Eodon

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<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonExploringCalm" play>> The dim glow of the moongate illuminates the jungle ahead, the roar of unknown beasts breaks the silence of night. Before you is the Valley of Eodon, an untamed wilderness of untold riches waiting to be discovered. As your eyes adjust to the crushing darkness a robed figure appears ahead. You pause and a deep lump sets in your throat. Your nervousness is palatable. As the figure approaches a sense of calm comes over you. The figure raises its arm from within the folds of an elegant white robe. “I am Hawkwind. I’ve been waiting for you. You have come to this place at my invitation, and without you I fear a great strife will befall this Valley. A choice must now be made, for only you can forge your path through the jungle... [img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/candleSmall.png][Kurak Intro]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bookSmall.png][Jukari Intro]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bellSmall.png][Barako Intro]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonJungleBongos" play>> You meander down the winding jungle path. It is barely cut through the dense vegetation but you follow it none the less. All the while the sounds of the jungle echo around you. Minutes go by. You are sure you’ve been walking for what seems like hours, your throat burns and your head aches. You press on, your curiosity drives you despite fatigue and dehydration dragging you down. There is a clearing ahead. You come upon what seems like the modest workings of a village. You summon the last bit of strength you have to breach the perimeter. Just as you approach a raging bonfire you collapse. It is morning now. You are lying in a cot padded by straw. It scratches your back. Your head aches. You focus on several women around you. They smile and giggle. One of them presses a wet cloth to your head. A female voice in a familiar tongue interrupts the giggling, “If your heart were not true these would not be giggles you’re hearing. The Kuraki people must sense something in you. Come on now, get on your feet. There’s a lot to explain…” [[I don't remember much, where am I...|Intro to Rafkin]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonJungleBongos" play>> As Hawkwind finishes you immediately demand answers. What is this place? Why has he brought you here? You have little chance to finish your sentence before he vanishes in a brilliant shimmer of blue-white light. The jungle is dark again. You let your eyes adjust and barely discern a winding path through the jungle. You push away sprawling ferns and hanging vines as you venture deeper into the wilderness. A faint howling becomes more and more distinct. You listen closely. THUD! The ground shakes beneath your feet. You barley have time to focus before a massive fist comes crushing down on your skull. You don’t know how long you’ve been unconscious. You regain your senses and find your hands and legs bound. You are surrounded by humanoid type creatures adorned in the dressings of apes. They are chanting loudly. You become instantly uneasy. The situation feels tense. You go to call out as a wave of silence washes over the room. A woman enters. Her ponytailed hair sits neatly over her shoulder. You recognize her clothes as familiar, “I’ll give you an instant to answer me before I let the Barako rip you apart…who are you and what are you doing here? [[I came through the moongate, I mean you no harm...|Intro to Rafkin]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonJungleBongos" play>> Hawkwind vanishes in a brilliant shimmer of blue-white light giving you just enough time to survey your surroundings. You spot a fallen tree branch you discern would be an effective bludgeoning weapon. You equip yourself and venture boldly into the dense jungle pushing away the dense vegetation. You remain silent as you negotiate your way across rushing streams and through weaving underbrush. A rustling through the brush perks your senses. It’s fast now, moving towards you. You grip the branch and close your eyes. In an instant you bring the branch down landing a crushing blow to your attacker. You open your eyes. The glow of torchlight illuminates the jungle around you. You are surrounded by nearly a dozen Eodonians each with a spear pointed in your direction. You delicately look down, under your improvised club is an insect-like creature writhing in pain, "Not many survive a stalking attack from a Myrmidex. Why don’t you tell me where you learned to handle yourself like that before the Jukari turn you into insect bait?” [[I came through the moongate, I mean you no harm...|Intro to Rafkin]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonMystique" volume 0.5 loop play>> “I’m…I came through the gate…” You manage to stammer out a measly explanation of how you’ve gotten yourself into this situation. The woman lets out a small grin and you realize are most definitely not in Britannia anymore. “Well you’re here now and if you’re going to stick around we might as well get on with it.” The idea of bolting in a random direction toward the Moongate crosses your mind briefly before you realize you are in fact, lost in the jungle with a bunch of strangers. You wouldn’t make it very far. “I’m Rafkin, Professor Eleanor Rafkin – you can call me Rafkin. I’m surprised it took you this long to make it to Eodon. Britannians have been pouring through the Moongate since Hawkwind opened it – partly the reason we’re in this mess to begin with.” That’s right. This Hawkwind character, he’s the reason you aren’t home in your cottage enjoying a glass of Moonglow Red. Oh how you love that vintage. “You still with me?” Rafkin gives you a stare and you snap out of it. [[“Uhh of course – please, continue…”|Explanation of Myrmidex Threat]]

