11016/Savage Lands: Release the Dinosaurs!

Savage Lands: Release the Dinosaurs!
Date of Scene:	08 February 2020
Location:	Savage Lands
Synopsis:	Savage Lands: The X-men and Blink finally try to track down Roberto and Lorna, only to nearly be speared to death.
Cast of Characters:	Polaris, Cypher, Shadowcat, Cannonball, Blink

---

Polaris has posed:
The notifications had gone out, and investigations had produced results. There was only one place on Earth that records showed the plant could have grown naturally: The Savage Lands. A teleport away, a blink, and the gathering of assembled rescuers found themselves standing in the middle of a dense jungle clearing. Thick with floral of bright colors and strong scents. The air was thick, humid, and hot. Far hotter than New York at this time of year and closer to Genosha in climate.

The sounds of ....not birds could be heard in the trees and beyond. A screech of strange creatures could be heard in the distance. But for now, in the jungle clearing, the group of mutants were alone.

Cypher has posed:
Doug looks around, and then rubs the back of his neck. "It's so weird to be back in the ol' spandex after all this time." He looks around, and then says, "There," Before he climbs on top of a flat boulder and opens a black case, before he starts to set up his satellite uplink equipment.

"This'll only take a second."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde is in her X-man uniform, with a domino mask about her eyes. She wanted to go with one that covered a little less, given the heat, though the protection against the plants, and animals, could come in handy. Plus those uniforms do breathe pretty well.

She steps through the portal with Lockheed on her shoulder. The little dragon immediately takes off, flying up a little higher to look for any immediate signs of danger. Kitty glances around the jungle. "Well, the warm weather is nice, though the whole being eaten by dinosaurs part makes me not want to work on my tan," she says quietly.

Kitty walks along behind Doug. "Polaris. Do you copy? Are you on comms?" Kitty says over the X-men's comms, not having to raise her voice for the sub-vocal mike to pick it up. Without a telepath on the trip, it's time to go old school.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie has a more customized outfit than the bumblebees. He will look to them, gonna take a quick look from a pterodactyl eye view." He will kick off and up into the air. He does concentrate so his blast is more a dull roar than normal.

Blink has posed:
Dressed to explore! That means Blink got hiking boots, loose pants, shirt and that long overcoat atop it all full of pockets. Dropping people in through a blink seemed to have went well for a change. She takes a moment to take in her bearings, glancing here and there...

"Everyone here?" a look at the familiar faces around her and then her brows knitting at the sounds coming from the trees. "What was that ....?" she murmurs in a lower tone.

While they are setting up she looks around with her bright eyes, attentive. This is making her a bit nervous and then ... "Dinosaurs..?" it just keeps getting greater. That mix of dread with curiosity. Deadly!

Polaris has posed:
A feathered looking creature came flying over head, bright and colorful it continued on its way. Though as Lockheed flew up, it darted away with a sound almost like a caw. It vanished out of sight. The sounds of branches crunching and cracking could be heard, close by and growing gently louder the longer the group remained.

As the group remained there, or if they darted a glance not too far away.. a dinosaur of the plated variety slowly came ambling through the undergrowth. Everything was quiet beyond that for the moment. The sounds of jungle life continued all around them.

Cypher has posed:
"...Microraptor." Doug murmurs. "I had a dinosaur phase as a kid." He finishes setting up the equipment. "I don't think we have to worry about any dinosaurs, at least for the moment. We'd hear the big plant-eaters, and the birds and other animals would start making alarm calls if a theropod or a group of deinonychus were nearby. I'm keeping an ear out and we've got an all-clear so far. But if I rapidly climb a tree..."

He takes out his computer and sets it up. "Satellite uplink established. The Savage Land isn't usually enough of a concern for governments to do a lot of surveillance on it, but I'm going to borrow a DOD satellite that's in position and use it to see what I can find. Hang out for a minute, soak up the sunlight."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty walks by Doug, patting his back. "Glad we've got you to translate. There are definitely the meat-eating variety though, so keep an eye out. Last time we were here, they were being used as mounts by a tribe that attacked some scientists," she comments of the mission a few months back.

The young woman nods towards Doug. "Other than finding areas the plant grows, we don't have much in the way of where to start looking, do we? Could do some aerial recon and see if anything stands out?" She glances over to the resident flyer, Sam, as she says that.

