Nerak runs Savage Tide 3.5

[Lens]

* begins journal entry *

After securing the assistance of the warriors from around Tanaroa, we asked for information about the tar pits, the phanatons, and the rakshasa. The elders of Tanaroa weren't able to tell us much except that creatures that may have been the phanatons had been seen in the area of the tar pits. With that information, we set out for the tar pits.

Along the journey another group of small-minded but powerful ancient reptiles attacked us. We were able to put them down without too much trouble, and continued along our path.

As we reached the tar pits we found an enormous reptile, whose scales had hardened over time to form near armored plating. It wore the scars of battle and was preparing to make a meal of a small group of rather cute tribal humanoids. The appeared to be a cross between a small humanoid, a monkey, and a raccoon. They were armed with only primitive weapons and were clearly there simply to collect tar.

We quickly drew the attention of the creature before it could harm any more of them. The battle was fierce as the creature ripped into our warriors, and attempted to eat them alive. We hit the creature with enough force to drop a small army before it eventually went down, and managed to keep it from swallowing anyone with some of our more potent magic and prayers.

After the battle, we healed up and Moors and I found a magic weapon that Moors called a kukri embedded in the creature's foot. Since nobody was currently able to converse with the cute primitive creatures, we followed them back to their village. Urgur was able to communicate with them a little while each day after praying to Kord, and they were, in fact, the phanatons and were very grateful for our slaying of the giant reptile.

Having secured the help of the little primitives against the pirate invasion, for whatever good that will do, we asked for information once again and were told of the location of the ruined rakshasa village. The phanatons held a banquet in our honor, but I politely declined the feast since it consisted primarily of live insects. After the celebration, I teleported the party back to Farshore to report our progress, check up on things there, resupply, and rest.

In the morning, we teleported back to the phanaton village, some of us having eaten a real dinner and breakfast.

* ends journal entry *

[Amrhil]

The hospitality of the Phanatons was certainly enjoyable but we had more work to do. With everyday passing we knew the Crimson Fleet was that much closer to Farshore. I began to wonder if the defense of Farshore would be worth the lives of the two allies we had recruited in the Olman tribes and the Phanatons. This was not their fight and the presence of the colony might be detrimental to them both. Hopefully the cruel nature of this island would always remind them to respect their allies.

The next day we set out to find the temple of the cat people that the Phanatons had told us about. Delving deeper into the jungle I was almost sure we would have to deal with some hungry denizen of the island but as luck would have it we encountered nothing. Traveling through the thick jungle I am again reminded just how different this island is from the areas around Sasserine. One could spend a lifetime exploring the rest of this ancient isle.

Following the direction given to us earlier we come across a ziggurat rising from the jungle floor. The stone structure is quite a sight but it is obviously abandoned as the jungle has already begun to move in to reclaim the land. It is deathly quiet and I wonder how long it had been since the cat people had left their temple. Hopefully not long enough for some other nasty creature to move in.

We carefully make our way to the top of the structure and the climb is not difficult. Looking across the flat top we see several statues. All look to be in pristine condition which seems out of place. Something isn’t right…magic no doubt. Standing back as Moors moves forward to examine one of the stone statues I begin to have thoughts of some terrible trap set for any trying to enter the temple.

Moments later it isn’t a trap we have to worry about but a huge snake! The creature blended in so well with the plant growth beginning to retake the temple that none of saw it before it struck Moors. This in itself wouldn’t be much of a surprise except for this snake is so massive! It’s body is as thick as a huge tree trunk and I could only guess as to its length. Soon Moors was within its coils and the snake would certainly crush him with ease.

Urgur moved forward casting a spell which would allow Moors to slip magically from its coils. Of course then the creature promptly captured Urgur and began to crush the life out him. I had changed shape into the largest creature I could, a huge bear. So I rushed forward casting the same spell on Urgur while at the same time offering myself up as a target. The rest of the combat was thankfully short because I knew I wouldn’t last long under the crushing coils of the huge snake. Between us all the snake was wounded enough that it decided to flee and it was quickly killed after that.

During the combat both Moors and I had discovered that the statues were illusions of some sort. Additionally the center of the ziggurat looked to have some sort of altar but that was also an illusion hiding a large hole in the floor. With no one horribly wounded we ventured into the temple.

The hole was a large shaft that went straight down over fifty feet. At the bottom there was a pool of stagnant water. Further explorations of the shaft revealed a passage in the wall of the shaft. Moors with his agility and gliding skills easily reached the small ledge at the entrance of this passage. I decided to take the easy way down as well by changing into a small bat. Flying down to Moors I perched on his shoulder while we waited for the others. Between Urgur and Balim there was quite an entertaining show as they clumsily made their way down a rope and eventually to the ledge of the passageway. Needless to say Urgur found himself in the water at the bottom of the shaft!

Once we had all made it into the passage we ventured further into the temple. We reached what was likely the center of the temple and encountered a wondrous creature. It was a snake with rainbow colored wings. The creature examined us all and then after a few tense moments began to speak. It turns out this creature was a guardian of the temple and knew much of the cat people.

Not long ago the cat people were made aware of an impending attack by some other force of evil. They worked diligently to create a cache of weapons to aid them in their defense of the temple. Despite their efforts the force of evil came and killed them all during a surprise attack. Now the winged serpent remains the lone occupant of the temple.

I explained our plight and the impending attack on Farshore. Amazingly after convincing the creature our intensions were good he agreed to show us the cache of weapons so that we could use them against the Crimson Fleet. He then bid us farewell and returned to his plane of existence. The numerous weapons were the work of master weapon smiths and a few were magical. They would truly help the forces of Farshore.