Dibbets turns round on a tosser, but the charau-ka is quicker than him. Jim runs through the toasted chimp and shoves him off to clear his blade. The dead monkeyman topples back into the pit and the bonfire below sending a spray of cinders up. Nkechi hangs back and heals himself.
Dibbets' dance partner draws a femur club and swings at the halfling, but misses as does the remaining monkeyman on Jim. The shrieking below suddenly grows louder as a horde of charau-ka swarm out of the ziggurat up stairs hidden behind a crumbling wall!
Taking a step back, Dibbets feels the indifference of his god swell within and spits a gobbet of phlegm "C'mon monkey boy... we aint done dancin yet"
Dingus begins his slow, painful climb back up to join the others. Not because he's looking forward to it, but because he doesn't want to be by himself on the middle tier. Still...maybe he should be invisible first... yeah that's a good idea.
Climb
And nimble slithers up the side of the wall following Richard's lead.
"Bugger. Dingus! Some fire'd be a fine thing, around now!" Jim's timing is thrown off by having to unstick the last charau-ka from his blade, and an earnest desire to remain unclubbed.
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Dibbets steps back to lick his wounds, though not literally thank goodness. Dingus disappears and there is a rustling in the vines as he and Richard make their way back to the top unseen. Jim is off for just a moment, but offers no gap in his defense. The pair of guard charau-ka suddenly stoop exhausted from their frenzied assault and the one near Dibbets scampers away panting.
Unfortunately, there is a fresh wave of attackers rushing in. There must be nearly the score of them that Nkechi predicted right there. Nkechi shouts, "I will take care of the charau-ka. Do not attack them. Only defend yourself if you are attacked first!"
The weatherbeaten old native whistles a soothing tune and the approaching mob of monkeymen quiet immediately. Their weapons hang limply at their side, eyes turn soft and mouths curve an idiot grins. "hur..hur.. hurrr," they sigh in a familiar sound. Only a few remain agitated and push through their peaceful companions to the intruders.
Dibbs pauses before grunting back at Nkechi "I'm goan assume ye gots a plan eh" holding his zappy trident rage and stumping over to assist Jimmer.
Jim still can't manage to put away the one on him.
Tum's berating messes with Kaul's blaze of glory. The brute shakes his noggin and attempts to reply to his nut overseer...
"Hurrrrr... Let em go... Charoo-kaaaa..."
Kaul's jaw slackens as he struggles to think... a tendril of drool hanging from his maw...
Stabby Trident: for
Perception
Dingus and Richard pop their heads up over the side of the lower level, just in time to hear the words of Nkechi. Lucky thing for the monkeys. I was getting ready to bring them hell.
The invisible sorcerer then prepares a nasty Vapor Viper to release on any who still threaten his comrades.
VV
The cornered charau-ka recovers enough to avoid Dibbets and Jim, who are a bit distracted by the appearance of the monkeyman horde. Nkechi continues humming his tune and explains between phrases. "Music soothes the savage beast with Gozreh's help. I can only becalm them a short while though. Be quick about the stubborn ones."
The cornered charau drops into the pit, clinging onto the side and scampering out of reach around the smokey hole. Dingus reappears to blast the leader of the three antagonistic monkeymen as they charge. Dibbets and Jim each take a hit from the frenzied assault. The rest sway gently to Nkechi's tune.
Jim nods and gives up on fighting defensively, turning his attention to the charau-ka that hit him.
Taking his blow half-manfully, Dibbets attempts to return the favor with a sparking lance...
Melee Touch: for
Dingus retreats a bit, finds some cover, and releases another VV.
VV
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Jim and Dibbets meet and return the attacks wounding their monkeys with steel and sparks. Dingus repositions and sends a gout of flame over the wounded hostile charau-ka. All three wounded creatures fall shrieking and burning. The monkeyman mob takes no notice and continue swaying and sighing. "Hur...hur...hurrr..."
"Quickly!" Nkechi says and still humming, gently leads the way through the grooving chimp-man-zees. The crew follows down the cracked stairs and past the short smelly charau-ka who still take no notice.
The top level within the ziggurat is a sizable room filled with rubbish from the savage inhabitants. A big fire burns in the center of the room under a hole that allows the smoke to escape. The hazy light from above and roaring fire illuminate the ancient walls that bear crumbling mosaics of tall men doing cryptic things. At the opposite end of the room, a large wooden cage stands empty next to a surprising scene- Kaul, more disheveled than ever slouches on a stone throne with a crown made from a broken coconut shell on his head. Glazed, bloodshot eyes stare at you unseeing. He is apparently stoned out of his gourd. In his good hand, he cradles his best nut.
kinda like this, but hook rather than sword and monkeymen instead of nekkid ladies
Taking in the scene Dibbets face descends from surprise into hard faced stubborn ness. All he offers to start with is a "Huh... figgers" hocking up some phlegm and spitting it to the side. He then yells towards Kaul "Hey monkey buggerer! Where the feck are the women eh?"
