Kara shook her head. "So, you saw that rift also? I'm getting the strange feeling that no matter which way we go, we will not find anything familiar."

"The rift was pretty hard to not see, Miss Kara. Not to sound out of line. It was massive. Blues, greens, reds. It did get to a darker hue I believe not quite black but close. And not sure if anyone attacked. We would have been alerted. I'm not sure." Zed looks over as the dino wakes up and really wants to get free. He holds it in his hands and grabs a old worn out torn blanket and puts it over its head. It tries to get down and fight but since its mouth can't really move.....

Startled by the little lizard thing squirming frantically against its bonds, Kara hops to the side away from Zed. "Why are you keeping that horrid little creature. You should kill it and be done. You know it wants to eat you, don't you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:12, Sat 04 June 2022.

"By my recollection and possible taste which I don't feel it would be adequate to consume me. It might try of course. But it is a possibility that either myself or Mr. Keeper can find a way to communicate with it. You protect the forest correct? I don't feel sacrificing this creature is the correct motivation." The android tilts his head, no emotion and looks over at Keeper as if awaiting a response to hin inquiries.

Kamatar starts to speak  when Zed takes the potion from Kara. However, once he sniffs it and confidently announces the results, the half-orc accepts the potion with a respectful bow and a quiet, "Thank you, Mr. Quinn."

Kamatar briefly looks confused when Kara and Zed discuss the possible nature of the Rift. After a moment, he nods, and simply falls back into step besides Kara with a contented smile until she hops away from Zed and the small beast.

A momentary look of disappointment crosses his face after Kara expresses wanting to kill the lone captured lizard.

"Lady Kara, forgive me for this opinion, but it seems that our last fight has summoned your feral heart. Killing this lone survivor isn't necessary yet. Since you've noted that we're not likely to find anything familiar here, it would be best to learn from what is here so that we may survive and prosper. Not everything that has intention towards you is your enemy, beautiful one, some are simply unaware of your true value. Others are your friends and allies." he says to Kara, his smile returning, as he folds the earnest compliment inside his light rebuke.

Now they are flirting or rather Fletch is attempting to flirt even though there in a strange place with odd creatures and could be in danger? Zed doesn't get the mating ritual and thinks now isn't the time or the place but he says nothing to avoid the violent monks nature. He nods towards Fletch. As the group is following the lizardfolk, Zed keeps the lizard close and watches the witch for a moment. As they travel for about ten minutes there's no sign of survivors. Just beach, nothing sticking out like wood or anything that washed ashore. Maybe if they went the other way but hard to tell. He stops suddenly as everyone sees a cave near the beach.

Keeperis a little distracted, but still tried to see if there were any track leading in or out of the cave and if so what kind and how fresh? He did a not do a very good job of it.

14:27, Today: Keeper rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  survival.
14:27, Today: Keeper rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

Kara chuckled at Kamatar's assessment. "I'm sure your intention has my value at heart. The creature, however, I suspect still only values any of us as a meal. Sparing it would not make it more inclined to consider us allies. But your point is taken, noble Kamatar. I just hope the think doesn't have more if its kind coming to look for it."

As they walked, Kara kept Shandar soaring just overhead. The large flying creature she saw before made her want to keep him close, but she was more concerned about local carnivorous denizens. If Shandar saw anything worrisome, she would feel it and be able to warn the others. That also freed her to study the sand for any other debris from their doomed ship. It was when everyone else stopped, that she saw the cave.

"That looks promising." She looked at the flow of water stretching from the mouth to the ocean. If it flowed to the ocean it could be fresh water. If it was from the ocean, it would be undrinkable. Of course she could just taste it. "Unless something already lives there, I like that as a possible shelter."

Grox tries to help look for tracks, see if the water comes from a clean source, and looks to the sky once again to try and determine direction and time of day, but has about as little luck as the fox-man.

22:38, Today: Groxxuzuxl rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Survival.

The alchemist watches the two of them talk about the captured dino and he tries to steer clear of them. He thought he made the point and hope someone doesn't try to kill it. Of course Zed isn't sure how he'd react. He keeps it close and slowly walks up to the cave and looks inside. His eyes narrow for a moment as he looks around. The lizardfolk and kitsune don't see any signs of traffic. And Zed steps inside.....

Kara considered a more thorough inspection of the cave.

"Can one of you specialist tell if something has been coming and going from that? I imagine with the water covering all the ground of the entrance we wouldn't see tracks." It seemed such a perfect hidey-hole that it was likely the residence of something. Caution was always the best tactic, but while she was herself pondering the question, the alchemist decided all those cats were just wrong about curiosity.

"Or... we can just do that. Are we gong to follow him in or wait for the horrified screams?"

"Wait!" says Kamatar, while quickly running forward to pull Zed from the entrance of the cave. Physically interposing himself between Zed and the front of the cave, he adds with urgency, "Can you see in the darkness inside that cave? Do you know who or what you might be frightening? As a reasoning person surely you understand that it's not wise to enter a cave without precautions, forewarned is forearmed, right?"

He quickly adds, "But if we're wrong, and you know what's in there, please enlighten the rest of us."

Taking the opportunity, he takes a quick look for himself.

OOC: Kamatar Fletch rolled 10 using 1d20+7 ((3))
The die roller doesn't like me. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Sun 05 June 2022.

