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"I can take the first watch. I need to wind down anyway. So much to see, so much to see!" He has normal vision but will keep a light spell running.
"Oh, songs! Travelling with a bard. It can't get much better than this! Please, do you have any tragic tiger tales? "
"Stolka, do you need to sleep at all? I'm not very familiar with your kind, but I'm sure eager to learn all you can share."
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While Laeowynne is handy with a bow he is not the sort to actual use the weapon for hunting seeing he has no woodland skills. He is content to just watch the others do their hunting part as he tries to stay clean and comfortable in the wild.
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Once the group breaks for camp Laeowynne sets up his area and finds a clean log to sit on as he cleans himself and his weasel. Prestidigitation on his robes, boots, gloves, backpack, spellbook after he dropped it in the mud etc. He then ignores the others as he studies his spells.
The night passes uneventfully. Early in the morning, the you hear a loud crash coming from the count’s tent.
The interior of this spacious canvas tent is richly decorated with portable darkwood and silver furnishings. Torn mosquito netting hangs above the bed, and a mirror, basin, and various shaving implements lie scattered on the ground. A black leather boot lies on the floor next to the crumpled remains of a large black spider.
Baron Rudyahm reaches the tent just ahead of you. “What the devil happened in here?” he asks as he enters. When Celewen follows him inside, he sees Count Matsanda lying on the bed clutching his bare right foot in pain.
The count replies in a fearful voice, “Something in my boot bit me—a spider I think. I fell back onto the bed in surprise. My god, Bomande, what if it’s poisonous? I could lose the foot! You brought some antitoxin, didn’t you? Fetch it quickly!”
Unfazed, the baron replies, “Ah, bit of luck then. The spiders of Segang aren’t dangerous, not like the scorpions. It’ll probably smart for a bit, that’s all. Next time, check your damn boots!”
Count Matsanda is not assured by the promises of his father-in-law, and the two men begin to argue. Both nobles look to them for support in this matter....
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The large female half orc briefly flushes greenish and looks at Stolka with an expression of annoyance as the Oread male preempts her own declaration. "Thank you, Master Van Veld." she says with a slight growl , "I agree. Count, Baron, this spider is almost exactly like some I've seen before. What venom it has is only as dangerous as a single bee sting. More painful than deadly."
Keldra stands up and regains a more neutral composure, "I suggest that every morning we all check any bags or clothing we have for any guests. Small animals, insects, and snakes love to find new places to spend the night"
The Baron's chest puffs up a little as the party confirms what he has said. "See, you big baby. Just like I said."
Annoyed, the Count rolls his eyes, but calms considerably with so much confirmation that he won't be dying soon.
Shortly before departing from camp, Count Matsanda pulls a few of you aside. “I’d really like to impress the old man today, but you see, I’m not much of a hunter,” he admits. “In fact, I’ve never really been hunting before! Is there any help or advice you can give me?”
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Stolka looks quizzically at Keldra for a moment, then shrugs.
"You're welcome, pretty lady!" He tosses the spider over his shoulder.
"OK Mr. Count. So, this is sorta like hunting boar back home in Bre-voy. When the thingh charges you, you put the not-pointy end of the spear in the ground in front of your foot... that'sa what's called bracing. Its very nice. Then you put the pointy end facing the thingh that'sa charging you. Then you get dinner!"
The Count nods, taking in the advice. "OK, ok - that makes sense."
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Celewen does take a different tack. Instead he tries to convince the count that it doesn't really matter if you kill something. The point is to enjoy the company of others and share in the group experience. "Just relax, participate, and have fun." (Kind of like the mentality where EVERY kid gets a trophy, just for playing). He is trying to put the Count at ease, reducing his anxiety and his need to 'impress' the baron.
Apparently that doesn't go over well :(
Could I have taken 10 (or 20) for that? I assume you cannot for diplomacy.
"Yah, easy for you to say... you aren't marrying into this family."
