Topping the rise, you see the island stretch out below you. It's not terribly large, maybe a mile and a half across, and egg-shaped. It is surrounded on all sides by the toothy mountains, and the center is a deep bowl that seems to extend below what should be ocean-level. Paths are cut into the stone and continue both up and down. Below you, as the path winds down to your right, you can see what appears to be a small village of huts and a market square; goats can be heard bleating. The village appears to sized for small humanoids. The path seems to continue though the village and down farther into the bowl.
Picture an oval dish, with the sides of the dish made of tall sharp-peaked mountains. On the sides of the bowl, periodic flat platforms protrude, connected by notched stairs cut into the walls. These platforms range in size from quite small to very large, and jungle appears to cover them, with occasional plains. At the bottom of the bowl, a lush tropical jungle can be seen. Indeed, misty clouds lie between your vantage point and the bottom of the bowl, making it difficult to make out details. However, you catch sight of what looks familiarly like a pteranodon flying below you, and a long graceful neck of some sort of huge dinosaur emerges from the trees below.
The platforms also continue above you, though there are far fewer, and the low storm clouds may conceal more than you can see. The path does continue upwards, but it seems to be more covered in rubble, and less traveled.
No one in the village below you seems to have spotted you. You catch a glimpse of people moving about, but you can't make out the race. They do seem to be roughly goblin-sized.
Crang begins to collect skulls. They're of every size from small skulls to one giant skull that appears draconic. One skull bothers you particularly. It's made of lighter bone and appears to be larger than most goblins, with one leering eye hole in the center of the head...
character stuff
character stuff
** spoiler omitted **
Buz will climb up with Whosi and observe the island from higher ground, while at the same time keeping a low profile.
I will move closer to observe the small humanoids about their task; see if I can get and idea of number, activity; what their wearing; if they are armed and if they are cordial or bully each other and if there are any other races present as well as a rough guess of their wealth level.
I covertly smake a small motion to Buz and point out the dinosaur neck and the flying one.
also; I smile at the sight of the trees; but frown at the difficulty of getting them from where they are to the ship...then with a startled look back at the ship; start thinking that anyone with half a brain would have some cliff watchers and see a normal ship from a long way off; relieved a bit as we came underwater, I wonder how exposed out ship might be now doubting that anyone would look down a cliff they have seen a million times without seeing a ship arrival from far off.
I consider the dinosaurs....hmm; eyes in front of face; track by sight and persue pray; eyes on side; wider angle of watch for predators or to watch for food and predators; I shake my head imagining my head is steaming...Frick; wish I knew if they had a keen sense of smell or not. wonder if the village people have any tamed for labor. We dont have much to trade, hmm force may not be an option unless they are wimps; their home ground; guess that leaves me to procure stuff. Except trees; weez gonna need a place to get trees without getting shot full of arrows or stormed by dwarves or worse....gnomes.
I motion Buz over to a good hiding spot for a Pow Wow; and basically outline my thoughts and desire to get closer to observe the village without getting eaten by something and see if he brought a looking glss, mentally stubbing my toe for not thinking to bring it.
Picture an oval dish, with the sides of the dish made of tall sharp-peaked mountains. On the sides of the bowl, periodic flat platforms protrude, connected by notched stairs cut into the walls. These platforms range in size from quite small to very large, and jungle appears to cover them, with occasional plains. At the bottom of the bowl, a lush tropical jungle can be seen. Indeed, misty clouds lie between your vantage point and the bottom of the bowl, making it difficult to make out details. However, you catch sight of what looks familiarly like a pteranodon flying below you, and a long graceful neck of some sort of huge dinosaur emerges from the trees below.
The platforms also continue above you, though there are far fewer, and the low storm clouds may conceal more than you can see. The path does continue upwards, but it seems to be more covered in rubble, and less traveled.
No one in the village below you seems to have spotted you. You catch a glimpse of people moving about, but you can't make out the race. They do seem to be roughly goblin-sized.
As you observe them, the people in the markets suddenly begin gathering their merchandise quite quickly. They head indoors after their items are gathered, and within moments, a crack of thunder sounds overhead and torrential rain begins to fall, soaking you in moments. This rain lasts for only about ten minutes, then stops. In the village below, people come back outside, replace their merchandise and continue with their days...
As you are observing or stealing skulls, a crack of thunder sounds and torrential rain begins to fall, soaking you to the skin in moments. It lasts for only ten minutes, then stops.