“The vile Enchantress Minax had the first thought to come to Eodon in an attempt to continue whatever mustache-twisting scheme she has to avenge the death of her lover Mondain, but none of that interests me. I’m here because the Valley is a trove – we’ve never experienced anything like this in Britannia. It would seem of course I’m not alone in that observation as scores of Britannians have been venturing here for months – unfortunately many of them without the best intentions. Since Britannians began harvesting the resources in Eodon the Myrmidex…” There’s that word again. You give Rafkin a puzzling look. She responds in a bit of a huff, “The giant insect creatures? Well I guess you may not have encountered them considering you’re still in one piece.” She’s right. That hardly sounds like something you’d be interested in. “The Myrmidex have been feeding off the carcasses of all manner of creatures left in the wake of the Britannian’s onslaught into the Valley. Their numbers have swelled to record levels and I fear the indigenous peoples of Eodon are in danger of being overrun by the Myrmidex and the Barrabian allies.” The situation suddenly sounds dire and Hawkwind’s words echo in your head. Somehow you feel like this is now very much your problem. “I’m sorry – the Barrab?” Rafkin seem to perk up at your interest to what she’s saying, “Ahhh, so you are paying attention.” [[You had me at giant insect creatures...|Tribe Selection]]

You are overwhelmed with a sense of duty. Your head has begun to clear and you feel at ease with your surroundings. Professor Rafkin…Ellie…has provided a welcome connection to this otherwise foreign land. Rafkin continues on in, finding her stride in a lecture like tone, almost as if she were addressing a class at the Lycaeum, “The indigenous peoples of Eodon are organized into four tribes and each tribe follows roughly the same social hierarchy – the tribe is led by a Chief or Chieftess, warriors within the tribe provide security and work the hunt to provide for the entire tribal population. The Shaman within the tribe connect the tribespeople to their chosen spirit, of which they worship absolutely.” You nod slowly. It’s been a while since you’ve eaten and think right about now your tribe would be worshiping a perfectly roasted chicken. Several woman within the village you’ve found yourself in begin setting down what you can only surmise is food, one of the items bearing a striking resemblance to chicken. “Waku” one of the villagers says with a smile. “You can eat and listen, right?” Rafkin looks at you with a fixing gaze. You nod as you eat your meal. “Each tribe worships a spirit within the Valley. It influences every aspect of their culture and influences their values and beliefs. The Jukari worship the great Volcano, drawing strength and vigilance from its majestic peak high atop the Valley. The Kurak worship the tiger, embodying the nimble and agile traits of the majestic jungle cat. The Barako worship the Ape, more specifically the Great Ape. A strong and resolute people – as you might imagine, also with a strong affinity for bananas. “That’s only three.” You’ve been keeping count. “That’s right…” Rafkin continues, “That leaves the Barrab. All of the tribes have a respectful, not necessarily friendly – but a respectful relationship with each other, performing simple levels of trade amongst themselves. The Barrab however, they worship the vile Myrmidex. The Myrmidex are a subterranean species of insectoids that are voracious eaters and reproduce extraordinarily quickly. With the amount of food available from the Britannian harvesting activities in Eodon, the Myrmidex have swelled in numbers and the Barrab have only increased the fervor of their worship. We cannot allow the Myrmidex to swarm the Valley or else all the tribes will and surely be lost. Only the Barrab know the ways to their underground pits.” You ponder that for a moment and offer a solution, “How about we just kill all the Myrmidex, shouldn’t be much to just pour hot tar down the entrances to their pits…” Rafkin is unamused by your off the cuff strategic planning. “If only it were that easy. To truly quell the threat we must destroy the Myrmidex Queen and that can only happen if we know the secrets the Barrab keep in navigating their colony. The only way to get the Barrab to cooperate is if the entirety of Eodon unites and puts pressure on the Barrab. While the tribes enjoy a cordial coexistence they are no means united….I can only imagine that is why you are here, and why Hawkwind opted that our paths should cross…our quest is clear.” Rafkin doesn’t give you a chance to respond before she unfurls a map in front of you and points. Better get your stuff together. We're headed into the jungle." [[*sigh* You never were very good at packing|Jungle Travel]]

The jungle around you is dense, ferns appear to sprout from every available space. The snaking trunks of banyan trees blossom into lush canopies shadowing the jungle floor beneath them. Splashes of color from jungle flowers – wild vanilla, foxgloves, and periwinkles are a few you recognize but there are far too many to identify them all. There is a small path carved into the undergrowth that Rafkin leads you through the jungle on. Yucca trees and coconut palms sag under the weight of their fruits. The sun sits low on the Valley giving everything an iridescent glow, despite it being a foreign land the Valley comforts and welcomes you. For a fleeting moment – you feel at home… [[*You spot a clearing up ahead*|Jukari Village Desc]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonJungleBongos" play>> …as the sun sinks lower on the horizon it cuts through the fog and illuminates a great mountain peak to the Southeast. You can’t help but marvel at its splendor. Rafkin notices you and cuts in, “The Great Volcano. Mostly dormant but a symbol of pride for the Jukari. Their village is just up ahead.” As the tree line breaks, burning fires sitting atop stone pillars form a perimeter. The village is built of all stone, what you can only assume is lava rock. The structures are massive and strong, you wonder how a people were able to build such things. The Jukari have a deep red hue to their skin, many of them wearing crudely fashioned lenses and almost all without any hair. They look upon you with equal parts interest and mistrust. “The Jukari hold the Volcano to be sacred, they’ve been having run-ins with Britannians seeking to mine its precious minerals almost since Hawkwind opened the Moongate.” Rafkin explains as a small crowd begins to assemble in the center of the village. [[You wonder what great challenge awaits you...|Jukari Mission Desc]]

