Bessie will try to verify if the man is dead, and if so what killed him.
Guillaume will bring up the rear, ready to provide firesupport.
As they move into the jungle Beket and Bleepos try to keep a 10' gap between the group and them to give some standoff. He and Orslaw both at different points see what appears to be a face near the ground but upon second inspection the face is gone (the two 'X's are where you each saw a face). Beket gets to the body and need not check on the cause of death. The man's back is peppered with six darts, the man's tongue is swollen and sticking out of his mouth, his neck is also bloated with an ugly bruising look. One would definitely suspect poison. Bessie, when she gets up to the body can confirm the poison theory.
Beket makes it up to the next turn and spots a face in the jungle.
Round 1
Heroes
Enemy
Beket sees the face in the jungle and those black eyes widen, the tentacles whipping into a fury as he lets out a growl.
"Enemies!" The man shouts as he charges down the path towards the faces in the jungle, club and shield in hand with Rytys flying in just above him.
When Beket covers the distance he finds the faces, which are tiki masks, are not crouching but are barely above the floor of the jungle. He smashes down with a loud thwack like wood on wood causing the thing to shudder and scrabble a bit.
Bleepos scrambles in behind beket and pounces on the nearest other Tiki mask. He bites ferociously bouncing around in his typical defensive posture (fighting defensively). Orslaw hustles down the path and pushes through the underbrush to give assistance to Beket (double move). Then Guillaume comes running around the corner and lets loose with a powerful blast of water that obliterates the tiki fighting Bleepos.
The remaining tiki steps back and others join it. They all raise little blowguns to their mouths and fire at the four in front of them. All of the little darts miss.
Round 2
Heroes
Tikis
Bessie wonders if the twig men were enemies, but given the dead body; it is likely that these are the dart throwers. AS she watches they fire at the Peril Crew...
Great. More earth creature crap. I wanna go back to the sea.
Bessie waits to see if any of the party gets injured or hit by the darts. Goes on full defense.
Well, there goes talking. Guillaume thinks as he summons more water and fires it off at another of the tiki-faces.
Guillaume blasts another one to pieces.
Orslaw steps through into the brush and slashes at the nearest... creature wearing that tiki mask.
Beket takes a step forward, his club and natural attacks moving out towards the nearest mask towards him while he keeps his shield up to protect himself from danger.
Rytys goes after another mask, flying low to the ground to peck and slash with his talons.
Orlsaw cleaves the mask in two leaving a small construct made of twigs and twisted vines. Beket knocks one to pieces and Rytis tears at another. Bleepos sweeps through the underbrush and flanks the tiki fighting Rytis. He manages to take a significant bit of twig and vine, nearly dropping the thing.
The little things scamper away from their attackers and launch darts. Orlsaw takes a dart (1 pt dmg, DC 15 FOR or 2pts STR dmg) as does Beket (1 pt dmg, DC 15 FOR or 1 pts STR dmg). The tiki nearest Rytis steps away from Bleepos and slashes the great bird with its dagger revealing these tiny things are much stronger than they appear (7pts dmg).
(2 saves required to overcome the poison)
poison DC 15
Seeing Orslaw and Beket get hits by darts, she awaits some sign that either has been poisoned.
Bessie will move between the boys and attempt a Heal check for Beket.
Beket - get +4 competence bonus to the save.
Orslaw swats the small dart from his neck and growls at the small abominations. "At least the sand stood still and hit you..."
Growling in pain and anger, Orslaw steps up and slashes his sabre towards the nearest vine-infested tiki mask.
Orslaw's blow clips one on the mask but does not do any lasting damage.
Guillaume fires off another blast at the annoying little creatures.
The needle sticks into Beket's skin and he can feel a weakening begin to run through his being. The poison loses its effectiveness as the kraken caller's rage grows. He steps forward to deliver more pounding attacks against the masks, while Rytys tries to return the favor against the one that stabbed him.
Beket tears into the nearest tiki knocking the mask from the twisted little figure but it does not fall. Rytis manages to finally shred the one he attacks. Guillaume's shot goes wide while Bleepos charges into the nearest tiki to him and bites it viciously (11 dmg).
The tiki facing off with Beket had lost its blowgun in the onslaught so it draws its knife and tries to defend but is unable to get through the big man's defenses. The tiki fighting Orslaw skips a few feet away and launches yet another dart into the gaps in the big man's armor (1 pt dmg, no real effect since you are already being ravaged with poison). Darts going flying about but no one else is hit.
Poisoned
Orslaw: -2 STR 0 saves 1 round complete; roll for round 2
Beket: -0 STR 1 save 1 round complete; roll for round 2
Heroes up
Grinding his teeth, Guillaume moves forward and fires another blast at one of the tiki-men.
Guillaume's water blast hits the tiki knocking the mask from its face and damaging its body but it still stands.
