Smiling at Aerys, I hold out my hand to accept the poem she's offering. Quickly reading it, I realize that Aerys has more depth to her than I thought originally and I am reminded of what she said just a few moments before about being considered just a pretty face by many. A slight blush colors my cheeks as I am forced to acknowledge being guilty of that same prejudice. "Well, she is pretty. Wouldn't mind getting to know her a little better. But for now, I'll just keep it at being friends." Clearing my throat, I look up from my reading: "You know, Aerys? This is actually quite good. You could seriously consider writing more like that and selling it. And as for guarding the camp, that's an excellent idea. I'd be less worried if I know the camp to be well-guarded against possible attacks.'
As we prepare to head out to the spot where we were ambushed, checking my rapier before sliding it back into its scabbard, I turn back towards Aerys: "Be careful and stay alert. We don't know how many there are out there. Don't want to come back here and find you gone."
Walking point, I keep my eyes scanning all around me for signs of danger. As I notice the trip vine, I hold up a hand to make the others stop behind me. Pointing towards the vine and then at the rack of stakes, I explain the trap to them. Setting my backpack down, I pull out a roll of tools from one of my pockets. Inspecting the trap, I then set to work to disable it. "Keep an eye out, please, willya guys, while I try to take care of this?"
"Good eye there Cat. I'll help guard while you work in case there is anyone hiding nearby." Yekskya prepares an arrow and scans the nearby jungle, looking for hidden natives.
Slicingsong stands protectively over Cat slowly spinning his totem spear. It emits a soft thrum as the air passes through the delicately carved channels.
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Rowena works away at the trap impeding your progress, but there are lots of vines getting in the way. She has not managed to disable the rough trap, but at least it hasn't gone off.
Yekskya and Slicingsong watch the jungle warily. It is a good place for an ambush: the path has led into a gulch only 15ft across, bounded on either side by a 50ft wall of vegetation and hanging vines. Sure enough, looking up Yekskya spots another cannibal with blonde dreadlocks hiding in the brush. As he points out the savage, the man leaps out of the brush at the top of the ridge on your left, wailing a battlecry. At his cry, four more cannibals run towards the ridge and leer down at you, taking aim with their javelins!
Initiative
24 - Yekskya
22 - Slicingsong
17 - cannibals
16 - Rowena
9 - Zaghigoth
Cat init
Slice init
Yekskya init
Zag init
cannibals init
stealth
"More of our hungry friends up top!" Yekskya quickly trains his arrow on the cannibal with the blonde dreads and fires.
Not skipping a beat, Yekskya draws more arrows from his quiver and continues firing on the cannibal.
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Surprise Round
Quick as thought, Yekskya responds to the attack by snapping off an arrow at the cannibals above, hitting the lead cannibal with the blonde dreads in the chest. Slicingsong leaps forward, covering Rowena with his totem spear while she attempts to disable the crudely built trap.
Shouting obscenely in their guttural language, the cannibals take advantage of their height to rain down javelins on each of you. Meanwhile the first cannibal, staggering from the arrow in his chest, snaps off the shaft, then pulls on a vine, triggering the trap below! The trip line goes taut, leading to a snare that Cat is trying to undo. It whips around her leg, lofting the unlucky rogue up the left-side slope and against two wickedly pointed stakes positioned in the trees above.
After hurling their javelins, several of the cannibals leap to grab vines, making their way down the slope.
Round 1
Still in his stride, Yekskya pulls more arrows from his quiver and takes aim. He continues to target the first cannibal that triggered the trap, and his well-placed shots bring the savage down, as he doubles over and tumbles down the slope to lay still on the jungle floor.
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trap attack
stake attack
spike 1
spike 2
cannibal 2
cannibal 3
javelin damage
cannibal 4
cannibal 5
cannibal 2 climb
cannibal 3 climb
cannibal 5 climb
Caught by surprise, I curse loudly as I am yanked of my feet, a cursing which is quickly replaced by a cry of pain as the points of the stakes find their way past my leather armor. As I dangle upside down, I am glad to see my companions are giving the cannibals hell. Biting down on the pain, I bend at the waist, bringing my hands up to the vine around my ankle. Setting to work patiently, I hold onto the vine with one hand while undoing the noose with the other. As soon as my leg comes free, I start swinging towards the trunk of the tree, but unable to find a decent hold on the slippery bark, I start climbing up the rope and onto the branch. Once I'm firmly seated, I remove my bow from my back, silently thanking Cayden Cailean it's still there and start shooting the cannibals from my lofty perch.
Looking up at the cannibals, Zag momentarily laments never having learned the bow, but quickly taps in the primal forces around him and mutters an incantation while pointing up at the top of the ridge. "Spirits of wood and leaf, bind them."
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Round 1 continued
After a near miss, Slicingsong attempts to dodge the javelins, ready to meet the cannibals making their way towards you.
