Shifting her focus to the next frog, Cueta draws another arrow and lets it fly.
Day 5 - Morning - Bonewrack Isle -
Artevious easily turns around to aid Rizz who seems top have taken matters into her own hands. The crazy gnome almost steps into the muck slashing at the tongue of the frog, which she cuts right off!
The frog croaks in pain and then agony as Cueta's arrow finds its mark, in the overgrown amphibian throat!
Erizial has no idea how's she's keeping balance while putting her full strength into her attacks, spinning several times on the pylon but not falling off.
Day 5 - Morning - Bonewrack Isle -
Rizz manages to cut at the tongue while simultaneously using it to push back off and onto the pylon! A pretty amazing feat!
The battle is over, the crew has met with success. Now to get across this damn mess before something else comes along!
"Those must have been the biggest frogs I've seen. I've heard of island gigantism -- the concept that on islands, creatures grow much bigger than they do on the mainland -- but this is just ridiculous. Gall, have you ever seen anything like that?"
Rizz pulls herself onto the other side of the cliff, before slipping slightly and almost falling back into the ditch.
"Little help!?" she asks frantically, as she slips further and further.
Esmarelda gladly helped Rizz up out of the ditch before she worked her way over to Artevious, a look a worry upon her face. "Are you alright?" She asked as she looked him over, giving a soft sigh when she was reassured he was alright.
"You seem okay..." She said with a soft smile as she looked up at him. Her hand gently resting upon his arm, though she quickly removed it. "That is good."
Gall shakes his head with furrowed brows as he makes his way across the trees and vines overhanging the bog. "Can't say as I have, lass, but I don't know the most about frogs. Cueta, how 'bout you?"
"None that fookin' big, that's for sure! Thought Artevious was going in the gullet for a minute there."
Still in the tree, Cueta begins making her way hand over hand across and above the mire, smiling the whole time. "No match for us though! We're a fearsome group of pirates, we are!"
"Is that what we are? I guess we are at that", Harmony looks thoughtful. "I figured that's what I was forced to be on board the ship because of Plugg and Scourge. But now I'm back on land, away from their whips. For the time being at least, a free woman again. Am I still a pirate? Or am I back to being a free person? Perhaps I'm deluding myself. There's no way out of here but back on that ship again after all."
I finished hopping across the pylons, lending a bit of assistance to Rizz where she needed it -- which is to say not much at all -- and arrived at the other side with only a few spatterings of mud and one splotch of frog saliva on my breeches.
"Good show, everyone!" I extolled. "Quite the exciting event! That frog of unusual size had me there for a moment. But I know the fate of the Son of Poisson was not to be as an amphibian's meal. My thanks to the lot of you, for making my escape so easy."
I smiled at Esmarelda's concern, and gave her a dashing wink. Then I looked at Harmony, hoping to help her confusion. "Piracy is in the blood, or in the heart. Whether you are on a sea-soaked deck or hacking a path through a harsh jungle in search of lost crew, a fierce pirate is what you'll be."
I paused, looked around, then looked back at her. "But yes, we'll need to get back to the ship eventually."
Rizz elbows Gall on his leg, waiting for him to bend down so she can whisper in his ear.
"So, like, are those three a thing or something?"
Gall quirks a brow and leans down to offer Rizz his ear, only to snort in amusement. He shakes his head, somewhere between amazed and bemused, and straightens back up. "Nah, lass. Just the pair with the swords there. Far as I know, anyhow."
At that thought, he pauses and eyes Harmony, Artevious, and Esmarelda thoughtfully for a moment. One can almost see the smoke coming from his ears. He eventually snaps back to reality though, and looks back down to Rizz. "Ye got yerself some skills there, lass. What else're you hidin' what we don't know about? Can ye juggle, too?"
"Nah, but I'm alright at chucking stuff. Hey, you mind if I get on top? I wanna break from walking."
