Uneasy at eating the flesh of one he has not faced in combat, Issiki still decides that as the elves died bravely then it would be fitting to honour them with the ritual.
Aso slips into the elf's shirt and jewelry, then begins eating him. He offers the pants to someone else. Hopefully the elf doesn't have parasites. Aso suggests to Issiki that he can have a ritual after the elf has been picked clean.
Issiki shakes his head sorrowfully, "The consumption is the ritual; by this way the elf will gain a soul and join with the world." he says. "At least among my tribe."
He goes to find something... someone that has been 'cooked' somewhat.
"C... c... c... cook?"
Radik, completely unscathed by the mekillot's assault, calmly moves over toward one of the beast's forelimbs and begins to work at the dessicated flesh. After a surprisingly short time, he is able to work loose the creature's upper arm bone. Giving it a few practice swings, he appears satisfied, and begins to stride back toward the howdah. On the way past Zuko and Holdrus, he can be heard to mutter something that sounds an awful lot like "waste of a good spell."
Anyone need daggers and/or other weapons? I will begin making some to help outfit the group. Place your orders and I will do as I can.
Perhaps we can bring the Kank with us? Perhaps to carry some stuff.
Holdrus will eat also.....
Aso, my friend, break me off a calf if you will and I assume you will be wanting a weapon sized for one of your stature....a greatclub shouldn't be too hard to make if you would like one. *gives the halfling a smile*
The way he is hemorrhaging, it does not appear so.
As the commotion of the battle slowly gives way to a scrable for equipment, Skarsnikt decides to wander over to the elves' camp. After draining an elf or two of their remaing blood, he looks over their kit.
Faindriac claims the wooden pole and leans on it heavily. Though he still contemplates what an impressive momento a mekilliot staff would be, even if the wooden one is a superior weapon.
Leaning on the staff to support his weary self, he climbs slowly up the hill to where Maliki is looking over the dune. Once they have ascertained it is safe, Faindriac nods to Maliki, follows him carefully to the elf bodies, and helps search them.
Observing the others, especially the halflings, preparing to enjoy an evening meal, Faindraic thinks, 'I am SO glad that my powers allow me to survive without,... but I may not want to display my full powers so soon. It is probably wise to join them, Camaraderie is not to be underestimated in such dire straights. And while 'sustenance' sustains me, the pleasure of actually eating after all this time would be,... enjoyable.'
Craft Checks:
Armor or shield Armorsmithing 10 + AC bonus
Simple melee or thrown weapon Weaponsmithing 12
Martial melee or thrown weapon Weaponsmithing 15
Perhaps we can bring the Kank with us?
The Kank is very skittish, you'd need to befriend it first. The honey it gives off is part food, mostly liquid.
After draining an elf or two of their remaing blood, he looks over their kit.
in common
"are we to say here and rest; or move and rest; do we split up or stay together? If we are to eat the flesh of this fallen one, then I will bless it and purify it of any harm; find some container and I shall call forth from the spirits water to quench our thirst; we could rest here, but we would be vulnerable; I should scout to see what comes and what goes and thus advise you of the path you would take."
<an hour of rest we move us exhaused to fatigued, but the party should consider we are very vulnerable here, but may be just as vulnerable tired if we move>
"do we eat, drink and rest, or do we move out?"
<gm; what did I see when airborne? any other groups; movement; a path; shelter?>
"also, i see that some of you wish to take this Kank; perhaps I can help; I have some skill with animals and animal spirits"
Radik tears a large quantity of leather from the howdah, then moves toward the mekillot once more. Climbing onto the back of the desiccated hulk, he tears free several of the beast's chitinous plates.
Still atop the beast's body, he begins to work, first fashioning a few of the leather strips into a crude loincloth, then beginning to strap pieces of chitin onto his massive form.
Once finished, he begins to stride purposefully toward the horizon, makeshift club in hand.
He doesn't make it twenty paces before falling, unconscious.
Ignoring the collapsed human, Issiki turns to the aarakocra, and says respectfully and eagerly, "You are guided by the Spirits? Then yes, please give their blessing for the feast."
He then asks "Do you follow Spirits of the sky then? They are not known to me but still I know that they are strong. Wind can blow down a mighty tree, after all. My uncle is a... how do you say? Droo-eed?"
It is obvious that were he in better health, Issiki could be quite garrulous on the subject.
<gm; what did I see when airborne? any other groups; movement; a path; shelter?>
Your aerial survey reveals a path of swift moving tracks leading to the north, two dead pack animals lying along the road, and an overturned container of some type about a half mile from your present location. You do not locate an shelter aside from the howdah, meager protection though it is. The desert seems to go on forever, broken only by the road heading north and south.
The battle scene looks largely as you would expect, though there are only four elves, not six. Two of the elves were forcibly divided, then partially buried by the heavy-treaded, thrashing Mekillot.
