Karia responds. "I'd be delighted to wipe these scum out now, but we're low on healing, and it will be night soon. Plus we don't know how many there are? I say we move camp, set traps and then start hunting them."
Kaira uses Detect magic on all their equipment.
The spears are just spears, and although the knife is well-made (masterwork dagger) it is not magical. The amulet the spellcaster was wearing radiates a faint magic.
But Karia cannot tell what sort.
"Aye, Cap'n--Karia's got the right of it," Corliss reports. "I've but one group heal left in me today. But perhaps this be for the best; like I said earlier, our camp oughta be on the south side o' this isle. We should all break up camp in the morn an' start trekkin' south."
"What we might try, though, is track the way these fellas came an' maybe lie in wait for the next time they try an attack.... Ambush the ambushers, as it were. Whittle their numbers little by little before dealin' with the main camp."
The only place you've visited that might be suitable is the wreck of the Grog Dog, but you didn't notice any fresh water there. You'd be reliant on collecting rain. But it is very defensible, but getting to the mainland every day would be an exertion.
You've seen from afar several coves, both on the east side of the island, and around the central lagoon, that might be suitable.
Sizara was a both surprised and glad Aerys was okay. Sighing in relief, the elf listened to Corliss's suggestion.
"I like the idea but why on the south side of the island if you don't mind me asking? Also I like the idea of ambushing our enemy. We should still be careful as there are probably worse things than cannibals. We should still set up traps around here and make it look like we are still here in order to confuse our enemies and hopefully decrease their numbers."
"Most o' the ship traffic that passes near the Shiv comes and goes from Eleder an' passes south o' this isle," Corliss explains to the jungle elf. "If we're to get lucky or maybe send smoke signals, that's where we oughta be."
"Can you make a guess as to how many cannibals we might be facin' here?"
The jungle elf thinks, scratching her head.
"I'm not sure. Usually tribes in the mainland jungle can have anywhere from 50 to 150 members, but these cannibals are probably degenerates, the result from years of incest and debaunchy. My guess around 15 or even less than that. But I can't be for certain."
"OK, how about in the morning we move camp along the coast to the west where we spotted the other shipwreck? We can explore the shipwreck and keep a temporary camp, working our way along the coast until we find a better spot. I'll try to cover signs of our passage to make it harder to follow us. I could spend some time tonight laying a false trail with Sizara's help. We could set up a deadfall or other trap which should make them think twice about following us."
Smiling while nodding, the jungle elf replied, "Very well. Let's get started then."
Sizara began making some deadfalls and other traps to slow down anyone who came after the castaways.
@GM_Ragged.
Karia has Knowledge (Arcana) + 8, that makes her roll to identify the Amulet a 10. Is that any better?
Knowledge(Arcana) lets you identify the types of magic present in an item. Identifying its properties requires Spellcraft. Both are minimum DC 15.
Oh yes.
Karia agrees with Corin's plan. It's too late in the day to move camp sadly.
Corliss listens to the thoughts and plans of the others without making any more suggestions. It seems certain there'll be no moving camp until the morn at the very earliest, so he helps Sizara prepare more traps to dissuade any more cannibal attacks.
When he finishes that, he tells Corin, "You just give the orders, Cap'n, an' I'll follow 'em."
As Corin works alongside his companions to make defenses for the camp.
"I have thought about the logistics of moving our camp, and I don't like being chased from our camp before we are ready to leave. Maybe we could get up early and track these cannibals to their camp tomorrow? We could scout it out and take their measure, maybe even strike if the situation is in our favor. We could take Sasha with us, but I'd prefer to leave her here to help defend the camp in case there is trouble."
"What do people think about that? Or are we still intent on running?"
Karia raises an eyebrow at Corin's choice of words. "Running? Moving from a site where the enemy knows we are and can attack at will is hardly running."
She agrees that we have no better site to move to at the moment, and to tracking the cannibals in the morning. But worries that Corin is being too stubborn and bloody minded in his response.
There's a brief flash of anger in Corliss's eyes at Corin's word choice as well, but it swiftly passes. As usual, the rest of the man's assessment of the situation and their choices in responding to it echo his own.
"Aye, I'm in," Corliss says. "Do you think we can trust Jask to watch over Aerys--an' the rum we found--while we're gone? Especially if we end up bein' gone for more than a day?"
The group work until there is no more light to secure the camp - digging pits, making snares and generally doing their best so that the camp cannot be caught unawares. There is little they can do except to trap the most obvious approaches - a stealthy or cunning enemy will still be a threat.
No-one sleeps well that night - the tension among the group is palpable. In the small of the night, Aerys awakes, and is angry and embarrassed at her condition, and at having been no help in the fight against the cannibals. She tries to be quiet, but you can tell that she spends the time to dawn weeping quietly.
