Thame sighed as he saw the scene unfolding near the docks. Why did these intelligent creatures want to attack them? Surely they had heard about the grindylows, hadn't they? Well, if they wanted to be turned into fish paste, the wizard was more than happy to oblige them. Less neighbors meant less possible hostiles. He cranked up his crossbow, placed a bolt, then fired it at the closest fish-thing (blue).
Not for the first time, Trieste bounds toward danger, heedless of the risk. Her scimitar flashes in her hand as she drives it toward the fishman.
Silently, she curses her impulsivity. Wait for the others! You're part of a team now.
While she may not know much about what these creatures are, she assumes they are intelligent. In Aquan, she yells, "You will pay for your aggression towards our fishermen!"
Trieste -Bounds forward and catches it off guard leaving a deep gash.
Kragg-
Lara -Fires, and hits!
Thame- The bolt strikes true and goes deep! Dropping teh nearest one to the ground in a heap of tangled flesh and scales.
Skums- The far one rush up through the last of the water stabbing at Trieste while the other unleashes a flurry of differnt attacks at her.
,
)
Kaldan-
Kaldan will mutter about hot headed Witches as he hurriedly jumps down to the beach and rushes over to attack the Red Skum. Joining up with Trieste.
Sighing as his companions jump into the water to attack the fish men, Thame moved further along the dock to get a clear, unobstructed view of the skum.
The wizard then extended his hand, a small flash of light shooting from his fingertips to aim at the nearer creature's eyes, hoping to blind it and make it easier prey for Kaldan and Trieste.
Not sure what else he can do at the moment Kragg flops into the water and tries to get closer to Trieste and Kaldan. He then moves easily through the difficult terrain thanks to Abadar’s blessing. Once next to Trieste he calls upon a further blessing if Abadar to protect her.
Free action for agile feet to ignore difficult terrain penalties 1/6 used
Move 30ft over to Trieste
Cast shield of faith on her.
Lara leans forward over the edge of the dock, drawing a bead on the nearest skum and letting loose with another arrow.
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With Kaldan and Kragg at her side, Trieste feels a surge of confidence. Her blade flashes out at the new target (green), catching him unaware. The blade slides easily under his guard, spilling his blood on the sand and surf.
Kaldan- Jumps down and stabs the Skum!
Trieste - Cuts deep into the chest of the fishman.
Kragg-
Lara - Hits! Dropping the second of the creatures.
Thame- Blinding Ray
Skums- Blind and injured it tries to flee... Only to be cut down in the attempt.
Tresure
Tridents (3)
One of the skum carries a map. The map reveals the northwestern contours of the island of Ancorato, with a few terrain landmarks and a symbol that resembles a tower. This symbol is also accompanied by another glyph.
Lara joins the others as they search the fallen skum. Noticing the map one carries, she looks it over. "Huh. Whaleskin."
Thame looked over Lara's shoulder at the whaleskin map. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, looking it over. "I think it's a map. That looks like the northwestern portion of the island. Who knew fishmen could prove such useful cartographers!?"
He looked at the others. "Good job, folks! I think that might be record time. Maybe we should have let that last one get away so he could tell the others to stay away. Oh well..."
Trieste reaches down and pets Jobert who has come to check on her. "I'm okay. See?" She casts a cure spell on herself to seal up the wounds.
"Can anyone read what's scrawled on the map?"
As soon as thwell combat is over Kragg let’s the others deal with the looting and tidying up while he heads back over to the fishermen that were injured. Sorry I could not do more earlier but I wanted to make sure the threat was contained before making a more in depth analysis of your condition. Now that we have time though please let me see your injuries and is anything further that we need to do to mend you up.
Heal check with guidance
Once done then Kragg will return to the others and examine the note. I can not on my own understand the note and symbols but with Abadar’s blessing I should be able to accomplish the task
Cast comprehend languages...
Kragg let’s out a low whistle as he just stares at the map. Eventually he whispers to those around him to not alarm others. This symbol here translates into ‘bring captives here’! What ever happened to the first group of colonists, I am sure we will find out there. We need to keep this quiet until we can decide what to do about it. No sense alerting the rest of the colony immediately. It may just cause an uproar.
