Since no burd returned to attack, Kairus lowered the crossbow. "This is kind of what our turtle friends do here, don't they? Though it seems we are more productive hunters or more attractive bait than they are."He approached the closest bird and plucked a few blue feathers, adding them to the crimson that already decorated his hair. "I can never tell a peaceful animal from a predator here. Why such a beautiful thing would be so vicious?" His melancholy, which began on the Sea Mare, now returned in full.
Rhogal relaxes his spell, "We bin told, time and again, that it's kill or be killed on this island. Not a huge surprise most o' the locals ain't exactly the friendliest."
"Beaked bastards are usually too stupid to know what's good for'em too."Hun commented. Though whether that was moreso in response to Yulmiath or Kairus would be difficult to discern in the moment, as his gaze had settled on the retreating Axe Beak. But soon after he more pointedly looks to Kairus and adds, "Let this be a lesson as well, Young Blue, in that beauty does not, uhh, beget?" He pauses there and looks thoughtful. And as he rubbed at his throat, so too did Mr. Thicc mirror a thoughtful look by way of rubbing its chin and leaning from side to side as his creator had, before the kobold eventually snaps his fingers.
"Not beget! But, uh, prevent works.. I guess... *ahem* Anyhow! Just cause something is beautiful by one's definition of such, does not mean it can't be vicious or violent. If anything, many things are quite just so, knowing either intrinsically or through experience that the more alluring one can be, the easier it is to take advantage of others! Especially if said other is deemed prey." He explained. "And I must say I'm surprised this lesson hasn't been one ingrained in you by now. But then again, you are still young and far too optimisitc. Don't worry though. As you get older and wiser, time will polish most of the silly little excess in those departments right off, and replace it with this little thing called wisdom. Nice, eh?" Hun proceeds to then pat Kairus on the leg before looking to the rest.
"Now! If you're all done getting back your bearings, let's not let all this go to waste! Chop, chop, people! We got birds to butcher and pack away for lunch and din-din later!"He barks, making sure this time his voice is heard by all.
"Don't lecture me about danger, Grandpa." For as long as Hun knew (and was capable to remember) Kairus, it was the first time the triton snapped at him or anyone he considered older than himself. The island shenanigans had to really impact him. "I killed my first sahuagin when I was 13. And by no means I was the youngest among defenders of the settlement. I say it is ingrained enough in me. The dangers of the deep are the everyday life of the tritons, all to keep you, surfacers, nice and cozy. You would not last five minutes down there even with your bubble and the construct. It can be pretty there, it can be scary but it is always dangerous. I was curious about what are we protecting so fiercely and came to see for myself. It's nice, yes, and quite safe too, we do a good job in deeps. But if I to believe you, your fauna is beyond stupid and doesn't deserve to live. Because even the brainless jellyfish will not attack anything that can defend itself efficiently, or it will run at the first sign of no easy victory. Injury down there means certain death. An animal should be mad or dying of hunger to ignore that simple law."
Kairus shook his head, turned around and joined the butchering team in gloomy silence. No, really, he definitely had enough of this place.
Hun hadn't so much as flinched at the outburst, but rather just put a free hand on his hip and let Kairus' vent his frustration. But at the end of the tirade, he started to open his mouth in what would've no doubt been his own spiel to counter the Triton's point, or even call out others. Some would say however that Hun's heart grew a single size bigger that day, as he just shakes his own head and left the triton sulk and work through his feelings with honest work.
Or at least start to, assuming the others hadn't stopped to him. Regardless, Hun is uncharacteristically quiet during any harvesting if not directly spoken to, and even had instead taken to find a nice work to stand perched ontop of to keep watch for any more luckless birds or worse rushing through the area.
