Chapter 18: Where the Mighty Rivers Roam

[Jeff]

FYI the hike back to the beach is a good 15-20 minute trek, if you don't stop for any foraging. (Meaning more than one casting needed. Probably 2.)

Speaking of, the cinnamon? Yay or nay?

[Darren]

Aug 4, 2020 14:31:09 GMT -4 Jeff said:

FYI the hike back to the beach is a good 15-20 minute trek, if you don't stop for any foraging. (Meaning more than one casting needed. Probably 2.)

Speaking of, the cinnamon? Yay or nay?

That's fine. However many castings it takes.

I'll leave the cinnamon to the others.

[Dave B.]

"Yes, we should finish up now. Those little lizards can be a bit to handle in large numbers. Streko, please get some of that cinnamon. Melethose and I will deal with the meat." Shorak says as he wipes his blade clean and shethes it. He then pulls out his non-magical rope and ties the legs and ribs together, with Melethos' help, leaving carrying loops to make it easier to carry/drag the meat. "Let's go. If we can, we should forage for more edible plants as we return to the beach. Assuming we notice any more. The 'little teeth' should keep themselves busy with the rest of the boar."

[Joe]

Aug 4, 2020 18:59:12 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

"Yes, we should finish up now. Those little lizards can be a bit to handle in large numbers. Streko, please get some of that cinnamon. Melethose and I will deal with the meat." Shorak says as he wipes his blade clean and shethes it. He then pulls out his non-magical rope and ties the legs and ribs together, with Melethos' help, leaving carrying loops to make it easier to carry/drag the meat. "Let's go. If we can, we should forage for more edible plants as we return to the beach. Assuming we notice any more. The 'little teeth' should keep themselves busy with the rest of the boar."

"Shorak, I'm not sure I should go by myself to the Cinnamon tree, as there is one of those things standing there that my Guardian cannot reach...on the other hand..." Streko moves behind both Shorak and Tangat, heading for the tree, keeping his eyes on the dinosaurs.

As soon as he passes Tangat, he calls Olladra's name and snaps his fingers three times. Suddenly, there are three more Strekos standing around. All four continue moving along the hedge-line toward the tree, keeping both ear and eye out in all directions. He isn't being aggressive and Therendor points outward ahead of him as he walks, although he keeps his eyes on the little dinosaur.

"We need to make this quick," he says. The images surround him as he makes his way to the cinnamon tree.
___________________________________________________________________

Streko casts MIRROR IMAGE. They surround him like a protective shield after they are conjured.

[Jeff]

Streko's illusionary duplicates appear around him. The little lizards watch him as he moves, and when he reaches the cinnamon tree, he already sees two more of them around the bend and up on the rocky hill above. They watch him, heads turning this way and that as though constantly assessing. But none makes a move towards him. Streko realizes that while he can peel some park with his sickle, it will only yield a small amount if he does this on his own. If he could chop a few full branches off (which his sickle isn't especially good for), then he can trim those down, drag them back to the ship, and take his time to get even more cinnamon bark out of it. But he'd need help from someone else. An axe sure would be handy right now, for him and for those dealing with the boar's body.

Melethos and Shorak continue their work. The blood on them is intense, and the smell even more so. But they lash together the severed legs of the beast and now work to cut off a large enough flank for Kal to transport magically.

Almost there.

A few more small dinosaurs appear, watching. Then a shadow rushes over them. Looking up, all of the hunters can see two glidewing sort of species of flying reptile has joined the gathering. It squawks and squabbles with the buzzards.

Shorak knows the buzzards will wait. The glidewings won't wait as long before simply trying to take.

In short: the boar is nearly done, but the cinnamon harvest will need some assistance unless Streko is okay with taking only a small amount.

Attachments:

[Darren]

"Keep working," Kal says, as he turns his attention to the small lizards. He begins to walk towards them, waving his hands in large circles as he does so. He claps his hands together, and showers of brightly colored sparks spray out towards the creatures. He continues to advance on them, sparks and streamers of color exploding out in front of him, pops and crackles issuing from them, even as he makes loud indistinct yelling noises.

____________________
Kal is advancing on the little lizards and casting Prestidigitation (a few times) to try to scare them away.

