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Post by makofan on May 20, 2024 18:16:05 GMT -6
xerxez Can you jog our memories of what we possess that he might be interested in?
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Post by xerxez on May 22, 2024 7:23:01 GMT -6
xerxez Can you jog our memories of what we possess that he might be interested in? It seems a random cold solicitation--your minds travel to any "curios" you might have acquired in your journeys, some obviously too precious to part with, but he could not know of these. Trinkets, oddities, he seems to be after unusual things for a shop such as his.
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Post by xerxez on May 24, 2024 18:48:17 GMT -6
I am sorry but I've been terribly sick for two days. A little better but I work in the morning at 1 am so likely out for a minute. I look forward to resuming.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
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Post by flightcommander on May 24, 2024 20:28:29 GMT -6
"I am sorry, friend, we have travelled light this evening and have brought nothing with us we would part with. We have these [Nuroab plural noun for something like squid or octopus] but I am afraid they are accounted for, and I suspect this is not what you are looking for.
"Perhaps you can help us locate your shop — we might in future be patrons!"
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Post by xerxez on May 25, 2024 16:18:59 GMT -6
"I am sorry, friend, we have travelled light this evening and have brought nothing with us we would part with. We have these [Nuroab plural noun for something like squid or octopus] but I am afraid they are accounted for, and I suspect this is not what you are looking for. "Perhaps you can help us locate your shop — we might in future be patrons!" "A pity...those who have traveled from the southern continent must have seen many things and had many adventures, gaining wondrous things. My shop is on the Cat's Perch, near the gates of the Over City. It is named The Rumanyi. You are most welcome any day. Til next we meet." He bows and passes on, smiling and giving you all a friendly expression as he does but not without tipping his head toward Mohammad the Priest with an appraising glance. The priest is startled to see, only for one brief instant, a strange glitter in the man's eyes that seems somehow alien and strange, yet weirdly familiar, but the impression is fleeting, and he quickly moves on into the night. BAK SUUL: Grunts. "Strange little man." If anyone has further things to ask or add to this encounter you may and we can deal with it past tense, otherwise you continue to the boat...In returning to the gangplank of the Nyari you join various stragglers among the crew, all drunk and a few having to be hoisted along by their only slightly less inebriated companions. Upon mounting the upper deck you see a few sailors sitting, and on a few coiled piles of great rope you see resting the three Ahoggya. Gas Belly turns so that one of his faces is toward you and its weird fanged mouth seems to twist into a ghastly grin. GAS BELLY: "Waited for you lot! Lots of trouble for having in the Man Cities. No come, we go looking!"
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 383
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Post by flightcommander on May 25, 2024 17:48:22 GMT -6
“Sorry to worry you, friend! We took our time, and in fact I think I slept. We also spent a moment to procure for you this fine seafood! Enjoy! Mind you don’t spill the ink, it’s the best part.”
Later, aside, Mi’kimu speaks with Bak Suul about the stranger. “You noticed something peculiar, as did I — but cannot put my finger on it. “
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Post by xerxez on May 25, 2024 22:19:44 GMT -6
“Sorry to worry you, friend! We took our time, and in fact I think I slept. We also spent a moment to procure for you this fine seafood! Enjoy! Mind you don’t spill the ink, it’s the best part.” Later, aside, Mi’kimu speaks with Bak Suul about the stranger. “You noticed something peculiar, as did I — but cannot put my finger on it. “ Gas Belly and his two companions become animated at Mi'kimu's words. Each of them accept the proffered fare with relish and to everyone's surprise do a rapid stumping with one of their legs. Two of Gas Belly's free arms grasp Mi'kimu about his shoulders and before he knows it spins him awkwardly round once, chortling as he does. "Good giver, is Mik'mu ( spelling correct)!" Gas Belly rasps. "When come we to the Land, he and friends will be given best portion of food of our Folk. Eat well you will, then!" He looks at his squid fare-- "Tomorrow we let sun season all day on deck, then enjoy!" The three creatures stump away, making weird noises as if in conversation in their native "tongue". The Shen nods at Mi'kimu's words about the stranger. "His eyes looked unlike eyes of men," he says, "and he seemed to know something about us already." Fi'ru pipes up then. "I thought the same, Master." he says. "And I thought long and hard on our walk to the ship but I remember no "cat's perch" in the Under City. It is strange indeed."