The sky is still dark, with the merest glimmer of light from the east, when the group rises. Sasha is insistent that she accompany the group.
"I can track." she states. "Mother taught me in case... what we were hunting... ran away. I can help. And we don't want our elf-friend getting hurt again, do we Archibald?"
"Peep." says the creature.
The sky is different than it has been since the group arrived on the Shiv. It is cloudy and humid, and a breeze swirls off the ocean.
Corliss reports his guess about the incoming weather to Corin and asks if this changes the Cap'n's plans.
"Iff'n the storm comes in the same way the wind be blowin' now, this beach'll likely be underwater from the storm surge. Can't leave the camp here much longer. But I agree 'bout huntin' the headhunters first. Might be able to find Aerys's berries in the process, iff'n luck favors us. By the way, I'm gonna give the poor lass a bit o' rum to tide her over--sounded like she had a rough time last night."
Corin nods. "Karia, maybe running is the wrong word, but being forced to move without a plan isn't good for any of us. If Sasha wants to come I think we should let her. I trust Jask to take care of Aerys while we're gone."
Corin considers for a moment. "While we're gone why don't we have everybody left behind work to hide the raft, the boat, and everything they can't carry above where Corliss thinks the high water mark is going to be with the storm. Then they can flee if necessary. Any suggestions for someplace we could meet up or other things to do before we leave?"
When there is enough light for them to see the ground, the group leave, Co rin and Sasha leading the way. The tracks are still fresh, with the damn ground preserving the passage both of the five who approached yesterday, and the one who fled.
Moving swiftly on a game trail, the group follow the tracks up onto the high ridge that dominates the nothern 'hook' of the Shiv. From this new, higher vantage point, it is possible to see new details of the island as the sun begins its inexorable rise into the sky.
The waters of the centralt lagoon are clear, and as the tide retreats, many sandbanks are revealed, showing that the lagoon is very shallow. Numerous oyster beds can be seen. In the distance, the strange purple island appears to be connected to the rest of the Shiv by a pair of causeways that are revealed at low tide.
Where the highlands of the northern Shiv ends, a large spring cascades over the cliff, pooling below to forms a shallow river - a large stream really - that meanders south. Climbing down this cliff is easy because of the large number of vines and creepers growing there. Indeed, the whole area is very verdant because of the abundant water. The trees are festooned with vines and creepers. On several large trees that lean precariously over the central pool, the vines are draped with large, conical clusters of red berries.
In several places on their trip, the group notices new shipwrecks, or sandy coves that have obviously been used as campsites by other groups of castaways. Seen from a distance, some have firepits, or crude shelters erected, but there is no sign of any inhabitants.
As the group moves south, the nature of the southern part of the Shiv becomes clearer. The southwest part consists of a number of low hills, while the southeastern part is a single, craggy red sandstone mountain, its lower slopes clad in jungle.
"Aye-aye, Cap'n," says to Corin and his plan. When he gets a chance, though, Corliss quietly has a word with the party leader.
"What say we five explorers move the boat up the bluff at least afore we head off to track the cannibals? Not sure how strong the gnome is an' Aerys still be a bit shaky. Without Sasha in camp, those other four might be vulnerable to attack while carryin' heavy stuff up the bluff. The less heavy stuff we leave in the first place, the less they'll have to deal with...an' the less chance they'll have to argue 'mongst themselves."
"As for a meetin' place...I'd say somewhere along the higher ground to the east or southeast; unless them cannibals swam across the lagoon, their trail should take us in that general direction."
Karia takes one of the clusters of berries. "Weren't we looking for these berries?"
She shows them to Corin curiously.
The berries are 60' up, hanging from vines that are themselves hanging from thin tree limbs extended over a pool of water of unknown depths and contents.
Getting them might require a little effort.
Karia points the berries out to Corin and asks him the question.
[dice=Take 10 Survival to track]10 + 6 + 1[/dice]
Corin squints up at the fruit and shrugs.
"I'm not sure, but lets grab a few bunches just in case."
Corin examines the trees which bear the berries for hidden dangers.
"Not...the best...idea....walkin' in this...abominable...relentless...bleepin' ridiculous...heat."
Despite his complaining, Corliss calls for several stops to conjure water to keep his companions hydrated.
Sizara is extremely exhausted. She didn't think it could get any worse.
"If this keeps up I'm going to have walk through this jungle in the nude!"
The elf attempted to make a witty joke in order to lift not only hers but everyone's spirits. She examined the berries alongside her companions.
Corin shimmies up the tree on which the berry-bearing vines are growing. The long, bent tree extends out over the deep pool at the foot of the waterfall.