(OOC: Just using his passive perception for the purposes of keeping watch)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Things calm down shortly after the two surviving birds put some distance between them and the party. Kwilgok speaks up in response to comments by Yulmiath, Kairus, and Rhogal: "This is certainly more meat in a single outing than our most successful of hunts. That said, I fear those birds were just passing through. They can't help but swing their main means of defense if running into unknown creatures. It is 'kill or be killed' but I can't help but feel bad for them; just running past and we killed almost all of them... We should have just braced for impact and waited a few seconds."Still tending to the dinosaur's wounds he changes subjects: "Perhaps we can butcher them and I can take the bulk of our haul back to Ahoyhoy. We are just a few hours away from the settlement."
Hun breaks the conversation with an outburst of rage against avian creatures. The speech quickly turns into a sermon aimed at Kairus, who does not take its delivery and message well. Soon enough, the party descends back into silence as they all begin butchering the beasts. The exception is the kobold, who keeps a lazy kind of watch while the others work.
Kwilgok waits for an answer to his proposal.
(OOC: With enough time in your hands, you can get plenty of chicken meat here. That said, let's get a survival check with help going. Who will volunteer?)
(@Ori & @Blue: Great bit of RP right there. You can get an Inspiration Token each.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Yulmiath seethes a little at Kwilgok's comments; he's their guide, if he wnated to avoid conflict, he should have said! It's a little late now after half the flock of Axe Beak's are being prepped for the pot. Exhaling slowing, Yulmiath lets his rage pass. The Packer's are still standing proud and he's a lot of birds to joint up with a greataxe.
His work done, Yulmiath wipes the sweat from his brow and washes his hands in the seawater. "So we load up DT here and ship this back to Ahoyhoy then head back out here? That the plan?"
Hun rolled his whole head in response to Kwilgok's belated suggestion. However, he couldn't exactly begrudge the young tortle either, seeing as any self-respecting Kobold might've thought to do the same, pride and prejudice be damned! "... I've been away too long."Hun muttered and rubbed at his neck in thought. Yet a moment to ponder is all the kobold has prior to Yulmiath reemphasizing their Tortle guide's request.
Before he says anything however, Hun side-eyed Kairus for a long moment, seemed thoughtful in the next, and then faintly nodded at some internal decision. "... If... If you're confident you can get the shipment back by yourself, young Kwilly, would you mind instead meeting us at the, uh, palace? Chances are we'll be in there for a hot minute anyhow, or even wind up camping there. So, you wouldn't be missing out on much."
"Plus, it is pretty much a straight path to it, yes? Easy enough to do on our own at the very least and clear out the entryway of anything nasty that might've taken root there in the interim." He then looks to the others with a tentative smile. "Right, fellas? No need to hold up this last venture for too long."
Kwilgok listens to Yulmiath and Hun, clearly feeling guilty about the whole thing: "I will take the food to Ahoyhoy with Dealy Treasure. The two of us will be just half a day behind you and will travel through the night to make up lost time. I promise it. The path is indeed well marked and easy to follow. I have no doubt I'll be back by your side in no time."
With the decision made, Kwilgok jumps in to help with the butchering. Yulmiath takes charge of the task which, though time-consuming, is performed to completion with excellent result. The meat is fresh and supple, relatively easy to clean when compared to those lizards the group last hunted, and should keep well once properly packed for the few hours needed to reach the settlement.
-> You may each add up to 9 rations to your inventories. The rest, the tortle is taking back to Ahoyhoy with haste.
Once all is prepped and Kwilgok departs, the Snackers continue their hike along the road. This well marked path along the shore is something new for them in the island. Sometimes the path is low and right next to the water, sometimes it takes them high to the top of a cliff which is currently harassed by crashing waves. The sights are full of splendor, the breeze does wonders in cutting down the sun's heat, and the sound of the nearby water helsp keep your minds clear.
Although the rest of the day goes by uneventfully, the sun seems to set a bit earlier than expected. Dangwaru emerges in the distance after a large bend on the road, but you are sure it will be full nighttime before you can reach its steps. Perhaps exploring the temple at night can help the group forget about the unpleasant encounter with the Axe Beaks. Alternatively, a night of camping at a safe distance away from the certainly dangerous temple could be the way to go.