You find yourself encircled by the Jukari. A single Jukari cuts into the circle, wearing more opulent dress than the others. The Chief approaches Rafkin and they exchange a simple greeting. The Chief smiles, and Rafkin returns with a slight bow of her head. The Jukari assembled hoot and holler in approval. “Rafkin friend to Jukari – Jukari welcome Rafkin!” The Chief says as he raises his arms before pointing in your direction. A bit of a lump develops in your throat. “Rafkin bring new Britannians? This Britannian friend?” Rafkin introduces you as her a special helper, somehow you think it's a veiled insult, but whatever she’s saying seems to be keeping you from getting tossed into the Volcano, so you’re okay with it – for now. “Great Chief, you are aware of the Myrmidex and Barrabian threats. The time has come for us to act less the Valley be lost to them.” The Chief considers her every word as he rests his chin in his hand. When Rafkin finishes he begins to artfully gesticulate with each word, “Jukari know threat is real, but Jukari cannot battle Myrmidex or Barrab alone – other Eodonians must aid. Rafkin know Jukari no fight until Britannians prove they are true friends.” “I know Chief – we Britannians must truly earn your trust before you shall join our cause. What must we do to earn that trust?” The Chief nods firmly and along with the entire they each raise an arm and point towards the Volcano. “Earn Volcano trust, Earn Jukari trust!” Rafkin looks at you and grins. The lump in your throat is much larger than it was before… [img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/candleSmall.png][JLove]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bookSmall.png][JTruth]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bellSmall.png][JCourage]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonWaltz" play>> Just as you begin to push back the lump in your throat, drawing strength from the idea that Hawkwind must’ve brought you here because of some innate skill you’ve yet to discover a Jukari dressed in war like garments approaches the chief. You get the sense the situation is tense – something isn’t quite right. You watch as the Chief’s eyes widen before darting towards the volcano. Rafkin raises a brow as the Chief storms off, “Let me see what’s going on.” Rafkin follows and disappears into the crowd. You’re left encircled by Jukari who you are sure would introduce you to their spears in a moment’s notice so you patiently await Rafkin to return. “It’s the Chief’s daughter, Jaka…it seems it is customary among the Jukari chief to arrange marriage for their daughters – alas Jaka wants nothing to do with the arrangement and her father has forbid her from seeing her true love. It seems in response Jaka has taken off towards the volcano in an effort to throw herself in to it.” Love is a powerful drug, you think to yourself. Rafkin continues, “I’ve told the Chief you will go after Jaka and see that she is returned safely – in doing so we shall gain the trust of the Jukari and they should join our cause.” Yes of course – love does make youngsters do…wait, what? Did Rafkin just say what you thought she said? The idea of going into a volcano seemed crazy but in your moment of hesitation your heart swells with a sense of duty. You nod in affirmation towards Rafkin and the small group of Jukari chosen to escort you to the volcano. You set out immediately. It is getting late in the day, the sun hangs just above the crest of the volcano. The distant sound of thunder rumbles across the Valley floor. Before long the rains are heavy and your progress is slow. Minutes feel like hours, hours feel like days. Finally you are at the base of the volcano. The passing thunderstorm rains sheets of water, the patter of raindrops on the volcanic rock is near deafening. The Jukari will go no further, they point you towards a meandering path cut into the rock face. The ground beneath your feet is slick and begins to tremble. So much for the volcano being dormant. You finally arrive at the mouth of a large cave, you slip inside and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. The faint glow of red illuminates the way forward. You begin to sweat as the temperature increases tenfold. Ahead there is the outline of a woman – it’s Jaka. She stands crying, her tears vanishing as a puff of steam as they drop to the rocks beneath her. You gently call out, “Jaka…” She turns, quivering with sadness. You inch closer and peer over the ledge behind her. A great pool of fire swirls. “Why can’t father see my heart is spoken for by another? Why must the Jukari traditions dictate who I am to love? My heart must be free!” Her emphasis on the word free releases a tirade of splashing lava. The heat is barely tolerable. “Jaka, your father is worried about you – he sent me here to bring you home. I know it makes little sense now but you have to understand, your father loves you.” Jaka sniffles a bit and looks at you, “My father sent you – but you are Britannian, why would my father send YOU?” You can’t help but ask yourself the same question. “Jaka – I know it is hard to understand but the Valley and all the people are in danger. The Myrmidex are threatening the Valley and unless you come back to the village with me there may be nothing we can do.” Jaka pauses and for a moment and regains her composure, “The Myrmidex are a threat…I told father the Barrab could not be trusted.” You extend your hand and offer it to her, “Come with me Jaka – help me save Eodon from the Myrmidex.” She stifles a smile and she takes your hand. Your eyes lock on hers. Her green eyes light up her charcoal skin. Her long flowing black hair is swept across her face. The room is much cooler now, and the lava pool behind Jaka seems calm. As you exit the cave the rain has stopped and the sun is once again peaking from behind the clouds. At the base of the volcano you meet the rest of the group and together you return to the Village. “Jaka! Jaka!”, the Chief exclaims as he comes running up to his daughter. “I thought I’d lost you daughter, I am sorry I was so inconsiderate to your wishes.” Jaka is sobbing, “I am sorry too, father. I love you, and I am sorry.” You watch and a grin sweeps across your face. Rafkin spots you in the crowd and returns your grin, nodding in approval. The Jukari rejoice and celebrate the return of Jaka. You have earned their trust in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[As you bid the Jukari farewell, you wonder what challenge awaits you as you progress further in your quest...