BE7s Frozen Sick (IC)

Akria’s first task before taking first watch was to make a fire with the dry wood found and she continued to maintain it as long as she could. After making the fire she paced back and fourth around the bedrolls that were facing the three tunnels. During her time on watch, she gave her bow and arrow a rest and held both her daggers in her hands ready to strike. 

After some time she hears Kitsune stir and open her eyes, grabs a blanket from an empty bedroll, sits next to Kitsune, asks her “how’re you feeling?” And very quickly falls into a meditative state.

***Everyone benefits from a long rest.  It is currently 4:30 am. Sunrise is at 6:30.***

The team finds rest by a warm fire.  Besides the dripping of water and the occasional croak echoing throughout the cave complex, you hear nothing alarming.  The night passes uneventfully.

Kitsune gives Akira a brief, appreciative nod as the fellow elf slips into her own rest.  "Like a newly sharpened blade" she whispers in response to the question, her voice finally clear.

At some point in the evening, Torvil pokes through the items here at this makeshift campsite.  If he finds any rope, he sets it aside.  In the morning he feels reenergized, a deadly sparkle is back in his eye and he seems motivated to move.  He goes over and sits on the bandit burrito, then turns as asks the unfortunate elf bandit "Where did you go from here?  Is there a path to somewhere deeper in this cave?  Where would you guys meet up, besides here?"  Occasionally bouncing up and down on the burrito as he asks it questions.  Then, for an extra layer of security, he wraps the found rope around the burrito externally, tying it off, saying "We'll be back to untie you soon.  Unless we don't make it.  So any advice that you have for us or knowledge of your little schemin' plans that would aid our survival increases the odds that you will make it out of here.  Understand me?"  When he's done with the bandit, he makes ready to depart, packing his backpack up and preparing to move.  

Kitsune leans against the cave wall as she watches Torvil wrap the elf in a fresh layer of rope.  "He’s right" she adds, "Hulil won't care if you're left behind to rot in this bedroll.  If there’s a trap between here and her altar, speak now, or stay here and pray the big frogs don't get hungry before we return."  She glances at the bandit’s face, pinned beneath the dwarf's weight, and adds with a sharp smirk "And I’d start talking quickly...if Torvil's stomach starts acting up from those rations, you’re in the direct blast zone for a very different kind of breath weapon."

Intimidation: 20

The bandit (burrito) glares at you with absolute, undisguised hate.  He nearly chews off his own tongue to prevent himself from speaking, but he is no fool; an unscrupulous walking pile of pointy eared dung, yes, but not a fool.  "Old Croaker made that last pool his home.  He is the dominant frog in the caves.  He will attack when you near the water.  Good luck, fools.  Tuck tail and run while you can, Old Croaker will eat the lot of you."

Insight DC 20

Kitsune’s eyes narrow, her silver gaze reflecting the dying embers.  "A big frog for a small man" she retorts, unimpressed.  "We aren't here to hunt pond-life.  Old Croaker can have you for all I care..."

She leans in, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.  "Tell me about the path to Hulil.  No more diversions.  What traps lie between here and her altar?  If we trip over so much as a pebble because you were talking about frogs, I'll make sure you're the first thing Old Croaker eats."

She doesn't blink, waiting for him to cough up the real secrets of the eastern tunnel.

Another intimidation skill check: 14

With a last glare, and spitting on the floor, the elf gives it up.  "Hulil trained the damned things.  We use the dead bats, there is a bucket full of 'em back there."  He motions back towards the pool in the corner to the best of his ability.  Fighting to draw breath, the bandit manages to hiss, "Get off me!"  If Torvil lets him breathe, he adds, "The big 'un can carry a man across the big pool.  Hulil's chambers are on the other side."

"Ok, each of us get a dead bat, entice the big frog to carry us across?  One at a time I guess.  I'll go first."  Torvil stands up off the elven bandit, saying "Thank you for tha.  We'll cut you loose when we return, if you promise to leave this area and turn from your thievin' ways.  Otherwise..."  he lets the remainder go unsaid.  He starts walking around looking for this bucket of dead bats, takes one, then looks to the others before trying the frog crossing...

