Calling to the Professor and Tavey,
"Go-wan! Git ye after them others!"
While trying to aid Burian in distracting the giant chicken.
Marius bided his time for the moment, waiting to see if any of the roving birds took an interest in the commotion and readying himself to intervene if they did.
Round 1______________
Bryson continues to harass the group of axebeaks that he has gathered. He hopes the rest of the crew makes it to the cave.
'Sunny' Called to the Professor and Tavey, "Go-wan! Git ye after them others!"
While trying to aid Burian in distracting the giant chicken. Aid another while being rilly defensive, like
Marius bided his time for the moment, waiting to see if any of the roving birds took an interest in the commotion and readying himself to intervene if they did.
Readied action to cast glitterdust. But no other bird takes action so far.
(npc) Burian continued to defend.
(npc) Ghirrak decided to move while concealed by the treeline to get closer to the nest.
Tavey withdrew back into the tree line until he was hidden.
Professor Forol also withdrew into the tree line until he was concealed again.
The terror bird group D-E-F continues to jump up at Bryson in a futile attempt to drag him out of the trees.
Axebeak 1 continues to attack Burian!
for a possible damage.
for a possible damage.
for a possible damage.
With two of her freinds out of harms way for now Sunny does her best not to leave Burian in the lurch as she moves away from both him and the good Professor.
Having sustained significant wounds, Burian cautiously withdraws as well.
Marius had been taking the time to think, and with the situation somewhat stable for the moment, he started quietly briefing the crew on his plan, illustrating a proposed path with hand gestures.
"Alright. If we can distract the flocks, and deal with that last nesting bird, you should be able to follow a relatively clear path down the middle. Keep a respectable distance from the nests, stick together and support each other. Spread the word."
With that, Marius cast a spell on himself and slipped quietly behind Bryson. With his swimming abilities suitably enhanced, he dove into the river and swam towards the spot he'd chosen for his own distraction. Once there, assuming the professor's rescue party hadn't picked up on the plan, he could shout it at them, secure in the knowledge that the birds wouldn't understand him and the shouting would just make him more of a distraction.
In what might prove a costly oversight, he had not considered the possibility that the river might hold dangers of its own.
Sunny scampers back into the bushes with Tavey and the Professor.
(^_^)
Round 2______________
With two of her freinds out of harms way for now Sunny does her best not to leave Burian in the lurch as she moves away from both him and the good Professor.
Having sustained significant wounds, Burian cautiously withdraws as well.
Marius had been taking the time to think, and with the situation somewhat stable for the moment, he started quietly briefing the crew on his plan, illustrating a proposed path with hand gestures.
"Alright. If we can distract the flocks, and deal with that last nesting bird, you should be able to follow a relatively clear path down the middle. Keep a respectable distance from the nests, stick together and support each other. Spread the word."
With that, Marius cast a spell on himself and slipped quietly behind Bryson. With his swimming abilities suitably enhanced, he dove into the river and swam towards the spot he'd chosen for his own distraction. Once there, assuming the professor's rescue party hadn't picked up on the plan, he could shout it at them, secure in the knowledge that the birds wouldn't understand him and the shouting would just make him more of a distraction.
In what might prove a costly oversight, he had not considered the possibility that the river might hold dangers of its own.
Marius' proposed path for the crew is marked in green , with spots requiring distractions or intervention from the characters marked with a red x. Bryson already has one spot covered. I can't seem to move Marius' icon, but he'll ultimately be heading for the red x in the river.
He's cast Ride the Waves on himself, giving him a swim speed and water breathing for 7 hours.
Sunny scampers back into the bushes with Tavey and the Professor.
(Is every one able to hear Marius' plan/ideas?)
(If so Sunny will either voulteer to help with/in the river or, if people need to be spread out, she'll scamper around to help out at some other place.)
Professor Forol and Tavey Nask retreat back into the jungle foliage, bearing their large axebeak egg.
Sunny retreated as well, attracting Axebeak 1 attention from Burian.
Ghirrak waited.
Sunny attempts to hustle the Professor and Tavey along towards where every one else is heading. Tough definately trying to stay safer than sorry.
Well, this was not ideal. He probably should have been aware that there would be hungry creatures in the water as well. Best to resolve the situation quickly if at all possible.
Cupping his hands to his mouth, he called, "Could we get a distraction on the far side, and make sure the crew have a clear run to the cave!"
This done, he cast a fly spell on himself, ready to take to the air if the crocodilians started to close in on him. That probably wouldn't do his distraction any good, but there was no sense in getting eaten. It might be possible to set crocodilians and birds against each other, but he wasn't sure how to achieve such a goal.
Sunny gets ready to be all 'Distacting' at Marius' call.
Ghirrak also prepares to act as a distraction. He and Sunny were by far the fastest on land among them, with the best chance of escaping.
Axebeak 1 outraged at the theft of her egg, turns on Sunny with extreme prejudice!
for a possible damage.
for a possible damage.
for a possible damage.
Professor Forol and Tavey Nask withdraw through the jungle paths with their ill gotten egg.
Axebeak 1 outraged at the theft of her egg, turns on Sunny with extreme prejudice!
Claw attack 2: 1d20+6⇒(18)+6=24 for a possible 1d4+4⇒(1)+4=5 damage.
"Owie!" (>_<)
Sunny smacks the naughty bird in the beak for swiping a claw at her.
"Bad Chee-Kan!" She admonishes the critter loudly. Even as the source of the bird's ire continues to scarper away.
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has everyone, but the PCs, Tavey and the Professor made it to the tunnel?
If that is the case, Bryson will Summon Nature's Ally for medium air elementals to carry the pair to the goal as well as fight off any terror birds along the way. Bryson will also take wing to run interference for them.
