Suddenly the bog waters start to boil around the giant frog near Four Skulls as a skeleton emerges in front of it craving for the blood of the living.
FFLEEEEEESSH....
Ayaki will help Noche'Wa in his ropely efforts.
One of the skeleton's claws finds purchase in the giant frog's flesh, causing it to croak out in pain. The frog snaps back at the skeleton as it sinks into the bog, its teeth grating along armor and bone, but inflicting no lasting damage.
The other frog swims closer to Four Skulls, disappearing underneath the bog to pursue the sinking oracle.
____________________________________
Ragnar unknots one side of the rope swing and throws the end to Four Skulls. The rope lands right next to Four Skulls, within easy reach.
Noche'Wa follows suit, throwing a rope of his own to Four Skulls, but it falls decidedly short, much closer to shore.
Using his abilities inward to channel the dark powers of the grave Four Skulls brings forth the curse of the damned to his enemies.
"Ancestors curse you, filthy beast."
Then he grabs the rope and tries to pull himself out of the bog but cant avoid going under.
Suddenly the bog waters start to boil around the giant frog near Four Skulls as a skeleton emerges in front of it craving for the blood of the living.
"FFLEEEEEESSH...."
Jove concentrates on the frog approaching Four Skulls, willing its perception of the world to be off by a fraction, enough to render its aim less effective. Jove's eyes blacken while he sends shadows visible only to himself to hex the frog. Then he lets off a loud, giddy laugh which strengthens the shadows binding the frog.
One of the skeleton's claws finds purchase in the giant frog's flesh, causing it to croak out in pain. The frog snaps back at the skeleton as it sinks into the bog, its teeth grating along armor and bone, but inflicting no lasting damage.
The other frog swims closer to Four Skulls, disappearing underneath the bog to pursue the sinking oracle.
_____________________________________
Noche'Wa(15)
Four Skulls(13)
Ayaki(12)
Jove(7)
Giant Frogs(4)
Ragnar pulls on the rope, trying to drag Four Skulls out of the sand. Adrenaline pumping, he lets loose his fury to aid in the task.
Strength check:
Ayaki helps Noche'wa to throw the rope again and pull Four Skulls out.
Having sunk under the water line Four Skulls focus all his energies in pulling the rope and dragging himself out of the bog.
Under the waters the skeleton continues to battle the giant frog.
Ayaki tries to bring the rope with Four Skulls on it in.
Jove pales a bit at the skeleton's arrival. Turning to it and gesturing wildly, Jove lets out a terrible scream audible only to it.
AC: [18/20*]; Flat-Footed: [15/17*]; Touch: 13/[15*]
Breeze-Kissed: On* (+2 racial bonus to AC against nonmagical ranged attacks)
Hit Points: 11/11
Speed: 30 ft
In Hand dagger
Hexes Active
- Frog Attacking Four Skulls: -2 to attack rolls (8 rounds)
Spells Prepared
- 1stCommand, Ray of Enfeeblement
- Cantrips Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Guidance, Message
Spell Effects:
- Mage Armor (+4 armor bonus)
The frog on the surface is struck by Jove's magic enhanced scream, but manages to snap at the submerged skeleton that had raked more bloody lines in its flesh. The frog's teeth find little purchase on the bones of the skeleton and inflict no registrable damage.
Four Skulls feels something bump against him in the thing sludge underneath. The second frog has caught up to him.
_______________________________________________
Ragnar pulls on the rope, trying to drag Four Skulls out of the sand. Adrenaline pumping, he lets loose his fury to aid in the task, but it is not enough to loosen the grip the thick bog has on his companion.
Follwing the rope underwater and the thin trail of bubbles quickly approaching a certain spot, Noche'Wa tries again with the rope. "Ah! Four Skulls, if you can, try with this rope, you don't have to pull up now!" Hopefully, his sunken companion can hear him.
Having sunk under the water line Four Skulls focus all his energies in pulling the rope and dragging himself out of the bog. The thick bog stifles his efforts, but he luckily grabs a sinking line of rope, giving him an extra lifeline.
Ayaki tries to bring the rope with Four Skulls on it in, but the stubborn bog stifles her efforts as well.
Jove pales a bit at the skeleton's arrival. Turning to it and gesturing wildly, Jove lets out a terrible scream audible only to it. The skeleton having sunk, the only creature remaining on the surface is one of the giant frogs. The spell is released towards the frog, rather than the skeleton, which had taken the place of the sunken undead.
The frog on the surface is struck by Jove's magic enhanced scream, but manages to snap at the submerged skeleton that had raked more bloody lines in its flesh. The frog's teeth find little purchase on the bones of the skeleton and inflict no registrable damage.
Four Skulls feels something bump against him in the thing sludge underneath. The second frog has caught up to him.
__________________________________________________
Ragnar(23)
Noche'Wa(15)
Four Skulls(13)
Ayaki(12)
Jove(7)
Giant Frogs(4)
Ragnar hauls on his rope. Strength w/rage:
Four Skulls holds both ropes firmly while trying to pull himself out of the bog while still submerged. In the end, adding his streangh to Ragnar's mighty gets him to 5ft from the shore.
Under the waters the skeleton makes one last hungry attack at the frog before returning to the great beyond and disappearing in a grey mist.
Ayaki helps pull the rope.
