Galenus is still oblivious to the danger Kanzen is in.
He is unable to move past the giant rat without disturbing it.
But he still trudges on.
Cyrus skirts past the rat with a hiss and a growl to scare it off.
Despite Galenus harshly tromping through the rat's territory, some of the others manage to calm the large rodent and slip past without difficulty.
The drow pursuers manage to keep dragging themselves forward but, when they encounter the giant rat, their frustration comes to the surface and they can't help cursing loudly. Angered and frightened, the large territorial rodent attacks! The last dregs of the Drow pursuit now tangled up with some feisty fur, you catch your breath and continue along.
Irdril will administer healing to the two most injured of the party.
"Well that was terrifying. Let's try to keep moving fast."
Whew. That was exhausting. Been a while since I've ran that much. Thank you, Idril.
Derendil bends his huge, shaggy shoulders and lifts Kanzen onto his back. Let me help you for a while, my fine friend.
A gasping Kanzen protests weakly, but can't really resist the huge quaggoth's strength. Thank you, Derendil. I am... nearly spent. He glances behind as Derendil begins running once more.
Galinndan breaks his silence.
"Well done on no one falling into the clutches of the drow. We should move more slowly, Galenus removing our tracks as we go. Not all of us can run again for a time."
Near out of breath, Eddrikk looks around to see if everyone made it as he slows to a walk. Best ta keep movin', the rat 'ill only hold 'em for so long.
Cover Tracks
Forage
Working with Galenus as they guard the rear, the party moves forward at a moderate pace while the Dwarves make the ground behind them look as if they had never passed that way.
Surveying the strange fungi around him, Eddrikk sniffs several and, disliking their pungent odor, chooses out one that smells more like bread instead. It is shaped like a barrel but he plucks the large, moist fungus. Eddrikk also finds another luminescent mushroom for Tiberius.
You plod along through the Underdark, exhausted but unsure where you should rest.
Galinndan also does his best to add to group supplies, and to seek shelter.
Galinndan is able to find a small rivulet running down a crack in the wall. Sniffing it, the elf's skills of woodcraft determine that it is safe to drink. He drinks from it and motions for one of his comrades to do the same before moving on.
Galinndan searches for an appropriate place to rest and finds a small cave that goes back into the wall of a passage a ways. It is not very concealed but their presence may fail to attract the notice of a passing creature and they would at least be able to have only one opening to watch.
Pointing out the cave, Galinndan speaks:
"How about here to rest for a time? It is a risk, but it is a worse risk to keep going until we collapse of fatigue. We can try to conceal it, or simply keep watch and hope."
If the soil conditions allow, Galenus will mold the earth around the entrance to block or at least conceal the entrance to the cave.
"Aye, this looks fine but we ought ta keep it short, I da-nah wanna get caught again."
"Anyone got a clue ta where we're headed then?" Cyrus asks.
"I believe Shuushar mentioned his home city as a destination."
Shuushar heads to a nice corner and lays his weary bones down to rest.
You manage to snag a night's sleep without incident and decide to continue on your way with Shuushar leading.
You come to a split tunnel. You hear water gurgling from the left fork, which leads down. The right fork leads on without ascending or descending. Shuushar turns to you. "We can go left or right here. Right leads more directly to my town. Left takes 1 day longer and requires crossing a small stream."
Kanzen cocks his head. Why would we choose the longer path? Is the right hand one more dangerous? If the left take a day longer, how long does the right take?
Now that they'll finally laying down for a rest, Galenus starts work. Starting with the leather Armor and the axe, he casts Mending until they're repaired. Then he does the same with everyone's clothing and footwear.
He requests that someone tear a section of their Shift (clothing, not work ;) ), so he could have something to wear - at least something to make a kilt or skirt out of so he can cover up.
