I nod to Aeyrs "Let's pack it for later and check the cargo hold." I do a one last once over to make sure we got everything of value. Then I lead the group cautiously down to the bowels of the ship.
As you leave the cabin, Jask leans over and picks up the longspear from the floor, hefting it for use and nodding before following you out.
The Nightvoice’s cargo hold is a hideous scene—the skeletal remains of the ship’s crew lie enshrined here. In all there are 19 bodies here, each consisting of a mound of bones caked over with mold; each sits amid a small circle of personal objects, teeth, coins, bits of jewelry, and other objects.
You see several more inert forms on the floor of the hold like the one in the captain's cabin.
As I move into the room. "What a mess. I don't trust these bodies, it's best to make sure their dead and won't get up. Carefully." I move cautiously to one of the inert bodies. I hold my breath and cut the thing's throat.
If it goes without trouble, I proceed to cut throats or whatever looks vital on these things and search the room for clues that may tell us what is going on with this island.
The body does not so much as twitch, only sheds a bit more purplish goo onto the floor.
In your search, you find among the piles of scrap and leftover bits of refuse a total of 432 cp, 284 sp, 123 gp, and some assorted jewelry. There are also a pair of muck-covered (but well appointed) bracers, and a well-crafted stick that (once you scrape off the muck) also appears to have a variety of carvings in it.
As I look over the stuff I nod to the others. "Got a few things here that could be worth something when we finally get off this rock. Let's distribute the weight and sort it out later. Call it compensation for all our hard work. We are doing all the work after all." After we gather the stuff I lead the party off the ship. "Nothing else here it seems. Aerys, I'd like to look over that logbook with you in more detail at a more comfortable place off this ship while we rest. Hopefully it contains a clue as to what we are dealing with."
I lead the group off of the ship and back too shore. I then call for a break in our search so we can go over that logbook
"We'll," Sasha begins, "I think that we have about circled the whole island. Shoud we go back to the ford and make it back across for the evening? I think we can make it before sundown, and we should be able to get low tide."
"I know I'd rather not sleep here again if we do not need to," Jask replies. "My vote is also to cross back over to the more natural portion of the island."
Aerys nods her head. "I agree. It will take some work to decipher the logbook, but we should be able to so the right amount of study. And we must eat soon, one not this filthy fungi."
I nod at their votes. "Very well. Let's hurry up and finish going over this island." I lead the group through the "more natural" places on the island.
As you step back out onto the deck, the heat of the day begins to strike, and the four of you find some modest shelter in the moldy remains of a sail, as the sun appears to be starting to cut through the perpetual haze over the island. After a couple hours wait, you have plenty of daylight to return towards the other small island to the south. You reach it at low tide, making for an easier passage back over. Once you step foot on the sandy, non-fungal shores, it is only a few moments before the familiar figure of Aycenia appears, emerging from a nearby palm tree.
"My friends!" She calls out, beaming. "You have done my tree and this whole island a great service. Already I feel it's taint slipping away. Tell me, what evil has caused this great peril to my lands?"
I am thoroughly surprised by this declaration of our success. "Really? We did it? Maybe it WAS that tentacle thing in the spire." I ponder it a bit and nod to Aycenia. "Well we fought much on this island. The most unique being a giant tentacle fungus monster in a spire over there. I had not realized we had cured the island. I guess I expected something more....noticeable. At any rate we are glad to be of service. Since our task is done, we must return to the rest of our fellow stowaways and move everyone to the lighthouse. If you have any aid to offer we would be grateful."
If she offers aid or a reward, I graciously accept it. As soon as the heat dies down, I lead the others off this island going back the way we came and will then follow the coast east to where we left the other castaways so many days ago. Hopefully they are okay and still waiting for us.
Aycenia nods, "Indeed, though the change will not be immediate, this land will recover quickly. The daily rains will certainly be central to cleaning off its filth, but I can tell that it is no longer... pressing forward in the same way. You do not appear to have been poisoned by the spores of that place, but I can tell you with certainty that they have been drifting this way for some time.
