After the bend, the river passes by a bank before continuing down the tunnel. The rock beach is covered by green-grey vegetation centered around three slimy mounds. The far side of the beach ends in a slope that heads up to an area filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Perception checks
As you guys approach the beach, Ruza distinctly notices the slime on the mounds move.
Initiative
Everyone go!
Ruza pulls her sword out of the cane and wait to attack the first slime that comes at her. "More slime... Why did i come down here again." she says before she swims.
Rhea delays. Eeewe. I don't like slimey things. Unless it's gear oil I really don't normally allow slimey things on my hands or body!
The three large patches of slime starts to squirm and slide off the mounds, revealing what appear to be three half digested corpses. The patches approach the party.
Surprise round over. Everyone can take their turns now.
Rhea slaps at the slimey creatures with her implements of destruction but they seem very resilient to artificers hammers and clockwork shields.
Kaziya takes a step back, draws her shortbow, and fires at the nearest of the approaching slimes.
"How exactly are we supposed to beat large puddles of goo to death?"
Not by hitting it with clock-work shields, I found out. Do you think anyone knows all these dangerous creatures are living underneath town?
The slime seems to be physically affected by the arrow. It is still coming at you, however.
Myst twirls his sling for a moment before letting loose a sling bullet at the same slime that Kaziya had struck.
Then takes another step back to put some distance between the slimey creatures and himself.
The first slime seems to separate like blood after a humanoid's death. The water of it's body runs down into the river, while the rest of the goop, now mostly solid, lays still.
Kaziya twists her face into an unamused frown.
"Is there anything in this damn cave that isn't goo? Or filled with it?"
Rogar moves into position and swings for one of the still living patches of mould. I hope this doesn't stain me hammer!
The second slime degenerates into pile of semi-solid sludge. Only 1 slime remains.
Ruza tries to take out the last slime, "Man, this is disgusting."
Ruza slips on some of the slim on the ground, but from years of clumsiness, is able to right herself.
The remaining slime attacks Ruza.
It is able to catch Ruza off guard and slams into her with it's slimy body. The impact doesn't deal much damage.
Kaziya moves in to flank the final slime ball with Ruza and, reluctantly, swipes at it with one of her claws.
Kaziya's reluctance holds her back from actually hitting the slime.
Enough of this. for
Gods. I'd hate to think what we'd do if we had t' fight summat solid.
Rogar steps beside the slime and headbutts it. Immediately regretting it as he gets slime all over his face.
Rhea and Rogar manage to pound the mold into a crusty pile of mess. With the creature's taken carevof, you are able to better inspect the beach. The vegetation is made of the same kinds that covered the slimes, but it doesn't look like any more are going to move.
Th mounds hosting the slimes are revealed to be three halfling corpses, half digested. The river continues through the tunnel and the beach slopes up to a cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Rhea wipes Rogar's face with her sleeve. Such a fine face. Shouldn't be covered in all that slime.
Well, er, no-one's called it fine a'fore. Thank ye miss Stardust. Rogar's face may turn a similar colour to his beard for a while there as he stumbles over some words.
After Rhea's finished he goes over to inspect the mounds.
By gods! This is no fit way t'be left. Rhea, you're the priestly type aren't yeh? Could ye maybe say a few words for the poor souls?
Whilst the rest of the group busies themselves with the slime, Myst hangs back and drains a substantial amount of water from his right arm.
"I don't suppose any of you have magic that can help dry us?" he mutters from the darkness.
Kaziya busies herself thoroughly searching the halfling corpses.
"Must be one of the parties that came through here before us. Seems we proved ourselves somewhat more capable."
I have magic that can help called mending. Roll up your sleeve and let me have alook, k?
Why of course, yes, the dead must have last rites. Rhea spends a few minutes going to each corpse, seeing their souls off properly with prayers.
"Shirt's wet, not torn, lass," Myst mutters in disappointment as he squeezes a trickle from his sleeve.
Kaziya searches the dead bodies, but it seems that everything valuable was either taken or digested all ready.
Coming up empty handed in her search, Kaziya rises to her feet with a wry smile.
"Thorough little monstrosities, these slimes. Looks like they didn't leave any goodies for us to inherit from our ill-fated predecessors."
She wipes her hands off on her leather armor and addresses the rest of the group. "So, shall we press on?"
Ruza frowns. "Remind me again why we are here..." she is upset... "Sorry Mystiel, i don't have any tricks that can dry you out... if i did, i would use it on myself first."
Ah could build us a fire... but I cannae see any dry wood around. Or any dry anythin' for that matter. We'll jes have to press on.
How do you guys want to proceed? Continue down the river, or go up the hill into the cluster of stalactites and stalagmites?
Well, we're already wet. Let's just get as far upriver as it goes and see what's what? Then we'll dry off. Rhea casts LIGHT on her shield.
You follow the river some more. After a few more feet, you begin to see traces of light. Finally, the river stops at a third beach of stone. Like the other beaches, this one has a bank covered in mold and fungus, but unlike the others, a kind of nest seems to have been built against the wall next to where the river ends. This nest houses a small frog-like creature. About four feet in length, this creature has webbed hands and feet and stands like a hunched humanoid. It's eyes emit a bright light that illuminates the whole cavern. It is curled up inside the largest patch of mold, eating the remains of some creature. As you enter the cavern, your noise disturbs it and it looks your way.
Fortitude DC 13
As it looks your way, the bright light of its eyes becomes unbearable. Rogar, Mystiel, and Rhea manage to cover their eyes enough to be all right, though their vision is spotty. Kaziya and Ruza take the full brunt of it though, and the light becomes all they see. Even when they turn away from the creature or close their eyes, they do not see darkness, or shadows, or any shapes. Just white.
Initiative
Rogar, Mystiel, Rhea, and Ruza can go. Then the creature. Then Kaziya and everyone else again.
Ruza hates being blinded and just stairs at the foe.
But she is too effected by light to get the effect off the ground.
She is unable to see and she starts to sing a soft lullaby to help sooth her mind.
The blindheim is unaffected by Ruza's song.
"What are ye doin' Ruza? This ain't a time for singin', it's a time for fightin'!"
Rogar steps a little closer () from the creature, drawing his hammer as he does. He puts all of his weight behind his swing as he brings the head down towards the frog-like thing, but in his enthusiasm he misses wildly.
"Gah. Stay still you blighter!"
What a pretty song!
Whao what a wierd frog. Die now, pest.
Urg, it's quick!
Myst sends a sling bullet flying at the creature.
Ruza alters her singing just enough so she can sing "There is always time for a song."
Mystiel's sling bullet heads for the creature, but in the confusion of melee, Rhea steps in front of the shot.
The bullet strikes her shoulder.
The creature keeps using it's light against the party.
Rogar, Mystiel, and Rhea are able to easily resist the light. Kaziya and Ruza are still blinded.
Finally, the frog thing viciously attacks Rhea.
But her armor protects her from it's teeth and claws.
Mystiel's sling bullet heads for the creature, but in the confusion of melee, Rhea steps in front of the shot.
[dice=Mystiel attacks Rhea]1d20+6
[dice=Damage]1d4+1
Edit: I looked through a few forums with a Google search and apparently this hasn't been an official thing since 3.0. I think my real life group just house ruled it back in so long ago that I forgot it was actually a house rule. I'll ask you guys if you want to keep it in or not. Rhea is safe, for now.
As froggy thing rakes my body with its vicious claws I say rap my knuckles on my breast, laugh, and say I don't think so, froggy. This here is Scrapwall Pleather!