Meeting the Voice

[Jessamyn] She pulls the reins on Gala, her Rojax, to turn her and enforces her desire to turn around by speaking equine with her mount.  Listen guys, We know there is something that will lead to danger in front of us.. and now there is this woman calling telling us that the beast ahead of us offers great danger and to turn away now, away from the direction that the sun rises, and she will show us a safe place till morning.  Now, I'm not to sure about this woman who is out here in the SWAMP, and I'm assuming alone, but I'd rather face a woman than a big ugly scary meateater!   Althought this "woman" might be one of those nasty flesheating hags I mentioned earlier, back at the lizard-woman's hut, in which case the "meateater" ahead could be an ogre lacky of hers.. but right about now, i'd rather walk into a trap by somone i'm assuming to be a hag then to walk out into the darkness and not know what is out there.  What does everyone else say?"

Veneron recovers from the communication quickly, realizing that something is communicating.  He looks at the others and, even in the darkness, can see that they too have heard something.  "Okay, okay, everybody.  That was very strange.  Tav and Jessamyn, if you too can continue to monitor the status of whatever meat eating predator is out in front of us, I'll see if I can't help sort out this other problem."

[Jessa] "Monitor the status of the meat eater?  What do you want me to do? go out there and ask it if it's had dinner already and if he would like to join us for a spot of tea?! No Way! I think I'll just be over here waiting to see who else wants to join me and do what the woman said." She backs Gala up a little.

Ven gives Jessamyn a crooked, half-hearted, nervous smile.  "No, I don't think it'll be necessary to check the contents of its stomach.  I wasn't even suggesting that any of us leave only that a couple of us keep an eye out for the creature ahead so that while we are all huddled together here trying to figure out what the voice means that it doesn't sneak up on us and make the point moot."

"First, did everybody hear the same thing?  I heard something along the lines of, 'You're very brave to help a friend in need, but you don't need to risk it.  Help me now and I will help your friend.'  What about you others, the same, or something different?"

[Jessa] That is NOT what I heard.. that must mean we all heard soemthing differant.. telepathetically.. or what ever it's called. You know when you communicate with out words in each others head... I don't know if a hag can do that.. Argh.. i wish an answer would just drop out of the sky! Why couldn't I have started studying the calling (cleric) when Father asked me to.. then I might  be in better favor with Elhonna.  I could have asked for guidance.."  Jessa starts to beat herself up over not listening to her father, but then stops realizing that it's going to get her no where.  She calls out to her goddess." Oh unwaivering Elhonna!  Please protect me and my companions! If i have gained any favor with you, please help us!" She hangs her head down, cursing at herself for not studying to be a cleric harder and sooner.  Her heart hoping for some consolance from Elhonna, and tears starting to fall, as she sits hunched over on her mount, with Rei letting out a small whine and licking Jessa's arm.

Ven looks at the others for confirmation that they too heard different things . . .

"I'm sorry if I snapped at you." Jessa starts.. "I think we are all just a little bit nervous with being in the dark and hearing voices and knowing that there is obvious trouble for us somewhere around here.."

[Daggda] The dwarf watches the elf-kin's emotional display, but was too puzzled by it to provide any comfort.  She had guarded the gates of the Underhome alongside her father for nearly three decades, as it was the honor of all of her family's bloodline to do so.  In fact, she had gone beyond her father in insisting on joining the all-male order of Moradin against the objections of nearly all the senior priests themselves.  She was fairly certain that her father was quietly proud of her, in both her choice of occupation and her defiant refusal to back down to the demands of the more arrogant priests of Moradin.  Still, she tried to provide some comfort to the distraught Jessamyn. Nudging her mule towards the elf, she murmurs, "There, there.  You travel with us now, and we first met in battle, as shield-sisters.  We will find our way through this, and our gods will do as they see fit."  Daggda briefly places a firm hand on the Jessamyn's shoulder.

Jessa looks up, her face slightly red from rubbing the tears away.  'Shield-sister' she thought to herself.. 'no one has ever called me that before'. She thinks with a small smile trying to creap it's way across her face.  It made her feel a little better to know that other people cared about her.  Everyone else, besides her father and the wolves who rased her, always wanted to find ways to get rid of her because she was a half elf. She like the change.  "Thank you, Daggda.  You will never know how much that really means to me to hear you say that."  Jessa feels better now and sits atop her mount waiting the decision of the group.

[Daggda] She turns to Veneron.  "I heard a different message too.  I was told that if I continue forward, I would not live to aid all of you, nor the voice speaking to me.  She told me her cause was just also, and asked me again to turn aside." The dwarf shudders, and not from her damp armor and clothing.  "I do not trust sorcery that invades into a person's thoughts, and I would not trust this voice either."  The acolyte of Moradin pauses.  "Still, if this message were a trap, I think the voices would have told us to come to aid her by heading in a specific direction, not to just avoid continuing straight ahead."

[Ven] "Yes.  I'm inclined to trust the voice, too.  I think it is interesting to note that the message to each of us waspersonalized.  It wasn't just a broadcast message.  The one to me appealed to my friendship with Sandros.  The one to you, Daggda, appealed to your sense of honor or duty to a shield-brother.  For each of us something different, but the message was tuned to be persuasive.  I just can't decide whether that makes me comfortable or nervous."

