Fippin casts light on a stone and tosses it up ahead. He then does his second casting of true strike.
Fippin:
** spoiler omitted **
The stone bounces throwing shadows and light everywhere until it settles. Just up ahead, six Ekujae warriors, bows not yet drawn, look somewhat startled. Petrune is nowhere to be seen.
The stone bounces throwing shadows and light everywhere until it settles. Just up ahead, six Ekujae warriors, bows not yet drawn, look somewhat startled. Petrune is nowhere to be seen.
Just as startled Sykala hisses to the others, "He hide. Go back station. He come back. We ready. Ekujae everywhere here. Very dangerous." She steps behind a tree for cover from the Ekujae arrows waiting a moment to make sure the rest understand before sprinting back to the station.
Baas nods at Sykala's statements and retreats back into the jungle to regroup at Nightfall Station.
Ixius remains with Sykala and will return to the station with her.
The Ekujae do not attack the retreating figures.
Keliwyn:
You arrive at the room that you found ealier belongs to Petrune. At first glance, it does not suggest Petrune is anything other than what he claims to be -- a secretary. The room has a sleeping mat, a table and chair, candles, an empty but unwashed mug, and a few shirts hanging on hooks.
Searching the room quickly but carefully, however, you find something unusual: a recess has been carved into the underside of the table top. A wood coloured leather flap has been pinned in place creating a fairly discreet compartment.
Sykala exits the woods looking for any sign that Petrune has returned and says to the others, "You see Petrune?" She glances at the tarp on the way by and picks up her spear.
Fippin follows Sykala, keeping his true strike spell charged and ready with an arrow knocked on his bow.
The Ekujae allow you to retreat into the clearing. The fire has been quenched but the tension has not diminished. The men that fought to put the fire out are ensuring they are prepared for an assault if one follows.
The Ekujae allow you to retreat into the clearing. The fire has been quenched but the tension has not diminished. The men that fought to put the fire out are ensuring they are prepared for an assault if one follows.
The Ekujae allow you to retreat into the clearing. The fire has been quenched but the tension has not diminished. The men that fought to put the fire out are ensuring they are prepared for an assault if one follows.
Lying on the tarp, are three Ekujae bodies. They appear to have been killed by arrows.
Sykala frowns at the bodies lying before her, "I think he pay Ekujae for bodies. What he want for?" Her gaze drifts across the heads on stakes, "He want more heads? Why Ekujae sell? It not make sense." She crouches down to take a closer look at the bodies.
Sykala frowns at the bodies lying before her, "I think he pay Ekujae for bodies. What he want for?" Her gaze drifts across the heads on stakes, "He want more heads? Why Ekujae sell? It not make sense." She crouches down to take a closer look at the bodies.
Thistles around the wounds suggest these Ekujae were killed by other Ekujae.
Thistles around the wounds suggest these Ekujae were killed by other Ekujae.
Sykala pulls out some thistles from the wounds and looks toward the others, "Ekujae kill Ekujae. Different tribe? Then sell Petrune?" Glancing out into the jungle, "He out there with Ekujae. They work together." Maybe he doesn't like the station either....
Keliwyn checks out the hiding spot, carefully looking for any traps first.
Fippin stays with Sykala and Ix. He looks at the bodies, he's still concentrating slightly on holding the charge on his true strike spell. He then fires off a rapid batch of questions.
"Sykala, how badly did you hurt Petrune? What exactly was he doing that caused you to attack him or did he attack you first? What's in the shed?"
Keliwyn checks out the hiding spot, carefully looking for any traps first.
Keliwyn:
Peeling back the leather pocket allows an extremely well made book to fall into your hands. The book is small--no bigger than your hand when splayed out--but thick. The words on the cover are not familiar to you but the writing strongly resembles draconic.
"Sykala, how badly did you hurt Petrune? What exactly was he doing that caused you to attack him or did he attack you first? What's in the shed?"
"I not hurt him. Use prayer, have jungle catch but he too fast. Miss with spear when he run. Ixius hit with arrow, I think. Dark, hard see. He meet Ekujae again. Try ambush me. When I not fall for ambush. He use great fire kill all them and almost me. I escape behind tree." Sykala looks toward the shed and shrugs, "Not know. Is important?"
