The Tian man lowers his sword, but still watches you warily. The pale-faced woman behind him scolds him.
Oh Ishorou, hes just another shipwreck victim, stop with the tough guy routine already. Come this way sailor, you look like you've been through a lot... I'm Aerys, and this old scroundel is Ishorou. Mind the traps on the way in, just follow me...
James nods in response to Tun'ada, sagging weakly.
Aye, it... it didn't touch me or anything did it? I don't really remember what happened... Feel weak though, Gwen do you have any healing left available? I'm pretty beat up...
Marcus nods gratefully at Aerys and follows her in taking care to step where she steps and not to make any movements that might upset her companion.
Even in his tired state he still notes what he can of the camp's set-up.
Gwen sits, closes her eyes, and begins to radiate positive energy.
Feeling her connection to the Gods stunted somehow, Gwen wanders to the edge of the clearing and stares out into the jungle wistfully.
Chi refreshed from the goodness from the gods by Gwen's presence, she starts to tentatively search around the clearing, watching out for any further dangerous vines or plants, but also just in case those zombies had 'dropped anything valuable', that they had when they were alive. She even examines the now dead vine.
Perception
Chi takes a thorough search but finds nothing but corpses, clothing and the scent of death, permeating the air around you.
Led into the camp, you can spot a well-dressed Gnome inspecting a minor wound on a middle-aged Garundi man, dressing it in case of infection. As you arrive and are led into shelter, you can see another attractive female arriving back into camp with freshly hunted meat in one hand, and the leash to some kind of exotic bird in the other. The thing looks vicious, but the woman seems to have it under control. You are introduced to-
Gelik (the Gnome), a self-styled expert on the Azlant and a 'Pathfinder of no small renown'.
Jask (middle-aged Garundi man)- A devotee of the two-faced god of magic, Nethys.
Sasha- An 'exile of the red mantis assassins', who serves as the group's huntressalong with her 'adorable pet'.
The group mention that half of their number is out exploring the island. They seem keen to question you, but Aerys puts a blanket over you and tells them to let you rest, after ensuring that you have had some fresh water to drink
Marcus nods at the campers and lets himself be led by Aerys.
When she reaches over him with the blanket he reaches up to touch her hand.
Thank you. Just need to sleep for an hour or so. Thud.
Giving up the search, with a shrug of her shoulders, she stops and looks around. What a waste of human life to be zombied by a plant. Oh well, its just the way this crazy island seems to be. Chi shyly speaks to the party, "We seem to be finished here, shall we go get the rest of our friends so we can make a new camp on the beach? I think that's what you suggested Gwen? Then once we have a good camp, we can have a quiet night down on the beach again."
"Let's be sure to burn this Creeper and the zombies before we leave," Ambroze suggests. "We wouldn't want any more of this things to sprout up. We should probably burn the non-zombiefied corpses too, just to make sure."
The creeper and zombies are thoroughly burnt. In time, this barren clearing will once again be swallowed up by the jungle once more.
Chi wipes the sweat from her brow, after carting the broken bits of the vine to the bonfire, "As if it wasn't hot enough already, we have to go make a fire!, can we get back to the beach and cool down in the sea, before we make our way on again. I think we'd best put off moving camp til tomorrow, I don't think we'll get it finished by tonight. What'd you all think? Perhaps we ought to scout round the area to see if any other dangers lurk close by, that might threaten us if we camp down there." Chi points towards the beach, and starts to inch slowly towards it.
Gwen nods sullenly.
That'd be fine with me. Best not to leave our backs open to being stabbed.
Snore.
"Agreed, let's finish our exploration before returning to camp."
"Sounds good to me."
Strolling up and down the coast, you do come across two predator dens- each belonging to a giant crab. Their territory is easily avoided however, and they are unlikely to be a danger to you unless you sleep on the coast at night. The sun comes down as you finish exploring the coastline back towards the north end of the island.
Chi giggles as she listens to Savarend, a prisoner to his stomach. Although she too, thinks it would be rather nice to eat some fresh crab meat. "It would take some trap to catch those crabs, that's for sure. Maybe we should discuss it over dinner tonight back at the camp. I'm ready to go back now, all that talk of food, well it has an effect on a girl...hehehe!"
Back at the camp by dusk, the sound of insects is almost deafening as you finally push through the jungle to get back to your campsite. Ishorou is stood on watch with Aerys, and you appear to have interrupted them at an awkward moment, Aerys with her back to a tree and Ishorou leaning in close with a hand dominantly placed just above her shoulder. Reacting casually, Ishorou spots you and bows.
