"I think this must be yours," he says, gingerly holding the bag out for her to receive. "Did you still want us to escort you out of this place?" He looks over at the InsaneMan in the first cell. "He's going to need some help. Sol, Eri, can you take them to the front door? We'll wait to give them a really good head start before setting these Shapeshifters loose."
"Wait, what? What do you mean we're turning them loose? What happened to killing them? They'd have done the same to us if the situation were reversed!" Ascaria says as forcefully as he can.
He looks to the party, "What do the rest of you think?"
He looks at the shapeshifters, ”How do we know you’re not going to just backstab us as soon as we turn you loose? Huh? What can you possibly say that will convince us?”
”I hate lifting things!”
”Use your spell! Your spell!!.”
Hold on Mort. I just remembered I hate lifting things. I think I have a spell that will work better. Let me see.”
Eri casts prestidigitation on the mildew to clean it off.
"I think there are two groups here, the two shapeshifters who freed themselves and the other two. The two that keep trying to pick a fight should get what's coming to them, but these two I'm less sure about. They have their stuff locked up and seem to be proper prisoners."
"How do we know you’re not going to just backstab us as soon as we turn you loose? Huh? What can you possibly say that will convince us?"
The old woman turns to the gnome. "We'll leave, without armor, without weapons, and board the first ship bound for Westcrown. From there, we'll keep moving. We'll need to, if you fail to best Telakin. For our survival."
"I think this must be yours..."
The elf stares at the wall a little while longer, then looks up from the floor, cautiously. When her eyes alight upon the leather bag with the gold buckles, they fixate, almost predatorily. She slowly stands, then walks forward, accepting the leather bag. Something in her face changes, as she feels the weight of it.
She sets the bag down, then opens it to rummage through its contents. She moans softly, as she retrieves a locket, which is quickly clutched to her chest. Her down-turned head slowly rises, and the light of the room is easily enough to see the tears streaming down her face. Her fist never leaves her bosom, as if she's worried that at any moment, someone will try to snatch the locket from her possession.
The lady elf steps forward, and sets eyes on the scene unfolding before her. "You spoke of killing them. And yet, you hesitate. You deliberate. If I may...?" She slowly unfolds her hand, then opens the locket. For those of you close enough to see, the locket contains two finely painted portraits- one of the lady before you, another of a male elf. He is thin in the cheekbones, with a pronounced chin, but the artist was able to capture the kindness in his eyes. "This is... was... my betrothed. His name was Kylan, my light. These," she points to the bound two, "...things, took his life, then stole me away, imprisoning me for almost two months. They played with my mind. They brought me Kylan, then took him away, over, and over. They promised me release, then death. When neither came, I lost all hope. Until now."
She keeps her distance, looking at Mortimer, then Eri. "If you are all what you appear to be, and those two are truly my captors, then you must kill them. For me. I come from a wealthy family, and you have my word that you will be amply rewarded for both my return, and for the bounty I now place upon each of their heads. Twelve thousand gold. Each. I only ask that my face is last thing they see before they die."
"I only ask that my face is last thing they see before they die."
Solrisa stands listening and then nods, drawing her long sword.
"Oh, we don't need your money," Solrisa chirps happily. "These have shown to me that they are liars. I do not like liars and tricksters. They have shown no remorse for what they have done to you...much less why they hate Tynan so much. I will do this in the name of the Dragon."
Solrisa doesn't seem to show too much worry as she prepares what must be done.
"Not that I disagree with your intension Solrisa, but I seem to recall the local law being opposed to us acting in such matters without their consent. Looking toward the elf, I can't imagine after hearing your story they would deny you justice."
Solrisa jumps back in surprise. Then her face breaks into a smile.
"Hourpen! When did you get here?" Solrisa asks, her eyes again gliding over the halfling, but happy to see the halfling again after so long. "Oh, I don't believe in the law of this town. They are bad. The Dragon's Law is the higher law."
Solrisa readies her blade, still intent on doing the right thing.
Ascaria hears the woman's story, and swings the other way again. But he knows he's just riding the see-saw at this point. He throws up his hands in frustration and paces as he thinks.
On the one hand, they did wrong by this woman and she deserves her revenge.
