Jammers: Turn 27, 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:

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 three
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."

Holland asks the Cutlass, "Well what are the properties of the other
items? Like the sailor figurine?"

"Oh, no, lad." the Cutlass answers, "We be making a deal afore I
gives you me lore. ye folk seem to be havin' some notions of me that
be not straight."

Holland frowns, "What sort of deal are you talking about?"

"Matey, let's discuss it once we've left the island of these
fishheads behind. But I can say yer promise not ter melt me down or
destroy me will be a part of it." the Cutlass answers.

Kain reclaims the Black Pearl from the chest filled with jewels, and
stashes it in a pocket.

Freneth finds a ledge hidden well beneath the stairs, the chests fit
there easily, and Ives clambers down into the water to lodge them in
there well.

After the chests are securely stashed away Holland gets into one of
the canoes, "Everyone pile in, we need to get out of here."

Kain hangs back waiting for everyone else to get into the canoes first.

Nilaroo removes his chain mail before entering the canoe.  "I will
sink like a, hoom, rock if I fall in anyway, but every little bit
helps."  The canoe dips dangerously low as the grom settles in, but
does not start shipping water yet.

Raken helps launch a canoe before hopping in and grabing a paddle and
start paddling towards the far shore.  "With the way our luck has
been holding, we
should make the far shore as an army of fishmen, lizards, and
monsters rise against us," he mutters.

Holland picks up an paddle and uses his shoulders to help propel the
canoe to the far shore.

After everyone else has a place Kain quickly climbs into the back of
Allagan's canoe, pushing off from the bank as he does so.

Allagan paddles for all he is worth, trying to stay in synch with the
others, to get them to the other shore as quickly as possible calling
out "Stroke, stroke.." in a rhythmic beat to get everyone in the
canoe to stroke at the same time.

Kain sits right at the stern of the canoe, he tries to use his paddle
to keep the boat going in a straight line, leaving it in the water as
a rudder to steer. He paddles only occasionally, when the canoe seems
to be veering too far off course, trying to bring it back on line.
He is constantly looking around, checking across to the other boat,
looking back to the temple, watching the water for unusual ripples,
and checking forwards towards a prominent tree on the far bank,
towards which the canoe is heading.

A massive winged shape suddenly appears as the group is paddling up
to the far shore.  It is a massive dragon, easily as long as a
good-sized spelljammer. His massive wings beat the air, and he has a
large beast of some sort clenched tightly in his claws.  His scales
are black but edged in silver, they look like moonlight reflecting on
a rippling pool.  He doesn't seem to see the canoes, but instead
lands with his prey on the island.

Holland's eyes go wide as he sees the dragon fly overhead, he
redoubles his efforts with his oar.

Ferric smiles, "Don't worry overmuch Holland.  That one isn't a
threat to us though he may sniff out our cache."

"Is that a dragon?" Sekeht whispers, keeping his eyes on the creature
as he paddles.

Holland replies, "Dragons are never good news, I'd rather not have to
fight it right now."

Raken squints his eyes at the great beast.  "So that's a dragon...
impressive.  This is the first time I have ever seen such a creature,
though I have read about them.  Are not the ones forged of metal
friendly to mortal creatures?  I thought I caught a glimmer of silver
when he flew past."

Holland replies, "I've heard that too, but this one is black with a
tinge of silver, maybe from old age.  I've heard blacks are amongst
the most evil and ornery.  I'd as soon not make its acquaintance."

Kain looks up and is heard to mutter, "Wow, so big, and still so
light on the wing." He continues to look back every so often.

The land along the lake looks ancient, but uninhabited. There no
obvious trails or landing but the vegetation, while tropical, is
sparse enough that landing is not a problem.  The jungle is simply
not particularly thick here.

Nilaroo clambers ashore immediately, tossing his mail to the side
while he watches over the off-loading.  An arrow is nocked to his bow
as he guards.

Holland gets out and helps pull the canoe to shore.  Holland says softly,
"Let's pull the canoes under cover from overhead eyes.  It might be
interesting to see if a jammer shows up while the dragon is there."

Ives rumbles in agreement, "yes, lets get these canoes out of sight
quickly.  If we can't find a way down, lets at least find a spot
where we can make a stand."

Allagan helps with hiding the canoes, then he gets under cover
himself and stands lookout, his spear in his hands.

"This one is of little use in moving the canoes," supplies Freneth,
"Perhaps it would be wise for me to scout around a little, nearby."

<If no one has any objections:>

Freneth sets his javelins to his shoulder, and after a quick look
about the area they landed in, moves in the direction of the edge of
the volcano.

Kain gathers some fallen leaves and piles them over the canoes, "If
we ... um ... find an easy climb out of this ... um ... crater maybe
we should try and take the canoes with us. It might be ... um ...
easier to travel on a ... um ... river than ... um ... hack through
the jungle."

Holland helps pull the canoes into the vegetation and under cover.
Holland says, "Talus?"

Talus' voice is heard from above them, "Yes?"

Holland asks, "Please scout around the southern wall and see if you
can find any trails or areas that we can easily transverse to get
over the volcano lip."

Talus replies, "I am on it."

Holland says, "Let's all get under cover and wait for our scouts to come back."

Leera nods her agreement.  "We should spread out, too. That way we'll
be less easily spotted and not as easy to attach by spell. Once the
scouts return we can get farther away." So saying, Leera moves off a
few dozen paces and finds a hiding place amid a cluster of taller
plants.

Nilaroo leaves his armor and weapons with Ives and leaps into the
air, brachiating through the jungle trees.

Kain hides behind a tree close to Allagan who seems to be carrying a
lot of equipment and is struggling to manage it all. Kain rummages in
his backpack and after a little while produces a small sack. He
offers it to Allagan and whispers "Um ... Maybe you could use this
and some... um...  rope to make a small knapsack. It might be easier
to... um...  carry everything."

Allagan nods his head and stuffs the items into the sack and then
adeptly wraps a length of rope around the sack top to close it off
and an extra loop of rope.  Allagan throws the loops over his
shoulder and positions the sack so it is resting on his back.

The scouts return after a short while and lead the band to the cliff
walls.  The cliffs surrounding the central volcanic lake form a high,
imposing wall of upthrust rock.  Shrouded in low clouds, the tops
appear jagged.  There are no obvious trails or passes, but it appears
the wall can be scaled in  many places, with obvious footholds and
handholds.  It will clearly take many hours to scale the cliffs, nor
does it seem possible to carry the canoes up them.  The figurehead
will be possible, but difficult.

The long day of fighting, hiking, and canoeing is taking its toll.
Everyone, especially the wounded, feel sore and fatigued.

Date/Time: 5:15 pm, 7th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

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