"The witch who dominated the ex-captain was here," Quinta reports. "She came here with a purpose. We found carvings that proved to us that once, this island was a stronghold of the Serpentfolk whose empire was destroyed by the rising empire of Azlant.
The Serpentfolk created a terrible device here, a weapon powered by snake venom and the blood of sentient creatures; a circle of stones that can destroy any vessel that approaches the island. The weapon is sacred to the Serpentfolk's vile deity, Ydersius -- we know this, for his influence is strong here.
The priestess who corrupted the Thrunefang was still down there, now a ghast -- and a self-admitted worshipper of Ydersius. She told us that the enchantress had traded them the ex-captain for access to the carvings. And the ex-captain's own written words indicate that she is of the Serpentfolk, herself.
If ever we want to get off of this wretched island... we will have to stop this Serpent-witch and prevent her from using the weapon. No rescue ship can get to us if she manages to power up the weapon."
While Quinta recounts the party's adventures below, Dragolan sidles over to Alexite. He murmurs, "You should stop calling Mistress Wist 'girl,' Master Krupt. She certainly does not lack maturity, and her capabilities have doubtless saved us on more than one occasion."
While Quinta recounts the party's adventures below, Dragolan sidles over to Alexite. He murmurs, "You should stop calling Mistress Wist 'girl,' Master Krupt. She certainly does not lack maturity, and her capabilities have doubtless saved us on more than one occasion."
Alexite nodded, "Thanks for reminding me. I mean no harm and she knows it. It's just she reminds me of little sister. Trust me, her voice and abilities are very welcome."
"Ah, I see. A difficulty I do not share; she is quite markedly different in temperament from my sister, and it would be virtually impossible to confuse the two."
Jask pales nodding and to himself as he takes in the information. Sasha seems to think it all rather exciting, and Ishirou shows his usual gruff indifference.
After some rumination Jask asks,
"So what do we do to stop this fell magic and escape this cursed Isle? Do you know where to find this weapon? It would seem this serpentine trickster has quite the head start..."
"The red mountains," Quinta says, shrugging. "The former captain wrote about it. My concern is that we don't know where she'll get the blood of sentients. Unless there are more sentient creatures on the island, in hiding from the cannibals... that would have to be us."
"If she cannot turn the weapon against us, her head start would only really matter if she was aware of her pursuers (i.e., us). There may also be a problem with the flying creature who lairs there, for that creature already *is* aware of us."
Jack blinks at Quinta,
"Didn't say anything about needing to kill the sentient creature thats blood you were using. Maybe one of you lot can just nick your finger or something? As for her, well she's a snakey b@#&+, but she seems bright enough so wouldn't her own blood do the job fine? You are right about that Qupawhatsit though Dragolan it flew over that way and knowing our luck...."
The rogue is cut of by a sound like thunder, but louder andentirely more ominous. In the east great bolts of lightening seem to lance up from the group searing the sky itself and leaving the group blinking and shielding their eyes from their brilliance.
The rumbling continues for perhaps a minute before it and the lightening subside.
"Well shit," Jack says eloquently.
Dragolan stands, mouth agape, for a moment before closing his mouth with an audible click. "Yes. Well. Perhaps we should not stand here while she determines our location, particularly as we seem to be in the near vicinity of a tall building."
"She could maybe use the weapon to tear down the lighthouse," Quinta says, her voice toneless. "Barghests' bowels, we could be stuck with her on this damned island while she fine-tunes her control and learns to fry us wherever we try to hide.
She needs to be subdued. Or killed. Now."
"We need cover, or at least concealment. She might now that we escaped from the tunnels."
Joll pauses from looking around for suitable candidates and hurridly asks "Quinta, did the writing describe the weapon in any way, what form it takes?"
"A circle of stones, I think," Quinta replies. "Jack, you seemed to be having better luck at translating those carvings. What do you think?"
Alexite nodded, "Aye, we need to recover from our foray before we head out anywhere. I say we stay inside the lighthouse, and post guards. We had a pretty good defensive position here. Then tomorrow, we head out and finish this thing."
