"I'd hate to fight a Balrog here. We should anchor some ropes just in case something bad happens."
Neri easily hops over the chasm, without even getting a running start. "Toss me a hammer and pitons if you have them, and I'll make sure you guys have something to hold onto incase the spikes or logs give way." He calls back over, already digging rope out of the backpack he was wearing.
"Seriously? This is our bridge? We should cross with ropes, one at a time, if at all."
Neri edges towards the edge, and springs on his feet a little... then notices the multiple -additional- hazards once he's closer. He's rather thankful for the fact he didn't take a running leap, slipping would have been disastrous. He crosses the bridge with considerably less panache after tying himself and letting Lina handle the rope. Once on the other side... if anyone has the goodies, he anchors it with a Piton. Otherwise, he just ties it off, and does his best to hold it firmly in place for the others.
If Neri does have the proper tools to safely tie off his end, he'll aid another on anyone who's crossing. If not... then he'll just hold the rope in place.
Lina can fire a few ropes over with her bow, if necessary. If Lina takes off her armor, she can only take 10 for a 14 on Acrobatics, which might be a problem.
Kong looks pretty unsure about this one.
Zese logs look fery zlick. I sink I vould like help on zis.
Luna while not nearly as nimble would be able to make the jump without Neri or the ropes help so she would be able to assist anyone trying to cross as well.
Neri pauses to admire the fact that Luna did effectively the same thing he had just done. "Well, that settles having someone to help the others across. If you guys can tie off the rope on that side, I'll hold this side steady, and Luna can help you all across. Then one of us can go back and untie it. I kind of wonder if there'd be anything down in -that- water below us... but I'm not climbing down into rapids that lead into a deathswirl... thing."
Down is definitely NOT ze way to go here.
Kong looks down anxiously for a moment, then removes all of his gear and makes a parcel to pull across after him, then gingerly crosses, with a death-grip on the rope.
Lina will go last, hoping the others can catch her if she falls.
And, on the other side, she re-summons her armor.
Luna would help any of those that needed it to cross.
"If we can find something to tie it down we really need to leave the rope here in case we need to run again."
"If we have to run this way in a hurry, it'll be a very bad thing, with or without the rope. Especially if the things can fly. We should try to avoid running at all... but I see your point. We could also replacement bridge. It's not like anything is rushing us. Better safe than falling into a whirlpool of death... hmm. Hindsight really is 20/20."
The group makes it past the very dangerous waterfall area. The cave beyond is slick with water. Additionally, the minerals in the water have been left on the floor of the cave as deposits, making the entire area on the other side slick and a series of icy smooth layers. Leaping over the breach would have surely resulted in broken bones.
The group finds another intersection. The stones drop off about a foot a level, for four levels, going to the west. The cave they are in continues to the south.
Neri will double check with the map to determine which pathway is most likely to dead-end, before once more leaving it with Lina.
"This should only be a small detour, if we want to check this way. South leads deeper, I think."
"The detour, then. But watch your step going down."
"I agree, it's best to know whats behind us. Last thing we want is to be caught between giant bats and whatever else is hiding down here."
Neri patiently treads down the probably slippery slope, possibly with a torch in one hand, or a lit rock from Kong, if he kindly supplied one, to investigate what is down the stairs... So to speak.
Kory passes his lit rock with no issue, and follows slowly and carefully.
A long slow careful walk to the west, about 250 feet, reveals a sharp turn, followed by a second sharp turn, and then...
... nothing, as the cave peters out. A chimney extends up, with cool air blowing down into the cave, apparently sucked in by the wind generated by the waterfall. The air is cool, with a bite to it, as if it were coming from an icy origin. The chimney is only about 10 inches in diameter, so it's not something that could be climbed out of, although smaller bats could probably fly up it against the light wind.
"Back to the fork, then? At least we know nothing can ambush us from this direction."
