And so it was that the expedition to the Chultan Peninsular was finally set to begin. Having retrieved the Professor’s mysterious ‘supplies’ and what felt like years waiting around for the Scilandar’s repairs to be completed, it seemed the group was ready to set off.

The true nature of the Professor’s objectives out in possibly the wildest, most inhospitable region of Faêrun were shrouded in mystery, yet the promise of glorious adventure and riches beyond belief was always enough to reassure any doubts. The unfriendly introduction of Ubdall Kareed seemed an ill omen and was evidence that the Professor was looking for more than just adventure – but surely once the dusty horizon of Calimport was far behind it would not be of any concern?

~

Once all passengers and supplies had boarded, the Professor gave them a brief tour of the Scilandar, his face beaming as he explained in detail the complex purposes of various machines, pulley systems and apparatus. The huge ship had three levels below its deck. The first held the galley and eating area, as well as a mobile laboratory and workshop which assumedly contained the Professor and his assistants’ sleeping quarters. The second level contained the general sleeping area and there was little room for luxury – hammocks between support poles and rigging and bedrolls on the wooden floor the extent of home comfort. There were at least personal chests on the starboard wall, enough for one per person, and flushable toilets and showers in the bathrooms. The engine room and storage hold made up the third level and was accessible by a number of trap doors, from which Ham and Jens sprung from or disappeared into at regular intervals.

The companions sat down to a dinner of pork wrapped in Baymus leaves and sage cooked by Ham while Jens saw to wounds suffered in the assassin battle. The Professor declined to join in but instead perched on a stool at one end of the dining hall, explaining the route they would take over the Shining Sea, not stopping until they were well in land and deep into the jungle.

After dinner, everyone made their way back up to the deck as final preparations were made for launch. Ham and Jens worked in a frenzy, checking over vital flight systems and engine motors. Steam began hissing from exhaust pipes as they conducted final tests to ensure optimal performance. The Professor stood at the helm, his small figure barely visible over the wheel as he bellowed commands randomly at the two ship hands.

Suddenly the groan of heavy steel grinding filled the air. A look up showed the ceiling of the Professor’s vast workshop beginning to slowly ease open, revealing the canopy of starlit sky beyond.

”Anchors away!” Hingleswip shouted, giggling as the Scilandar began to lift into the air. Within moments the ship had cleared the laboratory and begun its ascent into the night sky.

Calimport glowed white hot, its streets alive with shifting masses of people celebrating the festival. As midnight approached, so did the party’s climax and fireworks filled the air in explosions of colour. The crowds roared in delight as they saw the Scilandar rising into the air, assuming it was just another spectacle to be enjoyed.

Before long the city had become a sprawling labyrinth of light and colour below and the ship was thankfully out of the range of stray fireworks. The foreboding black expanse of the Shining Sea lay to the south and with a commotion of hissing and whirring the Scilandar began to drift in that direction.

Attention stolen by the stunning panorama a thousand feet below, not a single person noticed the tiny figure ascending the outer gunwale, her hair flashing red in the lowlight. With a grin, she nimbly leapt over the gunwale and considered how to re-introduce herself…

~

As the Scilandar powered away from the lights of the city and into the unspoilt horizon of ocean, the Professor walked, suddenly tense, towards the stern where he stared back out towards the city. Following his gaze, a dark shape was ascending from the Emerald wards, its huge outline visible against the backdrop of light. A wave of fireworks detonated nearby, illuminating the strange silhouette for a brief moment – enough to realise what it was.

It was an airship. Another airship.

Easily three times the size of the Scilandar yet without any discernible methods of levitation – no air pods or motor engines anywhere on its deck or hull.




As it rose, the huge vessel began to turn, swinging around to face the south. Those closest to the Professor recognised his grimace as it began to set off in pursuit...
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:43, Mon 24 Oct 2011.

Jibril, now dressed in a garish lounging outfit after dinner, can be heard exclaiming loudly with joy when he discovers the flushing toilets. "Praise the Gods!  At least there's one luxurious amenity on this gaseous carriage!"  This is immediately followed by the repeated sounds of flushing, as he tests out the find.

He strolls to find the Professor staring at the massive airship following them, while pinching his nose up in an imperious frown. "We've got company? Who is that?"

Fareeda nearly screamed as the airship suddenly took off. The food she had eaten threatened to rise up from her belly but she managed to controlled it with an effort.

While the view of the city below was spectacular, Fareeda took only one glance and shied away from the railing.

After a few minutes, she recovered from her sense of vertigo and put on a brave face.

"It looks like i had as yet developed my sea legs or rather sky legs." she said weakly, more to herself than anyone listening.

Just then, Fareeda saw the other flying vessel in the sky and saw Hingleswip frowned. It was a look she knew well after all this time she worked for him.

By Sune, i know that look. Something is wrong.

"Are they competitors, professor?" she asked as she went to his side.

Krogan was absolutely fascinated by the flushable tolets, the first he'd ever seen.   It was even more of a wonder to him than seeing the fireworks from above.    He silentlh vowed to increase his food intake, just to use them more often.

He found he loved air travel, and vowed to make flying under his own power a life priority.

This euphoria evaporated a little as he also saw the other ship.   Though far removed from his orc kin, he still had orc instincts, and being the smaller creature in a chase, being prey, did NOT sit well  with the big man.
He waited for the professor to answer the other's questions.

Lambrac was not impressed by the flushing toilets, since Lantan had had such things since the time that mainlanders were still squatting behind bushes. He was more curious, and concerned, about the mechanics of how it worked in a contained ship a great distance in the air. Where did the waste go, exactly? However, he wasn't interested enough to go see the sewage mechanisms themselves.

He was rather to disappointed to learn that the Scilandar was going direct to Chult over the Shining Sea. But then, it was a pretty wide detour to go over Lantan just so he could see his house.

*

Lambrac, surprisingly, was not craning his neck like everyone else over the railing when the Scilandar took off, and so he missed the whole grand spectacle of their emergence from great Calimport. After all, he'd seen plenty of the city already, and what was another angle going to add to his knowledge? No, he was with Ham and Jens, watching the great engines at work as they hauled the ship into the sky, and he was with the Professor as he piloted the vessel and watched the control mechanisms. He even helped out, where he could and was allowed. The whole contraption fascinated him, as every part moved in harmony to achieve a goal.

Finally, as activities settled down he pulled himself away from the devices and went for a walk, only now peering over the side at the land far below, the distant desert and ocean, the tiny cities and invisible people, the whole wide world spread before them. This was the viewpoint of the Gods, and it was humbling.

Lambrac sauntered towards the stern, finding people gathering over some sight. It was an even bigger and grander flying ship, but the clearly magical means of flight just smacked of laziness. "Might be Halruaans." he suggested, but he was no expert on airships, magical or otherwise.


OOC: ID ship: Knowledge (Arcana) 6, never mind

The Professor breathed deep as several of the other group came to stand beside him. His usual comical, slightly mad demeanour was gone and his features were set like rock.

To the question of who or what might be in the pursuing airship he muttered but two words.

"The enemy".

Krogan smirked.
No offense, Professor, but can you be more specific?   This is Calimport, you can buy enemies by the dozen in the bazaar.

He was regretting not spending his money on a good longbow, though.

Her father was serious when he said she shouldn't leave, and she was sorry to say she was never a very obedient gnomeling. But her uncle was everything her father was not, and what her father chastised her for her uncle celebrated and praised. She could handle herself, what could her father not see! All the mages in Almraiven agreed, she was brilliant. Brilliant! Linni frowned as she hid beside the railing of the ship, angry at the thought of her fathers abduction. What would everyone think of her now, carried off by her father like a babe. She peeked over the railing to see everyone peering into the distance looking concerned.

Turning her head to the same direction a small frown creased her forehead, she didn't know of anyone who had an airship to even rival Scilandar let alone outsize it. Wherever it came from its timing meant it was unlikely friendly.

Casting aside her concerns Linni decides to take a direct approach, walking up from behind the others till she stands by her uncles side. ”Should we burn it down?”

"If they mean us harm, then who cares what they are? Can the Scilandar outrace it?"

Fareeda desperately wished Abbas was here with her but she found herself standing next to the orc Krogan and clutching his arm. It was not as cold, slimy and clammy as she thought his green skin would be and it was so muscular too.

As if on command, Abbas approaches. He had been exploring the ship, and keeping to his own thoughts on the dangerous journey ahead. Sure, he leapt into these situations with abandon, and never actually considered the danger to himself. It was an adventure, and that life path required a certain sense of abandon. Still, he was looking out for more than himself now. While he might have the senses of a leader, and his friends and allies looked up to him in that capacity, he was certainly not the public face of the party.

Now he stands near Fareeda and Krogan as appearing out of the shadows around them, his hair freshly tightened back behind his head. He grinned at the figure on the other ship, and placed his left hand casually on the broadblade sword on his hip. His other hand flitted softly against Fareeda's arm, as a soft greeting, and he said, "We'll do what we can and what we have to. Right now, it's best to be ready. What kind of weapons does the ship have, Professor?"

Abbas might be nearly untouchable in a hand to hand fight, but a battle of these proportions might be beyond his skill and ability.

"Oh pleaaase...go get a room," Jibril sneers at Fareeda. "We have a situation here that doesn't require those types of skills..."

Fareeda sneered back at Jibril and answered with a barb of her own.

"Oh? I am surprised that you don't do so yourself, Azuthite. With The Lord of Spells sucking on Mystra's teat, i often wonder why would there be a need of your god at all as Mystra is the goddess of the Weave herself and Azuth is merely but a caretaker?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Wed 26 Oct 2011.

Jibril puffs up like an oversized peacock, with the vibrant colors to match.  He does a once over of the woman from the tip of her toes to the flying strands of her hair, while finally resting his gaze on her fingers clutching the orc's arm.

"Well, you obviously know something about caretakers. And there's nothing wrong with being a caretaker. It can be a noble profession.  Just ask Krogan or Abbas here since that seems to be the nature of their relationship..."   

Fareeda was enjoying needling the priest.

"Are you so jealous? I have seen the way you stare at me with your hot eyes. As for my own caretakers as it were, i will be careful if i were you in their presence. If i die then some will weep at my funeral but in your case, not even Azuth won't mourn your demise as he is much too busy lusting after Mystra to even care. You are no cleric, you are merely a bureaucrat, a cog within the Weave nothing more. I pity you."

Jibril laughs with amusement.  "That crotchety old fart? Since he's too busy studying his arcane tomes, he probably forgot he even has a cock...I doubt he's lusting after Mystra."

"And jealous? Hardly. Now, Professor what were you saying..."

"Takes one to know one, priest. No need to get all defensive." Fareeda mocked then she looked at the other airship.

"That pious fool has no idea how weak the temple of his god is or how low he sits in it." she hissed a moment later as an after thought.

With a bemused, self-centered smile, Jibril chose to ignore the woman's trivial barbs. He certainly didn't want to get into a cat fight that resulted in her plunging a mile below into the shark infested waters of the Shining Sea.  No, he certainly didn't want that...

Lambrac looked bemused between the arguing priest and entertainer. In the matter of an argument, he'd certainly side with the far lovelier of the two, but she wasn't exactly trying to avoid a fight here either. "Enough, children, or we'll turn this ship around right now and go straight home." And not go to Chult at all, it seemed an excellent idea.

"Enemy, Professor? An enemy you completely neglected to tell us about during the briefing?" He hated surprises.

Krogan was amused but confused about why the Azuth cleric was trying to beat his chest to get the small woman's affections.   They seemed to have better things to do at the moment.
He looked down at Fareeda and nodded.
I'll protect you to the best of my ability, ma'am.   I'm a bodyguard, but it's pretty obvious that we need everyone here for my employer to be successfully protected as well.    I don't have a bow, but I'll do what I can if they get closer.

He looked for a way to secure himself, and others, to the airship should a battle start.   Perhaps tying rope around their waists, and them to the railing or something more to the interior of the decks.

Ignoring the countless questions aimed in his direction and the bickering between Jibril and Fareeda, Professor Hingleswip turned and marched back below decks, gesturing for Ham and Jens to follow.

Within moments a strange buzzing sound began to fill the air along with the strange scent of burning ozone. Several antennae around the ship began to crackle with luminous blue energy which began to ripple over and around the ship's hull.

It had been a clear, star-filled night, illuminated by the light of a waxing moon, yet wispy cloud was starting to form in every direction. Within minutes the cloud had become thick fog, obscuring any vision beyond ten feet.

Wheezing loudly and leaning heavily on his cane, the Professor reappeared, seemingly drained by whatever had taken place below decks.

Krogan looked around, one hairy but well groomed eyebrow cocked.
A Fog Cloud to hide in?    A nifty idea, but wouldn't it be better to just kill them?

"Please do not be alarmed", the Professor coughed loudly, his breath struggling to return, "We are in no danger now. The ship you saw was...something unexpected. Quite unexpected."

He gestured out to the south with his cane, his features still set grim and resolute, "Nothing changes. Our objectives remain the same. If they wish to follow they will find the way is far more hazardous than they could have anticipated.

For now, I must rest. Please, make yourselves at home as best you can, we'll reach land by tomorrow and our destination is another day inland at full speed."

Wearily, he turned to head off once more but looked back over his shoulder to speak again, "Where we are going is a place without forgiveness, beautiful but deadly in its nature. You must learn to work together as a team, or you will all die."

He smiled sadly at Linni - it was evident he wasn't at all surprised by her return. And with that, he left.

"Let's hope they don't think to just follow the fog cloud..." Lambrac mused, in a low voice lest their pursuers be magically eavesdropping. Just because they couldn't see them was really no guarantee of non-detection.

And a 'way more hazardous than they could have anticipated' didn't sit well with him either, not when they had a ship three times bigger, magically propelled, and equipped with Gond-knew-how-many weapons and other surprises. What could be more hazardous for them? That they were flying into first?

The last words left him cold, and he waited until the Professor had left before beginning "Well, now, this isn't quite how I expected to die, but it will certainly be spectacular!" with a false good cheer.

Krogan chuckled at Lambrac's words.
Yes, it will certainly be memorable.   Well, not by us, of course, but by anyone else who sees it. 

Abbas grinned at the cloud that surrounded the ship. Lambrac brought up the hole in the logic of cloaking the ship, but it would serve as an effective cover regardless of who was following them. It was at night and they were effectively a giant cloud.

"Anybody up for some discussion or drills to develop our teamwork?" Abbas knew his place in a fight well, but that didn't mean the group as a whole would when acting together. He ignored the cold remarks by some of the others. Laughing at death was a requirement as an adventurer, but sometimes it just got to be too much.

Krogan nodded to Abbas.
I'm game.   You can't really get too good at fighting, I think.    Well, I'm a front line fighter.  I have some ranged toys, but my main strength is charging  up the middle.
I can adjust that, if need be, of course.

The orc spoke more for the group than for Abbas, who'd already fought at his side.

Thaniel kept to himself through the various events, arguments and conversations that happened on deck. He preferred to take in all that was happening, observing everything before he would make his own contribution.

OOC: NPC'd.

Looking out at the fog, Jabril sighs loudly. "Well, if I die--as spectacular as it will be--it will evidently be a lonely death for me. And I was so hoping to have a rather large gathering at my funeral."

He turns to glance at the others. "As for tactics, my main goal will be keeping you all alive when the monstrous spider tries to devour you or the local cannibals try to kill you with their poisonous darts."

"I'm a security consultant and engineer. My expertise lies in locks, traps and other mechanisms, in installation and bypassing, in gaining entry and extraction of items. So I don't expect to have to do much unless until the Professor finds an ancient trapped ruin in the jungle to explore." Lambrac explained. "In combat, I make a better engineer, to be honest, but I can assist the rest of you." He patted his rapier and crossbow, and added with a glance to Fareeda. "We Lantanna are lovers, not fighters."

"I could not agree with you more, Sir Lambrac." Fareeda purred softly.

It was fortunate that there was to be no sky battle. She dreaded the thought of the Scilandar destroyed and she falling to the water like a stone. Nevertheless she kept her bravado in the presence of such handsome males.

So many men, so little time.....

"Well then, i am a singer of tales and a right good belly dancer. However i have certain skills and magics that would aid if needed."

Shifting slightly to the side to keep an ear free for advance warning of the other airship, Abbas nodded to each of the party members that noted their strengths and weaknesses.

"In the situation we faced back in the streets with the assassins, working on quick sidesteps to open a path for our allies charging past can allow us to maneuver significantly more smoothly in support.  We did well in maintaining a defensive line, but some of the movements could be the quick 'click-clack' that opens for a fast strike while keeping defensive lines.

"The monitoring of where people and surroundings are, adjusting that to the flow of combat, knowing what type of response we can expect from each other also carries over into our camping coverage of sightlines, where people rest, and so forth."  The elf demonstrated the quick half-sidestep from an "armsweeping forward" ally, and back without losing the protection benefit to defence for himself or other party members.

"We can also use this in the front lines to put the target's distraction from being outflanked to an even better distraction by timing off each other's attacks." This time Abbas tilted back and forth in a shuffle-step, weave timing to demonstrate the benefits of improved flanking techniques the melee-inclined could use to advantage.

"There is another technique I can work with you to learn - that is the mental focus mediation elvenkind use to remove the necessity for deep sleep.  In a hostile environment as we anticipate ahead, a lighter rousing and shorter rest times for the rest of you may make a significant element for our travels."

Krogan chuckled.
Me?   Learn to sleep like an elf?  If only my father could see me now, eh?    I'm game.   And some fighting practice would be a good thing, since we might have some time to spare.

As the evening went on, the rolling banks of fog around the Scilandar began to dissipate - whatever strange magic that had conjured them long since faded. With visibility cleared and the light of the moon as a guide, there was no sign of land in any direction, nor of the pursuing ship. Glittering water was all that stretched out on every horizon, mimicking the glittering sky above. It seemed strange that the other ship had not simply followed behind the cloud of fog, but you suspect there was far more to the Professor's escape than met the eye.

With the moon rising fast towards its zenith and fatigue beginning to creep in after a long day in Calimport, the sleeping chambers below decks begin to beckon. Ham and Jens seemed to have no problem staying awake to watch over the ship's progress and so the rest of the expedition headed in for the night.

The Scilandar's hold was never going to be the most comfortable place to sleep, but after the fight with the assassins and the Calimport heat you are soon fast asleep and wake up feeling refreshed to the sound of the Professor's excited voice two decks up.