Kitty moves over near to Blink. "Most of them are going to be plant eaters though. But we'll avoid making too much noise. Sort of the opposite of a normal forest where you want the animals to hear you coming."

Blink has posed:
Clarice is just a purple-haired elf. Skinny, really. Would she be tasty to a dinosaur? She doesn't want to risk it. A glance given over to the plated dinosaur and then she steps aside and closer to a tree to attempt to stay out of sight of that big one, no matter how reassuring Doug is trying to be.

Though she can't help but marvel at the surroundings. With all her trips around the globe she has yet to find anything like this. But then her brows knit together, focused. She has a mission here today, and that is to find out what happened with Lorna and save her if need be.

When Kitty approaches she nods at her, "The less noise the better." she agrees. "If we can save them without any kind of alarm being given, the better."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will come back down after his look see, and says "Got an aztec style pyramid that way." He points in the direction he saw it. "Nothing much else to see, least nothing that struck me as odd." He looks over to kitty, and says "No big dinos close I saw, which is probably good as I forgot my emma-snacks." He jokes a bit about their last visit.

Polaris has posed:
It was quiet, hot, and humid. The perfect time to scope out anything further and stay on one's toes. Sam's report would match what Doug's satellite search would pick up. Something newer, and something that had clear cut a large swathe of trees further away from them. There was very clearly, what looked like a city or at least, an attempt at one. A trail wasn't easily seen from where they had arrived to the would be city, but there was some distance between them and the stone looking pyramid like structure.

Doug's report search showed a few other established looking villages dotted here or there, but nothing quite on the same scale in close proximity.

Cypher has posed:
"Not that I don't trust Sam's aerial recon, but," He whistles and points, "We've got recent clear-cutting and construction in that direction. It's a place to start. We'll just head that way, and if it's just a new Savage Land village we'll take the first person we find aside and ask them if they've met a guy trying to buy cocoa butter and hair-straightener."

Then Doug snorts. "Man, the humidity makes his hair go all curly. He's gonna be pissed."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty moves over to hear Sam's recon report. She gives a nod to it. "So any other information, by the way? Any suspects at all, or just the dart?" she asks making sure she didn't miss the info on her rush to join the others before they left.

She considers and nods towards Doug. "Sounds like the more modern occurrence, pyramid could be something old and unused." She looks towards Clarice. "Think you can get a look and then open a portal to somewhere we can get a look, hopefully without being spotted?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "He is going to be bouncing off the walls, with all the daylight there is up here." He comments about Berto. "Just texted they were being jumped. My first thought honestly would be the mutates coming after Lorna, cause who her daddy is." He will take a sip from a cantin he brought with him"

Blink has posed:
"No, only that Lorna seemed to know, or at least be meeting someone out in Argentina. And those may be the ones that took her." Clarice informs Kitty, then a glance across to the direction they mention the larger pyramid is at. She nods at the suggestion and then starts on her way down the path to look at a good place they can all jump to, careful to not call the attention of any stray dino or any other pleasant denizen of the savage lands.

If she finds a good spot she will then return to open up a way in, that familiar 'blink' heard while she opens the portal.

Polaris has posed:
Clarice finds a open, clear, spot off to the side, a fallen tree had some time ago taken out a few neighboring trees and made a natural spot that looked good enough for what Clarice planned. As the purple-magenta hued portal opened to reveal the sight of a village not too far away.. but still far enough away that no one obviously saw the light either.. the group would have a clearer view of the freshly clear cut area around the much older looking pyramid.

A great deal of stone work had been done, and more buildings had been erected. The coloring of the wood clearly fresh and new.

Not too far away people went about their days, people that were clearly native lookings in clothing and in manner. Many carried baskets of woven material. But still, the view of the village was limited to the scope of Clarice's portal.

Cypher has posed:
"True, but if playing with my G.I. Joes and hanging out with the X-Men has taught me anything, bad guys with ANY sense of style at all will repurpose the ancient pyramid as their lair." Doug says, as he packs up the equipment and puts it back in the case, which he slings over his shoulder.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gets a soft grin at Doug's comment. "Trying not to stereotype, Doug," she tells him in a joking tone. She watches as Clarice scouts the spot and opens the portal. When it's clear, Kitty glances up at Lockheed who flies down to hop on her shoulder for the trip through the portal.