Fippin (DC 11 sense motive):
"He was talking to some Eukajae, " Ixius tells Fippin. "I could not hear what they were saying. We confronted him and he ran into the jungle and left these bodies here. I shot him once."
"I think he is very dangerous. We better get back to the station."
Petrune's room is on the second floor of the Station House. To reach it, you had to move through his office. There is a window looking out over the river and the front of the building.
Keliwyn pockets the book and leaves the way he came, taking what time he can to stick the shadows and be unseen.
Keliwyn pockets the book and leaves the way he came, taking what time he can to stick the shadows and be unseen.
Fippin looks to Sykala and Ix.
"Where are Keliwyn and Baas? What do you suggest we do now? I wonder how the station master fits into all this..."
Keliwyn holds off with a further examination of the book, and heads out the back of the station house and towards the spot where he left his friends.
The grumbling guards of Nightfall Station work at restoring order. The threat seems to have faded into the jungle but the work is not yet over. They attempt to separate the wet and burnt sacks of grain from the dry and undamaged. Others patrol the perimeter. You see, in total, about 20 guards today. More than you have seen at any one time. Usually several are sleeping but tonight no one is.
Fippin looks to Sykala and Ix.
"Where are Keliwyn and Baas? What do you suggest we do now? I wonder how the station master fits into all this..."
"Not know where Keliwyn. Baas is here. We need find Petrune, find what doing. Not know if station master know Petrune talk Ekujae but they seem friends." Up walks Keliwyn interrupting her talking....
"Where's Petrune? What did I miss? What happened?" Keliwyn asks.
Fippin glances around to see if there is any sign of Esteban or the other guy (station manager, can't recall his name).
"Where's Petrune? What did I miss? What happened?" Keliwyn asks.
Sykala sighs and answers Keliwyn in the lilting tones of his native tongue, "Ixius eil Ai thylyrdaer Petrune sai si aedi os si beli. Ci taer shor si Aejezae saesi eil maestaer sai vae saes thys saeri shydor. Si tyr shi eil aelaestia sordi os Aejezae sher sar mor pyr byr eilaes si cerol eir sai shia Petrune shyr shal saes. Vyrordia, sai taeri tysi caer ol vylaer air tia ker. Os tysi sor eilai shol iar si cerol eir sai si baresi os Petrune's vaelarolor shor si Aejezae eil shaeraes Gorse air ailylaer. Ai eiraestaer sai tadesi Petrune shia iarol si beli sai aelar cos sher ci iaraer tandros sai aeradi. Ci thaer ailai si beli eil eiraestaer sai eister ti shor si Aejezae ci ber var. Ai sol ci ber kyr theraraer shael Ai por byr thar ailai si eister eil tar ei kaer shar os thosi eir eir os iar. Ai shar thyselari sai aeradi shor tia jhori sher si Aejezae eil tia mestylaer shyr shaesi byr. Ai val shas caesi eil vaezylaer Ixius, Baas, eil Fippin eil sor sai jhaer saes ail veser os si thael shojas olia sai jhyri cos ail si beli. Shi tasti shas caesi eiraes velol ailai eil thael thys eilyraes Aejezae shas vasia. Shaesi cali o shael?"
Elvish translation:
Baas approaches the group.
"Swamps, disgruntled elves, and now fires. This trip continues to disappoint."
"When are we going to push against the elves in earnest?" Baas asks with a glimmer in his red eyes.
"I doubt we will. It is there way to strike from the cover of the jungle. They are savage and will fight like savages. Has anyone seen Gorse?"
Baas approaches the group.
"Swamps, disgruntled elves, and now fires. This trip continues to disappoint."
"When are we going to push against the elves in earnest?" Baas asks with a glimmer in his red eyes.
"I doubt we will. It is there way to strike from the cover of the jungle. They are savage and will fight like savages. Has anyone seen Gorse?"
A passing Nightfall guard jerks his head towards the Station House, "He's on the third floor ... In the tower. Tryin' to see what's what."
The 'Tower' of the Station House is just an extra floor, one that Fippin probably stood on to get the best view of the jungle during the attack.
Fippin looks up towards the tower and calls up to Gorse.
"Mr. Gorse, I think we need to talk. There's some odd stuff going on around here and questions that need answering. I know you're busy and have a lot on your mind, but could you spare us a few minutes?"
A moment later, Gorse leans out the window and jerks his thumb at Fippin to indicate he should come up to the tower.
