Weaving amongst the trees, Pinky does a thorough search of the area while Shin and the others plan on what their next move was. The jungle in the immediate vicinity seemed to be fairly safe. She spots several lizards lounging on tree branches alongside birds that huddled together in an attempt to hide from the rain. She spots more than a few snakes of various sizes, and one of them almost snatched her out of the air when she flew past. Small mammals about the size of a dog she doesn’t recognize forage on the forest floor, oblivious to the rain as they munch on leaves and ferns.
As for shelter and freshwater, she doesn’t spot any of the first, but she does see several small streams that fed into the lake. It looked like the lake was a low spot where the water from the surrounding jungle naturally pooled.
COMBAT
Weakened, the spider tries to flee out of the jungle in a made dash, but Nanra was ready for it. She pounces forward and shatters another leg with powerful bite, the spider only has time to squeal as its remaining legs give out. It slams into the ground with a sickening thud, carapace shattering and yellowish blood spraying out from the impact. Nanra lets out a victorious roar as the spider falls, her frill flared proudly.
As Shin sends off his owl to do his searching for him, Silvana starts trekking into the jungle a bit, hoping to find shelter out of this rain storm. Constantly shaking her fur to try and keep herself dry, she becomes annoyed with the entire situation very fast.
Euphemia finishes the battle march she's playing and as the bagpipes give out with a last squeal of triumph, she drops the chanter from her lips and gives a shout. "Good jaws, Nanra! Wow! You did it!" Laughing, she stows the pipes on her back again, and runs over to the raptor, reaching up to pat her on the knee. That went real well. Better than it looked like it was going to. None of us even got hurt! And I saw that fellow with the bow come back around and shoot it. I guess he just went hiding in the bushes somewhere.
She looks at the fallen spider, at the oozing hemolymph and the cracked carcass, and feels her stomach turn a bit. Gross. Is there anything edible on that thing? Nanra will know, she's a meat eater. She should get first pick anyway. Smiling, the halfling looks up at the raptor and gestures towards the carcass invitingly. "Go ahead, you eat! You're bigger than the rest of us, and you did all the work to take it down!" Although her Speak With Animals spell has ended, she hopes her deferential body language and tone of voice makes her intent clear.
The Genasi is behind her, checking the tips of one of the creature's severed legs. Internally, he's curious about using the hard, pointed ends of its exoskeleton as a possible spearhead. He hears the halfling telling her pet to have first bites. Let 'er. So long as we get our share.
He takes up a nearby rock, and prepares to begin breaking the leg to "harvest" the spear point.
Similar to what Pinky discover, there wasn’t really any natural shelters nearby, though you could easily construct one using materials from the jungle.
COMBAT
Not needing to be told twice, Nanra starts chowing down on the fallen spider, ripping apart carapace and gorging upon the slimy flesh within. The spider’s meat reminded you a bit of crab meat. Crabs were just sea spiders after all.
Once Nanra has refueled her tank, she takes few sluggish steps back and burps a bit, her maw covered in thick, orange blood. It looks like there was still plenty of flesh left on the spider, though getting it off of its carapace might prove to be a bit challenging.
The genasi angles the leg segment parallel to him. Readjusting his grip on the rock, he begins carefully chipping at the chitinous shell, forming a precise fissure along the joint of the base segment, around a foot back from the tip. Once the fissure is complete, he pulls out an arrow and begins piercing the tougher leg flesh.
Once the flesh is thoroughly skewered, Korinth the begins prying and tearing, slowly pulling the leg away from the joint. Vessels burst and blood splatters as the leg dislocates, if only slightly. Taking up the rock again, he smashes the last of the leg's internal cartilage, freeing the tip from it's joint with a loud, wet squelch.
Shouldering his bow, and throwing the severed leg under his arm, he then meanders over to where the halfling idles. The raptor nearby appears half drunk off of blood and viscera. If the flesh is poisonous, her health from here to home, wherever that was, would decide whether they'd found food or folly.
"So, sweet lass," he says, wiping his bloodied hands across his bare stomach, "how would you like to do this?"
"It appears you and Pinky-toe's each possess a survival aptitude which far surpasses my own, Silvana. For that I am thankful."
Shin makes a motion as if tipping a cap, spoiled somewhat by his not having a cap. The owl settles on his shoulder, looking warily around for snakes.
"Shall we begin constructing a shelter at the edge of one of the fresh water streams which feed the lake? There are also herbivorous mammals the size of dogs and lizards on the branches which may serve to supplement whatever meat the others return with. Do watch for the snakes, however."
If the tabaxi agrees, Shin defers to her on picking the exact spot for a shelter, trusting her instincts. If it seems he appropriate, once at the spot, he again ritually casts Tenser's Floating Disk to help carry any branches or other materials necessary for shelter construction.
Euphemia stands quietly, watching first Nanra eat her fill, and then Korinth severing one of the legs of the spider. They do look nice and pointy. Good weapons, I guess. But Euphemia is at a loss, looking at the enormous bug. Sure, she's skinned and butchered animals before, for eating or transport. But those were... well... animals. Things with muscles and blood and hearts and ordinary organs. The innards of a spider are an absolute mystery to her, although Nanra seems to have had no trouble finding the edible parts.
