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Chapter 1: A different way of life! First time on Toroa!
Topic Started: Jul 14 2012, 01:58 AM (1,366 Views)
Crunchy

The wind blew true and the currents carried the ship without incident, straight to paradise. At least that was the first thought to run through Spike's mind as the island came into view. As the trading ship pulled closer to the shore, Spike leaned eagerly on the front rail, gazing across the open plains. Off in the distance, there were herds of animals he had never seen in his life, even after living his first 18 years in the circus. And some of those faint outlines could be people. Groups of trees sprouted up here and there, and on the edge of the horizon, what looked to be a forest. "That should be fun to explore." Spike thought with a smile.

"Here we are, kid. I call it the trapper's delight. The island of Toroa." The captain's voice appearing suddenly behind him startled Spike from his daydream. The last island he had visited had it's share of natural beauty, yes. But the city was too large. It reminded him of... He pulled his thoughts back to the now. No need to dwell on the past. Not with this expanse in front of him.

"I still don't believe it, there's really not a single town on this island? Where will you stay?" Spike asked, half caring. The captain was not as rough as some of the others he had met, but Spike still felt something was off about him. None of the crew seemed to know his name, for one. And if they did, they weren't telling Spike. And he had those crazy quiet footsteps. Spike never seemed to notice the captain behind him until he was right there. But none of that mattered. Any minute now, the ship would dock, Spike would go ashore, and he could leave this odd man behind.

"Oh, don't you go worrying about us, kid. Me and the boys'll get along just fine. You sure you can say the same?" A strange grin appeared on the captain's face, and was gone just as quickly. The ship had dropped anchor now, and the crew was preparing to disembark.

"I think I'll manage. Thanks for the lift." Spike said, suddenly uneasy. Before the captain could get another word in, Spike jumped over the rail, splashing into the warm water, swam to shore, and began his exploration of this unspoiled land.
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Crunchy

Spike turned left when he made it to the shore. He walked along, enojying the feel of the sand between his toes. Gazing inland, soaking up the beauty of the island that stretched before him, he made his way down the beach. The hardest part was going to be deciding where to head first. Should he head inland right away? Explore the coast? Or maybe check out one of those forests he could make out in the distance? Food wasn't a concern just yet, he had eaten breakfast on the ship shortly before he jumped overboard and came ashore. And besides, he seemed to have a knack for finding things to eat out in the wild. Spike turned to look back at the ship, to gauge how far away he had come, and was surprised to see the ship had actually pulled anchor and was sailing in the opposite direction, down the coast and away from him.

"Hmm, that's weird. I guess they didn't like that spot." He said aloud. Talking to himself was an odd habit Spike had picked up a long time ago, wandering around in the woods by himself, and he was more than a little embarrassed when it happened in front of other people, but he didn't think anything of it when he was by himself. Right then, Spike made his decision.

"Alright, I'll head inland to the edge of that forest, then take another look around." And he set off to do just that. Walking across the plains, through the grasses, feeling the morning sun on the back of his neck, Spike was content. For the first time since he had run from the circus, Spike didn't feel the need to constantly look over his shoulder. It was strange, feeling safe on an island like this. The people he had grown up with would say that an uncivilized island like Toroa is the worst place you could end up. No restaurants, no hotels, no beer, they would go crazy. But Spike had always been a little different than the rest of the circus folk. Yeah, city life was nice once in a while, but everything moved so damn fast. Nobody in the cities they used to visit ever seemed to slow down. But this island was different. Spike could tell the minute he stepped ashore. Out here he would be able to move along at his own speed, taking time to stop and smell the roses. Or to look at a particularly interesting patch of grass. Or to climb a tree in that forest that kept getting closer. It didn't matter. He was on his own time now, and he was going to enjoy it.

And so Spike made his way along, taking his time. His stomach rumbled and he glanced up at the sky. The sun had moved a lot farther along than he had expected, so Spike decided to see what he could rustle up to munch on. He found a bush with some particularly juicy berries that must have just ripened, and dug up a couple of roots to go with them. He munched away as he walked, and soon made it to the edge of the forest.

This particular forest was full of tall broad-leafed trees. Spike found one at the edge of the forest suitable for climbing and scurried up to a branch near the top, looking out at the plains and trying to draw up a crude map in his head.

"Ok, so I came from the beach, to my right. I have forest behind me, and plains ahead of me and to my left. I think I'd like to explore this forest and see what there is to see here before I move on. I've got all the time in the world. I wonder where those guys were headed..." Spike looked along the coast, searching for the ship he came here on, but it had vanished. That got boring pretty quickly, and Spike had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do now, so he made his way back down and started into the forest.

