Arie IJzer's Serpent Skull.

Game Master Arie IJzer

AP: Serpent's Skull
Current module: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv


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NG Female Varisian Half-Elf Druid (Menhir Savant) 1 Init.: + 2 Percep.: + 12 (+ 2 vs. surprise and invisible, & incorporeal) AC 12 / 12 / 12 hp 9/9 F + 3 R + 2 W + 5 (+ 2 vs. enchantment) Lightning Arc 5/6

"You say sooth, my dear. I shall be fine. The sickness- is fading. I think it is really the sun that is the greatest concern. Let's get these other survivors up!"

Desiona returns to aiding the other survivors, this time aiding the red-haired woman, checking vitals, splashing water, and then pumping the solar plexis should she not easily awaken.

As she works she listens to Viorecs words and the clattering of the irons as Viorec undoes them. "You are right my, friend. We need all the help we can get- and so does he. And- if he is a slave, Desna would smile on us for freeing him," she says as she works.


CN Male Human Rogue 1
Stats:
hp 10/10 | AC 13; touch 13; flat-foot 10 | Fort +1; Ref +5; Will -1 | Init +3 | Perception +3

Looking over at the dead crustaceans, Viorec adds, "We should cook those reefclaws quicky! They will spoil shortly just sitting in the sun. And who knows where our next meal will come from?"


Female Human Sorcerer 1 (Serpentine bloodline)

Iomestria blinks, then bestows a wide-eyed stare on Viorec.
You're silly! There's an ocean on one side and a jungle on the other. Obviously, the food will come from one of those, unless we can find the Jenivere's food stores."


NG Female Varisian Half-Elf Druid (Menhir Savant) 1 Init.: + 2 Percep.: + 12 (+ 2 vs. surprise and invisible, & incorporeal) AC 12 / 12 / 12 hp 9/9 F + 3 R + 2 W + 5 (+ 2 vs. enchantment) Lightning Arc 5/6

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Desiona giggles at the exchange between the Sczarni and the girl. "I am not sure those are reefclaws, my friend. We are far from Magnimar! Those are eurypetids, sea scorpions! If you wish to preserve them for later, perhaps you could move them to the shade?" She proffers coyly. "On the other hand, I have magic that may kept us feed for the day, if we could find some berries in the jungle," she says, nodding at Iomestria.


Viorec's first question wrote:
Just a clarification about the "poisoned meal" line: You're referring to our last meal in the captain's chambers that knocked us all out, right? On first read, I wasn't sure if you meant that or that you were fast-forwarding time and telling us that we're now feeling sick from cooking and eating the eurypterids. I'm assuming the former-- this is aftereffects of the poison that knocked us all out.

Yes, you're right - it refers to the last meal. Whatever you had, your stomach doesn't like it.

Viorec's second question wrote:
I couldn't tell from your description: Was I the only one who saw Ienna up and about after everyone else passed out? And, remind me, did I know anything about her before?

Yes, you are the only one who saw her get up since you were the last one to pass out. What you know is that she was a recluse who only joined the captain's table with great reluctancy and even then, she'd keep to herself. She boarded the ship in Magnimar and kept to her books during the whole journey. But the way she looked at you .. those eyes had something un-human to them.

Viorec's attempt at opening Jask's chains wrote:
21 isn't enough.

Try as you might, but the darned lock won't open. You'll either need to take your time to open them or find the key.

John's question wrote:
Does it go all the way up the beach or just part way, like a boat landed and left

A closer inspection tells you that it must've been a rowing boat and whoever landed it on shore, pushed it back into the water again and most likely took off with it. But the most important thing that you discover is that someone dragged you and all the others off of the boat - someone must've saved you and dumped you on the beach.

Desiona's knowledge nature wrote:

In a moment of clarity Desiona realises that the jungle to the south - which most likely covers most, if not all, of the island - can only be sustained by lots and lots of rain. Water should, in theory, not be a problem. The jungle itself 'should' be able to sustain you all with water and food. And then there's the sea.

