Kal finds holes in the neck and shoulders of what was once presumably Raila. The holes are the exact same size at the tentrils of the cephalopod creature. The zombie's innards are mostly a grisly, semi-liquefied slush, and smell strongly of burnt hair. Kal guesses that the smell is from a toxin secreted by the squid-like creature.
Marking this one down as a lesson learned, and noting to be wary of what lurks in the waters here, you continue on your journey to the north.
"Hmm? Oh, yes yes." The elf, engrossed in his work, waves a hand dismissively at Jader's concerns. He promptly digs his knife into the putrid corpse's chest, slicing it open to continue his examination.
After finishing, Kalathiel rinses his dagger and his hands in the stream before moving on.
His eyes spot a trail leading east. He only has to give it a cursory look to know what made them. He points.
"Boars. Very large boars, it would seem," he says, his voice low. "Likely nearby, as these tracks are quite fresh." He sighs as he again draws his blade. Why did everything here have to be so dangerous? "Best to be on our guard. Perhaps quiet as well."
Kal notices nothing else of note beyond the boar tracks.
Kal's assessment and subsequent caution pay off, for as you head north, he is able to find more boar tracks and locate the beasts not far off from your position. Kal stops the group and studies the way ahead, then notes that two very large specimens of the boar family are up ahead and slightly to the East. You feel as if you could easily skirt around them should you walk all the way out the west and the shore, or you could confront them...who knows, maybe they'd just run off.
Rubbing his quads as the group pauses a moment, the older gnome frowns. "We're gettin close, right? I'm really not used to all this walking. Even in the archives, I had a chair to rest my legs..."
"Oh! Don't mistake me. I am thrilled to be here! I just hope that it doesn't cause my untimely demise." he adds quickly with a wink.
"So, boars ya say? They're not bothering us any, why not return the favor? We can make our way around and leave them be. They've got just as much right to the wildlands as we do."
The gnome is right no sense risking injury with these creatures if we don’t have to let’s go around. However let’s remember to keep a sharp eye. I don’t want to move out of the frying pan and into the fire if you know what I mean. Lead on Kal!
Tess slowly walks along with them, holding a hand on her wounds. "Quite so, I don't really think I have another fight left in me."
Rubbing his quads as the group pauses a moment, the older gnome frowns. "We're gettin close, right? I'm really not used to all this walking. Even in the archives, I had a chair to rest my legs..."
With these words, Kar lowers a hand and gestures to Posh to take hold. If you wish, Grandfather, I can spare your legs.
Raising an eye, he shrugs. "Sure." Taking the man's hand, Posh climbs up. "Oh my! You can see so much farther from up here!"
Kalathiel nods in agreement, turning the group on a wider path intended to skirt around the pair of boars lurking nearby. He speaks as he walks. "Good to know they're on the island. Still, it's not worth a potentially violent encounter. We're in poor enough shape as it is. We'll head toward the shore before continuing north."
Kal's awareness pays off, as you're able to skirt around the boars with a rather wide berth that brings you just to the western coastline. You think you catch sight of a smaller boar with the two...perhaps a piglet. The other two would have defended it ferociously.
You walk through the remainder of the trip at a fairly easy pace, reaching the second landing site just as the sunlight is waning. The island shoreline arcs to the northwest until it hooks sharply south like a bird's beak to form a small cape. Anchored offshore is the Peregrine. Pulled up on the shore is a ship's boat, evidence of a landing party.
Upon your entry into the beach clearing, Ramona rises quickly to her feet from where she had been seated with a few sailors and colonial soldiers. She rushes over, her face a mask of worry.
You're here, that's a relief. We had some...unexpected problems. I'll tell you about it, but first I'd like to hear your report on the colony. What did you discover?
Kar sighs deeply as he lowers Posh off his back, his eyes looking around for Anya Sandstrider, the Shoanti woman he met on the ship. Not seeing her, he simply scans the surroundings for further signs of trouble that may approach. He lets the others do all the talking.
