"Chelaxians", Natalyah mutters in distain and tosses the book across the room once she's read it. "There's nothing. We should keep moving."
"Oh but there is much, if you listen to the tale," Helga admonishes.
"Harken to this: 'many survived, the Thrune’s Fang will never sail again.' So we know that the ship they came on was destroyed, but most of the crew survived," Helga point out. "How many would crew a ship like the Thrune's Fang?" She directs the question at Caithan.
"Anyway, read here: 'Nylithati’s skills at healing help fight the sickness, but I fear she has'- well, whatever, but we know that Nylithati was perhaps a priestess, and if she was a Chelaxian, the priestess of a devil more likely than not, yes?" She grins at Natalyah.
"'Nylithati has seized control of my crew.' So we know that this priestess took control of the crew. He also talks about raving, so perhaps she has lost her mind. But why?" Helga paces up and down, gesticulating as she thinks aloud.
"Here he says: 'will not be returning to that gray, silent island again.' So we know Thrune's Fang was wrecked here before the other ship we found. That helps tell us when they got here, does it not?" Her eyes sparkle with fascination.
"Then he writes: "They seem strange, almost feral. It has been almost a decade since the wreck. I wonder what strange beliefs Nylithati has...' So we see here that the madness of the priestess has taken the rest of the crew. Maybe we need to be aware of this, beware of something that may be a source of the madness." She casts a dark look at everyone present.
"'There was no sign of Nylithati in the camp, but the focus
of their ceremony was a cauldron they must have salvaged from the
Thrune’s Fang at the base of the ruined lighthouse. It was into this
they threw the half-eaten body of the still screaming man...' So here we know Nylithati has disappeared, and the cannibals have, well, become cannibals. Maybe it was a shipwreck, or maybe they have been devouring one another?" Helga pauses, considering the import.
"Now this is our most important lore: 'They call Nylithati “Mother Thrunefang” now, and promise me immortality if I lay down my arms and submit. I know what their immortality consists of, and I’ll have no part of that corrupt life after...' So we know that Nylithati is alive and thinks they are immortal, but he thinks it corrupt. To me, that says undead, or some other corrupt change. So we know to beware a source of madness, and that the cannibals are lead by one of the unliving, who in life was probably a priestess, and may still have the powers of a cleric. We also have an idea of how many of them there may be."
Helga closes the book with a snap.
"The last ramblings of a dead man", Natalyah insists. "So they have been here for more than ten years. Perhaps that will motivate you to seek away off this island."
Amisi..Knowledge History
Helga Knowledge history
Caithen Knowledge history..
Ancenyia told you that the ship was wrecked almost 70 years ago that is about 30 years after the Nightvoice.
She also told you the first Priestess died and was suceeded by her daughter.
The reference to the assimilation of Sargava must be a reference to the time when the colony broke away.Cheliax sent a large fleet to enforce its authority but the Shackles Pirates defeated them in a great naval battle.That would confirm the 70 year period.
Setebo scratches at his corse hair.
"But the men we killed at the ford were nowhere near seventy years old. I understand island air is supposed to be good for you but not that good... These must be their children... or grandchildren."
"This is sad. I think we are walking on in the last act of a tragedy. We need to stop this 'Mother'. Perhaps the survivors will be different once she is gone."
"Or great-grandchildren even," Helga shrugs. "I do not think their attitude will change, though, and we will have to go through them to get to her. I say we scout this village and raid it to whittle down their numbers if we have to."
"We don't need to do anything about the 'mother'. We need to get off this island, that's all we have to do. If the savages are in the way, they need to be taken care of."
"If what setebo says is true we'll have to do just that." Caithan says. "That tower can signal other boats passing through. Where do you think those savages keep their village?"
Natalyah snorts. "As long as we do something. There is nothing to be found here."
