"How old is she?" Áine asks, looking over the t-rex with an appreciative eye.
"She's going on three." Zaine blinks and turns to Tulip. "Has it been that long?"
"I have a water resistant bag I can loan you for the trip to the Jenivere, if you think that would help." Áine offers.
"The tide's in our favor now, but I might change my mind if it turns on us."
"I fear I'd be far more of a hindrence than help," Jask says, "but I can stay and keep an eye on the..."
The older man's words are interrupted by a loud grown, "Who's half-assed idea was it to break out so much wine that I can't remember the party?" Gelik sits up, looks at the makeshift tent, "Where in Shelyn's bouncy bosom are we?"
Meanwhile, Zaine and Arcardia's comments drew Sasha's attention to the eastern walls. "Oh my..." she breaths out. The creature glides out from the cliff, diving towards the water on the far side of the reef, coming up with a fish in it's toothy maw. Based on the distance, you'd guess the creature is the size of a small human, although the bat-like wings have over a 10-foot wingspan.
After many long moments of watching the creature, Sasha blinks, looks guiltily at Tulip, "You are the prettiest biped I've ever met."
The still wet rocks exposed by the lower tide prove treacherous footing, the limu growing causing your feet to slip out whenever you don't pay close attention to your path. But with a little bit of care, you reach the wreck of the Jenivere dry and with only the lightest of scrapes.
Halfway to your goal, it is obvious that the ship will never sail again. A sharp ridge of rock near the sheer cliff pierced the ship's hull and prevented her from sliding whole into the sea, but only the stern seems to have survived the disaster. Although what remains is wedge between the cliff and the rocks, each wave shakes the wreck, promising that its watery grave has only been delayed not prevented.
"Who's half-assed idea was it to break out so much wine that I can't remember the party?" Gelik sits up, looks at the makeshift tent, "Where in Shelyn's bouncy bosom are we?"After many long moments of watching the creature, Sasha blinks, looks guiltily at Tulip, "You are the prettiest biped I've ever met."
Áine snorts at Gelik's remark, then begins to chuckle at Sasha's.
She smiles again at the red-head, "Dimorphodon, a smaller, poisonous" a sidelong glance towards Arcadia, "variant of a pterosaur, unless I'm mistaken."
Áine let's out a low whistle, "Looks like she's taken a beating. All that's left is the upper deck, captain's cabin, larder, supply room, brig and galley."
"...and sometin's knockin' and scratchin' that ain't the waves."
The older man's words are interrupted by a loud grown, "Who's half-assed idea was it to break out so much wine that I can't remember the party?" Gelik sits up, looks at the makeshift tent, "Where in Shelyn's bouncy bosom are we?"
"Right next to the river," Zaine tells him.
Meanwhile, Zaine and Arcardia's comments drew Sasha's attention to the eastern walls. "Oh my..." she breaths out. The creature glides out from the cliff, diving towards the water on the far side of the reef, coming up with a fish in it's toothy maw. Based on the distance, you'd guess the creature is the size of a small human, although the bat-like wings have over a 10-foot wingspan.
Zaine, the musket resting across his shoulders, pulls down on the butt, the weapon flips over, and is suddenly ready. He sights down the barrel for a moment, and then, just as quickly, flips the gun back onto his shoulder. "Hell of a thing," he says.
After many long moments of watching the creature, Sasha blinks, looks guiltily at Tulip, "You are the prettiest biped I've ever met."
"Good save," Zaine says wryly, patting Tulip's feathery flank.
Zaine makes the walk out to the Jenivere carefully, the musket raised up over his head. Tulip follows behind.
"Right next to the river,"
"Actually, Smuggler's Shiv. Did i forget to say that? At least I'm pretty sure it's Smuggler's Shiv. Best guess."
"Right next to the river,""Actually, Smuggler's Shiv. Did i forget to say that? At least I'm pretty sure it's Smuggler's Shiv. Best guess."
Gelik sits up fully looking around, "Where's the river? My tongue feels like its been the licking the backside of a tar devil doing the situps?"