Before the group can choose their next step, you hear the sound of several animals coming from the nearby foliage and out in the open. They are not rushing out, instead moving as a group in your direction. The mystery is quickly shed once you see a pack of baboons come onto the road. They seem curious about the adventuring party at first but also about their surroundings. As they walk, the entire pack, which is seventeen-strong, picks on plants, into holes on trees, and inside burrows on the ground. Some manage to find something to put into their mouths, but the search continues. A few of their members stop to analyze the Snackers from a dozens of feet away, seemingly choosing to take a generally neutral stance toward the party. Nonetheless, they seem to be claiming this general area, including the patch of road ahead, for themselves for now. Despite their currently non-aggressive stance, their presence feels a little unsettling.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
There is nothing like a salty breeze and the view of the ocean waves to brighten anyone's mood! Kairus eventually began to hum a light tune accompanying the rhythmic movement of the waves. The road was pleasantly easy, the destination was in full view and the triton personally would not mind continuing walking, even if in the dark. But they were expecting their guide, not to mention, the place was supposed to be haunted. "Say the place is really full of ghosts... or whatever can be there. Would it matter if we get there in the daytime or at night?" Kairus did not address anyone in particular, more like thought out loud.
The pack of monkeys interrupted his line of thoughts and somewhat returned to the previous discussion of the fauna of this island. "At least these ones do not attack right away. Do you think they want us gone?" Relatively small animals did not look all that threatening but there were many of them and a total lack of communication was even more unnerving than the number of potential aggressors. Kairus looked at the closest baboon, scratched his head thoughtfully, then sat on the ground, put the cittern on his lap and gently touched the strings, trying the universal language of music. Mostly to see what would happen.
Performance: 15 (Will even spend Luck Point if needed for the sake of experiment: 9 )
"Let's try and get along with at least one set of critters on this island. Besides, I doubt baboon is good eating. These all look a little scrawny. Anyone know what they eat? Could be we leave a little lizard meat a ways off, they take it, we don't have to kill them all and send DT tracking back to Ahoyhoy packed with monkey instead of Axe Beak!"
While there may be plenty of interesting if not relaxing vistas to behold during the trip, Hun hardly seemed to content to absorb any of it for long without throwing the occasional conscientious glance the triton's way from the back of Mr. Thicc. And though careful to mask his anxiousness where it came to Kairus' notice, anyone else paying attention to the invetobold might pick up on it heightening so long as the group were anywhere in sight of the water. His paranoia only heightening in seeing the blue wonder far more at ease than he had been for the best several days(more or less). This meant that by the time the Snackers ran into the baboons, Hun was plenty on edge as-is while holding on to Mr. Thicc.
"Bloody Monkeys. Why now of all time?"He lowly groused. "'... I've heard their brains were a delicacy in some cultures, but otherwise..." He trailed off "hmming" in thought for just a moment, then shook his head. "Either way, not worth the effort. So throwing some meat their way a little off to the side might work just as well.... And ey! Greenbeard. You got something to maybe shoo the one's off the path, or are we just gonna have to try and manuever about them and hope for the best?"He asks of Rhogal, using another random and colorful nickname for the dwarf.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Aye, I may have somethin' fer us sneak our way 'round them," Rhogal says as he digs through his pack. Eventually taking out some spongy mushrooms that have odd spores that seem to absorb sound.
Apart from their numbers, the Packers agree the baboons do not look particularly threatening or aggressive. Deciding to try a different approach this time around, Kairus lures the primates in with some soothing music, albeit on his second try. About a quarter of the baboons seem to react well to the pleasant song, approaching the triton in a calm manner and studying his movements.
Yulmaith and Hun discuss whether the baboons are food or should be fed, ultimately deciding not to stir a fight if one can be avoided. Throwing a few chunks of raw meat away from the road, Yulmiath successfully sends the baboons away. About half of them rush toward the offered food, getting a little competitive in the process. (Please deduct a couple of rations from your inventory.)
