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Brady fishes another dart out of his belt, but pauses, taking an additional moment to make sure that he can throw the dart as best as he can.
Benefit: With a thrown weapon, you reduce your penalty on ranged attack rolls due to range by 2.
Martial Flexibility (Ex): A brawler can take a move action to gain the benefit of a combat feat she doesn't possess. This effect lasts for 1 minute. The brawler must meet all the feat's prerequisites. She may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + 1/2 her brawler level (minimum 4 times per day).
The brawler can use this ability again before the duration expires to replace the previous combat feat with another choice.
If a combat feat has a daily use limitation (such as with Stunning Fist), any uses of that combat feat while using this ability count toward that feat's daily limit.
Finally in terrain where he has a bit of an advantage, despite his weakened condition, Monty makes full use of it, as he swings up to a higher branch and starts swinging and kicking at the levitating sorcerer! His first blow hits the man on the shoulder with a painful cracking sound, as something definitely broke. The second kick glances off the side of his head, sending him spinning slightly with nothing solid to ground himself
Tad quickly starts up a neighboring tree, his grippli limbs well suited for climbing as well, even if the amphibious style differs considerably from the primate one. He almost can't get far enough up to reach the vanaran after his maneuvering in the trees, but Tad's tongue can reach where he can't and Monty receives a small amount of healing... though still just a drop in the overall pool of damage he has received.
Below Dale heals gives Faliana a little more healing love as well.
Brady realizes his remaining ranged options are hindered not only by the environment and activity, but also because they are just not well suited for anything beyond close range, and takes a moment to recall some earlier training to deal with just that issue.
Drusilla with a bow suffers no such issues with distance, only the rain and the motion above hindering her shots... though she did not realize how hard the shot would actually be until she actually started trying to make it. Still, she takes her time, blinking the rain out of her eyes, and timing the activity above... then fires!
The arrow flies true, the Aspis agent still spinning from Monty's blow to his temple, doesn't quite twist out of the way in time, and the shaft sinks into his side, below his left arm.
He floats there, limply, for a moment, then suddenly his entire form goes crashing twenty feet to the jungle floor below, whatever magic holding him up suddenly fading, almost landing on Faliana!
Both the elves continue to eye you with suspicion, bordering on hostility, though they are in no condition to do more then that, one of them barely able to stand, and both still bound and staked to the ground.
A quick search of the three downed foes will find basic equipment, though there appear to be a fair number of magical items among them.
The two guards both have three magical potions, as well as well-crafted masterwork weapons and armor (mwk hand axes x 4, mwk heavy crossbow x 2). Their leader has two magical potions, three scrolls, a wand, and a magical cloak... as well as a smokestick, a masterwork light crossbow and an equally well made masterwork light mace... he also the instantly recognizable badge of the Aspis Consortium. You also manage to find 316 gold coins between the three of them and two large sacks containing a number of strange fruits with thick greenish-yellow rinds.
Two of the other potions are for masking oneself from common animals , and the last, off of the leader, is a potion of invisibility.
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Before we rest, Tad gathers everyone together and channels several times. He is careful to make sure the elf prisoners are also included.
Then he uses his wand to heal the prisoners up to full. (He's not sure how they would react to lick heals, so he puts a hand on their shoulders instead. I don't know their current damage, so can't roll for it myself. Willing to spend up to 10 wand charges.)
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Seeing his opponent finally go down, Monty slowly hauls himself back up into the tree, gritting his teeth in pain as he slides down the trunk, hitting the ground with a bit more of a "THUD" than would be expected from the nimble martial artist. He sits down while his friends go through the pockets of the enemy. He looks over at the two elves, wincing at all the pains in his body.
Any chance either of you speak Taldoran? Ya'know, common? Trade Language? It'd make life a sight easier if you could... I'd like to untie you right away, but I really don't want any miscommunication right now...
Seeing his friends pull out vials from the packs, he calls over.
Don't suppose any of those are healing potions? I can really use a patch up job. That flying madman nearly made mincemeat out of this monkey.
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Brady's shoulders slump once the Aspis sorcerer is down, finally relaxed. He wanders into the woods to retrieve his dagger and the dart that he threw.
