The savage tide hits Arcadia

Game Master Scarletrose

Gavin doesn't respond to Erick's admonishment, but rather just takes the rope and begins working his way along behind the knight, as slowly and as surely as possible.

As you advance, the cave forks and the waters gets a little deeper.you could stay very close to the northern wall or else you will have to swim a little as the cave floor suddenly drops off and the waters turns from one to almost 10 feet deep.
Also, looks like there is a bit of dry land pretty close on the southern path.
I need Tessa to do a swimming check if she goes beyond the intersection. Kutsya has a swim speed by virtue of her water rat trait, so she doesn't need any check.

Before the water gets too deep Tessa ties the rope around her waiste. Once secure she resumes bounding through the shallows until the water turns deeper. She pushes off the ground in the hopes of propelling herself forward but succeeds in only following in Gavin's steps. When she plants her foot and pushes she slips on the moss covered stone.

Swim check 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Turning back to Gavin she feigns frustration as she shouts, "Hey! Why didn't you tell me it's slippery Gav??!"

Securing her footing properly this time, she launches herself into the water looking for a place to tie off the rope.

Swim Check 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

I'm assuming it's calm water and I'm failing by less than 4 to not go under. Second check to attempt to try again also assuming we're not in combat now.

Kutsya glances down the southern passage, but follows Tessa into the northern passage.

"Don't worry, Barber, I won't swim off alone while I'm carrying you. Would be a shame to drop you in the cold, dark ocean."

Tessa and Kutsya swims ahead and reach for a large pool of water, about twelve feet deep on the center. On the opposite side the cave gives way to sand and then again pavement in a short corridor that leads to a closed wooden door.

"Shame does not cover it. There are halfling maidens desperate to make my friendship and they will never have the chance to taste those fruits at last breakfast. Sarenrae be praised for the deserts and open skies I wish to visit again."

As cautiously as possible, Gavin makes his way around the bend, and once the tunnel turns south, the young man clambers onto the dry land, and breathing heavily, red-faced, makes his way to the south.

Taking 10, or even 20, if possible. If there is no way to get around the bend without swimming, Gavin will strip off his armor, and tie it to the rope. Tying the other end of the rope to his waist, he'll make drag his armor to him once at solid ground.

swim check if needed, no armor on: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Hope that DC is 10!

Is this rope 50'? I think we're going to be a little short.

Tessa stops swimming to look ahead and shouts back, "I see some sand and pavement ahead leading to a door. I'll try to tie it off up ahead!"

Tessa takes two more strokes but is held up with the rope snaps tight and prevents her from moving ahead any further.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Tessa grunts, "Oooff! Why did you do that?!"

Let me know if I'm mistaken.

I've got rope in my pack as well. Gavin will use his as needed, leaving his pack behind but taking his armor and weapons.

with the help of ropes, moving carefully and having 3 people already ahead I assume you all manage to get to the other side of the cave safely without bigger problems than drinking a little bit of salt water for whoever would struggle with his swim check.
So feel free to assume you all arrive safely before the door.

Erick takes off his pistol as he gets to the deeper water. "Bedu, keep this out of the water." He hands the pistol to Bedu, first blowing the powder out of the flash pan, so that it can't accidently be fired. "And keep the noisy end pointed away from Kutsya's head, don't be the scorpion to her frog."

Once on the other side, Erick will shake out his equipment, and get as much water as he can off it. "Remind me to get a wizard to do a mending on this, and a prestidigitation to clean it up." He carefully takes the gun back from Bedu, and reprimes the charge pan.

Bedu casts mage hand and carries the pistol safely across without a hint of water. He hums to himself at the way life is turning out.

Tessa reaches the other side and pulls the rope in, hauling whomever is attached to it across. As she spots Bedu with the mage handed pistol she eyes it with a grin.

"Now THAT'S something you don't see everyday. Don't tell me you can shoot it like that too Bedu!"

"No, such a nasty noise like the sound of a camel's bark and the smell of a camel's fart. No, I do not wish to do that thing ever. Erick can have it back with my pleasure."

When Kutsya reaches the pavement, Bedu gets down with a touch of style. Then lands with a thud.

Erick snorts. "You haven't seen what they can do to a dragon. When I was in training, my mentor was asked along as an observer. Twenty one men armed with rifles, in three ranks. The scouts flushed the wyrmling, about 30 foot long it was, breathing acid. Killed one of the scouts. Then the riflemen spoke. First rank fire, drop to knee, second rank advanced and fired, dropped to knee. Third rank advanced, fired, dropped to knee. An continuous rolling roar that lasted all of 3 heartbeats. When they were done, the dragon was scattered over forty square feet of land, blood everywhere. Every single round hit home."