[Brian]

Melethos finishes tying up the hog hindquarters; the food is ready be moved to the ship. That's when he notices Streko (or maybe the Strekos) working around the cinnamon tree. He wanders over, keeping an eye on the little lizard creatures, to stand next to one of the Strekos.

"You need an axe," he says. "I gave mine to Kurra, though. How important is the spice, should we spend time trying to harvest enough?"

[Joe]

Aug 5, 2020 10:08:17 GMT -4 Brian said:

Melethos finishes tying up the hog hindquarters; the food is ready be moved to the ship. That's when he notices Streko (or maybe the Strekos) working around the cinnamon tree. He wanders over, keeping an eye on the little lizard creatures, to stand next to one of the Strekos.

"You need an axe," he says. "I gave mine to Kurra, though. How important is the spice, should we spend time trying to harvest enough?"

"An axe would be most useful, but something that can chop off some of these limbs would be fine. I don't need to do the detailed stuff here, but need to be able to bring some of the branches to the ship. ANy magical means to lop off a few branches by chance? Having said that, I am not willing to risk our safety for an amazingly tantalizing and powerful herb that will make all of our food much tastier."

Streko smiles as he speaks and continues trying to get what little cinnamon he can. "Any help is appreciated and the sooner we leave, the safer for all."

[Jeff]

When Kal advances on the nearest lizards on the ground before, they hop backward, moving away from him. Heads tilt, necks whip this way and that, but they steer clear of him. Yet others at the other end of the area—closer to Melethos and Streko—creep closer still.

[Darren]

Kal sees the little lizards closing in despite his efforts. Glancing back over his shoulder, he calls out, "Time to go. Gather what you can. We're leaving." Kal concentrates on the larger part of the boar carcass and reaches out with his magic to lift the fallen beast from the ground.

[Brian]

Melethos nods at Kal's order. Raising his sword, he hacks at a few thinner limbs on the cinnamon tree. Successful or not, he doesn't waist any more time on the spice. Once he's dealt with the tree, he gathers up the boar haunches, which he tied together and slid a larger, regular branch he scavenged under the rope so he and Shorak can carry the heavy load back to the boat.

[Jeff]

The few cinnamon branches severed by Melethos's sword now lie at Streko's feet.

The boar's legs are lashed in bundles of two. They are heavy, thick, and large, and must be either carried each by one person, or else one person very heavily burdened using two hands (and moving slow). Kal's Telekinesis, when everyone is ready to go, can lift that sizable flank of the boar's body.

From the sound of their squawking, one of the glidewings above might have just grasped one of the buzzards and flown off with it. But one still remains. It lights on the tallest palm tree on the hill above, looking down at you. It croaks aggressively down at you.

[Joe]

Streko grabs the tree branches Melethos removed. "Let's go!"
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Will the branches fit in his haversack? If so, he "drops" them in. If not he will drag them and ask for assistance in carrying them.

[Jeff]

Streko can drag the branches Melethos cut, even with just one arm, but cannot fit them into his haversack unless he had the time to whittle them down.

[Dave B.]

Shorak works with Melethos to lift and drag the huge pieces of meat. "The scavangers will be busy with the rest of the boar for only a short time, unless they start fighting amongst themselves. We can hope for the latter. Let's get back as quickly as we can." As he huffs and puffs his way down the path toward the beach, Shorak turns to Kal. "You may want to request some assistance from the ship. All this meat may be too much for the dinghy to handle in one trip."

[Darren]

With sweat breaking out on his forehead, Kal just nods at Shorak. "Lead the way. Quickly. Streko, watch our backs."

We're coming back with fresh boar, but there's a lot. We may need some extra help on the beach to move this quickly. Scavengers may be following us. We've attracted their attention.

[Brian]

Working with Shorak, Melethos and the changling drag/carry the boar haunches back along the path they used to arrive at the glade. His exertion draws a sheen of sweat to coat his skin, and the jungle's insects start to swarm around him. Nearby, the larger part of the boar floats a few feet in front of Kal. Streko brings up the rear, his hands filled with cinnamon branches.

Despite his efforts, the tiefling tries to keep an eye and ear out for scavengers that might cause trouble.

[Jeff]

Melethos and Shorak each shoulder a pair of the boar's haunches and hocks, while Kal lifts up the chunk of the loin and back, the most bloody and still-dripping section, with Telekinesis.

