Kirrish-Kreshk-Skiklik, examining the waterhole, determines something is not quite right. He doesn't know exactly what is wrong, but he deems the roots of the bushes don't extend towards the puddle, as they ought.
Shrenker, walking up to the pool nonchalantly, hears nothing but the desert wind and the shuffling of the party. As he nears the tiny pond, he can see several pale yellow objects extending out from the grimy water. While there are no obvious signs of a trap, something doesn’t ring true here.
Pushing aside his brash traveling companion in a huff, Radik gulps down several mouthfuls of the brackish, grimy water. His stomach turns over, then settles. The water is actually somewhat refreshing, once one disregards Radik is now staring directly at a rotting humanoid ribcage jutting from the pool.
The bushes rustle slightly, then settle.
"Something there", Skarsnikt hisses, pointing at the twitchy bush. He picks up a small rock and slings it into the shrubbery, hoping to provoke a reaction.
Reaching down, Radik takes hold of the ribcage. Turning around, he holds up the grisly object. Looking at Shenker in particular, he proclaims, loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Look at this! If I hadn't valiantly stepped in and saved us all, we might have all been KILLED by this deadly pile of ROTTING BONES! Unbelievable..."
Knives out. Schenker looks at Radik when Schenker draws blades; tries to look at him like, "no, not coming for you."
"I thinks it's time do some pruning."
MalaKi starts muttering “The quick and the dead, the quick and the dead; usually the quick become the dead.” MalaKi hurriedly makes the following checks:
Spot: 1d20 3=6
Survival: 1d20 10=13
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 8=26
Skarsnikt and Shenker valiantly assault the shrubbery as Radik laughs in the face of danger. Actively mocking the bones he has grabbed, Radik is comparatively surprised when the ribcage grabs back, hauling him towards the pool.
"Son of a B#*%&."
For Zuko:
MalaKi confides to you that he does know a lot about Raam. He is vague as to how he gained such knowledge.
Racking his brain for environmental lore, MalaKi is roughly certain the bones are the camouflaged limb of a partially submerged creature, rather than an undead menace.
Howling in rage, Radik disappears beneath the muddy water with a splash. Beneath the surface, something closes around him tightly, compressing his chest cavity, and causing his vision to blur .
The frothing water soaks the nearby brush, providing them with sufficient hydration for the next several days.
Declaration: Roots not grow to water. Wrong thing.
Query: How dead thing get there? This one not know. Caution, clutch. Not right.
Kirrish leaps over to haul Radik away from the pool.
MalaKi shouts “The beast awaits us under the pool! Under the sand!” He then moves to the edge of the pool. His stone short sword is already in his hand.
FOR MWBEELER:
MalaKi activates his inertial armor before moving. He chooses the non-visible option.
"We could p... p... p... probably get all the water we need while he's d... d... down there."
Aso has dropped his elf umbrella and has come to the edge of the depression, he is warily (meaning he readies himself for scrappin' and he ain't FF--and he doesn't ready his club, it's always ready) peeking down. "I wonder if that g... g... grey sk... sk... sk... skin means the meat is sp... sp... frackin' spoiled?"
"hrmm...cook it, should be arrighty tight tight. Hrmmm...."
Holdrus grips his Carrikal and adjusts a strap on his Tortoise Blade, stepping forward to try to engage the creature reeling in Radik.
"Damn, it would be much easier to save the man if he wasn't such a crodlu-sucking bastard.... Oh well, Aso can you help me pull the idiot out of there? You take one side, I'll take the other, but take care friend I don't wanna lose a fine warrior and friend like Aso over that kank-egg stealer."
With the jokes out of his system, Aso sets down to some jackass rescuin'.
He closes in (enough to be considered engaged), drops his greatclub (he keeps the dreadlock thong around his wrist), and gets ready to grapple with the puddle monster.
With the bug and Holdrus, he will try to pull Radik out during the first round:
First strength roll to get Jackass out. (1d20+2=12)
"Shred-shred! Where enemy?"
As his companions try to help Radik tear loose from his assailant, Skarsnikt jumps into the muddy waters looking for a way to separate Radik and the monster.
Issiki watches the whole exchange with bafflement and shakes his head at Radik's foolishness.
Seeing that the larger fellows of the group are assisting the strange rude man, the halfling keeps an eye out for any other predators.
"Hey, kook! Git yer tentnicle offina him!"
Schenker halls ass down there, and aims to stab at whatever the tongue is, or he'll pop down into the water to do some stabbity's.
.
Faindriac sighs, "Maybe a little more caution and a little less lip children!"
While the others rush bravely forward, he shakes his head. "And still they learn nothing!"
He moves to the side, looking for a clear shot at a section of the creature.
Zuko inspects the creature attacking Radik and for the life of him cannot place the name of the creature.
Seeing as the others are moving to engage the creature in melee, Zuko decides to draw his falchion and move around the creature to flank it and perhaps chop off its legs.
As Skarsnikt heroically leaps into the pool after Radik, he discovers to his consternation that there are two identical Radiks, arms locked in mortal contest.
Wounds Radik receives telegraph to the beast, but not vice versa, and there is a strange growth from one of the Radik’s back, but they are writhing so much it is still difficult to distinguish which is which (.