Slowly the adventurers arose from slumber and began to head up on deck. The Professor's mood had definitely returned to normal - he was buzzing around the ship's helm, mumbling away to no one in particular, a map in his hands.

And then the cause of his excitement was recognised. Dead ahead, over the prow of the ship, huge pillars of stone were visible rising from the ocean. Green with vegetation, the rocks seemed to have been standing for thousands of years as the Shining Sea slowly eroded through them, each one rising hundreds of feet out of the water. Beyond the rocks, something even more amazing, its details blurred by the haze of the morning sun - the cliffs of the Chultan peninsula...

Jibril wraps his vermillion morning lounging robe around him tighter, as he peers out towards the distant cliffs with bleary eyes.

After a few moments of obligatory sightseeing, he turns to the professor.  "Do you have any strong ka'hwa brewing in the galley of this ship? I need some before my morning prayers."

Though he'd slept in his armor, as was his normal custom, Krogan had taken a thorough bath and cleaned everything before sleeping.   Since leaving the orc caves, he'd become very fastidious about such things, and knew that the jungles of Chult, though unknown to him, would probably offer little in the way of similar luxuries.

He slept well, though, dreaming of flying over Calimport and the nearby orc mountains, and awoke refreshed, even if he was a little out of sorts as he struggled to get his "air legs".

It didn't affect his appetite, though, as he headed to the galley to break his fast.
He paused, though, to take in the grandeur and glory of the jungles ahead of him.  The big orc smiled, his well cleaned tusks gleaming.
He already felt at home.

Nodding, as if in approval, he went to eat something.

Rising gracefully from his position near the prow, Abbas nodded polite greetings to the re-awakened party.  The elf returned a small jar of wax back into his pack, restrung the treated bowstring, and redonned the golden burnoose worn in the city battles - apparently being the focus of negative attention was something he maintained in more than his daily constitutionals.

"Good morning.  How did you find the breathing exercises we spoke of last eve?  It is but an aide in bringing the mental focus, but is beneficial even in normal slumbers."

The elf did not note that the same skill that gave him the additional time to treat his armour and bow would serve the party as well - both awake and rest - but spoke to issues directly dependent upon his explanation.

"The view was spectacular at sunrise over the water, but this is something so rarely seen.  Another luxury provided by the good Professor," Abbas complimented quietly.

Lambrac emerged yawning and late from the cabin, rubbing his red hair. He looked startled at Abbas's mention of breathing exercises, having quite forgotten them and not paid much attention to the concept in the first place. "Hmm? Sorry, too tired." he mumbled.

He moved to look over the prow, impressed by the sight of the Chultan cliffs, but filled with dread for what those leafy green fastnesses held. He grimaced, and sighed "Why did it have to be Chult?"

Krogan grinned at the elf.
I've been doing my own meditations, but since I learned about them from an orcish priestess who looked like a crushed foot, so some new ideas were welcome.
I like your elf sleeping stuff.   I know I'll never really get the hang of it, but it's fun to work at it.


The orc eats a hearty meal, and sighed happily.
Yep.  Heading into the vast jungle with a full belly and a pack full of weapons.  Life is good.

The Professor continued to buzz around the deck, his attention darting anxiously over the pillars and more distant cliffs. He barely noticed the arrival of his newly employed adventurers and only when Jibril addressed him regarding the ka'hwa did he snap out of his apparent daze.

"Hmm? Ka'hwa you say? A kind of spicy green tea yes?" he pulled on his moustache, "Never been a fan, must admit - too much spice in the morning. Does have certain 'awakening' properties I will concede but heavily outweighed by unpleasant side effects. Much prefer turnips. turnip tea, turnip broth, fried turnips and occasionally if I'm feeling brave parsnips."

He coughed awkwardly and gestured towards the galley, "Ham and Jens will see to your ka'hwa."

Thaniel reached the top deck having logged a good night's sleep, the first in some time. His spirits were lifted when he saw the green below, glad to be at least in sight of familiar landscape even if its contents were unknown. He joined Abbas to admire the watered sunrise. "I have given some thought to your combat inquiry, and am happy to contribute to the discussion, if it still interests you."

Jibril looks at the Professor like he has five heads. The early morning hour was not helping his mood either.  "Ka'hwa is not tea!  How long have you been in Calimport?" He lets out a loud sigh, trying to remember a word the gnome might know.  "Coffee? Never mind, I'll just have Ham and Jens to show me what's what in the kitchen here," he mutters as he departs to find some caffeine. This was going to be a long day.

"Besides that it is in the interest of all, in survival if naught else, one is wise to learn what can be learned from our travels.  By all means..."
A smooth half-circling hand invited Thaniel's observations.

Abbas paused after his reply, choosing his thoughts and words, then added to his response.  "If you are agreeable, I would also discuss your training in the use of the arcane studies in battle.  I knew others of our kin skilled in use of both.  I have been told I have the aptitude, but my focus has been limited to the dance of steel, and that limited sight is something I wish to correct."  The swordsman acknowledged his faults openly, but matter-of-fact rather than dwelling upon them.

Krogan shrugged.
My combat style is fairly direct and frontal.   I can be the wedge, while others use magic around me.

Thanial nods gratefully and moves a little closer. "Both? Do you mean archery? The longbow is far from ceremonial, but I have greater powers at my disposal than feather and shaft. Still, when I am daily spent I might be tempted to loose an arrow or two at the enemy, though I do not have the accuracy of some of my brethren."

"The Art arcana is to which I referred - my archery is passable, although secondary to the sworddance.  During the battles with the assassins, I noted your use of magics in hindering our foes.  Like my defensive martial training, the application of arcana provided timely protection, and I would learn more on how to incorporate the use of magics in battle - both my own personal engagements, through tactical, strategic, and operational expansion."  Abbas clarified his interest was in improving his knowledge of magic.  Like Thaniel, Abbas' bow was of fine quality, although he had not been able to avail of it during the close quarter city fighting...

...although such situations might well be different in the jungles before the party.

Thaniel nods in understanding. "My magic is largely debilitative. In my studies I found explosions to be too unpredictable and hard to control, so I focused on magic which attacks the body and its senses. Krogan and other more hands-on combatants will likely appreciate the effects of my magic more than those of us out of the melee."

Linni seemed disappointed as the cloud rolled over the ship, clearly unhappy at not being given the opportunity to try and light up the opposing ship. She sat quietly with the others and giggled to herself as she watched Abbas try and incite some combat training from the others. As the night wore on and it seemed interest was limited to Krogan Linni took the opportunity to have an early night, climbing down to the captain’s cabin to curl up on a spare cot.

Linni was up before dawn, as was her usual custom, and was standing at the prow admiring the site before them. She frowned as Jibril stalked off to the kitchens in a huff. ”Ka’hwa.” She muttered to herself , testing the word.

Her curiosity was piqued as Abbas mentioned arcane combat training. Turning from the prow she walked over to the elf. ”I am no novice in the arcane arts myself, I am quite happy to help you in training.”

She looks up to Thaniel, ”Unpredictable true, in inexperienced hands. However the raw destructive power of fire will never be matched by steel or sword.”

Turning back to Abbas Linni hesitated for a moment and asked, ”Last night you mentioned you can teach how to meditate like elves do.” She could certainly see the benefit in sleeping less while not being so groggy she could barely cast a simple cantrip. ”Perhaps you could sit with me tonight and show me.”

Lambrac listened vaguely to the discussion about combat styles, his attention more on the dreadful Chult that lay before them. "I prefer to get in there and just stab it. Then get out again without being stabbed in return. Pretty simple, really." he offered with a shrug.

Abbas inclined his head to Linni.  "It would be my pleasure, Linni.  The meditative trance may take some time to adapt and adopt, but we can work with it."  The elf tilted his head ever-so-slightly to the side in thought at the sorceress' offer, considering, then again nodded slowly.

"My blades are here to protect others, but it would be foolish to ignore their edges."  His tone and a glance at both arcane instructors indicated a similar view in learning magic would be wise in his view.  "I thank you, in said case."


Tilting his shoulders subtly to open up his body posture to widen the conversation to include Lambrac, Abbas picked up the previous conversation thread.  "Something we can work towards in providing you protection in the movements in and out, and taking advantage of each other's positioning to distract from the flanks."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Thu 03 Nov 2011.

The Profeesor arched his eyebrow at Jibril's outburst and stood perplexed as the priest walked away. "Not tea...but..." He seemed to forget his train of thought and simply shrugged, turning back to the panorama unfolding before them.

"Smell the air my friends!" he snorted loudly, "Nearly there, so very nearly there!"

Moustache twitching, he gestured over at Linni, "Matton is going to murder me you realise, he shook his head but did not seem overly worried, "Ah well at least we're in the once place he'll never find us!"

Linni beamed when Abbas agreed to teach her the meditation, "Sure! OK then, we will teach each other."

She looked over to where her uncle stood on deck, ”Ah, well...” she rubbed the back of her neck nervously, ”He does know where we are going. I did leave him a goodbye note.” She quickly adds, ”But fathers just a shipwright, he’s not an adventurer.”

Jibril lets out a chuckle at Lambrac, as he returns back to the group sipping on a steaming mug of...something. He looks bored as the others discuss combat tactics, so he decides to gaze upon the approaching jungle.

"So, where are we going exactly, Professor, and what is it that you seek us to accomplish for you?"

Once she had gotten over the initial vertigo and airsickness, Fareeda had been in the habit of sleeping late ever since the voyage in the airship began.

Once awake, she made a point to avoid attention and to stay out of the way as she knew next to nothing of being a sailor or engineer though she occasionally sang soothing magical songs to make the tasks of the crew a little easier. Fareeda was on deck dressed in blue and red silks and marveling at the coastline of Chult.

"Tis rather breathtaking. So many beautiful trees. There is nothing like this anywhere in Calimport unless its a Pasha's tended garden. Oh, certainly there are forests in the far north, but it was too cold for my tastes."

She took a deep breath and gave a content sigh.

"The air is also exotic. I can smell the jungle from up here. I can only imagine what it will be like once we land."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Sat 05 Nov 2011.

Lambrac gave his considered opinion. "Oh, milady, I'm afraid it will be hot, damp, sticky—no, not in a good way—smelly, loud with the buzzing of insects, thick with mosquitoes that will suck our blood, flies that will devour us alive, and all manner of creepy-crawleys, such as spiders and centipedes, that will lurk underfoot and jump on hand and face to sting and bite with venom. Every wound and mosquito bite runs the risk of infection by some terrible and gross disease. And that's not including the various dangerous beasts and savage tribes, who may either eat us or take offense to our trespass." He felt it worthwhile not to sugar-coat this.

"But fear not, milady. I'll protect you."

Jibril takes another sip from his steaming mug and adds nonchalantly as he gazes upon the jungle. "Or you could just do what I have done and have packed a tent with a mosquito net, along with plenty of insect repellent."

"I am so relived to hear about that, gentlemen. Still, however dangerous the jungle is, i still think its beautiful."

"It would seem Fareeda and I are the only two unfamiliar with this region - good to have so many knowledgeable allies," Abbas noted complimentingly in reply to the points raised.  "Perhaps we can speak with the Professor about stores on the ship to ward against the insects as you suggest, if they are such an issue.

"Are there particular dangers in certain areas, or are the poisonous and disease-carry bugs, tribes, and beasts spread throughout?  Any terrain issues of which we should be aware?"

"I am not familiar with Chult. Though, I am familiar with the jungle," Thaniel adds, turning to Abbas and smiling at his light humour.

"In any event, we will become well acquainted with this land soon enough."

"But surely there must be at the very least an trading outpost or such near where our final destination will be? To learn about the land, one must learn all about its people as it is their advice that we would have to depend on before we begin our journey. Correct?"

Krogan grinned.
I, too, have no knowledge of this place, just experience in wild lands.   Still, it should be fun.

The Professor frowned at Jibril's question, his moustached lips twitching like a rodent. "Well..." he looked around from horizon to horizon as if expecting someone to be listening in. "I suppose now we are clear of the city I can tell you more of our...goals. Hmm."

"We seek an ancient temple of sorts, a huge construct located deep in the heart of the jungle", he smiled knowingly, "Iscarion. Dedicated to Ubtao, the God-king of this realm, it once stood as a vast beacon amongst the wild lands he had created. It was a place where all sentient life could take shelter from the vicious cycle of life and death in the jungles around them. Druid circles tended the canopies and deeproot labyrinths of the Vastwood, priest sects guided the masses in worship of the Great Father and all were united in the glory of life and creation."

He paused to smirk, his head slowly nodding as he remembered the tale, "All was well. For a time. None know what happened - perhaps the untamed hordes of the jungle united to purge the temple, resentful of order being created where there should be only chaos, perhaps the residents simply abandoned Iscarion's stone halls to return to nature's unforgiving but nurturing embrace, or - more likely - it was the God Ubtao himself, punishing his followers for some forgotten wrongdoing.

Whatever the reason, Iscarion stands now as nothing more than a ruin, its once sacred halls reclaimed by the jungle it once sought to control. The location of the temple was thought forever lost, indeed some thought the ruin completely swallowed by nature's gaping maw - not so. I know where the ruin of Iscarion lies and, better, I know what lies within."

The Professor looked around from person to person, seemingly gauging whether to trust the group with what he was about to say. "Mmm. It is said the halls of Iscarion gleam with nature's truest bounty - priceless artifacts, magic and treasure that would make the most Ancient of Wyrms blush. Among these riches is one object of immense power, a relic as old as Toril itself. This is what I am here for. This is what I seek. It is named..."

His voice trailed off suddenly as he squinted into the distance. His eyes narrowed, then widened in recognition. "Baravar's beard there's more of them! Gods not again!" he shouted, almost tripping himself as he made for the helm. "Ham, Jens, to arms! All of you to arms!"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:16, Wed 09 Nov 2011.

Following the Professor's eyes, you spot two black dots in the distance, emerging from the backdrop of one of the stone pillars. As they began to draw nearer their shape slowly formed. There were two of them, birds of some kind - huge birds, you realise as a sense of scale becomes clear, their wings rising and falling in long, lazy arcs.

And They were heading full speed for the Scilandar...

Ham and Jens appeared seemingly from nowhere, working frantically over the ship's operating systems. The ship groaned and hissed as she began to lean to starboard. Jens gestured frantically at the ballista that was stowed on the ship's prow and to a large chest beside it.

It seemed that without even having reached land, trouble had already found you.




OOC: Initiative rolls please. Post any preperatory actions - one standard action. Note that if your init roll is lower than 10 you will not react quickly enough and gain no pre-combat action.

The ship is 10 foot wide and 40 feet long from stern to prow. The ballista takes a full round to load, or a standard action with two people working it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:10, Wed 09 Nov 2011.

Thaniel immediately reined in his focus and cast a simple but effective spell of protection on himself. He then looked about to see where he might best be placed to both stay out of trouble and assist the others.

Casting Mage Armor

06:25, Today: Thaniel rolled 14 using 1d20+3. Init.

OOC:
14:31, Today: Krogan rolled 23 using 1d20+3. inititive.

Krogan's Dragon Aura was "set" to Perception, so everyone within 30 feet gets +1 to Spot, Listen, and Initiative checks.


Krogan had some minor missle weapons, but knew his great strength might be better served elsewhere.
He helped unload and set up the ballista, though he was only good at the heavy lifting, rather than the technical things.  He knew about crossbows, but that was it.

Linni's eyes grew increasingly wide till they were two big green orbs as her uncle told his story, at the mention of such treasure a covetous smile accompanied her amazement. "We MUST get in there!" she yelped as the Professor rounded off his mission for them.

Linni readied herself as the creatures approached, "Nothing will stop us!"

---

_{OOC:
10:23, Today: Linni rolled 23 using 1d20+3. init.
Ready action: cast Lesser Orb of Fire on first creature to come within range}

"What?!" Jibril exclaims in exasperation.  "I haven't even finished my morning routine, including using the flushing toilet!"

Hastily finding a place to leave his steaming mug as he mumbles curses, he casts a protective spell upon himself.
___________________________________________________________________________

OOC:  Jibril rolled 15 using 1d20-5. init
      Casting: Mage Armor.

Abbas' examination of the ship's defensive capacities proved fruitful. As fast as Krogan and Lini were, the elf once again demonstrated the speed that had protected the party in Calimshen, even as his ears noted the professor's "not again" comment.

Swift dancing strides placed him into position before the ballista aligned in direction; a delicate adjustment, and he was firing even before Krogan was reaching with his mighty strength to reload the powerful weapon.  A rapid surge of the ship in attempt to reach cover, however, sent the bolt off from the intended flight path.

---

_{OOC:
3 ppl w/ nat20 Inits?  Strangeness.
22:25, Yesterday: Abbas rolled 26 using 1d20+6. init.
01:34, Today: Abbas rolled 11 using 1d20+8. ballista.}

This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Thu 10 Nov 2011.

Leaning against the rail and oiling his crossbow, Lambrac had listened quietly to Hingleswip's account of Iscarion. He'd heard of it before, he was sure, slightly different tales under different names and in different places, but all ancient ruined cities swallowed by the remorseless jungle and still stuffed with treasure. As if the people hadn't grabbed all they could as they left, and hadn't come back for more shortly thereafter. The tales usually and conveniently left out the traps and the monsters that were left waiting in their place.

He was going back to Chult, back into the jungle, to play this game again.

He gazed around the group of adventurers: eager, talented yet inexperienced in the Chultan terrors. Well, it was nice knowing them.

A casual glance towards that dark continent had him seeing the dots in the horizon before Hingleswip raised the alarm, but he could make nothing of them at this range. He was already moving towards the ballista; he knew well how to work such a machine, and helped Krogan load a heavy bolt. "Lower two degrees, rotate left three degrees!" he shouted, sighting along the bolt at the winged creatures and correcting for wind, after seeing Abbas's first shot go wide.


OOC: Initiative 20
Spot 9 (including +1)
Profession: Siege Engineer 18

Fareeda didn't know what those winged things are from where she standing but the main point was they're big and hungry. So she kept near the door to the lower deck just in case her skills are not needed.

OOC: 22:26, Today: Fareeda rolled 5 using 1d20+2, Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Fri 11 Nov 2011.

The mysterious winged creatures drew closer, every swing of their huge wings hurtling towards the Scilandar. As they came, so those on the deck sprung into action. Time to earn their keep it would seem.

Abbas was the first to act, springing towards the ballista. He quickly brought the weapon to bear, glad a heavy iron bolt was already loaded in the chamber. Aiming down the sights, he fired at the distant creatures; grimacing as the bolt arced down into the swell, its momentum fading well before it could reach its target. It would serve him well as a range finder, at least.

