Quest #37 "Black Metal Examination"

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Dwarves?
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Noonish, Overcast, Warm, Buggy

Allowing the dwarves to pass their hidden position, the group slinks back out of the jungle once the trail is clear. They continue along their way, needing to repeat their hiding procedure one more time as they pass a second dwarf patrol. The trail is definitely being watched now, but with an experienced druid and three invisible members, the party is able to avoid any detection.

Without any other conflict, they reach the area on the trail where the dwarf road cut into the west side of the jungle should be just up ahead. There is no sound or sign of any activity from the mine path.

Actions?

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 43/43 1st:6/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Moves back out of the jungle, looking around as if paranoid. Watching both trails forward and back. Also looking at the trail for any small bits of the black rock that may have been dropped from the sleds.

We need to watch we are getting close. I am still with you all. Lead on.

[Jernau35]

Wes

"We can't go up that mine trail yet," Wes says. "Chwee said he would wait for us up by the Logger's Shack. We'll have to go up that way to pick him up."

"We should avoid that trail anyway. I've seen those rocks turn into Stonegut guards when we crossed between them. We don't want to ring that door-bell!"

Edit: I changed doorbell to door-bell because the former seems to imply the electric kind, which obviously wouldn't exist, and the latter makes me think of a bell hanging on a rope next to a door.

I need help, don't I?

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"Stones that turn into Stonegut guards?! Ha! That's a new one for me." Given the things he's seen so far, the dwarf is not as surprised as he might have been a couple weeks ago. He thinks of his first encounter with a group of adventurers on this island, in the shack clearing. "Alright then. To the shack it is."

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Shack
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Noonish, Overcast, Warm, Buggy

Darklin looks around as they walk, finding a small chunk of the black rock that must have fallen from one of the lizard pulled sleds. The rock appears almost volcanic in nature, covered with holes and little pits, but it is much heavier than any porous rock he has seen before. The elf has never seen anything like this material, and he cant figure out what value, if any, it might hold.

Not interested in ringing any bells, of any kind, Wes suggests they cut through the jungle on the far side of the mine trail. When the group heads into the jungle, they find a path already cut through the thicket for them. Without a word from Chauncey, the invisible trio and the hairy druid continue trekking north until they reach the loggers trail again, well north of the dwarves path to their mine.

The shack they seek should only be another mile or two up the loggers trail. The bugs continue to harass the entire team, apparently not needing to see their victims in order to bite and sting them. The noise from their constant slapping might give them away, if there were anyone around to hear it.

Actions?

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 43/43 1st:6/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Some quite comments cussing the bugs and the humid heat are made by the dwarf, but he mostly keeps walking and tries to remain silent and alert.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Note to self: research a spell to destroy bugs. All of them," says Chauncey to himself as they proceed northward.

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes walks along, slapping at the bugs, wondering if they should be considered predators, creations of Obad-Hai, or scavengers, creatures of some other god. No doubt Obad-Hai would reveal the answer to this mystery in good time.

As they approach the shack, Wes becomes more cautious. The shack seemed to attract trouble just like...well, just like people attracted swarms of bugs. Hopefully Chwee would be waiting there and they could leave the place immediately.

Chwee? A thought occurs to the druid. He discreetly signals for the Invisible Trio to approach him. Covering his mouth he says quietly, "Last time we met Chwee, we were still with Bonnie. The original Bonnie. She was invisible, but the phanaton could smell her. It's likely they'll smell you too. In fact, they may be watching this trail right now. We'll have to be very discreet from here on. And if anyone has a suggestion of what to say if they do detect any of you, and start asking questions about Bonnie, I'd love to hear it."

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"Hm... Why don't we plainly say that we're here? They'll trust us if we are forthright. And if they ask about that little troublemaker of an elf, we can say that perhaps she was following us after we abandoned her for being so... reckles, and we didn't know. Just act surprised when they tell you so and try to say it like you're asking it to yourself. We can't smell like they do so that sounds like a good excuse to me."

