Log Date: 2/5/98, 2/8/98 Log Cast: Shenneret Veery, Paul Nighman, Dane Noth, Kairne, Urio'kosh Log Intro: The stop at the hot spring clearing has provided the exhausted Shenner with an unexpected but desperately needed respite -- and a reminder of Paul's feelings for her. After awakening in the middle of the night in the grip of a nightmare, the girl has discovered exactly what immersion in a hot spring is like, but she's also had to deny herself the luxury of Paul's comfort and contact, for she is unwilling to make Paul worry about her any more than she can help. She must, therefore, wrestle with her bad dreams alone. Still, despite the interruption of the nightmare, the rest and the soak do the young bard good, and she awakens the next morning with the disorienting realization that she'd barely noticed the details of the campsite... and what everyone else was doing. But she isn't about to advertise her ignorance.... ---------- Forest - Clearing You break through the web-like foliage, bursting out into an unexpected pocket of air. A clearing is before you, as the landscape drops off and down suddenly, rock rising once again to the surface, which must be why the clearing exists in the first place. The cascading surface of stone is wet with trails of water. From small cracks and fissures in the stone, jets of steam and water trail out to pour down the rock face, catching in two large depressions, one a few feet from the opening, the other about 3 meters down from there. The top pool has a copious amount of steam rising from the surface of the water. The depression is sizeable - probably large enough for an individual to immerse themselves. The lower pool is also steaming, though not as much, and seems large enough to hold two individuals. That strange acrid smell is now acutely strong and identifiable - sulphur. At the base of the incline seems to be some kind of strange statue. Contents: Paul Nighman Dane Urio'kosh Kairne Statue Lower Pool Top Pool Obvious exits: South Back Statue A figure of a woman, Mandalorian, appears before you. She is crouched, feral-like, with no clothes on, let alone any armor. There is, however, nothing overtly sexual about the black stone figure, which is somewhat stylized and abstracted. Instead the piece gives one the distinct sense of a predator of animal grace and instinct, fighting against the elements on the most basic of levels. At the base of the statue are the following carved words ... "Ardnzi mozminic fuar lomyniya jax nnylf duomhan V'r'caah * K'yltek * S'badai" Shenner is surprised to find that waking up, this morning, is easier than the previous morning had been. Her body is stiff and sore... but she can, if she's careful, move without too much difficulty, and her thoughts are alert, her mind rested. As she peeks out of her tent, the girl might also be seen to be noticeably cleaner than she'd been when she crawled into her tent at Dane's urging the night before, but her brow is furrowed in bemusement. The nights rest and the multiple soaks in the hot spring revitalized the Corellian more than he expected. Waking up at the touch of sunlight on his tent, he even suprised Kairne with rising before the Mandalorian chose to awaken the rest of the group. His tent is packed and Paul even made breakfast for the group. Wandering away a bit now, he nibbles at a strip of hot and crispy meat, staring at a statue close to the edge of the opening. He had noticed it the night before, but hadn't the energy, or the light, to give it a sufficiently coherent examination. He does so now. Dane dons his helmet as he wakes, body feeling much better after a good night of rest. After making a quick check of the camp and it's occupants he refills his water supply from the cooler of the pools, using a small guage to test it before hand. Shen, even, takes note of her surroundings -- including the locations of Paul, and the unusual statue he's approached, her curiosity peaking. But what's on the girl's mind is that she didn't get a watch. She can't say she exactly... minds, but still. Feeling a bit laggardly, she tries to make up for it by dismantling her tent and then looking round for something else constructive to do. Dane grimaces under his helmet at the readings of the guage, "Great.." he glances abck at the group, "This stuff is no way drinkable.." he returns his canteen to his belt and starts back towards the main group. Kairne moves about the camp, inspecting here and there. "Let us try to leave as little trace of our presence as possible. Need not draw attention to ourselves if at all possible." Kairne smirks at Dane, "What did you think you smelt when we got out of the jungle Dane? Ro'chek?" Dane says "Well, "he says to Kairne, "I assumed we'd be able to filter it out..it's a