She looks up at Korinth as the Genasi finishes with his task and approaches her. "Well, I don't know," she says. "I've never gotten meat off a spider. I guess we'd better look it over and see what's edible that we can get off of it and pack back to the others."
The halfling inches a little closer to the corpse, trying to see if she can make sense of what she's looking at.
At the Halfling's instruction, Korinth begins the careful process of extracting several dozen pounds of flesh. He starts with the carapace, using his chosen stone and a nearby branch to carefully pry internal organs and offal away from the inner walls of the shell. He also pokes the eye plate out, tilting what he can to drain excess blood and bile. The rest, he scoops out by hand, separating morsels from entrails. He also saves the heart and the liver, both useful for feeding someone suffering blood loss.
Once the carapace is clean, the genasi moves to the creature's legs. He begins as he did previously, using his pointed stone to break the hard shell of the legs. He carefully cuts a fissure along the length of each leg, removing cartilage, sinew and loose tendon from the packed flesh of the firmer leg meat. He's tempted to harvest more tips... but relents in favor of the need for food. Having finished the legs, a new issue arrives: transport.
Korinth looks around, his eyes eventually settling back on the carcass he had just cleaned. That could work, he muses. Buuuuut... his eyes scan the clearing for vines or reeds, spotting a few scant stalks hanging from a nearby mangrove. It doesn't take much to pull down several, sawing them free with his sharp stone. Though crude, he could use these vines and carapace to craft a ramshackle sled for basic transport. Securing the vines are simple enough. He manages to loop several through the gap in the carcass where the eyeplate popped out.
Now comes the biggest problem: the Lass's new friend. He can push this haul a fair distance, but it would be far easier if someone else could pull. Using a few branches and half a leg segment, he's able to produce a crude harness and tie it off to the "sled." Turning to the Euphemia, he extends the harness to her and asks, "M'dear, might you be able to convince yer friend to wear this? If she can aid us, this haul," he nods to his handiwork, "is all ours for the taking."
Silvana smiles at the compliment, she is finding the goblin most peculiar, but an amiable companion and she starts hunting for a decent area to construct a shelter. She doesn't take too long seeing it had already started raining and her coat was getting wet.
Once happy with an area, she starts gathering large leaves and vines to tie off the leaves as a makeshift roof to be temporary before getting any real timber, be it sticks branches or logs that they can find to get things moving. As Shin creates his disk again, she smirks, "That's a neat little trick you've got there. Definitely beneficial. And yes, I'll be sure to look out for snakes, or better yet, catch one or two." and she licks her lips thinking about it.
Euphemia, lacking tools or strength for what Korinth is doing, mostly watches. After a few minutes, perhaps by the time he is halfway through the legs, and with a glance around the steaming jungle, the halfling starts to play the pipes again, the familiar tune of beast speech flying from her fingers dancing over the holes in the chanter. Just in case Nanra has something she wants to say, or if I need to tell her something. She really did a good job, she'd probably do well with a nap now. I could use one meself, once I feel like we might not get eaten soon as I close my eyes.
Beads of sweat dampen the halfling's curls, sticking to her neck in the steamy jungle. After a few more minutes, she finishes her tune, and stows the pipes again. Korinth has about finished stringing vines to the carapace now. Euphemia bends down and picks one up. Looking at Korinth's makeshift harness, and then at Nanra. Sure, she can pull a lot more weight than I can. But...
"I realize I'm kind of small, lad," Euphemia says. "But I'm also the most militarily useless of all of us. We're not out of the jungle yet, and I'd feel a long sight better if Nanra weren't tied up, in case something attacks us, or we need to run. You and I, we can drop these vines in a rush if we need to. But we'd have to tie her to it good for her to be any help. You push, and I'll pull. It'll be awkward, sure, but I'd rather leave the dinner behind than become dinner for something else. Now... do you remember which way it was back to that lake where we left the others?"
Taiga stirred from her makeshift bed of leaves and vines, the cold touch of the earth comfortably seeping through her greyish skin and in contrast to the otherwise hellishly hot and wet air. A low rumble shook the ground beneath her. With a start, she realized that she had been roused by the approach of a colossal spider! In a flash, Taiga was on her feet, her heart pounding in her chest as she fled through the dense foliage, the shoulder straps of her pouch catching passing branches and slowing her down. With each nimble step, she willed herself to move faster, shedding the weighty pouch along the way to distract the spider and to gain precious seconds in her escape that she used to excavate a patch of loose soil, jumped into the hole and covered herself almost entirely. Recovering from the initial shock, Taiga tried to orient herself. What has happened? How did I get here? Last thing I know was … I can’t remember! Then she shook herself to attention and suppressed her worrying thoughts for now, and listened intently for the spider. But the spider didn’t come. But better safe than sorry, she focussed on the wet air around her and by force of will she condensed some of the water and froze it on her skin to create a magical barrier.
