DM's Screen:

@Kairus (during Short Rest): Once you were certain your restful song had accomplished what it was supposed to, you spend sometime looking into the mysterious key's details. It doesn't take long until you uncover its secrets. This key is a very basic attempt to recreate the legendary Skeleton Key of old legends. Whoever enchanted this farce was either not very skillful or a charlatan. You gather this key will work only a fraction of the times it is used but, should it succeed, it could be the one way to unlock an otherwise impossibly complex lock... well, at least once. This is a Mystery Key.

Once reunited, the Snakers begin their preparations to leave camp and head back to Ahoyhoy. Collecting the icon on the group's behalf, Hun asks for a moment as he and Mr. Thicc find a spot 25ft away from their resting spot. Commands given, the construct repeatedly beats the piece of worked obsidian to smithereens. The artificer has to stop the construct abruptly, otherwise he wouldn't be able to retrieve a chunk for his own purposes.

While this is happening, Rhogal is sure to keep an eye out for any approaching visitors. It would seem that the noise from the icon-destroying activity worked as a deterrent instead of a lure to any nearby wildlife.

Having seen enough, Yulmiath picks up his belongings, which include one last coconut, and begins leading the group towards Ahoyhoy. He feels confident he knows the way as the group has traveled between these two locations more often than any other two points in the entire island. Surely enough, after a few hours to trekking, the Snackers find themselves on the wide, lazy river's bank once more. It is now dusk.

(OOC: At this point we'll need to clarify whether the group still has their canoe or not.)

"Hmmm... I do not think this key is from any particular lock, more like a universal key, though, not well made. I can feel magic in it but too weak to count. Here, grandpa, maybe you can do something about it - enhance it or something." Kayrus handed over the Mystery Key to Hun.

"Do we push forward or take some rest here? Sure, our human needs healing but risky transportation might be dangerous for him."

Yulmiath rubs a hand across his jaw.

"It would be best we don't lose our new charge, or each other, in the darkness of the water.  Who knows what might be watching?  On the other hand, maybe we're pausing for no real reason, delaying our arrival and their recovery at Ahoyhoy.  Could be that nothing is out there and the river is calmer than a millpond."

Wandering down to the water's edge, Yulmiath squats down on his knees and tries to gauge whether the conditions are favourable to a night crossing.

Survival - 18

The forced pause to consider their river-crossing options gets Kairus thinking about something else other than the trek. He reaches into a pocket, explains to Hun what the key is supposed to accomplish, and then tosses the item to the artificer hoping the kobold can put it to good use.

Yulmiath's focus remains on the river. He takes a look at his surroundings and determines this night's flow is gentle enough for a crossing. The moon is rising too, so even if the crossing takes longer than the dusk-light persists, the group should not be left in complete darkness. The biggest problem the party has is that now they have one extra passenger, but Krodhen is happy to volunteer to walk besides the canoe once more. With that sorted out, and with the Snackers not wanting to detaly Volo's recovery in Ahoyhoy any longer, they go for a night-crossing.

The task at hand goes just as slow as the previous five times, but "slow and steady wins the race," as the tortles are known to say. The lack of sunlight bothers the darkvision-enabled party very little, and it even counts as a boon to the kobold in the group. Experience comes at play again and, with so many sailors in the team, and this particular crossing being quite the familiar one by now, the canoeing portion of the trip is completed without trouble.

A few hours later, the Packers are back in Ahoyhoy. They are received as happily as they were last time, though a few locals gasp at the condition of the party's new member. Mudgaw comes up to the group and recognizes Volo: "The human explorer from all those days back! What in the name of the great labyrinth has happened to him?"

"Kidnapped by Bone Nagas." Hun chimed almost immediately, having spent the better part of the return preparing for just the occasion. "Real nasty pieces of works I tell ya. Not that I need to, as you can see the results." He added frankly, looking over to Volo with some solemness. "But they, uh... well, they had been keeping him as hostage to try and force his other compatriots to find somethin' for'em. Or at least, the one that remained, as far as I remember at the moment. Sadly, that one hadn't made it! Crushed by Geonid trap of all things. But fortunately for Mr. Volo here, he had us -- or really me, to start, seeking him out anyhow." 

Looking up at Mudgaw again, Hun looked almost pleadingly for a moment as he asked, "Don't s'pose you and yours got some place we can put him up at that's comfortable and get cleaned up? Poor sap wasn't too injured from what we saw, but is gonna need a few days rest to say the least." 

"The story of two Dead Nagas and Brave Adventurers" was slowly forming in Kairus's mind all the way to Ahoyhoy. The first draft was ready and even if Hun spoiled the plot to a degree, previous visits proved that the audience here was grateful and would like to hear the whole story. There were a few missing bits that Kairus hoped to restore with Volo's help once the man recovers but it had to be interesting as it is.

"Gether around, people and we could tell you about a great evil that lurked in the Shrine of Fangs."

Obviously, Volo's heath was the first thing to take care of but once the place to rest for the man was found, the story began.

"The wee one was lucky to have the rest of us tagging along too otherwise it was likely that he might have been stuck in that cage with Volo here. Or worse, stuck on that chain...."

