Wardove's Rumble in the Jungle

Game Master Laithoron

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"Didn't your boss wanted to turn everyone into mermaids though?"


Lureene sighs, This was not going to be easy...

"It sounds like they have all of the ways into their village heavily guarded, Mal. Plus, they know we are out here, too, so we lost the element of surprise. If we can evade the lookout from the sea, trying to navigate through the sea cave and reaching the fire pit might be our best option." She shrugs helplessly. "However, I doubt we will be able to sneak around whatever foul creatures lurk down there. It will require a fight just to reach the village!"

She nods in response to Sasha, "That would solve one of our problems."


Mal rankles a bit at the sound of Sasha's voice but says evenly, "Something like that."

At Lureene's suggestion, he says, "Sea caves full of ancient slavering things? I'd rather take my chances with the cannibals..."


"If we don't deal with the giants..." Alis says, thinking out loud, "we don't know that Aerys, Jask, Gelik, and Kovack can run for it. If only I had some way of becoming giant-sized... Maybe Lureene too..."


Lureene Ourson wrote:
Lureene's eyes flash a burning shade of crimson as she overhears the comment, and rises to her feet to say something to the fiery priestess.

Little escapes Priyya's attention, including Lureene's quick rise and glare. That's what you get for eavesdropping on a private conversation.

She tries, with some success, to mask that she has noted the succubus' actions.

Bluff 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22


Without seeing a map, I'm not sure of the set-up so...

Priyya seems lost in thought. "Is there some way to sneak around to free the prisoners and/or raid the tower so we can capture Ieana before she can bring her magic to bear on us?"


Mal grinds his teeth before letting out a growl of frustration. "I need to see it. Alis, do you have some parchment and a quill so I can diagram what we're talking about?"


"Sure." She walks over and turns around, back to him. "Inside my pack, you'll find my journal, there's a quill in the binding and an ink well–"


"Found it, thanks."

Suddenly the sound of paper being torn rends the air as he tears a sheet free.


The hell?!

"MAL!"

Rolls:
Sense Motive Checks:
A 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 14 + 3 = 37 alertness
L 1d20 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 3 = 13 alertness
M 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
P 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

S 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9


He looks down at the irate half-pint, a look of surprise on his face.

What the hell did I do now?

"Alis...?"


At Mal's complete lack of comprehension, Alis just stands completely still for a moment before simply shaking her head. She gives a slight sigh that turns into a bemused chuckle.

"I was going to say just draw it inside. It hurts the binding if you just rip a page out like that..."

The big man looks genuinely surprised but before he can say anything, Alis says, "Don't worry about it, I'll fix it later... or not... gives it character I suppose. Aycenia? Could you help the good ranger with his map details please?"


After a few minutes of the two going back and forth over details in the secret tongue of druids, Aycenia gives a satisfied smile and announces they have finished.

However, there's a definite look of chagrin on Mal's face when he hands it over to Alis who arches her eyebrows and bites the knuckle on her index finger when she sees their amateur cartography. "Is that supposed to be the vicious lizard?"


LK Calendar: Uniens 07, 4210 — Alsday (day 3)
Time: 5:00md (afternoon, :00)

Mal gives a long sigh, shaking his head ever so slightly as he looks at Priyya. "Look, I mostly just hurt people, you try drawing with–"

When Mal holds up his clawed hand, Alis simply grins up at him, one of her long, dainty fingernails held playfully between her teeth.

"–without any pansy artist training. Just look at the damn map already! Gods' sakes woman, we don't have all day!"

With a 'hmmph', Alis holds out the scribblings Mal calls a map so that everyone can have a gander.

Map: Sketch of the Giant Cannibal's Camp


Priyya smiles at the drawing. "Oh, you missed your calling, Mal. You should be doing portraits of the rich and famous!" She holds the picture up and looks around. "I'm just sorry I don't have an icebox on which to display this masterpiece."

After a moment, she studies the picture in earnest. "It looks like there should be a way to work our way around to the cage through the forest so we can effect a rescue. They've doubtless got traps there but we can deal with those. Unless, Alis, you and Lureene want to try charming more of the giants."


Lureene studies the map, and as Priyya mentions the idea of charming the giants, she nods "I think that would be a good plan, Priyya, but one flaw might be if Ieana has already charmed one or maybe all of them...of course I would figure that out quickly enough...."

She points a dainty nail at the building marked 'Skelds' "Plus, I don't think we will be able to charm them!"


"Well Aycenia said the skeletons are held in a pen though. If no one lets them out then we don't have to worry. As far as charming them though, I actually have a better idea. Mal, cover your ears, you probably won't like this..."


Fast learner, this one.

"Let me guess, you're going to talk them to death?"


Alis looks about to offer a witty retort then just pouts a bit and glowers for a half-moment. "Nooo, I'm going to distract the whole camp by enthralling them with song and dance! It would really help if I was the same size as them though instead of being snack-sized..."

