Corliss wanders forward in a daze, a blissful look on his face.
Karia's shot goes wide again.
Z3+4
Corliss
Karia
Creeper
Sizara - POST
Corin - POST
Sasha - POST
Sizara shakes her head and realizes what happened and this makes her angry.
Despite her raging condition, she still realizes that Corliss is now in the same predicament as she was just in.
Yelling to the others as she attempts to pull Corliss away from the creeper, "It's a plant! Use fire on it! We found some alchemist's fire remember!?"
Sizara easily drags the dreaming Corliss back towards the edge of the clearing.
Corin and Sasha face down the approaching Zombies:
Sasha downs one of the creatures, while Corin holds his ground. The remaining zombie strikes back at Corin:
the wound is obviously substantial, but the ranger shrugs it off stoically.
Corliss - POST
Karia - POST
Creeper
Sizara - POST
Corin
Sasha
"Sizara! Are you alright?" Corliss asks the elf before realizing that he, too, got a faceful of yellow pollen. "Fire! Of course!"
Corliss takes a 5-ft.-step away from the zombie , digs out a jar of alchemist's fire, and lobs it at the last zombie.
for
Corliss's throw goes long, crashing down behind the zombie, and setting fire to a patch of ground. The zombie is splashed by some of the alchemical mixture, smouldering slightly, but does not react in any way.
Karia stops Inspiring. She again shoots at the plant, since someone didn't throw alchemists fire on it as he should have!
"Arrgh! I can't believe I dropped my weapon! I knew I should have gotten a weapon cord!"
She quickly runs to where she dropped her sword and picked it up.
Corin and Sasha make quick work of the last Zombie.
The creeper, spooked by the fire, uproots itself and begins a slow, shuffling crawl on its strong motile roots, towards the far edge of the clearing.
Corliss - POST
Karia - POST
Sizara - POST
Creeper
Corin
Sasha
Karia tries one more time.
"Hey! Maybe we oughtta firebomb the main plant, eh? That way it can't go makin' any more o' them vegified zombies. Good thinkin', Corliss ol' boy! Fast thinkin'!"
The pirate digs into his pack and pulls forth two more vials of alchemist's fire, one for each hand . He closes on the retreating plant.
Corliss tries to pick his way through the thicket towards the retreating vine, a bottle of liquid fine in each hand. The plant, feeling his heavy bootsteps through its network of tendrils, shifts slightly, and a big gnarled root rears up out of the ground at the pirate
With a thwack that addles what little remains of his thoughts, the root slams Corliss around the head. His vision swims, and then suddenly clears, as he gets a chance to throw his bottles.
Karia
Corliss's eyes cross a bit as he absorbs yet more brain trauma but he bravely soldiers on in service to his goddess. At this exact moment, he's not sure if that goddess is Besmara or Karia...but he's gonna prove his worth by ridding the Shiv of that yellow-bellied brainsucker or whatever it's called. "Burn in the flames of...alchemical fire!" he calls out to his flowery foe as he closes and then lobs the first of the vials at the plant monster.
for
Sizara unleashes a devastating attack on the monstrous plant.
Of the three attacks, only Karia's is really effective, her bolt thunking into the main central mass of the plant creature. Corliss's throw goes long, landing behind the creature, and splashing it with a little of the liquid fire. Sizara attempts to attack, but her sword becomes tangled in the creature's thick foliage.
The use of the fire against it seems to panic the creature. Thick vines and roots thrash around all over the clearing, tripping up Sasha, while Corin takes a heavy blow to the head and collapses.
Corliss throws his second flask.
This time the pirate's aim is true, and the flask shatters on the creature, drenching it in liquid fire. It thrashes in its death throes, and there is a faintly-heard keening and wailing, almost at the limit of your hearing. After a few moments it lies still, burning fiercely, and sending a thick plume of smoke into the sky.
Sizara is clearly exhausted as she puts away her sword.
She proceeds to look around the area trying to see what was left of this place.
Karia goes to check on Corin. "Corliss do you have any healing left?" She calls, gesturing for all the injured to gather where he can aid them.
"Aye...let's all gather away from them plant zombies so I don't heal them up as well," the priest of Besmara says. Once the heroes are gathered, he starts channeling positive energy.
"OK...workin' on it. Hmm...kinda forgot how to do this...Gimme a sec...."
Karia makes a search to see if there is any loot left from the plants victims?
Grabbing anything she finds for later. "Lets leave this place quickly." She suggests. "That smoke will draw the curious."
