Tessrimea Niessomat |
Tess stops at the end of the pier near the shore, and turns when she hears Mario. "They all can't be right," she smiles and slides back toward everyone.
"But we do need to agree on a plan. And there is the matter of all this gold. Do we just leave it hear on the pier? Does it belong to us now? How do we decide what we are going to do?"
Lady Fira Falinecci |
"First, it doesn't take an arch wizard to paddle, sailing with sheets out on the open ocean, yeah training needed, paddling around the coast with makeshift oars or even hands, not so much. Second, this was a singleman's place. Whatever is down that path is worth checking out later, possibly a shrine, garden, or chicken pens, but is very unlikely to be weapons or tools. It might be a stream but it is easiest finding one as it dumps out on the coast. Along the coastline is where we would find structures, ports, places with people, weapons, and/or tools. You want to solve your curiousity first, fine, there may even be something interesting, but I certainly don't place curiousity at the top of my priority list right now." Lady Fira seems exasperated and fervently hopes that the people who made this place aren't the one in a billion people who actually had enough paranoia to avoid all common sense and keep tools, weapons, and useful stuff hidden away from their main household. Cause that would just ruin her nice little speech full of logic and analysis of what 99% of peopleactually do.
If she still gets outvoted (very likely at this point after being so irritatingly sensical) she will be sure to tie up the boat so it doesnt drift and will at least close the chest.
Sasithorn Loom |
"Lady Fira, we are ALL in agreement that weapons and tools are our priority - I believe our best chance to find them is down that path. As it stands, we have no idea what else we'll find by sailing around the island, and what's worse, even if we can steer and propel this vessel, we have no idea how seaworthy it is and no way to repair it if it's in any way wanting, which, given that we found it submerged and in otherwise terrible condition, it probably is. As I said, this was a pirate haven - a dragon's lair, as it were, from which raids were planned and launched and the booty hoarded. We probably don't WANT to meet locals, and furthermore, such locals would have tried to conceal the bulk of their operations, and specifically NOT place them anywhere most passersby could see them, with the necessary exception of their launch points.
Even if this path doesn't lead to much, it is the option that for the time being requires the least effort and poses the least risk. At the very least, we might find the tools Mario needs to repair the ship, since they don't appear to be here. As a matter of fact, they must be - whoever's boat this was, they had to have upkeep tools of their own, especially since this was a singleman's place. These huts look pretty residential, but there's nobody and almost nothing in them, yet the boat's still here, so where else could they be?"
Knowledge (Geography) to see how dangerous the local waters are - we've already experienced one shipwreck somewhere around here.
Knowledge (Geography): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Sasithorn swivels to face Tessrimea.
"As for the gold, it's been safe enough here for long enough. Let it remain here, perhaps concealed a bit better than when we found it."
He deliberately omits mentioning its Eysterlun origin, since for the time being, he himself is unsure what that means he would want to do with it.
Margie Toolwoad |
"My mother used to tell terrible stories about the island called Jackal's Claw, and a pirate captain named Blood Drinking Dan. She would entertain the men who came..."
Henrietta stops suddenly, and then after her mouth hangs open for a moment she continues, changing the subject.
“What should we do with the gold? Do you really think it’s real, solid gold? It must be worth a fortune. Should we try to drag the chest up and hide it somewhere on the beach?”
She walks a few paces down the pier toward the ocean and holds her arms tightly against her body. She turns, wraps her arms around her shoulders and looks toward lady Fira with a sad, frightened expression, “I don’t want to go back out on the water in a boat we can’t, or don’t know how to sail, but if you think it is our best chance, My Lady, I’ll follow you.”
Sasithorn Loom |
Sasithorn stands at the shoreline, looks out at the water, and sighs. "The problem is: It isn't. These waters in general are choked with reefs. In hindsight, it's a miracle we got to this island at all. I'm not opposed to making use of this boat on principle, we might as well call it ours for what good that does, but for the time being it's simply a bad idea.
As for the gold, yes: 99% pure. And where better to bury treasure than Jackal's Claw? YAAAR!"
Perception check to spot a good nearby place to hide the treasure, whether on the boat, the buildings on the pier, or the beach or treeline.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Lady Fira Falinecci |
"I am not suggesting to use this boat to leave the island, which renders both of your concerns moot. Reefs grow further out and become a problem trying to leave or approach an island from the open ocean. And paddling around 100' off shore doesn't really require sailing. As I said I'm just voicing the logical and sensical option."
Now that I think of it, how many of us are nobles?
