Zenos taking the glowing stone from Aubreen "I will take a look, this sure beats lighting a torch I may have to study how you did this" and carefully walking over to the opening peaking inside. If he doesn't see anything he will toss the rock inside about 40' or so because he really doesn't want anything jumping out at him.
OOC- Aubreen is able to seek Guidance (Cantrip) from Torm and is more than willing to beseech his Lord for others. IF it makes sense within the context please feel free to assume he will grant you the same. Guidance grants an additional 1d4 for skill checks.
Trying out the different combinations of items on the sarcophagus and the pillars, Perrin and Aubreen find that they don't result in any special effect. Perrin inspects the surroundings (investigation 13). He notices that within the gazebo to the north of the berm you're currently standing on, an unlit brazier is to be seen. Perhaps a connection?
Zenos looks inside the hole and beholds a spacious chamber. The light falls upon small piles of bones and the sleeping forms of several animals (foxes, hares, goats, owls, wolf pups, and young bears) that seem to be sharing this space. (DM assumes that upon beholding these animals, Zenos does not throw the stone). Your approach (passive stealth 14) seems to have been quiet enough to not disturb the sleeping animals. There are also three more elven statues here, their forms facing the walls. Unlike the statues seen outside, these have not been exposed to the elements and their angular features are still sharp. The shadows thrown by your light source makes it seem like they're judging Zenos' intrusion upon this place.
There is no sign of a hostile element, but clearly you're only seeing part of the room with the 40 feet of light that the stone provides.
DM Note: Keep in mind that some spells, guidance included, have a verbal component that needs to be pronounced clearly for the spell to work. That means that it being cast is very obvious to any direct observers and may be heard a conversational distance away, making it impractical for stealth.
Zenos having not thrown his shining stone will creep away trying not to wake the sleeping animals and will report his findings to the group "there are some sleeping animals and piles of bones in the cave. I am not liking the looks of the it, possibly the druids are using them for guards or alarms. Maybe we can sneak past them but I am thinking that is a longshot or maybe they will be friendly, I am pretty sure one of the foxes likes me."
Aubreen chuckles at Zeno's statement, "You think all the foxes and cougars have a thing for your charm and good looks. If stealth is what is needed, I am not the one to join you. I am as stealthy as a marching band in the city parade."
Asking Perrin for help once again, and permission to take another feather, Aubreen collects a few more twigs and cones, and a couple dry branches. Striding towards the gazebo he arranges the kindling. "Perrin can you create fire and ignite this brazier?" Once the fire has started he adds the twigs, cones, and feather to the flames, hoping for some reaction, still not willing to keep his hand too close.
Watching he thinks out loud, "do we spend more time here scratching our heads or do we sally forth and search for clues to this damnable puzzle from within?"
As the twigs, cones and feather smolder in the brazier, there is no external effect, but both Sirius and Aubreen, through their deepened awareness of the weave, can see that there is some sort of connection between the gazebo and the pillars around the sarcophagus. Tugs and waves of weave dance between the two places. Alas, it seems that something was missing and the force isn't strong enough to have an effect. The weave calms itself after the items have burnt up.
Sirius looks at the brazier burning and feels the weave of magic. "We're almost there but missing the humanoid hand. I don't think it's very likely there's just loose hands lying around outside but inside there may very well be. Based on your description, Zenos, the animals within didn't sound very menacing but of course best if we don't alert them at all." Sirius turns to look at Zenos and Perrin. "Sneaking around in chainmail is like trying to tiptoe in a suit made of tambourines so I'm not the stealthiest either. One of you should go in there. We're right behind you if something comes up." Sirius equips his spear and shield and sets up at the mouth of the chamber ready for any trouble.
"Alright Perrin lets see if we can find someone willing to lend us a hand with this task" Zenos pulls out the lit rock from his pocket and if it is not lit will ask for it to be lit up again. Sneaking into the cave looking around to see if a humanoid hand is anywhere about, trying not to wake any of the sleeping fuzzies.
