Serpent's Skull I, Smuggler's Shiv

[lostsole31]

Lalarlia holds a service that evening in a manner that only a cleric of Calistria could provide ... all attendees must be naked. Aron, Erin, Gelik, and Pezock attend, so mostly the women and the weird bird-man.

The males seem to be more uptight or disapproving. Jask leads Stephan and Sheel in a service devoted to Nethys. On the other hand, warriors fell at the hands of other warriors, so it might be fitting, and is understood (though mourned stoically) by the males. Nethys is invoked on the destructive side by Jask and Sheel that their magic will overcome that of the tribal witch on their next encounter.

[lostsole31]

Day 70

The entire day is spent in healing, and what it takes to heal Lalarlia is massive indeed.

Discussion of attempting to go on the full offensive if nothing than to save the bodies of Hacker, Ishirou, and Ankarum from consumption.

• Aron: The forces of the moon and the tide it controls pulled the ship to its fate here. The law of the jungle applies here, and what makes the cannibals any different from an animal predator beyond sentience and malice? They died in battle, as they lived. However, she does not know if the group's fate is to balance the power on the Shiv by attacking the Thrunefang. She'll abstain.
• Erin: She is horrified by her sister's dispassionate view of not only what may happen at the tribal dinner table, but feels that the group will never get a moment's rest if they live in fear of the cannibals.
• Gelik: Surely we can take the loss and pick them off as they go hunting in smaller groups, right? Otherwise, he doesn't want anything to do with any kind of foolhardy "body rescue" when carrying bodies will just slow them all down.
• Jask: The party has the means to clear his innocence and his good name, and the very thought that savagery is allowed to make its way with the party doesn't sit well. He's no warrior, but he is willing to honor whatever decision the party makes.
• Lalarlia: Are you kidding? Of course she wants to rescue their bodies. Even then, if it must be that the group ends up spending the remainder of their lives here, she wants to help Aycenia out in cleansing the Shiv.
• Pezock: The barbarians are too dangerous. He's lived in fear of them for the past several years and is terrrified of their slaughter of shipwrecked survivors.
• Sheel: He is not a survivalist. He is a martial artist and a fire sorcerer. He is for testing his skills against them.
• Stephan: He stands staunchly by Lalarlia as she notes her feelings on the subject.

For: Erin, Lalarlia, Sheel, Stephan
Against: Gelik, Pezock
Abstain: Aron, Jask

With this, Aron will join her sister against the barbarians, and Jask will go because of majority vote.

Diplomacy mods, Aron (+9) vs Gelik (+9). Stephan will attempt to use his calming influence to aid Aron, and Pezock will aid Gelik.
Total: Aron (33 + 1/ other than helper = 37) vs Gelik (27). At a factor of 10 over, she manages to convince Gelik that if they die because he wasn't there to help .... he'll be all alone other than the crazy Pezock (*caw* Hey!) and the dryad.

The strategy is given.

[lostsole31]

Day 71

As predictable, the party waits for the rains. Gelik is along, but he still refuses to scout ahead. Sheel, Pezock, and Stephan will do so as soon as it begins to rain, carefully moving along the main game trail from the NE rather than through the thick of the jungle from the south as they did before.

It's not enough as a Shiv dragon launches at Sheel, charging and hitting the halfling in the belly with a crit for 16! Despite all of his training and the necessity for quiet right now, Sheel is blameless for giving out a loud, shrill cry of pain, though he does manage to wriggle out of its maw ... barely on his feet.

Pezock was likewise surprised, but Stephan manages to just barely hit the tethered and charging creature.

Let the battle begin ...

[lostsole31]

Round 1 ...

R1T24: Klorak grabs his shield and readies it.

R1T22: Stephan's first blow did 12 last round, and this time he cuts down again for 18 with his magical mighty sword. The beast is as badly wounded as the halfling.

R1T21: Gelik forms an acid bolt and fires at the dragon, missing it in the rain and in trying not to hit his allies.

R1T20: Jask moves forward behind Sheel and casts CLW on him for 9.

R1T17: The guardpost barbarians aren't disciplined against organized incursion to stay at their post to give positions. They clamber out and down and into the jungle around the corner of the communal hut.

R1T16: Pezock goes wildly running down the path towards one of the surprised guards milling around the fire pit at the center of camp. And misses his opponent. Spectacularly.

R1T15: Erin, who had short sword and dagger out, moves up next to Stephan away from the lizard and tosses a dagger at a barbarian, hitting him in the right hand for 10.

R1T14: Aron casts sanctuary on herself and then moves up behind Sheel.

R1T13: Despite grievous wounds, the "pet" has been trained to fight to the death. Its powerful jaws snap onto Sheel's R elbow for 7. Sheel again seems in mortal peril, and this time he is held in its mouth.

R1T12: It's now Lalarlia's turn to try to charge the dragon, but there is too much in bodies and some foliage for her to get in a good stab.

R1T11: Sheel punches the lizard in the skull for 4, and it slumps, releasing him. He is still badly wounded, though.

R1T10.9: No sooner does that happen then the firepit barbarians go on the counterattack, howling and raging. Two move right in to make three abreast to attack the foolish tengu. His swordsmanship holds against 2, but then a barbarian hits Pezock in the abdomen for 4.

R1T10.9: The one wounded by Erin begins to tear towards her, but as it passes Pezock he spins and cuts him along his lower side for 9. It seems that Pezock is a lot stronger than you may have thought. He just barely manages to shoot forth to cut around and catch Erin in her R forearm for 8. Though she is a half-elf, there is enough of the mannerisms and anatomy of her human mother in her and in her cultural upbringing and how it affects her movement that the barbarian's cut is particularly effective.

R1T10.8: The night wath barbarians easily awaken from the shouts of combat, get to their feet, and grab their shields.

R1T10: The consorts get and ready their shields.

R1T9: Malikadna casts mage armor on herself and, already standing by her door, opens it.

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 2 ...

R2T24: Klorak opens the door and rushes down the stairs.

R2T22: Stephan cuts the Erin's opponent in half at the belly, with the top falling a second before the bottom section gives way.

R2T21: Gelik moves in and makes wild gesticulations and taunting maneuvers to aid the party.

R2T20: Jask casts shield on himself.

R2T17: The two guards from the guard post move to the main group, raging, attacking Stephan and Erin. Weapons blocked.

R2T16: Pezock steps back from his three aggressors (well, okay, he was technically the aggressor) and breaks open some type of dust stuff on himself. There is a brief shimmering in front of him.

End Round 2 ...

R2T15: Erin touches her opponent with the humorous power of her bloodline, and the comic thoughts war with his rage and he stands, befuddled.

R2T14: Aron touches Sheel for CLW of 6, bringing him to about half.

R2T12: Seeing he has already suffered so much in so short a time, Lalarlia steps back from the line and casts shield of faith on Sheel. A shimmering, magical field surrounds him.

R2T11: Sheel steps back some and begins casting ...

R2T10.9: The forward barbarian still faces off with Pezock, but the other two wheel around while he foils his attack. A magical force blocks one, while his sawtooth sabre sweeps the other broken javelin away.