As he wandered deeper into the woods, Spike began to feel less sure about his idea. He began to look over his shoulder, feeling eyes on him. The woods had gotten quiet. The sounds of nature that Spike loved so much were still around, but they were off in the distance. Spike was being followed, by animal or human, he wasn't sure. He stopped in a small clearing and stood, looking around.

Spike had hoped he wouldn't need his whip, but hadn't been so foolish as to get rid of it. That was the only way he knew how to defend himself. He had worn it around his waist like a belt during the entire voyage to Toroa, but now he took it in hand. "I know you're out there!" Spike shouted. "Why don't you come out so we can talk? I prefer not to fight, but I'll defend myself if I have to!" He really hoped it was a person following him, and not some hungry animal. People could be spoken to and reasoned with. Animals... Not so much, in Spike's experience. What happened next was so quick Spike barely had time to react.

A bush rustled behind Spike, and as he turned to face his opponent, the trap was sprung. A net hidden under the leaves in the clearing appeared. Spike was a quick man, but the net was too large for him to evade. As he dangled above the ground, 4 men emerged from the woods into the clearing, wearing animal hide on their bodies and mocking smirks on their faces.

"You prefer to talk, do you? Good, that weapon won't do you any good right now anyway." The largest of the 4 men mocked Spike. "We'll take you back to our camp now, and you can talk then. And if we don't like what you say, you won't talk any more."
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Crunchy

"Is this really necessary, guys?" Spike asked his captors. "I mean, I said I'd rather talk things over, and then you had to go and spring this net up around me. What's up with that? Why don't you let me down, and we can talk things over like civilized people." This was a bad spot to be in, Spike knew, and it would only get worse if he didn't do something about it quick.

"You hear that Jombo? He wants to talk like civilized people. Maybe you were right after all." One of the other men spoke up, mocking Spike.

"You outsiders and your civilizations are destroying our lands, and they send you to talk to us? Like civilized people? You can keep your civilization, and go back to where you came from. We've had enough of it." The big guy that must be Jombo said. "Our people have been living with the land for generation upon generation now, and you come here and take what you want and say that it's yours because you have a piece of paper that says so? No. We've had enough of this. We're going to set an example to all you outsiders. I think we'll start with you."

"What? I have no idea what you're talking about. I only stepped foot on this island this morning." Spike tried to reason with the brute. "What do you mean destroying your lands? I crossed the plains over there -" Spike gestured with his head, as his arms were stuck to his sides in the net. "just hours ago. It didn't look like anything was destroyed. In fact, I was able to pick some delicious berries on my way over here. Didn't you say you were going to bring me to your camp? Why don't we head back there and we can sort this whole mess all out?" Spike tried to put on the friendliest face he could. These people were clearly native to this island, the very people he had hoped to learn from. If they could survive here for so many years, living in harmony with the land, then maybe they could teach him a thing or two. This was not the way he had imagined introducing himself to the native population, but he was determined to make the best of things.

A moment of hesitation crossed over Jombo's face, before he spoke to the others. "Get him down. Bring him with us. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Then he turned and disappeared back into the undergrowth. "And blindfold him. I don't want him knowing where we're camped until Shempa decides whether or not to trust him." His voice echoed through the woods.

Well, at least I won't be dying in a net. That would certainly be unpleasant. Spike thought to himself as the remaining men pulled him to the ground and began binding him. Spike let out a sigh as he was led through the forest, hoping that he would be leaving the forest alive.
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Kyto
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The group lead by Jombo eventually made their way to the camp he spoke of. All the while Spike remained blinded folded so as to keep him from knowing where their people lived. Such precautions had to be taken for the Rainbow Light Tribe these days. All these outsiders that have arrived lately have been causing nothing but trouble. When Jombo's team reached the camp they were greeted by the usual sights. Numerous round huts made of bent wood with roofs covered in wool and cloth were now visible. A number of horses were grazing on the grass around the camp. A couple of wagons sat next to the huts, waiting to be used on the rare occasions the tribe moved. The people in the camp were busy going about their day while the group lead Spike here. Children were playing with each other, men and women were busy with daily chores. As Jombo's group lead Spike further into the camp, people stopped what they were doing to look at the newcomer who was blindfolded. Spike could hear whispers around him of people who were both curious and scared of his arrival. While all of this continued outside an important discussion was taking place in the largest hut at the back of the camp. Here the tribal elder and leader, Shempa, was busy discussing important matters with his council.

