Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

Connak will look at the path and the height, then turn back to the party and say across the river, "Maybe we should send Tabesha'l in there.  She can woo the gnomes with her noble ways to hold a meeting out here?  Or maybe the gnomes can provide a surer way for the less nimble of us to get inside."

Tabesha'l bows towards Connak and gives her old lover's exiled friend a small, amused smile.

" Indeed it may be a wise course of action to send a practicer of the arcane arts to meet with the Small Folk first..."

As she finishes her sentence she whispers a quick incantation accompanied with a slight motion of her staff, and soon the elf starts rising weightlessly through the air towards the entrance of the caves. As she's almost level with it she turns her attention towards the newcomer and nods imperceptibly in his direction. 

" Forgive my manners: I am Tabesha'l, from the noble House of Pananthyr. Thy help is appreciated, Eu'Narah.  Thou art most welcome."

** Casting Levitate to reach the cave entrance. **

Pushing off as the spell takes effect, the slender elf glides through the air towards the dark passageway at the top of the narrow granite incline. She elevated a total of about 20 feet, the extent of her current magical ability. The ledge is yet another 5 feet above her head, but she is able to establish a stable foothold along the ramp, her magical levitation guarding against any falling, broken ankles or other such misfortunes that would mar her noble elven gracefulness.

Vaxis seems to snap back to attention. He notices the newcomer, and his garb.

"Ah yes, an....elfling. I am sorry. Common is not my first language. A elfling of faith! I am Vaxis, penitent of Bahamut. You are having welcome with us!"

He looks off to the side.

"You will do no such thing, fiend!"

He doesnt seem to be talking to the newcomer with the last sentence.

A small bird flies out of the northwestern tunnel entrance. If you have a passive perception of 13 or greater, open the spoiler below:

(OOC: I am experimenting with making better use of the spoiler tool.)

Still speaking to...SOMETHING...he says, "You will not have his soul, and he will not join you. So just stop. You are having embarrasment!"

Connak tries to clear his ear with a finger, "I swear that bird sounded metallic."

Connak will head over to look at it.

Ando waves at Tabesha'l as she rises up to the cave, mouth slightly agape. "Never seen someone do that before." Wow!" 

He turns to Vaxis. "Pleased to meet you Vaxis. I've met a few dragonborn in the Enclave, but never one with your particular heritage."

Ando notices the bird, but since Connak is taking a look, Ando will go check out the mushrooms on the northern island.

Athletics (to wade through stream): 19

Nature (to determine if they are naturally this big): 20

Quote from Kerrec >>

Connak tries to clear his ear with a finger, "I swear that bird sounded metallic."

Connak will head over to look at it.

(OOC: the bird landed on the ledge above you, so you would have to navigate up the ramp in order to take a look.)

(UNDISCLOSED ROLL: 18) Just as Tabesha’l drifts to a halt near the narrow ramp she winks out of existence...and reappears a moment later standing atop the ledge of the northwestern entrance, seemingly unharmed.

Ando wades easily into the water and over to the first island where a crop of red and green mushrooms are growing. Upon closer inspection, the paladin recognizes the variety having seen them before in the wild, but never at this size (nearly 2 feet tall!). He is able to determine that whatever is influencing their advanced growth is not naturally occurring.

Acrobatics check to climb the narrow path: 23

...to go investigate the bird.

Connak skips up the incline to the ledge with ease. He finds the remains of a clockwork bird lying on the ground in front of a tunnel that had obviously been hewn directly into the face of the mountain. Bits and pieces of the tiny construct lie scattered around it: small nuts and bolts, the teeth of tiny gears and other metallic debris. The largest part of the carcass is about 6 inches in diameter and weighs about 2 pounds.

Connak ponders over the clockwork bird, whispering to himself "What's the point?"  

Investigation to find a purpose to the bird, for example: a message around a leg?  7

You examine the clockwork device thoroughly but come no closer to understanding the purpose for such an item. 

Barric sees Connak tinkering with something on the ledge, and is curious. He hops across the river and stands underneath.

Acrobatics 19

"Master Connak! Would you care to lower a rope?"

Tabesha'l, meanwhile, is peering into the darkness of the tunnels opening in front of her, as she scans her surroundings both for a spot to tie a rope to, and any signs of life deeper into the caves.

** Perception to spot the above-mentioned : 15 **

Tabesha’l is a bit disoriented following her unexpected teleportation. Her vision is rather blurry as she peers into the darkness, but it does not take much effort for her to recognize the unmistakeable sound of snoring only a few feet away. She is able to discern at least 5 distinctly different snoring rhythms, intonations and unique pitches. She does not know what sleeps in the darkness mere feet ahead of her, but they sound absolutely enormous and ferocious.

Connak will put his pack down, unhitch the rope and lower it to allow the others to climb up.  Then he'll lug his pack once again and try to find where Tabesha'l went.

As the elf hears the snoring, she'll quickly point her finger down at Vaxis and warn him telepathically with Message:

" Dragon Knight, please do warn the others to stay silent: a group of big creatures seem to be asleep inside these caves, mayhaps some guarding beasts of some sort ? From the mere sounds of their sleep, they be of imposing size and, I'd venture to say, equivalent ferocity. We shall have to be careful !"

From his vantage point, Connak can see Ando on the small island in the middle of the pool examining mushrooms, Vaxis near where they were standing when the party first encountered Ando. Looking across to the west, he can barely see Tabesha’l through the mist that is churning up from the pool. She appears to be on a ledge similar to the one upon which he is standing.  As Connak takes stock of his surroundings, Barric is able to clamber up the ramp to join him.

Connak looks at Barric as he approaches, looking confused, "Tell me you did see Tabesha'l come up this way?  I swear she flew up this way, and now she's over there..."