Daggda looks down at her mule, wiping some soggy muck out of her formerly fine-combed, neatly braided beard.  "And you, you foul,  cross beast, I thought we had an understanding.  Toss me again, and you will see the end of my temper," she growls.

She looks up again. "The sensible thing is to turn aside, now, and return to our path later."  She stabs a soggy finger to the left, looking hopefully at Andrew for confirmation that left is a good direction.

Jessa agrees. 
Then she reaches over to turn Daggda's finger to the right.  "To me she said to turn away from the place where the sun rises.  The sun rises in the east, which is left... so I guess she wants us to turn right."

Moongloom breaks from deep thought, "One thing she--or it--mentioned was that it knew where I acquired this amulet and that she...err it, umm, knew the previous owner and was a friend.  She could be lying, but how would she know who had given this to me, or that it was given to me at all?!?  Didn't the charming dragon," his face lights up briefly, "in Squarento say that she couldn't help, but she had friends who could?" he asks, not wholely sure if he remembered correctly...

[Jessa] "Charming Dragon?  I'm not even going to ask because my brain can NOT process THAT right now!" She smiles a little.

Andrew looks at the other unbelievingly. Why would they trust a random voice that seems to guide them away from their goal? Stroking his horse on the neck to calm the beast he says to the party.

"Hold on for just a second here! What makes you all believe this voice is good?!? I think that the seperate messages make it seem all the more odd. If IT wanted to help then why not just "Don't go that way. Come to me for help. Hmmm. Why is it sending us all mixed signals. I believe we are being enticed to the lair of this large meat eater and we should stay the hell away. What's to say the beast didn't communicate the fear to our animals too. I say we stay our course."

The druid waits to see what reaction his words have on the others.
 
"You see," Ven says, looking from Moongloom to Andrew.  "That's the quandary.  There are elements that lead one to trust and others that lead just the opposite direction.  Here would be my only other feeling on the matter.  If you go on ahead, we're assuming that we are off to confront whatever it is that spooked the animals.  If we follow the voice, we may be saving ourselves a lot of risk or we may be off to confront whatever it is that spooked the animals.  At least by trusting the voice we have a chance of being assisted and if worse comes to worst, then we have to fight."

Andrew mull this over for a bit then adds, "Unless of course going straight leads us through with no confrontation. I'm just suspicious of things that invade my mind against my will and without my knowledge, as this thing obviously has done in order to send each of us such a specific message."

[Avon] "Why would anything that has power want to lure us away from it. If what ever it is out there was capable of destroying us it would not have tried to steer us away. Lets go straight ahead," says Avon without being brave.                    

[Jessa] "Yes, but the voice didn't tell us WHICH direction to turn, just to not go straight ahead..which is also the direction Gala says the  meateater is in. If the voice was trying to lead us in any direction,  i would think it would give us a direction to turn to instead of  going forward. but there was no directon given, just to turn away  from going forward..Maybe we can communicate to this voice again.. It  knew of our presence, so maybe it can hear us as well.." 

She goes on, thinking... "Of course she DID say to turn away from the place where the sun rises, so maybe she said to turn west."

She calls  out into the night "Oh Voice? May we know who you are?  My comrades and I are having a hard time knowing who to trust in this adventure, so please forgive us if we are offending you by not trusting you.  Which way would you have us go? Does it matter, or do you just want to keep us from going straight ahead so that we may avoid danger.  Why did you send us all different messages?"

She hopes her call out was not in vain.

Indeed, the loud call of the Ranger was not in vain.  It served quite well to attract the attention of someone -- perhaps it would be better to have said someTHING.  Nearly straight ahead, above the 10ft tops of the reeds -- nearly invisible in the darkness -- those with night-vision see the long slender neck of some terrible beast, extending perhaps another 10 or 15 ft in the air...and on it's end sits the mismatched furry head of a bear.  [OOC: think brontosaurus neck + bear head]  It turns its head left and right, trying to locate the source of the sound.  It sniffs the air.  If the neck leads to a body directly below what they can see, the beast must be some 100 yards ahead.

The horses panic again and become very difficult to control as they sense/smell the danger closer than before.  Daggda is hanging on with all her strength to the packsaddle on the mule. The party can see the beast turn its head toward them, and the head/neck begins to bob up/down as if it were walking or swimming or whatever.

"You have an unusual way of avoiding trouble," came the soft female voice -- to all of them this time.  "I might have tried quiet.... You must hurry now... it is only a lesser six of bounds.  There is not time for me to explain.  You must trust me -- you are my only chance to save my children.  I will not come out until you are safe, else your mounts will be uncontrolable.    This way..."  and there is a splashing sound off to the west.

Jessa knows what a "lesser six of bounds" is ... but right now, she doesn't remember how she knows... she just does.... something she learned long ago.  "That's more than 200 yards."  She looks quickly back at the beast's head bobbing to the south... "It's not moving very fast --- I hope.  Maybe we can out run it !" 

The horses panic again and become very difficult to control as they sense/smell the danger closer than before.  Daggda is hanging on with all her strength to the packsaddle on the mule. The party can see the beast turn its head toward them, and the head/neck begins to bob up/down as if it were walking or swimming or whatever.

