13. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

The paladin seemed to crack it. Considering how many of his best intentions and plans have gone wrong I am surprised that he has no understanding or patience that for once my plan failed. Well twice if we count the tide stone. 

He blames me for the leaders act, blames me for durians depraved behaviour, blames me that rons bomb didn’t manage to save jask once the boss made the crazed and pointless decision to kill him for no gain. 

I am now more sure than ever he is witless or willingly a pawn of asmodeus. Iomede would not tolerate such. From his appearance on a demonic isle and everything else it all makes sense now. I will have to keep an eye on him.. thankfully with his move my swarm should be able to take him out slowly but inevitably.

It seems we now have to wait a week for more supplies. Our boss thinks we should get the help of some priest that knows secret ways of getting through the jungle fast so we can catch up to the other ?7 expeditions. I have to agree with ron I pretty much think we can do anything this goon can. That said I disagree as extra healing is ALWAYS welcome especially if the paladin keeps chasing damage.

I talk the baron into the borrow of a boat and crew he trusts and we visit the hermit. The captain is pretty cool, but so obviously like a fake tour guide sort of bloke. We don’t kill the crabs as the nature priest might take it poorly and get his attention. He is black and an utter mess. I really see rons point. Worse he say he has 2 tasks and gets offended when I want to hear them both. It seems he thinks we will take a long time and we will need a rest. Some of the group agree and chastise me for asking for both tasks. They will see, there will probably be a way to lever them of each other and make these profitless chores faster.

We head to the pearl beds first. We are nice, respectful and VERY convincing yet the tribal guys try to cheat us. Even though we gave them 50 gold and put on the best beach party they had ever seen with flowing rum, multiple fluzzies each and all the oysters you can eat. I had even given their leader a trophy hat with some history tribal types traditionally honour (as would seem the case here as the the tribal; chief was the one with the longest history not the best swimmer etc). I am angry but hold back. 

Titus stays sulking in the boat not willing to brave the waves, we worry about that adamantine hammer.. boats and adamantine don’t mix.  Perhaps that’s why it’s a dwarf thing.. not cause they make it but because with their tunnels they’re the only ones that can get it across oceans!  Anyway using the rope of climbing even dorian comes down after me as helga and ron swim about in humanoid fish forms. I manage to find a ring as ron finds a pearl or 2 with helgas help but a kelpie attacks us. We quite depressingly fail to slay it before it escapes. Depraved dorians spells not working!

The tribal idiots hassle us as I failed to bring them the kelpies head but when I retort that they can suck it as now the kelpie is angry and it will cost them they think I’M unfair!!  Mammals, I really don’t get it. Turnabout is fair play in all literature.  It must be some modern coward ethic.

As I predicted we can save time by cutting inland to the storm bird rookery to get a feather. Ron and I sneak up and for a minute search. Ron with merely his eyes from a distance through ‘a confused mess of feathers’ and me using a spell that with each casting searches EVERYTHING in a 10ft square as if searching in FINE detail sight AND touch with no distance penalty. Despite a minute of constant castings ron managed to spot, without really searching, by sight a feather. How I cannot fathom, we are no longer on a cursed isle. 

Perhaps indeed I should have focused on damage if my focus and bonus actions there in never work.

As I approached to get it the birds attacked. The were quite a worry shooting searing light but I maintained 3 more rounds of total searching. Alas it seems their nest was on some sort of wild magic zone so I could not find anything but a broken feather to be mended for myself.

I suppose one day we will find a dead magic zone and no casters spells will work or a dead melee zone where bab and weapon proficiencies will never count sooner or later. Just as skill seems to be sadly ever un-working despite their relative uselessness in the face of extra damage each blow.

Dorian placates me by mending the feather. On our way back some more tribal types accost us and threaten us if we harmed the birds AND if we didn’t AND if we fail to wrestle them. I was ready to slash them down and find their families but again dorian lightened the mood by jumping at the chance to wrestle them and starting to disrobe and ask for oil. Unfortunately the tribals were committed to being douche bags so ron wrestled their champion with a full array of buffs and beat him. So after finding we didn’t harm the birds AND wrestling then giving us beads they said we are lucky and can go.

I told them their luck and can live.

