Lizardfolk see well at night, their eye-shine a mirror of the moon and stars whose blessing lets them do so - but usually less well in the full dark under the thick cover of trees. Darkwater is however, an exception (or so it would seem) as he moves through the deepest shadows with sure footing and complete confidence, serving to guide the catch-pole as the four hunters return to the Gnoll-camp, where he flashes a toothy smile at Kalagdika - just enough to be a slight threat, not so much as to be impolite by her peoples standards - before explaining in snarling Gnollish "I tracked it to its hunting grounds, where it leapt for Ixotl, who chose to go ahead and draw it out. Between us, it fell swiftly."

 He's content to rest and likewise content to sit out the night-watch, settling as the fire-water is brought forth (likely a strong fermented beverage, since the only peoples who have mastered anything close to distillation dwell in the highest places, where they can set out beer overnight and skim off that which does not freeze - making as they do so a powerful medicine and valued trade good) and he offers his own pouch of salt for the meat, being certain to cut the brain, the heart and the liver of the Shar-beast five ways (one for each of them and one for Kalagdika) while saving most of the heavier bones (with the sweet, rich marrow) for the male hunters - their jaws better able to crack them open than the travellers, and the treat a rare one when there are womenfolk around.

 He goes drink for drink with the matriarch as they feast and is happy to take up his turn as a storyteller when the time comes to boast but once the fire burns down he lowers his voice and settles into a watchful state, save for quiet conversation with whomever is awake with him.

If I read your post above correctly, Ixotl still has 16 points of damage after the healing I've already done.  I didn't want to go more than two rounds without a response, but I'll cast CLW on him right away (before meeting up with them), saving the two remaining channelings.  I'll use one of those just before going to sleep, and I see that's enough to bring him to full.  I'll include any injured gnolls, if they want.

20:18, Today: Irezagab rolled 11,9 using d8+4,2d6+1.  CLW and channel.

Irezagab casts another, smaller healing spell on Ixotl, concerned to have him close to full strength before the gnolls drop their ambush.  Hearing nothing from the goblin dog, he suspects that their inevitable treachery is going to be overnight, rather than while they are distracted with the shar-beast.  Clearly our warriors took it down faster than the gnolls expected, so they missed their chance to spring their trap.

When the group does meet up again with the gnolls, the shaman gives no hint of judging the deer to be any less, at least to anyone not well versed in human sarcasm.  "Ahh, it's quite a, well, I wouldn't say an overly large deer, but quite a good size, yes, quite satisfactory."  As the group takes their meal, Irez is very careful to say his blessing over every portion; he thanks the Good Earth for providing them their sustenance, while casting Purify Food & Drink on every bit they consume.  He takes a few sips of the fire-water, but not enough to be intoxicated.

During the meal, Irezagab checks to see if any of the gnolls looks injured.  If he spots any, then before bedding down, the shaman will offer to do what he can for the wounds.  If any accept, he makes sure to include them in the 30' radius of his healing energy when he channels it for Ixotl's benefit.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Tue 16 Mar 2021.

Grumbling Bear smiled inwardly as he compared what the gnolls had gotten to what the Seekers had.  He wouldn't comment, of course, because he hadn't helped bring down the jaguar and so had nothing to reasonably boast about.  Never the less, it was satisfying.

He kept a sharp watch on the food as it was prepared, not even trying to hide his suspicions that the gnolls might try to poison them.  He was confident that they hadn't snuck anything by him into the food, but the fire-water they brought out had been prepared already.  They could have added anything to that and he had been ready to simply drink water until he saw Irezagab blessing everything with Purify Food and Drink.  Then he drank, but only enough to be polite.  Too much fire-water could make them vulnerable to attack.

He could see the wisdom in Irezagab's actions to win the trust of the gnolls, but there was also wisdom in at least one of them remaining suspicious.  Between him and Baloo there was plenty of suspicion and he was confident that the Seekers would not be caught unawares by the gnolls whenever they decided to betray them.  When it was his turn to be on watch he was just as wary of the other gnolls on watch with him as the surrounding jungle.

