"Let's try," Uragum says. He snaps his finger and summons a hawk on his massive forearm. He gives its a little toss sending it flapping up into the air. Within a few moments the hawk is climbing higher into the air. Uragum casts his senses into the bird in attempts to get a better layout of the island. When he's satisfied he's got the general lay out, he will end the connection and recall his bird.
Eonis watches the hawk scouting and the conversing with the goats with interest, but then falls back into her ingrained routines and takes on a more aware posture, ready for threats, although no one in this village seems interested in talking to them, much less confronting them.
OOC: Before I resolve the hawk, remind me whether Uragum spent 10 gp to purchase the components of find familiar at any point. I don't remember it off of the top of my head and don't see it in my notes, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Sylyra Animal Handling: 22 Ola Perception: 11
Sylyra takes a moment to speak with the goats within the barn while Ola takes a wide look at the surroundings.
For Sylyra:
The goats are odd in the same sense that Elisande is. Their behavior is different from landside goats, and speaking with them for a few minutes reveals that they are not mistreated so much as simply left to their own devices. The people on this island do not really tend to the goats at all.
One of the goats, the milky-eyed doe, does not speak at all. This goat just stares at you blankly through its glassy eyes.
For Ola:
As your eyes pass over one of the beams inside of the barn, you catch a bit of faint writing.
The word Audacity is painted on this beam in badly faded gold paint.
After a short walk back to the collection of homes, Elisande leads you toward the ruined hovel where the "lunaman" lives.
The hovel has collapsed in upon itself, leaving only one small area where one wall leans against another that is protected from the rain. Empty food bowls and fish bones are scattered about the outside of the hovel.
"Audacity," slowly read Ola aloud. "Looks like it was the name of the ship. Creatures in the wood here must be truly terrifying if people use flotsam to build houses".
"Speaking of people... Ferry man did not believe in the future attack. Not sure we will be able to convince villagers either. But if we are right, that storm might bring undead with it. Where are we going to meet them? The village looks completely defenceless."
“They’re not defenseless,” Eonis says. “We’re here.” She tries to use the bold words to project more confidence than she really feels, as there are far too many tactical unknowns and the villagers could be more liability than aid, if trouble comes. She stuffs her doubts down, and knocks on the door of the Lunaman’s hovel, calling out, “Hello! Lunaman! We are adventurers from Phlan here to aid your village. We would have words with you.”
The others get the impression from Sylyra's questions and answers of the goats that he feels no ill will toward anything. He seems a little surprised, but content that no injustice is taking place.
After Ola's observance about the house, Sylyra adds, "Scared, stupid or lazy." He shrugs. "Or opportunistic," he concedes. If it looks like there's not enough room for more than a couple, Sylyra will stay outside and listen through the door.
A human man emerges from the structure, slightly crouched, with a wild shock of brown hair and a frantic expression. He peers out at the party, his frequent twitches causing him to look wildly around as if he hears voices that no one else does.
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Eonis notes the man’s odd mannerisms, and tries to get some insight into whether he is authentically eccentric or putting on a show for them to make them feel unwelcome. Insight: 18
”Hello. You must be the Lunaman of this village,” Eonis greets him. “As I said, we are adventurers from the city of Phlan. There have been rumors of attacks on the villages surrounding Phlan, and our investigation has brought us here. My companions can probably explain in more detail.”
"I meant, there is nothing that could be called "fortification" of any sort around." While Sylyra was interrogating goats, she was patiently explaining her idea to the presumed tactician. "Assuming we are right about the attack - and I think we are - what are we about to do? Stand in the middle and wait for the unknown monster to come to us? Spread around and each hunting one monster? Mobilize villagers? Leave them alone and hope monsters will ignore them too? A lot of questions. But first things first."
"Lunaman" looked a lot like the madman back in Phlan. Probably as talkative. Eonis was quite direct, and may be that was the right move. But just in case, Ola added a little reassurance: "We came to help. Would you talk to us about what you saw?"
"It was a ghost ship," the lunaman answers Ola with wild, haunted eyes. "The undead spirits came. They attacked my home. My village..."
When Sylyra mentions the dracolich, his voice grows to a frantic pitch. "The spirits, they walked out of the waves on the back of the dracolich. It breathed fire, and laid waste! Gone! The eyes! The eyes..."
The man slinks back into his hovel, muttering and crouching in the corner, out of sight of the door.
For Eonis:
You do not detect anything behind the man's insanity.
For Uragum:
About half of the island is covered in dense, thick forest. From above, your familiar can see everything that Elisande has described. Most of the village appear to be shut in their homes, but on the far side of the homes from the party, there are some residents that are doing chores or working.
Having recalled his bird he was about to relay the information when the man spoke. "The Dracolich is a ghost ship... Hmm... I'd think that maybe it be more of a ship and a mage of some sort of casting fire and other spells." He thinks for a moment and continues. "I don't think it changes the plan much. The attack will still happen and we must get people ready. I did scout with my bird and much of the island forest except for this town. I suggest we inform the village and get some sort of barricade up."
