Marius perked up a little at a break in the unrelenting jungle. He was doing his best to set a good example, but was finding the trek to be damnably oppressive. And that was with a spell to shield him from the worst of the heat.
Better yet, some ruins to study. But of course they were infested by spiders and, according to Bryson, no place to linger. Indeed, for once he didn't need any aid to spot the potential threat lurking in the centre of the ruins.
"Generally, people who make thrones out of bones are to be avoided," he remarked to Sunny, summoning up some measure of humour.
"Generally, people who make thrones out of bones are to be avoided," he remarked to Sunny, summoning up some measure of humour.
At Mariu's words Sunny casts her mind back to the peoples they'd met after thier ship... She shakes her blond mop... Their first ship that had wrecked and they'd met the nasty peoples. She frowns and peers around intently as she nods in understanding to Marius.
"Uhhmmm... I in't seein' no big woven statue thingys, though..." She ponders to Marius as she tries to get a better idea of who and what this new peoples is.
"True. On the other hand, I don't think the cobwebs are an encouraging sign."
"There is something... something about the style of these structures within the ruins. Can't quite place it."
He looks in the direction of where the throne of bone was spotted... and hesitates. "Curious... damned curious, but if it were to get me in trouble, I'd hate for those who'd warned me.. to feel obligated to assist."
Burian follows along, and the black cat Welt silently pads behind... also curiously sniffing and peering around.
Sunny stands for a moment, absently scratching her blond mop. other hand resting upon a hip.
"Uhm.. So, like. Is we gon'a go talk ta' tha' peoples?" She asks her freinds.
During the pause for a meal break just outside the ruins, Skald looked around with a puzzled look on his scarred face.
"Hey, where is the Perfessor? I got his food here."
You think you see Tavey Nask a little further back, his pack mounded high with scientific samples.
During the pause for a meal break just outside the ruins, Skald looked around with a puzzled look on his scarred face.
"Hey, where is the Perfessor? I got his food here."
At the Skald's call for Forol Sunny looks about in earnest.
Bryson (who makes that automatically) launches himself toward the pair. "Professor! Nooo!" Wisps of smoke come off him as he goes.
Run (while flying) to get in between the Professor and the creature.
"Huh?"
"Ah!"
And Sunny scampers to Professor Forol's side as well.
Marius' reaction was rather less frantic than Bryson's. He took a moment to advise the crew, "Stay put and stay alert," before following in the others' wake at a more sedate pace, trying to get a handle on the situation.
When you finally get up close, you see Professor Forol rapidly waiving his arms about in some kind of sign language.
The creature on the throne... you blink your eyes because the creature seemed to blur a little. She is clearly an old woman wearing a gown of black silk with cobwebs hanging from her bent form.
Professor Forol glanced back at you.
"Almost got it!" He said, redoubling his arm waiving.
The elderly woman had been waiving her long arms about like Professor Forol, but now she studied you all and coughed a couple of times before starting to speak aloud.
"I am Lithira, queen of these ruins. What brings you to my domain?"
Bryson understands Sylvan. He translates for the group.
"Hello, ma'am. No. We ain't from around here. We don't mean to trespass or nothin', but we were shipwrecked and are trying to reach the other side of the island." Bryson does introductions. Although he remains respectful, he still hasn't let down his guard.
Sunny scampers up besides the Professor.
At the Lady's speach Sunny gasps.
"Oh! She be speakin' tha' deep folks way." Sunny's voice shows awe of such a thing. At Mr Bryson's understanding the woman's speach her admiration rises to even higher levels.
She stands quietly and demurely. Showing her respect for the proceedings.
Marius understood Sylvan, but Bryson seemed happy to take the lead in translating and handling the introductions. He would wait to see how the woman responded to Bryson before chiming in with questions.
The thing about webs was that their makers didn't generally want anything which blundered into them to escape. Whether this would be true here was an open question. Though he was wary, Marius had yet to see any signs of hostility.
Now that communication has been established, the old woman turns her attention to Bryson.
