The party pulled the two rowboats ashore, two of Hillard's soilders would keep them safe while the group went off exploring.
By the time the group had got its land legs back Sandor was allready asking questions.
"Hey Dale, ever party with dwarves ?" Sandor asks.
"I was in an army with some, but I killed them." Dale replied.
As Sandor and Dale continued their conversation Singol mumbled to his bat "I told them we should have landed closer to the ruins, now we have to walk, there is no point in all this extra walking."
Eldrick, the monk, kept his distance from the half-orc as he watched the halflings talking.
Jaer grew bored of the spectacle quickly, he was ready, and needed something to kill.
Bilqis, taking note of the absence of animals, "This silence worries me...There should be animals and birds about. "
Tolianth chimes in "Yes I too am worried, perhaps we should investigate the outside of the island before heading into any of the buildings."
Bilqis responds, "If I may propose, I could do some scouting ."
Fitz the youngest of the group was silent, while taking in all of the others conversations. He patted his dog Wit and whispered a few words into his hear. Wit was off running, sniffing the ground, even he could not smell any animal scents, but he kept at it. Scouting out the immediate area but not wandering to far from Fitz.
After much debate the group finally decided to head toward the ruins.
The way to the ruins was paratically clear, only a few trees, some shrubs, and some bothersome tall grass. The grass was waist high on the humans, Wit seemed to enjoy it, but the shorter ones in the party couldn't see over it. Sandor would jump up when he could to see over the tops of the grass, he made a game of it
After three hours of travel the grass finally thinned out and everyone could see.
The ruins now loomed before them...
What had once been great structures of solid stone now either lay broken on the ground or in the process of collapsing. The few remaining structures had only external stone walls, the roofs had long since decayed.
(It is Now 11:30AM)
The party of ten stood before the ruins of long ago while Wit, Fitz's canine companion, pounced along behind them in the tall grasses.
Auset began speaking first, the tatoo on each of her forearms quivered as she spoke, "First thing is that I think we should stick together, no telling what is out there," she gestured toward the ruins and continued, " I would like to do a detailed search of this place."
Dale the halfing spoke from behind his large shield, "I most definately agree, we should stick together, wherever the group goes I shall follow as best as my legs will let me. I suggest that the group search the outskirts of these ruins first, clear the perimeter and work our way toward the center."
Jaer grumbled what sounded like an orcish curse under his breath and spoke toward the halfling, "Jaer could carry you, toss you at enemys, like a boulder."
Dale looked up at Jaer with a wicked smile on his face, "Just let me down, before you run off into any battles, I wonder how good I can shoot my bow from up there ?"
Jaer merely grumbled in response, and lowered himself down to allow the halfing to climb onto his back. Jaer then looked to the rest of the group, "Jaer wants to kill. Ready to go now."
Mathius looks at the Half-orc, and halfling, and recites one of his clerical studies, "Alas, help is offered to those who seek it, not those in need. If the needy do not seek aid, then aid offered them is seen as an affront and they take it to scorn." he then looks toward the rest of the group and states, "But my help is readily available to those who ask."
Jaer growls under his breath.
Sandor, looks at Dale, scratches his head, and is silent.
Tolianth the elven wizard Looked back to Auset and then to Dale, "I agree...It would not be fun to have to flee these ruins and then discover there were dangerous monsters behind us, coming out of buildings we did not explore."
Singol, Sandor, Eldrick, and Fitz all nod their heads in agreement.
After deciding how to proceed the group began their search of the ruins.
Auset, Sandor, and Bilqis leading the way, moveing silently from building to bulding stopping to make a quick search of each one. Jaer and Dale, Eldrick, Singol, Tolianth, Fitz, and Mathius following behind watching the unsearched buildings as they proceeded.
The first building was empty.
The second building was empty.
The third building was empty.
The fourth building was empty.
At the fith building as Bilquis, Auset, and Sandor were about to enter, a large statue came hobbling out toward the three. A voice came from the statue, "Thief ! Thief !". The statue was obviously an old stone golem, in very bad shape, perhaps left by the former occupant of the house.
