Irezagab has been so focused on the cylinder that he completely ignored the wall to the southeast.  Having related everything he was able to glean about the former, he finally walks down to the wall and casts Detect Magic on that, as well.  Assuming symmetry, he then checks to see if there is a similar wall northeast, northwest, and southwest of the cylinder.

Irezagab casts his spell and finds that, whatever unknown enchantment might be on it, the wall's energies are an exact reflection of the cylinders.

This near, the shaman can see that peeking out from the weathered-away gray stone is a kind that is colored a dull blue. On closer inspection, the stone feels much like the bronze sword's blade: smooth as water and cool to the touch.

Smoking brand in hand--though it seems the bees have little interest in him this far from the hive--Irezagab paces a circle to look for remains of other walls. He finds none.

As Irezagab began to use Detect Magic, Grumbling Bear did as well.  His knowledge on the intricacies of magic was rather limited but there was a chance he might be able to glean something as well.  Nothing was immediately apparent to him, however so most of his time was spent keeping an eye on their surroundings and making sure the bees remained a non-issue for the duration of the investigation.  While he definitely didn't feel he had much to offer at the moment, the monument was something unlike anything he'd seen before and, as Seekers, was the exact sort of thing they were supposed to be looking at.

He continued to speculate as to its purpose as the investigation continued and then, on a whim, directed a Detect Magic at the ground surrounding the pillar.  It was possible that the structure extended beyond what they could see and if there was more to it then a fuller investigation may reveal additional details that the exposed portion might not.

I made the roll for you, Bear. Just remember in future to roll stuff in the same post you do it.

Staring at the ground for more than a minute, Grumbling Bear finally discerns a faint line from either side of the wall. Slowly he picks one side and follows that direction. The lingering echoes of an age gone by are not quite diluted in the circle he starts to walk along. His spell ends before he can be completely sure, but there seems to be a ring underneath the surface, eighty feet from and surrounding the cylinder, of which the wall is the only visible part.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:25, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

"Irezagab, you may want to see this."  Once Grumbling Bear had completed enough of his loop to be able to reasonably determine that circle likely continued on to connect at the other end he thought it was prudent to inform the more arcane inclined member of the group.  If this were a natural occurrence then Grumbling Bear might have something helpful to add but when it came to magic Grumbling Bear only knew enough to use his own magic, not enough to explain any of it to others.  He could, however, speculate.

"The wall seems to extend all around the pillar below the ground and still has faint traces of magic.  It's possible the pillar is part of a much larger purposeful structure.

Grumbling Bear had seen magic cast collaboratively by multiple spellcasters when the spell was too difficult for one.  The structure clearly employed secrets that they had no knowledge of.  Perhaps the structure had been designed to function as the conduit to allow a single caster, or perhaps even a noncaster, to employ specific magics on their own.

Off to the left, Baloo sat and contemplated how much honey those large bees must have accumulated in their hive.  He wanted to investigate but between Grumbling Bear's warning and the very large, very sharp looking stingers on those bees he decided it would be better to take a nap while his companion did one of the many incomprehensible things he seemed so fond of doing.  Well, he'd humor him and his new friends until they were ready to keep moving.

Irezagab trots over, a little bit cautious that Grumbling Bear is looking for a little payback on the prank with the vines last night, even though Bear wasn't actually tripped up by them as the shaman had hoped.  At Bear's speculation, Irez casts a Detect Magic of his own (Hey, it's a cantrip.  I can cast it all day.) and starts walking along the line of magic the druid found.

Once he realizes that it likely makes a giant circle, he sits down in awe of whatever the maker was or is.  "I cannot even imagine the power that went into this -- it is so far beyond what anyone in my tribe could do, and I don't even comprehend what it does.  I just know from the age and the scope of the thing that it is probably incomprehensible to our mortal minds."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

 Finding nothing (apparently) after some modest span spent searching for the source of the noise, Darkwater moves back to rejoin his companions and look over their efforts, glancing from shaman to shaman and asking - not without audible respect for their own gifts - "What have you found?"

Irezagab resigns himself to the idea that he does not have the skill or the knowledge to understand the magical construct.  "Bear, do you have any more ideas of what we might investigate?  I feel like I've reach the limit of what I can comprehend."

Then he looks back at the bees buzzing around and considers his potion ingredients.  "But I was thinking...  Honey is one of the important ingredients for my healing biscuits, and that's just from regular bees.  We have a few now, but you know you can never have too many healing biscuits.  I wonder if maybe honey from these bees will make a more powerful potion."

