Apex sends her staff out again, the small cyclone aiming for the skeleton's skull.
We can discuss honor after we are all safe!
It is not always that Avan walks towards someone with deliberate and what appeared to be emotionally charged steps. The martial artist did not weave or take his time getting there; it was a straigh,t short line towards the blue haired wizard and he only stopped his hastened pace once he was a few steps away from her, his eyes were focused, his mouth was set in an emotionless line, and his hands were clenched into fists that were at his sides.
"In my mind I knew you understood what it means to survive" He began his voice not completely dominated by his usual bored tone of speech and sounded somewhat stern "But I've never fought alongside someone who understood that since I've escaped" Avan took a breath, the silence that was between them was occupied by the shifting of the wind "Its...good" The last word was filled with more emotion than all of the words he had spoken before combined.
Then his hand almost instinctively moved to the back of his head and began massaging his neck, and his straightened posture bent slightly "Its good that you are here and not elsewhere" He said after another bout of uncomfortable silence.
Scarcely attending to Avan's words, Irnk glares at the muddy grown about them as if daring more of the skeletal forms to emerge. "Don't see much sign of tracks in...
Mebe whatever sent them what slaughtered the Licktoad left an ambush?"
Sybil calms down a bit. Yet, even as she relaxes, she keeps holding on to the last bomb she had drawn. As Avan speaks to Apex, the dwarf makes sure that Dao is uninjured before turning to answer to Irnk.
"They could also be found in the other shipwreck... or maybe inside the cave. Yet, let us be careful while investigating the wreck. Irnk, would you mind going first with mister Avan? I will follow you two closely."
" Miss Stormshard, will stay close to me so that we may use her good sense of survival from a distance." she adds, showing that she was paying attention to Avan and Apex's words.
When Avan first approaches, Apex shrinks back, as if she expects him to hit her. When his words sink in, she stands straighter, and regains her composure.
I... only meant to make sure you weren't hurt. That skeleton seemed... stronger than the rest. You were in danger. I'm.... I'm glad I'm here too.
She smiles, and opens her mouth to speak again, but no words are forthcoming. It is clear upon her face that she wants to say something else, but she can't articulate it, like it's a feeling she is completely unfamiliar with, and she can't describe it.
When Sybil speaks, Apex sighs.
I'm afraid I won't a terrible amount of use if we are attacked again, all I have is my natural control over the wind and a scroll of burning hands left. And my wind is beginning to wane, I don't know how many more times I'll be able to throw my staff like that again. But I'll help best I can, I promise.
The breeze came over the now quiet battlefield, as old bones continued their rest upon the ground. A giant of wood lay before them, moss gathered across a number of its sides, the ship was showing its age and lack of use. Avan looked with interest at the corpse of what once was a vessel that crossed the seas, he tried to to find the wound that finally ended its voyaging days. He stepped closer but then halted and entered a lowered stance and looked around himself, another ambush would not be in there favor.
As Avan moves toward the ship, Sybil notices a slight hesitation in his gait (not the usual layze one). With a gentle touch on his arm she stops him.
"It seems you are wounded, I am truly sorry we could not destroy these abominations quickly enough so that we may have come to you aid earlier. Here, I have this magical wand which should allow me to heal your wound."
The alchemist takes out a gnarly stick of her backpack as well as a strange fabric covered with what appears to be dried pudding. She uses the wand on the bandage and applies it on Avan's ribs. It sticks there by itself.
"Boney dead'r tougher than they look." Irnk adds. Once the others who will be directly investigating the wreck are ready, Irnk proceeds as well.
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The ship shows the effect of the tide and the weather of the many many years it has shipwrecked here. Nothing remains useful or important. There are no more bodies, or skeletons. Obviously there were more people at the beginning (a ship this size would have used a dozen crew at least), but their bodies are not here.
This seems... strange. Why aren't there any other bodies, or signs of were they were? There skeletons guarding this place, but there isn't anything here...
"Whelp, was fun. Still doesn't tell us what happened though. Shall we go see what we can poke at & enrage at the other wreck?" Irnk declares as he hops back out of the remains of the long-dead vessel.
Avan nods "I wouldn't mind seeing another dead ship" He said with something akin to interest in his voice.
Apex nods.
There... isn't much left here anyway. Let's be off.
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You spend little over an hour reaching the place of the other shipwreck.
You find a recently burnt-out hulk of a shipwreck (smaller than the one you were in), with nothing of interest remaining save for fragments bearing its name: Kaijitsu Star (in common).
