Sevien shrugs and then casts the same thing on himself and Xantrius. No tracks? Should we continue down the beach?
Looks like it might be crab for dinner first though.
Xantrius nodded assent.
Indeed, a crab the size of a large dog scuttles down the trunk of the palm that you advance upon, its powerful pincers waving as if in greeting. From a few palms further up the beach, two identical crabs are attracted by the activity and also lower themselves down from their respective trees.
[ooc]No problem work is busy for the next little while.
You had always thought that crabs moved quite quickly for their size. These things race towards you at considerable speed, despite their awkward gait. Nakon is quicker still, though.
Round 1
Grinning, Nakon draws his cutlass and lopes toward the closest crab, bringing the weapon high and slashing it down at his target.
(guidance used)
Nakon's blow bounces off the creature's tough shell and it seems unperturbed as it reaches out, as if to hug him with its deadly pincers.
The first claw grabs Nakon, holding him in place and crushing his thigh. He thinks briefly of the shatter coconuts on the ground.
Nakon is not to be caught unawares by the second claw though, and smashes it aside with his cutlass.
From behind, a second crab scuttles up beside the first and tries to grab him also.
Despite the grapple, Nakon twists away from the second crab's claws, almost using the first crab as a shield.
The third crab ignores its friends and selects Mata as its own target, scuttering forward to engage him.
"I've got this one, help Nakon get away from that one's claw before it does serious damage." Mata says as he swings his sword at the crab in front of him, hoping to kill it quickly.
Hey, gorilla-arms; snap out of it hmm? Xantrius quipped at Nakon, his voice carrying more than mere authority and charm, but a small hint of his magic, and accompanied by a signature wink and smirk.
His enforcer freed up, Xantrius waved his ever-present flag enthusiastically and took a moment to draw his sabre, moving into the fight with Nakon's crab as he heartily cried out;
Quick-quick, finish off our crewmen's lunch sharp-like, savvy?
With a word and a wave Xantrius is at Nakon's side and the sharkman easily twists free of the crab's vicelike grip.
Inspired, Mata's savage blow strikes the crab in the centre of its back and there's a nasty CRACK as its shell splits open and foam and seawater ooze out. The creature stumbles down onto several legs, but a moment later rights itself and cautiously waves its pincers at him.
Sevien launches a bolt of fire at one of the crabs...but it veers wide and harmlessly past the crabs.
Round 2
Freed, Nakon growls in anger at the crab that struck him, swiping at it with his cutlass.
(ic, flagbearer)
Nakon sinks his cutlass under the hard shell of the crab and the creature pulls back briefly, then skitters forward again to reclaim its meal.
The first claw probes at Nakon, forcing him back to the second claw.
The second claw locks onto him, crushing his leg and holding him in place again.
The second crab teams up with the first to tear at the sharkman.
Both claws miss Nakon, though it takes all of his skill to evade them without further harm.
The final crab, badly wounded darts a claw at Mata.
Still quick despite its wound, the powerful pincer grips Mata and crushes his ribs, but Mata is able to pull himself free.
The claw holds him long enough for the second claw to tear at him also. Salty pain lashes the half-orc as his flesh rips, but he doesn't let the creature get a successful hold of him.
Oh, that was stronger than I expected
While it had had a strong grab with the claws, the grasping at him kept the thing still for long enough for Mata to give another heavy swing.
With the Crab dead he moves to help the others. He moves to F10, and looks for oppotunity to move further so the crab would not be able to look at him at the same time as his companions.
grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform.
Xantrius raised his sabre one-handed and brought it down upon one of the crabs with a great deal of force behind it.
There's another powerful CRACK as Mata shatters the shell of the creature before him. Hard chitin follows Mata's blow through the crab's vital organs and its legs buckle as it collapses unmoving to the ground. Mata strides purposefully towards Nakon and Xantrius as they position one of their crabs.
Xantrius' blade darts into the hole made by Nakon, he twists it and the crab shudders and also falls still.
The final crab, though unhurt, senses its sudden lack of companions and shuffles awkwardly, trying to keep all of its attackers at bay.
Round 3
Freed again by Xantrius, Nakon tries to finish the second crab.
(ic, flagbearer)
Sevien launches anothe flamebolt at the crab.
Sevien's firebolt singes the last crab and the delicious smell of seafood wafts from it. Burned, the creature is about to pull back when Nakon plunges his cutlass into the creature, ending it.
Silence falls across the long beach apart from the gentle susurrous of the waves lapping the shore.
