Aeron grunts as the bolt slams into his shoulder, he then lets out a roar of anger as he forces himself through the small opening. Using the momentum of his exit, Aeron steps up in front of the dwarf and swings his massive hammer at him!! "Die!"
Orlando wounds the dwarf very badly and Aeron comes forward and strikes the dwarf dropping him to the ground in a bloody heap.
Seeing the dwarf drop, Raven turns and carefully (due to the Grease) walks back to where Varn and Selka lay apparently asleep. She does her best to rouse them, starting with the arcane magic user first. She then moves to the Mother Cleric.
Once they are all ready to move on, she leads them through the narrow defile into the chamber where the rest of the group waits with the fallen dwarf.
"Ow, my head..." - Selka groans as she slowly comes to her senses - "What... The dwarf! He cast a spell... Did you defeat him? Is anyone injured?" - She asks, concern clearly present in her voice.
After she gets back on her feet, Selka thanks Raven profusely for her help, then follows her through the tight passage to rejoin the others.
"Poor bastard. Must have become deranged down here all alone..." Commented Orlando as he sheathed his blade and recovered his crossbow.
Tessai takes to one knee besides the fallen dwarf, checking him to confirm his state, and whether he is alive or not - "He was either thoroughly evil, or completely mad to simply attack us like that..." - she ponders.
Tessai then proceeds in stripping their opponent of any weapons or valuables, placing the corpse on a corner of the cave and the loot on a pile, then searching the premises for any more clues.
When Selka joins back with the rest of the group, she immediately checks up on everyone to make sure they're fine.
Noticing Aeron's wound, she takes hold of his shoulder, gently but firmly, and examines it for a few moments - "Please stay still, this may hurt a little." With one fluid motion, Selka grabs the bolt stuck in Aeron's shoulder and yanks it out, then murmurs a few strange words while moving her hand over the open wound, releasing a wave of healing energy into the man's body.
Selka offers Aeron a wide smile, then joins Tessai in searching the cavern.
Raven pushes through the gap after the elf wizard and the cleric. She sees Tessai looking through the dwarf's things and goes to assist. She then looks through the cavern for any other items or signs of interest.
Once that's done, she scouts ahead just a little to see what challenges might come next for the group.
"The dwarf was a spellcaster, of that we can be certain. He put you two to sleep. He may have items of magical value with him. He also may have a map or other indication of the way out."
Yes this cavern has a campsite which compose of little more than a bedroll and a campfire. You find a bag filled with dried meat, some water-skins, some spare arcane components.
Searching the dwarf Raven finds two potions, two arcane scrolls, a jeweled dagger, a spellbook and some coins, 17 gold and 8 platinum. He also had a light crossbow and had 7 remaining bolts.
Many magical things here," Raven says spreading them out on the ground. "Can any of you divine the magical properties of items? That would be most helpful, if we're going to use them to get out of here."
She passes the extra food and water rations out amongst the group, and offers the crossbow and bolts to whoever can use them.
Aeron shakes the gore from his hammer and eyeballs the bolt still protruding from his arm. He touches it gingerly while Raven slips back through to rouse Varn and Selka while Tessai goes about looting the dwarf. He fidgets nervously until he sees Raven, Selka, and Varn all return from the small entryway and lets out a sigh of relief. "Glad to see you are okay."
He watches while Selka examines his wound and gives her a quick nod when the cleric grasps the bolt. "Do it." He elicits a short cry of pain when the bolt comes free, blood begins to ooze down his arm from the open wound. However that is soon remedied by Selka as she casts her curative magic on Aeron, completely healing all his wounds. He smiles and pats the cleric on her shoulder. "Thank you."
Aeron gladly takes some of the rations from Raven and eagerly waits, silently, for someone to identify the properties of the magical items.
Sitting down Varn starts to eat the rations given to him and takes a dink of water.
I will do what I can but diving the nature of magical items is difficult.
Using his knowledge of the arcane Varn studies the 4 items and reads the scrolls to grasp their true natures.
You carry on and travel north-west for 2000 feet. The tunnel opens into a large cavern, about seventy feet across. Cylindrical rock formations along the walls arch up to make a domelike chamber, but the walls and floor are riddled with cracks. At the center of the cave, a stone tower that may
once have reached the fifty-foot-high ceiling has collapsed onto its side.