At the center of the hut was a large animal skin where three men sat on the ground. The man to the left had salt and pepper hair with a bushy beard that matched his head. He wore a pair or brown pants and brown boots but lacked a shirt. Despite being in his forties he was in very good shape. His name was Omacha, and he was the advisor to Shempa. The man sitting on the right side was the youngest of three, with black hair tied into a ponytail. He wore a white shirt and a black pants without any shoes. A tribal pattern of tattoos went down his left arm as he kept an annoyed expression on his face. This man was Gorshu, the man in charge with keeping the camp safe. At the center of the animal skin was the village leader Shempa. He had already lost his hair due to old age with many wrinkles across his face. He wore a red and yellow robe with beads tied around his left wrist. Unlike Gorshu, the village elder had a very cheerful aura to himself. Standing at the center of the animal skin was a young man who was trying to catch his breath. He was the tribe's messenger and he had just returned from an important delivery.

"This is trouble to here indeed." Omacha said while he was stroking his beard. "To think these outsiders would do such reckless things." While Omacha continued to ponder Gorshu slammed his fist onto the ground. "This is why we need to take action! We know these lands better than the outsiders. That gives us an advantage they lack! Why wait for them to destroy our homes?!" The youngest of the three clearly was the most frustrated out of anyone else. "Now now Gorshu, there is no need to result to such violence, not yet at least." Shempa said in a upbeat voice followed by a chuckle. "It is sad to here what happened to the forest and the tribe. They should know that if they need any assistance they are always welcomed on our campgrounds." Both Gorshu and Omacha agreed with the village elder while Omacha faced the messenger. "Please deliver that message to the tribe. We should try and be as helpful as possible." The young man was still trying to catch his breath as Shempa stood up and walked over to him. "Young man, may I see your sandals?" The messenger was confused for a moment but followed Shempa's orders. After Shempa received the sandals he started to put them on. "You are tired young man, as the village elder I should do my part to help everyone."

As Shempa started to stretch Omacha and Gorshu both fell over backwards in shock. "EHHH?! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING SHEMPA!" Omacha shouted as his eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "YOUR TOO OLD TO MAKE SUCH A JOURNEY YOU OLD BAT!!" Groshu said as he smacked the air in frustration. "Grohohoho! You two focus too much on appearance. I may look like an old man but I have the spirit of young teenager!" Shempa continued to chuckle while he stretched....until the sound of his back popping could be heard. In a split second Shempa was on the ground, holding his back in pain. "Gahh! It appears my youthful spirit is too much for this aging body again." Shempa muttered in denial as he tried getting back up to his feet. "ITS BECAUSE YOUR OLD!" Both men shouted at the same time with blank and angry eyes. "Its alright though, all I need is to give my body some energy." Shempa reached for a box of herbs and a pot of boiling water. "Some nice Toroa Ginseng should do the trick, Grohoho!" Omacha saw the herb Shempa had gathered and began to panic. Running up to the elder he smacked the herb out of his hand. "Thats poison ivy Shempa!" Shempa looked at the herb on the ground and then back at Omacha with a puzzled face. "Was it now? I suppose my vision isn't what it use to be, Grohohoho!" Gorshu was now standing behind Shempa, smacking him upside the head with a groan. "Why did you even keep something like that?!" While the three continued to converse one of the tribesmen came rushing into the hut. "Elder Shempa! Jombo is back, and he brought an outsider with him!" The antics of the three came to a sudden stop as they looked at each other. While Omach and Gorshu calmly sat back down another warm smile came to Shempa's face. "Well this is an interesting turn of events. Please tell Jombo to bring him in, I'd like to see this outsider myself."
Edited by Kyto, Jul 19 2012, 12:43 AM.
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Crunchy

Spike could tell that he was drawing some curious looks, even though he couldn't exactly see those looks with a blindfold on. The sounds of everyday life that had been growing louder as they made their way through the forest had begun to fade to whispers not too long ago. Spike tried to comprehend the events of the morning. He ran through a quick list in his head. Woke up on a boat. Check. Got off the boat and swam ashore. Check. Walked to this forest. Check again. Got captured by a tribe he had hoped to befriend. This last check was the one that Spike tried to focus on. What was happening on this island? These people had captured him and led him blindfolded to their camp for no reason, as far as he could tell. He hadn't done anything wrong. Spike hoped this Shempa he was being led to would be a little more reasonable than Jombo.

The group stopped, and Spike heard Jombo talking with another one of the villagers for a minute. He strained to hear what they were saying, but it was no use. After a minute of conversation, he heard Jombo's voice again. "Come on, outsider, Shempa wants to meet you right now."

