"Good that you said that. I have a few trinkets of father I could borrow you. [b]"Those are hus treasures, artifacts he collected over the years and modified and I hope they will help you find my father. I am not sure those are very valueable, but they might be useful. This shield is very light, but still stronger than steel, and one can look through it. In this wallets are shavings and bits of wire, made of skymetal. They could be used to open a door. And this tube. If you twist it like this, a thin blade springs out. It is magnetic, has claps so that you can put it under a Crossbow and use it in melee. " Showing to the last two items, she reluctantly hands them over."Those two last items, I will borrow you. They are my personal. My first weapon, a Hammer made of Mithril. And my personal viewing item. It is very, very old. If you look into one side, you can see quite far in the distance." Putting them in Auroras hands she starts to cry. "Please bring him back, please bring my father back" With those last words she runs back into her room and slams the door.
Iosif looks over the items with appropriate care. He considers them interesting, but has no personal use for them. If someone else would prefer to carry them he not oppose them.
As she takes the items, Aurora thanks Val and squeezes her hands in a comforting way
Don't worry, thank you for your kind help letting us borrow these things, we will be off now and return as soon as we can
she turns to everyone else.
My vision is good but I am not the most attentive person, someone else may be better served with this far-viewing apparatus, likewise lovely craftsmanship or aside I have no training with this hammer,. She offers the items around but if no-one takes them she'll put them in her pack.
[b]So I believe we are all good to go, we should make haste and move quickly
with that she strides out of the door, heading off to the dig site Khonnir was last seen approaching.
"Well lass," Aelden says to Aurora, "I might a bit o' trainin' about that..."
Uran marvels at the materials Val brings out.
"So strong, but light. Imagine a rifle barrel made of this material....", and he gazes off into the distance, a small smile upon his lips
Iosif is prepared to depart.
Vanya also.
Uran will check around town to find a large waterproof bag that his rifle will fit in. What would the cost of such a thing be?
About five silver for oilcloth. Rifle or pistol?
Rifle..ok pay and thank the storeowner then head back to party.
Vanya purchases four air bladders and joins the Party at the meeting Point.
Aelden looks closely at the clear shield, checking its heft. "I cannae see how this'd hold up in straight fight, but the lass seemed sure it would, so..." He slings it upon his back, setting aside his heavy shield...for now.
"Watch this close for me lassie! She's seen a fair bit o' fightin'."
"Are we ready to go? Or did we forget something?"
Assuming all are ready you walk to the priest and he offers to cast Water breathing on you all, extended with his rod. This will last for a couple of hours.
Unfortunatly he has no new information for you.
End of Prelude.
Act one:
The Blackwater pond.
Arriving at the pond you can see you obviously marks of a few groups. Black water prevents you to see much but knowing that there is an entrance prompts you to enter the water. The water is cold, but bearable and has a strong metallic taste.
My eyes are good in the dark, if no-one has a better plan I'm happy to lead
If no-one else volunteers she wades in to the water, ducking under and looking around to see where to go next, where the previous adventuring team might have gone.
Not being any kind of tracker Iosif does not bother with the tracks. Since he is technically fearless he will volunteer to go into the water. In the cave his eyes again shine with a nearly imperceptible light. He also has little need for a light source.
Providing there are no objections he will enter the water. He's also not much of a swimmer, so since he has no risk of drowning he will simply walk along the bottom. Once he finds the passageway, or anything else of note he will report back to the others.
Uran wraps his rifle in the waterproof bag, along with his ammo and wades into the water with the others.
Vanya also walks into the water. She also tries to see something unusual.
Aelden will follow Iosif...closely. he has his wayfinder in hand, just in case he needs to find his way back out of this dark pond.
Those with darkvision can find the entrance to the cave easely. It takes a swim check to reach it.
Down we go.
I assume that you wont hold it in your hand. Its a quickdraw shield.
If someone, who can see, holds a lightsource, its easy.
Vanya prepares one of her air bladders and swims behind somebody with a light source.
You find that some people are more adapt to swim than others.
Uran kicks out and follows the others as they swim through the cave system.
Swim:
Aurora gingerly moves through the water, not looking particularly confident but just about able to keep up with everyone else.
As she moves out of the water the other side, tiny electrical discharges flow off her staff and robe sporadically.
I hope we are able to find a less water-focused exit from this place
she shakes her gear dry and makes ready to continue, looking around to make sure everyone is accounted for.
"You seem to be having some difficulty with your power source Aurora. Perhaps you require additional insulation," asks Iosif without any trace of a question in his voice.
Pay no heed to the trickles of energy Iosif, it's a byproduct of the power running through my veins, and harmless enough. I thank you for your suggestion though
she smiles briefly, before turning her attention back on their surroundings.
As Aelden and Aurora and Iosif reach a place to dive up, they find out that some people are still missing.
Aelden climbs out of the water and begins going through his gear. Weapons - check the draw to make sure they aren't stuck. Armor/shield, clear excess water, check fit and function. He goes through methodically, making sure everything is in operational order.
With a side glance at Iosif, he says: "Neat trick, that. Not breathing. Care ta head back an' retrieve the others boyo?"
Uran continues to move through the water. He moves upward, breaking through the surface and scrambling onto land.
"Ugh. Not feelin' to good mate." He says to Iosif. "Here. Take this rope with you, find the others, tie it to 'em, and yank three times. I'll pull...urgh...I hope..."
Iosif plunges back into the water to search for the others, rope secured around his waist.
His eyes still glow from darkvision.
With the help of Iosif you can follow the rope to the beach.
Well done Iosif, it were well you are a strong swimmer
she nods as the assembled group shakes off the residual water
Is everyone ready to continue?
She is about to stride off when a thought occurs
My eyes don't need any help, but would anyone like me to magically light their way? I can enchant a weapon so you can always see your foe if we run in to something nasty, or anything you like really...
"Look, the pond is feeded by a few streams. That is why there is a certain current. " Vanya tells the others. "I have a lamp with oil, unfortunately I forgot the lighters at home."
Aurora casts light on Vanya's lamp.
Now you can save the oil for something we need to set on fire!
she winks.
"Nice, thank you Aurora!" Vaya says.
"Hmmph."
Aelden flips his wayfinder closed, dousing the light and stowing it away in his pack. "We're all about the cute, ain't we, lass?"
He hefts his shield, pausing for a moment as a wave of nausea grips him, then walks over to where the first ledge (or step) is on the beach. He gives it a look to see if there are any tracks or items of note.
Dampness hangs in the air of this cave, condensing into heavy moisture on the slick, stone walls. The calm, dark waters wind around to the east up north, along a stony, soot-scarred beach. A five-foot-high ledge sporting several stalagmites rises to the east, beyond which a low-ceilinged cave beckons.
Suddenly you hear a strange noise. From the roof 4 little bugs descend on you.
MAP
Iniative Order:
Uran
Vanya
Bugs
Iosif
Aelden
Aurora
"Watch out! Bugs coming from above!" Vanya shouts while taking out her longsword. She swings it at the first bug she sees.
Swearing under her breath, Aurora levels her staff as a bolt of lightning blasts forth from the tip at one of Vanya's assailants
@Iosif can you see the small bugs on the map. One is right next to you.