"Long story short... the place is abandoned. Abandoned for long enough that some squatters had come in, some wildlife and goblins. Most of the colony is cleared, though, though not completely safe."
Tess sits down. "If you guys don't mind, I'll leave the details to someone else... I'm completely exhausted."
"Thank you trusty steed." announces Posh with a smile. "Seriously though, Kar. Thank you, that was a great service."
Turning towards Anya, he nods. "Tessa is quite right. I could certainly brief you though. Something I've wanted to do since the first Chronicle I read. Oh, the adventurers most important task, briefing those world on their findings. I mean, if one does not share, how will other know? How can they learn from the findings and/or mistakes of thers without being told the fate of it all?"
Shaking his head slightly, "Oh, right. So, what we found. There was a dock on the shore with...dock on the shore...heaven's shore? I read once about a group of pathfinders that went there. The reports are varied but some found it cathartic. Oh, and there was, of course the town there. Lots of abandoned buildings. Had a group of biting bug things from the bowels of hell that gave us some trouble, but we fought them back. Something from the lorespire attacked us in a temple..."
The older gnome continues to explain in detail what they encountered with more than a few side tangents about different adventures he'd read about in the archives.
Ramona listens intently...at first. She sighs more than once during the lengthy recounting, and has try redirect the gnome more than once in order to stay on task. Eventually, she has to interrupt, lest a tale from Posh's youth play out in full.
I thank you, mister Nanjet...that was quite enlightening. So, given these encounters, would you say that every building is safe for us to inhabit? Are there still tools and equipment there, and are there any crops? We'll just need to know what to offload first and where to direct our attentions.
Some of the soldiers gather around to listen, food and drink are shared freely while they await their orders.
"Mostly safe," Kalathiel interjects. He retrieves his journal and flips through it, finding a page with a very rough sketch of the settlement that he had drawn earlier. "The buildings themselves are largely intact and safe to use. There are tools here, I believe," he says, gesturing at a point on his crude map. "There are food stores as well as crop fields. The fields have an ankheg problem, though. They'll need to be checked and cleared before proper agriculture can commence." The elf pauses. "I should also note that the chapel has some sort of problem with it. A haunting, perhaps, or some sort of magic. Only enter if you want heavy things thrown at you."
Kalathiel continues in this manner, giving an overview of the state of the buildings and resources as they appeared during the initial sweep of the colony. While he references his journal frequently, he is far more direct in his recounting, with no major digressions to tales from his youth. As such, it takes considerably less time to do.
Ramona looks relieved at the brevity, though she favors Posh with a warm smile as he continues to recount his tales to whomever will listen.
Good advice, you have my thanks. It sounds as if it would be best for the Peregrine to disembark at the colony then...if it can get there.
She casts a look at the ship, then back to you, her brow furrowed. See, we've run into a bit of a problem. After we dropped you off, we sailed quickly and without a problem, but when we approached the cape, the ship's momentum dropped to a snail's pace. We checked the sails, the anchor, looked for a sandbar, and even had some sailors swim underneath to make certain we weren't locked in the clutches of some beast.
Of course, this and the lack of a reception at the colony has the crew and passengers on edge. I think that if we can at least free up the ship, the mood may improve. You can of course get situated and take a rest, but do you think you'd be able to take a look?
Unless you intend to sail at night, I'd suggest we check the ship in the morning.
Of course. Will you be staying on the ship for the night?
Where is Anya Sandstrider?
Ramona nods towards the woods to the east. That one had been itching to get off the ship since we boarded...she went out scouting, though I asked her to keep a close perimeter.
Pleased with himself as he finally manages to finish the tail, with just a few more tangents, he walks over to the group in time to hear mention of the ship trouble.
"Oh, my. That's no good. While not skilled in the water myself, I can improve any one of you with such efforts. Learned me a spell that helps monkey's and fish."
Glancing upward, his smile quivers a moment. "I do agree though. Perhaps we should rest and try in the morning."
Hobbling towards the lady near the woods, he waves. "Deary! What have you found? Good news?"
