"Sounds interesting. Shall ve leave dem to it, and vait outside? Vait ve vere supposed to save dem or at least the twins vere. I'd rather let them kill each other."
At Kayla's information Grelthe's jaw drops open. These people are horrible at following instructions... "I specifically showed them where the illusion monster's lair was, so they could avoid it! These people are idiots!" She throws her hands up in the air and starts to walk away. Suddenly turning back to Kayla, she asks : "Do we have time to reach them before they enter?"
In response to Vuzi's offer of letting them finish each other off, she says nothing, but looks contemplative. She is torn... normally she is not in favor or letting innocents go blindly to their death, but... they aren't exactly innocent, she DID warn them, and with this level of idiocy they are going to get themselves killed sooner or later anyway. Also she is really not looking forward to going against that illusion monster again. Pretty sure it could have killed us at any time it wanted. She waits to see what other people think, while she sorts out her own feelings on the subject.
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When Kayla gets a reading on them again they have bypassed the danger and are exploring the many rooms that lead to the floating skull.
Grelthe looks around and tries to judge her group's interest. "Shall we try heading to the floor below them then and flushing whatever we find up? Or shall we give up on trying to teach them a lesson and just explore before they get to it?"
Good idea. Let's go to the floor below and try to flush something towards them.
"Lets head down, and see vat ve can push toward dem." Vuzi looks like she thinks that could be fun.
From what you've seen of the caverns you ventured into where the spiders attacked, there is probably plenty there you could lure up. Or, alternatively, if you could somehow block or obscure the path so that they party wanders into the spider's nest like you did that may provide just the situation you're looking for. That level probably has lots of nasty surprises, in fact.
Alternately, you could try to locate the entrance into the evil temple somewhere in the level above the spider caves and herd them in there somehow.
After some scouting, Kayla does find something you can... deal with? In another part of the caves far from the spiders, she spots a trio of trolls having a relatively intelligent conversation over a crude, oversized tea set.
Simon nudges Grelthe.
"You think the Trolls are evil?
We not want to harm innocents in our plan to teach the idiots a lesson, yesyes?"
We can always ask.
At Simon's nudge, Grelthe frowns and asks Kayla some clarifying questions about what the trolls looked like (are they mountain Trolls)?
Simons seems uncomfortable about something.
At last, he speaks up.
"Miour-Meew ...
Do you not think it would be ... betrayal to send those adventurers against the spider-miii?
Mere hours after we talked to the spirit?
He even gave us his blessing.
Staging a fight with his children ...
I feel troubled by that prospect-miour.
Better find something truly evil.
Should make it even more obvious for the woodheads that the twins are not evil if they see them fighting true evil, yesyes?"
Wait, I thought just natural beasts were on his side, are you saying that includes spiders? I was thinking, you know, snakes, maybe rats and goblins... but insects? Hmm. Well, if they are included, then you are probably right, we shouldn't interfere with them (although they shouldn't be munching on people either, mind you). ... This whole working for the dungeon itself is a cool idea, but it's complicated. What exactly are we allowed to kill? Anything evil?
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Simon nods eagerly.
"I would think so, yesyes.
As far as I know, all animals are some kind of neutral with only very few being good-hearted-meow.
Anything that is evil by its own choice ...
My heart would say ... is not necessarily under the protected of the spirit. Demons and devils certainly are not.
And for the spiders...
They hunt for survival, not for the sake of the hunt or even worse:
For power or plain amusement-grchh.
And as for goblins ... I don't think they fall under his protection either.
At least those I met before, all enjoyed the suffering of others way too much-ftch."
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Kayla tries her best to describe the trolls and the situation. but as the other discuss, Kayla decides that since they are discussing things rather intelligently...
Kayla wander toward the Trolls. holding her hands up just enough to show she had=s no intentions of fighting, Hello big fellas. You have some time to help a small one out? I could really use your help. I seem to have lost my way. I was with some others...<insert a description of some of the other party> not that I really like them much anyway.
She stops her approach once they see her and keeps her hands visible and tries really hard to look peaceful.
Kayla: to reach the trolls you need to cross a small underground lake. Thanks to your skills this is no impediment. The trolls are understandably startled as most things would make at least SOME noise crossing the water.
"I agree ve need to find out if things are evil before ve attack dem first. If dey attack us, ve vill defend ourselves, yes?" Vuzi puts her two coppers in the discussion.
Kayla?
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"I think Simon is right, the siders are likely protected by the... spirit we met. We still haven't found the Temple, but that might be too strong for the other party anyway. I say we check out these Trolls. I think they may be our best bet. And yes Vuzi, of course we won't attack them unless they attack us first." She looks around at everyone in turn... "Right, guys?" She looks confused for a second. "Dang it, where's Kayla? Anyone see her slink off this time?"
Simon was nodding at Grelthes words enigmatic, until Kayla was mentioned.
Surprised, he looks around.
Finding no trace of her, he silently whistles through his teeth.