Jessa's mouth hangs open on her last word as she see's that she has stupidly attracted the thing they were all trying to avoid.. but there was no time to appologize..

Daggda's joke about Jessamyn talking to herself sticks in her throat and turns into a cold lump. She hisses something in dwarvish that is rather unladylike and fortunately, quite untranslatable. She kicks her panicky mule and goads it insistently forward in the direction Jessamyn had pointed her previously. She bends her body low against the smelly riding beast, her eyes straight forward. She does not dare to look for the beast's position. She hopes the others are doing the same. She whispers, "Listen this once, pebble-brain. Speed well now, and we are even for the dunking you just gave me. If not, I'll leave you as bait for that beast."

Jessa says " Lets go westward Gala, and quickly!" in equine to her Rojax. She turnes her horse west and says, "lets go guys!" and then Gala goes off as fast as he possibly can in the swamp

Tavarak watches as the huge beast approaches. Looking from the beast to his lance then back to the beast, "Much like fighting a bear with a toothpick I would think. Lets get out of here, and quickly." The Bard nudges Stalwart in the direction Jessa motioned towards and waits til all have started to move. Tav takes up the rear, constantly looking over his shoulder, ready to turn and charge the beast if things take a turn for the worse.

After seeing the monstrous beast in front of them Avon decides continuing isn't much of an option. He turns his horse without thinking and heads after Jessa, quickly passing the other group members as he suddenly doesn't feel the need to be the last person in the group.

Moongloom waits for the others to wheel their horses and then follows at the back, knowing his spells may be the only thing that saves them from the beast. He thinks to himself, "We will have to discuss the wisdom in yelling in a hostile swamp at night, with warnings of a predator nearby, Jessamyn and I." Looking ahead to Jessamyn's strong corded muscles and the ease at which her weapons hang by her side he adds to himself, "Or someone will."

Sandros wastes little time in following the others away from the creature. To him, there was little question what could be speaking to them all in such a manner; somehow, they were turning into the local chapter of "Dragon Aide" or something, it seemed. He giggles slightly at the thought, and wonders for a moment if perhaps he hasn't gone mad.

"I wonder if our lizard friends are about to become dinner for Mr. Ugly over there..." he muses out loud to no one in particular. "Better them then us, I say..."

Ven opens his mouth to sputter something like, "Now why in creation did you go and do that!", but he thinks better of it for several reasons.  One, like Moongloom, he has noticed the ease with which the woman moves and he knows without a doubt that she could knock him around if she so chose.  But, the main reason was that he knows all too well how she feels.  After all, it was me who accidentally dropped a cauldron of flaming oil on Sandros.  And, he thinks with regret, It was also me who panicked at the riverside at home and may have killed someone, accident or no.  No, he thinks to himself, I'm certainly not the one to cast judgement in a situation like this.  He sighs, wheels his mount around and follows after the others.

With great splashing and leaping, the horses (and the Rojax -- who will be glad to explain - in equine -  to any who will listen that he is NOT a horse, tho he may look like one) turn and head west.  Rei, the wolf, is unable to maintain his perch on the hindquarters of Gala, and leaps off.  The wolf is over his head in the swamp and is reduced to swimming -- not his favorite method of moving around, and certainly not his fastest.  He manages NOT to get trampled by the horses and watches them head off.  He quickly falls behind the group, however.

The mule that Daggda is riding -- no sensible person would EVER call it "Daggda's mule" -- is more than happy to follow the horses and Rojax in any direction that is away from the smell of the beast.  Daggda, grimly holding on, is bounced around like an acorn in an empty barrel.  Tavarak and Moongloom trail the group by a couple of strides, making sure of the beast's reaction.  It turns its head to follow the sounds of their horses' splashing retreat, and it continues to bob along after them. 

"It's not gaining on us," says the bard.  "Maybe it's falling a little behind.. hard to tell, because I can't see it's body."

The night is still black.  The faint twinkling of the stars is the only light source, and the moon has not risen yet.  When it does, it will be only a few days past the darkest moon of the month;  its light will be only slightly better.

It takes long agonizing minutes to cover the 200+ yards in the direction indicated, and Jessamyn was becoming increasingly worried about Rei.  He was now out of sight.  The water's depth would require him to swim, and the height of the rushes and weeds -- combined with the darkness -- made it impossible for her to see the wolf --- wherever he might be.

In between worrying about the wolf, and trying to find this "place of safety" indicated by "the Voice", she had little time to spare to try and recall what was nagging in the back of her brain.

After what seemed an eternity of furious fleeing thru the fetid and foul flow, the horses' foundering feet found firmer footing.  [!!!] They were rising out of the water, and in another large bound were on solid, dry ground.  Jessa and Andrew, in the lead of the group, looked about quickly -- nothing here seemed particularly "safe" -- but then they couldn't SEE anything in the near-dark.

The voice again: "Good.  Ahead of you is a small group of trees.  Go around it to the sword-hand side, and find the large rock.  Beyond the rock is a narrow entrance to a dry and deep cave."

Well... might as well go on, they shrugged to each other.

