The rest is indeed mostly uneventful although Harro's dreams are disturbed several times by dark waters and darker creatures from the deep. Buppido also appears to be having trouble sleeping.
Tanic also seems to have attracted the attention of a number of insects or similar creatures during the night, as he awakes to find a number of itchy bite marks.
Leaving the cavern, you make good progress for several hours until come across a section of tunnel covered in a slimy mucus. A couple of minutes later you come across the source of the trail, a large, brightly coloured shell, which is taking up most of the passage ahead. It is moving, but very, very slowly
Knowledge Arcana or Dungeoneering
You recognise the creature as a flail snail.
Flail Snails are omnivorous and generally peaceful unless actively threatened or approached too closely.
The shell of a flail snail is worth over 1000 gold pieces on the open market due to its unusual magical properties.
Flail Snails are intelligent and converse both through gestures and messages written in their slime trails. They enjoy poetry and philosophy.
A flail snail’s shell and moist body protect it from fire. They are also immune to poison.
Micar slows up, "Hold up a sec. That's a flail snail. We can probably speak with it to allow us safe passage. Maybe even see if it will help us to slow our followers."
Micar will also share the rest of his knowledge of the creature with the group.
Confusion written on his features, Harro catches up to the group fromthe back of the line and sees the tunnel blockage finally.
"A flaila-whata'?"
Seeing the slow progress of the creature, Harro shakes his head.
"No time boyos...this thinga-snail is just too slow. We don't have that kinda time to deal with it.
Prob-take it a week to finish a sentence! Need to find a tunnel around or sumtin' quick-like."
"Excellent idea. Does it speak common?"
"Why would we want to talk to a snail?" Akri asked in confusion. "I mean, it's a giant bug, let's just squish it and move on."
Vinexa considered the suggestion, her tail lashing slowly as she thought, and finally said, "If he thinks we can reason with it then it isn't 'just a bug' and might be useful to us, particularly if it can be convinced to slow down any pursuit." She turned to Micar and said, "I nominate you to speak with it since you know what it is. If you can secure it's aid in delaying us I'll make it well worth your while when we reach safety."
The snail continues to move forward, slowly. It gives no indication that it has noticed you.
"Hello there, my good snail! We were wondering if we may pass."
Harro slaps his forehead in frustration with his one free hand.
"An' now we're talkin' to giant slugs! Just great."
Harro will set his chest down, pull out a cushion to sit on, and try to nap while 'communication' goes on.
Tanic joins in the fun and mimes squeezing to the side of the tunnel.
The snail turns its head at the sound of Micar's voice. It begins moving its antennae in a smooth fluid motion. It looks noticeably confused by Tanic's antics however.
You get the strong impression that the snail is greeting you and apologising for blocking your way.
The snail moves slightly, leaving just enough room to carefully squeeze past it.
"Well, wasn't that kind. Just what one would expect from a snail, wouldn't you all agree? A pity I don't know snail or I'm sure we could have some nice long interesting conversations."
"Emphasis on long," Akri muttered. "Probably take a month to finish a sentence."
Micar hesitates for a second and shrugs, then squeezes past the snail.
Micar gives a mock "tip of the hat" thanking the snail.
Tanic alternately muses aloud about the different species of snails, none of which talk you know, and falls silent as he realizes he is defying his own edict.
Harro will pick himself up and follow up the rear again. Once past the snail blockage, when everybody else is past and no one is looking,
Harro will look back at the snail.
"You might not un'nerstand me, but we's grateful to you."
He will point back behind on the trail past the snail.
"Be warned: We are being followed by some mean as hell-fire drow. Don't let them hurt you none on our part. You just let them by if
you feel you need to do so. Hopefully I made me point across? You seem a decent sort, despite the snot-slime and such."
With a sigh, Harro will turn and follow the other escapees.
You're not sure whether the snail understood your parting words but you experience no more trouble that day. You manage to gather a fair amount of edible mushrooms throughout the day's travel and find a small cave just off one of the passages that would be suitable for making camp.
