On the journey Mulligan would do his best to pull Seamus away from Rowan and his questioning to have a little "chat" with their new... companion? Captive?. Firstly would be a quick explanation that Mulligan can send words into their head but Seamus has to respond verbally. Wouldn't want Seamus to be talking back mentally and nobody hearing it at all, including Mulligan. Next Mulligan tries to have a conversation about the two leprechaun joining the group. Accompanying the group. Whatever. Basically Mulligan trying to feel out just how the leprechaun view it. Do they see themselves as hostages? Reluctant companions? A part of the team?
Truth told it was a negotiating tactic. I thought we would end up getting our stuff back, not keeping you to. Mind you, we're happy to have you two with us... Assuming you are with us and not here to try to make another grab at Polinella... Or two make our lives difficult. If you are part of the team you are part of the team all the way. If it is anything else, well that will be all the way as well.
Mulligan does his best to be up front, honest and truthful in the conversation, and does his best to gauge just how much so Seamus is. Mulligan finds himself tempted to use his telepathy to Detect Thoughts during the conversation but he is aware that Seamus would be aware of it and he doesn't want to build any hostility or suspicion if it can be avoided so he resorts to normal insight... (Insight: 21)
Any insight he may gain about the goals and feelings of the leprechaun is shared via Group Chat to the others, of course.
Mulligan also asks a bit about the Korreds and the Brigganocks, curious to know any information or insights Seamus may have about them.
Upon arriving at their destination Mulligan does his best to hang back and go unnoticed. He's not hiding, mind you, more just letting others take the lead. He's curious to know if Barria senses anything in the stone carvings as she had before or not but awaits for her to investigate. He's a bit anxious to find those they are looking for but again will let the others head first into the cave before he follows. Not only does Mulligan think others are better equipped to take the lead but he wants to hang back and keep an eye on Seamus and Padraig and see how they respond to everything...
Mulligan gets very little out of his attempts to communicate with Padraig. The grouchy leprechaun stomps along as far back as anyone will allow, and indeed seems to be determined to be an inconvenience as long as he is forced to remain present. Any attempts to scan Padraig's thoughts reveal little more than vague threats about what curses he would summon if only he had such power, and also whether there was going to be any food or drink forthcoming any time soon.
Seamus on the other hand appears much more amenable to conversation, and even interested in Mulligan's telepathic abilities and associated lack of speech. When the interrogation turns to the leprechauns intentions, Seamus responds in a similar way as before, but this time Mulligans picks up on the cleverly-worded phrases (it SOUNDS like a reasonable trade, and we have no CURRENT objection) as well as the wry smirk and cheeky tone that accompany them... it is clear to Mulligan that Seamus does not consider his captivity legally binding at all.
Barria and Rowan inspect the statues, noting the lifelike features, and rightfully wondering if they are in fact petrified korreds. But there is no life force within the stone, and even Seamus confirms that these formations were created and placed here by the korreds as an attempt at intimidation toward the hated brigganocks. By the sounds of the hammering, it seems the tactic was ineffective.
Seamus has little else to contribute about the brigganocks, and in fact claims to have never met one. Apparently it is unheard of for them to depart from their mines, and since the leprechauns almost never venture below ground, they have never crossed paths. He offers no information that wasn't provided by the korreds, except that apparently the brigganocks have been known to use mules in their mines, and that they are skilled artificers.
Barria and Rowan are the first to set foot inside the mouth of the cave. They no sooner do so, when the sound of mining abruptly stops.
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
the journey is exhausting for gReg, listening to the leprechauns talk and talk, on top of the incessant questions that usually accompanied Rowan. The gnome feels on edge with the fey rules and such, but this childish back and forth makes him withdraw even moreso.
He is relieved when he hears the sounds of mining, this is the first stop on the path to acquiring allies to help regain his belonging from Endelyn, and as an added bonus he knows a thing or two about mining. He lets Barria and Rowan take the lead, though he does wonder if the leprechauns should go first as a trap detection service.
Seeing that the element of surprise was out of the question, Barria calls out, "Hello? Mind if we come and visit with you all a spell? I'm sure you're weary from all the tap tap tapping y'all are doing and we'd love to say hello!"
She looks at Rowan and shrugging her shoulders, continues into the cave, unless things appear hostile.
Mulligan's take on the captives makes him a bit nervous and he's considering suggesting the group just send them on their way and be done with them when they stumble upon what they had been looking for before he could fully decide. So something to deal with later...
Mulligan continues to keep to the back of the group and definitely to keep an eye on the 'chauns.
Rowan nods at Barria and as she speaks, he begins patting a rhythm out on his legs.
In a very off-key voice (Performance 2), he sings along "But if I work all day on the blue sky mine, there'll be food on the table tonight. Still I walk up and down on the blue sky mine, there'll be pay in your pocket tonight."
Rowan's off-tune song sounds hollow against the walls of the mine shaft, and stops as quickly as it began. The group shuffle down the tunnel, which corkscrews in a clockwise direction as it descends, with the leprechauns looking around them in either curiosity or trepidation (it's hard to tell which). However it's only a dozen heartbeats after Rowan's song ends that the hammering sound picks up again, but different. The tempo is the same as Rowan's song, with the same heavy downbeats and occasional upbeats, combined with a few triplets over the top. Rowan continues to sing the song in his head, but all members of the group can't help but be captivated by the rhythm of the hammering. It continues on, and on, and on, repeating over and over, for what feels like an eternity, as the group wind deeper down the mine tunnel.