Rhogal has a solution for the group to avoid the remaining quarter of the pack, which is still paying attention to the group in a dubious manner. After magically muffling the sounds they make, the druid calls for the party members to follow him past the remaining baboons.
(OOC: Lets us get a stealth check {DC 11} from everyone. You may all roll with advantage.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Once Rhogal gives the signal, Kairus stops playing and joins the silent group in carefully walking past the few baboons who are still paying attention to them. In a non-verbal agreement to live and let live, the Snackers move on and the primates enjoy a snack.
Not wanting to set camp too close to baboon territory and taking advantage of their silent steps for at least the next 10 minutes, the party continues their hike into the night. Your senses tell you that walking at this time tends to be more dangerous, but the proximity to the sea gives you a feeling of safety, and the well-marked path gives you confidence that you will not get lost. It is about supper time when you decide you should set camp. The Temple in the distance is perhaps still an hour away, but you should be able to easily make that distance in the morning, and camping too close to it might invite whatever may reside inside to come out and play. Plus, this gives a chance for Kwilgok to catch up.
Whether watches are diligently completed or not matters little by the time the sun rises. In picking up camp you do not feel like any of your belongings are missing, not even food. The ever-present sound of the sea overnight was both soothing and protecting, or so it felt. This is likely the most pleasant night camping you have spent in the Snout of Omgar outside of Ahoyhoy's walls. Kwilgok, who joined you sometime before sunrise, even managed to get a couple hours of sleep before you were ready to pack camp. He looks a bit tired, but he completed his side-mission as he said he would, and that is enough fuel for him this morning. "I told them it was another gift from the Snack Pack. I am happy all that food will not go to waste. Thank you for accommodating me."
-> Kwilgok's CON saving throw against getting one level of exhaustion {DC 10}: 8
The trail clings to the mountainside and winds along the island’s rocky coast for miles before ending at a stone palace built thirty feet above sea level. Waves crash against the rocks just below the palace walls. Approaching the temple in this sunny day, you see the palace is a sturdy, multilevel stone edifice built right at the mountainous seashore, with terraces carved out of the mountainside. Despite its sturdiness, the building looks dilapidated and neglected, though the damage is likely only superficial judging by how the complex edifice stands strong over a cliff. Kairus reminds everyone that its name, Dangwaru, loosely translates to “high home” in Aquan.
The palace’s grand entrance features a colonnade of vine-wrapped pillars that leads to a stone double door carved with foamy waves that part in the middle. Sections of the portico’s roof have fallen in, and palm trees and ferns sprout from between the cracked flagstones. Scores of harmless lizards use the shaded areas of the portico as a den. East of the portico is a ten-foot-tall statue choked with vines. It has the head and torso of a woman and a twisting wave of water where her legs should be. Beyond the west side of the portico, an overgrown garden terrace overlooks the thundering sea.
Kwilgok stays to the side as the group approaches the portico area. He says: "There you are, safely delivered to Dangwaru. Now, I am not sure how we'd get Deadly Treasure anywhere inside the temple, and you may recall that us tortles are not very fond of having a roof over our heads. So, I'd prefer to remain outside with my dinosaur if you'd allow me. I can keep an eye out, help you fight anything that may chase you back here, and even run back to Ahoyhoy should we need anything from home-base. What say you?"
MAP:
The central area is the portico. To the right of the portico you can see a hilly area whose main feature is the woman's statue described above (marked by a star on the map). To the left of the portico area, you can see the overgrown garden (also described above). There are three statues in this garden as well, but you can't see clearly what they depict from where you stand currently due to the overgrown vegetation. Finally, the brown area to the right is the mountain. Consider it to be "out of bounds".
