The Golden Pegasus

Game Master Sai Ling

Cueta crouches outside the cave entrance and puts her hand on Zik's small shoulder. "Zik, today we avenge our people. Carry yourself with honor from this point, no matter what happens - you have earned the distinction among my people of a toa - a brave. Stay behind us and if the opportunity presents itself to kill one of these creatures, take it with glee. We'll honor our people with the blood of our enemies."

Once they are in the cave:

"Greetings. I'm Cueta, a mariner from the Pegasus, and then the Lillend. I take it you drove the shark-tooths off? How many from the Harpy are still alive? Can you pilot a longboat? We have a camp by a fresh-water spring a fews days by boat from here, and a hundred souls to defend it if need be."

Edited speech coming, since I started writing this post 40 people have appeared.

Once they are in the cave:

Cueta stands stunned and unmoving while Kal'Tos talks, her mind barely taking in the enormity of the task in front of them. We - I - owe these people safe passage to Newspring. How do we get two score souls there in the safest way possible?

She steps forward after Kal'Tos calls upon his god, and addresses the people. "The priest Kal'Tos is correct, and his words and his god carry hope, as you've just seen. I'm Cueta Guiding Star, a mariner from the Pegasus, and then the Lillend. Our other companions are Ben Sandlock, whom some of you know, and Zik the toa. You've seen much horror since the Harpy crashed, I'm sure, but you must reach deep inside yourselves and do everything you can to help us all. We need to head to the spring, three days west by sea and land, where those of us from the Lillend have set up camp. There's a hundred souls there, and safety in numbers. We have a store of food, and fresh water, and people to fight and build and farm.

I'm afraid, if you stay here, those shark-toothed creatures will be back. As we arrived, we saw them paddling east in war canoes, no doubt to bolster their numbers before returning and finish what they started. Gather your strength, your courage, your fortitude. Take what you can with you. I can repair your longboats in a few hours, and hopefully there are still pilots alive among you. We'll head to the beach and I'll start to work on the boats immediately. As soon as this storm breaks we'll break for Newspring, and start mourning and planning our revenge."

She'll not mention the presence of the Lillend yet because she doesn't know that they will be there when we return. She'll also not mention that their store of food is one and a half days' worth :/

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Vallen happens on the children with Hassan, looking over their frolicking. He smiles for a moment, but it slowly fades on his face as he realizes the children have no idea the hardships they will be encountering. He looks up to speak to Hassan as they wait for Gair to return.

"They will all probably be put to work soon, if it gets bad enough. Children are as good at picking weeds as adults. They're going to be growing up quickly, I'd bet my anvil on it."

He inhales deeply and sighs, before spotting the blonde girl, scrutinizing her. Glancing over at Tatya and Shalla, he motions for Hassan to follow him. "Hello Shalla, how are the twins? Tatya, I believe we haven't been formally introduced. I'm Vallen, a craftsdwarf and a servant of Torag." The dwarf bows his head slightly in greeting.

Salvage:

Well, with a roll like that, I think everyone's going to go along with Cueta's plan. A few of the wounded make it to their feet from Kal'Tos's healing, most of the people seem energized by the presence of people they thought lost.

The elven woman lowers her bow and turns away. A moment later she nods her head.

"Very well," she says. "We put ourselves in your hands. They first came the night after we landed, maybe half a day after the storm that wrecked us blew out. We were on the beach, and they struck us there, two or three running at us and grabbing a person, then retreating with them. We moved inland, taking what we could, but they came at us again and again."

"The next night, we were in the forest, and we fought them off as well as we could, but too many died. I found this cave that morning, and we've been here since. Some have tried to leave, but the ones that left either died or escaped on their own."

The first sailor you saw raises a hand, and a few others come forward out of the crowd. They are armed with crossbows or hatchets.

"We can help with the repairs, and the piloting."

Newspring:

Tatya smiles at Vallen. "The ant-slayer," she says. "You should hear the stories they tell about you."

Shalla grins proudly, pointing to her two young children, playing at building a dam. "Barely walking and already building. I think there's dwarven blood in the Sandlock family."

Hassan frowns as he looks at the children, trying not to stare at the little blonde girl who is chasing some of the other children around in a game whose rules seem well understood.

Gair smiles, "An excellent idea. Thank you, I will find her quickly."