Stopping in his tracks as the half-orc leaps in front of him and almost falling over him, the alchemist looks at him "I am smart enough to not wander in if I see something that wishes to harm me or endanger the party Mr. Fletch. I ask you to step aside and let me to go further in the investigate. No one knows what we may or may not face, Mr. Fletch. If I see anything of important, I will inform the group and intend on waiting for the group to enter and will not part from them." Calm and collected. He tilts his head as he watches the monk. He moves to get around him which is easy as the opening is rather large and he stops, The man looks back at the group "It seems safe. There is more of a cave within." Odd man.
This message was last updated by the player at 11:34, Mon 06 June 2022.

Kara wasn't fast enough to stop Kamatar from jumping into the fray. She wasn't sure if he would have done that if she hadn't said anything, but he certainly acted with out hesitation. Zed was clearly not pleased with the interference. The two of them had already gotten off on the wrong foot and this was sure to increase the tension. The Alchemist seemed so emotionless and calm most of the time, but when it came to Kamatar, he intellectual veneer cracked and his ego showed through.

The two just didn't see things the same way, but in the last argument, neither was more right than the other. This time however, Kara had to side with the green-skinned monk.

"Zed, please." She called out to cover the short distance. "I'm afraid i have to side with my green-skinned defender on this. We don't know what's in there. It's such a perfect hiding space, it's likely something has claimed it. If there is already a resident, it could come crashing out and attack us. Even if we agreed that investigating was the right move, you should have raised it for a discussion. At least then we'd be ready for whatever happens. By taking it upon yourself, you also put the rest of us at risk. "

"Don't know where sun is," the lizardfolk mentions of his repeated attempts to judge direction and time of day, "but maybe cave make good shelter?" Making no move to go into the cave himself, he asks of Kamatar, "Green men see in dark, yes?"

The alchemist watches the half-orc and human when he did nothing wrong. He just stands there, watching and waiting as no words seem to really come to him. Nor ones that would seem to work. "You seemed to want it as a possible shelter. Investigating it seems to be a result. Now I am in the wrong for doing as you suggested Miss Kara. Am I correct by doing what was ask?" Cold. Calculated. He looks at the half-orc expecting to be smashed or insulted. He steps back and nods "I will remain outside. It appears that my aid is no longer needed and my help is being dismissed." He just turns and walks out. Zed sits down outside on a rock, putting his gear down. The robot fox sits down next to him.

Kara threw up her hands, looking at Keeper and Grox. "I don't understand." She looked back at the Alchemist. "I asked if you could look at the area here in front of us. Not go inside. I guess I wasn't clear. Must you be so... I don't know... with you it's either on or off. Yes we should investigate it fully, but also cautiously. Never mind. From now on, I will stay quiet. It seems whenever I speak it's taken to require some impetuous or aggressive action. All you smart manly types can just make all the decisions."

The alchemist just remains outside on the rock. He seems to be just waiting, probably expecting the half-orc to go off on him and be pummeled. Zed pulls out his waterskin, sips it and puts it back into his backpack. He pulls out a journal and writes down a few things before pocketing it. Its hard to tell if he heard her.

Kamatar replies to Groxxuzuxl, "Some green men can see in the dark, yes."

He then turns to the entire group, "Now that no one is going inside. I hope you won't mind if I take a good long look inside to see what can be seen."

As he's looking from the front entrance, he replies to Kara, "Lady Kara, I know more than a few things but as I mentioned before, I'm also aware of my limitations. Please, even if you don't think anyone else is listening to you, I always will."

After a few moments of trying to look inside, he remarks, "Well, I'm not seeing anything, so I'm going to take two steps in and take another look. Anyone wants to join me?"


OOC:
Kamatar Fletch rolled 8 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
Maybe there really isn't anything to see.

 Keeper seems a little irritated by everyone, including himself, stumbling over themselves to figure out if something was living in the cave. He decided instead to just go inside and see for himself. He was cautious and made an effort to sneak into the cave.

04:15, Today: Keeper rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Stealth.

The alchemist remains outside, sitting on the rock. Nothing pops out as Keeper slips inside. The half-orc doesn't see anything-just a cave that curves to the right as he peers inside. Its a decent size. The lizardfolk and human wait as well.

RRRROOOAAARRRR!!!!

Its hard to tell where it came from but it felt like it shook the ground. Zed falls onto his back as he wasn't expecting it and what caused it remains unknown. Shortly after, it goes quiet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:20, Wed 08 June 2022.

The sound chilled him to the bone and energized him at the same time. Reflexively he called upon his training to quiet his fears and steady his instincts. Within several heartbeats, he turned to look for the source of the thunderous sound and to verify the ongoing relative safety of the others.

Again he flowed into motion, his bow nocked with an arrow and his back to the wall of the cave. In the silence that followed that menacing roar, he calmly whispered to the others, "Is everyone still with us? Lady Kara are you well?"

Startled by the booming roar, Kara takes a sudden step back, pressing a hand over her heart. She had never heard its like, but then again she wasn't exactly experienced with all the fauna in the world. What she did know - or rather what she felt instinctively - was that the deeper the roar the bigger the beast, and this one shook her ribs and moved the ground.

"No, Kamatar, I'm not so sure." Hesitant laugh. "Do any of you worldly fellows know what that was?" Her eyes ere still flicking around in search of anything that was ready to come gobble her up. "It sounded awfully big.... and hungry." She whined.

The lizardman goes about scouting the area around the cave while the mammals make looking into the cave ~a thing.~ At the sound of the beastly roar, Grox crouches low and readies his trident as he looks around urgently to find what made the noise.

The druid is gone it seems. And the android seems to be gone as well. Looking around there is no sign of what made the horrible noise.