He wanders over to the elves and stands beside Monty. He ensures that he takes a casual, non-threatening stance, and continues Monty's thoughts in Polyglot.
"ምናልባት የአካባቢውን የንግድ ቋንቋ ትናገራለህ? ጠላቶች አይደለንም. እኛ ወዳጆች መሆን እንፈልጋለን, እኛን ለመልቀቅ እንፈልጋለን, ነገር ግን መጀመሪያ የምንነጋገሪያ መንገድን መፈለግ አለብን."
"Do you speak the local trade language perhaps? We're not enemies; we want to be your friends, and we want to release you, but we need to find a way to communicate first."
Neither of the elves seem to respond to polyglot or common, though they utter a few warnings at you in elvish.
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Neither of the elves seem to respond to polyglot or common, though they utter a few warnings at you in elvish.
Faliana's eyes narrow as the elf she was trying to cut free squirms away from her. She opens her mouth to say something at the man but the other half-elf falling form the sky, and the ruckus he causes distracts her. After the water spray and healing from Tad settles, she has mostly forgotten about them.
"Great job Monty and Dru, I don't think anyone else in the group could handle... that." Her words turn a little distasteful as her eyes come to rest on the prone form of the sorcerer.
When Monty starts trying to talk to the elves, Faliana moves up behind him to see if there is anything she can do to help, when it becomes clear that both common and polyglot aren't in their lexicons, Faliana is surprised, though after a second she realizes she probably shouldn't be, to hear them speaking in a language she hadn't heard in a long time. She, however is even more shocked by what they are saying.
She rises up to her full height and gives the men a few sharp words that could best be described as a mother scolding a child."O que estás facendo, advertindo ás persoas que obviamente están aquí para axudar."
She stops for a second, before deflating as she realizes the men are probably a few hundred years older than her. Letting the exhaustion she'd been feeling since well before having her energy drained, she gives the two men an earnest, pleading look. "Sentímolo, estou moi húmido, enfermo e sentindo débil, entón estou ao bordo un pouco. Non estamos en moito mellor, pero realmente estamos aquí para axudar. Quizais podemos axudarnos? Pero en primeiro lugar, se mantivesen inmóbiles poderiamos desbloquearte en breve. Tamén temos algunhas varitas curativas en caso de que aínda estás ferido."
"Sorry, I'm very wet, sick, and feeling weak, so I'm on edge a bit. We're not in much better shape, but we really are here to help. Maybe we can help each other? But first, if you'd hold still we can have you untied shortly. We also have a few healing wands in case you're still hurt."
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Dale watches the floating man crash down into the jungle, and a small smile can be seen beneath his mob of hair Seems we've all lived through this, I'm somewhat surprised. Now to live through this trip...
Dale takes a step over to Dru and pats her on her shoulder "Way to be more fit than they today, we've still got a chance."
As Tad gathers everyone together for healing Dale quickly waves him off as he isn't hurt, but instead begins investigating the treasure trove of interesting potions and fruits the Aspis have collected and now donated to their cause "Oh there are nice. A number of healing vials, hide from animals, and invisibility. These fruits are quite rare and valuable, prized by brewmasters especially in Cheliax!"
As he looks through the treasures he overhears Faliana speaking with the natives in Elvish and responds in kind
Although both elves are clearly little happier to see you then their previous captors, Faliana starts talking to them in elvish, and they seem to settle down a little. Enough so that they allow Tad to finish healing the wounds the channels did not get.
Though they still watch you warily, they seem at least grateful for their rescue now, and for the healing... though they seem to notice your general poor health with some concern.
They continue to talk to Faliana and Dale, though address most of their responses to the medium not the alchemist.
It takes a while to get their guards down, clearly not ones to trust easily.
"You are not the first outsiders spewing honeyed words, claiming to want to help." The less injured elf says with a frown, in response to Faliana's reprimand.
"The enemy of enemies are rarely friends." The other adds curtly, in response to Dale. "Outsiders even less so."
Still, despite their obvious mistrust, you are able to slowly talk them into a more amenable state. Though as you do, they both start to eye you and the rest warily... seeing Dale coughing up blood and most of the rest of you still with lesions and boils from the disease running through the party.
"The blue sickness." One says.
