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The captain pushes on and with double shifts the voyage isn’t as exciting , especially with the expectation of sudden strikes that never come . For the most part though, the next few days are wildly uneventful, except for the grueling heat being out of the shade. There are a few close calls with sandbars and deadfall and plenty of hippos and crocs making close inspections of the boat .
As you get about a day out from Whitebridge Station , the jungle closes further and further in on the river and you know soon you will be entering the jungle proper and away from the plains.
The silence of the evening is interrupted as Mannie calls out from the bow on forward watch, ”Captain, a rowboat adrift “. Sure enough, about 400 yards upstream there is an empty rowboat drifting towards you in the main channel.
Waseem will examin the arrow casting detect magic on the arrowhead.
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”Is it possible that these savage elves used an arrow to instruct the monkeys where to attack
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Waseem, "It is possible. The ketches cannot form normal speech, but they definitely can communicate in other ways. Hmmm, the elves may be bringing allies into this ..."
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At about 100 yards off, you don't see anything in the rowboat. You do notice that it is missing one of its oars.
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At about the same time, you hear Faruq mention, "Captain, it's white."
"Damn. Its a Whitebridge Station boat." Esteban replies.
The captain preps the River Queen to intercept the rowboat. "Mannie, Danner. Prep the grappling hooks."
"Aye Cap'n." They reply as they go off below deck and return with the grappling hooks and rope a moment later.
Mannie and Danner toss the grappling hooks to the rowboat and easily secure it to the side of the River Queen.
Inside the rowboat sits a single fly-covered backpack.
Shakaro pulls out a spear and leans down into the boat. He pokes the spear through a handle of the backpack and picks it up.
Selena backs away from Shakaro and the rowboat, one hand raised up to pinch her nose and the other pulling out a dart in anticipation.
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Shwarto doesn't detect anything magical from the backpack and nods to Shakaro to bring it in. Flies, mostly the harmless kind, crawl and swarm about the pack, triggering memories of the gnat swarm in more than a few crewman's minds.
As Shakaro's spear closes in on the pack, the flies start to unwillingly disperse. Shakaro is able to grab the pack and as he moves it aboard, most of the flies come off. Once they leave, you see the source of their interest: the backpack is deeply stained with blood. It appears to probably have been soaked at some point, and one area of the pack still has some thick, tacky traces of blood on it.
A closer inspection of the rowboat also has what looks like trace evidence of blood splatter on the sides, and there is a tacky pool of it on the floor beneath where the backpack was found.
As you fumble with the pack, you immediately notice two arrowheads, both with a small portion of the shaft remaining, embedded within the pack. These arrowheads are different than the ones you previously found in that they appear to be made from a large thorn instead of flint or obsidian.
Inside the pack are some rations and mundane supplies, all stuffed into the pack in a manner that suggests someone simply emptied a crate into the backpack.
"What do you make of this, Captain?" Selena asks, slowly relaxing and slipping the dart back in place. "It looks to me as if a macabre scene may await us at Whitebridge Station. Could this have been from a survivor of an attack?" Selena picks up the arrow to inspect it.
"I do not recognize this, but it's different from the arrowheads we saw before."
Shakaro looks at the arrows.
"Whoever did this didn't just want to kill someone. They also took the body. I have heard of cannibals in these jungles, though I never thought to meet any."
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"What do you make of this, Captain?" Selena asks, slowly relaxing and slipping the dart back in place. "It looks to me as if a macabre scene may await us at Whitebridge Station. Could this have been from a survivor of an attack?" Selena picks up the arrow to inspect it.
"I do not recognize this, but it's different from the arrowheads we saw before."
Esteban responds to Selena grimly, "I fear there's more trouble ahead. But, I am confident the guards can hold Whitebridge Station, at least the bridge itself, because they can bar the gates. I do fear for whoever tried to get away in this boat. Perhaps another trader at Whitebridge or perhaps a servant caught outside the closed gate."
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Also, the thorn arrows have barbs in the back, making them extra painful to pull out of someone's flesh.
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The captain nods at Shwarto's statement, "I cannot allow us to go any further tonight. It is getting too dark to keep pushing upriver, especially with the threat of getting trapped in debris or bars. Also, the elves have a huge advantage at night, if they are indeed beseiging Whitebridge. Either the guard has held the station or not, one night is not going to make a difference."
Faruq nodes solemnly.
"But Captain ...", Speraggo jumps in. "Shauna. We have to g ..."
Faruq glowers at the crewman, "HOLD YOUR tongue. You dare question the captain!" The half-orc takes on a demeanor you haven't seen before.
Esteban quickly interjects, "Its ok Faruq. I understand his sister is there, anyone would rightly be concerned."
"Speraggo, there's just nothing we can do right now, at this time of day. We cannot navigate the river at night, especially as the jungle closes in on both sides."
