"Unless there's any pressing need to have me around, I'll head off and try to get what sleep I can before I need to stand watch. I'm sure our warriors can handle the disposal of the bodies."
*slaps insects*
"Did someone say 'locked chest'? Let me at it!"
Alvartus cautiously moves into the boat and checks the chest for traps.
If it appears safe, he has his burlier compatriots move the chest to the campsite before tackling the lock.
Open Lock = 29. Save this result for when he attempts, conditional upon his companions retrieving the chest.
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"Did someone say 'locked chest'? Let me at it!"
Alvartus cautiously moves into the boat and checks the chest for traps.
If it appears safe, he has his burlier compatriots move the chest to the campsite before tackling the lock.
Open Lock = 29. Save this result for when he attempts, conditional upon his companions retrieving the chest.
The chest is not too heavy to move, slightly bloated out from the sides due to being in the swamp water so long, but otherwise intact.
Inside are the waterlogged remains of what was once bread, and an oily rag wrapped around 2 untarnished short swords.
I will, upon seeing the swords, cast a brief orison, seeing if I can detect magic on them.
If Muerdon informs him of their magics, Alvartus hefts both swords, stabbing them into the lid of the chest. He notes any noticeable effects of the damage.
"These swords seem magical,..." I begin, pausing when Alvartus quickly picks them up and stabs the chest lid.
Grenep yawns and says "Me go back to sleep" Before her does though, while he has no interest in weapons of metal, the wise half-orc Does keep an eye and where Alvartus puts them.
"I have no interest in such small blades, even if they are magical," I say, "but it might be fair to take note of who might have a use for them and then, perhaps draw lots,... in the morning."
Alvartus places the blades in his pack, as there are no suggestions otherwise. With that he nods off for good nights rest.
Frogs dealt with, Simn settled in for a moderately peaceful night. Or as peaceful as might be hoped for in such an environment.
Come morning, with the breaking of the sun over the horizon I renew my orisons and prayers. After this, I see what the swamp looks like by the light of dawn.
Grenep, feeling refreshed in a night spent in the great outdoors (even if it Is a swamp) wakes up chipper and buoyant. He joins Sir Mueron. "This seems like a Fine day to rescue a Princess!"
He as well gazes out on the swamp, using all his skills to glean whatever info he can. K Geography; Listen; Spot; Survival (1d20+4=10, 1d20+8=22, 1d20+5=24, 1d20+7=12)
In the morning, after studying his spellbook, Kavelin will gather up his gear and prepare to head out...as soon as someone figures out what direction to head in.
Alvartus sleeps until all his companions are awake. His morning routine involves grumbling and scratching, though he carefully smooths out his hair and brushes off his armor.
"So about these swords..."
"I heard something about magic before I drifted off to sleep. I could possibly divine their properties, but such magic is expensive. Unless Grenep knows of any species of oyster that lives in swamps, I don't think we'll be able to obtain the pearls I need to cast the spell until we reach civilization...and gain some coin."
Simn shrugs, "Not really my area, but I figure they can't be anything earth-shattering. They're a bit large for me too, otherwise I'd take one."
"Either way," he continues, "We need to get out of the swamp before something really big tries to eat us." Somehow, the prospect of fighting an invading army of giants seems less worrying to him than fighting giant frogs. Possibly because giants don't have such long, sticky tongues. "I figure we go that way," he goes on, pointing, "Since that's where the bow's pointing, and that means it was probably our original direction of travel."
A bit sore, but otherwise alright, I try to determine which direction we should travel in, but end up realizing I have no clue which way is which. I look around for the sun, trying to figure out which direction it rose from.
The party will need to make a choice, stay with the boat and hope for help, or perhaps find a way out themselves. What will they do?
Um, Grenep just made a whole bunch of knowledge and a survival check. Maybe you missed them?
Fort Check (1d20+4=11|
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Though the night sky continues to blacken and boil no rain falls, you awaken to a grey sky, the sun hidden behind the roiling clouds.
Rousing yourselves from the wet and soggy sleep, most of you shake off the fatigue of such unfavorable conditions.
Sadly not all.
The paladin Aubec fell, not in battle with sword in hand and a hymn on his lips, but to a bite from a poisonous viper he inadvertently rolled over on in his sleep.
His flesh still cooling, but sickly and pale, it seems he never woke up after being bit. he just expired some time during the night.
His gear was in near perfect condition, seeign as he never used anything.
Equipment:
Greatsword (1)
Chain shirt (1)
Heavy Crossbow (1)
Bolts (20)
Buckler
Kavelin seems a bit out of sorts with the presence of death that has quietly come so close at hand. He hovers on the outskirts of the camp, unless directly asked to assist with anything, until the party is ready to start out.
Alvartus stares grimly at the deceased paladin, standing over the body with his shadow falling over the equipment.
"Alright, enough standing around. I don't like getting stabbed." With that said, he starts unbuckling the chain shirt from the body. "Take what you need, he won't care."
"Maybe not, but I think he'd at least like a decent burial," Simn says sadly, regarding the fallen man as yet another example of the horrors of the swamp. Again, none of the paladin's gear is in his size, and anyway, looting the dead just doesn't feel right.
