[Pathfinder] Serpents Skull - IC Thread

[SquirrelKing]

OOC Thread found HERE (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194772).
Rolls Thread found HERE (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194287).


{table=head]Player|Race|Class|Name|Sheet Link|XP
Firebeard|Half-Elf|Witch|Jesek Oldhavia|Char Sheet (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=304261)|710
Blisstake|Half-Orc|Ranger|Harbek|Char Sheet (http://www.dndsheets.net/view.php?id=15573)|935
infoweasel|Human|Inquisitor|Quentin Lovelace|Char Sheet (http://www.dndsheets.net/view.php?id=14494)|885
The White Knight|Human|Cleric|Kel Thurien|Char Sheet (http://www.dndsheets.net/view.php?id=13164)|810
Okuyama|Half-Elf|Soulknife|Tristalt|Char Sheet (http://www.dndsheets.net/view.php?id=19354)|610
[/table]

6 Erastus 4711

For Rydel, Quentin, and Valenor, the Jenivere has almost started to feel like home. They'd been aboard the ship or in a port city biding their time to depart again for a combined time of a little over three months. They'd left in the late days of the month of Pharast (1), and as they've traveled the weather has significantly and noticeably changed, growing more and more humid and increasingly warm until it cannot be described as anything except stiflingly hot. Everyone tends to gather above deck when a good breeze is at hand, for the cabins below get rather warm very quickly during the day. At night, the creaking of the ship, the splashing of the waves, and the constant vertical and horizontal movements of the sea lull everyone to sleep (albeit some more fitfully than others).

On the third day of Erastus (2) of the year 4711, the Jenivere leaves Senghor's port. The passengers and the crew were getting accustomed to the newcomer who boarded there, a man in studded leathers who calls himself Kel. Strange how living is such tight quarters gives you almost a kinship to your neighbors, and introducing another to the mix completely disrupts things. Almost immediately the ritual wagers occur amongst the crew as to when or if the new passenger will succumb to seasickness. Cubby, the youngest crewmember, bets he'll lose his lunch the first day. Lucky and Mac bet the second day. Alton (the first mate) thinks he'll go the whole way without getting sick, and gives Kel a good natured clap on the back before getting back to his duties. Rambar, the cook, thinks he'll make it to the third day, while Tack says the fourth day. The others abstain from the bet, claiming they want to save their money for days at port.

One day into their trip from Senghor (the fourth of Erastus) and finally bound for their last stop in Eleder, a commotion was had beneath deck that night, as a half-orc was found skulking about the kitchens, and only his knocking some pans over due to his unfamiliarity with the lilting of the sea called attention to his presence. The Jenivere had a stowaway. After a few tense moments where the crew sized up the formidable half-orc and guaged whether he'd give them a fight (and Gelik had noticeably brightened at the prospect of watching), the half-orc Harbek surrendered peaceably and was placed in one of the few cells in the brig, and his belongings placed in a crate nearby. He has one cell separating him and the other prisoner, Jask.

Two days after that, on the sixth day of Erastus, around mid-morning the ship starts to bob up and down rather forcefully. Not uncommon at all in this area (indeed, the passengers have experienced at least seven such storms in the last ten days it seems), a storm has begun to brew. Everyone is told to stay below decks, as is the usual protocol under such conditions to prevent anyone from getting hurt, and to prevent the passengers from getting in the crew's way.

In the mess area, currently Gelik, Ishirou, and Sasha are all seated around a table, breaking out a deck of cards to while away the time. From the expression on Ishirou's face, it took some convincing for this to occur and is looking rather uncomfortable sitting at the table. A victorious grin is plastered across Sasha's face as Gelik deals the cards, and looks up at whomever is in the room. "Care for a game? Despite playing it thousands of times. Gods, I can't wait to get to Eleder!"

Sasha laughs, "As much as I love this ship, I can't wait to be off it!" Meanwhile, the seas get a little more rough, and muffled shouts of various commands are heard above deck to fight the increasing winds and waves.


1. Pharast is the third month of the year, similar to March. Also the first month of Spring.
2. Erastus is the seventh month of the year, similar to July. It is the second month of Summer.

Kel, can I get you to roll me four (4) Fort saves for each of the days (the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th days of Erastus). The DCs being 15 for the first day, then 14, 13, and lastly 12 as your body becomes more used to the motions of the sea. Also, to see who, if anyone, wins the bet :smallbiggrin:

At this point, it's all up to you guys. Let's get to know the characters a bit before we move forward, shall we?

[Blisstake]

Some orc I am, Harbek thinks as he looks around his cell again. It was just short enough so that Harbek can't stand up straight to full height, which was why he sat back, leaning against the wall.

Of course, Harbek wasn't really an orc, just half of one. The others in the Shattered Skull Clan made sure that Harbek would never forget that, calling him "the human" or "halfy" at every opportunity they got. Well, they're dead now, so the joke's on them, right?

All of his equipment had been stored in a crate near his cell. He saw the gnome looking at his double axe, and suspects that if given the opportunity, he'd have no problems stealing it and auctioning it off as some orcish relic. Or were halflings supposed to be the greedy ones? Harbek could never remember.

He closes his eyes and hears the boat creak a bit, gliding not so gently across the water. Between the sound of the water and the rowdy crewmembers above him, there was certainly enough noise to prevent him from sleeping with ease. Still; Harbek is thankful things went the way they did. Being alive is good enough for him at the moment.

[Krinn]

Cards, oh memories...
Always up for a game, Gelik. Besides, it's the first time I see Ishirou at the table, so I can't miss this one.
I smile, as I pick my seat around the table.
I have to say, I enjoyed the trip so far, Sasha. After being accustomed to seasickness, that is. It's always welcome to know nice people.

Playing cards is a moment of interaction. I don't enjoy the game itself as much as I enjoy the different emotions it brings to life, it's yet another way to know others.
The game itself is rather easy, once you know others enough to feel how good is their hand by looking in their eyes.

Conceal Thoughts always active on me and regular use of the Inquisitor feat to call any bluff and/or guess how much good is others' hand.
This is how Valenor plays cards or other such games, because he feels natural, nearly instinctive, to play that way.
Cheater? Perhaps, but Valenor doesn't realize if that's even the case, or he wouldn't, to not hurt the feelings of others.

[The White Knight]

Much to the delight of Lucky and Mac, Kel keels over on his second day aboard. His unease continues well into the next day, before finally getting his sea legs today.

While the others are congregated in the mess, Kel takes a stroll down to the brig to visit the stowaway. Under the supervision of a guard, he sits down on a nearby crate and smiles compassionately.

"Hello there. I just thought maybe you'd like someone else to converse with down here," he says implicatively, with a silent nod sideways to the other cell. "Besides, I'm getting a little tired of hearing everyone up there grilling me for losing my lunch the past two days." He chuckles a little. "At least I helped them find some enjoyment. My name is Kel. What may I call you?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek tilted his head at the human speaking, a bit confused. Maybe he was talking to someone else? No that didn't seem right... the half-orc cleared his throat before responding, "My name is Harbek. Why they steal your lunch?"

He's not familiar with the colloquialism "lose your lunch." He thinks someone actually took it :smallsmile:

[SquirrelKing]

In the cell closest to the door, you heard a soft chuckle come from the other prisoner, the Garundi man. He's leaning against the back of his cell, his long, messy graying black hair half-hiding his face. His hands are behind his back, and his head is bowed forward slightly.

The "guard" in the room is one of the older crewmembers, Quinn. He spits on the floor, eyeing the dark-skinned man with distaste. "Quiet, murderer! Cap'n's too nice to ya, I say. I'd'a let ya rot 'n starve!" The only response to this is a resigned sigh from Jask, which elicits a mean, satisfied grin from Quinn.

The both takes a sudden lurch, and everyone is tossed to the side violently, and then in the other direction just as violently as the ship must've crested a massive wave. Quinn picks himself off of the floor just in time to see the youth, Cubby come running in, soaked to the bone. "Quinn, yer needed on deck! We're in the middle of a good one! They ain't goin' nowheres anyway." Then, Cubby's eyes turn to Kel briefly, with a nod. "Sir." With that, Cubby and Quinn stumble and race out of the room back up-deck, leaving everyone else in the brig alone.

*****

Meanwhile, in the mess, Sasha responds to Valenor with a wide smile, "And it's nice to see you finally coming outta your shell! Oh, you'll be playing too!? Excellent!" She claps happily, eliciting a roll of the eyes from Gelik, who begins to deal out the cards.

They had just barely been dealt and little time to sort through them in your hands when the sudden lurch occurred, tossing most of the inhabitants to the floor, with the exception of Ishirou who stood suddenly and grabbed a rafter just as before the lurching began. He'd barely had time to yell to everyone else, "Brace! We're climbing!" when it all happened.

Sasha and Gelik both let out a similarly high-pitched shriek before they were tossed to the floor, their cards flying out of their hands.


I need Reflex saves from everyone, including Kel, please. The DC is 15 to keep from being tossed to the floor.

[Blisstake]

[roll0]

Natural 1! Woohoo! Should have been +4, but I doubt that matters.

[SquirrelKing]

Harbek is definitely not accustomed to the strange motions of the sea, especially during a nasty squall. Amidst trying to stand and stretch, the half-orc is thrown violently around in his cell. While he takes no physical damage from it, his arms bang painfully into the bars of the cell as he lifts them to try to catch himself. Finally, he ends up prone on the floor.

Jask, being that he was already on the floor, simply got tossed around the floor of his own cell. The two of you see that his hands are manacled behind his back, and is having troubles picking himself up from the floor. He spits a little bit of blood to the floor, and curses lightly.

Perception 13

If you made the check, you hear that he curses in a different language.
Polyglot

Rovagug's balls!

[The White Knight]

Reflex: [roll0]
Perception: [roll1]

[Blisstake]

Perception: [roll0]

Harbek groans and looks at his arm. It looks like it might form a nasty bruise. He's had worse injuries of course, but he still prefers not-hurt to hurt.

[Krinn]

Reflex save as asked in #6
[roll0]
I doubt that I can use the resistance ability since I guess that I'm caught by surprise and thus sholdn't be able to take immediate actions, so I'm not counting the bonus.
If I am allowed to use the resistance ability, let it apply with the glowing eyes thing (-1 power point, +4 racial bonus to saves until my next action). Being the single special ability I didn't discover already (never had to do any instinctive saving throws till now), it's well explanable as an instinct and should be a quite dramatical and amusing way to let others realize that I am not just a farmer.

Also perception check as asked in #8
[roll1]

On a separate topic, I'm delaying all background events by 4 years each to match the leaving date, hope that's not a problem.

[infoweasel]

Reflex
[roll0]

Quentin, a little late on his way to the game after having stopped in the head, makes a not-so-grand entrance by being pitched forward into the room from where he was in the doorway, sprawling on his chest and letting out a loud gasp as the wind is knocked out of him.

Dusting off simple leather breeches and light tunic, he manages to pick himself up off the floor without any further embarrassment, offering a hand up to anyone who may still be laid out.

"Well," he says with a light grunt as he regains his feet, "I'll second that, Gelik, especially with this weather. Deal me in?"

Assisting in retrieving the spilled cards, he greets everyone in turn, being familiar enough a face among the more conversationally-minded of the passengers. "Valenor, Sasha...and Ishirou! Nice of you to finally join us! We...well, I promise to not take too many of your coins at first."

[SquirrelKing]

"Oh, that's just great!" Gelik grumbles as he picks up some cards that landed in the contents of spilled drinks from the sudden lurching, shaking them to fling the liquid off. As if on cue, Sasha laughs heartily, as she does at nearly everything, though at what you're not sure: her stained shirt from the flying drinks, picking herself up from the floor, Ishirou very bashfully offering his hand as she does, or Gelik's grousing and muttering.

Gelik seems to think it's the latter, and glares daggers at her, ignoring Quentin's introduction. "Careful Ishirou. You might get a touch of the crazy from that one." Ishirou apparently seems to be fine with taking his chances, and gives her a hand up, blushing profusely as he does. Whether Sasha heard Gelik or not, one can't tell, as she continues to laugh merrily at the Tian man.

"Oh, he's a gentleman, is he!? My hero!" She inclines her head to Gelik, "Never mind that one. He doesn't know that the ladies like gentlemen such as you, Valenor, and Quentin." This just further deepens the scowl on Gelik's face and the blush on Ishirou's, while Sasha all the while grins broadly, almost manically. Ishirou turns hastily in the other direction and busies himself with helping Valenor from the floor. "Careful. The seas are an untamed beauty."

"Well, if this isn't pleasant.." comes another voice from the door. Swivelling your head, you see the rarely seen half-elf Aerys in her typical black leathers and tricorn hat, standing in the doorway with obvious ease despite the rolling waves and holding a mug in her hand. Her face is a mixture of mild amusement and something else. "Oh no, don't mind me. Don't stop on my account. I'm just thirsty." She settles into a seat at another table after grabbing a bottle of grog and pouring some into her mug. Quietly, she mutters something in a different language than Common.

Perception 10

Elven

"Untamed beauty... Yes. Very much so."

Sasha turns to Quentin as everyone's settled back in their chairs. "So, what makes you think I won't steal all your coin this time? I'm due!" And once again, laughs pleasantly.

*******
In the brig...

The other prisoner, Jask, finally rights himself and sits on the bench that also serves as the bed. As a result, he's facing away from the others, since the bench/bed is on the side of the cell facing the others. With a deep sigh, he leans back and rests his head on the bars behind him. Without turning, he speaks in Common above the creaking and groaning of the ship and howling of the winds above, albeit his dialect is somewhat heavily accented.

"What is that necklace? Looks Mwangi in origin."

[Krinn]

Sasha does seem crazier than expected...

Valenor grabs hold of Ishirou's arm and stands up on his feet, dusting off his pants.
"Thanks, Ishirou. I wonder if these powerful lurchs are common here, I might start to be accustomed."

He picks up his chair from the floor and sits at the table with the others, while listening at Aerys's comments.
Oooh, the Ice Queen below deck. I wonder if anything could make her fraternize with anyone... maybe with this storm and the grog, it's worth a shot.
With a smile, Valenor casually addresses her while waiting for the cards.
"Mind to join for a game, Aerys? I bet a mug of grog that you'll like it."

Diplomacy, maybe?
[roll0]

[SquirrelKing]

Ishirou nods, and is about to reply to Valenor's question when Aerys' voice interrupts. "Aye, it's perfectly normal around here. You have the Eye of Abendego, though it's far away, mucking up the weather around here and the Phelden Line...ahh, that's the undercurrent mixing the waters here, and the thrice-damned heat and humidity, and you have y'self a nice volatile set of waters." She chuckles to herself, as Ishirou is simply agog, his mouth hanging half-open for a moment before he catches himself and shuts it. None the wiser, Aerys continues with obvious reverence, "They're beautiful...but make no mistake deadly waters if you find y'self staring. Ishirou put it well: untamed, but beautiful. There's a reason they call these waters Desperation Bay."

Gelik, meanwhile, spots Ishirou's fascination, and quips, "Would you like me to hire an artist to paint a portrait of 'er?" Immediately Ishirou's cheeks resume their reddish glow and looks intently at the cards in his hand. Continuing, Gelik says, "Now, as the man said my good Aerys, would ya care to join our little game? Don't worry...we're friendly! Some more'n others, of course..." This was said looking towards Ishirou again with a knowing grin.

Turning to Valenor, Aerys holds up her mug, "And I bet my mug of grog that I'd rather not lose said mug of grog. I'll sit out this time, if it's all the same. Gelik shrugs, as if saying suit yourself, and returns to the others and puts on his best gambling face while throwing in a gold coin to the center of the table, starting the round of wagering.

You notice, however, that Aerys doesn't leave, but instead simply content to watch the game unfold. Meanwhile, Sasha has a most determined look, but as always, at least a hint of a grin on her face as she sifts through her cards and plunks her money on the table.


If anyone has Profession (Gambler) as a skill, make that check now. Otherwise, make an Wisdom check to see the outcome of this round. Highest score wins, equating to roughly 20 minutes of playing. Be prepared to potentially lose a gold coin or two.:smallcool:

[Krinn]

Fascinating explanation, and it does make sense from a climatic point of view, although not worth of staring or glow red... ah, I suppose that's the usual emotion that happens between men and women, go figure, it even makes facial muscles go unattended...
Raising an eyebrow, Valenor throws a gold coin and answers to Aerys.
"Yes, it makes sense... weather around Magnimar is far more gentle, so it's a surprise if one is not familiar with this."
Then he looks at the other comrades around the table, grabbing his cards.
"Let's see what I got here..."


Wisdom check!
[roll0]

[infoweasel]

Gambling
[roll0]

[Tyrael]

A light flares up in the shadowy corner of the impromptu card room belowdecks, briefly illuminating the rough, weatherbeaten face of a man in a wide-brimmed hat as he lights a cigar with a tindertwig. Garbed in a long, dark coat with a longsword on his back and pair of manacles hooked onto his belt, the man's face is gruff and unshaven, but not unfriendly. Shaking his match out and exhaling a plume of smoke, he sways with the rolling motion of the deck and nods toward the players at the card table.

"What've you got there, boys?" he asks amiably, his hand resting on his hip.

[SquirrelKing]

See OOC thread for Round 1 results.
While the curses and grumbles from Gelik spew forth and (strangely) Sasha begins her normal chortling and clapping, Ishirou quietly, but with a distinct slight smile, pulls in his winnings. Aerys sips from her mug and turns to the gunslinger in the corner. Though the mug hides her smile, her eyes show a certain amount of mirth as she says, "That, my good man, was prime example number one of why you always worry about the silent ones. And why I sat out."

Gelik points a manicured finger accusingly at Ishirou several times, seemingly speechless, then burst out laughing. "Well played, but now we're onto you! It's your deal. Let's see if we can't get a chance to reclaim our losses!"

Sasha gets up from the table and heads over to the two bottles of drinks, water or grog, and asks if anyone wants either while she's up. While shuffling the cards, Ishirou looks over at Rydel, still with his slight smile, and says quietly, "Don't listen to him. It was naught but luck. Want dealt in? Plenty of room."

[Krinn]

Nonsense. Probability dictates that if Aerys joined as well, the layout of each hand would have been different, save for the first card, and at least five more cards would have been picked.
It's nice to play, for these games bring people together... here's Rydel, as an example of this.

As the newcomer enters the room, Valenor greets him.
"Just playing a nice game, care to join us? Looking at the faces of everyone as Ishirou, the very first time he plays with us, shows a flush, was priceless."

He smiles and shifts a bit to make room for Rydel, then waves his hands to draw him at the table.
"Come on, pick a chair and join the fun, just a single gold piece to play!"

[infoweasel]

(Belated) Perception
[roll0]

Gambling
[roll1]



Quentin raises an eyebrow in Aerys' direction as she declines and makes the under-her-breath cryptic comment, apparently able to pick up her quiet remark even among the rabble of the common mess.

As he loses his coin in the first round, he curses softly under his breath in Elven, just loud enough for Aerys to hear, and certainly the others at the table. When Sasha offers to fetch grog or water, Quentin opts for the former with an exuberant, "Ale, if you'd be so kind, please and thank you!"

Turned as he is to follow Sasha on her trip to the kegs, he offers Rydel a lopsided smirk and indicates a nearby chair, seconding Valenor's suggestion. "The more gold the merrier! Just keep a good grip on your cards and your seat."

Turning his attention back to the hand (already in progress?), he plays it cool and loose, making friendly conversation as he draws. Putting the spotlight on the newcomer. "So, Rydel, bet you're as eager to be off this boat as anyone. What's the first thing you plan on doing once in port?"

[The White Knight]

"Oh, no..." Kel begins in an apologetic tone, "'lose your lunch' is just an expression for when you get --"

His explanation is cut off by the lurching of the boat, and tossed off his crate to the floor below. What's all this about..? he ponders, not even noticing Quinn excuse himself. Helping himself up with the crate next to him, he stands and takes a couple of deep breaths. Keep yourself together. No need to get queasy again.

His train of thought totally disrupted, he doesn't finish his explanation to Harbek about what it means to lose one's lunch before being addressed by the prisoner.

"Oh, this? Right, yes," he replies, awkwardly. He'd heard chatter from the others about the dangerous prisoner in the brig, and didn't care to carry on much conversation with him, if avoidable. "Good eye. I've spent a fair bit of time among the Mwangi over the recent past."

He pauses briefly before directing his attention back toward Harbek. "So how'd you end up stowed away on a rig like this, Harbek? What brings you here? For that matter, where have you come from?"

[Blisstake]

"Oh..." Harbek begins as he breaks eye contact. "I was part of clan near Senghor. I left. And now I take boat away from Mwagi. I could not pay, so I hid on boat."

Though it hardly appears to be a complete recollection of the events that led up to Harbek being on the boat, he stops talking. Before he can be questioned further, he points to a crate a few feet away from Kel.

"Can you search that crate? I think my axe is in, but I don't know."

[Tyrael]

Rydel smirks at Quentin. "The first thing? Probably find a decent meal and a bed. The second thing? Probably poke my head around, see what I can do for the local lawmen."

He shrugs, a plume of smoke wafting up from his cigar as he inhales. "Yourself?"

[The White Knight]

"I'm sorry, Harbek," Kel says, not particularly comfortable with locating a weapon for a man in a jail cell. "I don't know if it would be appropriate for me to rummage around down here. I'm just down here to visit, and am doing so only by the good graces of the crew of this ship. I'm sure all of your belongings are safe and sound somewhere."

"I lived near Senghor for the past few months too," Kel notes after a short pause, changing the topic back. "And off and on before that for a couple of years prior. So you're leaving home then? Any thoughts on where you'd like to go?"

[Blisstake]

After a long pause, Harbek finally replies, "No. The tribe moved often, so there was no home. It is not important where I go."

[The White Knight]

"I understand," says Kel with a smile. "I wish you good fortune, wherever your journey takes you. What about the rest of your tribe? Why have you left them?"

[infoweasel]

Quentin grins, glancing down at his card as Rydel makes his way towards the table. "A steak, big as your head, and bloody as they come."

Leaning back in his chair some, he adds, "Not that the cook doesn't do a good job with what he has, but...well, y'know.
Looking around among the other players, he keeps his attention to the game though he continues to speak to the man in the duster. "So, should we deal you in?"

[Blisstake]

This time, Harbek does not pause when he responds.

"Most are dead."

[The White Knight]

"Oh, Harbek..." Kel responds somberly, "I am sorry. What happened to them?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek scratches his head and gives a confused look to Kel. After the slightest pause, the half-orc replies, "Why are you sorry? I am happy they are dead."

[Tyrael]

Rydel shrugs and sits down at the card table. "Sure. Can't say I'm familiar with the game, though. What is it?"

[The White Knight]

With a confused look of his own, Kel slowly responds, "Did they treat you poorly, Harbek?"

[Blisstake]

"Orcs hit me with blade, humans put me in prison. I do not know which is treat me poor."

He closes his eyes momentarily and prods the bruise on his left arm with his right hand.

[The White Knight]

"In many human societies, stealing is against the rules," Kel explains. "And when you break the rules, there are usually consequences. When you snuck aboard and took food, you broke the rules. The crew of this ship seem pretty fair though -- they appear to be feeding you well, and they haven't been abusing you, right? I am sure you will be fine when we reach our destination."

"Have you ever been aboard a ship before, Harbek?"

[SquirrelKing]

In the mess...

Gelik turns his head to Rydel, "It's a local Varisian game using a harrow deck, called Vimata. We'll teach you as we go. It ain't difficult. Just be careful of this one here. He's a regular card dancer, methinks," said with a knowing smile towards Ishirou, who chooses to remain quiet but lifts his hands defensively as if to say, "who me?".

For those from Varisia/Magnimar region

The term "dancer" is a local word that is slang for pickpocket or thief.


As Sasha offers another round, Gelik and Ishirou both request more drink as well. Therefore, seemingly overburdened with several mugs of grog and water, she nevertheless quite nimbly returns to the table with each full to the brim without any noticeable spillage. Passing them out, she takes her seat again and lifts her mug of grog to everyone else in cheers, and smiling widely, says something as a toast. "Ekess thrae!"

