Lureene sighs, and again re-establishes her link with Grak. After a couple of moments, she breaks off the connection, and responds to Alis, "Ahhh, I understand now, Sash was referring to the raptor creatures'" pointing out the creatures flying overhead to emphasize her point, "baby as her own baby. Awww...how sweet..."
Alis flashes a practiced smile. "Oh well I'm so happy for her! Do you hear that everyone, Sasha had a baby raptor creature, isn't that wonderful? Priyya, Lureene, a moment please..."
Once the three have walked a distance away from Aerys, Gelik, and Jask, Alis says, "Alright, is it just me or might it not be handy for each group to have a ranger with them? No offense to you and Grak Lureene, but being told that Sasha has baby lizards flying around isn't exactly helpful. What do we do about it? Shoot them down, run and hide until Mal comes for us, lay down and wait to die? I'm pretty sure that neither of those two exactly needs the other one pointing out how to get along in the wild. However the rest of us could probably use someone here who knows what to do."
"Now then, please ask Mal what we should do. I don't want to repeat myself again. We can't afford careless mistakes out here!"
Lureene mutters "Oh for the love of…” before taking a calming breath, ”Mal wanted us to go around them and make sure we are not seen.” She goes on to relate to the others the path Mal and Sasha laid out to avoid being seen. "He said they would try to catch the baby creature after we had set up another camp ."
"Lovely..."
Turning back to the others, she says, "Alright, into the trees and keep quiet everyone. We don't want to distrub Sasha's 'baby'."
With that, Alis and company detour into the jungle, the flustered princess slipping thru the undergrowth and tangle with about the same aplomb as Talvyra while the great cat begins leading everyone thru to the other side.
Survival Checks
[ REAVER'S SHIV: Map | Position (007) | Overland Rules ]
While Alis and the others struggle to make their way thru the jungle, Mal and Sasha have little trouble completing their own detour and continuing south. Barely an hour after having spotted the strange, flying lizards, they spy yet another old decrepit ship — this one wrecked at the base of the cliffs just past a tiny island.
"I'll have to start numbering them I guess..." Sasha comments, quill in hand.
Looking around thru the continuing drizzle, Mal can see another large hill starting to rise just to their southwest. No doubt it must be the source of whatever spring feeds the waterfall marked on the map.
Mal begins to look around, checking their position against the map, "I guess our next step is to find the water source and follow it south. Grak, will you let the others know where we are and what we are up to? Then would you mind getting into the air a bit to see if you can see the river source? It could save us an hour or so of searching."
Grak nods in acknowledgement of Mal's request, and slips into his trance to communicate with his mistress. After several minutes of communcation between Mal and the others making sure everything is clear and understood, he breaks the link, and launches himself into flight, angling to the southwest, while keeping low and out of sight of the flying raptors and any other airborn predators.
Mal points out the carcass to Sasha, both realizing immediately what it means for Sasha's future companion and its parents. They relay to continue to be careful of the airborne predators, sending along a message to skirt the nesting area.
[ REAVER'S SHIV: Map | Position (008) | Overland Rules ]
While Alis and the others slowly slog their way thru the underbrush, occasion stifled screams being voiced when insects bigger than the span of her hands attempt to nest in her hair, Sasha and Mal make far better progress. After only about 30 minutes, they come across an interesting observation as they pass the eastern most cove of The Shiv's northern arm.
Down below, they spy the remnants of a quickly rigged shelter and evidence of a small campfire. Both sit well above the high-tide line on the narrow, sandy beach. While Sasha marks it on the map to check out later, Grak flies up to get a better look around. It looks like the small river that gives rise to the waterfall parallels the stand of jungle to your west, though the waterfall itself isn't much further south along the cliffs.
Continuing thru the light rain, the trio make their way to the top of the waterfall before heading uphill. There they soon find a natural spring bubbling freshwater up from below ground.
