Tora no Senaka - The Back of the Tiger (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

"Tunuaq start talking of human sacrifice when dragon start hunting Erutaki. Never before. These black monolith are evil. We have seen this with our own eyes."

"All right, thuh'there's somethin' we can do that don't involve bruh'breaking and entering. Let's take a closer look at them muh'monuments."

The only monument you've seen was more than a day's walk from the village. Akulayok can confirm that none are closer to the village, though they used to be seen only by the farthest reaching hunters.

Assuming there are no objections, Pavel begins gathering supplies- enough for a week on the ice, just in case of an emergency. He also has a coil of rope set aside for everyone else, neatly tied with a colorful ribbon.

Akulayok wants a private audience with Sonavut. He will tell Sonavut,

Whistling softly, Daeron nods thoughtfully and says to Shalelu, "That long? That seems to throw some of our theories for a loop. Still, this is valuable information. Thank you for it, Shalelu." Daeron bows slightly to his fellow elf, smiling thoughtfully. He continues as he stands, musing aloud, "Clearly these monuments are being created or moved by something or someone. Let me reflect on the topic some more and I'll see if I can think of any references to similar structures. It's eery that these structures presence coincides with the dragon's rampage. My worry, to use your analogy, is that we are the hunted and not the hunter. We stumble blindly, searching for answers, while our unseen enemy prowls closer. If it's reasonable to travel to another of the structures, I might be able to glean some further insight into their nature."

Knowledge(???) for any knowledge on the monuments?: 1d20 ⇒ 11 +16 arcana, +10 history, +16 planes seem most likely. Maybe my new skill levels will be good for something. :)

Akulayok says, "I talk to Sonavut. Tunuaq will longer speak of sacrificing people. Still I believe an evil has entered my tribe. I wish I had the magic to find it."

I forget. Celestial, do you not allow alignment detection spells? It seems we could start scanning the tribe for the presence of evil. That would at least give us a few candidates to check out.

Screw it. Akulayok doesn't trust this bastard Tunuaq. I'm the skill monkey. I need to start using my abilities. I don't trust Tunuaq. CB has been pointing a giant arrow at that bastard. I'm going to follow it.

Akulayok goes to Daeron,

Daeron curses quietly under his breath in Elven as Akulayok leaves. There could be much knowledge to be gained but it also risks his life. If it's tied to us, we'll be thrown out. Remaining unobtrusive, Daeron finds Pavel, Theoden and Garand in order to warn them quietly in Varisian, "Akulayok is currently sneaking into Tunuaq's home in order to search for evidence of his betrayal. I'm inclined to think we should be nearby in case there are sounds of a scuffle. I wouldn't want him to die for us."

He views it as dying for his people. I'm assuming a lot of Erutaki died from that dragon. If Tunuaq was the cause, he needs to be stopped.

Pavel grumbles, but takes up a position near the tent and keeps an eye open for any disturbances.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

No knowledge religion

Akulayok returns, "I found nothing. We will have to search elsewhere."

"You know, Akulayok, I have a gift to find evil wherever it may lie. Obviously it has its limits but as long as I'm rather near the area, I can detect it if I concentrate on said area long enough. Now I should let you know, I can only detect if said person/creature is evil. It does not give me information on any evil deeds that may have been committed; only the presence of evil is relayed to me, nothing more." He pauses a moment as a questioning look appears upon him. "I am most curious, though. I am still unsure how he - and/or they - were able to take out a dragon, within its lair? How could they have gotten so far within, without the beasts ever noticing them ahead of time? That baffles me more than anything, I must admit." Shrugging, "Nevertheless, if you desire I should attempt such, I shall. Discretion is of the utmost importance, that is clearly obvious - and I will use such, do not fear. What say you?"

Sandru, who decided to stay and listen to the conversation after the evening meal, looks confused and asks: "I was under the belief that it was you who killed the dragon. Now I am under the confusion it seems..."

"Egg killer do what I would do. Watch until dragon leave, go into lair, crush egg, and leave."

Daeron listens to Akulayok's report with a mixture of relief and disappointment. A shame that we found nothing. It would have been relieving to know with certainty who our foe was. Daeron listens to Theoden's suggestion and nods, "That may worth attempting, Theoden. I'm unsure if there are means to circumvent that type of divine magic, but it seems likely. I'll see what I can learn of that."