"Not like you bothered to ask," Spike muttered, "but my name is Spike. And since you were kind enough to leave my hands free, I'll be taking off this blindfold now. It sounds as if we're in your village now, I don't know how we got here, I think the blindfold has done its job." As Spike removed his blindfold, he noticed he had been led directly in front of a large wooden hut. He took a second to glance around. It wasn't exactly as if a crowd had gathered behind him, but as he turned to look, he did see many villagers quickly turning their heads away, not wanting to be caught staring. The village looked more or less as he had pictured it, but he wasn't given much time to take in his surroundings. "Don't press your luck, outsider." Jombo warned as he pushed Spike into the hut.

It took Spike a second for his eyes to adjust to the change in light. He blinked a couple of times and took in the sight before him. Two men were sitting on a large animal skin, looking calm and almost friendly, while a third, younger man stood with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. A pot of boiling water sat over a fire over to the side of the hut, and nearby was a large collection of herbs. The atmosphere in the room held an odd mixture of tension and calm at the same time. Spike stepped further into the room and felt Jombo move in to block the door behind him. "Umm, Hey there old guys. Jombo says you're going to decide what to do with me." Spike said, scratching his neck awkwardly as he tried to break the tension. He moved over to the box of herbs. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm really pretty thirsty. I'll make us some tea. Ooh, is this Toroa Ginseng? It's been years since I've seen this stuff." Spike said, as he began rummaging around through the various herbs. "I really hope you don't decide to kill me. And you have Tapas root? Oh, this should sweeten the tea nicely. I came to this island because I heard your people all live in harmony with the land. I was hoping we could get along." Spike let himself relax a little as he worked on preparing tea for the group that would decide his fate. "Amazing! Mint and Johash leaves, I think that should just about do it! Sorry, I got a little carried away there. My cooking skills are barely above "Make fire. Put food over fire." but tea I can do! Now try this and let me know what you think." Spike had poured himself a cup and was already sipping as he watched the men staring at him, emotions on their faces ranging from amusement to shock.
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Kyto
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Shempa began to sit down again as he could hear to people conversing outside the hut. One voice clearly belonged to Jombo, meaning the other was most likely the outsider. Once Spike was pushed into the hut they finally got a good look at the outsider. He was a surprisingly tall young man wearing a hoodie and shorts. All three members of council tilted thier heads in confusion at the sight of his shorts. Why were there so many pockets? Before either one of them could speak up Spike started to make himself at home. Omacha and Gorshu sat there with their hair shading their eyes and jaws dangling. Did this guy not understand the situation he currently found himself in? As he continued to rummage through the box of herbs it felt like Spike had already determined the council would let him go. Through all of this Shempa sat there with a smile on his face. He found this outsider to be quite the amusing sort. Omacha was more confused than amused, but Gorshu did not enjoy this little display. Getting up to his feet Gorshu marched over to Spike and got right in his face.

"You think this is some sort of joke?" He said while needing to look up at the young man. "You outsiders have been nothing but trouble for all of us lately. Thats a convenient story you made up but theres no way we can trust someone like you!" From behind the two Omacha let out a heavy sigh. "Gorshu is right outsider." He said with a aura much calmer than Gorshu's but still distrusting of Spike. "Your appearance on the island happens to fit more in line with being with the loggers than it does of one looking to explore the nature of the island." Pointing a finger at Spike Gorshu continued to stare at him with intent focus. "Admit it! Your a scout trying to find our sacred grounds!" While Gorshu remained intent on playing the bad cop role Omacha looked over at Shempa. "What do you think we should do with the outsider Shempa?" Omacha saw that Shempa was resting his head on his hand, deep in thought. So deep in fact that he started to snore while a snot bubble formed. "OI! WAKE UP!" Omacha shouted as he clapped his hands right by Shempa's ear. The village elder was startled as he woke up looking around the room with a baffeled expression. "Oh my, it seems that my youthful spirit needed to recharge." Both Gorshu and stared at Shempa while they sweatdropped. "...Its because your old..." They said at the same time to the elder.

With a chuckle Shempa began to move around until he finally stood up. "Grohoho! Let me have a good look at this outsider." Shempa slowly walked over to where Spike and Gorshu was standing. Once he came to a stop Shempa squinted his eyes so he could see better. After staring for a moment Shempa began to nod with an impressed look. "My word, if I didn't know any better Gorshu I would say this outsider was your twin!" Gorshu stood there speechless, his hair shading his eyes as Shempa stared at him and not Spike. Grabbing Shempa by the face Gorshu smooshed hi cheeks as he moved his head to face to see Spike. "Ohh...I guess my vision truly is not what it use to be." Looking at Spike for a moment a smile came to Shempa's face. "Your quite the tall one young man!" Chuckling a little Shempa turned around and started to walk back to where he was sitting. "He is not one of the loggers." He said in a rather factly voice while he sat down. Gorshu stopped getting in Spike's face as he walked closer to Shempa. "How can you be certain? You believe his story?" Shempa nodded as he kept looking over at Spike. "None of the other outsiders we have seen have had the same knowledge of herbs like this young man. More importantly though, his words were honest." While Shempa smiled Gorshu let out a reluctant sigh as he sat down. Omacha on the other hand stared spike down for a moment before speaking up. "Well if Shempa believes you to be a good person I will as well. Welcome to the Ranibow Light Tribe. I apologise for the invasive nature you've experienced so far, but we have to be extra cautious ever since the loggers have come to the island."
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Crunchy

