"It would appear somebody has been by to tidy up since last night. I think we should pay this person a visit. I dislike the idea of leaving a mad alchemist loose in this forest." Zuriel looks at the remains of the bear sadly.

He points to a sapling at the mouth of the cave. "Keef, Giles, was this tree here last night?"

[Private to Keef: You don't think it was.]

[Private to Giles Thistleworth:
You can't recall; you were too busy being pissed at the condition of the bear and of Shep.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Boreas begins examining the scene of the conflagration.  Judging the cave to be safe enough, he begins to search inside.

[Perception (TAKE 10) 16]

He finds a small parchment attached to the bear pelt, attempts to read it, and turns to the others.

What... happened here?  I imagine this note explains, but I don't read Sylvan.  Any of you happen to?

Indeed.  Thought I doubt he or she will be terribly pleased by our visit as they've left us the world's least subtle warning. Maeve nods toward the bear.

It seems as though our best course of action is to continue toward the southwest.  If that region is imbued with evil, I think we can safely assume that the alchemist responsible for this lair can't be far away. What do you all think?

She peers a bit more closely at the dagger affixing the bear to the cave wall but does not touch it.

I'd also be very interested to know more about this dagger that can plunge into rock with ease.

In reply to Maeve (msg # 49):

Keef shakes his head.  I don't remember a tree... and the bear, We let it go, like O'lega of the Green Veil, merciful-like.

Keef studies the dagger and the bookshelves.

He climbs up on top of the hill somewhat to look around.

So this is where you all were last night? Curious place. Walking around she inspects the seats carved into the rock then comes up to the bear. Poor fellow. Was this a seemingly normal bear? Perhaps you could answer this Boreas, I thought that bears didn't typically attack someone unless they felt threatened or were protecting something.

Not usually, no.  Wait, I bet Giles, Keef and Zuriel would know better.  This must be the cave Drue was talking about.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 52):

It wasn't the bear's fault really, I don't think it had a choice.

Keef jumps down from the berm and points at the broken glass.

There was some sort of... thing in it's neck, that maybe made it so mad.  Maybe more of those frog-things, maybe a wizard.  Whatever it was, it wasn't nice to force that bear to attack... and we let it go... maybe it had cubs...

Keef makes a confusing gesture.  Chubbs hops up on top of the stone table and croaks.

Yeah, so we should find out who did this and make sure they can't do it again.  There might be more... places like this, more animals.

In reply to Keef (msg # 53):

That is indeed strage Keef. But yes I agree, whoever must be doing this is obviously not a nice person. She pauses contemplating, Do you think it would be worth it for me to try to see what kind of device they were using? Perhaps we should just be on the lookout, We could get into some trouble later and I may have more desperate use of my magic.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 54):

Giles heads over toward the sapling that Zuriel was talking about, Shep loping faithfully at his heels.

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 55):

Zuriel, Giles, and Shep stand outside of the cave, pondering a sapling that may or may not have been there last night.  Keef stands in the mouth of the cave, having just jumped down from its berm.

Lyriel, Maeve, and Boreas have formed a semicircle of sorts around the bearskin rug, keenly interested in its existence, the dagger, and the Slyvan note, respectively.  Chubbs makes his way to the table, hopping on top of it with the sort of general apathy that only a toad can properly exhibit.

It is at this moment that things get interesting.

Outside the Cave

Zuriel, Giles, Shep, and Keef spring back in surprise as the sapling transforms before their eyes, compacting itself into a humanoid form almost immediately.

Where a tree once grew now stands a woman dressed in clothing made from leaves, vines, and animal hides.  A thin cord is coiled beside her waste, and she leans gently on an unassuming staff of pine.  Though beautiful, her eyes are narrowed in indignant rage.

"I was hoping you'd return.  You see, the master wants to speak with you.  Privately."

She smirks, then utters words of power: "Ven'kirp!"

Suddenly, the charred remains of moss inside the cave shimmer with a dull gray light, and it becomes clear that they have been arranged in a specific pattern.  The air around the mouth of the cave glistens, and where an opening once stood now appears a sheet of solid rock several feet thick.

In moments, the P.A.R.T.Y. once again finds itself divided as before.

Inside the Cave

You are torn from you observation of the bear pelt by a commotion outside, but only catch a quick glimpse of a strange woman jeering at Zuriel before the ground glows with a dull gray hue, causing the mouth of the cave to solidify into a sheet of rock.

Boreas, Maeve, Lyriel, and Chubbs look at each other grimly as they come to a dawning realization: In a manner of speaking, they have been buried alive.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

In reply to DM (msg # 56):

Boreas's eye glints with a faint emerald light as he looks around the pitch-black cave, noting nothing new.  He produces a bow just the same, turning in Maeve's direction.

"Still have that torch on you?"

To Lyriel, he nods toward the wall.

"Can the goddess can help us with that?"

Chubbs croaks, indignant, and Boreas turns in his direction, as well.

"Keep an eye out in case anything new appears, Chubbs.  Sentry duty is important, too."

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 57):

Inside the Cave

Chubbs glowers at Boreas, narrowing his eyes.  He croaks long and slow, clearly accusatory.

Outside the Cave

What? Keef looks around.  He runs up to the solid rock wall and presses against it.

With calm determination he steps back and takes several breaths, then draws his waster and leaps to the attack!