Bessie uses her heal skills on Orslaw
Beket shatters another tiki as does Orslaw. Bleepos snaps at one but misses the wiry thing. Rytys is unable to land a beak or claw. Beket feels the burn of the poison subside and Orslaw feels as though he is pulling out of the throws of the poison (Beket no longer poisoned, Orslaw made his first save). Rytys is hit (2 dmg) but manages to overcome the initial onslaught of the poison.
poison DC 15
Bessie continues to treat Orslaw, doing what she can to keep the Peril Crew in the fight.
The remaining tiki soldiers launch darts but are unable to find a soft spot.
heroes up. (Orslaw and Rytys need to make FOR saves DC 15)
Orslaw attempts to make a save...
Orslaw staggers under the poison from the small creatures. He moves and closes in on the nearest tiki, only slightly staggering through the difficult underbrush. He finds a couple of solid branches to pull himself along on.
The Peril Crew moves in and finally overwhelms the last few tiki warriors. Orslaw, thanks to Bessie's ministrations, is able to overcome the ongoing effects of the poison but he still feels weak (-3pts STR total). Rytys as well takes the poison hard but finally feels the poison ebb leaving behind a general weakness (-3pts STR total). The Crew finds themselves faced with a dilemma, head deeper into the jungle toward the mountain where the trail apparently leads or back to their ship to rest and recover.
"I say we keep pushing."
The Captain leads the crew further down the trail until they come to the end. You step into a small open area before a cave. The area seems to be some sort of camp with clothes hanging on a line, a fire pit with a pair of stumps for seats, a large barrel with a ladle on top, and a small one sided tent structure with a reed mat on the ground.
"Captain, looks like we may still have at least 2 individuals still living here. Should we attempt to talk or take advantage of whatever surprise we may have?" Orslaw asks quietly, his eyes searching the jungle slowly, looking for anything out of place.
"This doesn't look like it fits with those tiki-men or the elementals. Could be survivors of the ships we're looking for. Let's try talking first."
You stand there for a moment but no one comes out of the cave. You hear a quiet rustling coming from just inside the entrance.
Cover me boys! Bessie whispers as she moves towards the cave mouth.
Ahoy! Anyone home? She calls waving, trying to seem as nonthreatening as possible.
Just inside the cave Bessie sees an old Mwangi man kneeling on the ground. He looks at Bessie, ”I did what I could to keep her away from other people. I’m sorry, but I could not let my niece die.” Then Bessie sees the knife in his hand. A quick motion and he cuts his own throat. From inside the cave you hear the voice of a young woman, ”Uncle, what are you doing out there?”
Oh, this is so not going to end well. Whatever she has become, we will have to fight the niece.
Bessie steps back, away from the Mwangi man and awaits the appearance of his niece, slipping a hand behind her back and giving the boys a hold sign. Hoping they are paying attention, and that they listen.
She also says a prayer of thanks to Besmara, for the chance to honor the Sea Witch with what is to come.
Shortly, a young woman emerges from the depths of the cave. She looks at Bessie and then at her uncle. She shakes her head and then looks at Bessie, "Uncle lived such a stressful life you know." The young lady says. She obviously has the Mwangi facial and hair characteristics but she seems much paler than the man even in the poor light. "Please, come in. I assume you have a ship? I could pay for passage." The young woman says.
Given the old man's reaction; I the age they should be based on when the sinking occured... Bessie suspects undead. She studies the woman suspiciously, wanting to invite her out into the sun, but waiting...
Her complexion and lack of age definitely speaks of undead. She is obviously able to reason which narrows it down. Bessie does not have enough information to go on but the pale complexion and lack of aging very well could mean a vampire.
Guillaume looks at the man, and looks to the girl. "Why did he do that? Bessie, can you save him?"
No, he protected the world from his niece, until others would be able to do so.
Bessie moves to within 30 feet of the creature.
Hand behind her back, Bessie give her hand a shake, holding up three finders; shake, two fingers; shake one finger, and a final twitch...
Channel Energy vs Undead.
The positive energy washes over her and though she shakes it off the effects are undeniable. Her young facade fades away and before you a hideous crone who screams, "I'll bathe in your blood for that!" That is the clue Bessie needed, this thing is a Baetriov.
A Baetriov is a vampire created using a ritual blood bath. From then on the creature must bathe in the blood of others in order to make itself appear young. It gains other benefits from the bloodbath such as a profane protective aura if it has bathed recently. Regardless, it has channel resistance, DR needing at a piercing weapon, fast healing, and it can cause any wound to bleed, but it is sensitive to light.
She's a vampire boys, resistant to weapons and my ability to harm her with Besmara's divine power, use piercing weapons, and we need her in the sun!
In conjunction with Bessie, everyone gets a standard action.
Guillaume fires off a quick blast of water.