There is no wine to be found at the camp, in fact there are no possessions to speak of. There appears to have been at least three humanoids, as there are impressions where they rushed, but the winding trail makes it hard to tell if there were more following. Upon further examination of the trail leading into the jungle, it is clear that the creatures were moving with haste. There is blood on a tree-branch where one creature seems to have cut itself on the undergrowth, There are broken twigs and branches leading away from the beach and straight into the cover of the forest. Considering the haste with which these creatures departed this morning, it is unlikely that they would have not forgotten anything, so the lack of anything discarded suggests that it may have been crew members that had shipwrecked, and had nothing to leave.
The poor quality of the shelter and lack of food-stores suggests that the survivors may have been less healthy than your party and a hastily constructed lean-too was all they could manage, and it is unlikely that they would have made it far.
You follow the tracks into the jungle. It's not difficult work to follow, but as you advance the trail gets harder to follow and the jungle gets thicker.
Let me know what action you are taking , if you are advancing, and if you are delaying for further searching.
Victor scratches his nose.
"well shall we study these tracks again or shall we move on?"
Pyre follows the trackes keeping his eyes on the jungle.
Are you guys just tracking the people from the shore, or are you looking around the area more?
(Sorry for the delay) These tracks are not Tengu tracks...but they are very recent. If we investigate these Humans, that's less time spent searching for my people. We will vote. Search here, or continue?
(you literally said human though :p sorry)
Oops
Victor scratches his chin.
"we might as well follow them i suppose, unless you have any better agenda at hand. I'll keep an eye out for tengu tracks. The order is still yours captain, I'll go with whatever you pick."
Victor expresses his opinion, but seems rather indecisive on where to go, and is very much in favour of thoy making the decision for him.
|
"Looks like Pyre has their trail going into the forest. They left quickly and left nothing. Whether driven from here or called to a chase, finding them would give us all the information we need." Des states a little annoyed that a decision is taking so long.
"Besides finding people was the objective of the day, was it not?", Des says sarcastically. "Otherwise, there is always digging for buried treasure. We all know pirates love treasure!"
Desula's need to get off this island is starting to boil up in anger. He grows weary of the lack decisive decision making, and having no concrete plan to ferry them off this rock. He looks back to his training as he catches himself slipping. His training dictates he needs to find usable assets and a base to fortify, he takes a deep breath.
Let's move into the jungle now, this ramshackle should be easy to find again with Ros. If we wait any longer we risk having them die on us, before we decide they need to die. With luck it will be 'someone useful'"
His piece said he positions himself ready to assist Pyre in tracking through the forest.
"Well, Victor, I believe it's only right to enter the jungle and find the crew we have a lead on. Pyre, lead the way. Desula and Victor, follow him and keep an eye on the jungle around us. I'll follow last and watch our back to make sure nothing comes from behind. We clear? Then let's move in."
While you follow the trail of broken branches, disturbed leaves, the trail suddenly all but disappears. After some struggle, you see a familiar face.
Huh, it's you folks Says a small voice. Oye Victor, you managed to not drown Looking down you see a drowned rat of a creature, one of the ratfolk twins, Squeak. There is a twinge of hope in his voice, seeing Victor. He eyes the rest of you then shrugs.
Our group met a couple locals. This way, come on. he squeaks before scampering off.
There is a rustling in the trees as the dragonkin pushes through the underbrush, following the path of a little Ratkin. Behind him walk the Drow and a second rodent with a Tengu bringing up the rear.
Standing in a small clearing, at a bit of an impasse, is one of the Pitch-slaves blocking the path of two Half-orc along with a Human woman Maria Tate, and the Orc that she calls Cody.
Both parties eye one another briefly before making a move.
We be Kalagan and Tsardusk, recently of the Bloodeye tribe. A few of our people will be straggling in soon. The Kahn had your friends scent, so we are headed for a cave I'm remembering a little ways through here.
"Nice to meet you, Kalagan and Tsardusk of the Bloodeye tribe. I am Captain Thoyoitu, but you can call me Thoy. With me is first-mate Victor, Pyre is the reptilian one, and you've already met Desula. So, you're natives, huh? I can't wait to get back to your camp and learn more about this new land we've come across."
"Hullo Thoy and Victor, Pyre and Desula. A pleasure to meet you, i'm sure." He nods in greeting to each of them as he says their names. "We should head for the cave, although in truth with all of us here, we might be enough to deal with a Kahn hunting party now... still, I'd rather not have to. Shall we go? I will just follow behind to hide our tracks."
Victor's nose twitches in curiosity
"Wait why are you hiding our tracks? Are we being hunted? What other hostiles are there here? And where are we?"
"Victor, what say we follow these nice fellows to a spot of safety before getting our answers? If we are being hunted, I'd hate to be caught."
"Stay close. The Kahn would be happy to pick off any stragglers. Let us reach the relative safety of the caves, then we can speak more." With that, Kalagan moves off into the undergrowth, headed for the caves.
"We are not of the Khan.. we are... were... Bloodeye clan... Khan are hunters and slavers... you do not want to be caught by them, by either clan to be honest. As for us, we are ... expatriots?.. of the Bloodeye," Tzardüsk says simply, leaving more, if any, to be said by Kalagan.
Victor tilts his head as he follows the new faces.
"so two clans on the island. And our motley crew of misfits just crashed here... say Tzardüsk do you know how many men, women and children included, either tribe has?"
He tries to keep pace with the orc, jogging to keep up with the tall strides in the latter's step.
