Chromie sees the pile of goods that came spilling out the the bag and his eyes grow even wider.
"I think I'd like one of those sets of lockpicks... And I wonder how many of those bottles are poisons..."
"Also, I'm still calling bandits. At best, mercenaries. Just coming upon two men this well equipped, who happened to kill each other over something, probably this bag, is suspect. They certainly aren't common folk, and respectable people don't generally congregate in hidden caverns. Not to mention that there's usually some form of legitimate recourse over property disputes, outside of murder, if that property is legally obtained."
I would like to believe that they were merely adventurers who got far to greedy, but that's seeming more and and more unlikely as we spend more time in this cave.
Calas will take twenty on his identify checks, if possible. Since time doesn't appear to be a factor right now.
I going to grab a dagger and hold on to it; just in case, everything else... Shalder, while we are waiting for others to decide what to do, would you like to help me identify the scrolls and potions?
Hywel tosses Calas one of the 50 daggers that litter the floor.
"Catch. Hmmm strange mix of goods for bandits or sellswords but you are likely correct."
Hywel starts repacking the magic bag as the casters clear items as non-magical/unintersting. Checking, if he can do so by weight or decoration, to see if any of the weapons, armor, or tools are masterwork.
"Care to lend a hand Mr. Blackwater?" Hywel continues as he hands the gnome a set of thieves tools. "Mr. Axehand, are you keeping an eye out? Not a good time to receive guests."
Calas takes the dagger and studies it, checking for its degree of craftsmanship; he the sheaths it and places it on his belt, in the back.
Just like Master used to use; how droll...
Perception check vs the Stealth checks of anyone hiding in the area: 1d20 + 3 => (18) + 3 = 21
Pwent nods at the young Fighter's request for the one with darkvision to keep watch and looks out into the darkness.
"I suppose I can help with repacking, and I think I might throw a thing or two of mine in there if it fits once we've got all the original stuff back in there. Lighten up my load a bit."
Chromie stuffs the lockpicks into his belt pouch then moves over to the pile and starts tossing things back into the bag.
"By the way, has anyone seen the halfling? I don't think I've even heard a word from him since we first got into this cave. That's a bit unusual for his folk, don't you think? I usually find them very talkative."
"Haven't seen 'em at all since we found the durned crack in the wall. Durned weasel's probably still up top. Wouldn't surprise me if he ran off. Trail'd be covered purdey well with the storm."
Pwent responds to the Gnome still looking intently out into the void, axe and shield ready to intercept anything that comes out of the darkness.
As you begin to sort the gear by need and shaldar begins to determine what the unknown liquids are, you begin to hear an odd trickle noise.
Glancing around to ascertain the location, you glance back up the stairs, and see something odd.
A single rivlet of water appears on a step, slowly growing in size until it splashes over the edge of one step and onto the next...
Calas utilizes his knowledge of Arcana to identify the phenomenon. Knowledge(Arcana):
If I am not mistaken high tide must be comming in. we have two choices either get through that door or go back out the cave which maybe under water as we stand.
Looking at the others
well what do you want to do. And by the way the firey red liquid is akchemist fire
Shaldar moves towards the door.
Calas helps Hywel finish with the bag.
[b]We should not care for organization right now; we shall sort it after we find somewhere dry.[/]
"All right! Which one of you is trying to be funny?!"
"Well now, this could be bad seeing as we're below the cave level. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if we're just a tad below sea level in general. It won't take long for that water to start really pouring down the steps. I think it's time we tried that door, because I don't quite feel like drowning again already. One close call is enough me."
Chromie adjusts his gear, recasts his Light spell upon his buckler, and steps up to the door. With a flourish he gestures towards the door itself.
"Who wants to do the honors?"
I Will. Calas moves to the door and opens it (if it isn't locked) ; his body behind the door, using it as cover. Calas motions for the rest of the party to go forward.
"Can't be the tide, wood upstairs was dry and it is too clean here. Maybe storm surge, but we should go up not down. Make yourself usefull and see what the problem is"
Hywel helps refill the bag. First in: food and water, second books and scrolls then bottles and potions followed by camp and adventuring gear finally weapons and armor. If he can Hywel will reserve a longbow and one full quiver for his own use.
Hywel runs back to the entry cave. Where is the water coming from?
"Open the durned door and let my axe find where we are!"
Pwent makes his way towards the door and readies both shield and axe, bracing for anything that might come through after Calas opens the door.
By the time you stow all the gear, the water level has risen from a trickle to a creek, slowly filling the large area that you stand upon. Rushing up towards the top of the stairs, you look through the narrow opening and see water rising, and it is beginning to rise at a much faster rate.
Opening the single door, you see nothing but absolute darkness.
"What? Where is this water coming from?"
Hywel squeezes through the crack back out to the entry cave. Where is the water coming from?
So Hywel is in the entry cave. The cave that opens to the beach and had the dry, stacked wood in in right? If not he will continue on to that cave.
You say the water is rising from the cave entrance. Do you mean the water is coming in from the beach? Is the storm still going and forcing the water up to the cave or are we below the tide line somehow. The last makes no sense as the driftwood was stacked. Pointless to stack wood in a wet place.
~Hywel the confused. Oh and I PM'd Shortcloak, no response as yet.
Pwent stuggles to move to Hywel's side, seeing that the immediate problem is the possibility of drowning.
Not sure what magic it is but going through the door may cause us not to be able to come back. only guessing but think it may be a portal.
"Well, whatever you're doing you'd better do it fast. I think it's pretty obvious that the main cave is filling with water at this point, and it's all just going to pour down here. Normally I'm not quick to throw myself through magical doors without an idea of what's in store on the other side, but between a door to the unknown and a guaranteed slow drowning I'll choose the unknown."