Since no burd returned to attack, Kairus lowered the crossbow. "This is kind of what our turtle friends do here, don't they? Though it seems we are more productive hunters or more attractive bait than they are." He approached the closest bird and plucked a few blue feathers, adding them to the crimson that already decorated his hair. "I can never tell a peaceful animal from a predator here. Why such a beautiful thing would be so vicious?" His melancholy, which began on the Sea Mare, now returned in full.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Rhogal relaxes his spell, "We bin told, time and again, that it's kill or be killed on this island. Not a huge surprise most o' the locals ain't exactly the friendliest."
Extended Signature
"Beaked bastards are usually too stupid to know what's good for'em too." Hun commented. Though whether that was moreso in response to Yulmiath or Kairus would be difficult to discern in the moment, as his gaze had settled on the retreating Axe Beak. But soon after he more pointedly looks to Kairus and adds, "Let this be a lesson as well, Young Blue, in that beauty does not, uhh, beget?" He pauses there and looks thoughtful. And as he rubbed at his throat, so too did Mr. Thicc mirror a thoughtful look by way of rubbing its chin and leaning from side to side as his creator had, before the kobold eventually snaps his fingers.
"Not beget! But, uh, prevent works.. I guess... *ahem* Anyhow! Just cause something is beautiful by one's definition of such, does not mean it can't be vicious or violent. If anything, many things are quite just so, knowing either intrinsically or through experience that the more alluring one can be, the easier it is to take advantage of others! Especially if said other is deemed prey." He explained. "And I must say I'm surprised this lesson hasn't been one ingrained in you by now. But then again, you are still young and far too optimisitc. Don't worry though. As you get older and wiser, time will polish most of the silly little excess in those departments right off, and replace it with this little thing called wisdom. Nice, eh?" Hun proceeds to then pat Kairus on the leg before looking to the rest.
"Now! If you're all done getting back your bearings, let's not let all this go to waste! Chop, chop, people! We got birds to butcher and pack away for lunch and din-din later!" He barks, making sure this time his voice is heard by all.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Don't lecture me about danger, Grandpa." For as long as Hun knew (and was capable to remember) Kairus, it was the first time the triton snapped at him or anyone he considered older than himself. The island shenanigans had to really impact him. "I killed my first sahuagin when I was 13. And by no means I was the youngest among defenders of the settlement. I say it is ingrained enough in me. The dangers of the deep are the everyday life of the tritons, all to keep you, surfacers, nice and cozy. You would not last five minutes down there even with your bubble and the construct. It can be pretty there, it can be scary but it is always dangerous. I was curious about what are we protecting so fiercely and came to see for myself. It's nice, yes, and quite safe too, we do a good job in deeps. But if I to believe you, your fauna is beyond stupid and doesn't deserve to live. Because even the brainless jellyfish will not attack anything that can defend itself efficiently, or it will run at the first sign of no easy victory. Injury down there means certain death. An animal should be mad or dying of hunger to ignore that simple law."
Kairus shook his head, turned around and joined the butchering team in gloomy silence. No, really, he definitely had enough of this place.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Hun hadn't so much as flinched at the outburst, but rather just put a free hand on his hip and let Kairus' vent his frustration. But at the end of the tirade, he started to open his mouth in what would've no doubt been his own spiel to counter the Triton's point, or even call out others. Some would say however that Hun's heart grew a single size bigger that day, as he just shakes his own head and left the triton sulk and work through his feelings with honest work.
Or at least start to, assuming the others hadn't stopped to him. Regardless, Hun is uncharacteristically quiet during any harvesting if not directly spoken to, and even had instead taken to find a nice work to stand perched ontop of to keep watch for any more luckless birds or worse rushing through the area.
(OOC: Just using his passive perception for the purposes of keeping watch)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Things calm down shortly after the two surviving birds put some distance between them and the party. Kwilgok speaks up in response to comments by Yulmiath, Kairus, and Rhogal: "This is certainly more meat in a single outing than our most successful of hunts. That said, I fear those birds were just passing through. They can't help but swing their main means of defense if running into unknown creatures. It is 'kill or be killed' but I can't help but feel bad for them; just running past and we killed almost all of them... We should have just braced for impact and waited a few seconds." Still tending to the dinosaur's wounds he changes subjects: "Perhaps we can butcher them and I can take the bulk of our haul back to Ahoyhoy. We are just a few hours away from the settlement."
