Tarren:
Sykala:
Sykala doesn't see anything unusual at the station. There is a lot of activity around The River Queen. She's being dragged and carried into the center of the yard now.
Once she flies further out, she spots groups of Ekujae in scattered throughout the woods. In her short time flying, she sees at least two dozen of them but suspects there might be more. They are staying back from the station and waiting in well camoflauged locations.
"I see. Given my current financial situation, I will fight whatever those that offer me the most money tell me to fight. I hope Gozreh has no difficulties with my position. After all, it is survival of the fittest, is it not?""That's what I used to think, but now...I mean, what good is gold out here in the jungle? There's nothing to buy."
"Hey! Baas did you see that? Those heads are not dead!"
"While you may be correct on your assertion that gold might not be so worthwhile here in the jungle, I believe that once we return to Bloodcove - and I certainly do NOT plan on staying in this jungle longer than I have to - the gold will become of great value. Furthermore..."
Baas is interrupted by Ixius' claim that the heads are still alive. Intrigues, he approaches for a closer look.
That morning Fippin wanders down for breakfast, having slept in a little. He's surprised to see the mess hall empty except for Carlos.
"I suppose everyone's all ready up and at work... What are you still doing here, so late?"
That morning Fippin wanders down for breakfast, having slept in a little. He's surprised to see the mess hall empty except for Carlos.
"I suppose everyone's all ready up and at work... What are you still doing here, so late?"
"The River Queen's being brought up now. I'll let her dry up a bit and get to work on her soon as she is, if I can keep that bloody dwarf out of my beard," Carlus laughs. Carlus does not have a beard but neither did Hurg.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
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"I see. Given my current financial situation, I will fight whatever those that offer me the most money tell me to fight. I hope Gozreh has no difficulties with my position. After all, it is survival of the fittest, is it not?""That's what I used to think, but now...I mean, what good is gold out here in the jungle? There's nothing to buy."
"Hey! Baas did you see that? Those heads are not dead!"
"While you may be correct on your assertion that gold might not be so worthwhile here in the jungle, I believe that once we return to Bloodcove - and I certainly do NOT plan on staying in this jungle longer than I have to - the gold will become of great value. Furthermore..."
Baas is interrupted by Ixius' claim that the heads are still alive. Intrigues, he approaches for a closer look.
Baas doesn't see any moving heads.
Ixius steps up to one of the heads and examines it closely.
"Good morn, Fippin," Keliwyn says with a genuine smile. "I trust you slept well? I was just talking with my new drinking buddy, Carlus. Come, join us."
"Good morn, Fippin," Keliwyn says with a genuine smile. "I trust you slept well? I was just talking with my new drinking buddy, Carlus. Come, join us."
Ixius steps up to one of the heads and examines it closely.
There is a very faint trace of necromatic energy around these heads. It is not strong enough to tell you much more though.
"Baas, these heads have a spell on them or something. I think we should tell Gorse about them."
Tarren:
Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
Sykala:
The jungle is immense and beautiful.
"Baas, these heads have a spell on them or something. I think we should tell Gorse about them."
"Are you certain? I see no such thing. I will not be made a fool before the entire station."
He stops for a moment, then continues:
"But if you are correct, what do you suppose might do something like this?"
"Baas, these heads have a spell on them or something. I think we should tell Gorse about them.""Are you certain? I see no such thing. I will not be made a fool before the entire station."
He stops for a moment, then continues:
"But if you are correct, what do you suppose might do something like this?"
"There's definitely some kind of necrotic enchantment here, I know that for certain. As to who did it, if I had to guess I would say the Eukajae. Maybe they're spying on the Station or something."
"Or maybe somebody at the station did it, to watch for invaders."
Fippin greets Keliwyn and makes idle chit chat with him and Carlus, while he relaxes in the canteen waiting for the others to return, and in particular waiting for Sykala to give him her report.
"It's nice to be off the boat for a little while. So Carlus, back in Bloodcove I heard stories about lost cities hiding in these jungles. Is there anything like that around here? That was one of the prospects that lured me into these jungles in the first place."
Keliwyn joins Fippin in casual conversation, and he slowly tries to win over Carlus' goodwill.
