Tragershen unfurls the scroll and speaks the familiar words on it, launching an arcane dart toward the crab creature.
Assuming CL1, damage .
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The force missle flys unerringly to its target and hits the Cliff Crab in one of its beady eyes, burning it out. The Crab seems to have had enough and for a moment it trys to turn...but all of the hits are too much for it and it loses its grip on the cliff face, plunging 40' to the ground below almost crushing Mihai.
The impact is impressive as the shell gives way and you are splattered with Cliff Crab guts...
Nim peers over the ledge and a short distance away is a overhang where the beast has its lair. You find some shredded clothing, 22sp, 11gp, 3pp, a medium gem (50gp), and a shiny ring (Protection +1).
Mihai is startled where he kneels by the thunderous crunch as the cliff crustacean lands near him. His first instinct is to protect his patient, throwing his body between the crab and Corbius - only relaxing to stand when he is sure any danger has passed.
Moving to the body he turns again to Nim pointing at the beast "We have a paucity of materials available to us on this isle... is there aught we might use the chitinous hide for?"
Nim looks the creature over and responds, It might be good to make a shield, or even perhaps some rudimentary armor... but armor making is a rather complicated and time consuming endeavor, and not something that I excel at. My weapon making skills are hardly honed, the truth be told. I could give it a try if someone wishes however...
Aedalis moved over to Corbrius and placed his ward upon the younger man- he rested a hand on his shoulder and chanted briefly as an invisible but tangible force settled around him.
Anton looks over at Mihai and Nim, sees that they're not talking about the most urgent thing, and ignores their convo. "Do any of you magicians have a way to get this nasty stuff off of me? Please?" The outdoorsy halfling doesn't mind getting dirty, but apparently only on his own terms.
29th of Lamashan
You finish the day up moving away from the coast a little...it takes liberal use of Prestidigitation to get the skunk like smell of the Cliff Crab off of you.
30th of Lamashan
You ake the next morning and continue to move SW near the coast . It is not long before you come accross a trail..yes a fairly well worn trail in the jungle.
The trail heads towards the coast, just a short distance away or southeast away from the coast.
You go towards the coast and the trails leads down and zigzaging towards the shore and level with the water. It ends in a long sandy beach. Ahead of you appears to be some old shelters, built out of driftwood. Most have collapsed. You search the camp and find nothing of note and decide to head back up and then go SE. Using the trail you make very fast time. Looks like they follow excellent avenues through the jungle avoiding all of the roughest terrain.
You follow it for a short time into the interior of the island before it comes to a split. One heading directly east, into the interior of the island and another that heads south.
From Ishirou's treasure map, you think you might be about even with the area of the treasure, but a fair ways to the east. Remember he really wanted to be along before you try to unearth it.
Anton ponders the split. "Every road goes somewhere for a reason. We can always explore this area later; I want to see what's at the other end of these trails, that whoever lived here thought was worth going to. Maybe the left branch first, and then the right?" He breaks into a grin. "But of course that's what I'd say, since as a halfling and a Desnan, I'm contractually obligated to suggest going to the end of the road. I'd lose my membership in both groups otherwise." He winks.
I see no flaw with your logic Anton.
COrbius thuds to the ground with an audible thump and lays still until Mihai comes to his aid. Fluttering his eyes open as he feels the rush of positive energy flood into his body his ribs knitting back together.
Looking at Mihai I seem to be thanking you a lot lately my friend. But for the grace of your god I would not be here to thank you at all.
Rising Corbius claps his hand on Mihai shoulder. I owe you several now
Corbius speaks to Nim privately..
Are we getting close to the location of Ishirou's treasure map? Should we maybe just plan to go there on our next couple of outings? Presuming Ishirou is well enough to travel with us as he asked?
Mihai gives Corbius a warm smile as he helps him to stand "Your words are heard, but un-needed. Sinashakti asks only that you continue to tread the path before you, nothing more."
___
To Anton's question Mihai shrugs "I yield that choice to those more skilled than I in such pursuits."