The party keeps watch throughout the night with their gnoll counterparts. Not only does no ill fortune find them from the forest: the gnolls also keep the peace.

Two more days and nights of marching next to the river follow, pretty uneventfully. Sometimes the males fall back to where Ixotl is and look at him with awe, saying some unfamiliar words to him that seem more likely praise than pejorative.

Blackwater converses with Kalagdika a bit on the road and longer when the cammfire is lit. He discerns she cares greatly for the other gnolls under her charge, for all that she growls loudly at them when they are doing things backwards.

The Mighty River runs slower this far up; its span is nearly two miles. The other two ever-competent females join those Seekers who are suited to fishing with spears or, in Baloo's case, with bare claws. The last night's supper pleases everyone well enough.

Kalagdika admits to Darkwater that she had been ready to give the order to attack twice, but that the Seeker's obvious might stilled her hand. She gets out something from her backpack while the firelight flickers under the bare night. She hands to Blackwater a spiralling piece of what looks to be rare yunika horn, tipped with a bit of jade, about a foot and a half long. If you should find yourself in gnoll territory again, present this and mention my name. This will assure safe--relatively safe--travel through our lands.

In the morning, Kalagdika says, "This is where our ways part. It has been pleasant dining on shar-beast. The northern marker of our territory is a large rock shaped like an owl." Without further farewell, she leads her band east into the thicker jungle.

Marching north as instructed, about mid-morning, the Seekers come to an anomalous piece of granite, some twenty feet in height. Having expected the boulder to resemble an owl in the same way clouds in the sky might resemble a dear, they find the exact opposite. Someone carved this. Signs of erosion--over how long a period cannot be said-- mark it, but the detail is remarkable. Its breast faces the direction they are coming from while its head is turned to face the west, as if trying to look over the western mountains.

The Mighty River curves northwest here while to the north and northeast, the deep, unknown jungle awaits.

Which direction do you want to bear?
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:43, Wed 17 Mar 2021.

Irezagab holds off on making any more potions during the trip, because he does not want to spend the magical energy that he might need when the gnolls attack in the night.  He wakes each morning, surprised to have slept through the night.  When the Seekers finally say goodbye to the gnolls, the shaman grudgingly admits that they were honorable and that the trip was a pleasant one.  "We should still be careful, though," he says to his companions, maintaining a low voice that will not carry.  "It may be that they actually honor the tradition of guest rights, but they will have no scruples of hunting us as soon as we have left their lands."

When the group reaches the owl carving, Irezagab is fascinated.  "Who could have made this?  It must be one of the ancient powers who made it, carved it with magic.  No person, not one even as strong as the strongest lizardfolk, could carve so precisely in solid granite -- after all, what tools can even cut such a stone?  And for granite to show signs of weathering like this takes several centuries, at least!  My people still lived in the cold South when this was made."

As the group stops to consider what direction to head next, Irez communes with the tallest tree nearby, asking it what sort of people live nearby.  He doesn't really expect an answer that informs him much, since trees do not really pay much attention to the animal kingdom.  However, he enjoys the steady, calm power that he feels from the largest trees.  He also asks if the wise old tree can remember when the carving of the owl was made, but he is not surprised that the tree barely even acknowledges the statue, and says that it has always been there.

"I am happy to let Darkwater continue to choose our path.  If we decide to stay on the river, however, perhaps we should spend a few days, once we are well away from any treacherous gnolls, to build some canoes.  Before I took my oaths as a shaman, I spent some time apprenticed to the master canoist of The People.  I can not craft a boat as fine as he can make, but I believe I have skill enough to make boats that will float reliably."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Wed 17 Mar 2021.

 Darkwater makes a point during the journey of sharing a few words of Gnollish and the traders tongue (Lizardfolk, for the most part) with the other Seekers and the Gnolls, especially those who offer Ixotl their respect for his courage or have questions to ask of the others. Beyond that, he spends much time talking to (or possibly flirting with) Kalagdika and sharing tales of their wanderings, exchanging the odd friendly if blood-curdling threat and even telling her something of his previous journeys into Gnollish territory. At her admission, he leans in to admit to her that his companions were sure of it, and that they were not a little put out that no attack was forthcoming, since all their precautions were wasted - for his part, he's simply glad that there was no need to harm her or her packmates and that they will part as friends.