Taking his leave of Istiel, Gair tracks down Sorala, "Excuse me, you must have much on your mind at the moment but I must ask you a favor. Being a woman of education, would you happen to speak the fey tongue?"

He explains his suspicions of the small girl, "This must be approached carefully. Follow our lead but once we have the girl separated from the others I want you to call her out in her own tongue. Say something she will not be able to ignore. If it is as I fear, her reaction should give her away. Will you help us?"

Vallen blushes as he's called ant slayer, looking at the ground and clearing his throat. "Heh, well... I had a lot of help and really it was the might of Torag that smote that ant, I'm just a crossbow for his bolts, and such."

Turning to look at the halflings at play, he smiles, blue eyes twinkling. "Ohh yes I'd say so, look at that stability! I taught those boys well on the ship, I told them "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." They just loved my drawings, and had so many questions about building things. Why I'd say..." Vallen rattles on with the women about the twins for quite some time, making small talk until Gair returns.

I am assuming that if the NPC isn't here then they didn't make it. Thats okay I was suprised there were so many.

Ben rushes to his mother and sweeps her up in a bear hug. The other halflings gather around touching and patting Ben as if to make sure he is real.
I saw Gregor and Kylie. Ben says as he grips Hobie's hand across his mothers shoulder. What of Zepher, and my father? The other Halfings shake of his head tells him everything he needs to know. He hugs his mother tighter and tells her it is going to be okay.

I am glad so many of you are safe. When I saw the Pegasus go down I feared you all lost. Our ship made safe harbor in a deep bay not to far from here Gwenydd, Walton, Shalla and the children are all fine but we are short on supplies and equipment. My freinds and I came out to see if we could salvage anything from the Harpy and look for survivors.

We had a fight with one of those monsters last night, and it was a near thing. We don't want to be here when they come back, but we need as much of the equipment and supplies as we can get. We'll bring our dead in here that will keep those things from finding them.

While they are discussing how to get everyone away from there safely Ben speaks up. I have been doing some figuring. Even with all three longboats we won't have enough room to take everyone on the boats. Unless we abandon most of the equipment and supplies here. We will need these things when we get back to the rest of our people. There are are no shelters, no seeds for planting and very few tools or weapons. I think our best option is to pack as much onto the boats as we can. Send the slowest and the injured with the boats while the strongest follow the coast line west toward the bay.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

1d20 ⇒ 4

Salvagers:

The change of plans suggested by Ben and Cueta is accepted, and the Harpy's people sort themselves out into two groups. One group, of halflings (5, not including Ben), gnomes (2, including Zik) and dwarves (3) as well as 3 sailors and 3 wounded that will need to go by boat. The other 25 can travel overland. Most of these are armed with hatchets, hammers, boarding pikes or cutlasses, and a few have crossbows. Each of them can carry another 20# of food and gear without being encumbered.

With the group allotted to the boats, including Cueta, Ben and Zik, there will be 14 spaces taken (gnomes and halflings only taking half a spot. Another 16 150# spaces can safely be loaded with food, tools, supplies, etc.

There is 1000 days of food at 2# each in the cave, as well as various other supplies that represent 50 goods (no gold expenditure required) at 100# each, though half of that was jettisoned along the path from the beach.

The elven woman approaches Cueta (judged your leader because of smoking her diplomacy rolls) and speaks carefully.

"I am Manari," she says. "The captain of the Harpy died during the storm, and since then I have become the de facto leader of these people. After what we have seen, it is too easy to be afraid, but I believe that you are friends. I trust you and your people to lead us to safety, but know that I hold you accountable for every one of their lives. These people are your responsibility now. Do not fail them."

Newspring:

Sorala had been working on the farm, but she nods at Gair's request and follows him towards the spring. "I speak the sylvan tongue," she says. "But I do not know what I could say that would have the result you want. Do you have any suggestions?"

They find Vallen huddling down in the stream with the toddlers, helping them with their engineering project while Shalla and Tatya gather the older children together before they stray too far. The blonde girl hugs Tatya as they come back to the stream, and the pregnant woman kisses the top of her head.

"This is Sofiya, my eldest," she says, proudly.

