Ishirou nods slightly. "We have survived," he says.
You see a dark cave, its floor stained with blood. You move into it, not really wanting to, but something propels you forward. Or rather, the ground slides beneath you, shifting your position without you actually moving.
You see a pile of bodies go past and something is crawling in them, but the ground is moving faster and the scene is gone too quickly to make out details.
The scenery becomes a blur, but then it suddenly stops. You are in a massive chamber with large pillars holding up the vaulted ceiling. The walls are carved with images of snakes. There is a door at the far end and you approach it, now actually walking. As you reach out for the handle, a massive snake head blends out of the walls surrounding the door, its mouth completely encompassing the door. The mouth closes shut around you.
"Yes, I expect someone is." Makoa replies to the clerical gnome. "Do not worry about not being able to here the waves though. The river makes a much better sound as it flows past us. Or at least, it does to me."
"Back at the old camp.. do you think Desna did that?"
"Did what? The thing with the jungle? I don't know. If she did, she did it on her own, without my asking her to. It's not really her style, though, all the grabby plant stuff. Now, if a coconut had fallen out of a tree and just happened to bonk a cannibal on the head, that would have been Desna." She smiles at the image.
The spray from the river helps offset the heat and humidity that comes with the morning. Sasha is up bright and early, feeding and playing with Alton. Pezock rises early as well and is soon going around poking everyone else awake. "Wake up!" he cries. "Have to set out quickly in order to make good time. Yes, we do!"
"Wise men of a feather flock together," Mahjik mumbles half-sleepily from his bedroll. He slowly unravels himself and get's up - the process of unraveling apparently waking him up properly as he goes along.
When Pezock gets to the small mound which is Douena and her bedclothes, she sits up suddenly with a shriek, her arms flailing wildly toward the sky. "Snake!" she yells semi-coherently.
Pezock jumps back a step. "What? Do I look like a snake to you? There's no snake here. Now, get up and stop being so noisy!"
"Simmer down, Pezock. It's just one of her dreams." Makoa grumbles as stands up and stretches. "What was it about this time, Douena?"
Rubbing her eyes, she tells Pezock crossly, "Snakes eat birds, you know. Or do birds eat snakes? I forget...." She turns to Makoa. "Snakes. Again. Ever since we got onto this island, it's been snakes." She brightens for a moment. "No fungus this time, though. We must have gotten that part right."
She sits back to collect herself then begins to narrate her dream. "I was standing in front of a cave. It was dark inside, but I could see that there were bloodstains all over the floor. Then, I went into the cave ... except I wasn't moving; it was more like the cave was swallowing me up. I kept going faster and faster, like I was sliding down a hill, even though the floor seemed flat. I went past something that looked like a pile of bodies with ... something crawling in them." She shudders. "But they were gone before I could look properly. I kept going and going until the walls were just flying by me; then suddenly, I stopped. I was a in a big sort of cavern, but not a natural cave. There were pillars running up to the ceiling, and the walls were made of rock all carved with snakes. I saw something on the far end of the room and started walking toward it. It was a door. I reached out to grab the handle and open it, and then ... a big snake's head came out of the walls and the floor of the room, all around the door. The jaws snapped shut, around me and the door and everything, and everything went black. Then, I guess, Pezock poked me, and I woke up."
"A cave? Strange, there aren't that many places on this island that are suitable to house a cave with a snake palace inside. Pezock? Does a place come to mind?"
Pezock snorts. "A cave with a snake palace? I highly doubt it. I've certainly never heard of such a place. Who would make a palace for snakes? Besides, it was a silly dream. Dreams don't mean anything. I had a dream once where I could fly. Didn't make it true." He pauses to ruffle a few feathers .
"Now, if you want to find a cave, I'm sure you can find lots of those. All those big cliffs must have some caves in them, I'm sure."
"It doesn't matter. Let's just keep going."
Lorenz shivers a little at Douena's dream, grateful that she's the one who has Desna's attention and not him. "Well, it doesn't hurt to keep an eye out for snakes wherever we happen to go. At least the cannibals are people."
Makoa laughs at Lorenz's statement
"Explain why the 'people' are less hospitable than the crabs and snakes and dimorphodons then!"
"Don't misunderstand though. I get it, they're human, but shouldn't that make it worse for you?"
"People, by and large, aren't poisonous. Nor do most of them have fangs. Or get to hide in small spaces, waiting to bite your ankles. Give me a cannibal to kill any day over a nest of snakes! Yuck."
Lorenz shivers again.
"You put your foot in a small hole and you're begging for a pair fangs to the ankle. Understand that you are invading territory each time you leave a city, town, or village. If you would attack someone that came into your home, you should expect the same from animals."