The ground was rockier than any other they had seen in the swamp and it rose slightly in elevation.  They found the tree.  Jessamyn had known her whole life that the "sword-hand side" was the right side, and that's the way they went.  The rock was there.  They dismounted and looked for the cave entrance.  The group formed quickly near the rock.

"It's not far behind us," reported Moongloom.  "The beast is not nearly as slow as we had hoped.  We have only a few minutes to get inside."

Deciding that stealth was not really an option, Tav unsheathed Dragon's Claw and caused it to emit a small light, and the fissure was easily found. 

"Yes yes.  Hurry inside, for I must enter as well.  The horses must be controlled for they will fear my smell.  I hope the four-legged oath brother can control them."

Everyone dismounted and began to file thru the narrow opening in the rock.  It led down sharply via a narrow opening. With Daggda in the lead, to judge the safety of the underground passage, and Tav behind her holding Dragon's Claw aloft for light, they entered.  "Safe enough," was the dwarf's quick assessment.  "Natural rock... goes down pretty steep, but the footing is solid as are the walls."  So down they went, encouraging the horses -- but they needed to further reason to seek safety from the threat they had run from.

Well at least we are on dry ground now' Jessa thinks to herself.

Jessamyn Nyt dismounted at the opening, and stood aside.  The words "four-legged oath brother" snapped thru the overlay of worry for her wolf like a whipcrack.  Standing next to Andrew, the Druid, and his horse, Jessamyn spoke in equine to her Rojax.  Andrew (and his horse, of course) both spoke equine, so they alone among the others understood what she said.

[Jessa in equine] "Gala, it sounds like we will have a six-legged oath sister with us.  The mind-blind horses will be frightened.  Do what you can.  I will come soon."  Then she slipped back to common and spoke directly to Andrew, clutching his arm.  "Andrew... I don't know how or why she's here, but I'm pretty sure the Voice is from a female hexapuma.  She's going to come into the cave, and the horses will panic at her scent.  Do what you can... Gala will help quiet them.  I'll come as soon as I can... I'm still worried about Rei."

Andrew looked hard at the Ranger.  She was from the clans of the plains of Helegorn, he remembered.  He looked at the strange horse-that-was-not-a-horse... the Rojax named Gala.  It was fairly common knowledge that the Clansmen and the Rojax and the Hexapumas had, centuries ago, made a blood oath of cooperation and common cause against the dark forces of Silindur's hordes.  They had been isolated by the mountains from outside help and so they joined together for their mutual survival.  The Rojax could communicate telepathically only with animals.  The hexapumas could speak only in a limited way with man and each other.  And the Clansmen learned equine and the mind speak of the 'pumas.  Obviously the 'pumas had much more capabilities than the old stories told of.

Jessamyn Nyt saw it all in a flash of insight. 

She could hear her father explaining that the hexapumas were the master hunters of the plains, and that centuries ago they had become oath brothers and oath sisters of the Clans; and since the Clans were oath brothers and oath sisters of the Rojax, all three species were inexorably linked.  The 'pumas, all the Clans knew, were much more intelligent than was commonly known.  They could mind-speak with other sentient species, she knew, but obviously they could "mind-eavesdrop" on the thoughts of others, without invitation.  That was something no one had ever spoken of -- perhaps it had not been known to mankind.

Of all the animals she'd ever encountered, they were the only ones who could grasp the abstraction of a counting system:  their counting system was based on sixes.  A lesser six was 36 or 6x6.  A full six was 6x6x6 or 216.  A greater six was 6x that.  She knew of one still higher number, but perhaps there were others:  a high six was 6 sixes [OOC: 6 to the 6th power], but she had never stopped to figure out how large a number that was.

Distance was measured in bounds ... about 20 ft each.  She remembered now watching her father pace out a lesser 6 of bounds.  That's how she had known it was over 200 yards, and she remembered that he'd said a full-grown 'puma could cover that distance amazingly quickly.

She knew, too, that she did not need to speak out loud to communicate with the oath sister who was out in the darkness.  If she would just think of sending her thoughts to the 'puma, they would be heard for about 100 yards -- assuming the large cat wanted to hear her.  She turned toward the darkness, and for the first time in her life "thought" the greeting she had learned long ago -- just as every clan-child had learned -- with her first words.  "Greetings oath sister.  As my kin are welcome in your pride, so are you welcome in mine.  As my child is safe with you, so your kits are safe with me."

The Clanswoman looked and suddenly a pair of luminous red eyes blinked into existence -- seemingly out of nowhere -- about 20 ft in front of  her at shoulder height.  The telepathic voice came only to Jessamyn: "Greetings oath sister.  You do remember."  Jessa could almost hear the sigh from the huge six-limbed cat.  "I wish only that my kits were with you.... Come, the beast is nearer and your friends are confused.  I must answer their concerns."

Jessa could hear the slosh of some huge feet splashing out of the swamp-water.  She took a last, quick look around, hoping to see Rei, but he was not to be seen.  Hoping for the best for her companion, she ducked into the crevasse, followed by the lithe 'puma.  Jessa was completely at ease even tho she had never been close to one of them before.  Clan children had always been taught to seek out the aid of the cats if they were lost in the mountains, so she calmly put her hand on the shoulder of the 'puma -- her shoulder was about at waist height of the woman.