A gold hoop earring still glimmers on one of the falled plantzombies, and is easily retrieved. Several badly decomposed corpses lie at the base of the plant's main rooting spot, their nutrients seeping into the soil to nourish the now-torched terror. Karia is able to grab a badly-rotted backpack before the fire consumes it.
Sasha, Corliss and Karia are, between the three of them, able to drag the unmoving form of Corin out of the clearing, heading downhill towards the narrow beach that rings the great central lagoon. Sizara, her breath ragged, stumbles along behind as best she can.
As the group emerges from the jungle canopy beneath the pearlescent threatening sky, the see that the beach is about 30' below, down a fairly steep slope. A very crude shelter, barely more than a few planks and a piece of torn canvas, has been constructed at the base of the slope. A pair of boots are stood neatly next to the entrance of this shelter, and a pair of bare feet can be seen poking out from it.
Making sure that everyone is ready first Karia hails the person in the shelter. "Hello the camp!" She calls, waiting to see if there is any response?
Sizara is a bit puzzled by the camp they found.
"Seems we aren't the only castaways on this strange and cursed island."
She climbs down the slope carefully. "No answer, maybe they're injured?" Moving so she can see into the shelter. "Knock knock?'
Hamual snores loudly mutter "We are to avoid the island.... No we go to Sargava."
He rolls over but at the sound of someone yelling "knock knock" he stirs and wakes up. Scurrying out of the crude shelter quickly he stands up in the sand only to sink into it a little.
"Who are you? what is the meaning of this? I was sleeping."
He looks around at the people gathered before him a smile coming to his face. "Are you the rescue party sent to find me after that idiot captain took us to close to this blasted island?"
Karia smiles slightly. "Sorry your lordship. We're not the rescue party." Indicating herself and the others. "We're castaways like yourself. Karia. Sizara. Sasha. Corliss, and the unconscious one is Corin."
She looks around. "As pleasant as your abode is you may wish to join with us. This pesthole has occupants. The kind who want you for dinner, serving as the main course unfortunately."
Scanning the sky with more concern. "And there's a bad storm coming, you might find being on the beach rather unpleasant."
Hamual scan the line of cast aways, then looks off in to the hozion as Karia has indicated him to do. He rubs at his facial hair, "Yes I have witnessed some of "locals" as you have said, not a pleasant bunch are they? I would like to get off this island and stay a live in the process. I have nothing but the clothes on my back, and my spell book. Everything else went down with the ship."
He sits down and puts his boots back on, one black leather the other a rough brown material. He gets up and picks up his spell book that he was using for a pillow.
"Do you have any idea where to head to leave here? I have been here for a week? A month? I am not really sure any more."
"Spellbook, you say? That'd likely make you a wizard o' some sort, right? Can you zap things from a safe distance? Cuz we've got a nasty vine creature we need to eliminate to get back to our ol' camp an' gather the rest o' our crew. What's your name again, matey?"
"I am a wizard yes, formally trained in Cheliax, I am not your Matey, please call me Hamual. I can blast a good many things from a safe distance, my specialty is in transmutation, changing things around or making them better. All I have is this spell book, but I will do my best to help you if you show me where, I have a few spells still readied you woke me before I could study."
He adjusts the boots again, since they don't really fit well.
Sizara greets the newcomer.
"Greetings fellow castaway. I am Sizara, of the Ekujae, or as you humans like to call us wild or jungle elves."
She smiles at him before continuing, "I'm not familiar with wizards I'm afraid but surely you must be strong to resist the attacks of the inhabitants of this island, be they humanoid or animal...or unliving."
"Let's deal with that assassin vine thing an' get the berries Lady Aerys needs to help fight her addiction, eh?" Corliss suggests. "Then we can rendezvous with the others an' find decent shelter from the comin' storm."
Hamual closes his eyes and begins to chant, drawing a circle in the air a shimmering disk forms in the air.
"You can place him on the disk, it will follow me around. I have a single spell ready for attacking something far away lets hope it is enough."
Sizara is very suprised by Hamual's magic.
"You seem very skilled. The magic I know is that used by shamans, and well the magics I've seen Corliss and Karia wield. Tell me, are you are familiar with animal spirits? I apologize for bragging, but I am connected and blessed by the animal spirit of the cheetah, the fastest animal alive. No person alive can outrun it!"
The elven barbarian smiled at the mage.
"Spirit magic is very primitive, base aspects, I am schooled in Arcane magics. I have studied very hard to know what I know and it is only a fraction of what is out there. Must has been lost, now if you we don't mind it is getting hot and I wish to be away from this place if it does begin to rain."