He looked at all gathered, "Everyone comes along although not everyone will take an active part in exploration. Remember what happened last time we split up."
His stomach rumbled, "I can take first watch. Jask, is there anything to eat here?"
"The lighthouse is far too obvious a target. It would be better to go to ground somewhere well away from here. "
"I concur," Quinta says. "That weapon was made to smash ships. It'll be easy to aim it at a stationary building. I say we visit the Dryad lady, or else Pezzock's crab-house."
"Yes, let's get moving to somewhere that gives us cover."
The group head back to the safety of Aycenia's hill top Banyan tree where an anxious Gerik, and Aerys greet them with evident relief. Aycenia thanks them once again as they arrive,
"You have rid this Isle of another unnatural evil, but I am afraid I can offer you little more than my continued aid, such as it is. I know nothing of these strange magics you speak of save that they must be ancient indeed to predate my arrival here many ages ago."
Without the overt threat of the cannibals they are able to press on through dusk to reach the tree and so soon seek rest. The only other sign of danger is another long rumbling of what sounds like thunder several hours after the first, it lasts for several minutes and seems less violent than the first sounding.
Settling down in the most comfortable spot that he can find, Joll addresses the others. "Few ships come here, so the weapon is probably not solely for defense. Ieana might want to move it elsewhere if she can. If that is the case, then she and her presumptive allies could disrupt shipping in this part of the ocean. That would probably be the vanguard of some attempt to attack the human lands that border it."
"If she were on her own then this would not be a viable plan. Therefore, she must have allies of some sort. It is unlikely that she is the only one of her kind. I expect that we will run into other serpent-folk when we get to the Red Mountain."
"Not if she's a master operative, sent in to claim the weapon," Quinta says, "and her firing it now is like a signal arrow for others to move in."
Alexite agreed, "Either way we won't know the truth until we get to the Red Mountain and now's a good a time as any to go. So, as much as I like to stay safe and comfy, I think we have one more task to do in this cursed island."
The ranger called Tito to his shoulder and grabbed his meager belongings, ready to set out.
Dragolan starts. "I admit, I had not considered that possibility. So we should rest and immediately thereafter essay the mountain, so that we will only be dealing with the one. And the chupacabra, of course. Perhaps we can disable the weapon once we have dealt with them."
"Another possibility just occurred to me," Quinta says, frowning. "The Serpentfolk have not tried to wipe the human kingdoms we know off the map with more weapons like the one here recently, or we'd know about it. They may have lost the knowledge needed to make new ones.
If this serpent-witch is a skilled artificer, then her presence here, her seeking out the old shrine of Ydersius, her activating the weapon in various ways... She may be figuring out how the thing works so she can duplicate it when she gets off this island."
Under Aycenia's protection the night passes uneventfully, and with the rise of the sun the group begin to prepare to head for Red Mountain. Jack though spends the night oiled in agony, once again overwhelmed by a terrible hunger as he fights off the ravages of ghoul fever. Jask assures the group that he can care for the rogue and between convulsions Jack urges them to finish things upon the island.
For all his flaws, Jack has been a valuable ally. That is true even if such was never his intent. Joll considers asking to use Jack's bow for the journey but decides against it. It would be better for the rogue to aspire to using it when he recovers. Whether there is reason for such optimism is unknown to Joll.
Joll gathers his few things and indicates that he is ready to travel.
"We will make haste as best we are able. Do not despair, Jack. I feel the Life in me growing, rising to a place where I can turn it to restore the ravages of the disease in you. That transformation is very near." The oracle packs up his weapons, along with some extra food in case he gets noshy. "Let us press on through the heat of the day, my friends. Time is of the essence."
"Agreed," Quinta says. "Let's be off."
Alexite agreed, "Either way we won't know the truth until we get to the Red Mountain and now's a good a time as any to go. So, as much as I like to stay safe and comfy, I think we have one more task to do in this cursed island."
The ranger called Tito to his shoulder and grabbed his meager belongings, ready to set out.