Quest #23 "Even The Jungle Wanted Them Dead"

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Well, I think the first thing we need to do," says a voice that sounds like Wes', out of the sudden darkness, "is open that bloody door. It's dark in here without a window and I don't think we want to spend the daylight hours burning torches and lantern oil do we?"

"Now if we do want to keep the door closed, does anybody want to go next door and ask for their magic candle? They do have a window in there after all".

"After that is sorted, we can talk about who is keeping watch and things like that."

Wes starts to use his hands and feet to scuff up piles of dirt and dust around the room. He rearranges the contents of his beltpouches, and puts some objects, like candles, into his backpack. Then he fills one of the pouches with some of the dirt and dust. The other piles he leaves around at various points on the floor or on top of other surfaces.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala keeps his voice low enough not to pass the door. He says to Monocar, "Actually, I was wondering if you remember our plans for the Lumber mill? Once that blade comes in from the mainland, I don't think it will take long to get the mill underway. But there is something we have forgotten. We're going to need a lot of axes and ways to move the timber. We might have to get that new guy, Liam, involved. I think he had a draft animal or two. And of course, we need to talk to the Phanaton to see where we can cut. I think it's going to be a lot more complicated than we thought originally. Any ideas on making it easier on us?"

[Bluehorse]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala keeps his voice low enough not to pass the door. He says to Monocar, "Actually, I was wondering if you remember our plans for the Lumber mill? Once that blade comes in from the mainland, I don't think it will take long to get the mill underway. But there is something we have forgotten. We're going to need a lot of axes and ways to move the timber. We might have to get that new guy, Liam, involved. I think he had a draft animal or two. And of course, we need to talk to the Phanaton to see where we can cut. I think it's going to be a lot more complicated than we thought originally. Any ideas on making it easier on us?"

The big youth leans back and thinks a long minute. You could see the wheels turning though. Axes I think will be easy enough... The Hi-Lo has some more in storage and I bet once we have things moving forward we can barter some kind of deal to get them on credit, even if it is just two to get us started... There is a black smith in town too that might be willing to work something out... That reminds me... I need to get back to work making him handles when we get back... He needs those... Far as draft animals... My Dad once said I was half as strong and cost twice as much to feed so that is something... but yeah, if there is a horse or something that would work for us... Maybe we can rent it? What I would really like is a couple of oxen. Those bastards are tough and can work all day. And yeah... the Phanaton thing... We need to get up there and talk to what's his face the chief and see where we can cut, but maybe we just started in the wrong direction. Maybe if we go to the other side of town, like the other side of the trail around the treehouse. I know that would be a pain in the butt to haul them so far, but it would be a start. Or maybe we can set up on the other side of the river altogether! If the Phanatons have no claim there, then there would be plenty of trees to fell on that side. Once we cleared off all that, we could be growing a whole nother crop right behind it. I wonder if we could get some acorns or something. You know, plant some real hardwood trees like back home? Their a bitch to cut but at least we would be getting some real lumber wood growing for later on... You know like the kids or something like that could use them. Hey, Chauncey! You think your Make a Gu Bigger spell would work on a Tree? Just think about that! Cut a normal tree and make it really big after you have it to the mill and you would have some big honkin giganto lumber! That would be something!

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes makes his way over to the doorway by the sound of Monocar's voice and the little chink of light showing through the gap under the door.

"Here, move the chair over please Monocar. I'll go next door to see about the candle". Once Monocar has moved over, Wes opens the door just enough to slip out and quickly closes it behind him. He walks over to the other room to talk to Chauncey and Galanthas. He tries to find a spot where he can talk to them quietly

"Gentlemen, I have a favor to ask. A favor that might also serve as a bit of research for you. Have you tried to use that candle outside this room yet?"

[ChubbyPixie]

“Monocar, are you talking to me? It is quite difficult to hear you through the wall!” comes Chauncey’s voice, muffled by a foot and a half of stone. There is the faint sound of a door opening and closing before he suddenly appears at the opening to Monocar’s room.

“I feel I’ve explained this before, Monocar. The Make the Guy Bigg... er the Embiggen spell has a limited duration. Your ‘ginormous’ lumber would soon revert back to it’s original size. However...” He gets a thoughtful look on his face. “One might conceivably Reductify a ginormous tree, mill it while small and let it then return to its original girth, thereby perhaps reducing one’s working time considerably. You are a veritable font of accidental good ideas, Monocar.”

He follows Wes back to his room to discuss candle matters. After hearing the Druid out, he perks up with interest. ”Come, Galanthas. Bring your candle. Let us experiment.”

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

 “I feel I’ve explained this before, Monocar. The Make the Guy Bigg... er the Embiggen spell has a limited duration. Your ‘ginormous’ lumber would soon revert back to it’s original size. However...” He gets a thoughtful look on his face. “One might conceivably Reductify a ginormous tree, mill it while small and let it then return to its original girth, thereby perhaps reducing one’s working time considerably. You are a veritable font of accidental good ideas, Monocar.”