"I would be happy to offer what aid I can. You appear to be in particular need of restoration," Aycenia says to Sasha. "Permit me to help." She casts a spell, touching the mark on Sasha's arm from the tendril of the fungal monstrosity.
"Another thought occurs," she shares. "I know from your tale that you seek those who brought you to the island. I sensed two beings who felt... different than the cannibals who have long dwelt here. They approached the lighthouse, but there I lost track of them. When you return to the lighthouse, I encourage you to seek further knowledge there.
"Should you find yourselves in need of further aid, please visit my tree, and I will do what I am able. Traveling this far from my tree is... wearying for me, and I must return to it now. The island will tell me when you have returned to the lighthouse, and I shall visit if I am able. Go in peace, friends of the island!"
By the time you reach the south end of this smaller island, the sun is nearing the horizon and the tide has come back in, making the possibility of crossing back to the main island much more difficult. The others seem quite interested in making a shelter, knowing that the daily rains are sure to come quickly. In short course, you are able to construct a sufficient lean-to, and just in time to be out of the worst of the rain shower.
As always, when sunset finally comes after the rains, it is a brilliant orange glow on the horizon, and then a quickly deepening darkness. The four of you set a watch order, and set down to rest as you are able.
During the first watch, when Jask is on duty, there is a brief commotion as a large swarm of bats emerge from a nearby cave to go out on their nightly bug hunt. Though it startles Jask, and sweeps past him for a moment as they examine your camp, they quickly pass along for smaller, more easily digestible fare.
In the middle of the night, the nightly moment of silence comes as expected. The chirps, squeaks and cries of the jungle's animals completely die out for a time, then gradually return. Though she is on watch, and try as she might, Aerys is unable to see any reason for the silence.
In the morning, the tide has again lowered, and you are able to more easily pass between the smaller and larger island, and continue on your way.
The day dawns clear, and you set out along the shoreline. It is much easier going than trying to pass through the jungle, and within an hour you are within range for the enormous crab you had encountered several days ago, before you came to the lighthouse. "I may be wrong," Sasha begins, "but I think that that crab hasn't actually moved since the last time we saw it."
I examine the crab from a distance. "I'd like to get a closer look. Could be dead for all we know. I'm thinking I may be able to use pieces of it to repair the lighthouse if the shell is sturdy enough. Worth a look anyways." I start to make my way down to the crab.
As the four of you approach the crab, it goes from silent non-movement to once again making a rather eerie wailing noise and moving its arms about. "Ha!" yells Sasha. "Knew something wasn't right about that dang thing. Not possible that thing is naturally moving that way, and I don't mean like it's undead. Crabs just don't do that!"
"Ropes," Aerys says, shading her eyes against the morning sun. "Look, near the joints, you can see ropes and vines set into some of the seams, but its clearly being operated like a ship's rigging. No cannibal work this. Should we try and communicate with them?"
Jask steps forward, about 60' from the crab, and casts a spell. He stands there, concentrating for a few moments. "There is definitely an intelligent mind here, not just e crab. It is wondering why it is being bothere, what will happen to it, whether we will eat it, if it is going to ever see Mediogalti again, if it will honor the memory of a captain Zoventai... It is going on at length on these things, including a tirade against cannibals that does not bear repeating." He shakes his head and turns back to all. "Perhaps if we convince it that the Cannibals are dead? Sasha, you boarded at Mediogalti, I understand. Do you know this captain Zoventai?"
Sasha nods. "She was a cruel captain, but effective. I recall that her ship had a... mascot of sorts, a tengu that cloned around most of the time."
Jask adds, "We'll, whatever we say, it should be calm and peaceable. This mind did not appear to be the most... sound, let us say."
I step Forward no weapon out and my hands exposed in a gesture of peace. "Hello!" I call out. "Is someone in there? We mean you know harm! We are not cannibals! In fact, we slew all the cannibals just a few days ago. Can you please come and talk to us? We may be able to help one another." I await a response,
EDIT: did your ability scores change? I recall a different array.
The crabs movements pause for a moment as you call out your greeting...
