Quest #37 "Black Metal Examination"

[Jernau35]

Wes

"My friend", Wes says solemnly. "Obad Hai has many predators he could have sent to eat us. You should be grateful he only sent his smallest."

"You plan is sound. Let's scout from where we left off and see what opportunities arise as we go".

"Chauncey, if you have a spell of invisibility that you feel like shrouding me in, I certainly wouldn't refuse it."

[ChubbyPixie]

"Certainly, Wesley," says Chauncey, "I have prepared one specifically for you. Extra potent."

After casting the spell on Wesley, he turns to Mr. Wrenly. "Sir, I believe you would best serve the mission hidden in the treetops, following us from above, keeping an eye on the dwarves' comings and goings. Stay hidden and out of reach, please... what? No, you can't take my Wand of Wonders. Of course it would be 'fun,' but the answer is 'no.'" The beloved familiar shrieks and scurries up a tree.

"Let's do this, shall we?" The wizard rolls up his invisible sleeves.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dwarven Camp
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, So Very Buggy

After the morning rituals and making Wes unseen, the group heads out towards the Stonegut camp, hoping to do a bit of recon work before making a plan of attack.

With Chwee and Mr. Wrenly scouting ahead from the treetops, the unseen party of bug bitten friends moves through a trampled jungle area that smells of stale urine and human waste before cresting the edge of a massive clearing filled with noise and activity.

Structures and figures can be seen scattered throughout the clearing and from the smells beyond, it would seem that you have arrived precisely at breakfast time for the dwarves. Outside of one nearby barn-like structure sits a long table that is absolutely overflowing with all manner of foodstuffs. Meats, breads, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, even desserts of all kinds cover the table. Nothing from this feast looks like something that could be foraged from the jungle. Several fat dwarves mill about, sloppily picking over what they want to eat, trying things and casually tossing any unwanted bits to the ground as waste.

There are other buildings and things happening, but this is what you noticed first, and before I can continue, I will need a [2d6] Int roll and a [4d6] Wis check from Greedy Grimm.

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 (Invisible)
Chwee?
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:1/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Easy skill check: [2d6]=7 vs INT 10

Hard Skill Check: [4d6]=17 vs WIS 10

Edit:

Grimm starts huffing and puffing like a bull. He mutters something in dwarven, but his words are so altered by his increasing rage that few who understand dwarven will get what he just said.

The dwarf doesn't delay it any longer. He goes towards the fat dwarves and starts looking desperately for the horn. Where's the horn?

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dwarven Camp
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, So Very Buggy

While the invisible party looks around the area, they hear Grimm huffing loudly and then see dwarven sized footprints appear in the dirt in front of them, heading straight for the table filled with foodstuffs.

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 (Invisible)
Chwee?
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:1/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Grimm will go around the table first, looking at every detail in order to find what he's looking for. If something seems to be likely to cover the object of his desires, he will remove the thing when the fat dwarves aren't looking.

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Grimm? Are you okay? Grimm?" Wes looks on concerned as the dwarf stomps out from the trees and seemingly heads towards the table.

For a moment the druid considers using Obad Hai's magic to bring Grimm back to the group. But then he remembers Chauncey's warning that doing so would break his own Invisibility incantation. Better to stay hidden for now, he reasons.

Turning to Chauncey and Darklin, he points out something interesting about the scene in front of them. "Something is strange about that table. Look at all that food laying there. It should be swarming with bugs. But there are barely any at all."

[ChubbyPixie]

WesTurning to Chauncey and Darklin, he points out something interesting about the scene in front of them. "Something is strange about that table. Look at all that food laying there. It should be swarming with bugs. But there are barely any at all."

"Yes, curious," says Chauncey, quietly, as he observes the scene. "Bug question aside, they could feed the whole island with what they have there. Or at the very least use the surplus as bartering material. Then again, what does Beachtown have that they would want to trade for? I think we can interpret this scene as a general representation of their character. Basically, they're assh..." He suddenly pauses when he notes Grimm's footprints heading for the table. "Where is he going?"

He whispers after the departing Dwarf: "Do be careful, sir...! Don't do anything rash!"

[Jernau35]

Wes

"That's the other thing," Wes replies. "Where are they getting it all from? We've seen plenty of laden caravans going down to the beach. But how many laden ones coming back? And they'd have to be full to bursting to accommodate all this food and the level of waste."

"Hold on. I think the copper piece may have just dropped. Grimm has never directly said what this magical item is. Just that it would be very helpful to the townsfolk. What if it's something that creates food? That would be a great help. And it would explain how the Stoneguts have so much of the stuff. And maybe why the insects are staying away from it. And why Grimm just headed straight over there as soon as he saw all that food."

Wes grimaces. "I think we should get ready for a fight, or to run away fast."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dwarven Camp
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, So Very Buggy

Darklin stays close to Chauncey and Wes as Grimm makes his way unseen towards the table. He whispers his thoughts softly. "If the food is indeed created by magical means, perhaps that is why the insects aren't acknowledging it?"

The trio wait to see what their dwarven friend is about to do, watching as items are lifted up off the table and strewn around randomly. When Grimm finds the article he was looking for buried under the furthest pile of foodstuffs, he cant help himself but to immediately reach for the prized artifact.

The 6 closest dwarves eating off the table see the items moving around of their own accord, their expressions giving off a myriad of emotion from fear to confusion, including a few others along the way. When the still invisible Grimm grabs up his prized ox horn cornucopia, looking a bit like a big drinking horn set with many gems, it too floats up into the air in front of the astonished dwarves.

