Tezuzu is able to create several holes in the thin stone wall, easily making a small doorway. Beyond is simply empty tunnel leading to what appears to be make shift rooms.
With the makeshift doorway the air starts to move slightly and with it the spores which move very slowly in the direction of the new opening.
Through the makeshift doorway you can see a forking path that seems to rejoin. There are a series of head-high partitions fashioned from intricately brocaded cloth panels stretched over wooden frames take up the center of this cavern. The partitions seems like they form a large enclosed area in the center of the chamber.
Findurel and Quasit seems to vanish as he picks an side of the forking path. You hear little beyond the knocking at the distant door and even that seems to be growing less insistent.
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Sakitu points back towards the locked door. "But won't those things just chase us?" Seeing everyone moving to the new opening in the tunnel, Sakitu realizes that she doesn't want to be left alone. She hurries along. She starts down the same side as Quasit but then holds back to let her friend sneak on ahead.
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Quasit moves quickly back to the group and gestures that it's safe to move up.
"Looks like three people were camping out up here. And not much fancier than camping out. No sign of a cage that our 'damsel' escaped from either. Let's search the room and see if we can get any clues about who these weirdos are. But don't leave the room -- Caigrel is still around, and is liable to look for stragglers to stab in the back."
"Fin that goes for you too, no wandering off too far!" she says, raising her voice and speaking to the room as if Fin were in the walls and ceiling.
"I'll keep a watch on the corridor behind us. Hopefully that poop slime will keep butting its head against that door for the next 3 years, but you never know. And if that spore cloud drifts in here, we might need to move out fast."
Each compartment contains a sleeping pallet, a large clay vase filled with water, and a table set with various items such as small stone s , clay plates, bones, knives, and wooden drinking cups , as well as hooks upon which hang cloaks, blankets, and other sundries.
In the southern portion of the chamber, a wall of unmortared fieldstone covers the natural cavern. A locked stone door carved with the image of a young maiden walking with a deer in a wood stands in the center of the wall. Arches in the southwest and northeast corners lead to additional corridors.
"It's almost bad enough to make you miss fighting the giants... but not quite." Bulvi grumbled but stuck near the group.
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Once the compartments have been searched and their contents uncovered, she abandons her post at the tunnel to come have a look.
"Earwigs? Scalps? Ugh, obvious witch crap. Really tall witches apparently, judging from those nasty dresses. Take the jewels, leave the earwigs." Just looking at the jar of bugs makes her shudder involuntarily.
"Q, there's a locked stone door here you might want to check out..."
Quasit moves to check out the stone door. She stands before it and gives a low whistle.
"I'd bet a brass monkey that baby is trapped." she says before even bothering to take a closer look. "Interesting... I wonder if what's behind the door was off limits to the big tall witches?"
She moves in for a more careful examination.
Quasit sees no issues with the lock.
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After spending a minute or two probing various bumps and grooves around the lock carefully, Quasit sighs and takes a step back.
"I don't see it. But I still bet it's trapped." she grumbles. She rubs her eyes wearily. "I'm definitely not at my best right now."
She looks back at the others. "I'm inclined to leave this locked door here for now and explore some of the other passages. We can always come back here. What do you guys think?"
Selena takes the earwigs, figuring they were kept for a reason, and therefore may be useful. She uses detect magic and detect poison on everything. She also keeps some of the clothes, and asks Saki, "Want me to fit any of these for you Sakitu?"
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Quasit looks back to see what Selena is offering to Sakitu and does a double take when she sees it's the nasty ragged giant dresses. She rolls her eyes to the heavens and mutters something, then notices that Selena also has the jar of earwigs under her arm. And then she just can't help herself.
"Oh my stars and garters! You WOULD pick those up." she chides. "Princess, what in the Seven Hells and Nine Heavens could you want with a jar of gross bugs? Please don't tell me you want the bloody children's scalps too!"