Turing to the other 'unoffical leaders' of the escaping group Harro makes a statement.
"We should'da start to send scouts ahead to see if they can find problems before they become bigger problems for the whole group. We have been lucky so far not stumbling into an enemy force or just a big dangerous animal-like creature's territory. The LAST thing we wanna do is stumble into a purple worm tunn'l with this traveling smorgasbord."
Harro will sigh.
"While the rest of the group rests here I propose someone or two and meself... someone who can keep up the pace wid'me and has the skills needed, wander ahead a bit and get some info of the trail. Two can travel quickly and farther than this mashup of sicklies and wat'nots. If we come back, we might have some interesting stories to tell or shortcuts to follow later; or if we don't...then you know not t'keep goin' the same direction we's went."
Crossing his arms in a defensive posture, Harro obviously expects the other to argue the point.
"Well, that worries me a bit. If the advance actually meets resistance they will be twice as likely to get killed or captured. Then there is the matter of following. I really don't like the idea of marking the trail so we can follow. And I'm headed up the rear cleaning up traces so I can't very well go in front and I think I'm the only one who knows which way to go! I think we should stick together!"
If the advance actually meets resistance they will be twice as likely to get killed or captured.
Harro shakes his head.
"Not ifs they be sneaky or quick 'nough. No confrontations. Scouting. Quiet-like. Runaway if'n needs be. You've heard of scouting neh? Armies and such do it all d'time. Two or three...sure. This mess? Couldna' sneak up on a snoring dragon who was a drunkard."
Looking around at the weary group, Harro comments snidely.
"Not that I'd call these bu'ggers an army either if'n I can help it. Same basic principle though."
Micar looks up at Harro, "I'll go."
"Thing is with an army you know where you need to return to. We'll be moving. Unless the scouting is done at night when we make camp. That would make sense."
Harro shakes his head and smiles in amusement.
"'Night' he says...hehehe. Yes while we rest. Twas the plan I envis'nd. We quickly scout ahead whils't others rest."
"... good plan."
"I'll scout ahead with ya," Akri offered. "I'm stealthy enough to at least be quiet, and if you show me good markings to keep us from getting lost I can do that."
"Scouting ahead seems wise, but be sure to come back safe" says Shushaar.
"I say you guys are only wasting your time" scoffs Jimjar, "I bet you don't find anything at all"
Harro, Akri, and Micar scout ahead when the party stops to rest. They don't encounter any serious trouble, the only life they see is too small to pose any threat.
Around the point where they were going to turn around they come across evidence of a recent cave-in, which seems to block the passage ahead. The same violent shift that caused the fall also seems to have opened a crack in the floor, large enough to squeeze through. A brief inspection shows that beneath the tunnel is a small chamber of finely finished stone. It's only a ten foot drop from the crack to the floor, and a wide passage marked with ornate, yet clearly ancient carvings leads away from the chamber at a downwards angle in the same direction the now blocked tunnel was heading.
Relief at making it past the snail and finding enough food to eat, even if it was mushrooms, and a safe place to rest, was a great relief to Vinexa. She was quite happy to collapse and rest for a time while the other's scouted a path ahead. She ate some of her food and then let Terra out to look for a meal of her own before laying down near the fire and considering how she got herself into this mess. It was all very obvious to her, those stupid cultists and their stupid need for her to be stupid evil. She should have seen this betrayal coming, it was so obvious to her now. She knew now that they would have to pay, it was just going to take some time is all. It was just before she dropped off to rest that Vinexa began to feel a different sort of hunger, one she would have to sate soon if she wanted and rest. She just hoped that she would manage to hold off until they got somewhere safe, she couldn't afford to sate herself just now. She felt Terra return and crawl into her safe warm place before the half-succubus woman drifted off to sleep.
Entering the chamber through the crack you are able to get a closer look at the bas-reliefs on the walls. They show strange, swirling shapes that might be waves, tentacles, or some combination of the above.