Vallen is instructing a group of toddlers on the finer points of building a dam, and he's got them stacking small stones in interlocking patterns reinforced with woven vines by the time Gair and Sorala show up. Frowning as he's brought back into the cruel world of adults and responsibilities, the dwarf tells the children to continue their project. Sighing heavily, he picks his way out of the stream and walks towards the group.

Today I thought we would have to track down and kill someone. I wish I had asked Torag for different blessings...I hope we don't have to kill this someone.

He stops beside Gair, staying silent, and letting him take the lead.

Before heading to meet the others, Gair offers his suggestion, "Keep it simple, something along the lines of "We see you, skin walker" should suffice. The key will be the timing more than anything, wait till her attention is focused away from you."

Once the reach the other children, Gair does his best to seem casual, greeting Vallen, "I see you're one to start them from a young age. You'll have them building beds and bunkhouses in no time."

He gives Tatya a slightly weak smile, feeling the pride she has for her daughter and fearing what may come, "She seems a proud young woman."

Careful to keep at least 10ft distance between himself and Tatya he looks down at Sofiya, "A fierce girl like you deserves a gift, Sofiya..."

Reaching into his furs he produces a gold piece, holding it so it shines in the light. He holds it out to her, gesturing for her to come forward and claim it.

If the girls moves next to him, Gair shoots a glance at Sorala.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The longswords left at the site of the battle are collected and distributed to those who will be walking along the coast. The cutlasses found onboard the Harpy are also given to the people walking along the coast to ensure they are all armed with the best weapons possible.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Ben does his best to convince the others to also take the clothing from the bodies of the slain survivor that isn't too badly damaged. explaining that new clothing will be impossible to get for a long time.

Ben works with the others in the slashing rain moving all the goods they can into the cave while Cueta and the sailor repair the damaged boats.

We will follow ben's plan for food and goods distribution but I will carry an extra 15 days food and a good. Got to love dwarves being able to perfectly function with a heavy load.

Kal'Tos supervises/ helps loading all the extra stuff into the cave.

"Stack that stuff up nicely in the back, yes just like that. No keep the food separate from the other stores, we don't want bad food corrupting other stores."

Once everything has been organized in the cave, Kal'Tos gets everyone out and finds the strongest looking person. He then casts Ant Haul on himself and that person and together they pile up the biggest rocks they can find to fill in the cave entrance.

He then leads the 25 people walking off in the direction they need to go.

I am guessing it is going to take several hours to get everything done before we leave. Good luck to the boats.

Vallen grins at Gair, momentarily forgetting what they're about to do. "Ha, aye, but first they need to understand the concept "load-bearing", I was trying to explain it to them, but..." He clears his throat, realizing he was about to ramble on.

Raising a brow as Gair produces the gold piece, he starts to say something, but clamps his mouth shut. The dwarf's muscles tense, unsure of what is about to happen.

Folgrit, please, do not let this sweet little girl be anything but herself. This child is surely innocent. He prays, because there is nothing else he can do.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

1d20The elven woman approaches Cueta (judged your leader because of smoking her diplomacy rolls) and speaks carefully.

"I am Manari," she says. "The captain of the Harpy died during the storm, and since then I have become the de facto leader of these people. After what we have seen, it is too easy to be afraid, but I believe that you are friends. I trust you and your people to lead us to safety, but know that I hold you accountable for every one of their lives. These people are your responsibility now. Do not fail them."

Cueta feels the blood rush to her face, and blushing, she looks at her feet and rubs her left wrist, a nervous habit she picked up on her passage north. "Manari, I have already failed. I could have been a stronger sailor, or not so cautious in our approach to the beach. I can tell you though, that I trust my friends to get you safely to Newspring."

"I understand this great responsibility, and I already hold myself accountable. I am honored and frightened by your trust, and if things go north, my life will be the first one given up."

"I am no leader and I'm no great warrior. The first intelligent creature I took part in killing was one of those shark-toothed bastards, just yesterday. But I have done well in life, leading people through troublesome spots. I took my captain's crew into the Mwangi jungles many times without ever encountering trouble. My friends in those days gave me my third name, my first adult name - Guiding Star. I will lead your people home. Safe travels, Manari. May your gods be with you on your journey. We'll see each other at Newspring."

