Chi agrees with Savarend, "Yes, you're right Savarend, now I come to think of it, The Thrune's Fang was part of Cheliax's force sent to subjugate Sargava several decades ago, this is the first indication of what happened to it, for the records showed it was lost with all hands, lost without trace."
Eventually the castaways wait the heat out. As soon as the heat abates the afternoon is heralded by an onset of furious tropical rain, pouring down furiously and quickly cooling down the island. Visibility beyond twenty feet is difficult due to the sheer amount of rainfall on the island.
furious tropical rain, pouring down furiously
The rain stops as abruptly as it started after an hour of soaking Smuggler's Shiv.
"What resources do we have left to us for today? Is is worth exploring further, or should we return to camp and warn the others? Assuming it is not too late to do so."
"I'm out of my major spells, although I could still provide some support in a battle - assuming I'm not knocked out before the battle even begins!" Ambroze says with self-deprecating grin. His expression turns serious as he continues. "But I think we should get back to camp as quickly as possible. Now that the cannibals know we're here, I'd imagine they'll waste no time coming after us. And I don't think we're in the shape to prevail in a battle against the savages right now - we need to get to Jask and get healed up."
So do we climb or take the path back?
"Which ever way we go we will face dangers, at least if we return the way we came we might know some of the dangers. As we marked the traps we left, we should find the going easier. I'm with Savarend on this. If it helps, I can provide two of you with some extra protection for an hour against the weapons of the natives."
No encounter
Moving back nervously along the game trail for an hour or so, the castaways come to the crossroad to the north again. They could either either finish heading north and head back to camp along the explored coastline, or they could head back via the eastern game trail and explore it enroute.
Given we're trying to avoid trouble I suggest the way we came before.
"The quickest and safest route back is preferable, for we need time to set our defenses against those unfortunate 'natives'. The sooner we are back the more time I can spend with Ishorou making and setting traps."
Indeed, let's try to stay out of trouble right now. I am so weak I can barely walk.
Getting back to camp a little before dusk, on the approach its clear something bad has transpired... Tracks, broken branches left in the wake of something approaching the camp, bloodstains and triggered traps all lead you to make the same assumpiton- the camp was attacked in your absence. You see no one on guard as you near the camp- usually Ishorou or Aerys maintain vigils...
"Wait here...I will take a closer look."
Longspear in hand, Tun'ada creeps into the campsite.
Stealth:
Perception: (Wisdom damage)
Marcus stops at Tun'ada's words gripping his sword and shield tightly and looking around for danger.
Perception
Gods damned thrice cursed $%"£%! island. I hope Sasha is alright. Now why did I think that. I hope they're all alright.
Tun'ada, you sneak into the camp slowly and carefully. Although there are clear signs of a battle, no bodies lie on the bloody scene of the attack. Ishorou lies on a makeshift stretcher, pale and covered in numerous slashing wounds. Aerys is tending to him, sobbing softly while Gelik is attempting to keep a vigil. You see no sign of Jask or Sasha, or the captured cannibal. Sasha's pet is unleashed and has also suffered battle scars and seems to be lying down, nursing an injured wing and cawing mournfully.
Stay with me Ishorou... Aerys whispers, oblivious to your presence.
Tun'ada calls for the others to join him at the camp.
"Aerys, what happened here?"
Chi, seeing her dear friend Ishorou injured so, runs to him and calls for Gwen to help him. "My friend, you will not leave us, by the power of the great gods of the jungle, your story has not run its course, there are still tales to tell." She pleads with Gwen to heal her friend.
Seeing the scene laid out before her, Gwen slips into the mode of a dispassionate triage attendant.
Everyone, please move aside.
She quickly casts the Detect Poison cantrip to determine if Ishorou has been poisoned. She fully expects that he has.
The cannibals came in force during the rainfall... Our traps slowed them down but they tore through them and were on us before we knew it, with their shoddy scimitars and their mad ferocity... It was all chaos and i'm not sure of their numbers- perhaps a couple dozen of them.
Aerys almost breaks down into hysterics, but manages to go on between sobs and furious hand gestures.
Ishorou and I fought back to back and Sasha and her pet took down several of them- but then their leader; big bastard with bright red hair and a magical blade, duelled with Ishorou and cut him down. The... the brute reached down for Ishorou after he felled him and smeared his blood all over his chest and howled... I've never seen anything so savage in my life. We got Ishorou clear and retreated, but they took Jask and the last we saw of Sasha she was surrounded by the bastards... By the time we came back to the camp they were gone. They took their wounded with them and released our captive...
Courage Aerys... There is still hope. Gelik says softly, for once having no cutting remarks. Tell them what you heard them screaming in battle, for there may yet be time to rescue our companions... Gelik urges gently, nursing a nasty wound on his stomach.
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They... The savages were screaming in Infernal that the 'holy man' would be a sacrifice to the Red Devil, atop Red Mountain. The leader taunted Ishorou in his pidgin tongue, as Ishorou passed out the leader said that the 'flame-head will bear me many children'. He must mean Sasha...