The only bright side is I now know auran is a handy language (i WANT some of those birds), and some tribal types have ALOT of money in the shape of beads on them.

Instead of using the boat to return I have the idea that now we know where the cave is we can drop our rope down and enter direct. It will also save us a slog through the city and a slow trip on a boat. We do this and the old nature priest is amazed we are finished and so fast. Distrusting he takes the pearl and feather inside to test them. He is impressed and invites us in to have a chuff with him.We enter a trance and assume our animal totems.

As a vulture I soar, seeing everything and picking carcasses of all their bits, just as I start rebelling in being a vulture a dream serpent with markings matching the temple under the lighthouse attacks us. Luckily all my abilities, bar spells, are able to be used in vulture form and with 2 more attacks then usual I rip it apart with some help from rons manic crocodlile form and even helgas ape shape. It dies like the god ydersiuss’ end. I feel empowered, if only I can slay all the shadow expressions of the world serpent and return them all to unity it can rise again and I shall be deified.

12. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

Now that we are government people it seems everyone feels a bit more puffed up, walking with authority – or at least ego.

Seems a shame no one bought a decent outfit. Apart from me and my new armour the rest are still wearing the thoroughly stained, fetid smelling clothes they fought, lived, slept in on the island. It really is curious. I heard that between washing hands, clean cloths and not eating where they poop humans basically doubled their lifespan overnight, managed to learn some magic that then added that much again .. so now they have 3x the life they had. I really cannot see it. They don’t buy new cloths, rarely wash.. never clean after leaving the toilet. It seems they are so reliant on magic a mere dead magic area would kill them in short order.

At least people get out of our way. We marched over to the warehouse to check on the supplies the government had amassed for the trip. Some blackfellas were there setting fire. I have to say it was good to be able to stand tall and look them in the eyes. We worked well as a team and shunted water about to stop the fire spreading. Unfortunately the building was toast. We managed to capture them after talking ron and titus down. Titus managed to threaten them, with what really amounted to lies, in prison that they revealed their base.

Next day we went to attack the whaling company their ‘brudders’ were. Their boss was rallying a mob using jask as a prop. I predicted he might get caught up and at the crescendo of the speech kill jask to trigger it, so it was imperative to remove the motivation to kill him (then and there). I had a new toy (a new spell power I had manifested) that I REALLY want to try out. I was going to use it but the paladin went berserk. I really wasn’t convinced a 10ft square swarm of slow spiders would do anything much but make them run. They really are a nuisance more than anything. That said he seemed VERY convinced so instead I was to blocked their view of the leader with a illusory wall, he objected that it would block us from seeing so I made a image of their god rejecting the speech. 

It worked, no longer captured by a spectacle they were easily spooked to run. A great success a riots are known to spread faster than any fire .. and with our luck with fire in my mind I HAD to avoid that.  What I had not predicted was the stupidity of these black mammals. Jask could still be a defence, a tool, a level, a trigger for a riot later. Instead their boss just cut his throat and dropped him. I don’t understand – if he wanted to kill him it would have been better to do it before and now it was better to save him for later especially when you’re up on a fortification behind lines and lines of armed militant activists.

I thought we might be out of our depth but seeing their leader had already resigned his fate and quit I attacked bravely with force I could not have otherwise mustered. Myself and Helga split of to take down the archers using our superior mobility and with some quick moves, spells and luck managed to down them as ron arrived and found titus finishing some others.

Its a pity about Jask, I really have to work out these humans better, I give them too much credit.

11. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

Still floating I smell something, mmmm, all of a sudden I am her again – awake and present. I watch as the others pile the loot into our various bags.

 

It seems no one noticed my episode, thankfully, or they probably wouldn’t let me finish of the coast. It was worth it as slew some cave fisher – such a pox on the serpents that live on this beautiful island. I really am liking this place alot, now its oppressive evil seems either gone or one with me – either way I no longer have any discomfort.

We found some more wrecks, these were empty, the childish apes jeer, thump and fling poo each time. So easily forgetting how previous wrecks found us treasure, understanding and taught us much. Ron had some issues on one boat so I decided to share my one and only super spell: heroism with him. He soon abolished the zombie menace.