We've picked up another stray... he says quietly. Leading you into the camp, he gestures to a sleeping human- tall, in his late twenties and apparently completely asleep, snoring gently. His clothes are filthy and torn, and even in his sleep he clutches a fine looking sword.
"You say a stray Ishorou, looks more like a baby sleeping there holding onto his comfort blanket...I mean his sword..." Chi picks a couple of flowers from around the camp and returns. She cheekily sneaks up to the sleeping man and places the ring of flowers as a crown in his hair, just like they used to do to children in her tribe. She then sneaks back and admires her handiwork, the babe with his crown of flowers.
Perception
The man is seemingly oblivious to Chi's prank. If anything his snores becomes deeper and louder. You think it might well take some vigorous shaking (or more violent actions) to wake him.
He wandered in from the east, half-dead from exhaustion and starvation. I gave him some water, a bite to eat and a blanket.
Glancing over at the restrained savage still attempting to grab passing castaways and eat them, Aerys sighs.
Another mouth to feed. Still, at least this one talks Taldane...
Assuming noone wakes up Marcus for interrogation or other purposes, he
wakes after the camp is beginning to settle in for the evening and before it becomes fully dark.
In his dream Marcus is back on the raft, the island just a dark smudge in the distance. With both hands he grips the slippery wood, his bottom torso extending into the dark water.
He kicks, in increasing desperation, in an attempt to close the distance but despite his best efforts the island remains as far away.
He feels a chill and the raft begins to shake as if pulled by a strong external force. On the other side directly across from his face, a scaly head emerges dripping from the dark water, a toothy maw opening into a terrifying smile.
He is petrified. He tries to reach for his sword or anything at all to keep the monser at bay but his muscles seem locked into place and he cannot even move.
Then he screams as a multitide of clawed hands drag him down into the ocean's depths...
Marcus comes awake with a start, pushing aside the covering blanket and almost leaping to his feet. He stares wide eyed around the camp. What the hells, where am I? Who are these people? It takes a few seconds to register. Across the fire he spots Sasha and her reptilian pet. OK large scary winged thing was not just a dream.
Assuming his antics attract notice, he tries a smile. Um. Hi there.
He does not seem to have yet noticed the chain of flowers on his brow (although this has been knocked faintly askew). He looks a bit ridiculous.
Glancing at the savage, Gwen shakes her head sadly. It really is too bad that that one must take resources that could be meant to feed allies. But we cannot let him go. And I cannot be complicit in his death.
She allows her mind to pass to the newcomer. She considers him for awhile, without saying a word, then goes to sit beside him. She quickly falls asleep.
Chi seeing he man jump up and act as if a fight were imminent, runs to Tun'ada. Her eyes startled and with a certain amount of fright, "That sleeping mna, he's awake! Come quick, he might need to be restrained."
She returns to see the man, with his sword tipped down, as he opens with an embarrassed Um Hi there.Chi stops in her tracks, as she is bemused by the man's behaviour. Surely he must be a little mad, not forgetting his chain of flowers. Chi draws her bow and places an arrow carefully, ready to fire if the need arises. "Tun'ada! So who are you?"
Tun'ada rushes over, claws beared, waiting to see how this turns out.
Events occur in a rush. Marcus is trying to work out whether he has seen the little elven girl before when she yells out something about restraining him.
He realises he is holding his sheathed sword and is about to drop it when she whips out a long bow and nocks an arrow. Woah. Woah. Watch it with the pointy things. He tries another smile although it comes out forced.
When the tribesman OK this must be Tun'ada runs over claws appearing over his hands he has to physically override the instinct to draw although he can't stop hopping a few paces back and gauging the distance to his shield. And the stabby things too.
He tries to relax as the dwarf approaches OK at least this guy is unarmed although he has to surpress a flinch when the dwarf touches him.
Fight. Me. What? I don't want to fight. No fights here. He waves his free hand at Chi palm out in an attempt at a peaceful gesture.
How about we all put our weapons away. He glances at Tun'ada's claws. Bloody hell where do they come from? And we all answer each other's questions all friendly like. My name is Marcus. He carefully places his scabbard on the ground and takes a step away from it.
Oh and he still hasn't noticed the flowers.
A smiling gnome with bright yellow hair bounces over to Marcus, hand extended.
"Well hi there Marcus! My name's Ambrozius Zimblethorpe Boddynock, but you can call me Ambroze. What brings you to our little corner of paradise?"
Seeing the newcomer means no harm, or least is not interested in a fight, Tun'ada retracts his claws.
