Ghostfoot's Savage Tide (IC) Pt 2

[Ghostfoot]

Trees crack and splinter and all of a sudden there is an explosion of timber ahead as branches and tree trunks fly in all directions. A juvenile diplodocus-lizard, smaller than the adults in the crater meadow but still a behemoth by human standards, crashes from the jungle.

A horde of nine large predatory terror bids cruise about it, snipping and slashing at it with their sharp beaks and talons. Covered in dozens of wounds the terrified dinosaur stumbles about in animal fear as the hunting pack circles and darts in and out with well-honed harrying tactics...

Spoiler: Map

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NPC's are off map just to the east (right)

=> Party
Creatures have just moved/ attacked.
Nobody is flat-footed.
Your turn.

[razorback]

"Literally, the law of the jungle rules here. Everyone, back away slowly, into the trees, before they catch our scent and their blood-frenzy drives them towards us." Tchinik says loud enough so the others can hear as he slowly backs up, spear leveled at the deadly bird creatures.

[Ghostfoot]

"We can't just let that poor, majestic creature be killed! It's only a baby.

Yoo hoo! Hey! Over here!" Urol shouts out and starts waving his arms around hopping up and down trying to divert attention.

[redzimmer]

Malmir

“Damn my master for never teaching me Silence,” Malmir despairs.

With a gesture, a ghostly hand appears at his side.

Spoiler: Spectral Hand

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Touch spells for the spellthief. (1d4)[4] hp

[Cavir]

Lora snaps a look at Urol and answers with a voice just loud enough for him to hear, making use of the sounds of the predatory melee to cover her voice. "Are you volunteering to takes its place to be eaten? If not quiet down and get into the woods." The dragonborn banks and glides into the woods, landing to become a barrier for those in the rear to start moving into the woods.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move to B18 and ready an action to breath a line of fire if the birds come at us.

[infomatic]

Farid gapes at the gnome's outburst. "I thought you were supposed to be a naturalist?" he hisses. He can't help feeling a bit of sympathy at the worry on Urol's face for the giant creature, but knows it won't last if the birds turn their way.

[u-b]

Elmes follows into the woods, clanging some noise while at it, and stops alongside Lora.

Spoiler

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Move to C18.
Ready Ice Slick in case the dino wants to trample into us.
Immediate: Protection Devotion if anyone is attacked.

Divine Power 6/7

[DrK]

Connaught

The barbarian grabs at the gnome dragging him back towards the thick underbrush. "Silence you fool or we'll feed you to the damn things." He nods to Lirith, "Into the trees, if the beast goes past the birds can go with it and not try and steal the lad." He ducks into the foliage, a hand on his axe, the other trying to pull the gnome into cover to stop the moronic explorer getting them all killed.

[infomatic]

Relieved that someone was dragging the gnome out of trouble, Farid manages a small grin. "If we live long enough, perhaps you'll be able to write a paper on the hunting tactics of these terrible birds," he whispers to Urol. "It'll be quite a feather in your cap. Much better than a beak in your eye, no?

[redzimmer]

Malmir

Seeing everyone else quietly withdraw, Malmir does his best to be not seen.

Spoiler: Hide

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(1d20+5)[13]

I was better off in the seaweed...

[razorback]

Grinning at Farid's comment, he points to back up. "Come, Amella, convince your people back up. This is not a fight we want or need, I think." as he begins to retreat once the others have moved past him.

[Ghostfoot]

Standing back, you're able to keep well clear of the predators and prey. You move back into the surrounding foliage as the dinosaur bellows and thunders past. The pack of terror birds nip and slash at it mercilessly as it runs wildly in fear and in seconds the melee has passed you.

Urol looks on sadly as the scene unfolds. The young diplodocus runs wildly trying to escape but the wily pack seems adept at cutting it off from any escape. Before long there is a final squeal as it finally succumbs to its myriad wounds. A couple of birds lie broken and trampled in the grass but the surviving pack members look set to feast well today...

..................................


Not wanting to tarry in case the terror bird pack decides to circle back for you, you carry on. The crater meadow is easily circled now and you are able to continue south through the jungle towards the mountain pass. The environment is unchanged from earlier in the morning - humid jungle, biting insects and raucous small birds and monkeys abound.

As the sun begins to draw lower in the sky you find yourselves nearing the base of the mountains. After several hours of jungle travel the foliage starts to thin and you note occasional crumbling stone ruins through the trees. No complete structures, just half-standing low walls or broken masonry long forgotten and draped in thick cobwebs. The frequency starts to increase as you proceed and you get the definite feeling that you are walking through a long-abandoned village or outpost of foreign design.

[razorback]

Spear poking out before him, Tchinik moves towards the front of the group, keeping a wary eye out. "Do you think the jungle and those big lizards did this or something else?" he says to no one in particular. After a bit, he slows his pace before looking back at the Captain and Urol. "Do either of you know of this place?"

[infomatic]

As he walks, Farid plucks a journal from his pouch and makes a rough sketch of the ruins as they pass. Perhaps the gnome was wearing off on him.

Spoiler: rolls

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(1d20+5)[7] Know (architecture/eng.)
(1d20+5)[22] Know (history)

[Cavir]

Lora takes to the air to get an idea of the general layout of the ruins, signs of life nearby, anything of note off in the distance, and to scout for a good place to camp for the night. She'll glide back down to the group and report her findings.

[redzimmer]

Malmir

Not one to waste an enchantment, Malmir uses his Spectral Hand to gesture silent Drow profanities at Urol.

