Quest #28 "Kegenstien's Expedition Over the River"

[Jernau35]

The Knife

"Yes, that is something gnomes can do", The Knife says, in answer to Feanol. "Although they're not great conversationalists. Unless you want to talk about eating bugs. They love that". He pauses. "Ah! I see what you are getting at. Great idea!"

[OGRE MAGE]

The Black Cliffs
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Mid Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Elnaerel and Feanol steel themselves for any trouble that might show itself, while The Knife looks around for his trappings, finding plenty of thick vines hanging everywhere. Keyon darts up a nearby tree while Keg spots a thicket of long thick grass, very similar to bamboo.

Though it isn’t easy to see through the thick canopy above their heads, the elevated elf is pretty sure he has spotted a small clearing that skirts the edge of the cliffs a short distance ahead of the group. There is movement there, and what looks like at least 2 large figures milling about. The smoke they smell is definitely spotted coming from that direction as well, though Keyon can’t actually see the fire burning.

Actions?

overall map:
viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477
Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Paladin]

Keyon

The elf observes for a moment longer, staying hidden as best as he's able, then climbs carefully and quietly back to the ground to relay the information to his companions.

"There's a clearing there a short distance ahead," he says, pointing toward the cliffs. "The smoke comes from there, and I saw at least two large figures moving about. We might've found our ogres."

He dons his gear and readies himself for their next move.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

"It does sound like it," says The Knife.

"Now then, I've got so many things to remember my head is starting to spin. "First, I have an idea for some traps. If we can find a heavy log, we can lift it up somewhere with these vines and rig a tripwire to drop it. And we can scrape out a shallow pit and fill it with sharpened bamboo spikes. It doesn't have to be very deep, we just cover it with leaves and stuff. I have some other ideas too if we have time."

The Knife starts to perform a selection of strange vocal actions: coughing, gurgling, squeaking, grunting, clicking and hissing. He looks back at the others as they look at him. "Thanks to Feanol's excellent prompting, I'm going to try and call a small animal. A rat or a shrew or maybe a badger. Who knows what lives out here? I'll see if they can sneak into the ogre's camp and get us a bit more information." He grins, then frowns. "Actually, we haven't seen many animals out here, have we? Maybe nothing will answer".

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

"All hands on deck, then. Keg, would you help me finding that log and bringing it here? Feanol, since you aren't one for physical extertion, maybe you should be the one keeping an eye out? Specially towards the direction where ogres might be. Your elf senses might be better suited for keeping watch than some of our other companions." She grins and giver her a wink.

"Does anybody have a trip wire? Can we maybe do some out any vines we may find around, or just knotting some vegetable fiber?"

[Bluehorse]

Keg

The big man nods to Elnaerel and unshoulders his wood axe. Let's get on that. If we need to do anything excessively noisey, let's try to do it more in the direction we came from so as not to draw attention.

[Jernau35]

I can't find the exact post, but a while ago I asked OM about tripwire being part of Thieve's Tools. He said something along the lines of a reasonable/common sense amount being fine. So both Keyon and The Knife would have some.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

I am thinking anything to keep them busy while we are hammering them with ranged weapons. I have a hand ax I can help with the limbing of the tree. Let's go. We got to keep the noise down so they don't hear us.

He lays his pack and bow down near Feanol. Unstrapping his axe and following.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Black Cliffs
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Mid Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

While Feanol and Keyon keep watch and flirt with each other, the others get to work.

Looking around, they find plenty of vines and other natural cordage hanging from all the trees. There is a dead-fall close by as well, large enough to cut a big log from. While they work to get it prepped as quietly as possible, TK tries something completely different.

Getting down real low to ground level, the gnome tries calling for any nearby burrowing mammals he can think of that might live in the jungle. The noises he makes sound very strange to the others, but considering the source, they don't seem overly surprised. Before long, the gnome spots a disturbance in some loose dirt nearby when a tiny critter pops its hideous head out of the soil to say hello.

