Chops, after descending to the surface of the water, looks around for any ledge, underwater
Not at their ease, Gilian and Pebble wait on the ledge. Wiled Pebble fixes the water with evident distaste, Gilian mutters a few soothing words.
"Don't worry, I will not make you go in the water. I know you don't like it."
Not seeing anything from this vantage, and not wanting to actually go into the water, Chops makes his way back up the rope to join the others.
Solvistania sighs with relief when Chops returns to the ledge. She whispers quietly, knowing their voices can echo here, "The stalagmite appears normal, if a large specimen. I did not see anything unusual about it. If we want to cross here, swimming appears our only option here." Her voice trails off, and she looks at the dark cold water apprehensively.
Anang turns and swims carefully back toward the group, surfacing next to the rope hanging down from the ledge. He grabs hold and heaves himself back up the rock face to scramble onto the ledge next to the rest of the group. Shivering with the cold of the water he rummages around in his pack, pulling out a thick blanket and wrapping it around his small frame.
Through chattering teeth he relays what he saw to the rest of the party.
"There is a large glowing rock about 300 yards out, has what look like tentacles all around it. Opening in the rock face on the other side, but I didn't want to get too near that weird rock so I came back. Looks like if we want to get any further you're all getting wet and I don't look forward to having to get any closer to that rock."
His description done Anang sets about rubbing some warmth back into his arms and legs, looking down at the freezing water he'd undoubtedly have to swim through again in the near future.
"I didn't see anything from below either. That goofball nearly killed himself when he jumped." Chops chuckles. "There has got to be a better way than swimming. Got to be."
He rolls onto his back and stares at the ceiling, looking for handholds, or ways to cross above.
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"I didn't see anything from below either. That goofball nearly killed himself when he jumped." Chops chuckles. "There has got to be a better way than swimming. Got to be."
He rolls onto his back and stares at the ceiling, looking for handholds, or ways to cross above.
"Pfft, I'd like to see you make that dive. It'd be like dropping a boulder in a pond." Anang grins at the wide shouldered Dworg. "As for a better way, unless someone has a lot of pitons and a huge amount of patience we're going in the water."
Having dried himself off Anang starts pulling his armour back on, tightening the many buckles and straps that hold the leather in place.
"If we are going for a swim, then we should take precautions. That water can kill you if you are unwary." She looks over to the other channelers, "Do you have any spells to ward the water's chill?"
"I... don't know how to swim." Ragnar says hesitantly.
Solvistania looks at Ragnar with a look of understanding. I am not able to swim either, but we need to find the demon. If we assist each other, we can get through this ordeal."
Solvistania's keen ears pick up the sounds of another body down in the water. Thinking quickly, she points out the location of the body flailing about in the water. "There is someone down there!"
"It may be a trick. In fact I bet it is. Why would someone be coincidentally drown right now?"
"It may be a trick. In fact I bet it is. Why would someone be coincidentally drown right now?"
"Even if it is a trick, that person is in need of aid. If it turns out to be a deception, we will deal with it then." Ragnar's spirit-lights range as far and high as they can, trying to shed more light into the chamber. He seems concerned. "Though what we can do from here, I do not know."
"Rags, you know, I am glad you said that." Chops looks down at himself and notes that he is still tied to the rope. "Mates, don't let go and haul me up as soon as I reach her." Chops crouches at the ledge and leaps out into space diving towards the flailing person with 50 feet of rope uncoiling after him.
"He may not be an elf but that was one hell of a dive," Ilona mutters standing at the ledges lip, blade on her shoulder.
As she sees Chops readying to dive in the water to rescue the swimmer, Solvistania murmers a quick cantrip and touches Chops amulet, causing it to glow softly. "In case, they cannot see you. Be careful, Chops",kissing him lightly on the cheek.
Muni snickers as Chops speaks.
"Hehehe. Rags..."
Then takes to the air again to follow Chops' dive and add his eyes to the rescue effort.
Ragnar sighs as the bird takes off. "Why in my fathers name couldn't I have taken Hugi into that ruined tower..."
He looks to his left and his eyebrow raises without mirth. "I'm glad you are amused." he says to the air where one of the spirits following him must be.
Hey, wait a minute, where did you see a body? I just saw some bubbles. It could be a big fish or a crocodile. Or whatever horror this demon has summoned.
Gilian still takes her sling out and get ready to cast grease on Chops if something tries to grab him.
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Chops splashes into the icy waters, breaking the calm of the lake with the broad strokes of his mighty arms. In few quick strokes he reaches the person that broke the surface of the lake few moments ago. It is pale and white-haired gnome, dressed in a too large coat with chain shirt beneath it. How could he swim in that you have no idea - but it probably has something to do with gnomes' connection to water.
Chops grabs the gnome and starts to look around, thinking whether to drag him to the cliff or to that stalagmite that Anang mentioned. Pale green light of the huge rock can just be seen from the water.