29th of Lamashan
Anton sighs with relief as the cliff crab crud is magically pulled off of him. "Thank you, Tragershen. That was really intolerable." Then he turns to another of his elders. "And thank you, Aedalis. It was a bit disconcerting, but I could tell what your blessing did for me. And it was amazing. It made all the difference in the end." He offers a halfling fist bump.
30th of Lamashan
Anton quirks his mouth in a smile at Mihai's statement. "It's really random. When you don't know where to go, any direction is as good as another."
30th of Lamashan:
A weak smirk shows for a moment before Mihai replies "That only holds truth as one looks forward to the future, for when the path has been trodden then the truth of the choice is easily seen."
29th of Lamashan
Anton sighs with relief as the cliff crab crud is magically pulled off of him. "Thank you, Tragershen. That was really intolerable." Then he turns to another of his elders. "And thank you, Aedalis. It was a bit disconcerting, but I could tell what your blessing did for me. And it was amazing. It made all the difference in the end." He offers a halfling fist bump.
The middle aged man smiled.
It was among the first of my talents that I mastered since I began to walk down the path I am on, but it is invariably among the most useful. A little amused, Aedalis matched Anton's gesture with a soft chuckle.
29th of Lamashan
Anton sighs with relief as the cliff crab crud is magically pulled off of him. "Thank you, Tragershen. That was really intolerable."
"Yes, it was intolerable. I am glad I could manage it." Tragershen pauses, wondering for a moment if perhaps Anton meant intolerable for the halfling and not for Tragershen, standing near the little ranger with his sensitive nose. No, he chides himself. Certainly he was referring to the challenge it presented to me...
30th of Lamashan:
A weak smirk shows for a moment before Mihai replies "That only holds truth as one looks forward to the future, for when the path has been trodden then the truth of the choice is easily seen."
The short man with the sharp ears opens his mouth and then shuts it again, confused. "So, once you've done something, then you know what result it will have?" Again, he opens his mouth and then shuts it. "Wait. You're saying... the choice matters, we just don't know how until later."
The diminutive ranger perks up, smiling and standing straight, to his full three feet (and one inch) of height. "I think I get it! You're saying that even though I can't tell yet what difference it makes whether we go right or left, the difference is there. So even though I can't take that difference into account -- since I don't know it -- I should respect that it exists. That makes sense." He nods and puts out his fist.
You take the left fork, the one that heads Northeast. With Anton in the lead you get about a half hour down the trail before you run into your first obstacle.
A spiked snare sits accross the trail, waiting for the unwary. Luckily, Anton's sharp eyes catch the telltail string. It is a simple trap though and he easily removes it from the trail. The trail then goes east. You run into 3 more snares as the trails snakes north then east. Within 2 hours you make it all the way to the coast.
Another makeshift camp lies near the end of the trail. A partially completed wooden shack is here as well as the reminants of some type of lean-to. A large pentagram has been carved into one wall of the shack and several human teeth have been hammered into the wood in its center—a grisly bit of graffiti and dark stains litter the walls.
It looks quite old though and is barely standing. It is mid-day and a good time to stop as the rain drops start coming down. A large bald hill lies almost directly north of you and you can see accross the bay towards the southern part of the island. The Red Mountain can be seen looming above the bay and that part of the island.
Mihai smiles a little wider "That is one way of looking at it Anton... but one way" pausing a moment before delivering another confusing koan "But is the right path the one which delivers you into hardship or away?"
Mihai casts his eyes over the inside of the shack, clearly disgusted with what he sees. As shelter is taken from the storm, Mihai sits in the door - accepting being soaked rather than remain claustrophobically ensconced within. Muttering to himself as much as anyone "We should fire this place as we leave."
The shack was empty...
Aedalis nodded in agreement with Mihai's words.
"Nim, Anton, would you put your practical lore and keen senses to use and see if you can detect any traces of other people coming or going from this site. And if so, how long has it been?"
Basically, he's asking them to take 20 to check for tracks. He'll stand still so he doesn't do anything to obscure or destroy any clues they may find.
