"Interesting. Maybe we could swim from room to room, assuming that they're all sealed from the water. I'd still say some rest is in order. And I don't fancy resting in those putrid troglodyte halls, so we should either stay here or maybe take over the former bandits' space for a night."
The proud warrior was usually read to press onward, but he nodded at Yasmin's notion of rest, mindful of his spell-wielding companions' needs.
"We mustn't go far. Despite Jorqual's word, I wouldn't want to let much time go by before we continue our journey. The longer we're away, the higher chance for danger."
Grayface suggests a campsite of the first room of this floor, where the crabs were first observed.
I don't think this armor will allow me to swim correctly. I never tried to swim, in fact. But first and foremost, we must rest.
Aye, the armor will cut down on your ability to move in the water. and resting is a good idea...you three used a lot of spells today. And if we have to meet this bunyip...well, let's not think about that, shall we?
"Retreating to the bandit's resting place for the night is wise," the druid agrees. "We don't want to be too close to the shore of the water. There may be other predators than the bunyip about. I will take first watch."
"Sounds like a plan, Pertreeko."
Aye...at least we know whats up there.
.
"I'll take middle watch."
I'll take whatever watch is needed.
I will take the last watch....
After everyone is settled in, Rallos will set out a tripwire alarm.
"If you don't mind, I'll just lay down and rest for tonight." Near death experiences were pretty draining.
Of course, Yasmin. We need you fully rested tomorrow...
Leaving the water-logged corridor behind, the group trudges back up the stairs towards the inevitable stench of the Troglodyte’s lair – ringing the chain that hangs in the corridor shortly before the top of the stairs - nothing happens for a minute or two and then, with a sharp fizzing sound, the rock that prevent access further up the stairs blinks out of existence. A sibilant voice calls out, ”Come… come…”
Climbing the last remaining stairs, your troglodyte greets you, ”You have defeated the men of metal already?” Your passage through the lair is, as per your previous visit, filled with the troglodyte extolling the virtues and power of Skraa-orm. At the stairs leading up to the Splinter’s hideout, your guide wishes you well and then resumes it’s sentry duties in front of the closed doors.
Apart from a curious burbling noise that grew and faded over ten minutes during the night, your rest in the Splinter's old hideout is uninterrupted.
Pertreeko will shake his head in continuing disbelief as they pass through the troglodytes' territory. "They're strange folk, and smell like the wrong end of a hibernating bear, but they're nice enough," he comments to the others, as they make their way to the Splinterden.
Pertreeko takes first watch, his flat black eyes peering keenly this way and that until it's time for him to rest. The following morning, he stretches in a series of slow yoga-like poses as he meditates and prepares his spells for the day.
The scarred warrior nodded in full agreement with Pertreeko -- these trogs smelled horrendous. It made him wonder how he and his friends smelled to them.
"When the water devil hit me with its watery fists, it knocked the wind out of me and some of the sweat from my skin. Saved me the need to take a bath!" His joviality was a good defense mechanism. It was best not to think much about the monster, or the possibility of encountering it again.
---------
Once again slogging through the waters where they so recently fought for their lives, the warrior took the lead with sword drawn. "Where to now? Pertreeko, you're the only one who witnessed what lies beyond. What is your council?"
There are spells that can be used to breath under water for a short time, I prayed to Pharasma for those. Pertreeko, your ability to summon creatures out of nowhere can be very helpful here. Unfortunatly, I couldn't remember a prayer to allow people to swim easily in armor... If someone is still hurting from yesterday's wounds, please tell me so I can use the healing wand on you. I suppose no one is looking forward to his grave, even a watery one...
Trekking back down from the Splinter's hideout, you find yourself at the entrance to the troglodyte's lair and are greeted by a different representative of the 'Children of Thagh'. An older troglodyte who introduces himself as Kargh, welcomes you to Godhome, "Slaagh told me that folk of 'Up Above' would seek passage through... He rests now... You have your offering to the God on the Box... Yes?"
Grayface groaned quietly.
I don't like being subject to these reptiles' will. I told 'em we shoulda camped down there near the water..., the fighter grouched to himself.
Looking away from the trog, turning to his friends he said,
"I'm not sure we have anything to compare to our previous...offering. Since we're up here anyway, before we pay their toll again we maybe should visit the Fort. I didn't like how clumsy my sword felt in the water and I'd like to find a spear for sale. Though if no one else has business there, then we should press on without my spear."
"Anyone have anything for an offering? I'd rather not part with any weapons, armor, or gear. Shall we scrounge the Splinter den again?"
You mean we have to pay each time tribute to the Godbox, Kargh? If that's the case, we should try to find something to please him first.
Turning to Grayface
If you prefer to go back to the Fort first, we can. I assume the local blacksmith could sell us some scrap metal, if we don't find enough metallic things in the Splinter's den.
Yasmin shrugs, seeming not too concerned about the tribute. She pulls out the dagger that she never really uses. "Kragh, do you think this knife would be acceptable, or is it too small? Otherwise, I guess it's time for us to start searching."
Kragh intones sadly, ”There are many of you to travel through; Skraa-orm will demand a greater sacrifice than what can be held in just one hand… I am sorry, sun dweller”
Grayface beckons his friends back up the stairs toward the Splinter's den.
