Perhaps we could retrieve a feather that was discarded. Kamal muses thoughtfully. I have no wish to hurt such a creature as this, but an intrusion into its nest will surely be viewed as an encroachment on its territory. Gazing up at the nest, Kamal wracks his brain trying to remember whatever he can about a bird such as this and if it might be intelligent enough to be reasoned with.
Nodding to himself, Kamal turns to the others. The stormbird is intelligent and can understand Auran. I do not know how to speak this language, does anyone here know the voice of the wind?
Gelik takes on an academic air, clearing his throat. As an etymologist, I am well versed in linguistics. Unfortunately, I am stronger with the written word than the spoken. Of course if it was just a regular bird of the stupider sort, I could speak with it. We learned types call that irony.
Gelik casts a simple cantrip , attempting to construct a smallish purple umbrella to keep the rain off. It works after a fashion, though the rain quickly beats it into a sorry shape.
The point is moot, however. I'm not going up there.
"Let us find shelter, we can climb to the nest in better conditions. For now let's get out of this wind and rain, so we can set up camp and eat." repeats Aerys over the howl of the winds. "can anyone see a cave or something that would provide us with some shelter."
You have no trouble finding shelter from the wind, and you can spend the night if you prefer, but you're still going to have to get up to the nest in one way or another if you are to succeed in your mission.
Resting for the evening Kamal prays that night for the blessings of the spider to be bestowed upon him. In the morning he glances up at the steep climb. I am able to provide what you asked for. The druid frowns, thinking. Best to be quick and return. I do not wish to anger this majestic creature.
Ralf doesn't volunteer to climb up, especially since he doesn't really understand what's going on.
Aerys lays out her rope and grappling hoof on the floor as she readies herself for the climb. "I'll just use these little things I bought along, should help me get up there no problem, so you others can climb up. But I've heard tell there are magics, of the wild that could be more useful. If only we had our own tame bird to fly up and get a feather from the nest." Aerys ponders as she continues to ready her climbing gear.
Actually that is not a terrible idea. I have the ability to call an bird to me and then I might be able to convince it to assist us. However considering the nest we want it to go it a large predator, It could be difficult.
Since you are in no rush, it makes sense to try Kamal's plan first. He calls on his mystic forces to call an eagle and make it do his bidding, and it actually works. The first time the eagle returns with a shredded feather, but on a later foray it actually manages to produce one intact feather.
Your triumph is short-lived though, as you are accosted by a small tribe of Zenj tribesmen (from a local tribe called the Ijo) who demand to know why you trespass on holy ground and disturb the sacred bird.
Torch greets the retrieval of the feather with pleased surprise, but the surprise fades immediately into wariness when the tribesmen appear. He looks at Gelik, wondering whether the gnome's glib tongue might somehow manage to work its magic again.
Ralf scratches his head. "So all of this was about a feather? What are we supposed to do with that?"
Gelik adjusts his boar-hide headdress, subtly drawing attention to its magnificence. Oh mighty warriors! He begins with a slight bow. Forgive us our trespasses, as we are ignorant to your ways. Perhaps you have beautiful daughters with which we might have delightful sexual misunderstandings? Not me, of course. I find intimate contact of all kinds distasteful, but perhaps Torch here could accidentally marry one of your more fecund tribeswomen. There would be ever-so-much-jocularity!
The meastro clears his throat.
Forgive me, noble savages, for I seem to have lost the plot there for a moment. I feel much better now. Back on point, If you were to actually ask your sacred bird, you'll find that far from being disturbed, it found the visit by the noble eagle to be a welcome diversion from its day-to-day routine. Frankly, I'm surprised it isn't more resentful of your benign neglect. Maybe it had fun giving away its shed feathers to strange birds, and you can't handle its burgeoning free-spiritedness. The truth hurts sometimes. But its how we grow as people. Gelik smiles, hoping he's sparked some self-reflection in the Ijo.
[ooc]perform (oratory) followed by diplomacy
Torch sighs, closing his eyes for a moment, then readies himself to draw his blade.
The tribesmen look a little confused at Gelik's tirade. After a brief huddle one of them responds: "Very well, o strange little man, we will wrestle you for the feather. Your champion versus ours. If you win, you are worthy to keep it."