We explore the top of the mountain and to my surprise there is nothing there. A rickety rope bridge indicates some nasty creature is probably in the ravine below, either through design or incidental good feeding grounds but none want to check it out. More depressingly there is one, just one last significant place to search – a high point, as broader and as green as the dryads home hill yet the others are impatient and will have none of it. Such a shame but I shall return.

After this we spend close to a week moving our charges, setting up a secure, non-infested camp, repairing the lighthouse and waiting for a ship. It amazes me how quickly it passed as none of the monkeys had issue with it. Yet it was so much longer than exploring the last high point would have been.

We are rescued despite rons attempts to insult and threaten the crew. He is so stupid at times its beyond belief. Dorian sees no need to say goodbye to the dryad, I fear he is no libertine just another asshole that needs to hurt others to temporarily fill the hole in his heart caused by never getting enough loving hugs as a child. He too was probably hugged like a toy and played with lovelessly like a accessory not as a person. And so mammalian problems propagate I suppose!

The arrival in the city is a great relief. Using my many skills I manage to find and then pawn all our assorted loot. I also go on a spending spree, with some help from Helga. Drawing on my vast array of knowledge I had some unique armour custom designed and made. I might just be a genius combining materials to create the first ever Mitheral Studded Darkleaf Leather Armour. With my custom shaped darkwood buckler at last I feel completely protected. Also as my seafaring days taught me – buoyant. Sometimes the witch seems a bit bizarre but she cannot be all bad helping me purchase this protection.

I also bought a Elysian Bronze Kukri, I love its golden colour and the rarity. You never see bronze or elysian bronze really. I know bronze was favoured by serpent folk of old in ages past for it doesn’t rust. It buoys my elder spirit as well as legend has it the elder titans of old crafted it. The paladin whined a bit, something about its bonuses vs magical beasts and monstrous humanoids being unpredictable. I found that rich considering he gets varying bonuses against evil, evil outsiders and dragons. Likely he is just jealous he lacks the creativity to forge ahead and break new ground. Ironic seeing it’s what humans are famous for among the races. It’s the one and only thing that explains their meteoric rise to supremacy. Perhaps poor breeding or jealous practices have cut  their lifeblood, either way it shall make our dominion easier.

The red mantis gave us a very good offer but it seems the paladin has issues. I would have thought their judge, jury, executioner ways would match his. Apparently not. He really is one of those creatures that manage to hold in his head convergent perspective at once despite them not working together.

I still find it ironic he refused ron his wish to have a cannibal woman to train and guide while constantly claiming ‘I am but an instrument of Iomedaes will’ surely he is just the slave of her? She approves of slavery so why not he?? He even says ‘It is not their choice. It is the will of Iomedae.’ So why cannot anothers will be dominant over a random sentient?

Also why use a butchering knife and approach menacingly to grab, grapple and hold them while stabbing them in the back? Surely facing them is better and using a weapon you better at that does fast large damage that obliterates. He really seems to revel in blood, power, pain and almost thief like attacks.

Maybe he really is guided by Asmodeus and just thinks its Iomede. Surely from what I have read of her she would not be so violent, impatient and domineering.

No great loss I managed to go to all the others we rescued and hear other proposals. The group seemed to appear at these meetings despite not thinking of making them and cut down any opportunities till they were backed into a corner with our last contact. So it seems we are working for the government. How ironic. At least they came in handy for a random rabid dog attack. So it’s of to Saventh-Yhi so I can learn the elder secrets and leave the empty shell of that long dead city as a testament to those who failed the world serpent before.

10. Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

I blacked out. I remember nothing. I feel I have been places, held a kukri, felt blood dry and fasten it to my hand.. but where, what I know not.

Is this the true awakening  of the askha, the shared dream of all the serpent folk? Was I controlled to slither with my ancestors as before ...  : (

It worries me, I somehow know it is now I either loose myself or soon ALL the knowledge of a thousand thousand serpents shall be mine and I will know EVERYTHING.

I do not know how this will end but my will is inhuman and my luck is ever strong.

I remember some memories, I am not sure they are mine. But no longer do I question my choice, I KNOW the bardic arts are the only option for rule.

Commitment to what one is is the only way, I am no half class.