Chromie quickly checks frisks himself, making sure that he's got all of his gear secured and accounted for. He nocks an arrow, holds his bow ready to draw, and steps through the door.
Calas holds the door open for Chromie.
Alright, Master Axehand; please go next, just in case. He pulls out his wand; expecting trouble as well.
Bow in hand Shaldar steps through the door
Looking about, you are surprised by the sound of a wet cough come from around the blind corner.
Ack! Sputter *cough*
Taking the subtle hint Hywel allows himself to be borne along by events, and seawater, to Coen's landing and through the portal.
Shaldar looks back through the portal waiting for the others to arrive. at hearing a wet cough shaldar will first see if she can identify who / what made the sound.
On hearing the cough Chromie snaps his gaze towards the corner it came from. Whispering, he speaks to the rest of the group.
"I'm going to check out that cough. Stay here, and cover me in case it's not just an old man hacking up his lung."
Attempting to move as silently as possible, Chromie presses himself against the wall and makes his way to the corner.
While attempting to move gracefully, Chromie stumbles and ends up accidentally hitting his buckler against the wall. The easily noticeable sound of steel grating on stone rings out, and the gnome winces at his own error. Silently cursing himself, and hoping that the sound wasn't enough to alert whatever is around the corner to his presence, he continues forward. When he reaches the corner he peeks his head around just long enough to assess the area before quickly withdrawing it.
Pwent follows up on Chromie, making no attempt to conceal his presence after the Gnome's faliure to remain silent.
Calas slips on through the door; hoping that Hywel will figure out that they moved on... (and if chromie is still withing 110 feet the following occurs... If not, he listens silently.)
Taking out his wand and piece of copper wire, he wiggles both and softly mutters an incantation, point it at Chromie, he whispers; I hope you are fimiliar with the message spell... if not, it works by whispering, but it will only last for a few minutes.
Once through the magic portal Hywel first looks back. Is there a door on this side?
Quietly:"Well we will not be returning that way."
He takes a quick headcount.
To Calas and Shaldar, quietly:"At least we know what the bag was for now. They were not planning on leaving for some time. Have either of you heard of a place like this? Glowing stone, vanishing doors, this place stinks of magic. Begging your pardon m'lady."
Hwyel promptly tries to go back to Coen's landing, establishing if the portal is two-way or not.
Hywel walks into an unseen object. A subtle grunt emits from his throat as he walks into something solid.
rounding the corner, you see an Orc, bloody, with a spear through its abdomen, sitting in a corner. A puddle of blood slowly spreads from his body. You easily recognize that this orc is almost dead.
, Anyone speak Orc?
of course I speak Orc bit shouldn't we be more interested in giving him healing
Anyone have healing for this Orc
Yeah, I was just asking because there's not much point in healing him; if one, he decides we're aggressive and two, we can't understand him anyways.He walks away to get Pwent
We need information, I know that dwarves have just as much problems with the Orcs as the elves do; but would you please heal him eneough to talk?
"Never picked it up but I've see spear wounds at least.."
Hywel Rushes to the wounded Orc.
"I can heal him, but I'd rather not. Nasty beasts if you ask me. He'll probably try to kill us if we get him back on his feet, and in my case I'm small enough to be lunch. Also, if I heal him, I can't heal myself if I need it later."
Hmm, I wonder...
Calas assists Hywel in stablizing the unfortunate Orc.
Does he notice anything unusual about the Orc?
Perception:
Edit: Heal check:
He tries, but he is just not expirenced enough to help.
His hands soaking in blood Hywel replies to Mr. Blackwater. "Noted, but not helpful. Maybe you should try to find an exit. After all you might need one later."
To the orc, in Common, Giant and Kelish. "Don't die on me. You Orcs are tough, not gonna let a little thing like this stop you?"
"If someone ties the damn things hands meself 'll show the filth a bit o' kindness, though I doubt it's deservin'.", Pwent mumbles the last part in contempt for the poor orc.
Once someone does that's a six on my die to channel positive. Too bad I don't have a wand of cure light wounds.
"Good point. Stanky McBleedy over there distracted me from my normal routine. If you'll excuse me..."
Having been reminded of the current lack of an exit, Chromie walks off and starts looking around for one.
Pwent kneels over the dying orc, and, with a mild smirk upon his face, snaps off one end of the spear and then jerks the spear through the orcs body. The orc, shocked by the intense pain, opens his mouth to scream, only to be cut off as Pwent touches the orc and heals the damage.
Blinking, the orc turns to Pwent and says My thanks
Chromie, deciding to not help the orc, instead meanders around, looking for apparent exits. Roughly twenty feet from the orc, and blending to look like the wall, Chromie spies a door. Turning to inform the party, he spots another irregularity back by where the group entered. Walking up to the spot, opposite the entry way, he sees another door.
"Well well... What have we here...
To Pwent: "Thank you. The wound was to deep for my meager skills."
"What where you doing here in the first place?", Pwent asks the orc, after nodding as if to say "you're welcome".
Calas pulls the manacles out of the bag and gives them to Pwent to put on the Orc.
the orc looks at the dwarf. I was part of a raiding party. There was about 20 of us, attacking the goblin tribe that controls the other half of this dungeon. Unfortunetly the goblins got the jump on us, and in the confusion, i got stuck by my brother. I hobbled back this way, and fell upon the wall, slidding down to ease my suffering until death came. Instead, you arrived first.
"Can you lead me an' me comp'ny ta' where the tribe be at, er give us directions at the least?"