The other nods, before adding, "The jungle fends off outsiders in its own way. These are Ekujai lands, you would be wise to leave, while you still can."
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Seeing the Elves more friendly with Faliana, not something Dale was surprised about as he'd never been the most liked in a group, Dale pulls out his journal (if the rain has stopped) and takes notes while translating for the group. He does take particular interest in the 'blue sickness' comment and pipes up "This blue sickness, is there a remedy here? It is... unpleasant." He says matter-of-factly.
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Faliana nods at Dale, glad the man is translating for the group, allowing her to focus on making sure her words are placed properly and she doesn't miss important things the elves say.
She gives a nod at their words warning the group off. I can see the wisdom and understand why they say that, but I can't say I agree.
She gives a cough and a small shudder from the sickness, before she gives the men a flat serious look, as she talks, though her face and voice soften some to her regular, calm but somewhat melodic tones.
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The before going to bed that night, Faliana asks Dale and Tad if they can check in the condition of her illness, before pulling Dale aside and telling him to stop dosing himself with the disease!
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After returning to camp with his weapons, Brady slumps down next to a tree, the fatigue caused by whatever 'blue sickness' finally commanding rest. He draws out his vial of antiplague (how could we have ever though a single dose of this would be enough?) and awaits assistance from Tad and Dale. When instructed by his 'doctor,' he drinks down the vial with gusto, hoping it's able to do its good work, since he has no more.
Faliana continues to talk to the two elves, with Dale keeping an ear on the conversation. Both the Ekujae seem to have relaxed some, though they remain wary.
"We know nothing of debts." One answers. "It is rare for outsiders to be in a position to owe such to the Ekujae."
"We are from the village perhaps two days from here." You note he seems to avoid indicating a direction or even the name of this village... clearly only trusting you so far.
"But it is just one of many villages. Perhaps you debt is with one of those?"
He looks at his companion, and they have a quick conversation between themselves.
He glances over at Dale. "The blue sickness is deadly to outsiders... and by the looks of the human, he might not make it there."
"We would tell you to turn back, but he is not likely to make it that way either."
"Since you have aided us, we will aid you. There are some in the village who might be able to help ... though he will have to survive long enough to reach it on his own."
"Though not tonight." He adds, finally. "Tonight we rest, as should you all. Clearly the jungle has not finished with you, and it is a long walk."
Eventually, they seem to come to some sort of agreement, and offer to guide you to their village in the morning.
Which is all fine for most of you, as the fatigue of the day, and the trip, and the effects of the disease, has wiped most of you out. Dru makes a short foray into the nearby jungle, hoping to find something edible, but has no luck at all. While she does so, Tad works hard tending to everyone still under the effects of the sickness. He continues to do so throughout the night, moving from patient to patient, getting little sleep himself, but doing his best to ensure the rest of you do.
Dale unfortunately, proves the old adage true, that doctors make the worst patients... refusing to actually rest himself, despite his obvious poor health, as he moves around trying to help in spite of himself. In the end, it proves his undoing, as without any rest, his condition gets even worse come morning.
The rest however, wake up the next morning feeling better then they have for days. The fatigue of the previous days seemingly washing away with the last of the morning's rain. Even most of the painful swelling and lesions have receded. Only Drusilla still looks a little pale, as her encounter with the vampiric mists will require far more then a single night's rest to reverse.
The two elves seem well-rested as well, the effects of their ordeal the day before mostly past.
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Dale rises in the morning, feeling no better, if not worse than the day before Dammit, I thought for sure that antiplague would help, must have been a bad batch? NAH, this body just isn't near as strong as the mind! He goes through his normal rituals of preparing his daily concoctions to keep the heat at bay, as well as giving him the strength to carry his heavy pack along.
Noticing Dru's grumbling stomach he pulls out a pack of trail rations to share with his favorite blonde "No sense letting those muscles of yours wither up Dru." He says, starting to chuckle and quickly evolving into a horrid cough and blood filled spit.
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Feeling refreshed from Tad's excellent care, Brady looks at the morning in a new light. It looked like they were going to receive some much-needed assistance. Though not the Ekujae that they sought, at least they would receive help. Perhaps there was a chance of survival after all.