Anya turns to see Posh approach, instantly on guard. She relaxes as she sees the gnome coming with a wide smile. Hello old one. Any news that keeps my feet on stable ground is good news to me.. The intricate moon and owl tattoos reveal their intricacy in the light of the fading sun. The work is really quite good.
And you? It seems you would have more news than I. Will this place be a new home for us, or have we sailed to our deaths?. Her normally blunt nature isn't even tempered when speaking to a respected elder, it seems.
Moving up besides Posh, Kar addresses Anya's questions. Any place, even those we are familiar with, may be our place of death. This island, however, does have many new dangers I am unaccustomed to. If you would, I will tell you of them and you can inform me if you have any familiarity with them.
"The ship won't move..? Without any good reason?" Tess contemplates Ramona's tale for a bit. Could it be something in the water? Or something tampering with the water somehow?
"I'd like to take a look right after I've rested up. I'm worried about the ship, of course... But I'm also worried about the sea. If whatever is causing this is messing with the sea to do it, I consider it my plight to take care of it."
Jader relays back to Ramona all that happened to them filling in any gaps the others missed. He is reluctant to tell about the found sword but eventually does. He also tells of the parties reluctance to kill the little goblin devils. Mostly because he is looking for advice on how to deal with less savage folk than himself. He also gives warning about the tentacle body sucking creature they fought and the wild boar they saw.
Anya nods to Kar, a grim smile turning up the corner of her mouth. Indeed, that is the way of things. Of course, tell me of these and I will tell you what I know.
Ramona sort of half shakes, half nods her head. Well, not exactly...the ship will move, but at a snail's pace, even in strong winds. We've tried to adjust the sails, but we stay at the same speed. I'm honestly stumped.
She winces at Jader's tales. The goblins could be a problem, particularly if they are organized. I wouldn't be against trading with them, should they prove reasonable, as I don't feel as if we could take on a large organized tribe without losses.
Once we get situated, I will need you to organize work groups in pairs, so no one ventures out alone. If such dangers lurk in simple streams and forests, then we can't take anything for granted.
Tess would simply like to rest up, making sure she's the best condition she can be when the group sets out again tomorrow.
The elf nods, analyzing what Ramona says to him. "We're in no shape to do much else this evening, but I can go down under the ship and take a look in the morning." Kalathiel smiles and tilts his head to one side and pulls his collar down, showing the captain a set of gills on the side of his neck. "I can take my time, too."
He excuses himself eventually and goes to make a circuit through the landing area, taking note of anything, well, noteworthy.
Anya gives a firm nod at Kar's concerns - though about his own health, they were worded in a manly way...of course. There are those on the ship that can help. Alba Divenvaar is an alchemist with some magic for healing. And there are the priests Eamon and Kurvis.
Jader makes his rounds about the crew, trying to bring up the mood. It doesn't take long for him to overhear the whispered conversations that the expedition should be "scrubbed" and everyone sail back to Almas. The ship's officers and crew look sullen and apprehensive.
Kal notices Ramona trying to be supportive and diplomatic, but she seems stressed and worn, often wringing her hands or shaking her head as she moves from one group to another.
The crowd around Jader's performance has some quite glaring gaps, as other small groups stay separated from those enjoying the show.
"Oh cheer up folks! Nothing worth doing is easy. Why...I remember a time before they had their fancy tapestry when all pathfinder chronicles began with months of walking....didn't stop us from reading them, eh? They still had quite the story to tell and the cataloguing of those found artifacts....the cataloging alone made it worth while, didn't it?!"
"Every story starts somewhere. Ours just happens to be in the first chapter. I promise you on the soul of my...hmm...well mom's passed on...and....on my soul this will be the story of a lifetime!"
Jader and Posh do well in bringing up the spirits of some of the crew. They note, though, a glaring absence of some smaller groups - these groups don't participate at all, but shake their heads in aggravation.
Ramona makes her way over and offers a worn smile to Posh and a nod of professional approval to Jader. Thank you for your efforts, gentlemen...as you can see things are a bit strained here on the ship. If I may? She motions for you to close in so that she can speak in hushed tones.