Linni and Krogan came next. The former ran to the gunwale, standing on tiptoes as she readied a fiery onslaught for the lizard-like birds. Krogan moved to assist Abbas, his huge arms easily hefting a second bolt from the chest next to the ballista. He had not used such a weapon before however and seemed unsure about where to put the huge quarrel.

Lambrac, on the other hand, was a man from Lantan, the most technologically advanced nation in Faerun. Operating a ballista for him was as easy as flinging a rock from the shore. He stepped forward, instructing Krogan where to load the quarrel and advising Abbas how to account for range and the strong southerly wind. Hopefully the second attempt would fare much better.
(OOC: Abbas adds +2 to the next roll.)

Jibril and Thaniel began chanting almost in unison, one in heavily accented Alzhedo, the other in soft-spoken elvish. They both pulled what looked like a small piece of leather from a pouch at their belts and crunched it tight in their fists. Their outlines shimmered for an instant before returning to normal.

The two flying creatures were barely a hundred feet away now, the details of their form much clearer now. They were nothing like birds, their leathery wings curved back like a bat's with reptilian skin and long, pointed beaks. With a wing span of at least twenty feet, they were truly massive and evidently none too happy about the Scilandar's presence in their territory.

One of them cried out with a piercing shriek, quickly mirrored by the other. Their directions switched, one turning to come past on the port side and the other to starboard.



Of the professor there was no sign and Ham and Jens seemed occupied in flying the ship. The cliffs of mainland Chult could not be more than half a kilometre away, their green-speckled faces rising from the water like jagged teeth. It seemed the job of fighting these things was for now all yours...

OOC: Their AC is 17. Round one...fight!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:22, Sat 12 Nov 2011.

Krogan will continue assisting with the ballista if they needed him, but would attack with his own weapons if they did not.

This form of combat was very alien to him, but still fun.

Abbas blew a loose lock of hair from his face as he touched the brass fittings of the ballista, quickly adjusting the weapon's sight to take into consideration Lambrac's suggestions... but the elf's great speed proved the fault this time.  While Lambrac's direction was correct, it was based on a reasonable response time, whereas Abbas being less familiar with the weapon, had instead released shot as quickly as possible to take advantage of the correction and allow the heavier missle time to travel.

In any event, the result was a closer, but equivalent miss as the second ballista bolt followed the first in tracing a short-lived arc through the sky until it fell from sight.

The elf hissed softly at himself and held his blades ready to defend if the creatures remained at close, but stayed near the ballista to fire it the following round if the lizardbirds had flown past.

---

_{OOC:
00:23, Today: Abbas rolled 13 using 1d20+10. ballista attack.}

This message was last edited by the player at 04:20, Sun 13 Nov 2011.

With the creatures still far out of reach of his magic, Thaniel waited patiently on the deck, content to let the ballista do its damage in the interim. He did take the time to ponder his tutelage, and wondered if he shouldn't have chosen a long range spell for the day.

Lambrac watched the bolt fly harmlessly past the pterodactyls. He though the elf would have better aim than this. Of course, the pterodactyls were still too far away and much too mobile for this kind of shooting, but lobbing bloody great sticks at them ought to make them think twice.

"It's just like using a crossbow," Lambrac advised Abbas as he helped Krogan load another bolt and wind it in, "Only much bigger. So you don't have to breath out before you fire... Now, one degree right!" He turned the ballista mount around in the adjusted direction.

"Speaking of which... Everyone load ranged weapons and prepare to fire! Someone please grab and load my crossbow, over there." He waved to the hefty two-handed crossbow he'd left safely by the door to below decks.


OOC: Profession (Siege Engineer) 18

Lantanese-made MW heavy crossbow. You may borrow it.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:51, Sun 13 Nov 2011.

(OOC: As soon as it is her turn, Fareeda will use Inspire Courage to give any one who can listen to her song a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls)

Edging as close as she could without getting in the way of the fight, the Calishite girl gather her courage and began to sing a song of battle. It was an old song she had picked up from a sun elf who had long ago went to Evermeet.

Well, the songs was more about preparing to mourn for the potential loss of soldiers from the battle rather than victory from said battle. One can't be too sure with elves.

Still beggars cannot be choosers.

http://www.mixpod.com/playlist/86255660 Track 10

His eyes widening at the flying creatures, Jibril exclaims, "What in the Hells are those?!"  Muttering a series of curses, he forces himself to focus on the combat, as he begins to incant a long spell in order to help balance the equation.

OOC:  Standard: Casting Summon Monster I (Celestial Owl) to attack nearest pterodactyl.

10:10, Today: Linni rolled 9 using 1d20+3. rnd1 orb of fire att.

---

Linni winced as her first attack flew low, searing a balustrade of the Scilandar. She looked around for her uncle and grinned when he was nowhere to be seen.

As the monsters closed in on the airship Linni gasped at their size, ”Ahh, they’re HUGE!.” however her attacks did not cease. Her second attack flew straighter, missing the airship this time.

---

_{OOC:
10:10, Today: Linni rolled 12 using 1d20+3. rnd2 orb of fire att.}

Having watched his first shot fall well short of its target, Abbas quickly made adjustments for his second shot. By the time the bolt had loaded he was sure of his angle, allowing plenty of height on the shot to compensate for range. Unfortunately he did not compensate enough for lead and the oversized quarrel hit the space where the starboard creature was seconds before.

Linni wasn't having any better luck as two of her fiery missiles flew well wide of their target.

Krogan and Lambrac continued their duties supporting Abbas, Krogan's chest heaving as he hefted each bolt into place and Lambrac continuing to shout directions.

Jibril began to mutter an incantation, raising his arms into the air as he did so. It was clear the spell would take some time to complete.

Thaniel continued to watch the battle unfold, waiting for an opportunity to use his magic or arrows.

The two flying reptiles swung in from either side of the Scilandar, screeching their belligerence at this strange invader of their territory. One raked its talons along the starboard side, ripping entire sections of wood in a shower of splinters. The other closed over the gunwale, its long spear-like beak snapping towards Thaniel. The elf's quick reflexes saved him from being dragged overboard however and he rolled nimbly to one side. A close call.

As the creatures pulled away to turn for a second attack, a beautiful voice rose through the air. Fareeda stood close to the elm, her rousing song inspiring those around her. Any doubts were evaporated as the words took form. Nothing and nobody would stop them from reaching their goal...

OOC: Bard song in effect.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:13, Thu 17 Nov 2011.

Thaniel mutters an elven curse at his folly for almost being taken off. He draws out his longbow and sets an arrow, loosing in the direction of the creature that would have taken him.

20:03, Today: Thaniel rolled 10 using 1d20+6. Longbow attack on nearest creature.


.....He mutters another elven curse, chiding himself for not having practised his archery more often.

Krogan continued his work helping, unless there was a more effective means to help out, other than assisting with the ballista.

Dragon Aura is on DR1/Magic for everyone within 30 feet.

Nothing might stop the party from reaching their goal, but it certainly seemed that Abbas and the ballista were not faring particularly prominently in the battle to ensure same.

Despite the assistance of Krogan, the guidance of Lambrac, the inspiring song of Fareeda, and his own skill with archery, Abbas simply could not find the timing measure of the ballista.  He watched silently as the lastest bolt over-estimated an arc and sailed uninterrupted between the two great beasts.

This level of failure was exceedingly frustrating to the elven warrior, even with his calm exterior.  Rather than dwell upon it, however, he looked to Lambrac and Krogan to see if either wished to have a crack with the powerful missle weapon.

---

09:12, Today: Abbas rolled 13 using 1d20+11. ballista att.

This message was last edited by the player at 12:54, Fri 18 Nov 2011.

Lambrac swore an oath to Gond as he saw the pterodactyls starting swooping overhead. "Take cover!" he shouted to the others, and hunched himself lower over the ballista, continuing to aid Krogan and Abbas. "Alright, how about one more crack of this, then we switch to bows, yeah?" he suggested, finding using the ballista to be significantly less effective than advertised. "Try to lead the ptero more, the ballista is slower to respond." he offered.


OOC: I suspect you've got the best attack roll of us anyway, Abbas.

Profession (Siege Engineer) 10 - ooh, just enough.

Linni cursed silently as her fireball flew wide of the creature again.

"Stay STILL!" She shrieked, although it was neither the creatures flight or the airships movement which was likely causing her to miss.

Lining up another attack Linni casts her third fiery orb towards the creatures.

---

_{OOC:
Cast Lesser Orb of Fire on nearest creature.
13:12, Today: Linni rolled 21 using 1d20+4. orb of fire att.
13:14, Today: Linni rolled 7 using 1d8. orb of fire dam.} 

As soon as his Celestial Owl appears to attack one of the vulturous creatures, Jibril casts another spell at the other one, shouting loudly "Go away!"

________________________________________________________________________

OOC:

Standard:  Casting Cause Fear.

Abbas' luck failed to improve and yet another quarrel plummeted into the churning ocean below.

Linni fared better and her fiery missile exploded against one of the flying lizards. It shrieked as flames spread over its midriff and aborted its assault to spiral and put out the fire.

Ignoring the attacks, Lambrac and Krogan continued to assist with the ballista, heaving another missile into position.

Jibril's celestial ally appeared out into the open air on the port side and immediately surged into an attack on the second beast. Its frenzied assault seemed to do little damage, but at least it was distracting enough to prevent another attack on the ship.

Jibril followed his first spell up with another, targeting the creature already on fire with a fear spell to emphasise its plight. It shrieked again and swept away towards the rocks.

Thaniel unslung his bow and let fly an arrow at the remaining Pterosaur, his shot flying well wide.

The huge-winged creature hissed in frustration at the attacking owl, as it drew too close, it snapped out its beak and the celestial creature disappeared with a flash of blue light beneath the pterodactyl's jaw. Its attention deferred for a moment, it began the long turn to come around for another go.

Fareeda continued her song, only slightly worried by the near-fatal attack on Thaniel.

With the combination of efforts from the others in driving away one of the great leathery birds and distracting the other, Abbas found himself with a little more time to adjust to the patterns of the attackers.  Fareeda's song focusing the mind and removing distraction, adjusting just so the path of the missle as Lambrec suggested...

The elven warrior waited for a clear shot, and the creature obliged with its bank around.  A powerful twang launched towards the remaining foe and Abbas permitted himself a small self-nod of satisfaction.  Whether or not the beast went down, he had a better feel for the weapon now.

---

_{OOC:
14:49, Today: Abbas rolled 18 using 1d20+11. ballista att.
14:51, Today: Abbas rolled 13 using 3d8. ballista dmg.
*That should be 14 dmg (+1 from the bard song).}
 
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Wed 23 Nov 2011.

Thaniel draws another arrow and put it to his bowstring, intent on improving his aim. He lines up the nearest creature and fires.

Standard: longbow attack on flying creature

09:51, Today: Thaniel rolled 6 using 1d20+5. longbow attack on creature.

....and finds himself cast out of archery school

Seeing success at last, Krogan continued his ballista duty.  He was starting to enjoy the weapon.
He wondered how much they cost.

Linni giggled to herself as the creature burst into flames and spiraled away from the airship.

"You will BURN!" She yelled at the remaining creature, hurling yet another fiery orb from her hands.

---

_{OOC:
Cast Lesser Orb of Fire on nearest creature.
09:35, Today: Linni rolled 12 using 1d20+4. orb of fire att.}   

"Yeah, that, keep doing that." Lambrac said of Abbas's first good shot. Seeing Krogan begin eagerly loading again, Lambrac had no choice but to assist. "Don't get excited, that's three attempts and only good shot." he grunted, helping him move the ballista bolt into place. "We'll be more successful using crossbows — or sticks and stones. Do you want Linni there to have all the fun?"


OOC: Profession: Siege engineer 12

Jibril grabs his violet wood staff and prepares to strike at anything that gets near him.

The ballista thunked yet again, Abbas releasing the quarrel towards the remaining Pterosaur. This time he smiled, finally having got the hang of accounting for wind and the alternating speed and direction of ship and enemy. The missile flew true, impaling the creature's left wing. It shrieked in pain and immediately began losing altitude.

At that moment the Professor burst from the Helm doors, his minuscule form staggering under the weight of some kind of machine wrapped around his shoulders. The strange-looking apparatus seemed to be made of steel, dotted with multicoloured pipes and glowing runes. Hingleswip gripped the apparent release for the machine, a long cylinder fixed with a funnelled nozzle and iron sight at its end. It was definitely a weapon of some sort.

Bellowing - or at least making an attempt at bellowing - the Professor lunged forward onto the mid-deck and aimed the unwieldy device towards the wounded Pterosaur.

"Look away!" He shouted, then fired. The morning sky lit up with dazzling blue energy that arced towards the flying reptile like a slow-moving bolt of lightning. The shot caught the creature flush and it disappeared inside a roiling vortex of blue power.

The Professor stopped firing and watched as the creature began to plummet. He grinned at the effectiveness of his attack - but his expression quickly changed. The body of the creature was not heading towards the shallowing ocean below - it was coming straight for the ship, carried on the route of its attack.

"Brace for impact!" he shouted again, diving to the deck just as the reptilian carcass slammed into the Helm at breakneck speed. Bits of wood and engine exploded from the crater and the whole ship shook violently under the collision.

A loud groan reverberated through the air, as slowly, inevitably, the Scilandar started to go down...

Krogan rolled his eyes.   He'd been first impressed with the gnomish weapon, so much like dragonfire, that he considered asking to use it sometime.
But now he wasn't so sure.  He hunkered down to brace for the ship to crash.   Falling was, sadly, one of the adverse side effects of flying, it seemed.

"Krogan," Abbas called out to the *much* stronger half-orc.  Despite the urgency of the situation, "Grab what you can from the hold that is soft - bags of flour, loose sailcloth, and pad the bow so we have some cushioning - if we don't make that cliff, we could split on it, so hanging back further on the ship may not be a good idea." The elf suggested as he headed to gather spools of rope to allow people to have a safety line or tie themselves in to not be knocked clear.

"Fareeda - call the others below deck and hie themselves deckside; if hanging back is bad, and staying inside it could turn us into skewers!"  He suggested as he sheathed his blades and tossed the rope to whomever looked handy and inclined to rig harnesses.

"Professor, what features does the ship have to recover from the damage or minimize the impact?"

Krogan nodded and tried to gather anything soft, especially bedding and the like.   He also focused his draconic magic on protecting himself and his friends, picturing the thick hide of a red dragon.

OOC: dragon aura on Protection, with DR2/Magic for everyone within 30 feet.

Linni clapped excitedly as the lightning hit the creature and started to run across to her Uncle to investigate the weapon. Before she had taken two steps she realised the danger the ship was in. With a little "Eep!" she turned the other way and ran to the closest thing to hold onto, which happened to be Krogans leg.

Even with all the commotion she had the time to turn a frown to her Uncle, unimpressed with how his attempts to 'help' them had turned out. She made a mental note to have a stern talk to him about staying out of any future fighting.

Thaniel moves to the side of the vessel and watches as the mountains grow large before them. He ponders when would be the best time to alight from his carriage before it crashes.

10:29, Today: Thaniel rolled 12 using 1d20+1. Int check.

With a shrill scream, Jibril looks wild-eyed as the ship begins to sink, and he clutches onto Lambrac's arm with a terrorized grip.  "What?! Where are the parachutes?," he sputters to the Professor.

Lambac shook off the squealing priest and strode angrily up at the gnome. "Professor! Next time, leave the monster slaying to us!" It was always frustrating when the client wanted to help.

He'd seen enough Lantanese inventions go awry that he quickly began assessing the damage, wondering what systems remained intact and functional. Sadly, that experience didn't include a great deal about airships. "Looks like Helm control is down, but what do we still have? Engines, rudders? Can you manage a controlled landing?" he demanded of the speechless inventor.


OOC: Intelligence check for rate of descent: 10, or -2 for 8
Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering) - what's broken? 16
This message was last edited by the player at 04:11, Tue 29 Nov 2011.

The Professor stood frozen on the deck, his expression aghast. The area behind him was a ruin, the wheel gone and a huge crater all that remained of the rear decking. Several cables connecting the balloon had been severed and now some of the air compartments were swinging free.

He turned slowly to observe the damage and the cliffs looming agonisingly closer. "Distance and velocity, height and rate of descent". He mumbled something else, but was distracted by Abbas' question.

"Forget that! We need to start shedding weight, now!" he shouted, suddenly springing into action. He unshouldered the metal device that had caused this chain of events and grunted as he heaved it over the gunwale. "Useless weapon!" he cursed as it plummeted towards the Shining Sea waves. "If we ever return to Calimport, never trust Igur Thimblevun, or his Baravar-damned inventions.

That!" he pointed at the ballista, ignoring Jibril's parachute question, "Get rid of it. And the bolts. Anything else that isn't bolted down and looks heavy, over the side, quick - we need altitude!"

Behind him inky smoke started drifting up from the crater. Of Ham and Jens there was no sign...
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:30, Sat 03 Dec 2011.

Abbas, close to the stairwell near the mid-stern of the airship, left the ballista to Lambrac and Thaniel, rather than waste time when the Professor's comments suggested the ship might be salvaged - or at least safely landed.  The two skilled party members would have no challenge removing the powerful, but heavy, device and its ammunition.

Instead Abbas looked across the ship for other items that might be removed or... or rebound!  The professor's gesture above had shown the loose-floating airsacs.  Re-attaching the airbags might make the difference in keeping the ship's balance and aerodynamics/structure supported to make landing - or make it survivable.

Agilely moving across the damaged area of the deck to avoid further damaging it or falling through, Abbas balanced himself and reached out to begin retying the ropes.

Lambrac didn't like the sound of jettisoning anything, as they might need it later. He had no desire to be marooned in the Chultan jungle, especially not without decent weapons and supplies. Damn it, damn it, damn it all. He should have stood up to Jala, one way or another, and stayed in Calimport, far away from such disastrous expeditions to Chult.

He crossed to the ballista, unbolted it from the deck and beckoned to Krogan to help him give it a push towards the rails and lift it over the side. Gond forgive me.


OOC: Disable Device 16
Strength check 15

Krogan shrugged, not really worried either way.   He started grabbing things and throwing things overboard.   Grinning, he realized that he was really enjoying throwing things off an airship, and hoped he could keep doing it for a while.

