"Seems so" Shalissa smiles to the driad "You should be pretty strong as well if you have survived those cannibals. We found a couple just yesterday and they were very... dangerous"
"I think the cannibals are too afraid to come to me. And I don't invite them here. They have an Unnatur presence about them."
"Do ships come and go to the island from time to time? We have seen there is a lighthouse" the elven woman waits for the answers before pressing Aycenia with more questions "What is all this about a curse making ships crash around?"
"There were a few ships long ago. They came here and build that strange tower. but then they stoped coming and now only shipwrecks arrive at the island. I don't know about a curse, but there is something which was here before even I was born. I don't know much about it, but I don't concern myself with the seas around this island, only with the creatures living here."
Shalissa smiles at the beautiful tree-woman "And you do well not to invite them it seems"
"That is strange, that someone took the time to build such a structure and later never came back but ships started to crash... perhaps building the tower something happened that causes the ships to crash?" the elf looks at the others a bit confused about it.
"Nevertheless, it seems we will have to face this cannibals at want point or another, specially if this lighthouse they live in has some relation to what is happening to the ships around..." the elf takes a long breath then charmingly tries to ask "Can you help us telling us about the cannibals and their base?"
"Oh the shipwrecks happened all the time. They did not start with the tower."Aycenia stop and looks as if she were trying to remember something.
"I think I met one of the people who built it once and he told me they are trying to warn ships off the island. But that was many years agon, when they were still building it, and I might remember it wrongly."
When you ask her about the cannibals she replies.
"They live in a small camp around the lighthouse but they prey all over the southern part of the island hunting for shipwreck survivors. When they find somebody there is always a big feast. They often travel to that lonely hut over by the inner cliffs and hold a big ceremony but I do not know what it means."
"And be warned, something else is below the lighthouse. I am not sure what it is, but it feels evil down there."
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Davor listens to the information considering options. The warning about something below the lighthouse is accepted, but left for later. "If they send out hunters for shipwreck survivors.... Maybe we could set up an ambush! Take out a small group, or two to weaken the camp. The cannibals that we already faced indicated that their number was around twenty. We could possibly cut that number close to half!"
Shalissa raises an eyebrow when Aycenia talks about something below the lighthouse but says nothing "That could be interesting, but how to simulate a shipwreck without a ship?"
"Maybe we can call their attention by making a fire or something else that calls the attention of a large group, then, while they are distracted we can sneak into their base camp and weaken their defenses" offers Shalissa.
Then turning back to Aycenia "There... is another thing. We came south looking after the tracks of the Captain of the Janivere and a woman that walks by him. We think he crashed the ship in purpose. Do you happen to have information about those two and how can we find them?"
"Sink your ship on purpose? Why would they do that?"
"Sink your ship on purpose? Why would they do that?"
"Well, that's just it, isn't it? We don't know, but the evidence points that way. We've suspected that the woman may have charmed our captain, but we don't know anything for sure yet."
"One or the other, or both, didn't want to have to deal with the crew. The crew was drugged and most drowned. The mate saved as many as he could but it looked like the Captain killed him."
"How Horrible!" Aycenia is taken aback wen you tell her about the events on the Jenivere.
"Other ships just accidently drift of course, but this sounds like somebody wanted to come here."
"That's part of why we want to track them down, to get some answers...."
"So... what next? Shall we try to create a fire distraction and then strike at the cannibals base? Or shall we try to find the Captain's track instead?" Shalissa offers a stare to the others trying to find a way forward.
"I'm uncomfortable with the idea that these cannibals could swoop in on us; I feel like they're a constant threat if we don't deal with them now. And if there's some... malevolence... under this lighthouse? Well, that may keep us from ever getting rescued! I think we need to find out what's going on there."
"I like the fire idea. But I think we should hide and ambush the group that they send to check it out. That'll decrease the number we face when we get to their village. And, that way we know we won't have them falling on us from the rear as we attack the village."