The monkeys hur and chatter softly as a soft wind whispers upon the vibrant trees. Kaul muses and drifts in torpid bliss... Life is good...
Then the wind changes... becoming both more onerous and odorous...
Upon his throne, the slumped thug sniffs...
A stink, both familiar, yet from stranger tides... Not of this place, yet of a place he knows...
A deep breath... and deeper "Hurrrrrrr..." rumble from the brute's chest.
The wind howls, sharp and painful. An angry wind. Statements of deviancy and questions of the fairer sex assail his foggy thoughts...
As a sliver of drool hangs from his tusk, Kaul raises his head slowly as if it is weighed down with a galleon's anchor, and answers in slurred growl;
"Diiiiiiibbbbbss...?'
"Here, he's not so far gone as that, hey?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jim's words sees a grim veneer on Dibbets face "He's knee deep in some sorta sh1te"
Jim shakes his head minutely, grinning. "I was expecting him to be in it up to his chin, hey? At least the nut hasn't gotten him sacrificed yet--hey, Tum? That was the plan, right? Get him reincarnated as a gorilla king? How were you going to do him?"
The coconut's shell flexes in what could be a shrug. "De t'ought cross me mind. Kaul better Charau-ka dough. Not rut'less like Ruthazek! Hee-Hee!"
At that moment there is a woman's scream from the dark hallway. "oh, dere go de sacrifices. Keep dying too soon," the coconut idol sighs.
Nkechi looks alarmed. "Grab him and let's go! I can't hold the monkey men much longer," he hums.
"I'll lift him, you tote him". Dingus cries, preparing another levitate to lift his favorite ugly thug.
"Aye, that works. Might have to let go if we get into a fight, though. Nkechi, want us to save the women?"
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"Aye, that works. Might have to let go if we get into a fight, though. Nkechi, want us to save the women?"
"Of course!" the leathery Mwangi leads the way into the dark passage after Dingus casts a spell and Kaul floats above the throne. Tum-Bobo offers no resistance. "You been de good Apossle, One fait'ful Apossle. Never liked de rest d'ough. Bah. Mabbe be Gorilla King widout dey troubling."
Pulling the floating half-orc along, Jim follows behind Nkechi. "Maybe he would...but my Captain's got a prior claim to him, and you can argue the point with her."
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Dibbets remains grimfaced and staring at the coconut that'd caused all the trouble. He humps forward on his busted leg a mite before fixing it with a stare "Always wanted tae see ye burn ye piece o' dried up coco-sh1te... thought about it many a day, special through the dark times. Feckin love tae do it now..." jerking his head t'wards Kaul a moment "E's crew though... nae sure ye feckin understan wha' that means... but e's nearer blood than me long washed away actual bloods. So here's yer deal - do what ye can tae see us away wi' tha lasses safe... an I won't see ye burned tae a cinder. Do otherwise, an I'll focus all o' tha Sky Lord's unrelentin eye on yer pissant excuse fer a kingdom till there's nae a thing left bar ashes an tha lingerin smell o' yer sh1te" turning to follow Jimmer towards the screams at a fast hobble regardless of what Tum Bobble follows up with.
Oblivious to the gunboat diplomacy being deployed by his shipmates, Kaul floats along drooling and beady eyes rolling.
The brutish thug offers little more than a low
"Hurrrrrr..."
Dibbets hears some mumbling behind his back and momentarily feels something prickly at the back of his neck though it passes.
Nkechi casts a light to view the dark passage and the pacified charau-ka immediately start hooting in outrage and confusion. The passage ends in descending stairs. Above the stairway is an ominous mosaic still in good condition that depicts a great snake-headed figure towering over more of the exotic looking men at its feet.
"Quickly!" Nkechi beckons and descends below the snake god.
Jim pauses to look up at the mosaic. "That sort of thing looks to be right in your wheelhouse--hey, Dingus?"
With a charau-ka mob at your backs, you quickly descend after Nkechi to find a damp chamber made of darker stone than the rest of the ziggurat. The walls are carved in strange sinuous shapes of intertwined and disturbing entities. The floor is wet with shallow muddy water.
The noise form the monkey man mob increases and a couple rocks smash against the wall above the stairs, but there is a nervous tone to the howls and they do not follow.
Nkechi's light reveals the two women huddled together on the wet floor. The Mwangi priest moves to inspect them.
Woman: "Alala fell on the stairs. She has hurt her ankle."
Alala sobs and then points to one of the dark passages entering the room. "Something comes!"
One of the women appears to have hurt her leg. She points down a passage with concern and you hear a strange dragging and sloshing sound!
Dragged along by Jim, with his body and mind still floating, Kaul offers little assistance, save a smiling "Hurrrrrrrrrr..."
How out of his gourd is Kauly? Any chance of him coming round enough to be some some help or hindrance to his shipmates lol?
