(@Zip & Grant: The one-eyed creature mentioned a 'he there'. Vondal is assuming he means Iarno, though it could just as well be another red-brand from the otherside of the cavern. Either way, he was meaning to splinter away to head towards the entrance of the cave while Nif and the rest either check out the goblin room or unconscious red-brand room one more time. In hindsight, for the sake of avoiding splitting up lets assume Vondal motion for nif to lead the way towards the unconscious red brand, and is following behind.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vondal takes a closer look around just to make sure nothing is off(a moved chair, illusionary cover, an extra barrel, etc), assuming his brothers don't object; and then, he probably let's out a sigh of defeat. "Well, it wasn't trap. So that... creature deserve the benefit of the doubt still, I suppose. Or maybe-..."Vondal slaps his forehead. "Or I could've just asked him to come with us. Oy vey" Then he looks over to Karl. "And ha-ha, very funny uncle. You know the rest of you didn't need to run after me." He says on the way out.
Perception: 7 (rolled at disadvantage to account for not having made a good look over the area. +1 more if Investigation would be more appropriate.
If nothing comes of the search, Vondal leads the way back to the creature, or at least the bridge it had been nearby at a more sedate pace. Along the way he sends again the thought of having not 'found the one the creature meant', and that if it wanted to come show or lead the way, he'd work on convincing his brothers on sharing some of the loot with it. Though having seen it now, his thoughts do splinter on the way to the bridge on trying to recall any historical accountings of the 'eye guy'. The fact that it at least seemed to prefer staying in the cavern so far enkindled some hope of having heard of it. Even if it was through one of his sister's stories.
Vondal hastily looks around the common room for anything out of the ordinary, but doesn't notice anything he doesn't expect. He leads the group out of the north door and up the stairs back to the north bridge. His mental communication brings the creature quickly crawling out of the crevasse back out of hiding. It moves to stand on the east side of the bridge. Pointing toward the southwest passage, it speaks into everyone's mind, "He there."
Now that Vondal is over his initial shock, he takes a moment to rack his brain concerning the creature. He suddenly recalls a story his sister told him once about a creature she had encountered the locals called a nothic. She described it as a humanoid which almost looked like an insect, but that had one large eye. She said it was telepathic, constantly filling her mind with hunger as it spoke to her. She said while she was initially worried it wanted to harm her, she was easily able to win it over to her side with fresh meat and treasure.
Karl:
Karl can't help but notice that the creature's mouth is stained with some dark substance, and he doesn't remember seeing it the first time they saw the creature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I-..."Vondal pauses and shakes his head clear of the rest of the story. "I am sorry, my friend -- I-I, Vondal Stormfist, by the way. But you probably knew that -- anyway, I... *sighs*… Unless he's invisible, he's not there."He says, somewhat disbelieving the very idea. "He's... not invisible, right? You can tell things, yes? I, well.. My sister spoke of meeting one of your kind. Nothic, right? Sis mentioned the one she met liked freshier meats. If we could provide this, would you be will be willing to be more direct?" This he says trying to visual the thought of the Nothic climbing along the walls ahead of the group and pointing out a more exact point of the creature.
Vondal lofts a fury brow at Karl. "Well, I imagine it to be the food I left him. Most of which were dried meats."He replied, genuinely seeming confused at the question. "In exchange for some... protection here." Meaty hands quickly go up as in a surrender motion as he adds, " Now how he went about it, I care not to ask. Though I cannot imagine it was pleasant. Just..."Vondal lowers his hands with a sigh before turning to here the Nothic's words to his question. "Just as I can imagine what probably befell any prisoners that were too rowdy."
"Well, I imagine it to be the food I left him. Most of which were dried meats."Vondal explains
Karl looks at Vondal as if he isn't thinking straight and says "well if you left him dried meat, how come he's got wet stuff around his lips! Did you leave him a drink of water as well?"
Vondal sighs. "As I said, Uncle. We had made a deal. Protection for food. And from what I saw, it was accepted."He says plainly, though the conflict is clear behind his voice. "Now if he had decided to... 'eat' one of the redbrands patrolling this cavern while we rested, I am not inclined to raise a fuss after aiding in killing a few before."He grimace towards the end, but soon after affirmed his stance. "So long as he does not interfere with rescue of prisoners, I am not goin' out of way to make enemy."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Vondal feels a small hand on his and looks to see Droop cowering beside him, her eyes on the nothic. "I heard the bugbears say the creature has been forbidden to hurt anyone under Glasstaff." She swallows. "They said the creature is afraid of Glasstaff."
The creature points again at the southwest corridor. "He ... there."
Vondal crosses his arm, but doesn't take his eyes off of the Nothic. "Well, it's not as if I'm asking him to go that..." Then a thought occurs, and his expresses darkens. "... Did someone else come in through tunnel? A child, perhaps?" He asks, eyes narrowing and thoughts turning towards grim course.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"He there," it (the Nothic) repeats in everyone's head.
Karl looks across at the Notihic and thinks "you need to be a bit clearer than that Mate. Last time you were perfectly clear in your expression"
Vondal just bows his head and closes his eyes for a moment. Once he felt his head cleared enough, he looks closely back at the Nothic with narrowed eyes, searching for any sign of deceit or attempt at misdirection from it at this point.
Change plans. Nif will follow Vondal. (I may have missed something but I don't know why he is going that way.)
As I said in Post #1177 Karl is following the others to keep them out of trouble.
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
(@Zip & Grant: The one-eyed creature mentioned a 'he there'. Vondal is assuming he means Iarno, though it could just as well be another red-brand from the otherside of the cavern. Either way, he was meaning to splinter away to head towards the entrance of the cave while Nif and the rest either check out the goblin room or unconscious red-brand room one more time. In hindsight, for the sake of avoiding splitting up lets assume Vondal motion for nif to lead the way towards the unconscious red brand, and is following behind.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The group moves north up the corridor and reenters the common room. There is still one dead Redbrand and two unconscious, tied up Redbrands here.
