Relic
Following the helicopter landing at the rendezvous point, you met the final two members of your group, Raoul, your guide and translator, and Bailey, a tough looking mercenary, armed with a spas 12 assault shotgun.
“Welcome! Welcome my friends to Despa!” Smiles Raoul as he approaches you, arms extended. He is wearing an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, showing off his glistening abdomens. You notice Skye slightly gasp at this handsome specimen. It makes you almost roll your eyes; while Wren actually does.
“I am, as you know, Raoul, as you have no doubt already read the dossier on me and my compatriot here, Mr. Bailey.” The large, bald man Bailey gruffly nods to the three of you in acknowledgement of your presence.
“Mr. Bailey and I have been here for quite some time, so if you please, come along to the village before we set out to our destination. I believe I have found a safer path for us to traverse, but Mr. Havaskar can be the final judge on that.”
“Nice to meet you both. We can exchange information later. I think what’s key now is for the ladies and myself, is to get some rest before we begin. We can set out tomorrow. No need for all the good money Mr. Lucas is spending to go to waste.” You state plainly to Raoul, with a wry smile thrown in at the quip on your employers funds. Raoul laughs.
“Yes yes! Mr. Lucas is not here good sir, but I doubt you will find the accommodations he left for us to be worthy of a prolonged visit.”
You cringe at that answer; another dog shit hole to sleep in for a night, you think.
“But as in all things, ladies first…” Raoul directs his hand toward a dirt path leading into the jungle. Wren and Skye oblige and head down the path.
“Always have the women go first, even in this island paradise, the view can always be better! Am I right Mr. Havaskar?!” Raoul laughs.
“Yeah…sure.” You reply sheepishly.
“Dear lord…” The group hears Wren mutter.
“Ahh a lively one perhaps?” Raoul whispers to you in reference to Wren. You say nothing and continue onward down the path, Bailey brining up the rear of the group.
The walk through the jungle brush is about 15 minutes, reaching a clearing; the group reaches a very primitive tribal village. Straw huts and dirt streets, surrounding a large fire that you assume is kept going at all times. Dark skinned tribesmen clad in body paint and bone necklaces inhabit the village, taking little notice of your group as you walk through. Raoul directs you to a larger wooden structure, presumably built by Raoul and Bailey upon their earlier arrival to the island. It was certainly the most modern structure in the village, but clearly built in haste.
Entering the building you, Wren and Skye sit down at a small table. Bailey stands stone silent nearby, still brandishing his shotgun, as if danger is somehow near despite the present safety. Raoul begins to rummage in a chest, eventually pulling out a large and dusty map. He slaps it a couple times, causing particles to flutter about. He then slams the map upright onto the table.
“We have surveyed the area, using the local villagers as guides. We have not wandered far from camp, but just enough to get an idea.”
“An idea of what?” You ask
“That the original path to the temple is too dangerous. We believe there is another safer route.”
“So...it is a temple then?” you say, fascinated.
Raoul nods.
“Built by whom, no one here knows, but to the few that have been there, it is apparently extremely dangerous.”
“Dangerous how?” Skye asks.
“Ahh are you frightened of what lurks within the jungles my beautiful little dove?” Skye blushes as Raoul grasps Skyes shoulder. She shakes her head.
“I promise you my lady; there is nothing to fear with Raoul nearby. I would die to protect a lovely rose such as you.”
Skye smiles at Raouls braggadocios’ bravado, then inspecting the map asserts herself.
“The path you and Bailey suggest will take us longer to reach the temple. We have to scale these higher elevations and then cross this river. What is so dangerous about the first path?”
Raoul glances at Bailey then back to Skye.
“The villagers here have told us that there is another tribe living here on Despa. A shadow tribe.”
“What do you mean?” You ask.
“They told us that their skin is as black as the night, that they are stronger than any mortal man. That they howl like wild beasts and their eyes glow like the full moon. Apparently, if they catch you, they drag you into the woods, never to be heard of again.”
“Unbelievable…” States Wren.
“Concerns my lady?” Asks Raoul.
“First off…I’m not your lady. Secondly, you are actually going to believe this superstitious tripe about supernatural tribes’ people?! You’re going to waste everyone’s time and possibly put us in the path of MORE danger to take a longer route in a place that has never been explored by civilized man!”
You fold your arms, keeping silent to see how this plays out. She definitely brings up a good point in your mind.
“Well…” Skye begins. “To be honest Wren, most myths stem from sort of truth. I personally believe there is more at work in the universe then what we can plainly see or understand. Obviously these people have seen something, maybe a new species of animal.”
Wren sighs, “I know where you coming from, but we should look at this logically. This other path is going to take HOURS longer. This original path that was set out for us is straightforward, easier to traverse and NOT a waste of time. Do you even have any proof of these supposedly dangerous tribesmen?” She glares at Raoul, mouth agape with shock that anyone is taking this shadow tribe talk seriously.
Raoul’s eyes narrowed, “We have heard the howls. Not like a wolf or a man or any creature I’ve ever heard. Frankly my lovelies, I do not wish to put anyone into harm’s way.”
“Or yourself…” Wren mutters.
“Well you’re the expert Leo, which way do you want to go?” Skye asks you.
“Your professional opinion Mr. Bailey?” You ask.
