Politely tipping his pothat to in the direction of the voice, Clovis clambers up onto the table and sits down companionably.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 - Athletics to get on table.

"It's like this. A lot of people are sick in Falcon's Hollow. Did you ever eat flapjacks? There's this pretty kid called Julia and she's a waitress at the flapjack house - she's really sick, maybe dying. We said we'd help, and Sweetcakes says there are some mushrooms and stuff we need to find. I guess we maybe got a little destructive back there, but yanno, when things come flapping out of the dark and try to eat your brains, it's pretty easy to over-react."

"The crocodiles is a whole other thing - it's kind of a long story."

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 - Diplomacy

Ser - meant to say earlier. I'm sorry to see you go, although the reasons make perfect sense. Who else would use Clovis as an armrest?

"Oh, Clovis, do be careful," pleads Thumpy.

Keeping the initative as is incase something goes awry

Peering into the room Clovis seems a huge wolf. A huge wolf that's answering back

"And why come here for these mushrooms? Why not else where in the forest? Surely the Darkwood is large enough that you didn't have to intrude on my home"

"These are special mushrooms. Tatscakes says they're full of metal to make you strong - something like that. I wasn't really listening. Anyway, we need seven of them and we were told we'd find them here beause they're a dwarven speciality and this place used to belong to dwarves. No offence to Thumpy, but I'm pretty sure those mushrooms will have vitamins in them."

Unfazed by chatting to a wolf, Clovis continues to explain.

"You're right about Darkwood. We need a couple of other things as well. Some sort of moss and a bizarro pickle. You still want to know about the crocodiles?"

"I am Tatsu Everheart, leader of this expedition. It's about time someone talked to us instead just attacking us right away." Tatsu says as she steps up next to Clovis. "Do you rule here? Is this your territory? I would rather not have to kill everything in sight just to pick some mushrooms."

nature check to tell what I am talking to 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"The mushrooms we seek grow only in dwarven ruins like this near metal. They are called Ironbloom Mushrooms." Tatsu pulls a mushroom out of her pack. "They look like this."

She looks the beast in the eye and says, "I don't want to harm any more of your kin. But I have to get these mushrooms and I will wash the walls of this place with blood to do so. What do you say to a peace agreement of some sort?"

diplomacy= 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Hmm, I know these mushrooms. Quite delicious. Some actually grow here in my chamber. I am willing to let you take the them if you can assist me."

The large talking wolf stretches and looks at the halfling and woman.

"Lately other creature have pushed into my territory. Unforunatly they are too much for me to handle. If you where able to remove them I will gladly give you the mushrooms you seek."

Insight checks

Insight check (1d20+1=9)

"What kind of help did you have in mind? I can show you how to play "Find the Lady" and win every time."

Insight - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Felwyst patiently waits and listens closely to the smart wolf.

"talking wolf"? Is that what a 21 on my nature check reveals? just checking. 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 Insight check

"What kind of creatures are we talking about? We would be foolish to agree without knowing what we would be fighting." Tatsu narrows her eyes as she tries to read the strange wolf.

Thumpy listens intently. Anything they could do to avoid more bloodshed is a good thing.

Insight 1d20 ⇒ 9

Tatsu

Felwyst, Tatsu

"I don't like this. What could be too much for a wolf of this size? And even if it has the mushrooms, how do we trust it?" Felwyst whispers to Tatsu.
Knowledge check on this - 1d20 ⇒ 12+appropriate modifier

"Whatever he is, he is NOT a wolf." She whispers to Felwyst. "Let's hear him out and then decide." She turns back to the talking wolf.

"You haven't answered my question, sir wolf." Tatsu says loud and firm with no trace of fear. "I can't bargain if I don't know the terms."

Felwyst

"As I said there are some pests in my home that need removing. First, if you would, go deal with the shadow dwellers in this places shrine. You'll want to be careful. Their tentacles can choke the life out of someone not prepared. Bring me back one of their tentacles and I'll tell you your next job. Do these things for me and the mushrooms are yours"

"Hey, Tats, didn't we already kill them?" whispers Clovis

"Or does he mean some other flying strangly things? Kinda hard to tell them apart in the dark."

"I'll go back and get one." Felwyst says before returning to the anvil room. On his way through, Felwyst whispers to Kidlat and Ser, "We are apparently bartering with a worg. Does that mean anything to you?"

"Excuse me, Mr. Wolf, but do I look like one of your fuzzy stooges?" Tatsu says pointly. "You are going to give my people a list of things to do and then maybe you'll give us the mushrooms we need? I am not your lackey. You tell me exactly who is giving you problems and I decide if it is worth your help in finding the mushrooms. But I am not going going to be your beetch, Big Guy."

that's canine humor, folks :)

Laz, could you give me a tactical update, maybe a map? If talks go bad, I need to know where the enemy is and where my resources are

Map; Light gray spot is the table in the room. DC 12 Atletics check to jump on top.

"My name is Graypelt girl", the old worg snarls, "and since I have your precious mushrooms, I think asking you stamp out a few vermin from my home is well worth it. I mean that is if you care for these sick humans anyway. Do as I ask and we all win. I have a nice safe home, and you have your towns health."

"And since your elf friend says he will bring proof the shadow beasts death you're one step closer. I only need you to clear up two more problem things."

Felwyst moves down the hall and has little problem finding a tenacle or two.

