After gathering up their items and retreiving the heavy dented gold statue, the group prepares to depart. Egan scouts ahead, looking for trouble. The day has dawned muggy, and the hum of insects mix with the roar of distant dinos.
As Egan scouts around the marshy lake that has enveloped the ancient temple, he sees many signs of large dinos in the area. Assuming they are about a day off the Opal River, if they head Northwest they should hit one of its many tributaries and backtrack to the main travel route to the Blue Mountains. The area is more settled there. A quicker way is just to cut overland heading Northwest, but that could involve unknown dangers with dinos, undead and natural hazards like snakes and spiders. Once to the Blue Mountains, Seven Eagle's map indicates they get on the watershed that leads to the Jungle of Skulls proper
He then hurries to the surface to wait for the others, and call "whisperwing" to see if he wants breakfast.
Egan's new friend glides down and accepts some food from Egan, krring it his throat
Egan briefly surveys the party he is guiding, and decides the path along the river would be best. Most of them are competent in the wilds, but why take chances. It would also give them a chance to purchase supplies and gather information along the route.
Izkrael will take the onyx statue, placing it down in the bottom of his backpack.
Izkrael will take the onyx statue, placing it down in the bottom of his backpack.
Izkrael will take the onyx statue, placing it down in the bottom of his backpack.
Izkrael will take the onyx statue, placing it down in the bottom of his backpack.
Iz tucks the onyx statue in his pack. Touching the stone makes him feel uneasy, as if he was touching maggoty flesh.
The rest of the party readies themselves for the journey. The day is still early, but the humidity and heat are building rapidly. A thin sheen of sweat forms on everyone's skinn as they move out.
They trudge through the swampy verge and regain solid ground, accompanied by a swarm of marsh flies, mosquitos, and gnats. The early part of the day passes without incident, Egan leading them through the game trails towards a distant tributary of the Opal River.
As they travel they occasionally come across vine-wrapped worked stones, though what culture erected them is hard to tell. Stelae and statues loom out of the jungle like silent sentinels of a bygone age.
Around Noon, they come to a small stream. Egan deduces that it must flow towards the Opal River, so they follow it. As they begin to parallel the slow-moving stream, they hear a bellowing cry. Something is just ahead, thrashing through the bushes.
Perception
DC 10 (sound)
DC 15
Knowledge (any applicable to IDing a dino):
Dc 10
DC 15
DC 20
Perception (sound based, Animal, Jungle) (1d20+21=28)
"Sounds like a young Terror lizard...very dangerous...get ready"!
Knowledge (nature)(1d20+6=21); Perception (sound-based)(1d20+8=17)
Izkrael tethers the lumper to a tree, in the opposite direction from the sounds of the Terror Lizard, and draws his curveblade as he tries to soothe its spooked nerves rather unsuccessfully.
Perception check (sound) (1d20+3=15)
"What are the chances of avoiding that thing and letting it go on it's merry way?" Ten Foot inquires, sweat trickling down his face, he wipes one hand and then the other against his trouser leg to try and remove some of the sweat as he grips the shaft of his axe.
Tobias stands in the back, looking oddly cool. "That doesn't sound good..."
San, at Egan's warning, immediately pulls his shiny new toy, Ghostfetter, out.
The bushes ahead part and a large bipedal carnivore dinosaur emerges. It is 11 feet at the shoulder, and has two small forearms, that twitch spastically. Its hide is orange and black striped, like a tiger's. It tilts its head as it sights the party, looking much like a scaled-up version of Jolessa's mount Wheezy. It snorts, then roars and begins to advance
Puts Izkrael at a 16 total.
Joleesa 19
Egan 15
Izkrael 15
Vilya 14
Sanvoros 13
Seven Eagle 13
Tobias 13
Ten Foot 12
"Grrr..."
Vilya dives into the brush, readying a sneak attack.
Perception Check. (1d20+6=19)
Knowledge (Nature) Check. (1d20+3=10)
Hearing what appears to be a large carnivorous dinosaur approaching, Joleesa quickly draws Raptorstrike and prepares herself. When it appears, she launches an attack on the creature before it can strike.
Smite Juvenile Terror Lizard with Raptorstrike. (1d20+8=21)
Damage + Smite Damage. (1d6+3=4; 1d6=6)
Sneak Attack Damage if possible. (1d6=3)
Feel free to update. I am having real hard trouble keeping on the site, and I will update as we go ..[/ooc]
"Nice to have a living opponent, finally." San takes a swing with Ghostfetter, only to see his new weapon glance off of the scaly hide of the dinosaur (I'm guessing).
Initiatives rd one:
Joleesa 19 [hit]
Egan 15
Izkrael 15
Vilya 14 [dive in the bushes]
Sanvoros 13 [miss]
Seven Eagle 13
Tobias 13
Ten Foot 12
Dino: 10 [attacking]
The large dinosaur moves forward, the long claws on its feet digging into the moist soil as it lumbers forward. Jolessa swings her new rapier, the blade screeching as it slices through the air and lands a solid blow on the lizard's flank.
Egan guessing now is not the time to try and befriend the creature takes a couple of steps into the Jungle so the beast doesn't have a clear path to him, and fires his new bow, with one of the special arrows at the rampaging beast.
