Barnabus helps ge the others across once everyone is across he'll go explore the rest of the cavern. (Unless he already did. Then he'll suggest they all return to the surface Ionce the mining has been completed.
You're unable to identify the skull, but it strikes you as... aquatic? It must have been here for quite some time if that's true. You're able to, spending a little time mining, dislodge it and cause the pink glimmer to fall to the ground. It appears to be a larger version of the crystal the kobold held, a spiky geode that glows pink, obviously magical.
Barnabus, are you trying to mine the chardalyn or were you just confirming what was here?
From the other side of the gap, Trex and his kobolds wait patiently. He whistles to call the three on the floor above down. They all chat amongst themselves excitedly while you mine away.
From Barnabus and Jar's perspective, if they're watching, Morkeleb holds the crystal up to his head and focuses. You see him take a sharp breath as his eyes roll back in his head for just a moment before he pulls the crystal away.
Morkeleb, for your perspective:
As you focus on the crystal, you feel its buzzing penetrate your mind. You experience a psychic vision.
Percentile Roll: 62
"Mayday, mayday!" The ship's console blares. You see the mountain rapidly approaching through the cockpit, and know that you are about to crash. That this is it. You take a deep breath just before impact. Metal, rock, and glass fly in every direction. You're jostled from your seat. Gravity has no meaning as you fly in every direction. Something explodes behind you. You're sure your copilot is dead as you feel blood ooze down your shoulders.
Then everything stops, and you realize that you've survived. Of course you survived; you're the best there is. Only a man of your caliber could have gotten through something like this!
The vision fades, and you are yourself again. Three things have changed:
1. It's not overwhelming, or even constant, but you hear the sound of the ship's distress signal in the back of your mind, from time to time.
2. You have gained a limited form of telepathy. So long as you carry the PsiCrystal,you can freely project your thoughts to other creatures within a range of 30 feet.
3. You contract an indefinite madness from the experience, perhaps picking up a trait from whoever this memory belonged to. "I am the strongest, fastest, smartest, most beautiful person I know. The kind of narcissist that hates passing a mirror without checking my reflection."
Morkeleb shakes his head to try and clear it, then smiles his toothiest grin at the others. He'll send the others in the party a little telepathic tickle to demonstrate his new ability: Look what I can do. No doubt it'll be dead useful at some point.
Don’t worry, Morkeleb sends, probably a little obnoxiously. It’s a new trick I just learned. Probably what the wizards were after. Turns out I’m smarter than they were.
Trex calls from across the pit. “Do you have what you need? I’d like to get my fellows safe passage into town today, if you don’t mind. It will just be me coming back with you for the moment.”
"Look, little cousin, I'm not convinced the people of Termalaine are going to see things as you hope. But you've been a capital fellow. Come with us, and we'll put in a good word for you. I have no doubt the town will listen to me, at any rate."
“Ah, that’s excellent news. I so appreciate that,” he pauses a moment, “Big cousin. I’m sure they’ll listen to reason. Once your friends cross back over, let us be off!”
He adjusts his satchel and fake wings before turning to the other kobolds, “I promise you all my friends, when I come back you’ll all be in a much better position. Just stay together and don’t cause any trouble until I return.”
"Ah, that," Trex replies. "We were living up in the mountain previously. A yeti attacked our nest. Big, ferocious furball. It killed three of us before we escaped. Just a normal yeti, but then, you don't want to run into one. Must have been getting hungry, or forced out by some change in the cold. Terrible thing really." He clutches his bag. "We didn't have time to grab much, but we made do. Since it was sheer chaos, I took charge and led us into the nearest cave for safety. I didn't know it was a mine until we'd already spooked the workers."
Insight DC 12:
You get the sense that he's purposefully leaving something out of his story. That it didn't quite happen like that.
Morkeleb sighs, “If only I’d been there, I’d have chopped the monster to pieces. Ah well, let’s get out of here. It doesn’t do to keep someone as pretty as me hidden underground.”
It's not a difficult walk out of the mine. You all have to use the bucket lift between the first tow levels again, and Trex points out a trap or two the kobolds made along the way, but you're able to exit and follow the path back to town with no issue. Trex draws a few eyes from the townspeople, but the single kobold apparently isn't cause for immediate alarm.
Asking around, it's equally simple to find the speaker's home. Oarus answers the front door of a nice cabin, looking happy to see you all back. "Ah, back sooner than expected. I assume it went well?" He then notices the kobold with you, who gives an overly polite bow to the speaker. "Is there a reason you brought one back with you?
"Aye, we have decided that negotiations may keep things civil and avoid blood shed. We come as protection for Trex, the one who speaks for the kolbolds. Hear his plight, and know that there are nefarious plots in motion with in this region that may have been the cause of their intrusion"
Barnabus shifts aside to allow the others to state their cases.
Morkeleb explains, “As well, the kobolds were not the source of all the mischief. There was a man-eating monster, a greck I believe, but we have slain the creature. If we but make arrangements with the kobolds then the mine will be completely safe. You’re welcome!”
Barnabus helps ge the others across once everyone is across he'll go explore the rest of the cavern. (Unless he already did. Then he'll suggest they all return to the surface Ionce the mining has been completed.
**This Space for Rent**
Jar will also traverse down the bucket.
D&D since 1984
Feeling more clever than perhaps he has a right to, Morkeleb is going to try to get that pink glimmer out of the wall, out of the skull.
By the way, can I tell what kind of skull this is?