A few heart pounding minutes later, Taiga slowly emerged from her hole and decided to carefully circle back to retrieve her tools. The set of finely crafted carpenter tools meant a lot to her, even though, for the life of her, she couldn’t recall where this feeling of relief originated when she finally picked her pouch up again. The jungle was alive with the sounds of screeches and an odd, distant melody of bagpipes? What is this place? Peering through the foliage, she spotted two humanoids and a raptor, looting the corpse of the giant spider that not so long ago was after her. Relief flooded through her as she realized she was no longer being pursued. Yet, a sense of curiosity tugged at her, and she remained hidden, watching intently to see who had dispatched the spider. With a mixture of caution and intrigue, she observed the scene before her, her nimble and lean figure trying to blend into the jungle's shadows (Stealth: 18).
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
The Genasi chuckles slightly. "I think the hunger's scrambled that big brain of yours, lass. The others were on their way to a lake, but we ourselves veered off quite some time ago." The sun peeks through the canopy baking his bare shoulders as he stretches his back.
He bends forward as well, reaching to touch his feet once or twice. After that, he squats a few times.
"If'n your need is for me to track our wayward compatriots back, perhaps you'd best let me pull. That way, I've got an eye on our path ahead." He pulls a crude smile and begins to joke: "'Sides, I myself am eager to see if our lil green friend has found us a nice place to set up camp yet. Can't do all the work 'round here, ya know? Between the beastie 'n me, I got to leave somethin' for the rest of ya!"
He holds out his hand for the wee halfling to pass the harness back...
It takes about half an hour of scrounging around, but she manages to make a nice 10 by 5 roof made of broad leaves bound to a wooden frame. It should block out most of the rain, and it looks like she made it just in time. The gentle sprinkle begins to pick up, fat raindrops falling with greater intensity while a breeze starts to cause the leaves of the trees about you to shiver and shake. Thunder rumbles ominously from the main bulk of the black thunderclouds that approach with a ponderous inevitability.
With their prize in tow, the duo begin their long trek towards the lake. Dragging the sled loaded with the glistening spider meat is quite the ordeal, though both of you are able to manage it without too much difficulty. After Euphemia speaks to Nanra with her magic, the raptor agrees to lead you back to the others. She's able to follow the tracks left by the other group without much difficulty, her keen, predatory senses picking up on the slightest details of their passage.
It takes a few hours, but you eventually find the others near the lake edge. It looks like they've managed to erect some kind of small roof to keep them out of the rain for now, though it looks like their beginnings of a shelter is about to be put to the test. A large swirling mass of black clouds illuminated from within by flashes of lightning plods in your direction, and the rain that had been falling for a bit starts to pick up.
SHIN, SILVANA
Atax, the lizardfolk, also crafts a similar roof. He points to some trees nearby that have grown near each other with a nice, open space between them. "We can hang these up between those trees for now," he rumbles. "We should try to figure out what to do for a more permanent shelter when the others get back.
TAIGA
Taiga manages to follow the two humanoids and their raptor at a distance without being spotted. There was plenty of terrain and obstacles she could dart between to keep herself from being noticed as she stalks the group. Eventually, she follows them to a vast, murky lake with its shores chocked by mangroves and tall, swampy grasses. She spots a small island in the center of the lake. She also spots three more humanoids that the two she was following move to greet. Looks like they've been working together. The three that were already at the lake have made a scanty shelter against the weather.
Taiga's heart pounded nervously while she followed the two strangers. She realized she was completely alone, with no memory of who she was or where she came from. Are they friend or foe? Then, the sight of the group at the lake only served to deepen her sense of isolation and confusion. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, a flicker of determination ignited within her. She would need to tread carefully, observe, and perhaps, in time, piece together the puzzle of her own identity. However, for now, she cannot survive on her own. This group managed to kill a giant spider and already establish a makeshift-camp to rest and retreat. If she stays alone, she will perish. I must contact them. Perhaps, unseen, for now. They could be pirates, or bandits, or worse.
She moved closer to about a hundred feet distance but remained hidden as best as she can. At her chosen spot she observed the group interaction for a little while until she built up the courage to contact one of them, maybe her disgruntled stomach added to the final decision. But who? Who to contact?There’s a Halfling, they are typically affable people. A Genasi, like me, who might be more inclined to listen, though not my element. A goblin, lizardfolk and catfolk, I'm not sure what to make of them. They do not seem to have worked together for long, though. They appear to be more a motley crew that desperation brought together. Could it be that they are stranded here like me?
Finally, she decided to message the genasi, as she felt, at least, close kinship. ‘Friend. I’m lost. I’m near you, though, I don’t know where that is exactly or why I am here. Would you help your kin?’