What do you know about Smuggler's Shiv? wrote:

The Shiv is a notorious island north of Eleder. Most maps don't show it, but it's rightfully feared by captains and sailors. The island is named after its habit of wrecking ships that come close to it and what desperate soul would willingly come close to a place like the Shiv? Exactly, smugglers.

Another reason why the Shiv inspires such fear in sailors is because the story goes that it is haunted by the ghosts and ghouls of those unlucky ones who met their end on the jagged rocks and reefs around the island. Sailors might be a superstitious lot, but the history books tell us that Cheliax has attempted to colonize the island and the colonists ran into trouble with .. yep, indeed, ghosts.

Those same colonists tried to build a lighthouse on the island, but rumors of curses, haunts and cannibalism were used as a reason to abandon the plans of taming the island.

And then there's the story of a Chelish military vessel that stranded on the Shiv some odd 70 years ago during the Thrune invasion of Sargava. Some sailors swear that the survivors of the wreck have degenerated into cannibals and formed their own screwed up tribe on the island.

What is fact and what is fiction? That's up for you to decide.


Given time and proper medical attention, the men and women you find on the beach all regain consciousness. The dark-skinned man wakes up first. He blinks a couple of times and then squints his eyes at you - he obviously hasn't seen the sun in quite some time. His voice is coarse when he speaks,"Who .. who are you? Where am I? W-w-..what happened?" This question is repeated four more time as one by one the other individuals wake up. The second person to wake up is the woman with the fire-kissed hair. Her most distinguingish is the tattoo on her back: a stylished pair of mantis arms. She has the body of a person who is trained for combat and the way she instantly shoots up after waking up, ready to defend herself, tells you that she's as fast as they come.

Knowledge local / religion check for the mantis tattoo

The third person to wake up is Ishirou, the man from Tian. His expression is dour, but from what you've seen of Ishirou on the ship you know that that's his standard expression. He has a nasty bruise on his right thigh and keeps on rubbing his right hip: he probably had the misfortune of walking down some stairs when the poison hit him.

The last two wake up simultaneously. The gnome you know as Gelik screams something in a funny sounding language when he opens his eyes. He must've been having a nasty nightmare.

In Gnomish:
"Snakes! Everywhere, snakes!!"

The woman coughs and involuntarily throws her arms around her waist as she rolls onto her side, throwing up a mix of salt water and vomit. She otherwise graciously regains consciousness. Her ears betray her heritage: she's a half-elf. She also doesn't seem quite sober, even after emptying her stomach onto the beach.

Oh, three new NPCs: fire away any and all questions you have at me/them. Five NPCs might be a bit too much to talk to all at once so feel free to focus on one NPC at a time. There will be plenty of time for you to get to know them. Your first main concern should be setting up some sort of camp, finding food and water and well, this is YOUR adventure so I'll shut up now! *winks*


Male Human Class Fighter (Rondelero Duelist) 5 | AC 23 T 14 FF 18 | HP 44/44 | F +7 R +5 W +4 | Init +3 | Perc +1

I'm assuming we didn't find anything useful in the debris washed up on the beach.

After combing through the debris, St. John walks toward the edge of the jungle looking for any animal trails.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"We'll need to set up some sort of camp and search for food and water. Anyone else have any skill in this?


NG Female Varisian Half-Elf Druid (Menhir Savant) 1 Init.: + 2 Percep.: + 12 (+ 2 vs. surprise and invisible, & incorporeal) AC 12 / 12 / 12 hp 9/9 F + 3 R + 2 W + 5 (+ 2 vs. enchantment) Lightning Arc 5/6

Desiona perks up as John requests for other gatherers. "Aye, friend John! I have skills for foraging as well. But the others are just awakening now, so I shall join you once I have attended to them! Be sure not to venture too far into the jungle on your own. It is said to be haunted!"

After that, she returns to the survivors, just beginning to wake up.

As each survivor awakens, Desiona introduces herself, saying calmly, looking into each person's eyes. ”I am Desiona, a fellow traveler. You are on a beach on Smuggler's Shiv, an island North of Eleder. You have been saved from drowning.”