With an idle chuckle, Gall reaches down to scoop Rizz up and set her on his shoulders like a one would a toddler. "'Course, lass. Just don't go tearin' out me hair none, aye?"
Esmarelda offered a smile to Artevious' wink before turning her attention back to the area they where in and her friends. "While we do have to return to the ship that has Plugg and Scourge upon it, I'd feel worse if we didn't go back and those of our friends that are still on it get blamed." Esmarelda pointed out as she crossed her arms. "Plus everyone on the ship will die if we don't return with fresh water for them to drink so... we kinda hold Plugg and Scourges' lives in our hands. Take some pride in that no?" She told the Chelish woman.
She then scanned the area. "This place gives me the creeps..." She told her friends as she crossed her arms.
Harmony quirks an eyebrow at Gall's thoughtful look, giving him a questioning look of her own. "Something wrong, Gall? Did I say something that upset you?"
As for Artevious' explanation, Harmony tilts her head. "But what if we're not all pirates? If it's in the blood, or in the heart, then did Plugg and Scourge somehow know to *only* abduct people who have that? What if they abducted someone who doesn't have that in their blood or in their heart? Is that something you can gain? Is that something one *should* gain?"
Then, at Esmarelda's astute observation. "Oh, my dear lady. You have *NO IDEA* how much I wish I *did* hold Plugg and Scourge's lives in my hands. No idea." Then, she smiles and looks down a little ashamedly. "Forgive me. You've been through just as much as I have, if not more. I wonder if you're a more forgiving sort than I am. Because I would...would..." Her fingers make a strangling gesture and her teeth grit together.
Esmarelda bit her lower lip as she listened to what Harmony said. "Honestly... I think it's more I don't know how to handle this..." She muttered to her friend. "I've never been in this situation before. I'm lost on what to do so... I've fallen upon all of you." She commented as she lowered her head in shame. "I've hidden behind you all... because I don't know what to do... How to handle Plugg or Scourge.... or ... or even Maheem..." Her voice broke a bit as she said the final name.
"Esmarelda", Harmony says, and then lowers her voice a little bit so that you have to strain a little to hear what she's telling the other woman.
To anyone who doesn't listen in, Harmony looks a bit like she's fuming as she speaks at length to Esmarelda.
As for Artevious' explanation, Harmony tilts her head. "But what if we're not all pirates? If it's in the blood, or in the heart, then did Plugg and Scourge somehow know to *only* abduct people who have that? What if they abducted someone who doesn't have that in their blood or in their heart? Is that something you can gain? Is that something one *should* gain?"
I pondered a moment at Harmony's question that she put to me. It was true; most of this lot were press-ganged aboard the Wormwood. In fact, I was too, I had to remind myself, though I likely would have eagerly signed on regardless.
"You make a fine point," I conceded. "But don't forget that there are many sorts of pirates in the world -- Black-hearted villains such as the likes of Scourge, Plugg and worst of all, Harrigan; greedy, grasping ne'er-do-wells; tyrannical taskmasters; but there are also the gentleman pirate -- or the lady! I've heard your tales, and you have a natural gift. A flair, if you will."
I gave her a reassuring grin, in the hopes to settle her doubts.
"I suppose I don't have to ask you which sort you consider yourself to be, Monsignor de Poisson", Harmony says. "Pray tell, how do you reconcile that with working for black-hearted villains? And are you planning on doing so for much longer?"
"Necessary evils," I admitted. "Sometimes, even the staunchest of heroes must make truces and work alongside their rivals to achieve some goal." I shook my head. "Though my pirate adventures began much differently than I'd imagined, I cannot find fault in the fact that I am actually upon the high seas, a cutlass at my hip and true and loyal mates at my side."
I looked down at the muddy trail upon which I currently stood. "Well, on the high seas in the figurative sense."
The Varisian woman seemed liked she was listening to the bard before her. The look on her face easy to read, one of understanding.