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Keras stands in the shallows of the large lake, the sand grains uncomfortably sharp, digging into his bare feet. He did wake with shoes, whatever power that brought him here wasn't cruel enough to deny him basic items of clothing, but the leather was lined with some sort of old fleece that grew heavy when waterlogged and took ages to dry. Slowly, he moves through the water, trying his best to avoid making ripples on the surface of the calm water. After a few seconds, he spots his target - a short, wide fish of questionable origin and even more questionable flavor. They were edible, however. Keras had been to hungry to worry about whether they were poisonous when he first caught one, but afterwards he realized how much of a risk it was to eat it without thinking. There are more poisonous animals on this island than one could shake a stick at. He slowly moves within reach, but just as he is about to snap out his hand, a keening noise cuts through the jungle. He starts, scaring the fish, and curses. He reaches over his shoulder, then curses again as he remembers that he left his weapon before coming to the shore. He quickly takes off at a run, tearing through the shallow water and prompting fish to swim lazily out of his way. As he rounds the small rocky outcropping that marks the center of the island in the lake, his makeshift shelter comes into view. It's little more than a handful of large branches leaned up against the rock and held in place with large rocks, but it is better than sleeping in the open. He darts into the relative darkness, scrambling around for a second before emerging with a long oilcloth bag, which he holds gingerly. The keening noise hasn't disappeared, but it does seem to be moving. Some sort of predator? No, what predator would give itself away with such a sound?
As he thinks, the fragment of a memory flashes through his mind, just enough for a word to form. Bagpipes? Someone's playing an instrument? Here? Are they blown or bellowed? The last question confuses him the most, since he's not entirely sure what it actually means. Whatever the case, it could mean other people... He glances over at the nearby shore, and the rickety raft on the beach there. The sight makes him shudder as he remembers tying the buoyant logs together with strips torn from his cloak in the dead of night, and the sound of footsteps as the close in on him, the smell of its bre- He shakes his head, banishing the memory. You haven't seen it at the bank for two days, it's moved on to easier prey. Probably. After a moment of deliberation, he sighs. Whoever they are, they could be trouble. He looks at his small ring of stones No fire. Not until I know that they aren't dangerous. He moves to the opposite side of the island, where he heard the music, then settles down. He clutches the long bag closely, wrapping his cloak around him and hugging his knees to his chest. Despite his resolve to keep an eye out until any danger has passed, his exhaustion has other ideas and he quickly falls into an uneasy sleep.
Keras wakes with a start, rain pelting his cloak and the rock around him. He glances up at the storm worriedly, not wanting to get hit with any debris it might blow up. He stands up, and starts to move towards it, but then remembers the raft. After a second of indecision, he heads away from the shelter and towards the raft. His clothes would dry, but losing the raft means losing any way off the island. Moving with nervous haste, he grabs the light vehicle and tosses it over his shoulder. He finds a slight overhang in the outcropping, placing the raft beneath it, then places a few heavy rocks on top of it to keep it weighed down. After that, he tucks away inside the lean-to, which is already leaking water through the foliage covered 'roof'. I wonder if I'll even be able to hear the voice over the wind. It's loud, but this storm seems extreme. With a shrug, he pulls his sodden cloak around him once again, preparing himself from the battering that was surely to come.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Upon arriving to the shore and spotting a rather sad shelter, Korinth retorts with a disappointed clicking of his teeth. "Whose sorry excuse of a shelter is this?" Upon both Atax and Silvana raising their hands, however, his attitude changes as attraction blinds his logic. "Oh. I'm sure it'll be alright, then," he says with a smile. He's about to cross the clearing and get the lizard's help in collecting drier wood, maybe get on his good side a little more, when a voice rings shrill in his ear. A woman's voice. He responds loudly with all the charisma of a screeching cat.
"I know ya not lass! Can't call you kin lest I see you fer myself, ken? Come out, that I might oggle you with my own eyes!"
Taiga's heart sank as she heard the genasi's loud response. She had hoped for a subtle and reassuring conversation, not an open call to reveal herself. Fear gripped her as she crouched in the shadows, her mind racing with the possibilities of what might happen if she revealed herself to five strangers in the middle of the jungle. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Taiga weighed her options. She couldn't stay hidden forever, and if she wanted answers, she would have to take a risk. But even if that meant for her to end as bait for a giant fish? “Croaker-Cursed-Calamity,” she mutters to herself. That went south in a hurry! What should I do?
Clearly, now that the group is aware of her presence, they will certainly look for her and she won’t remain hidden for long. With cautious determination, she stepped out from her hiding place, her soil-coloured greyish skin blending with the dark shadows of the jungle as she slowly approached the genasi and the group proper. But not closer than some 90 feet distance to keep the option to turn and run. The Earth genasi’s statue is not at all imposing with a measly three and a half foot head to toe but her step is purposeful and with elfish grace. And when she stands still she evokes the sturdiness of a solid rock as she stands as stout and unyielding as any dwarf. “Please, I mean you no harm," she called out, her voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying enough conviction to reach the ears of the group. "I am lost and alone. Will you help me?"