[ChubbyPixie]

"Agreed. Let's tell them we're here," says Chauncey, the sound emanating from under a nearby shrub.

[OGRE MAGE]

To The Shack
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Overcast, Hot, Buggy

When Wes and the Invisibles enter the clearing with the loggers shack, it appears empty initially. While discussing how they will deal with the phanaton, six of them suddenly exit the jungle from the north.

With Chwee at their center, they approach the Druid with suspicious expressions. Chwee pulls out a grey colored stone sphere and holds it in his hand, greeting his friend with a toothy grin.

Actions?

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 43/43 1st:6/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Grimm won't say anything in order to let the druid do the talking but he won't make any effort to avoid being heard.

[Darklin2]

DARKLIN

Will remain quiet and listen to the exchange. remembering his dealings with the thieving phanatons from the beach. He keeps a watchful eye on the six little rats.

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes smiles back at Chwee and gives a little nod of his head in greeting. "Hello Chwee!" Then he carefully and slowly begins to cast Speak With Animals. He knows that Chwee has seen and heard the spell before, but Wes still worries a little about the other phanaton and hopes they don't get the wrong idea about his actions.

Once the magic is in effect, Wes opens the conversation with Chwee. "Greetings, my friend! I hope you were not waiting too long for us to return. We came as fast as we could. There was a problem at the place we call Beachtown. The dwarves came and many people moved away. We went along to help them."

"We have returned now because we want to travel to the dwarven mine, where they live. Dwarves are usually good people. We want to find out if these dwarves have a problem that disturbs them in some way."

[OGRE MAGE]

At The Shack
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Overcast, Hot, Buggy

When nobody notices his surprise, Chwee unceremoniously slips the grey sphere back into his belt pouch and lets Wes touch him on the shoulder as the others look on in disbelief. Two of them walk close to where Darklin is standing and sniff around, but none of them make any aggressive moves.

Chwee nods his furry head. "No problem. We just arrived ourselves. I think we have seen these dwarves you speak of. In fact, I think I can smell one of them right now." He looks up at the druid shaking his head, nonchalantly motioning towards the other phanaton with him.

Actions?

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 43/43 1st:5/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3 SWA:10
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Grimm stands just listening, but not understanding anything. He looks at the little creatures with curiosity as well as precaution, wondering how is it possible that the natives, including his friend Powstap, can eat them.

[Jernau35]

Wes

"You're quite right Chwee. There is a dwarf here. His name is Grimm. In fact, three of my friends are here. We've used magic to make them invisible. We'd like to get a look around the dwarf camp without being seen".

"By the way, I noticed you had a gray orb with you when you arrived. Were you going to show that to us? I was going to ask about it a moment ago, but I thought I'd better mention my friends here first. Folks sometimes get nervous when there are invisible people hanging around".

"And of course I wanted to ask you if you still want to come on our journey with us? It may be dangerous, but I'm sure you'll find it interesting."

[OGRE MAGE]

At The Shack
Starday, 27th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Overcast, Hot, Buggy

Chwee tells his fellow phanaton what the druid mentions about his invisible friends and Wes notices that they all seem to relax a bit, though their furry faces remain skeptical.

The chatty tree dweller pulls the grey sphere back out of his pouch to show it off again. "Our chief gave this to me to use on our journey. It has magical power and will allow us to converse, though the effect is quite limited and only lasts for a few moments each day before the power is used up. Our ancient history teaches us that these spheres are supposed to be keys of some kind, but we have never been able to figure out their use. Our chief borrowed his highly prized possession to me, hoping that we can find some way to implement it."

"And yes, I am ready to go along with you as soon as you are ready to depart. My friends here were simply escorting me to our meeting."

Actions?

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 43/43 1st:5/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3 SWA:10
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Remains quiet, listening to the exchange. Watching the phanatons as they move around.

[Karaunios]

Do we all understand what Chwee says thanks to the stone?