"You have to swim. No one went before because the water is polluted. But there were rumors that people went down there, and now all the expeditions go underneath. Whatever was making the torch has to be down there."
She nods. "I'll stay here. Don't worry, I won't be touching any constructs."
You go into the Foundry, find some rope and tie the arms and legs of the repair drone to its body in such a way that it cannot move.
You all head towards Weeping Pond at the Northwestern part of Torch. Ibuki and Bran lead you there.
Weeping Pond is a small lake with a thin river that rounds down to Crowfeather Palace. The land itself is devoid of plantlife, and looking hard into the murky water, you see no movement. A slight stench of burning chemicals clings to the air and makes your eyes watery.
Derlin swims effortlessly through the pool and follows an underwater passage for about 40 feet before surfacing in an underground cave.
Looking at Derlin "display of skill", Bran shakes his head a little bit. Tourists.... He straps his shield onto his back and dives into the lake.
Bran moves through the water and surfaces a few seconds after Derlin.
The stench of the pond clings to him but he shakes it off.
Dampness hangs in the air of this cave, condensing into heavy moisture on the slick, stone walls. The calm, dark waters wind around to the east up north, along a stony, soot-scarred beach. A five-foot-high ledge sporting several stalagmites rises to the east, beyond which a low-ceilinged cave beckons.
Valtyra follows behind everyone to the pond, lost in thought. When they reach the pond she says, "Swim time!"
Valtyra jumps into the water, or at least what she thinks is water. She plops into shallow mucky mud by the shoreline. Brown stuff clings to her clothing, staining much of her colorful garb.
Of course i believe you Val. Let´s store it in the foundry. Perhaps we can see some clues there, what your father was doing just before he vanished.
After taking his time there, consoling Val some more, Ibuki moves into the polluted water, gritting his teeth.
I don´t like this one bit, who knows what can be catched in that water. Oh and i can´t swim actually! Somebody can help me perhaps?
He looks very unhappy about it.
Best secure me with this rope! You know what happened last time we went swimming Bran! He takes out a rope, ties one end around his hips and hands the other end to Bran.
"EWWWW! I just got this...." She wades forward into the muck.
Val tries to clean off as much as the muck as she can before jumping back into the pond. This time, she makes it to the other side.
The Foundry has a few gadgets in broken states, abandoned by Khonnir before he left to go on the expedition. You recognize most of them. Each one is missing parts, different kinds of guns and other technological gadgets. The smiths that rent the Foundry for use have taken all their projects out.
Ibuki flails about while holding onto the rope. Taking much longer than the others, he finally manages to swim into the underground cave, at the cost of the impure water in his lungs.
"I hate mud..." Val says to no one. She walks next to Derlin looking around the cave.
Shaking the brackish water off a bit, Bran looks around the cave the group found itself in. "So, we now know what Khonnir saw when coming in here. Looks like that cave is the only real place to go forward." Bran says, keeping his voice low, trying to avoid any sort of echo, and pointing out the cave to the east.
Bran unstraps his shield from his back and makes sure the rest of his gear is in place. "We'll probably want to be careful going forward. Anything that survived a brush with Khonnir's group may still be around." He decided on not mentioning the other part of that argument, that anything that may have killed Khonnir's group is also down here. Bran would rather not think of that scenario.
"If some person come to help and they are good, tell them where Burnt One and Adventurers went," Burnt One tells Val as they leave.
Burnt One waits for everyone else to go first, watching the way they paddle. They then wade out into the water. "I have not swimmed before. Good luck to Burnt One."
Unfortunately, they end up losing their bearings and drifting back to the surface several times before they can finally follow the group. Their affinity for refuse and trash seems to protect them from the water's foulness.
Valtyra touches Derlin's Flachion casting light on it. She then looks at Bran.
"Well theres nothing that can beat us!" she quietly adds, "I hope..."