Her words hung in the air, and Taiga held her breath, waiting anxiously for their response.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
SHIN
Weaving amongst the trees, Pinky does a thorough search of the area while Shin and the others plan on what their next move was. The jungle in the immediate vicinity seemed to be fairly safe. She spots several lizards lounging on tree branches alongside birds that huddled together in an attempt to hide from the rain. She spots more than a few snakes of various sizes, and one of them almost snatched her out of the air when she flew past. Small mammals about the size of a dog she doesn’t recognize forage on the forest floor, oblivious to the rain as they munch on leaves and ferns.
As for shelter and freshwater, she doesn’t spot any of the first, but she does see several small streams that fed into the lake. It looked like the lake was a low spot where the water from the surrounding jungle naturally pooled.
COMBAT
Weakened, the spider tries to flee out of the jungle in a made dash, but Nanra was ready for it. She pounces forward and shatters another leg with powerful bite, the spider only has time to squeal as its remaining legs give out. It slams into the ground with a sickening thud, carapace shattering and yellowish blood spraying out from the impact. Nanra lets out a victorious roar as the spider falls, her frill flared proudly.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
As Shin sends off his owl to do his searching for him, Silvana starts trekking into the jungle a bit, hoping to find shelter out of this rain storm. Constantly shaking her fur to try and keep herself dry, she becomes annoyed with the entire situation very fast.
Survival search for shelter: 18
Euphemia finishes the battle march she's playing and as the bagpipes give out with a last squeal of triumph, she drops the chanter from her lips and gives a shout. "Good jaws, Nanra! Wow! You did it!" Laughing, she stows the pipes on her back again, and runs over to the raptor, reaching up to pat her on the knee. That went real well. Better than it looked like it was going to. None of us even got hurt! And I saw that fellow with the bow come back around and shoot it. I guess he just went hiding in the bushes somewhere.
She looks at the fallen spider, at the oozing hemolymph and the cracked carcass, and feels her stomach turn a bit. Gross. Is there anything edible on that thing? Nanra will know, she's a meat eater. She should get first pick anyway. Smiling, the halfling looks up at the raptor and gestures towards the carcass invitingly. "Go ahead, you eat! You're bigger than the rest of us, and you did all the work to take it down!" Although her Speak With Animals spell has ended, she hopes her deferential body language and tone of voice makes her intent clear.
And then she looks around for Korinth, too.
The Genasi is behind her, checking the tips of one of the creature's severed legs. Internally, he's curious about using the hard, pointed ends of its exoskeleton as a possible spearhead. He hears the halfling telling her pet to have first bites. Let 'er. So long as we get our share.
He takes up a nearby rock, and prepares to begin breaking the leg to "harvest" the spear point.
SILVANA
Similar to what Pinky discover, there wasn’t really any natural shelters nearby, though you could easily construct one using materials from the jungle.
COMBAT
Not needing to be told twice, Nanra starts chowing down on the fallen spider, ripping apart carapace and gorging upon the slimy flesh within. The spider’s meat reminded you a bit of crab meat. Crabs were just sea spiders after all.
Once Nanra has refueled her tank, she takes few sluggish steps back and burps a bit, her maw covered in thick, orange blood. It looks like there was still plenty of flesh left on the spider, though getting it off of its carapace might prove to be a bit challenging.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
"I'll help with the meat in a moment, lass!"
The genasi angles the leg segment parallel to him. Readjusting his grip on the rock, he begins carefully chipping at the chitinous shell, forming a precise fissure along the joint of the base segment, around a foot back from the tip. Once the fissure is complete, he pulls out an arrow and begins piercing the tougher leg flesh.
Once the flesh is thoroughly skewered, Korinth the begins prying and tearing, slowly pulling the leg away from the joint. Vessels burst and blood splatters as the leg dislocates, if only slightly. Taking up the rock again, he smashes the last of the leg's internal cartilage, freeing the tip from it's joint with a loud, wet squelch.
Shouldering his bow, and throwing the severed leg under his arm, he then meanders over to where the halfling idles. The raptor nearby appears half drunk off of blood and viscera. If the flesh is poisonous, her health from here to home, wherever that was, would decide whether they'd found food or folly.
"So, sweet lass," he says, wiping his bloodied hands across his bare stomach, "how would you like to do this?"
"It appears you and Pinky-toe's each possess a survival aptitude which far surpasses my own, Silvana. For that I am thankful."
Shin makes a motion as if tipping a cap, spoiled somewhat by his not having a cap. The owl settles on his shoulder, looking warily around for snakes.
"Shall we begin constructing a shelter at the edge of one of the fresh water streams which feed the lake? There are also herbivorous mammals the size of dogs and lizards on the branches which may serve to supplement whatever meat the others return with. Do watch for the snakes, however."
If the tabaxi agrees, Shin defers to her on picking the exact spot for a shelter, trusting her instincts. If it seems he appropriate, once at the spot, he again ritually casts Tenser's Floating Disk to help carry any branches or other materials necessary for shelter construction.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Euphemia stands quietly, watching first Nanra eat her fill, and then Korinth severing one of the legs of the spider. They do look nice and pointy. Good weapons, I guess. But Euphemia is at a loss, looking at the enormous bug. Sure, she's skinned and butchered animals before, for eating or transport. But those were... well... animals. Things with muscles and blood and hearts and ordinary organs. The innards of a spider are an absolute mystery to her, although Nanra seems to have had no trouble finding the edible parts.
