You are basically at the fort for trade, you may stay the night, or even a few nights if you wish. You may attempt to talk to the frog people if you like about whatever you wish. They are a bit standoffish, but not unfriendly. More just reserved.
Lilandra spends the day acquainting herself with the denizens of the fort, translating as needed for the others, and trying to learn as much about the surrounding area as possible. She asks several times if there are any ruins or edifices of past inhabitants around and, if so, where they might be and if she and the others would be permitted to explore the grounds.
Lilandra finds that there is only one 'edifice' around is, 'The Great Egg'. According to their legends, the First Queen Anathana hatched from the great egg, and led her people against their own. As the two peoples fought, it was a great battle for control of the swamps.
However, amidst their war, they were attacked by a third group, exactly who is lost in time. But The Last King and First Queen Anathana made peace and turned in fury on the third party. It was a near thing, but they finally managed to kill every last combatant.
When the battle was over, The Last King renounced his name and crown, and gave rulership over to First Queen Anathana. Then he had his name razed from history as a sign of respect to his new queen.
The egg is something of a holy sight for them. It appears that it's used in rituals. Someone who has sinned or who simply is tired of their life goes to it, paints the thing they most regret on it, and then paints their name. From that point forward, they are a different person, the old one dead.
As to ruins, this is an unstable hectate, so there are never any ruins. Only the egg remains, always in the same spot, no matter what the hectate does. Because it's stable in an unstable hectate, this proves it's a holy site. The frogs seem to worship Queen Anathana, rather than gods. From what she gathers, Queen Anathana is almost a title it seems? When Queen Anathana dies, she passes on her self to the next Queen Aanathana.
I think we should go there. Our instruction are to explore! This seems like just the thing...
"Seems fitting that we at least pay our respects at a site so honored by our hosts." Lilandra nods in agreement, her hair bouncing with the gesture.
Well perhaps some of us might go and others stay close by to learn more from our friends? Lilandra, Palakka and I can range out to the egg while the other stay here?
"I agree with Palomia. Whatever trading you have to do with what's been recovered so far, it'd be wise to do so now. Even at the fastest pace, if we came straight back here after visiting the site of the egg we'll be gone for more than a week's time."
There is nothing that I can think of needing for now. We have food. We have weapons. We have gear. Let's go.
The trek to the egg takes several days, but they are uneventful, for the locals have been hunting the local area, and everything dangerous has been killed off for the accrette.
It's also not hard to find, the top of the egg is nearly 200 feet high, and it's the thicker bulbous end that is in the air, with the smaller pointier end pushed several dozen feet into the ground. At it's thickest point, it is perhaps 120 ft across.
The base of the granite egg has hundreds and hundreds of small paintings, as high as 30 ft off the ground. Each is a small pictogram of something occuring, and then a name underneath it.
Abbas offers an appraising whistle at the sight of the egg How does a things such as this come to be here? The warrior furrows his brow for a moment then shrugs Then again, this world has many strange things happening. Is this really so different?
Abbas approaches the egg and starts walking around the egg looking for pictograms that might seem interesting or distinctly different than the others.
Baru joins Abbas in giving a look, taking his time to try and assist in deciphering this strange, strange item.
Lilandra also whistles at the sight of the egg, once she able to take in its actual scope and size. As the others look at the various pictograms, she follows suit hoping to glean something of a history from the titanic landmark.
There are hundreds of small pictograms on the egg, and it looks like some people climb up to paint when there's no room. Some are exquisitely detailed, while others are mere stick figures.
It appears the lizardfolk the amphibians talked about are much bigger than them. The lizardfolks are always depicted almost twice the size of the frogfolk.
Most of them seem to depict things that are bad, like killing someone, or losing someone to another, pictures of two beings walking off and leaving one behind for example.
Not all of them are about what people did to others. One of the more elaborate and well done pictograms is of a large bulky lizardfolk kneeling and tending some flowers. Around it, not quite as big lizardfolk, all wearing armor and weapons, are pointing and little symbols are coming out of their mouths, as if they were yelling.
Under each pictogram, no matter how well done, or how primitive, there's written in draconic a name (although some of the more primitive ones just have a big X).
The stone appears perfectly normal, other than the odd configuration. However, from the stories that were told, the egg never seems to change when the hectate does, so obviously there's something odd about it.
Abbas looks at the more scholarly and magical types, So...is there anything else we should try to figure out about this or note it and move on? I don't see anything other than what the locals mentioned.
"You should write our names on it, Palo! Then we can see if anything happens. Or wait...there's only frogmen and lizardmen pictures on here, so maybe it only works for them? Or would it turn us into frog and/or lizard people?"
Lilandra offers as she gazes at the granite edifice, "The rituals all seem to feature some kind of negation, Relas. I would fear that if Palomia drew you both, your connection to one another could be severed. I doubt it would change you into frogs, though." She shrugs with a grin, "That's just a guess on my part. Though I do wonder if there are any pictograms higher up." She cranes her neck to look toward the top of the strange and massive artifact. With a shrug and an excited glimmer in her eye, she looks at the others before walking the perimeter of the egg to see if it might be scalable. "Does anyone see any paints? If there's no way up maybe we should try to leave a pictogram of our own?"
Abbas does his best to use his height to find the highest pictogram for Lilandra. Walking around the egg the suli will offer a chuckle, I will try it. I am hardier than many against certain magics and I don't have things like supernatural friends to lose if the magic of the egg is strong...
Abbas offers an approving nod to the blink dog but looks at the other to see if they are concerned about it.
"If you can, yes!" Lilandra agrees excitedly.
There are no pictograms higher than about 30 feet, although that might be more about how high up large people can reach, most of the higher ones seem to be lizard pictograms.
Palakkas uses his half-ethereal nature to run around around the egg, slowly gaining height until he reaches the top of the egg.
The top of the egg is broad and wide, the curve so subtle at the top that it almost feels flat. The view is spectacular, and he can see the fort in the far distance.
Nothing unusual is on the top of the egg though.
As Pallkka relates the information Abbas nods to himself and looks over at Lilandra, Well...do we try to draw a picture?
"Just don't let Palo do the drawing unless you like a sort of...absurdist type of art. What? It's true! Your grasp of anatomy and perspective is questionable at best. Stick to languages; it's what you're good at!"
Abbas looks around, Are there paints or things to mark with? We should probably just do one picture for one person so there is less risk?[/ooc]
Abbas searches for something to draw with if no one offers something...[ooc]BEcause of course I didn't grab any chalk from our pile...
Man I wish I had brought that chalk, the 2 ounces of weight seemed like such a burden at the time...
Finding that the party does, in fact, have some sort of drawing implement Abbas does his best to draw a pictogram of his last moments, rocks falling on him and the giant snake man that threatened the village he swore to protect...
Abbas finishes signing his name, nearly ruining the pen in the process.
Then after a couple of seconds, as he starts to turn and say nothing happened, he suddenly drops the pen... as he goes completely and utterly boneless, collapsing to the ground.
The purple stone in his temple turned to dust and vanished.
After witnessing the change, Baru rushes over to the warrior, looking over both him and the stone for some sort of clues.
"The stone is gone!" the tiefling announces, as he tries to check for a pulse.
Lilandra watches with rapt fascination as Abbas collapses. It takes several seconds for it to register that something serious has happened and for her to shake herself from her reverie.
"Abbas! The stone? How can it be gone? That's- frightening and amazing all at once! I mean, will he be ok, Baru? How can I help?"
Abbas lies unconscious. Boy howdy does he.