No pressure, Nerk! I'll take the gnomes and a dwarf in the Lillend's. Each sailor will get a dwarf and two halflings, with the fifth halfling going with a sailor. Provided we get the boats patched and loaded up before trouble arrives, we'll all take 10 on our piloting checks - it is too risky to take three rolls. The rest of the day we'll hug the coastline and camp as long as the light (and moonlight, if there is enough) will hold out. Then we'll set a watch with the dwarves taking the dead of night and myself and Watcher near dawn.

weather forecast: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
night watch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
[dice=Watcher, "guard"]1d20+5[/dice]
Watcher perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

EDIT: Looks like I accidentally rolled two dice for the night watch....

EDIT 2: Would like to everyone to a watch. So watch 1: Dwarf, sailor, halfling. Watch 2: Dwarf, halfling, 2 gnomes. Watch 3: Dwarf, sailor, 2 halflings. Watch 4: Cueta, Watcher, halfling.

EDIT 3: As Kal'Tos just pointed out, Ben is with us, not with the walkers. So watch, who rides with who, etc. may change.

Salvagers:

While Cueta and the sailors repair the boats in the storm, Kal'Tos and a handpicked few organize the supplies that are to be left behind. The others spend an hour in the pouring rain hauling the goods and food that will be carried by boat down to the beach.

Eventually, it's all done, and by late afternoon, both parties are ready to set out. The storm has mostly wound down by this time, and there are a couple of hours of daylight left.

Zik breaks away to give Kal'Tos a hug, and then looks awkward in the way only an adolescent gnome with his face split open can. The people from the Harpy that are sailing all come to Marani to thank her before they set out.

If you have a plan for getting everything to the beach and loaded in the boats that doesn't hold up the land party, this can be ret-conned. I'm just doing what seems most sensible to me.

It's been a hard enough day that making a full 8 hours march/sail will be possible if you push on into the night, fatigue will be an issue. You should be able to make a few miles, though.

Land party, following the coast?

Newspring:

Tatya grins at Gair as he praises her daughter, and looks on curiously as Gair offers her a gold piece. The girl looks to her mother, and Tatya nods her head, watching Gair carefully.

Sofiya approaches, cautiously, and just as she reaches out for it, Sorala speaks. The girl looks at her oddly, and then giggles.

"What?" she says, apparently having no idea what the words meant.

"What?" she says, apparently having no idea what the words meant.

Oh, man.

DM Nerk, I think we posted about the same time. Just making you aware of my post above yours. What will pushing into the night with fatigue mean?

At least for now Kal'Tos will follow the coast, he will go until either people start getting tired or there is no light left. When the camp is set up he organises people into 3 person teams for watch, with the last 2 hours each having 4 people.

"three person watches. While you are on watch have your weapons ready. If we get attacked we form a wall with longer weapons behind and ranged weapons behind them and we kill anything that comes at us."

In the morning he will revert back to normal spell preparation.

Gair lets out his held breath, placing the coin in Sofiya's hand and smiling. He looks at Vallen, Sorala and Hassan as the girls heads back to her mother, the relief obvious on his face.

After a moment his expression turns back to concern, he speaks quietly to the others, "As much as I'm relieved, this means we still have a problem but I uncertain what our next move needs to be? Garrak would seem our best lead at this point. Though I'm unsure trying to track him down through the forest is our best bet. He has to return to camp sooner or later."

"I would suggest we go on with our day, tonight we need to inform the watch to be on the lookout for Garrak or anyone moving around during the night. I would also suggest someone watch Sofiya at all times. I am far less suspicious than I was but fey are masters of deception. I would not ignore the possibility we are still being fooled."

Vallen also visibly relaxes, running his hand over his face and shaking the horrible images of bashing the little girl's face in with his hammer from his head.

"Yes... we still have a major problem. Gair.. I.. I don't think I want to sleep tonight, honestly. What if this thing knows we're looking for it? In fact, no one is going to sleep tonight! We have to find this thing." The dwarf glances over at the mothers, who are likely very confused. "We owe them an explanation as well. Tatya, there is a fey creature on the loose that can... impersonate... people. Someone saw your little girl doing things little girls usually don't do, and we suspected the fey might be... impersonating... her." Biting his lip as he realizes something, his eyes turning to Shalla. Shaking his head, he dismisses the thought she could be the creature- surely he would have noticed talking to them earlier?

"We have to find Garrak. He is the only other trail we have. I'll go looking myself if I must, people are in danger. Hassan, could you watch Sofiya, just in case?"

