Lym directs a furious glare at Jakardros.
"We were resting up and preparing for two days," she hisses at him, "and you did not take the time to talk to your own daughter?! If nothing else, I should have expected the fall of your fortress to remind you that you are not immortal and your time with your child is not unlimited!"
The Wizard stands toe to toe with the Ranger and growls at him: "If we all survive this, you are talking to Shalelu if I have to tie you both to chairs and lock you in a room."
Lym sweeps off after the others without waiting for a reply.
"Save it for now," he mentions to Rhianni, "we may need it more for an exit at this point." He mentions quietly to all involved: "Best of luck to all us, then."
Unless there's another suggestion, he will take point and carefully move ahead to the waterfall with as much cover as possible. His eyes move back and forth from their entrance point to the fort - looking for any signs they have been spotted.
Vale looks at Tomaru. "Sorry. No offense, but...I don't take orders from you." The man places his left fist over the Black Arrow patch on his chest. "Not yet, anyway..." he mutters.
You set out through the woods, skirting around towards the cliff. Every few minutes, a flash of lightning illuminates the night sky. Each flash highlights the carnage hanging from the trees all around you: faces twisted in agony, their last moments ones of pain and suffering.
It takes a while to work your way around through the woods in order to get a concealed route to the cliff. From there, it's a slow creep along the base of the bluff. After an hour of careful movement, you come to a halt. The sight that awaits you there is enough in itself to stop you.
What once might have been a crystal-clear mountain lake has become an abattoir. Partially butchered and mutilated bodies—some human, some horse, some giant eagle—lie sprawled along the shore. A waterfall plummets from the cliffs to the west into the pool, which keeps much of the water clean save for near the shores where the dead lie thick.
Furious by the sight before him, "I swear by Torag I'm gonna kill 'em all," the dwarf mutters through clenched teeth. "Once we're done sneakin', there'll be death to pay for the oversized walking dung heaps." He vows.
Praxim keeps his eyes averted from the carnage. Despite his usual (of late) fiery temper, tonight he keeps it cool and clinical.
Rhianni faces turns to white as she looks at the scene of death and destruction, "When we are done Tomaru, we must let the dead have diginity in death, your cleansing fire will be required once more." she steels her will for after the Grauls nothing can surely be worse, though her stomach still turns at the sight before them. She continues on in silence, a dark cloud above her, as she makes her way around towards the waterfall.
Kellen continues to move along quietly, but mutters under his breath something about 'Cayden grant us courage...'
He turns to the others and pulls out rope. Speaking quietly: "Unless we all plan on swimming for the falls, have two thoughts here. I will swim to the falls and tie a rope in to give everyone a guide rope. Or if one of you wants to fly over to avoid the water altogether and set it up."
"First option will be less visible; the second helps us avoid that mess down there somewhat." He shrugs in looking for an answer.
Tomaru needs a moment to gather himself. "Desna's Wings! Perhaps it is for the best that Vale and Jakardros did not come with us to see this." After that, he assess the situation. "I think I can make it across. Does someone have some rope I can trail behind me?"
"Whoever does the swimming needs to be careful," Lym says. "This much flesh and blood should be bringing scavengers by the droves. Some of those might have gotten a little... excited and might attack living creatures as well."
Kellen nods at Lym's warning and prepares the rope."Come on then, Tomaru - let's do this. If anyone has any spare rope, may want to tie to this, just in case we don't reach." He leaves the rope behind for someone to grab; wraps the other end around his waist; and then wades in before swimming for the falls; then doing his best to clamber up them and into the opening beyond.
Since Kellen is taking the rope, Tomaru waits on the shore with the others prepared to help if needed. He adds his length of rope to Kellens to make sure that ther eis enough.
[rant on]
[rant off]
Rhianni calls out for Kellen to stop before he makes for the lakes edge. She explains, she will turn into an eagle, fly over with the rope and fasten it off as the group planned. As they think of what she just said, Rhianni casts a spell, which when finished Lymm hears words whispered into her ear, without Rhianni being very close. Before I turn into the eagle, Rhianni asks if the group want to use a magical small horse to take them across, as it will let them ride across affording them some protection and the horse can swim them across.