Then she notices Tezuzu and seems to rethink her blanket condemnation. For about 2 seconds. And then her heart hardens once again and she shakes her head in revulsion, fighting her rising gorge. "I'm sorry Feathers, not even as Tezoozy Snacks are those anything but completely disgusting! Earwigs, silverfish and centipedes -- nope, nope and NOPE!"
Sakitu points back towards the locked door. "But won't those things just chase us?"
Tezuzu nods towards Sakitu with a shrug and quietly chats as Findurel and Quasit scout ahead "I am a bit uneasy leaving that festering muck to block our exit as well, but perhaps not having a convenient means of retreat will motivate us giving us an edge?." He spends a moment thinking before adding somewhat awkwardly "Neat trick, turning Findurels arrows frosty, by the way."
As the group rummages through the living quarters Tezuzu will cast an incantation to read magical auras
Then she notices Tezuzu and seems to rethink her blanket condemnation. For about 2 seconds. And then her heart hardens once again and she shakes her head in revulsion, fighting her rising gorge. "I'm sorry Feathers, not even as Tezoozy Snacks are those anything but completely disgusting! Earwigs, silverfish and centipedes -- nope, nope and NOPE!"
Tezuzu lets out a steep sigh. "No accounting for taste I suppose. I am more partial to crickets and beetles. Earwigs and silverfish are a bit bland, but centipedes are absolutely delicious. If you find the good ones with the right kind of venom they are mildly intoxicating and can bend your perception colors and shapes in interesting ways." after a brief pause he will add "I am thinking I will hold on to a few. My supplies of snacks are running a bit low anyways. Even if they are a bit grimy; waste not want not."
After briefly considering the bugs and other items Tezuzu will help search for traps along the stone door as well.
Findurel is able to unlock the door with quite a bit of effort, realizing in the process that it was likely right at the edge of his capability. Even with the resistance the door unlocks without any adverse events.
Bright light shines from the corridor beyond the unlocked door. It seems to be coming from further ahead, down the corridor that was behind the locked door. In fact, the light is so bright that in makes it difficult to see anything other than the light beyond thirty or so feet into the passage ahead.
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Tezuzu lets out a steep sigh. "No accounting for taste I suppose. I am more partial to crickets and beetles. Earwigs and silverfish are a bit bland, but centipedes are absolutely delicious. If you find the good ones with the right kind of venom they are mildly intoxicating and can bend your perception colors and shapes in interesting ways." after a brief pause he will add "I am thinking I will hold on to a few. My supplies of snacks are running a bit low anyways. Even if they are a bit grimy; waste not want not."
This exposition leaves Quasit literally holding her hand in front of her mouth while she gags theatrically.
"Obviously you and I have some very different associations with earwigs." she manages to choke out. "Our home in Cassomir with this miserable single room two streets away from the docks. The walls were wooden and everything in that part of Cassomir is perched over the old town, which is basically a sewer at this point. So needless to say, we saw our share of earwigs. They'd crawl out of the walls and floor after dark and scuttle across your face or go spelunking into your ears or nose or just go for a nice jaunt under your clothes. And of course since I had two older brothers, you can guess how many times they thought it would be funny to drop some of those filthy vermin onto me for laughs. What could be more fun than making Mina scream? Maybe she'll wet herself with terror and disgust!"
It's at this point she notices that Findurel has somehow unlocked the Maiden Gate and has swung it open.
"Oh. So... I guess we're going that way after all?" she says quizzically to Findurel. "I'm glad there wasn't a trap there. I owe you one brass monkey."
There's an edge of annoyance in her voice, though she tries to fight it.
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Sakitu follows Tez and makes her way cautiously down the passage to the living quarters. She waits back while the others rummage through everything.
At one point Selena holds up some clothing and asks her if she wants it. "Ugh! No way. I mean, why? I've got perfectly good clothes. And those probably belonged to witches or something."
Making her way around the enclosures while deliberately ignoring the discussion about eating bugs -- gross! -- she notices the two additional passages to the southwest and northeast. Just then Fin opens the locked door revealing another passage.