|Kurak Village Desc]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonDrumBuildup" loop play>> The Chief and the Jukari begin to disperse among the rest of the village.Rafkin approaches you, “The Chief has invited us to eat with his family. I hope you like fruit.” The Chief’s home was larger than some of the other structures you saw but was still simple stacked blocks of lava rock. Inside the Chief sits around a small fire, his wife and daughter by his side as well as the tribe’s Shaman. You and Rafkin join them. Other Jukari serve you a bowl of berry puree. It is very sweet with a bit of heat to it, you thoroughly enjoy the dish and it seems the Chief and his family are pleased by your enjoyment. You finish your meal and a tray of meat is set in the center of the group. The Shaman begins speaking and everyone bows their head, you mimic the behavior. “Great Volcano we thank you for the gift of meat you have given us!” the Shaman proclaims with arms raised at the heavens. The platter is piled high with a savory smelling white meat. You help yourself to what looks like a drumstick and take a bite. Tastes surprisingly like chicken. You give Rafkin a quizzical look and she replies, her mouth half full of the meat, “Ostard.” You smile a bit and keep chewing, thinking of the Ostard you used to ride as a child. After the meat course the room is more relaxed. The Shaman begins telling a story, you strain to understand, “Great Volcano give Jukari power! From the power of lava stone Jukari safe from Volcano! Lava stone not seen in weeks! Jukari afraid – future dangerous!” Rafkin gives you a look and you follow her as she gets up and walks outside the Chief’s home. “I’ve informed the Jukari you’d be willing to recover the lava stone for them.” Wait, what? You are. You sigh a bit and give Rafkin an accepting nod. “The Jukari have assembled a team and you leave in the morning.” As you sleep that night you are restless, the idea of venturing into a volcano seems well outside your comfort zone but you can’t help but be intrigued by the idea of finding this lava rock, whatever it is. You lay awake staring at the ceiling. The question of what the stone is and the true measure of its power consume you. Before you know it dawn has broken, you haven’t slept a wink, but you are fueled by the burning desire for the truth behind the rock. You grab some gear and meet your guides. The group of you set off immediately through the jungle, hacking your way through the dense growth with machetes. You are close to the base of the volcano now, and stop at a stream to fill your canteens. The sun is high in the sky now and the heat is oppressive. You pour some water over your face, the cooling rush of water offers only slight relief. The guides bring you as far as a giant cave. You squint to see inside, but nothing. The Jukari behind you have dropped to their knees and are bowing wildly to the Volcano. You enter the cave, the loose gravel crunches under your feet. You are now deep inside the cave, it’s nearly pitch black save for a deep red glow that barely allows you to see your hands. You reach into your pack and grab a small bottle, uncorking it with your teeth. The black liquid inside burns your throat, but in an instant you can see as if it were midday. You are inside a series of tunnels, the floor of the cave is sandy and your feet sink as you trudge along. It’s got to be here somewhere. The tunnel you are in leads to a large chamber, in the center is a pool of lava – sitting in the center of that lava is a massive stone. The stone glows hues of orange crimson from within. You begin to approach but the heat is too intense. There must be another way. You pace about surveying every corner of the chamber. “Ouch!” You yelp out as your foot comes down on a jagged rock. You bend down and take the stone into your hand. It too glows from within hues of crimson and orange. That’s it! You begin vigorously searching for more of the small stones, digging furiously in the sand. When you can hold no more of the stones you approach the lava pool and drop to your knees, tossing the stones into the pool. A great fire erupts from the pool, you are knocked back. A figure materializes, “WHO HAS SUMMONED ME! SPEAK NOW!” You bring yourself to your feet, “I have spirit – I seek the sacred lava stone on behalf of the Jukari. I humbly seek it for the greater good of the Valley!” The spirit peers down at you as it levitates above the pool, spires of fire erupting from its form. “Only those with true intentions shall remove the stone from this sacred place! Are your intentions true – only the fires of Heluzz shall see!” With that the spirit’s fiery form condenses into a great fireball and comes hurdling toward you. Fear overcomes you but you are firm in your resolve. The fireball squarely impacts your chest. Then there is darkness. Your eyes flicker a bit as you open them and focus. You are back in the Village. Rafkin is leaning over you, the lava stone sits atop a pedestal behind her. “You did it. I don’t know how – but you did it. The Jukari are with us.” You have earned their trust in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[As you bid the Jukari farewell, you wonder what challenge awaits you as you progress further in your quest...|Kurak Village Desc]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonFightIntense" play>> The ground begins to tremble beneath your feet. The Jukari seem alarmed but mostly unfazed – this sort of thing must happen often…you hope. The sky is darkened by a giant ash cloud, it seems the otherwise dormant volcano is very, very, much awake. The Jukari scatter but you stand your ground as an overwhelming sense of courage beats from within. You steady yourself on the quaking earth and squint to see a figure emerge from the ash cloud. Lava pours from the tree line as it approaches. The Lava elemental is enormous; spires of fire erupt from its form. The elemental bellows a thunderous roar as it launches blazing lava rocks into the trees, igniting them into a blustery inferno. Terrified, you stand your ground. An inner courage is guiding your actions; you feel confident – the fear fuels your resolve. The elemental turns its attention on you. Its massive arm comes swiping down at you, seconds after you barely escape with a well-timed dodge-roll. Enraged, the elemental begins a torment of attacks, pounding the ground with its immolated fists. The creatures rage seems to distract it, offering you the opening you need. You manage to collect a dropped Jukari spear. You need to get above the creature to land a killing strike. You scale a nearby totem. The elemental turns its attention towards you, as it raises its arm preparing to attack. You lunge from atop the totem, spear gripped tightly in your fists. You let out a battle cry as you bring the spear tip piercing into the creature’s head. A great boom echoes throughout the Valley, a brilliant flash blinds you. As you regain your senses you see the Jukari and Rafkin slowly approaching. Rafkin smiles at you, your courage has prevailed. You know from that look – you have earned the trust of the Jukari in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[As you leave the Jukari a hero, you wonder what challenge awaits you as you progress further in your quest...