After a few days Tiabrar again asks Martigan about the bracers. Perhaps he was distracted with tending to the deceased.
He will also inquire with Mukluk. "So you think you're a magician. Isn't that illegal for dwarves? Anyway, are these magical. I'm such a good shot with my bow I haven't noticed if they're helpful or not. If anything they do look quite stylish and you should see what they look like when you have some of my yarrow and monkshod spritzer. Just let your eyes drift and follow the designs."
"Illegal? Nah. We dwarves just have other pursuits, usually." Mukluk looks at the bracers.
"Oh yeah, I would think that all you elves were good at magic and archery, but that archer lady was as good at magic as she was at archery: pathetic. So I guess that's not true, eh?"
Mukluk casts Detect Magic.
Petrel would like to buy a metal bottle of oil, in case he needs to light any doppelgangers on fire. Also means to light it.
Petrel will always use his new dagger as the primary weapon when fighting, from now on.
"So sorry Tia, I was distracted. Let me see."
"I'm afraid I don't recognize them off hand, let me right them down and meditate on them during our journey."
Tiabrar's bracers radiate both transmutation and divination magicks.
Martigan can barely recognize the bracers as having to do something with the elven goddess, Sehanine Moonbow. Other than that, they look "elf-y".
Spellcraft: "Uhm, I ain't got time to look at them bracers now, Tiabrar. Let me look at it tomorrow."
Spellcraft: "Oh yeah, these are magical and do..."
Mukluk moves with the caravan, walking more than riding. He is pleased that his legs are getting re-used to travel and hiking. He spends time assisting with survival checks and checking his map often to make sure they are going the right direction.
At some lull in the journey, Petrel will take his buddy Mukluk aside and consult him for arcane knowledge.
"Mukluk, what can you tell me about this incredible dagger? Is perhaps an artifact? I have been wondering if this is..." Petrel pauses, then continues in hushed tones, ".. the sword of Kas"
Mukluk bends his head closer to Petrel to keep up the hushed tones. Right right and left, Mukluk sees too many people around.
"Sword of Kas, eh? C'mon, Petrel, let's go for a walk."
Mukluk takes Petrel on a walk away from prying eyes and ears.
"Let's take a look at it, eh?"
Cast Detect Magic.
Spellcraft
Mukluk rubs his beard as he considers the blade. "Oh yeah, yeah...uh huh..."
Doruk watches Petrel and Mukluk wander off.
I wonder what they're up to. They shouldn't stray too far. Hard to protect the team when they keep wandering off. Well, maybe they're hunting for some dinner.
Doruk walks along the path behind the wagon most of the time using his guisarme as a walking staff. Every so often he'll practice quickly putting his guisarme in the cart, grabbing his bow, and knocking an arrow. Just testing his speed during the long slow days.
Occasionally he'll change it up with his flail just to keep in practice.
I should really get this shod with some cold iron and cover the guisarme with magical strength. In time, as the cash allows. Perhaps some alternative arrow heads as well.
Doruk marches on.
I wonder what there is to do in Narwell. Any sport to be had? Giant Slug races? Owlbear baiting?
Petrel will look for gambling opportunities or try to create some with his lucky dice.
The elvish bracers of Sehanine Moonbow bestow luck to any archer wearing them.
Once per day they allow the wearer to instead make two attack rolls on a d20 to determine the result of an attack (both attacks must be rolled together, the better roll is taken).
However, if worn by an elf, they allow the ability to be used three times per day.
The dagger is a worrisome sort - it appears to be a sacrificial blood-thirsting dagger.
When used in combat, the first time it "tastes warm blood" (i.e. is used against a humanoid or animal) it will gain a +1 bonus to damage against that same target. If it continues to hit, the damage increases with each successful hit up to a +3 damage bonus. As soon as a new target is hit, the bonus will reset.
A brief detour to Narwell finds it to be a fairly small town compared to the Free City, but the largest you've had a chance to stop yet on your journey - with several thousand occupants.
