What Tests May Come
| Stats | |
| Characters | Storm, Adoni, Wu Chan Li, Decious, Kid, Kimiko; Lo Tay |
| Duration | 2 days |
| Quotes | None |
Brinelle greets them, a raven perched on her shoulder. The group notice four gnome sized green clad figures perched on various ledges around the path to the mountain summit. Each of them is veiled. Brinelle watches as the group starts off up the mountain.
They climb the mountain for over an hour when they see the path divide. Decious points out that the path round the mountain is mostly scree so the footing will be unsure but the surer path leads to the summit.
As they continue onwards, Adoni, Decious and Wu Chan Li notice a mountain lion watching them. Lo Tay notices a small green shape to their right and behind following then up the mountain Storm spots a raven.
The quality of the air changes as they rise becoming thin and one by one the group succumb to fatigue. It is when they are all feeling the worst that the attack comes. Entangling vines wrap around their feet as mountain lions slowly creep towards them. The fight is intense as the lions attack. Book is paralysed to the distress of Adoni. A fire ball that is sent towards them is however easily countered. Kimiko quickly reveals that she can defend herself, blasting two lions with a cold shoot of air. Once half the lions have been vanquished the rest fall back, vanishing out of sight. Adoni spots the raven flying above them and in annoyance paralysis it so that it falls from the sky. Fortunately Decious it able to catch it.
The group brush themselves off and continue to climb the mountain eventually reaching a wider section where they decide to camp for the night. The raven wakes up and starts spouting insults in fluent gnomish much to the distress of Adoni who seals its beak shut. The group spot two mountain lions watching them from the trail they have just walked up. Decious chooses to try to approach them quietly. Neither of them notice him but he feels a quarter staff prod the small of his back and a voice say "leave them alone." A quick conversation with his assailent reveals that their task is done. They simply guard the path. He returns to the others and they bed down for the night.
The group, apart from Adoni, wake during the night because the horses panic. Empty ropes lie where Wu Chan Li had been restrained for the night. Storm hastily wakes Adoni who bespells the horses so that they calm down. Decious and Kid and Adoni, following Decious wolf Nighteyes, attempt to follow Wu Chan Li's tracks into the Darkness.
They find a large cave and venture carefully within. Adoni takes the form of a bat and sees several shapes in the back of the cave. One large and three small. Returning to the others she mentions this to Decious who has spotted movement at the back of the cave. Lumbering into the torch light they quickly realise that they have stumbled into a bear's den. The mother seems threatened but Decious managed to convince it that they are not a threat and they all back out slowly.
Kid and Adoni return to camp while Decious remains to watch the cave entrance.
In the morning Adoni speaks to the raven who informs her that his name is Korupin. He does however refuse to explain who he is connected to. Confirming that his only mission is to watch, Adoni releases him.
Wu Chan Li wakes in elven form within the cave and tries his best to exit it gently. However he is out of luck and the bear chases him from the cave. Wu Chan Li raises a fog to hinder the bear and Decious meets him having left food at the cave entrance in an effort to distract the bear.
The group pack up their things and continue on their trail. They have to climb another peak but quickly decend the other side. However their progress is hindered when they reach a sheer drop. Lo Tay takes a quick look over the ledge and can see several nests below them.
A long disscusion starts as the group try to work out what to do. Kimiko meditates a long while and then surprises the group by explaining that she can walk down the cliff and check out any issues that they might have in getting down. The group is understandably sceptical and decides on another course of action.
During this Wu Chan Li approaches Adoni with some grim news. He thinks the lycanthropy he has contracted has been affecting his actions. Specifically the stone that she was given by the Ethereal Elves is no longer in her possession. He switched it for a normal rock leaving the other behind. Angered and betrayed Adoni orders the group to attack him. Decious and Kid imediately do so and Storm sends a fire ball at Wu Chan Li. Wu is unable to do more than put out the flames as the silver weapons wound him. Lo Tay decides to stop the fight and also the flight that he can see in Wu's eyes and grapples him to the ground.
Adoni calls for Korupin who is circling above them and asks for his aid. She knows she does not have the time to locate the stone. He eyes her a long while but agrees asking simply that she does one thing for him. She agrees, not asking what it is.
There is a restless attidude over the group with Wu Chan Li unsure how to inspire confidence in him as he can bespell the group so that the fall is gentle but they do not trust him fully. It is eventually decided that he and the horses will us the spells. Adoni turns into a giant bee and, lifting Book, heads down the cliff face.
On her way down she spots some owls and, curious, nears them. They however see her approach as a threat and raise into the air ready to defend their nests. Adoni is hit from above and badly hurt flys back up the cliff. The horses at the top are spooked as first Adoni and then three large owls fly past them. Adoni hastily drops Book and turns back into her gnome form. Unable to spot the bee the owls circle a while before dropping back down the cliff.
Once calmed down Adoni suddenly realises that she spotted something else amongst the nests. A small mouse not cowering or afraid, just waiting. It occurs to her that this might be one of the tokens she needs.
