Tymon shrugs as you ply him with questions. "I believe I've given your broad stature friend here the answer to the door already. But let me elaborate. The plateau belonged to the Kegdrainer clan. The stone tablet is the key. Bohrhorgen just needs to concentrate on which location he wants and it will happen. There may be other destinations, or ways to key others into being able to use the tablet, but that's something you'll have to explore for yourself. As for organizations that oppose the Empire, you already have the premier cleric of the most powerful temple in Zobeck. Why go to second best?" He preens and primps for a moment, ensuring his appearance is still immaculate from two minutes before.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:08, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

In reply to rchmage (msg # 16):

Nic turns his head and eyes Tymon, smiling toothily, as the bard finishes his preening. It might appear to the rest of the party that Nic is sizing up the diminutive man as a predator might with it's prey, even though Nic is no towering body of overwhelming physique.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

"Blah, blah, blah.  Tymon.  Why do the undead, and apparently you until now, think Kiara is with my uncle?"  Bohrhorgen's temper is only partially exaggerated.
"Thank you for the instructions.  I need more information to protect my family, and I will have it."

Looks at Nic "can I eat him now?"

(Excuse the late response family)

As were coming out of the caves Mantle is at the back of the party watching over who ever is putting the grating back in place over the entrance sealing it shut. As we head up the slope out of this place I'm in place by my sister Stella.
The site of the sun is very welcoming site for sure.

When Tymon greets us out of no where my first reaction is to shoot it till I get a look at him and see who it is.
Mantle says "That's a really good way to get burned to the ground sneaking on people out of the blue like that!"

Mantle casts detect magic as subtle as possible and is inspecting Tymon and the surrounding areas.

As his sister speaks to everyone and looks at all of us she gets the same look of disappointment returned to her in kind from Mantle. As he stands there listening to everyone going on and on about what to do next or what path we're to go on. All Mantle can think inside his little head is how he's so tired of everytime he turns around lately someone is threatening or doing something back handed to him, his sister, or his newest friends, and he's really getting tired of it. Which in turn is making him angry and angrier by the second.

Finally after he hears Rowan pipe up with "can he eat him now"
Mantle says With a sinister little grin rising across his face. "Let me cook the little rat for you first!!"

With an oily grin and a slide step backward, Tymon raises both his hands in a placating gesture. "No need to be angry or violent, I pay for my life daily with whispers and rumors." He gives a sideways smirk, "The trick is to know what to listen to, and what to ignore. Not a skill that can be taught, it must be learned." All around you, the brush shakes slightly and you see larger sage rats and smaller harvest mice looking out at you, their beady little black eyes glittering in the setting sun. "I don't like to reveal my sources, it's rude. Much like you're now acting. Perhaps when relevant information crosses my path, I should ignore those most likely to benefit from the knowledge, no? Let's try to be civil, it's how thugs and professionals are separated."

Bohrhorgen looks at the closest rat and licks his lips and pats his armored belly.
"Tymon, you old rat, here I thought you weren't a gracious host!  But in reality, no thank you, I already ate.  Roasted rat is my favorite though, you really do get every detail right, my compliments."
"Seriously, why did you think Kiara was with my uncle?  Just some source who must remain anonymous?  Word on the street?  I ask because I want to form an accurate picture of what we're dealing with.  You saavy?"

"Awe you brought more rats with you, always knew they ran in packs......just tell us what we WANT to know so we can be on our way!"

.......Brooding silence

Kiara has to mentally remind herself to breathe in and out. Not wanting another run in with the ones that seek her. I need a private audience with Nic.

Kiara is shifting foot to foot and looking off in any direction for some privacy. What ever we do, we should be off to it. Standing around here makes me a target that I am not thrilled about. Furthermore, once the bees start flying again, I fear its over for me. Perhaps we find a secure place to hold up for the night.

Worry surges through her at the thought of Uncle Dugan in danger, after all he has been more than kind to her.

Nic, patiently awaiting the other voices of the group to be heard, casts a sideways glance to Tymon, down to his beady-eyed compatriots in the bushes, and back to Tymon, "Since time is of the essence, and patience growing thin Tymon, I really encourage you to speak plainly. Unanswered questions remain, and simple to convey their answers. The coincidence that you are found here, at this very time, smells horribly of conspiracy. Almost like you actually had this planned all along, and that really sets my teeth on edge. Then there's your hesitance to reveal who it is that claimed Kiara's presence was with Herr Dugan. Such an omission of that pertinent information would make you just as guilty as the one placing her there and the lives of herself and Herr Dugan in danger. Be thankful that my demeanor has not become a rudeness that you seem unaccustomed to, but I won't have this game of words play out any longer. I know that I can be patient, humble, and contrite when the need serves me, but I cannot say the same for the rest of my friends here. We're hungry, tired, and looking to get back to town expediently."

At the end of his statement, Nic sidesteps to his right about 2 large paces and turns back to Tymon, arms open wide as if to welcome his answers in full and, perhaps, to give himself distance for whatever may transpire from his compatriots.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:05, Sat 16 Jan 2021.

Tymon licks his lips and addresses Bohrhorgen. "I believe that perhaps the powers of darkness tracked her there using magic. Or a little bee followed her and Silence works for them. I don't always know why, I only know what. My eyes and ears don't always know what happens in the darkest recesses. One of the many reasons I seek to oppose them without declaring war ourselves. " His shoulders slump slightly and his voice drops so low you have to lean in to hear. "We would have no chance." He straightens a bit, tugs the lapels of his coat, and grins cheekily. "That's our secret to survival, provide good intel to those who can keep our fair city safe."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:45, Sun 17 Jan 2021.