They went down a few feet, quickly finding that the party had the horses under control.  From their body language, and the position of the Rojax, Gala had apparantly convinced them that he would "protect" them from the 'puma.   Tav's sword shone brightly enough to illuminate the large cave.  At the Bard's side was Stalwart, and it was evident from his body language that he was not interested in having the Rojax protect him...  As Tav looked at the two of them, it crossed his mind that his stallion might have considered this little group of horses as his to protect, and might not like the idea of some newcomer-stallion trying to push him aside.

Tavarak watches Stalwart, a look of amusement crossing the Bards face as he silently wonders if this is a trait that the warhorse has picked up from him or vice versa. As the huge cat enters the cavern Tav's training takes over, assessing the potential foe, looking for weak spots or any indication that it is about to attack. He looks to Jessa, knowing that she is best suited in this situation to deal with the animal.

There was a general murmer of astonishment as the very large feline sat on her rear and mid-limbs near the edge of the lighted area, looking quietly at the adventurers.  She was a dusty yellow-brown, about 12 ft from muzzle to haunch and had a tail of about 6 ft.  Her eyes were light green, and she cocked her ears forward toward the group.  She sat with her mouth slightly open, her large tongue lolling out casually, and her dangerous-looking 4-inch fangs gleamed in the warm light of Tav's magic sword.

"I am called Long Whisker," she beamed the thought at all of them, "mate of Pride Lord SharpEye.  The lizard soldiers have taken my 2 kits and I beg for your help to recover them before they are killed."

Lord's Mate Long Whisker

There is a general jumble of ideas among the party, and the hexapuma waits for a break and then beams her thought to all of them.  "First, let  me explain.  It is obvious that most of you have never had dealings with my kind before.  We do not take thoughts from your memory, but when you *ARE* thinking about something I may be able to hear it, if you are close enough and if I concentrate properly.  I am sorry if some of the thought I overheard caused you any distress... like the blue person's amulet, or the dwarf's feelings about the ill-one... it was not done with evil purpose."

"Also, I can hear what you say, both with my ears and mind, but I understand only what is in your mind.  As for what you say, I can only hear that you do make a sound.  Now that we have met, I will pledge not to enter your mind to overhear your thoughts, as that is impolite.  Since you cannot send to me, that means that you must see me or signal to me in some way that you wish me to attempt to hear you."

"Three days ago, I found your group and -- forgive me -- listened to your thoughts and dreams.  I was nearly caught by your wolf once, but he found an easier meal."

"To my shame, I did not sense my oath sister, for she thought only of helping your ill-one and praying to her goddess., else I would have come forward sooner.  Forgive me, oath sister, for you and yours will be ever-welcome in my Pride.  ... But I hoped that folk who would travel into this dismal swamp simply to help a friend might help me as well.  It was truly only when I heard the four-legged oath brother trying to calm the mind-blind horses, that I sensed even him.  I was not paying attention as I should have... Forgive me also, oath brother Rojax... you and your foals will ever be safe from fang and claw of the Pride."

Jessa waits for everyone's reaction to the 'puma, while she quietly thinks to herself about Rei..'"where could he be.. I hope he is all right.."

[Veneron]
Do you hear that Esmee?  I don't know what it is about us, but we can't scratch our ear without getting involved in the rescue of something or other . . . Dwarf princes, dragon eggs, baby versions of that huge cat there.  What's next?

[Esmee]"I like her.  She's a mother..."  and the rest of her thoughts are filled with images of little pseudodragon hatchlings.

Ven is certain that others in the party will speak up in leadership roles, so he tries to get dry.  He also knows that Esmee hasn't had as much time to forage for food while flying recon missions for the group, so he fishes out a snack for her.  He figures that they're going to lizard-ville anyway and this cat has been helpful already, they might as well see what they can do to help.  Even better would be if the cat were to actually provide assistance.  She looks like a foe that the lizardfolk would be loath to engage.  Besides, she said she knew of a back way in and in order for their small group to accomplish their task, they really needed a way for that to happen.  All this he thinks to himself while feeding Esmee. 

Avon stares at the large cat, unable to comprehend what is happening. But as seconds pass he manages to take control of his brain again. Immediately two things pop into his mind and without hesitating he begins to speak, "You are worth a rather substantial amount of gold, so you must have something to offer to us, otherwise you would not have asked us to help you. That gem maybe, you tried to lure me with."

The 'puma's large, liquid, green eyes turn toward Avon.  She blinks twice slowly as if trying to understand his meaning.  "The only wealth I have is my kits, my Pride Lord, and my oath kin."  Her tail wraps itself around the base of her paws on the stone floor of the cavern, its tip slowly moving up and down.  "I do not ask for your help because I think I can pay you.  For the Clanswoman, I call for her help as an oath sister.  For the others, I seek your help and offer mine in return because -- at least for this little while -- we have common cause."