Did you mention this in front of Sofiya Vallen?

Yes, but you can stop him if you wish- he'll listen. He's going to speak his mind now that he believes the danger has passed. He wants Sofiya to be watched for her safety, he does not suspect her to be the skin-stealer.

Gair holds up a hand to stay Vallen's explanation until Sofiya has returned to play with the other children.

He apologises, "I'm sorry Vallen, I simply don't think it's wise to say more than we have to in front of the girl at this point. Continue."

I'd just assume your conversation stays the same but happens slightly later, cool?

He considers Vallen's words carefully, "Often when hunting elusive prey I have found the best course of action is to find something the creature requires, a watering hole or lair and wait there. Following tracks can have you wandering the plains in it's wake for days, never quite catching up."

He sighs, Garrak, left many hours ago and I travels faster on foot than even so determined a dwarf as you. We would only catch up with him if he stops for an extended period. I ask you, where else would he go, where else could he go, but back to this camp?"

It's all cool I'm just roleplaying, I won't take anything personally.

Vallen mumbles as Gair stops him, his lips thin until Sofiya leaves the scene. The dwarf throws up his arms in exasperation. "This thing wants SKINS. Where else is it going to find them, or do skin-stealers like to imitate squirrels and elk too? It HAS to be in the camp still, and maybe Garrak knows something! He could be on the beach, fighting it right now! He could be..." Stopping his train of thought in front of Sorala, he figets and starts to pace, clearly agitated.

Gair places a hand on Vallen's shoulder, slowing him, "We don't even know for sure what we are dealing with. The fey is just a hunch, so far all we have is a strange conversation related by someone who was half fevered at the time of hearing and and a man with his throat cut. There could be any number of explanations still."

He sighs, "I'm worried about Garrak too, the guard who noted his leaving only heard his voice, we have no guarantee it was even him that left. Now think, if I am right and this creature takes skins, how do you explain the girl's strange behavior last night? If it impersonated her once, it must still be doing so, for it could not return the girls skin, no? I still hold it may be her..."

He pauses for a moment, considering, "Sorala, when did you last see Garrak last night? Did you make note of his leaving?"

Hassan clears his throat and pulls Gair aside.

"Sorry to interrupt, but you're mistaken," he says. "Your ... guard did see Garrak leaving the camp, just after midnight, heading towards the ship. He heard his voice a few hours later, thinking he was returning. That was when he didn't see him."

When Gair turns to Sorala, she shrugs her shoulders. "We bedded down just after the meeting. It was a long day, and we were weary, like everyone else. I slept heavily and he was gone when I woke."

Just then, she realizes that Garrak might have been taken by the skin stealer before the meeting, and she shudders in revulsion.

As Vallen tells Tatya what he suspects, her face grows dark.

"And I suppose you know a great lot about what little girls do, is that it? If she'd not passed your little test, would she have fallen to Torag's bolt like one of your ants?" She glares at the both of you, then spits on the ground at your feet and goes to Sofiya, leading her away.

"I'll keep an eye on them," Hassan says, and then sighs. "Not sure I'd place all my suspicion on the girl based on what the halfling said. She was in a fever, and I don't think that one's let her out of her sight since we landed." He nods towards Tatya.

Salvagers:

1d20 ⇒ 19
1d20 ⇒ 3

To Cueta, Manari nods.

"If I understand you right, you would only have come last night instead of today," she says. "We were in the cave by then. You might have saved one or two that slipped out, but their fates are on their own heads. The ones that died coming to the cave were my responsibility, and they were many."

"I don't know if it's coincidence, but we did not see them until the night we had a fire on the beach. Be careful."

When the boats are launched, Kal'Tos and his party set off following the shoreline from the top of the cliffs that divide the shore into isolated beaches. It is slow going through the dense forest, but you make it a few miles by the time darkness comes. By then, the others walking with you are exhausted, and after eating, most are ready to bed down.

Marani gathers everyone closer together and reminds them that their best safety is numbers.

The boats travel faster and make it a bit further down the coast before the setting sun forces a landing.

Before Tatya can storm off, Gair catches her arm, his face full of offense, "No! You will not put that accusation on him or me. We would never hurt her without being sure. Had she failed we would have quarantined her until we had proof. I believe she is herself, keep her close, there are real dangers here. Not us."

