"And the source of some water that ended up in the academy.." adds Ufi.
Advancing in the shadows , Muruwa attempts to stay hidden.
From her hidden position, she studies the odd creature.
Zane and Kalaggi have no idea what this creature is. Ufi and Muruwa (who has just disappeared from view) recognize it as a fungus leshy, which is unsurprisingly a fungus with the leshy subtype. They can change shape into a giant mushroom or patch of fungi with an ability similar to tree shape.
"I'm not looking for a fight," he responds, "but I have to protect what's mine." He looks hesitant, but ready to attack if you get too close.
Believing the leshy to be no threat, Muruwa steps out from the shadows and introduces herself. "Greetings. I'm Muruwa. We mean you no harm." Indicating her companions, the grippli continues, "We're students at the university, and we're investigating a disappearance." She looks around curiously and adds, "We don't want our suspect to cause you any trouble. Perhaps we can help each other?" She looks hesitantly to the leshy.
"Muruwa speaks truly" agrees Ufi.
"We don't want what is yours. But our teacher has vanished, and clues led toward here. Have you seen anything strange around here in the last hour or so?"
He ponders what a leshy might like as a present.
Zane holds up his palms to show that he's unarmed.
"We have no interest in hurting you. We're just trying to get back to the university area. Maybe you could escort us through your territory?
It would save us time and it would help assure you we have no interest in your territory or your possessions."
Seeing that you are not a threat, the creature calms down and is willing to tell you what is going on. "My name is Gusa, and this was my home. Maybe with your help, it will be again? Ngaja is further down the tunnel and took some humans with her. I think she is trying to gain knowledge from a tutor and has cut off part of the canal. There's also river devils down there."
He is unable to tell you what Ngaja might be other than "bad woman".
"Right... so we may have to negotiate with Ngaja to get Tutor Ot back, and also with this devil..."
Ufi looks around at his companions. "We have this!"
Muruwa nods to Ufi. "I agree. It's what we've trained for." Turning to the leshy, she asks, "How do you know Ngaja? And what is a river devil? I'm not familiar with such creatures." Muruwa patiently awaits any answers.
"Would you like to join us, Gusa? One of the things they teach us at the academy is that we can accomplish anything if we work together.
To be honest, I've always thought it was just a thing people said, but I'm beginning to see that it's true!"
If he declines, Zane will encourage the others to hurry.
Gusa declines to join you. He seems intimidated be Ngaja and hops you will deal with her. He can tell you that the river devils are fish-people with spears, but stays clear of them as well. He wishes you well, then hides himself.
A connecting tunnel continues to the east for several feet, but a large collapse prevents immediate access further down it. A small side tunnel leads to a pool of water to the north and a larger tunnel connects to the main canal on the western end.
"Luckily we have those scales from this morning!" notes Ufi
He peers into the gloom. "I suggest we try that pool first..."
Muruwa agrees. "It appears we have little choice, but to go north." Muruwa continues advancing, keeping to the shadows as much as possible.
Moving toward the rubble, you reach a tunnel leading to the north. Because of Gusa's information, you are not surprised when two creatures leap out from concealment and attack.
Round 1 - bolded may go
Muruwa
Ekene
Kalaggi
Ufi
Red
Zane
Green
Keeping to the shadows, Muruwa sees the strange creatures. She doesn't recognize them, but when they appear hostile, she plans her surprise attack.
The grippli strides through the water with ease to the far side of the nearest enemy and attacks with her hand adze.
After her attack, Muruwa calls out, "Ekene, you're always so slow. Keep practicing." She grins and adds, "Perhaps take advantage of some flanking ...." She gestures to the opening.
Ekene smirks at Muruwa. "I'll show you slow!" she says as she moves up into the flanking position. She enters her crane stance, raising a leg as she strikes!
Ufi settles his shield into position and then hurries forward to keep the creature in red off his allies.
Puffing slightly he asks "Who is slow?"
◆ raise shield
◆ stride
◆ stride
Kalaggi does in fact identify these as river devils. They are humanoids with the amphibious and sea devil subtypes. They can enter a frenzy when they cause a creature to bleed, increasing their attack and damage and granting temporary HP.
Muruwa skulks forward and lands a strong blow on the unsuspecting Green.
Ekene follows her and kicks at it twice. The first strike is not as strong as she would like, and the second misses, so perhaps she does need some practice.
Kalaggi fires two shots at the other monster, hitting both times, but she also might need more training, based on how little damage she dealt.
Ufi takes a protective stance and moves into the creatures' room.
Red takes a Step away from Ufi, then attacks him twice with a spear.
This devil does not need training. It drops Ufi to the gorund with two well-placed attacks, then screams in triumph.
Round 1 - bolded may go
Muruwa
Ekene
Kalaggi
Ufi (-17 HP, dying 1, bleed 1d4)
Red (-5 HP, frenzy)
Zane
Green (-16 HP)
Zane will stride forward and cast electric arc.
DC 17 basic Reflex
Zane calls forth electricity at the enemy. Green cannot withstand the blast, but Red tries to get out of the way.
Round 2 - bolded may go
Muruwa
Ekene
Kalaggi
Ufi (-13 HP, -13 shield HP, bleed 1d4)
Red (-9 HP, frenzy)
Zane
Green
Knowing the benefit of catching the enemy unaware, Muruwa delays until one of her teammates gets into melee range. "After you, Ekene..."
