Barely able to hear anything through his furious panting, Jivaji is somewhat taken aback by the notion of silence.
"Maybe... thunder lizard, frightens the trees?" A short wheezing laugh at his own joke is quickly replaced with a look of concern.
"Did anyone see what happened to Nye?" Jiavji asks as he slowly and laboriously unloads his overflowing backpack into the sacks and saddlebags of his faithful pack animals, who seemed to have fared far better than he.
"Had we not just nearly all lost our lives, and left ourselves so spent, we could hunt the fool down. As it is, I think such a venture would leave us all rotting in the ground. We should be away from this place as soon as possible."
Taking a visual inventory of the state of each of the party members, "We can take turns riding Fazmir. I think we should make our way to a safe spot as quickly as possible and rest."
He then quickly consults Levi's maps to discern if there are any such locations marked nearby.
Tam de-apes, reappearing in a shaking form. "That was the dumbest thing I have ever done in my life. I think I'm going to be...[b]" He manages to stagger off a few feet away from the group before becoming violently ill. After a few moments, he comes back, wiping his mouth with the back of his arm. [b]"I... I have some healing potions. If anyone needs them."
The were-wolf shakes its hairy head, slapping its sloped forehead with a giant paw-hand.
"I've got some as well, if they are needed."
Before they head out, Silent turns to Jivaji and Eltumal.
"We did find some things. I found two locked cases, this cloak," grabbing the cloak from behind him and showing him,"this longsword," grabbing the hilt,"and that's all I got. Jivaji, on the other hand, swiped a ton of stuff. Not all of it is going to be useful in our current situation, but I'm sure we'll figure out something."
Jivaji nods in reply to Eltumal. "Yes, I did grab quite a bit, but hastily. I do not know if any of it is worth keeping or not."
Looking forward to the ironically unsilent wolf-form ahead, Jivaji adds "I suppose I will investigate now. Oh! nearly slipped my mind. We have the tools to open those cases." Jivaji fishes around in a saddleback, pulling out Aldo's old leather pouch of thieves tools.
Looking forward to the ironically unsilent wolf-form ahead...
Levi's maps show that if you head south across the river and to the west a ways, there are suppose to be some ruins about 3 hours trek from here. Otherwise there is no safe place to station that is nearby.
You know this really isn't natural for the a jungle. You are also certain that the big dinos must be done fighting but it shouldn't have scared everything off.
You are certain that whatever curse plagues this jungle is having ill effects on the wildlife you are not sure what to make of the current situation but maybe the presents of undead is causing it.
Jivaji you are able to get chest 2 open but not chest 1. Chest two contains 53pp, 340gp, 523sp, 233cp, and about 7 vouchers and 12 "coupons" and a ledger of transactions.
Without detect magic, and spellcraft, you will be unable to determine any magical properties of the things you have gathered.
"This is quite strange. Not even that massive dino brawl should've scared everything. In any case, we should keep moving. We need to reach those ruins as soon as possible, so that we can set up a camp. Scoop those up and put them back in the case. We'll figure out what the rest of this stuff is tomorrow."
"Indeed, time for this later. This silence leaves me with great unease. Could it be this terrible curse?" At the mention of the curse, Jivaji start moving quicker.
"Indeed, time for this later. This silence leaves me with great unease. Could it be this terrible curse?" At the mention of the curse, Jivaji start moving quicker.
Now looking over Levi's map you find two possible locations across the river south in which you should be able to recuperate. One is a ruin west of the crossing. The other is a hermit's hovel, home to a single Kobold. No notes on the Kobold can be found but hey, its a Kobold, how bad could it be?
Make you decisions on where to go and I'll run us from there.
Tam frowns at the map. "I don't know. Ruins generally attract squatters. At least with the hermit we know he probably keeps most undesirables away. And he might know things about the area. I vote for the hermit. "
"Wait wait, single kobold hermit? In the middle of the jungle? Which is home to giant spiders, larger lizards, a mysterious curse, and countless undead?"
Jivaji looks around at each of his friends in turn. Continuing on, he adds "that has so far claimed five people in front of our eyes in just these few days? Does anyone else find this... odd?"
Jivaji shakes his head, clucking his tongue inside his beak
"I don't wish to meet any such individual when we're as weary as we are. Perhaps after we'd rested? If at all"
"Heck, I'm gonna side with our little buddy Tam. Now, I know things haven't been goin' so well here lately, but, there ain't a whole lot we can do about it now. This whole dang jungle is one odd duck. And it ain't gettin' any normaler. Sides, where exactly did you have an idea on where we ought to rest? Might as well see if this hermit fella is friend or foe. Can't hurt us no more 'an restin' out here." He moves and puts an arm around Jivaji's shoulders. "We gonna be alright buddy, don't you worry none. As long as ol' Joe lives and breathes," He points a thumb to his chest, "you got nothin' to worry about." He then slaps him on the back. "I got some more of them drinks that help heal your hurts. You want some?" He offers.
"Neither of our options look very promising. I think I'm going to have to agree with Jivaji here, fellas. That being said, the ruins don't seem like much better of an option. Choices, choices... I'm going to have to say ruins."
"Silent? It appears you are the tie-breaker. Where do you think we should go?"
Now we ask Silent to Voice his opinion.
Jivaji takes the proffered potion cordially. If he could smile at Joe's enthusiasm, he would. Regardless of the physical limitations the beak provides, the appreciation is apparent.
"Well, Tam is right. Ruins do tend to attract squatters. Precisely because they are defensible locations. One thing we can be sure of, though, is that giant lizards can't fit in a dilapidated house, nor would they want to."
