Qwerbrac nods to the question of other settlements. "*croak* Many days journey from here." He says gesturing you to follow him back into the main hall of the little fort. Rummaging through a pile of stuff in a storage alcove he eventually finds what he's looking for, a tattered piece of rolled up and moldy leather. Rolling it out, you realize that it is some kind of old map of the region. Ancient is probably the better word to describe the map, since it shows a thriving city not far inland from what is obviously the fort now inhabited by the frogkin. A city that clearly no longer exists. Behtu-Nari. Far to the north along the coast is Sar Shaba, with other markings for smaller settlements that today are likely the Zinj's of the spice and slave trading beys scattered along the coast in between.
The west harbors jungles and mountains and eventually notes that point toward such exotic locals as Omphaya, Terrotu, and eventually Nuria Natal. Although to make that journey by foot would indeed be a legendary tale filled with danger, wonder, and beauty.
Far to the south is the great cape and the land of Sudvall which you passed through on the Delightful Rose and more wild plains, jungles and mountain ranges.
But of more immediate interest is what looks to be a marking for a small town or village several days to the south. No name is given, but when asked Qwerbrac affirms that it is still there. His eyes glance toward Lilly. "Many of her kind live there. *groak*" He swallows deeply, nervous. "Boboglup avoid them because they have often driven us out or hunted us. Not like heroes of Boboglup. *croak*" He adds that last taking you all in with his eyes and a warm, wide smile.
Lil, do you think your people would be receptive to visitors, or likely to try to enslave us? Toki means no offense, but figures that if she does not live among her own peoples, maybe there is a reason...
Lil's ears pick up at news of a possible gathering of her people. "Truly? I must go there and see what is happening. I'd like to invite you all to experience our hospitality".
Hospitality? I like the sound of that!!! Toki perks up, and slaps Beordt on the shoulder, I doubt they would have mead, but it is worth a try, eh?
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"At the moment I will settle for plants that don't try to kill us." He snorts with a laugh.
"Heading South to this new village sounds like a plan. Hopefully they might have ship that could take us.
What say you Captain Torremark? Do we make a try at the village of Minotaurs?" Dacknar asks.
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A night in relative comfort passes within the fort. Toki entertains a few of the younger frog kin after he and Lilly help with those still recovering from the battle with Verrack. Rilkus is able to complete some much needed maintenance before stoically standing watch for any sign of passing ships. Beordt samples the local beverages and finds what they lack in taste is certainly made up for in alcoholic kick. A trade he could live with until discovering one of the main ingredients to be frogkin saliva.
Dacknar manages to haggle three bags of the frogkin healing powder out of Qwerbrac. But when it comes to weapons, the paladin of Schaphigroadaz can only shrug and point to the few weapons held by his guards and people. Simple bows, spears with obsidian tips and a handful of steel short swords and axes.
"Verrack and his witch sold or shipped away any other items of value. *croak*" He says with a sad shrug. The disappointment and regret clear upon his amphibious features. "*groak* They did not trust us to have anything of quality." His eyes drift to where blood still stains the courtyard. "Perhaps they were right to fear us so. *croak*" He adds with a throaty chuckle and wide grin.
Finally morning arrives. Fully rested and ready to leave the simple sanctuary of the frogkin fort, you set out south. The first day takes you along a now familiar stretch of trail. Along the beach where you were attacked. Past the bog where you were attacked. Past the branching trail that led to the clearing where you were attacked. A dangerous land indeed, but with hope of friendlier encounters ahead.
The day passes. Heat and humidity take their toll as the trail turns into a slogging battle with the jungle. Hacking and slashing your way through thick undergrowth in the sweltering southern heat and constant assault of an amazing and wondrous variety of insects takes its toll. By the end of the day there is little that any of you desire more than just dropping you packs, eating and falling asleep. Or in Rilkus' case cleaning the muck and foliage from nearly every spring and gear in his arms and legs.
CON Save
It is hot. It is miserable. But Lily's strong constitution lets her keep going doggedly... barely. She helps Rikus clean out the muck in the areas he had trouble reaching, and spends time encouraging the others in this journey.
"It will be worth it when we arrive. I'm sure of it".
"You have my thanks." Rilkus intoned. "This form is not the most nimble. It would hate taken an aeon to have done this alone." He hoped that his monotone voice would get across the sincerity of his words.
By the end of the day, Toki has his studded leather off and is bare-chesting it as he hacks through the brush with his hand axe... The Northman's toned chest glistening with sweat...
The move through the past battlefields takes little toll on the Bearfolk. "I think we were attacked here. . . oh and over here too."
