"I agree with Sharra'es better to take the chance of danger than a known danger. Perhaps we will be fortunate."
Harkness hops off one of the beetles he picked up. He talks between bagel bites. "So who wants to be in da scouting party fer this cave 'ere? I vote not it. On da grounds its dangerous."
Qua turns to Harkness. “Come on Yipps could be fun, heck I’ll even go with ya.”
"I appreciate the uh, enthusiasm... I'll keep scouting ahead for us when the time comes. I would appreciate a place of strength to run back to if I need though. Perhaps that would be more to your strengths?"
Qua turns to Harkness. “Come on Yipps could be fun, heck I’ll even go with ya.”
"Heh, well uh. I don't know who 'yipps' is but I-"
"I appreciate the uh, enthusiasm... I'll keep scouting ahead for us when the time comes. I would appreciate a place of strength to run back to if I need though. Perhaps that would be more to your strengths?"
The doctor breaths a sigh of relief before getting on top of the change in direction.
"Yeah. Yeah, now that I think of it, yeh should prolly keep that gun holstered Qua. Yah know what, I'll go too. Don't want ya gettin burns."
"I mean, not that I eh, know if yah do that."
"Heh, well uh. I don't know who 'yipps' is but I-"
“What are you talking about Yipps? I’ve always Called you that. You’re being weird.”
"Qua, how skilled are you at the art of stealth? Vraxiss interrupts. "It is a certain hobby of mine. I may not be the most skilled fountiersman, but I can usually see without being seen. As long as there is no rush I'm happy to accompany you."
"Qua, how skilled are you at the art of stealth? Vraxiss interrupts. "It is a certain hobby of mine. I may not be the most skilled fountiersman, but I can usually see without being seen. As long as there is no rush I'm happy to accompany you."
“I’m ok at sneaking around but given the nature of my weaponry if I am discovered EVERYONE and EVERYTHING will very quickly be aware of my general positioning.” Qua replies while haphazardly waving her dual revolvers. “I wouldnt mind tagging along though if you want me to.”
The group after the brief rest, travel into the tight fitting crag. The lights from the glowing mushrooms eventually grow too dim to make a difference, water... or what you hope is water drips down from above after a distance, further the chasm opens up a bit. Rocky vents shoot steam from the floor, cieling and wall.
"Okay, we might have issues wit gettin the beetles through hea."
“Do we maybe have a way to shield them from potential sprays? Shields, spells, our own bodies? Just spitballing here.” Qua rattles off more and more suggestions that only get worse and less potentially useful while she is tossing her spare gun (unloaded) into the air and catching it.
"Unfortunately my talents lie in other areas than shielding others from stem vents. The timing on these looks pretty tricky too..." Sharra 'es trails off trying to figure the pattern out.
Vraxiss joins Sharra'es in trying to gauge the timing. "Yes, it certainly is."
Mulling ideas Around, from her front scouting position Sharra does see thick roots that maybe could be climbed on or cut, some loose rocks. The Steam spouts seem to be random.
After watching for a bit Sharra'es gives a frustrated grunt. "These things are random for all I can tell. I did see some thick roots that can be climbed. They look pretty sturdy but we may be able to cut them instead and use them with some loose rocks to armor the beetles or to block off a vent or two."
“I can probably build something to hold the roots and rocks in place if you guys can gather them.”
Qua gets hard to work blueprinting barding for the beetles that should block the steam from damaging them too much. Using rope, nails and a few bits of metal from her gunsmithing kit.
Sharra 'es watches in amazement as the materials transform under Qua's skilled hands and attempts to help when asked.
With Sharras help Qua is able to quickly make a covering of roots and bark to protect everyone from the steam, enabling the group to pass the situation with minimal damage.
As the group passes the more dangerous section the passage begins opening up... You see rubble of worked stone. The ground is smooth, Theres a sound of dripping water consistently, the only light a dull glow of small red filled clear fungi growing to the sides, a small rodent like creature is eating them before you arrive and quickly scurries off.
As you continue you come to an entrance to what seems like an old Cathedral, ancient and in ruin
Qua gives a whistle. “impressive cathedral. I wonder what was worshipped here.” Qua says as she loads her twin revolvers and holsters one of them. Keeping the second one ready.
