Dreadnought is quiet for a moment, then says, "I...think I understand. He said the dwarf hadn't seen him. So the dwarf, who may be seeking us for some reason, believes he is in the jungle alone, and is in fact in some danger."
Another pause, and the bulky warforged appends, "Will you lead us to him? Or at least point the way?"
Another pause, and the bulky warforged appends, "Will you lead us to him? Or at least point the way?"
Domoris shrugs. "Could. Less likely he die if you find him. Unless you hunt giants. Then it won't change much." In a flash, the shifter becomes a sleek bird of prey and alights to a nearby by tree, waiting for the others to follow.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Morph's form suddenly changes as well. Silver scales become silvery metal and clawed fingers become three fingered hands and his body expands and reforms into humanoid shape. Morph looks at the bird/shifter in more than a little jealousy. "The giants, attack in numbers it is true, and their magic of old is strong indeed from what I have heard. Perhaps strong enough to create such monstrosities as these," he says as he points to the tentacled apes.
Almost ready to start out, Morph looks at the body of the dead warlock. "It is not customary to care for the bodies of the dead? Perhaps we could take what magical gear he had. There is no reason why is should rust and be forgotten here in the jungle. I can burn the body if that is suitable to everyone."
"The dwarf? Yes, it would be good to see what news he brings, whether it be good or ill. If he is hostile, we should be able to take of him. If not, then he will probably be grateful for the ability to talk to something other than the trees."
In the back of your head, you hears a familiar dark, gurgling-like voice.
"Ah, your slave mind is like a beacon to me. No matter where you go, you cannot hide. Mark my words, gith, you will make a most interesting slave and thrall once again, as it is destined for all your kind."
DM
I just can't wait for my fists to crush your squid like head.
Void think, knowing thay the mind flayer can read his thoughts.
Void will follow the party secretly, not wanting to reveal himself to the new comer and the so called dwarf they seek now. He will watch them closely, trying to figure if this mysterious shape shifter is integrities or a foul enchantment of the mind flayer.
__________________
Spoiler:
Zirat Igruf, Gladiator (Rhun's ToEE): OOC ; IC ; RG
"This has not been a good day," Darv sighs, wearily. "Who remains wounded? I can do something about that." He winces at the pain of his own wounds, and sits down to the ground with a groan.
He listens to the conversation, nodding absently. "We should indeed find this dwarf. After attending to our fallen companion. Hell of a way to die," he continues, shaking his head. "Hell of a way to die."
Ganyon pulls out a shovel from his pack and begins to dig a shallow grave. After about 10 minutes of digging in the soft jungle soil he has excavated a trough large enough to fit the warlock's body.
With the aid of the goliath, they put the man's torso and lower body into the grave, then go back and wrest the arms free of the dead ape-creature's grasp.
"Itsa been a while since I'd 'een a man torn'in two lik dat." Ganyon says as he shakes his head and places the arms back with the corpse. He then covers Asenfel with the dirt.
Ganyon turns to warforged wizard and says,"It be bad joojoo tah take a mans treasured items from 'im in the heart o' tah jungle -- I''ve 'eard many a tale 'bout curses and such."
Void
"Sssssuch impotent thoughts. Do you not realize how long your people have sssserved my ilk? Do you not remember that you owe your heritage to your Masssster'ssss? Ssssuch imprudencccce will get in you trouble. No matter how hard you try, you cannot hide from me -- even in the dark depths of the jungle. Know that I can, and will, ressssstore you to your proper place at any time."
"Perhapssss you will sssshow more resssspect once you are immerssssed within a sssspawing pool."
"It is a sssshame your human friend could not keep himssssself together....."
A dark chuckle fills your mind.
"I ssssure do hope the resssst of you are more entertaining......."
The shifter/bird slowly leads the group off to the southwest, pausing from time to time in the low hanging branches while it waits for the earthbound travellers to catch up. Not more than an hour or so goes by before you occasionally here something that sounds like a humanoid's voice.
As you get closer to the source, the group begins to vaguely make out singing in the distance. It sounds like a sailors sea shanty, to ward off the Devourer when passing through Shargon’s Teeth. The singer is off key and seems to have gotten a few words wrong.
Oh I may go down....
I may go dooowwwnnn
But let it not beeeee.....
In the teeth of heeeee.....
You then hear:
Dwarven
Fire my forge with cheap goblin coal, it is the same blasted tree.
"Ye not be fool'n ol' Hudder wit' yer cheap tricks, those Tharask folk've done better tah've left some markers. Ain't sensibly gonna get any back-up if the back-up can't find 'em."
From the sound of the creature, he hasn't not spotted or heard the group yet, but from the sound of the rustling tree branches, he is just on the other side of a thicket from you.
OOC: Only Davan, Void and Darv are injured at this point.
The sleek bird circles the group once then dashes off, only to land on a tree near the dwarf. It looks imperiously down at the out of place wanderer, waiting.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Well, hello there, dunna suppose you be onna thos' magical talk'n birds o' tha Fallen Temple o' tha' Purple Hand? Me mate ir'Maagan swears he met a flock o' yah round last season.
Hudder looks at the bird.
The bird looks at Hudder.
"Well, ir'Maagan did say those bird'er ten feet long'n purple. And that Temple ain't near here no how."
Dwarven
Enough talking to the wildlife man. Not gonna save that expedition standing in this here clearing.
Let's see, last time I went that way, so this time I'll go -this- way.
The sound of a heavy, armor-wearing figure crashing through the underbrush is audible.
Last edited by Graf; 16th April 2008 at 02:26 AM..
