Orslaw gathers up the rest of the Perilous Pearl officers down by the ship and let's them know what he found out. He tries to watch the slurring of his speech due to his swollen tongue, but his Chellish accent makes it difficult. "With our ship getting squibbed, do we hire a boat to take uth up river or try to walk it? Thoundsh like at least a day's journey out and back." Nodding over to the workers on the Perilous Pearl, "Doesh any idea how long this process takes?"
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Vlad can't help but keep a wary eye on Orslaw. He likes the fellow and would hate to have to run him through, but we just can't have the disease spreading. "Hopefully it won't take too long, but I imagine we can spare a couple of days."
"I don't think we should waste any time getting there, given Orslaw's...condition. We can spare the gold for a boat. I'll not be losing a crewman to ghoul fever."
Bessie takes both Orslaw and Crow by an arm, and in between her Peril Crew Brothers marches them towards the docks with a great big smile.
C'mon Boys! You know Bessie will take care of ya! E'en if it means trapesin' through the jungle to find a naga, a witch, or some'in' worse. The Peril Crew stands together!
She smiles and winks at Nasifi, her Peril Crew Sister and with a nod towards Captain Coeur-de-Lion, leads them on towards boats that might serve their need.
Bessie is happy and thanks Besmara for the ability to see through the task at hand. She is confident that they will succeed in saving Orslaw, no matter the challenge. She pulls Orslaw and Crow close, reveling in the Peril Crew and the blessings that Besmara has granted.
"Yeah, I think the boat is worth it to save some time. Hopefully we can bargain with them, and they want money rather than creepy favors in return for their help."
One of the men on the dock is talking how much it would cost to lease out a boat when his buddy, who is looking at the Pearl, says, "Why don'tcha take one of yer ship's boats?" The man haggling the leasing turns around and smacks him in the head. "Don't be listening to him. You need a good riverboat."
However, after a quick eyeball it is clear that the draft of the ship's boats would be little different than the riverboat. If anything the ship's boats seem to be better because they are setup to run a sail. The riverboat is merely setup for rowing or poling.
The participating crew hop in the ship's boat and head north up the estuary. About a half mile north you come to the tributary to the west that was mentioned. It is actually about three miles up this river before you come to the falls. Just saying falls is a bit of an understatement. Although the amount of water is not huge the height of the falls is immense. You guess it is about a hundred foot climb up rugged but not impossible terrain.
Orslaw swallows hard as he looks at the climb and then back at the boat, then wipes his hand across his warm, sweaty brow. "Ath much ath I like having a boat beneath me, anyone opposed to leaving it on the beach before we make our climb?"
He understands the risks the crew is making on his behalf right now and is willing to do whatever they suggest.
"Yeah, let's beach the boat, get it pulled up real good."
Nasifi is also looking at the climb ahead of them with dread.
Nasifi cannot see any safe way to get up steep rocky slope. She actually begins to focus on all the holes where a snake may hide. She's heard of the black mamba and could see one of them getting bit. Just as bad someone could slip and have their leg get caught and splinter from the poor angles. It's just a bad climb.
Bessie steps up beside Nasifi, knowing neither of them can climb. Bessie looks up at the falls... Beautiful falls... she then looks at Nasifi, grins and adds, At least no one will be up there throwing fruit at us!
She then calls out to Guillaume, Crow, and Orlsaw, You boys gonna be gentlemen and throw us a line when you get up there?
Guillaume looks at the other two. ”Swimming up a waterfall is a technique I’ve yet to master, sadly. If someone’s to make the first climb, it will need to be one of you.”
It's a steep and laborious climb, not overly difficult if you are not carrying the boat (DC 10 Climb). Vlad and Orslaw recognize it would be as safe, if not safer, to rope everyone together and make the climb together (+5 to REF save to keep from falling).
Even roped together they have a hard time of it. It seems to take much longer than it should have (about 15 mins start to finish) but they reach the top with no one injured. The river and jungle stretch out before them.
Huffing a bit as they get to the top, Vlad snickers, "We need to give you lot a few climbing lessons. Seems like it might be of good use." He peers at the way up ahead.
Vlad hears the cry of the some jungle birds but does not see them. The sun beats down on his brow and his main takeaway is that it is hot with several miles of jungle to walk through.
The crew heads out on foot and trudge through the foliage near the river. They see a large crocodile and some sort of water cow. (Knowledge nature to identify) Travel is difficult (DC 20 Survival check or K: Geography to lead the group over the distance at 2 miles per hour, otherwise you travel at 1 mile per hour) but finally three miles later, you see something that might be worked stone up ahead in the jungle.
Nasifi is just glad to have the climb past her now. She walks along with the rest of the group as they start onward.
"This island must be bigger than it looks to be coming into Rickety Squibs"
Bessie slaps at some biting insect, For sailors, we spend a lot of time tromping though the jungle. Looks like we are finally at somethin'. Anybody wanna try and sneak up and take a peek?
Guillaume’s Knowledge of Geography, such as it is, is insufficient to the task.
”I can do a bit of sneakin’. Let me see what there is to see.”
Guillaume sneaks forward and finds it is a stone wall. To the southwest he can see a tower. There is a lizardman in the top of the tower. It also appears there is an entrance at the base of the tower.
Guillaume returns and relays his findings. ”So, do we just walk up and announce ourselves?”
Why don't we see what else we can see before we just wander on up?
