“Pretty close! I think there was a pineapple involved somewhere embarrassing …”
“Smooth or rough leaf?”
“Shiny crystals would have been nice, but not nice enough to warrant stealing them from folk who were already here.”
Gervase pulls Lily close and gives her a squeeze. “Please don’t ever change.”
“Now, what say we go find the Guv’nor and report what we found? T’will be interesting to get her view on exploitation or conservation of the Rainbow Scorpion caverns.”
Somewhat disappointed to leave behind interesting and valuable gems, you decide not to engage with the rainbow scorpions, and head back to town.
When you arrive, you find most of the colonists still in the town center, discussing the attack and what it means for the safety of the colony. As you return, a hush descends as the colonists gather around to hear what you have to say.
“Hey, guys.”
If Gervase spots Alba Divenaar and/or Anya Sandstrider in the crowd, she will give the dwarven alchemist/Shoanti ranger a warm embrace/triumphant fist-bump.
“We found a small nest of those gray rubbery things and their neighbors, who were insentient flying squid(?) and put them all to the sword/ax/trident/lance without much difficulty.”
Gervase’s tone is open, friendly and modest as she *shrugs* “Nothing much to worry about. I have heard of small communities in Varisia and Andoran coping with far worse.”
“Anyways, I don’t think they’ll be a threat to Daib, Geoff or anyone else again. But I think it’s important we go report to the governor now, so she can decide what to do about the caverns themselves in the medium term. “
“I mean they might make a good hurricane (or tornado) shelter, or an emergency retreat in the event of a fire or flood.”
Lily gives a smile and nods.
Yes, we'll want to talk to her soon... thankfully, the blighters are dead, so it's not as much of a rush as it could be.
She gently rubs her throat and winces.
But it's been a rough day. Sooner is better.
Ramona is among the group near Daib and Geoff's house when you arrive, and she takes you to her office to hear the full details.
Lily describes everything as best she can, but finally comes to the scorpions...
I'm not 100% sure what we should do governor. It seems wrong to just take them, and we could use all the help we could get with things around here anyways. Perhaps we can establish some sort of trade with the earthen folk? Those burrowing insects will be a constant danger... perhaps we can trade for protection underground? It'll take a more skilled negotiator than me to figure it out though.
Gilstrom nods over to Lily. "If they just wanted to eat us, they would have attacked. But they didn't and just warned us. It seems chivalrous to just kill them and take their stuff if they haven't hurt any of us. Someone who speaks rock-scorpion would be real handy though."
“It didn’t seem like the rock scorpions were friendly with the Throttlers. Maybe they have info on what happened to the First Colonists?”
Gervase shows some of the likely colonists’ items found in the Throttler lair.
“There is also the strategic location of the caverns. That clockwork insect we found early on was spying on the settlement. That cavern could be a spy post or staging area for a raid. If so, should we seal it up at both ends?”
She then pulls out the skulls from the ‘flying squid’ cave. “There is also an anthropological angle to the caverns. Perhaps there are clues to the mystery of what’s going on here in the bones of those creatures we found.”
“Is it worthwhile getting Carver Hastings or Perrell Beys involved?”
Ramona listens to your description. "Talk to anyone you think could be helpful. If we can find a way to communicate with the colorful scorpions, we might be able to at least negotiate a paceful living arrangement, and maybe get information."
"You've done good work. I think I can speak for the whole colony in thanking you for keeping us safe from things we had no way to expect."
“It didn’t seem like the rock scorpions were friendly with the Throttlers. Maybe they have info on what happened to the First Colonists?”
That's an interestin' thought, 'awk. I wonder 'ow we can talk t' them. Arcilde thinks for a moment. I wish we could find out what those throttler-beasties are and what they want...Is there anyone in tha colony who might know?
"My first thoughts are to show the skulls to Carver Hastings."
Gervase bows to Arcilde. "He seems a bit less ... squeamish than Ms Beys."
"Then perhaps we should find out if anyone speaks Terran, so see if the words for 'buzz off -- these gems are ours' sounds like the language the scorpions spoke."
"Alba Divenaar might know who speaks what."
Talking to people around town, you find that nobody knows the language of the plane of Earth, though a few people (Lyra Weatherly, Perrell Beys, and Carver Hastings) have studied the intricacies of language and might be able to help puzzle something out with enough time.
On the other hand, Ramona Advanth tells you that since he has travelled a lot, she learned magic to allow a single person to speak and be understood in any language for about an hour. She could cast it on one or two of you, and you would have just enough time to travel back to the caves and use it to speak with them.
"Oh wow, there's a spell that does that?" Gilstrom seems suitably impressed. "Language is already pretty weird - that sounds really handy. Uh... anyone good at talking to scorpions? I mean, I can try because I'm pretty popular, but I'm not sure what to say."
Ye could start wit' "We don't want yer gems, ye sparkly-scorpion beasties," Arcilde suggests with a smirk. Then maybe ask 'em about tha other beasties.
