Jask's eyes grow big with anticipation as Jayem brings out the keyring. After a few tries, he finds a key that fits the lock.
Checking the map of Desperation Bay, you can find a small representation of Smugger's Shiv.
At the talk of the best place to camp, Sasha says, "So far we've had things from the Ocean try to eat us. Judging by the sounds I've heard from the Jungle, there are things that would eat us there." She pats the rapier and kukri sheathed at her sides, "I don't plan to let anything make me it's dinner, but I don't think we'll have to be vigilant no matter where we go."
Harper drags Jask's chest to him as Jayem frees him. I am guessing this is your gear. You are an equal here. We will need each and everyone of us to survive this cursed island.
Finding the right key, Jayem frees Jask. Be free. No man should be in di irons. Ah, di Haapa-man has brought di box. It be you box, we t'ink
He tosses the keyring to Harper. Di Haapa-man keep t'ese. We no need.
Then, he claims a spot at the campfire and resumes eating. I t'ink we see what be sun-ward. Di sun rising is good juju. Mebbe we find shelter there.
Kalis snorts, "Magic is not to waste on water. Water can be found. And you do not live far from water where the women and children must hike every day to bring it back, you live close to it." He nods at the wisdom of his own words and then as an afterthought adds, "Not too close though, you can anger the god of a stream and they will bring a raging flood to kill you."
As you unlock Jask, he laughs estacially, then gives you a big bear hug. "Thank you, my friend! Thank you!" He opens the footlocker and removes an Holy Symbol of Nethys. He holds it in his hand, and starts praying. "Praise be to Nethys. May he send us his blessing." He continues to unpack gear from the footlocker, bringing out a spell component pouch, a fine dagger, and some leather armor.
"My friends, I can work to gather food and water." He motions to himself with his hands. "Let me take on some of this burden."
As the night starts to come, Jask will tell his story around the campfire his his deep raspy voice. "I used to work in Eleder, for the Sargavan goverment. As I have told you, I found evidence of corruption, but I was framed for the corruption instead. My pig of a boss must have been in on it. Faced with imprisonment, I fled all the way to Corentyn, where I lived a modest life as a scribe for a decade. I’d thought my enemies in Sargava had forgotten me, but then a Sargavan agent caught up with me and put me in irons. The agent handed me over to the Jenivere, to return me to Sargava for trial."
"One of the incriminating papers I found so long ago indicated that one of my superior’s contacts in the Shackles was a man named Avret Kinkarian. Kinkarian’s ship, the Brine Demon, reputedly wrecked here on Smuggler’s Shiv."
"If we can find that ship, and find evidence of the illicit dealings, then I could return to Eleder, and clear my name." Jasks slowly faces everyone in turn. "My friends, will you assist me in this?"
Kali's frowns, "If we find that ship, then we will focus on supplies. I don't understand what else we would look for."
We work together to escape Shiv. If find Brine D'mon we get you paper.
Nngara then turns to the others.
If all work, then we leave island alive. If any not help, then man eaters be happy.
Kali's frowns, "If we find that ship, then we will focus on supplies. I don't understand what else we would look for."
Jask responds, "The Captain's log book, official documents, letters or notes. Maybe there is nothing, maybe there is something. In any case, we can use whatever we find to the best of our advantage here. I think that is only fitting."
Nngara looks at the others: We need schedule for watching jungle. I can see good at night, but need rest for spells. Can take last watch and study magic at same time.
Also, we need choose who getting food, who getting water. If no have food and water, then we just like cook, only food for jungle creatures.
"I can see a good deal in the dark,
so night shifts are not a problem for me."
We sleep now. Wake at the underworld hour. Darkest night no trouble for we.
Jayem will be keeping an eye out for rare roots, seeds, bugs and frogs.
I will take first watch.
Kalis nods at Harper, "You may wake me after your watch and I will take my turn.
to Nngara: "I can conjure some water, at least enough to not have anyone thirsty. I can also assist in making the edible things we find actually safe to eat."
to Jask: "Brother, you have suffered from great injustice. My deity Abadar does not tolerate injustice. I will help you set your life right, and assist in implicating the corrupt."
Linard volunteers for the last watch.
Perception for 1st watch:
I will take the last watch with someone so that I can get my spells back.
Probably Harper & Linard for the first watch.
Kalis & Valeria for the second - no spell rest required.
Nngara & Jayem for the last watch.
Slowly, the day ends and the night begins. You huddle around the campfire. From the other castaways, only Those not on first watch go to bed early, so they can still be up early enough in the morning.
By 8 AM the morning sun will be well up, and you can then start any morning rituals.
Happenings in the night watches:
---
---
Nngara watches the strange shape before turning to Jayem and speaking in her preferred Polygot.
Do you see that? Pointing at the shape. I do not know what it is.
Harper gets Linard's attention. Do you see the shape of a man?
The sea is glowing green. I have never heard of such a thing. The rivers in my home did not do this.
He squints into the night, trying to see what shape she sees.
"A man? No, I've seen spots of green glow in the sea, but they were amorphous... According to some researchers of nature, the glow is caused by seaweed and crayfish so tiny you need a magical looking glass to spot them. But they spread fast, and form a sort of clouds, which glow in the dark. Maybe one of them was resembling a man in its shape."
"Or it could be something else...."
My vote is to search the top left quadrant from our current camp. We can leave Jask and the others here. Perhaps Linard can conjure enough water and purify some food so that they are safe for a day if we do not make it back tonight.
Then we head out. This being the jungle, I assume there is sufficient food and with Linard's Purify Food & Drink, he should be able to make everything edible, perhaps not tasty, but at least not poisonous.