Before the three could react to the golem an arrow zipps past Auset's shoulder and thuds into the house, another arrow whizzes past Bilquis's head and into the wall.
Sandor turns and sees what appears to be two elves with bows, dressed in some form of green garment behind him.
(The time is now 12:00 Noon)
(round1)
Dale turns to the elves and cries out in common, " Stop shooting! We mean you no harm!"Then he climbs out of Jaers backpack.
Singol the gnomish wizard quickly takes cover behind the ruins of a stone wall. As he takes out his crossbow he yells to the rest of the group, "I thought someone was going to warn us of any trouble before we were right in the middle of it !
The elven creature fires another arrow, toward Bilqis, the arrow misses her.
Sandor moves toward the north away from the golem, and takes a position behind a tree near the building, he loads his bow , nocks an arrow, and aims toward the elven creatures.
Bilqis, after being shot at for a second time readies her shortbow ready to fire toward the elves at any oppurtuinity.
Tolianth looks in the direction of the elven creatures, and yells out in the elven language, "Stop shooting ! We mean you no harm !" He then sends his raven to the sky, hoping it will be out of harms way. The words to a magic missile spell on his mind he watches the creatures, wondering what kind of response he will recieve.
The stone golem stops moving at the entrance of the building but the magic upon him continues yelling, "Thief ! Thief ! Thief !..."
Auset runs toward the north-west into the woods, and begins weaving in an out between the trees making her way southwest toward the elves.
The other elven creature fires an arrow toward Sandor, but the arrow shatters when it hits the tree he is behind.
Fitz moves toward the golem, advancing cautiously with Wit behind him.
Mathius moves toward the entrance to the building while speaking, "Stay your weapons and put down your arms ! We have not thieved any items nor brought hostilities to your persons. This beleagered and ancient construct has erred in its words and merely speaks a programmed response to our presence. I ask you to command the golem back within and refrain from any continued mischief. We seek not wanton destruction, but come on a mission, but be warned, any continued hostilities on our party will be met with a swift and harsh response. What say you elves ?"
Jaer charges toward the elven creature, and catches the elf off guard, Jaer's axe cleaving the elven creature from shoulder to hip, the elven creature falls mindlessly to the earth. From Jaer's close perspective the true nature of the creature is revealed. The creature's garb is green, but it is leaves and vines, not borrowed from the forest but grown from this elf's body. At one point in the past it must have been an elf, but an elf it is no longer.
Eldrick begins moving silently toward the golem, trying to keep out of view of the creature.
(round2)
Auset begins making her way toward the elven plant creature. A large vine grabs at her feet, she manages to jump over it, and regain her senses. The plant she reconizes, an assasian vine, a very dangerous foe for the unaware.
Singol fires his crossbow toward the remaining elven plant creature, the arrow pierces the creatures shoulder.
Dale release his arrow toward the elven creature, a hit, the creature still nocks another arrow.
Jaer runs around the rubble,and attacks with his Axe, a hit, but the creature hangs onto life.
Fitz releases a lesser concussion toward the golem, the golem appears not to even notice.
Bilqis releases her arrow toward the elven creature, it whizzes harmlessly past Jaer's ear, close enough to move his hair.
The golem stands his ground at the entrance to the building.
Tolianth recites his spell, and a whirl of color and light strikes the remaining elf creature, it falls to the ground dead.
Eldrick attacks the golem with a flurry of strikes with his Katana, the blows seem ineffective against the stone golem.
The golem takes a sigle step toward Eldrick, the thud of his stone foot shakes eldrick to the bones.
Mathius looks toward the golem, and toward Eldrick, a shiver runs down his back.
Sandor holds his fire. He has no line of fire with the golem, and the trees along with the proximity of Bilqis to the assasian vine make his shot too difficult.
(Round 3)
Auset's rapier flashes out and strikes the Assasian Vine, the vine pulls back in pain. As she tries to walk backwards the grass and brush around her seem to come alive, with a great deal of difficulty she manages to make her way away from the vine.
