The Savage Tide, Part 2 (IC) [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

lostsole31

2013-11-30, 04:23 PM

R3T23: Tom continues to ascend. He gets within 10' of the opening, and takes his rope out of his pack to get ready.

R3T21: Agnipati's shadow gets deeper and deeper as the light gets higher, the water rises, and she goes deeper.

R3T18: Shouting Tree continues to "ride the rise" as best he can, keeping above water. with Doc Cohen's aid.

R3T10: Tom, the captain has his rope out and has the starting loop for a sheep shank, holding his arm out and "readied" to tie off the lines together.

R3T2: The water rises another 5'.

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T24: With Tom doing well right now, Dr. Cohen tries to hover and barely does so while putting Gili-Nachum away.

R4T23: Tom levitates right next to the captain, and uses the captain's outstretched arm to pull himself onto the "floor."

R4T22.9: The captain ties the lines together and then runs around the side of the lip of the maw. He lets the line drop 10' from Shouting Tree or the doctor so as not to hit them with heavy hemp rope.

R4T21: Agnipati isn't seen anymore, her figure to distant under the dark, fell waters.

R4T18: Shouting Tree has difficulty and goes under, but then pops up 10' away, holding onto the rope.

R4T2: The water rises 5', but Shouting Tree is able to keep pace.

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T24: The doctor keeps pace now, lifting 15' above the waterline, flying in a circular pattern to keep from having to hover.

R5T23: Tom, you are 25' from where the captain is tending the rope. What do you do?

Darrius in the hole (figure out now what you might do), Agnipati on deck.

Tom, if you go to help pull up Shouting Tree, the captain is stronger than you, so you would have to make a raw STR check (if that is where you go and what you do).

Swami Monsoon

2013-12-01, 06:08 PM

Tom assists the captain as he tries to pull Shouting Tree up...

Strength check [roll0]

lostsole31

2013-12-02, 01:33 AM

R5T23: Tom tries to help the captain with the rope, but the squirming underfoot and humidity makes it hard to hold onto the rope.
At this point, I'm going to slide past action calls...
R5T22.9: With a series of pulls that are truly heroic, he pulls Shouting Tree up 15'.

R5T21: Agnipati zooms up to the surface, and even further, before splashing down again, ending at or below the surface.

R5T18: Shouting Tree knows enough not to try to climb the rope at the same time, for fear of opposing forces. He does use the wildly squirming flesh wall as a weak guide. For a second, the wall's plant-warping nature and screaming knocks him so that he hangs there for an infinity of a second or two.

R5T2: The water now is at 75' below the top.

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T24: The water caught up to the doctor again, but this time he uses his albatross-like wings to burst forth. He is having some trouble escaping entirely - his ankles still in the water - but he should be fine.

R6T23/22.9: Working together, the captain and Tom bring Shouting Tree up another 10' to the -45' mark.

R6T21: Agnipati changes into her hellfire hunter form. She tries to do a fast overhand pull, but the sloshing around at the bottom and the sidewalls make it hard for her to do anything but keep her position.

The water rises ...

End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T24: The doctor finally fully clears the rising water, darting straight upwards 50' and leveling out at the -30' mark.

R7T23/22.9: The boys pull Shouting Tree up another 15' to the -30' mark, on the same plane as the doctor.

R7T21: Agnipati looses her grip and slides down, but then manages to bolt up 30' to the -45' mark.

The water rises.

End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T24: Lazer spirals up the maw to land next to Darrius, on the other side of Darrius.

R8T23/22.9: The guys get Shouting Tree up another 20' until he is just 10' from the top.

R8T21: Agnipati covers a whopping 45' before she zooms over the lip.

The water rises, now 60' from the top.

End Round 8, Begin Round 9 ..

With the doctor's help, all three yank Shouting Tree out of the maw.

Everyone can actually see that whatever sank out below is now affecting the sidewalls as well. Whole sloppy strips of screaming, larval vine horrors are starting to detach from the sides and slide into the well.

Round 10 ...

Anyone's action, not "true initiative," but you're still on the clock.

Preferably Tom, then Darrius, but not required.

PSinger

2013-12-02, 02:07 PM

"Take the portables from the treasure in the hold, lads! But this place is coming down around our heads. Only the things we can carry and get out of here with. Looks like that chest of coins is only something pretty we can look at, unless your strength can help, Aggie. At the rate the maw is filling up, we may have time ... or it might start to increase as the walls start to fall."

Darrius will dart forward to where they found treasure.
I'll have to look up what we found and ID'd there before I post again.

lostsole31

2013-12-02, 04:28 PM

The party removes to the forward hold where the treasure lies the treasure.

50' mark estimate.

Tom's detect magic on one cone was interrupted by the captain opening the door that led to the maw of the Mother, though he did detect magic. There are rotting chests (though not fully rotted through) with more than a thousand gold, hundreds of gold platinum, various objets d'art (scrimshaw carvings, quartet of golden goblets, silver church candelabrum, enormous steel barnacle-covered tower shield depicting sharks devouring men, and a watertight bone scroll tube.

It takes a round to take this all in. 45' mark estimate for the water.
..........................................
Agnipati takes the two chests and says, "I can handle the weight, but it will be a clumsy swim. I can take a lot more weight if we affix the chests to a pack or something ... which I don't have."

Swami Monsoon

2013-12-02, 05:55 PM

"Uh, I know that big shield is magic... let's see if I can find anything else. Maybe something a bit lighter..."

Use Detect Magic again

lostsole31

2013-12-02, 06:48 PM

Aggie and the Doc toss stuff towards a center pile, but not too atop each other. Tom detects magic. Shouting Tree begins to coil the 150' section of rope.

40' estimate mark.
.....................................

Tom continues, and senses that there are several magical sources, there is something that makes it hard to determine, as if there are several in one specific part of the cone.

Agnipati changes into that eel form again. Shouting Tree takes off his backpack and begins to put it on Agnipati. The doctor and the captain can help to affix it comfortably to her new form.

35' estimate mark.
.......................................

Tom, you now realize that the shield is magical, and there are several different auras emanating from the scroll tube (which is what threw off your count. Lacking any knowledge in spell theory beyond your own application, you really can't tell much, other than there does seem to be a powerful aura coming from the scroll tube (3, in fact, one of which is of a power you've never experienced). The rest looks like very valuable stuff. The party doesn't know what until you vocalize.

Agnipati is the only one with a backpack. Darrius and Shouting Tree begin loading the chest with platinum onto her. The doctor comes to Tom and prays, healing the tiefling with a whopping spell that recovers everything Tom had suffered.

30' estimate mark.
..........................................

Tom, what do you vocalize and do this round? I will assume that Shouting Tree and Darrius will then load the gold-bearing chest onto Agnipati this round.

Swami Monsoon

2013-12-03, 10:11 AM

Tom grabs the scroll case.

"Yes, the shield is definitely magic. And this thing is really magic..."

lostsole31

2013-12-04, 11:05 PM

Note this edit:
The party removes to the forward hold where the treasure lies the treasure ... There are rotting chests (though not fully rotted through) with more than a thousand gold, hundreds of gold platinum ...
Darrius? What do you do grab/ do?

PSinger

2013-12-05, 02:37 AM

Darrius grabs the shield and the candelabrum.

lostsole31

2013-12-08, 05:21 AM

Because the backpack is either full or has maximum weight attached to it, it comes down to the golden goblets and the scrimshaw carvings. Despite the gleaming gold of the goblets, the doctor and the captain make a quick discussion and determine that the encrusted scrimshaw carvings, would probably bring in more.

25' estimate, and everything is bucking and shaking wildly. It is time ... to ... leave.

Tom is the slowest so he is at the end, but the party is slowed so as not to leave him behind. The group hurries as fast as possible, getting to the poop deck and just down the center stairs of the Thunderer.

10' estimate.

It's an easy jump down to the sargasso, though the doctor takes wing. Another two rounds of moving in difficult terrain, but this time people moving their fastest, leaving Tom behind. He should be good though, his levitate still has some time left. That might help.

A loud crack resounds, and while people keep moving away as fast as possible, in the next minute they see the Thunderer folding in on itself at the stern sinks and the rest follows, slowly tipping the broken-keeled boat up so the wreaking bow stands up, parallel to the mast which is broken and with the deck. Though the main hulk sinks below the waterline, large pieces of driftwood bob back up to the surface. The water churns and churns, and the sargasso is beginning to lose cohesion. Tom is able to levitate for a couple more minutes as the sargasso becomes unstable and falls below the ocean in a pattern spreading out from where the Mother of All once was. Shouting Tree has to make a strong swim, but he is able to keep his head above water. Poor Tom, however, doesn't know how to swim at all and the other swimmers have to huddle to keep him afloat.

Tom switches his aura to perception again, just in case anything any predators of opportunity come to call on the swimming splashing meat. (The latter is mainly Tom, even with help.) Tom uses levitate several times more, each time allowing some travel towards the ship - the doctor uses his flight to push Tom horizontally. The distance was hours, so the tiefling merely exhausts himself of levitate, but not before he uses the spell to lift himself as high as possible, hundreds of feet above the surface of the ocean. There are some low-lying clouds, and the sargasso was many miles wide, but he can see that the ship he can only figure is the Sea Wyern has been freed and is on its way .... probably navigated by the first mate to some last known fix that they seemed to have had. Then Tom falls the hundreds of feet, but it is leisurely with being able to feather fall at will ... perhaps for safety he uses it as soon as the spell fails, or perhaps he enjoys the adrenaline of a good dive with a sudden feather fall to catch him towards the bottom. [That's Swami's choice.]

Once he gets down, there is enough driftwood for the characters to hold onto - primarily Shouting Tree and Tom - so as to be able not have to treads water. Still, the others use the wood as well, weighed down as they are by loot.

In three hours, with evening coming, the Sea Wyvern has found its way to the group. First Mate Kahir stayed in his position, allowing Amelie to captain the ship. She was once a smuggler captain herself and she is the most experienced on the ship after the away team (primarily the captain and the doctor). You are fished out of the water. It does not go unnoticed that Desiria is not with the group. Nobody asks any questions. It is a sailor's curse to dwell on how a shipmate died, and it is best to celebrate how they lived and to drink well on it.
Feel free to RP this with anyone. Technically what happens below is some time later.
.............................................
Eshalyn, you were on the ship, Procan's Cry, when it got caught in a massive sargasso the morning after a night-long fog in still waters. The Cry is a wyvern-class vessel with a lot for crew, and having had capable warriors and many capable passengers .... such as yourself. After two nights fighting disgusting plant men that could whip out deadly, choking vines, it was decided that a proactive mindset was needed. Some intelligence was surely at work, and they needed a passenger with arcane power to help them out.

You were more conscripted than volunteered. You know that plant people can withstand your compulsion spells, your poison, and would be unaffected by magical sussurations you possess. But your ability to swim naturally, and what brute force magic you do have, was desperately needed. The away team, lead by the boatswain (why they pronounce it 'bosun' is beyond you, but likely either sailor laziness or lack of scholarly understanding of using the letters given) wandered fruitlessly for two days of fighting off the horrors at nightime.

During this afternoon, that all changed, and possibly not for the better. The entire sargasso practically screamed and hundreds, perhaps thousands of the monsters rose within the span of a few minutes. The majority of them shambled away from your position as if reacting to something, but a great number still stayed behind to attack your team. With so many, the group you were with was quickly succumbing due to sheer numbers. There was no space for them to swish around those massive vines, so numerous were the plant men.

It was down to just you and a newly minted ABS, young Rory Dulkins, when the plant men suddenly spasmed almost instantaneously and sank into the sargasso matting. You could see the sargasso sinking from some direction and spreading outwards toward you. You had the chance of saving the boatswain, who was nearly bleeding from his wounds, or young Rory who managed to keep from being too badly hurt. In the end, it was the rough man who said many racist things to you directly that went into his grave, and you and Rory swam together. You were together some time, trying to spot the Cry, but to no avail. You could swim all day long, but not Rory. As with the majority of sailors, he did not know how to swim. (Most sailors believe that if you find yourself in the water and a ship can't get to you quickly enough, you are dead anyway.) You just weren't strong enough to help him. Finally, he nodded his head as his desperate strength gave out, and you let him go into the tropical night time waters to his eternal slumber.

That was several hours ago, and it is well into the night. You have desperately tried to swim in different directions to find the ship, and you aren't even sure if you haven't swam in circles. At last, joy! You see the ship. Though your muscles are sore and aching and your wounds heavy, you speed to the ship, but the ship is not your own. A quick view of its stern plate reads, Sea Wyvern, and a look at its bow shows a sea serpent with a wyvern's tail and wings. Though the mixing of a wyvern is an abomination, the base concept might be a good omen.

And right now, you are pretty sure that your ship has given you up for lost.

What do you do?

MikelaC1

2013-12-08, 08:52 AM

A sea serpent? Nothing but a good omen? Not that I can afford to be choosy right about now. One takes what one can get. Now, to only make sure they can see me.

Treading water, Eshalyn raises one free hand straight up into the sky, to make sure she doesn't hit her would be rescuers, and fires off a scorching ray, much in the manner of a flare. She continues to bob in the water after, watching for a reaction from on board.

PSinger

2013-12-10, 06:42 AM

Darrius was familiar enough by now to recognize a scorching ray; it was Desiria's most common attack spell, and one regularly employed by Celiss. But this was shot right up into the air. Definitely a signal flare, but close aboard.

"All hands on deck! Bring her about carefully around that shot, Veldirose! Use the anchor to drag, but don't drop it. There's somebody signaling us from the water. Increase lanterns, and bring a bullseye over here!"

As his commands are being called out, Darrius calls out to the water. [Can he see her?] "Ahoy! I recognize that shot was meant not for the ship, but for the ship to note you, am I right? Who are you, and what do you want?"

lostsole31

2013-12-10, 05:44 PM

The crew complies, brings the ship about with moderate agility for its size, and a bullseye or two goes to and fro in the water.

"There!" calls Skald, and the lantern falls onto Eshalyn.

MikelaC1

2013-12-10, 06:09 PM

My name isss Essshalyn, and I am a refugee from the sssship Procansss Cry. I ssseek sssanctuary.

lostsole31

2013-12-10, 06:27 PM

Darrius, it's on you ...

PSinger

2013-12-10, 07:04 PM

Because of the light in her eyes, she might only see a silhouetted form, but a beefy humanoid looks out into the water. For what seems like 20 to 30 seconds, this form - obviously the captain - stands stock still, a dark face staring into the water.

His form finally relaxes and says, "Bringer her aboard. Agnipati, Hiphaestus, ready your weapons ... just in case."

MikelaC1

2013-12-10, 07:48 PM

I thank you...captain.

lostsole31

2013-12-11, 10:49 PM

A line is tossed out to her while a Jacob's ladder is uncoiled over the gunwale. Tom's hand is first, and she gets a good look at him, and she is brought aboard. Fatigued and tired beyond what she realized, her legs quiver and give out, so that all you know is a woman was quikly helped up and fell to her knees and hands.

Swami Monsoon

2013-12-12, 12:57 AM

Tom reaches out to pull the stranger aboard. The first face she will see is an unusual one... although there are quite a few unusual faces on this ship.

Tom is very short and stocky. His gray skin is covered with thick white fur, which grows out into a long beard, mustache and topknot. The skin and fur are patterned with leopard-like spots that are dark blue-gray in color. His eyes are yellow and resemble a cat's eyes. He has catlike ears, two small horns growing from his forehead and a long, catlike tail. The claws on his hands and toes are sharp and partially retractable.

MikelaC1

2013-12-12, 09:18 AM

In the moment before the woman falls to her knees, the party gets the briefest of views of a very strange woman. Undoubtably a woman but clearly not human, the best guess someone could venture would be some sort of snake/human hybrid, but at the same time, not a yuan-ti.
I will leave it to Russ if he wants to give a know chance on her race
Her hair is black, and her eyes are blue, but with a snake's pupil. Waterlogged beyond belief, the party sees few items of note on her, although two daggers can be seen, although a warrior might note that they are not located in an easy draw position for the woman. And although they retract quickly, were those serpent fangs in her mouth?

PSinger

2013-12-12, 07:47 PM

The captain is a very solid 5'10" 177 lbs. He wears a black, classic tricorne hat, though a little worse for wear. You might be able to notice that even with the hat he is bald. He might pass for human but for three things. First are the dark scales that cover his body. Second, his primary skin is matte black with only the little bit of glistening, but there are large swaths of very dark grey marks that nonetheless are still dark. Finally, you may notice that at the base of his neck he has a small set of gills.

He has several daggers here and there, and there is a short sword at his side that might be easy to overlook; it's not just the scabbard, but the pommel that is of an extremely dark, non-reflective metal. He wears a chain shirt of light links and an exceptional shine; where the metal shows through; right now, tough, he sports signifcant wounds where some blood shows through the bandages, meaning they were recent; there is also considerable veggie muck At his right calf is a high quality hand crossbow with two cases, and at his back is a heavy shield of very high quality and a very dark colored wood.

Three strange things are his boots, gloves, and lenses, all the color of blue, and a torc of dark green. There is the vague sense of a glow, and the lenses he wears are not actually physically attached in any way; they block the view of his eyes.
Rus, here is a d20 for any knowledge that may apply to the primary of what she is. [roll0]. Here is another in case there is a need for a secondary roll. [roll1].
"Welcome aboard, Miss. Welcome to my ship, the Sea Wyvern. These are my hardy-eyed crew. Captain Darrius Wavebreaker, a votre service."