After a moment, plaintively, "The river was a lie?" Voice breaking a bit on the last.
You've all heard whispers of Smuggler's Shiv - named for both its blade-shaped coastline and for its uncanny habit of wrecking ships that draw too near.
"Good save," Zaine says wryly, patting Tulip's feathery flank.
"Tulip is beautiful, deadly, and intelligent." Sasha says, "But she can't fly..."
A bright smile, "If we are stuck here for a while, I'll probably get to see one closer."
The island is mostly a lure for smuggler's eager to avoid Sargava's navy, as such the deadly island isn't high on anyone's priority.
You also remember rumors about a number of verdant plateaus supported by upwelling springs and rivers.
In one of your investigations, you can across a report of a Chelish settlement on an island off the Sargava coast (which matches the descriptions of the Shiv). There were blueprints of a lighthouse engineers erected on the southwest shore near where a planned settlement would go. You remember that plans for the settlement were abandoned, despite the expense that had gone into the lighthouse. There were no reasons given for the absence of the colony... which is unusual in and of itself.
Rumors abound that the shores of the Shiv are haunted by the ghosts and ghouls of the sailors who have perished on its jagged rocks and reefs. Several colonies have failed to take root on the island, which adds to its haunted reputation.
That said, the sheer number of wrecked ships have also led to rumors of gold-filled holds and a great treasure to be found amid the lost ships.
galley deck is more obvious. On the main deck you see the door to the captain's cabin is closed.
After a moment, plaintively, "The river was a lie?" Voice breaking a bit on the last.
"Not really," Áine says with a bit of a mischievous smirk, "there are rivers here. You just have to find them."
Áine approaches the captain's door, an arrow mocked and bow held in her left hand as she grabs the door handle with her right. She looks back at the others to make sure they're ready...just in case. A quick once over to notice any traps, then she pulls...
Áine opens the door with just a little bit of effort, the sound of the surf against the rocks increases. Where once were a bay of windows is now a jagged hole, the hungry sea having stolen most of the room's furnishings. All that remains in the large bed and the captain's desk, both bolted to the floor. All of the desks drawers remain, closed, most bolted and a few locked.
Áine looks over the locking mechanisms wary of needles {because you know...pirates ;)}, then attempts to open them.
While Áine pokes around, Zaine stays alert, ready to bring the musket to his shoulder and fire. Tulip lurks outside, occasionally watching the flying thing.
Tulip attacks.
Initiative:
Zaine
Tulip
Tulip calls out with a long chirp. At first you look to the sky where a pair of the winged dinosaurs play in the updrafts of the cliffs. But Tulip is far more focused on the broken deck of the ship. Which is where Sasha's attention ends.
Just as Áine finesse they lock into clicking open, there is a crash from the closest break in the deck, bullying its way from the gallery deck a eurypterid in the same weight class as the juvenile T-Rex slams onto the deck... headed straight for the 'easy' prey of the armored Tulip.
Seeing the Captain's footlocker sliding towards the deep, Áine moves to corale and if it's heavy, secure it.
You are sitting at the captain's table, all of the other passengers arrays around, each one on puppet strings. The cook - a jerky marionette - smiles with a black maw, two puncture wounds on his neck draining black bile. Looking down, the soup he ladles out undulates, tiny black vipers breaking the surface - striking out at you when you lean down to taste the meal.
As the huge crash and breaking of planks draws everyone's attention, most might miss a small footlocker sliding out from beneath the captain's bed and heading straight for the briny deep.
Zaine, already focused on the deck, quickly fires the heavy metal of his shot perforating the more than human-sized eurypterid and the deck beneath it. Then Tulip darts forward, her bite breaking the probably delicious creature in half.
Áine, no longer having to make a choice between keeping her companions safe and saving the possible loot, moves to corral the heavy box.
The upper drawers of the captain's desk is a trove of... things. Most probably not horribly useful for you to survive the harsh reality of being shipwrecked but may be useful in other ways: a drawer with only keys, about ten sets; a large middle drawer with sea charts; and finally the captain's log.
