Tempest sighs tersely as the living corpses reveal themselves, "Oh. Great. Walking dead people."
Drawing on her connection with the living storm, she moves forward, alongside Mac, all but gliding across the ground as if carried by the wild winds that begin to whip up around her. Her eyes glow and flashes of light start to appear in her hair. From an outstretched hand, an arc of lightning emerges, directed at the undead woman nearest the trunk of the tree.
Unfortunately, the blat goes wide.
Ellie pulls her rapier and rushes forward. "Ghouls? As in dead things?!" No wonder the place smells so awful. "I'm coming!"
Melli draws her rapier as well, rushing to try to stab the green ghoul through the chest!
Moving up beside Mac, Tempest calls on her connection with the living storm and blasts a branch off of the old tree, the ghoul cackles aloud as the branch falls. Ellie also moves near drawing her weapon and inspiring her fellow officers, As Melli moves around her fellow halfling and attacks the nearest Ghoul, the creature screeches, and threatens "You'll pay for that shorty!" As she leans forward getting ready to attack.
The ghoul in the tent giggles manically as she steps into the tent's ripped opening and bites Veronica on the neck, though her claws fail to find flesh.
The ghoul bringing up the rear, spurns the tasty Capybara and goes after the halfling who had aroused them. First attempting to bite him then scratching at him with her clawed hands. The quick halfling shifting and moving preventing the ghoul from finding purchase.
The final ghoul attempts to make good on her word, biting at Melli than attempting to claw her, but Melli easily avoids the bite and her chain shirt resist the claws.
Ghouls:
Blue: dead
Cornflower Blue: - 4
Cyan: - 4
Green: - 5
Cornflower blue 5 ft step
Fort DC 13 Ghoul fever/ Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Cyan 5 ft step
Fort DC 13 Ghoul fever/ Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 Ghoul fever/ Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
"Time for another round!"
Brother MacLaren raises his holy symbol high and more sacred power issues forth, washing over the undead.
Seeing Veronica take a hit, Tempest moves around to get an angle on the one who managed to land it. Again, she lashes out. the sound of thunder ringing out through the forest.
Veronica flinches for a moment as the ghoul's teeth bury into her neck and she feels her muscles stiffening briefly. Ignoring the burning pain from the wound, she tries to keep her attacker away with a swift slash from her cutlass, hoping to gain enough time to follow it up with a spell channeled through her blade.
"Beside you, Veronica!" Ellie calls out as she steps in. "Attack!"
Raising his holy symbol again, Brother Mac's prayers causing the both the Ghoul to cry out, while the one attacking Tucci looks up and hisses. "I will feast on your eyeballs Caydenite." As she returns her attention to the halfling,
Tempest moves under the shade of the three, letting loose a bolt of elecricity, striking the ghoul in the tent. The ghouls hair begins to smoke and sizzle as do several various insects caught in the residual electricity of the bolt.
Her eyes widening, Veronica ignores the burning pain from the wound, slashing with her cutlass in rection, the ghoul dodging, cackles. But the undead creature wasn't prepared for the captains vengeance as she struck a second time; splitting the Ghoul nearly in two. The corpse falls to the ground, it's bowels spilling out onto the floor of the tent, being quickly covered by the swarming insects inside.
As Veronica attacked the undead, so too did Ellie move beside her captain thrusting her rapier at the ghoul. The captains blow being ever so slightly faster, the ghoul falls away as Ellie strikes at it.
Ghouls:
Blue: dead
Cornflower Blue: dead
Cyan: - 8
Green: - 9
Kasin AC: 14, tch 12, flat 12; HP: 19/19
Weapon Equipped = Horsechopper
Tucci Conditions = Focus: None (sw, 1/2 left), inspired
Kasin Conditions = Focus: Bull (+2 str), inspired
Horsechopper: Attack: BAB +1, Size +1, Str +2 Damage: +2 (20/x3)
Sling: Attack: BAB +1, Size +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0 (20/x2)
Re-roll profession sailor (1/1w, recharging days: 0)
Spells Known (Caster Level 2, Concentration +5, DC 13+lvl)
. . 0: Create Water, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Spark
. . 1st (2/3): Goodberry, Magic Fang, Summon Nature’s Ally, Touch of the Sea
Tucci 5’ steps and swings on green (no cover).
