Quest #27 "Detecting Snares and Pits"

[SirOwen]

Dexter Broadleaf

Overhearing Max comforting Drakkar, Dexter looks at Fitz. He whispers, "Elven All Father? I thought he worshipped Boccob. Isn't that a Human god of magic or something?"

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

Once the second surge of healing takes effect, Narramore extends an arm to help Drakkar to his feet. He turns to the snake and ponders briefly. "That is certainly an awful waste of meat if we don't bring some back. Perhaps we can stash it in this tree and take the meat and hide on our way back?"

If the others seem amenable to the idea, he'll tie a rope to the snake, cinching it tightly to prevent it slipping over the sinuous body, and throw the rope over a high branch, then set about hoisting the beast into the air. "He's so long this may not work, but perhaps we may at least preserve some part of him." He'll tie the rope off to keep the beast suspended.

[hedgeknight]

Dexter Broadleaf
Overhearing Max comforting Drakkar, Dexter looks at Fitz. He whispers, "Elven All Father? I thought he worshipped Boccob. Isn't that a Human god of magic or something?"

Fitzenbell

Fitz sighs and shrugs. "First off...thank you for allowing my crazy rant. I am...very sorry for my brash words. My Ma used to say, "Fiery feelings need a good dousing!" and she was right. I'm just glad he's okay.
But...I know nothing of the ways of Elves...or of the gods of magic, I'm afraid."

When Sir Narramore suggests the snake being a waste of meat, Fitz openly gags.
"I'll help you drag back to town but don't expect me to eat it! Blech!"

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Pits!
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Drakkar pulls his arm away from Narramore’s aid, patting himself where his wounds have nearly healed. “I ain’t no old codger needin a hand every time I gets smacked down. But I know.....it’s just yer way, right?”

He looks at Max next while pushing a finger through one of the new holes in his armor. “I thank ye fer the help, friend. I never learned much bout no elf gods, but I appreciate em gettin me back on me feet again.”

At the nose turning of Fitz, the dwarf comments. “Ye’d be changing that tune a yers If ye was the one doin the starvin, Fitzy. Trust me on that one. I think them folks back at town would be mighty appreciative of this much meat. Why, them was some a the skinniest humans I ever seen.”

He helps the Paladin hoist the meat into the tree with a rope, shaking his head all the while as if it were a waste of time. “Well, at least it should be a might lighter ta carry once we return.”

Finally ready to move again, the grumpy dwarf looks at Dex with a frown as he swats 4 black flies on his arm with one whack of his thick mitt. “Shall we see what other trouble we can find, er what?”

Actions?

Dexter Broadleaf 15/15
Cornelius Fitzenbell 8/8 1/1 RM, DI
Sir William Narramore 12/12 LOH
Maximus Fleetfoot 8/8 (C) 0/2 (MU) 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Drakkar Deepcrag 7/11

[SirOwen]

Dexter Broadleaf

Dexter nods at Drakkar's words. "Aye."

Looking to Fitz, he continues, "Ready for some more scouting, Fitz? I think you're getting the hang of it real fast." He checks both of their camouflage again, and then heads back into the jungle, once again paralleling the trail.

[hedgeknight]

Fitzenbell

Fitz can't help but grin to see Drakkar jovial and even cracking jokes. This near death experience has done wonders for the dour Dwarf's personality.
To Dex he replies, "Sure thing, Dex. Let's go find some goop!"

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

Drakkar's grousing provokes a slight smile. The mountainous knight shrugs his armor-plated shoulders. "So it is, my friend." He sends the pair of scouts a quick look and notices them readying to resume their duties.

"Shall we trail after our stealthy comrades and see what sort of beast they feed us to next?" He cleans his blade on a tuft of grass and slides it into the sheath.

[Darklin2]

Max

We should take as much back as we can. If it spoiles i can purify it. It will feed several and people are dying there. Someone let me borrow a dagger. I want to see it there is anything in its stomach.

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Pits!
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy

While Dexter and Fitz begin re-stuffing their jungle camouflage, Max decides to cut open the snakes stomach.

Having little experience with such things, especially on a specimen this size, the spell caster starts cutting along the underside of the beast, dropping unrecognizable innards to the dirty ground with loud sounds of wet plopping and slurping.

The stench from this new mess is a magnet for the insects, who seem to swarm around all of the juicy snake insides.

Unless Max (or anyone else) has some unidentified skills in giant reptile anatomy, I will need a Hard Int roll to see if he can even locate the stomach in this sloppy mess.

Narramore and Drakkar watch in confusion, the dwarfs curiosity finally getting the best of him.

"If'n yer worried bout feedin this thing ta the town, why would ye go and dump all the most nutritious parts inta the dirt?"

Actions?

Dexter Broadleaf 15/15
Cornelius Fitzenbell 8/8 1/1 RM, DI
Sir William Narramore 12/12 LOH
Maximus Fleetfoot 8/8 (C) 0/2 (MU) 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Drakkar Deepcrag 7/11

[Darklin2]

Max

Max removes all the innards and dumps them on the ground. Moving the pile away from the snake to keep some of the insects off of the meat.

