The storm came out of nowhere, howling like a banshee. Its high winds tore apart the rigging, and forced the waves to crash into the hull like a mad drummer. The only thing the captain could do was ride out the storm as best as he could.
The waves claimed him, along with 13 others, leaving you and your fellow travelers without a crew for the ship.
It tossed and bobbed, until finally a horrific snap was heard and felt. Looking about, you see water flowing in, rising from the floor. The ship is sinking.
Grabbing your stuff, you force your way above deck, look about for something to hold on to, and throw yourself over the side, hoping for luck to save you.
Luck is with you. You make it to the shores of land. Rocky land. The storm rages, lightning bolts striking the ground around you. As you crawl out upon the shore, a bolt lights up the area. THERE! A cave!
You grab your bag and run as fast as you can, diving in just as another bolt strikes where you were standing.
Looking about, you see you are not alone, 4 others made it to shore, all from the boat, all wet and soggy.
Chromie darts inside the cave as fast as he can, seeking shelter and hoping to find it dry. He drops his overweight backpack onto the ground about a few feet from the cave mouth, sits down beside it, and takes a quick glance around.
Well, I'm in a cave. On a beach. During a storm. And I'm soaking wet. Great. he thinks to himself.
The gnome places his hand on his dagger hilt and mumbles a few words. Chromie draws the dagger, which has begun to glow, and holds it overhead.
"Now that I've got some real light in here, let's see if I can't get a better look..."
Diving into the cave and rolling to his feet Lyle narrowly missing the lightning bolt. Taking a moment to look around he realizes he's not alone. There are people here that he recognizes from the ship.
"Hello!! So nice to see you all. I had thought I might be alone here. Mind you I'm not afraid of being alone just....uh....concerned you could say. Well then allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lyle Shortcloak and I am pleased to meet you."
"Now let's see if I can get a fire going. I'm going to look around for some wood or kindling."
Calas hops into the cave as fast as his feet will carry him, hoping that the lightning doesn't strike his bag... once inside he whispers a Light spell , moves opposite of Lyle, and twenty feet deeper into the cave, just to investigate it.
I'm Calas, Calas Dermain, he says, looking back to the group, *chuckles a little* nice little island we've discovered ourselves on... any ideas on how to ride out this storm?
As she glides in Shaldar looks as if the storm nor the lightning effect her in any way.
Well Mr Shortcloak if you find kindling I can make it burn.
She is tall even for an elf and her long blonde hair flows in waves framing an elegant and attractive face. Her movement exudes confidence and her inflection shows her to think highly of herself.
She opens jer hand and sparks of flame dance in the palm of her hand.
Looks at Shaldar for a moment, and thinks to himself, 'so can I... but I'm not puffing up about it...' but keeps his mouth shut.
Yeah, but we'll need to find it first, and dry it, and I for one am certainly not going out in this storm... I don't believe it's natural.
Looking at Calas, Lyle says "I have no plans to go out there looking for wood, but perhaps there may be something in this cave. Driftwood, for example, maybe something left behind by the caves' previous tenants."
Shaldar starts to look around on the ground but somehow keeps her nose in the air while doing it.
she seems to be looking but not really trying hard.
Brushing his sopping wet, fluorescent pink, hair out his eyes, Chromie quickly takes stock of these newcomers that came barging into his cave.
So an overconfident elf, what looks to be a half-breed, and a cowardly halfling. I wonder how much money I can make off of this group...
"Is this everybody that made it off that gods-forsaken ship? I'd rather not introduce myself more than once. Bad for business if people know my name too well. Name's Chromie, by the way. As for riding out the storm..."
Chromie grabs his backpack and starts digging through it, looking for something, before muttering a few curses under his breath and giving up.
"I knew sailing was a bad idea...Well, I was gonna suggest that we play a few hands of cards or shoot some dice, but it looks like I forgot to grab mine off the table when the ship started sinking in the middle of my last game."
Hmm... if we could be so lucky.