The lower drawer which Áine unlocked proves lucrative and useful: a fine bottle of brandy, a darkwood model of the Jenivere in a glass bottle, a coffer containing gold coins, and a long leather emergency satchel filled with a dozen potion vials.
The rescued footlocker has a leather satchel, the cords keeping it closed tied in a series of intricate knots. Whatever is inside is a bit bulky but not too heavy.
So few people know how to replicate them that it is normally obvious if anyone has opened the package.
The galley deck of the ship is awash with sea water, tiny crabs swarming in with the waves that rock the remains of the ship. The door of the supply room is swollen with water and the jam is damaged in such a way that you'll need to force it open. The door is also battered and scratched from the eurypterid's fury. And a trail of red blood seeps from beneath to color the seawater.
The larder on the other hand is easy to open (and your best bet for food to survive your shipwreck). You find 24 days worth of preserved rations on the upper shelves, safe from the invading sea water.
But you also find the body of the cook. Bloated with decomposition and body limp, a number of wounds on his neck and shoulders.
Struck by a thought, he looks up and reaches for a dagger. If he sees marionette strings, they're getting cut.
Faith twitches awake under the canvas. He sits still for a moment as he tries to work out where he is. Unable to put it together, he sits still for several moments and waits for the pounding in his head to recede.
With Áine's other questions, the half-elf just looks frustrated. "You're one of those literal thinkers aren't you?
The captain jerks to his feet hurray to drop to one knee, his mouth moving in an animated if silent soliloquy.
A gentle touch on Faith's arm, a somber older man, his manacled hands holding out a barely half full waterskin. "Go slow, don't want you waste any until we find a source of drinkable water."
From out of view behind you, "Ah, yes. The big man with the tiny knife." Louder,
From out of view behind you, "Ah, yes. The big man with the tiny knife." Louder,
From the water comes a reply: "I'm going to tell her you called her that!"
Zaine reloads his musket. "You're not still... oh, you are still hungry," he says to Tulip, who begins eating the lobster. "This is good. When we get back home, I'll be eating porridge, but no, my dinosaur only eats the finest of lobster."
Zaine begins loading the provisions into Tulip's saddlebags.
From the water comes a reply: "I'm going to tell her you called her that!"
From out of view behind you, "Ah, yes. The big man with the tiny knife." Louder,
"I'm skin and bones and barely a bite for your beastie. She's smarty enough to know I'd stock in her craw." The halfling calls back unworried.
As Tulip gets loaded up with rations, Sasha examines the stuck door. "I'm going to set if I can find a piece of metal we can use as a pry." She squats down to run the blood tinged water over her fingers. "If the cook is dead in there, I'm curious what's been bleeding in here." And she climbs up the hole in the deck.
"Good idea," Zaine says. "I'll watch for lobsters. Never thought I'd say that."
Faith takes the water skin carefully, and drinks from it. "Thank you," he says, passing it back.
"I can be a source of drinking water," Faith closes his eyes, winces, and opens them again. "But not today. I could purify a couple pints today, but that's about it."
"How many of us are there?"
"Why ruin perfectly good rotgut with food?"
With Áine's other questions, the half-elf just looks frustrated. "You're one of those literal thinkers aren't you?
"Maybe true," Áine admits, chewing on the jerky she had offered, "but in this case I'm just trying to find out if there's something we need to be worried about and if there's anything we can maybe help you out with."
"How many of us are there?"
"Ten maybe?" Áine questions her own responce, "That depends. How many people does Tulip count for?"
"There should not normally be ropes here." she remarks, looking over a rope tied to the surviving rails, then shrugs.
"Ten maybe?" Áine questions her own responce, "That depends. How many people does Tulip count for?"
"For provisions?" Zaine pauses. "Three. For votes in party policy?" Longer pause. "Also three."
Áine snorts derisively, but can't help but grin as well.