Karl seeing that there back in the Common room says in a disgusted tone "we've been going in circles, who was supposed to be leading out of you two?"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Vondal takes a closer look around just to make sure nothing is off(a moved chair, illusionary cover, an extra barrel, etc), assuming his brothers don't object; and then, he probably let's out a sigh of defeat. "Well, it wasn't trap. So that... creature deserve the benefit of the doubt still, I suppose. Or maybe-..." Vondal slaps his forehead. "Or I could've just asked him to come with us. Oy vey" Then he looks over to Karl. "And ha-ha, very funny uncle. You know the rest of you didn't need to run after me." He says on the way out.
Perception: 7 (rolled at disadvantage to account for not having made a good look over the area. +1 more if Investigation would be more appropriate.
If nothing comes of the search, Vondal leads the way back to the creature, or at least the bridge it had been nearby at a more sedate pace. Along the way he sends again the thought of having not 'found the one the creature meant', and that if it wanted to come show or lead the way, he'd work on convincing his brothers on sharing some of the loot with it. Though having seen it now, his thoughts do splinter on the way to the bridge on trying to recall any historical accountings of the 'eye guy'. The fact that it at least seemed to prefer staying in the cavern so far enkindled some hope of having heard of it. Even if it was through one of his sister's stories.
History: 7.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Vondal hastily looks around the common room for anything out of the ordinary, but doesn't notice anything he doesn't expect. He leads the group out of the north door and up the stairs back to the north bridge. His mental communication brings the creature quickly crawling out of the crevasse back out of hiding. It moves to stand on the east side of the bridge. Pointing toward the southwest passage, it speaks into everyone's mind, "He there."
Now that Vondal is over his initial shock, he takes a moment to rack his brain concerning the creature. He suddenly recalls a story his sister told him once about a creature she had encountered the locals called a nothic. She described it as a humanoid which almost looked like an insect, but that had one large eye. She said it was telepathic, constantly filling her mind with hunger as it spoke to her. She said while she was initially worried it wanted to harm her, she was easily able to win it over to her side with fresh meat and treasure.
Karl:
Karl can't help but notice that the creature's mouth is stained with some dark substance, and he doesn't remember seeing it the first time they saw the creature.
Vondal seems confident on leading the group around, so Nif just follows silently keeping his eyes out.
"I-..." Vondal pauses and shakes his head clear of the rest of the story. "I am sorry, my friend -- I-I, Vondal Stormfist, by the way. But you probably knew that -- anyway, I... *sighs*… Unless he's invisible, he's not there." He says, somewhat disbelieving the very idea. "He's... not invisible, right? You can tell things, yes? I, well.. My sister spoke of meeting one of your kind. Nothic, right? Sis mentioned the one she met liked freshier meats. If we could provide this, would you be will be willing to be more direct?" This he says trying to visual the thought of the Nothic climbing along the walls ahead of the group and pointing out a more exact point of the creature.
Persuasion: 22.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Karl turns to Vondal and says "before you get to chummy with that thing, ask it what its been munching on in the last half hour!"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Vondal lofts a fury brow at Karl. "Well, I imagine it to be the food I left him. Most of which were dried meats." He replied, genuinely seeming confused at the question. "In exchange for some... protection here." Meaty hands quickly go up as in a surrender motion as he adds, " Now how he went about it, I care not to ask. Though I cannot imagine it was pleasant. Just..." Vondal lowers his hands with a sigh before turning to here the Nothic's words to his question. "Just as I can imagine what probably befell any prisoners that were too rowdy."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Karl looks at Vondal as if he isn't thinking straight and says "well if you left him dried meat, how come he's got wet stuff around his lips! Did you leave him a drink of water as well?"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Vondal sighs. "As I said, Uncle. We had made a deal. Protection for food. And from what I saw, it was accepted." He says plainly, though the conflict is clear behind his voice. "Now if he had decided to... 'eat' one of the redbrands patrolling this cavern while we rested, I am not inclined to raise a fuss after aiding in killing a few before." He grimace towards the end, but soon after affirmed his stance. "So long as he does not interfere with rescue of prisoners, I am not goin' out of way to make enemy."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Vondal feels a small hand on his and looks to see Droop cowering beside him, her eyes on the nothic. "I heard the bugbears say the creature has been forbidden to hurt anyone under Glasstaff." She swallows. "They said the creature is afraid of Glasstaff."
The creature points again at the southwest corridor. "He ... there."
Vondal crosses his arm, but doesn't take his eyes off of the Nothic. "Well, it's not as if I'm asking him to go that..." Then a thought occurs, and his expresses darkens. "... Did someone else come in through tunnel? A child, perhaps?" He asks, eyes narrowing and thoughts turning towards grim course.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Nif watches with Silent Interest, not taking his eyes off the creature.
The nothic turns its head slightly, not taking its eye off Vondal. "He there," it repeats in everyone's head.
Karl looks across at the Notihic and thinks "you need to be a bit clearer than that Mate. Last time you were perfectly clear in your expression"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Vondal just bows his head and closes his eyes for a moment. Once he felt his head cleared enough, he looks closely back at the Nothic with narrowed eyes, searching for any sign of deceit or attempt at misdirection from it at this point.
Insight: 19.
"... One other question. What will you do once the 'he' is no longer a problem?" He asks plainly both aloud and in his mind again.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
DM:
4
Vondal can tell the creature is definitely attempting to be deceptive.
"He ... a problem?" the nothic thinks back.