Draconic

"To the winds!" Literally, "to the air", you know this to be a fairly common toast and saying to wish people well, similar to "salud" in Spanish.


Gelik nods his thanks to the effervescent Sasha, and lifts his glass in return before taking a pull, as does Ishirou. Though, to Quentin, Rydel and Valenor, they can tell that neither of them know what the toast means.

After taking a drink of grog, Gelik visibly shudders and grimaces, "And I'll second that, Rydel! Grog's good 'n all, but I desperately crave a bottle of Korvinza 4701 wine! And no disrespect to the ladies, but I could do with some company as well!" The gnome then grins rather lecherously, and takes another pull of his drink. At the next table you hear naught more than a disgusted sigh from Aerys. Meanwhile, Sasha seems unfazed by the crudeness and simply laughs along with him.

"Ah, but I don't think you have enough money to afford that," you hear from the entrance to the mess. The last of the passengers, the meek scholar Ieana, stands with her hand to her mouth, looking shocked that she even said what she said and quickly shuffles to the table with Aerys. Gelik just looks at her with a stunned expression, every emotion running through his features at once: anger, shock, mirth and more. His jaw works as he clearly is fighting for a response.

The rest of the passengers burst into laughter, with Sasha being the loudest, at Gelik's expense, and he's quick to join in after realizing that he's been had. Wiping his eyes, Gelik gestures with his mug towards the still embarrassed Ieana, "Oh I owe ya. Well done...but I owe ya!"

Aerys nods emphatically and tips her tricorn hat to Ieana, "Couldn't've said it better m'self. Cheers!" Then, after the laughter dies down, Sasha offers Ieana a seat to play cards with them, but the Varisian simply shakes her head. "I'll watch, if that's ok?

Then, everyone starts to settle in and get a little more serious as Ishirou starts to deal the cards, Aerys and Ieana watching on quietly.

OOC:
Conversation can still occur, but go ahead and make your Gambling checks if you haven't yet

[SquirrelKing]

In the brig...

Jask doesn't seem to acknowledge the response at first. Then, when there's a break in Kel and Harbek's conversation, the prisoner chimes in quietly if not curiously, "Which tribes did you stay among? Zenj? Bonuwat? Mauxi?"

Knowledge - History for Kel and Knowledge - Geography for Harbek (you both know these tribes, as you're both from the same general area

You know that the Zenj are the most common peoples of the Mwangi, comprising of hundreds of small tribes throughout the expanse. The Bonuwat are seafarers and riverfolk primarily. And the Mauxi are less common, as they're from the far, very distant northern portion of the Mwangi expanse, close to Thuvia.

[Blisstake]

Geography: [roll0]

Harbek's face twitches slightly, and he responds in an irritated voice, "I know what rules are. No person wants to give work to an orc, so I cannot get money to pay for ship."

[The White Knight]

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound condescending," Kel replies apologetically. "It's unfortunate nobody will give you work. You look like a strong fellow, and could probably be a great help -- especially aboard a rig like this one. Some folks are just a little too narrow minded, I think."

Kel tilts his head quizzically at Jask's question. "The Zenj and Bonuwat, mostly," he replies, his interest now piqued a little. "You seem pretty familiar with this region. What's your story?"

[Blisstake]

"Narrow-minded," Harbek repeats, as if trying to commit the word to memory. "Maybe. But the tribe did kill many in Senghor. Took prisoners, too. I think it just better if I go somewhere new."

Though he doesn't show it, Harbek listens to Jask with interest, wondering what his tribal connections are, and why he's in the ship.

[SquirrelKing]

With a quiet sigh, Jask continues leaning against the bars and pauses a few moments, making the others wonder if he's going to answer the question. However, after about a minute, his shoulders lift in a shrug, and he speaks evenly, if not a little dejectedly. "I used to work in Sargava, primarily in Eleder, but not entirely. I'd have dealings with the tribesmen regularly...part of the job, really. Good, honest folk for the most part. Shame what's happening to 'em, and they're right to revolt, I say. But, in time, I had to leave. And now I'm being brought back." You hear he gives a sort of quick exhalation of air, and then he shakes his head. Quietly, he finishes, "It's been ten years. I wonder how much has changed..."

[The White Knight]

"What made you leave?" Kel inquires further. "And why the forced homecoming? How did you get yourself thrown in here?"

[infoweasel]

In the mess...

Canting his head slightly at the odd-sounding toast, Quentin nonetheless raising his mug along with everyone else, adding as an aside to Gelik, "Might not be as bad as all that, my good gnome...beginners luck is all."

At the sound of Ieana's comment, Quentin's head snaps from focusing on his hand to the bookworm's stinging observation, raising both eyebrows as a grin crawls across his face during the moment of Gelik's awkard silence before joining the rest of the group in a good laugh, though his is perhaps slightly less raucous than the others'.

After Ieana declines to join the game, the inquisitor returns his attention to the game at hand, commenting after a sip of grog, "...though in all seriousness, I'd have to agree. A lass comes in a very close second to a steak."


Gambling
[roll0]

[Krinn]

Dealing the cards, Valenor is astonished to see Ieana actually come and talk in that environment.
Ieana? Here? Unexpected!

As Quentin talks about ladies and steaks in the same sentence, Valenor can't help but infer with a smile and an eyebrow raised.
"Ha, there is no way a lady be comparable to a steak... The former is so much more valuable, you can't engage in a fine conversation with a steak, nor the steak can show any emotion, which are the very gems our soul is made up of.
As an example, Ieana's latest remark amused everyone more than any grog or fine wine could, at least from my point of view.
That said, cheers to all ladies!"

He gives Gelik a soft slap on the back, then raises his own glass.

[SquirrelKing]

After being pat on the back, Gelik looks over at Valenor with a snarky grin, "Are you calling me a lady?" With a wink, he gulps down some grog, and then settles into the game.

Sasha and Gelik, no matter how hard they try to bluff their way through, are quickly removed from the round. With it down to just Ishirou, Valenor, and Quentin, the round lasts for about another 15 minutes as wagers and counter-wagers are placed, then the cards are laid out. With a subtle smile, Ishirou shows his, which is the Fiend and two of its paired cards. With an easy smile, Valenor is next to show, and reveals four starred cards. An impressive hand!

However, Quentin can't help but grin wide as he finally shows his...an entire set around The Dance! Sasha laughs aloud as Ishirou and Gelik look on with dismayed faces and quietly push their gold toward Quentin. "Don't you dare say, 'Nice doing business with ya!' You'd think I'd learn by now! Didn't you always win at the festhall too, now that I think about it!?" Gelik tries to keep a serious, accusatory face, and it works for a bit until a grin starts to creep across his face.

OOC

Quentin wins 5 gold. Valenor needs to remove 1gp from his inventory. Well done Q-man!

For those who don't know, Harrow cards are similar to tarot cards and can be used for standard card games but more often are used by Varisian women for fortunetelling. The cards I named above are from the harrow deck.

Cards are arranged into "sets" of six cards that are keyed to alignments, such as chaotic good, lawful neutral, etc, thus making nine sets of six cards. Further, there is a card in each "set" that is keyed to different ability scores, such as Str, Dex, etc. (the "starred cards" that I mentioned in the post above refers to cards that are all related to a specific stat)

For example, The Dance is a Lawful Good card keyed to dexterity. If you use it for fortunetelling purposes, it means "staying in perfect harmony" or "staying still is dangerous" depending on the way the card is shown.

The designers of the harrow deck did a fantastic job. For those interested in giving your games a little flair, have your characters run into Varisian soothesayers. It's a great plot hook and/or character development tool!

/product placement :smallbiggrin:


At this point, about an hour has passed since the pickup game first started, and towards the end of the last game, it slowly dawns on everyone that the motions of the boat has grown much less severe. It must've been only a short-lived squall. This fact is reinforced by footsteps coming down the stairs outside the galley, followed soon by the completely soaked and grinning first-mate Alton. "So! Who's winning!?" The man looks completely alive, and it's evident he loves being on a ship. "You can go up top again soon, if ya like. The storm didn't have as much fight in 'er as I thought! Enjoy!" Then, he turns on his heels, and returns deckside.

In the relative short silence that follows, Ieana speaks softly, "I wonder if I can ask a favor, since we're all together? Would any of you be willing to help me find some ruins?"

*****************
In the brig...

The raspy sound of Jask scratching his beard is heard, followed by another sigh. "Let's just say that I've learned my lesson never to deal with pirates again. Unfortunate events transpired, and I was suddenly a wanted man..." he pauses for a moment, then, "And not in the way one would like. Nethys help me, I...left my wife. And ran. North. And I'm here now because they found me, some ten years later."

At this point, you all realize that the waves are starting to diminish as well.

Kel

With your Knowledge (Religion), you know Nethys is the god of magic and knowledge, and to a lesser extent, destruction.

[Krinn]

"Ouch, lucky Quentin! You know, that kind of set happens less than once every seventy thousand hands, some fortune god is certainly smiling at you right now!"

And here I thought that a probability of one over nearly five hundred was enough to wager on...

Valenor smiles at Quentin, esteeming his display of self control with such a good hand.
As the first-mate explains that the storm is nigh over, he raises his eyebrow with a puzzling face.
I had no doubts in the crew skills, and it's certainly refreshing that I won't tumble down the chair anytime soon, but I also hope this does not means the end of this pick up game. It's rare to be all here...

The silence being broken by Ieana, most unexpected, Valenor promptly answers, just after processing the little surprise.
"Certainly, Ieana. You know you can count on me, especially after all the lectures about local history, I was beginning to worry I woldn't get to experiment what I have learned."
Then he looks around meeting others in the eyes to see if his enthusiasm was shared by anyone else.

[infoweasel]

Quentin finally lets the grin he'd been controlling spread over his face when he lays down his winning hand, leaning back in his chair slightly and entwining his hands behind his head, enjoying the victory for a long moment. At Gelik's observation, he remarks with a smirk, "Only against those who were foolish enough to play against me! But I suppose I have a bit of a captive audience here, eh?"

At the first mate's re-appearance, he sighs softly and sets his chair back down. "Thank the gods, I don't enjoy being cooped up down here more than I have to." Gathering his winnings, he looks to the scholar after he pulls tight the strings of his newly fattened coinpurse, giving her a considering look after her proposition as Valenor practically leaps at the opportunity.

Leaning forward on the grog-stained tabled, he asks with somewhat mock seriousness, "...and I don't imagine these ruins would be inhabited by devils and spooks guarding untold treasure, would they?"

[SquirrelKing]

Gelik smirks, and folds his arms across his chest. "Pfft. The only captives here are our coins in your purse." Then he shrugs, as if thinking internally, then reaches for the mug in front of him again.

Aerys eyes Ieana after her query with a look that borders on the incredulous. Though she doesn't speak up, it's evident she has reservations. Sasha, meanwhile, all but jumps up out of her seat. "Oh! Like, middle of the jungle among the beasts and natives, moss and ivy-covered ruins with traps 'n eternal guardians 'n stuff like that!?" Then, when Quentin finishes speaking, she adds, "Oh, yeah, and the treasure!! I'm sooo in!" She shakes Quentin's shoulder vigorously as her excitement bubbles over. "Desna willing, we'll be rich! ...After Ieana gets her cut, of course!"

Gelik taps his mug with his fingers briefly, contemplating. "I might be interested, but...I'm curious. Who's payin'? You?" He looks at her appraisingly, as she's dressed very plainly in somewhat threadbare scholar's robes.

As expected, Ishirou remains silent, but looks on with a sort of detached interest. Looking around the room, Ieana is definitely not accustomed to being the center of attention. "I...no. I wouldn't be pay... Well, I guess I would...I mean..." she stammers, then after a moment, gathers herself and continues. "What I mean is that, I would be paying, yes, but the reward would not come from me ultimately. I still need to look through some notes and make sure I have my details put together correctly, but I think it could be a big and possibly important find for all of us." Smiling faintly towards Sasha and Quentin, she dips her head. "Yes, and for the treasure, too."

Rydel

With your Sense Motive check result (I rolled it), you realize that Ieana's less than thrilled at the mention of the treasures, if not offended by it, but she's doing a decent job of hiding it and remaining civil.

[Blisstake]

Harbek looks curiously at Jask, and decides to enter the conversation.

"What pirates?"

[SquirrelKing]

Jask laughs quietly, then finally turns around on his bench to look at the others. First at Kel, then at Harbek. "The only ones that matter in these parts. The Free Captains, I mean. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise; they have their hands in most everything that goes on in Eleder. Well, anything that matters or will bring them coin. And they'll go to just about any length to do it..." Jask's mouth is tightened, eyes fierce and intent for a moment, meeting the gaze of the other two. Then they drop and his face saddens.

His shoulders slump, and he turns back around, adding softly, "Anyway, you'd do well to avoid them."

[Blisstake]

Harbek ponders the pirate situation, and then answers in a somewhat detached voice, "I do not have fear of pirates. My clan was like pirates. Land pirates. When enough people are angry at clan, they attacked. I think it should be same for pirates; people have, um... limits."

He rests his head against the cell wall, and notices that the crashing of the waves outside has become much less pronounced. Maybe it would be easier to sleep tonight.

[The White Knight]

"I keep out of their affairs," Kel responds, "and give them little reason to interfere in mine. But thanks for the warning, nonetheless."

Kel quietly sits for a moment, then reaches into a pocket to withdraw a round, flat object. "Anyone interested in a game?" he asks as he opens the object, revealing a series of round depressions carved into each side. "It is called Oware (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oware). It is popular among some of the Mwagi. It's very easy to learn, if you aren't familiar already."

[Blisstake]

Glad for something else to do beside talk, Harbek smiles fainly and responds, "Tell me how to play."

[The White Knight]

Kel smiles in return, and begins to explain. "We each sit on one side of the board, and begin with four of these seeds in each of the little holes in front of us," he demonstrates by taking a handful of seeds and placing four of them into each of the depressions on one side of the board. "Then, we each take turns sowing seeds. You pick up the seeds from one of the holes, then start placing them in a circle around the board like this:" he picks up the contents of one of the depressions, then, starting with the space to the right of it, begins placing one seed at a time in each depression in a counter-clockwise fashion. "Any time the last seed you sow is in one of your opponent's holes and makes that hole have two or three seeds in total, you get to take those seeds and put them in your scoring cup here in the middle," he continues, pointing to the large hole carved at the center of one side of the board. "Sometimes you can capture from more than one hole at a time, if your move yields a few holes in a row that result in two or three seeds. But any time this would mean taking all of your opponent's seeds, you cannot capture any, because then your opponent wouldn't be able to play anymore. Oware is a game of competitive cooperation. Likewise, if one of us runs out of seeds, the other must make a move, if possible, that gives his opponent seeds for his next turn. If such a move cannot be made, the player captures all seeds on his side of the board. The game is won by capturing over half of the seeds."

Kel pauses for a moment to let Harbek absorb some of this explanation before he adds, "but the best way to learn is to just try a few times. Shall we?"

[Blisstake]

(Post got deleted when I posted yesterday, sorry :smallannoyed:)

Harbek nods and points to the board. "I think I understand. You will have to move seeds because of the jail." He vaguely gestures toward the cell bars. "Who goes first?"

[The White Knight]

"You go ahead," Kel replies, taking a seat on the floor next to Harbek's cell and edging the board up as close to the bars as possible so he can see it clearly.

I'm content to glaze over this for a fast-forward, unless you'd like to actually play out a game.

[Tyrael]

Rydel has been keeping quiet for much of the discussion. The longcoated man's silence seems quiet and thoughtful. Eyeing Ieana with a slight smirk under his hat, he asks, "Something wrong there, little sister?"

[infoweasel]

Quentin leans back and suppresses a smirk at poor Ieana's awkward explanation. "Sounds like a good way as any to get things started. After all, if I'm going to rid the place of devil-worshipers and the like, might as well help out a scholar in need and make some coin while I'm at it. Count me in.

[SquirrelKing]

Ieana looks at Rydel with a somewhat shocked expression, which quickly gives way to her normal meek manner, and she shrugs slightly with her head slightly lowered looking at the tabletop, her hair falling to partially conceal her face as if hiding behind it. "I...nothing really. I guess...I really don't think the ruins should be plundered. They're important archeological finds with...well, more important gifts to society than the treasures they offer. I guess it just...irks me that some people are so," she twirls her finger a few times, seeking the right word, "mercenary about it. But that's not to say I'm not glad for your kind help...all of you."

Finally she lifts her head, and pushes her hair back behind her ears. She quickly lowers her gaze from Gelik's obviously very amused grin, and stands from her chair. She stammers while slowly folding her hands over one another, "I...I'll...see you at dinner. With more information." With that, she shuffles through the door to the hallway leading to the cabins. Gelik looks to Ishirou still holding the barely contained laughter, and shrugs. "She definitely needs to find a man when we get to shore."

With that, Aerys lets out a loud harrumph, noisily pours another mug of grog, and storms out of the room, chased by the sound of Gelik and Sasha laughing loudly. Ishirou doesn't comment, but simply passes by Quentin and pats him on the shoulder as he walks by. "Good game." With that, Ishirou heads deckside. After their laughing spree, Gelik and Sasha make their way out of the galley as well, Gelik heading to the cabins and Sasha deckside as well, giving their farewell waves as they go.

********
In the brig...

The game of Oware lasts for a fair amount of time, with Kel barely defeating Harbek if only because of experience. It seems that Harbek is fairly keen of mind and strategy. All the while, the other prisoner, Jask looks on quite curiously and offers his insights into the game, since oware is typically a social game despite having only two players. Another thing that's quite evident is that he's very intelligent, and has certainly played many times.

But, after a while, once a game or two has been played, Kel excuses himself to use the privy and prepare for dinner. Meanwhile, provided Harbek is interested, Jask continues to discuss oware strategies with him for a while.

An hour or so later, the always silent Mwangi cook for the Jenivere Rambar arrives with two bowls of watery soup for the prisoners, as usual. After Rambar leaves, Jask loudly sighs, "I'd almost forgotten about the manacles..." and begins to loudly slurp his soup from the bowl, since that's the only way for him to eat it is similar to that of a dog eating from its bowl.

*********
In the galley

Conversation is quite lively in the mess area, as Rambar already has bowls of soup set out for everyone when they arrive. Everyone asks where Kel has been, and Gelik gives him a little guff and asks if he wants a cell of his own so he can fit in with the low-lifes.

An air of excitement fills the air as this is the last evening aboard the ship! They are to dock in Eleder late in the afternoon tomorrow! Everyone, even Aerys and Ishirou, discuss their plans once they disembark in Sargava, what the first thing they're going to do is, what foods and drinks they'll have, and so on. Many are intrigued by Ieana's proposition, but as is typical, she joins the table a few minutes after everyone else started. The discussion quickly turns to her and she slowly sips the soup, quite obviously distracted and likely overwhelmed by the onslaught of questions.

********

DM

At this point, I need Fortitude saves from everyone, please. This includes Harbek in the brig, as well. I'll roll for Rydel, since Tyrael is otherwise occupied with the new job and such. Reasons for the Fort save are upcoming... :smallbiggrin:

[infoweasel]

At the table, Quentin joins in the discussion about how his steak will be lovingly prepared, as well as his preference in wine and beer, the former of which Gelik seems well informed about.

When the moment presents itself, Quentin quietly mentions to Ieana, "For what it's worth, I don't plan on 'plundering' the temple or whatever ruin it is we'll be exploring. When I mentioned coin, I was planning on making it by selling those artifacts to a buyer of repute; a historical society or museum or some such. Does that make you feel any better? After all, I'm no mercenary...just a simple man doing his best to follow in the footsteps of Cayden Caylean."

[The White Knight]

"What's this about plundering for artifacts?" Kel chimes in with an odd look on his face. It is hard to tell if his expression is in response to Quentin's statement or to the "soup" that Kel is stirring apprehensively in front of himself, as if wishing it to transmute into something else.

[The White Knight]

"What's this about plundering for artifacts?" Kel chimes in with an odd look on his face. It is hard to tell if his expression is in response to Quentin's statement or to the "soup" that Kel is stirring apprehensively in front of himself, as if wishing it to transmute into something else.

[SquirrelKing]

Unfortunately, Quentin nor anyone else is able to answer, as lively conversation quickly gives way to a chorus of yawns around the table. Through blurry eyes that are suddenly unable to focus on anything, and an imminent need to go to sleep, everyone succumbs to darkness. A loud crash or two is the last thing that's heard as a couple people try to stand, but to no avail and they stumble to the floor.

Darkness, without dreams.

Kel
All is dark, suspended and silent for Kel. Then, a slight familiar sensation...touch. What is it? Something slightly wet and spongy beneath your fingers. Fingers!

You start to have sensation in your fingers and in the darkness of your still clouded mind you grip at the weird substance, and your mind quickly races to try to figure it out. Aha! Sand! Then, seemingly help you along, you feel and hear water lapping at your feet. The ocean!

But something doesn't seem right. There's pressure on your legs and feet, and you can't move them easily. Then pain!

Your eyes fly open finally, as the pain serves as the final drug to awaken you. You scuttle backwards from the source of pain in your feet, sitting up quickly in the process. You fight a sudden wave of nausea and dizziness at the sudden movement.

As your body fights off the sickness, your eyes get accustomed to the obviously morning sun, you don't have much time to see what's around you. Some strange brown-colored cross between a lobster and scorpion, but the size of a halfling, is crawling out of the ocean, and has a tiny chunk of your flesh in its claws. Apparently you're its breakfast!

All you know is that you're on a beach, wearing your armor and clothes, but as you instinctively reach for your weapon, you realize it's not there! Scanning quickly, you don't have time to ponder why, but a pile of gear is stacked about ten feet away from you.

Looking around, you realize you're the only one awake so far, but you see the others, all unconscious, scattered over the beach. Worse yet, there's a total of three of these weird brown crustaceans crawling up the sand towards their intended meals.

OOC

Kel, and everyone else, is armored and clothed, but the rest of your gear seems to be piled as indicated on the map. You've taken 1 point of damage from the crustacean biting you. Your HP is now at 9/10.
Map
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Shipwreck-FirstRound-1.png
Attacking Creature
http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=12593X700933&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.wikia.com%2Fpathfinder%2Fi mages%2F2%2F25%2FEurypterid.jpg&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fpathfinder.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FCo mmon_eurypterid

Kel has the sickened condition. (-2 to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks)

Roll Initiative, please!

[SquirrelKing]

Initiative Results

OK, I went ahead and rolled for the others (in the rolls thread if you want to look) to speed things ahead just a bit. The initiative order is as follows:

First: Crustaceans
Second: Everyone else (but only act if you're awake, obviously)

Currently awake
Harbek, Valenor, Kel

Other Rules
1. To retrieve a single item from the pile of gear, including a weapon, it requires a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
2. All party members are sickened for the duration of the encounter.
3. The rocks on the upper part of the left side of the map are climbable, with a raised elevation of 4 feet.

As Kel is momentarily confused by the sickness, the attack, and the strange surroundings, the strange stinger-tailed creature attacking him seems to smell blood and almost launches itself at him. First comes twin pincers that leave painful gashes in his upper right leg and left forearm as he tries to scoot back and protect himself with his arms.

However, that's unfortunately not the last of the creature's offensive abilities, and it swings its tail forward incredibly quickly. Kel, still dazed from everything going on, is almost helpless against the onslaught and feels the stinger pierce deep into his shoulder, which is then withdrawn as the hungry creature continues to scrabble forward.

To Kel's right, Valenor is awakened by a strange sensation of someone or something shaking his leg, as another of the crustaceans takes a tentative nibble at the elan's foot, but is barely thwarted off by his boot.

And to Kel's left, Harbek is also jolted awake by a sudden pain. In his case, the lobster/scorpion thing has pinched at Harbek's leg.

OOC

Kel - 3 more pts of damage. HP now 6/10. Also need a Fort save from the stinger poison.
Harbek - 1 point of damage. HP now 11/12.
Valenor - no damage, but you're awake from the jostling.

