Our intrepid group of adventurers set out to find out how the goblins came across fireworks. Then stop them from attacking people on the roads.
They made a deal with the goblins to set up a new leader. They also agreed to find where the bony men were coming from. Being guided by a friendly goblin named Runt they were lead to a wrecked ship. That seems to be the source of the skeletons. Those skeletons were dispatched, and the group discovered that this was a ship from the Kaijitsu fleet.
Continuing to explore they found a cave, and entered avoiding the nettles hanging across the entrance. Runt refused to enter the cave with the group, and will wait. At the moment they are standing at the back of a room with a giant spider. The Terrant brothers are currently discussing attacking the spider.
Derric shook his head and said, "I think we should conserve our strength and deal with the bony men first. If the spider comes after us, then we will deal with it."
Still, the kitsune swordsman kept his katana at ready just in case the group decided to attack the spider.
"Agreed. There is little reason to pick a fight with an animal if it's not attacking us as well. The undead are far more of a threat."
Leo shrugs. "Are spiders opportunists? Like, will it come after us if it hears a fight somewhere else in the caves? I don't really know about them that much."
"Maybe it's afraid of them? It's usual hunting tools don't really work on the skeleton I think." Kiko still clung to the back. While she wasn't afraid of the giant arachnid she wasn't a fan either.
Jayna casts Mage Armor on herself as she enters the cave. "Let's not attack it if we can help it. Let's try to move on."
The majority of the group decided not attack the spider. They carefully back out of the room the way they came in. The spider was so busy with his meal he didn't notice the group slipping away. Moving further into the cave, the group comes to a cavern with a pool.
These brackish waters remain behind from periodic storms and floods, slowly seeping into the rock. there water here is 3 feet deep at its deepest point, but the rock floor beneath the water is slippery.
The group has has a choice of going west down a smaller hallway or continuing south through the main cavern.
"Since I'm in armor, I'll just say that slippery rocks are not my thing."
"Hmmm, I might be able to shift the rock enough to make an easier to cross path. But moving solid stone is not really my specialty."
Daichi notices that there are small rocks and pebbles all over the floor of the cavern.
Daichi examines the earth near the edge of the pool. "Stand back please." He takes a stance similar to his fighting stance and takes a few deep breaths. Then he shifts his stance forward and slams his foot into the ground, causing the stone at his feet to shift and level out. "That should make it a bit easier to cross, and it should keep our feet a bit drier. There is little else I can do, so I suggest we keep moving." He moves carefully across the new path, maintaining his balance on the still slightly slippery stones.
Damien almost falls, but makes it across okay.
"I do not feel confident in my ability to cross this," says Leo as he stows his shield.
*sploosh*
"I'd like to say I didn't see that coming, but I'm not a liar."
Jayna lands in the first pool right next to Leo. "Good thing I have a spell that will dry us off and warm us up." She climbs out and manages to cross the second time without falling.
Kiko attempts to make the crossing. She is successful on the first crossing, but slips at the last moment on the second crossing.
The group makes it across both pools with only a few wet adventurers. Jayna begins to use her Prestidigitation skill to dry off herself and her friends.
You see a narrow passageway to the west, and the wide room continues on to the south. Which way will you go?
Derric fell into the water the first time, his paw slipping on an algae covered rock, but was able to make the rest of the way without falling back into the water.
"Hm...Its possible that the wider path will take us to the boney men. And I just got this idea: if they are like the skeletons from the boat we fought, then it is possible that they are laying down. So it would make sense that we cut off the heads simultaneously to prevent them from getting up. I'm pretty sure that a spell will do the trick as well."
"I believe that is a reasonable idea. If they are inactive, we should be able to kill at least some of them quickly before they have a chance to react. Let us try the wider path then. Even if it's not the correct path, I am sure that it leads somewhere."
Damien will offer a hand to help his brother climb out.
"Thanks, big brother," says Leo as he lumbers out of the water. "Er, south, right?"
"That's the plan. Shall I scout ahead, or should we simply roll in as a group?"
While the group decides whether or not Damien will move forward to scout, Jayla spends the time using Prestidigitation to dry out Leo's armor and clothing.
"Thanks, Jayna! I thought I was going to have to spend an hour cleaning and oiling my armor later today. This is much better."
"I wish I could do that," Daichi mutters. "It would make doing the laundry so much easier...." He shakes himself. "Never mind, we should get moving. The longer we're here, the more chance there is that the skeletons decide to come find us instead. To the south we go."
Damien will shrug, then go stealthily and move forward.
"Same here. It would make things like drying one's fur much easier. And I agree: the quicker we take these skeletons out, the quicker we can get out of here."
The furry samurai readied his weapon as he went south with the others.
Damien will also check for traps along the way.
"I'll be happy to clean and dry things. This spell is very helpful." Jayna turns her clothing a drab brown and green, and follows the group toward the back.
Damien approaches the large cavern to the south. He finds no traps, but notices several skeletons lying on the ground in different places around the room. They are not moving.
There are two skeletons in the water, and are hard to see.
The skeletons's broken armor is of Tien style.
"I think that we've found the skeletons," Daichi says as he looks around. "And there are two more in the water as well. If we're going to try to slay them before they wake up, I suggest that we do so now. Before they decide that they want to greet us."
Once they were pointed out to him, Damien sorted out their armor.
"Their armor is Tienese in origin! Uh...anyone got a spare mace or something? Otherwise I'm not going to be super useful here."
"I barely carry a dagger," Daichi replies. "My apologies."
"I understand. I'm not the strongest, myself! I prefer the more precise weapons, mostly because I'm useless if I can't put it in exactly the right place."
"I have my warhammer, you can use it if you need to and I can rely on my sword."
"I think it would be far better if you used your warhammer against these abominations, brother. I'll make do. Shall we?"
"Indeed. Everyone pick a skeleton and get ready to crush it. Hopefully we can take care of this without a real fight." Daichi moves over to the edge of the water next to the one near the edge of the water. Once everyone is ready, he raises a large stone and slams it downward, trying to crush the skeleton's head.
If possible, Damien would stealth over to the other one in the water and also attempt a coup de grace...but that's only if they're helpless
Leo, likewise, unlimbers the aforementioned warhammer and brings it down on one of the skeletons.
Derric swung his katana straight down on the head of one of the skeletons, cleaving it down the middle.
"Tien you say? I wonder...."
Kiko just stands by as the others dispatch what seem to be already dead beings. There was very little she could do here she felt as poking a spear between some ribs didn't seem very sensible. Still she stood there, spear at the ready.
"They are probably from the same group as the other skeletons. More of my family's men."