CRACK, CRACK, BANG!  Keef swings with great enthusiasm but to no avail.

Zuriel's hand grips his longsword at his side, though he does not draw. Struggling to control his anger, his voice is level and monotonous as he replies. "Whoever you are, know I do not respond well to threats against those I care about. Free my companions, and I will come speak with this master of yours."

Maeve lights the coldfire torch and takes stock of her surroundings.  Upon realizing with whom she is trapped, she smiles humorlessly.

Well, this is turning into something of a tradition, isn't it?

In reply to Maeve (msg # 60):

I'm not sure if my goddess does stone walls...this isn't looking too good. Maybe I can try something though.

Lyriel wanders up to the wall and casts [detect magic]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 59):

Outside the Cave

"M-m-master sees who m-m-master wishes!" a high-pitched voice squeaks out, seemingly from nowhere.  The air shimmers next to the woman, and soon a short, squat figure appears beside her. [Private to Zuriel Silendril: Evil.]

He looks to be a gnome of some sort, wearing a light tunic and breeches along with a comically conical hat adorned with embroidered stars, leaves, and berries.  His complexion, however, is anything but typical -- ashen and gray, with pale, unnatural eyes that dart this way and that.

"D-d-don't make d-d-demands of the master.  Good m-m-master. Nice m-m-master."

The gnome seems lost in this train of thought, a moronic grin spreading across his face as he presumably contemplates how good and nice the master may or may not be.

The woman nods and jerks her head toward the southward-leading trail.

"Yes, yes, Binkles.  Good, nice master.  Now let's move it," she snaps, turning her back to you in order to lead the way.  "Keep your weapons.  They hardly matter."

Inside the Cave

The coldfire torch shimmers to life, bathing the room in a semblance of daylight.  Little has changed physically save the edifice blocking your escape.

[Private to Lyriel Vesper: The wall of stone is clearly magic, as is the moss that seems to have triggered it.  A dotted line of magic runs in a circle toward the center of the newly made wall.

The dagger jutting from the stone also radiates with magic.  Everything else looks mundane.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:19, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

In reply to DM (msg # 62):

"Do not presume to order Sir Giles Thistleworth as you would a common lackey.  Nor should you dismiss the might of his bow so readily."

Shep growls warningly at the pair while Giles unslings his bow.

"I have no intention of walking into what is clearly a trap while leaving my erstwhile allies here to starve.  If you do not fear martial prowess and the courage of a warrior born, why not invite us all to meet your master?"

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 63):

Outside the Cave

The woman laughs softly at this, as if privy to a secret joke, and blinks her pretty green eyes at the hero.

"'Sir Giles Thistleworth'.  Right.  And threatening a lady?  What's a girl to do?"

The gnome hops around the clearing with reckless abandon, spewing nonsense as he goes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:08, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

In reply to DM (msg # 64):

Inside the Cave

Boreas allows himself a tiny smile as Lyriel's eyes glow with divine power.

"What do you see?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

From what I can tell the only magical items in this room are the wall, which seems to have been triggered by the moss, and the dagger. She indicates each in turn. It also appears that there is a strange line of magic running towards the wall in a circle formation. She traces an outline. Honestly that is all I've got. If I am lucky I may be able to find out a bit more about one particular thing...do you have any suggestions?

OOC: This was updated at 3:23 in case you got an earlier version
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

See what you can determine about the wall, Lyriel.  The dagger is interesting, but it's not our immediate concern now.  Also given what we know about this cave's former resident, I rather suspect that it's cursed.

Maeve holds the torch up toward the back of the cave to see if she can see anything of interest or, for that matter, even discern the back of the cave.

[Perception 11]

I wonder how far back this goes?

In reply to Maeve (msg # 67):

Inside the Cave

The cave is quite shallow; there's not much to it than what you can see.  Lyriel continues to concentrate on the wall, while Chubbs croaks nervously.  Boreas simple stands vigilantly off to the side, letting the cleric continue her work.

[Private to Lyriel Vesper: Further focus upon the wall leaves you confident that the circle indicates that you're not dealing with a "wall" so much as a "door", and that area represents the "keyhole".]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Zuriel crosses his arms. "We will be able to have a much more productive conversation with your master if we aren't worried about our companions suffocating. Besides, if he is as powerful as you say, why should a few more people matter?"

[Diplomacy: 19]

In reply to Maeve (msg # 67):

Now that I think about it, while the dagger may not be of interest it is lodged in the stone, perhaps it can cut stone...which would make our lives a whole lost easier at present. I could be completely off base though. I swear I remember reading about spells that could create walls like this before I left mage school. Aha, I remember, I think that circle of magic is like a keyhole! Now what would we use for the key...maybe the dagger?

Maeve brightens at Lyriel's reply.

That's a good idea Lyriel!  That said, I'm still not convinced that the dagger isn't cursed.  If Zuriel were here, he'd be able to tell.  Or maybe everything in here is so saturated with evil that he wouldn't be able to distinguish the dagger from everything else in here.  Without knowing that, I don't want to risk any of us trying to tamper with it.

She taps a finger thoughtfully against her lip.

At home there was a soldier in my father's regiment, Fintan.  He traveled extensively and once told me that animals had an inate ability to sense if an item was cursed, or dangerous.. 

Feeling rather foolish, she looks at the P.A.R.T.Y's resident toad.

Chubbs?