Quest #3 "Zombie Stomping"

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger stumbles on his words.

I can scout, quite good at it actually. I'm very much at home in the forest, but this is unlike any forest I've come across. Still, I'm quiet, small, and slippery. I could remain in the rear, in efforts to surprise any foes, or I could scout ahead, but... He pats his huge pack and shrugs.

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Well then Lightfinger, it seems that we shall only be able to call on your scouting abilities in limited amounts. I suppose our order of march really comes down where you and Chauncey prefer to be."

"Chauncey does bring up an important point though: since Chauncey is the one with the verbal agreement with Mr Nehru, we should do our best to bring him back alive, or else we might not get paid!"

Wes sees Saracen striding away, and waits for the other members of the group to form up, before grasping his spear and bringing up the rear.

[Bluetongue]

Ferris the limping gnome is startled to be approached by the big 1/2 orc in orange. He is about to reach into his pouch and give him a coin for the 'hairy grumshna' temple or whatever he is about to be mugged for. (for usually little gnomes are turfed head over heels and shaken ever so gently and relieved of all coins by such garish ruffians who seek to 'lay hands' on them). Imagine his surprise to feel the soothing effects of the incantation and the little gnome is left to skip merrily ahead.

"Why thank you kindly Sir Saracen, you ministrations are most welcome.", he thinks of a kindly donation to make but ascertains no chapel has been built yet."I understand Mr Nehru favours not ordained worship around the settlements?"

[OGRE MAGE]

With a little nudging from Saracen, the second group begins their journey up the logging trail about a half hour or so behind the others. Wes keeps an eye out for trouble as the party advances, hoping to get another look at one of those strange monkoons. His hunting ability allows him to notice a few tracks in the soft dirt. He sees evidence of the usual jungle denizens such as wild pigs and other smaller game, but the tracks are few and far between this close to the town.

The air on the enclosed trail is a bit more stagnant than the nice ocean breeze that you have grown accustomed to in the last few days and it is getting hot out. For the most part, you are able to stay out of the direct sunlight while on the trail, and the bugs aren't nearly as bad for those who applied some of Wes's stinky homemade goop. The druid stops periodically to pick more aloe and wild garlic root whenever he sees them, hoping to create more of the stuff when his first batch runs out, which it obviously will in this environment.

After about 2 hours of walking up the trail, you suddenly hear a loud growling coming from somewhere inside the jungle to the east.

[tkrexx]

since Chauncey is the one with the verbal agreement with Mr Nehru, we should do our best to bring him back alive, or else we might not get paid!"

Wh-wha-What? Lightfinger is flabbergasted.

Well, of course, this suddenly makes sense. It's like an epiphany. I mean, we're here to get paid, right? Yes, Chauncey is to be protected, he should be in the center. Mister Saracen and I... It is "Mister," right? We'll stand together in his defense.

you suddenly hear a loud growling coming from somewhere inside the jungle to the east.

Quick as a hiccup the Hobbit is behind both Saracen and Chauncey. What was that?? Did you hear that? Was that a pig, or... ? He slowly but smoothly begins backing up into the foliage opposite the direction of the guttural warning, leaving his pack.

[Storm11]

The half-orc will find a large tree to take cover behind and lay down his flail with the handle resting against the trunk for ease of picking up. He will ready his short bow and his quiver and knock an arrow and aim it at the sound, and encourage the others to do the same, finding some place to take cover and ready missile weapons.

[Bluetongue]

Ferris

will heed Saracens' advice and find a large 1/2 orc to hide behind, peering out from behind his orange robes."Oh maybe I misheard?", Ferris will shin up the tree a few limbs and find a sturdy bough to take his meagre weight and use the trunk to shield himself, setting his laoded bow steady on a branch.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey tenses at the sound of the growling. "I don't think that's a zombie," he says unhelpfully, feeling for one of his remaining darts while scampering after the others to take cover. "Perhaps it's a harmless tapir... or a faun."

[Jernau35]

Wes also finds a tree to take cover behind. He calls out to his companions, "Whatever it is, it's very big and about 100 feet away".

Knowing that none of his spells will reach that far, Wes listens carefully for evidence that the creature is getting closer, either further growling, or the sound of the beast moving through the foliage.

[Scott308]

Brufrig Granitesunder

Hearing the noise of some unknown and most likely unfriendly creature, the dwarf finds a tree to position himself behind, training his crossbow on the trees in the direction of the noise.