R2T10.8: Seeing three of their compatriots all over the crazy bird-man, the barbarians that came out of the hut move past to attack Lalarlia, Sheel, Jask, and down towards Gelik. Because three of them move past the front line, Erin scores a hit on the one going around to Jask for 12. One only just gets down to Gelik. Sadly, Sheel gets hit full bore in the R shoulder for 9. He is truly about to fall this time.

R2T10: The consorts file down behind Klorak, and one opens the door.

R2T9: Malikadna moves out and flies into position over everyone so she can be within 30' of all enemies (except Gelik).

End Round 2 ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 3 ...

R324: Klorak moves out into the center to get a good view of the melee and he yells orders to his consorts.

R3T22: Stephan shouts at the guard in front of him and his symbol glows. He glows and cuts the guard along the neck for 19, but the insane tribesman somehow keeps going.

R3T21: One-on-one with a raging barbarian, the non-com Gelik continues his comedy as best he can, though there is a tone of desperation in it. He steps 5' back on the path. He defensively fires an arcane bolt that hits the Thrunefang in the L quad for 3 cold.

R3T20: Though he has his own opponent, Jask calls upon his own mantras and heals Sheel for 9. Once again, the halfling is midpoint.

"I'm tapped out of healing, outside of raw energy channeling," Jask says.

R3T17: Though in a combat stance, the lone and bleeding guardsman stands, dazed in anger and confusion.

R3T16: Pezock tumbles back to flank with Lalarlia, and defensively cuts that opponent with his serrated sawtooth blade along his neck for 13.

R3T15: With Pezock clear from the center, Erin moves forward a little and casts defensively towards the center of the firepit. A dazzling array of colors shoots forth to encompass the three barbarians Pezock was fighting. All three of them fall unconscious. The befuddled barbarian recovers.

R3T14: Still unnoticed by the savages around her, Aron casts her spell on Stephan's quiver. No sooner does that happen than she seems to be noticed by the enemy.

R3T12: Lalarlia's stab overextends, but she at least manages to recover quickly into her defensive fighting position.

R3T11: Sheel's spell is now completed. A golden-trimmed red beetle, as big as Sheel himself, appears behind the barbarian. The beetle glows and then smite-bites the man for 3 (min). He defensively fights as the others, tussling with his opponent, but can't trip him.

R3T10.8: Lalarlia's opponent swings so wildly he catches himself on the backswing for 7. Gelik's bouncing around doesn't help him and he gets hit for 5. Others miss.

R3T10: One of the consorts rushes out to flank Pezock on a charge. The other three move forth to center and begin tossing javelins. All miss.

R3T9: Realizing that while the intruders are outnumbered, they are much more focused and aware than they were before. Instead of starting with her hexes right away, she begins casting a spell, looking for help from her dark patrons.

End Round 3 ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 4 ...

R424: Klorak stalks menacingly, and is now behind the fire beetle.

R4T22: Despite his holy wrath, Stephan misses his target.

R4T21: Though not terribly wounded, and surprisingly hardy for his size, Gelik is cowardly (or wise) and he casts a spell defensively, but nothing happens. He continues to use his comedy to help the rest of the group, and steps back another 5'.

R4T20: Jask tries to carefully cast a spell over behind Klorak, the spell fails because of the jostling of combat.

R4T17: Guards attack. Stephan's opponent cuts over and is just barely deflected on the outside of him, and Erin blocks her opponent.

R4T16: Pezock continues to use tac-pos-fd w/ Lalarlia, but it the wild man manages to deflect the blow.

R4T15: Erin likewise carefully seeks an opponent, but manages to stab deep and nearly through her opponent's L upper arm for 10 (max). It's the first wound he's received, but it is a nasty one.

R4T14: Aron defensively casts a spell at the flying witch. The witch's current incantation suddenly goes from evil arcane (though somewhat insane) chanting to a suddenly untintelligible babble, and the magical energy pooling suddenly goes away. She shrieks in anger, though even the shriek is bizarre.

R4T12: Lalarlia's stab is blocked by the man's shield.

R4T11: Sheel's beetle successfully smites their target with a grazing bite for 3. Sheel still is unsuccessful at tripping him.

R4T10.8: It is only because of Pezock's brilliant swordsmanship and his focus on defensive does he move just enough out of the way so that the barbarian's scimitar slams hard against his magical force protection, but without penetrating. One swings around and slams his scimitar into the fire beetle for 6. Gelik's opponent continues to advance and cuts along G's side for 5.

R4T10: Pezock blocks the flanking consort, and all javelins miss - with one javelin breaking.

R4T9: Pissed, it's witch-vs-oracle time as the former gives the evil eye. Aron is totally unprepared for such a thing and she seems to be affected. Knowing that the mass combat is a matter of more luck than skill to keep from getting hurt, the witch's eye seems to make Aron more open to attack.

End Round 4 ...

Round of attrition, which the party can't afford, though the fire beetle at least soaked up an attack that would've been meant for the party.

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 5 ...

R524: Klorak stalks menacingly, and is now behind the fire beetle gives a mighty raging shout and swings his scimitar to blast the fire beetle to whence it came.

R5T22: Stephan thinks about various motions he's seen Ishirou use. He drops his opponent with a mighty stroke, and uses the momentum to cleave into Erin's opponent, dropping him as well.

R5T21: Gelik continues to desperately keep his party rallying while dealing with his own problems. He just barely manages to concentrate on the spell, and that is when the barbarian's loin cloth and hides drop down to around his ankles, showing what the gods gave him! Gelik then dodges about, separating himself by 10' heading further down the trail.

R5T20: Jask casts a spell to fire a magic missile that hits Lalarlia's-Pezock's opponent for 4, and it drops him.

R5T16: Pezock steps over 5' to flank Jask's opponent, cutting him deep across the lower back and buttocks for 20. The man is felled, and Pezock stabs his beak into his belly for 11.

R5T15: With the way open again, Erin concentrates and then a burst of multicolored, kaleidoscopic light shoots forth to hit the three javelin-tossing women. Two of the women fall unconcious.

R5T14: Aron tries to mitigate her unfortunate situation and defensively casts sanctuary on herself again. Either it is because each enemy has its own issue, or Aron's spell works, but none take notice of her. In fact, Malikadna turns her attention elsewhere.

R5T12: Lalarlia steps up to where Pezock was standing and goes low to stab the woman in front of her in the L foot for 7. The consort was badly wounded in the other day's fight, and hasn't recovered much. She must've been one that Hacker nearly killed.

R5T11: Ten feet from Sheel stands a true terror, the tribal chieftain who killed Hacker and Ishirou. His two late allies were peerless warriors, and the halfling has no illusions in thinking he can go toe-to-toe with him. But just this once .... He steps forward and to his right and defensively casts a spell at PB range with Klorak and the other in front of him. A rolling sheet of fire waves out from Sheel's fingertips to hit Klorak, the lone javelineer, and several of the barbarians on the ground. Klorak's reflexes drop it to 2 fire, to which he simply smiles; the other takes 4 fire. The other barbarians take 5 fire. Sheel then steels himself for his possible end, knowing that while he dropped no one, his ability to wither pain over several may have been worthwhile.