"As for the gem.  I had nearly forgotten it, as it has no value to me...but I sense that you in particular would find it valuable: it is a red gem, smaller than your paw I think.  I learned about it from the mind of the Lizard King.  He thinks that it is some sort of magical thing, and this his ally, the High Serene Person -- that is not the correct name, but I do not remember the strange humanish words --  will pay him well for it, but will pay much much more if he can find some other item.  This other item is owned by a female Bard of elves, it is some sort of music making thing.  He does not know how the two things go together, only that the human ally promised a great reward for both of them together.  Perhaps that is why he hunts for elves so violently."

Avon quickly realizes that the harp he has been carrying around suddenly became even more expensive than it already was. He quickly also realizes that he has become a very wanted man and that the possession of the harp is a great threat to his life. Now, it wouldn't be the first time that he risked his life for a profit but this time he has a very uncomfortable feeling. His backpack seems to weigh a ton all of a sudden. His choices are limited. He could split and sell the harp to the Duke, but somehow he feels that all he might get from that is a swift death, if he was lucky. His other choice is to see it through until the end, which would probably get him killed too. He wonders how he has been able to get himself in so much trouble. He tries very hard to ignore to cold sticky feeling he gets from wearing his wet clothes. He drifts away into his own thoughts, carefully he leans back and ponders about what to do, only vaguely following the conversation and giving in to the overwhelming sleep, talking six-legged cat or not.

Tavarak looks back "Perhaps its Avon's harp that she is talking about. Either way that is a very interesting bit of information. If we end up getting caught we may be able to barter for our freedom."

The Bard looks at Avon, "Perhaps you should leave it here when we go forth to the Lizard Kings lair. We can swing back here and pick it up
upon our return." Tav pauses, "Avon may I see the harp, perhaps I can glean some information about it, besides if you know what it does I'm
sure you will be able to sell it for more."

Avon awakes from his half sleep with a shock. He looks around bewildered. "I am not leaving my harp anywhere," he almost shouts, only barely able to control his voice. "Its mine, and I really don't see the point of showing it. Its a harp. Besides we already know its not magical, we discovered that back in those hellish woods. Who knows, maybe every one is talking about another musical instrument than this one."

Tavarak, guessing how the thief would react quickly raises his hands to forestall any more vehement protests, "Rest easy Avon, the choice is totally yours. Tis your harp, you claimed it and none here contest your ownership of the instrument. As for gleening some hint about it, I'm not suggesting that I check for magic, that power is beyond my ability, All I'm asking is to see if I know anything about the lore of the instrument, nothing more. Besides It is in your best intrest to know as much as you can about the harp. The more knowledge you have about the harp, the more money you can ask for it. Isn't that correct?"

[Avon] "I know exactly what it is worth," a silence follow and then, "unfortunately it will be payed in blood," he says to the bard.

[Long Whisker]
The tip of her tail becomes more active, and a good foot of that tail is beating faster on the floor, whipping up and down, as the images of her thoughts become more agitated.  "The Lizard King wears this around his neck.  It will be easy for you to take it after I rip his throat out.  But if he has as much as ruffled the fur of my kits, he will not have that release for an eternity of pain-filled moments."  The final image leaves no room for misunderstanding about her attitude toward the Lizardman leader.  The pupils of her eyes expand as her excitement becomes evident, and her ears fold themselves back against her head.

[Tav]
Addressing the beast, "I will help if I can, the rest you will have to convince. It seems we may share a common enemy, perhaps we can work together. I trust any arrangements that Jessa makes, as for now we still have that swamp thing nipping at our heels, and a missing companion to worry about." Tav moves towards the entrance of the cave and waits for any sign of the wolf or the swamp monster to appear.

Turning her eyes toward the bard, the cat calms herself.  "The beast outside is slow and stupid, but very strong and very large.  It has poor sight but good smell.   It feeds on anything it can catch at night.  By day it retreats to a nest is has made in the deep water  further in the direction of the moonset.  It was not here 3 moons ago when the kits were whelped.  On the day the sun went dark at midday -- that night was the first time I saw it.  I have no reason to try and kill it since it is easily avoided or outrun.  It may be that you have some reason to try.... For your missing companion, I hope he does not come here now, for the beast will devour him.  He may survive if he stays away... and stays downwind."

In complete awe of the huge cat Andrew is stunned into silence. Although he frowns deeply at Avon's indirect threat and took a menacing step in the thief's direction. But he quickly forgets about the man in the splendor of a live Hexapuma.

"Do you know where they are. We know there is a group of Lizardmen about. Do they have your kits? Or are they in the city? As you know we were headed that way already. I will help as best I can to help you save your brood."

[Long Whisker]"I cannot convince anyone to aid or not.   I thank you more than you can ever know for what ever help you may give to BrightEye and BentTail.  They were lost to me when I was hunting, just 5 days after the Pride Lord left to find the elf wizard, that was three sixes and three days ago.  I stalked the Lizard king every night for a 6 of nights, and I learned much.  They are in a place with doors and locks which I cannot deal with.  That place is under the ground, but not far under.  It is a place where a full six --or more-- of lizard warriors camp. There he also keeps other valuable things that you may want, but I care only for them.  After the 6 of stalking nights, I knew I could not get them, and have been looking for help since."

Tav grins while making a hand motion to attract the cats attention, then nods towards Avon, "Fear not we have brought a specialist."