Despite the gallant introduction, there is no effort to help you up, and there is still a good standoff between you and the rest of the crew.

MikelaC1

2013-12-13, 11:55 AM

With as much dignity as she can summon, Eshalyn pulls herself back to her feet.

My name isss Essshalyn D'Hisssta, I am a Nessssian by birth and an arcanissst by trade. To what ssship do I owe thanksss for my ressscue?

Every S that she pronounces has a sibilant hiss to it.

PSinger

2013-12-13, 10:19 PM

"Welcome aboard, Miss. Welcome to my ship, the Sea Wyvern. These are my hardy-eyed crew. Captain Darrius Wavebreaker, a votre service."
He looks to his comrades and laughs heartily, "Doesn't hear to well, though, eh, mates? Ears musts be waterlogged. Oh, wait, she doesn't have ears!" He is likely followed by a rousing round of the same good-natured laughter.

"This is the Sea Wyvern. What is a Nessian? Your race (for I've never seen one like you before)? Your vassalage? Your country? or some obscure religion? What brings you splashing helpless in the big drink, though by our recent travails I can guess."

MikelaC1

2013-12-13, 11:27 PM

Nessssian is my race, sssnakesss the humansss call usss. My former ssship wasss the Procansss Cry, but we were caught by the sssargassso weedsss. The ssship wasss dessstroyed and myssself and ssseveral crewmen were the only onesss able to sssurvive. When the sssargassso collapsssed, all of the other sssailorsss were unable to ssswim. I tried to sssave one, but eventually my ssstrength wasss not enough. After he ssslipped from me, I ssswan in sssearch of ressscue, which I hope I have found.

lostsole31

2013-12-13, 11:49 PM

You look around you and see a motley crew at that. One of them, an olive-skinned humanoid with a black topknot (but otherwise bald) smirks to the captain. "You know, captain, snakes are good eating."

A short (5' 5") fireplug of a man with a bardiche grins, "I have to disagree Mr. Kahir. As a cook, I've always had to find a way to cover the taste."

A savage man with crude brow and thick jaw holds a spear towards with fetishes at the socket and tips his head, seeming unaware of the humor and asks seemingly honestly. "You don't molt, do you?"

MikelaC1

2013-12-14, 08:22 AM

I do not molt no, I am not that much of a sssnake.
And I would have to agree with the cook, covering the tassste isss too much of a ssstruggle to be worth it.

Swami Monsoon

2013-12-17, 12:51 AM

In his years as a sailor, Tom has heard many stories about ships that were extraordinarily lucky... or extraordinarily not. Ships that attracted rats. Ships that attracted storms. This particular ship seems to attract... unusual people.
He offer the newcomer a toothy smile...

"Welcome aboard. I think you'll, uh, fit in just fine here."

lostsole31

2013-12-29, 01:30 PM

"I'm First Mate Kahir," says the olive-skinned man with the topknot. "Welcome to the Sea Wyvern. We are heading to a colony - Farshore - on the Isle of Dread to resupply a colony there and drop off those who want to start a new life. There are no more stops until we get there, Miss Eshalyn, so that would make it your next stop as well. I saw the sorcery that you used. Anything you might bring to help us? We've had some attrition ..... recently. Do you sail?"

MikelaC1

2013-12-29, 06:39 PM

I ssspent sssome time on the Procansss Cry, and picked up a few thingsss, but I would not classssify myself as a sssailor. I am, however, an arcanissst of sssome ssskill. Human coloniesss usssually do not receive my kind well, ssso if you will have me on thisss ssship, I would like to ssstay on even after.

lostsole31

2013-12-29, 08:23 PM

A kindly looking, and rather surprisingly handsome, dwarf with a hammer looks to the captain. "Well, captain, what do you say?"

He looks to Eshalyn. "I'm the ship's doctor, and now once again the prelate. You should know that we have a poor track record of keeping our arcanists alive."

PSinger

2014-01-05, 11:17 PM

"Eshalyn," says Darrius. "We have a place for you to sleep with the passengers. I will want to speak with you in the morning."
We ready to move forward. Sorry for the delay ...

MikelaC1

2014-01-06, 08:01 AM

Eshalyn nods her head in agreement, and will follow the lead to the sleeping quarters. If she was in any way worried about the life expectancy of a Sea Wyvern arcanist, she gave no sign of it.

PSinger

2014-01-09, 02:30 PM

After breakfast (we have a really good cook named Sadi Fleggins), Darrius calls Eshalyn to his cabin.

"I won't lie to you. This trip has been rough, especially for what arcanists we've had. We've lost many good souls; in one place we lost four crewmen. But we need to have an arcanist that learns to work with our crew, knowing the ship and what team work we have to trust each other. I'd like to offer you a position on the crew. There's a lot of work to be done, but you'd get a run of the ships other passengers don't get. As the only focused arcanist, you'd have to be on every away team, but because of this you share in the spoils.

"What do you say?"

MikelaC1

2014-01-09, 03:17 PM

ESHALYN

Trusst isss not usssually sssomething Nessssiansss hear from othersss. But then, from what I have ssseen, humansss are only a sssmall part of thisss crew. I appreciate the trussst you have ssshown me, and I accept your offer.

PSinger

2014-01-11, 11:12 AM

"Do you know how to sail?"

MikelaC1

2014-01-11, 03:40 PM

I had sssome limited dutiesss on my lassst ssship, but I would not consssider myssself a sssailor

PSinger

2014-01-13, 08:27 PM

The captain asks pointedly, "Are you an able-bodied seaman? or a nub? It's important to know how to place you in your duties."

MikelaC1

2014-01-13, 09:23 PM

Able-bodied, yesss. But a ssseawoman, no.

lostsole31

2014-01-16, 07:16 PM

I am pushing this forward since Paul is wicked busy right now.
"That's fine. We'll see what you know. Report to Amella Venkalie, the boatswain .... she's the one with a tricorne hat like mine and a scar on her face. She'll assign you your decking responsibilities. We can't afford to have someone on the crew untrained just because of magical skill. If we go through another problem, a larger crew will help take the load."

[I'll take it for now...]

Eshalyn, do you do anything else?

MikelaC1

2014-01-16, 08:22 PM

Eshalyn reports to Amella to be assigned duties.

lostsole31

2014-01-16, 08:56 PM

A slight but powerful woman with fine blonde hair tied neatly back from her forehead. Amella dresses to fight and sail rather than to please the eye. A thin scar graces her right cheek.

5' 5", 140 lbs, blue eyes, blonde hair. Rapier & leather armor, as well as light crossbow. Bright green cloak and gold ring on wedding finger.Eshalyn reports to Amella and the boatswain rolls her eyes. "Alright, Scales, I want you to belay lines four and five crossed, then go to the aft boltrope to slacken them slightly, and finally go to the bow and tell me how much cordage is on the upper spiritsail, climb up to the royal mast, move to the aft mast from there, then down again by way of the side cordage - not directly down.

Lastly, bring me the whipstaff. I'll be monitoring your progress as you go, but from right here at midships. You'll be judged on time, but mainly on proper performance; slow is fast, fast is slow. If you run into any problems, approach some member of the crew to see if they can't help you.

Go."

Eshalyn? You know what it means to belay; you don't know which lines are "four and five," though you guess what it means to "cross;" you understand bow/ aft/ starboard/ larboard easily enough; you have no idea what the boltrope let alone any of the other terms. On top of that, you haven't a clue how to perform those taks, even if you knew the terms.

What do you tell Amella? (Tom, you are nearby with the holystone in hand, cleaning the deck, when you hear these orders from Amella to Eshalyn.)

MikelaC1

2014-01-17, 07:32 AM

ESHALYN

I am not familiar with all the termsss you are usssing...and I didnt earn my keep on the lassst ssship with deck work. I can cook, I am an accomplissshed arcanissst, there are lotsss of other sssmall thingsss I can do, but I am not familiar with deck work.

lostsole31

2014-01-17, 11:33 PM

Amella retorts, "Well, that's dandy. But the skipper didn't send you to Sadi to help him cook ... the cabin boy does that. No, Nanny Goat, he sent you to me. One look at you and one can see you can't sail a toothpick in a bath tub.

"Tom Underhill, show her where we keep buckets, and grab her a holystone. Eshalyn, the first few terms you'll learn will be 'swab', 'deck,' 'larboard/ starboard/ bow/ aft,' and ... 'holystone,' the sandstone we use here to scrub the surface of the ship. You don't get a free ride here because of any other skills; you have to learn how to be an ABS and have our trust. If all Hells breaks out, Miss Nyctalops, fireballs don't work with the rage of the sea .... fighting the ship does."

MikelaC1

2014-01-18, 08:07 AM

Eshalyn follows Tom to fetch the buckets and other items.

Swami Monsoon

2014-01-20, 10:23 PM

Tom shows the newcomer to the locker where the cleaning supplies are stored and finds her some equipment...

"'Larboard' means 'left' and 'starboard' means 'right'... that is your left and right when facing the front end of the ship. Which is the bow. And the back end is the stern. 'Deck,' 'swab' and 'holystone' we're going to learn about now. At some length, I'm afraid..."

Resuming his earlier work, he demonstrates the use of the holystone. He glances at Eshalyn's hands, which do not appear to have seen much manual labor. "Blister" will likely be part of today's curriculum as well...

lostsole31

2014-01-21, 11:57 PM

The assumption (unless otherwise noted) is that Tom throws the bones in the morning and at night to read the signs of the sky.

The evening four days out from Journey's End (the way Captain Darrius has logged the Sargasso event, named for the many doomed ships there), Tom casts read weather and recognizes there will be a storm with gale force winds. The ship is going to get pounded the next day.

Swami Monsoon

2014-01-26, 06:44 PM

Tom immediately reports the ominous forecast to the officer of the deck...

...and does so in the proper thread this time.

lostsole31

2014-01-28, 11:45 PM

Darrius, you happen to be the OOD when Tom brings word of the storm. Given the fact that the passengers were stuck below during the sargasso for their own safety, this news would not bode well if known now.

Most of all, with Avner Meravanchi, who has been giving you critique and grief for the past few days.

How do you handle this news .... seeing as Tom brought it directly to you without scuttlebutt?

PSinger

2014-01-30, 12:19 AM

Should have been IC, not OOC. :smallsmile:
Darrius nods his head. "Thanks, Tom. I appreciate you not saying anything. Go down and make sure that Sadi cooks something hardy and heavy for the crew and passengers ... no weak stew."

Darrius will do what he can to encourage folks out on the deck during the morning and afternoon. He says that they'll need to enjoy it. "Early in the afternoon the weather decks will be secured for necessary evolutions. Sorry, folks."

He'll then have the message spread among the crew to start only the most basic preparations for weathering the decks. He doesn't want the passengers to panic .... yet.

He'll put Eshalyn and Hifestus to what use he can ... dumb work, basically. But once the ship is fully weathered they are to go below decks with the passengers to help them. They don't know how to fight the ship. The crew can't focus on helping them since they don't know what to do; worse, they might become a liability.

lostsole31

2014-01-30, 09:04 PM

The morning sky is overcast and grim, which supports Tom's report to the captain. An hour after the report and a large group of passengers come topside (which includes the blustering Lord Avner), Skald gives the most blessed report.

"LAND! LAND OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!!"

The passengers and crew give a great cheer, and even Skald and the cabin boy Tavey come up to see what is seen. There it is. The ragged, jungle-choked peaks of the Isle of Dread loom on the horizon. The first mate verifies what the captain already knows and what the charts show - the Sea Wyvern has nearly reached her goal. All that remains is to sail down the eastern coast to Farshore.

Alas, by the morning becomes noon, it is obvious that fate does indeed have something in store for the ship as the passengers are sent below. "Routine evolutions for rough weather will be conducted." Sadi (the cook) and Hifestus (the blacksmith) assist Tavey (the cabin boy) in stowing for sea. Eshalyn is made to assist Sadi in tying things down.

The rain begins shortly thereafter, and by 2:00 a second storm is in full force. This one is much more powerful than the first one the ship encountered before - not quite a hurricane, but close ... just as Tom predicted. Over the next many hours, with the aid of the souls captains that have plied these seas before, Captain Darrius is able to keep the Sea Wyvern from any life-threatening rolls or washes; they happen, and the crew is exhausted, but no one is in peril as they work their damnedest for their captain to fight the seas.

At sunset, a tremendous lurch strikes the ship and the sound of splintering wood fills the air. The ship comes to a sudden stop, and most of the passengers shriek and fall forward prone. Topside, the doctor and the bo'sun are thrown down to the deck. Waves crash against the ship, which now lists perilously to port. Doc Cohen and Ms. Venkalie are thrown into the water on the port side.

Darrius, you are personally at the wheel (which is why the ship actually did as well as it did). Eshalyn, you are below decks. Tom, you have some (RP only, not game mechanic) exhaustion because for the last several hours you've been working at top form with the rest of the crew.

What is everyone's most immediate action?

MikelaC1

2014-02-01, 04:01 PM

The lurching and sound of splintering wood is enough to tell Eshalyn that the ship is in trouble, and she can do a lot more good on the top deck, rather than down in the hold. She heads for the stairs to gain access up.

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-01, 06:21 PM

"Man overboard!"

Tom steps off his perch and lets himself drift down towards the deck, making sure he keeps a firm grip on a line so as not to be blown off course by the wind. Once he lands he looks for a length of rope or a buoyant object that could be used as a life preserver...

PSinger

2014-02-03, 02:21 PM

"Agnipati!" the captain yells. "Anchor Tom's efforts to draw up Ms. Venkalie!"

"Sadi! Head down below. I want you, Hifestus, and Tavey to give me a damage report. Veldirose, external damage report! Lazer! Since you're down there, as soon as Amella is out, give me an underhull report."

lostsole31

2014-02-05, 06:35 PM

Eshalyn moves topside even as she passes the cook (who is heading below). She has to move carefully as the ship is at a good angle to port.

Captain Darrius is keeping on the helm. There is still enough control there that he can keep the ship from rolling or washing on whatever stationary object is there. Tom, with the doc's help, gets Amella back onboard.

Lirith calls out in the howl of the wind and rain, "It's hard to say, captain! But we definitely are going to need a baling party while we shore this up. It seems we hit a reef."

Darrius, you are kind of stuck as the helm desperately needs your top end skill. :smallfrown:

Tom, Eshalyn ... what do you do?

MikelaC1

2014-02-05, 06:53 PM

Eshalyn will look for something to hold onto to prevent from being washed overboard, and will also look to see if there is any sort of live opponent that is trying to make their lives miserable.

[roll0]

PSinger

2014-02-05, 09:31 PM

Darrius will make sure he does his best to keep the ship as righted as possible as his crew respond to their orders.
Just in case you need it. Max E to sailor's bracers (no difference than before), Profession: Sailor [roll0]

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-05, 11:34 PM

Tom looks to Darrius for orders...

lostsole31

2014-02-06, 02:08 AM

Knowing that the captain is focused on the helm, the first mate says, "Tom, start securing some of the lines that have ---"

SPLASH ... KER-THUNK!!!

A huge, eel-like creature bursts forth from the water onto the deck of the ship, but Eshalyn manages to notice just in time.

Luckily, the weather-eyed crew (with help from Tom's aura of presence), seem to be ready as soon as the thing comes aboard.

S1T24: Darrius maintains control of the ship, despite the weight of the monster. The best you can do is a SwA, and anything more than that can put the ship in dire peril since you are putting your all into this effort.

S1T23: Tom, this wormlike fish measures nearly thirty feet from tip to tail. Its face is a terrible maw of grinding teeth, with two beady eyes peering out from the crown of its head. Large spines rise from its sinuous back, shuddering and rattling with menace. The creature can reach nearly anyone on deck, with some of its body trailing into the water as well. You have no idea what this hideous creature is, but it might have some relationship to sea dragons or other fell and mythical beasts.

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-07, 10:19 AM

OH HELL NO...

Tom jumps back and exhales a jet of ice crystals and super-cooled air at the creature...

Breath weapon damage [roll0]
Delay [roll1]

lostsole31

2014-02-08, 01:13 AM

S1T23: OH HELL NO...

Tom jumps back and exhales a jet of ice crystals and super-cooled air at the creature. The crashing and shuddering deck against the seas minimizes the blast to only 8 cold.

S1T22: The hideous creature roars in Tom's face, the foul brine and odor of digesting fish (or worse) spraying into his face. It then bites forward, but a faint deflection field makes it's many ringed maw glance off of Tom's armor.

S1T19: Shouting Tree performs a fantastic feat of acrobatics (32) to come up next to the thing, readying his spear at the same time. He easily sinks the spear into its side for 13 with his Spear of Fertility. In anger at the attack, one of the creature's spines quivers and he gets punctured in the right knee for 10.

S1T15: The tall, powerful red-haired woman that Eshalyn was introduced to as Agnipati grabs a spear from a quiver she has and stands before the monster, opposite Shouting Tree. Her form then takes on a strange, humanoid eel-like form with dark skin.

S1T14: "Surely tis only an animal!" calls Amella. "But a right sizeable one like a small barge. Can you imagine the glory you could get for a kill like this'n? Have at 'im mateys! This reminds me of a monologue in a play I wrote a-sea last year..."

She begins a monolog that is about inspiration and courage, but told through a farcical (and bawdy) vein ... and laughter is its own inspiration!