R5T10.8: Sheel blocks his main opponent. Meanwhile, the de-loined one tries to charge down the path but simply gets tripped up in his own ankle-coverings and falls prone.

R5T10: The two female consorts rage. Lalarlia blocks hers well. The other charges in to get to Erin and hacks her in the R upper arm for 8, and she gives a cry of pain. "Sister, I could use some help! I am getting faint."

R5T9: Malikadna babbles and nods and points to Erin, giving her the evil eye. But Erin saw this in action, and her bloodline is all about befuddlement and confusion anyway, and she suffers a loss to her defensive posturing as well, but only temporarily.

End Round 5 ...

An overwhelming success for the party this round, with many enemies incapacitated and with an overall good wound count, and though he is truly in trouble, Sheel got in first blood (albeit cauterized) on the chieftain.

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 6 ...

R6T24: Klorian steps forth and in a wild fury cuts forth with his scimitar, but Sheel sidesteps and then blocks a bite from the man's teeth, which are sharpened to points.

R6T22: Stephan himself wheels around 5' in response to Sheel, putting the other cannibal at a flank and hits him for 11, disabling him.

R6T21: Gelik casts CLW on himself for 7, while continuing to make fun of the enemy (especially his own). He then moves full speed, and he is fast for a gnome (25') to the rear of the party.

R6T20: Jask surveys the battlefield, and through careful insight into his mantras casts ray of frost at the disabled barbarian fighting Sheel and Stephan. The man gets hit in the neck for merely 1 cold, but it is enough to drop him.

R6T16: Pezock steps behind Lalarlia again and FDs low to lop off the women's right foot. She drops with severe bleeding from the jagged wound.

R6T15: Erin reaches out to touch her opponent FD, but misses. A look of panic begins to cross her face.

R6T14: Aron touches her sister with a CLW, but perhaps the sun of the day throws off her moontime strength, and it is only 3.

R6T12: With the field nearly clear of the lesser enemy, it is an easy task for Lalarlia to safely skirt around to almost flank with Erin. This time, Lalarlia does not hold back, and stabs the woman in the R hand for 8.

R6T11: Sheel is not clever, but he is wise and cunning. He steps to the side, more outward of the combat and just out of reach of the chief. Defensively, he throws a ray of fire that misses.

R6T10.8: The barbarian Gelik humiliated writhes around and kicks off his cloths, and then stands.

R6T10: The lone consort, bleeding, sees the blood and swings wildly. The broken scimitar, on the recovery, becomes hooked and caught on her clothing and she is entangled.

R6T9: No longer babbling, Malikadna now casts a spell at the dangerous bird-man. Pezock falls prone in fits of raucous and cawing laughter.

End Round 6 ...

The avalanche has finally worked! All but two normal clansman (1 man, 1 woman) still stand, though Pezock is taken out of the running for now.

[lostsole31]

Erin shakes off the effects of the evil eye.

Begin Round 7 ...

R7T24: Klorian swings wildly on an overhand chop and digs his sword into the ground in Sheel's square.

R7T22: Stephan tears down the road, charging the lone barbarian so the latter does not close on Gelik. Steph hits him along the side of the head for 12.

R7T21: Gelik makes fun of the poor guy, and shoots at him with a fire ray but misses.

R7T20: Jask is now free to move and he gets almost beneath the flying witch and his dagger goes spinning up to her, misses, and then returns to his hand.

R7T15: Erin makes a full attack on the woman to stab her in the back for 10 while she's focused on her own entangled predicament.

R7T14: Aron casts another healing spell on her sister, and again it is meager at 4.

"I'm sorry, sister," she says. "But with the moon at rest, my powers are weaker. I'm out, everyone. I have little more from the portents than the basic."

Her sanctuary fades out, and that does not go unnoticed by Malikadna.

R7T12: Lalarlia turns and lays hands on Erin, quietly saying a prayer to her goddess, and healing her of 3.

"It would seem," she says, "that I have a choice to be the heavily-armored fighter, or the healer."

"I still have a spell or two," answers Gelik, "and the pressure is no longer on me."

R7T11: Sheel reaches down to grab Klorak's scimitar (who in turn snaps at him), and he then tosses the blade over to Lalarlia.

"It's not broken like the other tribesmen. In fact, it is in really good quality and well made."

R7T10.8: The last non-exceptional barbarian standing, even in a rage, is in desperation as Stephan batters about his blade.

R7T9: The witch ignores Jask's silly attack and instead attempts to give Sheel the evil eye, who in turn is partly affected.

End Round 7 ...

The barbarians are all but decimated, but hero-healing is getting low. The best thing to happen, however, is Klorak losing his main weapon ...

[lostsole31]

At the end of the round, two of the color-sprayed barbarians awaken and reach around for their weapons. They find them, but the men appear to be stunned and unable to see.

Begin Round 8 ...

R8T24: Klorak again goes full bore on Sheel, but without his sword one notices that his nails are hardened to points as well. Still, it is a strange thing to see natural weapons vs. an unarmed fighter. A set of nails slashes along Sheel's left lower arm for 10, disabling him.

R8T22: Stephan drops the one back on the trail. He then puts his sword away.

R8T21: Gelik points out the barbarian's waking at the pit, continues his comical tirade, and then casts CLW on Erin for 4. He looks to Aron. "It's obviously just her."

R8T20: Jask bravely steps forth to get the sleeping and addle-brained barbarians all in AoE and lights them up with burning hands to varying effect.

R8T15: Erin, heartened, moves up behind Klorak and defensively stabs him along the back of the ear for 8. Another barbarian in the center of camp begins to stir, likewise debilitated.

R8T14: Aron takes out a wand and uses it on herself, invoking a series of 3 mirror images.

R8T12: Lalarlia sheathes her short sword, steps over, and picks up Klorak's scimitar, and to him pronounces, "The weapon of my people is a better one than this, fiend. Yet, for all the souls you have slain and their corpses devoured like ghouls, it shall be the instrument of your destruction!!"

Lalarlia then begins to glow with holy light as she no doubt invoked a smite against the tribal chieftain.

R8T11: Sheel backs up, takes out a flask and downs it, getting 9.

R8T9: Malikadna gives Lalarlia the stink-eye, and it seems to be particularly effective against the Calistrian, a power that seems to negate the holy protection Lalarlia received.

End Round 8 ...

Uh-oh, "reinforcements" a la waking barbarians is on the way ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 9 ...

R9T24: Using the blood from Sheel that is pooled on his hands and claws, Klorak wipes and smears it all over his face and chest, rolling his eyes and howling maniacally as he does so.

R9T22: Stephan unslings his bow and moves past the main party. He points to the flying fiend-witch and is limned again. The bow sends an arrow streaking forth to hit the witch in the L elbow for 25. She shrieks in pain and anguish.

R9T21: Gelik continues to joke about, but he moves to the center of camp and acid bolts a KO'd consort in the skull at point blank range for 6 acid, possibly killing her. "Worse than them waking, is if they win and procreate again!"

