On the island: Exploring the southern trail

[Argennian]

~ After checking over Ulrich's slightly magical fire-singed condition, Emm turns her full attentions down to the two captive owlets in the wooden birdcage. The one not moving with blood about it's head and neck, unfortunately, looks to have already expired but the other is very much alive and trembling in utter fear and shock of it's most dire circumstances and recent experiences. The druidess engages the somatic and verbal components of her speak with animals spell and casts it upon the live youngling, then engaging it in a tongue incomprehensible to the others around her*...

Further up the z-shaped trail, Lauranna continues to watch and concentrate on her faithful weasel familiar as he finishes his immediate ground scrutinizations and then stands on his hind legs to begin sniffing the island air for clues. The High elf announces that she believes the wand-wielding lieutenant didn't escape by any physical means, but also adds that as long as he's not too powerful a mage, he couldn't have poofed away too far a distance...

Meanwhile, feeling unable to be of any real assistance in the search for their wand-wielding adversary, Bogdan descends the trail, giving Lauranna and Wily, as well as Emm and Ulrich, a wide birth. After he passes the birdcage, Ulrich looks over at Emm, and seeing she's utilizing her druidic magics and appears to have everything well in her nature-friendly hands, follows the big, blood-covered swordsman back down to the cave bluff...

Bog arrives at the glossy, wide-eyed dead body of the heavily hacked upon Karagonian cleric, lying in an ever-growing pool of bloody island dirt. He kneels down and begins to take inventory of his possessions. The Half-orc immediately notes the deceased holy-soldier's semi-compromised mail hauberk and metal shield appear to be of masterwork quality. His footman's mace is also in the same high-quality category, perhaps even better. In addition to his light backpack, he also sports a heavy weapons belt with two large and one small belt pouch and what appears to be a masterwork throwing hammer attached to it. Around his bloody, mutilated neck on a heavy silver chain is what seems to be an large amulet with a black star centered in a grayish background, and on his left wrist, just visible underneath his armored gauntlet is a strange-looking silver and gold woven bracelet.

With the quick visual inventory completed, Bog then gets to his armored feet and heads back to the cave. Foregoing the chance that he'll make himself and the big fighter a twofer target, Ulrich steps up to him just in front of the entrance and casts a cure light wounds spell on him (+1hp). Feeling or perhaps sensing that the spell didn't have as good a result as he'd hoped, the dwarf follows him inside the cave and casts another one on him immediately afterward (+1hp). Although the magics work and do improve Bog's condition, they seem to fall short of the cleric's expectations and he hangs his slightly-singed, armored head in apparent disapproval. Whilst Bogdan begins to assess the transportability of the two large, bulging sacks containing the most impressive and certainly valuable treasure hoard, Ulrich steps over their still knocked-unconscious, disfigured soldier prisoner and moves deeper into the cave, all the way back to the natural cavern, to pray and meditate...

After figuring he's strong enough to carry both sacks back to camp, Bog then looks over at the large, white and semi-sparkly egg sitting on the old shipping crate. Although the light of dawn is further encroaching and slightly better illuminating the interior entrance of the cave, the Half-orc notices that the mysterious egg is now moving slightly and giving off a definite infrared signature that it wasn't before...

Back outside the cave on the hillside, Lauranna remains determined to find their disappeared adversary and begins to climb the trail. Wily squeaks and follows behind her, sniffing the ground and air as they go for anything that might be noticeably stronger or perhaps different. The High elf magic-user/thief makes it to the next switchback and ascends the last leg of the trail to the upper area above. When she reaches it, she sees what appears to be another bluff, similar to the one below but maybe half the size with half the trees and vegetation. At the center of the far north side of the bluff, the High-elf can see a rugged, steep and very tight trail that ascends the cliff side up towards the lip of the outer crater. This must be the path the invading soldier contingent took to get access into the crater and areas beyond. To the right of that trail head, lying where the bluff and cliff meet, is the body of the giant owl. What remains of its feathers are all badly burned, and just as Caelvanna described, it appears it's been cut and hacked upon postmortem. Caelvanna is on the far western side of the bluff with her bow and a readied arrow to hand. She nods to Lauranna when she and her weasel familiar arrive but then goes back to scanning the hillside and surrounding cliffs with sharp Wild elf eyes...

