DM Cayzle - A Busy Evening, a Busy Morning Saturday December 12th, 2009 8:50:05 AM Alexi moves around the settlement, talking up need to get the tower job done. His reception is pretty positive, except for one detail -- WHEN? Folks want to know when the job is going to get done -- and who is going to make sure everybody shows up?
Keela composes a message to Istaqua and sends her old friends off on their errand. She knows it will be days at the soonest before they get back. Let's hope it is not weeks! Then she does her baking, with good results.
The next morning, Jet and Alexi hit the Catacombs, and get some initial responses (see CC Board).
Keela goes to visit the dwarves. She knows that they have carved not only mines but also a few rooms for their own use in the delvings. There is a door to the mines now. When she gets to the door, bright and early, what does she do? The door is closed.
Keela Sunday December 13th, 2009 10:18:56 PM
Keela sets down the hamper, and knocks. "Hello?" she calls. "Is anyone home?"
If the door is stone, or is un-knockable in some other way, she looks around for a bell or some other way of signalling those inside.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Monday December 14th, 2009 8:09:55 AM ooc: Still waiting on a email response from Kathy on the loot. Has anyone heard from Rune playing Ender?
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Monday December 14th, 2009 7:32:36 PM
Jet takes the cash and divides it by seven (I think Mikal and Anrete were gone before this adventure) he runs with Bantom to where Keela, Ender, Fatine, Caelnin and Beren are at the moment and gives them each 1545 gold and 8 silver and 5 copper. "The catacombs is open today and won't be open again for another month or more, so if you want to head over now, Alexi is holding our spot."
Jet then heads back to the Catacombs to think about what he may wat to buy.
DM Cayzle - A Busy Morning, a Busy Afternoon Monday December 14th, 2009 8:29:27 PM
Keela finds that the door is easily opened, and she can enter. She calls out but gets no answer. The main issue is that the tunnels are pitch black. How will she see if she wants to go deeper? And if she does enter with a light, what will she do?
Jet races around, trying to get the party's shopping coordinated before the door closes later today.
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday December 14th, 2009 8:38:41 PM
OOC: In my recollection, Fatine, Beren, and Caelnin were with us at the Ice Demon. Caelnin got hit by the ice blast and was down to 0hp so he hunkered off to a corner, not having a healing potion. I remember Beren shooting arrows and Alexi mimiking him and get chidded by Jet. Fatine also cast a spell or two. Anrete left right before we left for the rescue. So as not to be too greedy, I'm for including the three. It'll keep us humble and not bursting with cash. :)
Also: "If I can count on your support to help gather the farmers in two days, I think we can finish them in a day or two," Alexi says rather hopefully.
Alexi asked Pliny and Mr. Plainfield to gether the farmers in two days. Day 1 Alexi will be in the Catacombs and Day 2 he'll be out with Pliny, Ned, and Mr. Plainfield organizing the farmers into work parties, with appropriate carpenters in each group.
Also: Everyone_ visit the Catacombs and see Ticket 1075 for items to claim. And let's buy us a good number of healing potions, eh? :)
PS. you can e-mail the group your choice of item and from that we'll sell the rest and divvy up the cash.
Keela Tuesday December 15th, 2009 12:18:18 AM
Keela uses her magic to conjure up a light, which she hopes will last long enough for her purposes.
If nothing else, she thinks, perhaps the dwarves will see it and come to investigate.
"Hello?" she calls. "Is anybody home? I brought biscuits."
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) d20+5=16 ; Tuesday December 15th, 2009 11:43:36 PM
Jet can't seem to find Keela anywhere, then remembers she wanted to talk with the dwarves, so he heads over with an aid another attempt on her Diplomacy, when she needs it.
Aid another on Diplomacy: 16
DM Cayzle - A Busy Morning, a Busy Afternoon Wednesday December 16th, 2009 10:52:32 AM
Alexi makes plans for tomorrow to get those darn arrow towers finished ... while also running around trying to get that Catacombs business finished before the door closes!
OOC AND TAKE NOTE: If anyone wants to buy something at the Catacombs, tell Alexi NOW! By the time I make tomorrow's DM post, the door will be closed!