Atzi rubs her chin thoughtfully as she answers Caithan. "The Great one said that they raised their village around the lighthouse. They also built a wooden wall to protect their village, so it will be difficult to enter there village. Natalyah is right though, lets get moving and scout out the village before the day ends. We need to leave eough time to return to the Great Ones grove and hide there for the night." She hefts her pack and leaves the structure, happy to leave the sad place behind.
"When we defeat them I will return here and burn this place, to remove this reminder of suffering and put the bones to rest. Someone has too..."[ She tried to move the group quickly back towards the building that Setebo had spotted and in the direction of the savages village. She slows the pace once they were outside familiar territory and trying to not attract unwanted attention.
Setebo speaks quietly as the castaways thread through the forest.
"I saw the village clustered around the lighthouse tower. About a half dozen wooden buildings, maybe a few more or less, thatch rooves. I could not see a wall so perhaps it is not very high."
Acenyia: "The village lies to the southwest a rough wall of wood surrounding a few paltry huts and the great tower of stone that was built so long ago I cannot remember the faces of those who built it"
"When we defeat them I will return here and burn this place, to remove this reminder of suffering and put the bones to rest. Someone has too..."
"Aye. It seems he died with courage and honour," Helga nods agreement.
"I saw the village clustered around the lighthouse tower. About a half dozen wooden buildings, maybe a few more or less, thatch rooves. I could not see a wall so perhaps it is not very high."
"Thatch? That will burn nicely I am thinking," Helga grins nastily.
"Thatch? That will burn nicely I am thinking," Helga grins nastily.
Setebo hangs his head.
"I was hoping you wouldn't notice that. Fire is a terrible thing."
Aw rats! :7)
as dusk begins to fall ove rthe jungle you worm your way through the undergrowth to take a look at the village.As it sits on the highest point of the cape,it is hard to see beyond the stockade from outside.
Helga looks for guard-posts, spy-holes and the like in the stockade.
Perception:
The stockade is in fact the jungle itself..branches woven together around the rude huts of the village.In keeping with the general chaos there is no gate merely a gap in the jungle where the path enters the village.At this entrance is tethered a single Shiv Dragon.
Setebo looks at the village defences.
"Not much of a wall. We could get over or through it without too much work."
Quietly.....Setebo is clearly nervous.
"Should we return to the camp? Are we as prepared as we can be? Should we let the others know about the tree in case we do not return?"
"Be quiet and keep a look out", Natalyah snaps at the barbarian. "We're not here to raid, we're here to observe." The ranger lies still focusing on the village below. She looks at Atzi. "Can you talk to that thing?" she asks and point to Quetza.
Caithan, whose eyes are clearly not suited to peering through darkness adn shadow as his companions keeps a lookout on their more immediate surroundings. Keeping his blade close in case they themselves are being observed.
Perception
She shakes her head sadly at Natalyah. "I was gifted with the ability to fight not speak friend Natalyah, besides I wouldn't trust that creature. It's obviously a guard. I have seen such back in my homeland, approaching it probably would be bad for us. Maybe we should try and return to the grove, being this close and in the dark will get us caught for sure... We can return in the morning and watch for how many come and go throughout the day, get an idea of their numbers and perhaps start cutting down their patrols. It won't take them long to realize someone is hunting them for once..." Atzi keeps her hands free as she readied to cast and defend herself as best she can.
She shakes her head sadly at Natalyah. "I was gifted with the ability to fight not speak friend Natalyah, besides I wouldn't trust that creature. It's obviously a guard. I have seen such back in my homeland, approaching it probably would be bad for us. Maybe we should try and return to the grove, being this close and in the dark will get us caught for sure... We can return in the morning and watch for how many come and go throughout the day, get an idea of their numbers and perhaps start cutting down their patrols. It won't take them long to realize someone is hunting them for once..." Atzi keeps her hands free as she readied to cast and defend herself as best she can.
1d20+9
Helga studies the Shiv Dragon with fascination, wondering what manner of creature it is.
