"Hmm. This is Sylvan, here."
Isaac studies the graffiti on the wall.
Justin follows the others in after it has been declared 'safe', and examines the scribbles on the wall with Isaac.
"You can read that? Impressive. I can see a few symbols that bear a passing semblance to fey script, but that's about all."
"The shape and formation of the cave appears to be man-made, an old mine entrance perhaps?" Justin muses aloud, looking towards the back of the cave as Isaac ponders the scribbles on the walls.
"These walls aren't stone. More like wood, if you ask me."
perception
Ekuur looks around, but notices nothing that the others hadn't already. "Yes, it would appear that we are not the first to desire this place as camp."
"Hmm. This is Sylvan, here."
Isaac studies the graffiti on the wall.
"Really? Hmmm. What does it say?"
1d20+8
"These walls aren't stone. More like wood, if you ask me."
They are stone, but it is as if the stone has been corroded. In some places you can literaly put your hand right into the wall, it just crumbles away at the touch, like punky wood.
"Hmm. This is Sylvan, here."
Isaac studies the graffiti on the wall.
"Really? Hmmm. What does it say?"
Issac & Nari:
Brandlebones can't expand past 5 feet
Ventletrit is a kobold
Your mom sucks dwarves' picks for fun
Frezzleskrett was here
Bethany follows the others into the cave, but it's easy to see that she doesn't feel comfortable in there and hangs back close to the entrance. She's quite happy to let them look around in there and while they do that she keeps a lookout outside.
Perception Check:
"Heh. Spriggans, I'd guess. What d'ye say, cutters? Camp in the tunnel or out in the open? Think it'll hold up over Antipeak?"
Nari put her hand over her mouth to stifle the giggle as she read some of the more colorful entries.
Justin curiously pokes at the walls with a long forefinger, raising his eyebrow at the walls response.
"Hm. I'm no architect. Your guess is as good as mine here. I'd prefer to shelter in the cave, but maybe not too far back, just in case, hmm?" He adds with a half-grin.
After looking about, the party begins to settle into the large cave mouth. Justin peeks towards the back of the cave as the others dig out one of the old firepits by the cave's entrance.
The back of the cave narrows, and what looks to be an old mineshaft descends into the darkness from the rear wall. This far back into the cave it is hard to see anything, but the tunnel is obviously artificial and leads down into the mountain.
The light outside fades, a strange glow where there is no sun to cast shadows. Much like Sigil, but on a much grander scale. The party can glimpse the far-distant Spire from the cave entrance, the tiny ring of Sigil a small bulge at the very tip. The noxious valley they ported into lies below them, a raw and ugly scar between two peaks.
The trail the khaasta took winds down the other side of the saddle pass. There are more mountains and valleys in the distance, marching off to the horizon like a frozen giant stormy sea of granite and feldspar. A few cat screams and other night sounds begin to echo about the cliffs.
The firepit is easily cleaned out, and there are several downed trees and a small pile of charcoal nearby for firewood. Soon a crackling fire is laid, and Tiandra begins to cook a stew of dried meat and some vegetables.
"I think we should be on our guard in this place," She says. "should we do three guard shifts?"
"Wow look at all these books Olli!" Karrin says looking around the library, "have you read them all? I bet there's some good ones. There were lots of books back home, well obviously not as many as are here, but we had a room full . . . with shelves and stuff, and some of those books were real neat. We had some story books, I read them all, that's hwo I learned about the world you see, but most of the books were about religion and stuff. I read some of them as well but Quinton always said I didn't get the meaning cuz I wasn't supposed to take the meaning as literal or something like that. Also some history books. I read a lot of great things but I'll bet that if I started today and read one book every day I'd never ever finish reading all these books in my lifetime . . . even if I skipped the boring or stupid ones!"
Karrin laughs but then remembers that it's a library and lowers her voice.
"Anyways," she says leaning closer to her box like friend, "I'm here on official business, Renkar needs some stuff researched, some old temple or something, and I'm thinking that cuz this is official business it's a paying job!"
Karrin clamps her hand over her mouth as people shush her.
"Sorry," she whispers, "this is kinda like when the monks were doing their week of silence and they couldn't talk. I had to keep all those words bottled up inside me. I wasn't made to take the vow or anything but I didn't want to talk if father and the others couldn't you know. So I only talked to the animals. But of course my voice has a tendency to carry and I've been known to run on a bit with my talking and stuff so on more then one occasion the barn door would slam open and I'd realize that I'd had a forty minute conversation with the horse. It wouldn't have been so bad if I'd been able to keep things down I guess, but as a growing girl who was always making new discoveries I needed to share with someone . . ."
"Oh!" Karrin says as a new train of thought jumps into her head, and her hands quickly clamp over her disobedient mouth, "sorry everyone."
"What I was thinking was maybe, if you have the time, perhaps you could look into this axe again, I know you tried once, but I got some new leads, possibly . . ."
"I think we should be on our guard in this place," She says. "should we do three guard shifts?"
