The cannibal who fell down the cliff (and can apparently fly just as well as Archibald) attempts to rise, only to get Karia's and Sasha's rapiers through his back. He slumps forward, blood pooling underneath him.
Corin scrambles the last few feet over the cliff edge. He sees two cannibals, one wounded from crossbow fire, facing off warily against an extremely upset Sizara.
Corliss, having drawn a dagger from his boot, hacks away at the rope around his tortured leg, finally working it free.
Sizara lunges for the retreating cannibals, attempting to grab one and hurl him off the cliff. The man instinctively lashes out with his hatchet, swinging wide at the elf woman
and landing a hit on her arm, gouging a deep wound.
Sizara reels from the wound, getting dangerously close to the cliff edge herself, giving the cannibals time to turn and flee down a slope to the east.
"Uh...a little help here, please?" Corliss cries out from the face of the cliff. "I just know I'm gonna plummet to me death if I try to climb up there on me own!"
Sizara reels from the wound, getting dangerously close to the cliff edge herself, giving the cannibals time to turn and flee down a slope to the east.
East? Isn't that the direction our party came from?
East? Isn't that the direction our party came from?Sizara reels from the wound, getting dangerously close to the cliff edge herself, giving the cannibals time to turn and flee down a slope to the east.
You turned south, because that's the direction there were no animal tracks, remember. I'll update the map to show the location of the ambush, but you were heading south between two cliffs. Sasha and Karia are still in the gully, whereas the other three are on top of the east cliff.
The cannibals - they're running, and know the ground better than you, so only Sizara could possibly move fast enough to catch them.
The three on top of the cliff can see that the ground falls away rapidly to the southeast, and more gently to the northeast, where a spring rises and flows down to the sea. Just to the east of you you can see what looks like a partially collapsed old hut made of driftwood and ships planking.
Sizara, despite her raging desire to chase after the cannibals, turns instead to pull Corliss up making sure to grab below where the rope has frayed.
"Thanks," the pirate tells Sizara. "Kinda glad you ain't plannin' on chasin' them people-eaters. Now...how are we gonna get the fair Karia up here? I'm thinkin' Sasha can make the climb fine if she ain't rushin'."
"Arr, here's the thing," Corliss says while peering down over the edge of the cliff at Karia and Sasha below. "Me an' Sizara be needin' healin'--that's clear--but Sasha might need some too...pretty sure I saw the lass take a fall of the cliff whilst I was danglin' in spectacular fashion."
The pirate gives Corin and Sizara one of his crooked smiles. "In the name o' efficiency, it's be best iff'n all o' the wounded was gathered in one place when I channel me power. The question is: Do we head back down or do Karia an' Sasha climb up here to join us? Mayhaps we could rig up a harness to pull Karia up?"
"Hmm...I don't think I'd want to get dragged up a cliff with only this half-arsed contraption betwixt me an' a long plunge to the hard, unforgivin' ground."
Turning to Corin and Sizara, he asks, "I don't suppose either o' you can improve 'pon me design, mayhaps? Or should the three o' us head down again to rejoin Karia an' Sasha? Seems to me we oughta be campin' soon; 'twould be better to do so on higher ground, in me humble opinion."
"Just throw a rope down and pull us up." Karia suggests, wondering what the fuss is about?
Sizara, having calmed down from her rage and the climb, signed in relief, although she was still a bit tired.
"I think she's right. We could just haul her up with the rope."
"I'm tryin' to impress her!" Corliss whispers to Sizara with a crooked grin. Holding up his...Karia Carrier (that sounds much better than Karia-Harness!)...he looks at it doubtfully. "Hmm...might be more likely to hang her than lift her with this thing."
He feverishly begins to undo all the knots he made in the rope, calling down that it'll be sent down 'in a minute or two.' Ten minutes later, he and the others send down the rope with one loop tied in the end of it and haul up the two women.
Twenty minutes of sweaty effort can haul Karia and Sasha to the top of the cliff, without Corliss having to tie either of them up, no matter how much he might like to.
"So...what now? I've suggested makin' camp here on higher ground, but mayhaps some o' you folks would rather chase down them cannibals. Just remember, though--they know this isle better than us an' would more like as not try leadin' us into more o' them snare traps."
"That seems possible Corliss, but I'd prefer to follow a fresh trail than guess where they might be headed along the path. Maybe we can take a bit of a rest while we search that cabin, than track the cannibals? Now that we know what to look for, it might be easier to spot their traps. We might also spot where they jig or jump to avoid a trap."
"Aye-aye, Cap'n!" Corliss says with a grin. He approaches the cabin warily, looking for any more booby-traps.