You hear voices and notice two humanoid creature standing upon the rubble digging. "Crel hang on! Were coming for you." shouts one of them.
As soon as she hears the voices, Selka stops dead in her tracks and raises a hand to signal the others to stop too.
"Who's there?" - She shouts back to the humanoids - "We have no dispute with you! Stay your weapons and you won't be harmed!"
While waiting for an answer, and still keeping an eye on the two creatures, she tries to take a quick look at the cavern they have just entered.
Varn starts digging in his bag and pulls out his crowbar.
Well, well what to do these people could be dangerous but then again the attack above ground could have been what caused this landslide. Ah well best to just wait for one of the others to decide what to do.
They turn to face you startled. One of them comes forward holding a quarterstaff in a defensive stance.
He greets you in a raspy voice, speaking in strangely accented but quite
eloquent Common "Surface dwellers here?...I am called Lann. If your intentions are ill, we ask you to move on and leave us in peace. If they are good, then perhaps you can help. As you can see, misfortune has befallen us."
Picture of the one you are talking too: Lann
"Misfortune has befallen us as well, my friend, else we wouldn't be down here. How can we help you? You have a friend in this rubble? If we help recover him, perhaps you can show us a way to the surface"
Raven shows empty hands, a sign of friendship and peace.
Lann pauses but he makes a quick glance at the collapse and says "Agreed, help my friend buried in the rubble and I will do what I can to get you to the surface."
He runs back to the collapse.
The other one is female you can tell and seems to be a mix of human, bird and lizard her hands ending in talons and she has a beak instead of a mouth but parts of her body is scales like Lann but she has no feathers.
You hear a muffled shout for help from under the rubble. The mongrels have cleared away enough rubble away that only one large rock remains wedged in place above the small space in which Crel is trapped. Lifting the rock away requires a successful strength check. Up to six people can work together to lift the stone, with one rolling the Strength check and the other five attempting to aid another. Alternatively, the PCs can try to dig Crel out, but this is a perilous task, as doing so in the wrong method can cause the ruble to shift and crush Crel. A knowledge(engineering) check is required to succeed by this method.
"Poors things..." mutters Anivia with a look of pity.
"How so?" says Arashial
Anevia describes them to him quietly.
"Oh! So descendants of the tainted first crusaders do survive to this day! How fascinating, I have many questions for them!"
"Just be careful, we can't trust these creatures."
Orlando puts away his crossbow.
"Well then, someone needs a rescue! I can bear a hand..."
Success!
Orlando aids another (+2) to the Strength check.
Aeron cautiously approaches the large boulder and puts his large hands to either side of the rock. He waits for anyone else that wish to lend a hand before beginning to lift. "This will prove to be a minimal task, I believe."
To aid another you need to make a check and get at least 10. If you get less than 10 you do not help.
"Of course we will help you!" - Selka exclaims once she realizes the gravity of the situation - "Come, there is no time to waste!"
Selka quickly puts her weapon away, then joins Aeron and the others in trying to lift the large boulder.
Varn walks to the boulder and seeing his allies try and pull it up he jams his crowbar into a crack and tries to help.
Unfortunately his grasp on the crowbar comes loose and he ends up falling on the floor.
[b]Well that was less than useful.[b]
Lann tries to helps as well. but fails.
On your first attempt you mange to lift the rock a bit but you lose and it falls back into place. There is a loud shaking sound from bwlow as stones crack and shift.
Crel is ok for now but another failed attempt or two could collapse the whole thing on him.
Lann seems worried but says "One more try! We were really close there."
He starts lifting with all his might
Aeron sees the little fellow usage his adrenaline to begin lifting the boulder and puts his shoulder in to help!!
Raven puts her back into the second attempt to move the rock. Feeling it budge slightly she heaves all the more.
ew, just enough to help a bit.
You manage to lift the rock and move it aside so the trapped Crel can escape. He is wounded but not badly. (9/12 hp)
Crel seems human but is a hunchback with tumors all over his body.
"I thank you for your aid friends." he says once free.
Lann looks to you "I thank you as well whiteout your help Crel would surely have died."