(inspire)
(inspire)
He flails a bit, swinging his weapon wide - still desperately trying to avoid these creatures.
Meanwhile, Kasin tries to take a chunk out of cyan right next to him.
(focus, inspire)
(focus, inspire)
"Finish strong! Don't let up now! We don't want to let these unliving harlots get the better of us, do we?"
Melli continues to stab away at the ghoul in front of her.
Swinging his goblin weapon at the undead, Tucci misses. But the ghoul is distracted enough that Kasin latches hold of it's back; biting through rotting muscles and tendons, eventually latching onto the undead's spine. Screaming as its spine is torn from it's rotting flesh it drops to the ground dead.
The falling ghoul brushes against Melli in its death throws, causing her attack at the Ghoul to be off target.
Laughing maniacally the final ghoul shouts "All for me!" while biting Melli on the arm and scratching her chest with a claw.
Seeing the ghoul attack her friend Tempest calls out trying to encourage the others, but sadly her lighting bolt hits the tree instead of the undead.
Ghouls:
Blue: dead
Cornflower Blue: dead
Cyan: dead
Green: - 9
Fort DC 13 Ghoul fever/ Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Fort DC 13 paralysis
Brother MacLaren moves up, drawing his rapier, and stabs at the last ghoul.
As Brother Maclaren steps forward, drawing his rapier and thrusting it through the Ghoul's black heart. She turns towards him stepping closer, reaching out with her claws, hissing; then falls to the ground at the base of the giant tree. Insects large and small seeming to come out of the ground to slowly engulf here.
Our intrepid adventurers stand under the branches of the giant tree, undead returned to the grave at their feet. The entrances of the dilapidated, rotting, gore filled tent flapping in the stifling tropical breeze.
Melli - 9 hp, needs one Fort DC 13 to prevent Ghoul fever
Veronica: - 5 hp, infected ghoul fever, onset 1 day
Can Brother MacLaren tell that Veronica is infected before the onset period expires? Unsure about that, but might as well roll.
"Captain, you got bit on the neck by the living dead! Sorry, I think this means we'll have to amputate. I can try to tell if it is infected if you will allow me..."
"Anybody want to check out the tent while I look to the wounded?"
Brother MacLaren will also channel to heal Veronica and Melli.
Can Brother MacLaren tell that Veronica is infected before the onset period expires? Unsure about that, but might as well roll.
As Mac looks at Veronica's neck, he sees a strange discoloration around the wound, which looks and smells very much like the flesh of the ghouls.
Veronica: infected ghoul fever, onset 1 day.
Ghoul Fever: save Fort DC 13; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Con and 1d3 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves.
Tucci waits a moment for the wounded to be healed, at least partially. ”No sense rushing in. There might be a mamma, right?” he mumbles mostly to himself.
When healing rains down from the gods, Tucci will again move the tent flap with his horsechopper. If nothing more leaps out, he’ll enter and search around the chamber for loot.
Among the piles of revealing clothing inside the tent are a potion of cure moderate wounds in a leather hip flask depicting a crocodile , three very sharp, oft-used daggers , a chest containing six flasks of alchemist’s fire, two barrels of very cheap perfume a wedding dress inlaid with pearls and set with three tiny rubies , a whalebone corset set with mother-of-pearl inlays a dozen silver hatpins set with tiny obsidians worth , scattered gems
Veronica: infected ghoul fever, onset 1 day.
Ghoul Fever: save Fort DC 13; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Con and 1d3 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves.
Ellie allows her magic to fade from their weapons. "How did those things get out here? A shipwrecked crew, I guess? But how'd they get all... ghoulified?" She tentatively enters the tent to look for clues.
Looking at the extravagant but sultry clothes and surroundings, one thing becomes abundantly clear. "So these were... whores?"
Tempest rests a hand on Ellie's shoulder, "You've been to Port Peril, haven't you? Does it really surprise you that a pirate ship might have whores aboard?"
Looking over the clothing, she picks up the corset, "Huh. I might take this, if no one else wants it. Might be nice, once it's clean."
"Captain, you got bit on the neck by the living dead! Sorry, I think this means we'll have to amputate. I can try to tell if it is infected if you will allow me..."
"Go ahead and check" Veronica replies as she gives Mac a better view of her neck.
"If it's infected, I'd like to try and treat it as soon as possible, although I'd rather avoid any drastic amputations. But I don't want to end up as one of these things. How bad does it look? And we'd better check Melli's arm as well."
