The lock is VERY impressive. It
vexes me still. I was still pondering it when some little monkeys attacked us.
The witch dropped them easily with a sleep spell and to the derision of all
present I kept one alive. The fact she was a female seemed to create hysteria.
Its good I suppose that they don’t realise I view them as little more than
giant monkeys with about the same urges for theft and needless violence. That
prioritising female life over male (as females can perpetuate and so are a
greater life loss) was seen as unusual surprised me. Especially from the life
oracle and the other oracle who now masquerades as a paladin. I have to wonder
about the ethical fiber of these creatures and will need to make enquirys.
Further when we returned to
camp the life oracle wanted to demean the life of the monkey by shaving it,
something that would likely also traumatise it and end in slow death. Even
without having read on the subject common sense would dictate that creatures
with fur have it for a reason and likely need it – be it for warmth or
protection from the myriad of bugs that plague us still everywhere we go. I disallowed
such to continue. No others seemed concerned at the pending torture and death
of a hapless creature.
I gave my friend and teacher
Ishirou his loot and offered back the map, Ron came and assured he was short
changed and knew not to complain. I feel bad for that and unlike the so called
paladin or the others feel I will need to make amends for our groups breaking
of our contract and subsequent theft of his share.
Ron was under the weather,
karma I suppose, so I busied myself improving the camp yet again while the
others lazed about. One evening a ghost appeared which we quickly surmised came
from one of the ships we looted. I am glad it did not end in a fight but it
made up my mind. If i learn a new talent it will be to imbue some of my latent
magic into my weapons instead of wielding two or extending my archaeologists luck.
Should more ghosts appear we will be harmless to them without magic. The skill
will broaden my already varied arsenal.
The paladin is trying to assert
himself more and more despite the current scheme of things working flawlessly.
This will no doubt end in his death somehow or the parties demise or the loss
of treasure gained through legitimate finds and not mass murder. I really have
to keep them from the cannibals and themselves till rons bombs are better, the
life oracles healing is better and the witch gains better spells.
We showed the picture in the
locket to the ghosts physical remains and discounted the paladins idiot idea of
leaving the locket. For someone with limited knowledge on such topics he tries
to talk with great authority.
Again the paladin wanted to
deviate from the plan. His better ‘plan’ .. Charging straight to the core of
the island along trails. Not only would this give the cannibals a bearing on
where our camp (and our charges were) it would also expose us to any traps and
tricks and set up spotting positions they had. I have to wonder if he really is
one of those anti-paladis I have read about. He seems to try too hard to appear
good, be randomly destructive when he forgets himself, did nothing to fortify
the camp and wants to lead the savages there.
Most disappointing was ron, he
was swayed by the paladins off-putting smile and also wanted to charge into the
centre of the island. Through basically stating I will go it alone if must they
followed the plan we had from the start. The ‘paladins’ chaotic whimsy was
averted again. I know the time will come when I will not be able to hold them
from attacking the cannibals from a bad position I just hope I can hold them
till they are powerful enough to succeed and coming from a direction where they
won’t telegraph/message spell the location of our charges.
At the end of a trail we found a
cannibal snare. It seems my instincts were correct. We found some camps,
trashed by cannibals, and eventually came across a giant crab on a beach.
Warily we watched it for some time after holding back the idiots from poking
it. Once it seemed barely able to move I was ready to poke it but now the others
were afraid. I marked it on my to do list and sadly was going around it with
the others when thankfully Ron lost patience and bombed it.
Within was a eccentric tengu, I
was glad as always wanted to learn the intriguing language, however once I
tested him it turned out he was not half as mad as he pretended or half as
dumb. On that I managed to secure his services for when we attack the
cannibals.
We made it to the ‘stunted isle’
as I have come to call it. It’s an ideal place to ambush the cannibals. There
is NO sign they come this way and I checked THOROUGHLY, its a single file
slippery land bridge that is washed out at high tide. To fight them away from
their comfort zone is a dream come true. As we camped and I dreamt of victory
over cannibals we were yet again attacked while the ‘paladin’ watched us.
Shocker lizards. Having learnt well from my last encounter I did nothing heroic
to protect the witch and just focused on dropping them, the others did the same
and soon we had them dead. After again getting past the idiot paladins
suggestion we don’t check our flank and just charge across the islet we found
another more fungus islet with a similar approach.
I do ponder what tituses game is.
He was not on our ship, he was holding such a hammer as one couldn’t climb nor
swim with. He appeared on the inside of the cove. He does nothing to fortify
camp, he didn’t bury the first bodies we found, he goes against group decisions
and established plans all the time, plans that have been and continue to work. He
is not a source of moral guidance just one of chaos and disruption. He is
against checking flanks, protecting our charges, being cautious and just wants
to go straight to the cannibals down THEIR paths! I have to allow for the
possibility that he is one of the cannibals and is trying to lure us into their
clutches.
Alas my pondering was interrupted
by an overgrown shipwreck. When we investigated we were confronted and defeated
a vege man I found quite indescribably charming. After i explored we left
across the 3 rope bridges only to be attacked. My luck was up this day and I
managed to slay my 2 vege pygmies, one of the ones on titus, dorian and Helga and
then finish of the last one on ron with a star. Pity I lost the star but I have
to say if this keeps up I might ditch these mammals.
I piled up a bonfire on the vessel but it seems
none of these hot brained mammals see the vision in attracting the cannibals across
a closing one person wide slipway to a place they are unfamiliar to engage
them. Alas plans that good are ignored its only a matter of time till we nap
the dirt nap. At least when I turn to dust the great serpent shall region my
soul with the aska and all my peoples.
