In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 431):

The Campsite

The fire crackles back to life under your renewed attention, now that the bandits have came and went.  The night seems oddly quiet with the excitement winding down, and the winds contain the first hints of Autumn's chill as they work their way through the clearing.

In the relative calm, an dark shape swoops from one tree to another, startling you until it becomes clear that the interloper is nothing more than a forest owl.  It hoots quietly from its perch on a branch far above your heads, where it makes itself comfortable.

The Southern Cave

The scene is utter chaos, with Shep and Zuriel sleeping soundly; the toad-creature's innards seeping harmlessly into the mossy floor; and the bear munching fitfully on a most delicious sandwich offered to it by Keef.  Giles stands nearby, armed and ready to take action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Wed 02 Oct 2013.

Boreas looks inquisitively at the owl as the gem begins thrumming again.  It starts glowing as he begins to speak, light pulsing with each word.

Greetings, friend.  Thank you for letting us pass through your home.  What news? he asks the owl.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 433):

The owl turns its golden gaze upon the woodsman addressing it, curious, and utters a short series of hoots.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: "New? No news.  Just out for food. Druid, you? If not, then who?"]

No, friend.  I am no druid.  Just one who the spirits have favored... I think.  Did you see a group of humans going - pointing south - that way?  They have been gone for a ridiculously long time.

Maeve watches quietly as Boreas carries on a lively conversation with the owl.

Well, that's it then, he's snapped she thinks, but then catches a glimpse of glinting green.  A side effect of the magic eyebeams maybe?

Um Boreas. . . .correct me if I'm wrong but. . . .you seem to be talking to that owl.  Actually talking to it, a proper two-sided conversation.  Is that true?

Boreas turns to Maeve.

It... seems that way.  I'm not sure how I knew I could do it, or that the owl...

He turns to the owl again.

Terribly sorry, friend.  I haven't spoken with your kind before, and I forgot to ask your name.  I am Boreas.

Back to Maeve.

could respond.  We'll see if it knows where our friends have gone.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 435):

The owl ruffles its feathers in an approximation of a shrug.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: "Men, who? Like you?  Too true, south flew. No news.  Near cave, no view. My name? 'Tis Drue."]

It's a pleasure, Drue.  What cave is this?  Do you know what is inside?  Do you think they're safe?

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 439):

The owl hoots again, then takes flight, preparing to leave the clearing behind.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: "Can't say, too soon. Please excuse, need food."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:48, Wed 02 Oct 2013.

Boreas takes a strip of jerky from his pack and offers it to Drue.  For your trouble.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 441):

The owl circles back, diving down to snag the strip of smoked meat.  As it flies off, it issues forth another series of hoots.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: "Thank you. Beware the moon-lit man."]

Boreas watches Drue spiral up around the moon and fly off in search of prey.

Drue here mentioned a moon-lit man.  I saw him when my gem awoke as well.  Not sure who he is, but I have a feeling he's dangerous.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 443):

"Keef! Where did you produce such an enticing sandwich from? It's powers apparently have the seductive ability to dull the bear's chaotic soul. Well played young one. Now, onto more practical matters"

Sir Giles reaches for the elixir which the unscrupulous toad creature has screwed into the bear's neck, yanking it from his body.

"Let's see what this does!"

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 444):

The Southern Cave

Relieved of the flask, the bear's eyes go wide, and then roll backward in its head.  It falls to the ground, sound asleep.

Just like Zuriel and Shep.

~~ End Combat ~~

Ding!  Keef, Zuriel, and Giles have reached Level 2!  Please update your sheets accordingly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:05, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

Zuriel gasps mid-snore and comes awake, rolling to his feet and brandishing his sword groggily.

[Fort save vs. sleep poison: 26]

"Shmide the eviltoad...huh?""

The paladin surveys his surroundings, looking at the sleeping bear and the greasy smear that was the evil toad demon thing.

"Did...did we win? How long was I out? I feel like I've been sleeping for two days..."

Looking around at Giles and Keef, Zuriel sheathes his sword, content that the danger has passed. He looks around the cave curiously. "What is this place? And what was that thing?" He gestures to the toad splotch on the floor.

[Perception: 9]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:48, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 446):

The Southern Cave

The cavern is adorned with shelving to the right, a table with bubbling potions and a cauldron to the left, and a chained, slumbering Shep to the center.  The toad-thing's corpse gurgles with the release of liquid, but otherwise there's nothing interesting.