Hun breaks the conversation with an outburst of rage against avian creatures. The speech quickly turns into a sermon aimed at Kairus, who does not take its delivery and message well. Soon enough, the party descends back into silence as they all begin butchering the beasts. The exception is the kobold, who keeps a lazy kind of watch while the others work.
Kwilgok waits for an answer to his proposal.
(OOC: With enough time in your hands, you can get plenty of chicken meat here. That said, let's get a survival check with help going. Who will volunteer?)
(@Ori & @Blue: Great bit of RP right there. You can get an Inspiration Token each.)
Yulmiath seethes a little at Kwilgok's comments; he's their guide, if he wnated to avoid conflict, he should have said! It's a little late now after half the flock of Axe Beak's are being prepped for the pot. Exhaling slowing, Yulmiath lets his rage pass. The Packer's are still standing proud and he's a lot of birds to joint up with a greataxe.
Survival - 20
His work done, Yulmiath wipes the sweat from his brow and washes his hands in the seawater. "So we load up DT here and ship this back to Ahoyhoy then head back out here? That the plan?"
Hun rolled his whole head in response to Kwilgok's belated suggestion. However, he couldn't exactly begrudge the young tortle either, seeing as any self-respecting Kobold might've thought to do the same, pride and prejudice be damned! "... I've been away too long." Hun muttered and rubbed at his neck in thought. Yet a moment to ponder is all the kobold has prior to Yulmiath reemphasizing their Tortle guide's request.
Before he says anything however, Hun side-eyed Kairus for a long moment, seemed thoughtful in the next, and then faintly nodded at some internal decision. "... If... If you're confident you can get the shipment back by yourself, young Kwilly, would you mind instead meeting us at the, uh, palace? Chances are we'll be in there for a hot minute anyhow, or even wind up camping there. So, you wouldn't be missing out on much."
"Plus, it is pretty much a straight path to it, yes? Easy enough to do on our own at the very least and clear out the entryway of anything nasty that might've taken root there in the interim." He then looks to the others with a tentative smile. "Right, fellas? No need to hold up this last venture for too long."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Kwilgok listens to Yulmiath and Hun, clearly feeling guilty about the whole thing: "I will take the food to Ahoyhoy with Dealy Treasure. The two of us will be just half a day behind you and will travel through the night to make up lost time. I promise it. The path is indeed well marked and easy to follow. I have no doubt I'll be back by your side in no time."
With the decision made, Kwilgok jumps in to help with the butchering. Yulmiath takes charge of the task which, though time-consuming, is performed to completion with excellent result. The meat is fresh and supple, relatively easy to clean when compared to those lizards the group last hunted, and should keep well once properly packed for the few hours needed to reach the settlement.
-> You may each add up to 9 rations to your inventories. The rest, the tortle is taking back to Ahoyhoy with haste.
Once all is prepped and Kwilgok departs, the Snackers continue their hike along the road. This well marked path along the shore is something new for them in the island. Sometimes the path is low and right next to the water, sometimes it takes them high to the top of a cliff which is currently harassed by crashing waves. The sights are full of splendor, the breeze does wonders in cutting down the sun's heat, and the sound of the nearby water helsp keep your minds clear.
Although the rest of the day goes by uneventfully, the sun seems to set a bit earlier than expected. Dangwaru emerges in the distance after a large bend on the road, but you are sure it will be full nighttime before you can reach its steps. Perhaps exploring the temple at night can help the group forget about the unpleasant encounter with the Axe Beaks. Alternatively, a night of camping at a safe distance away from the certainly dangerous temple could be the way to go.