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 383
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Post by flightcommander on May 26, 2024 1:06:45 GMT -6
Mi'kimu pales at the thought of dining upon Ahoggya "food", but then recalls that he's been dead once already, and, sighing, steels himself to the inevitable.
He turns to consider the council of observant Bak Suul and clever Fi'ru.
"I had not noticed these cues, but now that you mention them, I feel unsettled. Recall the creature we slew aboard the ghost-ship, the shape-shifter with cat's eyes. Could this stranger be one of its kin?" And, in a whisper, "Might it be looking to retrieve the treasures we took from it?"
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Post by xerxez on May 26, 2024 13:03:34 GMT -6
Bak Suul considers this and his reptilian eyes narrow.
"Not good, if so..." he growls. "We should question a wizard or sage who might know something of the Shape Shifters, if ever we get back from the Ahoggya lands. Perhaps such a knowing one can even be found there. Best sleep on it now, Jungle Cat. We cast of tomorrow and its a long voyage yet, with no more land between us and where we go."
With all crew present and accounted for the gang plank is drawn up and all retire to their bunks.
Next morning at early light a somewhat hung over crew gets underway, and a course of many days follows with surprisingly good weather and winds that seem to betoken good fortune.
Few vessels are seen after you depart the coasts of Salar'vya...only sea birds and schools of swimming fish which leap from the waves and glitter in the sun on good days.
F'sal, the Salar'vyani merchant who has financed this voyage, becomes more forthcoming.
"Now that we are free of spying eyes and ears I tell you where we travel--Haida Pakalla, ancestral homeland of the Ahoggya. It is from Haida Pakalla that all Ahoggya first ventured forth across Tekumel. There is, of course, an Imperial colony there, but the Ahoggya there are left a great degree of autonomy. It is there we venture to the site of great power."
On the ninth day out from Salar'vya, a green coast emerges from the sea.
Gas Belly and his friends begin to hop up and down, clapping each other on top of their head shells...obviously excited.
Karunaz laughs at the sight.
Spirits become high among the crew as land is neared. Amiyala and the Ren'yu look on intently.
Scarcely has this joyful ebullience subsided when a cry of alarm is heard!
A deckhand points aftward-- as you all turn to leak you see a great roiling of the waters behind you...it follows you like a wake of some unseen giant beneath the waves, churning the sea into a violent froth.
Great tentacles appear above the waves, writhing and lashing, and suddenly to your horror a great cylindrical body rises from the deep, its face nothing more than a single, fiery orb you realize is it's angry eye, below which is a great round mouth ringed with horrid sharp teeth, each nearly as big as a man.
It is coming for the Nyari, and its tentacles are long enough to easily reach any soul on deck when once it closes...indeed, its green, scaled body is likely over half the size of your vessel itself.
A hideous bellow comes from it.
The Shen gives a growl.
"Akh'o!"
You who speak Tsolyani realize this word means "Embracer of Ships".
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Post by xerxez on May 27, 2024 2:51:57 GMT -6
(I should say, upon reflection, that our heroes would all be familiar with the Akhó through sea lore if not by actual experience at sea, so they would know the creature has two forms of attack- snatching men from a boat to devour or to try and break a ship apart by dragging it into the sea. You would also know it's mouth secretes a potent acid and that they are every sailor's worst dread...there is no range of water upon our Map where they cannot be encountered.)
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
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Post by flightcommander on May 27, 2024 19:32:06 GMT -6
Is our vessel able to outrun this thing? Is the ship armed with any bolt-throwing weapons? Do any of us Nuroabites have experience or lore in fighting such a creature? In any case, Mi'kimu brings the Ruby Eye to hand, and directs Fi'ru to retrieve his spear as quickly as possible. He's thinking: best scenario, we outrun it, second best scenario, the Ruby Eye works on it (who knows), worst case scenario we have to try and fight it!
