Not many trees survive on these plains for one reason or another but a branch is found before getting to the site.
He lopes back and reports back to the group what he's seen and what he suspect them to be.
Mutated Avians....
"Mutated Avians . . . any chance they are just scavengers and will move on when they see we are alive and kicking."
He looks over at the giant bones. He states, "I don't see anything. I will get closer." He walks his elk for a few steps then thinks better of it. He hands off and ties the reigns to Cleo's elk's saddle.
Then he quickly moves forward 100 feet now only 40 feet away from the sight...
Next round he quickly returns and offers, "Ah yes birds of some kind. No need to bother them as they look content on the bones. Not abberations."
"With everything that's being acting strange around here. I say we assume that they'll attack us on sight."
"I agree Lykan. They seemed agitated that I got within 40 feet."
You can easily see the ribs jutting from the ground like tall white trees. Further down the massive skull does not seem to have these creatures upon them though they are close enough. A few flutter by here and there.
Still no sign of centaurs.
In front of the massive skull on the far side you see some rocks have been moved to be a table and ornamental structures. A few bones, trays, and bowls remain on the stone table. Also dried flowers remain.
"I don't see any centaurs. I fear that there may not be any for something else may have befallen them."
"Do we want to go around and examine the makeshift table? Not like I'm seeing much else."
"May as well."
Looking to use his speed to advantage if necessary, Dinenen circles around the remains, and approaches the table, watching the birds to see if he should vacate the area . . ..
As Dinenen gets within 10 feet of the table the birds then start getting agitated.
The monk backs away from the table and goes to rejoin the group. "It appears we won't reach the table without facing the birds. I can get there and rile them up easily enough, and then retreat to pull them away from the remains, but we will need to deal with them as they chase me. Preferences?"
"I say we leave this place and look for the centaurs somewhere else. If we had a fireball or other such area spells that would be different. But they all stayed back at the town, Cleonora what do you think?" He offers and looks for a solution.
"They'll be a trouble to handle if they attack en masse and here we are without the proper skills to blanket the area with fire or such."
"We've got fireballs even without the gnome."
The birds are mostly resting upon the ribs, the giant bone pillars.
"I've spells that could handle the birds yes...
"I hate to be the barer of bad news my friends, but those aren't just birds... Those are shrikes. They'll turn anything into a mass of bones in a matter of moments."
"Can your spells take them out?"
"If the birds are on the bones and bones are sacred to those we want to treat with. . . .we don't want to blow up the bones."
"So, we're back to monk bait, then? At least I won't have to go all the way around to the table. I can draw them off to one of the sides instead of going around."
"Be careful then."
Quince dismounts and moves off to where he can see the monk's progress. "Get the clear of the skull keep to the side of us." He motions, "So you won't be in the blast."
He readies his wand of fireball and waits for a good bulk of the birds to move well off the skull but not close to the monk.
The monk picks a path for his run, then comes from that direction in towards the flock, looking to draw the attack everyone knows will come.
Once the birds start coming for him, he will reverse direction and pick up speed. He'll work to stay in front of them, and hope that he has the choice of staying slow enough not to run away from them. If he doesn't have the choice, he'll break into as hard a run as he can, and wave an arm at the others.
As the monk moves in the birds seem even easier to agitate and they begin to swarm. He runs from them, Quince casts fireball, most of the birds get burnt but the swarm is still behind him. He easily out runs them.
Quince sends another bout of fire.
As per the plan, the monk stays just in front of the birds, close enough to keep them chasing him, but a couple of steps ahead so he doesn't lose any "unwanted flesh" while serving as bait.
The second fireball takes out likely half of the magical swarm. They break off and flutter about. In the next few rounds you see them collecting on the bones again.
St. John looks at the birds reforming on the bones, "Well, he could do that again or maybe it would be best to give them something to eat away from the bones. Hunt down something big for them to feast on maybe."
"Well... something we didn't think of..." Cleonora began as she tapped her chin. "That could be their nesting site. No matter what we do they won't leave till we well, make them extinct."
"That is something I wouldn't wish upon them as well. Is there other game around though?" the elf thinks about it.
"Any one has the ability to conjure up food?" he asks
"My cauldron can make some. Though they might prefer carrion."
"Though if they are in one place off of the skull, I could ring them in with a Wall of Fire."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asks knowing that he does not have the skills or magic to help.
Quince looks to Cleo, "Anything we can do that will remove or kill them that won't destroy the skeleton?" He sighs, "If not the current method seems to get a sufficient number, perhaps if everyone used ranged attacks or other methods we could pick off more as they chase our most noble bait." He nods to Dinenen with a smirk.
"While not the noblest of methods, it seems to work."
Quince nods. "Let's all get something that can shoot that way, bows, magic missiles and so on. Perhaps if you could goad them a little we can get a few shots in before they disperse. I will keep the fire away from you."
Quince pulls out a second wand. He chuckles as he sings an old folk tune, "I fell in to a burning ring of fire."
"I went down down down but the flames lept higher."
"Let us wait a moment and see how the handle that. If they move from the bones then I could blast them." Cleonora said.
"I'll step away then and remain hidden from their sights since that might just make them very angry."
The shrike swarm appears to hate the heat. They exit the ring of fire as fast as possible, though already singed by a previous fireball those shrikes fall to the ground in flames. There is no swarm left. A few of the shrikes fly off and land on the far end of the bones as others just fly off away.
It seems that worked quite well. Now the bone site is clear for you to investigate.
Linnorm’s Grave
The massive bones of a long-dead crag linnorm of incredible size lie upon a hilltop here; the bleached white ribs protrude up into the air like strange trees and the moss-draped skull provides nesting grounds for dozens of families of shrikes. The Nomen centaurs are said to revere this site as holy, often making trips to the bones to leave offerings of meat and wine before the immense skull under the belief that keeping the linnorm’s spirit happy prevents its ghost
from returning to this world.
You can see the stone slabs that have been used as sacrificial tables to present meat and other offerings. Several clay vases sit with dried and dying flowers. All of the food has been picked clean. Most of the plates are made of clay but on the center slab you see a unique silver tray that has strange etchings of a linnorm and plenty of food around it.
St. John points to the silver tray and says "That looks out of place. All that food should be gone. Can anyone see if it is magical and if so what exactly is going on with it?"
"Reverently incase we are watched."
"Either poisoned or a field of some kind keeping the birds away. Can't think of anything else that would have prevented them form eating all of this."
"Well, let us see." Cleonora said as she dismounted before she began to make her way to the silver tray.
While his companions examine the suspected food, the elf proceeds to investigate the place.
K Arcane DC 10 - it appears to have preservation magic upon it all.
K Arcane DC 15 - The fruit and food also has transformation magic upon it.
K Arcane DC 20 - The silver platter has a conjuration spell within it as well.
Lykan you think the Shrike nests have been here for years. You can see signs of cloven feet, boots, and even claws. Though nothing has been here for at least a week if not more.
"I can find no signs of anything else besides the shrikes for a week or more. I hope you guys have something better." THe elf informs his companions.
"Well, aren't you something." Cleonora began while looking at the tray. "This produces food, and keeps it from rotting. It should only work once per day but... I think this alter has a rune on it. Giving this more power." She explained. "Rather interesting..."
"So, a limitless supply of food for the birds? No wonder they wanted to protect it."