Neltji is not surprised at the reaction from the young woman. After all, she had a tramatic life experience with these caves that has stayed with her all her life and caused her to be alone. In that case then this is where we depart I believe. Out fate and destiny is through the mines. If we ever see you again then I wish you and Jaji well. At least we know a little bit more of what we may face and for that I thank you.
Neltji hitches up her pack and moves to go by her porter Steve.
Nothus says, "We can't leave a hoarde of the dead behind us."
If you go into the mines, I will take the long way around. I will wait at the mine exit for seven days. After 7 days I will know you are dead and move on. May your gods welcome you home.
If we make it though the mines safely then we will be ahead of you. There will be no reason for you to wait for us. It would be better for you to try and catch up along our path if you wish to join us.
Before she leaves, Athyra turns to you and says, Yes, I will follow. It will be nice for Jaji and I to have company. She gives an odd smile that you can't tell is one of hope or skepticism. Oh! When you are in there, if you find anything out about my father, please let me know. He also had a silver locket with a picture inside that I would like to have. Best of luck to you all.
Appreciating the request and what it means Neltji agrees whole heartedly. Definitely I will keep an eye out for the locket. What was your father’s and mother’s name? I have heard that some undead have vague traces of who they were still imprinted in their being. It is possible this is the case.
Neltji will also get a description of her father and mother in case there is still any resemblance as an undead.
Cevill watches the exchange with great interest wondering what his tomorrow will bring.
Athyra smiles at Neltji, His name was Bran and her name was Sansa. I hope they are not among the undead. That thought makes me sad.
The sagging and overgrown remains of a small camp mark the site of the old mine, its gaping entrance visible in the hillside behind the camp.
The mining camp is abandoned, and consists of a large barracks and meeting house, an operations office, two storage buildings, and a small house for the mine owner and his family.
Ndombe will throw up detect magic and have a look about.
Nothus whispers, "Seek," and he and his small companion begin to look about for anything out of the ordinary.
There is nothing unusual or magical remaining. While searching the operations office you see a moldering book on a desk.
Neltji pauses a second to identify the mold before approaching the book.
Knowledge nature w guidance
Once it is deemed clear then she will carefully look through it and see what they can discover. Excellent find guys! This might be a journal that will describe what we are facing. Whatever else is to be found is in the mine itself. Do we want to take a look?
I have prepared 2 castings of mage armor if someone else would benefit from some extra protection as we explore the mine.
Nothus shrugs, "Anyone have a way to protect the book? Worried it'll fall apart if we touch it." He then shakes his head, "Think my magic armour is more effective."
Ndombe shakes his head, "no, I know little of your books, or how to preserve them."
Nothus takes a moment to look at the book before touching it, Last thing we need is to release a cloud of mould spores...
Neltji thinks contacting the book with skin will give the person some sort of disease from the mold. Therefore using gloves, a rag or a stick, you open the book to the last entries. The last few entries in the logbook are dated 15 years ago and document the mining company’s downfall. The mine’s owner, a man named Feran Crinhouse, was looking for new salt deposits and decided to secretly try connecting his mine with another mine on the far side of the hills, abandoned earlier under mysterious circumstances and rumored to be haunted. Just as the miners broke through to the abandoned mine, they unearthed a strange orb that glowed with a pulsing blue light. Crinhouse decided to go down into the mine to personally investigate. The final entry is in a different handwriting, and reads, “They’ve come up from below! They’re all dead, and their touch withers the flesh! May the gods have mercy on us!”
Nothus shakes his head, "Trust a businessman to ignore common sense and unearth ancient evils in search of coin."
The wooden beams supporting the mine’s main entrance are weathered and sagging. Water trickles down the sloping floor among the wooden footholds leading down the main shaft.
Inside the mine, the tunnels are pitch black. The walls of the mine are carved from gray rock salt, and most of the tunnels and chambers in the mine are flooded with water, ranging in depth from knee-deep to shoulder-deep. Narrow walkways connected by rickety wooden bridges run along the walls in most of the rooms and passages.
Neltji casts mage armor on herself as they enter the mine. Once it gets too dark to see she then casts light on the weapon of whomever is in front. She herself is in the middle of the group for protection. Anyone know what the book may be referencing in regards to a withering touch?
knowledge religion w guidance
Ndombe will cast light on his weapon as he takes the lead into the mine.
A salt wight? So the important thing is not to let it touch us and for us not to get surrounded. Do you think fire works against them?
If the group is able to walk side by side she will keep Steve beside for mutual protection.
Nothus taps the end of his staff, causing it to begin to shed a light. He then wonders, "If not that, maybe water?"
"If it drains water from its victim, I doubt splashing it with more water would be harmful."
Maybe not but perhaps water could be used as a lure or distraction if needed.
Neltji continues onward slowly picking her way though the mine with the others keeping alert for any strange sounds that might indicate something approaching.
Perception
Nothus shrugs, "Just have memories of squeezing my arm to explode mosquitoes, thought it might work here, too. But I know nothing about the undead, other than them being unnatural."
The wooden beams supporting the mine’s main entrance are weathered and sagging. Water trickles down the sloping floor among the wooden footholds leading down the main shaft.
Inside the mine, the tunnels are pitch black. The walls of the mine are carved from gray rock salt, and most of the tunnels and chambers in the mine are flooded with water, ranging in depth from knee-deep to shoulder-deep. Narrow walkways connected by rickety wooden bridges run along the walls in most of the rooms and passages.
As you walk around one of these puddles of water, a clear ooze rises from it!
Know engineering worried about cave in
Know dungeoneering ooze special defenses or attacks
Seeing the ooze creature rise up in front of them Neltji calls out for everyone to be aware as well. She hexes it with an evil eye hoping to make it shuffle away from its own attacks before moving 30ft away from it and giving Blackleaf a place to attack from
Evil eye to hit DC 16 will
Fall back if we have to and attack it at range!
If Neltji does understand that then she will use misfortune (will save DC 18) on it and cackle to extend the effect.
Nothus eyes the thing, "Can we actually hurt it with claws and weapons?"
Neltji knows that her evil eye won't work on the ooze so she hexes it instead. She also knows it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. It is immune to cold and fire.
Neltji casts misfortune.
Not wanting to risk his companion, Nothus holds Blackleaf back, taking a moment to watch the ooze and its movements before swinging his staff.
for
Ndombe stabs at the ooze with his trident...
Melee
Nothus and Ndombe both strike the ooze.
The ooze tries to strike Ndombe.
+
.
It will attempt to grapple him.
Ndombe is grappled.
Woot!
Ndombe will attack again...
Melee
Neltji will continue to cackle madly at the ooze hoping that it will start to realize the helplessness of itself even though it doesn't understand anything else. She will then give guidance to Nothus.
Neltji keeps the misfortune going and gives guidance to Nothus.
Cevill will 5ft back and inspire the group.
Ndombe stabs the ooze with his trident.
Cevill inspires the group!
Seeing the ooze start to wrap itself around Ndombe, Nothus calls for Blackleaf to attack before bringing his staff to bear.
for
for
for