Ayodhan also spots the tracks, but interpreting such things are not his forte. "It seems that this is a successful escape tunnel," he surmises. "Perhaps this is way Vesryn's friend came when he escaped. In any event, I take it as a good sign that none of them are leading further inward. I don't like that smell though. It could just be an old tunnel, or it could be that something which eats meat has been using it as a lair."
Raina looks around at the tracks and the possibility of it being an "escape tunnel".
She casts a spell to discern if there are any magical auras in the area.
Guys, if this indeed an "escape tunnel, I am more worried about what used it. You say there hasn't been use for quite some time, but I hope that we won't be looked upon as someone's meal ticket
She loads her sling, and readies it just in case.
Drahzar stops the group as he hears something ahead. It is very feint and sounds like something trying to be stealthy.
"Something is moving towards us slowly, probably trying to sneak up on us. Be ready."
Drahzar will move himself and rex up a few feet, not trying to hide and without his weapon drawn. His hands are open, he is trying to indicate that he doesn't want to fight.
Ayodhan stops as well. He holds his lit holy symbol up higher to project more light down the tunnel. In such a narrow space, more light should hopefully result in less ability to stay hidden. He waits for either Drahzar or the mystery being to act, a spell just on the tip of his mind in case whatever it is wants to fight.
Theodemar will let the party get a little ahead, and try to sneak along behind them, moving as silently as possible. He draws his club, and trys to keep an eye on the party's flank.
Suddenly the area is engulfed in darkness. Even those of you with darkvision are blinded by this obviously magical effect.
How far does the darkness stretch?
Raina blinks a couple times.
What the...Hey, who turned out the lights? I cannot even see the hand in front of my face. Guys, I don't like this
?23+ The assailant closes in on Rex, but fails to harm him even in his blinded state.
Drahzar23-
Raina19
Rex 8 Rex feels ill
Elrindes 13
Round 1, Initiative Count 7
Ayodhan is caught completely off-guard by the sudden darkness. Unsure where everybody is now, friend and foe alike, he does the one thing he knows will be useful. In the darkness he raises his holy symbol, makes a few unseen gestures, and invokes Desna's blessing to aid him and his allies.
Raina, tries her best to think about what could cause this effect. She hopes she recall anything that may be useful.
Hmm, Dark Folk. I doubt they will 'talk it out'
Guys, the enemy or enemies may be dark folk. The use this tactic to confuse and surround their enemy. There is nit much I can do I am afraid. If this doesnt work, I suggest we regroup outside the darkness
Raina, grabs a live firefly from her pouch. She tosses it in the air, after reciting a few arcane words. She hopes it will help illuminate the darkness surrounding them.
Its hard to tell how far the darkness spreads since you can not see beyond it
Round 1
?23+ 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 The assailant closes in on Rex, but fails to harm him even in his blinded state.
Drahzar23-
Raina 19 Casts light, but it fails to counter the darkness effect, it does however remain and allow some faint level of light around Raina's immediate area.
Rex 8 Rex feels ill He loses 1d2 ⇒ 1 Str temporarily
Elrindes 13
Theodemar7
Theodemar, eyes wide, casts a defensive spell. He looks around, and tries to get his bearings.
Drahzar moves forward, one hand on his sword the other on the wall. He will slash at anyone who attacks him.
even in his weakened state, rex is not defenseless. He lashes out to try to bite whatever is attacking him.
Round 1
?23+ 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 The assailant closes in on Rex, but fails to harm him even in his blinded state.
Drahzar23- Trys to slash in the darkness and misses
Raina 19 Casts light, but it fails to counter the darkness effect, it does however remain and allow some faint level of light around Raina's immediate area.
Rex 8 Rex feels ill He loses 1d2 ⇒ 1 Str temporarily. Trys to bite into the darkness and misses
Elrindes 13
Theodemar7 Casts a spell of defense
Ayodhan 7 Casts blessing
Round 2
Dark Folk? 23+ Rex takes one hit from a flurry in the darkness
Drahzar 23-
Raina 19
Rex 8
Elrindes 13
Theodemar7
Ayodhan 7
Round 2, Initiative Count 7
Ayodhan isn't sure what's happening in the darkness. There's the sound of fighting coming from the direction of Drahzar's animal companion at the front, but beyond that he doesn't have much to go on. Relying on nothing more than faith and gut instinct, he draws his bow and tries shooting at where he thinks the space just beyond the dinosaur is down the tunnel.
