Jean will travel to the cave with the others.

8

***ohhhhhhh**

"Back to the boats! We need to keep going. There's a cave just over there. Time is of the essence!" 

Gordra gives another uneasy glance to the graveyard..

(We're going to fast-forward just a bit; I've been derelict in my DM duties and I haven't been consistent with updates!)

From his vantage point in the sky, Vasht might have seen a tiny drama unfold. A small ship sets boldly across a modest lake. It deposits 5 passengers to the shore: Mice, hare, and shrew. They creep into a small cave, partially covered by vines. The hare strides forth, swift and silent as a minnow in the stream. The others follow behind. Before them are two mice: ranger and brewer. Beyond is a slumbering giant, barring access to a silvery portal that is only visible to the mice.

The five of the original party see each other- only Elodin with his second sight knew this would happen. 

What do you do?

Gordra locks eyes with his newly reunited allies, holding a finger to his mousy lips, we mustn't wake this creature. 

Amaruve nods quietly as he rolls onto his feat.

Perspicacious manages to keep her cool as she see's the others approach. She looks to Gordra first, then Amaruve, and tries to assess the best course of action to take to get past this creature and through the portal. Time to move on.

Sense: 4

Quote from AsbestosPenguin >>

Sense: 4

 (:

Perspicacious, you failed to notice the dry stoat bones you are resting on. They snap with a soft crack as you stand, which results in a flick of the cat's ear. It stirs and its massive head lifts above you all, silhouetted by the light of the gate behind it. Its eyes open, half-lidded. It regards you silently for a moment opens its mouth and speaks in a silky (and terribly large) voice.

"Mice and rabbit and bothersome shrew,
standing on two legs, wearing clothing like men.
Speak ye now quickly, speak only true.
Why do you trespass upon my den?

"Do you seek my wisdom, or the glory of death? Tell me whether the insect was right: Would you take my treasure and my last gasping breath?"

The cat hasn't raised from its position on its side. You notice that it is curled around something, but it's difficult to say what, exactly, that could be. You are distracted a bit by its gaze... and its teeth... and its claws...

Amaruve steps up to Prespicacious and helps her to her feet in the awkward footing. He nods gratefully to her as he lifts his axe, fallen beside her.

He looks to the creature and nods with understanding "Lost... Like us." He gestures to the others.

Looks like he won't be luring the beast into the portal. The best laid plans of mice so often go awry...

Jean, having thoroughly had enough, growled "We just want to get home. I'll take your last gasping breath if I have to, but I'd much rather you stand aside and let us get out of here."

Cordelia is ready to help Jean if it comes to fisticuffs... with a giant c-t.

Gordra nods his head, Truly Listening to the creature's questions. 8

1 hold: How can I show that we mean no harm?

Quote from Shaz_Mazoo >>

Gordra nods his head, Truly Listening to the creature's questions. 8

1 hold: How can I show that we mean no harm?

 (There it is)

Gordra, you notice that the creature is curled around a fluffy ball. For just a moment, the ball stirs, revealing itself to be a poofy gray kitten. It stares at you with brilliant blue eyes, then hides in its mother's embrace once again.

The mother is afraid that you will harm her young.

Quote from Rivina >>

Jean, having thoroughly had enough, growled "We just want to get home. I'll take your last gasping breath if I have to, but I'd much rather you stand aside and let us get out of here."

Norn draws a sharp breath and whispers urgently. "Don't be a fool, mouse. I saw what it did to Riverside. We'd fare no better 'gainst the beast than the shrews it murdered."

"Everyone, put your weapons away. Nicely please."  to the large feline he says, "That's a mighty cute little one you've got there. What's its name? My friends and I, we aren't here to cause you any trouble. But there is something we need to do, and while it may not seem to make sense at the moment, I assure you it is very serious and important that we get past you."

(sounds like you want to coerce someone. Make your roll, mouse. Anyone want to try to roll to Help?)

Manipulate? 6

Can anyone help with that?

Amaruve wants to help, but he's afraid he'll make things worse. Talking was never his strong point, but Baobur could...

 "Your beautiful treasure need not die." 

(Bard +1 #sixwordstory. Also did you take +1 for acting on your observation?)

 Jean's eyes softened and she took her hand away from the hilt of her bade. She held them up to show that she was no longer ready to fight. "Of course we'd never hurt your kitten, we just want to leave."

(Okay, okay. I'll grant the ten for everyone's combined efforts. Coerce: On a 10+, they’ll do it for the reason you gave them. If you asked too much, they’ll tell you the minimum it would take for them to do it (or if there’s no way they’d do it).)

The great creature considers you all for a moment. It cocks its head, an amused expression creeping across its face as its eyes close. 

"I see. There is a doorway in this place, is there not?" The cat opens its eyes again and it gestures behind itself. "I sensed something very like the rift that took us from my home to this place, but I hadn't the wit to find it. I will offer you this, warrior mice: leave this place with your bright swords and keen axes, and I will not slaughter you where you stand."

Echoing about the cavern, you hear a single word, softly issuing forth from the portal, "No..."

Keenwhistle shakes her head. "No... No, friends. I do not understand what is happening here, but... however well-spoken it may be, this monstrous thing is evil. We cannot simply leave it to multiply. It would spell doom for every living creature on this island." She gestures to the stoat and weasel bones littered about the cavern. "It may be killing stoats now, maybe it even meant no harm to Riverside that night, but either it or its brood will come for us all- on this day or another." She unholsters her long bow and, seeing this, Norn hoists his twin scimitars. 

The sea captain looks to the ranger of the Long Patrol. The smallest of nods is shared between them. Maybe they sense that your resolve had faltered, or on some level they recognize that your desires do not truly align with their own. Whatever the reason, the hare leaps into the air, firing a shot at the creature's eye while Norn runs along the stone wall, one scimitar striking bright sparks in its wake as he sprints toward the cat and its young. They surely know that this action is death, but still they charge.

The cat is faster than lightning. It whips around its young, taking an arrow to its cheek, but lashing at Keenwhistle with wicked claws. The rabbit is dashed against the wall of the cave, where she lands in a crumpled, bloody heap. Norn leaps upon the cat's back, attempting to sever its spine with his blades but failing to achieve more than two shallow gashes before he, too is thrown against the cave wall with a sickening snap.

Jean scratched her chin. "Can we take them with us, perhaps? Back home we could probably find a good home for the cat and her kitten without disrupting the ecosystem here."