Quest #37 "Black Metal Examination"

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"Wes! We have to get the mage and leave this place! I don't even want to imagine what's going on down there!"

[Jernau35]

Wes

"Can you hear that down there?", Wes calls out to the dwarf. "Listen to it! Nobody is coming to help you. They're all fighting whatever that is down there!"

"Listen to it! The Stonegut clan is fighting for it's life down there! And what are you doing? Wrestling with a scrawny mage and his pet monkey!"

"How do you think you're going to feel later? When everyone is telling stories about bravery and honor in battle? And you have to sit there telling everyone you saved the clan from a monkey with knife?"

"Your whole clan is going to spend the rest of your life laughing at you! Asking you if the monkey picked all the fleas out of your beard! For Shalm's sake man, go where your clan needs you and let the fool and his monkey go!"

I can't get to the dice roller right now, but if it matters, Wes has a CHA of 15

[ChubbyPixie]

"Fool?... what?... is there another prisoner?..." thinks Chauncey, confused by Wes' declaration.

Mr. Wrenly crawls around to Chauncey's back underneath his robes, makes a small rent in the fabric with the blade and attempts to cut one of the strands holding his business partner's hands together...

[OGRE MAGE]

The Thunder Way Down Under
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

Darklin starts rushing down the ramp towards the lone dwarf, tossing his throwing daggers as he closes in, accidentally hitting the invisible Chauncey with one of the blades. 2 dam

As Mr. Wrenly desperately tries to use the dagger to cut his masters bonds, accidentally nicking skin and slicing into soft flesh, 1 dam Wes shouts at the dwarf from above.

Before the stupefied dwarf can even shout back to ask who these newcomers are, there is an even louder commotion heard below. The dwarf stops trying to shove the mage down into the mine when he sees something very strange coming up the ramp at them. The guards eyes grow wide with fear when he sees the figure in the light of day.

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The bizarre looking stony monster with no arms spots the dwarf first, then the elf charging him. It's intentions become clear once the huge hunk of rock charges directly at the target of its aggression from about 70 feet away, the lone dwarf who suddenly looks like he is about to crap himself.

Actions!

positions:

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Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 12/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:4/6 2nd:4/5 3rd:3/3
Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Hearing the weird sounds coming from the cave Grimm decides against moving further. "What the hell are they doing in there. They should run!" He takes a look around, in case other Stoneguts are coming from behind.

[Jernau35]

Wes

For a moment Wes stands still, stunned by the appearance of the monstrosity from the underdark. Then he's struck by an idea to keep the monster's attention away from Darklin and Chauncey. He draws upon the power of Obad Hai to cast Faerie Fire upon the Stonegut guard.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey yelps twice in quick succession at the pain of the daggers coming seemingly from every direction, then freezes abruptly at the appearance of the, frankly fascinating, walking rock formation. As soon as the dwarf forgets about him and the creature begins its advance, he hightails it back towards the mine entrance, in an effort to put his former captor between himself and the creature.

"Ahhhg!, Mr. Wrenly! Do be careful! This is precisely why you have not formerly been allowed to handle knives..." he thinks urgently at his companion.

Mr. Wrenly peeks through the rent in Chauncey's jorts, places the dagger as carefully as he can - so much jostling! - and tries again.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Thunder Coming Closer
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

While Chauncey and his accomplice struggle to get free, the dwarf gulps audibly. The rock creature nods in the direction of the lone Stonegut, causing the rock beneath its feet to turn to a slimy wet slurry that causes the dwarf to flop over into the mud. The monster promptly walks over to the stuck dwarf and crushes his body under its enormous girth. The dwarf can barely cry out before it is squashed to an unpleasant death.

Using the distraction to their advantage, Chauncey and Darklin sprint back up what remains of the ramp, eventually reuniting with their friends up top again. Wes and Grimm spot a few more dwarves rushing from the jungle heading straight for their position at the top of the ramp. As Mr. Wrenly gets his masters hands free, the mage chances another look at the frightening scene below. When he sees what is coming up towards them, he almost wishes he hadn't.

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Actions!

positions:

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Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 12/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:4/6 2nd:4/5 3rd:3/3
Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2

[Jernau35]

Wes

"As the wise shepard said in 'The Parable of the Hunting Wolf,' 'It's time to get the flock out of here'," Wes declares, a hint of panic in his voice.

"Run for the rock pile!" he calls to the others, deciding to take his chances with the approaching dwarves.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Runs towards the jungle. Opposite the in coming Dwarves.

Time to go.

[Karaunios]

Grimm

Grimm follows suit without hesitating even for a second.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Thank you Mr Wrenly! All in all an admirable rescue effort. I do have one or two small criticisms..." thinks Chauncey as his bonds drop away. He joins Wesley in running in the direction of the rock pile, but, currently a bit unnerved at the idea of proximity to rocks, he bypasses them on the right and keeps going, following after Darklin.

Though generally terrified, as the self proclaimed Master of Earth he cannot help but be utterly fascinated by these stubby legged boulders! Are they intelligent or animalistic? Are they part of some bizarre boulder society just under the surface? Can they be communicated with? Traded with? Learned from? WHAT SECRETS MIGHT THEY HOLD?

