ROLEPLAY

Naema -- I did some searching in the records of the NTCS and came across references to infected Gibbai. You can access them by presenting the clerk at the NTCS with this token.

Small Token

Thank you Bittty for allowing me the time to research records in NTCS. I have a clearer picture of events now than legendary stories from my childhood.
After reflecting upon the accounts of the past, i thought it a good Idea to check out what the Darkening Sap were up to and if this was something sinister they were involved in. After visiting their camp, nothing really seemed out of the ordinary. They did have a Goo mound, but it was similar to the one in the Black Circle camp in witherings. Could they be in Cahoots with eachother? Idk, but i have been encouraged to keep an eye on the Black Circle and a couple other tribes which i will not reveal atm, so I dont know whats up, or if it is related at all since I have not been given any more information.It could be nothing.
In the mean time I am working on increasing my fame with them all to try to find out more if there is more info.

Due to circumstances beyond my control (*) I was unable to attend the inspection of the Goo-contaminated igaras by the "well known researcher", the botanist Cuiccio Perinia from the Matis Academy.

I'm not at all sure what a botanist would know about Igaras, but could someone who was there please post any notes that they may have taken about the proceedings?

Thanks -- Bittty

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(*)((OOC = dental appointment))

Dear Mac'Od Bittty,

apart from the fact that most members of the Royal Academy have abilities well beyond their main field of research - with Cuiccio Perinia a perfect example - studies were first taken of the Igaras' behaviour before the region was cleaned and samples taken not only of the infected animals, but also of the surrounding plants and the grounds. Perinia could only make a quick check and test of the findings, but by all account the grounds are free of Goo, which leads back to my theory that the Igaras, in an already infected state, were brought there. We talked to a member of the tribe of the Ecowarriors about that, and indeed may have a trail to follow, but first we have to be sure about the samples, which now are examined at the Royal Academy in Yrkanis. I am sure a full report will be given soon.

Yes, Also, Bany <Something> from the Eccowarriors tribe told us a story of a leader named Frennic or Frecco? i think, from the Council of Dissent from years ago getting help from the marauders and wanting to take over Fearing Fens op and wage war against the Kingdom iirc. (my memory is fuzzy), The Eccowarriors objected and withdrew their support of the CoD and how they put up an electric barrier around Fearing Fens to keep them out. Well, this did not stop them from having evil designs toward Fearing Fens OP. He thinks they still want the op. A theory arose by the community, about Pei-Ruz helping them by placing/sendin Goo Igaras into the OP. We are on the lookout for any more clues!

With the number of dialects involved, there might have been a bit of a misunderstanding. Long before the Second Swarming a magnetic barrier was erected as a security device by Matis and Zorai scientists, in agreement with the then owners of the outpost, to keep any possible outbreak of Goo inside the outpost, not to keep the Council of Dissent out of it. This was placed there for the safety of the whole region, as there still might be Goo somewhere in the subsoil of Fearing Fen Farm. The Council of Dissent, interested only in the Goo for their own dark purposes, then tried to take the outpost by force, but was defeated by the outpost's owners, who were helped by the Ecowarriors. We do neither know if Frecca Ninia is still alive, nor if the Council of Dissent is still in existence. Also, there is no direct connection between the Council of Dissent and Pei-Ruz established yet, although the Igaras are very similar to the goo-infected creatures he keeps and breds.

Oh, ok, Thanks for the Clarification Salazar. Like i said, my memory is fuzzy... maybe my brief time collecting goo meats from the igaras for study clouded my brain temporarily :(

(OOC: I did my best with translations and reordering responses for better cohesion. My apologies if I got any  of it wrong.)

The world blurred and shifted slightly, and Suibom considered how different porting felt between the Karavan and Kami. It was a difference he couldn't quite put into words, both slight and pervasive at the same time. However, as the world snapped back into focus and he peered around Yrkanis, blinking, he couldn't remember any difference at all.