"Sasha, how is the little one today? I hope this amount of travel hasn't been too much for him."
"It doesn't matter. Let's just keep going."
"He's right," Pezock says. "Caves can wait for another time. We have a tree lady to find and cannibals to kill."
"Sasha, how is the little one today? I hope this amount of travel hasn't been too much for him."
Sasha looks up from feeding little Alton. "He's doing well. I think he's actually enjoying the journey. I think he's getting bigger too. He tried taking a few steps last night. He was a bit clumsy, but I think he'll be walking soon." She grins.
"I could hide in a small space and bite someone's ankle,"Douena offers excitedly. "They probably wouldn't taste good, though. I bet if the cannibals were smaller, they'd hide in a small space and bite your ankle. They apparently like the taste of insufficiently-bathed castaway."
"Shame on you, little one, these are cannibals. Not animals. They'll clean you before they eat you." Mahjik's face is a mask of unreadability.
Though his face quickly breaks into a big smile as he makes his way over to Sasha. "Can I study him walk? I think it will be a great help to my ability to mime people!"
"I could hide in a small space and bite someone's ankle,"Douena offers excitedly. "They probably wouldn't taste good, though. I bet if the cannibals were smaller, they'd hide in a small space and bite your ankle. They apparently like the taste of insufficiently-bathed castaway."
Pezock laughs. "Insufficiently-bathed castaway!" he repeats. "Ha!"
You begin preparations for leaving. Jask is the last to rise this morning. He still looks weak, but somehow not quite as bad as yesterday. He claims to be feeling a little better. "I think that potion has worked," he says. "Now it's just a matter of time before I regain my strength."
Once the camp is packed up, you set out along the river again. It winds about but continues more-or-less southwards. Within the hour, the sound of rushing water gets louder. Not long later, you see a hill rising up as the jungle parts a bit. It's not quite a cliff like you're used to on this island, but it's still fairly steep. The river rushes down it towards you in several water falls. A couple of flappybites wheel in the sky over top, but they pay no attention to you and fly on.
Pezock points away from the river to the southwest. "This way, I think," he says.
Gelik's brow furrows. "You think?" he says, but the tengu does not reply.
You head away from the river into the jungle. Once again, the going is slow. After a couple more hours, exhausted from the trek, you find a very small clearing to stop for the hot hours of the day and to have a bite to eat.
You've only stopped for a short while when Aakif calls for your attention. "We should be careful," he says. "There are signs of a large predator in the area."
"There are large predators everywhere," Pezock replies. "However, you're right that one's been in this area recently. I doubt it will attack such a large group as us, though."
"Wise man ever discerns the subtle trappings of nature. It may not take kindly to our presence if it thinks we're invading its home or it has young nearby. We should remain vigilant."
The hottest hours of the day seem worse than usual today. The heat beats down oppressively, even in the shade. You go through your waterskins several times over (luckily easily refilled with create water spells). Gradually, over what feels like forever, the clouds build in the sky and then burst with a downfall the brings an end to the heat.
Pezock sighs contentedly, then jumps to his feet. "Right! Off we go!"
You press off south through the jungle again. Pushing through the underbrush seems a little more difficult this time, and you realize it's because there is a slight incline to the ground and you are going up it.
You've been traveling for close to an hour when Makoa, near the front with Pezock, hears snapping twigs and the rustling of leaves very close. Such sounds are not that unusual in the jungle, but they're usually followed by animals darting away from the party's approach. That doesn't happen this time. The sound seems heavier this time, and given that you know there's a large predator in the area...
Looking ahead, Makoa notices the head of a giant lizard poking through the underbrush, and then a second one. There's just enough time to call out to the party before they pounce.
Order: Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa, Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizards.
Up First:
-- called "Lizard Attack"
Mahjik hustles along to backup the front. "Pay attention! We don't know how many there are yet, so watch your flanks!"
As Mahjik moves forward, Pezock cries out, "Foul dragon!" and moves forward , drawing his sabre. He strikes at the nearest lizard.
His blade swipes across the face of the lizard, leaving a stream of blood. The lizard growls angrily. "Die, dragon!" Pezock cries.
Ishirou moves forward , drawing his katana along the way.
Next Up: Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa, Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizards, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou.
Lorenz tries to see through the heavy vegetation around him for the lizards. "Where are they?" He shoves aside a branch only to have it whip back into his face. "How are we supposed to fight in this mess?"
He moves back and around a tree, drawing his bow and trying to find a clear line to shoot.
Sasha starts following Lorenz, but pulls ahead of him, circling part way round the lizard . She pulls out her weapons on the way.
Jask moves forward feebly and says a prayer to Nethys. He reaches out and touches Mahjik's shoulder. Mahjik feels an energy spring up around him.