The cannibals ferociously use the vines to leap down the slope at you, pausing to hurl more javelins at you. One, still on the ridge, throws a javelin at Yekskya and manages to pin the archer's arm with a piercing hit. Another reaches the ground and draws his scimitar in anticipation, eager to charge at Slicingsong!
Another, moving more slowly down the slope, sees Rowena slipping free of the trap and climbing to safety, and moves to intercept, drawing his scimitar in bloodthirsty rage as he does so.
Zaghigoth summons the spirits of the jungle to animate the vines and vegetation around the cannibals on one side of the slope. The plants twist and writhe, attempting to ensnare the savage humans. One manages to dodge the vine suddenly trying to grab him and rolls the rest of the way down the slope to land on his feet near Shiv, but the one closest to Rowena is held fast.
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cannibal 3 scimitar @Zag
cannibal 4 javelin @Yekskya
javelin damage
cannibal 5 scimitar @Slice
cannibal 2 climb
cannibal 3 climb
cannibal 5 climb
cannibal 2 Ref save
cannibal 3 Ref save
cannibal 3 climb
fall 10ft
Yekskya swears as the javelin pierces his arm, but yanks it out and fires back at the cannibal to the south.
hp 15/23
Round 2, Initiative 22
Slicingsong sees that one of the cannibals has made its way down the slope to us and moves to him, trying to lance him with the razor sharp totem spear.
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Round 2
From the corner of his eye, Yekskya sees one of the cannibal humans reaching the bottom of the slope and homing in on Slicingsong. He fires two shots, one of which pierces the savage in the chest. Slicingsong finishes the job, skewering the warrior with his fearsome totem spear.
The cannibal entangled on the slope in the vines struggles to break free, and eventually manages to inch his way forward until he is out of the affected area. Scimitar in hand, he slashes away at the plants until, with a wicked gap-toothed grin he turns on Rowena.
The other cannibals press their attack. The other one on the ground attempts to get past Zaghigoth's defenses, wary of the small crocodile nearby. His caution prevents him from committing to his attacks, and Zaghigoth is unharmed. Your other opponent, on the ridge, hurls another javelin at Yekskya, trying to pin down the enemy archer. He has a good aim, and hits Yekskya again! Now out of javelins, the savage clambers down the slope towards you.
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cannibal 2 Str check
cannibal 3 scimitar
cannibal 4 javelin
javelin damage
cannibal 4 climb
Sitting safely high up in the tree, I take aim at the cannibal that's working hard to escape from the entangling vines. As he breaks free from the animated flora, my arrow flies towards him, striking him in the chest. "Oh no, you don't! You're not going to attack lil ole me. You're only going to die, like the cockroach you are."
After seeing Yekskya take another javelin hit, Zag looks over with concern. He inclines his head towards the cannibal that failed to slash him. "Shiv, attack." While the crocodile snaps at the cannibal, Zag moves away, beseeching the spirits as he closes in on Yekskya and reaches out with a glowing hand. "Spirits of water and seed, rejuvenate."
Shiv Bite:
Shiv Damage:
Cure Light Wounds:
Yekskya lets out a sharp, "Yeargh!" as another javelin buries itself in him, this time striking a deep wound to his thigh. As Zag comes over and heals him he breathes a sigh, "Thanks Zag! Now let me see if I can help out Shiv and Cat." In quick succession, Yekskya fires off two more shots. He fires the first at the cannibal battling Shiv and then whirls and fires the second one off at the cannibal harassing Cat.
hp 17/23
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Round 2 continued
From her vantage point up in the tree, Rowena points her bow down and targets the cannibal coming towards her. He snarls in anger at her successful hit, and waggles his scimitar intimidatingly as he tries to find a way up the tree.
Meanwhile, Zaghigoth sets Shiv on the cannibal facing him, with devastating effect. The young crocodile bursts into the bushes with a happy hiss, his great jaws clamping down on the man's thigh. The man nearly loses his footing as he looks down at the crocodile in fright. Zaghigoth registers this from the corner of his eye as he turns to Yekskya, using his magic to heal some of the archer's wounds.
Round 3
Healed, Yekskya takes up his bow again and fires two quick shots, one at the cannibal battling Shiv, the other at the barbarian climbing the tree to get at Cat. Both shots are true, felling the fearsome warriors.
The final remaining cannibal is busy scrambling down the vines towards you, having loosed all his javelins. Slicingsong unslings his bow and takes a quick shot which misses. The cannibal, realizing all your attention is directed towards him, stops mid-stride and attempts to scramble back up the slope, using the vines to just reach the ridge and hurl himself out of sight.
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Slicingsong shortbow attack
cannibal 4 climb
"I'd rather they don't know too much about us. I'm going after him." Yekskya sprints up through the jungle tithe top of the ridge to see if he can still see the cannibal.
