It is a warm morning and the cool ocean breeze carries with it the smell of sea salt. Up above, the bright blue sky is spotless, not a single cloud marring its pristine canvas. The cream-colored sand on the crescent-shaped beach gives way easily, its texture a mix of softness and warmth. The rustle of tropical jungle trees can be heard not too far, interrupted only by the faint crashing of low waves and the distant screech of seagulls.
@Krodhen: Last night’s storm was fierce. Your father’s crew struggled to properly handle the ship and a considerable portion of the meager spoils from the latest raid were lost to the sea. The captain dealt with it in his usual way: harsh punishment for the crew and a little extra dose for you, his son, who always seems to be at blame for something in your father’s eye. The storm was still fully raging when he forced you to walk the plank; a decision so rushed he even forgot to order the crew to strip you of your belongings. Thankfully, one of your keepsakes happens to be an enchanted ring which allows you to walk on water. Without it, you may have drowned in the rough storm sea. With it, you made you way to the nearest beach mostly unharmed and still clutching most of your belongings. It took you some time to fall asleep on the sand, but eventually exhaustion took you. When you woke up, you were far from alone. A second castaway laid on the beach several feet away from you, a red dragonborn by the looks of it and clearly from a different ship than yours. Perhaps more intriguing, two other humanoids stood at the beach looking at you from a distance. One was a fully equipped kobold and the other was… something else… perhaps a water elf. They didn’t seem hostile, and you could use some temporary allies at least until you find your way out of whatever island this is.
@Hun: The day started well. You and your latest companion, a blue-skinned sailor with a penchant for song, had finally convinced the captain of the ship you had been traveling with to let you go. That could be quite a celebratory occasion by itself, but the half-elf captain also had sailed to the outskirts of the very island you had been looking for over the past several months. It was no easy task arriving here, and convincing the captain, even with the help of a silver-tongued ally, was perhaps the easiest part. You had hopped from ship to ship for a while, contacted your informants within the Harpers and called in favors, and even went overboard once while aboard a ship called the Wagtail. But now, here you are, on the island named the Snout of Omgar, where your query, Volothamp Geddarm, is rumored to have been traveling to when he was last seen. However, even with the help of your newest bard friend and your trusty goggles, your search for Volo may have to wait a tidbit. After being delivered to the nearest beach via rowboat, you noticed that two people were laying on the sand, possibly the result of ill-fate during last night’s storm. And what’s more, you recognized one of them, a broad-shouldered dragonborn who used to sail in the Wagtail all those years ago. Well, the more allies you can collect in your search the better your chances, right?
@Kairus: The good captain of the Escape, Tobsin Sharel, had finally come good on his promise to deliver you to the Snout of Omgar. Ever since the newest cabin boy told you about the interesting lost temple in the island you knew that it was there that your next landbound adventure awaited. You have spent the last several years breaking with your people’s custom of looking down on what land-dwellers have to offer, and whatever challenges this temple may hold seem like a great way to continue that tradition of yours. After saying your goodbyes to the crew of the Escape in the form of song, of course, with the help of your most valued treasure, you and the kobold cabin boy hopped on a rowboat and were delivered to the nearest beach. There, you were met with your first surprise. Two castaways had already been dozing under the sun on those sands. Well, the rowboat had already left, as had the Escape, so perhaps these folk are interested in the temple too. The more the merrier, as these land-dwellers say.
@Yulmiath: The Wagtail was already an old ship when you joined the crew and you have learned that its sailors always enjoyed acquiring and spending loot more than going through the motions of reaching good raiding locations. There was always a loose knot here, a shifting crate there, an occasional small fire to put out. During last night's diluvial storm, all of this negligence culminated into a terrible catastrophe. The Wagtail sunk, its captain didn’t make it, and most if not all of the crew has now descended to their watery grave. Luckily, you had the clairvoyance to snatch the captain’s magical cloak as you swam to safety, which also allowed you to collect as many supplies as you could fit in you pack and person while moving. You don’t remember arriving at the beach, but here you are now. There’s another castaway here, a half-orc it seems, though he is not nearly as wet as you are. And then, there is this blue-skinned… half-elf, maybe, just there staring at you. Next to him, wait a minute… is that the crazy kobold that went overboard back then? He had sailed with you in the Wagtail for some time. Too smart to be a simple cabin boy. He always had a good conversation in him. Maybe he can think of a way to get out of this island so you can finally retire from your pirating days.
@Rhogal: Your clan insisted on you going on your solo mission, traversing the world in search of promising fungi. You have made good progress on that mission but are not quite satisfied just yet. Your most recent travels had brought you to the Jungles of Chult, albeit somewhat accidently through a convoluted story involving an empty crate, angry sailors, and accusations of being a stowaway. Thankfully, you didn't misplace your precious pulverized mold in the confusion. After wandering through Port Nyanzaru for a while, you came across an interesting turtle-like humanoid who listened to your stories and shared some of his own. His name is Kwilgok, and his mount is a cantankerous ankylosaurus named Deadly Treasure. Stories of his homeland piqued your interest and descriptions of an abandoned temple in the tortle island hinted at a potentially humid and dark place ideal for the growth of mushrooms. After you asked him to guide you to the island, the Snout of Omgar as he called it, Kwilgok promised to lead you to his home settlement and even waved the guide fee if you promised to rid the temple of its nasties while searching for your mushrooms in there. The journey to Ahoyhoy, his settlement of origin, is almost done now. In fact, you are now traversing one of the closest beaches to the settlement. It is then that you come across a group of four strangers, all looking like they need either help or information. There should be no harm in letting them join you, Kwilgok, and Deadly Treasure on the short trip to Ahoyhoy, right?
@All: Some time has passed since the seven of you (including Kwilgok and Deadly Treasure) have met; perhaps somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. During that time, initial introductions have taken place, and you have all agreed to travel together to the nearby settlement of Ahoyhoy, the only of its kind in the island. However, Kwilgok is a professional guide and he’ll charge you for delivering you to Ahoyhoy. His price is 6gp, it includes a map of the island for you to keep, and he promises that you’ll arrive by nightfall. Rhogal is exempt from this charge, as he has his own separate arrangement with the tortle. So, Hun, Kairus, Krodhen, and Yulmiath will have to put together these 6gp.
(OOC: Please go ahead and take this opportunity to describe what your characters look like for the benefit of the other players and myself. Separately, please open the spoiler below to see Kwilgok’s introduction card. You may ignore the “payment of 30 days in advance” bit.)