"No matter," he thought as he brushed the ruminations away. Yrkanis was only the beginning of the journey that brought him back to the capital of his people, the Matis. After quickly regaining his bearings, he headed north to the city gate, searching for a group of homins lead by Salazar.

Word was circulating that Salazar was planning on leading the group to meet Cuiccio Perinia at Fearing Fen Farm to investigate an occurrance that was raising alarms all across the Verdant Heights. As he approached the massive arches at the city entrance he saw that the group had already begun to assemble and were restlessly waiting departure.

"Ready when you are," he heard Keldreth say.

Salazar peered around to see if other homins were joining them, "Wait another few minutes?"

"Hmm, I think we should leave soon," Daomei responded.

"These igaras are very interesting, very powerful," Sui chimed in as he approached the group. "I've already been gnawed on them," he said with a slight shiver.

Salazar looked at Sui with a fierce grin and chuckled, "Yes. That's why we want to repeat the kindness by gnawing on them instead."

"Right, pluck the goose.. or rather the igara," Daomei nodded in response to Salazar.

"Let's get moving!" Sorum shouted out, weapon raised. The group poured out of city gates and headed south. As they made their way past the Arena, Sui let himself get lost in thought.

***

Not too long ago, while harvesting in the Fleeting Gardens, Sui wandered south into the Upper Bog and found himself a short distance from the Fearing Fen Farm. While this was something that happened quite often, he noticed something different about the outpost on that particular day. From the distance he was at, the outpost appeared to be writhing like boiling water. Curious, he cautiously approached the farm.

At first he could not make out what he was looking at; a chaotic reddish purple cloud hovered around the outpost structures. As he got closer he discovered that he was looking at a cluster of igaras darting around the structures, but not leaving the outpost. He had never seen such a behavior. There was also something wrong with the color of the igaras, but he couldn't quite figure it out.

As he stepped closer to the outpost, trying to determine why they were so intently attracted to it, the problem with their color suddenly dawned on him. A small grouping of igaras had taken notice of his approach and quickly advanced towards him, and he finally understood that the reddish purple hue must be due to goo infection. As was their increased strength. The first of the igaras to reach him clamped their jaw down faster than he could react. It was over in one bite, Sui felt his bones being crushed and his vision went dark.

When he opened his eyes again, the igaras were no longer snapping at his limbs. In fact, they were nowhere around him. Instead, the small face of a Tryker peered into his eyes and shoved a small mug into his hand.

"Drink this," the Tryker said in a demanding tone. Sui blinked his eyes, puzzled. "Drink!" the demand was repeated.

Sui drank the liquid and a warmth rushed down his throat and quickly spread. He smiled, the drink was marvelous. It wasn't until then that he realized he was no longer in pain. He sat up and looked around. He must have been lucky enough to have a troop of Ecowarriors on route past the Farm when he was attacked. He was now in the camp, being taken care of by one of the little folk.

The Tryker filled his mug again and he happily poured it down his gullet. The world swayed a bit.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Sui said to the Tryker, slightly slurring as the control of his tongue loosened. The tryker smiled and pointed to the ground. "Rest," he said and walked away.

Sui was not sure why he didn't just stay to rest, but he decided to get up and leave the Ecowarrior camp. It was a bad decision, in retrospect. He remembered how rubbery his limbs felt as he stumbled about. A misstep sent him reeling into one of the tents, tearing it from the posts and collapsing the thing to the ground. As he thrashed and tried to free himself from the canvas, he felt things being crushed under his weight. When he finally got to his feet he looked around and saw many angry Tryker faces staring at him. He turned to run and smashed into the posts of another tent, bringing that one to the ground as well. Sui stumbled and ran from the camp. He ran for a very long time that day.

***

Sui snapped out of his reverie as the group of homins passed Davae. He had some unfinished business to attend to in Davae and this was as good a time as any. He broke away from the group and headed to the city's Barman.

