Isles of the Small Folk IC

[hoverfrog]

The cliffs are vertical and about 40 feet above the beach below. Climbing down doesn't look that difficult and you think that you could even dive into the shallow water with a bit of luck.

[Delia2531]

In the absence of any other suggestions Ben vouches his rudimentary idea to his companions:
"Perhaps a few of us can sneak down one way, possibly secure or if necessary silence, the dogs whilst the rest approach from the other direction? Maybe Graorin can call them out and talk to them man to man? We don't need to fight them, just make sure they leave.

I'm willing to creep down to muzzle a dog but I have little chance of getting both of them before they react, then there's the one under the boat who may be asleep, unconscious or even dead.

Does anyone have other ideas?"

Ben is obviously uncomfortable at the thought of killing the sleeping dogs, but he knows deep down that he will kill them if they attack him (or at least try to).

[Newcomer]

Ever looks at Ben, understanding his unease, but still a little concerned with the suggestion. Ever is rather fond of canines.

"Killing their dogs, no good.. for not fightin'.. I c'n try to friend dogs... But one bark, an'..." Ever trails off into silence. Then, half a minute later, he adds, "If only we had a rabbit!"

OOC

Spoiler

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Ever can use Wild Empathy. Graorin might be able to calm the dogs. Oh, and the rabbit.. if we could get the dogs to run off after something other than us, that would sow confusion, possibly separate the giants, and not reveal our presence.
hoverfrog, what time of day is it? (I edited my OOC post to ask, but you might not see the edit right away)

[Avi235&258]

"I can calm the dogs. Tomorrow," Graorin says. "Can also make it so they can't see me. Can also do other things to them. Tomorrow." He'd rather propose these outright than go with Ben's suggestion that they rely on his abundant skills at diplomacy.

[Dancing Shadows]

Devla frowns at Ben's suggestion "We don't need to fight them? No, maybe not. But my axe hungers for blood and i'd rather not deny it the chance of a worthy foe like these."

He then sits down on a rock, looks at Ever and says to him, "But the mutts we can save."

Why must people always try to find the least destructive way out of a problem? One more giant dead now is one more giant that won't steal another child, that won't pillage another village, that won't murder another halfling ever again.
Devka may have an uncomfortable past with his own kind. But he still cares for them. And the children have never done anything wrong to him.

[Delia2531]

Listening to the ideas of the group, a plan begins to form in Ben's head, "How about, we wait until dawn, Graorin subdues the dogs; we snatch the fellow under the boat and get information from him; based on what we learn, we draw the rest out and deal with them out here where we can see them? If we can talk them away we will, but if we need to we put them to the blade."

[Vesth]

"Graorin...please don't kill the dogs unless you absolutely have to...please?" Athedru said worriedly. "My mama always says it isn't right to harm innocent beings..."

[Avi235&258]

Graorin gives Athedru a reassuring smile. "You know me," he says.

He eyes the dogs carefully.

Knowledge (nature) check - the same one I did for the crab - is there anything about the dogs that would grant them a saving throw or make calming them otherwise not routine? Are they dire, or are they trained to guard or attack? (1d20+4)[16]

[hoverfrog]

The dogs look like large, hairy dogs. A bit dirty and matted with seaweed but not exceptional. They're big enough to make suitable mounts for a halfling or a fearsome opponent.

Think leonberger but not well treated as the image below.

[Avi235&258]

Graorin grins at Ben. "Piece of cake," he says.

[Newcomer]

Ever replies to Devka's words with a grunt. "Probably fight, no need to rush."

To the others, "Aye, a good plan."

Assuming no one dissents, Ever adds, "Camp quietly, out of sight... no fire?"

He doesn't want the group to be discovered before they can implement their plans. Ever scans the horizon and tries to remember if he's noticed any changes in the winds.

Spoiler

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Survival: (1d20+4)[8] -- to forecast the weather

[hoverfrog]

There's a light breeze blowing from the sea in an easterly direction. It looks pretty clear and will probably be a cold night. You don't see the weather changing.

[Avi235&258]

"Amateur," Graorin mutters under his breath when he hears Ever suggest not building a fire, and then proceeds to search out and collect materials for building a small, smokeless fire in as recessed an area as possible so it will be visible neither by day nor by night.

Survival: (1d20+9)[29]

[Newcomer]

Ever observes the giant carefully, duly impressed. He's not sure what the word "amateur" means; it's probably some slang in Giant. At any rate, Ever has never had a need to hide his fires in this way, so he is very interested in Graorin's methods.

