"I'm in. Can't sit around all morning. By the way, slavery around here takes many forms, not just outright bondage. Demihuman trafficking is a terrible thing."
The weather shouldn't change much for a few days; hot, humid days and the occasional heavy but brief showers.
Journal Entry 119
I've been stranded. Again.
We were drugged. I'm not sure by who, but the Captain was increasingly going insane based on his log, and it was due to a woman named Leana. Or Leena. Or Ieana. I'm not really sure. It's written so many different ways in his log and I've heard the named pronounced several ways.
Yesterday, we all woke up on the beach with this strange lobster-like creature with the poisonous sting of a scorpion trying to eat us. I killed mine with my knife. The incredibly large woman named Nymra materialized - I have never used that word in a sentence outside of Star Trek before - materialized a sword out of thin air and killed hers. Then the gentleman scholar I've been looking for - Nimar - helped me remove the rest of the critters from everyone else and throw them back into the ocean.
There's 9 of us right now. A midget who claims to be a stage performer of some sort - why am I not surmised? He apparently makes enough money to have a douche attitude, and expects everyone else to do things for him. I've been giving him tasks for survival just to see how he does, and he seems to be owning up to it, so there may be hope for him. By the way, this is the first time I've ever met a midget in person.
A b%+%$%~ crazy girl, who is hot as hell, but claims to be a professional assassin on the run from her mother.
A priest of some god I've never heard of. Yeah. They have multiple gods here with dedicated priests to each one. Like the ancient Romans or Greeks or something. Or modern day Hindu? I don't really know anything about them.
An Asian guys who doesn't speak the same language as anyone else here.
Some woman with pointy ears; they look real enough. I haven't really talked with her or seen her interact with anyone else here, yet.
Nymra, the incredibly large woman with the Star Trek sword. She's intelligent, capable in combat, willing to take a risk. A good person to have around.
Nimar, the aforementioned scholar. Quick witted and quick with his sword - everyone seems to carry a sword here. An odd thing. The man is capable, and another good one to have around. And I'm fairly certain he thinks I'm crazy.
And the best for last - Lesedi. Get this: she can create water out of thin air! Like magic! Man, if we had this technology back home, think of the problems we'd solve world wide. No more water borne diseases; no more druoghts... it's Absolutey amazing.
So the 9 of us are stuck on an island. The midget wants to start a bonfire and signal for rescue. Nymra thinks tell just attract the attention of slavers or worse - the local cannibals. I'm not sure either exist yet. I'd like to explore the island, and that's where I'm headed now.
I've been stranded. Again.
I think Neil is bad luck. I don't think I would travel with him any more.
I think Neil is bad luck. I don't think I would travel with him any more.
I've been stranded. Again.
Nymra jumps up at the mention of exploration. ”I'm with ya, done sittin' 'round 'ere. Light the bonfire or don't, but if you do, make sure you got a place to hide, just to be safe, yeah?” With that, she summons her sword, rests it him her shoulder, and starts walking.
So Nimar, Neil, and Nymra all plan on heading west into the jungle. "Good, it's about damn time we started doing something worthwhile. I'm coming with you. How long she we go for, how many rations should we take?" Sasha asks? Waterskins are refilled and you make ready to head out.
The others plan to remain on the beach. Jssk will work on fixing whatever they can find while Aerys promises to keep the group alive...well, maybe not the gnome. Gelik immediately takes offense to that but is starting to realize his words and actions amount to little to nothing given the current predicament. Ishirou actually laughs at the little man and promises to defend his life.
"We should travel light, Sasha, since most of us are pretty good at scrounging. Though maybe a few snacks," Nimar grins at the crazy assassin.
Really be more comfortable with you staying at the camp, but you are doing to do what you want, I suppose. I can respect that, but Gods? Please don't let her get in the way when it counts!
"Hold down the camp so we have somewhere to return to later, Ishirou," Nimar bows a clumsy foreigner bow, trying to emulate Ishirou's culture.
Onward and westward!
Oh jeez. What a dumb thing to say. No one is going to get that reference here.
So with Neil, Nimar, Nymra, and Sasha all heading west, what is the marching order and spacing?
Considering that were exploring wilderness, I'd say it would kind of go back and forth for who is leading and the spacing would vary from being right next to each other to being up to 50' away from each other.
Roll randomly when an encounter happens?
It's about two hours of hard walking and jungle traveling; hacking vines, climbing over roots and fallen logs, walking though mud and high-grown grass that makes movement challenging at best. But the best part of walking along with a self-proclaimed assassin who is clearly crazy, if even just a little, means everyone is on edge and expecting the worst, so when Nimar here's the rattle of the rattle snake from about 10 feet away, it's before he's stepped too close to it. It hangs from a branch about neck high and is waiting for it's next meal to walk under neath it. You can go around without engaging the snake without losing much time, or you can neutralize the threat if you like.
Nimar holds up a hand indicating the party should stop, then looks back and mouths the word, "Snake." He shrugs and makes a circular motion then shrugs again and draws a line across his throat. Go around, or kill the animal? I don't see the point in attacking it, but with Miss Unpredictable back there, I want to know what everyone else is thinking. He points to himself and then off to the side, hoping that the explorers gets his meaning. Maybe we should have worked out a rudimentary signalling system. It worked on that expedition to the cairn.
