Part 62: Preparing for Contingencies

Chapter 14: Preparing for Contingencies



Poor thing. What in the world is it, though?




Wait a second, was that bird waiting for me?


Where in the world are you headed, bird?


Ah, I see. You must be the elusive honey bird I’ve heard about. How fascinating that they should leave you be like that. Well, I know how to deal with bees.


With Force Bolts!



OH DEAR GOD I WAS WRONG.



As I need the feather, rather than the honey, I believe I will circumvent the regular process and just pour this goop on the ground. Hey, why aren’t you coming down? Afraid of humans, perhaps? Very well, I shall come back later.


Since finding the honey bird is a random encounter, that giant bee icon appears where you found it. Clicking just about anywhere on it is enough to go back to the screen.



That certainly looks like a happy honey bird. Salim should be pleased.


Whoops, looks like I got here pretty late. Hey, you’re not the same guards as the ones here in the day, right?
Nope.
We’re completely different.
Thought so. So what do you two think about the coming war?
My mother, Kivaka Da Ki, was killed defending these very gates. I was told that although she fought bravely, the magic of the demons was so powerful that none could stand before them.
All except for Rakeesh and Kreesha, from what I understand. You know, there is a good chance that demons are involved in this incident, too.
We should hope that we never have to fight a demon. If you do, you will need magical healing afterwards. The apothecary sells healing pills.
Yes, I’m well aware. Well, good evening to you both.
Good night.
May your prey never see you coming.


I’m kind of surprised to see guards here at night. Aren’t the chambers empty?
Nevertheless, none may enter without permission.
You know, there’s something I’ve been wondering about. How are the members of the Council of Judgment chosen?
The Council consists of six of the most respected liontauresses. My sister wishes to be a member someday.
Your sister, a council member? As what, the Speaker?
I am a warrior, Nashkerka. My sister can beat me in battle. Do you challenge my sister?
My pardon, Tasaka.
The council consists of the Speaker, the Warrior, the Wizard, the Priestess, the Mother, and the Youth.
How are the owners of these positions determined?
Well, the Warrior is the most respected hunter. She is judged not only for her fighting ability, but for her cleverness in outwitting her prey.
The Warrior is indeed a great hunter, Tasaka.
Are you trying to say something about my sister, Nashkerka?
Oh no, nothing at all.
Please, do go on.
The Wizard is the counselor of all things magical. Kreesha has had this position for many, many years.
Not many magically inclined liontaurs, eh?
We don’t fear magic like the Simbani, but few of us are very interested in studying the field. The Speaker is the one who directs the council. She decides who speaks at what time. She is chosen for her wisdom as well as her ability to speak. The Priestess is chosen by Sekhmet herself. The Priestess serves as the mouth of the goddess.
As well as her own mouth, I find.
Do not talk about our Council that way, human.
Right, sorry, second class citizen, forgot.
We could do without the sarcasm, as well.
Sorry. But do keep going.
The Mother is chosen by how well she raises her cubs. A cub needs kindness as well as firmness to grow strong.
Exactly how is that determined?
She is elected by her fellow mothers as being the ideal. Her children must be good in their chosen profession, as well.
I’d have preferred a more scientifically rigorous process, but I guess I’m not in charge. What about the Youth?
The Youth is chosen by her peers as the most liked. She is there to balance age with the voice of the young.
I guess that makes a certain amount of sense. Enough about the Council, though; what do you make of these rumblings of war?
Did you not hear of how Reeshaka was chosen to accompany the peace mission to the Leopardmen village and how they were cruelly ambushed at night? Though I respect Rakeesh and Kreesha, my heart burns to avenge my spear sister, and gladly would I war with the sneaky Leopardmen.
“Spear sister?” That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of that.
Oh? Well let me explain. Males make pretty good fighters, but they tend to be full of talk and not of action.
Hah!
A spear sister is always your friend, and guards your side. I should have been with Reeshaka on the peace mission. Together we would have torn those traitorous Leopardmen to shreds and eaten their hearts.
Pah, females are so bloodthirsty. Still, the Leopardmen deserve death for harming a liontaur.
And what if, as some say, it turns out that demons were behind the ambush instead?
Demons? That’s just the paranoia of an older generation. And if I and Reeshaka had been there together, we could have killed any demons who attacked, too.
If you say so.



