The hail of arrows sailing above Rūha's head seem quite convincing, so she focuses on just keeping the red gug busy with a few more quick jabs while Yambul carves it apart from the other side. She keeps her Advice going for a moment longer.
Zzvkgrogk overwhelms the green gug, his shots pushing him down for good. The beast falls and does not stand up again.
Khalia's barrage of arrows and Rūha's strikes are then enough to deal with the remaining one.
With the monsters dealt with, you are able to fly up to the central rock and claim your treasure.
170 gp
five chrysoberyls worth 100 gp each
violet garnet worth 500 gp
ring of counterspells (with cone of cold already stored in it)
wand of touch of slime (4 charges)
Rūha steps back, satisfied. "That went... surprisingly well for an ambush. They looked fierce, but they weren't much of a match for us." She looks to the major corridor leaving from the room to the east. "I'll keep watch while you grab what you like from up top."
"C'mon Hyrsek, get your face out of the muck. It's not a good look on you," Rhoreen chirps as she grabs the goods, and, after identifying them, will pass the goodies around to those who wish them. She doesn't have need for them.
"Yes, well fought, they never stood a chance," Rhoreen agrees with Ruha, who is scary enough as it is.
She will wait for others to heal, and then be ready to push forward.
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Hyrsek groans, pushing himself up from the muck with as much dignity as he can muster. He flicks a bit of filth from his sleeve, gives Rhoreen a deadpan look, and smirks "Ah, but you underestimate the power of battlefield camouflage. I was merely lulling them into a false sense of security" he straightens his coat, adjusts his rapier, and adds, "Shall we see what other horrors await, or would you prefer to critique my fashion choices a bit longer?"
Meanwhile, Rūha advances through the northeastern tunnel. It curves north and ends at what appears to be a dead end, but with outstanding perception, she notices a thin mat of fungus covering a hole in the ceiling that allows access to a tunnel up.
The access is 20' high and the climb is a bit difficult with all the fungus around.
Rūha fires her autograpnel up into the hole in the ceiling and then tugs to cable to make sure its anchored well. She climbs up, bracing herself against the wall as she does. "Looks like we're going up from here."
After she's done she lowers a rope for the others to follow (at least the ones without flight).
Yambul climbs up (take 10 = Climb 22) hooks his grapple and lowers his rope for others so there are two ways up and down if need be.
He follow Rüha into the cave.
Rūha and Yambul successfully make it up with style and set a rope for the others to follow up.
Up, they look around and see a rounded cave with an exit to the northeast that goes into the darkness. The environment is well covered by fungus as the rest of the cave complex, but your magics so far seem to keep it away.
Rhoreen flies after the two warriors, keeping watch while they are climbing and trying to be helpful and not overly smug.
"Very good. Let's keep going. I would hate for our protective air magics to run out."
"Oh. Yes, let's not let that happen." Rūha continues onward to the northeast after everyone has made it to the upper level.
"Agreed." Khalia's impatience grows, seeking to be done with claustrophobic caverns and tunnels. "There is still a malignant force somewhere ahead, so be ready."
Zzvkgrogk laughs heartily at Hyrsek’s reasons for his choice of couture, somewhat relating to it.
He uses the rope as necessary to help himself airwalk through the fungus to join the others. He kicks the fungal tube opening as Khalia speaks. ”I think the malignancy surrounds us. I am glad we are all in bubbles.”
Isuma and Hyrsek make a couple attempts at climbing up the rope, but after the failures they try to recover their dignity "You know what? We can wait here if there is nothing of interest there up"
The group follows the narrow tunnel leading northeast, where a sickly yellow-green glow flickers.
Little of interest lies in the southwest half of this area, but to the northeast, five tables of strangely flexible metallic-looking fungus have been set up. Each of the tables is spattered with gore.
A pack of mi-go are hard at work dissecting their latest prize, an aurumvorax. The dead creature has been thoroughly dismembered, but the mi-go show no signs of being finished with their work.