"Carlus, tell us, how can we help you with the boat repairs? You seem a man of skill, and I, for one would like to assist you any way I can." Then, lowering his voice, he continues, "quite frankly, I'd much prefer helping with the repairs than merely walking the walls, waiting to be turned into a pin cushion."
Sykala casts obscuring mist on your competitors map.
Sykala:
From your position, you are able to see Ekujae slipping quietly through the woods. You can see why those not in touch with the natural world see them as jungle wraiths.
A pair of them notice you and pause. They stare at you curiously. Even though you are in bird form, something seems amis to them.
Fippin greets Keliwyn and makes idle chit chat with him and Carlus, while he relaxes in the canteen waiting for the others to return, and in particular waiting for Sykala to give him her report.
"It's nice to be off the boat for a little while. So Carlus, back in Bloodcove I heard stories about lost cities hiding in these jungles. Is there anything like that around here? That was one of the prospects that lured me into these jungles in the first place."
"Lost cities? I wouldn't be surprised. There's not many that come up here and those that live here don't seem to care much for cities lost or found. I've heard tell of some places unexplored places but I'm not one for travelling outside of the station myself."
Keliwyn joins Fippin in casual conversation, and he slowly tries to win over Carlus' goodwill.
"Carlus, tell us, how can we help you with the boat repairs? You seem a man of skill, and I, for one would like to assist you any way I can." Then, lowering his voice, he continues, "quite frankly, I'd much prefer helping with the repairs than merely walking the walls, waiting to be turned into a pin cushion."
"Walking the walls? This ain't no Keep. 'sides, I don't think they'll have you doing nighttime guard duty. ... You're welcome to help but unless you know something about boat repair, I don't have much time to be teaching you."
Carlus seems to be coming around but he keeps wetting his lips and staring at his empty glass.
"Walking the walls? This ain't no Keep. 'sides, I don't think they'll have you doing nighttime guard duty. ... You're welcome to help but unless you know something about boat repair, I don't have much time to be teaching you."Carlus seems to be coming around but he keeps wetting his lips and staring at his empty glass.
"Ha! Carlus, my friend, I meant walking up the walls," Keliwyn says as he gestures to the room around them, "not along them!" Suddenly turning to his halfling friend, he adds, "Say, Fippin, do you recall seeing amy of that wine I brought from Bloodcove? Surely there must be another bottle or two among our things?"
Tarren:
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20+11=15
Still realatively new to the jungle Sykala preens her feathers in the way a Eastern eagle is known too, not realizing the way it appears on the Macaw.
Sykala:
Although they speak rather quickly and their accent is unusual, you get the impression they find this to be a curious bird indeed. They make a bird call, not to you but to two other Ekujae, and now you have four staring up at you suspiciously.
"I'm pretty sure there's a couple of bottles up in our room with our stuff, but don't you think that it's a little early in the morning to be drinking in the wine."
"Ha! Carlus, my friend, I meant walking up the walls," Keliwyn says as he gestures to the room around them, "not along them!" Suddenly turning to his halfling friend, he adds, "Say, Fippin, do you recall seeing amy of that wine I brought from Bloodcove? Surely there must be another bottle or two among our things?"
"Walking the walls? This ain't no Keep. 'sides, I don't think they'll have you doing nighttime guard duty. ... You're welcome to help but unless you know something about boat repair, I don't have much time to be teaching you."Carlus seems to be coming around but he keeps wetting his lips and staring at his empty glass.
After the tour, Ixius goes back to the canteen and finds Carlus there with Keliwyn and Fippin. He sits down with them and asks nonchalantly:
"What's with the heads on sticks?"
Tarren:
.
She flutters to the ground about 30' away and transforms back into herself. In elven she will say, "Gozreh has sent me. I sunk your enemies boat into the river with his power. I wish to speak with you about protecting the jungle. Will you talk?" Every once in awhile she has to pause because she has used a Sylvan word and must correct it.
Sykala:
They do not move into the overgrown area so you assume that they cannot. They seem a little startled by the talking bird, but not as much as most people would be.
They look at each other for a bit and then respond, "When Ekujae help outsiders, outsiders hurt Ekujae. When Ekujae take help from outsiders, outsiders help themselves."
"I'm pretty sure there's a couple of bottles up in our room with our stuff, but don't you think that it's a little early in the morning to be drinking in the wine."
Carlus smiles widely, "It's only too early if ..."
