Wardove's Rumble in the Jungle

Game Master Laithoron

LK Calendar: Uniens 08, 4210 — Daegsday (day 4)
Time: 3:00db (morning, 9:00am)

Justin: Feel free to do a time-warp if Priyya would have commented further to anyone.

In the middle of the night, the skies opened up. As if intent upon scouring away all traces of the massacre to the south, or perhaps mourning the giants' fall, heavy rains pounded The Shiv for over four hours. While Aycenia didn't seem to mind it one bit, the wind and rain reinvigorating her after her exhausting trek away from her tree yesterday to help Mal, it didn't take the demure dryad long to note how little the rest of you cared for such weather.

So it was that she invited all of you to take shelter beneath the boughs of her great banyan tree where she willed the leaves to form a gentle canopy, and its many trunks to form a clearing for you. While she would tolerate neither campfires nor naked men within, it was still a great deal more hospitable than being lashed by heavy rains all night.

By the time the sun is finally able to break thru the remaining cloud cover, it is already well above the horizon — hours past daybreak! While the chartreuse light filtering thru the canopy of Aycenia's tree is soothing, you can hear Jask grumbling weakly.

"This night is without end... where is the dawn? Uugh..."

"Nnaaa-aaaa-aaauuuwww..." Gelik's yawn seems to last for a brief eternity before he rolls over pulling a blanket over his head. "Not looo-oong enough if you ask me."

"Son of a b1tch!" With a jerk, Mal staggers to his feet clutching his temples. "What the hell did I catch today, Mindfire?"

Aerys hp: 24 + 4 = 28/28
Gelik hp: 26 = 26/26
Sleeping Sickness: save 0 of 2, Wis 9 - 1 = 8
Jask hp: 12 = 12/12
Blinding Sickness: save 1 of 2, Str 9 - 4 = 5, permanently blinded
Sasha hp: 46 = 46/46

The years of soldiers training has taught Darvesch to be up and awake at a moments notice, and at the sound of Jask's grubling, "What're you complaining about? One morning without sun? Remind me not to bring you to visit my home then." He chuckles, and pats Jask on the back as he makes his way to his gear and equips himself.

"No offense," he says as he puts on his fullplate, "but I'll take the warm glow of magma to your sun anyday." He boasts playfully.

Darvesh, after fully equipping, finds a solitary place to pray to his god. He makes sure he stays within view of his friends, just in case. In dwarven, whispered: "May swift justice find the wicked. May protection find the innocent. May I be the instrument of your divine hand. Thank you for guiding me to Alis and her friends. Thank you for giving me the chance to protect them. And thank you for allowing me to serve Justice.

Darvesch will activate his protection judgement. At this point, he's unaware of Jasks true condition.

Tracking updated Except wealth. Im unsure if I got anything, It's not been updated with our most recent loot aquisitions.

Jask tries to roll himself over towards the sound of the dwarf's voice, but can't muster the strength. "What sun do you speak of, friend? It's the black of night!"

"What do you mean 'what sun'? The sun in the sky, of course. Can't you see it?" Is this interaction happening during his equipping, or after his prayers?

Jason: It would be happening while he was equipping since that's when Jask heard him. It takes a few minutes to put on your armor without assistance.

Warm... magma... very warm!

Alis gives a sudden deep breath and opens her eyes to find a golden wing draped over her. Lureene's breath feels hot on her neck, and she looks down to see the succubus' full, pouty lips pressed up against her, chin on the princess' shoulder. She lies on her side, right arm curled beneath the princess' head, left wrapped around Alis, hand on her friend's shoulder. With one leg up on Alis' midriff and the hammock holding her body right up against the other woman's it's as if Lureene fell asleep trying to give her friend a whole-body hug.

At the foot of the hammock, King Tut sleeps curled up atop their feet.

Aww, she thinks tenderly, they didn't try to use me as a pillow this time!

Alis smiles softly and gently brushes a rogue lock of greyish brown hair out of Lureene's face. Rolling over to face her friend, Alis slips an arm around Lureene's back, beneath her wing, and pulls her into a hug. With a kiss on the cheek, she whispers in her ear.

Even as Mal staggers past Darvesh to look for wherever Priyya is saying her morning prayers, Jask pauses. With a grunt of exertion that rouses Aerys and Sasha, the old priest rolls onto his stomach and gets his knees and hands beneath him in order to push himself up. He looks about, trying to find something to hold onto completely missing a nearby branch. With a grumble of irritation, he finally speaks a few words of magic and a light spell goes off right before him causing Sasha and Gelik to both shout in protest at the rude awakening.

Jask's breathing quickens with panic, and he feels around his head as if expecting to find a blindfold. "You– there is no– in your voice there is no humor... is there?"

"Damn, old timer, what are you going on about? Kill that light would you?"