Weapon Equipped = Chainsaw (55m)
Conditions = Barkskin (+4, 95m), Heroism (+2, 215m), Life Bubble (145m), Shield (5m)
Chainsaw: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +6 Str +1 magic (-3 PA) Dam: +9 Str +1 magic (+9 PA) Crit: 15-20x2 DR: adamantine, magic Charges: 2/10
Falchion: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +6 Str +1 MW (-3 PA) Dam: +9 Str (+9 PA) Crit: 18-20x2 DR: adamantine
Long bow: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +3 Dex +1 Magic Dam: +6 Str +1 Magic Crit: 20x3 DR: cold iron/silver
Chef’s knife: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +1 magic +6 Str / +3 Dex (-3 PA) Dam: +6 Str (+6 PA) +1 magic Crit: 19-20x2 DR: magic Rng: 10’
Studied: (white) (mv|sw|im; +3 att, dam, bluff, disguise, intimidate, knowledge, perception, sense motive, stealth, survival)
Improved Iron Will (1/1d, reroll will save)
Spells: (1/1d, Magic Missile, cl 3) (1/1d, Prestidigitation, cl1) (0/1d, Shield, cl10)
Veggies: Apple (+4 radiation 24h) x2, Carrot (+4 perception 24h), Mushroom (+4 stealth 1h), Peppers (+2 init/reflex open alien doors 1h) x2
- - -
Yambul hesitates… there are a lot of them, and not a lot room. Still, better in there than out here. Or so he thinks.
He rushes in after studying white, and carves a swath through his opponent!
(hero, studied)
(studied)
(hero, studied)
(studied)
(chainsaw, hero)
- - -
Rūha begins offering a fresh set of advice on dealing with foes armed with dissection tools as she moves in to support Yambul. "Very nicely done Yambul." she notes as she sees his keen first swing.
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Round 1
Know (Dungeoneering)
These bulbous fungoids again.
Flying closer, Rhoreen notes that both Hyrsek and Isuma made the very correct decision not to come this way. She wishes she had decided the same.
She offers a fireball to the back corner, avoiding hitting Yambul and even though the creatures might be somewhat resistant to fire.
fire damage vs. DC 20 reflex for half
HP: 68/68 + temp
AC: 12/12/10 (+4 w/Mage Armor)
F+5, R+6, W+9
Open spell slots:
Left Hand: nothing
Right Hand: Ember Staff (7/9 charges)
Ring of Forcefangs (7/9 charges)
Lighten Up: 0/1 used
Rod of Extend, lesser: 3/3 used (heroism, mage armors (herself & Ruha))
Rod of Extend, lesser: 1/3 used (heroism,
PoP 1: 0/2 used
PoP 2: 0/1 used
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] ranged to hit;
[ dice]1d4-1[/dice] blunt damage
Phasing: The drinker gains the ability to become incorporeal for 1d4 rounds as a swift action, but takes 1 point of Con damage when he does so. Phasing can be extended as a free action by taking 1 additional point of Con damage. Coming out of phase inside a solid object is instantly fatal.
”I can do it myself!!”
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] CLW
"zzvkgrogk!"
force damage (8/50 left)
Delay Pain is actually: Drain Construct
2nd—magic missile;
4th—knock;
6th—fireball;
8th—restoration;
10th—maximized scorching ray;
12th—mass bull’s strength;
14th—greater restoration;
16th—empowered and maximized fireball;
18th—empowered and maximized fire shield.
Rhoreen focuses the irascible energies of her skymetal rod at the least wounded plant foe. She focuses taking the heat from around the creature, trying to leave it frozen and alone.
AC = 19
HP = 81/81
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Roo, Life Bubble
Khalia moves through the tunnel as best she can, lobbing a single arrow into the fray, only to see how many mi-go await the melee. She targets the nearest plant that hasn't been pruned or scorched yet.
With a powerful swing Yambul trashes out the first alien in line. As gore splashes all around the rest of them get out of their task to look around!
Rūha advices as she gets into the cavern too.
Rhoreen sends off a bean of fire that bursts at the end wall. The explosion is wide as it reaches 20' away.
The mi-go demonstrates to be considerably resistant as only one really burns on the flames!
Khalia's arrow goes through the head of the cyan one, who collapses as she finishes Rhoreen's work with it.
The aliens jump over the dissection tables to come fight Yambul.
A swarm of claws strike and stumble with a layer of magical force surrounding the Kellid!
Zzvkgrogk draws the timeworn sonic pistol as he air walks up to the hallway. ”Migos!” he cries, catching a glimpse of the commotion between the writhing limbs before him.
He quaffs an Extract of Licorice.
