You make another mile before the noon heat hits and you are forced to seek shade..thankfully the river is never far from the edge of this hill indeed you realise that in a few years its course will alter dramatically when it cuts a channel to fall over the northern edge of the ridge line.
Caithan does his noon ritual of the nap as usual.
Nothing moves in the heat of the afternoon..the insects themselves seem less inclined to buzz about..you rest by the river until the heat dissapates slightly
Thanks to Amisis's spell, Helga is much more awake and alert than the others and keeps her eyes open for danger and threats. When it's time to move, she's the first to get on station.
Natalyah spends the downtime unrestful and uneasy. Once they stopped her mind started to wander. As usual she stands sentry but now she's having a difficulty concentrating. Her thoughts swirl from the camp they left earlier this morning to the savages on the island to the lighthouse to the captain that betrayed them to Storian's disappearence to the feeling of being watched by the river a few days past and back again to the camp. It is with great relief Natalyah continues the exploration, following close behind Atzi.
A few twists of rope and Setebo is soon fast asleep in his hammock, his leaf adorned basket blocking the and the bugs from his face.
Atzi stood once the incredible heat of the mid day had passed, she had been leaning against Quetza as the great reptile slept. She smiled as she noticed Quetza wasn't the only one enjoying a quick nap, before turning and looking at Helga and Natalyah. "So shall we continue Northwest or should we cut north over the ridge and explore the beaches. We could see if the savages camp is along the coast, perhaps we will find more then just that..."
"A sound plan the coast. May even get so lucky as see some help eh?"
Atzi gives Caithan a broad smile. [b]continue to grow and perhaps, when we do come to face the savage, we will be able to match them in strength and number. No matter what though we can mark the coastline off our map and continue our exploring. We will have to camp early though, before night sets in so we can hunt for some suitable meat for our dinner."[b]
Atzi gives Caithan a broad smile. After finding the three of you I have found myself hoping that our group continues to grow and perhaps, when we do come to face the savages, we will be able to match them in strength and number. No matter what though we can mark the coastline off our map and continue our exploring. We will have to camp early though, before night sets in so we can hunt for some suitable meat for our dinner."
"Huh?"
Setebo is happily stowing his hammock when he hears the "traitorous captain" line. He looks up from his back nearly upsetting the leaf covered basked currently serving him as a hat.
"What do you mean, Amisi?" Helga asks, startled by the statement.
|
Amisi blushes. She then walks over to Caithan and gives him a quick hug.
"You didn't think for a moment that I was meaning you? I was talking about the captain of our ship who ran his ship aground her for unknown reasons while we had been drugged.
He was in love with a woman skilled in the magic ways to charm and coerce-someone else. There is a good chance she was the mastermind behind everything. But this is pure speculation as we never found out.
But I assume both are still alive somewhere on this island. And I would expect them rather on the coast and not inland. Off course - the lighthouse would be another obvious place where they could be."
"So, we have a quest for vengeance as well!" Helga seems rather pleased at this turn of events. "It's always easier to bear misfortune with someone to blame. Me, I just have questions as to why Hagar Longaxe wanted to come this far south. I doubt he will be alive to answer them, though."
Natalyah just nods at Atzi's suggestion. She was tired of leading, never even wanting it in the first place. Besides, the druid knew the jungle better than her. Whatever choice Atzi made would probably be a good one, just as long it wasn't in combat.
The ranger clutches her fists as the captain is mentioned. I expect to see them dead, she thought but said nothing. Her speaking had seldom led to anything good since landing on this island, or before for that matter. Instead she let's the thought of the captain and his mistress go for the moment. "Lead on", Natalyah tells Atzi impatiently when she can't stand waiting any longer.
Atzi nods, thankful the Amisi had answered the question and not her. She hefts her ear and starts moving North, over the ridge, and towards the coast.
"Huh, okay." Looking mildly confused Caithan simply grabs his gear .
Setebo falls in to line as the group moves out. He is most likely just behind the scouts as he is less than stealthy and his strength is useful in cuting a path.
You move cautiously down the ridge but the trail does not seem to be in use today and you enter the belt of jungle beyond..reaching the beach after a little less than an hour.The strand is empty and you make good timewest along the shoreline. The ocassional small Euryiptrid like those you first encountered upon landing scuttles into the waves as you approach.
After half an hours walk you find yoursel confronted with yet another wrecked camp site.This campsite features a partially completed wooden shack—of the three camps,this one seems the most completed. A large pentagram has been carved into one wall of the shack and several human teeth have been hammered into the wood in its center
Once the scouts wave the stealth impared forward. Setebo looks about him at the devestated camp.
"This is pointless. One attack I could understand but not two. By the second attack they must have known that people wash up here. It makes no sense...."
Setebo pulls himself together with a visible effort. Silently he begins to search what remains of the camp.
"perhaps there is something useful" His voice is flat and quiet.
Caithan picks through the camp looking for further clues or useful things to scavenge.
Perception
"They must attack each group of people that have been washed up here. They are small groups, poorly equipped, in unfamiliar surroundings, trying to deal with the animals" Helga reasons, "they, like us, must seem easy prey." She spits as if her mouth has a foul taste in it.
"Among my people, the shipwrecked are always given shelter. They may find themselves thralls to repay the blood-bond, they may be killed later if they are in blood-feud, but not at the water's edge."
Stone faced, Helga examines the pentagram to determine what she can of it, wondering if it was made by the savages or the castaways.