Fippin looks towards his companions. "Let's go have a chat with Gorse and see if we can get some answers. Keep your eyes open for trouble."
Fippin looks towards his companions. "Let's go have a chat with Gorse and see if we can get some answers. Keep your eyes open for trouble."
Baas follows, ready for trouble (as always).
As does Ixius. "I would not be surprised if Gorse is in on it too."
Sykala looks very apprehensively at the structure and shakes her head, "Not like building. Stay close Gozreh......jungle. Watch for Petrune."
Tarren:
You enter the building and climb the two flights of stairs to the third floor guard room. As you pass the worn out, wet, and soot stained men coming back in from putting out the fire, some glance at you in suspicion, others in frustration. "Thought this lot were to put an end to all that," one says.
Gorse is looking out the glassless windows at the jungle when you arrive. "Reports?" he asks without turning around.
"Reports... Well your friend Petrune is having dealing with the Ekujae. What can you tell us about that?"
In response to Sykala's inquiry, Keliwyn explains to the group that he figured he would take advantage of Petrune's absence and the confusion of the attack and have a look around Petrune's quarters.
Before Fippin leaves to speak with Gorse, and Sykala decides to stay (w/ Ixius following Fippin or staying with her), Keliwyn says, "And I'm not done looking around just yet." Turning to Baas, he asks, "Care to join me for another look around? I want to see what's in that cold storage shed. I expect Gorse won't be very forthcoming, and it's about time we had as much information as we can."
Keliwyn heads to the shed with Baas. "I'll get inside and have a look around. If you don't mind hanging around outside, I'll let you know what I find if you keep an eye out for any trouble." Once there, Keliwyn slinks into the shadows, and takes another shot at the door.
Stealth 1d20=11+14=25,
Disable Device 1d20=3+10=13
and keeps working on the lock . . .
Sykala will watch Baas and Keliwyn with some interest and curiousity.
In response to Sykala's inquiry, Keliwyn explains to the group that he figured he would take advantage of Petrune's absence and the confusion of the attack and have a look around Petrune's quarters.
Before Fippin leaves to speak with Gorse, and Sykala decides to stay (w/ Ixius following Fippin or staying with her), Keliwyn says, "And I'm not done looking around just yet." Turning to Baas, he asks, "Care to join me for another look around? I want to see what's in that cold storage shed. I expect Gorse won't be very forthcoming, and it's about time we had as much information as we can."
Keliwyn heads to the shed with Baas. "I'll get inside and have a look around. If you don't mind hanging around outside, I'll let you know what I find if you keep an eye out for any trouble." Once there, Keliwyn slinks into the shadows, and takes another shot at the door.
Stealth 1d20=11+14=25,
Disable Device 1d20=3+10=13and keeps working on the lock . . .
Keliwyn (and Baas?):
The smell of death hits you even harder when you open the door. This room may have been a normal storage shed at one point, but now it is serving as a mortuary. Dead bodies, human as far as you can see, lie on shelves lining every wall of this room. There is no light and there are no windows. It is cooler in here than outside.
"Reports... Well your friend Petrune is having dealing with the Ekujae. What can you tell us about that?"
Gorse looks surprised. "What are you talking about?"
Before Fippin leaves to speak with Gorse, and Sykala decides to stay (w/ Ixius following Fippin or staying with her), Keliwyn says, "And I'm not done looking around just yet." Turning to Baas, he asks, "Care to join me for another look around? I want to see what's in that cold storage shed. I expect Gorse won't be very forthcoming, and it's about time we had as much information as we can."
"I cannot feign a lack of curiosity in this case. Whatever it is that Petrune is up to at this station, I aim to find out. I shall come with you.
Baas heads to the cold storage shed along with Keliwyn.
Keliwyn heads to the shed with Baas. "I'll get inside and have a look around. If you don't mind hanging around outside, I'll let you know what I find if you keep an eye out for any trouble." Once there, Keliwyn slinks into the shadows, and takes another shot at the door.
"Fine."
Baas stands at the door, watchful for anyone approaching.
Keliwyn (and Baas?):
** spoiler omitted **
"Ugh... That smell..."
Baas moves peers into the shed, wondering what could be the source of this rancid odor. Upon seeing the cause of the terrible scent, he sighs.
"Corpses? It appears the turnover rate at this camp is higher than I'd thought."