Raven smiles at the man, unsure of how to proceed at this point. Social graces are not her forte, and she shifts her weight uncomfortably. At last she asks Lann, "Is your friend badly hurt? We may have means to ease his wounds. Perhaps the Mother Cleric will look to him?"
Raven then steps back and begins to look around the room for means of egress.
You explore around for a bit and find that many tunnels converge on this area. There is a tunnel going west (the way you came from) one to the north-west, to the north, to the east and to the south-east.
Orlando bows to Crel and Lann.
"We are pleased to be of some assistance in your time of need. I wonder if you could point out the way to the surface? We fell down here through a crack in the earth when a demon army attacked our town, and greatly wish for a way back."
The tiefling also steps forward, introducing herself and backing up Orlando - "Well met, I am Tessai - We are indeed stranded in these caves, after a catastrophe hit us above ground, and looking for a way back to the surface, as my friend has just pointed out - do you live in this complex?"
Crel says he fine but doesn't refuse healing if offered.
"The quakes were caused by an attack on the surface? I cant even image what could have caused that..." says Crel
"We live in Neathholm, city of the descendants. This tower is a guard-post to warn the city of incoming intruders. With the tower destroyed we must return to the city to report what has happened. You can speak with our chieftain and as promised I will guide you to the surface." says Lann.
He moves away from the tower and towards the exit to the east which when he gets closer you see that the passage east has collapsed.
"Well this is a problem...The passage to the city is blocked. The only other way would be to go south-east...We would need to pass over the rope bridge and trough the lair of the spore-cougher -a vicious plant-like creature that uses spores to cause hallucinations so it can catch you off-guard. The creature is very dangerous we would need your help to get past it." says Lann
Knowledge nature dc 15
Raven smiles at the man, unsure of how to proceed at this point. Social graces are not her forte, and she shifts her weight uncomfortably. At last she asks Lann, "Is your friend badly hurt? We may have means to ease his wounds. Perhaps the Mother Cleric will look to him?"
"Absolutely," - Selka nods readily - "If your friend is in need of healing, I can assist him."
She touches the Holy Symbol hanging from her neck, and speaking a few words - "May the blessing of the Inheritor be with you." - she releases a wave of divine energy.
When Lann offers to bring them to their city, and then guide them to the surface, Selka promptly thanks him profusely for their help, and agrees to follow him, if her companions agree as well.
'Finally, someone who actually knows his way around these tunnels! With some luck, we'll be able to get back to Kenabres in short order!... But, he mentioned their city? Surely he meant their encampment... There couldn't be a... City inside these caves now, could it?'
When Lann mentions the dangerous alternative path, Selka grimaces a bit, but her heart is unchanged, and she's still more than willing to follow them to their home.
When the others are ready to leave, Selka follows their new guides into the dark tunnels ahead.
When you agree to help clear the dangerous alternative pass he leads the way. You travel 20 minutes and then he stops in from of a chasm.
"Could I be having worst luck today...This is were the bridge was" he says showing you a 15 foot wide chasm with no bridge in sight, only a few broken supports.
"We need to get across somehow..." he adds looking to you for ideas.
"These quakes were really bad...I wonder how the city was affected..." says Crel.
Orlando looks over the chasm.
"Well, I believe I can leap across, if allowed to make a running start. Perhaps I could attach a rope, just in case I miss."
Well, while that sounds like a fun and interesting idea don't we have someone with the ability to levitate. That would prevent you from falling to your death while you jump over and tie a rope.
Orlando grinned at Varn.
"Nonsense! I will take the risk."
Orlando will tie one end of his rope around his waist and give the other end to Selka.
Backing up fifty feet away, he mutters the words to the spell Expeditious Retreat, races to the chasm and jumps.
Orlando's jump takes him way far over the chasm covering over twice the distance he needed.
Aeron follows the cursed ones through the tunnels, watching them with pity. He wondered what made them the way they were as they followed along.
Once they reached the chasm he wandered towards the edge and stared down. He watches tentatively as Orlando suddenly makes a running leap across the pit, clearing the drop with ease. "Well done, Orlando! Well done indeed!" He lets out a cheer and laughs loudly.
"Thank you, thank you," Orlando said with pride, bowing with a flourish.
Taking his end of the rope he looks around with a frown.
"Ah. Does anyone know how am I to anchor this end?"