Aylar is greatly delighted by Refyx's gift and wastes no time examining the runes and trying out the knife. Quickly it works its magic, fashioning out a wooden bead. The nightly excursion leaves him thoughtful, but ultimately in high spirits. He missed being a part of a finely tuned, battle-bonded team, and Polly's request tugs at his natural fey curiosity.

If she ends up picking up a chessboard, Aylar will gladly keep her company.

If Aylar wishes the strategy intelligence bonus also, then he would have to give up 1 item he chose back into the chest = Heal Potion, Cure Poison potion, or the Sword-Fighting Techniques book. Otherwise he will just keep Bellandra company with the game but no bonus (this time).

Mulling over Refyx's revelations in his cabin, Grog'tial's multi-track mind returns to an earlier puzzle and he takes up the handmirror. After checking once again what his purple vials and the door lock look like in the handmirror, he goes outside, and starts looking in his mirror at the door locks of all other cabins, carefully noting down who they belong to (if and when they also glow).
Next, he returns to the Great Cabin, and checks the remaining loot in his handmirror, with particular attention to the poisoned dagger. If he encounters Count Karnstein, Kyp or Mighty, he also takes a peek at their weapons in the handmirror (asking them politely to show it to him if need be).

Grog'tial goes about looking in the mirror at the other door locks in the Warrant Officer's Quarters and sees the same golden glow on each occupied cabln, (roll dice) except Larissa's. Larissa's is shielded by the Ship's spectral bluish energies. As he turns Grog'tial notices the once Ship's Cook watching him, arms crossed as the spectral Felinoid leans against his own cabin door. Moving along, Grog'tial goes to the Great Cabin to check the loot, and finds the chest gone.

When approached by Grog'tial, Count Karnstein somewhat reluctantly shows him his saber, feigning suspicion and impatience but in fact being quite flattered by a commoner taking an interest in his famed blade. (roll dice) Looking into the mirror, Grog'tial sees the blade with an icy glow coated in frost with a black edge. Suddenly curious, Grog'tial uses the mirror to look at his shell. It is a shell, with no indication whatsoever of being anything different. Grog'tial makes a mental note to ask Polly about it, wondering if the mirror can make mistakes.

The next morning one of the spectral patch pirates brings some rolled papers to Polly's cabin. Soon after Polly calls the Crew to the Great Cabin. On the table is laid out a drawing. "This is what we have," Polly told them. "Keep in mind these are sketches their artist did for us. It took some effort even getting this scouted out. As I understand it the approach to the village is from the top. The dark areas are the swamp waters. Note there are also ponds all around the village, and one close to the sorceress' hut. Because of the Grotto, there is only one real entry and exit unless you wade or swim through the swamp it seems. The cannibals do not go into it so we do not know how deep it may be, or what beyond poisonous snakes it might hold."

(roll dice) Suddenly Dakka rumbled on Durik's back, then threw up spiders all over the Great Cabin. Luckily most were dead, but there were at least eight dinner plate sized spiders still alive and scuttling over the table and walls!

A loud squeal escapes Grog'tial as he suddenly finds himself surrounded by spiders. He knows it's not one of his recent nightmares, as the spiders in those are much larger, but all the same, the sight is giving him the shivers all over. He barely has the presence of mind to plant his boot on the nearest spider, wildly stabs at one next to the door with his dirk, and then runs out (good thing his paranoia always makes him position himself in such a way that he can escape from any room swiftly), leaving the other spiders for the rest of the crew to deal with.
If any spiders have managed to crawl onto him in the few seconds it takes him to exit the room, he absolutely freaks out, swatting at them and rolling over the deck trying to crush them.

.oO( Why didn't that half-orc deal with those spiders?! Not even a half-orc can be that stupid as to simply... forget about them, can they? It must've been all a ploy to make me look silly in front of the crew! )

Of course the drowen crawlers be tasting foul enough to give the poor thing indigestion, Aylar chuckles internally, as he attacks any still living ones. Once the threat is over, he'll give his cutlass a quick wipe with a piece of cloth he keeps in his longcoat pocket for just such occasions, and continue to study the map.

"A fair bit of vegetation, that's really good, but looks like there be no good spot to set an ambush. At least it all being out in the open gives us a higher chance to spot our mark unless she be holed in her home," he taps the hut in question. "Here's to hoping there be a window in their dwellings or any other way to peek inside so that even if she be there, we be able to teleport in and get to work. It also be pretty packed in there so it nae take them long to swarm and surround. Maybe if the cleanup crew cuts down their chieftan as a show of force, that intimidate them some?" He smirks at that.

Pugwash requests a Long Rapier, so that he has some form of self defence. This is something that has been on Pugwash's mind in the last few missions, as he had limited capability to defend himself when an enemy approached. Pugwash also requests an ordinary bandage.