Before the group can choose their next step, you hear the sound of several animals coming from the nearby foliage and out in the open. They are not rushing out, instead moving as a group in your direction. The mystery is quickly shed once you see a pack of baboons come onto the road. They seem curious about the adventuring party at first but also about their surroundings. As they walk, the entire pack, which is seventeen-strong, picks on plants, into holes on trees, and inside burrows on the ground. Some manage to find something to put into their mouths, but the search continues. A few of their members stop to analyze the Snackers from a dozens of feet away, seemingly choosing to take a generally neutral stance toward the party. Nonetheless, they seem to be claiming this general area, including the patch of road ahead, for themselves for now. Despite their currently non-aggressive stance, their presence feels a little unsettling.
There is nothing like a salty breeze and the view of the ocean waves to brighten anyone's mood! Kairus eventually began to hum a light tune accompanying the rhythmic movement of the waves. The road was pleasantly easy, the destination was in full view and the triton personally would not mind continuing walking, even if in the dark. But they were expecting their guide, not to mention, the place was supposed to be haunted. "Say the place is really full of ghosts... or whatever can be there. Would it matter if we get there in the daytime or at night?" Kairus did not address anyone in particular, more like thought out loud.
The pack of monkeys interrupted his line of thoughts and somewhat returned to the previous discussion of the fauna of this island. "At least these ones do not attack right away. Do you think they want us gone?" Relatively small animals did not look all that threatening but there were many of them and a total lack of communication was even more unnerving than the number of potential aggressors. Kairus looked at the closest baboon, scratched his head thoughtfully, then sat on the ground, put the cittern on his lap and gently touched the strings, trying the universal language of music. Mostly to see what would happen.
Performance: 15 (Will even spend Luck Point if needed for the sake of experiment: 9 )
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Let's try and get along with at least one set of critters on this island. Besides, I doubt baboon is good eating. These all look a little scrawny. Anyone know what they eat? Could be we leave a little lizard meat a ways off, they take it, we don't have to kill them all and send DT tracking back to Ahoyhoy packed with monkey instead of Axe Beak!"
While there may be plenty of interesting if not relaxing vistas to behold during the trip, Hun hardly seemed to content to absorb any of it for long without throwing the occasional conscientious glance the triton's way from the back of Mr. Thicc. And though careful to mask his anxiousness where it came to Kairus' notice, anyone else paying attention to the invetobold might pick up on it heightening so long as the group were anywhere in sight of the water. His paranoia only heightening in seeing the blue wonder far more at ease than he had been for the best several days(more or less). This meant that by the time the Snackers ran into the baboons, Hun was plenty on edge as-is while holding on to Mr. Thicc.
"Bloody Monkeys. Why now of all time?" He lowly groused. "'... I've heard their brains were a delicacy in some cultures, but otherwise..." He trailed off "hmming" in thought for just a moment, then shook his head. "Either way, not worth the effort. So throwing some meat their way a little off to the side might work just as well.... And ey! Greenbeard. You got something to maybe shoo the one's off the path, or are we just gonna have to try and manuever about them and hope for the best?" He asks of Rhogal, using another random and colorful nickname for the dwarf.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Aye, I may have somethin' fer us sneak our way 'round them," Rhogal says as he digs through his pack. Eventually taking out some spongy mushrooms that have odd spores that seem to absorb sound.
Extended Signature
Apart from their numbers, the Packers agree the baboons do not look particularly threatening or aggressive. Deciding to try a different approach this time around, Kairus lures the primates in with some soothing music, albeit on his second try. About a quarter of the baboons seem to react well to the pleasant song, approaching the triton in a calm manner and studying his movements.
Yulmaith and Hun discuss whether the baboons are food or should be fed, ultimately deciding not to stir a fight if one can be avoided. Throwing a few chunks of raw meat away from the road, Yulmiath successfully sends the baboons away. About half of them rush toward the offered food, getting a little competitive in the process. (Please deduct a couple of rations from your inventory.)
Rhogal has a solution for the group to avoid the remaining quarter of the pack, which is still paying attention to the group in a dubious manner. After magically muffling the sounds they make, the druid calls for the party members to follow him past the remaining baboons.
