"No, no, NO!" The shifter yells, pulling her spear out and ramming it repeatedly into the foul brain-thing. "You are not touching me!"
She proceeds to destroy the creature, grinding it into paste under her boot heels with unnecessary vehemence.
Morgana finishes the creature off in emphatic fashion and silence falls in the clearing. Examining the body turns up nothing conclusive but there is a masterwork hand-axe clearly visible in the stream, stamped with the sigil of the Bountiful Venture Company, suggesting that the woman was one of the first wave of colonists...
Pressing on further you reach the edge of the forest and, from the top of a small rise, can see the Peregrine's masts in the next bay over. There is also a strange discoloration in the ground between you and the bay. When you go closer you find a long swathe of ground pock-marked with thousands of tiny holes, covered with minute depressions and trampled grass. A first impression suggests a path left by hundreds of thousands of insects marching in a tight formation, but none of the plants appear to be eaten or damaged. Where the strange trail intersects with obstacles, it either splits and goes around the obstacle like water, or veers to avoid it entirely.
There is no way of following the trail without diverting away from the Peregrine but it might bear closer examination.
it is consistently about 10 feet wide with some minor variances, usually where the terrain is uneven.
Shamautiel doesn't notice anything unusual.
"Whatever it was kept their spacing perfect." Morgana says, using her spear as a measuring instrument. "You see, the trail is ten foot wide, all the time."
"So it wasn't insects?" Vasia questions hesitantly. "We should probably follow the trail. We don't want to delay too much."
"Oh!" Melody gets down on her knees to look at the holes "Like someone stabbed the ground with sewing needles." Melody rummaged around in her pouch for a needle, and mimicked the action "Or some other small spike."
"We do need to get back to the Peregrine." Morgana agrees. "This will keep for another day, its a long way from the colony."
"Agreed. Let's press on, ladies!" Shaumatiel declares.
The island shoreline arcs to the northwest until it hooks sharply south like a bird’s beak to form a small cape. Anchored offshore is the Peregrine. Pulled up on the shore is a ship’s boat, evidence of a landing party. Ramona is waiting with four of the colonists, who are all slouched across the boat, leaning on oars or dangling their feet in the water. Only Ramona seems nervous, and she has tracked a path at least four inches thick into the sand from her pacing. That said, when she sees you approach she slows, but doesn't come running over, maintaining her poise as leader of the colony.
"“You’re here, that’s a relief. We had some... unexpected problems. I’ll tell you about it, but first I’d like to hear your report on the colony. What did you discover?”
"They're gone. All of them," Vasia explains succinctly. "There doesn't look to be any sign of a major battle or predatory invasion, but we've found some indicators of violence." She looks out over the sea and then back over the island.
"Almost the entirety have been taken. Whether as captives or ... otherwise, we don't know. There's another cave we'd like to explore that looks as if it has produced some sort of tentacled-armed creatures. Maybe we'll find more clues there." She turns back to Ramona.
"In any case, it looks to be safe at the moment for everyone to disembark. It's going to take some work to make the place livable again, but it's achievable. If we don't find anything else in the cave, we'll begin searching the rest of the island using the settlement as our base."
"The various dangers in the village were all natural." Morgana says. "A few goblins, a carnivorous plant, the settlement was fine but abandoned." She frowns. "But there was one thing, something odd." She gestures to Melody. "We found some sort of clockwork, which definitely wasn't natural. Still, once we deal with the cockroaches and check the well it should be safe enough."
Melody looks at Morgana's hand waving generally in her direction as she talks, before the mental switch fires and "Oh! Yes, here." she rummages for a moment and pulls out the pretty little clockwork she had stashed away.
"We also found a magical glowing sword!" Shaumatiel says excitedly, unsheathing her magical glowing sword to show Ramona its magical green glow.
Ramona gives a wan smile when Shaumatiel produces her sword. "Well, that's good news at least. We need some." She pauses, and then sighs. "Look, don't spread this around but I need you to help. We sailed here just fine but just as we entered the bay our speed dropped to practically nothing. We had a full sail, no sand bars, anchors or giant monsters. A sailor went down under the ship and didn't find anything - but now people are saying that the ship is cursed. Look, we need good news and ideally mascots - people that we can put our faith in for when things go wrong. I'd like you all to take that role, become our 'troubleshooters' for want of a better word. If you do I'll make sure you girls get some good housing straight away, and keep you off some of the colony duties. That seem fair?"
"Thank you all." Ramona says, some of the worry lifting from her face. "Right. Two problems - one, whatever is slowing the ship. Two - morale. I can try and keep spirits up while you look under the ship? Or you can come with me and take buoy everyone's spirits first? Either way we need to move quickly before anyone watching decides we're plotting their demise and panics."
She gives a grin, but its clearly forced.
"Of course we'll help!" Morgana says, although she does look at Vasia for permission first. "Probably best we look at the ship first. Then there's proof that the ship is ok, that should help right?"