She looks up at Korinth as the Genasi finishes with his task and approaches her. "Well, I don't know," she says. "I've never gotten meat off a spider. I guess we'd better look it over and see what's edible that we can get off of it and pack back to the others."
The halfling inches a little closer to the corpse, trying to see if she can make sense of what she's looking at.
Nature: 12
At the Halfling's instruction, Korinth begins the careful process of extracting several dozen pounds of flesh. He starts with the carapace, using his chosen stone and a nearby branch to carefully pry internal organs and offal away from the inner walls of the shell. He also pokes the eye plate out, tilting what he can to drain excess blood and bile. The rest, he scoops out by hand, separating morsels from entrails. He also saves the heart and the liver, both useful for feeding someone suffering blood loss.
Once the carapace is clean, the genasi moves to the creature's legs. He begins as he did previously, using his pointed stone to break the hard shell of the legs. He carefully cuts a fissure along the length of each leg, removing cartilage, sinew and loose tendon from the packed flesh of the firmer leg meat. He's tempted to harvest more tips... but relents in favor of the need for food. Having finished the legs, a new issue arrives: transport.
Korinth looks around, his eyes eventually settling back on the carcass he had just cleaned. That could work, he muses. Buuuuut... his eyes scan the clearing for vines or reeds, spotting a few scant stalks hanging from a nearby mangrove. It doesn't take much to pull down several, sawing them free with his sharp stone. Though crude, he could use these vines and carapace to craft a ramshackle sled for basic transport. Securing the vines are simple enough. He manages to loop several through the gap in the carcass where the eyeplate popped out.
Now comes the biggest problem: the Lass's new friend. He can push this haul a fair distance, but it would be far easier if someone else could pull. Using a few branches and half a leg segment, he's able to produce a crude harness and tie it off to the "sled." Turning to the Euphemia, he extends the harness to her and asks, "M'dear, might you be able to convince yer friend to wear this? If she can aid us, this haul," he nods to his handiwork, "is all ours for the taking."
Silvana smiles at the compliment, she is finding the goblin most peculiar, but an amiable companion and she starts hunting for a decent area to construct a shelter. She doesn't take too long seeing it had already started raining and her coat was getting wet.
Once happy with an area, she starts gathering large leaves and vines to tie off the leaves as a makeshift roof to be temporary before getting any real timber, be it sticks branches or logs that they can find to get things moving. As Shin creates his disk again, she smirks, "That's a neat little trick you've got there. Definitely beneficial. And yes, I'll be sure to look out for snakes, or better yet, catch one or two." and she licks her lips thinking about it.
Euphemia, lacking tools or strength for what Korinth is doing, mostly watches. After a few minutes, perhaps by the time he is halfway through the legs, and with a glance around the steaming jungle, the halfling starts to play the pipes again, the familiar tune of beast speech flying from her fingers dancing over the holes in the chanter. Just in case Nanra has something she wants to say, or if I need to tell her something. She really did a good job, she'd probably do well with a nap now. I could use one meself, once I feel like we might not get eaten soon as I close my eyes.
Beads of sweat dampen the halfling's curls, sticking to her neck in the steamy jungle. After a few more minutes, she finishes her tune, and stows the pipes again. Korinth has about finished stringing vines to the carapace now. Euphemia bends down and picks one up. Looking at Korinth's makeshift harness, and then at Nanra. Sure, she can pull a lot more weight than I can. But...
"I realize I'm kind of small, lad," Euphemia says. "But I'm also the most militarily useless of all of us. We're not out of the jungle yet, and I'd feel a long sight better if Nanra weren't tied up, in case something attacks us, or we need to run. You and I, we can drop these vines in a rush if we need to. But we'd have to tie her to it good for her to be any help. You push, and I'll pull. It'll be awkward, sure, but I'd rather leave the dinner behind than become dinner for something else. Now... do you remember which way it was back to that lake where we left the others?"
Ritual cast Speak With Animals.
Taiga stirred from her makeshift bed of leaves and vines, the cold touch of the earth comfortably seeping through her greyish skin and in contrast to the otherwise hellishly hot and wet air. A low rumble shook the ground beneath her. With a start, she realized that she had been roused by the approach of a colossal spider! In a flash, Taiga was on her feet, her heart pounding in her chest as she fled through the dense foliage, the shoulder straps of her pouch catching passing branches and slowing her down. With each nimble step, she willed herself to move faster, shedding the weighty pouch along the way to distract the spider and to gain precious seconds in her escape that she used to excavate a patch of loose soil, jumped into the hole and covered herself almost entirely. Recovering from the initial shock, Taiga tried to orient herself. What has happened? How did I get here? Last thing I know was … I can’t remember! Then she shook herself to attention and suppressed her worrying thoughts for now, and listened intently for the spider. But the spider didn’t come. But better safe than sorry, she focussed on the wet air around her and by force of will she condensed some of the water and froze it on her skin to create a magical barrier.
