"I would hardly call that friendly!" Gelik snaps as Ishirou and Jask work to remove the goat from the flames. "That thing is clearly hostile!" He dabs forlornly at the tassel on his hat. The end of the tassel was burnt by a flying ember from the fire, and while Gelik's spells will clean his clothes, he apparently doesn't have a spell for mending clothes. His scowl deepens.
"Well, it could have dropped the goat on you, but it didn't," Douena reasons to the other gnome. "That would have made a much bigger mess. I think we should try to make friends with it. Whenever we have extra meat, we could leave some out for Big Flappy a ways from the camp. Even if it's someone else's pet, they might not treat it very nice. Maybe it will like us better."
"Or we can help Sasha to raise her flappy bite to become even larger. We can call it Great Grand Flappy. Now wouldn't that be a shine on us?"
"I don't think Big Flappy has much difficulty finding food," Sasha says, indicating the goat. "But leaving food out for it might make a difference. I suppose it's worth a try."
As the excitement calms, you settle down for the night.
Mahjik will hear none of the need for rest; he wants to take up watch duty again. "Who hasn't had a turn to sleep in?"
During Watch, Makoa further musing on Big Flappy.
"Anything that is that big and flies won't be able to fly in the jungle, so we may have a chance there. We could also make traps, like pits or falling spikes in case we need a distraction."
"Unfortunately, I think that thing may have left the monkey. That means it's good in trees, even if it can't fly."
Mahjik will hear none of the need for rest; he wants to take up watch duty again. "Who hasn't had a turn to sleep in?"
"I haven't!" Douena volunteers, throwing her hand up in the air. "And Makoa and Lorenz and Aakif. And ... Ishirou? Have you been on watch every night?"
Regardless of the decisions made about the watch schedule, Douena spends the beginning of the first watch sitting by the shore, looking up and the stars and communing with Desna.
Upon completing her ritual and before lying down to sleep, she creeps over to Gelik's spot on the sand and picks up his burnt hat. Taking a few steps away from the sleeping gnome, she eyes it critically, then asks, "Make it better, Desna?" She returns the repaired hat to its place and glances guiltily at the pair on watch. "Don't tell him, okay?"
"I'll sit watch with Ishirou again then, if he doesn't mind."
Mahjik stretches; "It feels so much better now. Thanks to you and the others, I've learned more and become stronger in heart and mind." After a bit of a pause, he asks: "You didn't really say yet - do you think it is better to move on again? Should we camp here a while longer?"
During Watch, Makoa further musing on Big Flappy.
"Anything that is that big and flies won't be able to fly in the jungle, so we may have a chance there. We could also make traps, like pits or falling spikes in case we need a distraction.""Unfortunately, I think that thing may have left the monkey. That means it's good in trees, even if it can't fly."
"I'm not very good at climbing. I think I'm getting better, though," Douena says hopefully. "I've never done so much of it as I have on this island. Everything on this island must be good at climbing ... or flying. As big as Big Flappy is, do you think it really landed in that tree to leave the monkey? Maybe it just dropped it from the air, and it fell in the tree like the goat fell in the fire. Or maybe something else left the monkey."
"I won't tell him if you don't."
After that, Makoa seems rather distant. He stares up toward the sky and occasionally glances around him quickly, as if just spotting something...
"There are a lot more wolves tonight. I think.. their making my head feel.. full?"
Lorenz starts back from the fire, staring up at the sky with eyes open wide. "That was...unnecessary." He muttered. He almost thought he might agree with Douena. "It reminds me of this old tabby we had at the farm when I was a young lad. He used to love bringing me rat and snake corpses to lay at the foot of my bed. He liked to brag. Stepping on a bloody, broken rat corpse first thing in the morning with your bare feet was only slightly more disgusting than that." He pointed at the goat.
Shaken by the encounter with the giant winged beast, Lorenz didn't embellish his summary of the days events to any great degree. He summed it up, trying to dwell a little on Makoa's experiences with the vine traps and the way Douena looked after the climb up the hill. "Her face was bright red and her hair was as soggy as seaweed!"
After he gave up with the summary, he slumped next to Gelik. "Sorry, my friend. I just couldn't concentrate on the story today. You should have seen Makoa setting off those traps though. The expression on his face was almost worth the whole thing."