He also tries to determine if this is normal behavior for one of these creatures.
Attacking dino (1d20+8=23, 2d6+3=12)
Izkrael will advance on the giant lizard and attack it with his trusted blade, scoring a vicious strike down its side.
Tobais launches two bolts of magic force at the dinosaur.
Initiatives rd one:
Joleesa 19 [hit]
Egan 15 [hit]
Izkrael 15 [hit]
Vilya 14 [dive in the bushes]
Sanvoros 13 [miss]
Seven Eagle 13 [singing for +1 atk/dam/charm/fear]
Tobias 13 [hit]
Ten Foot 12
Dino: 10 [attacking]
The large lizard bellows in anger and pain as the small snacks he had anticipated turn out to have stings.
Egan:
Seven launches into a stirring melody to keep the others' morale up.
Attack Terror Lizard with Raptorstrike. (1d20+8+1=12)
Seeing the creature badly wounded, Joleesa thrusts in on the giant lizard, but her confidence betrays her and her attack skitters harmlessly off the beast's rough hide.
The large cleric swings at the roaring lizard with his axe
The slice bites deep into the large dino's hide. It bellows and prepares to strike
The large dino snaps at the slim sorceror
One of the beast's large teeth furrows Tobias' left arm, soaking his clothing in blood
Swearing in some foul tongue, Tobias runs away from the reptile.
Egan smiles at his successful new bow and fires it again.
Izkrael takes another swing at the rampaging dino, but misses as his foot slips on a mossy rock.
Attack 11
Damage 8
Swearing in some foul tongue, Tobias runs away from the reptile.
Tobias backs up, and Ten moves to heal his wound
The furrow feels much better, and the gash puckers to a faint red scar by Ten's divine magic.
Egan's arrow punches into the dino's hide, eliciting a bellow of pain from the beast.
San redoubles his efforts, and takes another swing at the lizard. This time, his blade bites into the monster's hide (I think).
Vilya bursts from the underbrush several yards from where she started, leaping catlike towards the wounded dinosaur.
Jo's riposte misses, but San's thrust hits home. Iz also misses with his blade, but Egan's arrow punches home. Vilya leaps on the dinosaur stabbing, for all like a mouse riding an iguana and hits a nerve cluster. The beast screams and falls to the jungle floor, thrashing. Its eyes glaze over in death.
The large dinosaur shivers and is still. The party can see a river of parasites dripping off it as it's life force departs. Ticks the size of apples begin to wander their way ..
The large dinosaur shivers and is still. The party can see a river of parasites dripping off it as it's life force departs. Ticks the size of apples begin to wander their way ..
Needless to say, the ticks terrify Ten Foot who rapidly starts moving to the rear of the group putting as many people between him and them as he can. "Kill them, kill them all," he shrieks like a cheer leader.
Egan knows from experience that dino ticks and fleas are more of a nuisance than a true threat, as long as they are the smaller species. This dino didn't seem to support a colony of giant ticks. The best way to avoid infestation is to exit the area. Lingering around a big carcass in the jungle usually wasn't a good idea anyway.
"Wheezy" wanders back into view, drawn by the belows of the larger dino and the sounds of battle. He sniffs at the body, but moves awaya gain when he spots the ticks heading their way. Joleesa follows him a short distance then calls him over and mounts him. She moves ahead of the others, following the direction of the river in which they were heading.
Egan frowns slightly as he passes the corpse of the creature. He hates to see any animal be killed, and not used for food, and is confused why these creatures have to be so angry.
He then begins to lead the group back along the river.
The party resumes its slog along the river banks. Apart from a few distant growls and a flash of horse-sized herbivore dinos at the banks getting a drink, the rest of the day is quiet.
As the sun begins to set, the tributary stream they followed finally connects with the Opal River. The river road stretches on its banks, the Blue Mountains a distant smudge on the western horizon.
From the SRD
Magic Ammunition and Breakage:
When a magic arrow, crossbow bolt, shuriken, or sling bullet misses its target, there is a 50% chance it breaks or otherwise is rendered useless. A magic arrow, bolt, bullet, or shuriken that hits is destroyed.
From the SRD
Magic Ammunition and Breakage:
When a magic arrow, crossbow bolt, shuriken, or sling bullet misses its target, there is a 50% chance it breaks or otherwise is rendered useless. A magic arrow, bolt, bullet, or shuriken that hits is destroyed.
Egan noticing the approaching dusk informs the party it's time to make camp.
Once camp is set up he wanders off a bit away from the camp and calls his new friend, feeding him some scraps of meat. He is slowly working the hawk closer to the party, night by night, so it can become comfortable around the other members of the party.
Egan noticing the approaching dusk informs the party it's time to make camp.
Once camp is set up he wanders off a bit away from the camp and calls his new friend, feeding him some scraps of meat. He is slowly working the hawk closer to the party, night by night, so it can become comfortable around the other members of the party.
Egan finds a well-drained high spot for the party to rest. His hawk companion seems to be reacting well to his ministrations, becoming more docile in his presence.
The sun dips below the tree-lined horizon in that quick tropical fashion with little twilight. Instantly the insects ramp up their various calls. Hoots and growls from nocturnal predators sound out over the ubiqituos river sound.