For Hun, encountering Yulmiath had been both an unexpected blessing, and a promise of having to endure an awkward explanation regarding his survival. Granted, there was nothing to feel guilty over surviving, and memories of the dragonborn never implied expectations of overthinking the hows and whys of the situation back then. No, it was always the Kobold that tended to overthink things a tad. T'was in part why he'd survived in the first place, as whatever free could be spent during the old Wagtail days had been put towards designing a prototype anti-death-by-copious-amounts-of-water device, and field testing it for the first time during the incident.
Thinking back, it was a shame it practically blew up after fulfilling its purpose, taking with it any chances of figuring out the last minute add-on that -- Whoops! Hun startled, nearly dropping the long neck pipe hanging from his maw in the sudden realization of being quiet for too long. Yet for all the immediate panic, Hun calmed quickly and approached Yulmarith, calling out his name with arms open wide for a hug in a show of his old cheeriness and warmth. Which was maybe about seventy to eighty percent genuine, but noone needed to know the exact numbers. That's why so many kobold barely make it past the eleven day mark of adulthood!
To Yulimaith at least, Hun had hardly aged a day since they last met. The white scales covering his body still bore a dingy tint in places from age and grime of heavy toil. He looked the part too in his patchwork tunic, jacket, and pants. The pipe and half-metal scraps and half leather satchel were a new addition though, and the goggles appeared to have been upgraded to some extent in their time apart. Then there were bandages wrapped partway along the tail. But other than that, Hun was probably still the only white Kobold he'd seen, and one of the few Kobold that bothered with more than a loincloth and a belt.
During the 30 to 60 minutes of getting reacquainted, Hun more than happily shares in events of the past if prodded. But, is otherwise just as happy to listen and offer some perhaps long overdue advice. Regarding the end of Wagtail, there's no look of surprise from the Kobold. Without him around jury rigging things in the background, and pretending to cause small incidents to alert the crew of major faults in need of desperate repair, it was always a matter of time. Though, if in part for the sake of appearances, he does apologize for not finding his way back to the crew before the end.
With all of that said and out of the way, the time eventually came to 'deal' with Kwilgok. Despite being short on coin, Hun always had a plan in mind. But with his boy Yully back in the picture, well... best he followed the Dragonborn's lead as usual, and resolve to play the 'good constable' if necessary. Just like the old days.
Imagery:
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Oh, you know that flotsam?" Kairus cheerfully followed Hun to the couple of wash-ups. "Glad to see you are alright. Can help a bit if you are not. Need some water?" The inability of the land-dwellers to utilize saltwater was something that never ceased to amaze Kairus. Eventually, he remembered the severe disability of his brothers and sisters on the ship and learned to keep a waterskin on him.
The lad could pass for a sea-elf if anyone of his new friends saw one. A bit bluer, greener, definitely more "scalier" and with quite obviously webbed bare feet and hands with the long but strong fingers. His smile was a bit toothy but friendly, honest and contagious. Well-fitted armour had a blue hue to it too (that was half the reason Kairus never had any money. The other half - his carelessness with the valuables. The only thing he truly cherished was his cittern.) The rest of the clothes and the backpack were quite ordinary, for a change, even the small rock with the hole that he wore around his neck on the leather cord, was of the kind that every second sailor had. The instrument, though, was quite impressive. Kairus kept it on the open and anyone could see the beautifully decorated lacewood body with the design reminding of the wind, fog or seafoam, or all at once. All and all that was not something a simple sailor normally carries around.
"Family heirloom," would answer Kairus should anyone ask about the origin of the instrument. And judging by the tone and an open smile it was an absolute truth. He would gladly play - the boy was obviously proud both of the instrument and his ability to play (he was good, you could grant him that). And the sound of the instrument was every bit as beautiful as the look.
When the turtle asked for the money, Kairus turned out his pockets but all he could find was a handful of coins for about 2-2,5 gold altogether. "Never know where they are going," declared lad shrugging and smiling, "but they all yours. Now, how do you feed that thing?" Ankylosaurus fascinated young sailors and for a while, he was lost in a conversation about the dinosaurs.
The surprises had rolled up on Yulmiath in threes this morning. First off, he wasn't dead. This was by far and away the most surprising of the three, and if he was pressed on the matter, it was without doubt his favourite.
Waking on the fine sand of a tropical beach would have been a beautiful treat in other circumstances but given the detritus of The Wagtail was spread all over the place, it sadly reminded him that last night had been real and not a nightmare as he hoped for a moment after waking. Picking through some of the leavings, Yulmiath pulled a few choice items out to add to the meagre belongings he had managed to take with him from The Wagtail. His top find was a pair of sturdy leather boots, surprisingly a good fit and a welcome one given his usual bare feet unlikely to cut it in the jungle.
Given that none of the clothing washed ashore was likely to fit him, Yulmiath opted to keep his ragged breeches and linen shirt. Looking down at the torn sleeves of his shirt, Yulmiath opts give each a sharp tug, ripping the sleeves away from the shirt and letting them fall to the sand of the beach. This was when the second surprise arrived. Looking around the beach, Yulmiath realised he wasn't alone.
Pulling his belongings together and stuffing them into a nearby pack, Yulmiath put a hand to the haft of his great axe. Better to be safe than sorry, especially as he didn't recognise his beach mate from the crew of The Wagtail. He had spotted another ship on the seas these past few days and while he hadn't clocked its name, he recognised the colours of a fellow sea-hunter. Giving a wave of acknowledgement, Yulmiath decided to let his neighbour have some time to gather his own belongings and thoughts.
The third surprise came in the form of two new visitors to the beach. At this rate a burgeoning township was likely to erupt from the sand at any minute! But in honesty the two newcomers were not all that surprising in and of themselves. Yulmiath had come across enough wrecks in his time to recognise that islanders were not likely to give up on the prospect of free cargo; few he had met in his travels would. But as the pair drew closer, Yulmiath could dear he recognised one of them! A small white kobold had served on The Wagtail many moons ago before being washed overboard and assumed drowned. The kobold had been a competent enough sailor; small and quick were prized assets on a ship, worth just as much as strength or the ability to smell a storm brewing. The kobold had been a dab hand at maintaining the ship too, quick to spot work that needed doing before it was beyond repair. Yulmiath wasn't ashamed to say he had missed the kobold, although had to admit he couldn't place his name...
Happily Yulmiath doesn't have to wait long for introductions (Han? No! Hun! That little kobold is Hun) and is happy to let the others take the lead, although will offer up three pieces of information. First, his name. Second, that he sailed on The Wagtail, and three, that he is now seeking alternative employment. Joining the others in journeying to Ahoyhoy seems like a good first step. They seem formidable in their own right, have a guide, and there's safety in numbers provided he can outrun one of them if things get dicey.