(gm, can this conversation happen yesterday in game time?)
you come with me for private conversation yes?
(if Zuko assents)
will gently but firmly grab Zuko in a non threatening manner; then fly up about 90 ft and whispher
[Priest, these among us to not nest well together; they fight and sqabble over petty things for silly bobbles that sparkle in the sunlight, yet that very sunlight will kill us if we do not respect it; and that sparkle will attract deadly intentions if not more care is taken; and they squack and screach like newborn chicks; do they not know that there voices carry over the sand on the wind for quite some distance; even now they have awoken, perhaps with careless dripping of lifewater, something in the sand, what can be done I ask. You and I, with our faith provide the lifegiving water; and perhaps soon, food; if you take charge to quell these squabbles, I will support you; no water to those who cause disharmony after issue settled; or they can go their own way; we no keep anyone prisoner. What say you, are you a tyrant or might you be the unguant that can keep us strong?]
<== tries to get Zuko's attention
will approach and ask Zuko
"I wish to have private conversation with you Priest; do you assent?""Kha-Chik-Chik-Ka, give me a moment then we can have that conversation." Zuko says, as he test the weight and balance of his new weapon. Taking a couple of practice swings, Zuko then executes a kata, striking high and low then coming to rest with the weapon raised above him.
"Now what is it you wish to talk about?"
hmm, i believe we in the distance was a caravan; they may be slavers or they may be trader merchants; also, they may wish for our skills and hire us; just a thought.
One wonders why so much excitement about the yuck water; is it the corpse you wish to search; are you so bloodthirsty to seek out and kill all that we meet without need of survival or threat for surely the spirits I serve will not purify that much water at my request.
And, please do not attack the ant if he returns please out of malice, he is one of many with multitudes of brothers for he may be a scout; if he comes, perhaps I can persuade him to not attack us. He has nothing you might want. If you must kill him for food; then we must move quickly away as his scent will call others.
spot 10+9 =19 I try to figure out why these guys are stomping around in the water; are their brains baked by the sun; have they gone mad ") and what they might attract to us; keeping watch and trying to learn)
knowledge-nature - 13+5 = 18 to figure out what reason the plants living here do not touch the water as one should proceed the other and they should be in harmony.
Listen 14+9 = 23 for clues and to determine how loud the party is and how far such sounds might carry.
(gm and party: Did I recieve the bow and arrows from the first find?)
(gm, can this conversation happen yesterday in game time?)
are their brains baked by the sun; have they gone mad ")
Listen 14+9 = 23 for clues and to determine how loud the party is and how far such sounds might carry.
(gm and party: Did I recieve the bow and arrows from the first find?)
will gently but firmly grab Zuko in a non threatening manner; then fly up about 90 ft and whispher
[Priest, these among us to not nest well together; they fight and sqabble over petty things for silly bobbles that sparkle in the sunlight, yet that very sunlight will kill us if we do not respect it; and that sparkle will attract deadly intentions if not more care is taken; and they squack and screach like newborn chicks; do they not know that there voices carry over the sand on the wind for quite some distance; even now they have awoken, perhaps with careless dripping of lifewater, something in the sand, what can be done I ask. You and I, with our faith provide the lifegiving water; and perhaps soon, food; if you take charge to quell these squabbles, I will support you; no water to those who cause disharmony after issue settled; or they can go their own way; we no keep anyone prisoner. What say you, are you a tyrant or might you be the unguant that can keep us strong?]
"You speak sense, friend. We shall do so... to ensure our survival."
Aso: "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"
Zuko is surprised to see two (2) Radiks. Then he shouts to Shenker and the others, "Complement Radik on his pedigree... that should give us an idea as to which he is!"
For Zuko: ** spoiler omitted **
Malaki
What is my perception of how the battle is going; do I have a target to shoot or are things well in hand?
Spot 16+9 = 25
attack! 2 daggers
r10+5-2+2=15;%62(not Radik) dam1+1+5(if flanking)=7dmg
r10+5-2+2=15;%61(not Radik) dam2+1+5(if flanking)=8dmg
up to 15 damage if I hit.
(not Radik) If I'm reading that right (over 50), they should be be Radik stabbins'
The unknown monstrosity relents under Skarsnikt's brutal assault, and a low moan emanates from beneath the cracked earth. Uncoiling from the true Radik with a whip-like crack, the second Radik sinks below the muddy ground, with the remaining water draining in behind him.
What is my perception of how the battle is going; do I have a target to shoot or are things well in hand?
"Hrrmmm....sarry, sarry, Radik.....it stairtid lickin your twin, it did.....hrrmm......"
"I really is were tring to stab IT, not YOU, ever IT started licking jist like YOU, it did."
*cough* ...."hrrrrmmm....."
Guards against further attacks ready to lend aid.
Schenker positions up in the shrubbery...
(not Radik) If I'm reading that right (over 50), they should be be Radik stabbins'
Radik lies in the mud, twitching slightly.
"I had him. Had him good..." he mumbles.
(lol!!!!!) Best. Post. Evar.
(not Radik) If I'm reading that right (over 50), they should be be Radik stabbins'