Not far away, Gelik grumbles loudly in agreement with the red-head.

"Hey guys, I think we have a problem. Can someone check him out?" He says to the group, finishing his equipping before prayers.

Alis squints against the light, shielding her eyes for a moment beneath Lureene's wing. At Darvesch's words, she pushes herself up. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she sees Jask and calls out. "Mr. Derindi, what's wrong? Your hands are shaking."

Alis smiles softly and gently brushes a rogue lock of greyish brown hair out of Lureene's face. Rolling over to face her friend, Alis slips an arm around Lureene's back, beneath her wing, and pulls her into a hug. With a kiss on the cheek, she whispers in her ear.

Lureene wakes from a barely remembered nightmare, seeing her sister drowned and floating face down in a river. She feels the Princeesses' breath on her ear and the pressure of the other ladies' body pressing against her. She wriggles herself in Alis' hug , sighing in a mix of pleasure and relief and murmers, "Good morning, 'Lis. I am so glad to see you are still here with me. I had a nightmare last night about you, and I had lost you!"

She notices the commotion concerning the old priest Jask, and calls out, "Jask, what is the matter?"

"My eyes," he cries out, collapsing back to his bedroll, hands holding his head, "I cannot see!"

Alis brushes Lureene's hair with her hand, a look of concern on her face at Jask's outcry. Giving her surrogate sister a quick kiss on the cheek, she rolls out of the hammock, making certain to steady it with her hand for a moment to ensure Lureene doesn't fall. "Don't worry El," she whispers, "I won't leave you..."

All throughout Aycenia's banyan tree, everyone holds their breath, uncertain what to say. Lips pursed, Alis slides her feed into a pair of slippers and walks over to Aerys. "Please help to keep him from injuring himself, he's weak and scared. I'm going to go look for Priyya, maybe there's something she can do..."

"Aye princess," Aerys nods. She swiftly shakes off the vestiges of sleep clinging to her mind and hops over to Jask's side taking hold of his arm in one hand, the other holding his shoulder to lend support. "Go on and lean on me, Jask, Priyya helped me out, she'll be doin' the same for you, so no worryin'."

As everyone scrambles to find help for Jask, Darvesch will attend to his daily prayers.

Roger that, Jason. Everyone: Go ahead and update your tracking sheets with whatever spells you have prepared for today — they are all linked to from the party matrix now, and those links also appear at the bottom of the group inventory page as well. Speaking of which, please check the group inventory page to see if I've forgotten to note anything found in the last day. There was a lot to keep track of in the village and I don't want to short you guys anything.

ALSO: We've hit triple-digits on the page count! That means we're about to hit 5000 posts! That's nothing short of amazing given that we've still got another 3 months before we hit the 1-year anniversary of Rumble's launch. I've updated the wiki with what I hope you'll find to be an exciting (and appropriate) benefit for this occasion. Congrats, you guys have earned it. :)

I'm not sure that I need anything really. As far as I'm concerned, I'll just take my split of the coin. Everyone else can take the potions and stuff. They'll need it more than I do.

After Darvesch finishes his prayer, he sits with everyone and breaks out one of his rations. "Better than nothing," he says as he begins to eat, shrugging his metal plated shoulders. "I have a few more left. Does anyone need food?"

After pausing a moment, he says to Jask "Don't worry, we'll have you good as new soon."

Priyya arises from her morning meditation and is greeted by Mal and Jask in dire shape. She examines the men trying to determine what maladies have befallen them - disease, poison, or something else.

Once she reaches a determination, or her best guess, she treats the illness expeditiously, calling on Alita's power.

Heal (Mal) 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 2 = 22 kit
Heal (Jask) 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30 kit

If these are both diseases, Priyya will hit them with Remove Disease.

"Hey Jask, hungry? I got some rations left. Take some if you're hungry." Darvesch retrieves some rations for Jask.

Lureene looks up from her spellbook where she is preparing her spells for the day. She notices the stricken look on Jask's face, along with the sightless look in his eyes. She feels a well of compassion in her and once Priyya has finished her diagnosis, she walks over to give the Darfar man a hug. "Easy, Jask. We will do whatever it takes to restore your sight. You have suffered more than enough." She then hands him one of the rations provided by Darvesch.

She returns to the hammock and continues her studies while munching unenthusiastically on the rations. What did this used to be, a piece of berry flavored chalk?

Priyya: Mal's self-diagnosis is indeed correct. It looks like he picked up Mindfire from somewhere and it's still in its early stages. Jask's case is a good deal worse. He's suffering from Blinding Sickness. Based on his current state, it appears that he's been suffering from it for at least a couple days now. It's then that you recall something Sasha mentioned while she was getting handsy with Lureene right after catching up with your group yesterday:

http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/community/gaming/playByPost/pbPWardove sRumbleInTheJungle&page=85#4218

"...I think that old black guy was getting sick too. He kept losing track of things around him and was rubbing his eyes and squinting even more than normal..."

