"After we get the treasure and return we should break this bridge. That way anything on that side that notices we've stolen stuff can't chase us down."
Riy-Zi walks out with Kildrax onto the bridge, too, knowing that if it breaks he can simply fly over. Plus, he was pretty sure that the others were heavier than just Kildrax...
Smacky doesn't even wait to see if it's safe. Instead she looks excited! She runs right across! "WHEEEEEEEEEE!"
She loves being in high places!
Craigie eyes the bridge skeptically, then the other side.
"No, Smacky! Wait and let those two test it first!"
Kildrax, without pause, rushes forward and across the bridge. He gets 2, 3, 4 steps onto the bridge while the others looks on. The weight of the creature shifts the bridge slightly, and despite the sound of rope creaking it seems to hold him adequately enough. In rapid succession, Riy-Zi also steps out onto the bridge. Despite its continued protests, the bridge remains stable.
Smacky, having been restrained from certain death by Craigie, rushes forward- opting to traverse the bridge via rope hand holds than the actual suspended wood itself. The bridge again creaks and groans- but holds fast.
Soon, both the shark, the Vanara, and the Strix are most of the way across the bridge.
Craigie waits until they are completely across the bridge. Then he hurries across.
Reva also waits for the others to get all the way across. ...Then she waits for Craigie to get all the way across. Then, she very, very, very carefully starts to cross the bridge.
The cautious nature of those that can't fly somewhat delays the advancement of the others. Kildrax, Smacky, Riy-Zi stand around waiting on the otherside.
After the party regroups on the far side of the chasm, they tramp off into the jungle following the path deeper and deeper into the dense foliage. An hour passes, and then another- but Craigie begins to feel the path veering back towards the north. Consulting the map, it appears that you are drawing ever closer to the ruins at the top of the island.
Soon the oppressive jungle opens up, and you come face to face with another gorge and another bridge. This time, instead of a hanging rope bridge, you find a 10 foot wide, wooden support bridge spanning the 75 foot chasm. Following the same procedure as last time the party slowly and surely makes their way across this other, significantly more sturdy, bridge.
Exiting the jungle, the party is confronted with a narrow pathway winding up a narrow, razor edge spine. To the left is a 80-100 foot fall into a deep canyon and to the right a much shorter drop into two small pools that flow illogically out the of islands rocks and cascade down- forming the mouth of the islands river and waterfall.
The path is now exposed and a several hundred yards away you get your first view of the abandoned monastery and the resting place of the final horn- the key to Jemma Redclaw's treasure! The exterior walls appears to still stand, though the roof has collapsed in several areas. To the north, it looks as if the foundation itself has crumbled into the pools below.
"Yay! Let's go!"
Smacky scampers down the path, straight for the front door of the monastery, and careful not to fall off the path into the pools or canyon.
"Come on, everyone."
Riy-Zi flies over to the monastery front doors.
Craigie pauses and gapes at the water springing from the rocks. "Whoah!"
"What? Oh, right." Craigie follows Smacky to the monastery.
Reva reaches out to slow her companions, then sighs as they quickly step out of reach. Her tail lashes angrily and she scoffs aloud. With a terrified serious look at the falls on either side of the path, she carefully stalks forward.
"HAR HAR HAR! Need a push?" Kildrax teases Reva, swimming through the air ahead of her.
Reva's eyes widen in fear, then she scowls.
She does not look amused.
Seeing the final approach, the more adventurous of the group rush forward across the ridge towards the decrepit former monastery. The Vanara has no problems at all traversing the intimidating trail, while Riy-Zi's flight makes the travel even more efficient.
Craigie pauses for a moment before following the others, peering out over the spring. Glancing back around at the contours and elevations of the island, it is clear to him that this spring cannot be natural- having no clear runoff or source. It is almost as if this water is defying the laws of physics in its continual flow.
Reva, despite her initial concerns, slows picks her way across the trail and towards the ruins. Kildrax nipping at her heels, several times in her approach she stops and grabs hold as a wind kicks up across the exposed spine of earth.
In a matter of time the party has regrouped at the monastery doors, but as of yet has not produced a plan for how or where they will search.
Craigie listens outside the monastery door to see if he hears anything moving inside.
Then he looks at Lady Jade. "What do you say, Lady?"
Lady Jade swishes her tail and clacks her teeth.
Craigie nods at Lady Jade.
More nervous about being outside the monastery than inside it, Reva crosses her arms. "Well? What are we waiting for?"
After a moment she sighs and casts a few buff spells on herself and Kildrax.
Craigie follows suit, casting shield of faith on lady Jade, then virtue on both Lady and himself.
"I hear bubbling water inside."
Craigie opens the door and heads inside.
Reva follows, morningstar gripped in her hand.
Riy-Zi pulls out and drinks an extract of shield. Then he follows the others inside.
Smacky happily stays outside! "I'm not going in there first! Tell me what you see, Craigie!"
Craigie steps into the room, quickly followed by Riy-Zi and Reva.
A trickle of water flows from the damaged stone fountain at the center of this open courtyard. A muddy morass surrounds the fountain, flowing across a path bordering the courtyard and flooding a small side chamber. Two recessed areas at the courtyard’s northern end hold tall statues and steps up to a small landing. On the west side, a statue depicting a bearded old man with wild hair stands before a landing with a shattered circular window. On the east side, a female statue lies smashed on the floor, and the landing and exterior wall have crumbled away.