"Huh," Sasah scratches her head pointing down the steep side of the hill, "well would you look at that, goats!"
As Mal turns to look, he sees not merely goats but dead goats. Even thru the rain and at some distance, he can see what appear to be a number of circular wounds to their chests.
Mal looks at the goats for a while, and curiosity overwhelms him. "We need to get the group back together at some point. Now's as good a time as any. Grak, let the others know where we are and that we're waiting. Tell them briefly about the campsite, and that they should remain out of sight when they near them. We'll all want to inspect that sight together... and soon. In the meantime. Sasha, we should go see what killed those goats. I don't like the idea of sharing our home base area with something aggressively territorial."
When the message has been delivered, the trio stalk towards the goat carcasses.
Grak faithfully relays the message to his mistress, and the others. He then waits for the others to join up with him.
"Oh sure," Alis says with an edge to her voice as she hacks thru another veil of foliage with her sword, "be right there any min– Why the hell are there two-inch long ants on this island?!"
Priyya stalks along behind the slower group and helpfully offers a possible answer to Alis' question, "Um... Because this island isn't nearly big enough to support three-inch long ants?"
Lureene brushes some spiderweb-infested branches out of her hair as she slips behind the others, Good thing I am not as concerned about appearances here as...some of us.
She responds to Priyya, "I dunno, maybe the anteater population was wiped out by these cannibals I keep hearing about. It's not like there is an endless supply of shipwrecks here."
She responds to Priyya, "...It's not like there is an endless supply of shipwrecks here."
"Well that's encouragi– OW!"
With that she flicks another of the over-sized ants off her shins wincing at the angry red bite-mark. "I am NOT a snack!"
Priyya casts an eye on Gelik to see if he will rise to the bait Alis just offered... and wisely chooses to answer Lureene instead. "I bet the anteaters are 16' long with razor-sharp tusks. They probably ate the cannibals once they depleted the two-foot-long ant population."
Lureene smiles wanly at Priyya, ”That does not strike me as being very reassuring. Besides if there were killer anteaters here, then there would not be any ants here at all. Maybe Sash could open a petting zoo here…”
"There will be no petting zoos at my summer retreat! I've already decided to petition the Governor of Dafar to grant me an exclusive lease to this paradise for Ma.. my hunting lodge."
With a glance over her shoulder, Priyya notices that Gelik is sweating rather profusely and biting his lip as if struggling. Curious since hefting Alis' chest should be a cinch with the ant haul spell cast upon him, nevermind that the rainfall has kept the temperature to a refreshing 75° and he has endure elements cast upon him.
He gives a wan smile and a nervous laugh at the Surya-ka-Vahaak's piercing gaze.
"If you want this miserable island, you're more than welcome to it. Should make a quaint location for a penal colony."
It takes the main group a full hour to reach the cliffs above the campsite that Mal and Sasha located earlier. Scooting up to the edge of the cliff while the others remain out-of-sight, Alis has a look around with her spyglass before wiping the raindrops from the lens and handing it to Priyya.
"Well, it doesn't look like anyone has been home for a while. El, go ahead and let Mal know that we're here."
Sense Motive Checks:
Stealth Checks
Perception Checks
"There will be no petting zoos at my summer retreat! I've already decided to petition the Governor of Dafar to grant me an exclusive lease to this paradise for Ma.. my hunting lodge."
"You probably want to wait until she is in a better mood..."
"Well, it doesn't look like anyone has been home for a while. El, go ahead and let Mal know that we're here."
"Sure thing, 'Lis." Lureene responds, glad to be out of the jungle. She slips into her mental trance, relaying the message to Grak, who in turn informs Mal and Sasha of the main group's progress.
Priyya wonders about the cause of the gnome's struggles but says nothing. She actually takes a small amount of pity on him and helps him with the chest over some difficult spots, saying. "Come now, Master Gelik, you are redeeming yourself well with this labor. And I am hard-pressed to believe you are having so many difficulties handling the princess' chest." Priyya struggles to keep the amusement from her voice.