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Post by xerxez on May 27, 2024 20:54:40 GMT -6
Is our vessel able to outrun this thing? Is the ship armed with any bolt-throwing weapons? Do any of us Nuroabites have experience or lore in fighting such a creature? In any case, Mi'kimu brings the Ruby Eye to hand, and directs Fi'ru to retrieve his spear as quickly as possible. He's thinking: best scenario, we outrun it, second best scenario, the Ruby Eye works on it (who knows), worst case scenario we have to try and fight it! Yes, see my previous post..the Nuroabites definitely know about these monsters, as does every sea farer upon Tekumel. They have not personally faced off with one.It does not appear the Nayari will outrun the beast... and the vessel is not equipped for warfare. The Captain does shout orders and a few crew members disappear below decks and re-emerge only moments later with a large bundle of spears, and bows and arrows. There are 20 spears and a few crew members go about attaching ropes to them...an old tactic to permit wounding spears to be retrieved, though at great risk of being pulled from the decks if a spear should fail to dislodge. Fi'ru appears with the spear...whether the Eye will work or no, Mi'kimu can only guess for the moment. Anyone who wishes may take up spear or bow. This battle will be a matter of either the creature attacking the ship and doing hull damage OR doing tentacle attacks on anyone on the deck, which will be based on a a percentage chance as to whom is grappled and subsequent chances to fight free or be pulled into the sea. Anyone who lands a roped spear into the beast will also face a percentage chance of the spear being lodged irretrievably and thus also facing the possibility of being yanked from the deck. I will give a number of total hands on deck and begin initiative.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 383
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Post by flightcommander on May 27, 2024 23:22:14 GMT -6
"Fi'ru, you have a good arm, and my good spear — loose it at the thing's eye, but only if you have a good shot! Find good cover until then! Karunaz, will we have any of your magics?"
If the thing is going to catch up to the Nyari no matter what, Mi'kimu is of a mind to let it get as close as it will before we loose every arrow aboard-ship at its eye. Then lay into it with the Ruby Eye and the spears.
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Post by xerxez on May 28, 2024 10:06:11 GMT -6
"Fi'ru, you have a good arm, and my good spear — loose it at the thing's eye, but only if you have a good shot! Find good cover until then! Karunaz, will we have any of your magics?" If the thing is going to catch up to the Nyari no matter what, Mi'kimu is of a mind to let it get as close as it will before we loose every arrow aboard-ship at its eye. Then lay into it with the Ruby Eye and the spears. I have a few chores this morning but later today I will post reply and a very brief "rules of engagement" of how the battle will work, taking into consideration these tactics as well as other factors and assigning a hull value to the ship. The monster description in the EPT could be a little more descriptive as to how the tentacle attack against a crew might work but its easy enough to devise. Obviously the tentacle would be a "to hit" roll" with a random determination of unfortunate targets. Also, today I will also attempt to get us a tabulation of earned XP since the party's attainment to second level in the first adventure and will post it either in the character roster or in a separate thread devoted to that.
Meantime anyone wishing to state their pre-initiative intentions for the conflict should do so!
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Post by xerxez on May 28, 2024 18:56:04 GMT -6
The Akh'o is frightfully fast for such a large creature--you can see it's tentacles in use to propel itself across the surface towards the aft of the Nyari.
It is upon the vessel within moments and as it reaches you it rises from the waves almost half way, then falls backward with a crash upon the sea, swamping the deck. It slides its bottom parts under the aft and on both sides of the ship, writhing steely tentacles slither rapidly from the sea and wrap around the tail of the boat, constricting with a speed and pressure that astounds you.
The vessel jerks violently, throwing some to their backs. One poor crew member topples over the aft with a horrid scream.
You realize it is going to attempt to crush the aft end of your vessel!
The monsters head and upper torso is just above water directly in your wake- you see it's maw is a giant ringed, lamprey like mouth lined with a membranous, foliage like material that moves as of its own accord, secreting some weird black gushing that bubbles and hisses- the doomed soul who fell overboard lands in it and you see him begin to dissolve while alive until the mouth sucks him in...you will never forget that sight or his cries.
Mi'kimu deploys the Eye he took from the dead Mihalli on the pirate vessel- he feels a vibration in his hand as the Ruby colored beam shoots forth its cone, bathing the monster in its glow.
With a curse, he realizes it has not affected the horror!
Fi'ru cries out in fury and hurls the spear first among all the crew--it does indeed lodge deeply in the glowing phosphorescent red hell there, and strange ichor spouts, but it does not appear to blind the monster at this point or stop it, though he has wounded it!
An Akh'o has a 60% chance of attacking with constriction and 40% chance of plucking forth victims- I rolled a 03, so this one wishes to drag you down into the depths where it may or may not feed on you at will!
