It was a little after dawn and the party stood outside the doors to Kaya's House of Repose. Azaka, their hired guide, was awaiting them on the outskirts of town. They met with the Chultian and, after a short line of questioning regarding why in the name of all the gods did she recommend Kaya's House of Repose, they set off for Fort Beluarian.
Their first day of travel was generally successful and uneventful, however Garth did notice a small insect bite on the side of his neck, which was giving him a spot of bother.
Night approached and a campsite was pitched in the brush. Those with darkvision took up watches for the night; this included Azaka and Reksus who both, despite being human, seemed to possess the ability, which is traditionally restricted to races of other ancestry.
The night passed without issue and the party awoke.
Garth was not well.
Azaka recognised the symptoms as shivering sickness. It seems that Garth, who had been nominated as quartermaster, had both fed and watered the group, but forgotten to apply the insect repellent that they had purchased to prevent this very incident. Surely Garth's constitution would fight off this sickness; no major concern.
The day pressed on and, besides miscellaneous diseases, the first major obstacle the party faced was a small river crossing. Azaka located a felled tree, which spanned the banks. Gorg marched majestically forth, crossing with little issue. Next up was Reksus, who attempted to follow suit to the tune of a whistle. However, halfway across, the mossy surface gave way and Reksus found himself clinging for dear life above the murky waters. Garth quickly moved to aid his old friend, shivers and all, shimmying across on all fours; yet his sickness sapped his strength and Reksus continued to slip from the log. Uthal made his way to the fallen Bard also, and managed to assist in steadying his grip. Finally, Garth called upon the divine power of his Deity, Myrkul, and Reksus was empowered to pull himself up upon the slippery surface, safe at last. Reksus enthusiastically declared that he would dedicate himself to the God of Death in thanks, pleasing Garth greatly.
All managed to cross the river at last and continued on the trek.
Further days and nights had passed without even, but Garth's condition continued to worsen deeply. Azaka became gravely concerned; his body was clearly not fighting the sickness and if he was not cured soon, he may die. The party continued to traverse the jungle regardless, picking up the pace in the hopes that Garth could receive medical assistance a little sooner.
Alas, the spirits of the jungle had other plans.
As the party paced through the foliage, Reksus caught but a glimpse of a rustle in the bushes beside him before a velociraptor lurched for his jugular. The party halted and began to engage, but the gaudily dressed Bard had already attracted two more of the beasts. All rushed to his aid and began hacking into the dinosaurs while forming a tight formation around their crippled comrade.
All ambushers were eventually dispatched, with most thanks to the Goliath, the Half Orc and the Chultian; Garth had spent the majority of the encounter shivering from his disease and Reksus was left bloodied.
The Death Cleric channeled the power of the Divine and healed Reksus sufficiently; although the dark energy pulsing through his body did not make for a pleasant experience.
On with the march.
Another sunrise and Garth's condition was dire, he surely would not survive another night. However, with no medicines or any means at all to cure him, all faith would simply have to be put into his failing constitution.
Th group trudged on. Camp was made and night took them.
Dawn broke, and Reksus gave the traditional strum of the lute to awake the party; all eyes on Garth's tent. A stir, and the Cleric stepped out from the folds of the canvas. He looked awful, but the shivers seemed to have subsided and a little colour had returned to his face; although this likely wasn't noticeable to those who did not know Garth well, as his usual complexion was ghostly white. Azaka gave a quick examination of Garth and confirmed that the sickness seemed to have subsided at the eleventh hour.
They were now but a day or so from Fort Beluarian, and with the urgency of the past few days no longer a concern, a more modest pace was taken. Unfortunately, there was still one more challenge to overcome, as the brightly coloured Bard again became a target for creatures of the jungle.
Several Axebeaks burst from the undergrowth and set upon the party. However, now at near full strength, short work was to be made of the beasts. One by one they fell, until the finall beast stood before Gorg. With a snarl, he threw down his weapon and punched the Axebeak in the side of the head, it's skull caving slightly as it crumpled to the floor.
Carcasses were harvested and the party set off once more; their destination but half a day away
No time to waste.