| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
With the last cannibal now fallen, Shalissa makes signs for everyone to gather around her "Come here, lets patch up all that bleeding"
She then smiles friendly to Pezock "Nice hit. You were of most help to us"
"It seems our ambush worked. This might be the right moment to assault the cannibals camp" looking up to the sky she adds "Shall we wait for the night or attack immediately?"
"Probably it will be easier to approach after dusk"
Gregor goes around cutting off heads of the cannibals and cutting ther ears off and getting several sticks and putting the heads on sticks near the fetish he piles the ears up before the fetish.
Its bloody work, but when done would cause some superstitious whispers
Shalissa moves over into the jungle, unable to witness Gregor's gore work. There she looks for a few herbs and fresh clay to prepare a poultice.
Once back with the others, hopefully with the work done, Shalissa approaches Kerndrew and Davor "Please come here, this is going to be cold, but it will help" she carefully cleans the wounds and applies the fresh clay so they will not bleed further upon the extreme exercise of the men "My people use to say there is no healing if there is no pain"
The remedy would do no effect though.
Davor feels the relief of Shalissa's channeling energy and sighs. He had mostly forgotten the sting of the javelin as battle had raged, but after it stings to bandage it. Magical healing was so much better.
"Thank you Shalissa. I heard once that pain was needed to grow. But I wondered at the time if they meant causing pain...."
While Gregor moves around causing his gruesome work Davor gathers any useful weapons and checks for valuables.
Once things are gathered he turns to Shalissa again. "Thanks for that spell on my blade! It was kind of fun attacking with a flaming .... Well, dagger. Could you scan the men for magic? I doubt they had any, but it can't hurt to look?"
Shalissa half-smiles at Davor "The Sky Father is the parent of all nature, even the Sun, and his rays are purifying. I am happy she helped you"
"Regretfully we do not have any blunt weapon, but let me check for magical auras around" Shalissa does just that.
"So Pezock, can you guide us to the lighthouse camp?"
The work done, next Gregor finds some stout vines and ties the bodies up t stout limbs of trees, 2 bodies to each side feet up, necks down so carrion seekers can easily come to feast . Not knowing the Cannibals superstitions, but most primitive cultures want some sort of last rites and the more violated the body, the less hope of an afterlife.
The work done, he nods he is ready to move on. Where to next?
"Yes I know where the lighthouse is. But I suggest we return once more to Aycenia to sleep one more night before proceeding. From the hill to the lighthouse its about 4 hours if we stay on the path a bit longer if we want to approach through the jungle."
"Sounds good! That was just a few of their number and we got fairly lucky. We can be fully restored before we brace the main group of them."
"I cannot determine what the pearls are, but they are definitely magical" Shalissa offers them to Davor in case he wants to give them a try at identifying them.
"Ok Pezock, that sounds as a good idea" the elven woman will follow the birdman and once back at Aycenia's refuge, she will finish channeling energy to completely heal the party.
"I think tomorrow we can approach to have a general look at the camp, then, once we understand how it is set out, we can try to sneak in as close as possible"
"I'm a little concerned that we just gave away an advantage," Father Kerndrew points out. "Their number is down, for sure, but now they'll be alert; they know we're on our way."
"Our approach will have to be even more cautious."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Gregor thinks to himself and then says outloud. If I was in their shoes, Id send a warparty after whoever did this. with one of their leaders in command. Lets make sure they find us and not our camp. Let not hide which way we went and prepare for an attack tonight.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"That would place Aycenia in danger. I would never forgive myself if something happens to her for our boldness" Shalissa frowns looking at Gregor "On the contrary, I think we must conceal our tracks as best as possible"
Looking back at the heads on the spears Shalissa crosses her arms around her well shaped breasts and adds "I do start to fear we come from very different places. Where I am from, spirits of nature are revered, and bodies are well treated and not desecrated"
Where I come from too Shalissa; But where I come from people dont eat people either and I dont think you have to worry about Aycenia. Shes lived here on her own for a while....I dont think you have to worry about her defending herself...I think you need to worry about the cannibals that come against her.
Shalissa looks back at Gregor but remains silent and adds nothing else. The elven female follows the team through the jungle sunken in her own thoughts.
"Let's make sure we are ready for an attack tonight--and for an ambush on the way to the lighthouse tomorrow. As long as we complete our objective, Aycenia will be in less danger when we're done, not more." Father Kerndrew makes sure to meet every Pathfinders' eye as he continues. "Let our concern for Aycenia be the fire that fuels our success tomorrow."
"I would agree with Shalissa on the treatment of the bodies, and perhaps we can bury the bodies properly after? Right now we are dealing with cannibals who might gather their dead for a feast.... As disturbing as it all can be we need to focus on tactics for our next battle."
"Here I do agree with Shalissa. While Aycenia is not likely to be in danger due to our actions we definitely don't want to send a war party her way. Let's leave tracks away, for maybe a hundred yards? After that point hide our tracks and head back toward the lighthouse. If we see a war party leaving there, maybe we can follow it? If not, we can determine our tactics for an assault on their camp."
