(3) Legend of the Elder Souls (Inactive)

Game Master mdt

Kong stands over the thing, glaring at it, then nods his thanks at the lizard people.

Waiting on Luna

Luna doesn't have alchemy tools

Luna hands Neri one of her healing bombs. " I do not have 'gear'.

"I... don't want that. I don't know how it works. Lina needs healing, maybe show them you healing her? I think they'll understand that."

"This is as close to Alchemy gear as you'll get, it's a bomb you throw it not very complex."

She sighed and just healed Lina herself since Neri was unwilling.

Cure Moderate: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 7) + 4 = 12

Neri can't use your class abilities. :P The reason they function is because of -you-. It's not just simple science. Unless MDT says he can.

Edit: The rules don't really say he can't... but it's still a standard action to make it, and a move action to pass it off. When it could just be a standard to throw it. I don't really think there's much value in passing it off, ever, besides really really uncommon line of sight issues. Specifically, infusion lets you pass off the potion, and nothing says you can't pass out a bomb, only that you can only make one per turn without Fast Bombs, and that bombs become inert one round later.

Bombs are specific to the person making them. Requires Luna's aura to activate them on throwing, otherwise they're just bits of alchemical dross.

Mechanically, I believe this is an infusion being used right now, though.

After being healed, Lina shakes her head. Thirty feet is close enough that the reptiles probably aren't too frightened. But somebody needs to take point on the "Me Tarzan, you Jane," and if everyone else is too shell-shocked, she'll have to do it.

"Lina. Lee-naaaa," she says, pointing at herself. Then, "Neh-reee. Loooo-naa. Kongggg."

She points upwards. "From... surface." Runs two fingers on her right hand down a sloped left arm. "Walked here." Arms, gesturing to the whole group.

Then she dismisses her armor, and reaches into her pocket for some bits of the less valuable crystal the party's found, and whatever small ingots of metal (mithral or gold) she was able to bring for the excursion (since trade was one of the ideas behind it). She lays the shiny things on the ground a few feet in front of the party and waits for a response.

Nope, healing bomb. Different ability. It's a bomb discovery.

The reptiles look at each other, cocking their heads side to side, and honk in a nasally tone between themselves. There's also several coughs and gutterals involved, as well as some head bobbing, some forearm waving, and at least one making a slashing motion with a talon'd foot.

When Lina puts the crystals and silver and gold ingots on the ground and paces back, one of the lizards (it appears to be the larger of the group) darts forward with alacrity and examines the items with one eye, it's head turned sideways so it can get a close look.

Then it honks and makes some chattering sounds, setting off more honking and chattering from the group.

One of the group makes a bobbing and weaving motion and then turns on a dime and vanishes the way they were moving originally.

"We have apparently shown our value as mining slaves. They're going to get the cages as we speak." Neri said drily. "I can give you some more healing, but be forewarned, it's pretty painful. This is about the best time to use it, though, as we have time."

Kong looks up. It was chewing on me.

Most likely, you would have healed for 6 hp from Luna's bomb. I don't think there'd be any reason she'd choose not to heal you. So Neri's spell would top you off, if that were the case. If not, you still gain 10 hp.

Neri nodded to Kong, his hands slipping through symbols without him really paying much attention, after dipping into his component pouch, and then placing a hand on Kong. His wounds slowly begin to heal.

Neri watched the raptor that had made the threatening-looking gesture with his dew claw, for a bit. "I kind of wonder how this is all going to work out. It'd be a lot easier if we could speak to them." He frowned. "Adding 'learn to speak raptor' to my bucket list, alongside 'regrow tongue spell' and 'figure out whether or not it's okay to shatter someone's faith when it's ruining their lives'."

"We could always leave some gifts and come back later. I'm fairly certain that with a bit more practice I'll be able to track these creatures, should we need to find them again."

The lizard's continue to honk and cough amongst themselves, always keeping an eye on the group.

They seem to be at a hightened state of alertness.

Giving people a bit to RP out conversations, will move forward when people are done talking

"Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to grease the wheels and mysteriously visit occassionally bringing gifts. Maybe they'd take it as a cultural cue and think that's just what our people do. That'd let us create a trade just by bringing things we think they'll like, even without the words that would be involved." Neri shrugs. "Thing is, what are we gonna do above-ground? Go out again, and get another village destroyed?"