As he climbs, from his high vantage point he notices that the pool is home to several schools of small, stunted glittery fish. He can also see the stripped skeletons of several goats, and what looks like a human, that appear to have fallen into the pool, and the nature of the fish becomes clear.
Jungle piranha.
He is so taken by the fish, that he almost fails to notice another danger - his attention snaps back to the trees, just in time to notice a thick, leaf-covered vine about 10' to his left begin to move.
As it moves, Sizara on the ground recognizes menace - her tribe has several names for it, but the outlanders call it 'assassin vine'.
"Quick! Get back! That's...well, you know it as an assassin vine! They're very very dangerous!"
The elf took out her sword in case the assassin vine attempts to attack them.
Feeling that discretion is the better part of valor, Corin retreats from the assassin vine and climbs back down to the ground.
"As much as I want to get those berries for Aerys, I think it can wait until later, after we have dealt with the cannibal threat."
So we move on.
Karia has taken off her armor, she knows she's not tough enough to endure the heat wearing it.
And Karia is staggering with fatigue. The idea of being nude is gaining appeal with her.
Having maid haste through the heat of the afternoon, the group has taken the brunt of the brutal temperatures and humidity of the Shiv.
Sizara has taken points of nonlethal damage.
Corin has taken points of nonlethal damage.
Corliss has taken points of nonlethal damage.
Karia has taken points of nonlethal damage.
Sasha on the other hand looks as fresh as a daisy, even in her chain shirt.
By the time the heat of the day reaches its peak, the group has made good progress into the southern part of the island. To their left, the sheer rocky red sandstone walls of the red mountain loom over them, while to their right steep cliffs drop away to the lagoon. The group is travelling on a wide game trail. The tracks of many animals mix with the bare human footprints the group is following. This is obviously a commonly used highway on the southern part of the island.
And the cannibals know this.
Sasha gives a sudden cry as she trips over a concealed cord. The cord tightens around her ankle, a bent tree branch springs back, and she is lifted bodily high into the tree, crashing heavily against the trunk, where a number of wicked wooden spikes have been driven into the bark. She gives a loud cry as one of them pierces her side.
Corin immediately draws his longsword and looks around for an ambush.
Corliss watches as Sasha's sprung skyward by the clever trap. Positioning himself more or less underneath the dangling woman, the pirate priest channels positive energy to heal both Sasha's wounds and the less lethal damage he and his friends have taken on their march across the steamy island.
"Don't worry about me!" calls Sasha, dangling by one leg, upside down about 10' from the ground. "Save ArchibaaaaaeeeeeeeeEEEEE!"
As Corin cuts the cord holding her, she plummets to the ground, ending up in an intimate tangle of limbs with Corliss, with the pirate's nose buried deep in the woman's ample chest.
"Peep!" says Archibald, territorially.
"Don't worry about me!" calls Sasha, dangling by one leg, upside down about 10' from the ground. "Save ArchibaaaaaeeeeeeeeEEEEE!"
As Corin cuts the cord holding her, she plummets to the ground, ending up in an intimate tangle of limbs with Corliss, with the pirate's nose buried deep in the woman's ample chest.
"Peep!" says Archibald, territorially.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that, chum," Corliss tells the lizard-parrot. "Couldn't be helped."
"So nice o' you to drop in," he drawls to Archie's owner. "As nice as the view be, I probably oughta be takin' a look at yer bloodied side instead."
Corliss helps the redhead back to her feet and then examines the spike wound in her side to see if it needs more immediate attention or if it can wait until the next group healing channel.
The wound wasn't deep, and Corliss's channel seems to have healed most of it already. Sasha seems more in shock than anything.
"They want to hurt us, Archibald" she whispers to the creature. "Just like mother..."
She gathers herself.
"I won't let them hurt Archibald," she declares, "and I suppose I'd rather they didn't hurt any of you, because you have all been good to me and not tried to hurt me. Let's go kill them before they try again. Look out for tripwires."
------------------------------------
Half a mile further down the trail, Corin spots another of the tripwire traps, and a few hundred yards after that another. From examining the trap, it seems that these are not really meant for defense against other humanoids - the cords are rough and easy to cut and escape from. But an animal, unable to free itself and wounded from the spikes, would probably bleed to death. Any defense they provide is an added bonus.
The afternoon rain is just beginning to fall as the group reaches a place where the trail splits. It seems that this is another well-travelled game trail, as multiple prints, human and animal, lead in both directions. To the north, the path slopes down towards the lagoon, and a wide sandy beach. To the south, it leads deeper into the interior of the southwest of the island, through a narrow defile between two tall cliffs.