[Delia2531]

Impressed by Gaorin's abilities to seemingly produce fire from nothing and keep it controlled he raises a concern, "This close to the caves we should probably be on our guard, I for one certainly don't fancy having my throat slit in my sleep! I suggest we stand guard overnight; Graorin, I know you need time to prepare yourself for the day. Are you better doing this now or first thing in the morning? After that, do we want to ensure that our strongest warriors are well rested in the morning and have them take the earlier watches?

I don't suppose it will make much difference in the long run, but I'd prefer to have a plan than not; just one of my little foibles I suppose."

[Avi235&258]

Graorin nods. "I'll take last watch, spend the first hour of it preparing my spells for the day," he says; evidently his crafting the Perfect Fire has put him in a good (and cooperative) mood. "That way I'll have them ready if anything happens."

[Dancing Shadows]

"I'll take the first watch", grunts Devka.

If i could i would never sleep in a dangerous area like this. But i guess i can... trust... these guys to alert the rest of us while we're sleeping. Or at least for them to make some noise if we're attacked

[Newcomer]

Ever claps a hand on Devka's shoulder. "Wake me after you."

And with that, he turns and sets up his bedroll for the night.

[Vesth]

"I'll stay with you." Athedru says quietly, sitting down next to Devka. "I don't think I can sleep anyway, not with all this excitement." he said, obviously tired.

Making sure that he and Devka are snug, he turns to the other halfling.

"Do you miss your family, being away for so long, on a quest we may possibly die in?" he asked sleepily, but if Devka turns to answer, Athedru has already fallen asleep, leaning against him.

[Delia2531]

Nodding to Kevst"So then I'll wake you and you wake our large friend." nodding again towards Graorin.

Happy that there is a plan, Ben sorts out his bedroll and packs everything else away, taking a bite of trail rations and a swig of water as he does so and leaves one of his daggers close to hand.

Before he settles down, he turns to the two smugglers and says,

"you two just settle yourselves down until the morning."I'm not sure I want to trust these guys with my life, better to take longer watches ourselves.

[hoverfrog]

The two thieves share their meal, a pot of porridge that they hang over your fire to warm. When they've eaten they settle down to sleep and leave you to keep a watch.

In the morning Graorin is just finishing up his meditations as the sun rises behind him. He spots a large figure sneaking about. He's heading in a southerly direction, well away from your camp. Though you can't see him well he appears to be carrying a club.

[Dancing Shadows]

Devka turns to answer Athedru but pauses when he sees he's asleep. He closes his mouth and stares grimly into the night.
I'd forgetten none of them knew anything about me apart from Ever. And this kid is so innoccent... Maybe they're not all so bad as my family, i hope they're not

He continues to stare into the night for the whole of his watch. When it's over he gently pushes the kid off him and lays the kid down. Then Devka silently wakes Ever and lies down on the earth to try and get some sleep

[Avi235&258]

Graorin eyes the figure with concern. It's not heading in our direction, but.....

Well. Better safe than sorry. But let's not wake up everybody, because it's not an emergency yet. Who had first watch, do I remember? Athedru and someone else.

Knowledge(whotookwatchlastnight) (actually just Int): (1d20-1)[14]

Graorin carefully nudges Athedru and Devka awake, shushes them so they don't raise an alarm, and points.

[Dancing Shadows]

Devka looks where Graorin is pointing and frowns into the distance. On seeing the shape, he silently unsheathes a dagger. Ready incase it is needed.
That could be one of them, if he's spotted our camp then our cover is ruined

[Vesth]

"Uhhhh...?" Athedru responded sleepily as he roused from slumber.

"What happened? Is it morning already?"

[Avi235&258]

Graorin shushes Athedru and points at the figure a second time. "Quiet," he hisses, and watches to see if the figure is headed in their direction or not.

[hoverfrog]

The man heads away from you after a few minutes. From the way he is hiding and moving it looks like he's hunting something.

[Avi235&258]

Graorin relaxes as the man moves away. As soon as the man disappears from view, he grunts. "Go back to sleep," he tells Devka and Athedru.

[hoverfrog]

You watch as he heads away on his hunt. Eventually he crosses a hill and you lose sight of him. Not long afterwards the others begin to wake up with the usual morning grumbles about insects, the heat or someone snoring all night. The thieves stoke up the fire and get a kettle boiling, offering you all an infusion locally grown tea. They offer to guard your horse, packs and other valuables while you go and drive the giants out.

[Avi235&258]

Graorin rolls his eyes. Val's coming with him.