Tucci pulls the good stuff from the piles of refuse with the hook of his pole arm. He'll carry/toss stuff back to the party. He keeps going in and out of the tent finding more stuff - which surprises him. "Man, look at all this gear!"
Looking at the extravagant but sultry clothes and surroundings, one thing becomes abundantly clear. "So these were... whores?"
He shudders at the thought, ”Awww, what’d you have to go and put that image in my head. Now I’ll never get it out.”
When everything has been removed he asks, tentatively, ”I, uh, wonder if, well, I could use another dagger, you know in case I throw one, and an alchemist’s fire wouldn’t go amiss either on my belt. Doesn’t even need to be the good one!” he rushes the last sentence out as if he’s asking for too much already.
Melli nods in thanks as Brother MacLaren heals her. "I'll take one of the alchemist's fire. We should probably put them somewhere secure when we're on the ship, though. A fire could be a pretty bad thing."
Brother MacLaren also checks Melli.
"Yes, I think you are infected as well.
I can try to help treat both you and Veronica, but all I can do is support your bodies' ability to fight off the infection. I don't have the power to cure it instantly.
Tending to the ailment would mean pulling an all-nighter, so I don't know how much use I would be the next day. Hopefully we can find Sandara Quinn and she and I can take turns."
Brother MacLaren will also take an Alchemist's Fire. "There are foes against which a sword (or a tankard) are not effective."
Tucci pokes around the corners with his polearm before shrugging, "I feel like we should burn this down to prevent disease, but maybe we won't be on this island long enough to matter."
He looks around the edge of the camp to see if there are any tracks that suggest a new direction to search.
He immediately shares anything he learns in a running commentary as he moves around.
As you move up the trail, past the dilapidated tent and its giant tree, you realize the marsh has started to give way to the jungle. Within a few hundred yards the path is no longer cutting through soft marshy swamp but claustrophobic thick jungle. A dense rain forest with heavy undergrowth, the sounds of birds and monkeys in the canopy overhead and towards the west. To the east you hear the sound of sea gulls and the ocean.
After traveling about the same distance through the jungle as you had the swamp, the jungle thins as the path runs parallel to a narrow beach. Soon the beach widens covering the southeastern portion of the Island. Towering palm trees stretch along a white sand beach for a mile or so, each around 50 feet high and crowned with a wide canopy of palms brimming with coconuts.
The path itself splits; one trail going west deeper into the jungle, the other continuing south into what appears to be a clearing in the jungle, contains overgrown fields of some sort of corn. The crops have gone wild, creating a high barrier wafting gently in the breeze.
"I think the trail to the west might lead up to that ridge, which should be a good vantage point to get a view of the island. I don't see a need to check out the cornfield right now.
But these coconuts could be good eating for the crew."
"Something lives near here, though, and has placed those broken coconuts intentionally. Grindylows?"
Brother MacLaren has his sword ready.
As they walk, Tempest cleans her new corset with Prestidigitation.
"If nothing else, it might be prudent to make a quick run back to the boat and bring it around to the beach. Easier than having to trudge back through the swamp. Well spotted, though. Probably also prudent to check and clear out any nasties, first."
She holds up the now-clean corset to her torso, "Who knows, there might be more neat clothing to gather up! Probably wishful thinking, though."
Tucci follows along after the others, trying to keep up. Even the other halfling is faster than he is with his big floppy feet and scattered approach to movement. But he tries, he really does.
He watches Tempest clean her new corset with some interest. Eventually, running to catch up to her, he asks breathlessly begging, "Could you do that for me? I've been sleeping on sand for two days, and it really does get in everywhere!"
Cleaner, he hopes, Tucci will offer to climb the trees and see if there are any clues. If no one else wants to of course. If he goes, he'll take 10 on the climb (for a 16) and see if that gets him to the top. He'll call down whatever he sees, both in the trees themselves, and with the view. Take 10 on the perception while he's up there (for a 21).
Wrapping his arms around a nearby palm tree, Tucci shimmies up it's trunk all the way to the palm branches and coconuts at the top,
Tempest shakes her head at Tucci's request, "Maybe once we stop for a meal, or something. It's one thing to clean an object I'm carrying while we walk, but cleaning another creature, while walking, would be too much to concentrate on."