Ven tries to push the image of bunches of little psuedo-dragons out of his head.  Stop it, Esmee--I'm not prepared to handle one child, let alone, well, lots of them. 

"HAH!"  beams back his familiar, "So little do you know... Someday I may lead you back to meet MY family, if I can find all of them.  Five years ago I hatched 4.  All of them nicely grown by now... I think Arslee and Oralee will be getting ready soon to have their own broods.  And then I shall be a grandmother.   Sneslu's gone to play magic games with some mage apprentice in the elven lands and Broslu has not settled down --yet.   I hope you're not too proud to have a grandmother curled around your throat."  To punctuate her sentence, she unwraps her tail and gives Veneron a sharp but playful *smak* on the top of his head... and quickly curls her tail around his neck again and purrrs contentedly.

As Ven listens to the rest of the telepathic conversation he feels like pieces of some strange puzzle are falling into place.  Avon apparently has been carrying around the very musical instrument in question.  He wonders idly what wonderful things this harp combined with the gem can do.  It must be something impressive, given the Duke's great desire to have it found.  Hmmm . . . the Pride Lord went searching for a elven wizard.  Directing his thoughts to the cat and pointing to his head to indicate that he would like to communicate, Ven thinks, "This elven wizard, do you know his name?  It wouldn't happen to be Kalban would it?"

Jessas head snaps in Ven's direction upon hearing her uncle's name. She pays attention to what is said about this.

The cat blinks and turns her eyes toward the human mage.  "No, I've not heard of an elven wizard named Kalban.  My mate, Sharp Eye and I came here to find the ancient elven wizard of the Dark War, Elestrades d'Mornsdew.  It was he who the songs say defeated the Black Dragon, Threlax, in the long-ago.  He lives or lived near here in a dwarf hole, or so we think.  My time with the kits came early upon me and we decided that I must stay until they could travel."

At hearing the name of the wizard she is looking for, Andrew and Tavarak exchange a significant glance.  Without any telepathy at all, each realized the other was thinking back to the night -- two weeks and more ago, now -- they had met Bracht, webbed to the ground by a pixie.  That night they had heard Kalban Nightwalker open the door to some of his past:

[OOC: quoting from Turn 22:

Kalban, in a low voice that seems to cut thru the evening air, says: "Oh but surely that is a matter of no real mystery. For I am no one but your Prince, if you must have one. Elestrades Kalban Marguelites Fawns'hope d'Mornsdew, Prince of Numrabatthil, Double Star of the Night Sky, Order of the Flaming Sash with Double Constellation." He pauses to smile at the look of astonishment from some of the others... especially his old friend Andrew Grimm, who had no idea of all this. "If you want more titles, just let me know.... there's more, ~if~ I can remember them all." He laughs.

Andrew (the only other full elf in the group) does recognize some of the honorifics -- something from long ago tales of fantasy ... or so he had thought. Tavarak is stunned --- the bard recognizes not only the honorifics, but also that they are military awards from the Great War (also called the Dark War) between the elves, dwarves and gold and white dragons on one side, and the orcs, goblins, black dragons and other servants of Silindur on the other. A war that ended over 700 years ago!! He looks anew at the simple elven wizard who calls himself "Kalban Nightwalker" -- for "Elestrades d'Mornsdew" is also a name he knows from the Greater Ballade of the Dark War. The quatrain, as he learned it -- for there are over 150 verses and each bard seems to know a slightly different version -- tells of a magical combat between d'Mornsdew and a Greater Black Dragon. In the Ballade, both wizard and dragon disappear into the magical ether.     ]

Moongloom thinks the cat is magnificent--as cats go--but is still upset by the fact that it lied about being a friend of the dragon lady. Noticing his and others' wet clothes, he wiggles his fingers and blows into his palm, cantriping thier clothes dry, for the most part.

[Tav] "Ah much better, my thanks Moonie errr Moongloom I mean."
[Jessa] "Thanks Moongloom" Jessa says with a smile and a coy lift of her eyebrow, wondering what she must have looked like all yet ... probably a drowned rat, she thought afterwards.


The hexapuma looked around the room, her liquid pale green eyes passing over each member of the group.  "I will answer any other questions that you may have.  Whatever I may do to win you to my side -- or to explain why we both are already on the same side, but you may not yet know it."  She yawned greatly, her large incisors glistening in the magic light of the sword. 

Turning to the dwarf, she beamed a thought, "You, lady of Moradin, have you decided ?   Do you have concerns that I may allay?"  The 'puma is a very charming personality, when she wants to be.  Her *presence* in your mind does not feel invasive, but supporting and ...welll... warm and comfortable.  Moongloom wonders briefly if she's using some sort of magic, and concentrates to see if he can detect any spells or magic.  All he finds is that held by the adventurers.

She blinks again and tilts her head toward Moongloom, "Or you, Dragon-favored?  It is for your friend that my mate and I came on this dangerous quest.  Can you accept my help and offer your own?"

Sandros shakes his head in amazement.  Would (Avon)never learn?

"Oh, come on, Avon...you've seen our luck.  There's no way that isn't the right harp."  He sighs.  "But...I don't think we should leave it behind.  We need to hang on to it, make sure it doesn't get taken away from us."