Enemy Position
OE1 hasn't moved.
OE2 hasn't moved.
OE3 is now at K13 adjacent to Harbek.

[Blisstake]

Harbek has 12 AC unarmored

He notices two things, one after the other.

The first is pain. He feels the blood escaping from his leg as a claw presses into his flesh. When in danger, there are really only two responses: fight or flee. Very few with orcish blood opt for the latter.

But before Harbek could turn around to face this enemy, he notices something else. A double axe glints from the sun's light Sun? What sun?, and Harbek immediately realizes that it's his axe. He ignores the pain, and whatever creature his behind him in order to retrieve it, while blood slowly falls from his leg to mix with the sand below.

Provoking an AoO in order to move to 11I. Picking up his axe as a standard action.

[Krinn]

*This is trange, being shunt back into unconsciousness. This reminds me of that single time I tried whiskey. There's a reason I swore I'd never get drunk again... losing control of own body is unpleasant, not taking into account the hangover.
I tire of this obliviousness, better find out what's happening around my body.

Recovering connection...

Hmm, hangover, as partly expected... ugh, bad enough... someone is shaking my leg? And what's the deal with... sand?*

Valenor opens his eyes abruptly to check who awakened him. With surprise he sees all the mess around him and the scorpion near his boot.

"Gah! Away from me!" he yells.
*What to do? Kel seems badly hurt, better to wake up everyone!*
Trying not to look dangerous to the scorpion, he stands up on his feet and reaches Quentin, while moving away from the unwelcome pincers.

"Quentin! Wake up! WAKE UP!"
Valenor vigorously shakes his traveling companion.

Stand up (move), 5 ft step toward J4 (free) and vigorously shake Quentin (standard?).

If the thing hits him, Valenor expends his immediate action and a single powerpoint to reduce incoming damage via Resilience by -2.

Let's see if he realizes whether these creatures are immune to his mind powers or not with a Knowledge (Nature) check about them, counting the -2 for sickness, or knows anything about their poisonous sting or stuff...
[roll0]

Also, please don't refer to Valenor as an Elan, he actually believes he's Human, although with special mind things and weird psychological behaviour that may or may not be entirely related. :smallbiggrin:

[infoweasel]

Fortitude Save
[roll0]

Grunting softly at the shaking, Quentin's eyes flutter open at the emphatic pleas from one of his traveling companions. Dazed for a moment, he blinks at the sudden brightness of the overhead sun, head snapping back and forth to take in the situation.
Not being the first time he's awoken in an unpleasant situation, the human scrambles to his feet with a confused utterance of, "What in the name of all that is good and holy...?"
Having absolutely no idea what the lobster-scorpion things are but seeing that they're attacking one of the still bodies scattered about the beach. Hoping that Kel is still alive, a prayer to Caydean Caylean comes to his lips almost instinctively, words of power coalescing into a sickly greenish glow in his hand, which he hurls at the thing attacking Kel, yelling, "Get off him!"

Move action: stand from prone.
Standard action: Acid Splash, targeting OE2.

[SquirrelKing]

Unfortunately, the combination of blinking against the bright sun, the unsteady feeling in your stomach, and the motions of the creature as it attempts to feed on Kel causes the bolt of divine energy to sail wide and burn away harmlessly in the sand a few feet away.

[The White Knight]

Kel shudders uneasily in response to this sudden, rude awakening. He reels back from the creature attacking him, and shouts out to his comrades, "Arise! To arms! We've been shipwrecked, and we're not alone!"

He clutches his necklace of carvings, thinking to himself, we're not quite ready to join the history books just yet, as he proceeds to incant a simple spell.

"BEGONE!" Kel exclaims as he discharges the spell and mantles himself with a fearsome countenance, directing his ire at the creature next to him.

Current AC: 14
Current HP 6/10

Fort Save: [roll0]

Move: crawl back to K9
Standard: Cause Fear (DC 15) on the crustacean at M7.

[SquirrelKing]

Round 2

Initiative:
1st - Crustaceans
2nd - Everyone else

Party members awake, thus able to act:
Harbek, Valenor, Quentin, Kel



Despite Kel's fearsome appearance and frantic yells, the others on the beach remain unconscious and the creature still approaches seemingly unaffected. Its claws click together and its tail is curved upwards and pointed towards its prey in eager anticipation of a meal. Thankfully, the increased awareness and exertion allows Kel to resist the quickly spreading effects of the poison coming from the stinger injury in his shoulder. Still, as he scuttles backwards, the awkward movement provokes a quick strike, but the claws find only air.

After the spell is cast, the scorpion/crab/thing launches another flurry of attacks at Kel, but this time he's prepared and fends off the predator.

Indeed, all around the beach, the beasts advance similarly on their intended targets. After he finished rousing Quentin successfully, Valenor turned around just in time to see the crustacean slash forward with its claws and tail stinger as well. He manages to step on one of the claws to prevent its attack and side-steps the other, but this leaves his side briefly open and the stinger batters the soft flesh there.

Similarly, not quite daring to turn his eyes completely away from his enemy, Harbek gets ready to pull out his axe from the pile as the hungry arthropod lashes forward, snapping its claws and whipping its tail forward. This one must be particularly hungry, as all of its attacks find purchase all over the half-orc's body, freeing yet more blood from fresh wounds.

OOC

1. Valenor takes 1 point of non-lethal damage. Since the attack did not break skin, no poison save is necessary. Current HP: 11/12 (unless you activate resilience)
2. Kel takes no damage this round.
3. Harbek takes 3 total points of damage, 2 of which are lethal and 1 is non-lethal. Current HP: 8/12

Fort Saves needed this round;
1. Harbek - poison stinger

Map - Round 2

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Shipwreck-2ndRound.png

Summary:
Harbek: 8/12 (1 of which is non-lethal)
Valenor: 11/12 (non-lethal only)
Kel: 6/10 (2 non-lethal, 2 lethal)
Quentin: full HP
Rydel: Unconscious, full HP
Phew! I think that does it!

[Krinn]

Yeah, I use Resilience, as I said in my last IC post :smallcool:

As the stinger connects to the body, Valenor's eyes briefly glow blue, as his mind supersedes the body's resilience and hardens the skin around the point of contact.
That hit would have hurt, instead the scorpion thing met a stonelike material and the stinger bounced off harmlessly.

"Oh, for the love of Erastil... stop it! Stop It! STOP IT!!!
Meh, here goes my attempt to lay low..."

A bit panicked, Valenor rapidly thinks about what to do, first thing first getting away from that scorpion's claws and stinger.

*This is NOT someone you can reason with. I don't even have my dagger around... it's either that scorpion or me, and that better not be me.*

Valenor concentrates and looks at the scorpions right in the eyes with a firm gaze.

*Quentin certainly saw my eyes glow, I might as well be open with what I can do. Nothing feels too strange now anyway.
You have a mind, have you? Much like a chicken...*

A bass-pitched hum, eerily akin to many deep-pitched voices, grows louder and louder, from hardly noticeable to a strident shout, as Valenor's pcychic energy is unleashed disruptively against the scorpion.
Sadly enough, the psychic thrust cut through nothing, much like a blade would cut through the air.

*...or an ant, I guess... oh cr**!*
As he realizes that the mind of those creatures is too much underdeveloped to be met in mindscape battle, Valenor's face pales and his attention quickly shifts to the pile of gear nearby.

The shout can be heard within 100 ft of Valenor

Immediate: Resilience (1 pp); free: 5 ft step to I5; standard: mind thrust (1 pp)
HP: 12/12; PP 5/7

Valenor will use resilience again (1 pp) should he be hit before next turn.

[The White Knight]

Kel clambers to his feet, trying his best to evade the advances of his assailant. Once he's up, he takes a limber step backward and rummages through the pile to find his morning star.

If I can't instil an artificial fear of death in you, I shall have to try for the real thing. Know that I tried to spare you, he mutters under his breath.

AC: 14
HP: 8/10 (-2 nonlethal)

Move: stand
Free: 5ft step to J9
Standard: retrieve weapon

[infoweasel]

Quentin blinks in surprise at the odd glow suddenly filling Valenor's eyes and the low bass humming that follows his exhortations that the lobster-things cease their attempts at eating the Jenivere Rambar's crew and passengers but doesn't haven't too much time to analyze it potential meaning as one of the things advances towards Valenor and himself.

Stepping back out of reach at it's claw, he repeats his prayer and hurls a glob of sickly green slime at the thing, making a better go at his aim this time.
Noticing Kel and Harbek at the pile of gear, he shouts frantically, "If there's a weapon in that pile, for the love of the gods toss it my way!"

Move: 5 foot step to I2
Standard: Acid Splash

[Blisstake]

Five foot step to H11, pick up a weapon as a standard action. His double axe, of course.

Fortitude: [roll0]

Reaching through the pile, Harbek grabs his axe and grins wildly. He was more used to fighting people than vermin, but Harbek knows an axe works just as well as any other weapon to crush them.

<<Think I've never killed a bug before? Die!>>

[SquirrelKing]

Round Three

Initiative:
First - Da Bugs
Second - Da Heroes

Party Members Awake
Kel, Quentin, Valenor, Harbek

Like Kel, Harbek felt the stinger sink deep into his flesh and the strange warmth shortly thereafter. Thanks to a rigorous lifestyle and the adrenaline pumping currently, he was able to shrug off the poisons effects.

However, these things are relentless! Over the lapping of the waves, Harbek and everyone awake hears the non-stop clacking of the claws as the creatures near their prey, driven forward by naught but instinctual hunger. Quick furtive glances to the left indicate that the remainder of the castaways were still laying motionless on the beach, thankfully unaccosted thus far.

Giving in to his panic was perhaps Valenor's mistake. It leaves him momentarily vulnerable, and that is all of the opportunity these hunters need. All three attacks hit simultaneously, erupting in a flash of pain for Valenor as the claws sink deep into his legs and the stinger pierces his left foot.

After grabbing the morningstar from the pile, Kel diverts his attention to the predator scuttling ever towards him. And it is thanks to that hefty implement in his hand that he's barely able to bat away some close calls, allowing him to escape unscathed these few seconds.

Harbek, while able to fend off the claws, watches the strange motions of the whiplike tail in anticipation of the coming attack. Unfortunately, he reacts too late as it zooms towards him too fast and smacks into his thigh.

OOC

Summary
1. Valenor: hit all three times, all lethal. HP now 9/12 (minus resilience if applicable)
2. Kel: no hits. HP remains 6/10 (2 of which nonlethal)
3. Quentin: no hits. HP remains full.
4. Harbek: made round 2's Fort save. 1 hit (stinger). HP now 7/12 (2 non-lethal)
5. Rydel: full HP; unconscious

Fort Saves needed this round
1. Harbek: poison stinger (from round 3) Nevermind - stinger damage was nonlethal.
2. Valenor: poison stinger (from round 3)
Map

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Shipwreck-3rdRound.png

[Blisstake]

Damn I hate these things! They'll probably leave a nasty stain on my axe, too.

With an enraged scream, Harbek slams his weapon into the crustacean that had been harming him.

Attack - [roll0] (-2 sickened)
Damage - [roll1] (-2 sickened)

[Krinn]

As previously, Valenor's mind protected him against the first wound, mending the injury instantly as his eyes glow blue once more.
But there's so much the mind can do in a limited amount of time, and the other claw and the stinger were given no resistance.

*Ah! The pain! Better get out of here and wake up others! I'm no warrior!*

"I'm waking up the others!"

Fleeing from the scorpion all the way toward the other crewmembers, Valenor readies to wake up Aerys, the nearest one while avoiding the other vermins.


Immediate action: Elan's Resilience (1 pp) for the first hit.
Fortitude save vs poison (sickened): [roll0]
Full round action: withdraw to F15

Edit: In the next round (unless I'm hit again) I'm going to use Elan's Resistance and an Autohypnosis check to gather bonuses for my following save vs poison.
I'm not sure if the roll would happen at the start of my turn or during the turn of the bug who hit me, but they're an immediate action and part of the saving throw vs poison.

[The White Knight]

"I am NOT your dinner!" Kel howls as he takes a swing at the creature, reeling slightly from his discomforted stomach.

He then withdraws back from his attacker, and, giving both creatures a wide berth, takes up position opposite Harbek's opponent. "We should probably work together to speed this up!" he calls out. "Everybody draw near! I can mend your wounds if you become hurt!"

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
Move: J10, K11, K12, J13

[infoweasel]

Looking between his empty hands and the lobstrosity's massive pincers, stinging tail, and the wounds they have already given his friends, Quentin gives himself some space between himself and the nearest pair of clacking claws and heads over to the pile of gear where Kel is calling for all to rally.

Digging through the pile, he spots his rapier and smiles, drawing it hastily from its sheath and appearing much more confident with a good length of steel in his hand before giving Kel a silent confident nod before blinking away a wave of nausea and leveling his rapier at the nearest approaching lobstrosity.


Round 3:
Move action: Move to pile o' gear, H8
Standard: Retrieve rapier

[SquirrelKing]

Round Three - Attacks of Opportunity

While it was a smart act to go fetch some help, Valenor didn't count on the full length of the creature's whip-like tail stretching longer than his own body. Thinking he was in the clear from the damaging claws after backing up carefully, he barely reacted in time with almost precognitive sense to make a quick juke to the side to just avoid another sting.

Kel was not quite so fortunate, and in his haste to help the others, fell under assault from two separate creatures. First, the one he damaged started frenzying while it leaked a hideously colored ichor and lashed out with a hiss, connecting with a claw as Kel moved away. With the cleric's attention firmly rooted momentarily on his latest injury, he did not see the flinging tail of the arthropod next to Harbek launch itself at him. Only the stinging, suddenly burning pain of it in his back made him realize his error.

While moving next to Aerys, Valenor suddenly feels a severe burning in his muscles around the stinger injury, which develops into a series of painful muscle spasms.

OOC

Poison effects
Valenor - 1 point of Dexterity damage

AoO damage:
Valenor - none
Kel - 2 more points (one claw, one sting) of lethal damage. HP total currently 4/10 (2 nonlethal)

Poison Fort Saves necessary immediately:
1. Kel - one save

Round Four combat map and result soon to come...

[SquirrelKing]

Round Four

Party Members awake and able to act:
Kel, Harbek, Valenor, Quentin


One of the creatures scuttles through the sand, quite at ease on land as much as at sea. Its tail is held high, ready to strike as it lashes forth with its claw at Quentin, missing by a narrow margin.

As Kel retreats to help Harbek, the vermin that had been attacking the cleric follows him over and takes another slash at him. Though the claw makes impact, it fails to pierce the skin thanks to his armor. Regardless, a nasty bruise is likely to form on his thigh where it hit.

Harbek, while likely grateful for the assistance in distracting the creature, still has his hands full and gets stung yet again by the bedamnedable tail spike, this time in his lower left arm.

OOC

OE1 moves to H7, attacks Quentin, misses.
OE2 moves to J12, attacks Kel, hits (nonlethal).
OE3 stays (like a good dog), attacks Harbek still, and hits once (lethal).

Poison Save needed:
1. Kel - initial save (from Round Three Attack of Opportunity)
2. Harbek - initial save, from this round
3. Valenor - continuing poison damage from Round Three.

Map

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Shipwreck-4thRound.png

Summary

{table=head]Character|Current HP|NonLethal Dmg|Current Effects
Kel|6/10|3|Sickened, Need Poison Save
Quentin|10/10|None|Sickened
Harbek|8/12|2|Sickened, Need Poison Save
Valenor|10/12|0|Sickened, Poisoned
Rydel|10/10|0|Unconscious, Sickened
[/table]
DM's being a bonehead, yet again. Sorry about the non-lethal confusion. I've adjusted your current "lethal" HP to correct levels. When your non-lethal HP matches your current HP, you're staggered. If it exceeds your current HP, then you're unconscious. My sincere apologies for any confusion.

[The White Knight]

Shuddering as the creature's venom sends a mild numbness throughout his body, Kel fumbles for his necklace of carvings once more.

We won't be beset by vermin here today, he tells himself, focusing divine energy within himself. There is too much to live for to end so trivially.

"Be strong, comrades!" he exclaims, thrusting his hand above his head and releasing a wave of positive energy to bolster them. "Focus your attacks! Work together and dispatch these creatures one at a time!"

Channel Energy to heal, excluding OE2 and OE3. By my calculations, that should affect every combatant except the critters.

Kel will remain in his current location to provide a handy distraction on Harbek's behalf.

[Krinn]

*Ungh... what is this pain?... Calm down, calm down.
The pain comes from within because of an extraneous agent, my mind recognizes it.
I need to focus the metabolic reaction and shut down that agent as soon as possible.*

After a brief concentration and blue glowing eyes while the mind attempts to help the body fighting off the poison, Valenor shakes Aerys to awaken her.

"Aerys! Wake up! We're in danger!"

As soon as she opens her eyes, Valenor shifts his attention to Gelik and Jask.

Immediate before the save vs poison: Elan's Resistance (1 pp, +4 racial bonus to saves).
As part of the save vs poison: Autohypnosis check (sickened) vs Poison DC (if successful add +4 competence bonus to the following save vs poison): [roll0]
Fortitude save vs poison (sickened, Elan's Resistance): [roll1]
Standard action: wake up Aerys.
Move action: move to H17.

[Blisstake]

I rolled in the Dice Thread, and I'm assuming that was good enough to kill the first bug.

Harbek groans as he feels the poison enter his blood, but is surprised as a wave of energy washes over him, closing many of the scratches and stings he collected from the creature in front of him.

He sees and hears Kel, but is a bit too numb to quite make out his words. But he put himself in danger, and now two of the nasty creatures were ready to leap on him.

Well, not if his axe had anything to say about it (which it didn't. His axe much prefers action)

Bug guts fly everywhere as Harbek slams his axe right into the center of the eurypterid right in between him and Kel. It makes a satisfying crunch sound, and Harbek wastes no time pulling his weapon back up, and moving on to the next crustacean.

Attack OE3, likely killing it (correct me if I'm wrong, of course! :smalltongue:)
Move 5ft down, to I11

[infoweasel]

Dancing back out of the way of the lobstrosity's snapping pincer, Quentin darts forward and attempts to skewer the thing, rather single-minded in his focus on the over sized crustacean that's attempting to eat him.


Round 4
Standard action: Rapier attack, OE1.

[SquirrelKing]

Round Five

Most of the physical injuries quickly fade away for everyone near Kel as he calls upon the benevolence of his deity to intercede. Despite this, both Kel and Harbek start to feel the same painful muscle spasms from the stinger venom that Valenor just moments ago started to feel as well. Thankfully, with some help from his disciplined mind, Valenor is able to overcome any further ravaging effects from the poison in his body.

Things are looking up, though! There's one less creature remaining, as Harbek lands a massive blow that chops it clean in half, stem from stern. Moving to assist Kel, he leaves it writhing and twitching as it bleeds all manner of ichor into the sand.

Still, the creature that Kel has been trying to fight off continues relentlessly to try to come away with a meal. Its stinger is not able to break skin ,thanks to his armor, but it still collides, jarring him a bit. One of the claws, however, finds its mark once again, ripping into his right side.

Quentin has a similarly rough time of it, as his attack against the creature bounces harmlessly off of its tough carapace. And while he is recovering from his lunge, the creature's claw closes over his forearm. Thankfully, though, he is able to free it from its grip quickly, opening a slight in his skin there.

In reaction to the rude awakening, Aerys lets out a mournful groan as she rolls over to look crossly at Valenor. The angry look gives way to confusion, then revulsion as she brings her hand to her mouth, apparently fighting off the same nausea and sickness that everyone feels. As she pulls herself up to her feet unsteadily, she looks at Valenor, one hand to her head and the other to her stomach. "What the bloody hell is going on here? Rovagug's balls, why are we on a beach?" Quietly she mutters in elven, "Fetheliss len weh'aren." Following that, she turns and gapes at the action on the beach. Witheringly, "Great. Sea scorpions."

OOC

Round Five

Initiative:
Aerys rolled a 10, so she acts with everyone else after the bugs (above is her reaction this round...she's disoriented and sick, and mad as hell).

Characters Awake:
Aerys, Harbek, Kel, Valenor, Quentin

Elven
Worse than a hangover...
1. I'm at work, so I don't have access to the map to change it, but none of the bugs have moved. I'll upload a new map when I have the chance.
2. OE2 is now dead, thanks to Harbek.

Poison Saves Needed
1. Harbek - continuing from last round
2. Kel - continuing from last round

Poison Effects from Round Four
1. Harbek - 1 point of Dex damage
2. Kel - 1 point of Dex damage

Valenor

Although unconscious, you notice that Jask is still manacled with his hands behind his back.

[Krinn]

Valenor answers to Aerys when he gets the chance.
"That's pretty much what we said, too. Better figure things out after these sea scorpions are dealt with, shall we?"

Then he quickly turns his head toward Kel.
"Thanks for the healing, Kel. I'd gladly help with a weapon but I'm no warrior, and my area of expertise seems not to include vermins."

*I'll need to think about this later. Ants were not dangerous at home, but scorpions of this size are...
Hmmm, Jask will not be of use in battle as he is now, better to wake up Gelik and the others first.*

"Gelik, wake up! Sea scorpions are trying to use us as their breakfast!"
After vigorously shaking up the gnome, Valenor reaches Rydel's position.

First round without pp expenditure, yay!
Standard: wake up Gelik
Move: move to J16

[Blisstake]

With another groan from the effects of the poison, Harbek continues to make his way over to the crustacean attacking Kel, and readies his axe. He quickly slices with both ends of his weapon, hoping to stop the nasty critter from causing any more harm to his new friend.

Five foot step to J11 (gets flanking)
Full Round Action: Use two weapon fighting on OE2

Highest result was a 15, with 6 damage.
Got a 5 on the fortitude save

[The White Knight]

Now Kel is able to shrug off the poison from getting any worse for the time being. Perhaps that little wave of healing was just what he needed?

Kel quickly nods at Harbek with a satisfied glance, then gestures with a smirk over to the last remaining creature tying up Quentin, as if to say, Finish off his too?

He then promptly rushes over to Rydel and tries to awaken him. "Come on, get up. We're shipwrecked."

[SquirrelKing]

OOC

Middle of Round Five

Condition Summary

{table=head]Character|Current HP|NonLethal Dmg|Current Effects
Kel|10/10|0|Sickened, Dex -1
Quentin|9/10|0|Sickened
Harbek|11/12|1|Sickened, Dex -2, Poisoned
Valenor|12/12|0|Sickened, Dex -1
Rydel|10/10|0|Sickened
[/table]

All party members are now awake. Plus, Aerys and Gelik have been awakened.

Quentin still has yet to act before Round Six starts.

Map

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Shipwreck-5thRound.png

For Harbek, despite figuring out the weak spot in the sea scorpions' chitinous armor, the muscle spasms start to get more painful as the poison continues spreading. It causes painful twitches in his appendages now and again and a slight loss of feeling in his fingers.

One more sea scorpion remains, sizing up its prey, Quentin, and gets ready to lunge forward again.

[infoweasel]

Glancing quickly back over his shoulder to where Kel and the other are rallying the unconscious passengers and crew, the leather on his rapier's pommel squeaks slightly as Quentin's grip tightens in a self-affirming attempt at steadying his grip and lunging forward, thinking to himself, "Third time's the charm..." before throwing the better part of his body weight in a forward thrust at the thing's carapace.

Round 5
Standard action: Rapier attack against OE1
Move action: five foot step to G9

[SquirrelKing]

Round Six

The tip of Quentin's rapier skids harmlessly over the hardened surface of the sea scorpion's shell. While he's still over-extended, the scorpion is able to land a solid blow with its tail, but it does not pierce his armor. Still, it promises some swelling in that area later.

As Quentin backs away warily from the creature, he hears almost a banshee yell from behind him. "Stupid bastard, get outta the way!" He swivels his head to behold Aerys stumbling to a stop by the gear pile, her face twisted in anger at first, then after she's stopped, she sways for a moment in place as the sudden motion triggers another bout of dizziness from her sickened condition. She half-moans, "I...ugh...was gonna attack..." She stops before finishing her sentence, well into the throes of dizziness at that point.

