"This cave is rather dark isn't it?  Does anyone have a torch?  Could be useful to spot holes in the floor."

"I'm afraid I don't have one... "
says the gnome
"I usually see quite well even under a starry night so I don't need one.  Yet I should have thought of it."
he adds with some embarrassment.

"Well if none of us have something we could use, I suggest we go outside, find some branch and make a few torch."

I have some flint and tender we can use to light the torches when we make them. said Julian as he followed the others into the cave.

"I don't see anything of interest in here." the small fry piped up.

"are you sure there aren't any tracks or anything?"

"Completely lacking..."

Working together, the group had no problems gathering enough wood and material to make a few torches. With Itzal again leading the way, this time carrying a lit torch.

In the flickering light it was possible to see that the narrow back of the cave looked remarkably like a corridor, though it may just have been a quirk of nature. The passage lead gently down upon bare, damp rock for around fourty feet, before widening out into a roughly circular chamber around 30 feet in diameter. The walls of the chamber widened around a foot from the floor, forming a shelf-like protrusion that ran around the room.

Almost opposite the entryway was an arch; this was definitely artificial in shape, and was covered by slimy weeds so that it was not possible to see beyond it.

On a crumbled protrusion to the left of the arch sat an oddly large owl with parculiar brown and white plumage. It glared at the group as the crowded into the entrance to the chamber, head tilted to one side slightly. Seemingly making its mind up, its beak opened in a piercing shriek...

"what an odd configuration for a cave. Very interesting.  Did your father say something about it?" he asked the boys.

When they reached the large 'room', he didn't hide his interest.

"Now this is the kind of thing I'm looking for."

He moved toward the arch, with the obvious intention to remove the weeds when he saw the owl and stopped in his track.

"how remarkable..."

[Private to GM:
19:29, Today: Secret Roll: Dimble Nackle rolled 21 using 1d20+4. knowledge beast lore.
19:28, Today: Secret Roll: Dimble Nackle rolled 5 using 1d20+4. knowledge (adventuring) ^^.
19:36, Today: Secret Roll: Dimble Nackle rolled 14 using 1d20+4. knowledge beast lore bis (feat).
19:36, Today: Secret Roll: Dimble Nackle rolled 20 using 1d20+4. knowledge (adventuring) ^^ bis (feat).
19:28, Today: Secret Roll: Dimble Nackle rolled 14 using 1d20+5. will save. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:37, Sun 26 July 2009.

julien looked around the cave as dimble rambled on in the back ground. when dimble moved over the the arch julien head over to him.


----------------------
OOC: will save: 16

OOC:

00:28, Today: Hu Sit rolled 10 using 1d20-1. Will Save.

The boys shrugged at Dimble's question - seemed they just weren't interested in such things!

"Dunno - 's just an old cave I guess. He's just a guide, the man who hired him was more interested."

As Dimble blundered into the cave distractedly, Julien followed him. Itzal and Hu remained just behind, where they'd lead the way in.

The cry from the owl was dreadful, almost otherworldly. Through the heads of all four of the explorers flickered terrible images, which inspired in them a mighty fear. Julien, Dimble and Itzal remained steadfast; Hu had turned a strange shade of white, though...

Dimble shook his head, still shivering from the owl's cry.

"How wonderful ! A fright owl.  An unusual animal, not really dangerous despite their unusual cry. It allows them to literally 'terror freeze' their prey before snatching it. Thankfully we are a little too big for her."
Said the gnome, apparently not dampened by the situation.

"Collectors would pay quite something for such an marvel. But This is not our current business and we are too far from such a person for it to be useful.

Now, how are we to get past it without more inconvenient cry?"

Hu felt a wave of bone-chilling fear run over him.  Dimble and the rest of the party suddenly seemed very far away.  He heard him talking but it came out rather unintelligible.  He couldn't help himself.  He said loudly to himself.

"I need to get out!  I need to leave right now!  NOW!!!"

He then proceeded to run towards the entrance of the cave without paying attention to his footing.

The owl's cry made julien come up short as fear griped at his mind. He was able to push the irrational fear aside.


OK, lets not let that thing do that again.

"humm let me try something. It would be a shame to kill such a creature. After all we are the trespassers..." said the gnome.

"What surprises me is the fact it is still here. If your husband and the man that hired him really came here, it's most probable the owl would have reacted as it did... We should get closer to the archway, to see if there is some evidence of the two men's"

he then muttered a few words while making a small gesture in front of the owl.

[Private to GM: cast 'sleep' on the owl. DC 13 will]

Stumbling over his feet and falling a few times, Hu desperately made his way out of the cave.  The cry from the owl seemed to be blinding his ears and the images in his head felt like they were about to split his skull.  Finally he saw the entrance to the cave.  He was sure that the light at the end of the tunnel would ward off the demons in his skull.

Itzal shook his head a few times, trying to get the ringing out. Hu's hasty retreat surprised the halfling, who watched with amusement and concern as the bug guy ran off. But the gnome's behavior was perhaps even more odd. Itzal moved into a position behind the gesticulating gnome, wondering what he could be trying. Itzal's natural inclination was to simply pass it by. Inspecting it and perhaps capturing it would never have crossed the rogue's mind.

Whatever the gnome had done, it was effective - the owl slowly closed its eyes, then slumped forward from its perch, falling to the floor.

"Now that's a good thing. Shall we press on, or wait for our companions to get over their fear?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Thu 30 July 2009.

"I believe we should proceed. Let's search this room for any trace of the men we are looking for" said the gnome moving toward the archway

"our friend should come back soon enough, I believe it will take longer for him do overcome his shame than to overcome his fear..." he added with a little smile

Itzal nodded, and pressed forward, clearly influenced by the skills of the gnome. Quietly he moved, scanning ahead for any dangers, ears sharp for unexpected noise.
----------------------
OOC:
spot = 14
listen = 21

Dimble and Itzal looked carefully around the room. There was little to see. There were no tracks upon the rock floor, but plenty of droppings to indicate the owl had been using this place as home for some time.

The archway was covered with the thick green weeds. Standing directly before it, the two explorers could see a little beyond the plants - the chamber beyond seemed to be of similar size and shape to the one they were in, though they couldn't see the far side.

Nothing seemed to move within, but the shadows from the torchlight seemed to suggest there were more obstacles in the next room. They couldn't see properly without moving the weeds, though.

As Hu finally caught his breath he realized that he had abandoned his friends.  He quickly gathered himself and turned around.  He jogged back into the main room with his bow out, ready to kill the owl that had frightened him.  However, upon seeing it asleep he deduced that the party had already handled the problem.  He then yelled for Itzal to say that he was coming back.

Itzal shook his head. Yelling? But he knew that the larger man might know best what to do. Itzal immediately stepped to the side of the opening, motioning Dimble to do the same. If that shout was heard, and if there was something beyond, then it might come out to say hello to the noisemaker. He prepared to fight, wondering if his hunch was correct.

Dimble moved carefully the weeds, more than annoyed by the curious man's yell.

"Now if he woke the owl, I won't do anything to help him... Quite a trouble maker you associated yourself with" he added to the halfing.
He was also surprised by Itzal's reaction: had he not recognized their companion's voice?