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Maag

Maag nods. "Yeah, let's get out of 'ere".

"We can worry about der tentacle fing tomorrow.
Fight it in der daytime when we can see wot we are doin'". He falls silent for a few moments, then throws out an idea.

"Wot about a dummy? Make it look like der is someone walkin' on der beach. Try and trick der fing into comin' out of it's 'ole".

Tlachtga

"I agree, time to go back. We deal with the other issues tomorrow after we rest up."

Andronichishche

As Andronichishche makes ready to leave, he looks up with a bemused expression at Maag's strategem. "That's very brave of you to volunt-..." He stops suddenly. "Oh!" Andron exclaims. "Yes, of course, a dummy." He clears his throat in embarassment. "Maybe we can take advantage of the ghouls' paralysis by luring or otherwise hauling one of those lacedon to the sea monster."

Lerrick

The cleric refuses to believe that the beaver is not tainted. She frowns even more in the fact that she doesn't know which of the two skinned beavers is the tainted one.

For the sea monster, what I'm thinking is Tlachtga can use a Snare spell to trap a ghoul. Then Maag and Gramble use bamboo and rope fashioned snare poles to control and corral it to the sea monster's trap (making sure its arms are free!). Get a tentacle to grab it and hopefully the ghoul strikes back and paralyzes the monster.


Ah, crap! The paralysis only affects humans and the like. Still works as a dummy, though.

Successful Hunting Trip
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Midday, Warm, Humid, Buggy

Calling for the cabin to revert back to its portable size, the group gets ready to leave this area and head back into town.

Giving the wooden cube back to Alordan, the ranger wonders if the cabin could be used as some kind of defense against dangerous monsters, which gives Maag an idea. He suggests that they could use some kind of a dummy or decoy to lure the monster on the beach out of its hole.

After a slight misunderstanding, the priest of Rao suggests that one of the lacedons could also be caught and used as a weapon against the shallow water sea monster they need to pass again on their return trip.

Gramble, Lerrick, and Tlachtga seem more eager to head back to town without going after any more paralyzing undead river monsters, but none of their group takes that first step back towards the beach.

Actions?

Gramble 17/24
Alordan 19/22
Andronichishche 10/11 0/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st
Lerrick 17/20 3/5 1st 2/4 2nd
Maag 14/17
Tlachtga 16/16 1/4 1st 0/3 2nd

Maag

"Right den, let's get out of 'ere", says Maag, shouldering his pack. "All dis meat is gonna go bad. It'll end up smellin' worse dan Gramble's codpiece".

Once they've started moving, Maag throws in his two coppers about the lacedons. "Dat is a very good idea. But we can't get one now. An' if we wanna get one tomorrow, we will 'ave to get past der tentacle fing again to go an' get it. Den fight der lacedons to capture one. Den fight der tentacle fing on der way 'ome". He shakes his head. "Dat is so complicated it makes my 'ead 'urt."

"I woz finkin' dat we could make dummies, like scarecrow. Drag dem around an' see wot 'appens."

Andronichishche

Andronichishche nods his head in agreement. Beads of sweat already forming on his brow from being outside the controlled environment of the magical hut. "Of course, Mr. Maag. I was not suggesting we attempt to capture a ghoul for the return trip. Just offering an ... enhanced alternative ... to your dummy suggestion." He falls into line, assuming his usual central position. "You are also correct about the logistics of such an endeavor. We can at least learn more with scarecrows before commiting to an attack."

Sorry, I think my IC/OOC were conflated. I'd like to try something new with my posts. An explicit OOC intended action, which I kinda started with the turn before.

Action: move south with the group to Beachtown.

Lerrick

The cleric raises and eyebrow at Maag's idea. Maag, great idea. Let's get back to town, rest up, and make the decoys quickly. I fear if we wait too long more villagers will fall prey to the tentacle beast.. She gathers her gear and readies herself with for a quick departure.

Tlachtga

Tlachtga follows along back to town.

Alordan follows along with the group back to town. "We can at least warn the town that the water at the river is dangerous now that there are those undead things. There is freshwater on the island, but we'd have to contend with the kobolds and the minotaur and the killer trees. Not sure if anyone else has found another water source yet"

The Danger Zone
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Wrapping the fresh meat as best they can to protect it from the bugs and the oppressive heat, the party decides to head back while they still have plenty of daylight.

After 2 hours pass, the first half of their journey along the beach goes by uneventfully, bringing them back to the area where they found the disturbance in the sand. The raised humps in the sand are still there, but the area looks disturbed and altered slightly since they were here last. Since it was pretty dark on their last visit, it is difficult to make out the changes precisely, but there appears to have been some foot traffic through this spot recently, and a foul smell of rot is easily detected from the center of the disturbed area.

Actions?

Gramble 17/24
Alordan 19/22
Andronichishche 10/11 0/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st
Lerrick 17/20 3/5 1st 2/4 2nd
Maag 14/17
Tlachtga 16/16 1/4 1st 0/3 2nd

Andronichishche

Andronichishche was quite relieved to be away from the river bank where the ghouls attacked. He was fairly sure they avoid sunlight, but was uncharacteristically, though understandably, not inclined to test that theory.

Gramble wrote: or we could capture one, cut off it's arms and legs, pin it to the wall and use it as a dart board back at the tree house.

"I suppose that's an option, although I think Randall would object to the smell," Andron replies. He wasn't accustomed to detecting sarcasm and assumed the bearded fighter was quite serious. Truth told, even if he was, Andron had learned to interpret the man's words literally. It was usually the safest choice.

Alordan wrote: "We can at least warn the town that the water at the river is dangerous now that there are those undead things. There is freshwater on the island, but we'd have to contend with the kobolds and the minotaur and the killer trees. Not sure if anyone else has found another water source yet"

"Agreed. For now, between Lerrick and I, we should be able to supply plenty of water for the town. The only other fresh water source I know of is on the island. The trees we can kill with Withering Venom. We still don't know where the kobolds are coming from, though. I also still need to study that diagram of the dais. If we can free Brutus from it, he may be inclined to help in return."

Andron frowns when the disturbed sand comes into view. The frown deepens when a foul odor of rot finds his nose. "It's probably not ghouls, at least not like the lacedon we encountered. They prefer water. Someone definitely passed through here recently, however. Maybe Gretchen's group killed it? Smells like something is rotting in the sand. If it was prey, why would the sea monster leave any portion to rot?"

Maag

Maag squints at the churned up sand. "I reckon dat it is tryin' to lure sumfin' else in, innit?"

"Fink about it: it's not like people are comin' down 'ere every day to be ate up. An der animals 'ave no reason to come down to der beach. Dey are not gonna drink der water are dey? So dat fing is gonna starve. Unless it puts sumfin' out der dat will attract sumfin' lookin' for a free meal".

Maag starts to trudge through the sand over towards the trees. "Come on. Let's take der long way around like we did dis mornin'." He looks back over his shoulder as he goes. "Prob'ley is Gretchen's lot. 'e ate most of dem an' left der short-arse. Not enough meat on 'im to be worth der effort".

Andronichishche

Andronichishche quickly shuffles ahead, following the thief. "You have a point," he says, eyeing the disturbed sand with suspicion. "If it had attacked her group ..." He pauses, struggling to think of a polite way to say it. "It can only eat so much, I suppose." Andron keeps glancing over his shoulder as they proceed, as if expecting a tentacle to burst forth from the sand at any moment.

Tlachtga

Tlachtga follows along. "Who knows, we can try and deal with it another day."

Gramble shrugs and follows with the party

Alordan examines the tracks for any clues as to what could have passed through here.