On the other, their deaths might result in a loss of our freedoms if we're thrown in jail for it.
On the other, uh, foot, it sounds like she's from a wealthy family, and if wealthy, maybe powerful too.
He looks at the woman,
But on the other, er, first? foot, she might feel her involvement is over with payment.
He listens for Mort and Tynan as he paces, hoping he won't have to make a decision.
"With all of the bodies floating beneath the walkways, who would notice a couple more? They killed me, so I think turnabout is only fair..." Tynan shrugs, and rubs the still sore wound between his shoulderblades.
"I don't trust the locals to treat , uh, the elf, justly. Pardon me, what is your name?" "Yeh, so I also don’t trust them to treat us well, either. That’s what drove me to agree with you, Ascaria. We let them live they come after us or we hand them over and the Establishment sees us as ruining their business and lets them go and then they come after us. Can we just wrap this up, head downstairs and then out of town never to return?”
Her down-turned head slowly rises, and the light of the room is easily enough to see the tears streaming down her face.
Dismayed by the "rain" pouring from the Elf's eyes, Mortimer hesitantly takes a single step toward her looking remorseful. Aw, what did I do now? It's never good when they do that...
She slowly unfolds her hand, then opens the locket.
Whoa! A pendent that opens up! Fascinated, Mortimer gazes upon the images of the Elf and Kylan in the locket, absently rubbing his own chin. What a cool idea!
"They played with my mind. They brought me Kylan, then took him away, over, and over. They promised me release, then death.
They did WHAT?!
The rest of what the Elf says appears lost to Mortimer as he abruptly turns on the Older Woman Shapeshifter, his fist apparently having a mind and moment of its own."Not that I disagree with your intension Solrisa, but I seem to recall the local law being opposed to us acting in such matters without their consent."
"Oh, I don't believe in the law of this town."
"They brought me Kylan, then took him away, over, and over." There is no law in this locality that I recognize either...
Apparently regaining some composure, Mortimer forces the Shapeshifter to its feet. Your life is forfeit no matter where you might run."With all of the bodies floating beneath the walkways, who would notice a couple more? They killed me, so I think turnabout is only fair..."
"They brought me Kylan, then took him away, over, and over." Seriously. That's the most sadistic thing I've ever heard, bastards!
He forces the Shapeshifter to kneel in front of the Elf. "Look at her," he commands the Shapeshifter.
He waits for the inevitable.
The older woman changes, possibly for the last time. Before you now, kneeling, is a young male elf, eerily similar to the elf depicted in the locket. He obeys the giant, looking up into the eyes of the female elf.
"You don't have to do this, you understand. You can be better than them. Murdering me won't bring him back..."
The female elf stares, unbelieving, but she can not bring herself to respond...
Solrisa, unbroken and unmoved by the words of lying and deceitful, grasps her long sword in two hands and coup de jerks the one that touched her bum.
Coup de grace
She will take care of the other one as needed, if needed, if someone else doesn't.
"Oh, that was fun! I do like ridding the world of bad things. I don't like bad people," Sol says cheerfully wiping her blade on the clothes of the dead.
She turns to the elf. "Did you want an escort to the street? Or someplace else?"
The older woman changes, possibly for the last time. Before you now, kneeling, is a young male elf, eerily similar to the elf depicted in the locket. He obeys the giant, looking up into the eyes of the female elf.
I was wrong. THAT'S the most sadistic thing...
He immediately stands and tries to shield the Elf's view of the shapeshifter with his body, holding out his arms in an attempt to be comforting to her.
"I'm sooo sorry -- let's just get you out of here now..."
Solrisa correctly identifies the shapeshifter on its knees as the original assailant. Her sword arcs through the air, rending gristle and bone, and the elf's head falls to the floor, at the feet of the newly-liberated elf, no less. She watches as the face of her betrothed becomes something alien, something dead.
She allows herself to be led a distance from the two corpses, before stopping, and setting her leather bag down. She unclasps her locket's necklace, and dons it. Then she kneels on both legs, examining the contents of the leather bag for a long while. She pulls a periapt from it, and hands it up to Mortimer. "His mother gave this to me. I will be unable to wear it now, for the memory. I want you to have it."