Knowledge (nature):
Setebo
A: How tall is a Tree
B:No
C:Yes..every tree on the perimeter
D:No
E.What to do about the monk.I don't get involved in the rules arguments any more
The Shiv Dragon is a variety of Giant Monitor Lizard.(Think Komodo Dragon)
Pteranadons off all sizes are a common sight over the sea and the coast of the Island.Remember also the Savages seem to be without bows.
E.What to do about the monk.I don't get involved in the rules arguments any more
Wise decision.
Can we get a rough idea of how many savages are in the village?
given the size of the buildings you can see..no more than 40 and no less than 20 people would live here..you have killed 10 savages since you arrived on the island (2 before the party met Helga..two at Plant woman Ridge and 6 at the Ford))
quietly...."Hmmm there should be no need to harm the lizard at least. We can open our own door in this hedge with a little quiet work."
Turning to Our Lady, voice kept low. "Excuse me but your eyes are better than mine. The wall looks rather neglected. Do you see any sign that they frequent this side?"
Setebo seems less conflicted about killing the cannibals since finding the captain's camp.
After Setbo's statement Caithan turns to Atzi. "Suppose theres anything you can do with that? Can't speak for a druids abilities but perhaps you know a way to make it to our advantage?'
quietly...."Hmmm there should be no need to harm the lizard at least. We can open our own door in this hedge with a little quiet work."
Turning to Our Lady, voice kept low. "Excuse me but your eyes are better than mine. The wall looks rather neglected. Do you see any sign that they frequent this side?"
"We should circle around. See what we can find on looking from the other side."
Setebo follows the ranger as she circles (away?) from the entrance. The beastly barbarian studies the pallisade as he travels looking for weakpoints.
"Stay back and stay quiet", Natalyah tells the group before sneaking off to find another vantage point.
After Setbo's statement Caithan turns to Atzi. "Suppose theres anything you can do with that? Can't speak for a druids abilities but perhaps you know a way to make it to our advantage?'
Atzi looks at the distance Shiv Dragon and nods. "Yes, I can try but not today. I was expecting to be fighting for my life and the great mother granted me the strength to fight. When we plan on passing through the gate I can try and claim the Dragon as mine for a short time. But it will not last for too long... It is hard to tell sometimes friend Caithan"
She watched Setebo and Natalyah leave and prayed that the mother protect them and hide them beneath her sacred bough.
Setebo trails behind the annoyed Lady of Blades.
Nat quickly finds that the 'other side' is the ocean and a dizzying drop of about 200 feet to it. In other words the village sits on the end of the headland..
Setebo in answer to your question think of a thickly woven lattice of vines thorns and tree branches..a couple of trees rise above this mess..but hacking through it won't be silent and will take more than a few blows with an axe
I'll try and put a map up over the weekend.
Nat quickly finds that the 'other side' is the ocean and a dizzying drop of about 200 feet to it. In other words the village sits on the end of the headland..
Setebo in answer to your question think of a thickly woven lattice of vines thorns and tree branches..a couple of trees rise above this mess..but hacking through it won't be silent and will take more than a few blows with an axe
I'll try and put a map up over the weekend.
But this may all be moot now.
At the edge.
Setebo looks down and down and down.
have you seen Amisi Climb????????
Noone seems to have noticed you and indeed the camp shows all the signs of a people secure in the knowledge that they are completly dominant on the island.You can see one guard tower with are 3 or 4 savages in it but their watch seems to be lax in the extreme.
Caithen
I'm sure given that you can come up with an attack plan
Natalyah shoots Setebo several disgruntled looks as the barbarian makes way to much noise for her liking. "Next time go the other way so you'll at least work as a distraction", she snaps.
"Degernerate and dull of mind", Natalyah says with distain as she surveys the village and the lax guards. "We've seen enough", she tells Setebo. "Don't break the jungle on the way back."
Natalyah relays her and Setebo's findings as they return to the group. "We should go back and gather our gear. Then plan our assault."
Caithan smiles to himself as he contemplates all the information. There is much he wants to say and it shows plainly on his face but he keeps his counsel until they are well away from the compound.