"Well, what do we think? Approach nice and openly?" she asks, peering about for any signs the place is other than a nice, placid village like it seems. "See if the natives are helpful? Or... sneak about and don't give up any element of surprise. If we have one?" she looks to the others for their thoughts.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie says, "Well, usually the natives have been friendly after a brief encounter, with Doug here to let us talk with them, I think we can get along quicker. They will probably be expecting some to come, we just need to make sure we are careful"

Blink has posed:
"What's a GI Joe?" Because sometimes questions must be asked. It's telling that Clarice's own childhood wasn't exactly that normal, but it's not as if she waits for an answer, instead she looking through the portal like a voyeur to the day-to-day of the people there.

At the suggestions given she turns her nose briefly. "I don't trust that these people will be friendly, I vote for going stealthily and try to find any sign of either Roberto or Lorna." but is anyone surprised that Blink would choose the non-social way? Specially if these people aren't mutants. Talk about holding grudges against humans.

Still, she maintains the portal open for now, waiting for their decision. "But I will go with whatever you choose."

Polaris has posed:
Stealth would rely on no one seeing the bright glow of the magenta colored portal floating mid-air off to the outskirts of the village. And to not be seen by any of the inhabitants as they went about on their way. For now no one seemed to notice, but then again.. a choice had yet to be made either for the X-men and Blink.

From inside the pyramid like structure, the sound of a wooden door opening could be heard, though nothing could be seen yet. There was movement off to the side, and blocked from view currently, given their position. A few of the villagers stopped what they were doing to turn and look. A few dropped down to their knees and bowed in the direction of the pyramid.

Cypher has posed:
Doug pauses. "A door in the pyramid opens, everybody turns to genuflect... Oh no. This is the worst-case scenario, I think..."

He sighs, and says, "I've heard enough of their language. I often find a little audacity takes you a long way. Possibly into a dungeon. Maybe eaten. But it always gets you somewhere. Also, I planned ahead." He squares his shoulders, and walks through the portal. 'Hello!' he says, in the native tongue. 'We come in peace.' He unslings his backpack, and takes out a cooled case. ...It's full of candy bars. 'Gifts! From the outside world. Might we observe your religious ceremony?'

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde listens to her teammates thoughts and purses her lips in thought. One for going forward, one for sneaking. And... there goes Doug!

Kitty looks at the others and shrugs. "It'll be alright in the end. Though not sure quoting Shakespeare in Love is relevant or not," Kitty says. "I'll back him up. Up to you if you want to stay hidden for now or not?" she suggests.

And then Kitty and Lockheed step through, following close behind Doug. She crosses her arms but has a smile on her face as she's looking about, trying to make sure no one gets the drop on them.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and will follow along to Kitty he says "You brought him to the school first." He teases her, and is smiling a bit. He does not seem to bothered to much and does follow along with the rest for now.

Blink has posed:
"That's not planning ahead!" Because yes, Blink notices that the planning is those candy bars. She mutters a bit, watching them go through the portal. No, she won't stay out here by herself and of course that she will back them up. So she is the last to step through the portal, letting it fall close behind her once she does.

She stays alert though, and near the others, prepared to open an escape portal if need be. She tries to smile a little, but really, pointy ears, large eyes.

Polaris has posed:
A few closer inhabitants noticed Doug as he greeted them, and a few gasps, wide eyes and looks of shock followed. A woman dropped her basket, and scuttled back to bump into a young man that had been in the process of bowing to whatever he was looking at from the pyramid's doorway. And he in turn, twisted about to curse at the young woman... only to join her in his open shock at the sight of the magenta colored portal snapping shut behind Blink. He stared. He pointed. He promptly shouted and took off running.

The young woman that had bumped into him stared, slack jawed as her gaze darted between the small gather of mutants and around as more and more people turned to look curiously or in an annoyed fashion. Clearly unhappy or irritated at whatever was going on that had interrupted their day. The young woman pointed at herself in confusion, looked around once, and back to Doug with a wide eyed expression. But at least... she hadn't run.

Though judging by the looks, more than a few other villagers looked more inclined to run at them rather than away.

Cypher has posed:
'I know, right! You're surprised. An outsider steps out of a doorway,' Doug holds up his hands, 'Who speaks your language.'