Good parts what are you talking about. Much like a human the intestines and the stomach are what holds all the disease and infectious parts that shouldn't be eaten. But the meat has to be cooled to keep it from spoiling, so by removing the innards it allows the meat to cool faster and all we have to do is roll it up to keep it clean. We can remove the head since that is where any poison glands would be located and we definitely shouldn't eat that part.


The stomach should have anything that it couldn't digest or breakdown. So if it would have eaten Drakkar anything he had that was magical would have been stuck in it's stomach or passed through the digestive trace. Same is true for most anything that lives, eats, and drinks, even these damned insects. So if it swallows something that it can't break down and it is to big to pass through it is stuck in the stomach.


Intelligence 18
[4d6] = 11 Intell Check

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

After going through the effort of hoisting the big beast off the ground to safeguard their kill from predators as much as possible, Narramore stands with a puzzled expression as Max decides to cut it open and dump the steaming entrails onto the jungle floor. He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it, a chuckle rumbling in his breast.

"Well. I'd have preferred to wait in the interest of not encountering feasting predators on our return journey, but it's done now. And our scouts have already moved into position to leave." He motions to Dex and Fitz heading into the jungle. "I'm heading after them. It's best if we stick together." He gives his gear a last-minute check and follows them at an appropriate distance.

[OGRE MAGE]

Drakkar harrumphs.

"Cool faster? Laddy, its a hunderd degrees in the shade. Cuttin them guts out aint gonna help cool that thing down!"

The surly dwarf pokes around at the gut pile with his foot for a moment.

"They also got a heart right? And a liver, and kidneys? Like most living beasts do? That's the stuff ye oughtta be protectin."

While Max cuts into the stomach, the dwarf slaps Narramore on his armored back and follows him towards the others.

"This boys too damn smart fer is own good. E's gonna be covered in guts and reeking up the ol' jungle now."

[Darklin2]

Max

Continues his investigation of the stomach. Really more interest in knowledge more than thinking about the organs. He cuts the stomach open and uses a stick to spread out the contents. Looking for anything of value. As the others walk away up the path.

Hey!! Well Hell. I guess if I find anything I'll keep it. Go on I'll catch up.

[1d6] = 1 Search

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Pits!
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Intent on investigating the huge snakes stomach content, Max let’s the others move on without him while he digs around in the half digested blobs of snake lunch. He finds shapes of what he thinks are two large jungle rodents, and a skeleton of what appears to be a large lizard of some kind. The stench from the insides is overwhelmingly nauseating and permeates the elf’s clothing and gear. The thousands of insects attracted by this jungle operation could be considered a plague at this point, making the task all the less enjoyable. Sadly, this snake doesn’t appear to have eaten any large magic items recently.

Scouting ahead, the lead pair doesn’t find anymore trouble along the tight trail, so they continue on. After what Dex estimates to be around 2 miles from the beach, the trail up ahead splits. The main branch continues heading due west, while another path heads north. (towards the maze) This northern trail looks far less used and quite overgrown.

Actions?

overall map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

Dexter Broadleaf 15/15
Cornelius Fitzenbell 8/8 1/1 RM, DI
Sir William Narramore 12/12 LOH
Drakkar Deepcrag 7/11

Maximus Fleetfoot 8/8 (C) 0/2 (MU) 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[SirOwen]

Dexter Broadleaf

Dex holds up a hand to stop Fitz. He leans over and whispers. "We should drop back and let the others know the trail splits here. If there is anyone around that means us ill, a crossroads, where we might stop to make decisions, might be a good spot to attack."

If Fitz agrees....

Dex takes a look around to make sure he will recognize the place again, and then starts backtracking towards the rest of the company, more aware than ever of his stealth.

Once he gets back, he tells the others about the split in the trail, the fact that the northern route of them looks a lot less used and probably more difficult.

[hedgeknight]

Fitzenbell

Fitz nods in agreement, ignoring the sweat he just flung off his face when he nodded. Nearly everything he owns feels soaked through and he wonders if he squishes when he walks. Taking a couple of chugs from his waterskin, he follows Dexter back to their group.

OOC: Was he able to recover any of his darts?

[SirOwen]

Good question. I figure Dex' sling bullet misses are long gone. What about the two Nat20's?

[Darklin2]

Max

After digging through the internal organs and finding nothing interesting he decides to press on. Takes off his cloak and uses it to clean himself up and leaves it on the trail by the entrance to the snake area. Then moves to catch up to the others.

[Paladin]

Apologies... I thought I'd already posted. Here we go.

Sir William Narramore

He watches the scouts returning, listens to their account of the trail ahead, and surveys the faces around him. "An easier, well-traveled path where we may move faster or an overgrown trail which will be more difficult to traverse but give us a better chance of avoiding contact with other travelers. What are your thoughts?" He looks to Dex and Fitz first, then the others.

[hedgeknight]

Fitzenbell

Fitz thinks for about half a second before blurting out, "I like travelers! Well-worn means no snakes! I'm voting for that one. Erm...is there one such?"