"Uh. Guys? We're not going to go down there are we? I mean, really? We've got the slime monsters back behind us. Two more open passages here, and now this one. I'm getting really nervous about all the open ways that things can come get us. Can we just lock that door back up?"
The bright light from beyond the now unlocked door seems constant, neither dimming nor getting brighter. Closing the door does of course block it out.
"Saki, I'm a witch, and last I checked, I'm clean. No warts, leprosy, nor diseases. Besides, I was meaning to take the cloth to make something, not just leave like they are. They seem to have suffered from a lack of care." Selena chats at Saki while the others are deciding whether to go through the door or not. Though she does use the extra bright light to look closer at the fabric.
Selena can tell that other than being a bit worn in places, the fabric is a fair quality. Given the size of the garment parts of it could easily be used to make something for any of the party members while trimming out some of the worst worn areas.
Maka stayed near the back of the group, hands aflame and alert for any threats. Smoke still billowed from her mouth due to the frustration of the previous encounter. The fire monk didn't appreciate tricks, and she'd had enough of the witches'. Not to mention her flames had almost been a hindrance so far. With creatures being immune to it or not being sure if she could blast someone. A sudden thought came to Maka.
"Hey Tez, you can make magic stuff right? Could you make something so my fire doesn't hurt people as much? Like I could just knock them would with my fire? Oh! And could you make something so my fire could hurt things that fire doesn't hurt?"
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"Saki, I'm a witch, and last I checked, I'm clean."Sakitu looks at Selena with a blank look, "And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
Quasit seems bemused and slightly cheered up by this exchange. Then she gives a little sigh and considers Fin's request for a direction.
"You know, it's entirely possible that this locked door wasn't meant to keep people out. It's just as likely it was meant to keep something locked up inside."
"If we're going to leave it, we need to lock it again. Both because we don't want anything escaping and also because we don't want the demon-worshipping centaurs getting in here and swiping our loot while we are exploring the other tunnels." She runs her fingers over the woodwork of the door. "Now that it's open, I think I'm inclined to explore it. This seems like an ideal place to find Chicken-Hut keys. Plus if the poop monster breaks through back there, this would give us another solid door between us and it. The light is strange but not exactly forbidding, in my opinion."
"Do any of you magic types know spells that make things darker, just in case the light turns out to be a problem?"
"...And of course since I had two older brothers, you can guess how many times they thought it would be funny to drop some of those filthy vermin onto me for laughs. What could be more fun than making Mina scream? Maybe she'll wet herself with terror and disgust!"
Tezuz listens quietly taking in the story before responding "No doubt you extracted your revenge on your siblings for the harassment? I do not know this... Mina... as well, but the... Quasit... I know surely would pay the debt back in kind. With interest, of course."
"Saki, I'm a witch, and last I checked, I'm clean. No warts, leprosy, nor diseases...."
Tezuzu chrips teasingly "Frankly, I think I might prefer the company of a wort covered leper to a Jadwiga." despite of the joking sarcasm in his tone there is underlying hint of truth in the harsh emphasis and disdain he places on the word 'Jadwiga'
"I dunno Q...doesn't look inviting that way. Tez, do you think you could do your detect magic thing and see what that bright light might be?"
Tezuz nods to Findurel "It shall be done, but I suppose by the time I am able to sense such magic we would already be quite close to it..." his demeanor furrows a bit before adding "....I think it needs to be mentioned, but when I was inspecting some of those items uncovered in this room I detected the faintest trace of an unfamiliar aura in the direction of the tunnel we came from...that deceitful woman that tried to feign helplessness earlier that escaped likely used magic to do so. We should proceed with the notion that she has informed any foes of our presence or could be tracking us."
"Hey Tez, you can make magic stuff right? Could you make something so my fire doesn't hurt people as much? Like I could just knock them would with my fire? Oh! And could you make something so my fire could hurt things that fire doesn't hurt?"