R9T20: Jask tries to magically send his dagger up again. It seems like it should have penetrated, and yet she is unharmed.

R9T15: Erin sees what Gelik is up to and ruefully nods her head. She withdraws away from Klorak to the center of camp. Meanwhile, one of the barbarians there seems to have just gained his wits.

R9T14: "She's a half-fiend, Jask," admits Aron. "I think that Stephan is going to be the only one that can bring her out of the sky, and I enchanted his quiver so he uses naught but one of his arrows."

She charges forth to fall onto the other woman, stabbing her with her short sword for 7.

R9T12: She might be filled with righteous anger, but she is no idiot. Hopefully, Stephan will finish off the half-fiend witch and help her out, and she continues to fight defensively. Doing so causes a back and forth.

R9T11: Sheel moves in to trip him, but the man is too intimidating to really close on.

R9T10.9: He sees the bodies all around him, howls, and charges Erin, stabbing her in the gut for 11. Erin reels and pulls herself off of the blade.

R9T9: Malikadna, shocked by the man's power, casts a spell at the black mute. And then, the unthinkable happens. Stephan drops his big bow, begins laughing and hooting and hollering, and finally drops to the ground, rolling around and practically crying from guffaws.

End Round 9 ...

Stephan's out, Pezock's out, Erin's on the ropes ... this combat has suddenly taken a turn for the worst.

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 10 ...

R10T24: Klorak is consumed by the taste of Sheel's blood, despite the holy warrior on the other side of him with his scimitar. Sheel makes a brilliant deflection of one claw, but then Klorian's hand digs deep into the poor halfling's R shoulder with a crit for 16. Sheel goes limp, held up by the claws, and Klorak bites into him for 5, dropping him while a huge hunk is torn out of Sheel's neck. Blood pours out of the chieftain's mouth as he swallows most but much goes slobbering down his front.

R10T22: Stephan gathers his willpower and breaks the spell, though he is still prone.

R10T21: Gelik finds it very hard to maintain any composure, but keeps his performance up, anyway. He trots up to the side of Erin, concentrates and casts CLW on her for 9. "That's better. It's about time you cooperated."

R10T20: Realizing there is nothing he can do against the witch, Jask double moves around to the back of the barbarian to give Erin flanking.

R10T15: Erin nods to both. She doesn't mess around with footwork, but still trades metal with the man.

R10T14: Aron casts the same spell at the witch, but this time Malikadna is ready for that type of spell and resists it.

"I'm out. No more healing from me."

R10T12: Lalarlia grits her teeth. This is what she was trained to do, and she would avenge the brave halfling's death ... carefully. The sword catches along his R hand for 9.

R10T10.9: Erin's opponent misses.

R10T9: Malikadna flies down next to Stephan, pulling out a wand as she does. She can't quite get him. He might be prone, but he's squirrely and she is not for physical combat, being as weak as Jask.

End Round 10 ...

Stephan and Pezock are back, but the party has suffered the first major casualty ... Sheel is dead.

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 11 ...

R11T24: To Lalarlia's horror, Klorak crouches and begins to lap up Sheel's blood and smears even more over his face and chest. The foolish maneuver opens him up to a strike from her. She cuts deeply into his L foot for 12 (max) damage.

R11T22: Stephan stands with a look of true wrath, easily pushing a quarterstaff swing away. He gets out his sword again.

R11T21: Gelik continues performance, steps to Erin's rear quarter, and casts CLW on her again fo 4.

R11T20: Jask uses the same attack on a stunned barbarian, but even stunned and blinded the man's animal senses allow him to just duck out of the way.

R11T16: Pezock moves up to one of the standing blinded/stunned barbarians. Though a terrible swing, he has to be blind himself to miss this guy, and he fells him handily.

R11T15: Again, Erin is giving all she has, stabbing him in the upper L intercostals for 7, not enough to drop the man. Meanwhile, the last one standing to have been affected by her earlier spell is now only stunned, not blind.

R11T14: She was trained by the Pathfinders to have some skill in combat, if not a lot. Aron takes out her short sword while double moving around to flank with Lalarlia ...

R11T12: Lalarlia's smite connects on a back cut on his L calf for 9.

R11T10.9: Erin gets "grazed" along her L shoulder for 6.

R11T19: The fiendish witch knows better than to try to frighten a paladin. She tries to get him again with her wand, but his excellent defenses and the holy shield hold her at bay.

End Round 11 ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 12 ...

R12T24: Despite the pounding he is receiving from the elven paladin, the chieftain turns his attentions to the half-elf behind him. One claw misses completely, while a claw and a bite hit .... nothing as 2 images wink out, leaving one remaining.

R12T22: Stephan cuts down and the witch holds up her left arm to try an protect her ... but gets cracked for 23 for her trouble! She looks like she is about to fall, her arm obviously broken.

R12T21: Gelik continues his performance. He steps back and shoots a cold bolt at the stunned barbarian but misses. He curses under his breath.

R12T20: Jask does the dagger throw-return ability to the same ... missing.

R12T16: Pezock charges that man, hacking down on the R shoulder for 13 and dropping him.

R12T15: The swordfight continues, and with Jask where he is, she practically hugs the barbarian, stabbing him in the back in a lung for 10, and he slumps.

R12T14: In an excellent tactical position to help Lalarlia continue fighting defensively, Aron continues to see to her own defense by using her sword and shield to parry anything coming her way.

R12T12: This makes Lalarlia feel a lot better, as she was worried for Aron, but sees her strategy. The wild movements and clacking of heavy shield protect her target, however.

R12T9: For all of her cunning, insight, and infernal intellect, for all of the options available to her, standing toe-to-toe because of her hatred is all the witch dares. She calls on her hatred and curse and likewise dark energy surrounds her. Her smite, despite using a wand, still doesn't work though she now does have some protection.

End Round 12 ...

Barring some truely horrible turn of events, this battle is over ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 13 ...

R13T24: For whatever reason, Klorak is still fixated on attacking Aron. Despite the final image, the chief swings wildly with a claw, but his second actually finds her L upper arm with a graze for 9, which is a terrible wound ne'ertheless. His bite doesn't hit the image either, but he chews on her shield trying to get through.

R13T22: The battle between the paragons of LG and CE continue and Stephan is victorious when he cuts her open at the belly for 19.

R13T21: Gelik continues his performance. Feeling that this battle is o-v-e-r but formalities. He taunts the chieftain and casts a spell, and it seems that the chief reacts to a sting at his L upper arm.

R13T20: Jask looks to Erin and casts CLW for 8. "Okay, I admit it. I still had one left for me."

R13T16: Pezock double moves to get around Lalarlia, out of reach of the chieftain, and then stepping up to him.

R13T15: Erin grins and nods. She takes out her magic dagger as she moves in, and strikes with that instead of her sword, but even that is blocked by his claws.

R13T14: Aron continues to menace with her sword and shield, but does nothing more beyond defense.

R13T12: The man is not to be underestimated in his defense, and Lalarlia fails to get through.