Suddenly, several bubbles burst through the surface. Large bubbles.
"Dammit! Here we go. Solvi keep a bead on the water, get reeady for something big and nasty. Chops get him back here fast!"
She grabs a hold of the rope preparing to pull the Dworg up as fast as possible.
Chops unties the rope and net from his harness and then ties it around the gnome.
The cold water stings at his eyes and numbs his ears as Chops concentrates on his task of tying the gnome to the net.
Solvistania nocks an arrow and draws it back, her red eyes burning with concentration, waiting a target to let fly at.
"Kiron, pull!" Ragnar says as he grabs the rope behind Ilona and adds his strength to the effort.
Solvistania inches closer to the edge and readies a spell to cast at the creature threatening Chops and the gnome.
Chops screams,
Pebble moves around the ledge going in and out the rock if necessary to lend a hand to Ilona who is hauling the grome up.
"Well, that's the last blow for our demon chase. We are all tired and half of us can't swim. I propose we go back out, set a watch and think of a way to take out that thing. The best way would be to fish it out so we can kill it. But for that, we need to hunt for a bait."
She peers down at the rescued gnome.
"Another stray one ?", she asks aloud, but mainly for herself.
"Move away, let him breathe and let me see him. I want to know if he's all-right. By the way, thanks to you Chops for that selfless jump."
When the gnome eyes open, he first see a small face leaning over him.
Well, now. You're out of the water. Can you tell us who you are and what you're ding here before we move?
"Well, that's the last blow for our demon chase. We are all tired and half of us can't swim. I propose we go back out, set a watch and think of a way to take out that thing. The best way would be to fish it out so we can kill it. But for that, we need to hunt for a bait."
She peers down at the rescued gnome.
"Another stray one ?", she asks aloud, but mainly for herself."Move away, let him breathe and let me see him. I want to know if he's all-right. By the way, thanks to you Chops for that selfless jump."
When the gnome eyes open, he first see a small face leaning over him.
Well, now. You're out of the water. Can you tell us who you are and what you're ding here before we move?
The gnome's eyes roll forward from the back of his head. He is breathing rapidly but quickly slows it to a calm pace. His eyes narrow up to the face above him. His expression turns from panic to concentration and then relaxation.
As he talks his eyes scan the room.
"Eh.... Yes, well. I don't remember much. I was on the river trying to-"
Lanik is deeply disturbed just looking at the two.
His eyes focus on Ragnar and Chops with a warming smile. He quickly turns back to Gillian.
"Would you mind if we could talk in private?"
Chops raises an eyebrow at the little gnome as he squeezes water out of his clothes. "Your welcome."
"Well, that's the last blow for our demon chase. We are all tired and half of us can't swim. I propose we go back out, set a watch and think of a way to take out that thing. The best way would be to fish it out so we can kill it. But for that, we need to hunt for a bait."
"The creature is still close. We have a rope and several strong guys. I'll go back down. When it grabs at me, I grab back. Kiron, Ragnar, and Sorok haul us up while Solvi and you blast at it with magic and Illona wraps the slack of the rope around a rock or something, to keep us from falling back in. Once we get close enough, everyone attacks it however you can. I'll probably be in rough shape so be ready to heal."
"Would you mind if we could talk in private?"
Sense Motive
"Don't worry about them, you haven't yet seen the others. We will talk later. For now, keep back unless you have something that can hurt the monster down there at distance."
While she turns back to Chops, a small rocky look alike of her emerges from the ledge and takes his place between Lanik and Gilian.
"This is my mistress, I am Pebble and I look out for her."
"The creature is still close. We have a rope and several strong guys. I'll go back down. When it grabs at me, I grab back. Kiron, Ragnar, and Sorok haul us up while Solvi and you blast at it with magic and Illona wraps the slack of the rope around a rock or something, to keep us from falling back in. Once we get close enough, everyone attacks it however you can. I'll probably be in rough shape so be ready to heal."
"Are you sure you want to do this? If so, lets go. I will help as much as I can with my sling."
Solvistania murmers, "I cann use my bow here, but my magic is available for this."
To Lanik
Lanik stays close to Gillian and takes in his surroundings.
"Been a while I have seen a familiar. In most cases they are a liability.... Beware of astrixes."
"Welcome Lanik." Ilona flashes the gnome a dazzling smile filled with warmth and aceptance.
"Gillian, considering the trouble we had getting in here leaving would be mistake. I know we could use time to replenish our resources but so could that thing, and I don't want to give it that. I say we go on."
Chops turns to the gnome and says, "Hey, that harness tied around you. I need that back." Then he pulls out his dagger and pricks his finger, flicking some drops of blood into the water. He shrugs, "You never know. I've heard rumors of these crazy fish-monsters that can smell blood for leagues in the water."