Redleaf smiles at Thromkor, a genuine smile and starts speaking in beast "Come on out and play ones of the earth. I mean you no harm. We wish to talk. I have food for you."

Redleaf takes out a ration and swishes it around in front of the opening before dropping it and stepping back with her Warhammer. 

20 Persuasion Roll. 

As Redleaf drops the food into the burrow, she hears a scuttling sound and the chittering gets louder and is almost plaintive in its tone. When she peers into the burrow she sees a young Ankheg – about the same size as Cole – devouring the ration. You would guess it is less than an hour old.

Redleaf smiles and pulls out another ration for the little baby ankheg. "Aren't you precious. Would you like to come with momma to kick some bad guys arse?"

Redleaf will reach out and try to pet it while it takes the ration from her. 23 Animal Handling Roll

The baby Ankheg comes closer to Redleaf and grabs the ration from him. It devours this one almost as fast as it devoured the first and then looks questioningly (well you think it looks questioningly) at Redleaf and starts chittering again.

Gotrek watches Redleaf handle the small Ankheg with interest silently, Great-axe in hand. After a while he speaks up, never taking is watchful eye ofthe small Ankheg. "It seems you have everything under control Redleaf, but I won't hesitate to make it even smaller if I like this is going to go downhill." 

Redleaf puts down her Warhammer and pulls out another ration and hands it to the Ankheg speaking in soft gentle tones in beast. "There you go, big boy. Eat some more food. It's okay."

16 Animal Handling Roll 

Redleaf sits down and puts her hand out to the Ankheg and smiles, she looks over her shoulder. "No one better attack this thing." 

After about five rations the baby Ankheg stops crying so plaintively and just rests against Redleaf's leg.

Redleaf rubs the baby Ankhegs back and chitters to it in soft tones genuinely happy. "I will call you Cairn in remembrance of where I found you."

Thromkor looks at Redleaf, then at "Cairn", and then back to Redleaf. Turning to limp up beside Tibold, the dragonborn comments, "That didn't go as I had anticipated."

 Tibold nods.

"I'm not giving it my rations, though," he mutters.

Lanoros laughs, "Leave it to the Druid to collect strays. I say Cairn is a great addition to our party Redleaf." He hands Cairn a ration, looking at Redleaf, "I see we will need to be collecting some extra rations."

"I can forage no problem for myself and my little buddy Cairn," Redleaf says as she continues to pet the beast. "So should we be heading to the Tower? I'm all for it."

"How ever you want to handle it. Yes It is time to get moving. Unless we want to try bringing the dead to life."

Sirahane grimaces as the dwarf touches the disgusting creature. "Well, that was not how I saw that engagement going, but well played Redleaf, you spared us another fight. I agree, the Tower seems our best option going forward." As the party continues, Sirhane ensures the ankheng stays within her sights at all times.

Thromkor notices the tattered gray cloak for the first time and limps over to pick it up.

Investigation: 15

"Hey Larmon, what's that tower of there? Who does it belong to?" Redleaf asks the Sheppard as she pets the ankheg.

Day 2 of First 10 Day of Kythorn - Early to mid-Afternoon.

Larmon comes up to Redleaf and looks at Cairn in disgust. “Thars a baby now but it’ll grow into sheep killer. Mark my words. Best get rid of it now” he says. He looks over at the tower that Redleaf is pointing out and says “that be Feathergale Spire. Knights out of Waterdeep come up here sometimes, riding on flying monsters, but they keep to themselves.” Larmon says “If’n you’re gunna keep that monster, I’s off back to town” and turns and start to make his way back down the hill.

As the party moves off towards the Feathergale Spire, Cairn climbs up onto Redleaf’s backpack accidentally drooling a bit of weak acid here and there. Redleaf knows it is normal for baby Ankhegs to ride on their parent’s backs as they tunnel through the ground. Feathergale Spire is about 2 miles away and the party has to climb another 500 feet. The wind continues to buffet them, but the snow has reduced to sleet. However, they are all now wet and some – those less prepared for the weather – are colder than the others. 

As the party approaches Feathergale Spire, the sun breaks through the clouds and they can see the tower gleam in the weak sunlight. Eventually the party passes through a gap in the rocks and emerges onto a ledge and they see in front of them a massive canyon with rock pillars emerging from its floor 400 feet below. The wind is whistling and sighing through the rock pillars.

Directly in front of the party is Feathergale Spire. But there is a gap of twenty feet separating the ledge where the path ends from what appears to be a closed drawbridge on the tower. Near the ledge, a brass bell hangs from a wooden post.

"Hey Sirahane, What do you know of Waterdeephavians(sp?) riding flying mounts? Aren't you from that wretched city?" Redleaf asks as she reaches out and bangs on the bell to get their attention. 

At the bell’s ring, a small window near the gate opens and a voice says “welcome to Feathergale Spire, retreat of the Feathergale Society, how can I help you?”

Gotrek looked to his left, then to his right and then to his left again before stepping back and saying, "Wasn't my idea to come here, I'll leave it to you lads."