Simn turns to regard the swamp as a whole. Aside from the hillock they're standing on, there really aren't that many possibilities for a burial site.
"We can weight the body down and bury it in the water," I say, "I will take his great-sword as a token of a fallen warrior and offer it at the next temple I come to, If the Swift Sword permits."
I take the sword and says a brief prayer over the body.
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Grenep, feeling refreshed in a night spent in the great outdoors (even if it Is a swamp) wakes up chipper and buoyant. He joins Sir Mueron. "This seems like a Fine day to rescue a Princess!"
He as well gazes out on the swamp, using all his skills to glean whatever info he can. K Geography; Listen; Spot; Survival (1d20+4=10, 1d20+8=22, 1d20+5=24, 1d20+7=12)
1> K.Geography: you don't have it trained, so you cannot make these rolls.
2> Listen: The sounds of the swamp are plentiful, things pop up in the water and disappear in splashes, brush moves as if on it's own. Your senses telling you it's small game fleeing your camp after stumbling to it. You do not hear any threats, or nothing you suspect would be threatening.
3> Survival, besides determining say NSEW(easily done), what are you trying to do?
What little sun there is barely penetrates the clouds over head, before being again filtered by the massive overgrowth around you. It would be easy to get turned around traveling by foot.
"So does anyone know which way is which," I ask.
"Yes, North is That way" He points "I say we continue on, as much as we can, in the same direction it appears the ship was heading before it crashed " (whichever direction that is?)
"If everyone will help I can easily make a raft we can use to float in the swamp with. It would be bad and dumb to try to walk out of here. So, no time like the present my Pappy used to say! Let's get to work!" and with that he will start gathering the necessary supplies for the raft and directing everyone who is helping on what they can do to help hurry things along.
"Maybe someone who doesn't feel like raft building can make breakfast? I'm Starving!" He calls out as he carries a massive log to the area he'll be building the raft.
"A raft sounds good friend," I say and I set to with helping to gather supplies.
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"Yes, North is That way" He points "I say we continue on, as much as we can, in the same direction it appears the ship was heading before it crashed " (whichever direction that is?)
"If everyone will help I can easily make a raft we can use to float in the swamp with. It would be bad and dumb to try to walk out of here. So, no time like the present my Pappy used to say! Let's get to work!" and with that he will start gathering the necessary supplies for the raft and directing everyone who is helping on what they can do to help hurry things along.
"Maybe someone who doesn't feel like raft building can make breakfast? I'm Starving!" He calls out as he carries a massive log to the area he'll be building the raft.
Vastly overgrown swamp, very dangerous terrain, sinkholes very likely, due to being so thick, and fairly undisturbed creatures may grow larger than normal.
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There are large enough sections of the crashed vessel that making a raft from almost nothing is quite easy. The wooden plank like wall sections would easily accommodate you, and a trip down the river rather well.
There are also plenty of "pole" pieces you can also grab to guide the raft as well.
Now all that remains are what to do with the body of the paladin, and whether or not to actually start your journey downstream.
Grenep, being a worshiper of the Natural Order, is not too concerned with the disposal of the Paladins body. Even if they just left it where it was, Nature's creatures would take care of it in short order. The Spirit of the man has long departed and only meat remains. Feed it to the Crocs for all he cares.
He concerns himself with the making of a sturdy raft, and when it is completed announces it to the rest of the party. As soon as everyone gathers aboard it, he makes sure Gritch is in a safe spot and pushes it off, guiding it downstream and keeps an Ear; and an Eye; out for any Dangers (1d20+8=28, 1d20+5=25, 1d20+7=11) or anything interesting along the way.
Duneriur Sits along the side of the boat eating a snack from his pack while keeping watch for any dangers they may come upon.
After everyone has removed what they want from the body, I carry it over to the water and slide it in.
"Shall we get moving," I say when the raft is completed, "Someone with a sense of direction point me in the right way and I'll gladly work the pole."
Kavelin will help fetch and carry items for the building of the raft, using the time to find anything else that will help with the journey (dry kindling from the wreckage for future campfires, for example). When the raft is completed, he'll try to get a seat as close to the center as possible.
After everyone has removed what they want from the body, I carry it over to the water and slide it in.
"Shall we get moving," I say when the raft is completed, "Someone with a sense of direction point me in the right way and I'll gladly work the pole."
(No need, Grenep is happily working the pole (um, that may not have come out right. Yes, ok, our Big Ugly half-orc May be a little light on his toes. But he's not really thought about it himself yet so let's not dwell on it, shall we? ;-), and that way doesn't have to keep calling out direction changes. )
Not being the world's greatest survivalist, Simn helps out as he can, generally by hauling and tying wood. He does make it a point to attend the funeral, such as it is, troubled by how little he knew about Aubec. There seems little hope of a lasting memorial for the man, which strikes him as a great pity.
On the raft I stand,
My Great Sword in my hand,
And if an evil foe draws near,
My god Vorr they will learn to fear
When his servant splits their skulls.
I sing quietly to myself as we set sail on the swamp.
Simn takes up his post on the raft, helping out with the poling and reflecting upon the many potential dangers of the swamp.