6 first, 5 Second, 4 Third, 2 Fourth
(1st)
(1st) True Strike
(1st)
(1st)
(1st) longshot
(1st) longarm
(2nd)
(2nd) Cure Moderate
(2nd)
(2nd) See Invisibility
(2nd) Owls Wisdom
(3rd) Animal Aspect. Greater
(3rd)
(3rd)
(3rd) Fly
{4th)
(4th) Greater Inviso
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Weapon Equipped = Chainsaw (55m)
Conditions = Barkskin (+4, 95m), Heroism (+2, 215m), Life Bubble (145m), Shield (5m), Haste
Chainsaw: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +6 Str +1 magic (-3 PA) Dam: +9 Str +1 magic (+9 PA) Crit: 15-20x2 DR: adamantine, magic Charges: 2/10
Falchion: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +6 Str +1 MW (-3 PA) Dam: +9 Str (+9 PA) Crit: 18-20x2 DR: adamantine
Long bow: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +3 Dex +1 Magic Dam: +6 Str +1 Magic Crit: 20x3 DR: cold iron/silver
Chef’s knife: Att: 11/6/1 BAB +1 magic +6 Str / +3 Dex (-3 PA) Dam: +6 Str (+6 PA) +1 magic Crit: 19-20x2 DR: magic Rng: 10’
Studied: (green) (mv|sw|im; +3 att, dam, bluff, disguise, intimidate, knowledge, perception, sense motive, stealth, survival)
Improved Iron Will (1/1d, reroll will save)
Spells: (1/1d, Magic Missile, cl 3) (1/1d, Prestidigitation, cl1) (0/1d, Shield, cl10)
Veggies: Apple (+4 radiation 24h) x2, Carrot (+4 perception 24h), Mushroom (+4 stealth 1h), Peppers (+2 init/reflex open alien doors 1h) x2
- - -
Yambul silently thanks Zzvkgrogk for the spells which armor him against the onslaught, and just as quietly curses Rhoreen for the burning…
vs DC 20 for 18hp damage.
He studies green, then begins his attack! If green goes down, he targets purple (-3 att/-3 dam).
(hero, studied, advice, haste)
(studied, advice)
(hero, studied, advice, haste)
(studied, advice)
(hero, studied, advice, haste)
(studied, advice)
(hero, studied, advice, haste)
(studied, advice)
(hero, studied, advice, haste)
(studied, advice)
(chainsaw, hero)
- - -
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While Yambul goes into a mi-go chainsawing frenzy, Ruha steps up and focuses her connection to against create the memory of a wide-band disintegrator. The ephemeral weapon forms over her autograpnel for a flash, long enough to fire a wide disintegrating blast!
Zzvkgrogk extract hastens legs and arms!
Yambul slaughters one of the mi-gos with his chainsaw before cutting through the blue one with another two swings.
Rūha's acidic breath takes out another alien while the last one manages to avoid the worst of it.
Round 2
Sorry about that cookboy! I didn't mean to sizzle you too there! But maybe if you can't handle the heat, stay out of Rhoreen's kitchen.
She will fire a magic missile at the most wounded mi-go.
"zzvkgrogk!"
force damage (7/50 left)
HP: 68/68 + temp
AC: 12/12/10 (+4 w/Mage Armor)
F+5, R+6, W+9
Open spell slots:
Left Hand: nothing
Right Hand: Ember Staff (9/9 charges)
Ring of Forcefangs (7/9 charges)
Lighten Up: 0/1 used
Rod of Extend, lesser: 3/3 used (heroism, mage armors (herself & Ruha))
Rod of Extend, lesser: 1/3 used (heroism,
PoP 1: 0/2 used
PoP 2: 0/1 used
[ dice]1d20+7[/dice] ranged to hit;
[ dice]1d4-1[/dice] blunt damage
Phasing: The drinker gains the ability to become incorporeal for 1d4 rounds as a swift action, but takes 1 point of Con damage when he does so. Phasing can be extended as a free action by taking 1 additional point of Con damage. Coming out of phase inside a solid object is instantly fatal.
”I can do it myself!!”
[ dice]1d8+1[/dice] CLW
"zzvkgrogk!"
force damage (7/50 left)
Delay Pain is actually: Drain Construct
2nd—magic missile;
4th—knock;
6th—fireball;
8th—restoration;
10th—maximized scorching ray;
12th—mass bull’s strength;
14th—greater restoration;
16th—empowered and maximized fireball;
18th—empowered and maximized fire shield.