"Barricade the island and talk people, who do not believe in danger and do not want to talk to you, into helping us or at least hiding." Ola looked around thoughtfully. "Not an easy task."
"Elisande, why other people in the village do not talk to us? Is there a way we can make them listen?"
Eonis tries to enter the hovel to ask more questions of the Lunaman, but if he does not respond she simply returns to the group and shrugs.
"You are from another village that was attacked? Where, and when? Did you see a Dracolich *and* a ghost ship, or were they one and the same? What did they want? Did they perform any rituals, announce any allegiance, anything of that sort?"
To her companions, Eonis adds, "There are of course the dark cults that worship evil dragons and undead dragons, the Cult of the Dragon could be involved with this, whether it is a literal dracolich or only something that evokes that appearance. If so, we had best tread very carefully, and be ready for anything."
Sylyra squats down to be at eye level with the lunaman. "Listen to me," he says sternly. "The ghost ship ... the dracolich are coming here. To this island. You are not safe here unless you help us. You must tell us everything. Was there any warning? Was there any sign of the ship before it attacked? How did it come? When did it come? How, exactly, did it attack your village? Did anyone do anything to fight back?"
Elisande simply shrugs at the question of why the Folk do not seem to like you much. "Me think ye seem like yer heart soft. Maybe da Folk don'?" she says.
Inside of the hovel, the floor is littered with debris and overgrown plants. The lunaman looks up to answer Eonis, speaking past her, "The ship, I saw...a great spectral galleon. "Audacity", painted on its bow."
Every question past that is met with more muttering and variations of "No, no, no, nothing, only eyes, only its eyes..."
DM, I know we came from the landing, so there's probably a view of the water that way, but then the far shore in the distance. Is there a view of open sea from the town, or does the dark wood block those views?
"If the ship attacks from any side of the island other than the landing, we will have no warning until these spirits are upon us. Despite what the child thinks, I need to enter the trees and attempt to convince some of the wildlife within to act as scouts for us. Then, we may at least have some warning." He looks at Arnald and Uragum. "Your two spirit birds may also give us an advantage as scouts above the trees."
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"Let's try," Uragum says. He snaps his finger and summons a hawk on his massive forearm. He gives its a little toss sending it flapping up into the air. Within a few moments the hawk is climbing higher into the air. Uragum casts his senses into the bird in attempts to get a better layout of the island. When he's satisfied he's got the general lay out, he will end the connection and recall his bird.
Eonis watches the hawk scouting and the conversing with the goats with interest, but then falls back into her ingrained routines and takes on a more aware posture, ready for threats, although no one in this village seems interested in talking to them, much less confronting them.
OOC: Before I resolve the hawk, remind me whether Uragum spent 10 gp to purchase the components of find familiar at any point. I don't remember it off of the top of my head and don't see it in my notes, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Sylyra Animal Handling: 22
Ola Perception: 11
Sylyra takes a moment to speak with the goats within the barn while Ola takes a wide look at the surroundings.
For Sylyra:
The goats are odd in the same sense that Elisande is. Their behavior is different from landside goats, and speaking with them for a few minutes reveals that they are not mistreated so much as simply left to their own devices. The people on this island do not really tend to the goats at all.
One of the goats, the milky-eyed doe, does not speak at all. This goat just stares at you blankly through its glassy eyes.
For Ola:
As your eyes pass over one of the beams inside of the barn, you catch a bit of faint writing.
The word Audacity is painted on this beam in badly faded gold paint.
After a short walk back to the collection of homes, Elisande leads you toward the ruined hovel where the "lunaman" lives.
The hovel has collapsed in upon itself, leaving only one small area where one wall leans against another that is protected from the rain. Empty food bowls and fish bones are scattered about the outside of the hovel.
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"Audacity," slowly read Ola aloud. "Looks like it was the name of the ship. Creatures in the wood here must be truly terrifying if people use flotsam to build houses".
"Speaking of people... Ferry man did not believe in the future attack. Not sure we will be able to convince villagers either. But if we are right, that storm might bring undead with it. Where are we going to meet them? The village looks completely defenceless."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
“They’re not defenseless,” Eonis says. “We’re here.” She tries to use the bold words to project more confidence than she really feels, as there are far too many tactical unknowns and the villagers could be more liability than aid, if trouble comes. She stuffs her doubts down, and knocks on the door of the Lunaman’s hovel, calling out, “Hello! Lunaman! We are adventurers from Phlan here to aid your village. We would have words with you.”
The others get the impression from Sylyra's questions and answers of the goats that he feels no ill will toward anything. He seems a little surprised, but content that no injustice is taking place.
After Ola's observance about the house, Sylyra adds, "Scared, stupid or lazy." He shrugs. "Or opportunistic," he concedes. If it looks like there's not enough room for more than a couple, Sylyra will stay outside and listen through the door.
