HSI: The Island

The fruits are large - measuring about the size of a fist. They are bright red on one end and green on the other. Splitting the fruit reveals a soft, yellowish-orange flesh that has a sweet smell - something akin to melon with hints of pineapple.
The boat remains lodged in the sand. You can see sailors jumping into the water with long poles and diving underneath. It appears they are doing what they can to release the ship from it's resting place.
Bright, colorful birds take flight and move from tree to tree. One with long, heavy beak of blue, red and green. Another has a bright red feathers at it's head and neck and blue and green feathers on it's body. It's long tail feathers spread out showcasing bright yellow feathers from underneath.Gwyndion, you move the stick in close to the lobes of one of the plants. You tap it's head and it moves slowly upwards towards the stick, as if in slow motion. As you pull the staff back, it rubs against one of the spiky hairs edging the lobes. The vine pulls back as quick as a viper and lashes out, grasping the end of the staff as if biting it.

Halor hesitates with the fruit. He digs into the soft flesh with a couple fingers, spooning it out and tosses it out onto the ground a good dozen feet away from any of them, intending to see if the birds or another animal will eat at it.

"That's a smart move Halor. I can't say the same for Gwydion. I warned you about that thing!"

Men! Sometimes so stubborn!

Mauve was glad to be vindicated on the one hand but on the other, she didn't want anyone to become sick or injured.

"Gwydion, you fell for your own joke!" Fafnir roars as he approaches. Although he's laughing his ass off, he's also moving closer to help if needed.

GONNAR

---

You scan the long grass and see movement. Something is winding it's way through the long grass and brush. The movement continues until it enters a less dense section of grass an you see a long, black snake-like insect with dozens of legs. The massive bug is at least four feet long and as wide as your wrist. It rears up raising it's fat, bulbous head and snaps it's vicious looking mandibles as if tasting at the air. It quickly drops back down and skitters away, back towards the tall grass.

HALOR

---

You toss a chunk of the soft fruit onto the nearby sand and watch the skies. The birds caw and screech, but none drop to taste the mango. Out of the corner of your eye, you see some movement. Something rushes from the grass. When you look down, a large rat - at least 3 feet long - has run out of the bush and grabbed the fruit from the sand. It turns to rush back to the safety of the tall grass.

GWYNDION

---

You yank at the wooden staff and manage to pull it free from the plant. It is surprising how tight the lobes were able to grasp the stick. With the staff free, you notice that the section that was in the mouth of the plant is covered in some type of transparent ooze. It is thick and viscous, like honey.

"That's...one of the biggest rats I've ever seen," Halor says to himself.

Then louder:"Hah! Gonnar, Fafnir...everyone! I just saw the biggest rat! Had to be at least three feet long. I'd say, enough of those around here, we'd be the food."

Gonnar is hefting his two-handed hammer when Halor calls out.

"Aye," the grizzled warrior says, "the isle seems to have its denizens. O'er here -- some wyrm or insect in the grass. Black, longer than my arm and many legged. Like nothin' I've seen before. Looked as like to bite as skitter."

"The rat seemed to be hiding in the grass. I am thinking we avoid walking through that, and rather go around. I'm not sure sleeping on the ground out here is a wise decision either. The rat seemed to like the fruit well enough though, so, here goes nothing - if I die of stomach rot, find my mother and tell her I died swinging my hammer at something." He digs out a small handful of the fruit and takes it to his nose, smells at it, then eats a small bit to see how it goes down.

Fafnir sees that the Magi has the situation under control. He turns back to Halor.

"Giant rats you say, Halor? Well, I would have preferred goat, but I won't say no roast rat. Gonnar, you still got that bow?"

"Aye," the tribesman says with a nod towards Fafnir, then a glance down at the weapon he wears cross-wise across his muscular body. "No arrows, though. All out."

"Food is food, Fafnir, right? How bad can it taste? But we're being a little hasty. Surely our stomachs can hold out a little longer and find something more delicious that isn't likely to kill us?"

But the words no sooner leave her mouth when she sees Halor being the brave tester and wishes him luck. "You're getting ahead of yourself Halor but tell us where your mother lives."

Chuckling she offers her opinion to Gonnar. "Why not make some arrows? There are trees here. Someone might have a knife to whittle with."

Gonnar shrugs. "I'm no fletcher and we've no metal for the arrowheads... but good idea. This place looks plentiful."

"You don't need metal. Maybe we can find some sharp stones. In any case, a ranged weapon could prove very useful both for protection and hunting."

The massive centipede continues into the brush and is soon gone. The large rat disappears into the grass, but it's movement is traced by the rustling grass. It moves quickly and will soon be lost into the trees and heavier bush
.Halor brings the fruit to his nose. The smell is fresh and appealing. He digs out a chunk of the soft meat and juice dribble down his fingers. The taste is creamy, yet sweet. This is the mango you have tasted before.

"Oh damn here's our chance! Gonnar, you think you could take it in the eye from this range? I got these on discount from a blind fletcher in the last port city."

Fafnir plants (1d8) arrows in the black sand for Gonnar to fire while he gets his shield and sword ready.

Gywdion examines the end of his staff and the thick goo that now covers it. He carefully gives it a sniff but decides that is a mystery for another day when the others start talking about rats and giant bugs. What he wouldn't give for a proper specimen collection kit. Gwydion watches as the fighters look ready to go rat hunting.

"Nice knowing ya Halor," Mauve chuckles. "What's your mother's address then? Quickly before the end!"

Turning to Gonnar she makes a suggestion. A bow is nice to have but not without ammo.

"You could probably make some arrows from tree branches and find some small stones. Maybe they won't penetrate but they will pack a wallop. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to find some sharp stones or even shells for your arrow tips. I'll even give you some of my hair for fletching". She might be serious.

Addressing the group she adds, "I don't think we need to rush into eating rats. There is bound to be other food on the island including that vast ocean out there. Ever hear of fish?"

"Hmrph," Halor grunts, his mouth full of the fruit, "Thastes like mango, not dead yet."

He takes the other mango he picked earlier and tosses it to Mauve. "Try it. It won't be a permenant solution, but the fruit should have enough moisture to keep us from craving the sea. But no, rats need not be our first dining option. Fishing is a good idea."