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After finding a way down to the beach, you are able to get a better look at the wrecked ship grounded on the islet offshore. it's a large sailing ship, larger than the Jenivere, and the keen-eyed among you can make out the name: the Tears of Grog. It would take a bit of time to swim out there, and the water looks choppy. When Grym wades into the water for a closer look, he remarks that there is a definite pull of a strong current in the strait between the two islands. Luckily, the tide seems to be out again, and has exposed a substantial sandbar reaching out from the smaller island, making the swim shorter.
"That looks like a tough swim. I fear I am probably not up to it. If it is the same for the rest of you, perhaps we should move on."
"I also fear the swim would be too difficult for me. Let us mark it on the map. After we find the lighthouse and set up a watch for other ships, maybe we can come back and build a raft."
"That's a good idea Slicingsong. Shall we head back inland and proceed further south?"
Looking out over the water towards the wreck, I let out my breath with a soft whistle when I realize the swim ahead of us if we intend to go explore the wreck. "Well, you know what they say about cats and water, right boys? I'm not a swimmer, so anything that could get me there with my feet dry will meet with my approval."
Zag nods in agreement. "The spirits of water are restless here. It is best we leave them be after all, I say. Perhaps we should just...hm, move on?"
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Perhaps reluctantly, you leave the beach and the distant wreck. Indeed, it may be wise not to attempt the treacherous waters just now. Moving along, you shepherd the group on through the jungle.
After hacking your way through the jungle for a bit, you hear another reptilian screech. Going a bit further, you can see that a few yards ahead is a ridge, you guess another cliff near the sea. Ahead, another one of the winged reptiles dips and dives, disappearing just below the tip of the ridge.
Seeing the creature, Sasha Nevah grows terribly excited, and moves to edge forward to the cliff's edge, crouching low.
Zag sheathes his path-cutting falchion and wipes sweat from his brow, watching Sasha stalk after the dinosaur. Pondering on it for a moment, he pulls out his spear and walks after her, keeping Shiv ten feet behind him, getting close enough to the edge to see the area beyond the cliff. He keeps a close ear out for any flapping or other such sounds, not wanting to be caught off guard.
Perception:
Yekskya follows behind Sasha and Yekskya, nocking and arrow and listening gor the creature.
Even though the flying creatures tried to have us for dinner, I cannot condone Sasha catching one and raising it in captivity. Looking carefully where to step, I put my foot on a dry branch, which snaps with a loud crack. Cursing softly and raising my hands in an apologetic gesture, I look at the woman I suspect of being a Red Mantis assassin.
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Wary of Sasha's motives, Rowena and Yekskya creep forward as well. You can see the pterosaur gliding above the cliff edge again, heading towards Sasha. She has her hands out to try and catch the creature, a gleeful smile on her face. However, the reptile buffets her with a wing. Losing her balance, she skids to the ground, and slides over the cliff edge! She seems to hang precariously in the air. The pterosaur hovers above, then looks at you and roars!
Initiative
22 - Rowena
21 - Yekskya
20 - Slicingsong
20 - pterosaur
17 - Zaghigoth
10 - Sasha
While I don't think I particularly like Sasha, it's also not my style to leave a helpless person to his or her own fate if I can do something about it. "Besides, if I save her now, she'll owe me. Which might come in very well later." Even as these thoughts go through my mind, I dive forward and throw myself flat onto the ground at the edge of the cliff, arm thrusting out to grab Sasha's hands before she goes down. Yek, cover us! I don't need that damned dinosaur on my back while I save Sasha!" Holding onto Sasha with one hand, I look into her eyes, seeing the fear of falling to her death mirrored in them: "Hold on! I'll get you out of this. Use my arm to climb back up."
"You got it Cat!" Yekskya sets his sight on the pterosaur and fires a arrow at the creature.
Slicingsong and his spear move to stand near Cat and Sasha to prevent the creature from attacking them.
Zag hurries up behind Cat and grabs a hold of her, both to steady her, making sure Sasha does not end up pulling her down, and to help pull the reckless woman up.
Strength check/aid another:
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Rowena touch attack
Perception Cat
Perception Grym
Perception Slice
Perception Yekskya
Perception Zag
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Round 1
Seeing Sasha fall, Rowena dives forward to grab the woman's hands. She's aided by Zaghigoth, who holds on to Cat. He starts to help haul both the woman from the edge of the cliff.