Yulmiath had been joking, but during his good natured joshing he suddenly had a vision of not just Volo, but Hun, Karius, Rhogal and Krodhen broken and bloodied within that dark, merciless cave, hanging from the chain, or crushed beneath the bowl of the altar with poor Volo.

Gently placing his end of the canoe down on the ground, the dragonborn wipes at his eyes, and tries to shake his new found morose feelings, brightening slightly he adds something taking a few deep breaths.

"Anyway, that didn't happen did it?  We all made it back and in a few days Volo will be right as rain in a few days, and we'll likely be ready to head back out into the island after a bit of rest. Meet back up in the morning?"

"Aye. Hopefully we don' run into anymore dying cults along th' way," Rhogal says. "But them cannibals may be lookin' ta pay us back, iffn' ya get my meanin'."

"So long as we keep away from the Southern Half of the Isle, I'm sure we'll be fine." Hun assured Rhogal alongside a weak smile. Yet when looked to Kairus afterwards, that smile faltered a bit. For he at least hadn't forgotten the Triton's desire -- well, mentions at least of wanting to depart for different lands. 

... Or had he misremembered? Concern briefly creeps into his expression at the thought. But then with a shake of his head, he refocused again on the Tortles, and made ready to follow whoever might direct them to a spot for Volo to rest at for the night. And though he intended not to step up all night looking after the human, instead leaving that job to the Tortles and/or Mr. Thicc in the end, Hun nevertheless expressed a desire to at least be nearby for the night.  

"So similar is the story of many an explorer who come taste the Labyrinth that is the Snout of Omgar," Mudgraw laments as he hears the group's tale. "As for a place to stay, I'm afraid the best lodgings we have to offer are the same we can offer you: a mat near one of the campfires in the main living area." (number 3 in the Ahoyhoy map.) "He'll have plenty to eat and drink, and I know a thing or two about natural healing herbs."

Mudgraw does not need to tell the group to follow him into the living quarters. Kairus beats him to it by gathering all of those who would listen to the more poetic version of his newest epic. The bard is building a local following, with nearly two thirds of the tortles in Ahoyhoy forming a circle around him as he performs. Back from his hunt, Kwilgok also joins in, as does Eeyal. The rest of the group settles in to listen as well, though they are sure to eat and drink as Yulmiath leads the discussion on plans for the morrow. Rhogal reminds the group they may want to avoid the cannibal hunting grounds.

Mudgraw takes good care of Volo himself. After a while examining the human, the old tortle approaches the Snackers again and reveals: "I'm afraid the diagnose is not very favorable. I'll nurse him back to health but he'll need time. I suggest you find something to do around the island in the meantime. Your trip will be a short one if you try to leave with him as he is." Mudgraw turns to head back to Volo again but pauses and faces the group for an additional moment: "What you did, cleanse that old evil shrine, that is a great boon to this village. I wish I could reward you directly for such a feat, but I'll have to instead ask the Great Ubtao, through my prayers, to do so in my behalf. May he reward you justly."

With Volo being taken care of, the party eventually falls asleep and rests safely for the night. Be it through gained experience or the divine rewards granted by Mudgraw's god, each Snacker wakes up in the morning feeling stronger in their own way.

(OOC: Welcome to 4th level!)

After a night of fairly fitful sleep full of dreams in which he finds himself trapped in the maw of some large creature, jaws closing behind him and trapping him in its mouth...

Waking sometime before dawn and slightly damp, which he puts down to a mixture of night dew and sweat, Yulmiath seeks out a view of the sea. Spending a good hour in contemplation, watching the waves come in, and the sun rise, he feels more himself, calmer, and ready to face the day. The Snack Pack didn't meet their end in that cave and better yet, had some kind of (hopefully monetary) reward coming for being in the good graces of whatever weird deity these wonderful Tortles worship.

Feeling brighter, he takes up his greataxe and stripped to the waist, practices a few swings. Feeling a greater sense of understanding with the weapon, Yulmiath puts his full weight behind his swings, a little unsteadily at first, but quickly gaining in confidence as he finds the right footing and stance to allow him to make more powerful attacks with his weapon of choice. Spending a few more hours honing his technique, Yulmiath returns to camp, sweat glistening over his muscles and tattoo adorned body before throwing on what little remains of his ratty shirt and heading off to find the rest of the Packers.

Once dreams eventually claim the inventor's attention for the evening, Hun made little to no effort to escape their clutches! Though admittedly he would remember little by the end of the long rest, the feeling that Gond himself, or at least an intermediatory of the deity of innovation, continued to warm his heart and leave his mind abuzz with fresh new ideas.

Some he saw fit to immediately get to work on just before dawn, resulting in his Yklwa being all but nearly completely dismantled and bereft of its more mechanical components. The parts had instead been more or less worked into a sort of bracing structure, with albeit a few added accoutrements that steadily absorbed and stored raw magic from the environment similar to Mr. Thicc's main arsenal. So lost in his work he'd been that he'd hardly noticed the occasional spark of magic divine magic dancing across his fingers.