It is a day of sorrows, golden sunshine. Khatib Makar’ram has died today.
Wait, what? When did this happen?
Khatib Mukar’ram was found lying by the edge of the river this morning. None know why he was there or how he died. I have heard whispers that Khatib’s ghost was seen rising from the body in a dark cloud when they found the body, but I do not believe this. Khatib would not rise as a ghost. Even now, his Ka is being weighed by Anubis and he will stand at Sekhmet’s side.
A dark cloud? But those are usually only seen in cases of…oh dear. I don’t think I have the appetite to eat today, Janna.
You are sad too? Khatib was as a father to me, a wise and kind man. I mourn him greatly. I am only serving rice and fruit today, as one does not eat meat on mourning days.
I can see that. Farewell.


Hi. I’ve got myself and things together and made you some nifty dispel potions.
Nice. So how much are you charging for them?
Well, making a dispel potion did take up many of my ingredients and time, but what is that measured against happiness? Since you have made my future with Julanar, I give you the gift of the dispel potions.
Thanks, three potions should help me out considerably. Say, are there any sort of conditions that apply in this case? Do I need the victim’s hair or anything?
Victim? Naw, man, you just toss ‘em and they work on anything they hit. Or you drink it. That gets you a really funky buzz.
Awesome. Say, how much do you know about the Pool of Peace, anyway? While I was there, I cast a Detect spell and found a rune, and it sort of looked like an “E.”
“E?” All I really know is that there was one out in the savanna somewhere. I’m glad you found it. Although now that you mention it, I do remember a couple stories here saying something about a beautiful woman magic user making a magic spring. Someone named, let me think…Erana, that was it. That’s all I know about it.
Then I was right. Spielburg, WIT, now here…it seems like everywhere I go, she’s been there first.
Really? Wow, man. Maybe it's, like, fate.
Or maybe she's just been everywhere. Right then; I’m off.


Oogh, I should have eaten breakfast after all. I had forgotten that I finished my last SPIM can yesterday. Man, I am hungry!


The Waffle Walker

What the…what in the world? It’s…it’s not in the Field Guide…oh crap, it’s following me!


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

(This was my first reaction when I found the Waffle Walker. I was running the game on full speed and didn’t get a good look at it. All I knew was that something so dangerous that it got its own battle theme was chasing me and I did not want to encounter it while starving. I grew even more concerned when I noticed that, no matter how far or fast I ran, I couldn’t escape, and it was then that I realized that I was running scared from a giant, rotating Eggo. Also, just so you know, the WW will only appear if the hero is starving out in the savanna, although it seems willing to appear every single time you need food out in the wilderness.)


Wait a second. Does it…do you want me to eat you?

*You swallow a jaw-full of awful waffle walker. The syrup and butter make you worry about your cholesterol count, but it certainly is filling. (Not to mention tasty and sticky.)*

Yum. Thanks, friend. You were delicious.



I have had a very weird day, Uhura.
And good evening to you too, Nike. Maybe you be here to speak about the prisoner?
That is why I’m here, actually.
Everybody be talking about the prisoner. The warriors be plenty proud. Now they have shown strength against the enemy. Now they can learn the secret of where the Leopardmen village hides. Only one trouble—Leopardman prisoner not speak to tell secret.
Really? Not a word to anyone?
All the Leopardman prisoner be speaking is in the tongue of the animal. Maybe cannot be speaking until Leopardman become man again.
Don’t worry, I’ve already got a line on that.
Good, because the Simbani not be stopping to wait for much longer, and going into the jungle anyway. I think many be dying soon. The jungle be no place for the Simbani. Warriors fight best when be standing together. The jungle make the warrior go alone. The plants grab at the spear, and it cannot be thrown. So, too, the Leopardman be bad enemy. Their claws be very sharp, and they use magic.
I am trying my very hardest to prevent these things from happening.
Come and see me again tomorrow when I be guarding the cage. We talk more then.
Right. Good evening, Uhura.



Good day, prince. I be glad you come to see me.
Well, it wasn’t just to see you. Here, watch this.




Apparently, the hero will very rarely bug out his eyes with cartoonish sound effects in this scene. Supposedly it's related to the number of times you flirt with the Welcome Woman, and since I've never done so enough before using the dispel potion, I have not seen it.


Wait, what? She’s quite attractive, I will admit, but isn’t she one of the enemy? Didn’t you guys capture her not a week ago?
That does not matter. It be a long tradition with the Simbani to make the captured women wives. It happen with our women too, if they not be warriors. The Laibon will set the bride price for this one, I do not doubt.
Still, she was caught trying to infiltrate your village! …Hang on. What is a “bride price?”
A man may pay bride price to gain a woman for a wife. The price be set by the woman’s father, but it be paid to the Laibon for captives. Someone may gain this Leopard Lady for a wife, but I do not think he will have her for very long. This one be no tame little kitten, no way.
Your ways are strange and confusing to me.