"A yellow-musk zombie!" Sil calls out. "How inter. . . I mean, gross! Use blades against it, everyone; hack off its limbs! It's more plant than anything. Sticky, stay back, this isn't your fight!"
Sil then advances with his own dagger in hand and slashes at the creature.
Sil's magic blade tears mossy, rotten flesh from the creature's bones, but if it felt the terrible blow, its expression does not show it. It makes a shambling motion toward the elf, hitting him square with a sweep of its arm.
-----
"Move yer keester short stuff!" Lionel bellowed, digging his heels into the dirt and readying himself to launch forward once Gathien complied.
As the opening appeared, he hurtled forward, bringing down his claw in a wide arch.
However on final approach, he slipped in a rain slick patch of mud, barely managing to keep on his feet as his attack practically turned into a hug. Leaning on the putrid thing for a moment, he sprang back out of its rotten embrace "Awh Hells!" He sneered.
Sil steps forward and readies to flank with Gathien, hoping his dagger will be more effective this time. He then slashes at the plant zombie.
Kayle moves away from the thing with a disgusted look on her face and...can't do anything as the others surround the creature preventing her from dropping grease. She shrugs and looks around helplessly.
Gathien starts to draw his blade and then, in response to Lionel's shout, he steps to the side and unleashes the fire within him, burning away his doubt and filling him with power that he directs down the sword as he slashes at the thing.
Lionel charges forward and tears into the yellow musk zombie, tearing mossy flesh and dripping vines aside. Sil and Gathien lend their weapons as well, and the foul creature ends up as little but pulpy ribbons.
"This place was not deserted purposefully," Sil says as he points out the blood stains and weapons marks around the camp, "rather I think it was a forceful eviction-an invasion."
"I would have guessed that from the zombie-thing."
"I believe the yellow musk could have taken over any dead body, even one that died peacefully on its own. But that zombie was not using weapons and there are distinct weapon marks; someone else attacked the former resident or residents."
"So, about this, what was it? Yellow musk thing?" Lionel said, crouched at its side and picking at its remains with a claw. "I aint no expert on magic an' what not, but aint these things supposed to have some evil necromancer behind em?" He rubbed a bit of the remains between his fingers, sniffing at it inquisitively. "So do we have another problem on our hands then?" He looked at Sil.
"No evil necromancer, at least not yet. It's a plant-more of a mold really-that can take control of a body and animate it like a zombie, although the creature is truly a plant, not undead. But the fact that this man likely at the hands of another is perhaps troubling."
Gathien sighs and then chuckles, "Ok, so what you're saying is that it's not enough that all the animals are trying to kill and eat us, but the plants are too?"
He then starts too look around, turning his head to Sil, "So, if this camp was abandonned -- even in a hurry -- there may still be survivors. Any idea how long ago, Silmarye?"
The party advances up the coast back toward camp, and the cliff descends to a beach. Sil notices traces in the sand and half-eaten fish bones and other small animals that mark this area as the lair of a coastal predator.
As they round a number of large boulders strewn across the beach, the explorers find a crab--a huge crustacean the size of a dwarf--devouring the corpse of one of the jungle's many tropical goats.
Sil holds up a hand and points out the crab to his companions. "Let's just leave it be."
Sticky doesn't understand the need to be quiet and blunders forward in his normal treant way.
Trundling forward with Sticky, but somehow still managing to catch the crab by surprise, Lionel rolled his arms in their sockets and advanced on the hapless crustacean. "ol' Stickys got the right of it, may as well rid ourselves of a future trouble...That and crab is delicious!"
Lionel charges forward at the crustacean, swiping his claw across its carapace. Its chitinous hide is too thick, and his blow glances off. It's still hasn't noticed the others in the dark, though, except Sticky.
-----
Realizing that Sticky is not exactly the most subtle companion, Sil draws his dagger and prepares for a crab-fight.
Sil then moves in and directs Sticky to do the same, trying to kill the crab before it has a chance to attack.
Gathien steps forward, starting to circle around the beast while drawing his greatsword.
Gathien rushes in from the side, allowing the flame to flow through both him and his blade as he brings it down on the crab, going for a quick kill.
for
Sil and Sticky also prove unable to breach the creature's hard shell. Gathien darts around the side, easily slipping past the crab and the large boulders. His sword flares with a gout of flame, steaming in the rain, then brings it down halfway through the creature's back, leaving a gaping, searing hole that causes the crab to collapse.
"I tells ya, aint nothin' like a good bite o' crab! Back in The Shackles, we used to fill barrels with em, get some good eatin' the first week at sea!" Lionel said excitedly as he dug meat out of the crab in a much too messy fashion. He continued to talk about crab as he went, taste, preparation, seasoning.
Before long he held an armful of poorly extracted meat in his arms, the crabs clawed arms tugged under his.
"Lets get back right quick, these things tend to spoil quickly."
Sil will take 10 for 20 on harvesting the crab meat. "Yes, I believe we just found our next meal or two."
Gathien says, "Let me sneak around and we can kill it quickly with flanking. This time, keep Sticky back."
for
Sil and Sticky wait for Gathien to make the first move and then charge in shortly after.
The exploration party finally makes it back to camp. Ishirou is on watch, and draws his sword as they approach--when he realizes that it's the other castaways, and not an intruder, he quickly puts it away and comes forward to meet them. "You're back!" he says with a smile, even for Lionel. "We were getting a bit worried. You're all coming back so late, I thought you were coming to attack! You must be exhausted--get some sleep before you pass out, hey?"
Ishirou wakes Jask, who heals everyone's wounds before going back to sleep. "Good to see you all in one piece!" he sleepily cheers.