S1T11: The only one out of range, having worked the bowsprit, is Skald. He takes out his bow and fires an arrow, only to have the arrow bounce off of its rubbery skin. "That's right, Ms. Venkalie, it's a masher. Nothing but an animal, but more dangerous than many creatures we've seen."

S1T10.9: "Be careful!" shouts the Doc in warning. "Those quills are poisonous. How are you, Shouting Tree?"

"I am well, Doctor. There was a strong burn, but my blood and my body are as hearty as any beast."

"Good."

The Doc takes out his hammer, and touches one of the beads hanging from a necklace and prays briefly and quietly to Moradin. More good feelings, as the group is filled with courage and skill in warfare.

S1T10.8: A distorting field of force distorts light waves around the first mate briefly before disappearing. From his very hand is formed a sword-like construct like energy ... all very unlike Eshalyn has ever experienced before. Even the former seemed very much like a shield spell, and yet there was something about it that was different ... such as not needing to speak or gesticulate.

S1T10: Eshalyn, you are about 15' from this thing, on the aft side. What do you do?

MikelaC1

2014-02-08, 07:49 AM

ESHALYN

Not wanting to start off her new career on this ship with a miss, Eshalyn goes for the less powerful but more sure route of launching a magic missile spell at the beast...at her power level, 3 bolts streak out.

[roll0]

lostsole31

2014-02-08, 03:43 PM

S1T10: Not wanting to start off her new career on this ship with a miss, Eshalyn goes for the less powerful but more sure route of launching a magic missile spell at the beast...at her power level, 3 bolts streak out to hit it for a total of 9 force.

Surprise Round Ends, Round One Begins ...

R1T24.1: Overcoming her initial shock, Lirith darts along the uneven decking at full speed despite the chance of sliding into the water, charging into the beast, but with her falchion cutting the surface but not getting past the fat layer.

R1T24: Darrius, while your people fight the masher, you can either join combat and leave the ship to possible wreck further, or you can try to dislodge the ship. What do you do?If the former, it takes 2 squares of movement (as if "uphill") unless you make a DC 12 Acrobatics check if you want to close distance. If the latter, simply make a DC 20 Profession (sailor) check to use your knowledge (and the souls bound in your bracers) of seas and the ship in concert with the raging storm to get the ship off of the reef.

PSinger

2014-02-09, 03:46 AM

"Mr. Kahir! You better get that damn thing off my deck!" calls Darrius as he tries to get the ship off the reef.
Profession (sailor), full E, [roll0]

lostsole31

2014-02-09, 02:47 PM

R1T24: "Mr. Kahir! You better get that damn thing off my deck!" calls Darrius. Despite the crashing waves, he settles into a trance ... picking up the nuances of the wind, the churning of the ocean, the angle of the ship, even the sounds of the reef to judge where the coral ends and the sea begins. With a rush into the real world, he adjusts the helm as necessary and the ship is free of the reef.

"Aye, Captain!" answers Mr. Kahir. He then orders the crew, "You heard him. We already handled one stowaway, let's show this thing how good we are at it!"

R1T23: Tom, your breath weapon has already returned. Because of it's huge size and the fact that you are standing dead center to its hideous maw, you can breathe without hitting friends. Also, having fought the ship you don't have your shield out, and your aura is still set for draconic senses. What do you do?

Masher on deck, Shouting Tree in the hole ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-10, 12:11 AM

Tom exhales another blast of cold at the creature and then tries to move out of the way of the snapping jaws...

Breath weapon [roll0]
Recharge [roll1]
Move to side of creature, trying to get in flanking position opposite Shouting Tree
Change aura to Toughness

lostsole31

2014-02-10, 05:56 PM

R1T23: Tom exhales another blast of cold at the creature and then tries to move out of the way of the snapping jaws. It's wriggly nature and skin help it deal with Tom's breath, the latter dealing 7 cold. Agnipati is where Tom would like to have stepped to flank with Shouting (or vice versa), but he finds that he is pinned; any attempt to move more than that might be worse than just facing the prospect of one attack. Meanwhile, everyone's super-enhanced senses diminish to normal, but there is a faint stiffness of the skin.

R1T22: It had spat in Tom's face, only for him to breathe onto it. The incensed (or rather opposite of incendiary) masher rears up and lashes out again, biting Tom in the neck for 21 mod damage!

R1T19: Shouting Tree stabs into the monster for 8 (min). Once again, the spines quiver and slash in a side arc to hit Tom for 8 mod, trading blow-for-blow.

R1T15: Agnipati, on the other side of Shouting Tree, does her classic spear-spin from 10' away, hitting with two strikes for 24.

R1T14: The bo'sun still gives her monologue, but gives a slight break to try to cast a spell - failing when her desire for protection outweighs her need to succeed with the spell.

"Amella, you four-legged Cyrano!" she curses to herself before resuming her monologue.

R1T11: Skald fires a single arrow again, but this time it hits its mark for 9. The masher howl-screeches in pain from that strike.

R1T10.9: The Doc flies around and down to a spot just behind and above Shouting Tree. He casts CMW and reaches down to fully cure the beastmaster.

R1T10.8: Mr. Kahir splits the mindblade into two smaller forms, and does a double-stab with them into the animal for 10. The monster's breathing is labored.

R1T10: Eshalyn, what do you do?

Lirith in the hole, Darrius and Tom on deck ...

MikelaC1

2014-02-10, 06:33 PM

Eshalyn decides to bring out a slightly more powerful attack to finish off the monstrosity. She fires off a scorching ray at the eel like thing.

[roll0] Ranged touch
[roll1] damage

lostsole31

2014-02-10, 09:29 PM

R1T10: Eshalyn decides to bring out a slightly more powerful attack to finish off the monstrosity. She fires phasers at the thing, but despite the monster's great bulk she has to adjust her shot to not hit her crewmates, let alone blasting rigging, sails, and setting the ship on fire. Her shot goes very wide, exacerbated by the tossing deck as well.Remember to roll Concentration checks for casting spells in a violent storm on a tossing ship deck.
End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T24.1: Lirith adjusts her body position from side to side like an old salt, but the sloshing deck has her having to adjust too often and she can't get the leverage to get past the fat layer.

R2T24: Darrius keeps the ship from rolling or washing.

R2T23: Tom, what do you do? Your breath weapon has recharged already.

Masher on deck, Shouting Tree in the hole ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-11, 12:08 AM

Tom breathes at the creature again, this time aiming towards its tail to avoid hitting his comrades...

Breath weapon [roll0]
Recharge [roll1]
Is it realistic to assume that I'd have my shield with me while working in the rigging? If so, I'll equip it as my move action.

lostsole31

2014-02-11, 12:48 AM

R2T23: Tom breathes at the creature again, and its desperate movements in its peril gives it some breathing room again, taking only 6 cold. Already wary of getting another shot to the neck, Tom readies his shield.If you notice, you don't have the bonus for your shield in the shield block of your AC. It doesn't make sense that you'd have your shield on you while working the rigging ... unless you specifically state that. Either you'd have it secured topside (like a Viking ... which may actually make a lot of sense for you), or below. Btw, the lack-of-friends-in-cone is a DM gimme .... but just for this battle.
R2T22: With a wounded cry, the masher withdraws out of Tom's reach. As it moves a little further away, Agnipati tries to stab but misses. Shouting Tree makes no attempt to use an AOO. A little more and Lirith gets in a cheap shot with her big sword for 16.

The creature's withdraw ends, and it no longer seems consious, but twitches and spasms. Shouting Tree steps over a couple feet, says something reverently under his breath, and then stabs the monster somewhere in the nature of the lower end of its "head" and where its "neck" might be. A coup de grace of 24, and the creature lurches in a stiff arc, and then goes limp.

Regardless of Doc Cohen's desire to study the creature to understand it better in case of another attack, the captain's orders are clear, which means the XO's orders are clear .... get this thing off the deck. To keep people from getting accidentally hit by the spines which are flipping and back and forth on the tossing ship, a quick block-and-tackle system with ropes is used to pull the monster off of the deck and back into the sea.

"Captain!" calls Mr. Kahir while the rest of you are set about fighting the storm again. "That was Masher Reef. We've gone off course in the storm. We can use that section there to cull the chop!"

Captain Darrius, you have no idea what your first mate meant, but you trust his navigation thoroughly. After 2 hours of hard navigation, the storm abates very little, but your ability to sail was helped by Ka'Xet's skill.

Now, it's time for damage assessment and control. The bo'sun is also the lead carpenter and directs bailing and shoring with the whole crew having to work just to keep the Wyvern afloat. As the night grows darker, the Sea Wyvern is in poor shape indeed.

The crippled Sea Wyvern limps along the waves. It should be obvious, but the captain, first mate, and bo'sun finally make the announcement to the rest of the crew and passengers: the vessel will not reach Farshore - that they will be lucky to reach any shore. According to Mr. Kahir, the closest stretch of land beckons only 25 miles away, where a narrow strip of beach along a thick wall of jungle might afford somewhere safe to land.

The storm continues through the night. No crew member gets any rest, what with sailing and bailing and cooking to keep up everyone's energy. Even the passengers have been impressed into the bailing party. All except Avner Merivanchi, of course, who refuses to do so because he is a nobleman who helped fund this doomed trip that the captain's ineptitude has failed.

Although the winds abate enough to keep the ship from rolling or washing, the storm is still strong enough that the tattered ship seems in danger of sinking at any second. Caught by the storm and tide, the badly listing Sea Wyvern is driven toward the northern shore of the Isle of Dread. The primeval vista looms larger before the PCs through the driving rain, periodically lit by flashes of lightning. Suddenly, the ship lurches again, this time throwing everyone to the deck. The Sea Wyvern tilts crazily to the side, lurches one last time, and rolls. The cold, dark sea rushes up to meet the group - above and below decks - and in a cacophonous roar of wave and ruin, all goes dark ...

lostsole31

2014-02-18, 03:31 AM

You hear the sound of water, but this time it is no longer a violent sound. Rather, it is the sound of multiple streams and rivers - some soft and burbling, some strong. You wake and stand, and find you are on a tiny sandbar fed by the same. The air is peaceful but for a cooling wind. You look down and see that your old bow is broken, shattered by some distant storm you only half remember.

Slowly, softly at first, you hear the sound of rushing water and you turn to its source. Coming out of the water - not stepping forward, but simply rising until he stands atop it - is a 15' tall man of black skin. He is obviously a Touv man by coloring and build - a race of dark-skinned humans that fight battles against the human-sacrificing Olmans. Despite that and his incredible height, his hair is not tight and curly black but rather is the source of the sound - a cascading waterfall. To look in his eyes is to see they are full of blue as the see, with a definitely laughing quality. You are struck with absolute awe.

"Walk with me, Skald."

There is no question that you do, a testament to your intuition. You find yourself walking across the water to where there is a brook that led into the lake. As you walk upstream with him, you catch glimpses of little eyes here and there. You see creatures darting about, and it isn't long before your own fantastic senses catch the sight of nereids kissing this massive man's feet, of dryad's sighing with relief as some of his steps up the brook displace water to their tree's roots. All manner of pixies, nixies, brownies, and the like look about and giggle or argue or play. This Man laughes heartily in such a manner - all the while his roving eyes look upon ... a trio of nake nymphs bathing in a side pool. You begin to start in fear of blindness or death, but you are entranced by their beauty; that is when you realize that this obvious dream has no power over your life.

You continue with the dark-skinned giant.

"My name is Vogan, and I am worshipped by the Touv as the god of Rain, Storms, and Weather. Whenever you look to a rain cloud, you a piece of me. Like the others of my ilk who have some claim on the sea, you can see that I am a bit ... temperamental. But I needed you and your companions to land where they did. If you land at Farshore too early, the Enemy will gain strength too quickly.

"I have watched you a long time, my friend. You have never had the use for the wanton nature of Procan, Xerbo, and the like. You have a great heart, one that no one saw. You bore prejudice with dignity and endurance; you fought for your fellow crew members with courage. You have endured hardship and in doing so you still feel hunted by a criminal and are called 'Cursed' even among those who should be your friends. I have watched you call on me, even when you did not know me.

"Know me now. I am Vogan and I am the spirit of the rain and storms. Pray to me for necessary rain; pray to me to stave off storms; pray to me to wash away or blow away your enemies. When you are not adventuring - or even when you find time to do so - clean befouled ponds and streams, and arrange marriages between tribes, clans, and families. When next you find them, get bracers of metal with green stones ... this shows water surrounded by your purity, lending you strength. This metal shall not impede your blessings. My Touv people typically arm themselves with spears, atlatls, daggers, short swords, and shortbows.

"However, you are not Touv but I take you into my arms for the fight you may have on my ancient enemy's ground, and your superior weaponry is fair. To aid you, I give you the Starbow. It was fashioned by my son Vundo and my daughter Xanag, and forged in my wife Nola's heart.

"But it is you who have questions of your own heritage. You now so much about the fey, but not yourself. I remove from you the faint sense of fey. Your mind must open more than it did; it will still be strong against invasion, but no longer impervious. Your good heart always balked at taking another's will, even directly with a charm; to that end, you may no longer do so except to put someone to a sleep that does not override their free will. My present to you is that when you wake you will see that I have brought you so much closer to your ancient parents of the rivers - those whom were beloved of mine as you are. You have lost none of the adaptabiity of your human forebears, but you are now a spirit of the natural world ... not just a protector and guardian.

"Awake now, Skald. Take my love with you, and bring it with you in action to the peoples you meet, and teach them to respect the sky and the land it sits beneath."

You drift back into restful sleep before you finally awaken with the others ...
It is early morning, an the storm has subsided. The air is cloyingly hot and humid, and damp sand clings to every surface. You all regain your senses on a lonely beach, desolate save for a scattering of wreckage and a few other survivors. All you have is what you had on you at the time of the crash - all other gear is probably on the ship, which is caught on the rocks some 200' from shore.

What do you do?

lostsole31

2014-02-20, 01:51 AM

A Nessian's voice is heard in your head as you are waking up: "Sshhee iss pleeeased. You hhaave braaved much to thisss point. Reeemember your ssspellss, and hhave caare, but Ythimeyt willl hhhellp youu whhenn you wish-sh-sh-sh-sh to taake your enemyy'sss power. Usssed welll, it caaahn aaid your fellowww fated."

PSinger

2014-02-20, 12:41 PM

Lazer goes around and starts to wake everyone up. He'll check on Tom first, because Winter Wonderman might have problems in this climate and Lazer has to see how he'll do.

He scoops out a little basin of sand near Tom's head so he has a "container" and he casts create water into it. He dribbles it onto Tom's face near the brow, and then as a healer he will dab about carefully so as not to spook him. He casts endure elements on him to keep him cooler.

"Tom. Tom? Can you hear me?"

The voice is vaguely similar to Rabbi Cohen's, yet there are subtle differences.

He calls out. "Is anyone else here awake?"

TickleMeTemplar

2014-02-20, 10:07 PM

A voice drifts over Skald in his slumber. This voice is different from the first, bound in the real world and not his subconscious. It stirs him from his sleep. Skald bolts upright in the sand, moving too fast as the blood rushes from his head, and nearly blackouts again. He steadies himself briefly before doing a once over to ensure all limbs and digits are intact. As the fog clears slowly from his mind he begins to remember bits and pieces of a strange dream.

As Skald surveys the wreckage immediately around him something strange catches his eye: a peculiar looking bow. "My, my. Aren't you the most remarkable thing..." He says softly to himself, recognizing the star-patterned bow from his dream. Skald turns the bow over in his hand several times, admiring the balance and weight. Satisfied, he loops it over his shoulder and collects whatever remains of the rest of his personal affects. When he is put together he walks towards the direction of the voice he heard, searching for other survivors.

MikelaC1

2014-02-20, 10:34 PM

ESHALYN
sss ssss sss

Eshalyn shakes her head, looking around.

Over here, I am awake

lostsole31

2014-02-21, 12:06 AM

Skald, you are mesmerized by the bow. When you pick it up, the beautiful silver limbs and green riser call to you. In addition, you recognize that the bow is stout enough to act as a masterwork staff (both ends). You immediately have an internal flash, and then it is gone. Once you take real stock post-pull of Starbow, you begin to notice some peculiar things.

There are three items sitting just to the side of the bow: a quiver, a ring, and a set of cords you would put around your waist. Upon handling these, you recognize them for what they are:
cord of stubborn resolve (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/cord-of-stubborn-resolve)
efficient quiver (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/e-g/efficient-quiver)
ring of sustenance (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/rings/ring-of-sustenance)

The ring seems to be pre-attuned to you. The quiver, on the other hand, is tremendously stocked with every possible weapon available in it: 60 arrows, 18 javelins, and 6 spears. It seems that either Vogan expects you to use all of these, or perhaps share with the party or even others at some point.

You recognize another thing ... you no longer have your studded leather armor. As you turn about, you also feel some strange muscular actions about the upper-center part of your back and shoulders. A little twitch here and there produces a buzzing noise. You force your muscles and FWOOP! Craning your neck to each side you see that you have wings. Wings like that of a dragonfly - long and ovoid and translucent but for an opalescent sheen. Beautiful if on a dragonfly, perhaps terrifying on you; for you to decide. As your emotions rise, the wings beat frenetically, lifting you off ground and then with no training you flop unceremoniously on the beach.

Even then, you sense a quickness and suppleness of body you have never realized, and your attunement to the natural world is enhanced.
...............................