Looking into his own purse, he snatches out what gold and silver he has and offers it to the communal pot (1gp, 9sp). Getting somewhere he can find work, or another ship, or a mark he relieve of their purse will soon replenish it.
As the party drifts towards their path, Yulmiath turns, looking out over the sea. Cursing Umberlee for her fickle nature and for the loss of his ship and crew mates, he spits three times towards the surf and hopes he isn't the only survivor.
Rhogal is a rather stout dwarf, with white hair and beard. He wears some simple leathers and it always seems he is covered in some sort of dust. He uses a quarterstaff as a walking stick as he walks a lot and uses it to ease the burden somewhat. At the end of the staff is a bit of mistletoe. In his bag is a collection of different species of mushrooms, each wrapped in some parchment to prevent cross-contamination of spores from one species to another.
"Y'see? This is why I don' like them boats! Shite like this tends ta happen!" he says to his guide, regarding the new arrivals.
As he gestures, some of the dust on him can be briefly seen coming off of him.
He scans those who washed up and those who climbed out of the rowboat. He eyes hesitate a moment when he sees a half-orc among them, but tries to hide it.
After introductions, he takes a few giant puffball mushrooms out of his bag, "After coming ta this land the way ya all did, ya might something ta eat, aye?"
(OOC: I looked it up, and yes, giant puffballs are safe to eat. Just be sure to cut them open before cooking them.)
Krodhen it seems has spent most of the time on the beach, head between his knees in silent contemplation of the all that has happened in his life, followed by the revelations of the past week, a stillness to his reflection that would probably put any observer on edge. It is only after an inordinate amount of time that his head snaps up and takes it the surroundings, seemingly surprised to find himself not alone on the beach.
Warily, his had automatically grabs at the hilt of his sword, but after a few seconds drops away as he assesses each of his fellow beach fellows to be not much of a threat, instead calling out to them "Hail strangers, it is an odd coincidence that would find so many strangers sharing this beach, what ill fate has brought you all here" only then noticing the detritus scattered around them might make such an event plausible, but waiting for a response nonetheless.
Krodhen will wait to hear their response, and, if pressed, we share the following "As to how I came here, that is a tale long in the making, and one that will not be shared lightly. For now, be it known that my captain ordered me overboard, for reasons that he will carry to his grave. His act has freed me from chains I did not fully appreciate that bound me to his ship, and for that I am happy. One life has ended and another begun this day. I am Krodhen, and perhaps we might find safety in numbers, at least for now." and with an air of authority adds "The day is a wasting, no sense idling it away" and with that he
Krodhen's appearance may disturb those seeing him for the first time, his heritage obviously one of mixed race, his gray skin, prominent jaw, black eyes and small tusks marking him of orcish heritage, but for those that choose to speak to him, it is apparent that he is educated and used to being given respect, and is oddly charismatic for one of his race, standing at close to 6 1/2 feet and clad in fine chainmail armor, sporting a finely crafted longsword and shield.
With regards the guide services offered, Krodhen knows all too well the value in keeping contacts happy, and will dip into his hidden coin purse to extract any balance due, slipping an additional 2 silver to him, adding quietly as he does so "It is not much, but it is given in good faith, may it keep your eyes peeled and mouth shut"
OOC: Let me know the balance due to get it to 6gp, 2sp
His growling stomach exposing his empty belly, Yulmiath accepts a slice of puffball with thanks but waits until the dwarf who offered it pops a slice in his own mouth. All mushrooms are edible, but some are only edible once.
Chewing the offered fungus slowly, Yulmiath cannot help but suspect that he'd have been better off with a piece of bark; at least it might have offered some flavour. Still it meant he didn't have to dig into his own supplies.
"Man you know how to talk!" Kairus was listening to Krodhen's speech with genuine admiration. The look of the half-orc did not bother young triton the slightest (and the same could be said about anyone in the present company - deep-dwellers are used to deal with things dry-landers see only in their worst nightmare). Now, if anyone would resemble a dragon-turtle, that could ... no, still not scary but definitely catching attention. Alas, even Kwilgok was at worst a relative to the harmless sea turtles.
The life story of the half-orc was quite moving, though. "Life can be tough." Kairus nodded with a full understanding of the parent's problem (maybe not to such a degree - definitely not! - but he could relate to the subject). "Here, let me play for you."
Whether it was his talent or the magnificent instrument but the music was indeed calming and somehow did not take away from the ambient sound of a tropical paradise but enhancing it. Kairus only stopped for eating (with much curiosity) the offered piece of mushroom.
"Now, if our future guide is satisfied, to Ahoyhoy! By the way, do you know anything about the temple there?"Triton's eyes were gleaming with curiosity. "Heard it's quite old and quite abandoned, but that is all I know."
While no stranger to eating mushrooms Hun still shook his head in rejection of the offer. Side-eying Yulmiath after, he cannot help but give a solid nod of approval. About the only thing not accounted for might've been dwarf's resilience to poison, thus making sure he ate the shroom build up a false sense of security. But, Hun was more than confident about being able to handle any surprises there, and at request could've -- perhaps even should've offered to flavor and treat the mushroom. Ah well!
"Don't worry, Mr. Yuly. Once we reach our destination, I'm sure we can scrap together something more palatable to your noble taste buds."He chimed in."Speaking of destinations. Shall we be off then?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(@MB: Your bill adds up to 1gp and 8sp, including the tip. That's assuming that @Blue is paying 2gp and 5sp and @MB is paying 1gp and 9sp.)
After Kwilgok makes his offer, Hun shimmies sideways such that Yulmiath is now between the kobold and the tortle. Even tough the kobold expects the dragonborn to respond on behalf of the group, Kairus is the first one to make any sort of attempt to meet the quoted price. Searching his pockets, the triton offers whatever coins he can muster. The gesture is promptly repeated by the dragonborn, but an awkward silence of sorts follows after that.
Rhogal is the one who breaks it. Not having to worry about the guide's charge, the dwarf offers instead a snack to his newfound fellow travelers. Some seen more suspicious than others. A couple of them even accept the treat, strange texture and all. Kwilgok smiles: "He offered me some of that during our travels and I have yet to accept. You lot are either brave or stupid... or both."This conversation leads Kairus to ask about Deadly Treasure's diet, which is simply addressed with the words: "With plants, mostly."
