Skull & Shackles: The Wormwood Mutiny [IC]

[Ostoril]

Sprawl gestures to the torches. "Hopefully we won be ere long enuogh ta need these. No sense pissin off tha locals, less we got a reason."

Looking out to the stockade and the hill "Guess if there anyone ere, they be there?"

He thinks a moment. "Guess we could light tha fire, get em ta come ta us?" he says with a shrug. "Think we got time ta trek ova there for water?"

[lostsole31]

"I think we don't have time to make a fire and hope someone comes our way," Selkie answers.

[Ostoril]

"Well, we need a source a fresh water. One way or tha otha..." he lets his thoughts trail off as he glances off at the Man's Promise. "I says we go check ova by tha settlement then." he points towards the stockade. "But im a city boy. You see a more likely source? Or any signs of Sandara or Rosie?"

[lostsole31]

Selkie shakes his head and starts back down The Fist.

All follow?

[Ostoril]

Sprawl follows along.

[Master K]

Tramp follows as well

[lostsole31]

Selkie figures the fastest way is not the most direct, but otherwise you are taking too much time in a swamp.

That is to go back the way you came, including hand-over-hand in the mire along the bridge columns (sure everyone is excited about that), along the path all the way that seems to lead towards that stockade area. He estimates a nearly 7-mile hike over mixed terrain.

The party does its mixed march ... past the point where you came onto Bonewrack Isle. Finally, the trail splits in two. One goes to the south to what seems like some type of cultivated fields to the south, and another path heading back up into the hills - your likely destination.

Selkie asks, "Do we want to investigate south, or keep on task to go up to the stockade. The sun will set in about a couple hours regardless."

[Ostoril]

"Tha might be shelter at tha stockade, maybe even a warm bed an meal. I'd ratha take tha chance there ratha an sleep in a field." offers sprawl.

[Master K]

Tramp nods her agreement "Better to find shelter first, we can always investigate the fields in the morning"

[lostsole31]

"Shelter?! Sleep? What do you think we're doing here? No, we're on the clock. We push through fatigue when we feel it," says Selkie, finally taking charge rather than simply offering suggestions, heading to the northern trail that leads up the hill.

The sun is now very low in the west when you see a well-built timber stockade that surrounds a small lodge in a jungle clearing. Vines wrap and strangle a great tree that rises next to the lodge, blocking light from above. Beside it is a bubbling spring.

[Ostoril]

"Well, found water. Hopefully it's drinkable. Think anyone home?" Sprawl cautiously steps toward the entrance of the stockade, looking for any signs of recent habitation.

[lostsole31]

The stockade gate is ajar and the walls are made of sharpened wooden stakes 7' high. The small spring next to the tree is far clearer than anything else you've seen on this island, and just might be the source of fresh water to fill the barrels (once you go and get them again).

Sprawl, what's more, you notice a weathered spyglass fixed onto the stockade wall.

[Ostoril]

Seeing no apparent signs of immediate danger, Sprawl makes his way towards the spyglass and attempts to look through it.

[lostsole31]

As he does so, he does become aware of the smell of death and decay. Not overwhelming or even strong, but present.

As Sprawl looks through the spyglass, it's hard to make out because it is so distant ... to the south ... but he sees what seems to be a pair of those creatures that attacked the other night. They are cavorting in the waves. Again, it's not very clear.

What now?

[Ostoril]

"Do ya smell that?" Sprawl says as he pulls away and looks around. "Somethin is dead." He pauses a moment and points out towards the creatures. "Found some a the kidnappers."

[lostsole31]

Sprawl realizes he is talking to himself. The others must have respected his ability to scout, because they didn't come lumbering after him.

[Ostoril]

Sprawl heads back to where he last saw his companions to report his findings.

[lostsole31]

Aaaand ... we assume they will follow him to the spyglass, each person taking a turn looking.

Tramp, you are the last to look through, and you see something the others missed, given the low position of the sun and weird glare on the water.

Spoiler: Tramp

Show

One of the grindylows is wearing Sandy's tricorne hat!!!

[Master K]

tramp scowls "If im not mistaken, im pretty sure i see one of them's got Sandy's hat on its ugly head"

[lostsole31]

Once she points that out. Each of you (and Selkie) can look through the spyglass and finally notice that Tramp is right ... a clue!

The grindylow are cavorting at the southern tip of the island.

[Ostoril]

"Tha Bastards!" Sprawl curses. "But wha is that smell?" He asks again and begins to search for the source of the smell of death and decay.

[lostsole31]

Selkie stops Sprawl. "One thing at a time. Rescue now, satisfy curiosity later if time permits."

[Ostoril]

"Wat if it's 'em?" Offers Sprawl.

[Master K]

tramp shakes her head, "I'm with Selkie on this one, findin and Rescuin Sandy and the others is the main reason we're on this island. And the uglys over there are our only real lead. if they lead us back here then so be it. but i think it better to follow them incase they are hiding out elsewhere."

[Rithryn]

"Let's go now, no telling what'd happen if we wait."

[lostsole31]

Sprawl, do you submit to the will of the numbers? or, do you balk and let them go and stay behind for your curiosity?

[Ostoril]

Sprawl shrugs and follows along. "Neva said ta ignore em."

[lostsole31]

The party quits the fort and begins their trek. It is 1.7 miles to get down the hill and take where the path had split before to then go south and get to the fields. A clearing in the jungle contains overgrown fields of some sort of corn. The crops have gone wild, creating a high barrier wafting gently in the breeze. The overgrown fields are over a square mile in size, and the path continues through the corn.

"It would take far longer to go around, and by then it'd be pitch black. I gotta take us through," says Selkie. "But first, seeing as we're close to danger .... Sparkles, here is my healing wand. Put it on yourself and Tramp until it's emptied out or you're both healed."

He gives Sparkles the command word to the healing wand he hands him.

Sparkles, what do you do?

[Rithryn]

"Alright, is anyone here still hurt?"

[lostsole31]

Sprawl and Tramp are both very obviously seriously injured.