|Kurak Village Desc]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonDrumBuildup" loop play>> The rain has finally let up as night falls across the village. You and Rafkin part for the evening, going to your huts. Rafkin seemed frustrated as the Kurak Chief would still not commit to the fight against the Myrmidex. The Kurak prepared a fairly lush bed of palm fronds and plant fibers to sleep on but you couldn’t manage to get comfortable. Your mind races, like it seeks the answer to a question you have yet to ask. You cannot seem to calm your thoughts. The hut is pitch black and colors swirl in your field of vision as you attempt to see anything in the darkness. You slow your breathing and concentrate on the sounds of the jungle, like a lullaby the howling of monkeys and rustling of reeds calm your troubled mind. You feel uneasy, like a set of eyes laying heavy upon you. You lift your head from the makeshift pillow and scan the room. You peer into a set of feline like eyes and they peer back at you. The figure of a tiger slowly emerges from the darkness, it turns and exits the hut. You follow it, leading you into the meeting hut you were in earlier. An iridescent fire burns from the center of the hut, bizarre hues of white, black, and orange. The tiger looks at you and bows its head. Immediately your head begins to ache, you fall to your knees clutching your temples. In an instant it is over, the room is now bright now an ambush of tigers surrounds you. In unison they bow at their front paws before turning and skulking back into the darkness. Your eyes open to the piercing morning sun. It is already hot, Rafkin and the Chief are in the village center, an excitement is in the air. Rafkin beckons you, “You saw her didn’t you? The tigress?” You nod slowly, she grins, “We sure picked the right Britannian then…she saw that your thoughts were true and the nature of Britannians is nurturing and respectful of nature….they know now they have nothing to fear from the Britannians.” The Chief looks at you with a toothy grin, You have earned the trust of the Kurak in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[As you bid the Kurak farewell, you wonder what challenge awaits you as you progress further in your quest...|Barako Village Desc]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonWaltz" play>> You approach the whimpering tiger, Rafkin stands next to it, arms crossed, “Poachers have been targeting the tigers and their cubs for their pelts – prized as armor and their numbers have waned dramatically since the Britannians have come to Eodon. The Kurak shaman are not versed in modern veterinary however, and their efforts to save the injured tigers have proved fruitless so far.” Your heart sags at the sight of the whimpering cub, its rich orange coat rising ever so slowly as the animal labors to breath. You grit your teeth at the sight. “We need to move the animal somewhere warm, I’ll need some bandages, a mortar and pestle, and the following herbs…” Rafkin cuts you off, “What do you think you’re doing?” “Saving this tiger cub’s life.” “You’re a vet?” Rafkin looks at you puzzlingly. “I’m Britannian – we’ve all tamed and treated animals at one point or another.” Several days pass, the cub’s wounds have begun healing nicely since you bandaged them and have been applying the healing salve you prepared. A few more days pass and the cub’s condition improves so much so that it is eating and occasionally will play with Kuraki children in the village center. The Chief watches the tiger play with the children and approaches you, resting his hand on your shoulder and offering a big toothy grin. You have earned the trust of the Kurak in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[As you bid the Kurak farewell, you wonder what challenge awaits you as you progress further in your quest...|Barako Village Desc]]

“Ahh Rafkin never let Kurak down, always bring good treats!” The Chief seems very pleased with whatever Rafkin gave him, you wonder if you could get some of that with the way your day has gone. “Chief – you know…” Just as Rafkin sets in on the Chief again four Kurak come barging into the tent among a flow of anxious chatter. Each of the four men are supporting the corner of a makeshift stretcher, a small tiger lying still on top of it. The Chief shoots from his rock to the cub as they sit it beside the fire. The Chief glares at Rafkin, “You want Kurak trust – you help tiger!” [img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/candleSmall.png][KLove]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bookSmall.png][KTruth]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bellSmall.png][KCourage]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonJungleBongos" play>> The rain is pitter-pattering on the fronds hanging from the palms around you. “Just a little bit further now.” Rafkin motions ahead. You look around, squinting to see through the pouring rain. “Shouldn’t we have encountered the villagers by now?” Rafkin looks at you through rain and grins, “Oh we’ve encountered them already, they’re watching us right now.” Nearly a dozen figures rise from the knee high grasses, their skin bright orange with black stripes. A single member of the group has a bright white tone to their skin, contrasting greatly with the stripes. “Rafkin!” The Chief greets Professor Rafkin with open arms, “You bring Kurak Britannian treats, yes?” Rafkin lets out a sly giggle, “Yes! Yes! But can we please get out of this rain first?” The chief returns the laugh and you are lead into the Jukari village. Their huts are modest yet functional, built of rattan and topped with palms. You are lead into the largest of the huts, inside a small tiger figurine sits atop a burning fire. The figurine is encircled by large, flat topped rocks. You sit next to Rafkin as her and the Chief continue their exchange, “As promised!” Rafkin reaches into her bag and begins unwrapping a small package and hands it to the Chief. He takes it and puts it to his face, inhaling deeply. “Ahhhhhhh yes, Very good Rafkin! Very good indeed! Ha!” Rafkin smiles, “Chief – you know why we are here yes? The time has come to stand against the Myrmidex, what will it take for the Kurak to stand against the Myrmidex and the Barrab?” [[You listen intently as Rafkin and the Chief continue...