Speraggo's eyes narrow and he storms off below deck.
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The captain has Faruq ensure the rowboat is securely tethered to the side of River Queen and the crew drops the anchor once the boat is out of the main channel current. Speraggo stays below deck and keeps to himself throughout the evening. The mood is very solemn through the night, and certainly there is an expectation of battle to come.
After a long evening, the rising sun brings light to partially canopied river. The crew is relieved that nothing further happened during the evening, and it isn't long before Hurg has some fish and eggs cooked up for everyone.
"Well", Esteban says, " let's see what's going on with Whitebridge."
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The captain pushes the River Queen as hard as he can throughout the morning.
"Just ahead", Mannie calls out from forward watch.
The curious of you move to where you can see forward of the boat.
What you assume is Whitebridge Station suddenly rises out of the haze that has stood on the river all day. As if in anticipation of your arrival, the wind rises and clears the air, giving you a perfect view of the famous station that sits upon the trade route cutting through the heart of the Mwangi Expanse.The river flows through a narrow gorge here, where two massive columns formed from dozens of tree trunks, bound into clusters and stone pilings, and sunk into the riverbed support this giant span. The bridge rises up forty feet over the Vanjii, from the top of one tall bank to the other.
A large pier and tower of some sort rise from the near bank. There are no other boats present at the pier. There is small white rowboat tied up on the banks near the pier as well. It looks just like the rowboat that is tied up to the River Queen.
It is the bridge itself that commands immediate attention, arching above the river and bearing buildings for fortifications along its length. The shield and snake standard of the Aspis Consortium flaps gently from a stanchion atop the bridge's central supports. That is the only movement to be seen at what should be a bustling trade station, while the only sound you here is the flowing river around the large supports.
"Ahoy, Stationmaster!" Mannie calls out as loud as he can but even after a long minute no one responds.
Speraggo's grip tightens around his short sword, "Captain let me out."Esteban shakes his head and sighs and turns to you all, "Well, what now? We need the Acrophage to make it to Nightfall, and we need to find out what happened here. But, I cannot risk the boat. The best I can do is let you all, and Speraggo, take the rowboat to the pier while we hang back in the channel."
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"Let me make a brief aerial reconnaissance first. Maybe I'll see SOMETHING useful from the air. From WAY up. Do you have a telescope that I could possibly borrow?"
Shwarto will have Twikli turn into an owl and he'll get onto Twikli.
They will then take awhile to, above the River Queen, circle up and up until they're about 1,000 feet in the air (way out of bowshot and even long range spells cast by most casters). Once 1,000 feet in the air or so, they'll make several passes over Whitebridge and area to see if there is anything that they can see.
The night before, Selena tells stories of brave heroes who won against staggering odds to embolden and encourage the crew, knowing the next day would be long and arduous. She'll play soft, gentle music and subtley cast lullaby to help everyone but the watch go to sleep.
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In the morning, Selena dons her armor and fusses with her gear in her Handy Haversack even though she can always pull out exactly what she wants without trouble thanks to its magic. She makes sure all her darts are in place and easily accessible, practicing pulling them out, twirling them, and putting them back in.
Selena's eyes light up as an idea occurs to her. Standing next to Shakaro, she casts Disguise Self and makes herself look like an elf when they are fairly close to the station, keeping in mind the spell will only last 40 minutes.
Selena turns to Shakaro and says in a mockingly throaty voice trying to guess what they might sound like having never heard them before, "Grrrr, I'm a savage elf! Get off my lawn!"
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"A few of us could also sneak around the place and report back what we see. Shwarto and I are fairly stealthy. If we are seen or in trouble, I could play my pipe loudly as a signal."
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Shwarto, make a Perception and Stealth check for your scouting flight.
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Is Selena going to scout while Shwarto is flying around, or wait until he reports back? Next, if others are going to stealth around, what paths, etc. are you planning on taking? And, will Shakaro and Stig and Speraggo wait at the dock, River Queen, or somewhere else?
Take a look at the Whitebridge Map and let me know a general plan.
"Where is everybody? I don't see any bodies. Think it's an ambush?"
Shakaro scans the scene looking for signs of what happened here. With a murmur, he casts a spell, and his skin takes on a thick, bark-like consistency.
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From the River Queen, the main thing you and the crew realizes is that it is just way too quite.
"Whitebridge Station is a heavily trafficked outpost. There are always caravans, small groups, and often river traders hanging around as well. That isn't even including the Aspis employees: dozens of guards, a few officers, stall merchants, farmers, and servants.
Something terrible happened here," Esteban can grimly confirms your suspicion.
"This station itself is well fortified. Officer Alec Blough always kept his men sharp. This was done by a small group bandits by any means."