(OOC: Lets us get a stealth check {DC 11} from everyone. You may all roll with advantage.)
Rhogal stealth: 32
Extended Signature
Hun Stealth: 27. (Flat roll due to armor)
Mr. Thicc Stealth: 20.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Sure thing. Kairus stopped playing, letting the animals be easier distracted by the food and then did his best to silently move away:
Stealth: 24
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Yully's sneaky boi check: 13
(OOC How many rations we talking?)
Krodhen's check 27 (Disadv cancelled out by adv and add the +10 from Pass Without Trace)
"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;
Once Rhogal gives the signal, Kairus stops playing and joins the silent group in carefully walking past the few baboons who are still paying attention to them. In a non-verbal agreement to live and let live, the Snackers move on and the primates enjoy a snack.
Not wanting to set camp too close to baboon territory and taking advantage of their silent steps for at least the next 10 minutes, the party continues their hike into the night. Your senses tell you that walking at this time tends to be more dangerous, but the proximity to the sea gives you a feeling of safety, and the well-marked path gives you confidence that you will not get lost. It is about supper time when you decide you should set camp. The Temple in the distance is perhaps still an hour away, but you should be able to easily make that distance in the morning, and camping too close to it might invite whatever may reside inside to come out and play. Plus, this gives a chance for Kwilgok to catch up.
Whether watches are diligently completed or not matters little by the time the sun rises. In picking up camp you do not feel like any of your belongings are missing, not even food. The ever-present sound of the sea overnight was both soothing and protecting, or so it felt. This is likely the most pleasant night camping you have spent in the Snout of Omgar outside of Ahoyhoy's walls. Kwilgok, who joined you sometime before sunrise, even managed to get a couple hours of sleep before you were ready to pack camp. He looks a bit tired, but he completed his side-mission as he said he would, and that is enough fuel for him this morning. "I told them it was another gift from the Snack Pack. I am happy all that food will not go to waste. Thank you for accommodating me."
-> Kwilgok's CON saving throw against getting one level of exhaustion {DC 10}: 8
The trail clings to the mountainside and winds along the island’s rocky coast for miles before ending at a stone palace built thirty feet above sea level. Waves crash against the rocks just below the palace walls. Approaching the temple in this sunny day, you see the palace is a sturdy, multilevel stone edifice built right at the mountainous seashore, with terraces carved out of the mountainside. Despite its sturdiness, the building looks dilapidated and neglected, though the damage is likely only superficial judging by how the complex edifice stands strong over a cliff. Kairus reminds everyone that its name, Dangwaru, loosely translates to “high home” in Aquan.
The palace’s grand entrance features a colonnade of vine-wrapped pillars that leads to a stone double door carved with foamy waves that part in the middle. Sections of the portico’s roof have fallen in, and palm trees and ferns sprout from between the cracked flagstones. Scores of harmless lizards use the shaded areas of the portico as a den. East of the portico is a ten-foot-tall statue choked with vines. It has the head and torso of a woman and a twisting wave of water where her legs should be. Beyond the west side of the portico, an overgrown garden terrace overlooks the thundering sea.
Kwilgok stays to the side as the group approaches the portico area. He says: "There you are, safely delivered to Dangwaru. Now, I am not sure how we'd get Deadly Treasure anywhere inside the temple, and you may recall that us tortles are not very fond of having a roof over our heads. So, I'd prefer to remain outside with my dinosaur if you'd allow me. I can keep an eye out, help you fight anything that may chase you back here, and even run back to Ahoyhoy should we need anything from home-base. What say you?"
MAP:
The central area is the portico. To the right of the portico you can see a hilly area whose main feature is the woman's statue described above (marked by a star on the map). To the left of the portico area, you can see the overgrown garden (also described above). There are three statues in this garden as well, but you can't see clearly what they depict from where you stand currently due to the overgrown vegetation. Finally, the brown area to the right is the mountain. Consider it to be "out of bounds".