Below the Wild-elf, High-elf and weasel trio, Cutler finishes gathering up Sorel's charred body and his remaining belongings from the blast zone and descends to the trail below. Carrying his longtime Half-elf easterner friend and fellow veteran of the Great War, the grizzled, chewed-on cook makes a right on the worn path and begins heading back down towards the bluff. His bloody, dirty and tear-streaked visage is emotionless, and when he walks by Emm's position, she can smell the badly magically-scorched body of the recently deceased archer specialist. The light of dawn is getting brighter and the golden sun Hazara should be breaching the watery eastern horizon any moment...


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

* ~ PM going out to Rexx for Emm's SWA spell!

OOC: okay gents, we'll say that at least 3 rounds have transpired IG since last action post.

POP: continued PMs going out to Nuke for what Lauranna might be sensing from/through Wily's senses as well!

Spells cast & Bog's HP increase noted; TOD & positioning adjusted!

TOD: @ 7:07am of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

If you have any questions, or need some additional clarification, please let me know!

HPs/Status: Bog 23/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 15/22 ; Cutler ??/?? (hurt badly) , Sorel KIA
WIH (primary/secondary):
Bog – Karagonian masterwork longsword
Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 7)
Emm – spear& shield (same hand) / SC
Lauranna - none / DDDs, short sword & throwing knives
Ulrich – mace & shield / holy symbol & SC
Cutler - Sorel's lifeless body & remaining possessions
Sorel - KIA
(SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: Charm Person or Mammal , Entangle, Speak With Animals
Lauranna: Sleep
Ulrich: Silence, CLW x2
M.O./Location:
Back in the cave: Bogdan & Ulrich
At the 2nd bluff above: Caelvanna , Lauranna & Wily
On the trail at wooden cage: Emm
Just arrived back on bluff with Sorel's body: Cutler

[Nuke66]

Lauranna nods back to her compatriot as she continues up the path, moving along and stalking her prey. She is looking for fresh scent, or if she is lucky, the foe itself

[Alethan]

Bog steps outside the cave and tells Emm about the egg. He leaves the egg in the cave, however, unable to bring himself to pick it up in case it contains something dangerous...

[SocraticLawyer]

Ulrich continues his meditations at the rear of the cave. As he prays to the Dwarf-Father, Ulrich looks about the cave. His eyes fall on the rear wall, that he had inspected, however briefly, before the fight outside.

He continues to pray, asking Moradin to guide the spirit of his Fireballed-friend.

[Argennian]

~ Dawn proper of Day 10 has come as mighty Hazara finally breaks the watery eastern horizon and begins her majestic daily ascent to the semi-cloudy high skies above. There's a slight breeze meandering, and the island fauna begin to slowly wake and ready themselves for the new day...

Up at the higher bluff above, Lauranna continues to follow Wily as Caelvanna keeps her specialized Wild-elf fingers on her bowstring trigger and her sharp, businesslike eyes roving the immediate area for any further signs of the wandy bastard that disappeared. Wily scampers over to where the giant owl's carcass is lying. He moves up to it to take a closer sniff and his olfactory senses are so prolific and encompassing that the magic-user/thief has to stop her concentrations and turn to gulp a few deep breaths of clean island air to rebound from their intensity. Ordinarily, the little weasel might try and sneak a quick little sampler bite of fowl but the smell of a foreign, unnatural chemical is extremely robust and it backs away with a head shake of it's own. Lauranna's little familiar then sniffs the air upwind and turns its attentions to the tight trail ascending the side of the crater. It runs over, sniffs the dirt and looks back at her with a proclamation squeak. It seems he wants to climb the steep, tight trail up towards the crater...

