Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole - 06 July 2021

[Zhym]

"Yeah, okay," says Olaf.

[Marullus]

Akkara approaches the now-quiescent Morlock, speaking to it softly. After several minutes of conversation, she turns back to the group. "He is rather cowed and quite willing to help us. He will answer questions in exchange for his life. I feel that if we can find something of interest to pay him, he'd even take us back with him as a guide. There is a firm belief in 'no more Masters,' it seems, but having an outsider that speaks their tongue is enough to impress this one. What should we ask him? What can we pay him to be a guide?"

Date/Time: 4:10am, 09 July 2021
Light: Sunset
Distance Travelled: none today
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured), Earc (minorly injured)

Captured disposition [2d6] = 3
Akkara has a -1 bonus. This a "2 - Friendly"
The Morlock is willing to collaborate.

Recruiting: [2d6] = 9 [2d6] = 7 [2d6] = 9
Recruiting: [2d6] = 3 [2d6] = 9 [2d6] = 10
*The offer is accepted with very good spirit, and the retainer's
morale receives a bonus of +1 for the adventure's duration.

[Zhym]

"Ach!" says Ulf, impressed.

"Don' know—maybe ask what he likes as payment?" The dwarf puts a protective hand over his pouch of gems.

[Alethan]

Earc (still invisible for a bit...)

Earc corporeally says, "Ask him what he values the most out of life since they no longer have the Masters."

[Spearmint]

'Blackjack' Amistad

"Compliment him on their use of blow darts and that their leathers and chains seem well made. How do they negate the poison of the darts themselves? What is it made from? Why the hybrids?"

Amistad has so many questions but favours the use of his axe. We know where to find one of their tunnels, 'so we need more from him than just I can take you there?'

[Marullus]

"Don' know—maybe ask what he likes as payment?" The dwarf puts a protective hand over his pouch of gems.

Akkara says, "They do use the gemstones as currency, it seems. They also value magic items, though. They envy spellcasters."

Earc (still invisible for a bit...)

Earc corporeally says, "Ask him what he values the most out of life since they no longer have the Masters."

Akkara shakes her head, reminding him of her report on the other one. "He doesn't understand the question, I fear.
His job is Hunter - he brings in the creatures. He can't concieve of another task."

'Blackjack' Amistad

"Compliment him on their use of blow darts and that their leathers and chains seem well made. How do they negate the poison of the darts themselves? What is it made from? Why the hybrids?"

Amistad has so many questions but favours the use of his axe. We know where to find one of their tunnels, 'so we need more from him than just I can take you there?'

"Because hybrids are their job," Akkara shrugs after questioning the creature. "He wouldn't allow harm to his kind, but if you want to meet them, he says he can show you through the tunnels to where you wish to go. It seems there are many miles,
perhaps several towns, beneath the earth."

[Zhym]

"How come they attacks us?" asks Olaf.

[Marullus]

"We are mammal stock," Akkara says, disturbed.

[Zhym]

Olaf scowls. Or maybe that's his normal face. "Don' much like paying to go see things that think we're food," he says.

[Marullus]

Akkara talks a while longer, looking confused, then returns to Olaf."Can't tell what they eat. Apparently it is not us. He calls it tunnel flesh."

[Zhym]

"Then what they do with 'mammal stock?' "

[Alethan]

Earc of Toll's Tower

Earc pulls Olaf, Blackjack, and Akkara over to one side to converse briefly in private.

"If you remember, Blackjack, those things appeared to either communicate with creatures they've helped create or call natural creatures to them. Or... at least that's what it seemed like. Akkara, do you have any insight into that behavior? Several times - once at a camp site and once on a raft floating down the River Gaul, violent attacks were preceded by the morlocks humming. The first time it was one of those Grump Bears, who first started killing the morlocks; it was why we only had one prisoner instead of three. The other time, we had the last morlock on the raft and it started humming just before we were attacked by that river troll. I mention this because, short of cutting out its vocal cords, we can't stop this creature from humming if we take it with us. That could be very bad, depending on what is in the vicinity when it starts humming."

[Zhym]

"Don' see much point in a pet morlock," grouses Olaf. "If it not be helping us, kill it and get to moving on."

[Spearmint]

'Blackjack' Amistad

In the absence of further good help from the morlock, Amistad will chop its head off. No point insisting someone else do it or trying to bargain its silence for safe release.

[Marullus]

Any last words from Earc?

[Alethan]

Earc shakes his head, but nobody sees the action.

[Marullus]

Akkara answers Olaf, "Mammal stock... is for hybrids, it seems. We'd end up as a centaur or a half-scorpion, or something." she shudders.

The group discusses the fate of the bound creature for a moment. Finding they have no further questions, Blackjack beheads the creature cleanly with his woodsman's axe, leaving the severed parts to bleed out on the forest floor.

With the Morlocks both dead, the group settles back into rest, the early dawn sun almost risen. They finish their shifts, sleeping and keeping watch in pairs. With everyone now rested and Earc refreshing his spells invisibly, they now consider their next move.

Date/Time: 9:20am, 09 July 2021
Light: Sunset
Distance Travelled: none today
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured), Earc (minorly injured)

[Spearmint]

'Blackjack' Amistad

arises with the sun and completes his ritual ancestral devotions, swinging his axe to mediational flowing dance moves, finally bowing before his totem.

Amistad his ready to delve in the tunnels.

[Zhym]

"Ye lads look mighty beat up," observes Olaf. "Ye be needing a rest before going to the tunnels?"

[Alethan]

Earc of Toll's Tower

Earc, his potion's effects having worn off, visibly nods in agreement and winces at the pain this brings. He pulls out a flask from the folds of his robes, removes the cap, and tilts his head back, pouring the entire contents into his mouth.

Entire Potion of Healing [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

After a moment, Earc looks to be completely restored to full health!