"What proof?"
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Andretta tries again to put the eastern akata to sleep, but its will remains as strong as it was the last time.
The lead akata has a desperate craving for elf now, and continues its assault.
Reza strikes the spider where Durandel cracked its carapace, and the creature falls from the wall with its legs curled up. Novid crawls out from under the bunk, covered in mold and dust bunnies.
The crew on deck all stare as the struggling Gashnakh is hauled to the rear deck where the captain is at the tiller. Bloodtusk asks, "What's all this yammering about?"
Novid shrieks, "Ahhh!!! A spider!!!", then hides under one of the bunks.
BR-N3R retreats around the corner.
Ziggy slaps the cleaver out of Gashnakh's hand as the cook struggles with Giles and Grodar.
Lyriah correctly identifies the creature as a spider, then stumbles into the bunk behind her and shoots wide. Durandel steps in and pokes the spider, and the creature oozes ichor. The spider springs to the wall over Reza, and its mandibles click together rapidly as it lunges!
Slick's katana fails to slice through the creature's thick hide. It appears that these two akata are tougher than the others the group has faced. The second akata once again snaps at Haer Kul.
Grodar has a tight grip on the cook, but he is still brandishing a cleaver...
The lead akata continues its assault on Slick, but the ninja easily dodges.
Lyriah:
The mold is growing in an unusual pattern. Almost as if it was a wave coming from the stairway which is trying to get out through the door. Durandel: There is a spider the size of a large dog stalking Reza in the shadows above.
Grodar reaches out and grabs the cook before he can rush past.
Gashnakh begins to look more and more alarmed as the party speaks to him, beginning with Eldan's statement about the spell. He looks frantically around the galley for the captain, but sees Bloodtusk is not here. "I'm not under nothing!! You'll never get me!!" He snatches a cleaver from the counter, then starts to rush for the stairs to the upper deck.
With a great deal of effort, Reza is able to shove the door open. It was blocked by a profusion of fungal growth, mainly mold. The mold covers the floor beyond the door, and covers the steps of a descending staircase in the north half of the area beyond. The southern half is the remnants of a ruined tower. The wooden floors, stairs, and roof have collapsed long ago, and now lie in a jumble at the bottom of 40-foot-high walls.
Andretta tries to protect Haer Kul by casting sleep so it affects the akata attacking him, then she steps back to allow others to close in.
The group ready themselves as Reza tries the door. It is stuck, and will require much more effort if he wishes to open it.
Bardos' attack deflects off the akata's hide.
Lyriah: Lyriah is unable to see any telltale signs of hazards, but it is unusual for there to be this kind of thing in this climate. Still, no signs of deadly molds or fungi.
"I don't know nothin! And that other elf is trying to put the whammyjammy on me!"
BR-N3R scuttles sideways, then fires a bolt of bright fire at the akata attacking Haer Kul. A blossom of flame appears on the akata's side.
Haer Kul:
How beautiful!
Gashnakh flinches away as Eldan begins the verbal and somatic components of his spell. "Hey! Watchu doin??" Eldan: It appears that Gashnakh is under the effect of sow thought, a minor domination enchantment which allows somebody to implant ideas which he will think are his own.
Gahnakh replies, "Yah! I just gave the monkey the meat, like I was told!" Mannfred:
Still looking pretty shifty. More secret rattling:
Ziggy: Gashnakh is still being deceptive, but Ziggy also notices a certain slurring of speech and glazing over of eyes that may indicate some sort of magical influence.
Slick swings over the beast.
"Ummmm... the captain. And the Coxswain. They gave me a bunch." Mannfred: He seems relieved by this line of questioning.
As Slick strolls nonchalantly back towards the party, the akata see him, and their mouths open in a silent snarl!
One of the akata bounds forward before anyone can even realize there is a threat, and snaps it jaws closed on the ninja!
Durandel hears nothing beyond the door, but he sees the wood is dark and grimy, and he detects a dank, musty odour. The door is also somewhat swollen.
Gashnakh sulks, "I heard ya the first time!" "I dunno, I gave the meat to the thing." rattling sounds behind the screen:
Ziggy:
Gashnakh licks his lips, and his eyes dart about nervously. Eldan:
Gashnakh licks his lips, and his eyes dart about nervously. Slei:
Gashnakh licks his lips, and his eyes dart about nervously. Mannfred: Gashnakh licks his lips, and his eyes dart about nervously.
Haer Kul: The akata are sniffing the air.
The akata do not respond to Slick's yell.
Slick: Does Slick wish to do anything else besides yell?
Andretta waves the rest of the party back.
There appears to be nothing of value in the bunk room. Other closed doors loom ominously.
"Whaddya want?"
Slick moves forward, and sees two more akata in a shelf filled room to the east. The door has been torn open, probably by the beasts, who seem larger than the others the group has encountered.
The akata burns merrily. A discernible breeze flows out of the alcove behind it, seeming to come from a set of nested metal cones in the ceiling.
There appear to be no occupants of the bunk room. The western door obviously leads to the dining room, but the east door leads to unexplored territory. The ceiling in this room is mostly intact, so this may make a decent resting place with minor repairs.
Eldan knows that Gashnakh is indeed a him. He is in the galley. The group makes their way to the galley while the rest of the crew deals with the remains of Taug, then gets the ship underway. Gashnakh is a burly half-orc, and he is currently at work with a mortar and pestle, mixing spices.
"I gotta get underway. But I can spare you lot from duties for a bit if you wanna go talk to Gashnakh."
The southern room contains 10 bunks in various states of disrepair. Two stout wooden doors are in the east and west walls.
The captain bristles at Giles' suggestion. "I know my crew, and I don't know you. None of them would turn against me." He calms somewhat and adds, "You've proven your worth in a fight, I'll grant you. Especially against those cursed drakes."
Tydus is able to find a large number of tracks. It is apparent that the pugwampis regularly used the kitchen, but in addition they regularly traversed the hall with the statue, the nave towards the dome, and even went into the room with the baboons. The pugwampi have nothing of value beyond their tiny weapons, and the kitchen seems empty of treasure, though the oven is functional and there are a few pieces of kitchenware which may be salvageable. The dining hall contains broken tables and chairs, and large patches of the roof have collapsed. The room which the baboons occupied has five beds with empty metal lockers at the foot of each. There is a red and orange mosaic on the north wall, representative of a flame or sunburst. The room is covered with filth and animal hair. Nothing valuable is found in any of these areas.
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