The Jungle's Claw #038

Game date: 5th day of the Bull, Year 13945  

The Blood-Stained Deception

  The massacre north of Vo-Len unfolded as Captain Grimharbor's black-sailed vessels vanished into pre-dawn mists. House Ashen Chain's skeletal marines had eliminated the Eastern Kurnok warriors but remained bound by inter-house politics from taking direct action against the twenty-one captured House Greenglade marines who had witnessed Kurgan's forbidden alliance with the undead.   With promises to rendezvous in Grizburg, the party faced an impossible situation: living witnesses who could destroy both House Iron Wake's reputation and their mission to the Whispering Depths.  

Scout Nok's Solution

  Scout Nok's proposal required meticulous execution. Every wound inflicted upon the Greenglade prisoners would need to match documented Kurnok hunting practices. Every ritual scarring would point toward tribal revenge. The western Kurnok's encyclopedic knowledge of his people's warfare became the foundation for an elaborate deception.  

Y'all gotta make sure every little thing done to dem goblins there gets itself accomplished usin' nothin' but them Kurnok weapons, zher, or dis whole illusion gon fall apart like a wet shit-filled Grizburger.

— Scout Nok

 

The Planning Phase

  Thronn moved through the inspection point like a predator reading terrain, his ranger instincts cataloging every shadow and sightline. The dripping canopy would shroud their work in darkness while muddy ground would hold tracks and blood in ways that told stories to investigators.   Scout Nok supervised with fervor, his distinctive drawl cutting through pre-dawn air as he explained requirements for convincing tribal warfare. The captured marines heard every word of their fate being methodically arranged, their muffled terror growing as procedures were detailed.   Valdin integrated seamlessly into the group's dark purpose, his reptilian features and predatory nature perfect for creating the illusion of crocodile-folk savagery. The dragonborn paladin's Oath of Conquest aligned perfectly with the brutal work ahead.  

The Systematic Elimination

  Fifteen House Greenglade marines died as moonless darkness provided perfect cover. BöötMóöntch approached bound soldiers with methodical precision, studying each victim as he would analyze a monster's weak points. His corrupted aasimar nature relished the intellectual challenge of crafting authentic-looking tribal kills.   Fouk proved remarkably adept at torture and mutilation, his Velasha's Emberclaw Toolkit shifting form with each requirement. The magical implement became thin-bladed knives for precise incisions, bone saws for ritual amputations, and heated brands for creating distinctive Kurnok scarification patterns.   Sherman's executions were disrupted by violent disagreement between his meat puppets. The animated corpse of Gherman displayed grotesque enthusiasm while Vorrin Shadowleaf voiced strident objections, their heated argument creating such distraction that Sherman's concentration shattered.   Valdin channeled divine power through his Conquering Presence, waves of supernatural terror radiating from his scaled form to break prisoners' mental defenses. His approach grew methodical and cruel, taking each victim's head gently before asking with mock tenderness about family members who would mourn their loss.  

Does anyone at home wait for your return? A wife perhaps? Children who will wonder why father never came back from the river?

— Valdin to a captured marine

  Dorn the Silent participated with detached efficiency, his movements economical and precise. When bodies needed positioning to suggest feeding patterns, his hands arranged limbs with the care of a sculptor working in flesh and bone.  

Sergeant Copperknife's Death

  Sergeant Vex Copperknife, the grizzled veteran who had served House Greenglade for over two decades, required special treatment. Scout Nok explained that sergeants and officers demanded elaborate torment in Kurnok warfare—their deaths must demonstrate both military prowess and spiritual dominance.   When BöötMóöntch approached with a sharpened stake for ritual impalement, his usual precision abandoned him. The corrupted aasimar's hands shook, his supernatural senses overwhelmed by proximity to so much planned death. His thrust went wide and shallow, creating messy wounds that looked accidental rather than ritual.  

Dat's not how dey do it, blood brother. Let me show you de proper way before dis whole thing looks like amateur work.

— Scout Nok

  Scout Nok stepped in to correct the botched impalement, his steady hands repositioning the stake and completing the ritual killing with practiced skill.  