She turns to Eri. "My name is Ilya Starmane, and Barrowood is my home. We had been traveling to Westcrown, when we stopped to resupply in Egorian. I would know each of your names, and where generally you will travel, so I may make payment for your service today." She nods to Solrisa, her executioner. "My family will be indebted to you, and we will be able to locate you as long as you hold onto the periapt. My uncle helped create it, so will be able to locate it."
She will accept your escort as far as the main Riverside street, leaving you to return to Sodden Hold, or wherever your hearts desire.
Ascaira makes introductions all around and tells her of Diamond Lake, their home, and apologizes for, well, the shapeshifters. "They are so bad." he frowns.
"Safe journey Ilya."
When she has left, Ascaria attempts to identify the broach.
"Nice. This makes one immune to disease." he looks to Sol, "Not something we need terribly much I think, but definitely something that can help some poor soul should we decide to sell it."
"Now, let's get the bad guy shall we?" Ascaria moves to the rope. "I plan to use my potion, but I'm a little concerned we don't know where we're going and the potion doesn't last that long."
"Anyone want to swim around a little and see what's up?"
"My family will be indebted to you, and we will be able to locate you as long as you hold onto the periapt. My uncle helped create it, so will be able to locate it."
Solrisa smiles, meaning what she said about doing what she did because it was the right thing to do, rather than for payment.
"My name is Solrisa Iome Arabasti, sister to Raella Grim, and daughter to Mum, Solrisa says offering stoneground hand to shake and a big earnest smile on her lips. "Nice to meet you." Solrisa steps back so that others can make acquaintance. "We may or may not call upon you as we are trying to stop bad dragons and bad worms."
Solrisa offers Ilya a hug after escorting her out.
* * *
The shaft is full of water after about thirty-five feet and a wooden barrel bobs on the surface. A crude rope ladder descends to the surface of the water.
"Eri, look! Time for swimming!" Solrisa says and begins to remove her armor, one clasp at a time. "I'll be ready in a minute! I need to change clothes! Is someone going to scout?"
Solrisa will begin the process of switching over to her leather armor. She will make sure her potion(s) of swimming are nearby.
Tynan nods to the elven woman, as Ascaria introduces him, giving her a look of sympathy for her loss.
****
"Nice. This makes one immune to disease. Not something we need terribly much I think, but definitely something that can help some poor soul should we decide to sell it."
"Didn't she say we should hold onto the periapt, so she can find us in the future? I think selling it would be an insult to she and her family... besides, aren't the worm infestations a kind of disease?"
****
"Before we head down, give me a moment... I think we'll want these."
Tynan moves to the southwestern corners of the walkways, and pulls his rope from his pack. With a thought, it secures itself to a beam, and knots appear at regular intervals. He tosses the free end of the rope over the edge, then quickly climbs down to the water level, fifteen feet below.
Reaching one hand into the water while holding himself steady with the other hand, he retrieves a pair of objects from one of the unfortunates who weren't so lucky against the invisible creatures. Tucking them in his belt, he climbs back up, almost faltering as one of the objects slips, but he manages to hold tight.
With a thought, the rope reverts to normal and coils itself neatly in his hand.
Returning to the group, Tynan presents the recovered objects to Ascaria for examination.
"I caught a glimpse of these earlier while I was scouting the room. I hope they're useful." Tynan holds out a pair of wands, one of them dull gold, and the other appearing to be made of black iron.
Ascaria notes, ”Good find Tynan! The things you notice, I swear.” Ascaria grins.
”Maybe should use your rope for that next bit too. I dunno that I trust theirs, what with all the other traps they’ve had around here.”
He's less sure about the periapt, "Sure, I guess we can hang onto it for a while. I don't think we have to keep it, but yeah, she did say she could scry on us with it."
He checks the wands with the other gear.
A small tidbit, but not one I'd care to overlook- the cell doors you disassembled, the two that imprisoned the shapeshifters, had almost-imperceptible switches on the backs of the metal plates within the cell, allowing them to pop the lock and release themselves.
As the group gathers to look over the rest of the contents brought forth from the two secure chests in the walkway room, Ascaria's detections separate the magical from the non-magical. The chain shirt is elven chain, upon closer inspection. Should clean up nicely.
