OWWW! Godth damith! I bith my tongth! Did anyone elth have weird dreamth lath night? I hate thith I thound like an idioth. Jasper is annoyed when he wakes and goes about the business of getting ready for the trip back into the jungle.
Allia stretches and gets up as she's woken by the two guards "Oh is it morning already?"
She hears Jask explain Brin's condition, while she is donning her armor and getting ready to march. She has no intention of having Kalis scold her again for delaying everyone's departure.
She hadn't liked eating while walking through the jungle at all, so she had put a bit of yesterdays supper aside, and while everyone is getting ready, she quickly casts her cantrip again to warm it up and give it some flavor. It doesn't taste as good anymore as when it was fresh of course, but acceptable.
"But Jask, if you're out hunting, who's going to look after Brin?"
Kalis rises with the sun and quickly gets ready. You are strange little man, Jasper. Don't ignore dreams though, the shaman's said that kind spirits sometime choose to speak to us through our dreams.
"I think Brin will be fine as long as he rests. His body is already healing him. Besides, Dragolan and I have shown Gelik the essentials - he can see to Brin's needs while we're gone."
Sasha smiles at Petry's joke, but it's clear that she's still a little shaken and concerned. "Hmm…I'm not quite sure yet. I'll let you know by the time you return."
As everyone finishes packing up their gear, Brin rises to greet them. "Be safe, friends. I am sorry that I am unable to join you. I will be well upon your return. I assure you." He smiles weakly before returning to his bedroll.
You start out due west, heading for the shore. Already, the sun beats down on the group. It's going to be an incredibly hot day. After a little more than an hour of walking, you break through the trees and see that you're atop a small ridge leading down to the beach. Standing on the ridge, you can see for miles - but there is something much closer that catches your eye. On a small island straight ahead of you, you can see the remnants of a wrecked ship. It's about 400 yards off-shore. It's missing one half, so it's certainly not sailable, but there may be useful gear or even valuables on board.
The surf is relatively calm for an ocean - it wouldn't be a terribly difficult journey, but it would require that one swim to reach it.
"Well that ship looks in a terrible shape, just as bad as the one we found yesterday. But maybe because it's so far away there's still something useful there this time. Or more crabs"
She examines the waves and judges the distance to the wreck "Well seems the tide is quiet for now, but I'm not sure how long that lasts. It's not that far, I think I could make the swim there, but I'm not so sure about how good the rest of you can swim?", she shoots the group a questioning look.
"Well, if we decide to swim there, we should find a place to leave anything we won't be needing, so it doesn't hinder us in the water, or gets wet and ruined. Damn, I should have brought my waterproofed bag with me, then we could have kept those things safe. Remind me to do that tomorrow. Oh and I guess if you're wearing heavy armor, it might be better to take it off and carry it during the swim. Let's just hope there aren't any unfriendly animals on that island then."
She pulls the backpack from her back and takes out all the things that she doesn't want to take into the water, and looks around for a place to stash them.
In response to Petry last night, Dragolan says, "I don't believe that will be necessary right now...Brin seems to be recovering well without it, and there are worse diseases out there."
Dragolan is also ready to go. "Aerys, if you're able to guard the camp that would be most helpful." He smiles. "If we find anything drinkable, I shall be sure to bring some back for you!"
At the wreck/island:
"I could not carry much or wear any armor, but I think I could swim there without too much trouble."
"Normally I would say this is a bad idea, but we could split up--Kalis, you, Allia, and I could swim across, while Jasper, Meraxes, and Petry could watch our equipment. That way, we don't need to secure what we leave behind for the swim."
"I was never a very good swimmer..."
"I knew we were going to need that lifeboat." Petry muttered out loud. He sighed. "No use crying over spilled milk." he said. "I can swim, I think, but not well." Petry dropped his backpack on the sand, keeping the burlap sack and silk rope again. He kept his gauntlets on, as well as his dagger and the potion in his belt pouch. "This is why I haven't used any armor so far." Petry told Kalis and Allia. "With this heat, and it would weigh me down in the sea, it would be too much."