End Round 13 ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 14 ...

R14T24: The chief still focuses on the parrying woman. A claw bounces off her shield, the bite gets rid of her last image, and a claw for 10, dropping her.

R14T22: To ensure the threat of her evil is gone forever, Stephan (who doesn't quite have the vantage point of the combat and can't see that Aron has fallen) beheads the half-fiend witch.

R14T21: Okay, perhaps the battle isn't as in hand as Gelik had hoped. He shoots a fire bolt at the chief but misses because of the others.

R14T20: Jask rushes to her side, and opens himself up to a blow from the chieftain to save the oracle's life. He gets hit in the gut for 9. Still, his first aid staunches Aron's bleeding and saves her life.

R14T16: Pezock cuts along Klorak's gut for 10.

R14T15: And from the other side, Erin. Failed hit.

R14T12: A beautiful side-crit by Lalarlia for 16.

End Round 14 ...

[lostsole31]

Begin Round 15 ...

R15T24: And now, to everyone's horror, the chief goes to conduct the same blood ritual on the fallen Aronnahar, even with everyone else threatening around him. Doing so gives everyone an opening. Lalarlia hits for 6, Pezock pecks at him for 1, and Erin stabs with the magic dagger for 8. It isn't enough to bring him down. He tears his claw just above her left breast and digs in and across, cutting through it and her bones and lungs and heart, killing her instantly. Again, he splashes her gore across himself and practically dances and howls euphorically.

Erin screams in shock, and the others gasp in horror.

R15T22: Stephan comes to the fight to stand toe-toe-toe with Lalarlia and challenges a smite on him, but it is strangely weaker than the other two. He cuts deep into the savage's L upper arm for 19. It finally looks like the impossibly tough chieftain might fall.

R15T21: Continuing his performance, Gelik shoots a cold bolt that misses.

R15T20: Jask steps back 5' and shoots a ray of frost in the belly for 2.

R15T16: Pezock pecks him in the right foot for 3.

R15T15: Erin stabs him in the belly with the dagger as he slides down to his knees. She slits his throat and pushes him face down into the dirt.

Combat Over ...

[lostsole31]

The battle is won, and all wars have casualties. The tribe is decimated, though the heroes have lost Sheel and Aronnahar "Aron" Zyanthius. They will find little of Ishirous beyond his sword. Hacker's body is mostly butchered (and was done in front of Ankarum to instill fear in him, before he was KO'd again), but Ankarum will be freed after he is healed. All of the fallen barbarians are put to the sword, just in case.

The difficult matter of the scroll and who gets it is brought up by Jask. The decision will come down to the halfling or the half-elf for the scroll of raise dead.
* Aron was Erin's sister, and the halfling was a little too rigid (and dull) for her liking.
* Gelik appreciates Aron's refined upbringing and she is a fellow Pathfinder.
* Jask was closer in nature to Sheel as both an evoker and a disciplined man, but he recognizes the tactical necessity for one of Aron's mysterious powers ... and Nethys would be happy with either. The woman also had an impressive body of lore, and Sheel was kind of a dunce.
* Aron was Lalarlia's friend, and the latter never really had much connection with the halfling.
* Pezock liked the pretty lady, and she sang pretty songs.
* Stephan doesn't say anything.

Other than Stephan's abstain, it is unanimously decided that the scroll will be used for Aron for both personal and survival reasons.

Lalarlia brings everyone to the prison pen so Ankarum's comatose form can receive healing. She channels healing thrice to bring everyone (except Ankarum) up to full. Ankarum is still unconscious, but no longer comatose or in the negatives. Lalarlia channels, prays, and lays on hands with everything she has, and Ankarum is only at about half. This is understood not to be a negative reflection on the elven cleric's powers so much as the incredible hardiness of the Shoanti man who suffered so greatly, fought so bravely, and is so favored by the gods to somehow be alive. Finally, with a couple of Stephan's own healing hands, all of the wounds on Ankarum still disappear, and yet he seems to have fitful dreams. He is brought out of the pit and set on a comfortable bit of the jungle bed off of the trail.

Aronnahar is brought to a spot where the scroll can be read. It is a difficult thing to admit, but Lalarlia will acquiesce to Jask. She recognizes that the Garundi man has a greater insight and connection to his god than herself; and as a priest of Nethys he is closer in philosophical tenor. He casts read magic to verify the incantations and to guide him. He attempts the read, but fails for the magic is too great for him. So, it falls to Lalarlia, who had already previously read it. However, not only is the magic too great, but she lacks the insight for such a powerful mystery. Erin doesn't have the ability read magic, and with intuitive sorcery never reallly studied spell mechanics. Gelik keeps trying to decipher it, but it is beyond him. Finally, it comes full circle to Jask, the only one to have a real chance at deciphering the scroll; and finally, the spell works and life is breathed into Aron yet again.

Aronnahar's return is marked by a great weakness, however, and her body is now only as healthy as any other sedentary mortal. Stephan lays healing into her to heal her fully. The barbarian bodies are stripped of gear and their bodies are thrown off the side of the cliff without ceremony. For their sin of eating the unfortunate that came to them from the cruelty of the sea, the barbarians are tossed in to be fed to the mindless hunger of sea creatures.

For now, though, the spell-depleted and battered party carry Ankarum back on a litter to Aycelia's tree. The dryad is saddened that two of the brave heroes had died, and that Aron's recovery occurred at great cost. But you still revived her, saved another from the dining table, and vanquished the tribe of cannibals. She forever holds you in her debt. But for now, the party needs to rest, and she will keep guard.

[lostsole31]

DAY 72

The following day, Erin and Lalarlia discover new mysteries and have developed skills from their ordeals! A ding is heard over their heads!

Despite her loss yesterday, a sort-of-ding is heard over Aron's as her meditations bring her back to her previous skill. What she will never shake, however, is the frailty she suffered due to her brief death.

Ankarum, all that you dreamed (in your AOL message) was just that .... a horrible, vivid dream. Whether or not there is anything to this is unknown. However, you were revived long enough to see them fully butcher Ishirou and for the tribe to eat him with you screaming in the background. The next day (after you were beaten near to death again), you see the butchery process begin for Hacker before you are KO'd and put into a coma again.

You awaken in Aycenia the druid's hilltop underneath the great tree. You are fully healed, though probably quite sore.

[Blackhawk101]

Ow....sssss... Head is sore. Everything sore. Where is Ankarum?

He struggles to his feet and looks around, trying to understand what's going on and the reality of what happened. Traumatic stress symptoms is not out of the question but Ankarum's up bringing was not far removed from these cannibals and he understands their brutal natures.

[lostsole31]

"Welcome back to the world, Ankarum" Lalarlia lauds, slapping your back and shaking your hand, leaning in for a bro-hug.

"We lost Sheel," says Jask ruefully. "He gave his life in the battle against the Thrunefang. Aronnahar here fell as well, but for various reasons we unanimously agreed that she should be given the boon of the powerful scroll that brought her back to life. But that short fall to death has weakened her."

