I sit up abruptly as the sound of the alarm fills the niche, my hands scramble to grab my sword in its scabbard and swing my legs over the side of the bed. As the shortest member of our group I had taken one of the top bunks and its a good thing I was not any taller or I might have suffered a concussion just now. As I am about to jump down I hear Thorn call out it is false alarm. Fantastic. Oh well it is better than the other way around. I set my sword down again beside me and try to fall back asleep. Yesterday had been hard and I have a feeling today will be too.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Mon 20 July 2020.

In reply to Takmarin (msg # 180):

Thorn stared down at the amulet. That was . . . unexpected. And where the Drow were concerned, surprises rarely ended well. The mechanical beetle seemed to agree, apparently issuing some sort of warning, but she couldn't understand his speech.

She glanced back at Althaea. "I can follow his trail, though that seems unwise at present. Is Sand able to communicate directly with Clacker? Aisling can fetch him."

Note: Aisling (pronounced something like "Ash-Lynn") is a gender-neutral name meaning "dream" in Elven.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Sun 19 July 2020.

Clacker stood over the amulet protectively, not allowing us to continue forward. I was unable to directly understand Clacker in the way Sand could but thought I could try something handlers do with dogs or monkeys.

Thorn chimed in, I can follow his trail, though that seems unwise at present. Is Sand able to communicate directly with Clacker? Aisling can fetch him.

I pondered my response for just a moment, still trying to put to words how I wanted to do this so Thorn would understand. Yes, from my understanding, he can. I would like to try something first before we go waking him up again. I have seen similar things done with dogs and monkeys by their handlers back home. I cannot say it will work; however, if it does we will not need to bother Sand as of yet.

I turned back to Clacker, focusing on distinguishing the subtleties in his different clicks and clacks and gave him my directions, Clacker, I would like you to click once for yes and twice for no to the questions I am about to ask you. Do you understand?

I paused, to see if Clacker understood what I was asking of him before continuing, in which he responded with a single click.

Is your name Clacker?

Clacker clicked once for yes.

Is Sand your creator?

Another single click from Clacker, this one coming across slightly more excited.

Now we will get into the more tricky questions. The ones we really need the answers to.

Is there something down the tunnel that poses a threat to us?

Clacker clicked twice, signaling the tunnel was still safe to explore should we feel the need to.

Does the amulet pose a threat to us?

At this question, Clacker clicked once and he moved his legs around like he was very excited or very antsy about it. It was hard to tell which one.

If I touch the amulet to identify it, will it harm me or set off a trap?

Clacker did not respond. I expected this. He likely has no way to determine different types of magic on the amulet, but I was hoping to be surprised by his answer.

Did the drow disappear into the amulet?

At this question, Clacker was able to click twice.

Is it safe to move past the amulet and go farther into the tunnel?

Clacker did not answer. While that did not mean it was unsafe, it might also set off a trap. We needed more information on the amulet.

Well, Thorn, what do you think? Shall we see if Aisling can fetch Alicia for us? I would like a little more information on it before I try touching it based on Clacker's reaction to it.

Insight: 21 to help determine Clacker's intentions
This message was last edited by the player at 00:24, Mon 20 July 2020.

This message was last edited by the GM at 01:03, Mon 20 July 2020.

In reply to Althaea Sylvaranth (msg # 183):

Impressive. Inefficient and rudimentary, but impressive nonetheless. Thorn would have preferred having Sand translate since important nuance may well have been lost, but Althaea's method proved sufficient for the moment. And provided a potentially useful precedent. Besides, Thorn had assumed Sand could communicate with Clacker as lucidly as she did with Aisling, which was not necessarily true.

As to Alicia, however, she could just imagine the woman shrieking and flailing at her stimfay. Thorn's usually inflectionless voice held the slightest hint of distaste: "No. Too skittish."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:14, Mon 20 July 2020.

Thorn made a fair point. The woman did seem rather incapable of controlling her emotions in stressful situations. However, we needed clearer answers to the questions I had.

I must admit, I am torn about which path we should take. I have seen the amulet handled with no effect on the person handling it; however, Clacker seems reluctant to let us touch it. I would like to identify it to see what we are dealing with, but if a trap has been placed on it, that could be catastrophic. Should we fetch Sand and see if we can get clearer answers out of Clacker or risk the potential trap and identify it regardless?

In reply to Althaea Sylvaranth (msg # 186):

Was Althaea seeking her opinion? Thorn felt rather startled and uncertain how she ought to react. Only one person had ever asked what she thought. She considered her response carefully. "We should take no unnecessary risks. Sand's rest must be nearly finished. Perhaps you could ask him to come here while you speak with Alicia?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Mon 20 July 2020.

I left Thorn and Clacker in the tunnel to guard the amulet and made my way back to the tavern. There were a few people still awake and one of them was able to direct me to where Alicia was staying. She was asleep when I found her. When I attempted to rouse her to ask if there were any other details she could give me on the amulet, she muttered something incoherent, rolled over, and continued sleeping. I made my way back to the room I shared with Alaric, Sand, Thorn, and Andraste. I knew that Sand was aware of his surroundings during his rest and went to talk to him.

