Red Dead Annihilation: Campaign Thread

Hew lies in the bottom of the canoe for a few seconds, heaving deep breaths, then he rises.  He looks more exhausted than injured.  "Right.  Though I think we've killed most of the apex predators on this stretch of river - heh - its not wise to linger.  There are worse things than crocodiles."  He sheathes his rapier and then takes another moment to look over everyone.  "Fine work, all of you.  Its not like crocs to be so damn aggressive.  Usually an attack like that happens when some fool lets an arm dangle in the water; gives them something easy to snap at.  Either too few folk are traveling the rivers and they're losing their natural fear... or they are getting used to hunting people on purpose."

"Oh... And if anyone's interested in eating Dimetrodon, carve off some of that one's flank.  Personally I think its worse than dog, but if you want a break from rations tonight, its meat."  As soon as people are ready to move, Hew advocates getting oars back in the water.

Meili wholeheartedly agreed with Mica about travelling on foot, but it seemed the time for the walking did not come just yet. She looked at the body of dimetrodon. It's not like they were here on a culinary tour, but the idea was interesting and saving rations is never a bad thing. Meili came closer to the body and tried to pierce the thick hide with the sword, just to check if it was possible to get through. "How... Ah, I think I can see it." If it was possible to cut a piece fast enough - she would do it. "We might want to get more and if run into other predators in the river, try to distract them, by throwing meat into the water."

Once all was done, she picked up her paddle and prepared to move.

“The taste does make it a rather unappealing option, but meat is meat and we can never be sure when we will need more food.” He said approaching the group, sure the battle had ended. That was the part he disliked about being a spellcaster, he needed to always focus on keeping his distance. In a different world he would have become a warrior like Ran. Maybe with less technique and more brutish. He had the talent when young. Alas, things went differently. “Mica, you are good with skinning. Could you get us some meat for later?”

Velan would have liked to study the creature’s corpse. Harvest its useful parts, analyze its anatomy, summarize its habits from bones and entrails. Yet, he knew, there was no time for that. The faster they moved, the better.

“The city was booming with adventuring parts leaving for the jungle. I don’t think it is likely too few people are traveling the rivers. If anything, the number of travelers should have increased, not to mention the presence of the camps.” The wizard was almost sure someone or something was inciting the beasts to attack. “Maybe this extra contingent of people started foraging their feeding grounds a little too much and they got aggressive out of hunger, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the ladies in the woods are influencing the creatures to attack. I mean, the giant wasps appearing mid-river was also somewhat strange.”

"Weren't the wasps chasing something else though? Think that was just a bit o bad luck for us. The crocs, you might have a point though. Maybe it's linked with the increased undead attacks? This Soulmonger or the Sewn Sisters stirring everything up into a feeding frenzy?" Nose wrinkling at Hew's suggestion that some of the Dimetrodon be cut off for food, Danica nodded in reluctant agreement yet asked in disgusted amazement, "Worse than dog? Ugh... Wish we could've gotten some of the crocs instead... Not like I haven't had worse but just because I've had worse doesn't make it taste any less shit." Glancing down at her leg, the bleeding had stopped completely and the bite was freshly healed, the only casualty her breaches, having been punctured and stained with her own blood. She wore brown paints for a reason but perhaps they needed to be darker. Maybe she should get black ones next time she came across some in civilization. For now, the elf focused on paddling while her blue eyes darted around them both in the water and around for any possible incoming threats.

Perception: 24

Ran paddles along while the others discuss the croc attack, making sure that when he dips the paddle in to the water his hand and fingers stay dry. No need to tempt fate there.

"There was a gang of street runts back in the Dock Ward," Ran says. "They'd just lounge about and and shout insults and take the piss at ship captains making their way from the docks to the Blackstar Inn. Every once and awhile they'd suddenly all get up and for no apparent reason start following and harassing some poor clown. Could never fathom how they picked their mark or what signal they used. Bit like those crocs. Something set them off but maybe they just don't like the smell of this bloody bug repellent."

He watches the water ahead of them as they travel.