For a moment, Jibril considered throwing Fareeda overboard--the Professor had said to discard anything of significant weight after all.  But his better judgment took hold of him, and he began to help the others throw anything of weight into the sea below.

Thaniel joins in the rush to jettison anything that isn't nailed down, and some things that are. As he looks about for something to throw overboard, he ponders the bewilderment of the next civilised person to walk under their flight path some days or weeks from now, only to find a large ballista, several canisters of food, some clothing, various tools, etc, all scattered amongst the jungle litter.

With anything worth throwing overboard clearly too heavy for Linni to lift she busies herself with running around deck pointing out things that can go.

And so the group began jettisoning heavy equipment over the side of the gunwale. First went the ballista, Lambrac disconnecting it from its mooring and Krogan heaving it over the side. Then went the heavy ammunition and unnecessary navigation equipment, followed by heavier food supplies and water canisters from the hold. The Professor then reluctantly gestured to a collection of a heavy wooden barrels near the engines.

The fuel. The fuel was to go as well.

It seemed now that whatever happened, the Scilandar would not be their carriage back to civilization...

Meanwhile, Abbas had begun attempting to repair the loose air compartments in the balloon. He tied the cut chords as best he could back onto their holdings on the gunwale and though not fully repaired, they were much more stable than before.

The ship's rate of descent had eased noticeably but the cliffs could not be more than a hundred meters away. From here, the first scrubs and thick jungle roots were already becoming visible on the rocky lip, as well as the beginning of dense jungle beyond. It was going to be close. Really close.



The Professor moved to stand over the ship's pointed prow and looked over the oncoming wall of rock and the waves crashing against it some two hundred feet lower. Lifting his arms in the air, he began chanting.

Krogan began looking for anythung that could be used for a flotation device.

"Gond's flaming tears." Lambrac cried, despondent at the sheer and waste destruction that was going on around him, that he was participating in, and was surely about to get a whole lot worse as the Scilander smashed into those cliffs — and took them with it.

Gond, I know I don't pray often—you say actions count louder than words. But I don't want to die out here so far from civilization, so far from home. If you can help me out of this mess, then I'd be very grateful. I'll make a magnificent machine, then sacrifice it to you, smashed and burned—

He looked down, and saw the magnificent machine of the Scilander, that great big heavy weight dragging the balloons down. It would make a fine sacrifice. Enough talk, actions were what counted after all. "Abbas, stop! Cut the ship! We grab hold of the balloons and cut the ship!" Lambrac bellowed, waving his hands for attention. "Where are Ham and Jens? Ham! Jens!"

Thaniel moves forward to try and glimpse the same view the professor is getting over the prow. He ferrets through his memory for some tale or long forgotten anecdote that might aid him in his plunge to the ground. In the end, he satisfies himself with making sure he is within a few steps of the professor, in case he calls for aid.

Linni sensed a purpose in her Uncle, and was confidant that while he may not save the Scilander he would certainly have a way to save the group from harm. Swallowing her fear Linni steps to the front of the plumeting airship and stands next to the Professor, ready to aid whatever assistance she can in whatever magic he might be conjuring.

With the cliffs rising at a rapid rate Linni glanced towards her Uncle, a sliver of doubt entering her mind.

Jibril clutches onto the nearest sturdy object (having considered Lambrac) and braces for impact. He is feverishly muttering prayers to Azuth to save them all.

Abbas considered the competing requests... but when it came down to the client, and the client's knowledge of his ship, where Abbas' decision came down to on the cut-the-ropes or not was rather clear.

...

That being said, however, Abbas did find himself relatively unattached to tasks at the moment, and pre-pared was pre-success.  Reaching down to gather up a section of netting that had previously secured to the deck a number of cast-overboard barrels, the elven warrior took the loose rope ends and tied them to the balloon ropes.  If the ship could not be elevated to safety by what the Professor was attempting, the party could cut the ropes binding the balloons to the ship and float to safety in the durable hammock, popping balloons as needed to ensure a slowed descent.

Waterbarrels and a few of the dried foodstuffs could go there, perhaps some of the lighter other items over there...

It never hurt to have a plan B.

Lambrac stared in horror as the others seemed to freeze and give up. The Professor, singing at the bow like his heart would go on. Linni and Thaniel waiting behind him, and Jibril hanging to the mast for dear life. They'd given up. "Come on, we have to get off this thing!" he cried, his pleas seeming to fall on deaf ears.

Damn them all. He drew his sword and savagely slashed one of the ropes, snapping it apart, then he cut another. It was rather satisfying against this rather inevitable doom. He'd grab hold of the last rope himself if he had to.

Finally someone seemed to be reacting, he realised as his eyes alighted on Abbas, tying a net to the balloon ropes. "Brilliant!" Lambrac cheered, and raced over to join the elf. "You must be a Lantanna." he congratulated Lambrac pitched in, tying the rope ends together, but the rocking ship and whipping winds made it a difficult task.

Any kind of watertight bags and containers were gathered together.   If there were time, he'd lash them in a bunch, to let someone float on them.   He knew that there were draconic powers that let one breath underwater, but he didn't know how to do that.
It seemed like a much more important oversight than the draconic "treasure sense" he was trying to master.

He looked around at what the others were doing, and looked to see who might need help, as soon as he was done.   He regretted all the things he'd thrown overboard.  It had been really, really fun to throw lots of things overboard, but surviving their crash wouldn't really help if they starved to death in the jungle.   Of course, Krogan was prepared to do whatever it took to survive, including eating whatever animals were native to this place, but it would have been better to keep their own supplies.

The big orc decided to apologize to their employer when he got a chance.

The airship Scilandar floated agonisingly closer to the looming wall of jagged limestone cliff. Her descent had slowed significantly with the shedding of weight but it was not going to be enough. Now only fifty feet from the cliff, it was obvious she was never going to make it - the tip of the ship's prow was already almost level with the highest point and dropping more with every second...

Cursing their luck, the group began to think of other ideas. Lambrac suggested cutting the balloon free from the ship and hacked through one of the connecting cables in an attempt to spur the others to act. However just as Abbas turned his attention to the other cables, something strange began to happen.

The Professor's chanting increased in volume, the language harsh and eerily strange coming from the old gnome. Florescent energy began to swirl across the deck, surging over the sides and up across the balloon compartments. From below decks came more faint chanting - two voices in unison with the Professor's.

Suddenly there was a blinding flash and everyone was knocked hard to the deck. A cacophony of noise filled the air but all were blind to what was going on. Had the ship hit the cliff? Were they under attack again?

Deprived of sight, the only thing to do was to hang on to something and hope for the best...

~

The intense noise and movement stopped. Replacing it was the sound of the wind rustling through leaves, strange birds calling out in alarm and the distant sound of the ocean breaking on stone.

Slowly, very slowly, the world began to return to view. Green everywhere, blurry leaves swaying gently in the breeze - almost close enough to touch. What had happened?

The group began to get to their feet, rubbing eyes as they coaxed their eyesight back.

Fareeda was the first to speak; "We made it!"

It seemed she was right, a quick look around revealed that the Scilandar was somehow lodged in a large jungle malabar tree, its twisted branches creaking beneath the airship's weight. A glance back over the stern revealed the deep blue expanse of ocean from where they had arrived.

The Professor was slumped, unmoving, on his knees at the ship's bow. It seemed whatever he had done had saved them all. but at what cost?

Krogan shook his large shaggy head, trying to clear it.  He'd known instinctively that the strange onslaught of light and sound had been the gnomish professor, doing something weird and bizzare.  He'd been around enough overly dranatic orcish shamans to know the signs.    But it still didn't prepare him for what had happened.   He wasn't angry at the little man, of course, since the gnome was certainly alowed to be weird and bizarre on his own boat.

Plus, he owed the small man much.    Not just the chance for adventure, but because Krogan had FLOWN.    It had been glorious!   He was easily the first orc he knew who'd flown in the air, unless you counted stray ones grabbed by passing dragons or griffons.   And Krogan figured he probably shouldn't, as those orcs didn't exactly enjoy rhe ride.

His vision, already taxed by sunlight, focused on the little guy, who seemed hurt, or even dead.
Professor!!!!
He ran to their employer, a little unsteadily.  If he were able reach the fallen man's side, he would check him for injuries, while focusing his draconic magic on healing as well.
OOC:setting dragon aura to Fast Healing 1.

Lambrac worked feverishly with Abbas on disconnecting the balloons and fashioning a suspended net to carry them all, rubbing his fingers raw against the ropes. He was frantic, desperate, but could do no less if he wanted to stay alive.

He looked up and saw the great wall of the cliff-face extending in all directions. Too late. Even if the balloon were freed, it would still collide and be torn apart against the jagged rocks. Too little, too late.

Already he could see Gond's fires blooming around the ship, and he was slammed to the deck by an unseen force accompanied by a bright flash. Blinded, he crawled towards the centre of the ship, grabbed hold of something, anything, that seemed fixed down, and held on for dear life.

*

Lambrac groaned, as much from the bone-rattling beating he'd taken riding the deck down to a crash-landing as from the creeping realisation that they were, in fact, in Chult. Maybe he'd have been better off dead, or at least taking his chances with the balloons or the deep blue sea.

He peeled himself off the deck and rubbed his aching head and blinked his eyes to restore vision to the starry darkness. He looked around, and saw trees; he could look over the side later. Everyone else seemed to be well, except the Professor. Why was it that everything he did to save the day only seemed to plunge them into a much worse situation?

Linni couldn't help her Uncle in whatever magic he was conjuring, but as his voice rose and his assistants joined in below deck Linni could feel the power in the chant. As the energies conjured swirled around the deck Linni breathed deep, sating herself on the tangible magic enveloping her. She looked to the Professor, his manic, focused expression the last thing she saw before the light hit her and threw her to the deck. Scrambling to find a handhold on the flat wooden deck Linni shrieked as she slid blindly towards the edge of the ship and went over.

Her fall was broken by a tangle of branches. As she rubbed her eyes she saw the Scilandar was caught by the same tree. Hopping down from her nest of branches back onto the ship Linni looked around, "Is everyone..." her eyes were only just focusing but she saw the Professor slumped at the prow of the airship, Krogan stumbling over to help him.

Finding her feet Linni ran back across the deck to his side and fell to her knees beside him, "UNCLE!" She looked up at Krogan with sad, wet eyes, "Help him!"

Still light-blinded Linni cast her gaze across the deck of the ship, unable to see much, "Jibril!Jibril! HELP!"

She grabbed her Uncles shoulders and tried to make sure he wasn't going to fall, "You'll be OK Uncle. You saved us. We need you."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Mon 12 Dec 2011.

Abbas remained still as consciousness returned in dribs and drabs.  "Mmmmm.

Normally the elven warrior would have been moving immediately, but he could feel pressures in different locations, and his disorientation and loss of sight could as easily stumble himself into trouble as out.  The feel of silk rope and solid planking, soreness but no blinding pain - a good start.  With the introduction of magic, however, the party could as easily be in the water or on the cliff or... he blinked away more of the blur of  swirling patterns in the ship decking and veined veridian all about... or in a tree.

Thankfully, a large tree.

The netting and sailcloth had secured Abbas from flying from the ship and cushioned what collision remained after the Professor's mighty teleportation.  Deft movements loosened the ropes - thankfully the high-quality ropes had not rubbed him raw - and Abbas was soon free and moving about to check on the others, giving a supportive shoulder touch to Linni, a helping hand to Fareeda...

Thanks to his natural grace, the elf barely had to adjust to the ship movements in the tree, but his mind threw up several scenarios where non-action would prove foolish.

"Fareeda, would you please check on our fellows below - I thought I heard them casting with the professor?  Jibril, are you able to help the Professor?  Jibril!  Thaniel, are you okay?  Are you able to check on what food and water supplies we have left on the ship?  If you could do a look around to see what we have left, that would be helpful.  We may be able to recover some of the items thrown overboard if the ocean tides are helpful, but that is certainly not something upon which to bank.

"Krogan, Lambrac" Abbas singled out the more active and free party members, tapped Lambrac twice on the shoulder, then gave the latter assistance in regaining his feet.  "Let's see if we can help tie this ship tighter to the tree.  Not falling is a good start - this tree seems sturdy enough to hold us - and having a camping spot well above ground keeps a number of dangers away.

"Lini - you're tending to the Professor, right?  That is good, good.  Let us know if there is anything we can do to help him.  Perhaps some shade and water would help?"

Fareeda nodded shakily at Abbas' request. She seemed visibly traumatised by the ordeal they had just gone through and seemed ready to burst into tears. This was a far cry different than the harems of Calimport. Doubts were beginning to creep into her mind about leaving. Sure she had tired of life being an escort to those riding the wave of greed in the city, but was this really the new start she wanted?

Turning, she headed over to the smouldering crater and peered down into the bowels of the crippled airship.

Ham appeared suddenly at the top of the hold ladder, almost knocking Fareeda over with fright. His pale features were smeared with soot and he was bleeding from a small wound above his ear. He peered around cautiously like a small animal emerging from hibernation, eyes hidden, as ever, by his thick dust goggles.

"We made it?" he barked a laugh and turned to shout back down into the hold, "Jens! Yth zurwal coi!"

He heaved himself onto the deck, brushing down his filthy overalls. "Suicidal birds huh!" his accent was unlike anything you had ever heard and the language he spoke to his compatriot was unrecognisable. "Damned thing took out the main engine, s'gunna be a real job getting her back in the air."

He noticed the slumped form of the Professor and frowned. "That spell was a big one. Wasn't there a priest with us?"

Thaniel gets up and dusts himself off, glancing to Abbas giving orders. "Food and water. Yes, of course," he says absently as he surveys the mess about him, trying to piece together what has happened. He leaves the injured to those who are capable of tending to them and follows Abbas' directive of making an inventory of food and supplies.

"Fuck that!," Jibril shouts as he looks up into the limbs of the tree to see one of his expensive, colorful Calampani outfits tattered and fluttering in the wind. He barely acknowledges the bruises and burns on his body as he stares at his lost wardrobe.

When Abbas and Linni ask him to help the unconscious professor, he turns an angry eye on them.  "I should strangle him instead for this disaster! He'll be getting a bill from me."

With a loud exasperated sigh, he throws up his arms and marches over to the gnome.  "Let me take a look at the crazy fart."  He begins to poke and prod at the Professor, assessing his medical condition.

OOC: Jibril rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Heal skill.

Lambrac was still getting his bearings, looked dazedly about and still processing the "what in the hells?" As consciousness and awareness seeped into his mind, so did the sensation of aches and bruises.

He was stirred from his daze by Abbas, who seemed to be doing a good job of taking charge and sorting this out. "Uh, sure... Wait, falling? Tree?!" he exclaimed, not liking the sound of that. He dashed across the deck, then regretted it in case sudden movements set something off.

Then he peered over the side, at the ground far below, and felt a rush of vertigo. "Oh, Gond..." He had no fear of heights, not when the great Lantanna homes were built on rocky peaks and connects by thin bridges. But it was the instability and impending doom of this situation that paling in fear.

"Uh, tie it, right..." he remembered, then moved to pick up the longest free balloon rope. Focus on the problem, focus on the solution. The attached balloons could stay where they were, the buoyancy would give them enough to lift to prevent them falling too fast. Looking for the sturdiest-looking tree branch, he threw the rope over a few times and set about lashing it as tight as he could.


OOC: Use Rope 22, Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering) 9

Trying to stay near the professor, so that his healing aura could provide Fast Healing to the old man, Krogan backed away so that the flashy cleric could attend to the professor.   He was very fond of the gnome, for many reasons.    Not the least of which being that he was probably their ride home, and their paycheck.

He quickly rushed to tie ropes, starting with the ships own, and using his own only as a last resort, to secure various parts of the ship to the massive tree.   He wanted to keep them stable, thinking that their new "treehouse" would make a lovely base of operations.   Being above the jungle floor would probably be for the best, anyway.

The Professor groaned as he was administered aid by jibril and Krogan's aura. "Don't forget the turnip sauce Mazzy... What's the point of adding rhubarb if you forget the turnip sauce..."

His eyes flickered open and widened at the sight of Jibril's olive-skinned features filling his field of vision. "My sincerest apologies Amlakkar - I must have fallen asleep! No need to arrest an old gn..." His brow furrowed in apparent recognition. "Oh. Damned flying reptiles again. Well at least we're alive I suppose. We are alive aren't we?"

He sat up with a long groan and rubbed the side of his head. "Mass teleportation. Didn't think we'd have to use that one again eh Jens?" He looked around at the ship's resting place, then at the rest of the group to make sure everyone was present - abandoning that course of action after realising he had no idea which or how many adventurers should be present, this was the third expedition after all. He did smile with relief at the sight of Linni by his side, bouncy and bubbly as ever.

"Well, better than the bottom of the sea wouldn't you think!" he nodded grimly, evaluating the situation, "Yes, a good base of operations certainly. We're a long way from where we need to be and getting to Iscarion from here is going to be something of a challenge", his voice took on a more serious tone, "A quite exceptional challenge.

Still, we are here and that is something. Our priority must be getting back in the air - though with all our fuel bobbing around somewhere back in the Shining Sea, that will be easier said then done", he glanced up at Abbas who seemed to be taking charge of the situation, "Perhaps you could lead a patrol into the local area and see if you can find anything useful. I will stay here with my engineers to see what can be salvaged..." he looked over at the crater where the Pterodactyl had crashed and winced.

Krogan was relieved that the old man was alive, though it seemed a sign of weakness to show it, so he merely nodded to the professor.
If Abbas is heading out to patrol, I'll come with him.    I'm not familiar with this kind of wilderness, but I'll do what I can.   

He gathered his things and prepared to try to climb down to scout the forest floor.  He was actually a bit excited to see what was down there.

Fareeda jumped at the sight of Ham coming from below decks, and stood to the side with a hand upon her chest as she just took a moment to breathe and collect herself.  It felt as though her heart was fluttering faster than a hummingbird's, but unfortunately for her right after a crash in an unknown jungle island was hardly the time to lose her cool.  Is this what an adventure felt like...?  Suddenly the young dancer felt a swell of awe and appreciation for the heros of old who defied all odds in their stories, along with a growing suspicion that she might not be cut out for this work.  Not that she'd let anyone else know that, particularly that fop Jibril; he'd feel all too self-important and vindicated to hear that bit of revelations.