He smiled gently at the gnome. "How are you holding up, anyway? I imagine the events with that...thing are more excitement than you're looking for." He paused. He spoke softly.
In response to Mahjik's question he spoke up. "I like taking my turn at watch. I'm happy to continue doing so."
Lorenz kept a sharp eye on the sky and also in the direction of the path they'd followed. Throughout the watch, he keeps close to Sasha. "Things are getting rather interesting, aren't they? A big beast in the sky, whatever it is that set those traps, the possibility of treasure...It certainly makes the days and nights past much faster but I can't decide if I should be worried or not."
He smiles a little weakly. "I hope Douena's right about that big flying thing but I kind of doubt it. I wonder if it really is a dragon of some sort?"
When Douena fixes Gelik's hat, Lorenz smiles gratefully. "He won't hear a thing from me. Thank you. That was...kind."
Mahjik stretches; "It feels so much better now. Thanks to you and the others, I've learned more and become stronger in heart and mind." After a bit of a pause, he asks: "You didn't really say yet - do you think it is better to move on again? Should we camp here a while longer?"
Ishirou gazes up the side of the cliff. "I am not sure. The enemy has an easy route to jump out at us from above here. From the hilltop, we would have much more warning of an attack from any direction, even up. But this location is better suited for exploring in other directions. Wherever we put the camp, I do think it will eventually be necessary for those out exploring to spend one or two nights away from the camp. The could be dangerous, but necessary."
Lorenz kept a sharp eye on the sky and also in the direction of the path they'd followed. Throughout the watch, he keeps close to Sasha. "Things are getting rather interesting, aren't they? A big beast in the sky, whatever it is that set those traps, the possibility of treasure...It certainly makes the days and nights past much faster but I can't decide if I should be worried or not."
He smiles a little weakly. "I hope Douena's right about that big flying thing but I kind of doubt it. I wonder if it really is a dragon of some sort?"
"It could be," Sasha says, "but don't get your hopes up too high. There are a lot of other things it could be too. You're right about interesting though. I'd go a lot farther and call it exciting. I never thought I'd say that about being shipwrecked. But I've had a taste of freedom that I've never had before. I don't want to give it up. So once we're off this island, it's off to the Mwangi for more jungle madness. You're coming, right?"
Lorenz grins at Sasha. "Definitely. This has been one of the best times I've ever had. Who knows what there is to find in the Mwangi?"
In response to Mahjik's question he spoke up. "I like taking my turn at watch. I'm happy to continue doing so."
Douena smiles and beckons to Mahjik to bend down so she can whisper in his ear.
"There are a lot more wolves tonight. I think.. their making my head feel.. full?"
Douena gazes at the half-orc with interest. "What does it feel like to have a head full of wolves? Is it ... furry?"
"A wise man indeed. How does Sasha feel about it?"
"No little one.. it's not like fur. It's more like.. being filled with.. I don't know how to describe it. Except that it reminds me of the healing you grace us with from Desna." His voice is just barely more than a whisper.
"I think this might be how you feel after you pray. I'm no priest though. I know a bit about Erastil and Gozreh, a bit about Desna now thanks to you, but I don't think that makes me a full-fledged member of the clergy."
"Your experience does you credit. I like that the hilltop is a defensible position. If we're to prepare for the worst scenario, then I think the camp site that gives us the most security is the best."
There's a light rain falling in the morning. You awaken feeling particularly refreshed despite the exhausting day yesterday. Some of you have even discovered new abilities and spells.
Jask has breakfast prepared as usual when he and Aakif wake everyone up. He passes the food around and you sit back to eat and decide what to do today.
Gelik sits down with the group and barely notices the food Jask places beside him. He's staring intently at his hat, particularly at the restored tassel. He looks up briefly, his eyes passing over each person in the group and finally stopping on Urza. He nods slightly and then blushes slightly as he realizes people have noticed him. He sticks his hat on his head, grabs his dish and starts eating without saying a word.
Lorenz yawns as he sits up and accepts the morning meal with a smile. It was amazing how pleasant it was to start the day without a scream of terror from the gnome.