As Sandru expresses his confusion, Daeron flushes slighty as he realizes the group never shared the full story with the caravan's leaders. Clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment, Daeron begins, "We killed one of the dragons, likely the female. There was another, long dead by the time we found it, and a number of smashed eggs in their lair. We found an Erutaki masonry hammer at the location of the smashed eggs. We've had a number of theories, and Akuyalok was attempting to validate one of them. Our current hypotheses are that..." Daeron takes a moment to explain the three or four most popular. I'm too lazy to recover all that ground. :P I got work in the morning.

Having finished explaining the group's thoughts, Daeron asks, "Any thoughts on this, Sandru? Obviously we must tread carefully, lest we be thrown from the village into the icy winds."

Sandru scratches his head: "Ok, so you don't know what killed the other dragon. So you either have a dragon and eggs killer, or an eggs killer."

"As for me, if I was the one who did the deed, I wouldn't leave proof at home!" he adds with laughter in his voice.

Daeron grins and shrugs, "Nor I, but thanks to a gift of insight by Erastil through Garand, we had reason to suspect that the killer has eschewed wisdom and kept a memento. All that said, the condition we found the dead dragon in seems to suggest it was killed at the same time as the eggs. Even if we can't say with certainty, I'm inclined to treat our foe warily in case he does have the power to kill a dragon on his own."

"Maybe he carries proof on him. I will watch him closely for som time. You are wise Sandru."

Akuyalok will keeps eyes on Tunuaq. He will track him like a panther stalking his prey in the jungle. He will move amongst the village cover and watch Tunuaq's days. He will study all the items he carries.

Swift Action Favored Target. Perception1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23/Stealth1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32/Survival:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

"Or he has another place... That reminds me of those three gals I had met in Riddleport. It cost me three rents while I-" One look at Shalelu's piercing eyes slams his jaw shut.

"We gonna luh'look into these black monuments or listen to muh'more of Uncle Sandru's Unlikely Threesome Adventures? 'Cause if I hear that stuh'story one more time, I'm stuh'stuffing snow in my ears 'till spring thaw."

I'll follow Tunuaq a few days. If I can't catch him going to some other place, then we'll hit the monument.

Garand clears his mind and attempts to recall if there was any sign of something specific missing from the dragon's lair, perhaps a cast off skin missing some scales, or the like.

No idea if this is something that would require a roll, perhaps an Intelligence check? If Garand can think of something specific missing, such as bits of dragon-egg-shell, he has a target to potentially use locate object upon...

Garand could try every day with different objects he has in mind and see what happens.

Akulayok, please roll stealth to 'shadow' Tunuaq. Are you being helped?

Pavel, it seems from the silence that follows your question that the answer is no.

Pavel sighs and stalks off to find something else to occupy his time, then.

Sorry, I didn't see the updates to this thread on my feed for some reason.

"As eager as I am to brave the cold of the ice for a few days, I think letting Akulayok shadow Tunuaq for a few days while we prepare would be wise. If he has turned up nothing by that point, we should go ahead with our expedition into the cold." Daeron shivers involuntarily and pulls his furs closer around himself. If Garand mentions his idea, Daeron will suggest the following:

• Dragon scales
  
• Dragon claws/teeth
  
• Dragon egg shell
  
• ??? something that a high INT wizard would think of. :P

I made all those rolls earlier, CB. Around eight posts ago so this could be resolved as quickly as possible.

I'll wait for Garand, as it will take a few days of stalking. Meanwhile, Garand might also come up with something.

Garand will continue with his daily hunting expeditions (and spellcasting) to provide food and other resources to the community, checking each day for something with locate object.

On the first day, he'll advise the others to his plan, and ask them for suggestions as to what sort of souveneir to search for, although his first target is a fragment of shell from the dragon's egg.

At CL 8, he's got a 720 ft. range, and he'll try to cast it from the other side of a building near where Tunuaq is staying, safely out of casual viewing range. Once he's cast it, it will last for eight minutes, and he'll wander around the village, attempting to pick a pattern that doesn't overlap itself, so that he gets the most ground covered.

Daeron offers Garand the use of his metamagic rod during his search, allowing him to cover more ground.

16 minutes instead of 8. :)

Akulayok returns to the others, "Old shaman's tracks lead to door in cliff."

Garand informs the others of his discovery.