"Karia, can you tell if there is any magic about?"
Corin also looks for traps and tracks near the cabin, and on the cabin's door if he gets close enough.
[dice=Survival to track]1d20 + 6 + 1[/dice]
An overgrown jungle path leads to a small clearing where a partially collapsed hut stands on the banks of a gurgling stream. The hut itself seems to have been made from a combination of driftwood and tree trunks, with a roof of wide leaves and strips of rotten canvas sail. The front door to the hut hangs partially ajar. Dozens of bones and skulls—quite obviously of human origin—decorate the hut and the surrounding area, each bearing numerous nicks and scratches.
"Think this be some sort o' cannibal version o' a museum where they keep the bones o' past victims?" Corliss asks aloud with a nervous smile as he enters the hut and begins poking through the junk for anything valuable.
Sizara curses under her breath as she quietly slaps her hand over Corliss's mouth and then holds a finger to her lips, telling the others to keep their voices down as she looks around as well as keeping an eye out for trouble.
Karia is using Detect magic.
Looking around cautiously also.
The cabin appears old - it was originally constructed with some skill, but appears to have had multiple crude attempts at repairs applied to it over the years.
The door swings open quite easily, revealing an interior that is heavily decayed. There are a few strips of metal, that may once have been a bunk of some sort. A rough chair appears to have been carved out of a tree stump. A mouldering pile of fabric may once have been clothes.
Looking around, Sizara notices a old leather-bound journal lodged in a nook.
Sizara cautiously picks up the old journal and begins reading...
The tome looks like it may once have been a ship's logbook. It is heavily damaged, and only a few of the more recent entries are legible, although they are dated more than 50 years previously.
...many survived, the Thrune’s Fang will never sail again. Sargava’s assimilation must proceed without...
...fine hunting on the Shiv, but the bugs are a constant distraction. Nylithati’s skills at healing help fight the sickness, but I fear she has...
...founded. Nylithati has seized control of my crew. They are hers now. And so I have abandoned...
...fine home. Fresh water nearby and I need not endure Nylithati’s ceaseless raving about...
...will not be returning to that gray, silent island again. There is nothing there but horror...
...crew lurking about the area. They seem strange, almost feral. It has been almost a decade since the wreck. I wonder what strange beliefs Nylithati has...
...changed. There was no sign of Nylithati in the camp, but the focus of their ceremony was a cauldron they must have salvaged from the Thrune’s Fang at the base of the ruined lighthouse. It was into this they threw the half-eaten body of the still screaming man...
...all around. I can hear them chanting in the green even now. They call Nylithati “Mother Thrunefang” now, and promise me immortality if I lay down my arms and submit. I know what their immortality consists of, and I’ll have no part of that corrupt life after...
Sizara closed the book and began to think.
"I have never heard of this ship, Thrune's Fang before, or know why it was supposed to be involved with the assimilation of Sargava, but it seems that the captain was the only one of his crew who stayed sane. His crew and their shaman priestess, however, were not so fortunate. The cannibals of today must be the descendants of the original crew and still follow this Nylithati, now called Mother Thrunefang, to this day. The undead abomination we fought must be one of her servants and thus Nylithati must have become some sort of ghoul as well or even more powerful form of undead. I only hope the captain of Thrune's Fang gave his former crew a battle they would never forget," the elven barbarian said.
"Let us hope the spirits and the gods are with us today. May the spirit of the cheetah bless us with her speed and strength as we seek to battle our foes."
Corin nods at Sizara's words.
"Lets see if we can finish what he started. Lets go root out the evil on this island."
"Sorry if I'm bein' a bit on the chatty side--I think it be a sort o' copin' mechanism," the ex-pirate says to Sizara and the others.
"Thrune? Ain't that the name o' the leader o...dang, what's the name o' that devil-lovin' place...Chelaxia? Bad folk in general to begin with; worse iff'n they be ghouls an' cannibals now."
Karia nods.
"Cheliax. Current ruler Queen Abrogail Thrune. The Thrunes were the ones who made the pact with Asmodeus for power and have ruled Cheliax ever since."
Karia is tired, and not impressed with the parties current course. "They have their lands trapped, they know we're coming, and you want to continue to charge headfirst into them? This is suicide!"
Karia also knows...
When the god Aroden died, Cheliax, the empire of humans based on his worship fell into civil war. Sargava was a remote colony of the empire, and its governor backed the wrong side in the war. When the devil-worshipping House Thrune rose to power, they sent a Chelaxian fleet to recover Sargava. The colonials made a deal with the pirates of the Shackles, who descended on the Chelaxian fleet and devastated and scattered it. Sargava has been independent ever since, although it continues to have to pay a ruinous tribute to the Shackles pirates.
