Quest #5 "Gathering River Water"

[Storm11]

"Interesting, very interesting. Perhaps the priests of the sea god might know what or who dwells beneath the shores here?" the holy champion says with a shrug, looking out to sea one more
Time before glancing at the ranger and giving off his grim smile and then continuing on with the water back to Beachtown.

"Can you tell us some more of this cleric that befriended the dark skinned natives we saw bald there at all? Is he a good man, helpful to the township? Can he perform the holy magic of the gods, sea magic didn't you say?"

As the half-orc ambles happily along the beach with the new ranger, he whispers to Alordan. "I can't help but muse that we need a way to gather information about this island. Perhaps Wes can befriend some birds that might scout out various places for us from the sky? Or we could try and make friends with the natives perhaps? If the Druid returns from his trip into the jungle with that disaster ridden gnome, every time he takes a trip with someone he gets into trouble!" Saracen shakes his head sadly and looks out at the beautiful surf once again, wistfully.

[OGRE MAGE]

Quest #5 "Done Gathering River Water"
Sunday, 21st of Reaping, 1389
Mid Day, Hot and Cloudy


The rest of the trip back to Beachtown goes by uneventfully and the water gatherers are soon dumping all their pails of fresh water into the communal water cask. The meager amount of water that was there is now almost fully replenished. The group of mostly women thank the two adventurers for their help before making their way back to their other daily chores and town business. Their leader sticks around for a bit to answer the half-orcs questions.

"As I said, I don't really know this Keilif very well. He has always seemed like a kind and caring person, but with some of the other underhanded and sneaky people around here, one can never really be sure. No offense to you two of course, but I just don't see why Mr. Nehru wants to keep bringing all of these strangers to the island. He doesn't know what some of these people are capable of. Thank the heavans that at least there are a few like you that are actually here to help and not just seeking fame and fortune out here. There is none of that to be had in this blasted place. Once you put yourself into a position of need, like all of us have done, it is a lot easier to see who is willing to help and who just wants things for themselves."

The woman looks as though she would say more when a human boy of about 10 years comes running up to the three of you screaming at the top of his lungs. "You must help us! We need some strong venturers to save our new friend from certain death at the hands of those dang monkoons!!!" He looks at Saracen and Alordan, hoping that they will help him.

"Come on!!! Hurry!!! They have him tied up good and I think they are going to eat him or something! He isn't far! Just down the beach a little ways and into the jungle a little. Come on, I'll show you!!!"

With that, the boy turns and rushes off back towards the beach. The large woman looks at the pair of you with hope in her eyes, wondering if your charity and willingness to help will hold out.

[Storm11]

Saracensighs and shakes his head. "Surely living in such a dangerous place you would think that everyone would know how to look after themselves and stay together!"

He takes off at his best lumber, attacking the flail to his belt as he does so and getting his bow and an arrow ready.

"Tell the townsfolk, send help!" the orange robed half-orc calls over his shoulder at the woman as he lopes off after the young lad, hoping it isn't some kind of trap, and that the ranger is running beside him.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan follows Saracen with a sigh - hands finding familiar weapons at his side....

[OGRE MAGE]

Now What?

The dirty boy runs off ahead, unencumbered and used to the soft sand. The pair of large adventurers has a difficult time keeping up and soon can barely see the boy running down the beach to the west. You don't get very far away from town, maybe a half mile or so, and suddenly the boy pops out of the thick tree line that follows the sand. He has his index finger pressed tightly to his lips. He uses his other hand to make a waving motion, indicating that you should follow him into the trees.

Actions!

[Storm11]

Saracen moves forward carefully, whispering to Alordan as he goes. "I don't like this at all. It feels like a trap. Let's be wary." and moves into the trees after the little lad as quietly as he can

[ravenn4544]

Alordan doesn't like this one bit. He also thinks this is a trap.... He moves as silently as he can to follow Saracen.

[OGRE MAGE]

Who Is This Kid?


The dynamic duo of ranger and warrior priest cautiously creep into the jungle, following this strange boy that they have never met before in their lives. They are both absolutely certain that they are about to walk into a trap........but for some reason they follow him anyway. He leads you several hundred feet into the jungle, creeping very slowly and checking behind periodically to see if you are still following him. After a pretty long hike, he finally turns to you and presses his index finger tightly to his lips again, this time bulging out his eyes at you in a display of absolute seriousness.

He parts two bright green palm fronds quietly with his hands and points to a small clearing in the trees up ahead that you can just barely make out under the darkness of the thick overhead canopy. He looks at both of you and points a second time, nodding his head to see if you understand what is happening.

You take a few seconds and squint really hard, but you don't see anything up ahead other than more and more jungle.

Actions!

Please include a hard Wisdom check roll in your next post.

Saracen Solaris 12/12 1/3 first
Alordan 10/10

[ravenn4544]

Alordan peers intently into the void beyond to see what clearly has the boy rattled. He is alert and ready. He takes note of the sun in the sky to gauge how much time they have to linger here....