Below them on the hillside, Emm continues her magical conversation with the lone surviving giant owl's young. She struggles with and finally gets the wooden birdcage open, waiting for a moment for the owlet to respond. It finally climbs out in a fury of flapping, droopy wings but looks most unsteady, almost as if it'll keel over at any moment. She holds her shield arm out and the youngling walks up it shakily and falls against her leather armored bosom. A few more nature-spoken words and the druidess casts a cure light wounds spell. When she does, the owlet jumps and lets out a hearty hoot! The curative magic definitely seems to have done the trick and the youngling looks completely revitalized!

Meanwhile, back down on the lower bluff, Bogdan emerges from the cave with his masterwork spears and the two heavy, bulging sacks of most-valuable treasure and calls up to Emm about the egg. It seems he has his hands full with the current load and does not wish to take possession or responsibility for it, now more than ever..

Emm calls back down to him. "Bogdan, we should move fast, before that bastard in black can summon more of his ilk. Can Ulrich tend to the egg? How much more can we carry? Shanny would want to question our prisoner, but if he will slow us," she pauses a moment, the thousand-yard stare returning to her normally mirthful, peaceable eyes, "Kill him."

Not seeing the dwarf emerge from the cave, Cutler carefully lies the wrapped up, burnt body of Sorel down on the bluff a mere ten feet away from where the body of the Karagonian navy cleric lies looking upward through dead, glossy eyes. He nods at the big fighter as he makes to enter the cave, and with no further emotion to his previously compromised voice, offers a few words. "Get them together and ready to move out, Bogdan. I'll retrieve Ulrich and this egg you speak of. I will also take care of the prisoner," he adds drawing one of his wicked-looking daggers and stepping through the entrance...

Away from the others, way back in the large cavern where they found the long dead body and mysterious egg hidden in the pile of bones, Ulrich sits on a rock and looks at the suspicious cave in he discovered previously. He meditates and proffers prayers to Moradin the Dwarf All-Father, seeming unsure and stuck in unbreakable consideration of everything that's transpired. He continues to hope for some divine signals or instructions and offer words of gratuity and benevolence for the spirit of their deceased Half-elf easterner companion, who gave his life bravely for theirs when the battle looked to be going badly...


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

OOC: ok guys, we're finally back in business. I'll send some PMs out later today to Nuke for Wily and to Rexx for the remaining round of her speak with animals spell with the giant owlet.

Spells cast noted; TOD & positioning adjusted!

TOD: @ 7:09am of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

If you have any questions, or need some additional clarification, please let me know!

HPs/Status: Bog 23/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 15/22 ; Cutler ??/?? (hurt badly) , Sorel KIA
WIH (primary/secondary):
Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears
Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 7)
Emm – giant owlet & spear (same hand) / SC
Lauranna - none / DDDs, short sword & throwing knives
Ulrich – mace & shield / holy symbol & SC
Cutler - one of his many daggers
Sorel - KIA
(SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: Charm Person or Mammal , Entangle, Speak With Animals, CLW
Lauranna: Sleep
Ulrich: Silence, CLW x2
M.O./Location:
Just outside the cave entrance: Bogdan
In the back cavern of the cave: Ulrich
At the 2nd bluff above: Caelvanna , Lauranna & Wily
On the trail at wooden cage: Emm
Getting ready to head in the cave: Cutler

[tkrexx]

As Emm communicates with the young owl she makes her way to the cave. She makes an effort to shield the chick from Cutler's final disposition of the captive as she points out the egg and seeks Ulrich. It's obvious to the Dwarven Priest he's being introduced, as the Druid turns to him. I have made it a point to inform our young member that you also have the blessing to speak with her, if the need arises, she speaks in a soft tone, I simply want all bases covered in case I am unavailable for whatever reason. Is this acceptable to you?