The two backpacks appear to match somewhat, in their material and crafting. One backpack appears to be dedicated to potions and alchemicals of various kinds, while the second contains various holy symbols, none of them devoted to Asmodeus. Each holy symbol is made of precious metal.
The satchel is a different matter. It is stuffed with extensive paperwork, and yet, its weight is more than one would assess for a satchel of its size. In the interior of the satchel rests a starched white pouch, stitched into the leather of the host luggage, its mouth a metal bar that runs the length of the satchel. Attempts to pull on the metal bar, thus permitting access to the starched bag, are futile.
The satchel's inner white pouch and metal bar detect as magic. Your casual glance is not enough to identify the magics afoot...
Golden Wand - Spiritual Weapon (30 charges)
Black Iron Wand - Cure Moderate Wounds (40 charges)
Potions
Blur- 8
Cat's Grace- 8
Cure Light Wounds- 8
Cure Moderate Wounds- 4
Darkvision- 4
Expeditious Retreat- 8
Invisibility- 8
Spider Climb- 8
Alchemicals
Smelling Salts- 6
Weapon Blanch(Cold Iron)- 6
Antitoxin- 10
Smoke Stick- 8
Tindertwig- 10
Poisons
Blue Whinnis- 2 doses
Dark Reaver Powder- 4 doses
Drow Poison- 6 doses
Oil of Taggit- 2 doses
Holy Symbols
Abadar- 2 golden keys (100gp each)
Abadar- 1 platinum key (500gp)
Calistria- 4 golden tridagger pendants (100gp each)
Sarenrae- 2 platinum ankhs (500gp each)
She pulls a periapt from it, and hands it up to Mortimer.
Mortimer silently accepts the periapt for the party. As she departs, he looks at the periapt then back to the departing Elf.
Starmane of Barrowood... Damn.~~~
"I don't think we have to keep it, but yeah, she did say she could scry on us with it."
Mort pulls out the periapt and peers at it again. "No way!" he exclaims, shaking his head. "What was that, Ascaria? 'Scry'? She just said they could locate it, didn't she?"
He looks at it again. "Even so, I think we should hang on to it. Not for any reward, just -- to see what happens."
While the others go through and identify items from the backpacks, he looks into the well and checks the integrity of the rope ladder, making chit-chat as he does.
"Does anyone know what's in Westcrown?" he asks, idly curious.
Ascaria pulls frustratingly at the bar, and without success. ”Might take me a few days to sort this one out.” he shrugs.
He holds up the wands. ”Can you use this?” he asks Sol, holding up the wand of cure moderate wounds. ”Might be good in case I drop sometime. Spread around the healing a bit in an emergency.” He takes the dull gold wand, ”We might sell this, but spiritual weapon can be useful at times - even if it is limited by the wand creator. Is everyone OK if I carry it around a while? See if I ever use it?”
”Maybe Hourpen or Eri can wear the periapt of health. Hourpen, you might be better as Eri tends to avoid melee combat.”
He then suggests, ”Let’s sell all the rest of this stuff shall we? There’s a lot here, and I know a few of us are looking to make some purchases yet before leaving town. I dunno if we can sell the poisons though. Might need to just dump those - unless one of you can use ‘em.”
When that’s settled, he walks over to Mort and Sol and peers down the hole.
"Does anyone know what's in Westcrown?" he asks, idly curious.
"Well, Westcrown used to be the capitol of Chelliax, back in the day. I don't know what its connection is to us, but there sure does seem something."
Mort takes further advantage of the pause while waiting for Sol to change to also disrobe from the waist up and don his Immolation Shirt under his Mithral Shirt.
"I've been here the whole time. Though, a bit distracted. This place is not at all like the woods and road I'm used to traveling. Looking around, moved from his gaze by Ascaria's question. I will wear it. Can't hurt until, I hope." Hourpen carefully lifts the chain over his head, it lies a bit low on his neck but is secured easily beneath his armor.
“Does anyone know what's in Westcrown?" he asks, idly curious.
“If we sell everything it’s a lot easier for me to track on the treasure sheet too. But if folks want stuff, speak now. :)
"Eri, look! Time for swimming!"