While Sasha covers him with her bow and Grak in turn watches her back, Mal inspects the corpses of the slain goats, those that are still alive ranging near the edge of the trees on the western side of the jungle further north.
While he's no physician, from what he can see it looks like there are three circular injuries on each of the goats' chests thru which their blood was been sucked out. The other odd thing is that many of their bones are broken as if they were dropped from a great height. As for what could have done this, it would have to be something a good bit stronger and sturdier than the flying lizards you and Sasha saw earlier.
"'DRE, LOOK OUT!"
Sasha's words break thru Mal's concentration. He dives to the side just as the body of another goat crunches to the ground just where he was crouching a moment before.
From further up the hill, Sasha looses an arrow after a dark shape just barely visible thru the falling rain far ahead. Mal can just barely make out its form. Two wings like a bat only larger, a powerfully built torso with four limbs, a long thick tail, and an elongated very powerful neck. The creature gives a rasping cry that sounds almost like laughter before it vanishes into the low-hanging clouds.
"What the hell was THAT?!"
Unfortunately, Mal finds himself at a loss for words. Whatever it was, it's no manner of creature he's ever heard of before. Of that much he is certain. After scouring the area for any further clues, eventually Sasha receives word from Lureene.
"Hey 'Dre, looks like El and the others are at the cliff near that campsite we found. Guess that means her majesty is summoning us or something..."
Perception Checks
Reflex Saves
Know Nature
[ REAVER'S SHIV: Map | Position (009) | Overland Rules ]
Deciding that falling goats is as good a reason to regroup as any, the two rangers cut thru a few hundred yards of jungle arriving not far from the location of everyone else.
"We found some goats up on the hill back that way, but something's been killing them. A flying critter just about dropped one on 'Dre's head!"
Mal nods grimly and reports his findings to Alis and the others in short order.
Lureene glances uneasily towards the sky, knowing any trip down to the campsite would leave whoever attempted such exposed to whatever was flying up there.
She turns to Alis, and asks with a frown on her face, ”Should we head down there now? Time is wasting and we need to see if Ieana left any clues behind but I am hesitant to risk an ambush. Still, I don’t see we have a choice. I can glide down there, and climb back up. Still, I think you should go with me ‘Lis, in case we run into anyone down there.”
A thought occurs to her, and she adds, "We should either have Mal or Sash go down there to see if they can pick up their trail, too."
Alis nods as she finishes braiding her long tresses into a number of coils that wrap around her head like a garland. "Sasha, Priyya, Aerys, you three are all handy with your archery. This cliff should provide a good firing arc. Mal, Lureene, and I will head down to check things out. Gelik, after we've landed, go ahead and let down a rope for us so that we can return when we're done."
With that, Alis grabs Mal by the hand and says, "Running jump, don't worry, I'll catch you..."
Before he can protest, Alis starts running for the cliff and leaps off, sailing nearly 30 feet beyond the edge, arms widespread even as King Tut clings to her back shrieking in dismay. After about 2 seconds of freefalling, with the beach rising up to crush you, she says, "Featherfall!"
Immediately, your descent slows and you land on the beach as gently as if you had just jumped down no more than five feet.
Priyya finds a good spot for observation, hopefully with some tree cover to prevent being dive-bombed, and stakes a half dozen arrows in the ground with another four in her hand. She maintains an over-watch on the other half of their party while looking for any movement in the sky. "So Aerys, my girl, how are you holding up?"
Lureene mutters, "Showoff.." before she leaps into the air, unfurling her wings By the gods...that felt good!
After a few seconds, she alights next to Mal and Alis, a beatific smile on her face.
Upon landing, it doesn't take long before King Tut comes prancing back with Captain Kovack's hat on his head and one of Ieana's brightly colored scarves wrapped about his arms and shoulders. Alis shakes her head and laughs at the little monkey's antics. "Well it's good to know that I'm not the only fashionista on this miserable island!"