"I've got some spare weapons and shields I can leave behind, as well. And our compounds seem safe... for now. We can mine the upper caves for crystals, and with a little more practice I should be able to craft some magical jewelry with them. In fact, it might be pertinent to build a sort of bomb-shelter in the upper caves here, just in case. It would give Kong and his pickaxe something important to do."

"That's not a terrible idea, given that some of us are worried about being exploded. Not irrationally, at all. But also keep in mind, the voices can't seem to reach us down here, and they're at the very least of value in a lot of things. I wonder where they go when they're not 'here'."

Don't forget, if you used EX or SU powers from multiple gems, make a will save, DC 15

Apparently Lore Wardens get Combat Expertise as a bonus feat as part of an Ex ability (like most bonus feat abilities), so if that counts...

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Yep, anything you get from the Ex/Su entries.

As the battle ends, even with the healing, Lina feels a moment or two of vertigo as her blood pounds in her ears. One ear seems to hear a pounding ringing sound, like a hammer hitting something. The other seems to have the pounding of hoofbeats in it.

Then the spell passes, leaving her in a cold sweat.

"Considering nearly everything here wants to kill us arming them seems a poor choice."

I don't think I did

"Well, if you want to look at it from the point of view of arming them, I'm pretty sure they can arm themselves. The only thing that us giving them weapons really does is make them more able to deal with the thing that blindly tried to eat us. They seem to enjoy killing those. I'm all for that."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

As that's a take 10 for the lowest perception in the room, and we've been chatting nearby them, would you say that's pretty much just ready information? Is the one without claw-caps the one that made the slashing motion?

Mostly, although I have trouble keeping track of who has what perception, given I'm running this game for two groups simultaneously. So it's easier to just remember to spoiler it. No, the one without caps is the one with the lighter armor. It's also the one that's wearing the least equipment, and seems to be the jitteriest.

So the one most likely to be a recruit if this were a movie about the dinosaurs going to an alien planet, and he's the one that gets killed first. Alrighty :) I won't hate on his choice to suggest death first. :P

"They actually do have caps for their claws... but are they like sheathes, or like blades..?"

Basically, #5 is without the caps. #1 was the one who made the slashing motion. #6 is the one that took off. #3 is the one that got close to Luna. #2 and #4 are basically hanging back and watching everything but the party.

Maybe it's a monk?

"Well, maybe they'd like a shield... or some javelins. It's not hard to make more."

"Would they even be able to use them, though?" Do they appear to have any other weapons that aren't simply thrown? Speaking of, how does a raptor hold things to throw? Wouldn't it be super inaccurate without the ability to grip things?

Unlike a normal Raptor, their hands appear to be able to grip. They have three fingers, but one is opposite of the other two. Kind of like this

So, it'd probably still take a specialized design to create weapons for them?

Also, deep. Neri likely would have already done this.

"I wonder whether they use magic, like Luna, or use pure science for what they do..." His hands darted through a few arcane symbols, and then his eyes took on the red glow that showed he was looking for magical auras. He started by looking at the fungi in the surroundings, then slowly turned to take in the raptors.

The raptors react when Neri begins casting, and the one with the lighter armor makes a few motions with his hand, but stops and then honks.

As Neri looks at the raptors, he can sense a half dozen auras.

Neri nods. He drops the spell, not wanting to insult them by overstaying his welcome there, and dropping his spell. It was one thing to satisfy his curiosity as to whether or not they -had- magic, and still another to analyze what they had. "They do have magic. Odd that they reacted that time, but not the first time when I was healing Kong. I guess it was more obvious what I was doing then?"

You were obviously focusing on Kong as you cast. This time, you were obviously focusing on them.

About 15 minutes later, most of which is spent staring at each other with uncomfortable stares, and some grunting and hooting, the group hears what sounds like metal pots being slammed together hard and fast.

Within a minute or two the source of the sound becomes apparent.

Two more raptors appear, these in full plate armor. The sight of two raptors, each about 25% larger than the ones already there, and dressed from claw to tail tip in steel, is quite the sight to behold. It brings back memories of freight trains, granted with a mouth full of fangs each.

Between them is a smaller (about the size of the original group) raptor, this one wearing only silk swathed about it's body, and with ornate runes branded into it's skin. The two with plate mail move to stand guard over the new arrival, and the party notes that the two plate-mail guards have wickedly curved blades attached where their slash claws would normally be. They appear to be made of some dull metal that is hard to focus on.

The one draped in silk tilts it's head to stare at the group through a gleaming green eye (the other eye is covered by a leather cup). When it's done, it slowly begins to move it's hands and cough quietly.

