"That's actually a great idea," says Cass approvingly. "Having a massive feast in what is essentially a rebuilt and re-fortified structure here could be a great way to show off our skill. We do need to finish mapping the island, but once we have the whole place under control... could be a port of call for other privateers."
"Agreed. I guess the only thing to do for now would be to gear up and head out to get it done, while the work is done on setting up the dock and preparing things here." Rhialla adds.
|
While the girls had chatted he was looking at the rough island map they had.
Lets do a sweep of the southe and then come up along the west side of the isle to about here. (spot H on the map) From there lets explore the hill (I) then the swampy groves to the east (J). then down to K search along that ridge line and finally the lower southeast portion of the isle. Maybe get a wet crew to explore the other cove... both the depths of it and to see what might be lurking there.. unlucky bastards.
He mused to himself almost spaced out to what was going on around them.
"Hey Cass... where do you want your wizards tower? All good wizards have a tower dont they?"
"Well typically you have either a cave or a tower. Depends on whether you feel like your energies are more feminine or masculine," says Cassiopeia. It is not immediately clear whether she is joking or not. "You can usually tell by whether a wizard has a staff or wand, which goes with a tower, or an amulet or cup, which goes with a cave. Some wizards just don't care, though, or they cross over. I'm kind of a pragmatist, most of my focus is just on my book, but I know how to handle a wand. I don't really know potion-making, which is the cup side of the equation. Sooo... probably a tower for me. Most likely an enchanted lighthouse."
"I'd think the spot where The Eye was kept would be ideal, all 'steeped with eldritch energies' and such." Rhialla suggests.
.
Ashlei waves away the tower idea with a sneer and a casual hand gesture.
"Can't build on those ruins until we clear out all the stupid one-eyed giants! So let's go do that first. Let's finish there. Plenty of building materials for Cassie's spells there too by-the-by."
"Sounds like a solid plan, the longer they're around the more trouble they'll cause us in the long-run." Rhialla agrees.
Cass says to Percy, "I figure a lighthouse near the dock would be useful. Last thing we need if this is gonna be a pirate port is some drunken navigator trying to put in at night and smashing up on the coastline and wrecking everything."
"I'm fine with going after the ruins. We going tomorrow? Keep in mind that I have no spells at the moment because my mind was wiped."
"Great. I'll see you at dinner."
Smiling she waves off the captain.
“I’ve got my own ship to see to eventually. Don’t need to worry about a place to call my own here. A bed’s a bed. Home is where your ship is.“
.
G5. CESSPOOL
The smell of stagnant water and discarded offal fills this lowlying cave. A wide pool takes up the eastern part of the chamber, while scattered bones lie strewn across the rest of the floor.
Among the bones, a bejeweled short sword glints between two passageways leading north.
What are you doing? Party order and what you are doing as you enter the room?
Frowning at the stagnant pool, Ashlei draws her gleaming starknife and tries to approach carefully muttering to herself...fully expecting something to leap out of the water at her, or even the scattered bones get up and attack!
"What do I look like? A murder hobo? Adventurers are such idiots..."
As Ashlei cautiously enters the fetid cavern the floor under her feet writhes and twists, engulfing her in the folds of a hideous creature.
Surprise round. Everyone gets one action then we go to initiatives
"Trapper. It'll smother her if we don't get it off quick."
She unleashes ol' reliable: A barrage of magic missiles.
"What the bloody hell is this F...MmmMmMmmmmmMMMM!
A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit. NOTE:
Without thinking, Ashlei lashes out with her Starknife in hand at the creature smothering her to death!
Cassiopeia & Ashlei both hit and damage the thing.
.
Esmeralda & Rhialla?
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"Then lets try and give her some air!" Esmarelda said as she threw her dagger.
Moving forward, Rhialla focuses on a spot behind the bizarre creature enveloping Ashlei, uttering a spell and blowing into a tiny whistle in her hand as a loud, low unnaturally reverberating sound explodes out to wash over the creature.
Esmarelda misses.
Rhialla blasts it with sonic energy, sadly not stunning it.
Percy nearly shreds it with his strike.
.
When Percy harms the thing so badly it immediately spits out Ashlei and tries to escape.
.
