View source for Wild:51 Race for First

{{Starring
|pc={{Bo}}, {{Fuelwen}}, {{Brilla}}, and {{TskTsk}}
|npc=[[Wild:General Linaeus|General Linaeus]], [[Wild:Lady of the Lake (Archdryad)|Lady of the Lake]]
|foe=Fuelwen and TskTsk's bickering; Brilla's reluctance for a lesbian experience; Dust Mummies
|location=Following the Do Good River north, where we found a lake
|date=01 Dec 2010
}}

[[Category:Wild]]
[[Category:Wild:Session | 51]]

== Up the River ==

{{Brilla}}: The trip up the river went very well. The ship was pleasant and the crew listened well to my directions. It appears the Milding has been effecting us, though, as I feel a bit different. This was confirmed in that Fuelwen is now able to tolerate fresh water much more than before.

I feel concerned that I am being disconnected from my people. There is a spark growing in me. I can now feel it eating away at what I once was. I know that if I grasp it that it may open the potential for me to complete my mission. My concern is that when I reach deep down inside and give it the slightest caress I can feel it begin to rip away at my connection to my ancestors. I have to now weigh losing my own heritage to recover the missing heritage of all my people. Sadly, I am beginning to feel this is a sacrifice I may have to make in order to do the right thing...

{{Fuelwen}}: I'm adjusting to the Milding, which is a vaguely terrifying thought. While I have holdings here, I do not want to linger overlong. Hopefully, we'll have access to the dreamplane when we return; the free travel between here and the normal world will be invaluable.

The trip up the river was uneventful. It ended when we reached a waterfall. Instead of doing the rational thing and portaging the boat, we climbed without it. I don't have the skills or knowledges to build a sledge for a craft like that. We continue on foot.

{{TskTsk}}: This headband has to be the single greatest item that I've ever had in my possession! The clarity with which I see the world is astounding. I also now understand math.

== Up the Waterfalls ==

{{Brilla}}: Tsk'Tsk used his climbing skills to transverse the cliff-face very skillfully. At first he seemed very hesitant in me coming along, but after demonstrating the ability I unlocked the ability to fly he was relieved. I must admit, I am no hummingbird, but then again, I'm no Splat either. Ugh, I actually kinda miss that... thing.

The top of the waterfall greeted us with a very large mosquito. It zoned in on me and there was no way I was having that thing touch me. I pulled out the Pearl and dove in the water until the bug left. While down there I noticed that some of the fish were of unusual size as well. It appears that in this land of giants, the humanoids are not the only things that come in large sizes.

After some shenanigans from the two boys it was brought to our attention that there was a small cave hidden mid-way up the waterfall. I flew down to explore it and found there to be humanoid bones, pieces of armor from Do-Wop, and some coins.

{{Fuelwen}}: No one has ever returned from beyond the falls. Tsk'Tsk and Brilla quickly set that record straight. Of course, if we don't return, no one will know. Tsk'Tsk was pretty proud of his accomplishment, and as a result, I was tempted into leaping from the falls. Unfortunately, I was a bit clumsy about it, but there was no real harm done. I discovered a cave in the process. Instead of treasure, we found hints of previous adventuring parties and the creatures that killed them.

{{TskTsk}}: The waterfall was a thing of beauty. The mist felt cool as I climbed up the cliff, with Brilla flying next to me. Apparently the power of her ancestors is burgeoning inside of her. At the top of the cliff is the single greatest thing that I've ever seen. The mammal word is "lake". A vast desert where the sand is drinkable water.

I return with the good word and realize that I've now been the first to return back, alive, from the waterfall. I find it unlikely that the story will go beyond this group. This clutch has a habit of nontraditional travel. I'm sure that we'll be riding a astral whale into the black, or dreaming our way home, or catch a ride on a teleporting tavern, or some other such nonsense that gets proven true.

'''Linnaeus''': Upon our return, it will be recorded that our unit is the one that crossed, and all members of the unit will be recorded. The technicality of who crossed some arbitrary line doesn't matter.

== Up the Latitude ==

{{Brilla}}: Once everyone got up the cliff we noticed something small in the distance. It appears there was an island in the middle of the lake. We had the general and his men make camp while we went out to explore it.

The trip took a long time but we eventually discovered some red, draconic scales on the island as well as more humanoid bones. We kept a mental note and made out way back to camp.

The next morning we broke camp and headed further north. Tsk'tsk took point, assuming the role of scout and bait. We eventually heard back from him, saying there was some nymph that wanted to talk with us. The troops were commanded to stay only within ear shot while the adventuring group and the general went back to talk to her.