Regarding the shack, he'll ask "Do you suppose this is the lair of the witch the red mountain devil warned us of?"
Can Tragershen tell what was being done with the pentagram and teeth?
Knowledge Arcana
Anton holds his belly, puts his head back and laughs. "If I wanted to avoid hardship, I wouldn't have become a guide for adventurers like Larissia, Pharasma rest her soul." A mirthful grin still plays around his mouth, untroubled by the morbid turn of the conversation. "I don't want to die, but I will someday anyway. In the meantime, I enjoy using my strengths to help people and see new things, while finding what comfort I can. Whether that's 'right' is a question for people wiser than me." He shrugs one shoulder.
Knowing nothing of magic but bards' tales, Anton is very suspicious of the markings on the wall, insisting that everyone else stay back until he's certain that it isn't a trap. When Tragershen suggests looking for tracks, the small ranger nods. "Of course. I want to know too."
When Tragershen comments on the shack, Anton chuckles at the seemingly sarcastic question and replies in kind. "I know, could it be any more obvious? Witch. Pentagram. I need to look around some more, but my first impression is that it 'was' not 'is'."
Between Anton and Nim they are fairly sure that nothing has passed here in the last day or so. It is hard to be sure though as the afternoon rains make tracking after more than a day difficult.
"I can't say which is more interesting: that the people who lived here visited each other enough to wear a path, or that it was trapped. If they were friendly, then why the traps? And if they were unfriendly, then how did they live long enough to wear a path, when it's so easy to die here? Regardless, I still want to see what's at the other end of the other branch."
The only other organized inhabitants of the island you have encountered so far have been the Cannibals. If their camp is on the south end of the island, they could have been using the paths to move so quickly to your location...
Within two hours you are back at the fork. You begin to head southwest along the trail. You encounter two more snares, each about the same distance from each other and the original. The trail skirts a tall ridge south of the trail and it continues to head Southwest.
After about an hour and a half you come to another fork. One going directly north towards the shoreline of the island, the other going directly south into the heart of the southern part of the island.
Anton glances at the sky. "We know the cannibals are south, and it's getting late. Let's take the north fork a bit, get a little off the trail, and make camp. If we're going to eventually run into them, I'd rather do it when we're fresh." He makes a sour face.
"In fact... I'd like to go back before we explore further south. Let the others know what we found. So camp, finish following the trail north tomorrow, and then return to the others while exploring as much as we can without too much delay. Sound good?"
You are our Pathfinder, Anton, in both senses of that word. I will not object to the routes you lay out for us. You need not seek confirmation from I and perhaps I speak for Mihai too in this regard. Aedalis said slowly.
Mihai nods assent to the words of Aedalis "Aye, it is my lot to walk... but not to seek to set the path."
You move north and get to the shore in about an hour. Here again is another old makeshift camp. There seems to be a more obvious sign of battle here though. Broken weapons, bones, and broken shelters are on the beach. You search the ruins and find a nice dagger. It has a little rust on it but could be brought back to fine condition with some care. The only thing to note about it is the dagger’s blade is etched with a pair of crossed praying mantis claws, similar to a tattoo you have seen on Sasha's back.
You also notice a is a fairly new set of tracks from a humanoid heading Northwest from you on the beach. Looks like they may have come through here. It's almost dark so you decide to rest for the night.
You rest just a ways from the camp with your regular watch.
1st of Neth
Encounter Dawn
Encounter noon
Encounter Dusk
Encounter Midnight
Disease Nim
Disease Anton
Disease Mihai
Disease Tragershen
Disease Corbrius
Disease Aedalis
Disease Aerys
Disease Gelik
Disease Ishirou
Disease Jask
Disease Sasha
Nothing occurs during the night and you wake up to a beautiful morning. The water laps the edge of the bay. This section of beach is large.
Do you follow the tracks or head back to the camp?
"This is lucky! No matter whether it's the wood witch, the bird man that Ort mentioned, a cannibal hunter, or just another castaway, it would be good for us to know who and where they are. We planned on returning today, but the others know sometimes we take longer than expected. And if we're lucky, it won't take that long anyway."