"Mr. Yully! Mr. Yully! I've done it!" Hun later found himself calling out as he raced to meet Yulmiath. "Give! Give! Your Axe! I can improve it at last! Give it that extra kick!" He assures, and if accepted, the Kobold... frankly nearly collapses under the weight of the weapon if not handled with care. But regardless, for once the grumpy old lizard voices no complaint as he'd hurriedly affix the device to the weapon. Once all is said and done, add-on gave off a faint hum, but seem to otherwise mold to Yulmiath's grip and emit a deep resonating "FWOOM" whenever swung with significant force.

"Yes~ Yes~ Much more potent a weapon now! Could've improve on a more permanent basis, but need better facility for that. Still! Much, much better, I assure you." He declares, grinning from ear to ear. "Now! Back to other business, uhm...important business." He adds, turning to the rest of the group. "Up for at least a little bit more exploration? Just a little? There's still that temple of the She Biii--er, You-know-who to check to have a gander at. The mysterious mountain cave thing to the north. Orrr~ That one undead fellow along with his Big fishy friend also to the north for more treasure, good meat, and good, uh... doing more good deeds for the locals while we, er, well me really, wait for Mr. Volo to recover."

-> Hun's offer is accepted, Yulmiath may add either customize his current axe to be a +1 or just add one manually, noting that it is an infusion somewhere.
->Swapped out Returning Weapon for Enhanced Weapon Infusion to be attached to either Yulmiath's or Krodhen's weapon, with Yully getting first dibs. 
(OOC: Not gonna lie. Got so distracted trying to find a good lightning/storm based magic axe image that I had to stop myself to go 'Whatever 'Mr. Yully' would picture as kick ass, Hun would try to accomadate!)

Yulmiath's inner calm contrasts with Hun's excitable proclamations but the dragonborn accepts the kind offer, carrying the haft of the axe while Hun pulls the head of the axe.

(OOC I imagine just a little blue energy rolling across the head of the axe would be fine. A red dragonborn holding it aloft to the heavens. If it looks like it could be painted on the side of a van, possibly with unicorns and the moon in the background, Yully would think it was pretty kick ass.)

(OOC: Great flavorful posts. I have little to add at this point. I’m looking forward to see how the others will interpret their level up’s.)

Kairus woke up as usual at the first light with the song in his heart and on his lips. Life felt good! At least for now but he never wasted time pondering about the future.

He continued playing light tunes later when the group assembled to decide what to do. "Sure, let's check that temple. And the ship - still feel like we need to free that poor soul if only out of the sea-folk solidarity. Then we get back here and check on your Mr. Volo. I'd like to hear the rest of his story. By the salt and sea, it was not easy to find him, the adventure he was through and the story he can tell better be worth it!"

Kairus took another accord that sounded strangely both disturbing and pleasant. "Besides, have something to try out. Don't get me wrong, I will be happy if the trip will be nice and peaceful, but if not - when not," corrected he himself, "Heard that tune? Should get useful." Kairus grinned happily. "You'll love the effect, I promise." 

"We can begin with the ship. At least the path is somewhat familiar."

Rhogal wakes up with a greater awareness of the natural world around him (his understanding is another thing). 

It also seems some native fungal spores are along for the ride, opening up for more primal possibilities.

”Now that we had a little shuteye, I reckon I could help wit’ Voller’s recov’ry.”

Hun's expression immediately brightened at the announcement from Kairus. But as was the usual, as soon as he'd saw or sense anyone take notice(Mr. Thicc included), the Kobold immediately coughs awkardly and resumes his more standoffish posture. "Y-yes, well, I figured you'd especially wish to do that, Young Blue, as your way. And no reason to limit ourselves where it comes to treasure. Plus, when the times, I did develop the blue print for a little something something to help the less ill equipped of us to breathe underwater in a pinch." He assures as much, side-eying Krodhen, if the half-orc had joined the group.

Finally turning to address Rhogal next, Hun raised a brow ridge in skepticism. "Unless this magic of yours could rid him of exhaustion, a few days rest and the tortle's tending should do well enough at this point... But I certainly won't stop you from the added support 'fore we head off to the north beaches again. Make sure any persistent diseases or what-have-you hasn't stuck around. Maybe even take a dip in the mudpool while we're at it. Oh! Which reminds me!" Hun looked to Kairus. "You did warn them last time about mixing ashes and the pools is a bad idea, right? The locals that is." Hun requested, uncaring of whether or not said locals happened to be paying much attention to them at the time or not. The meeting wasn't exactly meant to be a private one, after all. 

Yumiath takes a few moments to catch on to the conversation having had the rest of his attention focused his improved greataxe.  It seems somehow both lighter and capable of hitting with greater force, it seems sharper, shinier, more comfortable in his hands.  It feels like a new weapon but he knows that in effect, it is the same trusty weapon that has served him so well for so long.

"Huh? We should have told the tortles about it. I'm sure we did... We could ask Mudgraw to do a head count maybe but I've no idea how we'd go about getting them back!"

"I am pretty sure I included that part into the story the last time we were here," reassured Kairus worrying kobold. "But it never hurts to remind of course." "So, are we going?"

(Kairus planned to replenish rations stock. Other than that, he was ready to go.)