Jumanji's Creed Welcome to the Jungle
Season 1
Episode 14 Level 4 A Long Time Coming
1 June Year unknown
Diadems camp
Jumanji Valley
The night before passed in a blur, Meeting Diadem was hard enough, but learning from her about Jumanji and what she had experienced was breathtaking, and in many ways it was also nightmare fuel. Diadem had spent a million plus years in that stone. And somehow, thanks to Spyder, survived it all amazingly well enough. But now Spike was wondering other things as dawn broke that morning, namely how long Diadem could have survived strictly on her own.
So as dawn broke, Spike was able to take in the entire campside as a whole to get a feel for it; far as she knew it was pretty well off. For a campsite Diadem had fortified the place carefully. Wood, stone, moss, grasses from the savannah swamps, even mud held everything together nice and tight. The camp itself was well built and even better designed as far as Spike could decern in the predawn light.
Spike saw the layout of the camp had four long chest high walls, with numerous small huts and yurts packed into the walls to make them stronger, there were also four towers, and some of Nigels giudes were manning three of them, Diadem Spike saw, was manning the main tower leading into and out of the camp..
Spike saw that the camp was built primarily of bamboo, grass and stone. Stonework paved the ground in paths at certain areas, while the rest of it fixed other things just fine...ish for the most part at least. Spike found the camp rather plesant. So as the sun was rising Spike stood near the campfire watching the sunrise. Did it always rise that way ?
In Sacremento Spike couldnt remember if the sun rose or not, it was always raining around the Warmoon Palace, Sacremento was shrouded in endless rainfall and storms, however the sun did rise in the east before getting covered up by the storm clouds, and set in the west once past them. Spike never really could recall a clear dry day no matter how hard she tried.
That was where Diadem found Spike "Something wrong ?" she asked her
"Yeah. Everything." Spike replied turning slightly to look at the other woman.
"In what way ?" Diadem asked
"Everything, This entire place is wrong. I lost a life yesterday, I dont remember how" Spike said, Jumanji had that benefit, when Mark and Spike had made up the day before on whose fault it was of her death, Spikes memory of the vine trying to eat and kill her at once was forgotten entirely
"Jumanji does that, unless we want to remember how we died, it lets us forget entirely how and why we died." Diadem showed Spike the remaining lines she was down to. There was one left. "Each time I died I chose to remember how, so I could learn from it. I died eight different ways until Spyder helped me out. Havent died since, gotten sick, and injured, but never died since"
"When was your last death ?" Spike asked her
"In your time keeping, almost two hundred years ago, when Spyder returned to Arendelle" Diadem said
"Speaking of our mutual demoness, how did you two meet ?" Spike asked
"I found her actually, she was just hatched and really scared of everything around her, a kid at the time really. But once my mother let me take her in as a family friend and raised her, made sure she was healthy, that kind of thing. It worked out in the end. I rose up the ranks to becoming a member of the Arendelle Guards, and soon became the Guard Commander, but, the council didnt like me, Queen Pax's husband hated me. So against her wishes she made me commander of the army and pretty much banished me from Arendelle as a whole" Diadem said remembering the past as much as she wanted to entirely forget it over all
"And Spyder ?" Spike asked
"Spyder went with me, she refused to remain where I wasnt. We were that close" Diadem smiled remembering how she and Spyder found Jumanji that first time, and Spyder recognised it as a relic of Arcadia.
Spike nodded, then asked "How did you end up here ?"
