FLUFF: Jammers: Italapate/Rellyn I

The Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

I hope folks are enjoying these, if there is a consensus that they
suck I will be happy to stop posting them. Let me know what you folks
think. (My players should feel free to comment as well:))

This is a side group, split from the main party. Rellyn is a new PC,
the previous summaries of this thread were 'Italapate I, II, & III'

Website: http://lost.spelljammer.org/Jammers/


----------- = 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:

Stilling the lute strings, Lellyn sighs. "Now it is up to US to
determine where this tale will go and how it will end. It seems to
become more twisted as time passes. From Evil and greedy adventurers,
to necromantic bitches, as you have said. As you have been in this
place longer than I, what course of action do you recommend? Shall we
seek your friends, and render them what aid we are able, or is it
best that we bide here against their return? Though should we choose
the later way I would ask you for the tale of the necromantic
bitches, of course. Those sound like women who would not be the sort
I should like to encounter."

Pate says, "First, we need to find food, and shelter, I'm about
exhausted.  C'mon, I think I can get us out of here and someplace
safe.

"By all means, lead on then. For in truth I too grow weary and my
stomach is reminding me that it has been neglected longer than is its
wont." Lellyn swiftly slings his pack and lute. Pate leading, the 2
men set off through the jungle.

Pate leads Lellyn through the jungle to a small stream approximately
three miles from the village. There Italapate kills a small lizard
which they roast over a small, smokeless fire.  Then they curl up in
a 'cave' formed by the thick roots and branches of a tree for the
night.

Date/Time: 9:00 pm, 8th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC

******************

The next day Italapate and Lellyn observe the village from the
jungle, staying out of sight.  Though the natives seem to be going
about their business as usual, the pair notice that while hunting
parties return from the jungle and war canoes return from the sea,
neither hunting bands nor war canoes depart the village. It looks as
if the natives of Panitubi are gathering their warriors.

Towards evening, Italapate and Lellyn return to the small stream and
tree cave.  On another 'smokeless' fire they start cooking a bird
unlucky enough to be killed by them.

Suddenly, Italapate hears Kain in his mind. {Hello, can you hear me,
its me, Kain, how is it going in the village? We are all on our way
back now, but things are not going completely to plan.}

Italapate's mind 'sounds' startled. {Oh! uh... hello, uh, Kain.  How
is... uh, you know, the, uh, search for the... uh, Blackjammer's
Sword?}

Kain is quick with a response. {We have the cutlass but our guides
betrayed us and stole the Nightwind. We are on our way to steal it
back. Don't trust the villages too far, and there are some strange
fish like men, I think they can control others minds. But what's
happening where you are?}

Nevermind. Cartan is here, just as I suspected, and he may be on the
way toward you.  I wasn't able to stop him like I planned....}

Kain's questions continue; {Do you still have eyes on Cartan? What
are they doing? We will watch out for him.}

Kain and Italapate quickly fill each other in mentally, the process
takes several long minutes, then Kain disconnects, promising to
contact Pate again soon.

After finishing his mindspeak briefing with Kain, Pate turns to
Lellyn.  "It seems my friends have had no end of trouble since I left
them... Figures... they are lost without me.  They have some things
to take care of, then they will contact me again."

Pate rubs his chin vigorously.  "She's up to something," he says
needlessly.  "And my friend's have had their ship stolen... and Billy
killed.  She's likely to use it.  Cursed mutt of a dog!  What for?
An army of undead.  An army of fish guys.  Other than a sea food
tavern catering to necromancers, what could she be up to?  Hmmmm....
sea food for necromancers. Mental note Lellyn:  Find out if
necromancers like sea food."

Smiling slightly at 'Pate's attempt at humor, Lellyn replies deadpan
"Certainly, I shall make a note to that effect. I am however unsure
how forthcoming the necromancers will be with that information."

Pate turns back to Lellyn, his brow furrowed in thought.  "I need to
see more of this undead army.  Let's go."

Pate stands and works his way back into the woods, looking for the
place where the undead are being raised. It is not difficult to find
but it is several miles
deep into the jungle.  In the clearing, next to a wide stream, dozens
of skeletons and the rotting corpses of Panitubi natives are busy
hacking down trees with stone axes. A large pile of logs attests to
their progress so far.  Others are hewing and scraping at the logs.
They have completed at least two dozen of the native's war canoes.

Pate carefully studies the man Sanar has placed in charge. "I'm
trying to memorize what he looks like," he explains, "In case I can
use him later." the man is skinny, and very old with white hair. His
face is covered in tatoos and feathers, claws, bones, and other bits
of totems hanging from his clothing and jewelry.  Two other men,
younger versions of the old witchdoctor, follow him as they observe
the undead at work.

Then Pate slips into silence, and watches carefully the operation.
"Coyote will only be happy if I can bring this down by trickery," he
mutters to himself, but loud enough to be heard.  "I need to know
more about what she's doing if I hope to be able to trick her....."

"I fear we shall learn little more than is already known to us by
skulking in the brush as we do. Also as more gather here we run a
greater risk of discovery each day. If you wish to play the
deceiver's song, we shall need to discover a way to move among these
people. Have you any allies within the villages? If so, perhaps you
could contact them for information and assistance. If none will
assist you then perhaps you could use the "blending in" skill you
told me of and enter the village that way." Lellyn grows quiet for a
moment looking into the distance.

Lellyn continues, "As for me, these people are nothing like those of
my homeland. They would know me an outsider immediately,
unless....... I could stagger into the vicinity of the village and
tell a tale of woe befalling some of Carten's crew, becoming
separated and making my way overland back to the village in hopes of
being picked up when the guide is returned. In any event, I believe
only one of us at a time should try such a ruse. That way should it
fail, there would be at least a small chance of rescue for the one
imperiled."

Before Pate can answer both men suddenly feel small stings on their
necks.  Without thinking they slap at them, for the jungle trek has
included countless biting and stinging insects.  But instead of the
sticking goo of a smashed insect both feel instead a tiny feathered
dart. Both spin, and feel several more such darts strike home.

They rise to their feet, eyes already growing blurry, but vague,
furry forms leap upon them from all sides and after a brief, silent
struggle both collapse into unconsciousness...

Date/Time: 6:30 pm, 9th 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