BLACK CRATER

Herjolf runs to take shelter behind a large plinth of shattered granite as soon as you land.

Lucius, you set down with the children safe and sound. What next? A chill, damp wind is blowing down off the mountains. Smells like rain.
 

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I polymorph back into my (handsome) self.

"Dalabrak, can you go back for one of our fallen comrades, or shall I as larger beast? I might be able to grab both."

"Kids, see if you can find some shelter. We're not out of danger yet! But I promise, if you're all good, Uncle Lucius will put on a show for you, the likes of which have made kings and queens weep with delight!"

I guess our next plan is to get the bodies, then find a place to spend the night. Of course, it's not likely that someone will look for us out here. It will be assumed that we went through one of the numerous portals. Should we spend the night here or go down the mountain? I think it may actually be safer up here. I'd very much like to explore this area one day ... the Nether had many great secrets...

To Wisp: Keep a keen eye out, old friend. But flee at the first sign of danger. That other mage will be looking out for my familiar, I'd wager. Hmmm, if you see any of your fellow (albeit far less intelligent) owls, see if you can determine how far the nearest human settlement is. I'd like to find out where we are.

OOC: Matt -- be sure to bring me a familiar character sheet so I can make one up for Wisp. T'anks!
 

I will go back and get both of them in two trips. I feel that I am better suited to defend myself if something goes wrong. Find a better place to rest and send wisp back to me so that I can follow him to the spot. Best of luck.
 

Lucius, you and the children discover a ruined building (about 80 feet away from the Nexus building), of which only two walls remain. It is, however, surrounded by thick brush and a screen of spruce trees. Chipmunks scurry among the ruins, and sparrows fly hither and yon.

Darabrac, your "Lift Off Ground" total being 230 lb., it is an easy matter to carry the bodies one at a time. It is a dicey operation, since you creep back into the Nexus Room wondering if a portal will suddenly open. But none does, and Wisp leads you back to the hideout.

The dawn sun is rising out to the east.

Wisp: The day is difficult for me, Tall magic-one. Did you not want me to perch atop the Nexus Room and keep an eye out for your friend?
 

Wisp -- Yes, continue your perch throughout the day ... but see if you can find a spot in the shade so that you do not have to bear the heat of the sun. Perhaps later I can polymorph you into a giant, dire owl so that you might strike fear in the hearts of mice everywhere. :) Be wary, my friend.

"Dalabrak, I'm exhausted. Can you keep an eye out while I rest to regain spells? Perhaps play "hide in shadows" with the children?"

Lucius takes out a perfumed hankerchief (monogrammed with the initials L.F.), places it over his face and begins to snore contently.
 

While Lucius sleeps

Darabrac, you slip into a shadow and vanish, keeping a keen eye on the surrounding ruins. There is no sound other than the songbirds and the cool mountain wind. The children soon fall into an exhausted slumber as well.

Your head is heavy with fatigue but you manage to stay awake. After two hours, you hear a high keening cry echo down the valley, through the ruins. Then another.

You peek out from the spruces, and you see a large beast flapping toward the top of the Nexus building on powerful wings. It has a a pair of eagle-heads, birdlike wings, and the tawny muscled body of a lion. It keens again, and Lucius mutters in his sleep. The creature carries a large tangle of branches in its claws.

It vanishes into the top of the building. Birds scatter from the walls, a swarm of sparrows and Wisp. The owl flutters into a nearby pine and hides.

Several minutes later, the beast takes flight once more and wings upward into the valley.

Three more hours pass. At times you doze in the shadows, the heat of the rising sun warming the ruins and your chilled bones. You see some local wildlife, nothing more. The flying beast returns with an even-larger tangle of shrubs and branches, depositing them in the Nexus Room...there is a moment of excitement...but the creature flies off into the valley again.

Two hours later, you are nearly bored stiff. It is past midday. The flying creature returns with a third bundle of brush and sticks and does not leave for nearly an hour.

When it does finally leave, it soars overhead and lets out another pair of keening cries from its beaks. Lucius starts awake as it wings off into the valley again.

(Eight hours.)
 
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Lucius, it appears to be nesting, and unnatural. I think we are safe here for now, but getting back may prove difficult. Hvae you rested enough to learn spells? If so can i sleep for the nessissary two hours while you prepare for the day? What do you think?
 

Sadly, Master Bramblefoot, I still require some rest. I find a full eight hours is needed for me to be at my best. However, if need be, I can sit comfortably while you sleep.

If the beast frightens you, I suggest you distract yourself with something else. Here, you may borrow these... they're my lucky dice! Ah, remind me to tell you how those little beauties once landed me in trouble with a clan of very humorless dwarves.... Meanwhile...

Turns over

Zzzzzzzzzzzz............

To Wisp: I'm sorry my friend, I know the beast was most unpleasant to you. I will make it up to you, though ... and if you'd like, I'll get you the beast's entrails for supper... :)
 


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