Having had considerable success making things that he'd never done before, and actually having decent tools available this time, Anton feels confident assisting Nim with making a gold bowl. Although mere watertightness might have sufficed, the result of their combined efforts is of surprisingly high quality, even pleasing to the eye -- truly a vessel fit for powerful ritual magic.
You wake up the morning and spend the day working on a rough container. You have some tools and and build as hot of a fire as you can. Without the proper facilities it is slow going and takes you most of the day to fashion the rough and quite ugly gold bowl.
That evening Grolik pays you a visit...he lands just outside of camp and stops at whomever is watching for a quick chat then walks in, I see you have defeated the singing bird women. Quite a feat. You go after the magic women next?
Nim stared silently at the RMD for a long while before responding, She was a formidable opponent, yes. Skilled in combat and possessing the advantage of terrain and flight... but in the end she died like all the rest that underestimated our abilities... and resolve. Nim's tone is unmistakable as containing an underlying warning.
Mihai is less diplomatic than Nim... growing ever angered at the devil's continued interation where it was not welcome "Perhaps... we had considered destroying another predator, one that pretends itself a god and preys on those not erudite enough to see through it's lies..." looking at the beast directly and seeing if his circumspect remark was understood or not.
Grolik scowls and growls at your comments maybe not understanding all of the words but at least the intent,
I thought we had moved past petty thrrreats...I have not lied to you...in fact I have only helped you! Showing you things and telling you about things on the island like the birrrd women. You now wearrr herrr vest because I told you about herrr. I have asked little in rrreturrrn, maybe to learrrn morrre of the outside worrrrld.
If you want me gone then say so but what have I done to you to deserrrve such trrreatment? When we firrst met I thought you may be like the Cannibals orrr some of the otherrr humaniods that came herrre and rrresponded only to thrrreats. I have learrrned betterrr. What have you learrrned?
With that he turns and flies off into the night....
Sasha smiles, Gelik looks disappointed and sulks. Jask, Aerys, and Ishirou just look at the group in a slightly questioning manner but say little else.
Nothing happens that night, although you were a little more wary that the RMD may return angry...it doesn't.
The entire group packs up and heads in the direction to the stone given to you by the RMD. It takes you about half the day to get over there and spot the stone...it isn't difficult to spot or see once you know the area.
Four stone monoliths appearing as jagged stalagmites of rock protrude from the grass at the edge of this bluff. A weathered, snakelike rune is carved into the inner face of each of these stones, all facing a three-foot-high pyramid-shaped block of stone at the center of the four surrounding spires. The vegetation and soil surrounding this pyramid has been trimmed back and excavated to expose the strange block fully to view. The peak of the central pyramid has a cup-shaped indentation—channels run down the four sides into empty
basins at the base of the pyramid.
Having arrived, Aedalis prepared himself for the trials he suspected lay ahead.
Tragershen will cast Mage Armor on himself in anticipation of the dangers certain to lie ahead.
It isn't what I have learned, but rather what I know. An alliance proffered by words alone is not true. True alliances are only known by deeds.
So far we only have your words... if you wish to be considered, then it is by your actions that you will be judged.
Anton sighs as some of his friends use veiled threats to chase the exceptional chupacabra away. "Just so you don't mistake silence for agreement, I still don't share your perspective. But let's not get sidetracked. We have mortal combat to prepare for!"
The little ranger attempts to find and capture a serpent as they travel through the jungle to the Tide Stone.
It takes Anton just under an hour to find a normal snake, a 4 foot long poisonous snake that he stuffs in a sack after wrestling with it for a few minutes.
You all stand around the monoliths thinking the inscription that Tragershen scribed...
To Command the Very Tides to Rise Up and Eschew What Lies Below:
Empower the Four Sentinel Runes with the Blood of a Thinking Creature Tempered by the Kiss of a Serpent’s Tongue.
Anoint the Tide Stone with Waters Brought from the Sea in a Vessel of Purest Metal.
Invoke the Lord’s Sacred Name to Wrap His Coils around the Sea Itself that He Might Lay Bare What Lies Below and Cast Down Your Enemies on the Waves above.
"Did we bring seawater in the mythril scroll tube for this?
If no one did, then how far is it to get to the sea? Closest passable way in any direction.
Nim runs his hand across the sharp edge of his spear and then proceeds to splash his blood upon the four columns... before looking expectantly to Anton and Tragershen.
The water is a mere 20' past the monoliths to a short cliff that most of you could climb easily..
You retrieve the water using the rough hewn bowl and march it back up to little pyramid.
"Anton, force the snake's head to the blood on the monolith until its tongue touches it, then do the same with the other three."
Once that is done, Tragershen pours a small amount of water from the bowl onto the center pyramid, hissing the word "Ydersius" as he does so.
