Bryson bites into the crab's shell to get at is soft meat underneath.
Bite: gtr magic fang
Bite: gtr magic fang
Note adjusted health to account for DR.
Sunny gasps and wriggles as Super Welt's magic sooths some of her feirce and brutal pincering.
To no avail as the great claw pinces her tightly still.
Round 5
Claw2 vs Sunny: 1d20+10⇒(18)+10=28 for a possible 2d8+5⇒(8,1)+5=14 damage.
"Owch."
Burian sloshes through the shallow water toward the crab squishing Sunny. Once within range, he lashes out with his hair.
Ghirrak brutally hammers away at the giant crab, unleashing blow after blow, in an attempt to fell the massive crustacean.
Round 5 completed______________________
Sunny gasps and wriggles as Super Welt's magic sooths some of her feirce and brutal pincering.
To no avail as the great claw pinces her tightly still.
Bryson bites into the crab's shell to get at is soft meat underneath.
Burian sloshes through the shallow water toward the crab squishing Sunny. Once within range, he lashes out with his hair.
Ghirrak brutally hammers away at the giant crab, unleashing blow after blow, in an attempt to fell the massive crustacean.
The Battle is Over.
Bryson-Shark continues to bite into the crab's carcass like a madman. His body is partially buried inside of it before he realizes that the crab isn't fighting back.
"Well, that settles getting everyone fed for the next day or so." Ghirrak says, dragging parts of the massive crab up onto the stone walkway. "How is everyone?"
"How is everyone?"
Sunny paddles slowly to the causeways edge.
"I iz bin squisheded." She winces as she gently feels the bruises on her tanned self. Though she does offer her freinds a smile.
"But, like Master Ghirrak be sayin'. Vittles be a plenty." She looks at the mess and chews a lip thoughtfully.
"Lest ways fer a while..."
Burian draws his wand and approaches Sunny.
"Allow me..."
Sunny sighs with gratitude as Burian's ministrations wash over her bruised and pincered self.
Offering a thankful hug in gratitude.
(^_^)
"Not that I object to the food, but we might want to get across the water before scavengers turn up to make our lives difficult again," Marius noted. For now, at least, the way was clear. He wasn't sure how long it would remain that way.
While Bryson took some time to recover himself, the rest of the officers went back and brought the rest of the passengers forward to the exit. They were all properly amazed at the pristine waters (now fouled by crab blood) and pure white sands of the beach across the lagoon when guided by Sunny.
A quick scouting of the beach revealed no sign of people or predators, and as Ghirrak pointed out, several days worth of crab meat was cooked over driftwood fires.
While Bryson took some time to recover himself, the rest of the officers went back and brought the rest of the passengers forward to the exit. They were all properly amazed at the pristine waters (now fouled by crab blood) and pure white sands of the beach across the lagoon when guided by Sunny.
A quick scouting of the beach revealed no sign of people or predators, and as Ghirrak pointed out, several days worth of crab meat was cooked over driftwood fires.
Sunny puts on a freindly, cheery face and helps folks get away from the dark, nasty caves. Happily once again enjoying the sunshine and sea air. (^_^)
Before they rest for the night, Bryson will come up to Ghirrak. "This place is more peaceful than we've had since we left the last beach. It might be good to rest here for an extra day to help ever'one git their strength back. Don't worry. If we stay, ah'll keep vigil."
Before they rest for the night, Bryson will come up to Ghirrak. "This place is more peaceful than we've had since we left the last beach. It might be good to rest here for an extra day to help ever'one git their strength back. Don't worry. If we stay, ah'll keep vigil."
+Skips past*
Wonders what Master Bryson shuold want with this 'Vergil' fellow that he needs 'Keepin'..... *Shrugs*
Continues to skip about helping peoples... Keeping an eye out for Vergil.
Burian lobs a bead onto the beach.. in a puff of smoke, it becomes a campfire. He begins pulling his cooking kit from his haversack, and sets up a cooking rack above the flame.
Welt sniffs at the nearest crab.. ".. smells alright...", then returns to Burian's side, and curls up. ".. wake me when it's ready... please don't over-spice.."
Nodding, Ghirrak turns to address the assembled survivors. "Given the relative safety now that the crabs have been dealt with, and the access to food and water, we'll camp here a few days, to let everyone feel fully up to it before we move on" the Captain advises.
"It's been rough going so far, enjoy the rest."
Nodding, Ghirrak turns to address the assembled survivors. "Given the relative safety now that the crabs have been dealt with, and the access to food and water, we'll camp here a few days, to let everyone feel fully up to it before we move on" the Captain advises.
"It's been rough going so far, enjoy the rest."
Sunny grins happily at the news that the group is stopping for a while.
Innitially her enthusiasm is slowed by the after effects of her 'Pincering'. Though as time goes by ans with the helpful mistrations of her freinds, she's soon back to her bright, cheery and bouncy self. (^_^)
She does her best to help when ever and whre ever she can.