Keela uses her magic to make a light. She enters the delving, joined at the last minute by Jet. The two enter. They see dwarves hurrying from place to place, carrying tools, ore, and shiny metal bars that gleam in the dim tunnels. No dwarf has time to do more than shout a hello before hustling on.
There are some crudely carved chambers to look through ... eight bedchambers each have a wooden bed, and a coffer -- a couple also have socks and shirts strewn around a bit messily. There is a small dining hall with three stone chairs and three small stone tables, each with room to seat only one person at a time. Some of the tables have leftover bones and apple seeds left on them. There are a few storerooms and workrooms: a masonry, a kitchen, a still. One storeroom has barrels of food and ale -- lots of ale. There's a dwarf here having a drink, in fact. You see a single cat, prowling for vermin, evidently not bothered by the dark.
There are spiral stairs down into the deep, and a fierce heat comes up from below. So far, no sign of Dwain Stonehelm or Durak ... likely they are downstairs.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Wednesday December 16th, 2009 1:02:24 PM
"Let's get this over with Keela. I hope you are more convincing then myself."
Jet having been here before will lead Keela down to where he thinks the ones in charge would be.
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Wednesday December 16th, 2009 5:45:39 PM
OOC: Just sent everyone an e-,mail with the items in question. Please respond quickly. :)
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Wednesday December 16th, 2009 10:19:25 PM
OOC: in case you are wondering how much gold the loot adds up to, the liontaur gave the sum of the loot if sold as 10,791 - 880 for the identifies = 9,911gp / 7 = 1415gp, 8 s, 5 c.
However, this does not include the second mw theives tools i was saving for Ender but will throw in as well.
so that would be an extra 100 gp. 10,891 - 880 = 10,011 / 7 = 1,430gp, 1s., 4c. each.
Looks like Jet does not plan to claim any items so Alexi will claim the Belt of Ishgarran +1 Str valued at 2,000gp. He will make up the difference with his personal bank account. He'll take one of the potions of CSW and pay for it out of his remaining personal monies.
Keela Thursday December 17th, 2009 12:37:56 AM
Seeing the state of the dwarves' quarters, Keela decides to keep the hamper with her for the time being. She follows Jet, trusting him to find the dwarven leaders.
DM Cayzle - The Smelter and the Magic Shop Saturday December 19th, 2009 9:05:17 AM
[OOC: I am really sorry for being so negligent with posts. It is a hard time for me. It could be that my head isn't screwed on quite right. It could be, perhaps, that my shoes are too tight. But no excuses. I'll do my best to do better this coming week.]
Alexi wraps up the Catacombs business. (See that board. Let's keep all our CC business in one ticket, Number 1075, please.)
Keela and Jet head down the stairs. Jet has made this trip before, and the rising temperature is no surprise to him. He leads Keela deeper. Soon you reach tunnels whose walls are warm to touch. You see where veins of ore have been mined -- here the veins are mined out. In corners and crevices, you see mushrooms growing, and spiders have been busy, judging by the (mundane) spider webs.
At length you come to a place where workshops are carved from the rock. If you can make a Know Nature DC15 check, then Please Highlight to display spoiler: {You see that the walls are obsidian -- a pretty good sign of great heat under the earth.}
In this area, the heat is even greater, and you find Dwain at the smelter, which glows red. The dwarf is working hard, and the roar of the smelter makes it difficult to hear yourself think. He is shoveling ore into the smelter, and producing bars of pure mithril. If he sees you, he gives no sign ... it is almost as if he were in some kind of working trance, and like a golem assigned to its labor, he does not acknowledge your existence.
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Sunday December 20th, 2009 11:14:01 PM
Alexi pops out from the portal from the Catacombs with the party's orders and a sack of coins. He finds everyone but Keela and Jet and gives them their share.
One sack contains all the stuff Jet purchased and the other sack what he purchased plus the items they decided to keep, the gloves, belt, and the two potions of healing.
OOC: Sent you the e-mail, Cayzle
Keela Monday December 21st, 2009 2:59:51 PM
Keela hesitates, uncertain whether to interrupt or wait until the busy dwarf is finished. She looks hesitantly at Jet.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Monday December 21st, 2009 6:37:13 PM
Jet just stands there and waits as he explains. "We might be here for hours if we wait. Why don't we take a tour of the place. Once we get in their way a bit, they will be more inclined to talk with us, although that route may make your diplomacy attempts more difficult. On the other side, we can come back after the lead man has worked his daily shift. He might better enjoy your treats at that time."