This gives Pugwash two bandages. Pugwash doesn't intend to hoard them for himself, but will use them on crewmates should they suffer a bleeding wound. Given the pervasive poison in the combat area, should a cut not immediately bring infection - it will likely do so on the subsequent turn.

Pugwash is also willing to play chess with Bellandra as his final item choice. After the last mission he badly needs the intelligence boost.

If granted the rapier, Pugwash would use the dinner-plate sized spiders in the great cabin as weapon practice. Given people are already in the great cabin, there is no point in wasting stun bolts.

Pugwash agrees with the plan and will use his special stunning bolts to neutralise as many opponents as possible during the opening round. Noting that two other crewmates have purchased stun bolts, Pugwash agrees with the idea of coordinating so we don't all stun the same thing.

Pugwash believes a hand crossbow does not have the range or long-range accuracy of a standard crossbow, so suggests Bellandra stuns the closest targets and leaves the further enemies to Pugwash to incapacitate.

Count steps away from the table when Dakka starts acting weird. After seeing what's going on, he'll cut or pierce any spider(s) close to him.

During examination of a village map, he notices out loud that Kyp will not very likely able to see any water near sorceress' hut from the entrance area due to terrain, trees, huts and walkways layout. If the proposed maneuver involving Aylar putting teleportation point somewhere there could work, it would probably has to be on the roof of sorceress' hut. Maybe enemies won't notice it immediately due to commotion caused by simultaneous frontal attack.

If approached by Grog'tial, he will reluctantly show him his saber, feigning suspicion and impatience but in fact being quite flattered by commoner taking interest in his famed blade.

Monkey scarred by spiders ran away to the corner of chamber.

Mighty

"Bugs! Bugs everywhere! Mighty will SMASH the bugs!" He picks up his Mighty Cudgel™ and attacks nearest living spider with furry.

Mighty hates bugs, as they do not have skulls he has nothing to crack when he fights them, so he feels cheated by mother nature.

When Spiders are dealt with one way or another:

Mighty handles Polly the book he found in the tower during first mission.
"Mighty thinks is book can be handy, me and monkey had lots of laugh. It has a pictures of theree-headed monkeys just like mine."

==================
Mighty will order:
1 Potion of Resurrection
Weapon Oils (Fire)
Will also borrow:
Book of Plots, Intrigue, and Politics (to balance racial -1 to Intelligence and increase related resistances, unless someone thinks she or he will have better use for it)

Grog'tial returns to the Great Cabin only once all the spiders have been dealt with. Glowering, and looking around carefully for any sign of snickering, he returns to studying the map.

"The village be more spread out than I'd expected. It'll be hard to coordinate firing our stun bolts, and uncertain where the masses of enemy forces will be concentrated, so we'll have to think on our feet when seeing the actual situation. Aylar, I think ye should teleport straight to the altar, not the hut, so we don't end up trapped inside, but have room to move and act. (On top of the hut, as the good Count suggests, might also work - would give the crossbows an advantage, but might cost us with getting down - and we don't know for certain that it'll hold the weight of the four of us, so this'd be my second choice.) And then Kyp teleports us to you." Grog'tial turns to Kyp, "...assuming ye be in on this plan, as ye haven't said so yet?"
"Then, indeed maybe Bellandra as the fourth? That gives us Aylar and Kyp for dealing with anyone on the altar platform when we arrive, and two stun bolts for dealing with the closest groups of enemies beyond that who might head to the altar platform - presumably from the northwest or southeast, and if necessary another two the round after, as that platform has entirely too many entrances for my liking! Pugwash can maybe take aim at the Chief's platform - taking him out might indeed give us an advantage due to the demoralizing effect! - and Argy at whichever group of enemies is closest to the entrance? Once Pugwash and Argy have done so, everyone else rushes forward to cut down the mass of forces, both stunned and unstunned, with priority on keeping a straight path open to the altar. The forward team takes out the sorceress with help of shell or sextant, grab the idol - but let me look at the altar in my mirror first for any traps! Or Origi, if she's come forward that much - and then we retreat as one, dispatching further enemies as we can."

Grog'tial is obviously in his element here, gesturing broadly at the map as he directs the crew and the imagined enemy forces around - quite oblivious to the fact that half the crew is not paying attention to him and his plan at all. "Obviously no plan survives contact with the enemy, but I do be thinkin' the concept here be solid. Any disagreements or proposed alterations?" Grog'tial looks wry, "Or any ideas for getting the enemy to bunch up nicely for us?"

Returning his attention the the map once more, Grog'tial looks momentarily thoughtful. "Admir'l, have ye any idea what this red hut here to the east of the altar might be?"

