Daresay this Parda came from west, then was ambushed and the rest moved east. Several of them. Wanna go west or east?
All of you have to duck and squeeze as you maneuver through the passageway. The passage is only five feet high, and the "forest" of stalactites and stalagmites, gives you little room to move.
After about twenty feet, there is another cave.
A dark cavern opens up here, its twenty-foot- high ceiling thick with stalactites. A rocky shore overlooks a placid pool and stream, fed by a trickle of water leaking from a narrow fissure to the north. A small garden of toadstools and dark mold grows along the banks.
A small creature with white skin and webbed claws and feet stares at you with glowing white eyes by the banks. It is about four feet tall and wearing a leather hood over its head. A scribbled marking is written on the hood.
It croaks softly, almost invitingly.
Valtyra looks at the creature. "What on earth are you?" She askes softly. She moves closer to about 10 feet away.
"Poor bugs hungry," Burnt One says, picking up their club. They look back at the beetles, then begin to climb. "Oh well."
Burnt One walks up next to Valtyra and tries to imitate the creature's croaking sounds. "How fix the torch, do you know?"
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Derlin whispers to Auehda
Derlin looks at the others, "I don't know what that thing is. It has some sort of scrawling on it's cloak...want me to try and scare it off?" the missionary asks all involved.
"Thank's Derlin Froak. That is good."
Carefull. The writing on the hood says "pet", so it must belong to someone probably. Not sure if it can speak.
Hello little friend! You alone here? This your garden? Or you have a master? We are your friends!
Ibuki holds out a probably still slighlty wet and now odd tasting sweet he conjured out of his robes.
Yvell grips his weapon tight, he didn't like the looks of the creature.. considering the deceased half-orc from before, something told him they might be related to those who killed her. And if anything, His god was one of Justice and vengeance when need be. " If THAT is the pet... I wonder where the MASTER is hidden. "
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"How interesting. I believe we're exploring something's home. Maybe many something's, yes? Let us still our blades and sharpen our wits. Perhaps the fatal flaw of our predecessors was to treat this like a place to be plundered instead of an underground world where diplomacy and honest talk may still hold some sway." the olive skinned missionary adds to Yvell's musings. Derlin still holds his glowing sword firmly, knowing there is wisdom in caution.
"Yes. No kill until it's bad for sure."
Burnt One looks around the new cave, though they still sense Valtyra's caution and stay away from the creature.
Yvell scoths at Derlin's act of peace, he was clearly a devout worshiper of Sarenrae on another level. Shouldering the symbol of his own Lord, Yvell commented thusly, " It goes without saying that every place has an owner or those who lie there. But your diplomatic approach only works if said creatures are as well, along with understanding their language. Otherwise you should never give them a moment to take advantage of. No matter what, remember we have a mission and that mission requires we travel here. I am fine with the attempt just be prepared for failure in that regard. "
Bran pulls a dagger from his belt, hiding the action behind his shield. He looks around as well, saying "Here's to hoping it's alone...."
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Derlin waits, seeing what effects Ibuki's peace offerings have on the creature. His muscles tighten and he looks ready to leap should things go south. "It appears Ibuki can at least read whatever language that is, it seems Mother Flame has granted us a translator at a most fortunate time. I believe the real threat lies beyond this pet, perhaps not though. Any man who says he's never been wrong is a liar. Let us be prepared for whatever may come."
The frog thing's glowing eyes begin to flash brighter and brighter, until an explosive blinding light emits from them into the cave.
1. Frog
2. Everyone
The frog hops next to Derlin and Bran and tries to bite the brawler.
Sinking its teeth into Bran's leg, the frog thing draws blood.
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Yvell puts his blade in front of his eyes to attempt to shield it from the light.
" The creature attacked first, therefore it has made it's decision "
After reflecting a nice portion of light away to give him sight once again, Yvell positions himself behind the creature. As to force it to choose where its eyes flash once more. He then swings towards it's head with wicked arch.
The Frog snaps at Yvell as he passes but the Paladin knocks aside his face with his blade. Afterwards, the Frog ducks beneath Yvell's swing. The Frog's croak becomes louder and echoes in the small cavern.
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Burnt One hisses as the light fills their eyes. They shake their head, squinting, and yell, "Blaze flash! Eyes see ash! Hah!" With a small pop, a dazzling pattern of flame flutters in front of the frog creature.
Burnt One then runs into the water behind the croaker, hoping to disorient it further.
The Frog stares directly at Auehda's magic but does not seem phased. It tilts its head and sticks out its tongue at the half orc, as though saying, my eyes shine brighter than that.
Auehda splashes into the water and feels something touching them. A half eaten body bobs out of the pond, its face and dead eyes stare at her.
Valtyra steps up and swings her mace.
"What is this thing and what was that?"
"Bluh, trash," Burnt One growls, seemingly addressing both the frog creature and the body. "Croaker, you are very bad."