A squawking voice calls out, "Gone? Gone?! You have slain them all! Ha HA HA HA HA! They are so many! And the great captain Zoventai, queen among the Tengu, could not, but you have!" There is a clattering for a bit, before a strange figure emerges from the main portion of the crab. A black feathered Tengu dressed in rags, carrying a sawtooth sabre and a dagger slung at its hips careens forward, clapping and cheering. "Ah, the cannibals never speak to me, and I can tell the truth of your words! Come in, come in from the heat of the day! And take refreshment, come come! I am Pezock, your grateful host. Cme come!" He begins capering back out toward the crab.
The others look at you, grinning, and turn to follow. Sasha snorts quietly, "Zoventai was not a Tengu. Better watch this one, he might be a little... off."
I chuckle at Sasha. "Yeah I get that impression. Jask even said so. Thing is, he's not liable to be any more dangerous than the cannibals. I believe we will be fine. I'll take any friendly soul I can find on this island no matter how unusual they may be." I follow the tengu inside.
After looking the place over I turn to Pezock. "I take it you have been here for some time. How anxious would you be to leave? My friends and I have cleaned out the cannibal camp and as a reward we have a lighthouse we can use to signal for help." I then gesture to the structure we are in now. "You have built quite an impressive home here which means you have very resourceful building talents. I could use your help in restoring the lighthouse and then we can all get off this island together. What do you say? Will you help us?" I await his response.
Diplomacy:
Pezock puffs up with pride when you complement the state of his hut, and Sasha does her best to look away and not show a laugh. He ticks his head back and forth for a bit, as though literally weighing thoughts in his head, before making a decisive nod and bustling about his hut. "Yes! Yes! A new home would be better than this old crab, yes. Perhaps I can be the new lighthouse operator here on the island! Keep it working, and no more will come to be here as I have."
He sighs a bit, then picks up something from a makeshift table. "Here," he hands each of you a portion of smoked fish, "Eat first, then we make plans, yes? Must make certain that you are not more ghosts come from the surf, no, no, no, that wouldn't do. Nor would it be..." he trails off as a concerned look comes over his face. "Those ghosts have never talked to me before, but, then, it has been long since I have seen the one ghost that doestalk, though he only ranted and raved about some woman. Pfaugh!"
He throws his hands up a moment, then continues bustling about the hut. "So, you eat, then we go to the lighthouse, yes?"
I graciously Accept the fish. "Thank you for you hospitality my friend." I listen to his ramblings. "I too have seen the ghosts. Most of them harmless. We even saw the one that speaks of the woman. We helped him rest at peace." I eat a bit more and respond. "If you wish to stay at the lighthouse and operate it, that is your choice my friend. You would indeed be saving many lives in the future given how many ships have crashed here. However, we need to retieve the rest of our fellows before returning to the lighthouse. Hopefully they are still waiting for us on the northern most beach where we washed up here."
I extend my hand. "You could come with us, or you could wait here for us to get them and then we could swing by and pick you up, or you could wait for us at the lighthouse. Which would you feel most comfortable with?" I await the birdman's response.
He cocks his head back and forth a few times again, then squawks, "The north beach? Haven't been there in years. Cliffs between here and there." He rummages about for a while in a back portion of the crab, then pulls out a sack and sets it at your feet. Inside are ropes, pitons, hammers, and other items for climbing, enough to make it somewhat easier on all those who attempt to traverse the cliffs. "Use this, yes? Then bring it back to me, I'll meet you here and we will go south. Yes?"
I nod to Pezock. "That works and thank you for the tools." I graciously take them. "We will fetch our fellows and return to pick you up. Thanks again for your help. Thanks for the fish too. You are also a good cook it seems."
I spend some time hanging out with the birdman. Once the heat lifts I bid Pezock farewell and we head out with climbing gear. we make four our original castaway camp.
You travel most of the rest of the day, but encounter no dangerous wildlife. You pass once more one of the camp sites you had previously explored, and the strange, yellow-fungus filled area where you fought the zombie. Past giant crabs scuttling in the shallows, and near twilight, you make it back to the base of the cliff where you first descended after climbing over the cliff.
"How long has it been since we saw the others?" Aerys asks.