Perrin begrudgingly hands over another of his feathers to burn in the brazier this time. When that doesn't work, he assumes that they would need to find someone's hand, though he wasn't very excited about the prospect of finding some random dude's hand and then tossing it in some random brazier in some creepy elven tomb hidden in the woods far away from civilization. What could possibly go wrong? Besides, while the whole thing with the brazier was a neat little detour from their main goal, he was more interested in learning about the frost druids and why they chose to gather here of all spots.
When the others ask to scout around in the caves behind the crystal, he shrugs and heads over from the brazier to the cave where the others were standing. Seeing that Zenos has a glowing rock for some light, Perrin lights a flame in his hand. Giving Aubreen a thumbs-up at his warning, Perrin pokes his head inside the cave, and he stunned to see the wide variety of animals sleeping inside. What on earth was happening here? While no expert on animals, he knew enough that animals like these shouldn't be congregating in one place like this, even if some of them like the bears happened to be hibernating. First off, the foxes here should have eaten the hares by now. Second, if there were wolf pups, that meant there should be a pack of wolves that lived here was well, and that was another reason for the other animals to have been eaten before they could sleep here. Third, speaking of the wolf pack, they usually didn't leave their pups unguarded, and he wouldn't be surprised if they showed up at any moment now! He was surprised they hadn't woken up yet with them trudging around outside and talking with each other.
He pulls his head back out of the cave and looks incredulously at the others. Rolling his eyes, he extinguishes his fire and then pulls out his chalkboard and starts writing on it. He flips it over when he's done and looks dryly at the other.
Um, any of you notice that the animals in their are both predators and herbivores? Doesn't that alarm any of you? They shouldn't just be chilling in a cave together. What if the druids left them here as guards? Or worse, what if they're the druids in disguise?
He erases the message and then writes some more. Actually, now that I think about it, what if this is the druids' lair and these are their pets? We need to do something about them before we just march on in.
Sirius concentrates specifically on the chamber to see if there's any magic affecting the animals. "What do you suggest Perrin? I don't think we should just kill the animals though the situation is suspect. Maybe it's an orphanage for predators and a safe nest for herbivores or something innocent like that. Do you have a spell that would help keep them asleep instead of killing them?"
"I don't think they look hostile but I also do not just want to kill them as I have heard that druids are protective of the furry woodland creatures and the forest itself" Zenos looks around to the others for their opnion.
Looking thoughtful, Perrin writes, “Give me a second to think.”
He didn’t want to kill the animals either. He loved wildlife, but at the same time, it seemed like a big risk to barge into the cave.
He stays lost in thought about the situation for about ten minutes, pacing back and forth until a thought crosses his mind. Could he try talking to them? He hesitantly wanders back to the cave, and as he does, he feels a strange sensation run through his body. Peeking back into the cave, he looks at the sleeping animals, and with a deep, steadying breath, he talks to them.
”Um, hello?” He’s shocked to hear words come out of his mouth of his choice, but to the others, it sounds like a stream of animal sounds.
Aubreen steps back from the cavern mouth to speak with his companions, understanding his deep gravelly voice can carry. "Let us keep in mind why we came here, it is too discover the connection of this tomb to Sephek, not to slaughter the innocent be they animal or humanoid. It is possible Sephek has no connection at all, the scratches could be a coincidence. While I do not agree with the worship of Auril by these unknown Frost druids that is still not a crime. From what we have seen the only animal that must be culled is the rogue white moose, we can not allow it to continue terrorizing the town of Lonelywood. Its tracks lead to this cave and we will not learn more by peering in. let us proceed with caution, but proceed we must."
Aubreen watches as Perrin begins to squeak and growl, shrugging at the oddness of the birds behavior he says, "Let us stick to the original plan and move onward." He finishes and takes his place back at the entrance to the cave, watching the animals and the passages he can see closely while Perrin does his thing.
As Sirius lets his vision wander over the sleeping forms, he can't make out any sort of magical charm on the animals. And if these were druids in disguise, he'd surely be able to tell based on their aura.
Perrins greeting to the animal finally rouses some of them from their sleep, or at least causes them to look up in your direction. One brave fox hops over to look up at the kenku looking in. The floor of the inside of the hill is around 5 feet lower than the outside.
"Hello bird." it yips. "It's warm and safe here. Any creature of winter is welcome. So said Ravisin." There are murmurs of assent from the other animals. A yawn makes the round.
