Scootscale considers Finnabar's words. "Spirits do have power." he says "Spirits talk with Stone-man and he talk with Tartuk - Make spirit's anger into words for us. But. You big-person do talk with knowing too. I Chief say we see Praying-Place. We see if Tartuk's words hold truth."
At Finn's words in Illisari Tartuk's eyes widen and he steps back, looking around for support from the Kalds. Seeing that the Chieftain's mind is made up he deflates and almost mutters. "Very well Scootscale. You take big-people to see the Praying-Place. I will not help though. I will stay here and not commit blasphemy against the spirits. You go now. You will see that my words are not lies."
"I have the feeling that Tartuk may try to flee when we walk into their shrine. Would you suggest we leave someone to watch him, or should we risk it, and track him down later if he runs?"
Jack replies to Xarafine in the same language.
"It might be wise perhaps to leave Bein--if only to be sure he does not raise others against us. On the other hand, if we did track him, we might see where he goes. It could be enlightening. I trust your call."
Bein watched the proceedings, he realized his speech was unneeded as the tone and course seemed to change, so he remained quiet. When Tartuk spoke of staying behind he continued to watch the kald shaman through the eye sockets of the Stag Helm wordlessly. Waiting to be commanded, waiting to see what happened next. Despite looking at ease he was far from it, ready to react in an instant if a threat arose to endanger his companions...
Do you all follow Scootscale to the "Praying Place"?
Xarafine touches Bein on the arm, and when he turns and looks down at her, she slightly inclines her head toward the shaman.
"Please, lead us to your Praying Place, Chief Scotscale."
Jack follows the chief when he is ready.
Bein looked at Xarafine and nodded in acknowledgement to Xarafine's command. Resting his hand on the hilt of his longsword in a relaxed manner as he surveyed the room. He kept Tartuk in his field of vision at all times while simultaneously watching for threats. He wasn't sure if Tartuk had supporters among the kalds...
Finnabar?
Nodding to Bein, Finnabar follows Chief Scootscale, Jack and Xarafine towards the Kalds' worship place.
Following chief Scootscale, you leave the main chamber of the Kalds and are lead into another large chamber to its south. As you enter the cavern the following Kalds crowd around the entrance interestedly, though they seem afraid to enter the room itself.
A rickety wooden frame formed from clean-cut branches lashed together with gut and twine decorates the walls of the cavern. Banners cut from two-foot-wide strips of old blankets and animal hides hang from floor to ceiling, covering most of the walls .The sloppily-painted banners bear dozens of primitive icons and mystic symbols over which are splashes of red stains.
In the northern alcove, surrounded by the skulls of humans, kalds, birdlings and a variety of animals, sits a large reptilian skull over-which has been draped a red-stained silk cloth. In the south-eastern alcove lies a mound of furs surrounded by a pile of various shiny objects including some coins, weapons in various conditions and bits of armour. A large cauldron filled with bubbling red liquid boils in the centre of the room.
”There” says Chief Scootscale, pointing at the silk-draped skull. ”There was the place of the Stone-Man. It not there when Scootscales come back from hunt. Tartuk say spirits saw cave-livers take Stone-Man from there. That why we fight with cave-livers. Since Stone-Man gone Scootscales have been under curse of spirits!”
The others are lead from the room by Chief Scootscale, followed by the crowd of curious Kalds, leaving you alone in the room with Tartuk. In the silence the Kald stands silently, still refusing to make eye-contact.
"Chief Scootscale, did Tartuk tell you how the cave-livers came in and took the Stone Man? Did any of your people see them, or fight with them?"
"Did your people fight with the cave-livers before they stole the Stone Man? Had the cave-livers come to this place before?'
Bein watched Tartuk, finding them alone together was both a terrible thing and a blessing. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword as he stood stock still. As Tartuk continued to avert his eyes Bein finally adjusted his stance, his belts creaked as his armored plates moved.
"Why do you avert your eyes Tartuk? It's just you and I here. Besides you act as though you're ashamed." His tone was neither threatening nor friendly as he regarded the Kald coldly. After Finn and the others he felt like he had some insight on what was happening to this tribe.
"No-one but spirits saw cave-livers come to steal Stone-Man. Guard-kalds fight with them I think but die from bad cave-liver magic. No cave-livers come here before that night."