What does Streko do?

[Joe]

As mentioned before, Streko is carrying and/or dragging the limbs of the cinnamon branches behind him and following the group, allowing the carcass of the boar left behind to attract as many of the carrion eaters, if not all of them, to stay behind. The three Streko illusions will follow behind as long as the spell lasts. The Guardian will remain as a possible distraction. Streko then casts another spell, wondering how it will work, as he has never cast it before, and hoping it will work as he intends. Suddenly, behind him, no trace of his passage, or the passage of his friends, can be seen.
___________________________________________________________

Streko casts Pass Without Trace on himself and all of his colleagues within 30 feet of him.

[Jeff]

By the time Streko has the branches ready, his illusionary doubles have faded away. The little reptiles keep watching keenly. They've nearly doubled in number by this point.

But then Shorak leads the way, burdened with the meat, and Melethos and Kal and then Streko follow with theirs. You are all sweating and hot and uncomfortable, Kal least of all since he only carries with a spell. Tangat stays with his master now.

When Streko casts his spell, shadows seem to bend toward the party, and the smell of the butcher even dampens around them. Most remarkably, they leave no footprints behind. Only droplets of blood from the freshly slaughtered boar marks their passage. You all soon leave the glade behind.

Only a few minutes down the game trail, which only Shorak really can still see, Kal hears Belarin in his thoughts:

Hey, Kal - Adamant, the harpy, and I are on the beach near the dinghy. Insert your own joke. We're checking out a creature that is hiding in the sand nearby. We'll likely need to make two trips to get everyone back to the Dragonfly.

[Darren]

"Adamant and Belarin await us on the beach," Kal calls ahead to his companions. He glances over his shoulder, looking to see if they are being pursued by the scavengers. "Hopefully we don't bring this party to them."

[Dave B.]

Shorak just grunts in reply to Kal, but still manages to increase his pace a little, now that he knows there are allies waiting ahead.

[Joe]

"Remember," Streko pants, "I have shorter legs than you do!" Knowing his friends are on shore waiting to help them spurs the halfling on more. "These damn cinnamon sticks better be worth it," he mutters.

[Jeff]

Each one of you is uncomfortable, but you're making good progress. A strange sight you must look: four heavily-laden men moving surprisingly quietly through the dense jungle on an almost invisible path, and the shadows of the trees seem to fall on each one. Yet huge pieces of a great beast are carried, or floated, among them.

Kal realizes he didn't respond to Belarin's last comments, but the warlock has also gone quiet.

[Jeff]

But then a minute later Kal hears in his mind, Kal! There's a weird dragonish creature with bad breath and pointy quills over here!

[Darren]

Aug 8, 2020 22:46:24 GMT -4 Jeff said:

But then a minute later Kal hears in his mind, Kal! There's a weird dragonish creature with bad breath and pointy quills over here!

It's a drake! We fought two of them ourselves. Only killed one. Watch out for its acid breath! We're on our way!

"The drake is attacking the beach!" Kal calls out. "We must hurry!"

[Jeff]

Shorak, hearing this, knows there's no use in that. The beach is at least ten or fifteen minutes away, and they may need to stop for a break. The bound haunches are heavy as hell.

But a few moments later, Kal hears Belarin again.

Aug 9, 2020 0:44:54 GMT -4 Ken said:

Kal, no need to rush -- it's dead, says Belarin telepathically. Adamant is a bit roasted, but otherwise all right.

---

FYI I'll be away for the rest of today.

Ken, any further telepathy from Belarin can happen back here in this thread.

[Dave B.]

"Kal, we're at least 10 minutes from the beach. I'm sure the two of them can handle a single drake." Shorak says with some effort. "I for one am going to have to stop a moment soon, if only to catch my breath."

[Brian]

Melethos makes sure his speed matches Shorak's, so he doesn't stress the changling. When Kal calls out about the drakes and Shorak responses, he says, "We can get to the beach only so quickly. We'll need to call a rest in a few minutes, then hurry to the end."

[Darren]

Kal frowns. "Well, it sounds like they've got it handled, anyway."

Great job not dying. I knew you could do it. See if you can save the body for Histra. I was going to bring her one, but it got away, and this damn boar is heavy. We'll be there in about twenty minutes.