"Would one of you more at home in the tropic wilds like to quietly look it over, or shall we advance as one?"
Bangkha clicks his tongue and points at the fort, telling Cat "Seek."
Cat will approach, crouching low and moving through the undergrowth along the side of the trail as much as possible.
"I say we go as a group. No need in getting into trouble on one's own now, is there?"
"Let's head to the fort there," Alwen suggests with a smile, finishing off his coconut meal. "Seems like the kind of place one would bring prisoners - plus, streams usually originate at the high points, don't you think? Two birds in one bed, as they say," He says, trailblazing up the hill.
Satinder nods in agreement, and follows Alwen up the path.
"I wonder what will await us there. Will the women still be alive?"
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A well-built timber stockade surrounds a small lodge in a jungle clearing. Vines wrap and strangle a great tree that rises next to the lodge (inside the stockade), blocking light from above. Beside it is a bubbling spring. A weathered spyglass is affixed to the western wall, facing south.
Without waiting, Chumtooth hurls his harpoon at the creature in the tree.
"Die!"
Bangkha points at the creature and clicks his tongue at Cat, who shoots under the canopy of trees to attack. The druid casts shillelagh on his club, transforming it, then advances after his pet.
Satinder looks surprised as Chum and Bangkha are suddenly attacking the undergrowth.
"What..." is all she can muster before things get hairy.
Alwen readies his bow, moving around to try and get a better view of whatever is in the trees there. "This could be problematic," He wagers.
"Something there..." Dantes says, frowning up at the trees. With a quick arcane phrase, he wards himself against the unseen (at least by him) threat.
Casts Mage Armor on himself.
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Chumtooth hurls his harpoon at the tree, but it tangles in the branches ineffectively. Cat has better luck, sprinting forward and into the tree to attack the creature, which now reveals itself to all. It is vaguely humanoid, about six feet tall. The hunched-over wretch has long, pliable arms like tentacles capped with five wide, spiny claws. Cat's attack does little to actually damage the creature, but it hisses loudly.
INITIATIVE
Chumtooth
Creature
Bangkha
Satinder
Alwen
Dantes
Ayaki
Choker 1 = 14
Choker 2 = 16
Chumtooth gives a deep rumbling growl, then rushes forward, swinging his mornigstar at the creature.
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Chumtooth rushes the creature and swings, but the result is a clean miss. The creature lashes out with it's tentacle-arms, one at Cat and the other at Chumtooth. The grasping, claw-like "finger" miss the kuru, but lock around Cat's neck. She gives a strangled cry as she is grabbed. No sooner than the creature grabs her, it retreats to the upper branches of the tree, about 20 feet above the ground. Chumtooth connects as it goes, but the attack merely grazes off it's bark-like hide.
and Cat is grabbed
Choker 1 = 14
Choker 2 = 16
Alwen tracks the creature with his bow, finding it rather unfortunate that its grabbed the cat. It'll make it much harder to hit than it already is. "You fellas mind shooting it down?" He asks, firing off a shot to mark the target. It's only good at scattering through a few trees.
"Yeah, sure, coz I'm that good at shooting things..."
Satinder takes her shortbow, aims carefully and releases, hitting the creature while in the tree. The inspirational words from Alwen really help her.
>
Cat attacks with the ferocity one would expect of a cat being dangled by its neck 20' up a tree.
Bangkha curses fluently and extensively in orcish and burns his faerie fire on a spontaneous Summon Nature's Ally.
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It is then that a second choker emerges from the tree, it's camouflage having blended perfectly with the foliage. It slips a clawed tentacle around Chumtooth's throat and tightens its grip (). It attempts to lift the kuru off his feet, but fails to move the massive figure.
Satinder sinks an arrow into the shoulder of the one grappling Cat, but it does not break it's hold.
Alwen calls out words of encouragement to the group.
INITIATIVE
Chumtooth
Choker 1
Bangkha
Choker 2
Satinder
Alwen
Dantes
Ayaki
Choker 2 = 16
Chumtooth lashes out at the tentacle around his neck, biting and swinging his morningstar.
Dantes steps a little closer as he starts casting a powerful spell to aid Chumtooth.
Five foot step, and start casting Enlarge Person; one round casting time.
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Fascinate (Su): At 1st level, a bard can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and capable of paying attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard has attained beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with this ability.
Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the bard’s level + the bard’s Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect.
A prudent thief should never drink so much that he becomes bold.
Because a thief who boasts and brags will rarely live to grow old.
For silence is a thief's best bet and if he breaks this etiquette.
Undoubtedly what he will get...will be more trouble than gold.
Consider Zhele a thief from Greel, who drank at the Swan and Grouse.
He made himself quite popular by buying rounds for the house.
One night in drunken revelry, he made a bet with prideful glee,
But later on he would agree...he never should've been soused.
A thief's best friends are luck and speed, alertness, cunning and stealth.
And ale can cause these all to flee and cheat a thief of his wealth.
But add to this a drunken dare to steal a lock of the Empress' hair,
Then even a fool should be aware...this may be bad for your health.
So Zhele did stumble through the door in his most fearless state.
He slipped in shadows past the guard and snuck through the palace gate.
Then giggling he scaled the wall so drunk he thought he could not fall.