Meanwhile, Gelik rather quickly pops up from his prone position, a panicked look on his face as he quickly surveys what's going on around him. As he does so, he notices the prisoner at his feet, and with a look of revulsion sidles away from him. "What in Calistria's name?!" Then, his gaze falls to his clothes, and with a disgusted gasp, his hands glow briefly, then he makes a sweeping gesture with it as all of the sand falls from his noble's clothing. "Yeergh...why's my stomach tryin' to climb its way out?"

OOC

INITIATIVE
1st - Critter
2nd - Everyone else

All PCs are now awake and able to act.

Damage taken:
1. Quentin - 1 point of non-lethal damage

Map
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Shipwreck-6thRound.png

Poison Saves
1. Harbek - continuing from last round

Condition Summary

{table=head]Character|Current HP|NonLethal Dmg|Current Effects
Kel|10/10|0|Sickened, Dex -1
Quentin|9/10|1|Sickened
Harbek|11/12|1|Sickened, Dex -2, Poisoned
Valenor|12/12|0|Sickened, Dex -1
Rydel|10/10|0|Sickened
[/table]

[Blisstake]

One more... just one more. Then I can relax.

Though his muscles are screaming in pain, his stomach feels empty, and his hands have gone numb, Harbek slowly makes his way over to the final crustacean on the other side of the gear. He once again attempts to slam his axe into the critter; bug guts were already all over his legs, what harm could a few more do?


Move: I7 (in a way that avoids an AoO, obviously)
Attack OE1.

[Krinn]

"Perhaps it was something in our food, Gelik. Help me wake up the others or deal with the... uh... last scorpion?"

Valenor is rather shocked to see that the half orc already dispatched two of the three creatures.

*I just hope he doesn't turn on us after this, some frenzied warrior he is, though effective.*

A bit more calmly due to the better odds, he still proceeds to wake up the others and moves between Ishirou and Sasha, given that Rydel has already ben awakened.

"Ishirou, wake up, we're shipwrecked!"
He says, as he shakes him.

Move to J18 and wake up Ishirou

[The White Knight]

"And under attack, too," he adds, nodding at the recently awakened Rydel. "Excuse me."

Kel follows after Harbek, joining alongside him in combating the last sea scorpion. "Here, let me help you with that!" he hollers, punctuating with a swing from his morningstar.

Move to I8
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[SquirrelKing]

With a satisfying, loud crunch, the morningstar sinks into the beast's carapace and it is reduced to being capable of nothing more than a few harmless twitches.

Still, the poison continues to work its way through Harbek's body, almost visibly at this point since his limbs jerk occasionally, and from the slight grimaces on his face.

OOC

Harbek needs to make two more Fort saves...one for the last round of combat, and if that one fails, then one more after that. Either way, after two more rounds, the poison has finished running its course. The DC is 11. Each failure results in 1 point of Dex damage.

Now that the combat is over, the noise, smell, and other senses of your location start to slowly sink in. The heady combination of salty ocean breeze and the earthy smell of a multitude of jungle plants combine to create a rather pleasant scent. The sound of many different animal calls, bending of trees in the constant breeze, and the roll of the waves make this seem almost a paradisical location...except for the fact that you have no idea how you wound up here or what happened. Or where "here" is.

Surveying the land, you discover that you're on a narrow strip of sandy beach peppered with rocks occasionally. It becomes immediately apparent that you're at the apex of a cove, where sandy beach gives way to cliff walls, at the base of which are increasingly jagged rocks on either side of the cove. The waves surge, churn, crash and spray over the rocks constantly.

The opposite direction, behind you, reveals the edge of an obviously quite dense jungle which seems to rise up a fairly steep hill.

Harbek, Quentin

After a successful Survival check (which I made), you determine that the opening of the cove is facing north and the jungle is to the south (spreading far to the southeast and southwest, as well of course)

Quentin

A successful perception check reveals the wreck of the Jenivere further along the northwestern horizon, where it seems to be held aloft only by the saving graces of the ridges of rock. It's quite obvious that it won't ever sail again. Details are hard to pick out at this distance, however. (About a quarter of a mile distant from the party's current location)

The sickness and dizziness slowly begin to wear off, after about five or ten minutes. Your fellow castaways all wake up, save for Jask whom was not approached by any of them. While looking warily at the corpses of the sea scorpions and in growing dread at the scenery around them, they retrieve their personal goods. Sasha begins calling out items in the piles and to whom they belong. (Basically, it's only stuff that was written on your character sheet...no further supplies.)

Kel

Strangely, you notice that despite being ashore on a beach in an obvious shipwreck scenario, everyone and their gear is almost entirely dry. Even paper hasn't been ruined.

[The White Knight]

Something's not right here... Kel ponders to himself as he surveys the situation. He plunges his morningstar into the sand to soak up the ichor of his latest victim, then moves over to the water to wash it out in the wet gravel. As he watches the water drip from the spikes of his weapon, it occurs to him that neither he, nor anyone else, nor anyone's belongings seem to wet at all.

"Something's not right here!" Kel calls out after his slight epiphany. "If we're shipwrecked, where is the crew? And why are our belongings neatly stacked, dry as bone, in a pile here in the beach instead of scattered among the surf? And I don't know about the rest of you, but I almost feel like I've been poisoned... and I don't mean from the stingers of those creatures."

After a brief pause, he concludes, "I think we were marooned here by the crew of the ship. But why?"

[Blisstake]

With the last bug dispatched, Harbek begins to breathe heavily, looking at the wounds that had accumlated on his legs during the battle. The poison seems to have stopped its progress, but Harbek can barely feel his hands.

He presses his double axe into the sand, and slowly gets into a sitting position. He looks at Kel and asks, in a barely audible voice, "Kel, can you fix poison?"

[Krinn]

After a few seconds of self concentration to put his mind in a normal, vigilant state, Valenor retrieves his goods with Sasha's help, then he joins the others and tries to find the reason they were abandoned there.

"The last thing I recall is a heavy sleepiness, just after eating the soup, so poison seems the most likely thing that made us sleep, indeed.
I concur Kel, someone must've dragged us here, gear doesn't swim.
It seems that whoever they were, they put great efforts into leaving our goods to ourselves too. There must be a reason for this behaviour: if they were willing to do so, they could easily kill us in our sleep and sell our items instead.
Perhaps the captain didn't want to come into port and opted to spare us some sort of unknown danger, something greater than a few sea scorpions? Perhaps the crew was actually here and moved elsewhere, they're in danger and need our help?
I think that there would be no point in putting us in this situation with no clue whatsoever. A note among our belongings, or a trail to follow?"

As he ends his verbal thought, Valenor searchs under the remains of the pile of gear, to see if there's something else covered by the sand.

I recover psionic focus and am expending it to use the Inquisitor feat (total sense motive modifier +15 for a single check) when anyone talks about what happened to us (Kel included), in the off chance that someone actually knows and is hiding the truth.
Feel free to make any related checks in secret, so I don't know if I detect no lies because I rolled low or because there are no lies to be detected in the first place. After each use, I concentrate 1 full round to recover the focus and repeat as needed.
While I'm focused, I have a +7 modifier to sense motive. While I'm not focused yet, the modifier is +5 only.

Perception roll to search below the "pile of gear". [roll0]

[The White Knight]

"I am sorry, Harbek," Kel replies. "I do not yet possess such abilities. Your feeling should return with rest, though." He rubs the tips of his own fingers together, sensing the faint numbness. At least I hope so.

"Speaking of which, we are going to need to establish some sort of camp. I'm no survival expert, but I learned a few things from the Mwangi about living in places like this. We're going to need shelter and fire to keep the insects away while we sleep. Insects spread disease, and if we don't do our best to stay clear of them we will be fighting a losing battle." He pauses and looks at the sky, trying to gauge the time of day. "We also don't want to be too active while the sun is highest in the sky or we will succumb to heatstroke and dehydration. Once we have a place of safety to return to during the times we should remain dormant, then we can begin searching the area. I think anything less would be too much of a gamble."

Kel looks to Harbek. "Harbek, I am sure you know all of this much better than I. Do you have any suggestions?"

[infoweasel]

Quentin looks around after the final lobstrosity is dispatched by the cleric's mace, taking a moment to lean against the pile of gear, catching his breath as Kel and Valenor discuss the situation.
As his panting slows down after a few deep breaths, something appears to catch his attention on the horizon, not far the cliff face in the near distance. As Kel discusses the most practical matter at hand - first aid, food and survival - Quentin finds an opportune pause in the discussion to note, "Agreed. We can move closer to the treeline and assess the situation more fully once the wounded are seen too. As for why we're here and not with the crew..."

Shading his eyes and pointing to the wreckage of their former transport where it rests in pieces, skewered on rocks near the cliff face, he suggests, "They may very well have been attempting to save our lives. I doubt anyone survived that." Pursing his lips, he sighs, "That doesn't explain the poison, though..."
Shaking his head, he continues, "Seems we might have to wait on the mysteries, though. First things first...Kel, given that the province of your god seem to include healing to some degree, I'll defer to your judgement in assessing the wounded, maybe the rest of us should get started on moving our gear to the shade?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek nods in response to Kel. "I can find food, but is dangerous to hunt alone. I know the jungle, but this... exact area is unknown, understand?"

After saying this, Harbek pauses for a moment, and then turns around to the rest of the former passengers. "Can anyone fight? And wake Jask!"

[SquirrelKing]

7 Erastus 4711 - Morning

As everyone retrieves their gear, stows it away, and looks around, beads of sweat start to appear on many of the castaways' faces. Despite being early in the morning, the sun is brutally strong, humidity is terrible, and there's not a cloud in the sky. It promises to be a typical Mwangi summer scorcher.

After rooting through the sand beneath where the pile of gear used to be, Valenor doesn't find anything of note - just more sand. Since she is already there from handing out the supplies, Sasha helps out as well, but turns up nothing too.

Gelik eyes the digging through the sand with obvious distaste. After, he starts to look around the beach, then to the jungle, then the beach again and shakes his head. "Well...I haven't the slightest clue where we are. Do you think we're just up the coastline from Eleder? I mean...we were supposed to dock tomo...err, today, right?"

Aerys doffs her tricorn hat after shaking the sand free of it. Perfecting its angle, she looks out over the cove. "I'm thinking we should make our way to the ship...while it's still there. Who knows if the tide will wash away the ship...or what's left of her. And possible supplies along with 'er." She mutters something softly to herself under her breath afterwards, but the wind and crashing of the waves overpowers it.

Sasha stands up from the sand, wipes her hands clean on her shirt, and brushes off her knees. "I like Kel's idea, really. Set up a camp, somewhere...anywhere away from the water's edge and out of the sun! Much as I'd like to get a chance to fight some sea scorpions..." The last bit is said lightheartedly, but there's a certain almost manic gleam in her eyes at the prospect.

Ishirou pipes up after Harbek makes his request. Casting his dark eyes impassively over the still unconscious prisoner, the Tian man asks, "Do we want a known criminal awake and among us?" His tone was not one of disdain or judgement, but rather just bluntly put.

Gelik kicks the corpse of one of the sea scorpions. "Whatever we're doing, let's do it before any more crawl out of the sea. You there. Kel. You have experience in this sorta place. I'll follow your lead." Just then, a series of shrill cries is heard overhead. The seagulls are eyeing the corpses hungrily already.

[The White Knight]

"Oh..." Kel utters in astonishment at the sight of the wrecked vessel in the distance when it is pointed out to him.

"I agree with Aerys, in part. It would definitely be worth our while to trek to the shipwreck before too long. The remaining supplies on board could be invaluable if we can collect them before the local fauna does. Not to mention the materials we could salvage for the purpose of building shelter..."

Kel squints as he tries to gauge the distance between the group's present location and the shipwreck. "It doesn't look like it's too far..." He pauses to ponder for a few seconds, then continues. "Okay, here's what I suggest. Let's get off of this beach and under the tree line, and search for a place that would make an acceptable temporary campsite. Half of us can remain there to get started on establishing what they can for shelter, and the rest can head for the ship to assess the situation. We should be able to make it there and back before the sun reaches its peak."

In response to Ishirou, Kel replies, "He's got little to gain by turning on us. He needs us, and we need him. He's spent a great deal of time in this region, and his experience may prove an asset. I'll wake him now."

Kel continues to speak as he approaches where Jask lies on the beach. "If we're in agreement on the rest of my plan, then everyone start making their way off the beach. If anyone is too hurt to wait for treatment, come see me now. Otherwise, I'll make the rounds once we find a place to stop."

[Blisstake]

Armor is now equipped. Ac is 15, I believe. 16 without being poisoned.

As Kel walks over to Jask, Harbek mutters to Ishirou, "And if you don't want help from a criminal, you would be bug food." At any rate, Harbek wasn't even sure why the others were so hesitant to speak with Jask; he certainly didn't seem like a murderer. He was amiable enough when theny spoke in the prison.

That's right... the prison.

Thankfully, they never bothered to put manacles on Harbek, but they were still on Jask. There were no manacles on his brain however, so at least his knowledge could still be useful.

With a low sigh, Harbek turns toward the jungle. He did get on the ship in order to do some exploring, so perhaps the ship wreck was actually a lucky break. Looking back toward the group, Harbek says, "Let's go." and starts advancing forward, looking for a good campsite.

[Krinn]

"Okay, then. I'm not used to this climate, so the sooner we find a good place to camp, the better."

Valenor readies himself to follow Harbek's lead, and calmly answers to Ishirou.

"Aside Kel's logical assessment of the situation regarding Jask, it would be pointless and cruel to leave him on the shore and it would be unpleasant and difficult to just carry him unconscious within the jungle.
I don't know what he's done to deserve his captivity, but I know that currently we're in the same boat..."

As he speaks, Valenor turns his eyes to the wreck.

"...in a matter of speaking.
We'd better help each other if we're meant to survive.
Harmony should always be preferred over conflict, this I think."

Ready to go, he then steps toward Kel and Jask.

"Anyone has a key for these manacles? I think it would be easier for him to help us if we treat him as a man rather than a prisoner.
He will likely be grateful to anyone who wakes him up and promptly frees him from that symbol of imprisonment."

*Let's apply Harmony over Conflict to social psychology.*

[SquirrelKing]

Gelik shrugs at Kel with a neutral expression as he scans the jungle line again. "You're the boss. Think any of those...Mwinger people are here? And would they be friendly?" As he says the last sentence, his face slips into a nervous frown.

Aerys plows by the still apprehensive gnome. "Come on, then. Let's get this camp or whatever set up. Then we search the ship." Sand fling backwards with each of her purposeful strides, a white-lipped grimace of determination set upon her face.

As most of the other castaways start heading slowly towards the vegetation line, Kel awakens Jask. He blinks a few times against the sun, then speaks softly to him, Valenor, and Harbek, since they're close-by.
Kel, Harbek, Valenor

"Sorry...been awake a while. I heard the plan...and agree. I know I'm not well-received by the others, but I swear by my wife that I'm no murderer or rapist or any such thing. A coward, maybe...but no thug. Help me up, would you?" He looks sadly down and back at the manacles holding his hands behind his back. "And...perhaps while you're at the ship, could you find the keys to these blasted things?" His face splits into a brief, hopeful smile.

Meanwhile, Ishirou remains at the water's edge for a few more moments, looking out to the sea and the wrecked Jenivere contemplatively. Exhaling a heavy sigh, he turns and follows the rest of the group towards the trees, an almost dejected look on his face and his shoulders slumped low.

Valenor, Kel

You could almost swear that Ishirou's eyes were misted over, as if crying or close to it, when he walked by.

Far off, walking quickly to keep up with the all-but-storming Aerys, Sasha can be heard chirping excitedly, "Wow! Do you think natives'll really be in there? Or...or...ruins? Or maybe other shipwrecked people? Or..." Her voice fades over the crashing of the waves, but her wildly gesticulating arms and hands indicate that she at least seems to be enjoying herself. Aerys, meanwhile, looks positively close to murder...

Harbek

Survival check results: While near Jask (and therefore the water's edge), Harbek notices something peculiar about the sand. He sees a set of humanoid footprints going to and from the water's edge, as well as a series of furrows in the sand as if a number of things were dragged. It seems this is evidence of someone indeed dragging the group to safety on the beach...but who?

[The White Knight]

"Mwangi?" Kel says, correcting Gelik. "I can't really say, as I have no idea where we are. If there are any Mwangi living here, I will do my best to make contact as amicable as possible. They shouldn't have any reason to want to harm us, unless we give them one."

Kel tucks his hand under Jask's arm and helps him to his feet. "Of course," he answers, in response to Jask's request. He then gestures over to one of the creatures he and the others just finished dispatching. "Ever see one of those before?" he asks.

[SquirrelKing]

Grunting with the effort, Jask finally is on his feet, albeit somewhat shakily. He takes a moment to get a look at his surroundings, and then at the giant lobster-scorpion thing. He nods briefly as he starts walking towards the treeline to catch up with the rest of the passengers that are waiting there. "Thanks, Kel. I think it's a Eurypterid of some sort.... Mmm, I believe these are the smallest of their kind, I'm afraid. Brown eurypterid or something like that. Nasty claws and just as bad stinger. Though...I doubt you need me telling you that. I think the common nickname for them is the sea scorpion. That's about all I know, I'm afraid. And to answer your question....errr, afraid I don't know your name. Last I knew the captain was given the keys when I was handed over by the authorities." He stops walking and lifts his face to the sky for a moment, a smile growing on his face. After about a half a minute, his face is alight with an ear-to-ear grin. "I can't tell you how good it feels to be outside again! And walking! Heh...the simple pleasures." He groans slightly as he stretches his legs, then lets out a relieved sigh after a few leg bends. After that brief break, he resumes walking towards the treeline (assuming everyone else is accompanying him).

At the treeline, the buzz of the insects, the calls of the various birds and other wildlife, and the crashing of the ocean waves all combine into a constant drone of noise. The ground pitches unevenly upwards into a very rocky hill covered in dense vegetation, tangles of ivy and tree roots, and rough stones jutting from the ground in several clusters. It's definitely going to be a slow process to travel through this jungle, if this area is any judge of the rest of it.

Gelik is perched atop one of the rocks fiddling with a stick, looking bemused at Sasha as she still prattles on to an obviously annoyed Aerys. Ishirou is studying the strange plants and trees around in obvious fascination.

As Jask, Harbek and the others approach the group, Sasha looks to them with her typical grin. "Oh! 'Bout time ya got here! So...what's next?! This a good place to set up camp?"

[The White Knight]

Kel turns to Harbek. "What do you think?" he asks, with regard to the proposed campsite. He starts to wander about, investigating the plant life and lay of the land in an attempt to arrive at his own appraisal. Wish I'd learned a thing or two about roughing it on my own instead of relying on my guides so much, he ponders.

Would that be a Survival check, DM? Perhaps one made by you and unseen to us?

[Blisstake]

He shakes his head. "No good. We can sleep here for night, but we will need to find other spot." Harbek continues with an upsettingly large amount of reason why they should not stay here, including the elevation, rough terrain, and difficulty to start a fire.

After going through the entire list, Harbek grins widely, and turns to Jask. "But better than cell, right?" Of course, Jask still has to deal with the manacles, making this uncomfortable spot even worse for him. His grin quickly vanishes.

"Maybe... maybe my axe can break your..." he trails off, unsure how to say "manacles" in common. He touches them, "This thing."

[Krinn]

"It might be dangerous, you could chop his hands!"
Valenor points out.

"We are moving away from the shore, if this is a decent temporary spot, we can just go to the ship and find the key, among other goods, before the distance becomes too great or the tide makes it difficult to reach the wreck."

He then looks at the manacles and thinks about the issue for a second.
"By the way, my name is Valenor, Jask. Before the violent option or the trip to the ship, you could as well try this." He searches his backpack and draws a little white sack with some soap in it. "If someone could provide a bit of water and can show you some tricks to effectively squeeze your hands off, you might give it a shot."

[SquirrelKing]

Jask shakes his head at Harbek with a friendly smile, "Sorry, my friend. I appreciate your willingness to help, but I'm afraid I have to side with...Valenor is it? I'd rather keep my wrists intact, thanks. Maybe as a last effort..." He drifts off, lost in thought likely at the thought of the axe missing

"Look, I'm all for helping the next guy out, but the...prisoner's manacles aren't exactly our primary concern, I should think!" Gelik sputters in obvious frustration. He tosses the stick he'd previously been fumbling with off to the side. "Much as I'd love to build a nice country cottage here in this lovely forest, I hear the murmur of the tavern crowd and slosh of their drink in my future. Or at least as near as it possibly can be! So...what say some brave, stalwart types go see what's left of the Jenivere. And while you're doin' that, the rest of us can look for a place to call...<sighs>...home."

Aerys looks over at Gelik with a look bordering dangerously close to friendly. "Aye, he has it right. If we're gonna be wrecked here, may as well learn as much as we can. P'raps the ship has logs or charts to indicate what happened or where we are. I don't mind stayin' here or goin' to the ship, so long as someone pays 'er a visit."

Sasha shrugs as says, "Well, much of my home is covered in forest. So, I'm willing to help look around here for...whatever. Shelter, food, water. Treasure! Ha ha!!"

Meanwhile, Jask goes about trying to slide his hands out of the bonds while Ishirou quietly talks him through some ways to bend and squeeze his hands. Alas, it's to no avail, as Jask only accomplishes scraping up his wrists and hands. Ishirou softly mutters, "You tried." to Jask and stands. Looking over at Valenor and Kel, "If you'll have me, I'll go.

[Blisstake]

"I will not miss..." mutters Harbek, but he decides not to press his suggestion. As the rest of the group discusses splitting up momentarily, Harbek turns to Kel, who seems the closest to a leader-type that they have.

"What do you think is best idea, Kel?"

[The White Knight]

"I think we've little time to waste if we're going to beat the sun," Kel states. "This spot will have to do for the time being. I'll make the trek to the ship, along with whoever else wants to volunteer. I figure about half of us should stay behind and get situated."

"Sounds like... Ishirou, is it? Sounds like Ishirou's in," Kel notes, acknowledging his offer. "Harbek, I'd like you to come with us too. So that makes three. Jask will have to stay behind for the time being. Who else wants to come?"

[SquirrelKing]

The remaining castaways - Gelik, Sasha, Aerys, and Jask - all decline going to search the ship. Jask indicates that he would, but current circumstances prevent otherwise. Instead, he will help the others look for a good campsite or to begin creating a temporary one.

Quentin decides to remain behind at the campsite as well, claiming that the poison or whatever hasn't quite run its full course and that he still feels a little woozy from it. And being in such a shape would not be advisable pitching and yawing on a wrecked ship like the Jenivere currently is.

OOC
I've not heard anything back from infoweasel yet, and it looks like he hasn't logged online in about 8 or 9 days. For the time being, I am temporarily going to DMPC Quentin for another 3 days. If no word is received by then, I guess he'll be dropped from the game. :smallfrown:

[infoweasel]

Quentin, having been involved in the process of digging the rest of his things out the pile of gear, has missed the last few minutes of conversations as he's been fussing about with moving things so that the mountain of crates, sacks, and chests doesn't topple over on him. Having retrieved his meager belongings, he settles his pack on his shoulders to see about half the group walking off towards the forest.

Getting the gist of the conversation quickly from Gelik, he bids the group that's staying behind to establish a campsite a quick farewell before jogging lightly to catch up with Kel, Harbek and the others.

Panting slightly as he settles into a more leisurely stride alongside the group as the treeline grows ever nearer, he manages, "Sorry 'bout that, I can get a little tunnel-visioned sometimes. 'sides, I've never been very...domestic, don't think I'd be much help with the campsite."
Looking at the shipwreck where it's stuck on the rocks near the cliffs, he purses his lips and asks to the group in general, "So, whaddya think? 'bout half a day's march? Doesn't look that far."

[The White Knight]

"No worries, comrade. This hike hopefully won't take us any longer than an hour,", Kel answers, his hand raised to block the sun's rays from his eyes as he struggles to gauge the distance. "Actually getting to the wreck itself might be tricky, though. If anyone has any climbing gear among their belongings, we'd best bring it with us!"