Darkness encloses all. The hammering drones on, lulling in its repetitiveness. Greg's eyes grow heavy. The tunnels winds deeper. Barria suppresses a yawn. One of the leprechauns (Mulligan thinks it is Padraig) falls face-first onto the ground. Mulligan languidly assumes it's a ploy from the tricksy little fey, and considers giving him a half-hearted kick, but then Seamus too slumps to the ground, with both snoring. The urge to rest, to sleep, is almost overpowering... Only Rowan is immune to the feeling.
Everyone except Rowan must make a Constitution saving throw or fall asleep
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Rowan finally stops singing to himself after he realizes he’s been on a continuous loop for the last several minutes. He looks around as some of his companions start to doze off.
”I don’t think this is the best place to do that. Why are they going to sleep now, Barria? I realize we’ve done a lot of walking and it must feel a lot further on those little legs but we still have work to do.”
Greginald and Mulligan cannot resist the wave of sleepiness that washes over them from the hypnotising rhythm, and they both slip into unconsciousness...
...
...you dream...
...you are in a tunnel. Your body lays on the floor in the darkness, alongside two leprechauns, a flower, a bee, a sun-headed elf, and a familiar-looking individual... a companion? Two others are in the tunnel - an elf and a dwarf - also familiar to you. You can't recall their names. You can't recall your own name. You remember entering the tunnel. You remember a journey around a lake, through a mountainous stormy realm. You remember more leprechauns. You remember some hairy stone-creatures and a circle of monoliths. You remember a wagon with a dark-cloaked figure and a puppet show. What came before that you can't recall. Dreams are such strange adventures.
In your dream, other creatures are in the tunnel - deeper and out of sight, but somehow you know - tiny mouse-like creatures. A human is with them. Somehow you also know that with merely a thought you could propel your consciousness to them. Stone is no barrier in a dream. You could propel yourself up and out of the depths if you so choose. With a thought, you could fly across the width and breadth of the realm, to the darkest pit of the deepest mine, or to the highest peak of the tallest mountain. You can go anywhere in a dream...
Rowan & Barria
Rowan and Barria watch as Amidor and Glister slump to the floor beside the leprechauns. Polinella buzzes and descends to the ground, then falls silent. Greginald and Mulligan are the last to drop. Barria feels extremely sleepy, and has to sit down to avoid passing out, but manages to stay conscious.
Rowan remains fully awake and alert. Try as he might, however, he can do nothing to rouse any of his sleeping companions.
After about five minutes of trying to wake the sleepers, the hammering sound abruptly stops. Barria's sleepiness slowly begins to fade, but she is the first to sense movement coming from deeper in the tunnel. There is a faint light casting vague shadows on the walls, along with the sound of footfalls, soft whispering, and something creaking. Louder grow the sounds, clearer becomes the light, until distinct silhouettes of hunched creatures are cast onto the tunnel walls from something coming around the corner - shadows stretching beyond the eight-foot span and even casting onto the ceiling. Then the figures appear...
...mice?
There appears to be eight tiny mice pushing tiny wheelbarrows. The barrows squeak loudly for such little machines, and the mice-whispers are oddly amplified by the tunnel acoustics. The barrows are filled with hammers, ropes and pitons. Each mouse-creature also has a small mote of light floating just behind it, which is what casts the disproportionately huge shadows onto the wall.
The mice stop short when they spot Rowan standing there, followed by Barria awake and crouching nearby. There is some more hurried whispering, and then...
...it takes only seconds - too quickly for the sleepy Barria or the dumbfounded Rowan to respond. The mice-creatures move impossibly fast, as though the passage of time has warped just around them. In this fast-forward mode they close the distance to the group, unload the wheelbarrows, stretch the ropes out across the sleeping figures, hammer pitons into the floor, and tie the ropes off. It is a blur of movement, but when it finally stops, the elf and the dwarf see that an hour-worth of work has taken place, resulting in their companions tightly bound to the floor, and the eight mouse-creatures standing guard over them, gripping their tiny hammers, their barrows forming a rudimentary barricade, from behind which they glare at the two onlookers...
Barria can handle bad singing, but only for so long. And Rowan going round and round about his stupid blue sky was about all she could take. Her mind was so focused on how to get him to stop that the rhythm of the tiny hammers registered, but just barely.
All the sudden she was on the ground and drowsily looking up at her friend. She then looks around her and sees everyone else asleep. Turning back to Rowan, she says drowsily, "Thank you for stopping. I think...I think I've heard enough about the blue sky. They aren't sleeping on purpose, something has happened."
As the mice emerge, Barria's mouth drops open slightly at the impossibility of it all. First talking stones, no wait... first talking weeds, then talking stones. Then leprechauns, now this? And before she knows it they had imprisoned her friends! At this she finally stands up and shakes off the last of the drowsiness.
"What is the meaning of this? Release our friends now! You have no right to tie them up, we would have talked with you with no adverse affects, there is no need for this! Who are you guys?"
Mice and men. Or a man. Or… perhaps not a man at all. Maybe something else entirely—something softer, stranger. A woman? Or both? Neither? Curious.
There was a before. Surely. There always is, isn’t there? Always a before before the now. But when is now, really? And does it matter? If everything before is already before now, then what makes the now now? And if now doesn’t matter, then why should before? Before what, even? After what? After the before, or after the after?
It’s all rather… slippery. Like thoughts trying to hold hands in the dark but always missing by just a breath.