Roll k(local) for number estimates, either tzardusk or Kalagan. As for the Bloodeye, there are over 50 able warriors, along with half as many strong males, and many females, not including the young, old, and slaves. All told there are at least 250 orc in the Northwestern river delta.
Kahn human tribe: There are at least 30 human warriors and half as many halfbreed warriors and least another 50 or so able bodied individuals. There are at least half again as many young, old and weak.
The Jagh-kal human tribe has at least 40 warriors along but most of it's tribe is combat-able, even the young so out of the rest of the 150 or so, only about 50 are not threatening.
The elves don't exactly have a warrior caste and their numbers are less known to the orc, but there are likely at least 150 elves, you estimate.
You know nothing about the numbers of the swamp-dwellers, or the Strix.
"There are two clans of orcs, Victor...and there are two human tribes, one of elves, also some swamp dwellers and strix... Maybe 300 or so orcs total.. maybe 300 or so humans, 150 elves maybe, but I don't much about them, so that estimate could be off some. I have no idea how many of the swamp folk or Strix there might be."
|
|
Des spits in disgust, "Elves, a plague that knows no end. Do any of your kinsmen, Orc or Human, sail well. The hope is to sail away from this wretched rock. No offense.
"We have sea lane maps and a pilot to help navigate us to the main land if that helps.", Des continues, specifically leaving omitting the presence of the Bosun with the Reavers nearby. He wonders how useful they could be in their endeavor, but knows the going to take as much expertise as they can get.
"What say you, Reavers, you must be dying to get back to your Captain and Crew? The Tate's, if I remember correctly.", say to the Pirates to gauge their thoughts and demeanor.
"I don't know anything about sailing or boats... but where would you go to the other side of the world?"
"well friend, there are many places that one might visit. Maybe somewhere with a cooler climate, or perhaps a place where the roast beasts and plump and flowing with juices, and the drink is richer and thirst quenching"
Pyre looks over the group while keeping an eye on the forest.
What a ragtag group we are. He thought to himself.
|
|
"Actually, Tzardüsk the other side of the world was just where I was heading. Tell me Tzar, have you ever thought that your world could be bigger, that your home was not where you were meant to be? Its what I always felt.", Des says excited to bring the pleasure of possibility and the unknown to the half-orc.
"Well, if the mood should strike you, there are lands that stretch on for days. Where you could walk for weeks, and never see the same people or places. Lands where the prey run free, ripe for the hunting as Victor has said.", he orates with the vigor of a practiced story teller.
"And that's simply the material world of flesh that we know, there are grander planes of existence to be traveled. However, that's not for the faint of heart...", he trails off hoping to entice the shaman.
"All this talk of 'across the world' would be better saved for the confines of the caves, where the Kahn won't hear you.", Kalagan says tensely, his head on a swivel. "Maybe you can save it for then?"
Still moving along behind the others to obliterate tracks, Tzardüsk listens to Des' words with curiosity... then speaks to Kal, "If they were close enough to hear, they'd no doubt have attacked by now... but I agree that caution is called for."
He turns his attention back to Des. "These other worlds you speak of, how would one get to such fanciful places, if they even exist?"
Victor chuckles
"we use a bigger boat."
He stutter steps over to Kalagan and twirls around the orc in a silly dance. He seems to be in a jovial mood despite current circumstances
"perhaps we will save it for them friend. Perhaps we will."
You make slow progress towards the caves due to maria's injuries and the fatigue experienced by the shipwreck survivors. They are well, but
(+2)
vs
As you walk, you all eventually become aware of sounds around you that stand out from the hum of the forest. A cracked stick, a bird taking wing suddenly or going quiet. It is clear that you are being followed, tracked. You don't see anyone through the brush, not clearly but before you blink or look back, there may be a body, or a branch moved as you continue on. You can't tell by whom you are being tracked, but who or whatever it is, no move is made against you.
Tzardüsk nervously looks around him as he walks along, not giving up on hiding tracks just yet, but careful not to fall too far behind the others as he does so. Whenever there is a noise from the surrounding jungle, or something moving in the corner of his eye, he jumps a little and runs to catch up a bit closer to the others...
Victor whistles a cheery tune, slipping a clicking beetle into his palm.
" any of you gentlemen smoke or are you comfortable with a light?"
Victor's eyes sweep the front of him while his ear try to cover the back.
|
|
Des quiets up at the first snap of a twig, and focuses on listening. He goes neutral face and just tries to be calm as possible. He hears Victor rattle off something about a light.
"Why I'd love a light, my good Victor.", Des say remembering the impaling he had last time he tried to escape a foe. But being the stubborn drow that he is, feels he has the chance get it done right.
"Pyre do you know the song Fee Fi Fo Fum, I'd think you'd like it.", Des says as he starts to incant the spell as a song. Trying to time it for when Victor throws the bomb.
Kalagan concentrates on sensing any evil in the area (Detect Evil). "Hold until we see what is upon us. We don't want to kill anyone unnecessarily."
Kalagan does not see any evil auras, although he is aware that potential enemies may be out of range, be beasts, or not evil, or just too weak to exhibit an aura.
Even as you prepare, no one seems to react, and any trace of pursuer is gonna as soon as you become still or go silent.
"A strong show of confidence is often enough to drive would-be attackers away. They do not have the stomach to face death.". Kalagan smiles through his tusks.
"Indeed. As captain, I will kill anyone who plots our assassination if they don't leave right now. Yep, slit their throats with my beak. Without breaking a sweat. That's right, unfriendlies in the jungle, you will die if you approach us, for I as the captain will kill you dead."