The spiders dealt with ... although they'd have to repair the decking where Mighty had smashed one ... the spectral Brethren of Rummyfangs' patches cleared spidery parts away as the planning resumed. The decking and walls and parts of the table would have to be scrubbed down later.

"From the placing of food and preparation tables, I be thinking that is their form of a kitchen or meal area," Polly replies. "The cannibals be not entirely clear, it be difficult for them to sneak in and observe closely, but the sorceress usually be either in the big hut, or at the altar. The chief goes to her, not the other way around." She considers the map. "Perhaps if we be knowing when they be eating ye could be timing it for when they be most in the meal area for a better shot for ye. In the meantime, here be the face coverings." A patch Brethren brings in a basket with the masks inside, two tailored for half-orcs, two for halflings, and several considering beards. "I double layered them, the thicker material outside and a finer material inside."

The basket also had Argy's newly washed and altered Thief's Glove, now perfectly fitted to her hand. "Don't use it with the spiderclimb oil," Polly told her, "or it be interfering with the material and nullifying the boost to the pickpocket and lockpicking skills. Refyx be delivering the last of yer orders early this afternoon."

Durik was sad that he didn't manage to grab a Cure Poison Potion, after his previous experience with the spiders.
So he took 1 Heal Potion and 1 Heal Wounds bandage, instead.

He agreed with Aylar's idea to cover his mouth for protection against the spores.

And when his cannon suddenly vomited spiders on the deck:
"Dakka! Wat ye doin'!? Ate too much spidy? Oh, some alive. Sory Grog!"
So he went to kill the confused survivors, careful not to get bitten again.

Afterwards, Polly explained to Durik that the cannon couldn't actually eat, and that it could only store creatures for a limited time..

[Spectral Rummyfangs / Eternally aboard Polly's Ship]

A pirate's lifetime worth of memories embraced Cap'n Rummyfangs upon his death, but one memory would make him chuckle a hearty pirate chuckle for all eternity: that final squishy rumball spat right in the astonished face of the necromancer who killed him! It was almost worth all the pain and suffering.

It was funny how things came to a full circle with Cap'n Rummyfangs. In the very beginning, when first invited to join the Brethren, he had awoken aboard Polly's ship with no recollection of actually having boarded it at all. And here he was, dead and spectacularly spectral, once again aboard Polly's ship with no memory of how he got there! One moment he was being lifted into the air by the necromancer and the next moment, he was stood aboard the ship observing his crewmates preparing for their next mission.

It was not immediately obvious to him that noone could actaully hear his hearty chuckles (but perhaps, Polly could?). Nor was it immediately obvious to him that he was no longer Cap'n Rummyfangs, but rather Spectral Rummyfangs. He was now a silent, phantom pirate aboard Polly's ship. Ethereal and, umm, awkwardly naked. Thank the seven seas for his felinoid furriness!

As Spectral Rummyfangs discretely observed his crewmates planning and mucking about, he realized that he could feel their energies and thoughts and feelings... And he became suddenly aware of Aylar's fierce intent on avenging his death and Gillius's attempt to use the Scroll of Revivify to bring him back to the living. He also felt the sadness and sense of loss that all of his crewmates had buried deep within themselves. All this touched his phantom heart. He wanted to let everyone onboard Polly's ship to know that he remained faithfully by their side and will watch over them.

Spectral Rummyfangs put his felinoid agility to good use. In his ghostly silence, he would pounce from crewmate to crewmate, and hack up a spectral rumball and lovingly toss it at them. Unlike when he actually had a physical body and a physical tummy full of physical fur and rum, his spectral rumballs were nothing more than soundless ethereal spheres of light and love. Upon contact, they would tickle one's soul for a brief moment, leaving one with a sense of momentary giddyness. Like rum, but without the rum.

So, Spectral Rummyfangs hacked these phantom pirate kisses for each of his beloved crewmates; for Argy, Aylar and Bellandra; for Captain Baldbeard, Count Karnstein and Durik; for Gillius, Grog'tial, Kyp and Mighty; for Pugwash, Queen Origi and dared to toss a spectral rumball at Polly too!

Mission 3, Grung Village Turn 1
*CurrentTurn ends 3AM UTC, 29 October*

The longboat was prepped and the Crew was just about ready when Refyx came running up on deck and shoved a spray bottle into Aylar's hand. "It took me some time, but it's a fungicide lad. One that won't affect the rest of you. Two squirts on each of your facial coverings. It won't stop the affects of those mushrooms, but it will slow it." The gnome then turned to Bellandra, "Not for you, lass. This one is for you," he handed her a watery ointment that smelled of green things. "That other could affect you different due to your rather unique metabolism. This be a forest moss the Captain tells me shouldn't affect you. We had to test it, but it seems to work." The white haired gnome stepped back from the Crew. "Nasty creatures, Grung. Don't take chances with them, and don't breathe or swallow that water! At least, not until that meddlesome woman gets here. Bothered as I am to admit it, we'll need her." He looked over at Polly. "Don't you dare tell her I said so," he mumbled.