Captain Haldar's Final Moments

  Captain Streak Haldar had maintained composure throughout the systematic slaughter, clinging to desperate hope that threats were elaborate bluffs. The flamboyant captain who had taken satisfaction in capturing Kurgan red-handed now watched in growing horror as his men died with methodical brutality.  

You're not serious about this. You can't be. House Iron Wake wouldn't dare commit such atrocities against a rival house. The political ramifications alone would destroy you.

— Captain Haldar

  Kurgan's response carried absolute certainty, his weathered face showing no trace of hesitation.  

Politics change, old friend. Necessity doesn't. You've seen too much tonight—my arrangement with Grimharbor, the true nature of our cargo, our destination in the Whispering Depths. That knowledge can't be allowed to leave this place.

— Kurgan

  Understanding finally penetrated Haldar's disbelief as color drained from his face.  

By all the river spirits, you've truly fallen this far? Kurgan, we served together on the Bitter Current. You saved my life during the Serpent's Mire raid. Does none of that matter now?

— Captain Haldar

 

It matters more than you know. That's why I'm going to do this quickly, with respect. But it still has to be done.

— Kurgan

 

The Blood Eagle

  Captain Haldar's execution required the most elaborate staging. The respected veteran would become centerpiece of their deception through the ancient Blood Eagle ritual—brutal execution technique serving as undeniable proof of Eastern Kurnok involvement.   Kurgan stepped forward to perform the grisly work himself, hands steady despite obvious weight of personal history. The proprietor of The Jungle's Claw Tavern had clearly performed such rituals before, movements efficient and practiced as he began the complex procedure.  

I'm sorry it has to end this way, Streak. You were always the better captain between us.

— Kurgan

  The ritual proceeded with methodical precision, Kurgan's expertise evident in every careful incision. The Blood Eagle required not just killing but transformation—the victim's death must become message, spiritual significance that would resonate with all who discovered it.  

Covering the Tracks

  Thronn applied ranger skills to perfect scene authenticity, his understanding of predator behavior allowing him to arrange evidence supporting the deception. Blood patterns were adjusted to suggest feeding behavior, personal effects scattered to imply ritualistic looting.   False tracks were carefully created leading toward known Eastern Kurnok Territory, impressions crafted with meticulous attention to authentic tribal footwear and movement patterns. Ritual scarring was applied in patterns matching documented tribal practices.   Lasha, the dream pedal-addicted ranger, contributed knowledge of Kurnok spiritual practices to final staging. Her understanding of how Eastern tribes marked victories ensured cultural details would withstand scrutiny from experienced investigators.  

Dis is good work, mes amis. When dey find dis place, ain't nobody gon question what happened here. Dem Eastern Kurnok gon get all de blame, and we gon be long gone down de river.

— Scout Nok

 

The Aftermath

  As dawn approached and the Rustleech's smokestacks became visible, the adventurers completed their transformation of the inspection point. What had been a House Greenglade administrative station now resembled aftermath of coordinated tribal assault, complete with distinctive brutality that would convince investigators of Eastern Kurnok involvement.   Four surviving porters who witnessed the night's work presented a final challenge. Scout Nok resolved this dilemma with characteristic efficiency, paying the men their wages before ordering them caught and bound, cutting out their eyes and tongues before releasing them into jungle silence.   Captain Malista Tinmaw and her crew helped load equipment as the party returned to the Rustleech, their practiced avoidance of direct questions reflecting hard-earned wisdom of river commerce. The ship's eight-hour delay fell within acceptable parameters, and no uncomfortable inquiries were made about blood stains on passengers' clothing.   Valdin's formal integration marked his acceptance into their ongoing mission to Grizburg and the Whispering Depths beyond. As representative of the Twin-Headed Empire, his presence would require careful management, but his demonstrated capacity for calculated cruelty made him valuable addition.   The success of their deception would allow House Iron Wake to continue secret collaboration with House Ashen Chain while maintaining plausible deniability. Captain Grimharbor's skeletal marines had played their part perfectly—eliminating the Kurnok threat while remaining politically untouchable.   As the Rustleech's engines churned dark waters toward Grizburg's industrial sprawl, the party settled into routines for their remaining voyage. Behind them, the inspection point stood as monument to their capacity for elaborate deception, its carefully staged carnage destined to reshape political balance among river houses for years to come.