After the tour, Ixius goes back to the canteen and finds Carlus there with Keliwyn and Fippin. He sits down with them and asks nonchalantly:
"What's with the heads on sticks?"
He seems a bit startled by Ixius's question, "...I'm ... I'm not sure I'm the one to be answering your questions."
He looks around the room suspiciously, as if someone else might have come in. Then, before loping away says, "Watch yourselves. Something's not right at the old barracks."
Tarren:
"I ask no assistance only that you do not hinder me. I wish to correct this infestation (pointing back toward the station) and the damage it is doing here. Some will be allowed to stay only if they learn Gozreh's ways. They seek to conquer the jungle not live in harmony with it. If you wish to talk than come back to this spot in the morning and wait. I will check every morning."
After Carlus leaves Ixius tells Keliwyn and Fippin about his and Baas's tour of the station's perimeter.
"At the end of each trail that leads from the station, there are two Eukajae heads on sticks. They have an aura of necromantic magic about them, and I saw them move."
Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
The Ekujae look startled when you become human again, but remain suspicious.
Tarren:
Since the elves have nothing to say to her last statements Sykala slips back into the overgrown area with ease and disappears. She heads back to the station to report.
"I'm pretty sure there's a couple of bottles up in our room with our stuff, but don't you think that it's a little early in the morning to be drinking in the wine."Carlus smiles widely, "It's only too early if ..."
After the tour, Ixius goes back to the canteen and finds Carlus there with Keliwyn and Fippin. He sits down with them and asks nonchalantly:
"What's with the heads on sticks?"
He seems a bit startled by Ixius's question, "...I'm ... I'm not sure I'm the one to be answering your questions."
He looks around the room suspiciously, as if someone else might have come in. Then, before loping away says, "Watch yourselves. Something's not right at the old barracks."
Keliwyn watches Carlus leave, and the turns to his companions. "Well, that is is certainly interesting, and it only makes me more curious. Something is just not right here. Ixius, there's heads on stakes? That's just a bit barbaric for my tastes. If they're giving off a magical aura, perhaps they're more than just a scare tactic . . . maybe some sort of alarm?"
Sykala:
The Ekujae remain suspicious but say little. They nod once to indicate they've understood and then slip back into the jungle as well.
When you return to the station and emerge from the jungle, a few of the guards are startled. They quickly realize you are not an Ekujae and laugh nervously. You notice six Ekujae heads on posts near where you re-enter the camp.
Sykala walks past the guards and heads not paying much attention to either having overflown it all earlier. She finds Ixius and whoever is with him, "Many, many Ekujae around. Is dangerous. Ekujae not live close. Not know how any trade happen here. I stay jungle at night. What you find?"
Ixius tells Sykala about the heads. "What do you think it means?" he asks her.
Keliwyn watches Carlus leave, and the turns to his companions. "Well, that is is certainly interesting, and it only makes me more curious. Something is just not right here. Ixius, there's heads on stakes? That's just a bit barbaric for my tastes. If they're giving off a magical aura, perhaps they're more than just a scare tactic . . . maybe some sort of alarm?"
Arriving just as Carlus is leaving, Baas replies to Keliwyn:
"Considering what we have seen the Ekujae do to our group, I would venture to say that barbarism is not a new concept for them. Perhaps Aspis is only treating them in kind."
Turning to the group: "Now, what was Carlus speaking about before I arrived?"
For the perceptive ones in the party:
Billzbub/Keliwyn:
As you talk, the activity of the camp continues. The big task today is getting The River Queen out of the water. There's a lot of talk about the warping of the wood. The gushing of water tore the wood in some places but it still seems unnatural. Consensus is the Ekujae used some kind of magic during their attack.
This is the one of the first days in weeks you haven't had to shout over the thrumming of an engine.
Ixius tells Sykala about the heads. "What do you think it means?" he asks her.
She listens carefully to what Ixius says, "Is not right. Burn heads. Set spirits free. Where they come from?"
"I don't know. I am going to ask Gorse. Any of you want to come with me?"
Ixius goes upstairs to Gorse's office and knocks on the door.
"I don't know. I am going to ask Gorse. Any of you want to come with me?"
Ixius goes upstairs to Gorse's office and knocks on the door.
Sykala follows Ixius.
Sykala follows Ixius.
Baas follows as well.