Irez looks at Baloo, "everyone can see that Baloo is drooling there, he must smell the honey, and I'm amazed how you have kept him from charging in there."  The shaman lapses briefly into a children's rhyme, "Isn't it funny how a bear likes honey..."  He shakes his head to get back to the matter at hand and turns to the whole group.  "What do you think about braving our way into the nest, to gather a little of that sweet?"

As Darkwater heads west into the clearing to pow-wow with Irezagab and Grumbling Bear, he notices that Ixotl stands on the north side, a glazed expression on his face: perhaps lost in thought as he sometimmes is.

Irezagab fills in Darkwater and proposes the honey-stealing plan.

Then a cascade of high-pitched laughter comes from somewhere up in the thick trees to the north. Actually placing where it comes from is difficult.

Everyone roll Perception checks.

As Darkwater, Grumbling Bear and Irezagab turn to face where the sound came from, they notice Ixotl draw his metal sword, scream loudly and charge at Darkwater.

Everyone can roll Initiative and put in their action for the round. After everyone has posted, I will, again, summarize what happens in the round.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:52, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

 Darkwater waits for Irezagab to acknowledge him (let alone actually start filling him in on what's been found) with the patience of someone who's used to traveling long distances in small coracle boats or spending several days just assembling a working lexicon to speak with a new people.

 This leaves him free to respond at the find of fae giggling from the treeline, the lizardfolk turning sharply to open his jaws and start to warn the others...

 ... Just in time to catch a face full of berserker, as Ixotl charges him screaming, the Dawnshore trader immediately falling back into a defensive posture.

 ---

 11:57, Today: Darkwater rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
 12:41, Today: Darkwater rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

Irezagab sees the blank expression on Ixotl's face and thinks that it is not quite his usual lost-in-thought expression, that something might really be wrong.  When he hears the cackle and sees the lizardfolk attack his own brethren, he realizes that the barbarian has been enchanted somehow.  Hoping that he can avert disaster, he quickly casts Sleep on his erstwhile companion.


11:11, Today: Irezagab rolled 14 using 1d20+11.  Perception.
11:04, Today: Irezagab rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Initiative
Casting Sleep, centered on Ixotl.

Grumbling Bear had begun to explain his findings and speculations to Darkwater when the laughter began to ring out around them.  Neither he nor Baloo liked the tone of the laughter and both their hackles raised as they turned to try and locate the source of the laughter.  The situation only worsened as Ixotl began to scream and, drawing his blade, rushed Darkwater.  His first inclination was that he had accidentally triggered some function of the magical structure they were in, but it had happened immediately after the laughter which made him have to consider that it was simply the influence of a malevolent outside force.

His eyes continued to scan the canopies to the north as he summoned the power of his Totem Transformation.  His already thick hair rippled and grew thicker and covered more of his body.  He was hesitant to tell Baloo to attack a friend as Baloo would not understand the need to incapacitate and not kill so he hoped he could find the source of the laughter instead.

As his body changed into a form even more suited for combat he shuffled closer to Ixotl so that he would be able to intervene if he was unable to locate the source of the laughter.

10:59, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Grumbling Bear Perception.  10:59, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Grumbling Bear Initiative.

Ixotl's primal shout drowns out the now-fading laughter, as he throws himself forward in a sprint towards Darkwater. The barbarian manages to reach the trader before he can even react. Ixotl slices his bronze sword down--two-handed--in a blow strong enough to have separated Darkwater's right arm but that falls slightly short and instead merely cuts open a large wound in his shoulder.

Irezagab, forewarned by his deep intuition, calls down the spirit of slumber on Ixotl, but the lizardfolk is unaffected.

Darkwater belatedly starts to dodge, at least hoping that it will help if there is another swing forthcoming.

The Seeker's shaman then feels a strange sensation wash over his mind, trying to strip away his rationality.

Grumbling Bear stills Baloo but himself takes on an aspect even closer to a true bear. As he carefully approaches Ixotl, he scans the treeline and sees a two-foot-tall black form with thin red stripes and bat-like wings hiding behind leaves fifteen feet up.


Ok.

Since Darkwater's flat-footed before his Init camme up, Darkwater didn't start dodging 'til after the attack. Wouldn't have made much difference, Ixotl hit AC 29. That's 16 points of damage.

Then I rolled a nat 20 for Ixotl's save vs. sleep.

Irezagab, you get to make a Will save DC 14 or you will spend next round just babbling incoherently.

Grumbling Bear, the creature you saw is 50 feet north of where you are, in addition to being 15 feet up. You are currently the only one who can see it.

