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Amisi contemplates her options. She will only be a hindrance going into melee. Casting a burning hands via her bonded ring also seems not to be an option with everyone around the pland man.
But her comrades seem to need any help they can get and she raises her hand and another Magic Missile springs forward.
Damage
Ac13 Hp 20(4)/27 Rage 2/8 rounds used
Hearing Our Lady cry out in pain something snaps in Setebo. Ignoring his own wounds and tossing his saber aside the beast-man tears into the fungal thing with two raking claws.
Helga draws her rapier as she she starts to sing.
Atzi bolstered by Helga's song and her comrades courage tries to trike the abomination before her, she easily deflects its paltry attempts to strike her as she continues to slash out at it.
OK lets adress everyones concerns
@Natalyah..the hits changed when I put stebo's save in so you were still missed on the original post and I am loth to change it to a hit because of something that is my fault...I'll leave the final choice up to you
@Setebo..you pass the check no attribute damage.
@Amisi yes you hit that's why it went from 18 damage on round one to 23 damage on round 2
Caithen and Atzi miss but Natalyah and Setbo hit it and it staggers then slumps to the grond..almost instantly the creature rots away leaving a human skeleton which was providing it's framework
"That was ... almost too easy," Helga ceases her song and mutters a snatch of verse, four sparkling balls of light appear and circle the cavern.
Perception:
Not a thing.
The lights reveal that the fungal growths in the cave are already beginning to decay.
Advance your characters to third level. Spells will be gained after the next rest period.
Atzi gives thanks to the old gods as the creature slumps to the floor. Just as she finishes her prayer there came a sharp cry, announcing Quetza arrival. Quetza landed on the ledge and charged through the opening, as he plowed into the cave he hissed at the dancing lights moving around the room. Atzi quickly calmed her companion and gently pushed him back out of the cave.
She reebtered the cave and examined the skeleton throughly, prodding the rotting fungus with her shortspear as she covered her nose with a rag. The smell of burned and rotting fungus was nauseating. "I too expected more of a fight and started to question if it hqad been a mistake to push on. Are we sure this is where the seed was placed?" She looks to Helga questioningly, her voice was filled with concern.
Seeing the fungus on the walls rotting away, she stands and heads outside to look down on the fungal jungle below.
OK lets adress everyones concerns
@Natalyah..the hits changed when I put stebo's save in so you were still missed on the original post and I am loth to change it to a hit because of something that is my fault...I'll leave the final choice up to you
Natalyah steps away from the remains of the fungus monster to catch her breath, painfully aware how close one of those tentacles came to strike her. "Easy?!", she exclaims. The tentacle flying towards her only missing by an inch etched in her mind. "Stand next to the foe next time before you speak of things being to easy. What was that thing?!" The ranger straightens herself and the sight of the decaying walls reminds Natalyah of why they are here. "Are you happy now?", she says irritably and points to the walls. "The fungus is dying. Can we move on to more important things?"
"Aye, none of us have gone to the Boneyard - and speak not of what is important and what is not: we none of us know how the fates will weave their cloth."
"We had a saying back in the army that any fight you can walk away from with all your limbs was easy. Save for the new scars. Well Setebo old boy are you well? As for what it was I think we can save that question for the philosophers and wizards." Caithan says cheerfully.
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Amisi shows a mischievious smile towards Natalyah.
"If it wasn't easy - why did you then rush into my spell area. Must have been easy if you didn't even need me."
Turning around to the others
These creatures were abominations. It was right to destroy them so that beauty can grow again where this fungus was choking it to Death. Shelyn will reward us for what we have done today and will us guide to escape this island. "
Atzi looks down over the jungle of fungi and sees nothing unusual at first then she notices a slight discolouration in the mass of plant life.
At the same taime she realises that the fungal ropes are flaking slightly
Atzi's gives a shout of delight when she sees the fungal jungle start to lose its strength and begin to rot, she was now sure they had removed the seed of evil and saved this small isle. Now came the time of natures rebuilding, it would take a long time but now that it wasnt being choked by this fungal death, it would happen. Upon seeing the fungal ropes begin to slack she turns to the others, a look of concern on her face. "The fungal ropes are starting to rot away as well so we have no time to discuss things further! Let's go my friends!"
Atzi, being the lightest decides to stay behind until the the heavier party members go first while the rope was still strong enough to bare their weight.
Without hesitation Caithan is going down the ropes before they rot too fast. "Good thing you noticed! Ha! I think Rollo has the rope and grappling hook!"