(OOC: I had to leave the game for a brief while here, so there is a small loss of info.)

After the Barman was satisfied with his cut, otherwise known as flagrant theivery in most circumstances, Sui was back on the track to Fearing Fen Farm. Unfortunately he had long lost the group by this point, but the path was well known to him. He passed into Fleeting Garden and veered off the road into the forest. The roads were often littered with aggressive creatures that he trees seemed to provide some solace from.

Sui stopped for a moment at the huge spire that looked out over the land and paid his respects to the beauty of the Verdant Heights. It was one of his favorite places to rest. The sloping cliff wall here also provided safe passage for most of the journey. He made his way to the Fearing Fen Farm and finally came within view.

The infected igaras were still there, but this time they appeared even more fierce. The group of homins were gathered just outside the outpost, culling small groups of the igaras, trying to manage their attacks. Sui carefully made his way to the group, leaving a wide berth between himself and the outpost.

"That's very worrying," Cuiccio Perinia could be heard saying as Sui approached.

"Very worrying indeed," replied Salazar.

Cuiccio, a Royal Botanists, peered at the outpost with fear and concern creasing his brow. "A decision will certainly be taken regarding those malicious igaras."

"I would like to know why they are here in the first place," Salazar said, watching the skirmishes between homin and igara groups. Djaimse nodded at Salazar and said "I agree we should learn where they come from."

"For now," said Cuiccio, turning away from the outpost, "I intend to carry out some analyis of the area."

Erminantius closely watched the activity at the outpost. "They remain over a fixed point," he said, studying the igara movement. "Is it because something is attracting them?"

"Good point," Cuiccio stated, nodding, appreciative of Erminantius' insight. He briefly looked back to the outpost. "The track is interesting indeed."

Suibom noticed that the cloud of igara spread further than when he last encountered them. "Their numbers have grown over time," he stated.

"And once killed," Djaimse added, "they slowly repopulate."

Erminantius looked to the ground beneath the flying creatures. "We should ensure that there is no goo in the soil beneath the outpost."

"Good point, Erminantius, that is an interesting theory" Cuccio responded, "if they stay in this location, there might be a link with the spot."

Cuccio turned to face the whole group, "Are there any among you who have brought their picks and harvesting bags?" he said.

Several homins nodded in affirmation. "Yes, many of us," Yragael stated, looking around at the group.

"If it has to do with the ground," Salazar interjected, "it still does not answer why we *suddenly* have igaras here."

Cuccio walked around group, looking at his surroundings more than the homins. He looked as if thoughts were brewing in his head. He stopped and reached down to the ground, pulling away a blade of grass.

"We need harvesters, and homins to protect them," he said, studying the blade.

"Yes, kill them all," Daomei shouted out in the distance at the edge of the outpost, distracting away from Cuccio. The group fighting the igaras had almost cleared the outpost of their presence.

"They are not recovering, as far as I see," Keldreth stated, noting that there were no new waves of igaras approaching.

Many homins of the group rushed to the side of those fighting the igaras. A final push was being made to fully clear the outpost from the igaras. Acid and other attack bombs were being cast at the creatures while healing spells washed over the group. The igaras were fiercely snapping at the heavily armored homins at the head of the gathering.

The igaras were slowly knocked out of the sky as the battle raged on. Some homins fell, but were raised again by others in the group. After some time, the last of the igaras finally crumpled to the floor.

"Looks like the area is safe to investigate now," Keldreth stated, looking around at the carnage that surrounded the group.

(OOC: To be continued soon with the rest of the event.)

The group of homins entered the outpost lands, cautious of any igara that might still be living. They quickly began to investigate the area for any sign of why the infected igaras were here.

"Is the trepan releasing something strange?" Osquallo said as he watched the big rig.