"Was Tulip the scaly one or the ship's cat? Either way, I can provide water for that many, but it's going to be all I do on the magical front."
Faith stands slowly, and stretches. "Good thing I am a man of many talents." He pats himself down, and starts to root through the piles until he finds his things.
"The cat was Mr. Smithers, a valiant mouser but not the beauty Tulip is." Sasha comments as she brings a load of wood near the quickly made shelter. Her fair skin reddening a bit in the harsh sun.
"There should not normally be ropes here." she remarks, looking over a rope tied to the surviving rails, then shrugs.
Should anyone actually go over to the railing, they see the rope leads to the broken remains of one of the ship's longboat teathered to the bulk of the Jenivere. Tied to the bow of the small boat thereally is a canvas wrapped bundle, quite large, similar to the one you found on the beach.
As the larder is emptied of everything other than the cook's body, Sasha returns. She's carrying the metal rod by the circle that allowed free passage of rope. She starts to force the metal into the distorted jam. She tus in the metal expiramentally. "Don't think this is a one person job. If Tulip could get a good grip she'd probably be strong enough, but not me."
"The cat was Mr. Smithers, a valiant mouser but not the beauty Tulip is." Sasha comments as she brings a load of wood near the quickly made shelter. Her fair skin reddening a bit in the harsh sun.
"Careful, you're going to give her a big head."
Should anyone actually go over to the railing, they see the rope leads to the broken remains of one of the ship's longboat teathered to the bulk of the Jenivere. Tied to the bow of the small boat thereally is a canvas wrapped bundle, quite large, similar to the one you found on the beach.
"I'll take that bait." Zaine slides the musket into the holster on Tulip's side, then climbs down into the boat to look at the bundle.
As the larder is emptied of everything other than the cook's body, Sasha returns. She's carrying the metal rod by the circle that allowed free passage of rope. She starts to force the metal into the distorted jam. She tus in the metal expiramentally. "Don't think this is a one person job. If Tulip could get a good grip she'd probably be strong enough, but not me."
"That's doable." Zaine pulls a coil of rope from Tulip's saddlebags, then ties it into a harness for Tulip. He throws the other end to Sasha. "Tie this to something. It should work."
"I'll take that bait." Zaine slides the musket into the holster on Tulip's side, then climbs down into the boat to look at the bundle.
Áine will wait to help bring up anything off of the broken rowboat. She scans the surroundings for additional large lobsters or other aggressive creatures.
"That's doable." Zaine pulls a coil of rope from Tulip's saddlebags, then ties it into a harness for Tulip. He throws the other end to Sasha. "Tie this to something. It should work."
Áine looks to assist as needed. (Like making sure the door is unlocked if possible.)
Faith puts on his armor and tucks his daggers about his person, muttering to himself "next time I'll just sleep in it".
He touches his tattoo and runs his hand through his beard.
"Lantern and lamp oil are gone, but everything else seems to have survived," he says.
"And I will too. What's the task? Wood? Scout? Bedtime story for Tulip?"
Jask smiles a bit, "Entertainment when we are all surviving together could be a great idea."
He shifts to check on the half-elf woman lying next to where Faith woke up, dapping her lips with a damp rag. "Most of the group is heading out," he motions to the reef off in the distance, where the masts of a ship stick up above the surf, "while the tide is lower enough to allow them to walk out."
"Probably going to find shark chum." Gelik says dryly.
Peeking into the wrapped bundle in the shifting remains of the longboat, Zaine sees the glass of a lantern tucked into the top. Another shift and the afternoon light reflects off of the metal of a pommel. The bundle feels heavy, but with Áine's help he is able to rescue it to the deck of the Jenivere.
Sasha promtly ties the rope in the eye of the rod, taking the time to make sure the rod is solidly jammed into the door. "Light pressure at first, I don't want it to rebound and hit Tulip." A pause, "Or myself for that matter."
