"I agree with Judal and Ereni, Your company would be welcomed and we could use your help conversing with these fickle Goliaths." Malenia digs the heels of her feet into the ground beneath her, steadying herself and trying to appear as stoic as possible. Despite desperately needing a nights rest. 

"It was a mistake to leave the Answer so crudely, I do regret my actions but I do not linger on them. I trust that we will join with them once more."

"The Answer?"  Pyornkrachzark asks, reaching up to scratch his craggy chin.  "What do you mean?  As for the Goliaths, I can take you there."  

He smiles, seems almost excited for this new adventure as he looks up the side of the mountains.  

"Come on then, you can follow me.  I'll help you climb."  

The big Rockbiter starts off immediately, moving along the west facing side of the range for roughly a hundred yards before he finds a crack, almost a small valley, running between outcroppings, and starts to climb his way up.  He reaches back periodically to assist his new friends, and frequently picking Joy up to help her along as well as keeping a close eye on Malenia...

     Judal is no stranger to hard work.  That is not to say that he is fond of it.  Hard work taught him one thing : It sucks.  It is ever so much more relaxing to not work hard and to have things handed to you… But while being pampered is nice when you can get it it didn’t seem to be an option at the moment.

     Climbing sucks.  Judal is quite vocal about this until the first time Pyorn reaches back and boosts him up.  Hard work sucks but it’s less embarrassing than the chuckle the rock monster lets out when he picks him up and gently sets him back down.  Well intended or not, it still grated and Judal aimed to keep it from being necessary again…  Probably to no avail.  Help helps.  Even Judal, eventually, has to give in and admit that.  Still, he wishes he had the Fly spell…

Ereni climbs stoically, though unlike Judal, she readily accepts help from the Rockbiter - for herself or for Joy.  And notes gratefully that Pyorn appears to be watching Malenia to ensure her safety.  She also notices that no one ever answered her when she asked what a Goron is.

Probably somewhere between a Kruthik and a Tarrasque, just our luck...

Mountains have never been her terrain of choice, but she finds the clean air, strenuous climb and resultant views bracing and strangely invigorating.  Seeing that Pyorn evidently knows this territory far better than she, Ereni has no illusions of being useful in her usual role as scout.  Nevertheless, she disciplines herself to watch her surroundings.  For hazards and for stubborn goliaths or soaring rocs.  Or for Kruthiks or Tarrasques.  And whatever a Goron is.

Ereni Perception:  29

"Might be a stupid question, but we trying to be sneaky or trying to be noticed?" she asks the Rockbiter, or anyone, really.  "Got some primal magic that can make us all quieter than a shadowcat with a speech impediment if we need.  Though for rockface here, it might just make him quieter than a cliffside caving in." (if needed, Ereni casts Pass without Trace on herself, Malenia, Judal, Joy and Pyorn - +10 Stealth, lasting an hour, requiring concentration).

Pyorn finally reveals to them what a Goron is as they near the top of the mountains, after much asking and reminding.  The airheaded Rockbiter smiles and makes shapes with his hands as if they help describe what he's talking about...but they do not.  

"It's kind of...well, they're usually yellow.  Or green.  Kinda green, I mean.  They're about as tall as you but they're built bigger, and they have these big shells on their backs.  They like tattoos, especially on their arms and necks, and they're slow, I guess.  Like me.  Just big and methodical for what they are.  Ha, how do you like that word?  There are animals like them I see sometimes.  I think they're called turtles?"  

A Roc does circle overhead at one point, but it seems to be put off by the presence of Pyornkrachzark, who herds Joy under his bulk as he watches the big bird pass by.  

"They never bother me.  You're all safe."  He says with some authority.  

As they reach a wide road that has been carved into the top of the mountain, he finally reaches down and hauls Judal up as easily as a person may move a doll, then sits him gently in the middle of the road.  

"I don't think you need to hide?"  Pyorn says, seeming a bit confused by the notion Ereni presents.  "Sneaking up on them seems more dangerous than just strolling up to the gates.  That's what I always do.  But it's some miles down this pass.  That way."  

He points off toward the north, where they can see the faint glow of Death Mountain's caldera miles and miles away in the distance.  Overhead they see the stars and the constellations, wisps of smoke from the mountain and gentle clouds crawling about as if they never noticed the dimming of the day.  A cool breeze blows past them.  

"Hmm."  Pyorn says, reaching up to rub his chin.  "There are monsters in these mountains.  I hadn't thought of that.  They never bother me but I'm so big and made of rocks."  

     "Monsters in the mountains and miles to go before I sleep...  Miles to go before I sleep," Judal says with a bit of dark tones about it.  "Greeeeeeeat...."

     "Well hopefully us sticking near the big guy here is enough to ward off any pesky monsters and such, but just how well do you know the goliaths?" Judal asks.  "Are they likely to be inclined to assist you and your friends?"

For some reason, the words 'and we have promises to keep' spring to Ereni's mind at Judal's turn of phrase, though she does not vocalize the shared urgency of catching up with the rest of The Answer in King's Landing or on the Great Grass Sea as Atreyu and Gandalf had tasked them with.