Survival
Edit: Red mountain. What the hell is that!
The map of Smuggler's Shiv you acquired doesn't mark Red Mountain out specifically, but you have deduced that it must be the south-eastern section of the island- the whole south-eastern section is one large mountain that towers over everything else on the island. The game trails on the map appear to lead right up to its peak.
"Red Mountain...Red Mountain...Here! Let me take a look at that map we found!" Ambroze says, scrambling to look through the various sea charts and maps that the group has accumulated.
The scholarly gnome peers at one of the maps, then crows excitedly, waving the map in his hand to show to the others. "Here! It's not pointed out specifically, but look at the south-eastern section of the Shiv - the whole area is one large mountain that towers over everything else on the island. The game trails on the map appear to lead right up to the peak. This is the only real mountain on the island - I bet it's the 'Red Mountain' the cannibals were talking about! I just wonder what the 'Red Devil' is?"
Right! Ambroze your a genius. We'll go there and get them back. And if this 'devil' gets in our way we'll cut it down. Marcus says the last in a grim voice.
He looks like he is prepared to go straight away.
Chi speaks to Ishorou, hoping in his state he will hear, "We will avenge you and return with our friends."
Chi wipes her tears of concern from her cheeks, and looks into the jungle with steely determination to succeed. "What we have suffered so far, will be nothing to the suffering of those that have enslaved and captured our own. We must make haste and find them, then we must strike like a cobra, hard and fast before slithering away into the undergrowth. Wearing them down and revenging ourselves on their red headed leader."
Gwenyth beseeches the Gods of Golarion for their aid in her foriegn tongue, laying her hands on Ishorou.
There, that's all I can do, for now. Take heart, all of you - we will find them.
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Gelik snorts in derision.
Come now... You stumbled back into camp half-torn to pieces yourselves. Even savages have rituals. They will take them back to camp first, prepare some ungodly celebration and ritual, and then likely sacrifice them at sundown tomorrow after some elaborate dancing and shouting. Trust me- drama is my speciality. Rest tonight, lick our wounds, and tomorrow strike with all of our fury. If we can get Ishorou on his feet, we can all go with you- even Sasha's hideous pet is likely to want to help...
Basically- I propose we leave at first light. Stumbling into a swarm of savages half-dead on our feet isn't going to help Jask or Sasha. History won't remember how dramatic our doomed-to-fail frontal assault looked.
Hearing Chi's suggestion, Ambroze seems unsure.
Hit and run tactics may make them finish the sacrifice faster... Risky.
Coughing blood as his wounds heal, Ishorou groggily wakes.
Thankyou Gwen... That savage leader is no slouch of a swordsman, although I'd like to face him again when he doesn't have a bunch of madmen hacking at me too. Wait... Jask? Sasha?
Gwen sighs, still smelling of burnt hair.
Indeed, we must recuperate, and take stock of our provisions, using them as needed. Nothing could be more important than this, saving our friends.
I, for one, vote to leave on the morrow.
Okay. Okay. Tommorow makes sense but we will need to be moving before the rain obliterates any tracks.
"Agreed on both counts."
"I agree that we should heal up and set out in the morning. In the meantime, let's take stock of what supplies we have and see if we can come up with a plan of attack."
Disease 1?
Disease 2?
Disease 3?
Disease 4?
Disease 5?
Disease 6?
Disease 7?
Disease 8?
Disease 9?
Disease 10?
Disease 11?
The group rise early the next morning, full of grim determination to save their captured comrades from vicious cannibals...
Inspecting the remaining wounds with a critical eye, Gelik consults with Gwen.
I will be able to heal three people of their wounds before my magick is exhausted for the day. I am at your disposal lady Gwen.
Good morning. If everyone will kindly gather round?
I can heal more wounds, but I feel as though I should hold off on channeling more of the Gods divine benevolence right now. I don't want to overextend myself and not be able to contribute to the coming struggle. Does anyone still have dire wounds after last nights rest and this healing?
Chi wakes stiff and hurting from yesterday's exertions. She gathers around Gwen as she receives the benefit of the healing power from her god. "Thanks Gwen, my body is refreshed."
As the group gather for breakfast, to discuss the forthcoming rescue, Chi quietly speaks to Ishorou and those around her as they plan a course of action. "before we go, I have to spend some time preparing two good magiks for the day, so they can be used as part of any plan. Of the magiks I know, I though to either help protect our fighters with the protective armor of magik, or to try and make our enemy fall into slumber, or some other magiks to help? Once we have a plan I will prepare for the battle to come."
Chi scratches her head, and continues"But I am no strategist when it comes to taking on the enemy like this. Our tribe used more hit and run tactics with our enemies, or so it was told in our great stories, but I will use my skills as you all desire, to rescue Jask is of the utmost import."
Marcus tries to keeps himself busy, carting water and other things for Gwenyth to help her healing efforts and readying supplies.
In the morning he gazes at the sky trying to divine the weather conditions for the day (and likely battles):
Survival