[4d6] = 13 (wis=13)

[Storm11]

Saracen also tries to squint into the jungle, trying to discern what's ahead. [4d6] = 12

"We shouldn't go in together, in case it is a trap." the half-orc whispers very quietly, aiming his bow and arrow, and keeping his eyes and ears open to their immediate surroundings, not just the boy and what he is showing the duo

[OGRE MAGE]

What's A Monkoon?
Mid Afternoon

Squinting hard, you can both finally make out what the boy is pointing at. There is a man sized figure tied up by his feet hanging upside down from a tall tree directly in front of your current position. He is difficult to spot in the thick jungle bush because his body is turned in a way that you are looking at him from the side. He appears unconscious because he isn't moving at all in his extremely uncomfortable position, the figures arms just hanging down towards the ground limply.

The boy turns around furiously when Saracen starts whispering, shushing him again with his finger and staring at him with a mean look on his face. He points to his ear and silently mouths something that looks like they can hear you! With that, he looks up into the tree tops, studying them for any signs of movement. Following his stare, the two of you also see that there are a few wooden platforms built high up into the trees. Some of these structures actually have thatched roofs and you also spot what looks like rope or vine bridges that connect a few of the aerial platforms together.

The hanging prone figure is about 50 feet ahead of you and dangling about 6 feet off of the ground. You don't spot any evidence of movement or danger near the form, but you do notice that he is actually hanging by a thick vine from one of the high wooden platforms. You see and hear nothing else other than the ubiquitous nasty insects and the normal loud din of the jungle.

Actions?

[ravenn4544]

Alordanlooks at the tree tops and shakes his head clearly not liking the looks of the situation. On the bright side, they have learned to look up as well as around them - the forest seems to be full of surprises....

[ravenn4544]

OOC: what do you think about a trying a trade? Sneaking in and out might be tough as they'll probably notice as soon as we cut him down. Maybe if we leave some food and water and some shiny coins in exchange for the man maybe they won't kill us.

[Storm11]

That might work. In case it doesn't I don't suppose you have a torch to make a flame and maybe some oil? Fire seems to keep most things at bay. I don't think I could afford a silver mirror or I could cast sanctuary and go in and get him. Are we thinking monkoons.

[ravenn4544]

Torch, no oil. i assume it's monkoons. A fall-back plan is to grab him, make for the beach, then hope that sharky thing is there and it comes for what's chasing us probably a long shot

[Storm11]

Saracen looks around for any brush or other flammable jungle fallen dead foliage material to gather into a fire near the body. Is there any, and if so enough to create a large fire, somewhat contained?

If Alordan can get his torch lit the half-orc will gather the foliage and standby.

If the rangers track with diplomacy doesn't work the half-orc will quickly light the gathered material and stand close to the flames, hoping they will cause the monkoons or whatever is up in the treetops some pause.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan will follow closer to the man in dire straits. He will slowly start to pull out food and a water skin and a few shiny coins to lay near the man. Arms wide open in what is hopefully seen as a peaceful gesture. Preparing for the worst, torch and flint at the ready...

[OGRE MAGE]

Not Enough?
Mid Afternoon


The half-orc doesn't find much in the way of dried combustibles in this lush jungle landscape. He might be able to come up with a handful or two of some dried husk situated under a large frond, but nothing that would create more than a tiny, short lived fire.

The young boy with you looks on in anticipation, wondering what you will do next.

Alordan begins to creep forward towards the hanging figure, getting a little better view of him in the process. He sees that it isn't a man after all. The hanging figure appears to be an elf, and a very well put together one at that. He has dark hair hanging out of his strapped helm and wears chain armor. He carries the gear of an adventure and all of it looks very well kept.

The ranger sees nothing in the way of danger on his way up to the unfortunate elf. Looking up again, he sees that the other end of the rope is tied to a young, heavily bent branch, indicating that he might have been caught in some kind of snare trap from the nearby platform. Once the food and coins are dropped next to the dangling elf, there is an instant outburst of chattering, hooting, and screeching that erupts from the treetops. You are definitely not alone out here. The noise sounds as if it is coming from many, many creatures, but so far you haven't spotted any of them.

Actions!

[Storm11]

"Can you cut him loose easily?" hisses Saracen, figuring the trio have already been spotted. "Is he conscious?"

The half-orc sights his arrow into the canopy up above warily, careful not to fire yet.

"Perhaps a spell to blind the creatures and take away my lords holy light might frighten the little wretches? Or we could use your scattering our dried rations idea." Saracen muses aloud.

is it possible to even cast darkness as a priest of the blinding light?

[ravenn4544]

Alordan slides his sword free and looks at Saracen and the boy. He sighs and barely whispers "let's finish this and begone. I'll carry him out - cover our escape"

Looking into the trees one more time, Alordan slashes at the vine to do what there is no turning back on doing....