Petrel finds a couple games in a few local taverns, but discovers it's fairly difficult to accepted into a game with any meaningful stakes as an outsider.
A brief rest and you are back on the road to business, piercing the eastern edge of the immense Welkwood and skirting the borders of the kingdom of Celene. A brief incident with a gray elf patrol almost misfires as Mukluk's blunt talk about their purpose frustrates the elusive elves, but Tiabrar steps in and apologizes for his dwarven friend. It's not that the Gray Elves mistrust you, but you have the suspicion that your group was followed for a few days until you were back again in the domain of the Wild Coast.
Days turn to weeks and you finally believe you've crossed from the Welkwood to the Suss Forest. Tiabrar and Doruk's hunting skills continue to impress and stretch the ration supply an incredible amount.
~*~
From where you stand now, now several weeks away from the comforts of Greyhawk, you spot the tall steep hill that rises to a prominent bare knob of rock - the Stone Tooth referenced in the dwarvish map.
A thin spire of smoke rises from some unseen point high on the hill's slopes, and you can make out a steep narrow road or track that runs back and forth across the face of the mountainside.
Mukluk studies the dagger for a bit longer before handing it back to Petrel.
"That's no Sword of Kas, my friend, but would fetch a pretty price to the right buyers back in Greyhawk. The power of it grows when you keep attacking one opponent, goes away when you switch opponents."
Mukluk tugs on his beard. "I look forward to seeing you kill more bad guys like you did that evil Priest that killed that ugly girl we knew."
Mukluk looks back to the camp.
"Anyhoot, we should get back before they begin to worry about us not being there to protect them."
* * *
Mukluk smiles and holds out the bracers for Tiabrar.
"Hold out your arms there, Tiabrar...these will fit you nicely." Mukluk helps the elf put them on his arms.
"These will give you Moonbow's own luck in combat. Not that you need any help with your archery skills, but should you need a boost, these will give it. After the way you slew that evil fey, you deserve these." Mukluk smiles.
Yep. I think I was nice there. Yeah, I think he'll put in a good word with the lass for me.
Mukluk looks at the map and at the spire twice before finally nodding.
"Yep. Yep. Yep. This is it!" Mukluk points to the slopes.
"We might want to make camp here tonight and ready ourselves for the morrow, because we're going in." Mukluk grabs the bridle of the atol and leads him to a spot where it can graze and starts removing gear.
"Let's get settled."
This dwarf in a dress isn't half bad.
Female voice: What? Are you crazy!?
Am I?
Female voce: Well, probably, but this is just more proof.
Tiabrar puts the bracers back on and marvels at his luck since meeting this strange group. He hunts down some a good meal and good herbs for a feast tonight before tomorrow's exploration.
"Yep. Yep. Yep. This is it!" Mukluk points to the slopes.
"We might want to make camp here tonight and ready ourselves for the morrow, because we're going in." Mukluk grabs the bridle of the atol and leads him to a spot where it can graze and starts removing gear.
"Let's get settled."
"That's an excellent plan Mukluk. I'll take first watch."
Doruk assists Mukluk in setting up a decent camp.
"We should set up a good basecamp tomorrow close to the site. Something solid that we can come back to for provisioning as we investigate."
And a place to store all the loot we find. Yay!
"What are we expecting to find in there tomorrow? Any tactics we should go over? We have a new member now, what are the basics?"
************
Martigan removes his armor and dons simple robes, facing the setting sun as he begins his evening prayers.
Such a long journey, hopefully this trip into the dark ends better for us.
You find a fairly well protected area near the base of the Stone Tooth that makes an excellent camp site.
It does not show any recent signs of use.
Gambli approaches Mukluk sometime in the course of the evening.
"Mister Mukluk, sir. Don't s'pose ye wanted me in there with ye all? Or ye wanted me to watch the mules out here?"
