At Crispin's direction, Mauro tries to move the ancient dial...
vs DC 12
Asher flexes his pecs..
I think I pulled a muscle.
Asher flexes his pecs..
[dice=STR]1d20 + 3
I think I pulled a muscle.
"I think you're supposed to put your back into it?"
Mauro looks at the ancient dial, and decides it's mocking them. He starts to take this challenge seriously...
vs DC 12
✦ Pillars of Long Shadow (A5) * ˚ ✦
The party struggles to move the ancient dial and ends up spending most of the late evening grunting and pushing. As the moon and sun are beginning to change places, Mauro manages a burst of strength, and the ancient stonework scrapes along the foundation until it's no longer aligned. The entire party sighs in relief, as they know the hounds won't be able to find their way back.
The night cooled the jungle and your aching bodies are eager for sleep. Someone suggests camping and - other than spotting the occasional bee of unusual size - your watches pass without incident.
✦ The Garden (A6) * ˚ ✦
Everyone feels rested by lunchtime and the party cuts their way in the direction of lights. The longer you walk, the closer the day turns to evening and evening turns to night.
Finally, you arrive at what looks to be more ancient stonework. Six twenty-five-foot-long stone blocks, each tapered like an arrowhead, are arranged in a vaguely flower-shaped formation in the moist ground. Some of the ancient stone blocks are cracked and splintered, while others are half-sunken in the marsh.
The large, flower-shaped monument in the ruined garden bears two sets of carvings on its stone petals. The first set depicts the sun setting near the stone monument and a few radiant globes flying overhead in a complex and attractive formation, suggesting that something happens after dusk. The second set of carvings shows a bee flying from a hexagonal building to what looks like a temple, suggesting that there is a connection between the bees and a temple.
As the sun sets upon the ancient stone monument, one by one, dozen upon dozens of lights appear in the darkness, hovering like ghostly lanterns above the fetid waters of the marsh. Four of them notice you and start flying in wide circle around you, observing and edging closer and closer. (image)
7 rank +3 trained +1 wis
"Hummpf" Although not willing to initiate hostilities, Mauro suspiciously does cast a defensive spell...
"The creatures aren't immediately hostile so please don't make any threatening gestures or acts. They appear to be as curious about us as we are about them."
"Will-o-wisps!" Crispin whispers, "But not hostile or malicious? Lets try this....
Crispin uses Dancing lights to aid his attempt at communicating with the lights.
He thinks he may have greeted the lights acceptably?
✦ The Garden (A6) * ˚ ✦
Crispin identifies the creatures as wil-o-wisps and conjures Dancing Lights. He sends the lights bobbing and weaving, which interests the will-o-wisps. Soon the will-o-wisps begin mimicking the lights to dance in sync with Crispin's orchestration.
Crispin recalls that the will-o-wisps speak Aklo. Perhaps these lights would be amenable to communication. The party also knows that most things on the island seem to know the ancient Azlanti tongue.
Mauro is fluent of both Aklo and Azlanti; he is happy to act as a translator (but not as a diplomat)...
Sadly Crispin doesn't speak Aklo yet. He also has no Bluff, Diplomacy and especially no Intimidation. :)
"Ah, Becky. Do you speak Aklo? We seem to have to chance to communicate with these Wisps."
Mauro is fluent of both Aklo and Azlanti; he is happy to act as a translator (but not as a diplomat)...
Seeing if the will-o-wisps know Ancient Azlanti, Talath gives a general greeting, assurances of peace, and an introduction to the rest of the group.
Asher is entranced and mystified by his much smarter companions. He settles on a rock to take a rest and inspects their surroundings.
Becky looks at Crispin funny; perhaps she's surprised or impressed by his dancing ability. "No--no Alko from me, I'm afraid." Then her fascination returns to the will-o-wisps.
Mauro volunteers "I speak Aklo; I can translate, but what do you want said?"
Crispin looks at the others hopefully. "Someone with a few more social graces should try to talk with them. They are not hostile. In fact they're very curious about us. Perhaps start with introducing ourselves and ask who they are, and why are they here?"
.
Mauro volunteers "I speak Aklo; I can translate, but what do you want said?"
Crispin looks at the others hopefully. "Someone with a few more social graces should try to talk with them. They are not hostile. In fact they're very curious about us. Perhaps start with introducing ourselves and ask who they are, and why are they here?"
.
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Becky looks at Crispin funny; perhaps she's surprised or impressed by his dancing ability. "No--no Alko from me, I'm afraid." Then her fascination returns to the will-o-wisps.
Talath shares Becky's surprise and considers sharing a story about how Crispin reminds him of dancing shrimp but decides now is not the time.
Definitely later though...| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
✦ The Garden (A6) * ˚ ✦
Encouraged by the warm reception of Crispin's dance, the party attempts communication with the will-o-wisps.
Talath first speaks, using the Ancient Azlanti tongue. The wisps slow their dancing to listen to the cleric, but quickly move away to favor Crispin's company. They seem disinterested in Talath, giving the cleric the sentient light orb equivalent of a cold shoulder.
Becky hustles over to Talath and whispers, "I'm pretty sure the Azlanti used will-o'-wisps as eternal lights, kind of like they used the enslaved water elemental in Spindlelock back on Ancorato. They might still be bitter about that."
Becky hustles over to Talath and whispers, "I'm pretty sure the Azlanti used will-o'-wisps as eternal lights, kind of like they used the enslaved water elemental in Spindlelock back on Ancorato. They might still be bitter about that."
"Ah I didn't realize that. While I can speak the language now I still know very little about Azlanti history."
Mauro attempts to introduce himself in Aklo...
2 ranks +3 trained +3 int
"Do you speak this language? I can act as translator. My name is Mauro."