Valtyra keeps watch around the cave her sight piercing the darkness.
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"Many thanks Lady Valtyra" Derlin says, flashing a genuine yet slightly rogue'ish smile in her direction.
Clutching his now-glowing sword the exotic looking missionary looks at all of new companions before speaking;
"Let us stay close and move forward with eyes open, I will gladly take point. If any of you see anything, please speak up. My eyes have tendency to roam if I'm not fighting or...." he stops himself with a grin before finishing that last bit, his olive skin tinged with blush.
"Sarenrae guide your humble servant through this darkness." Derlin says a'loud as the company of misfits set forth.
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Yvell approaches from the back of Auehda and Ibuki with a sigh, his blade upon his back and scale mail glistening the Half-Elf seemed slightly annoyed. " Ah, so you are the Burnt One.. And I assume one of the others that took on this missing persons case? I arrived at Val's not long ago an she imparted upon me some take of your heroics. It seems the buffoon Derlin is among you from her representation as well. But let me not be too rude.. I am Yvell, Yvell Endymion a devout follower of Ragathiel, one who sees you might need some assistance? " pointing towards their current situation
Burnt One nods enthusiastically. "I'm Burnt One! That's me! Happy to meet you."
They step aside to let Yvell Endymion pass, then fall in next to Bran.
Before you press on, you hear a chittering, clacking noise. Burrowing out of a hole in the ground, you see five, housecat-sized beetles with slightly glowing bodies. There are two yellow green dots on the back of their carapaces. They scuttle towards you, pincers clacking together.
1. Derlin, Yvell, Ibuki
2. Beetles
3. Auehda, Bran, Valtyra
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"I wager if we scare them back into their holes they will leave us alone, I imagine they very much see us as invaders to their home..."
the bald archeologist says as he takes off like a mad man towards the nearest beetle. He growls with rage as he strikes at the nearest beetle with his falchion's broad side.
1/3 Destined Strikes spent.
1/6 Bloodrage rounds spent.
15/15 HP, AC 14(Charge,Rage)
Derlin slams the beetle with his falchion, flipping it over with the force. Its small legs stop moving after it is on its back.
Derlin slams the beetle with his falchion, flipping it over with the force. Its small legs stop moving after it is on its back.
Auehda and Derlin do not know what insects these are.
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Yvell snickers, " I'll gladly speak of such with you another time. Our gods do have only one key difference as you will see.... " Rushing towards another beetle his Blade, styled much like a serrated bastard sword swings down upon it's carapace.
Yvell's Blade is deflected as he swings it down at the beetle. It pokes its antennae upward and makes a soft hissing noise.
Valtyra walks up to one of the beetles drawing her mace.
"I HATE BUGS!"
Ibuki raises his hand and releases a ray of crackling electricity at one beetle.
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"I see you got one's attention Yvell!" the charming missionary exclaims. He looks to the one he's incapacitated completely then back to the one hissing in front of the paladin before laughing a deep and genuine belly laugh, as if his slightly stinging gest was all in good fun.
"It is the dust my friend, it blocked your field of vision no doubt." Derlin says, regaining his composure. "May the light of Serenrae guide us all!"he bellows before looking at the paladin, winking. Shrugging, he adds "...the dust, to be sure!", struggling to maintain a straight face.
Ibuki's ray of electricity fires at an angle almost grazing the head of one of the beetles. The beetle clicks its mandibles at him.
Two beetles attack Derlin, the other two attack Yvell.
The beetles pierce into Derlin and Yvell's feet. The pain feels like small daggers. You hear a soft hiss as they drink your blood.
Valtyra walks up to one of the beetles and draws her mace. The insect welcomes her by clicking.
Burnt One pulls out their club and throws it at the beetle that managed to grab Derlin. They call out to the beetle, "Please stop attacking!"