Sand, I do not wish to bother you, but we have located the amulet in the tunnel. I was able to converse in a sense with Clacker, but it was very rudimentary and we need more clarification on certain things. Would you come with me to speak with him and then I can hopefully identify the amulet?

Sand not done resting. Need fifteen more minutes. Sand meet there when done.

I made my way back to the tavern and back into the tunnel. I kept walking until I met back up with Thorn and Clacker.

Alicia proved to be of no assistance. I have told Sand of the situation but as his rest is not yet complete, he will join us in roughly twenty minutes. I will cast identify on the amulet and face whatever consequences come of my choice once we get clarification from him. If you wish to leave while I do so, I would not blame you. This goes for you as well, Clacker. I would be remiss if something were to happen to either of you and I did not give you the option to save yourselves.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:56, Mon 20 July 2020.

Sand was feeling the magical power at his disposal almost ready to be harvested during the day when Althaea came and asked him if he could come and interpret what Clacker had found and wasn’t letting them approach. He told her that he needed a few minutes more and she left him.

He took this time to try to determine what Clacker had and shrugged… he would see soon enough. Finally he rose, fully rested, and told Giltris he was going in the tunnel, before moving out to the storage room, Scamp on his shoulder. There, the magically opened wood wall waited for him and beyond, impenetrable darkness. Muttering that he didn’t see in the dark, he looked around the storage room and settled on a bit of string he fashioned a necklace from, touching it with the spear and the rope magically started to glow. Nodding approval, he slipped it around his neck, now having some source of light to guide his steps.

Walking slowly in the tunnel, having to crouch at certain spots, the construct finally reached the elves and Clacker, and there on the ground, a piece of jewelry that Clacker was guarding fiercely.

Sand pleased to see Thorn and Althaea. Has Clacker behaved badly?

But that wasn’t the case, the construct could see in his creation attitude that it was doing what it was built for, defend. Putting his hand on the beetle’s head to stroke it, he nodded.

Clacker did good work, there is danger Clacker sensed. What is danger now? Sand wants to see magic. Please wait for Sand.

Just like in the inn, he started his ritual casting of detect magic. After ten minutes, his eyes changed color to a more bluish hue. Carefully, he approached the necklace on the ground, without touching anything, Clacker nervously clicking and clacking.

Sand can detect no magic on the necklace. But under it… Yes there is magic under it, abjuration magic.

Sand used his hands to mimic a circle about 6 inches wide to the elves.

About this big. Sand thinks it’s a trap, Clacker might have saved lives. Sand has an idea on how to remove danger safely, but can’t dispel magic trap.

Carefully stepping away for the necklace, he asked the ladies present.

Should Sand safely trigger trap or does Thorn or Althaea have other ideas?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Tue 21 July 2020.

I have no means to safely trigger the trap so, by all means, Sand, please do so.

With a grunt from Thorn and a shrug from Althaea, Sand told them to move back towards Vertigo. He then looked back to gage his distance and realized that he couldn’t see the jewelry anymore, the light from his enchanted necklace limited to about 10 feet around him. With a shake of his head, he carefully went back. Arrived within 5 feet of the necklace he stopped and selected a rock on the ground, that he touched with his spear, muttering, until the rock started to glow, like the necklace around his neck. Nodding, he went back to the elves, 30 feet away from the trap. Taking his decanter of endless water, he pointed it the necklace, now visible in the glow of the rock. Sand hesitated then shook his head.

Sand prefers to be even safer.

Pointing the decanter at his feet, he combine his water supply and water magic until a wall of thick clear ice offering three quarter cover was between the party and the necklace on the ground.

Now Sand attack trap.

He pointed the magic item at the necklace on the ground thirty feet away and said a single word, that projected a powerful stream of water, pushing the necklace away from the magical trap. 

The second that the streaming water hits the necklace, a giant BA BOOM echoes through the tunnel...a thundering explosion rocking the mountain around you.  The ceiling and walls of the tunnel come crashing down around you.  When the dust finally settles, the debris and dirt reaches its way all the way into the main room of the inn, covering it in a layer of dirt.  Hundreds of tons of rock have collapsed, only 10 feet from where you all now stand...the amulet lost deep within the rubble.

I looked at Sand with clear frustration in my expression, Your definition of safely seems a bit skewed. Looks like we have no choice but to let the drow go. Let us go tell Thorin of this; undoubtedly, he has already heard the explosion take place and he will have questions for us. We still need more information on this expedition to the keep as well. Can you clean up the tavern? It is filthy.

I turn and walk away from Sand and Thorn to find Thorin. The people of this town seem to keep dragging me into messes. I miss home, it was much easier when I did not have to be the one to clean up the messes.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 11:26, Tue 21 July 2020.

Just as Althaea starts to make her way into the main room of the tavern, Thorin comes crashing in, with another Dwarf close behind.

