What is the payment for the services rendered? For the payment received may indicate how much we have to spend on other items that you are selling. Also where are these magic eaters and what type of tactics do they usually employ so we may better counter them?
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Confusion and consternation clouds Kiptera face as comments and observations don't quite add up. Her interest is peaked and she starts to really pay attention to the elder and other islanders within the meeting. Yet she maintains her silence, closely monitoring the sales pitch.
Sense Motive
perception
The old man greets you in the morning all business:
"These creatures are insects that look like giant ants and mantisses. They have a hard shell and are highly resistant to magic in all its forms. They sniff magic like a shark sniffs blood and feed off it somehow. The most productive veins of our mine was shut down by these abominations."
He does a quick magic casting. "Yep, you light up like a Christmas tree. Enough magic they will see you coming well before you see them."
Gesturing to Durgen, "You may want to sit this one out. Let the warriors handle this one. Ironically, this is probably the converse of the how we end all heroic dramas on this island. The mages are most ineffective, the warriors the most effective."
"How long are the corridors, and how big are these, *gulp* b-bugs?"
Joan seems to be alright, until she says the word bugs and goes even paler than usual.
Durgen nods, "Hmmm....yeah eaten by bugs. That doesn't sound all that zerraten"
Durdin, are you feeling okay? You're spouting nonsense.
"What? Oh yes, sorry about that! Normally I am super focused, but this amulet has all these voices talking to me about various things. Makes me a little scatter brained."
"Are you sure that your not just going insane on us?"
Kragg focuses on what information is told to them about these creatures. Insect like in nature with hard carapaces and a propensity for tunnel fighting. They sounded vaguely familiar to what they had fought once before. The problem was last time that they got surrounded too quickly and they were able to bring their numbers to bear. He hears Joan ask about the length of the tunnels and he adds, How wide and tall are the typical tunnels? What are the smallest and largest portions?
Durgen frowns in thought, "Well I have studied the effects of sanity upon a dwarf. This certainly does not seem like it to me. Hmmm...however I may not be the best judge of that as if I were insane my judgment would be impaired thus I would not be able to judge the symptoms and match them to the disease. Oh my, I may be so insane that none of you are even here right now and this is all in my head. If that is the case then there are no magic eaters so I will be sage, yet insane. Hmmm.."
Durgen frowns in thought, "Well I have studied the effects of sanity upon a dwarf. This certainly does not seem like it to me. Hmmm...however I may not be the best judge of that as if I were insane my judgment would be impaired thus I would not be able to judge the symptoms and match them to the disease. Oh my, I may be so insane that none of you are even here right now and this is all in my head. If that is the case then there are no magic eaters so I will be sage, yet insane. Hmmm.."
Joan buries her head in her hands and groans.
"Mum said be a baker, but nooooo, I had ta be an archer."
Durpen, if you were insane, I find it unlikely your mind would create constructs that question your sanity- and unlikely that I would be one of them.
Gallak may not follow the wizard's intellect, but he's willing to match his whimsy.
There will be time later for a proper tactical meeting, will there not? With maps and whatnot, of course, necessary to the planning stage if we are to help?
"The tunnels are about ten foot high and fifteen feet wide with a track for the mining carts in the middle. Off to the side are large rooms every seventy feet. The creatures are at the lowest level near the back."
Durpen, if you were insane, I find it unlikely your mind would create constructs that question your sanity- and unlikely that I would be one of them.
That seems to relieve Durgen some, "Yes, well that would be logical. Thanks Gallak!"
Not that it's any guarantee of sanity... Gallak whispers conspiratorially to Joan.
Awful out of the way, this place. Not many visitors, I'd wager, he says to the wizard's, the testing tone in his voice pretty clear.
"Let me know when you find one." Joan whispers back.
"How long and straight the tunnels are are going to determine our tactics I think. If they're crooked as a game of dice then we'll need to see about getting some non-magicked armor and weapons. Maybe the gnolls have some?"
As the dwarves are conferring about their options, the gnome brings in a set of scrolls with a white face.
He reads a dispatch: "A combined expedition of dwarves and humans were routed at the Ironwood Forest by a combined force of wood elves, ents and dryads. Over half the expedition was killed or captured. Clan chief Alspane and his elite guard help off a much superior force for over four hours allowing the civilians and miners to survive. The entire rearguard was killed to a dwarf and man. A large golem was able to destroy over half the ents almost single-handedly. Unfortunately the ent elder was able to eventually bring him down after suffering mortal wounds."