[ooc]Would it be possible for Arcilde to scribe a scroll of Ramona's spell--have Ramona cast it while Arcilde scribes? (Arcilde would need a caster-level check to cast it, but it's on her spell list.)
" I mean, I can try because I'm pretty popular."
“Oh we know, Gilstrom.”
Gervase hides a smile behind her hand as she exchanges looks with Arcilde and Lily. “The number of girls in town that have begged us to make sure you come back home safely. Especially that cute, lively chick.”
The ranger suddenly frowns as if trying to recall the female in question.
Arcilde suggests with a smirk. Then maybe ask 'em about tha other beasties.
“Yeah, and if they saw any of the first colonists – Prime humanoid beasties ...” Gervase adds. “And what the Throttlers used the caverns for.”
“Oh, and if the scorpions want to ally with us against the aberrations. All that kinda stuff.”
"Hey! Let's go tlak to the scorpions, that's a great idea!"
Gilstrom leads an expedition to have everyone speak with the scorpions and try some sort of diplomacy.
Gervase squats next to Gilstrom. Eyeballing the gnome she smiles. “I’m down!”
“I think we’re going to need another CLW potion, Ms Divenaar. We’ve still got 50gp of store credit, right?”
Gervase waves goodbye to her mentor as she hefts the weight of the bagged items that provide the foundation of her next errand. “C’mon Ms D, you know Advanth’s Angels are good for it! Ciao ciao!”
Crossing to the home of Carver Hastings, Gervase taps politely on the ex-soldier’s door. “Master Hastings? Governor Advanth suggested we get in touch with you about the anthropological significance of some of the skulls we recovered from the Throttler nest.”
The ranger holds up her parcel. “We’re wondering if they might provide some clue as to what’s going on under the island.”
Using a translation spell, you approach the crystal scorpions. They turn out to be not terribly intelligent, and can't tell you anything about either the rubbery throttlers or the former colonists. All you really get from them is that they want you to leave their gems alone. With a bit of work, you realize that they form bodies from the gems and that is how they reproduce. You do come away feeling confident they will not bother the colony if you don't bother them.
----------
Alba Divenvaar sells you another healing potion from your remaining credit.
----------
Carver Hastings listens politely to your story, but tells you he was more of a historian than a biologist in his former career, and can't really tell you anything more than you already know - the throttlers weren't terribly picky about who or what they killed. He tells you that he'd love to hear more stories of your adventures as the colony "troubleshooters".
----------
About a week later, you are going about your daily routine when you hear shouting from the commons. Lyra Heatherly is calling for help!
She tells you that she and Milo Cattenbury were scouting the area and working on the maps when Milo fell into a patch of quicksand. All eyes turn to you.
----------
Lily kneels down quickly, placing her hands along the ground.
Don't worry Milo! We're Coming! Stay as still as you can!
She reaches out her consciousness and feels out the living plant matter in the area, looking for the gaps where the pockets of emptiness where the quick sand might be.
Alright...Arcilde ... Gervase... Gilstrom... careful at...
Lily gives as detailed mapping as she can for where the quicksand pits are.
Gilstrom gets back to his job of zipping up and down the coastline on patrol and helping people with fishing and their vessels, as well as whatever he decides to deem 'knightly' duties.
----
"Ah hah! Quicksand, one of my specialties. Fear not, we'll have this sorted in no time." As he hurries off with the group, Gilstrom looks over to Arcilde with wide eyes. "It'snotreallyaspecialtybutIsawapictureonce..."
While Lily starts communing with her plants, Gilstrom grabs his lance and flips it on end so he can poke the blunt handle into the ground whilst awkwardly holding onto the tip, trying to see if the heavy handle sinks.
Arcilde grabs her rope and grappling hook and heads out with the others. As they get close to Milo's location, Arcilde draws a scroll and casts a spell. I 'ope this helps...
“Perhaps we should tie ourselves together with my rope. So if someone falls in the rest can pull Lily … er … whoever fell in, out.”
Gervase nods appreciatively at Lily’s plant mapping and Gilstrom’s probing techniques. “Wow, good thinking, peeps!”
“Once we get close enough, do you plan to toss your rope to Milo, Arcilde? I like it!”
Arcilde uses a scroll to increase her ability to see and follow natural trails, and Lily uses her ability to sense the local plants to find pockets of quicksand. As the two point out the dangerous areas, Lyra makes notes on her map.
You realize that there are a number of pockets, and the one Milo is caught in has a particularly large diameter, leading you to believe it will be especially dangerous to put too much weight on it.
As Lily reaches the edge of the quicksand she looks out to Milo.
We're almost there! We gotcha!
She looks to hawk.
Can you throw him the rope? If not, you could tie the rope around me and I can try and get out to him and then you could pull us both in... Arcilde could do that bubble trick on me to make sure I don't drown while you pull us back in.
Gilstrom eyes the quicksand unhappily, and takes a bit to strap his lance to his back once more. "I'm light, and I'm a better swimmer than all of you... if swimming is what you do in this stuff. It'll be fun to find out! Either way if I start to sink it'll be easier to get me out than it will you guys."