Pezock croaks, "*Caw* ... We expected blood on both sides, didn't we? Somehow, though, we pulled *caw* through. All of the Thrunefang are dead that we know of, including the flying scaly woman and the chieftain."

The sisters likewise give you hugs, a sign that the group is finally getting closer in many ways.

Gelik looks up at you. "Yeah, well, you're still too damn tall."

[Blackhawk101]

Ankarum grins like a boy and hugs in return, lifting the girls and spinning them around. His touch lingers on Erin's arm after they exchange hugs.
We don't mourn our friends but celibate lives lived full and well! We have vanquished our enemies and rid this island of their evil. Today is great day!
When is lunch?!

[lostsole31]

Aron answers, "The protection, bounty, and even climate are generous, or in the last at least tolerable so as not to be a problem, that Aycenia and her hill provide."

"I couldn't help notice," caws Pezock, "but in freeing you from the pens there was a spot in front of the door to the lighthouse that had a lot of boards over it, like some sort of pit. We need to finish whatever rites you have for your friends, and then, well .... loot."

Lots of head wagging on that point.

"We probably want to clear the rest of the barbarian's village and search everything to make sure," says Erin. "Go through looking for magic. My sister has a spell that can sift through the magical emanations of an area quickly, while maybe Lalarlia can do a more dedicated check. She's already proven her elven heritage with knowledge of magical auras. Find anything else of value as well. Load everything up, and bring it here. I know that it's possible upon being rescued that we'll have to deal with hauling it from here, but Aycenia's hill is safe from any pirates that might land and steal our spoils at the camp. Still, I hold out hope that we will be rescued in due time."

Jask shakes his head, "Hope as you will, but we need to be as proactive as possible. When you first found me, I figured it was just as good for me to die here since I was disgraced. But you found the journals that will exonerate me and prove the corruption I found. Now I can't just sit around waiting for the maybes .... because if you've noticed, we've don a perimeter of the entire Shiv, as well as looked afar from atop of Red Mountain .... and there are a whole lot of shipwrecks in the water and decimated survivor shacks on the beaches that say that a seaward approach will not be easy. I would actually like to look at that lighthouse, and maybe we can see how far along the Chelaxians were."

"We have destroyed the fungus god and rid the silent island of the infestation," Lalarlia adds. "we have destroyed the cannibal tribes so at least any other shipwreck survivors might live. There is something we haven't uncovered and that is, well, let Aycenia telll you ..."

The dryad looks to the party. She reminds you of what she said when she first met you, "Though I am a newcomer to this island, I can feel through my tree's roots that there are even more ancient secrets and creatures that lie under the soil of this land, but I do not know what or where these areas are.

"I can also point you in the direction of the Tide Stone if you seek the strange dark creature of the night; I know it is a cruel and ravenous blood-drinker, but I don't know what it is or what it can do other than fly and that as a lone predator it is unmatched. Only the cannibals in their strength could keep it at bay, which is one reason the savages didn't hunt at night. Now that the standoff has ended, it is the apex predator; but either it has animal instincts and knows something powerful has destroyed its competition, or it is intelligent and can do even more problem-solving. That means either a standoff, or a more desperate series of night attacks to attempt to gain final dominance of its territory."

"Uhhh, yeahhhhh," says Gelik slowly. "So our choices are to stay here, which doesn't suit me at all; go head to head with a dangerous, flying, blood-drinker; or, explore the pit after looking at the barbarian camp to whatever gods-forsaken ancient evils are below. I personally am all for doing everything I can to see if there is anything left with which to finish or fix the light house; my understanding is that the Sargavans didn't really have long to go. Pezock is a decent engineer, and while I have no formal training, I've picked up here and there that I might be some help. Just sayin'."

[Blackhawk101]

Ankarum says that we search the village for weapons and magic to increase our strength. Then we can see about lighthouse. After that ...if the chubacabbra wants Ankarum's blood, he better bring big cup! Where are my spears?

[lostsole31]

"We didn''t take the time to flush out the rest of the village to find things, but I'm sure we'll find them just fine," reassures Erin.

"The decision has been made," Jask tells Ankarum, "for her bravery and continued facing down of the chieftain, the weapon she used on him - his own weapon, which happens to be a magical scimitar - she may keep."

The party makes its way back to the village. There is a fenced in area that is just outside of where any of the party would've been seen unless they headed to the more western part of the firepit. It isn't much of a surprise. Four skeletons rattle a pen of wood and bamboo, raising a hell of a ruckus by slamming the pen and their armor with their own broken scimitars. Ankarum notes these skeletons actually have chain shirts - albeit these chain shirts are rusted and in disrepair - and he recognizes the style of weapon and armor to have been that of desert warriors from the far side of the continent where you were (albeit you having actually living on Mediogalti, an island just off the western side of Garund).

Lalarlia stalks to an area 20' from the pens, and prays to Calistria, to end the existence of these poor creatures who will no longer enjoy physical pleasure.

Spoiler: Done and Done

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Skeleton #1: No save. 4 positive energy damage.
Skeleton #2: Blasted away.
Skeleton #3: Blasted away.
Skeleton #4: No save. 6 PE.

R1T24: Pezock readies a charge if the skeletons get over the pen.

R1T23.5: Erin moves in to a range of 10' of the pen with two daggers drawn. Ankarum didn't even see that she had them in her hands already.

R1T23: The first skeleton climbs 5' up the pen, having some trouble on the second try.

R1T22: Aron moves to within 30' of the pen, and then her beautiful is heard to hearten everyone against the evil that remains.

R1T21: Stephan likewise stalks up to the fence and bares his Iomedaen tattoo. The climbing skeleton is blasted away, but surprisingly, the last one still has just a bare amount of unlife in it.

R1T20: Jask, seeing this battle is over before it really began, conserves his magic.

R1T19: Another burst of energy from Lalarlia, and the task is in fact done.

Lalarlia goes into a euphoric dance, a mix of celebration and faith. After about 20 seconds, she finally stops to look at the stunned party. "Did you not see? Calistria has truly blessed me for my faith in killing the cannibals! My ability to send out her message of freedom to souls bound in undead form has doubled; and, no doubt that goes the same when I use the same ability as a balm for the rest of us.

Indeed, it was very readily obvious just how much more powerful her use of this ability was then when she fought those lacedon in the treasure pit some time ago. Aronnahar, shifts out of a "bardic performance," but still sings of song of joy and congratulations in Lalarlia's honor.

The pen has two two points of ingress/egress. The first is facing the firepit, the second is to the south. The party moves to the sout on a trail that winds to the west (after 35'), and another 15' to a hut.

Erin now takes up the task - and perhaps a sad reminder of Hacker's death - of security. She checks out the entrance to make sure there are no booby traps. It is obvious that this hut is that of the helish witch. The first room inside is obviously a workshop. Ankarum has no knowledge of such things, though he saw similar things in his shaman's tent. Surprisingly, Gelik is so uppity that he doesn't recognize the trade so often associated with his race, but everyone else recognizes that this is obviously an alchemical workshop, though obviously in the form of one who is more savage and not the modern kind with glass beakers and graduated cylinders and such things. There are all manner of foul-smelling alchemical mixtures, mediciines, balms, meals, and potions. A search of the area turns up three tanglefoot bags, a thunderstone, and another eight vials that Lalarlia easily recognizes as six vials of cure light wounds, and another two vials that Lalarlia calls lesser restoration. Lalaria explains the latter ... in small words if necessary to Ankarum.