Kitsune watches Torvil with a look of mild disgust as he fishes a dead carcass out of the bucket.  She reaches in gingerly, using two fingers to snag a bat by its wing, keeping it at arm's length.  "The things we do for a quiet entrance" she mutters, her nose wrinkling at the scent of moist (OOC: my least favorite word...) fur and decay.

She adjusts her gear, ensuring her blades are loose in their sheaths before stepping toward the water's edge.  As Torvil prepares to make the first offering, she moves to a shadow-drenched patch of stone, her eyes scanning the dark surface of the pool for any sign of Old Croaker rising for his snack.

"If the frog decides he prefers dwarf over bat, try not to splash too much..." she whispers, her gaze flicking to the far side where Hulil's chambers lie.  "I'll be right behind you.  If it works for a dwarf, it'll work for a shadow."

Torvil animal handling at adv : 18

Vayne follows Kitsune, taking a dead bat with little more than a second glance at the pool. 

Trovil gave the bandit one last opportunity to turn from his wicked ways.  He locked eyes with the man, searching for whatever manner of truth could be found.  The elf answered, "Cut the ropes and you will never see me again.  I'll find the first boat south."  

As a wise monarch once said, "A chicken in every pot, and a dead bat in every hand."  He died shortly thereafter, consumed by a sickness of the mind.  The bards were unable to decipher his gibberish.  But, in the off chance that is true, or perhaps a portent of good favor, the party was rested, breakfasted, and holding the frozen remains of dead bats.  What could go wrong?

Torvil approached the pool slowly, his arm outstretched, bat offered up to the blue skinned "king" of Croaker Cave.  The cold water rippled gently, then parted as Old Croaker rose from the depths.  A lesser man may have ruined a good pair of pants in that moment, but not the tough dwarf.  "Easy big boy," he said soothingly.  His calm demeanor and smooth tone were just what he needed to prevent the giant ice frog from attacking.  As it's bulbous eyes locked on the bat, it offered a deep, booming croak that echoed out in every direction.  It swam slowly towards Torvil, stopping ten feet from the bank, and Torvil's outstretched arm.  It opened it's mouth wide, offering a view that could no doubt hold a medium sized creature.  It paused, waiting expectantly.  The dwarf's knowledge of the behavior of beasts served him well.  He tossed the bat into the waiting maw.

With the toll paid, Old Croaker swung slowly around, backing up until his rear end cleared the edge of the water a foot from the bank.  His back legs held his enormous form still.  Torvil had no problem climbing on.  He barely settled in when the great beast swam slowly to the other side, stopping to turn and back to the shore.

When Torvil's feet his the ground on the other side, Old Croaker returned to the other side.  He stopped again, ten feet from the shore, mouth open wide. The process was then repeated, until the party had been ferried safely to the other side. 

***Map forthcoming***

A warm rush of heat comes from a massive fire burning in the center of this cavern, its smoke venting up through a narrow stone chimney. The flames illuminate a rough painting of a five-headed dragon that dominates the north wall. A bedroll is spread out beneath the mural. Near the crackling blaze, a dwarf bundled in a heavy cloak sits on a stone chest beside an elf whose face is covered in dragon tattoos. The dwarf’s face is streaked with pulsing blue veins.  Both face the north wall, eyes closed, and rocking slowly while chanting in draconic.  

They are deeply engaged in their prayers and do not appear to have noticed your arrival.

As the heat of the massive fire hits her, Kitsune immediately raises a clenched fist, signaling the group to halt and remain in the shadows.  She looks toward the chanting duo, then back to her companions.  Moving with fluid, ghost-like precision, she pantomimes a sharp cutting motion across her throat while pointing to the dwarf and elf.  She follows with a questioning look and an open-handed gesture, silently asking the group: Strike now, or try to talk?