|Kurak Mission Desc]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonFightIntense" play>> The morning sun is already heating the Valley floor to nearly unbearable temperatures, leaving little trace of the previous day’s rains. The Hunting party has gathered in the center of the Village, Rafkin spots you and beckons you over, “I’ve told the Chief you’ll be accompanying them to stop the tiger poachers.” You’ll be doing what? These poacher sounds like quite the force to be reckoned with and you haven’t even had any breakfast. “You’ll be wanting some of this.” Rafkin pushes a bowl full of what you can only surmise is stewed meat with sugar cane. It’s actually quite good. She also gives you a small vial, “If it gets dicey, swig this down quickly and odds will likely turn in your favor.” You and the rest of the hunting party venture into the grasslands, your guide pointing out the tiger hunting grounds…except there are no tigers…The Kurak show you how to properly skulk in the grass. You find a perch to watch for poachers, just as you begin to setup you are ambushed by a small party of poachers. Their Britannian weapons quickly overpower the primitive Kuraki armaments. You manage to dodge an incoming attack and in one quick motion uncork and swallow the orange liquid inside the vial. The liquid washed down your throat and an inner strength explodes from within! You draw your sword and quickly parry the next incoming attack, dispatching the attackers in rapid succession with a series of nimble and perfectly timed thrusts and slashes. As you pull your blade from the lifeless torso of the final poacher, you look out on the horizon at an ambush of tigers racing gracefully through the grasses. Your inner courage has prevailed, you have earned the trust of the Kurak in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[As you bid the Kurak farewell, you wonder what challenge awaits you as you progress further in your quest...|Barako Village Desc]]

The Chief looks around the room. Several other Barako have joined the circle, each sitting on a log. The Barako are well built, their strength evident in their defined muscle tone and little expression of emotion. They appear in deep charcoal tones, some a lighter brown, like that of an orangutan. The Chief points to the statuette at the center of the room. The rest of the Barako join in, “If Rafkin want help of the Barako – only trust from Ape spirit can convince Barako to help.” Rafkin frowns a bit and sets her eyes on you. The idea of infinitely strong gorillas doesn’t excite you in the least bit… [img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/candleSmall.png][BLove]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bookSmall.png][BTruth]][img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/bellSmall.png][BCourage]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonWaltz" play>> As night falls over the village you are uneasy about the day’s earlier meeting. The Barako offered little in details as to what you might have to do in order to gain the trust of this so called ape spirt. You don’t even know what an ape spirit is for that matter. You can’t help but think about that banana from earlier, you decide it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle to get another one. You find your way back to the vines you climbed to get up to the huts in the first place and with the help of the Barako guard stationed there you manage to climb back down. Your feet land softly in the dense undergrowth of the jungle floor. The full moon above does little in the way of illuminating the wilderness ahead of you, only a slight glimmer of torchlight from the village huts above is enough to guide you to a nearby tree. Hrmph, no bananas. You could of sworn there were hundreds on these trees earlier in the day. You reach into your pack and uncork a small vial, swallowing the black liquid in a quick motion. Immediately the jungle is in full view, trees as far as you can see are barren of bananas. You begin apprehensively venturing deeper into the jungle. The Barako are well known for their strength and decide the area should be relatively safe…or at least you hope so. After what seems like forever, or at least as far as your stomach is concerned, you find a tree with several ripe banana bunches. You begin plucking them from the branches when a cry cuts through the silence of night. Your ears perk and you head towards the sound. Amid a massive pile of bananas, a large gorilla lay on its back. It appears to be injured. You slowly approach it, clearly it is not strong enough to offer anything in the way of a warning to back away. “There there friend, I’m not gonna hurt you.” The gorilla’s eyes meet yours, in an instant you feel a connection to the creature. It trusts you. You approach it, and gently pat its forehead, reassuring it that you are there to help. The animal seems to have fallen. You unpeel a banana and break off a piece, offering it to the gorilla. It takes it gently into its lips and chews a big, letting out an approving grunt. You feed the gorilla more banana before it drifts off to sleep. You unpack your supplies and setup a small camp next to the gorilla, unfurling a bed roll and starting a small fire. You watch the gorilla from your bedroll, hoping it survives whatever trauma it faced. Before long you drift off to sleep. A drop of water wakes you from your sleep. The jungle around you is covered in a thin layer of morning dew. You look around, the gorilla is gone, as well as all the bananas. A sense of satisfaction overcomes you as you pack up camp and return to the Barako village. Once again you climb the vines to the treetops where the huts are. This time you are greeted by a dozen Barako, including the Chief, and Rafkin who are all smiling and chattering wildly. Your compassion towards the fallen gorilla has earned the trust of the Barako in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[You rest easy in the knowledge that you have done some good, your journey continues still...