"I'm a historian," Salazar said to Cuiccio as they watched the group, remaining back away from the outpost. "I'm good with a pen, but not with a pick." Cuiccio smiled and continued to investigate the grounds outside of the outpost.

Sui noticed that Arfur was watching the sky and not investigating the outpost. "They will return," Arfur said to the group in warning.

Cuiccio stood up and called out to the group, trying to get their attention. "I don't think we will find what we need in the outpost itself," he said, "at least, not yet. To write a good report, I need various fragments collected from around the outpost." The homins began to leave the outpost to return to where Cuiccio stood. "I need oil, wood, sap, etc... These are the things that I can study with my training." Cuiccio took one last look at the blade of grass and then released it from an extended hand. It fell at an angle, carried by a slight breeze as it spun arround. "I will be able to make a first analysis right here"

"I came to kill, not to dig!" Fitis shouted out, kicking one of the igara corpses. Several of the homins in the group cheered.

"One more thing," Cuiccio said to the group, trying to ignore the outburst, "if you see some flowers, bring them to me. I would prefer to examine those as their delicate petals capture all manner of particles perfectly. They will decrease the time needed for my analysis." Cuiccio scanned the group for those with picks in hand. "Just a few pieces of each product would be enough," he added.

A few of the homins looked around, somewhat puzzled. "Flowers?" The area had plenty of flowers, but by the description Cuiccio gave, these well versed harvesters knew that he was after specific flowers that sometimes grew in this area. "We do not see the flowers."

Geyos rapped at his helmet with his knuckles and chortled, "it is not with this helmet you would see much."

"I'll manage without flowers," Cuiccio amended, looking around with a quizzical look on his face, "if nobody sees them." He too was not seeing the flowers he sought. "We may have missed the season," he concluded in dismay, an unfortunate slip for a Royal Botanist. He just hoped it would be silently forgotten.

The harvesters amongst the group of homins quickly spread out and began probing the ground for appropriate materials. Massive amounts of nodes began to appear as the prospectors called forth the sources from the ground. A light green glow filled the area.

Salazar offered an alternative possibility, "Maybe someone else has already harvested the flowers?"

Irfidel returned to Cuiccio with freshly harvested items. "How much do you need?" he said, offering the materials to the botanist.

Cuiccio looked carefully at the wood fragment that Irfidel handed to him. "Perfect!" he exclaimed as he pulled out a magnifying lens. He tossed and turned the wood, muttering. Other homins brought more samples as he inspected the pieces.

"Are we sure this is not a Zorai magic?" Sui said, watching Cuiccio tumble a fragment in his hands.

Cuiccio stopped examining the wood fragment and looked at the large collection of materials that had been brought to him. "I have wood and amber in sufficient quantities," he shouted out, "Bring other materials. I do not want to waste your efforts, or your picks."

"He said enough wood and amber," Diwu said in the distance to homins that were harvesting out of earshot. "Do not over harvest the area!"

Without flowers in the area, Erminantius sized up the other plant life in the area. "Would pieces of slaveni or cratcha do the trick?" he said to Cuiccio. Cuiccio nodded, "They possibly can, Erminantius."

Cuiccio looked down at the collection that had piled at his feet, "but I almost have enough evidence." He waited a short time longer and then decided enough had been gathered. "Bring me what you have collected," he shouted out to the harvesters, "I think I will be able to draw some conclusions with what we have found."

Sui watched the group mill as Cuiccio's directions slowly filtered to all the harvesters, and he watched Cuiccio pass his inspecting eye over the various materials that were brought to him. He couldn't help but to wonder how much this botanist was really going to be able to tell them about the origin of the igaras. He looked around and his eyes fixed at a curl of smoke rising in the southwest. The Ecowarrior camp.

"Has anyone asked for new information from the Ecowarriors?" he said. "They surely must know something. I'd ask them, but I accidentally knocked down several of their tents not too long ago." He grimaced. "They don't much like me."