Ufi steps backward. As he does so the beeds around his neck seem to glow with some type of inner light. The light is quickly absorbed by Ufi's battered body.
◆ Step back (to get out of range of the spear)
◆◆ Heal
Ekene moves around the second river devil to set up a flank for Muruwa. She unleashes another flurry of blows, following up with a devastating kick!
Nodding to Ekene, Muruwa follows her lead and moves into a flanking position behind the river devil. Once in position, she strikes twice.
"So I see friend Kalaggi. I will be unable to heal your own wounds if I am dead. Luckily it seems that was not my time to be."
The combined might of the students is more than enough to defeat the second river devil.
This passage eventually connects back to the main tunnel, but you do find a small pack lying near the wall to the north. Inside is a bundle of four minor healing potions, which are clearly labelled. The pack also contains two vials of alchemist’s fire, two vials of bottled lightning, and a beautiful sickle.
UNCOMMON | DIVINATION | MAGICAL
Price 55 gp
Usage held in 1 hand; Bulk L
The blade of this +1 sickle is engraved to look like the curving feather of a particularly elaborate quill. The wooden handle has a pen nib at the base. You can use the wordreaper’s handle as an ink pen and it never runs out of ink.
Activate ◆◆◆ Interact; Frequency once per day; Effect You use the wordreaper to inscribe the words “read by” and your name inside a non-magical literary work (such as a non-magical book, scroll, or play). You immediately gain cursory knowledge of the literary work as though you had skimmed it for 5 minutes.
Investigating the collapse, you see that a small pool has formed underneath the stones. It is large enough to swim through, though it is long enough that you will need to make an Athletics check to get to the other side before your air runs out.
"This sickle is magical, but I wasn't paying attention in Magical Identification 103."
Zane looks at the pool of water. He's not a strong swimmer, and suggests someone better go through first and maybe pull a rope for the rest of the group?
Zane has no rope to offer.
Ufi eyes up the healing potions. "Mind if I have a quick taste of one of them?"
If noboyd objects, he downs one.
Ekene retrieves the rope from her pack. ”I’ll go first and check it out!” The elf takes one end of the rope and dives into the pool, swimming through the water like a tall and slender fish!
Once Ekene goes and tugs on the rope, Zane will follow.
When Kalaggi reminds the group about the scales, Muruwa joins her and has another snack.
Muruwa follows the others, using Ekene's rope as a guide. She thinks, "How hard can this be for grippli?"
Ulfi drinks a potion.
He then downs a scale for desert and jumps in after the others.
The tunnel continues a few hundred feet before opening up to a large underground pool and a dirt shore along the southeastern half of the room. A small tunnel continues beyond to the south.
As Ekene approaches the beach, she notices a creature asleep in the pool to the north. Ufi and Muruwa both run into her back as she stops to evaluate the situation.
Ekene puts a finger to her lips and points to the sleeping creature. She then tries to sneak closer to get a better look at it.
The creature is a mirror serpent, a creature that can use its reflective scales to turn low-level magic back on its caster.
The creature does not stir as Ekene approaches. She thinks the group can get past it without waking it if they are careful.
Ekene quietly waves the group over, hoping they all can be as stealthy as she was!
After bumping into Ekene, Muruwa sees the sleeping serpent. She whispers, "Sorry...I was focused on this beautiful beach. I was thinking a swim would be lovely.". After staring at the serpent, she quickly adds, "Well...not now." The grippli studies the creature.
She then tries to continue as stealthy as Ekene.
Muruwa also creeps toward the beach. However, she thinks the creature is a crocodile, an animal that can grab a creature in its jaws and roll around, causing significant damage.
Zane will wave his hands, sending a sparkle of dust towards the creature.
Then, Zane will try to scurry across.
Ufi joins the crowd trying to sneak past the creature, pausing to consider what it may be as he passes by.
The creature, whatever it is, does not stir as the group carefully moves onto the beach.
The tunnel leads to a pleasant pool of water surrounded by bushes, creating a makeshift grotto. A trio of humans lie bound and unconscious, slumped over against the western wall beyond the pool. Short alcoves lead east and south of the grotto, but the only way in or out is from the north.
As the students turn the corner, frogs, lizards and snakes chitter and croak, alerting the creature you believe to be Ngaja to your presence. she rises, clearly intending you harm.
Ngaja gazes at Kalaggi, who begins to feel a sense of impending doom.
Success Frightened 1.
Failure Frightened 1 and slowed 1 for 1 round.
Critical Failure Frightened 2 and slowed 1 for 1 minute.
She then moves toward the group.
Round 1 - bolded may go
Ngaja
Ufi (-2 HP)
Ekene
Muruwa
Kalaggi (Will Save)
Zane
Muruwa doesn't like the looks of this Ngaja. She's giving amphibious humanoids a bad rap! When the creature glares at Kalaggi, Muruwa jumps into action. First, she tries to identify Ngaja.
Muruwa then quickly moves into a flanking position with Ekene, and says, "I do and do for you, my friend." She grins and attacks with her adze.
"United, we stand!" Ekene calls to Muruawa. The elf assumes her crane stance and attacks!