"The ship," the stranger explains, "it went done. The weather got rough, the ship it was tossed. Still, the captain was full of courage, if not a bit the fool. She brought the ship much much closer to this accursed island than we had charted for. Try to escape the storm she found instead... I know not. It reached up out of the waves and cracked she ship like.. what is the word... Yes, like knuckles! The ship, it was lost..."
"I was lucky. I clambered aboard some timber. I floated. Many days. Many many, I know not. Seems forever but maybe only yesterday, no? No! Not yesterday... Krunch been on island at least 4 days now..." The stranger pauses for a moment then looks and smiles at the others. "Yes, that is me. Krunch. It is what they call me forever now. It is who I am... So was very sick on the island when I first awoke. No water to drink. No food to eat. No counting the days. But Berry... The bird, they be Berry, yes? You seen Berry. Berry help. Picked up small foods. Once found me a cup of water and only spill most of it... Eventually I get stronger again..."
Krunch suddenly looks back the way you came from though, then turns and spits before backing up further into the brush. "But I know... Avoid those ones. Those ones no good! As cursed as the cursed island! We should depart... Hide... Leave..."
Molo blinks at Katernin. “There are lots of people we don’t know. This one talks to us. Warns us of danger! He is clearly a friend.” Molo nods, the matter settled.
"She not wrong," Krunch agrees with a shrug. "But those crazies are just over that way much closer than I like. You can decide if you trust me or not, I am getting out of here..." With that Krunch turns and starts heading off into what coverage there is, putting distance between him and the cultists, heading back to what he considers safety.
Krunch leads the party deeper into the stunted, dormant stand of trees. Clusters of large boulders are half-buried in snow and dead leaves, and based on the tracks in the sleet, Krunch has clearly spent time in a crevise between two massive stones. The thick scrub make a good windbreak, but you do lose visual contact with the ruins, and its guards.
Krunch would ask Berry (the familiar) to keep an eye on the ruins or, specifically, those who seem to live there and warn if they are following... Otherwise, Krunch hurries these new people to his hidey-hole, encouraging them to step on rock and stone where possible so as to minimize the tracks left.
"You are a funny one, small one..." Krunch answers, wide smile upon his face. "Wood planks are stored over that way, extra sails probably a few feet beyond?"
"My friend, I have been here a while but only up and around a day or two. In my time I see little trees. This island is pretty cursed. It is best avoided and that just one of many reason."
“Ah, but that means there are other ships that crash here, yes? More ships, more ship parts!“ Molo nods excitedly, and his eyes wobble only a little as he does so
Krunch knows that the large wooden timber he clung to is still at the bottom of the cliffs, wedged in the rocks. But he can't imagine how it might be used to repair another ship without a lot of tooling. There are other old bits of flotsam down there as well, perhaps from other wrecks, but nothing that he deemed useful or in any great quantity. It's also quite dangerous down there, especially at high tide, which is why he took the substantial risk of scaling the steep, slippery cliffs.
His stone crevice cannot fit much more than one person (maybe one normal and one small-sized), but the scrub itself forms a reasonable half-measure against the weather. Of course, the party probably left a fairly trackable trail to this area, even after trying to follow Krunch's walking instructions. They probably know roughly where you are.
It is still about midday. It's cold, grey, and heavily overcast.
"Other ships? They crashed on the reefs, yes? Sunk out there," Krunch says, giving a general wave towards the ocean. "Pulled down by giant creatures, like mine. Rest on the floor of the ocean... There are bits... Pieces... Junk where I washed up. Could maybe build hut if salvaged. Repair ship? Pshhhhhhnaw."
"Even with supplies... Those others, I doubt they let you fix a boat undisturbed. They not good people. Even now I worry they may come for us. We likely not safe here long."
"Lovely to meet you, Mr. Krunch. Perhaps if you can assist us we can get you a ride back to the mainland in exchange.
Now, I'm no general, but the fact that we do not have the forces of those men upon us already indicates they are as exhausted as we are. If they had a fresh company of fighters, we would be crossbow targets, or taken from behind as we fled. So, we can scout their position and try again, or make another attempt at negotiation from a safer position. Even the cruelest of fanatics dislike risking their lives unnecessarily."
A bitter winter wind cuts through the thorny underbrush. This island is bleak, with no sign of water nor food, except possibly from gleanings from the dormant plowed fields on the far side of the ruins. Shelter, too, seems to be limited to the crack in the boulders here, and scratchy scrub under the stunted, gnarled trees. You probably have about four hours of daylight left, although that's a generous term for this gloom.
"Rest. But quickly. My home here won't hide us all if they come looking..." Krunch points out, in case anyone missed the obvious. "You have ship? It still float? We can leave?"
"Let's get some kip," Dain suggests. "Post watches. Keep an eye out on them bad guys. Sleep up. Go back in and stop them being a threat, once and for all."
"Molo, Dain, get back here!" Katernin says, exhasperated. "We have no idea who that... stranger is!"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"The ship," the stranger explains, "it went done. The weather got rough, the ship it was tossed. Still, the captain was full of courage, if not a bit the fool. She brought the ship much much closer to this accursed island than we had charted for. Try to escape the storm she found instead... I know not. It reached up out of the waves and cracked she ship like.. what is the word... Yes, like knuckles! The ship, it was lost..."