The big man smiles brightly at the praise.   Hey!  My mom once mentions to someone I was an accident too!  My dad said later it was more of a surprise... or something like that... Anyway, I'll keep thinking and see what I come up with.  Make a big tree smaller... yeah, that woulds good.  Wow, you could haul a bundle of trees like a bundle of sticks on your shoulders and it would be no problem at all...  Chauncy, I think you might be one smart fellow! he smiles broader.

[Urson]

Luther
Luther stays quiet, sharpening blades and snoozing.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

In a harsh stage whisper, Avaala says, "Monocar! We are trying to remain quiet. Please stop shouting, OK?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeking Out The Jungle Priest
Sunday, the 14th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Hot, Humid, Damp, Dim

Luther sides with Jaxsen and the paranoia wanes slightly. The ranger sharpens his blades and then plops down in the cot to take a cat nap while the others discuss future plans. Wes continues acting oddly, creeping back and forth from the 2 rooms and messing around with his possessions and the dirt on the floor. He doesn't explain his actions to the others, which makes them seem even more strange.

Bringing the candle from one room to the next doesn't have any effect, it still burns dimly in either place. The murmurings of the invisible Jaxsen and Krystal continue from their corner of the main room as well, though you cant make out what they are saying to each other. Once everyone is settled in again, the place grows quiet once more, deathly quiet. Except for when Monocar is talking, of course.

If you cant tell, I am stalling a bit here to give Baldi a chance to pipe in before I move this along again. So......ummm.......if there is anything else you want to do as you wait out the day...... etc. etc.

Actions?

map:

443BFFE3-C29B-46C8-ACB2-50D9613A1CEA.jpeg (781.67 KiB) Viewed 366 times

Wes 25/34 4/6 first 0/4 second 3/3 third
Galanthas 5/13 CL, DM, RM 2/2 first
Luther 18/26
Avaala 12/12 CL, DM, RM 2/2 first 0/1 second
Treasure AC:2 12/12 Mv:6"/24"
Chauncey 18/20 CL, DM, RM 1/2 first 1/1 second
Mr. Wrenly 4/4
Brother Gilbert 19/22 0/4 first 3/3 second
Monocar 15/31
Jaxsen 3/14 (10 5.5T) (Invisible)

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Gets the picture and hushes a bit. Eventually, he quiets down all together going to sleep before his turn at watch starts.

[Jernau35]

Wes

The druid speaks to the members of both groups.

"Obad Hai has given me a powerful ward that can be used to protect each room, if you want to use it. If you have a piece of rope, I can enchant it as a snare that will hold even the most powerful intruder. But it will last for twelve hours, unless something sets it off. I could set it so that we could still enter and exit the rooms, but we'd have to be very careful".

"Do you want to use it on the doorway to your room?"

[Karaunios]

Galanthas sees Monocar's actions with astonishment, his eyes wide open not knowing how to digest what's going on with the warrior. He shakes his head, coughs, and turns to Chauncey, leaning slightly in his directions and speaking in a low voice: "Master Chauncey. Since we have the whole day before us to rest ourselves and all that, I think it might be a complete waste of time if we just lay there doing nothing before we go to sleep... What about interchaning some of our magical knowledge? I take you were interested in that little spell of my creation. The one I casted on myself back at the cabin?"

Sorry, sorry, sorry. Had quite a busy week and was looking forward for the weekend to just take some time to write down my posts

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

He is going to look about the room he is in, clearing his head of the chatter from the other party members. He wanted to get a break from all of the personalities clashing for a little while. When he is done, he will quietly stand outside the door to the room, just looking around. He is curious why there is a temple to Pelor on the island, how long it has been abandoned, and why. Perhaps it can be rebuilt, he thinks.

[OGRE MAGE]

No need for sorries, Baldi. Everyone is allowed to miss a day or two (or even three) from time to time.

[Urson]

Luther

Sometime during the afternoon, Luther speaks to the others in the room with him. It feels like we're being used as pawns by unseen players on a gameboard we don't recognize.
We have Bonnie- who seems to be everywhere, stirring up shit.
We have this evil priest we're dealing with- who has designs on the town, I think.
We have the native farmers- who are the face of someone we haven't met, yet. I suspect there's someone maneuvering them around, too.
And we have the dwarves- who are a lot more belligerent than the few that I've met, otherwise.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala responds to Wes. "I think a ward would be an excellent idea. Here, I have a coil of rope." He hands Wes a 50' coil that seems barely used. Noting that Monocar has decided to sleep, Avaala opts on taking the first watch, hoping to get his rest during the later parts of the day.

[ChubbyPixie]

Galanthas sees Monocar's actions with astonishment, his eyes wide open not knowing how to digest what's going on with the warrior. He shakes his head, coughs, and turns to Chauncey, leaning slightly in his directions and speaking in a low voice: "Master Chauncey. Since we have the whole day before us to rest ourselves and all that, I think it might be a complete waste of time if we just lay there doing nothing before we go to sleep... What about interchaning some of our magical knowledge? I take you were interested in that little spell of my creation. The one I casted on myself back at the cabin?"