Her response varies slightly for each person. She calls Ishirou by name, and asks what he remembers last. When the dark-skinned man awakens she declares him freed by courtesy of the good Viorec here. When the fire-kissed woman springs to her feet, Desiona hops back, startled by the woman's sudden vigilance.

”Whoah! Be wary, sister! You are among friends! We are friends here by necessity, since we shall be relying on each other for survival!”

When the last two awaken, she does her best to comfort both. She pats the fellow half-elf on the back to ensure she does not choke on anything. She continues to hold the woman steady while crooning soothing words in the elvish tongue.

As the gnome flies into his panic, she coos similar soothing words in a language not the same as his, but closely related.

”Olhawd, rauhallinen. Rydych yn rhad ac am eich hunllefau!”

Sylvan:
Be calm, breath. You are free of your nightmares!”


CN Male Human Rogue 1
Stats:
hp 10/10 | AC 13; touch 13; flat-foot 10 | Fort +1; Ref +5; Will -1 | Init +3 | Perception +3

Looking at the warrior woman's tattoo, A tattoo like tha t... Where have I seen it...?

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

To Desiona's question, Viorec replies, "Living off the land isn't really in my skill set. Especially in an environment so different from far Varisia. As for those, what, 'sea scorpions,'? Well, I hope they taste as good as reefclaws! Of course, we're probably short on garlic butter."

To the prisoner, "Easy, friend. My name's Viorec. What's yours? Our ship the Jenivere appears to have wrecked and we're all castaways on this island. We're off the coast of Sargava, on an isle called Smuggler's Shiv. If you can stand, let's get over to the shade. I should be able to get those irons off you given enough time. So tell me, why are you in irons, anyway?"


About said tattoo..:
It is a symbol associated with the Red Mantis, the infamous cult of assassins that hail from Mediogalti.


NG Female Varisian Half-Elf Druid (Menhir Savant) 1 Init.: + 2 Percep.: + 12 (+ 2 vs. surprise and invisible, & incorporeal) AC 12 / 12 / 12 hp 9/9 F + 3 R + 2 W + 5 (+ 2 vs. enchantment) Lightning Arc 5/6

Desiona wears a nostalgic grin in response to Viorec's words about cooking reefclaws. "We shall to scour the jungle for new spices my friend. Did you ever try the reefclaw in Riddleport? The reefclaw in Riddleport does not taste just the same as the reefclaw in Magnimar, and the garlic and butter tastes just a little different as well."

Desiona arches her back as she smells the salty air and digs her toes into the sand. "Each place of Nature has her unique blessings and flavors she gives us from the earth! That is the wonderful part about travelling, new tastes, new smells, new sights, new experiences, no?"

She turns to Gelik, "Surely you agree, no? Your kind thrives on the varieties of experience one enjoys with travel, surely!" After listening to any replies the gnome gives to this more light-hearted question, her indigo eyes are light in the sun, as she looks at the forest, "We must make for the trees, my friends. I would talk with each of you, but we have to get moving. Is everyone here able to move normally?"


Human Swashbuckler | HP 12 of 12 | F+1 R+5 W-1 | AC 18.13.15 | Init. +7 | Perc +3

Knowledge (local) to identify the tattoo: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Knowledge (religion) to identify the tattoo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

The girl's tattoo draws Davy's attention, but Gelik's screaming distracts him from the symbol, and he dismisses the thought of the tattoo as he helps Desiona get Gelik to his feet. He smiles to himself, satisified with his performance and glad that all the slapping worked, after all.

Seeing that Desiona seems to have everything in control concerning Gelik and the shackled man, Davy walks up to the red-haired, tattooed girl, drawn by her exotic beauty and feisty behavior. He offers her a charming smile and runs his hand through his wet hair to get it out of his face. "Don't worry, we've got it. The guys are already setting up camp", he says cocking his chin towards St. John, who is standing at the edge of the jungle. He then widen his eyes and stiffens his body, as if remembering something. "Ouch. Gotta tell him about the cannibals, we'd better not go too deep into the jungle." He starts walking towards the Taldan noble, but then turns on his heels and walks back to the red-haired woman. "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Davy Dagaroth, at your service", he declares bowing slightly. "And you'd be...?"