"Who are you that has wandered into my web? You are not from this place, I have not seen your like in an age." She said in Sylvan, which is translated to the others by Bryson
"I am Lithira, queen of these ruins. What brings you to my domain?"
"We don't mean to trespass or nothin', but we were shipwrecked and are trying to reach the other side of the island."
"Ship wrecked? Then you have come from beyond the great ocean. Where do you come from, and where do you go beyond the southern mountains?" She asked.
"Well, Ah left home as the old hermit told me ah young man should and ah came to this city. It was different than anything ah'd ever known. But, fortunately ah met Miss Lavinia and Annie....."
Bryson starts of slow, but warms to Lithira. He tells her of their journey here. His focus is on his friends like the PCs past and present, Lavinia, Avner, and Prof Urol. He doesn't play a large roll in his tale and he doesn't mention his current form. Bryson doesn't know much about where they're going, so doesn't tell her much of it.
"... and that pretty much brings us to know."
Sunny continues to stand and smile at the lady.
(^_^)
For her part, the woman seems utterly fascinated by Bryson's tale, listening with rapt attention on every word.
Before you notice, several hours have gone by and the sun has set.
"I thank you, young Bry-son, for your tale.
"The world beyond sounds truly wondrous and I would very much like to visit it one day.
"As for your journey, there is little I can do to aid you.
"You should know that the way South is dangerous. There are unnatural things that lurk in the dark places, now more so than in the past."
She hissed in thought, rocking back and forth slowly.
"I know that four eyes have gazed upon you and their servant seeks you out. You would do well to avoid him.
"If you plan to head South, take the Dark Mountain Pass that travels under the peaks. It was made by the ancient ones, but beware--hungry birds nest near its opening not far from here, and they are fierce near their young. May you wander the web to find your way home." She said, raising her very long arm in benediction.
"Well thank you, ma'am. With your permission we'll rest here for the night and be on our way into this dark place you mentioned come morning."
Before you notice, several hours have gone by and the sun has set."May you wander the web to find your way home." She said, raising her very long arm in benediction.
Sunny blinks from where she's settled besides the Professor, enthraled as she has been by the tellig of tales.
Standing, stretching and otherwise unwinding from a long period of inacion the tanned Elf returns a solemn and thoughtful bow to the wise elder before scooting about thelping people get ready to settle in fo the night.
"Here? D'ye thnk tha' Wise One be talkin' about chi-kans when she mentioned them birds?" Sunny asks her freinds.
The old lady nodded to Bryson.
"Of course young man. You and your companions are safe here." She replied.
Then she dissolved into a thousand hand sized spiders, which then split up into a carpet of skittering legs that flowed away, running over your feet along the way and out of sight.
The rest of your party, unloading their packs for camping, observed this with widened eyes and gaping mouths.
Professor Forol jumped into Sunny's arms with a yipe, not reacting to the spider swarm well.
"Uh, we can go a little farther today. Right?" Bard said, turning to the rest of the party.
The old lady nodded to Bryson.
"Of course young man. You and your companions are safe here." She replied.
Then she dissolved into a thousand hand sized spiders, which then split up into a carpet of skittering legs that flowed away, running over your feet along the way and out of sight.The rest of your party, unloading their packs for camping, observed this with widened eyes and gaping mouths.
(O_o)
Sunny is too stunned by this amazing, magical and some what distrubing turn of events to do more than stand along side her freinds with a similalry shared expression.
She hugs the Professor as the Gnome suddenly appears in her arms.
"Uh, we can go a little farther today. Right?" Bard said, turning to the rest of the party.
Sunny nods agreement with Bard's sentiments even as she continues to hold the good Professor in stunned silence at the idea.
"Nah." Responds Bryson. "We don't wanna spurn her hospitality. Make yerselves comfortable. 'Sides, 'morrow gonna be busy."
"Nah." Responds Bryson. "We don't wanna spurn her hospitality. Make yerselves comfortable. 'Sides, 'morrow gonna be busy."
"Uhhhhmm...." Sunny clutches Forol a little bit tighter at Master Bryson's words...