The vine strikes at Auset, but she easily doges the vine as it whips past her.
Dale moves northward with his short bow readied trying to find an opening to fire upon the vine abomination.
Eldrick move to attack the golem with a flurry of blows, his stikes merely glance off the golem's stone body. His blade apparently having no effect on the creature.
Tolianth draws his sword and runs toward Auset and the vine creature.
Bilqis jumps back from the stone golem and exchanges her bow for her two-bladed sword.
Mathius steps back from the golem. He then looks at him comrades confronting the Stone Golem, "It appears this automation is preventing our entry into this building, but I suspect it will come no further. Let us leave this building and return to it some other time. If the golem does not follow us, then we have little to fear from it. Let us rid ourselves of this fowl vine that it catch us not unawares in the future."
Jaer moves toward Auset and the vine. Jaer slashes at the vine with his axe, a mighty hit, but the vine continues moving preparing to attack again.
Sandor moves closer toward the vine, looking for a clear shot.
Singol throws a dart of magical energy toward the vine, a magic missile, the bolt impacts with the creature and singes many of its leaves, but the vine still lives.
Fitz concentrates his mind and from it tosses a burst of energy toward the Golem, the energy, a lesser concussion power, merely fades as it comes into contact with the golems stone. Having no effect on the stone creature.
The golem raises its hands and retaliates against Eldricks blows, Eldrick is thrown backward by the impact. Eldrick lands several feet back from the entrance of the building, unconscious and bleeding profusely on the grass.The golem lowers its arms and stands motionless at the entrance of the building.
(Round 4)
Sandor finds a clear shot at he vine between Auset and Jaer, the arrow flys true and strikes the vine, but it still moves.
Fitz backs away from the golem. Apparently his powers are useless against this beast.
Bilqis backs away from the Golem, Mathius's words ringing in her ears, and Eldrick's blood splattered across her face, blurring her vision.
Auset slashes at the vine once again striking sucessfully, the vine is now dead.
....
AWARD: The party finds 450 GP, Two LongSwords, Two LongBows, 30 Arrows, Scroll of
Mirror Image, Scroll of Melf's Acid Arrow, and gains 210 Expierence
Mathius moves towards Eldrick while not moving directly towards the Golem, he takes hold of Eldrick's shoulder and drags him backward five feet.
The golem stays its position just inside the building, not moving, just standing at the building's entrance. The spell laid upon it continues its yelling, "Thief ! Thief ! Thief !..."
Mathius begins chanting a spell of healing, when he is finished, Eldrick is no longer bleeding but still lies motionless on the ground.
Auset arrives before Mathius and the blood covered Eldrick, "Can you stabalize him ?" Mathius appears not to hear her question.
Mathius still concerned about Eldrick begins channeling more energy into another healing spell, Eldrick rubs his eyes and looks at Mathius.
"What happened ?", Eldrick asks.
"You were almost dead, my friend", Mathius responds his voice shakey from the release of energy from the spells.
Bilqis approaches Mathius and Eldrick and asks the priest, "Is he well enough to continue ?", she then turns toward Singol and Tolianth, "Learned ones, in your studies have you encountered any information that could help us defeat that thing, or convince it not to harm us ?"
Singol responds to Bilqis,"I have only seen things in books and all I know is that they are mindless servants, sorry but I don't know of any way to get around it if it is supposed to keep us out," Singol continues, "We should be carefull, all of its yelling may have alerted someone or something."
As Singol speaks his bat, Grub flutters around its master, all of the recent excitment obviously exciting the small familar. Singol too appears jumpy, his eyes darting back and forth from the golem to the woods, and buildings.
Tolianth looks at the statue, the golem, and frowns. Then speaks toward no one in particular," It looks familar, I remember my teacher mentioning golems. The stone ones, she said, are practically invulnerable." He turns his hands up in front of himself and adds, "I don't think we have any means of hurting it--at least until and unless we find weapons of powerful magic. Hmm." Distracted he turns to look at the weapons the elven creatures had. "It might be worthwhile to try shooting the thing from here, to test those arrows. It might also be incredibly risky--we don't know if the things program will allow it to come out to defend itself."
