Filgru glances away uncertainly and then back at Douena, then away again. His emotions seem to switch between fear, excitement, and sadness. He looks about to speak on several occasions before he finally manages to actually say something.
Douena beams. "He can show us the way to the temple. Then we're going to let him go and hide in the jungle until we've defeated Raogru, because he'd say he was a traitor. Do we have dinner? We should give him some. And untie him, at least his hands."
"Dinner is a good idea. I don't like the idea of untying him though. We'll have to feed him or he can go hungry."
"What do you suppose he normally eats? I'm all for dinner and a good night's rest. Wise men won't travel on a grumbling stomach."
"Dinner will be available shortly," Jask announces.
You settle down to eat and find a way to feed Filgru as well. With darkness fully settled over the jungle, you then lie down to get some sleep.
Through the night, those of you on watch occasionally spot figures hovering in the distance. It seems there are charau-ka keeping a watch on you, but they keep their distance and don't move in to attack.
"I had such a nice dream," Douena murmurs sleepily as the camp rouses in the morning. "I dreamed that you and me and Pezock were all flying over the jungle on giant wasps, Filgru, and we found a nest of Tiny bears in the top of a tree." Then she remembers the charau-ka doesn't speak Common and repeats herself in Polyglot. "Makoa, it would be all right if I had a giant wasp as a pet, wouldn't it? Because they're bugs, not animals."
As his spell energy is re energized by the warmth of the sun, Urza stretches out and readies himself for the day.
Filgru responds to Douena's dream story.
The charau-ka watching from the distance withdraw as the sun starts to creep over the horizon, finding hiding places in the trees now that the darkness no longer shrouds them.
"They can't seem to decide whether to attack us," Shokambe comments at breakfast. "They may simply be hoping we go away. However, if we move for the temple, that may press them to attack."
"Then they will die," Pezock responds.
Shokambe shrugs. "In a fight, they will very probably die, but perhaps there are alternatives."
"Wise man quickens his step when he sees foam on the sea. Let's hurry then, while we are fresh."
"If they choose to attack they will die in dragonfire.
"I think Shokambe was suggesting that we find a way to get to the temple without the charau-ka attacking us," Jask says. "That way, we don't have to kill them."
"Why would we not want to kill them?" Pezock interjects.
Jask ignores him and turns to Filgru, addressing the charau-ka in Polyglot. Jask then translates for anyone who doesn't speak Polyglot .
"Filgru," Jask asks. "Where exactly is the temple and how do we get there?"
"It is at the north end of this place," Filgru replies. "The easiest way to get there is to follow the path from here to the giant trees and stones that make the Temple of the Snake. That is not the temple you are trying to go to. We just call it that because we use it as our personal temple. We don't know what the stones were originally for. From there, follow the path north through the tar pits. That will take you to the big temple where Issilar is."
"Can we get there without being seen?" Jask asks.
Filgru shrugs. "You could follow the wall through the jungle until you reach the north side. That will help hide you, but my people will still likely see you. You are a large group. Hard to hide."
"I don't think giant wasps will let you ride them, but Raogru has always said that such dreams are...I am trying to remember the word in this language...Symbolic. Yes, that is it. They do not mean exactly what they say. But then, you have shown yourself mightier than Raogru, so perhaps I should not listen to his words any longer."
"No, no, he's right," she answers hastily. "About that, I mean. Desna sends me messages in dreams all the time, mostly about the vampire snake people but one time about a fungus island. The people who lived there weren't nice at all. Anyway, it's not that Raogru isn't telling the truth about Ydersius; it's more.... Think of it this way: Lorenz killed a lizardy-bird thing called Big Flappy on Smuggler's Shiv." She points out Lorenz helpfully. "That's true; that's a fact. Now how you think about that fact makes all the difference. You could say, like Pezock," she sniffs disdainfully, "that that makes him a great beast-slayer. Or you could think, like me, that he was a big meanie to kill a poor hurt creature that was just trying to get back to its nest. That's one true thing but two different ways to think about it."
Douena chatters to Filgru in Polyglot, directing the charau-ka's attention to Lorenz at one point.
"Filgru," Jask asks. "Where exactly is the temple and how do we get there?"
"It is at the north end of this place," Filgru replies. "The easiest way to get there is to follow the path from here to the giant trees and stones that make the Temple of the Snake. That is not the temple you are trying to go to. We just call it that because we use it as our personal temple. We don't know what the stones were originally for. From there, follow the path north through the tar pits. That will take you to the big temple where Issilar is."
"Can we get there without being seen?" Jask asks.
Filgru shrugs. "You could follow the wall through the jungle until you reach the north side. That will help hide you, but my people will still likely see you. You are a large group. Hard to hide."
"Too many not-sneakies," Douena sighs in agreement. "What about the snakey way Makoa and the Painted Elf went? Was that north? Maybe there's a secret tunnel."