 It is perhaps unsurprising that his idea of fishing involves being in the water as well... This leads to a certain amount of horseplay, once full bellies are assured.

 When the gift is offered, he accepts it with no small ceremony and from his own pack takes a shard of squared-off crystal, polished by the work of countless hours and etched around its edge with tiny figures in coracles journeying, extending it back to her and showing her its use "These sunstones are traded from a distant people. When held to the sky and moved so, you can see the light of the true Sun behind the sun, and so will never fail to know your way." he explains, answering rare gift for rare gift and doing so with obvious pleasure - for what better way is there to seal a strong friendship?

 And when at last they part, he does so only after offering fare-wells by name to several of the males and both other females, and from there he sets a good pace, looking to cover ground swiftly enough to get them out of their territory quickly rather than risk an encounter that might spoil their previously good relationship.

 The owl though? That does make an impression upon him, and he walks around it with obvious awe until Irezagab speaks up, answering him with no less admiration for his knowing something of the possible secret "I have seen the serpent-folk, the Nagaji of the dry lands do work like this, but even for them it is a task of many moons and undertaken only for holy purposes. Granite cannot fall before claw or fang or bone but it bows to time and sand, to water and frost... Crystal sand is poured upon the stone and rubbed, and over time the stone abrades. Wood is placed in the hole and water poured over it, and in the night-frost it cracks and breaks... I travelled with their holy ones who came to the God-Home and spoke with the shamans there."

 But when asked about direction? He looks to the owl, then to the mountains and thoughtfully remarks "I would see what the owl sees. We would need to cross the river, but that is no hardship for us..."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:44, Thu 18 Mar 2021.

Grumbling Bear's caution at traveling with gnolls did not wane for even a moment over the days they spent together.  Until the very last moment he fully expected them to turn on the Seekers.  More than once while fishing (a perfect mirror of Baloo) Grumbling Bear missed his mark because his attention was split between watching the fish and watching the gnolls.  It was not until Kalagdika offered them a token that could give them safe passage in future excursions through gnoll territory that he was forced to admit that he had misjudged the gnolls.  It stung his pride and the knife was twisted when he approached Kalagdika at their parting to admit it.

"I misjudged you."  Only three words, but they were honest and clearly left a sour taste in Grumbling Bear's mouth.  Admitting his fault, however, was preferable to simply pretending he had done no wrong here.  His words spoken, he turned and lumbered off grumbling wordlessly to himself.

His mood had rallied by the time they reached the granite owl.  The carving was exceptional but Grumbling Bear had no context for the significance of its creation.  The Wepwawet did not work stone beyond simple tools and weapons.  They made no carvings and left no monuments to mark their passing.  Outstanding detail aside, the carving looked like so much wasted time to Grumbling Bear.  Its creation put food in no mouths, raised no children, and sheltered no elders.

While the others admired the statue, Grumbling Bear observed their surroundings.  They were still in gnoll territory and Kalagdika's band was likely not the only group in the area.  And a distraction like the statue would make the perfect opportunity for an ambush.

20:33, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Grumbling Bear Perception.

After making the decision to cross, both the ideas of getting free of gnoll lands and building a canoe seem reasonable. One day's march upriver, and a night spent of wary watches, brings the Seekers to a clearing where a massive tree has fallen.

Darkwater and Ixotl assist Irezagab gathering the wood and bark needed, while Grumbling Bear and Baloo keep watch. All that is spied is a haru--a lizard that leaps around on its two rear legs. Rare to find further south, a little tracking and hunting yields a good evening's meal, after the daylong effort of binding the canoe together with tough vines.

If someone knows more about canoe building, feel free to interject.

That night proves a difficult one to sleep through, with the prospect of crossing the river and heading into truly unknown territory.

The band sets out early in the morning, for those who wish to use it rather than paddling through the water themselves. Between the the current of the river and some rowing, it is easy to come aground on the shore directly across from the stone owl by noon.

