Burning Nile Scene 02 - In the Crocodile's Jaws

Looking at the beast so close, Adom can see the smears of blood staining the crocodile's jaws. The beast is huge, easily 18 feet long, much bigger than those that normally hang around the river around people.

Oct 18, 2016 11:12 pm

Hearing Sabra's exclamation, Ipwet freezes and slowly turns to see the giant crocodile hissing at the elf. Feeling her rising fear begin to pump adrenaline throughout her body as Adom tries to keep Sabra calm, she attempts to resist the very clear FLIGHT signal her brain is screaming at her. With very wide eyes and visible trembling, Ipwet searches the nearby area making as little movement as possible.

By the Empress's left tit, that thing is MASSIVE! There must be *SOMETHING* I can use to my advantage here if this thing comes at me. A spot of high ground, a large stick to keep this creature at bay, anything!...

Oct 19, 2016 12:11 pm

Tefri backs away with the others. He whispers, Wouldn't priests of Sobek know better than most how to handle crocodiles?

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Oct 19, 2016 9:37 pm

OOC:

Tefri is asking about placement of the current encounter and i figured I'd explain my mental picture for everyone:

The temple is a large building that is open on the side facing the river. It had a large platform sticking out of the open wall where the floods waters get into the temple. Where the platform ends, the river bank begins with all the nature you would expect. The priests would normally clean all that up, but there haven't been any, really, since the temple was dedicated. Our elf friend was out part that platform, in the reeds by the bank of the river. This large croc was laying in those reeds.

Oct 19, 2016 9:40 pm

OOC:

Ipwet: You can make a Perception roll to find something. Ob 2. Success will find you a wooden pole left over from construction. Failure means you draw the attention of the crocodile as your head jerks from side to side. Sounds good?

Oct 20, 2016 12:58 am

OOC:

In that case...

Tefri runs back to the remains and gathers up some chunks to try to lure away the crocodile.

Last edited October 20, 2016 12:59 am

Oct 20, 2016 5:29 am

Adom eyes snap sharply to Tefri as the man whispers his question. Surely he is right. The brief admiration for his wisdom turns to confusion as he sees the Nubian apparently running away. With disgust, he looks back at the beast, watching it carefully as he and the elf slowly backpedal towards Ipwet and the jutting platform. He had thought the man made of sterner stuff. The long knife always at his side, if it had a will, would be attempting to leap into his hands to brandish at the huge crocodile, but the strength of his faith, and his better judgment, keep it where it is. Sobek must be furious indeed to have sent his avatar to tear his own priests limb from limb. What, then, would he do to a servant of Anubis?

Having felt the touch of Anubis so strongly, so recently, his mind balks at the thought of asking for a second intercession so soon. It would not do to be frivolous in his entreaties of his god. And to do battle with this beast here and now, so unprepared, would invite the contempt of the Lord of the Underworld. Adom has no desire to have the judgment of his own soul meted out so soon, and for so foolhardy a reason.

Quietly, he says to Sabra "We have no chance. Let us be wise."

Last edited October 20, 2016 5:30 am

Oct 21, 2016 1:28 am

OOC:

Sound good? No... But fair? Definitely

Rolls

Perception - Ob 2 - (4d6)

(3253) = 13

Oct 21, 2016 1:44 am

Ipwet sees the enormous reptile hissing at Tefri and in haste begins searching franticly for something she could use to protect herself with... It isn't until a few seconds later she realizes the croc is now hissing directly in HER direction. She freezes once more, paralyzed by fear and barely breathing her words.

"By Tut's Tomb... It's looking right at me. You three better back away and get some distance cuz I'm about to high-tail it outta here myself and you might want a head start.

Last edited October 21, 2016 1:44 am

Oct 21, 2016 6:22 am

Seeing the beast hissing directly at her, with its feet under it in the telltale way that bespeaks a mad dash to come, something snaps within Adom. He doesn't know what. And he doesn't know why. It could be the horror of the blood-drenched snout and the thought of that young acolyte whose death might very well rest on the priest's shoulders. It could be the call of Anubis that had brought them all together in this. Or it could be whatever strange stirring he had felt inside the temple toward this strange woman. In the end it doesn't matter why.

He takes the hand on Sabra's shoulder and shoves him backward as he screams to them both. "RUN!" He places himself directly in the path of the beast, his stomach clenching with fear. The wickedly sharp wavy dagger at his side finally gets its wish and seems to leap into his hand of its own accord. His arm extended toward the beast, he bellows "BEGONE! Have not you fed enough on the flesh of men for one day? Tell your master he will send no more souls to mine to be judged today. BEGONE!" The Nubian may cower, the elf may sneer, and the woman will get clear of the monstrous creature.