"...Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And I, I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

It was a small piece of a verse she found calmed her, so she kept repeating the verse in her mind over and over again until her heartbeat slowed while leaning against the nearest beam, shutting her eyes to allow the images of soft rain in a field of flowers to fill her mind.  It was enough time for her to relax and hear the good Professor's request of Abbas leading the team to search the area while he made repairs.  Neither option sounded appealing at this point, but the thought of Abbas and Krogan leaving the ship so soon after that attack at once made up her mind.  If she was going to be anywhere in this forbidden jungle, it would at least be with those two.

"I'll volunteer for this endeavor as well.  It is by the grace of the divines to have lived thus far, and fortune favors the bold.  If our brave warriors are willing to meet this jungle, they should not meet it alone," Fareeda spoke in a poetically soft voice as she moved forward to join the group again, slipping her hands gently onto Abbas' arm as she did so; the dancer transferred the energy of fear to softness instead, finding the latter emotion more useful than the former.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Thu 15 Dec 2011.

Jibril just frowns unpleasantly as the crazy gnome regains consciousness. For the fifth time already this morning, he had wondered what the hell he was doing on this expedition.

When Fareeda joins them, Jibril points up into the tree at his stranded clothes. "Fareeda, do you think you can grab your broom and fly up there and retrieve those for me?"

Krogan nodded to the talented bard, smiling at her enthusiasm.
You're more than welcome, Fareeda.   It's probably not a place for casual music, but another pair of sharp eyes is always a good thing.
He grinned at her, but frowned in confusion at Jibril's request.   The bard could fly?   And why would a broom help her getting the clothes if she could already fly?

Sometimes he despaired of ever understanding city people.

Lambrac dragged a sturdy plank from the shattered helm and shoved it through the side-rail and over a neighbouring tree branch, estimating that it would wedge them in place more effectively. Finally, he yanked the knot tight with almost savage force, letting irritation cloud his worry over this mess they were in.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire, and now what they were into? He knew inventors, even mad gnomish inventors — he was from Lantan, after all — but Professor Hingleswip was soon turning out to be the maddest. Everything he did to help seemed to make a situation worse. This was no way to do business, and no way to manage a major engineering project. The whole thing was a disaster.

At Hingleswip's speech, Lambrac had reached the end of his tether, and turned on the professor in anger. "Iscarion? You still want to try for Iscarion? We don't know where we are, our transportation is ruined, and we have no supplies. And it looks as though this god Ubtao himself has cursed your endeavours." he fumed. "We should make what repairs we can and head for the nearest town. I know some Lantanese operations here, they'll assist. Then we return to Calimshan... Mistress Ghusoon will not be pleased to hear how her investments have been squandered, and would rather see this disaster salvaged." He rather hoped Jala's name would put an appropriate amount of fear into Hingleswip.


OOC: Intimidate 7, yeah, real threatening
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Thu 15 Dec 2011.

The request Jibril made of Fareeda was met with a soft expression as she glanced up to his stranded garb, looking like a discarded skin from a hopelessly garish snake, and gave the man a knowing gaze as she spoke, "It is unwise to ask a fish to fly unless you are prepared to make them wings."  Her hazel eyes then gave him a once-over, foot to head as one would inspect a mule on sale, she gave a subtle cringe imbued in underlying haughtiness and turned her attention away without so much as a second glance.  It was her only true response since Krogan made his encouraging sentiment known just after; Fareeda's expression returned to its gentleness as she looked upon the orc with a charming smile that crept onto her rose-pink lips and inclined her head slightly towards him in a 'thank you' gesture.

But the tensions rose once more while Lambarc voiced his passioned opinions; truth be told, much of it expressed how she felt about the endeavor, as it seemed fruitless to try for this temple without a functioning air-ship, ranged defenses, and fuel to even bother, but it was not the time to argue details.  The Professor, while cooky and zealous, was right that if they couldn't work as a team, they'd be dead, and those reptiles made that painfully clear and made such teamwork in perfect jeopardy if they did not tread carefully.

"Lambarc, my friend, I agree with your sentiment on our position, as it is precarious at best, but is it not best to postpone the decision on where to depart to until after we repair the ship?  You have a sharp eye and keen wit; we could use both and your passion while scouting out for suitable replacements for our lost supplies," Fareeda spoke softly to him with a head slightly turned down as if vulnerable and tentative about her address towards him in a gentle way, by all appearances trying her best not to further anger Lambarc with words or body language.

Diplomacy (take 10): 20   ~How can you.... resist?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:12, Thu 15 Dec 2011.

The Professor sighed and rubbed at his temples as Lambrac ranted, waiting for the young Lantanese man to finish before replying. "Ah yes, I had quite forgotten we had one of Ghusoon's pups along for the ride. Well you can rest assured that tart's concerns are of no interest to me, she got her payment and she can grow fat on it in that brothel she calls a palace."

It was obvious that Lambrac's outburst had awakened an entirely different side to the Professor, "Make no mistake young sir - this is my expedition and my ship. You want to run back to Calimport and to ghusoon, be my guest, nearest settlement is a hunded leagues south of here - Refuge Bay". He gestured back to the cliff edge just a few dozen yards back towards the ocean, "The natives call this the Bone Coast, hundreds upon hundreds of leagues of sheer cliff faces thick with jungle. In this terrain the journey would take you a week on foot. With no supplies or equipment, I doubt you'd make nightfall."

His eyes narrowed, "This setback is temporary. We will reach Iscarion, I haven't worked this damn hard for this many years to turn back now. You put up and join the team or you run back to your mistress. Decide."

The Professor arched his brow as he waited for Lambrac's answer.

Lambrac fumed, looking between sweet Fareeda, the suddenly firm Professor, and the dense green jungles that stretched on to the horizon. Fareeda's calming words and good looks really weren't helping; women like her always made him feel small and enslaved to them. He twitched irritably, trying to find a way out of this that would save face. "Decide? I have no bloody choice, do I? This is the only ride in town." he muttered. Lantanese were known across the Shining Sea as a peaceful people, themselves the ones who would stop a fight or calm an argument. But this one had been pushed to the edge; he was angry, afraid, and deeply offended by the whole sorry affair.

Turning his back, he stormed off, returning to his efforts at securing the ship as he tight as he could make the knots. Bloody Chult. A hundred leagues north of Refuge Bay, the very wrong side of Chult, nowhere near the Lantanese logging camp and the portal network. No hope there. He'd had more experience working up north at Fort Beluarian, but that was much too far. He was stuck here. Hopefully the others would see sense in time, and demand the mad professor turn his damn ship for home. How many deaths would that take?

There was one benefit to this, at least. Now he had no qualms whatsoever about completing Jala's little side-quest.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:09, Fri 16 Dec 2011.

Abbas sighed to himself – mentally – at Jibril’s petulance and insults, then Lambrac’s outburst, then the Professor’s “my way or die”.  One negative attitude fed the next, jacking tempers for the third.  None of which saw the ship repaired, returned to the air, the party safe and successful in their explorations.  Yes the ship had been sidelined – but it was in relatively one piece, just damaged, and all those aboard were at most bounced around and uninjured.

Taking up the conversation from Fareeda’s calm words, Abbas spoke quietly and diplomatically, slowing his pace of work significantly, but also seeking to diffuse some of the tension by continuing efforts in organizing items scattered about the shipdeck.

“If we are able to travel to a town, then travel to Iscarion is little different."  A stack of sailcloth folded together slid to one side - not a bad resting place if there were no hammocks left, one might imagine.  "Our focus is to ensure supplies are sufficient for food, drink, and travel, correct?  If they are not sufficient to go all the way, we forage or stop at town to replenish – which we would have done even had there been no encounters on the way in.  Travel to either stop along our trip is swifter and safer in the airship, so it seems our goal in recovering the necessary supplies helps on every front.

“Return from Chult is most certainly a goal I presume we all share.  The question is how?  How?  Both in what steps do we need to facilitate the return, and on what level of success?  Whether return sought is fame, wealth, or knowledge, a successful exploration would be goal and task met, and if items of value are located… why all the greater return on our time and teamwork.  Life is not tried if it is merely survived.”

The elven warrior slowly made eye contact with each party member, adjusting his posture oh-so-slightly.  Fareeda’s veiled turbulent emotions, Jibril’s tempermentalness, and Lambrac’s explosion  were counter-balanced by Thaniel’s reserved nature, Lini’s light-heartedness, and Krogan’s helpfulness.  The Professor seemed to waiver between distraction and doggedness.  Trouble bred tension, and had birthed a fine litter - but not unexpectedly, with the near-death experiences... that everyone had survived fit.

Parry and thrust, parry and thrust.

“We always have choices.  In Calimshan, working together, we succeeded against ambushers and politics.  In the wild air, we successfully arrived – through teamwork with the ranged attacks and magic.  The early landing was accomplished again only through teamwork in working the ship, casting off excess weight and supporting the ship to work sufficient time to put us in range for the Professor’s magics.

“The common thread in all our tales is the team working together to success.

“Of course we are going to face challenges – an obstacle we overcome is nothing without the challenge.  We train ourselves against better swordsmen, foes in the field, and experience.  We are a powerful and able group, skilled in stealth and steel, magic and ingenuity.

“All these rest upon the third how – what we need to restore the ship to continue onwards.  A good list of what we need to restore the ship, what alternatives we should be seeking, and perhaps some good bug ointment I thought I heard about previously, and we can drop the rope ladder down and search away.  While the list is being compiled, let us look about from our vantage point and learn what we can of the area to familiarize ourselves, and perhaps those of us more familiar with the animals and pitfalls can provide some forewarning – I will admit the giant bird-bats were not something I was expecting at first instance, though I had heard tales of great beasts here, and my thanks to everyone in their quick action.  Professor, can you provide us the list of what we should be seeking?” Abbas politely returned focus to the employer/ship captain/powerful mage – three points that spoke oh-so-strongly about returning him onside in the team discussions.

"And Lambrac, as Fareeda noted, you have indicated a better grasp of this area than most of us, and a sharp mind in making use of the ship - your appreciation of what we find to put to use in repair of the Professor's list would put us all another step ahead?"

Krogan merely waited for the fervor to die down.  As tense and angry as several people were, it was still a calm santuary of bliss compared to the orc caves in which he was born.   He suspected that he could survive here, by stubbornness if not skill, and figured the rest could as well.

I'll see about finding the easiest way down, one that lets us meet the ground at a speed we choose, if possible, and we can look around to see what is available, as we suggested.   

He nodded at Abbas, respectful of the man's calm mind during their predicament.

Thaniel watches the conversation with interest, but decides against wading in on a subject he neither knew little about nor cared for. Instead he sticks close to Korgan, who had proven himself in a fight already. "I will go on the scouting trip. I am far more at home in a jungle than on the wing in any event."

Walking to the side, Krogan pulled out the rope ladder from the side of the railing, tossing it down the side of the railing.  Looking back he nodded to the others.
If you wish to pull this up after we leave, feel free, but I'd ask for someone to stick around on watch to get it out in case we come back in a hurry. 

He went down first, smiling at the prospect of exploring the new environment.

Linni hit the Professor on the shoulder as he awoke, "I thought you were hurt!" She huffed.

Now that her Uncle was found to be well she set about exploring the edges of the ship, looking over the edge with interest at how comfortably the ship had been stuck in the tree. It didn't take long for her to lose interest in the curiosity and she returned to the Professors side as he admonished Lambrac for his outburst. "I don't care what we find. Nothing's going to be as dangerous as falling out of the sky."

The conflicts within the group seemed to pass right over the small gnome's head. Now that the airship had landed and her Uncle proved well her mind was firmly set on exploring the jungle below them. She grinned, excited, as the Professor mentioned the expedition. "I'll get ready!" She squealed as she disappeared below deck. She reappeared shortly after, her adventuring equipment once again strapped about her person. From the looks of things her vials of alchemists fire thankfully survived the crash intact. As did her weasel familiar, Kei, who once was on deck ran around to sniff at the rest of the party before returning to Linni to weave around her legs.

So she stood by the rope ladder, hopping anxiously from one foot to the other, peering over the edge in anticipation. "Uncle can stay with Ham and Jens, I'm sure the ship needs a good once over after all that anyway." She grabbed one side of the rope ladder and slid down after Krogan.

Lambrac listened sullenly, silently, and yet defiantly through Abbas's fine speech. He was still too bitter over this disaster and the conflict with the obstinate Hingleswip. He was uncomfortable being so angry, it didn't suit him at all well. But things needed to be said. While he could agree that finding supplies and repairing the ship were their first priority right now, the goal was still highly questionable, the professor's plans and past suspicious. He could poke a dozen holes in the plan. But later, when Hingleswip wasn't around to interrupt and bully the others.

But finally he nodded at Abbas's request. "I'm no expert, but I've been through Chult before. I can find a few things." Truthfully, he was an engineer and might be more useful helping to reconstruct the ship. But Ham, Jens and even Hingleswip knew about that than he did, and, by Gond, there was was no way he could work with him now. He had to get off this damnable ship.

"Blah, blah, blah," Jibril muttered to himself as the elf droned on and on. He suspected Abbas was one of those individuals who enjoyed listening to the sound of their own voices way too much.  As he searched for his belongings for their expedition into the jungle, he idly wondered if Abbas would be similarly carrying on at length as the panther devoured him.

While they waited for the professor's list, Lambrac returned to his efforts at securing the ship to the tree. That's when he saw it, cursing under his breath. The rope he'd cut earlier was hanging loose, of course. But if the balloon it held down slipped, it would tear open on the tree and they'd lose buoyancy. Dashing over, he grabbed the rope and pulled it back to tie them together Too short now, of course. He needed something to connect them.

That's when he spotted it, flapping up by the prow. Some purple cloak or something; he really didn't have the capacity to care. It was sturdy fabric and it would do. He drew a knife, cut it, and then ripped it loudly in half.


OOC: Say goodbye to your cloak, Jibril. :P

There's an audible gasp, and Lambrac feels a heated glare on his back.  He turns to find Jibril's fiery eyes sizing him. "Not many...men...have had the gall to rip my clothes in such a fashion."

"Keep it up, and I might share my insect repellent with you," he adds with a smirk.

"Ask the dinosaurs, magistrate, they'll happily tear your clothes off. As for me, you're not my type." He glanced over to Fareeda, most definitely his type, but sadly she was already interested in Abbas. And Linni was jail-bait. This was going to be looong trip.

"Say, have you got any fatter clothes? We might need new balloons." he teased the priest.

Jibril ignores Lambrac's jest and give him a feline grin that suggests all kinds of things.

"I've never been with a Lantannese before. I imagine it's something akin to midget mud wrestling."

After finding his belongings, he retrieves the previously mentioned insect repellent and sprays himself with a healthy dose before they start their trek into the jungle.

"Water". The Professor looked at Abbas with bloodshot eyes - he was still clearly fatigued from the near-disaster minutes before, "For the moment our priority is fresh water. We threw nearly every vat overboard back there and in this place without water we might as well throw ourselves off that cliff edge".

He struggled to his feet, retrieving his cane from nearby to lean on. "Look for any streams heading to the cliff - but don't take that water, disease will eat you faster than the raptors here - follow it back and find the source. You'll have to figure out a way to carry it too. Leaves, bark, skins...you'll find something I'm sure". He slumped back down onto the deck, eyes closed and head in his hands.

"If you let it, this place will devour you. You must learn to work together and use the jungle as a tool. The natives of Chult, the Tabaxi, know this more than anyone - perhaps you could seek them out, they might be willing to help".

He looked up again, staring at each of you, "And one last thing: be back by nightfall..."

"Water? I can conjure up to 16 gallons a day, starting tomorrow if needed. That might be enough for all of us to share on a daily basis. We would just need some containers for it," Jibril replies as he examines the smudges on his clothes from the crash landing.

Krogan will gather any small drink containers he can gather, to take with him.  This was a scouting mission first, though, and he figured there'd be plenty of time for that later.   He reckoned if the priest could conjure water, they could just fill anything, and just take what they needed.

Heading down to the ground, Krogan spied around the area to see how safe it looked.  He readied his morningstar and heavy shield, ready to defend his friends.    When they arrived, he would look at them, nodding.

I may have been raised in the wild, but tracking and such were never my strong point.  we never had to leave far from the caves.   But my draconic magic can enhance the senses, so I  can be a big help to anyone else good at such things.   

He smiled as he looked around.
OOC:03:23, Today: Krogan rolled 13 using 1d20+1. spot.


This message was last edited by the player at 09:25, Sat 17 Dec 2011.

"You're thinking of gnomes. Try the professor." Lambrac suggested to Jibril, slightly maliciously at Hingleswip's expense. Tying off the remains of the priest's cloak to the balloon rope, Lambrac finished and ventured back to where the professor was holding court again.

He considered Jibril's offer. "I don't want to know where you'll conjure it from, but in this weather, humidity, workload, counting gnomes as half... That's actually more than enough drinking water for all of us, leaving a little for washing..." he decided, counting off the crew, relieved that this first and most vital need would be easily taken care of. "But how much do we have left for today, and do we have containers to hold it all?"

He listened to Krogan's words about tracking. "I picked up a little Chultan wilderness lore the last time I was here. I can't track, but I know some edible plants, animals, the weather and whatnot."

The Professor smiled, glad the group were finally starting to pool their individual talents together to approach the task at hand. "Good. Well it won't hurt to keep an eye out for sources of water, should anything happen to Azuth's finest here we'd all be back at square one.

As for containers, perhaps you could kill two birds with one ample-sized stone; this jungle is teeming wiht boar, deer, water buffalo and Barravar knows how many other species of game. They will provide us with fresh meat and hides that can be turned into waterskins", he gestured at the hold, "We have a cold room below that we can store food in, however it runs on the same fuel as the engine. Herein lies the next challenge - I need you to find dry timber, a challenge no doubt in this damp humid place but there has to be something. I'll get Ham and Jens to salvage any non vital timber from the ship whilst I start work on building a burner. Primitive by my standards but it will have to do".

He stuck one hand on his hip as he gazed up at the midday sky. "I estimate we have about six or seven hours of daylight left, let's not waste any more time".

Jibril looks disgusted at the Professor's suggestions for waterskins, but he resigns himself to the fact of their current circumstances. For the millionth time, he wonders with a loud sigh what possessed him to go on this adventure with a tart and a whole host of other characters that could have filled a Calampani circus.

With a flourish of his hands, he waves the others onward into the jungle. "Well you heard the Professor...chop, chop! We've got to go hunting some water buffalo or something.  Krogan, you stay next to me and keep the snakes and other venomous creatures from killing me, because if we are going to survive any of this you're all going to need my healing powers and my ability to keep you from all dying of thirst."   
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Mon 19 Dec 2011.