Auset adds in, "I agree, it looks as if this foe is too great for us to defeat. Lets continue our exploration, maybe we can return later," she states as she sheaths her rapier.
Tolianth calls his raven to him with a thought.
Nianna flutters down to him, "Is it safe ? " the bird demands.
"Of course its not safe," Tolianth responds, "nowhere on this island is safe, but you are safer than most of us at least."
"This scroll is of more value to me than anything else here," Tolianth says while holding the scroll of Melf's acid arrow, "The other, the illusion spell, has no value for me and I will gladly cede it to you." He nods toward Singol.
Singol take the mirror image scroll and nods to Tolianth,"Thats fine by me, You can't cast Illusion spells ?"
Tolianth responds, " I can not my studies have focussed on evocation spells, to the point of neglecting certain other schools."
Singol looks toward Tolianth, with a most confused stare, " How can you stand it ? All magic is wonderful and I could never have the will power to deny myself any school of magic, and of all the schools you choose illusion ? ...Its so fun to play with !" Singol finishes with a smile on his face.
Tolianth then looks toward the stash of weapons the group has won. He begins casting a detection spell, and concentrates on the items, nonthing seems magical to him. As he is about to give up, he notices a glow of magic coming from the elven creatures bodys. After studing the bodies for a moment he is certain some form of magic, created these creatures. Try as he may, he can not discrern any other information from the bodies.
After ensuring Eldrick is going to be all right, Mathius speaks to the group. "If the golem does not approach us further, let us gather this booty and depart. It seems our fine wizards have settled on the use of the scrolls; let us each garner a share of the coins and leave this place before other strange creatures come to investigate the noise."
Bilqis speaks, "Let us put the treasure in one bag and divide it when we get back to the ship."
Tolianth chimed in," I agree lets bag it up, and divide it when we get back to the ship, we shouldn't be discussing this in hostile territory."
Mathius speaks again,"Look, it seems there is a cave entrance just north of here in those ruins. What say each of you to investigating the cavern next; It would seem to be the next choice if we wish to continue learning what lays on the perimeter of these ruins before heading into the heart of it."
Jaer looks to Mathius, "You talk to much. Let's go!"
Auset speaks up,"By all means lets continue our exploration, but let us check out the above ground thoroughly before we enter the cave."
The group begins walking north toward the building with the cave, not sure whether they are going to enter or continue searching the perimeter.
The golem ceases yelling as soon as the group is out of its view.
With out any problems the group reaches the building with the cave.
The cave has a large tree at its entrance absorbing the sunlight, its roots appear to be grown into the stone of the cavern floor. The cave itself appears rather dark, from first glance it appears to go on forever, into darkness.
Auset speaks up again,"I still say we should search above groud, before we go into any cave."
Bilqis is the first to notice, Dale and Fitz are no longer with the group.
(The time is now 12:45PM)
Tolianth continues the conversation with Singol, " I like evocation." A moment later he smiles, his smile looks friendly, but perhaps a little shy.
Bilqis looks at Auset and Mathius, "I think you are both right, two of our number have dissapeared, two more will leave for days. In my opinun we should search for the missing ones first, then inspect the above ground, the cave can wait till we have our strongest warrior and our healer back." She then looks solemly at Mathius,"If you may, in your obeisance to your god, ask him to look with favor on our fellowship, I feel the spirits of this strange land regarding us, and waiting...and I do not know what can appease them."
Auset speaks to Mathius,"Fitz should have been next to you, did you see where Fitz or Dale went ?"
Mathius speaks,"Bilqis is quite observant, I had not noticed that Dale and Fitz had dissappeared. Could they have possibly headed back to the boat ? Jaer and I will look for them as we head back to the boat, but we must leave you all for a short period. I must observe a religious ritual that will keep me busy for some time. Jaer failed to attend last year, but has promised to make it up to me this year."