"I was lucky. I clambered aboard some timber. I floated. Many days. Many many, I know not. Seems forever but maybe only yesterday, no? No! Not yesterday... Krunch been on island at least 4 days now..." The stranger pauses for a moment then looks and smiles at the others. "Yes, that is me. Krunch. It is what they call me forever now. It is who I am... So was very sick on the island when I first awoke. No water to drink. No food to eat. No counting the days. But Berry... The bird, they be Berry, yes? You seen Berry. Berry help. Picked up small foods. Once found me a cup of water and only spill most of it... Eventually I get stronger again..."
Krunch suddenly looks back the way you came from though, then turns and spits before backing up further into the brush. "But I know... Avoid those ones. Those ones no good! As cursed as the cursed island! We should depart... Hide... Leave..."
Molo blinks at Katernin. “There are lots of people we don’t know. This one talks to us. Warns us of danger! He is clearly a friend.” Molo nods, the matter settled.
Paladin - warforged - orange
"He could also be lying," Katernin says.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"She not wrong," Krunch agrees with a shrug. "But those crazies are just over that way much closer than I like. You can decide if you trust me or not, I am getting out of here..." With that Krunch turns and starts heading off into what coverage there is, putting distance between him and the cultists, heading back to what he considers safety.
“Running away is the most honest thing a person can do.” Molo runs after Krunch
Paladin - warforged - orange
Krunch leads the party deeper into the stunted, dormant stand of trees. Clusters of large boulders are half-buried in snow and dead leaves, and based on the tracks in the sleet, Krunch has clearly spent time in a crevise between two massive stones. The thick scrub make a good windbreak, but you do lose visual contact with the ruins, and its guards.
Krunch would ask Berry (the familiar) to keep an eye on the ruins or, specifically, those who seem to live there and warn if they are following... Otherwise, Krunch hurries these new people to his hidey-hole, encouraging them to step on rock and stone where possible so as to minimize the tracks left.
Molo starts skipping in place before stepping on stones. “Krunch. We need stuff to repair our ship.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"You are a funny one, small one..." Krunch answers, wide smile upon his face. "Wood planks are stored over that way, extra sails probably a few feet beyond?"
"My friend, I have been here a while but only up and around a day or two. In my time I see little trees. This island is pretty cursed. It is best avoided and that just one of many reason."
“Ah, but that means there are other ships that crash here, yes? More ships, more ship parts!“ Molo nods excitedly, and his eyes wobble only a little as he does so
Paladin - warforged - orange
Dain follows the little excitable kobold, wondering what craziness the little fellow is going to lead him into this time.
My Author Page: www.peterjblake.com
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour, Okoth's War and Callindrill
Krunch knows that the large wooden timber he clung to is still at the bottom of the cliffs, wedged in the rocks. But he can't imagine how it might be used to repair another ship without a lot of tooling. There are other old bits of flotsam down there as well, perhaps from other wrecks, but nothing that he deemed useful or in any great quantity. It's also quite dangerous down there, especially at high tide, which is why he took the substantial risk of scaling the steep, slippery cliffs.
His stone crevice cannot fit much more than one person (maybe one normal and one small-sized), but the scrub itself forms a reasonable half-measure against the weather. Of course, the party probably left a fairly trackable trail to this area, even after trying to follow Krunch's walking instructions. They probably know roughly where you are.
It is still about midday. It's cold, grey, and heavily overcast.
"Other ships? They crashed on the reefs, yes? Sunk out there," Krunch says, giving a general wave towards the ocean. "Pulled down by giant creatures, like mine. Rest on the floor of the ocean... There are bits... Pieces... Junk where I washed up. Could maybe build hut if salvaged. Repair ship? Pshhhhhhnaw."
"Even with supplies... Those others, I doubt they let you fix a boat undisturbed. They not good people. Even now I worry they may come for us. We likely not safe here long."
Katernin follows everyone with great reluctance, and sits as far away as possible, watching the trees sadly.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Kelnan
"Lovely to meet you, Mr. Krunch. Perhaps if you can assist us we can get you a ride back to the mainland in exchange.
Now, I'm no general, but the fact that we do not have the forces of those men upon us already indicates they are as exhausted as we are. If they had a fresh company of fighters, we would be crossbow targets, or taken from behind as we fled. So, we can scout their position and try again, or make another attempt at negotiation from a safer position. Even the cruelest of fanatics dislike risking their lives unnecessarily."
A bitter winter wind cuts through the thorny underbrush. This island is bleak, with no sign of water nor food, except possibly from gleanings from the dormant plowed fields on the far side of the ruins. Shelter, too, seems to be limited to the crack in the boulders here, and scratchy scrub under the stunted, gnarled trees. You probably have about four hours of daylight left, although that's a generous term for this gloom.
There are still no signs of pursuit.
"Rest. But quickly. My home here won't hide us all if they come looking..." Krunch points out, in case anyone missed the obvious. "You have ship? It still float? We can leave?"
“No, it doesn’t float.” Molo bemoans. “We need supplies for a new floating.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Let's get some kip," Dain suggests. "Post watches. Keep an eye out on them bad guys. Sleep up. Go back in and stop them being a threat, once and for all."
My Author Page: www.peterjblake.com
Novels Published: Reynard's Fate, Kita's Honour, Okoth's War and Callindrill