"I doubt anyone would believe us if we claimed to have found them where we did, so it might be best to inform the chief and let her make the discovery." Garand cautions. "It also might be best to keep someone on watch while we do, so that the egg shards are not moved while we inform the chief."

"I'm not so sure that the chief will be inclined to trust us about a door in the cliffside. Tunuaq is an old and trusted advisor and a man whose voice carries respect in the village. On one hand, we need to make the chief aware of our accusations, on the other hand we need something to substantiate our words. Quite the dilemma, all things considered. I think your idea is likely to make the best of a bad situation, Garand."

Daeron pauses, considering the situation as he idly thumbs the spinning top in his pocket, "Perhaps if we first established that there is a door leading to some secretive lair. Then we can introduce Tunuaq's involvement and call for an investigation. I think volunteering ourselves to perform the investigation will engender some support. Doubtless Hearthmistress Sonavut will want an Erutaki presence on any such team." Daeron nods significantly towards Akulayok. "All this said, we should probably consult with Ameiko, Sandru and Shalelu on this." Assuming they're not already listening in. :) If they are, ignore that last sentence."

Pavel scratches at the stubble on his cheek.
"Might be we're at the puh'point where it's better to ask forgiveness thuh'than permission. I mean, he's got thuh'this door hid in the wall it's probably a secret to them too."

"We should go in door. If we tell chief, maybe Tunuaq move what he hiding. Something wrong with him. He not usually like this. Maybe he one of those Frozen Shadows. Real Tunuaq in cave. We maybe save him. Angry Face's thinking is best."

"If we wish to move now, I won't object further. I just want to make sure that we catch the slippery bastard. If he's not inside, then he can claim he had no knowledge of what was happening." Daeron eyes flash angrily as he thinks about the murdered dragons laid low by whoever was in that cave.

Let's go take us a cave!

Other suggestions?

Ok, moving things along.

The small group, led by Akulayok, makes his way through the narrow streets as the sun is setting down. That is, early afternoon.

You reach the cliff wall without being noticed and reach the place where Akulayok shows the hard to notice telltales of a secret door.

Akulayok searches for traps.

Perception:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

If no traps, he will stealthily open the door.

Stealth:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22

Akulayok says, "Door in ground in front of door. Drop us into pit. Must be careful."

I don't have Disable Device. I can't disable it.

Is it stone inside or packed snow? I have a grappling hook- we could send a rope over and cross that way- beats risking fall damage.

Daeron spends a moment studying to trap from a distance, trying to discern how it triggers. After a moment's study, he chants a few words of Draconic and passes a hand over his eyes. Eyes now glowing with a silvery light, Daeron continues his study, focusing on discovering any magical auras on the door.

Perception to look for a trigger for the trap: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Spellcraft to identify auras: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

Sorry for the lack of posting. Work went insane on me all of the sudden. I should be back to one per day. :) Right now Daeron is thinking he has a spell that will let us safely trigger the trap.

The secret door is located along the cliff wall, in a narrow corridor behind the wall of a small humble house. This makes it harder to avoid the trap. The ground is stone and earth, which is how you could delineate the edges of the trap. It covers about ten feet and is likely triggered by pressure, though you don't know if it is truly the case or where the plate is located.

?

Is there much wood around? If there is, we'll go find some 12 to 13 foot lengths of wood and make a small bridge to lay across the pit.

Wood is quite rare in these parts, especially longer beams. You'll need a check for this. Also, I'm still under the impression that you're trying to stay out of sight.

Sorry for disappearing over the weekend. Had plans all weekend and some took up more time then expected.

"Hrm, I can't see a trigger for this trap you're seeing, Akulayok. On the plus side, there's no magical defenses present. It's purely mechanical. Perhaps I can set the trap off while we watch from a safe distance. Do any of you have objections?" Daeron watches the other's reactions for a moment, listening to what they have to say.

If no one objections to me trying to set it off from a distance...

Stepping a few more paces away, Daeron motions for the others to join him as he pulls a scroll from his pack. I'm unsure if this will actually work, but it could be worthwhile to give it a go. Reading from his scrolls, shimmering light forms on the runes of power inscribed on the paper. Ripping free of the paper, they coalesce into a roughly humanoid form standing a few feet away. "There is a secret door over there..." Daeron gestures towards the wall, "Go attempt to open said door."

Casting unseen servant from a scroll. Did we actually see a way to get the door open?