"You can keep your army sayings to yourself", Natalyah half spits in irritation but then becomes silent after Amisi adds her say, only giving the wizard a short scowl then moving back through the entrance. Amisi was right but the ranger was not ready to admit it. She stops outside and urges the group to go down the ropes before they disappear, staying until last being confident that her small and agile frame will be able to decend easier then the rest.
"Once this island's fungus rots, maybe we can use it as a defensible position?" Helga suggests. "There is this cave, and it is largely out of sight from the main island."
Atzi descends quickly before nodding in agreement with Helga's words, she had planned much the same when they had found the fungus covered ship. Her voice was full of excitement as she spoke. "The height of the cave would make a grand lookout. The old ship could be our campsite, which we can hide our fires in the broken part of the hull at night and if we find enough rocks to stack. We could create a block around the only walkway onto the isle. So when our enemies come, they will be forced to fight us one at a time, where we will prevail over their numbers. The rotting fungus will attract new growth and fish as well. I truly believe this isle to be our final camp. We will have to range far to finish our exploring of the island but at least our sick and our fellows will be safe and well protected." she pauses for a moment before adding. "When we have dealt with the savages of the Shiv, which we will, then we can plan our way off this island. Even if we need to repair that fungal vessel and sail it to the nearest port..."
Amisi shows a mischievious smile towards Natalyah.
"If it wasn't easy - why did you then rush into my spell area. Must have been easy if you didn't even need me."
Setebo hangs his head, still breathing heavily.
"I am sorry friend Amisi. It came at me, and I am afraid I forgot myself." "We will always need you Amisi.""We had a saying back in the army that any fight you can walk away from with all your limbs was easy. Save for the new scars. Well Setebo old boy are you well? As for what it was I think we can save that question for the philosophers and wizards." Caithan says cheerfully.
"Aye sir, just winded. That thing packed a mean left tenticle"
Setebo gives the Captain a salute and a lopsided smile bvefore following him down the ropes.
To Helga and Atzi once on the ground.
"This is a good place. I am looking forward to what Gliek will have to say about it though."
Yes you have had time to meet the NPC's.
You make your way down the ropes to the beach .As Natalyah drops to the sludgy sand there is an odd sound and the ropes fall away from the rock.Here close to ths island fungi can be seen to be decaying at an impressive rate however given their size it will be three or four days before the decay is final.
"Mitân syte ulo", Natalyah mutters to himself. While she watches the fungus decay all around the group. No matter how irritated she had been with taking up this venture now she can't help to notice that they where right. This was a good place for a permanent camp. Exactly what they need. "The disappearing fungus might draw the savages here. We should camp here tonight, make sure it is safe before we move the camp here."
Nothing worth hearing
You make your way back to the ship as it is the most stable part of the island and settle down for the night which passes quietly.
Sitting inside the wrecked hull of the Nightvoice Atzi stared into the small fire they had burning between the rocks that had smashed a hole in the hull. She thought of what Natalyah had said earlier about the savages taking notice and she hoped they remained unobservant. Her thoughts drifted back to how they would defend there new home, camp no longer applied. This place would be their home, to defend and die for until they escaped the Shiv.
She added another log as she watched some of the others slumbering fitfully, for the first time in ages they were actually getting some decent rest. Few things could assail them while they camped inside the hull of this ship, fewer still could approach unheard as well. This Island was perfect, it lacked in resources but it made up heavily in being highly defensible. With a secondary island in-between their new home and the main island helped to double their chances of avoiding being successfully hit by the savages.
She smiled broadly as her eyes seemed to glow in the firelight, things were falling into place. More quickly then she had imagined, now they just had to focus on rebuilding their closeness with the other castaways and a permanent home would hasten that. Also their sick and injured would be out of the elements and would no longer be lugged around by the more able bodied.
This island was Perfect.
She rose to her feet and saw to Setebo's bandages, checking them for infections or spores once again.
She sighed with satisfaction as his wounds remained unmolested. All was going as she had hoped, they had lost so many and they had so few to give before the coming conflict. She saw no other way to avoid bloodshed with the savages of the Shiv. At least if the savages came they had the tide, the water, and the ability to fight the savages in waves, instead of facing a blood thirsty mob all at once.
She checked on the injuries of the others, with healing in short supply they had to rely on natural means to regain their strength. She looked to those still awake as she adjusted a bandage. "Now our gathering will be even more important, once we have our camp set here we will have to use everything we find. Fishing should be easy enough, the rot will attract them. Wood will be in short supply as will resources for repairs on the ship or herbs for our healer. How long do you think until we start moving everyone here? Another couple of days perhaps?"