Spike did his best to hide the relief he felt after Shempa had given his approval. Things had gotten pretty tense there, and for a couple of seconds, Spike had been very worried that the peace tea he had brewed up for this hut of elders would end up cold and forgotten. But then the odd old man they called Shempa had decided what Spike already knew, that he was telling the truth and not a member of these loggers. Ever since he entered these woods, questions had been forming in Spike's head. Maybe now he could get some answers. If Shempa could stay awake. Spike had only just met the man, but he could tell two things about him. He was clearly in denial about his age, and he had the wisdom only such advanced years could bring.

Spike took another sip of his tea, and then began pouring for the elders in the hut. He looked Gorshu in the eye. "No, I don't think this is a joke. I'm not even sure what's going on here." Spike's attention turned to Omacha. "Thank you for the welcome, I certainly hope that we can learn from each other." Spike finished pouring the tea, and passed out the cups. He sat down a respectful distance from the elders, before he addressed Shempa directly. "As for you, I guess I kind of owe you one. I'm pretty sure this ox wanted to string me up and leave me in the middle of the woods." Spike said, as he gestured back to the doorway, where Jombo still stood, not saying anything, but clearly growing frustrated with the way this situation was playing out. "You're Shempa, right? Well, my name's Spike. It's great to meet you. Now if you don't mind, could we drink this tea before it gets cold? It's so much better when it's hot." Spike sipped and continued talking. "There's something I'm a little curious about though. What's the deal with these loggers? You've all mentioned them now. This forest seems fairly extensive, I would think you could easily take a dozen or so trees without doing any harm to the forest. So why all the hate? I notice even your own huts are made of wood, you can't be entirely opposed to the loss of a handful of trees. It's not like they're chopping down the whole..." Spike trailed off as he noticed the looks on the faces of the elders. "No! That's ridiculous! Who could be so... Really? Please, tell me what's going on here." Spike pleaded with the elders as he began to grasp the situation. He forced himself to sip his tea and restrain his anger.

"I should have made serenity tea." Spike thought, doing his best to check his emotions as he waited, hoping the elders would tell him what was happening on this island. Hoping that it wasn't what he thought it would be, but fearing that he had already figured it out. Omacha and Gorshu both looked at Shempa, but Spike couldn't tell if the old man was about to speak, or if he had fallen asleep again.
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Kyto
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Having resolved the issue of whether or not Spike was trouble Shempa took the tea. He took in the aroma before looking down at the warm liquid. A smile came to his face as he noticed the scents of the herbs Spike had just used. Taking a sip of the tea Shempa remained silent while he continued to smile. Spike had thrown a flurry of questions towards the elders and made it difficult for them to get a word in. Omacha sat there with a raised eyebrow while Gorshu's mouth was left open. Every time he would start to speak another question would be thrown their way. In fact Gorshu was getting annoyed with the young man. To be compared to the loggers was quite the offensive comment. Before he could go on another rant though, it appeared as if Spike realized the situation. Both Omacha and Gorshu found themselves going silent as they looked to Shempa. It was probably best if the village elder was the one to explain the situation to Spike. With all eyes on him Shempa continued to stare at his cup of tea. Lifting his gaze to the three in the room Shempa went from happy to confused.

"What was it we were talking about?" Omacha and Gorshu fell backwards again before the latter leaped up to smack Shempa in the head. "THE LOGGERS YOU DOLT! WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LOGGERS!" Rubbing the back of his head Shempa chuckled before facing Spike. "Grohoho! Of course we were, I was simply caught up in this tea. Such a perfect blending of herbs in here. You have quite the talent with plant life young man." Taking another sip of the tea Shempa placed it down before facing Spike again. His cheerful aura slowly turned to one of sorrow before he spoke up. "It is true that we use the trees for our huts and the like. However, we only use what is needed, never for wanting purposes. The loggers that have come to the island have been stripping the lands of their natural beauty and supplies." Gorshu grit his teeth at this comment while Omacha remained stoically silent. "Due to their actions many of the camp grounds our nomadic brothers and sisters use have been stripped of their plant life. This has forced much of the wildlife to flee their homes as well, causing a disturbance in the balance of nature the island once held." Shempa reached for his cup and took another sip of tea as Omacha was the next to speak. "The reason our huts or so different is because we rarely travel from this location. It is sacred to the Rainbow Light Tribe."