Using her skills to help make some basic items such as light javelins from local timbre and rocks or wildlife (Giant sea urchins if any be about)
When it comes time to relax, Sunny does offer to help people improve their swimming skills.
For herself? She does take time to simply swim about and look about at things near the shore.
(^_^)
Bryson will rest for most of the day so he can be more alert to watch over the group at night. Using Take 10 Perception is 23 and Survival is 29.
If needed while here, he'll continue to cast Communal Endure Elements to help keep everyone from becoming fatigued or stricken with heatstroke or whatever.
He'll continue to cast Grove of Respite each night to make their rest as good as he can.
And don't forget purify food and drink to keep people from getting sick.
Unless someone presses, he'll try to have only limited contact with anyone but the PCs, Prof. Urol, or Annie.
For his part, Marius consciously made an effort to relax and decompress a little. This consisted largely of recreational swimming and bringing his journal up to date with notes and sketches. Given his suspicion that they were being followed, there were limits to how much he would let his guard down, but there was no sense in trying to maintain a state of hyper-vigilance either.
He also took the time to take stock of and check over the group's supplies and gear, casting simple mending spells as needed. His own abilities to make up for gear which they simply didn't have were limited, but he could at least consult with others about whether they could improvise something using local resources.
Morale was another concern - he surely wasn't the only one feeling the strain. Circulating among the group and checking in with people at least gave him a sense of how they were getting on.
The protected beach is certainly idyllic, with trees to provide shade and firewood, and plenty of crab meat for everyone, you are able to rest comfortably.
Sunny finds a giant sea urchin and is able to extract a number of spines that are easily turned into spears for the castaways.
Even fresh water is not a problem, as in the afternoon there is a tropical downpour that is able to easily overfill every container you have, and serve as a warm shower as well.
With nightfall however, came the scavengers.
Hardly anyone is able to sleep with the roaring, screeching and slurping coming from the bay where the giant crabs were killed.
After a hasty vote in the morning, the castaways eagerly gather up their belongings and start south along the cliff face, towards your ultimate destination, Farshore.
Urol Forol is excited to discover a winding pathway carved into the cliff face. At times it takes you nearly 100 feet above the waters below, and at other times it descends back to sea level to traverse stretches of rocky beach.
"It was carved by the Olmen more than a thousand years ago!" Breathed Professor Forol.
Time and erosion have taken their toll on this once-majestic seaside byway. In places it has eroded to less than ten feet in width, although it's never narrow enough that the party and a nervous horse can't navigate it in relative safety.
As you travel the ancient highway, the castaways have to travel single file. Where are you guys relative to the direction of travel?
Bryson will tell Ghirrak "It might be the evil gettin' to my brain, but ah think we being watched. Maybe even followed. Don't know by what. But ah can sense it out there."
Bryson will take advantage of his wings and patrol around the group. He'll generally stay to the front and/or above in the case of the high trail. In any case, he'll stay within about 100' of the group.
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Sunny does her best to help people cross any high and narrow ledges.
After Bryson's warning, Ghirrak suggests Sunny head toward the front with Bryson, both to aid the crew along the way, and to be prepared for anything they might encounter along the way. He opts to bring up the rear, ensuring that he would be between anything following them, and the rest of the crew, while being quick enough to advance to the front if needed.
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After Bryson's warning, Ghirrak suggests Sunny head toward the front with Bryson, both to aid the crew along the way, and to be prepared for anything they might encounter along the way.
*Bounces and salutes the Captain* (^_^)
Sunny skips along in the lead of the column.
Marius took up a position in the middle of the group, from which he could hopefully move forward or back relatively quickly and easily if needed. The condition of the group was something of a worry to him. He'd been concerned at their mental state, but their physical state could also go downhill. For now, everyone was willing and able to push on, but he worried that wouldn't last forever.
Everyone is happy to be finally out of the darkened tunnels, and the next few days travelling the ancient highway are even kind of pleasant.
Despite the hot weather, there is usually some kind of onshore breeze to keep it reasonable. Also despite the new collection of sunburns everyone is sporting, retreating into the shade of the jungle interior is discouraged by the mankilling 120 deg heat with 100% humidity.
Professor Forol is in his element, flitting from exotic flower to birds nests in the cliffs to flying lizards that hiss and fly away, to monkeys and their projectiles... Everything is food for the scholar and he is busy in the evenings just writing everything down in his journal.
Tavey Nask is his constant companion in crime; recklessly shinnying up trees, jumping crevasses and dangling down on ropes to access what the professor cannot.
The noble Avner Lord Meravanchi while walking along slowly draws a cluster of the castaways about him, showing his political skill and magnetic charm to gather what might in the future turn into a faction.
Bonden strode along, stolid as usual. His face slowly turning red under the strong sunlight.
Booker moped along, clearly uncomfortable without a deck under his feet. He looked up at the unfamiliar stars at night and seemed both admiring and at a loss.
Amella too moped along, but she was increasingly irritated at Professor Forol's constant stops and chatter about useless things. She fell back along the trail until she was travelling with Avners little group.
Skald seemed properly alert, the jungle terrain seeming to favor him.