The gnome continues:
"I, a gnome and the chief of logistics, have taken command, but have limited supplies. The wood elves have gathered a light force and have pursued us back to our stronghold and laid siege. We cannot hold much larger in the condition we are in with the supplies we have. All attempts to forage for food are stopped by elven hunters. We admit that we should have listened to the advice of the Coalition of Light, and ask to be relieved before the main body of the elves arrives. Chief Alspane and Thumper asked to inform all that they gave as good as they got and want his people to resist in any way."
The gnome finishes reading the dispatch. He looks up and speaks for himself:
"There is at least one gnome I can help."
Hearing the dispatch, Kragg's usually stoic face goes pale. Half the expedition gone? Well, _{}#*€+, _]}~>, _}+£€~€,... The rant continues for a good two minutes of words and phrases not allowed here. When done, Kragg looks at the others, I know we got to a bad start with them, but they are kith and kin and need help. What say you all? Back to them and help bring them out of the frying pan?
Posted in main thread but I'll put it here to make things easier:
There has been little contact between dwarves and elves, as the dwindling of their numbers and the growth of human numbers has separated them. There has been little opportunity for their interests to coincide or conflict. That is until........
The battle was known as the Battle of Ironwood Forest. A force of well-equipped dwarves led an armed expedition into the Ironwood Forest. Their objectives were never disclosed, but their supplies included siege equipment and extensive mining equipment.
The first day the expedition began to rapidly log trees in the Ironwood Forest to build a bridge across the Brown river. Two ents were roused and driven deeper into the forest and a dryad killed after many trees were removed.
Day two the counterattack of woodland creatures, three druids, and five ents was brutally repulsed by the dwarven forces.
Day three, however, the dwarves suffered a brutal setback as a band of wood elves, dryads, and druids flanked the dwarves as a force of ents easily forded the river and pinned the holding force. A massive golem killed the majority of ents and dryads attacking, but the wood elf mercenary band with a few dryad and druid auxiliaries fell upon the dwarven right flank and threatened to fall upon the supply wagons.
During the waning daylight hours, a dwarven holding force fought toe to toe and was quickly surrounded on three sides. Nevertheless, Chief Alspane and Thumper, the dwarven leaders, exacted a tremendous toll on the defenders.
The climactic battle between Chief Alspane and the Wood Elf warchief with his curved sword ended with the wood elf leader dying and Chief Alspane mortally wounded. Chief Alspane managed to slay four more elven spearmen before falling.
The wood elves have followed the dwarves back to their hold in human lands and laid siege. It appears the local human forces are content to let events play out, and have not moved a single soldier to help or hinder either side.
We must be careful not to be victims in this, Gallak says carefully.
Our strength here may lie in our cunning, he continues, and a dash o' surprise. I... may be able to buy us allies in this fight, from the human lands.
All well and good if we choose to help them. I am for that, but want the opinions of the rest as well. Once that is decided, if we are helping, then we can talk about options and what to do for them.
"I was hired to help you guys achieve your goals. I'll stick it out until you guys say good riddance."
Joan looks at those yet to speak, wondering what they would choose.
The ranger speaks his mind. It is apparent his features make him look more like a dwarf than a human. His beard is quite impressive, even by dwarven standards.
"I'm in--being abrasive and undiplomatic is no crime. If it was, almost all dwarves would be in prison. Let's pass on this mine for now."
He adds:"I owe a wizard a favor. I always say, try to stay out of a wizard's debt. This may be my chance."
The gnome quickly confers with the gnolls. It appears they hold his opinion in high regard. They begin to quickly pack.
Durgen nods, "Well of course I am in as well. I'm no Gerbanshouwzer!"
Durgen is completely oblivious to another slip.
Hearing from the group Kragg makes his apologies but turns to go back to the ship and head to help the other dwarves.
As everyone rushes to the ships and the gnome hastily makes preparations to depart. He jumps to your ship and hastily ensures you have hit the switch that starts to allow the force of hot air (pressure) to build up in the tank below.
The beautiful witch stays and speaks with the Elotheans in her charming voice and you notice she presents them a scroll case with lacquered wood with runes etched on them and an ivory pendant with a tiny snow globe in the middle. Her words seem to have an effect on the elder Elothean. She is gesturing with a sad shake of her head to the leading group of departing dwarves.
