Steffan's journal entry - near-illegible notes in a private shorthand annotate and follow the sketch of a tiny monkey, and of certain of the tiny monkey's interior organs.
Not half a day's journey by river from Rivertown, we were attacked by a band of the same animals as the specimen represented, albeit crudely, here. Attacked by monkeys, you say? Aye, not a great deal out of the ordinary in that, as I can personally attest. But these monkeys were armed!
They first fired upon us with bows as we floated upriver, disturbing my attempts to sketch one of the more interesting trees of the region. My instinct was to ignore the pests, until one of them seemed to breath a vast cone of fire upon us, whereupon I thought better of sketching...
Though clearly blessed with some form of intelligence greater than the average small monkey, it will be noted from the sketches contained herein that they, in all aspects, resemble completely as to any other small monkey species encountered and recorded heretofore.
Speculation amongst the travelling group suggests that they may not be all they seem: small monkeys tend not to attack; small monkeys also tend not to fire bows or breath fire. Having dissected a sample fortunately found without too much damage (for we were rather zealous in defending ourselves once the firebreath was revealed), I am entirely certain that the details of the brain indicate that the specimen is in fact, at base, of normal intelligence. This leads one to believe, rather darkly, that there may be other forces at work in this region. This belief is supported by a finding upon one of the monkey corpses, which was written in an ancient tongue and made reference to a cult of brain-thieves, or mind-controllers – the mind-flayers of some cultures' bogeymen tales. I must remember, when we return, to question the local notables on their townspeoples' complaints of kidnappings related to 'intelligent animals'.
Ah yes – a note to add to the above – I believe when E inspected the bows with which the monkeys fired upon us he did not feel that the monkeys had made them themselves. If they were an intelligence unto themselves – a culture of their own – surely they would be able to appropriate and copy this rather primitive technology? Again, this just underlines the rather dark belief of manipulation.
A page later.
Journal entry – first day's travel. Notes for subsequent editing.
The first major fork in the River of Death comes at nearly a day's paddle upstream from Rivertown. I estimate this to be a mere dozen miles or so from the settlement. This first day's length of river, the water was fairly calm, murky: the river wide such that one feels the sun beating down in its relentlessness at midday, and the treecover at the edges thick such that, within ten feet of the riverbanks, one is in comparatively total shadow.
Yet the banks are untamed, and although one may be tempted to rest by paddling in the shade, local wildlife including firebreathing monkeys should deter the casual visitor from doing so.
At this fork there is, it seems but is possibly to be confirmed tomorrow, an island. It may be a peninsula though. I need to correct this at a later date if possible. The main river – the River of Death proper – veers, at least initially, to the south. This main branch is very probably the source?? In any case, from where we made landfall on the first eve it seems that this branch continues with a calm flow, more than wide enough to let the sun reach the water.
This is not the case on the northern branch – it is faster flowing, more turbulent – and the sun reaches not through the canopy above. We arrived late in the day, but even so it was eerie to see a short distance up this branch, and for it to seem already (perhaps perpetually! Gods...) night. I would be glad not to have to travel up this branch for this reason, although the idea of not paddling up the rapids that the water's pace promises is also a strong argument against...
I shall discuss my estimated distances of travel with E tomorrow, and if we are not again attacked by firebreathing wildlife may attempt to sketch a map if the water remains placid enough to permit such leisure activities in between shifts on the oar.
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Topic: D&D 3.5 PbP: River of Death: The RP Thread (Read 7933 times)