Ryne continues to take detailed notes of the route and landmarks (of which there are few), which slows the party's progress. As you proceed, you note the path you've been following is wider and visibly better traveled -- by shod feet.

Good here.

"We're not the first."

Hasnett quietly points out the tracks. Concern sharpens her wits and she looks closely.
Nature on tracks (1d20 6=26)

Hasnett:

"Likely it's not just the lizards that are big round here." Hasnett gestures to the tracks. "Folks seem to be growing kinda large as well. Got big heavy footwear and all."

"Hmmmm...giants perhaps?" ponders Elohir. "Can you tell how many of them there were?"

Hasnett:

"It's a well used trail, but that makes working out how many used it a little tricky."

"I see. Might I suggest we go off-trail then? I would personally like to reach the volcano in one piece."

"Ah, yet again where would the fun be in that" the shadar-kai snickers as he heads off the trail and into the brush.

"Though we have a better chance of running into the more wild natives of this place"

Giving a little more time for discussion of new approach.

"Off the one thing we can reliably follow? In a place we know nothing about? Look, I understand why it's a possibility. I'm just not sure it's the best one."

"I'm good for either. We could always settle this with a coin flip. Heads we follow on the path. Tails we head through the brush. Saves time and debate. Cause the longer we stay here, the more time whatever left those tracks has to come back."

"Off the track it is. I suppose we can always try and find it again if we have to."

After a period of hiking, and grumbling by Ryne about the lack of landmarks, the light is starting to dim.

Hasnett:

"Go carefully. Company ahead." Hasnett mouths to her friends and gestures gently to where she can see three or four figures.

DM

DM ** spoiler omitted **

"Can't say what they are, but not as big as the things we just fought."

Hasnett keeps her movements slow and careful and lowers her voice.

"Unless there are more of them we may be able to simply frighten them off."

Aden whistles loudly, "We know you're out there! Might as well come out!"

Aden turns back to look at faces of his comrades "Well if they're here for a fight might as well get it started. If there peaceful and intelligent we can ask'em about what this place is"

Irawaru grabs Aden by his shirt, "You bloody idiot." he growls at the shadar-kai, "We coulda had them by surprise, now ye've made us sitting bloody ducks."

"Surprise is overrated. Better just to spring the trap."

"You bloody dag. You're not gonna be the death of me, shadowman." Irawaru replies, shoving Aden away.

"Let's just do this shall we?" Hasnett suppresses a sigh and pulls out her holy symbol, waiting to see what reaction the creatures have to Aden's whistle.

Elohir looks disconcertingly at his companions, another odd smile on his face.

"A bold choice Master Aden. However, we may need to discuss your decision making skills when we are done," he says and with the last word Elohir's emerald colored eyes are consumed with darkness again.

The movement ahead suddenly stops at Aden's challenge. One figure starts to slowly approach through the foliage while the others hang back. The more perceptive among you realize the figure is definitely humanoid.

About the time you realize it is an 8-foot tall, apparently-naked woman, she sees you and shrieks.

(You can not see her feet at this time to know if she's shod.)

Insight on tall nude woman (1d20 13=30)
Diplomacy for tall, nude woman (1d20 12=28)

Hasnett holds still, looking hard to see if the woman seems more frightened than aggressive, watching the body language like a hawk.

Sending a ferocious glare at Aden and Irawaru, she says, "We're doing this my way. Nice and slow."

Then, to the woman, she adds calmly, "No harm intended. We are sorry to startle you."

She holds her hands up high to indicate her peaceful intentions, committing herself to Melora in case she's reading the situation entirely wrong.

The woman stops screaming, but is still obviously quite tense and ready to act. She is not obviously armed (and you think you'd be able to tell), but looks very strong.

Hasnett:

"Weapons down folks. She's frightened."

Extending her hands slowly, Hasnett asks the woman, "Can you understand me at all?" and smiles.

She goes no closer.

"Well... um... You know... you don't see this everyday"

"Got that right..."

Hoku mutters, "Great. Now they're even taller."

Elohir looks lost in thought as he stares at the tall woman. His eyes are still dark orbs.

