Chi brings back an oyster, coming out of the water, her clothes cling tightly around her body, her hair drenched drips down onto the sands. "That was very refreshing, there are oysters down there, some large enough to contain some pearls. Once we've dealt with the bright, perhaps we should come back later to farm some food and jewels of the sea. But without the help of the Lady of the Wood, the protector of this island our escape from this island will be more difficult. Let's join Gwen and Tun'ada and finish the work we set out to do."
"Mawj agrees to move on." The goblin nods and pulls on the reins of Uli to head back up the trail.
Ok... blight thing, yeah.
Marcus takes a last look at the water.
Moving on from the pearl bed, some more reluctantly than others, you scale the cliff once more and continue on. After another hour of walking you come to the causeway leading to the first of the two islands off Smuggler's Shiv's northwest tip. At the moment, high tide means the waves are crashing menacingly on the causeway- it would be difficult to cross for a few hours. Walking on further, you spot the giant crab you saw a few days ago. The waves crash against a narrow beach of white sand, swirling around an immense red and orange crab the size of a small house that crouches on spiny legs. The crabs pincers rise and fall threateningly as you approach, its eyes shifting. A hideous shrieking sound emanates from the crab's massive mouth...
With an ululating shriek, Mawj and Uli charge.
"Goblins sneak and goblins hide,
Goblins hunt when it’s dark outside,
Out of the forest, through the trees,
Goblins quiet in the leaves!"
Horsebane; Attack , Damage
Round One-
Miss
One of the crab's massive claws moves through the air to swat Uli on the charge, the blow seeming slow and clumsy. Mawj triumphantly slashes at the crabs shell with his scimitar, but the crab seems to not notice the blow. The oversized claw raises itself awkwardly to attempt to swat Mawj once more, the beast continuing its awful wailing...
Looking at the crab, you soon realize that the crab is dead and that something else is going on... It doesn't seem to be animated as an undead, but it seems something inside is controlling its motions...
Whoa, Mawj!
Rising up to her full height, Gwen speaks a few words in Celesital, gesturing at the giant behemoth as she does so.
Uli Perception
The crab seems completely unaffected by the spell.
Perception:
Knowledge (Nature):
"Hold on....That crab is dead. There is something else is going on... It doesn't seem to be animated as an undead, but it seems something inside is controlling its motions..."
Chi looks on confused at the giant crab, unsure what to make of the highly armored animal. "Gwen, I'll try and sneak round the back of it and surprise it." Instead she decides to approach the shell quietly and slowly, her dagger at the ready. She watches Mawj, seeing how he approaches the creature and rams home his attacks.
Hearing Tun'ada's voice, her brain quickly makes sense of his words, and she changes direction to try and get a closer to the person inside.
Will Save DC=15
Charm effect 4 rounds
Mawj wheels Uli away from the crab and stops 50 feet away. He pulls out his shortbow and fires a shot.
shortbow; Attack , Damage
Mawj fires a shot at the dead crab, the arrow simply pinging from its tough carapace. The crab continues to flail menacingly but makes no move to chase you. Chi begins to move around the dead beast.
Mawj fires a shot at the dead crab, the arrow simply pinging from its tough carapace. The crab continues to flail menacingly but makes no move to chase you. Chi begins to move around the dead beast.
Gwen simply stands and stares at Tun'ada, a frustrated look on her face. She moves her hand as if to indicate speech, but then shrugs her shoulders.
Hvers vegna, guði - hví þú hata mig svo?
As Chi hears Gwens words, she looks back for a moment and giggles quietly, and in her mind she thinks she must do more to make Gwen feel better and understand how this group of individuals couldn't be as effective without her. The gods had put her here for a reason, it was getting the insight into the divine mind that would help her feel better about herself.
With those brief thoughts Chi continues on quietly, seeking the shadows to hide her approach.
Marcus calls out Stop fighting! Mawj for the gods sake. Didn't you listen to your own mistress? Something about a tengu remember?
He runs over to Gwen and gently lays a hand on her arm and shakes his head. He will then do what he can to stop the others from fighting.
Gwen smacks herself on the forehead with the heel of her palm.
While the group recovers from their confusion, Chi has reached the crab itself. Strangely, it does not strike at her. Chi moves around the side of the crab to the rear end...
Looking rather nervous, an avian-like humanoid carrying a glowing sawtooth sabre, seems to be sneaking away from the crab, fleeing out of a hole in the back of the seemingly hollow crab...
Gwen smacks herself on the forehead with the heel of her palm.
Chi starts to sing quietly to herself, a sound that mysteriously carries to the creature sneaking out from the back of the crab. The sound quietens the creature's mind, stopping it momentarily in its tracks. The creature's eyelids start to close, as it feels the gentle song of its mother, singing it to sleep. The creature, its eyes closing, uses all its will power to move forward, or succumb and fall asleep.
The rest of the group catches a glimpse of the magical and his magical sawtooth sabre standing defiant for just a moment, before his eyes flutter shut and he succumbs to Chi's hex.
Almost as soon as he falls asleep, he begins to stir again. He won't be asleep for much longer...