Jet smiles and waits for Keela to decide what should be done. On this mission, he gives her the lead on what she can do and Jet will assist in whatever way he can.
DM Cayzle - The Mines Monday December 21st, 2009 8:21:57 PM
[OOC: Alexi, if you would like to "catch up," feel free to join Keela and Jet in the mines. Or, and just as good, go ahead and play out what you do to get the arrow towers erected. Or, of course, any other action you prefer.]
Alexi will have to wait to give their share to the "away team" -- they have already headed out to visit the Ahote. But he can give Jet and Keela their shares.
More background info on the interior of the dwarf mines:
There are three main living levels: The upper level, with store-rooms and several workshops. Keela has seen this. The middle level has sleeping quarters and a meeting hall with some tables and chairs. The lower level is the hottest one, and has the workshops that use heat -- forge, smelter, etc. Branching out from these are other tunnels, narrow and crooked, that follow the seams of precious mithril.
Wait for the dwarf leader? Interrupt him? Go look around?
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday December 21st, 2009 11:52:01 PM
Alexi stashes the bought items and the coins for the away party in a locked chest in is office. Then, not wanting to waste time looking for Jet, he goes about gathering up the tools and materials for the work parties: wheelbarrows, saws, mortar, nails, and so forth. Finally, he takes a break and heads to Ma Belle's for a drink, leaving word here and there to tell Jet that if they see him.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Tuesday December 22nd, 2009 9:42:48 AM
Jet patiently waits for keela to decide on their next course, with a smile.
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Tuesday December 22nd, 2009 10:39:55 PM
OOC: Christmas is just around the corner and things are getting hectic so I may not make it to the pc to make regular posts until after Christmas. But I'll try. :)
Jonathan
DM Cayzle - Holidays Tuesday December 22nd, 2009 10:59:02 PM
No worries on posting over the holidays. I'll post when I have posts to respond to. And please feel free to go visit the Giggling Ghost, wherein there will be our annual Woldian celebration.
Keela Wednesday December 23rd, 2009 1:43:16 AM
"Good neighbors," Keela says softly. "Good neighbors." She looks up and smiles at Jet. "Come on, let's make ourselves useful."
With that, she leads the way back upstairs to the untidy rooms they saw when they first entered. She straightens the furniture, puts away the clothing as best she can, throws out the apple cores and bones. If she can turn up the materials for it, she dusts and sweeps.
"Wish I'd brought an apron," she tells Jet, glancing around. "Maybe--maybe you could cut some firewood for them or something?"
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Thursday December 24th, 2009 4:53:21 PM
Jet sighs and gives Keela a little salute, "Yes ma'am."
He goes up to where their wood is stored and starts to cutting kindling for them first and moving on to bigger pieces as needed, until the side work is done, then he reports back to Keela.
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Thursday December 24th, 2009 11:28:03 PM
OOC: hehehehehehe. Alexi got out easy on this one. :)
DM Cayzle - Time Out From A Busy Schedule Friday December 25th, 2009 3:39:52 AM
Rather than wait to speak to Dwain, the dwarf leader, and rather than pestering him, Keela and Jet make themselves useful.
Keela finds plenty of clean-up work to do. There are bones and seeds all over, left over from meals, most likely. There is a room with a door set aside for garbage. She also finds the remains of some small verminous rock lizard, likely the handiwork of the cat. She might bring that to the midden too before it gets smelly.
Jet discovers that the dwarves do not use wood as a fuel, but only as a construction material. With an Int Check or Know Nature Check vs DC15, Highlight to display spoiler: {You figure they are using geothermal heat from below.} But there are plenty of hauling jobs to do, so Jet can keep busy if he likes.
The two friends are met later on by Dwain as he comes off his shift. "Well," he says, "seeing the work you are doing warms my heart. And something smells good," he adds, looking at Keela's lunch basket.
"How can I help you all now?"