With a nod of thanks towards Yekskya for taking down the foe trying to climb my tree, I see we have the situation well in hand. From my vantage point, I can see the last cannibal realize that this is not going to end well for him and make a brake for it. Seeing Yekskya start off after him, I try to help by crippling the cannibal. Quickly nocking another arrow, I draw a bead on the fleeing warrior, aiming for his legs before he moves over the ridge.
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Round 3 continued
Situated up in the tree, Rowena can just spot the cannibal fleeing through the jungle. Se takes careful aim and lets fly - it's a terrific shot and despite the cover of the trees it does wound him some.
Round 4
Unwilling to let the cannibal get away, Yekskya grabs at the vines, pulling himself up the slope. The archer whips up the slope with great skill, gaining ground on the heavily pierced savage.
Yekskya climb check
Yekskya continues scrabbling up the vines. A few come loose as he makes his way up the ridge, but he recovers quickly and soon reaches the top.
Yekskya sights the cannibal escaping through the jungle and takes aim, firing two arrows after the man.
As Yekskya and Cat set themselves upon the remaining enemy, Zag begins moving about the bodies nearby, checking to see if any of the cannibals are still alive so they might be questioned later.
Heal:
Heal:
Heal:
Heal:
Making sure to keep Yekskya out of my line of fire, I send another arrow after the fleeing cannibal, but the growth and distance are messing up my aim and the missile falls severely short of hitting its target. "In Cayden's name! Won't you just stand still and die already? Go Yeks! Kill that son of a pig!"
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Round 4 continued
Rowena tries to catch sight of the fleeing cannibal, and takes a chance shot in the direction she thinks he's running in. She sees it fall short of the mark.
Zaghigoth has a look at each of the fallen enemy. Shiv is busy feasting himself on the remains of the cannibal who tried to lop Zag's head off. Another is dead, but two are unconscious and on death's door. Zaghigoth is able to stabilize them both.
Round 5
Climbing frantically, Yekskya scrambles to the top of the ridge and focuses in on the running warrior. He struggles to keep up, running through the undergrowth. Slicingsong also starts climbing up the slope, hoping to help Yekskya. He has no trouble making his way up, but it takes some time to reach the top of the ridge. Meanwhile the cannibal flies through the jungle, running at a terrific speed despite the brush.
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Slicinsong climb check
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Round 6
Yekskya continues to try to pin down the fleeing cannibal, winging him with another arrow. The wounded warrior looks tired now, and you catch sight of him ducking behind the trunk of a large tree. He quickly ducks out to see if you are still in pursuit, but is using the tree for cover while he tries to catch his breath.
Slicingsong continues to climb, finding it more difficult now higher up the slope, but near the top of the ridge.
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Slice climb
Quickly slinging my bow, I climb down the tree, though it looks more like a barely controled fall. As soon as my boots hit the ground, I start off after Yeks and the cannibal, unslinging my bow and nocking an arrow as I move as quickly through the growth as possible.
Yekskya elects to hold his ground and takes sight at the cannibal trying to hide behind the tree. He fires two more arrows at the man, taking particular care with the second shot.
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Round 7
Seeing the cannibal go to ground behind a tree, Yekskya does likewise, attempting to take down his opponent with two aimed arrows. The first gets snarled in the jungle vegetation. The second arrow catches the cannibal just as he ducks around the trunk of a tree. The force of the well-aimed arrow lifts the cannibal off his feet and he crashes into the bushes, dying.
Seconds later, Slicingsong appears to backup Yekskya, peering ahead to try and see the fallen warrior.
Meanwhile, Shiv has finished his welcome meal, much to the disgust of the rest of you.
"Looks like I got him. I'm going to go confirm." Yekskya hustles out to the fallen cannibal, keep an eye on the surrounding vegetation.
Zag eases himself against a tree near one of the unconscious cannibals and sets Shiv to hovering over him threateningly. Running his thumb gently along the edge of his falchion, the druid waits for the foe to awaken.
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Yekskya hustles forward to check his handiwork. The cannibal is indeed sprawled on the ground, arrow still lodged in his chest. He is breathing, but barely. Slicingsong and Rowena catch up as well, assisting with a look around.
Looking around, you find not far away what must be their camp in a natural clearing. Nine reed hammocks hang between the trees, around a small campfire. There are few supplies, and it doesn't seem to be a permanent camp. Large fruit bats nest nearby.
At the same time, Zaghigoth and Shiv keep an eye on your new prisoners. Having been pretty wounded, they look like they might be out for a while, unconscious.
The path that you were travelling seems to lead south out of the gulley, heading once again towards the coast. Heading down the path a bit, you can just see through the trees the blue of the ocean in the distance.
