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This time I follow along and I will open both Star Falls. The only thing I can think of as a reason for the announcement and it being a new colour, is that I basically conquered another faction by oath bounding their leader Seyrla, and then letting her keep that power and stay in command. Considering the damn alien bastards are just that, and what seems to be their plan for us in this world, I fear what that yellow Star Fall will be. What it will make others do to get it if they learn of it. Just that skill is damn useful, and Reiley didn't come along just so we could try it. I'll probably have to try it on Xuela when she have flown far away to test range. The fact that only oath bounds can be granted the ability to talk back, means I really don't want anyone to oath bound themselves just to get that ability. Being given a red Star Fall just because I've got four oath bound is bad enough. I think that is why I got it.
Both Star Falls lay just a few meter from each other, and the yellow Star Fall looks just like the others. Yeah, the damn alien bastard absolutely control where they land. Before I cut it open I take a photo to show Reiley. There are two big green packages and a bunch of large white, but just one yellow and it is small. Plus a damn sword and a shield. I have them come forward and stuff the packages down into the rucksacks before I open the red Star Fall, which have far less items. Eight long arrows, eight bolts, another machete, two small red packages and a couple of white. The wind is blowing and I'm downwind, so before we hurry back I cover my mouth and whisper very quietly:
"Spirit Message to Reiley; I love you, and beside a sword and shield, the yellow Star Fall contained one yellow, and several white and green packages."
"Spirit Message delivered."
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As soon as I see Reiley she sign 'Heard', and as the other hurries into the community hut, we momentarily stay outside and Reiley whispers:
"I heard 'Message from Arne Svensson; I love you, and beside a sword and shield, the yellow Star Fall contained one yellow, and several white and green packages. Except the announcement, it sounded like your voice."
We're all curious about the yellow package, but I have decided to open it when I am alone. It might be best that as few as possible know what a yellow Star Fall actually mean, and although most are curious as hell, they agree that it might be for the best. The sword and shield attract attention and they are obviously for me and seems very good. The shield is in our camouflage with my name written at the top, but I will suck in using it and the sword. A knife, machete or an axe is multi-purpose, and a spear, bow or crossbow can be used to hunt, but a sword? A sword is for fighting against other people. Yes, I get the hint. We all do. Damn alien bastard.
Then it comes to the red Star Fall, another machete just like the ones we got a couple of weeks ago will be very useful. The eight bolts are obviously for my crossbows, and the eight arrows are sized for Koru's bow, so they're too are obvious and appreciated. We open one of the small red packages and it contains eight metal throwing tooth's so there isn't any discussion, and Kima does that 'happy happy, joy' dance after I give it to her. The other small red package is a plastic like box with internal dividers and the content just confuse me. Rounded metallic cylinders. Wrapped packages. Small metallic things. It hit me just as Queral ask:
"Lord Arne, is that bullets?"
I close the lid. Yeah. That is sixteen old school bullets with likely gunpowder and priming caps I assume will fit the revolver Seyrla have. Now the timing and content in the red Star Fall makes sense. It's extra ranged weapons ammo for me and the people oath bound to me. That machete is not just a good tool. It is also a large weapon for a small person, and for my only oath bound that lacks a good weapon. The damn alien bastard really want oath bounds to go to war. If Queral still had her pistol, would there have been bullets for that too? Shit. That could have been useful. And bad if some other assholes slave have a firearm. Best to not call attention to this more than I've already have. Several in our group might not really know what firearms are as I've just shown them that first double barreled gun and Queral's pistol, and told they're dangerous crossbow like weapons that makes a loud bang. But I can just imagine how many different and aliens designs they might have so it's hard to give good information. Since especially Xuela needs to know how to avoid getting shot, I've basically told them to assume any weird thing held in hands and pointed or aimed is a weapon, especially if it have one or more metal tubes. There might be airguns or just spring loaded weapons too. I change subject as I put the box away and look closer on the white packages.
The first white package from the red Star Fall turns out to have boots, in hilarious size differences. There is no discussion about who they're intended for, so Queral and Koru gets their pairs. It's a bit weird they're singled out again, but as we think about it they're oath bound and me and Reiley have boots similar to these, while Xuela, Bokyli, Vekalie and Kima doesn't wear shoes, and Nilma might be 'too new' to get something.
The second white package is four bandolier-belt kits in our camouflage pattern, ie wide belts with a few different sized pouches for carrying stuff around in. It's the same models as the one we looted. Nice bit of kit, and seems fairly common. I'll probably remove the pouches from one belt to get more pouches for the other belts or our coveralls. The first mismatched belt might as well be given to Koru, but not today.
