Chi looks to Isharou, her mentor and her friends Gwen and Jask. "I guess, its better to have more muscle in the fight for survival, than not. What do you think? Another of those military men, hope he's got some brains as well."
Chi speaks to the new man, "So when you say you were in a good outfit, which flowers did you like to wear most of all? Is blue your colour?" Chi's ginger cat jumps down off Chi's arm as she says this, and dusting its back in the sandy ground. The cat let's out a 'meow' of disapproval at Chi's question.
Its all fine by me... It would be nice to not be the only one almost beaten to death every time we're fighting for our lives... James says, nursing his injured ribs.
Blue? Not sure what you mean?
Is this some kind of elven thing. Dwarves are one thing but I'll never understand elves if I live to be a hundred. Which this "girl" could well be. Flowers. Surely she can't be flirting.
He follows her gaze to the top of his head and reaches up to pull the ring off. Sheepishly he holds it in his hands.
Ah not sure how that got there.
Otherwise a note that I will be in moscow until wednesday. Should be fine to post on my blackberry but will have little time during the day.
Chi smiles as Marcus takes the blue flowers from his hair, then skips away towards a nearby tree, laughing and giggling as she goes. The ginger cat follows her, he seems to be smiling too. Once away Chi reads some documents in the fading light, 'Brewing ales, drinks and other remedies'. She always liked this tomb, the way ale and wine were thought of as remedies, although they don't seem to have done Aerys any good. If I get the chance, I'd best not make brews like that, maybe concentrate on the other potions.
AS the darkness descends she goes to the fire and the other castaways, "Are we moving camp in the morning? You know until we met Marcus, that was the foremost thought in my mind, so we OK with that?"
We can do that if you'd like, makes little difference to me, as long as we eventually make our way to the lighthouse."
Disease Rolls-
Disease 1?
Disease 2?
Disease 3?
Disease 4?
Disease 5?
Disease 6?
Disease 7?
Disease 8?
Disease 9?
Disease 10?
Disease 11?
Midnight encounter check
The night proceeds as it normally does, watch patterns, snoring, and some strange noises from the jungle. Deep into the night, a cry of panic can be heard ring out into the night from James, waking up the whole camp.
the Barbarian shouts from one edge of the camp.
Marcus rolls off his bedroll, grabs his sword and shield and runs shirt flapping to James last known position. He has a sinking feeling that James is somehow particularly vulnerable to harm.
Gwen's eyes snap open, her mind instantly fearing - even expecting - the worst. She rolls over from where she slept and runs to see what has beset James, her heart hammering all the while.
Tun'ada gets to his feet as quickly as possible, grabbing his shield and blade, and looks to see what would cause such a reaction from the normally fearless barbarian.
Reacting to their companions cries, the castaways can just barely make out James being carried up into the air by some kind of large flying creature. The light from the campfire is just enough to make out a silhouette, but little more than that. James is struggling to escape, but even in a rage he is panicked and unable to escape.
Gwen stands transfixed, horrified at the course of events that are transpiring.
Chi wakes sleepily from her dreams, to the harsh reality of people running this way and that, hearing shouts 'it's James'. She comes to her senses quickly and wrapping her clothes around her runs quietly to find James. She shouts loudly at the creature taking James away, but is impotent to help him. In her anguish, she tries to get the words to cast a spell at the thing, but the words just get jumbled in her head.
Tun'ada drops his blade and shield and grabs his bow, thinking to himself, "James is strong, he might survive a fall...I'm sure that would be preferable to being something's meal."
Bow:
Damage:
Miss Chance (20 or below misses)
Tun'ada fires his bow into the night, hears nothing other than James's continued screams.
Runs for bow.
"James can survive a fall...James can survive a fall..." Ambroze keeps thinking to himself as he begins the incantation and motions to cast a Sleep spell on the creature carrying the barbarian.
An arrow flies into the air, disappering into the darkness, and a moment later Marcus' arrow flies into the night- seemingly hitting the creature but glancing off it harmlessly. With their low-light vision, Ambroze and Chi are just able to make out the creature pull James higher into the air, seemingly struggling with him.