Meanwhile, Yekskya takes a step back to get a proper bead on the creature and lets fly an arrow. The arrow flies true and spears the lizard in the neck; it gurgles, then spirals down to the beach below.
Slicingsong moves near to the two women, covering with his spear to make sure there aren't any more flying beasties, then helping Zaghigoth to drag them to safety. Sasha is grateful to you for rescuing her from a long fall, at least 30feet to the beach below. Initially she is disappointed that she wasn't able to make contact with the pterosaur: "I've never had an animal companion, I thought it would be ideal." However, it doesn't seem to be in her nature to be angry or saddened for long, and she soon finds something that brings a smile to her face - nearby you find a large pterosaur nest with two eggs lying within. She looks at them with glee. [ooc] Good thinking to save her, you now have a bonus to Diplomacy checks towards Sasha due to her gratitude for saving her.
You return to where the others have been waiting for you. Trekking along further to the south, you spend a while hacking through jungle before you reach a cleft in the cliff edge and are able to take some time walking along the open beach. Fortunately you don't see any flying creatures larger than the occasional nesting bird. However, you do come across another wreck. You can see it was a sailing vessel, but of what type you are not sure, it's been pretty well ravaged by time. A board you find scattered on the beach perhaps shows the name of the vessel: the Golden Bow.
Musing out loud: "I wonder what it is with this place that gets so many ships stranded. Not like the local flora and fauna are so inviting, if y'ask me"
"The spirits of wind and water around this place are restless, I say. Need to be honored. None can master the elements without first respecting them... this is the first lesson of the druid. Even a sturdy ship is but a toy to the spirits."
Does the wreck look salvageable, or does it look to destroyed to hold anything of use or value?
Slicingsong wades out to about waist high to test the difficulty of the water and the chances of swimming across.
"Well, we could go have a look. Maybe there's still some cabins intact. Who knows what we might find. Maybe something salvagable that we can use. The water doesn't look all too difficult, even for the midship part to be reached."
Zag nods at Rowena's remarks and heads towards the southernmost piece of the ship against the rocks, keeping an eye and ear out for anything that could be lurking on the wreck.
Perception:
Slicingsong follows Zag out the ship and clambers aboard.
Yekskya joins Zag and Slicingsong, "Well, let's see what we can find." Once on board he nocks an arrow to cover his companions.
Is south up or down on this map? Or maybe the better question is whether the remains of the bow are the northern or southern most section?
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Cat init
Slicingsong
Yekskya init
Zag init
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Examining what's left of the wreck, you make your way along the beach to the bow section. You climb onto the deck, with Zaghigoth and Slicingsong in the lead. The broken timbers give warily underneath your feet, but they seem to be holding your weight. The rest of the group are gathered nearby, taking a break. Grym, wearied from carrying Gelik, stands guard.
This section of the ship seems to be in the worse repair, and you don't find much here except for a dropped cutlass. It seems a bit rusted from exposure to the elements, but a bit of elbow grease should be able to clean up the blade.
Looking around, you think that there might be a portion of the lower deck still intact on the aft section of the ship; if there is anything of value left here, that might be the best place to find it. Looking down into the shallow water, you see the water is clear and blue: fish swim lazily about the wreck, and you can see several skeletons scattered about the wreck, either passengers or crew whose bones have now been picked clean by the fish. Whatever happened to this ship, it must have taken its crew by surprise.
As you decide what to do next, Zaghigoth and Yekskya both spot movement in the water. Did that skeleton over there just move? Indeed, you can see it stand up, grasping a rusted cutlass as it moves towards the bow! A quick look confirms that several of the skeletons are rising to their feet, ready to take back their ship.
Initiative
21 - Zaghigoth
20 - Slicingsong
17 - Yekskya
10 - Cat
7 - skeletons
Zag's eyes widen as he notices the skeletons. "Abominations in the water! Restless dead, I say, get ready!" Not wanting to risk losing his spear in the water, Zag draws his club and prepares to hurl it at the first skeleton that comes within range, hoping to prevent one from climbing up to engage them. Unwilling to set Shiv against such horrible creatures, he does not call the crocodile into battle.
