************Round 2**************
Davina fires off another ray but it strikes the water near the Grindylow doing now damage.
***********end round 2*************
Eli swims towards the rear-most grindylow with the intent of preventing its escape and slowing down any grindylows that might enter along the tunnel. Another arrow twangs from his bow.
NL: 18 / 18
Perfect Strike (3): x
Ki (0):
Arrows: xxxxx
Blunts: xx
Misses:
Spell Effects:
Davina sends off yet another ray of cold at the grindylows, aggravated at her previous failure.
Garavaen turns in place and brings up the crossbow in his left hand, That feels much, much better... though I'd still rather be on dry land..., focusing his attention on the grindylow, but quickly pulling the trigger before quite getting the weapon in place.
Ri'el reaches out with his hair and grapples the Grindylow closest to the exit, which also is wearing Sandara's waterlogged tricorn. As he does that, Eli's arrows slam into the creature and it goes limp.
Astein lashes out with his hair, smacking the other remaining Grindylow, and electricity arcs around his hair, jolting into the creature, which does a disjointed sort of dance before it goes limp, floating on the water.
************Combat over**************
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Ri'el grimly retrieves Sandara's hat and grips it tightly for a moment before putting it on.
"Hang in there, Sandara. I'm coming."
He nods at Astein's words.
"Get Sandara, get out. I still have some power left to spare, but at this rate, we'll be worn out before we get to her."
He winces as he nurses the wound in his side, then retrieves a handful of holly berries from his pocket and casts a spell over them and pops them into his mouth.
Treading water in the cave, you don't hear anything from further on, other than the lapping waves on stone. It seems calm for the moment.
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Even with his wounds closing, Ri'el is panting heavily. He had been pushing himself hard ever since Sandara had disappeared, and coupled with the blood-loss he'd suffered earlier, he was under considerable strain.
"I can still go on," he says feebly, but his tone conveys a rather different message. He grips Sandara's hat firmly, as if to draw strength from it, but how much further could he push his limits through sheer determination alone?
With the last of the Grindylow down, Davina sees the state of her comrades and realizes they're in bad shape. Ri'el expresses his desire to continue, and Davina agrees as she wants to rescue Crimson and Sandara too. She also realizes if they keep going they may all die and do no good what so ever. "Much as I hate to sa it, we may need to retreat for now, we're in bad shape and I don't know that we have the ability to deal with much more. We won't do them any good if we keep going when exhausted and get ourselves killed."
Treading water in the current room, it occurs to you that you would need to leave these caves in order to find a place to rest. Fortunately, the way out is clear, and the sentries at the opening are dead.
Where is the party going to rest?
Garavaen says, "We have healing potions... and a time limit...as I recall... Won't do us much good to get there after the ones we're here to save end up in a stewpot... or if we save them only to be left behind on the island." He then shrugs, "Of course, not being a 'caster, despite nearly a year of trying, the more direct approach suits my nature."
Davina looks at Garavaen with sympathy, "I know, but it does them no good if we're too weak to help them when we get there either." She considers a moment, "The closest place is likely the best option. If we can get healed up without leaving then let's do so and move on, if not we retreat."
Eli shrugs and downs his one healing potion. "Let's get to it then." He starts swimming cautiously up the tunnel, looking for trouble.
Garavaen shrugs, "Willing to follow the wisdom of the group -- and, like I said, I'm not a good judge, I don't cast spells and I'm not hurt. I just wanted to make sure everyone was thinkin' about the possible downside of waiting -- 'specially as the only sign of our friends so far is a hat... and I don't much think Ri'el will react well if... well... you know." He shrugs again.
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Still gasping for breath, Ri'el struggles to cut Garaveen off.
"Don't say it. Don't. We'll find her. We'll get her back. I'm not losing anyone again. Not ever..."
He trails off as the lack of blood in his veins causes him to swoon a little.
"Whatever it is, let's get to it quick. Standing around talking is the one thing that certainly does not get us closer to getting Sandara back."
And then he falls silent to conserve his strength, and doggedly swims after Eli .
Following Eli's lead, you again reach the shoreline. The waves now come up higher on the sand, and appear to have claimed the bodies of the Grindylow that you left here. Or at least the waterline is higher now, and covers where they would be. After a short search, you are able to find a somewhat defensible location, and set a camp for a rest. After the rest, you figure you have about 26-27 hours left before Plugg will set sail without you. If he keeps to his word...
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After spending time communing with his Harrow deck, Astein seems relieved to have his full magic within him again.
"Well, we best head out and try to complete the rescue. We still have to get the water and get back to the ship before Plugg leaves us here to rot. We should tend to these remaining wounds and set out."
Davina nods as she eats, "I agree, we need to get in there and rescue Sandara and Crimson before it's too late."
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As he rests, Ri'el communes with the spirits for a spell to heal his blood loss. Sustained by the goodberries he consumed earlier, he finds little need for further food, and having cast a spell of restoration upon himself, prepares himself for a foray back into the grindylow cave.
"I hope we have not spent too much time resting..." he mutters dourly as he waits for his companions to finish their breakfast and preparations.
But at least his cheeks have regained their colour, and he no longer looks half-dead.
Garavaen nods at the defensive spot, Good sightlines. This might work. He nods, then says, "I'll take whichever watch makes most helps you casting-folk."
Having tended wounds and rested, the group heads back into the caves. But which direction will they take?
Garavaen says, "I imagine the tide's withdrawn a bit, which should help. Though, really, the magic worries me a bit -- can't say I love the idea of suffocating on dry land -- or ending up somewhere we can't get out of because we can't breathe water again."
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"Well, if we need that spell we'll have it, but we won't use it right off the bat," Ri'el says quickly, eager to set off once more. Whilst he waits for the others to get ready, he conjures a steady trickle of water to wash off Sandara's hat before putting it on resolutely as a reminder of his purpose here (as if he were not already single-minded in his purpose).
"Are we ready to go yet? I have a hat to return," he mutters darkly.
Once the party finally gets ready to set off, Ri'el will move along with them, though this time he is careful to watch for traps and ambushes, the memory of the stirge ambush still fresh in his mind.
Garavaen nods, stretching himself out and pulling back his crossbow, "Aye, let's be about it."
The little goblin swims slowly, trying to splash as little as possible as he proceeds into the unknown tunnel.
***********status after rest**************
Astein 20/20
Davina 17/17
Elian 16/18
Garavaen 25/25
Ri'el 15/15
********************************************
The group continues along the caverns, having to swim in some places, and skirting some more areas with hooks placed to snag and slow down intruders. Each of the caverns is adorned with various bits of bone and coral, almost making the whole appear as the inside of some large creature.
Eli scouts ahead cautiously, but so far, you've seen no sign of your kidnapped comrades.
Davina cautiously follows the group, particularly where there are hooks, being very careful not to let her wings get hooked on anything. She stops just inside the next cavern while Eli investigates.
Garavaen holds back, trying to keep a careful watch despite the need to wade..
Astein and Eli move forward in front of the rest of the group as they search out the remainder of the cave. As they reach the other end, there is an audible clunk, and then the sound of chains running through a device. As the rest look up, a large piece of the ceiling begins to drop. A cleverly hidden iron grille drops down atop them.