Melody sighed. She preferred this idea by a landslide. "Ok. I like it. Whenever you make the distraction. I suppose then we will have to rush in while the guard are distracted?"
Zephyr smiled and began trotting off to the west. "Of course. Come on, I think I see the place up ahead."
Spoiler: Group 1 The group, as they head towards the West, can see the cemetary. There is, as expected, a pair of guards who are patrolling the cemetary in the area of a standing stone structure. While there are two other smaller buildings, one would assume the larger is the enterable tomb. Two other guards are in the viscinity, but are making conversation, and not really patrol rounds, standing outside of the cemetary gates. The gates are metal and crooked, and the soil of the graveyard is well trodden and old. Not much, but some grass still grows in this area. Spoiler: Group 2 To Throw, Arc, and Silver, the sound would remind them of a bubbling couldron over a fire, multiplied by a good number. It was like there was a cooking contest going on further down, but they heard no voices. Coming around the bend of the caverns, they could see a larger cavernous pathway, and along either wall, there were strange orbs of goo that were proped into nooks. The round blobs of goo glowed a gentle red color, and seemed to be making the bubbling sounds. Anyone looking close enough, even from this distance, could see bubbles form near the base of the blobs and pop near the surface ever so gently. Near the end, the group could also see some mushrooms growing in muddy dirt, and an echoing dripping sound of water was softly adding to the ambiance of the tunnel's sound. Nobody knows what these blobs are, and has never heard of such things. Spoiler: Group 2 Masquerade and LoveStar find a small building named the Trot 'n' Stop Inn & Eats. It couldn't have more than four or five rooms total in the main part, but it has a restaurant extension on it that emminates some good country meal smells. Entering the establishment would reveal it to be welcoming and giving off the feeling of home. The innkeeper, an older mare, would be found reading a book behind the desk until she'd hear the ding. Looking up, she'd give a weary eye at the masked pony as she asked. "How can I help you?"
Silver was massively facinated with this discovery. "What...what are these things?" he asked with an awed tone. He slowly walked into the cavernous hallway, getting as close as he felt was safe to the blobs in order to better observe them. His mind began to develop hypotheses. Perhaps these were large groups of microbes that had gathered into a large group? He had heard of such things before, where ameobas would gather together and form an almost collective consciousness, sometimes even preying upon smaller creatures such as rats. Or perhaps it wasn't quite so much like science fiction. Maybe they were bacteria that were feeding on...something. He didn't quite know, but they were just hypotheses, after all. He continued to watch with intense facination.
As Silver gets closer, his nose picks up an aweful odor. One that smells like rotten eggs, like someone had let out terrible gas. Spoiler: Endurance Check Dice Roll: 60+12=72 While an unexpected stench, he's able to hold down what his stomach still had from the last time he'd eaten.
Perfect Melody looked on in a slight bit of dissapoint. There was more guards than she thought. "Whatever your going to do Zephyr, do it fast!" She nodded in approval, then waited for a responce.
Ugh. Well, he supposed he should have expected that. Just another reason for him to believe that these were some sort of bacteria, or at the very least a decomposer. Often the odors produced by their consuption were not ranked among the most pleasant. Why were they giving off that red glow? Perhaps they were imbued with magic? Silver absently wondered what kind of gas the blobs were producing. It probably wasn't poisonous; it smelled a lot like the methane that is normally produced by the digestion process. There was another reason to believe that these strange organisms (he was assuming that they were organisms) were decomposers. The only thing that disproved his theory was the fact that there didn't seem to be much to decompose in this cavern. He frowned. They appeared to be dissolving the rock, but that made no sense, unless it wasn't actually an organism...