As others grow more tired Beordt takes to doing more work clearing the way and point out easier paths.
Let us look for a place to set up camp... Toki says as he draws the back of his wrist across his brow. How about that area there?
"This blasted sun. I need a breather." Dacknar chokes out.
Too tired to really find a good campsite, Toki simply calls a halt on the first patch of reasonably dry and open ground. Rilkus and Lilly work on clearing the gearforged dwarf's gummed up mechanisms while Dacknar and Toki simply toss their gear down and try to catch their breath.
It is Beordt who discovers the less than ideal conditions of the campsite when he slips away into the jungle to answer natures call. As he squats in a comfortable spot, the heavy bearkin finds himself quickly sinking into the sand. His initial attempts to scramble free simply drag him deeper into the quicksand and within a surprisingly short time he finds himself up to his thighs in the soupy, sucking sand.
Beordt given the situation struggles quietly.
He rolls to the side and grabs a thick branch that gives him leverage out of the quagmire. Beordt returns from the side. "Be wary. The jungle still want's us dead."
Toki mumbles something and rolls over onto his side and the snoring commences...
Toki looks back, Why do you smell like wet fur? ^_^
"Most likely dangers from the jungle." Rilkus intoned. He desperately wanted to be in a place which did not cause his gears to clog. He wondered if spending too long in such an environment would cause him to rust...
Toki nods, That makes sense...
The Northman rolls over and back to sleep...
Who gets the reprieve
Lil goes over to where Toki is resting. "Surely you can't sleep till you've composed at least one stanza about our recent adventures".
Lil Reaches out and gently waves her hands above the exhausted human.
Besides we need another to stand watch tonight". she says with what you've come to believe is a smile.
Toki takes a breath, refreshed, Many thanks to your god, Lil! Get some rest, I will take the next watch...
The night passes without event until about half way through when another squall blows in off the ocean. For about two turns of the hourglass it is as if the gods themselves were trying to drown you in your beds. The wind howls and barrels upon barrels of rain deluges from the night sky leaving everyone chilled, soaked, and questioning the soundness of making this journey.
Finally the storm passes and the constant, rhythmic dripping of water in the jungle lulls you back to sleep despite the damp. Before you know it, the sun is rising above the waves in the east and the cacophony of birds, monkeys, and other jungle critters is filling the air in the usual greeting of a new day.
This day passes similar to the first. A hard slog through dense foliage along a swampy, insect infested trail. It is becoming clearer and clearer why the frog folk retreated to this particular stretch of coastline. No one else is foolish or desperate enough to try and take it away from them.
Another night, another storm, another soaking. Rilkus fears rust and rightly so. The rest of you begin to wonder about fungus and molds and mildews which seem to be popping up in rations, inside perpetually damp knapsacks, in your boots.
Day three, day four and day five all follow a similar pattern. Hot, damp, and humid during the day. Warm, soaking wet, and miserable at night.
The sixth day begins much the same as the others until around midday when Lilly and Dacknar both suddenly hiss a warning.
Toki looks back, Why do you smell like wet fur? ^_^
Beordt lets out a short snort in protest.
When the deluge comes down Beordt takes the opportunity to rinse off in the rain. "Well now its a fesher wet fur smell."
Beordt thankful that he does not weigh himself down with heavier armors takes to the time in stride.
When the warning comes up he draws forth his great curved blade.
"We have shadows on the Port and Starboard sides. Be ready for an attack." Dacknar whispers to the others. And on the count of five, he slowly draws his blades.
Dacknar then tries to spot what's out there.
Then he tries to drift away in the foliage to gain the surprise on those who might attack.
Toki laughs at the deluge, saying something about Tor's blessing or some such nonsense, obviously trying to cheer you all up as he laughs in the face of the squall.
--
Later, when Dacknar warns of an imminent attack, Toki hacking a path, finds an excuse to arm his shield and use it to shove brush out of the way, while surreptitiously trying to get a look at what might be out there...
Lily holds up one massive hand, in sync with Dacknar's warning, and looks intently to the west trying to pick out more detail. She pulls her shield, and spear into a defensive position, and slowly moves towards the movement.
Perception
At Dacknar's warning everyone stops and scans the surrounding jungle. Suddenly the dense foliage and stifling air isn't just an annoyance and something to be hacked through, it's also confining. Like being stuffed in hot, humid basket of fruit in a Nurian market. No room to move, no room to see.
Nobody see's anything for several seconds until Lilly lets out another warning shout. It's just enough to give you all a chance to avoid the snapping jaws of a pair of large four legged creatures each covered with enormous quills as they burst out of the jungle cover to cook and grab their next meal.