Three of them freak out and look around nervously for someone who might know what to do about this, while the other three make a dive for the precious floating item, rushing at the unseen Grimm before he has a chance to secure the item safely on his person. One of them bumps into the invisible dwarf and starts shouting his head off. "OUI!!! WE GOT US A THIEF OVER HERE!!! EVERY DWARF TO THE FEASTING TABLE!!! NOW!!!!!!"

As the trio attempt to surround the floating horn, those still in the bushes about 25 feet away can see several other dwarves now rushing in the direction of the commotion.

Actions!

E3C9375D-E78C-4B6E-B127-2D85E92F596B.jpeg (28.57 KiB) Viewed 532 times

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 (Invisible)
Chwee?
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:3/3 2nd:1/2 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[ChubbyPixie]

"Well... crumbs..." mutters Chauncey, hardly believing just how quickly their ingenious plan went to hell.

From the concealment of the bushes, he casts Sleep as the dwarves converge on the table and the floating horn, trying to catch as many as possible.

"Wesley, Darklin, you may need to retrieve Grimm, and the horn, of course, while I deal with any late-comers..." he says.

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Darklin, I think you'd best retrieve Grimm. I need to slow down all these reinforcements". Wes casts Entangle at the feet of the first dwarf running in from the north of the longhouse.

Not exactly at the feet. It has a 40' diameter. Since the squares are 25', he's aiming to get the southern part of the spell to cover the longhouse doors and the northwestern part to touch the edge of the trees. The first dwarf should be in the middle and the second one ready to run into it.

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Grimm grips the horn like it were more important than his own life. He wrestlers and struggles and tries to wriggle out of the damned Stoneguts, but not without the important object.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Moves to help Grimm. Trying the best he can to help pull the dwarf away from his enemies.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dwarven Camp
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, So Very Buggy

As spells fly, Grimm secures the Dwarven relic on his person at the expense of being overtaken by the trio of dwarves on him. They tussle, kick, and grab for a better hold on the invisible thief, who’s defensive actions keep him unseen for the moment. Darklin rushes in and attempts to pull Grimm away from the much stronger dwarves, also retaining his unseen status. He causes more confusion but is unable to rip his friend away from the growing scrum of Stoneguts.

While Chauncey plays sandman, articulating his spell from the tree line and becoming visible again, his magic fells 3 of the 6 dwarves closest to the melee. The one who was holding Grimm is quickly replaced by two others.

Wes calls for the trampled plant life in front of the largest bunkhouse to come alive, exciting grasses, vines, and roots that entangle 8 stubby dwarf legs. (I will give you the two who were running in.) One of the closest pair is stopped completely, while another nearby pair is slowed considerably by the tangle. Chwee looks down at the now visible druid with bulged eyes and total confusion.

The sound of a horn rings out through the clearing, sending a continuous series of short, repetitive blasts that are quickly echoed in return around the open area. The sound seems to be directed towards the commotion, and one nearby dwarf stops his advance to join in with the strange ensemble, pointing his horn in the direction of the crouching casters in the bushes.

Dozens more Stoneguts rush in from every direction, deflected only by Wes’s magic. Some are fully armed, wearing heavy armor, while others appear to be craftsman or commoners, carrying machetes or makeshift clubs. All of them appear somewhat crazed, wearing expressions of pure hatred and malice on their ruddy faces as they approach. Drool and spittle fly as the enraged dwarves close in, while concerning comments pertaining to “eating some real meat” can be heard amongst the slobbering.

Actions!

Grimm can make a [5d6] Str check to escape. Darklin can aid that with a successful [4d6] Str roll.

position map

8C76CD21-23AC-40A5-8F09-A19CB93C4A5D.jpeg (94.54 KiB) Viewed 466 times

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 Ent:10
Chwee?
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/3 2nd:1/2 Sleep:20
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"You won't have it, you thieves!" Says Grimm in a vain effort to get himself rid of the Stoneguts.

Very Hard Skill Check: [5d6]=24 vs 12

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Pulls on Grimm not saying a word.


[4d6]=14 Hard Str vs 17

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Obad Hai provides them with an island full of creatures to hunt, and they want to eat people?" cries out Wes. "Another blasphemy they'll pay for!"

"Chauncey, I'll leave the ones in front of us to you. I'll slow down the others." Wes plants another Entangle spell about fifty feet to his right, trying to catch the line of Stoneguts rushing in from that direction.

Aiming it to intersect with the other Entangle so that it blocks the southern approach routes, without putting Grimm and Darklin in the AoE.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey nods curtly, all business, and casts Sleep again, focusing on any Dwarves surrounding their invisible friends.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dwarven Camp
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, So Very Buggy

Despite the dozens of dwarves rushing towards their position, Wes and Chauncey stay right where they are and continue casting spells at the oncoming dwarves. The horns continue to blow and the group sees another dwarf stop to blast the alarm in their direction. While Wes entraps a few more Stoneguts in his groping vines, the more observant dwarves seem to be aware of his tricks, rushing around the natural barricade everywhere they can. The closest two dwarves charge in to skewer the duo, but their mad excitement causes both of their attacks to miss their marks.

With Wes and Chauncey now in hand to hand combat with an ever growing mass of angry dwarves, Chauncey's spell seems to do the trick to help release Grimm when 2 more of the dwarves wrestling with him fall to the ground fast asleep. Darklin, remaining silent and still pulling on his friend, falls backwards at the feet of several dwarves, but at least he is free. Grimm is free too, but his vocalization has drawn the attention of a few more oncoming dwarves.

Suddenly, for the party, things are looking......well.......you know.......pretty grim!

Actions!

position map

7F22DDA7-723A-4B1D-86F5-A2526B971B52.jpeg (30.9 KiB) Viewed 436 times

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 43/43 1st:4/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3 Ent:9/10
Chwee?
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 26/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:1/2 Sleep:19/20
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)