She may.. or may not... begin to sidle over to where every one else is gathering....
As she begins to look around for some where nearby that's a little less... scittery..
"I agree," Marius said, "Friendly faces haven't exactly been common on the island so far."
He seemed relatively relaxed about the prospect of spending the night here. Though perhaps a chance at a respite, however brief, from the grind and occasional peril of their march to date had coloured his thinking.
Sunny shuffles over towards Marius... and offers him a Gnome...
The old lady reminds Burian of his past aboard the Ponderous Mist.. the witches whose old magics did not resemble what you'd find in most spellbooks. Though the power may have come from a dark place, they weren't all necessarily evil. The hag to whom he'd felt closest said more than once "There're far more grey areas than what can be judged as black and white."
Burian lowers his hood, and as his long hair quickly braids itself, he bows "Thank you, Queen Lithira. Your hospitality is appreciated."
No open wounds you can see, but there are always cuts, scrapes and bruises among the travellers.
The night passes uneventfully (for those who CAN sleep), and the next day is given to travel south over some game trails through the jungle.
Two hot steaming days later, you come to an open field at the base of the mountains.
There are several nesting areas sitting in the tall grass guarded by an Axebeak female or three, clusters of others scattered about the field as well.
The borders of the field are a shallow rushing river to the West, heavy jungle to the East and a narrow exit to the north (the two squares indicated in the North).
"They in mating season and are already riled up. Maybe ah can draw them off so everyone can git inta the cave."
We can have everyone back off and Bryson, in demon-ape form could draw their aggro and kite them for as long as needed. He has a 50' move and a climb speed in that form and should be mostly safe from them unless he has to run through the group to keep their aggro.
Some might stay behind, but the group should be able to take care of them easily enough.
Come the morning. Sunny is almost bcak to her exiberant, naturally tanned self. When the party comes across the large clearing and its inhabitants Sunnys softly whispered words are pretty much...
"Chee Khan..."
Sunny nods as she listens to Master Bryson.
Maybe we can be skirtin' around that a way...?" She indicates the better side of the clearing to move the party around towards their destination.
The terrain here is mostly clear (2-3 foot grass/flowers) and clusters of trees.
You can assume you all managed to sneak up to the first rank of squares in the south edge without being spotted.
Burian breathes deep.. considering for a moment.
"They are very fast you know...."
An androgynous velvety voice comes from Welt the cat.
"Would you like me to try talking to them first? No promises when bird brains are involved... let alone in heat."
Sunny gets ready for Master Byrson's distraction. Planing to help run 'interfearance' herself between the brids and her freinds when people all start to move...
Bryson experiments with revealing himself, hiding, and moving about. It looks to you that the ones guarding the nests won't move more than a couple of squares, while the free ranging ones will work themselves up and charge unless you cut line of sight somehow (invisibility, concealment, etc.)
Sunny sighs and starts trying to sneak after the Professor and Tavey...
Bryson will try to stay in sight. He'll even occasionally toss an attack their way to keep them interested.
Marius sighed in absolute despair at the sight of the pair approaching the nest. Rather than trying to pursue the two of them, he checked the group were ready to defend themselves and considered what spells he might be able to cast in support.
Bryson's antics draw a cluster of the axebeaks down to the base of the jungle growth where he hung in the tree canopy.
You are all able to see that, as Professor Forol is easing away from a nest with a giant Axbeak egg, the nest guardian took notice and ran up to attack him!
Round 1______________
All players take their turns in order of posting, enemies will go last.
Seeing the devloping pedicament Sunny jumons up and waving her arms madly trreis to get the giant chicken's attention.
Burian darts up next to the professor.. he splits his braids and attempts to deflect any attacks against him.
With Sunny and Burian rushing over to distract the axebeak, it squawks wildly as it looked back and forth between them.
Turning to Burian, it stretched his neck out and brought its beak down on him!
for a possible damage.
for a possible damage.
for a possible damage.
Bryson continues to harass the group of axebeaks that he has gathered. He hopes the rest of the crew makes it to the cave.