He turns to head off, then a little sheepishly he looks back "Which way is your camp?"
Update tomorrow - replanning
"Current camp's off a ways--a beach on the north end o' this island," Corliss replies. "We're headin' that way--with a quick pit stop en route to battle a killer vine an' claim some berries--but once we've rendezvoused with the other survivors we need to find a new campsite or we'll be swept away in the storm surge when yon loomin' storm finally hits this rock."
The return to the north half of the Shiv is both easier and harder than the journey south. Easier because there are no tracks to follow - the group simply retraces its steps. Harder, because of the deadweight of an unconscious Corin, the wound on his head still purple and swollen. Eventually the group ends up stripping him of his shirt and pants, and using them, along with two long branches, to construct a crude litter.
The change in the atmosphere of the Shiv as the storm approaches is palpable. The jungle seems hushed - the normal cacophony of screeching jungle birds and howling monkeys is silent, as the wildlife seeks shelter. Snakes, rats and other vermin that usually hide timidly in the shadows skitter around in the group's path, driven by instinct to seek higher ground and shelter from the weather's wrath. There are choppy waves in the lagoon for the first time since the group's arrival on the island.
The air crackles with energy, and as the group reaches the fork in the river where the berries grow, there is the first, faint crack of lightning on the horizon, and, seconds later, the low, barely audible rumble of thunder.
"Mayhaps Karia, Hamual, and I can attack the vine from a distance with magic an' crossbow bolts while you hack it when it drops down to attack?" Corliss asks Sizara hopefully. "We need them berries to get Aerys functional again."
"Sounds like a plan." Karia agrees with Corliss. "If we can't see it when we get there I'll try and hook the berries while everyone is ready to shoot the damn thing."
"Before we head out, I escaped my ship and have survived with little to no equipment. Have you found any magical items that I can use to defend myself? I can offer some ranged support for this fight but I am not getting close to this killer vine."
He pulls out his spell book, making sure the pages are intact nodding at the book he closes it up again.
"Lead the way when your ready."
"Hmm...got a magic cutlass that no one's usin' at the moment," Corliss tells the wizard. "I think Corin's carryin' it...." Corliss walks over to the unconscious ranger atop the magical floating disk. He looks down at the group's de facto leader and frowns. Then his face lights up and he says, "Lemme try somethin'...."
Sizara and Karia are too distant to stop the goofball ex-pirate from attempting his unorthodox remedy: he casts create water over Corin's head and lets the cool liquid splash down on the man's face. Then Corliss uses the tried-and-true method of bringing someone around from unconsciousness by gently slapping the fallen ranger on the cheek.
"You still in there, Cap'n?"
Corin groans and stirs.
He sits up and starts to rub his head, then winces and quickly pulls his hand away.
"Corliss? What happened? We were fighting that plant creature..."
He slowly gets his feet under him and checks his equipment.
"No idea, Cap'n," Corliss replies with a grin, very happy to see Corin back on his feet. "Damned plant whacked you upside the head an' you went down like an anchor. Best guess is the creeper's pollen got in your wound an' you had a strange reaction to it. I healed the holy Hell outta everyone after that fight but you didn't come around. Glad to see whatever it was has passed."
"Oh yeah--Cap'n, this be Hamual," Corliss adds by way of an introduction. "Hamual--the Cap'n...er, I mean Corin. I call him the Cap'n 'cause he be the leader o' our little family o' castaways. Hamual here was livin' in that lagoonside hut we spotted from the ridge yesterday. Says he might be able to help us deal with that assassin vine thing from a distance so we can pick Aerys's berries."
Corliss pauses a moment to consider if he might've just said something that sounded dirty but then shrugs and flashes one of his goofy grins.
Hamual watches the man floating on his magical disk sit up and talk. He looks him up and down, not really sure what to think.
"Good day, your crew? friends? Your allies here warned me of the impending storm and we moved away, the disk your currently riding on has saved us some time instead of dragging you or carrying you. Why are these berries so important?"
Corin nods at Corliss's recounting of events. A shadow falls over Corin's face as Hamual speaks, but it is quickly gone. "Hamual, welcome to our company. We are banded together to survive here, and one of our number back at our camp needs those berries to recover from an illness."
I agree Corliss. We do need those berries to help Aerys recover from her alcoholism problem," the elven barbarian said.
"It's good to have you up and moving about Corin. I think it is best that I stand ready and try to cut the vines if they try attacking us. Unless, Hamual's magic can gather the berries for us from a reasonable distance."