Linni looks down at her gnome sized waterskin and frowns, considering how big the others were it would amount to no more than a mouthful. When Jibril mentioned his ability to create water she smiled with relief, her own waterskin wouldn't last long and she didn't fancy tasting putrid jungle water. "We have our own waterskins, and whatever containers we can carry."

Linni looks up to Jibril, "I don't know what was on the ship, and I bet everything around here that looks delicious will kill us. Can you create food too? If you can I'll do a special favour for you tonight!" She takes a gaze around the surrounds, noting some particularly colorful fruits and flowers, but decides against investigating further.

Looking between her Uncle and Lambrac Linni states simply, "So which way to Iscarion?"

"No, only water at this time." He looks a little perturbed that Linni had highlighted his shortcomings.  "And since I've already called for  my prayers for today, there will be no water for today.  So, we will need to march into that daunting jungle and go find some until tomorrow morning.  Krogan, get your machete out and start chopping!"

Lambrac turned wordlessly away from the meeting, first heading down into the depths of the ship to collect some of his things, and returned soon after. There were a few things he could safely leave behind, that would only burden him, but others that might just come in handy, a few tools and concoctions that, by the grace of Gond, could keep them alive. For a little while longer, anyway. Damn Chult.

He was relieved to find his flasks and survived the crash unbroken. The spell he'd whipped up that morning had only been intended for a little ease and entertainment, but it would have to do for the rest of today; fortunately it was widely applicable. He'd just have to make do with what tools he had.

Rapier, dagger and crossbow were sheathed and slung, and a broken piece of tree branch made for a decent club that he carved and planed into a more suitable shape. He had enough tools that he could well make whatever they needed on the spot.

He was feeling... he didn't know what he was feeling. Angry, for one. A very legitimate fear about what awaited them for another. The heat and humidity, of course, like his skin was melting into sweat and he was cooking in it, but he suspected he'd fare it better as a Lantanna than the others. But he was feeling different. He was feeling alive, with senses sharp and an instinct for danger and the job ahead. Working for Jala seemed to have put him in a happy pink cloud of perfume and secondhand narcotics, the pleasures of luxury and the flesh, and he could well suppose there'd been some magical charms and enchantments in addition to the perfectly natural. It was fun while it lasted, but left him regretful afterwards. The flight over had cleared his head, but Chult was like a splash of cold water. Damn it, she still owed him for the northern corridor work. Damn Calimshan.

Finally he rose and donned his wide-brimmed Lantanese sun hat, tugging it low. "Ready? Let's go." Then he ran and leaped over the side of the Scilander, landing neatly on the biggest branch below. But finding a safer way down was another matter. Hey, Chult! I'm back!


OOC: Jump 21, Climb 8, Tumble 9

Krogan smirked, amused by the colorful peacock of a cleric, but knew that protecting the melodramatic human was a very good idea.  His draconic healing aura was very powerful, but had definitely limits after all.

Getting to the bottom of the rope ladder, he walked away, making sure to be in a place to protect the others as they descended.  He began walking into the forest, backing up whomever was to be the main tracker.

"If you require lumber, Professor, do you have wood axes and wedges to fell any dry timber, should we find it?  Perhaps we should also take a couple loops of rope to guide and maneuver it, or in case of trouble.  I expect that will mean climbing high to escape the humidity," Abbas mused half to himself, one eye towards the heights of the cliff below, and ridges above, then gathered what supplies the ship captain made available, and descended the rope ladder in swift, but economical movements.

At ground level, the elven sworddancer drew both his blades, looping the leather pommel straps to rest around his wrists - a wrist movement would bring them to hand if he fell, but would also allow him to release the hilts for fine dexterity work.  Mindful of the many steps ahead, however, he allowed the weapons to swing as part of his arm to reduce their weight - a benefit of the smaller blades over the greatswords and even more martial longswords and broadswords ... and allowing him to remain ready for the trouble alluded by so many lips.

"Dry lumber we can convey back here, clean spring water, and foodstuffs.  Let us see what we can find."  Taking lead, slightly to one side to allow eyes familiar with tracking to see the untainted trail, Abbas headed off in what seemed the most promising (random) direction inwards and upwards, trying to keep the coast or rivers in sight.

Professor Hingleswip shook his head and shrugged, "All my equipment went over the side. There should be some spare rope lying about in the hold but other than that you're just going to have to use your initiative. Or is it intuition? If in doubt use both".

He watched the group descend to the jungle floor, then headed below to commence his work.


OOC: Enough rope for 3 separate coils, you can announce you're taking one in the OOC if you like, first come first serve.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Mon 19 Dec 2011.

The party began their descent to the forest floor, everyone using the designated rope ladder apart from Lambrac who, in an apparent attempt to show off his acrobatic abilities, decided to take a shortcut. He leapt nimbly over the gunwale and onto a thick branch some fifteen feet above the ground. He landed well and stood up, clearly happy with himself - unfortunately it seemed he had not spotted the thick green moss covering the bark and he yelped in alarm as both of his feet slipped simultaneously, stealing his balance and sending him plummeting towards the ground. Luckily for him the great boles of the tree were similarly covered in vegetation and despite a bruised ego, and somewhat dirtier fatigues, he stood up more or less unharmed.

With the mood lightened somewhat by the rogue's fall and laughter ringing in the air, they set off into the jungle, leaving the (rather unusual) sight of the Scilandar stuck fast in a tree behind them. The jungles close to the cliff edge were difficult to negotiate; with only sparse clusters of ancient malabar and canarium trees, sunlight poured through the canopy, allowing masses of smaller plants and undergrowth to take root in the soil. Along with this, huge spears and buttresses of rock appeared from the ground intermittently, thick with moss and riddled with dark crevasses and holes that likely housed all manner of vile insects and reptiles. Rather than take the risk of climbing, the group had to go round each one to get by.

Progress was slow but at least this close to the coast a cool breeze continued to rustle through the jungle, taking the edge off the oppressive heat and humidity. From all directions came a relentless torrent of noise, nature's crescendo at full volume - chittering insects, exotic birds and strange animals all adding to the racket. It felt as if the group's intrusion into this incredible landscape was barely noticed - they were utterly insignificant to the grand scheme that was in progress all around them. Nature ruled this land and would do so until Toril itself expired, no Empire or conquering general would ever claim Chult, that much was clear.

Abbas lead the group forward, each step a battle against the undergrowth. His twin blades sliced easily through the branches and leaves, yet more were always willing to appear in his path, snagging on his clothes and scratching his exposed skin. Even with his elven energy reserves, he soon began to feel the strain and one of his waterskins was already drained. He surged to the top of a sloping rise and stopped to look around glad of the rest. Waiting for the others to catch up he looked out through the a gap in the canopy. The emerald green of jungle stretched away in every direction barring the one from where they had just come. It was a truly breathtaking sight and gave the Elf a sense of how vast this land truly was. In the far distance the peak of a large mountain was visible, along with a faint smudge of black smoke rising from its top. On the plain in front of the mountain, something glimmered in the midday sun - a huge lake of some kind. Two more of the huge winged reptile creatures that had attacked the Scilandar circled the sky far to the west, their screeching calls to each other audible even from here.



Turning back to the more local surroundings, Abbas began to look around to decide which direction would be the best to travel in.

OOC: Spot, knowledge nature and survival checks please Abbas, everyone else feel free to make your own spot checks if you want to take advantage of this rare erm...vantage point. Anyone with knowledge of Chult i.e. Lambrac would know the mountain to be one of the Peaks of Flame and the lake to be lake Luo.

Jibril carefully navigated his way through the treacherous jungle, while occasionally swatting an errant vine or large insect out of the way with his purpleheart wood staff.  He was pleased that the insect repellent that he had picked up in Calimport was fairly effective, although he idly wondered if wearing a beekeeper suit would have been a better solution. Now and then, he shouted at Krogan when he thought he spotted some poisonous reptile lurking in the brush.

When they reach the overlook, he wipes beads of perspiration off of his forehead, while nursing his waterskin.  He scans the surroundings, hoping to spot something of interest.

OOC:  Jibril rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Spot skills check.
          Jibril rolled 6 using 1d20+4. Survival skills check.
          Jibril rolled 4 using 1d20+2. knowledge skill (geography).
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Tue 20 Dec 2011.

Linni followed close behind Jibril as they made their way through the cutting left behind by Abbas and his bushwhacking. While Lambrac's earlier theatrics set the tone for the days march Jibril continued to keep Linni in hysterics with his shrieking at anything which resembled a snake. Her weasel, Kei, kept pace with the group, occasionally darting off into the brush and coming back with a small lizard or snake which he promptly devoured. Linni couldn't see much, so busied herself by collecting colorful bugs that she found, putting them in numerous pockets throughout her robe. One particular mantis, a bright florescent green with pink stripes she sat on her shoulder for the majority of the trek, until it fell off and she forgot about it.

Reaching the rise Linni weaved through the legs of the others to get a look at the view. "Oooh, wow." She looks over the surroundings, curious as to what was down there.

---

OOC: 12:15, Today: Linni rolled 11 using 1d20+3. spot.

Abbas took a grateful pause and prayed thanks that he 1)had been trained to NOT use heavy armour and be effective, and 2) to have some water on him.... although even the lesser amount he consumed would matter little next to how fast he was goin- a breeze?  Oh by Corellan a breeze!

The elven warrior drank in the water and hint of brief cool air as he looked about the small outcrop.  He was most definitely not trained in these areas, but no one else had stepped forward, and his thin shoulders bore the load.

OOC:
21:40, Today: Abbas rolled 21 using 1d20+4. spot.
21:39, Today: Abbas rolled 19 using 1d20+2. survival.
21:39, Today: Abbas rolled 17 using 1d20+3. know local.
21:39, Today: Abbas rolled 6 using 1d20+3. know geog.
21:39, Today: Abbas rolled 9 using 1d20+3. know nature.

Lambrac stood and swept himself cleaned of moss and dirt with a vaguely cat-like "I meant to do that" air. In his haste, he'd forgotten about the rope ladder on the other side... "I'm fine, my pride broke my fall!" he called up to the others with a mad grin. He checked his gear, but fortunately found nothing broken.

Well, there was one benefit to his pratfall, at least: he was on the ground first and looking around for dangers before anyone could be picked off coming down the ladder. It was safe, fortunately, he stood gazing around and up at the incongruous sight of the airship stuck in a tree. He waited until the others were down, then gestured up it. "Do you see those claw marks down the side of the hull? Whatever made them must have been impressive. It makes you wonder what happened to the Professor's last crew." he suggested.

Then he fell into place near the head of the group, joining Abbas in using his sword to hack through the foliage and offering what scraps of local knowledge and wilderness lore he could apply. But he was still rather shaken up by the crash and out of his depths; this was a another part of Chult from where he'd been, and everything a little different. It would take a while for him to get his bearings. His prior experience had him holding up well, but even so, it was hard going, always thirsty and soaked with sweat.

He followed Abbas to the top of the rise and stood gazing out at the view. He had to admit that Chult, for all its dangers, could also be beautiful. He tried to match the landscape to the last map of Chult he'd seen, and pointed to the smoking mountain. "One of the Peaks of Flame. And that must be Lake Luo..."


OOC: Spot 7, Knowledge (Nature) 13, Survival 8, Knowledge (Geography) 6

Fareeda had made her way down the ladder, gasping at seeing Lambrac jump and then fall; she placed a hand over her mouth and held her breath until she saw that he was unhurt with only a slightly deflated sense of pride. The realization caused her to exhale and smile down at Lambrac, "That was quite daring, even if you did give me quite a fright."

As they walked, Fareeda selected her spot behind Abbas and beside Lambrac and Krogan, knowing it was likely the safest part of the party, but besides this feeling of safety, the sight of the insects and reptiles caused her to test her courage at their inhuman ways.  Still, after spotting several of them, though the sight never stopped to unsettle her, she began to accept their presence without question, which allowed her to take a look around better.  It was so much information to take in at once, as such a sight she had never seen before in her life, a life that had been spent in someone else's paying company, and as the climbed to the vantage point, her breath was stolen away from her chest.

"Such savage beauty of the ever wild hath ne'er been tamed, for truth that to do so would spirit away its cunning purpose and wondrous song to be heard undimmed before the breaking of the world.  Here lay another world untouched and scarcely troubled by the passage of time with boundless secrets that would take many lives to reveal.  Oh to be blinded by a lover's embrace," she spoke in awe of the sight, even the flying raptors that had plagued them earlier seemed to natural to hate, and only added to the wild beauty to her.  Earlier when the ship crashed, she found herself wondering why anyone would become an adventurer, but standing there and in that moment, Fareeda understood perfectly.  She listened to Lambrac's commentary as she spied the mountain and lake, committing their names to memory.

OOC:  Yep, the dice roller hates me!
00:06, Today: Fareeda rolled 12 using 1d20. Survival.
00:06, Today: Fareeda rolled 5 using 1d20. Listen.
00:06, Today: Fareeda rolled 3 using 1d20. Spot.
00:05, Today: Fareeda rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Bardic Knowledge: Chult.

Krogan smiled at Fareeda's beautiful words, though they were mostly gibberish to him.  They seemed to speak of Chult's wildness, but being used to such uncivilized surroundings (which he'd left as soon as he was able), the beauty of Chult was largely lost on him to such extremes.   He could appreciate the simplicity of the wilderness, but it had no mystique for him, though he wasn't about to belittle the bard for it.   Calimport, after all, had been a dream-like scene of elegant beauty to him, and most people there cursed the place as a "wretched hive of scum and villany".

Lambrac's more practical observations made more sense to the pragmatic and practical orc.  He liked poetry, but his tastes were very simple indeed.

He trooped forward, focusing his draconic magic on his senses, and allowed his friends to share in his magic.

OOC: Everyone within 30' gets +1 to listen, spot, and initiative.

06:59, Today: Krogan rolled 14 using 1d20+1. listen.
06:59, Today: Krogan rolled 6 using 1d20+1. spot.
06:58, Today: Krogan rolled 12 using 1d20. search.
06:58, Today: Krogan rolled 16 using 1d20. survival.

Earlier...

Lambrac bowed. "My apologies. But I'm good at daring." he answered Fareeda. He resisted the urge to move over and hold the rope ladder steady for her, as it would, quite inevitably, require him to look up her skirt.

*

He looked to Fareeda and listened to her fine words. Though he was a practical man and had little appreciation of poetry, she told it well. It was the smooth voice, of course. There was more gentleness there than from Jala. "Aye, but she's a hard one to love." he agreed.

He pointed out the features of the landscape, back to work. "If I remember the map right, Lake Luo is roughly in line with the port of Ishau on Refuge Bay. Hingleswip said we were a hundred leagues away from there, so that lake is even further south. We'll have to look for water much closer." He wondered if they'd be better off constructing a condenser on the ship. He'd have to check the available materials when they returned.

"'For when would you, my liege, or you, or you,
In leaden contemplation have found out
Such fiery numbers as the prompting eyes
Of beauty's tutors have enrich'd you with?'

"Indeed." Abbas replied gently to Fareeda's eloquent observation.  Abbas' gaze lingered lightly, briefly on Fareeda framed against the Chultan backdrop - cultured beauty cupped in the valley palm of rampant verdancy.  For one that had seemed so rattled by the harrows of the ship danger - and rightly so - it spoke volumes of her character that she rebounded and remained eyes open to the world.

"Sights such as these are why I travel to learn of the world and improve myself.  I have read from many books in my young hundred years, but a hundred hundred memories have shaped me all the more."  The elven explorer took another drink of water and shared about some of the meats and cheeses he bore with him - a treat for all and lightened load seemed a double benefit.  The brief rest with its glorious view had seemed to have done wonders to restore the party, and a good thing, thought Abbas, for the party ventured further and further from the safety of the airship, and eyes and steel keen and unwearied would be invaluable.

Jibril makes some retching sounds behind Abbas and Fareeda.  "Should we find a little jungle hut for both of you?"

The group stopped for a rest break, taking time to indulge in the limited food and water from their own supplies whilst enjoying the beautiful view of the Chult landscape. From their position on the rise it seemed there were three possible routes onward into the jungle: north along the coast in the direction of the Peaks and lakes, following the high ground, south away from the bigger landmarks following the coast down to lower ground or west away from the ocean and deeper into the jungle.

The sun was at its zenith now and even the ocean breeze wasn't taking much edge out of the relentless heat that sapped energy reserves and waterskin levels. Krogan seemed to be struggling most out of the group, his origins in the mountains of central Faerun making him completely alien to this sauna-like climate. His tiring heavy lifting duties earlier on the ship and the fact he was the only member of the group wearing any kind of metal armour was not helping matters either. Sweat poured from his dull green skin and fatigue was etched on his features.

OOC: Results of personal skill checks to follow in private:

Krogan tried his best to hide his fatigue, though he could feel the weight of the humid air pressing on him like a landslide of rock from a mountainside.
OOC:21:44, Today: Krogan rolled 7 using 1d20. Bluff.
But he wasn't very convincing, though, as he kept forgetting not to scowl in annoyance as the sweat poured out of his body.

This was NOT like the wilderness of his home, with the dank air and constant buzzing insects.   It was like the worst parts of a deep, fetid cave, and a hot summer's day.   He worked hard to keep track of where they were, not at all looking forward to the idea of getting lost in this green wasteland.

Lambrac frowned as he surveyed the landscape, not liking what he didn't see. He didn't know this part of Chult, and had only had brief experience on a far different end. He shrugged, defeated. "Sorry, this is like no part of Chult that I know. I haven't a clue." he sighed, wiping the sweat off his melting forehead. His clothes were soaked through.

He looked over to where Krogan was trying his hardest not to stagger under the heat, and regarded him a little sympathy. "Try losing the metal armour and loosen your clothes. It heats up and traps warm air beneath it." He waved a hand at his own undone shirt collar and loose leather vest. "It wouldn't hurt to go commando, either." he added with a wry smile.


OOC: Looking for water or likely sources:
Survival - forage for water: 6. NM.
Knowledge (Nature) 17
This message was last edited by the player at 13:31, Thu 22 Dec 2011.

Abbas' brows tilted ever-so-slightly as the jab scored, but he completely ignored Jibril beyond a slight hooding of gaze.  The scenery was impressive and breath-taking; Fareeda no less, but there was an uncertainty about her impressions.

Rising from his scouting crouch, Abbas took in a final, thoughtful look, then turned back and gracefully walked over to drop a light hand on Krogan's shoulder and to offer further group discussion.