lot stronger than it smells." Glancing up at the pair of Mandalorians, Paul smirks wryly before returning his attention to the statue before him. His smile slips away in the wave of concentration that washes over him. He doesn't even notice the younger Mandalorian until the man is standing right next to him. It takes a supreme effort not to start in surprise. Dane walks over, his own gaze drifting up to the statue. With a quiet murmur he says a few disparaging comments about some of clan V'r'caah's members and folds his arms. Kairne focuses his gaze on the statue as well, not knowing what exactly to make out it. "Rather odd thing to find out here.." Leave no trace of their presence, huh? Shen frowns consideringly, taking the time to check and doublecheck her gear as she packs it, reviewing Paul's advice on how to arrange the pack for most effective carrying. Once, she gets up, makes a circuit of the pools, and hastily plucks up a forgotten sliver of soap off a rock at the edge of one of them, before darting back to her pack to stow it. Only once she's sure her pack is dealt with does she venture towards breakfast, but as she does, the girl's green gaze keeps flicking to the men and the statue. And she smirks to herself, oddly pleased. _It's female. Good._ "In Honor of our Warrior Brothers and Sisters ... V'r'caah, K'yltek, S'badai," translates Urio'kosh softly as he gazes at the beautiful piece. Glancing over at Dane, he stiffly reminds his fellow Mandalorian, "I'm sure when this was erected those that you speak of were not even born. You should be more respectful of your kinsmen Major, the clan V'r'caah has proven it's worth time and time again." Dane says "And they've proven their stupidity as well.." he glances at Urio, "I know the V'r'caahs of the past were probably much different but I remember the war and what they did during it more than anything." Kairne nods his head in agreement with Dane, "Their ignorance was also well proven.." Silently, Shenner scarfs down her share of the breakfast, no more, though she eyes the rest of the food with momentary longing. Then, she ponders, trying to decide how to clean the dishes while leaving as little trace of their presence as possible in the camp. _Something constructive to do,_ she thinks, smirking, simultaneously depressed that this is really all she _can_ do to be helpful, and relieved to have at least _something_ to do. Paul cares little for the relative standings of the clans noting only, "Well, clearly at least -once- they were a respected clan ... otherwise I seriously doubt they would be on this path." He stares at the statue, murmuring after a moment. "I just wonder if this is another marker, or simply what it appears to be?" Kairne says "Once.. but even the mighty fall from grace... And that is what tarnishes statues like this.. perhaps we will find something to restore belief in them..." Dane shrugs, "Who knows.." he looks to Paul, "The question is how do we go about finding out." "Lord General," Urio reproofs primly, "You have outdated ideas in your head ... you have no idea what it is like to be on Mandalore or a Mandalorian any longer. You should not presume that your opinions on other clans even remotely resembles the truth. You are forty years out of your depth." Ignoring the bickering which seems almost commonplace these days, Paul shrugs, kneeling down. "I have no idea. There's no note of this statue in the records that I have ... and no obvious forum for interaction with the piece." His hands probe here and there, touching and skimming as if looking for a chink or seam or clue. "Well, _I_ hope it's a marker," Shenner mutters, but not very loudly. _What do I know? Grf._ With what water can be spared to wash off the dishes, Shenner takes care of that task, making sure the collapsible utensils that are her own gear are duly restored to carrying size before she slips them into her pack, and leaving the rest of the dishes near the packs of their respective owners. At last, the girl considers the cloth she'd been using for her task, and returns to her pack, stuffing the cloth into an inner lined pocket and fastening it shut. Can't exactly find a refresher to stick it in, so she'll do the next best thing -- get it out of range of anything that might smell it. She hopes. Kairne turns to Urio, clearly aggravated by his remark, "I have desire to bicker with you about this subject young one. The Saa'thul are old and wise, we have lived through more than most can imagine, and we know many things others do not, and see many thing others don't let themselves see. Don't intone to me that I know nothing. I may be 40 years gone from here, but I haven't forgotten that which has come before. And just because I have not lived on Mandalore in that