The Jungle's Claw #030/031
General Summary
The Witch's Bend: Confrontation with the River's Coil
Game date: 10th day of the Firefly, Year 13944
Venomous mists writhed above the River Vo as the iron-hulled Rustleech prowled the infamous waters of Witch's Bend. Three days of northward journey had brought Captain Malista Tinmaw's vessel to this dreaded stretch where, until merely eight years past, covens of dark sorceresses held unchallenged dominion. Their unexplained vanishing - coinciding with Slazgar Two-Eyes' return to Grizburg - had created a void that nature's most malevolent offspring rushed to claim.
Old Muckfingers, his visage etched by decades navigating these toxic waters, shared haunting tales with Sherman as ethereal green vapors coiled around the Rustleech's reinforced hull. The veteran riverman's stories died in his throat as a titanic form breached the surface - Vaersliss, the River's Coil, whose emerald scales stretched beyond the length of three trading barges. The serpent's legendary cunning had consigned countless vessels to the riverbed, its massive coils reducing even the sturdiest hulls to driftwood.
Captain Tinmaw commanded an immediate halt, the runes etched into her mechanical arm pulsing with nervous energy as the current grew unnaturally still. The Rustleech's twin Brinkburn engines fell silent, their alchemical furnaces dampened to avoid drawing the creature's attention. Yet Vaersliss had already marked its prey, beginning the dreaded encircling maneuver that had become its signature among river folk.
Sherman, the cursed Goliath whose hands bore the meat puppets of his brother and an antagonistic elf, conceived a plan that straddled the line between brilliance and madness. Seizing control of one of the vessel's mangonels, he launched himself toward the serpent - only to sail far beyond his mark, landing upon the distant shore. His spectacular miscalculation drew a rare laugh from Kurgan, who promptly ordered three of the ship's goblins - designated as stubborn, inoffensive, and hostile - to be launched via the same method to assist the stranded warrior.
Fouk Shadim, channeling his Vorcian ingenuity, directed the loading of a heavy anchor into one of the ship's catapults. The massive hook found purchase in Vaersliss's scales, while Thronn unleashed lightning harvested from their recent behir battle through his bow. The electrical blast illuminated the fog banks, revealing the serpent's full, terrifying magnitude.
The Rustleech's crew unveiled experimental flamethrowers, dark innovations of House Ironwake. These volatile weapons sprayed diesel fuel that clung to the creature's scales with devastating effect. BöötMóöntch, wielding his blood-enchanted blade, struck again and again at the serpent's form, each blow wreathed in magical flames. His martial prowess shown through as he landed two successive strikes, the burning blade scoring deep wounds in the creature's hide.
Meanwhile, Sherman began his perilous return swim, guided by the three launched goblins who had miraculously survived their ballistic journey. Vaersliss's fury manifested in a devastating tail slam that sent shockwaves across the water, the impact grievously wounding Meat-Beak and threatening to shatter the Rustleech's reinforced hull. The beast's rage intensified as burning fuel seeped between its scales, leading to a crushing assault that nearly claimed both a ballista and its operator, the unfortunate goblin known as Neat.
Through coordinated strikes with enchanted weapons, alchemical fire, and arcane lightning, the party drove the legendary creature back. Yet their victory carried heavy costs - the Rustleech bore deep scars from the constriction attempt, while Meat-Beak's grievous injuries spoke to the beast's devastating power. Sherman, finally reaching the vessel with his goblin escorts, attempted to master one of the experimental flamethrowers, though the complex mechanism proved challenging even for his considerable strength.
BootMoontch
Fouk Shadim
Neutral Evil Variant Human (Criminal / Spy)
Rogue 5
Artificer 4
Rogue 5
Artificer 4
66 / 66 HP
STR
9
9
DEX
20
20
CON
15
15
INT
15
15
WIS
8
8
CHA
8
8
Thronn Zamda
Gherman
Lawfull Evil Goliath (Outlander)
Barbarian 4
Barbarian 4
45 / 45 HP
STR
19
19
DEX
14
14
CON
17
17
INT
9
9
WIS
13
13
CHA
7
7
Report Date
21 Feb 2025
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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