The fox looks past Perrin at the rest of the group. It's fur bristles. "The man things aren't welcome. Tell them to leave."
Zenos elbowing Aubreen "Look he is talking to the fox, I bet they are talking about how much that fox likes me and wants me to pet it and give ear scritches" man this is going to make a great section of my book.
Aubreen whispers back, "I thought we were sneaking in, and now you say they are talking to one another. The bird cant speak our language but some random wilderness animals are not a problem. By the wonders of Gond; Perrin has some secrets up those sleaves."
Perrin was even more surprised when the fox talks back. “Oh, well that’s good to know,” he says. He turns and looks back to the others
”The man things aren't welcome. Tell them to leave,” he repeats in a voice imitating how the fox sounded to him. He waives them back, indicating to give them a little bit of room.
Turning back to the fox, he says, “Yeah, I actually found a message saying to gather here, so I came to check it out.” Looking around at all the animals inside, he asks, “Who’s this Ravisin fellow? Do you know when they’ll be back?”
Happy to continue chatting, the fox plops on the floor, curling its tail. "Ravisin is a great friend of us. Ravisin made this burrow with White Elk. Ravisin - "
"Who are you talking to, fox?" a deeper voice comes.
Something moves there in the dark, a form towering over all of the other animals. There is the thump of hooves on dusty stone floor. The fox shrinks back from it.
"Just a bir- "
"FOOL"
Then, the first thing you see are large, dirty hooves stepping forward, followed by white fur, glistening and matted with blood. Antlers so large they almost scratch the ceiling of the chamber. Deep, dark creases surrounding a flaring cowlike nose with red dripping down. Eyes that look upon Perrin with intelligence.
"That is no bird. It is a man thing."
A wimper from the fox.
"What did Ravisin say about the man things, fox?"
All Zenos, Aubreen and Sirius hear is the bugle (sound) of an elk.
"Is that sound a moose, elk, deer or something else because I have no clue what these northern animals sound like?" Looking around to the others standing outside the cave
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Zenos taking the glowing stone from Aubreen "I will take a look, this sure beats lighting a torch I may have to study how you did this" and carefully walking over to the opening peaking inside. If he doesn't see anything he will toss the rock inside about 40' or so because he really doesn't want anything jumping out at him.
OOC- Aubreen is able to seek Guidance (Cantrip) from Torm and is more than willing to beseech his Lord for others. IF it makes sense within the context please feel free to assume he will grant you the same. Guidance grants an additional 1d4 for skill checks.
Trying out the different combinations of items on the sarcophagus and the pillars, Perrin and Aubreen find that they don't result in any special effect. Perrin inspects the surroundings (investigation 13). He notices that within the gazebo to the north of the berm you're currently standing on, an unlit brazier is to be seen. Perhaps a connection?
Zenos looks inside the hole and beholds a spacious chamber. The light falls upon small piles of bones and the sleeping forms of several animals (foxes, hares, goats, owls, wolf pups, and young bears) that seem to be sharing this space. (DM assumes that upon beholding these animals, Zenos does not throw the stone). Your approach (passive stealth 14) seems to have been quiet enough to not disturb the sleeping animals. There are also three more elven statues here, their forms facing the walls. Unlike the statues seen outside, these have not been exposed to the elements and their angular features are still sharp. The shadows thrown by your light source makes it seem like they're judging Zenos' intrusion upon this place.
There is no sign of a hostile element, but clearly you're only seeing part of the room with the 40 feet of light that the stone provides.
DM Note: Keep in mind that some spells, guidance included, have a verbal component that needs to be pronounced clearly for the spell to work. That means that it being cast is very obvious to any direct observers and may be heard a conversational distance away, making it impractical for stealth.
Zenos having not thrown his shining stone will creep away trying not to wake the sleeping animals and will report his findings to the group "there are some sleeping animals and piles of bones in the cave. I am not liking the looks of the it, possibly the druids are using them for guards or alarms. Maybe we can sneak past them but I am thinking that is a longshot or maybe they will be friendly, I am pretty sure one of the foxes likes me."
Aubreen chuckles at Zeno's statement, "You think all the foxes and cougars have a thing for your charm and good looks. If stealth is what is needed, I am not the one to join you. I am as stealthy as a marching band in the city parade."