Once they have used some rocks to sink the canoe into the river by the shore, to preserve it, the party sets out west.

Ixotl leads the way, slashing at the intermittent brush with his metal sword, while an every-watchful Grumbling Bear brings up the rear.

When the canopy infrequently breaks, a little scouting by scooting up trees reveals that the mountains grow larger very slowly, indicating they are some distance away.

It's a rough half-day of march, maybe six or seven miles. At last, setting up camp seems a good idea.

Everyone give me a Survival check for the travel and a Perception check for the night's watch.

08:13, Today: Irezagab rolled 16,25,21 using d20+9,d20+11,d20+12.  Prof Canoe, Perception, Survival

Irezagab likes Darkwater's plan to follow the owl's gaze, but not the necessity to cross the river to do it.  The shaman shudders to remember his own attempts to swim, years ago, when his band of friends had dared each other to plunge into the lake.  His skinny arms and legs seemed to get no purchase at all in the water, and finally one of the muscular boys had to pull him out.  It was not an activity he ever wanted to try again, and the river was far too large to hope for a location that a fallen tree could span it.  Fortunately, Irezagab is able to convince the other Seekers to spend a day making a canoe.

To prepare for the day's work, in his morning communion with Skrou and other spirits Irez takes the Mending spell, passing up for the day the ability to detect magic, and the spell saves him rework several times during the day.  To cut the necessary flexible strips of wood, he borrows Ixotl's metal blade.  After some experimentation and a moderate gash on his leg, he figures out how to use it to cut the thin strips that he needs to build the canoe.  The shaman smiles as he remembers Keltrabin, the tribe's master canoist, and his thundering shouts when Irez tried to use a flint blade in exactly this way.  That blade broke in two, but this blade is four-fours times stronger.

With the boat finished, the shaman channels healing energy to fix the cut in his leg, to remove everyone's splinters, and to ease their muscles sore from the unaccustomed work.  The next morning, the boat proves its worth and they cross the river successfully, their supplies and their shaman staying dry.  The others each take some of the passage swimming, as the boat threatens to swamp holding all four of them.  The big bear Baloo could swamp the canoe by himself, but he is able to get some rest by hooking his huge claws on the side occasionally and getting towed along.

When the group stops to make camp, Irezagab has a happy conversation with the tree creating the little clearing.  It is bright and alert, more so than any other tree Irez has ever communed with.  It actually has a name, which the shaman tries to reproduce out loud, but he is unable to make the necessary bird whistle noises.  He can feel the good humor and kind thoughts from the majestic tree when he tries, and he returns the pleasant thoughts fourfold.  Of course, Skrou is able to whistle the name perfectly, and both the tree and the shaman take delight in the tiny plant-spirit.

Refreshed by his encounter with the magnificent plant, Irez volunteers to take first watch.  Feeling unusually well, he is able to keep a sharp eye and ear for any unusual occurrance.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Thu 18 Mar 2021.

 Darkwater admits freely to his lack of knowledge in the matter of making a canoe, although he's more than willing to turn-to with the careful gathering of long strips of bark suitable for the hull and gathering long, thin roots that can be split and braided into cord to lash the bark together where sufficient length cannot be found, after which he mostly busies himself with the preparation of oars using some of the carefully fashioned stone tools he travels with for trade purposes.

 For the river-crossing itself, he delightedly swims... Using the canoe only to carry his pouches and bags and savouring the crisp, cool water and the chance to truly move through it as he did the surf of his childhood.

 On the far side of course, he's serious and professional once again, recovering his things and moving to lead the way as he picks out their route with the experience of a veteran traveller and once more offers to take the watch at the darkest part of the night, his eyeshine brighter even than Ixotl's and seemingly giving him greater comfort once the sun has gone down.

 ---

18:53, Today: Darkwater rolled 27 using 2d20 with rolls of 13,14.  Survival, then Perception.
 22 Survival, and then 21 Perception.

 Darkwater has 30' Darkvision, by the by. ^_^

https://www.native-art-in-cana...birchbarkcanoes.html

The night passed uneventfully, though Darkwater was rewarded for his vigilance with a dance of moths under moonlight.