Placing his cup down again Shempa cleared his throat to speak. "Have you ever heard of a plant known as Glowshrooms Spike?" Shempa asked while starting to stand up. "I wouldn't expect you to know what I'm speaking of. As far as I'm aware they only grow on Toroa. The grow to great heights and each cap glows with a bright and vivid color." Shempa walked over to where the herbs and plants were kept Omacha continued to speak to Spike. "The Glowshrooms grow in small spots around the island, but for the most part they flourish in one particular location in the forest." Gorshu was the next to speak as Shempa was returning with a pot in his hand. "The loggers are cutting a path into the forest. One that has this exact location in their way. If they happen to destroy the Glowshrooms there, we fear they will never truly recover." Walking up to Spike Shempa showed him what was growin in the pot. "It is only a sproutling, but this is a Glowshroom." Inside the pot was a small Glowshroom, its stalk a black and white spiral. Most noticeable was the cap, that even at its small sized glowed with a bright green color. "It is quite the beautiful sight during the night time. These Glowshrooms are very important to my people, and I fear what would happen if the Loggers end up finding them."
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Crunchy

Spike stared into the pot, eyes fixed on the glowing green mushroom. "That's beautiful." Spike whispered, eyes wide and awestruck. He took a moment while everything the elders had just told him sank in. Such a rare and beautiful plant, and it was going to be destroyed by some idiot loggers who don't appreciate the wonders of the natural world? Spike began to understand the reason for the harsh treatment he had recieved on his way here.

"These loggers can't be allowed to continue." Spike decided, finishing his tea and standing to his feet. "What do you plan on doing about them? This may be your land, but I can not sit by while such a sight of nature faces destruction. There must be something I can do to help your people, please tell me what it is." Spike pleaded with the elders, hoping they would let him help out in some way. And if they didn't, he would have to sneak off to find a way to help. Spike hoped it didn't come down to that, he liked these guys, he didn't want to go sneaking away from them.
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Tora
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Toroa Island was known for it's lustrous green plains and forest. The beautiful nature was unique in the ocean of West Blue. No other island held the same variety of flora and fauna as found on Toroa Island. Unfortunately this uniqueness made it an attraction to poachers and loggers. For years loggers had been attempting to legally get their hands on the wood supply of the island. Unfortunately to no avail.... Even the World Government knew the value and importance of the islands flora. Despite the protection of the World Government there were still people who decided to take the gamble. The high quality wood one could get on Toroa was worth the risk. Not only that.... They were other plants on this island that would fetch a hefty price on the black market. It was for exactly this reason that a group of loggers was making it's way trough the forest.

Thick clouds of smoke escaped from the lips of a tall well dressed man. His straight blond hair was covered by the black fedora on his head, he wore a black suit with a white undershirt. A black tie finished the man's attire. The man's face was sharp, shaved, his dark brown eyes stern. He tabbed the cigar in his fingers with his index finger to rid the item of it's burned tip before he stuck it back in his mouth. The man supervising the entire operation was clearly not intending to get his hands dirty himself. He had paid his dues, others worked for him now. He was merely here to keep everything in check. His hands rose up to tighten the knot on his black tie as he turned to look at a the man next to him holding a large map.

"Aye, it won't take long until we've reached our destination foreman, aye. If the lads keep this up we should be there in less then four hours. This forest is harder to get trough then we expected but we'll get there, aye"

The large man spoke up as he lowered the map revealing his almost completely bald head. A single long curl sticking out like an incredible eyesore. A stupid smile spread on the man's face as he folded up the map and shoved it in his pocket roughly. He wore nothing but suspender trousers and a large axe he lazily draped over his shoulder. The muscular man stepped forward while the foreman twitched. The single curl bouncing on the head of his second in command was so annoying....