Tezuzu nods patiently a bit taken aback by Maka's childlike enthusiasm before answering "I am sure with a little communion with the spiritual entities I could devise a solution to a few of your problems. Have you considered converting your ki to something other than fire? It is far easier to transpose elemental energies to a more...useful form.. and to conform to the reality of your environment than to alter the foundation reality itself to suit your own needs."
"....Now that it's open, I think I'm inclined to explore it. This seems like an ideal place to find Chicken-Hut keys. Plus if the poop monster breaks through back there, this would give us another solid door between us and it. The light is strange but not exactly forbidding, in my opinion."
"Do any of you magic types know spells that make things darker, just in case the light turns out to be a problem?"
Tezuzu considers the discussion before adding his own thoughts "Your tactical assessment is sound. I would advise my that my own preference is for exploring the less strange and odious paths first, but I doubt it makes much of a difference in the grand scheme of thing. You are in charge and I do not see many flaws in the your chosen approach." He will then add a further contribution. "I do not typically practice evoking darkness, but I can attune myself to the energies of such magic if you allow me a short period of time to center myself and draw upon the elemental energies of shadows."
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Tezuzu listens quietly taking in the story before responding "No doubt you extracted your revenge on your siblings for the harassment? I do not know this... Mina... as well, but the... Quasit... I know surely would pay the debt back in kind. With interest, of course."
Quasit can't help but grin at this, as if reminded of a delightful party or a first kiss.
"You Surmise Correctly, Feathers." she says with elaborate understatement. She cocks an eyebrow. "Believe it or not, I'm a lot more housebroken these days than I was back then. When we aren't knee-deep in monsters and danger I'll tell you about a few of the lessons I taught those chuckleheads. I was a crazy little b@#+@."
"I do not typically practice evoking darkness, but I can attune myself to the energies of such magic if you allow me a short period of time to center myself and draw upon the elemental energies of shadows."
Quasit nods. "Go for it. It'll give Selena a chance to scrounge up some mildewed witch underpants and dead cockroaches for her collection. Or *maybe* we could use that time to try and identify the scroll and the wand we found? They might be useful. More useful than baby scalps anyway."
She takes a few steps over to Sakitu, and throws an arm jauntily over her fuzzy shoulders. "I know you're worried about that slime cutting off our escape out of here. It goes against our instincts as professionals to leave a danger in our rear. But the way I look at it, there's no path back to safety in here -- if we ran back the way we came, where would we be? On a stone platform half a mile in the air with a vindictive tree lady ready for round two of Riddle-Me-This. And also the way I look at it -- the giants and the demon-worshipping centaurs are the bigger threat, and if they want to sneak up on us from behind, right now they need to fight their way through a poop-slime to do it."
"And I'm betting that whatever Caigrel was, she's no more happy about them being in here than she is about us being in here. Caigrel was left in here by Baba Yaga. Those centaur asshats are Baba Yaga's enemies, which is why they tried to ambush the Hut. And probably also why they're here. So maybe we'll get lucky and they'll bump into each other while Tez meditates or Selena does calculations to determine how many earwigs are in that jar."
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Fin shrugs. "Either way is fine by me...while Tez and Selena do their magic thing, I'll check out the corridor to the east...I won't go far nor wander off, just want to make sure we have nothing near at our back..."
Fin will draw his bow and warily look ahead about 30' down the east passage in his usual style...
Findurel finds another corridor not unlike those they party has gone through. This one seems a good bit longer and straighter than the others they have seen. It seems to go straight for at least as far as he can see.
"Maybe we clear up any business here before going down that way."
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Sakitu giggles quietly when Quasit mentions mildewed witch underpants. She casts a sidelong glace at Selena. Even though she has always asked others to try to be nice, sometimes Sakitu can't help but remember the way that Selena treated the group in the past. Especially when situations are tense. It brings out the worst in her.