It is late in the evening... want to stop to eat something, do you press on? Where to?
PS. Please roll a perception roll.
Lifting her head from the burnt remains, Sybil looks at the sky for a moment, watching light of the sun slowly dim. As she surveys the surrounding, looking for any clues of what might have caused an old and mossy ship to burn down, she addresses Proudstump.
"Mister proudstump, is there any place nearby where we might spend the night safely? Could we reach it before the sun fully sets?"
As she speaks, she bows down to picks up the sign of the boat, hoping that Ameiko might be interested in it.
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Around the burned remains Sybil finds the strange footprints you have seen in other parts of the swamp, made by the creature you have only glimpse before...
Waltus invites you to his home, if you like...
-Posted with Wayfinder
Whistling tunelessly, Irnk seems to be distracted by...
?something?
Yes, we need to... stay somewhere safe for the night. I... don't have many spells left to... fight with, and I need rest to regain my strength.... to prepare more.
Apex seems to get more nervous at the night looms closer.
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You are really distracted.
So to Proudstump's then?
Roll another Perception Roll for the night...
Where to the next morning?
-Posted with Wayfinder
Avan nodded to Proudstump, before turning his gaze to the sky that was slowly changing its bright cloak of day to darker cloak of night. He was especially entrapped by the setting sun as it looked to be consumed by its mirror image reflected on the mirror of the sea.
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After seeing the tree, while turning to see the road towards Proudstump's house, besides a tree some 100' feet away, Avan gets a glimpse of something...
Something like THIS. He blinks surprised, and when he looks again there is nothing there...
Sybil nods to Proudstump and follows him back to his house (after healing Avan twice more). On her way, she silently speaks with the halfling, thanking him for accompanying them.
"Stop" Avan halts and motions his hand for others to do the same "Out there" He points where he saw the creature, a small frown appears on his face.
"It was many feet away, hiding behind that tree, but now it is gone" He turns to face the group "I have not seen anything like it" His eyes are focused and muscles tense "Its best if we do not stay the night here" He then looks to Proudstump "You should get a farm instead"
Sybil stops at Avan's demand, getting ready to throw the bomb she is still holding in her hand. Seeing as the creature as already left, the dwarf lowers her arm and turns to the other.
"This is getting worrysome. we should make our way to the house and barricade it for the night. It will be safer than walking all the way to town in the dark." says Sybil, trying to give an impression of self assurance.
Sybil stops at Avan's demand, getting ready to throw the bomb she is still holding in her hand. Seeing as the creature as already left, the dwarf lowers her arm and turns to the other.
"This is getting worrysome. we should make our way to the house and barricade it for the night. It will be safer than walking all the way to town in the dark." says Sybil, trying to give an impression of self assurance.
"I guess traveling at night would be less safe" Avan looked to the left and right before he continued moving forward, watching and listening for any sound that did not belong to the environment around them "Is your home defensible?" He asked their host as he continued the trek towards their destination.
Apex speaks up.
I think we should stay at Mister Proudstump's house.... It's easier to keep each other safe.... And we would be able to at least get some sleep...
Sybil takes a few moments to think while the others are slowly agreeing to stay at the halfling's house. She stays alert, yet seem quite focused on her thought as she nods to herself every so often.
"Now, please listen everyone. Once we get in the house, mr Proudstump will accompany Irnk to make sure that nothing has invaded it, if this is acceptable for your mr. proudstump. In the meanwhile, mister Avan, Dao and I will block the door with the settee and barricade the window. We can all sleep in the may room and kitchen while two of use watch the surroundings through the upstairs windows. Miss Stormshard, you may set our makeshift beds and ready our food. Anyone has any suggestions?"
Frowning in contemplation, Irnk nods his agreement with Sybil's plan.
Looking apologetic, Sybil answers to Malthus
"Oh, of course mr proudstump, we will be honored to be your guests for supper. While you are cooking, I will be exploring the house with Irnk."
Apex smiles a bit grimly and speaks up.
Its best that Mr. Proudstump cooks... I'm terrible at it.
"I will take the first shift" Announces Avan from his sitting position next to the fireplace, he looked around the house was not different from what he remembered, and it brought back memories that left him feeling disgruntled. The martial artist laid down and stared at the ceiling.
"Feel free to wake me if I doze off"
Apex pointedly avoids the room where Tharjuk was killed, and seems more demure and downcast than usual.