Metaphorically whimsical, yes—that’s the phrase. Like when he’s drunk just enough to almost be sober again, right before the balance tips, with that fine Shire-grown leaf curling warm and lazy in his lungs.
Smoke makes such solid shapes, doesn’t it? Little ghosts of ideas that forget they’re made of nothing. The strongest one, the one that lingers when the others fade, is of mice and men—or a man—or woman—or something singular that slips between those words like a secret.
If he has any focus at all, it’s on them. That odd one in the middle of all this oddness—his lone anchor in this sea of half-remembered thoughts and dream-colored consciousness.
((If Mulligan can flitter his consciousness or awareness anywhere it would be to the human amongst the mice creatures as their almost normality is the thing that seems to stick out the most to him in this dreamlike fugue he is in...))
Rowan watches the blur of activity and then frowns a little when the small mice-sized people have tied up all of the others except Barria. He does peer a little more closely to see if they actually managed to tie up Polinella too. That would be quite the feat.
"I feel like I've read this story before," Rowan says as he looks at his companions tied and staked to the floor.
He crouches a little to get a closer look at the newcomers and nods his head.
Eventually he stands back up and gives the mice-people a bow.
"Are you the brigganocks? We've come to have a bit of a talk or a chat or at least make a request. We would have knocked on the front door, but you didn't have a door to knock on," Rowan says. "We did call down, but no one answered so we came in to find you. And now that we have, I think we can have the talk. But it would be easier if you untied our friends and let them wake up. They don't look very comfortable there. Whenever I enter a trance on a hard surface my back always feels sore when I'm finished and it takes me ages to stretch it out. I've heard that gets worse as you get older but I'm not older yet so can't really speak to that."
He looks over at Barria and shrugs.
"We're trying to arrange a meeting for some kind of dance with the Korreds. They don't like the witch running things up in the Motherhorn and we think she has a friend of a friend captured there and maybe a hoe, or a voice, or a recipe too. Are you friends with her?"
This plane had done nothing but irritate him, but a sudden comfort and peace washes over him, the loss of burden, he likes this feeling...
These people around him, walking in tunnels in the dark, who are they? certainly none of his business, right? or at least not his problem, people always lead to problems, wanting you to do things for them, help them, think for them, where were his books? books are good, isolation and books, with nobody to disturb him, yes knowlegde is a safe haven without responsibility, only serving oneself, but now he finds himself with a distinct lack of self too...
Deciding that there are no books or knowledge to be found here, Greg's consciousness wanders upwards, out of the tunnels, out of the earth and tries to find the nearest man made structure that may contain a library, he may find himself there, or at least more comfort.
With no more than a thought, your consciousness zooms up out of the mine and into the dark stormy air. You rise high above the peak of the mountain, to the boundary of the storm clouds, amongst the lightning, though there is no sound of thunder in this dream. You look out across the landscape, jagged peaks looming in the darkness, illuminated by occasional flashes. With each flash of lightning, it seems that not only does the landscape illuminate, but in that split second the entire landscape seems to change, with the mountains lit by warm sunshine, covered in vibrant wildflowers, and linked with rainbows. But when the lightning disappears, the vision is gone, and the mountains are again dark and barren, linked only by the static flashes of electricity arcing between the thin towers, all the way to the far castle.
You sense that the castle is the best location to find a library, and you zoom out across the ranges, travelling faster than thought. Within moments you arrive, seeing a fortress built into the side of a mountain, complete with towers and parapets; but where a castle's bailey might enclosed a courtyard, instead this castle's wall surrounds a large open-air amphitheatre. Figures move on the stage, but you don't stop to spectate, instead zooming right down into the gap between the bleachers, and into the heart of the mountain.
It is only a short distance along a hallway when it opens up into a large library, eighty feet across. Bookshelves rise along the walls, and through the center, with space for hundreds of volumes. Past and present seem to be equally visible, and time moves both forward and backward - you see sometimes shelves full, and sometimes shelves yet to be filled, but no matter the moment in time, each book is identical: spineless, with black wooden covers and yellow pages bound in copper wire, and with the image of an hourglass burned on the front.
A figure enters and leaves the library, simultaneously there and not there, but bringing new books to add to the shelves, and always leaving you with a sense of horror and foreboding. The creature is frighteningly tall; it is clothed in an enormous black dress with a crinoline cage underneath that conjures the image of spider's legs, and a face hidden by a veil that looks more like a heavy curtain.
Other blurred figures move through the library: goblins shelve and catalogue the new books, gradually filling the space, while dark cloaked figures sit and read, all simultaneously there and not there. You can even catch glimpses of the words on some of the pages - cramped, slanted handwriting, all in rhyme, describing various tragic events - and after watching a while you conclude that they are all predictions of disaster: the library is an archive of doom.
Mulligan
You glide downward, through stone and space alike, until you are in the proximity of the human figure. Perhaps it is a slender male, or perhaps a sturdy female - in dream, some things aren't clear. But they have long dark hair and dark skin, are clad in armor and a dark cloak, carrying knives and a sword, and moving stealthily and with grace. It puts you in mind of... you! ...except much less shabby.
Past and present seem to blur in your dream, and you can somehow 'see' something about this human's history here. You sense them arrive in the Feywild, accompanied by three companions. You sense the moment the human arrives alone in this place, creeping through the darkness of the mine. You sense the wealth of gems that they find, and the feelings that stirs. And yet, they take none of the gems nor do they employ their blades against the tiny inhabitants. Instead they abide here together, helping as the creatures mine and sort through hundreds of the gems. Yes, you sense that this human is somewhat like you - a stranger in a strange land - more than a little shady, but well-meaning.