”yeh…”
Solrisa says and begins to remove her armor, one clasp at a time.
Oh. OH. Um, yeh. Eri turns away and waits for her to don her leathers.
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Solrisa will take the time (after her new armor is donned and old packed away) to ask questions of what Tynan found.
"Oh Tynan! This is like the Faerie Parade in Kaer Maga!" Solrisa screams with delight as she begins to sort through the loots. "Rae and I used to walk down the Faerie Walk street and people would offer us gifts in return for kisses! I used to love getting all the presents. Sometimes I thought I would join the women who were always on the Faerie Walk who were always giving kisses in returns for presents because they are always there and always getting presents from people, not just on the day of the Faerie Parade."
Solrisa smiles, remembering.
"I used to get more presents than Rae, but I would always share with her. Because that's what sisters do, we share. I don't think I could always ask for presents on the Faerie Walk though, I'm not pretty enough. The pretty women with the makeup who worked there all the time got the best presents, I think."
Solrisa eventually claims a potion of darkvision, Expeditious Retreat, and a cold iron blanch. She will apply the blanch to 10 arrows.
"I'm sure you got a lot of presents, Sol!"
Looking over the veritable alchemist's lab of potions, Tynan selects a potion of cure moderate wounds, a potion of cure light wounds, and two potions of invisibility. He also tucks a pair of smokesticks into his pack.
"We really should make sure each of us has a couple of healing potions, in case something happens to Ascaria and we need to use them to revive him... or in case we get seperated."
"Hourpen! When did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time.
Mortimer scratches the back of his head, then shakes it. Wait... did she say 'Hourpen'? Wasn't there a ? -- nah.
"Though, a bit distracted. This place is not at all like the woods and road I'm used to traveling." Looking around, moved from his gaze by Ascaria's question."I will wear it. Can't hurt until, I hope."
Mort reluctantly removes the safely secured periapt from around his own neck and hesitantly hands it to Hourpen. "Here ya go, Hourpen. Don't -- lose it."
"Oh Tynan! This is like the Faerie Parade in Kaer Maga!"
As Sol talks of herself, Rae, pretty women, gifts and kisses, Mortimer suddenly finds himself pull-testing the rope ladder quite a bit harder than he intended. He aggressively tries to distract himself with the task of making sure he didn't weaken the rope's integrity any further than it might already have been.
Is this gonna hold all of us? He pulls on it some more.
"We really should make sure each of us has a couple of healing potions, in case something happens to Ascaria and we need to use them to revive him... or in case we get seperated."
Dropping the rope, he moves over the backpack, then silently and carefully places 2 potions of each into his Haversack (assuming there are still enough): Cat's Grace, Cure Moderate, Invso, Spider Climb.
"Hey," he chirps cheerily. "Do you think I should try one of those Darkvision potions, and scout around ahead down there just a little way?" he inquires, pointing toward the water well.
Ascaria takes a potion of invisibility off the pile, ”We can sell the rest when we get out of here.”
”Mort, thanks for volunteering. It'd be great if you looked around a little. Here.” Ascaria hands Mort a potion of Touch of the Sea. ”It lets you swim amazingly well, but only for a very short time.” 1 minute.
Tynan moves toward the rickety ladder to below, and eyes it carefully, preparing to neutralize any trap that might be present.
He secures his rope pf climbing at the top, commands it to create knots once more, and lowers it beside the ladder.
"That should help give a bit of support on the way down."
"That should help give a bit of support on the way down."
Mortimer immediately stops pull-testing the rope ladder.
"Thanks Tynan," he says, dropping the rope ladder and grabbing the rope of climbing. He descends down about 35 feet, checking the walls for openings to Elsewhere as he goes.
As carefully as possible so as not to disturb the water's surface when he reaches it, he slips in and breastrokes out to the barrel to see if it is tethered to anything. If he does find it tethered, he'll follow along the tether without touching it to see where it leads.
He quaffs the potion of darkness when necessary.
…places 2 potions of each into his Haversack…
”Hmm.”
Eri watches as Mort takes an array of potions and then sidles up to the bag.”Good idea. Don’t mind if I do.”