NG Female Varisian Half-Elf Druid (Menhir Savant) 1 Init.: + 2 Percep.: + 12 (+ 2 vs. surprise and invisible, & incorporeal) AC 12 / 12 / 12 hp 9/9 F + 3 R + 2 W + 5 (+ 2 vs. enchantment) Lightning Arc 5/6

Earlier having introduced herself to each of the awakened survivors, Desiona attempts to speak to the half-elf woman. Noticing she appears somewhat drunk, she asks her simple questions. "Tell me, my dear, what is your name? Do you remember, where did you board the Jenivere?"

She would like to ask more, but first she wishes to get a grasp of the women's coherency.

At some later time, once the newly awakened survivors have gotten up and are joining the others, or perhaps as everyone is heading toward the rain forest to seek shelter, Desiona asks some questions of Ishirou and Gelik.

"It is as if the the ship's mast fell and struck me on the head!" The hand twirling a tress of hair goes to rub her head. "I have next to no memory of what happened the last night before the ship- only, sickness, and then falling down during a meal. Tell me, do either of you remember what happened that night?"


Female Human Sorcerer 1 (Serpentine bloodline)

"No," Iomestria artlessly replies to Desiona's question. "One moment I was eating, then I got dizzy, and the next I knew, I woke up here on the beach." She looks down mournfully. "I suppose it is just a blessing that I'm not a horse, or losing a shoe would be much more of a concern."

She blinks at the Garundi man and cocks her head. When she addresses him, her voice is full of innocent curiosity: "Excuse me. But why were you in the chains? Some of us thought you might have been a slave, but I don't remember seeing you forced to scrub the deck or anything."


Male Half-Elf

Just to prove that I am still here, and monitoring the thread; I think my post about searching the wreckage may have been lost amongst the deluge of other posts ;-)

Chimalsi comes back from the wreckage of the ship shaking his head in disgust.

"Useless. Utterly useless."

He perks up a little when he sees that the others have regained consciousness.

"Well, that is one less thing that we need to worry about. We are stranded on a deserted island, with no current means of escape. We need to work together - the jungle is an unforgiving place, and there are many ways to end up dead. Our first priorities should be combing through the wreckage for anything useful, finding food and water, and locating a defensible/sheltered campsite."

He pauses thoughtfully, before continuing.

"We should also probably work out what each of us can contribute. For my part, I can conjure fresh drinking water thanks to the bounty of Shimye-Magalla, and I have some skill at hunting, and making bows and arrows. What can the rest of you do?"


Female Human Sorcerer 1 (Serpentine bloodline)

Iomestria blinks at Chimalsi's statement.

"Well, I can do a little magic to protect and harm. Papa taught me how to train animals..."

The redheaded girl seems to be mulling over her thoughts, then blurts out: "If it turns out that we're stuck here for good, does that mean we become a tribe? Only professor Veçerne from the Lepidstadt University faculty of anthropology wrote in his book On Societal Development & Regression that small societies cut off from their larger culture have a tendency to revert to basic tribalism for survival purposes until they attain a certain plateau of prosperity and gathered resources, and I'm not sure I'd like wearing feathers or painting my face, and the book didn't really mention whether it was optional or not..."

Lepidstadt is in Ustalav, a land inhabited mainly by Varisians, so the good professor's name should at least sound familiar to Desiona and Viorec. :p


Male Half-Elf

Chimalsi raises an eyebrow.

"My mother has been known to wear a feather headdress, and paint her face and arms with sacred designs when performing devotions to Shimye-Magalla, and she is one of the kindest and wisest people that I know... I certainly don't think of it as 'basic tribalism'."

He then pinches the bridge of his nose, and sighs.

"That said, I hope it does not come to that - the whole point of organising ourselves is to try and avoid a slow descent into barbarism, and maximise our chances of getting off this island. To do that, we will need to explore this place, but before we do so, we need to make sure that we have a decent base camp."


Female Human Sorcerer 1 (Serpentine bloodline)

"Well, your mother's situation is very different, isn't it?" Iomestria says, earnestly. "The Mwangi people have a continuous cultural history that goes back many generations, with continued inter-group contact. That is very different from what Professor Veçerne describes in his chapter on enforced tribalism."


