"We're here to help! I'm not the best at moving big heavy things, but I'll do what I can." Kaval approaches the strange looking pair and inspects the rubble to make sure he won't cause the stones to shift dangerously, then looks for some of the smaller stones and begins moving them. "Aravashnial, do you have any spells that might help us move the stones of a collapsed tower off of someone pinned beneath them?"
Shimmer turns to Kel. "If you would keep an eye on the dwarf, I'll go and help clear out the rubble."
HP 12/12
AC 16 T11 FF16 CMD 16
F/R/W 4/0/6
Channel Energy 6/7
Nanite Surge 0/1
Seize the Initiative 7/7
Touch of Good 7/7
Spells
0th - Guidance, Detect Magic, Create Water
1st - Bless, Shield of Faith, Protection from Evil
Effects
None
After getting taken out by the dwarf last time, Dennis is still pretty suspicious. He will move to a spot away from the strangers and start digging, but keeping an eye on them.
They have cleared away enough rubble that only one large rock remains wedged in place above the small space in which their companion is trapped. Lifting the rock away requires a successful Strength check—something the two of them alone cannot accomplish. Up to six people can work together to lift the stone. Alternatively, you could try to dig him out, but that looks very risky.
Assist to Shimmer.
pass +2 to Shimmer
Efin eyed the rock carefully, even as she crouched down and sent out a little jolt of heavenly fire to help heal the trapped figure.
The mighty grippli leaps to the rock and helps his companions lift it off the trapped person.
Shimmer takes the lead and with the others tries to rock.
With a grunt of effort after she'd done the healing, though, Efin joined in as Shimmer worked to lift the rock, trying to maneuver it off of the trapped figure.
With a mighty heave, your combined efforts are more than enough to pull the boulder out of the way revealing a small space that miraculously saved the life of the third person. Like the others, he appears to be a mix of several races.
The first one that spoke with you seems more friendly now.
"I am Lann, this is Dyra (he indicates the woman), and the one you helped aid is Crel. We thank you."
Now that their companion is rescued they seem much more relaxed as well as friendly towards you. Lann continues to act as spokesman for them.
"You appear to have been trapped here by the same cataclysm. You are welcome to accompany us back to our village, Neathholm. Chief Sull will reward you for your aid. We are in your debt. However, the direct tunnel is one of those that collapsed. There is a second way, but it is not as safe."
Kel stands back with the unconscious dwarf. He thought it was a little odd that he wasn't asked to lift the heavy things given that he was pretty sure he was the strongest of their number, but he said nothing, simply watching the dwarf and trying to keep an eye out while the others worked.
"Yes, we were trapped in the collapse as well. Demons attacked the city and tore great holes in the ground. We're trying to find our way to the surface so we can assess the damage and assist the soldiers still fighting there but we seem to have fallen a long way.
The second path you have may not be safe, but neither has our path to you thus far, so I think together we should be able to make it to your village safely."
"I can't imagine it will be any worse than what we've seen. Let's get moving. Sooner we get there, sooner we'll be safe. Or at least more safe. "
"Second way sounds like the only way. I think we can deal with most dangers likely to be down here." Efin said cheerfully, dusting herself off and wiggling her fingers a bit to make sure she could still make the motions for spellcasting. "Do any of you need healing?"
Kel stands back with the unconscious dwarf. He thought it was a little odd that he wasn't asked to lift the heavy things given that he was pretty sure he was the strongest of their number, but he said nothing, simply watching the dwarf and trying to keep an eye out while the others worked.
"Demons attacked Kenabres? Then we definitely have to see chief Sull, he must be notified."
"Not only did they attack, they swarmed Kenabres. The last thing we saw was Terendelev being decapitated by a huge demon with a whip and sword. I'm guessing we'll be lucky to find small pockets of resistance left in the city, not a united front." Kaval says forlornly. After a moment, he seems to shake off his malaise and adds, "But we can help save those left, and drive back the demons. We just have to find a way back to the surface and then figure out how best to hit the demons where it hurts them the most."
All three mongrelemn gasp in shock.
"No! The dragon was killed? She was the Worldwound's greatest defender. We must hurry back to Neathholm!"
"Then let's get going." Efin said, moving forward. After a moment... "Uh, who's got the lights? And are the rest of you doing okay, still?" she added, looking at the elven wizard and their other companions to be sure the three of them were still fine with continuing to advance.
"I am able to continue on." Shimmer moves back towards the dwarf and assists Kel in lifting him. "I am not familiar with Neathholm. Perhaps you can talk about it as we move?"