She is on board as the ships are ready to depart (5 minutes total). The gnome is riding on your ship for now, he seems to be critically examining whoever is piloting the ship with its simple set of two controls, a throttle and an extremely low resistance steering wheel.
The ships rush back to the mainland. The dwarven crew is amazingly silent as the gnome mumbles to himself.
The gnome heads to what appears to be a river and begins to navigate up the river heading inland. The rangers realize that the gnome is much farther south than you have ever been. The river mouth was a bit icy, but the gnome heads into the silty delta at the mouth and the river begins to bend slightly north. Although the miles traveled are extensive, you are making much better time that you would have had you went overland.
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Kiptera spends her time contemplating her return to dwarven lands. Wondering how she will be received despite the dire straits her kin folk face. The critical commentary by the mumbling gnome is not taken personally, everyone is under stress. Her efforts at steering and learning the ship serves as an easy target allowing the gnome to vent and keep her away from the whatever politics her rescuers are rehashing. She just keeps tabs on viewpoints and departs before being prompted for various allegiances.
The vessels easily navigate the river and head up to a large city at the top of a large plateau. The city seems to be the home of a large population of human traders and farmers.
Disembarking at this large town, you realize you are days north of the large human city that is the regional capital here. The large capital is home of the White Wizard and a large military force and nominally run my minor nobles. The main power here, however, is the Society of Secrets.
Two days have passed, and, without getting lost, you should be to the dwarven settlement in another two or three days.
The city seems interesting, and the rumors of many and exciting monster lair nearby are told. Not waiting long, you quickly head south.
Durgen spends his time studying the ship and learning to control the voices in his head that tells him how to speak other languages while he speaks the language he wants. He spends time talking to the fire elemental if possible as well, getting an understanding in his role on the ship and how he came to be here.
The dwarven contingent heads to the hold of the dwarves. On the way, they find themselves in the large human city.
Magnum mentions: "I miss Hon. I don't think I can even go to my favorite hangout wihout Hon."
The large tower looms ominously over the large city. You find yourselves sheltering in the warehouse where you were assaulted by an iron golem less than a month ago.
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Kiptera has been on death row for the last ~3 months. Rescued and then into another high stakes game. She needs to decompress.
Although she has no funds, she will hit the marketplace to catch up on social events and just people watch. Experience civilization in relative safety. And if a handsome dwarf wants to buy a gal a drink, how could she say "No?" So: Wandering the Marketplaces, dinner & drink, a bit of the nightlife, Live Life.
Kragg leaves the group, somewhat dispirited by events and returns to the dwarven hold.
Kiptera takes the lead and the group continues to defend the dwarven stronghold. Approaching the stronghold, the group contacts an elven party.
Who is in?
Gallak is in!
In
As the group approaches the dwarven stronghold, the carriages of nobles coming to watch a big battle are evident.
A carriage appears and seems like the others on their way to the stronghold. Some of the group notice in time, and react, but the carriage is manned by elves and humans with noble garb over their uniforms.
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[ooc]Perception
"The irony. Looks like they got a front row seat. Lets watch." Kiptera observes with cinematic anticipation as the situation reveals itself, perhaps not yet fully cognizant how soon she will be caught up in the embroiled chaos of noble gore. She takes a large swig from her tepid waterskin, wondering if the nobles hoarded better fare in those carriages.
Per
"Those sneaky elves."
Magnum's warning avoids ALL surprise.
"Elves you say?" Durgen looks the wrong way
Perception
Pointed ears seek to slip sharper daggers through noble coats.
He readies to grease the weapon of the first hostile, saying Surrender, spies, or we'll introduce you to your god!
Gallak uses message to contact one of them silently in common.
We may have common purpose, and intel to share. You will shortly break a wheel- pull to the side of the road, and you'll be offered help. Take it.
He will then cast invisibility on someone in the group who can sabotage the wheel, subtly.
Warned by Magnum, the prospective ambush is ruined.
Order of Action Round 1
Gallak
Durgen
Elves
Ghanrik
Big Mug
Magnum
Kiptera
Gnome
Human Auxiliaries
Warned by Magnum, Durgen and Gallak react to the ambush.
They see elven archers crouched on the top of the wagon ready to fire.
RND 1
Durgen
Gallak
Elves