He nods at Hassan's correction, "You are correct of course, that makes things potentially more difficult. Regardless, thank you for keeping an eye on the girl. I know nothing with certainty, only that it is prudent to at least consider her."

Gair puts a hand on Sorala's shoulder, "I know this must be difficult, though I believe if Garrak is a victim it must have happened in the night. I was with him near the entire day prior."

Looking at Vallen he lets out a long frustrated breath, "Come on then, lets see if your god can help us pick up Garrak's trail."

With Vallen's help, he attempts to find the half-orc's trail down to the ship and where he went after that.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Assuming that the night passed uneventfully, Kal'Tos will get up at dawn and begin his morning prayers. Before he starts he gets everyone else up and getting ready to go. Once he is done his prayers the group will depart. He will follow the coast moving at a fast but sustainable pace. He will push to go for at least 9 hours, using his channel energy to remove non-lethal damage and fatigue from doing so.

Cueta thinks for a second, recalling the first encounter the salvagers had with a shark-tooth. "We had a fire going that first night we were attacked as well. We'll go without on the way back."

That night, they snack on some groundnuts and bega root, and Cueta tells a story of a trip into the Mwangi expanse with Free Captain Lonnagin's men; at trip that ended with three of the northerners using the wrong plant for their grooming needs and getting horrible rashes on their backsides.

perform (storytelling): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Surprisingly, the group seems to really like bathroom humor.

Before she beds down, Cueta says a quick, quiet meditation to her spiritual mother.

"Umama, sicela ugcine izingane zakho ekhaya namuhla ebusuku. Laba bantu abuthakathaka hhayi ukuhlolwa efanelekayo izingane zakho. Ngiyakuthuma kini isilo esikhulu ibutho lakho esikhathini esizayo, uma wena ake uhambe ngokuthula Newspring."

Vallen is still flustered as Gair explains it could not be the skin-stealer. "Whatever it is, we need to stop it. Human, dwarf, beast, fey, it needs to be banished from here."

As Tatya spits at his feet, his face is clouded with surprise and anger. "You cannot imagine how appalled I was at the thought! I don't want any harm to come to your girl or any of these children! We're trying to make this place safe for you, Soifya, everyone!"

Attempt to not lose face with Tatya/improve her mood

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 7

As she goes, the priest turns to Gair, clearly in a sour mood and not likely to improve. "Good. Let's go. I want to hit something."

Taking a moment to pray to Torag, he casts Deadeye's Lore.

Torag, help me see the influence we creatures have had on your world- let me find their passing and know the way.

Survival to aid Gair: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

3 sailors, 3 dwarves, Ben, Hobie, Jane, Cara, Gemma, Valentinian(injured), Cueta, 3 wounded, Zik, and Zik's father.
Cueta is taking Zik, Zik's father, and one of the dwarves.
Ben will take 2 of the sailors, Cara, and Gemma
The last boat will have the remaining sailor, two dwarves, Hobie, Jane, Valentinian, and the three Wounded.

Ben, and Cueta's boats will have most of the food and equipment in them. Jane is healer she will take care of the wounded in the third boat while they travel. Cueta's boat will lead, then the boat with the wounded and then Ben's boat.

"I don't know if it's coincidence, but we did not see them until the night we had a fire on the beach. Be careful."

"We had a fire going that first night we were attacked as well. We'll go without on the way back."

I agree it would be best not to help them find us again. Ben sighs. That means cold meals until we get back. That is always rough when it is cold and wet.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 for standing watch

Salvagers:

The night passes uneventfully for both parties, though the watchers are so tense, there are several false alarms in each camp.

It'll be three days before the boats get back to Newspring. I'll need a survival or geography roll from Kal'Tos each day to determine how long it will take them to reach the far shore of the bay. It's feasible that the walkers will be there before the boats, though they'll still be on the wrong side of a two mile wide stretch of water. We'll try to make sure it stays interesting.

Newspring:

Tatya is still angry, but she says nothing further, only glares at Gair with her head held high.

Hassan seems almost ready to intervene, but as everyone seems to have said their piece, he stays out of it. Turning back as you leave, you see Tatya sitting on the ground, hugging Sofiya and her young son, Vasili. Shalla stands nearby, comforting her.