Day 5 - Mid-Day - Bonewrack Isle -
The group takes a brief rest after their harrowing encounter and notice through the spaces between the trees here that mid-day is upon them. Do you stop to eat rations for lunch or head down the path further south?
"Gall, you're the cook , can you make anything out of those frogs? I hear normal sized frogs are popular in Galt."
"I'm starved!" Rizz announces. "Short rest and some food guys? Those guys on the ship didn't take my stuff so I might have some rations in my pack somewhere."
Gall snorts and shakes his head in reply to Harmony, that same easy smile playing across his face. "Nah, lass, I were just havin' a thought. Can't say as I'm so subtle when I get to thinkin' sometimes." While he does not openly remark about Harmony's rant regarding Scourge and Plugg, he does nod in solemn agreement. A silent pledge to stand with her when she finally hits her limit, if nothing else.
At the mention of a break, he laces his fingers together and cracks his knuckles. "Why, I'd be glad to do what I can for the lot of ye. Just settle yerselves on down and I'll get the fixin's together." With that, he begins snatching up what he can find from the environs around them to make a bit of lunch. Frogs included.
"Oh, my dear lady. You have *NO IDEA* how much I wish I *did* hold Plugg and Scourge's lives in my hands. No idea." Then, she smiles and looks down a little ashamedly. "Forgive me. You've been through just as much as I have, if not more. I wonder if you're a more forgiving sort than I am. Because I would...would..." Her fingers make a strangling gesture and her teeth grit together.
Cueta listens, head tilted, a slight smile on her lips, as Harmony and Esmarelda talk of Plugg and Scourge. She nods and as they finish talking, face suddenly solemn. "Good. Make sure you squeeze. When their lives are in your hands."
------------
Rolling her eyes in an over-exaggerated manner, Cueta grins and follows Gall into the bushes. "That's cottlewamp weed, Gall. It'll make us sick as dogs. Here, use the date palm over there. My mother would wrap fish in it alongside some vegetables, and cook it over a low flame..."
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Rizz has gotten off Gall as he busies to feed everyone and is content playing with the piece of frog tongue she kept after severing it out the frog's mouth. Currently she is swing it around like a lasso and smacking people when they aren't looking.
Day 5 - Afternoon - Bonewrack Isle -
After a hearty meal and short rest, the crew is off again down the path.
After nearly another hour of walking you come upon a large clearing near the edge of a swamp. A terrible stench fills the swamp here, a fetid odor of cheap perfume and rotting flesh. A huge tree stands in the middle of a clearing in the swamp, draped with some sort of huge tent. Lurid, painted faces cover both the tree trunk and tent, and both are decorated with rotting humanoid body parts and carpets of squirming insects.
"Perfume? Women?" And after a little pause, Harmony adds, "...*dead* women?" Her eyes go to the painted faces and rotting body parts. "This does not seem like the most welcoming place. Gall, Cueta?" she invites the two to investigate while staying where she is for now.
Gall blanches just a touch at the sight of rotting human bits just casually laying about. But, for the moment, he manages to keep his jaw clenched tightly shut over any stomach churning. At Harmony's request, he gives a grunt of assent and hauls his broadsword free again, exchanging glances with Cueta.
"Aye. Right beside ye, lass," he says and waits for Cueta to be ready before they both move in.
Cueta scowls. Fell things happened here, no doubt. Searching her memory for old tales of the significance of the lurid faces or the rotting body parts, Cueta then eyes the insects suspiciously. "Careful, now. Whatever did this could be about."
Nocking an arrow, the deckhand moves forward, slowly, expecting to find a trap or ambush.
Rizz whistles as she walks forwards with everyone. In one hand, she has her greatsword ready. In the other, she still has a firm grasp on the frog's tongue the bulbous end being dragged on the ground behind her.
"I guess this really isn't Mounds-o'-Gold island..."