Vlad is pretty good at motivating people to move quickly through the jungle. Mostly he just wishes they were back at sea. "What do we know about the lizardmen of this region? Anyone?"
General knowledge about lizardmen is that they are xenophobic and can react violently without provocation.
Orslaw smiles weakly as he wipes sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "If we're here looking for assistance, we probably want to avoid conflict if at all possible with our initial contact. I'll offer to step out into the open unarmed and see if I can communicate that we want to talk."
Still think lookin' round might be better 'an bein a human spearcatcher, but I got plenty of bandages if you insist! Bessie says as she pats the healers kit slung over a across her body.
Orslaw steps into a nearby clearing making himself visible to the lizardman in the tower. The lizardman gives out a hoot and in short order two more come out of the jungle. They wear bits of leather and feathers for adornment and carry spears.
Vlad's not too happy with the 'pincushion' approach either, but he stands still, watching to see what they do.
The two lizardmen approach and jab their spears in Orslaw's direction and speak. He does not recognize their hissing speech, though it does sound rather insistent.
Nasifi doesn't love the idea of Orslaw, and/or the rest of the group exposing themselves to the lizardfolk. From what's been said about them, there isn't much to trust or like. But she does have to agree that violence on their part against the lizardfolk would probably make getting on the naga's good side harder at least, and maybe impossible.
Since she tends to get a bit fumble-tongued when trying to speak well under pressure, she remains quiet and lets others handle things.
Orslaw holds his hands up and tries to get them to understand him. "Peace", he says hoping they get some of that meaning. "Seeking witch woman for help." He sticks out his purple tongue and wipes the sweat from his brow to try to indicate that he is sick and looking for help.
They come to some decision between them and say something harsh to Orslaw and point at the ground. Then they turn around and head back to the tower.
Nasifi's just guessing but she offers up "I think they want us to wait here."
Nasifi is correct. Everyone is getting antsy starting to wonder if they should do something different when a serpent woman (snake body topped with a scaled humanoid body) comes out of the trees. She is flanked by six lizardmen, three to a side and followed closely by a serpent man.
She says something unintelligible and gestures for Orslaw to speak.
From their vantage point safely in the jungle, Bessie readies her crossbow.... just in case as she says a prayer to Besmara.
Well, so far, this is going better than we could have hoped. He casts comprehend languages so he can get a better sense of what they're saying... in case it's bad.
The serpent woman has asked Orslaw to speak, nothing more. The others remain silent.
You notice the odd looking crossbow that the serpent man carries has no string. The limbs of the crossbow actually appear to be mere decoration.
Out of respect for the witch woman and her entourage, Orslaw drops to one knee and speaks to the witch woman as he would a superior he has angered. He does his best to hide his slight lisp due to his swollen tongue not wanting to offend the serpentines, "Greetingth. I come humbly looking for healing from a ditheathe. Would you be willing to heal me?"
Once again, he shows his swollen purple tongue and wipes the sweat from his brow.
Guillaume sizes up the group, ready to blast them if they attack Orslaw, but hoping he won't have to.
Noticing the strange crossbow, his brow furrows. How odd.
Bessie takes in the scene and notices the crossbow. She casts detect magic and begins concentrating to see if it is a magical weapon, and looks closer to see if it is ceremonial. She also watches the events unfold and looks for other dangers creeping up.
The crossbow is not magical. When Orslaw speaks, the gem on the serpent woman's choker glows and then she responds.
"You appear to be in the mid stages of ghoul fever. I can fix this. I want something in exchange. You dress like the men of the sea. There are creatures, fish men, in the sea. I want one. Promise me one, and I will cure this thing." The serpent woman says.
Orslaw nods his head solemnly, knowing that he doesn't understand the full implications of his decision. "By my word, it will be done."
Oh, Besmara bless us, no good will come of this. Bessie whispers to herself more than anything, she bites her lip as she ponders the implications.
"Follow me, all of you. Witness our power and know why you should fear." the serpent woman says and slithers away followed by the serpent man. The lizardmen move out and flank Orslaw and anyone who moves to go with him. Guillaume at least is hiding, please state if you are hiding or attending.
Stay here - and come get us if need be. Bessie tells Guillaume patting his shoulder as she moves out from their hiding place after slinging the crossbow, so as not to provoke the lizardmen.
Vlad steps out to follow with Bessie, weapons sheathed, and hands visible.
Orslaw, Bessie, and Vlad head off with the lizardmen and serpent people while Nasifi and Guillaume wait to see what will happen. The group walks through the opening at the base of the tower. Then they travel past a set of warehouses and a rather busy barracks. To the south they see a large set of pens with people and other humanoids. Crossing through a gate house then through an open bailey through a secondary gatehouse and finally into an inner courtyard dominated by a large serpent shaped temple. There are several lizard folk walking around going about their business with tattooed humans and other humanoids working as apparent servants.
The doors on the temple are covered in a relief of numerous varied serpents. The doors open as you approach and reveal a large entryway. The serpent woman leads you into a room to the right. Finally, she says, "Your friends may wait in here. You must come to the holy place with me where we will extract this disease from you."
From growing up in Cheliax, the sight of the slaves doesn't bother him as his home port had some slaves in far worse conditions than these. However, the size of this compound compared to the small village near Rickety Squibs makes him very grateful that they will have a short stay here. He nods to his companions at the serpent woman's instructions and then follows her into their holy place.