Keela Friday December 25th, 2009 3:47:36 PM
"Good afternoon," Keela greets the dwarf. "My name is Keela Larch, and I am one of people at the new settlement. I thought I'd pay you folks a neighborly call today." She opens the hamper. "I've brought you folks a few things," she continues. "There's biscuits, and buns, and a couple of pies, and a cake. I hope you enjoy them."
She smiles. "Good neighbors help each other out. We've been busy getting settled, of course, but we hope to be the very best of neighbors to the dwarves. And, we hope the dwarves will be good neighbors to us."
"Jet and I are here," she continues, "because some of our people are really frightened. There are rumors that you folks are digging something up, something that could prove very dangerous to us all. I wonder if you could perhaps tell us a little more about this?"
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday December 28th, 2009 4:00:09 PM
Alexi continues his task of getting the materials for the archer towers ready for the next day's work.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) d20+5=18 ; Monday December 28th, 2009 5:07:42 PM
Jet will do as much heavy labor as he can. If he needs to haul an ore cart or pick up a shovel, no problem. He might be fatigued or worse at the end of the day, because he will refuse to remove his armor, knowing that at any time, they will be under attack. No Knowledge Nature
When Keela goes into how neighbors should be, he appreciates what she says. Jet really hasn't taken the time to learn much about the dwarves, taking more time getting know the Ahote. he takes that into account also, perhaps taking the dwarves for granted in some ways. he'll have to remember to buy a couple of kegs of ale and drink them with the crew when this is all over.
Jet takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out as he attempts to assist Keela in her endeavors, or perhaps it is her that is assisting him in his endeavors? Ah heck, Jet's no wordsmith to attempt such trivial reasoning and he does what he can in the conversation.
"To be honest, it was I who discovered the mushrooms in the mine shaft, during my investigation and I that took them to Tarketh the druid to determine what they were. He informed me this fungi only grows where there are underground rivers or near bottomless chasms, which I really take to mean, very deep. I want their to be no dishonesty between us, so I came with Keela to inform of you of this, so that the pick strikes true on the vein with our relationship."
Jet hopes the lack of beating around the bush is appreciated by the dwarven leader and equally hopes the hardened miner understands the two humans are there with everyone's best interests at heart.
Jet intentionally leaves out the discussion with the dwarf high priest, as least for now.
Diplomacy/aid: 18
DM Cayzle - Roasts and Biscuits and Dwarven Wine, Oh My! Thursday December 31st, 2009 9:57:33 AM
Waiting for a chance to speak, Keela and Jet make themselves useful. It is hard for those untrained in dwarf ways, but there are plenty of hauling and cleaning jobs to do. The place is much tidier a few hours later.
When his shift ends, Dwain comes to greet you. He is clearly hungry, and is grateful for the fare brought by Keela. "These biscuits and roasts are fine indeed!" he says. He offers you Dwarven Wine to drink, a beverage that bears only a passing resemblance to human wine brewed from grapes. Both have alcohol, though.
Dwain is dismissive of Keela's fears. "Oh, there is nothing to be worried about. We have everything well in hand." This is the same kind of reassurance he has been giving Jet.
Then Jet brings up the mushrooms he found, and what Tarketh said. Dwain scowls, and replies that those kinds of mushrooms grow everywhere underground. One kind is actually used to make the Wine. Another, if you let it grow tall, can be harvested for a kind of lumber.
Jet mentions that these are found only near chasms and caves, and Dwain's scowl deepens. "Yes," he admits, "one of our miners dug into a cavern, but we walled that back up immediately, and then secured the tunnel with several deadfall traps and alarms, and then we locked that whole tunnel away. It is completely safe. There is no danger there."
==========
Meanwhile, Alexi is having a productive day, and a lot of work has gotten done. All he needs are some hands to do the final stages of the job.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Friday January 1st, 2010 12:07:13 PM
Jet's eyebrow raised at that. "So the area I found that is collapsed is where the cave is, or is it somewhere else I haven't seen while I am down here? Let us finish this fine meal made by Keela and her kin, have three or four more glasses of this wine, which I may add, I enjoy, then, let us go and look at this area again."