While she's not the brightest star in the sky, Sasha's penchant for noticing small details was indeed spot-on. The old man has had his strength so sapped by the rapid progression of the disease that he can barely even support his own thin frame. The toll its taken on his has caused him to lose his sight — only the combination of remove disease (to stop the sickness' progression), followed by remove blindness will be able to help him at this late juncture.

Not sure if you guys are simply waiting on me or not so...

After arising from her morning meditation, Priyya finds Alis eager to inform her of Mal and Jask's condition. In short order, she determines what is ailing both men: Mal (as he suspected) was suffering from Mindfire, Jask from an advanced case of blinding sickness.

Alíta's power purges the men's bodies of sickness, but the toll the diseases already took still remains.

Certainly Aycenia's grove is far more wholesome than the conditions Aerys, Darvesch, Gelik, and Jask found themselves in. Indeed, they are the best you have seen on the whole island. Even Alis hasn't complained of a single bug bite since waking.

Given that even Mal became ill simply from traipsing thru the filth-strewn prisoner yard, it makes you wonder if an examination of everyone present is in order. Certainly Gelik seems rather lethargic for such a normally spry and talkative fellow.

Lureene finishes her studies, and gets off the hammock feeling well rested and ready to face the new day. She looks around and sees Priyya checking the others out for any signs of disease presumably. She thought about the events from the previous evening and remembers the unusual storm centered around Red Mountain. Maybe Aycenia had some answers about that.

She approaches Alis, "Have you seen Aycenia this morning? I wanted to ask her about that disturbance at Red Mountain from last night. I am concerned the Red Devil may have been freed."

"Hmm, now that you mention it, where is our delicate benefactor? I haven't seen her since the rainstorm started last night. She did seem really exhausted now that I think about it..."

Still feeling like his head is in a fog from the lingering effect of the Mindfire, Mal grunts, "Probably my fault."

Although Alis raises an eyebrow wondering if that is a veiled dig at her, it is Aerys who speaks up. "Well if you're goin' to be sayin' stuff like that, might as well just go blamin' me. I was the one tellin' her about the state you were in. Nobody was forcin' her to walk all the way to the coast to go helpin' you."

"Oh!" Sasha seems interested by this news and grins a bit as she washes down some hard tack with water. "So did the tree girl give you a little kiss like Alis did to short stuff over there, or was it something a bit more... exciting? 'Rys, were you there, what did she do? You know before and after he chaned back..."

Oh hell, not this again...

"Well after she turned me back, I was just standing there buck naked. Obviously the very first thing we did was go at it until I was pulling splinters from my junk. Gods, the hell is the matter with all of you? Dryads can't range far from their trees or it make them weak. She's probably sleeping THAT off."

With that, the big ranger grabs his bow and motions to Talvyra, "Darkmane, if the dryad could help me, maybe she can do something for Jask when she shows herself again. As for the gnome... whatever's eating him, it's an improvement."

"Aww, you're leaving?" Sasha seems torn between amusement and disappointment at his reaction.

"I'm going hunting, and no, you're not invited."

Glancing at the dwarf, he nods and says, "No offense Darvesch, but trail rations aren't going to cut it for Little Sister and I. Keep Alis out of trouble while I'm gone. Pretty sure you're familiar with what that entails, so good luck."

Alis give a forced gasp of mock offense, hand held to her chest. "Why you make it sound like I get into trouble, Mal!"

There's just a single loud laugh as he races off towards the treeline, Talvyra loping after him.

"Huh..." Aerys takes a bite of a piece of fruit, eyeing Alis critically with her piercing blue eyes. "So you're sayin' you don't get in trouble like what Mal's sayin'?" Almost as an afterthought, she adds awkwardly, "Uh, your highness."

Lureene waves to Mal as he departs, "Be careful Mal. There is still a giant loose out there, and he has that oversized pet lizard with him still."

Once he has left, she chuckles lightly at Alis' comment, a look of amusement in her eyes. "No, Aerys, trouble follows her Highness around!"

She laughs at her joke and adds, "Well, we need to decide what to do now. We could return to the lighthouse and see about checking the taint Priyya mentioned earlier. Plus, if we are ever going to get rescued, repairing the lighthouse is necessary at some point. However, I know Ieana is still out there. Do you think she would return to the village, assuming the giants took care of all of us?"

Damn, should have told Mal to get some scones while he was out. He's in such a good mood he'd have probably pranked me with a bag of rocks or worse...

At the women's comments, Alis wags a finger in the air and shakes her head. "No, no, you've got it wrong, both of you. Aerys, the sergeant thinks that I get into trouble."