Seeing Allia move her stuff to a sand dune, Petry followed. "Maybe if we used the rope to tie people to a good swimmer?" he asked.
Swim checks:
Aerys' eyes light up at Dragoloan's words. "Really? You would do that? For me? Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She stands and starts picking up around camp, helping everyone pack as needed and generally being helpful where she can.
Dragolan has spent a point on Swimming, so can get Meraxes across. (He floats, after all!)
"Meraxes, I'm feeling lucky." Petry said, looking at the wrecked ship off of the shore. He tossed the silk rope to the olive-skinned Varisian, then took off running into the surf. "Come on! You'll never know until you try!" Petry called back cheerfully as he began swimming to the ship.
"If we hide it properly it should be safe till we get back, no? And judging from all the things we met so far, I don't think we should really split up, but if someone wants to stay behind..."
"Dragolan! If you would be so kind as to help get across I'd be very greatful."
Kalis wordlessly strips out of his armor, adjusts the straps on his sheathe so it is tightly across his back, and dives into the surf.
Allia considers taking her armor off as well for the swim, but first swings her arms to test it. She seems satisfied with the results, confident that it won't hinder her swimming performance too much. She doesn't want to get caught without her armor again, but still watches teh sea again for a few moments before following Kalis into the water.
Wait until the sharks attack.
Jasper wants to go across as well. He is not the best swimmer but he is not hopeless either. As far as our gear why don't we hide it up a tree? I can get up there and we can tie our gear together and hoist it up where no one can see it. If the group likes that idea he will do it that way so that we don't have to split the group. He will then swim across with everyone else.
"Oh, that is a better idea than mine... unless there are monkeys, but I haven't seen those so far here."
The group makes the long swim across the channel to the small island. Apart from Meraxes swallowing a mouthful of salty seawater, the crossing is uneventful. Upon arriving, you discover the island is little more than a sand-covered rock. Taking up a majority of the island is half of a decrepit, wrecked ship.
As you approach, you hear what sounds like a scratching noise coming from what remains of the lower deck of the ship. There is something moving inside.
Petry helped the others onto the island, retrieving his silk rope with the attached grappling hook from Meraxes. While he waited for the last of the swimmers, he took the time to acquire the psionic focus in his mind.
Petry hefted the rope in his hands. "I hear something - probably another sea scorpion. Kalis, do you want to go first? I'm not a climber, but after that swim, I still feel lucky." With that, he swung the rope with grappling hook onto the edge of the shipwreck.
Climb check
Perception check (with psicrystal)
Allia sighs as she hears the noise from the ship "Oh... I was afraid of that..."
She unfastens the whip from her belt and shakes it as if that was enough to get it dry again.
"Maybe we can surprise them for a change!" she whispers.
"Well the first ship we found didn't have any home.. maybe we'll be fortunate with this one too."
As the others climb out of the ocean Kalis stands looking at the wreck. When Petry suggests he goes first, he nods and begins readjusting his sword in it's sheathe before making the climb.
"Wait Master Kalis, don't you want to wear your armor again?"
Kalis shrugs and gestures vaguely towards shore. It is on the other side, but I still have my sword. He smiles as he turns back to the wreck and climbs onboard.
Dragolan draws his mace and whispers, "Before we approach the ship, allow me to look for traces outside of it."
As Kalis is about to climb onto the ship, the grappling hook slips free of the rotting wood. It is clear that the upper decks are unable to hold any weight. Dragolan doesn't find any tracks, but he does notice that the lower decks are accessible via a large hole in the hull of the ship.
Kalis cautiously steps closer to the ship. The scratching doesn't get any louder, but does continue. As Kalis slowly steps into the hole, he sees the source of scratching.
You see five skeletons wielding broken, rusted cutlasses, mindlessly scratching at the hull. It looks as if they're trying to claw their way out. They haven't seen or heard you yet.
Attempting to sneak, a large timber snaps under Kalis' weight. Immediately and frighteningly quickly, the skeletons turn their attention his way. They begin to move to attack.
