Ch 2: Into the Jungle

[Tabs]

Burton slowly raised his hands, palm outward. "Carefully does it" he hissed to those around him.

[Priest]

Baxter maintains the smile, although the corner of his right eye ticks nervously and he feels the pull of his flask, "We bring boomsticks to trade for information" (Spoken in Bantu)

Without moving he hisses at the others "Quick what information do we seek?" (spoken in English)

[Supercape]

Boomsticks was the magic word.

"You come to sell boomsticks?" said the Tribesman.

Cautious, the five tribesmen shifted from the Jungle, spears ready. Three men, two women. It appeared the Crocodile people were unusual in their gender roles. Emilia clearly approved.

In closer view now, they could be studied, if obliquely. They were thick set, short people, with little hair. Instead, they adorned their bodies with rags of crocodile hide; although surely tough, it would be of little use as armour given how sparsely it covered their bodies. They had piercings in lips and ears, presumably of crocodile teeth. They took their name seriously, it seemed.

Their eyes cast over the crew.

"Boomsticks good. We need boomsticks...but what do you want from the Crocodile people?"

"We come to spread good news!" piped up Sven, boldly, raising his book, to the tune of tensions raised.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good news, and also boomsticks," says Percy, trying to reassure the Crocodile People. "You can have both! The good news is free. For the boomsticks, we trade." He can see that the crocodile hide makes poor armor - it certainly hadn't done the crocodiles much good! Even so, he doesn't want a fight to start.

[Priest]

Hands still held palm outward, Baxter snarls, in English to his companions, "Forget 'good news' these people are warriors not some meek congregation in need of spiritual salvation"

To the Crocodile People, still edgy and tense, he continues, "We bring Boomsticks to help the Crocodile people fight their enemies, we would trade them for infomation on those called the Toad people"

[Supercape]

At the mention of the Toad People, the atmosphere darkened.

The leader shook his spear. "What do you know of the Toad People?" he demanded. "They are possessed! Something evil in them!" he shouted, fear spicing his words.

"We captured one of them but a few nights ago, lurking by the great lake. He speaks a strange tongue, we cannot understand him properly. He told us that the great toad king will soon die, and be reborn again. He worships Tsuggotha, screaming the name at night. The Toad people are abominations!" he said, shaking. Terror and rage swirled inside him.

"Come, I take you to Chief. He will know what to do with you..." he concluded, beckoning the expedition into the Jungle.

[Tabs]

"Well done, Mr. Baxter," said Burton, exhaling a long held breath; "it's a good thing they love boomsticks."

After the Bantu conversation had been translated for him, Burton remarked, "This Toad fellow sounds fascinating, I hope he's still alive. . . ."

[Supercape]

A little later...

"He is alive!" snarled the chieftan of the Croc People to the expedition.

Chief Chipped Tooth was old and had a wiry look to him, bar a large pot belly. He had considerably more teeth adorning him than any of the other Crocodile people. He must have been a brave hunter in his youth, now, he just looked ill and bent. But he still had his tongue.

To his side, was a man of similar age, with thin limbs and bulging eyes. The man was without a fleck of clothing or indeed teeth, but instead had tattoos over his body, of primitive type; showing crocodiles, beasts, snakes, and all manner of things. He was the village shaman, Riverturn. Whilst far from in the prime of his life, he did not look so ill as Chief Chipped Tooth. Emelia and Britt engaged in a furious blushing competition when they saw the old man naked.

"I know it" he nodded, in agreement with his Chief, looking wise and sagely.

The Crocodile people were prodding the expedition every now and again, and perhaps prodding Britt and Emelia a bit more than the others. They started examining and feeling the guns. One could only hope one of the boomsticks did not go off in their inquiring hands.

The Chieftan scratched his magnificent belly once more. "I thank you for these boomsticks. It is not our way, to use such magic. But we must protect ourselves. The Toad people have a habit of destroying other tribes...like your boy..." he said, pointing at Scar, who was white with fright despite his dark skin. "...the Bat people. I remember the scars...."

"Protection..." murmured the Shaman, Riverturn.

"We captured a Toad people scout but a few days ago. Can't get anything from him. He is nearly dead, refusing water and food, driven mad but the sun..."

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps we could get him to talk," suggests Percy. "There's nothing to lose by trying." He isn't quite knowledgeable enough to determine anything further about the Crocodile People's health, nor does he know enough about their culture.

[Tabs]

Burton considered the chief and the shaman, wondering how best to cajole them to aid the party.