The tracks are confused, there is a trail of sorts that has been growing as most of the people that go to or from the ship take. It is difficult to be sure which tracks were Garrak's, but at edge of the beach, it seems that he turned away from the boat and ventured inland, following the course of the stream.

A mile or so from the coast, the tracks end abruptly. A few minutes search in the bushes reveals the body of the half-orc, stripped of his skin. The tracks that return to the beach appear to be Garrak's, but they disappear among so many others in the soft sand near the ship's anchorage.

I thought Kal'Tos was following the coast. Did he decide to cut across country? if they do make it to the bay it will mean we have a shorter distance to go to pick them up later.

Ben spends the second day on the water talking to the sailors about how to fit sails to the longboats. He asks if they are going to stay or if they want to return to Avistan on the Lillend.

@ Ben. I believe he is, but.... The purpose of the check is to see if they spend a full day walking out the long point at the mouth of the bay, and then another full day walking back, or if our dwarf is sharp enough to realize he can get to the same place by walking an hour overland.

Kal'Tos will attempt to navigate overland when he sees the land turning way from where he wants to end up.

survival roll to navigate 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Vallen's eyebrow's raise as he sees the ridiculous number of tracks there are to follow. Thankfully Gair's skill at tracking is able to identify the half-orc's footsteps, which earns Vallen's praise.

When Garrak's tracks end, Vallen looks extremely confused, immediately searching the surroundings. When he finds the mutiliated body of the half-orc, he gasps. "No! By Torag's beard, this thing literally stole his skin!" Looking away and blanching, he shakes his head, running a hand over his face. Breathing in deep, he goes to the body, checking how he was killed and how long he's been here.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Vallen relies the information he gains to Gair.

"Poor Garrak. What was he doing out here? Why? I don't want Sorala to see this, at least."

Newspring:

The body is relatively fresh, it could easily have been killed last night. Once again, the throat was slit, deep and sure.

Salvage:

Around noon the day after the storm, Kal'Tos thinks he recognizes a particularly steep crag. He climbs to the top of a low ridge for a better look, and realizes that the ridge forms a long point between the bay and the open sea, and that by cutting over, the walkers can save themselves at least a day's hike out to the end of the point and back.

After realizing that they can save 2 days by not following the coast. Kal'Tos informs the people with him of this glorious news and will use it to help him push that extra hour of walking.

Survival check to see if I can figure out how many days until we are at newspring. 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

It'll be three days before the boats get back to Newspring. I'll need a survival or geography roll from Kal'Tos each day to determine how long it will take them to reach the far shore of the bay. It's feasible that the walkers will be there before the boats, though they'll still be on the wrong side of a two mile wide stretch of water. We'll try to make sure it stays interesting.

I'm OK with uninteresting, uneventful, dull travel, with tasteless food :)

DM Nerk wrote:

It'll be three days before the boats get back to Newspring. I'll need a survival or geography roll from Kal'Tos each day to determine how long it will take them to reach the far shore of the bay. It's feasible that the walkers will be there before the boats, though they'll still be on the wrong side of a two mile wide stretch of water. We'll try to make sure it stays interesting.

I'm OK with uninteresting, uneventful, dull travel, with tasteless food :)

I agree 100%. Excitement is overrated when founding a colony.

Gair crouches down beside the flayed corpse of the half-orc, closing his eyes gently, "May you run forever in the Nightlands, we will send you killer to you soon enough..."

Standing he chews his tongue, trying to work out what their next move should be? After a time he speaks, "We will need to give him the proper rites. In the Mammoth Realms we bury our dead come the spring so their bodies may return to the earth, do you know what his people do? I do not look forward to it but we will have to ask Sorala..."

"Such things will have to wait until tonight however, this confirms our suspicions, this fey could be anyone in the camp. Though the last place we know Garrak went was the Lillend. The rum stores being left open the same night seems too convenient. I fear something happened over there. We should pay the captain another visit."

Are there any other tracks along with Garrak's?

Vallen joins Gair in prayer, speaking softly with one hand on his heart and the other clasped around his holy symbol. "Magrim, please reforge this warrior's soul into a pristine form, and send it back to the material plane so it may once again do good in this world."

