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Thallan, you get the same arcane aura from the object, and can sense it is enchanted. Yuki, you succeed in slipping an artifact into your sleeve, though note that there are only three present on the table.
"What was that about magic, and what not?" The dwarven woman returns, fresh tea and fluffy brown cakes in hand.
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"Dronma this figure enchanted with illusory magic. Did you already know this fact?" He is interested in the reply. A spellcaster would certainly know this fact already.
Belli's shakes her head. "Now that is just not true. Shared meals are one of the things that helps bind friends and family together!"
"Since I never knew my family, and don't have friends, yes it is. " turning to the employer "When do we depart?"
Upon hearing its an illusion, Johnson takes a sudden interest in the figure and peers at it distrustfully. I can't see anything special about it. If that's an illusion, its a good one. Mighty concerning that, who knows what could be hidden as something innocuous.
Frowning, Johnson asks, "Is there more magic like that in the caves? Are we to distrust what we see and where we step?"
"magic huh? Hocus pocus. Mind tricks is all I say. Mumbo jumbo. Nothing like a honost day of hard work!" he huffs again at the objects infront of him
"I am merely here to help out with a few skills I picked up on my travels."
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Thallan listens to the conversations, turning to the older gentleman. What skills might those be, old friend?
His question is genuine and not insulting, or at least not meant to be.
He asks pointed questions, good, good. I think he may be...useful, if not more of an ally. The scarred man looks at the person known as Yuki-Tsune. We all have talents and skills but what do these folks have to offer, I wonder? His eyes look around the table.
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Cpt., though you are wary of the object, the more you inspect it the more you are convinced that the stone child is ordinary, despite giving off an almost tangeable aura.
She purses her lips in confusion.
"Magic, eh? Why do you believe this?"Dronma says, gingerly taking the stone child and turning it over, inspecting it closely.
Jik watches as Dronma takes the figurine, "Well, because I can read magic auras and determine their properties. Did you not know this item was magic?"
The Elf starts, nearly springing up, but then catches himself. His hands come together as if holding a figurine. Hmmm... If you close your eyes, do your hands feel the same shape you saw?
He seems hopeful.
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"Well no, magic isn't exactly considered scholarly in the northern mountains, if you didn't know. I know next to nothing about it."
Jik, you're pretty sure she's telling the truth, she truly seems dumbfounded.
"Hold it with my peekers closed, you say? Alright..."
She closes her eyes and runs her fingers over the object
"Feels the same to me. Hmmm... Don't you need a magic word? KHA-AZLAH!!!"
She shakes the object up and down, but to of no avail.
A smile comes to his face
"I know how to talk to people, keep them busy, occupied and destracted"
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A curious fellow that, what was his name again? Yamato, yes that was it.
Johnson studies the old man for a moment and adds, "A good distraction has always been a sound military tactic."
He pauses momentarily and continues saying, "Of course we're not here to fight a war. This is purely a civilian expedition, albeit in an untamed location. I assume the excavations will take some weeks or even longer so we'll need a semipermanent camp to protect us from the elements. I know how to set that up but I'll need help, maybe some labourers to dig lattrine ditches and build a rain shelter and so on. We'll need to purchase mules to carry all the supplies and equipment. You'd be surprised how much dried food and grain is needed for an expedition..."
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Jik listens intently to the planning discussions. An organizer...good, as he considers this Johnson fellow. The other one is noticeably quiet as glances at Bellis.
To the hostess, "When do we set off? did I hear someone mention today"
Bellis shrinks a little at the Tiefling's gaze, having never seen one before. She shakes it off after hearing his question, however.
"That's right, you said this afternoon!"
Thallan reaches for a cake, not knowing when the next real food will be.
Perhaps, the illusion is not on itself. A trigger or contingency, maybe. Is the site accessible by mule?. He considers.
The old man goes over everything in his mind. Looking thoughtful
"So this afternoon we go to this place? Are we ready for this? Anything we need?"
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Captain, would you mind being quartermaster?
We'll of course need to know distance, length of stay and general environmental conditions. Fresh water, climate, etc...
Thallan observes to see how his suggestion is received by the group.
Johnson nods and says, "I'm on it, and yes we'll need to know all those things. It would also help to know how far away the caves are, if only a day or so's travel things will be much easier."
He looks to our Hostess, hoping for some more details.
Lupic is used to food being something provided or he bought. This whole planning thing is a bit much for his level of experience.
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She shrugs and places the artifact back on the table.
"Perhaps one of you who are more knowledgable in the arcane can tinker with it later. As for now it seems everyone is eager to get going. It's a little under a day to get there by foot. The caves are at the base of a small plateau, so we should be able to set up camp near there."
She motions towards the kitchen, and out the back of the home.