A few potions of levitation or flight would be great right about now.

[SquirrelKing]

The walk to the beach from the jungle's edge takes just a minute or two. The constant series of calls from gulls that are picking at the remains of the sea scorpions mix with the constant crashing of the waves.

The group follows the beach around to the northwest, finally turning due north to get closer to the shipwreck. It becomes quickly apparent that the ship - or what's left of it - has broken in two. Even at the party's current distance of several hundred yards, they're quick to confirm that the Jenivere will never sail again. Only the fortuitous presence of a sharp ridge of rock near the side of the sheer cliff wall has prevented the wreck from sinking entirely into the sea, for only the ship's stern (rear of the ship) seems to have survived the wreck. This portion is wedged at an angle between the cliffside and the rocks below, and each wave shakes and tosses the wreck alarmingly. It won't be long before the constant pounding of the waves dislodges the wreck and allows the hungry sea to claim the last of this once-fine ship.

After a few more minutes of walking, a sort of melancholy and awe befalls Ishirou, who stops and beholds the vessel. He mutters astonishedly, "How could anyone survive that?"

At this point, the group has two options: either make their way along the wet, quite likely slippery rocks amidst the spray of the crashing ocean waves to the shipwreck, or make their way up the jungle-lined cliff that quickly rises to their left, then climb down.

Quentin

You identify that the tide is currently low, and that it's possible to walk along the rocks, but if the group takes too long...maybe an hour or so, you're not quite sure...that it won't be long before the tide sets back in. At that time, the waters will reclaim the wreck more than likely, and walking back out will not be an option.

Harbek

Harbek sees something wedged between the stern of the ship and the cliff. Focusing on it, you see the remains of the ship's only lifeboat - just its bow, as the remainder of it has likely been repeatedly ground between the cliff and the ship. Strangely, the remaining bow portion of the lifeboat is tied off to a jutting piece of lumber from the Jenivere, and is bobbing up and down in the water, kept from escaping to sea by the rope.

[Blisstake]

Harbek stares at the ship for a few moments, then questions "Do you think it is accident?" After he squints toward the wreckage, he notices the broken lifeboat hanging off the edge.

He turns toward the group and states "The safe-boat is not used. I think we need to look for bodies."

[SquirrelKing]

Ishirou turns to where Harbek indicates and rubs the scruff along his cheek. Shaking his head, the Tian man says, "I disagree. Look at the rope. It's tied to that timber towards the bottom of the hull. Almost as if on purpose. There may yet be a survivor."

He looks around to the others, gauging their reactions for a moment. A beat later, he looks up the slope of the cliff, then down to the ship. He continues, "I'm not too good at climbing, but if that's the way we want to go..." then shrugs noncommitally.

[Blisstake]

"Does anyone have fear of climbing?" Harbek asks as he walks toward the rocks. They did not appear too difficult to climb, but Harbek was accustomed to environments like this; the others may have more difficulty.

[The White Knight]

"Not so much a fear as an ineptitude," Kel remarks dryly. "Not that I'm any better a swimmer, mind. Let's take the high road. We'll at least travel faster on solid ground. Once we get there and survey the situation from a little closer, we can decide how best to descend. Does anyone have rope?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek nods, and pulls a length of rope from his pack.

"We can go long way then."

[infoweasel]

Quentin shields his eyes from the sun and looks up at the cliff as it rises above them as climbing it is discussed, then briefly surveys the slippery approach to the wreck on the rocks below.

"As much as I hate heights, I think climbing may be the best option too - I'm relatively sure-footed, but if we took too long snooping around the wreck, we'd have to swim back out with the tide coming in as it is."

Gulping slightly as he surveys the cliff's jagged face, he asks the group at large in a somewhat anxious tone, "So, who wants to go first?"

[SquirrelKing]

Ishirou shakes his head at Kel. "I have no rope, I'm afraid. Just this...and this," he says, gesturing to his armor, a somewhat unkempt shirt of chain mail, and his sword, a contrastingly beautiful long, curved katana. "Still...I will climb if I must. Once aboard, we should check for supplies and survivors. If any." The last added as a sad afterthought.

With a heavy sigh, he starts his way up the hill overlooking the cliff, pushing aside any stray branches, undergrowth, and no small amount of thick spider webbing with colorful spiders dangling at their center.

Soon, the trek up the hill ends to a point where you're overlooking the ship, and the cove behind it, and the ocean further beyond it. The cove is filled with all manner of jagged rocks, jutting at various angles. It gives it the appearance of a maw with gnashing teeth, and the spray of the crashing waves against them almost like spittle. Seeing this, it's easily evident why the ship is in its current condition. Now that everyone is closer with a better vantage point, they see that most of the bottom of the ship has been shorn clean off and that the bow (facing away from the cliff) has mostly broken off and is submerged. Only the stern and some of the midship remains, with the stern leaning at an angle against the cliff wall. The masts have splintered off, and there's no trace of most of the sail cloth. Instead, only a tangled mess of exceptionally thick sail cords snake their way haphazardly along the upper deck.

From the group's vantage point, they're about sixty (60) feet above the constantly rocking stern's aftcastle. There's one bit of luck on their side, it seems: the cliff isn't sheer, but rather somewhat jagged with plenty of handholds. Still, one wrong move could send someone plummetting down over a hundred feet into the water below.

OOC

Four climb checks will be necessary to reach the back railing of the stern of the Jenivere. The difficulty is DC 15 for the climb check. Also, since you are not under duress, taking 10 is permitted for this. But, you may not take 20, since there's a penalty for failing (i.e., falling into the drink below).

[The White Knight]

"Well, on the bright side, the cliff shouldn't give us much trouble if we fasten some rope to these trees here," Kel states, slapping his hand against the trunk of a tree near the precipice, "but the ship looks to be an awful mess. Still, if there's any chance there might be some survivors, we'd better get down there. Let's pool rope and tie a loop around this tree."

[SquirrelKing]

Rydel digs in his pack and offers his rope to the collection. "By all means." Once the ropes are tied together securely, one end is wrapped around and fastened to one of the trees. The other end gets tossed over the edge to unfurl against the cliff, sliding down between the railing and the cliff face with plenty of extra rope to speak of. This startles a couple of gulls into flight, which raise shrill calls of annoyance amidst the constant crashing of the waves and creaking of the ruined ship.

Ishirou looks down nervously, then over at the others while swatting away the growing number of insects. "Please. Someone else first." He tugs at the rope wrapped around the tree a few times experimentally, which seems to hold sufficiently.

[Blisstake]

Harbek wordlessly takes the offered rope, and begins to descend down.

Taking a 10 gives me 18, plus any rope bonuses

[SquirrelKing]

As Harbek begins climbing down, Ishirou looks at the rope attached to the tree, grabbing it just in case something awry occurs. But, the knotwork seems intact, and the rope holds true as Harbek begins his descent.

[SquirrelKing]

Herbek eventually reaches the sterncastle below, having to push off the wall and swing out a bit to reach the railing. Everyone above sees that he has to catch his feet and move slowly upon the deck surface, since not only is the ship wedged up against the cliff face at a slightly upward angle, but the ship is also listing to the left (port). Couple that with the regular pounding of the waves against the side of the ship making a constant rocking motion, it's definitely a bit of an effort to find solid footing...but certainly manageable if one takes their time.

OOC
Since the ship is at such angles and constantly rocking, moving anywhere on the ship is considered difficult terrain.

Layout of the ship:
The ship at its widest is a little more than twenty-five feet wide. From bow to stern the ship measures over seventy feet in length, but the front twenty or more is completely submerged.

At the stern (back) of the ship is the sterncastle (or aftcastle), a raised section of decking that beneath it houses the master's quarters (captain's cabin).

Mid-ship on the main deck is a stairwell that leads down to the mid-deck. You'd guess that the surviving areas (since the front/fore/bow of the ship is underwater) would be perhaps one of the storage rooms, the larder, brig, and galley.

Again, from visual inspection, everyone can see that the lower deck of the ship is pretty much gone. Sadly, this is where (other than the captain) all of the crew would sleep.

Just let me know what area you want to inspect first when your character gets on-deck, or if you want to search as a group.

After Harbek gets all of the way down, Ishirou seems visibly more relaxed. Taking a deep breath, he grips the rope, swings over the edge of the cliff, and slowly makes his way down next. At about halfway, Ishirou looks down at the ship, then up at the others a little concernedly, but continues down until he reaches the deck of the ship. Immediately, he draws his sword warily and makes his way to the stairs leading down from the aftcastle to the maindeck swaying with the practiced ease of a sailor at the weird angle and rocking motions, but stays at the top of the steps, looking back up the cliff for the rest of the group. He says something back to Harbek quietly while the others are still climbing down, looking down the steps all the while...

Harbek

"Whatever it is, it's big."

[Tyrael]

The faint smell of smoke announces Rydel's arrival as the bounty hunter strolls up casually, his long coat billowing in the wind and his wide-brimmed hat obscuring much of his face save for the dull crimson glow of his cigar.

Blowing a nonchalant stream of smoke into the wind, Rydel stands at the edge of the cliff and looks down. "Mighty big boat you folks've got there," he observes to nobody in particular. "What's he doin'?"

[infoweasel]

Quentin is attempting to calm himself for his turn on the rope, taking deep breaths and opening and closing his hands slowly as they hang by his sides. Focuses as he is, he nearly jumps out of his skin as Rydel approaches him with the question. Sighing as he get his composure back, he nods down at the wreck of their former transport.

"Well, it wasn't 'ours,' per se...and I'm glad for it, given its fate. We're still somewhat at a loss to figure out what happened...which is why Ishirou and Harbek have bravely made their way down. Unfortunately, I think it's my turn..."

With that, he draws in a deep breath and begins climbing down the thick rope, testing its strength with a sharp tug just to reassure himself. Carefully working his booted feet into solid footholds and watching his hands with rapt attention, he makes his way down to the wreck with the others.

Taking 10 to climb down the rope.

[SquirrelKing]

Quentin slowly makes his way down the rope, and swings out slightly over the railing of the sterncastle. He now joins Harbek and Ishirou there, whose attention seems drawn towards mid-ship.

OOC

On the cliff:
- Rydel
- Valenor
- Kel

On the ship:
- Harbek
- Ishirou
- Quentin

If those of you still up on the cliff want to climb down, by all means do so. Nobody will fail the check if they take 10, since it's been adjusted to DC 5 with the rope.

If you intend to stay up on the cliff, let me know. Otherwise, I'm going to proceed with the ship exploration to get things moving a bit. :smallsmile:

[Blisstake]

After making sure he's got a firm grip on his axe and even footing on the deck, Harbek mutters, "Should we... ah, investigate where captain lives first? Maybe he is part of this?"

[The White Knight]

Exhaling sharply, as if psyching himself up to the task, Kel grabs hold of the rope and heads for the edge of the cliff.

"See anything down there?" he shouts ahead while he cautiously descends, taking care not to look below and risk transforming his mild discomfort into something more dangerous.

EDIT:
Taking 10 on a Climb check should give Kel a... 10.

[SquirrelKing]

Unfortunately, the constant crashing of the waves, groaning and creaking of the ship, and other noises causes Kel's voice to die on the wind without a response from the group below.

After a minute or two of effort, Kel anxiously makes his way onto the rear of the ship, joining the others there. Once he's there, he hears what Harbek and the others are hearing: the sounds of something scratching and banging around beneath deck somewhere.

Ishirou, who's still at the top of the stairs leading from the sterncastle to the main deck, looks up and waves Rydel down, as he's the last remaining one atop the cliff. Afterwards, he turns to the others, "Well, since...whatever it is isn't in the master's room, I say we go there first," and points directly below the group.

OOC

See, and Kel was so worried. Heck, a 10 is showing off...you only need 5! :smallamused:

Anyway, to get to the captain's cabin, the party needs to make their way down the steps to the main deck, then turn around and enter the door directly beside the stairs that leads to the captains quarters.

You'll forgive me if I don't have a map for this. My map-making skills in MapTools are still too...non-existant to create a map of a ship (despite some truly horrid attempts).:smallsmile: I might hand-draw one, though, and scan it if that will help folks.

[SquirrelKing]

Map

OK, here's my very amateur attempt at creating a map for the top deck of the ship. It's not easily visible, but the door to the captain's quarters is at the top of I-11.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Jenivere.png
Let me know if you have any questions!

[Blisstake]

Harbek tentatively takes a few steps forward, and tries to open the door to what resembles the captain's quarters. The continued sounds beneath them do nothing to calm his nerves, as he shakily tightens the grip on his double axe.

(Going to I11)

[SquirrelKing]

OOC

Sorry...should've specified. The area you're on at the back of the ship is a raised area of the ship called the sterncastle. You'll have to walk down the steps in front of Ishirou or the other set of steps that are closer to Kel.

Below is an image for reference. Though it's cartoony, it serves its purpose.
http://content.puzzlepirates.com/images/spyglass/2010june/infernodeck.png

In other words, to get to the captains cabin, you'll have to walk down the steps, then turn around and open the door from square H-11.

Sorry for the confusion! :smallredface: I'm not sure how to add elevation references to maps in maptools yet...

[Blisstake]

(Same thing then, double move to H11)

[SquirrelKing]

Ishirou steps aside to let Harbek descend the steps, and follows after him to face towards the bow of the ship, keeping an eye out for the source of the sounds coming from below.

It takes a little bit of effort on Harbek's part, but with a final groan of resistance, the captain's cabin door shudders opens to reveal a room in complete disarray. A steel mug and a couple broken items skitter and clatter down the deck past Harbek's feet due to the downward angle of the ship. Since the ship is also listing heavily to port (left), Harbek notices that most of the rooms contents have shifted haphazardly to that side of the room. Furthermore, there is a sizable hole in the left wall which a lot of contents have likely already spilled through into the churning waters below during the shipwreck. Further spillage is prevented solely by the captain's desk which has overturned, the top surface of the desk facing and plugging much of the hole. Otherwise, there is all manner of debris and items scattered about the desk and left side of the once-finely furnished cabin.

After Harbek opens the door, the noise from below stops.

OOC

Ishirou stops to face forward, ending his movement at G-10.

[infoweasel]

Quentin looks around uneasily as the noise below ceases at Harbeks entrance into the captain's quarters. Drawing his rapier and holding it at ease, he shifts to be able to look past the taller man's bulk and into the disarray of the largest personal room on the ship.
Nodding below, he murmurs to the others, "Whatever -that- is knows we're here now. I say we find the captain's log or some such and make our way back to solid ground as soon as we know what the hell happened."

[Blisstake]

With a quick nod, Harbek whipsers, "Good idea.", and begins to search for any suspicious looking items in the cabin. Harbek tries to wrap his mind around the fact that just hours ago (or was it longer?), he had been on this ship as a prisoner. Hopefully he wouldn't come to wish he were back in there.

Taking a 10 on perception gives Harbek a 15 if we're just doing a quick look.

[infoweasel]

Quentin carefully follows in behind Harbek and begins looking through the piles of the captain's possessions, starting with the area around the desk, even checking its drawers it its wedged in such a way so as to be able to access them.


Perception:
[roll0]

[SquirrelKing]

Amongst the debris, initially Harbek and Quentin find very little, as there's so much to sift through that's essentially useless: broken decor items, a piece of a broken sextant, a couple small mugs, ruined papers, and so on. However, Harbek reaches the desk and begins to search through the drawers, pulling upwards on them to attempt to open them (since the desk is upturned) to check if they're unlock. The top two are indeed unlocked, while what would normally be the bottom drawer is locked tight.

Meanwhile, Quentin tosses aside similar useless bric-a-brac and sundry mundane items in search of anything that might provide clues amidst the spray of the ocean which fills the room through the jagged hole behind the desk. To the left of the desk, Quentin sees a large footlocker propped against the desk and heads over to it to begin searching. However, he no more than opens it, spying what appears to be leather armor, a couple of small vials, and a few other items when both he and Harbek hear Ishirou practically scream.

Looking out of the door from their vantage point, they see a monstrously sized sea scorpion that is several feet longer and substantially wider than the ones they fought on the beach. It has just clambered out from the lower deck and is clenching and flexing its claws anxiously while it's tremendously long tail whips around. Its dark bluish-green body is easily around seven feet long and its stinger-tipped tail is every bit the same length, if not longer.

You hear Ishirou frantically yell, "GET OUT HERE! BIG SEA SCORPION!"

OOC

OK...Initiative time!

INITIATIVE (see the rolls thread):
First: everyone
Last: critter

CONDITIONS:
1. Difficult terrain: all movement is counted as difficult terrain due to the angle of the ship.
2. -2 to all attack rolls, again due to the awkward angles and constant rocking of the ship from the waves battering the sides

By the way, looking at the map, it shows the creature's size as being Large. Don't bug out (pun intended). It's actually Medium, but a very large Medium. So I chose to use a Large token to denote the size of its body including its long tail, legs, and so on. Still, the critter looks quite a bit healthier than the ones you saw and fought on the beach.

Maphttp://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Jenivere1stround.png
Though it's difficult to tell on the map, both Quentin and Harbek are *under* the sterncastle decking, inside the captain's cabin. The only way out is to exit through the door at H-11.

Let me know if you have questions.
Harbek
With your Knowledge - Nature skill, you know that this is a more "normal" size for these creatures. Also, their poison is debilitating to a creature's health, and not mobility like their smaller cousins. (e.g., Con, not Dex damage)

[Firebeard]

@SK

Did I hear the shouts about the Sea Scorpion?

Either way, I am going to take the time to search the piles of stuff that has Buckeye so interested.
search [roll0]

[Blisstake]

I'm assuming the door is still open, so I think Harbek can reach the scorpion. If not, I'll change the action

So that's what's making the noise... Great. Another bug.

Harbek dashes toward the scorpion, trying to maneuver around the uneven deck of the ship. He makes a vertical slash with double axe, hoping to bring the creature down before Ishirou has an absolute panic attack.

Speaking of which, he should probably avoid telling Ishirou that they do get bigger...

Move to F11 and attack. I got a 9 total :smallannoyed:

[infoweasel]

Quentin's eyes snap open more at the panicked tone of Ishirou's yell than anything else, what he actually said only sinking in a moment later. Watching as Harbek rushes forward to deliver a might swing of his axe, he actually keeps inside the potential safety of the doorframe and takes the briefest moment of moments to quiet his mind before uttering a brief prayer to his god under his breath.

When the prayer finishes, he makes a complicated flourish with his hand and his eyes glow red and an unearthly bass is heard in his shouted command of "Begone, creature!"

Casting Cause Fear, Will save DC 14.

[Firebeard]

Examining the body that had been covered by the crates and barrels, Jesek said, "What do we have here Buckeye? It's the cook. But he doesn't look to be injured from the shipwreck. See these holes? Something appears to have bitten him. A giant snake, maybe?" Jesek peered more closely at the bite wounds and then looked worriedly around him. "Surely a snake wouldn't have done that kind of damage to the door? No matter how big? I think we need to get up top and see what the shouting is about. I can't imagine they would care about stowaways now that the ship is crashed. And maybe whoever it is could use our help!"

Jesek rushed for the stair to the top side of the boat, Buckeye right behind him. When he got there, he looked up the stairs carefully before climbing, to make sure he didn't run into any surprises.

[SquirrelKing]

As Harbek makes his way steadily forward, the lurching of the ship quite possibly saved him a nasty injury. Harbek's stumble forward caused the lightning fast attack of the exceedingly long tail of the sea scorpion to sail just over his shoulders, the spines along the tail cutting a small hole in the seam of his shirt to illustrate just how close it was.

Still, the effects of the poison from the earlier battle are causing his arms and fingers to occasionally go numb, thus making his initial attack ineffective at overcoming the hard chitinous shell covering the beast as the weapon vibrates painfully in his hands from the impact.

Quentin successfully casts the spell, but unfortunately the creature did not even flinch at the fearful display of power.

Jesek turns the corner to look up the stairs, and sees the hind end of a massive...insect? From what he can see, it has an extremely long tail with a wicked looking stinger at the end that is every bit the length of a dagger. Though, from his vantage point, he cannot see the front of the beast just at the top of the stairs.

Ishirou and Kel both move forward. The Tian man cautiously advances, his katana drawn and held in a traditional two-handed grip. Taking a deep breath, he gives a loud yell and swings forward in a vicious downward arc. It appears he's well-trained at handling the weapon, but alas the creature's claws moved into a position that blocks his intended strike point, causing the sword to clatter and slides along the side of the claw harmlessly. Muttering a curse in Tian, Ishirou reels backward into a defensive stance and readies himself for another attack.

Meanwhile, the loud Thok! of a stone bouncing harmlessly off of the creature's hide announces Kel's attack option, as he reloads his sling with another round of ammunition.

At that point, the sea scorpion lunges forward in a sudden violent burst, grasping claws and slinging tail striking out at Harbek all at once. While able to fend off the sharp, powerful claws, the snake-like tail arcs over in a traditional scorpion-like attack, leaving Harbek completely open. The poisonous barb impales itself in Harbek's back, then quickly pulls out and resumes its attack position.

Summary of Round One

On the map below, please note that I reduced the size of the creature down to it's "true" size: Medium. Primarily because it causes the map to be much less cluttered. Also, note that Quentin is still inside the captain's cabin, Kel is halfway down the stairs, and Jesek is on the bottom of the stairs mid-deck, behind the critter. A path up the stairs to the deck is currently cut-off thanks to the bulk of the sea scorpion.

Map

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Jenivere2ndround.png

Condition Summary

{table=head]Character|Current HP|Current Effects
Kel|10/10|Dex -1
Quentin|10/10|
Harbek|8/11|Dex -2, Con -2, Poisoned
Jesek|9/9|
Rydel|10/10|
[/table]

Round One Poison Saves needed:
1. Harbek (failed)

Notes:
1. Keep in mind that the footing is treacherous, therefore all movement is considered difficult terrain (thus making 5' steps impossible), and that all attacks are at -2 to the attack roll.
2. Due to the previous Dex damage, Harbek's AC is 15 instead of 16.

On to Round Two! You all go first!

[Blisstake]

<<****!>>

Harbek swears loudly as he feels a new dose of poison enter his system. The combination of the two toxins, as well as the tilted ship make his axe swing miss wildly.

Harbek missed his attack, and most definitely failed my fortitude save.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looked up to find the hindquarters of an enormous scorpion-like creature blocking the top of the stairs. The sounds of battle roll down the stairs and Jesek is struck by one cry of pain in particular. There was nothing for it, he would have to help. He stilled his mind and called upon his innate ability that had served him well in the past.


Casting the Slumber hex (APG, p66) at the scorpion. Will DC 15 or fall asleep.

[SquirrelKing]

Despite the complex incantation of the hex, the sea scorpion seems completely unfazed by it and has its attention firmly affixed to Harbek. Seeing that the half-orc is under duress and starting to suffer under the onslaught of its many attacks, Ishirou yells something in his native language and brings his katana down in a swift cross cut that connects just beside the scorpion's mandibles. The finely crafted blade slices through the carapace with ease, and a torrent of ichor flows out of the wound onto the decking while the scorpion screeches and stumbles from the blow.

[SquirrelKing]

Kel moves laterally beside the front face of the stern-castle, keeping his hand along the wall for support, and stops in front of the doorway. After muttering a faint chant, healing energy flows from him in waves, mending the combatants' wounds.

OOC

Kel moves to H11, in front of the door, so that Quentin is included in the healing channel. If you'll recall from the previous battle on the beach, Quentin still had one HP of damage, so this will rectify that.

Total healing received by all, except the eurypterid and Jesek (no line of sight/effect): 6 HP Number of channels left: 3 of 5.

Quentin is the remaining PC to act before it's the sea scorpion's turn.

[SquirrelKing]

Quentin cautiously steps forward, squeezing by Kel outside the doorway and sidesteps to the right. Focusing momentarily on an invocation, he lets fly with a globule of acid at the same moment as a wave hits the ship. Subsequently, Quentin's acid arcs wide and hisses harmlessly several feet off to the right of the sea scorpion as he mutters a curse.