Esmarelda covered her nose as the smell of rot hit her. "Oh gods... that smell.." She muttered. She did her best to take shallow breaths before something occurred to her.
"... These are the first bodies we've come across, not skeletons." Esmarelda said as she looked to her allies. "I mean the village was completely deserted..."
It was quite the grisly scene that we came upon. The stench of death assailed us, but curiously it was laced with perfume of a common variety. My trusty cutlass had already been out to hack at the vegetation, so I was comforted with its weight in my hand.
I listened to the others comment on the scene, but I rightly didn't have much more to add. I took some solace in that these rotting body parts were not likely to have belonged to our missing crew.
Day 5 - Afternoon - Bonewrack Isle -
As you begin to creep closer the flap to the tent is pushed back revealing the gruesome visage of three corpses which used to be women. It is obvious that their victims met gruesome ends, those ends not tidied up litter this tent. They leer at you and gesture lewdly towards the men in mockery of their life's profession.
Artevious
Cueta
Gall
Harmony
Erix
Ghouls
"Attack!" Rizz screams as she throws herself at the enemy.
Day 5 - Afternoon - Bonewrack Isle -
Rizz's reckless tactics are effective as she strikes one of the cratures with a solid hit but she is now up there alone against these three creatures, they swarm her!
Ghoul #2 Bite Attack . Ghoul #2 Claw Attack A . Damage . Claw Attack B .
Ghoul #3 Bite Attack . Damage . Ghoul #3 Claw Attack A . Claw Attack B .
The gnomes' wild flurry and armor hold out as out of the flurry of claws and bites only one from each attacker lands on Rizz!
Gall, with all the finesse of a drunken elephant, lets out a wordless battlecry and charges headlong into the fray! There is a little gnome to be saving, after all. The very moment he gets into range, he lets his enormous sword drop like the blade of a guillotine. Preferably onto the nearest undead head.
"Time for me to return the favor", Harmony says as she moves forward, her memory flashing to the times Cueta has used magic to heal her wounds after Scourge's floggings. The dark-haired woman moves up behind Rizz and whispers a few words of magic. It's the first time she's using a spell like this -- will it work? After so many times getting hurt, she's been working on healing magic of her own, but this is the first "for real" incident.
"I told you something was odd!" Esmarelda said as she drew her rapier and moved foreword. She paused long enough to run her right hand down the blade as she spoke words of arcane power, covering it with a golden glow.
The grisly scene resolved itself into one out of a horror novel. The figures who stepped out of the pavilion were horrifying corpses that looked upon me and Gall with lecherous intent. I could scarcely contain my disgust, but apparently neither could Rizz, because she launched into an attack at their mere appearance.
Gall, Harmony and Esmarelda similarly followed suit, brandishing magic and steel to do battle with the undead courtesans. I similarly strode forward, holding my cutlass up in a defensive posture.
"Miladies, you clearly have overstayed your welcome on this realm. I believe there's nothing left but to aid you in putting you to rest," I announced.
Day 5 - Afternoon - Bonewrack Isle -
Gall's mighty swing whooshes over Rizz's head bringing the head of the Ghoul that Rizz struck sail away into the brush.
Artevious' cutlass slices one of the other creatures but it merely hisses at him, a testament to how difficult it is to destroy that which is already dead!
Shifting to her right, Cueta watches the dead woman for a moment before drawing an arrow and loosing it towards the ghoul.
Rizz will attack again.
Day 5 - Afternoon - Bonewrack Isle -
Cueta's arrows sail into the body of the horrific creature immediately after Arty's strike silencing its hissing, hopefully forever.
Still the final ghoul shows and likely knows no fear as it attacks Rizz.
Rizz's armor holds all but the final strike at bay.
Gall, seeing that there is only one ghoul remaining, steps forward and drops one hand off of his sword. Slashing his sword in a wide backhand arc across its rotting chest, he follows up with a crushing punch from his cestus-clad fist.