Jasper
Petry
Allia
Dragolan
Merax
Kalis
Average: 13
Skeleton
Skeleton
Skeleton
Skeleton
Skeleton
Average: 9
Round 1 Map
The rest of the party hears Kalis' words and see him disappear into the hull of the ship . A few seconds later you hear a large smashing sound.
Hefting his mace in both hands, Dragolan follows Kalis into the ship. "Kalis! Are you all right?"
As Kalis moves in you here him yell The dead walk here!
"See I told you, the place is haunted!"
Having her whip already in hand she runs through the gap after Kalis . She gulps as she sees the horde of skeletons making their way towards the gap in the ship, and quickly casts Grease into their middle to block their way as good as possible.
HP=7/7 points, AC=11 (touch 11, flat-footed 10), no armor, spiked gauntlets, dagger, speed=30 ft.
Fort=+1, Ref=+1, Will=2
Holding psionic focus (Fire); Power Points=6
Petry finished wrapping up the rope and grappling hook that fell back to them while Kalis entered the ship. And found the undead. Following Dragolan and Allia, Petry jumped inside the wreck, ready to blast the first thing he saw.
Energy Ray: Fire; 1pp; 25-foot range. No Concentration check to suppress the display of the power, so everybody will hear deep-pitched humming from Petry's outstretched hand.
Ranged Touch Attack:
Damage: points
Roll to confirm ray crit:
Damage:
"Destroy them!" Petry yelled, feeling the rush of his blood rising as well as the energy inside of him come out as the thin, burning ray of red flames.
Round 1
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10. . (+2 Dex)
hp 8 (1d6+1)
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +1
"ughh.."
Meraxes will hold until he has a clear shot on an open skeleton and fire an orb of acid.
RTA:
DMG:
Dragolan enters the ship and first sees that Kalis is standing over the broken remains of a skeleton. A few seconds after, you see four more skeleton warriors who have turned to fight.
Allia casts grease on the ground, immediately hitting two skeletons. They attempt to stay upright.
Skeleton (I6) -
Skeleton (I7) -
Both skeletons remain standing.
Stepping past Dragolan, Petry sees the skeletons. Without hesitation, he blasts one to bone dust.
Jasper lets out a yell and goes in, dodging and weaving between the skeletons to get behind one before reversing his stride and shoving a dagger at the creatures skull.
Shaking his head at the creatures, Dragolan says, "Most distasteful..." and holds up a hand.
Jasper weaves his way into the hull and sees the skeletons. He waits for them to get nearer.
I7 Skeleton
I8 Skeleton
I9 Skeleton
As the energy washes out from Dragolan, two of the skeletons feel the effect. Unfortunately, it's just not very severe.
The skeleton nearest the two defeated attempts to step closer to strike at Kalis.
Acrobatics Check -
The skeleton slowly shuffles forward and swings its cutlass at Kalis' head.
for
Kalis attempts to dodge, but the blow grazes his upper arm.
Another skeleton , unaware of the grease trap, attempts to shuffle forward.
Reflex Check -
It falls flat on its back.
The remaining skeleton moves past its fallen companion and to Petry. It swings its cutlass in a wide arc.
for
Petry, too, tries to avoid the blow, but is unsuccessful. The blade knicks his side.
Begin Round 2
Updated Map Link
Round 2
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10. . (+2 Dex)
hp 8 (1d6+1)
Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +1
Meraxes will take a shot at the skeleton. As he fires an orb of acid, he sees the undead fall over.
RTA:
DMG:
His shot goes high.
"Damn!"
Allia cracks her whip and swings it at the skeleton attacking Petry, hopefully pulling it's leg out from under it, knocking it down on it's back.
Dragolan steps up to H4 and takes a two-handed swing with his mace at the skeleton menacing Petry.
Kalis smiles as he gives into his rage and begins to sing. As the skeleton steps toward him he steps to the side and brings his sword through a horizontal arc, swinging for the skeleton's neck.