For the most part, Sandros seems too distracted to really react much to the six-legged cat.  He keeps peering toward the entrance, as if expecting something to leap in at them at any second.  His eyes have a haunted look to them, and he looks like he hasn't slept in about two weeks.

Moongloom is surprised to hear that the cat was actually a friend of  the dragon's. He pauses to consider his response, then says aloud,  (for others' benefit) and thinks, "I am pledged to help my companion Sandros for now, if he chooses to go with you then I am at your service, but for now I must honor the promise I have already made to Sandros, so as he goes, I go." He fiddles the amulet unconsciously at the mention of the dragon.

Tavarak shrugs at Avons response, "As you wish, I'm not even sure I will be able to tell its history. It was naught but a shot in the dark." Upon hearing whom the puma is looking for Tav recounts what he knows about his plans. "I hope this information is helpful in your search, I'm sure that if you are successful it will be for the greater good."

The giant cat listens carefully to what Tavarak says, "I am sure, then that SharpEye is with him, for my PrideLord carried the message that summoned the wizard to the northland."

Rubbing at his now dry arms Andrew thanks Moongloom with a nod and waits to see what the others have to say and what the puma thinks about a good time to leave. Seems to him that everyone was looking for his old friend Kalban these days. He really did need a few words alone with the man to get a better idea of the wizard he is beginning to think he only barely knew.

Jessamyn is increasingly worried about her companion, Rei, the wolf.  Hearing the 'puma suggest that the best thing for him would be to stay away for the night, she decides to go to the cave entrance and call out to him in in canine to 'stay away.'    She advances carefully in the dark and follows her nose to the fissure thru which they had entered.  She can smell the fresh air and see a sliver of stars beyond.  She takes a step outside and just as she is about to begin a howl, she is face-to-face with the beast.  She dodges back inside the crevasse quickly and the beast hits its head against the solid rock. 

The ranger takes a step back, drawing her sword instinctively, but the beast is much too large to enter.  It begins to beat ineffectively with -- with its flippers.  It's limbs resemble a sea lion's... No wonder, then that it can move easily thru the water but is so slow on land.  The beast is making no progress at entering the fissure, but it's occasional ursine roar is easily heard. 

"It can't enter here,"  comes a broadcast from LongWhisker.  "He has cornered me here more than one night.  He will be gone before sun up.  Sooner than that, perhaps if he finds himself hungry and scents prey nearby."

Slowly, Jessa backs up and returns to the corridor.  "I saw it," she reports.  "It has a body about 30 ft long, with flippers like a sealion.  It has a long, slender, flexible neck that looks like a snake or seaserpent, and the head of a bear, with eyes that gleam unearthly red..  This is no natural creature, of that I am sure."

The mind-blind horses, of course, do now know they are safe and begin to become agitated again.  The group manages to keep them under control, but the scent of the beast without is strong and its roars seem close in the echos of the small cave. 

WIth nothing better to do, the group settles down, trying to get comfortable and getting out some dry food.  The horses eventually quiet down and take the oats from their nosebags.  It is impossible to tell time here in the underground darkness, but they adventurers settle on their "normal" watch cycle and prepare to spend the night trapped in the small cave like bugs in a bottle.

Avon shifts uneasily in his sleep, tempting thought of a red gem arguing in his dreams with worries about risking his life for some cause that he does not truly understand. 

Jessamyn does not sleep well, worried as she is about Rei.

And Sandros, of course, feels better about night than day... but he is exhausted and feeling weak... the lack of sleep and worry about what his future may bring allow him no rest.

Those on watch note that several times during the night Long Whisker gets up and silently pads her way to the entrance, returning a few minutes later.

In the final watch, just before dawn, the cat leaps suddenly to her feet, flattening her ears and going into what is obviously a fighting stance.  Tav and Moongloom, who had the watch, quickly wake the others and prepare their weapons.

But the "intruder" is only a familiar grey wolf, tired and every inch of him looking more like a drowned rat than a fierce hunter.  Jessa runs over and gives Rei a hug and smiles back at the group.  "He's back!  He's safe!"

The 'puma relaxes and trots leisurely toward the entrance.  Tav follows and heads up the narrow passageway to look outside.  The fissure faces west, but there is clearly light in the sky.  The long night is over, and the strange scuff marks in the dirt outside are the only signs of the beast.

Tavarak studies the signs then returns to the cavern. He retrieves his notebook from his saddle bags and makes an entry with a crude drawing from Jessa's description. Having completed the task the Bard feeds Stalwart before fetching himself something to eat.

The hexapuma's mental 'voice' is eager.  "I can show you how to approach the lizard man city/camp without being seen.  I have seen them go into a hole near where my kits are -- or where they were a few days ago -- ... but you can not take the horses.  They would be worse than useless in jumping down into a hole.  And they might end up being captured, or reveal our presence. The lizard king's mind told me that there are straight-sided tunnels below the ground,"  She sends a brief picture of man-made walls and corridors.  "but I do not know them... only that they are there.  We could be there before night fall, if we hurry.  The water is not too deep, even for the shortest."  She tilts her head appraisingly and looks at Daggda."