This is a powder keg, it's only so long before it blows up in our faces. There are a few main instigators that seem to be breeding this lack of confidence in our mission. If we could get these people on our side, this will break up and we can get back to what we need to do.
There's Antona Sedgewick, Faedwyr Trundlebrook, Harcourt Carrolby, and Perrell Beys. Think there's anything you can do?
Harcourt is one of the wealthiest colonists and thus often thinks of himself as nobility. He likes to feel important.
Perrell is simply worried that there is some unknown danger on the island that cannot be overcome with the resources you have now. She's a bit naive and sheltered, having lived the life as an academic.
Kalathiel nods, then heads off to find one of the individuals mentioned by Ramona. Seeing Posh make little headway with Antona Sedgewick, the elf makes his way over to gauge her state of mind.
After a short while, he makes his way to speak with Faedwyr.
Jader attempts to socialize first with Hardcourt, then if successful he will linger ang continue the conversation. He shows Hardcourt the magic green sword and asks him if he might know anything about it. Playing to the man’s vanity, Jader complements him on what he has heard about the man being well connected, and that if he knows anyone that would pay top dollar for the blade. If he were to part with it.
After his conversation with Hardcourt Jader mozies around the camp eventually making his way near Perrell. He listens for an opening in the conversation then steers the subject around to the powerful magic sword he recently acquired. Surely with a magical blade such as this we could defeat anything that comes our way on this island. In fact I’ve already put to good use against some monsters and it was like the blade guided itself in killing the beasts
Kar, sadly, only has Sense Motive as a useful skill at the moment, and that check has been tried and out. So he will seek out the aforementioned priests and request their assistance. Kar would ask Anya to accompany him, and then seek privacy with her.
Kal tries to nose around Antona, seeking a way to get to her. Unfortunately, his first attempt doesn't go well, and she finally gives him a sneer as she turns to talk to an apparent co-conspirator. Still, Kal tries again, and eventually gets a good gauge of her from one of the colonial soldiers. She is one of the colonial soldiers, and is one of the most outspoken against Ramona, almost to the point of undermining her authority for her own reasons, whatever they may be.
Kar then does the same with Faedwyr, prying about to get more information on him, and keeping at it until he finds out that Faedwyr is a farmer who is timid about the idea of a spooky and deserted settlement. He needs confidence in those about him.
Jader forces his way in among those listening to Harcourt. The man has raven black hear and a pale complexion - perhaps Chelish ancestry at some point - is in good shape, but is a bit of a snob. He looks at the blade, then up at Jader.
Indeed, that is a fine blade, mister Silvertongue. With that, and a good horse perhaps, I'd be able to help keep our people safe. But, we all don't have such things...what of the poor farmers who tend a field only to be attacked by whatever...things...that call this place home, when armed with no more than a simple rake? Who will defend all of them...you?
Having remained distant for a little while, Tess mingles in with Kal, trying to play along with whatever he thinks might sway her.
Perrell, a short, thin woman with red hair that she keeps cropped short, carries herself as a scholar much older than she looks. Her words are very precise, but also mostly pleasant and soft-spoke.
The chronicler's eyes light up at the sight of the sword, and she examines it (not even having needing to bend down due to their relative sizes) and even don's a pair of spectacles that make her look even older. My, but that is impressive! I wonder at the history of such a blade...and how the previous owner came about such a thing.
She rattles on about her desire to track the lineage of such a blade back to its creation, and her worries suddenly don't seem so pressing. Jader listens politely, nodding assuredly at the proper moments. Soon, it comes back to her concerns. So, mister Silvertongue. Do you think wish such a fine weapon, and with your strong friends here, you can keep this colony safe?
Harcourt nods and glances at those about them as Jader compliments his status. It is a fine blade, indeed. I fear my family would have little use for it, but some of our acquaintances may. I will ask some of my friends when we get this tub back home, after we get these fine people back into their lives and the safety of their homes.