Martial professions AND professions dedicated to casting (full casters) are merely the janitors. Its just full casters are too egotistical to admit it blinded ever increasingly by their ability to warp what they are pointed at.

Full casters are the toilet spray that neutralises bacteria, Martials the mop.

In the bardic arts lie the real power - they find the mess, know what the mess is, how each mess fits, lead others to it, network along the way, identify the kit needed, tell others what they need who know nothing of magic, buy the kit others need, sell the kit others don't, motivate their lazy bones,
then kick back and watch their employees!

While others are on their knees in the muck: physical or metaphysical; their huming their fav tune with a smirk and sucking up the profits from the sweat of their asses(aka donkeys) backs!

They tell the stories and write the histories as well. They can keep their cash- others blow on spells or weapons (cleaners’ kit) to work for them. Their famous and others a mere footnote in their histories under w: warrior or wizard its much the same.. workers!!

9.Szraiels ‘Notes aboot Notin’

While examining what we suspected to be the tide stones the vampiric horror attacked, I was surprised as it was daylight. After our unified fight with the mother creature we seemed to work far more cohesively. I hoped it would last. Taking some risks I flanked the beast and between us all through bomb, hex, melee, poison and spell we laid the terror of the island low.

Obviously what came before us has a long head start so I wanted to circle our flank and see the terrain from the vantage point of the peak above. It was not far and likely we would have seen any surprises that the water hid. Unfortunately the others were impatient so I decided to go with it, the ungrateful twerps.

They seemed intent on assuming the meaning of the writings we had found and misreading it as the blood of a serpent instead of one poisoned by a serpent. Any with an education knows to be kissed by a serpent is to be poisoned and the blood of poisonous animals certainly contains no toxin. I gave up when they made fun, ron stomped of and they refused to read and listen. I knew their idiot suggestion before they did, yet they assumed I did not understand and so once again they would not listen and so sooner or later loose!

I smeared my poisoned blood upon the stone and nothing happened, truly this island is backwards, petty and cursed.

Ron returned with a snake and to my amusement the paladin bled enough blood to fill a peasants trough on these heretic symbols of a bygone age and elder, non-mammalian gods. Then ron pressed the snakes lip-less jaw against the blood and despite there being no poison exchange and no kiss it seems these long tainted pillars revealed their secret and activated lowering the tide.

It is sad how real knowledge and the true power has waned, so much so that the misbegotten fumblings of gene filth actually succeed. How it angers me and I long to purge this new breed from my world.

Perhaps it was not the ideal way as we were all deafened. I descended as the others followed, struggling on the slippery rocks, and jumped across a large gap and waited for the others to wade across. A shark attacked and they scampered from the water like children. Taking a lead from their previous impatience I jumped in and dispatched the creature. The others complained of my impatience.. they seem to be as whimsical as women.

Boarding a shattered vessel and exploring a water mephit accosted us. It was stupid and would have easily been outsmarted into assistance but as I was doing such they impatiently insulted it and attacked.. truely they are all insane. Impatience/Patience these are nothing to them they merely respond to whim and whimsy and use those words to rationalise an utter lack of planning or strategy. Predictably for randomised acting out the mephit escaped. We explored further and thankfully I spotted an GIANT urchin and got away before it attacked. It was an absolute horror and seemed unimpeded attacking through a cramped doorway. It was beyond my abilities so I attacked the mephit that had attacked us from behind. The fight was short as dorian kept it stunned as the witch, paladin and ron downed the horrid spiked monstrosity.

I searched some doors and opened them, peaking through there stood 4 skeleton javelineers atop a bridge. I had a plan to provide myself as a target and evade the arrows so then the paladin and ron who had just done such good work in close quarters could take them up close and at leisure.

Unfortunately the paladins earlier success in closed quarters meant the fool felt confident in open surrounds against an enemy with superior position despite his useless movement abilities. I pity dorian having to heal idiot wounds. The paladin soon learnt and got out of the hail of arrows after three volleys. I managed to evade almost all the arrows and even better after they ran out the skeletons jumped down. Their mindless action oriented purpose a problem. Well a problem against opponents with more mind then them..

Ron and the paladin stepped up but there was not much left after dorian and I finished with them. Though dorian still had some work, healing our pet mindless undead!