Well that was a waste of our resources. We should know better or just not walk into a conflict!
Sevien says disappointed in himself and the others...
I can use my healing magic but I will then have nothing left if we encounter anything else.
Why so down Sevien, we just secured rations for a week or more! Xantrius exclaimed with glee. He became a little more sombre as he placed a hand on Sevien's shoulder and addressed him.
Jests aside, I understand your concerns. We'll need Mata and Gorilla-arms here in ship-shape condition if we get into another fight. See to their wounds, First Officer.
Captain, this is part of the reason to why we need Sandara back. I am grooming her to be an important part of the crew. She has healing skills beyond my own while I am much better at killing things.
"Thanks. lets keep moving, while she is likely to be dead already any more delay will lower the chances even further."
Mata picks up one the dead crab."Anyone got something to strap this to my back with? I'd prefer to have my arms free for fighting." he says wandering up to a palm to see if he can improvise some string
Xantrius strapped the crab to Mata's back with rope.
Maybe it'll deflect a blow or two if we run into trouble... he jested.
Mata smiles back "Maybe, if I get very lucky."
Picking up his sword again Mata continues down the beach keeping a look out for tracks or more spiders.
As you all walk further down the beach there are only small crabs to be seen, scuttling away at your approach. It's a couple more miles before the jungle breaks to reveal another path that vanishes again almost immediately.
A clearing in the jungle contains overgrown fields of some sort of corn. The crops have gone wild, creating a high barrier wafting gently in the breeze.
Agreed
I'm happy for you to make any roll for me.
Nakon can make out a thinning in the barrier, and some of the tops of the stalks are lower that their surrounds, indicating that once there was a path through the field. This is further borne out by a rotting head impaled on a crude staff six feet high. Set back only ten feet into the high grasses, the fetish is all but invisible due to the dense plants, but its presence is given away by the swarm of botflies that buzz loudly around it in the late morning sun.
"Can anyone tell where the path went? Or if who ever we were following went this way?" Mata says. "I guess we might be able to get some corn to go with the crab." Mata start looking for corn to pick, while those with more skill look for the trial.
Nakon mutters spells of guidance and resistance on himself before striding toward the fetish, weapon in hand.
Mata notices Nakon's preperation and hurries to join him sword at the ready.
As Nakon and Mata stride forward, the rotten head lurches to one side. Everyone jumps to readiness but the stick supporting it has merely shifted. The next instant, the ground in front of you trembles apart to reveal a large insectoid creature almost the size of a pony.
Lets try to soften it up a little before we rush over there to attack it right?
Despite the size of the beast as it staggers up from out of the ground below, with Nakon and Mata darting and dodging into position in front of him, Sevien's shot goes over the vermin's thankfully stingerless abdomen.
Xantrius positioned himself beside Nakon and with flag raised in one hand, he brought down his saber in an enthusiastic overhead slash with the other. His enthusiasm did little to help his poor aim though, and he lost his footing slightly as he failed to land the blow.
Mata moves around the beast so as to give Nakon a flank if he does likewise on the other side.
As you burst into activity around the creature it shakes off the clods of earth and sand. Unable to find a weak spot, the weapons of Xantrius and Mata clatter against the beast's chitinous armour. It ignores them and turns its bulk towards Nakon, it abdomen quivering with anticipation and some dark green ichor dripping from its mandibles.
Round 1
Unperturbed, Nakon stands his ground before the beast, pivoting on his wooden "foot" and slashing sidewise with his magic cutlass.
(guidance, flagbearer)
Nakon swings round and the magical tidewater cutlass carves through the hard shell of the creature, releasing a white pus that oozes to the ground. The creature emits a sound somewhere between a buzz and a screech and scuttles at Nakon with wide open mandibles.
Nakon leaps aside and the grasping mandibles miss him with a sharp clunk, perhaps the noise a thigh bone might make as it snapped. The green ichor froths from its mouth and sizzles as it lands on the crushed corn stalks.
Sevien moves up to distract the creature from Nakon.
Assist to give Nakon +2 to AC.
Kill it quickly Nakon before it can grab us. stating the obvious...
Round 2
Oddly. Nakon is smiling as the powerful attack misses to the side. The shaman turns the other way, reversing his cut and sweeping the cutlass low at the creature's mid-section.
(flag)
Another powerful blow from the sharkman draws another screech from the thing. Its carapace is split in several places and it shuffles somewhat erratically. It looks for an opening against him, but shies from Sevien's swings when he moves up. It seems to have learnt very quickly about weapons.