Zephyr nodded silently and crept over near the edge of the cemetery gate. It loomed over him and cast a rather sizable shadow over him which might help him remain undetected. He looked up at the black iron beast that stood in front of him and instantly began contemplating his plan. How was he supposed to hurdle this tremendous obstacle? He hadn't brought any ropes with him and there surely weren't any nearby. Perhaps a local willow tree could provide the necessary tool he needed. Looking around, he was overcome with disappointment at seeing the surrounding area was void of those delightfully weird trees, but however there was a nearby oak that hung it's branches over the fence. Zephyr trotted silently to the tree. He took a firm stance at the bottom of it, but just to make sure he was doing everything correctly, he went over a quick mental checklist. Forelegs? Check. Hindlegs? Check. Unrelenting motivation? Check. Fabulous Mane? This doesn't ever go unchecked; limbs are optional, obviously. Wings? Check. Wait a second. Wings? Just before Zephyr pounced on the tree to begin his ascension, a thought occurred to him. This is silly. He snuck over to the gate and hid in the safety of it's shadow for a moment before flapping his wings softly and hovering over the obstacle. 'Hope nobody saw me.'
Spoiler: Zephyr Sneaks Roll Result: 64+5+15=84 *Guards' Perception Checks Hidden.* Zephyr does not notice anyone turn his direction, nor raise any alarms to his movement.
Zephyr slides along the shadows adjacent to the stone pathway before coming to a nearby cluster of unmarked graves. Hiding behind them, he waits in silence for a guard to pass by. Hopefully he remains undetected, though on the off chance that he is, it would be wise to think up a reasonable fib. If anybody asks, he is utterly convinced he can communicate with the deceased.
Arc stares at the creatures while keeping his distance while they continue to act like sentient lava lamps. The slow, unintelligible flow from one shape to another the gloops kept up creeped him out. He stays still, keeping a watchful eye on these things in case they get near. "If you got no idea, none of us will either." Arc said. He then takes in a deep breath, stepping towards one of the blobs. He raises a hoof and goes to prod it but stops just above the surface of the goo. No, not worth having half a hoof. Instead, he grabs a stone in his mouth. Holding it steady over the blob, he drops the medium-sized rock onto the gloop while yanking his entire body away with a huge leap. For all he knew, these things could be volatile or vicious, reeling back from anything the blob does.
Perfect Melody began to become impatient. What ever your going to do Zephyr please hurry and do it safe! She shook her head. Then, she began to whistle one of her old songs. Tales of Equestrian songs The title and her sucess with that song made her smile. It eased her worry for Zephyr.
(We're hoping to hear from Eight Star soon, he's been gone a coupleah days.) Silver Shield watched with interest as Arc dropped the stone onto the gelatinous mass. If the blobs did, indeed, "digest" stone, as was his theory, then he was curious to see the outcome of this.
Group 1 Spoiler: Zephyr Hides Roll:65+15+5=85 Guard Detection Roll Hidden The guards meet in front of a tall standing memorial tomb and strike up a conversation. Something about a filly named Redstreak. Zephyr is happily convinced that he remains undetected by the guards. Group 2 Arc Gust and Silver watch in complete fascination as the rock... slowly floats through the goop, and gets pushed back out near the bottom. It does not seem to be digested at all. Group 3 The innkeeper looks the two over with a curious eye. Though, not one to turn away business, she asks; "For how long are you wantin' to stay here? Just the night?"
Zephyr peered over the edge of the tombstone at the two guards. He curses silently under his breath, now he'd have to find a way to split the two of them up even if for a moment. Maybe he could toss a rock. No that would never work, it'd raise suspicion. But what if that suspicion were placed on something else? Zephyr looked around for something useful. Grave, grave, tomb, crypt, grave. Damn, not a zombie in sight. What kind of a graveyard was this anyway? Looks like there was no choice, he'd have to make some sort of distraction with a rock. The stone against which he leaned seemed to be particularly old, and so had a few pieces of rubble at its base. Picking one up in his hoof, Zephyr chucked the rock over at the metal gate from which he arrived. Maybe now the guards would split up and pass by him.
Spoiler: Zephyr Chucks a Rock! To-Hit Gate: 58+8=66 (Fair) Distance Check: 56+8=64 (Fair) He hears the satisfying clang as the rock smacks against the old iron gate. Both of the guards turn and perk up their ears. One of them quietly speaks to the other; "Wait here, I'll check it out." The other guard nods in agreement as the first guard makes his way off towards the gate. The guard takes a moment to look around and (Perception Check) notices one of the other group members waiting near the gate. "Area's off limits, ponies! Play your games somewhere else!" The guard waiting in the back calls; "Everything alright?"