His doubt as to the chances of finding wood in a cave are high; so he doesn't spend much effort searching.
Hmm... wood in a cave; if there is such a thing... I'll have newfound respect for the darn things.
*After a minute of searching, Calas yawns and gives up on his seemingly futile search* Tell you what, why don't we use a lantern or torches for some heat to dry off with? Does anyone among us have either of those things?
The burly Dwarf in the corner finally speaks up. He had been dazed by the sudden flashes of lightning, temporary darkness, and new light.
"Accursed weather!", he spits out (and spits on the ground), "Pwent Axehand, respectable Dwarven Cleric at your service!"
He casts light on his battleaxe, hammering the butt end into the ground as it came on for effect. He doesn't need the light though, because his darkvision came on. With a greeting nod, he then tosses Calas the few tindertwigs that had survived the journey.
Does the stonecunning racial ability free perception check go into play?
If so (to look for hidden doors and traps): 1d20 + 3 + 2 => (17) + 3 + 2 = 22
Why thank you, Master Axehand, but I am more than capable of lighting a fire on my own... you should keep them, just in case.
Calas hands Pwent back his tindertwigs, and moves around, looking about the cave for signs of a larger {cave} system.
As the storm thunders outside your stone shelter, you begin the task of drying off and introducing yourselves to each other. As intros are made, several people announce magical ability by creating light, filling the cave with bright hue, banishing the darkness in the immediate vicinity. Unfortunately, this also makes the darkness that much more dark, and fearsome, as creatures of the night are known to prowl.
Searching about the cave, you come across a large stash of drift wood, stacked neatly 100 feet from the cave entrance. As the group begins to gather the wood, chromie moves away from the pile...
Looking down, he spies tracks. Lots of them.
As you gather the wood, and look at Chromie and snort in disdain at the lack of help he is providing, you look about the cavern. Walls, worn from the sea and air, hold up the surrounding stone.
Pwent, casting a critical eye upon the stone, notes hints of granite ore within these walls.
Chromie mutters a few words and touches his dagger again before placing it on ground about 15 feet from the opening, close enough to keep the opening illuminated while making sure nothing can easily grab it from inside. He then draws his rapier and starts backing away slowly before speaking in a low whisper.
"Hey, uh, guys? Might I suggest that you put a hold on that fire for a minute or two? Call it a hunch, but I don't think this cave is exactly abandoned. There's an opening where I set my dagger, with a LOT of tracks coming in and out. Until we know what's in there, I don't exactly want to risk smoking it out. Especially not in a storm, when it's likely to be wet and pissed about being chased out of its dry spot."
After saying his piece, the gnome continues back to his backpack, drags it closer to the rest of the group, and makes sure his bow and quiver are neatly laid out at the ready.
After the wood has been gathered Shaldar will look at Calas.
Care to do the honors Calas.
Looking around not seeing the little Chromie fellow.
Where did that little Gnome get off to.
Chromie we have found enough wood are you okay
She says this with an actual bit of concern in her voice.
Shaldar looks around after Chromies warning.
I knew there had to be something in here that would burn! Woohoo! But that meanie pink haired guy won't let us use it.
"Phooey, I'm cold and wet, all that searching for wood for nothing. Maybe he knows something I don't."
Lyle starts looking around the cave.
Do the rest of you hear that sound. its like metal against metal coming from the back of the cave
For the required perception check: 1d20 + 3 => (19) + 3 = 22
"I hear it!", the Dwarf confirms.
Dewn: is that (the hints of granite ore) all I saw? If so, can I tell how much is there?
Calas looks at Shalder, and with mild concern and curiosity, says...
Organized driftwood in a cave? I think someone owns it already.
A few moments later...
Requested Perception Check:
Metal striking metal... mining? Or perhaps a smith?
"A smith, in a random cave on the beach? I highly doubt it. And if it was, we'd smell the forge. I'm thinking it's something a bit more dangerous. Maybe bandits have set up a hideaway in here. It's an almost perfect spot. One that I could see using myself if things got a bit too hot to handle in town."