"Very well, Marcus. I am Tun'ada, what brings you to our camp? I assume you are another shipwrecked victim of the Shiv?"
At Ambroze's advance and the man Marcus dropping his sword, Chi relaxes and lets the tension in the bow relax with her. The arrow, though still cocked is pointing to the ground. She waits until the others have introduced themselves before speaking up (unless another introduces her first). For the first time in her life it seems she is proud to say, "I am Chi T'reignial of the Kili Taili."
Bloody hell... Gelik mutters to himself upon seeing Tun'adas claws. No one tells me anything around here...
Marcus shakes Ambrozes hand with relief and relaxes furthers at the others words although he can't help glancing over at Chi to ascertain what she is doing with her bow.
Well met to each of you. I apologise for things starting off on the wrong foot. Its been a rough couple of days. As to your questions, yes shipwrecked is what I would call it although gods help me I have no idea what this Shiv is. If its my tale your after Ill gladly tell it although frankly I can't see it being very helpful.
Marcus speaks in a clipped accent which is clearly eastern avistan in origin
The Smuggler's Shiv. It's an island not terribly far from Eleder in Desparation Bay. Unfortunately for all of us, it has a well earned reputation of being a frequent location for shipwrecks."
Chi chips in after Tun'ada, a bit under her breath, "And even worse is its reputation for survivors, may the gods help us to get off here."
Marcus winces at Tunáda and Chi's words. Damn I guess I hoped you had some way back to civilisation. A boat or something? If we're not far from Eleder maybe a ship will come?
Questions for later I guess. I'm Marcus Alanto. From Taldane originally although its been many years since I've been home. I'm a mercenary by trade.
Basically, I ended up fighting for one bunch of people with questionable morality against another bunch of people of questionable morality and everything went to shi... Damn sorry its been too long since I've been in the company of ladies. He nods in the direction of Gwenyth, Chi and Aerys and seems truly upset at the thought of swearing in their presence.
Through the luck of the gods I managed to get myself out of that mess although the rest of my company ended up fodder for the crows. I ended up on a ship from Drenchport to .. well Eleder I guess, I never really found out for where it was headed.
Two .. three nights ago, I'm not really sure, the ship was attacked by these ... shark men. Abadar's oath on it. Shark men carrying spears and tridents. They came up from the water and killed the sentries right off. They were organised I will tell you that. Now the men I was travelling with, they were hard men but their cries when these shark men dragged them down into the water. He shudders
Anyway those things died like men at least and either we managed to drive them off or they got what they came for because they withdrew. By then the ship had been badly damaged and most of the crew dragged off or dead. A few tried to change course but we ran straight onto one of those reefs and the ship started sinking straight away.
Those that were left started fighting over the longboat. I never worked out whether any actually managed to launch it. I managed to make a raft out of some bladders and one of the captain's wooden table. I launched it over the side and just tried to get away before the whole ship went down.
After that. Well .. thats where I lost track of time to be honest. I just tried to keep myself and my gear afloat. The gods must love me because the current seemed to pull me the right way. I managed to wash up on the beach down there. He waves his hand at the eastern beach I was climbing the hill to try and work out where in the seven hells I was when I spotted your camp. Lucky for me.
So thats it. 'Fraid its not much help.
Bluff:
You sense Marcus is telling the truth as he knows it but perhaps not the whole truth. You also get the feeling he isn't a great liar
Sense Motive
Chi, wary of the stranger gets the feeling he could tell more, but waits until Ambroze and Gwen have finished with their questioning.
Tun'ada's eyes narrow studying the newcomer a bit closer.
Sense Motive:
Marcus slaps away at the insects feasing on his neck. These things are enormous. He gestures at the tied up savage. So what's his story? Something tells me he hasn't just been driven crazy by the heat.
Not yet... But disease is rampant on the island, at least to us shipwreck survivors. This savage is likely acclimatised to it, if hes a local.
Marcus looks a bit uncomfortable at the mention of canibalism although he brightens up at Savarend's introduction.
Independant. I like to choose my own commissions although I guess in a round about way I have that to thank for ending up here. Hazard Guild you say. A good outfit from everything I hear and you have my admiration for doing your fighting at sea. Abadar's oath, after the shark men I've had my fill of that.
Another shipwreck? Seems like half of Eleder's shipping ends up on these reefs. Look, I don't much like the idea of others controlling my destiny. I'll serve with you Marine Sergeant, that is if you and the rest of your company will have me. At least until we get off this rock.
Surely he is joking about the spooks thing. I'll never understand dwarven humour.