It seems James is tearing into the winged creature with his teeth and hands, while the creature rakes him with claws and teeth, screeching like a Dimorphodon as the fight continues. Ambroze finishes his sleep spell, but it appears to have absolutely no effect. The creature seems to decide that its meal is too dangerous to take back to the nest, and releases its hold on James, over 100 feet in the air. The barbarian, barely concious, lands atop the campfire with a sickening crunch, the huge impact along with the massive wounds of the creatures claws serving to tear him in half upon hitting the ground- while the sound of flapping wings heralds the retreat of the large creature...
Aerys and Sasha immediately begin sobbing in fright and despair, and even the stoic Ishorou looks utterly crestfallen- especially at being unable to help with his Katana. Jask moves over to James' upper half, shutting the dead Shoanti's eyes.
Rest safely with Pharasma knowing that we will avenge your death my friend... he whispers.
We will have to take watches in pairs now... It seems single watches were a foolhardy idea on my part...
Marcus stands silently not wanting to intrude on the others grief.
Shelyn's grace don't let me end up like that.
Chi drops to her knees, hands cradle her face, tears stream from her eyes, James, come back, she pleads. "Gwen, Jask heal him, please try, heal him please." Cat comes to Chi and nestles lovingly up to her, she feels Chi is in pain and tries to answer with love, all be it a cat's love. Deep inside Chi knows the futility of it all, but she just can't bear to see another of her new friends take the path to Pharesma, never to walk with her again.
Saddened by the loss of his companion, Tun'ada moves a short distance from the edge of the camp and begins to silently dig a suitable grave for James.
Head down, Gwen walks softly over to Chi, and gently places a hand on her shoulder, tears coursing down her cheeks.
Chi, he's gone... he is with the Gods now, I'm sorry.
She kneels in the dirt and holds the keening elven woman, hoping to provide some measure of human solace to her companion, hoping beyond hope to find some solace herself. After awhile, she moves to join Tun'ada.
Ambroze attempts to offer words of comfort to Aerys, Sasha, Chi, and Gwen, and then moves to help Jask prepare James' body for burial. All the while the gnome scholar hopes to himself that he will not wind up being buried on this gods-forsaken island.
Dawn encounter check.
The night passes slowly, agonisingly slowly for some. James is buried and a small ceremony is performed for him by Jask. The rest of the night is spent with two people on watch at the same time, and eventually dawn comes. Spells are prepared, and the castaways spend the morning moving the campsite to the campsite near the Musk Creeper along the coast. Sitting in shelter throughout the midday sun, the group are ready to head out exploring just as the worst of the heat passes.
Midday encounter check.
The day dawns and Chi wakes wearily, the nightmare of last night still fresh in her mind. She sees James in the claws of the great flying beast, as she pieces together last nights events. As the pictures clarify in her mind, the cold dread of the night again takes her over and she starts to sob gently. She pulls herself out of this miserable memory and without joy, starts the day.
She notices that many of the more hardly folk are already up, it looks like they have let her take some extra time to rest, knowing how shook up she was last night. She smiles to herself, as she thinks that the group she attached to have much understanding and smiles weakly. She goes to have some breakfast and speaks in almost a monotone, "So today, what have you planned?" It would seem she has lost her enthusiasm for moving today, and lets someone else look to organise the day and how they can move one step closer to escape this miserable island.
Ambroze wracks his brain trying to identify the creature that killed James.
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You recall a creature similar to the one that took James- a winged chupacabra, a magical beast. Although chupacabra are usually the size of dogs and flightless, winged beasts of their species are known to exist, and are usually the size of a human. The one that attacked James seemed more akin to the size of an Ogre.
Average fliers and incredibly tough, the winded chupacabra is acrobatic and makes use of fly by attacks against groups of foes, pouncing upon an isolated foe at the first chance it gets with teeth and claws.
Disturbingly, the chupacabra is also known to drain the blood if its victims, their life force speeding up the beast in a manner similar to a Haste spell.
The creature is also very stealthy, especially in long grass or rocky terrain.