The bodies, largely stripped of personnel effects, bear some unusual tattoos.
The remaining tally of useable gear, scattered about the battle site as if hastily discarded, is as follows (DC20 search):
Two belt pouches
One serviceable traveler’s outfit.
A bone short bow
11 scattered stone headed arrows
A large folded piece of reed parchment
6 bronze headed crossbow bolts
The tracks of several humanoids and pack animals lead away to the north.
The falling Mekillot falls toward Kirrish before the hunter can leap clear of its side. The spray of debris from the fallen behemoth catches him in the leg for a minor scratch, however.
Kirrish-Kreshk-Skiklik moves toward the fallen bodies. If no one is eating the burnt human, he'll eat his fill. Then, he goes to investigate the battlefield of fallen elves. On the way, if he sees Radik fallen to the ground, he drags him to the shelter of the howdah. Then, with a limping, exhausted gait, he returns to the battlefield.
He will take all of the clothing and equipment from each elf and toss it into a pile for anyone to distribute. He then starts digging a pit for the bodies with his many limbs. Methodically, he returns to the elf corpses. He removes the tongue from each elf, grabs a stray piece of leather or cloth, and throws them all into the makeshift sack with some sand. Strange tattoos, he will skin from them and also put into the sack. Then, he will sever the hands and feet from each elf. These he will toss into the bottom of the pit. After that, he will cut the genitals from each elf and stuff them into its mouth before severing the head. Torsos will be thrown atop the hands and feet, heads on top. Every action is hateful; there is no reverence for these dead. Not even a necromant will have a use for them. He will then strive to defecate on the pile before burying it in the sand.
It's the torched body. She knew what your Psicrystal was and nabbed it straight off.
Faindriac returns to the body of their former 'jailer', the female telepath, as the Thri-Kreen prepares his hole.
After a moment of quiet contemplation, he kicks the body hard,...
Twice.
"THAT'S for being such a pi$$-poor telepath!" He growls more than shouts at the body. "All your captives drugged higher than a cloud, and you STILL can't control your own thoughts! You are lucky the storm killed you! The tortures I would have inflicted upon you would have made the storm seem merciful."
With a final kick and spit upon the body, he turns to see what he can salvage to make a robe, or tunic.
(I thought it was hollowed out?!?)
With a shrug, Issiki throws the tortoise blade into the pile.
As Kirrish-Kreshk-Skiklik goes about his grisly work, Issiki leaps up shouting "What are you doing?! You-you- vi koto! Mi poto mortigi vi nu!"
Halfling if you speak it
He runs to the thri-kreen and grabs him by a limb. "Why do you do this?" he akss angrily barely able to restrain himself from violence.
Holdrus has a bit of trouble making the Carrikal but manages to get the head firmly secured to the handle on his second attempt. Immediately after he starts working on a halfling-sized greatclub doing quite well in his attempt. Afterwards he will keep attempting to fashion clubs and daggers. He has a bit of trouble with the materials so I don't know how much usable stuff he made, but he is working hard to arm the group. I rolled 8 total checks in this order:9,15,22,5,6,6,24,and 15. I leave it to the DM as to how many check I could make and what the total results are.
Comrades; over there (gestures with a wing) are two pack animals collapsed with some gear and a path where others have gone; go thus yeah mul's who be strong; and retrieve that for our feast and thus I will bless and purify, with the will of the spirits, all of this feast. We should waste not anything for where comes our next meal is unknown (eyes the halfling)
As I see no current enemies though they may lurk hidden; I propose we rest a bit here and gorge our bellies against famine.
Comrades; over there (gestures with a wing) are two pack animals collapsed with some gear and a path where others have gone; go thus yeah mul's who be strong; and retrieve that for our feast and thus I will bless and purify, with the will of the spirits, all of this feast. We should waste not anything for where comes our next meal is unknown (eyes the halfling)
As I see no current enemies though they may lurk hidden; I propose we rest a bit here and gorge our bellies against famine.
Looking like a refugee from a Flintstones episode in his elf shirt and jewelery, Aso looks up from his banquet of uncooked elf at the giant chicken. He licks his fingers, glares, and starts a low growling. He drags one of the elf's legs somewhere he can't be observed and resumes his meal. He will reappear sometime later and toss a few chewed bones into Shiklik's burial pit.
Holdrus has a bit of trouble making the Carrikal but manages to get the head firmly secured to the handle on his second attempt. Immediately after he starts working on a halfling-sized greatclub doing quite well in his attempt. Afterwards he will keep attempting to fashion clubs and daggers. He has a bit of trouble with the materials so I don't know how much usable stuff he made, but he is working hard to arm the group. I rolled 8 total checks in this order:9,15,22,5,6,6,24,and 15. I leave it to the DM as to how many check I could make and what the total results are.