Anton begins following the tracks, moving slowly so as not to miss anything. However, using the magic of his boots from a fallen civilization, he's still able to move almost as fast as the others for the first half of the day -- though unable to scout ahead.
You are able to follow the tracks with ease along the beach. They follow for about an hour before they end near a huge crab, one of the biggest you have ever seen.
It doesn't seem to have seen you yet, although when you get to about 50' from it it does start to move and make an odd screeching noise. You get ready to attack when Anton's sharp eyes notice that not everything is right with the beast...there seems to ropes attached to it and its legs are not really moving.
You close another 20 feet and can now clearly tell that the creature is in fact not really alive...and the noise coming from it is nothing like any crab you have ever seen. You get ready to slowly approach or yell out to the giant crab when somthing breaks the water to your right...
about 20' from you a crab of nearly the same size does rise from the water and move about 15 feet from you. This one seems about twice the size of the original you faced early on in your explorations of the island!
initiative strings:
Battle of the Crab Behemoth Round 1
Aedalis 22a
Tragershen 22b
Nim 21a
Wic 21b
Crab 13
Mihai 10
Anton 9
Corbrius 4a
??? 4b
I will post a map late today, but the crab is 20 feet from your group (15' from Wic) in difficult terrain due to the surf...it is large sized and is facing the middle of your group. It seems to obviously have reach from the giant pincers...here are your relative positions if you want to act.
Aed Mih Ant
Cor Tra Nim
Wic
*
*
CRAB
Aedalis concentrated on Anton, much like he had in the last battle- and focused his will upon the myriad of possibilities before the brave halfling.
Tragershen calmly regards the creature rising up before them. As his right hand draws his rapier from its sheath, his left hand weaves in time with the words he speaks, combining to grant himself arcane protection from the crab.
Ready rapier and cast Mage Armor on himself.
Battle of the Crab Behemoth Round 1
Nim speaks up, Back away and let it come to us! Enlarging me would be good as well..., Nim starts delaying....
Crab, Giant; Giant crab Vermin2: CR 3; ECL 5; Size L; HD 5d8+20; hp 42; Init +1; Spd 30 ft, swim 20 ft.; AC 18, touch 11, FF 17; BAB +3; Grapple +14; Atk: +8/+8 melee (1d8 + 6 plus grab, claws); SA constrict (1d6+3); SQ water dependency, darkvision 60 ft.; AL N; SV Fort +8, Ref +2, Will +1; Str 23, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 0, Wis 10, Cha 2.
Skills and Feats: Perception +4, Swim +14.
Special Abilities: Darkvision.
The crab makes a single move forward to G/H, 7/8 and attacks Wic.
the pincer barely misses Wic.
Mihai to go.
Mihai takes a step back from the crab and reaches out to Corbius to aid his path.
"Right! Deal with the imminent danger first, and then deal with whoever is behind the puppet that summoned it." Anton draws his lucerne hammer and steps forward , then tries to stab at the house-sized crab without getting too close. The spearpoint of his polearm clanks off of the imposing beast's hard shell.
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Wicewakan just narrowly avoids the crab's enormous pincer, ducking just under the claw as he moves closer to the water. As the wolf moves, he reaches in and attempts to bite one of the creature's legs and tug it off its feet...
...Wicewakan is able to latch onto a leg and bites down hard, an audible crunching sound obvious as his powerful jaws clamp down, but finds the creature too sturdy to upend.
His suggestion seemingly falling upon deaf ears, Nim springs into action and begins to slide to his right, placing himself between the crab and Tragershen, while at the same time attempting to begin re-positioning himself into a flank with his battle partner.
Just like we have been practicing these past weeks...
As Nim moves he holds his shield high to disguise a low sweeping strike at the crabs other legs...
...connecting with a satisfying crunch, cracking the crab's chitinous exterior and exposing some of the underlying tissue.
Corb to go...
Wic latches onto the Crab and tries to pull it down but the crab quickly pulls it's pincer away knocking the dog to the ground...