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"I think we should split up. One part secures and improves the camp, collects water and food close. The other starts exploring. Maybe we find help, or cargo!"
St. John looks shocked at Felix's suggestion. "I think splitting up would be a mistake with the reputation this island has. There is strength in numbers. We have an acceptable camp for now, and I think we should concentrate on exploring to see what we can find. Besides we will more than likely have to travel this island and move the camp as we do so, so improving this one would be a waste."
He then proceeds to take out his shaving kit and shave the past days stubble away.
Celine uses the power of her moon-goddess to channel healing energy into the entire group mending wounds and restoring vitality. The healing allows everyone to sleep better. Except for the greenish glowing sea and some disturbing dreams, the night passes uneventfully.
The next day dawns hot and humid, the sound of the surf and seabirds filling your ears early.
The castaways all rise late, eating breakfast. Jask Derindi seems happy, even whistling a little as he cooks the morning meal for everyone. Ishirou, if possible, is more sullen and withdrawn than before. He sits alone and fails to make eye contact or speak with anyone in the group.
There has been no sign of Aerys Mavato who stomped off into the jungle yesterday.
" Whatever we do today we should definetly do our best to find more food. " Harbek says looking over the stores. " I figure we've only got about four days of food left... "
" What's wrong with you? " Harbek says noticing Ishirou's sullenness.
"You are right. And sorry matey John, we do need to split em. Some should stay at the beach and keep em eyes peeled for anuther ship. So that we can make a beacon or such. The tough ones go exploring, you´re right we need some brawneys for that, but maybe we find better place and such."
"Agreed. Food and shelter are our priorities, but we must also start exploring this place and assess possibilities and risks.
By the way, has anyone seen Ieana, the Varisian scholar, anywhere around?"
Celine seems preoccupied, like something is deeply troubling her.
Ishirou shrugs when confronted by Harbek. "We all die here!" says the Tien man, in broken Common. "I make ready to die."
" It doesn't look good, that's for sure. You know what though? I was once caught in cave in, we were diggin' a new tunnel to some sweet iron back home. We knew it was dangerous, sulfur and the like, but the payoff was considered worth it. Anyway the worst happened. Gas... Forgrim pick hit somethin' hard in the stone and, Kaboom! Now I know we aren't trapped underground Ishirou but we can't just give up. We've got to keep diggin! " Harbek smiles and taps his large belt buckle. " I met the rescue team halfway out of that cave in. Used this to dig my way out. "
"All right. I'll consent to getting more done today that way. Let us see what food and other things we can find while the rest make more of the camp."
Ishirou glares at Harbek as the dwarf tries to cheer him. "Belt buckle not help now." he says sullenly "Ishirou make peace then death ok."
He steps away from the camp, and sits on a large rock, silently staring out into space.
Looking at the tien man Felix speaks up.
"Well Ishirou, ya know, I think Luck brought us here! And I ain´t the man to question luck. Otherwise i´ll be fickle. But we do not know yet, if this´s all bad. One was prisoner first, now free. Maybe your luck is about to change, who knows! I see you a strong man, maybe you can be guardian of those that stay?"
"What do you say folkys... we explore the beach to the east. If there are shacks.. they should be close to water!"
Harbek grabs his axe and nods. " Sounds good, let's get going. " he looks grumpier than ever at what he sees as Ishirou's stubbornness.
The group packs their gear for overland exploration, and following the lead of Felix, they set off down the beach to the east. The beach follows the cove, around, but then sets off to the east as far as the explorers can see.
Inland from the beach, a high escarpment of cliffs, maybe 100 ft high, leads to the interior of the island. This rise seems to follow the beach all along the coast line. Occasional rocks or reefs appear in the sea to your left as you move along the beach, but no other signs of settlement are readily apparent as you take your noon meal and break.
"I think we should take a break during the heat of the afternoon and be prepared to explore after that. That way we are fresh if we run into anything."
"I agree, matey. Also.. no use walking through the heat, we just curse it and do not concentrate on exploration!"
After the mid-day rest the group continues their exploration of the beach to the east of the campsite. Before long a single island off the coast of the Shiv comes into view. It is a small stretch, not much more than a rock really but there does appear to be an old ship smashed on the rock itself.
Farther to the shore side, a group of large birds glides from the high rock escarpment over the beach searching for food. The birds have a 4-5' wide wingspan and seem to have some mottled red coloring to them.
"I say we check out that ship. We may find supplies there."