Though it's longer than him, Anton wrangles the serpent -- getting one hand behind its skull so that he can control where it faces -- and presents it to the stains of Nim's blood on each of the four monoliths. Then he stuffs it back into the sack, which he gives to Sasha, figuring that anyone who wants to raise a dimorphodon can probably handle a little poisonous snake.
Mihai watches in earnest as the others seek to open the portal.
Several of you spot Grolik looking at you from the mountain bluff, about 50-75 up and to the north of you watching...
Mihai looks to where Grolik sits like a hanging judge observing their actions. As an aside to Nim he states with little emotion "The devil watches as we destroy the demon that opposes it..."
Nim nods at Mihai's comment as he moves over to examine the rope bridges more closely...
Tragershen joins Nim in inspecting the rope bridge.
Knowledge Engineering
This rope bridge is stable, but only as long as no more than one three hundred pound creature crosses it at once in your estimation.
The large brawny druid looks at Tragershen. Are you allowing for any leeway in that assessment?
I could just fly down...
We also could tie off a safety line and descend one at a time...
"I wouldn't want to test it at three hundred pounds, much less more than that. Would you allow me to bear your pack until we've bypassed this?"
If he allows it, Tragershen will take the pack, but wait for others to go first.
Nim slips the backpack from his shoulder and hands it to Tragershen. Not that that has made that much difference... but it might mean the difference nonetheless.
Nim then steps towards the bridge, putting a tentative foot upon it and testing it with some of his weight. Wish me luck...
Mihai watches with trepidation.
The rope bridge groans and squeaks in an ominous manner but Nim makes it down to the rocky bed of the lagoon.
With the way seemingly safe the rest of the group makes it down to the ground one at a time. It appears that there is no easy way to make it to the doors. Either jumping, flying or swimming is in order to cross the water in certain points...
Anton watches impressed as the water recedes and stands at bay (so to speak). Following Nim, he makes his way down to the lagoon floor. "Well. Could be easier." Being unable to fly and not so great at jumping -- not his fault, just short legs -- the ranger swims wherever water remains between them and the stone doors.
There are several places it appears you can cross that are about 5 feet across.
Following gingerly after, Mihai has little trust in his abilities to swim or leap... and is wary of the broken vessel "Anton, your eyes are sharper than mine... can you see anything worthy of fearing in the water or wood?"
"Not yet, but I haven't really looked." He mentally berates himself that it took Mihai's behest for him to do what should've been common sense. The imaginative halfling concentrates and scans the entire area intently. His nostrils flare as he breathes deeply, his eyes flitting from one detail to another, tilting his head for his pointed ears to get different angles on other sounds behind the sea and surf.
Bluff
You gather at the bottom of the rope bridges and start to discuss the path over to the door...just then The Red Mountain Devil flies in and lands about 10' from you.
Do you want my help? I can fly each of you overrr therrre fairrrly easily. Except forrr you Nim, but I can still get you therrre. You said I should prrrove my intentions...
It seems the offer is genuine, but he is not happy about either bring your ferry boy or helping you in general, it's too hard to tell.
"Only if the rest all agree; otherwise, we need to stick together."
Save for Anton, Nim doubts any of the others will submit themselves to the devil's clutches willingly...
If any of you decide to accept the offer, I shall stand ready to intercede should anything go wrong. I have become closer with the Green and can now counter the flight advantage if need be.
I will find my own way across after the rest have made it safely to the door.
We should probably decide quickly... we have no idea how long the water will remain at this level... Nim turns to the RMD. But you might. Care to share with us?
Sense Motive:
Mihai adopts a warded and defensive pose as the devil chooses to tempt them with his words. Very carefully and deliberately "I do not care for what words or assistance you offer. I have told you time and again that I do not wish for your assistance... yet here you are, again. The only thing that you have proven is that you disdain my word and care not for my opinion... if you had intentions of truth... You would not be here now."
What would go wrrrong? he looks at Nim confused. He is about to speak again when Mihai addresses him.
I offerrr my help and you insult me...again. So be it, find yourrr own way to the cave of the witch women, therrre may come a time when you wish you didn't shun me.
No thrrreats...but I could have been an ally. he leaps into the air and flys about 50' feet up to watch you again from a rock perch...
Just confirm how you want to get to the next island and make any acrobatics or swim checks you plan to.
Nim shrugs his shoulders as the devil flies off to sulk. He then spins around and begins making his way over to the doors... Wic in the lead.
Wolf and master have little trouble traversing the gaps... although Nim almost shorts the second jump, recovering nicely and sticking the landing anyway.
Thanks to his short legs, Anton barely makes the first jump; and then on landing the second, he stumbles and falls flat on his stomach with an "oof". "I'll never understand you, Mihai. When someone offers me a free ride, I say 'yes'." The halfling dusts himself off, looking grumpy and slightly embarrassed.