The Prologue (1941) - Part II

[Nanshork]

Richard takes a polite amount of the new course and eats it as well.  He doesn't want to eat too much, there are still a few courses left.

[ragincajun2288]

Pingo puts down his gourd and rubs a palm over his smoothly shaven head. He had a good buzz and felt quite relaxed now. When his new dish comes around he finally lets down his guard and begins to feast on the bird. When he finishes he wipes his mouth and awaits the next course with much appetite left. A growing boy like himself needed his vittles. He turns to Bones and nods, approving of the dish, knowing that Bones is probably sauced as well. Pingo picks up his gourd and takes another large swallow as he waits, looking around for pretty village girls who may be looking his way. It had been a while since he unleashed the anaconda.

[jacemachine]

Third course
4 spit-roasted wild boars. Each with their eyes boiled in their heads. The beasts' hair had been singed off with the flames of the firepits. The skin cracked and splitting leaking boiled juices down in streams.

The natives cut the feet from the boars and toss them to the parasite infested, mongrel dogs that wander around the village, who fight over them, until the kids shoo them away from the feast with sticks.

The village chief took particular interest in the eyes. His daughter brought him all 8 in a carved wooden bowl.

He looks greedily down at his bounty, then carefully, almost tenderly he withdraws the juiciest and fattest of the boars eyes. He lay it on a bed of leaves and his daughter brought the tray to the group.

“this is...rare...ex..exception. my... father never share his... beloved eyes of puk'mac with anybody. He says... this one is for the one of you who is... most worthy”

The feast, you notice, has quieted down quite a bit. All eyes are on the party members to see who among them will share in the chief's most treasured delicacy.


Beyond the girl, the boars are being sliced open, and you can see steam rise from the beasts... and are those boars stuffed with cooked snakes? A steaming plate is prepared for the chief who watches the group intently... almost as if he is weighing you.

[Decide which of you will take the chief's delicacy, the rest of you can have at the boar & snake. Yum! 

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Eisen eyed the boar with an interest, but his cool gaze fell for a half second each on the girl, and then the bowl. Turning to the group, before casually crunching a grub and nut between his back molars, he asked, "So to whom might this pleasure be bestowed?" The sarcastic tone was intended more for those who would claim themselves most worthy in the group, though it was such a subtle note that even a native English speaker might have missed it in his slight German twinge had they not been looking for it.

[Nanshork]

Eying the others Richard says, "If none of you can stomach it I'll take them."

[j0lt]

Licking his lips in anticipation of the boar meat, Loder looks over at Richard as if he was crazy.  "By all means, you can eat the eyeballs..."

[ragincajun2288]

Pingo gestures to himself and quickly signs before taking another swallow from his gourd. His head buzzes strongly now. "Great warrior should eat". He points to himself, Richard, or Eisen.

If none of the others make a move or call dibs Pingo reaches for the eyes to eat them.

[Melblen_Cairn]

After finishing a helping of parrot, Rose eyes the roasted boar though the eyes don't really interest her. "Whomever wants it would welcome to it as far as I am concerned." she says.

Recalling the last time she had had roasted pig and being told where the most tender parts are she takes a knife and slices a bit off each of the cheek muscles along the jaw. The tender meat melts in her mouth and she savors it. Feeling adventurous she grabs some of the snake meat and begins to chew.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Eisen looked over Pingo's points; 'So I've been elected, huh? Rather not draw attention to myself,' he thought, as he indicated with a hand towards the eyes. "I'll leave one of you mighty warriors to it. I'd rather the pig, in any case."

[Nanshork]

Richard signs at Pingo in his own language, "These are closer to being your people than mine, I leave the choice of who receives this honor to you."

[ragincajun2288]

Pingo looks at them with squinted eyes, then flashes a quick sign. "You hesitate to attack, therefore I will move and eat the eyes".