With some help from Sasha keeping the makeshift lever in place, the door holds valiantly for a bit, but eventually gives when the frame breaks. Tucked on the far side of the supply room is the body of first mate Alton Devers in a large pool of blood. A quick examination of his body reveals two sets of wounds, the first clean puncture wounds and the second are inflamed sting marks.
The supply room is a wealth of tools and lumber that could be used to build a more secure shelter. Additionally there is block and tackle, three canvas sheets (identical to the ones found on the beach and in the broken longboat, two fishing nets, a grappling hook, two bullseye lanterns, 12 flasks of lantern oil, 150 feet of hemp rope, and five shovels.
Aerys gives you more than a little side-eye. "I've been in my cabin for..." she thinks for a moment, "at least more than a day. If something was going wrong, I'm not the person to be ringing the bell in warning."
Áine nods in agreement, "Understood. But there is something bothering you, whatever your 'Sea of Troubles' might be. If you don't feel like talking about them that's fine.", Áine takes another swig from her water skin, looking out over the black water.
This bundle contains Faith and Arcadia's missing gear items. There is also a familiar looking raiper and a few worn backpacks.
"Sasha. Think you mentioned a rapier. What about the rest of you? Any of this yours?"
After a moment, plaintively, "The river was a lie?" Voice breaking a bit on the last."Not really," Áine says with a bit of a mischievous smirk, "there are rivers here. You just have to find them."
"I've heard rumors of there being verdant plateaus here, supported by upwelling of springs. I believe some form rivers, but I've never actually been here before... so it's just a belief. My guess would be to the South... since we're like, to the North and all. Nevermind." she sighs.
"Sasha. Think you mentioned a rapier. What about the rest of you? Any of this yours?"
"If there is a lantern, about this big," Faith uses his hands to draw a small box around his head, "and some lamp oil, then yes."
"If there is a lantern, about this big," Faith uses his hands to draw a small box around his head, "and some lamp oil, then yes."
"There is," Zaine says. "And what looks like an alchemist's lab, among other things."
It takes a number of trips over the slippery rocks to bring back the haul of equipment that was recovered from the Jenivere, but working together you are able to beat the turning of the tide... mostly. Once that is done, you have only an hour of two of sunlight to explore the Shiv near the small beach on which you were deposited.
As you finish up, you see Jask helping Aeryn to her feet. She stands, sways, bolts off to the side to add the slight contents of her stomach to the sand.
You aren't able to range very far before you lose the light but you are able to climb up to the jungle bordering your beach. You don't find any of the promised spring or rivers in easy reach of your beach, but the jungle is heavy with plant and animal life. Climbing a prominade, you find that your beach is on the northern part of the Shiv - on the hook of the knife. Sasha's attention is drawn to the sky time and time again as a number of the winged dimorphodons glide overhead.
Getting to the top of a cliff on the north side, you see another shipwreck (much older than the Jenivere on a small island north east of your small beach.
Around sunset, the final passengers of the Jenivere joins the world of the living. Ishirou is able to answer questions, but he seems to be having trouble focusing.
The early part of the night is quiet. However, just after midnight, nearly everyone is woken by the heavy sound of leather wings pounding in the night above the beach.
As only an hour or two of sunlight doesn't leave much time for hunting, Zaine busies himself with the shelter. If possible, he'll take 10 on a Survival check (for a whopping 16) to get something going. All he's looking for is a lofted floor to sleep on and an angled roof of the sailcloth for a roof, placed into the teeth of the wind.
Zaine's soft snoring gets cut off suddenly as he sits upright, reaching for his musket.
Faith looks for something broken that he might magically Mend. Looks up at the sky, out to the horizon, back to the sea.
"Probably not enough light for fishing," he says sadly. He will assist Zaine in putting up the shelter.
Day two's spells (post-prayer) will be 4 Create Water and 3 To Be Determined.
Can I convert a To Be Determined spell to a Cure Light Wounds as I can with a locked-in spell? My assumption is yes.
"Probably not enough light for fishing," he says sadly. He will assist Zaine in putting up the shelter.