Issiki looks for stones and cloth to fashion into a crude pouch/belt for the stones.
Anyone need daggers and/or other weapons? I will begin making some to help outfit the group. Place your orders and I will do as I can.
"I'd like 2 short swords, lordship, permissable course, hrmmm...."
Shenker slaps together two bone daggers 18/11/18 rolled
"hrmm...the second is a suckass tempt. Hrmmmmmm......."
With a shrug, Issiki throws the tortoise blade into the pile.
As Kirrish-Kreshk-Skiklik goes about his grisly work, Issiki leaps up shouting "What are you doing?! You-you- vi koto! Mi poto mortigi vi nu!"
Halfling if you speak it
** spoiler omitted **He runs to the thri-kreen and grabs him by a limb. "Why do you do this?" he akss angrily barely able to restrain himself from violence.
Kirrish-Kreshk-Skiklik stops in his work and tilts his head toward the irate halfling. His large segmented eyes are inscrutable, but his antennae wave to and fro. A smell similar to fungus wafts from his glands.
Query: Why is little tree dweller angry? Were long-ear sand walkers so kind to him? Were they clutch or kin? Does little one think they good regard him death?
Declaration: Long-ear sand walker steal hunt, this one . Long-ear sand walkers steal will, all here . Long-ear sand walkers take this one and others this place. Sand walkers not hunt with regard; sand walkers think only sand walkers. Speak lies only: take tongue, no lie death. Tongue......waste, this one put waste organ where should go. Hide in sand, no killer see; killer not get clutch. Take out this no, no...use, later death return.
Declaration of hate: Long-ear sand walkers take *all* this one. Long-ear sand walkers earn *worse*.
He returns to burying the elves.
Issiki looks stunned by the insect-man's veritable tirade, "What you say is true - they caged us, and were to sell us. But they were also warriors. They do not deserve that. You treat them like carrion. Worse than carrion. It is true what the elders say - you have no souls, else you would not commit such desecration." he glares at the kreen, knowing that he is too weak to take on such a formidable creature at the moment.
"Revenge against the dead is meaningless." he mutters to himself.
goes to where the hobbit and the mantis on growth hormone are squabbling....
"hey....like I said, fellers....anybody you hate now, don't worry cause the desert will get them. It'll get us all in the end."
"Let's get us all to a nice oasis, with a jiggly dancy curvy in each arm, and let's get us all there, then you guys decide if this is worth fighting it out. Hell, I'll join you, maybe."
Aso is observing Issiki with great curiousity. Although he remembers almost nothing about his past except his parents, a sense of connection to the other little person and a curiosity about his peculiar ways have sprouted within Aso's little geek heart. He appreciates that the other does not grovel before the bigjobs and wonders if he has been caged. Aso recognizes the little one's words and can even use them himself, although they come very slowly.
Issiki turns to the repellent human and makes the hand-talk sign for "leave me be" but the human is oblivious to it!
"Did you not see what I just told you, tall one?" he asks incredulously, "This is not your concern." He follows this with the sign for "stop talking".
"Hrrrrmmm....I see, and do not understand, and yet I do all the same.
If you're feeling all kanky, just jump."
Perhaps we can bring the Kank with us? Perhaps to carry some stuff.
Holdrus will eat also.....
Aso, my friend, break me off a calf if you will and I assume you will be wanting a weapon sized for one of your stature....a greatclub shouldn't be too hard to make if you would like one. *gives the halfling a smile*
Check the bolded part, Aso.
"Hrrrrmmm....I see, and do not understand, and yet I do all the same.
If you're feeling all kanky, just jump."
"Now I do not understand you." he gripes. "Talk to the kreen - you might understand one another. I cannot tell."
With that he leaves in disgust to hunt for stones.
Kirrish considers for a moment...there's a thin-shell gesture to describe his opinion at the moment...
He jerks his head in a circle, left and right, in an attempt to "roll his eyes".
After the bodies are sufficiently buried to deter predators, he nods quietly to Shenker.
Declaration: City dweller suggestion wise. Also; wind walker suggestion wise. This one get dead carrier animal eat eat.
The thri-kreen heads toward where the aarakocra indicated the pack animals were. After a moment, he stops, returns to grab his makeshift sack of elf tongues and walks to where the animals have collapsed.
Check the bolded part, Aso.
Check the bolded part, Aso.
No problem, I am seeing Aso and Holdrus as an awesome team, and Holdrus is having nothing but respect.
"Nrrrrrr.......guh......mblaaaaaaaaah! Spuh! Ngggh! Nggggh!"
Schenker does what he has to do to get his belly fool.