Filgru looks confused. "Snakey way?"
Jask describes the underground tunnel you followed while Filgru was unconscious and the snake-filled area that Makoa and Tar'kanas found.
Filgru looks a bit surprised. "We never go down that tunnel," he says (Jask translating as before). "It is guarded by a giant water beast. You defeated the beast? You are truly powerful! The building you speak of though is where we keep snakes sacred to Ydersius. Raogru will not be happy that you have killed some of the sacred snakes. But that building is on the east side. It is not near the temple."
"If the snakes didn't try to kill us, we wouldn't have had to defend ourselves against them."
She affects a lecturing tone. "Perhaps you shouldn't have gone into their home, Makoa. If you'd left them alone, they wouldn't have tried to bite you. You need to respect nature."
"If we don't need to go back underground, let's not," she reasons. "Desna doesn't like it. Let's just go to the temple and try to find the pillars of light. We'll just leave the giant water beast generator there in case the people who killed Jask are still following us. No reason to make things easier for them."
Expecting trouble for the day, Urza opts to prepare a long lasting defense before they start off for the day. He offers Mahjik the same.
You quickly pack up camp and gather your things. As you do so, Filgru asks Douena (and anyone else nearby who speaks Polyglot),
"Do you think you can find the temple from his directions, Shokambe?" she asks the guide. "Because I told him he could go hide in the jungle once he's helped us so his people don't think he's a traitor."
Shokambe nods. "It sounds simple enough. Assuming they're accurate directions, there shouldn't be any problem."
"I don't trust him not to report our location or our intentions to his fellows. It would be safer to take him along with us or at least leave him here tied up. He should be able to escape in time, but that's time we would have before angering his tribe any more than we have already."
"His tribe are watching us," Shokambe says. "They'll know our intentions whether he tells them or not. Once we move towards their temple, they will probably get the courage to attack."
"I say we let him go as well then. We have enough to take care of without carrying a prisoner around."
"Oh, let him go then," Pezock says. "We waste time with all this pointless debate!" Without waiting for anyone else, he then starts marching down the path.
Filgru watches excitedly and intently as he is freed from his bonds. As soon as he's free, he bounds off into the jungle to the north and disappears amidst the trees.
The rest of you then take off after Pezock, making sure he doesn't get too far ahead on his own.
"So, who wants to take bets on how long it takes them to attack?" Sasha says after a couple of minutes of walking along the path.
There's no time for anyone to answer, since at that moment, the charau-ka come swarming out of the jungle to either side of you. "Oh, never mind," Sasha says.
Roll-off between Douena and Sasha:
Order: Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe, Untari, Jask, Urza, Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka, Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok.
First Up:
Mahjik sallies forth to form a defensive point and concentrates briefly to manifest the ki-reinforcement of his limbs.
Makoa moves forward to the front of the group to prepare for the charau-ka to close in.
Mahjik also moves forward and activates further defences on himself.
Shokambe draws his mace and waits.
Next Up: Jask, Urza, Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka, Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe.
Untari moves out a bit, awaiting the creatures to move closer as she prepares to pounce.
Untari moves out to prepare for the battle.
Figuring that Pezock is likely to charge headlong into the fray, Jask hurries over to the tengu to give him a boost before he does so.
Next Up: Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka, Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe, Untari, Jask.
Urza moves up next to Makoa (E23) and casts Protection From Evil on his friend.
Douena looks worriedly at the vast expanse of space on either side of the road. "Don't run off in both directions!" she begs her companions as she draws her weapon. "Pick one side! I can't keep an eye on all of you everywhere at once! I need a little more speed, Desna."
As Urza and Douena cast their spells, Sasha draws her rapier and kukri. "Let's try not to spread out too much either," she says, moving up beside Mahjik
"One side, fine," Pezock says. "I pick that side!" He points to the north, apparently ignoring the fact that most of the party has moved to the south side of the road. However, he only moves a short distance forward to stand beside Makoa. He draws his sabre.
Next Up: Charau-ka, Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe, Untari, Jask, Urza, Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru.
Tar'kanas turns his bow north and fires multiple arrows at the Charau-ka.
Tar'kanas fires a pair of arrows at the nearest of the charau-ka, who collapses soon after as the arrows pierce his chest. Tar'kanas quickly fires another arrow at the next one , but the arrow goes wide.
As if in anger at one of their number falling, the charau-ka begin to screech and holler wildly. Then, with unbelievable speed, they shoot out from the jungle . Each one is carrying a pair of rocks and has a club strapped to its back. The closer ones then throw one of their rocks.
-- hit critical threat
-- confirmed
-- hit
-- miss
-- hit, critical threat
-- confirmed
-- miss
A pair of rocks pelt Pezock on either side of his head, while a third flies over his shoulder. Another rock hits Makoa in the face, while another lands at his feet.
The remaining charau-ka heft their rocks in readiness .
