So the party decides to camp once again at the base of the oak tree, sans Amelia. 

The overnight watch is uneventful, especially as you remember to separate the two sleepyheads, Dyumi and Zithers.

Morning breaks, dewdrops hang from petal and leaf, the chirps and calls of raucous robins and other feathered creatures are loud, and most other ordinary sounds, deeper in pitch than you remember.  You eat a hasty meal, wash up and break camp, stowing your gear back inside AGGE.

How would you like to proceed? 

"Well, if nobody else wants to go next, I'd like to see if I can get 7 acorns with no rot. The goddess has done so much for me. This is the least I can do" Malichi says "Anyone have any idea how big an acorn would be compared to us?"

"All right then, Malichi.  Let's find your acorns!  You seem to be more attuned to the natural world than ever, so we may as well take advantage of it.  How big were the ones we looked at previously?  About half to two-thirds our size?  No matter, we'll figure it out.  This whole venture has been very demanding of our ingenuity, no reason to expect that to change now!"  Zensiro grins and gives Malichi a hearty pat on the back.  "Back to the tree!", he shouts and prepares to hop back in the AGGE.

"This thing can climb trees well right? A fall from this tree normally might break a bone or two, but at this size, it's be like a thousand-foot fall! And, er, I'm a bit afraid of heights."

"If the tree mode functions as well as the fish mode, then I think we'll be safe.  Best to proceed cautiously in any case.  Those of us with teleportation abilities may be safer than the others, but as you say, a thousand foot fall would be enough to kill any of us a hundred times over."

The five remaining party members clamber back into the vehicle, and Malichi presses the button showing the image of a tree. Amos's familiar voice rings out saying "Oh ho ho, up we go! now move ta vehicle as close as ye can to the trunk of a tree and then everybody sits in your seats and strap them buckles on. Press the button three times an' then hang on tight!"

 Everyone complies, some with more than a little trepidation. Fastening the leather straps that connect them to the seat backs around their bodies with metal buckles and pulling them tight they sit somewhat nervously watching as Malichi depresses the button three  times quickly.

Once again the fore and aft wheels retract into the underbelly of the AGGE. This time however, instead of paddlewheels, long spindly jointed legs emerge, three on each side, and the clockwork locomotive now resembles a giant metal insect. The two front legs rise up and with no small alarm you realize that they are tipped with curved metal blades, splayed like claws, and appear quite sharp. The jointed limbs draw back as though winding up and then spring forward, the claws piercing deep into the tree bark. Now solidly anchored, the leg joints slowly close, pulling the front end of AGGE up off the ground.

Inside your seats swivel to keep you upright and level despite the rapidly tilting floor of your vehicle. Outside the second set of legs repeats the earlier motion, stabbing into the bark and pulling the body into an even more vertical orientation. With coordinated movements of the three pairs of blade-tipped appendages, AGGE slowly ascends the tree, your chairs now rotated 90 degrees. Those at the front of the vehicle almost directly above those in the back.

"Well, I'm pretty good at climbing but I know not everyone is. And you're right, a fall from this height, there's no telling what could happen. Cerlinde, you and Zensiro use magic to move from place to place, right? Dyumi could help spot the acorns and check them over once we get them" you can just about hear the gears in his head spinning as he starts brainstorming "I wonder if an acorn would fit in a Bag of Holding?" Malichi looks around "I guess once Amelia gets back we can start up the tree in Aggie"

Dyumi will look out the window to spot any immediately noticeable healthy acorns. Perception: 6.

As he does so, he will prepare the ritual for Detect Poison and Disease. Before the party leaves the tree, he will use it to ensure all acorns taken are healthy.

(Amelia has exited the party for the time being.  I don't think you need to wait for her. You have already begun to ascend the tree.  Of course, you can use the rudder to turn around and descend if you wish.)

As AGGE slowly ascends,  you reach the level of the lowest branches.  From your position on the trunk you cannot tell if there are acorns out on the branches.  The branches are large enough to steer the vehicle out onto them, or you can safely exit and proceed on foot.

Cerlinde also watches for acorns, as well as the chrysalis she is seeking.

19 investigation 

Zensiro joins Cerlinde and does the same.  He is amazed at the height they've safely reached in this machine and is initially rather distracted by the view from their vantage point.  He's always had a tug of a feeling, a perverse desire to launch himself through the air from heights like these, just to know what it would be like to soar like a falcon or a dragon.  Perhaps one day ... but for now, it's best to stay focused, feet on the sturdy branch, and to help Malichi and Cerlinde to search for their respective goals.  Zensiro knows from experience that acorns are usually found near the clusters of leaves along the thin branches of an oak tree, so he directs his attention to those places he can safely reach.

Investigation 13

Malichi drives out on one of the larger branches down this low, looking for acorns and following Zensiro's directions. Driving out towards the thin branches as far as AGGE can safely handle and parks. "Anyone who isn't good at climbing or has magic should stay here with Aggie. I'm going to look around. Anyone coming with me?" he says

INT(Nature): 18

Dyumi hops out of Aggie and begins to search around, both for any tree-related threats, and healthy acorns. Survival: 19

(Sorry.... RL little bit crazy this week)

Malichi and Dyumi spy two acorns sprouting from a twig near the end of the branch.  The way becomes too narrow for AGGE to get closer than 100 ft or so.

Anyone who ventures out beyond this point should roll acrobatics or athletics, and should also stay explicitly which if any precautions are being taken.

(OOC of RL never got crazy there would be no PbP)

 "I'm going to see what I can find" Malichi tells everyone and climbs out of Aggie with rope tied around his waist, looped over one shoulder and tied to his grappling hook. At first the branch, even tho it's too narrow for Aggie, as sure footed as Malichi is he has no problems initially. As he heads further out on the narrowing branch that turns and twists, footing is more difficult.

DEX(Acrobatics): 17

"Would anyone happen to have a bag of pitons I can borrow?"

Malichi seems sure-footed for now, but if he is to pluck the 2-3 ft diameter acorns from their stems, he might want to be more firmly anchored.

(DC 12 acrobatics for each acorn)

"I'm afraid I don't have any gear useful for climbing beyond this rope, Dyumi.  I think roping in is wise, and I'm happy to run the line out for you, Malichi, if you think that will help.  I can also take a turn out on the limb, given that I can teleport back to safety, provide that I act quickly."

(Zensiro will make an Acrobatics check to keep his balance/help, I guess?)

Acrobatics 12

"Zensiro, you might want to concentrate on Dyumi and Zithers if he goes out. I'm fine out here. Not much different than second story work" he tells you, then suddenly he's focused on the acorns he spots. His usual grin widens as he remembers an idea that occured to him earlier. He slowly sinks to a sitting position so he can grip the tree limb with his legs. He secures the rope and grappling hook, pulls off his pack and starts rummaging through it for the bag of holding.

DEX(Slight of Hand): 20

 Opens the bag to see how wide it can open and tries to estimate how many, if any, he could fit in it.