hehehe But its the better part!
Jordan sings offkey, "Burned the goblins while they sleep, so up to fight his friends they leapt?"
"You totally need to work on your rhyme scheme, Jordan," Kelistra says with a slight laugh. "And your pitch, but that's not too bad for a new guy."
Kelistra examines the crude map on the back of the fan. "Let's see if we can make out any landmarks on this thing. Don't want to be singing too loudly when we get to the creepy things' lair."
"Good thinking Kelistra, let me know what you find on the map and I'll find them for you out here."
As he walks a little ahead, Ruhk pauses on occasion to admire nature, inhale a particular smell, or just gaze at some of nature’s splendour.
Nature's splendor in this instance mostly consists of mud. And rotting vegetation. And stink. Still, at least it's natural!
The trail twists and turns through the swamp, heading ever south. Eventually a cliff rises along the marsh’s southern border, its face a thick tangle of jutting rocks and bright green vines rearing out of the sodden mire. A curtain of these thick nettle vines partially conceals a cave opening at the base of the cliff.
It looks dark in there.
"See there? That cave must be inhabited, you wouldn't bother trying to conceal it (badly) unless you had something to hide.
...
Wouldn't live in a swamp either come to think of it."
"Maybe they just want to hide that they living in a swamp?" Kelistra asks. "It would be kind of pointless trying to hide that they can't hide stuff. Seriously, I don't think that's someone trying to hide the cave, just the way the vines and stuff are growing. Well, time to find out what's in there. But first..."
Kelistra draws her rapier. She passes her hand slowly over the blade and sings softly, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..." When the song's over the blade is glowing. "Yeah, I know. Totally hokey," she says with a blush. "But it works.
Ruhk chuckles.
"Look who's suddenly all naturewise and worldly, going to be giving me lessons now?"
Stroking his chin for a moment (and checking there is no new stubble forming) Ruhk consideres Kelistras point.
"But you may be right, still, we're going in there arn't we?"
"We're totally going in there. Be a waste of the glowy sword trick not to go in."
"Hmmm...not sure if there will be enough room to use Bethany in there...I wish I had brough my hatchet.
Come to think of it, I'm not the only one with a pretty big weapon am I?"
"Ameiko says that guys with huge swords are compensating for having small... Well that's what Ameiko says. Besides, how many guys did she see pantsless to come to that conclusion?"
"Only one, but one not very well endowed and carrying a big sword?According to rumours she doesn't have a paramour in Sandpoint, and she hasn’t left in years.
There WERE rumours that she was involved with one of the heroes of Sandpoint a few years back.
Funny thing is, nobody seems to know which one of them.
The handsome elf rouge, the massive barbarian, the wizard or the druid.
Besides, it's been years since they left for that Magnimarian fort."
"Anyone got a spare weapon more suitable for caves? And I got to warn you, anybody hand me a halberd now and I'll punch you."
Enoch caws once and flies off.
"He'll not be coming with us below the ground. It is not his place." As Azmythe watches him go, he responds to Ruhk, "You may use my walking stick and crossbow. They are all I have to offer but they are yours if you want them."
"I have a dagger that has yet to be drawn."
Jordan sees the light and begins in a low voice..."I'd like to teach the world to sing..."
Link for the young
"Good to know, let's go down and see what we can find there, if it's too tight for Bethany, I'll borrow your stick for a bit, can always jam the end into someone head."
I will gladly be up near the front.
Malcolm pulls his Bastard sword from his back.
Ruhk chuckles as he sees a weapon mirroring his own, albeit a bit better cared for.
"Well, if me and Cavendish here uses bastard swords, what does it say of Marduzi who uses a great sword?"
You guys should forget about those sticks. the elf says in playfull tones. When you need the job done quickly nothing like a good polearm. And they are harder to make jokes about too...
Iralynash moves to the second roll of the marching order.