Pingo first looks to the chief and bows his head to show that he appreciates the gift, then takes the dish and eats them slowly, savoring them. He nods his head in approval, hoping the chief's scales weigh in good favor of him, then upon finishing them will sip his liquor again.

[jacemachine]

A cry of approval rises throughout the gathered villagers. Drums bang. Children laugh.

There are times when it is good that you do NOT have your tongue, Pingo.

The chief looks into Pingo's eyes and nods his approval. He then eats an eye himself, its clear fluids running down his chin.
It was his eyes though; They conveyed the great emptiness of his loss. The chief's lips move as if he is speaking...

Everyone:
Listen checks please, to hear what the chief murmurs. (DC 20 over the din of villagers.) Pingo I will grant you a +8 modifier since you would have stepped closer to the chief

"omana'man e' ponoba'khockna..."

For those of you who sprecken ze native-speak; it means, "Will you bring my son back?"

The chief withdraws a small wooden box from his colorful robes. A little larger than a cigar box. The box looked to date from the end of the last century, but it had weathered the past 40 to 60 years well.  Peter the Shaman took the box, and placed it in Pingo's hands.

Pingo / Tommy : Check your PM for the contents.

[j0lt]

Concentrating on his food, Loder hears nothing.

[Nanshork]

Richard hears the chief murmer something but can't quite make it out.  Shrugging to himself, he eats some boar.

Listen: 19

So close.   

[Melblen_Cairn]

Rose is close enough to catch what the Chief murmurs. Moved by the loss she asks Peter the Shaman, "You mentioned the Chief's son went into the underworld with a friend...Balum I believe you said his name was. Is he here this evening?"

Listen=20

[ragincajun2288]

TO HEAR! (1d20+10=16)

Wow you gave me a +10 total and I still failed. Talk about a shitty roll.

Pingo does not hear the chief's words, perhaps he is too astonished at the gift the chief has bestowed upon him. Sure the rest of the party is curious he lifts the blade from the box to examine it closely in the light.

Spot check to notice anything unusual or perhaps writing on the blade.

Of course I would roll awesome when I don't need to. Spot (1d20+3=23)

It is an old Spanish conquistador blade, obviously very, VERY old. A dagger, although in need of cleaning and sharpening Pingo is sure the blade would hold. Blades of the past were made correctly and did not break like the flimsy things white men made today. Yes, some alcohol and his whetstone could possibly make this thing look good again. Pingo nods graciously and appraisingly to the chief and returns the blade to the old box. He sets it on the table and places a hand upon the box while drinking his liquor, obviously treasuring the gift...yet he does not notice the pain in the chief's eyes nor heard his words. Perhaps too much drink is starting to affect him.

[jacemachine]

TO HEAR! (1d20+10=16)

Wow you gave me a +10 total and I still failed. Talk about a shitty roll.

Be certain to add your Listen ranks also! The roll is 1d20+10+ Listen Ranks

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Eisen heard the chief's muttered words, but didn't give a damn as he couldn't understand it. Luckily, the slice of boar in his mouth stopped him from reflexively repeating it as a cheer, and he overhears Rose's comment. Confusedly, he looks between her and the Chief. After washing down the boar with some drink, he leans over to the person on his right, asking "When and how did the conversation change from eyes to dead sons?"

[jacemachine]

Pete the Shaman speaks, "The chief's heir is not dead. At least that is my belief. Balum said that the two of them went into the caves together to look at the cave-writing and carvings. However, the two had been separated when a jaguar attacked from within the darkness.

"Balum said that the jaguar chased him from the caves, but the cheif's son was not with him. It is my belief that the boy is still alive inside the cave, but my people are too archaic, I'm afraid. They've already wrote the boy off."

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Eisen listened intently, though the expression he showed didn't seem to contain pity for the chief nor his son. A moment later, he shot a glance at a few members of the table, communicating his awkwardness. He thought to himself about how the Nazi boat had too much of a lead on them as it was, but also of how they were decoding their route as they went, and had this feast in their honor.