"How soon before we get the results?" Arfur said as hey laid the gathered materials before Cuiccio.

"I have enough materials," Cuiccio said to the group as the homins gathered together again. "Congratulations on your efficiency."

Erminantius pointed to the outpost. "The igaras are back," he said in a worried tone, but the group didn't seem to notice as they looked intently at the botanist, waiting for more information. Cuiccio continued to examine the materials with his lense and murmurred to himself about the items.

"Igaras!" Salazar and Keldreth shouted out, pointing at the beasts that began to swarm the group.

(OOC: To be continued..)

The small group of igaras took the group by surprise. A few homins were caught off guard and fell to the powerful igara beaks, but the well armored warriors in the group quickly regrouped and met the swarm with weapons ripping through air and igara flesh. The swarm was quickly put down and the fallen homins were tended to. The outpost was quiet again.

"I have some oil and sap," Daomei shouted as she approached the group from a distance.

The group once again turned to Cuiccio who was fumbling through the materials, visibly shaken. "I will record my initial analysis here," he said almost dropping a piece of amber. "No doubt that further analysis will be conducted in Yrkanis," he continued, "But for now I am the only one authorized to conduct the a field analysis."

"If you need an apprentice for that..." Erminantius began to say, but Cuiccio patted him on the back and smiled. "Thank you, but that will not be necessary," the Royal Botanist said to him.

"I have completed my initial analysis," Cuiccio turned from Erminantius to face the whole group, "and I have my first findings to report." Cuiccio's eybrows creased and he seemed somewhat perplexed. "As strange as those findings might be," he added.

"I'm betting that his conclusions include goo infection," Sui said wryly, "Just a hunch."

"I didn't think you would be able to give an explanation on the spot," Salazar said in a surprised tone.

"Do tell," said Arfur, eager to hear the result of the research.

"It appears," Cuiccio started, waving his hand out to the land around the group, "that all of these samples are perfectly normal. Not a single drop of goo." His surprised tone more than hinted that the findings were not ones that the botanist expected.

"Blimey!" said Arfur in shock, "No goo infection at all?"

Salazar pursed his lips at the news. Sui considered his lost bet to the Barman earlier, and made a mental note to quit gambling.

"Perhaps there is a problem with your test?" Geyos interjected in disbelief.

Few homins noticed that a new Tryker had joined the group from the Southeast. She held her fists at her hips and sized the group up, listening to Cuiccio closely while doing so.

"That would mean," Cuiccio continued cautiously, as if he were trying to find a way to prevent his words from being false, "that there is no goo contamination of any soil in this area outside of the outpost."

Several homins began to clap. Naema cheered out loud with raised hands.

"However, the question remains," Cuiccio quieted down the cheering, "where did the igaras come from? It would appear that there is no direct link between the beasts and the location."

"The outpost owners are training them?" Naema asked curiously.

"It leads back to my original theory," Salazar said, determined, "that they were placed here."

"But they *are* infected," Sorum said and several homins nodded. Arfur said to himself in thought, pondering, "no goo in the soil around this area, but the igaras are infected."

"Maybe we need to dig deeper," posed Geyos, "or get a specialist on the goo itself."

"And how are we supposed to do that," Fitis responded with sarcasm, "use bigger picks?"

"We could use the trepan," Geyos retorted, pointing at the outpost rig.

"True," Erminantius said, looking at the massive drill, "should we not be analyzing the extractions from the drill?"

"I'm still wondering about the Zorai," Sui said, looking around. "We have some Zorai friends here. What say you? Is there any group in your lands that may be involved? Surely there are those that are not happy with the peace we have kept."

The small Tryker that quietly joined the group still had her hands at her hips, but now made her presence known. "What's going on here?" she demanded.