"Heading inland, away from travel markers of the rivers/ocean, generates too great ease of losing direction and wasting days by wandering aimlessly - I would remove that path."A soft headshake emphasized the gently-phrased acknowledgement that the group was not prepared to delve deep into unpathed and teeming jungle.

"Northward, we will have a bit easier travel path - there are some open areas there which would be encouraging for hunting game, and we can examine the tree stands on the way there for creating a travois to carry back any successes.  The drier area is also more positive for dry timber to fuel the airship.  Travelling north also provides some opportunity to adjust to the heat and humidity here - certainly something I would find helpful."  Left silent was Abbas' concern about Krogan collapsing from the heat if they went any other path, but it was as likely a concern for the others as well.

"We can then return back and check out the southward path - downhill should help with handling the thicker jungle.  I saw more water-friendly growth there, and the bamboo would provide a strong but very light material to help repair the ship."

A practiced snap separated a thicker leaf from its branch, and Abbas carefully folded it and ran it gently along the edges of his swords to clean the blades.  Infection was more a risk from blood, but who knew what the foreign saps and plant material would do to protect itself from herbivores.

"Did anyone have other information to share?"

In reply to Lambrac (msg #171):

Krogan nodded, grateful at the advice, though annoyed at needing it.
I'd rather not compromise my protections, but thank you.  I'll try to loosen my clothing a bit.   I've worked hard to be "civilized" after leaving the orc caves, and I don't want to throw that away now, though. 

Krogan was proud of his clothing and his human-like habits, and would prefer not to throw them away now, unless everyone else did.

Not for the first time Linni was grateful for her stature. The shade provided to her by her companions, as well as the relative coolness of the jungle floor, kept her in fairly upbeat spirits while they journeyed and discussed their further options. She looked to Krogan with sympathy, not being able to imagine having to haul metal clothing around. She considered altering her own clothing, while the red cotton robe was not exactly stifling, she could appreciate a breeze blowing over skin.

Pulling a small blue bug out of one of her pockets she let is run over her hand as she spoke in reply to Abbas, "I think North first then, if it will keep us fed. Once we have the necessities sorted out we can think about starting to repair the ship." The blue bug spread its shell to reveal wings and fluttered away from Linni, who only pulled another bug from another pocket. "I was able to keep my own rations, they might see us all through one day. Past that I don't know."

Lambrac was in agreement through much of what Abbas had to say, but added "I'm thinking it might also be worthwhile heading down to the beach, at the base of the cliffs, and seeing what of our supplies wash ashore. There's no guarantee of water, but we may find other useful things... Perhaps a task for another day." he sighed, realising that they were in this for the long haul. "We may have been better off languishing on the ship until Jibril got his spell working. We're wasting our energy and supplies on this search. But it's too late now. I'm for heading north."

He nodded to Krogan, understanding, and patted him on the shoulder. "Chult is not a land for civilisation, my friend. It's the last to arrive and the first to go." he said, with an ominous undertone. "Try removing the metal plates, and just going with the underlay. It'll do wonders."


OOC: Most armours described in the PHB, and in reality, have a lesser, light armour underneath.

Krogan scowled, but at Chult, not Lambrac.
You might be right.  Perhaps it's time to go with lighter armor, wearing just the padding below, for now.

When they next stopped for a break, the orc decided he would do just that.  It galled him to strip down in front of the other people, as it made him feel more like a monster, as many people considered orcs.

Thaniel nodded at Abbas' words, "Indeed. The deeper jungle might be easier to navigate but who knows what manner of beasts lurk in those trees", he breathed deep of the humid air, "These trees are ancient, but so wild - nature here is a thing untamed. Almost bestial. The forests of my ancestors had their share of dangers but here...

We would be wise to be on our guard at all times."

It was decided. They would follow the coast north, allowing for easy return to the Scilandar and a less exhausting battle against the jungle vegetation. The rise ascended slowly, its highest point obscured by the trees. As they paced up the slope, a terrible roar echoed somewhere within the jungle, a primal bellow that shook the air with its intensity. Its must have come from several leagues away yet it felt like whatever beast produced it was on their shoulder and the whole group flinched collectively.

Slightly more nervous from the experience, they continued on, eyes scanning the gaps between branches. At the head of the line, Abbas seemed to be leading them towards a clearing he had obviously spotted. Powerful sunlight speared through the trees, illuminating the countless flying insects and spores that drifted and swirled in the heavy atmosphere.

Finally they reached it, shielding their eyes as they stepped out onto thin grass. About seventy feet across and the same wide, there was no discernible reason for the trees to have failed to find root in the clearing. Indeed even the grass around its edges faded quickly onto dry ground, its surface grey and cracked like old clay. In the centre of the clearing a large rock rose from the earth, its ancient and eroded surface covered in strange runes. The monument was at least twelve foot high and formed a perfect cube of solid rock. It seemed unlikely its creators had dragged it all the way up here - though its stone, a dark hewn basalt, was not the same as the pale limestone forming the cliffs and various outcroppings along the rise. You notice something even more strange about the area. Silence. Nature, for some reason, had abandoned this small section of the jungle...

A lone figure stood before the huge monument, a feminine physique and long chestnut-brown hair betraying her gender. She was seemingly trying to make sense of the language across its rock face, her back to the group.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:56, Mon 02 Jan 2012.

Like the others, Lambrac looked around at the loud roar. Though he was not as surprised by it, he was perhaps more disturbed, knowing all too well what it signified. "Dinosaur." he grunted knowingly before pressing on.

*

Stepping into the dead clearing came as something of a relief from the incessant insects, the scratching branches and the constant hacking to clear a path. Finally someone had gotten rid of all that pesky nature! But in time, that quiet deadness took on its own disturbing air, a feeling of wrongness here in the jungle. He saw the great block of stone first, a Cyclopean fragment of some ancient ruin, that he did not doubt. He marveled at the craftsmanship that must have gone into it, to carve such a perfect cube from basalt, and the engineering and logistics required to transport it here from wherever it had been quarried, likely from near the Peaks of Flame.

Its appearance or presence did not surprise him. It was not so out of place here. But the woman did surprise him. He only saw her after he gazed upon the stone, so her sudden appearance was like a ghost out of the rock itself. Where else could she have come from in this vast, empty, inhospitable jungle? "Well met!" he called in a voice thick with tiredness and dehydration.


OOC: Architecture 23 - anything about the stone block?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Wed 28 Dec 2011.

Krogan smiled ferally at the sound.  He wondered if he'd get to test himself against some of the denizens of this bizarre place.   As sweaty and cranky as he was, he'd relish the idea of killing something, only for the distraction.

They walked onward, Krogan concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.   When they came to the clearing, Krogan was also glad to see the lack of undergrowth.   When he saw the cube, he was intrigued.  When he saw the person, he hoped it was someone he could beat up.   But he waited, just in case it wasn't.

The woman stood with her back to the advancing party of water-seekers, tapping a pursed lip thoughtfully as she regarded the stone. Her long brown hair cascades chaotically across her shoulders and down her back, falling over leather armor dyed in a variety of splotched hues in order to provide better concealment. At Lambrac's call she spun to regard them, seeming surprised to find anyone else this deep in the jungle.

"Ah... yes, well met, indeed!" She called back hesitantly. A large bow was strapped to her back though she made no moves towards it or the heavy, well-crafted dagger at her belt. Suddenly she seemed to glance around, a quizzical look on her face as if she expected to see someone or something else, before returning her gaze to the wayward party of the airship.

"I didn't expect to find anyone else out here," she began honestly, taking in their number and odd mix of races. "I'm Asha Toulmin." Though she was dressed in a manner reminiscent of the wilder cultures, she spoke with carefully cadenced Common and showed none of the roughness about the edges which is common with such folk. Her eyes flickered to her side once more before she fixed her eyes on the group and smiled.

Holding his large shield in one hand, with his morning star in the other, Krogan looked out at the figure, impressed by her powerful stance and confidence.

I am Krogan Cha'Tok.  It's good to see such an impressive warrior in this place.   We just arrived.  What can you tell us of the land around here, if you don't mind?

The muscular orc was still prepared for the worst, but kept his own stance casual.

"Lambrac SeKilderic." Lambrac said with a bow to Asha. "We, ah, just dropped in."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Wed 28 Dec 2011.

The quiet elf that had been near the forefront of the group when Asha turned to greet the party turned from examining the area broke from his own examination of the area and joined the others up close with Asha and the monument.

Although he had demonstrated significant caution previously, Abbas' read of the new arrival left him with no doubts, and he focused his guard elsewhere... although still somehow managed to keep being reserved.  " I am Abbas Kareem," he nodded in greeting, and respected the privacy of the other party members in providing their names.  "We, too, were not expecting others to be about - especially alone.  The nearest community is a long trek away from our now-grounded airship.  A pleasant surprise for a foraging trek, this is.  I had expected more of the great bat-lizards, not fellow travellers."

Keeping an eye and ear to the jungle, and blades resting ready, the elven warrior carefully approached the centrepiece of the clearing, and looked it over before glancing to the apparent two experts, such as they were.  "What have you learned of the monument?  It certainly does not match the stone native to here... and the clearing free of flora and fauna - and dinosaur, did you say Lambrac?"

OOC:
10:58, Today: Secret Roll: Abbas rolled 12 using 1d20+3. arcana.
10:58, Today: Secret Roll: Abbas rolled 23 using 1d20+3. history.
*nat20
10:39, Today: Secret Roll: Abbas rolled 23 using 1d20+4. listen.
10:39, Today: Secret Roll: Abbas rolled 18 using 1d20+4. spot.

Thaniel bowed his head in silent greeting to this woman, not offering his own name from his place near the rear of the group. Even the fairly reserved Abbas seemed like a conversationalist compared to the group's other resident Moon elf.

Happy Asha meant no harm, he left the others to speak with her and instead moved quickly towards the stone, his interest evidently piqued. He traced long fingers over the runes engraved in the basalt, muttering to himself in elven. He turned and spoke up in Abbas' direction, his words methodical and lacking any emotion, "Abbas, [Language unknown: rea i ulteic bleestson u moev ionil ndicmi. Nget diioesan wh reaousous, acwa, ne tedin antlarwil po erhaarel choun maurha comad artha inomhe. Ain usres thet, u utnete strec actidi liofsi undredshe. Prkor Wersanorturesti ll m llwail ard res ess etos madin e eileouni urus u us ourartent."]
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 12:09, Sun 01 Jan 2012.

Asha smiled at Lambrac's comment. "Ah, so you're from that... ship?  That I saw crash." She replied with understanding. "I suppose that explains it. You're all unharmed?"

"I'm not as familiar with the area as I am with some others on the island; I've served as something of a guide in the past but this is fairly new territory to me also." She said as she turned back to indicate the monument. "As for this? I've seen something like it once, long ago... but I didn't understand much about it then either." Asha shrugs curtly at the mystery. "There's some writing on here I can't make out. Probably ancient."

"And I'm not... um... precisely alone," she mentioned with a strange expression. "It's just that my companion is hiding somewhere here. He's a cautious sort, probably thought you would be hostile... um... he's a dinosaur." She blurted out, unsure of how they would react or indeed how to broach such a subject.

Krogan could understand caution, especially with the unknown.   You usually only got one change to be casual with unknown situations, then you died.

He raised an eyebrow at the elves chattering in their language.  It was a bit rude, but he wasn't going to worry about it.
Looking back at the woman they'd just met, he nodded.
We're just explorers, not conquerers, so we, and myself most of all, have no intention of killing or hurting anything that doesn't want to hurt us.   I have a feeling that there'll be lots of folks here with murderous intentions to go around.
He grinned toothily, as if to imply that he welcomed the attempts.
But, for what it's worth, I give my word, by the fire in my belly and the strength of my arms, that we mean no harm to your friend if he means the same to us.   

"We are, unfortunately." Lambrac answered Asha glumly. It was odd to meet someone who claimed to know the land well enough to serve as a guide — he would have expected a native Chultan or an old and grizzled explorer — but wouldn't say no to the stroke of good fortune of happening across her. He'd considered being more cagy about their situation, the possibility of some trap here, but they really couldn't afford to be choosy. "We're fine, but not for long. We lost much of our supplies and seek more. We're looking for water, in particular, and if you know of a good source, we would be obliged, milady." he explained, hoping that she could help in some way.

"Wait, dinosaur?" he asked with a note of alarm.

"Yes, dinosaur... a young carnosaur, to be precise..." She turned and gazed about the clearing. "Yaotl! Heel! They're friendly." Her next words were whispered, barely clearing her lips. "At least I'm pretty sure."

She turned to Lambrac when he mentioned water. "I think I may have seen one on my way here but it might be hard to find again. Like I said, I don't know this area as well... I was born a long way from here, still along the coast but further north." She brushed an errant strand of loosely curled hair from  her eyes.

"I'd be happy to try though. Do any of you know how to read this, maybe? Before we go?" She gestured casually to the monolith and the archaic script crawling across it.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:09, Thu 29 Dec 2011.

Making no sudden movements, Lambrac's eyes roamed the surround jungle for this carnosaur, anxious that it might decide otherwise. "Um..."

Well, with a pet dinosaur and maybe knowing where water was, helping Asha study this megalith was a top priority in Lambrac's book. He peered up at the stone block, and tried to determine the script and anything else that stood out. "Hmm."


OOC: And to think I chose not to put a point in Decipher Script.

Architecture 23 - anything about the stone block?

Lambrac stared uncomprehending at the block for a while. There was something oddly familiar about it... Then he tilted his head at an angle. All he'd needed was a change of perspective. "Ah! I've seen something thing like this before, east of the Mistcliffs. That one must have tipped over into soft earth, because we thought it was a pyramid. It seemed odd so far from Mulhorand. The expedition leader seemed to think it was something to do with wild elves, but I don't know..."

He stepped up close to the stone block, now regarding it from the proper angle. He laid a hand on the hard, dark basalt. It felt warm from the accumulated heat of the day, sitting out here in the open. He swept his hand across, feeling the rough texture, then eyed the straight edges. "It's basalt, likely quarried near the Peaks of Flame. By the wind erosion, I'd say this was carved about a thousand years ago. But the dark grey colour is more like a fresh block; there's no lichen, no calcium carbonate layer, no chemical erosion. Someone made this thing to last."

Drawing his parchment note-book, ink and pen, he began to make a sketch of the find, with copies of what runes he could glimpse and some notes and observations. He'd previously started drawing and noting a map of their route from the Scilander.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:59, Fri 30 Dec 2011.

At Asha's command, the tree line on the other side of the clearing began to rustle. It took a few seconds for the group to register that something was standing amid the undergrowth, such was the effectiveness of its camouflage. The creature took a few tentative steps into the clearing, its ridged, elongated snout sniffing at the air. It was about the size of a small horse but that was where the similarity to an animal ended. Inky eyes blinked horizontally as it regarded the group, evidence of a species of reptile - however instead of walking on all fours like a normal lizard, it balanced lithely on two, the arms sticking from its chest ending in razor-like claws. Its hide was a mottled dark green with intermittent yellow stripes and dark ridges of bone ran the full length of its body. A long tail swung lazily behind as it strode further into the clearing and dagger-like teeth were visible protruding from its closed mouth.

So this was a dinosaur...

Krogan was tempted to help copy down runes, but decided to wait until asked.  There might be plenty of these darned things around, and they only had so much paper.   There was no sense in doubling up on sketches if they could help it.

The heat and humidity was making Krogan angry.   He hated to be dirty and sweaty, and was beginning to curse his ignorance of this bizarre land, and was starting to regret ever coming here.   He knew that was just weakness on his part, that he was just whining to himself.  So he tried to buck up and ignore it.

The rustle of the undergrowth caught his attention, and he waited to see what the new arrival would be.   When the lizard creature emerged, Krogan's face lit up in child-like wonder.

It's.....beautiful......
The animal was...like a little dragon.  Were dinosaurs related to dragons?  It didn't seem to matter.  The horse-sized monster was large, but still reminded Krogan of the baby dragon he'd saved in the river of his mountain home, and had returned to the angry red dragon mother, on that day that had started him on his destiny.

"Oh by the Gods," Jibril mutters when he spots the dinosaur. "We've now officially become a band of circus freaks.  Pashas in Calimport would certainly pay good money to see this traveling show."

He wipes the sweat off his brow with frustration, as he approaches the stone monolith to examine it.  With a flourish of his hand, he casts a spell upon the stone.


OOC:  Jibril rolled 9 using 1d20+3. knowledge skill (religion).
           Jibril rolled 14 using 1d20+3. knowledge skill (arcana).

Casting Detect Magic

Lambrac looked at the dinosaur, turning pale and the sweat of humidity becoming the cold sweat of fear. Sharp fangs, sharp claws, all primal killing power. "...Oh hells."

Asha listened intently to those examining the obelisk, seemingly ignoring the alternatively terrified and reverent stares of the rest of the group. After absorbing all Lambrac had to say on the matter she turned and rested a hand on Yaotl's muscular shoulder.

"Now, now... I know he's intimidating at first, but he's really a big softy. Well, other than the razor sharp teeth and armored hide... hrm... so I guess not so soft." She shrugged.

"But he's been with me for a few years now and he's been well-behaved since he was trained. I'm thinking once he gets a little bigger I'll teach him to wear a saddle." She beamed at the young Carnosaur as she mentioned this.

Krogan grinned at Asha.
If you ever do, come find me.  I'd love to ride him sometime. 

It sounded perfect to Krogan.  It would be like riding a dragon.  Just the thought filled him with excitement.

Thaniel watches the dinosaur come into view and considers it with passing amusement before turning back to his monolith. "It has been a while since I studied runes, though I might be able to make something of this with time," he says as he feels each engraving, trying to remember its language.

19:36, Today: Thaniel rolled 25 using 1d20+8. Knowledge: Arcana.
19:36, Today: Thaniel rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Decipher Script.

Abbas nodded slowly in reply to Thaniel's melodic, but less common speech.  "I fear your recall exceeds mine, Thaniel, but what I do recall makes me inclined to agree."

Tilting his head towards the group, Abbas added to dispel some of the questions and open new ones, "These runes resemble a variant of an ancient elvish script, but between the change in language and the style of the carving, I cannot follow it." The elven swordmaster paused somewhat pregnantly.

"The runes I do recognize speak of death ahead - whether that is a warning marker or tied to the object itself, I cannot be sure."