Almost without warning, Craigie is struck by a sticky, muddy, mess. The other behind him see a loose shape in the mud in the middle of the room, and a giant ball of mud fly out and land a direct hit on the half-elf oracle that is leading the charge.
Round #1
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Smacky
Reva
Kildrax
Mud Creature
Craigie (Blinded)
Lady
RiyZi
Reva begins to cast a spell.
Kildrax flies forward slowly, snapping his jaws at the mud-mess.
Kildrax flies at the creature, jaws snapping at the creature. His jaw clamps down hard on the muddy form- and while he tastes the mud and muck rolling across his tongue, the creature appears to be unmoved by the assault.
Round #1
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Smacky
Reva
Kildrax
Mud Creature
Craigie (Blinded)
Lady
RiyZi
Smacky races in!
Smacky follows the Shark into the room, racing off to face the formless mud creature. She pulls up adjacent to the muddy mess, just a moment before its slides into her space and slowly begins to engulf her in sticky, stinky, mud.
Round #1
--------------------
Smacky
Reva
Kildrax
Mud Creature- Pending Smacky's choice
Craigie (Blinded)
Lady
RiyZi
riy-zi stares in disbelief at smacky
"Lady! Attack!" Craigie exclaims.
Craigie spends his turn wiping an pawing at his eyes so he can see.
Looking around, Craigie draws his magical spear as he approaches.
Lady Jade scrambles forward and chomps at the mud beast.
The Vanara quickly tumbles out of the way, narrowly avoiding being engulfed by the muddy, stinky, creature. Lady quickly steps up beside her and bites it ferociously. His teeth snap through the gloopy, soggy mud, and a nasty taste overwhelms his tongue. Drawing back after the bite, the crocodile brings several long strands of mud with him, but is unable to inflict as much damage as he has hoped.
Craigie takes a moment to wipe the mud away from his eyes, allowing him to see the elemental, in all of its disgusting glory, looming over lady.
Round #1
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Smacky
Reva
Kildrax
Mud Creature (-5 HP)
Craigie
Lady
RiyZi
Smacky hops like a bunny backwards and away from the mud monster! She doesn't want to get gobbled up!
Then she pulls out a dart.
Riy-Zi flies closer, up over the fountain. Then he tosses a bomb at the mud monster, making sure not to hit Kildrax or Lady jade.
Joanna whips the mud beast with her tail before tumbling away!
Just as the crocodile takes a bite out of his arm, the mud elemental is struck by a vial of magical fire which bursts open across his body- the arching splash narrowly avoiding the other melee combatants in the chamber.
Having avoided the lumbering attack, the Vanara whips out with her tail and cleanly strikes the monster right in the the stomach. As he reels from the devastating blow, she gracefully hops back, placing more distance between herself and the threat- while drawing a ranged weapon.
Round #2
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Smacky
Reva
Kildrax
Mud Creature (-31 HP)
Craigie
Lady
RiyZi
Kildrax snaps his jaws at the mud monster. "BLEH! You taste HORRIBLE!"
A black, ominous portal opens near the mud monster, and a foul looking rat leaps out, biting ineffectively at the enemy!
Content to have another body on the field, Reva spends her turn stomping through the mud to get to the... other mud.
Pressing in on the mud creature, Kildrax takes another big bite into the animated clay. He feels its arms squish between his teeth, but as he tries to rip and tear the monster simply reforms its gooey appendages.
Beside the elemental, a voided hole opens and a pestulant rat appears- nipping at its heel. It's teeth sink into the creature, but the wounds quickly close after the rat pulls back.
With her spell finished, Reva wades into combat. Sticking to the mud, and avoiding the deeper sections of water, she find herself ready to engage the creature herself!
Harried from multiple directions, the elemental lashes out at those closest to it- the corcodile who hurt it and the shark which continues to pester him (despite not yet doing any damage).
The first fist-like appendage strikes at the crocodile, finding its mark across the long and pronounced snout. The mud carries a great weight about it- stunning lady for just a brief moment and giving time for the mud to reform and harden across her mouth- holding her in place
A second arm reaches out and flails at the shark, whose positioning off the ground confuses the creature. Easily able to flutter up a few inches and avoid the attack, Kildrax instead spits out a giant ball of mud from his mouth, cursing the foul tasting creature in front of him.
Round #2
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Smacky
Reva
Kildrax
Mud Creature (-31 HP)
Craigie
Lady (-14 HP, grappled)
RiyZi
Each flooded square counts as a shallow bog
The rat nips and bites at the mud!
Noticing her demon seems to be doing absolutely nothing to the mud man, Reva scowls. "Line it up, Kildrax!" she bellows. She forces her foul magic into her morningstar, causing the weapon to radiate a red and black aura. Then she swings her weapon, smashing it into the mud monster.
Then she steps back,
Kildrax growls at Craigie, "Get that croc to move over or I'll roast it!"
Then Kildrax flies around, circling the mud monster.
Smacky throws her bunny shaped dart with her tail!
She backs up a bit more.
Riy-Zi tosses another bomb at the mud monster! (Careful not to hurt Lady Jade or the rat!)
"Lady Jade! Get out of there!" Craigie commands.
He moves over a few steps and shoots a blast of moonlight at the mud monster!