Krodhen is the last one to come to terms with their collective current situation. Nonetheless, he is the next one to offer payment for the guide's services, even throwing in a little extra in hopes of buying the tortle's silence. Kwilgok shrugs, accepts the terms, and collects all the offered coins. Kairus plays a tune to seal the deal (and help out Krodhen a bit) and places a follow-up question about a temple. Kwilgok responds: "The temple is not in Ahoyhoy. You'll have to travel south to find it."The conversation is cut short when Hun requires, in the form of a question, that the paid for service begins being delivered. Kwilgok shrugs a second time and confirms: "We shall."Yulmiath is sure to spit into the ocean three times before the group starts moving, but soon they are off.
The pleasant weather and view make the trek more bearable, almost to the point where time seems to pass quickly, even if walking on sand takes more of an effort than walking on sturdier ground. By the time the morning begins to turn into the afternoon, the group has made its way to one end of the long, crescent-shaped beach. Sand gives momentary way to low grasses and the walk begins to slope upward ever so gently. It is obvious that Kwilgok is avoiding the jungle that is ever present to the group's left side. The group soon walks past some tall rocks jutting out of the ocean and finds some shade where to rest for a short while. Stomachs begin to complain about the lack of a mid-day meal and the shady side of these rocky protrusion offers the best location in sight for an impromptu luncheon.
-> Everyone should deduct 1 ration from their inventory. It counts for the food you eat throughout the day, not just this meal, as well as generally minor supplies (e.g., a bit of cordage, some fabric, etc.) that you may also use throughout the day.
The change in terrain doesn't last. As the group begins to descend the grassy patch into another crescent-shaped beach, Kwilgok points to the horizon, trying to make out some sort of circular structure in the distance: "That's Ahoyhoy for you. We'll reach it before sunset, if all goes well."
All goes well for a while. Somewhere near the middle point of this second beach, the group comes across some pools of water in the sand. They look like the type that is temporary, and Kwilgok explains that although they may be a bit deeper than you expect, the water will evaporate within hours or make their way back to the ocean as all wave-water eventually does. There are many of these pools about and the group soon finds itself surrounded by them while trying to find a path in the drier sand. Kwilgok suddenly calls for the group to stop as Deadly Treasure lets a cry out; not one of pain but as a warning. Water sprits upwards as another large reptile, although not as large as Deadly Treasure, rises from one of the pools. Soon, two others appear, their back crests rising well above their heads. It would appear the three dinosaurs were wallowing in the shallow pools of water, even submerging themselves for a respectful amount of time. Now, they rise, look at the party, and begin to assume defensive positions. Deadly Treasure does not like being so close to three other dinosaurs, and Kwilgok is having a bit of trouble handling his beast. In between gasps, he looks at the group and says only one word: "Dimetrodons"
(OOC: The three dimetrodons are preparing for a fight, but have not attacked just yet. Each of you should tell me what you are doing in this situation considering you have about one turn at your disposal. If anyone wants to try an read the situation a bit more, you are welcome to roll a nature check as your action. "Social" interactions with the beasts will require a animal handling check, and also count as your action. These are just examples; feel free to roll whatever check you think is appropriate with your action. Or you may want to use any other actions available in your character sheets. Finally, please roll initiative in case we need it. The dimetrodons are roughly 35 feet away from the closest party, give or take. Kwilgok was at the back, so that Deadly Treasure, the heaviest in the group, wouldn't disturb too much of the precious dry sand that made up your path in this area.)
As Hun's first order of business, sidling up at least behind Yulmarith's leg for when things inevitably went south was priority. Not that he wasn't likely to have already been behind the scaled beef cake, but between naturally lapses in travel, the possibility wasn't 0 of a misstep before. Next priority? Study the dinosaurs in hopes of passing along any relevant information to the dwarf(and by extension all, since not particular quiet about it) in hopes they might be able to do something with the information.
Knowing nothing about dinosaurs and deciding it better not to put himself in a position where he might get some unwanted first hand experience, Yulmiath adopts a defensive posture. If the Dimetrodons haven't attacked yet, he certainly isn't going to make the decision for them.
Not knowing how to react to the behemoths, Krodhen just backs away from the beast warily, trying to put a tree between himself and the creatures, calling back to the guide, his manner seeming to change "Call yer yellow bellied self a guide....what the devil are you leading us into....what do these beasties do"
Despite having little experience, Krodhen will at least try to figure out whether they seem like they will attack or not - > Nature: 4 (OOC: About what Krodhen expected and deserved having not spent a whole lot of time on dry land)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Psst. Have more of this ... puffballs? They might like it." Kairus tried to read animal's behaviour, but his experience with dinosaurs was quite limited. "Think they will attack? What if they don't see us?"
Animal Handling: 6 to read creature's intentions
Should he suspect some foul play - Fog Cloud between us and them, closer to the animals.
(OOC: Interesting rolls... I don't think the reptiles will react well to that. @Blue: I did say that skill checks here would count as your action, so you would have no time to cast Fog Cloud.)
After once again making sure Yulmiath is between the source of uncertainty and himself, Hun takes a peek at the reptiles in hope of discerning some useful information quickly. The artificer notes some physiological details that lead him to believe these animals may not fall under the dinosaur classification after all. They seem more closely related to crocodiles. Not that this is a particularly useful piece of information in the current situation...
Yulmiath does not seem eager to interact with the bathing animals either. The dragonborn takes a few steps back himself, just as Krodhen does the same. The half-orc seems to have a more specific purpose in mind and soon confronts the tortle guide. Kwilgok seems busy with Deadly Treasure as is but barks back a short response: "I can't foresee every danger on the road and I never promised the trek would be safe."
It falls to Kairus and Rhogal to try and deescalate the situation. The bard tries to read the situation a bit but all he can think of is how the beasts are not really as large as they inially seemed when coming out of the water. With a wild guess, Kairus encourages Rhogal to offer the reptiles some snacks and the dwarf complies. A particularly large puffball lands near the closest dimetrodon's forefoot. It reacts by shifting its weight to its hindlegs, letting out a cry of surprise, and stomping the fungus. Spores fly upward toward the beast's face, scaring it even further. They rush forward, their fight instinct now fully triggered.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Then no fog clouds for now. Instead, Kairus took a few accords on his cittern, playing a surprisingly soothing (for the situation) tune: Sleep for 22 HP (I believe L16 covers all three, but should it work only on one, would prefer J15 to sleep.
Movement - back, like O1, if possible, winking to the scaly pair on the go: "The rest is all yours for now. I bet you can take them!"
Welcome to The Tortle Package
It is a warm morning and the cool ocean breeze carries with it the smell of sea salt. Up above, the bright blue sky is spotless, not a single cloud marring its pristine canvas. The cream-colored sand on the crescent-shaped beach gives way easily, its texture a mix of softness and warmth. The rustle of tropical jungle trees can be heard not too far, interrupted only by the faint crashing of low waves and the distant screech of seagulls.