As Ishirou recovers from his heavily damaging attack, he finds himself under a sudden barrage of attacks from the sea scorpion. However, the Tian man is very sure of foot on the swaying Jenivere's decks and sidesteps the brutish attacks with relative ease. A determined look on his face, he waits for an opening to attack the bleeding frenzied crustacean...

OOC

Round Two recap

Map
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/Jenivere3rdround.png

Condition Summary

{table=head]Character|Current HP|Current Effects
Kel|10/10|Dex -1
Quentin|10/10|
Harbek|7/10|Dex -2, Con -3, Poisoned
Jesek|9/9|
[/table]

Poison Saves
1. Harbek - still poisoned from Round 1 (Fort DC13 or 1d2 Con damage)

Initiative
Still the same as before. All PCs and NPCs go before the critter.

Start of Round THREE! (Finish the thing off, guys!)

[Firebeard]

It didn't work! It always works. Jesek was worried now, but there was something else he could try. Something he learned not too long ago. It only had a short duration, but if he could pull it off the thing would be more susceptible to the others' attacks...whoever they were.


Casting the Misfortune hex at the thing. DC15 will save or roll twice and take the worst result for all die rolls for 1 turn.

[Blisstake]

I'm assuming a 19 hits (I dealt 12 damage). If not, I'll edit the post

Harbek takes advantage of the scorpion switching targets, and swings with all his might at the distracted crustacean. With a satisfying crunching sound, his axe swings true, and blood begins to burst from the open wound, as the angry half-orc forcefully removes his weapon from its carapace.

[SquirrelKing]

Despite a sudden onset of painful nausea and stomach cramps, Harbek buries the head of his axe directly in the creature's head, splitting it nearly in two. After a short series of convulsions, the creature lays completely still, the long tail coming to rest with a heavy thump just beside Jesek on the stairs. It's not long before the sickening smell of its innards permeates the air.

Ishirou looks stunned at the might of Harbek's attack. "I am glad I am not your enemy," he says with a wan smile. Then, turning towards the half-orc, Ishirou nods respectfully, and continues in his heavily accented voice. "It was a good kill. You bring honor to your teacher. I shall wait out here on watch, if you wish to continue exploring the ship."

[Blisstake]

"My teacher is a dirty bastard. Rovagug can bite his soul in Abyss. And you..." Harbek turns toward the newly arrived man standing on the other side of the scorpion carcass, "Who are you, and what are you doing here?

His last statement probably would have sounded more threatening if he didn't clutch his stomach and cough up some blood immediately after.

[Firebeard]

Jesek flinched as the sea scorpion's tail slammed down on the stairs near to where he stood. He watched the thing's legs twitch madly for a moment before he realized someone above was talking to him. "Come on Buckeye", he said quietly, "let's go introduce ourselves."

Making his way up the stairs, he clambered over the sea scorpion's carapace and stood on top of the thing looking at the people gathered on deck. The half-orc clutching his stomach was likely to sound of the rough voice that he heard. "I am Jesek, and this is Buckeye. We um...hid on the ship at Senghor and got...umm...stuck here. We were in the lower hold and blacked out sometime in the night before the shipwreck. Woke up a little bit ago feeling like crap. Heard you guys fighting this thing, and thought if we helped you might be able to tell us how to get back to the mainland."

The half-elf took a breath and said, "Umm...did you guys know the cook is down here? It doesn't look like he was killed by the wreck. It looks as if a bloody big snake bit him and then hid his body under some barrels and crates. " Looking a bit lost, the half-man half-boy said "Where are we, anyways?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek looked a bit annoyed at the mention of a giant snake, but waited for Jesek to finish speaking before responding, "We are... in Sargova still. I think." Well, where else could they be?

"I guess we speak with the chef now?" he continues in his accented common.

[Firebeard]

Speak with the chef? Either this guy has a problem with the language, or he's a little slower than I thought.

Aloud, Jesek said "Unless you have a way to speak with the dead, I doubt the cook is going to have much to say. He's dead. Come down and see for yourself. There's also a door down here that that ...thing was trying to bash down. Maybe there's another survivor or something in there."

[Blisstake]

"You said he wasn't killed by... oh. Great, more poison. Harbek fought back the urge to groan loudly. The poison that was already in his blood stream is leaving him weak and slow, and Harbek isn't too sure how much more he can take before he's unable to fight.

Never thought I'd be envious of a dwarf...

"Yes, we should look for anyone still living. Then look in captain's room again. Let's go."

[SquirrelKing]

While Harbek, Jesek and Kel (and presumably Quentin) make their way downstairs, Ishirou nods to the group briefly with a quick, but sincere, "Careful. I'll keep watch here. Yell if you need me. I'll do the same."

After maneuvering around the sizable corpse of the sea scorpion while going down the steps, the group finds themselves below deck in a completely different setting than they last remember being on the ship. Directly in front of them at the bottom of the steps is where the ship has sunk beneath the waves...and where their rooms had been. Turning around, they see little shafts of sunlight filtering their way through the decking all through the hallway in front of them, little motes of dust swirling lazily through the air. Bric-a-brac and debris litter the hallway, constantly shifting back and forth with the motion of the ship as it is incessantly pounded by waves. Kel and Quentin recognize the mugs and dishes they'd been using the night before, now strewn about the floor.

Directly in front of the group, to the right, is a room with the door standing wide open. (This is the room that Jesek came out of.) Further down the hall are three other doors or entryways, one of them heavily scored, scratched and gouged, apparently from the sea scorpion. Being somewhat familiar with the ship at this point, the group knows that the first door (the one that Jesek was in) is/was the larder. The next door, which is closed, leads to the brig. This is followed by an archway leading to the galley. And last, another closed door that leads to a supply room, is the one that is heavily damaged by the sea scorpion.

Where do you go/what do you do?

[Firebeard]

Jesek showed the others the body of the cook, hidden behind the barrels and crates. AS he did so, he asked "So, who are you? It is only fair since you know my name." Once introductions have been made, he turns to the supply room, the one with the damaged door from the sea scorpion. "I wonder who or what's in there that that thing wanted to get at so badly?"

[SquirrelKing]

Jesek points out the corpse of the Mwangi cook, Rambar, laying amidst toppled barrels, sacks, and various sundry items. The room smells of various foodstuffs, including some vegetables, fruits, salted meats, and so on. Thankfully, the smell of a decaying body has yet to permeate the room, nor has it likely affected much if any of the rest of the room's contents.

Knocking aside one last container to get a clearer look, Kel bends down to gingerly inspect the wounds on the Mwangi man's body, lifting the corpse's head and shoulders, turning them from side to side slowly. Murmuring something in the native Mwangi language, Kel places the man's head back on the ground respectfully and stands up to face the others. "Jesek had it right. Strange though it may be, it appears that Rambar died of a snakebite and its poison instead of any sword strike or the poisoning we succumbed to. What that means, if anything, is anyone's guess." Somewhat somber, Kel moves back out into the hallway to allow others to look for themselves, and to search the room as needed.

OOC

In terms of goods in the room, there is roughly 24 total days worth of rations in sacks and boxes, and fresh water in waterskins and barrels stored in the larder.

[infoweasel]

After introducing himself to Jesek, expressing that he's glad that -someone- survived the crash, he nods at the question, giving it a few moments of thoughts with lips pursed slightly in pensive thought. "..and whatever it was, did it have something to do with the crash? The 'why' behind all this is still quite a mystery. Perhaps..."

He then seems to fade away into his own thoughts for a moment as he closes his eyes and whispers a prayer. When he opens them again, there is a slight golden sheen to them as he looks around the wreckage with clarity lent to him by Cayden Cailean himself.

Casting Sift.

Perception check for Sift:

[roll0]

[Blisstake]

"I am Harbek," the half-orc responds, as if no further introduction is necesary. He then begins to move the assorted goods in the room, to see if there is anything hidden among them. At least they would have a good amount of food to bring back to the camp.

"See anything, Quentin?"

Using aid another on Quentin's search. Got a 15

[Firebeard]

Checking out the smashed door, Jesek sees Buckeye sniffing at something on the floor. "Guys, there is blood leaking out from under this door." Jesek tried the latch and handle, but the door was stuck solidly. Either the shipwreck or the sea scorpion's beatings had wedged it tightly in its frame. "Harbek, you think you could break it open? There may be someone badly hurt in there."

[SquirrelKing]

Casting your eyes down the dimly lit hallway, through the swirling dust you see the badly damaged wooden door. Sure enough, there are small streaks of blood as though something bloody scraped along the floor. Atop the thin streaked layers of blood are four separate fresher rivulets of blood that have flowed from beneath the door, and ultimately dripped through the floorboards to the lowest level of the ship. Seeing this triggers you to detect the faintest whiff of copper amidst the myriad other scents here.

[Blisstake]

While certainly no stranger to blood, he was a bit worried about this new development. This was fresh. In his weakened state, Harbek dreaded having to deal with any additional creatures that may be down here, but if someone was dying, they had to move now.

"Move back," Harbek grunts as he lines his shoulder up with the door, and slams into it with all his might.

Some strength rolls.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[infoweasel]

In the time that it's taken Quentin to look over the room with his divinely guided vision, the others seemed to have followed separate clues to the same conclusion - someone or something else is still here.

Unsheathing his rapier and pointing at the squashed piece of fruit bearing a footprint, he notes, "Whoever's in there may very well have made this. Let's pray whoever it is is still alive."

As Harbek begins to smash into the door, Quentin's stance lowers some in preparation for combat, as the ship has proven to be full of nasty surprises thus far and a giant snake on the other side of the door doesn't seem out of the question.

[SquirrelKing]

Harbek's first attempt coincided with one of the many constant shifts of the ship, which causes him to lose his momentum. His footing changes, slips a bit in the congealed blood, and therefore he bounces off of the firmly wedged door without so much as an inch of give.

With a grunt, sure footing, and renewed vigor, he launches himself at the door a second time. The half-orc stumbles forward as the door gives way suddenly to reveal a roughly twelve foot long by ten foot wide supply room in complete and total disarray. Part of the outer wall has shattered inward with several splintered beams and boards sticking inwards from a gaping hole facing the churning waters outside. Once-neatly-stacked crates, baskets, canvas, rope, and more now lay in shambles throughout the room. But this is evidently not what the sea scorpion was so fervently attempting to gain access to.

Its more likely target is the pale corpse of the ship's first mate, Alton Devers. He passed away seated, leaning back against the wrecked boxes, a finely crafted rapier still clutched in his right hand and his left hand resting in his lap. He's dressed in a well-made suit of studded leather with small gashes and gouges in it here and there. A sizable congealing pool of blood is found beneath him, which flows into the rivulets of blood you noticed outside of the door.

He is not the only one in the room however. The motionless body of another quite bloody man lay on the opposite side of the room, half covered by the wrecked boxes and canvas to leave only most of his shoulders and face revealed. His face is heavily scratched and bloodied, his eyes closed and swollen, and dark hair somewhat matted with blood. A high, closed collar on his dark leather jacket prevents any further indications of his injuries. A slight trickle of blood flows from beneath the crates where his body lay.

[Firebeard]

"Umm, maybe we should...well, you know. Take care of them?" Jesek said fro the doorway. The young half-elf nearly gagged at the sight of the two bodies. Perhaps he should wait up top with the others as well. He looked down to see Buckeye nosing at the dark-haired man's boot and he snapped "Buckeye! Get away from there!"

[Blisstake]

"Why are we dead, and they are alive?"

Harbek looks worried as he examines the room. At first he suspected that the crewmates threw them overboard for some reason, but considering they are dead right now, could it have been someone (something?) else?

As Quentin examines the two bodies, Harbek states, "We need to find someone alive. Find out what happened."

[SquirrelKing]

Buckeye sniffs at the dark-haired man's boot then quickly scuttles away chastised by Jesek, looking slightly hurt and plaintively up at his master. Just after, Harbek hears a slight groan emit from the man beneath the crates and boxes between the rocking and creaking of the ship.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looks down at Buckeye and then at Harbek as the half-orc stares intently at the dark-haired man's body. "What? He's not...is he alive?"


Oops, did I accidentally point my familiar at the one live person on the ship and then yell at him to get away? :smalleek:

[SquirrelKing]

Kel had been keeping to the back of the group, not exactly favoring a battle. However, upon hearing Jesek's surprised exclamation and question about someone possibly being alive, the cleric pushes past Quentin and Jesek in the narrow hallway to stand by Harbek, surveying the trashed room and its bloody inhabitants. Turning to Jesek briefly, he asks almost incredulously after looking at all of the blood, "Which one did you say was alive?"

[infoweasel]

Quentin had lowered his rapier and looks somewhat relaxed as there ends up not being a giant snake on the other side of the door. Sighing softly, he coughs and holds his sleeve up to his nose for a moment to mitigate the stench of death.
Sheathing the rapier, he had begun moving toward the nearest of the corpses, squinting as he looks over the wounds, taking time in examining what exactly killed the poor first mate.
At the sound of the groan, he responds to Kel's bustling and excited question with a comparatively calm nod towards the other man. "That one, apparently. As for this one..." Tsking softly, he shakes his head.

[SquirrelKing]

Quentin

Heal Check
In your...professional opinion...you have no earthly idea. You find no evidence of blunt trauma, but you do see a number of puncture wounds in his chest, stomach, and legs that pierced his studded leather armor. You're pretty sure they were what killed him, but the source of the injuries? No idea. Bad time to roll a 1 sir :smallwink:

[Firebeard]

Jesek swallowed hard and then quirked a small smile back at his familiar "Sorry boy, I got carried away, you know." He sidled into the room after Quentin and Kel and moved to help the cleric with the dark haired man. Perhaps they could salvage something from this nightmare after all. "Let me help you." He said to Kel, moving crates and boxes off of the downed man.

[infoweasel]

Quentin follows the shake of his head with a shrug. "Can't say what killed him other than the obvious. Maybe this fellow remembers something...anything you can do, Kel?

[Blisstake]

"I think I should move the... uh, crates first."

Harbek gently assists Jesek with removing the objects on top of the possibly living man, in order for the group to get a better view of the man, and to see if they could possibly help him or not.

[infoweasel]

Quentin likewise assists with moving the wreckage from atop the crewman's battered and broken form, giving Kel easier access.

[SquirrelKing]

Kel sighs at the sight of the first mate, kneeling down beside the body next to Quentin, almost whispering as if careful to ensure he doesn't wake the dead. "Shame, really. He seemed like a genuinely friendly fellow..."

((Kel - take 10 on Heal check for Heal = DC 18)

Maneuvering clumsily through the cramped room and over to the other body, Kel flinched at seeing the blood matting the side of the man's head. Gently moving some of the boxes and sacks out of the way, the cleric gingerly begins to inspect the man's injuries. Starting with the head, he moves the hair out of the way and notices that the ears are slightly pointed. Murmuring as he inspects the blood-soaked man, "Hmm...elven blood...nasty wound to the head...still breathing though. Wood splinters in the wounds..." he looks up at the broken wood beams along the hull of the ship in the room. "Seems this one ran afoul of when...that...happened. But...who is he? Was he with you?" He asks Jesek, turning back to him and the others. "Remarkably, he seems stable...just knocked unconscious. I don't see any other injuries, just to his head. None from Alton's sword, at least. Regardless, left here, though, he'd surely die. Should I revive him?"

[Firebeard]

"With me? No! Buckeye and I were...in another part of the ship. This door was wedged shut, remember? We just got here with you guys." Can you help him?

[infoweasel]

Quentin looks somewhat surprised that Kel would ask for input instead of just doing it. Nodding emphatically, he adds, "...and be quick about it man, we've got to get him out of here before the tide makes it impossible."

[SquirrelKing]

I hope he's friendly... Kel muses internally before placing one hand over the dark-haired half-elf's head, his other hand lightly clutching his necklace of beads and fetishes, and intones a brief chant. A warm light radiates briefly from his hand as the wounds quickly close over.

The half-elf's eyes flutter open, and Kel calmingly puts a hand on his shoulder, "Easy, friend. You had some pretty nasty wounds there. Lucky we came along when we did, really... and then stands up and allows him room to extricate himself from the rest of the debris.

OOC

As taken from the rolls thread, Kel rolled max healing on the CLW spell. Very cool...

[Okuyama]

The fellow, despite the healing, swears fluently upon opening a brilliant pair of blue eyes in what Quentin and Jesek recognize as slightly slurred Elven. The precise phrases don't bear repeating in polite company, but involve describing just what one might do to a person responsible for a headache of the sort the bloodied man now enjoys, if left alone with that person with a fireplace, some rope and stones of assorted size.

That finished, the pain-blurred eyes focus a little on the man looming above. The fellow issues a raspy groan and struggles to straighten into something resembling a sitting position. Once in position, the sapphire spheres are more fully exposed as they widen, and gloved hands slap against damp leather, as if reassuring that nothing is missing, or to count body parts, perhaps. Satisfaction brings another hoarse sigh of relief, and a quick glance around the room. Once more- at the discovery of a pack resting atop a slightly stained, steel-bordered wooden shield- relief is evident.

"Can't argue with you there." The words are in Common, and the voice just as raspy as the vocalizations from earlier. It's not really high nor low, just a bit breathy and hoarse, and the speech pattern is terse, very to the point. The striking blue eyes shift around the room again, this time on the people assembled. Surprisingly, they don't seem too startled to find the half-orc in attendance. "Is the whole ship as bad off as this, or did we win the fight on deck?"

[Firebeard]

Jewel was taken aback by the man's swearing, and then by his accent. Looking at the others he said, "Umm, a little of both actually. But surely you were unconscious when we were fighting the sea scorpion? I mean, it was trying to batter down this door when it got distracted by these guys. I came up from below and this door was already beaten in pretty bad. Good thing we got it open and the sea scorpion didn't.

I'm Jesek, by the way. You can call me Jes. Who are you? And what happened to this guy?". The words tumbled out of Jesek in a rush.

[Okuyama]

"Tristalt. But if you really want, you can call me Tristalt. What sea scorpion?" Tristalt leaned slightly, wincing at the shift of perspective and the spike of discomfort rewarding the movement, peering past them, at the stinger draped down the stairs, just barely in view.

"... there was fighting above-decks when we were still at sea. I don't remember a sea scorpion." Tristalt tried to get up, but grimaced and settled again. "Or the dead man. Who is he?"

[SquirrelKing]

Kel offers a hand forward to assist Tristalt in standing. The tanned human tilts his head towards the corpse nearby and sighs sadly. "That is...was Alton, the first mate of this ship. We also found the dead body of the ship's cook, Rambar, in another room. But, alas, that's all we've found so far. No sign of any of the rest of the crew or the captain."

[Firebeard]

"There was fighting above decks before the wreck? The last thing I remember was sneaking into the galley to get some soup and bread. Then...I don't remember anything until I woke up a little while ago. I don't remember the wreck or anything. What was the fighting about? Who was fighting?"

[Okuyama]

Tristalt took the hand in a leather-gloved fist and hauled back, clambering upright. A few slow headshakes suggested at the lingering ache, but still, Kel was thanked with a nod before Tristalt moved towards the pack, shrugging into it. Upright, two small details became apparent- one, the right sleeve of the jacket was considerably longer, and obscured the hand entirely, and two... well, despite the heavy coat and shield, there wasn't a weapon to be seen.

"I don't think there were more than two or three voices, but they were loud. And I heard steel. There was a fight, or angry, sudden smithery. And it was loud down here. I didn't hear what they fought over."

[Blisstake]

Annoyed with the somewhat vague answer, Harbek asks, "What is the last thing you know... err remember? Also, do you need help to get off boat?"

[Okuyama]

"Last thing I remember?" Tristalt went quiet a moment and grimaced a little more. "... guess that'd be hearing the fight. I was going to go find out what was going on when the ship crashed. Everyone was unconscious- I think I was the only other one up and about." A shrug followed- there wasn't much more to tell, apparently.

[Firebeard]

Jesek listened to the half-elf's story, looking around the room as he did. He was still a little queasy being around the first mate's body, but there was enough other stuff in here to look at so that he could keep his mind off of it. Poking around, he saw a number of things that might be useful. "perhaps we should gather this stuff up and get it off the ship before it sinks? We could use the canvas tarps to make carry pouches to get it off the ship."

[SquirrelKing]

Kel leans back against the wall by the door, ruffling his shirt and leather as best as possible since the heat of the day is already starting to climb, despite being protected from the sun below-decks. As the conversation winds down, he nods at Jesek's suggestion and pushes off of the wall. "We'll definitely need all the supplies and help we can get at this point. Also, I'll go with group consensus here, but I think we should do...something with Alton's body instead of just...leaving it here." Kel is clearly troubled by the thought of leaving the bodies without proper burial, but also has the sense to know that time is becoming a precious commodity. Quickly ducking his head out through the doorway, he then looks back at the others. "If anything, I should give them last rites. Much as I am loath to admit it, the water's now up to the base of the stairs, so perhaps we should be moving?" The cleric kneels down beside Alton's body and murmurs a swift prayer for the deceased.

Sure enough, for anyone else who checks, the tide has indeed risen to the point where the water has reached the bottom of the stairs to where the tip of the dead sea scorpion's tail is now laying in it. Kel stands, sighs once more at the loss of life, and then begins sifting through the boxes, being careful not to break any of the flasks of oil. That's definitely one problem we don't need...

[Blisstake]

"Kel, the objects in here are more important than bodies right now. If you can do... rites fast, then start now. We have to move."

Without waiting for a response, Harbek grabs as many goods as he can, and makes his way to the deck of the ship.

[Okuyama]

"He has a point." Tristalt moved as well, strapping coils of rope onto the pack, hooking one over the shield's attachments. A quick glance confirmed the fellow's suspicions- the lanterns and oil were the only fragile items.

"You two, get a lantern each, half a dozen of the oil flasks." The grappling hook and a shovel went into the pack during the directions. "Nothing else is particularly fragile or water-sensitive.

That said, Tristalt spread a net quickly and threw a canvas into it. Atop the canvas came Alton's body, despite what had just been said, followed by the other canvas swatches. The net was cinched shut, and Tristalt started to haul the collection of gear up the stairs, tromping over and around the scorpion's body, careful to avoid the stinger.

Tristalt can drag 1500 pounds, so this shouldn't be an issue, I don't think.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looked around for a moment, trying to find the equipment he was supposed to take and then he grabbed what he could. "Come on Buckeye, it's time to go." he said to the badger. He scrambled up the stairs after Tristalt, stopping only to grab a bag of what looked like dried fruit from the stores in the hallway. Reaching the deck, he called to those that had stayed up top, "There are supplies down below, food and other stuff. Grab what you can before the ship sinks!"

[infoweasel]

Quentin had leaned forward to pursue another avenue of questioning as the last survivor shed what little light he could on the ship's fate, but stops himself as the inquiry forms on his lips as the rising water level is pointed out to him.
Frowning as he hadn't expected it to be rising so quickly, he nods emphatically as the group begins gathering up supplies and helping Tristalt to his feet. Turning, he notes to the group, "There were a few valuable-looking supplied in the captain's chamber that I'd found before we were attacked - I'll grab those and then meet the rest of you on deck."
Following actions to words, he bounds up the stairs and makes his way back to the mess of the captain's cabin, now with the addition of a sea scorpion's corpse, and beelines to the chest he'd found, grabbing the potions, armor, and anything else that looks of import, especially looking for the ship's log if it's in there.
After rifling through the chest, he stops a moment, considers something briefly, and then stops and cuts off the dead scorpion's stinger with his dagger, quickly wrapping it in thick cloth before making his way back onto the deck.

[SquirrelKing]

Breathing a resigned sigh, Kel nods at Harbek begrudgingly, knowing deep down that the half-orc was right. Still, it didn't set right with him to leave the bodies lay there. "I'll...be up shortly," he calls up to the others, then gets to performing last rites over both bodies. Over Rambar's body, anyone gathering last minute supplies before heading upstairs sees Kel tracing fingers in an almost runic pattern along the cook's face, chest and arms.