"Stealth isn't really an option unless we had some way to silence the Father's armor. But confusion can sometimes work in place of stealth. Does anyone have an oil flask or alchemist's fire? We could start a fire in the camp, then fall on those that move to fight the flames?"
"I have some alchemist fire and some keros oil" Shalissa offers to Davor "Creating a distraction could be specially useful if we find they have many guards. We can make a patch of smoke with some fallen leafs. Green leafs make a lot of smoke, and there is no need to disturb the natural world by burning the jungle, just a hole with green leafs will do"
"But before that, we should approach to some nearby hill, or climb a high enough tree" Shalissa makes some gestures of how she would approach the camp and smiles at the Father "Even Father Kerndrew can be stealthy if we put enough distance from us and any guard. Once we have a more clear picture from the heights, we can decide where to put our distraction"
"Or perhaps, if they are not many, it is just better to assault already, as creating the smoke would put them just under alert"
"Let's bring the other shipwreck survivors with us in the assault as Gregor is suggesting" Shalissa agrees with the grizzled ranger "We can set a new camp closer to the lighthouse, perhaps by Pezocks beach"
"As they are in not as good shape and we should not risk them unnecessarily, we can ask them to fight in the outskirts of the camp, removing guards and blocking the arrival of cannibal patrols to reinforce the camp" Shalissa makes some gestures in the sand trying to lay out a plan "Meanwhile, we can infiltrate the lighthouse and remove leadership. If we are having troubles we can shout for our friends to come along and help us, or they can shout if they are themselves into trouble"
Gregor nods at Shalissa and says Right lets start the trek back. to Pezocks beach and go from there. We need to still watch for an ambush by the cannibals.
Davor grins when he hears Shalissa mention oil. "I can use a scrap of cloth as a crude fuse and light it with a cantrip, then throw it at the target. I don't mean to light the forest, or even a building that might harm non-combatants. I just think it'd work as a good distraction. A fire would bring a response to fight it, grouping them together. We could then fire on them with missiles, and switch to melee once they sort themselves out to respond."
"Once the fighting starts someone at a little distance should watch for any large response and call for a retreat if it looks like it will be too dangerous. Can anyone cast magic to slow the group if they try to follow?"
"I'm worried about trying to sneak in to the lighthouse without at least seriously hurting the cannibals in the village. What if we get in and then set off some sort of alarm? We can't retreat through a crowd of twenty or more cannibals!"
"We can retreat through the forest if necessary. I have no magic to slow them though" Shalissa explains "I would prefer to spare their lives, but you have seen how our talk with them already ended, and what Pezock and Aycena said about them... I fear it is just them or us... they will not attend to reasons"
"If those that we've already faced are good examples of the rest, talking will be a risky waste of time. This time we sneak in, strike hard and fast. The Lady of Graves can sort them out when they reach her."
After a lengthy discussion the group comes to an agreement how to best attack the cannibals camp. But first you need to travel backwards towards the main camp to get the others and inform them about your plans.
Now that you know the locations of most of the traps in the area you dare to travel by trail once more, leaving a few more of Shalissas idols in prominent places.
A few hours later teh group comes to the area where you first spotted a cannibal trap, when your hear voices shouting ahead. Davor and Gregor sneak closer carefully until they are able to iscaern the voices of Jask and Gelik. You signal the others to come and step around the corner.
When you come nearer you hear Jask say: "Are you okay Gelik?"
"How can I be okay after being janked into the air against a tree and then droped down on my head again. Wasn't it possible to disarm it without cutting the rope." Gelik is shouting angrily at Ishirou.
You rush nearer and find Jask, Ishirou and Aerys from the Jenivere standing around Gelik, who is lying on the ground looking quite banged up.
"Ei! How are you friends? Why have all of you come so far from the base camp?" Shalissa asks a bit surprised about the situation herself, but quickly goes on about the groups findings "We made a crowman friend, his name is Pezock, and also we met a driad called Acyena. It seems our last exploration was useful to met good allies"
"Regretfully we finally clashed with the cannibals... we might need your help with that..." the elven stares at them trying to figure out how they do receive the news or if there is any strange behavior among them.
"I am afraid we have bad news."Jask replies to Shalissas question.
"Sasha went on a hunting trip a few days ago but never returned. We found signs of a battle but no bodies. So we decided that there is still hope to be had and started to follow you trying to find you.".
"That's terrible!" Father Kerndrew exclaims. "I wish we had a way to communicate over a distance," he continues, shaking his head. "As it is, we were on our way to retrieve you. We've found some foes that are causing trouble all over this island, and we'd like your help to assault their compound. It will make all of us safer."
It's too obvious that there's something the Father isn't mentioning. The Pathfinders can easily surmise that he's trying to avoid mention of the cannibals, to not make the other even more worried.
Davor listens to the exchange, and realizes the Father's intent. "You say signs of a battle. What sort of signs? Tracks? If there were no bodies were there signs of any things being dragged away?" He stops when he realizes that he can't say more....