Polly clacked her beak in laughter, then looked at the Crew. "He's right. Once ye be done and the water can run pure again, our new addition will be knowing it and should be free of her duties and able to leave the island to be joining us. And as purification and healing be some of her specialties," Polly looked to Pugwash, then his crystal flask, "it be a boon to us all. Good luck."

Then Polly turned and cocked her head, clacking her beak again as she watched a spectral Felinoid figure cavorting on deck. The transformation was complete. The midnights spent with the Ship, unlocking the necromancer's spells and feeding the Ship her energies had freed his spirit and brought Rummyfangs 'home'. The others may not all be able to see him yet, but she wouldn't put it past Aylar's fey side to see, and Gilius's druid core might also. To the others he may seem only like a momentary touch of lightness upon them, but after this mission that too could change and they would soon be able to see and know their companion was still among them, guarding their rest and the Ship with his own ineffable spirit and style. She laughed inside as the ethereal rumballs touched her and the others. Rummyfangs own blessing of light. May it strengthen the Crew's own hearts and resilience indeed.

With a wave of her wing the longboat lowered to the sea below, just off the Monkey Head point of Monkey Island. Upon arriving at the shore of the island, the Crew was greeted by two cannibals, sent to guide them to the Monkey Head. Instead of greeting them, however, the cannibals stared at Monkey and then Mighty, excitedly falling to their knees. Awed that the Mighty half-orc had a son of the great three-headed Monkey god for a companion, they immediately informed Mighty that they would not only guide him, but join him in the fight. They were the cricket champions of Monkey Island, they told him, proudly showing off the bats they carried. Here cricket was played with coconuts, and actually more of a dodge-ball type of game. They assured Mighty they could hit a coconut on target, and so would help.

As they approached the Monkey Head, a cacophony erupted and several monkeys swung through the branches to greet Monkey. Chattering one after the other they asked Monkey questions and when they learned what Monkey's servant, Mighty, and the others were planning, several of them also decided to help. Monkey told Mighty that the monkeys thought it would be great fun to come throw coconuts at the frogs to distract them. The monkeys had a deep resentment and hatred of the Grung, who had taken over the monkeys' grotto and polluted their soaking ponds.

At the Monkey Head the cannibals gestured for Mighty to place the simplest idol in the shrines mouth, thus releasing a mechanism to open the left ear. Inside was a stairway down to a rail with several carts vined together. The dwarves on the Crew looked askance at the rickety coconut palm wood and bamboo construction. Gesturing generously for Mighty and Monkey to take the first cart with them, the cannibals jumped inside. Once the others had chosen carts, the cannibals tripped the lever and held their hands high in the air as the carts picked up speed down a long ramp, then proceeded through a series of rather unsafe high speed turns and drops along questionable rails that most certainly did not impress the dwarven folk. Ducking roots with roosting bats and zipping by underneath more than a few rather large spiderwebs, they finally came to a long coasting section at the end, where the cannibals in the forward cart urged Mighty and the others to leap out before the carts hit the boulder set to stop them ... rather abruptly.

Pulling out coconut fiber painted monkey masks of their own, the cannibals tied them on, then beckoned and urged the Crew along a path that wound around a rock cliff, where the Crew caught glimpses of the grotto below, yet was frustratingly too far to shoot from. As they got closer, the monkeys took to the trees, chattering and hooting. The cannibal guides dropped to their bellies and crawled to the edge of a slight ledge, the closest before dropping to the grotto floor and the swamp. There the Crew could see the village and the Grung.

Most Grung were gathered near the meal prep platform. The chief was sitting outside his hut, either holding an audience or waiting to be served. There were a few guards and a couple Grung soaking, but no sign of the sorceress, just some honorary guards outside her hut. However, the sides of the hut were open to the air and once they got down to a lower level they just might be able to see inside.

The air was humid and thick, and Captain Baldbeard especially could smell the sickening scent of that fungus he had once traced to the Ship's galley and infirmary. Their time was limited. The spores were in the air all around them.

-----
Answering questions - You approach from the North (top).
It is a sunken grotto, part underground cave but open in places high above to rain and partial sunlight (thus the plants and trees)
The ledge is to the NE - upper right corner - of the map above the trees/small pool, giving you the favorable line of sight. The path curves around and down to the upper land entry.
Yes, the Spiderclimb Oil can be used to easily climb the trees. ;)

Your current inventory can be found in Post 2 (loaner books are read and returned)