Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1874635" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Three, “Bird Watching”, May 26th, 1020:“So how much do we ask for?” Fiona says.   Mojo says “Well, we could get him to let us take the necklace.  It’s probably worth something if we want to sell it.”   Serita says “Well, let’s try to get a fixed amount regardless of what we discover.  The likelihood of us finding the Prince after this much time isn’t very promising.”    The head back and Serita asks what the boy looks like.  The King produces a portrait of him at age nine.   “Prissy looking guy,” Mojo mutters.    Serita, with her usual bluntness, gets right to the point “How much are you going to pay us?”   The king tells them that he has considerable wealth should they be successful, with silver, gold and platinum from his mines and that his capitol city is known for its sages and scribes so he also has a considerable number of scrolls that could be used for compensation.They pull back to discuss this further.  “Sounds good to me,” Mark states.  Purge says to Narg, “And given those sages and scribes we should be able to get the writing utensils, ink and paper that Jamie asked you to get.”  Mojo protests, “I am not going to put up with being paid in school supplies.”  “I think we’ll go for the precious metals instead,” Narg states.  “Or the scrolls,” Fiona interjects.  “Make that AND the scrolls,” Serita adds. They head back over and agree to undertake the mission.   Narg asks, “So, exactly what type of giants and other monsters are there in these mountains who we might run into?”    The Captain-General responds to this question “All types of giants.  We’ve also run into ogres and trolls.”   “Any other monsters threatening this kingdom?” Fiona adds.   The wizard advisor says, “Well, we did have a problem with the drow opening up a portal to the abyss eighteen years ago.”   This causes all six adventurers to look up with an alarmed look.  “Leaving, what a good idea,” Mojo quips.  “Hold on, why don’t you tell us more about this,” Serita states.  Verbane states “Istivin fell under the attack from a wholly unanticipated opponent – Lolth, Demon Queen of Spiders.  An immense black hemisphere of dark energy appeared over much of the city’s central square, completely cutting off the government and military leaders who were trapped inside.   The hemisphere expanded slowly and every day engulfed more of the city.   Fortunately a group of brave adventurers penetrated the barrier, defeated Lolth’s machinations and returned unharmed, sealing the barrier behind them.   We have had no trouble from the drow since that time.”   “Why don’t I trust that to still be the case,” Fiona ponders.   Mojo turns to Narg and says “See, I told you that bring Ailshear would have helped.”  Narg sarcastically replies, “Yeah, sure, a place that’s historically had trouble with drow would just welcome one with open arms.”   Narg says “Look, don’t worry about it right now.  It’s not like we’ve never fought them before.  Hell, half of us here right now battled in the Abyss less than two years ago.” (Module #100 – “Chinese Take Out”, the ENWorld Story Hour at the following link: <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28642" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=28642</a>). The King provides them with a map of the road through the mountains.   He states, “Since the gnomes wouldn’t reveal the location of the lair, or even where they found Sir Hujer, you must begin here where the original patrol began and follow its patch until you discover what happened.  The gnomes said that Sir Hujer’s last words were a warning about fire or flames.  He was not very coherent at the end, may be rest with the gods.”  Mark suggests, “Maybe we should try to find and track these gray-skinned gnomes.”  Mojo says, “Good idea.  I’ve killed giants before.  Killing these gnomes would be something new for me.”  Fiona says “Fighters!  Mojo, I think he meant we find the gnomes to ask them for information, not eliminate them.”  “Party pooper,” he exclaims.   Narg requests that they be issued mounts to which the King agrees.   The party is provided lodgings for the evening. May 27th, 1020, 7:00 A.M. The party gets an early departure.  They have dressed for colder climates, as it is a brisk forty degrees out and snow can be seen atop the mountains in the distance.   They ride westward towards the mountains, which by mid-morning still remain in the distance, being further away than they appeared to be. They finally reach the mountains, stopping for lunch at a steam in the foothills.   They continue on into the afternoon, not finding any recent tracks other than those of small animals.   They start to reach the first of the higher peaks.   These peaks are fairly steep and some large winged creatures are seen flying overhead.   They get closer and deduce that the birds are giant eagles.  There are six of them in total, three sitting upon nests on three separate peaks with the mate flying near each.The party discusses asking them for information.  Serita climbs onto Fiona’s pegasus and asks the men “Is there anything you’d like me to ask the birds?”   Mojo replies, “Yeah, tell them not to poop on us.”     As the pegasus starts to near a nest the male eagle goes into a dive towards her, claws extended.   Serita attempts to speak with the creature to no avail, as it lets out a loud angry screech.   When the bird is within 100 feet of them the pegasus’s own instincts for self-preservation kick in and it to makes a long wide dive to the side.   Mojo’s player comments “This is just like the movie Top Gun!”Once the pegasus is far enough off the eagle breaks off its attack and returns to the nest.   Serita refuses to take “No” for an answer and does a druidic transformation into a giant eagle and flies upward.  Rather than heading towards that agitated bird she instead flies towards the nest which appears to have the youngest eagles, calling to them in the language of the birds.The same result follows, with the male eagle diving towards her.   Narg looks up from below and says, “I’m confused.  I thought they were proud, noble and intelligent birds.  Why do they begin with an attack?”   Mojo replies, “Well they say that elves are proud, noble and intelligent but look at the two of us.”  Serita attempts to evade but is less experience with this particular form as the bird, which manages to dig both of its claws into one of her wings.  It shreds the feathers and flesh to an extent that Serita can no longer continue to fly and she begins to plummet to the ground below.  Narg turns to Mojo and comments “You know this is somehow going to end up being my fault.”  Purge comments “You can tell he’s married.”Mark begins to worry when she still falling while little more than 100 feet from the ground when she transforms back into a half-elf and her Ring of Feather Falling kicks in.   She is rather angry when she reaches the ground and her mood doesn’t improve when Mojo applauds.   “They should not have been so uncooperative!  I was in their own form,” she exclaims.   Purge says, “They were protecting nests.  If someone who was a possible threat approached Jamie while she was protecting one of her children she would have done the same.”  “Or she’d offer him some soup,” Narg comments.   Mojo says “Both.  She’d cut his head off with a sword and then pour the soup down the stump.”   Serita says “But the nests should be empty.  It’s too early for eagles to lay a clutch.”   The ranger Mark says, “Regular eagles yes, giant eagles have an earlier mating cycle.”   “Well, if you’re done trying to talk to birds can we move on?” Narg exclaims.</blockquote>

Verification