"We're going to have to wipe out the cannibals before we explore the lighthouse. We definitely don't want possible enemies behind us when we face whatever is there!"
"It seems we go after the cannibals" Shalissa smiles with a mixture of shyness, malice and self-sufficiency.
"Aycenia, Pezock. Do you know where would be a good place to initiate a controlled fire that would call the cannibals attention and drive them to a good place for an ambush?" the elf looks at those two for advice.
"When the Cannibals attacked our camp they came in a strong force. It might even have been the full tribe. But the send out patrols to check on their traps, so maybe thats a better chance to catch a small detachment of them? Do you have any way to find these people with your magic?"
"So taking out a patrol or two might work better? We'd have to keep our group small to avoid them spotting us. But if we could find the trails that they follow that would work. We let them pass us by and fall on them from behind so they couldn't just run back to their village."
"Magic? Nothing that I have would help find them. But Gregor and I both have training at tracking. If we could find the path they follow after the gulch? With their scouts gone they'll likely try and find out what happened to them. We could also set false trails from there, like we dragged the bodies off. That's something they would do so they'll probably believe it...."
"Well, we can try the southernmost spot. Fighting them in smaller groups seems a good strategy as Davor proposes" Shalissa nods approving the plan "About magic... given access to proper components, maybe, but as of current, stranded in this island... I do not think so"
"It also gives us a chance to find out what has been of the Captain and the Varisian woman too"
"It sounds like a plan, then. We'll try to ambush them at one of their traps; I like it."
Gregor moves up to join the group, nodding to the Nymph as he did so. Shalissa, can you make a fetish similar to what they made but for your diety? Perhaps we can prey on their superstitions and leave a fetish behind afterwards. Then each time we ambush a group, leave a fetish...
Shalissa smiles at Gregor with just half of her lips "Paying them back. Why not? They are going to get very scary"
Later that day while they prepare for the ambush, the elf will gather some branches and herbs and craft a small fetish like Gregor proposes.
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It seems Shalissa's work on the fetish is of higher quality one would expect. Satisfied, she places it in the middle of the path the group has taken as their ambush point.
The elf takes a branch and stabs it in the middle of the path, attaching the fetish on top of it "Is that what you were thinking Gregor?"
After that she tries to hide with the others beyond the jungle undergrowth "Do you think people will believe us when we explain them we had to fight a tribe of cannibals to survive?"
Father Kerndrew positions himself opposite the rest of the party, knowing the odds are far better that he will attract attention than avoid it. "I really don't know how to be quiet, especially not in this armor and whatnot. If you guys all stay over there, maybe when they notice me, it will be a distraction we can take advantage of, so you can surprise them while they're focused on me."
He crouches down behind some of the undergrowth, and hopes for the best.
Knowing where Father Kerndrew is, Davor settles himself in ready with his short bow. He plans to take one shot, then drop the bow and charge in with his dagger ready.
Trying to hide yourselves between the bushes Father Kerndrew soon realizes that he is rather easy to spot in all his shining armor. He decides to place himself as an rather obvious target to distract the cannibals from the others.
After everybody has settled in the long wait begins,but in the late morning a group of Four Cannibals finnally arrive. from the lighthouse. They spot the father from a long distance and ready their weapons to fight.
"They are here" getting a bit too nervous but still with the cannibals too far away Shalissa prefers to just sneak in between Gregor and Davor and touch the half-orc with guidance "You get a surprise on them my friend"
Pezock is hiding deeply in the undergrowth wainting for the Cannibals to go after Father Kerndrew.
The cannibals rush forward drawing their javellins and throw them, but the only clang harmlessly against his armor.
Unfortunately Davor is bitten by a nasty mosquito just as the attack startes and the halforc cries out startled. One of the cannibals seems to have noticed and turns to face the right side of the path and throws his javellin in this direction. Davor distracted by the mosquito is not able to dodge and is hit in the thigh.
Gregor moves through the foliage pulling axes out and waits near the path back to the lighthouse.