Bailey shrugs his shoulders, but does not respond. Odd fellow.
“Welcome! Welcome my friends to Despa!” Smiles Raoul as he approaches you, arms extended. He is wearing an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, showing off his glistening abdomens. You notice Skye slightly gasp at this handsome specimen. It makes you almost roll your eyes; while Wren actually does.
“I am, as you know, Raoul, as you have no doubt already read the dossier on me and my compatriot here, Mr. Bailey.” The large, bald man Bailey gruffly nods to the three of you in acknowledgement of your presence.
“Mr. Bailey and I have been here for quite some time, so if you please, come along to the village before we set out to our destination. I believe I have found a safer path for us to traverse, but Mr. Havaskar can be the final judge on that.”
“Nice to meet you both. We can exchange information later. I think what’s key now is for the ladies and myself, is to get some rest before we begin. We can set out tomorrow. No need for all the good money Mr. Lucas is spending to go to waste.” You state plainly to Raoul, with a wry smile thrown in at the quip on your employers funds. Raoul laughs.
“Yes yes! Mr. Lucas is not here good sir, but I doubt you will find the accommodations he left for us to be worthy of a prolonged visit.”
You cringe at that answer; another dog shit hole to sleep in for a night, you think.
“But as in all things, ladies first…” Raoul directs his hand toward a dirt path leading into the jungle. Wren and Skye oblige and head down the path.
“Always have the women go first, even in this island paradise, the view can always be better! Am I right Mr. Havaskar?!” Raoul laughs.
“Yeah…sure.” You reply sheepishly.
“Dear lord…” The group hears Wren mutter.
“Ahh a lively one perhaps?” Raoul whispers to you in reference to Wren. You say nothing and continue onward down the path, Bailey brining up the rear of the group.
The walk through the jungle brush is about 15 minutes, reaching a clearing; the group reaches a very primitive tribal village. Straw huts and dirt streets, surrounding a large fire that you assume is kept going at all times. Dark skinned tribesmen clad in body paint and bone necklaces inhabit the village, taking little notice of your group as you walk through. Raoul directs you to a larger wooden structure, presumably built by Raoul and Bailey upon their earlier arrival to the island. It was certainly the most modern structure in the village, but clearly built in haste.
Entering the building you, Wren and Skye sit down at a small table. Bailey stands stone silent nearby, still brandishing his shotgun, as if danger is somehow near despite the present safety. Raoul begins to rummage in a chest, eventually pulling out a large and dusty map. He slaps it a couple times, causing particles to flutter about. He then slams the map upright onto the table.
“We have surveyed the area, using the local villagers as guides. We have not wandered far from camp, but just enough to get an idea.”
“An idea of what?” You ask
“That the original path to the temple is too dangerous. We believe there is another safer route.”
“So...it is a temple then?” you say, fascinated.
Raoul nods.
“Built by whom, no one here knows, but to the few that have been there, it is apparently extremely dangerous.”
“Dangerous how?” Skye asks.
“Ahh are you frightened of what lurks within the jungles my beautiful little dove?” Skye blushes as Raoul grasps Skyes shoulder. She shakes her head.
“I promise you my lady; there is nothing to fear with Raoul nearby. I would die to protect a lovely rose such as you.”
Skye smiles at Raouls braggadocios’ bravado, then inspecting the map asserts herself.
“The path you and Bailey suggest will take us longer to reach the temple. We have to scale these higher elevations and then cross this river. What is so dangerous about the first path?”
Raoul glances at Bailey then back to Skye.
“The villagers here have told us that there is another tribe living here on Despa. A shadow tribe.”
“What do you mean?” You ask.
“They told us that their skin is as black as the night, that they are stronger than any mortal man. That they howl like wild beasts and their eyes glow like the full moon. Apparently, if they catch you, they drag you into the woods, never to be heard of again.”
“Unbelievable…” States Wren.
“Concerns my lady?” Asks Raoul.
“First off…I’m not your lady. Secondly, you are actually going to believe this superstitious tripe about supernatural tribes’ people?! You’re going to waste everyone’s time and possibly put us in the path of MORE danger to take a longer route in a place that has never been explored by civilized man!”
You fold your arms, keeping silent to see how this plays out. She definitely brings up a good point in your mind.
“Well…” Skye begins. “To be honest Wren, most myths stem from sort of truth. I personally believe there is more at work in the universe then what we can plainly see or understand. Obviously these people have seen something, maybe a new species of animal.”
Wren sighs, “I know where you coming from, but we should look at this logically. This other path is going to take HOURS longer. This original path that was set out for us is straightforward, easier to traverse and NOT a waste of time. Do you even have any proof of these supposedly dangerous tribesmen?” She glares at Raoul, mouth agape with shock that anyone is taking this shadow tribe talk seriously.
Raoul’s eyes narrowed, “We have heard the howls. Not like a wolf or a man or any creature I’ve ever heard. Frankly my lovelies, I do not wish to put anyone into harm’s way.”
“Or yourself…” Wren mutters.
“Well you’re the expert Leo, which way do you want to go?” Skye asks you.
“Your professional opinion Mr. Bailey?” You ask.
Bailey shrugs his shoulders, but does not respond. Odd fellow.