I start stashing skulls aboard the boat.
In very little time, Crang has amassed a pile of old skulls on board the Accursed.
perc
knowledge nature (anything weird about local nature)
"Come on Spots let's look around the ship here..."
perc Spots
Aside from a few tenacious crustaceans, you don't see much life on this side of the mountains. You note crabs, starfish, some gulls and the occasional lizard. That's pretty it near the ship.
Ank-hore remembers the prophecy and want to examine the island to see if it is the island of the dead.
"Anyones wants to goz lookin round He looks and notes that Buz and Whosi are already gone.
Ank-hore remembers the prophecy and want to examine the island to see if it is the island of the dead.
"Anyones wants to goz lookin round He looks and notes that Buz and Whosi are already gone.
Crang walks over next to Ank-hore, plants his feet firmly, crossed his arms determinedly and looks out toward the island.
In effort to get Crang to look at the big stone letters again, Splurg goes over to Ank-hore and Crang and gestures emphatically at the Sign.....
I go back to the ship to report
"Ifn you wants to know; gather round:
Dis island is wobbly round; like an egg shell; all jaggedy high on the out nz deep slope down ta yea center. Zris some trees, but zris some big lizards too, all dem skull like that is kinda curious, wonder ifn dey are da ancestors, we dont wanna anger de ancestorys; any shammanies got a inside? I dont wanna be caught stealing der ancestors...now; da village gotta be having a Big Man priestie or Wizzy type, cause it is sheer anarchy. Gnomes, Goblins and <spit> Kobolds all living together all happy cordial as you please all by yer leave and thank you very much, the bastages. <spit>
Dey is armed too; and have a bit of trade dis fer dat; mostly coppers; so there might be a mine around here as well. Hole place is not so big; maybe 5 or so sling shots across."
Ank-hore looks at the writing and spits on the ground "who needs ritin's, wez haz more port'nt th'ngs ta do He points towards the interior of the island starting to walk hold his new walking stick(the magic mace) "Yooz two comin'"
Anyone heading up the path sees things much as Whosi described them:
Picture an oval dish, with the sides of the dish made of tall sharp-peaked mountains. On the sides of the bowl, periodic flat platforms protrude, connected by notched stairs cut into the walls. These platforms range in size from quite small to very large, and jungle appears to cover them, with occasional plains. At the bottom of the bowl, a lush tropical jungle can be seen. Indeed, misty clouds lie between your vantage point and the bottom of the bowl, making it difficult to make out details. However, you catch sight of what looks familiarly like a pteranodon flying below you, and a long graceful neck of some sort of huge dinosaur emerges from the trees below.
The platforms also continue above you, though there are far fewer, and the low storm clouds may conceal more than you can see. The path does continue upwards, but it seems to be more covered in rubble, and less traveled.
No one in the village below you seems to have spotted you. You catch a glimpse of people moving about, but you can't make out the race. They do seem to be roughly goblin-sized.
Crang looks at Splurg and rolls his eyes:
Crang not born yestaday... Crang born Crang counts on his fingers, wrinkles his face in concentration and then declaresfree weeks ago.
Crang walks off down the path, shaking his head at Splurg's lack of intelligence.
Chuckling Splurg says"You twoze go aheadz I stay and guard boat for now... Watching them walk away, Spots and Splurg look at each other as Crang just fades from view!!
Crang's sudden blending into the rocky outcroppings is almost supernatural. He manages to find every hidden spot from the ship to the top of the path, and even gets a ways down the path toward the village before he realizes where he is.
The village smells, well, good. Baking bread, some sort of stew and a pungent leafy smell assail you.
You hear several conversations coming from inside the huts, plus the ocasional person walking around in the village square, but it seems to be past market time for there are no merchants in the square right now. Suddenly the cry of a pteranodon overhead causes you to look up. Circling above is a large pteranodon, but before you can take cover, it lands in the square and a kobold scrambles off its back, then pats it in the head. The kobold is wearing some sort of leather harness, with a matching harness on the pteranodon. The kobold pulls a fish out of a pouch on his side and tosses it to the big lizard, who catches it out of the air and gulps it down. The pteranodon then ambles to the edge of the cliff and launches itself off into the air while the kobold heads for one of the huts. Inside you hear voices raised in welcome as the kobold enters.