Lionel nodded at Ishirou, though a smile wasnt forthcoming just yet. "Yeah, been a rough couple of days. Nothin' too life threatenin', but seems we arent alone on the island. Dont know if thats good or bad yet."
Walking to his sleeping area, Lionel quickly drifted into sleep.
Sil pats Sticky on the. . . limb? and finds a nice place to lay down for the night. Sticky stands watch over Sil for a few moments before taking his post as the night guardsmantreant.
Despite her exhaustion, Kayle will stay up for a little bit to get some food and talk with Ishirou, explaining the "terrors" they experienced and discussing her concerns with the numerous traps to the south.
Ishirou seems to appreciate that Kayle stays up with him, but he receives the news of the island rather gravely. "Didn't you say that there were rumors about cannibals on this island? I can't imagine why there would be traps set up along the trails, unless they were trying to catch people using them." He shudders. "Makes my skin crawl just thinking about the possibility..."
He is silent for a little while, sharing some of the Jenivere's rations with Kayle, not wanting to cook the crab meat and risk the sighting of a cooking fire at night. "You know, there is some good news..." he suddenly starts, seeming pensive. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out several folded up papers. He unfolds and flips through them, removing one and returning the rest to his pocket. He holds it out for Kayle to see by the light of his puny-flamed torch. "This here is a treasure map. I've been going over the map that you found in Captain Kovack's cabin, and I think that this one is somewhere on Smuggler's Shiv. I couldn't be sure, since it's mostly just a map of an unlabeled coastline, but after checking I think it's right. If you get a chance, I'm sure that it's worth checking out. Since you all would be out exploring, I'm not asking you to bring it all back to me of course--but I'd like a share for giving you the map if you find it."
The treasure map that Ishirou presents indicates that there is treasure buried at the apex of a treeless hill. To locate the exact digging location, one must wait for dawn, and dig at the spot where the sun is exactly centered between two large rock spires to the east.
After hearing about the treasure, Sil takes it in quietly for a moment. "Wow. Wouldn't that be something? A payment for tipping us off is only fair; of course we will share, Ishirou. We weren't having much luck following those tracks anyways. Maybe we can head that way and camp out for the night. Then we can wake up before dawn and be ready to dig when the sun is shining on our spot."
Gathien nods in agreement with Sil, "Plus, I don't mind the optimistic thought that we'll be able to spend the treasure later, either."
"Im all for some booty..." Lionel said hesitantly with furrowed brow. "But I dont like puttin' off findin' out who we are sharin' the island with to go look for treasure which is worthless to us atleast for now." He shrugged. "Not like the treasure wont be there later."
"I'd rather go after treasure that's so nearby than go exploring the trap-laden area again..Thank you for this, Ishirou, we'll be sure to check it out!"
During the next morning, Kayle will bring the berries to Arys. "Sil found these in the jungle and thinks it might..well..help you with that sick, light-headed feeling you've been having." She holds the berries out in one hand and smiles.
At some other point, she'll hand the evidence over to Jask and bring the rest of the group together. "I think we should move the camp further south. Yes, we found tracks and traps. However, we know that the lighthouse is on the other end of the island through all of that..so we have to go there eventually. I think we should move a little further south, maybe explore the coastlines today. Maybe we can find a repairable ship! If not, we will at least be closer to the lighthouse."
"That sounds like a good idea, Kayle. After taking care of the treasure, we should check out this lighthouse. Maybe we can even get it working again."
Aerys is ready to be offended by Kayle's insinuations--she's not been sleeping much, and she appears as though she's started drinking early this morning, as the bottle of brandy she was given is nearly empty--but at the sight of the berries, she seems surprised. "Are these...viper nettle berries? How did you..." the half-elf woman trails off, accepting a handful of the berries and just staring at them. Eventually, she turns and gives Kayle a nod, and giving her a short thanks. She's quiet for a little while longer, but looks at the arcanist as if she has something to say. "Listen, I really appreciate this. I'm working...I'm writing a poem, actually, an epic. You and those others that helped get these can read it if you're interested. I know it's helped me out when things seemed bleak--and if being stuck on this island isn't bleak, I don't know what is."
Jask proves ecstatic when he is given the ledgers from the Brine Demon. "You actually found it! By Nethys, you actually did it! You're all amazing! I must repay you somehow, for finding this, but also for trusting me. If any of you are interested, I could show you some exercises that are good for focus. I'm sure it will be needed on the Shiv."
Gathien tuns to Sil, "Now that's an interesting idea.... We could use it to signal others, possibly, as a way out of here."
...
Gathien smiles at the increasing morale of the camp, and the offers of assistance. He suggests to the rest of the explorer group, "We may be better off saving such activities for days when the weather does not lend itself to exploration -- especially since we still haven't made contact with the people setting those traps... and now, we have a treasure to find, as well."
"Eh, I'm not much for readin' and I like to get my exercise in other ways." Lionel grunted at the news of their camp mates offers. "I'm sure its all lovely, just aint for me." He added flatly, not sounding as apologetic as the words may have been meant to be.
After eating his morning meal and loitering around the camp for a bit, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Well, seein' as Ive been vetoed on the decision makin' lets get this treasure hunt over with so we can get to whats important."
"Oh, I'd love to read it!" Sil offers enthusiastically, looking genuinely excited. "When we get back from the treasure hunt I will certainly read it over; I can't wait!"
Sil will also pay attention to Jask's mantras and practice them as the party prepares to head out.
"So, hunting for treasure today then? It's a different kind of hunting than I'm used to but it should be a fun time nonetheless."