You cannot tell offhand if any of the potions are "complete", or if any of the ingredients would be worth the hassle of carrying around.  A few of the scrolls look promising, though.

***Campsite***

It's getting late.  None of us will be any good if we don't get some sleep.  We should set watch.  I'll take first.  Lyriel, you take second.  Maeve, you need your rest.  If no one's here by third watch, you'll take that.  Sound good?

Fine by me; thank you Boreas. The rest will do me good, I think. Please wake me, either of you, if our friends ever decide to return.

Maeve wraps herself in her cloak and within moments is fast asleep.

Zuriel looks at the scrolls. "Lets take what we think might be useful. I don't know what to do with the rest of these alchemical ingredients. We can't take it all with us, and we don't know what might be valuable, or for that matter, dangerous."

He yawns sleepily. "So unless either of you happens to be an alchemist, lets grab these scrolls and get going. This place gives me a bad feeling. Whatever that thing was, I'm sure he had friends. This equipment is built for somebody adult-sized. I'd rather be gone before they get back. We can come back with the rest of the group to investigate."

The paladin thinks for a moment, hand on his shortbow. "If we aren't going to be able to use this equipment, I'd rather not leave it for anybody else. Giles, Keef, should we smash what we can from a distance?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 450):

Giles altogether ignores Zuriel, immediately charging past the now subdued bear to save Shep from his chains. Giles falls to one knee, whispering softly in the wolfhounds ear as he strokes him reassuringly. After a few minutes, Shep begins to stir, and Sir Giles disposition visiually improves.

"First, I would propose that the vile toad creatures remnants are boiled in his own hideous cauldron. There need not be any record of the crimes he has committed here. I would suggest lining all the potions below the cauldron, at which point I will shoot a flaming arrow in to light the fire. One can only assume a fiery bolt from my bow will loose the exothermic properties inherent to these alchemical bastardizations, resulting in their destruction.

Is that what you hide in mind Noble Sleep Warden?

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 451):

Keef shakes his head, the red glow fading from his eyes.  He blinks and looks around.

Quickly, his natural curiosity returns and he begins to poke around the alcove as well.

It does look like dark magic.  If Sir Giles thinks it best to destroy these potions, that would be best.

Zuriel nods. "Although I would not recommend touching the remains with bare hands. If we don't have something to scrape up the toad with, let's just build the fire on the remains and let Tassada cleanse it."

Zuriel sets about piling the equipment carefully onto the floor while Keef gathers anything that looks useful, including the scrolls. Satisfied with his handiwork, he stands at the edge of the cage as Giles prepares to let his flaming torch fly.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 453):

The Southern Cave

The bear slumbers fitfully while you free Shep, loot the cave of its obvious treasures, and prepare to destroy what you do not understand.  Perhaps it is dreaming of whether you are intending to burn it to death as collateral damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:20, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

Zuriel points to the bear. "We should get this one clear of the blast." He walks over to the bear. Stooping down, he gingerly  cradles it and makes hushing sounds as he moves it towards the mouth of the cave.

[private to DM: rolled a 13 on handle animal if you need it. I just wanna blow this place up and get back to camp ASAP. I think we can proceed assuming Giles would want to save the bear too.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Thu 03 Oct 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 455):

The Southern Cave

With Giles's guidance (and Zuriel's legwork), the bear is moved to the mouth of the cave, still sleeping soundly.

Sir Giles then executes his cunning plan, firing a flaming arrow into the assortment of alchemical equipment bubbling away at on the table.  His assertion of their volatile nature is spot-on, and in an jaw-droppingly superfluous explosion engulfs the cave in a combination of hellish heat and noxious fumes.

The luminescent moss goes up in smoke, as well, leaving you acutely aware of how dark a forest can be at night as you stand triumphantly at the mouth of the cave, Shep happily nuzzling Giles's leg while wagging his tail.

The bear, for its part, sleeps through the whole thing, undisturbed.

Loot: 5x Scrolls (unidentified); 1x half-full flask of golden liquid rimmed with bear blood; 1x faithful wolfhound named Shep

The Camp Site

Just after the owl's departure, you hear a faint boom from somewhere off to the south.  A few minutes later, colorful wisps of smoke appear above the southern treeline.  These are carried briefly by the wind before dissipating, and once more the world is plunged into silence.

Time passes, and perhaps another hour slips away before you hear a rustling sound from the southern trail -- followed shortly by the reemergence of your wayward companions.

And there was much rejoicing.

~~ END CHAPTER 01 ~~
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:45, Thu 03 Oct 2013.