Part 2b: The Northern Contingent: Something in the Water

[mb.]

Pulp: just to get things straight, does this scribble accurately represent what's going on and who's where?

[MonkeyWrench]

Marcus has been swimming after it ever since it has been dislodged... is it going down the river that fast or am I a really slow swimmer?

[mb.]

That's why I'm asking MW, can't keep it all straight. So I guess you're still in the water, somewhere further down near Smokey.

[Pulpatoon]

mb.'s map has it covered.

MW: the body has a head start on you, and I thought you'd said you were treading water after it, not swimming, so I didn't think you'd caught up to it. If you want to swim after it: approximately how encumbered are you? And then, let's have a STR check.

[Dizlexus]

SMOKEY RUNS

[MonkeyWrench]

mb.'s map has it covered.

MW: the body has a head start on you, and I thought you'd said you were treading water after it, not swimming, so I didn't think you'd caught up to it. If you want to swim after it: approximately how encumbered are you? And then, let's have a STR check.

When I said treading water I meant that Marcus was swimming after it, that's my fault Pulp.

All Marcus has on him is his Dragon Scale Necklace, and Leather Armor. He threw his spear out to the shore and any pack stuff he would have brought would be on the shore as well so I wouldn't say he is encumbered at all?

Marcus Strength Check(STR:10): [1d20] = 20
You gotta be kidding me... When I made the macro and tested it I rolled a 1 and then when I roll for real I get a 20?! I call Hax!!

[Pulpatoon]

Marcus Strength Check(STR:10): [1d20] = 20

Marcus has gotten his legs fouled in the ropes that where holding the body down! STR check vs. drowning!

Abel, you are almost directly above Marcus' position. You can't reach him by hand, but could extend a pole or throw a rope.

[Pulpatoon]

SMOKEY RUNS

Smokey and the body have both turned a bend in the river, and are out of sight.

[mb.]

Bürd continues to follow Smokey as fast as his little legs will carry him...

[Dizlexus]

If Smokey can get parallel to the corpse he will dive upon it.
DEX Chk? [1d20] = 1

[Pulpatoon]

Smokey and Bürd:

Smokey dives into the water, grabbing at the body. The flesh is slippery, but your fingers snatch one of the ropes binding it, and you are able to bring it to a stop in the water. You begin to haul it to shore, just as Bürd comes puffing up. Together, the two of you drag it to shore.

The body is bound and tied into a compact bundle. It is soft and bloated from the water, and wrapped in water-weeds and black ropes woven from short animal hair. Every inch of the bodies skin has been incised with complex markings, somewhat obscured by thousands of dimpled fish-bites. Concentric circles, parallel lines, and sharp angles dominate the designs. The cuts have swollen and puffed in the water, their interiors turned blue.

Rolling the figure over, you see that the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears have all been sewn shut with black, hairy twine.

The figure itself is of a long limbed, elderly man, with lean, ropy muscles that contrast with a distended belly. His features are that of a foreigner from the burning lands far to the south.

While examining the body, you are filled with revulsion at the unctuous quality of the flesh, and the tiny, bloodless bites taken from it. Can you imagine how terrible it would be to take a bite of a body like this? To sink you teeth into one of the soft blue wounds? What would the texture be like to chew? How would it taste? How much would it take to fill your belly?

It is very difficult to pull your attention away from this morbid compulsion.
Please roll a save vs. magic to avoid taking a bite out of the corpse.

[mb.]

Please roll a save vs. magic to avoid taking a bite out of the corpse.

Bürd rolls [1d20] = 5 vs 12 for spells. Urrrrrrgggg...

Bürd's eyes grow wide and he drops his axe as he stares at the wet corpse. His fingers grasp at nothing, tensing and falling slack as he slowly edges closer to it. His mouth falls open and he can finally resist no longer. He throws himself to his knees, clamps his fingers around the corpse's arm, and moaning deep in his stomach, sinks his teeth into the shoulder, tearing off a meaty chunk of flesh!

[GreyWolfVT]

Abel in his best efforts to try and help lowers his staff down "Grab onto my staff if you can!" hoping it will help Marcus.

[MonkeyWrench]

Marcus pulls against the ropes trying to bring him under the waters surface,

Marcus Strength Check(STR:10): [1d20] = 5

He is able to get free and grabs a hold of Abel's staff to help him get out of the water, gratefully saying, "Thank you, my friend.", once they are on shore, Marcus retrieves his spear and pack and then heads off in the direction that Smokey and Bürd, "Come on! We have to find them!"

[Dizlexus]

[1d20] = 12

Smokey looks hungry. He begins to salivate. Save some for me!

[mb.]

I don't know what Smokey's saves are.

Rogue save vs spell at level 1 is 15, so I'm afraid that's a fail.

[GreyWolfVT]

Abel with Marcus ashore once more will get over to the side the other two were running down and tries to catch up with them following Marcus. "I think they ran that way following the dislodged floating body."

[mb.]

Bürd falls backwards, tears streaming out of his horror-wide eyes. He chews slowly...

[GreyWolfVT]

Abel "I'm not so sure I wish to follow a floating dead body.... Marcus?" he looks around for marcus or any signs of the others.....

[MonkeyWrench]

Marcus looks back at Abel, standing down by the bridge, and calls out to him "We don't know what kind of magic is on that dead body or who it even is, we need to find out and help the others! Abel, lets go!" He urges his friend to come on as he continues to rush in the direction the others ran.