I think it's about time we discuss what we're capable of. We're away from the drow for now and a bit hidden, I think. For myself, I'm primarily a treasure hunter, and everything I can do is focused around that. I command a bit of magic, and with it I can grab things at a distance, move the earth a bit to create holes or cover up our tracks like we did, and I can fix most items that are ripped, torn, cracked, and the like. I can jump really far or high if needed, or change how I look for a short period of time. I can even see where magic is. I used to have a collection of notes that would let me do some other things, but the damn drow took it when I got captured. I'll have to start from scratch - ain't the first time.
I'm also good with a hammer or axe and can handle myself in a fight.
I'm decently in shape, I know a bit about history and magical things, and I can play the violin. I can also brew a decent beer given enough time - you can thank my dad for that.
What about the rest of ya?
Kanzen shrugs in response to Galenus's question. "I am a drow. I was raised to connive, to deceive, to hunt, and to kill. Thinking is not my strong suit. I am a weapon. Although, it seems at the moment, a not-so-useful one. But I swear, I will demonstrate my worth to you all before this is over. Even if it means my death, should Eilistraee demand it." He lapses quickly back into silence, realising how shallow, empty, and horrible his life has been thus far. Play music? What use have drow for the wonder of music? It gains no power for one's house. His father taught him to brew beer? My father was sacrificed to Lloth when I was a child. For all I know, he was as evil as the rest of them.
For the observant, Galinndan starts to look a little uncomfortable as Kanzen speaks.
"I can sing a little. But I got focused on navigating the forests of my home. With twin blades, I can slay elf or man swiftly. And I can survive where few others can."
He lapses back into quiet, guarded thought.
Am I so different from that drow? I have focused on hunting them so much, what else do I have?
The fish-like man shrugs his scaly shoulders at Kanzen's question. "We are in a strange situation. I thought it best for us all to have a choice."
"I'm a mercenary. I can hunt, track, and kill things. I am also a bit o' a survivalist but prefer ta use me skills ta accumulate coin"
"I can fight and I know me way roud a boat, once i get these damnable things off me arms that is." Cyrus says.
Irdrill will try her best to get some sleep and somehow manages..
I have some minor arcane skills with a small amount of healing. My voice can be very uplifting in stressful situations as we’ve seen.. Otherwise im soso with weapons..
Galinndan will aid any who need it.
Kanzen joins in, both aiding others and gratefully receiving assistance.
Galinndan finally manages to free himself from his hated manacles. Others try to do the same, all but the orc accepting aid.
With a serene look on his face, the kuo-toa slowly breaks off his manacles with Kanzen's help.
For once, Galinndan's face breaks into a grin. He finally slips his hands free of the manacles, and begins to rub his chafed wrists.
His mind turning to other matters, he queries Shuushar:
"Are there any other considerations on the direction? For example, does the right fork have sufficient water supplies to keep our group going?"
Shuushar shrugs at Galinndan. "It is somewhat difficult to forage along the right fork. There is more life along the left fork. Whenever I have traveled this way, I brought most of my supplies with me."
"I see. In that case, I advocate the left fork. We need to maintain sufficient supplies to keep up our strength."
I agree with Galinndan.
The group heads to the left and manages to cross the shallow stream, keeping their few weapons well above the water.
You proceed along through the Underdark, traveling at a moderate pace and covering your tracks as you go, though the river probably greatly aided your efforts to hide your tracks.
After another hour or so, you come across a deep gorge that looks to be about 600 feet to the bottom. The sides are rough enough that you could climb down one side then back up the other but it would take a lot of time. The narrowest part of the gorge is a tempting 15 feet across.
Cyrus looks at the gap and snorts. "Not gonna happen."
"Does anyone have rope?"
If someone has rope, Galenus will leap across.
If someone doesn't, Galenus will say, I can make two people jump far, if there's two of ya that don't think you can make it. I know I can, so I don't need it for me. If there's more than two, then we may have to carry some across.
Tiberius can probably carry stool. Cyrus, would you be willing to hang on to someone? Heck, I can probably make myself jump further and just go back and forth, carrying half of ya one at a time.
Galinndan shakes his head.
"I am nimble but leaping that gap requires power of limb that I do not possess."