Alma makes a mental note that this group is very well suited to manipulating creatures into doing their bidding for them.
"It's a deal, then," she agrees. "First, we need to make it to the exit unaccosted. It would be best if we can avoid Wahorna knowing about us, to give an extra element of surprise when we return. And to avoid her becoming suspicious of you, as well. As experts of this particular mine, if you have any suggestions it would be much appreciated."
"Two ways up-up," says Trex, fake-wings bobbing as the kobold points up. "Bucket lift up, then wood bridge, and gotsta go through where not-priests are. They ignore the squeaky bucket cause they think it's justa kobolds. But got to sneak sneak at the wood bridge, listen real good."
Gesturing with his other hand to the stone wall northeast of you – beyond which is the vertical shaft – Trex looks up at Alma. "Oooor can climb to top of waterfall, but gotsta be small like kobold and real good climber." After a moment, Trex rubs his jaw and stares beyond Alma to the spider-shaped Aric.
Cantrips Guidance, Mending*,
Sacred Flame, Spare the dying, Memorized spells 1st Bless*, Cure wounds*,
create/destroy water, healing word,
Protection from Evil, Sanctuary, Guiding bolt 2nd Lesser Restoration*, Spiritual Weapon*, Aid,
As they listen to the kobold's explanation, a sound, barely audible over the sound of the waterfall, echoes down the hallway from the very direction the kobold is pointing. It starts as a surprised cry and then someone shouting out in dwarven,
"Broath frogg, tlaga jommok joth"*
There's a loud clank followed by a scraping noise, like metal hitting then scraping across the stone, then followed by a crash and a cry of pain. Then a slightly panicked shout in common,
"Anyone up there?!"
Once again, there's the sound of metal against stone but, this time, followed by an triumphant exclamation.
It works @TaranTheWanderer - Oskar would just be coming up the shaft at Level 3 (below PCs), and sound echoing up ramp by 'orange dot' they just ascended.
"Two ways up-up," says Trex, fake-wings bobbing as the kobold points up. "Bucket lift up, then wood bridge, and gotsta go through where not-priests are. They ignore the squeaky bucket cause they think it's justa kobolds. But got to sneak sneak at the wood bridge, listen real good."
Gesturing with his other hand to the stone wall northeast of you – beyond which is the vertical shaft – Trex looks up at Alma. "Oooor can climb to top of waterfall, but gotsta be small like kobold and real good climber." After a moment, Trex rubs his jaw and stares beyond Alma to the spider-shaped Aric.
Alma hums thoughtfully, rubbing her jaw in an unconscious mimic of Trex. "I have magic that could help me get through a small space. But I'm unable to assist Zeth or--"
The voice interrupts her thoughts and she whips towards it. She doesn't speak dwarvish, but the words remind her of that tense conversation between Zeth and the guards outside. She looks to the others. "Did one of the Battlehammer warriors follow us?"
With that Logrim moves back towards the shaft and toads they just recently left. As he approaches the ramp down to the lower level he calls down to whoever was down there.
Cantrips Guidance, Mending*,
Sacred Flame, Spare the dying, Memorized spells 1st Bless*, Cure wounds*,
create/destroy water, healing word,
Protection from Evil, Sanctuary, Guiding bolt 2nd Lesser Restoration*, Spiritual Weapon*, Aid,
As you approach, there's a hook lodged around one of the wooden posts with a rope that runs over the ledge. Looking over the side, several inches from the top, is a fully armoured dwarf, shield on his back, struggling to pull his way over. His beard and face is wet with sweat and he's breathing hard.
Below, the two blue frogs look up, as if waiting for their dessert to land into their laps.
He gratefully takes Logrim's hand, grunting and sputtering as he's pulled up and over. Lying on the ground, he rolls over onto his back, breathing heavily for a moment, looking up at the dark, cavernous, ceiling.
"Thank-you. By the gods, I thought I'd never catch up."
Groaning he sits up, revealing the symbol of Sharindlar, Goddess of Mercy upon his shield. With the rope between his legs, starts pulling up his backpack, which is tied to the end of the rope below.
"Are you Logrim? I was told there'd be two gnomes but the rock gnome was named Logrim. It must of been by the merciful grace of Shrindlar that I caught you. I've been jogging for hours and, I'll have you know, dwarves are NOT built for speed."
Taking up his bag, he stands up and faces the gnome, "I am Oskar." His accent almost makes the last statement sound more like a question - Osh-kherr?* - and it lacks some of the harsh consonants typical to the local dwarves. He's obviously foreign to the area.
"Oskar Whisperstone" He says his last name as if Logrim should recognize it.**
"I have been desperate to get to Tourmalaine but was stranded at the dwarven valley. Quite unexpectedly, someone arrived at my room and told me a group had been offered a different way to avoid the storm but I had to barter a favour for the tip. When they told me what was unfolding, I had to pack up as fast as I could to catch up. He introduced me to Brydum Black Axe who took me through the temple but I'd just missed you. Brydum told me to show you this axe as proof of good faith."
He holds out a tool that belongs to one of the dwarves they'd helped.
"Will you take me along with you?"
* I'm going for a Dutch accent
**As a background ability, he's from a "renowned" Stone Mason's Guild/Clan that's recognized among crafters but, especially, dwarves. So it may make sense for someone to recognize the name if they have the appropriate background.
I was going to keep the post short and have some back-and-forth but it seems best, with pbp, to just do full exposition so it takes less time RL.
Logrim nods to the dwarf when he asks if he is Logrim. He listens carefully and chuckles at the not built for speed comment. At the introduction he smiles and extends his hand.
"Yes mister Oskar I'm Logrim Romwod." Logrim smiles at hearing Oskar's clan name. "Clan Whisperstone you say? I think I saw some of your clans work in the Dumathoin temple."
Logrim listens to the rest of the tale and looks at the axe recognizing it as Brydum's. He nods again and waves. He had no issues with letting the dwarf join them on their trip to the surface.
"You're welcome to join us on our trip to Tourmalaine. Come on let's go meet the others."
OOC:
Sorry for the delay. With the holiday I didn't have much time to post before today.
