Quest #29 “Raiders of the Lost Obelisk”

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

When the "tail gunners" get close enough, does the obelisk reflect light, like glass? Can anything be seen through the transparent shell into the interior? Or does it seem to be solid? If it does reflect light, does it seem to have sides, like the Washington Monument, or round like an icepick? I'm going to assume the "tail gunners" cannot see the lizard folk yet. But if I'm wrong, please let me know. Thanks.

Edit: Never mind that shape question. The drawing says Washington Monument-shaped.

[OGRE MAGE]

Though you didnt see any close up yet, the lizard men are about average human size.

I will try to post a better representation of the area shortly.

This one will be in that new fangled 3D.

[OGRE MAGE]

Oops!!!

I hope you weren't waiting on me.

I just realized that I cant show the 3D model until you have seen a little more of the surrounding area.

[Jernau35]

Wes

Once Wes has a chance to see the situation in the clearing, he voices his opinion to Avaala and Grimm. "Well, trying to talk to them lets them know we are here. If they don't want us near that thing, then we've made the odds of sneaking in a lot harder."

"On the other hand, sneaking in looks hard enough anyway. We can't do it in daylight. And if we try it at night, who knows how long we'd have to stand there in the middle of their village while we examine the obilisk?"

"What do you both favor? Talking or sneaking?" Wes casts his eye over the village. "Maybe there's a better way to sneak in from another direction."

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

"Talking," says Avaala, almost immediately. "Look how everything is laid out. If we attempt sneaking and get caught, we're surrounded before we even get started, and that would look more hostile." He seems to consider for a moment and then continues. "I do not speak any kind of reptilian languages, although I do have a spell that would allow me to understand them, IF I am allowed to touch one of them. So, not great, but sometimes a lot can be done with sign language and sketching in the dirt."

He shakes his head. "I need to increase my language discipline. I suppose I was expecting a tower that someone might live in. That is not the case, and I am caught flatfooted. This is something else altogether."

[Paladin]

I recall when we began that part of Cealwyn's wandering on the island before he joined a party involved a clearing filled with lizard-folk and an obelisk. Ironically, I had completely forgotten that until now. Been a while. Would he have seen anything in his observations that might be of use to them now?

[Monsieur Rose]

Bonnie

Where is everyone on the map now? I get that L C P have returned to meet up with Chauncey and Bonnie, how far back from the clearing are they?

Bonnie smiles as Luther suggests trying to be peaceful and friendly. "Always my preference. Did the two guards nearest you have armor or weapons? Steel or stone?" As Luther draws the clearing, she frowns. "That's a lot of open space. Are there crops? I'm guessing that lizard-folk don't eat many vegetables, but who knows? A hunter society will inevitably be less welcoming."

She looks to Chauncey. "So, what do you suggest? I'm sure we could sneak around and check out the huts, or we could go say hi." She smiles mischievously and continues. "Personally, I'd sneak around, check out a hut or two, then stagger into camp looking beaten. Judge the reaction and go from there."

Bonnie notices the looks and shrugs. "Hey. Trying to be honest and share my thoughts."

[OGRE MAGE]

I recall when we began that part of Cealwyn's wandering on the island before he joined a party involved a clearing filled with lizard-folk and an obelisk. Ironically, I had completely forgotten that until now. Been a while. Would he have seen anything in his observations that might be of use to them now?

Indeed.

First of all, he knew exactly where this place was, even if he did forget about it.

And more importantly, when he was last here, the lizard men were just going about their daily business, definitely not prostrating to the obelisk like they are now. There was no chanting and bowing going on at all.

[OGRE MAGE]

Where is everyone on the map now? I get that L C P have returned to meet up with Chauncey and Bonnie, how far back from the clearing are they?

Unless there is some reason against the idea, lets say that everyone is together again, 20 yards south of the spot where the rangers first found the clearing.

Since I have you hastily drawn on the bottom portion of my map, lets say that you initially walked by the clearing, but then turned around to investigate the chanting sounds.

Thanks!

[OGRE MAGE]

The closest pair of "guards"(?) you saw were carrying sharpened wood spears and had crude stone axes on their belts.

The others were too far away to notice how they were equipped.

[Monsieur Rose]

In her mind, there are always guards.