Nic gives Tymon a stern, yet sympathetic look, "Tymon, I empathize with your concern for the safety of your kin, your skin, and your position. From one talented tongue to another, know that we don't play games with our lives either when there is an opportunity to avoid peril. You present that opportunity, but as one who appreciates knowledge, understand that it is also knowledge that helps to keep our lives and our best interests safe as well. We really have no further need to match wits here, rather an opportunity to garner trust. The task laid before us, requested of you, was capably handled. If it is of interest to you that we keep on, then share some respect and knowledge to those who have already aided you, and not become your enemy. I am certain you are leaving things out at this point, and I'd shudder to think that it is just so you may have an upper hand in things in the future. Come clean. What say you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Sun 17 Jan 2021.

Tymon shifts his feet, "There are reinforcements coming from below. A pair of apparitions were seen in the main tunnels leading to the Darakhul city far beneath Zobeck, traveling upward. The defenses of Herr Dugan and his warriors are ill equipped to deal with them. Without your help, there will be losses. Best estimate is by midnight they will have arrived."

"No more time to waste then, we should be on our way.  We will finalize plans as we travel.  Your cooperation is appreciated, Tymon, and will be remembered."

Nic looks down to the ground, and at the many eyeballs peering out from the undergrowth, and takes in a heavy sigh before responding, "Well, if that's all there is to be said Tymon, then so be it. Your conscience is your own and, for your sake, I hope any relevant information not imparted does not come to the forefront of whatever we decide from this point forward. We need to move on to our friends in need at this point. Thank you Tymon, for your information and candor. Feel free to contact me should something of importance come to mind. Until then, good day king's bard."

Nic looks over his shoulder, down the slope where the rest of the group is, and adjusts his pack "Daylight fades friends. Shall we kick on?"

The group bids Tymon farewell and sets off towards Zobeck. Not far down the road, Stella motions for everyone to move off the trail. Finding a quiet spot, she speaks in a low tone. "We can get to town quicker if we sleep here. With my spell that allows us to rest fully in 2 hours and the travel spell I can get after sleeping. If we can go to sleep with all this excitement. Plus we need a way to maintain a guard while we sleep. Is everyone ok with this?" She looks over to Bohrhorgen, "Will you guard us while we sleep?"

"Of course."

Nic reveals a small brass and darkwood cricket from his haversack and sets in the middle of the group, and twists what appears to be a small crank. Small chirping sounds fill the air as Nic sets back, relatively close to the clockwork insect. "This should allow us to speak among ourselves a bit more freely for a couple of minutes at a time without any inquiring ears picking up our conversation so easily. Gather close if ye have anything to say."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:34, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

Stella prepares to cast her spell once everyone is unpacked and settled. She casts a restorative spell on Bohrhorgen first.  Then she says, Just a heads up, think of what you need to purchase to fill the hours when we get a chance to shop. There are long hours to fill on a spelljammer, best to do so gainfully.” She then casts nap stack, which makes you sleepy very quickly.


OOC: 5th level! Please get the updated copies to me.

Zzzzzzzzz......griffins....zzzzz

Again, staring off in the distance Kiara mumbles something about He just isn't right, that Tymon, sure would be nice to read him a little better. As if she can feel it in her bones Kiara shudders and alerts herself to the situation at hand.

Nic lays out ideas for a plan to move forward with Bohrhorgen, Mantle, Rowan, and Kiara, while resetting the buzzing little cricket every 2 minutes.

After waking and praying, a process that eats up 3 hours, Stella informs the party, “I garnered some information through a divination.” She gets a far away look in her eyes and quotes: “GoreStride and his Legions March on Dugan. Ware the insubstantial ones, their touch swells his ranks.” Her eyes snap back into focus, “Well, Tymon wasn’t misleading us. Now we prepare for Ghouls and worse. Incorporeal opponents are tricky at best, they can move through walls. I’m not aware  of the wards that Herr Dugan has in place, but if given enough time, I can bolster the area. Undead are difficult at the best of times. Ar least we know the name of Whom leads them. Has anyone heard of Lord GoreStride?”

The sun is a thumbnail from the horizon. 20 minutes until sunset.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:46, Tue 26 Jan 2021.

Nic shudders at the mention of the name as soon as they pass Stella's lips. "Well then, uh, way worse than I thought. Gorestride is one of the Darakhul lords responsible for obtaining slaves. Word has it he transports them underground... deep underground. I also fear he may be the one actively hunting a member of our group." Nic casts a concerned look to Kiara, then continues "I feel that, if we are to lend aid, then we need to formulate a sort of kill box to thwart this effort. Unfortunately, this will require someone placing themselves in the middle of that box."

Nic looks to Bohrhorgen, Mantle, and then to Kiara. "I only mentioned part of my plan earlier, but did not yet explain this to Rowan. I think we should use a bit of a disguise to lure them into the box. Kiara, I may need use of your pretty hat if you don't mind. I do not feel you should be in the center of the assault, or the trap to be sprung. Perhaps someone they may not anticipate the defenses, or offenses if you will, would serve as a better decoy. Does this make sense and does anyone have any other ideas of information that might help? We are pressed for time as it were."