"Let's press on, since it seems there's time. If we leave a couple hours, we can get back to the boat and from there, get a night's rest on the ship." She grins a playful grin at Tucci. "If not, what's one more night on the sand, right? Now, I think we should go to the fields, but if you disagree, Captain, I'll follow your lead."
Tempest shakes her head at Tucci's request, "Maybe once we stop for a meal, or something. It's one thing to clean an object I'm carrying while we walk, but cleaning another creature, while walking, would be too much to concentrate on."
”Oh, that would be wonderful!” Tucci gushes at Tempest in future thanks. In the mean time, he’ll create water to wash out what he can, trusting to the sun to dry him off - more or less.
Tucci climbs down the tree, and describes what he saw (feel free to read the spoiler). He comes down with coconuts as well (x5), ”Good milk in one of these. Very sweet.”
He isn’t interested in climbing the trees with the huge damn crabs though, ”Those things are bigger than I am. Might be good eating on them though, as big as they are.”
"Let's press on, since it seems there's time. If we leave a couple hours, we can get back to the boat and from there, get a night's rest on the ship." She grins a playful grin at Tucci. "If not, what's one more night on the sand, right? Now, I think we should go to the fields, but if you disagree, Captain, I'll follow your lead."
”I agree, let’s press on.” Tucci agrees and makes ready to follow the group as fast as he can.
"Where to next?" he asks those in charge.
"Sorry Melli, but I'm with Mac on this one. Going up the ridge to get a better view of the island might give us an idea of where those grindylows are hiding.
We can search the fields later, but our priority right now is still rescuing Sandara and Conchobar. Especially with us both being bitten by those things earlier - it'd be best if we could have Sandara back and helping Mac tend to our wounds. I don't think the crew will have finished the repairs by tomorrow morning, so we can always come back to search the rest of the island tomorrow."
As you approach where the trail splits, looking of in the distance towards the fields, you cans see several 'scarecrows' topped with rotting festering heads of dead sailors seemingly placed here as a warning to the ghouls. Some eight heads litter the fields next to the main path, each impaled on Crude staffs
six to nine feet high.
As you turn west, following the trail into the jungle to the west you begin to gain altitude. As you do so the jungle begins to thin slightly to reveal a clearing at the top. A well-built timber stockade surrounds a small lodge in the jungle clearing. Vines wrap and strangle a great tree that rises next to the lodge, blocking light from above. Beside it is a bubbling spring.
The stockade gate is ajar, and the walls are made of sharpened wooden stakes seven f0eet high. The small spring next to the tree is the only available source of fresh water on Bonewrack Isle.
"This keeps getting better and better." Tempest murmurs under her breath. She points up to the spyglass on the wall, "Look there. That spyglass. Looks like it's fixed in place. A bit odd, no? Usually, you'd want to be able to point that around. I dunno. Something stinks about this place..."
Kasin AC: 16, tch 13, flat 13 (+3 dodge when moving); HP: 19/19; SR: 8
Weapon Equipped = Horsechopper
Tucci Conditions = Focus: None (sw, 2/3)
Kasin Conditions = Focus: Bull (+2 str), inspired
Horsechopper: Attack: BAB +2, Size +1, Str +2 Damage: +2 (20/x3)
Sling: Attack: BAB +2, Size +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0 (20/x2)
Re-roll profession sailor (1/1w, recharging days: 0)
Spells Known (Caster Level 3, Concentration +6, DC 13+lvl)
. . 0: Create Water, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
. . 1st (3/4): Cure Light Wounds, Goodberry, Magic Fang, Protection from Evil, Summon Nature’s Ally, Touch of the Sea
"This keeps getting better and better." Tempest murmurs under her breath. She points up to the spyglass on the wall, "Look there. That spyglass. Looks like it's fixed in place. A bit odd, no? Usually, you'd want to be able to point that around. I dunno. Something stinks about this place..."
”Weird. Must be something very interesting there. Maybe a mermaid!”
Tucci waits a moment before his curiosity gets the better of him and he investigates the fort.
He moves forward carefully, checking for tracks by the open gate.
He’ll then slip through the opening, horsechopper ready, and moving quietly - or at least trying to.
(armor)
From any shadow he can find, he looks around.
Kasin remains behind, being a noisy companion, but his ears are pricked forward - listening for a command to come charging forth!
