Ensorcelled by the fossegrim's music, Tomas moves forward and jumpsinto the river.
He eagerly kicks towards the fey and embraces it...only to fell his lungs filling up with water as the fossegrim grins wickedly.
Initiative
’Kikil’
The fossegrim before him lashes out at Tomas twice with its fists.
for
for
for
The human feels much less infatuated with the fey.
Initiative
’Kikil’
Baloo
Milo
Tomas 13/52* hp, 1 negative level, starting to drown, needs DC 18 Fort Save
Farg
Fendel
Under a flurry of shots, Fendel makes the second fossegrim regret his commitment. He falls bleeding into the water, where he sinks.
As Tomas coughs up the water that began welling in his throat, the human clings to the rock for a moment. The remaining fossegrim looks at the fallen fey and shakes his head. "Alas Brahlim. Sometimes even the hope of a stay is the only path avoiding tragedy."
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Milo continues to fume for a while, occasionally muttering angry words towards the remaining fey.
"Rum bludger was right jiggered in the head." He growls, as small flames flick into and out of existence in his clenched fists as if mimicking his mood.
Eventually he calms down, only to get moody again at the thought of having to cross the river.
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Tomas shakes his head as he easily treads water, looking daggers at the surrendered Fey and deciding whether to let it keep its ugly head upon its shoulders. Looking back at his uninjured companions he makes his way from the water and gets to sealing his own wounds, noting he also feels somewhat lesser than before.
"You attempt to lure us into a trap before realising your folly yet the creatures you use attack anyway? No matter who we belonged too, talk is cheap when you continue to try and kill me. Now you talk about deals with Gray Dwarves and others, which we have none you fool, your friend died for nothing."
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Addressing the remaining fossegrim, "You mentioned something our 'sigil' and killing for profit. Have you seen others wearing it? I assure you, that is not what the Pathfinders do. We explore to discover lost and forgotten knowledge. This has brought us into conflict at times, but we do not seek to harm or steal from others. If what you say is true, this conversation would not be happening."
The fossegrim remaining protests at Tomas' accusations. "'Twas Brahlim who struck the deal with the greys, though I chose to ally with him for a time. The drowned souls came down from up above," he nods towards the river and upwards as the cascading water fades into the mists above. "'tributes to his grandeur' he claimed though I admit they often acted indifferent at best to his lead. Here," he momentarily dives down, swimming towards Brahlim's corpse before breaking the surface holding a wand out to Tomas. "So yous see: there is no more need to talk of 'killing' each other, yes?"
Backing carefully away again from the angry aasimar, the fossegrim tries to answer the wayang and Fendel's questions. "Grave robbers? I do not know anything about that. I can assure you I had no hand in it! Nor do I suspect the grey dwarves would have. That Ironwhip that leads them has power over stone and over a hundred men at his command, not to mention slaves like yourself." The fey looks directly at 'Kikil at this, then nervously realizes he may have offended. "Not that your species is suited towards servitude of course. In any circumstance, I doubt he would stoop to the meager scraps of a coffin."
"And I have never come across one of you 'Pathfinders' before. I am here, are I not? But we are well aware of your amoral and dangerous greed. Those well acquainted with your actions have spread warnings of your silver tongues and treacherous ways."
As the fey replies, Fendel cannot fail to notice something sticking out from behind the fallen draugr's sodden leather armor. They each wear a bronze pendant, with a serpent forming an ouroboros.
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"Is there another way to the top of that waterfall, or do we have to climb all the way up?"
"What's this now?" The detective takes the pendant from the corpse. "This explains many things, including the propaganda being spread among the denizens of this area." He holds up the pendant as he spits out, "The Aspis are here!"
"The grey dwarves take the path." the fossegrim explains. He points to the far side of the river. "And 'Aspis': is that the name of Ironwhip's clan?"
Narimid stares at Fendel. His posture looks slightly less guarded, but still defensive. "You could well speak truly. Yet had you arrived first I have little doubt my conversation with them would have played out just as ours is now. I tire of intruders bringing their squabbles into this land in either case. Now here,"
The fossegrim dives down once more and places two sparkling sapphires that glow with a magical hum on the far shore. "If you speak true about your peaceful intentions, then take these and you men and pass on. Leave me be."