The arrival of the dinosaur put an end to Abbas' further investigation, however.  His keen senses had made him well aware of the creature in the jungle, but Asha's concern for it had removed the elf's worry about it.  Seeing it present, claw and tooth bred for violence... that perhaps warranted a touch more attention than a script he could only vaguely recognize.

"Interesting... I imagine training such a fierce creature must have been challenging, in the least.  They can be trained to be ridden as well?  Perhaps other of the flying ones could be trained for flying mounts - surely a quick method of travel in this land," he added politely.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:22, Fri 30 Dec 2011.

A pet dinosaur, a trained dinosaur, a dinosaur you could ride... That's it. Asha was mad. And so was Krogan, and perhaps Abbas too. "Good dinosaur..." he muttered, then took a step back.

Processing what Abbas said about the block — it made more sense than the dinosaur — he mused "So he was right about the elven connection... But I've never thought of elves as megalithic stone carvers. It seemed more of a dwarven thing... So, death ahead, huh? Does it happen to mention in which direction, or what brand of death awaits us?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:48, Fri 30 Dec 2011.

There's a surprised shriek from the monolith, as Jibril reels backwards and stumbles on a rock. He lands firmly on his ass with a loud grunt.

Krogan raised an eyebrow, but held in any humorous reaction.  He felt a bit out of place, as well.  If Jibril could refrain from making fun of him for sweating like ice in the summer, he could behave himself as well.
The muscular orc walked over to the cleric and held out a hand to help him up, his face neutral and non-judgemental.

He couldn't read the writing on the stone block, so was getting bored with the proceedings.   Krogan wanted to fight something, but knew that the old Waterdhavian expression "be careful what you wish for" might be more true here than anywhere else.

Thaniel continues to run a hand over the runes with Abbas, taking in the elf's knowledge of the writings. "It seems to be referring to some sort of protective ward, though I don't think the rock itself is here for anything other than decoration. We should be careful at what we wave our swords at though. There could be an elven presence in the jungle that may have been sundered from the rest of our people."

Asha listened intently to the descriptions provided by those more well versed in such matters than she. After Jibril's unusual fall backwards she peered curiously at the fallen traveller before turning to the rest of the group, one hand still gently placed on Yaotl's hide to calm him in the presence of strangers.

"What's most interesting to me is the clearing itself." She waved her hand to indicate the broad expanse which was free of trees. "The jungle normally overtakes all land. That means that either the stone has some magical power to hold it at bay, lingering for who knows how long, or else someone is actively keeping the area clear."

She returned once more to tapping her lip in thought.

"Thank you," Jibril mutters grudgingly as the orc helped him up. "At least someone here has some manners."

He then turns his stony gaze on the others that were chattering about the monolith. "Fools!  The magic radiating from this monument is overwhelming and immense, perhaps that of an artifact of great power.  Necromantic and abjuration auras.  A civilization died here in a great conflagration. The area is clearly warded, and we best tread carefully or we might end up in a pyre ourselves!"

Krogan gave the cleric a nod of acknowledgement, then listened to what the man had to say about the artifact.   He looked at Jibril thoughtfully, nodding.
Necro....matic?  He spoke the word carefully, as if mulling it over.
That is death magic, right?   I guess it would explain about what killed the grass and trees.   Still, a place of great danger is often a place of great rewards.  Still, being careful is always good advice. 

He looked at the others, clearing waiting for them to decide to move on.

Lambrac shrugged. Lantanese always looked to the simplest, most mundane and non-magical solution first. "Or the builders simply salted the earth, or chemicals have leached out of the construction. Or maybe there's a stone slab just below the sand, so roots can't take hold." he suggested, sweeping some sand with his boot. Though he'd already surmised magical protections by lack of erosion and lichen, but that didn't rule out a chemical treatment.

Of course, Jibril's theatrics put paid to that explanation. "...Or it could be magic.."

Curious, he walked  slowly around the cube, eyes scanning the ground and stone as he sought an entrance, whether obvious or hidden, or some trap, very definitely hidden.


OOC: Search... 7, rolled a 1. :(
This message was last edited by the player at 02:14, Sat 31 Dec 2011.

"Yes, death magic!" Jibril replies as he dodges to edge of the clearing.

"The kind that is so powerful that it would fry you into a pile of ashes on the spot," he shouts from a safe distance.

He shakes his head ruefully at the hapless fools.

Krogan's eyes lit up with excitement.
Burned to ash??  Really?   How do you think it works?

He walked up to the stone block, looking at it with new interest, his former boredom evaporated like the sweat from everyone's necks.   He looked at the block like a Yule present.
How do I activate it, do you think?   How about if I put my tongue on it?   I wonder if it tastes like death, too?

The big orc was starting to sound like one of the overly enthusiastic children that swarm through Calimport.

Remembering something, Lambrac stopped and took out of his pack a number of short poles, which he screwed together to make one 10-foot-long pole. With this he probed various parts of the cube and the ground around it.

Yaotl nuzzled gently against Asha's outstretched hand, his reptilian jaw widening into what might have been perceived as a smile but to the rest of the group just became an unnerving flash of row upon row of interlocking, razor-edged teeth.

Seeing Jibril stumble backwards onto his backside, Yaotl made a surprised sound, his head angling from side to side. He took a step towards the priest and sniffed tentatively at his colourful garments.

Krogan saw, out of the corner of his eye, the dinosaur take a step towards Jabril.  He grinned.
No sudden moves, now, priest.   Think of it like a large scaly dog, and be gentle with him..

Chuckling, he went back to his examination of the wonderful "Death Cube".

Jibril stares down the dinosaur, exerting his own dominance at the creature.  He wags a finger at it. "You will not touch my clothes.  Understood?"

Again, he shakes his head at the asinine orc, as he tinkers with the monolith.  "I really didn't think you were so daft, but so be it..."

Lambrac, Krogan and Thaniel continued their close inspection of the monolith, ignoring the frantic warnings of Jibril who had retreated to the edge of the clearing. The rest of the group stood talking to the travelling druid and her rather unusual (and unnerving) pet.

Retrieving a long pole from his pack, Lambrac began prodding and poking at various sections of the stone. Suddenly, and perhaps inevitably, something triggered in the rock and a burst of energy erupted through the clearing. Thaniel and Krogan staggered backwards, blinking. They seemed confused as to what had happened but otherwise unharmed. Lambrac, however, did not move - his hand holding the pole still outstretched. Those that could see his face saw his mouth half open as if he was about to say something but could not. His whole body had seemingly frozen rigid - only his eyes, wide with alarm, appeared able to move.

It was then that the rest of the group began to notice something wrong with the clearing - it had grown cold, icily cold, yet the sun continued to burn with fury in the sky above.

At several points across the clearing, thick dust began swirling up into the still air. The large cube in the centre, runes now glowing faintly, started to sink into the earth with a low rumble.

Above the din of grinding stone came a voice, ancient and long since dismembered from its host body;

"Ai berthoc praês nín îdh?"

Booming and heavy with power, the words seemed to come from all directions and from none at the same time.

It seemed that perhaps Jibril's warning should have been heeded...

Krogan shook his head in confusion, then grinned with delight.
When I finally settle down to a place of my own, I WANT one of these!   

The cold, though probably meant to be of murderous intent, actually felt nice, though he could still feel the burning sun as well.  Very confusing.
The large orc moved swiftly to Lambrac, lifting him bodily and tried to take him from the clearing, in case the sinking block meant that the entire area was about to cave in.   A long time resident of the mountains of the north, he was very wary of cave-ins.

Asha stumbled momentarily as the pulse raced through the clearing and shook her senses from her. As she recovered she swung her bow from her back, still reeling in confusion from the shock.

Yaotl, guard. We're leaving." Her voice was gentle but firm as she cast her gaze about those who shared the opening. Asha shivered in spite of the beating jungle sun, the air having seemingly turned to ice as they recovered themselves.

"Maybe that wasn't such a good idea," she dourly offered to Lambrac.

Linni was torn between three curiosities, the wild woman, her dinosaur, and the magic cube. Eventually the cube won out, even though while she was inspecting it she threw many a sidelong glance across to the dinosaur. She gathered much of the same information Jibril had, although did not share his concern about the magic. The cube seemed old, and while it had magical properties it likely dormant.

As Lambrac started poking at the cube Linni watched curiously. She gasped and shielded her face as the energy blasted past her and was surprised by the sudden drop in temperature. Taking a few steps back Linni turned and started to run towards the edge of the clearing.

Suddenly Lambrac found himself locked up, as if frozen by crippling cold. He strained to move his limbs, even just his fingers or jaw to make some kind of warning, but it took all his effort just to get nowhere. He paralysed, helpless. Inside, he was silently screaming in terror. Help!

He barely felt Krogan grab him and drag him away.

Abbas made no combative moves - although not rooted still as Lambrac, Abbas seemed to exude passivity and contriteness.  His lips parted as if to speak, then paused and closed for a split second before opening once more to shape around a more eloquent language than commonly spoken, and in a slightly more formal tone than the discussions with Thaniel.  The words seemed a bit rushed, but time was fleeting.

[Language unknown:  The strratatiall all etckinlewa ncore ei, ughwition stsi.  Pont thiwassom illstiter whho erutto a mennd icis Earticall Haeswiit.  P urest virerethuugh ica, hoululwe u ncoler.  Elut bleintain iv sa entmanpre it urich itsipoat thipl ortoveica p hasma plsserndur e ver ainri ngofei nc beitssio, na hi maone eeitur wa thohouredyiners ard arerutithast ildita, mi e ometheoun e estmanhat u chers een.  Tince linnteent ll manhas-onsill ore tin wasmenntiortill acompetrur?"]

The elven swordsman bowed slowly - as deep as he could without compromising his ability to keep line of sight on the clearing's dangers.

In a matter of just a few seconds the once peaceful clearing had turned on the party like an angry beehive. Most of the group still had weapons sheathed and were caught completely off guard as Lambrac set off the trap and the eery voice sounded through the air. A lesson to be learned about curiosity perhaps? Blame would have to wait. Lambrac now stood paralysed before the mysterious monolith, which itself had begun a slow, grinding descent into the dry earth. It seemed whatever the stone stood to protect, to contain, was now awake and free...

Krogan was the first to act, despite his struggle against the conditions. He immediately rushed to Lambrac's aid, grasping the Lantanese explorer around the waist as he prepared to pull him away from danger.

Asha was next, unslinging her bow and notching an arrow.  She then called out a command to Yaotl who was still sniffing at the strange and alien colours of Jibril's robes.

Linni turned and began moving back towards the treeline, sensing that it might be a good time to make a quick exit. As she turned she saw the first enemy materialise as if from nothing amongst the undergrowth near Jibril - a humanoid of some kind but there was something very wrong with th-

Jibril turned to stare into a desiccated face, all flesh long since rotted from its skeletal features. Hollow eye sockets stared back at the priest and though empty, Jibril could feel its gaze coring into his soul. The reanimated skeleton must have been tall in life and despite a lack of evidence attesting to its race, the powerful build of its shoulders and wide stance suggested it was once a warrior amongst its kind. Ancient and half-decayed hide armour hung from its mottled bones and a large pelt of some long extinct jungle beast was draped around its shoulders. It held a long greatsword in a high guard, the blade thick and uneven - apparently crafted from sharpened flint.


Elsewhere in the clearing several more undead warriors materialised out of swirling clouds of dust; one near to Thaniel armed with twin handaxes, the blades again hewn from flint and bound to heavy bone handles; another appeared behind Krogan's turned back, armed with a heavy bone mace and small wooden roundshield emblazoned with strange and faded carvings. One more materialised near Asha with a long spear, its tip again carved from flint.

A second later, two more swirls of dust rose up on the opposite side of the clearing, one each side of the monolith. Two more skeletons appeared from the miasma, these ones pulling archaic long bows to bear.

The undead assailants did not hesitate and before anyone else could act, they surged forward to attack...

Abbas' words, though elegantly and beautifully spoken in his native tongue, seemed more of a plea in the face of oncoming peril and the only response was a long booming laugh that echoed around the clearing.

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Each square is 5/5 feet. Squares with trees in can be moved through at half speed and grant ranged cover (dependant on location of ranged attacker). When moving diagonally take first diagonal as 5ft, second as 10ft, third as 5ft etc.

Key:
K - Krogan
T - Thaniel
L - Lambrac
A - Abbas
A - Asha
L - Linni
F - Fareeda
Y - Yaotl
J - Jibril

1 - Skeleton warrior with flint greatsword
2 - Skeleton warrior with twin hand axes
3 - Skeleton warrior with bone mace
4 - Skeleton warrior with spear

5 - First archer
6 - Second archer

MM - Monolith
@ - Treeline


Round 1 Begins! Initiative order should be up in the relevant thread now - if your initiative is below the skeletons you may wish to wait and see what they do before acting. If your action would not change then feel free to post now, as usual I will put everything in order at the end of the round.

Good luck!

Lambrac tried to scream in helpless panic, but could barely manage more than a low, strangled moan.

As Krogan grasped his friend, he saw the skeletal warriors.    All thoughts of carrying Lambrac to safety fled from his mind, for a number of reasons both personal and practical.
For practical reasons, he realized that even as strong as he was (even weakened by the heat), he couldn't carry the frozen man faster than one of those things could probably run.  So doing so would only expose them both to danger.   Instead, he figured, it was better to draw their fire, and be a better target than Lambrac, so that perpaps the creatures could ignore him in favor of Krogan.
For personal reasons, he REALLY wanted to kill something.

He'll get his weapon and shield ready, and try to step away from Lambrac, so that an archer's missed shot won't hit the helpless man.  (5' step to L12, if possible)

Focusing his mind on his dragonic aura, he exuded a protective power over his friends, imagining them covered with a dragon's tough scales.

Asha lets out a frightened yelp as the dead claw their way out of the ground and begin approaching the assembled travelers.

"Yaotl! Get one!" she cried as she drew her bowstring, letting a shaft fly at the nearest skeleton and then backing away towards the treeline.

Linni gasped at the sight of the undead warrior lurching out of the trees. She was disgusted that someone put to rest so long ago could be awoken and used like some kind of tool. She would be the cleansing fire this day!

The prodigal sorceress lifted her tiny hands and prepared to summon another attack of elemental fire but nothing happened. Expended!

Gulping, she backed away, Kei cowering behind her.

OOC: Move to Q16
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Thu 05 Jan 2012.

Krogan was the first to react to the skeletons materialising from the swirling dust. He released Lambrac, who leaned and then toppled like a chopped tree, face first, into the dry earth. Making a 'whoops expression, Krogan then pulled free his morning star and shield and stepped away from Lambrac's prone form, hoping to goad one of the undead into attacking him. Whether entities completely lacking in emotion were susceptible to goading he did not know... worth a shot! ]

Asha backed away from the skeleton that materialised near to her, heading for the safest place she knew - beside her five hundred pound killing-machine of a pet. She let fly with an arrow as she went, the missile flying straight and true at the skeleton armed with a spear. The shot would have crippled most creatures, however with no delicate organs to pierce, the arrow rattled through the skeleton's exposed ribcage to no apparent effect. Eyes narrowing, she called a command for Yaotl to join the fray.

Linni, her fiery magic used up in the earlier battle with the flying dinosaurs, backed away from the battle, hoping the others could handle their undead assailants.

Cold and silent, the skeletal warriors advanced on their respective targets. Little more than mindless automatons of ancient bone and armour, it seemed clear they would not stop until everything in the clearing was as dead as them.

The first stepped towards Jibril, swinging its two handed flint sword in a wide arc at the priest's head. He did not move a muscle as the point of the crude blade passed a centimetre from the bridge of his nose. Blinking rapidly, Jibril reached a tentative hand up to check if it was still there.

The second skeleton engaged Thaniel with more success, one of its axes cutting deep into the elf's unprotected side, bouncing off a rib.

Seemingly taking the bait, the third surged in to attack Krogan. It swung its heavy bone mace but could not beat the orc's shield and it bounced off - the hardened bone making a sickening thruck sound as it connected with the steel.

Ignoring the arrow protruding oddly from its ribs, the fourth warrior stepped towards Fareeda, jabbing at her with its spear. The harem dancer's curving and bending body was of benefit outside the pleasure halls it seemed and she sidestepped the attack with ease.

The group had been plunged into peril - Thaniel's wound making that fact abundantly clear. The unimaginable danger lurking within this ancient jungle was becoming more and more clear.

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Each square is 5/5 feet. Squares with trees in can be moved through at half speed and grant ranged cover (dependant on location of ranged attacker). When moving diagonally take first diagonal as 5ft, second as 10ft, third as 5ft etc.

Key:
K - Krogan
T - Thaniel
L - Lambrac (Prone, Paralysed)
A - Abbas
A - Asha
L - Linni (Cover)
F - Fareeda
Y - Yaotl
J - Jibril

1 - Skeleton warrior with flint greatsword (AC: Unknown)
2 - Skeleton warrior with twin hand axes (AC: Unknown)
3 - Skeleton warrior with bone mace (AC: Unknown)
4 - Skeleton warrior with spear (AC: 15)

5 - First archer (AC: Unknown)
6 - Second archer (AC: Unknown)

MM - Monolith
@ - Treeline (+4 cover bonus vs. ranged weapons if standing in a @ square.)

Those still to act in round 1 may now make their actions :) Beginning in round 2 we will be discarding the 'wait and see what they do' idea as it is slowing the combat down far too much. It can be assumed the skeleton warriors will continue attacking their respective targets and the archers will aim at the nearest target (unoccupied if possible).
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:22, Thu 05 Jan 2012.

Thaniel backpedals, trying to get away from the threatening undead. He glances around and, seeing a gorup to the south, decides to inch in their direction. As he does so, he lets loots a bolt of energy at the skeleton.

Move: 5ft step SE
Standard: Disrupt Undead on Skeleton 2

11:15, Today: Thaniel rolled 1 using 1d6. Damage.
11:15, Today: Thaniel rolled 19 using 1d20+4. Disrupt Undead on Skeleton 2.

Lambrac hated the feeling of falling when he could do absolutely nothing to halt himself, balance, or land softly. A muffled oof! escaped him as he hit the dirt. Face first! Damn it, he wanted to see what was going on!

Sputtering as he steps backwards into the cover of the brush, Jibril frantically grabs his silver holy symbol around his neck--a human left hand pointing upwards, which radiates a faint blue magical aura. He thrusts it forward at the undead creature attacking him, babbling something at the abomination in the Celestial tongue.  "Amin sinta thaliolle e dagor!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:35, Fri 06 Jan 2012.