Act III Journey to The Peaks!

[Storm11]

Thomas scoffs at Xano, while still making sure the most grevious wounds are at least healed with a surprising tender touch, He mutters as he works, "Doesn't make you any less a foolish girl."

"Well now here the Pot calling the kettle black!" laughs Halo at the fiery cleric.

"Like the fire he serves he is mostly hot air Xano. Pay no heed!"

The paladin steps forward and asks of Chewy is ok? "Are these friends of yours or enemies wishing you harm?"

[MonkeyWrench]

Thomas turns to look at the halfling paladin, "I care not what you may think of me, but you would be a greater fool than me if you did not think twice before calling the goddess of Vengeance "Hot Air" Even in jest."

[Storm11]

The paladin laughs heartily at the surly clerics grumpy demeanour.

"Oh lighten up you old wind bag, I never said anything about the Lady Fire, only the flame she rules. Truth is often a bearer of both a soft caress and a harsh smack in the chops eh. You will give yourself a heart attack being so damn serious all the time you big grumpus!"

Halo chuckles and shakes his head at all the dourness and moves to keep watch on the approach to the companies position.

[Inferno]

Blodget, halfling thief:

Blodget silently watched the mighty heroes argue amongst themselves. It seemed that great lords and ladies often did this. His old friends used to bicker too. Rest their souls.

[OGRE MAGE]

As the bird men continue their cawing discussion, Thomas attends to the injured in his usual furious style. Blodget declines the priests offer and adds more fuel to Thomas's "fire".

Mira spins an amazing tale about her past while activating her magic hat. The magic changes her appearance into a creature slightly resembling an aarakocra in color and size. Unfortunately, the definition of the feathers and other features fall a bit short of capturing the true beauty of these majestic creatures and the bird men stare at her with confused looks.

Its a Hat of Disguise after all, not a Hat of Polymorph.

Chewy takes a minute away from the conversation to explain that these bird men are his friends and then explains the language barrier to Mira.

Rest easy my friends. No more harm will come to you here.
Mira, I would like to hear more of that story some time but I'm afraid that the common tongue is difficult for my people and very few of us can speak or even understand your language. My friends here have no idea what you are saying.

Chewy resumes conversation with his kin in a more hurried fashion. Blodget notices one of them rubbing his ear while he stares him down. The whole time the thief reminisces about his unfortunate former party.

After a minute, all of the bird men bow their heads to you. Four of them take off into the sky and fly up and out of the gully. Chewy speaks to you while the remaining two motion for the group to follow them as they lead the rest of the way up through the gorge.

My brothers had mistaken you for my capturers and thought that you were the ones responsible for torturing me. I informed them that you were the heroes that Kirraka dreamed about and that you've come to save us from the black devils. We are to head to Tikka-Ti-Jarra at once as there has been another attack on one of our outlying nests. Our high shaman Kirraka will be there awaiting our arrival. He will know what we must do to stop the extermination of our people.

A short ways up this gully is the end of the gorge where the floor opens outwards to access the highest of the peaks. From there we will have to be transported up to the temple in the sky.

Chewy looks around at the faces of the group.

I sure hope that none of you are afraid of heights, he says with a chirpy snort.

Trotter 43/43
Halo 49/49
Xano 28/39
Thomas 46/46
Morgi 38/49
Wyntar 40/40
Monky 24/24
Mira 32/32
Blodget 47/56

[Nuke66]

Morgi replies. "I am not afraid of heights, but I will fly myself."

[greyarea]

Trotter replies, Fear is the mind killer. I will face my fear of heights, otherwise I would not have taken up this quest.

[tkrexx]

Mira removes the magic hood, eyes growing with even more amazement. Fly? Are we to be flown? She pauses a moment. I would like to fly, to experience, to witness it done.

[Dram]

Xano- I love heights. I spent many a day in the highest tree I could find. People never look up when you hiding from them.

[Scott308]

The monk responds to the bird men, I have no fear of heights. At least, not that I have ever discovered, although I admit I have never been this far up into the mountains.

[Storm11]

The paladin gulps and taps his sturdy boots. "afraid you say? No not afraid exactly!" He gives the others a wink and gulps again, silently thanking Pelor for his gift of levitation footwear.

[Inferno]

Blodget, halfling thief:

Blodget wanted to sincerely apologize to the birdman that he got that most excellent shot off on, but he left before the hobbit had a chance.

"Heights?!?" Wide eyed Blodget was scared and thrilled at the same time.

[MonkeyWrench]

At the mention of heights Thomas simply shrugs, not concerned in the slightest. "Let us be off then, time is wasting."

[OGRE MAGE]

As you venture towards the end of the gorge, there are many thoughts and ideas bandied about. Most of the group seems excited at the prospect of flight with only a few nerves needing to be conquered.

You reach the end of the trail and you can see the sky open up before you between the sheer cliff walls on both sides of the gully. Even though it is only mid day, the sky is black and the dark clouds look even more ominous, with flashes of lightning flickering far off in the distance.

You can hear the sound of a crashing waterfall just below the ledge and can see the white misty spray it creates floating up in the air in front of you.

The sound of flapping wings signals the arrival of another group of 8 aarakocra. They are carrying with them what look like giant slings made of leather and rope. The leader of this group looks different from the rest with bright red plumage and severely bloodshot eyes.

He spins and twirls through the air as the others all land in a circle around your group. The red leader lands last and nods to Chewy before addressing the party in broken common.

Hail! I be Jirrock. You are hero that Kirraka saw in vision. You will come to temple in sky to meet with us, yes? We can carry you up the 1000 feet to the peak if necessary.

Chewy speaks with them in their tongue for a bit and the bird men begin to show you how the slings work. Chewy explains that the halflings could be carried solo and the heavier members can be transported by two or more of the bird men simultaneously. Anyone with their own means of magical flight can do so if they chose but Chewy assures you all that this method of travel has been used before and is quite safe.

[Storm11]

Halo activates his boots of levitation and floats into the air.

"Just a tow will be gratefully received thank you" he says playfully

[tkrexx]

I... Have no means of flight, Mira speaks quietly. At least, not at this time.

[Inferno]

Blodget, halfling thief:

Red leader? Chewy? What's going on here?!

Blodget smiled, "I've got a good feeling about this!"

[Hotgoblin]

Wyntar

Red Leader, thank you for the offer, but I am capable of flying on my own. Halo, I can give you a tow! With that said Wyntar lifts off the ground and heads toward Halo.

[Storm11]

The paladin holds his arm out for the wizard and thanks him

[MonkeyWrench]

Thomas, is all his towering bulk, stands before the bird men. "Fine then, let us get strapped on and brought to this Kirraka."

Thomas is 6'2 and weighs in at 205 pounds, without gear....