Expedition Log 3

[Royal Peasant 444]

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Expedition Log 3



As usual we started our journey by travelling along the rocky shores towards the strider to head on out on the expedition, this time it was a new team entirely. All besides a trusty lass with a pair of goggles that had been around for each and every expedition. Curious to see how this expedition went as each one had given us new insight. Like all the previous first encounters the group were awed by the sheer size of the strider, and eager for those that were part of the seed that used these striders to take such a long journey with them.



The journey took several relaxed days and we clambered down the strider's legs and splashed into the waters before swimming to shore. And that was when we spotted that we weren’t the only group on the beach this time, another group had arrived from another strider and had landed on the island to explore. A few familiar faces spotted. A word to keep a distance from each other was said for our own explorations and we took the right side of a furrowed trail that led deeper in land while they took the left.



We began to travel, armoured up and helmets slid on our heads to be sure. Keeping a cautious eye on the figure as we followed the path and slowly began to see the sight of something like tail feathers within the dark that it had reached in our preparations and caution of the other group to continue on this path. We waited for a moment as the morning sun began to rise up to get a closer look, and then we began to see the glistening shine of some feathers that were peeking from behind trees that hid most of its full form for a moment. But by the sound of tearing flesh we had an idea what was going on.



They were truly beautiful feathers, but to our surprise we found a child that was hiding next to a tree and spoke up to us, calling the creature the feathered sun and advised caution to not disturb them as they were feeding. So we kept our position out of sight by the tree and didn’t move forward. Though we had tried to keep a conversation going with the youth and ask questions. But the moment that the bird had begun to raise its head up, detecting the approach of the other group and soon finding us as well the girl had vanished from view and into the tree line.



This was the second time that we had discovered a creature that fed upon crocodile-like reptiles, when we finally saw what it was tearing up and feeding upon. Unlike most places where this creature would be the natural predator with its sheer size it seems like there were tons of other beasts that were its predator within these lands, even enchanting birds that were truly massive, though on closer inspection it seemed to be a mix of reptile and bird. With sharp talons like the spitting reptiles we had previously encountered before.

And that was when the ground had begun to shake, and the locals from the trees advised that we retreat and turn our gaze unless we were brave. Now I wasn’t about to risk our group over the child’s challenge of bravery and had us retreat over the thundering ground as the bird itself grew nervous from their position. Two of our members of course didn’t turn their head as the birds feathers burst into a bright light as something from below launched up and bit down upon them, dragging them into the depths. Leaving naught but two feathers.



We took a moment to check the other group and saw that the majority of them had blinded themselves by taking the challenge, though they were also growing in number and appeared to have grown in size. Back up most likely. 

And while we were tending to the two that had been blinded from our group, thankfully only temporarily, we moved towards the child that had moved to the edge and questioned them about what had just risen from the ground and see if we could glean any more information.  From what we discovered it appears that those creatures are considered the ‘Apex’ here, and are seen as the ‘god-creatures’ by the locals of the island. Her clan in particular was going to keep an eye on us to make sure we aren’t poachers before they were willing to give anymore information to us.

Collecting a feather, only one to examine and investigate to not risk a challenge of arms from the other group, we began to head back with a final word to the child that we hoped to speak to them again in the future.  A few of our members had grown a little panicked, considering the size of the bird and the size of the massive maw that reminded us of a giant sand worm, but we continued on. Heading back to the strider and beginning to return home with our newest discoveries, and worries.



With a warm heart we settled down, and began to discuss resources, and plans for the next expedition. And the concerns that might be brought forth from them…

[Tigergiri 2859]

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