She looked to each of their faces expectantly, those sitting in the hull with her were the few she trusted in the whole of this world. Not only did she trust them with her life but the lives of those they had been trying to protect as well. Despite Natalyah's outbursts Atzi still considered her a strong individual, just... unrefined in some ways. "Once we get everyone moved here we will have to focus on building up rocks along the pathway to the island, enough to make a stand against anything on foot. Perhaps... We could get that strange one in the dead Crab to join us. We could offer him the cave where we fought the fungus, a high perch and make him our watcher in case the savages try to strike at us." She thought for another moment before adding. "At least now whatever weapons we can take from the savages will make us stronger as well. The savages will have a hard time assailing us here and I have not seen that they possess any boats either. I cannot think of any other advantages or problems to address..."
Helga looks up from the length of wood she is whittling, a long stave as long as she is tall.
"We'll need to forage on the mainland for food anyway, we can cut logs and float them here for extra wood, maybe make weapons too - spears and bows don't need much metal. Herbs and such we can forage for too. If the savages find us then it's a different story, from what our crab-friend said they will attack in mass. Our best advantage then is to attack them at range as they wade across."
Atzi nods in agreement with Helga's words before adding "If we pile logs or stones at where the causeway meets the island, we can fight from behind shelter and strike them as you say. Then there numbers will mean nothing and we will hold the advantage. Let us hope though they do not notice us here, we have the other island to forage on and that puts at least two or three more miles between us and the main island. A short distance for us, but far out of the way for them."
Caithan sleeps soundly his sword in his arms and his dog sleeping restfully by him chasing rabbits in his dreams. Whatever worries assail Caithan in the waking world do not invade his dreams.
"Another couple days?" Natalyah snaps impatiently sounding abit harsher than she intended. "What's there to be learned in a few days? If the fungus was still capable of attacking us it would have done so tonight. There's no use to sit here and wait for something that's not going to happen. We go and get the rest here. If they haven't gotten themselves lost in the jungle by now."
"What do we need that flightless bird for?", she snaps yet again when the tengu is brought up in conversation. "That hermit can stay on the beach for all i know. He had his chance. We can't trust him"
Atzi arches an eyebrow at Natalyah questioning the rangers judgement. "Obviously his hut will not save him for much longer and when the savages take him, which they will, what will he scream as they put blade to his flesh? Will he speak of our passing to save his hide? Or more perhaps, maybe he will lead them straight to us. So unless you have a better way to silence him, then my words still stand. Besides he is the only other survivor we have met and I too would be wary of groups like ours but if we approach his hut with the obvious intent of creating a new camp and fighting the savages of the Shiv, maybe he will change his mind and join us. What does it hurt to try?"
After checking Natalyah's injuries, slapping the impatient rangers hand away when she tries to protest, Atzi nods in satisfaction that her woulds are mending well as well. "The reason why I say two days is because of everyone's injuries, we have strained ourselves enough to win this island, what good does it do us to rush off and die."
"Aye, and he could make a good lookout if nothing else. He also has brains and can use rigging - that crab was clever work."
Atzi nods in agreement with Helga. "That was my hopes and thoughts exactly and with another addition our tribe becomes stronger."
Looking out from the deck of the ship you can see that the fungus is continuing it's rapid decay the resulting sludge should be full of nutrients for new plant life.
Day 1
Day 2
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You see Amisi all day outside of the ship. She seems to be in a world of her own. You see her ocasionally cast Magic Missiles or burning hands - as if she somehow tries to fuse the spells.
She also wanders over to the sheep - seemingly trying to influence them with her charms.
On day 2 you hear a shout of triumph as you see a ray of fire shoot forward from her fingertips. She later comes back with a smile on her head.
"You won't believe how different the minds of a simple sheep are compared to ours. But I think I figured out a way to get through to them with my magic which hopefully will work on other more dangerous monsters as well.
And I also worked on my fire magic. I needed something more powerful and something that I can better target when you all rush into a fight."
Helga scavenges horn from remains of goats and sinew from the animals we have hunted, and boils down some glue from the bones. Calmly she works to craft a recurved compound long bow from the materials. She also uses the arrowheads recovered in order to fashion more arrows.