"Very well.... Keep up the good work men. We'll be out of this place in no time. Once we've reached our goal we'll be swimming in money"

"Really? Can we swim in money? I never thought that was possible... I imagine it's paper money. That seems more plausible then coins. Aye. Me momma will be so happy. Johny-Boy she always told me. Aye. Johny-Boy one day we'll have money, Aye. She told me that boss. Uhu, Aye"

The large man spoke as he turned to the foreman and swung his axe to point towards the east, where his precious momma lived. Ah yes he missed her. The foreman stared at his right hand man. God... Why was this man the most talented logger but also the biggest idiot he had ever met? He groaned rubbing the bridge of his nose in mild annoyance as he stepped forward walking over the planks laid out for him. Anything to avoid getting his suit dirty. While he walked over the planks he watched his men tear down tree after tree and put them on the machines they had brought. Just a few more hours before he would become so filthy rich...
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Kyto
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Shempa watched as Spike observed the Glowshroom. He smiled to see such a young man fascinated by the beauty of nature. It was a rare thing to see among his generation. Not so much the young ones on this island, but the outsiders. The more Shempa got to know about Spike the more he liked him. After learning about what was happening on the island though, it seemed Spike was curious to know what steps were going to be taken. The young man's words were filled with passion as he seemed eager to help the tribe now. All three men seemed to have different reactions to Spike's offer to help. Omacha remained to keep his calm composure as he folded his arms. While he was interested in Spike's enthusiasm he knew that Shempa's decision was all that mattered. Gorshu on the other hand had a smirk on his face. It seemed that he owed Spike an apology. This guy was willing to take action, much like Gorshu. Hopefully since Shempa seemed so interested in this outsider he would agree on making a move. Still, even he knew that nothing could happen until Shempa made a choice. Both Omacha and Gorshu looked over to the village elder and awaited his response.

Shempa's smile faded as he let out a sigh. "While I apperciate your willingness to aid our tribe, I can't. They have done some damage to the forests of this island. Even so, there must still be a chance for both sides to reach peaceful terms." Having reached his limit with this mindset Gorshu slammed his fist down on the ground. "That isn't the case anymore Shempa! These Loggers have destroyed not only sections of the forest but the homes of other tribes! Sitting down to a cup of ginseng tea and kindly asking them to leave won't work." Gorshu pointed to Spike while still looking at Shempa. "An outsider willing to help us comes and your still clinging to the ideal that we can talk this out? Why Shemp?!" The village elder looked to Gorshu, his happy aura replaced with a stern look. "I'm sorry Gorshu, but aside from you there are not many in the tribe that can fight well. Though Spike has offered assistance, I am not willing to risk a stranger's life to fix our problems. Besides..." Shempa paused while he turned to look at the Glowshroom in the pot. "While losing the Glowshrooms would be tragic for our people. I believe losing one of our own would be equally so." Lifting his head to look at Spike his cheerful smile came back as he chuckled. "Thank you very much for wanting to help Spike, but until I believe we have absolutely no more options left I will stick to trying to reach out to these Loggers to stop."
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Crunchy

Spike stared at the glowshroom while he listened to what Shempa had to say. The vibrant green glow coming from within the pot entranced him while he sat there, deep in thought. After a moment, he looked up and around the room at the three wise men of the village. Omacha sitting there in his quiet contemplation. Gorshu's look of disdain for Spike had been replaced by something different. Could that be trust? Respect? Spike couldn't be sure, but he was definately feeling a much friendlier vibe from Gorshu than he had when he first walked into the hut. And then there was Shempa. This warm old man, who had put his trust in Spike so quickly, who cared so much about his tribe that he was willing to accept the possibility they might lose their sacred grounds to these loggers. Spike wasn't about to let that happen. He cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Well, if that's how you'd prefer to do things, I'm not about to ask your tribe to go against your wishes." Spike said, taking a breath before he continued. He really hoped what he was about to say wouldn't get him locked up in a cage or something. "It seems to me though, that I may be of use to you. I look like an outsider, but I feel the same as you do about the destruction these loggers are causing. You've welcomed me to your village, but I'm clearly not a member of your tribe. So unless you're going to lock me up, I think I'm going to pay a visit to these loggers." Spike turned and walked out of the hut. He briefly noted that Jombo had left his position blocking the door at some time while Spike was talking to the three tribe elders.

As he began to walk away, Spike suddenly felt his feet catch as he fell to the ground. He looked down to see his feet tangled up in his own whip. Maybe Jombo had listened to more of the conversation than Spike had realized, he had seemed pretty fired up when he caught Spike in the woods. Whatever the case, he had returned Spike's whip to him. Then a thought struck Spike so hard, he smacked himself on the forehead. "Well, there goes my dramatic exit." He untangled the whip from his feet and ducked his head back into the hut. "Umm, could someone point me towards the loggers camp?"
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Kyto
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At first is sounded like Spike understood the situation. More importantly it sounded like he understood that Shempa did not want to resort to violence. Even so, he seemed determined to put an end to these loggers. Shempa looked worried but still smiled at Spike. He was not a part of the Rainbow Light Tribe, which meant their rules did not apply to him. In fact, this entire situation did not apply to the young man. Yet he was eager to confront the loggers and put an end to this. Seeing someone care so much for the natural world made Shempa very happy. "Grohoho! I have no intention of locking you up Spike. It would be a sin to imprison someone with a spirit as youthful as mine!" While Shempa chuckled both Gorshu and Omacha sighed, not saying a word. "I only wish you that whatever you do, be careful. There is no reason a fine young man like yourself should face death for our concerns."

