You also manage to find some more grass to distill into replellent.
Blaze sighs at Sentis' comment from where he's finishing up the first alarm "Why do you think I said we reinforce the campsite? Besides, if they're attracted by smell, hopefully other scents like whatever Doc plans to cook up, will mask the blood. You find anything for dinner out there?"
The druid had slipped the mask into his pack to study better when then was more time and maybe with someone who had more knowledge on such things.
I got some more lemon grass to keep these infernal bugs off of us. I trust more to Dark and Grusk's hunting skills.
Sentis will asssit with cleaning up the camp. Dragging off the dead as far away as time will allow and then spend some time preparing the bug repellant.
Survival -
@Sentis
"I ken use tha las one I hvaen't been right since tha big fight unnderground."
My apologies my tusked friend. Let me see to these wounds.
Heal check -
and
Cure Light Wounds -
Hows that? You better get on hunting up some food or ole Blaze might start yelling
Doc starts a fire and puts on a couple of pots and then leaves them to look around the camp. He doesn't do much for a bit other than smoke a cigar and look at various trees and rocks muttering to himself in dwarven and tracing invisaible lines and trajectories. After a while he nods and comes back to the camp and gathers the squad around while throwing strange chemicals into his pots.
"A'right folks, ah'm gonna need a couple o' big logs. Cut 'em down or drag 'em over. Yer choice. Ah need 'em on opposite sides o' th' camp, there an' there. Cut stakes an' ring th' camp wit' em. Anchor 'em stomach height on a human, at a slant. Basically we're makin' th' approach tricky t' git through, 'cept fer a main way in. Ah also need any crossbows and spare blades we're carryin' and some more rope..."
He rambles on for a while longer giving people directions and laying out his defense plan.
Darkbiter will stand watch as the others work to secure the camp for the night, crossbow ready as he watches for trouble from a hidden spot.
Vankerman has gone about re-erecting the tent and gathering up his belongings that have been strewn about during the fight.
The two porters come to after an hour or so, but cannot tell you much. As they explain, the last thing they remember was the sight of a masked naked Mwangi striding through the jungle towards them. They seem to have thrown off whatever has enchanted them.
After a couple of hours, the squad hears some noise at the perimeter of the camp and four more porters emerge from the jungle. They do not have any face paint, and appear in control of their faculties.
Kaavel watches and listens as everything happens he shakes his head. While doing this he thinks to himself "I really do not know what is going on but something odd is happening." He than says to the group "What else are we planning on doing?"
"Ahhh I feel like mah ol self."
"Thanks Sentis, I think a look around will do me good."
"It seemed tha masked man made a threat o some sort at tha end, did yah understand it at all?"
Goes on duty now he is fully healed!
Stealth
Perception
...guess Ill try to find some food...
The druid gets his sling ready and moves off into the jungle looking for something to hunt.
Stealth -
Survival -
Sentis returns to camp close to dark. He has a sack that contains two small capybaras and another with various fruits. He hands them over to Doc who is tending to the fire.
After some time spent mechanically cleaning up the campsite, Vankerman suddenly has a moment of clarity and asks Blaze "So, how fared you in the vault?"
The four additional porters that emerged from the jungle earlier also seem to be ok. They state that they fled the camp when the masked man came and have only just regathered sufficient courage to return.
"Maybe yah could help with a better scription o what we were tah find in thar."
Vankerman looks at Grusk somewhat confusedly "As I told you in the village a scant few days ago - a remnant of the Ghol-Gan civilization. Surely having been within the vault itself, where I have not, you would be in a better position than I to describe it's contents?"
Oh, we've been in the vault. Wasn't much there except animated skeletons and books. You really should have come with us.
"Ah'm still ticked ah dinae git that snake-thing's head..." Doc mutters as he adds the meat Sentis provided to a hearty looking stew.
Grusk crafts some bamboo into a roughly circular shape the size of the snake skull, including two sharpened spikes to resemble the fangs. He works on the project well into the night, finally leaving it on Doc's bags late in the evening........
Vankerman's eyes widen as Sentis mentions the contents "Where are the books? Did you bring them from the vault?"
Blaze looks up from polishing his scimitar. "Yea, we did. Not sure where they ended up though. I think we brought them back into the campsite after the attack, but I don't remember."
Yah we brought the books. Im pretty sure they left the litter right at the edge of camp which we of course brought over here...the druid gestures to the side.. right after the fighting was over. Can you read the Ghol-Gan tongue?
Kaavel pulls a book out from within his shirt saying "I kept the book I found on me. Here Vankerman." He goes over and gives Vankerman the book he found in the ruin.
Vankerman to Sentis: "I cannot proclaim to be an expert, but I have a middling understanding."
Taking the book from Kaavel and reading it for a few tens of seconds before handing it back "I guess it is a training manual, though would take a more practiced eye and some study to discern it's full contents. I'm more interested in books of a different persuasion"
With that he takes his leave and goes to the litter and begins the laborious task of filtering through the piles of books and knick knacks.
"You may be interested in the twin we found, at least outwardly, to the book you already have from earlier in this trip." Darkbiter gives Vankerman the book that matched their earlier find.
Sentis helped himself to servings of Doc's stew; which was absolutely Delicious! And just what I needed. With all of the excitement I didnt even notice how hungry Ive been.
Satisfied that those on first watch would keep their eye on Vankerman; he settled in to get some rest.
"G'night pal. We'll wake ye fer watch later." Doc says to Sentis with a nod.