"Nearly two weeks, by my reckoning," Jask offers.
"Ha! Enough time to get themselves killed, I suppose," Sasha chortles, to the consternation of the others.
The four of you go about making camp, the now-familiar routines taking but an hour to complete a very serviceable base camp.
I settle in for the night.
On my shift I will sit and go over the book again I use my extensive knowledge of language to try and decipher the writings.
During your watch, you note little other than the book. The cryptography within is very dense, and you are only beginning to notice patterns in the work before you realize that your watch has come to an end, thankfully without incident.
Do you stay awake and keep working?
Or get rest to be fully prepared to scale the cliff the next day!
I rest and get fully prepared. I believe there is still time to see what information can be gathered from the book. In the morning I will lead the party on the most direct route ready to tackle the cliffs
It takes but a few moments to get to the cliffs, and you are soon on your way up the 100 foot climb.
Jask readily admits that he is not strong, or a good climber, and requests to be pulled up once you have all reached the top. It isn't easy, but the three of you are able to accomplish it after some time.
After perhaps a half hour of strenuous activity, you all stand panting at the top of the ridge.
"Well, now for the way back down on the other side," Sasha pants. "Maybe a mile through the jungle to get there?"
Aerys blows out a hard blast of air, then says, "All right! Let's get back to the others and get ourselves out of here. Ready to go, Aaron?"
I give Aerys a nod and clasp her on the shoulder. "It's been quite the adventure and I won't soon forget it or any of you. Let's just hope it all finishes with a happy ending." Taking my hand off Aerys shoulder Look at Jask and Sasha. "After this let's keep in touch. I've grown to care for each of you as I would my own crew. I'd hate for it to simply end once were off this island."
Aerys smiles, and all start chuckling good natured-ly at your later words.
"After this ends," Sasha laughs, "If I do anything, it'll be to stay off of boats! Sorry, Aaron, I'll be on your crew, as long as that boat is on land." She gives you a pat on the shoulder as she leads the group north.
Aerys smiles, and all start chuckling good natured-ly at your later words.
"After this ends," Sasha laughs, "If I do anything, it'll be to stay off of boats! Sorry, Aaron, I'll be on your crew, as long as that boat is on land." She gives you a pat on the shoulder as she leads the group north.
I nod. "Okay lets go." We walk as a group back to camp. Do we make it without incident?
You take two hours to cross the mile wide point and reach the cliff leading down, with no incident. By lowering Jask with the ropes, you are able to all easily climb down with the aid of Pezock's climber's kit.
"Hello!?" Jask calls out and heads for the camp. "Are you there? It is us - we have returned! Hello?!"
You hear a hoarse male voice cry in response, "Hello!? Show yourselves! We'll not be fooled again!"
This is followed by, "Hush, Surtin, don't be a fool. It's those idiots that left us to die here," coming from the aristocrat, Gustav." Yes, we are here! Come out! And do watch out for the snares. They really are for the more edible animals."
When you emerge from the trees, you see that the small encampment that you initially left has grown by a few shelters. All the others are there, though Surtin eyes you warily, and Ishirou appears downright panicked, but not necessarily by you - more a general state. Gustav snorts at you, then stalks over to one of the shelters. Cyrioul and Theria greet you warmly, glad to have you back. Gasha, the half orc, simply grunts and goes back to roasting an animal over a fire. Gelik bounds up and greets you with a quip, asking if you've come with a delivery of wine for the resort.
Cyrioul gives a rather quick account of the past twelve days, but it is mostly around the following actions by each of the NPCs:
-Cyrioul helped to defend the camp from wandering animals, all the while studying e immediate vicinity of the jungle.
-Gasha hunted and scavenged for food.
-Gelik kept the others entertained, and had a bad couple days of being afflicted by a disease.
-Gustav sat and refused to do anything until Sasha stopped feeding him. Then he turned to keeping the shelters clean and sanitary, more for his own sake than the others.
-Ishirou has not fared we'll on the island, and has apparently been scared out of his mind most of the time. He has helped set traps agains animals, but - on a bad day - whenever a trap goes off there is a chance that Ishirou will go running off for the trees, and one of the others will have to bring him back.