Here's a image of the human... you might recognise it from the cover of the 2024 PHB.
Barria and Rowan
The small creatures bristle at Barria's objections, and also at Rowan's attempts to explain, especially when he mentions 'korreds' and the 'witch'. It's difficult to be intimidated by the tiny critters and their tiny hammers, but then again their ability to move so impossibly fast leaves the two intruders feeling cautious, especially as several more creatures arrive and swell the numbers.
Just as Barria and Rowan are wondering how the impasse can be resolved, another figure arrives - not a tiny mouse-creature, but a full-sized humanoid. Their face is shrouded in shadow due to a light behind their head, but the silhouette is a little intimidating: a dark cloaks sways in time with a confident stride - one hand holds a short sword lazily at one side while the other hand spins and flicks a dagger, the point of which flashes in the half-light - long dark hair flows from underneath a cowled hood. As the figure enters the circle of light cast from the mouse-creatures' motes of light, the face is revealed - a dark-skinned human face, with soft features but a grim expression.
Casual but poised, the human looks wordlessly at Barria and Rowan, then down at the bound sleepers on the tunnel floor, still expertly flicking the knife in one hand without looking at it.
So... a dusky voice languidly intones, This is who the korreds are sending to do their dirty work now? No sense denying it - their stench is all over you. They've sent you to murder the brigganocks and steal their gems. Why else would you entered uninvited? And fraternising with leprechauns... clearly you mean mischief. Should I just kill you now, or should I let you drag these sorry fools back out the way you came?
Barria can see another brigganock (if that's what the mouse-creatures are) perched on the human's shoulder, accompanied by another wisp of light which was casting the human's face into shadow. Rowan sees this too, as well as two more brigganocks - one peeking out of the human's boot, and another nestled in a pouch at their belt.
Mulligan asks himself as well as the unshabby figure. Then again, Mulligan isn't sure he asks anything at all. Such is dreams.
And what happened to your companions?
Again, it is a questions appropriate to both himself and this one he dreams of. Will he get answers? From himself or the other? Or is he just along for the ride?
As the visions pass, of past and fruition simultaneously happening, and having had already happened g'Reg's mind is a tumultuous sea of growing horror. This certainly begs the question of fate and destiny, the lack of free will, but those spiralling thoughts are put out of his head by the sight of the crone who presents herself, and will present herself, and has yet to present herself. He watches on hoping that he cannot be seen and tries to escape. Taking himself from the library and out into other parts of the castle where perhaps this nightmare woman will not be present, or future, or past.
Books were his sanctuary, but with no names coming to mind for the humanoids that had accompanied him, not a name for himself he deduces that this archive of doom could hold no knowledge that may help him, not without the context he lacks. Books have failed him, and he is uncomfortable with that situation.
Rowan looks at the newcomer, cocking his head to one side.
”Do you feel anxious a lot? Sometimes when I get overstimulated I twirl knives and daggers too. It’s really calming to have something to do with your hands.” Rowan says. He takes a breath and continues. “I feel like you’re deliberately not listening to what we have to say. We’re not murderers, well I don’t think any of us are. I’m definitely not. And as for the leprechauns, well, if it helps, think of that one as a lute and that one as a frying pan. They stole some of our gear and in exchange we some how ended up with these two.”
Rowan eyes the sleeping crew to make sure none of the mice-people are doing anything harmful.
”We did talk to the korreds. They were an interesting group. The one that stayed in the stone even seemed to think they knew me. We’re not here to do any dirty work. Don’t really want to do any clean work either I suppose. We’re here to try and get the two groups talking and dancing.”
Rowan Rowan then proceeds to tell the dagger guy all about arriving here and meeting the weird carriage and the hole in the sky and the korreds and the leprechauns and then the mice-men and finally meeting the newcomer. Rowan then stops talking, bobbing his head a little and shuffling from foot to foot as he does. Then he looks at the newcomer again.
Barria quickly scrambles to her feet as the human approaches, having difficulty watching the mouse like creatures as they grow in numbers and watching this human approach. She wishes her other friends were awake as well as she was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.
"No, no, you have it all wrong." She bows to them and then straightens her apron as she stands back up to her full height. "My name is Barria Copperkettle and we did not mean to intrude by any means! As my friend here was saying, we called down but no one answered, so we figured that we weren't heard over the taping so we wanted to come and talk to the Brigganocks. Murder?!? Never! We have been asked by the Korreds a favor, something about a dance? But I would never harm a hair on their heads, especially if they let my friends go! You see, you have us at a disadvantage, which is never a good way to meet someone! And as for the leprechauns... well that was an unfortunate meeting I wish I could take back! The only reason two are with us is in payment for them stealing our belongings! Honestly, they are more harm then good. I'd so much rather have my frying pan back." she frowns and crosses her arms as she thinks about this and the situation it has gotten them in.
But realizing how this probably makes her look, she uncrosses her arms again and worries her hands a bit as she doesn't like her current predicament. Before Rowan can interject, "Please, we are really just looking for a way into the Motherhorn."
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Rowan stops and peers into the eyes of the stone Korreds. As he examines them, he does wonder about stories of people being turned to stone.
"Are Brigganocks like basilisks? Can they turn people into stone?" Rowan asks Amidor and the leprechauns. "That would be an added challenge."