Eshalyn senses a figure looming over her. This heavily armored dwarf scoops out some water near your head and casts create water into it to help your parched lips and to cool your face and head. Coppery skin, blonde hair, eyes of beaten bronze, and armor that gleams in a way that can only be mithral. The mithral full plate is highly stylized and is made in a way to be very mobile. There are four wings that come from his back. The "standard" larger pair on top, and a slightly smaller pair that probably comes from just slightly middle of the back. It takes a minute before you finally recognize from the kindness of the newly colored eyes and that of his loving grin that this must be that ship's surgeon and priest, Rabbi Cohen (or Dr. Cohen, or Mr. Cohen, as you would address him aboard ship). The best you can figure is that somehow his patron has changed this half-celestial's skin and eyes for whatever reason ... and gave him armor.

Wait a minute! is a thought in your head as you feel around to try to account for what you have (which is nearly nothing that was on your sheet for sundry items). You feel Ythimeyt and her changes, and then you notice the belt and the rod. Touching them, and you know what they are and what they do.

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-21, 12:49 AM

Tom comes slowly awake...

"Hey, I'm OK... thanks, I'm OK"

I think I'm OK... Wow, what the hell happened to the Doc?

He struggles to take in the scene around him and the survivors, several of whom look... different... now. And the ship...

Am I dreaming all of this? I'd better be, or else we are all so, so screwed...

PSinger

2014-02-21, 06:58 AM

Eliezer does a head count. Is everyone still here?

lostsole31

2014-02-21, 03:36 PM

No. Sadly, no. At least not on the beach. The wreck of the Sea Wyvern lies 200 feet away from shore, partially submerged.

Amella is sitting with her legs out in front of her, staring blankly. Morosely, she says, "Nitwitted ninepins, the sea gods that broke our ship and put us here."

Then angrily she springs to her feet and with a froth, angrily flips the sky a double bird. "Thrice-damned, aerial-aquatic autocrats!"

She then slowly turns to Skald accusingly with her finger when her jaw drops. She then works up into a cursing fit of indescribable proportions and from gritting teeth to rising pitch. For the sake of our lady present, we shall substitute: Koua Kouakouin Kouinkouin Koua Kouin Koua!"

"I knew it! I knew it, you ARE Cursed. Druid of the Storms, huh? Here we are, Skald, here we are. How many had to die in combat on this voyage ... how many hands have we lost with the wreck ... but you had to be the dead albatross and you fooled Lady Lavinia into believing you to be an honorable man? An honorable... MAN. Ha! Well, I guess we can all see that one, can't we. I'm as much elf as you are a fairy, fairy! What are you? Doc always aspired to be more, and now he is something else. But you? You're more of a freak now than you ever were. And now if we're to survive, it seems we may have to lug you around the jungle, city-boy.

"And what the Gobbledgook is it with these changes, anyway? And why do the four of you," and here she points to Doc, Eshalyn, Skald, and Tom, "even have these these new things?"

Somehow, much to everyone's chagrin, the demanding noble Avner Meravanchi survived. What's more, even his horse Thunderstrike - in a stall in the lower hold - survived! He is riding around, raging, while beginning to stir up fear, panic, and anger among the few surviving passengers. "Where's the captain? I demand to see the captain, you incompetent sods! What has he done to us? He nearly killed us all, the bastard! And my two servants, Barnaby Chisk and Quenge Asper? Gone! Do you know how much money I invested into this trip? Who among you is the ranking officer right now? I demand restitution!"

The current group on the beach is Lord Merivanchi (and Thunderstrike), Shouting Tree (and his jaguar survived as well), Doc Cohen, Tom Underhill, Skald, Eshalyn, Amella, and a handful of passengers. That's it for the beach.
You know how in movies there are more or less of a "background crowd" as needed for the plot? Take MULAN for example. There's a whole army training. Then a few of them. When you get to the mountain scene, where is the army? But at the final march at the end, there's the army again. Same thing with the movie KING KONG ... which is surprisingly closer to things here.

Yup, as far as the 23 passengers that originally set out with you, you know they're getting fewer and fewer, but you never are quite sure how few is few. We call this ... willing suspension of disbelief/ dramatic licensing. However, the "passenger pool" of NPCs should still always be considered. :elan:
Oh, and Tavey Nesk (the cabin boy who was assigned to Sadi Fleggins in the scullery).

The party is only just getting its bearings when there is a low thud. But most miss it. Then there it is again, this time people are looking around because they might hear it. It continues, getting louder each time, and the create water basins begin to ripple ... indicating something big.

Everyone hears the trees of the canopy rustling, shaking, and even creaking and breaking. Finally, a creature emerges from the jungle. This creature is GARGANTUAN! More massive than anything any of you have ever seen. It is a bipedal, lizard-like monstrosity. It's claws are tiny compared to the rest of it, but the enormous head is practically all teeth. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXITJacPu2o)

You can have weapons out, shields armed, and even spears readied. Everyone gets to ready an action or wait to go on intiative to see how things go and get a full action. The party is not in a nice, neat, dungeon-crawling line but rather sprawled along the beach.

Roll intiative.

PSinger

2014-02-21, 07:37 PM

Lazer doesn't even have a chance to quell the internal mob action right now. Once he hears something massive coming through the underbrush, he readies searing light.
I know what it is OOC, of course, but in character ... is it a big lizard? or possibly some primordial, bipedal, flightless dragon?

Knowledge (nature) [roll0]

I know you tend to roll this, so if you did already, that's fine. Think of it as a confidence roll for me.

lostsole31

2014-02-23, 11:20 AM

Every passenger screams or shouts in panic, as does Amella and especially. Feel free to comment if your character does the same ... we won't judge, and it definitely would make sense. No penalty for doing so.
R1T27: Amella screams!!!

She instincually pulls out a hand crossbow in an incredibly brief moment and she fires. The thing is too hard to hit, but the bolt barely skips anyway. As it flew, the bolt made a screaming sound of some sort and hits something - likely a tree - somewhere in the near jungle. There is a fantastic burst of colored multi-colored light.

There is a pause and a look of confusion as she looks down at the weapon, for she used to use a light crossbow. She then looks at the trailing remants of light in the jungle. She looks back at the weapon.

Amella screams!!!

She's a hearty one, though, and the salty woman quickly regains her senses. "To the sea! We'll try to escape the dragon in the sea!"

She then darts the 30' towards the waterline.

R1T24: Shockingly fast for such a massive beast, the monster bellows (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V595oWP5tSE) ... and then charges Amella and bites down, critting her for 73 damage!!!

The bite was horrifying to watch, and she screams again as she is swallowed whole.

R1T21: Skald, this is one of the most terrifying beasts you have ever encountered. You have seen pictures of this creature, sketched in books of those who traveled to far southern seas. There were terrifying lizards of many types, but the most dangerous by far was the "tyrannosaurus rex" - the tyrant king lizard. It is "simply an animal," but one from a primordial time long lost.

The sketchbook you saw was from a man who died in his cups for the loss of nearly everyone on an animal-gathering mission for exotic creatures. 80% of his expedition died, and most to this creature. This deadly creature was reported to have simple combat tactics brought on by the fact that very little can resist its attacks. Most will just charge in a bite whatever presents itself as a possible meal - i.e. anything that moves. With powerful digestive juices and strong constricting muscles within its gizzard, tyrannosaurs typically swallow prey as soon as they get a good hold and can easily gulp down creatures of typical humanoid size - such as the doomed Amella.

What do you do?

Eshalyn on deck, Lazer in the hole ...

PSinger

2014-02-24, 04:06 PM

Lazer looks up in abject horror as this leviathan burst out of the jungle's edge to the waterline to snatch up Amella. He is too shocked to move.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-02-24, 08:32 PM

"Find cover! Stay at range. If you cannot engage the creature at a safe distance, seek shelter " With that Skald pushes off from the ground and soars 45' in the air.

Hunter's Bond + MA

lostsole31

2014-02-25, 12:27 AM

R1T21: "Find cover! Stay at range. If you cannot engage the creature at a safe distance, seek shelter!" With that Skald pushes off from the ground and his dragonfly-like wings begin to whir and hum. He tries to go directly up, but being his first time flying, the best he manages is a jaunty, 45-degree up-angle that gets him 20' off the ground, 20' backed off from the monster.

There is something intuitive about Skald's sense of the thing ... besides the OSR obvious. Perhaps it is where you followed along his various lines of sight studying the creature; maybe you see some type of pattern from his manner of flight. But you do have a greater - sense? - of the thing. You notice strange subtleties of its impact tremors, its movements, and even manage to figure from its musculature how it will move and how you can exploit it.Everyone just received a bonus to +2 on weapon attack and damage rolls. Do not calculate that; I have it here.

In addition, everyone's senses and understanding increase by +2 for Knowledge, Perception, and Survival if it somehow applies.

FYI, Tickled, I rolled a '2' on the die for your Fly (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/fly) skill check. Meh, makes sense for your very first time. Familiarize yourself with the rules on flight. Being aerial is great, but 3d combat can be a headache. If you are going to "break standard flight rules" that require a Fly skill check, feel free to roll it in spoilers.
R1T20: Eshalyn, you are pretty sure this is no dragon, but it might be an uncategorized magical beast. Right now, the academics are secondary to survival. You are 20-ish feet from this gargantuan thing. You have this sense of accuracy, but Skald - whom was nothing more than a lookout the last couple days you've (not really) known him - is shouting orders to flee.

What do you do?

Lazer on deck ...

MikelaC1

2014-02-25, 03:45 PM

Eshalyn has a sense of self preservation, but she also doesn't like to just flee from any opponent she meets.
She compromises by taking a 5 foot defensive step backwards, but also hurls a fireball at the beast, aiming to hit it in the head. (even though the brains of this thing aren't too important)

[roll0] damage

lostsole31

2014-02-25, 04:39 PM

R1T20: Eshalyn has a sense of self preservation, but she also doesn't like to just flee from any opponent she meets. She compromises by taking a 5-foot defensive step backwards. She brings forth the power of a scorching ray, to aim it at its head (even though the brains of this thing probably aren't too important), but is shocked to find out a greater well of magic exists within her. Instead of a single ray of heat, a mote of flame jumps up and roars in an airburst of a fireball. Eshalyn realizes that her sorcery has increased with her presence on this island.

The blast of flame hits it full force for 21 fire, for the monster was not prepared for such a thing. The monster bellows in shock and pain, allowing the mortally wounded Amella to harmlessly roll onto the ground and up into a standing position. The bite wounds are bleeding.

The creature turns its head towards Eshalyn with that massive head of teeth ...

R1T19.9: At the same time, Lazer, what do you do?

PSinger

2014-02-25, 06:05 PM

Lazer, not wanting to be too obvious with the start, carefully steps back while chanting a prayer to Moradin. Once the spell is complete, he takes a mighty swing at the ground with his flaming warhammer. A line traces from the hammer to the monster like a burrowing creature through the sand. Once it reaches the target, the sand bursts forth upwards with the gravel and rock underneath and lightning shoots up underneath the creature, with the heavy sand and under-rock falling next to it as well.
FA: 5' free move.
SA: Cast defensively concentration [roll0]
* earth storm [roll1], Ref DC 19 half

Half damage is electricity, the other half is bludgeoning. If anyone else is near it (Amella, I know), then Ref DC 19 half for [roll2] bludgeoning.

lostsole31

2014-02-26, 02:00 AM

R1T19.9: Lazer, not wanting to be too obvious with the start of his spell, carefully steps back while chanting a prayer to Moradin. Once the spell is complete, he takes a mighty swing at the ground with his flaming warhammer. A line traces from the hammer to the monster like a burrowing creature through the sand. Once it reaches the target, the sand bursts forth upwards with the gravel and rock underneath and lightning shoots up underneath the creature, with the heavy sand and under-rock falling next to it as well. The creature is so big, though, that some of that lightning is too localized. It takes 8 electricity and 8 bludgeoning from the earth blasting upwards. At the same time, Amella is thrown clear - blasted from the debris - and does not move on the ground, her blood quickly seeping out into the sand around her.

One can wonder ... was it ignorant friendly fire? or, a sense of mercy?

R1T18: Shouting Tree has his spear ready and brandishes his spear, not moving. He shouts feral and animalistic noises at it.

R1T17: Tom, this creature is too massive to have been spawned naturally by the world, but must be some type of other creature: ancient, flightless dragon; creature from nightmare; even one of the legendary leviathans that battled gods and titans themselves. You are 20' from it, and there is little chance you could close on it before it gets a chance to snack at you for trying. Amella was pretty much dropped on a single bite, though she was finished by Lazer's spell (which might have been a fate worse than dinner).

Also, you had just regained consciousness not to long ago, so you have no auras up. If Amella wasn't killed but is unconscious and bleeding, there is something you could do to help her without trying to get close to her ...

What do you do?

Swami Monsoon

2014-02-26, 06:14 PM

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE

Tom looks in horror at the giant reptile and its screaming, bleeding snack... then he looks down at the weapon in his hands. He might as well be holding his--But then inspiration strikes. He mumbles and gestures, and the mist hovering over the treeline begins to coalesce...

A second monster appears from the trees, nearly identical to the first, differing only in color. It growls a challenge... Tom shouts, "Don't worry about the purple one! It's uh, mine..."

Then the beast thrashes as the lightning hits it... Its whipping tail barely misses Tom, and his concentration is broken. The spectral monster vanishes...

%&#%@!!

Activate healing aura.
Retreat as far as I can while keeping Amella in range (5' step only if it appears an AoO is possible).
Cast Minor Image (11 10' cubes should allow something T-rex sized or pretty close). Cast defensively... and fail miserably.

lostsole31

2014-02-28, 02:19 AM

R1T17: Tom tries to will away the monster before him, "NOPE-NOPE-NOPE-NOPE-NOPE!"

Tom looks in horror at the giant reptile and its screaming, bleeding snack... then he looks down at the weapon in his hands. He might as well be holding his. Then inspiration strikes. He mumbles and gestures, and the mist hovering over the treeline begins to coalesce...

A second monster appears from the trees, nearly identical to the first, differing only in color. It growls a challenge... Tom shouts, "Don't worry about the purple one! It's uh, mine..."

Then the beast thrashes as the lightning hits it... Its whipping tail barely misses Tom, and his concentration is broken. The spectral monster vanishes...

%&#%@!!

R1T16: "You!" Avner calls to the monster. He flashes his scimitar about. "Foul creature! I am a Lord of Sasserine, eh? I call you to account for your foolhardy ways to attack such a ... civilized .... crew!"

As if the monster understands, or cares, beyond the fact that the man and the big horse would be a two-for-one, heavy on the haunches.

Avner begins his charge, slowly at first, but then bearing down in amazing speed .... speed you've yet to see as most of you are unused to seeing horses in battle. Avner moves in too quickly for the great lizard to react, and the braggart cuts brilliantly for a whopping 42 critical. :belkar:

The great creature bellows, but the incredible charger is too swift for it to get in a counter-attack.

R1T15.95: Shouting Tree gives this fantastic roar like a great beast. The behemoth gives a quick start and stands up straight, before answering back in an ear-splitting report.

R1T15.9: Ix-Caban sees that as an attack, she dodges and darts in to try and get past the thing, but it is surprisingly quick and bites into the jaguar for 38. She is easily held fast, but that doesn't stop her from getting in a bite for 11.

The remaining passengers are bolting in terror hither and yon, though most are taking Amella's advice and hoping the sea will save them .... even though most don't know how to swim.

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T27: Amella, a consummate actress that fooled everyone, pops up to her feet, and moves into the water, and another 10' out with some difficulty.

R2T24: The leviathan gnoshes on Ix-Caban for 33 and swallows her whole, gone from sight.

R2T21: Skald, you are at a height of 20', and a total distance of 40' from the tyrannosaurus. Now that it has swallowed the large cat it can bite without any impediment, though it does seem to be a little skittish, interestingly enough, because of Shouting Tree's roar. What do you do?You've only ever seen horses move as fast as Thunderstriker if they were moving at a full canter. That would be too fast for a rider to go for combat. In addition, Thunderstriker's stride looked like a gallop that was preternaturally increased. The horse covered a span that moved into the area the creature could threaten, through that area while a brilliant stroke was delivered, and that flying out the other side. There is no way a horse could do this naturally under its own power.
Eshalyn on deck, Lazer in the hole ...

TickleMeTemplar

2014-02-28, 03:02 AM

Skald will fly up to a height of 50' and attack the beast at range with his bow.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

PSinger

2014-02-28, 11:34 AM

First he was in shock at this massive beast. Now, he's in shock at the foolish and pushy noble that just flew past the monster and cut very deeply. He tries to mull over how this feat was accomplished.
Knowledge (history): [roll0], since this skill deals actual broad-field warfare and tactics and this style?

Knowledge (local): [roll1] ... anything I might know about Avner or any of the lords of Sasserine as far as this?

Knowledge (arcane): [roll2] ... is the horse a magic beast or something, or is there some other force here?

Knowledge (nobility): [roll3], probably more likely than (local) since Avner is a Sasserine noble.

lostsole31

2014-03-03, 03:39 AM

Eshalyn?????

MikelaC1

2014-03-03, 07:16 AM

The first attack went so well, Eshalyn decides to repeat the tactic, after all, theres so much beast to shoot at, theres no danger of hitting allies. Continuing with her 5 foot retreat, she looses off another fireball.

