Story - Part 1 - The way to Icespire peak

Foldrat leans against a tree and lights his pipe. "This looks like the perfect spot, well done Sprout. This almost looks safe enough to avoid us taking turns watching but if we must I'll take the second turn"

He puffs rings of smoke as he watches the others make a fire. "It's a shame we did not kill one of these boars, it would have been perfect for dinner. Is any of you good at hunting? As a farmer, I've never really hunted but it shouldn't be that hard... Maybe I should learn how to use a bow and arrow... Anyway, I better get some sleep now. Wake me up when it's my turn" He closes his eyes and - approximately 3 and a half seconds later - starts snoring loudly.

I might be able to find edible plants and can take down a hare or pheasent of I come upon one but am no woodsman. I will go see what I cna find. get a litle fire going, just in case. Any one want to acompany me?
Garic will leave one of his eshields and take some gear from his pack to makke roomf for anything he might find and will begin foraging while there is still a bit of light.

Avoiding being near to the fire, Sprout moves towards Garic. "I will assist you. I may be able to find some edible roots or natural vegetables."

Thanks Sprout Garic will assist Sprout is harvesting any roots taking note of the plants for furure refference.

Vienne bounces over to Sprout and Garic. "I'll help! Even just to carry things."

Garic sifts through the underwood of the forest. Unfortunately he doesn't find anything edible. All the berries he finds are not ripe yet, the roots he finds are too hard and the only animal he sees is a grey partridge that flies out of a bush and into the distance.
Vienne who accompanied him, tries to catch the latter but it flies through her arms.
Sprout at least is able to find a place where mushrooms grow. They are not enough to nourish you all but at least they are a neat side dish for the ration packs you have to consume.
You count your rations and they should be enough to get you to Icespire Peak. Hopefully you can get more on the way...

You take turns in guarding your campside during the night but thankfully no one bothered you. After a night of well deserved rest you awaken early in the morning and continue along your way...

Well everyone except Josiah. He holds his back and after an hour of marching with you he says I'm sorry lads but I don't think the adventuring life is cut out for me. My back hurts from lying on the ground and I'm hungry. Have fun and take care but I'll return to Flowergrove. Maybe I'll see Frazzt again.
With these words he goes back to the village

---

The following day is pretty uneventful and after a day of marching the mysterious mountain that is your goal is much closer to you. The following night you once again can see the lights that sparked your interest in the ruins in the first place but in much greater detail. They seem to dance in and around the ruins a bit like tiny comets. A fascinating but eerie sight to behold.

The second night of camping is uneventful as well and the following morning you march on. You are nearing the place where the road curves away from the mountain and you therefore have to continue through the woods.

Just as you discuss on where exactly you are going to leave the road you hear a voice
Hello? Hi? Can I talk to you real quick?
You look around but can't see the person who spoke
No not here. Down here! Hello!
You look down on the ground but can't see anything either
No... I *sigh* here!
Garic feels a slight pull at his pants. He looks down and sees a gopher that's waving at him.
Hey! Erm... sorry to disturb you but I could use your help. Do you have time to lend an unfortunate gal a hand?

After looking for any other potential spices of the voice he carefully squats so as to shelter the little bug and replies It will be an honor. How may we be of assistance?
Thinking to himself, were there this many big people in the legends? I never knew they got this small. O hope they stay clear off the road. Shiver. I hope we didn't step on any. And he imagines a world of tiny bug people getting squashed by careless giants

Sprout kneels down to speak with the gopher. "Interesting. We may already be heading towards the solution to your problems. Did you see anything on the way in the first time or the way out the last time that might help us successfully get into and through the tower?"

Curoius about this strange situation Garic holds out his hand and tries to use his magic to feel any lingering enchantments on the gopher.

The little gopher person is so cute! She isn't against helping the little thing, although being turned into one herself would be...bad. Seeing what Garic is doing she crouches down to do the same, encouraging Ahki to help her if he can.

I...I...I think that the door is still open. You shouldn't have any problems to get into the tower.
The tower has three floors. On the first one is some kind of workshop, the second houses a laboratory and on the third is the crystal sphere.
When I ran away a lot of things began to move in the tower but I was too scared to take a closer look.
The gopher looks at you with its dark eyes and a tilted head Sooooo... will you help me? I don't want to sound too whiny but I was nearly eaten by a fox two times. So I'm not really keen on keeping this form


Garic feels magical power encasing the gopher like a shell. Whatever kind of magic this was, it was very powerful and it's clearly beyond your power to break the enchantment on your own

Vienne can feel the magical power too. While she tries to determine the kind of enchantment Akhi attempts to eat the gopher, which of course is impossible but its snake nature just took control of the spirit animal
This distracted Vienne so much that she can't concentrate any more.

The tower sounds interesting as well as too valuable and dangerous to be simply abandoned.
I think we can at least look into this. East you say? Turning to the others Shall we?

"Sounds good," grumbles Jahamu with his cheerful growl.

"It would seem the sooner the better as well. Can you hide yourself well enough until then friend?"

Best you come with us and guide us through this tower Garic says. Scooping up the rodent adventureer he sets it atop his pack over his shouder. Lets go!
Excited by the prospect of adventure in a wizards tower he sets off under the gophers directions . What is your name? he asks the gopher as they continue towards the tower.

Yes! I have a burrow nearby... Which sounds like a strange thing to have if you're not used to be a gopher. Just call out for me at this place here when you're done. My name is Martina, by the way. The tower is this way. Just follow the trail I made through the underwood. Thank you so much! the gopher responds and runs away

You follow the described path through the forest for about an hour when you approach a clearing. In the middle of the clearing is a massive tower made out of finely carved stone blocks. The top of the tower has fallen off and its debris are littering the clearing, leaving only the three floors that Martina described. The plants in the clearing are all grey and dead.
Traces in the mud and some tools laying around hint at the fact that someone recently moved some of the debris in order to access to the door at the base of the tower.
The door is halfway open. You peek into the next room which seems to encompass the whole ground floor. From what you can see there are a lot of tools on shelves and workbenches that line the wall.
A massive shelf laden with mechanical parts made out of brass blocks any further inspection of the room without entering it.

Sprout moves to push the front door completely open and cautiously moves into the first room if nothing reacts to the door moving.

Looking around Garic says Waste not, want not. That's what my dad taught me and he will collect the tools scattered around the tower before trying the others to head inside the Tower.

After taking time to calm Ahki, Vienne drifted after the others to the tower. It wasn't in the best of shape, that was for sure. "This place is...a dump. And so many tools..." She looks around and attempts to see any light from the top floor, in case the sphere is still activated.