You are able to carve off a few meaty portions from the slain synapsid and soon everyone is back in their canoes and working hard against the current, traveling away from the scene of the carnage and deeper upriver.  You continue to see crocodiles, but none so large, and not in such numbers as those that attacked you.  After another four hours, the sun is low in the sky and the sandy beaches of the flood plain begin to thin and the jungle creeps closer to the river.  Here and there, tall ridgelines close in on one side or the other.  "We're past the Bloody Beaches now."

Near dusk, Ninlil and Danica both spot something creating a long low wake in the water.  Hew gives the signal to pause, before pointing out it 'just' a constrictor snake and that you can safely ignore it.

Clouds begin to gather, and no druid talent is necessary to tell that rain is coming.  Hew suggests the party get some torches lit and head ashore, to get a camp carved out and secured before nightfall and stormy weather makes it more difficult than necessary.  Right on cue, a landing appears around the next bend.  No canoes are here now, but it looks like enough have been put ashore in this spot over the years to carve out a little beach and trail leading into the jungle.

Hew leads a team down the path to check it out and sure enough there is a raised spot of land with a bit of jungle cleared around it, with the remains of a deep burn pit in the center of the hill.  "It's not a fortified camp, but its better than most spots we will need to sleep."

Velan:

 Soon the camp is ready.  After a long day battling crocodiles and paddling without rest, the scent of meat cooking - even if it is unseasoned proto-mammal - stirs a primal hunger in you all.  There is enough Dimetrodon for everyone to feed, or you can burn a ration, or go out to look for forage.  Hew offers to take one of the watches tonight, and needs three more to volunteer.

Ran looks at the Dimetrodon cooking, sniffs a couple of times and sets into it with gusto.

"Not sure what dog tastes like," Ran says. "But this is a sight better than rat, I'll tell you that."

Ran will volunteer for watch as well.

Perception for watch if needed: 3  

This time around Meili did not get a scratch on her and would gladly let the wounded (including Hew) get some rest first. After the supper, of course. "It is not that bad," commented she on the meat. "Would not call it a home-raised chicken, but eatable. With some seasoning might even be called a delicacy." She washed her mouth after the supper as well as was possible, though. If the book was not finished yet, the last pages were religiously read aloud - familiarising themselves with the menagerie of the enemies hiding in the jungle felt like a number one priority by now.

"I'll take the first watch if others don't mind. Hew, Captain maybe you take a break tonight?" She did not insist, of course, but really, even with healing, wounds are wounds and need time to close properly.

(Perception for the watch: 17)

[Odd that you would say that, Ran.  Of all the flavors you have encountered, rat is probably the closest comp to the Dimetrodon.  A little fattier and gamier than rat, maybe.  And not as stringy.  So yes, better than rat.  But... similar to rat.]

The book is complete.  Everyone now possesses the basic knowledge of the creatures detailed in Volo's Guide to Monsters.  When Meili is done reading, Hew makes a point to speak to her and Inete.  "I appreciate the two of you helping me back there in the river.  But you mustn't let your instinct to help let you put yourself in danger.  There is no room for mistakes out here.  Leaning over to help me into the canoe... those weren't the only crocs in the area.  I saw at least two more hanging out near the bottom.  One of them could have easily seized the opportunity to make a meal of either one of you.  What I mean to say is... thanks... but don't ever lose focus of the dangers around you, even if someone else is in trouble."  He scratches his beard and looks displeased, as though he failed to say that properly, before he sits back down and begins gnawing at a medium rare hunk of Dimetrodon.

Here he was doing it again! But on the other hand, considering what Hew has been through (the missing arm was only a visible indication), there was no surprise he had a hard time believing in companionship. "Take it as a calculated risk. We are fully lost in these woods without you, and your safety is our safety." Meili's warm if a bit shy smile contradicted the coldness of the words but she did not press any harder, leaving Hew finishing supper in peace. 

Ran finishes the last of his lizard-rat dinner as he listens to the last descriptions from Volo's book.

"Those little forest creatures, Xvarts," Ran starts. "You think Volo made them up? They don't sound real."

Catching bits of Hew's conversation with Inete and Meili, he turns to Hew.

"The more of us out here tramping through the woods the better. Saving your leathery hide was the right call on their part." 

He finds a couple of the bug repellent candles and gets them lit near the tents before turning in before his turn on watch.