[roll0] damage

lostsole31

2014-03-03, 11:27 PM

R2T21: This time, Skald easily goes entirely vertical 25' to a height of 75' and attack the beast at range with his bow, hitting it for 9.
My bad on two accounts. First, I let PSinger's fluff throw me off track. Second, any increase in altitude is two squares, but I won't retro against you from last round.
R2T20: The first attack went so well, Eshalyn decides to repeat the tactic, after all, theres so much beast to shoot at and there's no danger of hitting allies. Continuing with her 5 foot retreat, she looses off another fireball. The monster's reflexes diminish it to 15 fire.

R2T19.9: Lazer?

Tom on deck, Avner in the hole ...

PSinger

2014-03-04, 12:24 AM

Lazer warily steps back 5' and casts a spell. A transluent hammer of force appears at the monster's snout and attacks.
Cast defensively, DC 17 [roll0]

Spiritual weapon, attack [roll1], damage [roll2] force

EDIT: Wow. Two natural 1s. Surely, the Soulforger wants Eliezer Gideon to try a different tactic.

lostsole31

2014-03-04, 12:31 AM

R2T19.9: Lazer warily steps back 5' and casts a spell, but his focus was distracted in trying to study Avner's style.

R2T17: Tom, you gave a little bit of extra time to study the monster and can attack. What do you do?You get a +2 DC for any supernatural or spell you cast against it.
Avner on deck, Shouting Tree in the hole, Ix-Caban swallowed whole ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-03-04, 10:53 PM

So the fancy trick won't work... Tom concentrates again and the humid tropical air around the monster suddenly flurries into snow as it is enveloped in numbing cold...

5' step back
Cast Frost Fall centered on T-Rex (defensively)
Concentration [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

lostsole31

2014-03-07, 01:17 AM

R2T17: So the fancy trick won't work. Tom steps back, concentrates again and the humid tropical air around the monster suddenly flurries into snow as it is enveloped in numbing cold... The monster is too massive to be easily affected, and only takes 3 cold, though that chilly air persists.

R2T16: Avner comes zooming in at high speed. This time, however, the tyrannosaurus' crashing about in fear, pain and anger keep him too wary as he rides on past.

R2T15.95: Shouting Tree moves resolutely towards the massive creature, not even trying to acrobatically maneuver. As expected for a creature with such a reach, it bends forth to attack the silly snack obligingly moving towards it. Truly a sloppy bite, it still bites him for 30 mod and holds him. The savage knew it was going to happen, and the man stabs it in the snout for 20 for a full-power thrust.

R2T15.9: The side of the tyrannosaurus is torn open as Ix-Caban tears her way out from the inside for 38. She now stands on the seaward side of the monster. Free of the creature, Tom's energies heal her for 2.

Despite the hole in its side, the great lizard still has some ferocity in it yet.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T27: Amella takes out a potion and drinks it or 7 healing, in addition to the 2 from Tom.

R3T24: The T-Rex, robbed of a meal and with a mortal wound, bites down on Shouting Tree for 24 mod. With a meal in its mouth, it tries to flee back into the jungle. Given the wide berth granted it by its angry little meals, no one gets a free attack on it as it passes. It begins to move at a fast pace towards the treeline and is only 10' away before...

R3T21: Skald, the T-Rex is only 10' away from the jungle. The question isn't whether you can fly or not in the jungle ... but how quickly with the obstructions of thick foliage. Combine that with the fact that while Shouting Tree can take more punishment than anyone you've every known, every second counts as he's caught in its maw. What do you do?

Eshalyn on deck, Lazer in the hole ...

TickleMeTemplar

2014-03-13, 12:15 PM

Skald fires three arrows at the Rex.

Attack 1: [roll0]
Attack 2: [roll1]
Attack 3: [roll2]

Damage 1: [roll3]
Damage 2: [roll4]
Damage 3: [roll5]

"Don't let it get away!" He cries as the last arrow leaves his bowstring and sails towards its target. "If he makes it to the jungle, our task will be much more difficult."

TickleMeTemplar

2014-03-13, 12:17 PM

Crit Confirmation

[roll0]

lostsole31

2014-03-18, 06:40 PM

R3T21: Skald fires three arrows at the Rex. The first is a solid shot that hits the monster in the rear bony part of its skull for 12. The next shot, however, is perfect as it flies into the back of its neck, through its vertebra, and gets stuck somewhere inside of its neck for >60 damage. The monster suddenly stands stock still, its mouth growing slack and dropping Shouting Tree (who lands prone but without damage).

Before his own speed and prowess could even register Skald cries as the last arrow leaves his bowstring and sails towards its target "Don't let it get away! If he makes it to the jungle, our task will be much more difficult."

The arrow sinks into the now unmoving creature's hide for 11. The tyrannosaurus was already dead, merely held in place by shock and bulk. The arrow must have hit something important, or simply was a tipping rock, for the gargantuan beast crashes forth ... just barely missing a near-panicking Shouting Tree.

Combat Ends ... Go, go, Skald!!! :haley:

Given Tom's powers, everyone is quickly rushed within a close area of him to heal as much as his aura can handle before other healing is needed, which is really only Amella and Tree's panther Ix-Caban. So stout is the gracious jungle warrior that he had quite a bit to go before wounds would begin to overcome him.Amella 50%, Shouting Tree 61%, Ix-Caban 50%.

Healing actions? other actions?

MikelaC1

2014-03-18, 07:05 PM

With no healing powers to aid the group, Eshalyn just keeps watch on the jungle, to warn if any other predators decide to make a meal of the group. She looks at the beast as well, obviously she has never seen anything like it, and wonders if it might be sort of thing that would have some sort of trove.

PSinger

2014-03-18, 07:51 PM

Eliezer bends his right arm and slams the "flat" side of his hammer to his chest. A loud noise like a hammer on a anvil is heard, and sizzling white light comes forth from his heart and chest to surround everyone, but only really affecting the wounded. Then another time, and possibly a third.

Channel Energy [roll0]
Channel Energy [roll1], and if needed ...
Channel Energy [roll2]

It is as if he is reforging their bodies to health rather than just "dripping" positive energy.

lostsole31

2014-03-19, 01:59 AM

Only Shouting Tree has a light to moderate wound. His jaguar and Amella are completely healed.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-03-19, 03:12 PM

Skald descends to the group gathering below. He makes his way to the felled beast and rests one hand on it's as he says a prayer of thanks to Vogan. Without his gifts, the battle may have ended differently.

He draws his kukri and begins to pry out two of the largest teeth from the bloodied maw of the dead Rex. When his task is finished he tucks the teeth away and turns to the group.

"This was a Tyrannosaur. I've only seen sketches in books, but the stories that came with those sketches paint an ugly picture. Thank your respective gods because they were with us today."

After everyone has made their peace, Skald chimes in once more. "Let's take stock of our remaining supplies. We can butcher the beast while it's still fresh if we need food."

PSinger

2014-03-19, 03:41 PM

The rabbi looks at the fey bowman as he walks by him. "Surely, the gods have blessed your bow, arm, and eye. I have never seen a shot to equal that, Skald, not in all the months since we've sailed."

He casts a humble curing spell on Shouting Tree, and the latter's wounds are no more.

"Skald is right. We must carry what we can and salvage from the ship. But we cannot weigh ourselves down doing so. Farshore is as its name, and only the natural wall at that colony the hordes of monsters out - the hordes we must face to get there."

TickleMeTemplar

2014-03-19, 08:52 PM

"Vogan came to me in a vision after the wreck. Looking upon the face of one's god changes you...Sometimes in a literal way." He pauses a good while before adding, "Perhaps the gods have a more vested interest in our success than we could have imagined."

MikelaC1

2014-03-20, 06:23 AM

I trussst in our own ssskill rather than thossse of the godsss...who are too fickle for my liking

Swami Monsoon

2014-03-20, 04:57 PM

"I don't remember any strange dreams... but I don't know where this comes from..." Tom gestures with his new and improved spear, which now pulses with living cold. Then he uses it to point at the monster's carcass... "And speaking of dreams, that thing is right out of a nightmare. If that's what the wildlife is like here... why exactly did they think a colony would be a good idea?"

lostsole31

2014-03-21, 06:58 AM

"You don't understand, Tom," Ms. Venkalie says. "The storm threw us way off course. We're on the north side of the island. The entire island is littered with deadly creatures - thus the name, 'Isle of Dread.' However, the colony Farshore is located on the far south side. There is a great natural wall that separates the dangers of the north from the colony."

PSinger

2014-04-02, 10:23 AM

The four-winged dwarf looks to the rest. "Eshalyn and I can breathe water with no problem. Eshalyn, do you mind coming with me to attempt to get things from the ship? I am not sure how strong you are, but perhaps with a series of ropes we can scavenge from the hold. It would be tougher for those of you who cannot breathe underwater, but we can see the ship is not entirely submerged. Does anyone wish to come with us? We do need several people on the beach to make sure we have defense for the civilians."
Colors shifted, though I really like the fact that you don't have to click-undo-click-undo to find the name of a color, but just pass your cursor over it. There is no more DarkRed. Maroon and Fire Brick are interesting borders of the former color. Lazery is now coppery, but a forge fire brick makes more sense than a deep maroon.

MikelaC1

2014-04-02, 10:28 AM

I dont know who told you I can breathe water, but I asssssure you, they were lying. I will go where you think bessst, but do not expect me to breathe underwater.

PSinger

2014-04-02, 10:37 AM

"I apologize," he says. "I figured that it was magic that helped you survive so long after your ship was freed from the sargasso. In that case, it's a testament to your fortitude and will to survive to tread water in open ocean."

lostsole31

2014-04-08, 12:56 AM

Avner rides up to the party. "How, I wonder, are we supposed to get from this part to the south? Just a quick ride reveals that the beach climbs to cliffs. It isn't like you can simply ride around, and trying to circumnavigate the island. And I see this island stretch around here and TO the north ... so we can't be on the north of the island. That leads me to believe, Ms. Venkalie ... since you are the most senior surviving officer, that you are truly inompetent, or you crashed us here on purpose for I know not what!"

Ms. Venkalie can normally have a terrible temper, but she withers this time under his accusations. The crash crushed her confidence and her spirit. "I- ... I-m sorry. We are on the northeastern shore. I wasn't trying to deceive, I just ... I didn't think that anyone cared more than the fact that we have to travel the length of the island. I do think that we can still try to keep mostly along the coast. I don't know much more than that."

Skald, as it happens ... Urol Forol, poor gnome naturalist that he was, had been to the Isle of Dread before with the first colony. He was to be the group's guide but fate had dealt him a different hand. He did believe that there was something about Skald that made him Cursed, but the curious-to-the-point-of-annoying Urol still chatted often with Skald. Urol was a senior druid back then (and Skald, it seems, since surpassed him), and often discussed thigs with Skald. Skald managed to get ahold of a map of the entire Isle of Dread archipelago. (There are actually several islands, the eponymous being vastly larger. You are able to scratch it out. If some mapping material can be salvaged, you could draw it out, but it is like this ...
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii14/Steve_Dubya/Urolsmapupdatedagain.jpg
After mentally reviewing Urol's discussions with him, Skald will be able to figure out - after about an hour - a route that, while scenic, promises to be "quick and safe."

The plan would be to take the group down through the small mountains to the south and along the bay toward a native village called Tanaroa, the first of a number of native settlements that surround the colony The journey to Tanaroa alone is approximately 130 miles, and if Skald leads the group this way, the journey will take approximately 10 days, taking into account the condition of overland travel and game paths and trails (and moving an overall speed of 20).

"I can hunt, but hunting slows us down and I can't feed everyone," says Shouting Tree. "Each of you need a pound of food a day to keep up your strength, and with 10 days that means 10 pounds a person. I know the rabbi needs no food. They are 'strange,' but Eshalyn and Tom eat as much as anyone. With us, the passengers, and the cabin boy Tavey Nesk, we'll need 95 pounds of food. Merivanchi..."

"..that's Lord Merivanchi to you, savage," corrects Avner.

Shouting Tree not only doesn't wither, but clutches his spear tightly. Avner, for his part, has his hand on the handle of his scimitar.

Tension ...

MikelaC1

2014-04-08, 06:44 AM

"Ssstop, both of you. If we are to sssurvive thisss journey, we mussst work together. EQUALLY." (with a look at Avner) "Without titlesss or name-calling. Anyone thinksss they are better than sssomeone elssse, they can find their own way to civilization. Now, letsss sssee about food and sssuppliessss"

PSinger

2014-04-09, 07:30 PM

Ezekiel flaps out his wings and raises his hammer - either as a warning or as a sign for all to halt. "This is a failed expedition. The supplies you take with you are for your survival. We are responsible for the remaining passengers to get them to Farshore safely. Normally, an away mission would fall on the senior leader, which would have been Ms. Venkalie; but, we are not on an away mission, because we are not 'away' from the ship. For all practical purposes, there is no ship. So, Amella Venkalie, though you would have actually have had leadership, you do not have it here."

He then looks to Avner. "As far as you ... we have landed on the Isle of Dread. This means you would have supported Lady Vanderboren in enhancing the colony there ... at Farshore. We are not at Farshore. Perhaps, considering you would have had clout with colonial issues, especially considering the expense your father put forth in aiding Lady Vanderboren's enterprise, then those things which deal with colonial issues - now that we have landed on the Isle of Dread - fall to your responsibility. I say responsibility, not your demand. I see you are well trained with sword and mount. Congratulations, the Lord is now in charge of the protection of his charges .... the colonists here. Do not fail them, or lose what honor you have left. As far as the rest of us, you have no sway.

"In sailing on the ships, we default to working for House Vanderboren, my allegiance - as well as Amella's and Skald's specifically - are with that house. Lord Merivanchi, do not pre-empt her charge in that matter. House Vanderboren issues fall to her senior staff. I am her senior man at home and abroad, regardless of what changes I have undergone and have yet to discover. That default would also include those who worked for her ... such as a crewmember via Tom and Eshalyn. However, the two of you never actually gave any fealty to Lady Vanderboren, but became attached to the ship through serendipity. Shouting Tree gave his oath as my 'shield-man,' so through me he is a member of House Vanderboren.

"Tom, Eshalyn ... you are technically free agents. No matter what occurs to me, no matter what calamities I have suffered, and no matter how remote a place I am, and no matter what has happened to me, I will honor my allegiance to my Lady unto her death, her survivors, or until such time as I know House Vanderboren should be no more.

"In the meantime, Skald an Shouting Tree are our best field experts, and at the end of the day they should have tactical control."

Finally, he looks to Eshalyn, "Yes, we all must respect each others' skills, but too many times I have seen 'equal,' slow things down. There might be leadership among a few and those that work for them, but a full democracy is better in a government. That makes Avner responsible for the colonists, I'm responsible for Vanderborens, and then it's Tom and yourself. With input from Skald and Shouting Tree, that's practically democratic, but we still need clear lines of leadership."

Swami Monsoon

2014-04-10, 03:45 PM

"Free agents? Uh, that can wait. If we're going to get through this we're going to need to stick together."

Tom looks out to sea...

If you need help getting stuff off the ship, I have a way to, uh, walk out there..."

lostsole31

2014-04-10, 06:58 PM

"Well, don't stand there blathering about maybe .... what? What?" pushes Avner impatiently.

PSinger

2014-04-10, 09:26 PM

"By the way, since we are no longer on the ship, everyone can call me 'Rabbi', 'Doctor', Eliezer, nickname of Lazer, or any of these with the first two titles. Even 'Doc' works."

Lazer looks to Tom, "Go ahead Tom. With better manners and less boorishness, we ask the same."

Swami Monsoon

2014-04-12, 12:34 PM

"Well, I can make it so that I and a few other people can walk on water as if they were walking on solid ground. I think I could get about 4 others. It would only last for about an hour or a little more, so we'd have to be quick. Or I could bring fewer people and I could make it last longer..."

PSinger

2014-04-14, 01:13 AM

"Skald, Shouting Tree, go with Tom, please. It'll be easier to swim down at point and bring things up together. I'll fly and swim as necessary."

lostsole31

2014-04-14, 03:15 AM

Shouting Tree nods his head first to Lazer, and then to Tom, ready to proceed.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-04-15, 12:30 PM

Skald nods in agreement and begins to secure any loose belongings to his person in preparation for the dive.

PSinger

2014-04-16, 02:19 AM

Lazer points to the the three aquanauts. "When you're ready, Tom ... the spell for yourself and these two men."

Swami Monsoon

2014-04-17, 11:12 AM

"OK, this spell will last a little over an hour, so we'll have to be quick. One thing... you can't dive or swim under the surface while it's on you. If you want to go underwater I'll have to remove it..."

Tom mutters a few syllables as lays his hands on Skald, Shouting Tree and then himself...

(Water Walking on all 3, good for 70 minutes)

PSinger

2014-04-19, 01:31 AM

Eliezer blinks as he hears the spell, but it is cast and it is already too late. "So, this is just to get them out there safely, right? Because we may need to swim ... buddy style, to salvage anything that might be under the waterline."

TickleMeTemplar

2014-04-19, 01:54 AM

"Also, while the spell is appreciated, I can now fly there faster than I could walk."

As if to emphasize his statement, the four translucent wings on his back hum up to speed then back to a rest.

lostsole31

2014-04-21, 06:58 AM

Let's simplify this ... how many hours of salvage do you wish to undertake?

PSinger

2014-04-24, 03:37 AM

8 hous should be good.

lostsole31

2014-05-03, 09:52 PM

After 8 grueling hours of searching for goods to be used, this is what you come up with before it gets dark and you need to camp.

