The Aftermath

[shaidar]

Xenos

"I say we ignore it and move on. The madman has been here longer than us and likely knows the dangers better, even if he is touched by the gods"

[Scott308]

Euripides Nereos

It might be his house and he doesn't want you going in there. Or, it might have something we could use but we'll never know if we don't check.

[Rex]

Drest

"I have no issue checking it out but would feel better with back up."

[OGRE MAGE]

Decisions...
Mid Morning, Cloudy, Cool

Drest returns to tell the others about the shack he saw along the trail. Despite the differing opinions about its use, the scout asks for a little backup once Val tells him to go check it out.

When Xenos mentions that their naked lunatic might be "touched by the gods", the man freaks out. He jumps around on the beach, waving his hands in the air as if he were shooing away flies. Then he gets right up into the warlock's greyish face, yelling loudly a few more discernable words. "Touched by the gods! Yes! Yes, you are!!!"

The kook flails and grabs at the Ixians idol still hanging around his neck, nearly snatching it away as he continues to spew nonsense. "Touched by the gods! TOUCHED BY THE GODS!!!" He continues shouting louder and louder.

Actions?

Apollonius AC:8 3/5 2/2
Valkrina AC:6 8/8 1/1
Drest AC:7 5/7
Euripides AC:5 7/7 2/2
Xenos AC:5 7/9 2/2
Hakon AC:4 8/9 1/1
overall map:

[shaidar]

Xenos dances back as the man swipes at the idol

Then as the lunatic starts to shout louder and louder Xenos summons his magic and commands him "Quiet!"

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

Will go forward with Drest and pokes the straw hut with his spear, pushing any door open.

"Hello" she says and looks in.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest will back up Val.

[Paladin]

Apollonius Triton

"I admit," Apollonius says, "that I'm curious what lies within." He shrugs. "Prudence advises against checking, but curiosity tells me otherwise."

[Scott308]

Euripides Nereos

Much more interested in what might be inside the house than the crazy guy outside, Euripides will enter the domicile and begin looking around.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Beach Hut
Mid Morning, Cloudy, Cool

"TOUCHED BY THE GODS YOU ARE!!! YES!!! TOUCHED BY THE G..." The madman's ravings are abruptly cut off by the sorceries of Xenos and his command for quiet. The crazed human moves to Euripides next, silently admiring the idol around his neck without trying to touch it.

The crew moves into the foliage together, drawing close to the hidden hut they found. Val's greeting isn't answered, so she pokes the rickety thatch door open with her spear to find a meager and rather messy abode beyond. By the smell of the interior, the prediction that the madman lives here seems accurate.

The tiny shack is dominated by a sleeping mat situated along one wall, a large and well worn wooden sailing chest along another, and heaps of other oddities scattered about including filthy clothing, bones and skulls (mostly animal), and a large collection of what appears to be assorted junk that has washed up on the beach.

Before anyone enters, the man points to himself and then points to the interior of the hut, as if to indicate that it is indeed his home.

Actions?

Apollonius AC:8 3/5 2/2
Valkrina AC:6 8/8 1/1
Drest AC:7 5/7
Euripides AC:5 7/7 2/2
Xenos AC:5 7/9 1/2 Command: 4
Hakon AC:4 8/9 1/1
overall map:

[Rex]

Drest

Drest will look around for any maps or documents, he is only interested in something that will help them find out about the area. He makes drawing signs to the madman and and starts looking around. "Maps is what I am looking for, share?"

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

Still in her Onja headdress, brushing the wilting leaves from her forehead. "Give him some ale Hakon. It might lubricate his senses or at least alleviate any fears." She suggests searching his meagre belongings to see if he had anything if value that we could trade for. She is reluctant to just steal his stuff and neither taking him with us to wherever we go appeals. She looks for anything sextant or compass like, things useful for sailing.

[Scott308]

Euripides Nereos

Realizing the hut belongs to the crazy man, Euripides is not that interested in entering. He's not going to steal anything from the unfortunate soul, and he doesn't feel it is likely he has anything to trade for. He'll stay outside, keeping an eye out for anyone or anything else that might be heading their way.

[shaidar]

Xenos

With little interest in the lunatics hut, Xenos joins Euripides is taking up a guard position while the others investigate.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Beach Hut
Mid Morning, Cloudy, Cool

The crazed human seems eager to object to anyone entering his hut, but his complaints in gibberish remain silent by the graces of Xenos magical command. (This of course foils any response to the scouts question as well.) He pulls at arms, trying to divert any intruders away from the entrance, but does so in a non-violent manner, for now. The purloiner and warlock remain outside, watching out for any danger and keeping the upset man in check, though he does watch closely anyone who enters.

A quick search of the interior of the shack reveals nothing of value. Drest doesn't see any books or paper of any kind, and their are no tools or other items that would aid a seafaring voyage. Most of the huts contents seem to be comprised of rotting flotsam that eventually washed ashore. While Val stares at the unopened chest, Drest takes one more look through the gathered pile of beach trinkets. Under a mass of knotted old fishing line, he spots a piece of flat tree bark with what appears to be moss, twigs, pebbles, and seashells stuck all over it. In the center of the bark, on an elevated hump, sits a rectangle piece of driftwood, about the size of the scouts thumb.

Hakon responds to the bards comment about giving the crazed man some of his healing ale. "My ale must be drank as soon as I create it, before it wanes in potency. It is nothing more than plain ale now, and I wont waste a drop of it on this insane fool. I will be keeping the remainder for myself." Seeing the topographical diagram Drest found, the runegraver continues. "What have you found there, Drest? Bring it out here so we may all look upon it."

Actions?

Apollonius AC:8 3/5 2/2
Valkrina AC:6 8/8 1/1
Drest AC:7 5/7
Euripides AC:5 7/7 2/2
Xenos AC:5 7/9 1/2 Command: 2
Hakon AC:4 8/9 1/1

[Rex]

Drest

Drest will carefully examine the map and see if he can determine what some are of the things are. "We need to find something to copy this onto, maybe some bark?"

[Bluetongue]

Valkrina

She praises the madman's creativity in producing an island map. She tries to draw some lucid conversation out of him by drawing figures in the sand. A boat, a canoe, an Onja stick native, a Viking horned helm. She tries to get him to understand that she wants information about the island and if boats are nearby, the centre driftwood represents a village? Temple?

Valkrina hard intelligence check vs 8 [4d6]=15 I think she might struggle to make her intentions understood. Maybe Apollonius has more skill?

[Scott308]

Euripides Nereos

Euripides continues to watch for trouble.

[shaidar]

Xenos remains on watch.

[Paladin]

Apollonius Triton

The mage examines their "touched" companion and watches Valkrina attempt to communicate. He purses his lips and ponders, then looks into the man's eyes. "Peace, brother," he says quietly. The Atlantean places a hand upon the madman's shoulder and shows him the idol with his free hand.

"We are gods-touched, too. They brought us through a watery death to this place. The sea crashed and whirled, but here we are." He smiles softly.

"Do boats come here often? Ships?" He'll repeat the attempt to draw them in the sand, including natives and Vikings. "My drawing leaves a bit to be desired," he mumbles. "But perhaps it will serve."

In case a check of some flavor is required, I rolled these.

[3d6]=14, [4d6]=10, [5d6]=16