I rolled a 9, which would be an 8 for medicine / nature / history / arcana / animal handling
You're unable to identify the skull, but it strikes you as... aquatic? It must have been here for quite some time if that's true. You're able to, spending a little time mining, dislodge it and cause the pink glimmer to fall to the ground. It appears to be a larger version of the crystal the kobold held, a spiky geode that glows pink, obviously magical.
Barnabus, are you trying to mine the chardalyn or were you just confirming what was here?
From the other side of the gap, Trex and his kobolds wait patiently. He whistles to call the three on the floor above down. They all chat amongst themselves excitedly while you mine away.
Morkeleb holds the crystal geode up to his head, just as he had the other, just as the wizard had described to do. Anything different this time?
From Barnabus and Jar's perspective, if they're watching, Morkeleb holds the crystal up to his head and focuses. You see him take a sharp breath as his eyes roll back in his head for just a moment before he pulls the crystal away.
Morkeleb, for your perspective:
As you focus on the crystal, you feel its buzzing penetrate your mind. You experience a psychic vision.
Percentile Roll: 62
"Mayday, mayday!" The ship's console blares. You see the mountain rapidly approaching through the cockpit, and know that you are about to crash. That this is it. You take a deep breath just before impact. Metal, rock, and glass fly in every direction. You're jostled from your seat. Gravity has no meaning as you fly in every direction. Something explodes behind you. You're sure your copilot is dead as you feel blood ooze down your shoulders.
Then everything stops, and you realize that you've survived. Of course you survived; you're the best there is. Only a man of your caliber could have gotten through something like this!
The vision fades, and you are yourself again. Three things have changed:
1. It's not overwhelming, or even constant, but you hear the sound of the ship's distress signal in the back of your mind, from time to time.
2. You have gained a limited form of telepathy. So long as you carry the Psi Crystal, you can freely project your thoughts to other creatures within a range of 30 feet.
3. You contract an indefinite madness from the experience, perhaps picking up a trait from whoever this memory belonged to. "I am the strongest, fastest, smartest, most beautiful person I know. The kind of narcissist that hates passing a mirror without checking my reflection."
Morkeleb shakes his head to try and clear it, then smiles his toothiest grin at the others. He'll send the others in the party a little telepathic tickle to demonstrate his new ability: Look what I can do. No doubt it'll be dead useful at some point.
Convinced that this is indeed the chardalyn mentioned Barnabus rises to his feet to see Morkeleb listen to the crystal.
"Ayeee...What kind of sorcery is this!" Says Barnabus
**This Space for Rent**
Don’t worry, Morkeleb sends, probably a little obnoxiously. It’s a new trick I just learned. Probably what the wizards were after. Turns out I’m smarter than they were.
"Oh that's gonna take some getting used too." bemoans Barnabus out loud. "We should head to the surface. We need to meet privately and talk this out."
**This Space for Rent**
Trex calls from across the pit. “Do you have what you need? I’d like to get my fellows safe passage into town today, if you don’t mind. It will just be me coming back with you for the moment.”
Morkeleb heads back across to talk to Trex more.
"Look, little cousin, I'm not convinced the people of Termalaine are going to see things as you hope. But you've been a capital fellow. Come with us, and we'll put in a good word for you. I have no doubt the town will listen to me, at any rate."
“Ah, that’s excellent news. I so appreciate that,” he pauses a moment, “Big cousin. I’m sure they’ll listen to reason. Once your friends cross back over, let us be off!”
He adjusts his satchel and fake wings before turning to the other kobolds, “I promise you all my friends, when I come back you’ll all be in a much better position. Just stay together and don’t cause any trouble until I return.”
As they make their way out of the mine Barnabus asks about the Yeti.
**This Space for Rent**
"Ah, that," Trex replies. "We were living up in the mountain previously. A yeti attacked our nest. Big, ferocious furball. It killed three of us before we escaped. Just a normal yeti, but then, you don't want to run into one. Must have been getting hungry, or forced out by some change in the cold. Terrible thing really." He clutches his bag. "We didn't have time to grab much, but we made do. Since it was sheer chaos, I took charge and led us into the nearest cave for safety. I didn't know it was a mine until we'd already spooked the workers."
Insight DC 12:
You get the sense that he's purposefully leaving something out of his story. That it didn't quite happen like that.
Satisfied that the kobolds have a righteous reason to be here Barnabus puts on a determined look.
"Aye we'll get you squared away."
**This Space for Rent**
Insight 6
Morkeleb sighs, “If only I’d been there, I’d have chopped the monster to pieces. Ah well, let’s get out of here. It doesn’t do to keep someone as pretty as me hidden underground.”
It's not a difficult walk out of the mine. You all have to use the bucket lift between the first tow levels again, and Trex points out a trap or two the kobolds made along the way, but you're able to exit and follow the path back to town with no issue. Trex draws a few eyes from the townspeople, but the single kobold apparently isn't cause for immediate alarm.
Asking around, it's equally simple to find the speaker's home. Oarus answers the front door of a nice cabin, looking happy to see you all back. "Ah, back sooner than expected. I assume it went well?" He then notices the kobold with you, who gives an overly polite bow to the speaker. "Is there a reason you brought one back with you?
"Aye, we have decided that negotiations may keep things civil and avoid blood shed. We come as protection for Trex, the one who speaks for the kolbolds. Hear his plight, and know that there are nefarious plots in motion with in this region that may have been the cause of their intrusion"
Barnabus shifts aside to allow the others to state their cases.
**This Space for Rent**
Morkeleb explains, “As well, the kobolds were not the source of all the mischief. There was a man-eating monster, a greck I believe, but we have slain the creature. If we but make arrangements with the kobolds then the mine will be completely safe. You’re welcome!”