"Isn't that inland?" Kaldan asks in some confusion. "Skum are aquatic, what are they doing going inland?"
He nods in agreement with Kragg. "Right you are. Best to scout this out quietly without letting on we're looking for whoever is doing this."
Lara frowns. "This definitely bodes ill for the survival of the previous colonists."
"Bringing this to Ramona's attention first does seem prudent, Kragg. This is troublesome, though. Whatever happened to the first wave of colonists seems likely to happen here, if we are not careful. How did they capture so many without a struggle?" Thame grew thoughtful, though he also was experiencing a feeling of dread. He knew he should have just stayed in a library in Cheliax.
The wizard nodded his agreement with Lara's assessment. If they had been captured for food, it had been weeks since they had been taken, by the state of Talmandor's Bounty when they had arrived. If there were other motives, it was probably even worse for the colonists. Maybe slave traders? He kept his thoughts silent, for now, worried about being overheard before they spoke with Ramona.
Ramona is shocked to hear of the attack and thanks you for your quick actions in saving the three men. When you bring up the map and the possible implications of the strange rune she pales.
"Prisoners! Those fishmen took captives? Then the other colonists might be held there in that tower... I need you to travel north to this tower and find out what you can. Be careful, we don't know how many of them there may be. There were a hundred colonists here originally and while there were no signs of attack we can't rule out that these Skum were at least partially responsible.
"Speak with Alba if you need any alchemical supplies, she should have had enough time to build up some stores and I wouldn't be surprised if our Smith has made some better weapons.
Available items: As directed by Ramona and because of your help with the housing situation you can have a on goods from him.
MWK Handaxe
MWK Dagger (4)
MWK Morningstar
Arrows (80)
Bolts (40)
MWK Light Crossbow
MWK Spear (2)
Mwk Longspear
MWK Chain shirt
MWK Studded leather
MWK Breastplate
MWK Chainmail
Bullseye lantern
Caltrops
Chain (50 ft.)
Available items:
Potions:
CLW (5)
Endure Elements (5)
Enlarge Person (2)
Feather Step (1)
Keen Senses (4)
Mage Armor (2)
Pass without Trace (4)
Reduce Person (2)
Alchemical Items:
Acid (5)
Alchemist's FIre (5)
Liquid Ice (3)
Tanglefoot bag (5)
Thunderstone (5)
Air Crystals (10)
Antiplague (10)
Antitoxin (15)
Bloodblock (5)
Smoke pellet, smog (5)
Tindertwig (10)
Torch, Everburning (2)
Ah yes thame. You are right of course. What I meant was that we should not publicize this news to everyone just yet. Let Ramona know as she is the leader so we can discuss how to go about investigating the area and possibly freeing any captive settlers.
Kragg listens intently to what Ramona says and nods his agreement. [b}This does need to be careful evaluated. However if these people were able to take on a colony of 100 individuals, and some of them capable of casting magic, then we need to be properly prepared as well. We need to outfit ourselves for a lengthy expedition as we do not know how long this endeavor may take us. We know the immediate surrounding area and along the coast but the rest of the island inland we are oblivious to.
[/b]
You said to talk to Alba and Luetin but I have no money to make any purchases of them. If they would be willing to take credit for any purchases I would gladly pay them back once we return and I have the coin.
Also what are we to tell the rest of the colony? Are you going to tell them upfront that we may have stumbled upon a location where the prior colonists are being kept or are we going to come up with some other story about us exploring the interior of the island? Looking at the map again Kragg continues, Finally we need to figure out if we are going to cut through the island or take a ship around to the secondary colony site and cut across from there?
"We should also consider the possibility that the colonists were betrayed from within. There seems to have been some internal dissension. There's a chance that it may have been instigated or supported by he skum, or by whoever they work for. I may not know much about them, but they don't seem to be the 'deep thinker' kind of creatures. The tower being inland would also support the idea of someone using them."