"I agree Tiandra. I shall be happy to take either the first or the last shift. I need to spend a little quality time with my tome anyway." Justin offers with a half-grin.
His grin fades as another feline scream echoes over their camping spot. Justin glances out the cave entrance. After a moment he relaxes again and turns back to the others.
"So, I saw what looked like the entrance to a mineshaft a little farther back there," He says, pointing farther into the cave.
"Anybody here ever do much spelunking? I want to surmise that's it's an old mine entrance, but don't really have enough experience to tell with any great certainty. ANYway, I thought I might take a look before we turn in?" He offers/asks the group at large.
"I'll take second watch."
lots of stuff
lots of stuff
"I don't mind taking a watch" Merle says from where she is lying "I haven't used any magic today so it's not like I have to rest to get it back. Plus Seph can help me with it as well."
"I would prefer to take either first or last watch. I am not at all particular about which."
"Okay then me Nari and Seph can take last watch then?"
Bethnay is not entirely happy about camping in the cave, but at least it's at the mouth which is open.
"I would prefer to take the first watch and I would prefer to take it with Drazek. That way I can get uninterrupted sleep. I do so detest having to wake up in the middle of the night." "Well, unless it's for something important," she says quietly with a knowing wink at Drazek.
Drazek grins at Bethany.
"First watch's covered," he says to the others in a matter of fact tone.
First: Bethany, Drazek, Justin
Second: Swire, Issac, Karrin, Ekuur
Third: Nari, Seph, Merle, Tiandra
After a decent bowl of field stew the group settles in the old mine entrance. The night is dark, there are no stars, no moon. Unlike the Cage there is no fog to hide the disconcerting sky. The darkness past their fire is absolute.
The first watch goes calmly. Justin studies as Drazek and Bethany get cozy just outside the cave entrance. They awaken Swire, Issac Karrin and Ekuur at the end of the watch. The second shift get comfortable and start looking about.
The first hour goes quiet enough, save for occasional cat scream or wolf howl from far off. Then ..
Swire draws a knife. Puts it back. Draws another knife. Puts it back. Draws...
Perception:
perception
Ekuur is more tired than usual this watch, and finds himself fighting to stay awake.
Perception: 1d20+14
1d20-1
Perception: 1d20+14** spoiler omitted **
Knowledge (Dungeoneering):
Isaac turns toward the rear of the cave, pulling his greatsword from his back and standing with the frost-rimed weapon at the ready.
"Oi, we got company cutters. An' I ken it ain't friendly...", he whispers hoarsely.
1d20-1
Swire silently slips his stiletto back in it's sheathe and stands up, rapier at the ready.
Karrin moves over to Nari and Merle, her axe at the ready, "you guys should probably be awake for this," Karrin whispers while nudging them with her foot, "we might have trouble."
"Mrreeaa- what?" Merle says mid yawn Getting herself together as fast as she can
Perception: 1d20+14** spoiler omitted **Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20+7
Isaac turns toward the rear of the cave, pulling his greatsword from his back and standing with the frost-rimed weapon at the ready.
"Oi, we got company cutters. An' I ken it ain't friendly...", he whispers hoarsely.
Issac:
Isaac shakes his head, trying to dispel the memories. He whistles sharply to awaken the rest of the crew as he backs toward the cave-mouth, stowing his blade and pulling out his composite shortbow.
"Rust monster, cutters! Get yer ironmongery stowed: bows and spells at the ready!"
Bethany is roused from her sleep and looks very unhappy about the situation. She never the less pulls her Sabre from her Quiver and looks around, wondering what the fuss is about. It's then she hears the starnge sound and Isaac's warning.
"What in the Hells is a Rust Monster?" she asks.
Initiative:
Swire sheathes his rapier and takes out his sap.
Nari sits up and grabs her bow, warily watching to see which direction the target would come from.
Merle gets her trusty wand of lightning bolt ready.
"Rust monster? What is this creature?" asks Ekuur, desperately shaking his head, and angry at himself for not being more aware during watch. Still, heading Isaac's warning, Ekuur readies one of his spells, and yells, "Wait until I cast! Do not close with the creature until after my spell goes off!"
"No worries about that Ekuur," Karrin says as she plants herself between the casters and the adversary, "a rust monster is a beast that likes to eat metal, and most of us fighters have a lot of metal on us. Let's take it out at range if we can."
Karrin casts Kelgore's fire bolt
DC 14 Reflex save for half
Drazek raises his hand ominously, the dark energies swirling around him as the creature makes its way from the back of the cave.
"Damn thing ain't even gonna get a taste."
The scuttling grows louder, as Tiandra throws something into the banked fire. The flames whoosh up, revealing a strange sight in the flickering flames. Three large insectile creatures with long feathery antennae and crustacean-like armor issue from the rear mineshaft. They are quadripedal, and they have a tail with an odd knobbed structure at its end. Their large antennae swish back and forth, cracking the air like oiled bullwhips.