The first opens its reptilian jaws and shoots forth and cloud of super heated steam that scalds flesh and removes wrinkles. Rilkus, Toki, and Dacknar all get caught in the searing wet heat.
The second makes a grab for the nearest target which happens to be Lilly. Busy ducking away from the steam, she doesn't see the second threat until it is much too late. The creature's jaws clamp down around her shoulder and upper body. Needle teeth piercing armor and flesh with ease.
Beordt roars in fury and rushes the creature that bit into Lily.
Lil! By the strength of your ancestors, Stand tall!
Dacknar bobs when he should have weaved. Running right into the spikes.
Bleeding he slashes the beast.
EDIT:
"At last a sensible monster. No flowers. No disgruntled mud."
Toki slaps Beordt's shoulder and laughs, Tor smiles upon us!
Taking a face full of steam, Rilkus swung wildly, missing his target. Luckily his steel form was well suited for withstanding the attack.
Roaring in pain, Lily thrashes her head back against the offending beast attempting to pierce it with her sharp horns.
Horns
Holes
She then calls forth an additional faintly glowing blue set of horns that zoom in behind the creature and attempt to pierce it from the other side.
Spirit horns
Spirit holes
But the spray of blood in the air seems to have spoiled the spirit horns attack.
Dacknar feels the full blast of the drake's steamy blast, while it isn't quite hot enough to cause serious damage to the iron frame of Rilkus and it simply reminds Toki of the hot sauna's he used to take with the old men in the cold lands of the north.
In retaliation, Dacknar strides forward to slash his short blade across the beast's snout. The beast jerks back and away, but when the elf goes to grab his dagger and follow up on the opening, he finds the hilt too hot to handle and reflexively drops it to the ground.
Beordt lets forth a growl and swings his greatsword in a wide arch, lashing quills and flesh from the drake's side.
Rilkus steps up to the creature attacking Lilly and tries to land a blow with his mighty hammer but the wrestling match with Lilly has the drake moving too quickly and the blow strikes a nearby palm instead of its intended target.
Using her natural weapons to her advantage, Lilly punctures drake flesh with her horns, but is unable to follow up as pain and blood hinder the aim of her spell.
The first drake snaps its wicked jaws at Beordt and manages to catch a bit of bearkin flesh, but the wound is neither deep or life threatening. The second creature continues to go after the minotaur, but this time Lilly is able to duck away and avoid the snapping teeth.
Drake One: 45/68 HP
Drake Two: 63/68 HP
Rilkus tried to attack the drake, but found that his hammer was well and truly lodged into the palm that he had hit. It took two strong tugs until the weapon came free.
Beordt shakes off the bite and brings his fury to the beast in return.
Toki leaps at the creature on Lil and swings with his axe!
Dacknar stabs at the creature then ducks away into the jungle.
Tossing her head and bellowing in anger... and pain... Lily thrashes her head trying to spear her antagonist with her horns.
Gore
Gore hole.
But the wily beast is able to move aside from the blow, as the blood from his wound runs into her eyes.
Spiritual Gore
Spiritual Gore Hole.
And her spiritual horn attack is almost as bad. Things look grim for the stalwart Cleric.
Working in unison with Beordt, Dacknar slips his blade between two likely looking ribs of the big drake and then drifts back and away in order to avoid any retaliation. Beordt's sword swings around and clips nothing but a few quills from the spiny drake. Unwilling to back down, the bearkin lunges forward and bites the drake on its long neck. Unfortunately as Beordt sinks his teeth into the creatures hide, he discovers it is also covered in tiny quills that jab into his gums and palette.
Rilkus wrestles his hammer free of the palm, but is unable to connect with the enemy. But Toki steps in for the gearforged and draws the second drakes ire away from Lilly as his axe slams into the beast's shoulder. Blood flows. The drake roars.
Weak and bleeding from many punctures Lilly flails wildly at the beast mauling her but her efforts are in vain as she does nothing but bounce of the drake's thick hide.
The first drake swings it's long neck around and snaps again at Beordt. This time it catches the bearkin in his side and several needle teeth puncture armor and flesh.
The second drake strikes at Toki and his nasty axe. With surprising quickness the beast lunges and snaps. The northern bard feels pain as teeth sink into his flesh as well leaving a fine set of punctures and tears bleeding across his shoulder.
Drake One: 27/68 HP
Drake Two: 54/68 HP
The comedy of errors continued, as the sap from the palm covered the hammer, causing it to slip from the gearforge's grip. With a whirring of gears, the gearforged retrieved the hammer. He would have blushed if it were possible.
Grunting with the pain, Toki calls at the beast, Is that the best you got? You hit like a pup!