[OGRE MAGE]

The group wisely takes cover behind trees and atop branches as they ready their ranged weapons. The growling noise continues from the darkness of the inner jungle, but does not seem to intensify or draw nearer.

After a few moments, Wes nods, sure he has herd other animals acting similarly. He begins to think that this is a territorial warning and that the group must be invading on another creatures space out here.

[Jernau35]

After a few tense moments, Wes calls out again to the others, "If it's making that much noise, it wants us to know it's there. A hungry predator would have just attacked without warning. If we get out of here, it will probably let us go. Come on." Wes steps out from behind his tree, and beckons the others to follow. If they do, Wes will continue to watch the creature's location as the party go by, and then fall in at the rear.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger quickly complies, lugging his pack.

[Storm11]

Moving to the opposite side of the trail after stowing away his bow safely and recovering his flail, Saracen will carefully move along the track keeping any eye on the rustling and an ear out behind him on the opposite side of the jungle foliage in case it's a distraction.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey, trusting those with more experience in the natural world, complies and moves along carefully with Wesley and the others.

[OGRE MAGE]

Saracen will carefully move along the track keeping any eye on the rustling and an ear out behind him on the opposite side of the jungle foliage in case it's a distraction.

Nicely done! Please take 25xp for thinking of this.

Starday, 20th of Reaping, 1389
Morning, Sunny, Hot and Humid

Home Invaders
Surprise Round
Wes assumes the growling is not a threat as long as he can get the group to move along. As they ready themselves to continue, Saracen takes a cautionary look behind the party and quickly realizes that the growling is indeed only a ruse.

The half-orc immediately spots a massive black shape silently hurtling straight for him through the opening in the trees, swinging from a long vine tied high up in a distant tree. Seeing the beast at the last second allows the warrior priest just enough time to quickly dodge to the side, but by the time he shouts out a warning, it is already too late.

IMG_1163.JPG (91.21 KiB) Viewed 504 times

The huge 7' tall black ape plows into the back of Wes incredibly hard, knocking the druid forward a few feet and sending him tumbling to his knees. 3 dam The beast pounds on its hard chest plate with its fists and let's out a horrifying roar as it jumps at the prone druid again, ready to pound the half-elf into a soft, chewy meal.

Actions!

Anyone with a ranged weapon still at the ready can fire this round before the "firing into melee" rules would kick in. Otherwise, you are all in range to attack hand to hand this round as well.

Waesfaren Rhey 7/10.....4/4 first
Ferris 7/7...... DM, RM, 1/1 first
Saracen Solaris 12/12 ......2/3 first
Brufrig Granitesunder 15/15
Lightfinger 7/7
Chauncey the Adequate 6/6...... CL, DM, RM, 1/1 first

I wasn't going to reveal any percentages but this is too good not to share. I put a 5% chance each hex of any daytime wandering encounters on the loggers trail. You guys nailed it in the second hour of the mission!

[Storm11]

Thank you very much!

Saracen will call out to the Blinding Light of Pholtus and cast a light spell upon the apes eyes in hopes of blinding it and keeping the druid safe from harm

[ChubbyPixie]

Unwilling to risk getting pounded to a pulp, even by an accidental flailing gorilla fist, Chauncey backs out of melee range as quickly as he can manage without falling on his backside. He'll decide what action to take, magical or otherwise, once he can fully ascertain what is going on in all the sudden confusion.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger again drops his pack, more from shock this time.

Wes!! His own last words of protection still fresh in his mind, the Hobbit skitters back with Chauncey, drawing his fine blade. It's then that sudden realization strikes him, that anything wanting to attack the Wizard will simply sweep him aside to do so! And this is Wes being pummeled! True, if Chauncey is slain, the party may not be paid, but if the Druid is killed it's likely no one will survive to collect! Again he melts into the foliage, intent on getting behind the hairy, snorting beast.

[Jernau35]

Wes

WHOOMPH! The world goes black, and Wes feels himself floating. When his vision returns he sees, through the stars and flashing lights, a large ape standing over him, screaming! Realizing that he may only have seconds to live, Wes focuses his mind and recalls the words of the Charm of Understanding.

"Be at Peace, Great Brother! We mean you no harm. Stop your attack upon us and we will not attack you. We will leave your land quickly. Peace! We mean you no harm!"

Casting Speak With Animals, just to be clear