The next day, Irezagab said farewell to the friendly tree. The shaman also spent some time talking to other vegetation in the area. Which seemed of no import until, as everyone set off to the west, vines and grasses curled around Grumbling Bear's feet. They seemed to embrace more than restrain him, but it was enough to set Irezagab laughing.

All were glad for the bronze sword, as the underbrush got thicker and the canopy lower. Toward the afternoon, Ixotl kicked some unknown object as he proceeded. Further examination revealed a fuzzy brown fruit about a foot and length. Irezagab immediately recognized it as the fruit of the cupuaçu tree. A quick break followed, filled with ripping open the course husks to get at the sweet-tart inners.

During the short rest, Irezagab took the opportunity to thank the forty-foot high tree. The general plant conversation followed, but the tree told the shaman: Toward the fading sun, many are the flower hunters.

A bit of speculation followed in the next hour of hiking, with some solid guesses at what the tree had meant.

Finally, the eternal cover of trees gave way to a wide field where the only stands of tree were those of the rafflesia flower. The arm-long blossoms lent the landscape the impression of spattered blood.

To the left, about 300 feet southwest, stood a fifteen-foot long, eight or nine feet high, narrow piece of stone peculiar in its sharply rectangular shape, though it had splits and erosion at either end.

What had first looked like a short, brown hill in the middle of the clearing straight west resolved into something that looked much more organic. Flying shapes--of indeterminate size--crowded around and on it. What they were became apparent when one of the foot long, black-and-yellow creatures landed on a rafflesia not so far from the Seekers.

Now I would ask for Knowledge (Nature) checks... and a description of how you wish to proceed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:50, Fri 19 Mar 2021.

08:57, Today: Irezagab rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  K Nature
Having read up on rafflesia flowers (which are growing on the trees, they are not the trees themselves -- they are parasites and have no root or stem structure at all) I'm going to make a guess what they black and yellow creatures are.  If this is not where you were headed, feel free to edit my post.

The Seekers could smell the rafflesia flowers before they saw them.  Grumbling Bear had to hold Baloo back from charging in, as it smelled like the rotting meat of a days-old kill.  However, once they saw the huge blooms with the foot-long insects buzzing around them, Irezagab immediately hissed at Ixotl and waved to the others to back away quietly.  "Those huge flowers are the source of the smell.  There is not actually any rotting meat there, the flowers give off that scent.  Klabenagab, my master, believes that they carry that stink to attract flies which then carry their seed away."

He pauses but then realizes that he is lecturing so he gets to the point. "Those creatures, however, are not just buzzing flies, they are Giant Mellifera   and they have a sting that could pierce even Ixotl's hide.  They aren't usually aggressive unless their home -- that mound there -- is threatened, but a swarm of them could take down an entire village."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Fri 19 Mar 2021.

 Darkwater has seen many lands and been amongst many peoples, but all live under the tyranny of root and branch. Where they go is determined by the routes between the trees, where they build is bound by the presence of the great trunks... The power of the sunset knife to challenge that dominance is something he could not have imagined before the weapon came into their hands and the arrogance of it - as well as the humility it causes - is greater than he can readily put into words.

 As they come through to the edge of the clearing, Darkwater raises his hand to signal that they slow and then, as Irezagab voices his wisdom it's to the backdrop of the Lizardfolk wanderer going down to one knee and looking about himself before nodding and then looking over his shoulder at the others proposes "Back away, twenty, thirty body-lengths. There we will make a small fire and carry it with us. That will produce smoke, and if we do not threaten the nest it will keep them drowsy and at a distance, so that we can pass safely. I wish to look more closely at that hill."

 ---

01:11, Today: Darkwater rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Knowledge (Nature).

The group followed Darkwater's plan and, soon, each had a burning brand of green wood. With the aid of a favorable wind, the smoke given off did make the bees more quiescent.

Approaching the honeycombed hive, covered with sleepy bees, the Seekers saw that it stretched fifteen feet high and was mounted on the south side of a great cylinder of the same height, and about six feet in diameter.