Club Ranged Attack:
Damage:
"Dammit! why won't they just stay dead? Now I have to get my hands dirty again, bashing in their bony skulls. Ah well, let's get to it, boys!
Drawing my mace from its place on my hip, I swing it a few times, as if testing its balance, before turning towards the water and the skeletons climbing aboard the wreck.
Slicingsong can't help but think that the wide slashing blade of his toem spear would be much more effective against the skeletal bodies. But it would be impossible to use without producing it's characteristic whistling howl and Slicingsong was simply not ready for that yet. Grimacing, he sets his long spear and prepares for the arrival of the undead.
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Round 1
At the sight of the skeletons surging out of the surf towards you, you ready your weapons. Yekskya makes a mighty leap across to the middle portion of the wreck, trying to reach down to hack at a climbing goblin with his greatsword but missing it. Rowena however is able to catch the same skeleton from the beach, her mace blasting the bones apart. The settle in the water, inert.
As the skeletons try climbing up the planks of the ship towards you, Zaghigoth and Slicingsong attack as well. Zaghigoth hurls his club at one just as it climbs out of the water. The club hits dead center, destroying the skeleton, only leaving a skeletal hand clinging to the ship. Slicingsong attempts to do the same with his longspear, the spear's blade doesn't manage to catch the skeleton climbing towards him.
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Yekskya jump check
Yekskya attack greatsword
Skeleton 1 climb
Skeleton 3 climb
Skeleton 4 climb
Skeleton 5 climb
Zag grins as the skeleton is destroyed by his club, proud that he has removed this blight on nature. Realizing the threat is not over, he focuses his holly and mistletoe, calling on the spirits to grant him power. "Great spirit of nourishing streams and life-bearing seeds, give me your light..." he mutters as he moves along the wreck.
Touch Attack:
Positive Energy Damage: (Will DC 14 for half).
Slicingsong steps back to give himself rooms and tries again to stop the advancing skeleton.
The spear's point slips harmlessly between the creatures ribs without once contacting anything solid.
Yekskya grins wickedly, "Let's work together and see if we can destroy this one Cat!"
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Round 2
Zaghigoth springs forward and calls on the powers of nature to infuse the skeleton facing Slicingsong with positive energy. The supernatural force blasts several bones off the skeleton and it staggers. Slicingsong tries to follow up with an attack from his spear, but it slips between the skeleton's ribs without doing any damage.
Yekskya runs across the deck to engage one of the skeletons clambering over the railing. With one sweep of his greatsword, he lops off the skull and the bones drop back into the sea.
Rowena runs over to the bow section to lend help to the others. She is just able to reach the skeleton scrambling frenziedly to reach Slicingsong, bashing the skeleton's backbone with her mace and destroying it.
The two remaining skeletons crawl over the railings and can't seem to get at the living fast enough. Slicingsong sweeps around with his spear as the first one jumps across the bow section to the middle portion to swing a scimitar at Slicingsong, but the attack swishes past him. The other skeleton attempts to gouge out Yekskya's eyes with its bony claws, but he manages to duck the attack.
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skeleton Will save
Cat mace attack
mace damage
skeleton 1 acrobatics
skeleton 1 attack
Slicingsong aoo
skeleton 5 attack
As Rowena destroys the skeleton adjacent to him, Zag gives her a toothy grin and spins on his heel, stepping to join Slicingsong and tries to bash the abomination next to the bard with his shield.
Shield bash:
Damage:
Status:
HP: 14/14
AC: 15 Touch: 11 FF: 14
Thankful for his companion's intervention, Slicingsong steps behind Zag and thrusts again with his spear.
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Round 3
Zaghigoth and Slicingsong work together to take down one of the remaining skeletons, the Shoanti bard managing to slice one apart with his spear.
Cat manages to jump nimbly forward to the next deck, and clubs the last skeleton to pieces.
Looking around, you find in the deck of the aft portion a dropped, finely crafted (masterwork) scimitar, as well as a healer's kit in what may once have been a surgeon's quarters. You also find 15gp scattered about the wreck. And, oddly enough you find nailed to the mast a small, mummified head that looks similar to a monkey's, with long hair.
As you finish your explorations of the Golden Bow, you notice that it is turning towards afternoon, and the sun is starting to beat down on your heads. It feels like a good time for getting out of the sun.