Assuming they answer no, Rowan steps up to take the lead with Barria.
On the journey Mulligan would do his best to pull Seamus away from Rowan and his questioning to have a little "chat" with their new... companion? Captive?. Firstly would be a quick explanation that Mulligan can send words into their head but Seamus has to respond verbally. Wouldn't want Seamus to be talking back mentally and nobody hearing it at all, including Mulligan. Next Mulligan tries to have a conversation about the two leprechaun joining the group. Accompanying the group. Whatever. Basically Mulligan trying to feel out just how the leprechaun view it. Do they see themselves as hostages? Reluctant companions? A part of the team?
Truth told it was a negotiating tactic. I thought we would end up getting our stuff back, not keeping you to. Mind you, we're happy to have you two with us... Assuming you are with us and not here to try to make another grab at Polinella... Or two make our lives difficult. If you are part of the team you are part of the team all the way. If it is anything else, well that will be all the way as well.
Mulligan does his best to be up front, honest and truthful in the conversation, and does his best to gauge just how much so Seamus is. Mulligan finds himself tempted to use his telepathy to Detect Thoughts during the conversation but he is aware that Seamus would be aware of it and he doesn't want to build any hostility or suspicion if it can be avoided so he resorts to normal insight... (Insight: 21)
Any insight he may gain about the goals and feelings of the leprechaun is shared via Group Chat to the others, of course.
Mulligan also asks a bit about the Korreds and the Brigganocks, curious to know any information or insights Seamus may have about them.
Upon arriving at their destination Mulligan does his best to hang back and go unnoticed. He's not hiding, mind you, more just letting others take the lead. He's curious to know if Barria senses anything in the stone carvings as she had before or not but awaits for her to investigate. He's a bit anxious to find those they are looking for but again will let the others head first into the cave before he follows. Not only does Mulligan think others are better equipped to take the lead but he wants to hang back and keep an eye on Seamus and Padraig and see how they respond to everything...
Mulligan gets very little out of his attempts to communicate with Padraig. The grouchy leprechaun stomps along as far back as anyone will allow, and indeed seems to be determined to be an inconvenience as long as he is forced to remain present. Any attempts to scan Padraig's thoughts reveal little more than vague threats about what curses he would summon if only he had such power, and also whether there was going to be any food or drink forthcoming any time soon.
Seamus on the other hand appears much more amenable to conversation, and even interested in Mulligan's telepathic abilities and associated lack of speech. When the interrogation turns to the leprechauns intentions, Seamus responds in a similar way as before, but this time Mulligans picks up on the cleverly-worded phrases (it SOUNDS like a reasonable trade, and we have no CURRENT objection) as well as the wry smirk and cheeky tone that accompany them... it is clear to Mulligan that Seamus does not consider his captivity legally binding at all.
Barria and Rowan inspect the statues, noting the lifelike features, and rightfully wondering if they are in fact petrified korreds. But there is no life force within the stone, and even Seamus confirms that these formations were created and placed here by the korreds as an attempt at intimidation toward the hated brigganocks. By the sounds of the hammering, it seems the tactic was ineffective.
Seamus has little else to contribute about the brigganocks, and in fact claims to have never met one. Apparently it is unheard of for them to depart from their mines, and since the leprechauns almost never venture below ground, they have never crossed paths. He offers no information that wasn't provided by the korreds, except that apparently the brigganocks have been known to use mules in their mines, and that they are skilled artificers.
Barria and Rowan are the first to set foot inside the mouth of the cave. They no sooner do so, when the sound of mining abruptly stops.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
the journey is exhausting for gReg, listening to the leprechauns talk and talk, on top of the incessant questions that usually accompanied Rowan. The gnome feels on edge with the fey rules and such, but this childish back and forth makes him withdraw even moreso.
He is relieved when he hears the sounds of mining, this is the first stop on the path to acquiring allies to help regain his belonging from Endelyn, and as an added bonus he knows a thing or two about mining. He lets Barria and Rowan take the lead, though he does wonder if the leprechauns should go first as a trap detection service.
Seeing that the element of surprise was out of the question, Barria calls out, "Hello? Mind if we come and visit with you all a spell? I'm sure you're weary from all the tap tap tapping y'all are doing and we'd love to say hello!"
She looks at Rowan and shrugging her shoulders, continues into the cave, unless things appear hostile.
Mulligan's take on the captives makes him a bit nervous and he's considering suggesting the group just send them on their way and be done with them when they stumble upon what they had been looking for before he could fully decide. So something to deal with later...
Mulligan continues to keep to the back of the group and definitely to keep an eye on the 'chauns.
Rowan nods at Barria and as she speaks, he begins patting a rhythm out on his legs.
In a very off-key voice (Performance 2), he sings along "But if I work all day on the blue sky mine, there'll be food on the table tonight. Still I walk up and down on the blue sky mine, there'll be pay in your pocket tonight."
He looks over at Barria and smiles.
"I don't know many mining songs."
Rowan's off-tune song sounds hollow against the walls of the mine shaft, and stops as quickly as it began. The group shuffle down the tunnel, which corkscrews in a clockwise direction as it descends, with the leprechauns looking around them in either curiosity or trepidation (it's hard to tell which). However it's only a dozen heartbeats after Rowan's song ends that the hammering sound picks up again, but different. The tempo is the same as Rowan's song, with the same heavy downbeats and occasional upbeats, combined with a few triplets over the top. Rowan continues to sing the song in his head, but all members of the group can't help but be captivated by the rhythm of the hammering. It continues on, and on, and on, repeating over and over, for what feels like an eternity, as the group wind deeper down the mine tunnel.