Brothers, I am also of the Zenj. Though my people are not your people, I too respect nature and your sacred creatures. It was not groups intent to disturb the great sacred stormbird. That is why I called upon the blessings of the jungle to aid us. Another of the winged creatures ventured into the stormbirds nest and retrieved this feather. The touch of humans never broached the sanctity of the stormbirds nest. Must we fight you, when we have already worked so hard to show we respect and share your beliefs?
The tribesman's response far surpassed any for which Gelik could have hoped. Well all right then. He rubs his hands together and grins.
A grin that rapidly fades as he hears Kamal trying to squirm out of what was clearly an excellent opportunity for entertainment. Showing more restraint than he often has, Gelik manages to bite his tongue and wait for the response, though he's clearly not happy about it.
The tribesmen look unimpressed. "Wings or no wings, you still stole the feather, and you have no right to it. You will wrestle our champion for it to prove yourselves worthy. It is to be a clean fight. We have no desire to hurt you, not even that weird little guy."
Gelik nods in agreement, not seeming to notice the commentary on his weirdness. See? You heard the man. We have no right to this feather, and there needs to be rasslin' for some reason. So let's humor the man and commence to rasslin'.
He raises an eyebrow, and addresses the speaker. Perhaps you would be interested in a little side wager? Hmm?
Aerys eyes the deputation from the tribe, trying to spy the likely opponent in a fight.
"Well, this is your bag," Torch murmurs to Aerys. "Are you in?"
Aerys smiles back at torch, "I wouldn't miss this fun" she winks at Torch, "but tell the others that any 'help' and encouragement they can give would help." she whispers back.
"So, are you fellows feather collectors too?" Ralf asks congenially.
Gelik grows a wide smile. He speaks to the closest warrior, gesturing in Ralf's direction. Isn't he great?
Then the rasslin commences, and Gelik watches with rapt attention. He has no intention of spoiling the sport by casting any buffing spells on Aerys. She can take one scrawny Zenj warrior. It will be even more crushing to his masculinity when a girl kicks his arse.
As Aerys wrestles the man, it doesn't take long until he's got her pinned. The others cheer him on as he releases her, a little worse for wear . As she puts her armor back on, they all look at you expecting you to hand over the feather.
Aerys deflated and hurt by the native, sits quietly knowing she has let her friends down. If only there were a way to thieve the feather back from the primitives. she thought as she sat alone.
Torch turns away from the natives so they can't see his mouth as he whispers, hopefully too low for them to hear: "I'm not going to kill these men for the sake of a recluse's mind games. We either give the feather back or start running.." He takes a few steps closer to Ralf, practically at the man's shoulder when he finally stops.
Screw the Tempest. Gelik shrugs. We lost the feather fair and square, so we hand it over.
He turns to the wrestler, raising his hands in the air. Oh mighty warrior, you have bested our champion in single combat. And though you got super lucky, a deal is a deal. He gestures that the feather should be handed over ceremoniously. Please bugger off now, because your primitive animistic belief system has really queered us with our prospective guide.
Hey, you wouldn't happen to know any good guides, would you?
As Aerys sees the feather handed over to the natives, her natural optimism returns. "Sorry I let you down guys, he had some special fighting moves I'd not come across before, that and the muddy ground on which we fought. But who ever heard of a nest with only one feather in it. I'll climb up and get another to make up for it." she suggests.
The tribesmen sound alarmed at Aerys's speech. One of them snatches the feather out of the hand of his comrade and hands it to Aerys. "Here, take it" he growls. "Better you take it and begone than you disturbing the sacred bird yet again. Some bickering ensues but in the end you get to keep the feather, since he is obviously right and noone wants to resort to bloodshed.
You may return to Nkechi for your next challenge: the challenge of water.
"I sure do like a good, old-fashioned bird-watching-trip-slash-wrasslin'-match, but don't we have a hidden city to find?" Ralf helpfully suggests.
"That we do," Torch nods in answer to Ralf. He looks at Aerys, chuckling. "That's not how I would have expected that to go, but good job there." He turns to head back to Nkechi, wondering what madness the druid has in store for them now.