__________
Thus, we head to the west along the inside, the south coast, of the top of the scythe shape. If/when we reach the end, we can return back along the north coast.
Jayem will prepare his Cure and Enlarge extracts and concoct another dose of Mutagen. He will accompany the group in whichever direction they deem most prudent. He is OK living under the stars, but will keep his eyes open for a more defensible living area.
I agree with Nngara that we should head this direction. Harper points to the top left quadrant of the map.
Kalis examines the map and then looks around at the visible landmarks, trying to gauge distances. "It is foolish to waste that man's magic on water. I am sure we will need it for other purposes."
"Don't worry, creating water and purifying food should not deplete my magical powers. However the other purposes are also important, so I'd rather not stay behind as the camp cook." Linard adjusts his crossbow as he says this.
"Then Let's be off, but cautious of our surroundings."
Each white/black mark on the scale is 2000 feet. Call it 6 hexes for a mile, or 3 hexes an hour overland.
Edit: I calculate (not accounting for sever accumulation of rounding error) 870 feet from center to center for a hex.
No, the plan is west first. I thought we were about midway along the northern section of the large cove, but on the southern side, in the cove. If this is wrong, then please let me know. The plan is to head to the west and explore that part to the end - a likely spot for the lighthouse. If it is not there, then we will turn around and follow the north coast, the outside of the island, back toward the camp.
Essentially make sure that there are no dangers behind us as we make our way south on the island.
How big is the island? 1 mile per hex? 8/hex?
No, the plan is west first. I thought we were about midway along the northern section of the large cove, but on the southern side, in the cove. If this is wrong, then please let me know. The plan is to head to the west and explore that part to the end - a likely spot for the lighthouse. If it is not there, then we will turn around and follow the north coast, the outside of the island, back toward the camp.
You're at point A on the map. You're in a smallish, 1000 foot deep cove. There is also an large interior bay about 5 hexes south of you.
Thus, we head to the west along the inside, the south coast, of the top of the scythe shape. If/when we reach the end, we can return back along the north coast.
That would make sense if you switched north/south coast.
Edit: Or perhaps inside/outside, or a number of other perspectives.
Ah - I see the A and B now. In that case we will proceed west along the north, outer, coast to the point and then return along the south, inner coast.
Looks like about 3-4 miles total round trip.
I will cast Endure Elements on myself before starting as I do not have the highest constitution for a prolonged march.
Kalis grunts at the plan to leave the camp behind. "It will take most of a day to get to that tip of the island. Sleeping in the jungle without making it ready is not a good idea. We should move camp away from this godless water. Camp near a fast, rushing stream where the god is young and happy. That kind of god lets you take water without making you sick. Make camp there and then explore out from it like the legs of a spider." He splays out his fingers in demonstration. "Come back to camp each night to sleep." He nods to himself.
To me #2 seems like the best, most efficient and secure option.
Heat deals nonlethal damage that cannot be recovered from until the character gets cooled off (reaches shade, survives until nightfall, gets doused in water, is targeted by endure elements, and so forth). Once a character has taken an amount of nonlethal damage equal to her total hit points, any further damage from a hot environment is lethal damage.
A character in very hot conditions (above 90° F) must make a Fortitude saving throw each hour (DC 15, +1 for each previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty on their saves. A character with the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the skill description). Characters reduced to unconsciousness begin taking lethal damage (1d4 points per hour).
In severe heat (above 110° F), a character must make a Fortitude save once every 10 minutes (DC 15, +1 for each previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty on their saves. A character with the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the Survival skill in Using Skills). Characters reduced to unconsciousness begin taking lethal damage (1d4 points per each 10-minute period).
A character who takes any nonlethal damage from heat exposure now suffers from heatstroke and is fatigued. These penalties end when the character recovers from the nonlethal damage she took from the heat.
Extreme heat (air temperature over 140° F, fire, boiling water, lava) deals lethal damage. Breathing air in these temperatures deals 1d6 points of fire damage per minute (no save). In addition, a character must make a Fortitude save every 5 minutes (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Those wearing heavy clothing or any sort of armor take a –4 penalty on their saves.
Boiling water deals 1d6 points of scalding damage, unless the character is fully immersed, in which case it deals 10d6 points of damage per round of exposure.[/ooc]
DC 15. Gain a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saves against severe weather while moving up to half your overland speed, or gain a +4 bonus if you remain stationary. You may grant the same bonus to one other character for every 1 point by which your Survival check result exceeds 15.
If it is a good 8 hours to the end of the peninsula, then I say we move the camp about a mile to the west initially. From there we should be able to explore everything from the ship to end of the island. We then move it about 2 miles to the east/southeast of the ship (one day of moving plus setting up camp) and scout out from there.
Once we have finished scouting from Camp 2, we continue down the island moving the camp 3-4 miles each time.
The other castaways start packing up. Aeryes seems to have a headache, saying, "Don't talk so loud, please.". This becomes problematic later, when someone bumps into Ishirou and startles him, and he yells in surprise.
Of all the other Castaways, Jask is the only one who is openly friendly. He seems more confident than yesterday, and is quick to help where needed.
The others are helping, just not as readily, and rarely volunteer help.
As the gear is divided, Jask says, "It is becoming apparent the chests," he motions widely, "will hav' to be left behind. The bulk of the gear here would only slow us down. Indeed, it would be worse than useless." He nods, as if confirming himself. "We can stack them under our shelter here, and retrieve anything we need on our way back."
Perception check, please.