Craft (bowyer): Craft Bow
Craft (bowyer): Craft Arrows
Atzi arches an eyebrow at Natalyah questioning the rangers judgement. "Obviously his hut will not save him for much longer and when the savages take him, which they will, what will he scream as they put blade to his flesh? Will he speak of our passing to save his hide? Or more perhaps, maybe he will lead them straight to us. So unless you have a better way to silence him, then my words still stand. Besides he is the only other survivor we have met and I too would be wary of groups like ours but if we approach his hut with the obvious intent of creating a new camp and fighting the savages of the Shiv, maybe he will change his mind and join us. What does it hurt to try?"
After checking Natalyah's injuries, slapping the impatient rangers hand away when she tries to protest, Atzi nods in satisfaction that her woulds are mending well as well. "The reason why I say two days is because of everyone's injuries, we have strained ourselves enough to win this island, what good does it do us to rush off and die."
"Let him scream all he wants. What's there to say that he even speaks their language? Crab camp or not, he's nothing but a flightless bird who can't be trusted. We should focus on getting Inkathru and Uchendu here instead of wasting time on that creature."
You see Amisi all day outside of the ship. She seems to be in a world of her own. You see her ocasionally cast Magic Missiles or burning hands - as if she somehow tries to fuse the spells.
She also wanders over to the sheep - seemingly trying to influence them with her charms.
On day 2 you hear a shout of triumph as you see a ray of fire shoot forward from her fingertips. She later comes back with a smile on her head."You won't believe how different the minds of a simple sheep are compared to ours. But I think I figured out a way to get through to them with my magic which hopefully will work on other more dangerous monsters as well.
And I also worked on my fire magic. I needed something more powerful and something that I can better target when you all rush into a fight."
Natalyah scowls at Amisi, taking her comment as a slight on her preformance fighting the fungus monster.
Atzi finishes removing Natalyah's banadages and smiles at the unmarked skin, between her healing magic and Natatlyah's own she had healed without a scar to show for it. Atzi shook her head at Natalyah as she rose back to her feet and prepared to dispose of the bandages. "I should have spoke more clearly, I will deal with him as we move or after we have moved everyone else here. I had hoped the sight of so many others would bring him to join us and also do not underestimate the savages look at what happened to the other camps that did..." She leaves Natalyah to think that over as she walks away.
Later that day Atzi focused her anger to summon forth a rolling ball of fire, scorching the earth as she directed it across the beach. She avoided making too much smoke as she switched through her new abilities, next she picked out a human sized fungus and focused her wrath at the air around her bare hands. The more she chanted and focused the more the air swirled and cooled until her hands appeared to be frosted over. Just as ice started to form on the naked skins of her arms she lashed out at the fungus and released all the pent up energy into its bases. Then the fungus started to freeze and crack from within until it split into a dozen pieces of frozen rot on the ground. She smiled at her handy work while thinking of what the rest of her comrades could do now.
After finishing her meditations she stood on the prowl of the Nightvoice and mentally prepared herself for the coming day. She addressed he comrades, not as a leader but as a friend as she said. "Friends! Today we set out to bring our fellow castaways here, only then will we have claimed these isles as ours until we leave the Shiv. We will have to fight to keep these but now we no longer are on the move, no, we will dig in and nature herself will help protect us. With Helga's help we can make weapons and prepare to defend what is ours. Once we know the isles can hold without us. We will seek out the Lighthouse that Amisi spoke of and claim it as well! By the next turning of Luna this will be so!" When she spoke of the lighthouse she looked at Natalyah and smiled slightly before finishing her speech.
Quickly up and about Setebo works at clearing and replacing the most rotted wood away from the living area.
"Thank you friend Atzi, I do not think the fungus thing will even leave a scar. You are a very skilled healer."
On the question of the bird-man.
"I did not speak with the bird-man but I agree he would be safer here. If he does like the high cave then we would have a perfect lookout."
to Natalyah
"Of course we should bring our friends here first but why would we not want to rescue the bird-man? The more of us there are the better we will be able to resist the savages if they come."
to Amisi
"Your magic is impressive friend Amisi. I pity the savages who try to challenge us. I fear it would not end well for them."
"I don't underestimate the threat the savages pose to use, nor do i trust that crab dweller", Natalyah snaps back. "Do what you want with the tengu, just be prepared that you have to watch him closely", she calls after the druid as Atzi walks away then mumbles to herself in elven. "Jos hën halu pamme hën lisi pitnt hyvëksyë, un sen anein."