"Good morning, everybody! What's the plan for the day? Are we going to prepare for digging for buried treasure, or check out that nearby ship we noticed? I'm mostly interested in the ship myself but it's such a nice day out that I'm content with either choice."
He beams at everyone, positively radiating contentment and satisfaction.
Douena is tipping her head up to the sky, trying to catch raindrops in her mouth. "I say we go to the ship. Before we dig for treasure, we have to move camp again, and that will take all day."
"I think you should investigate the ship, as well," Gelik says. "We haven't been at this campsite very long. I don't really want to move again so soon. Besides, there might be useful information on board that we don't want the sea claiming. Or maybe even a usable lifeboat. The treasure can wait."
Urza returns Gelik's nod. "I agree. The ship could hold useful salvage or even a way off this island and that treasure will wait for us another day."
"The ship could also be held tightly enough by whatever wrecked it that it won't budge, and can be a good camp in and of itself." Makoa says as he let's rainwater roll off of him. He seems happier this morning, and content.
"Yay, shipwreck!" Douena sings out, happy at the general consensus. "Shall we climb back up the cliff, like Sasha said, and look for the river?"
"Sasha's idea is a fine one. I think following the river across would be the best way to go." Lorenz said with a smile as he finished his meal.
"Sasha's idea is a fine one. I think following the river across would be the best way to go." Lorenz said with a smile as he finished his meal.
"My ideas are always fine ones," Sasha says with a grin. "I'd love to come with you today, if you don't mind! Since we got some extra food delivered to us yesterday, I'm not needed for hunting. Today might also be my last chance before the egg hatches. I need to be with it when it does, and I'm pretty sure it'll be soon." She hands the egg and its nest over to Gelik. "Gelik, I'm entrusting this to you again. No jokes this time! And if it hatches, don't imprint yourself as its mother."
Gelik takes the egg without comment.
"Wise man would not tarry - let's go! It's been a week since last we stepped on a ship, I think I might be losing my sea legs." Mahjik laughs, "I feel greater than ever! Let's fly!"
With breakfast finished, you gather your belongings and set out. You test the rope on the cliff to make certain it's still secure. It is, and so you begin the climb up. It's tiring as always, but having done so much climbing in the last week and a half, you're noticing that climbing seems to just a bit easier and less exhausting.
Ishirou accompanies you to the top of the cliff. "I wish to look for ways to set up some sort of warning system in case something comes at us from the cliff top," he explains.
You then set out east into the jungle again. The jungle starts out light, but soon thickens. You make it about half a mile in the first hour of the journey. At this time, the jungle thins a bit and you can hear the sound of rushing water ahead. A few minutes later, you come to the edge of a rushing river. To the north, about another half a mile away, you can see mist and another cliff rising up above the mist, a waterfall cascading down it. Just to the south of you the river forks, one branch continuing straight south and the other going to the southeast.
Between the two branches of the river, you see a large grove of thorny vines growing along the river bank, presenting a seven-foot-tall wall of green leaves and intimidating six-inch thorns. Growing on the vines, you see a large quantity of bright red berries.
Lorenz smiles broadly as Sasha explains the berries. "Fantastic! We should definitely gather some of these. It'll help with the sicknesses but if they can help Aerys feel better then all the more reason to gather as many as we can."
He turns to Sasha. "Your ideas certainly do have a way of working out."
But when he looks back to the rivers, his pleasure lessens a little. "Any ideas about which way we should go?"
"Wise man in Osirion once lectured me on these. It took me a day to recover from his lecture. The berries are strong purifiers, they help the body remain in its pristine form - meaning they can aid in overcoming illness or addictions. Unfortunately not poisons - those tend to have fast and short durations; these berries act on long-term toxins." Mahjik ponders, "If I recall, I was told these are sometimes called Lessons of Irori. A legend tells that before he ascended he lived for a year and a day on only these berries."
Brightly he continues: "Let's see if we can get some for Aerys. It might be hard to swallow, but she should be able to recover completely from her alcoholic needs within a week. Wise man would do so cautious though, this isn't done without risk. Those small thorns have a vicious bite to them."
Mahjik goes to work:
Mahjik's left hand quickly spreads a vicious looking rash; and he looks a little worse for wear. But he proudly holds up the collected berries. "Don't worry, I've done this before. I'll be fine in the morning...", he grins weakly.