At the first opportunity, Mr Wrenly scrabbles out of the jort stank and leaps onto an overhanging branch.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Thunder Revealed
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

As the group turns to run from the rocky oddities, several things occur simultaneously. First, they hear and see several dwarves now trying to exit the mine by running up the ramp, where they are horrifically killed by the rock creatures, their bodies crushed into unrecognizable red pulp. Despite the massacre, dozens more continue to flee straight into it, indicating what it must be like in the darkness below.

Second, human voices can suddenly be heard shouting from the largest nearby building, they sound like cries for help.

Lastly, along with the few incoming dwarves from the jungle, there appears to be a single female elf being roughly dragged along with them. Anyone who knows her will recognize her as the elven cleric Elnaerel who you may have seen around town. She is unarmed, appears badly injured, and isn’t wearing her armor, so she doesn’t appear to be a revered guest of the Stoneguts. As the ground beneath your feet continues to rumble slightly, she looks at you as if she could use a little help.

Actions!

positions:
Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 12/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/3 2nd:0/2 (Invisible)
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:4/6 2nd:4/5 3rd:3/3
Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:2/2

[Jernau35]

Wes

"The slaves!" shouts Wes when he hears the calls for help. He runs to the closest end of the building. If there's a door there and it's simply held closed by a bar, he removes it and throws the door open. Should the door be held by a padlock or something similar, Wes casts Warp Wood and bends the wood away from the bolts.

If there's no door at this end of the building, Wes will cast Warp Wood around the nails holding one of the planks in place and start to pry it loose.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Tosses a sleep spell on the Dwarves holding Elnaerel. Hoping to get all of them. He draws sword and makes his way towards the Dwarves.

You will not harm another elf, from this way forward Stubbies.

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"Oh my, what's going on here! Another pointy eared elf!" Grimm remains close to Darklin. This time the dwarf gets his longsword ready, although he prefers to remain invisible for the time being.

Elnaerel

Battered and bleeding through torn clothes, the elven cleric keeps walking ardously, following the merciless? Stonegut that decided that she's more valuable as a slave than as a dead runaway-wannabe. She raises her sight from the ground to contemplate the scene developing in front of her when she sees her friend Darklin with presumably the half elven druid she's heard about around town. "Darklin!"

[ChubbyPixie]

If there are enough dwarves guarding Elnarel that Darklin’s Sleep spell doesn’t do the trick, Chauncey will cast another one to hopefully take care of the rest. Otherwise, he will scamper over to where Wesley is trying to gain entrance to the slave’s quarters to lend his aid.

Mr. Wrenly drops down from a branch near the Druid and hands him back his dagger with a friendly shriek.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Thunder Revealed
Sunday, 28th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Very Buggy

Darklin and Chauncey throw sand and crickets in the direction of the oncoming dwarves, reciting magical phrases that put the remaining dwarves to sleep, allowing Elnaerel to escape their grasp easily, even in her dilapidated state of health. This of course brings the adequate mage into full view now as well.

With the nearby dwarves dealt with, the group moves to the shack where the voices are calling for help. Wes uses his magic to warp the door for quicker access, casting it aside once it falls from its hinges. Inside they find 8 disheveled human captives in filthy torn clothing who look up in relief once they realize they are being freed. One older woman shouts up over the others. "Took ya long enough! Now get these ropes off us so we can get the others and get the hells outta here!"

Darklin and Grimm see 5 of the strange rock monsters leave the mine and trod over to the sleeping dwarves, taking turns jumping on their prone bodies until they are all well beyond dead. The oddities notice the group by the buildings and slowly head towards them next.

Beyond this small slave pen, the group notices the end of the trail that leads back towards the loggers trail to Beachtown.

Actions?

positions:

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Chauncey (MU4) AC:8 12/26 CL, RM, DM 1st:0/3 2nd:0/2
Waesfaren Rhey (DR5) AC:7 33/43 1st:4/6 2nd:3/5 3rd:3/3
Greedy Grimm (F2/T3) AC:5 15/15 (Invisible)
Darklin Sylvanas (F2/MU2) AC:4 15/15 CL, RM, DM 1st:1/2

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Having been up close to the first stomping, throws Elnaerel's arm over his shoulder and makes for the trail. Not wanting any part of the rock creatures. If she is to weak he will carry her.

Get them out of there before we are over run. Draw no weapons against the rock people maybe they won't attack us. Get the Slaves on the trail. Meet in Beachtown if we get seperated.

Let's go Elnaerel. You have been through enough, let's get you back and healed up. Glad to see those Blue Eyes are still Shining. How long were you held prisoner?

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"They're coming. They're coming. Hurry." He starts unbinding the prisoners. "Don't panic, I'm an invisible dwarf, but a good one. Spread, so that the rocks don't know where to attack. If there are others and you know where to find them, free them! We meet at the trail that leads to the beach. Be careful!" As soon as they've liberated them, he'll rush out of the hut and try to exhort his companions to do the same.

Edit: out of the hut AND the Stonegut camp back to the trail.

Elnaerel

Elnaerel gladly accepts Darklin's help. "Not even a day. All hell broke lose as soon as we came, so we escaped... Sir William Narramore... He died fighting against them at my side. I... I almost died myself too, see you can see... Please, let's get out of this hell." Her voice trembles.