Zaine makes amiable smalltalk. "So, where are you from?"
"Well folks, I have no idea how long we'll actually be staying here, but one of our most important necessities is going to be drinkable water. If we make this right, it'll give us something to fall back on if we don't find another source." Áine sketches out what she wants done in the sand. "Gelik, Aerys? If you're up to it, can you dig a pit inside of this line and as deep as the bottom of this stick? In the middle, we'll have a raised section with a bowl in it. I'll finish it up with some of the supplies we brought back over once I get back." She turns to the red headed half elf, "Sasha, do you mind if we take Jask's advice and you be my buddy for a couple hours and see if we can't scare up some things in the area?"
Áine will finish up the desalination pit after she gets back, taking 20 for 28 and using some of the water proof sail cloth and tarp to cover the pit and to catch the condensation in the bowl. She will also see what she can do Assist with the shelter after.
Áine grabs her bow and a quiver and looks towards the sound of large wings as she nocks an arrow.
Zaine makes amiable smalltalk. "So, where are you from?"
"Up north. Gonna burn like crazy in the sun. Shoulda bought a hat. Been slowly working my way south for a while. What about you and Tulip?"
Faith focuses on the task at hand. He double-checks each joint and attachment.
After returning from foraging and helping out where she can, Áine sits by the fire and takes out the Maps and begins to study them. She will read the Captain's Log later.
Night 0: Calm and breezes from the ocean.
Day 1: Cool morning, downpour in the late morning heralded only by sudden increase in humidity, intense heat following the downpour followed by a short period where is cools off enough to get something down, only be be bombarded by another downpour.
Night 1: The heavy rain continues on for a few hours of the evening, but clears up by midnight.
Day 2: The morning is calm, cool and pleasant. At mid-day the island will again become unbearably hot, until the heat is broken by a rainstorm. Around three pm the rain will stop but humidity will stay.
Faith stands slowly, and stretches. "Good thing I am a man of many talents." He pats himself down, and starts to root through the piles until he finds his things.
Jask smiles with relief, "I'm glad." A shrug, "If I had my tools, I too would be able to turn the sea water clean, but they were confisgated before my travels on the boat."
Gelik snorts, "Wouldn't call being trussed up in the brig traveling." The halfling looks at the dark-skinned man with curiosity, "What did you do in Coretyn to get yourself the luxury treatment?"
Jask's lips thin, his voice short, "I have done nothing illegal, in Coretyn or Sargava."
"Up north. Gonna burn like crazy in the sun. Shoulda bought a hat. Been slowly working my way south for a while. What about you and Tulip?"
Now that he is down to one patient, Jask tries to help, but with his shackled hands he is pretty much just holding things in place for either Zaine or Faith. He does look interested in the conversation though.
"Gelik, Aerys? If you're up to it, can you dig a pit inside of this line and as deep as the bottom of this stick? In the middle, we'll have a raised section with a bowl in it. I'll finish it up with some of the supplies we brought back over once I get back."
Aerys pulls herself up with a little effort, her dark armor just looking sweat inducing, "Do we have anything decent to drink after the hard labor?" the half-elf asks.
Gelik grabs the shovel, raising an eyebrow at the human-sized implement - or maybe at the fact it is so-very-pedestrian. He uses a little magic to clear all of the sand from his noble's clothes, "This is going to be hell on my manicure." He looks at Aerys hands with a shake of his head, "For those of us who care about our appearance."
Aerys jaw grows tight and her hands curl around the heft of the shovel.
She turns to the red headedhalf elfhuman, "Sasha, do you mind if we take Jask's advice and you be my buddy for a couple hours and see if we can't scare up some things in the area?"
Sasha, her recovered rapier at her waist, looks up from the array of things that were found in the captain's cabin, fingers tracing one of the complicated knots on the bag found in the footlocker. She smiles, "Sure."
More to herself, "Maybe get an idea where the dimorphs are nesting."
