"We might," scratched her long time unwashed head Maxine, "but what we get out of it will be... Oh, who cares, it's not like we have anything else. May be a very precise application, when Berus finds the very precise point of application... Let's try."

And then she spent necessary emount of time making vinegar out of wine.

The Professor:

As the Professor and Gruk walk towards the oncoming Grung, Snively says, “Gruk, please go ahead and greet your people.  I will translate for you and them as needed.”

Shae would provide Maxine with any assistance and any equipment from her cooking supplies that might be able to make her task even a little easier.

As Shae and Maxine get to filtrating and distilling the "wine", which in the tropical heat had mostly turned to vinegar already. After about twenty minutes, the liquid is concentrated enough to burn on the tongue. It might be a long shot, but if applied to the limestone it might cause interesting results.

--------------

Professor, Gruk senses the opportunity, and turns around to the gathered lizardfolk. "Grung have come here, but not to attack. Gruk has promised peace. Will Scaly ones follow suit and work together with grung? Will grung and lizardfolk stand together against ancient evil?" He looks to you to translate, clearly seeing the positive effect your speech earlier had had.

The Professor:

Snively will translate word for word, and he prepares to translate Draconic for the Grung as well.

OOC:  Fourth level feat—Linguist—-has basically been baked into his path at this point...

After a few tense moments, Skinny lowers her weapons. It takes a while, but more of the tribal warriors follow, until a short while later all the weapons are lowered, and Skinny starts speaking: "Frogs are weak alone, but strong together. Maybe lizardfolk can learn from you and Glasses. Glasses is right, the jungle is hostile enough without violence between lizardfolk and soft ones. I thank him for alerting us to a threat we had not been aware of. I for my part am happy to work with the grung." Big Momma chimes in: "Aye, the scrawny one's got a point. Besides, we got little to lose by agreeing, and a lot to gain if what Glasses here's saying is true." A muscly male lizardman speaks up as well: " To hell, lower your weapons. Let's not waste more time and send the strongest fighters to help out against this common threat. I for one am going." A plethora of lizardfolk voices erupt, but the consensus is clear. There is to be no war, and some force of lizardfolk warriors will support their efforts.

Professor, you get 150 XP for the peaceful resolution of a potential conflict.

The Professor:

Translating for the Grung, the Professor suggests to Gruk, “We should head to your village next and talk to your tribe, hoping Koro-arak and his followers haven’t left the cave yet.  If we are to unite with the Lizardfolk against the Horned Lady before her ritual tomorrow, perhaps setting a time and location to meet just before our battle with the hag would be wise.  I can describe our campsite we used last time if you like.”

Shae would hover over Maxine as she finished the last steps of the concentration. Then she'd step back to take a look around, "Now that we have this piece of the puzzle. Let's waste no time. We need to find the driest, chalkiest area near the entrance for the cave in and administer it, safely for us."

At those words Berrus goes and re-examines the cave mouth for the best place to apply the mixture

History (stonecutting)  14

Under the Professor's direction, and with Gruk's help, the assembled column of lizardfolk warriors, grung scouts, and B'ark's force is making their way through the jungle, towards the campsite the Professor helped set up. Actually making their way there once would help the lizardfolk more than a set of descriptions, and from the camp site, it would only be a short march to the grung village, Gruk assured the Professor and the other grung. Not having to remain stealthy for fear of triggering a lizardfolk attack, the group is making good time, and they reach the campsite shortly. The lizardfolk warriors are taking mental notes of the surroundings, before Skinny wishes them goodluck, and agrees to meet at the same spot tomorrow at sun down. Then, the lizardfolk are off, giving the village a wide berth. Once they are gone, Gruk looks to the Professor: "Gruk did not want to ask in front of lizards, but Gruk isn't sure that other grung will follow. So far, all grung that Gruk and Bro-fasser have met were lower castes, but in grung village, there are more priests and even elite warriors. Grung will listen to them before they listen to Gruk. Does Bro-fasser have plan?"

------------------------------------

Berrus, while Shae and Maxine have been concentrating the wine to make the most of its acidic potential, you took the time to study the cave entrance. Chalk is naturally porous, and so you find that stalactites have begun to form a short distance into the cave, with several of the larger ones forming in a line. That likely indicated some sort of fissure in the rock allowing for easier flow of water and minerals. For your purposes though, it represented a potential weak spot. The only issue was getting the mixture up there, five yards to the cave roof. From where you were standing, there were two possibilities: either, you tried to use some sort of projectile to shoot at the stalactite from the cave entrance, or alternatively, you tried to climb the rockface outside, to try and locate the fissure top- side about fifteen yards up and apply the mixture there. The problem with the first approach was that a surface application could mean only a thin layer of the chalk would be affected, if they hit the right spot at all. The problem with the second was that the fissure might not be visible from the outside, or that the rock was too thick for the acid to penetrate down to the cave roof.

(How big is the cave mouth? How far one should climb to reach the stalagmite - inside and outside? )

The Professor:

"Gruk, the plan is the same as the one you spoke of earlier.  We go to the village while my friends keep Koro-arak and his followers in the cave.  I will introduce and support you, but now is the time for you to truly step up and take leadership of the tribe.  Koro-arak achieved the gold scales by treachery and deceit; you must attain leadership by commitment to what is best for your tribe and speaking the truth.  Once you tell the tribe the whole truth, they must decide if they want to follow you or follow Koro-arak and, by extension, the hag.  If they are wise like you, we will prevail, but it will not be easy," the Professor speaks earnestly to Gruk. "You have trusted me and my friends to this point.  Now we must trust you to deliver the truth to your tribe, and ultimately trust them to make the best decision for themselves."

OOC:  Can the Professor give Gruk his "Inspiration" for the purpose of the his interaction with the tribe?

"If all goes well, I ask that you free the slaves, including our friend.  Then we must go to the cave, join the others, and deal with Koro-arak today before we deal with the hag tomorrow.  I agree, it is a risky plan, but it is all we have...and it could use some refinement, if you have ideas," he asks Gruk.

 Gruk still looks at the Professor with big, fearful eyes. "Bro-fasser is much better with words than Gruk. What if Gruk cannot convince grung? What if Koro-arak returns? Gruk is priest, and many grung will listen, but if elites and other priests give different orders... Gruk can try, but maybe Gruk and Bro-fasser should help others to face Koro-arak first?" You can tell that the small guy is nervous, and just grasping at straws.

"If you can point me at the right spot, Berrus, I'd use the hand-spell. It will reach to the top, but I must be close enough"

Mage Hand 30 ft (10 yards)

The Professor:

Recognizing his indecision, the Professor speaks earnestly to Gruk to reassure him, saying, "Gruk, numbered among your allies are Grung who attacked us after we rescued you, multiple hunting parties, my friends and I, and even the Lizardfolk!  They are buying us time for you to speak to the tribe unhindered by the evil voices of Koro-arak and his ilk.  This is your moment.  I believe in you.  Tell them the truth, show them your concern for their well-being, the treachery of Koro-arak, and your grand vision for a peaceful and flourishing tribe.  I can show the evidence we have of the hag's treachery, but in the end, it is you they will follow.  I have faith that your people will hear your words and decide to follow you.  They deserve the chance to know the truth and make their own decisions, and you can give them that.  Let's go give them that chance."

Shae adored Maxine's versatility and creativity as an artificer. It was always inspiring to witness out here in the jungle. She'd look over to Berrus, "I'll take over lookout while you direct Maxine."

OOC: Yeah, I think Gruk would feel pretty inspired now :)

Gruk nods, nervously, before then turning to B'ark and her grung. "Gruk speaks to village now. B'ark goes, mixes in with other grung. B'ark can cheer, if other grung don't." B'ark nodded, and in short order, she and her group disappeared in the direction of the village. Turning towards the Professor, Gruk says: "Gruk is ready" and then, hesitantly, and mimicking you, "let's go."

The Professor:

Nodding, the Professor follows Gruk, thinking about what he might be able to contribute to the conversation and also calculating if any of his spells could be of use.

"I have to go an look give me a little"

Berrus is going to climb to the top and see if he can find a likely spot or two

if he does he will signal the position to Maxine

As soon as Berrus is ready, Maxine, happy to do anything useful for a change, followed with the acid, ready to use the magical hand.