Jammers: Turn 26, Chapter 7 Summary

The Ongoing adventures of my Spelljammer PBEM game.

Here's the Jammers web address:

http://jammers.s5.com/

Comments, questions always welcome:)

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...
{} = Actions and descriptions within these brackets take place within
the psionic mindscape and are OOC knowledge for all accept the
parties directly involved.

IC:

Holland nods his head and pulls out the star charts while the others
are closing off the fish creatures' access to the ground-level
temple. Holland looks over the charts and sees there are none of this
particular sphere and says, "It seems like we should get off this
island first.. Load up in the two canoes and head to the valley.
 From there we can scout around a bit until we find the best place to
scale the inner mouth of the volcano."

Holland adds, "It would also give us some concealment against any
other jammer that enters this volcano.  They are bound to head
straight for here, the temple, if we are in the woods off in the
valley, that would give us a tactical advantage."

Holland looks around the group, "What say you all?  Paddle to the
valley and then figure out things from there?"

"Seems to be our only choice." Ferric says.  "Remember the account of
the lake monsters from the log though.  If anyone has magic to speed
our canoes speak up, if not we need to be prepared for attacks from
the water.  The sooner we leave the better probably.  Maybe we can
get across before those things get reinforcements wholly organized."

Holland agrees, "We have less than 30 minutes before the
reinforcements arrive.  If we hurry, we can be in the valley by then."

Holland asks Kain, "Kain, didn't you get a medallion that gave you
mind-reading powers?  Why don't you scan the natives while we ask
them a few questions.  Maybe one of them does speak common and you
will be able to single that person out.."

Kain appears lost in a daydream, or maybe he is just considering the
idea, after a few seconds have passed he replies, "Um... perhaps I
could do that, but it would not be... um... instant to check them
all. I can only... um... cope with one person's... um... thoughts at
a time, unless I was... um... lucky enough to get one who...
um...spoke common first off..." Kain's voice trails off into a mumble
as he returns to thought, and to the task of preparing the canoes.

Freneth looks over the two canoes, and pipes in, "These two ships
will not carry all, as well as the boxes that Ives and Nilaroo
carried, will they? We will be forced to make more than one trip
across."

Allagan says with some doubt in his voice, "We might be able to carry
it all at once." Allagan looks through the secret door and sees the
captives are still tied up.

Holland replies, "We won't know until we try.  Let's get moving.."

Allagan shrugs his shoulders.

Talus says, "I will go keep a lookout."  With that Talus turns
invisible and flies up in the air to keep watch over the party as
they load the canoes.

Holland helps as he can to transport the canoe back to the mouth of
the temple and put it back in the water next to its twins.

The rest of the group carries the treasure chest as well, so that
soon the whole party is now at the stairs.

Allagan holds his spear with one hand and helps carry the canoe with the other.

It is clear that the coin laden chests will add far too much wait to
the canoes to allow one trip to transport the party.

Dhebun strokes his beard as he surveys the situation.  "I fear you
are likely right, Freneth. And that will take a good deal of extra
time, which is something we do not have in abundance. Perhaps there
is somewhere we might hide it, to claim later?"

As Kain passes he comments "I.. um.. Think that might have been
Blackjammers plan, but he never returned, do you think.. um.. we
would fare better."

Resolutely the dwarf nods to Kain.  "I do think we would fare better
than BlackJammer, for I mean not to leave this planet without our
treasure.  We could perhaps, hide it closer to the entrance I was
thinking.   And, if that cannot be done, then I volunteer to take the
rearguard while our possessions are transported.  One way or another
we are all getting out of here, treasure included!"

"If we do not fare better, Master Kain, then one would have no use
for treasures," supplies Freneth.  "There are many places to hide the
treasure here.  One would suggest we move to a location perhaps upon
the farther side of the island, and leave the coins and other heavy
items.  It is difficult to travel while carrying heavy loads, and
there is no need of metal coins until we are able to rise from this
place.  Carry the treasure while walking in the shallow water, and
tracks shall be erased, and those that follow will have no reason to
search in any place other than where this company did. This ones only
worry is the large pearl left by the 'fish.'  Perhaps that should be
returned to the waters.  The fish may have some way of finding the
treasure that they added."

"Actually lets ask the Cutlass if Blackjammer stored a ship on the
isle. Its an easy way out what!" Ives says.

"Did not Allagan question the Cutlass?  It answered no," replied
Freneth, as Ives started over to the chest.

Holland stops Ives, "Allagan already asked and the Cutlass said no, I
would rather not have to deal with the Cutlass right now, so please
leave the chest closed."

Holland looks out at the distant shore and shakes his head, "It will
take too long to make two trips for now.  Everyone pocket some gems,
as insurance if we can't recover the rest."  Holland follows his own
suggestions by opening one of the chests and filling his sashling
with different types of gems, "Stash the chests as best as you can in
the ruins, we'll keep the magic items on us for now.  After we
recover our ship, we will come back and pick the rest of the loot up."

Kain quickly grabs a couple of handfuls gems,  but then moves to the
chest of coins, selecting some of the large gold pieces, and dropping
them into his purse.

Raken quickly pockets a few gemstones and then helps stash the chests.

Allagan fills his two belt pouches with gems and then helps hide the
two chests.

"The treasure should be moved away from the entrance to the temple," says
Freneth.  "This one will look for somewhere to put them while others get the
canoes ready."

Freneth moves off to the edge of the 'dock' and starts jabbing with
his javelin to see how deep the water is.  After a moment, he says,
"Perhaps the items could be hidden under the walks here."  He
indicates the walks jutting out away from the entrance.  "We had not
thought to look there, perhaps our opponents would not think to look
there either.

Holland frowns, "We had better bring the Cutlass with us.  It is too
dangerous to be left out by itself."

Leera nods and takes the Cutlass, saying "You're right. I'll take the
Cutlass; if anything bad happens...." she grins,  "it shouldn't be
hard to disarm me."
She also grabs a few handfuls of gems.

A leer in its voice, the Cutlass says, "Ah, lassie, ye're a fine
sight better looking then me last bearer. If only I had manly
faculties. Ye'd be hard put to repel boarders, ye would!"

Once the Cutlass is out and as the others are looking for a place to
stow the treasure Holland asks the Cutlass, "We only have two canoes
and will have to hide most of the treasure here and come back for it
later..  That is, unless you know of one of these magic items that
have some properties that could help us get out of here together with
the treasure all at once."

"Nay, Cap'n." the Cutlass answers, "He had a door knocker that would
open onto a different 'old when ye knocked the right rhythm. But that
was a damn sight too useful fer the old space dawg to leave it 'ere.
Ye musta noticed the prevalence of faerie items.  Those be hard to
fence, and deuced dangerous to wield if ye ain't an elf. This was a
horde for later, when old and grey, or as a grub-stake should he lose
everything."

Date/Time: 3:55 pm, 7th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...And nobody is to be killed at all, if it can be helped. Keep your
tempers and hold your hands until the last possible moment!"
"But if there are many of these ruffians," said Merry, "it will
certainly mean fighting. You won't rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just
by being shocked and sad, my dear Frodo."

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com