5153365977_b8e8b14a5c_m.jpg (26.51 KiB) Viewed 495 times

The noises sound more like someone kissing and squeezing a squeaky dog toy, but The Knife understand the creature perfectly. The jungle mole's beady eyes dart around overhead before it begins. "Ah, ya? Wadda ya lookin for, big guy?"

Actions?

overall map:
viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477
Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Jernau35]

The Knife

The Knife greets the unusual looking mole. "Hello! My friends and I need some help. There are some big creatures in a clearing over there. We call them ogres. They're not very nice. We're looking for somewhere to live and we're worried they might try to kill us."


"If you can help us, I have some nice lumps of meat here for you. We need to know more about them. How many of them are there? Are they asleep or awake? Have they been here a long time? How big is that clearing? Where is the fire? Do they have lots of stuff with them? Have they done anything to the ground or trees around the clearing?"

"Can you tell us any of that? Or go take a look at them and tell us, please?"

The Knife pauses for a moment then looks at his colleagues. "Can you think of anything else I can ask him? Moles don't really understand things like weapons, though," he cautions.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

Feanol looks on as The Knife holds his conversation with the mole. Smiling she watches the two interact, hoping that this will bear fruit. Other than that she keeps a watch in all directions as she is not just worried about the Ogres.

[Paladin]

Keyon

If any trip-wires are needed, Keyon will offer what he has to whoever requires it.

And lest he seem too obviously work-averse, the lithe elf climbs back into his perch above the jungle floor, just high enough to get a decent view of their immediate surroundings and keep a close eye while his companions go about their various tasks.

[Bluehorse]

Keg

Looks at the mole and his first thought is wondering what it would taste like roasted over a fire with some sauce... Then shrugs and goes back to hacking at the bamboo to help make a boobie trap.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel smiles when she sees the mole. But quickly goes back to work.

[OGRE MAGE]

No Darklin post here since Monday. I will press the action without him.

The Black Cliffs
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Mid Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

While the others continue keeping guard, bucking logs and gathering vines, The Knife squeaks and chatters away with the tiny rodent at his feet.

"Ummmm, sorry. I never heard of an ogre before. And there really isnt any room for you to move in here. My tunnels are far too small for the likes of you giants."

"Wait......meat? Like a nice fat juicy worm? Well then maybe I could sneak over there and take a look for you. Just how far are we talking here? My legs are very short, you know." The moles beady eyes dart around again before he finishes. "You got the worm on you right now? How about giving me half now and the other half when I return?"

Actions?

overall map:
viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477
Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Jernau35]

The Knife

The Knife considers the distance to the clearing. It's obviously at least a couple of hundred feet away, since the ogres don't seem to have heard them building their traps. Too far for the mole to crawl. "How about this? I'll take you about halfway there, then you go the rest of the way then come back to me."

He reaches into his pack for some jerky. Breaking a small piece off, he pours some water on it and mashes it up in the palm of his hand. "I don't have a worm right now, but try this and tell me what you think."

The Knife goes over to where he can speak with the others. "I'm not exactly sure about this mole-spy trick to be honest. It might work and we'll at least know something about the ogres. But it will take a few minutes and we might not learn much. I mean, the traps will take a few minutes to make so we have time..."He shrugs. "I don't even know where I'm going with this. Do you think it's worth the effort or not?"

Since everyone else's character is "building traps" I didn't want to go off spying while you all have to post "I cut down another tree" for the next three days

[Bluehorse]

No worries! I am eager to see where this goes I am more than willing to wait.

[Karaunios]

No worries! I am eager to see where this goes I am more than willing to wait.

Ditto!

Edit: Consider that Elnaerel keeps on doing the same during the interaction.

[Paladin]

Keyon

Remaining perched in his nest, Keyon sweeps the jungle below for signs of danger. He also glances at the preparations being made by the others, smiling as TK converses with the tiny beast before turning his attention back to the jungle.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"Go ahead Knife, we have time and I don't see how it can hurt."