Cuiccio was pulled from his thoughts at the demand and looked at the Tryker. "We investigate!" he said, bluntly. He blinked and seemed to realize the rudeness of his response. With a smile, he explained further, "to find an explanation for the presence of infected igaras here. I have inspected the area around the outpost, and it is free of goo infection. So there is another reason those igaras are here. Do you know anything about these beasts, Tryker of the Ecowarriors? You are Bany O'keeffy, aren't you?"

Bany seemed about to respond when her gaze rested Suibom. She pointed at him angrily and said "I recognize you! You're the one who destroyed our tents not long ago!" Sui's face began to turn shades of red.

Bany continued to stare down Suibom, but responded to Cuiccio, "Maybe I can help you."

Cuiccio looked to Bany with fixed interest.

Bany finally released Sui from her stare and addressed the group. "The history of Fearing Fen Farm is well known," she began. "My tribe is very concerned about the presence of these igaras. For those who do not know, I'll tell you what happened here shortly before the second Great Swarming. But I ask you to be forgiving towards my tribe."

"Shortly before the Swarm, a group of homins of the Forest came together to form the Council of Dissent. Their head was named Frecca Ninia and thought only to extend her power over the Kingdom. The Council had received help from Akilia's Marauders, who had provided them with great combat equipment through convoys."

The mention of Marauders sent waves through the listening group. Bany continued, "Frecca Ninia wanted this outpost for herself because its subsoil contains Goo. Do not ask me what she wanted to do with it. My tribe sought to ensure that this goo under the soil... stayed under the soil. To ensure that the goo would not be taken and would not contaminate our beatiful region."

"I know all this because," Bany's expression became somber as she continued, "at that time, the Ecowarriors were part of the Council of Dissent. We thought that the Council would help us to watch over this outpost. We didn't understand that they wanted it for themselves. The owners of the outpost accepted our demands and placed a magnetic barrier around the outpost with the help of Zorai and Matis magic so that if one day the drill would bring goo back to the surface, it would be trapped inside the barrier."

"We were happy with the agreement, but Frecca Ninia was not. The Council of Dissent attacked the outpost with the help of the Marauders. We, the Ecowarriors, refused to follow this path of madness. We left the Council and helped the owners of the outpost to defend their property. The Council of Dissent failed and the outpost was saved! But Frecca Ninia swore she would one day take over the outpost."

"Betrayal!" Casy whispered, weapon in hand. Sui looked up and saw that Casy was facing away from Bany, to the outpost. He turned his head just in time to see igaras descending on the group once again, but this time the cloud of beaks and wings was massive.

(OOC: To be continued..)

An overwhelming thrash of beaks and clawed wings scattered the homins. Much of the group was already on the ground, motionless. Ripped into by the igara swarm before they even realized what was happening. The remainder of the group floundered, running in all directions trying to stay alive and push the igaras back.

"The igaras swoop down on us!" Cuiccio shouted as he ran south, trying to make sure every homin was alerted. Bany was leading him back to her camp, darting around trees and through shrubs.

"To the Ecowarrior camp!" Feylin and Suibom both shouted out, trying to organize the homins. Small groups of battles were scattered about and Suibom watched both homin and igara fall. "A Marauder plot," he said in a low voice as he quickly tended to the more serious of his wounds once he was in the Ecowarrior camp.

"Regroup on me!" Sui heard Sorum shout out as she lead one group in disembowling several of the igaras.

The Ecowarrior guards charged into the field to try and repel the infected beasts, but the power of the creatures was evident as several of the guards were torn apart. The addition of the extra fighters was enough, though, to allow the homins to regroup and refocus their attack against the igaras. A hail of magic and strength struck the igara swarm like a flood, sweeping over the flying scourge until a river of goo infected blood and purple carcasses was all that remained.

The homins spread out into the field in search of those needing to be tended to. Sui could see Mjollren and Chonchon standing over their fallen mounts, mourning the loss of their friends.

Slowly, the group formed again outside the Ecowarrior camp. Sui noticed a couple of newly erected tents amongst the Ecowarrior structures. "Ah, Bany, there you are," Feylin said as Bany emerged from the camp.