When it's done, the reptile's mouth opens, and a hissing sibilant voice speaks. "What are thy intentionsssss, sssssurfaccccce dwellerssss? Why come thou to the cavessss of The People?"

spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

"Note to self... see if Id can help me carve a sigil for that spell." Neri said lightly, after a moment of just being happy that the things had stopped.

Aside from that particular aside to his allies, Neri planned to allow Lina... Or someone else... to make the real interpersonal contact. He figured it would be Lina who would speak, since she was in the forefront... but he wouldn't be surprised if someone else did. Sterling had taught him an important lesson about holding his tongue with the locals. He meant well... but for some reason, things went badly when he was outspoken.

Are their various armors ornamental, or simply utilitarian? Are the armors of the freight captors identical, like uniforms, or unique? Is there something Neri can do to try to recognize the metal or some of its properties?

All appear functional, although the two in plate seem to have extra engravings on their armor that are purely decoration. You'd need to closely examine the metal, looking at it from 40 ft away isn't going to do much. The two in full plate seem to have matching armor.

Somehow, the character with the lowest charisma has become the most diplomatic.

But if they're sending their most heavily-armored warriors to do the talking, Lina can give a reply. She speaks slowly and firmly.

"We are... travelers, from a land very far away. We have been trapped here, on the surface, in the ruins of a village.

"There are... forces on the surface that call themselves gods. They do not like outsiders. We explored the caves above yours as a possible refuge, then found caves below.

"Do not mean to trespass. We are merely explorers, seeking allies and trade. We have unique knowledge, crafting skills, and are capable warriors, but we are few. If you wish, we can leave your lands now."

I figure asking to look closely at their dew claws is how a lot of cave men would end their lives in dealing with the dinosaurs. Neri will pass, unless they offer to show him. :P

At the mention of trade, Neri motions to the bits of metal and crystal they brought with them, as well as a few pieces of wood, and some animal fur, which he retrieves from his own pack. It's all really small, just as samples, as opposed to something that could really be bartered with.

The raptor listens, it's head cocking back and forth as it does. Then the raptor coughs, and after a second, the rest join in with a lesser cough. "I seeeeeee. Well, if you agree to dissssarm, you are welcome to come to our ssssity. We do not allow outsssssiderssss to bear weaponsssss in our ssssity. Assss for trade, if you have thingssss to trade, I am sssssure ssssome of the merchantssss will want to buy them."

Neri frowned slightly. Much of his defenses relied on it... but he unhooked it and handed it over, along with his spell component pouch. If push came to shove, he could summon the unwieldy armor to defend himself.

Lina smiles, knowing that she could call her weapons and armor at a moment's notice, then leaves them on the ground and awkwardly bows.

"Thank you. We know little of the lands down here, but have brought samples of what we have."

Neri looked to Luna and Kong, "Any preference or thoughts on this? If they were going to eat us, they'd have already tried... So going to their city won't really add to that, I don't think."

I'm basically waiting for everyone to post, don't want to railroad people by assuming they are ok going along with the raptors.

"We don't have much of a choice, I don't think."

Luna handed over her weapons as well.

Let's do zis. Zey seem friendly.

Kong hands his over without much worry.

The Raptor's take the weapons and place them into the pack of one of the smaller lightly armored Raptors.

Once done, they all turn and take off down the tunnel. The lightly armored ones, being faster, leave the heavily armored ones and the shaman behind. The heavily armored ones are slower, due to their armor, but even they have to stop and wait for the humans to catch up (mostly due to Lina's armor slowing her down).

Eventually though, after about 30 minutes of walking down tunnels seemingly at random, the group enters a large underground cavern, perhaps a mile across.

The city is made of stone, carved in exquisite detail. Long curving ramps connect the bottom floors to upper floors, no stairs in sight.

It's hard to tell, but there may be thousands of Raptors in the city, some of the buildings actually go from the bottom of the cavern to the top. This is the first time the group has been able to see further than their torch light since they entered.

The whole city is a sort of twilight lit affair, not enough light for the group to see it all in detail, but enough scattered lights that the entire city is lit in a dull penumbra.

Small raptors, from knee height to hip height, ebb and flow about 40 or 50 ft away from the group, making a ton of honking coughing noises as they watch the group enter the city.

The one who can speak to them turns. "Thisss isss our ssssity. Your weaponssss will be kept by the Keepersss." The speaker gestures toward the heavily armored Raptors.