Djebel Tarik

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Bluehorse
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Re: Djebel Tarik

#141 Post by Bluehorse »

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Already working at freeing himself quickly as he can manage he looks up and shout towards Cobb. "New plan! Forget the damn barrow! Break out Mr. Blood! I'll get Sully soon as I am out of this mess!" He will do what he can to free himself and if there is time he will make a grab for Sully and try to beat it out of there before the MudMen can attack again.

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#142 Post by onlyme »

If Geoffrey can do anything at all, he will obviously attempt to free himself.
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Re: Djebel Tarik

#143 Post by Hotgoblin »

Iggy sees Geoff encompassed within his mud sarcophagus, knowing he will not survive much longer, she must try to help him! Iggy rushes back to him...if she doesn't encounter any mudmen, she will swing her staff at the hardened mud around his upper body. If she encounters the mud slingers she'll attack them with her staff.

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#144 Post by Spearmint »

Geoffrey Blood, begins to hold his breath, trying to stay calm though his ears, eyes and mouth are caked with crusty mud. Gagging on thick cement porridge he hopes his friends get him out of a sticky situation. He feels a whack, quite a solid blow which ordinarily would have knocked him senseless but the mud acts as a protective shield, barely cracking but just enough for him to splutter and breathe as if through a straw. Iggway dodges the mud men and having cracked the shell, tries to help the helpless chick breakout.

Rexlin, seeing Sully, entangled at the top of the mud fall and snared by the rope looks to free him. It is not easy, assessing the situation you might feel ascending the rope to cut him loose might see him fall into the pool below and the gathering mudmen.

The earth crtitters, re-inforced from above, begin a new wave of attacks on the party.

Mudmen attacks [1d20] = 15 [1d20] = 3 [1d20] = 4 The first one assaults Rexlin, encasing one of his legs in setting clay. To ascend the rope is now a 4d6 dex skill.

Two more boulders of sludge crash with a 'plop' and a 'sploosh' but fail to hit the frantic diggers. The fourth mud man grasps hold of the empty barrow and raises it high above his head before throwing it agianst the far wall in an attempt to break it to pieces.

Barrow save vs crushing damage [1d20] = 20

The barrow lands bounces off the wall and lands upright and at the edge of the pool by Cobbs' feet. Well built and sturdy it withstands the force. Cobb seeing the boon, tips Geoffrey on the feet and into the barrow, he lifts the handles and begins to run down the path towards the cave mouth. He gets so far, almost the end when he skids on some previous thrown sludge and once more the barrow and contents are tipped into the sludge loam pool. Once more, thcik mud encases Geoffrey and once more he has to close his mouth and hold his breath, the mud setting as a case and more alarmingly, Geoffrey begins to sink.

Sully frantically pulls hard on the rope and inches his way back over the mud lip and into the ledges of thick mud on the side of the top cave. It is very dark, damp and gooey up there. Not knowing if another mud man might be growing in the shadows he cowers to one side. covering himself in thick loam in case the beasts hunt by infravision and his body heat draws them to himself.

this is quite a pantomine... :) next actions please.

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#145 Post by onlyme »

Geoffrey begins to wonder if he made poor decisions along the way. There was one time when he was nine, and he had a chance to receive a kiss from Abagail Spencer for a slice of warm diar bread. But, he was too hungry and she was annoying, and then Hugh D'alton offered her his instead. She grew up to be the most beautiful girl in town. And her engagement to Hugh's had reached Geoffrey not even a fortnight prior to his recent voyages.
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Re: Djebel Tarik

#146 Post by Hotgoblin »

Iggy can't believe what has just occurred...things were moving along so smoothly!! ;) No, Geoff's going to suffocate, again!!! She'll use her staff as a lever to try and keep his entombed body afloat.Cobb, can you grab him or pull him in?
Last edited by Hotgoblin on Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#147 Post by Bluehorse »

Rexlin"Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Cursing he kicks off what mud he can and makes a grab for the rope...
[4d6] = 9

He grabs the rope and wrestles himself up the rope fuel by adrenaline and anger at their rotten luck. He reaches sully and unceremoniously begins cutting at the rope. "Come on! Let's get the hell out of here! I've had enough of this muddy hell hole!"

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#148 Post by Spearmint »

Mud inglorious mud...

Rexlin scales the rope dangling over the edge of the mud falls expecting to see Sully still entangles by his feet. The youth has however inched his way further into the cave and overcome with fear decided to go 'Dutch' and shelter under a mud ledge, covering himself in loam and hoping not to be discovered by any more mud men. (reference to Arnie character in film Predator)

Flailing about in the dark Rexlin strikes lucky, (actually he strike Sully), by the outstretched leg and pulls him to his senses and the lip of the mud fall. Together they slide down the fall, landing with aplomb and splash in the thick sludge gathering at the bottom. Fortunate not to bash themselves on submerged rocks they struggle to their feet, encased in mud from head to toe.