(double move)
Seeing their cover broen, Pezock charges ar the nearest cannibal Swinging his sabre at the man.Unfortunately he is tripped up by the undergrowth and misses badly.
Seeing Gregor is too far away to cast a spell in his blade, Shalissa moves forward through the undergrowth and shots a spark of electricity at the red cannibal.
Father Kerdrew darts forward, brushing aside the light ferns in his way as he charges the closest cannibal.
Annoyed by his total fail at stealth, and being hit before he has a chance at action, Davor fires at the closest enemy. (Red)
He then drops his bow and moves forward to the edge of the cover, drawing his magic dagger.
You charge out of your hiding places and charge the cannibals from all directions, rainig blows and rnged attacks on them.
After a short moment of surprise they swarm out to meet the attack. While two of them gang up on the Father the others charge towards Gregor and Davor. Fprtunately you are not anymore surprised by their attacks and deflect them easily.
"Father of Nature, bring the sun on Davor's blade!" Shalissa prays and touches the half-orc dagger that springs in flames as for sun metal.
The elven woman then maneuvers out of the foliage and into a position to menace the cannibal with her trident and give Davor a chance to flank if he wants to risk it "Pincer maneuver Davor!"
Having got to a possible place of blocking any retreat, as one of the tribesmen turned to come back to Gregor, he stepped out onto the path, and swung the hand axe in first and followed up with the battle axe., he slipped on a rock on the path though and his attacks were thrown off badly
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With Shalissa's assistance, magical and otherwise, Davor moves to try for a quick kill.
Pezock cisrcles the Blue haired men trying to keep him between Gregor and him. When Gregor distracts him he lunges forward and cleaves open the mens back with his sabre.
On the other side of the battlefield Shalissa and Davor ma cannibal with terrible red facepaint tries to attack shalissa, but is soon encircled by the two of them and brought down with Davors new fiery blade.
Father Kerndrew continues his focus on the cannibal with the striking green patterns of facepaint, bringing his longsword up in an underhanded stroke with a powerful backswing.
Pulling his fiery blade from the dying cannibal in front of him, Davor sees that Kerndrew has two enemy fighting him. He quickly moves to assist just as the Father slices deeply into the enemy in front of him. Assuming that the attack will kill that one, Davor swiftly confronts the other.
After Father Kerndrew brushes his opponents sabre aside, the cannibal sees the Paladins Longsword coming from slowly down, but is powerless to prevent it crushing into his right side, leaving him dead on the ground.
The remaining Cannibals kepping on raging and attack futily.
"Wow! Good hit Father Kerndrew!" Shalissa gasps relieved when Kerndrew crushes the cannibal's head.
The elven woman waits to see how the group fares. Once everyone has gone, she moves forward and shots a spark to whatever cannibal is still standing, or yellow if both are.
But trying to avoid hitting her friends, the spark goes wide.
Father Kerndrew steps to the side as he pivots to attack the cannibal with swirling yellow face paint, hoping that Davor will follow his lead for a flank target.
Gregor focus' on the Cannibal with the blue face paint between him and Pezock.
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By now the surprise has clearly worn off and the remaining cannibals are able to dodge most incoming attacks with ease.
BUt when Gregor swings both of his axes towards the blue haired Cannibal the man jumps back to avoid the blows but leaves his side open to Pezock.
The Kendu strikes out with his dagger and and catches the man in the side rupturing a few vital organs.
The last remaining Fighter can't see that most his friends beind him are dead already and once more attacks Kerndrew . Full of Rage and with no concern for his own safety he finally manges to break through the paladins defenses and scratches him on the torso.
The last remaining Fighter can't see that most his friends beind him are dead already and once more attacks Kerndrew . Full of Rage and with no concern for his own safety he finally manges to break through the paladins defenses and scratches him on the torso.
Father Kerndrew swings again at the final remaining cannibal, stepping just a bit more to the side to catch the flank with Davor.