Chapter 1: Going Ashore

After the recent exertions, Nienna takes a bit of time to study her spellbook, leaning against the ship's primary mast, painstakingly going over the instructions and precise incantations that were so trustworthily given to her. Then, suddenly the sea breeze gusts a little blowing her reddish-brown hair, and the spray of the sea tickles her face as the ship cuts the waves. She closes her eyes for a moment and lifts her head.

Upon opening her eyes, she sees it, a land she has not laid eyes on before. Leaving her relaxed state, leaning against the mast, she proceeds to walk forward on the bow, to get a keener, sharper look. Yep, that's land ahead for sure.

"Hey you scallywags! There is land up ahead," she says to her comrades in a joking manner. I've always wanted to say that. Haha.

She puts away her book in her tidy backpack and gathers herself up. Standing just a little over 5'0'' and with a lithe build as ever, Nienna, the elf, is seemingly grateful to partake in the opportunity for adventure as her anxiety tells all.

Having spent most of his time on the ship in his cabin Mordak was relieved when the island finally became in sight. Although he wasn't seasick he was definitely more at ease on firm ground.

He gathered his belongings and stored them in the many pouches and bags he had on him. He had to leave his traditional robes for this expedition. Preferring clothes more adapted to trek in jungles and mountains. His hood always over his head to avoid sun exposure. His pale skin, contrasting with his raven black hair, never liked too much sun.

The fact that they were not able to get any information on this island was quite intriguing almost as if the island wanted to be forgotten. That was a promising place to look for lost magic. That was an opportunity not to be missed.

Land, already? Irofaen thinks, stretching as she stands. The time to prove herself was almost here, but was she ready for it? She flexes a hand above the tarnished hilt of her sword as it lay in its scabbard. If she wasn't, there was nothing that could be done now.

The scales of her armor clink and ripple as she walks; the shinier ones glint in the sun that bathes the deck. The howling, whipping wind tears at the her tangled, black topknot. And there it is, a mountain of verdant, misty green against a choppy blue sea.

The place probably only lightly inhabited, if inhabited at all, but that would soon change if the gods willed it. Leaning against the side of the ship, Irofaen mutters a quiet prayer out to sea.

"Finally," Rewis grumbles upon hearing Nienna's announcement. His sickness passed after the first few days at sea, yet he still longed for the calming embrace of mother earth.

The dwarven cleric first introduced himself with the name "Rewis the Unbreakable", a nickname supposedly earned during his graduation as a priest of Moradin. Wearing splint mail, silvered mace and reputed dwarven stubbornness, he always goes out of his way to help his fellow adventurers, be it by charging the enemy or mending an ally's wound.

Mordak approaches Nienna.
"Ready to finally discover what this mysterious isle is all about? I for one can't wait to get of that boat." As he sees a sailor face changes after his last sentence he quickly add. "Not for the lack of hospitality of course, but I miss the trees... speaking of which there seems to be plenty here."

He stares at the island glad to finally see what it has to offer

Nienna nods in reply, "I am Mordak. Who knows what this land may offer? Regardless, at least we have each other."

She secures her gear and prepares for the next step of the journey as the ship nears the coastline.

She shouts across the bow, "Irofaen, is your God with us?" I for one, can only hope so.

She felt the wind howl against her and watched the deep green waves roil below her. Irofaen felt alive and knew then that this was a blessed voyage. "Always," she said to Nienna.

On their departure, Irofaen thanks the captain solemnly and blesses him whether he appreciates the gesture or not.

Time had finally arrived to disembark. Mordak take a last moment to verify he had all his notes, vials, pouches on him and proceeds to the small boat with the others.

On the beach Mordak opens his journal where he had drawn a smaller copy of the map found in the pirates lair.
"So where to begin ? Based on our map it will take us at least a week to reach the closest village, which will not leave much margin if we want to come back to the boat to extend our exploration, but it is probably out best lead to find out more about the island...what are your thoughts" he ask the rest of the group.

"A reasonable suggestion Mordak." Nienna nods in agreement.

She also checks her supplies and makes sure she is ready for the looming journey ahead. "At least this will provide us with information regarding the reliability of this map."

She looks to the others to see what their thoughts are.

"Reasonable indeed," Irofaen agrees. "The natives' knowledge of the island may yield greater profits. I have no desire for such wealth myself, but the Captain's patience may be bought for some time if we wish to explore further."

To mentally prepare herself, she imagines how the natives will react to their presence. There can be endless speculation, she concludes, but only one way to find out.

Rewis learned to hate this green hell soon after entering the jungle. Too hot and too noisy to his liking, with a horde of blood sucking insects thrown in as a bonus. He did not say a word, yet his companions could notice him breathing a little heavier, his shoulder slouching a bit more and his frown show up quite a bit more often.

Luckily, the first two days go uneventfully and Rewis contemplates this strange land during his watch. Then, out of nowhere, a rustling in the bushes nearby can be heard. This jungle is full of unknown noises, yet it never hurts to make sure.
The dwarf grabs his silvered mace and silently moves in to stand between his companions and the unknown source. Using his darkvision, he then tries to see what caused the distraction, without the cleric moving away from the group.

The dwarf curses and moves a few steps back, shouting at his comrades.
"Wake up! We have monsters upon us!"

Being an elf, Nienna's senses are sharp.She jumps up, quickly grabs her weapons, and knocks an arrow on her shortbow.

The yelling of the dwarf wakes up Mordak who readily jump on his feet drawing one of the dagger hanging from his belt.

He tries to spot where the ennemi is coming to put the most distance between him and them.

Irofaen opens her eyes and scrambles to her feet. She grabs her longsword even before seeing a clear threat, though she'll have to do without armor.

"Oh fer the fury of the buried gods," the horse voice screamed crashing from the underbrush. "Could ya be quite and stop all that belching?"

Almost missing the boat, barely remembering the pirates, left behind in the departure, and lost for almost a day, the dwarf Ygwaz Igwine lacked something his race always thrived on- blind (darkvision) luck that let them see into mountains and spot gold.

For an odd reason, Ywaz never had that, and for that reason he covered himself in protective plate mail. But now look at him, in the blasted jungle, the sun boiling and distilling the mead and ale from his flesh. Drunkenly he followed the party, hoping it was actually his party and spat something more like rubber than water. He passed out when the party turned in, planting his axe in the ground. Hoping the vibration of any conflict sprang him into action. And somehow, of all the times the buried gods had ignored him he had woken to the belching of something.

What could have made that infernal sound, that sound that brought him back from the brink of a nothing long brewing in his skull since he boarded that damned ship. So sick was he that he barely remembered the voyage, his companions, or even his enemies (would anyone sing songs of glory if there was nothing to remember?).

So this unlucky dwarf, who owed his dwindled fortune more to horse-breeding and agriculture (both disgusting trades among his kind) gripped his battle axe and punched his rune- encrusted armor and ran shouting toward the croaking that woke him up.

"I'll shover yer belchin' down yer throat," he shouted again. "Damn island of skeeters and croakers!"

Seeing the sheer number of these odd frogs Mordak cannot refrain from having a small shiver.
"These are just frogs, a bit bigger and hungrier thats all... Let's see if I can remove some of them from the equation"

Knowing full well that he is the only one clad in armor, Rewis stands tall, his silvered mace at the ready. He moves himself between the frogs and the more magic-focused characters (Mordak for example), bashing the first beast that comes to range.

Irofaen leaps at the nearest frog, swinging her longsword in a high arc onto it.