Ruins of Azlant Gameplay I

Jax rubs his face, smearing the dirt and blood still on it from the day's work. "I just wish this would stop." He sighs. "At least I can report the hag is dead, though there's a minor complication." He report's the day's events, including the events regarding Aeroclyse.

"With that done, I'm sure things will settle down to normal," Carver says with a nod of approval.

"We can certainly hope so," Ramona agrees. "If Aeroclyse will be alright to live in the wilderness for a while, that might be the best place for him, until we can figure out more to do about his situation."

"Alright." With his obligation done, Jax unceremoniously turns around and walks out of the house, taking the shortest route towards the edge of the colony.

Just as Jax is leaving, Aisha catches up with him. "Jax. Eskelda's gone," she pants, out of breath from having sprinted up to him in her armour.

Jax sees Aisha running toward him just before he reaches the edge of the colony, his frustration only growing as she tells her news. He pauses, looking back toward the calm, inviting wilds past the colony border. With a growl of frustration, he turns and stalks towards Eskelda's house.

Jax is able to quickly find humanoid tracks leading north from Eskelda's house. Without a word, he begins following the tracks out of the colony, with Aisha following behind.

The pair follow the fresh tracks for about an hour, north up the beach, and then east when they take a turn into the forest. In a small clearing, Eskelda is setting up a simple tent, while a small fire crackles. A raven caws as the two approach, and Eskelda turns suddenly, before relaxing with a smile. "Aisha, Jax. I hope I didn't make you fear too much for my safety," she says.

"A little bit," Aisha admits diplomatically with a relieved smile. "I went to your house to check on you after dispersing the... mob, and was pretty worried when you weren't there."

"My familiar had warned me of them long before they were anywhere near to my home, and I thought it best to take a leave of absence from the colony," Eskelda explains, as the raven flies down to land on her shoulder.

"That's a fair decision," Aisha concedes. "I think I managed to talk them down. A few of them looked pretty ashamed of themselves, but I don't think we've seen the end of problems like that yet."

Jax stands stiffly, holding his frustration with the day in for when he's alone.

"If you believe that I won't encounter another mob like that, I'd be happy to return to the colony," Eskelda says. "Or, I could stay out here for a few days more, until things calm down more. I think that you would know best, having talked them down."

"I don't believe you'll encounter another mob like that," Aisha replies. "I think there are a few who will still be hostile and try to rile up trouble, but they'll have problems getting much support. I'll make sure of that. And, I know you're more than competent, but every time we've gone out we've found new threats, so I think I'd be more worried about your safety out here."

"I'll return in your company, then," Eskelda says with a nod. "Just let me put out the fire, and retrieve the rope I was using."

After helping her pick up, Aisha and Jax escort Eskelda back to town then part ways for the evening. The followinf morning, Aisha spots Kaimana at breakfast and approaches him. ”Morning, Kaimana, got a minute to talk about something?”

Kaimana blinks when Aisha approaches him, crashing right into his train of thought. ”Uh, sure? What’s up?”

”It’s about Eskelda,” Aisha explains quietly. ”After the mob last night, I went to check on her, and she wasn’t home. So I grabbed Jax and he tracked her down. Turns out she saw the mob coming and ran,” Aisha explains. ”I talked her into coming back, but she’s still worried about another mob or similar happening, so I was planning on working to prevent that today.”

Kaimana pokes at his food as Aisha explains, frowning. ”I’m glad you convinced her to come back, I don’t blame her for leaving,” he comments with a sigh. ”Doesn’t feel like we’re helping her much.”

”I know how you feel,” Aisha sighs. ”It feels like these... divisions in the colony are only getting worse no matter what we do. I was mostly just more worried for her safety out there than here. You know as well as I do that there’s some nasty stuff in the jungle.”

”And some nasty stuff we haven’t figured out yet,” Kaimana adds, minding his volume. ”We don’t have to leave again for a while, though, right?”

”I don’t think so. Not unless something comes up or Ramona asks, but in her shoes I’d want us here right now too,” Aisha shakes her head. ”Anyways, I was thinking the best way to protect Eskelda and others would actually be to rally everyone who does like and support her to be public about those feelings. People in mobs are bullies and cowards, like we saw last night, if people stand up to them they back down.”

Kaimana listens to the suggestion, thinking. ”So would this be a counter group, or just bringing it up in conversation?”

"Just bringing it up, encouraging people to speak up and stick up for one another and not just watch if they think something's wrong," Aisha explains.

Kaimana doesn’t look up from his food, but does say ”yeah, if there are more people doing it, maybe.”

Carver approaches Amissa at the morning meal. "Excuse me, do you mind if I intrude?" he asks, pausing before he sits down.

"Go ahead." Amissa focuses her attention on Carver as he sits. "Is there something I can help with?"