"Aye, the offer of stealth was because of the monsters, not for the giant-kin.  Or I think so anyway, can't remember rightly.  But if a roc is giving our pile of rocks a wide berth, no doubt because it is singular, not plural, and lacks a 'k', then maybe we don't need to sneak past any monsters."

Ereni is fairly sure name of the Roc' (the giant bird) is spelled without a 'k', anyway...  She spends the next few minutes screwing up her face, trying to remember.  Jump off one to harass a Tarrasque, least you can do is spell it's name right.  Got to learn our courtesies if we plan on winning over goliaths.

At Pyorn's description of Gorons Ereni starts to have an inkling, having heard tell of turtle-like folk before... though for all she knows, the rockbiter is talking about another type of creature entirely.  She shoulders her bow and keeps a lookout for any suspicious-looking boulders that look like reptilian shells.

She and Joy also look for any tracks that might have been left by turtle-clawed (or goliath) feet, but boulders and scree show little trace - Survival:  12

Malenia stumbles and slips in a few places, still feeling the effects of her battle with an illusory foe. Despite not being as agile or quick as she is when feeling her best, she is able to keep up with the lot of them fairly easily. "If our best option is to be direct, I do think stealth should be an escape plan. Should things not go as we hope they would." Her breathing comes staggered as she grips at the burn wound on her abdomen, taking a moment to wrap a bandage around it before continuing on. 

She silently curses at herself once she realizes she has neglected her duties, Focused on ignoring the pain and following the path presented to them by Pyork. Her eyes scan the surrounding are and often fall to where they had come from, watching for any sign that they are perhaps being followed by something that wishes not to be seen. 

Perception: 11
Passive Perception: 21

Ereni Perception:  24

The crisp high-mountain air does wonders for Ereni's senses as she looks around and listens...

Judal Perception:  17+2 = 19

Passive Perception:  12

     "Riders in the sky," Judal points out nodding his chin in the direction of the mountains ahead.  "I don't think that's a Roc it's riding though..."  Makes sense, he figures.  A Roc was big enough to carry the carriage and all of us.  Probably too big for a single rider.  Even a goliath.  It would be like a kobold riding an elephant...

"I see one of them.  Bird is smaller than a Roc as you say Judal, with a lone rider, I think.  Guessing it is one of the giant-kin."

Her fingers itch for her bow but she stills them, knowing diplomacy has to be the way with the goliaths, not battle.  It's the damn Kruthiks all over again, only instead of stuck down in the ass end of the earth, we are up here on the high places, exposed like a flea on a flagpole.

"Pyorn, my friend.  Talk to us.  That is who we are parleying with, yes?  Any suggestions?  We might only have one chance at this.  Guessing you and Judal do the talking?  I parleyed with a bunch of Kruthiks earlier underground, but only because my primal magic let me speak their language."

Pyron rubs his huge chin with his massive hand and watches the rider that the others see.  

"I don't think so."  He says, squinting and leaning forward like it will give him some increased ability to see.  "That doesn't look like a Goliath, and it doesn't seem like something they'd do.  I've only seen them use the rocs for travel.  Whoever that is appears to be scouting.  Huh.  Maybe we did need stealth."

     "Well whoever they are they have surely spotted us," Judal says.  "No offense, but a walking hill of rocks is hard to miss.  Whoever they are we should go introduce ourselves.  Better than them coming after us, eh?"

"You all go make nice with the not-goliath on the not-roc.  Hope it goes well.  I'll cover you if it doesn't."

Ereni trails behind the party fifty to a hundred feet, looking to hide under overhangs and areas of darkness where she would become invisible to both regular vision and darkvision due to Umbral Sight.

     Judal raises an eyebrow then nods to Ereni.  "God's help us if rock-man here isn't enough cover for us.  Still, a shot from the dark is better if it comes from our side than theirs..."

     Judal continues boldly walking forward.  He keeps an eye on the skies and will toss a wave if it seems like they are being watched.  He's making no pretense of not being seen and figures he may as well appear as friendly as possible.

Malenia grits her teeth, coming to a skidding halt in her movement. "I hear a horn blast, Whatever is on that Roc is signalling for aid." Her mechanical prosthesis whirs to life, ejecting both of her unlit weapons into her hands as she prepares to defend both herself and her companions. 

Keeping a weathered eye on the surroundings, Malenia is ready at a moments notice to deflect any ranged attack made towards her or the rest of the party. 

As they watch, the rider turns, and the bird slowly flies toward them before dipping behind some rocks two hundred or so feet ahead, disappearing from sight.  

Ereni continues to try to lurk in a spot of darkness slightly away from the party, disappearing into the gloom.  Trying to remain invisible to both regular vision and darkvision using her Umbral Sight capability.

It takes all her willpower not to target the bird and its rider with her arrows when they enter her range and descend towards cover rather than parleying with the others.  Once they disappear from sight, she chastises herself, wondering glumly if she should have taken the shots.

What are you going to do now, archer?  Target the rocks?  Lucky for us, we already parleyed with one pile of rocks today, why not another...

     “We come to talk!” Judal calls out as loudly and clearly as he can.  “Just talk.”  He pauses and signals everyone else to stop as well.

     “There is no reason for this to become anything except that…”