|United Tribes]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonDrumBuildup" loop play>> As the Chief and Rafkin continue to go back and forth, more so Rafkin, as the Chief says very little. Your meeting is interrupted by several Barako men dragging a lifeless gorilla into the center of the ring. The Chief becomes furious and begins to angrily beat his chest. Rafkin seems startled, you look immediately at her. The Chief turns his attention to Rafkin, “You want Barako trust, find who did this and stop gorilla die!” She nods at him, and leans into you, “We’ve got to figure this out.” The Barako watch you as you cautiously approach the corpse. The gorilla is still warm, no apparent signs of trauma. A mash of banana is still fresh on the gorilla’s lips. You turn to Rafkin, “We need to go into the jungle, we need to find where the gorillas are getting their bananas.” She gives you a quizzical look, “Let’s just go, I’ll explain on the way.” You, Rafkin, and several Barako warriors set off deep into the jungle surrounding their village. You come across more gorilla corpses, the sight of each one strengthening your resolve to uncover the truth behind what has lead them to this awful fate. As you continue searching your foot lands on something squishy, you look down – it's a banana. The weight of your foot has pushed the fruit outside of the skin, however a bright green ooze stains the otherwise whiteish flesh of the fruit. Rafkin looks at you as you bend down and take it bit of the squished banana on your finger. Immediately your finger begins to numb. You mouth to Rafkin, “Poison.” She nods in silence, whoever is responsible can’t be far away. You signal to the remaining Barako and the entire party begins to stealthily follow a trail of single bananas until you come upon a camp. From behind the dense jungle as cover, you watch as several Britannians inject green liquid into a pile of bananas, one by one, from a crude alchemy station. An inner rage burns inside you. There are too many to take right now, and their weapons would cut through the primitive Barako armaments in no time. The party exchanges looks and you hurry back to the village. Rafkin explains to the Chief the situation, he looks at you with a new found respect and appreciation. The assault party is already readying an attack to the poachers, your discovery of the poison banana operation has earned the trust of the Barako in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[You rest easy in the knowledge that you have done some good, your journey continues still...|United Tribes]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonFightIntense" play>> The Chief points to the gorilla statuette in the center of the circle and summons the Barako in orange. He stands and approaches the statuette, “Only the most brave battle and survive against the Great Ape. Stronger ape than any other ape. You survive, Barako help you!” Wait, what? Your mind begins racing thoughts of how terrible an idea this is. Before you can object the Shaman and the Chief have begun a ritual dance and Rafkin slams your hand onto the statuette. In an instant you are inside a large cave, surrounded by mountainous hordes of Bananas. In the center of the cave is a raised ridge, a massive gorilla sits on top of it, leaning forward on its fists. You make eye contact, it lets out a bellowing roar. You stand your ground and grit your teeth, your inner courage has crushed any sense of apprehension. The ape thumps its massive fists against its chest, and then the ground. You are knocked off your feet and temporarily dazed. You shake it off and regain your focus. The Great Ape is inches from you, its massive hand scooping you up in a single motion. You are launched across the cave into a pit, the floor lined with bananas is the only thing to break your fall. That was fortunate you think. Maybe this won’t be so bad – just as you come to your feet you are surrounded by a dozen silver backed gorillas lining the top of the pit. You pause, trying to calm them and not making any sudden movements. Immediately you are pelted with a barrage of bananas, each thumping against your body. You scramble out of their line of fire and up some vines leading you out of the pit. The Great Ape is now perched atop the ridge, a massive barrel in its hand. The Ape begins throwing barrels in your direction. You dodge and juke your way out of the way as the barrels crash into the cave floor next to you. You are panting, rapidly becoming fatigued as you summon every ounce of strength to avoid the attacks from the Great Ape. The Great Ape once again beats its chest, taking its eyes off you for a second. You take the opportunity to scramble behind the giant creature, scaling some vines behind the ridge to get closer. The Great Ape is bellowing wildly now, swiveling about the ridge searching for you. Your size offers you the advantage though, and you are able to climb the trusses supporting the cache of barrels the Great Ape has been throwing at you. Once you reach the top you leap wildly, dagger in hand, at the Great Apes Head. Just before you land a dagger strike to the skull of the Great Ape you are thrown on your back. You open your eyes and focus in on a circle of heads looking down at you. Rafkin and the Barako Chief are smiling, laughing. Your courage in fighting the Great Ape has earned the trust of the Barako in the fight against the Myrmidex! [[You rest easy in the knowledge that you have done some good, your journey continues still...|United Tribes]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonJungleBongos" play>> The wind rustles through the treetop canopy hanging high above you. Vines of vanilla stretch down to the jungle floor below you. Despite the sun shining brightly overhead, this far beneath the canopy little light breaks through. Out of the corner of your eye you can see flashes of gray and black swing through the trees. Luscious ripe bananas hang in massive bunches from banana trees surrounding you. You manage to pluck one and unpeel the fruit. It’s quite delicious, much better than anything you’ve ever had in Britannia before. Rafkin points out a vine, “Hope you can climb…” You grasp the vine and lift yourself hand over hand until you are at least forty feet above the jungle floor, a Barako gives you a hand to pull you up into their treetop huts. The huts are nestled deep inside the forest canopy, walls of rattan and a roof of fresh banana leaves. A series of rope bridges connects each of the huts. You are lead to the center hut, inside is a series of logs surrounding a large rock, a statuette of a gorilla sits on top of the rock. Rafkin cuts in, “Thank you Chief for seeing us.” The Chief looks emotionless and merely offers a slow blink and nod to her words. Rafkin continues, “The Barako are a necessity in destroying the Myrmidex, your strength cannot be outmatched. What will it take to convince you to join our cause?” [[The Barako's strenght is not to be trifled with, you sense a great challenge ahead|Barako Mission Desc]]