He then proceeds to grab 1 potion each of: spider climb, invisibility, expeditious retreat, cat’s grace, blur.
Westcrown, for all its fault for lying within Cheliax itself, was once a glorious coastal city. It remains an extremely active shipping port, a center of call which would allow voyages to many destinations throughout Golarion. It's also located near the Hagwood, its southern expanse host to vermin and vicious fey, as well as its namesake denizens.
Mortimer's test pulls on the ladder seem to prove its strength. Tynan's inspection of the well yield nothing more than a simple structure, with nothing changing about its build as your eyes plumb its depths.
The water is bracing, and brackish to boot. Mortimer's descent is uneventful, reaching the water and the barrel below. The barrel itself is sturdily enough made, and untethered, simply left to float on the surface of the water. The light from the everburning torch above barely sheds any at the bottom of the well below.
Quaffing the darkvision potion, Mortimer dives into the water...
The well extends downwards 40', from the surface of the water (for a total of 75'), before you manage to see a bend/hallway, extending to the east. How far do you swim?
The hallway extends east for at least 20', before the walls end, and you can make out a larger chamber beyond, where you can just make out a stone pillar roughly 15' into the room. You can make out that its height is at least as tall as the doorway, which stands roughly 7' tall.
Mortimer scoots the 20' to the room to see if the entire room is under water.
Welcome! As Mortimer clears the doorway, he manages to see the extent of the room (40'x40'), the pillar in the center of the room (10'x10'), and the water that seems to extend upwards roughly the same 40' depth as the well. The ceiling of this room appears to be higher than the water's level, by roughly 15'. He also manages to see the giant octopus twenty feet away that reaches out with a languid tentacle to feel up the giant.
Not long after Mortimer descends into the cold waters below, you feel pain wrack your frame, through your Link, as you sense that the giant has suffered some damage, whilst taking a dip...
Round 1, Init 7
AC 21, 25 on AoO; 52/53 HP
BAB = +7/+2 (level 7)
ToHit = 1d20+11
RHit = 1d20+11-2+1 (-2 to hit, +1 Weapon Focus, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
LHit = 1d20+11-2+1 (-2 to hit, +1 Weapon Focus, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
THit = 1d20+6-2+1 (-2 to hit, +1 Weapon Focus, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+6 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+7
Initiative +2
CMD = 25, 23 if flat footed (27 Grapple, 26 Disarm)
Flexibility Slots: 2/6
Shirt Slots: 10/10
Knockout: 1/1
Weapon Equipped = None
Conditions = None
Life Link (7)(100’) = Eri, Hourpen, Mort, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (2/9)(7/7) (DC: 21)(Avoid 6) (4d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (2/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +5, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +5, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 7, Concentration +13)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Mending, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Scrivener's Chant, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (3/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command, Remove Fear
Second (18): (4/8) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Light Prison, Pilfering Hand
Third (19): (3/5) Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Neutralize Poison, Prayer
Ascaria feels a twinge* and he looks to the party.
"Mort found something, and he battles it now - unless it's another trap. Either way, he's hurt, let's go."
He starts climbing down the rope
Assuming single round actions, he moves 20' down the rope, following after any of the others who wish to go first as he's slow...
The tentacle lets Mortimer go, as tentative a grab as it was, flinching back as the Shirt does what it does. You are aware of its position, still 20' away, its other seven tentacles writhing in agitation.
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Round 2?, Init 7
AC 21, 25 on AoO; 47/53 HP
BAB = +7/+2 (level 7)
ToHit = 1d20+11
RHit = 1d20+11-2+1 (-2 to hit, +1 Weapon Focus, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
LHit = 1d20+11-2+1 (-2 to hit, +1 Weapon Focus, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
THit = 1d20+6-2+1 (-2 to hit, +1 Weapon Focus, +4 dam on Power Attack, +1d6 if cold)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+6 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+7
Initiative +2
CMD = 25, 23 if flat footed (27 Grapple, 26 Disarm)
Flexibility Slots: 2/6
Shirt Slots: 9/10
Knockout: 0/1
Ah, good! 'cos I really love you too!
Mortimer turns from the entrance to the room and swims back toward the barrel feeling all manner of warmth and cephalopod love.