The shaman looks at you and narrows his eyes. "You big-people think you're so smart." is all he says in reply. Then, suddenly he hisses a couple of strange words and disappears in front of your very eyes!
ROLL INIT!
"You may have deceived your own kind but we're not so easily duped cretin." He doesn't draw his sword, not yet. He wouldn't do so yet if he could manage to hold out...
Jack asks the chief,"May I look closely? I want to see if I can see signs of the thieves and if I can track them. I do not want to anger the spirits, just help get the Stone-man back. Also, how big is he-the stone-man, I mean? How much does he weigh?"
Provided the chief gives permission, he carefully approaches the altar area and searches carefully for evidence left behind, old tracks, or anything else suspicious. If there is no negative reaction, he is careful to check the silk to see if it hides any footprints or holds any notable tears, stains or smears.
You move forward to the space where the shaman was standing and kick dust into the empty space, the shaman, however appears to be gone, vanished into the empty air.
You hear the movement of footsteps to the North-East.
F: "Tartuk come to this place only one year ago."
J: You look is alright. Stone-Man, he this tall." Scootscale indicates the statue was about a foot tall,... When you begin searching,....
When the dust reveals nothing Bein turns and regards the chamber critically, however he notices little movement. He notes the three exits and tries to decide which way to go first. He kneels down to look for fresh marks but can't decipher anything from among the many prints of the whole tribe.
Bein, following his better judgment, moves towards the northeastern hallway, it was the only tunnel they were unfamiliar with. In his swiftness his armor was none too quiet nor was he concerned with avoiding leaving a trail as he tried to pursue his vanished opponent.
You look around in the dust on the cave floor for footprints, but amidst the many marks left by the crowd of Kalds who were gathered you are unable to discern which might belong to the shaman. Standing, you glance between the different exits and hurry towards the one to the North-West.
Very soon you come to a fork. To your right is a passage through which you can hear the muffled sounds of the others talking whist in front of you a narrow (3ft. wide x 5ft. high) passage leads into the darkness. You can feel a slight breeze coming from it.
You approach the stained silken cloth which is slightly stiffened by what you now realise is dried blood. Looking around the skull are clear footprints of many Kalds - to be expected if Tartuk lives in the room, but, as you lift back the silken cloth, you find the statue, clearly broken in two pieces nestled within the skull-case.
Jack had not expected this to be so easy--and his face actually falls as he sees the simplicity of Tartuk's deception. He prays silently, "If there are spirits who dwell here and guide these people, help me reveal this deception and find justice with as much ease as we have discovered this desecration." To the Nine, he prays to find the way to establishing a peace with the kalds without having to shed too much bloodshed amongst those who have deceived them.
He waves the chief over to him, showing him his discovery. "I'm afraid Tartuk has lied to you, Chief Scootscale. And not only was this hidden here..." he points to the dried blood on the cloth, "My guess is there were loyal Scootscales who died trying to protect the Stone-Man. What's more is there are no signs of cave-liver passage here." He points out the kald footprints. "Cave-liver's claws leave a different mark, you can see these are all kald feet. Which means kald was fighting kald over the Stone-Man. Scootscales were fighting most likely Tartuk himself."
"The truth is plain to see, Chief Scootscale.Tartuk told lies to you, broke the Stone Man, and killed members of your tribe."
She leaves it at that, hoping the chief has the send to see what has happened.
Bein turns down the right passage heading towards the voices of his companions, wary of the darkness ahead and realizing his foolhardiness has ended. Better to warn them then allow the now vanished Tartuk to get the drop on them...
Just as Xerafine's words leave her mouth, and the chief seems to consider her and Jack's words, A startling noise rises from the southern exit to the room. You look up to see a bizarre naked Owl-headed figure with blood dripping from its hooked beak standing in the southern doorway behind the gathered Kalds and waving waving its arms widely whilst moaning.
As you approach an area of light ahead you suddenly hear A startling moaning noise rises from ahead.
Init:
Jack:
Finn:
Xerafine:
Bein:
A:
B:
C:
Jack
B
Finn
Xerafine
A
C
Bein
Seeing the bizarre, frightening looking creature descend menacingly toward the kalds with clear intent to harm them, Jack quickly pulls his bow from his shoulders with one hand while smoothly reaching for an arrow with the other, stepping forward as needed to get the clearest shot possible. He nocks the arrow and shoots.