The sailor's forehead wrinkles in puzzlement and she looks to Sasha and Lureene to see how that's different from what she just asked. With a bemused smile, Alis continues, "Mal thinks that I get into trouble, Lureene and Priyya think I attract trouble, but that would imply I'm careless and / or reckless. And as eeeeveryone knows, that's simply not the case."

Tipping her head up and looking at her nails, she concludes, "Clearly it should be obvious that I cause trouble on a selective basis. Also, Lady Luck, has an interesting sense of humor. I'm fairly certain that she sends trouble my way. Veeery important distinctions, isn't that right, Lureene, Darvesch?"

"So Priyya, how are the rest of us holding up, has anyone else fallen ill, or is Master Aberwhinge just a lazy-bones this morning?"

Lureene laughs, "OK, 'Lis, I stand corrected! As long as you cause more trouble for our enemies than for us, I am quite content to agree with you completely!"

Priyya glowers at the gnome's condition and casts Remove Disease on him.
"From now on, I'll expect you people to tell me when you aren't feeling well. I'd rather handle these issues before they become critical." She adds in response to Alis, "It looks like everyone else is in adequate health for the moment."

Out of 3rd level spells.

Elsewhere, far removed from the mortal coil...

Alíta's expression darkened as if storm clouds gathered before her very eyes.

Nearby the goddess of beauty, inspiration, and dreams sighed pre-emptively, knowing that her junior was about to have one of her moments. "Yes, yes, I know. Caring for others is making her soft, she should be raining down death to the wicked, and laying low demons at every turn."

The sun goddess' aura flared more brilliantly, burning away the darkness from her visage. "You make light of her purpose? Is it not your credo that mortals should pursue paths that lead to glory and inspire those around them? I grant her power, trusting she will use it well, but when she must squander it like this... you did take note of what happened with Fragarach, correct?"

"How could I not notice, it was like a harp-string breaking mid-symphony. Quite the Final Word..."

Alíta ignores the quip. "Well it should never have happened if she could trust that she had the resources to dispatch her foes without relying upon outside sources of aid! That she must play nurse-maid to so many others distracts her! That mistake nearly cost me!"

"Oh I know, I know... why do you think I allowed the elf girl's flaming brand to strike the witch with that ungainly contraption she uses? Yet consider this, my young peer. That softness and compassion that rankles you so? The mortals know that as friendship and love. Even as the valor with which [i]you[i] instill your Surya-ka-Vahaak allows her to face the trials before her, so too does love allow mine to place the well-being of others before themselves. Is that not also a demonstration of courage?"

"Courage? What does that girl who flits and sneaks about know of courage?"

"Now, now, you know quite well what those girls have endured..."

"Yes! They deserved swift vengeance upon those who wronged them!"

Alíta's fire seems almost to cast a shadow over the older goddess' delicate features. "Perhaps... yet just because they each have been taken from does not mean that taking equally or in greater measure from another would have made them whole. Emptiness begets emptiness."

"And a vessel is made to be filled before one begins emptying it. Otherwise why not use a smaller vessel?"

The goddess of inspiration smiles. "Was that philosophy, my friend? Very well, as you say, even a vessel that is not quite full was surely intended by its crafter to be filled to brimming, I'll concede you the point... if only to encourage you."

In the realm of mortals...
Alis nods at Priyya's thinly veiled admonishment, knowing the cost of using so much powerful magic so early in the day. It was aid that might be sorely missed if they encountered the Red Mountain Devil, Ieana, or whatever other secret threats Reaver's Shiv had in store.

"Thank you for looking after everyone, Priyya it means–"

The princess stops mid-sentence as a beautiful, butterfly with a silvery body drifts into the heart of the banyan grove, seemingly borne there by a wind that makes the great tree creak as if yawning at the end of a long slumber. The blue and purple-winged swallowtail flies in between the two short sword-sisters before coming to alight upon the hilt of Priyya's scimitar.

For a few moments, it stands still, gently fanning its wings before it takes to the air again and disappears into the canopy above. The strangest sensation of déjà vu fills Priyya as if she had already entered Aycenia's home and cured everyone just before she said her prayers this morning. Yet how could that have been, was it just a dream she suddenly recalled?

"...alright? Priyya?" Slowly she realizes that there is a gentle humming sound and that Alis is speaking to her, hand on her shoulder and an intent gaze in her blue-violet eyes... eyes the same color as that uncanny butterfly. "Priyya, can you hear me? Oh good! Sorry, you just started gazing off into the distance. What are you humming, anyway?"

In a split second, Priyya returns to the present, whatever tune was on her mind suddenly gone. Somehow she knows that Gelik, Jask, and Mal are out of danger and that she helped, although when or how she's not certain... after all, it's not like she had called upon Alíta yet today...

Justin: Priyya is at full spells again having had them replenished by a mysterious patron...