Elrinides Casts Shield on himself and activates his spell dance and then moves forward drawing his Elven Curve Blade trying to read the situation.
Elrinides moves forward trying to find a target and attacks.
Round 2
Dark Folk? 23+ 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Rex takes one hit from a flurry in the darkness 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Drahzar 23-
Raina 19
Rex 8
Elrindes 13 Elrindes moves past Rex, but is not able to hit what is attacking him.
Theodemar7
Ayodhan 7 Hits something in the darkness with a bit of luck. The sound it makes doesn't sound like a party member.
Round 2
Theodemar casts one more spell, charging his hands with electricity. He holds the spell in his hand, lightning arcing from finger to finger.
"Does anyone see anything?" He whispers urgently.
Raina grabs her sling, and readies a bullet in the off chance she sees the enemy.
Dark Folk? 23+ 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Rex takes one hit from a flurry in the darkness 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Drahzar 23-
Raina 19 Readies a bullet in a sling
Rex 8
Elrindes 13 1d100 ⇒ 1 Elrindes moves past Rex, but is not able to hit what is attacking him.
Theodemar7 Charges his hand with lightning asking if anyone sees anything.
Ayodhan 7 1d100 ⇒ 100 Hits something in the darkness with a bit of luck. The sound it makes doesn't sound like a party member.
After a moment of poking and casting spells in complete darkness the magic fades and there is nothing there. What ever is in control of the old Pirate keep, it seems to have powerful scouts.
Ayodhan is surprised by the sudden disappearance of the darkness. He's still not entirely clear on what happened while he couldn't see. "Is anyone too hurt to press on?" he asks. "Clearly this place is not completely abandoned, but it remains to be seen whether the current inhabitants moved in when the pirates moved out. I, for one, still think its worth learning more, despite the risks." As he speaks he looks around for signs of corpses or tracks that might suggest whether their unseen adversaries were defeated or retreated.
Dark folk, is that what you called them Raina? What are we dealing with here?
I don't remember much about what they are. I just remember reading briefly about them back...home, the last word is choked on.
Dark folk are usually very unfriendly and hostile. They are called Dark Folk, because they dwell in the dark and deep underground and hate the light. That is about all I can recall. Maybe this old keep has a library I could reference fir greater wealth
"Let us press on then. Perhaps someone else should take the lead? Rex took the worst of that attack."
The tunnel is still dark despite the lack of magical darkness.
Ayodhan takes a moment to refresh the [/i]light[/i] spell on his holy symbol, just to make sure it lasts as long as it needs to.
"I can help with Rex's injuries," says Ayodhan, moving closer. Just in case anyone else was injured and isn't speaking up, he starts with a little channeled divine energy from his holy symbol to cover everyone, then follows up with a few taps on Rex with the wand he won back in the contests in El.
"While taking a moment to think about it, is it perhaps enough to know that the place is, in fact, occupied? Even if it is just squatters, a fortress would still be fairly difficult to take if they know we're coming. While we have a suspicion of dark folk, the fact that they withdrew suggests they're not simply hunting or defending their own turf, but might well be working for something which has earned or forced their allegiance."
Yes, but even if they know we are coming or let alone here, whose to say they will not block our escape? Also, do we have enough of a force to combat and fight back whomever or whatever force lies within the fortress? Pressing on is probably futile, but so could going back be futile?
"I agree. We should be careful if we continue, but I believe retreat is the prudent course of action."
"Shall we go straight back to the city? The staff I was given will take us directly there."
I believe Our mission was to go out and gather information. We investigated two locations for possible homes for our people. One of them we would have to share... and the other would involve fighting what we assume are darklings. Lets use your staff to go report what we know.
"We had also wanted to check to see if the the tunnels between El and Jolz-Or were still passable as an exit route for our people on the way back," Ayodhan suggests as a reminder. "I think it unlikely that they are blocking our retreat from this place. If they were concerned about leaving survivors, then I doubt they would have withdrawn so quickly. We can always try to leave the normal way first and save the staff for if they seem disinclined to let us simply walk away. I expect we will have a much more difficult time accessing the tunnels from the El side since Hon-Zon's exodus. I have little doubt that the warriors of Kyonin could protect our people during the journey, but it would certainly be better for everyone if they weren't required to put as much effort into it as they would travelling through that forest."