"I'll take any protection we can get - can't have half my senior officers running off every ten minutes!" Marnir says with a laugh. "What do we know about fighting ghosts? Particularly ones that sound as powerful as Bikendi?"
Hettia has been listening to what Ederleigh has to tell you with a thoughtful look. "Actually Captain. I don't think there's much use in you attacking that ghost now." She explains her reasoning. "Seems this Dreamstone is what he's fixated on. You destroy him and he'll just reform again. His need for it is what keeps him here. Get the stone and return it to him and you can either get him to pass on, or have the key to ending him."
What are you doing now?
"In that case, we have to find out where this Dreamstone wound up," says Niobe. "Anyone have any helpful divination magic?"
"Well yes." Ederleigh says. "Bikendi stole it from the Cyclops who live in the ruins. It was a holy artifact to them, so they must have returned it to it's place there?
"And let's not forget some protection magic. I don't want to drop my blade and run like a little girl again."
The man looked at the strong women around him and gulped, "You know what I mean."
"I do indeed," says Niobe guilelessly. "I'd much rather swim!"
Looking at her recipes, "I can protect us from energy... acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic. What would you guys like?"
"If only we had a spell to remove fear," says Niobe wistfully.
"Sounds like we need to find some cyclops...cyclopses...cyclopi," Marnir tails off, uncertain of the right word. "Some one-eyed giants. Do you know where their ruins are?" he asks Ederleigh.
"Hmmmm. Kung never fight cyclopses before. Think fun. Kung vote ruins; let's find dreamstone."
Cyclopses sounds good to Jane. "She nods her head, Yea, let's go get some Cyclopeseseses"
With a good night's rest behind him Marnir wakes feeling refreshed and ready. "So, what do we know about cyclopses?" he asks his senior crew over breakfast. "Do we need any specific spells or protections?"
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You will be travelling across country here. Marching order and what you're taking with you please?
Also since your destination is 'G' What route are you taking?
Niobe goes through the ship's stores and makes sure to pack some food, since the group may be traveling overland for several days.
She stays behind Kung as the group gets on the road.
"Cyclopes are mostly, well, giants," says Niobe. "Big spears and rocks. Seems strange to use thrown weapons when you only have one eye, but, well, here we are. In some stories I've heard a few have oracular powers and can see the future and use some magic. I guess we'll find out?"
Marnir hefts his pack and makes sure his weapons are ready as the group sets off. "Sounds like they're good with those rocks though, Ederleigh said they killed a lot of sailors when they attacked the fort. Keep your eyes open for rocks falling from the sky, eh?" he says with a chuckle.
Jane thinks, "I can go scout the layout and be back soon."
Jane heads out, being somewhat cautious and trying to be as watchful as possible when she notices something.
You cross the river north of the fort and head through the jungle, it's soon obvious that there are large animals living here. Trails have been forced through the undergrowth by the passage of something big enough to force it's way along?
Moving far too easily and quietly as if flies though the trees a Draconic creature ambushes you, it's beak open as it blasts the whole party with a cone of sonic energy.
Reflex save DC20 for half damage.
The party may now act. The creature is 20' feet up in the air and hovering this round.
Kongomato
N Huge dragon
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +23
DEFENSE AC 29, touch 11, flat-footed 26 (+3 Dex, +18 natural, –2 size)
hp 261 (18d12+144)
Fort +19, Ref +16, Will +13
DR 10/magic; Immune magic paralysis and sleep; Resist acid 10,
cold 10, electricity 10, fire 10; SR 26
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 160 ft. (average)
Melee bite +28 (2d6+2), 2 claws +28 (1d8+12), tail slap +26
(2d6+6), 2 wings +26 (1d8+6)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks wailing dive, breath weapon (50-ft. cone, 14d6
sonic damage, Reflex DC 20 for half, usable every 1d4 rounds)
STATISTICS
Str 34, Dex 17, Con 26, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 17
Base Atk +18; CMB +32; CMD 45 (49 vs. trip)
Feats Flyby Attack, Hover, Improved Initiative, Improved
Sunder, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Power Attack,
Snatch, Wingover
Skills Climb +19, Fly +20, Intimidate +16, Perception +23,
Sense Motive +15, Stealth +13, Survival +20
Languages Draconic
SQ compression, piercing beak
ECOLOGY
Environment tropical forests
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure standard
Piercing Beak (Ex) A kongamato’s beak is extremely hard and adept at breaking objects. When attempting to damage an item, a kongamato’s beak attack does double damage and is treated as if it were adamantine for the purposes of overcoming the object’s hardness.
Wailing Dive (Su) When a kongamato makes a charge while flying or uses its Flyby Attack feat, the creature’s body becomes infused with energy, causing its bite to deal an extra +1d6 points of sonic damage on that attack.
Marnir has no time to shout a warning before the air is split by a blast of sound which crashes into him, rattling his teeth and crushing his flesh.
"Dragon!," he cries out, rushing into the sparse cover afforded by the jungle. "Run!"
HP 36/83
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +11, Ref: +8, Will: +11 (+4 vs fear)
Conditions: None
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +9/+5 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, -2 Power Attack)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+15 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +6 Power Attack)
22/22 rds raging song remaining
His ears ringing, Kung can't make out Marnir's words, but the intent is easy to interpret. He runs after his captain.
HP 49/96
AC 23 touch 14 flat-footed 20 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, +1 deflection/ring)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +13, Ref: +12, Will: +6
Conditions: none
Melee (+1 furious greatsword): +15/+7 (+8 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack)
Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 2d6+19 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +9 power attack)
19/19 rds Rage remaining
Seeing this magical beast, Jane quickly takes a drink of a flask and vanishes. Moves to the south east, away from the creature. but a little distance between her and the group.