She takes a few steps over to Sakitu, and throws an arm jauntily over her fuzzy shoulders. "I know you're worried about that slime cutting off our escape out of here. It goes against our instincts as professionals to leave a danger in our rear. But the way I look at it, there's no path back to safety in here -- if we ran back the way we came, where would we be? On a stone platform half a mile in the air with a vindictive tree lady ready for round two of Riddle-Me-This. And also the way I look at it -- the giants and the demon-worshipping centaurs are the bigger threat, and if they want to sneak up on us from behind, right now they need to fight their way through a poop-slime to do it."
"Ok. I guess that makes sense. But I just don't like it. Why do there have to be all of these monsters anyway? And how do you know that Caigrel was left in here by Baba Yaga?"
She watches Fin move down the east passage and holds her breath waiting for him to return.
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"And how do you know that Caigrel was left in here by Baba Yaga?"
Quasit shrugs. "I guess technically I don't. But a devious beautiful magical maiden running around inside a gigantic Maiden statue? It just seems like she must be part of the package, and Baba Yaga wrapped the package. I think we should assume that anyone we meet up with in here is either a resident placed in here by Baba Yaga to safeguard her keys, or else someone in the Tchotchke party. No one else just wanders in here, thanks to Tree Lady, not to mention the ridiculous climb. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't think I am."
"No one who is wrong, thinks they're wrong. That's part of what makes them wrong. Though, for once, you might be right." Selena couldn't help adding a "Maybe." Then, she segues into "Also, don't worry about the underpants. I'm saving those all for you." Selena remarks as she stuffs some now indistinct fabric into her bag rather suggestively as she smiles at Quasit.
As the group strategies their next actions and what the best use for the previously owned underpants the knocking at the broken door slows and then stops. The tunnels and cavern are left suddenly quiet with only the sound of plant bits tumbling now and then in the spore ridden water.
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Seeing Sakitu's concern on her face as he returns, Fin is touched, smiling as he approaches her. "Saki, thanks for your concern, you are a good friend...but this is what I do. I had a very close call with the satyr and would've died without the help of all of my friends here...but again, it's what I do...and you can't change that. If I die doing it, then at least perhaps I'll die while keeping my friends alive...and I can 'live' with that..."
He looks towards Tez and Q. "Tez can you tell what the bright light down the new tunnel may be? Q, is this the way you want to go? I'll scout ahead, but not too far ahead, if so. I'm tired of this place already and that swampy chamber we left has me smelling like an elk fart...when we make it back to the hut, I'm heading straight to that pond room for a nice long bath..."
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Selena's suggestive smile makes Quasit's head jerk back a little and her face gets a sort of nonplussed look. She glances at Sakitu questioningly, then almost immediately shakes her head and moves on.
Q, is this the way you want to go? I'll scout ahead, but not too far ahead, if so.
"Yup. Once Tez is ready, we all go in together. I don't think scouting is necessary, I suspect opening the door probably announced that we're coming."
"And I have to say, until this moment, I had never really given much thought to whether elks fart or not. You always find a way to broaden my horizons, Fin." She gives a jaunty salute.
As she waits, she thinks out loud.
"That light *is* unusually bright. It must have a purpose. Either something in there really needs a lot of light, like a plant or something, or something beyond the light really hates it."
With Tezuzu ready the group opens the door, greeted by the same bright light and enters.
Tezuzu will draw a small clay jar out of his backpack lighting a small candle and placing it inside the receptacle before quickly covering the top with a cloth marked with a rune in ink smothering the flame. He focuses for a few minuets mumbling the occasional chant in mediation drawing power from the smokey darkness contained in the jar.
He finishes his mediation shortly after Findurel returns. He takes a brief moment to quip as they slowly travel down the tunnel. "You know there is something morbidly thematic about moving towards 'the bright light at the end of a tunnel.'"
He will sense the magical aura of things as they approach. and call upon his knowledge to try and make out whatever the strange light they are approaching is.