Dropping down into a sitting crouch and staring intently towards the opening, Chromie rests his elbows on his knees and begins to bite the second knuckle of his left index finger. After sitting like this for a few moments, he stands back up and moves close to Pwent.
"Dwarf, I want you to help me..."
"How so?", Pwent replies in a lowered voice.
A giggle escapes Shaldar.
mining at this hour.. a forge in the back of a cave really.
Chromie keeps his eyes towards the opening and starts to lay out his plan to Pwent in a hushed whisper.
"Your eyes can see in total darkness, right? So I want you to follow me up to the opening in the wall. Cast your light on something else that can be left back here, or cover your axe so that the light isn't visible. I'll pick up my dagger and sheath it so that we're in near-total darkness. Then, I want you to peer into the passage and tell me what it is you see. Depending on what you see, I might just take a look inside myself. If I go in, stay near that wall in case I need help. I don't think the halfling is going to be much for backup and I don't quite trust Elves, so I'll be trying to run myself back out. And if whatever is in there turns out to be hostile, it's likely to follow."
Calas looks at Shalder when she giggles, What? He asks with some anger in his voice, I do not see you offering any suggestions...
Whatever it is, I hope that it is friendly enough.
Calas pulls out his wand and moves just a few feet closer to the noise, ears straining for any other sounds.
Pwent nods in agreement of the plan. "We have an accord.", he says in a lowered voice.
He casts his light on a crossbow bolt after "accidentally" dropping it to the ground.
He makes his way toward the passage, but because the party is in darkness, he relies on their inability to see as well as him as he moves in.
Perception down the passage: 1d20 + 3 => (16) + 3 =19
If stonecunning would apply that becomes a 21, but I don't know how you'll want to rule on that.
Chromie follows Pwent up to the wall, stopping only to pick up and sheath his dagger. When he reaches the wall he presses against it and waits for to hear what the dwarf sees in the passage.
Sucking in, you force your body through the narrow opening, and pop onto a wide ledge. The ledge itself appears to be carved directly from the stone, and 10 feet in front of you steps appear, going down. Looking down, you see steps extend beyond your vision.
Pwent sucks in his gut again to get back to the side of his companions and whispers what he saw to the Gnome.
[ b]Master Blackwater, there appears to be a wide ledge that leads to some stairs about 10 feet or so in front of us. They extend beyond my eyesight. Should the rest of us be told?[/b]
As Lyle walks towards the back of the cave to join Pwent and Chromie he mumbles under his breath "What are those two all about back there?"
"A stairway, eh? I'm starting to think that my hunch for a bandit hideout isn't too far off the mark. If you want to tell the others, go ahead. I'm going to try and slip down those steps as quietly as I can and hope no one is watching for my light."
Chromie steps over to the opening, ducks inside, and draws his dagger with his left hand before starting to creep forward slowly.
So, Calas says while waiting for the others to comeback, Are you a Wizardress; Lady...? he waves his hand; a clear indicator he would like Shalder to finish for him...
Looking at Calas with an odd expression
Xan, but you may call me Saldar. I have spent time studying the arcane.
Why the odd look?
Calas is silent for a few moments; as if he were thinking of the best way to put the proposal.
Perhaps we can come to a trade; an agreement we can both become stronger for?
He hesitates at this step,
What I'm asking is...might we trade spells?
A chance to learn new spell. it may be worth it
She smiles at this
As long as the are not water based I don't see why we couldn't assist in helping each other.
Sjaldat will walk back to where the others went to the tunnel
What are you all doing back here. what is through there?
I see...
When Shalder walks away, Calas follows.
I am an Evocations specialist myself, what about you? Calas whispers tentatively; a few feet behind Shaldar
Pwent grunts and puts light on his axe again. He nods towards the small opening and says (loud enough to be heard by all his new companions, "Ledge back there, with stairs around 10 feet out that go off as far as my vision can see."
Success! Thanks for the help guys!