"What do you two want to do with him? Take him back as a prisoner or put him out of his misery. I don't think we're suddenly going to convince these cannibals of the need for reform so I'm reluctant to leave too many of them alive and have to deal with them all." He looks around the camp. "Looks like a hunting camp perhaps...maybe hunting for us. We should take a look around before going back."
"Not reform, I say, but question. They might know of the lighthouse, or the captain and that woman, or even a ship. Or where their main camp is, so we can avoid it if need be. I do not know when they will awake, though...or if we will be able to communicate. I am familiar with the language of this region, but they may have their own." Noticing Cat's wounds, Zag stands up and steps to her. "The trap's damage is bad. Let me mend that." Focusing in on his holly and mistletoe, he waves the tip of his spear over Cat's leg and presses his hand on the wound, muttering "spirits of water and seed, rejuvenate."
"I have exhausted my link to the spirits this day. I will need the calm of night to restore it, I say."
With a grimace I feel my flesh close over the wounds casued by the trap. Nodding a grateful smile at Zag, I thank the half-orc for his ministrations. "Thanks, Zag. That's what a girl needs in times of hurting. A druid friend with healing powers."
Rubbing the freshly healed tissue, still tender and pinkish, I look at the cannibals, lying unconscious and bound at our feet. "I'm with you on the questioning, Zag. But, as far as leaving them alive is concerned, I think I already made my position clear. I say we kill any of them that get in our way, even if that means their entire tribe or clan or whatever will become extinct. I don't care one way or the other. I'm not going to hunt them and if they leave us alone, that's okay by me. But I am not going to become part of their larder, so any cannibal attacking us will be facing swift and deadly brutal retaliation from me."
"All right then. Let's see if we can get him ready to be moved and we'll drag him back to the others."
Yekskya takes a look around camp before helping to drag the cannibal back to the others.
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You have a look around the cannibals' camp. It does indeed appear to be a temporary camp. The remains of a monkey lies on a spit over the damped fire. You find little in the way of equipment, the cannibals must have just had what they carried with them.
Nearby you find tracks leading in and out of the camp. It's barely a trail, but seems to be made by the cannibals, leading south. Following it a short way down the camp, you find it joins with the path that you were following, beyond where you encountered the trap.
The path seems to lead south, skirting down another plateau. As the path opens up, you catch another glimpse of the ocean to the east. In the distance you think you can even see the wreck of another ship on the beach.
@Zaghigoth: While the others are away, the two savages you were keeping watch over eventually wake up. At first they look defiant, but when they see Shiv looking back at them hungrily, you can see the terror in their eyes. They start speaking what sounds like gibberish, in a language you're not sure you understand.
Once finished with the preliminary scouting, Yekskya works with Cat and Slicingsong to drag the last cannibal back to Zag.
Assuming Yekskya cannot understand their gibberish, he tries in Polyglot to see if they understand that at all.
Assuming Cat shares the information about the language, "I don't think we checked whether anyone else back at camp happens to speak Infernal, did we? Otherwise, it doesn't seem we're going to be able to get any information out of them."
"I cannot make sense of it...perhaps Gelik? Bards tend to have a gift for tongues, I say."
"That sounds like a good idea. But, perhaps we ought to conduct the interrogation a little outside camp so we don't set everyone off again. We seem to finally be getting most of the camp settled down."
"I'd rather kill two of them and keep only one alive for questioning, but chances are we'd kill the one that knows the most, so better to bring them all to the camp. Or at least close to it and then inquire who of the survivors has any knowledge of Infernal. Once we've interrogated them, I suggest we execute them. We can't keep them as prisoners, our supplies and resources are stretched thin enough as it is. And besides, there's always a chance they escape, maybe even with help from some dupe among the survivors who'd take pity on those poor misunderstood cannibals. I know this may sound harsh, but we, and I mean the whole group needs to understand we are in it for our very survival. Sentimentality and misplaced mercy will only get people killed."
"Unfortunately, I'm not sure we'll be able to get any info from any of them, but I agree with bringing them close to camp. Once there, I can help watch them while one of you runs back to check with our fellow survivors." Yekskya helps to tie up the cannibals and then to escort them back to an area near camp.
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Regrouping, you march your newly acquired captives back to camp. You find that you need to bind them, as they prove aggressive and surly even in their weakened state. One of the cannibals seems to be tattooed all over in small pentagrams; another has tattooed his face to make it look like a leering skull. Still another, the one that nearly got away, seems to favor wearing many necklaces of fangs. All wear amulets made of red pearls.
It's a long, hot slog through the jungle, but eventually you return to the survivors' camp. The others are shocked to see your captives, and Grym rushes over from where he was talking closely with Faey to help take charge of the prisoners. Everyone asks about what you've found, and are especially interested in whether you managed to find the cannibals' village as you'd hoped.
Asking around, you find you're in luck. Aerys mentions that she speaks Infernal. Gelik and Jask can also cast magic which allow them to be able to understand languages.