Rubbing his beak where a chin would be, Jivaji ponders "I do not disagree that we could use more allies, especially those who seem to fare so well here in the jungle. I simply fear that both powerful allies AND powerful enemies await us in our quest."
Silent shrugs and points to the hermit's house on the map.
Seems to be a majority of 3 vs 2. I'm not posting the next step until somebody starts in a direction and the others follow so git!
"Well, If you're all set on it, let's get going."
Eltumal will start moving in the direction noted by the map as leading towards the hermit.
Jivaji shrugs wearily. "So be it. Let us be careful, at least."
Seeing that a majority has been met, Silent turns and heads in the direction of the hermit's house. His first two steps are accompanied with the uncomfortable popping and stretching sounds of him shifting into his full wolf form, then the dark-furred wolf runs off into the forest, his long legs covering enough ground to range out in front of his pack to search for traps or ambushes.
As he ranges, he not only watches for immediate threats, but for signs of game trails or other indicators of local food sources or hunting grounds.
Bah! Enough waiting! Onto the Hermit!
You all set yourselves up and make for the hermit's hut. it is only a few ours walk through the quiet jungle.
You hear what sounds like an eerie and faint moaning noise and an echoy voice that carries on the wind. The voice keeps muttering "It hurts......it hurts.....it hurts.....why?" After awhile it fades away.....unless you seek it out. I dare you!
After a bit of travelling noise returns to the forest almost all at once as though some danger to all beings had come and gone.
Presuming you press on, the air becomes thick and you will all need to make fort saves of DC 15. Those who fail become exhausted and will consume their waterskins by the end of the day.
After a bit further you finally arrive at the hut. A sturdy looking clay hut built in the bare bone ribcage of a a mighty lizard. Dino skeletons are all about as well as bones of various other beasts. The place wreaks of death. Smoke plumes from the chimney of the hut.
Who among you dares approach?
In between panting breaths, Eltumal says: "Well, we're here. Not sure this was the right choice anymore."
Oddly, the birdman seems to be taking the oppressive stuffiness in the air in stride.
"Anyone know Kobold?"
"Don't you worry none, Eltumal." He says in a faraway voice as his attention is directed at the sound. "Hold a moment fellas! Y'all hear that?!" He says in a loud whisper as his attention is still on the sound. "It's a voice that keeps sayin': 'It hurts, it hurts.'" He then turns his attention to the others, "I think someone's in trouble and we need to check it out."
Perception:
"I...I guess I could." Tam stutters, straightens his tunic and starts walking tentatively toward the hut.
"Hold, Tam." Jivaji tries to discern the sound, and direction it comes from.
"We should be quick but cautious." Jivaji draws his bow and knocks an arrow. "And none of us should go anywhere alone. I think we can all agree that went poorly last time."
Fort:
Tam keeps walking toward the hut, steeling himself against the fear that creeps up. He shivers slightly, though he's not hot in the least.
"It's okay, Jivaji. I'm just going to knock on the door and introduce myself. It sh-sh-shouldn't be bad, right?"
I am sorry if I did not clarify properly.
I took the liberty of posting Two events in the same post incase no one was able to detect the noise. I do that when I am busy to give you all something to talk about until I return.
Yes the noise takes place during the unnatural jungle silence right after near the Steg nest.
Then, if you either couldn't hear it, or chose to move on to the hut regardless, I had posted the hut encounter. Which would have happened 3 hours later.
Your fort save results would take effect after you decide what to do about the noise.
Decide what to do about the noise Joe mentioned and then when you have finished, unless you investigate, we will move onto the hut,
I took the liberty of posting Two events in the same post incase no one was able to detect the noise. I do that when I am busy to give you all something to talk about until I return.
Yes the noise takes place during the unnatural jungle silence right after near the Steg nest.
Jivaji turns to Joe, completely caught off-guard due to already being on edge in the uneasy environment.
"I heard nothing. What is going on? Who's there!?" Jivaji begins looking about somewhat frantically
Joe looks toward where he heard the sound. "I ain't sure, Jivaji. I just know there's someone in pain and even they don't know why. I'm gonna go check it out." Joe then heads toward the direction he thinks he heard the voice.
Silent the wolf, nods in agreement and pads after Mac, circling about 30 feet away from him and attempting to remain unseen.
Silent the wolf, nods in agreement and pads after Mac, circling about 30 feet away from him and attempting to remain unseen.
Taking Silent's lead, Jivaji circles out in the opposite direction.
"I've got your back, Joe."
Eltumal stays about 10 feet behind Joe, bow in hand and arrow nocked, ready to fire at anything that might strike at either of us.
As you all follow Joe and Silent the sound becomes clearer. Very ghostly and haunting. "It huuurtsss.....it huuurrtsss......why?' You are unable to find the source at the moment.
Whispering to whomever is nearest, "This is creepy. I'm getting the powder." Jivaji then rushes back to the horses to find the magic powder.
"I've got your back, Joe."
Eltumal stays about 10 feet behind Joe, bow in hand and arrow nocked, ready to fire at anything that might strike at either of us.
Joe nods in acknowledgement.
As the sound becomes clearer, "Can any of you fellas figur' out where it might be coming from? I can't seem to locate it exactly." He says as he concentrates on the voice, trying to pinpoint its location.
"I can't tell either."
"What's this? WHat noise are we looking for? Is it coming from spirits? They did keep saying this jungle was haunted..."
The wolf slowly ghosts through the underbrush, testing the air with his nose.