Looking over at Ragnar's hesitance, Ilona walks up to the big Dorn and places her hands on his broad chest.
"You can do this. I know you can. No simple body of water will stand in your way."
She goes up onto her toes kissing him gently.
Winking at her paramour she turns and dives into the water bracing herself for the shock of the cold. Unaccustomed to swimming with her verdatch strapped to her back she find her movements a bit awkward.
Ragnar watches all his companions giving up on safety lines and caution, and shakes his head. His concern breaks through his usual impassive mask. He looks up at Muni.
"Go with them. I'm... I'll stay here."
The bird tilts it's head and looks hard at the big Dorn with a weighing stare.
"Like hell. Get your big ass out there."
"I don't know how to swim. You're asking me to get myself killed."
"What the hell gave you the impression I was askin'?"
Ragnar stares back at the bird. His brows furrow and he stands stock still a moment. Then he drops his pack and quiver of javelins, then the coat and bear hide, pulls off his boots and with a powerful stride throws himself out into the dark water.
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As you enter the water, cold fingers of death seek to grip you in its embrace and pull you down into lightless depths, but you manage to get away from the clammy kiss of darkness and - with lot of splashing and noise - you reach the strange glowing stalagmite. Anang shows you the way in. It's a hole in the living rock, with smooth edges and covered with strange black slime. With some slipping, you exit the lake and enter the stalagmite. The tunnel seems to be winding down and the walls are covered with some sort of faintly glowing green mold. The floor is very slippery and the way down is steep. The tunnel is wide enough for three of you to walk shoulder to shoulder, but not enough for three of you to fight in the same line.
Chops reaches the hole and helps Sovlstania out of the water, clumsily trying to brush of the wetness from her clothes. He then plucks Felina out of the water and sets her next to Solvistania, giving the cat a scratch behind the ears. "Poor wet kitty. he says to the familiar.
Then Chops pulls out the urutuk that Ragnar forged for him and gingerly steps out. "Slippery. be careful." he warns. [b]"I have pretty good footing, so I guess I'll take the lead.
He carefully treads a few meters into the cave and stands post, Urutuk at the ready.
Anang heaves himself out of the water and yanks on the rope trailing from his waist to bring his pack flying out after him. He moves up to join Chops, stepping slowly and carefully over the slippery rock.
"Reckon I should scout ahead a little? See what's what a little further down?"
Solvistania steps out of the water, shivering uncontrollably, until Chops started assisting her in drying off her clothes. She gives him a weak nod of thanks, but doesn’t waste words, just giving him a brief hug of thanks. Once he moves off, she takes Felina up in her arms and tries to dry off the cat as best she can.
Felina crawls out of the water looking quite bedraggled, and hisses at her mistress, obviously annoyed about getting wet. She does give Chops a purr of contentment after he attempts to dry her off. When Solvistania picks her up, Felina looks into Solvi’s eyes and there is an unspoken conversation between the two.
Lanik stays just behind the front line, being sure to hide in their shadow. Meanwhile he begins to fit together the glaive underneath his coat.
Uhm, look up 4 posts
Swim check for Ragnar should be at +13 including his strength
He pulls himself free of the water without a shiver or shake, simply standing and letting the water drip free. He looks back into the darkness that now hides the ledge and purses his lips.
He steps up behind Ilona and slowly, slightly unsure of himself, gathers her hair together and gently squeezes the water out of it.
"That is twice now your words have somehow pushed me to heights of action I would have thought impossible. Thank you."
Anang heaves himself out of the water and yanks on the rope trailing from his waist to bring his pack flying out after him. He moves up to join Chops, stepping slowly and carefully over the slippery rock.
"Reckon I should scout ahead a little? See what's what a little further down?"
"Yeah, but don't get too far ahead. I'll stay about 10 to 15 yards back, as sneakily as I can."
"Ragnar, it might be a good idea to keep your racket back until contact."
Ilona breathes deeply as Ragnar gathers her hair, unable to suppress the involuntary shudder of pleasure that passes through her.
"My pleasure, I plan on inspiring you to new heights every chance I get.....in a variety of ways." The grin on her face is pure mischief as she leans her head back for a second, momentarily resting her head on his rock hard chest.
"Ok Chops check out what's waiting for us, Lanik you're with him, you seem to be light on your feet."
Without his usual coat and cowl, even the dim lighting cannot hide the sight of Ragnar's entire head slowly turning crimson. He keeps squeezing the water out of the beautiful Sarcosan's hair despite his apparent embarrassment.
"Ragnar, it might be a good idea to keep your racket back until contact."
Ragnar nods and sighs with resignation.
"We will guard the rear. Wave us forward when you can no longer hear us."
Chops nods slowly to Ragnar, sensing the frustration in the giant of a man. He sadly turns and makes his way down the cave trailing Anang by a good dozen yards. When he can no longer hear the spirits, he turns and gives a thumbs up before continuing the pursuit of the demon.