Kel was still a little banged up, but he wasn't going to let that slow the group down. Aravashniel's magic was still bolstering him but he knew that wouldn't last forever. "I'm alright. Lets get moving."
"No need to be so stoic and not admit when you're hurt. We're all safer if you're tip top. Now, this may burn a bit..."
Kel nodded. "Thanks. Whatever that spell was the dwarf hit me with was pretty bad."
You easily overcome a chasm and continue on. You travel for about 40 minutes and Lann informs you of the obstacle they were worried about. You must traverse a cavern that is the lair of a "spore-cougher". He tells you that there is a good chance that it will be absent, but that it is a formidable opponent.
"It is a large creature that resembles an inverted umbrella with several stems of dark green or brown hanging beneath it. The inside of its cone-shaped top is inky black. It exudes fumes that cause hallucinations it then infects you with spores."
"I've heard tales of rots picked up closer to the wound. I hope it's nothing like that. I prefer something I can just fight. "
"You, uh, want me to just set it on fire from a distance?" Efin asked. Most plants were fairly vulnerable to flames, after all, and she could toss out fire pretty much all day if she needed to. "...It's not one of those plants that explodes if you hit it with fire, is it?"
"That sounds better than getting close certainly. "
"So I'm filing this one under 'Do not lick' then? Does holding your breath help protect you? Perhaps we can all just hold our breath and sneak past it."
"I'm afraid I don't know much about these types of creatures myself. But it does sound more reasonable to attack at a distance. But if it should become necessary I am highly resistant to various toxins and would volunteer to approach it."
"Good to know." Kel said simply. "Can we swing wide, or should we try to stay back and burn them out?"
"I'm pretty sure this is the only way. Let's just go in. Shimmer takes point, and the rest of us ready ranged weapons in case it is in there. "
After another 20 minutes of travel, the tunnel opens into a circular cavern, roughly forty feet in diameter. Thick sheets of fungus grow in the cave, and several tunnels branch off. All of these save one in the north wall lead downward; the northern one leads upward. What appear to be two dead bodies lie on the ground in the middle of the cave, next to a strange heap of ropy green fungus.
Efin got as close as she could without actually entering the cave, narrowing her eyes as she judged the distance. <"Target: Selected Plant. Effect: Flame Jet."> she said in Celestial, sending a bolt of flame over to the plant to see what happened.
for
Your flame jet easily hits the pile of ropy fungus. There is absolutely no response and it becomes obvious that the creature is dead. The mongrelmen breathe a sigh of relief.
"Well that's a stroke of good luck for once." Motioning towards the two bodies, Kaval asks the mongrelmen, "Are those friends of yours? Perhaps we should bring back their bodies for loved ones?"
"Somehow I cannot imagine it will be this easy. It's never this easy. "
and he will switch from his bow back to his rapier and advance cautiously to investigate the bodies.
"I will come as well." Shimmer draws her sword as she follows Dennis.
Efin looked at the plant, then down at her fingers, and sent a few more bolts of flame into it just to be sure. She added a cone of Sense Magic as they approached the bodies, too, just to be on the safe side and make sure they weren't some kind of illusion.
"Wait for me!" Kaval squeaked as he clambered after Shimmer.
Kel waited back with the injured, keeping well clear of the bodies. After what had happened in the dwarven temple he wanted to be sure the vulnerable members of their group were well out of harm's way.
The two bodies are crusaders of Iomedae. It looks like they killed the Fungus creature and one perished in the fight while the other died afterwards from its spores. The crusaders are armed with glaives and spiked gauntlets instead of the traditional longsword usually carried by crusaders of Iomedae.
Efin frowned a bit as she knelt down by the bodies. "Huh, that's weird." she mused, checking them over. The traditional gear was traditional for a reason. Who were these guys, anyway?
"I don't much like to loot the bodies of crusaders, but if they have things we need to survive I imagine they would want us to use it. " and he will take a close look at the bodies to see what equipment might be salvaged.
Both men still wear a masterwork chain shirt. One of the dead bodies still carries a potion, while the other has a scroll in a pouch. Between the two of them, they also carry 200 gp. The body on which the scroll was found clutches something tightly in his fist—a small symbol of a brass bull’s head with tiny red gemstone eyes.
"..."
Kaval and Dennis seemed to be frowning a bit as they looked at a small symbol. With a shrug, Efin leaned over as well and glanced down at it. Her religious instruction was a bit more... formal... than most people's, and she was actually fairly confident in her ability to identify it.