Looking down the passage way ahead you spot what appears to be a skeleton of a drow, carrying a short sword and standing in the middle of the passage, before a slight bend. The skeleton is about 40 feet down the passage.
"Tha' looks be a trap! Don't approach it wit'out cautions!"
Micar takes point and moves carefully down the passageway toward the skeleton.
As he gets closer to the skeleton, assuming it's not moving, he'll be checking for traps as well.
"Thank you my dear. It was not easy but with a little will power anyone is able to rise above their base origins and become what they are truly meant to be. Much like yourself, I note you are far more compassionate than the typical drow." Shuushar responds to Talindra.
The skeleton is standing upright and not moving.
As Micar gets within 10 feet of the skeleton he 'hears' an excited sounding voice ringing out in his head "Oooh! A person! Glabbagool has company! Where did person come from Glabbagool wonders? Will it be friend?
@Talindra - No poison within range with the exception of the bolts you carry.
Micar will stop, motion for everyone else to stop, and cast Detect Magic.
Then call out, "Hello? Glabbagool? Can you show yourself? I'm sure we can be friends."
"Yay! Glabbagool has new friend!" , a note of worry, or concern then creeps into the mental voice, "Can friend not see Glabbagool? Glabbagool is right in front of friend. *Gasp* Is friend not able to see? How terrible for friend. Glabbagool is so sorry for friend, not able to see such wonderful things. Glabbagool has not seen many things but would like to see more, yup, yup, yup.
Glabbagool's mental voice can be heard by any who enter the tunnel leading out of the chamber.
The short sword held by the skeleton gives off a very faint aura of evocation magic. There is also an incredibly faint aura of magic suffusing the entire area, suggesting that the ruins were not originally created by entirely mundane means, countless generations of worship, or the lingering traces of ancient enchantments, now dissipated by the ravages of time.
A cube of transparent gelatinous material surrounds the drow skeleton.
Is that sword talking to us or a ghost or the skeleton? Can't really tell where it is coming from, be it sounds like a friendly fellow!
Frowning at the noises the group is making talking to the skeleton, Harro will try and get a good look at the possible 'danger' form his angle.
"What'chit! Tis an near-invisible CUBE around the skel'ton!"
The voice reacts excitedly as the rest of the party enter the tunnel.
"Yay! More People! Lots of People! All different people! Now Glabbagool has lots of friends! Glabbagool not be lonely any more!" After listening to the questions the mental voice takes on a pensive tone. "Sword? No, Glabbagool not a sword. Not a ghost or a skeleton or a snail either? Nope, nope, nope Glabbagool not a skeleton, or a sword. Glabbagool HAS a skeleton and a sword but Glabbagool not them Glabbagool thinks. Cube? Hmmm, Cube. Yes! That is what Glabbagool is! Glabbagool is Cube!"
The air around the skeleton shimmers as Glabbagool quivers in excitement at learning what it is.
"I can see you, Glabbagool. Nice to meet you." Micar motions the group to back up a few steps.
Glabbagool appears to be a Gelatinous Cube. These oozes are thought to have been artificially created and are capable of dissolving organic materials. They are immune to electricity. Most Gelatinous Cubes are mindless, Glabbagool's telepathy and childlike intelligence is therefore very, very unusual.
"What the hell?" Akri exclaimed as a voice sounded in his head. "A frakkin' talking jelly? First talking snails, now talking food. That's it, I hit my head or something out in the underdark and I'm just hallucinating. Are any of you people real?"
This would be a good time for my awesome Cave druid to use his most excellent Wild Empathy on the ooze. Unfortunately this particular druid has an 8 charisma and is only level 2.
Yep, epic fail.
"Hello friendly cube. I have many oozish acquaintances and am delighted to make your acquaintance. Do you speak snail by any chance? I was thinking of learning the language soon. You never know when it might come in handy. We just met a snail. rather large. Not much of a talker, but nice like you. Would have mead a good friend I think... And a good listener."
this goes on for a while as Tanic and the equally talkative Glabbagool seem to talk over each other quite frequently.