After breaking fast with the others, and while Tad prepares his spells for the day, Brady looks to wander the jungle in a short radius around their camp.
"I'm going to try to build something to help Dale travel. I'll try to find some sturdy limbs and vines, stuff like that. Maybe I can construct a litter, or even crutches. Anything to help. If anybody else has an eye for that, I'd love the help. Otherwise, make sure that he rests. Dale, your research is officially put on hold until you can stand on your feet healthily again. It'll do no good in any way if you can't bring it out of this jungle with you."
Brady will be able to find, and construct, what he's looking for, though convincing Dale to use them is a different story...
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Monty stretches with a yawn, practically chipper as he hops up.
Ugh! I can breath again! Finally!
He leaps up into the trees to get an eye at the forest around them, coming down once Tad is ready to walk around and pass out the protection from the elements. As they are tapped down with the wand, Monty flicks his tail in appreciation.
That is much better on the fur. Brady, you need any help?
He looks to Dale and says simply.
You can write in your journal what you observe if you want, but no getting out. Your on bedrest, if I have to knock you into it.
It quickly becomes evident that any sort of litter will prove way too inconvenient in the thick undergrowth through which you are traveling, so the best Brady can do is making a set of crutches for Dale to help support himself as you continue on.
You journey from where you fought the Aspis agents proves to be relatively straight forward, the two Ekujae leading you down almost invisible game trails, and through and around difficult terrain and dangerous natural features with ease, obviously well at home in this section of the Expanse.
The fact the disease that had been dogging you for days was finally clear might have something to do with it as well. For all of you but Dale, of course. The alchemist constantly lags behind... though never in danger of being forgotten, as his harsh rasping breath wheezes constantly behind you as he tries to keep up. The flow of the day constantly interrupted by breaks and pauses.
As you travel through the first part of the morning, Dru starts to notice far fewer signs of large predators then what you have noticed in your travels up to this point. Before long, Monty will point upwards towards the treetops where you start to see small wooden platforms built high up above the ground, well camouflaged from those down below. The platforms seem spread out, forming no obvious pattern and with no obvious ways up to them. All appear empty.
Your two guides tend to spread out, one of them ranging out of sight, somewhere far ahead, while the other travels with you, guiding you past hazards and barriers, though he does so mostly silently. Neither of them seem hindered by the thick undergrowth and foliage, able to slip through it with surprising ease, and though they do not say anything, you suspect they could be moving much quicker if not for your slower pace.
It is just past midday, as you wait for the inevitable daily rainfall to start up once more, that a voice rings out from up above. The words, though spoken in polyglot, are heavily accented as if the speaker is not that conversant, their tone less questioning, and more demanding.
Above you, you see more of the platforms you've been observing for most of the morning, but for the first time, some appear to not be empty... as wild-looking elves seem to be set up in a number of them, all with bows drawn, and arrows knocked, pointed directly down at you.
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"I'm... comin... I... was... just... checking... this... tree..." Dale creeps along with his new crutches, a bouquet of strange leaves and flowers crammed in one hand, between his crutch handle.
Once they get hollered at Dale whispers to the group in translation while the others do the direct communications. Hrm, hope this goes well!
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As the group moves through the forest, Faliana is glad that they have the elves as guides. She does keep up her regular showers to keep the bugs away, but if how excitedly Sansa batters away at anyone in ear shot, it seems she is in a good mood.
Faliana nods at Dru's words and, with a hopeful glance at Dale to see if he is translating for the group, adds a few words in elvish.
"I hope can see they are not bound and you can have your Magic casters verify they aren't under any spells. As my friend here said we are here to accomplish what Nieford Sharrowsmith said he would do for you. Sadly the man himself has moved onto the boneyard and his final resting place, so we will have to take on whatever he promised you. Also we have a rather sick man over here who probably won't make it out of the forest if he doesn't get some help, that and we are almost out of food..."
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Dale stands up a bit and puffs his chest out at the mention of he being near death "Hey now I heard that!" He says in Elven before coughing a bit and frowning behind his mop of hair. I'm not dead yet! But I really should stop fooling around and get better... At least I remembered to bring enough food!