@Krodhen: Last night’s storm was fierce. Your father’s crew struggled to properly handle the ship and a considerable portion of the meager spoils from the latest raid were lost to the sea. The captain dealt with it in his usual way: harsh punishment for the crew and a little extra dose for you, his son, who always seems to be at blame for something in your father’s eye. The storm was still fully raging when he forced you to walk the plank; a decision so rushed he even forgot to order the crew to strip you of your belongings. Thankfully, one of your keepsakes happens to be an enchanted ring which allows you to walk on water. Without it, you may have drowned in the rough storm sea. With it, you made you way to the nearest beach mostly unharmed and still clutching most of your belongings. It took you some time to fall asleep on the sand, but eventually exhaustion took you. When you woke up, you were far from alone. A second castaway laid on the beach several feet away from you, a red dragonborn by the looks of it and clearly from a different ship than yours. Perhaps more intriguing, two other humanoids stood at the beach looking at you from a distance. One was a fully equipped kobold and the other was… something else… perhaps a water elf. They didn’t seem hostile, and you could use some temporary allies at least until you find your way out of whatever island this is.
@Hun: The day started well. You and your latest companion, a blue-skinned sailor with a penchant for song, had finally convinced the captain of the ship you had been traveling with to let you go. That could be quite a celebratory occasion by itself, but the half-elf captain also had sailed to the outskirts of the very island you had been looking for over the past several months. It was no easy task arriving here, and convincing the captain, even with the help of a silver-tongued ally, was perhaps the easiest part. You had hopped from ship to ship for a while, contacted your informants within the Harpers and called in favors, and even went overboard once while aboard a ship called the Wagtail. But now, here you are, on the island named the Snout of Omgar, where your query, Volothamp Geddarm, is rumored to have been traveling to when he was last seen. However, even with the help of your newest bard friend and your trusty goggles, your search for Volo may have to wait a tidbit. After being delivered to the nearest beach via rowboat, you noticed that two people were laying on the sand, possibly the result of ill-fate during last night’s storm. And what’s more, you recognized one of them, a broad-shouldered dragonborn who used to sail in the Wagtail all those years ago. Well, the more allies you can collect in your search the better your chances, right?
@Kairus: The good captain of the Escape, Tobsin Sharel, had finally come good on his promise to deliver you to the Snout of Omgar. Ever since the newest cabin boy told you about the interesting lost temple in the island you knew that it was there that your next landbound adventure awaited. You have spent the last several years breaking with your people’s custom of looking down on what land-dwellers have to offer, and whatever challenges this temple may hold seem like a great way to continue that tradition of yours. After saying your goodbyes to the crew of the Escape in the form of song, of course, with the help of your most valued treasure, you and the kobold cabin boy hopped on a rowboat and were delivered to the nearest beach. There, you were met with your first surprise. Two castaways had already been dozing under the sun on those sands. Well, the rowboat had already left, as had the Escape, so perhaps these folk are interested in the temple too. The more the merrier, as these land-dwellers say.
@Yulmiath: The Wagtail was already an old ship when you joined the crew and you have learned that its sailors always enjoyed acquiring and spending loot more than going through the motions of reaching good raiding locations. There was always a loose knot here, a shifting crate there, an occasional small fire to put out. During last night's diluvial storm, all of this negligence culminated into a terrible catastrophe. The Wagtail sunk, its captain didn’t make it, and most if not all of the crew has now descended to their watery grave. Luckily, you had the clairvoyance to snatch the captain’s magical cloak as you swam to safety, which also allowed you to collect as many supplies as you could fit in you pack and person while moving. You don’t remember arriving at the beach, but here you are now. There’s another castaway here, a half-orc it seems, though he is not nearly as wet as you are. And then, there is this blue-skinned… half-elf, maybe, just there staring at you. Next to him, wait a minute… is that the crazy kobold that went overboard back then? He had sailed with you in the Wagtail for some time. Too smart to be a simple cabin boy. He always had a good conversation in him. Maybe he can think of a way to get out of this island so you can finally retire from your pirating days.
@Rhogal: Your clan insisted on you going on your solo mission, traversing the world in search of promising fungi. You have made good progress on that mission but are not quite satisfied just yet. Your most recent travels had brought you to the Jungles of Chult, albeit somewhat accidently through a convoluted story involving an empty crate, angry sailors, and accusations of being a stowaway. Thankfully, you didn't misplace your precious pulverized mold in the confusion. After wandering through Port Nyanzaru for a while, you came across an interesting turtle-like humanoid who listened to your stories and shared some of his own. His name is Kwilgok, and his mount is a cantankerous ankylosaurus named Deadly Treasure. Stories of his homeland piqued your interest and descriptions of an abandoned temple in the tortle island hinted at a potentially humid and dark place ideal for the growth of mushrooms. After you asked him to guide you to the island, the Snout of Omgar as he called it, Kwilgok promised to lead you to his home settlement and even waved the guide fee if you promised to rid the temple of its nasties while searching for your mushrooms in there. The journey to Ahoyhoy, his settlement of origin, is almost done now. In fact, you are now traversing one of the closest beaches to the settlement. It is then that you come across a group of four strangers, all looking like they need either help or information. There should be no harm in letting them join you, Kwilgok, and Deadly Treasure on the short trip to Ahoyhoy, right?
@All: Some time has passed since the seven of you (including Kwilgok and Deadly Treasure) have met; perhaps somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. During that time, initial introductions have taken place, and you have all agreed to travel together to the nearby settlement of Ahoyhoy, the only of its kind in the island. However, Kwilgok is a professional guide and he’ll charge you for delivering you to Ahoyhoy. His price is 6gp, it includes a map of the island for you to keep, and he promises that you’ll arrive by nightfall. Rhogal is exempt from this charge, as he has his own separate arrangement with the tortle. So, Hun, Kairus, Krodhen, and Yulmiath will have to put together these 6gp.
(OOC: Please go ahead and take this opportunity to describe what your characters look like for the benefit of the other players and myself. Separately, please open the spoiler below to see Kwilgok’s introduction card. You may ignore the “payment of 30 days in advance” bit.)
For Hun, encountering Yulmiath had been both an unexpected blessing, and a promise of having to endure an awkward explanation regarding his survival. Granted, there was nothing to feel guilty over surviving, and memories of the dragonborn never implied expectations of overthinking the hows and whys of the situation back then. No, it was always the Kobold that tended to overthink things a tad. T'was in part why he'd survived in the first place, as whatever free could be spent during the old Wagtail days had been put towards designing a prototype anti-death-by-copious-amounts-of-water device, and field testing it for the first time during the incident.