A fitful breeze blows the hanging vines to one side momentarily, letting a little more wan daylight into the cave. It seems that two of you will be able to walk abreast into the first part of the cavern. The vines then fall back across the opening, blocking your sight.
The nettle vines are, as their name suggests, painfully unpleasant to touch. Don't touch them.
"Nettle vines...you don't want to touch them unless you want to itch for a day or more.
And we don't have any ointment for it either."
"I can take the back and guard the rear. My eyes should be able to see anything that might end up behind us"
"I'll be next to Kel in row 3."
I guess Azmythe will be behind Jordan and Kelistra.
Marduzi draws his greatsword, "Perhaps it only says that I am great and you are a bastard." he replies with a grin. "I fear Ameiko may put too much credence in the selection of 'weaponry' when we all know it has more to do with the size of the feet." He lifts his with a knowing smile. "Let's see what the cave holds for us. Thank you for the warning about the nettles Ruhk. I suppose I should give you a chance to make up for the goblins."
"Ouch! Listen to Mr Gloryhound here, we'll find you something to fight soon enough there.
Let's go, and err...don't trip on your big...feet there Marduzi."
I cannot speak for Ruhk, but the name of my weapon is certainly not related to the history of my fine lineage. Abadar would not allow such imperfection to guard his vaults!
"I'm sure you're right about finding something here soon. Shall we get to it?" From his position behind Ruhk and Malcolm, Marduzi turns to Smoke and commands, "Stay Smoke. We need to take a look through this cave and you're definitely not going to fit."
Realizing that Malcolm is perhaps not a man in possession of a finely developed sense of humour, Ruhk still cannot help but rib him a little further as he begins to head forward.
"Come on then my fellow "bastard", let's go find some REAL bastards to introduce our swords to."
Jordan speaks to Kel, "How do you know if you have a fighter at your party?"
"I don't know, Jordan, how do you know if you have a fighter at your party?"
"He is the one holding the right end of the sword."
"He'll tell you."
Rommin sees that Halvor is uncomfortable in his armor as he smiles at him. Seeing him look Halvor stop fidgeting and smiles back
Azmythe walks quietly along with the group. He usually has a hand on a wall as he goes, marvelling at the feel of the texture.
"The aura of this place is interesting. It holds a secret and there is danger as well. We should be careful."
"Any chance you can tell what sort of aura Azmythe? Are we dealing with undead or something more?" Marduzi scans nervously ahead, ready to move forward with Ruhk and Malcolm.
"I don't know. Can't you feel it? The mystery? The tension? Just extend your senses. Allow your consciousness to experience the ebb and flow of power in the world. It will become obvious then."
"Well, if the aura can't tell you anything concrete, maybe the surroundings can. Hold a moment."
Ruhk kneels down on the ground and begins to scan for tracks or anything else relevant.
Malcolm pauses and patiently awaits Ruhk as he focuses his attention ahead standing next to the kneeling Ulfen.
Perception:
"I think I'll leave the magical senses to you Azmythe and join Ruhk and Malcolm in seeing what my mundane ones can find."
The ground outside the cave entrance shows signs of recent booted traffic - a number of individuals passed through since the last rainfall. There's also a strange scent that Marduzi can't quite place. It makes him think of sleeping under a caravan to shelter from the rain when he grew up. It's frustrating, but the memory just won't come clear.
The dark cave is dimly lit by the light spell on Kelistra's dagger. As she is toward the middle of the group, shadows stretch long in front of the party, dancing over rough cave walls with every movement. The passage winds gently back into the cliff-face, trending slightly downward. Ahead you can hear the sound of running water, but the ground here is sandy and surprisingly dry underfoot. It's a relief after the relentless mud of the swamp.
The passage widens around you - a big natural cavern, at least forty feet wide, littered with boulders. The strange scent grows stronger, a musky smell like sawdust and old earth.
There's a sudden hissing sound and Kelistra's light goes out, plunging you into absolute darkness.
Initiative:
Init
Has dark vision
init
Basic human crappy need lots of light vision.