The nymph's body blinded the General. I didn't see what the fuss was about. Tsk'tsk was driven to giving her compliments. Honestly, she really needed some more clothes, but I guess that is what fey do. I guess I'm the more decent one. I bet I'd get more looks if I was dressed like that... not that I would mind you.

During our conversation she mentioned that I was not yet blessed with child. To further matters, she offered to give me one through a ritual. It was something I considered for a short while, but the thoughts of my ancestry prevented me from doing so. Perhaps this new spark in me when mixed with one of my kind would further empower us and help us make a stronger lineage. I declined her.

Before leaving we were given a few blessings. Bo and I had some of the ravages of our adventuring removed from us. A few of my scars cleared up and the stress lines from dealing with the group disappeared. The Lady of the Lake also filled in part of our map, giving us a general direction to travel in. For some reason I almost expected her to chuck a sword at us, but alas, it did not happen.

{{Fuelwen}}: A lake fed the falls. A ''large'' lake. So large, in fact, that I couldn't see the other edge. We explored the water area, and traveled to a distant island in the heart of the lake (an island ''in'' a lake? How bizarre. It's like a microcosm of our world- I suspect that it's artificial, not unlike those villages that build scale models of the village and use it as a point of pride. How could such a thing form naturally?). 

The decision is made to circumnavigate the lake. Along the way, we encounter an Archdryad. Among other favors, it offers to impregnate Brilla by magically inducing parthenogenesis. It seems like a perfectly rational thing to do, given that Brilla wants to have a child, but as is the way of mammals, there is much drama over the subject. 

In retrospect, it's probably better that Brilla didn't take my advice. I forget that mammals become useless while pregnant. Regardless, the remainder of our trip proceeds well, and Tsk'Tsk and I get along very well, in light of mammal oddness.

{{TskTsk}}: It turns out that we are in the former hunting grounds of the apex predator, a red dragon. I'm nervous as they are known to return. While we hope to encounter the cycloptic one as equals, the reality is that we will most likely be greeted as prey. The greater the danger, the better the hunt.

While scouting out our route around the lake I encounter the most beautiful mammal that I've ever seen. I'm awestruck. She attempts to give Brilla a child, which one would think would make her happy. True to form, mammals confond me as Brilla refused the offer on the grounds of lineage. A child with two mothers, one of which is an archdryad, is not unique enough apparently. Fuelwen and I discuss the puzzle of mammalian logic at length.

'''Linnaeus''': Brilla's probably most concerned about her self-prescribed duties to the world that she'd rather not break from while pregnant. Plus, she has yet to find a reliable midwife. I wouldn't trust Bo to deliver even the child of a monkey.

{{DM}} No mechanical effects of The Archdryad's restoration on Brilla and Bo. It's purely cosmetic, as if you got a full day at the spa.

== Up the Mountains ==

{{Brilla}}: We decided to take a path that led us along the largest river north, right up to a mountain range.

On our way there we fond a body drained of all its liquids. I immediately thought it may have been a group of those giant mosquitoes, but the wounds told otherwise. We soon found the true cause as mummies infused with the essence of salt attacked us.

We did our best to save all of the soldiers but one got hit by a mummy. After it was hit we saw the body quickly turn into a dried husk. We proved a little more hardy against the attacks, but they still did their damage.

After the battle was won we did a quick burial of the fallen soldier and continued our trek north.

{{Fuelwen}}: The largest advantage to fighting salt mummies is that they leave behind salt. The next time we encounter a small body of water, I intend to render it brackish enough that I can cope more easily. Or perhaps I'll coat my scales with salt to buy myself some time. Regardless, I've packed up a fair quantity of salt. At this point, I wonder: if Linnaeus knew we weren't going to take the boat the entire way, why did we not bring any mounts?

'''Linnaeus''': Mounts? Are you kidding me? We would have needed a boat four times the size, and the food for them is outrageous. As it is, here in the mountains, grasses are too sparse for their grazing. And here, I thought you were a strong one with a tactical mind, Fuelwen. Not a whiner and epicure.

{{Fuelwen}}: I simply point out the lack of preparation. It will be a simple matter to gain mounts from the locals, or perhaps a fresh boat. We shall live off the land as we subjugate the lesser races we encounter.

'''Linnaeus''': Faeries, fish and flies are all renowned for their husbandry! The lack of intelligent races up here does disturb me.

{{TskTsk}}: I would point out that the salt mummies planned and executed an ambush, proving to have at least a good deal of cunning. The archdryad was refined and (mostly) polite, and conversed at length with our clutch mother. There are plenty of intelligent beings here.

'''Linnaeus''': Nothing but creatures of instinct. Much like the stories of you, before you got that hat.

== Up the Rewards ==

Wiki edit reward: +1 AP. Brilla. Fuelwen. TskTsk.