"Thank you Erick for that image. I shall treasure it all the more when we leave Parrot Island and you can show me how it works on Valanthus Vanderboren." Bedu looks around for signs of humanity and life.

Bedu casts mage hand and carries the pistol safely across without a hint of water. He hums to himself at the way life is turning out.

This makes me really happy :)

Gavin gets to dry ground, and hauling his armor and weapons behind him, sets about getting put back together. Once finished, he turns to his companions, and running his hand through his soaked hair, looks at the door in front of Tessa, holding a javelin at the ready. "Well then, I suppose we should open it. Tessa, would you do the honors? I really hope it is not a broom closet, and we're going to have to turn around and swim back."

Tessa bows her head with a bow sweeping of her hand in grand fashion. "It would be my pleasure!"

Perception.

Tessa approaches the door, readying her rapier. As she does so she keeps a wary eye out. Assuming there are no glaring traps or signs of danger, she flings it open as she steps aside.

Erick readies himself, gun in one hand, sword in the other.

Tessa tries to open the door but it won't open.
This door is different, it's not stuck like the first one you encountered, and is definitely not locked.
Looks like it has been barred from within.
The conditions of the door nonetheless are not better than the others.
Zombies and Crabs may be not smart enough to figure it out, but you don't think you would have any problem destroying the door.

Tessa grimaces and grunts and the door won't open. In exasperation she exclaims, "Damn! This door is stuck. Not like the other one though, it's almost like something from the other side is keeping it closed. Perhaps Erick should slam into it or blast it with his boom cannon."

"Perhaps a bullet is a waste.

I assume the hinges are on the other side of the door, and it therefore opens in

"I doubt the bullet would do much. I could blow the lock open, but not the door itself." He feels the frame of the door, to see how solid it is. "We could try knocking, something barred the door. It could be hostile, or it could simply be wanting to avoid the crabs and zombies. Last ditch effort, I could try to rig an explosive with my powder horn. I'd rather not do that. A dagger through the frame or a rapier blade through to slide up and drop the bar off on the other side might work if we need to break in." He examines the frame more, to see if there's enough of a crack to get a blade through.

"The most direct path around an obstacle is through it. If we can't unbar the door, perhaps we should just break it down?"

Good idea, Erick. Anyone got Kno: engineering? If we have to go through the door, I've got guidance to cast if we need to attempt strength checks.

Bedu has knowledge engineering, perhaps a roll would help scarletrose?

The halfling looks pensive, "you do not think that the stuck door means a wall of water is being held back, do you? Watch out for trickles when you break it." He flicks at the door.

Tessa looked ready to throw a shoulder into the door after Erick's comment but pauses after Bedu's.

"Good thought, that would be good."

Examining the door it is apparent that a few kick or a couple of hit from Gavin or Erick heavy weapons would bring down the door easily.
It's also unlikely to contain any water since It would spill out of the numerous cracks and holes in the wood.

Let us listen at a crack first Tessa. We are locked out badly but we may hear the reason beyond if we are lucky.

Bedu listens hard at a low crack. He cups his ear and waits for Tessa to do the same.

Perception check please.

Gavin holds his flail above his head and waits for the word to bring it down on the door...

Bedu tries to hear soething from behind the door, but there seems to be an absolute silence.
are you all still alive? there is not much movement in here lately

Was waiting for you to do bedu's results.

Erik nods. "Let's try the finesse way first, then the bash and noise way."

Erik takes out a dirk, after putting his sword back in it's sheath. Then he tries to push the dirk through the cracks in the door to get it under the bar on the other side to lift up the bar.

Sorry, combination of a con last weekend...and recovering from con crud this week.

Kutsya watches Erick with interest. If he is unsuccessful, she will see if she can snake one of her braids through and try the same thing.

I was also waiting for perception results.

Tessa's interest has been caught. She raises an eyebrow and says to Erick, "Well now dear, if it's finesse you want then perhaps I should be having a go at it?"

"Tis quiet as the approach of a sandstorm beyond."

Erick tries to lift the bar with his dirk from one of the cracks but he doesn't seem to find whatever is blocking the door.
on the other hand, while trying, the door almost comes out of its hinges.
You are pretty sure you can manage to remove the door in a relatively quietly manner working on them.

"Well, it wasn't the finesse I thought you might lack, it was the bulk to handle the door." He tells Tessa. "You are a wee slip of a thing, as Bedu might say. However, it appears the hinges are nearly shot. Kutsya, think you can worm your hair through the cracks here by the hinges and lift them off? I will hold onto the door handle and frame as best I can to keep it from falling."