However your observation is disrupted when a sudden noise of "Khoo?" breaks you from your concentration. A tiny dinosaur the size of a chicken peers at you, its snakelike head and long graceful neck bobbing as it studies you. The dino is bright blue, with green fur-like feathers covering most of its body. Its hand-like claws seem to wave at you as it sniffs the air, ending its study with another "Khoo?" It looks surprisingly intelligent for a dinosaur.
Splurg stays onboard, but Spots seems to have caught some sort of smell. He leaps off the ship onto the dock and heads for the rocks. However, instead of heading up the path, he begins to sniff at a spot in the cliff-face itself, just adjacent to the path. He makes a low huffing growl and begins to dig at the ground.
"What you find is it a gud eatin?"
fortitude
Crang examines the animal, trying to decide if it looks tasty, or might grow up to be an ideal mount. He wants to pet it.
handle animal (if needed)
Koo!
fortitude1d20+5
Crang examines the animal, trying to decide if it looks tasty, or might grow up to be an ideal mount. He wants to pet it.
handle animal (if needed) 1d20+3Koo!
Back on the dock, Splurg heads over to the cliff face. Spots is digging at one spot, and after a few moments of poking and staring, Splurg presses against the cliff face and heard a loud CLICK. Part of the cliff swings open, revealing a cleverly concealed door covered a cave in the cliff face. Spots immediately springs inside and tackles a whole smoked boar hanging on a rope inside. The boar is not in great shape, having been nibbled by rats and other vermin, but the cave also holds several small casks and a pile of wood. Cracking open the casks reveals a cask of thick glue, three casks of tar, a good supply of nails, long strips of metal and a collection of old, but serviceable tools. A chest in the corner is lock-less and holds several strips of sailcoth as well as thread and needles. The barrels and chest are all marked with the same burnt sigil: a skull with a snake coiled around an anchor. Splurg and Spots explore the cave but can find no more treasure or secret doors inside.
Whoosi; goes with the group; but stealthily,
----
character update didnt take; but will do it again and put at least one point in stealth.
Ank-hore moves up the path quietly trying to keep his eyes out a for a 2 headed Goblin.
Stealth:
Perception:
Not used to relaxing, Crang lets out a large fart.
Then he follows the birdosaur: Koo!
Greblak eventually realises that there is land, and he immediately and bravely steps ashore.
Right! Whut be da sitchewashun? Anyting need burnings?
Buz goes down from the cliff as stealthly as possible. Once he's back with the crew and has explored the hidden cave with Splurg, he gathers the other captains. We need to exploor da island. Villagers be all sorts of wierd here, if them attacks, ye attacks twice. Best if ship stay hidden. We need a commander of da ship while we go, Buz suggest Gutbucket.
Splurg runs back to the ship while Spots guards the boar greedily... addressing some of the milling around goblins [b]"You lot get up this cave and bring back the ships supplies so that Whoosi can fixin!"[/b}
Greblak; read my post for Whoosi at 628am yesterday; i gave a quick summary of the island so far to everyone.
Greblak eventually realises that there is land, and he immediately and bravely steps ashore.
Right! Whut be da sitchewashun? Anyting need burnings?
Ank-Hore, Greblak, Whosi and Buz meet up at the top of the path, where Buz gives them a lowdown. However, while they speak, they catch sight of Crang following a brightly feathered dinosaur into the nearest of the mud huts. Smoke pours out of a hole in top of the hut, but aside from that, nothing else happens.
Splurg entreats the goblins to begin clearing out the cave while Spots turns the boar to bones in moments. The goblins begin to stow the materials belowdecks, and one of them that has worked with Whosi before begins to nod and point around the ship. He begins to organize the others, while telling you, "We fixa fixa!" he scowls in obvious imitation of Whosi, "We smarty smarty. Make gud floaty home! Grrrr! Backa work! Backa work!"
Crang follows the tiny dinosaur straight into the first of the mud huts. Inside there are bunks around the outside wall, stacked three high, using wooden platforms to create enough space for everyone. In the center of the hut is a firepit chiselled out of the rock, upon which sits a metal cauldron full of a pleasant smelling soup. Two kobolds, a gnome woman and a goblin female lounge the fire, passing around a pipe.
The dinosaur goes over to sit beside one of the kobolds, who motions for Crang to sit, too. The pipe is passed and offered to Crang. If you take it, make another Fort save.