Darkness encloses all. The hammering drones on, lulling in its repetitiveness. Greg's eyes grow heavy. The tunnels winds deeper. Barria suppresses a yawn. One of the leprechauns (Mulligan thinks it is Padraig) falls face-first onto the ground. Mulligan languidly assumes it's a ploy from the tricksy little fey, and considers giving him a half-hearted kick, but then Seamus too slumps to the ground, with both snoring. The urge to rest, to sleep, is almost overpowering... Only Rowan is immune to the feeling.
Everyone except Rowan must make a Constitution saving throw or fall asleep
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Rowan finally stops singing to himself after he realizes he’s been on a continuous loop for the last several minutes. He looks around as some of his companions start to doze off.
”I don’t think this is the best place to do that. Why are they going to sleep now, Barria? I realize we’ve done a lot of walking and it must feel a lot further on those little legs but we still have work to do.”
Greginald & Mulligan
Greginald and Mulligan cannot resist the wave of sleepiness that washes over them from the hypnotising rhythm, and they both slip into unconsciousness...
...
...you dream...
...you are in a tunnel. Your body lays on the floor in the darkness, alongside two leprechauns, a flower, a bee, a sun-headed elf, and a familiar-looking individual... a companion? Two others are in the tunnel - an elf and a dwarf - also familiar to you. You can't recall their names. You can't recall your own name. You remember entering the tunnel. You remember a journey around a lake, through a mountainous stormy realm. You remember more leprechauns. You remember some hairy stone-creatures and a circle of monoliths. You remember a wagon with a dark-cloaked figure and a puppet show. What came before that you can't recall. Dreams are such strange adventures.
In your dream, other creatures are in the tunnel - deeper and out of sight, but somehow you know - tiny mouse-like creatures. A human is with them. Somehow you also know that with merely a thought you could propel your consciousness to them. Stone is no barrier in a dream. You could propel yourself up and out of the depths if you so choose. With a thought, you could fly across the width and breadth of the realm, to the darkest pit of the deepest mine, or to the highest peak of the tallest mountain. You can go anywhere in a dream...
Rowan & Barria
Rowan and Barria watch as Amidor and Glister slump to the floor beside the leprechauns. Polinella buzzes and descends to the ground, then falls silent. Greginald and Mulligan are the last to drop. Barria feels extremely sleepy, and has to sit down to avoid passing out, but manages to stay conscious.
Rowan remains fully awake and alert. Try as he might, however, he can do nothing to rouse any of his sleeping companions.
After about five minutes of trying to wake the sleepers, the hammering sound abruptly stops. Barria's sleepiness slowly begins to fade, but she is the first to sense movement coming from deeper in the tunnel. There is a faint light casting vague shadows on the walls, along with the sound of footfalls, soft whispering, and something creaking. Louder grow the sounds, clearer becomes the light, until distinct silhouettes of hunched creatures are cast onto the tunnel walls from something coming around the corner - shadows stretching beyond the eight-foot span and even casting onto the ceiling. Then the figures appear...
...mice?
There appears to be eight tiny mice pushing tiny wheelbarrows. The barrows squeak loudly for such little machines, and the mice-whispers are oddly amplified by the tunnel acoustics. The barrows are filled with hammers, ropes and pitons. Each mouse-creature also has a small mote of light floating just behind it, which is what casts the disproportionately huge shadows onto the wall.
The mice stop short when they spot Rowan standing there, followed by Barria awake and crouching nearby. There is some more hurried whispering, and then...
...it takes only seconds - too quickly for the sleepy Barria or the dumbfounded Rowan to respond. The mice-creatures move impossibly fast, as though the passage of time has warped just around them. In this fast-forward mode they close the distance to the group, unload the wheelbarrows, stretch the ropes out across the sleeping figures, hammer pitons into the floor, and tie the ropes off. It is a blur of movement, but when it finally stops, the elf and the dwarf see that an hour-worth of work has taken place, resulting in their companions tightly bound to the floor, and the eight mouse-creatures standing guard over them, gripping their tiny hammers, their barrows forming a rudimentary barricade, from behind which they glare at the two onlookers...
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Barria can handle bad singing, but only for so long. And Rowan going round and round about his stupid blue sky was about all she could take. Her mind was so focused on how to get him to stop that the rhythm of the tiny hammers registered, but just barely.
All the sudden she was on the ground and drowsily looking up at her friend. She then looks around her and sees everyone else asleep. Turning back to Rowan, she says drowsily, "Thank you for stopping. I think...I think I've heard enough about the blue sky. They aren't sleeping on purpose, something has happened."
As the mice emerge, Barria's mouth drops open slightly at the impossibility of it all. First talking stones, no wait... first talking weeds, then talking stones. Then leprechauns, now this? And before she knows it they had imprisoned her friends! At this she finally stands up and shakes off the last of the drowsiness.
"What is the meaning of this? Release our friends now! You have no right to tie them up, we would have talked with you with no adverse affects, there is no need for this! Who are you guys?"
How curious…
and so delightfully whimsical.
Mice and men. Or a man. Or… perhaps not a man at all. Maybe something else entirely—something softer, stranger. A woman? Or both? Neither? Curious.
There was a before. Surely. There always is, isn’t there? Always a before before the now. But when is now, really? And does it matter? If everything before is already before now, then what makes the now now? And if now doesn’t matter, then why should before?