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Meanwhile Shwarto takes to the skies to survey the scene. Most of what he can see confirms the discussion with the captain. There are no signs of the station crew or guests about anywhere. Adding to the disturbing unknown, the animal pens are all empty and the crops look heavily damaged.
As Shwarto takes it all in he starts to be able to notices the signs of battle all about. Broken crates, a small number of arrows sticking from buildings, a broken weapon or two, and more.
As you are about the come back in and land, you make a final high pass before heading downriver and circling back. You catch a humanoid figure trying to hide behind some crates in the nook between the Garrison and Station house buildings.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. I must have dozed off.”
“Hmm. Looks like an abandoned town? Apparently with someone hiding in it.”
“I think we’re expected to go take a look around.”
“Yeah. Try not to let on that we weren’t paying attention.”
“Right. Be cool.”
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You can see that the pier has a boardwalk that rises up 40 feet from the water line and ends at the east side of the span. The area around the station is mostly clear of trees and such, especially on the east side as there are servants quarters, large gardens, and livestock pens that are off this map. To the west of the span, the jungle encroaches in more quickly.
"Could this person not be a survivor hiding from what he perceives is another potential threat? If there is only one and he is hiding, that doesn't sound like a conqueror."
"How about Shwarto and I, and whoever else can hide well, go on this rowboat to the main pier. Maybe one extra person comes to stay with the boat. From there, we'll sneak up to where Shwarto saw someone hiding. We'll see then where this fellow stands, be he friend or foe," Selena says, leaning against The River Queen's railing and lightly poking her fingertip with her dagger. "Perhaps he'll have useful information for us either way." She smiles slightly, her more colorful elven visage somehow more disturbing than her normally gray hue.
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Which approach?
- Row to pier, stealthily move up
- Row to eastern jungle and stealthily walk up to eastern side of bridge
- Row to western bank and stealthily move up to the western side of the bidge
- Something else?
Shall we try the western bank? The less stealthy can advance cautiously along the bridge while the more sneaky can creep over the rooftops?
"It would be best to remain cautious, regardless. Perhaps it would be better to go to the other side, land in the jungle, and cross. It would be the less expected path, so there's a chance we might catch them off guard. Assuming these friends of his don't shoot us with the ballista."
Waseem shrugs,”It matters little to Waseem. The West Bank looks like it has less cover for ambushers. It could be that the apparent lack of cover is a trap. Let us approach by the east bank then. Carefully.”
Casting mage armor on Jaqu (ac22 for 4 hours). Casting message (40 min) on Selena, Shwarto, Stígandrr, and Shakaro Jun.
"Anyone here has seen River Queen already, and will see any smaller boats leaving it. You also can't really hide while climbing stairs. Let's just move in."
"If you want to be sneaky, some of you could sneak off while the more obvious ones of us come up the stairs."
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The problem with obscuring mist is that it
1) makes it really obvious where you WERE
2) Only stretches a little distance, at least on the scale where we are.
I'd suggest waiting until we get much closer to the guy that Shwarto saw and THEN cat it.
But yeah, I'm fine with the rowboat/stealth approach
"Yes, Shakaro, that is an excellent point. I think if we dropped off a few of the noisier crowd at the pier, whoever is waiting for us might be distracted and not notice the quieter group. Perhaps we could hide in the boat until you are midway up the stairs? There would potentially be less focus on us at that point. And then we would pass under the bridge and land on the other side in the jungle, as Waseem mentioned. The stairs group could take their time on the stairs, maybe stop and have a chat to give us time to flank."
"We should move carefully and assume this is a trap. But if it is a trap, let us spring it and see what happens."
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"Plan. No plan. I'm ready to fight." Stig gets in the rowboat last and begins rowing towards the pier.
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Stig is able to fight the current and get the rowboat to the pier without much trouble. The expected attack from the ballistae never happens. Stig guides the boat to the dock and Shakaro and Waseem quickly tie off the rowboat to the iron cleats at the dock. You all quickly debark and cast your spells.
The walls around the docks and pier are about 3 feet high, providing a modest amount of cover. All seems relatively quiet as you regroup on the pier, though not excessively quiet as birds and animals continue on in the surrounding area. The stairway up is looks made from thick jungle wood and the immediate area around you doesn't look tampered with.
Selena takes a good look around along the bridge and doesn't notice any heads nor eyes looking back. She then scans around the jungle edge and doesn't see anything either. The rest of you look around and confirm that no other faces seem to be staring back.
Conditions in effect: (Rnd end)
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[-]Shakaro: Barkskin 40/40 min
[-]Jaqu: mage armor(ac22 for 4/4 hours)
[-]Waseem: message (40/40 min) on Selena, Shwarto, Stígandrr, and Shakaro
[-]Shakaro: shillelagh (once reach shore) 4/4 min
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ROUND 1
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Initiatives:
Whole Party