[Alethan]

Before leaving the dead dark cleric's body, Bog asks if there is anyone who can check to see if any of his arms or armour is magical. No sense leaving good equipment behind...

[SocraticLawyer]

As Emm communicates with the young owl she makes her way to the cave. She makes an effort to shield the chick from Cutler's final disposition of the captive as she points out the egg and seeks Ulrich. It's obvious to the Dwarven Priest he's being introduced, as the Druid turns to him. I have made it a point to inform our young member that you also have the blessing to speak with her, if the need arises, she speaks in a soft tone, I simply want all bases covered in case I am unavailable for whatever reason. Is this acceptable to you?

Ulrich gives Emm a nod. "Of course," he says, responding also in a soft tone.

OOC: Is Cutler retrieving the egg?

[Argennian]

OOC: Is Cutler retrieving the egg?

OOC: Cutler's never seen it (until just now) but based upon the egg's current conditional status, he likely wouldn't volunteer to do so unless no one else wants to!

[Alethan]

If nobody else wants the job, Bog can drop some of the coin and will, hesitantly, carry the egg. As long as it is in a sack.

He thinks the egg is important enough that it might be useful to someone.

[tkrexx]

Bog asks if there is anyone who can check to see if any of his arms or armour is magical.

The Druid blinks, as if she had not thought of this before, and shakes her head with closed eyes and furrowed brow. No, she answers quietly, frustration bleeding into her voice, I did not place high priority on magical acquisition when asking for my blessings for this mission... Clearly another mistake on my part.

[Argennian]

~ The party continues their respective tasks as the hard, bloody moments of predawn pass into the company annals and mighty Hazara's golden, purifying light eschews forth impatiently from beyond the watery eastern horizon to bathe the island in benignant redemption...

With her precious island cargo rescued and now healed, Emm descends the trail towards the cave. The young but already large owlet lets out another hoot and beats its once again efficacious wings with anxious energy on the way down. Although it seems for a few moments it might take flight, it eventually calms at the druid's magical behest and remains with her. The lithe, barely 100-pound, red-haired woman strains from the nocturnal raptor's already considerable bulk but checks herself, maintains the path, and eventually reaches the small clearing below.

Bogdan is the only one outside the cave on the bluff. The big fighter looms over the body of the Karagonian Navy cleric he just killed, considering what he has, or rather had, that's worth not leaving behind. Covered in blood from helm to metal boot and carrying the two bulging, heavy sacks of ancient treasure slung over his shoulder, the Half-orc swordsman looks over casually at the druid and her latest animal friend as they walk by, and queries her to see if she can do a detect magic for him. Emm admits she can't in somewhat of an apology as both she and the baby owl stare back at him with wide, assessing eyes. She then begins to nature-speak to the owlet once again, and apparently on a mission of her own, enters the cave...

Just inside the entrance, Cutler is already wiping off his long knife from his voluntary act of adjudication. The previously-tortured soldier remains in the same position he did before but now there's a growing pool of crimson liquid forming on the stone floor of the cave from the massive laceration spanning his throat ear to ear. He looks up at her, covered in blood and beat upon badly himself with an autonomous, almost-emotionless visage. After sheathing the killing blade, the grizzled cook points at the large crate. Lying on top of the crate is the mysterious egg. It no longer looks white and semi-sparkly but has turned a slight reddish-yellow and is plainly moving! Emm steps forward to observe it and nature-speaks again to the giant owlet. It's massive yellow-eyed, feathered head floats up and down as it assesses the strange egg and it lets forth a series of short, quick hoots*...

Meanwhile Cutler moves into the cave and up inside the large cavern within to find the island ambush party's missing cleric. He locates the solemn, fireball-singed dwarf sitting on a large rock at the opening to the passage leading further in, thumbing his holy symbol, and calls out to him. "Ulrich, forgive the intrusion but we need to regroup and get back to the ship. We have bodies to hide and a lot of gear to pack up. Emm wants to speak to you as well. She's back at the entrance with the owl and the egg..."