"Mal, El, find anything?"
At her inquiry, King Tut hops up on Alis' shoulder, puts Captain Kovack's tricorn on her head and loops the yellow scarf around her shoulders. He then runs over and points to some tracks that hoots while pointing to some ruts in the sand that the rain hasn't completely washed away.
Survival Checks
Mal nods silently and with the monkey scampering on ahead of him finds that the trail leads into the forest where it becomes harder, albeit not impossible, to follow.
The ranger holds up two fingers and points to the south. "Two people struck out a little over 24-hours ago heading south into the jungle. Judging by the trinkets your new pet found, it doesn't take much imagination to guess who. All this rain we've had is going to make it damn tough to follow. The trail is too old for me to track them by scent at this point."
[ REAVER'S SHIV: Map | Position (010) | Overland Rules ]
"Meaning that the longer we wait, the harder it's going to get to follow them. Which means we can't be slowing you down..."
Tapping her forefinger on her lips, the princess looks about at the small cove. "You said there was some sort of monster that had been hunting the goats on that hilltop. Do you think we should still setup camp there, maybe using the trees for cover, or would this little cove work better?"
Lureene looks around her noting the features of the cove. Turning back to the Princess, she replies, ”This place looks like a safe place to camp, seeing as how Ieana was here before. Let’s keep this in mind as a fallback campsite, I like having as many options as possible here.” She glances at Mal, and adds, "Of course, you are the boss here, Mal."
Mal smiles fiercely. "Well they have been dropping the goats on that hillside; I'm not sure where exactly they've been goat-hunting. Wherever we choose to set up camp, we'll want cover from flying goats."
"I doubt our quarry will be returning to this site... Still, it might be better if we set-up on the high ground so we can watch this site and surprise them if they do return. The bigger question is - do we send a small team to continue the chase before this trail goes colder?" The glint in his eye tells you this would be his preference.
Lureene replies, ”I would be cautious in heading after Ieana and Kovack. Remember they know survivors made it off the Pearl. I would imagine they would set some kind of ambush for whoever trailed them.”
Mal nods, "Maybe they know some of us are alive... but which ones? They may not know we are after them, that we can track them, or that we are..." he holds up two sharp claws like pincers, "this close."
Mal looks at his ex-faux wife and gives her a smile that instills her with no comfort. "If you didn't like my last suggestion, til you hear who should be on each team... assuming Alis doesn't squash my idea from the start."
"Not at all, let's hear it."
Mal nods and continues. "If we are going to be blazing a trail all night, then you will need someone to track us by our trail tomorrow. I think Sasha should be the ranger for your group and I'll lead the 'trackers'. I'd like to take Little Sister with me and..." He seems to debate his next choice carefully, "Darkmane. She's not the stealthiest but she is a healer, tough, good with a bow or blade, has excellent night vision so she won't be tripping over roots, and can banish our fatigue as we press on all night."
"So you, Priyya, and Talvyra, in one group and then the rest of us in another?"
She looks at Lureene for a moment and then replies, "That works for me, although I'd just as soon have Sasha and Aerys guarding a base camp. Still, once we catch up..."
Alis thinks for a moment before saying to Lureene, "Have Grak tell everyone that we'll be making camp down here in this cove. I'll be along in just a moment to 'catch' everyone with featherfall unless they want to take the long way down."
As Lureene relays the message, Alis continues, "Mal, you'll take Grak with you. That should allow Lureene and I to follow. Once she, Sasha, and I catch up, Sasha can return to camp with Grak so we can have a warning if Ieana or anyone else shows up. Any dissenting counsel?"
"I don't know much about Eidolons. Can Grak be that far from Lureene safely?"
"Ida who? I thought he was just a fancy familiar. She didn't seem particularly concerns about distances before though..."