Mathius turns toward Jaer, " Sorry my friend, but the time has come and I would really like to have your assistance this year," he then turns toward Bilqis, "We will take the captured booty back to the ship for safe storage, at least what no one wishes to carry on themselves."
Mathius speaks to all those around him, " Which way will you continue ? Leave us a marker as to how you continue on the journey."
As Mathius and Jaer leave, Jaer mumbles something under his breath, the words he mumbled sounded something like "Friends."
Tolianth finishes his study of the equipment, being that no items were magical he takes the arrows, hoping to put them to good use later. He then turns toward the north where Dale was last spotted, as Tolianth remembers he was trying to get a clear shot at the assasian vine, but he does not remember any arrows from Dale being fired. Near the brush Tolianth notices a few specks of blood, and some marks in the dirt as if a body had been dragged thru the brush. The trail leads a few feet north and then all traces of it dissappears.
Sandor hurries over toward where he last saw Fitz, "No traps here. Looks like Fitz just walked away as we talked, walked southwest he did, his dog followed him." He then yells over toward the group, "Anyone find any magic food ? I am hungry." He then runs up near Tolianth, "Hmmm...Yep...They drug him this way,"he points north,"two of them, looks like they were of elven size, no traps here either." Sandor looks up at Tolianth, "You find any food ? I am hungry !"
Singol searches the Assasian vine, carefully, its memory still in his head. His bat flutters excitedly as he searches the creauter, but he finds nonthing new on the plant. He then offers the group some advice,"Perhaps someone should climb that building, well maybe not that building, try the one without the golem."
Eldrick feeling recovered from the damage the golem inflicted upon him, enters the cave. He trys to move silently.. He looks into the cave as far as his vision will allow but it is pitch dark as far as he can see.
Eldrick is startled as a voice from what seems all around speaks,"Little man why are you down there sneaking around ? Looking for the little halfling man ? The leaf covered ones took him, they passed thru here, but didn't see me."
As the creature is talking Eldrick continues to look around, he notices a few leaves on the tree at the mouth of the cave are shaking as the voice talks.
Time is now 1:15 PM Day One
Eldrick ignores the creature that has been speaking to him, lights his lantern and ventures further forward into the cave.
Tolianth not wanting to leave Eldrick alone, but still not wanting to leave the rest of the group, goes to the mouth of the cave and takes a defensive posture at the mouth of the cave under the tree the creature voice was heard from.
Auset and Bilqis help Sandor climb a nearby partial wall, off to the west in the distance Fitz can be seen walking off apparently of his own will, he appears to be heading for the tower at the center of the island. Sandor climbs down, and heads toward the cave, he stops at the mouth of the cave near Tolianth. Auset follows closely behind him, Bilqis trailing behind Auset.
Eldrick wanders into the cave, the first chamber is a large room with many old instruments, upon the floor is a summoning circle. Along the walls are worn down shelves, the shelves once contained many spell components, they are now dust upon the floor. Upon closer inspection Eldrick draws to the conclusion that this chamber was once a wizards labortory. Several runes line the walls, some of the runes Eldrick reconizes as signs of an evil god, if Eldrick remembers correctly the wizard that once used this labortory worshipped the god Vecna.
At the far end of the chamber a barred door blocks further exploration.
Time is now 1:30 PM Day One
Auset places stones at the cave for Jaer and Mathius.
"Oh...Fitz is headed for the tower !! We need to get to him ! He may be mezessessmarized !", Sandor yells excitedly, he draws a long breadth and continues,"Or hungry or lost or I don't think he is stupid but he is alone and headed toward the tower ! Oh I gots a bad feeling about this...Fitz walking to doom and Dale is hurt and crawling around somehere !"Exhausted from speaking the halfling, the halfling begins searching the room.
Singol finally enters the cave, following them in reluctantly, he asks,"Tolianth, where is Fitz going ? Maybe we should try to stop him first ?", at the site of the contents of the room Singol stops his questioning and looks around the room,"Wow...What have we here ?", the contents of the wizards lab bringing a grin to his face.