Mukluk regards Gambli with a dwarf's eye, mindful of stepping on Petrel's toes for Petrel, his right-hand man, is in charge of the caravan.
"What would you prefer, Gambli? I believe the inside of that place might be dangerous, mind you...and that our cats may need tending out here."
* * *
Edit: If time allows (and I think it should), Mukluk will find a quiet spot and scribe another scroll.
Scroll#6: Mage Armor, Mage Armor, Mage Armor, Mage Armor (-50gp)
Mukluk will rest the night, rejigger his spells, and is ready to head up the slope on the morning.
He will have his buckler on his left arm, expecting trouble.
Gamblin nods. "Aye, the tabby I believe is going to have a litter soon. Is this something I should inform Master Petrel of?" The dwarf continues to be a respectful servant, still never having asked why the group brought so many cats and dogs along the trek.
Petrel will try and estimate if he can sneak up to scope out the path, or if it will be a multi-hour trek. Later he will ask...
"Mukluk, I don't know much about the magics. But one spell that was troublesome would sound the alarm if a door was entered. Could we use that to protect the camp?"
"Nah, Petrel. I think Gambli wants to stay behind and keep on eye on things. And it sounds like he's breeding a deadly kitten swarm to deal with any threats. Twas a good idea to bring along those cats."
Mukluk is ready for the trail up.
"Nah, Petrel. I think Gambli wants to stay behind and keep on eye on things. And it sounds like he's breeding a deadly kitten swarm to deal with any threats. Twas a good idea to bring along those cats."
Not another Kitten Swarm!
Doruk rubs his leg thoughtfully glad the last of the scratches had largely healed.
"Let's go up in the morning...fewer vampires by day," Mukluk says to all while breaking out his spellbook.
"Let's get some rest. Tomorrow might be a long day." Mukluk finds a quiet place to read and prepare for the morrow.
* * *
On the morn, Mukluk will rouse everyone early and get up the slope.
Tiabrar meditates for the first part of the night before getting up to take his turn at the watch. He checks on the growing cat swarm.
If they were flaming, they would really be something. Perhaps a coating of sempervivum extract would protect them. We wouldn't need to set them on fire. We could just tie something to their tails.
Tiabrar picks up a cat and sees if a string will stay attached to its tail.
Or maybe I could simply tie one of my bombs to the cat and send it in when necessary. The loss of one or even a few would not decrease the effectiveness of the swarm.
Tiabrar sits down and begins work on a collar to which he could attach a flask.
"Yeah. Wait until tomorrow. Okays...."
Petrel cannot resist taking a quick peek up top.
Stealth
Perception
On his return...
"Gambli, why are you letting that elf mess around with the cats! They are your responsibility!"
He will then walk around with a keen eye, inspecting the guy's work in setting up the camp.
Survival
"Tiabrar what are you doing with that cat?"
Martigan will rise early to begin his prayers, then prepare to move out, cat swarm or no.
Petrel sneaks away just before dusk, hiking up the trail to the Stone Tooth.
The path climbs up one last steep switchback toward a bare shoulder of rock. The hillside climbs steeply on your right and drops away precipitously to your left.
Debris and rubbish lie scattered all over the last hundred yards or so of path - discarded waterskins, bits of charred bone, and splintered casks. Up ahead, the path opens onto a wide ledge and then doubles back sharply into the mountainside.
Two bestial humanoids in scale armor stand watch here.
They appear somewhat inattentive and bored, and are chatting in low guttural voices.
"Urrg'thok tr'gruf".
"Yarg, grest Ulfe. Chik-gralk."
Petrel seems to escape their notice, but makes out little additional detail in the waning light.
Some additional detail on that map.
Tiabrar looks around the base of the mountain for a secret entrance.
Assuming he doesn't find anything, then I think we're sneaking up the mountain. Tiabrar will be towards the back with his bow out.
Tiabrar would wait until morning to look around.
