Keth lounged outside leaning on the wall doing all he could to appear unconcerned, and at the same time watching the guard to see if he was agitated and trying to hear anything from inside.
Woolf sat idly next to Keth looking around with bright curious eyes. oblivious to what was going on inside.
Irizzle gets impatient.
He walks up to the biggest Ropefist he can see and says "Hey, are you the boss? If not, could you take me to the boss, I think there is some business we can do."
The man holding the door nods at another in the room. He opens the door as Sgrack is pushing on it allowing him to stumble through. The second man slightly surprised by the stature of the org goes through with his plans
Unfortunately for him he just can't figure where try and lock the Orc's limbs.
A tall handsome man approaches Irizzle as all of this comes to a head. He places his hand on Irrizles back and motions toward his comrades expecting Irizzle to follow. Upon reaching the room he waves off some of the bouncers and looks around the room.
"Apologies for the rash treatment from my staff. I am Garmen Ulreth can I be of assistance.?"
Meila pats Sgrack on the shoulder in an effort to calm him down.
"Uhm, hi there, Mr. Ulreth. I'm Meila. Sorry for the trouble. You see, the bunch of us are headed down the caves, and we heard that some Ropefists had gone down there. We want to know what they were after, cuz it doesn't sound normal for Ropefists to do that, you know? And if there's anything you can tell us about the caves, that'd be really useful. Maybe there's something we can do for you, like find out what exactly happened to them, or bring back something they were looking for. Is that possible?"
Irizzle pipes up with ”Oh, I could think of a few reasons those caves might be useful prior to the current situation, and I can assure you Mr Ulreth we would not want to disturb any delicate business items that might be located there, unless those items go boom, in which case I might like to purchase. Anyways, the sooner we can resolve the current issue, the sooner the previous status quo might return yes?”
Garmen appears to only focus on Meila while talking and making a sly grin.
"You have been no trouble at all dear. The ropefists as far as I am concerned are just security. I do the town a service by giving them some honest work and keeping then off the streets. What the group does as whole is not up to me. I have heard the town is rewarding those who can solve their plight that is believed to stem from these newly fo7nd caves. And like most caves and ruins is Numeria there is likely technology down there so it is no mystery why a plucky band of rogues would go down. To seek their fortune of course. As for your assertion mr Gnome if I have heard right the cave entrance is underwater and would be of no use to me. Maybe in a few months ir years they can be developed into something useful but to me they are nothing. Now as to how to repay you for your harsh treatment here."
Garmen reaches into his pocket and pulls out a few small slips of paper."I believe there are 5 of you if the man with the mutt outside is yours. Take these vouchers for you and your group although I am not sure the big one there will know what to do with it. They are good for 100 gold worth of games or drinks within the next week. Also I thank you for your bravery in seeking out a solution for our dear home in plight. Please be safe especially you my pretty dear."
Meila can't help but smile and stare at Garmen as he speaks. She lingers on his words and nods unconsciously. Meila even accepts the papers without really realizing it, and only after a short silence does she snap into reality with a hasty "Oh, you-you too. Thanks so much."
Outside, the slightly red-faced elf can't seem to stop talking about gambling.
Irizzle attempts to detect any untruths in Garmens statement.
Garmen:"As for any ropefists you found down there. I am sorry to say but since they have been gone days down there I fear the worst. If there is any remains or persona effects to be found of them if possible bring them back for burial would be a kind gesture. However most of them are Kellid and may hold on to old beliefs that their bodys should be left out to be devoured by the wild so use your own best judgement. With that I will bid you folks a farewell I have business to attend to."
With that Garmen leaves the room with a lingering glance on Meila before walking out of sight. The bouncers in the room leave and allow you to go about your business.
”Well, that was certainly invigorating. It seems it is time to test the veracity of our underwater preparations?”
"FINAL!" Sgrack exclaims when he believes the group will finally head towards the caves. "Sgrack ready!"
"Sgrack is right," said Sron. "The time has come for us to descend," Whatever became of Father, he needed to know. The lack of certainty was ... difficult to reconcile.
As they emerged from the gambling den, Keth smiled and looked at the guard and said Good news. You get to live and he turned and started toward the priest who said they could give us the capability to breath underwater for a short time.
Woolf broke out in a toothy grin and ran up to Meila wagging almost his whole body. then greeted each of the others in turn before turning back to Meila and giving a canine whine and licking her hand...then moved to where Keth had started walking.
The group makes their way through the town despite being almost evening at 5pm it is late summer at the moment and the sun is still in the sky. After visiting Joram and being informed that his water breathing spell will last for 4 hours and to avoid having to make a harder swim they should be back before then even if their mission isn't done.
After receiving Joram's blessing the group proceeds to the eastern bank of the Weeping pond. You trudge through the shallow water until you come to the cave opening that now has many sets of footprints around it after all the previous expeditions. The swim through the narrow tunnel is pitch black and nerve wracking and cold. Taking your time and heling each other you manage to make it through the winding 60ft passage.
Dampness hangs in the air of this cave, condensing into heavy moisture on the slick, stone walls. The calm, dark waters wind around to the east up north, along a stony, soot-scarred beach. A five-foot-high ledge sporting several stalagmites rises to the east, beyond which a low-ceilinged cave beckons.
Strangely this cave is lit by a shallow orange glow
Keth kneels and looks carefully down the hall first. while breathing shallowly because of the odd haze in the room. Careful to avoid large gulps of air. It smelled unnatural in here.