"Spyder and I were clearing out a Eshu area, eshu worshippers, you name it, we casme across a old vault, we heard drumming noises and chose to find out what was making it. Boy were we stupid" Diadem said. As she spoke Spike let her mind briefly wander and envision as Diadem said it to her. "We found the gemstone, in the chamber was writing on the walls in various languages, runes mostly, warning of Jumanji and the daqngers it held. But rather than let Pax risk getting sucked in, I named Spyder my second in the army and let myself get sucked into here. So here I am. Imagine my shock when Spyder showed up about a week later with Jalen"
"So Spyder is older than a hundred and fifty three ?" Spike said
"What ?" Diadem asked giving Spike a confused look
"Spyder said she was a hundred and fifty three years old, But we could swear she didnt, does not, look a day over twenty seven.. How can she really be over a million years old ?" Spike wondered
Diadem smirked "Spyder was a hundred and fifty three when she cast the time spell on her self, I myself am twenty seven which then allowed her to be my age in terms of appearance,"
Spike smirked. It sounded sensible. "Spyder mentioned that to do the time spoell on herself she had to sacrifice a life, but she hasnt died since she died in Arendelle. How is it you're still alive after all this time, shouldnt your lives have been used up by now ?" Spike asked
Diadem only smiled "That is for me to know, and Spydder to teach you when the time is right" She said before turning towards the fire. "Ready for breakfast ? The scouts will give their report of their findings during it." Spike nodded and let Diadem spear her some food easily
Sitting down on a tree stump Spike ate as some scouts arrived as Diadem had said, she always sent scouts out the night before, and they returned first light. Then she'd send out more and they'd return by dark. So Spike simply watched and listened as the scouts gave their report to Diadem
"What can you give us ?" Diadem asked
"The Eshu set up camp about a klick north of here, a good legion of them too, possibly more, we bugged out once we got a size of their camp." A scout said
"Troop types ?" Diadem ordered
"Primarily soldiers, there were however a handful of Jaegers and better, but mostly soldiers and snipers, maybe a few scouts and officers." the reply came
Diadem sighed. "They havent found us yet, always within a kilometer however. Fine, get to the barracks for food and rest, you earned it, You two, scout the eshu camp and bering me back hard numbers. You have until sunset" Diadem said the two scouts nodded and took their leave.
"Eshu ?" Mark said as he came from the hutt that Diadem let him use. It wasnt the most comfortable sleep he'd had in a long time, but by fuck he slept like a dead rock when he could.
"Our mutual enemy is getting close, but not too close" Spike replied offeribng to Mark a wheel of cheese and a leg of mutton for breakfast. There wasnt any milk so they had to make do as best they could with ale. "Diadem alaso said something of Spyder teaching her something of a sort to survive Jumanji, did you know shes down to her last life for the last two hundred years ?"
Mark smirked, "And she doesnt look a day over twenty seven either huh ? Just like Spyder"
Spike looked at him, yeah, just like Spyder. "Where you overhearing my chat with your ancestor this morning ?" She asked him.
Mark half smiled but nodded "Force of habit. It is hard not to" He admitted. Spike smirked.
"You are forgiven. Now I think you are wondering why I havent asked you for your thoughts on the matter just yet." Spike said
Mark smirked "You didnt ask, so I will normally not tell them, but since you might beat it out of me anyhow I will tell you. Diadem learned the Time Spell from Spyder, and did it on herself, Or she found something else with Spyders help in order to survive this long in the first place"
Spike raised an eyebrow. "Cheat codes ?" She asked
"Possible, the whole idea of Jumanji is extreme danger and peril" Mark replied
"Right, so cheatcodes, like immortal or the like, no weaknesses for example" Spike mused. Mark nodded along, a moment or two of quiet and Spike mused aloud. "I wonder how many Eshu are in that camp and if we can fight them"
"I wonder." Mark said around a mouthful of cheese. "How the fuck Elsa got in here with us, and even sought out Nigel for his help as a guide. Elsa is dead, has been a month and a half back home. How the fuck is she here and alive ? Does she remember she was once a queen. Or is it just a copy the gem made ?"
Questions Spike had no answers to, but questions nevertheless. However it was well past noon when the scouts returned with their numbers, the Eshu worked quickly with prefab structures. And the troops numbered a good few hundred. But Elsa was not among them
It was good then that Elsa wasnt present. Spike felt a sigh of relief from Mark at that bit of news, and smiled herself as Diadem called the group to a model and they got busy with the camp design and work to work with
"How many officers, scouts, grenadiers, Jaegers and commanders are there ?" Diadem asked the scouts
"One commander, in the center, here." The scout replied
"And Jaegers ?" Spike asked
"One per Platoon" came the reply
"That's a lot of Jaegers" Mark said, "We cant fight them one on one"
Spike agreed, "too many Jaegers to fight, even at our best we cant take them all." She said
"Unless we lure them into traps, they begin patrols soon" the scout reported.