Before what, even? After what? After the before, or after the after?
It’s all rather… slippery. Like thoughts trying to hold hands in the dark but always missing by just a breath.
Metaphorically whimsical, yes—that’s the phrase. Like when he’s drunk just enough to almost be sober again, right before the balance tips, with that fine Shire-grown leaf curling warm and lazy in his lungs.
Smoke makes such solid shapes, doesn’t it? Little ghosts of ideas that forget they’re made of nothing. The strongest one, the one that lingers when the others fade, is of mice and men—or a man—or woman—or something singular that slips between those words like a secret.
If he has any focus at all, it’s on them. That odd one in the middle of all this oddness— his lone anchor in this sea of half-remembered thoughts and dream-colored consciousness.
((If Mulligan can flitter his consciousness or awareness anywhere it would be to the human amongst the mice creatures as their almost normality is the thing that seems to stick out the most to him in this dreamlike fugue he is in...))
Rowan watches the blur of activity and then frowns a little when the small mice-sized people have tied up all of the others except Barria. He does peer a little more closely to see if they actually managed to tie up Polinella too. That would be quite the feat.
"I feel like I've read this story before," Rowan says as he looks at his companions tied and staked to the floor.
He crouches a little to get a closer look at the newcomers and nods his head.
Eventually he stands back up and gives the mice-people a bow.
"Are you the brigganocks? We've come to have a bit of a talk or a chat or at least make a request. We would have knocked on the front door, but you didn't have a door to knock on," Rowan says. "We did call down, but no one answered so we came in to find you. And now that we have, I think we can have the talk. But it would be easier if you untied our friends and let them wake up. They don't look very comfortable there. Whenever I enter a trance on a hard surface my back always feels sore when I'm finished and it takes me ages to stretch it out. I've heard that gets worse as you get older but I'm not older yet so can't really speak to that."
He looks over at Barria and shrugs.
"We're trying to arrange a meeting for some kind of dance with the Korreds. They don't like the witch running things up in the Motherhorn and we think she has a friend of a friend captured there and maybe a hoe, or a voice, or a recipe too. Are you friends with her?"
Greg's mind also wanders...
This plane had done nothing but irritate him, but a sudden comfort and peace washes over him, the loss of burden, he likes this feeling...
These people around him, walking in tunnels in the dark, who are they? certainly none of his business, right? or at least not his problem, people always lead to problems, wanting you to do things for them, help them, think for them, where were his books? books are good, isolation and books, with nobody to disturb him, yes knowlegde is a safe haven without responsibility, only serving oneself, but now he finds himself with a distinct lack of self too...
Deciding that there are no books or knowledge to be found here, Greg's consciousness wanders upwards, out of the tunnels, out of the earth and tries to find the nearest man made structure that may contain a library, he may find himself there, or at least more comfort.
Greginald
With no more than a thought, your consciousness zooms up out of the mine and into the dark stormy air. You rise high above the peak of the mountain, to the boundary of the storm clouds, amongst the lightning, though there is no sound of thunder in this dream. You look out across the landscape, jagged peaks looming in the darkness, illuminated by occasional flashes. With each flash of lightning, it seems that not only does the landscape illuminate, but in that split second the entire landscape seems to change, with the mountains lit by warm sunshine, covered in vibrant wildflowers, and linked with rainbows. But when the lightning disappears, the vision is gone, and the mountains are again dark and barren, linked only by the static flashes of electricity arcing between the thin towers, all the way to the far castle.
You sense that the castle is the best location to find a library, and you zoom out across the ranges, travelling faster than thought. Within moments you arrive, seeing a fortress built into the side of a mountain, complete with towers and parapets; but where a castle's bailey might enclosed a courtyard, instead this castle's wall surrounds a large open-air amphitheatre. Figures move on the stage, but you don't stop to spectate, instead zooming right down into the gap between the bleachers, and into the heart of the mountain.
It is only a short distance along a hallway when it opens up into a large library, eighty feet across. Bookshelves rise along the walls, and through the center, with space for hundreds of volumes. Past and present seem to be equally visible, and time moves both forward and backward - you see sometimes shelves full, and sometimes shelves yet to be filled, but no matter the moment in time, each book is identical: spineless, with black wooden covers and yellow pages bound in copper wire, and with the image of an hourglass burned on the front.
A figure enters and leaves the library, simultaneously there and not there, but bringing new books to add to the shelves, and always leaving you with a sense of horror and foreboding. The creature is frighteningly tall; it is clothed in an enormous black dress with a crinoline cage underneath that conjures the image of spider's legs, and a face hidden by a veil that looks more like a heavy curtain.
Other blurred figures move through the library: goblins shelve and catalogue the new books, gradually filling the space, while dark cloaked figures sit and read, all simultaneously there and not there. You can even catch glimpses of the words on some of the pages - cramped, slanted handwriting, all in rhyme, describing various tragic events - and after watching a while you conclude that they are all predictions of disaster: the library is an archive of doom.
Mulligan
You glide downward, through stone and space alike, until you are in the proximity of the human figure. Perhaps it is a slender male, or perhaps a sturdy female - in dream, some things aren't clear. But they have long dark hair and dark skin, are clad in armor and a dark cloak, carrying knives and a sword, and moving stealthily and with grace. It puts you in mind of... you! ...except much less shabby.