"I'm just glad you 'n Sharra got us past tha geysers. Think we'll get skeletons in 'ere?" The doctor will look at those clear glowing mushrooms outside. Not a lengthy look, but he would be remiss if he left something useful behind.
Vraxiss nods, "That was well done Qua, very clever I'm going to take a look around."
Vraxiss then moves do do a cursory inspection of the cathedral.
This specific Fungus, the Crimson Candy cap. Used to be used in several applications a couple dozen years ago. Specifically it can be refined into a sugar substitute, and also used to be used in several cold medicines.
It was left behind as its a somewhat rare plant and a more common herb was used. It's strength as a medicine was deemed not worth
The trouble compared to typical medicinal herbs.
If interested in harvesting give me another Nature check to see if Harkness knows how to properly gather spores and preserve them for later use or growing
Vrax, gives a look around the temple finding older religious symbols. Knowledge religion check to identify.
Walking around further you notice there's little animal life other than rats, feasting on that same red fungus...You get a better look and see... some are petrified. Turned to stone and recently...
The group will see Harkness Reach over some red glowing fungus and burst the red goo inside carefully into a container which he seal and preserves.
Watching the others start exploring and collecting, Sharra 'es stays with the pack animals to make sure they are keeping safe.
The cavern temple area seems... mostly uninhabited with the exception of Rats and Fungi. The pack beetles are eating some of the red fungus themselves
"So, we goin' in or what?"
Harkness is gonna proceed if he can find a door of some sort.
Things are eeriely quiet, oddly shaped rubble and dust around this cathedral. As the group proceeds and rejoins with Vraxiss up ahead, you see More rats... but these are made of stone and look strangely life like.
Looking around you all see ancient Religious symbols, non-draconic. Odd seeing as most religion stems from draconic. Deep gashes in the stone and ripped fragments of old cloth.
Harkness see's no doors, but smells an odd concoction of Fetid meat and the sweet scent of the Fungi that permeates the area this far in. There's a Corridor to the left and right of the group. One goes down, the other stays level and goes at a slight incline.
The path down Has a rising heat emanating from it.
Vraxiss pulls Dr. harness aside and shows him the petrified rats. "Doctor, what do you make of these? It makes me nervous."
"Looks like rats. S'Weird though. If they died hea they shoulda decomposed. Plenty a fungus to do that."
"They've been turned to stone. What could have done that?"
Vraxiss has heard of a few creatures that can can petrification. Basilisks, Medusa's, some types of magic. Its universally based on sight however .
Basilisks in this setting are Draconic Snakes with Petrifying vision. They're generally harmless to humanoids young, but Continent level threats when adults. This may be a nest of young judging by the damage
You know, those arent little statues or figurines
Addressing the group as a whole Vraxiss shares his thoughts. "These look like they've been petrified by basilisks, though young ones I'd guess. We should be careful. Be sure not to look one in the eyes."
"We should probably take care of problems like that if we are to establish a safe rout for our supply caravans." Sharra'es looks thoughtfully into the descending corridor, wondering about their chances to eliminate such a foe without permanent damage.
"That is probably wise. We must be careful though, even if these are young basilisks they could be dangerous, and I could be wrong. Does anyone have a mirror?"
Rummaging through her pack Sharra'es finally pulls out a polished steel plate about a foot across, "I have this. Not sure what good its going to do, it's not very good as a weapon."
Qua shrugs as she wanders aimlessly through the room going slightly out of her way to kick over a few rock-rats. “whatever ya’ll think is best. In truth I’m best in a tinkerin/explodin role but I don’t see nuthin to explode. Maybe we could set a trap? Ambushin usually a good way to handle a dangerous foe.”
While the group is talking through a plan, you hear slithering, rats squeak and run by in small groups. Normally not easy to see, but your trained eye picks out the subtle detail... Something running from a predator
The group talks, a few rats scurry by, nothing unusual. Water dripping through, heat rising from below. The pack beetles much on some sugar fungus.
“So much for that plan, we got comp’ny.” Qua takes out her revolver and sprints to the end of the room that the rats are running to do she can get as far from the encroaching predators as possible. Then she will grin in Harkness’ direction and say “let’s see what you got Doc!”