A few heart pounding minutes later, Taiga slowly emerged from her hole and decided to carefully circle back to retrieve her tools. The set of finely crafted carpenter tools meant a lot to her, even though, for the life of her, she couldn’t recall where this feeling of relief originated when she finally picked her pouch up again. The jungle was alive with the sounds of screeches and an odd, distant melody of bagpipes? What is this place? Peering through the foliage, she spotted two humanoids and a raptor, looting the corpse of the giant spider that not so long ago was after her. Relief flooded through her as she realized she was no longer being pursued. Yet, a sense of curiosity tugged at her, and she remained hidden, watching intently to see who had dispatched the spider. With a mixture of caution and intrigue, she observed the scene before her, her nimble and lean figure trying to blend into the jungle's shadows (Stealth: 18).
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
The Genasi chuckles slightly. "I think the hunger's scrambled that big brain of yours, lass. The others were on their way to a lake, but we ourselves veered off quite some time ago." The sun peeks through the canopy baking his bare shoulders as he stretches his back.
He bends forward as well, reaching to touch his feet once or twice. After that, he squats a few times.
"If'n your need is for me to track our wayward compatriots back, perhaps you'd best let me pull. That way, I've got an eye on our path ahead." He pulls a crude smile and begins to joke: "'Sides, I myself am eager to see if our lil green friend has found us a nice place to set up camp yet. Can't do all the work 'round here, ya know? Between the beastie 'n me, I got to leave somethin' for the rest of ya!"
He holds out his hand for the wee halfling to pass the harness back...
SILVANA
It takes about half an hour of scrounging around, but she manages to make a nice 10 by 5 roof made of broad leaves bound to a wooden frame. It should block out most of the rain, and it looks like she made it just in time. The gentle sprinkle begins to pick up, fat raindrops falling with greater intensity while a breeze starts to cause the leaves of the trees about you to shiver and shake. Thunder rumbles ominously from the main bulk of the black thunderclouds that approach with a ponderous inevitability.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
KORINTH, EUPHEMIA
With their prize in tow, the duo begin their long trek towards the lake. Dragging the sled loaded with the glistening spider meat is quite the ordeal, though both of you are able to manage it without too much difficulty. After Euphemia speaks to Nanra with her magic, the raptor agrees to lead you back to the others. She's able to follow the tracks left by the other group without much difficulty, her keen, predatory senses picking up on the slightest details of their passage.
It takes a few hours, but you eventually find the others near the lake edge. It looks like they've managed to erect some kind of small roof to keep them out of the rain for now, though it looks like their beginnings of a shelter is about to be put to the test. A large swirling mass of black clouds illuminated from within by flashes of lightning plods in your direction, and the rain that had been falling for a bit starts to pick up.
SHIN, SILVANA
Atax, the lizardfolk, also crafts a similar roof. He points to some trees nearby that have grown near each other with a nice, open space between them. "We can hang these up between those trees for now," he rumbles. "We should try to figure out what to do for a more permanent shelter when the others get back.
TAIGA
Taiga manages to follow the two humanoids and their raptor at a distance without being spotted. There was plenty of terrain and obstacles she could dart between to keep herself from being noticed as she stalks the group. Eventually, she follows them to a vast, murky lake with its shores chocked by mangroves and tall, swampy grasses. She spots a small island in the center of the lake. She also spots three more humanoids that the two she was following move to greet. Looks like they've been working together. The three that were already at the lake have made a scanty shelter against the weather.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Taiga's heart pounded nervously while she followed the two strangers. She realized she was completely alone, with no memory of who she was or where she came from. Are they friend or foe? Then, the sight of the group at the lake only served to deepen her sense of isolation and confusion. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, a flicker of determination ignited within her. She would need to tread carefully, observe, and perhaps, in time, piece together the puzzle of her own identity. However, for now, she cannot survive on her own. This group managed to kill a giant spider and already establish a makeshift-camp to rest and retreat. If she stays alone, she will perish. I must contact them. Perhaps, unseen, for now. They could be pirates, or bandits, or worse.
She moved closer to about a hundred feet distance but remained hidden as best as she can. At her chosen spot she observed the group interaction for a little while until she built up the courage to contact one of them, maybe her disgruntled stomach added to the final decision. But who? Who to contact? There’s a Halfling, they are typically affable people. A Genasi, like me, who might be more inclined to listen, though not my element. A goblin, lizardfolk and catfolk, I'm not sure what to make of them. They do not seem to have worked together for long, though. They appear to be more a motley crew that desperation brought together. Could it be that they are stranded here like me?
Finally, she decided to message the genasi, as she felt, at least, close kinship. ‘Friend. I’m lost. I’m near you, though, I don’t know where that is exactly or why I am here. Would you help your kin?’