The three elders watched Spike exit the Hut, only to trip on his whip. The trio sweatdropped at the sight before pretending that they didn't see a thing. When Spike poked his head back into the hut all three men pointed to the west to where the Loggers would be. Once Spike was out of ear shot Shempa looked to Gorshu. "I hate to do this Gorshu, but can keep an eye on him? I would never forgive myself if an outsider were to be harmed because of our problems." Gorshu looked out the hut and smirked before speaking. "That shouldn't be a problem, I'll have a team keep a close eye on him." While Gorshu exited the Hut Shempa chuckled. "My word, all this excitement has done a number to my youthful spirit. It seems I need to take nap to recharge it." While Shempa walked over to his bed Omacha stood there with a sweatdrop over his head. "...Its because your old..." As Spike made his way to the Logger's camp two of the Rainbow Light guards trailed behind him. Gorshu's men were good at tracking creatures in the forest and this was an example of that skill. They would keep a close eye on the Botanist, only jumping in if he found himself in a tight spot.
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Crunchy

Spike headed west, completely oblivious that anyone was following him. As he walked further from the camp, Spike let his mind wander to that interesting plant he had been shown earlier today. "Glowshrooms, huh? When I get back, I'll have to ask the old man for a sample." Spike let his thoughts drift around as he walked, his feet on autopilot, until he began to hear sounds in the distance that made his blood boil. A loud cracking sound, and Spike could see a tree fall, not too far ahead in the distance. That crack seemed to be the signal for all the other sounds of men to reappear after the quiet of the forest.

Spike almost walked right into the clearing the loggers were making, before realizing that he might be better off taking a look at this operation first. He found a nearby tree that he could climb without difficulty, and scurried up to get a better view of the loggers. It appeared that they were cutting a straight path through the forest, and they were still coming, hard. Spike looked at the incision these people had made in this forest, and thought back to what the old men had told him. He couldn't waste any more time. He climbed down the tree and walked straight at the loggers. Hopefully he could talk some sense into these people, but if they wouldn't listen, that just meant he would have to do things the hard way. Although seeing what these men were doing to the forest, the hard way might also be the fun way. Spike took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing." He thought, as the first of the loggers began to notice him and point him out to the others. "HEY! WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE? WE NEED TO TALK!"
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Tora
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The sudden interruption came as a surprise to some of the loggers. The others didn't actually seem to hear Spike due to the noise they were making. Among the loggers that did hear Spike were the Foreman and his right hand man Johny Boy. The cigar smoking sooth man turned to look at the arrival of the outsider. A blond brow quirking in curiosity. This guy looked slightly out of place, he was pretty sure he wasn't one of the islands native people, he dressed way to different for that. The blond haired nature destroyer slowly turned his attention back to the path in front of him.

"Johny Boy. Take care of this"

"Aye, Yup, Uhu!!"

The burly muscular man spoke turning to face Spike. His thick fingers curled around his suspenders as he started jogging towards Spike looking insanely ridiculous as he did so. The single long curl on his bald head bouncing along like a very loose spring. He came to a stop next to Spike, his hand uncurling from his large axe as he stuck it out towards the young man. The metal tool fell to the ground behind him landing with a very loud thud.

"Aye, my names Johny Boy. Yup, Uhu. I'm not the one in charge, aye. Euhm.... I think I could be if the foreman died. Yup, Uhu. But that's not happening. Aye. At least not for the time being. Yup. Aye, anyway, how can I help you?"

The foreman glanced over his shoulder sweat dropping at the mans statement. Wait... What the flying.... Had Johny Boy just made a dead threat? Sometimes his right hand man kind of scared him...
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Much thanks and appreciation to those who helped create and flourish the original One Piece Role Playing Game, located here: http://s1.zetaboards.com/One_Piece_RP/index/. It is a fantastic game which, obviously, we have based ours on in the most unobtrusive way possible, with any and all connections and correlations between our sites being nothing more than paid homage and the acceptance of excellent, well-considered ideas. While we here at NA have put a lot of effort into writing up the information for this game, a fair portion of it was borrowed and adapted from the aforementioned game, and so we here can't thank them enough for their hard work, and hope that anyone who ventures into this game checks their's out as well, assuming they have not already. They're a good bunch over there and deserve all the respect in the world for their ventures and creativity.