Quest #37 "Black Metal Examination"

[OGRE MAGE]

Stonegut Savagery
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

Chauncey is roughly seized by the many dwarves, his hands tied tightly behind his back. "Our King'll decide yer fate human. BUT IF YER FRIENDS DECIDE TO BRING THE HORN BACK, YOU WILL BE SET FREE!!!" The invisible mage is pulled away from the area of chaos and dead dwarves. As he is moved around, dwarves spit and throw things at him, cursing him for the deaths of their kinfolk. "If ye cant make food like the horn did, I don't see our King having much use fer ya." Chauncey feels much better about his odds of survival once the dwarves stop stabbing him. When there is no answer from his friends, Chauncy is slowly led towards the mine in the distance.

Wes takes some satisfaction when he sees 7 of the 8 dwarves chasing him start to become uncomfortable, tearing off their boots and gauntlets as their heavy armor starts to heat up. By the time they have doffed their searing metal protection, 5 of them have stopped moving all together and now lay smoldering on the jungle floor. Watching this horror is enough to make the 3 remaining dwarves rethink their chase. They slowly move away from the area of the stinking carnage, heading back the way they came.

While Darklin and Grimm discuss whether they should go back or continue their escape, the 6 dwarves behind them catch up and encircle their position. They wave their weapons around trying to draw blood to spot the invisible pair easier, but they appear grateful for all the extra talking. "We can hear the fear in yer words even if we cant see ya. Drop yer weapons and we will let ya live."

Actions!

positions:
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 15/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)

Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:4/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Chwee?
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Remains quiet and dodges the attack attempts. Moving his back to Grimm. Using touch to find the Dwarf. Keeps his eyes open for a gap in their circle that he can slip through.

[OGRE MAGE]

Darklin

Remains quiet and dodges the attack attempts. Moving his back to Grimm. Using touch to find the Dwarf. Keeps his eyes open for a gap in their circle that he can slip through.

Can you give me a [4d6] Dex check, please?

[Darklin2]

Darklin

[4d6]=16 Hard Dex VS 17


Once he sees a gap he will run to the nearest tree and stop, throwing a rock into the jungle past the tree. Then grab the lowest limb and pull himself up being as quiet as possible. Using the Elves not in Metal armor 66.6% silent move surprise rule.

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Grimm will also use the confusion created by Darklin to make a run for it.

Hard Skill Check: [4d6]=8 vs DEX 16

[ChubbyPixie]

Stonegut Savagery
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

Chauncey is roughly seized by the many dwarves, his hands tied tightly behind his back. "Our King'll decide yer fate human. BUT IF YER FRIENDS DECIDE TO BRING THE HORN BACK, YOU WILL BE SET FREE!!!" The invisible mage is pulled away from the area of chaos and dead dwarves. As he is moved around, dwarves spit and throw things at him, cursing him for the deaths of their kinfolk. "If ye cant make food like the horn did, I don't see our King having much use fer ya."

"Make food? Is that all? Yes, of course I can make food. Ha! That's... that's magic 101, basically. And I am THE MOST POWERFUL MAGIC-USER ON THE ISLAND, after all. I will agree to speak to your king. I think he will find I am quite a valuable resource. I bet we'll become best friends... er, after this little misunderstanding is cleared up." he says.

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes follows the three remaining dwarves for a short distance to ensure that they are really leaving the area. Standing amid the smoking corpses of their comrades, he calls after them: "It's only by the grace of Obad Hai that you're still alive, Stoneguts! This isn't your land! Leave while you still can!"

Then he turns his attention to the charred bodies strewn all around. "One should live in harmony with nature in all of its variety," he intones, reciting the Guiding Prayer of Obad Hai. "Those who are one with nature have little to fear. Those who destroy or harm nature deserve swift vengeance."

"Rest well dwarves. With death you'll replenish what you tried to destroy." He looks at them all, stone-faced.

Wes peers up into the branches above him. He calls out "Chwee? Regan? Are you there?" Then he casts Speak With Animals and repeats his call. If they show up, he issues the following instructions to them."Chwee. I need you to do two things for me. First, please go and check that those three dwarves are going away. Then, please go and find Grimm and Darklin. They're probably still invisible but I know you can smell them. Then come back and tell me where they are."

"Regan. Find Cha-aw-cee. Then come to me".

Wes waits for a response from Chwee, before heading back in the direction of the Stonegut's mine. He treads warily, being careful of his surroundings. I've been a prisoner once before. No sense in letting the Stoneguts grab me too".

[ChubbyPixie]

“Hello, good sir! Hello! We are in a bit of a pickle, don’t you agree?”

A voice calls down from the treetops, quickly followed by the appearance of Mr. Wrenly, who drops from a low-hanging branch to alight on the Druid’s shoulder.

“My business associate is currently inconvenienced by these “Stone Guts,” as it were. I’m sure you’re aware. Could I trouble you for an easily portable knife or other cutting implement? There’s good fellow. Don’t mean to be a bother - just hoping to make short work of some rather inconvenient ‘bonds,’ you know.”

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes jumps for a moment when Mr. Wrenly suddenly appears. "Ah! Oh yes, good to see you there Mr. Wrenly. Glad to hear Chauncey is still hanging in there." He pulls his dagger and scabbard from his belt. "There you go fella. No bother at all. With a bit of luck we'll be along for him shortly".

[ChubbyPixie]

Mr. Wrenly receives the dagger politely, then transfers it to his prehensile tail as he prepares to leap back up into the trees.

