"You are right, Greebins. You and Mlinzi should do some scouting as well."
"We should split up. That way, if one of us is discovered, it won't give the other away." Mlinzi suggests to Greebins.
"Agreed. You and I will take separate routes, and Crest can sneak up through the water."
Mlinzi sets off toward the trees, disappearing into the underbrush and moving with surprising speed. The harpies might be able to see in the dark, but so could he, and he did his best to creep close to one of the groups and try to overhear their conversation.
Stealth:
Crest agrees to the plan.
"Stay safe, brothers."
Crest advanced through the water slowly, careful not to splash and diligently keeping as much of his body submerged as he could and still keep watch. He knew his night vision was better than most, and he used that to his advantage, keeping his distance where necessary to skirt any large groups.
Greebins nods and stalks away.
The three go their separate ways.
Crest slips into the water and skulks through the lake scouting the perimeter. He often sees the harpies roosted in large trees along the lake edge all around the lake. They have no camp and no fire, although it is near the summer solstice, and they are covered in feathers so a fire is hardly necessary for warmth at least. To be sure Crest makes a trek out to the center of the lake to check on the obelisk. As before he feels nauseous and uneasy as he approaches it, but at least it appears the same as before, which makes sense as the harpies are probably not very aquatically inclined.
Greebins stealths through the underbrush and slips close to several small clusters of harpies roosted in the trees. It seems in most cases while several harpies sleep, one maintains vigil. In one case he even sees a harpy swoop down and snatch up an oppossum devouring it from its roost after returning. Greebins remained undetected. As noted before the harpies have dark but shiny, almost metallic looking feathers, reflecting the moonlight interestingly. They wear no clothing and carry only a bow, quiver of feathers and a small pack of supplies.
Mlinzi rapidly moves through the trees, swinging from branch to branch, using foot and hand, moving with grace despite the huge hammer lashed to his back. Scouting from the treetops, he spots multiple roosts of the harpies on his trek. Each group appears to be a single harpy remaining awake, while the others sleep. He notes nothing remarkable or different about any of them. After examining his third roost, he notes one harpy that seems older and her feathers are more silvery or greyish in sheen. This harpy seems to be dispatching some other harpy scouts or messengers. He notes that all the harpies are female, and wonders how this singular gender model works in terms of maintaining a population.
After a few circles, Crest returns towards the others, mentally noting the positions of the harpies he's seen. Thankfully the obelisk was yet-untouched, though getting close enough to it again left him feeling just as uncomfortable as it had the first two times.
Greebins, you know that harpies usually live in unorganized groups and prey on wayward humans to consume or use for perverse mating rituals before killing and eating them.
These particular harpies are organized (as can be for harpies possibly) and the metallic feathers are noteworthy as you recall nothing in the lore about that, assuming that their feathers are of the usual bird feather structure, mostly keratin. The idea of celestial, draconic or otherwise crosses your mind, but you have no substantiating evidence other than the glint of the moonlight at a short distance to support anything beyond conjecture. The fact that they harpies may be aligned with the giants in some capacity triggers the mind to wander for what role they assume other than the obvious swift moving aerial scouts and support.
Traditionally harpies are also known for their captivating song, used to lure the unsuspecting to their doom. Wary of such a power, you are extra cautious to not be detected, and subjected to what would surely be your doom if you fell victim to it.
Greebins sits thoughtfully while everyone gathers together again. He wrinkles his nose a bit, and says, "Perhaps Nathan and possibly Lotham should attempt to make contact with them. If the harpies are indeed working with the giants it would be easy enough to believe the two of them are simply lost members of the army. It seems the easiest way to find out their allegiance. As long as we can come up with a good contingency plan..."
Nathan shakes his head. "I don't know about Lotham but I doubt I could pull off such a bluff. Even if I were good at such things, there is no good contingency plan to deal with this many harpies. All they have to do is use their song on my and I fail to resist but one and it's over and there is nothing you can do to save me. I say we see where the go tomorrow and if they leave the obelisk alone then we continue on the way we were going."
"That's a strong argument..." Crest says, clearly a bit off-put by the thought of being overwhelmed.
"You might be right, Nathan."
Mlinzi nods in agreement. "Nathan makes a good point. I'm all for diplomacy, but not when it entails this kind of risk. I say we leave them alone unless we're prepared to fight them. I wish I understood their language. We might have a chance to overhear their plans."