Thinking back, it was a shame it practically blew up after fulfilling its purpose, taking with it any chances of figuring out the last minute add-on that -- Whoops! Hun startled, nearly dropping the long neck pipe hanging from his maw in the sudden realization of being quiet for too long. Yet for all the immediate panic, Hun calmed quickly and approached Yulmarith, calling out his name with arms open wide for a hug in a show of his old cheeriness and warmth. Which was maybe about seventy to eighty percent genuine, but noone needed to know the exact numbers. That's why so many kobold barely make it past the eleven day mark of adulthood!
To Yulimaith at least, Hun had hardly aged a day since they last met. The white scales covering his body still bore a dingy tint in places from age and grime of heavy toil. He looked the part too in his patchwork tunic, jacket, and pants. The pipe and half-metal scraps and half leather satchel were a new addition though, and the goggles appeared to have been upgraded to some extent in their time apart. Then there were bandages wrapped partway along the tail. But other than that, Hun was probably still the only white Kobold he'd seen, and one of the few Kobold that bothered with more than a loincloth and a belt.
During the 30 to 60 minutes of getting reacquainted, Hun more than happily shares in events of the past if prodded. But, is otherwise just as happy to listen and offer some perhaps long overdue advice. Regarding the end of Wagtail, there's no look of surprise from the Kobold. Without him around jury rigging things in the background, and pretending to cause small incidents to alert the crew of major faults in need of desperate repair, it was always a matter of time. Though, if in part for the sake of appearances, he does apologize for not finding his way back to the crew before the end.
With all of that said and out of the way, the time eventually came to 'deal' with Kwilgok. Despite being short on coin, Hun always had a plan in mind. But with his boy Yully back in the picture, well... best he followed the Dragonborn's lead as usual, and resolve to play the 'good constable' if necessary. Just like the old days.
Imagery:
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Oh, you know that flotsam?" Kairus cheerfully followed Hun to the couple of wash-ups. "Glad to see you are alright. Can help a bit if you are not. Need some water?" The inability of the land-dwellers to utilize saltwater was something that never ceased to amaze Kairus. Eventually, he remembered the severe disability of his brothers and sisters on the ship and learned to keep a waterskin on him.
The lad could pass for a sea-elf if anyone of his new friends saw one. A bit bluer, greener, definitely more "scalier" and with quite obviously webbed bare feet and hands with the long but strong fingers. His smile was a bit toothy but friendly, honest and contagious. Well-fitted armour had a blue hue to it too (that was half the reason Kairus never had any money. The other half - his carelessness with the valuables. The only thing he truly cherished was his cittern.) The rest of the clothes and the backpack were quite ordinary, for a change, even the small rock with the hole that he wore around his neck on the leather cord, was of the kind that every second sailor had. The instrument, though, was quite impressive. Kairus kept it on the open and anyone could see the beautifully decorated lacewood body with the design reminding of the wind, fog or seafoam, or all at once. All and all that was not something a simple sailor normally carries around.
"Family heirloom," would answer Kairus should anyone ask about the origin of the instrument. And judging by the tone and an open smile it was an absolute truth. He would gladly play - the boy was obviously proud both of the instrument and his ability to play (he was good, you could grant him that). And the sound of the instrument was every bit as beautiful as the look.
When the turtle asked for the money, Kairus turned out his pockets but all he could find was a handful of coins for about 2-2,5 gold altogether. "Never know where they are going," declared lad shrugging and smiling, "but they all yours. Now, how do you feed that thing?" Ankylosaurus fascinated young sailors and for a while, he was lost in a conversation about the dinosaurs.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The surprises had rolled up on Yulmiath in threes this morning. First off, he wasn't dead. This was by far and away the most surprising of the three, and if he was pressed on the matter, it was without doubt his favourite.
Waking on the fine sand of a tropical beach would have been a beautiful treat in other circumstances but given the detritus of The Wagtail was spread all over the place, it sadly reminded him that last night had been real and not a nightmare as he hoped for a moment after waking. Picking through some of the leavings, Yulmiath pulled a few choice items out to add to the meagre belongings he had managed to take with him from The Wagtail. His top find was a pair of sturdy leather boots, surprisingly a good fit and a welcome one given his usual bare feet unlikely to cut it in the jungle.
Given that none of the clothing washed ashore was likely to fit him, Yulmiath opted to keep his ragged breeches and linen shirt. Looking down at the torn sleeves of his shirt, Yulmiath opts give each a sharp tug, ripping the sleeves away from the shirt and letting them fall to the sand of the beach. This was when the second surprise arrived. Looking around the beach, Yulmiath realised he wasn't alone.
Pulling his belongings together and stuffing them into a nearby pack, Yulmiath put a hand to the haft of his great axe. Better to be safe than sorry, especially as he didn't recognise his beach mate from the crew of The Wagtail. He had spotted another ship on the seas these past few days and while he hadn't clocked its name, he recognised the colours of a fellow sea-hunter. Giving a wave of acknowledgement, Yulmiath decided to let his neighbour have some time to gather his own belongings and thoughts.
The third surprise came in the form of two new visitors to the beach. At this rate a burgeoning township was likely to erupt from the sand at any minute! But in honesty the two newcomers were not all that surprising in and of themselves. Yulmiath had come across enough wrecks in his time to recognise that islanders were not likely to give up on the prospect of free cargo; few he had met in his travels would. But as the pair drew closer, Yulmiath could dear he recognised one of them! A small white kobold had served on The Wagtail many moons ago before being washed overboard and assumed drowned. The kobold had been a competent enough sailor; small and quick were prized assets on a ship, worth just as much as strength or the ability to smell a storm brewing. The kobold had been a dab hand at maintaining the ship too, quick to spot work that needed doing before it was beyond repair. Yulmiath wasn't ashamed to say he had missed the kobold, although had to admit he couldn't place his name...
Happily Yulmiath doesn't have to wait long for introductions (Han? No! Hun! That little kobold is Hun) and is happy to let the others take the lead, although will offer up three pieces of information. First, his name. Second, that he sailed on The Wagtail, and three, that he is now seeking alternative employment. Joining the others in journeying to Ahoyhoy seems like a good first step. They seem formidable in their own right, have a guide, and there's safety in numbers provided he can outrun one of them if things get dicey.
Looking into his own purse, he snatches out what gold and silver he has and offers it to the communal pot (1gp, 9sp). Getting somewhere he can find work, or another ship, or a mark he relieve of their purse will soon replenish it.