"All of my things are packed and ready to go out back, as well as my pony. It's not a long ways away, though I'd like to have some time with my work without interruption, so bring supplies enough for, say, a week? So stock up, we'll meet back here in an hour."
She smiles and begins gathering her things. Is there anything anyone would like to do before leaving, including shopping?
"If it's only a day or so away, that means we have a bit of leeway in supplies." Bellis said happily. "I can scrounge up a week's worth of gear fast enough."
How is the dig? Its structural condition... Will we need mining or climbing equipment?
He slowly gets up and stretches a bit
"Darn these old bones!"
He then looks around
"So nothing we need to take with? Suggestions might be helpful"
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"Well I already have few days of trail rations but purchasing a few more would be wise. I have a few other 'trade items' to stock up on." He stands up. "Does anyone care to join me? He pulls out an umbrella from his backpack and opens it. When he does this his shadow elongates and appears to stretch.
I guess i can accompany you, nothing much else here to do
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"As far as equipment for the excavation, I have everything we need" She says with a smile "I was referring more so to any sort of preparations you normally make before leaving on adventure. Sharpen your pointy things, maybe see if you come upon anything useful."
She turns to Thallan "Now, let me explain the caves situation; the entrance is a bit of a crawl, though it opens up a few meters in. From there it seems to go on forever at a steady downward slope. It seems sturdy enough, though to be honest I've only gone a bit past the mouth in my past visits. There was such a concentration of broken pottery, masonry and 8ther trinkets just laying there under the dust."
Animals to be left outside, then?
"Pointy things? You mean weapons? I just use my hands. I don't need anything for that, and I see fine without light. I suppose I better get food that will keep. I'll come with you as well Jik. "
Animals to be left outside, then?
The old man chuckles as if hearing an old joke
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Jik makes his way into the town using his umbrella shield himself from the sun, he seems to be enjoying watching his shadow stretch and retract almost like it's a game to him. He will occasionally flip the umbrellas around so the sun comes down onto his body, and the shadow appears to merge into his body this brings about a hardy laugh. "Yes, yes...you can not have enough parchment, pens and ink in my trade." He looks at those that are with him, "Squeezing though a small area should not be concern, I can make a few of us smaller for comfort....it beats adding grease - which I can do too - or taking off heavy armor."
The old man shudders
"Grease will not do for me... not all..."
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Johnson ponders and says, "If we're going to spend an extended period underground, leaving mules outside would be crule. They may starve or get taken by wolves or other predators. Unless somebody here is good with animals we won't get them to go underground willingly. Since the caves are just a days hike I think we should try and do without."
With that he heads out saying, "I'll pick up some mundane supplies, I'll be back in an hour."
The mule has served me well and I don't wish to be cruel. Can someone help me carry a small work table and chair, possibly some lighter tools. It's not much, but I am not a strong man.
"You look as strong as me..." he laughs. "Perhaps we can get some of the others to lug our gear."
Later Captain Johnson returns with a new backpack full of various odds and ends that might be useful.
Thallan asks Jik to procure some scribing materials and agrees that scrolls would be handy.
To the captain, he offers 50gp towards communal gear.
"Ah a fellow scholar. I've found that I can never have enough scrolls or the knowledge contained therein."
Thallan nods in appreciation and agreement. He himself seeks a modest general store where me might pick up some gloves, boots, a shirt, vest and necklace. Nothing fancy, by any means.
Johnson heads out again and comes back shortly and says to Jik and Thallan, "My thanks. I've been able to get a few minor alchemical things and something truly important I'd forgotten, coffee!"
He looks around to see if everyone is there and tells our Hostess, "Well I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Best get a move on before I end up buying more than I can carry!"
"I think that goes for all of us!" Bellis says as she comes up behind him with her pack.
"Coffee...you are a wise man." the wizard chuckles, "I'm sure I can increase your hauling ability, like an ant that carry many time's it's body weight."
He smiles at Bellis, "So what is your," he places a finger over his lips thinking of the proper words, "trade or special skills?" He asks inquisitively.
"Are we done now, all this waiting... you know what, I need to go to the shop, will be back soon..."
He walks away, then goes to where all his things are and changes into something more comfortable....
After a while, a young girl, about 16 or 17 strolls up to the group. Her hair was like white desert sand, her eyes piercing green. Her hair tied into what looks like a fluffy long tail. Very revealing but very elegant clothing. No blemishes on her skin.
She gives a slight bow to them
"Greeting strangers, who might you be? I am called Yuki, from the House of Tsune. May in ask what you are preparing for?"
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"I don't see why it is any of your business young lady. Do you have business with us?"
She smirks then smiles
"well, I was asked to come and help investigate a mine or relic or something. So I was wondering if you were also part of that?"
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"Asked by whom? I believe we have already assembled our company. "