It is a heavy wingbeat, but it cuts off as it gets close, as if whatever caused the sound is gliding high above, watching what is illuminated by the remains of the fire. After a time, a long time if one is holding their breath, the wingbeats sound again. Moving away.
Green eyes wide, Sasha whispers, "That... sounded bigger than the dimorphodons we saw..."
Jask smiles with relief, "I'm glad." A shrug, "If I had my tools, I too would be able to turn the sea water clean, but they were confiscated before my travels on the boat."
Absent-minded, as Faith is digging through things, "What tools are those?"
Aerys pulls herself up with a little effort, her dark armor just looking sweat inducing, "Do we have anything decent to drink after the hard labor?" the half-elf asks.
"I am going to turn some sea water into ale before bedding down," Faith says. "Can't make much, but I will share."
Faith pauses for a minute, rubs his tattoo, casts a spell. "Cool morning, then it will rain hard and get hot, cool down briefly, rain hard, clear up by midnight. Next day will be another cool morning until mid-day, then hot and rainstorm."
"So we should plan on early work with scheduled breaks. Or expect to get wet."
"Plenty of time to be scared in the morning." Faith rolls over and goes back to sleep.
"This is going to be hell on my manicure." He looks at Aerys hands with a shake of his head, "For those of us who care about our appearance."
Aerys jaw grows tight and her hands curl around the heft of the shovel.
"Gelik. Try to be nice, please. We all have to try to live together and it'll be a lot easier if we aren't at each other's throats." Āine comments over shoulder as she and Sasha head out.
Áine joins Sasha near the fire and anyone else interested to see what might be in the bag with the complicated knots.
Seeing the winged creatures soaring overhead, "Looks like to the South then, huh?"
Faith pauses for a minute, rubs his tattoo, casts a spell."Cool morning, then it will rain hard and get hot, cool down briefly, rain hard, clear up by midnight. Next day will be another cool morning until mid-day, then hot and rainstorm."
"So we should plan on early work with scheduled breaks. Or expect to get wet."
Āine smiles broadly, "Okay good. That should solve our short term water problem then. Shouldn't need to worry about the Water Creation spells for tomorrow." she flashes the Northman a grin. "The top tarp on the desalination system should hold a good deal of water, but in case something goes wrong we should put out a bunch of things that can be used to collect water too." she sets about creating additional rain protection for the camp fire.
Aerys takes a swig of whatever is in her flask, watching the dark water in silence. But with an intensity that it seems there is a whole monologue in the silence.
Áine does not pry further, just stares off over the Waters in companionable silence.
"Up north. Gonna burn like crazy in the sun. Shoulda bought a hat. Been slowly working my way south for a while. What about you and Tulip?"
"All over. Taldor originally." Zaine nods at the mention of a hat, the t-rex feather in his bobbing.
Faith pauses for a minute, rubs his tattoo, casts a spell. "Cool morning, then it will rain hard and get hot, cool down briefly, rain hard, clear up by midnight. Next day will be another cool morning until mid-day, then hot and rainstorm."
At the mention of rain, Zaine makes a how could I be so stupid gesture and begins stringing up a tarp, making at least part of the shelter waterproof. Then he grabs another, to store his paper cartridges.
"Hope no one minds, but if my powder gets wet, I'm just some guy with a whip and a t-rex. Makes me popular at parties, but not much use in the jungle."
Absent-minded, as Faith is digging through things, "What tools are those?"
Jask starts to raise one hand, taking a deep breath when the other one starts to follow, he touches his right cheek (covered only with a salt and pepper beard), "Like yours, only easier for people to take away." He smiles, "Although my patron is also more common than yours."
Aerys pulls herself up with a little effort, her dark armor just looking sweat inducing, "Do we have anything decent to drink after the hard labor?" the half-elf asks."I am going to turn some sea water into ale before bedding down," Faith says. "Can't make much, but I will share."
She tips her black tricorn at Faith, "A man who knows how to promise reward in exchange for work."
"Gelik. Try to be nice, please. We all have to try to live together and it'll be a lot easier if we aren't at each other's throats." Āine comments over shoulder as she and Sasha head out.