But for the ships partners, there was no relaxation. They KNEW something was out there, just out of sight. Something supernaturally intelligent, evil and cunning.
Somehow last night one of the canvas satchels containing a significant part of the food for the castaways went missing, and even alert to the possibility of something sneaking into camp wasn't enough to stop it.
And in the morning...
There were a dozen seagull carcasses arranged just outside your camp, tied down onto a crude x shaped frame. Nobody noticed them until dawns light revealed them as you had your morning meal.
You can tell as there were quiet whispers amongst the castaways that they were becoming spooked.
Sunny happily skips along.
Her normal atire quite suited to the environment.
"Iz jus' like home." Is her exuberant, cheery reply/explanation. (^_^)
Sunny does her best to help Professor Forol in learning all about Island life.
Joining in with Tavey to help gather interesting and educational things for peoples to learn about.
She's always quick to help any others who might be not so adapted to the local climate.
By fashioning hats and bonnets out of jungle fronds etc for people to wear.
(^_^)
That something/somepeoples were skittering about in the bushes doesn't initially alarm Sunny. The display of deceased sea gulls though dampens her appreciation for 'Live and let live'.
Setting up simple 'Spring traps' of leaves covered in sticky sap and (If she can find any) honey.
"How much more time is we spendin' in'a forest?" She asks those more knowledgable about where the group is actually going.
"Those gulls were killed days ago, blunt force, powerful too." Ghirrak informs the other officers after examining the eerie message.
He keeps a sharp eye open for any sign of their stalker or any other dangers, while moving back and forth through the procession to pay attention to little details of the march to refuge.
"Whatever it is, it's smart. Wants us to feel fear before it strikes. We'll be gittin' a visitor tonight or tomorrow night fa'sure."
Stripped down to his body wrap and trousers, Burian's hair weaves into a parasol as they travel under the hot sun.
In the morning after breakfast he spends time with Welt. After scritches and fur brushing, they perform an arcane ritual. Dark mottled mist rises in a circle. Welt becomes partially insubstantial.. merging with the mist. Burian's eyes turn dark - a pinhole light like a distant star within as he communes with the unfathomable cosmos.
"Is this stalking creature indigenous to the area?"
"Will it cease to stalk us as we continue our journey - is it simply territorial?"
"Does it possess language to allow us to communicate with it?"
"Are there more than one of these creature here?"
"If we.. ship partners enter the woods to face it, is it likely to attack those left at camp?"
"Does this creature have more than animalistic motives.. plans beyond preying upon us?"
At people's questioning of 'Native habits' Sunny tries to emeber anything she might have come across in her travels that would help shed meaning or light upon the subject of the squished birdy display.
Your last question is suddenly interrupted by a cold and malignant intelligence. No, no little witch, no spoilers for what is to come! And it starts laughing.
Burian is abruptly blown out of his magic circle (taking damage) and almost off the cliff, his saving grace is to come up onto a millennia old railing.
Which starts to collapse...
Others seeing you right now only saw your muscles rippling and changing shape under your skin, a deep ominous growling, and your eyes burning red.
When the partners gather, Bryson growls out, "We'd be smart to leave them. We being hunted." His displeasure at that thought is palpable. "The bunch of them slow us down and makes us weak. We move faster and hit harder without them."
Sunny watches Burian's actions with some interest.
When his magic seems to blow up (Or... sideways) Sunny gasps in shock.
"Oh noes! Welt!" And she attempts to grab hold of... something to keep Burian and Welt on the ground.
Marius was becoming pretty damn spooked himself, in no small part because being able to toy with the group in this way pointed towards something highly capable and dangerous. He found the island a stressful enough environment - stacking some malevolent stalker on top of it was very much not helping.
When Burian was hurled violently towards the cliff edge, Marius' prompt response was to cast a quick spell, causing one of the island's omnipresent vines to extend itself towards and loop around Burian, giving him something solid to grab onto.
With some effort, Burian climbs to firm ground.. clearly shaken by the experience. Welt scans the edge of the jungle with his back arched and emitting a low growl.
"That.. shouldn't happen."
Burian nods to Sunny and Marius in gratitude as he dons the rest of his gear.. overly warm yet prepared for a fight.
He looks toward the crew "We cannot leave them."
"There are more than one of these creatures.. they have language, and they are not from here. They are clearly supernatural.. profane.. somehow able to subvert my arcane abilities."
For a moment Sunny is distracted with consoling poor Welt. She looks up at Burian's words.
"Uhm...." She looks from one of her freinds to the other. :/
"Can we put a stop to the games somehow? Force a confrontation?" Marius asked, looking from person to person worriedly. He had a sense of the current trajectory of things, and was doubted it would be long before their unseen foes escalated from dead birds to harming people.
"Better to force it to attack and end the games. We are NOT leaving anyone behind."
Bryson rolls his eyes and sighs. "To chase it, we got to leave the group. We leave the group, it go after the group." The logic is so obvious to him. Why isn't it so obvious to the rest of them. "It wonts us to come after it."