Turning back to their employer he gestures with a cooking ladle, "So what's so damn important 'bout tha' book anyways?"
Vankerman thanks Darkbiter before responding to Doc with a twinkle in his eye "Why money dear boy. There are a great many scholars in Golarion who will pay generously for what lies on this litter. Don't fret, your squad will get a reasonable share for your troubles."
Night falls around the campsite and the embers burn low, but Vankerman keeps a lantern burning as he studies the books into the night. The evening passes peacefully.
When morning breaks, you see that Vankerman has not yet arisen - but those who were on middle watch went to bed before he did. The porters that still live are making a meagre breakfast from the remaining supplies.
Sentis stirred awake at the gentle prodding telling him it was his watched. He was a bit shocked to see Vankerman still studying the books they brought from the temple...the man is obsessed...
Thankfully his watch went by quietly and as dawn broke he wandered a little ways from camp to have his morning ablutions and to take an hour in contemplation on the Green Faith. He felt changes coming. Changes due in no small part to his comradery with the Wolves...we are truly becoming a pack...
That done he made his way back to camp and after having some left over stew he set about breaking camp.
Back to the village? I would hope that Icy has had time to recover from his fever. The alternative would be grim indeed.
Darkbiter keeps a wary eye on Vankerman's tent, on edge after last night's trouble with the shaman, as he eats breakfast."It would be grim, but not as grim as Musangi's fate or that of many others in this jungle. The jungle is harsh, and doesn't hesitate to remind those who attempt to travel or live there of that fact."
I couldnt agree more Darkbiter and after seeing what was done to Musangi I dread what condition we might find Icy in. Its true that the jungle culls the weak and rightly so. I hear that cities actually support and protect those that cant fend for themselves. Surely this mentality cant last forever.
"I suspect that the city has it's own way of culling out the weak, and that neither you or I would fare well there. I suspect that trying to survive around that many people creates a great many challenges that make what the jungle can create look like an easy venture; at least the jungle doesn't usually try to hide the fact it's out to kill you."
Sentis nods his head at this friends wisdom and frowns as his imagination takes root.
Im trying not to think about that many people so close together and all out of fear or for greed. Lions and lambs all mixed together. I cant see how there is a balance...at least not a natural one. Imposed maybe but not natural. But I have a strong feeling the Steel Wolves will prosper no matter the environment.
"Aye in tha city they think a small blade in tha back is tha way, I prefer tah be more honest bout mah intentions."
Brandishes tha great axe.....
"Let no man say Grusk killed him with a hidden blade!"
"Yes in tha city many a man has perished by tha hidden blade, up close like a lover, nearby and unknown from any in tha crowd, a wolf amongst tha sheep."
"Yes let us go there and an tha steel wolves ken show a regualr wolf what is what!"
After taking first watch along with Cort, Blaze passes out and wakes shortly before dawn. As the sun begins to peek out of the darkness, he performs several minor weapon drills then sits in quiet meditiation with his blade.
As the conversation between Dark and Sentis picks up he says "Heading back to the village is about the only option we have. I will say this though, while I still loathe the jungle with the fiery passion of the Dawnflower, I do respect it a bit more. Much like my beloved desert, it will cull the weak for sure. That said, I wanna get of here like yesterday." He adds with a laugh
"All I know is I'll be glad when this current business is done. Everything about it just makes me twitchy. Anyone know how long Vankerman plans to sleep?"
As though serendipitous in it's coincidence, Vankerman rouses out of the tent at that moment. His eyes are bloodshot, but he seems in reasonably good spirits. He addresses the porters, and they attend to him - but with perhaps a little bit less promptness than before.
"Sorry business yesterday with Musangi dying, he was useful. But still job done and all that. We're to make back to the village where your Corporal is before heading out of the jungle?"
Turning to the tent "I think it best to leave the tent here, I doubt we have the porters left to carry it now that we have a more precious load."
Sounds good so let's get moving. Im sure we're all anxious to put some distance from this place.
The druid will wait for the others to get going and then take up position as rear guard with Cort.
The books and loot from the vault are secured and divvied up amongst everyone present, even Vankerman needs to take a load on his back. The squad is soon moving through the jungle again towards the village.
You make good time, though the weight you are carrying makes you sweat a bit more than usual. The jungle is obliging and you reach the village without mishap. As you come through into the village proper, you don't see anyone though hear some voices coming from the hut Valorious was laid out in.
Darkbiter will quietly put down his load, and move forward to the hut, ready for anything at this point.
Grusk also puts down his pack as they both move in.
Stealth
Perception
As you approach the hut, you see that Valorious is sitting up on the side of his bed talking quietly with Sangoma. Neither seems to have noticed you yet.
Grusk holds to over-hear any conversation.....
They appear to be talking through a basic rehabilitation type exercise - with Sangoma asking him to move his legs, apply pressure and the like.
Grusk signals the others that it is all clear and points and indicates his gear, on the ground pantomining to pick it up and bring it.
"How goes tha days?"
Darkbiter breaths a sigh of relief and relaxes at presence of normality, and watches the corporal to see how far along the man is, and if he is yet up to travel, waiting for the others to move forward and make their presence known.
Already overburdened and clearly not understanding Grusk's hand signals; Sentis walked right by the half orc's kit and right up to the tent with Icy.
How you feeling bossman? Ready to get out of here?
Heal check -
Doc rolls his eyes and drags the discarded gear along, dropping it near the tent. Setting his own pack down he once again uses it as a chair, thumbing through the book of alchemy found in the ruins, content to let the others talk to their Corporal.