With one hand on his sword, Jack walks up to the bizarre creature, noting its strange motions and the blood coming from its beak.
"We will not hurt you if you stand down. We can tend to your wound."
Jack inches closes if the creature lets him, and pulling some rags from his pouch, tries to attend the creature's bleeding.
Jacks arrow flashes forward above the heads of the gathered Kalds and strikes the strange creature.
Will save DC 16
Chief Scootscale (B) pales at the sight of the beast. "The spirits" he shouts out. Pointing at the Northern exit he continues, "they've come to hurt Scootscales! All run! All run to hiding-place!" with that he draws his club, gesturing for the other Kalds to flee (through the room you are in!)
Jack
Chief Scootscale
Finn
Xerafine
A
C
Bein
Without hesitation Bein draws steel and advances towards the sounds of the moaning noise. Hopefully his companion's were okay...
[dice=Will save]1d20+3
Thanks jack. Will let you know what it means when you find out... :)
"Don't fear, we will protect you."
Finnabar moves towards the strange beast, drawing his axe. With a single blow, he tries to cleave the monster.
,
Finnabar steps forward and slashes at the... thing. Which cries out in a gibberish of rage.
As your axe bites into the creature it seems to you that it somehow passes through it. To your eyes the creature seems to fade slightly - revealed as nothing more than illusion.
Laughing loudly, Finnabar just shoves his left hand back into the creature.
"This is just a harmless illusion, Chief Scootscale. You brave Kalds don't have anything to fear."
Raising his voice to a booming battle cry to be head across the cavern, he adds "Bein, grab the shaman now and come here."
Xarafine studies the image carefully trying to make sense of the aura, and with the Nine's Favor, its source.
Will save if you study it. Call it a +4 for Finn pointing it out.
Xerafine: You concentrate on the image and you can see it seem to fade into nothing more than a misty outline as it becomes apparent that something is wrong with the creature.
When you detect magic you can definitely sense that magic is being used in the area.
* 1st Round: Presence or absence of magical auras.
* 2nd Round: Number of different magical auras and the power of the most potent aura.
* 3rd Round: The strength and location of each aura.
About half of the group of Kalds (A) seem to pause in their flight, looking around at Finnabar in amazement. The other half, however, run for their lives, pushing past you in a tangle of limbs and small forms.
Almost immediately the image disappears and you hear the sound of footsteps running off towards the entrance.
Jack
Chief Scootscale
Finn
Xerafine
Kalds
C
Bein
RETON (see discussion):
As Bein approaches from the west the image disappears and he (and everyone else) hears the sound of footsteps run past him towards the entrance. (towards Y2)
Bein gives a curse. "Tartuk vanished before my eyes milord. I was trying to find him when I heard all..." He whips around at the sound of the footsteps pitter pattering by. "Hellfire!" The stag helms antlers scrape at the low hanging wall as he turns to pursue the noise as best he can.
Jack is almost as surprised to see Bein as he was the spirit. Retrieving his arrow, he remarks, "So it was Tartuk who created this illusion. Let us find him."
Jack follows Bein out of the other entrance and listens carefully for footsteps--and looks for signs of them in the dirty floor.
Jack moves forward to join Bein, where he crouches, studying the ground. There are fresh footprints in the dust heading towards the exit (Y2 and Y1) but, given the number of Kald's who've just been through the area it is impossible to tell whether they belong to Tartuk.
Chief Scootscale turns and addresses the remaining Kalds "You go. Go tell others that monster was just air, not real. You all go stay in Safe-place. I stay here, get Tartuk. I think this his doing. I help Big-people. we catch Tartuk." With that the chief moves up to join Bein and Jack. "Why he hide Stone-man?" he says, looking down towards the entrance. "Why he do this thing?"
Jack
Chief Scootscale
Finn
Xerafine
Kalds
Tartuk
Bein
Bein crushed down his frustration as he studied the dirt in the cave alongside Jack, before the Kald Chieftain joined them. Bein looked at the Chieftain before saying simply. "Control perhaps. Was he born here in your tribe Chief Scootscale?"
Finnabar follows the sound of footsteps towards the entrance as fast as he can.
Xarafine turns the focus of her detect magic spell towards the sound of the footprints.