time, does not mean I have not bourne its pain." Kairne's brow twinges, and he moves his fire-brands out of his face. "There are some things that even you will not know about the past Urio.." Kairne focuses his attention back onto the statue, his breath calming now, as he regains his composure. Dane glances at Paul and shrugs a bit then starts to circle the statue from a distance in hope of finding some detail not noticed up close. Urio'kosh notices the rise and fall of Kairne's temper with calm almost amused eyes. "Gladly I will admit to not knowing everything about the past, if you will admit the same to the present," he retorts lightly. Kairne cocks his head to Urio, "I never said I did... So yes.. I admit.." Nodding graciously, Urio replies, "You spoke so fervently of your opinions, I just felt it prudent to warn you that outdated modes of thinking will not help out a new Mandalore, even if you knew the old one. As you admit that you do not know this new Mandalore, so will I admit that I do not know all of Mandalore's past ..." and his pale eyes spark curiously, an almost distrubing unnatural gleefullness filtering in, "... but I'm learning, oh how I am learning ..." Again, as Urio speaks, you feel a chilling streak rush through your system, panic forming at the base of your spine and spreading outward in reverberating shivers. Dane seems content to let Kairne fight his own battles concerning the youthful and somewhat off Urio'Kosh. Instead he continues to examine the statue for any oddities in design..stepping close again to run a hand along it's surface. Shenner stiffens, freezing where she's crouched over her pack, where she'd crouched to survey it once more, as well as the camp at large. The girl pales, her eyes widening, and she jerks her gaze off into a new direction, away from the men. Kairne adds, "A warrior's life must always be one of lessons... whether they be kind or cruel. Mandalore has seen much of both.. And we shall only prosper from each other's lessons Urio." Kairne moves alongside of Dane, "Well, what do you make of it old man?" Sitting back on his haunches, Paul rubs a hand over his stubbled chin, a rough beard now in the process of being born. Rising, he shrugs, finding no seams, clues, or hints on the sculpture before them. "If it's a marker," he murmurs, "let's just hope it's one to let us know we're on the right path. Dane shrugs slightly in Kairne's direction, his gaze still on the sculpture, "It's probably a marker similar to the last..we just have to figure out how this one works. " he replies in answer to Kairne's question, "We need to narrow down what each of those clans was most known for..what attribute symbolized them." _Get a grip, get a grip,_ Shen thinks wildly, lifting a hand to her head, staring fixedly off away from the others and sucking in breaths, trying to steady her pulse. _What the -kark- is wrong with me...?_ Kairne looks back at the statue, "Agreed Dane. So what does history tell us? This statue's age is not a young one." Kairne moves closer to the statue, examining the curves and structure. Stepping back slightly, Urio'kosh studies the statue once again, the light dimming from his gaze as he let's the conversation's tide turn. Folding his arms, he glances over toward Shenner where she is crouched over her belongings, smiling at her somewhat ferally before returning his gaze to the statue in question. "The figure," he notes, "is one of youth." Dane glances at Kairne, "It's been a long time since I had any Mandalorian ancient history." he then looks back to the statue, "I don't remember much about these clans before the Clone Wars." Shen clamps her eyes shut, blows out a shuddering breath, and looks up again, testing herself. Everything cool? Everything cool. She rises, and turns back to the others, then, trying to summon forth curiosity about the statue. Quietly, she moves up beside Paul. His features turned in on themselves, Paul stares at the statue, dredging up everything he can recall about each clan, but finding little in -common- between them. "Clan K'yltek is an old one .... good hunters, train in unarmed combat specifically ... generally black to dark brown in hair color .... S'badai is also quite old ... almost didn't survive at first, then built themselves off. Were for a long time suspicious of technology and tended to shun it. Then there's V'r'caah ... a matriarchal clan, -very- territorial and also great hunters, taught in the ancient ways of mimicking great animal predators ...." Shen watches Paul out of the corner of her eye, crossing her arms casually before her. Yep, she's just listening in. Nothing amiss with the redhead. Nothing at all. Kairne moves back abit, "What else do we know about them?" Kairne takes up a stance near Dane, not