Jet now takes a relaxed posture. He knows he has Dwain in some form of cover up now and Jet is willing to let the dwarf dig himself in deeper. Eventually, Dwain will understand, whatever is being hid will be discovered. Only time will tell now, when this mystery will be solved.
Keela Saturday January 2nd, 2010 2:52:17 AM
Keela smiles at the dwarf. "That is splendid news," she says. "I shall tell the others, and I'm sure they'll be relieved."
"But if anything changes," she adds, "or anything dangerous comes up, you will tell us, won't you? Neighbors help each other, after all. You can help by letting us know what is going on, and perhaps we can help, too, with collapsing tunnels or hauling rock."
As they finish the meal, Keela chats about the archery towers the people are working on.
DM Cayzle - A Guided Tour Saturday January 2nd, 2010 9:35:51 AM
Dwain says he sees no reason to bring Jet and Keela down to the collapsed area, but he is happy to show you the dwarves' work, if you will report to the human side of the operation that there is nothing to fear.
He leads you down down down to the deepest level of the mines. Then he leads you through a mithril-reinforced door into a corridor. He points out the stonefall traps beyond the door: "Watch out! Stay to the left! Now to the right! Don't touch that! Don't step there!" He shows you how, if triggered, huge rocks will fall on intruders. There are no less than ten such traps here.
Finally, he shows you some new stonework, in an area that Jet recognizes as the place where the collapse was. The new wall is sound and solid. Truly, it seems hard to imagine what could get through that wall and then past the traps and finally through the locked reinforced door.
"Satisfied?" asks Dwain.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Saturday January 2nd, 2010 12:54:25 PM
"Not entirely." replies Jet in a calm fashion.
"When I was down here earlier, how was it I missed such amazing work? And a mithril door to boot? My vision must be poor indeed to have missed this part of the mine."
Jet looks at the traps and the door as well as the blocked in wall, "So I was down here yesterday and none of this was here, did you conceal it with magic so I would over look it? Did anyone explore the cavern you exposed?"
Jet knows nothing about mining, yet, so goes on to ask further questions, "So let me get this straight, the miners were following a vein, when the wall just opened up in front of you? Is that common and are their more ore veins that go into caverns like this?
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday January 4th, 2010 1:06:25 AM
just checking in.
Happy New Year everyone!
Keela Monday January 4th, 2010 1:27:25 AM
"It does seem very thorough..." Keela begins, but apparantly Jet is having none of it.
[OOC: Was it yesterday? I thought it had been a few days.]
DM Cayzle - Busy Little Bees ... Angry Little Bees! Monday January 4th, 2010 7:01:42 AM
Jet has his doubts -- are the dwarves being honest? Are they covering up something? He confronts Dwain. Keela is willing to buy Dwain's story, but Jet wants more. Well, Dwain, clearly angry now, nonetheless serves up some answers -- but not all.
"Listen, you little wet-nose kid," says Dwain, "waste your sarcasm on someone your own age, why don't you? You got questions, you keep a sweet tongue in your head. I found this dig, and I still own more of this outfit that anyone else, so unless you want to walk back to civilization naked as a plump helmet, you'll shut your trap as silent as the one you're standing under."
"You want I should justify myself to you? Delve that. You go back to Garth and you tell him this: Yeah, after the priest comes whining and crying to me, I figured it wouldn't hurt to be safe. So we worked our hands to the knuckle and got this place set up rock solid sound. You don't think dwarves can work hard if they skip some sleep and pull some double shifts? I just finished this door myself an hour ago. So since I'd like to go to bed now, get out of my mine before I throw you out."
He pauses and says to Keela, "Thanks for the roasts, miss."
Dwain heads upstairs, muttering something about "Lem's Lugnuts" as he goes.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Monday January 4th, 2010 10:10:51 AM
Jet goes to double up his fist on the surly dwarf. Nobody talks to him like that, nobody!
"You want to call people names do ya? Well, you are a liar!!! That's right. I spoke with the dwarven high priest for this dig and he knows you are hiding something from us. I think you are right, I will leave you here for your own destruction, you old orc wart!"
Jet is so pissed off now, he travels to the top, tells Garth he was fired and begins going around to all the humans and other settlers, explaining to them he is leaving and why. He will help anyione pack that wants to go with him.
