She pauses, then asks, "Do you know of other examples of animals being killed for no apparent reason by undead?"
OOC: Selc, do I?
"Let me think on that one. I was taught that deadfellas hate anything alive but I agree with you, it's a rum deal going on here."
Still focussed on his efforts to test whether the strange invulnerability of these undead continue after their destruction, Kraken replies to Doral without looking up.
"Reckon making our own terms would be good," he says with a nod. "I can tell ya, those things hit bloody hard, and my blade hardly hurt 'em. Your chants did better, that and the lightning. Feel a bit of a nong, to tell the truth. I should have used the deadfella chant, tried to put 'em down that way, but once the storm gets in me.... So anyway I reckon we're better keeping them at arm's length if we see them again, eh?"
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"Perhaps someone used magic to give their bones the hardness of stone and filled them with unholy might. Or perhaps this is a very strong type of undead. Are you all sure they were mindless?"
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Dorel and Kraken pick over the bones, examining them each in turn as they try to identify the type of undead that attacked them. Midian soon joins them and as he ceases to focus on his spell, the storm overhead lessens from a downpour to a steady drizzel. You are able to tell several things about the bodies. First, that you are unable to identify them with any known natural creature. The double row of teeth, the enlongated limbs and oddly shaped claws set these bodies apart. Secondly, the "bones" themselves are entirely made of stone. Whisper and Midian note that they have seen bones similar to these in the museums of Aundair. They believe that the bones are fossilized, most of the calcium structure was replaced by minerals over the course of many, many years. It gives them an unusual resistance to bladed weapons, but Kraken's attempt to shatter the femur upon a nearby stone produces satisfying results. The bones cracks easily from the blunt force. Additionaly, you find bits of black sinew attaching the bones together at each joint. They seem to provide some flexibility and helps hold the body together. Finally, you note that some parts of the creature are still real bone. The teeth and claws are still razor sharp. They also seem to be mixed and matched from a variety of different animals. Some of the teeth are conical, while others are shaped like sharks teeth. The claws are roughly uniform in shape, but some are different sizes as if taken from two animals of differing ages.
Whisper
Spoiler:
Whisper casts her detect magic spell and carefully examines the body. The black sinew attached to the joints radiates a faint necromatic aura, while something attached inside the rib cage gives off a much stronger aura. Carefully prying aside the bones reveals a bundle of black sinew wrapped around an object attached to the spinal cord. Lifting them aside reveals the glint of a dark crystal, a khyber dragonshard. It looks similar to the shard that Brother Oallie had secured in his chest aboard the sunken ship. It was likely used as part of the animating force of the creature. Knowing that, the creature may be vulnerable to certain spells that can shatter crystalline objects.
Kraken
Spoiler:
You've seen mutilated animal bodies in the forests before. It seems that when left to their own devices the creatures will kill and tear apart anything they come across. From the hand-wrapped sinew and bits of attached bone, you can tell these were created and not raised at random. You think it likely that whoever created these would also have the power to command them.
Doral answers, "Well I certainly don't know of a creature that looks like this in nature. If it is a patchwork of different species, then this certainly proves there is a mastermind behind this atrocity."
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Kraken throws aside the piece of broken fossil and stands, tendons creaking as he does so. He nods at Doral and Glaive's musings, but seems distracted by another thought. He turns to Whisper.
"We *have* found dead animals, their bodies all mangled. Looking at these fellas' teeth, reckon we've found what did it. Another animal would at least eat its catch, not just rip it up for hits and giggles, eh?
"The bo'sun on my old ship used to tell great stories about pirate treasure, and there was one, The Treasure of Black-Hearted Jake, that I'm minded of now. Now, Jake had won his treasure from a Lyrander ship, at great cost. A lot of his crew, they were grumbling mutiny. Jake took the loudest grumblers, some of his loyal crew and his treasure in a boat to an island. He had the would-be mutineers killed, then had his wizard out a chant on 'em and turn 'em into deadfellas, so they'd protect his treasure and scare off anyone who came to his island.
"Someone made *these* stone deadfellas, but they didn't make 'em to kill lizards. Reckon they're guards for something, eh? Reckon whatever it is, someone wants to keep it, bad."
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Doral tries to keep his newly perked up interest hidden as he asks, "Maybe they are guarding the old treasure... how much do you suppose was buried? Well, we can't let such travesties just sit on this island terrorizing any passerby. I say we do our best in removing this plight."
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"I doubt this has anything to do with Black-Hearted Jake, I reckon that was just a tall tale to tell a nipper, eh? The old bo'sun was a bit of a lying larrikin. But I reckon these deadfellas are to protect *something*, and I also reckon we wait until light to find it."
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The group settles down for the rest of the night. Sleep comes slowly as strange bird calls and shrieking forest creatures is unsettling to the newcomers. The only one that seems immune to the noise is Kraken. The rain lets up shortly after everyone falls asleep.
The next morning the sun struggles to break through thick grey clouds overhead. The captain sends over more sailors and mercs who set to work creating shelters and clearing brush in a wide area around the camp. It seems that they have things well in hand and before long you are prepared to set out. Raysuldra (ooc: seems mia) remains behind at the camp for now to help organize things here. Midian crouches low to the ground and studies the trail the creatures left behind. Kraken stands over him helping him find additional signs of the trail as well as showing the best routes to use. The trail winds randomly across the island's slope, it seems that the creatures were wandering for a while before they came across the herd of reptiles. The trail leads you ever upwards towards the top of the northern slope.