OOC:

Intended action: Intimidate the crocodile into leaving us the hell alone... or get Captain Hooked trying. Also, he still probably has no idea that Tefri's actually heroically trying to help.

Last edited October 21, 2016 10:32 pm

Oct 21, 2016 11:40 am

OOC:

Wanted to give folks a chance to act before I brought Tefri back. I'm assuming it would take longer than the actions you have taken

Oct 21, 2016 10:02 pm

OOC:

Nope I think Ipwet is going to be too frozen (by the croc) and too shocked (by Adom's selfless action) to immediately react for the next few seconds.

Oct 22, 2016 5:08 am

OOC:

Ok, go ahead and make an Intimidation test v. Ob 3 (its Will exponent). Success, it'll pause long enough for you all to escape unharmed and then return to the river. If you fail... B4 wound as it grabs your arm and twists. Agreed?

Oct 22, 2016 5:42 am

OOC:

Gonna go Darkwing Duck here and live... dangerously.

Whelp, I'm all out of Fate Artha so them's the breaks. So worth it, though. Earned a Difficult test on Intimidation. :)

Last edited October 22, 2016 5:44 am

Rolls

Intimidation B3 vs Ob 3 - (3d6)

(145) = 10

Oct 22, 2016 7:54 pm

For a second, Adom thinks his gambit is working. The croc shifts its feet back a little and the large tail stops its swishing.

Just when relief starts to set in, the crocodile lunges, grabbing Adom's knife hand in its powerful jaws. They snap closed and the head twitches sending Adom to his knees with the strength of the the beast's throw. Just as quickly as it grabs him, the crocodile releases him and turns to disappear into the tall reeds.

Oct 22, 2016 9:49 pm

The fierce grin that had crosses his face as the beast appeared to be cowed does not even have time to turn to horror before the jaws snap down on his hand. He lets out a cry as he goes sailing into the ground, where his knees hit the earth at the end of the platform. Before he can react, its tail is swishing by his shocked face as it turns to go.

The surprise turns to pain as the dual lines of teeth marks now marring his wrist begin to weep blood. He... shouldn't have a hand. He shouldn't have an arm left. He should be writhing at the bottom of the river with a bloody stump, shoved under a log to be tenderized. Or simply torn apart.

His gaze shifts to the reeds where the creature disappeared. He grits his teeth and scrambles backward, cradling the injured hand against himself, and placing his back against the stone of the platform. Gingerly, he brings the knife to his lips with his left hand, then places it back at his belt before closing his eyes and saying a prayer of thanks to Anubis. His eyes remain closed as he rests against the cool worked stone. At the moment, all he can feel is shock and gratefulness for being alive.

Last edited October 24, 2016 7:03 pm

Oct 22, 2016 10:45 pm

The Nubian slave hears Adom's cry as he runs back to the platform his arms outstretched, hands cupping a nauseating stew of viscera. He arrives just in time to watch the tail disappear in to the reeds. He growls in disgust and frustration and throws the remains into the reeds. He does his best to shake off his hands before running over to Adom.

Forgive me, Master Adom, I wasn't fast enough.

Last edited October 22, 2016 10:46 pm

Oct 22, 2016 10:48 pm

The attack passes in front of Ipwet's eyes and seems to happen in an instant and in slow motion simultaneously. She thought there was a very good chance she would be dead or dying, but instead Adom did... THAT. Once his cries of pain hit her ears her world seems to speed back up to normal. She is shaken out of her stupor and while still not quite sure how to react, she at least has regained control of her faculties.

Ipwet immediately moves to Adom before the creature has a chance to return. She comes up to the edge of the platform, reaches down, and picks the priest up under his shoulders and assists the Nubian, who seemed to appear from nowhere, in dragging him back across the platform and into the temple, all the while keeping her eyes to the reeds for any signs of movement of a returning crocodile.

Her voice carries a healthy does of anger, but that could just be a natural reaction in a situation such as this. "Fool priest! What did you think, you were making some noble sacrifice? Trying to protect the rest of us? It already had me in its sights, you had the perfect chance to escape! Tefri! Where'd you run off to? Your fool of a master's gone and gave the croc another taste of human flesh!"

Oct 22, 2016 11:21 pm

Strange that you have so many insults for others now that fear has released you from its grasp! I was running to get bait to lure the beast away and he sought to intercede on your behalf. What did you do?

Oct 22, 2016 11:48 pm