Ilsa slowed down her process upon hearing Stan's objections. She looked to Shirok, who didn't say anything positive or negative about her plans. She said, "Who are the enemies? Where are they?" It was not a rhetorical question. "If we have what they want, they come to us, and we kill them." She stripped the armor and clothing from the body.

Shirok sighed slightly at Ilsa's question. "These Backson, creatures of corruption that seem to come from nowhere. Owl, one of these creatures who have already shown they can return from death. As for the where," he shrugged. "We have many reasons to leave this place."

"I agree with Shirok."

He indicated the bear paw.

"This item has been magically altered in appearance. It could be as simple as making a key look like a bear's paw. Then again, it could be more sinister. I no longer trust anything in this place - present company excepted, of course."

"Did you just ... purr?"  Roth gives Stan a confused look as he remembers the effect the dagger had on himself when he had appraised it the night before.  He took out the dagger for Stan to analyze as well, and, ignoring how foolish he might look, began to press the dagger and bear claw together.  It seemed they now had two pieces to a puzzle, but still had no idea how they fit.  "Maybe another search of Rabbit's and Owl's places, with Stan's wand, is called for?  Or maybe to the Bee Tree ... I wonder if we could fix what Owl did to turn the bear mad...  It would be nice to not have to fight it again today."

I think that we should try to find Rabbit or Hyglak. Hyglak is kind of crazy but Rabbit talks in riddles, so whatever you you guys think is the better option. I'm sure if we showed them the bear claw one of them might have and idea. Porto says throwing in his two-coppers worth.

Let's talk to Hyglak. He may be a bit off but he seems honest enough."

"Have you noticed that for all your talking, you haven't gotten anywhere?" Discussed by the situation, Ilsa picked up the body which she wasn't allowed to dismember and threw it back into its home along with the bits of armor that she had removed.

We can't solve all our problems with violence and killing. Now lets talk to Hyglak so we can kill this Necromancer and solve everyone's problem. Porto says trying to make a joke, though that's exactly what he intends for the party to do.

After searching Pig’s home, the party decides to seek out the wild Hyglak, preferring his mild-madness to Rabbit’s cryptic speeches and Criss’s childlike demeanor.  Their collective patience had been wearing thin and they felt it was time that they begin to take strides to finally escape the Hundred Acres Wood.  Roth is still holding the bear claw when they leave the house, leaving it in disarray but in a very similar state as they had found it.  Uncannily, they spy none other than Hgylak himself striding up to Pig’s house as they pile out.
“Ahoy there!” he calls as he waves with his free hand, the other being busy holding his massive halberd.  “Find what you were looking for?”  His eyes flash with a strange gleam, but don’t necessarily appear threatening.  He chuckles nervously again.  He continues to approach the group, stopping only a few feet from you, but still wholly on Pig’s property.
“Trespassers Will,” he says as he breaks his gaze with you long enough to glance at the sign posted nearby.  “Did you know that Xanhast’s grandfather’s name was William?  Kind of a strange name, don’t you think?  He was a hell of a warrior though.  He taught us how to hunt and fight.  But it was the Backson who taught us how to enjoy it.  They don’t think like we do, but if you fight them enough, you know how to get in their heads too.  Interesting little buggers, really; but I digress.  You found the key, didn’t you.  You did,” he says eyeing Roth specifically.
“Too bad you don’t know where the gate is.”

Seeing Hyglak's weapon, Ilsa readied hers, gripping with both hands but resting the tip on the ground. She eyed the polearm; knowing it had the advantage of length, she was not going to charge in even though every bone in her body told her he needed to die. She let him talk and the others respond as she clenched her jaw.

"I bet you do, though. Show us how clever you are, Hyglak. Show us the gate no one else could find."

15:09, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 18 using 1d20+2. Diplomacy (untrained).

“Do not mock me!” Hyglak snaps back at Stan with a toothy grin just before chuckling again.  You can’t help but notice the point of his canines.  He allows a moment to pass before countering, “But I might help you—if you can make it worth my time.  A simple trade in favors is all I’ll ask of you.  I’ll take you to the gate—I’ll even protect you—all I ask for in return is that when you pass through, you leave the key behind.  I’ll not suffer another mishap, or chance one of you returning.  You’ve done quite a number to this place, and a lot of your efforts have been good.  For dealing with the Backson and Owl, I thank you; but we’ve had our fill of outsiders and, quite frankly, I find you all strange and offensive.  Shall we strike the deal?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Tue 07 Sept 2010.