Woolf climbed out of the water and immediately started shaking the water from his fur totally ignoring the effects of the haze. He looked around as Keth and th others shielded him from the water droplets and smelled the air carefully.
Having never breathed water before, Irizzle finds the new experience exhilarating.
The only thing that stops him dilly dallying to savour the experience is the knowledge they’ll need to come out.
”That was... very invigorating?”
"What is the origin of this odd luminescece, one wonders?"mused Sron.
Meila had never gone swimming before, and to dive so deep below the waves, just like Irizzle she felt energized. The cold water invigorated her and she wished she could be a mermaid forever.
Upon not-so-gracefully leaping out of the water, Meila's stomach churns. She places a hand on the wall for support, and her knees wobble. "Oh, oh that's, that's not good. Shhhh tummy. Shhhh. It's gonna be okay. Sron, what's that smell?"
Keth remarks as he points---
tracks show several folks went up into the cave that way
"There may be certain expulsions of gas that occur in caves. The sensation will pass, along with the urge to reate expulsions of your own" said Sron. Looking at Keth he arched an eyebrow and said " Good catch.
3 Bright Glowing Bugs crawl out from the walls
Initiative
Sron
Meila
Irizzle
Bug
Sgrack
Bug
Bug
Keth and Woolf
Sron's eyes glow red and the nanites suffusing his body react to his heightened state of alertness. A clutch of pebbles levitated off the ground surrounded by ribbons of pale energy before suddenly being launched at the closest of the glowing insects.
Much like the others, Sgrack was amused by the whole experience, even if he did not understand how he was able to breath water. When Meila asks about the smell, Sgrack is fast to check if he is the source of it. "Not Sgrack."
Once the bugs appear, Sgrack is fast to react, moving towards the closest, drawing his hammer in the process, and smashing it!
Sron was a bit hasty with his aim and sent his rocks scattering every which way.
Sgrack on the other hand obliterates the nearest beetle into a mess of glowing orange guts.
Meila holds her stomach and points at the living bug closest to Sgrack. With disgust in her voice she mumbles "Go, pixie dust" and three little comets shoot out of her finger to smack into the bug's exoskeleton.
Irrizle strolls up and shoots the remaining bug.
Sorry about the delay wanted to see how the discussion on init played out.
Keth watched the group go into the fight not quite as joined as he would have hoped but smiling none-the-less.
He pointed with his spear tip at the Bug in front of Sgrack and aid Ionsai' and then he moved forward to the beetle crawling out of a rock face to his left front and thrust his spear at it. but his spear thrust stuck the wall instead. rock chips bounced out.
Woolf heard the command and almost leapt forward eagerly moving the The White Giants side and napping his jaws at the beetle on the dirt beside him. He felt his jaws snap shut on the carapace of the beetle.
The second insect makes a desperate squeal as it crunches audibly in Woolfs jaws dieing. The last bug flies at Keth and bites
The small vermins mandible gets some purchase on Keth deliving a painful pinch causing some subdermal bleeding but the damage is mostly superficial and healable.
Sron is up to try an finish this.
Sron focused again and another clutch of rocks levitate from nearby his position enrobed by a soft blue-ish glowing energy. The rock launch towards the grotesque bug.
Sron's focus this time is on point and he smases the last insect.
Keth looks at the beetle that fell out of the wall its carapace pocked with pebbles. He remarks Common Beetles found in the underdark and ruins. They have a gland that sheds light in the rear part of their body. It heats up so be careful He motions for Woolf to stop chewing his, as he sets his spear down and begins to carve out the gland on the one at his feet.
Woolf was busily trying to crack open thecarapace to get to the juicy innards of the bug he bit. Crunch! Crunch! then Keth motioned with a hand for him to stop and reluctantly he stopped and then with a dejected look on his face dropped the prize at his feet looking at it once before looking up and uttering an audible doggie sigh uhhhh
Irizzle takes a curious look at the creatures.
”Hmmm... I continue to learn new things today...splendid?”
"Wow. You guys are super strong. I'm glad I'm with you! Hey Sron, how did you throw rocks like that? I didn't hear you say any Magjo Jumbo."
Despite what Keth says, Sgrack knees besides one of the bugs and tries one of its legs while the others decide what to do next.
"I wish I knew Meila," said Sron. One of the things that Father had been trying to determine was how exactly Sron's abilities worked.
Alien am I he thought to this world and everyone in it
"Oooo are you like me, then? Cuz I don't know a thing about magic. I just point and say the words and stuff happens. I almost burned the house down as a kid."
”Ha! I consider myself not really awake until the house has almost burnt down at least thrice?”
Wanting to change the subject from his mysterious abilities, Sron suggests going North.
Meila can't stay focused on a subject, so she immediately agrees to go North and explore.
”Yes, yes, North...?”
Moving north you trudge through the knee deep stream(chest deep for Irizzle and Woolf), the stream banks east.
A shallow creek runs through the middle of this cavern, while to the south a stony bank rises up from the water. Thick carpets of green and gray mold and fungus grow on the bank, particularly around a trio of three-foot-high, foul-smelling mounds.
What would you like to do?
Keth looked at the mossy bank and the foul smelling mounds and thought to himself does he remember this...
All of the fungus and mold seems natural although you surmise that it is growing at an accelerated rate likely do to compounds in the water. However what is not natural is the height that the mounds have grown there would need to be something supporting it from below.