The large white from the yellow Star Fall packages have a small tag with a different figure on each package, and it's quickly obvious those figures are exaggerated silhouettes of us. There is even a distinction between Reiley and Nilma due to hair styles, and between Bokyli and Vekalie since one silhouette got boobs, which amuse Bokyli and makes her proud. She like her boobs and even more so since they have become erogenous, and honestly? So do I. They make her look more womanly and feel nice. As we start to open packages, we find good clothes for everyone. My clothes are a very nice pair of cargo pants and what feel like two comfortable long armed shirts, and two pair of underwear and socks. I'm happy and most are very happy, with Xuela ecstatic and crying. Xuela's jubilant joy and Kima making another cute happy dance for her weird dress and arm braces, means it takes a while for me to realise there is one package left, with 'clothes' that Bokyli is holding and wonder about, while Reiley examine a new pair of black stiletto heels. Those damn alien bastard. That figure is obviously Seyrla, but how I am suppose to explain bondage cuffs with hand wraps for wrists and ankles, a slave collar with a leash and some kind of pipe like gag to hold the mouth open, or the small whip? There is even a special harness that might be for Seyrla's wings, and some strappy thing that might be for her body. In the end I just quickly wrap it up saying it's a joke from the DAB's on my expense, and I bet the DAB's are laughing. Reiley and Bokyli obviously noticed the tag and are so going to want a proper explanation. Although, considering that Bokyli have a devilish smile, I think she guess and like the implication of what clothes Seyrla should wear and how she should be treated. No lingerie for Seyrla. I don't like another indication that Seyrla is part of our group, and the DAB's sure don't care about me trying to keep Seyrla's oath bounding as 'need to know'. At least Nilma's clothing issue is solved, and her package even included some sandal looking shoes. And apparently Queral got a sort of wedge heels too, but no that high, and she is trying them on.
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The green packages contain plastic like green boxes that also have those silhouettes figures on top, plus have another weird water like symbol underneath. Reiley and me got 4 boxes, while Xuela and Bokyli got 3 boxes, and Koru, Kima, Vekalie, Queral and Nilma got 2 boxes, while Seyrla gets one, although in the slight confusion with all the other boxes, I manage to hide that box in my rucksack with the rest of mine to not call attention to it. The amount of boxes seems unfair and strange until we realise it basically match with how many weeks we have been here at this camp, plus one box for being part of the team. But, no matter what box, a short side can be snapped open and inside there are oblong bars, although there is a size difference in boxes and bars. Reiley and Bokyli smell the bars and Bokyli gnaws on one, and it clicks for me and others; it is food. We should put a food bar in a bowl of water.
So a bowl is quickly filled and Bokyli drop her gnawed bar in it. The water should probably be warm, but might as well try with cold water. Good to know how it is to eat unheated. I fill another bowl and drop one of my bars in it. The bar starts to fall apart as we stir and poke at it, and sure enough it turns into a soup like meal. Not the most visually appetizing meal, but it taste surprisingly good, and Bokyli say the same. It would be even better warm. They all want to try, and soon they all say the same thing, although our tasted differ when we try a spoon of the others. Different sizes matter since we need different amount of energy, and Koru's bars are largest followed by mine while Queral's are smallest, but there is the same amount of thirtytwo bars in each box. Another power of two number, and the bars are stacked in a two layers of two by eight. This is a lot of meals, and exactly four each day for a week per box. The DAB's might think that is the normal amount of meals you should eat and the energy and nutrition is calculated for that. So basically we have gotten the meals we would have needed since we got here. The truly important thing is that this is food and new food, and food that will keep and be very easy to bring along. For exploration this will be so handy and valuable, and I know the DAB's want us to move around. The boxes will also be useful when they have been emptied. They look quite waterproof when resealed, and it's logical that they are. The food bars will be saved for when we need it, although especially me and Reiley might use the occasional food bar to get some food variety or combine half a bar with real meat or vegetables or something. We have 128 bars each, and might even trade a couple to try each others. I eat up as I am curious about that yellow package.
I hurry over to my hut, and to my bed. I make sure there is no-one watching as I open the yellow package. Well, except the damn alien bastard that I can't do anything about. The package contain a lot of fluffy yellow material, like some kind of packaging to protect what is inside or make it exclusive. In the middle is ... a small oblong yellow stone like thing? A pretty stone but that is it. I turn it around and notice there is a small symbol ... of a mouth eating it? Really? I try to figure out if that symbol can mean anything else but I can't see who. It's meant to be eaten. This can not be good. Why would the DAB's want conquerors and rulers to eat these things? More control over them? Some kind of drug? An addictive drug? Seriously, this can be anything and a lot of it is very bad, and I sure don't trust the DAB's intentions. Sure, I've eaten other stuff and the food bars, but this? Considering how it was given and the voice message? Why should the reward be eaten?
Why?
Eating does makes it one use only.
Actually that makes sense. If it was an important artefact to keep and collect more of, these might be damn desirable to steal and raid. That would make wars and conquest far more likely, but also allow anyone to steal it unless hidden well or guarded. This is weird and very unexpected.
I just lie there on my back and think, and have way too many bad ideas. Why didn't Seyrla get a yellow Star Fall for basically subjugating Shore Cliff camp? Was it because they have a 'trade' going on with information and new people against food and tribute? She doesn't actually rule them or control them. Or have she gotten a yellow and just didn't tell us? Seyrla sure was evasive about most things. I have questions I will order her to answer, but I have to frame it well since she will be suspicious. I look at the yellow bar. In the end I have two choices. Eat it, or not eat it, but that means someone else might. And it is a reward for doing things the DAB's want us to do, given after the accomplishment. So I eat it. Kind of crunchy, but taste sweet and nice. Like some hard candy. Nothing happens as I continue eating it, until it is gone.
"A Taste of Victory eaten. Eat enough and a wish or desire will be fulfilled. Like leaving this world for a more civilized one, or returning home. With company."
Oh, crap.
Damn alien bastards!
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