Jove turns his evil eye on the frog once more, this time willing its estimation of its own durability to rise, for it to be fooled into stepping into blows rather than avoiding them, and then cackles once more to bind the shadows tight around the frog's dull mind. In between fits of laughter, he calls to the undead thing in the water, Eat the nice juicy frog I'm softening up for you, not Skulls!
AC: [18/20*]; Flat-Footed: [15/17*]; Touch: 13/[15*]
Breeze-Kissed: On* (+2 racial bonus to AC against nonmagical ranged attacks)
Hit Points: 11/11
Speed: 30 ft
In Hand dagger
Hexes Active
- Giant Frog -2 to attack rolls (8 rounds)
- Giant Frog -2 to AC (9 or 2 rounds pending Will save)
Spells Prepared
- 1stCommand, Ray of Enfeeblement
- Cantrips Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Guidance, Message
Spell Effects:
- Mage Armor (+4 armor bonus)
The injured frog is rendered unconsciousness by the undead creature moments before the thing disappears in a puff of grey mist. The one still under the surface of the bog and chasing Four Skulls seems to notice that the other has stopped moving and begins to head away from him. The thrashing of the first frog's body is confirmation that these frogs are both scavengers and cannibals.
_______________________________
Ragnar hauls on his rope, pulling Four Skulls closer to land.
Noche'Wa sinks his feet in the mud, the rope racing along his back in order to push with his leg. Thus anchored, he signals Ayaki: "PUUUUUUUUUUUL!" and pulls with all he has, trying not to slip. Ayaki helps Noche'Wa to pull on the rope, adding her strength to his.
Four Skulls holds both ropes firmly while trying to pull himself out of the bog while still submerged. In the end, adding his strength to Ragnar's mighty gets him to 5ft from the shore, however, Noche'Wa's rope is ripped from his grasp and both Ayaki and Noche'Wa are sent crashing backwards to the ground.
Under the waters the skeleton makes one last hungry attack at the frog before returning to the great beyond and disappearing in a grey mist. One of its claws finds purchase in the flesh of the frog, raking long, bloody tears in its face and head.
Jove turns his evil eye on the frog once more, this time willing its estimation of its own durability to rise, for it to be fooled into stepping into blows rather than avoiding them, and then cackles once more to bind the shadows tight around the frog's dull mind. In between fits of laughter, he calls to the undead thing in the water, "Eat the nice juicy frog I'm softening up for you, not Skulls!"
The injured frog is rendered unconsciousness by the undead creature moments before the thing disappears in a puff of grey mist. The one still under the surface of the bog and chasing Four Skulls seems to notice that the other has stopped moving and begins to head away from him. The thrashing of the first frog's body is confirmation that these frogs are both scavengers and cannibals.
________________________________________
Ragnar(23)
Noche'Wa(15)
Four Skulls(13)
Ayaki(12)
Jove(7)
Giant Frogs(4)
Ragnar hauls again on the rope.
Strength w/ rage:
Once the first mate is out of the bog, he calms himself down a little bit and catches his breath.
Four Skulls holds the last rope with all his streangh as Ragnar pulls him out of the bog. He crawls away from the waters a few feet before standing up, his chest moving rapidly due to heavy breathing.
he curses loudly while peeling algae away from the joints of his soaked armor.
He joins the others still catching his breath.
Thank you.
Well, that was fun. Let's just hope the next set of dangers comes within the next 2 hours so my magical armor will still be up. Jove laughs a bit nervously, and Zephyrus flies back down and resumes his seat on Jove's shoulder.
Looking at Noche'Wa's animal companion.
Good thing that you brought a snake then.
Those frogs must have a terrible taste. Good to see you alive Four Skullz.
Ragnar takes his time getting down from the tree and back on dry land, using a broad leaf to clean some of the muck off his rope before coiling it and stowing it away.
He looks back at the bog.
"Uh huh fuhg luhz uh guhd uhtnnn. Muhvuh wuh cuhd buhng huhm buhg fuh duhnuh."
Translation:
Looking at the bog.
Well... I am NOT getting back there to pick it up. Trail rations should be good enough for lunch if you ask me. Better if we move on.
The group continues to travel south, following along the path. The most notable thing about it is the lack of wildlife, with the exception of the occasional bird and the numerous buzzing insects. The air seems to be constantly filled with them. The path reaches a small stream (small enough that with a running start, everyone can easily jump it) that runs through the swamp, thick with scum and the occasional rotted log that sticks up from the water like a broken spear. While traveling along the stream, a sudden blot of bright colors appear amidst the trees on the other side of the stream. It appears to be cloth of some sort, possibly strung up, but it's difficult to tell between the trees.
The crew begins the slow and grueling work of attempting to claim enough fit wood to repair the ship. After a few hours of scouting the nearby beach, one of the pirates comes running back up the beach. It's Badger and she's in a near panic as she rushes up to the ship, nearly plowing into the few pirates near the hole in the side.
Quinn catches the panicked woman, but it quickly becomes evident as to why she's nearly hysterical with fear. She's bleeding heavily, missing a large chunk on flesh from her shoulder and numerous other more shallow bites. "K-Ku-Kuru..." She whispers to herself.
Ayaki takes a closer look at the blot of bright colors and a possible way over the stream.
Ragnar likewise peers into the jungle at the cloth.
Perception:
If and when it's safe or to the search party's advantage to cross, he'll take a running jump over the stream.
Acrobatics:
Four Skulls looks at th stream with dismay.
%#$&@!!! Not again!
He almost fails to notice the spark of color.
No one here has a rope? What kind of pirates are you?