He reaches down, slowly, unwraps one of the candy bars, and takes a bite out of it. He chews, thoughtfully, and then gestures to it.

'Like I said, it's a gift! We're actually here looking for tribemates of ours. A woman, green hair, and a man, my height, but darker than me, would've given a lot of orders...?'

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty may not be understanding the language, but then body language is near universal amongst humans. She uncrosses her arms and holds up her hands to show they aren't armed, in what hopefully will be construed as a peaceful gesture.

Of course it could just make them think, hey they aren't armed, easy prey.

"Any idea who is up in the pyramid?" she asks, glancing over at the others before peering back up again, trying to get sight of whoever the villagers were kneeling for.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will be tempted to take to the air, but he will move tot he side to get a look around at who is about and what is going on. He keeps quiet for now

Blink has posed:
Well, no need to startle the natives more than they already are. So Clarice is staying quiet for now, hands inside the pockets of her overcoat and she busying herself looking at the surrounding village now that they are at this vantage point. She glances in the direction of that pyramid door one of the men seemed to be bowing towards, perhaps trying to discern whoever or whatever may be there.

"They don't really look that friendly..." She murmurs as an aside to the group.

Polaris has posed:
The young woman that Doug was speaking to-- at quite some distance as she seemed uninterested in approaching closer-- looked startled more at Doug's questions, and a look of recognition passed over her face. It was hard to say if it was the 'ordering people around' comment or the green hair comment. Either way, the woman nodded, and her mouth opened to say something, when a spear came flying from behind her at the gaggle of mutants. It fell short, but was in line to hit them if it was a few feet closer.

A chorus of 'Intruders!' and 'Get them!' could be heard shouted as other men with spears came running from further down the village muddy streets toward the group. And these ones looked like they planned to get closer before they threw.

Cypher has posed:
"Oh, well, Savage Land inhabitants tend to have bad experiences with outsiders." Doug says. "Between Roxxon, and the High Evolutionary, and M--"

*shunk*

Doug looks down at the spear that's embedded itself into the ground, and then he sighs, and holds his hands up. 'We surrender! We're not here to fight. We just want to find our friends and leave you alone.'

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde reaches over to Doug as the spear comes flying, but she gauges the path enough to not bother with phasing him. Yet. "Surrender? Ah... Doug? Are you sure about this?" she asks, eying the group of spear-toting men.

Lockheed takes flight, disappearing into some trees where he watches, ready to fly back out if needed, but not otherwise revealing himself to the villagers. Kitty glances at the others. "Doug, maybe Blink should get us out of here?" she suggests.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over to Kitty, and says "I can get Blink or doug out of here if you want to get the other, just let me know which one to grab."

Blink has posed:
"And we should bring that woman with us." Yes, Blink noticed that the girl seemed to know something, and seems willing enough to do what's needed for them to find out where Lorna is. Noone gets in the way of the Royals. She begins forming a javelin with one hand. Perhaps she will throw it at the woman?

And then she will open a portal for them to escape through. Of course that she will be the last one through, waiting for everyone to go if that is their wish. "I don't really think they are aiming to take prisoners, Doug ..."

Cypher has posed:
Doug backs toward Blink. "I had a hunch, but I'm not *always* right, and if we've come all this way and gotten attacked by the locals, at least they haven't decided Berto is a god. Let's re-group." He waves. 'Enjoy the candy! Eat it before it melts.' He gives the crowd one last look, and then murmurs, in the local language, 'Man, that big teenager over there looks a LOT like Piotr'...

Polaris has posed:
Half a dozen spears came flying through the air at the gathered mutants. Even as Kitty reached for Doug in preparation. They were decidedly not trying to take prisoners. The men that had thrown the spears didn't stop either, they were rushing by the woman that had attempted to talk to them. The chaos was complete when the rest of the native took off running into the village.

Blink's javelin landed, snapping up the woman and teleporting her away along with the group to the clearing they'd first arrived at some distance away.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie will take to the air but just the barest bit, he uses hsi blast field to covere the others and will wait so he can carry Blink through the portal when they go.

Blink has posed:
When they came out on the other side of the portal .... Surprise! The native is with them. Blink smiles faintly at Doug and says to him. "I guess you can talk to your friend in peace now..."