“I can try, Lily. But Milo looks to be a fair distance away.”
Gervase stands away from the unstable ground and casts.
“No good.” The ranger frowns as she looks from Lily to Gilstrom.
“I think you’re both awfully brave, but it makes more sense for Gilstrom to go. Do you agree Arcilde?”
“If so, I think we tie the rope around Gilstrom, who wears the ring of swimming, the bubble head and carries Arcilde’s bottle of air. That way if it takes a while to pull Gilstrom and Milo out, they can at least breathe fresh air.”
She sings out, “MILO! ARE YOU GETTING ALL THIS?”
Before turning to Lyra. “Do you want to tell him what’s in the works? He's more likely to listen to you. But PLEASE, don’t get too close.”
Milo is busy treading water to stay afloat, but he nods in agreement as you outline your plan.
Arcilde draws a rope of silk, and carefully ties it around Gilstrom's waist. 'ere, Gilstrom, you take this one. 'awk, there's no reason not t'keep tryin' wit' tha rope.
Then she pulls out a sheep's bladder and fills it with air. It's na much, but it will give ye a few seconds. I have a spell that can give ye both a few more.
Finally, she calls on the Golden Bulwark to grant Gilstrom a blessing.
Gilstrom bows in what he thinks is a courtly manner to Arcilde and takes the air bladder.
Gilstrom ditches his pack and weapons save for his trident, and wades into the quicksand. Moving slowly and carefully, he starts to slop through the stuff, rope in tow.
Gilstrom wades into the quicksand. It's much harder to move in than seawater, but he is a trained aquanaut, and with the air bladder for buoyancy and Arcilde's blessing, he quickly finds a good method for moving through it.
He makes his way out to Milo just as the young man's endurance begins to falter. The fearless gnome grabs hold of him, and Arcilde and Gervase slowly reel the rope in.
Once on firm ground, Milo collapses in exhaustion, but thanks you profusely for your help. Lyra thanks you as well, and says she will have some rope died yellow and will mark the trees around the bog to help people avoid it in the future.
You take a little time to get Gilstrom and Milo cleaned up, then start to make your way back. On your way, you notice a clearing you haven't explored before, and stop to look. The trees thin out around a field of shattered stones and fragments. Toppled marble columns jut haphazardly from the ground and are partially covered with moss. These rocks are the only evidence that buildings once stood here, but the passage of thousands of years has left little but their broken stone skeletons. One remnant remains incongruous with the ruins: a circular marble dais carved from a distinctly lustrous pinkish stone, perfectly preserved but surrounded by a crumbled stone rotunda that has not weathered the ages nearly as well.
"IGOTCHOOIGOTCHOOIGOTCHOO!" gasps Gilstrom as he sloshes through the quicksand in slow motion before he grabs a hold of Milo and starts hauling the man back.
He then spends a very long time getting quicksand out of his clothes and armour (wearing armour may have been a dumb idea) before cheerfully helping Milo get together. "All in a days work!" he opines cheerfully, just delighted at being able to properly save someone.
----
"Oh wow!" calls Gilstrom as they find the ruins. "I didn't know people used to live here? Just rubbery things and tentacle goblins and it doesn't look like they built much. I wonder what that dais does?"
Gilstrom heads over to the dais to check it out.
Gilstrom steps into the clearing to check out the dais. Before he can get up to it, a sudden screeching comes from another side of the clearing. Four monkey goblins emerge, shouting at you.
Lily
Arcilde
------
Red
Yellow
Green
------
Gilstrom
Gervase
------
Blue
------
Gilstrom takes a step back, lookingly wildly back and forth. He grabs his trident and looks over his shoulder. "Uh, anyone speak goblin? They haven't tried to kill me. Yet." He growls back at the goblins.
Arcilde draws a scroll of bless and casts it.
Lily holds out her hand.
I've yet to meet a good goblin that wasn't a dead goblin.
“Uh, anyone speak goblin?”
“Cold steel is all they understand.”
Not terribly impressed by their threatening gestures.
Gervase raises her bow. “Gilstrom, if they start flinging poo, don’t think you have to return the gesture.”
Lily fires off a thorn that embeds into the first monkey goblin's shoulder, eliciting a howl of pain!
Its companions start running around the edge of the clearing toward you, waving their spears as they run.
Gilstrom
Gervase
------
Blue [-8hp]
------
Lily
Arcilde
------
Red
Yellow
Green
------
Gilstrom tsks as the group attacks first. But well, goblins are goblins.
"HAVE AT!" shouts Gilstrom, a little inanely as he moves in to engage with the goblins, shield held high. He charges right into the middle of them, stabbing out.
“Nock, draw, LOOSE!”
Gervase sends two arrows hurtling north at the gob-ape in green.
She then drops her bow and quick draws the Levin longsword, standing ready.
They're avoiding tha dias on purpose--there might be somethin' wrong wit' it.
Arcilde moves around her friends, drawing a chakram as she goes. She throws the round killing thing towards the monkey goblins...
...and sends it careering off into the woods.