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The elves... you can see at least four spread among the platforms overhead... seems a little on edge. As Drusilla starts to speak, a couple of them start to relax a little. When Faliana follows up Dru's words in Elvish, that seems to help, as the others lower their weapons as well... though it does cause all further words to be in elvish, rather then polyglot, apparently preferring to use their native tongue.
The elf that was accompanying you, quickly speaks up, confirming the story of their rescue, though the rest seem to become somewhat upset as they learn only two of the patrol survived the encounter with the Aspis. Faliana and Dale will catch a few muttered curses and comments in elvish referencing some other recent conflict elsewhere. You all can tell a little of the anger and bad emotions ends up directed back at you by a few of them.
They talk quietly among themselves for a moment, one of them laughing before being quieted by a stern look. They then call down to you once more.
"Is one of you Sharrowsmith?" The leader asks, eyes studying everyone appraisingly.
When it becomes clear you are not Sharrowsmith himself, he frowns slightly. "We have been instructed to keep an eye out for an outsider named such. If you are representatives of this Sharrowsmith, then Fola will want to speak to you."
You can tell he seems to doubt the wisdom of this particular instruction, but is following a previous order on the topic. He pauses for a minute, pondering, before continuing.
"We will escort you to her." He finally calls, making brief hand gestures at the others. "She will decide whether you stay or leave, then."
After a brief exchange of words between the lead elf, and Faliana, the elf makes a few quick motions to the rest, and suddenly, they are all moving. With the deftness of ones having spent their whole lives in the trees, the elves all grab vines hanging down from the canopy above, and suddenly are swinging through the trees, heading to the east... traveling from platform to platform with skill that would make even Monty's ancestors proud.
The lead elf calls down once more, again in Polyglot. "We move now. Come! Do not stray." And with that, he too is moving through the forest canopy above with the others.
Your elf guide, on the ground, motions for you to start moving again, apparently intending to guide you to this new person, while the other patrol shadows you in the trees up above.
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Dale translates to the group as before "Well that went... pretty well really. Its pretty neat they can swing through the trees and platforms like that!" I wonder what their blood chemistry looks like, maybe I'll be lucky enough to collect a sample... if only I thought of it back at the clearing with the slavers!
Dale grabs up his crutches and hobbles along with the others.
The rest of the day passes like the first part, as you make your way slowly along trails, nearly invisible to anyone who doesn't know where they are.
The new elven escort stays up in the trees the entire time. You occasionally catch glimpses of them swinging amidst the branches overhead. In fact, now that you see them in action, you realize that many of the vines overhead seem to have been strategically placed there for that very purpose.
The rain, of course, starts up again at the same time as usual... and you're sure will be with you until morning once more. It does however make spotting the elves even more difficult.
Your ground-bound guide seems to know where he's going, and you make another mile or so before the quickly receding sun and rainy skies finally forces you to halt due to lack of light. You realize that the other elf you rescued never makes an appearance again, once you ran into the second patrol... though your current guide does not comment or seem disturbed by that fact.
Signs of the elves up above disappear entirely at that point, even the wooden platforms overhead swallowed up by the surrounding darkness of the rain-shrouded jungle. Even Brady, who's vision can pierce the darkened reaches of the canopy, can not pick out the elven escort in it.... though you're certain their still up there, somewhere.
Your guide too disappears into the jungle eventually, apparently not wanting to spend the evening in your company. Leaving the six Pathfinders to camp the night alone in the rain. No one has bothered to tell you how far you have to go... though based on something the rescued elves said the night before, you'd guess you're within a day of their village. You're not sure if they are currently leading you in that direction or not... as you're well off the route indicated on Sharrowsmith's map.
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Dale walks along, mostly in silence once the rain starts, no one likes being out in the rain for days on end, especially when you're sick.. real sick. When they break for camp he is sure to thank everyone for their help in the trip, especially Brady for his fine crutches.
"I've got a bit more food I can share, but in return I need you all to help Tad deal with this persistent cough I've got and well" He looks at his hairy arms and legs with their boils and overall grossness "Ya, those too I guess. I don't want to sound like a worry wort or anything, but... I'm starting to think this might be serious! I'm going to drink down another antiplague serum and hopefully that helps by morning." It would be pretty terrible to die of a disease in a jungle in the rain... so embarrassing!