Thame nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin at the others' words. "The general consensus seemed to be that Rayland went mad or became inept and was overthrown. Though possibly seized power back later? To what end? Surely he wouldn't seek such a demise for the colony..." The wizard shook his head in confusion. They needed more information. It seemed like they might get it at the location indicated on the map.
When there is time Kragg will approach Luetin with a request. I understand that you are willing to give us a credit on some purchases. that is quite noble of you.I was wondering if you would be willing to part with the MW breastplate. The added protection it would give me would be most valuable in our upcoming excursion. That MW longspear could come in handy as well.
Breastplate 200 + MW 150 =350*25% discount =262.5 in credit used.
Longspear 5 + MW 300 =305*.25 discount =228.75
262.5+228.75 = 491.25 credit used.
Lara uses some of her credit with Alba to buy an everburning torch, 2 flasks of alchemist's fire, an air crystal, and a potion of cure light wounds. From Luetin, she buys an additional quiver and another 20 arrows to go with it.
"So, is everyone ready? I think I prefer the sea route, myself...there might be skum in the water, but it should be much quicker than overland. I'm wanting to put this mystery to bed and resolve this terrible issue so we can get this colony safe." And ourselves safe, as well. He mused, but kept to himself. I mean, wanting to be safe was a pretty rational thing to want, but you didn't go around just expressing it.
They know of the attack and that your gearing up for a dangerous expedition but only speculate at what you may be truly doing.
[ooc]Wealday, 6th of Rova 4717AR
You leave at first light, rowing at a decent pace up the coast only taking a few hours. The shore is clear where you land and locating a safe path up towards the tower on the map proves easy enough only a mile or little more into your hike an unusual swath of ground lies ahead. A section of ground approximately ten feet wide crossing your path looks as if it is grooved, covered with minute depressions and trampled grass. A first impression suggests a path left by hundreds of thousands of insects marching in a tight formation, but none of the plants appear to be eaten or damaged. Where the strange trail intersects with obstacles, it either splits and goes around the obstacle like water, or veers to avoid it entirely.
Kaldan studies the area carefully.
Trying to work out just what could have made such a trail?
Kragg looks at the ground and then at Kaldan hoping he has some answers. I don’t know about the rest of you but I do not like the looks of this. I hesitate to even touch the ground right now. We had so much trouble earlier with swarms...Thame, do you have anymore of that necklace available or ways to take out swarms?
As he is talking Kragg pulls out the swarm suit and starts to put it on.
Thame eyed the strange depression in the ground warily, wondering what could have caused the markings. Seeing Kaldan studying the area, the wizard wisely stepped back for the moment, letting those more knowledgeable of such things take a look. He does search his own memory, though, in case there's a rare bit of info he happens upon.
"I have a couple of flasks of alchemist's fire on hand for such an event. Hopefully it's enough," Lara replies to Kragg.
Thame shook his head in answer to Kragg. "The necklace of fire was completely expended in our initial search of the colony, I'm afraid. I'm ill-prepared for swarms, honestly." The wizard decided being truthful was the best approach to not getting them all killed. If they needed to go back to Talmandor's Bounty and get more supplies, it was better to admit it and do so than go forward.
Still, he was ready to proceed if the others were.
With your thorough inspections of the strange trail whatever made this, it wasn't insects...
The trail seems to lead in the general direction of the site of the tower, though not the path you were intending on taking.
Pondering the situation Kragg listens to the others and realizes that swarms did not cause this. Taking off the swarm suit Kragg looks down the path the trail is heading. Do we follow this or continue on the path we are heading? IS it possible that some large type of cart made this path and what we are seeing the 'wheel ruts'?
"Well, it seems silly to not make use of a trail that's heading in the right direction. We'll just need to keep our eyes open."
The wizard nodded sagely at Kragg and Trieste, a well-worn path being the easiest route, most likely. Easy was always good with Thame. The illusionist thought to amend it about certain things...then decided, nah, easy was always good.
Thame kept looking about nervously, certain that whatever could steal away (or kill) one-hundred colonists could probably take on the five of them without much difficulty. Maybe he was being pessimistic, but better to overestimate their enemy than vice-versa.
