The hut

[Aliatus]

I was suddenly jolted awake once more. The sun was rising and so was the stranger. At least this time I felt refreshed.

I moved towards the stranger and removed some materials from my pack. I placed a hand on his head and rubbed the processed materials on the area where the dart struck. A black goo began to seep from the wound.

After I was certain all the poison was removed from his body I examined it. It was made from a rare plant found only in the jungles of Nupoanqa. It causes the victim to fall nearly unconscious and suffer terrible hallucinations whilst severing all connections between mind and body. I collected as much of it as I could and cleansed it for later use.

I noticed the stranger watching me. "Who are you and what brings you to this part of the jungle? Only an experienced traveller should venture to these parts."

[Androcles]

"I am Androcles, you slew the bandits... but, there are Jaguars. I think they meant to slay the bandits as well, they must not have taken your "assistance" in a bad way or we would likely both be dead."

Androcles put his head to the ground, and for a moment it looked like he had disappeared and the grass had grown taller where he lay. A second later he was siting up, "I sense no immediate danger, but we are exposed... and there is more going on around us than I am able to comprehend. Strange energies that are not of this place, we are too close, too exposed, we are vulnerable, we must flee. I am a gatherer, a watcher, a crafter, I prefer not to find myself in the middle of this."

[Aliatus]

"It is good to meet you Androcles. I saw the Jaguars. They above all others know to not interfere in the business of one that is highly trained in twisting the threads of the universe. It is fairly obvious why you do not comprehend what that sense is because very few have ever had experience with it outside of the disciples of rising gods. A lesser god is gaining power, that much is certain now. Whether the god's intentions are of good or evil are still debatable although I doubt he's here to give you sweets."

I moved towards him and placed a hand on his forehead. He looked at me as though I was mad for he must not be fond of magic.

"Although all the poison has been removed from your body, parts of your mind believe it is still there and thus you may still suffer from minor effects. You have still failed to answer my question. What are you doing this deep into the jungles?"

It was then that I turned my head to notice the old man had disappeared some time in the night.

[Androcles]

I go much deeper into the jungle and gather the rarest of roots, berries, herbs and fallen wood. I am not normally seen at all, but yesterday I displeased... errr, my abilities are diminished right now. In this land a god falls and two new ones rise to take up his place every day. It's usually best not to get involved.

Now I must depart, I have no taste for the energies here today. Androcles stood up, grabbed his bow and his pack and then departed into the Forrest. On the ground where he had lain was a small sack of Kasta berries.

[Aliatus]

I considered following him to wherever he was headed but I had bigger concerns than a gatherer that took me for a fool. So once again I was on my own.

I reached into my pack to see what I had left for food and drink. My pack was empty of any sort of food or beverage. Again I considered chasing down that idiot but figured it wasn't worth the time and energy. I could easily gather supplies along the way.

I continued my journey deeper into the jungles to find the ruins that my father subtly included into his lest testimony. I was still unsure as to what these ruins were connected to. Whether he was pointing me to somewhere that contained many books filled with the knowledge of magic only known by few or whether it was somehow connected to the rising of the gods as of late. It didn't matter either way as it was my duty to find this place and seek whatever may lie within.