-Surtin recovered from the poison, and has guarded the camp.
-Theria has been the primary caretaker for all in camp, seeing to their ills and healing them.
Theria and Gelik recount that though they were mostly safe the first several days, perhaps a week ago they began having more attacks against the camp, including a constrictor snake, a wandering cannibal that managed to find his way here, a few vipers, and a pack of dire rats. "Not very tasty," Gelik makes a face, "No one would believe me if I told them I had eaten one - and they'd be right not to!"
"And what of you?" the Garundi wizard asks. "It has been a long twelve days in your absence, and you seem a bit worse for wear, but hopeful-looking enough."
Aerys: Hopeful, Helpful
Cyrioul: Hopeful, Helpful
Gasha: Hopeful, Unfriendly
Gelik: Hopeful, Friendly, Red Ache Disease cured (Inoculated)
Gustav: Hopeful, Hostile
Ishirou: Panicked, Indifferent, Mindfire Disease cured (Inoculated)
Jask: Hopeful, Helpful
Sasha: Hopeful, Friendly
Surtin: Shaken, Unfriendly
Theria: Hopeful, Helpful
I take a deep breath after taking in the news. I make my way out to the center of camp where I can be heard by everyone. I then clap my hands together and tell the story. "It was a rough journey through the woods. I'd say we scoured the ENTIRE island except for the large mountain to the southeast. We have fought mostly cannibals and undead and monsters of unspeakable shapes and sizes. We found out that it was my captain, the captain of the Jenivere who purposely shipwrecked us here. As far as I can tell, he is cannibal food. Pity, I would have love to run him through myself." I look somber for just a moment,
I the straighten up. "Now for the good news. The four of us were able, with no small amount of tactics, skills, and a heck of a lot of luck, we wiped out most of the cannibals on this island. Slew their leaders, and took over their home completely. Now we have a REAL base of operations to live. A lot more fortified than this camp. Finally, the last part, we have secured a near complete lighthouse. It won't take much to complete and we can use it to signal a ship when it is finished. Don't you see, we can finally get off this island! We returned here so we could move you all to the safety of a walled structure. It will be far more comfortable and safer than waiting here on this shore."
I look at the sky as if to judge the time. "It will be a long trip." I look at Jask. "Can you make sure everyone is healthy? Do your best anyways?"
I then look back at the others. "I think we should spend the day cleaning up and resting for tomorrow and then we head out early so we can make good time. Also, there is another castaway we found who helped us and he would be willing to aid us in rebuilding the lighthouse. His name is Pezok, we promised to pick him up on our way back. He is a little loopy but a friend all the same. We could use his help."
I look over everyone. "So, there's the plan. Everyone get your things together and get some rest. We head out tomorrow morning." I begin to get myself settled. If no one bothers me I sit down and study the logbook some more before I retire for the evening.
The others listen somberly to the news of Captain Kovack and his treachery, but perk up at the news of the lighthouse. Ishirou and Surtin look a little less frightened at the possibility of a more secure location.
Jask nods, and converses with Theria about everyone's health.
Gustav begins protesting about a long walk across the island, but eventually agrees that it is likely the best approach.
Gelik looks intently at the book you are studying after he has collected his things, and asks, "Can I ask where you picked that up? It must be quite something to hold your attention."
I look at Gelik. "I found it on a ship on the northwester part of the island. That part of the island was infested with a dangerous fungus and the ship was coated in the stuff. I recovered this and it is written in a code I can't seem to make out. I'd really like to know what it says. Knowledge is power after all." I hold the logbook to him. "Maybe you can make something of it." I offer for him to try.
Gelik takes a closer look, and rubs a thumb over a symbol embossed into the cover. "The Glyph of the Open Road," he says, appreciatively. "My fellow pathfinders were into shipping, it seems." He begins flipping pages...
...and, though frowning, turns the book over in his hands. "This will take time to decipher. We Pathfinders are good at our codemaking. If you can't make a good code, people won't take you seriously. And they'd be right not to!" He plops down on a rock next to you. "Looks like we should put our heads together on this one!"