For wasn't he the best of all...and surely favored by Fate.
As he climbed in he saw a girl who was dressed in cloth not fur.
A palace maid? Perhaps a cook? T'was difficult to be sure.
A homely lass she did appear, but anyone looks good through beer,
So when she asked, "Why are you here?"...he said he was there for her.
He showered her with compliments for flattery was his skill.
And so they spent a pleasant time as any young couple will.
But as the dawn lit their embrace, he recognized the lady's face
From every golden coin it graced...and suddenly he felt ill.
He'd heard that drink was dangerous and now he knew for a fact.
For theives caught in the palace were hanged or stretched upon a rack.
But as this thief was kind and bold, the empress gifted him with gold.
(Then the guard made sure that he'd been told...he'd be killed if he ever came back.)
And so he was a thief no more for that was part of the deal.
His bet was lost because she gave him what he went there to steal.
So other thieves may scorn and mock his name and tale but still they flock
For a drink and a look at the Empresses Lock... the finest tavern in Greel.
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Dantes steps forward and begins casting enlarge person on Chumtooth. Ayaki begins her song and the Choker holding Cat relaxes its grip and tilts its head, listening. It isn't clear if the beast can understand the words or is just enthralled by the music, but it seems to be working, nonetheless.
Chumtooth sinks his teeth into the choker attacking him, tearing out a chunk of rubbery flesh. His morningstar slams into the thing's face, drawing blood. Still, however, it's grip on Chumtooth's neck does not loosen.
INITIATIVE
Chumtooth
Choker 1
Bangkha
Choker 2
Satinder
Alwen
Dantes
Ayaki
Choker 2 = 5
Satinder will look at the creature that Chum is fighting, and throw her dagger at it.
"Hold on Chum! Don't bite it!" she says while the dagger flies through the air.
>
Bangkha finishes the spell and points, and an eagle appears, attacking the choker that has Cat. Cat continues to struggle viciously, biting and clawing.
The half orc rushes towards the second creature that grasps Chumtooth, swinging his enchanted club.
"So to be clear, you're really attached to the cat?" Alwen calls out to Bangkha, shooting at the choker that was grappling the feline. The cover and the foliage makes it rather hard for him to hit it though. "Well, that thing is more attached to it now actually..."
Chumtooth feels his body expand with the effect of Dantes' magic.
He flails away at the creature's rubbery arm again, biting, despite Satinder's admonishment.
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Cat claws and bites desperately, fighting like a thing possessed, her attacks opening new wounds in her foe. Snapped from it's trance, the choker once again tightens its grip. The eagle summoned by Bangkha tears into the creature, finishing it off. Cat drops to the ground gracefully, gasping for breath.
Meanwhile, Bangkha attacks Chumtooth's foe, but misses with his attack.
The choker wraps its claws more tightly around the kuru's throat.
Satinder's dagger finds its mark, sinking into the choker's right eye with a wet squishing sound. The creature squeals in pain (a sound not unlike fingernails on a chalkboard) and its grip on Chumtooth relaxes, its body sliding from the tree.
Chumtooth yanks the tentacle from around his neck and hurls it to the ground.
[B]"Phaw! This thing tastes foul, like rotten squid! It will not feast on Kuru!"
Bangkha checks Cat to make sure she's alright, and then spares a glance for Alwen.
"Attached to any companion as loyal," he says, and leans down to sniff the spring water.
"Oh, good, they're all dead. Now, let's take a look and see what goodies we have around here," Alwen states, starting off by taking a look at the spyglass, peering through it to check if its in working condition - they are quite valuable items.
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The spyglass is a fine piece of equipment made of bronze and glass and is in excellent working condition. A look through the lenses reveals that it is focused on the south end of the island.
Looking through the instrument, you notice that it is focused on a small cove at the south end of the island. It has been fixed in this position. You can see three of the squid-goblins cavorting in the water. One of them is wearing a familiar tricorne hat; it belongs to Sandara.
"It indeed looks like it's made out of fine materials. Anything you see, Alwen?" Satinder says, while checking on Chumtooth and his wounds, and doing the same to cat, if she'll let me.
Still no sign of our comrades.
When the spring is declared safe, Dantes takes advantage. He fills his skin a couple of times, drinking from it and pouring fresh water over himself.
"We'll have to figure out a good way to get barrels up here after we find our friends. I don't know about crossing that swamp with them. Maybe we'll find a better landing point as we seek out the others."
Chumtooth grits his teeth and inhales sharply when Satinder touches the purpling skin of his neck and shoulders.
"This foul squid-man-tree could not kill Chum...me. I..am too strong."
"Yes you are Chum. You're the strongest of us all." Satinder says without flinching, simply stating the obvious.
"Though I still need to beat you at that wrestling match you promised me."
"Oh you know, stunning vista of the horizon, beautiful cresting waves crashing upon the rocky shore, a few squiddies around a cave and one of them has Sandara's hat. The usual sight," He replies, plucking the spyglass out of its fixed position. "I do so think that they might be held captive there. Though, if dear Sandara has sadly fallen - I call dibs on her hat."
He whistles a jaunty tune while scanning the coastline, plotting out the fastest route to the cave from their position.