An Excellent Ruby Eye can affect 1-6 beings normally, with saving throw permitted each. I was iffy on whether something so large could be affected by the Eye so I actually sought advice from some old Tekumel hands and got varying opinions- I'm going with one from a gentleman who was present at the very original Tekumel table who said that a being is a being...but a very large bonus to its saving throw should be factored in due to its immense size.
I used its HD as its save bonus and the truth is it can be affected but it can only fail its save with a 1! I rolled a 19 for the Akho's saving throw against the Eye. I suppose I'm metagaming a tad here but I feel its ok to provide some clarity and direction.
At this point the battle comes down to this: The Nyari has 150 Hull points and the creature can do 1d6 per HD in damage each round with its constriction. If the Ahk'o is not killed or driven away before it can do 150 points of damage...
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Post by makofan on May 28, 2024 18:59:29 GMT -6
Balesh is strong - he will hurl spears
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Post by xerxez on May 28, 2024 19:05:31 GMT -6
P.S. I think it best to forego initiative in this instance, players have it and I will dice for hull damage after calculating their attacks.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
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Post by flightcommander on May 28, 2024 22:45:28 GMT -6
Mi'kimu puts the Ruby Eye away and grabs a spear. He doesn't want to hold on to the rope-end though, he'd rather just hurl as many spears as he can and have somebody else yank them out.
[OOC — makes sense about the Eye not working on the Akh'o, but I think it was worth a shot!]
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Post by makofan on May 29, 2024 6:11:32 GMT -6
Mi'kimu puts the Ruby Eye away and grabs a spear. He doesn't want to hold on to the rope-end though, he'd rather just hurl as many spears as he can and have somebody else yank them out. [OOC — makes sense about the Eye not working on the Akh'o, but I think it was worth a shot!] Balesh feels the same - just keep chucking spears as fast as he can, forget the nonsense of throwing one spear and hanging on
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Post by xerxez on May 29, 2024 12:04:52 GMT -6
Mi'kimu puts the Ruby Eye away and grabs a spear. He doesn't want to hold on to the rope-end though, he'd rather just hurl as many spears as he can and have somebody else yank them out. [OOC — makes sense about the Eye not working on the Akh'o, but I think it was worth a shot!] It can work but only a 1 in 20 chance!
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Post by xerxez on May 29, 2024 20:15:26 GMT -6
The crew rallies wit our heroes and begin a volley of spears and arrows. (for those who don't want to read a running tally of the battle you can skip.
Round 1
Alot of dice rolls here for crew and adventuring party so I will only mention names when someone has hit-
The monster has a very low A.C. - adjustments aside, level 1-3 characters need a base 19 to damage it due to its tough outter body.
I am using the monsters HD as a damage roll and reducing accordingly when it loses H.P. as the book does not give damage rolls for it's crushing attack.
Unfortunately none of the Jakallans scored a hit, except for Tekar, the Flame Soldier, who got a 20.
Three other Nyari crew also scored hits, doing a total of 13 points damage to the monster.
I will not share the monster's H.P. but I will share the Hull Point tolls as you could reasonably see damage taking place in real time.
The Ahk'o managed to do 20 points damage to the ship, bringing its hull value to 130.
Round 2
Hits: Tekar, Karunaz, and 2 crew members, one of whom rolls a 20, do 15 points damage to the Akh'o.
The Ahk'o's crushing attack does another 28 points damage, bringing the hull value of the Nyari to 102.
Round 3
Hits: Bak Suul, Karunaz, Amiyala, 12 points damage to the Ahk'o.
Hull Damage: 16, Hull Value: 86
(Does anyone wish to change tactics or shall I simply continue battle calculations?)
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Post by makofan on May 30, 2024 6:06:38 GMT -6
I think we are going to lose but I see no other solution. Does Balesh's great strength help him hit in combat, or is it just damage?
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Post by xerxez on May 30, 2024 13:59:16 GMT -6
I think we are going to lose but I see no other solution. Does Balesh's great strength help him hit in combat, or is it just damage? It does help but I've rolled very badly for you guys! Like 4's, 3's and 6's, etc. I'm going to have to use another die!
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Post by xerxez on May 30, 2024 17:36:11 GMT -6
The Nyari is badly damaged...but the ferocity of the crew is unstoppable.
With arrows and spears the assault upon the Ahk'o continues-- eventually the glowing eye fades, feathered with missiles.
