A3: Searching for a Cure and Flying Tiger

15 May (Mirtal): We come to a creek where a dozen brontosaurus are eating patches of wild root (juice rids poison condition). We follow the creek hoping to find our own patch to harvest. Noises. Dyxon peeks thru brush finding zombies attacking a baby bronto. Too many for us. Diero grabs patch of roots and returns to bronto parents to lead them in a stampede against zombies to rescue baby.

That night we camp in a cave behind a waterfall. Inside we find skeletal remains of a tabaxi.

16 May (Mirtal): we come upon a ruined camp. 3 slain hafling explorers raked by claws but no tracks; thus, suspecting birdmen. Their tents ruined also with claw marks but we manage to salvage 2 rain-catcher tarps, 3 explorer packs, and 3 flasks of Taj (honeywine). As we take the time to bury the dead (per Daizee’s and Sudieman’s insistence), we find their “Flaming Fist permission” letter to explore for 3 weeks dated 2 weeks ago. Night-time: 4 zombies disrupt the camp.

17 May (Mirtal): find banana tree. Diero climbs finding horned-rabbits in next tree. ‘Speak with Animals’ to ask permission to gather bananas (taste like licorice) and learn goblin and upright frog-creatures (small, brightly colored=poisonous; Grung) walk the forest below them as birdmen threaten from above. Have to drag Daizee away who wants one as a pet. She calls them “rabicorns’” but we know them as Almiraj.

Hours later come upon circular patch of ice with icicles still hanging from tree branches above. Two Pterafolk (birdmen) swoop down and attack. During fight a stranger enters the battle casting ice-storm to drive one away. They’d been chasing him for days. Artes Cimber (member of Harpers) looking for his wife (Alissandro) lost during the spell-plague attack on Mesro. Tatoos of names all over his arms. Kevar realizes he’s over 100 years old yet looks mid-aged. He’s searched the whole island and now looks for the ruins of Orolunga where a naga may be of knowledge of her whereabouts. Artes tells us a little of the area pointing out a shrine to the north. Realization we were kinda lost.

We come upon the shrine to Obtao, finding fist-size beetles…the cure to mad-monkey-fever. We gather a dozen into our packs. Daizee notices etchings on shrine that seem to be a maze. She traces with a stick, activating an opening at the base of the shrine. Daizee already enters as Sudieman lights a torch. Empty cots. We rest here for the night.

18 May (Mirtal): continue exploring when 13 tiny velociraptors boil from brush. 3 attack Dyzon in lead as others deal with 1-2 each. Dyxon dashes away as can’t take another wound leaving Daizee to face 3. We kill a few but Sudieman falls. Telling Daizee to disengage, Diero takers her place to cast ‘Thunderwave’ [15ft cube sonic blast dealing 2d8]. 3 die outright as others moved 10ft away. They scatter and flee, leaving us to pour potion down Sudieman who is only one able to cast ‘Cure Wounds’. Diero realizes he should memorize that spell too.

Short rest before on trail again when come upon blue mist floating our way…Mad Monkey Mist! Sude casts “Rain” which dissipates mist. Inspiring! Hours later camp.

19 May (Mirtal): come upon a statue wearing adamantine armor. The golem we seek…the Shield Guardian Vorn. Layers of offerings placed at its base. We search for control amulet but only find footprints of the worshipers (goblin, frogmen, veggie-pigmies). Suspect THEY have amulet; so, we follow well-worn tracks before camping for the night.

20 May (Mirtal): heavy rains threatens to wash away tracks but rutted path remains. Find fruit in shells…Dyxon eats before Sude can purify. The halfling breaks into uncontrollable dancing. Entertaining. Spy carving on tree “Bravas Bolderhorn was here.” Heights of carving suggest human.

Large clearing to left of path…Dyxon explores finding dead large 2-legged dino. Sees something gleaming within wound. Tries to dig it out. Finds rotting bodies inside, one wearing a ring. As he cuts off finger, they animate! 3 zombies chase him out. We kill them. Dyxon now owns a ring of light as we find a pouch of 80gp.

While on night-watch, Fakeem is surprised by a tiger within the camp. Sounds warning. Tiger not aggressive till attacked, then awkwardly lashes back. Easy kill but then group sees body turn into human form…Diero. His first druid wildshape he wasn’t expecting. The next days find the druid experimenting with various animal transformations.

22 May: ten small flying monkeys flitter about us. Daisee reaching for one when 3 swarm to lift her (they’d grabbed her backpack trying to steal). She fights free. 4 others swarm around Fakeem stealing his staff. Kevar casts flaming hands driving the rest off.

23 May (Mirtal): Diero takes time to converse with animals to learn we track goblins camped nearby along the river. We soon see canoes pulled ashore with multiple thatched huts inland. A large tree bent over with what looks like a bell or gong (an obvious alarm). A few goblin guards. Which is the leader hut, as he’d have the amulet we seek? Dyxon already on the move toward a storage hut with piles of …food? He sets fire to the roofing. Soon goblins boil out of other huts in a rush to put out the fire. We attack.

Out-numbered but thinning them out. Diero rushes toward the largest hut hoping to confront the leader. Sure enough, goblins exit, one larger than the others. Another goblin rushes off toward the bent tree. Diero now focused on him to prevent him sounding the alarm for no telling how many other goblins. The leader and other goblins rushing after Diero but toward another hut. Huh? Diero distracted just enough, he’s unable to prevent the first goblin from reaching the tree…and cutting a thick rope. “TWACK!!”

The ground under Diero’s feet is thrown skyward. In fact, the entire central goblin camp is enveloped in an elaborate net bundle. Realization the entire bundle is arching 1000 ft downrange. The landing will be deadly…for a human. “CRUNCH!!” What looked like huts were really padded cells to protect the goblins inside from the forceful landing. The leader and his men emerge from their protective cocoons. Smiles and cheers soon silenced as they face the tiger, also none the worse from the landing. Screams as they are torn to shreds.

Long minutes later the tiger enters the original goblin camp, blood caking his facial hair, and a necklace in his jaws. Diero turns back to human form, “I found the amulet.”

25-26 May (Mirtal): We return to Camp Vengeance to deliver the beetle cure, then head inland to retrieve the 'Shield Guardian' Vorn. The trek shorter and direction now that we know its location. Activated, the golem follows as we angle back to the river, bypassing Camp V as to not frighten them.

27 May (Mirtal): Sudieman hears stomping before 3 TALL blue-skin giants enter camp. Sudie able to converse to prevent any attack. They are looking for Artis Cember who stole the ‘Ring of Winter’ (makes him long-lived). We offer to be on lookout. Don’t mention we’ve already crossed paths with him.

During return to Nyan, Daisee finds Flit, a violet colored fairy dragon. Usually invisible but he reveals himself to her forming bond.

29 May: back at river finding canoes missing but note tacked to tree (Red Robe clan thanking us). 2 casks of Tej (mead). We retrieve goblin canoes to continue back to Nyan.

The 1st weeks of June (Kythorn): we make the slow, arduous 2-week trek back to Port Nyanzaru. The canoe down the river easier as we have Vorn to push us when needed, or carry canoes and us across rapids. We weather more storms and animal attacks alone the way...the worst...all those damn mosquitoes! What we wouldn't give for thick skin like the jungle animals.