Losing sight of Kitryn and Elila, the creature runs down the crevasse and back up the other side. Once again being able to see Kitryn, and Rindelk as well, it once again whispers telepathically, to both (this time directly to Rindelk), "I search for secrets <cackling>. I feed. I protect for those that feed. If you do not feed, you trespass!" The whisper sounds almost frantic, then it calms down again, "If you do not kill companion to feast again like the secret I find, <gibberish> then another deal. I find magic too. Give me things with magic and I keep them. Then you have deal too <gibberish and then cackling>."
You can't automatically know if creatures you've never met before are dangerous or not. This one has intelligence, and is trying to communicate instead of outright attacking. So you have to choose how you will deal with the situation.
OOC: To avoid metagaming here, I'm going to rule that Leek and Rindelk had a brief question and answer period where Leek got briefed on what was going on, hence why he moves up into the cavern and asks this specific question.
The creature swivels its head toward Leek and only Leek hears its reply, "Flesh! Like this, <cackling>" and it leaps down into the crevasse, climbing out with the top half of a human male's corpse, everything below the ribcage gone, bones and all. "Hot and bloody, not like this! <gibberish>" It shakes the corpse for emphasis and then throws the corpse back into the crevasse. "Slaughter the big one <cackling>," and it points in Elila's direction, "and we all feast! <gibberish>."
It points to Kitryn, "I find her secret! I saw. Make her do it again. Make her kill and eat. We all eat with her! Then I protect and guard for all you too!"
Oops. Sorry. Didn't realize we didn't know what was going on.
"That big one is with us. Plus tastes bad. No good feed. But we can bring you others. Like that one. (points at human torso). Nice hot bloody ones. Then we can be friends.
The creature is hopping from foot to foot, obviously excited, "<gibberish>I guard. I protect. You leave now," it points to the southern exit, "come back with hot bloody feed. <cackling> Then I protect you too!" After a pause, it elaborates a little bit, "Bring here then slaughter. Don't slaughter then bring here. Want it still hot <cackling>!"
Rindelk and Katerielle move forward out of the hallway into the cavern, pushing Leek a little bit further in. At the same time, Klednir takes flight and stays near Rindelk.
Leek will take the lead down the south exit, where the creature pointed.
"We will go this way and bring back hot feed. You protect here. Other feed might come. They are good to eat. We will bring you hot feed. Stay here and protect."
Klednir flies ahead down what is essentially a tunnel, which goes on for a good hundred feet or so. Your familiar reports that at the end, it could see sunlight shining through a dense thicket that it would not be able to pass through.
Tell my familiar to move to J9 and perch on the bridge
Klednir takes flight, swooping along the crevasse to land and perch on the northern bridge.
OOC: minor detail revealed in Roll20.
Is it still dark in the cavern or can Elila see? If so she will move towards the stairwell (H8).
The cavern is lit. The area is lit unless otherwise noted. Bty, the cellar entrance was dark because Leek put out the oil lamps.
Elila crosses the northern bridge and takes cover from the creature in the northern stairwell.
initiative has not been rolled, so we are not in combat (yet). correct?
moving out of LOS.
Not in combat.
Losing sight of Kitryn and Elila, the creature runs down the crevasse and back up the other side. Once again being able to see Kitryn, and Rindelk as well, it once again whispers telepathically, to both (this time directly to Rindelk), "I search for secrets <cackling>. I feed. I protect for those that feed. If you do not feed, you trespass!" The whisper sounds almost frantic, then it calms down again, "If you do not kill companion to feast again like the secret I find, <gibberish> then another deal. I find magic too. Give me things with magic and I keep them. Then you have deal too <gibberish and then cackling>."
If we are not in combat, do we talk to him? how can we know if he is dangerous?
You can try to talk to him.
You can't automatically know if creatures you've never met before are dangerous or not. This one has intelligence, and is trying to communicate instead of outright attacking. So you have to choose how you will deal with the situation.
Leek advances and says "We feed too. We feed with you. On what shall we feed?"
OOC: To avoid metagaming here, I'm going to rule that Leek and Rindelk had a brief question and answer period where Leek got briefed on what was going on, hence why he moves up into the cavern and asks this specific question.
The creature swivels its head toward Leek and only Leek hears its reply, "Flesh! Like this, <cackling>" and it leaps down into the crevasse, climbing out with the top half of a human male's corpse, everything below the ribcage gone, bones and all. "Hot and bloody, not like this! <gibberish>" It shakes the corpse for emphasis and then throws the corpse back into the crevasse. "Slaughter the big one <cackling>," and it points in Elila's direction, "and we all feast! <gibberish>."
It points to Kitryn, "I find her secret! I saw. Make her do it again. Make her kill and eat. We all eat with her! Then I protect and guard for all you too!"
Oops. Sorry. Didn't realize we didn't know what was going on.
"That big one is with us. Plus tastes bad. No good feed. But we can bring you others. Like that one. (points at human torso). Nice hot bloody ones. Then we can be friends.
The creature is hopping from foot to foot, obviously excited, "<gibberish>I guard. I protect. You leave now," it points to the southern exit, "come back with hot bloody feed. <cackling> Then I protect you too!" After a pause, it elaborates a little bit, "Bring here then slaughter. Don't slaughter then bring here. Want it still hot <cackling>!"
I have Kled follow me, Kat and I follow Leek.
Rindelk and Katerielle move forward out of the hallway into the cavern, pushing Leek a little bit further in. At the same time, Klednir takes flight and stays near Rindelk.
Leek will take the lead down the south exit, where the creature pointed.
"We will go this way and bring back hot feed. You protect here. Other feed might come. They are good to eat. We will bring you hot feed. Stay here and protect."
OOC: Is everyone following Leek?
I'm following leek but sending my bird up ahead to scope out the tunnel. Have him report back to me the info.
OOC: Well, that will potentially save some time!
Klednir flies ahead down what is essentially a tunnel, which goes on for a good hundred feet or so. Your familiar reports that at the end, it could see sunlight shining through a dense thicket that it would not be able to pass through.
waiting to hear how Rindelk relays the above..
guess we're committing to regrouping at the mouth of the south tunnel?