"Trampled grass, some blood on the ground. And Tracks leading us towards this trail. Which is how we came to this place." Aerys tells you a bit more details.
"I shouldn't have let her leave alone, illness or not. we must find her before it's to late."
Gregor pales when he realizes one of their own has been drug off by the cannibals, he turns and starts for the Lighthouse saying over his shoulder . We have no time to waste. We have to strike now! We cant lose Sasha to these fiends.
Shalissa looks worried at Father Kerndrew, Davor and Gregor, then looks back at Aerys "Where they human tracks?"
The elf will hurry up trying to catch up with Gregor "Let's run, we might be able to safe her, we will explain you on our way!"
"Yes probably, but we are no experts in this. Sasha had the best knowledge about tracks."
With a renewed urgency the group turns around and takes off towards the lighthouse. When night starts to approach Father Kerndrew and Gregor pushes onward , but after a while even the two men have to accept that the danger of running into a trap or falling down one of the many cliffs is too dangerous.
As you approach the area you catch glimpses of the lighthouse from afar. The top of the three storied tower seems to be unfinished and some large metal object can be seen rusting in the wet jungle climate. When you are merely a mile away you leave the trail and enter the junge trying to find the southeastern approach as planned.
Gregor is not only able to keep his direction but is able to find a route leading along a rocky Outcro, givoing ample cover from the village.
When you come to the final line of trees, you spot a medium sized wooden hut with a palm-frond roof. and adorned with numerous bones and skulls hanging from the roof. To the right you are able to spot parts of another structure apparentyl some kind of pen for animals. The Lighthouse can be seen behind another piece of jungle.
You notice a foul odour coming from the direction of the hut
Gregor approached the edge of the forest, Battleaxe in hand, Hand Axe in the other. He looked for sentries. as he crouched in the foliage.
As Gregor shakes her up in the morning the Sun has still not appeared in the horizon, but Shalissa rushes to wake up and having a quick breakfast, she prays at the gods of nature "Sky Father, please protect Sasha. Let the wind and the lightning be at our side today and bring peace to the spirits of these wild humans that have descended in the evilness of cannibalism"
Orisons
light
detect magic
divine guidance
create water
Level 1 (4/day)
shocking grasp^
cause fear (Will 14)
protection from evil
obscuring mist
---
Before Gregor and Davor move to scout ahead, Shalissa blesses them "The wind is with you my friends. Do not fear the cannibals. Remember we are here for something good, to save Sasha"
Afterwards she stealthes at 60 feet distance, enough to move and hit with a channel in a single round.
Both Gregor and Davor spot a single cannibal guard sitting in the shade of the nearby trees. So far he seems to be oblivious to your presence.
Father Kerndrew isn't ready to head into what everyone expects to be a full on battle, so he instead stays farther behind, trusting that when things get going, he'll be able to hoof it up to the front before anything gets out of hand.
Shalissa looks back at Father Kerndrew opening her eyes wide in horror "Stay further back Kerndrew, even the laziest of them are going to hear you"
The elven woman readies herself to support Davor and Gregor to surprise the lone guard, trident at hand.
Father Kerndrew tries to stay back, but is losing his footing on the loose stones and falls hard onto the ground.
The guard raises his head and tries to see where the noise came from.
Hearing the noise from behind him Davor glances at Gregor hoping that he is ready to attack. He signals his intent then fires a shot, hoping to take down the single visible guard.
After firing he drops his bow and charges forward drawing his dagger.
Gregor jumped up racing across the open ground and ran past the first opportunity to strike til he was in a position that Favor could flank with then swung his battle axe, but as he got into position and started his pivot, his foot was caught on a root and he missed the opponent.
Gregor rushes forward together with Davor trying to pincer the guard, unfortunately he stumbles when striking with his axe, adding further noise to the combat.
Shalissa rushes forward to the edge of the forest. Setting herself better positioned for help as soon as possible.
Father Kerndrew lets a few choice words fly when he loudly stumbles. Confirming the error as sounds of combat reach his ears, he dispenses with any attempt at Stealth, darting forward as quickly as his legs will carry him.
Hearing everybody rushing forward your companions follow suit and advance towards the battle.
Seeing davor and gregor rush towards him, the cannibal cries out "Beware Malikanda! we are attacked.".
Gregor and Davor see his face turn into a grimace fullof hate before he throws himself at his attacker, but misses wildly
You hear somebody hurrying about inside the hut.
Gregor continues his attack on the cannibal. The battle axe on the reverse swing connected into the side of the warrior, the hand axe however went low and missed.
Shalissa automatically turns towards the place the cannibal is shouting at "The hut. This Malikanda must be inside"
Shalissa moves over the hut door and attempts to open it while holding her trident strong at her hands "Let's not give her time to prepare"
Shalissa brushes the bamboo mat from the doorway and sees and alchemical workshop full of foulsmelling mixtures, herbs, medicines and potions.
On the other side of the room another doorway is covered by a bamboo mat which is still swinging as if somebody just left this way.