Hawkwind stretches from the deep folds of his robe. As he breaks from his meditative trance he is pleased with what has come to transpire, although a part of him was sure of the ends, only untrusting of the means. Despite the influx of Britannians into Eodon and the strife they may have initiated, the principles of Virtue are deep seated in all Britannians and you are a testament to that ideal. For now, the Valley is safe but Hawkwind is uneasy, for the wheel of time grinds on and the future of Eodon is yet to be written… [[The End|Intro]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonVictory" play>>You are almost sad to see Eodon fade in the distance. A short time ago the Valley was as foreign to you as you were to it, now you depart as old friends, thankful to one another for the experience. As you head towards the Moongate, you and Rafkin exchange a thoughtful goodbye, “Thank you for everything.” She says to as you break an endearing hug. You leave the Valley at peace. While you may be saying goodbye, an inner voice echoes inside you, this is hardly the last you will see of the Valley of Eodon. [[You step through the gate, a weight is lifted from your shoulders, you feel as though whatever eyes were upon you have turned their focus...|Epilogue]]

<<stopallaudio>> <<audio "eodonUnited" play>> The brilliant shimmer of iron armor contrasts against the natural flora of Eodon as Sir Geoffrey’s camp bustles around you. Huts of lava stone and rattan are now replaced by wooden wagons with canvas walls. Ballista and armaments stretch out amid the camp. Cannons and powder kegs are begin unloaded and set up. Rafkin approaches you from behind. “Little bit much isn’t it? You don’t think the Barrab will give up that much of a fight do you?” Rafkin smiles and responds, “All this isn’t for the Barrab – it’s for the Myrmidex. Now that the Eodonians have allied against the Barrab they have revealed the entrance to their pits. Once we get inside the Myrmidex will no doubt launch a counter offensive, Sir Geoffrey’s forces will be ready.” That’s for sure, you think. Sir Goeffrey’s men are outfitted in heavy plate mail. Nearby soldiers spar, swinging halberds wildly at mockups of Myrmidex. You watch as Rafkin instructs a group on Myrmidex anatomy, localizing the most effective location for a killing strike. The clang of swords against shields and the bashing of maces against armor rings across the jungle. You feel a sense of apprehension, all this aggression but you are reminded of the Myrmidex and what they are capable of. You have no reason to doubt to what Rafkin has told you about the Myrmidex, and you truly believe you have done well by the Eodonians and the beautiful Valley they call home. [[The future is yet to be written, your time in Eodon is drawing to a close...|Conclusion]]

<<audio "eodonIntro" play>> [img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/titleCard.png]] Greetings Bold Adventurer! You are about to embark on an adventure inspired by the classic Worlds of Ultima: Savage Empire, released in 1990 by renowned game designer, Richard Garriot of Origin Systems Incorporated. During your adventure, you will be faced with a series of choices as you explore the [[Valley of Eodon|http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/project_card_color.png]], choices that may not always be your own. When you encounter the symbols below, roll the [[die|http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/dicePrint2.pdf]] to see which path your adventure takes. Roll the Ankh, and you are gifted free will, choose whichever path you would like! [[Let the adventure begin!|Moongate Intro]] [img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/iconLineup.png]]

<<cacheaudio "eodonIntro" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonIntro.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonExploringCalm" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonExploringCalm.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonExploringCalm" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonExploringCalm.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonJungleBongos" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonJungleBongos.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonFightIntense" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonFightIntense.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonExploringCalm" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonExploringCalm.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonMystique" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonMystique.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonWaltz" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonWaltz.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonDrumBeat" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonDrumBeat.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonVictory" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonVictory.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonBattleWin" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonBattleWin.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonUnited" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonUnited.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "eodonDrumBuildup" "http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/eodonDrumBuildup.mp3">>

[img[http://www.greghavlusch.com/voo/project_card_color.png]] [[Back|Intro]]