Auset looks around the room, the evil wizard's marking making her wish she had some holy water to sprinkle around. "Fitz is walking toward the tower, I hate to say it, but I think he will have to fend for himself for a while. He may be under some sort of mind control, but Dale has left a trail of blood and may be dying as we speak. " Auset looks around the room and then announces,"It would be difficult for someone to go thru the door and then bar it from the side they aren't on. That could be done by magic, but it most likely means there is a secret passage somewhere down here. Bilqis, could you and Singol do a detailed search of the passage ? Tolianth and I could check the room itself, and Sandor can check out the door. Sound good to all ?"
"I agree", Bilqis states,"her face stern she continues,"We have no time to lose and we can not afford to split up." While searching for more traces of blood she mutters to herself,"If any of them went off alone of his own free will, he has less sense than a he-camel in mating season !" The mutters grow unintelligible as she changes to her native dialect, the only comprehensible words that stand out are 'Eldrick' and 'Fitz'.
"I definately agree with both of you", nodding toward Auset and Bilqis,"it was a poor idea to split up, at least your plan is a good one. I take it no one here would know how to pick that lock ?" Tolianth asks of the group.
Sandor responds,"I can pick the lock !", and then happily whips out his masterwork thieving tools and begins his work.
Eldrick stands ready at the middle of the cavern, his katana drawn and his lantern setting on the floor beside him, ready for anything to happen.
While poking around the room Singol begins to worry about Fitz, "I could try to charm him to be my friend...but we should make sure he is not in his right mind. People sure don't like it when you throw spells at them. I've got into quite a few fights over stuff like that."
The voice coming from the tree at the entrance of the cave speaks again,"Wow...what have we here... " after considerable laughter the voice continues, "I have not had this much company for three hundred years. Little men ! Little men ! rooting around like hogs in a pen. The leafed ones took'em a slave, and now they come and search my cave. The little man they took thru the door, before he went he bled on the floor."
The voice unnerves Singol a little more,"We should go after Fitz while we can still see him ! Soon he will be gone and we will never find him...Me and grub bat are going after him."
Tolianth turns toward Singol and frowns at his words,"I hope nobody in our group dies today."
As Singol reaches the entrance to the cavern a large branch of the tree slams into the ground five feet in front of him , blocking his exit. "Why are you leaving little man ? Why don't you talk little man ?" The creature's voice coming from somewhere within the leaves of the large tree.
About the same time Singol is stopped Sandor hears a click and the door creaks open slowly. A light can be seen from behind the door and a yell echoes from somewhere behind it, "Advance and be recognized !"
Bounty foud while searching the room: Tolianth finds a secret cabinet containing five books the books are labled on the covers - Ancient Protections, On Portals and Gates, Druid Culture, The lower planes, and a book labled Elven Society. Tolianth does not open or remove any from the cabinet.
Auset finds two vials of liquid that still seem to be intact.
Bilqis finds a small metal lockbox, its key still in the lock. On the outsides of the box are some writings she does not understand.
Time is now 1:40 PM Day One
Mathius and Jaer can be heard from the other side of the tree, apparently they did not return to the ship.
"What manner of tree are you that talks to men ?", Mathius asks curiously, "Are you here to help us or hinder return to our comrades ?"
"Little mens, all in row, come to my cave and want to go ?", the words seem to come from deep within the tree's leaves,"My name's, I've been here so long, I must think..."
Inside the cave Bilqis raises her cheche's veil to cover her mouth, she hopes that it will protect herself from the spirit speaking from the tree.
"I'll let you know now tree, I've cut my way through many a tree greater then you !", Jaer growls while drawing back his axe.
"Wait ! Wait my friend. A talking tree is not by itself known to be good or evil, such as a man who speaks but is not known except by his actions. This tree is mischievious, but could prove helpfull." Mathius explains to Jaer,"Hold your axeuntill we know more."
After a while Jaer grows impatient, "Listen to me you overgrown weed! Open up or I'll cut you down !", he turns to Mathius, "Stand clear my friend, I may need to take a swing." Jaer pulls his axe back, slowly lowers it to the limb, and draws back muscles tensed for a great strike.