knowing what to think. "It's been a long time since I've tried to remember this.. what regions did they inhabit?" "V'r'caah held the western coast, K'yltek lived in the southern mountains and the Q'apla valley, and S'abadi lived along the edges of the desert wasteland of the east," Paul interjects helpfully. It is with a certain degree of relief that all of that intensive studying he did on Corellia actually managed to stay with him all this time. He shakes his head slightly, noting, "Little in common there ..." Dane says "Perhaps we need to look at a more spiritual side of this.." he taps the side of his helmet a bit, "What philosophies did each follow..how did they differ, how were they the same?"" _This could take awhile .... in fact, this could take a -lot- of whiles_ Paul muses, settling himself down on a nearby rock. He's already offered his two credits .... and he starts to meld those about in his head as he waits for one of the Mandalorians to add something new to the equation. Shen shifts uneasily from foot to foot, glancing after Paul as he moves off. She goes after him, and leans over to whisper, "Uh, so... anything I can do?" Glancing up at the redhead, slightly surprised, Paul stares at the statue, and then back at Shen. "Toss out ideas?" he suggests. "So far you've figured out the last two tests .... see what you can generate on this one." He offers the girl a wry smile. Kairne says "The females led the V'r'caah.. that is what set them apart from most of the clans. A very distinct way of life for them.. Not wholly looked upon as correct, but somewhat admired for the ways in which the females acted." Dane nods thoughtfully, "I guess I should have paid more attention to Mandalorian history.." he chuckles quietly, "I know about V'r'caah's matriarchal structure..I'm thinking more along the lines of spiritual ideals." Looking somewhat startled that one of the Mandalorian clans was led by females, Shenner glances from face to face, and huhs. "Well, if it's a girl, maybe the... V'r'caah" -- she falters around the pronunication, but doesn't let that stop her from continuing -- "left that here." She squints. "Maybe it's a warning, I dunno.... what lives around here?" Dane says "It could be a warning, but " he looks around a bit, "I don't know what lives around here..If these clans are involved it's probably some predator."" Kairne says "Predators are the least of our problems I think." Perking up slightly, Paul notes, pulling from his storehouse of information, "Well, the V'r'caah studied the predator techniques of the Ktynga, a large feline, and the Pna'kotic, a bird of prey." "Well, if it ain't a warning... what else could it be?" Shen seems somewhere between shyness and frustration, as she waves a hand, fretfully. "A marker for somebody's deaths? I dunno..." She shifts uneasily where she stands. "It could just be a memorial marker .... after all the translation does say, "In honor of our warrior brothers and sisters ..." notes Urio'kosh. "It is not wise to look too far below the surface ... often the answer can not be found by looking or thinking but by doing." Dane says "Maybe we need to continue on with less equipment or something..after all the statue has nothing.." Eyes widening, Paul rises slowly, pointing at Dane thoughtfully. "True ... she is naked against the wilderness .... and the K'yltek practice unarmed combat in tourneys .... the V'r'caah practice unarmed hunts, and the S'badai disdained technology .... you could be onto something there Dane ..." Dane sighs, "I hate being right sometimes." Shen stiffens. "Wh... what, y'all think... we need to ditch our stuff?" Dane looks to Paul, "This won't be easy without our weapons if we run into trouble." His gaze then falls to Kairne, "What do you think?" Frowning uncomfortably, Paul stares around them thoughtfully. "But we don't -know- that is what the statue means ... and I don't know how we can test it, so to speak. I for one would hate to leave all of our stuff here just to learn later as we're being eaten that that -wasn't- the point." Kairne grins back at Dane, "I'm the assassin. Hand to hand combat is something that I've been born with. Those clans aren't the only ones gifted as hunters, the Saa'thul didn't survive in the Khy'rnn without good reason. Give me a knife, and I am more than plentifully armed." Kairne turns to face Paul, "But I'm also not about to just let my armor sit here unwatched." Dane motions to the statue, "My clan has pioneered hand to hand combat since the begining but it doesn't mean I want to run around with no weapons, besides she doesn't have a knife either." he looks to Paul, "I don't know what choice we have but to try it..I don't hear any otehr suggestions." Paul shrugs as Kairne fixes him with his gaze