Chapter 5:
Planetfall
(05/11/01)
The cabal descended to the planet with its Quintessence batteries
waiting to be recharged. They knew two
important facts: that it would take ten days for the batteries to recharge, and
that the rotation of the planet meant that they were making planetfall just as
a night that lasts for almost a month was beginning. Slightly creeped out, the cabal decided to watch its back as they
made their way into the swamp where the nearest nodes were located.
On the way, they were attacked by three enormous dire wolves. They managed to kill two of them, and Ripple
tried to talk to the third (and dominant) one.
It seemed to have a sort of symbiont in its brain, which it called “its
child” and which the cabal referred to as a “planimal” (since it was neither
plant nor animal), and asked the cabal if they wanted one too. Everyone declined as soon as they found out
the planimals seemed to cause enormous holes in your brain. However, they decided to take the wolf back
to the ship for further study. Ripple
adopted it as her pet and named it “Wolfie.”
On our way back to the planet, the cabal noticed some strange spores
floating through the air. Wolfie
pointed them out as other “children.”
Saxon tried to scoop one up in a plastic bag and was harshly reprimanded
by Kenley.
Then, the cabal picked up some mental noise coming from a nearby
village. Ripple and Wan reached out to scan
it and Lord Vivictus, the leader of the village, reached back. Realizing they were sentient, he decided to
attempt diplomatic relations and form a trade relationship or alliance. He seemed to think Ripple and Wan were the
cabal’s leaders and the rest of us were just slaves. (He also wanted to sleep with Maria.) After a brief discussion, the cabal agreed to at least try
talking to the guy. A number of Lord
Vivictus’ “slaves” came up to the ship with us, and Jennifer and Saxon showed
them a good time at a hot tub party.
Ripple and Wan stayed behind in Vivictus’ castle to try to figure out
what was going on.