"It really has been a pleasure, sir. I thank you for your prompt accommodation in this difficult circumstance. I'd love to stay – I do enjoy our chats – but this matter is rather pressing. Just now they're removing my associate to an audience with their king. There's talk of "termination" if he can't produce "food." Inconvenient, sir, inconvenient. Luckily, he can produce food, bless his heart. But he can do so, however, only in very small amounts, I'm afraid, making the entire enterprise alarmingly... eh... tenuous," he says.

Suddenly he tenses, on full alert. His tiny hand darts into Wes's beard and produces a nit, which he promptly stuffs in his mouth.

"Always a pleasure, sir! Good day!" he says as he springs away.

[OGRE MAGE]

24 carat RP

Blistering Reprisals
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

As the dwarves close in around them, Darklin stops talking, grabs a rock, dives through an opening in their ranks, and leaps up onto a branch, tossing the rock into the jungle as a distraction. Grimm takes advantage by also stopping his verbal communications and carefully slipping out of the ring of dwarves as well, slowly slinking away as quietly as a burly dwarf can.

Wes looks around for Chwee, but doesn’t find the phanaton anywhere around. He chirps some instructions to his parrot, sending him away to find the captured Chauncey. After a charming conversation, he arms the wizards familiar with a blade and heads back towards the Stonegut camp.

Chauncey is led past a few poorly built wooden buildings before his captors stop at the edge of a massive dark mine. This thing is frighteningly large and must stretch on for miles. He can feel the moist coolness of the underground temperature floating out. The whole place gives off an eerie, less than natural vibe. “We wait here until we are permitted below.”

Actions?

positions:
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 15/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)

Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:3/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Chwee?
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Karaunios]

Grimm

The dwarf will try to sneak away of this place. If he's correct, Chauncey got caught northwest of where he's now, so Wes shouldn't be far from there. He looks for the druid.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Remains quiet in the tree. Not moving or speaking. Just watching and hopeing the others got away from the Dwarves.

[Jernau35]

Wes

Wes keeps moving towards the Stonegut mine. He uses the trail the mob of dwarves used as a reference point to head back. Without following it, he proceeds at an angle to it, widening the distance as he goes. His plan is to try and come out near the last spot he saw Chauncey, Darklin and Grimm. He moves sporadically, trying not to give his position away.

Wes also tries to watch out for any sign of Chwee or Regan.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Charming... er, mine," observes Chauncey.

He zones out for a moment, focusing on his beloved and loyal familiar, Mr. Wrenly, and getting a visual of springing from tree to tree, on his way to his current location. Something was odd though... yes, there it was, a dagger held in the tail! A tear of pride wells up in the wizard's eye. He hadn't even given him the idea, the little guy had thought of it all on his own. A true friend.

"Mr. Wrenly! Do not put yourself in harm's way!" he thinks, suddenly alarmed that his friend might come to harm. "Your plan is sound, but you must wait until cover of darkness. Don't let these... frankly malodorous... dwarves get their mitts on you."

[OGRE MAGE]

Blistering Reprisals
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

Wes uses his ability to weave in and out of the vegetation to prevent being seen as he slowly makes his way back to the carnage of the battle sight. From a few dozen yards away, he sees dwarves tending to several badly burnt kinfolk, but doesn't see any sign of Chwee, Chauncey, or Regan anywhere. There is no indication as to what may have happened with Darklin and Grimm either.

Darklin stays put on his perch, fooling the dwarves completely as they look around for signs of movement on the ground. Grimm tires to move away from the area where they were caught, but Darklin notices the dwarves spot his invisible friends movements and are now covertly following him as he makes his way back towards the mine camp. Grimm keeps moving, his casual pursuit unbeknownst to him. The surly dwarf sees no signs of Chauncey, Darklin, or Wes as he makes his way closer to the mine.

Chauncey looks over the massive mine, unable to see its bottom. As he silently wonders just how deep the dwarves have delved, he feels a slight tremor or disturbance of some kind coming through the oerth under his soft boots. His hands still tied tightly, at least none of the dwarves are tall enough to tie a gag around his head. As the dwarves return to get him, he starts to hear a feint shouting or screaming of some kind coming from deep below. The single dwarf holding his bonds exclaims aloud in dwarven. "That cant be good."

Actions?

positions:
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 15/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)

Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:3/6 2nd:5/5 3rd:3/3

Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Chwee?
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2 (Invisible)

[Jernau35]

Wes

Very warily, Wes moves through the trees parallel to the treeline at the edge of the clearing. He's extremely aware that there are likely to be dwarven guards lurking around.

Mr. Wrenly said that Chauncey has been captured. Nothing about Grimm or Darklin, he thinks. So they could be out here somewhere.

As he slowly moves from point to point, Wes tries to spot traces of his companions. He looks for signs of the undergrowth being broken and trampled by someone running away.

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Seeing no sign of his companions, Grimm does what he does best, climbing up a tree to a better watch point from where he can hopefully see his friends.

He goes once around the tree to try to cover where his tracks end.

Climb Walls (77%) [1d100]=41

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Stays put in the tree for a while and gradually slides back to the ground. Strings his bow and looks around for more stones on the ground to us to influence the dwarven party. He slowly starts to move off in the direction that he saw them depart. Moving to make sure he doesn't smack any tree limbs or move any bushes while moving through.

[ChubbyPixie]

Listening intently, Chauncey ponders the noises coming from below.

"Er... is that quite normal?" he says, a hint of concern in his voice.

It sounded from your description like the dwarves are not actively holding on to Chauncey? Or maybe I misread that.

Mr. Wrenly perches in the canopy where he can see his associate standing at the mouth of the mine. As instructed, does not reveal himself.