Meanwhile, everyone else is moving hurriedly around, bumping into one another occasionally thanks to the tight quarters as they are now racing against the tide. Harbek loads himself up with several of the days' worth of rations and water, and some of the dry goods as well. Quentin and Tristalt gather the remaining portions and head upstairs, leaving behind a couple sacks for Kel to carry when he's finished.

Harbek is the first to the top deck, and finds Ishirou staring up at the cliff. Without preamble or turning back to face Harbek, the Tian man states flatly above the constant sound of the waves, "The man in the hat with the strange weapons is gone. Thought I heard a brief scream. Then, nothing." Looking beyond Ishirou, Harbek blinks at the sudden light, shielding his eyes, and notices that indeed Rydel is no longer atop the cliffs, but the rope still dangles against the cliff, swaying in the salty breeze.

Quentin, Jesek, and Tristalt also protect their eyes from the harsh sun, especially the latter two since they'd barely seen any light for some time, having stayed below decks for several days, if not weeks. Sweeping their eyes around once they become accustomed, they see a land of amazingly beautiful but hilly lush, green jungle beyond a cove of jagged rocks and churning waters that dash against them repeatedly. The stern of the ship is leaning against a steep, equally jagged cliff about fifty or more feet high that lines one side of the cove. From the top of the cliff, a single rope cascades down to rest in a haphazard pile on the broken, cracked sterncastle.

Quentin sets his pack down by Ishirou, and dashes into the captain's cabin to finish his earlier business. Diving back into the footlocker, he's finally able to take stock of the items contained within it: a suit of well-cared-for, supple leather armor; a quality dagger with a strange symbol etched into a darkwood pommel; two small glass phials of a gleaming clear liquid; a necklace made of a simple leather thong and a metal pendant carved into the shape of a mask, one side darkened while the other side is polished; and a small belt pouch filled with all manner of strange tidbits, such as eyelashes, various dusts, a few herbs, and more. Pinned between the leather armor and the wall of the footlocker is a tube sealed with wax embedded with the symbol of two crossed swords; likely a scrollcase of some sort.

After that, he moves on to the overturned desk leaning against the shattered wall. Lifting the first drawer out, Quentin finds only a ring of several keys: nine in all. The second drawer reveals perhaps the answer to the riddle of where they are and why: a series of folded charts and maps as well as a worn brown leather-bound ledger with hundreds upon hundreds of entries...the captain's journal! The third and last drawer is locked, but luckily, one of the keys on the key ring proves useful. Within this last drawer is a more private stock of items:

a beautifully crafted darkwood model of the Jenivere encased in a glass bottle
a dark brown, sealed bottle labeled "Mejr's Brandy"
a small, rectangular box with a simple brass catch (inside is 350gp)
a long, rolled-up leather satchel. Within twelve specially sewn pockets are several vials of liquid. Three are labeled "Healing". One is labeled "Stronger Healing". Five are labeled "For Internal Injuries". One is labeled "Counter-Sickness". One is labeled "Marlin's Breath", and the final one is labeled "Water Stride".


While Quentin is searching and gathering the contents of the captain's room, Kel finally emerges from below, hefting his sacks and looking somewhat saddened. When everyone is finally above-deck, Ishirou raises a brow, "I see we have new mouths to feed. I am Ishirou. Come, let's leave this ship before she rests below." Without waiting for a response, he turns and walks up the awkwardly-angled stairs onto the sterncastle, still keeping a wary eye out.

[Firebeard]

Jesek, staggering under the weight of the goods he was trying to lug out of the doomed ship's hold, shook his braids out of his face and said "I am Jesek, and this is Buckeye. Pleased to meet you, I think." Jesek's voice trailed off as the man called Ishirou turned and walked away from him. He continued to carry his part of the load up the ship's deck to where the rope awaited them on the cliff. "Is there someone up there to help lift this stuff? Or is one of us going to have to go up there first while the rest of us tie off the goods?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek looks over the deck, and then looks back at their goods again. "Maybe we can have two trips? Does not seem to be an easy way to get it over."

[SquirrelKing]

Kel, not having heard Ishirou's statement about Rydel, nods to Jesek, pointing up at the cliff-top. "One of the other passengers on the ship, Rydel, is at the top of the cliff still. He should be able to help us lift the supplies up. Otherwise, our option is to climb down the side of the ship and walk through the rocks while the tide remains low. Don't know that I quite favor that route personally, though. Either way, once we're on firm land, it's a short trip to the camp with the others. But, Harbek, I do not know that it'll take two trips...or rather, I hope not." He gives a hopeful, but not entirely reassuring smile.

Ishirou replies in his typical accented, but blunt style, "Rydel's gone. Run away or dead. Guess I will help lift." After tugging on the rope four times to ensure it's still affixed sufficiently, Ishirou grabs one of the lighter sacks. Muttering something in his native language, he grips the rope, steps over the railing of the stern to dangle over the water while braced against the cliff. Slowly, he makes the long climb up, up and over the lip of the cliff after a few minutes of sweaty effort, batting the ever-present insects all the way and dodging a few angry cliff-dwelling birds while making sure not to look down.

Finally at the top, he leans over the cliff and yells down and gestures upward towards him. He can barely be heard over the creaking of the ship and spray of the surf, but the message is clear enough. "...blood every... Hurry before ... back!"

[Okuyama]

Tristalt looks at the body, vaguely visible in the net, and quips, "Sorry," before releasing hold on the netted goods.

"Climb. Carry what's important. Tie off what we might live without. He," Tristalt remarked, gesturing at Harbek, "And I will haul it up after we all get up. If there is an after. Be ready to fight."

The half-elf glances down at the blood-damp leather coat and sighs- for reasons unknown- then hefts the smaller sacks filled with the food and supplies, leaving the body and canvases in their netted "container."

"Unless he's getting a burial at sea, last one up, tie off the net."

And with that, Tristalt began to climb.

Climb check of 15!

[Blisstake]

Harbek doesn't acknowledge that he agrees or disagrees with the plan, but yells, "Hurry!" as Tristalk begins his ascent. The half-orc shoves what he can into his bag, and follows the stranger up the rope. As he climbs, he notices the distinct lack of any weapons on the man.

I hope he's got some useful magic, then. Or he's asking for a lot more than he can handle. If we deal with this fast enough though, hopefully we can retrieve anything we left behind."

Want a climb check?

[SquirrelKing]

Kel nods at Tristalt's suggestion, offering to be the last one up. Tristalt, meanwhile, fairly quickly ascends the rope showing a distinct skill and physical ability at doing so. Ishirou occasionally looks over the cliff, encouraging them up the rope. Once over the lip of the cliff and away from the enraged swooping, screeching and diving swallows and other birds, Tristalt, and eventually Harbek, sees what Ishirou was yelling about. The narrow strip of grass at the edge of the cliff is sprayed with a prodigious amount of wet, red blood, dripping from the blades of grass, fronds of the low ferns, and the lower hanging tree leaves as well. The only sign remaining of Rydel is a still smoldering cigar butt. All the while, the incessant buzz of the insects and calls of birds, monkeys, and other wildlife carry on

Once both Harbek and Tristalt have safely ascended the rope, Kel starts readying the remaining supplies and the net, getting them ready to be tied off after he and Quentin make their way up the rope. Looking up at Quentin while kneeling at the task, he nods, visibly somewhat nervous about the impending ascent and softly utters, "Careful now. See you at the top."

OOC

For the climb back up, recall that it is a sixty foot climb. If Quentin or Kel elects on taking 10 on the climb, it will take that character about four to five minutes to make the ascent. Otherwise, the climb will require four successful climb checks at a DC of 5 to scale all sixty feet, but will take less than half of a minute.

[Firebeard]

Jesek got to the bottom of the cliffs and began tying things onto himself, preparing for the trip up the ropes. I can do this, I know I can. He thought to himself. He helped Kel and the others tie the canvas "sacks" to the rope before plucking Buckeye from the ground and depositing the badger in his tunic. It was a tight fit, but they had done it before, and the badger settled in quietly as the witch began to pull himself up the rope.


Here's a few climb rolls, not much of a modifier but at least I can't fail by more than 5.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]

[SquirrelKing]

Mid-day, 7 Erastus 4711

With Jesek successfully ascending the dangling rope, it was an easy affair for Quentin and finally Kel to do the same. Before doing so, Kel made sure that all of the leftover goods were securely tied off at the end of the rope before he made his way carefully up the cliff face.

His face blanched at the sight of the blood and the nervous, wary faces around him that were half-expecting another attack, but luckily no attack came. Perhaps a morbid sense of luck could be attributed that whatever got Rydel had satisfied its hunger and therefore did not return for further meals. Pushing that thought out of their minds, the group worked to pull the dead weight of the supplies from the ship. Sweating from the effort, they finally lift them the last few feet until finally the rations, water, lanterns, oil, and more all lay at their feet at the edge of the cliff.

A quick unfastening of the rope later, the gear was provisioned and ready to be transported back to the makeshift camp where the rest of the castaways await their return. The walk down the sloping hill at the edge of the cliff proved much easier than their ascent, and soon they were walking along the beach, passing by their earlier kills which were swarmed by a multitude of scavengers at this point. The clear stench of quickly baking and rotting aquatic flesh assailed their senses. The heat of the sun was working fast on both the corpses and those walking by.

Casting one last look back into the cove, the group could see that the Jenivere was now rocking steadily with the increase of the tidal waters. Within the next half hour to an hour, the ship will most likely be dislodged from the cliff, and moved to its final home beneath the waters.

A short jaunt from there finds the group approaching the remaining castaways amidst an animated conversation. The well-dressed gnome Gelik was seated upon a moss-covered rock beneath the shade provided by the trees, listening with a bemused smile. Aerys and Sasha were talking quickly back and forth; Aerys quite obviously on the offense, shouting and jabbing accusatory fingers while Sasha was backing away, hands held upward, palms out trying to get a word in edgewise. The prisoner Jask, meanwhile, was doing his best to placate the two, but being considered an outcast even among castaways, plus being manacled proved to be less than an effective diplomat, despite his clearly heartfelt attempts.

"...sick of your feeble attempts and help and your pointless inane drivel, you worthless scrag! Send ya to scout and what happens?! Yer a curse, s'what I say! I'd rather be quit of ya, and soon!" Aerys yelled, continuing to advance on the wide-eyed red-haired woman until she was backed against an ivy-covered tree.

"B..but it wasn't my fault! I...he..." Sasha stuttered and stumbled, tears threatening to tumble out of her eyes as she shrank back against the tree to escape the raging woman. Since her back was facing Sasha, Aerys did not see the group advancing, and thankful, teary eyes latch onto what she hopes is her obvious rescue. In almost her normal, near-manic tone, "You're back! And with new people!" She uses Aerys' evident surprise to slide out from between her and the tree, and runs up to the others, a massive smile on her face. The rest of the castaways start their way towards the group as well, surprise rather evident on their faces as they see not only Jesek and Tristalt but also the heavy load of supplies.

Harbek, Quentin

The two of you notice that Valenor is not with the castaways. He'd stayed behind when the rest of you went to explore the ship. It also doesn't look like they'd moved much since you left about two hours previously.

[Blisstake]

Upon seeing the camp, Harbek wants to just collapse on the ground around the camp-site. It certainly hasn't been an easy day for him, with the combination of infuries, poison, and overall exhaustion starting to take their toll. However, the half-orc manages a weak smile toward Sasha and says, "We are not dead, yet."

Of course, at this rate it's only a matter of time...

He then points to the supplies they found, and adds, "Take what you need. I think... I think I need to rest a bit." With that said, Harbek clumsily tries to remove his armor, and when that's finally done, looks for a spot with relatively soft ground. He closes his eyes, too tired to think about Valenor's dissappearance or the fighting going on in the camp.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looked at the camp and the arguing women and smiled hesitantly. He held his hand down low to stop Buckeye from just ambling forward into the camp. "Umm..hi." he said hesitantly. Watching Harbek making himself at home, Jesek found a spot as far away from the arguing women as posible withint he bounds of the camp and dragged the supplies there. He sat for a moment looking about in some consternation before asking, "Does anyone know where we are? I mean, I got on the ship in Senghor, but this doesn't look like Senghor...or anywhere else I've seen. "

[Okuyama]

"No idea," is all the response Tristalt offers the witch in response to his question. The burden the half-elf carries joins the pile a moment later, followed by a glance around the group. Angry or not, the person Tristalt seems most at ease with is the irate Aerys.

"If she-" Tristalt says to the woman, "was on watch for the man at the cliff, it's likely a miracle she lives. Whatever killed him did so thoroughly- she'd have been another meal. Now? She'll be alert. A death on your watch does that."

The half-elf does not remove coat or hood, apparently comfortable in the drying leather.

[SquirrelKing]

Sasha casts a worried glance down at Harbek, but before she can take much more than a few steps towards the beleaguered half-orc, she stops and stares confused at Tristalt. The dark-skinned Garundi man, Jask, takes a tentative step forward, and asks with a just as confused look on his face, "What do you mean, 'on watch for the man on the cliff'? Valenor didn't go near the cliff..."

Ishirou, as tactless and to the point as usual, points back towards the beach, "He means Rydel. He's dead and body is gone. Killed by...something, while we were on the ship." With a tired sigh, the Tian man settles gracefully into the tall ferns and leans against a tree.

Sasha looks back at Ishirou completely shell-shocked, then over at Aerys with a growing amount of grief and triumph mixed together. Running her fingers through her red hair, she slowly states, "Well...at least we know what happened to Valenor. He..."

Aerys scowls at Sasha, and storms over to the supply pile and busies herself rooting through the goods determinedly. Gelik, all the while, still seems to have a bemused expression on his face at the two women fighting, despite the terrible subject matter.

"...fell into a spiked pit atop the hill behind us. Seems we're not the only ones here. We decided not to go anywhere until you returned as a result." Suddenly her face alights in a wide smile. "Oh, and I'm Sasha!" Then she points at the stooped half-elven female in dark leathers and a tricorn hat, "That's Aerys, don't mind her. She's just grumpy," (which elicits a few choice words in Elven) and then to the well-coifed, goateed gnome standing off to the side, "Gelik," who nods, and finally to the manacled Garundi man in off-white prisoner garb, "and Jask! Were you both on the Jenivere too?" The speed at which Sasha switches from saddened to bright and cheery is likely more than a little disturbing to the newcomers, and only slightly less so to those who've been around her long enough to get somewhat accustomed.

Gelik pockets something he was holding in his hand, and walks closer to Aerys, Jesek, and the bundle of goods. "Yes, yes it's a pleasure to meet everyone and glad you've survived the island of death. But, did you find anything out about what happened? Is the ship able to be saved? Or where the blazes we are?!"

Kel, heedless of the conversation, heads to Harbek and kneels down beside him, "Unfortunately, I cannot do anything to tend to your wounds aside from dressing them and letting you recover from the effects of the poison over time. But, you fought impressively well! Do...and understand I mean no disrespect by my ignorance...injuries and scars have meaning to you and yours? Badges of honor, so to speak? I know some of the Mwangi tribes I've stayed amongst were proud of their scars. Yours will tell a good story someday." The cleric smiled slightly and patted the half-orc gingerly on the shoulder, mindful of his injuries. Kindly, and trying to get a feel for Harbek's tribal customs, he finished, "Let me know if and when you want the wounds looked after."

Aerys finishes looking through the particular pile of gear that Jesek dropped, and eyes the one that Tristalt was carrying. She stands and brushes off her breeches absently, and answers Jesek's inquiry while walking towards Tristalt and his load, "Well, my guess is we're still in the Bay of Desperation, but as to where? I couldn' say. Did ya find any charts or maps?"

Harbek

Despite your extreme fatigue, you notice that Aerys is seemingly barely restraining from tearing through the pile of supplies. Each time she sees a waterskin, she switches from a hopeful expression to crestfallen and tosses the full bladder of water to the side.

[Okuyama]

In response to0 the questions, Tristalt offers a handful of ters responses, moving towards the pile of gear. "The ship is done. I was on the ship. And a pit is a trap. They aren't meant to be found." The half-elf gives Sasha a look. "Are you a scout? Or were you just a lookout? Big difference."

Tristalt kneels beside Aerys. "Tell me what you're looking for. If I find it while we look for charts, I'll say. But I didn't have any maps."

[Blisstake]

Harbek chuckles, a bit amused, "They mean something to orcs: That you are lucky or just have too much stubborn to die. But I am not an orc... not anymore. The scars have no meaning, so um... not necesary to keep them, Kel." Although he generally doesn't like talking about orcish customs, Harbek adds, almost as an afterthought, "But thank you for asking.".

Wondering how bad the wounds actually looked, Harbek removes his tattered tunic, and sees two large puncture wounds, halfway healed up, but still incredibly sore. He decides against touching them, and turns to look toward Aerys, noticing her strange expressions.

"Looking for something? The water should be good." he asks somewhat shyly.

[SquirrelKing]

Kel smiles slightly, and nods. "You're quite welcome."

Sasha nods animatedly at Tristalt's terse responses as though they were having a pleasant conversation. "Fair enough. I'm glad you survived!" Pausing a moment to let Tristalt continue, she grins widely, eyes sparkling she raises her eyebrows, and leans forward to emphasize her words, "I suppose we was scouting to lookout for a new camp..."

Rolling her eyes, Aerys starts to dig through the next load. Eyeing Harbek momentarily, she sighs wistfully and nods, her hand on another waterskin, "I'd soon as face down Rovagug 'imself for a swallow or two of grog!"

Continuing without waiting for a response or reaction to her private joke, Sasha suddenly becomes somber again and says while grabbing a full waterskin and popping the cork off of it, "He went one way...I went another. I heard a cracking noise, then he yelled...and...nothing. Found 'im a couple minutes later at the bottom of the pit..." she trails off. She bites her lip and is lost in thought, eyes staring forward unfocused.

"Now that's what I want to hear! A map... Let's get searching and find a way back to the warm beds, women, and all of the grog you can drink in beautiful civilization!" Gelik begins to search through the goods as well, seemingly reinvigorated.

Meanwhile, Jask gestures for Kel to step aside with him. Smiling apologetically to Harbek, the cleric stands and joins Jask. After wandering a few dozen feet, they have a quiet conversation out of earshot. The end result is that Kel points to Quentin, and shrugs. Jask nods thankfully towards the cleric, and slowly moves forward to ask Quentin, "My friend, I don't suppose you found a way out of....these?" he says quietly, showing his manacled hands. "Kel said you searched the captain's cabin," he finished, by way of explanation.

Kel then made his way back to Harbek. He knelt beside the half-orc to start investigating the wounds, murmured an apology for the interruption, and started ripping some cloth to apply a makeshift tourniquet to some of the wounds. Looking at Harbek, he raises his brows to get Harbek's permission before tending to the supporating, swollen stinger wounds.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looked around at all the commotion around him and sighed inwardly. Too many people in one place always made him a little uncomfortable. At least everyone seemed friendly. He left Buckeye rummaging through a corner fo the supplies pile and walked over to where everyone else was working. "Um...yeah, Buckeye and I ran into some trouble dockside in Senghor and decided to hide in the first ship we came to. I didn't know it was about to leave. We...hid in the bottom of the ship for a long time. I don't know what caused the crash, but we found a man with holes in his neck that looked like a giant snake bit him. And Tristan there said there was fighting up on the decks at some point. I'm Jesek, by the way, and that there's Buckeye."

Jesek looked through the piles with the others, hoping to find the maps or maybe a crossbow. He had left in such a hurry that he had nothing on him but his spell pouch and a walking stick.

[Okuyama]

The half-elf rose a little and half-turned. "Tristalt. Not Tristan."

Settling down again, Tristalt's fingers snapped as the weaponless half-elf seems to recall something at Aerys' mention of booze. "Right. I'll keep an eye out for some. Wouldn't hold your breath." A sympathetic look passed, one half-elf to another, and then a gloved hand patted the woman's shoulder, briefly, before Tristalt got up for good and turned.

Pay attention. All of you." The raspy voice was raised, but just enough to be heard. "There was a fight on deck when the ship crashed. Most were unconscious. I don't know why. I don't know who was fighting. Does anyone know what happened?" A pause. "It could be the ones that killed... Rydel? Or that set the trap. The second is less likely."

[infoweasel]

Quentin, having set down his bag slightly apart from the rest of the provisions, nods in Jask's direction. "Hopefully so. Try one of these." Tossing the manacled man the set of keys he found in the captain's cabin, the metal ring is in no sooner in the air arcing toward Jask's outstretched hands as he's digging back into the makeshift sack, pulling out the captain's log and charts, and eyeing the wounded half-orc.
"Harbek, aren't you familiar with these parts? Maybe you could make more sense of these than I can." A step into delivering the rolled-up pieces of oiled parchment, he snaps his fingers and turns around to dig into the sack once more. "Oh, and maybe this'll help with that nasty bit o' venom you've got coursing through those veins. Here."
Making his way to Harbek's side, he hands the beleaguered warrior the flask titled 'Counter-Sickness' and the charts.
"Now, let's see if our former captain can shed some light on this thrice-damned place we're in..." With that, he plops rather unceremoniously into the sand and hunches over the leather-bound tome.

[SquirrelKing]

Nearly half of a dozen of neatly folded maps and seafaring charts are handed to Harbek before Quentin begins studying the captain's journal. Unfurling the maps reveals a generic map of the northwestern coastline of Golarion, comprising mainly of Varisia, Nidal, and Cheliax coastlines; a chart bearing shipping lanes around Mediogalti to the Shackles; another chart showing shipping lanes from the Shackles to the Mwangi Expanse and Sargava regions; a generic map without the lanes showing much of the same region in slightly better detail; and an even more detailed map of Desperation Bay, marking many of the hazards, islands, the strong currents, and the very few settlements that dot the region.

Meanwhile, Jask misses the tossed keys, since his hands are shackled behind his back. Still, he dips down to his knees, and clumsily gathers up the keyring. Switching from key to key, he tries them with a mixture of hope and determination spread across his bearded face. At last, nearly tearful with joy, Jask finally fits one of the keys in his manacles and gives a slight grunt of pain as he finally is able to swing his arms freely about. He spends some time stretching his arms, loosening the muscles, and saying thankful prayers to the sky. Careful ears are able to pick up that he praises the deity Nethys.

Gelik and Sasha exchange a look between them at Tristalt's questions, and shrug simultaneously. Gelik is the one to speak up, tugging at his chin beard occasionally as he says, "Sorry my boy, but I haven't the slightest idea. We were talking while that lot was searching the ship, and none of us recall anything after dinner aside from a sort of hazy darkness. Maybe a few muffled words, but that's about it. We're in the dark just as much as you are. I certainly don't know about any fight on deck. Or about a big snake. But...we can hazard a guess as to how it all turned out." He nods at the loosely gathered group of castaways, huddled around their piles of supplies as they hide from the sun and bat at the insects beneath the canopy of thick jungle trees.

Recap of Supplies Found

a beautifully crafted darkwood model of the Jenivere encased in a glass bottle
a dark brown, sealed bottle labeled "Mejr's Brandy"
a small, rectangular box with a simple brass catch (inside is 350gp)
a long, rolled-up leather satchel. Within twelve specially sewn pockets are several vials of liquid:
Three are labeled "Healing"
One is labeled "Stronger Healing"
Five are labeled "For Internal Injuries"
One is labeled "Counter-Sickness"
One is labeled "Marlin's Breath"
One is labeled "Water Stride"
24 days worth of water
24 days worth of food ration
a block and tackle
5 shovels
3 large canvas sheets
2 fishing nets
grappling hook
2 bullseye lanterns
12 flasks of oil
3 sections of 50' hemp rope

As the rest of the gear is searched, Jask spots a few items of interest to him. As he points them out, Quentin realizes they were items in the footlocker in the captain's cabin: the leather armor, the rune-carved dagger, 2 vials of liquid, belt pouch of spellcasting supplies, and the necklace. Jask asks only for the armor, dagger, pouch, and necklace. "The rest of you can have the potions. The armor as well, if you like, as my thanks for freeing me. But I'd prefer to have something to protect myself with. And this..." he says, pointing to the necklace, "will finally let me back in the Runelord's graces again, where I'll happily help tend to injuries. Favor for a favor, yes?" He looks imploringly at the goods he requests, as if asking permission. As an afterthought, he adds, "Oh, and the potions are simple healing draughts, but I'd wager they're going to come in handy..." he says, looking back at the jungle.