and that comment. "Hey, I'm not saying you have to do anything," he murmurs, hands raising in a mildly defensive gesture. "I suggest we move on ... see what happens, and hope that this statue is just a tribute or warning ..." Shenner looks anxiously down at the blaster at her thigh, and mutters, "This is the only weapon I got." Considering his weapons and random technology, Paul isn't sure if he'll need to give them up ... and certainly isn't planning to do so unless he -absolutely- has to. He gathers his pack up slowly, eyeing the statue with dislike, the black stone face staring back at him mercilessly. Kairne notices Shenner, and remarks, "Try not to use that... it is not the way of the warrior." Dane looks at Kairne, his voice skeptical, "What?" Shenner looks up again, and says gruffly to Kairne, "You got any better ideas, I'm listenin'..." Kairne says "Blasters are clumsy and require less skill.. I'd rather not get shot if trouble arises." Urio'kosh sighs, staring at the rest of the group for a moment before deciding to simply take his own advice. "Catch up when you can make up your minds," he offers in arched tones before pressing his way back into the forest. Urio'kosh leaves the clearing, forging on ahead into the dense forest growth. Urio'kosh has left. Shenner scowls, and says tautly, "I'm a better shot than that." That's all she says, though. The girl whirls on her heel and stalks towards her pack. Dane shakes his head, "It depends on whose hands it's in Kairne.." Kairne says "To each his own, but watch it. I may be old, but I still value you my life. Let's get going before that young fool gets us into trouble," Dane nods, "What about our equipment?" Watching Urio leave, Paul notes that nothing happened to the younger Mandalorian ... least not yet. He turns toward Dane, his words reminding Paul all too sharply of their first encounter, making the Corellian wince slightly in embarassment. Kairne says "Keep it. If the time comes that requires us to bear ourselves pure, then we will. We created this armor for a reason." Dane nods and slings his rifle, "Majority rules." he starts off after Urio. Shen still scowls as she hoists her pack up onto her shoulders, thinking, _I hauled this damned thing all the way here, I -don't- wanna just drop it..._ She turns, seeking out Paul instinctively, prepared to just follow him and have done with it. "Alright then, after you gentlemen," Paul intones gravely, nodding graciously toward the forest's fringe. Kairne suddenly reels back and collapses, gasping out loud in pain, as a halo surges up along the edge of the clearing, as if some great electrical charge just visibly rushed along the perimeter. Shenner starts. "What the hells..." Kairne lands on his ass, gasping for breath, "Wha... the..." Dane stops in his tracks and looks back at Kairne, realizing his armor will take too long to strip off he looks to Paul, "You better go get him." Kairne continues to gasp for breath, unable to move more than a few inches in each direction. Jerking in shock, Paul dashes over to Kairne. "Are you alright? Seven Hells!" Crouching down, Paul glances over the Mandalorian but all that he can see is that he is desperately out of breath and that the lights and dials on his suit are disturbingly dark. "Dane," he hisses. "I don't know how to crack him out of this." Dropping her own pack, Shenner flashes the men a disturbed look, but does about the only useful thing she can think of -- digging for her medikit. Kairne sucks in a huge breath, gasping out "Don't touch me," as best he can. Dane starts stripping his armor off, taking the helemt and pack first then the guantlets and upper body over suit, "The helmet lock is on the back of the suit..but it's coded." Hands leaping back uncertainly, Paul obeys, but clearly doesn't like it. "By Corella .... Kairne, what can I do?" He glances over toward Dane as the Mandalorian strips off his armor as fast as he can ... but not fast enough. "Kairne ... I gotta get you out of this ...." His hands hover, unwilling to touch and tormented by his helplessness in this situation. Dane continues to remove his armor as fast as he can "Kairne tell him the code damn it!" Kairne's breathing becomes a little more stable, "Na'chok, don't touch me I said... Residual charge will shock you. Just let me be." Kairne's body still jitters, but doesn't jerk violently. Dane drops the last of the technilogical part of his armor, his pockets emptying now into his side bag, bandoloiers following.. Clenching his teeth, Paul looks away, his eyes pained and worried. "You're grounded," he notes roughly .... "the rest of the charge has probably been disappated ... as far as I can see, the shock has knocked out most of your instruments ..." Shenner straightens up, anxious