Bryson, from his perch in the trees, can see the field most clearly.
As indicated by the boxes on the map, there is a safe zone inbetween where the various flocks are being distracted where the passengers and crew can move...
Except for the farthest north flock. And beyond them, the Huge towering figure of the Nest-Mother. She seems to be agitated at the cries of her children.
He can see that Tavey and the Professor are moving in the tree line back to where the rest of the passengers are, just south of the map. They and the passengers haven't moved out yet because the way is not clear.
Marius' plan is a good one, and after a degree of communication and coordination is established, and the axebeaks decoyed over to the east allowing the refugees a clear route to the tunnel.
Last of those to enter is Bryson, who is given pause when the Nest-Mother screams a challenge, tugging at the savage instincts still tugging at Bryson's emotions.
Bryson fights against the urge to prove that he is the stronger. He tries to resist the urge to slash the Nest-Mother with his talons and bury his fangs into her flesh.
(^_^)
"Not worth it Bryson!" Ghirrak says with a powerful finality, making direct eye contact.
In an agony of self control over a savage beast within, and aided by the push/pull of Sunny's and Ghirrak's aid, Bryson controls his inner beast and turns away from the challenge.
As the castaways continue down the tunnel, the dim light of the entrance-way behind them cuts out as suddenly as the Nest-Mothers screamed challenges; in a rumble of collapsed stone.
The tunnel is about twenty feet across and barrel arched to about ten feet high. The stone is black, so any unlit area is absolutely pitch black.
As you travel, you see that portions are worked, while others are natural (think lava tube). Portions of the tunnel seem to have two grooves like a track, whereas others there are no trace of them.
And the wear pattern you see indicates this had been trod by many, many feet, and is very, very old.
(^_^)
Marius was, frankly, highly suspicious of the collapse. It certainly wasn't the work of the birds, he didn't think they'd triggered any ancient booby-traps (and besides, weren't such traps meant to come down on top of your head, rather than behind you?), and the odds of spontaneous collapse at just the wrong moment seemed low. No, this was surely malice, and he was resolved to be on his guard against the perpetrator.
As a result, he had positioned himself at the rear of the group, making sure there weren't any stragglers and keeping a wary eye on their backtrail. For all the good it did - the shining stone orbiting about his head didn't cast its light as far as he might like.
He hadn't voiced his suspicions as yet, and was leaning towards quietly spreading the word to the other partners. However sure he might feel, he was aware the collapse wasn't a lot to go on, and might not warrant further stressing the colonists.
Bryson can see in the dark and with his Perception he is most likely to see any danger coming.
He'll take the lead.
Sunny moves closer to her freind Tavey, absently reaching for his hand ion the gloom even as she peers off into the darkness before them.
"T'is bein' dark in here... in-it?" She whispers qielty.
Which way is 'Up'?
Up direction is South.
Bryson turns to the group. "No rest 'till we out of this 'fernal place." The tension and irritation in his voice is obvious. "Only the dead rest here." He stalks off into the tunnels expecting the rest to follow.
With rest stops, you travel more than six hours before rising tempers, thirst and hunger demand you stop for a full eight hours of rest.
Despite there being nothing to burn, some of the castaways brought wood suitable for burning; so some small cook fires were established.
Sunny helps as best she can in the gloom.
Doing her best to help keep people feeling okay.
Though it's clear that the tanned, plucky Elf is definately not feeling at all at home here down in the dark.
"Uhm..... Hellooo...?"
(>_>)
Marius made sure a watch was set, with shifts of capable people keeping an eye on their surroundings.
"I'm sure we're being followed," he said quietly to Sunny, "But they don't seem inclined to show themselves, and I doubt they're friendly."
Before the others settled in to rest, he would quietly spread the word among the other partners that he was sure they were being followed by something and to keep their guard up.
After several hours of travelling next day...
You still have a feeling of being watched by something behind you down the tunnel. Something coldly intelligent and wickedly amused.
Walks along closer to who ever she can.
"I rilly dun't like this place..."
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Bryson turns to Ghirrak. "Shouldn't rest again." He keeps moving while keeping a watch.
"I could send Welt back to investigate... unlikely he will be seen."
Welt turns to mist, and disappears back down the tunnel.
Continues to pad along barefoot in the dark of the tummel/corrdoor alongside whomever is happiest with her company...
The main party stopped suddenly, and a low murmurring caught the party's attention.
Moving up to the front, you all see the tunnel opened up in front of you in a vasty chamber. It is black and silent, and the smell of mildew stronger here. To your right is a stagnant fountain, half filled with filthy water.
There is no sign of Bryson, as the chamber stretches out to your left beyond your vision (lit or otherwise).
Suddenly, looming out of the darkness ahead of you is a raised dais; A stone throne sits atop it, filthy and mildewed. A large humanoid ribcage is pinned to the stone back of the throne, held there by an ancient spear, while all around it lie the remainder of the poor soul's bones.
You feel the flow of rank water to your right here, as there is a stairway up.
Suddenly you hear people behind you back where you came in.
From the darkness, the group hears Bryson, "Don't y'all come in here jest yet. I gotta feelin something ain't right."
From the throne, you perceive the lance like a bright bar of light in the darkness.
Sunny halts at Master Bryson's words. Absently snuggling closer to whom ever she's been padding along besides in the darkness....
Going back to the fountain and poke around, you feel through the lance something in the muck in the bottom. Your magic sense feels something in the fountain; something complex but of minor magnitude. Also difficult to pinpoint exactly.
For the rest of you, you hear a noise like a collapsing building somewhere away in the dark. A minute later, you see Bryson's red eyes appearing out of the dark, (I'm assuming cat form?).
He starts probing the scummy water of the fountain with the lance; and after a minute of doing that, it appears like he hit something in the muck on the bottom.