Althaea, what happened here?  Is everyone ok? Thorin exclaims, as he looks around frantically.

Oh, good. Thorin is already here. Saves me time trying to find him.

No one was injured in the explosion, but the way after the drow is blocked. We are unable to pursue at this time. It will take some time to clear the tunnel if you still wish us to recover the amulet from the drow. However, at this juncture, they are unable to return by this means which should buy us some time to travel to the keep for those weapons.

Well, I'm glad to hear that, though I am curious what happened, it seems you have it under control and I'm too tired to hear a response.

Bromdur, can you please assess the other caves and ensure they haven't been compromised?  We need to make sure there aren't any more surprises.

Althaea, I'm going to attempt to get some sleep.  I've been up all night and if I don't rest, I'm not going to be help to anyone.  I've informed some of my staff to wake me for emergencies only.  Do you need anything before I do so?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:11, Tue 21 July 2020.

At the current moment, no. I will have a few questions for you about the expedition to the keep after you sleep. If we are to venture there I would like to start planning our strategy so we can get there and back as quickly and safely as possible. However, if there are any tasks you wish us to complete while you sleep, we would be more than happy to. We seem to have caused quite a ruckus since our arrival.

I believe I have everything in order for the moment, but thank you.  We can talk about the keep in the morning.  I will find you when I'm awake.

Alaric was looking for you though.  He was giving some pointers to the guardsman up on the wall earlier before finally laying down himself, not wanting to get in your way.  You should try and get some more rest too.  If the keep is your next move, you'll need the strength.

Thank you, Thorin. I will take my leave of you and go find him.

I found Alaric in the room given to us when we arrived in Vertigo. He was still asleep so I decided to wait until he woke up to speak to him. In the meantime, I decided to clean my weapons and armor so they would ready for the next battle. I have no doubt there will be a next battle the way things are going.

Water pushed the necklace, inducing a blinding flash to which Sand could only turn his head away. The rumbling sound of tons of rocks falling and crashing, peppering the ice wall with debris, and the wave of dust passing the trio, reaching the storage room they had came from. Sand rose from the makeshift protection and looked at the carnage, his jaw opened, the best approximation of bewildered he could make on his fixed visage. Scamp howled of horror, the jewel lost under the rocks, flying in the dusty air to try to find it.

Still with this amazed expression he turned to the elves and said.

Sand didn’t know.

Althaea berated him for blocking the access to follow the drow and stormed off, furious. Sand looked at her go then turned his gaze toward Thorn, almost plaintive.

Sand didn’t know trap would do that. Is Thorn hurt?

In reply to Sand (msg # 200):

"No. And the explosion is probably just as well - it prevents the Drow from readily using this passage to access the surface." A pause, then she spoke more thoughtfully. "You didn't know? Does that mean you can't duplicate the effect?"

Why?! As the last echoes of the explosion bounce through the niche, I bolt upright again, grab my sword again, jump down from my bunk, and run towards the tunnel. Dust is drifting out of the tunnel mouth and I can see Thorin and his men disappear into the cloud. I draw my sword and cautiously follow. As I advance I can hear Althaea berating someone but I cannot make out the words with my ears still ringing. Ahead of me Althaea is speaking with Thorin before turning and storming passed me. Thorn and Sand are still crouching down behind a wall of ice, huh neat trick that, covered in rock dust, their eyes unfocused. Passed them the tunnel has collapsed; well I guess we will not be pursuing the Drow. I stand up to my full height, sheathe my sword after confirming it is clean, brush the dust off my small-clothes, and turn to face the two staring Dwarves. "I am going back to bed."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:01, Wed 22 July 2020.

Sand’s amazement this night was not to be over. Thorn said she was not hurt then stringed the most words that the construct had ever heard from her before. He looked at her a moment then considered the light his necklace was feebly giving out in the dusty air.

Thorn follow to more light.

He walked back to the store room, where he spent a few seconds using his earth magic to try to clean up the dust. He then looked at the hunter.

Sand learned earth and water magic from sma… dwarf friend’s book of magic. Magic to create, like Clacker, Sand simply… knows. Sand not understand why Sand knows.

He took a spellbook from his pack and showed it to Thorn.

Maybe Sand could find exploding disk in book of magic. But book very difficult to read, Sand not always understand. Right now, Sand don’t know exploding disk.

In reply to Sand (msg # 203):

"A pity." Thorn replied, her tone unreadable. Then she slipped away silently.
This message was last updated by the player at 03:03, Wed 22 July 2020.

The hunter practically dismissed Sand’s magical knowledge and left him. After putting the book away, he ended pretty much alone in the main room of the inn, still with the scars of the battle fought there only a few hours ago. Sand, having no need for more rest, picked up a chair missing it’s leg, broken during the panic. Finding the missing part, he mended the piece of furniture, before finding and fixing more.

Those coming in the room a few hours later would still find the construct seated on the floor, with mostly repaired and a few remaining broken items around him.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:02, Wed 22 July 2020.