Serpent Skull- Beer and Pretzels (Inactive)

Game Master drbuzzard

"Can't decide if someone living in that is more or less terrifying."

If it is someone and not something, who are this crab.

The crab continues to moan and groan a bit and rattle around some more. Then the effort eventually gets to petering out.

you hear a muffled "GO AWAY!" coming from inside the shell.

Ivar keeps looking carefully at the crab-shack, continuing to move forward, calling out "Why? then turning to the crew and asking under his breath "Do one of you experienced communicators want to speak to the crab voice?"

This will require some diplomacy work by someone.

No, we just came and want to talk with you and see you! Who are you and why are you living inside this giant crab? We stranded here with our ship and try to survive and find something out about this island. Could you perhaps help us please?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"JUST GO AWAY!"

oh so close on the roll

"You live in a crab, huh? Welp, that's ...cool."diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Do we need another mouth to feed? A madman at that...

"Come on, friend, we don't mean any harm."
Aid Another Diplomacy Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
That should do it.

'I hope whoever they are their not with the natives we killed last night, this would be a good place for an ambush.' While the others talk to the 'crab' thing, Ivar keeps a keen eye out for trouble.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

With the assist (and ignoring the ignoble fail), he comes around.

"Oh, I suppose, I can talk. What are you doing on my island?"

Ahem. Please excuse our intrusion here. We are stranded after a horrible storm wrecked our ship on one of the majestic cliffs around your island and had nowhere else to go. We humbly ask for your hospitality. Of course not forever, merely untill we can muster a new boat or find another way.

Another diplomacy to sway him over, everyone is welcome to help^^

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

'The coast looks clear.' Feeling the coast is clear, smiling Ivar responds to the question. calling out; "What are we doing on your Island? Thats easy! Were trying to get off of it! The question is 'when we go do you want to go with us'?"

aid another: diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18well, a little help

Not being very diplomatic Malok stands and the back and tries not to interfere..

Sounding like you've managed to talk him around

"Well alright, I'm tried of talking to fish, and you fellows seem a decent sort. Come on in. " and with the a hatch on the back of the crab opens up revealing a capacious interior littered with makeshift comforts of home.

He scrounges up some smoked fish and grabs some anemone from a tidal pool "Best when fresh!" and serves up a modest feast for his guests.

Amazed at the hermit's resourcefulness Malok is take back.. "We are very grateful.. If I may ask, how did you get here? On the Island I mean.. Oh I'm Malok by the way. I assume by talking to fish you are some sort of druid or?"

I didn't mention the guy opening the crab was also a tengu.

"Nope, just lacking company, so I talk to the fish. They don't talk back. Much. "

"I see.." Malok looks intrigued by the tengu as he has not seen one since before leaving his homeland.. "I didn't catch your name.. How did you get here?"

"Oh, my pardon. I forgot to mention it. I'm used to the fish, and they don't really do names. I am Pezock, formerly crew of the Crow's Tooth. "

Nice to meet you Pezock. I´m Lalali, formerly crew of the... i don´t even now the name of the ship anymore i´m afraid.

Janzadar takes some of the food, but discreetly leaves the anemone uneaten.
"Shimye-Magalla has bless you with resourcefulness, as you seem to have made a very nice home for yourself in this abandoned island. How did you get here? Have your tried to leave the island?"

"Thank you. My ship was wrecked here, like so many others. The brave captain Zoventai managed to save some of the crew, and got us to shore. We were making do until a raid by some of those damned cannibals wiped out everyone else. The captain and the rest made a valiant last stand while they told me to flee. They knew I could get up the cliff which was the only way to escape as we were otherwise surrounded. " he looks very sad at this point
"I went back and got the captain's sword. For some reason the cannibals left it. "

he shows a saw toothed saber, which is kept very clean.

"We have faced, and dispatched, some of those cannibals. If you want to join us, and our mates, in our camp, you are welcome, as there is strength in numbers."

'Joining us, not a bad idea.' Enjoying the meal prepared Ivar shrugs, "We killed a few, and were heading north and west, If you don't go with us can you tell us what's out there?"

"I don't think they are northwest. That's the weird island. I went up near it and took a look once. Didn't make any sense. It was all gray. I've got enough trouble surviving without asking for trouble. "

Then he thinks a bit "But if you do find the cannibal base, I could help then. Otherwise, I'll just stay here. You can stop by from time to time to talk and a meal if you like. "

"Welp, thanks, crab guy! Good talk, it's been real."

Thank Cayden we don't have to drag that nutcase around.