Closer inspection revealed that the cylinder was made of the same metal as Ixotl's long knife, only with a slight layer of reddish-brown patina.

In four bands, from three feet up to seven feet, strange marks ran from left to right. They resembled the unique stamps on Darkwater's tribe's pottery, only there were several dozen varieties. Inch-wide grooves run between each band.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:46, Sun 21 Mar 2021.

 The thought that the bands are things that can be moved... Is simply one that does not occur to Darkwater. The very concept of a machine of two closely-fitted moving parts is one that he has never seen in any of his travels, and his people are amongst the most sophisticated in all the world, as a result of their wandering (they cannot duplicate the secrets of other tribes of course, and it would be disrespectful to their gods to try, but merely knowing a thing can be done is a great spur to thought). The most advanced technologies he knows of are still things of muscle and bone...

 ...but that does not mean that he does not appreciate the impressive workmanship of the sunset-metal pole, his voice quiet as he wonders aloud (from inside his haze of smoke, since he has no desire to disturb the bees further) "If it is from its wood that the sunset knife was made, it is the strangest tree I have ever seen... But perhaps it is a carved fence-post of the same wood?"

 ---

We're pre-agriculture here. I think we're at the 'wedge, ramp and lever' level here. I doubt we even have the concept of pullies, so this sucker is sci-fi crystal-tech inscrutable. ^_^
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:18, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Irezagab congratulates Darkwater on the success of his technique with the smoke.  "I had heard that smoke can make bees drowsy, but I do not understand why and I have never before seen it in action."  Once they are close enough, the shaman studies the strange structure with amazement.  He and Darkwater speculate on the bands.  "Oh, I see.  You are right, Darkwater, those bands are not just painted on, but are a separate piece that wraps the bigger object.  It is like a slipknot, where the knot circles the rope but does not close on it."

He studies some more, his face contorting.  "You don't suppose the Giant Mellifera, the bees, made this?  They do make a very regular, very precise honeycomb, so they do have some building skills, or at least instinct to build.  But I have never heard of anything like this.  And the material -- the same stuff as Ixotl's sword, I think.  How could bees do that?  It must be some sort of gift from the Earth, but is it meant for us, the bees, or someone else?  Would we bring dishonor if we try to use it?"  After some more thought, he adds, "Well, we know that the sword is very strong, so this should be, too.  We would not cause it any harm by touching it, inspecting it, maybe even climbing on it."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:44, Sun 21 Mar 2021.

When Irezagab felt the strange material, it was cool to the touch.

Further inspection of the mysterious marks on the cylinder revealed that several repeated themselves. One that showed up more than once was a horizontal line topped by a semi-circle, resembling a rising or setting sun or moon.

The grappling hook didn't have anything to latch onto when that was tried, but Irezagab was able to climb up by standing on Ixotl's and Darkwater's shoulders.

The top of the cylinder was ever so slightly convex, but not enough to worry about falling.

In the top center was a recessed section about eight inches in diameter. Within it was a bright green stone with a flat surface, intricately carved. The facets caught the sunlight and reflected it. In a word, the stone was beautiful.

When Irezagab tried to touch it, his fingers were stopped by some sort of solid air.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:32, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

With the borders of gnoll territory behind them, Grumbling Bear began to find the journey rather pleasant.  Traveling on a river, in or out of a boat, was always enjoyable.  Even when the canoe wasn't exactly built with someone of his stature in mind.  When he wasn't swimming alongside Baloo he would have to center himself and sit very still to avoid tipping the boat.

He didn't take to the water as naturally as Baloo did and so Grumbling Bear was not nearly as disappointed that the river was being left behind as the currently grumbling bear.  Moving inland, Grumbling Bear settled back into the rearmost position of the Seekers as they traveled.  Quick to offer a word of advice in regards to making their way through the wilderness, he was otherwise content to let others lead the way.

With the appearance of the bees and the pillar Grumbling Bear stood at a distance.  Smoke was a common solution to bees, he was happy to see that even their larger relatives were as easily affected.  While the others pored over the very unusual pillar, Grumbling Bear kept an eye on the bees so that the group wouldn't be caught off guard by them reviving.