Male Half-Elf

Chimalsi nods.

"Fair enough. How about this? I promise to help you avoid having to wear feathers, unless you decide that you want to do so. In the interim, let's see what we can do to avoid 'enforced tribalism'..."


Female Human Sorcerer 1 (Serpentine bloodline)

"Alright!" Iomestria says, smiling brightly. "Umm... I supposed we should try to find our personal belongings. Did anyone spot any of theirs in that junk-pile...?"


NG Female Varisian Half-Elf Druid (Menhir Savant) 1 Init.: + 2 Percep.: + 12 (+ 2 vs. surprise and invisible, & incorporeal) AC 12 / 12 / 12 hp 9/9 F + 3 R + 2 W + 5 (+ 2 vs. enchantment) Lightning Arc 5/6

Desiona smiles at the exchange between her two friends. "As a druid, I wear holly and mistletoe, sometimes woven into a wreath. Not quite the same as wearing a feathered head-dress, but that would not be much of a stretch for me."

Cocking her head slightly, and twirling a tress, she says dreamily, "I too have magic to summon pure water- as well as the ability to make some foods more nourishing..." she turns a nervous glance at the jungle, her expression suddenly a little darker.

"I also possess the ability to sense the presence of spirits- fey, beings from other worlds, and the dead- in the area around me. If the stories of this place are true, that shall be important as we explore the jungle..."

She then turns a watchful eye toward the surf, "Supposedly even the reefs around these islands are home to restless souls who were wrecked here- and weren't as lucky as we. We should probably get moving- yes, let's salvage what we can from the wreckage, and get moving."

Desiona's tone is quite urgent. To reassure herself, her urgency is replaced with a calm as she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

Purely out of fearful precaution, Desiona uses Spirit Sense in area along the surf, just in case any - less natural- predators had by now noticed the party's presence.


CN Male Human Rogue 1
Stats:
hp 10/10 | AC 13; touch 13; flat-foot 10 | Fort +1; Ref +5; Will -1 | Init +3 | Perception +3

While helping the chained Garundi prisoner into the shade at the jungle's edge, Viorec overhears Chimsali's and Iomestria's discussion about tribalism.

He adds, "Well, I can tell you that I've seen plenty of tribalism in the streets and alleys of Underbridge in Magnimar. The Tower Girls and the Night Scales are always at each others' throats, and everyone's afraid of the Gallowed!" He lowers his voice and gestures with a nod toward the mysterious red-haired woman: "And around here, I'd be cautious about the Red Mantis. She bears the mark of an assassin."

Raising his voice and adopting a cheerier disposition, Viorec takes out his lockpicks again. To the prisoner, he says, "Ni sawa rafiki yangu. Mimi kujaribu kuondoa minyororo yako. Jina langu ni Viorec. Jina lako ni nani?"

Polyglot:
It is okay my friend. I will try to remove your chains. My name is Viorec. What is your name?

Seeing that we seem to have plenty of time, Viorec takes 20 on removing the chains. Disable Device: 20+8=28

While working on the chains, Viorec answers Chimsali's earlier question about what each of us can contribute: "Honestly, I'm a little out of my element out here. I'm more of a city boy, and I rely on my hands and my wits rather than on magic. That said, if indeed we're not alone on this rock, I have a pretty good eye at spotting danger-- like snares, deadfalls, or other traps that any cannibals might have places." He smiles and adds, "Those are tricks I've picked up from the more savage tribes back home!"


CN Male Human Rogue 1
Stats:
hp 10/10 | AC 13; touch 13; flat-foot 10 | Fort +1; Ref +5; Will -1 | Init +3 | Perception +3

Looking around to his fellow castaways, Viorec calls out, "Hey-- has anyone found any fresh water yet?"


CN Male Human Rogue 1
Stats:
hp 10/10 | AC 13; touch 13; flat-foot 10 | Fort +1; Ref +5; Will -1 | Init +3 | Perception +3

While working on the Garundi prisoner's chains, Viorec looks around to see if there are any coconuts on the ground at the edge of the jungle.

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