Akoril shows off their movement skills, seemingly almost bird like as they nearly float between branches as their mask glows.
Kiri leaps quickly up onto a low hanging branch, then dances from limb to limb, trying to keep a clear view of the brush below.
You find tracks running along the ruined wall of Bloodsalt — then they disappear into through a thin crack running up along there stone!
DC 24 athletics to climb, DC 24 acrobatics to squeeze to DC 26 crafting to quickly cut out handholds in the old limestone.
Chimwemwe scales the ruined wall and drops down on the other side with a grunt.
Wisps tries to tap into her ancestors abilities as she squeezes though, spiderlike.
Kiri darts down from the trees and tries to squeeze through.
Akoril follows most of his allies in squeezing through.
Ahead Thiuravo appears as he points that Rod of wonder at you! A Gust of Wind blasts out from there rod, threatening to kick you off the wall!
DC 27 fort to push through, DC 27 Reflex to grab an edge, DC 24 Athletics to grip the stone. [ooc]On;y need 3 successes on this one, but it's tougher.[/oc]
Akoril tries to grip the stone.
Kiri nimbly drops to the cliff's edge to avoid the gust!
Thiravo spins, you've almost got him! He points the rod of wonder at you… out comes an ineffective mouse! It squeaks in fear as it tries to scurry away… suddenly a hawk-eagle screeches above, sensing easy prey.
You can save the poor innocent Ineffective Mouse with some checks, or let the poor innocent creature get eaten and auto-succeed at this check.
DC 25 Nature to distract the hawk, DC 22 Jungle Lore, DC 26 Deception to distract it, DC 28 Intimidation to scare it off.
The circle of life is just. Let the poor, innocent creature get eaten!
Being bird attuned Akoril doesn't have issue with it getting eaten.
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While Soomdevi is looking up shooing away the bird Blinks gobbles up the mouse. Then the shadow hound looks up at Soomdevi with an innocent sheepish look on his face.
Kiri chuckles at the cartoonish scene.
You catch up to Thiravo.
Well for academics you're persistent! I'm sure we can work something out as fellow archaeologists… assuming bygone latrines aren't for you?
"Latrines are valuable archeological finds," Chimwemwe says. "However, we survey as much of the city as we can, and we can't have you threatening to ambush us again with mercenaries. The last batch seemed quite indifferent to our lives."
"Indeed. We have people under our protection here and we will not see them harmed."
She makes unbreaking eye contact as she emphasizes her words.
Those guys? I barely know them! I had to hire them because all the good archaeologists are scared to come here but it turns out they're just thugs and wanted to loot the ruins. Can you believe people would be so crass!?
What are you going to do with me while we await word from the High King of Cloudspire? Perhaps I can lend you my expert assistance as a seasoned archaeologist, giving you pointers on Bloodsalt from a well-appointed office in your camp.
Chinwemwe arches an eyebrow and stares at the halfling as he talks. ”Really.”
Akoril shakes his head at the whole situation.
Of course! I would even discount my rates to express my gratitude and foster a collaborative atmosphere among scholars of ancient times.
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"We do not need your assistance, paid or otherwise. What we need is for you to leave us and our students alone. We will let you go for now. But if you or any of your mercenaries ever so much as breathe on a member of the Magaambyan expedition, we will find you and make you wish you were never born." Wisps's eyes seem to flash with fire as she says the last words.
Words spill from Thirvo's mouth. Ahh. Yes, I will look into those bygone latrines far to the South myself. I will even donate the supplies of my camp to your efforts; here take my medallion from Cloudspire as well just in case the Dwarves come around. I'm sure the Magaambya will appreciate this act of charity. Tell High Archaeologist Janatugo there is no need to pen me a letter of thanks, it is my pleasure. Yes, I'm sure you'll enjoy reading all about my exciting latrine work in the Peer-reviewed Quaternary Science People Review! Surely you've heard of it… yes…… thank you!
Thiravo the Quick quickly runs off.
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"I hear there is an organization in the north that is hiring archaeologists," Chimwemwe shouts after him. "I think headquartered in Absalom! I'd wager you'll fit right in."
"Well, that was...interesting." Kiri looks at the medallion so quickly abandoned by the halfling. "This can't be legit, right?"
"No," Chimwemwe says, shaking his head. "He didn't know half of the people he referenced. Thabsing is a naval admiral. The High King of Cloudspire is named Lek’sanji. It was all a bluff to dissuade us. Apparently while he and his mercenaries looted the ruins."
You head back to the ruins. First, Thiravo's camp.
There are four barrels of alchemical ingredients particularly useful in making explosives — particularly unreliable ones, but powerful no less. Chim glances at the tower on the wall nearby and realizes it has been blown up with these explosives.
Near Thiavo's tent you find a pile of tablets and pottery carelessly tossed of to the side and ruined; inside is a carefully stored magical item from the ruins: a smooth marble stone you identify as a Barricade Stone.
There is also a crossbow and two explosive bolts likely used to ignite bombs from afar.
"He dug this medallion up somewhere around here. See the color of the dirt?" Wisps points.
Akoril "Hopefully we don't need any of these things, and hopefully they haven't already blown up anything important. Lets go survey the exploded bit and work from there."
"Ubanau would appreciate this halfling's methodology" Kiri says. "I agree, Akoril, that sounds like the best place to start, but we should be careful that what remains isn't going to collapse further."
"Yes. Careless archaeological work there," Chimwemwe says picking up the ruined pieces of tablets. "He only cared for things that he could sell. Before we head off to the tower, do any of you know the incantation for sorting and for mending?"
"I'm afraid not."
With little to do about the ruined tablets and pottery, you move into Bloodsalt proper. Much of the ruins are covered with the iron-rich silt and alluvial mud of the lake, but some areas are still exposed. In here clinging silt makes the ground difficult terrain.
The upper levels have collapsed over the lower levels thanks to both time and alchemical explosions that have accelerated the process, leaving only a twisted bronze spire amid chunks of red-stained stone. It looks like Thiravo the Quick has been at work here doing his particular brand of "archaeology."
Several of you notice a slab among the rubble — perhaps a small covering of a hole or trap door? On it in is scratched the words TREASURE! in dwarven. You detect no traps.
"That's a little on the nose, hm?" Kiri says, pointing to the slab. "'Treasure'. I don't see any traps, but then again maybe the intention was just to allow greed to lead would-be robbers astray? Anyway, it's not like we have any other leads..."
"Nor are we looking for treasure in the common sense," Chimwemwe says and nods. "The manner in which the word is engraved suggests it was done well after the slab was installed, but I cannot tell for certain."
Akoril notes "we've got one good project sorting pottery shards for the students. Maybe flag this as off limits for now, even if there are no traps up here, who knows what shoddy workmanship our new friend left behind down there."
Wisps sighs.
"If we tell the students not to disturb the large slab marked 'TREASURE', what do you think they'll do first? We don't need to go inside whatever it's hiding, but let's at least move the slab aside to make sure it won't blow anyone up."
Chimwemwe chuckles robustly at Curling-Wisps-of-Smoke. "That is the way of things, isn't it.," he says as he unloads his pack and retrieves a crowbar.
Akoril nods, slightly embarrassed "Yes, of course."