Cat acrobatics
Cat mace attack
crit confirm
mace damage
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Round 3
Zaghigoth and Slicingsong work together to take down one of the remaining skeletons, the Shoanti bard managing to slice one apart with his spear.
Cat manages to jump nimbly forward to the next deck, and clubs the last skeleton to pieces.
Looking around, you find in the deck of the aft portion a dropped, finely crafted (masterwork) scimitar, as well as a healer's kit in what may once have been a surgeon's quarters. You also find 15gp scattered about the wreck. And, oddly enough you find nailed to the mast a small, mummified head that looks similar to a monkey's, with long hair.
As you finish your explorations of the Golden Bow, you notice that it is turning towards afternoon, and the sun is starting to beat down on your heads. It feels like a good time for getting out of the sun.
Cat acrobatics
Cat mace attack
crit confirm
mace damage
"What do you all think of that monkey head or whatever it is? If we have everything here, let's get back into the trees." Yekskya helps carry the things we have found back to shore.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, let us get out of the sun." Slicingsong seems distracted and as he joins the others in the shade of the jungle canopy, he sets aside his long spear and cradles the strange spear that he carries but never uses in his arms. He gently traces the carved whorls and etchings with a finger.
"I left the plains that the Shoanti call home after Chelish raiders slaughtered my family and all of my tribe. I only lived because I was gone, performing funeral rites for passed hunter of the Larun Quah. Everything around me reminded my of my brother, my baby sister, my parents. Close to everyone I knew. I went to the Shackles because it was the furthest place from my home that I could afford a ship to. This is a totem spear. It is used to play the funeral dirges of my people. I have not played it since I buried my tribe.
"But I could have died today because of that reticence. I knew my spear was nearly useless against walking bones but I feared to hear the sounds of my totem spear. I will not fear again. It would be a poor service to my family for me to die so foolishly."
Slicingsong stands and begins whirling his totem spear in an intricate pattern moving gracefully with the soulful music. The dirge sounds like wind howling through a canyon, like a lost soul weeping in the night. It is hauntingly beautiful.
Zaghigoth listens to the melodies in silence, almost brooding over them. His own thoughts drift to his own people, his father's tribe that he secretly searches for, even if he forgets sometimes himself. He holds his own spear across his lap, fondling the holly and mistletoe with an absent mind. A snoozing Shiv's tail flops against him and wrests him from the trance, however. When he Slicingsong finishes, Zaghigoth gives him a solemn nod.
"A vessel for the spirits, your spear, I say. I sometimes listen to the wind spirits for...hm, guidance. The spirits in this place are restless, though. The waters roar and these abominations walk. There is something here more than trees and beasts, I say. I am sad for your people, Slicingsong. I never had any, myself...just my mother, who died of a foul wind in Virisia. I remember my father little...he died when I was a young boy, but I do not know how. My mother told me he was once a proud member of a clan of my kind. Stormbile. I took that name in hopes of finding them, but never have I, I say. But now I am thinking that you all are a good enough clan for now. And I will make sure you do not die so easy, ha!"
"What a beautiful song my friend. I hope we hear it often in the days to come. It seems we are a group forged by tragedy. I lost my family when I was taken by slavers as a youth. It is good to have found a new one."
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After having a final search of the wreck, you rejoin the others and continue your explorations. Hacking your way through the jungle, you see various brightly colored birds, lizards, small monkeys, and lots and lots of insects.
The trek is difficult, and everyone is weary by the time you stumble out of the brush to find a secluded beach. It looks like a good, clear site, well-suited for setting up camp. Grym for one is quite happy to set down poor Gelik, who is still recovering from the red ache. Faey and Jask Derindi wander off to do some foraging, with Sasha Nevah tagging along to do some hunting. Aerys Mavato helps to establish a perimeter.
Interestingly, you quickly notice that this area has already been a campsite, and recently too. You find the remanants of a quickly rigged shelter and a small campfire sitting well above the high-tide line.
"Interesting. There was evidence someone else survived our wreck. Perhaps they too have been here or there could be other inhabitants of the island."
Once camp is all set, Yekskya will see if he can determine what any of them are by taking small sips. "I've run into a few potions from our tribespeople that could work magic or my time in Ilizmagorti. Let me see if any of these are familiar."