The bloody cook and contemplative cleric depart the inner chamber and head back to the cave entrance together. They find Emm there waiting, considering the egg and the big baby owl perched on her leather-armored arm. Cutler moves outside to check on the others whilst the cleric and the druid share a moment and some words, and give the anxious owlet a chance to take in the metal-armored, dwarf for the first time. Emm finishes her nature-speak with the winged youngling and then asks Ulrich if anything happened to her, would he be willing to plan on having his clerical powers ready and available to speak with and look after it.
Calm and focused, Ulrich looks at her and the large baby owl and answers with an a nod and affirmation that he will indeed. The owlet appears to understand and flaps its wings and hoots. The now more reddish large egg on the crate seems to move in response!

~ Up on the higher bluff, Wily begins to scamper up the steep trail to the edge of the crater above with inspired ambition. Wisps of white smoke and steam can still be seen floating out past the crater wall on the soft morning breeze but there's been no more shaking since that last strong jolt. Lauranna moves over to the base of the cliff and gets low, so as not to silhouette herself against the brightening morning skies and make such an easy target. The otherwise distracted High-elf continues to concentrate on her familiar's sensory inputs whilst he hurriedly ascends the rocky, near vertical path...

Caelvanna turns to glimpse the magic-user/thief's furry friend making its climb. Suddenly suspicious, she queries Lauranna about it. "You think he's still somewhere nearby? Did Wily pick up his scent? I would be... grateful to get another shot at that bastard!"
The Wild-elf fighter continues to stay low herself and scan the entire area for any sign of trouble, disappeared or otherwise. Her head appears as if on a swivel but her arm muscles remain taut and unmoving while she holds her coveted missile weapon to hand and remains ready to shoot anything before a hat could be dropped...


Down on the lower bluff, Cutler exits the cave, and moves to where he can look up and see the other island ambush team members above. He finally spots Caelvanna when she waves and signals her for their status. The Wild-elf fighter makes a series of hand gestures back and ends with pointing up the cliffs to the rim of large crater beyond. The cook grumbles something under his breath and signals back to her before rejoining Bogdan.
When the big fighter indicates the dead cleric, and admits his curiosity in what of his inventory might be worth taking, Cutler draws one of his many daggers and concentrates on the body. "Well, that mace and shield for starters, they're both magical. So is the bracelet and two rings on his fingers, hidden under those gauntlets. There's also magic in one of those belt pouches and in his backpack," he goes on to detail before looking over at Sorel's wrapped up body for a moment of consideration and regret. He then snaps out of it and looks around the hillside and up in the morning skies before turning back to the blood-covered swordsman.
"We should really bring this one's body back, Bogdan. He's bound to be higher in rank than those other soldiers," he proposes, nodding at the dead Karagonian cleric. "Bet Shanny's spirit ancestors could get some real good intel out of him and what they know about us. Not to mention something about that bastard that got away and what their plans were should they get separated...
"I'm thinking we should construct a large stretcher, to carry Sorel and this one back, as well as whatever it is you're carrying and that crate in the cave, if'n it needs to go too. We could break that birdcage carrier down for parts....
"And better if we clean up the scene a bit and hide those other soldier's bodies from easy view. There's a steep area over on the right (east) side of the bluff with a lot of heavy brush that would work well. That way if our enemies or their avian spies do a fly over, they won't see them."


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

* ~ PM going out to Rexx for the last few minutes of Emm's SWA spell!

OOC: still have ongoing pms with Nuke for what Lauranna and her familiar are doing. Otherwise, it's TOD & positioning adjusted!

TOD: @ 7:15am of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

If you have any questions, or need some additional clarification, please let me know!

