flora, and trees to slow down its charge with its single minded rush. At this point creatures that were hiding in the bush around us began to flee, creatures we didn’t even notice. A practical stampede of smaller creatures running by us to escape the area of what appeared to be a forming battle between titans. We witnessed the large creature that I named Ravaging Stalker with its sheer furious primal nature, but also its black scales that would no doubt allow it to slip out of focus and ambush predators if its size and own quick fury didn’t reveal itself.



It took only a few breathes of awe before it spread across the valley that we were in and were upon them. Jaws latching upon the throat, yet the creature didn’t appear to use its talons. Preferring to use its jaws entirely for the attack. It tore into the throat of the beast that had just been feasting and quickly brought it low to the ground with an impact that almost shook the ground with the strength of it. The downed and pained beast let out a wail, and that was when the battle switched.

As smaller creatures with the same scales as the larger two dove out of the bush and began to clammer upon the ravaging beast's body, clawing at its flesh and rendering into its form as they mounted its side and back and the beast wasn’t able to shake them off. Letting out the roar we heard before. But this time we were close enough to feel its full force against it, bursting our eardrums and leaving us deaf for a moment as a ringing rattled through our heads.



With a quick order by the motion of hands we began to retreat from the brush to the cover of the trees as this battle continued to wage on, not wanting to be in direct view of the many creatures should they decide that we too were a threat. Especially with the numbers that we were witnessing among them and the solo predator that was having difficulty dealing with their numbers. They were making surprisingly quick work and the larger beast was growing rapidly weaker as we documented the battle.

It was at that point we realised that we shouldn’t linger on, and began to retreat from the battle we were witnessing. But long enough to witness the standing large beast of the creatures spitting out a crimson ichor upon the wound of its pack's neck, which either had some kind of healing property or stopped the wound from bleeding. We did not remain to witness which.



As we pulled back another ear piercing roar shook our heads with ringing, but that didn’t stop us from feeling the earth tremble or hear the triumph of the creatures that had downed what had appeared to be an apex predator. Truly a reminder that packs are much more dangerous than one powerful beast, by number alone they are able to overwhelm even a creature of that magnitude. Checking over the information we had all gathered as the rain began to fall over us once more. Making us just as wet as the lass that had rejoined us we decided to head back to camp and gather everything we had before we would return home. Especially with most creatures having already fled the land, there wasn’t much we were going to discover in a barren surrounding where everything had gone to cover.

But truly…



This land was showing itself to be a truly beautiful, yet fearsome land of nature.

 

Spoiler

Once again I would like to thank our amazing event runner, for giving us a fun encounter! This one was a lot more blood pumping and a nice adventure to lead up to from last time. And for those of you that joined this adventure I hope you had fun! 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Royal Peasant

[Spindle 651]

Where do I sign up!?!

[Royal Peasant 444]

Spoiler

33 minutes ago, Spindle said:

Where do I sign up!?!

 

It is this eventline! You just need to discover the location in world to grab the discord link and then you can join and take part. Trying to join a group, or making your own group on the discord would be your best bet if you don't already have one. I do hope you are able to take part and enjoy the event!