The air in the hut is hazy with sweet smelling smoke as the gnome woman begins to sing. She doesn't sing in Common, but Crang seems to understand the words. They're sad, at first, then seem to get happier, then almost calm and content. Crang finds himself feeling the meaning rather than hearing them.
Crang looks around confused, he sits next to the goblin woman and stage whispers: Pretty good bossins yous got. When eat da nome?
Showing off, he puts the pipe up his nose and tries to blow smoke out of his ears like he saw a gobbo do last year.
fortitude
"weez need trees ta fix da ship ana toothy saw ta cut em ta timber planks; so any plans; ifn not; lezzus lookin down der. Bee keeping a looky look fer some vines ta make rope ye gittty gobs"
Whoosi moves out ta stealth among the shadows and check out hte village looking for a saw or mine or metal to make a saw.
how big are the trees and what kind more or less are they; softwoods; hardwood? dont think palm trees are much good...
stealth
After meeting with the other captains, Greblak decides to head down and investigate the village. He is not exactly stealthy in his approach, but he moves slowly and cautiously.
Need tools ta fix boat, yeh? Mebbe village has em?
He is on the lookout for any threats, as well as anything that looks like a tool. Just scoping the place out right now, any aquisitions can wait.
Buz nods at Greblak's words. Gud idea. Letz go to village and snatch stuff. But the he stands there for a while, consfused. Pirates snatch, or pillage? Do they have to be sneaky, or raid the village with cutlasses between their teeth? Halp, Buz confused. Was it snatch, or pillage? Maybe Crang know. Wait, where Crang go?
"pst, Buzzzzz, am gonna sneak around ta know whats der is ta snatch and what dey might dooo s about it, dont wanna be fixing da mast while dey shootin at us"
Whosi: there are both softwoods and hardwoods, but most of the better hardwoods are down in the bowl of the island, below you.
Buz, you start to look around for Crang when you suddenly hear a yelp of goblin pain coming from the first hut. It's Crang!
Pillage it is! Buz rushes there with both of his guns, telling the other captains to follow him. Come on Whosi! We be sneakity sneak later.
Crang bellows in excitement: could the day get any better!
initiative
1d20+7
Good roll! From off in the distance, you hear the faint hue of a goblin battle cry!
Wazzat Crang? We burning things now?
Fort save:
Initiative:
Greblak follows Buz, flaming death at the ready!
Whoosi doesnt respond; but moves stealthily toward the hut with the others; his plan; others from the village are likely to go in since our guys go in and whoosi wants to be in place to gack the last one in line....course; this might be a good time to lighten some huts...he only quibbles for a moment as the others might turn on him if he doesnt appear to help.
darn; wish i had ventriliquism hehe; let me know when to roll initiative.
To Spots "Looks like we got some funz we be missing! Letz go!" to the milling goblins "You keepz a fixin we be back!" Going to head for the noise.
Ank-hore notices the other 2 have already headed into the village. Ank-hore becomes all sneaky heading to where he sees Whosi and Buz. He is still keeping an eyes out still for a 2 faced Goblin.
Stealth:
Perception:
Initiative:
21 - Greblak
6 - Crang
10 - Cannibals
The cannibals continue to assault Crang, greedily clutching at him and biting the somewhat bemused barbarian!
Goblin Girl bite attack: for damage
Gnome Girl bite attack: for damage
Kobold fighter claw attack: for damage
The second Kobold, the one with the dino, weaves his hands in a hypnotic pattern, causing a spray of colors to erupt from his hands!
Crang's turn!
will save
Initiative
Blinded: The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character. Blind creatures must make a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check to move faster than half speed. Creatures that fail this check fall prone. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them.
Stunned: A stunned creature drops everything held, can't take actions, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any).
Attackers receive a +4 bonus on attack rolls to perform combat maneuvers against a stunned opponent.
Initiative:
26 - Buz
21 - Greblak
18 -Splurg and Spots
17 - Whosi
10 - Cannibals
9 - Ank-hore
6 - Crang
Ank-hore Init:
Top of Round 1:
Buz rushes forward, followed by the other gobs, just in time to hear sounds of flesh ripping, see a blast of colors erupt from within the hut and hear several wordless cries of glee from inside.
Buz kicks the door open screaming YAARRR! because that's what pirates do. He then shoots at the group of cannibals with a scatter shot of his blunderbuss, uncaring that Crang is also in the middle, because that's also what pirates do.