HPs/Status: Bog 23/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 15/22 ; Cutler ??/?? (hurt badly) , Sorel KIA
WIH (primary/secondary):
Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears
Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 7)
Emm – giant owlet & spear / SC
Lauranna - none / DDDs, short sword & throwing knives
Ulrich – mace & shield / holy symbol & SC
Cutler - one of his many daggers
Sorel - KIA
(SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: Charm Person or Mammal , Entangle, Speak With Animals, CLW
Lauranna: Sleep
Ulrich: Silence, CLW x2
M.O./Location:
On the lower bluff: Bogdan , Cutler
Just inside the cave entrance: Emm (& the giant owlet) , Ulrich
At the 2nd bluff above: Caelvanna , Lauranna
Climbing the steep cliff trail up to the edge of the crater: Wily

[tkrexx]

Summoning jewel! Emm gasps, as much from realization as from surprise at Cutler's ability to note the presence of magic. It becomes painfully clear to her that her friends are only minor players in all this, that even the Seahawk's crew are a step above. That wretched captive, he had a summoning jewel, much the same as ours, to be crushed when in imminent danger, bringing immediate assistance from... This one must also have such a gem, in his pouch I'd wager. The Druid swings her head to stare wide-eyed to the trail above, where Lauranna and Caelvanna track the one remaining Karagonian. We must leave, now! If that blasted Mage also possesses such a jewel, he could have already put it to use, so... They could be... Her voice seems bordering on panic. Suddenly she digs deep in her pouch, pulling out the summoning crystal of her own, then lifts her eyes questioningly at Bogdan, then Ulrich. We can't allow him to escape, yet we must escape. She holds the jewel out toward her armored companions.

[Alethan]

Bogdan squints over at Emm with a questioning look.
"We have one of their summoning gems. The bloke in the cave that Cutler just uhhh... took care of... had one around his neck. I took it off him before he could use it. I figured that's what it was, but maybe didn't say as much out loud. I thought we'd discussed setting a trap with it; but maybe not. Sorry about that."

He gathers up the magical items from the cleric, "This is more important than gold coins..." He dumps one of his sacks of gold coins out inside the cave and fills the sack with the dead cleric's backpack, pouch, bracelet, two rings, and mace. He slings the shield over his shoulder.

[Nuke66]

~ Up on the higher bluff, Wily begins to scamper up the steep trail to the edge of the crater above with inspired ambition. Wisps of white smoke and steam can still be seen floating out past the crater wall on the soft morning breeze but there's been no more shaking since that last strong jolt. Lauranna moves over to the base of the cliff and gets low, so as not to silhouette herself against the brightening morning skies and make such an easy target. The otherwise distracted High-elf continues to concentrate on her familiar's sensory inputs whilst he hurriedly ascends the rocky, near vertical path...

Caelvanna turns to glimpse the magic-user/thief's furry friend making its climb. Suddenly suspicious, she queries Lauranna about it. "You think he's still somewhere nearby? Did Wily pick up his scent? I would be... grateful to get another shot at that bastard!"
The Wild-elf fighter continues to stay low herself and scan the entire area for any sign of trouble, disappeared or otherwise. Her head appears as if on a swivel but her arm muscles remain taut and unmoving while she holds her coveted missile weapon to hand and remains ready to shoot anything before a hat could be dropped...

Lauranna focuses on the sensory inputs of Wily and mulls over their options. "Decision time Caelvanna, No immediate indication of our Foe. Do we continue through the volcanic surroundings and see if we can't locate him, or return to the rest and get the flock outta here? There are some hiding places down there, but it would take some time, unless, you might possibly pick up some tracks."


Changing her focus once again, she wills Wily forward, back down the trail the group left on the way up, hoping he might pick up some fresh scent.

[Argennian]

~ As Cutler describes what items of the dead Karagonian cleric are magical in nature, Emm and Ulrich depart the cave. The druidess and the baby giant owlet join the blood-covered cook and specialized swordsman on the bluff whilst Ulrich remains nearby the cave entrance and begins looking about for any signs of movement or danger.