In its dying throes it continues its deadly embrace and timbers crack...but moments after, the tentacles begin to flop about and then slide off the ship as the great beast begins its fall to the ocean floor to nourish the denizens of the deep.
You all watch as it sinks into shadow, leaving a bubbling fountain of hissing water as the red eye grows dimmer and dimmer and then goes out like a finished candle.
None of our heroes ever scored a hit (except Fi'ru)...I think this d20 is cursed!
But the crew..and Doshi..actually scored 5 hits and amazingly I rolled 3 20's! Damage total was 22.
The final pressure of the Ahk'o reduced to the Hull Value of the vessel to 40! Your ship is seriously damaged but still afloat!
A cry of victory rises from the crew.
One of them begins to weep inconsolably at the death of his crew-mate who fell overboard and is comforted by his companions.
KARUNAZ: "So...that's an Ahk'o...a first for me."
CAPTAIN: "Aye, and a smaller one at that. They can grow larger than a war ship. My brother and his crew went down with their ship six years ago--a few souls who floated aground on the timbers told of what had happened. The beast crushed their ship and then then simply swam away...it happened at night and most drowned or died of thirst later. We have been fortunate, thanks be to H'nalla!"
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
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Post by flightcommander on May 30, 2024 18:26:26 GMT -6
[OOC: I was pretty sure we were toast.]
Mi’kimu was about to begin hacking at tentacles with his axe, but when it appears the combined attacks of the crew overcome the beast, he joins their exultations.
“A well-landed throw, Fi’ru! But now you owe me a new spear, la!”
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Post by xerxez on May 30, 2024 20:20:36 GMT -6
[OOC: I was pretty sure we were toast.] Was a bit worried myself!Fi'ru smiles and nods but the horror he has seen from the deep is also written upon his face. "I will give you ten spears, Master, having survived what I've seen today. Its enough to make a man never let his feet stray from solid ground again, knowing what lurks beneath the sea foam." After this, the Captain sets his crew about repairs and orders kegs of strong drink to be opened for the night's rest. That night a drunken feast is held aboard the vessel in honor of the fallen sea man. The next day, the Nyari reaches land..an open harbor in a port city, a city of men. Far less impressive than your previous port of call, it is nonetheless a welcome sight. The ship docks and Imperial soldiers in blue Chlen hide armor greet you, along with officials whom F'sal and the Captain haggle with. The city is called Gorulu. It is a hot, fetid place...nothing ornate here, all practicality. The bugs here are intolerable and begin eating all of you as soon as you disembark. F'sal has arranged lodgings for the Jakallans in a simple stone hall. You do notice that Gorulu is mostly Tsolyani soldiers and officials but there are a goodly number of Ahoggya armored and armed in the city service and others milling about. At the hall, where you all have pallets waiting, F'sal says, "Tomorrow we set out for the Flats, a tidal swamp filled with scrub trees..we will enter an Ahoggya village half way between here and there. After this, we are beyond the reach of the Empire. If you wish to conduct any commerce in Gorulu you may do so today...but we leave at dawn with Gas Belly as our guide."
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
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"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
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Post by flightcommander on May 30, 2024 23:32:16 GMT -6
Mi'kimu will purchase a replacement spear, if he can find a good one — or maybe two, to provide for Fi'ru. Wary of the potential foodstuffs in his immediate future, he also looks for some kind of digestive adjunct, like ginger root. And finally, any sort of insect repellant. That about sums up his grim outlook here as we set out for the Flats. The quiet time at the Pe-Choi teahouse seems an impossible dream now, but a dream he hopes will sustain him through the coming days.
In any event, Mi'kimu puts his trust in Gas Belly, their good-spirited guide!
In fact, he takes the Ahoggya aside at some point, after grabbing four walnuts from a barrel in the ship's pantry. He holds the four nuts in one hand so that ... one of the creature's faces can observe.
He begins to juggle the walnuts with one hand, starting with one, then two, then three, then four! Occasionally one walnut will disappear behind Mi'kimu's back, only to reappear moments later as if by magic. (As a slinger he's used to doing this with sling-stones as a pastime.) All four walnuts eventually vanish from Gas Belly's sight, only to return to Mi'kimu's hand all at once! At which point he hands out a walnut to each of the Ahoggya's arms.
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