Melina's bomb finishes off the one that Zinkyudo previously filled with arrows and Fahd whacks the other across the snout.
The remaining sea cat tears at Fahd.
The sea cat yowls in frustration as Balooo's handful of sand hits it in the face.
Zinkyudo has no trouble hitting the crippled sea cat and Ushaka quickly finishes it off with his exotic weapon.
The blue-skinned woman urges her mount to the edge of the lagoon and begins coaxing the frightening hippocampus back toward the water. "Thank you so much! It's okay Nula, those things can't hurt you anymore. Come on, back into the water."
A minute later, the aquatic beast slips into the water and the woman visibly breathes easier. "That could have easily gone much worse. I don't know if I could handle losing another one."
The woman tosses a seaweed pouch at Balooo's feet. Inside are several big shiny pearls.
"A powerful water fey arrived on the island a few months ago. I caught her stealing a couple of my hippocampus from the waters around the island recently so I started moving them into this lagoon."
The woman shrugs at Balooo and Ushaka's questions. "I don't know and I don't much care. I just don't like the idea of people taking what's mine."
She begins to circle the water on her mount. "The name's Jenesara by the way. Thanks again. If you ever need a hand, you know where to find me."
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Melina clears her throat. "I don't suppose one of you gentlemen would care to catch me if I fall down this curst slope? No? Ah a pirate's life for me..."
She scrambles down as best she can.
After some flailing she doggy paddles across the bay.
Once she gets across, she towls herself off and turns toward the blue skinned woman
"Ah, you haven't seen part of a horn lying about? A human male would have left it here some time ago."
"A horn lying about? I don't think so and there hasn't been a human on this island for years."
"I'm not sure. I think someplace off the coast. Why do you ask? Did she steal from you too?"
"Oh, well good luck. From what I've seen she's pretty powerful."
Jenesara turns on her mount and points at a crumbling structure visible high atop a cliff to the southwest. "I assume that's what you're looking for. It's the only building on the island but unless you can fly or you're a really strong climber you'll have to take the long route through the jungle and that's lizardfolk territory. I've heard they can be negotiated with but I've never had a reason to. They control most of the jungle except the areas the pechs patrol."
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Zink flaps his undersized wings in frustration at hearing that flying to the monastery would save them all sorts of trouble. "Okay, there's lizardfolk, and we just might be able to talk with them. But what's a pech?"
He looks at his crewmates with a puzzled expression and shrugs, clearly asking, Pech? Anyone?
"They're earth-fey", Jenesara explains. "I'm afraid I don't know much about them beyond that."
North of the lagoon's beach, a series of gray stones marks a rough path through the jungle. Though sections are partially overgrown and moss covers many of the marker stones, the path is free of larger obstructions. The more saavy in the party determine that someone must maintain this trail other the jungle would have swallowed this path long ago.
After several minutes of traversing the jungle, the trail intersects a wide gorge carved by a stream, a rope suspension bridge crosses the gorge, supported at each end by carved stones.
As Balooo leans over the ledge, he spots what looks a hairless simian clinging to the rocks. It looks up at the Ulfen with hatred in its eyes but, realizing he's been spotted, flees down the cliff and is joined by another midway down.
With the potential ambush foiled, the party is free to carefully cross the perilous bridge.
After traveling a bit further south, the party finds their way barred by four brawny lizardfolk warriors. They're armed with crude spears but they don't immediately brandish them at the party.
One of them steps forward and speaks in a tongue Melina recognizes (draconic).
"Outsiders! You should go no further. Treacherous kech patrol this part of the jungle. Return with us to our village. Our leader will want to meet you."
Zinkyudo gets the sense that the reptilian warriors may not be hostile but they aren't willing to let the party advance any further either.
The lizardfolk look to Fahd with confusion. It's clear they don't understand a word he's saying.
With the lizardfolk warriors as their guide, the party has little trouble traversing even the most dense thatches of jungle. After a few minutes they emerge into a small clearing with treetop platforms overhead - the lizardfolk's dwellings no doubt.
They're greeted by a huge powerfully built lizard scion who the lizardfolk warriors quickly kneel before. One looks up long enough to address the party in broken common. "Krentak. Mighty warchief."
Satisfied with Balooo's greeting the huge lizardfolk nods.
"It's been many seasons since a soft-skinned human visited our jungle. Are you friends of Warvil? Is he well?" the warchief says in surprisingly good Taldane.
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Zink gives Melina a startled look and asks, "A taste for birds? Do lizardfolk really...never mind." He seems to have dismissed the notion, but he does maintain a careful distance from their escorts as they make their way to the village.
Once in the presence of Krentak, Zinkyudo's attention is divided between his study of the chieftain and scanning their surroundings for anything of note, particularly evidence that they eat large birds.
Zinkyudo spots several primitive totems that include feathers and avian bones. The lizardfolk themselves don't seem to be looking at him with hunger necessarily.
"Wiiiiiiffe", Krentak says as he sounds the word out, pondering its meaning. "Ah, lifemate! Friends of Warvil's wife is friend of our tribe. Welcome! Welcome!"
The huge lizardfolk gestures and several others rush forward with platters full of dried meats (of unknown origin), nuts, and shells filled with coconut water. "Eat. Drink. The jungle is hard on soft-skinned humans. You will need all your strength."
"What is this about artifact? Warvil told us many things. He taught Krentak the human tongue. He told us nothing about an artifact."
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"Yes a horn. You give it a little bit of air at the end and it makes a sound; well, you don't really have the lips for it, but you get the idea."
(Draconic)"Excellent giant cockroach you've got here.". Mel crunches as she ponders. "I think she might br a nereid or nixie. Is there a hidden way to the monastery?"