Eliezer, Skald, Shouting Tree, Tom Underhill are the salvage team. Though Skald normally has better eyesight, Shouting Tree's beastmaster senses make him more capable of seeing in the dimly lit portions under the water. And even that is just a hair shy of the stern gaze of the angel Eliezer.

TOTAL SCAVENGED.....
Food - 50 pounds.
Feed - 80 pounds
Other - battered lantern; case with (10) crossbow bolts; (2) scrolls of remove disease in watertight scroll tubes; small wooden case containing (2) potions of cure moderate wounds; masterwork trident; 100' of hemp rope.
* A pair of saddlebags obviously belonging to Avner.
* There is a golden bat idol (weak magic, aura to weak to ID) that is owned by Eliezer (earned when he was marooned at Tamoachan, where so many of his shipmates were turned to stone).

Luckily, Thunderstriker will have feed for awhile .... it's easier to find food for the people than it will be for the horse.

Anyone (PCs, that is) have any ideas/ desires for any of the other equipment? Obviously, as much will be carried as possible, but I am interested in 'personal' objects desired. Be mindful of weights (as found on d20PFsrd).

PSinger

2014-05-04, 01:11 PM

There's nothing there (beyond the bat, which he earned) that he wants. He can hold the scrolls if no one else is going to, but he suggests that Tom takes the remove disease scrolls in case he [Eliezer] should fall. Potions should be divvied out among the non-healers, and even one to Skald, because Lazer knows that healing power in that bottle is easier than Skald can cast himself.
CMW is a 3rd-level druid spell, which isn't a good slot to prepare for Skald.
Eliezer doesn't need to eat, but he doesn't intend to be a pack horse, either. His incredibly heavy and articulated full plate already comes close to taxing his strength, and any more weight might make it impossible for him to fly.

MikelaC1

2014-05-04, 01:15 PM

None of the other items appeal to Eshalyn, however she will carry the potions and scrolls if no one else can handle the burden.

PSinger

2014-05-08, 03:29 PM

Lazer speaks up: "I recommend the potions go to Eshalyn; she can hang back to heal, and most sorcerers I know have trouble taking a hit.. I recommend the scrolls actually go one to Skald and one to Tom Underhill, because that is more of what they do. Are we in agreement?"

Swami Monsoon

2014-05-10, 11:15 AM

"That sounds good. I have no problem with that..."

lostsole31

2014-05-21, 01:20 PM

Amella, for the name Ms. Venkalie is now too formal, suggests beginning your journey tomorrow morning (it is dusk right now) so that you can reach the southern mountains to the south by nightfall rather than risk navigating the jungle at night. None of the NPCs wish to sleep in the jungle. Unfortunately, the beach is not incredibly large (the rest of the nearby coast is rocky), and the carcass of a dead dinosaur makes it a dangerous place to sleep. Do you try to do anything with the massive corpse?

MikelaC1

2014-05-22, 06:28 AM

Eshalyn seems completely at ease about the massive corpse...after all, in way, a dinosaur is a long distant kin to her (both being reptilian)

lostsole31

2014-06-06, 01:14 PM

That makes as much sense as me being comfortable around dead men's corpses .... because they're human. :smallconfused:
Lazer, you easily hear rustling of leaves and the like in the jungle. Your incredible low-light vision picks up the shapes of three terror birds, Large versions of the much more common axe beak. These flightless predators are fast, have a powerful bite, and can even snap up smaller persons with ease. They are over 60' away when you see them (30' in the jungle line), but you heard them enough before that you'd have two rounds to act. One round could be to wake everyone up, and folks can get 1 round of actions in. (The assumption is that this now paranoid - or is it seasoned - crew sleeps with a hand on a weapon. Only light weapons work in this way. Larger weapons still require being picked up/ drawn/ readied.)

What do you do?

PSinger

2014-06-11, 11:43 PM

I was hoping someone would answer sooner. Anyone else out there?
Lazer casts bless.

MikelaC1

2014-06-12, 06:47 AM

One round could be to wake everyone up, and folks can get 1 round of actions in.

I was hoping someone would answer sooner. Anyone else out there?

My PC was asleep, and therefore unable to act

PSinger

2014-06-12, 03:05 PM

Wow. *facepalm*

If I can retcon, because I never stated what you assumed for me ...
Lazer wakes everyone up quietly, "Terror birds in the jungle. Probably smelled the carrion. Ready yourselves."

He then casts bless.

MikelaC1

2014-06-17, 01:38 PM

Always mindful of protecting her own skin at all costs, Eshalyn's first action is to cast Mage Armour on herself, in preparation for what should be an upcoming battle.

lostsole31

2014-06-20, 01:23 AM

(Everyone has enough time to stand as a MA.)

Amella casts invisibility on herself and disappears from view.

One notes that Avner isn't present, until there is a hollow-to-clothing thunking sound. His body pops out of his strange jade-green breastplate as if he could hide in there like a turtle.

Skald readies his deep slumber SLA.

Tom picks up Winterspear.

Shouting Tree stands and says, "Let me try to calm them or to at least direct them to just eat the remains of the big lizard."

Shouting Tree steps forward of the party carefully - there is a fire to see by because it is absolutely necessary to help ward away insects, and most can't see in the dark, anyway. He then begins to sway and move like an odd bird for just a few seconds. Two begin to slowly move out of the jungle line while you can hear one curring behind them.

Does anyone do anything beyond this round, or allow Shouting Tree to try to calm them?

Swami Monsoon

2014-06-22, 10:32 PM

"That sounds like a good idea. They must have a month's worth of meat out there... why should they try for more?"

lostsole31

2014-06-23, 05:20 PM

"Hyenas prefer fresh rabbits, but are scavengers," answers Amella. "Probably something similar."

Skald an expert of jungle lore, moves slowly along with Shouting Tree to assist him (both have a respectable +9). Only with the fey rangers great help does Shouting Tree shoo off the terror birds to the huge carcass, which the birds begin to munch on hungrily.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-06-23, 09:51 PM

When Skald returns to the group he says in a hushed tone, "Best we move on before they finish with that thing. We've chanced our luck enough on this coast, and I won't trade teeth for beak as my end." He waits for the others, bow and one arrow in hand.

MikelaC1

2014-06-24, 06:23 AM

Eshalyn is ready to move out as well...although she thinks to herself that those birds will not finish for a llloooonnnggg time.

Swami Monsoon

2014-06-26, 12:03 AM

Tom gathers his gear and gets ready to depart. They've barely gotten off the beach and have already encountered a menagerie of giant predators. Who knows what's waiting for them further inland...

PSinger

2014-06-28, 04:14 PM

"Stop."

You look at Lazer to see him slowly shaking his head. "Where do you think you're going to go at this dark hour, with everyone exhausted the same day of the shipwreck, the attack from the giant lizard, and the expenditure of daily abilities .... in the dark .... with unknowns? Here, at least on the beach, these monster birds are now thankfully gobbling a good meal while acting as an unwitting guard force a couple hundred feet away. We agreed, emphatically by the jungle-eers, that daytime is the only safe time to travel. No, we stay here tonight. Sleep. Sleep as you need to recover, but we have an encampment that alone was fatiguing to build."

lostsole31

2014-07-08, 04:36 PM

Since Lazer's word carries for the crew, and Avner and his passengers have no desire to leave the comfort of the fire and light for aimless trekking trough dark jungle, the lesser evil is chosen. Everyone returns to sleep, albeit a little nervously.

The next day, Amella assesses that pushing through the jungle as quickly as possible to get to the mountains to the south will be the party's best bet. Skald can estimate that it is 13 miles away to the closest point due south.

Does anyone suggest anything particular before heading out?

PSinger

2014-07-08, 11:16 PM

Lazer simply tries to make sure that as much food as can be carried, portaged, or littered is brought along. He leaves jungle expertise to the jungle experts.

lostsole31

2014-07-16, 11:16 PM

Something everyone notices when you are ready to head out, and it's surprising that it wasn't noticed before .... Eshalyn is no longer there. Amella speaks up. "Eshalyn talked with me last night. She said that she has been given her own quest by her patron, one that goes in a different direction on this island than our own. She has asked that we do not attempt to follow. She turned into a small snake and left .... so even if you didn't respect her wishes, she'd be nearly impossible to track."

"How DARE she desert us, that scaly bitch!" shouts Avner. "She's too weak to fight in combat, but she has stolen our best means of blasting enemies from afar."

"That's not true,"Amella. "Skald, your druid powers give you lightning bolts, and your strange, winged heritage seems to give you witch-like powers. Skald is also an archer that brought down that massive monster with an incredible shot. Sure, we all helped, but his bow is as good as any arcane weapon. Tom helps a little as well with his breath, though not as much."

Any comments on what has transpired? What is the best marching order? Avner will be damned if he isn't "protecting" the civilians in the middle. The group (outside of Avner and the civilians) are Lazer, Skald, Tom Underhill, Amella, and Shouting Tree (with Ix-Caban, his jaguar).

PSinger

2014-07-17, 03:22 AM

"I always knew, somehow, that Eshalyn's presence in our group was impermanent," says Lazer. "But she felt out of place. Neither truly a crew member, not yet at least. Not a colonist. Just brought together by fate. Her magic was formidable and will be missed, but we cannot dwell on that.

"Skald, you will take point, as expected. Shouting Tree will not do an up-front aid, but will be rear guard with Ix-Caban behind the colonists. Their senses are comparable for anything coming from behind, and he and his jaguar are fast enough to move forward if needed. Then will be the colonists (and Avner). Tom, I need you not too far behind Skald; your powers aid us all within a certain range, and we need you to help him search for danger and to enhance our reflexes. Amella, mix in with the colonists to try to comfort them as you can; I know that's not your bardic specialty, but we have to do what we can. I'll also walk with them to act as a spiritual counselor; it's pointless for me to try to be aerial recon because of the dense jungle canopy."

Swami Monsoon

2014-07-20, 11:06 AM

The plan makes sense to Tom. He nods agreement as he takes his place near the head of the group. He looks at the jungle around them uneasily. This is going to be hard enough, and now they're a man... err.. a woman down...

TickleMeTemplar

2014-07-26, 11:51 PM

"Aye, I'll take point. Keep eyes on the person ahead of you and one hand on your weapons. It's clear this jungle is home to many large creatures and I suspect they only get larger as we move inland. Don't lose the group or this jungle will eat you alive." Skald adjusts his personal affects and, when satisfied, takes his place at the head of the group.

lostsole31

2014-08-27, 12:17 PM

The journey from the beach to the southern mountains is a 13-mile trek through a stretch of jungle inhabited primarily by terror birds and dinosaurs. Fortunately, large game trails crisscross the expanse, making travel a bit easier (3/4 normal speed). The jungle consists of tall trees, flush with brightly colored birds and thick hanging vines. The canopy keeps the region shaded with occasional shafts of light. Terror birds hunt the floor of the jungle with some frequency. So adept is Skald's jungle lore, that the party is able to either conceal themselves from the birds, frighten them off, or simply make them disinterested and walk away.

Roughly halfway through the light jungle, the party comes upon a vast depression in the jungle that stretches nearly 6 miles across and 1 mile wide. A starstone struck the jungle here decades ago and the jungle has never reclaimed the broken ground. Today, the clearing is made up of rough ground, spattered with clumps of tall grasses and the occasional furrow. The crater is home to a herd of enormous dinosaurs known as diplodocuses, towering behemoths with elephantine bodies, long necks, and even longer tails. A dozen of the dinosaurs dwell in the crater, and although they often come to the crater's rim to feast on the plants that grow there, their size makes it a simple matter to avoid them.

What won't be easy to avoid is a young diplodocus who has wandered too far from the herd and been attacked by a flock of six terror birds. The sudden on rush of dinosaur and bird gives the PCs 4 rounds to prepare before the beleaguered diplodocus crashes out of the undergrowth 50 feet from the PCs.

Does anyone take any actions, or are some of you willing to allow the cruel side of nature take its course?

PSinger

2014-08-30, 07:41 AM

Lazer looks away. The angel knows there is something monumentally unfair in all of this, but one is responsible for a life they save. They can do nothing for this creature if it survives. And this is the jungle. And there is a law covering this. He remembers that they are merely animals, and that cruelty and malice does not chase the creature, but one natural predator over another prey. If anyone goes to battle, he will gladly join, but he cannot validate what would otherwise be simply battle lust.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-09-01, 08:04 PM

Skald glances with a slight interest. He furrows his brow and turns away. He says in low tones to the others around him. "Let's steer the civilians away. Best if they don't know what the birds are capable of. Let nature take its course; the longer they busy themselves with the calf, the more time we have to be clear of them."

Swami Monsoon

2014-09-02, 02:10 PM

"Agreed. This is none of our business. No need to start a fight, maybe get some people hurt..."

Nature is not always pretty, but no thinking creatures are at risk. Yet. And trying to intervene might very well change that...

lostsole31

2014-09-03, 12:47 AM

"Pah!" Avner says. "Who says what will happen next with those beasts? You could have protected my people better by leading them away and killing them. At least then you could look like heroes to the colonists, instead of cowards. Ha! As you will. Were I of your responsibility, the jungle would fear me. We took out a great beast. Don't creatures know a .... what's the word? Alpha .... and you are the top of the food chain. But you skulk about, and use the protection of my people as a shield for your own spinelessness. But, sure, my focus is on protecting my charges .... who look to you brave adventurers for morale support."

PSinger

2014-09-03, 11:47 AM

Eliezer desperately wants to call him out on his braggadocio, but knows that he would just be playing into Avner's little ego-game. No need to start conflict, an argument, and attracting monsters. Not that offering up Avner as bait wouldn't be tempting. Eliezer is a little taken aback by the last sentiment, but remembers that while he is now fully and apparently what his heritage was meant to be, he was still raised as a mortal with some of the petty, but wisely hidden, sentiments that can tempt a dwarf.

He simply turns to Skald and nods as if to have him lead the way.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-09-07, 01:26 PM

Skald rolls his eyes at Avner, "Go be a hero then. You and your horse will make a fine, meaty distraction while we press on." With that, Skald begins to strike out again, steering the walking buffet away from the large birds of prey.

lostsole31

2014-09-09, 08:25 PM

Toward the end of the first day of travel, the jungle begins to thin. Eventually, it opens up to reveal an area littered with ancient stone ruins. The mountains directly to the south are not particularly tall. Skald sees the lower area of the wall of mountains. His entire life has been spent on the water or in the jungle, or in the many towns in-between. Sea level is his friend, but now looking at a range of mountains that will have to be traversed, who knows what is going through his mind. Skald is able to tell, though, that the best means of finding a pass will be through the low-lying mountains.

Lazer, you have seen ruins like these before when you were marooned and in the ruins on Tamochtli where fell (or rather, stood in stone) so many past companions. These are Olman ruins, dating back to the time of their great empire on the isle long ago. Over the centuries, this small outpost has fallen into disrepair and decay, the jungle slowly overwhelming its crumbling walls.

These ruins are infested with spiders, although those of the monstrous variety seem to avoid the large group and skitter off into dark holes when you draw near. Spider webs caress the ruins, hanging between old walls and carpeting the floor. In a clearing in the center of the ruins resides a throne made of webs and bone.

Does anyone approach the throne?

PSinger

2014-09-09, 10:03 PM

Lazer will have Shouting Tree stay back to help protect the civilians (because he doesn't trust Avner to be as brave as his mouth would suggest). He motions to Skald, Tom, and Amella to come with him to check out this throne. "It's pointless to be stealthy since we are out in the open, but keep a weather eye."

He invokes his holy aura, which by now Tom understands suppresses all of his magic within the bubble (but can be cast to affect outside that bubble, or even across that bubble with a suppression interrupt as an effect "crosses" through).

lostsole31

2014-09-09, 10:37 PM

Anything special for Tom or Skald? I'm sure Tom's standard default of the perception aura is running. Skald, you are no longer in jungle, per se, but in concentrated ruins; this means that all of your jungle bonuses no longer apply.

lostsole31

2014-09-11, 09:20 AM

As Skald, Tom, Lazer, and Amella approach, they can make out the form of an old woman sitting on the throne, looking in their direction and beckoning them forward. She wears a worn gown of black silk with cobwebs hanging from her bent form. As the party approaches she calls out to them in a language that only Eliezer, blessed with the truespeech of heavenly servants, can understand. Given his first hand experience and his expertise in history, Eliezer recognizes the language as ancient Olman.
"Who are you that has wandered into my web? You are not from this place. I have not seen your like in an age. I am Lithira, queen of these ruins. What brings you to my domain?"

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii14/Steve_Dubya/Lithira.jpg

PSinger

2014-09-11, 04:55 PM

Eliezer looks to his companions and repeats what she says in Common. He beckons for the party to approach carefully. He stops 30' away from her, and looks her over, seeking to discern something.
Detect evil.
If things seem okay, he answers in her tongue, "Queen of these ancient Olman ruins, I am Rabbi Eliezer Whuraili Cohen ben Mordechai of Clan Ironoath of Oriadeth, though you may simply refer to me as Rabbi Eliezer. These are my companions; Tom Underhill of the wintry powers, Skald the half-fey, and Amella Venkalie, our storyteller. We, and the group remaining back there, are all that's left of a shipwreck that was meant to restock the colony of Farshore on the south side of this island. If I may, venerable Queen, what languages do you speak, that perhaps some speech may be better understood by my companions?"

lostsole31

2014-09-11, 05:52 PM

"After the language of men in my time, I only know this, the language of the fey of First World. At least your fey companion should be able to understand this."
She seems more comfortable now. "What passes in the world beyond the island? what is it like? Have you any tales to tell me that I may enjoy this first contact?"