The pentagram does not seem to hold any power in itself but Amisi reckons the influence is definitely Chelaxian.
Natalyah circles the camp to make sure it's empty before waving the others forward. She has time to frown at the pentagram before moving into the jungle to make sure that no threats are lurking nearby.
Atzi spits venomously at the sight of the destroyed camp. "We should have kept the venom and poisoned their water supply... It would not have killed them but it would have weakened them. Unlike these poor souls, we will not be easy prey. We will go down like the Dart Frogs of the Mwangi, our enemies will taste our steel and they will die as well." She moves around the camp looking for anything useful and possibly missed by the savages.
Atzi spits venomously at the sight of the destroyed camp. "We should have kept the venom and poisoned there wells if they had them... Unlike these poor souls, we will not be easy prey. We will go down like the Dart Frogs of the Mwangi, our enemies will taste our steel and they die as well." She moves around the camp looking for anything useful and possibly missed by the savages.
"Prefer dire tigers myself." Caithan commented. "Big mean bastards that strike from nowhere and can take down a full grown elephant. In otherwords given the choice I'd much rather not be screwed with then get crunched in one gulp. Hardly noble killing your enemy with your corpse from the digestive tract."
Caithan frowned at the pentagram. "I wouldn't mess with this. I don't know magic and I don't know devils but I do know things tend to get bound in such signs. Unless someoen can confirm otherwise?"
The further she searched the more angry she became until stealth was lost on her and she was actively seeking out a foe. If a savage was somewhere in the camp she wanted to find them, so that she could savage them like they had to the poor souls wrecked on this tainted shore. She kept her hands free, that way she could cleanse them when she found them.
Sensing her mood Quetza wheeled around and landed with a heavy thud, kicking up loose sand and flattening a barely standing sail cloth tent. He sniffed around and hissed angrily at their surroundings, he was feeding of her emotions and he too was spoiling for a fight.
She chuckled darkly at Caithan's words. "If only your Rollo was one of these tigers of which you speak, I would love to see one unleashed on them..."
=========================================================================
Atzi moves westward, she wasn't in the mood for talking, she was determined to find a camp that those savages could not find. If they did they wouldn't escape to tell their comrades, no, they would set snares and traps to kill the unwary. She didn't wish harm to them out of spite, it was more an act of vengeance for those the savages had killed. They had showed no mercy and they wouldn't receive any in return.
There is nothing of value here or anyone to fight and so you continue your way westwards. About a half mile further along the beach(about 15 minutes walk) you seewhat appears to be a large rock ahead..then you realise that this 'rock' is in fact a huge Crab..quite the biggest any off you have ever seen.(verging on the Gargantuan)
The crabs pincers raise up and a terrific howling comes from it. Its legs stomp on the sand and its stalked eyes wiggle madly.
Atzi, Nat, Helga
"Stay back", Natalyah snaps. "There's nothing to be gained here, we go around", she continues and carefully tries to circle around while casting quick glances behind her to make sure she's not attacked from behind.
Visibly disappointed Caithan follows the group dreams of having giant claws hang above his mantle dancing behind his eyes.
"I wouldn't mess with this. I don't know magic and I don't know devils but I do know things tend to get bound in such signs. Unless someoen can confirm otherwise?"
"No, there's no enchantment in it I can see with the witch-sight," she shakes her head, and moves on with the others until the crab rears up. Helga stares at the crab for a long moment, then walks toward it, stopping out of claw's reach quite unafraid.
"Very good!" she applauds. "But crabs don't make noise, they do not stomp, and anyway this one is definitely dead. Still if you are trying to frighten people off you aren't the savages hereabouts, and that means you could be people we could be friends with."
Perception:
"Be careful Helga, please." Setebo jokes as he comes to stand behind and to the left of Helga, covering her off side. He has his long spear in one hand and a javelin in the other.
At Helgas call the crab's howls and it's movements only increase.
Helga.
"You know I can see the ropes?" she remarks, unperturbed. Calmly she takes out her harp, and begins to play and sing a haunting song in her native tongue .
Perform (sing):
Perform (strings):
Natalyah stops and casts a look on Helga. It's a unappreciative look with a small mix of puzzlement. The ranger's blades have found their way into her hands after the crab's added movement. "What are you doing?", she hisses at the bard.
"Oh, just singing to the person inside this," she indicates the crab. "It's very cleverly done, isn't it? But you can see the ropes that move the claw there, and it can't touch you if you are too far from it - it's not actually moving despite what the feet are doing, see?"
Helga moves to just outside the 5' range and waves.
"You know we'd really like to talk to you," she calls cheerfully.
"I can see fine", Natalyah snaps. "We have no business with whatever's inside an... where are you going?!" Natalyah follows Helga to shield her from an possible attack.
"My dear sister fey-touched, don't you see? It cannot be one of the savages in there, so it must be another castaway, maybe someone who needs our help, or someone who - given how this thing is very clever - can help us," Helga turns back to the crab.
"Pay no mind to my friend, she means you no harm. Why don't you come out so we can talk?"
Caithen draws his sword and sits some distance with it a while off. He takes out aa whetstone and starts meaningfully sharpening the huge blade.
The howling and thrashing ceases and a harsh croaking voice issues from the crab.."Pezzock not want you here..why you want to talk to Pezzock..Pezzock not trust you..no no..not trust you at all..all strangers bad, bad..Yes"