A human man emerges from the structure, slightly crouched, with a wild shock of brown hair and a frantic expression. He peers out at the party, his frequent twitches causing him to look wildly around as if he hears voices that no one else does.
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Eonis notes the man’s odd mannerisms, and tries to get some insight into whether he is authentically eccentric or putting on a show for them to make them feel unwelcome. Insight: 18
”Hello. You must be the Lunaman of this village,” Eonis greets him. “As I said, we are adventurers from the city of Phlan. There have been rumors of attacks on the villages surrounding Phlan, and our investigation has brought us here. My companions can probably explain in more detail.”
"I meant, there is nothing that could be called "fortification" of any sort around." While Sylyra was interrogating goats, she was patiently explaining her idea to the presumed tactician. "Assuming we are right about the attack - and I think we are - what are we about to do? Stand in the middle and wait for the unknown monster to come to us? Spread around and each hunting one monster? Mobilize villagers? Leave them alone and hope monsters will ignore them too? A lot of questions. But first things first."
"Lunaman" looked a lot like the madman back in Phlan. Probably as talkative. Eonis was quite direct, and may be that was the right move. But just in case, Ola added a little reassurance: "We came to help. Would you talk to us about what you saw?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Any physical resemblance to the other madman? Perhaps from the same village? Perhaps related?
"What can you tell us about the dracolich," Sylyra adds, wanting to get straight to the point.
Eonis waits for the Lunaman to respond to her greeting, and her comrades questions, her posture formal and respectful, despite the crude surroundings.
"It was a ghost ship," the lunaman answers Ola with wild, haunted eyes. "The undead spirits came. They attacked my home. My village..."
When Sylyra mentions the dracolich, his voice grows to a frantic pitch. "The spirits, they walked out of the waves on the back of the dracolich. It breathed fire, and laid waste! Gone! The eyes! The eyes..."
The man slinks back into his hovel, muttering and crouching in the corner, out of sight of the door.
For Eonis:
You do not detect anything behind the man's insanity.
For Uragum:
About half of the island is covered in dense, thick forest. From above, your familiar can see everything that Elisande has described. Most of the village appear to be shut in their homes, but on the far side of the homes from the party, there are some residents that are doing chores or working.
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Having recalled his bird he was about to relay the information when the man spoke. "The Dracolich is a ghost ship... Hmm... I'd think that maybe it be more of a ship and a mage of some sort of casting fire and other spells." He thinks for a moment and continues. "I don't think it changes the plan much. The attack will still happen and we must get people ready. I did scout with my bird and much of the island forest except for this town. I suggest we inform the village and get some sort of barricade up."
"Barricade the island and talk people, who do not believe in danger and do not want to talk to you, into helping us or at least hiding." Ola looked around thoughtfully. "Not an easy task."
"Elisande, why other people in the village do not talk to us? Is there a way we can make them listen?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Eonis tries to enter the hovel to ask more questions of the Lunaman, but if he does not respond she simply returns to the group and shrugs.
"You are from another village that was attacked? Where, and when? Did you see a Dracolich *and* a ghost ship, or were they one and the same? What did they want? Did they perform any rituals, announce any allegiance, anything of that sort?"
To her companions, Eonis adds, "There are of course the dark cults that worship evil dragons and undead dragons, the Cult of the Dragon could be involved with this, whether it is a literal dracolich or only something that evokes that appearance. If so, we had best tread very carefully, and be ready for anything."
Sylyra squats down to be at eye level with the lunaman. "Listen to me," he says sternly. "The ghost ship ... the dracolich are coming here. To this island. You are not safe here unless you help us. You must tell us everything. Was there any warning? Was there any sign of the ship before it attacked? How did it come? When did it come? How, exactly, did it attack your village? Did anyone do anything to fight back?"
Elisande simply shrugs at the question of why the Folk do not seem to like you much. "Me think ye seem like yer heart soft. Maybe da Folk don'?" she says.
Inside of the hovel, the floor is littered with debris and overgrown plants. The lunaman looks up to answer Eonis, speaking past her, "The ship, I saw...a great spectral galleon. "Audacity", painted on its bow."
Every question past that is met with more muttering and variations of "No, no, no, nothing, only eyes, only its eyes..."
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With a sigh, Sylyra stands up and looks around.
DM, I know we came from the landing, so there's probably a view of the water that way, but then the far shore in the distance. Is there a view of open sea from the town, or does the dark wood block those views?
OOC: The thick forest blocks any view of the sea on the opposite side of the landing, a good 60-70% of the island or so.
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"If the ship attacks from any side of the island other than the landing, we will have no warning until these spirits are upon us. Despite what the child thinks, I need to enter the trees and attempt to convince some of the wildlife within to act as scouts for us. Then, we may at least have some warning." He looks at Arnald and Uragum. "Your two spirit birds may also give us an advantage as scouts above the trees."