Another door leads to a filthy chamber decorated with hundreds of tiny bones and feathers hanging from twine. The place smells hideous - a combination of body odor, bitter alchemical waste, and monkey. [EDITOR: Though no monkey was ever noticed, she had one as a familiar. Upon death, it raced into the wild.] Nothing of value in here.

Back to the center of camp. A lone building faces the firepit. This hut is used to store tools, food (including a month's worth of what is likely dried human jerky), drinking water, and that which was taken from fallen fellow survivors.
Ankarum will find his shortspear, throwing axe, shield, equipment, and the pouch with 33 gold that he had earned.

Spoiler: Dead Party Members' Gear

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Armor: studded leather (mwk); chain shirt (2); composite longbow (no STR bonus); studded leather.
* Ammunition: Arrows (20).
Weapons: katana (mwk); rapier (mwk); dagger; kukri; short sword (2).

Currency: (including that found in the pocketed scarf) ... 1 pp, 88 gp, 9 sp, 10 cp
Jewelry: Red pearl amulet.
Gems: 10 gp gem (2)

Specialized Gear: pocketed scarf; thieves tools (mwk); treasure maps (that found the party treasure).
* Partially completed written work Aerys Mavato was working on, called the Abendego Cantos.
Mundane: Ink & quills; large belt pouch; rope (50' hemp); tricorne hat.

The party has already seen the butchery, prison pen, and refuse pit. What they haven't seen is the half-butchered body of Hacker Paschorr.

The party also saw the guard post between the firepit and leading up to the lighthouse. The other building is the communal living space and guardpost overlooking the sea (from which clambered down the guards in the great battle). Nothing exceptional or of note here. The various javelins and such are collected from the fallen tribesmen.

The fiendish witch's things are a quarterstaff and her magic wand. Jask will take the quarterstaff, albeit incredibly mundane and easily gotten from the jungle, as a sign of Nethys' magic overcoming the darker ones used by the witch. Gelik can't read the aura beyond that of faint necromancy, but Lalarlia easily sees it for what it is. The discussion really is over Ankarum's head, but boils down to the wielder being able to touch an opponent to harm them, while healing the wielder of their own wounds. The Nehtysian priest would know how to use it easily for it is wizardry, as would Erin for its sorcery. Gelik claims that as a Pathfinder he is pretty good at intuitively bringing out the magic in items that he otherwise wouldn't know how to use as a bard, but in the end it will go to Jask. Erin has enough weaponry, and Gelik's arcane bolts are unlimited. Jask, on the other hand, only has the power to cast a few evocation spells before has no magic remaining except for some prayers.

The chieftain, in addition to the magical scimitar Lalarlia now wields, had a heavy wooden shield (which was shucked mid-battle to use claws), 5 javelins, but his red pearl amulet is immensely bigger and more valuable than the others. Though it is harder to tell with the smaller red pearl amulets from the rank and file Thrunefang (valued at roughly 20-30 gp), Erin is confident that the chieftain's amulet is worth around 500 gp!

The lighthouse ...

That first floor is the lighthouse foyer. A door to the west leads to a guest room. This room, once seemingly used for storage, was converted into a guest room that contains a crude (but comfortable) bed made of driftwood and a homemade feather mattress, along with the remains of several meals - many of which are recognizable as rations taken from the Jenivere.

The second floor of the lighthouse is nothing more (though 25' x 15' at its largest part on this curve with a flat southern wall) than one big room. This cluttered room has been decorated with all manner of relics and remnants taken from the wreck of the Thrune's Fang, including its Asmodeus-shaped figurehead, which looms to the north as the centerpiece of this temple-like area. The room functions as a shrine to the Thrunefangs' history. An investigation of the fantastic amount of clutter here and Aron and Jask are enough to confirm that the items here date from the earliest days of the House of Thrune's rule over Cheliax, and were likely taken from one of several ships that sailed south to Sargava over 70 years ago in the failed attempt to reestablish control over the wayward colony.

The third level is the chieftain's den where Hacker made such a great showing before he had to withdraw (and then was killed, falling down the stairs around the curve to the bottom to land at Ein's feet). This is also where his consorts stayed. The chamber is decorated with furniture taken from the Thune's Fang, most of which is in relatively poor shape. A dented footlocker against the east wall contains the 70-year-old payroll from the ship - treasure kept more out of nostalgia by the cannibals than anything else. The chest contains several rotted bags, along with .... and it takes some time to count, 4200 silver pieces and 180 gold pieces!

On the side of the lighthouse outside the den, built onto the side and supported by a tangled mess of driftwood and bamboo scaffolding, is a balcony. Although it looks rickety, the balcony is quite stable. It's a 20-foot drop to the ground below.

Finally, the very top of the lighthouse, which isn't quite finished - it appears the colonists abandoned the project only a few days before they would have completed construction. Pezock lets you know that the massive bronze reflector and other machinery here could be restored to functionality within a fortnight of work. If that is true, the party could efficiently signal the shipping lanes to the southeast!!!

Lastly, just outside of the lighthouse is a series of planks and boards covering a pit. Removing the planks, there is a shaft that leads down 20' before it seems to open out to a cavern that must be about 10' below that point. A stone is light-ed and dropped down. It would be a very difficult scale to get down there without the aid of a rope, as with any spelunking wall, and of course it would be a straight 10' drop down from there.

Lalarlia will take the remains of the four skeletons (dust and bone fragments, lay out the broken chain shirts and set the broken scimitars and arms across the chest in a symbol of repose. Not much there but the shirt and weapons, but it is a sign of respect and she spends a little time to pray for the souls of those who were mistreated by the witch-fiend.

Spoiler: OVERALL HAUL

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Potions: CLW (6); lesser restoration (2).
Wand: Vampiric touch (7 charges).
Wondrous Item: Bracers of armor +1.

Armor: Shield, heavy wooden; shields, light wooden (16). Studded leather (mwk); chain shirt (2); composite longbow (no STR bonus); studded leather.
* Ammunition: Arrows (20).
Weapons: Javelins (40); katana (mwk); rapier (mwk); dagger; kukri; short sword (2).

Broken Weapons: Scimitar (4).
Broken Armor: Chain shirt (4).

Jewelry: Chieftain's red pearl amulet (500 gp). Thrunefang ed pearl amulets (17, roughly 20-30 gp).
Currency: 1 pp, 248 gp, 4209 sp, 10 cp.

Alchemical Items: Antitoxins (3); Smokesticks (2); Tanglefoot Bags (3); Thunderstone.
Specialized Gear: pocketed scarf; thieves tools (mwk); treasure maps (that found the party treasure).
* Partially completed written work Aerys Mavato was working on, called the Abendego Cantos.
Mundane: Ink & quills; large belt pouch; rope (50' hemp); tricorne hat.