Swami Monsoon

2014-09-14, 11:46 AM

Tom stays silent for the moment, only nodding when he is introduced. He's content to leave this Queen in charge of her little kingdom, and he's not sure this is any more their business than the battles between birds and beasts. He listens to the discussion in some foreign language...

I hope they know what they're doing...

Senses Aura is on.

PSinger

2014-09-14, 01:47 PM

"It would've been better if Amella could do this," thinks Eliezer. "Telling stories is her forte. Oh, well, here goes."

Skald, Eliezer tells the epic story of the trials and travails of the doomed Sea Wyvern from the time it disembarked Sasserine. The heroes lost, the battles won, the strange sights seen, and his own marooning on Tamochtli where he met Shouting Tree. After he and Quickslayer killed the basilisk, they killed other strange monsters in the ancient ruins. Quickslayer stayed behind to show reverence and guard over Korian's statue, for the latter was the son of the God of Frostfell Animals, and Quickslayer's patron. The Idol of the Bat, which still puzzles Eliezer, was recovered from the ruins, and then again from the Sea Wyvern. He believes it to be some type of artifact. Finally, he tells of the great battle against the monster lizard that you finally felled with an unbelievable shot from your bow.
Perform: Oratory, untrained [roll0] ... hopefully, a natural 22 CHA and perhaps a bonus from the DM will go far?

lostsole31

2014-09-14, 03:03 PM

Skald can tell Elliezer is no storyteller, but his forthrightness serves him well. Besides, the tale practically tells itself. Lithira listens with rapt attention.

Once he is done, she says, "I thank you for your tale.The world beyond sounds truly wondrous and I would very much like to visit it one day. As for your journey, there is little I can do to aid you. You should know that the way south is dangerous. There are unnatural things that lurk in the dark places, now more so than in the past. I know that four eyes have gazed upon you and their servant seeks you out. You would do well to avoid him.

"If you plan to head south, take the dark mountain pass that travels under the peaks. It was made by the ancient ones, but beware - hungry birds nest near its opening not far from here, and they are fierce near their young. May you wander the web to find your wayhome."

Any other RP or questions with Lithira?

PSinger

2014-09-14, 04:03 PM

Eliezer considers the increase in unnatural activity that this long-time resident has noticed, and what the heck is this four eyes business about?

"Do you have any further insight on what you've told us? How do you know them to be true?"

lostsole31

2014-09-17, 02:37 PM

She nods slowly. "Yes, the 'path under the mountain leads to the bay on the other side, but I have not been that way in ages. It is much easier than traveling around or over the mountains. I know nothing in particular of the unnatural things that lurk in the dark places, except that they are numerous now and their powers is growing."
With that, Lithira turns into a old hairy spider and crawls away, allowing you to leave in peace.

Amella looks nervous. "She is an aranea, a race of magical shapechangers that can take the form of one humanoid and their natural spider form, and they have moderately capable sorcery in misdirection. But I never heard of them actually controlling spiders. She might be friendly, but the thousands of other spiders - some really big - well, I don't know. Sooo ... let's carefully beat feet now!"

You see that the rest of the colonists and Avner are looking incredibly nervous, and Thunderstriker is very skittish.

PSinger

2014-09-17, 06:04 PM

Eliezer looks at his nervous bunch. He nods, "There we have it. Let us quit this place and seek the undermountain pass, unless someone has a better idea."

lostsole31

2014-09-18, 02:28 PM

Any input?

TickleMeTemplar

2014-09-20, 04:42 PM

"Is the pass under the mountain really our best option? The old one said herself that a darkness festers there now more powerful than before. Besides," his wings twitch, "I feel uncomfortable underground. There's no room to move and fight. There air is moldy and stale. And, most importantly, we know what treads above the ground. We can only guess what scurries beneath us."

Swami Monsoon

2014-09-21, 10:44 PM

"We know this jungle is pretty damned deadly as well. The old lady is probably speaking from experience. The real question is how much we can trust her..."

PSinger

2014-09-22, 08:11 AM

"I sensed no malice in her words, and with our story of the world beyond her own, she seemed genuinely grateful. Tom is right. We don't know all the dangers the jungle holds; we're just familiar with the ones we've met. If there are dark forces with eyes upon us, then they know where we are, regardless. Trying to take the colonists through the mountains with the provisions is asking to be picked off, even though Skald and I would have advantage of flight, and Skald would be in tune with the sky. Avner's horse also might not make it assuming footing is treacherous.

"Meanwhile, with an undermountain pass - and I surmise from her words that this pass is more constructed in nature and thus more navigable than simple spelunking - we can protect colonists from both sides, and possibly bottleneck any enemies, even if they attack from two sides. The litters can be trailed, and Thunderstriker can be guided. We're all casters here, so light shouldn't be a problem. If air is an issue, I am sure, Skald, that you have the means to help with that, given sky powers might carry over to powers of air, a common element for druids, right?

"No," pronounces the rabbi, "your arguments have merit, but we will take the undermountain pass. For the safety of all, I am more than willing to forgo my advantage of flight."

lostsole31

2014-09-22, 08:59 AM

"Och. I'll follow ye wherever you go, captain," says Amella, "In the jungle we're a bunch of road rollers with a trail as big as one o' them trees. GangofThieves! Not like we're not gonna' fight no matter which way we go. But if you bloody carpetsellers don't mind, let's go .... now!"

lostsole31

2014-09-30, 02:22 AM

The party needs to bed down shortly thereafter. Are there any special precautions the group takes?

PSinger

2014-10-01, 02:35 AM

Eliezer informs of his orders (per OOC).

lostsole31

2014-10-04, 10:17 PM

Just doing this much to keep from back-and-forthing the obvious, PSinger.
"To arms!" calls Eliezer when the party is sleeping. "Terror birds in the jungle!"

He easily wakes folks up. You each have one round to do something. Note that you are prone so a move action (MA) would be required for you to stand, an another SA>>>MA to grab a weapon. Spell component pouches are assumed to be worn, and thus not picked up off the ground. You do not sleep with "weapons in your hand," since sleeping is a deeper form of unconscious, which is a deeper form of stunned, in which you hold nothing in your hands (or at least not properly "wielded").

Go ahead and state your actions. No order is required. Tom, no auras are up while you are asleep, so if you spend a SwA (swift action) to bring one up, be sure to note that in your actions. Nobody has recovered any spells or anything from the previous day.

PSinger

2014-10-05, 11:06 AM

No problem. Saves a day of back-and-forth interaction that nobody wants.
Normally, Eliezer might take wing. But with the colonists, it's more important he stay grounded to help protect them. His orders were that the colonists sleep in the middle of the large encampment, along with the food and the horse. The rest of the party was to space themselves around the perimeter. The downside to that is a party member might be alone for a round or two while others come to their aid if they're not engaged with a foe.

Eliezer touches one of the two beads on his necklace, praying aloud to Moradin for strength in battle against the foe. Everyone is filled with an increased sense of courage. The head of Gili-Nachum bursts into flame as the dwarf-chalkydri stands ready for battle.
As expected, using the bead of blessing for the bless effect.

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-06, 11:19 PM

Tom is startled awake and quickly leaps to his feet. He looks out into the jungle, trying to find the threat...

His standard action will be determined by what he can see and where the birds are (if they're visible).

lostsole31

2014-10-07, 04:14 AM

You can spend your SA to get a good look. Otherwise, time is of the essence.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-10-07, 11:17 AM

Skald will stand and ready/equip/proper phrasing his bow.

lostsole31

2014-10-07, 09:23 PM

Avner gets up, drawing his scimitar. Though it appears to be a jade-like breastplate, his seems to be very light and he can sleep in it without waking up exhausted. "Thunderstriker, up!"

His steed awakens and trots over to him

Ix-Caban gets up and nudges Shouting Tree. Amella gets up and casts a invisibility, disappearing from view. Shouting Tree stands, getting his spear of fertility; he makes gestures to his jaguar.

Round One ...

R1T24: "HA-ha-ha!" calls Avner. "We'll see whose night it is."

He spins onto the Thunderstriker's back in a blink, and hunkers down onto the saddle and man, and guides his mount to ready to charge.

R1T23.9: Ix-Caban stands next to her master, ready to pounce.

R1T22: A terror bird bursts forth. It was heading towards Amella, but she suddenly disappeared so it veers over to Eliezer.

R1T19: A terror bird comes out of a different side towards the frightened colonists, but before it can even intercept that group Avner he shouts, "You're mine, you blasted turkey!"

He zooms into the thing with a critical strike for 33 damage! It's still up and has some fight in it, but that was still a perfect blow. Thunderstriker, on his charge, puts power behind its hoof to crack the bird for 14. The bird stops in its tracks, but moved enough from the jungle to not be able to attack.

R1T17: Tom, you sense that there may be a couple more out there, but you can't see them ... and you didn't raise your senses aura to help yourself and the party for initiative. There are two terror birds at camp, though. Avner/Thunderstriker is engaging one, and the other is facing off with Eliezer. What do you do?

Eliezer on deck ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-07, 09:58 PM

Tom will finish the first round by picking up his weapon and activating the toughness aura.

Now he steps forward and attempts to finish off the bird wounded by Avner.

Attack 1d20+11
Damage 1d6+5 1d6

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-07, 10:09 PM

Trying that again...

Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1] [roll2]

lostsole31

2014-10-07, 11:06 PM

R1T17: Tom activates his toughness aura while picking up his spear, and he moves over to help the braggart. With his aura, every single one of the colonists might at least have a small measure of protection if attacked, though Tom realizes it's not nearly enough. Tom analyzes the bird's movements, and imagines himself making a near-perfect blow.
MA to pick up weapon, SwA for aura, second MA to get over to Avner. Everyone is spread out to help make a perimeter around the encampment.
R1T16: Eliezer had dropped his aura, though he was distant enough from Amella, to make sure that any spells that might be helpful can aid him ... especially considering the terror birds are animals. He raises Gili-nachum and slams down for 10 and 2 fire.

R1T10: A terror bird comes out towards Ix-Caban, but the savage duo are already on the counter-charge. As the terror bird moves to within 15', Ix-Caban launches forward and bites for 15, and latching on; a claw slashes on a crit for 20, another claw for 12. Shouting Tree's charge finishes it off.

R1T9: A high-pitched, loud, screaming noise pitches forth from a blank area to hit the rabbi's opponent for a pinpoint shot for 18. Amella appears 30' away, further away from the camp so as to be just barely in shadowy light. "That's it, you feather-headed tribe of Polynesians!"

She looks down to her new 'toy,' the hand crossbow. "I'll be a salty tramp o' the wharf, but I like me shooter." :haley:

R1T8.9: Skald, what do you do?

Eliezer's enemy on deck ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-08, 11:51 AM

Sorry, I thought this was an entirely new round.
Will I need to reroll for an attack next round?

TickleMeTemplar

2014-10-10, 09:39 AM

Skald fires three arrows in the blink of an eye at the remaining terror bird. The silvery contrails left by the arrows streak against the night sky and look almost like shooting stars.

Attack 1: [roll0]
Attack 2: [roll1]
Attack 3: [roll2]

Damage 1: [roll3]
Damage 2: [roll4]
Damage 3: [roll5]

lostsole31

2014-10-10, 03:08 PM

R1T8.9: Skald fires three arrows in the blink of an eye at the two terror birds engaged in combat.. The silvery contrails left by the arrows streak against the night sky and look almost like shooting stars. The first two shots fell the one in combat with Eliezer, and the second shot fells the one fighting Avner and Tom.

R1T8.8: Yet another terror bird comes charging out of the jungle and gets to Skald though it doesn't have time to attack.

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T24: Avner waves his scimitar around in a circle above him, shouting holier-than-thou imprecations at the new foe, and he guides Thunderstriker across camp, deftly moving through the allied colonists. He does seem to wield his scimitar with a defensive strategy. His focus on the creature, and a max-damage strike, does 21. Thunderstriker throws out a hoof, but the beast's thick, feathery hide softens the blow.

R2T17: Tom, it would take you a full 45' to get to the other side of camp just to get to this last terror bird on Skald (and Avner). What do you do?

Eliezer on deck, Ix-Caban in the hole ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-11, 11:47 PM

Tom moves towards what is, for the moment at least, the last remaining bird. For a moment he thinks about throwing his spear, but he decides not to let go of the only weapon he has at hand. Instead he concentrates for a second... The snarl of an angry panther appears to come from right behind the bird. Maybe that will confuse it just a bit while they deal with it...

Move 30'. Cast Ghost Sound.

lostsole31

2014-10-13, 10:35 AM

R2T17: Tom moves towards what is, for the moment at least, the last remaining bird. For a moment he thinks about throwing his spear, but he decides not to let go of the only weapon he has at hand. Tom is cursed, for the vaguest spirits haunt him from time-to-time, but he has learned to sometimes mentally collect them and "direct" them for small tasks. He concentrates for a second and casts a quick spell.

The snarl of an angry panther appears to come from right behind the bird. The bird definitely lets out a shrill caw to look behind it.

R2T16: Eliezer, you saw Tom cast the spell and you only just barely recognize it but your hunch is confirmed when you hear the panther's snarl and see nothing. You do recognize that the terror bird, while a little upset by that sudden development, is not particularly thrown off its game. What do you do?

Ix-Caban and Shouting Tree on deck, Amella in the hole ...

PSinger

2014-10-13, 12:32 PM

As a LG dwarf-angel, it's not about being imaginative, merely effective. Lazer swings again.
Attack [roll0], damage [roll1] + [roll2] fire

lostsole31

2014-10-13, 03:06 PM

R2T16: As a LG dwarf-angel, it's not about being imaginative, merely effective. Lazer swings again and thud-singes his opponent for 11 + 2 fire. That hit made its mark and the last bird is showing some combat fatigue.

R2T11.2-11.1: Shouting Tree orders Ix-Caban to attack. She zooms across the camp and bites the bird for 14. Shouting Tree then throws his spear and it crits the bird for 21, dropping it.

Combat Ends ...
TickleMeTemplar has some IRL stuff going on, so his characters are DM-controlled for the next couple days.
The battle done, Shouting Tree collects his magic spear.

Skald is frowning as he looks at the scene. He looks around. "It will only get worse. Terror birds are sure-footed in the hills. This wasn't just a hunt. Instead of charging in to get food, this seems like a pack tactic used to kill or chase away enemy families.

"We are somewhere within the creatures' main den, and that isn't good. I don't think I'll be able to calm any that come along to find a meal elsewhere. We are on their lands and they will just as soon kill us than worry about if we're tasty or not. I say recommend we push on to the pass now, not in the morning. We aren't going to get a break, and they'll keep coming."

PSinger

2014-10-14, 12:50 PM

"Agreed. We will do nothing but use up our magic and resources without knowing exactly how many enemies we have. Tired or not, we need to strike camp and head for the pass. The birds see as well as any animal in starlight, so it doesn't hurt us to use torches and light spells."

lostsole31

2014-10-15, 04:58 PM

When told about having to roust the entire colony from their currently terrified (though now gracious) state to full wakefulness to grab things and go in this midnight hour, morale suddenly plummets.

"What do you mean, leave now?!" Avner barks. "We don't have any torches. I've seen your torch spells, and there aren't enough to bring everyone safely through a dark jungle. My people will get picked off at the edges one-by-one. I say we fight it out tonight if we have to, but this time bring camp much closer together."

PSinger

2014-10-17, 07:14 AM

Eliezer's countenance becomes stern, which is quite fitting for his coppery form. He stalks over to Avner, and tries to get him over to the side so that neither he nor Avner compromise their visibility of leadership to the colonists. He breathes, his face softens but only a little and he is firm but tries not to be intimidating.

"Don't tell me what you can't do; tell me what you can do. You're right, we probably don't have enough light spells to give everyone the safety of being fully in light. But don't make that a reason to pitch a fit. See if we can solve the problem instead of complain about it. Now, it just so happens that because of my connection to Moradin the Soulforger, I can give the visible semblance of a flame the brightness of a torch to an object about three times a day. This continuous flame, combined with light spells, should do nicely. Throw on my magic aura, and we have plenty of light.

"The next time you have a complaint talk to me to the side about it, okay? It seems petty, and the colonists will think you care more about yourself than they. Morale is already low."
Just in case it helps ... Diplomacy [roll0]. Since Avner is a noble from a Sasserine family, does my +2 Diplomacy bonus regarding Sasserine apply? or, is it only in Sasserine itself?

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-17, 11:56 AM

Avner is long overdue for a good punch in the mouth... but now's not the time.
Tom silently organizes and repacks his gear and personal effects... doing so in the glow of a fistful of illuminated pebbles scattered around him, glancing a couple of times to see if Sir Stuffypants is getting the hint...

Cast Light on several pebbles. (As far as I know there's not a limit on simultaneous instances of the spell.)

lostsole31

2014-10-18, 03:33 PM

Eliezer, you are the last of the Heroes of Sasserine that stopped a bullywug invasion, as well as goblins, from underneath the city. He wouldn't admit it openly, but this does have some effect.

Avner grumbles, but otherwise concedes. "Youi're right. I shall do as you suggest. but only because the peasants are craven, weak-minded sheep."

The group moves forward for a bit, and then there is a terrible shrieking and cawing from a terror bird. Shortly thereafter, from only a little way away, there are the sounds of others.