Rhianni turns into an eagle, flying across and finding a gap between the waterfall and the cliff face to fly in. She then does a quick reckie making sure there are no imminent dangers, before turning back into her normal human form. She finds somewhere to tie the rope off, either a tree or rock formation, before messaging Lymm to get the party to cross.
HPs: 54/54
Bard Spells Used
Level 1: 0 of 3
Sorcerer Spells Used:
Level 1: 0 of 8
Level 2: 0 of 8
Level 3: 1 of 5
School transmutation (polymorph); Level sorcerer/wizard 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a piece of the creature whose form you plan to assume)
Range personal
Target you
Duration 1 min./level (D)
When you cast this spell, you can assume the form of any Small or Medium creature of the animal type. If the form you assume has any of the following abilities, you gain the listed ability: climb 30 feet, fly 30 feet (average maneuverability), swim 30 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, and scent.
Small animal: If the form you take is that of a Small animal, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity and a +1 natural armor bonus.
Medium animal: If the form you take is that of a Medium animal, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength and a +2 natural armor bonus.
Kellen nods at Rhianni's plan and adds with a smile: "You're a sly one aren't you? Sounds better and less conspicuous."
As she transforms, Kellen whispers to her:"Be careful over there..."
Praxim keeps his bow trained on the walls of the keep, squinting in the dark for any large shapes that could be ogres. He scans for evil constantly.
Behind the curtain of cascading water, the floor of this cave is dotted with puddles. Patches of pale moss and fungus grow in sheets on the wall, while to the north, a five-foot-wide passageway angles up into darkness. A walkway of soggy planks leads from the waterfall towards this opening.
"Careful on the walkway," Lym murmurs. "I suppose I shan't be making magical lights, so as to not draw unneeded attention."
Limmeric clambers out of Lym's hood, flies up the ceiling and scouts out the room, checking for threats anywhere while remaining up high.
"I disagree. I can't see in here. That could be dangerous." Butterflies of light appear in the space around Tomaru. They make is bright enough to see in the dark chamber. He does move further inside, though. Just in case.
Once they are across, Kellen gives Rhianni a wink and nod: "Smart work getting us across there with no fuss."
"If your going to have that light, I'll take point and see what we come across. Unless our dwarven friend wants to take the lead and see what he finds in the dark."
In any case:
"Wait until Limmerick has reported to me," Lym says. "He can give us first warning if there are any obvious threats."
"If we're gonna use lights, then be my guest, lad," he says to Kellen. "But if we're gonna keep it dark, then I've got no problem leading the way. Matters little to me either way," he says as a matter of fact, shrugging.
Rhianni blushes slightly at Kellen's words, though fortunately in the dark its very difficult to see. She waits at the back following the others, when they move. Quietly she says, "I can't see without light, thanks Tomaru."
The planks in this cave are slick with moisture and a pale green lichen. You can tell that moving along this path will be difficult, but there is no other way...
Kellen also shrugs at the dwarf's response and awaits Limmerick's return before moving forward in the shadow of the light.
Gesturing towards the bridge and gives an assessment.
"Let's take this thing one person one at a time, eh? And maybe keep that rope handy. It's been my experience that if you want to defend something - you give the illusion of vulnerability."
Tomaru crosses the planks.
Can I use the Agile Feet power? If not, I'll just use Dimensional Hop.
After Tomaru crosses the planks, Kellen follows.
The noble elf does his best to maintain his dignity and silence and he slips on wet lichen and plops his eleven bottom in a dank pool.
As each of the party start off, to climb the walkway, Rhianni asks if they way some Varasian luck to help them on their way, to steady themselves against the slippery surface.
Rhianni moves gingerly across the bridge, ready to give herself arcane aid against falling, as she does with any of the party that fall from the bridge..
Thordak does he best to make his way across.
There I said it, and I'm glad... ;)
I still don't think an 8 will be good enough to get Praxim across the slippery planks.
"Planks over troubled waters..."
Limmerick comes back to Lym, squeaking in her ear.
The rest of you struggle to maintain footing on the - not over a crevasse - like a bridge might be. Aside from bruised egos and soaking wet backsides, you encounter no issues as you reach the far opening.
Assuming they still have Tomaru's light, Kellen searches the area beyond to see what options present themselves.
Tomaru maintains the light as the group crosses the slippery, bridge-like planks.
Rhianni follows on the slippery walkway, she thinks A bridge would have been easier. and titters.