1 start to move and withdraw invisibility potion.
2 drink potion and change direction while moving.
Niobe staggers under the dragon's sudden sonic assault. She quickly weaves a defensive spell and rushes to try to follow Marnir, though casting causes her to lag behind a bit.
Markizio did not need t be told twice about running away and hightailed it after his captain.
He was having second thoughts about this entire island that has forced him to run so often in such a short time.
---------
HP 62/85
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 20
Conditions: n/a
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
8/8 arcane pool
Spell used: n/a
Having driven off the pests the Kongamato shrieks in triumph, swerving away from you and diving into the undergrowth. It rises again soon after with a dead triceratops held in it's front claws as it labours away with a more filling meal.
What are you doing now?
Once the dragon has flown off, carrying an enormous horned creature Marnir notes, he signals the group to stop. Breathing hard he suggests "Maybe we should head back to the Drake and try again tomorrow. That sound blast hurt a lot," he adds, rubbing the extensive bruising that's already appearing on his arms and neck.
"Owwww," is all that Niobe has to say at first. She looks very battered; the sonic blast greatly sapped her.
"I have a little healing available but not for this magnitude of injury."
"Then let's get back to the ship. We're in no state to take on much of anything any more," Marnir says, hoping that the trip back to the Drake would be less eventful.
"Let's get some sleep, and maybe Jane has some healing potions," says the battered mermaid.
Jane will mix a quick potion, CSW, and drink it.
[b]"I can make some. What would you like?"[/dice]
You struggle back to your ship, still moored in what you are beginning to believe is a deceptively serene bay. Boarding the familiar, reliable decking is a relief in your battered state.
Even as you begin to get healed and restocked there is another surprise, the watch in the crows nest calls out and you turn to see a ships boat sailing into the bay.
You reached the western coast of the isle several hours ago, sailing down on a southerly course as the shoreline was mostly high cliffs, finally turning to the east and finding a large bay, one with a beach you could make land on. However as you entered the bay you saw to your shock a fully manned pirate ship anchored in the bay. You recognize her as the Unbound Drake, a rising force in the Shackles under it's Captain Marnir Saltvig. Most recently gaining fame due to winning the Shackles regatta.
What is everyone doing?
"Now what?" Marnir grumbles to himself, his limbs aching even more with the climb back onto the Drake from the ship's boat. "ANY SAILS?" he calls back to the sailor in the nest, concerned about where a launch could have come from out here.
"A launch, captain," says Niobe. "Would you like for me to swim over and see? Or perhaps you have a farglass?"
"Oh yeah," Marnir replies tiredly, pulling his spyglass out of it's padded pocket on his bandolier. He extends the lenses and looks out towards the launch, trying to see if it's occupied.
The small boat turns and begins making it's way directly towards the Drake. It stops within shouting range and a loud female voice calls out "Ahoy to the ship! Parley?"
Observing her through spyglass, you can see that it is indeed a woman, and an quite attractive one to boot. She wears a battered tricorn hat, silk shirt, and black leather breeches. She has neither weapon nor armor, and she is waving a white handkerchief.
Yes that is you arriving to join the party. :)
Being somewhat bored with crafting potions for the crew, Jane is up in the nest as a small ship approaches. Seeing that it's not a threat, she smiles as the lady in the ship shouts up at them. Being too far away to hear anything, Jane slides down the rope.
"Greetings little dingy. What brings you out to the sea?
Not expecting an unarmoured and unarmed sailor in a boat in the middle of nowhere, Marnir is intrigued. "Aye, come aboard," he shouts to her. He turns to Kung and says quietly, "Get a rope ladder thrown down, and a welcoming party assembled. An armed one, ideally. Just in case."
"Okay!"
the woman rises into the air and glides forward, landing on the ship. "Hello there. My name is Madeline Herberne, but you can call me Maddie. Everyone does. Would you by chance be in need of security? My last ship was destroyed by the God's cursed Cheliaxians (no offense) and I just managed to escape in my fine little rowboat there."
Looking around at the assembled crew, Maddie adds "As you may have guessed, I am a spellcaster. I'm also a fair hand with a blade, and a well-trained sailor and navigator. All I ask is transportation, a fair share of the booty from anything I help fight, and room and board. Pretty good deal, right?"
Maddie looks around to gauge their reaction to her offer.
Kung was already quietly calling some of the deck hands to arms; he sends his most eagle-eyed sailor into the crow's nest. "Keep look out; maybe bigger ship waiting just out of sight. No surprises."
He joins the captain with a small, armed, welcoming crew.
"Sooo if you do security... and your last ship was destroyed and you barely escaped... well, that's not the highest recommendation," says a woman standing near the captain, dubiously.
With long, lustrous black hair and a heavy eelskin tunic surmounted by a green-and-blue robe embroidered with various aquatic motifs, she doesn't fit the typical image of a dirty pirate.
Hearing the captains orders, Jane returns to the crew nest to keep the lookout.
"Hey now, I'm just one woman. I can't fight boarders, cannons, and enemy spellcasters at the same time."
Marnir is mildly amused by Maddie's forthrightness and her quick response to Niobe's dig. "I've heard worse offers," he says nonchalantly. "I'm always looking to take on experienced hands, and with the problems we're having on our new island," he points over to the island to illustrate, "the more security the better. How about a trial? You help us clean out out island, for an appropriate share of the loot, and we'll see how it goes?"
"Seems like a much more reasonable offer than I'll get from the Chelaxians." she says with a smirk on her face. Spitting into her hand, she offers it up to shake on the deal.
You've rested and healed up. What are you doing now?
"So, what sort of problems are you having on the Island? What specifically are you looking to clean out?"