Natalyah watches Atzi deliver the speech the following morning with an hint of skepticism and alot of impatience. She was eager to get moving and she did not understand why the druid needed to be so dramatic. At least the girl's priorities had finally become right.
The faster they could bring the others back to the permantent camp, the faster they could look for the lighthouse and start making some noticable progress of leaving the island. Needless to say Natalyah was impatient to leave and when the time finally came, took the lead in a hurry guiding the party back towards the camp the remaining castaways occupied. Initially she avoids going by the beach hoping to avert a meeting with Pezzock, but if shes asked about it she scowls and reluctantly takes the path passed the tengu.
"Because it's a deciever and a thief. It can't be trusted", Natalyah replies taking no care to soften her speech or hide her baseless racism.
"He's acted as he must, and he's no thief," Helga shrugs. "We need all the help we can get, and the enemy of my enemy can be my ally."
"The hard part will be convincing your fellow castaways to move there." Caithan notes. "As to everyone rushing into melee that seems to be the preferred strategy of our little group here. Had any of you the time or the inclination it might be worth going over a talk about small group tactics." Caithan says rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Atzi gave Caithan a curious look as she went about gathering her things. "Tactics? I know how to protect a village and how to fight but please teach us your wisdom friend Caithan. Most of what I have learned I learned through my family. Beside we have many miles to cross before we get back to the others, so we have all day to listen~"
"Tactics, aye, you and Setebo are good on the charge, but sometimes that's not the best way. What resources do we have?"
Using the ship will remove the threat of disease ..as no insects will be living on the island for some time..also because it is so isolated from the remainder of the island the chance of a random encounter in camp goes down to 1%
Natalyah seems more interested in finding her way back to the camp as quickly as possible instead of listening to Helga contradict the rangers prejudices against Pezzock. She makes no input into the discussion about tactics but the half-elf doesn't seem to keen on being told what to do by the devil worshiper.
Atzi finished gathering her things as she readied herself for their return to their castaway companions. Instead of taking the long way around she planned on taking as direct of a path as they could. "I had hoped to do more exploring but our time spent here makes our return to our friends even more needed. We will avoid using the trail the savages have made and stick to the woods to avoid their eyes."
Atzi doesn't worry as much about covering up their tracks on the way to their fellow castaways as she focus on speed instead.
As you know the way you can push your speed a little and you make it back to the camp site on Plantwoman Ridge before the worst off the heat can hit.You encounter nothing of real interest on your way back and most off your route is along the beaches of the inner bay.
The best bit off news is that Inkathru and Uchendu are back on their feet.Jask is confident they will be able to travel tomorrow.
Atzi embraces the pair, a bit over zealously, at the sight of seeing them up and moving. She smiles broadly at the rest of the castaways and asks them to gather round as they explain the events of the last couple of days. She hopes it inspires them to be more positive and hopefully not react poorly to the idea of this being their final move.
"The Nightvoice is free of insects so far and the islands will be much easier to defend. At least for as long as we need to, but for our remaining time on the Shiv we will be safer then ever before. Once we build up our strength on the islands we will be able to defend against anything the Savages throw at us. There is also sheep on one of the isles and plenty of wood to enclose the Nightvoice and make more weapons as well. Lady Helga is quite strong in her craft and could teach some of us to make bows and arrows."
She approaches Jask and embraces the man tightly as she thanks him. "Your strength is much appreciated Jask, I am so glad we got you out of those foul chains and freed you to Ply your craft!"
After she finishes speaking with him she dances her way to Aerys and looks about conspiratorially as she speaks to the woman. "we were thinking of trying to fix up the Nightvoice if we could not find any other way off these isles, I am sure you will be the best of us to see if that is possible."
She finishes with Sasha and laughs as she sees how well the Dimorphodon is doing. After feeding the small creature a decent slice of meat she turns to her fellow castaway and tries to hug her as well before being deflect by Sasha's quick hand. "The Island is a perfect place for him to learn and hunt, few predators where the Nightvoice is and some higher ledges when it is able to practice flying. We will also be able to hold the ceremony of life I spoke of. IT is good to see you again Friend Sasha."
From there she helped to try and pack up what they could before nightfall in preparation for the move in the morning. At least she hoped the others were open to the idea and that it would rebuild the damage Natalyah's harsh words had caused...
Everyone seems quite enthusiastic about themove.Gellikis lost for words for once..
"You..found it..the Nightvoice" he whispers " Glory be this will please the Decimvirate and get me baqck in their good graces"