Trimyrai: (to the party) "Ah, thats good news, they don't want to fight."

Trimyrai: (to be translated) "Ask them if they would allow us to further explore the cavern."

Quote from EmperorKarino >>

Trimyrai: (to be translated) "Ask them if they would allow us to further explore the cavern."

The Xorn have no objections, but they do warn that there is a chamber further down, with hostile beings "made of teeth". (Reverie looks uncomfortable with that translation, but it is the closest to what they are saying. Definitely not rock beings like them, and not "bags-of-mostly-water".) The chamber has chests with tasty metals and stones, which they can't get to due to the hostile creatures.

They then take a few steps closer to the party. They can smell the gold pieces and gemstones that the party is carrying. Since you aren't eating it right now, surely you won't mind if they eat it?

“No thanks, you things-that-eat-Gold. we need this for protection, or buying things.” Jack says as he grips the blade of his sheathed magical sword, wary of them attempting to eat it by force when he declines.

Quote from BoboBoombang >>

“No thanks, you things-that-eat-Gold. we need this for protection, or buying things.” Jack says as he grips the blade of his sheathed magical sword, wary of them attempting to eat it by force when he declines.

Instead of being aggressive, they slump their arms and step back.

For beings that are made of rock and don't have a face, Jack gets the feeling that they are disappointed at the news that they can't eat Jack's life savings. But they don't seem to want to use force.

Isk says to Rev, "Perhaps our new friends would like to accompany us into the chamber of the teeth-monster? They could have a share of the gems if they help us fight whatever is in there."

Reverie looks back at Iskander for a moment and hums in thought. “We can surely try to ask,” she says before gazing back at the Xorn. “Would you like to guide us into the chamber of the teeth-monster? They must have some gemstones you could have.”

It takes a while to communicate Isk's suggestion, but the Xorn decline. They have no interest in fighting the dark creatures in this area. They are content to eat whatever they can forage, to keep their energy up until the portal back to their home re-opens. Despite how tasty the refined metals in that other room smell, for them it is not worth the violence to get it.

They will draw a simple map to show how to get to the other chamber using the air passages (instead of swimming through the rock). Their fingers scratch a drawing, treating the hard rock floor like soft clay.

Froskan grins at Jack.  "Good thing you remembered that helmet.  This could have gotten sticky."

"These rather frightening, multi-armed toothy monsters were actually quite nice..." Isk says in a surprised tone.

Trimyrai: (to the party) "I think it was nice that we resolved something peacefully. But i imagine those other monsters will be less than friendly."

Trimyrai gets his bow ready.

“Thank you, thank you. Now, I wonder what that Teeth Monster could be? Sounds like trouble.” Jack smiles at the mention of this teeth monster. What could it be? What can it do?

As the party starts to discuss what to do next, you notice that the pair of Xorn have moved into the side wall of the cave, like diving into a pool of water. They are gone.

(OOC: Let me know if you want to head to the cavern in question, avoid it, or continue the discussion some more.)

”Indeed to all of you. Thank you, Jack, for letting me know what I can do with this helmet. Now it is quite useful... And this creature is very nice and I like it.” Then Reverie blinks as soon as she witnesses what Xorn did. That's when she lifts her scimitars.

Isk turns to thier employers and says, "Does the room full of gems and toothy monsters sound of interest to you?  We are here as your escorts, so we'll go where you go."

Marion: "We are here to appraise, to map the passages... and to drink." (Grabs one of the flasks from her bandolier, and chugs it down.) "The decisions on to fight or to flee, that is your choice. We have only heard second-hand about your prowess, and don't know what these creatures are ahead."

Sallah: "Any place with chests with treasure, is likely to have interesting relics of the past that belong in a museum. If you are willing to go ahead, we will stay behind you."

Froskan shrugs.  "I'm willing to investigate."

Reverie looks at their employers for a moment and then sighs a little. "What is your ultimate goal for coming to this place?" She asks towards Marion and Sallah, "if you are willing to find the relics, then we will help you to find them and protect them. If it's not, then I am not sure what makes you think of hiring us for this exploration."

Quote from Elliethedream >>

Reverie looks at their employers for a moment and then sighs a little. "What is your ultimate goal for coming to this place?" She asks towards Marion and Sallah, "if you are willing to find the relics, then we will help you to find them and protect them. If it's not, then I am not sure what makes you think of hiring us for this exploration."

Marion looks at Reverie with approval. "That's right. These are what adventurers should be. Challenging the unknown. Bravely facing danger... Not like that last group."

Sallah: "It is very dangerous down here. They were just being cautious."

Marion (after taking another swig from her flask): "They were bums."

Sallah (under his breath): "There is a reason why your last tavern burned down..."

The party heads forwards. The path and the landmarks are consistent with what the Xorn drew earlier. The rough passage winds back and forth, sometimes up and down, but then it widens into the expected cavern.

(OOC: Sallah and Marion will stay in the corridor outside this cavern, while the party collects the chests. They will look inside, but not be involved with whatever trouble awaits you.)

The cavern isn't very large, maybe 60' or 70' at its widest. The ceiling does go up to 30'. Then entire area is filled with uneven and rough rubble. (Each square is 5', but requires 10' of movement. The squares that look like ledges or platforms require 15' of movement, and are more like mounds or hills.)

About 30' to your NE are the trio of chests, partly buried in rubble. Froskan and Iskander are ready to move to the chests (Perception 3 and 7), but Reverie (13) and Trimyrai (14) think there is more to this cavern. With Froskan's lantern light sweeping over the cavern, you see dozens of skeletons scattered all over the place. Fifty? Seventy? Many are humanoid, but there are beast remains as well. Most are under rubble, with the major bones broken or smashed, but there are some piled on top of the rocks. The bones have been picked clean by whatever scavengers are down here. They might have been down here for decades, maybe centuries.

 Jack (perception 21) points to the eastern side of the cavern. Some of the rocks are sliding down from one of the taller rock mounds. Maybe something fell onto it from the ceiling, or maybe something was moving over there... Iskander's glaive is also sending the unspoken message: there is something (somethings?) down here, besides your party.

(OOC: Let me know what you want to do, or where you want to go. I still have a pair of Investigation rolls from earlier, which I can use depending on your actions.)

Trimyrai: (to the party) "This doesn't look very inviting. We should proceed with caution."