Ellie frowns. "You're right. Whoever is, or was, up here was very interested in that particular spot. And nothing else. That's very strange. Melli, can you--" By the time she turns to her halfling crewmate to ask for her scouting abilities, the newcomer Tucci has already scampered up himself. Well, as long as his report is reliable, I guess.
Melli shrugs at the newest crew member's enthusiasm. "Less running around I have to do." She does casually take a look, but isn't wildly interested in the spyglass. Instead, her hand is on her sword-belt, and she's looking around. "Anything up there to fight? Undead ladies aren't that interesting to tussle with."
"It's pretty odd. Even if they're only interested in that one spot, why go to the trouble of fixing it in place?"
As Tucci disappears towards the lodge, Veronica smiles at Ellie's reaction at the ' initiative, but then quickly focuses her attention in his direction, alert for any sign of danger.
As Tucci slips into the shadow cast by the gate and wall, he pauses and looks about. Seeing movement near the lodge and over the spring, he realizes there's somethings camouflaged in the tree's lower branches.
Tucci calls out in a loud clear voice, "Hey now, we mean you no harm. C'mon out of the tree and let's chat huh? Maybe we can help each other out."
He hesitates, listening for a reply, "My name's Tucci. What's yours?"
He tries to remain hidden, even though he's blabbing his location all over the place.
(armor)
Brother MacLaren moves up a bit, curious as to what might be going on.
He's close enough to get to where he thinks Tucci is, but he's not trying to start a fight with whatever Tucci is talking to.
average: 16.66
Enemy
average: 15.33
As Tucci calls out, instead of a verbal responce he hears rustling from where he'd seen movement about ten foot above the small freshwater spring. Abruptly a creature, everyone but Ellie recognizes as a Vine Choker, reveals itself and reaches out towards Tucci with it's unbelievably long tentacles. The first clawed tentacle tears his shoulder as it grasps him around the neck and begins to strangle him.
Vine Choker:
Green:
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Tempest sighs and shakes her head as Tucci gets himself grabbed. She takes a moment to focus her magic, coalescing an orb of electricity in her hand. She squeezes it, collapsing it down until it springs out either side of her fist, forming a crackling rod not unlike a javelin. She smirks at the sight of it before looking back to the creature currently strangling Tucci. Raising her new bolt above her shoulder, she hurls it at the Vine Choker.
"Hey!" Ellie starts to draw her pistol, but thinks better of it. "Leave him alone!" Her weapon, and those around her already drawn, glow blue with magic energy.
Brother MacLaren takes a step, draws a javelin, and throws it at the creature.
Kasin AC: 16, tch 13, flat 13 (+3 dodge when moving); HP: 19/19; SR: 8
Weapon Equipped = Horsechopper, Dagger
Tucci Conditions = Focus: None (sw, 2/3)
Kasin Conditions = Focus: Bull (+2 str), inspired
Horsechopper: Attack: BAB +2, Size +1, Str +2 Damage: +2 (20/x3)
Sling: Attack: BAB +2, Size +1, Dex +1 Damage: +0 (20/x2)
Re-roll profession sailor (1/1w, recharging days: 0)
Spells Known (Caster Level 3, Concentration +6, DC 13+lvl)
. . 0: Create Water, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
. . 1st (3/4): Cure Light Wounds, Goodberry, Magic Fang, Protection from Evil, Summon Nature’s Ally, Touch of the Sea
Tucci writhes in his captured state, unable to even shout out to Kasin to join the fight! Kasin remains at attention, eager to attack, but following his last order.
Tucci draws a dagger in one hand, still holding his pole arm in the other and stabs his strangler to try and get free!
(inspire, grappled)
(inspire)
Sadly, his little flailing body can't quite reach the enemy and he misses.
The Vine Choker keeps it's focus on Tucci as the others begin to move. When Tempest's lighting bolt strikes true, the creature turns and glares at the sorcerer.
Whether, due to not knowing the language or not caring, the creature Ignores Ellie's warning and continues trying to grasp Tucci with it's second clawed tentacle. As Mac's javelin strikes true, it turns and hisses at Mac as the Javelin spills it's blood.
The struggling Tucci, grasps his goblin weapon one handed and drawing a dagger, slashes at the creature's branch-like tentacle, doing little more than scratching the bark-like substance.
Blue:
Green: - 11, staggered
Orange