Spellcraft DC 17 (Lureene):
You realize that she must be talking about coupling her performance with the enthrall spell.

Rolls:
Spellcraft Checks
L 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
M 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
P 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13


"I have some charms that would make you grow. They least for a few minutes. Three of them, that is how many I have."

Spellcraft DC 16:
She must be talking about items with an enlarge person effect upon them.

Rolls:
Spellcraft Checks
A 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
L 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
M 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
P 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7


"Sooo..." Sasha scratches her head, "what do the rest of us do while you're dancing? Sing along?"


Lureene nods slowly, "That actually is a great idea, 'Lis! as long as Mal and whoever goes with him keeps out of sight, they should have no problem freeing the others." She indicates Mal, and in response to Sasha's query, points at Sasha.

She then points out, "That spell ends if you make any hostile gestures towards them, so don't even think about it!"


Alis nods. "Even though it doesn't charm them, it should at least keep the docile. If anyone in particular seems resistant to the spell, I can attempt to fascinate them as well." She blushes a bit and says quietly, "That should be a good bit more difficult to resist."


"So you start dancing and then we just walk in, grab 'Rys and the others and walk out?"


Lureene nods, "That's the plan anyway. Of course if Ieana shows up...then all bets are off."

She turns to Alis, "Umm 'Lis, are you going to go by yourself...?"


"No, not quite. I'm pretty sure that would break the effect actually, Sasha."

Pointing to the cliffs, she says, "If we time it to when the sun is setting, say about two hours from now, like Mal said about us trying to approach on foot, that should make it hard for the giants to see us swimming past. The sun would be in their eyes."

"I can swim in close, invisible, then fly up top and start distracting them. Meanwhile, the rest of you could swim around to the west side, climb up, and free everyone while the giants have their backs turned. El could even fly up and let a rope down I would think. You can handle locks, right El?"


At Lureene's question, Alis pauses. "Well, if you can stay invisible long enough and fly up with me, I suppose you could dance while I sing, but we'd definitely need to use one of Aycenia's giant tokens on you. We'd also want to alter our disguises to look like them too. The less we look like food, the better."

"Still, I think Priyya, Sasha, and Mal might need your help more. None of them can fly..."


"You are right, 'Lis. Just be careful! As for my lockpicking skills...Well, I probably won't win any awards, but they should be adequate. I hope their locks are not too fancy."


"Doubt it, they can't even maintain their swords properly," Mal grumbles. He gives Priyya a look to see what she thinks about all of this.


Priyya shrugs. "I can't imagine a giant stranger is going to go unnoticed by Ieana... but we have to try something."


Lureene responds "True, unless you disguise yourself as one of the giants we ran across earlier. Not sure they will buy it though. As for Ieana..." She bites her lip "I don't know if we are capable of beating her if she unleashes her magic on us. We do need an escape plan if she does show up though. I can have Grak watch the tower, and if she leaves, he can warn me. I can then send a message to 'Lis."


Priyya restrains herself from slapping her forehead. "You mean one of the ones we killed that they've probably discovered? OR one of the ones probably in the village right now... who probably has no reason to be fascinating his or her brethren? Come'on, Lureene. If Ieana is sleeping off a bender, we'd be lucky. If she's keeping an eye on things - she's going to be very curious. Fooling in-bred giants is one thing; tricking that bookworm b!tch is a whole other matter."


"No, I have no intention of copying a dead girl or anyone else. Maybe I forgot to mention it, but the reason that girl was anxious about the fact that she wasn't in the chieftain's bed is because that's where all the women of child-bearing age in their village stay. They really aren't allowed out a whole lot — something about only the chief having the right to sire children..."


At this, Aycenia perks up. "It has been years since any children have been born. Since the one with red hair became chief there have been no children at all, although when the wind is right you can hear them trying..."


Priyya looks repulsed, "I could have gone a long time, maybe a LIFETIME, without knowing that."


The dryad smiles sympathetically. "Be glad that your home is not so nearby at least."


It is Priyya's turn to look sympathetically at the other woman. "If I have my way, we won't be leaving any of those creatures alive to disturb you - wind or no."


While Priyya consoles the dryad, Alis muses, "So an impotent chief and a bunch of sex starved underlings... fertile ground for sewing at least... Men are less astute when thinking with the head that's not on their shoulders...."

"As for Ieana, well..." she becomes somewhat flushed in the face after looking back at Mal, "this situation doesn't put time on our side. Hopefully she hasn't developed an interest in sampling cannibal cuisine and will leave the savages to their festivities. If she tries to interfere though, I can try to seduce the chieftain while the rest of you get away. Charmed or not, unless Ieana is actively dominating him, I can... make certain he'd be *ahem* hard pressed to refuse a new plaything..."


Male Sky Elf Game Master lv 20

Oops, ninja'd Justin. Moving.


Priyya casts a single raised eyebrow at Alis, accompanied by a smile. "At the risk of repeating myself... I could have gone a lifetime without knowing that."