"Aye matey. The bird aint not go away. Anyone hav a bow.. they.. re better yummy."
" Agreed, let's check out the ship. It could be the one Jask was looking for... "
The island where the shipwreck is stranded is about 500ft off the mainland, and the surf is high. You can wade out until the water is chest high, then the waves mean some swimming is required. The distance to swim is about 60' before you can be back on shallow footing.
Felix has light armor
Taking 10 for 16. Wich should work in calm water.
Harbek stands chest deep in the water looking at Felix swim and then back to the others.
" Can you two swim that? I could I reckon but maybe we could tie some ropes together make it a bit easier? "
"I'm not sure I can with this armor. Maybe we should try the rope to make sure I don't disappear in the water."
Throwing the fighter a rope felix helps the man to reach safety agian
Stowing his buckler and grabbing the rope St. John attempts to swim out to the boat.
Harbek gestures for Celine to go next.
Celine begins the swim, but not long after starting she founders. While not quite sinking, she doesn't really make much progress either.
Spluttering and splashing the frustrated cleric calls out to the others, "Why don't I just stay over here and keep watch. You guys go ahead."
" Well, alright I guess. Yell out if you see trouble coming. "
Harbek swims across.
The small island is literally crawlling with crab-like crustaceans. The entire surface seems to shimmy and shake as thousands of the crabs skitter out from under your approach. Moving to the east side of the island, you can see long-dead wreckage of a ship moored there. The keel is broken in half, and a large hole is torn across the bow. It sits in about three feet of water. The bowsprit, of a woman holding a large wooden mug, is snapped in two, and lies pointing down into the silty ground. The bow is painted with the dead ship's long forgotten name Tears of Grog.
" Not the ship Jask is after. " Harbek States shortly as he approaches the hole in the bow cautiously, axe in hand.
St. John puts his buckler back on and draws his sword. "Let's be careful out here, our healing is back on the beach. It looks like that whole is the way in."
Carefully moving to the ship Felix pokes his boarding pike into the hole. "Hmm... this beauty will never float again. HA!"
The ship is not the one Jask is after, and as interesting as the wreckage might be, you don't see anything of interest in or around the well-seasoned wreck. It looks like anything useful might have washed out the gaping hole in the side of the ship when seas are high.
As you start back to cross the channel, you see a dinghy sized rowboat slowly crawling towards shore. Two men sit in the boat, which looks barely seaworthy.
Waving his hand and shouting Felix will try to get attention.
"Ship ahoy... do you need help?"
Harbek growls with a frown on his face.
" I hope not, we'll have enough trouble helping ourselves in the coming days. "
But then he starts wading out into the waves to meet the boat.
"You're assuming they are friendly. Maybe we can use the boat.", says St. John as he eyes the boat warily.
"Row, row, row the boat."
"I think that they may also be in some trouble, Mikail. Perhaps we jump from the griddle to the fire."
"One step at a time, I will be more than happy to reach the reach the beach without capsizing."
Said that, Mikail resume bailing out water from the boat.
"Well, matey, we hoping to get safed, too! And it´s law of sea. Help others!"
"Let's get on shore and see what brought them here." St. John says as he heads back.
The two parties seem to recognize each other from their time aboard the Jenivere. The two newcomers tell of waking up lying aboard flotsam in the sea, and finding the capsized rowboat which they righted and have been using to try to find a safe spot to make landfall.
The boat is barely seaworthy, with a large crack in the bow, it takes on water faster than can be baled out, but it is used to bring all the men safely back to the mainland from the small outer island where they met.
There Celine waits, undisturbed and pleased to see more castway survivors.
With everyone back on dry land, and the sun start to decline, choices need to be made about heading back to main camp, or continuing the exploration and spending the night in the wild.
"Welcome, fellow castaways! It's good to have new people, the more we are, the more we can accomplish in our struggle to survive.
Is anybody hurt? Do you need healing? I'll be glad to help you."
"I agree that keeping in touch with the base camp would be good, Celine, but if we do so we won't make it much further than we have today. Maybe go back tonight and then when we leave tomorrow let them know we may be gone a few nights?"
More mouths to feed, but more swords to swing as well.
"I see the wisdom of your suggestion, sir, and I agree. Let's go back tonight and warn them that our next explorations might take more than one day. Perhaps knowing that they will have to fend for themselves for some time will encourage some of them to be more, let's say, proactive and cooperative as well."