Very soon you descend beneath the level of the cave lake. Tunnel is rapidly becoming more slippery and steep. With every passing yard there is more of that weird glowing mold.
Solvistania is hanging towards the back of the group, next to Ilona, and Gilian.
After several minutes of slowly descending down the slimy tunnel, you all hear loud and raspy breathing. You can not see anything, because the tunnel bends sharply, but it seems that whatever is the source of that sounds stands just few feet around the bend.
Leaving Pebble behind her with an armlong list of recommendation, Gilian summons her inner strength to jump in the water and follow her companions.
Fort check
Once out of water, she mutters a few words to the gnome: "These people, except the elf, are people you can count upon whatever the situation. We've just met the elf while hunting the demon, and he has something to hide. But we'll have time to talk later. "
As the party moves down the tunnel Anang pauses for a moment and squats down to examine the slime and then stands and continues moving slowly down the tunnel toward the corner. Upon hearing the breathing from around the bend in the tunnel Anang freezes and holds his hand up for the rest of the group to stop. He then very slowly drops to a crouch and moves toward the corner, pulling his hood up as he goes. Once close enough he lies down and slowly sticks his head round the corner at ground level.
After several minutes of slowly descending down the slimy tunnel, you all hear loud and raspy breathing. You can not see anything, because the tunnel bends sharply, but it seems that whatever is the source of that sounds stands just few feet around the bend.
Though I do want to point out the Detect evil is a gradual thing. It takes 3 rounds to even get the power/location of the evil.
Also in cases of overwhelming evil there is already a mechanic for that that does not involve will saves.
Chops looks back towards the group, and motions that there is something around the corner. Then he scoots up to Anang, still being stealthy and points at him, then points at himself with his other hand, then grabs his hatchet with both hands and makes a chopping motion.
Solvistania nods in acknowledgement at Chops, and grasps her buckle, focusing her war magic, ready to be released at the demon.
Remembering the last fight against this foe, Ragnar motions Ilona over and raises his hand. He hesitates a moment, then seems to get over whatever was going on in his head. He briefly lays his hand in the center of her chest and whispers something in his native tongue. A faint pulse of blue-green light emanates from that spot and her skin tingles.
"Ignore the spirits the creature calls." He whispers. "They will not harm you."
Ilona's skin tingles from the touch of Ragnar's magic, her breath catching in her throah for a second, blossoming into another scintillating smile.
"Y'know a girl could get used to this. Thanks hon."
She enjoys the momentr for a few more seconds before turning to face the group.
"OK when this happens we hit hard, three tiers caster at the back like before. Hold nothing back!"
"OK when this happens we hit hard, three tiers caster at the back like before. Hold nothing back!"
Chops holds up his hand. Then one finger. Two fingers. Three, he jumps out around the corner, takes in what he sees as he hustles towards the potential threat axe high and ready to swing.
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After several minutes of slowly descending down the slimy tunnel, you all hear loud and raspy breathing. You can not see anything, because the tunnel bends sharply, but it seems that whatever is the source of that sounds stands just few feet around the bend.Though I do want to point out the Detect evil is a gradual thing. It takes 3 rounds to even get the power/location of the evil.
Also in cases of overwhelming evil there is already a mechanic for that that does not involve will saves.
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As the party moves down the tunnel Anang pauses for a moment and squats down to examine the slime and then stands and continues moving slowly down the tunnel toward the corner. Upon hearing the breathing from around the bend in the tunnel Anang freezes and holds his hand up for the rest of the group to stop. He then very slowly drops to a crouch and moves toward the corner, pulling his hood up as he goes. Once close enough he lies down and slowly sticks his head round the corner at ground level.
Also in cases of overwhelming evil there is already a mechanic for that that does not involve will saves.
Knowledge Nature:
Knowledge Spirits:
Tired from the lack of sleep and the long swin, Gilian follows the group, concentrated on her footing on this slippery slope. When they stop and start to tense for an oncoming fight, she draws her new atharak and focuses what's left of her energy on her hearing, waiting for the inevitable sound of weapons hitting flesh.
Sorok moves to the middle of the group, the cold water from the lake dripping down his beard and armor. 'Dwarves aren't meant for swimmin.
"OK when this happens we hit hard, three tiers caster at the back like before. Hold nothing back!"
Upon hearing Ilona's commanding voice Sorok readies Umbra and prepares to charge the enemy head on.
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Also in cases of overwhelming evil there is already a mechanic for that that does not involve will saves.
Knowledge Nature: d20 + 0
Knowledge Spirits: d20 + 0
Chops halts and calls back. "Solvi, I need you to cover me with your bow!" Chops slowly approaches the creature along the opposite side of the wall it is on, being careful not to get in Solvistania's line of fire. He stops just out of what he estimates to be the range of the scythe-arms. Then, in each of the languages he knows, he asks: Hey! What happened here?"