[Urson]

Luther
I like the idea- but depending on how aggressive they are, showing up looking beaten and weak could be like ringing the dinner bell. These two by themselves were just watching the ceremony- if I had to guess, I'd say they were priests or chieftains, observing. If they were guards, they'd have been looking out toward us.
Luther makes random scratches in the dirt with his arrow-point, obviously mulling possibilities.

[Paladin]

Cealwyn Blackthorn

The ranger's eyes narrow. "Now that I see the place, I recall passing this way when I first ventured into the jungle," he says. "The lizard-folk weren't acting like this at the time...they were moving about their daily tasks as normal. It makes this scene even more strange."

[SirOwen]

Cealwyn Blackthorn

The ranger's eyes narrow. "Now that I see the place, I recall passing this way when I first ventured into the jungle," he says. "The lizard-folk weren't acting like this at the time...they were moving about their daily tasks as normal. It makes this scene even more strange."

Avaala the Grey

"It might just be that this is prayer time and last time you were here .... wasn't prayer time." Avaala says with a shrug. "But I still think that making our opening gambit trying to sneak past them and into their compound, is a fine way of making enemies. Besides, how good is their sense of smell? Eyesight? Hearing? Unless someone here knows, we're not sure what level of sneaking we'll need. If we try to talk, and that fails, we have an open escape route and we can try sneaking in later."

[Jernau35]

Wes

"So who's going to talk to them? Might be a good idea for some folks to stay out of sight until we see how it goes".

[Karaunios]

Grimm

"I wouldn't interrupt their prayers, though. Better wait until they're done with them." He then licks his left index finger and points at the sky with it, to ascertain the direction the 'wind' might be blowing to. "If you fear they might smell us, better to know where the wind's going."

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala's eyebrows spike and he nods at Grimm's suggestion of waiting until after 'services'. "That, my stocky friend," he says. "Is brilliant thinking. It lets us show some respect to their beliefs. And even if they are hostile, it doesn't hurt our position at all."

"As for who should speak first, I'll volunteer, unless someone has better qualifications and wants to try." He grins and adds, "Besides, I don't wear armor. If it comes to running, I run pretty fast."

[Urson]

Luther
Luther nods. All good points. I'll stay in the trees, bow ready if things turn bad.

[Monsieur Rose]

Bonnie

She turns to the accepted leader of the expedition. "Did you mention that the obelisk was recently 'activated'? Perhaps that's why these creatures are now worshipping when they were not before." She then grins. "Which may give someone an opening, if they so choose. A magical performance and claim of ownership of the obelisk may get you revered as a god."

"Not that anyone would want such things."

"But seriously. What was the idea? Examine and learn about the obelisk? Look for writing or mechanisms?"

[OGRE MAGE]

The Obelisk
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Buggy

The group decides to let the chanting ceremony continue without interruption, watching closely as the lizard folk continue their bowing and praying to the centrally located, clear obelisk. Grimm determines that they have favorable wind, blowing at them from the north, so they shouldn't be detected by smell from anyone in the clearing. Several ideas are brought forth, but none of them receive approval from the groups leader.

As they watch from a distance, The chanting intensifies and then wanes again several times, and the words they are saying, though none can understand them, seem to be repeated over and over again. As they wait for it all to run its course, 2 of the lizard folk exit a distant hut and join in on the chanting, while a pair of those already present leave their spots and move into the hut that was just vacated. It appears that these newcomers might be acting as relief.

Possibly a little late to the party, Cealwyn points out the fact that he has seen this place once before, though the occupants of the clearing weren't prostrating to the obelisk the last time. Chauncey nods in understanding, as he believes he also knows why that is.

(Bonnie seems to be onto something mentioning the activation sphere)

After waiting for another while, the chanting doesn't cease. If anything, it has picked up in intensity. The rangers watching the daylight figure there is about 3 or less hours until darkness starts to set in.

Actions?

Bonnie AC5 17/17
Cealwyn AC3 17/19
Paul AC6 7/7
Luther AC3 30/30
Chauncey AC8 18/26 CL, DM, RM first 2/3 second 0/2
Mr. Wrenly AC7 4/4

Wes AC7 34/34 first 5/6 second 4/4 third 3/3
Avaala AC8 12/12 CL, DM, RM first 2/2 second 1/1
Treasure AC2 12/12 35%MR
Grimm AC5 10/10
overall map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477