Suddenly reminded and now more aware of the fact that it seems the intruding soldier contingent appear to have their own "break in emergency" crystals, Emm guesses the dead cleric has one on his deceased person as well and begins to then worriedly detail the possibility that the one that got away, this supposed Karagonian Navy lieutenant and obvious magic-user, likely had one too and may have already used it to call for reinforcements! With this possibility looming, not to mention more soldiers to the island just west of them and the mighty, storied Karagonian Navy flagship Gallant supposedly anchored at the furthest east of the three larger islands naught but a mere dozen or so nautical miles northeast of them, she nervously looks to her fellow team members up above, waves her own distress crystal about in her free hand, and agrees they need to regroup and hightail it the heck out of there!

Bogdan responds that he had already considered that very fact himself and reiterates the reminder that they had already discussed breaking their now dead prisoner's crystal, which he took possession of earlier, as part of their previously-proposed ambush strategy. With that confirmation offered, the big fighter sets down his heavy and most valuable bags of old world treasure from the cave and announces his intent to gather up the dead cleric's magical items...

Cutler removes his pack and brings out a large, heavy-duty canvas sack, which he hands to the metal-armored Half-orc. "You can put those items of his you want in here, Bogdan. I'll go retrieve the birdcage and begin assembling the stretcher."
He then turns to the druidess and her precious island avian cargo. "Stay low and out of plain sight until we're ready to depart, Emm. Just in case that bastard is still nearby and watching. I agree we need to get it together and delta the hell out of here soon as possible!"

With those recommendations relayed, the grizzled cook moves over to Ulrich and implores him to start dragging bodies over to the east edge of the bluff to dump them in the thick, obstructing bushes there. The previously lost in thought dwarf cleric nods his agreement and moves out to do so as Cutler sprints up to the birdcage and begins dragging it back down to the bluff...

Up on the higher bluff above them, Lauranna breaks her intense concentration on her furry familiar's sensory inputs and turns to respond to Caelvanna. The magic-user/thief announces that Wily has in fact lost what she'd hoped was his trail and queries her as to whether or not they should try and track him further, detailing that her pet weasel spotted some smaller game trails branching out from the hillside and a few places where the wandy wanker could be hiding, or if they should regroup and prep for departure.

Caelvanna replies that although she'd like nothing more than to track that bastard down and finish him off, they have no way to know for sure where's he at, so they'd better head down to regroup with the others and return to the ship to report everything that happened to Gentleman Billy. The Wild-elf continues to scan the immediate area with her fingers on her bowstring trigger whilst Wily gets the signal from his master to return and begins scampering down the steep, near-vertical trail to the bluff below...


~ As Lauranna's familiar races down to his beckoning magical master, Cutler gets the birdcage back down to the bluff whilst Bogdan strips the dead cleric of his real valuables and Ulrich drags the dead Karagonian marines to their final resting place under Caelvanna's keen, watchful eye and readied missile weapon.

Before deconstructing the bird cage stretcher to be repurposed, Cutler reaches inside and removes the still and now cold form of the dead giant owlet within. He steps over and carefully sets it down near Emm and its living sibling, keeping his solemn gaze lowered, before moving back to the task at hand. The possibly last-living member of the giant avian island queen's family fidgets and hoots anxiously at the sight of its dead brood...

By the time Wily rejoins Lauranna, and they and Wild-elf have departed the upper bluff, Ulrich has the two soldiers on the hillside deposited in the heavy brush, their weapons gathered and has moved to collect the last one of the two that were inside the cave*. Cutler has also finished constructing the heavy stretcher. With Bogdan's help, they get Sorel's burned body and that of the hacked up enemy cleric on the carry-able contrivance and tied in.
On the way past the spot on the trail where she hit the disappeared Karagonian officer, Caelvanna retrieves her broken arrow and looks about for the other one. Not finding it, she follows Lauranna down the z-shaped trail and they both arrive safely at the lower bluff. The Wild-elf archer, staying low and still on DefCon1, moves over to the west side of the bluff to take up a covering fire position. Cutler nods to her and then queries the now regrouped, remaining island ambush team on their status, as well as a quick sitrep.