Mathius steps back and asks again, "I say again, what manner of tree are you that talks to men ? Are you here help us, or hinder return to our comrades ? Please respond lest my zealous friend waits no longer to unite us with our fellow adventurers."
From inside the cave Singol shouts, "Ahhh...Curses to you ! I like games but not when they are played on me, just wait till I find you. Hey, who else is out there ?!?!"
"Hello, little men.", the tree's branch returns upward, "My name's Guin, yes, the elves called me Guin, are you really men ? The elves that used to be my friends, spoke of such creatures as you." The branches of the tree slowly rise upward revealling an old looking face upon the trees trunk,"Ahh.. Now I see you better, you look like men."
Inside the cave Bilqis calls to Tolianth and Singol, "Learned ones, do any of you know this writing ?" To Bilqis the box feels as if it will open up and swallow her at any time. Turning the box over and looking at each of its sides, Bilqis sees the same identical writings on each side. The key in the lock has the sign of Vecna inscribed upon the base of it sticking out from the keyhole. Bilqis also notices a small symbol on each corner of the box, the symbol she does not recongnize, but feels it is important, somehow.
Auset still looking at the vials she found, she carefully lifts them, and peers into their contents trying to discern what they are for, but does cannot notice any clue to their purpose. She then moves over near Bilqis. Bilqis gladly allows her to examine the box. To Auset their appears to be no traps on the small ten by ten by ten inch lockbox.
Tolianth looks toward Singol while closing the hidden cabinet he found,"Our first priority should be to find Dale and make sure he is all right. We can argue with that tree over their later, after were all back together."
Tolianth notices the box Bilqis has found, and walks over to examine it, and its writings. After a few moments Tolianth looks up from the box, "I can not read the writings, but that symbol on the corner of the box stands for Obad-Hai, god of nature."
Time is now 1:50PM, Day ONE.
"You are a wise tree to open the way.", Jaer tells the treant called guin. After entering the cavern Jaer speaks to the companions,"We have returned to help continue search of these ruins." He sniffs the air and states, " I think we should finish our search above ground, the air is dead in this cave, that can only mean trouble."
Mathius follws in behind Jaer, armed with a long speech, "Hello Singol, we have returned. We met a group of soilders from the boat, They carried the treasure back for us. One of the soldiers also told us of a pirate ship that must have followed the boat to the island, it has been staying at the edge of the fog, but it has Captain Hillard very unnerverd. The soldier also stated that some of the pirate vessels' crew may have went ashore, but they are unsure if they are still on the island.It was upon hearing this news that I felt a prompting to return. It was as if the voice of Pelor bidding me to demonstrate my devotion to Him through my assistance and service to this party. For this purpose I have set aside my regular period of observance so that I may further assist each of you.Jaer and I have not seen Fitz, but I feel a sense of forboding and danger for young Dale. Is he in there with you? It was this sense of danger that led us quickly to return to this cave. When I heard of the pirates and that they may be here ashore, it was a vision of Dale in trouble that immediately came to mind. If he is in danger, we must set aside all other matters and find him quickly lest our young friend get waylaid and kidnapped by pirates."
"Auset, lower the lamp and let me look into the darkness of the passage to see what I can see.", Jaer states.
After looking down the hall and seeing nonthing unusual, he turns to the group and asks,"Where did you lose Dale ? Perhaps I can track him down." Jaer puts away his axe and draws bow, arrow nocked, and thoughts of battle in his head.
Bilqis speaks softly to Tolianth, "Look, On the key, another symbol, the symbol of Venca."
"That box is probally dangerous, but quite possibly usefull as well. I would say with the symbols of two gods on it, we should let our priest, Mathius, examine it before we open it." Tolianth then walks toward the tree and speaks to it in two different elven languages.
Guin the treant does not anser tolianth but merely shakes his leaves and states, "Hmmmph...now they want to talk to me. Come into my cave and pay no heed to me, but now they want to talk."