Kutsya nods. "I'll see what I can do." Several of her braids slither through the cracks on the door, seeking the hinges. After putting pressure on the hinges, hopefully breaking them, she lends her strength to quietly lifting the door.

The hinges give up to Kutsya's braids and Erick tries to hold the door and avoid making noise.
His task is severely challenged by the horrible stench of death and decay that suddenly comes from the now open doorway.
You find out the obstacle was actually a bunch of crates leaning against the door.
The cloying stink of rotten meat rises from a bloated, seeping body slumped in the middle of the floor.
The corpse's dark, almost black flesh bulges against its armor, seemingly ready to burst at the slightest touch.
An intricate tattoo of a dragon clutching a flower is barely visible on his shoulder against the diseased flesh, and clutched in one hand is a crumpled scroll.

As the door comes off its hinges, Gavin throws his hand over his mouth. "Urp. Gahh. That is awfu- Oh my! It looks like it is ready to pop! I think we should be very careful around this unfortunate once man or woman."

Moving into the room, Gavin makes a quick prayer to Cayden Cailean, "Give me the skill to notice any danger befouling this room." and walks around the corpse, looking it over, careful not to disturb it.

Casting guidance. Perception check +4 modifier please.

Erick holds his breath, then pulls out a bandana from his pack. He walks back to the water, soaks the bandana, then ties it around his face to cover his nose and lower. "I suggest we don't breath in too much of that foulness, it could carry disease."

Returning, Erick picks up the crates, carefully, after checking them for traps, and moves them out of the way. He leaves the corpse to those with healing skills. Motioning Tessa back away from the door with him, he places the crate down and goes for another one. "While the medically inclined check the corpse, let's us check the crates." He offers Tessa.

Tessa's face sours at the smell, turning her head away. "Aahhh! Blech."

As Erick returns with the crates she moves over to that area and offers her assistance in opening the crates.

Perception all those this puppies.

Bedu reads the note, ignoring the smell. He tests the body for signs of how the man died.

The slave quarter of Katapesh smells much like this. I remember the body of the old man, whipped by gnoll guards for blocking my father's sedan. Then they turned him over and the old man's body belched gas. Then there was the bilgewater in the Mermaid's Dream.

When you open the boxes you see most of them are filled with booze.
They seems to be pretty old bottles.

The note in the corpse hand reads...

Bedu reads it out loud for everyone as they search in the poisonous miasma of the rotting Penkus. He taps his foot at the mention of Vanthus. Again.

"Taxidermist's Hall would not be my first choice after here. Madam Gerdie's Pie Shop was my thought but it seems Penkus has persuaded me otherwise. Someone promise they will put a sword through that cursed Vanderboren, I beg."

Distracted by the clinking of what can only be liquor bottles, Gavin leaves Bedu to the corpse and makes his way over to the crates, a smile breaking across his face as he sees what Erick and Tessa have discovered. "OOOOoooooooooooooohhhh. Cayden Cailean saw fit to bless us today! These bottles are from a distillery no longer in existence, and are quite valuable - five times the worth of a good bottle of wine. I'm not selling my share though. Now, I'd prefer to not lug these crates back through the urchins..."

What does the room we are in look like? Any doorways or halls?

Gavin's expression clouds at Bedu's mention of Vanderboren. "I've got no sword, but I'll gladly crack his skull with my flail. He's tried to do us in - we should return the favor."

The dark thoughts passing through his head, Gavin again smiles. "And then we'll go to Madam Gerdie's Pie Shop. Pie goes great with Shackles-style coffee."

Thanks, Scarletrose! Looklike our posts passed each other in the ether.

"And what luck! Poor Penkus may not have seen it, but I bet we can move this wall over here. See the scratches on the floor? I bet it has been moved before."

And that said, Gavin starts pushing and pulling on the wall, attempting to budge it from its resting spot.

"Don't know how. Don't know when. But Vanthus will die, I'm sure of that." Kutsya pauses. "Anyone know what "Lotus" is? Not ringing a bell to me today."

Once Gavin points out the secret door, Kutsya moves to help him with it.

"I was thinking a lump of lead through his eye personally." Erick moves the crates back to near the secret door. "Lotus, wasn't that the club that the parents belonged to? If the son is trying to take it over, getting rid of his parents may have been the first step, they had already disowned him, I doubt they would have wanted him in their club."

Gavin and Kutsya pushes the wall out of the way revealing a hidden room.
The air in this room is stale, yet unlike the other chambers in the complex, the place seems quite dry, even dusty.
Cobwebs hang in thick sheets from the ceiling, and against the northern wall sit three large sea chests.
updated the map