"Good thing I know how to run," she said and directed some of the Ecowarrior guards to tend to members of the group that still needed assistance.

"These igaras are fierce!" Cuiccio rasped, still out of breath.

"All are welcome to rest here," Bany said to the group. "It will be quiet. Now, where was I?" She crossed her arms in thought for a few moments. "Ah yes," she said, "similar to the igaras, it was Frecca Ninia who had vowed to return."

"Bany," Sui said, looking over the collected group for a moment before continuing, "I take this occurrance to mean we must still be vigilant of the Marauders? Or was this just an unfortunate complication?"

"I'm sure of two things," Bany replied, "the outpost has not brought goo to the surface yet and the Council still wishes to control it."

"And have you seen any former member of the Council since the Second Swarming?" Erminantius questioned, walking up to Bany.

"I think we all owe the Council some payback after today," Sui said in frustration, looking around grimly.

"And one last thing," said Bany, nodding to Salazar, "the igara are not here because of some goo presence. They are here because someone brought them here."

"Indeed," Cuiccio nodded, "my analysis shows no goo contamination of the land."

"So the Council infected the igaras and placed them here?" Salazar asked for confirmation.

"They look like the igara pets of the Marauder, Pei Ruz, don't they?" Osquallo said, voicing the thought that many of the homins had begun to consider.

Salazar smiled thinly as his point seemed to finally get across and Cuiccio referenced the remark in his notes.

"The Council is getting help from Pei Ruz?" Sui said, looking at the Ecowarrior camp. "Not good, not good at all."

Bany turned back to Erminantius and responded to his query, "The Council wants the Ecowarriors dead since we betrayed them. If the Council is formed again, we may have dire troubles ahead."

"At least one thing is certain," Cuiccio smiled and patted Bany on the head. Bany looked like she was about to take a knife to the old codger."The flora here is clean. Further analysis in Yrkanis will lead to the same conclusions, I'm sure." Cuiccio looked very proud of himself at that moment."

"But something had to bring the igaras here," said Erminantius, not satisfied with the information. "Is the magnetic barrier around the outpost still functional?"

Bany looked off to the outpost and said, "How did they get here? And, why do they remain? These are the questions that disturb us."

"I recommend consulting the Zorai at the next Chamber Assembly," Cuiccio continue, "maybe they will have interesting things to bring to your attention concerning the goo. Or possibly they will have stories about events that occurred here in this camp."

"Do we know if Frecca is still in the Verdant Heights?" Sui asked Bany. It was curious, he thought, that Cuiccio was trying to move the investigation to another land.

"If Frecca Ninia survived teh Great Swarming," Bany responded to Sui, "then I'm sure she's back here. As to the barrer," Bany turned to reply to Erminantius, "from what we see, the magnetic barrier is still functional."

"Could it be," Erminantius said, focused on the outpost, "that the barrier has been tampered with to attract the creatures?"

"Well, I don't see how the Zorai can help here," Salazar spat the words out, "unless they know where the Council and their helpers hide."

"Likely their knowledge of the goo will help us," Sui answered Salazar, "their land is still actively infected."

"True, but they can't even help themselves regarding this manner, now can they?" Salazar snickered. "Also, as we found out, we don't have active goo on the surface."

Sui nodded. Salazar was quite correct on the matter. "I guess we will just have to see what stories they can provide us," he said, looking away from Salazar.

"These igara are the same as those in Pei Ruz's camp," Daomei said, kicking the lifeless skull of one of the creatures. "I know them well."

"It is most likely," Salazar agreed with Daomei, "that these igara stem from there, from Pei Ruz. With the Marauders, a connection to the Council has been established."

"Another strange thing," Bany included, "is that the creature's numbers continue to increase."

Cuiccio looked down at the igara corpse that was just kicked by Daomei, "perhaps they are breeding in the outpost lands." Salazar and Sui both nodded at this thought.