Since Ixotl is at the top of the round, you get to see him come out of his rage with a confused look on his face.

So just post in whatever order; we will keep the same initiatives, obviously.

Assuming that Grumbling Bear points, everyone can make a new Perception check at +5 vs DC 23.

16:32, Today: Irezagab rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Will Save.
16:33, Today: Irezagab rolled 31 using 1d20+16.  Perception at +5


When Irezagab sees his Sleep spell's ineffectiveness against Ixotl, he worries for Darkwater's safety.  He knows how strong and dangerous the barbarian can be.  When Ixotl cuts a deep gash in the Ranger's shoulder, Irez regrets not having his more powerful heal spell available, since he had taken two new spells for investigating the cylinder and crystal.  Ah well, that's why I make potions.

Suddenly, Irezagab feels an assault on his own mind.  His training immediately kicks in and he shakes it off, then he looks to see the source of the attack, a horrible demonling some 60 feet away.  He moves towards the creature, wracking his brain for an effective strategy.  He is too high in the air to catch with an Entangle.  I'll have to summon some javelins; perhaps their poison will slow it down.  As he moves he pulls out a wafer with the essence of Protection From Evil captured within it, and swallows it down, barely chewing.

Move action towards Demon, Standard action of consuming Protection From Evil potion.  Readying Thorn Javelin for next round, but meanwhile keeping my long spear ready, just in case it closes with me and I get an AoO.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

 It's more or less automatic for Darkwater - as he feels leather and scale part under the icy lash of the dawn-stone blade - that he should turn, sway and strike, coming within a heartbeat of unleashing a flurry of claw-strokes upon Ixotl before the confusion on his friends features - not to mention his identity - register and he instead reaches out to delicately take the dawn-stone blade from the other lizard-folk man, hissing "Brother, what is wrong?"

 ---

 If he's not resisting, I don't think it's a classic disarm, but if I need to roll things, let me know.

"There."  Grumbling Bear points out the source of the laughter and frowns.  He could climb the tree, but the creature had wings and could easily get away.  He had to hope that Irezagab had some means by which to attack it.  Instead, Grumbling Bear turns to face Ixotl and Darkwater.  It didn't appear Ixotl was going to continue his attack, but Grumbling Bear stood ready and was going to intervene if Ixotl made an aggressive action.  Of course, the only way he could think of to intervene is to incapacitate Ixotl.  But at least he didn't intend to kill him which wasn't something he could say with surety about Ixotl's intentions.

Readied action to attack Ixotl if he attacks.
13:30, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Grumbling Bear Bite.  (RIP)
13:31, Today: Grumbling Bear rolled 6 using 1d6+3.  Grumbling Bear Bite Damage.

Ixotl seems to have calmed and surrenders his sword to Darkwater. The barbarian sees the cut on the other lizardman's shoulder and apologizes. "I don't know why I did that."

As Irezagab nears the creature, he can finally see it through the leaves. Two feet tall, its taloned feet clutch the branch beneath it. Black scales cover its skin, with red stripes over its stomach and chest. Its two arms end in hands with overly long fingers. As to its head, it resembles nothing so much as hawk, only with a second, smaller beak below the first and a white, bony plate where its eyes should be.

As it notices that its hiding place is revealed, it moves to the end of the branch for all to see.

In the shaman's mind, in a voice that speaks in the human tongue and sounds exactly like his dear grandmother--long dead--he hears: Leave our land. We will cause you no further ill, though our powers are great.

Rez can go ahead and make a Sense Motive check.
Also, it is a free action if you want to repeat what you heard, so no one should feel like they have to wait for anyone else to post.

This message was last edited by the GM at 11:52, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

How is Sense Motive not a shaman class skill?
08:18, Today: Irezagab rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Sense Motive
08:27, Today: Irezagab rolled 11 using 1d20+10.  Diplomacy.  Umm, oops.

Irezagab looks at the strange creature, trying to discern whether it speaks the truth or if it is just trying to disarm for a fatal strike, but just at a glance he does not have a strong conviction either way.  "The creature says that it will not cause us any further harm if we leave their lands," he relates to the others.  Meanwhile, he casts Thorn Javelin, dropping his long spear just as the first weapon appears in his hand, but he does not bring the weapon up into a threatening position.

He tries to speak to the creature, but the combination of such a strange creature and it using his grandmother's voice in his head has left him oddly tongue-tied.  "You attacked -- a mind-domination attack -- unprovoked!  We are Seekers, traveling in peace.  Why?"