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Ah how poetic!
Farg remarks as as Fendel begins to heave his massive frame across the river. As the wind tickles his nose the bawdy Tiefling starts to sing, in his harsh and raspy voice, with a very odd accent!
Take meeeeeee to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaange!
Once everyone has made it across. Farg points up to the mountains.
So guess that's where were headed aye?
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Tomas looks at the creature as if weighing his options, though he takes the wand and nods his thanks in the end, knowing it wouldn't be the first time relations had soured due to moxed intentions and knowing that the Society were after allies here not more enemies.
Pressing on as soon as the others are prepared, the Warpriest looks up at mountains with a critical eye.
"It would appear we are to go up or into it yes, though we have had two reports of these Gray Dwarves that indicate they are now meagre thieves. Now with confirmation of Aspis scum present here it would seem we must be ready for further ambush."
From Fendel's flight to Tomas' leaps to Milo's mostly strong swimming technique, the six of you manage to make your way across the surprisingly treacherous river.
As you ready to continue, Naramid looks at Fendel with something approximating a smirk at the human's attempts at a blessing. "Of course. And I suppose let the breeze pass by yourselves as well."
With that, the fossegrim submerges back down into the water, and promptly vanishes.
-----
Following the trail from this side is easy, and as you wlka the roar of the waterfall begins to fade somewhat as you slowly circle the mountain. Less than ten minutes away from the river the cleared trail on the ground abruptly ends. Where it leads next is obvious however: a precariously tall and extremely steep stone staircase ascends sharply up the corrugated and eroded cliff face. At the base of the stairs stand dual pairs of enigmatic, smiling stone faces carved into the face of the mountain. Looking up at the steps before you, they seem to lead to a flat plateau some 60 feet upward.
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"Well, I would venture to say that I may not be quite as stealthy as you, I am fairly certain I have a trained eye. If you are volunteering to conceal me, I will go and take a look."
Jakarno is a Wayang Shadowcaster and Illusionist who is paranoid about revealing his true race. He uses disguises and magic to conceal this. A DC 1d20 + 15 + 10 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 10 + 10 = 50 Perception check notices something amiss.
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Tomas stands with arms crossed as he examines the colossal task of climbing the stairs. Listening to the various plans he frowns as subterfuge is not his preferred method, though he agrees that being peppered with arrow and spell during the harsh climb could well be problematic for their continued existance. Knowing it to be good for the mission, the Aasimar witholds his personal misgivings and nods slowly.
"I understand maybe half of what you say little one, but what I do understand makes sense. Baloo, I suggest the two of us take the lead incase there are foes whose eyes can pierce the spell."
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Fendel takes a small bead out of his haversack and drops it into a phial and shakes it. Fluid can be heard sloshing around inside. He carefully removes the bead and replaces it to its proper place. He then consumes the contents of the small flask. He follows by drinking a potion, swirling it in his mouth and 'returning' the contents back into the container. He then flies off to scout.
Kikil cast Invisibility on Fendel, who quickly re-drinks and re-spits his potion and takes to the air.
Flying up the steep stairs, the investigator rises forty feet from the ground before she can get a good look into the plateau still 20 feet above him. Jagged and barbed iron sculptures of various sizes cover the floor while to either side a pair of wide stone stairs ascends to a balcony overhead. Shattered pieces of intricately painted pottery and shreds of fine silk are piled along the walls. Four pillars divide the space, holding aloft stone arches covered with pictograms.
Atop the raised balcony stand four figures - bald white-bearded dwarves with dull gray skin. a longaxe and longspear are strapped to their sides, but for the moment each has out a well-craved longbow. They peer out towards the steps, occasionally stifling a yawn, but do not seem to react to Fendel's presence.
Behind the four sentries stand a wide pair of iron doors with a ruby-studded engraving of an inferno and a hefty iron lock.
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Fendel circles once, also keeping an eye out for traps and tripwires before heading down and informing the team.
"Sure to be an ambush. They have positioned themselves quite well honestly. Stairs to the left and right are the only option and easily held. Watch for their ability to increase their size or disappear from sight. The 'sphere' sounds like our best choice, but we should move quickly."