He did not seem impressed by your attempt.
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When the sun rises, the babbling halfling goes hunting for his favorite rock dude. "Good morning, my friend!" he says with much more enthusiasm than anyone who had spent the previous day toiling through the jungle should have. "Were you blessed with the power to speak to our grey, towering friend? (the elephant, not Stolka)"
On Day 1, Akter has a shot on an antelope, but just misses the shot and it flees.
On Day 2, thanks to the overwhelming help, the Count is able to get a magnificent sloth bear! He is very excited, but tries to play it casually.
On the morning of the Day 3, the smell of wood smoke fills the camp as porters busy themselves tending various cooking fires. Outside the camp, the jungle is alive with the sounds of monkeys, birds, and chirping insects. The smell of food soon attracts the attention of a band of macaques that gather at the edge of the camp.
These macaques cause trouble by overturning containers, stealing trinkets, and raiding unguarded food supplies. Reactions to the monkeys differ in the camp. The porters act reverentially toward the monkeys and offer them prayers along with bits of food and water. Baron Rudyahm, however, detests the monkeys.
"You all there. Go get rid of those pesky monkeys.. by any means possible!"
the Gorilla King.
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"Oh, its OK Mr. Baron! These little fellas aren't like those demon-monkey-guys! Venture-Captain Valsin said the temple we'hre lookin' for might be to some monkey gohd or somethingh. See, youhr guys are makin' friends!"
Stolka indicates the various porters making offerings to the monkeys. Stolka will copy the porters.
Upon talking to the elephant, you gain nothing of value. This elephant wasn't part of the original hunt, and is simply a rentable transport.
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[dice=Wild empathy (Diplomacy, S9 Sovereign Court FJC reward Practiced Diplomat, minimum result of 10)]1d20-3[/dice]
In a display of calm and caring, Akter helps Stolka approach and calm the monkeys. Slowly, they began to wonder off, stopping what could have been a very chaotic problem. The porters all view your party with greater respect.
Following breakfast and the simian disturbance, there is another opportunity to hunt. Once you have concluded the hunt, in which the Baron bags a Golden Jackal, you return to the main trail and continue winding through the forest.
Some of the porters say the monkeys who reside there possess mystical powers. Others simply don't want to anger the ancient monkey gods.
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Keldra grins approvingly at the growing friendship between Stolk and his elephantine mount.
After listening to the porters, she turns to the priestess of the Dawnflower and asks, "Do you think that monkeys have their own gods and goddesses? And if they do, then they might have priests and prietesses too, right?"
"That would stand to reason," one porter responds.
Suddenly, the elephant turns very agitated! The porters start pointing and waving sticks. A number of large snakes are along side the path, and this is the source of the elephant's fear.
Some of you also see a very large snake in front of your path, slithering out of the jungle and towards the others.
At the sight of the snakes, the old elephant panics and begins stamping about wildly, threatening to shake the howdah off its back. The mahout falls from his seat to the ground. Count Matsanda looks at you and says "Can you help control this elephant?"
Meanwhile, the Baron shouts "Protect those porters! That large snake is deadly!"
Akter puts an arrow into the large cobra, but it doesn't seem to slow it down much. Meanwhile, the porters are trying to scare off the snakes, and one of the small ones does wander off into the jungle.
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Stolka peers at the large snake, trying to identify it by its markings.
[dice=Knowledge (nature) to identify the big snake]1d20+6[/dice]
He calls back over his shoulder, "One of you guhys might want to come over and hit that snake with somethingh!"
Turning his attention to the elephant, Stolka tries to calm the beast with a firm hand on the reins.
[dice=Ride]1d20+2[/dice]
Stolka handles the elephant expertly, and manages to calm it down.
The Baron, finding the elephant relatively call, uses his musket to shoot at the giant snake.
The Count also fires his musket at the snake.
Unfortunately, the large snake strikes, killing one of the porters.