"A spot of light would be welcome, mate. Oh, and a bit of indifference as well." Blade in hand, Jim prepares to face whatever is coming.
Perception:
Dibbs hears the words, but leaves any response in his wake.
Giving Kaul a deserved kick up the jacksie on the way past... theraputic of course, hoping to rouse his orneryness from intensive percussive therapy... Dibbs comes through with the lit end of a boomstick and moves to the fallen lass. He grunts to Nkechi "Tell 'er I'm gonna make 'er foot better like."
He grunts to Nkechi "Tell 'er I'm gonna make 'er foot better like."
Nkechi holds up a hand, "No, I have it, my friend. Save your prayers for whatever is coming." Nkechi gives a brief prayer and there is a sound like a breaking wave and everyone feels a salty sting that revives them. Nkechi is a better than indifferent healer and the woman is healed.
The women stand and Nkechi pushes them behind him as IT appears! IT is a slimy green worm-like creature as long as a man. The front end has no head of which to speak, only a mouth consisting of a mass of tentacles and barbed jaws!
Keelhaul Kaul-
Madman Jim-
Dingus-
It's ALIVE!
It slithers forward before anyone can react and falls upon Nkechi biting him.
"Much obliged for the healing, sir." Jim recovers from his startlement at the creature's sudden appearance and lunges towards it, blade blurring in a rapid strike.
Dibbets joins the assaulting brigade... well at least duo depending on whether Kaul wakes up or nae... and stabs out with Gozrehian sparking fury...
Touchy Stab: for electricity
Dingus smiles as the lovely art adorning this part of the structure comes to light. "Look Richard! Isn't it lovely in here".
He then overhears the injured woman's cry, and looks down the tunnel in time to see "it" approach.
Knowledge: Arcana?
VV from lovely ring.
Dingus turns at the unnatural beast, and gives it a strong Vapor Viper from his ring.
Round 1
:
:
Glassy eyed, Kaul waves his hook at the wretched worm as it feasts on Nkechi - more in a muscle memory way than with any great venom.
Kaul gives a vague gesture as a bead of spittle descends from a slack lip around a tusk. He just hangs mid-air like some obscene balloon. Dingus seems more coherent for a change and blasts the monstrous beast with a barrage of force vipers. Both Jim and Dibbets follow up with panache.
The foul worm continues savaging the old medicine man before Nkechi breaks away and retreats with the tribeswomen.
Grim set of jaw Dibbs lunges with his force lance...
Stabby Touch: for
...before half-growling and half-yipping "Ye gets ready tae feck off iffin this goes south eh? I ken allaways get misty, but nugget will need a kick uppa arse tae gets movin" hanging in there and trying to gauge whether their attacks have had any affect on the pulsating and gyrating flesh worm.
"Nkechi! What is this thing?" The Taldan draws a bead on something that looks like a vital spot on the worm and lances it expertly with his slender blade.
The thing manages to avoid another jab of Dibbets' shock trident, but no matter. Jim stabs deep and hits something vital. The slimy creature collapses upon the silty floor and oozes out green fluid.
"Jungle grick," Nkechi grunts as he draws upon divine power to heal some of his wounds. "Your sword is magical, I'd say. Not any old weapon could pierce its rubbery hide."
The tribal priest looks back up the stairs where frustrated howls still echo. "I am about at the extents of my powers and I am afraid there are just too many of the apemen left to chance returning that way. Fortunately, jungle grick don't naturally live underground like their cousins and I think I smell fresh air ahead."
"Aye, it is." Jim wipes the blade clean, but doesn't sheathe it yet.
Dibbs exhales a thankful sigh as the 'grick' is put down. Letting the electric trident fade back away to the space between the air from which it was originally pulled, he gets into step behind Nkechi. Light blossoming from atop his boomstick, he looks to stump forward and onward.
Nkechi nods and leads the way forward. The passage where the grick came from slopes downward into a round tunnel. "Ah, I thought so. There is usually an old aqueduct under the ruins. This should lead to a hidden exit." Jim has little trouble carrying Kaul who continues to fly high and soon enough the crew and Mwangi companions emerge back into the jungle outside the ruins.
The way looks clear and you put some distance between yourselves and Kaul's scheming former idol and his erstwhile monkey minions. Nkechi proves a good guide and though it is a bit of a forced march, you all reach the Mwangi camp before midnight with no casualties. There is much singing and good cheer, but formal festivities are put off until the next day when the heroes and rescued villagers have had a chance to rest.
The crew sleeps in and awaken to the clamor of feast preparations and the alluring smells of cooking food.
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Rolling out of his bedroll, Dibbets stumps over to Kaul's prostrate form... and delivers a hard kick to the ribcage "Oi, monkey buggerer... ye awake yet?"
- elated :) - does the +2 bonus offset the pen??
At Dibbs' shoein' the thug grunts, then his beady eyes snap open.
"Hur.... Hur.... I's awake..."