Sorry, sorry, sorry. Had quite a busy week and was looking forward for the weekend to just take some time to write down my posts

Chauncey's eyes light up at the mention of exchanging magical knowledge. "Yes... yes, good thinking, Galanthas. That would, perhaps, be to our mutual benefit. You may peruse my spell book. And, here, let me have a look at yours. The spells of limited power might possibly be transcribed in the time we have," he says. He removes his spell book from his pack and hands it to the elf, its goblin-skin face leering awkwardly at Galanthas in an attempt at a convivial smile. The grotesque covering winks at him.

Can we manage to copy a first level spell over, OM? Also, It's only been a day in game time, but several months in the real world - what was the spell Galanthas was offering to exchange? I super don't remember.

[Karaunios]

Luther

Sometime during the afternoon, Luther speaks to the others in the room with him. It feels like we're being used as pawns by unseen players on a gameboard we don't recognize.
We have Bonnie- who seems to be everywhere, stirring up shit.
We have this evil priest we're dealing with- who has designs on the town, I think.
We have the native farmers- who are the face of someone we haven't met, yet. I suspect there's someone maneuvering them around, too.
And we have the dwarves- who are a lot more belligerent than the few that I've met, otherwise.

Galanthas chuckles at Luther's assertion. "Yes, indeed. It really seems we're being used by people mocking us all the time. Laughing at our mistakes around a board..."

Chauncey's eyes light up at the mention of exchanging magical knowledge. "Yes... yes, good thinking, Galanthas. That would, perhaps, be to our mutual benefit. You may peruse my spell book. And, here, let me have a look at yours. The spells of limited power might possibly be transcribed in the time we have," he says. He removes his spell book from his pack and hands it to the elf, its goblin-skin face leering awkwardly at Galanthas in an attempt at a convivial smile. The grotesque covering winks at him.

Can we manage to copy a first level spell over, OM? Also, It's only been a day in game time, but several months in the real world - what was the spell Galanthas was offering to exchange? I super don't remember.

But when he sees Chauncey bringing out his alien spellbook he startles and his centre of attention quickly shifts to the tome in front of his eyes. "Oh... Yes. Yes. Sure. I believe we have the time, probably." His eyes still wide open, he brings his own spellbook out. It's a simple, thick, leather bound old volume with two red fabric bookmarkers. The books doesn't seem to be that used though, something understandable in a young mage (and half-mage at that) like the elf.

I'll leave Chauncey, more of an expert mage than Galanthas, to suggest thtat they may don't have the time or the amenities here to interchange spells here. But they can take a look, maybe at each other's spellbooks.

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeking Out The Jungle Priest
Sunday, the 14th of Goodmonth
Noonish, Hot, Humid, Damp, Dim

An hour or so later, the group is still settling into their new accommodations for the rest of the day and night. Nothing terrible happens as they discuss spells, sharpen weapons, and rest in their respective closed rooms, though they do hear some strange moaning and rhythmic slapping noises for a while, coming from the area on the other side of the room. Perhaps the entity in the priests bedroom has been acting up again?

Nothing is found if the noise is investigated, and that sound soon subsides as well. One sound that is quite clear after a while is the distinct tone of Krystal's angry voice shouting something odd. You are pretty sure she says something like. "You men are all the same!" Other than that sudden outburst, the place remains quiet as an old church can be.

Galanthas stares cautiously at Chauncey's spellbook, hoping that it doesn't bite him. Luther runs through important facts out loud. Wes suggests setting up a magical snare in each room. Brother Gilbert exits his room for another look around the once beautiful temple, certain that with a little hard work and a few bags of gold, this place could be cleaned up and repaired back to its former glory. The ruined tower will be the biggest challenge that he has seen so far.

The sleepy adventurers continue to while away the day inside the relative safety of the two small rooms.

Actions?

map:

3AE3136C-A383-41DC-9587-04954FACE136.jpeg (776.12 KiB) Viewed 307 times

Wes 25/34 4/6 first 0/4 second 3/3 third
Galanthas 5/13 CL, DM, RM 2/2 first
Luther 18/26
Avaala 12/12 CL, DM, RM 2/2 first 0/1 second
Treasure AC:2 12/12 Mv:6"/24"
Chauncey 18/20 CL, DM, RM 1/2 first 1/1 second
Mr. Wrenly 4/4
Brother Gilbert 19/22 0/4 first 3/3 second
Monocar 15/31
Jaxsen 3/14 (Invisible)

[ChubbyPixie]

After rummaging in his backpack for a moment, Chauncey makes an exasperated sound. “I could have sworn I brought my... no that’s not it. Well, cabbages!” he exclaims, “Galanthas, it seems I’ve forgotten both my cockatrice spittle ink binder AND my pinky thimble. I must have left them back in the shack. You didn’t happen to bring yours, did you? If not I’m afraid we won’t be copying any spells here today. Still, one might peruse one another’s spell books to find a suitable trade. Explain to me again the function of this Vitality spell you mentioned before? I have never heard of such a dweomer.”