In the old days she could probably have charmed the crew into good cheer, but these days she just doesn't have the kind of divine charisma she once did.
”Ooh! I always wanted to be a mascot! Go team Talmandor!” Shaumatiel says, winking and flashing a peace sign.
”Yep, let’s go swim under the ship and check it out!”
"Should we... try and do both?" Melody asks softly from below. "I... could talk to the people, tell them about all the great things you all are doing to keep them safe, while you investigate the ship. I don't know much about magic." she admits. Leaving out she doesn't really know how to swim, not one bit.
"Of course Melody. That's a good idea." Morgana agrees, easily picking up on the halfling's reluctance to swim. "Keep them happy while we sort the hull out."
Melody's beating heart settles, and she nods with relief "I will do my best." she assures the Morgana.
Jenica kneels down next to the halfling and presses a lingering kiss to the girl's cheek. "You'll do wonderful, my lovely," she purrs into Melody's ear.
Melody smiles around her blush "I just have to tell them about you all, so it will be easy."
"And I just can't resist that blush," Jenica says with a growl as she slides one hand behind Melody's neck and presses her lips against the halfling's.
It takes a emphasized throat-clearing from Vasia before the spectre releases the small woman.
"Sorry," she says, though her smirking expression clearly says that she's not. "She's just so hard to resist." She licks her lips and then steps back.
Rowing back to the Peregrine Ramona and Melody climb back up to the deck, leaving the rest of the ladies to investigate the ships hull. After a circuit around the ship nothing can be detected at the waterline and the only solution is to get into the water and investigate under the ship for yourselves...
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On the deck of the Peregrine, the tension is so palpable it can be cut with a knife. Within moments of getting on board Melody has already heard at least two conversations about how heading back to Varisia is the only sensible course of action. Meanwhile the sailors and their officers are standing around looking sullen and apprehensive - even if every colonist was Melody's size there is no way there is enough food to make a return journey with everyone on board.
Ramona leans down to whisper in Melody's ear. "If we can convince the right people I think everyone else will come around. Try talking to Antona, Perrell, Harcourt and Faedwyr. They're all respected - enough of them on our side should do the trick."
Antona: Sense Motive, DC 16.
Faedwyr: Know Nature, DC16
Harcourt: Know Local/Nobility, DC16.
Perrell: Know Arc/Eng/His, DC16.
Shaumatiel dives into the water, kicking her feet to propel herself under the ship to check it out!
As they return to the ship, Vasia recommends that Jenica remain out of sight of the superstitious crew. But rather than just recall her into her own subconscious, she sends her down into the water as she climbs up onto the deck.
Morgana shucks her armor and slips into the water with only her buckler and spear. She waves up at Vasia before ducking under the water.
Vasia remains quiet, moving among the crew, listening to the conversations and getting a feel for the people of interest before returning to Melody's side. Kneeling down, she whispers into the woman's ear.
It doesn't take Vasia long to place Antona. The woman has spent most of the voyage out nursing a rather obvious crush on Ramona, which she acted on the night before reaching Ancorato. Ramona politely, but firmly, turned Antona down and it seems obvious that the rebuffed lover is stirring up trouble in the hope of seeing Ramona fail. A stern talking to, or a more gentle warning, should serve to shut her up.
Melody has seen a fair bit of Harcourt as the man made himself impossible to miss (sadly) on the trip from Magnimar. A wealthy merchant in Varisia Harcourt is self important and likes to be seen as a mover and shaker amongst the new colonists. Perhaps asking his help in assuaging the others passengers fears would make him more positive?
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Underneath the ship the swimmers soon find the source of the problem. Two small fish have latched onto the bottom of the ship and seem to retarding its motion in a matter utterly impossible based on their size alone. Nearly translucent its easy to see how the earlier sailors missed them.
Unfortunately the fish do not seem keen to let go of their prize...
Shaumatiel conjures a lightning bolt to strike one of the fish!
Unaccustomed to the underwater environment, Jenica struggles and fails to reach the peculiar fish.
"You shouldn't... stir... up... ... um... I'm sorry." Melody tries to talk to Antona about her feelings "Love is... no... it can hurt. A lot... so much... but you can't - Shouldn't -... maybe... I'm sorry." disastrously trying to talk about someone's feelings at least.
Morgana struggles in the water, making more progress than Jenica but not enough...
The fish avoids the worst of Shaumatiel's lightning but does seem stung into action, darting towards the extremely splashy Morgana! The other remains attached to the ship. It latches on to the shifter's arm, biting deep
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Antona gives Melody a glare. "What would you know short-stuff? You don't have anyone. How could you know anything about love."
Shaumatiel zaps the fish again!
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Melody's eyes blink, her heart cowers back from the acquisition of being alone, one that is both true and false at the same time. The halfling nods slowly and moves away from the woman, in kind of a daze.
Vasia places a hand on the halfling's shoulder, preventing her from walking away.