now, her earlier irritation at Kairne laid aside as she watches the others. Kairne slowly moves his arms up to his helmet, hands shaking all the while as he reaches behind his helmet and releases it. Kairne takes a deep breath of the air, and throws his helmet lightly to the side best he can. He let's out his breath slowly, "damned if I didn't see that coming.. I haven't gotten a shock like that since I was careless enough to power up a shield system while I was still on the deck." Shenner fretfully frowns, then kneels and silently shoves her medikit back into her pack. _He probably won't want -human- medicine anyway._ Dane finally finishes stripping off the mass of technical items he was carrying and heads over to Kairne and Paul, "Hold on.." Settling back on his heels, Paul nods at Kairne his eyes shifting toward the statue, his lips a thin line. _Guess she -doesn't- like weapons_ he notes in annoyance. _But Urio made it through ... and I -know- he was armed .... maybe she doesn't like armor?_ As his gaze reaches the statue though, Paul's eyes go round with astonishment. He softly rasps, "By the Seven Hells ....." Kairne's face and exposed neck is a bright red, and sweat pours down his brow. "I'll be fine. Just let my body catch up with everything." Kairne's hand still shake and he places them on his chestplate. "Give me a few minutes, that was most unpleasant. " He closes his eyes and breathes in and out, his mind focusing on becoming centered. Dane kneels down next to Kairne and pats him on the shoulder, "You okay old friend?" Kairne says "I've felt worse... but not in a long time. Now help me sit up, lying on my back isn't helping my breathing any." Dane reaches under Kairne and helps him into a sitting position, "Like I said...I hate being right sometimes.." he grins. Paul's rasp makes Shen look up from her pack, frowning. "What--" Dane glances at the nearby doctor, his gaze then tracking the Corellian's slowly to see what's got him so distracted all of a sudden. The statue has changed. The once crouching female warrior is now standing upright, her arms extended downward before her, palms upraised, in an expectant stance. It is almost as if she were beckoning for something to be placed at her feet. Dane raises an eyebrow at the sudden change in the statue, "How the hell did that happen?" Shenner just... gapes. Kairne looks up, "Polymorphic geo-alloy... quite disturbing." The Corellian stares, rising up slowly and walking toward the statue, touching over the figure lightly. To his fingertips, she feels like stone. Hard and cool. "I don't like this ... but I think one thing is clear ... we need to strip down. I don't think we have to go to completely defenseless ... I know that Urio had at least a blaster rifle on him, and she didn't make a peep at his exit ..." Shenner feels a few skittish jumps in her pulse, deeply unnerved, and she hastily glances off again, frowning. But... no. She's alright, she's alright. Get a grip, street rat... she swallows and rises, dragging her pack over, and muttering roughly to Paul, "You... think... she wants our stuff left right here?" Dane nods and starts collecting his things into a bundle, keeping his rifle and two power packs as well as his knife and survival gear.."I hope she doesn't mind med kits." Eyeing his pack, Paul decides to risk taking what he has along with him. Two blasters, a few explosives, well hidden of course, and a few blades. Hopefully that won't be too much. Kairne outstretches his arms, more flexible than before. "Help me stand Dane, I want to get out of this." Dane straps on his gun rig and looks to see how Kairne's doing, "You ready to move yet?" Dane walks over to Kairne carefully and reaches a hand down to him to heft him up.. Shenner pointedly keeps her blaster holstered at her thigh, but digs through her pack, trying to figure out what she should sacrifice. "I ain't... got nothin' much technological," she mutters. Indeed, the girl's carrying absolute bare necessities in that pack of hers, the tent, her medikit, some rations, her dishes. A water flask. She, too, has a second blaster, though it's smaller than the one she's wearing. Kairne says "Grab my arm Dane, and lift." Dane's already grabbed the arm and started to pull the stuned Mandalorian up, he finishes pulling him to his feet and lets go. "There." Kairne nods to Dane, "thanks.." Kairne begins to unstrap his armor, though obviously not liking the situation. "Where has that young Mandalorian darted off to?," he remarks as he releases his chestplate. The Corellian's gaze shifts back and forth between Kairne and the statue. If it's changed once, Paul cannot help but wonder if it will change again. "Guess you'll have to leave it now Kairne ... don't imagine the armor is much use