It understands Aklo, but cannot speak. It is also too powerful to be affected by spells such as Sleep (4HD or less is a no-no.)
It tends to be a lone predator, and is often used by ancient races as a Guardian.
"So today, what have you planned?"
Tun'ada quietly and matter-of-factly responds to Chi's less than enthusiastic question.
"I believe we planned on moving the camp today, then try and find the lighthouse...if time permits. Though I admit, there's a part of me that wants to find the creature that ended James's life and return the favor."
More than a part of me... more than a part.
But yes, let's move on from this place. I can't bear another night here.
Also does the group have any idea how far away the lighthouse is? I assume that the group has neither seen it or been high enough to ascertain the general coast.
My vote would be to ascend the se hill either by the trail or climbing the ridge (assuming that is feasible with available equipment) both to loot the hut and provide a hopeful vantage point to the remainder of the interior. I have rope to donate to a semi-permanant line as that may be useful.
Oh the t on the map is the trap right? Is the consensus that this was set by the canibals or something else? If the former taking the prisoner to polish mine detect might be an option (although that in turn assumes that the now alerted cannibals havnt set their traps after he was taken). Marcus is pragmatic enough to suggest this if he has the same information available to the rest of the party. Other options include letting him escape and tracking him although that may backfire.
End dump
Marcus takes to the task of moving camp with gusto. While sober at the events of the previous evening, he lacked the groups personal connection with James that made the tragedy personal. He is full of questions as to what the group knows about the island and their plans. He thinks about what he could say to cheer up chi but says nothing.
Also does the group have any idea how far away the lighthouse is? I assume that the group has neither seen it or been high enough to ascertain the general coast.
My vote would be to ascend the se hill either by the trail or climbing the ridge (assuming that is feasible with available equipment) both to loot the hut and provide a hopeful vantage point to the remainder of the interior. I have rope to donate to a semi-permanant line as that may be useful.
Oh the t on the map is the trap right? Is the consensus that this was set by the canibals or something else? If the former taking the prisoner to polish mine detect might be an option (although that in turn assumes that the now alerted cannibals havnt set their traps after he was taken). Marcus is pragmatic enough to suggest this if he has the same information available to the rest of the party. Other options include letting him escape and tracking him although that may backfire.
End dump
"Your right Gwen, we can't stay here another night."
Chi and cat start packing up their belongings and help the others do the same.
Chi perks up after such a painless move... :) "So lets explore along the coast, we may need a whole day to explore that hill?"
Marcus mutters something about the importance of scouting for enemy forces but is happy to proceed with the coast plan.
OK lets do it.
Group Survival Rolls (Level 2)
Chi-
Savarend-
Ambroze-
Tun'ada- (+7 when tracking)
Marcus-
Gwyneth-
Group Perception Rolls (Level 2)
Chi-
Savarend-
Ambroze-
Tun'ada-
Marcus-
Gwyneth-
Travelling rapidly along the coastline, Gwenyth notices a tell-tale splatter of blood on the rocky beach. Looking closer, buried just underneath the rocks is a half-eaten cannibal corpse...
Chi doesn't want to get too close to the half-eaten corpse, the stench may prove too much for her. She keeps down her breakfast at the sight of it, but only just. The best thing she can do is slip into the shadows provided by the rocks and keep watch for anything untoward, as the others investigate. "You guys carry on, I'll just keep watch from here."
Marcus picks his way very carefully down to the rocks sword and shield in hand ready to bring the later up at the first sign of trouble.
The predator is likely still around. I can't see half a body being untouched for more than a few hours.
Perception
Ambroze can tell from the size of the wounds and their nature- that the predator must be a giant crab of some sort... Ambroze, you think its likely the half-eaten corpse serves two purposes. Stored food for later, and to mark its territory.
Tun'ada readies his blade and shield, looking around carefully for the creature.
A deep rumbling can be heard from the ocean nearby, as a massive crab emerges from the surf and onto the beach. With pincers longer than Marcus' sword, its massive armoured bulk stops moving, as the crab stares at the intruders with tiny black eyes, waiting on your next move.