Shrugging at the question of his funeral rites, the dwarf doesn't even know where to begin. "I'm not even sure where Garrak was from. We did not converse much on the ship...If I knew where he was from I may be familiar with the rites. We will ensure he is sent off properly."

Nodding and straightening his beard, he adjusts the rings and tightens the double braids while Gair speaks. "I agree. We are missing pieces to this puzzle box, let's go find them."

He makes his way to the Lillend with Gair to speak with the captain.

Also curious if there are any other tracks in the area.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Ben again takes a turn at watch on the second night of the trip back, but he is very tired and isn't as attentive as he could be. It is a good thing he isn't on watch alone.

we have travelled on full day, does that mean we have two more full days to reach Newspring? or did the first bit after the storm count as a day?

Kal'Tos: You'll be across the bay from Newspring by night tomorrow. Just a short, two mile swim away. It will take you two more days to travel around the bay, or you can wait for the boats to return and ferry you across. Assuming they do return, muahahaha!

Gair & Vallen: No other tracks in the area. Check Garrak's backstory if you can find it, otherwise, ask Sorala.

Ben: You have a full day and 3/4ths of a second day remaining.

Everyone: Busy night, probably no post til tomorrow.

Sorry, I think my last message was unclear. No tracks. Check with Sorala about Garrak's funeral wishes.

As Gair and Vallen return to the ship, the lookout spots them. By the time they've reached the shore, Captain Kynak is crossing to the beach on a treacherous-looking raft.

Gair waits patiently for the captain to make the crossing, wading into the surf to help him steady the raft once he's across, "We'd not expected you to come out yourself captain, is something amiss?"

The treacherous-looking raft made me laugh. Poor guy needs his longboat back.

Vallen is surprised at seeing the captain come ashore, looking up to Gair with a raised eyebrow. He waits with the Kellid by the shore, arms crossed over his chest. The dwarf doesn't say anything, feeling quite antisocial at the moment.

Newspring:

No fear, Vallen. It's sturdy enough for the water here."

"Amiss?" the captain says, splashing to the dry sand on the beach as the sailors that rowed him over head into the woods to cut lumber. Kynack seems surprised by the question. "I should think so. This morning you told me Dremen was murdered, the crew's saying this land is haunted. They're about ready to raise anchor and try for Absalom today, never mind the repairs, and I've had to lock up Mosely for breaking into the rum and getting himself blind drunk when he was meant to be on watch. Now you're back, I want to know what you've found out, and I pray to all the gods that it's something good."

"As if that's not enough" he adds, looking at the dark sky overhead. "It looks like we're in for another blow."

Gair raises a hand, "I had only meant I'd expected you to stay on the ship. Though from what you say I can see why you'd be wanting a respite."

He stares out over the bay for a moment collecting his thoughts, "Dremen is not the only victim. We found the body of Garrak the half-orc a short distance from the camp, he had proven himself a good man. The body had been skinned. We believe a dangerous fey creature is responsible for both deaths. I have heard stories of their kind before, they steal the skin of others and assume their identity, killing as they go."

He turns back to the captain, catching his eyes with a hard stare, "As best we can figure, Garrak came down to your ship sometime in the night just before he was killed. I don't suppose you might know why captain? What business could he have had here in the dead of night? Did your man Mosely mention anything? Perhaps he drank to forget something that happened last night?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Oops Gair posted while I was writing this! Ah well take whichever Nerk. Also sense motive on everyone it probably a good idea at this point.

Feeling a sudden bout of spitefulness, the dwarf speaks up as the captain finishes. "Here's your good news- Garrak, the mean-looking half-orc scholar if you remember him, was murdered last night and skinned for a trophy costume so some murderous fey could prance around as him. I'm not sleeping tonight until I'm sure this fey thing is dead."

He takes a few moments to look sour before continuing. "As for Dremon, the last thing anyone heard from him was that he "had a secret" and was asking a little girl "not to peel him". We already checked out the little girl, she's probably not a hideous skin-stealing abomination, but we sure pissed off her mother! He was highly fevered at the time, and I suspect he already knew about the skin-stealer. So."

Looking around at the sailors, he wonders if any of them could be the fey right now. "Questions for you, captain. Do you know why Garrak was on the ship before he got skinned? Has Moss or whatever his name was been rambling about anything suspicious? Most importantly, are all your sailors accounted for?"

He falls silent, looking dour.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13