The mud men react to this new intrusion with alarm but maybe Yanualuha is finally listening to Iggways' frantic calls and chants as the standing hunched figures resemble more of the animated creatures and the mud men waddle away to attack the other trio.

(25% chance to be disguised as a mud man: mud men disguise [1d20] = 5)

Geoffrey has that sinking feeling and begins to gag as more thick sludge covers his previous uncovered mask.

mud men suffocate damage [1d8] = 1 -1hp damage from further suffocation.

Cobb reacts to Geoffrey sinking by jumping in the quickening mud and pushing him like a log towards the pool edge. Moving slowly like a stalking croc, Geoffrey edges closer to Iggway who attempts to lever him free. Her small frame hiding the tough muscle and sinews in her body, she pulls the still encased Geoffrey out of the mud pool.

Iggway draws Blood[4d6] = 11

The slower mudmen react to this by turning their attacks on the sole intruder to their domain, Cobb unfortunate to be left standing and after being hit by severe blows of mud, he goes down, first onto his knees and then with a body slam from a mud man, is overcome and overwhelmed. Encased and prone, he slowly begins to subside.

Mudmen attacks [1d20] = 17 [1d20] = 16 [1d20] = 6

Sully, wading a little to the pool edge has an idea after the encounters with the Mud men."Copy me."he shouts to Rexlin and then dips himself under the pool like a new convert at baptism.

With Iggway and Geoffrey out of the cave and Cobb not being able to struggle, the Mud men stand and wave fists and pound chests like King Kong. They too after a round subside and the pool once more ripples slowly with the steady drip of sludge dripping. In the limited lantern light, you see a few bubbles come up where you think Cobb lies underneath the surface, glug, glug, pause, glug, long pause...

next actions please



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Re: Djebel Tarik

#150 Post by Hotgoblin »

Iggy slams her staff hard on Geoff's muddy tomb close to where his arms should be. So Geoff can help himself out. After that, she'll stick her staff in the mud where Cobb went in, to see if she can find him.



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Re: Djebel Tarik

#151 Post by Spearmint »

Sully ducked under the pool mud to mimic the actions of the mud men dissipating their forms back into the mud pool when no one is about so as to not attract their attention. Waiting until the mud men submerge he slowly rises and steps out of the pool, running along the path to the cave mouth. Rexlin follows suit carrying the knotted rope that has been cut free from the mud fall. While Iggway bashes Geoffreys' form to free him the pair make a last ditch attempt to rescue the sinking encased Cobb. Diving in they fix one end of the rope in a loop and tie it around the legs of the marine. "Pull, heave him out!" they call and Iggway and Geoffrey stretch limb and muscle to heave the dead weight out of the murky depths. It is actually not too deep, perhaps a little more than head high near the edge but the mud is thick and the suction holds trapped people strongly. In a tug-of-war with a mud man who grasps an outstretched arm of Cobb, the team eventually win the prize. The mudmen, rage hysterically, but limited by the pool boundary cannot follow only sling mud and finally subsiding near the old skeleton. Sully and Rexlin clear the nose and throat of Cobb and with some artificial respiration and kiss-of-life (from Rexlin, well he's the expert having saved Holden from drowning...), Cobb is brought back round, injured but alive. After several frantic encounters the party sit in the cave mouth with two full barrows of Hurtloam.

Wet and cold and covered in mud the party find a small dribble of clean water dripping from a ledge. You can wash and clean off but will need a fire to dry clothes properly. You have a choice to:

a) return for a third barrow of loam, knowing the associated risks of mud men attacks,
b) camp in or near the cave overnight and return across the marsh to Djebel Tariks' camp in the morning.
c) choose to trudge the lowland marsh at night.


anything else...Sully reminds you the indigenous natives used the caves above the mud fall but with the rope cut you have no immediate way of getting up there. It looks like the trip to investigate any tribal hieroglyphics and discover the fate of the exploring anthropologist may have to wait for another time. The skeleton arm once outstretched and free now just a few fingers above the mud pool, (disturbingly the fingers have been folded into a rude one finger salute... perhaps the mud men with all their faults have a sense of humour at least).


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actions please,

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#152 Post by onlyme »

Geoffrey thanks the others for their valiantry, then suggests,
I believe we need to lick our wounds and return with what we have.
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Re: Djebel Tarik

#153 Post by Bluehorse »

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Nods, reluctant to admit defeat, even if it could be only temporary, but he was no fool. "Pressed our luck here enough. Vote for making camp and cleaning off. Everyone has food i assume?"