Aerys rushes up beside Pezock .
Next Up: Aakif, Makoa, Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizards, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys.
Urza moves to AV 84.
As Urza moves, Aakif, leaves Soulwind and rushes forward .
Next Up: Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizards, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza.
Moving closer to one of the "dragon", Makoa drops his axes and makes soothing sounds, trying to calm it down.
The lizard stares back at Makoa. It's hard to read the expression on its face, but it hasn't yet bared teeth.
Next Up: Gelik, Giant Lizards, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Makoa.
"Oh, what are they, lizards?" Douena asks, shoving her way through the heavy underbrush for a better look. "Don't kill them! We should catch one and let Sasha tame it, and then I can ride it!"
"Douena riding a lizard!" Gelik laughs. "Like a monkey on a crocodile!" He starts making monkey noises and moves forward
The lizard injured by Pezock snaps at the tengu.
Pezock steps back a bit just in time and avoids the sharp teeth.
The other lizard suddenly opens its mouth and snaps at Makoa.
Makoa's soothing sounds were just enough of a distraction, however, to put off the beast's attack and he easily avoids it.
Next Up: Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa, Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizards.
Mahjik plunges through the branches , thrusting his fist straight into the back of the lizards neck.
Mahjik's fist makes contact with the lizard but its impact doesn't get past the creature's thick scales.
Pezock laughs and swipes at the injured lizard.
This time, however, his blade just scrapes along the lizard's scales and doesn't penetrate.
Ishirou continues forward, making his way around to flank the second lizard with Makoa
Next Up: Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa, Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizards, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou.
Peering through the vegetation, Lorenz decides he has a reasonably clear shot and raises his bow, smoothly drawing back an arrow and firing.
Lorenz's arrow thuds into the neck of the lizard. It screeches and reels back, blood pouring from the wound. Sasha immediately attacks.
As the lizard shakes its head, trying to rid itself of the arrow lodged in its neck, Sasha's rapier pierces under its chin, going right through into the neck. The follow-up with her kukri doesn't make contact, but it doesn't matter, since the lizard collapses to the ground.
Seeing the lizard fall, Aerys shrugs and turns towards the other one. She moves round to flank with Mahjik .
Next Up: Aakif, Makoa, Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizard, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask (subject to delayed action), Aerys.
Urza moves to AX 86 and casts Shield.
Urza moves to AX 86 and casts Shield.
Aakif moves up to join the group circling the second lizard .
Next Up: Douena, Gelik, Giant Lizard, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Aakif.
Makoa snaps his hand back to avoid losing a finger and glares at the 'dragon'.
"My teeth are bigger." He growls dangerously as he returns the lizard's bite..
The lizard tilts its head to the side as Makoa bites. Makoa's teeth slide along the side of the lizard's head but do not penetrate.
Next Up: Gelik, Giant Lizard, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask, Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa.
"Don't eat it," Douena scolds Makoa. "We can eat the other one. Let's keep this one for a pet."
Gelik continues making jokes about Douena riding the giant lizard.
The giant lizard shifts its footing agitatedly, then bites at Makoa. There's desperation in its movements as it's clearly aware that it's surrounded and has nowhere to run.
The lizard's desperation pays off as it manages to sink its teeth into Makoa's leg.
Next Up: Pezock, Ishirou, Lorenz, Sasha, Jask (subject to delay), Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa, Douena (subject to delay), Gelik, Giant Lizard.
Mahjik feels unexpectedly cramped with everybody swarming around him and fumbles his first attack and cannot really recover from it with the second attack.
"So long, dragon!" Pezock cries and drives his sword into the unconscious lizard.
Ishirou swings his katana at the second lizard.
The sword cuts a long wound along the lizard's back end, nearly severing the tail. The lizard screeches in agony.
Next Up: Sasha, Jask (subject to delay), Aerys, Urza, Aakif, Makoa, Douena (subject to delay), Gelik, Giant Lizard, Mahjik, Pezock, Ishirou.
Fighting his way forward through the jungle, Lorenz makes his way up behind Douena.
Sasha leaves behind Pezock and the fallen lizard and heads for the one still standing .
Jask continues to delay, while Aerys punches at the lizard.
She makes contact with an exposed area along where Ishirou cut it. The lizard makes one last screech, then topples over.
"Haha! Pezock yells triumphantly. "I've always wanted to take on a Shiv dragon, but I've never had the strength or numbers to do so. And now we dealt with two! I like having an army!"
A little shiver runs up Douena's spine at hearing Pezock name the creature, as thought just the knowledge that it is called a "Shiv dragon" makes her want it the more. She kneels down next to the one Aerys just struck and examines it to see if it is still alive. "Sasha, don't you think you could train it? Think what a good watchdog it would be for our camp!"