Marcus will run over and prudently kick the sabre aside. Well done Chi. Now we just have to convince it we don't mean to eat its liver. He looks meaningfully at Mawj.
"Don't be silly. Mawj would eat the eyes far before the liver. Mmm, so syrupy and sweet."
Chi, says quickly the rest as she recovers he poise, "Be quick, this sleep is but a short nap, there isn't enough time to bind him. Perhaps Ambroze or Gwen can calm him when he awakes." She stands back taking out her bow and cocking an arrow, before once more hiding in the shadows of the giant crab.
Tun'ada tries to restrain the soon to be awake Tengu...
Grapple:
Ambroze stands within view of the tengu, but not so close that it could immediately attack him if it jumps up.
When the tengu awakens, Ambroze attempts to calm it by saying in a friendly tone (in Common), "Hello! Please don't be alarmed. We're sorry to have startled you, but we've been shipwrecked on this island for a couple of weeks now and your giant crab construct gave us quite a fright. It's quite ingenious, I might add. My name's Ambroze and these are my friends. We've defeated all of the cannibals to the south, if that helps. What's your name?"
Mawj and Uli circle around slowly to stand 10 feet behind the tengu. "We don't want him to run off."
After kicking away the sword Marcus will stand to block the creatures access to it and ready to grab it if it bolts.
When the tengu awakens, Ambroze attempts to calm it by saying in a friendly tone (in Common), "Hello! Please don't be alarmed. We're sorry to have startled you, but we've been shipwrecked on this island for a couple of weeks now and your giant crab construct gave us quite a fright. It's quite ingenious, I might add. My name's Ambroze and these are my friends. We've defeated all of the cannibals to the south, if that helps. What's your name?"
The Tengu awakens, looking around in panic and held by Tun'ada. So surrounded and disarmed, he remains still, although his eyes dart around, looking for an opening. The avian creature's gaze settles on Chi, and fear is evident in his eyes. Listening to Ambroze, while keeping an eye on Chi, the Tengu slowly replies-
So... Your not going to eat me? Maybe... I can have my sabre back? Why did you come and bother me anyway?! he asks, snapping at you before apparently immediately regretting it.
Mawj prods Uli forward until the goblin's face is in the tengu's field of vision. "Correction, birdman; we have not yet eaten you. Your uneaten state is dependent on your cooperation. You will tell these longshanks whatever they want, or Mawj and his wolf will redefine your world as vibrant, terrible pain." He looks up to Chi and nods for her to continue.
The tengu goes pale in fright, and says in a somewhat quavering voice, forcing a smile as he faces the Goblin-
What do you want from me? I... I know many things about the island. Maybe you seek information? Please just... leave me my sword. It was a precious gift from Captain Eraka Zoventai...
Gwen calmly makes her way toward the captive Tengu, her face impassive.
Who are you? When and how did you come here? Do you know aught of the source of the creeping blight threatening this island? These are the questions that I would have answered before deciding my opinion on how to proceed with you.
Who are you? When and how did you come here?
I am Pezock, last survivor of the Red Mantis vessel, the Crow's Tooth. I was a passenger aboard the vessel. Captain Zoventai was a mighty, beautiful tengu; a leader among the Assassins with glorious, red plumage. We wrecked here some time ago, and all the Mantis were killed by the cannibals and disease... Before she was slain, she gave me my magnificent sabre. Its my only friend left now... Please, I need to hold it again. It needs to be told that the cannibals have been slain now...
Do you know aught of the source of the creeping blight threatening this island?
Pezock does not understand... I do not think so...?
Marcus will retrieve the sabre but waits for a cue from Gwen or Ambroze before handing it back to the tengu.
Chi looks out from the giant crab's shell, a voice drifts over on the breeze, "Mawj, I think this Pezock is best left to live, he has survived thus far, which is to his credit. This is after all his new home, unless he would want to join us in our quest to return to civilisation. For like you we are in need of friends on this island, there are still many dangers we must endure, should you help us, then it would be most welcome." She looks through intently at the sword, which belongs to the bird-man.
The sword glows an even brighter blue as Chi causes the magical auras in the area to emanate.
Tun'ada releases his grip on the Tengu, but maintains a guarded stance should he try something unfriendly...
Gwen nods, and kneels, drawing absentmindedly in the sand with her finger. After a moment, she stands, fixing the tengu with her gaze.
You present a difficulty, Pezock. I would leave you alive, and armed with your weapon - but I would have your assurances that you will not seek to harm us. We will not harm you, unless provoked...
At this, she shoots a withering look at Mawj.
...but if we are provoked, we will retaliate to the height of our ability, which is considerable. Do I make myself clear?
At Gwen's words, Marcus holds the sword up. Perhaps he saw this woman, Ieana? Marcus allows the others to fill in the physical description.
"We will not take your sabre, Pezock," Ambroze promises the tengu, motioning for Marcus to give the weapon back to the creature. "As Chi said, we are working on a way to leave this island. You are welcome to join us if you would like," the scholarly gnome offers.