Asking Perrin for help once again, and permission to take another feather, Aubreen collects a few more twigs and cones, and a couple dry branches. Striding towards the gazebo he arranges the kindling. "Perrin can you create fire and ignite this brazier?" Once the fire has started he adds the twigs, cones, and feather to the flames, hoping for some reaction, still not willing to keep his hand too close.
Watching he thinks out loud, "do we spend more time here scratching our heads or do we sally forth and search for clues to this damnable puzzle from within?"
As the twigs, cones and feather smolder in the brazier, there is no external effect, but both Sirius and Aubreen, through their deepened awareness of the weave, can see that there is some sort of connection between the gazebo and the pillars around the sarcophagus. Tugs and waves of weave dance between the two places. Alas, it seems that something was missing and the force isn't strong enough to have an effect. The weave calms itself after the items have burnt up.
Sirius looks at the brazier burning and feels the weave of magic. "We're almost there but missing the humanoid hand. I don't think it's very likely there's just loose hands lying around outside but inside there may very well be. Based on your description, Zenos, the animals within didn't sound very menacing but of course best if we don't alert them at all." Sirius turns to look at Zenos and Perrin. "Sneaking around in chainmail is like trying to tiptoe in a suit made of tambourines so I'm not the stealthiest either. One of you should go in there. We're right behind you if something comes up." Sirius equips his spear and shield and sets up at the mouth of the chamber ready for any trouble.
"Alright Perrin lets see if we can find someone willing to lend us a hand with this task" Zenos pulls out the lit rock from his pocket and if it is not lit will ask for it to be lit up again. Sneaking into the cave looking around to see if a humanoid hand is anywhere about, trying not to wake any of the sleeping fuzzies.
Aubreen tries his best to be quiet as he moves up opposite Sirius, "Dont go too far, if you leave our sight I am coming in, baby animals be damned"
Perrin begrudgingly hands over another of his feathers to burn in the brazier this time. When that doesn't work, he assumes that they would need to find someone's hand, though he wasn't very excited about the prospect of finding some random dude's hand and then tossing it in some random brazier in some creepy elven tomb hidden in the woods far away from civilization. What could possibly go wrong? Besides, while the whole thing with the brazier was a neat little detour from their main goal, he was more interested in learning about the frost druids and why they chose to gather here of all spots.
When the others ask to scout around in the caves behind the crystal, he shrugs and heads over from the brazier to the cave where the others were standing. Seeing that Zenos has a glowing rock for some light, Perrin lights a flame in his hand. Giving Aubreen a thumbs-up at his warning, Perrin pokes his head inside the cave, and he stunned to see the wide variety of animals sleeping inside. What on earth was happening here? While no expert on animals, he knew enough that animals like these shouldn't be congregating in one place like this, even if some of them like the bears happened to be hibernating. First off, the foxes here should have eaten the hares by now. Second, if there were wolf pups, that meant there should be a pack of wolves that lived here was well, and that was another reason for the other animals to have been eaten before they could sleep here. Third, speaking of the wolf pack, they usually didn't leave their pups unguarded, and he wouldn't be surprised if they showed up at any moment now! He was surprised they hadn't woken up yet with them trudging around outside and talking with each other.
He pulls his head back out of the cave and looks incredulously at the others. Rolling his eyes, he extinguishes his fire and then pulls out his chalkboard and starts writing on it. He flips it over when he's done and looks dryly at the other.
Um, any of you notice that the animals in their are both predators and herbivores? Doesn't that alarm any of you? They shouldn't just be chilling in a cave together. What if the druids left them here as guards? Or worse, what if they're the druids in disguise?
He erases the message and then writes some more. Actually, now that I think about it, what if this is the druids' lair and these are their pets? We need to do something about them before we just march on in.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Sirius concentrates specifically on the chamber to see if there's any magic affecting the animals. "What do you suggest Perrin? I don't think we should just kill the animals though the situation is suspect. Maybe it's an orphanage for predators and a safe nest for herbivores or something innocent like that. Do you have a spell that would help keep them asleep instead of killing them?"
