More people made a great deal of difference. Within a few minutes, they cleared out all the drains within the center of the large chamber. The flow of water could be felt for some distance away, though it seemed that it might still take an hour or more for the full area to drain.
Tribim smiles at Namtar's comment, then asks, "What? You don't like the sound of "Champion of Dalath, Crusher of Elementals and Cleaner of drains?" Then looking a little more serious, 'And stop calling us 'masters'".
Looking at the water, he quickly adds, "I can stay here and make sure nothing sneaks up on you guys."
He then watches as the others swim into the water to help with the drain, waiting for it to get low enough so he can wade into the room.
Amarekashu stopped at the point where it seemed inevitiable that the water would drain. "I fear a stronger current may make getting out difficult," he mentioned, using magic to dry out. "A spot of lunch while we wait?"
Namtar's stomach growls loudly, and he blushes. "I'll stand watch while you eat, Masters."
Namtar's stomach growls loudly, and he blushes. "I'll stand watch while you eat, Masters."
Regin rolls his eyes. Sit down, Namtar. You earned a break more than any of us.
OK... If.. you say it's safe.. Namtar sits down, looking very embarrassed and shy. then he starts to eat.
Tribim stuffs a chunk of cheese in his mouth, slapping Namtar on the back as he sits down, "Regin is right, you've earned a break. I'll keep watch since I didn't get my feet wet." Tribim paces up and down the corridor, occasionally munching another piece of cheese.
When he notices the water is almost gone he will tell the others.
Arundel, after drying off a little, sits down next to Namtar with his own portion of food. He'll pat the man on the shoulder and say "You did very well, my large friend. Most impressive. You definitely deserve the break."
Namtar startles at all the touching, his muscles tensing as he reflexively readies for a fight. But, he calms almost instantly and a dopey grin dominates his face. Thank you, Masters. You are all very kind. The Champion of Dalath and Crusher of Water Elementals will not fail you!
He looks down at his own lump of cheese. What's a water elemental?
"A beast of another plane, I think, where all is water. Or perhaps magically animated water. I have never been terribly clear on them myself."
Amarekashu held up a moderately impressive sandwich critically, shrugged, and then ate it.
I'm sure such a question would start a two hour lecture from my former teachers. I never got around to asking that one though. My guess is as good as Amar's.
Tribim shrugs his shoulders, "Doesn't it depend on which plane of existence you are on? So It would be one thing in one reality and something else in another reality." He stop talking and thinks for a moment, "Yeah it is quite confusing isn't it."
THe conversation clearly goes over Namtar's head, but the Champion of Dalath still listens with avid interest. Eyes wide in wonder and filled with confusion.
Arundel nods at Amar's response. "My understanding is that while the material itself is from our plane, the essence of the beast is from another. It is safe to say that you have bested a creature from another plane, Namtar - a mighty feat!"
Arundel nods at Amar's response. "My understanding is that while the material itself is from our plane, the essence of the beast is from another. It is safe to say that you have bested a creature from another plane, Namtar - a mighty feat!"
After three or four hours, the water has receded to the point where the taller folk could wade through it at about waist-height. It would still be up almost to Tribim's chin.
Namtar laughs and flexes his arms in victories. Hah! The other warriors in the sands cannot say that!
Seeing the water down, but not as far as he'd like, Tribim takes of his backpack setting it near the steps. He quickly dumps the water out of his water skin. Then blowing it up and corking it as best as he can, he holds it up. "that should keep me afloat."
Walking down the steps he holds on to the floating-water-skin as he paddles his way around the room, sending his dancing lights ahead so the party can see what there is to see.
Region goes exploring as well, except without a flotation device.
Region goes exploring as well, except without a flotation device.
Amarekashu followed along, eager to see what secrets had been beneath the water and tell enough that the water was no longer much of a challenge.
Namtar follows as well, not wanting to leave his Little Master alone.
Arundel sighs quietly. I just got dry, too... He'll then go to join the others in exploring the newly reduced area.