"When the dwarves want to start hiding things, they have turned dishonest! The mithril has clouded their judgement or whatever mineral they are digging up. If you stay, you will likely die, but we have our leave from Dwain himself if you so choose."
Jet laughs. He bought Bantom with his own money, so Bantom will be carrying him back to civilization and not his own two feet.
Keela Monday January 4th, 2010 11:06:33 PM
"Um...rolls, not roasts," Keela says faintly.
"Oh, dear, that didn't go well at all, did it?"
DM Cayzle - Fired? What?! Tuesday January 5th, 2010 8:08:25 AM Jet storms off, going straight to Garth. He tells Garth that he was fired, and that he is leaving. Garth tries to calm things down. "Fired? No one can fire anyone at this settlement but me. You're still under contract, and if you go, you're an oathbreaker."
Garth takes a deep breath. "Now tell me what happened." If Keela is here too, he will ask for her story.
[OOC: Presumably Jet will give an account.]
"So you had words with Dwain and he cussed you out. So what? Nobody got hurt, and you learned something. What else do you think the dwarves are hiding? What's the danger here?"
"Let's get this settled before you go off, which if I have my way, you won't. Let me make this clear. Dwain has a 35 percent interest in this operation. On site, I represent the other 20-odd owners, totaling 65 percent. So what I say, goes."
Meanwhile, a mason and a blacksmith who have been working on the defenses with Alexi run up with juicy gossip. "Your friends spent most of the day in the mine, and now one of then has come storming out and ran straight to Garth's. He looks like he's ready to kill someone!"
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Tuesday January 5th, 2010 10:28:03 AM
Jet will take some time to cool down and let Keela explain her side, if she likes before Jet get's in his own thoughts. Held action :)
"Then Garth, get your sixty five percent down in that hole and flex it a bit! I think we have brought you more then enough circumstantial evidence to prove they are hiding something, not to mention the near confession from the high priest. He obviously isn't happy about the secret either or he wouldn't have encouraged me to keep digging. You saw in your dreams what may come to pass."
ooc: Has the excort team left yet? How many days since we returned from the Ahote, please?
DM Cayzle - Extra Tuesday January 5th, 2010 11:26:18 AM
Well, I have not been tracking the days all that carefully. My gut feeling is that a week has gone by since your return to the settlement, and two to three days since the escort team went out. They should be back tomorrow, if all has gone smoothly. How's that sound?
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) d20-5=6 ; Tuesday January 5th, 2010 10:45:31 PM
OOC: good enough. They have Col to do the searching and they can move fast on horses, so your assessment is close enough for me.
IC: The news from the mason and blacksmith is disturbing to Alexi and he just can't think of what could have happened to set Jet off. Oh, I guess he could come up with a few things if he tried.
The trail of gossiping folk and the direction of their glances led Alexi to Garth's office. As quiet as he can, he steps into the office to see what is up.
"...keep digging. You saw in your dreams what may come to pass."
Move Silently d20-5=6
Keela Wednesday January 6th, 2010 1:02:18 AM
"Well...well, the dwarves gave us an explanation, but I'm afraid Jet didn't belive them," Keela tells Garth.
"I'm not sure what to believe myself. It would be difficult to do all that work overnight. But their arrangements seem very secure." She sighs. "And they wouldn't tell us anything more. I was hoping to persuade them."
DM Cayzle - Garth Wednesday January 6th, 2010 11:27:18 AM
Garth listens to everyone. He asks Jet, "Do you know what they are hiding? What do you guess? Keela says you did not believe them -- why not?"
He asks Keela, "Was Dwain as angry at you? Was he angry at you at all? If I sent you down there to patch things up, not with Jet, could you do it? What would you say?"
He turns to Alexi. "Good to see you here too. How are the archer platforms? What do we need to finish that job? Did that smith finish the grill under the wall?"
Depending on your answers, most likely he asks you to go take it easy tonite, stay out of trouble, and get some sleep. He'll see what he can find out.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Wednesday January 6th, 2010 5:07:05 PM
"No by Pantheons blank face I don't know what they are hiding. The fact of the matter is, High Priest Durak as much as told me they were hiding something, because he swore secrecy to someone. He won't tell me who."
