Chapter Four - Here There Be Monsters

[veritas]

As the group gets up from their first good night of sleep in days, Fin says his morning devotionals and tends to whatever wounds remained from the previous day's battle.

Action

Use the Heal skill to make sure that no one is suffering from a curse/disease/other nastiness first, then use Lesser Restoration to remove ability damage sacrifice lower level spells to heal remaining HP damage.

Focus on Urol and Berek first, as they seem to have taken the brunt of the abuse in the caves, then the rest of the group to be safe

As the group encounters the strange Olmani people, Fin stays quiet and follows Daerith's lead, careful to avoid offending these people. It wouldn't do to have defeated the Lord of Fogmire only to die at the hands of a native tribe.

[Trogdor]

The Sea Wyverns are lead about a quarter of a mile south to where the village of Tanaroa lies. It is a series of large huts surrounding what must be a holy structure in the center a pole carved of wood and decorated with gems and stone and paint. The native Olmans are curious about the newcomers, but Daerith soon learns that's more because of the fact that they arrived from the Isle of Dread, rather than that they cam from Sasserine. Apparently there is sufficient commerce between Tanaroa and Farshore that the sight of a 'civilized' person doesn't take the Olmans aback.

Over the course of the next few hours, the Sea Wyverns are treated to a meal, a chance to wash up, and a place to rest. One of the huts has guest chambers that are given over to the group. The Olmans speak a little bit of the Common tongue, but seem pleased that they can converse in their own language with Daerith. They agree to take the Sea Wyverns to Farshore by boat, stopping in the village of Panitube on the way. Given the distance, the trip will not begin until the morning. So, for the rest of the day the group has a chance to get what has been in very short supply these last couple of weeks - rest.

The natives are curious. Some come to practice their knowledge of the Common tongue. Others look to trade anything from feathers to tools to carved statuettes for small metal items like daggers, belt buckles and the like. The only one really kept busy by all of this is Daerith, who serves as de facto translator for the group. For while Urol knows the local language as well, he quickly finds a quiet corner to sit in and talks to no one. Evening brings a fine meal, cooked by someone else for a change, and night brings sleep on mats that while simple are still tremendously comfortable compared to sleeping on the ground. At some point during this afternoon and evening it finally sinks in to everyone - you have made it to civilization. Your dangerous passage across the Isle of Dread is over.

Olman Villagers

Olman Village

GM

One last chance for people to post about their reaction to civilization, then I'll end this chapter.

[Vardaen]

Daerith spends the day translating, but slips off for a bath, and finds some old woman to wash all his things. His cantrips keep them clean enough, but there is something about actual soap and water on your clothing that he just can't pass up the chance for. He eats his fill, always showing thanks to the men and women. He's careful to pay attention to the men in the village, and act as much as he can like them, he doesn't want to accidentally perform some act that is a 'woman's way', tribal people can be picking about those sort of things.

He trades, the group has some things they don't really need, mostly minor metal items for hunks of amber or pearls, but over all these are just diplomatic trades and not meant to make a profit. He does try and speak to someone about how hard it would be to go back up the coast to find the shipwrecked companions left behind. He also keep an eye on Avner to make sure he doesn't cause any trouble with any of the native girls, and if he has to he suggest Chanur act as a 'guard' for Avner.

When night arrives he lays down, Torothalion at his side, but all his other gear peacefully set to the side, and he sleeps.... until someone wakes him up late in the morning for the trip to Farshore.

OOC

How about Chanur acts as a bodyguard for Avner -- to stroke his ego, but really he's there to prevent trouble like last time we had native girls around the rake.

[veritas]

Fin takes the opportunity to relax with a nice bath and a hot meal. It's been a while since the group was able to really enjoy anything and the young priest relishes the experience.

Fin's out that night relatively early, leaving the diplomatic relations in Daerith's capable hands, and sleeps like a log until being woken (hopefully) in the morning.

[mackaber]

The one thing Berek was looking forward to most was drink. Luckily the Olman's had some rather spicy spirits of which they gladly sold Berek a cask in exchange for all kinds of shiny and fancy trinkets.

The Dwarf then proceeded to get smashed not caring what anyone else did and falling asleep before dinner snoring as loud as a bear.

[Trogdor]

Everyone enjoys the evening - quiet for some, not so quiet for others - and the closest thing to a proper bed that any of them have seen since Sasserine. It's a relaxing evening, and by morning everyone is rested and ready to move on. Thankfully Berek's dwarven constitution seems to have prevented him from suffering from his evening's excesses. Goodbyes are made, small gifts are given, and the shipwreck survivors are loaded onto four outrigger canoes that are pushed out into the surf and quickly paddled to the south.

Late afternoon brings a stop at the village of Panitube, which looks similar to Tanaroa, if not quite as large. There the castaways are treated with similar courtesy. And the next morning, they are once more loaded onto the outriggers to head to Farshore. This time, they know that the next time they reach land will be at the destination they've waited months to see - the colony of Farshore.

THE END

This ends Chapter Four: Here There Be Monsters. Expect a new thread to start up soon with the Chapter Five in Savage Tide.