What kind of patrols are we talking here ?" Mark asked as Diamond and Miao soon joined them, Miao chowing down on a leg of goat while Diamond was scarfing down a wheel of eriadaier cheese. "How many men to a patrol, and then how many patrols ?"
"A patrol consists of eight men, one of them an officer, also a Jaeger, then a scout, the rest of footsoldiers with one snitch" Came the reply
Spike started planning it out in her head "Take out the snitch, then the Jaeger, officer and scout, elaves four soldiers left ?" The scout nodded, Spike smiled, already an idea forming in her head. "Perfect, where do the patrols go, what are their routes ?"
Another map formed, this time of the surrounding area, "Most of the patrols are on well set paths and routes, the soldiers simply patrol these areas to ensure their territory is indeed theirs. Some of the patrols consist strictly of hunters to supply the Eshu with food." said another scout
"So we lay traps and ambushes for the patrols, aim first to take down the Jaeger and officer, then aim for the snitch, if you're lucky, take out the snitch first. It seems easy sure, but honestly it doesnt feel that way." Mark said
Spike shook her head. "We're going tohave to do this block by block. However, each patrol we take down we need to replace with our own men, in order to patrol our own zone, keep other enemies from taking what we took, we'll have tosupply men, weapons, food, camping gear..."
"All doable considering that Jumanji to some of us is a game, but to most of us is a mythical magical place where the lays of reality arent around." Diadem said. "Nigel, you spoke with him, when I first came here he wasnt around, then he showed up and helped me out of a jam after I died a few times." Diadem said.
"So what do we do ? We cant just sneak in and our, the Eshu know who t olook for." Diamond said now knowing just what the meeting was about as Miao simply was heard inhaling the leg of goat
"For now we make our own patrols, take down the Eshu patrols and put ours in their place. Do not go too close to the Eshu camp for now, not unmtil the majority of their patrols are eliminated." Spike said. It was a good plan, possibly the best that they could come up with now that Spike really thought about it
"Right, until then finish lunch and get the men ready afterwards, sounds like a plan to me" Mark said. Spike just gave him a dirty look. Why she couldnt throw her own brother out of a plane at nine miles without a parachute was beyond her at that moment. But she kept her mouth shut for the time being.
But then it was Miao of all people who asked Diadem. "How many men do we even have ?"
Diadem smirked, as much as she dreaded that question she knew the answer and it was actually a good one. "I'd say a fair amount, but the exact numbers I dont know for sure, but its enough to cover in terms of patrols to whittle down our mutual enemies forces until we make the move on their base directly" Diadem said.
"Do explain" Mark said, "no offense intended but I lost a friend to the Eshu leader in a horrifiying way, I dont want to lose anymore to her"
Diadem knew what her decendant meant and simply nodded. "The Eshu have eight man patrols, we however will only have six man patrols. Each man will have the added technology of radios to keep in touch with everyone else and the hologram map will be updated in real time for patrol routs and movements for all patrols with at least ten patrols of men here to guard camp directly" Diadem said
"Are there any ruins in this area ?" Spike asked, already wanting to explore a dungeon of some form. Something, anything. Didnt matter to Spike, as long as she got to explore.
"Yes" Diadem said. "Directly under our camp is a ruin, I havent found the door yet, but my scouts keep looking."
"Have you tried digging ? Or is it too far ?" Diadem asked, if only she could access her dragon abilites and able to magically move shit around, much less getr that lost life back.
Diadem shook her head "We dug down a good four meters, never found any caverns or caves." She said "So we built the base ontop of those holes we dug, to ensure the security and structure integrity of the space"
It made sense. Spike nodded. But again it was Diamond to speak "If only I had access to my dragon abiliteis I could find the entry"
"It is a possiblity that its long destroyed, or in an entirely different area" Diadem replied, thought she was curious, dragon ?