"Hey Muckyuck. Don't you dwarves make more than one entrance for these places? Where would it be? Do you always put it on the south side? Or maybe exactly a 1000 paces away from the main entrance. Turn right, go another 1000 paces, turn left, go another 1000 paces. Move the secret stone."
"Oh yeah, Tee-ya-bag, I think we do, sometimes. Most dwarveholds have many tunnels that run deep into the earth," Mukluk says while he ponders about what would be most likely here. "Good question."
Twas a good question.
Knowledge: Dungeoneering
Knowledge: Engineering
Knowledge: History
Doruk takes out his bow and strings it testing it's strength.
"Petrel, do you think you could sneak up on our lizard-friends? I know I can't, but maybe I can cover you with arrow fire as I close. This is going to be a hard nut to crack if they have strength in numbers and a fortress at their backs."
Being a dwarf yourself, you suspect that if legends hold true about Khundrukar, it was a mighty dwarven fortress and it would be hard to assault. If there is some sort of secret entrance, it would be very hard to discover, or would be fairly well defended; after-all the dwarves would need to prevent the armies of the Pomarj from using it against them.
There's no set rule though that dwarves of that era would construct it in a particular manner. You do know that if it involves stone, your keen dwarvish intuition would be helpful in locating it.
You do suspect the front entrance would be a real bear to take by force if the defenders were prepared. There's likely to be arrow slits, murder holes, traps, or something cleverly dwarven to defend the main entrance.
"Yeah, Elf, I don't think we can expect to find a way in. We dwarves build our fortresses pretty darn solidly. I think we need a plan to take out the humanoids quiet like....with sneakery." Mukluk looks at Petrel.
"Bad news guys. There are guards, talking in some strange language. They looked pretty ugly, like half-orc ugly."
As people talk about the map...
"Oh this is easy, we should check by the lake. Your basic dwarven fortress is like one of those live in vaults for rich people. Since they needs to bring in water and sends out waste, builders always put their secret entrance at the same spot. Saves diggin' time."
"We should be on the lookout for a waterfall on that side as well, always stuff hidden behind waterfalls."
Mukluk looks confused as Petrel lays out his gameplan.
"I see, Petrel...but that does go against what I understand to be true of this place. Maybe you'll scout that possibility out first..."
Mukluk leans in to whisper to Petrel.
"...I don't trust any of the rest of this lot to do it right without alerting the entire fortress to our presence."
"There must be another way in, if it was so well defended it would still be held by dwarves yes?"
Martigan's eyes are steady as he says this last.
Petrel agrees with Mukluk's idea and will grab his gear then slink off, making his way to scout around the lake side.
Stealth
Perception
Knowing where the main entrance is, Petrel gives it wide berth for his two-hour hike to the far side of the Stone Tooth.
Arriving at the small lake on the far side, he scours the region around the lake but finds no waterfalls or hidden entrances near the shore.
Tiabrar spends the time watching the trail up to the entrance to make sure no guards come down the mountain or a party doesn't catch the party unaware from further down the trail. As his eyes scan the road, his mind will drift to how best to make use of the cat swarm.
Doruk keeps watch with Tiabrar and tries to strap his gear down to make as little noise as possible. He still squeaks loudly when he walks however...
"Tiabrar, see anything up there? I hear elvish eyes are more keen than human."
"They are. It is one of the benefits of our focus over the ages. However, I worry that we have lost something during that time too. If anything, our minds have been closed to the infinite in a way that worries me. Humans will try the absurdest things, but I see it as one of your strengths."
"They are. It is one of the benefits of our focus over the ages. However, I worry that we have lost something during that time too. If anything, our minds have been closed to the infinite in a way that worries me. Humans will try the absurdest things, but I see it as one of your strengths."
"Hahaha! Too true! Many humans I know are completely absurd!"
Doruk laughs as he sharpens his weapons and checks his gear for the task at hand.
I wonder. Am I absurd?