As the party drifts towards their path, Yulmiath turns, looking out over the sea. Cursing Umberlee for her fickle nature and for the loss of his ship and crew mates, he spits three times towards the surf and hopes he isn't the only survivor.
Rhogal is a rather stout dwarf, with white hair and beard. He wears some simple leathers and it always seems he is covered in some sort of dust. He uses a quarterstaff as a walking stick as he walks a lot and uses it to ease the burden somewhat. At the end of the staff is a bit of mistletoe. In his bag is a collection of different species of mushrooms, each wrapped in some parchment to prevent cross-contamination of spores from one species to another.
"Y'see? This is why I don' like them boats! Shite like this tends ta happen!" he says to his guide, regarding the new arrivals.
As he gestures, some of the dust on him can be briefly seen coming off of him.
He scans those who washed up and those who climbed out of the rowboat. He eyes hesitate a moment when he sees a half-orc among them, but tries to hide it.
After introductions, he takes a few giant puffball mushrooms out of his bag, "After coming ta this land the way ya all did, ya might something ta eat, aye?"
(OOC: I looked it up, and yes, giant puffballs are safe to eat. Just be sure to cut them open before cooking them.)
Extended Signature
Krodhen it seems has spent most of the time on the beach, head between his knees in silent contemplation of the all that has happened in his life, followed by the revelations of the past week, a stillness to his reflection that would probably put any observer on edge. It is only after an inordinate amount of time that his head snaps up and takes it the surroundings, seemingly surprised to find himself not alone on the beach.
Warily, his had automatically grabs at the hilt of his sword, but after a few seconds drops away as he assesses each of his fellow beach fellows to be not much of a threat, instead calling out to them "Hail strangers, it is an odd coincidence that would find so many strangers sharing this beach, what ill fate has brought you all here" only then noticing the detritus scattered around them might make such an event plausible, but waiting for a response nonetheless.
Krodhen will wait to hear their response, and, if pressed, we share the following "As to how I came here, that is a tale long in the making, and one that will not be shared lightly. For now, be it known that my captain ordered me overboard, for reasons that he will carry to his grave. His act has freed me from chains I did not fully appreciate that bound me to his ship, and for that I am happy. One life has ended and another begun this day. I am Krodhen, and perhaps we might find safety in numbers, at least for now." and with an air of authority adds "The day is a wasting, no sense idling it away" and with that he
Krodhen's appearance may disturb those seeing him for the first time, his heritage obviously one of mixed race, his gray skin, prominent jaw, black eyes and small tusks marking him of orcish heritage, but for those that choose to speak to him, it is apparent that he is educated and used to being given respect, and is oddly charismatic for one of his race, standing at close to 6 1/2 feet and clad in fine chainmail armor, sporting a finely crafted longsword and shield.
With regards the guide services offered, Krodhen knows all too well the value in keeping contacts happy, and will dip into his hidden coin purse to extract any balance due, slipping an additional 2 silver to him, adding quietly as he does so "It is not much, but it is given in good faith, may it keep your eyes peeled and mouth shut"
OOC: Let me know the balance due to get it to 6gp, 2sp
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
His growling stomach exposing his empty belly, Yulmiath accepts a slice of puffball with thanks but waits until the dwarf who offered it pops a slice in his own mouth. All mushrooms are edible, but some are only edible once.
Chewing the offered fungus slowly, Yulmiath cannot help but suspect that he'd have been better off with a piece of bark; at least it might have offered some flavour. Still it meant he didn't have to dig into his own supplies.
"Man you know how to talk!" Kairus was listening to Krodhen's speech with genuine admiration. The look of the half-orc did not bother young triton the slightest (and the same could be said about anyone in the present company - deep-dwellers are used to deal with things dry-landers see only in their worst nightmare). Now, if anyone would resemble a dragon-turtle, that could ... no, still not scary but definitely catching attention. Alas, even Kwilgok was at worst a relative to the harmless sea turtles.
The life story of the half-orc was quite moving, though. "Life can be tough." Kairus nodded with a full understanding of the parent's problem (maybe not to such a degree - definitely not! - but he could relate to the subject). "Here, let me play for you."
Whether it was his talent or the magnificent instrument but the music was indeed calming and somehow did not take away from the ambient sound of a tropical paradise but enhancing it. Kairus only stopped for eating (with much curiosity) the offered piece of mushroom.
"Now, if our future guide is satisfied, to Ahoyhoy! By the way, do you know anything about the temple there?" Triton's eyes were gleaming with curiosity. "Heard it's quite old and quite abandoned, but that is all I know."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
While no stranger to eating mushrooms Hun still shook his head in rejection of the offer. Side-eying Yulmiath after, he cannot help but give a solid nod of approval. About the only thing not accounted for might've been dwarf's resilience to poison, thus making sure he ate the shroom build up a false sense of security. But, Hun was more than confident about being able to handle any surprises there, and at request could've -- perhaps even should've offered to flavor and treat the mushroom. Ah well!
"Don't worry, Mr. Yuly. Once we reach our destination, I'm sure we can scrap together something more palatable to your noble taste buds." He chimed in. "Speaking of destinations. Shall we be off then?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
DM's Screen:
15 19 33 3
(@MB: Your bill adds up to 1gp and 8sp, including the tip. That's assuming that @Blue is paying 2gp and 5sp and @MB is paying 1gp and 9sp.)
After Kwilgok makes his offer, Hun shimmies sideways such that Yulmiath is now between the kobold and the tortle. Even tough the kobold expects the dragonborn to respond on behalf of the group, Kairus is the first one to make any sort of attempt to meet the quoted price. Searching his pockets, the triton offers whatever coins he can muster. The gesture is promptly repeated by the dragonborn, but an awkward silence of sorts follows after that.
Rhogal is the one who breaks it. Not having to worry about the guide's charge, the dwarf offers instead a snack to his newfound fellow travelers. Some seen more suspicious than others. A couple of them even accept the treat, strange texture and all. Kwilgok smiles: "He offered me some of that during our travels and I have yet to accept. You lot are either brave or stupid... or both." This conversation leads Kairus to ask about Deadly Treasure's diet, which is simply addressed with the words: "With plants, mostly."
Krodhen is the last one to come to terms with their collective current situation. Nonetheless, he is the next one to offer payment for the guide's services, even throwing in a little extra in hopes of buying the tortle's silence. Kwilgok shrugs, accepts the terms, and collects all the offered coins. Kairus plays a tune to seal the deal (and help out Krodhen a bit) and places a follow-up question about a temple. Kwilgok responds: "The temple is not in Ahoyhoy. You'll have to travel south to find it." The conversation is cut short when Hun requires, in the form of a question, that the paid for service begins being delivered. Kwilgok shrugs a second time and confirms: "We shall." Yulmiath is sure to spit into the ocean three times before the group starts moving, but soon they are off.