Quentin

It takes you several minutes to pore through the well-used book. The beginning of the ledger tracks with infinite detail and precision the many trips the Jenivere has made in the past, on a day-to-day basis. That same detail holds for this last trip as well, until around two-thirds into the trip. Starting around the entries for Mediogalti, the entries begin to become less detailed and more haphazard, often skipping days entirely.

Moreover, the entries begin to focus less on the happenings of the ship, but rather begin to become focused on the Varisian scholar, Ieana. Judging by the entries, the good captain was becoming rather fixated, if not infatuated, with her. These entries become terribly-written love poems. Then, the love poems give way to more and more jealous ruminations that the crew have their eyes on "my Ieana". Several entries indicate that the captain feels that Alton, the first mate, is in love with her and wishes fervently, repeatedly, that Alton would "just have an accident".

The last entry in this bizarre progression was made two days previously. In it, Captain Kovack writes:

5 Erastus 4711. My dearest Ieana and I shall live happily forever! She's asked me to change our destination to Smuggler's Shiv. Who am I to argue with true love?! The rest of the crew I suspect will enjoy this surprise as well. However, if they do not...well, I suppose something will have to be done about them. Oh Ieana, I can see it now. Our own island home, away from the world's cares...

[infoweasel]

Quentin tilts his head slightly in confusion as the newly revealed cleric of Nethys offers his only apparent protective measure as a reward for something the inquisitor would've done anyway. "Keep the armor, it's yours after all."

Sighing, he settles into explaining the ramblings of the late captain and his apparent infatuation with Ieana.
Quoting the last entry and explaining the gist and pattern of the other recent entries, he surmises, "It would seem our captain was bewitched by this Ieana, and if the last entry is any indication, we're probably near or on our way to this 'Smugglers Shiv.'"
Closing the book, he shrugs, "At least that might explain why we're alive and not with the ship. Put us ashore after drugging us and went on his merry way to chase this fantasy of his."
Peering toward Harbek, he asks, "So now we know why we're here. Any chance that map shows where 'here' is?"

[SquirrelKing]

After a quick search of the last map which details Desperation Bay, Harbek spots Smuggler's Shiv some thirty miles off of the Sargava shore, almost due north of Eleder. The map also marks several strong currents that run around and near the island, noting it as particularly hazardous.

Many in the group know basic details about the island, if indeed that's where they are...and signs point more and more to that as fact. First, Smuggler's Shiv is fairly infamous as a locale that smugglers and ne'er-do-wells use to try to hide from the Sargavan navy. The "Shiv" part of the name references the island's curved knife-like shape. Unfortunately for the smugglers, they tend to succumb to the swift currents, and perish as their ships get dashed on the many cliff walls that line the island. Indeed, there are very few beaches, and to reach almost all of them is quite potentially deadly.

Kel speaks up and says in a soft tone, "The Mwangi people and some of the people who trade with them speak of the island as being haunted by the sailors and others who've died here. It seems that no settlements have ever lasted here for any length of time thanks to the ghosts and restless dead. However..." he pauses as he thinks a moment, "I seem to recall someone trying to set up a sizable settlement of some sort here. Perhaps one of you know?"

Jask nods, continuing, "If records are right, the Chelish tried to settle here back when Sargava was first founded. Some of their engineers built a lighthouse on the...southwest shore? That was to be the first building of a new colony...but it never came to be. The colony was abandoned shortly after the lighthouse was finished amidst tales of hauntings, curses, and cannibalism. If you believe such tales. But...but! There might be an explanation for the traps that Valenor fell prey to. Stories tell of a group of Chelish soldiers who wrecked here, much as we did. They fell into the most banal ways, and became a crude cannibalistic society. Some of the sailors I've spoken with...err, back when I worked in Sargava as a clerk...mentioned that these cannibals still roam the island, looking for more shipwrecked souls. I...can't imagine living like that, but I've heard the Chelish practice much worse back home."

A few others nods their assent and confirmation of Jask's tale, and add similar flavorful pieces to the story that mark Smuggler's Shiv as a pretty bleak place. A heavy silence follows as everyone digests the information in their own way...

Map of the Shiv

Earlier Survival checks indicate that you're somewhere on the northern side of the island, thanks to positioning using the sun and other indicators.
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m589/SquirrelKing34/SmugglersShivMap.jpg

[Firebeard]

Map with grid can be found here (http://bradgrinstead.com/tmp/smugglersShivMap.png)

If you want a smaller grid, let me know.


"Cannibals? Really? Maybe I should have stayed in Dockside. Okay, fine. We're here. Now what do we do? These supplies won't last us for long, maybe a few weeks. the island looks like it might have food and water, but judging by the fate of the other scouts, we had best go carefully while exploring."

[infoweasel]

Sighing heavily, Quentin curses under his breath as the details of their rather unfortunate situation come to light. Leaning over Harbek's shoulder and examining the map, but proceeding to make neither heads nor tails of it, he straightens up and asks to the group at large, "So our first order of business is to find where the closest bastion of humanity is from this gods-accursed place. Someone please tell me there's a colony just across the strait...I could use some good news."

[Blisstake]

"Cannibals, huh?" The only reason Harbek even knows what the word means in common is because of the number of times he's been called one due to his orcish blood.

"We do need to search at some time, but right now, survive is most important. Need to find place for food and good water. Or we can die looking for people who could be dead right now."

Harbek looks through the potions they acquired, and asks Jask, "Can one potion help with poison?"

[SquirrelKing]

Gelik smirks at Quentin and nods a few times in agreement, then sighs. "Much as I'd love for that to be true, my good man... Still it wouldn't hurt to have a look. Maybe we can find our dear captain. Better yet, I'd like to get my hands on Ieana," he finishes with a scowl.

Aerys merely nods at the suggestion, her eyes dark and lips pulled tight, seething with anger as she turns back to rummaging through the goods. Instead of haphazardly sifting through it as she had been, she begins to sort the goods into groups.

Sasha claps her hands together and wrings them around a few times. "Well, it wouldn't do to have all of us explore. What if a few of us go?" Her face is at once hesitant and anxious.

Jask steps forward and shakes his head, still rubbing his shoulder tenderly. "Harbek has it right. Sure, we need to explore, but we have some injured among us and it wouldn't serve us any good to add to their numbers right now. Still. This area is not a suitable campsite, as Harbek mentioned before going to the ship. So, perhaps we'd do well to find someplace more suitable in the immediate vicinity. Preferably protected from rain..." he says, gesturing vaguely to the north, where darkened skies are growing out to sea. As some turn their gazes to the north, Jask kneels down by Harbek and Kel, who's trying to tend to the wounds as best he can. "And to answer your question...there are indeed draughts and potions that can remedy all manner of injuries. Question is...are those vials what they claim to be? Until I can pray and hear Nethys' voice again, I am without the capability to determine this magically. And, shamed though I am to admit it, I haven't the training to tell the manner of concocted substances either." Jask runs two fingers from his forehead to his chin, sighs, then turns to look at the others, "Anyone here have the ability to determine the nature of those potions? Whether they're magical or simple herbal remedies? Or better yet, actually tell what they can do?"

Gelik grunts and shakes his head, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Angrily, he mutters, "Never thought to learn... But, I can at least tell if they are indeed enchanted." With that, he murmurs a quick incantation and looks around. Focusing for about a half of a minute, he points to the satchel with the twelve potions inside, "All of those bottles are." Turning, he continues to scan, his eyes barely aglow. "Those two bottles are..." he indicates the two phials that were in with Jask's armor and holy symbol. "That's it, I'm afraid."

Aerys looks up, "Well, it's a damn sight better than tramping around in the jungle for no better reason than to see what there is to see!" She stares daggers at Sasha, who doesn't seem to pick up on the barb since she's looking up into the jungle fixedly. Sighing, Aerys collects herself inwardly, then stands. Annoyed, she brushes a few sizable ants off her legs, then points out to sea. " 'sides, we want to hunker down before that gets here. We can use these canvases to protect ourselves from the rain. Then, when the rain ends, we look for better ground. Fair? Anyway, I'm a sailor first and a city gal next. I don't know the first thing about...out there. Any of you?"

Kel raises his hand, "Spent a fair part of my life in the jungles amidst the Mwangi. Granted, I had guides to help me, but I'd like to think that I picked a few things up here and there. And first thing's first. Don't drink any water or eat any food you don't trust. Bring it to me. I'll ensure that it's safe to eat. Believe me...you don't wish to drink befouled water out here. It's...unpleasant, to say the least. As for the potions, I am not prepared for such incantations today, but I would be glad to assist Jask in identifying the potions...tomorrow. Best I can do, I'm afraid," he finishes with an apologetic shrug.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looked up at the mention of identifying items. He recalled that Telrod had encouraged this activity as a chance to sharpen the boy's mind and attune himself to the arcane energies around him. "Umm...I could maybe identify those things. Master Telrod used to have me do it as part of my education. Let me see them. Please"

The young witch took the vials from Gelik carefully and eyed them closely. Staring at the vials, he opened his mind to the arcane energies around him and breathed deeply. He could see the energy radiating from those that practiced magic around him, as well as the items before him. Shutting out the others he looked deep into entwined bands of colored energy that he saw and tried to determine the magical properties associated with each twisting, winding set of vapor.


witch can cast detect magic essentially at will, and it takes 3 rounds of study to perform a spellcraft identification on an item, so around 5 minutes later he should have answers?

Rolls are in the dice roller thread

[Blisstake]

"Okay. We have plan then? First thing is look for a good campsite, then for food and water." It seems simple enough saying it, but Harbek gets the uncomfortable feeling that it will be far more difficult. "No one goes exploring without me. I know how to move in jungle, and I know some plants and animal we might find. Understand?"

[Okuyama]

"Hate to say it, but you're not ready to hunt. For a campsite or anything else. Not unless one of those potions fixes what ails you." Tristalt eyes the ones marked "For Internal Injuries." "Check those first."

In response to the questions about moving in the forest, the half-elf shrugs. "Not my kind of place. Take me if you leave, though. I can fight. Also, got more armor and less wounds than most." Tristalt's heavy coat did seem more than a little formidable... but still no weapon was obvious.

[Firebeard]

"Okay, here's what we have." Jesek explained what he had learned about the potions, holding the one that restored vitality out to Harbek as the half-orc's eyes lit up. "These should be helpful in many scenarios. As for exploring, I'm not exactly a fighter, but Master Telrod taught me a thing or two about supporting a group in combat with my powers."

[Blisstake]

Harbek graps the potion labelled "For Internal Injuries" and drinks it in a few large gulps. He sighs in relief as the potion's magic washes away some of the debilitating poison inside of him, but winces a bit at the bitter taste in his mouth.

"So that's what potion tastes like," he grunts. Of course, he had never had a potion before. Orcs never had any use for them, and when he was living with humans, he didn't have enough money to afford even the cheapest.

"Anyone ready for exploring?"

I believe lesser restoration is a [roll0]

[Firebeard]

"Buckeye and I are ready any time." Jesek hefts an imaginary pack to his shoulder. "That is, if there is a need to go. I mean, there's the storm and all."

[SquirrelKing]

In the short time that's passed since Jask first mentioned the clouds building to the north, the wind starts to pick up considerably and the air takes on an expectant quality. As if listening to Jesek, the first distant rumble of thunder announces itself.

As the winds increase, a few stray strips of cloth and other supplies begin to tumble about in the grass and sand, and several of the castaways scatter to catch them. Returning quickly to the makeshift camp with the loose supplies, the group begins to hustle about in preparation for the swiftly gathering thunderhead. By the time the first canvas is spread out as directed by Harbek and Kel, the susurrus of the increased surf and the winds blowing through the overhead canopy coupled with the closing grumbles of thunder makes it quickly necessary to shout orders.

The castaways barely have all three canvases set up and are huddled beneath them, each person hanging dearly onto a corner, before the rain begins. But it doesn't ease into it. The first drops that fall hit like small individual hammers. Then it's as if the sky opens up into a glimpse of the realm of Gozreh himself. Winds whip the canvases sharply. Lightning illuminates the otherwise greatly darkened jungle and sea in rapid flashes. Thunder threatens to pierce the eardrums. The rain almost falls horizontally, and impacts with a noticeable force. Still, under Jesek, Harbek, and Kel's shouted orders, no supplies are lost in the quickly ensuing deluge from the hill's runoff or the howling wind, and aside from their feet, the group stays surprisingly dry.

Fifteen minutes later, under a briefly glimpsed rainbow, aside from the water dripping from the leaves and the soaked ground and the occasional felled branch and twig, there's little sign of the storm that passed other than the muted rumbles of far-off thunder. The sun begins to beat on the castaways mercilessly once more, and the humidity swells, soupy and stifling, immediately thereafter. Kel chuckles as he looks around at the bewildered looks of those unaccustomed to such storms. "Welcome to Sargava. Now...let's be on our way to look for a better campsite. This one...has issues," he says, pointing to the small lake of water and mud gathered beneath their feet as a result of the hill's runoff. "So...which way do we want to go? I didn't have a good look at the map, I'm afraid."

[Firebeard]

"Well, I'm certainly no expert in island exploration and survival, but it seems to me that we have conflicting impetus here. One, the desire to be rescued. To maximize that outcome, we would need to remain near the shore, which would probably conflict with our second goal - finding decent shelter. Add to that our tertiary goal of learning more about this island we have been thrown upon so suddenly." Jesek looked at the others and continued "I would say that in the limited time allotted to us we should consider making our way southwest towards the river here to find a decent water supply. what do you think, Harbek?" Jesek points at the river on the map (starts at F14).

[Okuyama]

"Shelter is first. We can leave markers for rescuers. We need to be alive when they get here. Tristalt's voice was a little imposing for the moment, but it lost a little steam. "... that said, I don't know the woods." A glance went to the half-orc. "What do you say? Go with Jesek's plan? Something else?"

[Blisstake]

Harbek is a bit surprised at people actually asking his opinion, after being used to being ignored by... just about everyone. Jesek had a good plan, though, so the ranger didn't have much to add.

"Jesek is right. Look for water first, then for... ah, permanent camp. I don't think food should be too much probem right away."

[infoweasel]

Quentin nods in agreement to the discussion of finding water, remembering vaguely what he saw on the map. Looking to Harbek, he notes, "I'm more used to jungles than forests, but I've spent a decent amount of time tromping around in foliage m'self, when it comes time to explore. S'pose we should get to tearing down camp and finding that river, eh?"
Suiting actions to words, he begins taking down the canvas with the other castaways, shaking off the water and folding it up as best he can as the rest of the group goes about collecting foodstuffs and the other supplies.

[SquirrelKing]

Despite cold glances directed at Sasha from Aerys, the group agrees to the others' suggestions for their plan of action. Foodstuffs and supplies get wiped off, divvied between people that need them, and some of the heavier items are given to the stronger members of party.

When most of the items have been gathered up, Sasha saunters up to Harbek, Jesek, and Quentin chewing her lip and looking plaintive. Clearly troubled, she speaks softly while tossing the occasional glance over their shoulders at the rest of the castaways. "Uhm...do you think we should do something with...err, about...Valenor's...body? Do we just...leave it...him there?"

Meanwhile, Gelik is helping pack up a few of the flasks of oil and rope with Tristalt. All the while, the gnome throws curious glances at the half-elf. Finally, it seems to bubble over and get the best of him. "Alright, I'll give you that you're a healthy one, and seem like you have a level head about you." He looks down at Tristalt's hands and then to his hips. He leans forward, and raises his eyebrows appraisingly if not coolly, "But you do not have a weapon. Do you...need one?" This last sentence said smirking and in a tone that hints at dealing with someone less than capable.

[Blisstake]

Harbek shrugs, "Leave it. Food for animals." Though it seems a bit cold of him, it is actually far better treatment to his body than a normal orc would suggest. While he lived in the Shattered Skull Clan, he saw many of his clan members consume the flesh of their conquests. It repulsed Harbek, especially when he was forced to eat the meat himself.

He winces a bit at the memory.

[Firebeard]

"Well, there are shovels if you want to bury him while we are scouting out for a new place. If we are going to stay here for any length of time, we probably don't want his body decaying openly so close to camp. It will bring large predators and possibly disease." Jesek tried to say this casually, but with at least some compassion. He didn't know the dead man, and wasn't sure how well the others did either, but it was plain that Sasha, at least, was troubled.

[infoweasel]

Having apparently forgotten the poor soul who fell victim to the pit trap, he purses his lips at the two suggestions and then notes, "Perhaps we can build a quick funeral pyre? Leaves the body sanitary and save us having to lug it around. Maybe Kel could say a few quick words...?"

[SquirrelKing]

Aerys picks up on the latter part of the conversation, and walks over burdened with a few bags and one of the shovels, looking incredulously at Sasha, Jesek, and Quentin. She shakes her head and says, "Were we not just discussing getting a headstart on finding a good campsite? I'd rather have clean water available and enough daylight left to set up a camp. Valenor's no use to us in his current state, and unless you intend to see if he has any possessions worth lifting, then I say we let nature run its course. If ya wish to stay back and say something or...whatever, then I shall see you at the camp."

Jask holds Aerys' gaze a moment, a look of disapproval on his face. "These folks risked their lives on that ship to find food and supplies for us! Least we can do is provide some measure of comfort to them in ushering their deceased friend along." He pauses and looks at Harbek and the rest. "Or the least I can do. I'll help. If you'll have me. But...she has one point right. We should make it quick. Night falls fast in the jungle." Sasha squeals, claps her hands a few times, and picks up her load of supplies, then points up the hill.

"The trap's up that way. And Valenor! I just...feel terrible about it and that I need to do something" To which, Aerys mutters something lost in the breeze and looks about for anyone else who wants to get a move on to the campsite. Kel shakes his head at Aerys, and moves towards Sasha. Dipping his head in a nod, he says in his usual measured voice, "He was my friend, too, despite not knowing him long. I'd be disgraced if I didn't at least say goodbye."

Gelik shakes his head, but says nothing and stands up from packing and hefts his gear into place. He moves over by Aerys, his face impassive if not impatient. Ishirou looks increasingly conflicted, looking back and forth between the groups, but ultimately walks to join Sasha and the rest. "We lost two today. At least I can say farewell to one. Then, camp. Yes?" His voice betraying his inner turmoil on the two decisions.

[Blisstake]

The half-orc sighs, "Fine, but be fast," and walks forward with Aerys without any further comment.

[Okuyama]

Tristalt glanced at Gelik over the tall collar of the leather coat. A moment later, an eerie green glow filled the hollow end of the too-long right-hand sleeve, though nothing was visible outside the garment. "Just as armed as the rest of you. I'll be fine." The half-elf kept most of the irritation at the statement hidden, but to be honest, Tristalt wasn't the best liar. It was enough to make the attempt at civility obvious, though.

The half-elf followed Aerys as well. Harbek might have just taken a potion to recover from the injuries, but how recovered was he? Most of the warriors would be heading back to bury the fellow in the pit, or pick over his body, neither activity being something with which Tristalt wanted to participate.

[Firebeard]

Jesek looked back and forth between the groups, then shrugged and followed Tristan and Harbek into the woods. It was his idea after all, and he had no desire to bury more corpses. That was something he had his fill of early in life after the goblin attacks.

[SquirrelKing]

The matter settled, the two groups set off into the forest in their respective directions.

Quentin, Sasha, Ishirou, Jask, and Kel gather their gear and struggle to ascend the vine-strewn and rocky hill to the south. Once at the top and after a brief breather, they journey a short distance along the ridge to where Valenor met his final end. Sasha points where she'd been scouting out when she heard him fall, and is noticeably trouble by recounting the tale. She hangs back a bit as Jask and Kel step forward to the roughly circular hole in the forest floor. Judging from the looks on their face and the slight recoil at the sight, the elan did not meet a pleasant end. Jask looks over at Kel, puts a hand on his shoulder in silent comfort, and gestures wordlessly asking if Kel would like to continue. Kel nods, sighs a moment to collect himself, and thinks There's been so much death in the last day. Even in the Mwangi, where death is a way of life, rarely is it so much at once. The crew...the passengers...are we next? Mentally, he steels himself, casting the last thought out of his mind. It certainly would not do to have such a mindset. He kneels down by the edge of the pit, puts a hand to his beaded prayer necklace and holy symbol, and starts to speak in Polyglot for his prayers to lead the spirits to welcome Valenor's among them. Funny how spending so much time amidst the Mwangi tribes seems to make it more...apropos to pray in their language.

Ishirou stands uncomfortably with the others, not knowing what to do in response to Kel's strange prayers. He has no hat to take off, so he busies himself with his hands fidgeting in front of him and a sad pallor across his face. Sasha nods to herself many times all the while. Her eyes are closed with her lips moving but no words coming out. Jask stands silent and motionless. When Kel finishes, he sighs deeply, then stands and nods his thanks to Jask. "He that creates also destroys. And now, Pharasma is his caretaker." He pauses a few moments in respect, then turns around. "He's about fifteen or so feet down. I don't think we should go climbing down after him...I don't trust the sides of the pit or the spikes at the bottom...nor do I think we'll have enough time to bury him if we want to reach camp by nightfall. Still, I'll honor your wishes and help you if you want to commend him to the earth."

Meanwhile, Aerys, Gelik, Harbek, Jesek and Tristalt make their way southeast. Immediately, it's evident that the journey will not be easy or enjoyable in any way. Heavy vines, undergrowth, branches, fallen limbs and trees, and other plant life hinder their progress, coupled with broken, uneven, rocky terrain makes for very slow progress. Under the shady canopy, they get little view of the sun above but it feels no less warm. Clouds of insects follow the castaways and make meals of them. All the while they're surrounded by the constant calls of animals, the creaking of the trees above, and droning of the insects. Soon, though, the lapping of the ocean waves becomes a memory.

Shortly after leaving, Aerys looks up at the tree canopy, then back to the others and stops. "Without the sun or stars, I can't navigate worth a damn. One a' you gents better at this? Harbek is it? You said you know jungles. Think you can lead us to the river? Hopefully those other fools meet us there shortly after."

Gelik smirks and swats for the hundredth time at the ubiquitous insects. "Serves 'em right if they get lost. He didn't even have anything on 'im worthy of the effort. Country bumpkin s'what he was."

OOC

Harbek - guess I'll need a Survival roll after all, please? (If he decides to take the lead.) Anyone wishing to assist can do so.

Also, give me an indication of your intended route on the map, square by square please. Thanks!

[SquirrelKing]

Thankful for his knowledge of the terrain and navigating it, Aerys gladly steps aside as Harbek checks the lay of the land and gets his bearings. Soon, the group is on their way, pushing through the dense vegetation. To those familiar with the Mwangi, it's no different than the jungles they'd been in before. But it's immediately evident that at least Gelik and Aerys had never done any jungle exploration previously. While Aerys quickly tires of the sightseeing and oohing and aahing, Gelik seems to be absorbing it all with a quiet (especially for him) fascination.

Other than stopping a few times for a breather for the majority of the winded, tired travelers and an opportunity for Harbek to survey the land, the next almost five hours were surprisingly tiring, difficult, and mostly silent travel through the jungle. Most were simply too fixated on climbing, descending, pushing through brush, watching their footfalls, and other wary travel to really lend to any sort of conversation other than short warnings or guidance.

Finally, the trickling of water reveals their journey is at an end for the day. Soaked with sweat, itching at numerous bug bites and stings, and their muscles begging for a break, the castaways collapse near a small flowing stream nearly four feet in width that tumbles over several small stones. Despite his usual care for his appearance, Gelik tosses his hat to the side and dips his head into the water to cool off, letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Aerys looks tiredly over at Harbek, sets down her load of gear, and nods her sincere thanks. Then, she dips her hands into the stream and splashes her face.