"You keep Porto." He gestured to the halfling. "If we get through safely, you get your key back and return our friend to us. Otherwise, you never see your precious bear claw again."

Ilsa laughed at Stan's comment. She nodded her approval of his plan.

"I think perhaps there are still things to do in this Wood," Shirok said after a few moments, his displeasure at saying so evident upon his face. "Tell us of Eor, Hyglak. Tell us what role he played in all of this."

All he asked was that before we leave we give the key back you ass! Porto says to Stan, hoping he was joking, but then again they were willing to tie him up and burn him alive for getting a little bite.

"I find you manipulative and inhospitable."  Roth retorts to Hylgak's appraisal of the party.  "And least of all trustworthy." the elf adds, extremely hesitant to let the man lead them anywhere.  With an inquisitive eye aimed at the 'tiger,' Roth pulls out the dagger that killed Eor and asks him, almost as a test, "Who's is this?"

Hyglak’s face contorts in anger at Stan’s proposal.  The man isn’t sure if the mage is continuing to mock him, if he hasn’t yet realized the seriousness of his request, or if he was actually offering the halfling as collateral.  A moment passes by and Hyglak snorts loudly, almost spitting.  He eyes Stan a long time before tearing his gaze away to address Shirok.
“Eeyore was the Chief Guardian of the Wood,” he explains in a begrudging tone.  “He and Bear were created in here by my Lord’s order... what does this have to do with anything?  If you want a history lesson, go talk to Rabbit!”

“It’s yours,” he answers Roth with a shrug.

I think he's being completely reasonable. I say what do we have to lose lets let him take us to the gate and get the hell out of here. Porto says kind of surprised by everyone's reluctance to follow Hyglak, even if he was a little mad.

When the threat of violence diminished some, Ilsa relaxed slightly. "Unless it is a trap. That's why we keep the key. He keeps you until we know it's safe," Ilsa said to the halfling out of the side of her mouth. "It was the wizard's plan," she added because she enjoyed the notion that someone else had suggested it.

He's taking all of us to the gate! Porto nearly shouts. He isn't so angry as he is worried. Unless I'm mistaken, which I doubt, we use the key at the gate to open it. Then we toss the key to Hyglak, say we'll never forget his bravery or some corny shit, and then we leave. Plus 'he keeps me'. What do you expect, that he holds a knife to my throat while were walking in a group? Porto does not like the groups willingness to mistreat him. Perhaps he should shake things up a bit. If they kept insisting, he would surely do that.

"Hell's Bells. I am such an idiot."

Worst. Negotiator. Ever.

Stan would have said more but he felt like he had contributed enough.

"Sorry Porto," he whispered. "I'll buy you a whole keg when we get out of here."

"Wouldn't opening the gate let your necromancer in in full force?"  Roth asks as he tucks both the bear claw and tiny dagger away for safekeeping.  The elf doesn't really care about the necromancer or the ... two ... people left in these woods, but there is a puzzle here that needs solving and he feels so close to figuring it out.

"Yeah," Hyglak replies to Roth, "s'right.  Thus the reason you will be leaving the key with me.  I'll seal the gate once you leave. Immediately.
"But you goons can stay here forever, for all I care.  You ain't causin' me any trouble," he snips.  "See ya around," he says as he turns to leave.

"Wait!" Garret calls out to Hgylak before he has gone too far.  "Isn't there someway we can work this out?  You want us to leave, right?  We want to leave, believe me.  I honestly don't see why we wouldn't be able to return your key once we have a way home.  It won't be of any further use to us anyway," he says before looking over the others.  "The hour is growing late.  And there is still much work to be done!  Aren't you due in Silvervine?  Let us make haste."
Turing back to Hgylak, "Listen, if you take us to the gate, I can guarantee you that we will turn the key over to you as we leave.  On my honor.  Deal?"  Garret extends his hand.

21:36, Today: Garret Nachtbrise rolled 17 using 1d20+10. diplomacy.