Tribim smiles as he floats through the pool of water surrounded by his friends...
Zummabu's Company descended into the waist-deep water. It was still cold and unpleasant, constantly dripping down on them from above and making for slow going even with everyone able to breathe relatively easily. They found little new in the pillared room, but new chambers were visible to the east and west, as well as a door to the south.
Tribm nods at the door to the south, "Lets clear the chambers before we mess with the door, that will give this water a chance to go further down." Sending his dancing lights ahead, he then paddles his leather floaty to the eastern doorway and looks inside.
Amarekashu nodded, using his ability to Detect Magic to supplement Tribim's exquisite eyesight.
Natmar follows Tribim, keeping his eyes peeled all the while.
"It's dangerous to explore alone, Master."
Tribim found a simple privy behind the southern door, which bore no enchantments.
Huh, a privy, I'm surprised it didn't let the water drain.' He paddles back out of the privy, nodding toward the north doorway, "well, lets go north then, and stop calling me master."
Amarekashu looked in the privy, against his better judgement, as he wasn't sure he wanted to know what had blocked it.
Regin most definitely does not look in the privy. He heads for the other door like a sensible person.
Regin most definitely does not look in the privy. He heads for the other door like a sensible person.
[dice=perception]1d20+4
'
The privy was a pit with a pot affair, which clearly overflowed long ago as the water rose. Untold centuries at least dissolved what might have been left behind.
Nodding to himself in relief, Amarekashi gestured to the western passage at random. "That way?"
Namtar loosens his shoulders and readies his grips. "Yes, Masters!" He eagerly follows the freedmen down the hall.
'huh, paddled the wrong direction.' Paddling in the water clearly messing with his sense of direction, Tribim follows behind Namtar, calling out. "Stop calling us masters."
Shaking his head, Amarekashu followed. I wonder if Tribim will break first, or Namtar will? For someone who considered himself a slave, the Champion of Dalath had a strong will and knew his own mind. It was rather ironic, Amarekashu considered, that his one act of freedom was to reject that freedom...
To the west, Zummabu's Company finds a small chamber with four long benches and several niches along the walls. On the floor lays a sprawled body, clutching a red lantern and wearing a gold ring with an eight-pointed star on one hand.
Namtar points to the lantern and ring. "Masters, are those important?"
My guess is yes. Regin says as he inspects the body and the items before touching.
My guess is yes. Regin says as he inspects the body and the items before touching.
Regin sees no sleeping Art. He recognizes the sign as the one also found on Kassu's ring and the breast of the corpse found elsewhere in the Cairn of Whisperers.
Ok, twice is odd. Thrice is creepy. This is the same symbol as what's on Kassu's ring and the breast of the corpse back there.
Approaching with some caution, Amarkeashu reached for the lantern. He wasn't sure if the undead showed up with Detect Magic, and had no desire to find out they didn't. "Should we take the ring, too?"
Tribim casts 'detect magic' Shaking his head, "Of course it's important, that's the red lantern were looking for, oh, and stop calling us Masters.'
He nods at Regin's observation, "Creepy is right, It's like they were searching the tomb or something."
Tribim begins carefully searching the room. "After we search the room thoroughly we should go to the southern room."
Once they are done, he paddles to the southern door and carefully checks it.
Namtar looks around the room. "Is there anything that says who he was?"
Arundel frowns at the connection. "If that symbol is tied to some organization, and this organization sent an exploration party previously to this tomb, then they obviously know about it. If they know about it, then Kassu likely already knows about it as well. Which means we may end up with company at some point."
Namtar looks around the room. "Is there anything that says who he was?"
[dice=perception]1d20+6
Tribim found no Art with his divination, but his rather chilly search found a few small treasures.
1 red lantern you've been looking for
1 ring (200gp)
55sp
38gp
2pp
His search of the chamber opposite this one uncovered only an empty room otherwise the same as where he'd just been.
Hefting the final lantern, Amarekashu looked at the others. "Time to go back and light the lamps?"
I guess so. Let's go see if we die.