It is a difficult climb to the top, but by taking your time setting ropes moving slowly it is manageable. At the top of the slope, you look out over a massive expanse of land. The island is quite large, big enough that you can barely make out the ocean at the southern end of the island. The trail goes cold at the top, but its course seemed to indicate that they came from somewhere in the interior. The canopy below you looks dense but you can make out ridges of stone here and there, at least enough to provide you with some landmarks.
As she looks out over the vista of the hilltop, Whisper says, "I had some time to look over the bodies from last night. They're like no undead I've ever heard of. They're animated not by an undead spirit, but by khyber dragonshards bound within them. They move because of wrappings at their joints that are charged with necromantic magic. In some ways, they seem almost more like unusual constructs than true undead."
She turns to look at the others.
"It is possible that magics meant specifically to affect undead won't work. Be advised."
Doral listens to Whisper and mutters, "Oh good... this is getting better and better."
He takes out his spyglass and surveys the stone ridges as well as the trail ahead when there is enough distance between the party and the cleared portions of trail that it makes sense to do so.
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Kraken, with the expression of a proud home-owner showing guests around his house, watches the faces of his companions as they survey the island vista.
"My villagers call this The Big Green," he says. "Fella goes walkabout in there, chances are he doesn't come out. It's an easy place to get lost. Still, you've got me. What could wrong, eh?" he adds with a grin.
OOC
Spells Prepared for today:
0th level – Detect magic, guidance, resistance (x2).
1st level (Save DC 13) – Bless, magic stone, obscuring mist*, shield of faith.
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You take a few minutes to survey the distant ridges and canopy for signs of life. You spot many types of colorful birds flitting among the canopy and larger shapes that might be primates moving among the upper branches. The folds in the land form ridges here and there that break above the forest canopy. Far to the south west you can see a larger area of exposed land and what you believe might be a tendril of smoke. Relaying this to your companions gives you a direction of travel while the trail remains cold.
Descending into the dense canopy is akin to traversing into another world altogether. The light dims as layer upon layer of leaves filters out the light of the sun, leaving rares shafts of light spearing down to the floor. Shadows shift and move about you as the branches above constantly shift in the breeze. The air below is stifling hot and thick with the smell of humus. Sweat immediately begins to form upon your brow. The farther you descend, the more oppressing the heat becomes. The trees become larger and soon are so massive your entire party could not reach around them by linking hands. Vines as thick as a mans thigh twist up from the jungle floor creating barriers of vegetation. Midian is able to slip through the undergrowth with almost supernatural ease while the rest of the party is forced to hack their way through with swords and machetes.
While at first the jungle seemed deserted and dominated by flora, you soon find that life is present everywhere below the canopy. Strange bird calls echo all around you and the occasional flicker of color above you reveal a large population of birds. Insects of all kinds crawl, scuttle, and buzz around you. Some of them grow quite large. Some of the biting insects are large enough to be mistaken for birds. Columns of ants strip away vegetation at alarming rates and luckily your trail leads out of their destructive path. Primates hoot and cry above you whenever a new pack notices your presence. They shake the branches and hurl small sticks whenever someone comes too close to their trees.
Kraken
Spoiler:
While following the trail you note some vegetation of interest to you. To supplement their diets, your tribe harvests wild growing "Long Corn". It is a prized food for your tribe given its slow rate of decay after being picked, and its resistance to Ration Rot Moss. The moss is a plague for hunters traveling inland as its spores quickly spoil rations and water supplies. While rare on the slope, it is far more likely to be encountered here in the hot interior.
Midian
Spoiler:
While traveling through the jungle, you locate a rare plant you've only heard of in textbooks. It is a Reath Vine, a vine that is a parasite to more common vines. After a common vine has established a hold in the upper canopy, the Reath Vine wraps around the common vine and uses it to climb into the canopy itself. All the while it burrows into the vine to extract water and nutrients. When fully grown, it blooms and spreads its spores from the upper canopy. The Reath vine is a useful spell component when used in spells that target plants and plant creatures.
It is mid afternoon when trouble finds you. Moving in a single file line through the dense undergrowth, Kraken and Midian lead the way as they seek the best trail. Whisper follows next along with Dorel and Glaive bringing up the rear. Midian's ape companion moves through the canopy above, braciating with ease. Suddenly, a long sinuous shape lashes out from the base of a nearby tree. A huge serpent easily thirty feet in length and nearly four foot thick attacks with a rasping hiss. The color of its scales ripple and change color unnaturally in response to the sudden movement. It's near perfect camouflage allowed it to approach to within feet undetected! Its massive maw closes around Whisper's upper torso, her shoulders and head disappearing inside its mouth!
OOC
Spoiler:
Give me your initiatives and 1st round actions.
Whisper: Need a grapple check from you, DC 36, to escape its bite.
Taken totally by surprise, Whisper beats her hands against the wet, dark insides of the snake's gullet, but isn't strong enough to force its jaws apart!
(Even on a natural 20, Whisper can't beat that DC, and natural 20's aren't autosuccesses on grapple checks. Mew. I know what my next spell is. )
If possible, close to within striking distance and attack with falchion, assuming he can strike some part of the snake and avoid Whisper. Attack 1d20+7=24 Damage 2d4+4=7
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