The pleasant weather and view make the trek more bearable, almost to the point where time seems to pass quickly, even if walking on sand takes more of an effort than walking on sturdier ground. By the time the morning begins to turn into the afternoon, the group has made its way to one end of the long, crescent-shaped beach. Sand gives momentary way to low grasses and the walk begins to slope upward ever so gently. It is obvious that Kwilgok is avoiding the jungle that is ever present to the group's left side. The group soon walks past some tall rocks jutting out of the ocean and finds some shade where to rest for a short while. Stomachs begin to complain about the lack of a mid-day meal and the shady side of these rocky protrusion offers the best location in sight for an impromptu luncheon.
-> Everyone should deduct 1 ration from their inventory. It counts for the food you eat throughout the day, not just this meal, as well as generally minor supplies (e.g., a bit of cordage, some fabric, etc.) that you may also use throughout the day.
The change in terrain doesn't last. As the group begins to descend the grassy patch into another crescent-shaped beach, Kwilgok points to the horizon, trying to make out some sort of circular structure in the distance: "That's Ahoyhoy for you. We'll reach it before sunset, if all goes well."
All goes well for a while. Somewhere near the middle point of this second beach, the group comes across some pools of water in the sand. They look like the type that is temporary, and Kwilgok explains that although they may be a bit deeper than you expect, the water will evaporate within hours or make their way back to the ocean as all wave-water eventually does. There are many of these pools about and the group soon finds itself surrounded by them while trying to find a path in the drier sand. Kwilgok suddenly calls for the group to stop as Deadly Treasure lets a cry out; not one of pain but as a warning. Water sprits upwards as another large reptile, although not as large as Deadly Treasure, rises from one of the pools. Soon, two others appear, their back crests rising well above their heads. It would appear the three dinosaurs were wallowing in the shallow pools of water, even submerging themselves for a respectful amount of time. Now, they rise, look at the party, and begin to assume defensive positions. Deadly Treasure does not like being so close to three other dinosaurs, and Kwilgok is having a bit of trouble handling his beast. In between gasps, he looks at the group and says only one word: "Dimetrodons"
(OOC: The three dimetrodons are preparing for a fight, but have not attacked just yet. Each of you should tell me what you are doing in this situation considering you have about one turn at your disposal. If anyone wants to try an read the situation a bit more, you are welcome to roll a nature check as your action. "Social" interactions with the beasts will require a animal handling check, and also count as your action. These are just examples; feel free to roll whatever check you think is appropriate with your action. Or you may want to use any other actions available in your character sheets. Finally, please roll initiative in case we need it. The dimetrodons are roughly 35 feet away from the closest party, give or take. Kwilgok was at the back, so that Deadly Treasure, the heaviest in the group, wouldn't disturb too much of the precious dry sand that made up your path in this area.)
As Hun's first order of business, sidling up at least behind Yulmarith's leg for when things inevitably went south was priority. Not that he wasn't likely to have already been behind the scaled beef cake, but between naturally lapses in travel, the possibility wasn't 0 of a misstep before. Next priority? Study the dinosaurs in hopes of passing along any relevant information to the dwarf(and by extension all, since not particular quiet about it) in hopes they might be able to do something with the information.
Nature: 9.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Knowing nothing about dinosaurs and deciding it better not to put himself in a position where he might get some unwanted first hand experience, Yulmiath adopts a defensive posture. If the Dimetrodons haven't attacked yet, he certainly isn't going to make the decision for them.
Yulmiath's initiative: 19
Not knowing how to react to the behemoths, Krodhen just backs away from the beast warily, trying to put a tree between himself and the creatures, calling back to the guide, his manner seeming to change "Call yer yellow bellied self a guide....what the devil are you leading us into....what do these beasties do"
Despite having little experience, Krodhen will at least try to figure out whether they seem like they will attack or not - > Nature: 4 (OOC: About what Krodhen expected and deserved having not spent a whole lot of time on dry land)
Initiative: 6
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
"Psst. Have more of this ... puffballs? They might like it." Kairus tried to read animal's behaviour, but his experience with dinosaurs was quite limited. "Think they will attack? What if they don't see us?"
Animal Handling: 6 to read creature's intentions
Should he suspect some foul play - Fog Cloud between us and them, closer to the animals.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Worth a try, I s'ppose..." Rhogal takes out a full puffball and tosses it between the groups. Hopefully, the dinos don't take it as a threat.
Animal handling: 4
Extended Signature
DM's Screen:
3
(OOC: Interesting rolls... I don't think the reptiles will react well to that. @Blue: I did say that skill checks here would count as your action, so you would have no time to cast Fog Cloud.)
After once again making sure Yulmiath is between the source of uncertainty and himself, Hun takes a peek at the reptiles in hope of discerning some useful information quickly. The artificer notes some physiological details that lead him to believe these animals may not fall under the dinosaur classification after all. They seem more closely related to crocodiles. Not that this is a particularly useful piece of information in the current situation...
Yulmiath does not seem eager to interact with the bathing animals either. The dragonborn takes a few steps back himself, just as Krodhen does the same. The half-orc seems to have a more specific purpose in mind and soon confronts the tortle guide. Kwilgok seems busy with Deadly Treasure as is but barks back a short response: "I can't foresee every danger on the road and I never promised the trek would be safe."
It falls to Kairus and Rhogal to try and deescalate the situation. The bard tries to read the situation a bit but all he can think of is how the beasts are not really as large as they inially seemed when coming out of the water. With a wild guess, Kairus encourages Rhogal to offer the reptiles some snacks and the dwarf complies. A particularly large puffball lands near the closest dimetrodon's forefoot. It reacts by shifting its weight to its hindlegs, letting out a cry of surprise, and stomping the fungus. Spores fly upward toward the beast's face, scaring it even further. They rush forward, their fight instinct now fully triggered.
ROLLING INITIATIVE (for those who haven't yet):
(Kairus, Hun, and Yulmiath are up first.)
Then no fog clouds for now. Instead, Kairus took a few accords on his cittern, playing a surprisingly soothing (for the situation) tune: Sleep for 22 HP (I believe L16 covers all three, but should it work only on one, would prefer J15 to sleep.
Movement - back, like O1, if possible, winking to the scaly pair on the go: "The rest is all yours for now. I bet you can take them!"
BA: Bardic Inspiration on Yulmiath
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
(The number for Sleep - 29 - did not change. And I did not add any rolls. Why on earth it gives a warning!)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice