Robwin seems satisfied with that, “So far, so good!” he says, “Make sure it’s all locked up tight again then!”.

He then looks around the team, “I think we might be done now with the Western tunnels (aside from the Kings’ bedroom). Time to make our way back across the rope bridge and check the Eastern side?”.

If we head back that way (poking stuff all the way), Robwin will ask Pog and Ulla, “Oh, by the way, what are all those mushrooms out the front all about?! And what do the different colours mean?”.

"I feel like there is an easier way to go about this search. For all we know it could simply move back in to an area previously cleared," Adas comments with furrowed brows.

"Would detecting magic help I wonder? This is quite confusing."

Done with the treasury (unless there's anything anyone else wants to do), Pog and Ulla lead you out and lock it up, returning the key back to Fibblestib and Dabbledob before leading you to the western part of the cave. As you walk across the bridge and Robwin asks his question, Ulla answers. "Those mushrooms over there? Well, they come in three colors and do three different things! Red mushrooms provide oil that we use to fuel our lanterns and mechanical devices, green mushrooms are ground into flour and used to make a really super tasty bread, and the purple mushrooms are crushed and fermented to make mushroom wine!"

At Adas' question, Pog shrugs. "Yeah, it ain't the best method but its the only one we got. If you got detect magic, that might actually work? Well, only if its a magical creature. Be careful though, your magic might go wonky."

At the bridge, Prosper stops for a moment to consider the layout of the caves. "Hmm, any way we could block, or guard, this part of the cave that we've already checked over? Perhaps a snare trap?" 

She looks thoughtfully at Adas' suggestion, then nods. "Yeah, go for it, Adas, although, hmm, not the I know much about spells but, Pog, Ulla, do you have a lot of magic about the place? Wouldn't be of much help if all we got were false positives."

[ooc edit: any chance of setting a snare with an ability check?]

Robwin is really interested in Ulla’s descriptions of the mushrooms, “Wow that’s fascinating! All that, from mushrooms?! So resourceful! Could I maybe get a sample of each? A flask of the oil, a loaf of your bread, and a flask of wine? We have meagre trail-rations, but nothing like that!! It would make our quest against this dragon, on the road, that bit more comfortable...”.

And then to Adas, “I don’t know the nature of these shapeshifters, but detect magic could work, if you’re willing to try... what do you think? Cast it and then blitz through the Eastern caves?”.

And to Prosper “Can you set a snare? It’s not a bad idea. But I’m not a expert in anything like that I’m afraid...”

While we’re out on the bridge Robwin let’s Lia stretch her wings and fly and swoop about in the large mushroom cavern. He also asks her to investigate the waterfall. Can she see over the top of it, see where it comes from? Or fly behind it and see if there’s anything odd there?

Tahnis scribbles down notes about the mushrooms. "Could I get a sample as well. I think that would fascinating. I would only need a flask of wine." His stomach growls and he adds," And some bread."

(@Prosper Sure. If you want to place a snare down, you can roll a survival check.)

Pog clicks his fingers at Prosper. "Ah. That's true. We don't have much magic, mainly mechanical constructs but there are more than a few magical items laying about. If you want to protect the western side of the caves though," Pog rushes over back to the west side, disappearing up the stairs for a few seconds before rushing back to the group, "I just reactivated the spinning blades of death! Well, there is still another way in to that side, through the domiciles."

Ulla nods at Robwin and Tahnis' interest in the mushrooms. "Well, we can head over to the wine room and kitchen if you want some samples. The wine room is just up here, we passed by it just before."

.Survival: 7

"Right, I forgot about those. That'll definitely help. If the shapeshifter wants to go up the other way, they'd have to climb a ledge first. Well, it's better than nothing." Just in case, however, Prosper's still going to lean down to do her best approximation of a rope snare as the group moves on. "Samples sound great about now. Not that I'm starving, but we've been travelling a while. We wouldn't be imposing, right?"

Robwin asks the team: “How about we also quickly run to the domiciles and tell the gnomes to stay there and be on high alert? Eight gnomes should be enough to guard that way in!”.

If everyone agrees, he then says to Pog and Ulla: “Can you two watch each other’s backs and nip back and organise that, and meet us back here on the bridge? Remember to unset and reset the blades as you go!”

Vimak nods. "This is a good plan! I like setting up snares and using the blades to prevent passage. Detect magic! it's all good."

Vimak takes the Help action as Prosper sets up the snare, if it's not too late: 3.

Adas nods to the group that he would have no problem casting the spell. "Prosper, I happen to have a hunting trap if you could make use of it. Also, if I am able to cast the detection spell as a ritual I could save my further gifts from Solonor for an emergency. It will take ten minutes however."

Adas offers the trap to Prosper.

“Ten minutes would probably give us enough time to tell the other gnomes to guard the dormitories, and to set the snare, or trap, where we want to. I say do it!” Robwin says with a grin. 

Assuming we base here for 10 mins, while people are busy with all that, Robwin will use find familiar to look through Lia’s eyes and investigate the waterfall: where it’s coming from, if there’s anything behind the curtain of water that’s coming down, if there’s anything interesting in the pool at the bottom, and fly under the bridge to check that nothing is clinging on underneath!

(OOC: feel free to roll for me if needed. Lia the owl has darkvision 120ft, and +3, and advantage, on perception checks)

"Okay." Prosper says, looking at her attempt of a trap while taking  a deep breath in. "If we have some more time to do this. Adas, good planning ahead. If Pog and Ulla can turn off the blades, can you pop back in and set that up on the other entrance? And then we can take the time for you to cast your ritual."

(Whoops, sorry Robwin, totally forgot to tell you what Lia saw. Adas, it's up to you if you want to head back into the domiciles. I'll retcon it in the next post, if so.)

Lia Perception: 14

Ulla and Pog salute Robwin and head back into the western side of the caves whilst Prosper begins to set up a the snare. She struggles a bit, at first, but with the help from Vimak, they manage to get a pretty good snare trap going. (Prosper, remove one rope from your inventory.)

As you all settle down while Adas starts his ritual, Lia flies outside. She swoops around the Mushroom Islands and sees that they are abnormally large, standing at around 2 feet tall. There doesn't seem to be anything else on the islands. Next, she heads to the waterfall. She can't see where the waterfall comes from as it seems to go up incredibly high up into the mountains. (If you want to send her further up, let me know.)  She flies closer to the waterfall, trying to see if there's anything behind but all she sees is a rock wall. Underneath the bridge, there also seems to be nothing of interest.

Robwin recalls Lia, and she settles down again in his hood. 

When Pog and Ulla get back, and when the ritual completes, he’s ready to head into the Eastern tunnels with everyone (poking as they go). 

(yeeted the rope from Prosper's bag.)

Prosper stands back to admire her creation. "Remind me to take it back once we're done here." She asks no one in particular. "Hemp.... does grow on trees. But good rope doesn't." Prosper is good to go as well.

Setting up the trap with Prosper, Vimak also watches Lia's flight and listens as Adas casts his spell. Once they have protected the western side of the gnome village, he will be ready to explore the eastern caves. He looks confident that they will be able to find the shapeshifter. 

While Adas is casting his ritual, (quietly so as not to disturb the process), Robwin takes this brief pause to speak with Prosper...

He looks at her shyly with something a little like wonder (like a child marvelling at a butterfly) “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but... are you ‘Eladrin’? I’ve never met one of your kind before, only read about them. Is it true you can adopt an aspect of the seasons??”.

”And are you from the Feywild itself?! Lia is from the Fey. Sometimes,...  she passes me wondrous thoughts about the beauty of the lands there, and the sights and sounds! It fascinates me a little. I’d dearly love to go there with her some time...”.

Propser grins and tilts her head in a slight nod. "Go on,ask your questions. I know, I inspire awe and fascination wherever I go. Yeah, Eladrin, I think that's the name. I haven't exactly met many of my kind, just, you know, my parents. Not sure about the details myself, but the way I think of it is, well, most of our kind's emotions are more perceptible than most, because they influence our appearance so much. You can't mistake it I was angry, or sad, for example."

I'm not from the Feywild. Parents were travelers, see. I was born here. Never been over there, myself."

Tahnis nods at Prosper's words. "That makes sense. My parents and I traveled everywhere on Krynn while I was growing up."