His attention turned to the prisoner. "Toad chap first, in case he expires," he said, and then in Bantu (which is translated to him first): "Mighty Chief Chipped Tooth, may we look upon the evil one?"

[Priest]

Amused by the childlike behaviour being exhibited by some of the Crocodile people over the rifles, Baxter nods approval at Burton's excellent use of the Bantu tongue. He looks around at the tribal maidens in their scanty crocodile skin clothing, I do hope Carstairs is going to take some photos, he thinks.

Pulling himself together and dismising the images of nubile maidens, "Great Chief, may I ask where this evil creature was found, and would you be willing to lend us a few of your warriors that we might look at this place" (In Bantu)

Bantu,[url=http://orokos.com/roll/315220]Bantu Language 41%[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]83[/b] Well something like that.

[Supercape]

Chief Chippedtooth looked on and mused the situation.

"You are welcome to see the evil one, my friends. But you are not one of the Crocodile people. We are hunters, and will only hunt with our tribe" he explained.

"If you can prove yourself as worthy of us, then we welcome white men as brothers, no matter how pale your skin and hairy your chin!" he actually gave a rather tortured nasty laugh, shuffling uncomfortably.

"But until then, you are only friend of Crocodile, not of Crocodile!" he said, fingering the teeth he had adorned on his body.

The Shaman, Riverturn, shuffled the party to a cranky and uncomfortable wooden cage. The wooden shafts looked like they had been bitten.

Inside, was a dry delerious man, near death, twicthing and mouthing. His skin was mottled, with patches of green, alongside multiple scars. Perhaps before his capture he might have been a strapping warrior, but now he could barely lift a finger.

His mutterings were in a different dialect, a variant of Nilo-Saharan, quite obscure and odd in canter and rhythm.

Spoiler:

hail the father of father who is mother, the father who spawned the toad king, oh great Tsuggotha! Come spread, come rise, from under the waters and under the stones!

[Priest]

Baxter, as confused by Chiptooths reply as no doubt the cheif had been by his bad bantu, looks at the strange looking shell of a man within the wooden cage.

He listens with interest to the strange rambling of the mans speech

Spoiler:

Nilo-Saharan language: 21%: 1d100 66

It has the cadence and pattern of the Nilo-Saharan tongue but it is so different that Baxter is unable to make sense of it.

[Tabs]

Burton offered the prisoner some water. "What can we do?" he wondered, and asked Dr. Wessex: "Do you know what the mottled and green patches of skin indicate? We don't wish to catch some disgusting lurgy."

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps the preacher should try to get through to him," suggests Percy. "This man is clearly going to meet his maker soon. Sven may just be able to convince him to repent of all his evil and get him to talk before he does."

[Priest]

Baxter raises one eyebrow at Carstairs suggestion, then pulls his flask from his pocket, uncorking it, And just what differnce do you think the god botherer can do that the witch doctor here can't? This creatures gods will be far more terrible than anything out of the Bible."

With a shake of his head Baxter takes a swallow of gin

[Mr. Handy]

"If you have a better idea, Mr. Baxter, I'm open to it," says Percy. "I can't see how it can cause any harm for Sven to try."

[Tabs]

"God works in mysterious ways," said Burton to no-one in particular.

[Priest]

Baxter shrugs, "Do as you like"

Then taking another swallow of gin he moves to wher Chippedtooth is standing, "So worthy chief, will you spare us a guide so that we might see where this miserable creature was found? After all we did give you boomstcks to make your people straonger"

[Supercape]

Dr. Wessex was horrifically nervous.

"These people are savages..." he whispered, needlessly. It was highly doubtful any of the tribesmen were able to understand English.

He went white when he saw the husk of the man that presumably had been a toad person.

"My God! The savages! Keeping this man locked up here!" he said, fiddling with his fingers. "He is half - dead...probably in organ failure...I...I don't know what those green blotches are, to be honest. Never seen anything like it. A parasite, maybe, or possibly some kind of tattoo...I would have to..err...examine the corpse..." he said awkwardly.

Sven took his bible to his hands. "Dear God, have mercy on this poor soul...." he said, gazing at the heavens. He actually looked rather angry at the apparent cruelty of the Crocodile peoples treatment of their captive.

Chippedtooth was unphased by anyone. He slumped to a sitting position on a log, and pondered all and everything.

"Hah! I would not spare mighty Crocodile people for such a journey. It is death, going South" he sniffed, wiping his nose. "Besides, it is tribal custom. You must be Crocodile people to hunt with Crocodile people. We keep to our own". He gave a grin, missing a few tooth. "You ever killed the Crocodile?" he asked them, indicating he very well knew the answer.