Quest #31 "Jungle Beaver"

[ravenn4544]

Alordan shrugs, "we only ever encountered the one - at least I hope it was just the one. It was huge. Almost twice the size of a man...." He tries to get a good luck at the marks on the sand as they approach - tracks or clues or whatnot. "I wonder if that dwarven ship would have had something to do with this? That could pull something off the beach I suppose."

[wolfpack]

Anyone have an idea what this sea monster is? gramble says looking at andron

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"No, but it must be huge to have done this."

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting For Experience
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Very Early Morning, DARK, Warm, Misty, Humid

In the pitch black darkness of early morning, the hunting party continues to deal with the onslaught of insects that literally fills the air at night here. From a safe distance, Andron calls forth Rao's magical light to illuminate the area above the disturbance in the sand, attracting even more of the miserable gnats, fleas, flies, and every other winged insect one could think of. The new light off in the distance does work well to give the group a little better view of their surroundings, however. There is a slight splashing noise near the lapping surf once the light is cast, but there doesn't appear to be anything in the water at the edge of the shoreline.

Alordan cant see any specific tracks form a distance, and as far as he knows, there was only the one sea scrag that called this area its home. This exact area, in fact. The ranger wonders aloud if the dwarves and their ugly ship had anything to do with the strange disturbance on the beach. Maag wonders if there is a safe area to skirt the tracks and mounds of sand at the edge of the tree line, but that spot is currently shrouded in darkness.

Lerrick looks towards the shadows of the dark trees of the jungle, but since it is currently almost completely dark outside, she thinks better about getting an aerial view just yet.

Actions?

position map:

D7E535F5-2B5B-419A-A297-A95654C0B4A9.jpeg (65.34 KiB) Viewed 635 times

Gramble 20/24 Light stone 40'
Alordan 21/22
Andronichishche 10/11 3/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st Light:80
Lerrick 19/20 5/5 1st 4/4 2nd Light stone 40'
Maag 16/17
Tlachtga 15/16 4/4 1st 3/3 2nd Light stone 40'

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Before casting his spell, Andron responds to Maag and Gramble's queries. "I haven't learned anything specifically about what kind of sea monster it is, only that it killed a farmer and a town guard. It's entirely possible those tracks are a lure, but that seems beyond the guile of a sea troll's intelligence."

After completing the spell and the magical light blooms in the distance, he points at a spot in the water past the shoreline. "Wait! Did you hear that? It sounded like something splashing in the water, startled by the light? I fear you may be correct, Mr. Maag, that this is a trap." He strains to look in the nearby trees now for signs of the trap used to slay the sea troll. "Mr. Alordan, if I recall correctly, a log was used in the trap for the troll? Perhaps we could roll it down from the treeline to trigger and hinder any ambush."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"I am not sure it will work for am ambush but when we move forward I will cast Detect Snares and Pits."

When the move closer to the drag marks she casts Detect Snares and Pits, 4 round duration, 10 yard wide 40 yards long, outdoors detects all forms of traps.

Spell slot struck.

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric points her glow stone light source apparatus towards the direction of the commotion. As the druid casts her spell the cleric follows close to her providing light so the druid can see any potential traps. The light from the glow stone and Andron's spell, the cleric hopes will be enough.

[wolfpack]

Gramble moves along axe ready

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Definitely a trap," asserts Maag. "Dat splash out der? It's watchin' us. Waitin' fer us to walk right into der ambush".

"We're better off goin' around dis bit. Cuttin' under der trees is a bit risky, but it won't take long. An' definitely not as dangerous as dat." He points at all the mounds and drag marks.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Go ahead and lead the way Maag, I will follow close enough my magic can detect out in front of you."

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag nods. "Right den". Drawing 'arry der Bastard Sword, he heads for the trees. He aims to skirt the whole area by at least thirty feet on every side. He tries to keep a wary eye on the branches above in case of an unpleasant lurking surprise.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche studies the mounds and tracks for several moments, noting that they extend clear to the edge of the beach where the well worn trail has been pressed into the soft sand from numerous trips to the river and back. "I don't disagree with your logic, Mr. Maag, but we cannot allow whatever that is in the water to ambush the water bearers from town. See how the tracks reach to the trail itself?"

He points to the section of the packed sand path where the the disturbances in the sand intersect. "Bypassing it through the jungle would be very difficult and dangerous for them bearing casks of water." His expression mirrors the conflict in his mind at the dilemma, but seems to accept for now Maag's suggestion as he gestures for the former thug to lead the way in blazing a trail through the jungle.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag pauses to consider Andron's point. Then he gestures back at the churned up sand again. "Wotever it is, it looks like it grabs fings on der beach an' drags dem into der water. If we fight it, we are gonna be fightin' where it wants, der way it wants." He stares at the trees for a long moment, then back at the water.