Past and present seem to blur in your dream, and you can somehow 'see' something about this human's history here. You sense them arrive in the Feywild, accompanied by three companions. You sense the moment the human arrives alone in this place, creeping through the darkness of the mine. You sense the wealth of gems that they find, and the feelings that stirs. And yet, they take none of the gems nor do they employ their blades against the tiny inhabitants. Instead they abide here together, helping as the creatures mine and sort through hundreds of the gems. Yes, you sense that this human is somewhat like you - a stranger in a strange land - more than a little shady, but well-meaning.
Here's a image of the human... you might recognise it from the cover of the 2024 PHB.
Barria and Rowan
The small creatures bristle at Barria's objections, and also at Rowan's attempts to explain, especially when he mentions 'korreds' and the 'witch'. It's difficult to be intimidated by the tiny critters and their tiny hammers, but then again their ability to move so impossibly fast leaves the two intruders feeling cautious, especially as several more creatures arrive and swell the numbers.
Just as Barria and Rowan are wondering how the impasse can be resolved, another figure arrives - not a tiny mouse-creature, but a full-sized humanoid. Their face is shrouded in shadow due to a light behind their head, but the silhouette is a little intimidating: a dark cloaks sways in time with a confident stride - one hand holds a short sword lazily at one side while the other hand spins and flicks a dagger, the point of which flashes in the half-light - long dark hair flows from underneath a cowled hood. As the figure enters the circle of light cast from the mouse-creatures' motes of light, the face is revealed - a dark-skinned human face, with soft features but a grim expression.
Casual but poised, the human looks wordlessly at Barria and Rowan, then down at the bound sleepers on the tunnel floor, still expertly flicking the knife in one hand without looking at it.
So... a dusky voice languidly intones, This is who the korreds are sending to do their dirty work now? No sense denying it - their stench is all over you. They've sent you to murder the brigganocks and steal their gems. Why else would you entered uninvited? And fraternising with leprechauns... clearly you mean mischief. Should I just kill you now, or should I let you drag these sorry fools back out the way you came?
Barria can see another brigganock (if that's what the mouse-creatures are) perched on the human's shoulder, accompanied by another wisp of light which was casting the human's face into shadow. Rowan sees this too, as well as two more brigganocks - one peeking out of the human's boot, and another nestled in a pouch at their belt.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
And who are we?
Mulligan asks himself as well as the unshabby figure. Then again, Mulligan isn't sure he asks anything at all. Such is dreams.
And what happened to your companions?
Again, it is a questions appropriate to both himself and this one he dreams of. Will he get answers? From himself or the other? Or is he just along for the ride?
G'Reginald's horror
As the visions pass, of past and fruition simultaneously happening, and having had already happened g'Reg's mind is a tumultuous sea of growing horror. This certainly begs the question of fate and destiny, the lack of free will, but those spiralling thoughts are put out of his head by the sight of the crone who presents herself, and will present herself, and has yet to present herself. He watches on hoping that he cannot be seen and tries to escape. Taking himself from the library and out into other parts of the castle where perhaps this nightmare woman will not be present, or future, or past.
Books were his sanctuary, but with no names coming to mind for the humanoids that had accompanied him, not a name for himself he deduces that this archive of doom could hold no knowledge that may help him, not without the context he lacks. Books have failed him, and he is uncomfortable with that situation.
Rowan looks at the newcomer, cocking his head to one side.
”Do you feel anxious a lot? Sometimes when I get overstimulated I twirl knives and daggers too. It’s really calming to have something to do with your hands.” Rowan says. He takes a breath and continues. “I feel like you’re deliberately not listening to what we have to say. We’re not murderers, well I don’t think any of us are. I’m definitely not. And as for the leprechauns, well, if it helps, think of that one as a lute and that one as a frying pan. They stole some of our gear and in exchange we some how ended up with these two.”
Rowan eyes the sleeping crew to make sure none of the mice-people are doing anything harmful.
”We did talk to the korreds. They were an interesting group. The one that stayed in the stone even seemed to think they knew me. We’re not here to do any dirty work. Don’t really want to do any clean work either I suppose. We’re here to try and get the two groups talking and dancing.”
Rowan Rowan then proceeds to tell the dagger guy all about arriving here and meeting the weird carriage and the hole in the sky and the korreds and the leprechauns and then the mice-men and finally meeting the newcomer. Rowan then stops talking, bobbing his head a little and shuffling from foot to foot as he does. Then he looks at the newcomer again.
”What gems are you talking about?”
Barria quickly scrambles to her feet as the human approaches, having difficulty watching the mouse like creatures as they grow in numbers and watching this human approach. She wishes her other friends were awake as well as she was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.
"No, no, you have it all wrong." She bows to them and then straightens her apron as she stands back up to her full height. "My name is Barria Copperkettle and we did not mean to intrude by any means! As my friend here was saying, we called down but no one answered, so we figured that we weren't heard over the taping so we wanted to come and talk to the Brigganocks. Murder?!? Never! We have been asked by the Korreds a favor, something about a dance? But I would never harm a hair on their heads, especially if they let my friends go! You see, you have us at a disadvantage, which is never a good way to meet someone! And as for the leprechauns... well that was an unfortunate meeting I wish I could take back! The only reason two are with us is in payment for them stealing our belongings! Honestly, they are more harm then good. I'd so much rather have my frying pan back." she frowns and crosses her arms as she thinks about this and the situation it has gotten them in.
But realizing how this probably makes her look, she uncrosses her arms again and worries her hands a bit as she doesn't like her current predicament. Before Rowan can interject, "Please, we are really just looking for a way into the Motherhorn."