As the lightest member of the group by far, it made sense that Irezagab would be the one to climb up the 15 feet to peer into the cylinder.  Impressed by how nimbly and easily Darkwater was able to climb up on to Ixotl's shoulders, he tried not to show any fear as he climbed up first the barbarian then the ranger, up to where he could look into the interior of the massive object.  He was almost disappointed that it did not lead down to some secret underground place of magic, but when he spotted the beautiful green stone, all his fears and other hopes disappeared.

He had to ask Darkwater to lift him a little further, and he was able to scramble up to sit on top of the cylinder.  Reaching out to touch the amazing crystal, Irezagab's fingers were stopped by some sort of solid air.  Somewhat belatedly, he remembered to cast Detect Magic, and he was not at all surprised to see that it was magic stopping him from reaching the crystal.  He looked to see if the object itself was magic, and the entire cylinder, and, just to be sure, the bees -- perhaps they have acquired some magic by living here for so long.

I have to say that posting in past tense makes this sort of post more awkward, where I describe what I am doing and wait for the GM to tell me the results.  Present tense seems more natural for that.  But at least we're not trying to use future perfect, which I've seen some users try to post in. 
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

Behind the strong magic field covering the recessed opening, the green crystal itself gives forth overwhelming magic: brighter than anything Irezagab has ever seen.

The pillar itself radiates a strong magic; the bees, none.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

Irezagab describes to the others what he has seen and learned, not even trying to keep the amazement from his voice.  "I propose that we spend the night and another day here, perhaps out of range of angering the bees.  I can take a couple of spells that might let me know a lot more about what this is or might be good for."  After getting some help down, the shaman communes with the oldest-looking trees in the area, so see if they can tell him anything about the pillar.

Assuming the others agree, I'll take Visualization of The Mind and Greater Detect Magic tomorrow.  What time is it, now?  Do I have time to brew a couple of potions?  I can only brew potions for which I have spells already available, but there are a few of those left that I have supplies for.

 "I think that it looks like a roof-post... There are peoples who build for themselves huts like this, raising a central post and then laying others around it at an angle to form a roof and lashing them to lower posts around it in a great circle... The mightiest of their people, and their Gods may have a home in which two such posts are linked by a great trunk to form a long-house." is Darkwaters speculation as the little band performs their simple investigations, the Ranger assisting Irezagab up - although he only offers one shoulder, with Ixotl providing the other, because the two are stood side-by-side, as each tops seven feet when stretched up to their full stature and that permits Irezagab to get high enough to use the rings on the pole to scramble on top.

 Once they've finished with their initial study he thoughtfully goes on to add "We can look in the morning, yes... But first, if this is a roof-post, perhaps it is connected to the other thing." as he indicates the squared-off stone, some distance to the south and, when the Shaman is down, leading a small expedition to study it.

The flat, relatively narrow, ten-foot-by-ten foot wall of light gray stone stands only about 80 feet to the southeast of the cylinder, facing it. As the Seekers approach, they see that the broken and eroded corner reveals some different kind of dark stone underneath.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:15, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

Moving a good ways from the clearing (and the bees), the party settles in for the night, taking watches as usual. Irezegab uses his time brewing potions.

On Darkwater's late-night watch, he hears a faint crunch of leaves a distance from the camp; but nothing further comes of it.

Roll Survival (tracking) if you want to go check the area the next day.

The next morning, the Seekers repeat their efforts with the smoking branches and the facilitation of Irezegab to the top of the cylinder.

Casting his spells, the shaman cannot quite discern exactly what styles of magic empower the crystal and the cylinder.

Irezagab is, however, able to determine their mighty function, through the use of his mystically expanded mind.

The green crystal allows movement from one location to another without passing through the lands between. In turn, the cylinder channels, extends and directs that power.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:55, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

 Despite the curiosity raised by the noise nearby, Darkwater remains on guard over his companions through the night until morning frees him to investigate, which he does quietly and without fuss as the others rose themselves for the day.

 ---

08:04, Today: Darkwater rolled 15 using 1d20+10.  Survival (Tracking).

 Meh. +2 if it's animals though!