Luna would check to make sure they didn't miss anything, if she noticed anything she informed the group if not she agreed with Lina to head back.
Jes, back ze way ve came. Hmm. Vere are zese lizard people of jours, Neri?
Kong looks a little weary, but more thougtful than annoyed.
"I'm not sure. I'm hoping that they're just deeper in. That the bats would have tried to eat them, as well, you know? Otherwise we, just killed their guard dogs." he frowned for a moment. "I really do doubt that, but..." He shrugged after a moment. "Interesting thought, if the bats can fly out through that hole, and grow up... they'll wind up somewhere outside, but we didn't see any deathbats outside."
And with that, Neri started heading down the other tunnel, kicking the rock ahead, as Kong had before, so that they'd have a chance of seeing something -as- it saw them.
As the group continues down the tunnel, it begins to open up, and lighten up as well. Lichen on the wall glows a soft blue white. Other life forms begin to become common, as the southern tunnel slopes down.
At first, it's mostly insects. Cockroaches the size of people's thumbs, then larger, the size of a palm. Two foot long centipedes scuttling under mushrooms the size of footballs, then later beach balls.
Small lizards begin to get spotted as well, as well as more bats. Also winged lizards with four legs and two wings, almost like small dragons.
The single cave becomes series of caverns, and only Neri's map keeps the group from getting lost.
After what seems like hours, the group is getting tired, having lost track of time as they wander the caverns.
"I.... vote camp. We definitely don't want to press any deeper if the centipedes are going to become beach balls... How long have we been down here, anyway?"
"Not that long. Wonder if these mushrooms and lizards are edible, though."
Tired? It feels zo goot down here!
Still, Kong stops with the party.
"Maybe for you. I'm still not used to all this travel and full days of work, and such." Neri grinned. "What did everyone bring for making camp? Or do you think we need to even set up a camp down here? The temperature and stuff will probably hold tight, so shelter is not an issue."
"It can't be as late as you think, Neri—and you're not an old man anymore. But if it's still early, then I can take a long watch while you nap first."
"Kong—you've been studying the wildlife here, and Luna probably knows the most about hunting. Don't stray too far, but maybe you two could be willing to see if you can find any edible fungus or lizards nearby. I'll make a very small cookfire, and see if I can pull together a shelter."
Lina will also, if she has time, try to craft some pitons and a grappling hook arrow with her smith's tools.
"If no one else is tired, I'll just push into my second wind... but I'm pretty sure I'll wind up holding us up. Do you guys feel we even need watches? I feel like it forces us to spend hours doing close to nothing. And we haven't seen a threat in what feels like forever." He looked around slowly, "I'm still waiting to see a cat with a giant grin plastered on its face."
Some of the mushrooms seem edible (with a take 10). And within an hour Lina has a small fire going, and a couple of small lizards roasting over it while mushroom stew slowly heats up with the pot at the edge of the fire.
Kong does do short forays, but doesn't expect much other than bats, per recent experience.
Kong is on watch when he hears the pattering of feet, dozens of feet. He turns just in time to see six biped lizards come tearing out of a connecting tunnel, long tooth filled muzzles extended as they race in an oddly graceful yet ungainly gait.
Luna awakens to the sound of the feet as well, and even feels something else making the ground vibrate.
The lead creature hisses, and somehow manages to turn 90 degrees in mid stride, and the other five turn just as easily, as if the entire group were moving as one creature, and they pound past.
The lizard creatures were wearing armor and equipment!
About 40 feet behind them comes a lumbering creature that crashes to a halt in an ungainly pile of limbs when it sees Kong standing there.
The six lizards continue on their way without a backward glance.
The creature opens it's mouth silently in a grimace and begins lumbering toward Kong.
Ve come in pea...vat ze...oh crap.
Kong stands, watching the lizard folk a bit too long to be ready for the new beast.
"I told you there were lizard people!" Neri said, in the same boat as Kong.