"Save your dagger Yasmin. It might come in handy if you deplete your magic reserves. I seem to remember some places upstairs where we could scrap some large enough pieces of metal to appease the trog's god."
The warrior led his friends back upstairs, with sword and shield readied in case of danger that might have returned to dwell there. There they tore apart some of the splinter's beds for iron plates and screws, hopefully salvaging enough handfuls to accede to the troglodyte's demands.
The offering of scrap metal (fragments of bed, items of kitchenware, a few hand tools and a pair of poorly fashioned swords - all tossed together in a pair of sacks) is 'accepted' by the God in the Box and you are duly shown to the stairs that lead downwards...
...back to the steps that lead into the water - where a scant few crabs still skitter around your feet. Apart from the lapping of water against the steps, all is deathly quiet...
Yasmin shields herself with a protective barrier of force! She then offers her longspear to Grayface. "Here, this might be useful for you while we're underwater. "
where should we go, Pertreeko? Where is the water deep and dangerous?
Moving into the waist deep flooding of the corridor, you recall just how cold the water is here…
I think we should chase down that mephit
Following the corridor to the eastern end, following the direction in which the water mephit fled, you descend a second set of steps in the water – the water level at the bottom of this second set of steps is now nearly at shoulder height. Turning south, the corridor suddenly slopes downwards and within ten feet of the corner, the water level is above head height… As far as you can see, through the reasonably clear water, the corridor heads directly south for a while…
Holding Yasmin's longspear at the ready, Grayface led the way through the high waters, ready to strike any enemy that showed its face. Feeling the heat seeping out through every wet pore, he began to wonder when he'd feel warm again.
Good gods, this water is frigid.
Yasmin seems quite at home standing in the water, feeling no ill effect from the apparent cold. She wasn't sure how well she would swim in it, though. She looks for any magical auras that might be in the area.
With water up to his unshaven neck, the fighter wondered aloud, "There's got to be some way to drain this water, right?"
Yasmin looks into the ether and detects mutliple tiny auras along the corridor - each of them centred around areas of increased water flow. Looking for long enough, Yasmin confirms that the auras are conjuration and, furthermore, identical to the much ,arger portal through which the large water elemental escaped.
The water is clear enough to see, once light is shone on the right direction, that the corridor opens up into a fully submerged room to your south.
Dpn't forget we still have these snorkel devices. We could use these as well as Yasmin's spell.
As you stand in the corridor, debating how to proceed, you become aware that the water – which had been very clear – is starting to cloud with suspended dirt and mud.
Is that mud normal? I don't think so... Another elemental maybe? Or is it a natural whirlwind or other phenomenon, Pertreeko? Why the clear water is now all dirty?
Ea is tense and preparing herself for another battle, in that strange watery realm
Ea – the rate at which the water appears to be clouding with mud does not appear to be natural; especially as there doesn’t appear to be much of a water current in this part of the flooded area.
Grayface opened his eyes under the cool clear water to get a better view, but he couldn't make heads or tails of anything. The magical light helped with illumination but just looked like any other watery corridor to him. Pulling his head out of the water again, he moved forward until he was forced to swim.
"Well, this place ain't gonna clear itself out."
Yasmin conjures dancing lights and tries to illuminate the way ahead. "I bet it's something burrowing - keep an eye out!"
She's also happy to trade places with whomever wants to be closer.
As Grayface swims into the water, holding his breath and using touch more than sight to guide himself, there is a sudden bow-wave of detritus towards him... In seconds he is engulfed by a rolling mass of mud - that, taking a semi-humanoid shape, slams at him with fists of sludge...
With a second slam, the mud creature grabs at Grayface... Digits of filth enveloping the stricken fighter...
"Gray - look out!" As Grayface gets caught in the creature's grasp, the sorceress uses a bit of magic to try and get him free.
She then tries to strike the creature with tendrils of ice!
With her move action, she's moving backwards as soon as some space clears up.
Rallos dashes forward and slashes at the mudlord with his rapier.
Rushing forward, Rallos squeezes down the corridor and stabs at the creature grabbing his friend... his rapier cuts into the creature, causing an insignificant amount of damage...
With a crackle of ice forming in the water, Yasmin sends out an arc of freezing energy...
The cold envelopes the mud, freezing it in places...the 'head' of the creature turns towards Yasmin - seeing her for the first time, it lets out an aggressive roar...
Because its natural form is a loose pile of mud and detritus it can flatten itselfeven further, a common mudlord tactic is to blend in with a swamp, quicksand, or other depression in the earth and wait for intruders to approach.
Among their own kind, mudlords are rambunctious and playful, engaging in wrestling matches, mud throwing contests, and races. They have been known to ally with earth, mud, and water elementals, but consider themselves the superiors in these alliances because of their greater intelligence.
In combat, Mudlords use their fluid form to engulf and smother their opponents...
A mudlord! Creature of water and earth... They are quite aggressive, but that won't surprise anyone.
Says Sister Zalinsel, with a grim humor
Ea then prays to Pharasma, and a spiral forms on her morningstar's head
Murassa Sonvar
grimdog73