"I wonder if that is related to why Frecca wants the outpost so bad?" Sui added.

"If you have no more questions of my tribe," Bany said, taking a step away from the group, "I will return to camp and report to my leader, Ba'Naer Lipsie."

"Bany," Sui said to her before she departed, "Please provide my sincerest apologies to your chief for the tent mishap." He bowed to her in a way that he hoped was acceptable.

Bany shot a glare at Suibom, "Are you ready to pay for the things you destroyed?"

Sui's face turned a deep shade of red and he replied, "I am still just a poor harvester. The debt will be repaid, someday."

Bany turned towards the camp and began to walk away. "I will give your apologies to my leader, Ba'Naer Lipsie," she said over her shoulder. "But dare to make that mistake again."

Salazar turned back to the group and thought aloud, "So, well, we have a theory. But we still don't know where we can find the source of this."

"The story Bany O'Keeyffy reported to us brings interresting elements to our knowledge," Cuiccio stated, "and we need to think about them carefully in order to find answers. The soil is healthy, there is no evidence of goo there. I will provide my report to the Kingdom."

The group began to disperse. The outpost was already beginning to fill with igaras again. Sui thought out loud the one thing on everyone's mind, "We have created more questions than we have found answers today."

(OOC: End)

Wow, Thanks for the detailed description of events that day Suibom! You related it all very detailed-ly! Bittty, this is exactly what happened! (OOC: how did you remember all this? did you video tape it? lol! Gratz on your account! And you are a good story teller :D)

Suibom, thank you for your careful reporting and observation. It seemed to me almost as if I had been there, even though I was not. You are a great storyteller.

Thank you also, Salazar, for your clarifications on matters of Matis History.

And now I must return to my observations of the termites in the control mounds in Almati Wood.

Thank you very much for informations about this expedition!

(OOC: an amazing report full of atmosphere, Suibom! You're an awsome writer, you know? Thanks a lot for this wonderful and entertaining read :) )

Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend myself because of time-consuming political troubles within the Theocracy and so only could send my guild-mate Initiate Sari Sarisa as a substitute. I hope she was of help. She didn't tell me much about it afterwards though, since she can only understand the dialect of Hoi-Cho well enough.

To my deepest regrets I was also not able to induce Zorai-scholars specialised on Goo and Magnetism to take part at the expedition as well; although the honourable Matis Nobles have suggested this themselves. Again I want to voice my gratitude towards the Chamber of Nobles, especially to Filira Kessler and Filira Riditch, for their remarkable consideration to ask for our scholars as a sign of good relations with the Theocracy.

Sadly the Zorai-clerk in charge Sy-Phi Lin of the dynastic circle has for a long time ignored my Izam asking for Zorai-scholars to investigate the situation at the upper bog. Additional to this I have overheard rumors that the number of our scholars has greatly decreased after the second Great Swarming.

So I am completely unsure if scholars from our Nation will be available to help with finding solutions for this goo- menace in the future... I even cannot say if Sy-Phi Lin will forward my letters to the scholars now that the expedition has passed - even though the goo-infestion in the upper bog is still ongoing and we Zorai have been entrusted with the sacred mission to fight the goo by the most venerable Kami... Let's hope for the best…

Thank you for the kind words. I care little for war and usually only craft those things I need for daily duties (and sometimes a gift or two) but I have an ear for a good tale and I make my way on Atys by bringing stories and news to the tribes in the wilds; except for the Ecowarriors, It will take some time before I am in their good graces again. Maybe repayment will be related to the events recounted here. I look forward to discovering more about these creatures and the Council. If I discover any further information, you may hear my stories again.

(OOC: I'm always bummed when I miss an event. So, I figure if I write the story, those that missed the event can still experience a portion of it. And to give credit where it's due, my tale is really just a dressed up chatlog :).)