Jet sits down now, his armor making a thunderous noise as he exhales loudly at the frustration. "There was a time, I would be asking questions without my words. The fact that old mountain turd could take me in a fair fight doesn't scare me either."
He attempts to listen to the others over the sound of blood and anger coursing through his head. He attempts to shut out the thoughts of the outrageous conditions under which he is forced to keep his contract. He will never be called an oath breaker.
Keela Wednesday January 6th, 2010 11:11:00 PM
"I just agree with Jet that it would be difficult to do all that work in a day," Keela explains. "Perhaps not impossible, especially for dwarves. But difficult."
"He didn't seem angry at me, and he thanked me for the rolls and things," she adds. "I wouldn't mind going back, if you think it would help."
DM Cayzle - The Ahote Come For A Visit Thursday January 7th, 2010 9:44:28 AM
You take Garth's advice and enjoy a peaceful night of rest. Midmorning the next day, the team sent to talk with the Ahote returns -- with the tribe's shaman and the chief's son, along with several warriors. They are clearly nervous, as they enter the settlement, but also very curious. Garth summons you to greet them with him. "Please introduce me," he asks.
Thereafter, there is a tour of the above-ground parts of the community. On the tour, Garth has a private word with you: "I had a sit-down with Durak and Dwain. The secret was that the dwarves breached a natural cave system, which you figured out. Dwain didn't want word out until he had sealed it. He's angry that you guys are poking around and asking questions. Durak said he'll listen to the Ahote, and Dwain agreed to trust whatever Durak finds out."
Istaqa also looks for a chance to talk with you. "I am reluctant to leave my people when there is such danger in the near future, but we are in your debt, so I came to answer your call, my friends. I hope I can render you a service that will satisfy our debt of honor with you."
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) d20+5=22 ; Thursday January 7th, 2010 12:29:10 PM
Jet is glad to see the Ahote guests and is proud to introduce them to Garth and others. If it's a nice day, he will ask a girl or two to set up a nice outside table for the guests, but if conditions warrant a roof, he will lead them into Ma Belles, even though some find it irreputable. It is clear they are uneasy, so jet puts them to rest the best he can. He had hoped to find the Shaman in question with the group also. Him not being here means he has other pursuits more important to him.
"I asked Dwain if the cavern was investigated. I also asked him when they discovered the cavern. I am curious if the caverns opening is in any way a coincidence with the return of the outcast Ahote shaman? There are to many pieces of the puzzle staring us in the face Garth, including you having the same dream we had, without the drink." Jet calmly answers Garth.
Istaqua is taken aside. "Let us dispense with the niceties of politics and we will talk like friends. We did what we did because it was a good thing to do and we never asked for anything in return accept friendship. I don't expect that to change when you leave here." Jet smiles. "I thought it would do you good to see what we have here. We can teach your people some of this technology, to use as you want or need. We want our friends to prosper with us, in safety."
Jet goes on however, "Of course, we also want you to take some of the important people here on the journey that our group went on. Let them too be aware, so we may prepare properly."
Diplomacy: 22
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Thursday January 7th, 2010 11:06:10 PM
Alexi answers Garth, "Moving right along. Got most of the materials ready. I just hope we get enough people to respond. I won't know until tomorrow when we are scheduled to start."
Alexi takes a well deserved rest. Running around looking for enough wheelbarrows and spades and shovels, and whatnot wore him out. But just before he turns in, he inspects the work at the wall where the stream runs under it.
As he does so, he muses on the dwarves and their reaction to Jet's snooping. Why would they be so secretive about a natural cavern? Surely, just about anywhere you dig you have the chance of finding one, do you? What was so special about this one?
Alexi is of a mind to ask the dwarves permission for their Security group go exploring it, but half of them are out fetching the Ahote.
Oh well, we'll see what another day gives.
The arrival of the Ahote so soon was unexpected. He rushes about getting the work crews organized and dividing up the tools. He wants a tower to go up quickly, figuring that a completed tower will be a moral boost and spur the workers to continue giving their best. So he has Pliny pick the best of the workers to form a crack work group and start on the tower in the middle of the complex.