Mal's face darkens at what the two women are suggesting.

"Just a few points," Mal says. "First, Lureene, unless you can make him invisible, if you have Grak flying around you might as well just announce we're here. Second, if the witch-b1tch doesn't play nice, we know she can cast a flight spell. That means escape is doubtful. We'd have to hit her hard before the giants can react then cut our losses. Third, if the chief tries to take you in the tower Alis, what then? Are you going to lay him, kill him, what? What do the rest of us do then?"


Alis takes a long slow breath before giving a quick exhale. "First, good call about Grak. We could try to see if Tal's collar will work on him, perhaps as a bat he'd be less noticeable, but that's still a big bat."

"Second, if Ieana does start a fight then it depends on who is in view or not. If all of you are concentrating on the prisoner pens, hopefully that lodge or hut is tall enough that she won't notice and you can just get away with the others. If she comes after me... well I'll do my best to draw her off. If I can get her alone and surprise her somehow, I might be able to out-wrestle her, she looks pretty scrawny."

"Third, if Klorak takes me inside the tower, the rest of you should get 'Rys, Jask, and Gelik back here to Aycenia. Kovack..." she pauses, "if he's charmed still, he could be a liability. You may actually want to knock him out if possible."

Noting Mal's glare as she ignores the main gist of his question, she concludes, "If Klorak takes me inside, the giant charm will wear off before long. With any luck, I can locate an arrow loop or window to escape thru when that happens. Don't worry, I can keep him occupied without doing anything I'll live to regret."


"Regrets aren't the part I'm 'worried' about, it's the living."


"Well, that's quite possibly the sweetest thing you've ever said to me Mal!" She gives a wink. "In all seriousness though, remember that the Red Mountain Devil needs to be appeased with a live sacrifice. If I'm the last prisoner alive in their camp, they'll pretty much be forced to keep me alive, especially if Ieana's plan requires it to master the beast. Guerrilla tactics are supposed to be your units specialty. I'm sure you'd think of something."


"Wow, princess jiggles really thinks you're something, 'Dre!"

Sasha laughs and then takes a seat on the ground, pulling Lureene down next to her. "So you just want us to swim around the cliff, wait for your singing, then climb up, grab 'Rys and the others and escape? Can't we kill some guys while we're there too?"


Lureene looks back at Mal, "Mal, I know it is risky to have Grak flyng around but we need as much warning as possible if Ieana decides to show up. If 'Lis' pin can work on him, that would be a sound plan. I wonder if Ieana knows Grak even exists, since I did not summon him until we were marooned here."

Taking Sash's hand in her own, she replies "Well...ideally we should not need to kill anyone, but I have a feeling the prison cage will still be guarded heavily, despite 'Lis' performance. So, yes Sash if we can kill them quickly and quietly then yes we will do so. We just need to realize our job is to free the others first!"


"All the warning Ieana needs is to see something out of the ordinary. She doesn't need to know Grak personally to know that anything different is a cause for concern. If Alis can fix a pin for him - fine. But the sands are running through the hourglass and she already has to modify a pin for herself."

Lureene wrote:
Taking Sash's hand in her own, she replies "Well...ideally we should not need to kill anyone, but I have a feeling the prison cage will still be guarded heavily, despite 'Lis' performance. So, yes Sash if we can kill them quickly and quietly then yes we will do so. We just need to realize our job is to free the others first!"

"You define 'ideal' very differently than I do."


Priyya Surya-ka-Vahaak wrote:
"You define 'ideal' very differently than I do."

Lureene, her eyes flashing, retorts "I do not consider that an unfortunate circumstance!"


Aycenia seems a bit confused by the sharp edges of the words between the two women. "The place where the giants dwell is not so large. It is perhaps only as wide as my home. The stone tower is wide as my tree, yet more than twice as tall."

She gestures to the trees comprising the edges of the grove. If the giant's village is of a similar size, then that would make it less than 100 yards in diameter. Looking at the great banyan tree atop the hill, you would estimate it to be about 90-ft wide and 60-ft tall. That would make the lighthouse about 90-ft wide at the base and at least 120-ft in height.

"If this wizardess is there and announces herself, I think it would be plain to anyone there."


"So at that size there wouldn't be enough time for a warning anyway then..."

Alis looks at her bickering friends. "El, it might be better if Grak sticks with me to provide a distraction for when I need to make my escape. If all eyes are on me anyway, then it isn't like I need to be warned that someone else has noticed, that's the whole point. Plus, I need some way for the rest of you to signal when you're in position."

"At any rate, Priyya's right, we're running out of time. If there are any long-terms spells that you want to cast that will last a few hours, go ahead and do it now. In the mean time, I'm going to adjust the disguise pins so to grant all of you forms that will make swimming easier. Since I'm the best swimmer here and we only have four pins plus Tal's collar, I'll get by without one."

"Mal," she motions to the big warrior and then says something to him in a tongue that none of you understand, although Aycenia's curiosity seems to be peaked.

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