Mh, we had hoped for a little more, but it´s better than nothing. Can you tell us something more about your house? Did you find it or hunt it down? I would also like to know as much as possible about this island. It seems like the cannibals are a major thread here. Are they natives or some stranded souls gone crazy? And are there other notable dangers?

"Sorry, but there's no store to buy food here. " he responds with a note of pique.

but being a rather temperamental bird, he gets his enthusiasm back once asked about his 'house'
"All, my crab! Yes, I found it on the beach already dead. Had to clear out the sweet, sweet meat to make the prop, but I didn't mind. It is good for keeping away predators. "

"As for the cannibals, yes they are very dangerous and there's a good number of them. Their chief is a mighty warrior. I'm not sure why you think I could know their background. The only conversation you can have with them is a dinner conversation with you as dinner. "

For the last question:
"Hmm, well there's the big sea scorpions, the big jungle bugs, various predators, and the red flying lizard thing. I see the last one in the distance and always hide. "

Note, you had a glimpse of this last thing a while back flying in the distance.

'Well, at least he let us confirm the attackers were cannibals.' Ivar gathers his gear to leave, nodding to their host "Thank you Pezock for the food and the information. If we are able to return to you to prepare for a fight with the cannibals we will. If not when we prepare to leave we will let you know."

Waiting for the rest of the party to bid Pezock goodbye Ivar then heads to the beach and proceeds to head north and west so the team can see this 'weird island' for themselves. As they go Ivar keeps a keen eye out for anything unusual like traps or footprints.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"Thank you, and be safe. We will return."

You head up along the coast towards the gray island.

Eventually you get to a point where there is a tidal causeway, which right now is mostly exposed because it is low tide. You figure navigating it at high tide would be rather tricky. The island ahead is actually still green, but Pezock said there was the gray one beyond it.

To your south along the coast there is another shipwreck.

Malok follows along..

just went back to the map, you said that the crab was L, I intended to come out closer to I1, so we will have to go back later, I assume we are at O

'A derelict ship to the south, we will have to check it out later.' Turning to the team, pointing to the Island, "Shall we take a closer look at the island? No need to leave something were not sure about behind us." Ivar, keeping his axe resting on his shoulder, heads across the shallow tidal causeway, keeping a keen eye out.

drbuzzard, do we need any kind or roll to cross to the small island?
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Yes, it is O, and as long as it is low tide (which it is), there's no difficulty crossing as the ground is exposed, with just small waves lapping at the edges.

anything interesting on the green island?

Ivar keeps a keen eye out as they crosses the small Island.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Owing to the lack of letters, nothing more interesting than the possible random encounter (since you asked).

1d100 ⇒ 47 nope

what is required to cross the green island to the grey island?

feet

Ivar stops at the northern most part of the small green Island, looking at the sea water and the grey island across the way, Ivar asks: "We've come this far, shall we cross and see why it's grey?"

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

do we just walk across the water again, is there anything we can see from this side?

There's another tidal causeway here, but it is lower so it can only be walked across at low tide.

Across the causeway, you see the gray island and you see why it is gray. It is covered in a profusion of different types of fungus. There's mushrooms, shelf mold, and puffballs everywhere. You don't see a bit of surviving greenery.

"I don't think is wise to go there..."

When i´m not mistaken, the tide might cut us off there for at least some time and we would then be trapped. Not sure if i want that right now.

'A bunch of mold the island is covered by a bunch of mold.' Ivar looks at the crew, nodding his head to Janzadar,he asks; "Now that we've seen it, can anyone think of a good reason to go over to it. We could be trapped over there, or if we stand here well be trapped on this island. I don't see anything coming after us, should we go back to the big island and continue exploring?"

"I really don't want to be here."

there could be treasure...

Or one of those make an NPC your friend quests, but what do I know

"I'm game.."

Ivar looks from Malok to Janzadar then down to the colonel and asks "So do we go check out mold island or do we go back?"

how do you want to do this, take a vote? Are we going to the grey island or back to explore?

I should also note that there's some encounters you should bang out before meandering into cannibal country as that part is definitely rougher and you'd want to be 3nd level for it. You will only get to 4th upon completion of the module. This island is one of the significant encounter areas, and there's another one which will crop up when you get back to your new base. While this is a sandbox adventure, there are better and worse approaches to ordering up the sandbox.

Well then, moldwards we go...

Ivar nods to Lalali-Re and begins to walk across the shallow tidal pool, As he gets to the grey island he slows, and motioning to the left, "We mays as well go clockwise and work our way around the island, if nothing presents itself we can work inland."

Following the beach around to the western coast, heading north Ivar proceeds cautiously, axe at the ready, keeping a keen eye out.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26