Journal Entry 2: Restoring the Monkey Orchid
Having completed my first task, and needing more money and experience before I could truly join the brotherhood of Adepts, I accepted an offer to join and expedition to attempt to restore a powerful medicinal herb, The Monkey Orchid. A flower we had been growing since before the the Kaer was sealed, they had slowly lost their power over time. Sadly, in the time the disease we had sought them out has appeared to return and so either a new supply of the orchids, or a way to restore the power of the ones we have been growing, was needed.
We went to meet Lady Aesha in the Great Library, who was to be our patron for this task. She was asking us to travel many days to the jungles where the Monkey Orchrids were originally found. There we are to seek out either a replacement of some kind, or a way to restore the existing Monkey Orchird to full flower. She suspected that this could be accomplished through the use of a certain kind of fertilizer, the dung of the powerful Jungle spirit known as Kong.
We were directed to speak with several others who may have more information, including the Librarian Estevan who provided us with access to the book and notes that the Great Library held, as well as allowing us to purchase copies of a few key texts that proved to be useful. We next spoke with Healer Potts, a Questor of Garlen, who gave us some details about the medicine we were seeking, as well as medicines to protect us from the diseases that we might encounter ourselves in out travels. Medicine that nearly provided the undoing of several of the weaker stomached of my allies, much to their dismay. Lastly we sought out the Royal Gardner, Moss Questor of Jaspree, who not only provided us with a blessing but also told us many valuable pieces of information about the jungle and the plants there in, as well as about the plant itself that we fought. With this information gathered, as well as supplies from the Grand bazaar, we made our way out of the city and joined a caravan would we would be providing protection for in return for travel to the jungle and supplies when we arrived.
After many days journey, we arrived at the Iron Bark Grove, the last spot of civilization before we entered the jungles, and home to a Living Crystal mine that might very well also be the prison of an ancient horror. Still, the locals didn't seem to be too concerned, and so I followed suit, enjoying the last night under a roof with much food and drink. While we were hear, my allies and I took some time to find out more about the Cathan people, who were known to be servants, of a sort, of the might jungle spirit Kong and most likely our best chance at locating what we sought as it was through them that Charwin had originally gained access to the flowers. A tribal people, their issues between us seemed to come down to a clash of beliefs and way of life, one i hoped that we would be able to overcome.
The next day found us traveling through the jungle and, while it was slow going, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought, until we came across one of the Cathan natives who had been tree'd by a fierce looking pair of reptiles. We quickly rushed to the namegivers defense, little did we know that there were many more of these creatures and a battle was fought. I would like to say that I was a valuable assets here but, sadly my allies carried most of the day, though i was able to at least make sure that no one was caught out completely alone. Convincing the man that we meant no harm with an offering of the flesh of the beasts that we had slain, he offered to allow us to eat with his tribe and tell us what he could that would assist us on our journey. A night of food and tails followed, including warnings of the great river beast known as Dungalaba who was known to attack anyone who entered the river unprepared, as well as the strange spirit animals known as Hufgufa, which appeared as nothing more than flying flesh devouring fish.
We left the tribe that morning and made for the river where, after constructing a raft using local materials and some very helpful instructions purchased in the City, we were able to safely navigate the river, though there were many close calls including several near attacks from Dungalaba itself. While i do not wish to attempt it again, i would not give up this experience for the world and am great to have done something like this at least once i my short life.
Once across the river, we sought a way to get the attention of the elder's here, for to enter the jungle here without there permission was taboo and we dared not risk that. We quickly decided on a course of action and, after I crafted a drum from a well cured log, and the others had decorated with the correct symbols and laid out are offerings, we used it to call out to the elder's. It wasn't long before we were found and, permission to enter being granted, we were lead deeper into the taboo lands by a guide, Highnew known as The Death that comes from the Darkness of the Jungle. While he was a good fellow indeed his presence willed one with a sense of barely restrained violence. He was one i am glad i will never have to face, for I am certain that I would not survive such an encounter.
We were brought before the elder's and, after explaining our missions, we were afforded entrance into a strange place, the home of the Monkey Orchid spirits. And this is where we discovered that it was not the fertilizer that was important, but the spirits themselves that once dwelled in the orchids. In order to restore them, we would have to bind a new accord with them, an accord that could only be won with a show of strength, though strength with restraint as killing the spirits would only take us further from our goal. Armed with this information, and with Highnew standing guard to hold the path back open as long as he could, we entered their lair and discover the spirits themselves. Beings as strange as the place they dwelled, they did not welcome us and once more we were engaged in combat, though this time with spirits on their home turf, and with the knowledge that slaying them would bring us no good. But with the powerful magics at my allies disposal, as well as the unexpected charisma and social prowess of our Sky Raider, we were able to prove ourselves and gain not only the blessing of the spirits, but also the speeds we would need to restore the power of the Monkey Orchids, though specific indeed were the instructions provided to make sure that these blessed flowers grew and flourished so that the medicine needed by our people would be there for generations to come.
With that we returned once more to the jungle back the way we came, only to discover that we had been gone for 10 days, our ally having stood his watch that whole time. We quickly gave over the things he would need to restore himself and, with the knowledge acquired traveling to the home of Kong, we were able to quickly return and make our way back to the great city. I must say, the world outside of the City is even more vast than I imagined and I can't wait for my next chance to experience it.Statistics:Posted by nadimsuer — Mon Jan 25, 2021 1:02 am
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