Gelik totally waits for Áine to be out of sight in the jungle, then proceeds to mock a hand-puppet Áine while helping with the digging. Which he does seem to put effort into, despite the wrong-sized tools.
Áine joins Sasha near the fire and anyone else interested to see what might be in the bag with the complicated knots.
"I'm not sure if I should open it. Looks like it might be the binding for some type of warding." Sasha shrugs, "At least that's what I'd guess if I came across something like it at home."
"Hope no one minds, but if my powder gets wet, I'm just some guy with a whip and a t-rex. Makes me popular at parties, but not much use in the jungle."
As Zaine is finishing up his 'keep things absolutely dry in a deluge' Aerys touches him lightly on his shoulder. Looking absolutely uncomfortable, she holds up a leather-bound package which looks to have a journal and many loose leaf pages. Mumbling in the direction of her shoes (quite nice boots with big silver buckles), "It isn't survival like your gear, but is there room for these in there?"
As Faith predicted, the day dawn cool and sunny. A bit after sunrise, you get treated to a pack of dimorphodon's gliding over the water from west to east. Among the larger animals you see one smaller bird just figuring out how to fly, often dipping lower even when not intended to fish in the sea.
"All over. Taldor originally." Zaine nods at the mention of a hat, the t-rex feather in his bobbing.
"Never made it out to Taldor. Skirted Cheliax, but in the other direction. Cheliax is a final destination for people like me, and I'm in no hurry to reach my final destination. Is that Tulip's feather in your hat?"
"Okay, no Create Water."
"Purifying is easier anyway. Not sure what I was thinking."
Faith watches Zaine wrap up his gunpowder. "How do you dry that out if it gets wet?"
As people are looking into the bag with the complicated knots, Faith looks through the other tools and lumber and whatnot salvaged from the wreck of the Jenivere.
"Hey old timer," he calls out to Jask. "Want to see if any of these keys fit your bracelets?"
Faith is up early, praying.
"Hey old timer," he calls out to Jask. "Want to see if any of these keys fit your bracelets?"
Áine's palm hits her forehead with an audible "paf" and a "why the heck didn't I think of that" expression.
"It isn't survival like your gear, but is there room for these in there?"
"If not, I have a water-resistant bag with some extra space you're welcome too." Áine mentions in passing.
"I'm not sure if I should open it. Looks like it might be the binding for some type of warding." Sasha shrugs, "At least that's what I'd guess if I came across something like it at home."
Áine sighs, looks around at the others, "If it's a magic trap, I can't open it without it going off." she studies the area. "If you guys want me to try it anyway, i can do it over there." she motions to an open area away from the others. "I don't mind taking the risk, but if it is a magical trap there's a decent chance whatever's inside will be destroyed."
Áine sighs, looks around at the others, "If it's a magic trap, I can't open it without it going off." she studies the area. "If you guys want me to try it anyway, i can do it over there." she motions to an open area away from the others. "I don't mind taking the risk, but if it is a magical trap there's a decent chance whatever's inside will be destroyed."
Faith raises his hand. "I can check that thing to see if it's magic."
"Then at least we'll know."
Faith walks over near Áine and does the Detect Magic thing.
Āine smiles and waits expectantly.
Jask comes over at Faith's call, not looking hopeful but optimistic enough to try. And the first few keys don't come close to fitting the lock. About three quarters through the bunch one fits but doesn't turn. With only two keys left, another key fits the lock.
And this time it does turn, freeing Jask from his bonds. The older man grins widely, white teeth flashing in the light of the setting sun, he stretches his arms wide, relishing the movement. Although the skin that had been under the manacles is raw from the long imprionsment, he doesn't seem to pay it mind.
He clasps Faith's shoulder, "I pray that I'll never have to return the favor."
Turning to the rest of the group, it seems as if years have slipped off the older man, despite the lines carving his face. "Anyone want to hear ghost tales of the shipwrecks of Smuggler's Shiv?"