[DrK]

Connaught

THe barbarian looks about warily at the signs of yet another civilisation being swallowed by the wild. He glances at the others, "I wonder who these once were and what brought about their collapse?"

Looking more warily about he keeps his axe handy and looks to the nearest of the decaying buildings. "Do we investigate these or continue on our way past this? At some point we will need to cam for the night and stone walls, even broken will help deter these big lizards from eating our cabin boys eh..."

[u-b]

"Can just as well camp here, I'd say." notes Elmes, who is obviously very tired from the day's march. He zaps a charge from his healing belt and seems to get better. He waits for Lora to descend. "I can continue, if you prefer to, just sort of like it in here."

[Ghostfoot]

You press on through the ruins, Farid observing the ancient carvings with interest and Urol, still in a funk after the abandoning of the young dinosaur, is soon content with poking around at the many spiders crawling through the cobwebs which seem to now be growing thicker draped between tree limbs and blanketing the ground.

Lora takes to the sky, circling above. The crumbling old structures are difficult to see from above, just the occasional glimpse here and there. She does note a clearing in the trees just ahead and strangely in the center of the clearing the webs, branches and bones form a grand throne on which rests a hunched humanoid figure. An old crone gestures up at her as she circles above, and beckons her down with a spindly outstretched limb...

[Cavir]

Lora circles again, focused on the clearing and the way leading to it, before gliding back down to the group.

"No camping here. The webs grow thicker ahead, then there's a forest clearing with a throne of webs and bones. Sitting on it looks to be an old woman who beckoned me to come to her. The whole area is a giant trap. I can try signaling her to come to us but otherwise I say we go wide around the whole area or start burning the webs to get her to come to us." The dragonborn had no fear of a fight but had the others to consider too. She looked to the others for their opinions.

[redzimmer]

Malmir

“We need to determine what it is. It’s bad enough having Nature’s Bounty out to kill us.”

Experience taught him, anything that used Mortal remains as building materials qualified as “hazardous.”

“Maybe some magical illumination can draw it out?”

[infomatic]

"It might not be a trap for us," Farid ventures. "These might simply be the defenses this creature uses to survive among the beasts we've already seen. If she's friendly, this could be an area of safety for us from the behemoths; perhaps she can even offer advice on our path."

He shrugs. "And if not, well, then we burn it."

Spoiler: ooc

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I realize the inherent risks of setting a spiderweb aflame when you're already inside it, but Farid's got mass resist energy, which should be an OK plan B if it goes bad. Spell will only cover 7 people, though, so maybe leave the crew survivors here?

[Cavir]

"I'll see if she'll come to us. Be ready for a fight. I don't think tiny spiders made all these webs."

Lora takes to the air again. She stays clear of the treetops in case of any surprises and keeps an eye out for any movement below as she approaches the clearing. Staying well above the clearing she takes a longer look at the crone then calls down. "Hello. We seek passage through the area but won't walk through the webs. Come talk to us at the edge." She hovers waiting briefly for an answer while keep a dragonborn raptoran's eye on the overall scene below.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spot (1d20+16)[25]
Spot (1d20+16)[25]
Spot (1d20+16)[27]

Diplomacy (1d20+7)[24]

+2 AC from Crystal of arrow deflection if attacked from range.

Unless a dialogue is begun Lora will watch/listen for a response then fly back.

[DrK]

Connaught

THe barbarian looks and listens before concentrating for a moment as the arrow studded full plate of Svanok materialises onto his body, joined a moment later by a massive warhorse bedceked with Lance and saddle marked with the strange marks of Andras. "We have met nothing good on this island - but this crone could tell us of what we will face. Or if she is another evil we can crush her and be safe when we sleep?"

Looking at Farid he nods, "Captain, can you stay here with most of the survivors and the boy. We can investigate, if you see flames its just us burning a path through to reach the crone. " THen glancing at his woman he grins, "I do hate spiders. gods curse them." Lance in hand he mounts up on the horse and trots after the flying drgaonborn.

[Ghostfoot]

Lora flies back to hover above the clearing as the rest of you approach, still some distance away through the trees & ruins.

Lora calls out to the waiting crone, who's wrinkled brow knots in frustration. She responds with words in an unfamiliar tongue, her voice barely discernible at this distance. Glowering she shakes her frail fist at the dragonborn.

[Cavir]

Lora calls out the same message in the other languages she knew, some that her dragon mentor taught her. In each of Elven, Draconic, Celestial, and even the raptoran language Tuilvilanuue she spoke the same words, paused to see if there was recognition, then moved to the next.

[Ghostfoot]

The old woman jibber-jabbers in an incomprehensible tongue, growing more agitated as Lora tries to communicate in various languages. She hurls a small rock (or was it dung?!) at Lora but the gesture is futile as the dragonborn hovers much higher.

Spiderwebs flutter and whorl around her as if caught in a gentle vortex. In seconds the swirl of webs as risen to the level of the treetops before settling, blanketing the clearing in webbing and obscuring both the old crone and the entire area.

[redzimmer]

Malmir

“Does anyone know how to cast Tongues? Or send in a Simmons’s creature to see if it’s a trap?

[Cavir]

Lora pauses in the air a moment more looking for signs of movement then retreats back to the party..

"I had no success. I tried the languages I knew. She became irritated. The webs came alive and covered the area. I don't what to make of it."

Spoiler: OOC

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Spot (1d20+16)[18]

[DrK]

Connaught

THe barbarian looks at the dragon, "Breath your fire upon her webs. See how she likes that? When the torches fell in the longhouses the webs would burn fast." He shrugs looking at the forest aruond them. "Other trees too wet to burn well."