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#154 Post by onlyme »

Geoffrey winks,

"Aye, some delicious mud pies, fresh as can be.
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Re: Djebel Tarik

#156 Post by Spearmint »

Wisdom dictating another barrow attempt not a good idea and with some of the party injured the gang wash of the mud under a dripping freshwater trickle leaking from under a cave ledge. The light from the lantern flickering fantastic and ominous shapes across the ceiling stalactities. A swarm of nesting fruit bats rest inverted between them and threaten to flood the room if you make much noise. camping in the rock cleft outside of the cave complex the party snuggle around a small fire. Weary and wary, they interchange guard watch duties but despite the near presence of these enchanted but not enchanting mud men, the group rest unmolested throughout the night hours.

Iggway you may replenish your spell list for the day.

It has been an eventful few hours, leaving the sloop to be attacked by some Iberian marines, raiding for an unknown purpose. Then hosted by the notorious pirate and for Geoffrey healed in 'Hurtloam' before volunteering to be sent on an escapade to redeem more of the precious healing virtue. Two full barrows was a hard slog to get and the party face a hard slog back to the camp across the low interior marshland of the East Caicos island.

Sully reminds you that the former baker cum camp medic said the loam was 'harvested' only rarely as it took time to marinate at the foot of the falls. Digging for a third barrow, even successfully might not get you any further healing mud only thick clay. So he leads the party back through the mixed mangrove and reed willows, careful to stay on a fix path. The three guys swapping duties to haul the barrows and leaving Iggway to bring up the rear and remain vigilant for surprises.

After a few uneventful hours the way across the creek comes into view. Several crocodiles are feasting on the remains of the prisoners who were brought in with you. A grisly fate and a reminder that fate does not smile on all who trespass these shores. The medic takes a barrow to add to his stores and allows the other to be lifted into the wagon to return to the sloop when the party leave camp. Several of the McGregor party still lie injured, but cared for under the administrations of Tarik are making comfortable progress. Cravat waves a cheery hand, throat slashed but alive and drinking from a frothy wineskin. A couple of nubile maidens wiping the sweat and dirt from his brow and kissing him gently on his cheek. Rexlin sighs, elbowing Cobb...."They could have been mine and yours...!"

Rexlin, Geoffrey, Iggway and Cobb are told by the injured Mr Simonsen that the they need to report for duty with the Captain in his tent in a couple of hours. They are going to escort him to a visit to Tariks ship.

next actions until then, you have a couple of hours to explore, rest up. You had some potions to pick up from the mage. Any other business you want to do?

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#157 Post by Bluehorse »

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Oh what could have been... "Well boys... that's all for me. I'm off to do some business and get a bath before they start calling me Devil's Stench instead...."

That said he wonders off towards down.

Ooc: see private thread.

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#158 Post by onlyme »

Geoffrey quietly seeks out the one who gave him the initial description of the cave.

Good man, we found the mud cave exactly as you described. Those creatures are certainly friendly chaps. Say, might you know what rests above the pool? We saw a cut off rope, so someone used to visit there?
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Re: Djebel Tarik

#159 Post by Hotgoblin »

Iggway was relieved at the ease of getting the hurtloam back to camp, she believes Yanauluah watched over them. If possible, Iggy will find a hot bath, meditate and meet with mage. Where should we meet up with the Captain?

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Re: Djebel Tarik

#160 Post by Spearmint »

The baker-cum-medic gratefully receives the loam barrow. Unfortunately he can't tell you any more about the caves than what was already mentioned. The caves were habited by indigenous Lucayan tribes who buried their dead nearby. They have walls of hieroglyphics deeper in and an explorer fellow went in to explore, but no on knows what he found cus' he never came out. The loam forms perhaps every few weeks depending on seasonal rain and ' brown skinned humanoids guard it fiercely.


The group take the rest of the morning to relax and clean themselves. Rexlin is able to barter away his light crossbow and pouch of bolts to a local 'cajun' squirrel hunter for 10gp, a little less than it is worth but it is clogged up with thick mud. After cleaning and a hearty breakfast they muse around the bazaars, Rexlin taking a fancy to a gaudy crimson evening dress shirt.

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The boys go off to the communal hamman, sweating it off and getting clean in an underground log fired sauna. Iggway, gets offered the services of hot clean water and fresh pine cone baths scrubs and jasmine scented soaps in a tin bath used by the mage. His servant girls screening Iggway with reed curtains in an inner tent. The mage presents you with the two potions he was able to identify. "They are doses of water breathing, concocted by Iberian clerics. Marine specialists probably for the Ibs' would burn at the stake those of my persuasion."

In the afternoon they report for duty with the Captain and escort him further around the creek. Nestled bobbing in a secure lagoon are a small flotilla of war canoes. "We should preparing to raid San Juan!" Djebel Tarik greets the folks with a blood thirsty smile.


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