The woman, though seeming less frightened thanks to Hasnett's tone and the lack of hostility from the party, gabbles loudly in a tongue unlike any you have heard. There is hurried movement some 500 feet behind her, not towards you. There is no indication she understood Common.

The recently much less laconic Ryne mutters to Hoku:

Oh, why not. Let's make this a skill challenge. Tell me your goals, and I'll determine the relevant skills and difficulty. Depending on the goal, Hasnett's already got two successes on Diplomacy and Insight.

See if we can establish some kind of communication with these people. From the movement behind, sounds like there would be more than just this woman. Hasnett for one would much rather have the local population on her side than chasing her for miles through a jungle.

See if we can establish some kind of communication with these people. From the movement behind, sounds like there would be more than just this woman. Hasnett for one would much rather have the local population on her side than chasing her for miles through a jungle.

Elohir, more of a liar than a diplomat, does not want to ruin the relations Hasnett has already tried to establish. He will attempt to assist Hasnett in her negotiations with the large woman after stepping up beside the other half-elf. If things turn sour, however, Elohir is ready to try any means of pacifying the giant.

He is also listening very closely, trying to identify any part of the language that the giant is using based on what he's heard during his 5 years of mad wandering.

Aden looks at the bare woman and retreats into his mind. While not the most scholastic student, ge tries to see if there's a reference to just what this woman is.

Arcana, 1d20+12=29

Irawaru will let the mouthy ones do their thing. :D

Aden looks at the bare woman and retreats into his mind. While not the most scholastic student, ge tries to see if there's a reference to just what this woman is.

Arcana, 1d20+12=29

Skill challenge, Complexity 2, Level 8. It's not terribly complex, but it is a challenge. 6 successes before 3 failures. Hasnett has succeeded on Diplomacy and Insight, each of which, along with Intimidate and Bluff, can be used twice, with appropriate rp. Aden has done well on Arcana, but it's not part of the challenge (Aden, see below). Nature and Perception can be used once each. Language-based skills will have a higher DC. Let's get participation from as many people as possible.
So far 2 successes, 0 failures.

Aden:

Elohir remains silent for now while listening to the giant's words to try and recall where he may have heard of the language before. He is still apprehensive, though, and his eyes remain blackened orbs.

1d20+11=28 History

History seemed most appropriate. I rolled a 17 so just use that for whatever roll you require. All my skill bonuses are on my character sheet on Obsidian Portal.

"OI! YOU STAY THERE AND SIDDOWN!" Irawaru growls, the intent of his words more important than their actual meaning. He accompanies this with firm gestures.

Intimidate +14 = 27.

Elohir, Arcana is the relevant check -- you, and anyone else who makes DC25 Arcana, read Aden's spoiler

I am heading out of town Fri am (US) through Sun eve. I will probably have some access, but no promises. Sorry for the interruption.

The eight-foot woman seems cowed by Irawaru's growl -- she makes no threatening gestures, and is rooted to the spot.

3 successes, 0 failures

Sorry, this is technically outside of the skill challenge but may give me more options.

Elohir speaks a few sentences in the primordial tongue. It is an odd language, but not as guttural as the one you've heard him speak before. "Greetings. We are strangers in this land and only wish to explore it further. If at all possible, perhaps we could be friends?"

Here's a Diplomacy roll if you need it or if it's still valid.

1d20+8=22 Diplomacy

The woman looks startled, then speaks for the first time. Her voice is higher-pitched than you would expect from her size, and the syllables are liquid and almost entrancing, but none of you understand her.

4 successes, and Diplomacy is tapped out.

Insight (1d20 13=20)

Hasnett watches carefully to see how the woman is responding to their overtures before making any further moves. She wonders if the language bears any resemblance to anything she's ever heard before.

Insight (1d20 13=20)

Hasnett watches carefully to see how the woman is responding to their overtures before making any further moves. She wonders if the language bears any resemblance to anything she's ever heard before.

5 successes, 0 failures. Diplomacy and Insight tapped out.

Nature +7 = 25!

Irawaru tries to gain any clues from her build, temperament and associated indicators to divine more information about the newcomer.