"I don't think they look hostile but I also do not just want to kill them as I have heard that druids are protective of the furry woodland creatures and the forest itself" Zenos looks around to the others for their opnion.
Looking thoughtful, Perrin writes, “Give me a second to think.”
He didn’t want to kill the animals either. He loved wildlife, but at the same time, it seemed like a big risk to barge into the cave.
He stays lost in thought about the situation for about ten minutes, pacing back and forth until a thought crosses his mind. Could he try talking to them? He hesitantly wanders back to the cave, and as he does, he feels a strange sensation run through his body. Peeking back into the cave, he looks at the sleeping animals, and with a deep, steadying breath, he talks to them.
”Um, hello?” He’s shocked to hear words come out of his mouth of his choice, but to the others, it sounds like a stream of animal sounds.
((Casting Speak with Animals as a ritual))
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Aubreen steps back from the cavern mouth to speak with his companions, understanding his deep gravelly voice can carry. "Let us keep in mind why we came here, it is too discover the connection of this tomb to Sephek, not to slaughter the innocent be they animal or humanoid. It is possible Sephek has no connection at all, the scratches could be a coincidence. While I do not agree with the worship of Auril by these unknown Frost druids that is still not a crime. From what we have seen the only animal that must be culled is the rogue white moose, we can not allow it to continue terrorizing the town of Lonelywood. Its tracks lead to this cave and we will not learn more by peering in. let us proceed with caution, but proceed we must."
Aubreen watches as Perrin begins to squeak and growl, shrugging at the oddness of the birds behavior he says, "Let us stick to the original plan and move onward." He finishes and takes his place back at the entrance to the cave, watching the animals and the passages he can see closely while Perrin does his thing.
As Sirius lets his vision wander over the sleeping forms, he can't make out any sort of magical charm on the animals. And if these were druids in disguise, he'd surely be able to tell based on their aura.
Perrins greeting to the animal finally rouses some of them from their sleep, or at least causes them to look up in your direction. One brave fox hops over to look up at the kenku looking in. The floor of the inside of the hill is around 5 feet lower than the outside.
"Hello bird." it yips. "It's warm and safe here. Any creature of winter is welcome. So said Ravisin." There are murmurs of assent from the other animals. A yawn makes the round.
The fox looks past Perrin at the rest of the group. It's fur bristles. "The man things aren't welcome. Tell them to leave."
Zenos elbowing Aubreen "Look he is talking to the fox, I bet they are talking about how much that fox likes me and wants me to pet it and give ear scritches" man this is going to make a great section of my book.
Aubreen whispers back, "I thought we were sneaking in, and now you say they are talking to one another. The bird cant speak our language but some random wilderness animals are not a problem. By the wonders of Gond; Perrin has some secrets up those sleaves."
Perrin was even more surprised when the fox talks back. “Oh, well that’s good to know,” he says. He turns and looks back to the others
”The man things aren't welcome. Tell them to leave,” he repeats in a voice imitating how the fox sounded to him. He waives them back, indicating to give them a little bit of room.
Turning back to the fox, he says, “Yeah, I actually found a message saying to gather here, so I came to check it out.” Looking around at all the animals inside, he asks, “Who’s this Ravisin fellow? Do you know when they’ll be back?”
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Happy to continue chatting, the fox plops on the floor, curling its tail.
"Ravisin is a great friend of us. Ravisin made this burrow with White Elk. Ravisin - "
"Who are you talking to, fox?" a deeper voice comes.
Something moves there in the dark, a form towering over all of the other animals. There is the thump of hooves on dusty stone floor. The fox shrinks back from it.
"Just a bir- "
"FOOL"
Then, the first thing you see are large, dirty hooves stepping forward, followed by white fur, glistening and matted with blood. Antlers so large they almost scratch the ceiling of the chamber. Deep, dark creases surrounding a flaring cowlike nose with red dripping down. Eyes that look upon Perrin with intelligence.
"That is no bird. It is a man thing."
A wimper from the fox.
"What did Ravisin say about the man things, fox?"
All Zenos, Aubreen and Sirius hear is the bugle (sound) of an elk.
What you see:
"Is that sound a moose, elk, deer or something else because I have no clue what these northern animals sound like?" Looking around to the others standing outside the cave