(OOC: don't know how many a 'full' work crew is and how many showed up, I'll let DM roll the dice on this)
Once the work groups are started, Alexi goes to join Jet and the others with the Ahote, greeting the warriors in their acustumed manner he observed while at their camp. Istaqa he greets with a revered bow.
Alexi nodds his agreement with Jet's words. "We felt that we could acomplish more by impressing upon them the dangers we saw and the best way to do that was to have them go through the Dream Vision like we did."
Keela Friday January 8th, 2010 12:45:02 AM
Keela, too, is grateful for a night's rest, although her lively nephews and niece make sure it isn't as restful as all that!
When the Ahote arrive, she also goes out to greet them. She nods agreement to Jet's request. "In particular," she adds, "we were hoping you might allow one of the dwarves to see some of what we saw. I'm afraid they are quite stubborn, and would me much easier to persuade if they could see this danger for themselves."
DM Cayzle - In and Out of Dreaming Friday January 8th, 2010 8:45:59 AM
Jet busies himself making the guests welcome. Garth has put the word out, and the community does itself proud with a welcome feast in the beautiful daylight. Everyone helps out, except for Alexi's team, who put the first tower up, and the dwarves, who stay underground, aside from the Shepherd of Alemi and Domi. But when the time for the feasting arrives, the dwarves and the tower builders join in to eat and drink. The dwarves offer two barrels of fine dwarven wine.
At the feast, Alexi muses about what is in the caverns. Garth, nearby, asks him to keep quiet about that, at least for now, but tells Alexi that Durak told him the dwarves found ratmen in the caves, and that's why they sealed them up.
Istaqa is receptive when Alexi and Keela add their voices to Jet's request for the vision dream. The Ahote shaman agrees with a strange urgent fatalism, you might think: "It is for this that I came here," he says. He and Durak spend a lot of time after the feast talking through the afternoon, and at sunset, the two retire for the ceremony.
Unsurprisingly, Durak emerges shaken -- he heads off at once to find Dwain and talk with him. But you might be surprised to see the obvious emotion on the normally stoic shaman's face. "It is here! Here, in this very place," he whispers to Jet, Alexi, and Keela. "Here that the disaster will arrive first, and fiercest!"
He composes himself, and offers you some advice. "Maybe it would be best for you to leave, my friends. I see blood on this ground, and death and misery. I do not see any good out of this. I intend to flee and hide my people now. I think you should do the same."
He offers you his hands. "I think this is farewell, my friends. Good luck!"
In fact, Istaqa will not even stay the night, and he leads the other Ahote out into the dark twilight almost immediately.
Jet Stormway (AC:22 HP:36/36 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Friday January 8th, 2010 11:16:55 AM
Jet looks at Garth, "Our guests are too afraid to even sleep here. It is time we prepare for whatever it is the dwarves are about to dig up, because it will be any time now."
Jet prepares to go around and starts to double the watch. "What is most important, is that you sound the alarm! Do not be a hero and try to save the encampment yourself!" he will tell those on guard. "You absolutely must sound the general alarm and get everyones attention, if something is amiss."
Alexi (AC: 20, HP:34/34) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Sunday January 10th, 2010 7:51:53 PM
Alexi is a bit shaken at first with the news of their impending doom. "So soon!" he exclaims. Recovering quickly, he thanks Istaqa, "It seems you came just in time! I agree that you must go and hide your people. Remember the cave the children were kidnapped to? Perhaps you will find safety there, if your people are willing to go. For us, we must stay here and fight this thing so your people, and what's left of ours, will have a future here."
Alexi then immediately starts pondering their defense. 'Well, we have to know from which direction it, or they, will come," he ponders. 'I'd hate to focus on the dwarven cave entrance and then it appear from somewhere else."
He suggests to Garth, "Perhaps it would be wise to evacuate Bryn Baraz. Send the non-fighters back towards the hills and canyons to hide, keeping the warriors here to fight to the finish."
Keela Monday January 11th, 2010 12:16:00 AM
Keela is very distressed by what she hears. "Leave? But--but we've put so much work into this place. Senna and Daben sold everything to come here!"
"But if the danger is as great as they say....oh! I don't know what to do. Or what to say. Should we warn the people? Give them a chance to leave if they want to?"
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