Commando Part 17

Everyone sat in their places at the feasting table with their full attention on Ranger Roderic. A bit of fear could be seen on some of their faces. Aside from the fear instilled by the tales and horrors about this Over Boss Mommy Gluton Caligari, every fighter was exhausted from the long journey. Silence consumed the whole room forcing the feast to end for the night.

      As a whole group Viyamor’s gathered fighters left the feasting hall for their quarters. Maurice chose to stay put as most of his companions left for the tavern. Just Maurice, and three of his best fighters stayed. Four Sarcagosee, several Rangers, and the leaders of Ujal Voge sat at the feasting table within the feast hall. Maurice turned to see who was left as a few Elders and Rangers left to retire for the night. Amonif, Eyanosa, and the Prowler Taregan of the Northern Uwaux nation stayed with their leader Viyamor.

      Drinking the rest of the wine that was left at the table the two leaders discussed the locations of those Vestrisian Soldiers. It pained Maurice to hear of their fate. Those two soldiers were part of the expedition sent to expel the Gantronese forces with aid from the local tribes and peoples. He explained to Roderic what his mission was, which involved tracking down any more soldiers missing along with the 215 held prisoner. Roderic listened intently as the commando explained everything. He translated these words to Fahurn who in turn translated to the Chief who was getting weighed down by the need for sleep. Once Maurice was finished telling his story to them Chief Oguun whispered into Fahurn’s who then told Roderic. The Grussian told Maurice that he and his party of companions were welcome to stay as long as they needed. Agreeing to this without hesitation Maurice felt like he had sealed their fate for the moment.

      As one the last attendees to the feast rose from their seats and cushions. Each one proceeded to file out of the feast hall to witness further celebration among the locals. Drums, wooden flutes, and other tribal instruments played while dancers performed a spectacle for a tribe that lived in the marshes. Bonfires were lit in the center of each village giving an orange, yellow, and red glow to everything around it. Torch lights, braziers, and lamps were lit to shed light in the paths, and streets. Outside the groups departed for the night. All the Elders, Chief and Translator retired to their own homes while the Shaman joined in chanting and waving his arms as if summoning something or performing a ritual. Every Ranger except for Roderic left for their own huts, and shacks in the far end of the village they were in. At the entrance to the great feast hall Maurice, Amonif, Eyanosa, Taregan, and Roderic exchanged further words about the two Vestrisian soldiers out in marsh somewhere east of here. Maurice wanted to get those corpses located and get their dog tags. If it were possible he would like to transport the bodies for proper burial. The only transportation that they had on hand were those Jumbo Cats, canoes, the Red Symbols’ swamp boats and the Dwarf airship. He recalled the Dwarves and their Gnome companion when Maurice spotted something large slowly rocking back and forth amongst the villages’ small port.

      It hit him they could use some of the motorized vehicles to scour the region and even scout ahead before setting out again. The commando turned Roderic asking if they could get the Swamp boats on the other side of the wood docks and roads. Ranger Roderic gave him a wry smile telling Maurice that had already been done during the feasting.

     

      Maurice and his companions were surprised and wanted to see these swamp boats working. Roderic agreed to this and proceeded to escort them from the village. Maurice ordered Eyanosa to run back to the tavern to inform the others they’d be staying here for a while. In the dark night the Ranger, Commando, Unseen Bear, and Tuxir walked on the wooden path to where the Swamp Boats sat. It took a few minutes to reach the Swamp Boats, which were being worked on in the dark with bright work lights used for light. The figures working on these Swamp Boats appeared to be Dwarfs and Gnomes from the airship docked not too far away. Roderic got one of the mechanics’ attentions. The one he got was a short gnome wearing engineer overalls, goggles, and mechanic head gear with a head light on it. He looked at the Commando, Unseen Bear, and the Tuxir scrunched his eyebrows focusing on the trio of Sarcagosee warriors. This Gnome nodded at Roderic’s question then said that the Zoologists, Doctor, Elf and Guide were aboard their vessel. It was scheduled to leave in the morning for Khilscar Orvain.

      On the next day Maurice awoke with Brittany in his bed pressed against his body. Hilastes, and Amonif slept in the bunk quite soundly. Brittany still slept on even as he sat up to get dressed. Getting up the Commando slipped on his clothes and went over to Amonif to wake him. Startled awake the Unseen Bear nearly grabbed him by the throat. Both Vestrisians grabbed breakfast in the tavern hall. Here a local named Diruk volunteered to help them find the two lost Vestrisian Soldiers. Allowing this local to help them the Vestrisians went out to the Swamp Boats with the local. The trio boarded the Swamp Craft and sped through the marshes in a westward direction. An hour and a half in the trip and they came upon the corpses they were searching for. On a tiny mound of land for an island the corpses seemed to have been dumped there to rot. Maurice grabbed the dog tags and anything valuable he could perhaps send back to their homes. He wrapped the corpses in old tarps they found on board, and brought it on board.

      On the way back they came across several crocodile dwellings and nests, which they didn’t see due to the speed they rode. These large carnivorous lizards poured out of the grass and foliage in the marsh revealing the locations of their dwellings and nests. This surprised them as they went the route they had come. Winding around patches of land, grass, fallen trees, logs, and tree stumps jutting out of the water made the trip back a little longer. Within two hours they came back to Ujal Voge where the locals were constructing a dock for their new swamp boats with no help from the Dwarfs or Gnomes.

      They docked next to the construction as lines were tossed their way. Upon docking Maurice, Amonif, and Taregan were greeted by their travelling companions. Roderic stood next to them with a few other Rangers whom looked a little wary about something. Several kept looking over their shoulders with tense expressions. Maurice studied their expressions wondering what is wrong with them. He expected another attack to happen as he climbed off the boat. Amonif tossed the corpses on to the dock next to him. Hilastes and another Sarcagosee lifted up the bodies. Completing their docking at the docks the Sarcagosee held a brief meeting. Each one agreed to stay for four days since they no longer had any babysitting to due. Brittany informed Maurice and the others that the Red Symbols were attacked by a group of Gantronese who call themselves the 29 Dragons. While they were gone to retrieve the corpses a small group of five travelling warriors came to Ujal Voge. These warriors hung out with the Red Symbols, but hardly caused any trouble for anyone. However they did fight the Gantronese, or so people say.

      Maurice worked his way to the docks with his companions and the Rangers listening to more about these new arrivals. As they made their way through the widest part of the platforms the locals gathered in the marketplaces going about their daily lives. The large group of warriors snaked through the crowds to the docks where only certain sized ships could dock. Here at the docks of Ujal Voge the Swamp Boats sat alongside long canoes, dinghies, fishing craft, crocodile hunting boats, and a large Yacht looking craft with a red flag containing the emblem of a white Hawk armed with a spear. At the boarding and unloading ramps stood the five warriors ordering locals to carry their cargo and baggage from the yacht. Roderic whispered that these warriors could join the Sarcagosees’ party. Looking at one another the commando’s party considered this as a good idea. All twelve of these warriors and fighters approached the Yacht with a nice proposal for the new arrivals.