“After hearing about the sisters, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were keeping guard with orders to kill.” He said to Danica a little bit before they returned to the walking. The rest of the day what fortunately uneventful and Ninlil proved herself worth every penny Velan had to spend on material components to cast the Find Familiar spell. Her keen eyes managed to keep the group from being surprised, not that the task had been particularly difficult. Hew kept proving his skills time and again, alerting to the dangers of the jungle. Still Amphyretta’s words echoed into his mind.

He could not help but find it funny when the dwarf, following a warn of Ninlil and Danica, pointed to a snake. Just a constrictor, he said. In no place other than Chult such dangerous creature would be regarded with such contempt. Some clouds later they decided to camp and the wizard started tending to the tents when Inete came to speak with him.

“Whenever you are ready.” He answered as the others starting to gather around the fire for the usual reading. That night they had finished the book. Contrary to what the author’s appearance would suggest to anyone meeting him, the writing had little on the way of flourishes and was quite useful. Good thing we met him at the Lizard, the chronurgist concluded while imagining how much the information could come in hand.  

Mica explores briefly around the jungle clearing, foraging some simple greens to add to the meal, checking all of them with Hew to continue to learn from the guide.  Meili did an excellent carving out the slab of meat, no easy task given the hurry the group was in.  

 He squats by the fire, enjoying the fresh meat and the break from rations. “Hmph, anything you can eat that doesn’t eat you first is not bad.  This is pretty good, actually.”  However, Hew’s comments on something riling up the crocodiles and other creatures to attack rest heavily on his mind, especially when Velan agrees.   Could the dark magics of the sewn sisters have that much of an impact on the jungle?  He would pay close attention to this, but that is not what he talks about tonight. “Let us have a campfire story. Hew, will you tell us what happened in the south and why those hunters thought you dead? We may learn much from it.”

 As the campfire dies down, Mica sets up the raincatchers and will volunteer for a turn at watch.  Perception (if neeed): 13.

Thunder rumbles in the distance.  The rain holds off longer than expected, giving you all a welcome chance to stretch out beside the campfire, erect the tents, enjoy a hot meal, and put out the rain catchers in a leisurely manner.  When the rain does come, it is heavy, and you can hear it advancing toward you through the jungle canopy... a curtain of rain making its way through the darkness.

It is soon impossible to keep the fire going.  

Velan:

Danica:

Meili takes first watch.  The rain makes it difficult to hear anything but the downpour.  Your two hour watch passes without incident and you wake Hew for second watch.  

Ran, Hew rouses you to take third watch.  The rain slows during the first hour and then stops.  There are still sounds of water, as moisture continues to drain from the canopy overhead down to the jungle floor below.   You also hear the sound of insects, which take to the air once the rain stops.  They do not bother you, but it sounds like there must be millions of them in the air around your camp.

Ran and Velan:

 Danica, Meili, and Mica are all jolted awake by the sound of an animal screaming perhaps 50 feet from camp.  Hew erupts from his sleeping bag and comes to stand beside Ran and his torch.  "What was it?  Is it gone?"

Ran forces himself to take a deep breath after the screeching creature runs off into the brush.

"It scampered that way as soon as I lit the torch," Ran points with the tip of his longsword in the direction the creature ran. "I don't think it was popping round for a chat. I'd have said an ape of some sort but it was laughing and the buzz of insects was loud. It was dragging something too."

Ran takes a step towards where the creature had been.

"But I think it dropped whatever it had."

He holds the torch up high to try and cast a little more light and steps forward again, looking for what was dropped.

In the soft glow of his torch, Ran can make out the bloated, purple corpse of an elf.  The body has the extra-large backpack of a porter and is absolutely swarming with black flies.

Mica snaps awake at the sound of the scream and quickly joins Ran and Hew, both handaxes at the ready.  He follows Ran up as he discovers the body.  “Poor bugger, wonder where he came from” he waves away thick swarms of flies to get a better look. 

Remembering the story from Ran’s old companion back at the Port and the leg he lost, Mica warns his friends “Careful of the body, no telling how long it's been dead or what manner of disease it can pass along.”  He carefully cuts away the porters pack and searches through the contents, looking for any useful supplies or any information on who they were or where they came from.  Perception: 19.