The party needs to get back to the Tree, for it hais a long day. Sheel's body will be taken back to Aycelia's tree for burial, as an honored dead over which the great tree will protect. He will be buried with his sling and shuriken, though his magical bracers will go back to the group. His money, likewise, is given over to the group. The same treatment will be given to Hacker's body.

The haul will be taken back, though the clean water is too heavy - especially with everything else going back on various litters.

[lostsole31]

In the evening, for it is very late now, the discussion of repair of the lighthouse and/or exploration of the cave must be made. There is too much tension in the air about the hope of getting rescued to wait until the morning.

Erin: "This is what I've hoped and prayed for. There will always be mysteries in the world to solve, but I've spent two-and-a-half months on this hot, humid, bug-infested, snake-infested, mold-infested, cannibal-infested, shipwreck-surrounded island to give a damn now about what lies below. I want out of here."

Jask: He's torn. On one hand, as a more civilized man and one-time low-ranking city clerk who was chained by the corrupt he sought to expose, he now has the means (thanks to the party) to both clear his name and bring his enemies to justice. His pursuit of knowledge in destructive magics contrasted with his devouring large amounts of lore is, on one hand, a Nethysian aspect of duality, but on the other Jask never really learned evocation so much had an intuitive grasp and studied it because the knowledge of the manipulation of raw energy was its own lore. But also as a cleric of Nethys who has devoted himelf to his god's focus on knowledge, he feels that it might be his fate and even a silent mandate to learn what might be learned. As a middle-aged man, he understands that he might die, but if uses those inks and quills and the back of Aerys' book to pen what he comes across for those that follow in his footsteps, that will be its own form of martyrdom. If it wasn't for that damn pit, though, he'd want to get the hell off the island.

Lalarlia: "I don't know what evils may or may not be down there, though Aycelia did mention that she can feel something ancient beneath her roots. I don't know what that truly means. However, I feel I have a duty to make sure that the rest of us are freed from here - or at least already have that option present - before we even think of what other adventures this dangerous land may hold. No offense, Aycenia. I say we fix the lighthouse if we can, signal for help, and leave. That way, those that don't wish to stay don't feel they need to be put in danger, but it might be that something interesting in one's life that draws you back if you ever feel like adventure again."

Aycenia: "None taken. Yet, you have done so very much for me. I am sure there are dangers in the secrets underground, but I do not know if whatever ancient thing is there - for it obviously has been there far, far longer than I, and likely centuries or more so - and I cannot judge if there is something about which I need be concerned. Again, the chupacabra does not bother me, and since there is no other predator like it on the island, perhaps there are snakes and the flying dimorphodons and lizards enough for it; I am sure there are. If you stay, this hill is ever your respite if you need and you will always have my aid. If you go, you have done great service for me and have earned the leave."

Gelik: "We all know I'm not the bravest one in the bunch, but I don't think any here can doubt that my jokes and taunting the barbarians didn't make each of you giggle and buck you up in the great battle. With the log from the Nightsong, I can probably put myself back in good standing with the Pathfinders ever since I was sold a fake Thassilonian relic and that minor kerfuffle with the Magnimar city guard .... but we won't go into that.

"But right now, we have an incredible opportunity! As long as you protect me and my fellow Pathfinder Aronnahar in the center of the group, and Jask too, I guess, well .... if you can't imagine the lore and riches we might find with an ancient and undiscovered ruin below us with possibly finding some real artifacts to bring home and sell, well no one would take you very seriously after all we've been through - and they'd be right not to!"

Pezock: *CAW!* "Heck, no, I don't want to go jumping down holes. I've been afraid of the cannibals for years, hiding from them and having many close calls. The last thing I want to do is go looking for more enemies. Get me off this rock!!!"

Aron: "I have had visions. We first thought there were ghosts in the surf, but it turns out that there is something natural in the water that glows, and Aycenia here mentions that it is the tiny algae. However, I believe I have caught a brief glimpse of a ghostly humanoid shape thrashing in the water as if drowning, or of a serenly floating humanoid shape trying to beckon me to a watery doom. When I would approach the surf's edge, they would fade out and disappear.

"Many of you may also remember the visions I had that got worse and worse. We figured from my first nightmare that we must have been poisoned by the cook, though you found his body on the wreck. The second was that of a snake that bit our tongues as we tried to drink our soup and the ship was filling with seawater. The last nightmare was that of Alton - the kindly first mate - across from me in a rowboat on the open ocean. He was obviously dead, with the same wounds and stings you described he had when you found his body on the Jenivere, but still he rowed. Eventually, he reaches an island of snakes - this one, obviously. He waited for me to exit the boat, whereupon I stood ankle-deep in snakes, and then he turned around and rowed back out to sea.

"It is more than just cannibals and chupacabra and fungi gods. Several of us are quite knowledgeable in jungle fauna, and the number of snakes on this island is staggering. But that's not the main thing. The restless spirits in the water? The fact that we have come across so many skeletons and zombies, that lacedon in the treasure pit, and even that captain that begged to touch the locket of Aeshimara (sp?)? No, I'm sorry, Aycenia. You do not sense portents like I can, and I assure you that what I have sensed is some evil - subtle though it may be - that curses this land and is outside of nature. If we wish to honor Aycenia's help ... Lalarlia, if you truly believe in freedom and wish to save all of the souls trapped on this island .... we must press forward and see what is to be seen."

Stephan stands and gets behind Aron, putting his hand on her shoulder and glancing about the camp. He nods to her, then the rest of you, then back to her.

As if to underscore all that is being discussed, there is a bolt of lightning that lances to the sky from the southeast, and a rumbling sound like thunder that echoes over the island.

[Blackhawk101]

Ankarum will go with anyone interested in exploring the hole in ground. Others fix lighthouse. Make camp here at magic tree. If ship come, those who want, leave. Those that don't, stay . Simple.
Ankarum doesn't hide from danger, hoping to live longer. That isn't living. The thrill of danger is how you know you are alive.

[lostsole31]

"Dammit, sis," bursts Erin, "now I have to go to make sure you don't get stabbed while you are in some kind of trance. I'll come with..."

Pezock thinks and finally comes out with, "I'll try to see if I can't get that lighthouse working, or at least ready for use."

Everyone hunkers down to sleep. Somewhere in the early morning hours, another bolt of lightning blasts from somewhere to the southwest, lancing into the sky. A few minutes later, as the strange-looking lightning dies down, another thunderous rumble is heard.

Aycenia frowns. "It was bad enough happening last night, but now it has happened this morning. In my many decades here, I've never experienced that phenomena ... let alone twice in one night. There is definitely something changing here on the island."

[Blackhawk101]

Speaking to the group the next morning, Ankarum is increasingly nervous about the dramatic displays occurring on the island.
Ankarum says that we should go up the red mountain to see if we can see where on island is the source of these wrong lightings. We cannot simply ignore this possible threat while we go exploring underground. Maybe faster if I go with one other fast scout to search instead of a larger party.