Looking battered, bruised, disheveled, and angry...Ashlei swiftly turns on the monster!
"OH NO YOU DON'T M@@**%#$!~~@!! NOTHING F$~%S WITH ME AND GETS TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT A LESSON IN MANNERS!!!"
Ashlei & Percy both miss.
It is running for the north exit.
Everyone can have their shots now. A 10' move is not a good thing. :(
As the blobby beast slinks away, Cass sees the opening before the rest of the team can dive at it. She points and speaks a very complex, convoluted phrase, and a thin green beam streaks out from her pointing finger.
Rhialla sends an icicle whipping across the distance at the massive fleeing creature.
”Mind if I SMOKE!”
Holding out her free hand, Ashlei let’s loose!
Cassiopeia gestures and a green beam hits the Trapper, turning it to dust.
An intelligent lurking ray of immense size and considerable age, a trapper known as a Great Mother, lairs in this cave . Trappers are female lurking rays, manta ray-like ambush predators from the Darklands, able to the change the color and texture of their leathery skin to blend in with the floor around them.
A trapper waits for creatures to unwittingly walk across her skin, then
twists her body around her prey to smother and constrict it before swallowing and digesting it.
This Great Mother crept into Sumitha from the Darklands after squeezing through the collapsed rubble of the upper passageways. Since then, she and the cyclopes have entered into a tenuous arrangement. They feed her
the leftover bones and scraps from the slaughterhouse (area G4) in exchange for leaving them in peace.
Since the cyclopes' food stores have run low, however, Ishtoreth has
started rethinking his deal with the trapper, anticipating adding the creature to the larder in the near future.
Then you showed up and all their plans went t%@* up. :)
Loot:
The jeweled short sword is actually a Large +2 dagger that the Great Mother brought with her from cyclops ruins deep below.
G6. FORUM
Two doors enter this vaulted chamber, one to the north and another to the southwest. Frescoes of cyclopes are etched into the polished walls to the southeast where a natural stone tunnel leads deeper into the mountain.
G7. ROTUNDA
An open-air rotunda capped by a small dome over looks the valley and ruined streets here, connecting to a short rectangular hall where exits lead north, south, and east. A collection of clay tablets, each marked with strange runes, lie neatly stacked in the northeast corner of the hall.
Sumitha's ancient leaders consulted with one another and addressed their people from this building. In their waning days, they often gathered in the attached hall to discuss their civilization's decline. The clay tablets are all written in Cyclops, and contain reports from outlying communities facing new hardships, requesting aid, or outlining plans
for relocation.
Only way north is the door in G7. What are yhou doing now?
Cassiopeia glances at the stone tablets and says, "Historical records of the decline of Sumithra. Probably nothing useful to us right now."
Ashlei smirks as she straightens her hair.
"You ever met a Pathfinder? They would drool themselves to death over this stuff. It might not seem like treasure...but to some people it is more important than gold."
"Nicely done Cass!" Rhialla says with an impressed whistle as the monster is turned to nothing but dust.
"Shall we?" she asks, indicating the northern door.
Cass says, "Kinda surprised it worked. You all right, Red? Wouldn't do for your fire to be smothered."
"If I do remember correctly I met a pathfinder before. I was a young kiddo of course so I doubt they would remember but if you find a pathfinder who is into this stuff they would make their way here on their own silver." Esmarelda said with a small smirk.
"Let me have a look at that door yes?" She asked.
Shrugging, Ashlei winces at her new bruises.
"Nothing can put this fire out Cassie! All we need to do is put into port somewhere there is a Pathfinder Lodge, tell them about the ruins, and charge them travel and lodging expenses: Pure profit!"
The door is not trapped, or locked. The small room only has one other door, which leads to the courtyard.
You can investigate the buildings in the courtyard G9, 10 & 11, or take the stairs up to G8. What are you doing?
With a nod, Rhialla steps up tpo Ashlei before she takes the lead, resting a healing hand on her and letting Besmara's blessing flow into the fiery redhead.
Smiling in appreciation at the magic aid, Ashlei puts her star-knife away and quickly follows the Captain.
”Last one there is rotting Dragon poop!”
Cassiopeia nods silently in the affirmative but lets the warriors and rogues take the lead.