Yvell cursed and looked upon the vermin with disgust. His own failings the reason his blade deflected easily. " I merely humor you, the time for playing is getting short, the bugs here have irritated me enough. " flashing Derlin a devious grin. He notes how the beetle lunged forward and proceeded to swing at it's legs, into the face instead of the back.
" Saranrae can keep her light, I have the flames of Ragathiel guiding me blade "
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Derlin shifts 5 feet to try and flank if possible, or stands where he is if already flanking. He takes a mighty two handed swing at the beetle, snarling as his rage consumes him after taking several sharp bites.
Derlin inhales deeply, trying to reign in his enraged state...you see it takes a great deal of control and the effects continue on for some times.
Rage Rounds used 2/6.
Rage Effect Persist: 2 rounds. (Optimistic Gambler trait)
Destined Strike used: 1/3.
Damage taken: 3 Lethal, 12/15 remain. Will Lose 2 Hp when Rage ends.
I trust in you, my friends, to overcome this vermin challenge.
With clattering teeth he holds his still wet robe tight around him, looking miserable.
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Man, these guys talk too much, especially during a fight. These should be savored, relished...Bran silently smiles a bit before moving into a better position and attempting to squash a bug with his large shield.
Auehda draws upon her druidic empathy and makes a connection with the insects.
The beetle she strikes with her club stops twitching its feet and antennae. It is unconscious.
Yvell tries to strike a beetle again. This time the carapace nearly stops his slash but he presses more force into his attack and pierces through shell. The yellow green goo that remains on his blade glows in the dark like a torch.
Derlin knocks another of the beetles unconscious. He yells at it but the beetle doesn't seem to move.
Bran slams his shield into the beetle and crushes it against the ground. Greenish ichor stains the front of his shield, providing him with light.
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"Is anyone hurt? Shall we move on my friends?" the exotic missionary asks aloud.
Slowly, Derlin calms from his rage. "I only got a lil scratch, just need a moment to catch my breath. [b]"My temper sometimes gets the better of me."
3 Lethal
Current HP 10/13
7 rounds of Rage remain
2 Destined Strikes remain
Much like swimming, climbin is not my thing. I don´t really like water better though.
Frwoning Ibuki looks around between the two pathways, finally shrugging.
Guess one is much the same as the other. We can climb for a diversion now.
He holds out the wet rope to Derlin.
Yvell draws his blade back and sighs, nodding to the idea of climbing. " While requiring a little more set-up, the rope will be better for the less... physically gifted among us. " Finally sheathing it and positioning to assist the act.
"I would rather climb." Valtyra says looking at her ruined clothes. "Plus you never know what can be lurking in the water."
With the help of the rope, climbing up the ledge becomes easy.
A collection of stalactites and stalagmites choke this low-ceilinged cavern, making it difficult to squeeze between them. Matching stalactites close in from the five-foot-high ceiling, giving the impression of a maw of needlelike teeth bearing down on one another. A dead half-orc sprawls on the ground near the cave's eastern entrance.
Bran lifts himself up onto the ledge with the rock and notices the body. "She looks familiar but can't really place her. Probably part of the expedition though. So, at least we know we're going in the right direction." Bran says with a little dry humor, "Can anyone tell how she died?"
Bran moves over to the body, taking stock of anything she might have on her. While he didn't exactly agree with disturbing the dead, it would tell them if she died while the rest of the group was in a hurry.
Yvell tries to ascertain what this pitiable corpse could have been
" She was that woman.. Garr. seemed she met a sad end.. joined the.. second expedition? Surely she will be missed, Perhaps we will take he body back for proper burial later. "
Judging by that blood and the stabs in her back, i would say she has been stabbed in the back by someone or something. Rather short blade, a dagger or short sword. Doesn´t look like much of a fight there. We should keep our eyes open in all directions. Perhaps we get someone stronger at the end and the front of our little expedition eh?
Also:
Any gear, belongings or other signs of something?
Ibuki searches the body and looks around for some tracks.