You have two rounds to prepare. What do you do? The birds are well out of sight. The group ... because you carried lights ... were spotted a distance away. Though the birds' noise means you have more time to mount a defensive posture or set up spells. Tom, if you opt to be in the middle of the convoy instead of on the edge as a hero, your aura can affect everyone. Tough call, since I'm sure you'll want to get into battle yourself. Speaking of which, your Toughness aura is currently active.

PSinger

2014-10-22, 08:35 AM

Whoosh! Lazer flies over the top of the entire march to get everyone within range. He gathers up divine power that is within him and calls out to all around him as his magic hammer glows nearly white hot. "Aim high, plan well, and strike while the iron is hot, for unprepared metal shatters from a hammer's blade!"

This small exhortation instantly fills the troops with courage and focus.

He then readies to cast a more tangible version of such a hammer.
Fly to just overhead of center of entire group, then SLA bless.

Second roundish, ready to cast spiritual weapon at the first terror bird that shows its beak.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-10-22, 10:37 AM

Skald calls out from the ground, "Combatants to the edge, Colonists to the center. I'm going to blanket the colonists in mist for protection! Stay low, stay quiet, and you will live!" After his spell he joins the Rabbi above the group and above the mist. Once he's reached his location, he whispers a few words and his quiver briefly shines with a slight magical glow.

Obscuring Mist at location
then flies up
abundant ammunition on quiver

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-22, 06:30 PM

Tom takes a moment to prepare his crossbow. Then he steps towards the edge of the group, away from the expanding fog cloud and towards the threatening sounds. He gestures, concentrates... and a reptilian horror similar to the one they fought on the beach shimmers into existence between the party and the approaching terror birds. Except this one is bright purple. It assumes a threatening posture, facing out into the jungle...

He speaks up, trying to keep his voice low and avoid unwanted attention.
"The big purple critter is ours. Pass it on."

Ready crossbow and cast Magic Weapon on it.
Move to edge of group and cast Minor Image as close to the apparent location of the birds as possible.
(One day I'll actually get to use this spell right. One day.)
Senses aura is active.

lostsole31

2014-10-23, 10:27 AM

Prep Round 1 ...

Amella casts invisibility on herself.

Shouting Tree nods to Lazer and he moves forward to the forward part of the perimeter, and Ix-Caban is at his side.

Lazer flies over the top of the entire march to get everyone within range. He gathers up divine power that is within him and calls out to all around him as his magic hammer glows nearly white hot. "Aim high, plan well, and strike while the iron is hot, for unprepared metal shatters from a hammer's blade!" (A small exhortation instantly fills the troops with courage and focus.)

Tom takes a moment to prepare his crossbow. At the same time, everyone's senses and reflexes increase.

Skald calls out from the ground, "Combatants to the edge, Colonists to the center. I'm going to blanket the colonists in mist for protection! Stay low, stay quiet, and you will live!"

After his spell he joins the Rabbi above the group and above the mist. Meanwhile, the lights of the group become insanely muted, with a single torch having little effect beyond a few feet.

Prep Round 2 ...

Shouting Tree edges forward outside of the cloud per the order, though 10' beyond that as well (as does Ix').

Lazer has to fly out of the cloud, for he did not fly high enough to keep from being in the mist. In flying out of the cloud, he is now just outside on the forward edge.

Then he steps towards the edge of the group, away from the expanding mist and towards the threatening sounds. He gestures, concentrates, and a reptilian horror similar to the one they fought on the beach shimmers into existence between the party and the approaching terror birds. Except this one is bright purple, and is moderately luminous to be seen. It is a smaller version of the massive one you faced off against, but still big enough. It assumes a threatening posture, facing out into the jungle. Tom speaks up, trying to keep his voice low and avoid unwanted attention, "The big purple critter is ours. Pass it on."

Skald flies forward out of his own mist, keeping pace with Lazer. Once they've reached their hover-point, Skald whispers a few words and his quiver briefly shines with a slight magical glow.
Editorial: you don't cast spells silently. There is no stealth-casting. Verbal components require a clear, strong voice. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic#TOC-Components) The only way around this would be the Silent Spell metamagic. This is a common thing spellcasters try to do when stealth is needed.

That said, from an RP standpoint it's fine in this encounter. However, it is not now, nor will ever be considered stealthy. To cut the question off at the past, neither Stealth nor Bluff nor Sleight of Hand (for somatic) do anything. Casting spells is extremely obvious.

Five terror birds slowly come into view - either of one's darkvision, the low-light vision amplified by Lazer's warhammer, or even the shadowy glow of the purple dinosaur. They are spread out in a wide semi-circle, and move slowly, sniffing the air and guarded as befits the larger monster. But those of you outside the mist notice that they obviously smell whatever yummies are inside and outside the mist (though the mist probably dulls scent some).

Round 1 ...

R1T26: Shouting Tree begins to sway and make strange, savage gesticulations and then makes screeching, cawing noises that sound exactly like the terror birds. Two of the birds instantly stop an aggressive posture. Shouting Tree points to those to and says to his companions, "Leave those two be; they will not harm us if we do not harm them."

R1T20: The lead terror bird is a fearless creature and makes a sudden charge against the purple dinosaur, stopping right on the other side of it.

R1T19: Shouting Tree nods his head to Ix', motioning to one of the birds to the side. The jaguar speeds forth with full power. Her bite sinks in for 16 and easily holds on, and her two claws follow up for 19 total. That was such a powerful and shocking attack, that already the bird seems a little shaken (and a lot held).

R1T18.9: Lazer?

Tom on deck ...

PSinger

2014-10-25, 03:56 AM

"Moradin, I beseech ye to be my shieldmate-hammer!" Eliezer casts a spell and a hammer of pure force appears, highly stylized with many runes. He sends it hurtling towards the one not closest to Barney or currently dealing with Ix-Caban.
Cast spiritual weapon. Attack [roll0], damage [roll1] force.

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-25, 07:29 PM

Tom holds his crossbow at the ready, but he keeps up his concentration on the purple monster, making it snap and lunge at the bird that challenged it...

"If you can, shoot at the one by my critter. If it gets hurt, that makes the illusion look more real..."

Change aura to Toughness

lostsole31

2014-10-27, 02:12 AM

R1T18.9: "Moradin, I beseech ye to be my shieldmate-hammer!" Eliezer casts a spell and a hammer of pure force appears, highly stylized with many runes. He sends it hurtling towards the one not closest to Barney or currently dealing with Ix-Caban and it hits the target for 6 force.

R1T18: Tom holds his crossbow at the ready, but he keeps up his concentration on the purple monster, making it snap and lunge at the bird that challenged it. "If you can, shoot at the one by my critter. If it gets hurt, that makes the illusion look more real..."

R1T17: One of the birds seems to hang back and is relatively docile.

R1T16: Skald, what do you do?
Up until now, Shouting Tree simply seemed like some type of range who can take a lot of punishment. Perhaps a ranger with a particularly strong tie to a powerful animal companion. But this ability he used, far greater than any druid or ranger for the fact it was natural and didn't appear to have come from any spell, to calm two very large and powerful birds is quite impressive. He comes from a very savage culture in terms of technology, even moreso than typical barbarian types. There are rumors that there are men in the wilds who have the toughness of a barbarian, the tracking skill of a ranger, and the senses of animals. These persons are referred to as "beastmasters," and seem to have an uncommonly powerful link with animals.
The effect he used is not unlike the calm animals spell, though in his case it is more natural.
Avner on deck, if he does anything ... which he hasn't thus far except take his place in the middle of the mist with the colonists.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-10-27, 10:24 AM

From his vantage point in the sky, Skald fires three arrows at the hostile bird nearest the illusion monster. As before, the arrows streak by in a trail of silvery light (fluff for the Starbow)

Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1]

Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3]

Attack 3: [roll4]
Damage 3: [roll5]

lostsole31

2014-10-27, 03:25 PM

R1T16: From his vantage point in the sky, Skald fires three arrows at the hostile bird nearest the illusion monster. As before, the arrows streak by in a trail of silvery light. All three arrows pound the bird while "Barney" snaps wildly at it. The bird takes 41.

R1T10-4: A calmed bird does nothing. The one wrestling in Ix-Caban's grasp thrashes wildly in a vain attempt to bite and claw. The bird attacked by the force-hammer wants meat, and Tom is there to provide. It charges the div-tiefling with a sudden charge. It clacks its great beak and Tom manages to hold his spear out just in time as it snaps onto Winterspear. Tom turns the spear and it comes out of the bird's beak, having served as a great blocking pole, even as he maintains the illusion.

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T30: The aggressive bird farthest back, the one fighting "Barney," caw painfully and then flops down forward, twitching from a mortal wound in its back caused by a humble bolt from a hand crossbow ... fired by Amella (now visible) 20' to the rear.

R2T26: Shouting Tree charges his companion's held opponent, but only does min (9). Still painful, but not enough to end that threat.

R2T20: With the screams of its flock-fellow, the illusion-fighting bird charges Shouting Tree and bits him for 11 mod. The momentum and tossing motion of the bird's head is enough to fling the beastmaster up and then down onto the ground ... now prone in front of an angry bird.

R2T19: Ix-Caban bites deeper and harder with her jaws that bird stops moving. She releases her prey and then rushes over and stands by her master, snarling and growling at the monster looming over him.

R2T18.9: Lazer, what do you do? Remember to roll the attack for your force-hammer (which goes first).

Tom on deck, Skald in the hole ....

PSinger

2014-10-27, 04:32 PM

Dr. Maxwell's Cohen's silver hammer goes bonk-bonk on its head. He then flies over and around to the other side of the bird fighting Tom to give a flanking position and then crashes his hammer down to break its back and singe its feathers.
Spiritual weapon attack [roll0], damage [roll1]

Hammer [roll2], damage [roll3] + [roll4] fire

lostsole31

2014-10-27, 05:43 PM

R2T18.9: Lazer's movements made at the same time as he controls the strike and sends it on a wide arc to hit a tree. Magical feedback is sent through his mental control and overrides his nervous system. He is affected by a powerful tinnitus (ringing in your ear) that blocks out all other sound. Lazer swings over and around the bird, with his spiritual weapon arcing over as well to keep in front of you against the bird. Though deafened, the doctor manages to still take a swing with his hammer to hit it for 7 and singe it for 5 fire.

R2T18: [Adjusted hit points in last round to show Toughness aura...] Tom, Barney is no longer effective in battle. You are flanking with the rabbi (which is also being attacked by the spiritual hammer). You had cast magic weapon on your spear, which doesn't make sense. the magic doesn't stack with the +3 of the weapon. :smallconfused: Regardless, you are facing off with Big Bird's angry cousin. What do you do?

Skald on deck, Tom's/ Lazer's opponent in the hole ...

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-27, 06:33 PM

Tom releases his concentration on the illusionary beast. Maybe, if nothing else, it will block the vision of any birds further away for a few moments... He stabs at the bird in front of him.

Attack (with flanking) [roll0]
Damage [roll1] [roll2]

Illusion will stay around for two more rounds (including this one).
I had earlier cast Magic Weapon on the crossbow, in case I needed it.

lostsole31

2014-10-27, 07:33 PM

Not enough to drop it. Skald?

TickleMeTemplar

2014-10-27, 08:15 PM

A heroic fanfare accompanied by a chorus of singing, naked, flying babies erupts forth in Skald's head as three more projectiles tear through the night sky in a flourish or silver, glitter, feathers and gore.

Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1]

Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3]

Attack 3: [roll4]
Damage 3: [roll5]

lostsole31

2014-10-28, 10:44 AM

R2T18: Tom releases his concentration on the illusionary beast. Maybe, if nothing else, it will block the vision of any birds further away for a few moments. He stabs at the bird in front of him, and Winterspear practically guides itself to strike the super-sized chicken. Tom is strong, very strong ... as much as Shouting Tree ... but not phenomenally so. But with his punch, the spear seems to just pierce the creature's sin easily with a great strike for 12, and the tip glows a cold-white radiance that leaves frost on the creature's feathers for 2 cold.

R2T16: A heroic fanfare accompanied by a chorus of singing, naked, flying babies erupts forth in Skald's head as three more projectiles tear through the night sky in a flourish or silver, glitter, feathers and gore. The group only sees Skald in some type of self-induced rapture as if in a wild dance, giving in to his more First World impulses. His first shot nails the ganged-upon bird for 11; he follows up with another shot against it for 14, which drops it; and, his third arrow likewise nails the last hostile bird for 15 and dropping it as well.

All of the hostiles are down, and there are two charmed ...

Shouting Tree stands and with a mixture of pops, caws, creaks, and other noises that seem to mimic the terror birds perfectly, the two charmed birds come up to stand and make noise with him. He turns and says, "You may want to lower the mist for the sake of the colonists and to let that big coward know the birds have been killed or pacified.

"They say that there is a big hole in the rock - probably the entrance to the underground passageway - and 'Mother' lairs near there. You can bet the Mother Bird is going to be a lot bigger and stronger, and we can't avoid her."

PSinger

2014-10-30, 06:39 AM

"What gender are these birds?" asks the good doctor.

TickleMeTemplar

2014-10-30, 12:36 PM

"Why don't you lift up their skirts and find out, good doctor," Skald says with a bit of snark, "Let's move this buffet onward. The sooner we're clear of their territory the better."

PSinger

2014-10-30, 03:12 PM

Whatever it was that Dr. Cohen was thinking isn't shared. He simply nods and says. "Everyone move out."

lostsole31

2014-10-31, 09:46 AM

The colonists are triply spooked: first, hearing the terror birds in the jungle unseen in the darkness; then, the sudden shroudy mist everywhere which made folks lose sight of each other, and then the sounds of the great birds so close in battle. There are those who simply hunkered down in vertical fetal position. But no longer. The group is led quickly out of the mist and forward to the tunnel.

But not until the good doctor uses some of his healing kit to try to draw blood out of his ear and he finally does so, being able to hear again after a few rounds.

Ten minutes later, you are so close to the tunnel you can see it ...

The group sees the tunnel and then terror birds come trampling out of the jungle towards you.

R1T28: Tom, there are three terror birds coming your way ... and one of them is fifteen-feet tall! Your Perception aura is assumed to be on to have given everyone their bonuses. What do you do?

Swami Monsoon

2014-10-31, 06:24 PM

Fool them once, shame on me. Fool them twice, shame on them!

With a mumble and a gesture Tom calls forth the great purple beast again and starts it moving in the direction of the largest terror bird...

Cast Minor Image, same subject as before. Switch aura to Toughness.

lostsole31

2014-11-02, 06:32 PM

R1T28: Fool them once, shame on me. Fool them twice, shame on them!

With a mumble and a gesture Tom calls forth the great purple beast again and starts it moving in the direction of the largest terror bird.

R1T19: Amella casts a spell, concentrating on the two terror birds to the rear, and a shifting, rollling pattern of lights form. Tom has no idea what this spell is, but it seemed to have been effective against one of the birds. Amella then steps slowly into the crowd of colonists and says, "Do not attack or show any hostility of any kind to the one in back. Don't even move forward, but keep our ground."

R1T17: Shouting Tree doesn't move forward, but he does make the same animal sounds as before. The large one is entirely unaffected. But two others are calmed. Now it is merely the mother.

R1T16: Lazer?

PSinger

2014-11-03, 02:58 PM

Eliezer begins chanting to Moradin in the language of the rabbis .... "Baruch atah Moradin-ai, melech ha'olam ...."
Cast Prayer! :smallsmile:

lostsole31

2014-11-03, 04:29 PM

R1T16: Eliezer begins chanting to Moradin in the language of the rabbis .... "Baruch atah Moradin-ai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam ...."

R1T15: Ix-Caban holds, waiting for her master to command her to attack or to be attacked.

R1T14: Much to Tom's dismay, the larger terror bird blasts right through Barney II to charge the man in front - Shouting Tree. He holds up his left arm with his spear to block, and a big beak bites down on his L elbow for mod 12.

R1T9: Skald, two of the birds are calmed, and another is fascinated by Amella's hypnotic pattern ... which means all three are non-hostiles. You know approaching them with weapons would upset both. However, the large bird is "fair game" (and free range at that). What do you do?

lostsole31

2014-11-07, 11:43 AM

R1T9: Skald's insight (with a natural '20') kicks in .... don't try to make real attacks seem like the illusory, at least/ especially if they aren't even the same type .... and doubly especially when a dinosaur slashes and yet there are arrows sticking out of one's chest. Animal or man, they can tell the difference, and arrows fly far too quickly for the illusionist to have a chance to get true trajectory. Now, if something can't hear or see the source .... hmmm ... he draws upon his newfound heritage and several feet behind the Terror Bird is a puff of golden flecks that bursts outwards and thickens to a 10'-radius spread. This is just enough to cover the Terror, but not the illusion .... the gold won't fall through the illusion, but if the Terror manages to be blinded, then sight really can't help overcome obvious visual disparities. Sure enough, the golden flakes push forward and into Terror's square and it shakes its head wildly, closing its eyes and roar-cawing loudly.

Success; sweet, sweet success.

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T28: Tom, you don't have a CLUE what just happened! Whatever this obviously supernatural effect, a golden Fwumph! happened, almost like a half-sized fireball, but of golden flakes. Now, it appears that Terror is blinded. It doesn't look like anyone else in the party did ... this. Whatever this is.

Do you maintain the illusion? What do you do?

Amella on deck, Shouting Tree in the hole ...