Day 17 - Morning
The group having decided to wait out the night and investigate further in the morning, they hunker down and keep quiet overnight and keep watch for any patrols they may discover them. The morning arrives and with it the sun. Now, the question is what with the group do? Before long, as the group meets the Dawnflower's arrival, a cacophony of noises echoes around the lake as the harpies take flight in a large circular swarm over the center of the lake. The sight is somewhat daunting, creepy even, as the sky over the center of the lake darkens with their presences, and the noise reverberates across the surface of the water.
Lotham remains in cover, waiting to see what the harpies will do next.
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Nathan see the large group of harpies over the center of the lake, "If that is where the obelisk is then this may not be good. Though I don't know if harpies can swim."
"Most everyone can, Nathan; it's really a matter of how well can they swim. If they're after the obelisk, I doubt they'll be able to raise it without extensive use of magic." Crest replies.
"Let's say they do raise it. Do we stand by and watch? Make for Cliffort? Or intervene? Perhaps an area of magical Silence would protect us from their song?"
"While the silence may help us, their sheer numbers will be our undoing. We will either have to make for Cliffort or follow them to see where it goes and if we have a chance of destroying it then."
"Bah, you're right. I very much do not like being so outmatched; sitting by and watching, especially with the obelisk potentially in play, is terribly frustrating but you're right Nathan," Crest says, settling in to watch what happens.
"At this point we may as well stay and see what they do. We can make a more informed decision afterwards."
The strange harpies begin to wheel about over the center of the lake, their cries growing louder. They seem to form a dark cloud almost like a tornado. Eventually the surface of the lake begins to glow, but with a dark malevolent light. Within a minute and blackened ray of energy bursts forth from the center of the lake shooting into the sky as high and far as you can see. It lingers there for a brief minute. One or two of the harpies that wheel too close, are snuffed out of existence instantly, the others barely even acknowledging that it occurred in the frenzy. As you ponder the beam, it disappears as quickly as it appeared, and shortly there after, the harpies fly around a bit in a bit of a disorganized cloud, then breaking off into smaller flocks and flying away north as if nothing abnormal happened.
"This is a distressing turn of events. They must know the obelisk is there."
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"Clearly. If only we could catch one of the smaller groups unawares and away from the others, but I doubt we could catch up to them."
"They don't seem to care for their own well being, so it may be easier to capture one without the others catching on." Eleanor surmises.
As you discuss the possibility of waylaying a group of the harpies, you realize it will be fairly difficult given their speed of flight and ability to travel unimpeded by terrain through the air. Unless some of them stop or remain the area, they will outpace you and you will be unlikely to catch them.
"I wish we could communicate with the others. We should continue with our plan."
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Nathan shakes his head as he sees the harpies flying around the obelisk, "I think this changes things. The dwarfs need to know about this weapon. Maybe they have some idea on how to destroy it. The harpys definitely know about it and have activated it. It can't be left in play. If we can't get a message to them, we have to go back, I am afraid."
The group stands and discusses their plans. The revelation of the terrible ritual they saw and exactly what it means given what you know about the obelisk is disturbing and puzzling. You know that Cliffort has a Loremaster, perhaps he can shed additional light on the darkness.
"Well, if we're going to head back to Cliffort, we should get started as soon as we can. I'd be surprised if we can make the trip in less than a week. And we don't know what will happen in-between now and then."
"Agreed. We should return with haste."
"I am not sure that is the right course of action, but it is difficult to know what is wisest in these circumstances."
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"Indeed, but I believe this is new information that must be brought back to Cliffort."
"Let us start back then. Should we follow our route out here or try to cut straight back to Cliffort through the woods?"
The group begins their journey back to Cliffort, making haste, with the valuable and dangerous information in their minds. Whatever the enemy are up to it does not bode well, not for this area, and perhaps not for anyone...everyone...everywhere...
The question is, as Nathan posed, how shall you return? If you head due southwest, you have a forest to contend with, although you could skirt it to save more time than passing through it, even though it is slightly more distance.
As the group starts it's journey, Nathan brings up the subject of the route back again.
"I think we might be best off skirting the forest. Even though it's longer, we won't have the trees and underbrush slowing us down. What do you think?"
Greebins nods towards Nathan. "I agree, and we will have the forest to duck into if we need to hide as well."
Lotham nods. "A prudent plan."
Although he goes along with the party, he seems increasingly uneasy as time passes. I wish I felt more certain that we will make things better with this move.
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Crest nods in agreement, then starts gathering his things together.
"If you think that's the quickest route then let us proceed."