mapping party redux

[rebells]

Who: mapping party! (late signups for mapping party can go here)
Where: the near western side of the island
When: Day 85
Open/Closed: semi-open! feel free to mingle/run into mapping party at any of the locations. if you would like to be in mapping party, signups are above!

[So maybe you were invited along on this expedition by Jay or a friend. Maybe you heard a telepathic message a couple days ago looking for people with scouting and mapping skills and answered the call. Maybe you just happened to be in the area. Whatever the reason, there's a small group of people and dragons assembling on the beach near the huts, and Jay appears to be in the center of it, checking that everyone he's expecting is accounted for.

They'll be going by air to map the near western coastline and circling back around to camp, touching down every so often to look for landmarks and other potentially useful areas on the way. You're welcome to come along, if you can bargain yourself space on dragonback.]

Comments

[spaceforged]

[He lifts the lantern up to inspect it carefully. There's no signs of damage.] I came out here to look at this in the light.

If they went somewhere else there has to be signs around here. What did you see from the air?

[rebells]

I dropped a bag in the grass. Here, I'll get it.

[And hanging from one of the lower branches of the tree, he drops down to the floor and retrieves a tote bag from the grass, holding it out to Shiro so he can put the nuts inside. The tote bag has a palm tree pattern on it.]

1

[lohengrins]

[ the lagoon captures quite a bit of his attention. percival can be seen thoughtfully peering into the pool of water, eyes flitting over the fish it harbors. suddenly, a turtle crawls into his hand, and he smiles the slightest bit. ]

If only I had the time to study each and every one of these creatures. We should start documenting them — creating names for what we uncover.

[spaceforged]

Let's find out. I'm not sure if I can get one out but I'll give it a shot.

[It can't hurt anything. If they run into trouble they can handle it. He grins back. It's a bit eerie to see his comrade's grin but...far less concerning than some things the universe has thrown his way. Just something to get used to. He puts a hand on the edge of the cave mouth and takes two steps inside. Good night-sight...that gives him an idea.]

Can you guide me with your sight? My night sight isn't bad but I don't know if my other shape will have better or worse night-sight.

[Better to cover that now.]

[rootandbranch]

I can try...

[Geir squints at the cave again, too preoccupied to think of whether or not Shiro would be scared of his teeth. that part is much more hit or miss with coven members than he would have expected...

really, it shouldn't be all that dark -- it didn't look very deep to him. maybe it's a function of how the glitter on the walls draws the eyes, or how the entrance is positioned.]

I really don't think it's very deep. From what I saw, I couldn't fit in there even if the entrance was taller. It should be fine.

[wait, he missed a part of that conversation--]

--your other shape?

[oneandmikleonly]

[there is a much smaller dragon crouched on the shelf back here, basking like a huge cat. what. he likes water it's not a crime

he also springs up much like a cat when Geir's giant head comes through, startled]

Aaaah! --oh, it's you!

[rootbound]

[hm

sits higher up on the bridge of his nose, where the scales are firmer, and tickles the soft part with all his fingers...]

[spaceforged]

The more I see this place the more I wonder just how people lived here.

[He closes his jaws, trapping the nuts inside and joins Jay. He drops them carefully inside.]

Have we found any writings at all?

[rebells]

There are books in the library, but I can't read the script.

[His eyes widen suddenly as he remembers something.]

Although--I may know who can.

[rootandbranch]

[...Geir wrinkes his nose and draws his head back slightly

it's coming

A TINY SNEEZE]

[rootandbranch]

[the telepathy gets Geir's attention; he wasn't expecting anyone back there to talk into his head as a response to his teasing. he withdraws his muzzle from the water and sticks his head in sideways instead, so one rolling red eye can catch Mikleo through the water.]

Wait, can't you talk normally?

[rootbound]

[laughing softly...]

Sleepyhead.

[oneandmikleonly]

No, it just comes out as growling mostly.

[he resettles on the ledge a little sheepishly, mantled wings folding back down to his sides, tail switching back and forth]

I was surprised you could!

[spaceforged]

I have shapeshifting magic thanks to the Qri. I become a robotic lion.

[He still isn't pleased about that but his voice doesn't give it away. The cave before him is deep but not as dark as it had appeared at the start. It's times like these he realizes just how much they relied on their armor sensors.]

This isn't as dark as it looked but, it is deep for a person my size.

[Shiro calls back for Geir's benefit as he feels his way along the cave wall. His fingers trail over a stone and he turns to face it. Putting his foot against the wall he digs into the edges with his robot hand. The leverage only helps a little. It slides in its hole but won't come the whole way out. Time to change.

He lets go and takes several steps back. A lion surges up, putting both feet on either side of the gem. The yellow glow of his eyes is a welcome relief. Well, at least that still works. Too bad he can't form a jawblade.]

Give me another minute and I'll bring it out. I haven't felt any kind of charge from it. But that could change once it leaves the wall.

[rootandbranch]

Oh, wow. Sure, take your time...

[Geir is deeply impressed by the appearance of Shiro's robot lion form, visible to his keen eyes and even more visible once the inside of the cave is more lit up. he does allocate enough mental presence to add a caveat, though.]

Be careful! You don't want to get shocked. Just having a rock isn't worth that.

[...at least, not just one rock...]

...I've never seen anything like that form before.

[rootandbranch]

Veeeeeeeern. It's warm...

[he doesn't open his eyes. even without Vern's voice, he'd know who was on his nose anywhere, not least because no one else would be using him as a percussive instrument. he might not let anyone else, either.]

You woke me up!

[rootandbranch]

[Mikleo is SO SMALL?? Geir is fascinated and charmed. he's just. tiny! miniscule! a speck!]

I've always been able to! It's strange to me that you can't. I wonder if that's a Qri thing?

[he turns his head aside a bit to lap at the water, still thirsty.]

[rootbound]

We're leaving soon. Maybe we'll find a cave today!

[wheedling, just a little]

[oneandmikleonly]

[excuse you he is a tall and majestic creature!!! he's watching Geir with open fascination too, obvious in the tilt of his head and the angles of his body even if his face isn't as expressive as Geir's in this shape]

...it could be. I guess she might've thought the telepathy was enough. At least no one has to write in the dirt to communicate, right?

[rootandbranch]

Is anyone else ready to go yet?

[Geir yawns hugely, then raises his head to look around him, the bright interest in his expression belying his assumed sleepiness.]

I bet there will be caves somewhere in those mountains.

[rootandbranch]

I don't write, so that's a good thing!

[his tone is agreeable enough, though it doesn't exactly invite further comment. discussing literacy isn't high on his list of things to do today, so he follows it up with a subject change to a much more pressing topic:]

Why are you hiding back here?

[spaceforged]

...Who is it? [He turns back to the tree and raises up to put his paws on the trunk.]

Do we have enough nuts or did you want to get more?

[spaceforged]

I'll let go of it if shocks me.

[He leans forward and closes his jaws around the stone. He'd already done most of the work. It parts from the wall after a few tugs. Shiro drops down and walks slowly back out to present his prize.

It's inert. Or seems to be. His arm hadn't reacted and his magic hadn't gone haywire.]

...but it doesn't surprise me you've never seen a lion like the Black Lion. That I know of, only four other lions like this exist in my universe.

[rebells]

We have a couple individuals who can read text in any language. Jude and Kosuzu.

I think this is enough for now. We can always come back to get more later.

[rootbound]

I think so...

[clings on as Geir's head rises, still on his nose; this is certainly a way to get a view]

Hopefully one big enough for you?