"... everyone ready? Seems all we need to do now is hide that last soldier, grab that crate and the egg and anything else inside the cave that needs to go, and we're out of here! We get back to the spot and report in. Billy will know what to do and we'll get Shanny on the case with the dead priest. With any luck, she'll give us what we need to..."

The chewed-on, blood-soaked cook's final words to the team are suddenly interrupted by a dwarvish exaltation of surprise from inside the cave!


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

* ~ pm going out to SL for Ulrich!

OOC: ok gang, apols again for the long delay, beyond brutal week at work. Please go ahead and post DAs and we'll see what new devilry has just befallen the brave young members of Island Hands!

TOD & positioning adjusted!

TOD: @ 7:25am of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

If you have any questions, or need some additional clarification, please let me know!

HPs/Status: Bog 23/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich ??/?? ; Cutler ??/?? (hurt badly) , Sorel KIA
WIH (primary/secondary):
Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears
Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 7)
Emm – giant owlet & spear / SC
Lauranna - none / DDDs, short sword & throwing knives
Ulrich – ????
Cutler - one of his many daggers
Sorel - KIA
(SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: Charm Person or Mammal , Entangle, Speak With Animals, CLW
Lauranna: Sleep
Ulrich: Silence, CLW x2
M.O./Location:
Spread out on the lower bluff: Bogdan , Caelvanna , Emm (& the giant owlet) , Lauranna (& Wily) & Cutler
Inside the cave: Ulrich

[Alethan]

Bog growls in frustration and runs to the cave, drawing his sword as he does so, to check on the dwarf and see what's going on...

[Nuke66]

Lauranna retreats down the trail, moving back to the group.

"Son of a bitch is nowhere to be found," she spits out.

[tkrexx]

Emm readily moves to act on Cutler's recommendation that she hide, when she hears Ulrich sounding alarmed. Quickly she gets low, placing the young owl to the ground behind her and bringing her spear to bear in the direction of the cave, waiting...

[Argennian]

~ The island ambush team hear what they believe to be an exaltation of surprise from Ulrich, and with no delay, both Bogdan and Cutler draw steel and rush towards the cave. Lauranna details that she and her familiar were unable to find the wandy wanker and turns towards the cave to see what the excitement is all about. Emm sets the baby giant owlet down on the bluff behind her and turns to face the cave entrance, taking up her spear and shield in a defensive crouch. Caelvanna modifies her position to get a better angle on the cave entrance but also keeps her eyes roving the hillside, just in case.

The big fighter with his coveted masterwork longsword to hand and the weapons-laden cook with a dagger in each of his rush into the cave after the dwarf cleric*...


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

* ~ PM going out to Al for Bogdan (& Cutler) as they enter the cave!

OOC: alrighty folks, please let me know if you'd like to follow up on your previous DAs whilst the others are in the cave and out of sight!

TOD & positioning adjusted!

TOD: @ 7:26am of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

If you have any questions, or need some additional clarification, please let me know!

HPs/Status: Bog 23/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich ??/?? ; Cutler ??/?? (hurt badly) , Sorel KIA
WIH (primary/secondary):
Bog – Karagonian masterwork longsword
Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 7)
Emm – spear & shield / SC (owlet behind her)
Lauranna - none / DDDs, short sword & throwing knives (& Wily)
Ulrich – ????
Cutler - two of his many daggers / other weapons
Sorel - KIA
(SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: Charm Person or Mammal , Entangle, Speak With Animals, CLW
Lauranna: Sleep
Ulrich: Silence, CLW x2
M.O./Location:
Rushing into the cave: Bogdan & Cutler
Spread out on the lower bluff: Caelvanna , Emm (& the giant owlet) , Lauranna (& Wily)
Already inside the cave: Ulrich