Bilqis hands the Box to Mathius for inspection. Quietly she speaks to those companions near her, "Do you think this tree-spirit Guin is trustworthy ? He could tell us somthing about the things we found and who used to live here."
"Tolianth, Guin spoke of elves, could the 'leafed ones' be", Bilqis pauses her face expressing a great shock,"could they be the result of some mages experiment...on elves ?"
Tolianth seems intrigued by Bilqis' question, "Quite possibly."
After Jaer looks into the darkness of the passage, Auset open the door a little more and peers down the hall using her Lantern, nonthing new can be seen.
Singol off to one side of the rooms softly casts a spell, a detection spell. Many parts of the room radiate magic, the summoning circle on the floor, the two vials that were found, the key in the lockbox radiates a strong magic, the lockbox itself does not radiate any magic at least not on the outside of the box.
Time is now 2:05PM, Day One.
"We didn't recognize you." Tolianth tells Guin, the treant, in common . Guin does not respond.
"We should head back to the boat to defend it, thats our only way home. We can't keep searching this place with them at our backs.", Singol states nervously as grub, his bat, flutters irregularly around his head.
Tolianth frowns at Singol, "We can't abandon Dale. Glows ? You detected magic ?" He turns back to the the tree before giving Singol a chance to anser, "Guin, the leafed ones took Dale, you said. Can you tell us how many leafed ones , and is there anyone else with them ?"
Guin shakes his leaves and finally responds to Tolianth, "Little man finally talks to me, I've been in this spot since my elven friends grew leaves and were no longer themselves, I'll help you little man, there were two leafed ones dragging the halfling thru here. I always hide from the leafed ones when they use these passages."
Jaer moves south thru the open door an into the passage.
Auset follows shortly behind Jaer down the passage.
Bilquis hands the box and key to Mathius.
"Let us investigate the findings in this room later; if none object, I will hold on to the box and key until such time as we can give it further study" Mathius states to the group, and then continues,"Jaer has set a good lead, let us follow so as to provide good cover. May I suggest letting Jaer lead the way 60' ahead of Auset's lantern light, and the rest of us follow in pairs as we did outside. I can provide additional light in the back of the group with my lantern if we think that is necessary"
Sandor, Bilqis, Eldrick, Singol, Tolianth, and Mathius enter the passage way behind Jaer and Bilqis, walking in pairs.
Jaer looks around the first corner and sees no threats so he continues to go toward the west. A barred door stands open, Jaer enters the room. The room looks as if it used to be used as a dungeon, or perhaps a room to store creatures that had been expieremented on. The walls of the room have many different creatures skeletons still chained to the walls. Jaer recognizes an orcish skeleton, but does not recognize any of the other eight skeletons chained in place.
The room seems to have no other exits.
Time is Now 2:20 Day One.
"Jaer, what have you found in there ? Are these the victims of some ancient evil experiments ?", Mathius states when entering the room. He slowly approaches the skeletons on the walls, and prods each with his mace.
"Me find dead things...", Jaer grumbles as he throws the orc skull at another skeleton on the wall. The skull shatters as it smashes against the other skeleton's skull. The echos of the noise jar the cavern passageways.
"Wait ! Let me check those.", Bilqis tells Mathius,"They could be trapped."
Bilqis finding no traps allows Mathius to place the ancient skeletons to rest.
While the others were talking and checking for traps Auset scoured the room, looking for clues, and treasure, but finding neither. Only old skeletons hang in this room.
Auset gives the two potions she found earlier to Tolianth,"Here, I found these in the other room. Not sure what they are, maybe you can figure them out."
Jaer leaves the room and heads further down the dark passage. As he leaves the party's light he can be heard mumbling, "Me not like these caves, the woods are much better for Jaer."
As Jaer go down the passage in the dark passageway, he feels the prescence of other creatures. Carefully he proceeds but...
Time is now 2:35PM Day One
FYI: Dusk is at 9:00PM, Night is at 9:30PM - Daybreak at 6:00AM