"Alton!" Sasha calls, pointing to #2. "Attack!" Alton dives down at #2 .
-- miss
Unfortunately, the charau-ka's supernatural speed lets it bound aside before Alton's beak can get a hold.
Lorenz steps to the side to get a better view and begins firing arrows.
-- miss
-- miss
Unfortunately, he steps into a bit of soft ground which causes him to sink a little and throws off his aim.
Ishirou moves out by Sasha and Mahjik .
Next Up: Mahjik, Shokambe, Untari, Jask, Urza, Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka (#5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 subject to readied actions), Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok.
More than a little angry, Makoa lunges forward with a feral snarl and attacks the charau-ka that hit him in the face, bring fangs and claw-like nails to bear against it.
#7's frenzied shrieking comes to an abrupt stop as Makoa bears down on him, shredding his face and chest.
Next Up: Shokambe, Untari, Jask, Urza, Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka (#5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 subject to readied actions), Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa.
Taken aback by the sudden surge of speed of the creatures, Mahjik decides to strike quickly and cautiously. Not quite as fast as the charau-ka, the monk is nonetheless a close match in speed. "Take his blind side!" Mahjik yells at Pezock as he passes him then, as the charau-ka turns to face him, Mahjik steps in close and strikes his elbow into the ape-man's side.
Mahjik lands a solid blow on #2, but the charau-ka continues to screech and holler.
Shokambe stays put for the moment.
Next Up: Jask, Urza, Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka (#5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 subject to readied actions), Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe (subject to delayed action).
Untari moves across the field, heading for one she can reach.
Untari rushes over and digs her teeth into #2's leg. As well as a nasty bite, she also pulls the charau-ka off its feet.
Jask moves up behind Pezock again and touches the tengu.
Next Up: Douena, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka (#5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 subject to readied actions), Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari, Jask.
"Makoa, slow down a moment. You're about to become the biggest predator in the jungle." 5' step to E24 and cast Enlarge Person.
Douena dashes up next to the prone monkeyman and taps Pezock with a blessing. "We've got this one, Pezock! Desna go with you to the next one!" She turns her attention to the charau-ka at her feet.
Urza moves up behind Makoa and begins casting a spell.
Douena hurries over to Pezock and the prone charau-ka, providing some luck for Pezock.
Sasha moves across the road and up to #3
-- miss
Pezock nods at Douena's words and, seeing that Sasha has moved up to #3, joins her, unfortunately unable to get round to get a flank [ooc](move to -I 26).
-- hit
Pezock brings his blade down along the charau-ka's upper arm.
Next Up: Charau-ka (except #5; #6, 9, 10, 11, 12 subject to readied actions), Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok, Makoa, Mahjik, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari, Jask, Urza, Douena, Charau-ka #5, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru.
Tar'kanas moves up next to Douena and fires at the one that just threw a rock at Pezock.
Tar'kanas moves up closer and fires an arrow at #5. Unfortunately, the arrow flies too high and sails over the charau-ka's head.
Lying on the ground, Charau-ka #2 stops screeching and scowls a bit at Douena's words, but lies still and does not try to attack. #3 pulls out a club while #4 and #8 move in closer, pulling out their clubs as they do so. #4 moves for Pezock, skirting around him to get the flank with #3, but avoiding an opportunity attack . #8 goes for Makoa . Those three attack.
-- hit
-- miss
-- miss
#3 strikes Pezock, but it's a minor blow.
#6, #9, and #10 each move in closer and throws their rocks at Pezock.
-- miss
-- hit
-- hit
Two rocks hit Pezock along the side of his head. The tengu snarls.
The remaining two charau-ka zip in closer to the battle .
Sasha directs Alton to #3. The flappybite flies around to flank with Pezock and attacks.
-- miss
Unfortunately, the charau-ka is too quick for Alton.
Lorenz moves up in front of Jask and sens an arrow sailing towards one of the charau-ka now ganging up on Pezock.
-- miss
The arrow hits the ground by the charau-ka's feet.
Ishirou moves up to help Makoa, trying to tumble past #8 to reach a flank .
-- fail
-- hit
-- hit
Unfortunately, the charau-ka gets a swing in on Ishirou's leg. This doesn't stop Ishirou's momentum, however. He returns the attack with a vicious slash across the charau-ka's back.
From off to the southeast side of the road, a massive snake bursts out of the jungle, coming in the direction of the battle.
Next Up: Mahjik, Shokambe (subject to delayed action), Untari, Jask, Urza, Douena, Charau-ka #5, Sasha, Pezock, Raogru, Tar'kanas, Charau-ka (except #5), Alton, Lorenz, Ishirou, Chu-tok.
Makoa's assault continues, fangs and claws being brought to bear.
Mahjik moves and tries to take advantage of the distracted foe. His punch, though, hits nothing but thin air.
"Urza!" Douena calls. "Fireball! Over there in the trees with the big snake!"