With her free hand, Nymra points to herself, makes a motion of swinging a sword, then chomping on an invisible object in her hand. Food is food, and fresh meat beats the hell outta trail rations any day
Neil looks at everyone a bit dumbfounded for a second. Ummm... Why are we silent? It's just a snake. Kill it, grab the meat, and move on. Sheesh.
With that, Neil pulls out his mechete and tries to decapitate the snake with a quick swipe.
"Doesn't hurt, rather get the jump on things, rather than the other way 'round."
"I reckon snakes here are a bit heartier than yer used to. Lemme."
With that, Nymra slashes at the snake in horizontal arc, trying to cut it's head off.
Nimar smacks his palm onto his face. I swear, it is like people don't think about who we haven't seen when we spot something. For all we know this is some druid's favorite pet or a sorcerous familiar! Oh, well.
He quickly loads a bolt into his crossbow and fires.
While Neil takes a nick out of the snake, the imaginary sword misses the snake completely. Suddenly, a crossbow bolt plunks into the snake pinning it in place and sending it into an uncontrolled seizure. It lashes out at Neil and lands a bite on his forearm.
1 point of nonlethal damage
Fortitude DC 13 vs Poison or take
point of Constitution damage
Nimar hunches into a crouch and scans the surrounding jungle to make sure the sounds of a fight didn't bring any other dangerous creatures, or worse.
Nym takes another swing.
Sashs walks up to the flailing snake and stabs at it twice, skewering it with the second strike and finishing it off.
"What have I gotten myself into" she mutters to herself.
Neil jumps back as Nymra wildly swings that giant unwieldy beast of a sword. Whoa! That's not an appropriate weapon for a snake, ma'am! Watch that thing when you swing it around.
Upon seeing the bolt pin the snake to the tree, Neil looks genuinely impressed with Nimar. You know, I'd chastise most people for shooting into friendliest like that, but damn that was a good shot. Suddenly, the snake jumps out and scratches its fangs against his arm. S%#&! Damn thing got me. . He looks at his arm with a closer inspection.
Looks like it's just a scratch. Got a bit lucky there. Rattlers can be dangerous. I should have been more careful with it. Lots of 'em around where I grew up. I do have to say that's it's the first time I've ever heard of one being in a tree, though. Rattlers prefer rocks, grass, and holes in the ground.
"No, you're right, that was reckless and I got lucky. I should improve my training with this thing. Of course, it is the fencing that makes the ladies swoon...You okay after that bite?"
Yeah. I think so. Looks like it just grazed my skin, didn't puncture and didn't inject any venom.
Nymra's last swing bit deep into a nearby tree, and at first she attempts to wrench it out, and as she does,she has a look that's part irritation, part dismay, with a hint of embarrassment. Then she has a moment of clarity and simply lets go, and the sword evaporates. She summons it again.
"I'm sorry, was my failure almost got you poisoned. I can't say it wont happen again, but maybe next time the gods will be helping guide me arm, instead of pissin' in me eyes. Glad yer alright." She says with a grin and claps Neil on the back.
With that, she goes to the snake's corpse, decapitates it, digs a hole, and buries the head (unless someone moves to stop her).
Same question...
Using Inexplicable Luck to gain a +4 to the roll for a total of 13. I feel like I should save it, but I've never used it before. :)
Probably a good idea, you don't wanna start losing con damage in the first encounter.
Same question...
Nymra takes the umbrella off her bag, unfolds it, and is ready to continue if everyone else is.
As soon as the snake is dealt with in full, Nimar resumes leading through the brush.
Hey Nimar, would you like the machete to clear a path? Neil asks, offering up the tool.
"Might help make the trek easier, but also might hurt us noticing trouble. In the field, I like to keep my senses sharp."
Moving about on the shore line is much faster, but doesn't reveal much about the interior of the island. It does however, give you the occasional glimpse of possible sunken ships as you notice a few masts sticking above the water level here and there.
Scouting the interior of the island gives you more information about the ecology of the island, but definitely takes much longer and is generally more riskier.
After about another hour heading west, a little more south-west than just west, when you notice a cliff. Along the edge of the cliff sits a four foot tall mound.
There is a lizard's head sticking out of the mound.
Lesedi keeps towards the back of the group, nervously scanning the surrounding jungle.
Yes, the stealth spoiler has been changed to perception.
Hey, look! A lizard! Neil says to the others, pointing at the lizard's head sticking up.
"It's like working with children....awwwwweeeeee, it's so cute. I want one" Sasha moans.
"Oh, I didn't even notice that. Wonder what kind it is."
It's a Dimorphodon, a poisonous, flying reptile.
A brightly colored creature with an overly large head with a mouth full of sharp teeth and bright, shiny eyes.
It's medium-sized, and related to dinosaurs. It's head is about the size of a toucans.
Nimar readies his crossbow and fires at the beast before it can take to the skies and make easy pickings of the explorers!