And... while I the player enjoying a bit of fun by having Hudder talk randomly to a creature that just happens to be a shapechanged pc in disguise it'd strain credulity to actually have Hudder "figure out" there is something particularly weird or noteworthy about this bird.
Given his substandard mental stats, lack of appropriate knowledge or survival skills and the fact that Xen'drik is full of "weird animals".
It also seemed a bit trite to have him randomly wander into the group instead of having someone approach him.
But maybe that'd just be faster?
Dreadnought decides on the direct approach, and simply plows through the jungle as only a towering mass of adamantine can, blaring in stentorian tones, "DWARF IN THE JUNGLE. MOVE TOWARDS MY VOICE. WE ARE NOT HOSTILE."
OOC: Just wanted to point that out, not because Hudder would "figure" anything out, but it would be odd and he would notice the size [and I failed to mention it in my original post; my bad ].
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Just remember that you aren't in the jungle to 'save' the expedition -- more likely to get any information they have that could help you piece together the cause of Barrak's death.
Morph follows the others for the time being, all the noise they were making looking for the dwarf seemed incredibly loud. Probably no louder than the dwarf himself though.
But surely they'll be doomed without the assistance of a capible explorer like myself...
After wandering around in the jungle for a few days with no guide I think even Hudder'd get a bit depressed. Nothing cheers him up like telling himself he's vastly more important than he is.
Hudder perks up. Finally! Maybe that big fat bird was one' o' 'em lucky birds.
Hudder heads into the underbrush, but then makes a quick backward facing retreat when he almost barrels into a massive warforged heading in the opposite direction.
Big'un aincha!
As soon as they have some space he sizes up the motley group in front of him. The dwarf is positively beaming.
Well it looks like yeh found me. Not how it's suppsuta happen but good enough! I'm Hudrinoph d'Kundarak. Me real titles longer but that's the important bit. But since we're gonna be adventuring together yeh have tah call me Hudder!
Hudder enthusiastically continues to speak apparently blissfully unaware of how hard his mangled common is to follow. He punctuates his speech by banging Topaz-encrusted gauntlets together and bellowing certain words. I'm hear tah set things right wit' ol' Barrak d'Tharashk; who done me a right I ain't repaid in full yet. AN' who, sure as my beard is brown, was sent to Dolurrh afor' his proper time. Nardon told me about yah bein' out here and I figured finishing up Barrak's business'd be a good two-fer-one. Get something he'da want done done AN' suss out the slimey no-good scoundrel who done 'im in.
Last edited by Graf; 16th April 2008 at 08:51 AM..
The bird alights on another branch, more elegantly following the thundering dwarf. It has an expression that one would almost call a 'I-told-you-so' if a bird could communicate in that manner.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Void watches the dwarf from his hideout between the trees. This noisy dwarf will bring all the jungle's wildlife to confront us.
He thinks. But the Gitz is troubled.
How the mind-flayer is tracking us? He must have been joining us from the city till here?
Void eyes Ganyon suspiciously. He'll eye him from now on and wait for the night to share his thoughts with the others, hopefully the magical hut will protect his mind from being scryed.
__________________
Spoiler:
Zirat Igruf, Gladiator (Rhun's ToEE): OOC ; IC ; RG
Ha! Fair question. I can tell you haven't been in Xen'drik long my Warforged friend, Hudder looks positively thrilled to have the chance to talk about himself. He continues to enthusiastically wave his arms about, bellow words while rapping his gauntlets on each other and pieces of his armor for emphasis and generally make a spectacle of himself.
I'd wager there isn't a single real Xen'drik explorer hasn't heard of me! Why I led the third expedition to the Mountain of Jade. Tha' first two didn' have tha gumption tah open tha Forbidden Door, but we did! Ha! You shoulda seen all tha critters tha poured outta 'at one. HA! Never run so hard in me life!
An' not tha I mean tah brag, but I'm no slouch when 'comes tah fight'n neither! Master of the Ax' n shield, trained by the best the Mror Holds has to offer, jus so yah know." Hudder gives Morph a knowing look and a nod as he pointedly raps a knuckle on his Manticore emblasioned shield. And I've a Kundarak's eye fer detail! It'd have to be pretty cunn'n trap fer me tah miss it.
But even if I weren't this good I'd still be help'n you, on accounta me debt to Barak! Hudder's face is resolute.
I'd brought another guide too but they got eaten by some sorta warped cats. Biguns! 'oriffic tah look at! Tentacles. The 'ole lot!
So we'll need a new guide. No offense! he looks at Ganyon. But a first rate expedition needs a first rate guide! I've got ears all around these parts an' my sources tell me tha' the best to have for this region's a shifter, namea Domoris. Fought dur'n tah war for tha Reaches; real terror, or so ah been told. My sources tell me he's been living out here for years now. But....
Hudder glances around and then sidles closer to Morph. He lowers his voice to a (very loud) whisper, He's a shape-chang-er. A master they say. Never shows himself. Hudder glances at an innocuous looking plant behind the warforged. I'd wager he could probably appear as anything.
Hudder pushes his pinez down on his nose staring intently at the plant.
"...anything..."
The dwarf spends a long moment staring intently at the plant.
He abruptly shrugs and looks back at Morph.
"So that's my proposal! We find this shifter shapechanger, he leads us tah who'e'er is bushwacking 'em Tharashk's. Maybe apply a bit of axing to the situation" Hudder flicks his black glass axe with a fingure, it gives off a long hum like a finger sliding around a wineglass "They lead us to tha scoundrel tha' done in ol'Barak. Easy as breaking a goblin invasion!"
Hudder crosses his semi-precious stone-studded mail arms and looks at the group beaming.
Last edited by Graf; 17th April 2008 at 03:04 AM..
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