Sasithorn Loom |
"Yes, Lady Fira, I understood your plan, and I explained precisely why following the trail is, for the time being, more logical and sensible. There is something down that trail, and it is easier and safer to start there, assuming it doesn't go on too long, which I doubt. The fact that this pier is here almost certainly means there's more attached to it."
I'm still a noble. It's in my biography. Serving as a foreign emissary is one of the things nobles do.
Sasithorn Loom |
Sasithorn points under the pier, where the beach meets the water. "Under the pier. We needn't worry about it being swept away except under extreme conditions, but in case of such conditions, I recommend we weigh it down some more and secure it with something, if possible."
Does the boat have any ropes on it? Failing that, anything handy in the huts?
Lady Fira Falinecci |
Lady Fira laughs at Sasithorn's last comment. "Obviously you got the light end. Did you forget what it took to get that out of the boat? The worst we have to worry about beyond someone else finding it is it getting buried by the surf, which would remain easy for us to find. We will just agree to disagree on that minor point, however lets just get it over with, alright?"
Terquem |
I am a big fan of declarative statements like, “I help stash the chest under the pier”.
There were a few pieces of robe still attached to the sunken boat, and in a while, with everyone helping, the chest is dragged and positioned under the pier, with a few short ropes used to tie it to the support pillars of the pier itself.
It is now mid day, and you can begin you journey inland along the path. Do you want to establish a “Marching Order”?
Every character receives 400 experience points
Terquem |
You follow a trail, not more than ten feet wide, through the jungle. At times the trees and plants grow so close as to almost close of the trail, but then it opens again and you begin to suspect that someone is maintaining this trail regularly.
After walking for just over three hundred feet you are surprised when the trail becomes a road, twenty feet wide and heading straight toward the west. The road is made from laid bricks of backed brown clay.
There are no other signs of civilization, only this road, but it is flat and clear and after a little more than a mile you come to a fork in the road. It seems that the road you are following continues and begins a slow curve to the southwest, while on the right there is another road going off due north. This other road is narrower, being only about fifteen feet wide but it is also paved with bricks.
The trees are very tall here and it is impossible to see the volcano, but you are sure it is to the southwest.
It is about two hours past mid day
Sasithorn Loom |
Sasithorn gestures toward the narrower, brick-paved road.
Terquem |
You follow this narrow road through the dense vegetation. After a while you begin to notice small areas off of the road, to either side of the road, where trees have been cleared. These areas are no more than a few dozen yards across, and show signs of ground cover growing back after what was obviously a deliberate cutting and clearing act.
Then just a bit farther down the road you begin to see these areas less and less, and they are replaced by a new phenomenon. You begin to find short paths, only a few feet long that looks as though they have been burnt into the forest. The signs of damage from small seemingly contained fires grows until you finally come to a place where the road ends (you estimate you have been walking the road for about four miles, and it has been going in a mostly north by northwest direction).
The road ends at a clearing that was at one time some kind of village. You see the remains of five large wooden buildings, all having been burned almost completely to the ground. You also see several corpses scattered around the ruins.
It is almost sunset, the sun is out of sight and low in the western sky.
Terquem |
Sasithorn Loom |
Sasithorn tries to gauge the baboons' intentions.
Intuition: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Terquem |
The thick black lines are partial walls, burnt out buildings. The Baboons look unnatural, smoke rises from their backs, their eyes glow a dull red and when they open their mouths steam escapes. The seem to be watching you and are not moving around.
Sasithorn Loom |
"Watch yourselves, don't make any sudden or aggressive moves, and they might reciprocate."
Cautious Perception check to look around the area for anything interesting, whether clues or loot, without getting too close to the baboons.
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Terquem |
Day 1, sunset
Most of the Baboons remain where they are, watching you intently as you move. But one of the Baboons moves about darting from rock to rock. All of them remain silent, not making a sound.
You could elect to roll initiative, now, or continue to explore and wait to see what the Baboons will do next
Sasithorn Loom |
Sasithorn backs out with the rest.
Knowledge (Planes) check to appraise these strange baboons.
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Terquem |
Day 1, night is approaching
You all move slowly backwards always keeping your faces toward the Baboons, and this seems to work as the further you get away from them the more they seem to relax and then begin to move around the ruins as if you were never there.
Once you have backed up far enough that you can almost not see them anymore, you feel it is safe to turn around and head back down the road going south.
But the night comes on quickly as the sun has dropped below the tree line and the long shadows grow. The wind begins to pick up, and clouds roll across the sky. There is the unmistakable feeling of a heavy rain storm coming soon. You are tired, but not hungry, have no shelter and it will be very dark soon.
You come upon one of the clearings you passed earlier, on the side of the road, and stop when Henrietta speaks in a soft, exhausted voice.