"Mort!? NO!"
Solrisa pauses to see what the others do, but then imbibes her potion of darkvision. She plans to jump into the water on the next turn. She will follow and protect Ascaria, assuming the gnome know where it goes.
Eri whispers into Mort’s ear.
”What’s happening? We are on our way down.”
”What’s happening? We are on our way down.”
The hair on the back of Mort's neck would stand up were it not for the fact that he is underwater.
"Abla ablbalalal abla!"
Tynan looks down through the opening at the water below.
Water... again. This isn't good.
Quickly heading down the rope, Tynan hits the water level, but keeps hold or the rope ladder.
I won't be doing anyone any good drowning...
After the others have reached the water level, he grasps the rope of climbing and wills it to unknot itself. Securing one end to Ascaria, he attaches the other end to the rope ladder.
"I'll try to follow, but water and I don't get along..."
"It's not so much the water as it is a fall into the water I'm worried about."
Hourpen follows carefully.
The careful climb down the shaft, alongside the giant's return swim from below, and the party arrives, more or less, at the surface of the water at the same time.
For those entering the water, you find it bracing, and brackish, to which Mortimer can easily attest. The barrel makes it a little difficult for everyone to tread water while waiting, moreso when Mortimer returns.
"Aaahhhh! WOo!" exclaims Mortimer, popping out the water's surface like a cork. "There's a twenty foot long hallway about forty feet down that leads to a massive room down here. There was this Thing in the room. It's a giant blob with eight gnarly arms -- all covered with sticky cups. Maybe only seven now. It likes to hug, but It does not like fire. I don't think it followed me out..."
He peers below into the water, looking for signs of Squiddly Diddly.
"Oh, Mort! There you are!!" Solrisa says with a cheerful smile while treading water. "I was about to come looking for you!"
She looks around in the water to see if anything is coming to get them, and then relaxes.
"It doesn't sound like this is the right way then? If there are suckermonsters down there, then the changermen probably aren't down there...unless they can change into fish! OH!" Solrisa looks startled. "Do you think the suckermonster was a changerman!? Why would the changermen want to be underwater? Can they breathe underwater? Maybe we go ask those two we left upstairs...oh wait, they are dead. Hmm..."
Solrisa considers her/the options.
"Maybe we missed a secrety door upstairs? Does it make sense that the changermen are this way?"
Weapon Equipped = None
Conditions = Water Breathing (1/50m), Bless (1/14m)
Life Link (7)(100’) = Eri, Hourpen, Mort, Sol, Tynan
Channel Energy (2/9)(7/7) (DC: 21)(Avoid 6) (4d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend (lesser) (1/3)
Melee Attack: BAB +5, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +5, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 7, Concentration +13)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Mending, Message, Read Magic
Zero (16): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Purify Food and Drink, Scrivener's Chant, Spark, Stabilize
First (17): (2/8) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Undead, Diagnose Disease, Enhance Water, Liberating Command, Remove Fear
Second (18): (4/8) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Light Prison, Pilfering Hand
Third (19): (3/5) Cure Serious Wounds, Daylight, Neutralize Poison, Prayer
"OK, if we have a minute, let's get back on dry land." he climbs back out the shaft and waits for the others.
"Tynan, what do you think? Could Sol be right, could there be another way down? I don't think we missed anything, but you're our eyes here."
"I think, if we have to go back down this way, we do it right. I'll cast Water Breathing on us before we descend. With this group, that means a little less than an hour breathing time for everyone" (50 minutes to be exact)
"That should give us enough time to sort out what's going on down there and be done with it."
If Tynan agrees, he'll break out the scroll and start casting. He then casts Bless again, using the rod to extend the duration.
"I was about to come looking for you!"
"Thanks, Sol! It is dangerous down there, you think maybe they set us up too?" Mortimer says, floating on his back with his hands behind his head in a reclining position.
"That think sure didn't look like anything I would want to eat, either." he adds with disappointment as his stomach growls.
He follows last after the others as they exit the well.
"Tynan, what do you think? Could Sol be right, could there be another way down? I don't think we missed anything, but you're our eyes here."
"I'll go with him, you know, in case he runs into any more angry furniture or something."