"I have no love for the Father of Lies or the Thrice Damned House of Thrune." Corin spits on the ground, an uncustomary display of raw hatred for the ardent young man.
Recovering slightly, he addresses Karia, "Karia, what other course do we have? We need to eliminate their threat and return to our people before the great storm arrives. I think it better to give them as little time to prepare as possible. Though I admit we have traveled further from our camp than I had anticipated, and the journey has been a hard one. What say the rest of you? Do we rest here before continuing south? Or some other course of action?"
Karia sighs tiredly. "Look, I agree we need to deal with them, but we are charging in blindly. Lets rest for now, head back and move camp. Making sure it's far more defensible this time."
Taking another breath. "Then we scout first, find out how many we're dealing with before attacking them. If possible weaken them with our own traps, and some hit and run."
She looks at everyone. "That's my suggestion for our course. If we decide to carry on I'll do it, but I think we need to learn more before reacting so dangerously."
Corin nods and waits to hear from Corliss, Sizara, and Sasha.
Sizara nods in agreement with Karia.
"I agree with Karia. Her plan sounds like it would weaken our foes greatly. You are very wise Karia! You must be blessed by the spirit of the leopard, for it has gifted you with great cunning!"
The barbaric elf slapped the bard on the back before turning to Corin and saying, "And Corin surely the spirit of the mighty lion has gifted you with great bravery and courage. Surely that is a great honor, especially among my people. My people see the spirits of great cats as being amongst the strongest of all of the spirit animals."
She smiles at her companions.
Corliss waits for Sizara to call him a tiger or a seacat...hell, even a polecat or catfish...but it never comes. Sighing, he chips in his own two coppers' worth.
"Well, this trek ain't been a total waste. Sure, we've seen no sign o' Pamela, no sign o' Aerys's berries, no sign o' the savages' camp...but now we know it's at least a day or two's march away. If they can read the weather, chances are they won't send any more o' their warriors against our old camp for the next couple days. Seems if we go back an' move camp, it'll take them cannibals some time an' effort to sniff us out again."
"An' as you know, Cap'n, I've been sayin' all along that our camp oughta be on the south coast, not the north, if we're to have any real hope o' signallin' passin' ships at some point."
"Aye, I think Karia has the right o' it. Let's move camp, maybe whittle down the cannibals numbers here an' there if they insist on sendin' parties after us. Then scout 'em out iff'n we must--not sure why we'd want to sack their whole village anyhow. I doubt they got anythin' worthwhile, an' it's not like we'd be doin' the rest o' this rock's inhabitants any big favor by wiping out this evil scourge...'cause as far as we know, there ain't no one else on the Shiv but us."
"An' last...I've had a bad feelin' 'bout this ever since we left the beach. Aerys, Jask, Ishirou, an' Gelik ain't exactly functionin' in 'team mode,' iff'n you catch me drift. An' we brought the best fighter--Sasha here--along with us for this chase. I got a bad feelin' 'bout those four we left behind. Maybe they can coexist for a day, but I wouldn't want to leave 'em unwatched for much longer than that."
"Oh yeah--what's them ol' words o' wisdom? Never split the party...unless the rum runs out." Flashing a crooked grin, he adds, "I guess that be the pirate version."
"I'll follow whatever you decide, Cap'n...but you asked for me thoughts an' now you have 'em."
Corin nods.
"Its decided then. We rest here, then head back as quickly as we can and move camp. How do you feel about taking the abandoned camp site we passed on the way here, the one on the lagoon? It should be relatively sheltered from the storm, and we might be able to take steps to conceal it from observation. Though it might mean making cold camp until we can eliminate the cannibals to avoid giving away our position."
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Corliss gives Corin's new plan some long consideration. Then he shakes his head and gives a wry smile.
"No Cap'n, that'd be like settin' up one o' those...whaddaya call 'em?...buffet tables for the cannibals. We saw the campsite on our first pass along the trail; the headhunters gotta know it's there. We gotta go somewhere the cannibals don't go very often themselves...preferably on the south coast somewhere."
"Hmm...actually, we need to find the cannibal village before we make plans for any sort o' permanent camp."
Sizara nods in agreement and then adds, "Ah very wise, Corliss! I can see you have been blessed by the spirit of the wise and patient elephant! My people often make offerings to the noble elephant spirit for it is known that the other animal spirits respect it for the elephant knows that discretion is the better part of valor."
"Right, Corliss. So if they think its abandoned they won't check there for us. Have any of you seen a more likely place to move our camp? We have too much equipment to just pick up and wonder around with, and we don't have a lot of time to explore before the storm hits. We need a destination before we move camp."