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Keras stands in the shallows of the large lake, the sand grains uncomfortably sharp, digging into his bare feet. He did wake with shoes, whatever power that brought him here wasn't cruel enough to deny him basic items of clothing, but the leather was lined with some sort of old fleece that grew heavy when waterlogged and took ages to dry. Slowly, he moves through the water, trying his best to avoid making ripples on the surface of the calm water. After a few seconds, he spots his target - a short, wide fish of questionable origin and even more questionable flavor. They were edible, however. Keras had been to hungry to worry about whether they were poisonous when he first caught one, but afterwards he realized how much of a risk it was to eat it without thinking. There are more poisonous animals on this island than one could shake a stick at. He slowly moves within reach, but just as he is about to snap out his hand, a keening noise cuts through the jungle. He starts, scaring the fish, and curses. He reaches over his shoulder, then curses again as he remembers that he left his weapon before coming to the shore. He quickly takes off at a run, tearing through the shallow water and prompting fish to swim lazily out of his way. As he rounds the small rocky outcropping that marks the center of the island in the lake, his makeshift shelter comes into view. It's little more than a handful of large branches leaned up against the rock and held in place with large rocks, but it is better than sleeping in the open. He darts into the relative darkness, scrambling around for a second before emerging with a long oilcloth bag, which he holds gingerly. The keening noise hasn't disappeared, but it does seem to be moving. Some sort of predator? No, what predator would give itself away with such a sound?
As he thinks, the fragment of a memory flashes through his mind, just enough for a word to form. Bagpipes? Someone's playing an instrument? Here? Are they blown or bellowed? The last question confuses him the most, since he's not entirely sure what it actually means. Whatever the case, it could mean other people... He glances over at the nearby shore, and the rickety raft on the beach there. The sight makes him shudder as he remembers tying the buoyant logs together with strips torn from his cloak in the dead of night, and the sound of footsteps as the close in on him, the smell of its bre- He shakes his head, banishing the memory. You haven't seen it at the bank for two days, it's moved on to easier prey. Probably. After a moment of deliberation, he sighs. Whoever they are, they could be trouble. He looks at his small ring of stones No fire. Not until I know that they aren't dangerous. He moves to the opposite side of the island, where he heard the music, then settles down. He clutches the long bag closely, wrapping his cloak around him and hugging his knees to his chest. Despite his resolve to keep an eye out until any danger has passed, his exhaustion has other ideas and he quickly falls into an uneasy sleep.
Keras wakes with a start, rain pelting his cloak and the rock around him. He glances up at the storm worriedly, not wanting to get hit with any debris it might blow up. He stands up, and starts to move towards it, but then remembers the raft. After a second of indecision, he heads away from the shelter and towards the raft. His clothes would dry, but losing the raft means losing any way off the island. Moving with nervous haste, he grabs the light vehicle and tosses it over his shoulder. He finds a slight overhang in the outcropping, placing the raft beneath it, then places a few heavy rocks on top of it to keep it weighed down. After that, he tucks away inside the lean-to, which is already leaking water through the foliage covered 'roof'. I wonder if I'll even be able to hear the voice over the wind. It's loud, but this storm seems extreme. With a shrug, he pulls his sodden cloak around him once again, preparing himself from the battering that was surely to come.
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Upon arriving to the shore and spotting a rather sad shelter, Korinth retorts with a disappointed clicking of his teeth. "Whose sorry excuse of a shelter is this?" Upon both Atax and Silvana raising their hands, however, his attitude changes as attraction blinds his logic. "Oh. I'm sure it'll be alright, then," he says with a smile. He's about to cross the clearing and get the lizard's help in collecting drier wood, maybe get on his good side a little more, when a voice rings shrill in his ear. A woman's voice. He responds loudly with all the charisma of a screeching cat.
"I know ya not lass! Can't call you kin lest I see you fer myself, ken? Come out, that I might oggle you with my own eyes!"
Taiga's heart sank as she heard the genasi's loud response. She had hoped for a subtle and reassuring conversation, not an open call to reveal herself. Fear gripped her as she crouched in the shadows, her mind racing with the possibilities of what might happen if she revealed herself to five strangers in the middle of the jungle. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Taiga weighed her options. She couldn't stay hidden forever, and if she wanted answers, she would have to take a risk. But even if that meant for her to end as bait for a giant fish? “Croaker-Cursed-Calamity,” she mutters to herself. That went south in a hurry! What should I do?
Clearly, now that the group is aware of her presence, they will certainly look for her and she won’t remain hidden for long. With cautious determination, she stepped out from her hiding place, her soil-coloured greyish skin blending with the dark shadows of the jungle as she slowly approached the genasi and the group proper. But not closer than some 90 feet distance to keep the option to turn and run. The Earth genasi’s statue is not at all imposing with a measly three and a half foot head to toe but her step is purposeful and with elfish grace. And when she stands still she evokes the sturdiness of a solid rock as she stands as stout and unyielding as any dwarf. “Please, I mean you no harm," she called out, her voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying enough conviction to reach the ears of the group. "I am lost and alone. Will you help me?"
Her words hung in the air, and Taiga held her breath, waiting anxiously for their response.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Korinth opens his mouth to say something.
"Weeeelllllll. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes, sweeting? What can I do for you...?
...Naturally, it's the wrong thing.