The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

JarThol will enter each huts and make a quick search to see if he can learn more on what happened here. Perhaps someone left some kind of log book or something of the sort. He also looks to the ground to see if he can notice any unusual prints or marks. Xielt could probably learn more out of this then himself, he thinks.

OOC : Search +2 (untrained), Spot +6. The OotS-style group is cute. I like the spirit crane appearing above Jar'Thol's head. I think he should perhaps be a bit less 'menacing' however. I mostly imagine Jar'Thol with either a friendly or somewhat scared demeanor.

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: Just to clarify a point in Shayuri's post - this isn't the island that you are looking for from the Vashti's note. This is a mining camp on the way and is not connected to your mission for the Vashti.

The monkeys look surprised at being address by Growling Ape. Some scamper away towards the cliffs, but the rest make "ook" noises back to him.

[SBLOCK="Growling Ape"]
The monkeys all talk at once, but the gist is:

"Our naked-skins"
"We trained them"
"Our food"
"Went away"
"Before that one was born " (points to infant monkey clinging to its mother's back)
"No more food"
"We take our own food"
"Naked skins gone away"
"Gone into holes"
"No more digging"
"No more food"
[/SBLOCK]

Meanwhile, Jar'Thol continues his exploration of the mining camp.

[SBLOCK="Jar'Thol"]
There are some strange tracks mixed in amongst the booted human ones - broad and round, like a small clawed elephant. Jar'Thol's tracking ability isn't good enough to follow a trail amidst the jumble, nor to date them accurately.

He searches a couple of the shack and finds nothing unusual, merely clothing and small personal effects. Things are untidy, but not as if ransacked. In the next shack that he opens, something suddenly lurches from the shadows in the corner.

It is vaguely humanoid, but its skin hangs from it in baggy folds, oddly like a human that has... melted. It gives a feral moan as it lunges towards Jar'Thol with claw-like hands.

OOC:
Jar'Thol is startled, but his Spot check is good enough that he is not surprised (in game terms)

Initiative:
Jar'Thol 20
Thing 17
[/SBLOCK]

The rest of you see Jar'Thol darting in and out of the shacks. When he enters the third one, there suddenly arises an eerie moaning roar from inside the shack...

 

[Blackrat]

Three Flowers has White Lotus almost immediatily in hand and moves carefully towards the hut. "Seems Jar'Thol found something" he remarks to whoever is closest.

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 25/25, F +4,R+2,W+5

"What's going on there?" Ape asks after shortly thanking the monkeys, staff already in hand. He tries to get more informations with his sharp eyesight.
ooc: Spot+8 (9 with spiritual guide)

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

With a cry of mixed fear and surprise, Jar'thol quickly exits the hut. "Dancing Crane give me wings." He murmurs as he start to run back toward the boat. He also cries out to his companions once they come back into view. "Watch out ! Big melted ... claw spirit ... thing !"

OOC : uh oh Jar'Thol will double move (or just move since it's a surprise round) back toward the boat. Is there enough vegetation between the hut and the boat for an entangle spell ?

 

[Dr Simon]

[SBLOCK="OOC"]
What's happening with Jar'Thol becomes apparent very quickly, so no need for a Spot check WD. I did one anyway, in case there are any other details that Ape might notice. He doesn't.
[/SBLOCK]

IC:
The members of the group that have remained by the boat at the shore see Jar'Thol come running out of the last shack that he went into (one of the stone-walled, thatch-roofed ones). The hide curtain is flung aside as some sort of saggy-fleshed creature lurches after him. Despite its appearance it moves quickly.

The creature is humanoid, human-sized, with the dark copper tones of a southern Nekuuese. It appears to otherwise be naked. Its skin hangs from it in folds and its facial features have become layers of melted-looking flesh. Hideous bared teeth and gleaming eyes are all that remain. It is gaining on the salsham'ai whose short legs are not enough to outrun the creature, and gives another roaring moan that sounds like anger and pain intermingled as it reaches out with a flabby arm.

[SBLOCK="OOC"]
The creature is currently adjacent to Jar'Thol (i.e. 5 ft.). The two of them are about 30 ft. from shore.

Initiative:
Jar'Thol 20
Growling Ape 18
Thing 17
Cielt 13
Annika 11
Three Flowers 9

Rolling Man: Yes, there is sufficient vegetation for an entangle spell.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

Seeing that he won't be able to outrun the creature, Jar'Thol deftly takes a step back and invokes a powerful plant spirit. The surrounding plants bent to the will of the Blossoming Mother and start to move and grab at the melted monstruosity. The ancient plant spirit is hard to fully control however. Jar'Thol soon finds that the plants are trying to grab at him too ! "Don't come closer" he cries out to his companions. "My spell would affect you too."

OOC : Jar'Thol is taking a 5-foot step back and casting Entangle (spells left 6/6, 4/5). The spell is a 40 feet radius spread and he will center it 10 feet behind the creature so most of the ground between it and the boat is affected. Reflex save DC of 14 to avoid being entangled and held fast. Jar'Thol's own reflex save bonus is +3.

PS Stupid ENworld ate my first version of this post *grumble*

 

[Dr Simon]

PS Stupid ENworld ate my first version of this post *grumble*

Tell me about it! I've taken to saving copies of posts before I send them.

[SBLOCK="Jar'Thol"]
Reflex save 14+3=17

Also, don't forget that he cen use Freedom of Movement thanks to Dancing Crane/Travel Domain power
[/SBLOCK]

The grasses, shrubs and even moss around the creature begin to writhe and grasp. Jar'Thol manages to avoid them for now. With a frustrated roar, the creature bats at the grappling vegetation but although it is slowed, the grasses fail to get a grip on its rubbery legs.

[SBLOCK="Growling Ape"]
Ape notices that where the grasses *do* manage to touch the creature they drop away, seared brown (like the effects of weedkiller).
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 25/25, F +4,R+2,W+5

"End your magic! The plants who touch the thing are withering away! Nature abhorres it!" Ape calls at the small shaman and readies a stone and his sling.

 

[Dr Simon]

"GRAAAAAAGH"

The creature takes a couple of laborious strides through the grass that tugs at its ankles, and swings a sagging, clawed paw at Jar'Thol.

The little shaman staggers under the blow, and feels a searing pain from where it struck.

[SBLOCK="Jar'Thol"]
Creature makes 5 ft. move (cost of 10 ft.) and attacks, with a hit.

Jar 'Thol takes 4 points of bludgeoning damage and 4 points of acid damage. The acid is not strong enough to affect equipment.
[/SBLOCK]