Bran tries to shield his eyes from the blast but all he can see is a bunch of bright lights followed by darkness. Bran feels, but doesn't see the creature bite him. He grunts a bit, the dagger like teeth not hurting too much. He tries to take a defensive position and hisses at Derlin, "Next time, we don't need to take as many precautions. Bashing the thing up side the head and asking it questions when...if it wakes up will do fine."
Valtyra swings at the Frog but miss. The light was disorienting to say the least.
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Shrugging off the light Derlin enrages and takes a massive 2-Handed swing with his curved blade. As his blade turns to the side at the moment of impact he fills the cavern with an inhuman roar.
"Aye, it showed agression now we show it it's place. It's somethings guard dog ha ha ha!" the missionary bellows laughter as his blade impacts the frog-monster with a sickening thunk!
Bloodraging 6/9 Remaining
12/15 HP Remaining.
Destined Strike 2/3 Remaining
"Shall we tie the pet up and drag it with us til we find it's master, perhaps to use as a bargaining chip and to show it that we are here to find our missing friend - not kill their pets? If it must die I won't argue against it, but, must it die? Derlin poses the question to all gathered, breathing heavily as he tries to tame his rage. Veins bulge on his forehead, and you can easily read he wants to cut the beast open from navel to throat - spilling it's entrails all over this dank cavern floor. His religion and self control are all that seem to restrain the monster inside.
Derlin's blade leaves a large welt on the Frog's face. It bellows a distorted ribbit. With its pustule dotted tongue, the creature wipes its wound and the side of its face.
The Frog tries to bite and claw at Bran.
The amphibian monster digs its claw into Bran's leg. With a quick flick of its tongue, it slurps up his blood.
Yvell blocks the creatures eyes once again with his blade
He then times his slash as it attacks Bran, seeking to cut deep into it's hind legs.
Valtyra Moves to flank her ally swinging her mace at the frog.
The Frog grabs Valtyra's mace as she swings it with its webbed claw, and stares at her menacingly with its bright glowing eyes, before it releases the aasimar's weapon. You are next, it seems to say.
Derlin knocks the Frog unconscious with the flat of his blade. It crumples to the floor in a heap of wet bruised flesh. A bulge grows and shrinks at its throat in its state of forced sleep. Its eyes are closed, no longer offering any added illumination in the dark cave.
"What is it and why did it attack?" Val asks everyone. [b]" You said it was someones pet?"[b] She adds to Ibuki. Val moves closer to the creature inspecting it.
It doesn't seem to be bleeding out. The Frog is just unconscious.
Auehda is splashing in the water to the north near a half-eaten body. The water passageway to the North looks like it heads back to the cave entrance. There is also a passage South.
Burnt One jumps back out of the water and pulls the half-corpse onto shore. "Who this one?" In the light of Derlin's sword they keep an eye out for any more pieces bobbing in the pool.
Yvell huffs tempted to chop its head off right then and there but kept himself composed. He kept his blade out however and was very keen on looking around.
" Another unfortunate soul for sure, Do we kill this creature Or...? " He posed to the rest.
"Kill for sure like Burnt One said. Croak hurt Bran."
Burnt One shows the symbol to Valtyra. "Valtyra seems like priest. What is?"
Then to the rest of the party, they point to the thug's face and clothing. "Burnt One saw guy at junkyard. Guy stole-sold but not good at it. He has money and potions still."
Yvell quirked and brow and examined the symbol
" So we have a Dead half-orc that people loved... and a thief.. what were they doing down here? "
"Well this is just great. Can't *%$& see anything." Bran says, having hoped that blinding would be short lived. "I'm probably pretty much useless until this stuff goes away...Someone want to help me through these caves? Also, could probably use some healing if someone has a potion...or something."
Burnt One shrugs - they don't remember why Khonnir Baine's group came down here, much less why a thief would. Instead of pondering on that, they kneel down in front of Bran and whisper something to his feet.
Bran's blood around the site of his wounds quickly congeals. At those points, his skin briefly flashes red, and there is no trace of scarring. "There Bran, feel better?"
" Whats this now, your saying the creature blinded you? Well if need be I could help you along, or you could always follow the voice of the loud Sarenite. " Yvell placing his hand on Bran's shoulder " That way you wont be too far from the action ofcourse. "
As Yvell looks at his options for travel, he hears a faint slushing noise and ripples on the water.
Yvell turns his eyes and body in that direction, his combat training a font of information in the current light. Almost only a whisper to those lose he comments " Stay sharp.. I hear something " he focused a bit harder to note if he could determine more.
Yvell recoils in disgust, sheathing his fine blade and pulling the shield from his back, strapping it on. " Burnt One, It seems those bodies weren't only eaten by the Croaker, We've got company, Everyone ready yourselves " Yvell revealing the fact that three formless masses were heading the party's direction