The small group in the first area cautiously moves ahead with the aid of Eve.
Olivier could only give a grateful nod to the woman's healing at the moment. His attention instead focused on the remaining roach, he stabbed wildly at it.
Ashe steps up to Olivier in a defensive posture, with a concerned glance "How can I help?"
Ashe shifts to help surround the insect, holding her quarterstaff in protective stance.
Olivier winces as the insect latches a deep bite on his arm. He slashes wildly in retaliation.
Ashe, noticing Olivier struggling with the gross insect, continues to circle it,then takes a desperate swing.
Bolstered by Ashe's decision to assist, Olivier slashed at the injured creature, hoping to finish it off. However, his strike was nowhere near as true as before.
Distracted by Ashes attack the roach misses its bite at Olivier.
Ashe nervously swings again at the injured insect, hoping to end this fight as fast as possible.
Ashe's hopes are answered as she messily crushes the remaining cockroach under her quarterstaff.
Ashe lifts her quarterstaff out of the remains, with a sigh of relief. The look on her face to turns to panic as the gooey insect bits stay on her staff! "Eww! Get it off! Get it off!" She shakes the staff end in a desperate attempt to get the disgusting matter off her now weapon of choice.
Yuck! Olivier had no intention of getting his clothing further soiled by insect entrails. Leaving Ashe to deal with that mess, he scuttled back to the previous room to wave the rest of the party along. "It's more or less clear now. Just watch out for dead roach."
"Will do." Evelynn responds before guiding the blind man through the next room.
entering this next chamber you see a smaller cavern that once served as a campsite but has long since been abandoned. a pile of bones, broken equipment, and rubble lies just past the campsite with bits of giant cockroach bits strewn across the site. The path beyond branches two ways one doubling back the way you came and the other moving further into the cavern.
Horgus looks at Ashe angrily "You couldn't have cleaned up a bit before we got here this unacceptable"
Anevia looks aggravated by this comment"we are trapped down here and your worried about this?"
"Just because we are trapped doesn't mean ewe can't have at least a little decency.You may be used to such conditions but I. " Horgus is cut of by Avashnial "We should probably keep moving there might still be threats up ahead." Horgus grunts and scowls at the elf and Anevia both.
Ashe was too busy dealing with her messy situation to notice Horgus' disapproval. After a moment of inspiration, a few arcane words and gestures, her staff and clothes are cleaned. She mutters a grateful sigh to her teacher, and nods at Anevia, "Exactly, we have barely made any progress. We should move on."
Olivier shot Horgus a questioning look at the older man's outburst, but said nothing. He did not want to anger the man who was offering the money, after all. Not in this situation. Instead Olivier simply slipped ahead onwards through the cavern, continuing his hunt for a way out of these caves.
While Olivier scouts ahead, Ashe decides to occupy herself with searching the camp, and making small talk with her new friends. "So is everyone from around here?"
Having already answered that question, Evelynn throws the elf's arm over her shoulders and continues to move forward following the scout.
"Avashnial was it? Do you mind if I ask what happened to you?" She questions while helping the elf along.
"I don't remember much the last thing I remember is a flaming lash coming towards me and the fall" the elf responds after a bit
"Originally from Nisroch"replies Anevia to Ashe's question "I am originally from Kyonin but call Kanabres home for now." is the Elf's response.
In the other passage there are several piles of rubble scattered across the room a passage leading further still can be seen on the other end of the cavern.
"Suggesting if I may, with the injured this might be a good time to take a break and collect ourselves. " visibly scanning the campsite
"That is quite unfortunate. We will have to try and locate a good healer once we get topside. They should be able to fix you up." Evelynn says, attempting to reassure the elf.
"Oh I don't think I have heard of those places, would you tell me about them?" Ashes asks, trying to keep her mind off what has happened. Looking ahead to see where Olivier has gone, responds to the Samsaran with a smile, "I think a short rest while Olivier scouts ahead would be a good idea."
After taking quick note of the two available paths, Olivier retreated back to the assembled gathering. "All right, we have two paths up ahead. One leads further in... or out, however you wish to choose your wording. The other one looks to go back, but there's a ledge up high and a bag, I believe. It's too high up for a proper look." He shrugged. "It could be nothing, but the bag may belong to the former campers here. If we are fortunate, there could be a map inside..."
"A backpack? What does it look like?in either case it might have supplies in it. says Avashnial after Olvier's report.
probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get more supplies no telling how long this trip to the surface will be"Replies Anevia.
"The sooner we are out of here the better. Who cares about some forgotten bag let's move on, we've wasted enough time!" Horgus angrily replies after the first to comment.
Ashe nods in agreement with Olivier, "I agree we shouldn't pass up on any supplies. But, how are we going to get it if the bag is out of reach?"
"Here. Take a seat for a moment. I am going to try to retrieve that pack." Eve says before gentling seating the elf on the floor. She then makes an attempt at climbing up to grab the bag.
"What was that? You didn't even try did you?" Horgus says after Eve's failed attempt at the climb.
"It's a little bit different than rigging you know. Keep your drawers on." Eve responds before making another attempt.
"well that was definitely better you got closer that time! Anevia chimes in on that last attempt.
Eve grunts quietly and continues climbing.
"excellent work!" Anevia responds to Eve's success.
prize in hand you open the master work backpack and find...10 days of trail rations,a flint and steel, a set of caltrops, two flasks of oil, a bundle of 12 arrows, and two vials of some liquid.
"Great you got the bag. Can we go now?"Horgus says impatiently.
Olivier sat back quietly and watched Eve's numerous attempts to climb, finally clapping lightly when she did finally succeed. "Well done!"
Alas, the entertainment ended all too soon, and Olivier knew it was his time to scuttle off ahead once again. Assuming the rest of the assemblage was bright enough to follow the pattern (he assumed that they were, he slipped off to pick his way further along the cave.
Dropping down, Eve takes a closer look at her new found prize.
Eve holds on to the backpack and one of the potions. She offers the rest of the gear to the group. "This is a healing potion." She announces before handing out that vial.
"Quite an excellent surprise, I am sure it will come in handy. Good Job" looking over the group, "Sorry to introduce myself late, I am Rema, but it I agree, if everyone has had time to recuperate we should be best on our way." Rema gets to his feet and waits for the others to continue forward, taking a glace back the way they came just in case.
Once finished with his cursory assessment, Olivier returned to the others. "Next room seems clear enough."
"Excellent job Eve!" Ashe excitedly congratulates her on getting the backpack. Ashe turns to Rema, "Hello Rema, my name is Ashe," extends her hand to shake Rema's. Then follows Olivier into the next room.
Seeing that no one is interested in the gear, she places it all back into the bag and continues to help the elf through the cavern
Ashe takes a moment to scan the new area she has entered.
There are several piles of rubble scattered across this room a passage leading further still can be seen on the other end of the cavern.
Ashe stifles a yelp and turns towards the attack, "Something just tried to attack me!"
everyone's turn is now
Ashe stops herself from swinging her staff wildly at the snake, and painfully whispers a lullaby to her attack.
Ashe gasps in pain, clutching at her bitten ankle, regretfully asks "Can someone please end it before it wakes up?"