shorted out. Dane walks back over and secure's his armor and other items into the bundle he had started, tying it off with a small length of cord from the theigh tie down on his second blaster rig. Kairne says "I'd hardly call it shorted out. This armor has seen worse. I just need to reset a few things, but I don't think she's going to let me take it with me no matter what order it is in." Nodding sagely in agreement, Paul lays a casual hand on Shen's shoulder as he watches the two Mandalorians prepare and bundle their gear for temporary abandonment. Shenner glances up uneasily at Paul, and mutters, "You, uh.... think I oughtta leave anything?" Kairne continues to remove his armor, "I do hope she takes good care of it. I didn't live my life this long to lose it here." "Somehow, I don't think she'll let anyone touch it," Paul muses wryly before glancing down at Shen. "I think we'll be okay as we are," he notes to her. "But just in case, let me go first, okay?" Shenner nods uncomfortably, zipping her pack up again. "Okay," she mutters. Dane picks his bundle up and sets at the feet of the statue hesitantly, kneeling he looks up at her, "I know you won't let anything happen to this.." he smiles and stands, turning away and heading back to the group. Kairne packs his armor together, and takes his blaster-rifle and a few melee weapons, and places them aside in a shoulder pack. He brings his armor over to the statue and lays it at her feet, murmuring, "Know that I fought long and hard to earn this, I will return for it." As Kairne sets down his armor and weapons, the statue responds to his words by moving once again. Paul draws a sharp breath, watching her as she leans down, the stone flowing as if molten. Touching by her feet, she draws up out of the stone and long thin rod of metal, the black surface rippling like water as she pulls it free. She stands tall once again, her arms outraised, holding the silvery rod as if it were a quarterstaff before her. When the rod becomes parallel with the stone, she once again freezes into immobility. "Bright suns," Shenner mumbles, grabbing up her pack and stepping involuntarily away from the statue. Dane wonders why she didn't do that for him..hoping it's a good thing that she didn't.. Kairne looks up at the rod, wondering what the statue wishes him to do. Last time, he aggravated it and was rewarded with a nasty shock. What does it wish to do to him now? The metal is too similar, the gesture too much like that of an offering. Reaching foward gingerly with one hand, Paul grasps the tiny silver staff on one end with his fingers, tugging on it lightly to see if it will give. Kairne looks over at Paul, "Careful." Too late .... the archaeologist has a tendency to trust his instincts a little too much it seems. This time his gamble pays off. The rod pulls easily from her grasp, and as Paul extracts it, the female warrior goes fluid once again, dropping to her familiar crouched position once again before solidifying. Paul's hazel eyes watch in pure amazement, waiting until she has settled before examining the piece in his hand. As he suspected, the end sections have a very familiar connection point. "Lady and gentlemen," he murmurs almost reverently, " ... the second key. If Shen were a religious girl, she'd been making appropriate gestures right now. As it is, the redheaded bard just stares, swallows, and finally manages, "W... well, guess... we'd better get movin', huh?" Placing the key safely in his pack, Paul nods to the rest of the group. "I agree ... think we're done here." Kairne motions for the group to head off in search of Urio. Paul Nighman leaves the clearing, forging on ahead into the dense forest growth. Paul Nighman has left. Kairne leaves the clearing, forging on ahead into the dense forest growth. Kairne has left. You leave the clearing, for better or worse, and push you way into the dense forest growth. Forest - Core The humidity and heat in this area are even more oppressive and unbearable. So much so that the air here is different, almost non-existant. Whereas previously, a distinction could be made between the trees, vines, shrubs and weeds, here, no such distinction can be made. All appears to have somehow been merged together, exsisting and living as one entity. With increasing frequency, fossilized and skeletal remains of a wide variety of strange creatures are found. Most are on the ground, while some can be seen hanging from the tentacle grasp of the vine-trees. Small holes, brimming with a steamed reddish watery-looking substance are occasionally found throughout this area. It is around these would be watering holes that most of the animal remains are found. Contents: Kairne Paul Nighman Urio'kosh Obvious exits: South Back [To be continued...]