2. The First Delve

Ricard moves to follow the dwarf with his shield raised in caution...

Fenwick cuts short her greeting, and tugs at the closest of the Hellions, pointing to the dwarf and hoping they'll get the message.

She grips her spear and follows the dwarf, careful to step where he steps to avoid unknown traps in this area. She moves slowly, and will pause to let any of the others move into their typical front line positions if they wish to do so.

Lanhkmer slowly hands his short sword and proceeds closer to the dwarf, as he steps close enough he bows on his knees and tries to listen to noises, focusing on the direction that goes over the dwarf standing

As the others slowly file into the southern corridor after the dwarven mime, Gabbro quickly looks over the pile of dirt and wood until it's his turn to follow. Does it look like cut lumber, like broken braces for a mineshaft, or just chopped up branches or other bits of vegetation? Has the dirt been freshly turned, or has it been sitting like this for some time?

Chamber of the Woods
The wood and dirt look like repair materials - perhaps awaiting an upcoming job or the leftovers from a task recently completed. The wood is salvaged lumber - a mixture of different types and lengths. The dirt, presumably, is used as some sort of filler or render.

As Gabbro prepares to follow the dwarf south, he notices that there’s something not quite right about his appearance. Parts of the dwarf's body seem to occasionally flicker or blur as if he’s not entirely substantial. None of the other Hellions spot this.

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Day 2, 12:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

Gabbro taps Tiberious on the shoulder and whispers "Do you notice anything...illusory about our guide? Or insubstantial, like he's not fully there?" Having said this, Gabbro raises his voice and addresses their guide from the back of the group. "Hey, where are our manners? We haven't been properly introduced! I'm Gabbro Donsean; perhaps you've heard of my family? What are you called, master dwarf?"

Chamber of the Woods
The dwarf repeats his "be quiet" gesture and beckons the party wordlessly, and ever more frantically, to follow him away from the chamber to the south.

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Day 2, 12:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

"Sorry, I didn't catch that. What did you say?" Gabbro looks at the others. "Have any of you heard him say anything?"

"He's trying to be quiet!" Fenwick hisses back in a stage whisper, unaware of their guide's odd qualities. "Maybe you could try it before we alert something dangerous?"

Gabbro whispers back to Fenwick (but the others can easily hear): "He doesn't look like he's quite all there, does he?" He points to the back of the dwarf, and how he and Fenwick's darkvision allows them to see through that back, even without Swan's lantern light. "Also, he's not just trying to be quiet, he's completely silent as a ghost!" Realizing that he's spoken loud enough for the others to hear, he adds: "You're all seeing that, right? Or rather, not seeing it?"

"Not all there? What're you talking about?" Fenwick replies in exasperation, turning to study the dwarf more closely.

I can't see through an illusion any better than you can Tiberious says to Gabbro. He considers the situation, then shrugs. Best way to tell ...

Tiberious walks up next to the dwarf and places a hand on his shoulder. What is up ahead? He whispers

The dwarf seems solid enough as Tiberious places his hand upon his shoulder. He’s certainly not an illusion or incorporeal.

Looking more closely, the dwarf’s minor visual anomalies are almost as if he is in some way camouflaged or "cloaked". It’s hard to understand or interpret. It’s not something you have come across before.

The dwarf flinches slightly at Tiberious’ touch but remains silent to all questioning. He’s now 20’ south of the Chamber of the Woods, urging you to follow his lead.

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Day 2, 12:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Lanhkmer, Thief 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 7/7
Swan, Fighter 1: 5/6
Tiberious, Magic-User 1: 5/5

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...
Link to Tiberious' mega-maps ...

He's not spoken a word, nor uttered any noise. However, he does make the normal sounds of movement - footsteps, etc.

Ricard stops in his tracks,

"We are being led away from our goal by the nose! Let this spectre speak otherwise I say we leave it be."

Tiberious stops and let's the dwarf move ahead I agree with Rikard. Something is not right. He looks strange, as if he is not all there.

Swan says, "What the difference. Lead us to a new area."

"But we really want to know where the bazaar is, this apparition is likely leading us away."

Gabbro stops with Ricard, Tiberious, and Lanhkmer (who is presumably still on his knees?), but he addresses his hissed whisper to the ones still following the mystery dwarf: Fenwick and Swan. "This not talking is suspicious, and the leading us through the dungeon is suspicious, let alone in such a hurry. What happens to us when we hurry? We get hit by traps!" He sighs, tries another tack. "Say there's a reason for his silence. Maybe he needs to be quiet to not alert some guard or sound-sensitive monster; he could've whispered that to us. Say he's mute and cannot speak; we didn't ask him to guide us anywhere. Fenwick, you just asked him if this was the correct passage to get to Kobold Korners; that could've been answered with a nod or a shake of the head! If he was a guard, why has he left his post? It's like he was expecting us, and how could that be?"