Comrades; over there (gestures with a wing) are two pack animals collapsed with some gear and a path where others have gone; go thus yeah mul's who be strong; and retrieve that for our feast and thus I will bless and purify, with the will of the spirits, all of this feast. We should waste not anything for where comes our next meal is unknown (eyes the halfling)
As I see no current enemies though they may lurk hidden; I propose we rest a bit here and gorge our bellies against famine.
Zuko follows Kha-Chik-Chik-Ka's directions to discover the two pack animals and their cargo. Zuko takes care in searching for useable items.
Working collectively through the night despite their uneasiness and difficulty relating to one another, the diverse assembly manages to fashion a number of utilitarian implements. Once he regains consciousness, Radik critiques a few of the party member’s work under Holdrus’ instruction, then diligently sets about shaping and tying together a set of armor. Looking over the results of his work, he finds he has just enough workable material left for a decent shield.
List of party crafted items:
- An elf skin unbrella
- Carrikal (jawbone battle axe)
- Chitin Armor (+5 AC, +0 Dex allowance, -6 ACP, 35% ASF, 20 ft, 35lbs., heavy armor)
- Small bone greatclub (-2 atk /-2 dmg)
- Five Bone Daggers (-2 atk / -2 dmg)
- Stone Short Sword (-2 atk / -2 dmg)
- Two Bone Clubs (-2 atk / -2 dmg)
- One Medium Shield
- Makeshift clothing and sacks
Occasionally resting (or meditating) in shifts to ease their exhaustion, the grisly repast provided by their former captors, and rationed water grudgingly summoned by Zuko all help to relieve the worst of the weariness afflicting the group (.
The wisdom of the Thri-Kreen’s fastidiousness justifies itself, as nothing comes out of the night to investigate the party as they huddle in the shared warmth of the broken howdah. Bone weary, the party does not notice the absence of Illyen until dawn. The elf has snuck off in the night, and a single line of tracks heads directly north to where Kha-Chik spotted the lifeless pack animals the previous evening.
For convenience, here is a list of what the party has already located:
- Blood Obsidian Falchion - closer inspection reveals the exceptional craftsmanship of this weapon (+1 attack, +1 damage)
- Bone Dagger (-2 atk / -2 dmg)
- Psicrystal
- Sling
- 4 sling bullets (3 now)
- Tortoise Blade (spiked shield)
- Two traveler’s outfits
- One green-jeweled pendant
- Two ivory rings
- Quarterstaff
- Two belt pouches
- A bone short bow
- 11 scattered stone headed arrows
- A large folded piece of reed parchment
- 6 bronze headed crossbow bolts
- Three skin patches with tattoos
Finishing off the last of the “meal” and breaking camp at first light, the party travels north a short way to investigate their avian cohort’s discovery. Hopefully, there will be more supplies on the bodies of the giant ant creatures, for the throbbing heat of the day will be nigh inescapable in the open desert.
Prior to leaving, Zuko quietly sets fire to a shorn strip of his hair, while Radik spends a brief period renewing his pact with his mysterious patron. Making a superior bargain this morning, he quickly suppresses the frown plastered across his visage by a will not his own.
The Kank from the elven battle site, largely ignored the day before in the haste to reconnoiter, is here poking the bodies of it’s companion Kanks and making forlorn clicking noises. Lying on their sides, throats cut, they do not respond.
Knowledge Nature DC10 or Intelligence Check DC 15:
Knowledge Nature DC15:
The sand here is a jumble of harried prints and Kank fluid spatters. Two empty saddlebags adorn each motionless pack beast.
DC25 Survival Check:
DC 25 Search Check:
- A small piece of fruit
- two clay tiles with embossed glyphs
- 3 Drajian ceramics, one of which has a bit broken off.
For the record, when he found them Aso greedily snatched:
He's wearing:
He's got the crafted:
And he's relaxing under the:
He looks like a pimped out Bambam.
Zuko splits a traveler's outfit with Aso and takes the bottom half. Edit: He also takes whatever weapon remains unclaimed.
Zuko sings:
"Hot sun, beating down
Burning my feet,
Ain't walking around"
"Oh, She's got a body
under that shirt
But all she wants to do
is rub my face in the dirt"
Know (nature) - untrained (1d20+1=13)
Bar some makeshift clothing, Issiki is unencumbered. Thinking back to the fight, the halfling takes a couple of bone daggers.
“With DM approval”, MalaKi will take the following actions after the fight: Make himself a peasant’s outfit from various materials. Pick up the Stone Short Sword. Pick up the folded reed parchment. Make small talk and casual conversation with Faindriac and Zuko and ask both to cast detect magic/detect psionics on the various items found. If the folded reed parchment is not magical he will open and examine it. Use aid another to help out any and all skill checks applicable. Take 20 on the Survival check and Search check at the dead kank site to succeed at both. Share the info gathered with the group. Encourage Zuko and Faindriac to “examine” items found at the kank site for magic/psionic qualities.