Sizara thought for a moment.
"Hmm...we could move in the opposite direction of our camp. It might be more secure once the storm hits, but we'll have to hurry. At least we'll be able to get everything moved in time plus the cannibals will have to travel a bit further to attack us. I'm sorry but that's the only idea I can come up with."
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Corliss winces at Corin's words and motions for the ranger to accompany him out of earshot of the women.
"There'll be nine o' us, Cap'n, right under the savages' noses! Not even countin' legitimate reasons to go out into the open briefly--like bathroom breaks--you know Jask'll wanna go skinny-dippin' or Sasha'll wanna give li'l Archibald flyin' lessons on the beach. I just think it's a recipe for disaster. That said, I'll follow your decision in the matter, as I can't think o' another safe spot for the new camp."
By the time the discussion comes to a close, the light is failing, and the soft rain has turned into a cold mist that drifts and swirls across the Shiv in the breeze. The air is becoming heavy and oppressive with the approaching storm, and it is obvious that the weather will not clear that night.
Huddled together in dilapidated hut, the group is protected from the drizzle, but dare not light a fire, dining on cold snake-meat.
As darkness falls, the jungle comes alive with noise. It is the farthest from the sea that the group have been in weeks, and the familiar lapping of the waves is replaced with the hooting of monkeys, the call and response of innumerable birds, and the dark, remote growling of predators.
Karia dreams...
Snakes... the sea is covered with snakes. They crawl and slither across the waves, as you watch from the rails of the Jenivere. The ship is sinking, and soon you will slip into the snake-infested waters. You can see others have already done so - sailors, your companions, the captain, and the snakes are bearing them away across the sea.
Corliss dreams...
You are in Port Peril, in a house of ill repute. There is a rather limber young lady, and she has a trapeze, some wet celery and and some manacles...
Sizara dreams...
There are snakes in the jungle. They lurk in the undergrowth at your feet, invisible, until you step on one. When that happens, the snakes rear up and bite, their fangs sinking into your leg. Then you must run - run away though the darkness, far from the biting snakes. But you can hear them, chasing you, slithering behind you, getting closer...
Corin dreams...
You are on the deck of the Thrune's fang. The rest of the armada is sailing away - you must warn them about the pirates, but they are too far away. You turn around, hoping that the rest of the crew will help you, but they are surrounding the Captain of the Jenivere. He stares at you as the rest of the crew grow snake heads and begin to eat him.
The dawn comes with a heavy mist hanging in the air. There is no breeze, and the Shiv is almost silent except for the far-off murmur of the sea. It is almost as if the Shiv is holding its breath for the storm to come.
Corliss has a wonderful dream as he sleeps off the day's toils and tribulations. He shifts and turns over, accidentally nuzzling Sasha and, in the process, her little pet.
"Mmm...wet celery," the pirate mumbles into Archibald's ear.
"Peep!" says Archibald, and bites Corliss's nose.
Sizara awoke with a start. She quickly saw that there were no snakes, but still the dream...no nightmare seemed almost real. She began to wonder what it all meant. The barbaric wild elf suspected that the cheetah spirit was trying to warn her about something.
She wondered if the others were being warned by their animal spirits too.
"Mornin,' Sizara," Corliss says with a smile as he awakens and finds the elf warrior already up and alert. "Hope you slept well--I'm feelin' thoroughly refreshed! Gonna say me prayers to Besmara now--I'll join the rest o' yas for breakfast in about an hour."
When he does, the pirate priest has good news to report. "Seems Besmara's weighed me admiral qualities against me acts o' general buffoonery an' found me worthy! She's granted me some extra spells! Praise unto ye, Sweet Bessie! And praise the rest o' the gods that pirates an' even their goddess ain't very good at math! Just kiddin,' Bessie!" With a wink, he blows a kiss to the distant waters that surround the deadly island.
Sizara raised an eyebrow but nodded in agreement.
"Good morning, Corliss. I'm not that familiar with Besmara, I'm afraid. While I worship Shimye-Magalla, Shelyn, and Ketephys as well as the spirit of the cheetah, I do understand your devotion to your goddess. I only hope that you and the others are able to connect with your spirit animals one day."
Karia gives Corliss a sour look. "You must have had a good dream? I certainly didn't."
She mutters a bit about people who are cheerful in the morning, and how they must all die.
"Actually, I didn't have a good dream either. It seems that our dreams, nay, nightmares are a warning from the spirits. The spirits tend to do such things to aid those who are destined for greatness or those who are in touch with the spirits themselves," Sizara replied.