Kidlat and Ser calmly prepare themselves for anything that may come.

Grab the remains and return as quickly as I can.
"This shouldn't be too bad, as long as our goals continue to coincide."

"Lord Greypelt," Tatsu puts some honey in her tone. "I merely don't like being kept in the dark. Like I said, we are not your servants. Tell me everything required to get the mushrooms and I will decide if we agree to your terms." she pauses for a second. "You seem like an intelligent being. What if I told you I would help you, but only after you did this one thing and a couple of other things that I will name later? You would think that I was trying to trick you in some manner. Forgive my distrust, but you're a talking wolf and the first I have ever met. I have no idea whether you are honorable or not. What else do we need to take care of?"

As Felwyst enters the room with the tentacle.
"As you can see, we are capable enough for whatever you require. Tell me now, what else do you need? You can only make a bargain when both parties know the full terms." Tatsu sighs. "Your reluctance to do so gives me pause."

"Fine. What I need next is for you to clear the the squeaking pest from the collapsed area of my home. The bats are a nuisance and there bites have been known to make others sick. Unfortunaelty I have no way of dealing with them myself. I also need some spiders removed. They attacked a pup the other day. It never stood a chance against those things. They live in the tower across the way."

"Complete these things, and bring proof of their death, and I will give you what you want"

"Spiders. Been there, done that. We've got a song about them. Body parts might be a problem. The tower got a bit destroyed. I missed."

Clovis remains oblivious to possible danger.

Tatsu smiles in spite of herself. "Well, then, you have a deal. Like my little friend just said, we already took care of the spiders. We dropped the rest of the crumbling tower on them and their little broodpod. You won't have to worry about them for a long while. That just leaves the bats. And we'll kill them as well." And then she looks the worg in the eye again. "As long as those bats are not vampires in animal form, we can take care of them. Where do they nest?"

"V-v-vampires?" exclaims Thumpy. He put his hands around his neck, as if to protect his jugular from being attacked.

"Relax, Thumpy." Tatsu says with a wink. "We'll attack 'em during the day when they're weakest, just to be safe."

besides, that would be an impossible encounter for our level. :) and Laz won't do that to us

"Thumps, you have a nexus of chaos on your team. Vampires won't go near you," adds Clovis comfortingly.

"Chaos?! You talking about yourself, Clovis?"

Kidlat blackens his blade with some mud. "No use alerting our foes to our presence."

"Nuh-nuh-nexus of chaos? No! Uh ... what's a nexus of chaos?"

"Don't let Clovis weird you out Thumpy."

"Electro-boy calls me that when he's feeling nice. Just means I hit stuff I don't mean to."

Clovis grins happily.

"And I am not a boy. I am a man." Kidlat declares indignantly, looks at Lady Tatsu then looks out in a different direction.

"Man, boy, dwarf, wolf-thing ... you all look strange to me. And Kid, you ever think Tatscakes might have be kinda bruised by that ex of hers? It could take her time to get over that."

"Let's discuss this matter later."

Tatsu rolls her eyes at her two companions. "here we go again." she thinks to herself. She looks back to the Worg. "The bats? Where do they nest?"

"They nest in the room near the statue."

"Anyone know where that is?"

"Not here, let's move out." Tatsu turns and half-pulls Clovis out with her. "You just have those mushrooms ready, Greypelt. We'll bring you some bat wings in exchange."

Tatsu signals to the others to follow her out. She leads them back to the entryway. She takes a knee and begins to draw what she knows of the complex so far. "We've been here and here. That leaves only here for the bat's nest." Map, please, Laz, thank you.

"It must be the next room over or the one next to it," Tatsu explains as she begins to move down the hall again. perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"Whuh?"

"Sssshhhh...."

MAP, The green/yellow section in the north is the room you seek

The group leaves greypelt and his pack to seek out the bats that will give them the mushrooms they seek.

Tatsu can occasionally here the high pithced squeak of a bat coming from the northern most room.

"It's bat-squashing day,
It's bat-squashing day,
We should all be happy
Cos it's bat-squashing day"

Clovis makes up another little song.

"Let's do this!" Tatsu orders as she pushes the door open and prepares to attack. She makes sure the others are gathered around her as she does. nobody halfway down the hall, everyone right around the door she heard the noises coming from

initiative= 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 don't forget my +2 bonus when you roll

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 - Init

"Right behind you, Tats."

This chamber is entirely shattered, with much of the outer wall and ceiling completely crumbled, the light from still rising morning sun floods the room. Sleeping on what's left of the ceiling a large group of bats.

Initiative:
Tatsu
Clovis

The bats are sleeping and haven't notice your approach. You all get to act in a surpise round

MAP, the floor in this room counts as difficult terrain.

Thorin gazes in wonderment at the sleeping bats, their black hides tinted brown by the dawning sun. How peaceful these creatures seem! He frowns as he loads his crossbow and then hesitates. He wishes he could just leave them in peace. But the poor people of the Hollow are counting on him, so he has little choice. He aims at one of the vampires and fires.

Attack with crossbow 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Damage 1d8 ⇒ 3

I rolled a natural 20, so I guess that means I do 8 damage

Initiative for the full round 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Can Clovis see any bats from where he's standing? If he can't, his options are limited, but he'll ready and Explosive Pyre for when he can.