"Some form of Ooze, or something like that?" Kaldan guesses wildly. "Nothing I've seen before anyway."
He makes sure his weapons are ready and heads off along the trail, keeping an even more careful eye out now.
Striking off following the tail proves easy enough, it seems whatever made these tracks preferred smooth ground rather than rough terrain. Nearly an hour later the forest gives way to shattered fragments of rock and stone, the barest recognizable remnants of a lost civilization. Jutting from the grass and shrubs is a stone promenade, ten feet wide with intermittent flights of short steps that climb up a gentle slope—miraculously unchanged despite titanic upheaval of the past. Walkways extend east and west briefly before terminating into hills of wind-eroded stone rubble that might have once been buildings. A solitary, seemingly intact tower is visible on the northern horizon, approximately a mile away.
The elevations take the form of a series of tiers, with each slope or flight of steps ascending 5 feet. The large piles of broken stone require a successful DC 0 Climb check in order to enter the first square. The rock piles are treated as difficult terrain. There are three sets of bushes along the promenade.
Suddenly you hear something strange in the distance...
Sounds
What looks like thousands of Fine steel ball bearings that move in electro-thaumaturgical cohesion, making a clicking or clinking sound as it moves comes pouring over the stone promenade strait for you!
Immune weapon damage, construct traits, swarm traits
Weaknesses swarm traits
Round 1
Kaldan
Thame
Lara
Kragg
Trieste
perception
know arcana
The metal balls were rolling towards them rapidly and for the life of him he could not figure out what they were. Hopefully one of the others had an idea as how do you destroy a swarm of metal balls? Thame, need some help here. What do we do to these things?
"Not sure what that thing is, but there may be ankheg nymphs in the area too!" Lara exclaims, waiting until the thing draws nearer.
As soon as it is nearer to them, she draws a flask of alchemist's fire and lobs it at the strange whirling ball of things.
Trieste notes the holes in the bushes, probably left by ankhegs, and is about to point it out when the noise starts.
"What in the nine hells is that?"
"It's a warden jack swarm, everyone. The balls can extend large spikes, so be careful. Same thing as with the bugs...lots of fire. Also, it can't climb right angles. So if there was something we could get on, that would help alot!" Not having anything particularly useful to do, Thame tried to put a bit of space between him and the others...a swarm like this would love for them to cluster up.
Kaldan starts cutting up the shrubs with his machete. Calling out his hurriedly concocted plan. "If it can't climb straight up then when it gets to the bottom. We jump up a tier, block the stairs and set fire to the blockage."
Kragg moves over to the tree and tries to jump up to the lower branches.
Climb check
If those are the bushes though then Kragg moves to help Kaldan with the brush and fire work.
In that case Kragg will haul his dwarves arse over to the nearest ruined building and scamper up it.
Thame assessed the situation, then decided that following, and then passing the stout dwarf to the ruined building might be the best solution. For the wizard, anyway. He wasn't a hero...just a librarian who happened to know some magic who had signed on for a mission that was a little over his head. Everyone could probably point back in their lives to where things could have went differently...for Thame it was when he had signed his name onto the colony's second expedition. Strangely enough, though, he felt kind of thrilled through all this danger, as well. Best get working to extinguish that portion of himself before it got the rest of him killed.
Round 1
Kaldan -Thinking fast starts cutting down the nearest bush...
Thame -Rushes up the ruined stone with Kragg
Lara -Throws a vial of alchemist fire. Hits
Kragg -Moves up the ruined stone
WJS -The now burning swarm continues rolling ahead of the mass slamming into Lara as it rolls to the bottom of the stairs faster then you would have expected!
As the hard metal balls hit Lara she is knocked to the ground!
Trieste-
Hoping Lara will be okay, Trieste grabs Jobert and follows Kragg to a higher elevation.
Kaldan -Thinking fast starts cutting down the nearest bush...
Thame -Rushes up the ruined stone with Kragg
Lara -Throws a vial of alchemist fire. Hits
Kragg -Moves up the ruined stone
WJS - Hits and trips Lara
Trieste- Moves up onto the rubble.