"It's either or guys? Shall we go the easy way first?"
"It's either or guys? Shall we go the easy way first?"
"We might as well," Lorenz calls back. "Otherwise we'll probably have to build a raft for Douena so she doesn't get washed away. Unless you can do that fly thing you were talking about earlier this morning!"
"I'm not very good at swimming," Douena says with trepidation, eying the swift-flowing river.
"If you cling to Soulwind's saddle, she can get you both across, Douena. Here, up you go." Aakif lifts Douena up onto his horse's back and shows her the best places to hold on while Soulwind swims across the river. "I'll cross a little behind you and downriver of you so I'll be there if you should somehow get washed off."
Sasha grins as Aakif picks up Douena. "Well, looks like crossing the river won't be tough after all. In which case, I suggest we cross and go southeast. If I turn out to be wrong, then...hmmm...it's Aakif's fault because he came up with the way to get Douena across!" She laughs. "Coming Lorenz? Or are you afraid of the water?"
Douena laughs with excitement as Aakif sets her on the horse's back. "Oh, she's tall, isn't she? I rode a pony a couple of times back in Whistledown, but they're nowhere near as tall. Mahjik, I'm taller than you now! I can see the top of your head!"
"Sounds like you need to get a horse when we get off of the island. I'm sure you'd come up with a truly interesting name." Makoa says as he plunges into the water, loving the feeling of the water rushing around him.
"I wonder if this little dip got me clean enough for Gelik to respect?" He laughs as he shakes the water off on the other side.
You swim across the river and make your way around the grove of viper nettles. From there, you set out along the southeast branch of the river. The river remains quite swift moving and it winds a fair amount for the first half-mile or so before settling into an almost straight-south course through the jungle. As it settles into that course, you also notice a distinct downwards slope to the land. As a result, the river gets faster and choppier. It crashes over rocks and tree roots, sending spray up into the air and helping to keep you cool despite the ascending heat of the day.
The jungle varies in thickness, sometimes reaching right up to the banks of the river and sometimes pulling back away from it. Overall, you manage a better pace than you started the day at, covering about a mile each hour.
As the land slopes down, cliffs gradually rise up to the east and west, about half a mile apart with the river running pretty much directly in the middle.
After travelling south for almost two miles, the river turns southeast again as the eastern cliff turns east. By this time, the land has flattened out, although the river continues to run fast. You're almost certain by this point that you are following the correct branch of the river to reach the shipwreck.
As the hot hours settle in, you haven't quite reached the little bay where the shipwreck is, but you should be close and with the spray from the river, you feel you can keep going a little longer without too much problem. Finally, around 12:30 p.m., you come out onto the beach of the bay.
You can see the ship to the east. It's a massive ship, the biggest of the wrecks you've seen so far. The ship is encrusted with salt and moss. Its masts remain intact, but its sails have long since rotted away. At the bow, a leering demonic figurehead of green-caked brass provides an intimidating welcome. The ship is lodged against several jagged reefs. Unfortunately, it's along the beach on the other side of the river mouth. It's also high tide, so the rough waters of the bay are surrounding the ship and reefs at the moment. When the tide goes out in a few hours, however, it will be easier to approach the ship (once you've crossed the river mouth, that is).
"Okay then - looks like we'll have to get wet again."
"How did we end up on the wrong side of the river again?" Lev complains as he straps his shield to his back and makes sure his weapons are safely arranged.
"Oops," he gurgles as the current grabs hold.
"Poachers.." Makoa curses as he tosses his shield away and dives in after Lorenz.
Mahjik makes it across the river without difficulty. Lorenz struggles a bit, but with help from Makoa, makes it across.
Sasha removes her chain shirt. "Let's hope nothing tries to eat me," she says and dives into the water. She swims across without difficulty. At the other side, she approaches Lorenz. For a moment, she looks like she's going to laugh, but then she places a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, it happens to the best of us."
Lorenz smiles sheepishly at Sasha. "Next time I'll take off my armor. Maybe I should take some swimming lessons from you as well."
He turns to Makoa. "Thanks for your help. I had no idea that wolves swim so well!"