"You have no right to say something like that to her," she says to Antona. "You know nothing about her. She loves and is loved." Her eyes switch to Melody's, her meaning clear. "It's a sincere and true love." She looks back at the woman that would say such spiteful things. "While it may have its own ... unique ... challenges, that doesn't make it any less valid than any other. You would be demonstrating wisdom by listening to her recommendations on the subject."
She kneels down next to Melody and draws the halfling into a hug. "My bunica has many faults and flaws, but do not doubt for a moment that she truly loves you," she whispers. "We'll find a way to make this work, I promise."
Morgana drops her spear, which floats towards the surface, and tears at the fish with teeth and claws.
Melody sighs into the hug. She has doubts within doubts, but not that that one... at least at most times. "thank you" she whispers back, feeling that is all she can say. She does manage a small smile once she is out of Vasia's arms, signaling she is feeling a little better.
Jenica continues to float ineffectually in the water as Morganna bites back at the echeneis. It spasms slightly as Shaumatiel zaps it again but holds on tight to Morganna, sapping her speed as it does so.
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On board the Peregrine Antona looks rather shame-faced by Vasia's dressing down and retreats to a post in the bow. Without her rabble-rousing a few people start turning their attention to Ramona - progress.
With her speed sapped by the thing on her arm Morgana is able to do little more than bite sluggishly at it while her blood clouds the water...
Shaumatiel tries to swims over to Morgana to lay hands on her. Floundering in the water, she insteads zaps the fish again.
Finally managing to figure out this whole 'swimming' thing, Jenica moves close enough to the fish to swing a spectral blade at it.
Between the three underwater combatants the first fish is finally felled, although Morgana continues to feel dangerously sluggish in the water.
The second fish has been happily ignoring you, still latched onto the ship and working whatever strange magic it is up to in order to steal its speed.
Shaumatiel manages to make it to Morgana’s side, laying healing hands upon her.
With some help from Shaumatiel Morgana nods and heads to the surface. After a few gulps of air she ducks under the ship once more.
Melody is not especially manipulative or generally knows how people think, so she does the only thing she is really good at. Stories.
Melody tentatively comes up to Harcourt "Hello sir, I was wondering if you could, by any chance, help with the story. This 'one' that we are in. There are heroes, the ones that action scenes center on, like the one going on under the water now with our Shanumatiel, Morgana, and Jenica." she keeps her worry about how that is going out of her voice, hopefully.
"And there is the rest of us, who keep everything else moving. We're still part of the story, we're mentioned in them through the centuries if we are lucky, with more of a chance the greater we help keep that 'everything' moving." she looks around at the worried passengers "This is one of those pivotal moments in the story where someone like me, or you, can enter it and become a permanent part of the narrative. Would you help with that? Keeping them calm, keeping them focused on the future?"
Vasia suppresses a smile as Melody weaves magic of her own to draw Harcourt into her spell.
Turning her attention to Perrell, she leans against the ship rail and tries to ignore the waves of frustration flooding into her from her bunica's attempts to swim. She gazes out at the unexplored island. "I can't even try to imagine what sort of wonders are waiting for us to discover that the Azlanti left behind," she says. "Books and scrolls and artifacts that haven't seen the light of day in countless lifetimes. And we get to be the ones that get the privilege of revealing them to the world."
She turns and looks back over the ship.
"That is, unless doubters and murmurers take the day. There are so many secrets of history that remain so because people lack the courage to seek them out."
With air replenished Jenica, Morgana and Shaumatiel assail the next fish.
Only Morgana lands a hit, but the rainbow fish, without its companion to back it up, disengages and then disappears through the sea in a veritable blur of motion - the kind of speed that can only be magical. At least the ship is free now though...
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Melody's moving story/abject plea seems to be just the thing to move Harcourt. He brushes off his luxuriant mustache and stands up straighter. "Thank you little miss. There's no need to worry, I will set things straight. There's no need for gloom. We have a well found ship and determination!" He goes on at some length but his aristocratic bearing and confidence seem to sway the crowd impressively.
"They say its horribly dangerous." Perrell replies, with a nervous look out to the island shore. "I know the opportunities are huge but I'm not a warrior, nor an archaeologist like Dr Henry Jones at the Stone of Seers."
Vasia murmurs encouragement and Perrell gradually perks up. "That's true! I may not be an archaeologist, but I am a librarian, and if there's knowledge to be found then I must! Thank you Vasia."
With three of the main sources of uncertainty now on your side Ramona is easily able to regain the trust of the majority of the colonists. Shortly afterwards a gust of wind shivers the ships sails and the Peregrine moves easily through the bay waters, prompting a spontaneous cheer from all concerned.
Once back on the ship, Shaumatiel tends to Morgana's injuries.
"There you are, right as rain! Falayna provides!" The elf squeezes her fellow warrior's shoulder then straightens and stretches, feeling the wind in her hair.
"So, what's next? Back to the colony to settle in?"