"I swear, she must be using magicks to do this-meeew.
She even tricked my sense of smell by binding a piece of her cloth to my backpack, so I would not notice her abscence!
Well played, little one. Well played..."
Kayla eventually comes back unharmed and leads you to a trio of trolls standing on the bank of an underground lake. There is a series of stones just under the water forming a wet bridge out to a small island. The trolls are standing protectively in front of the bridge.
Wha'd'ya'll want! A burly one in the front demands as you approach. The little morsel said som'thin' about a group that needs a bit of roughing up?
Yeah, we were wondering if you could stage an attack and we could have our friends here come and "save" the other group. In return, you get a 10% discount at the new shop. You've heard of it, right?
Shop. he scratches some moss that passes for a beard... kinda. Ya mean that Ghast that's turn' da big bad skelly's place around, ya? Hummmm.. Wha'd'ya mean by "stage" and "save".
Basically start attacking them, but when our friends come to run you off, pretend to be scared, and run off. Does that make sense?
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"You can smack them around a little before you "get scared" by our friends. It' a joke."
The trolls turn in on themselves into a little huddle and can be heard muttering to each other, though you can't make out what they say. After a minute or two they turn back.
And what do these friends of yours look like? the leader asks.
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Keen ears might overhear Simon muttering to Emily:
"Sister, can you believe we really are conversing with a bunch of trolls to send them roughing up someone else-miii?"
As the trolls ask their question, he speaks up loud, talking slowly for the benefit of the trolls.
"There is one of their number you will notice easily.
He is glad in shiny-shiny metal and likes to shout knightly stuff-mehmehmeh.
He is ...", at this point he looks at Vuzi,
"... our closest 'friend', deserving the majority of the joke, yesyes?"
"Umm... Simon that's who we want them to attack, not run away from... I thought." To the trolls "Our friends we want you to run away from are... well, some of them are Trolls like you, but only... well a bit stinkier." Grelthe looks uncomfortable. She doesn't know how Trolls view undead.
The leader looks slightly confused. So we attack the shiny one. Run from stinky trolls. This is one weird joke. Where are they?
Vuzi points to where she thinks the shiny one is. "Dat vay.
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If we can find Kayla, I ask her to use her tracky magic to see where the other group is now.
They're inspecting the area where you battled the black pudding.
Simon kneels down and starts to scratch a crude but simple map into the mud in front of the trolls, depicting the path to where the other party should be at the moment.
"... and then you should see them, yesyes?"
Turning to the group, he says:
"Maybe we should split up.
Us sneaky ones should follow the trolls, making sure they find the way and nothing overly ... dangerous happens to anyone and the rest should go and fetch Vance and the twins-miii?"
Okay, but ... how sneaky? Can I come?
Grelthe looks down at her armor and volunteers to fetch the undead boys.
The trolls nod and move off. As the others leave, the leader turns and says, Don't you be sniffin'round in our camp. If we come back'n things be gone... He lets the threat hang as they leave.
Hearing the Troll's parting remark, Zadira is suddenly interested in the the camp, although she thought it was just a pile of junk before.
She casts detect magic and takes a look around, before sneaking off with the others to make sure things go well.
(more if there are traps or unusual stonework or dungeon hazards)
____
When she is finished looking around, she and her snake scoot off into the shadows to make sure the plan goes well.
I'll go vith you do get de boys Grelthe." Vuzi wants to grab them fast it seems the trolls aren't waiting around.
"You stay back with Snakey, Sister-purrurr.
No messing around you two, alright?"
After these short instructions, Simon takes lead, relying on his keen nose and ear to find his way and notice any incoming danger.
Within a few heartbeats, he vanishes out of sight in the dim corridors and his steps are all but silent as usual.
Grelthe will look very disappointed in her and give her a short speech about the value of honor and integrity.
Grelthe will gesture Vuzi on, and then start running (60 ft per ?).
Zadira: You don't see anything magical, but there is a pile of shiny rocks. The trolls are definitely giving off several auras though.
Vance team: You have significantly further to go than the others. You have to book it to make it there in time to get back before the trolls pulp your "friends". As you round the corner you see the Twins pulling a small group of skeletons to pieces. One of them notices you and waves before absent mindedly knocking a skelly's skull off with it's own femur.
Stealth team: the trolls pace is leisurely but they make very good time due to their huge strides. The dungeon seems to clear out before them.
They arrive at the black pudding area and the "friends" are gone. They don't look confused. They be movin'. Get da scent. the leader says. They all start sniffing around. you need to hide your scent, fast!
=== Stealing from Troll Nest (after Trolls leave and before going with stealth team) ===
If not... still taking one for a souvenir. If I know more, then I will decide about anything else.
________________
Zadira, on the stealth team, realizes she needs to do something as they are talking about getting a scent, and she quietly casts
Expeditious Excavation on a spot between them, taking a chunk of the side of the tunnel and churning up dust and grit to obscure the whole area between them (and likely to ruin scent as well?).