EVENTS

Drei Wochen! Drei Wochen sind verstrichen und immer noch keine Nachricht!
Aber auch davor schien Orphie ... anders. Gedankenverloren, verließ ihr Büro nicht mehr. Nur selten hat sie einen Besucher eingelassen, darunter einige unbekannte Homins.
Und als sie schließlich das Büro verließ, tat sie das nur, um Vorbereitungen für ihre Abreise ins Kitin-Nest im Almati-Wald zu treffen. Alleine.
Apocamus hatte gewütet, geschrien, argumentiert, versucht sie zu beschwatzen, es mit Gewalt und mit Charme versucht, sie davon zu überzeugen, solch Reise nicht alleine zu unternehmen. Aber sie behielt das letzte Wort und ernannte Melga Folgore als ihren Stellvertreter während ihrer Abwesenheit. Diese solle, so versichterte sie, nicht länger als zwei Wochen dauern.

Drei Wochen waren seit dem vergangen.

Wide spread poster

Ranger, Freunde der Ranger,
die Lage ist ernst!
Orphie Dradius wird vermisst seit sie zu einer Mission ins Kitin-Nest im Almati-Wald aufbrach. Eine Rettungsmission wird am 22h - Quinteth, Pluvia 5, 1st AC 2612(*) vom Rangerkreis aus aufbrechen. Wir laden alle Freiwilligen ein, die willens sind, Hilfe und Unterstützung zu leisten.

Apocamus Dradius,
Ranger-Veteran

[OOC] (*) On Thursday, 11 February 2021 20:00:00 UTC (4 years ago). [/OOC]

It was shortly after the great barkquake of the Nexus, in 2609 that I met Orphie Dradius. It was after Erin Mac'Cartlann had discovered an old map in her archives, which led us to the Tunnel of Woe. She had come to participate in the the Ranger Assembly that had followed the expedition. At the time I was very impressed by this homina who, despite her advanced age, retained a particularly energetic and yet benevolent appearance. I could hardly exchange a few words with her, but they were enough to make me understand how she had been able to participate in the foundation and develop, with her companions of course, a community as important as that of the Rangers.
Like everyone else, I had been very worried when I read the words of the poster that alerted us about her recent demise. When I arrived at the Ranger's Circle, I was not reassured by Apocamus Dradius's strained expression and the pallor of his face, and I think everyone else felt the same. Still, the extent of the mobilization gave me some hope, and it was without delay that we rushed into the Kitin's Lair to find her.

At first the party, somewhat disordered, explored the best-known part of the cave, towards the room where the kitins gather their livestock, where they were met by an unusual concentration of Kinchers, who soon mingled with the usual residents of the place. The fighting was fierce and many were injured. Nevertheless, the united homins were able to explore the eastern galleries but could not get past the debris or the kitin mounds that obstructed them. No trace of Orphie... the disappointment was great.


Rubble at the end of the egg room.

Wounded Orphie and the giant sting



Regaining its courage, the expedition headed for the primary egg room. Here again we had to fight hard, as going unnoticed was not an option. Finally, at the very bottom of the egg room and after a thorough search, we found Orphie's dagger, so she had been there. We then spent a considerable amount of time destroying a Kitin mound and trying to clear the rubble that closed off access to the greater depths (I even got stuck by a sliding boulder, but luckily I was rescued quickly). Finally, a little later we discovered Orphie herself, badly wounded; next to her, what looked like the huge black stinger of a monstrous insect. Gathering our strength once more, we climbed to the surface, Apocamus carrying his grandmother as gently as possible.
Once we went back to the camp, in that circle she loved so much, we tried to heal her; but her wounds were far too severe and her seed of life faded away and extinguished. I hope at least that she will have felt, in the arms of her grandson, the affection that we all carry carried for her.

Her final quest will not be in vain, it's a Ranger's promise! We will find out which creature took her away from us; and I have no doubt that, over the differences that divide them, homins will unite once again for this. That is the greatest tribute we can pay to her!


Orphie's Death.







— Excerpt from "Memoirs of a seasoned ranger", by Do'ro Thee