"Look...'ow does dis sound? We tie a couple of ropes to wotever people want to walk across der. Den tie der ropes to der trees. If someone gets grabbed, it's gonna be ''arder to drag dem away. Den der rest of us can run in an' start choppin' it up". Maag looks at der group. "Wot der yer fink?"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Its an option, but who is the bait?"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche visibly pales and glances at Lerrick upon hearing Maag's suggested plan. The memory of Lerrick almost pulled apart entwined with a killer tree's vine recalled in vivid detail. "I am rather uncomfortable using any of us as bait. I do concur it's likely the monster has appendages buried in the sand to grasp at prey, though. Similar to the killer trees on the island, actually. However, the beast could easily swim away to escape our assault."

He looks again towards the area of jungle where he had heard a trap was constructed to slay the sea scrag. "Consider this ... one or two of us can bait an attack by using poles to keep such distance so only one of its limbs can reach. When it emerges, we tie a rope to it tethered from a tree. That way, we can deal with the other limbs and the monster is prevented from fleeing."

[ravenn4544]

Alordan looks out at the frothing water.."I have a bad feeling about this..."

[OGRE MAGE]

Hunting For Experience
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Very Early Morning, DARK, Warm, Misty, Humid

Maag is sure that the way around this obstacle is through the thick jungle. He leads the others closer to the trail where Tlachtga calls upon the powers of the Old Faith, giving her the ability to detect any hazards they may face. The druidess sees nothing that registers as a natural trap.

A few steps into the unrelenting jungle, the group notices that the flying insects aren’t nearly as bad, but by their magical light sources, they can now see hundreds of creepy crawlers bouncing around and wiggling along on the ground under foot. All manner of unpleasant insects can be spotted on every branch, frond, or leaf they pass. The cacophony is deafening. If it seemed loud and annoying out on the open beach, the noisy assault is even worse here in the thick bush.

Just as they are about to blaze a trail through the horror, Andron reminds the others that the water gatherers in town will likely need to pass this way again eventually, surmising that it might be wise to deal with this problem along the trail now, so nobody unaware falls into danger. Several suggestions are voiced about how to deal with the situation, while some express their concerns.

Actions?

position map:

Gramble 20/24 Light stone 40'
Alordan 21/22
Andronichishche 10/11 3/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st Light:79
Lerrick 19/20 5/5 1st 4/4 2nd Light stone 40'
Maag 16/17
Tlachtga 15/16 3/4 1st 3/3 2nd Light stone 40' DS&P:8

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche gazes in wonder and horror at the seething mass of insects carpeting the jungle floor, every visible leaf, branch, and tree trunk crawling with all manner of vermin. Nothing in his life within the walls of Niole Dra could prepare him for such an alien site to his eyes. He nervously clears his throat as he peers into the gloomy darkness beyond their magical light. "Mr. Maag? Perhaps we should reconsider this course of action?" He winces as his next step crushes several large beetles, the collapsing carapaces clearly felt even through his boot.

He stops and points to the nearest mound to the packed sand trail. "I propose we tether a rope, or three, to a large tree. Yourself, Mr. Gramble, and Mr. Alordan take position near to that small dune. Miss Lerrick, Miss Tlachtga, and myself will then probe that area of the sand using the poles. Assuming that provokes an appendage loose, you three then quickly grapple it and tie the ropes, preventing its escape."

Andron then seems to recall something as he pauses to pull a journal from his pack. He flips through a few pages before finding what he's searching for. "Aha! Yes, I remember now. I recorded some rumors, and this particular one seems relevant to the situation ..."

An Underwater cave was spotted just off shore

• It may be the home of a large tentacled beast. Tread carefully on the beach.

He closes the leather bound book, stows it away, and stares off into the shrouded Azure sea. "That thing in the water is likely that tentacled beast, its limbs stretched across the beach to snare passing prey. That cave, if it is indeed its lair, may contain treasure from previous victims.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"But der fing about tentacles," points out Maag, " is dat dey are slimy, spongy, an' ficker at one end dan der uvver. An' dey move around a lot. I don't reckon a rope will stay on."

"I reckon a net would be a better fing to use."

"An' 'ow do you know," he says, warming to his theme, "dat you will find der first tentacle dat is buried out der? Der free of you might end up standin' in der middle of six of dem. Den you all get grabbed an' dragged into der water."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche, having never actually seen a creature with tentacles, could only concede to Maag's logic. He swats away several crawling ... things ... climbing the lower half of his robe. "That's a good point about the rope. Do we have a net, or something of equal utility? The poles are rather long already, but we could instead lash them together to increase our effective probing range." He then places a hand on a large nearby tree trunk and turns his head to look back at the half-orc. "A log of suitable size might hold a tentacle down, especially if lured onto the packed sand of the trail."