Ibarra's hand snakes out and grabs the lockpick. Then he gestures to the hand crossbow. "I actually know how to use that thing. So I'll take it if nobody objects."
Dinali looks at it and smiles :"I think it fits better in my hand! And you got the lockpick!"
Val continues."If you want you can bring your stuff here, and sleep here, free of charge!"
Ibarra pushes the tube across the table to Dinali and nods at Val.
"Thanks Val. We appreciate it."
Yes thank you, I really have all I own on me at present. We will set out once everyone has prepared themselves.
Mort stands in the back, looking embarrassed. "'m good." he membles.
"I brought all that I own, as well, not knowing what the circumstances surrounding the disappearance might be..." Eriethiel says, trailing off a bit at the end. "I am ready to continue whenever the rest of you are," she adds, a bit more confident.
Ibarra grabs a mask (or two, if possible). "Ready to get that water breathing spell whenever you are."
Aye I'm ready as well, lets head out now.
I bow again to the lass and turn leaving the building, I quickly turn around again. I grab one of the masks and head off back towards the lake.
It takes the highpriest about 5 minutes to cast a dweomer on the 5 adventurers, aided by his rod. Warning them that the spell will last at the utmost 10 hours, the companions move toward the caves. This time, armed with spells and the masks, the entrance into the caves works without a problem. You arrive on a sandbank inside the tunnelcomplex.
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.
Ibarra strikes his sunrod to life.
He inspects the area for traps and tracks.
In addition to Ibarra's sunrod, Eriethiel casts a quick cantrip, causing light to spring forth from the bolt loaded in her crossbow. Once Ibarra has confirmed the relative safety of the area, she pulls out her rope, knots it down its length, ties a small loop on one end, and tosses it over one of the stalagmites.
I will cast Light on my shield, point it straight ahead for better illumination.
I will help ya with the rope lass, do you want more? I have some in me pack as well.
I will help tie knots in the rope to make it easier to climb.
I look around the room we just entered, looking for anything unusual in the stonework. I will also use Detect magic to see if a trail was left for someone to follow back to the entrance.
You will find some tracks, but no one of you is trained to read them.
Derlan thinks that the rock is pretty strong, maybe something volcanic, and it is quite safe here, if smelly!
Where to?
Ibarra creeps cautiously into the cave, wary for traps.
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.
Ibarra eyes the corpse suspiciously.
He whispers back to his companions. "Can any of you detec magic?"
I move as quietly as I can up behind Ibarra, casting detect magic on myself.
I whisper Am I looking for anything specific?
I scan the area closely, taking my time
to scan the tunnel to the max range of the spell.
"I want to make sure there's no magic traps or spells. Or magic loot."
a short-bladed weapon like a dagger.
After inspecting the body, Ibarra returns to Derlan. "That was Parda, a brawler from Torch who went with some local toughs into the caverns. People liked her, and said that teaming up with those toughs would lead her to a bad end."
He rubs his hand over his bald pate. "Looks like they were right. She was killed by multiple stabs from a short-bladed weapon like a dagger."
Ibarra waves at his companions. [smaller]"Lets go find what killed her."
He skulks further into the cavern, looking for traps.
I will put my hand on Ibarra's shoulder, stopping him from moving forward right away.
I can see fine in the dark lad, lets get rid of the lights and I will take lead. May'in we can sneak up on em'
Ibarra nods and wraps the sunrod in his dripping cloak, drawing his rapier with his other hand.
"Give me a shout when there's danger and I'll pull out the rod."
I draw my new shield and strap it to my arm, I draw out my hammer and slowly take the lead.
I walk in 20 foot intervals, stopping looking around to make sure everyone is still with me and to scan ahead for anything lurking.
Eriethiel shrugs, "It seems reasonable to me that anything living in the dark will be able to see or otherwise function in the dark, but if you wish to scout ahead, I'll not stop you. I will not, however, go with no light myself, though if you wish me to stay well back, I can."
Reaching a crossing Derlan sees the following straight ahead.
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.
Can you cover it for a bit like Ibarra? I will alert you right away to draw light. Might help in our favour.
"How am I to see to follow you? Will you call out to me so that I may follow your voice, or should I follow the sound of your armor ahead of me? I doubt that either will work to our advantage..."
I have no issue with using light, I just thought we could try it in the dark. Mort do you wanna lead the way then lad?
As if you had asked for it, suddenly there is an illuminating explosion. All but Mort and Eriethel please make a DC12 Fort save or be blinded
Find some cover I yell
It is the groups turn!
As Ibarra slides past Derlan he says, "Flank it!", then dodges around the creature and readies to strike.
Derlan 5 foot steps to the left, bringing my mace down with a crack.
Make a fresh save,please booth of you. Bonus of 4 if you avert eyes. No save needed if close your eyes.
I have never seen such a beast
Eriethiel moves forward and catches a brief glimpse of the creature before closing her eyes. "The creature is called a blindheim; I cannot remember any more than that, however..." She proceeds to move forward, past the creature, into the corridor beyond.
Ibarra risks it to attack the blindheim fullfaced... and manages to find a soft spot, sliding his rapier into its gut and the blindheim falls off... and the light is gone.
Derlan looks around for more creatures or bright bursts of light.
Is it dead? Derlan kicks it a little with his boot.
Ibarra stabs the unconscious creature through the throat.
"I think so. It's called a blindheim. I'm not sure why though, it seems like it could see just fine."
Ibarra starts looking around for any treasure.
Even a cursory search of the pool reveals a man’s body, mostly eaten. Little remains to identify the bodyfor the blindheim has eaten most of it and has ruined its armor and clothing in the process. A belt pouch on the body’s hip is still intact and contains 42 gp, a silver symbol, and two water-tight potions.
May the Forge Father watch over you
Derlan helps to pull the body out of the water and on to dry land.