The strange creature replies to Irezagab, the same way as it "spoke" before: You say you are Seekers. Yet this last day you have done nothing but linger near our food source. Its second, lower beak opens and closes several times but emits no sound you can hear. We are Tsinoke.

From what Irezagab can tell, this... tsinoke seems to be sincere. Of course, listening to his grandmother's soothing voice may be a part of that.

Anyone who actually has Knowledge: Arcana (if anyone) can make a check to see if you have heard of the tsinoke.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

Irezagab stalls, hoping to give his comrades time to eat a Protection From Evil wafer and possibly to get some healing magic on Darkwater.  Grumbling Bear has been quiet about his spell selection, but surely he has some healing magic available.  "This magical device," he indicates the cylinder, making sure his gesture encompasses the whole thing and could not be mistaken for just the bee hive, "it is new to us, and fascinating.  This is just the sort of thing we hoped to find as Seekers, and we have spent the day studying and pondering it."

He pauses for a moment to give that a chance to sink in.  He assumes that the 'food' in question is the bee's honey, but he remains vague, just to be sure.  "We are not thieves and would not take your harvest.  We were interested to try some, but only if you can spare a bit.  We would gladly trade for it."

What you call "the device" IS our food source. And you cannot take possession of it. Leave now. My brothers arrive.

And the Seekers notice flapping sounds as three more tsinoke, slightly smaller than the original, arrive and settle high in the branches.

 "If the shaman is to be believed, it was because you were compelled." Darkwater states, examining the dawn-stone blade for a moment and then wiping his blood from it before leaning back over to Ixotl and pointedly sliding it back into the leather-and-fur wrap it's carried in, then lashing it back down with the fussy care of a mother seeing her offspring off to their apprenticeship making sure that they have all their tools...

 ...before he pads over, clutching his shoulder to join Irezagab where he's talking with the creature that the shaman appears to be speaking with, raising his own voice to call out "We are Seekers, as my brother here has said. We came in peace, and would leave that way... Speak, if you would of the ill that lies between us."

"Perhaps the conversation can continue after we've moved back.  I imagine there are few interested in trading words with armed men who suddenly appear at their cook fires."  It wasn't a perfect metaphor, but Grumbling Bear figures it will get his thoughts across.  The tsinoke might be more willing to negotiate when the Seekers weren't camping out on top of their food source.  Moreover, their winged nature will make them troublesome foes regardless of their charm magics.  Discretion was ever the better part of valor.  Grumbling Bear calls to Baloo who bounds over before he tries to usher the rest of the Seekers away from the tsinokes' territory.

Despite Darkwater's natural desire to come to an amenable accord with these creatures, Grumbling Bear's observation toward getting off their land wins the day.

One tsinoke flies above the Seekers as they set off again west, but it peels off after only a few hundred yards.

The greater part of the day is still available for travel. Continuing west for several days, at their leisurely pace, exploring every nook, they come upon gentle, normal wonders, like a winding trail of blue and pink orchids that intersects with their path until the intrepid band comes to a tributary river.

As there original plan was to go north, they head that way. Of note, Baloo finds a normal hive of bees and takes all the honey for himself, at the cost of needing to dive in the water to escape the ensuing swarm.

The jungle stays thick on both sides of the river, so Ixotl's dawnstone weapon comes in as handy as ever. Three days of such travel finally leads to a thinning of the trees.

The sharp-eyed shaman notices three curling pillars of soft gray smoke not much further north. A cautious approach finds the Seekers at the south edge of where the river has widened into a lake, nearly an hour before sunset. A village stands on the northwest bank.

So now you three current PCs can discuss what to do and our new player can enter in some detail about how the tribe reacts to the newcomers, depending on the approach. I will dip in with little assists as necessary.

Over the next two days, Irezagab makes sure that the team is fully healed.  He even heals Baloo, who got a sting on his sensitive nose and one inside his ear -- the only places that the tiny bees could get through the bear's dense fur.  The shaman did manage to grab a little of the honey for the brewing of potions, but there are still herbs needed before he can complete any.

As the group approaches the strange village, Irezagab is wary.  Even though the encounters with the gnolls and then the strange flying creatures ended with no harm to either party, he feels that the world is a more dangerous and aggressive place than he used to think.  He turns to Darkwater and Grumbling Bear, "Do you see the cook-fire smoke there?  Either it's a small village or a very large traveling group.  Do you want to approach with stealth or just to walk up boldly?"  He never even considers avoiding the strangers; meeting new people is the whole point of the quest in the first place.