"Alright, we have our jobs, we ready for dinner and train the men, Diadem, you man the map. Mark and I will find a few patrols with some of the groups. Miao, I want you to take stock of our supplies here, Have a scout help you out on that front. Diamond, You got scout duty. Remember the radio channel. I want you to spy on the Eshu camp and find the commander, when you find the commander I want to you paint them for me." Spike said giving orders, Everyone listened, for once Spike chose to live with the fact she was a leader in Jumanji
Spike and Mark took a moment to look over the group before them. They each chose eight different men and headed off towards two differnet patrols, each man was armed with a sword, a crossbow or long bow, and a pair of tanto knives. Each man was also clothed in Spikes colors it seemed, deep green with a belt of lavender blue. It looked nice enough she mused thoughtfully
But Spike didnt dwell on it for long. She was more focused on keeping the zone Diadem had taken and slowly expanding it, and with Diamond running overhead watch allowed just that. "Patrol route sighted, following route sounds of a drummer for ambush point" Mark said a good half hour into the patrol job.
Spike smirked, her patrol was waiting in ambush for their patrol route just coming into view. Spike of course waited until the patrol went halfway across their zone of ambush before making herself known. Dropping from the tree, the Eshu never looked up, apparently they never thought an ambush would come from above of all places either.
But it didnt matter to her, Spike's sights were locked on the Jaeger directly. And attacking him was going to be the main issue. Spike drew a sword and a gun. Dropping onto the guy he seemed to expect her to fall onto him.
A rapid exchange and the whole patrol crumbled as the officer fell like a dead rock from a gunshot as Spike went toe to toe with the Jaeger leading the group, the snitch had nowhere to go either.
Spike caught the Jaegers swing and punched the guy in the face, she backtracked fast as he came at her swinging madly quickly grabbing up her sword she fought back sword to sword with the guy, fast and furious, it felt great honestly. Good way to get some combat in.
Pushing with equasl strength the two fighters kicked up dust, it was clear Spike was on even ground as well as the jaeger kept up the fight, Finally Spike span on her feet and with a flourish the Jaeger fell over dead as a BANG rang out, the barrel of Spikes pistol smoked. The rest of ther patrol was destroyed by her men. They watched her. And cheered when she stood up, the Jaeger dead. "You know your route and the radio number, report it in."
The men nodded and did just that as Spike took to the sky slightly and flew close to the ground as quickly as she could to get basck to camp to take out another patrol to set up their patrols
Mark of course was whaling away at another Jaeger, in this case two, Marks axe swung in two different directions, easily taking down the targets one after the other. Well, there were two grenadiers in ther group and one of them hauled back to swing and Mark rolled out of the way. Moving fast Mark usxed his axe to bring down the grenadier and grabbed up the Jager whe nthe rest of the patrol formed a firing line.
One Jager down, one grenadier down, and a pair let Mark whaled at both in a brutal dance to the death. The Jager caught the axe in the chest and stumbled back, Mark le go of the weapon and drew one of his swords, easily slivcing open the guys chest, the body fell over dead and Mark went to town on the next guy in line
Ducking a wild shot Mark grabbed the last grenadier as his patrol waited for him to kill the guy, the firing swuad of the two patrols fired dead on. Killing the remaining grenadier, as the body fell the rest of the patrol quicklyfell to the ambushing soldiers under Marks command. "Key it in, I'm going to get another patrol set up" Mark said, the leader nodded
Mark turned and let, he saw Spike not far away flying close to the ground. Smart move, faster way to get back to camp, Try as he might Mark was unable to use a transport array to get back to camp faster. But it didnt matter as soon as he got back to camp to get another patrol Diamonds report was coming in.
Spike was at the map area looking it over. "Where is the leader ? Have you found them ?" Spike asked on the radio
"Yup, looking right at them now, they're at the riverside, bathing." Diamond said
"For a woman like you to peep on a guy" Spyder spoke up, however it was good that they had the leader of this sorry bunch now in their line of sight. Spike sushed her
"The leader is female" Diamonds voice said
"Did you paint her ?" Spike asked
"I did" Diamond replied
"Alright, fall back to camp." Spike said "We'll send out more patrols tonight and tomorrow we'll worry about other areas and who knows, we might attack the Eshu in secret raids in various areas" Spike said
"Copy that, anything else ?" Diamomd said
"Pick up a pizza if you're able" Spike said
"Pizza in Jumanji ? What am I ? A miracle worker ?" Diamond replied
"So I wont get my pizza, fuck it, pull back to camp" Spike said before getting off the radio. Mark simply smirked, their plan was working out great, Howefver none knew what the next day would bring, but Mark looked on the bright side, none of them died again.