Lastlook: Entering the River

[ruin_mania]

[For the past day or so, it's pretty clear the Amber Steppe has been left behind and the Totem Coast is getting closer. The air is more humid and the undergrowth has gone from a burnt amber color to be thicker, greender, and almost bordering on jungle-like. Several other streams have joined the one that the explorers have been following until it's almost large enough to start sailing on. Raine had encouraged everyone to press on, though, not sure it was time just yet (and also because she doesn't particularly like boats, okay). The cliffs around them start to grow up as well, and it probably won't be too long before the jungle becomes a properly impassable one, leaving the river as the only choice.

But this morning, another large stream had joined up with their and now it was more like a proper river. In the late morning they reach a large pier with five boats. The river also begins to take a higher road from here downstream, while the jungle starts to clog the lower road. Looks like it won't be too much longer before they're in the very painting that led them here. It's time to investigate those boats - and unload the smaller onces Percy Jackson has packed. And if you don't trust either of these, there are some inflatable rafts that Raine has packed as well.

So let's load up, and they'll be on the water by the afternoon!]

Comments

[cyan_maid]

Oh? What kind of guns do you use? Pistols?

[heliotroping]

I normally use a solar gun, but when I can't use it, like when we go on these trips, I use a pistol.

[staggeringego]

[ Giving a stag booze? It's true, it's not something that happens often. He chugs it down like a champ though before lowering his head, trying to push the bottle towards Clint so he'll take it away. ]

[hellshaped]

Yeah, join the club.

[stomp stomp squish]

So don't feel discouraged, I guess. We're all in the same boat. [a pause, as he looks around...] So to speak.

[forgedinbattle]

[And handshake is accepted!]

The name's Xena. [Glancing down at the booze.] Need a hand? [Not like she's got a lot more to do right now. She'll help you distribute.]

[forgedinbattle]

Then you've got a good partner. [She gives the horse an appraising look.] You had him for long?

[heal_theworld]

No. It was my mother's as far as I know.

[cyan_maid]

At least there are lot of friendly folks in the club.

[Oh man, the giggles, they will not stop coming. That was a good unintentional joke.]

[cyan_maid]

A solar gun? [Raised eyebrow.]

Although I've never heard of such a thing, can I assume it runs on solar power?

[heliotroping]

It absorbs and converts solar energy into concentrated bullets.

[craggyfaced]

[He nods] Since the day I was knighted, yes.

[cyan_maid]

Oh my! How interesting!

Now that is something I wish I could see! [Moreso because she can hardly believe it, but there's genuine curiosity underneath that.]

[hellshaped]

[He tries! Well, sort of. Unintentionally tries? Accidentally tries? Something like that.

He smiles in that sort of grimacing, teeth-bearing way of his.]

Well, with any luck, we'll find some clues while we're out in the wild.

[cyan_maid]

[It was a good try!]

I sure hope so!

[ruin_mania]

Ah, no, I wouldn't without permission. But they're quite lovely. Are they young yet, or do they naturally remain at such a size?

[draca]

It gladdens me to hear that, the last thing I desire is for them to harm another due to the suspicion and distrust this zone has placed upon them.

They are still young, it has no been long since they first hatched from their eggs.

[ruin_mania]

Oh, certainly not. I'm quite accustomed to being around monsters of one type or another, actually, and strange environments can affect the best of them. [To which the large Ampharos makes a hurt-sounding noise.] Oh, not you, Ampharos. You're used to traveling by now.

That's quite fascinating. I've seen dragons in my own world become as large as a small house, though it's more common for them to be around the size of a horse.

[draca]

[ Drogon peers over at the creature, head cocking slightly in curiosity more than suspicion. He doesn't know what to make of it. ]

In my own world dragons have been thought to be dead for over a hundred years, even my children were not thought to live. Their eggs were believed to be stone. And thus I do not know how large they will become when they grow, but I hold out hope that they will become large enough to ride.

[ruin_mania]

[Ampharos chirps at the little black dragon inquisitively. Despite once having been a sheep, it looks like it knows how to defend itself.]

I'd certainly hope so! Dragons would be far more comfortable than these horses, I'll tell you that much. [Raine nods over at the singular mongoose-dragon, who seems to be socializing with the chocobo.] That one there isn't a native of my world, but what we ride is much more similar to that than to a mammal.

[draca]

[ At the very least the pokemon doesn't look like a meal. ]

I know of another who spoke of dragons being used as mounts, it still causes me much confusion to hear of dragons allowing whomever to ride upon them. The dragons I know of are not easy to tame.

[ruin_mania]

[Not until the dragons are much bigger, anyway.]

Mmm, well, that depends on the breed. The Earth Dragons, for example, are quite vicious - but there are other breeds that have been domesticated for centuries. I once had the pleasure of riding a winged dragon of my world through the air for a short distance, but such experiences are very uncommon.

[compromisedarrow]

Uh, sure.

[He nudges the other box forward with his boot.]

Do me a favour, try to not give it to anyone under 21?

[fly_little_bird]

[She holds out her hands] Whoa, be careful! [She giggles] You don't want to break anything.

[compromisedarrow]

[And have a pat on the nose for that, James.]

Don't tell anyone about this.

[fly_little_bird]

You could? What?