Rhoreen focuses the irascible energies of her skymetal rod at the least wounded plant foe. She focuses taking the heat from around the creature, trying to leave it frozen and alone.
AC = 19
HP = 81/81
Weapon Equipped = Einior
Condition(s) = Longstrider, Life Bubble, Roo
Khalia steps forward, more curious about the effects of each magical punishment, as well as the mechanical dissection of Yambul's chainsaw. Turnabout...
She targets Yellow.
Zzvkgrogk step under Rhoreen and shoots around Kahlia at yellow with the sonic pistol
BLLLLllllaaaAAAAaaAAAAaaaarrrRRRRrrrrrmmmmmmmmmm!
for
Zzvkgrogk III feels a potent surge of energy flow through the weapon!
Yes! More of this, please!
for
for
"WWWwheeeeeeeeHaa!"
6 first, 5 Second, 4 Third, 2 Fourth
(1st)
(1st) True Strike
(1st)
(1st)
(1st) longshot
(1st) longarm
(2nd)
(2nd) Cure Moderate
(2nd)
(2nd) See Invisibility
(2nd) Owls Wisdom
(3rd) Animal Aspect. Greater
(3rd)
(3rd)
(3rd) Fly
{4th)
(4th) Greater Inviso
Can use craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using Detect Magic
Inspirational Pool: (Feat Amateur Investigator): 4
Hits: 53/53
AC Current: 25/17/19
AC: 19 / 15 / 15 (Normal/Touch/Flatfooted)
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 14/50
Radiation Detector (3/10 charges)
Laser Pistol (Charges): 4/10
Arc Pistol (Charges}: 7/10
Batteries Charged): 5/20
Empty Battieries: 15/20
Zzvkgrogk Special (Alchemical Ordinance): 9/13
Hero: 2/3
With a magic word, Rhoreen sends a ball of force that strikes true on the alien.
Khalia makes it into the room putting an arrow through the same mi-go.
The creature fights back trying to pierce through Yambul's defenses.
But it fails and Zzvkgrogk puts an end to it with a barrage of sonic blasts!
The surgery tables are full of gore. In the central one is the incomplete work of the aurumvorax the mi-go were working on. Four strange empty metal canisters sit atop one of the other tables.
Forgotten amid a slurry of gore and discarded viscera under one of the tables is a severed skeletal hand and forearm that wears one metallic bracelet from a black force field. It is covered in gore and lies in a pile of discarded strips of flesh and clothing.
Zzvkgrogk points to the metal canisters on the table. "Those are mi-go brain cylindars. Good they're empty."
He peers under one of the operating tables.
"Uh... uh..." Zzvkgrogk stammers, his gaze towards the floor. "Uh, might this be Therace?" He points to a severed skeletal hand and forearm under the table. It bears one metallic bracelet from a black force field. It is covered in gore and lies in a pile of discarded strips of flesh and clothing.
He looks at Hyrsek. "Maybe you recognize something of his among the blood and gore?"
6 first, 5 Second, 4 Third, 2 Fourth
(1st)
(1st) True Strike
(1st)
(1st)
(1st) longshot
(1st) longarm
(2nd)
(2nd) Cure Moderate
(2nd)
(2nd) See Invisibility
(2nd) Owls Wisdom
(3rd) Animal Aspect. Greater
(3rd)
(3rd)
(3rd) Fly
{4th)
(4th) Greater Inviso
Can use craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using Detect Magic
Inspirational Pool: (Feat Amateur Investigator): 4
Hits: 53/53
AC Current: 25/17/19
AC: 19 / 15 / 15 (Normal/Touch/Flatfooted)
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 14/50
Radiation Detector (3/10 charges)
Laser Pistol (Charges): 4/10
Arc Pistol (Charges}: 7/10
Batteries Charged): 5/20
Empty Battieries: 15/20
Zzvkgrogk Special (Alchemical Ordinance): 9/13
Hero: 2/3
Rhoreen nods as her friend Zzvkgrogk identifies and discovers what needed to be identified and discovered. She is pleased to smugly confirm the results.
"Not sure those cylinders make up for the trouble of getting up here, but they might. They have value, but they are also pretty disgusting too," Rhoreen will help pack them up and be ready to retreat to another path.
"Slaying mi-go is a reward in and of itself. That Numeria has infestations like this... it's unnerving." Khalia is ready to return to the fork in the cavern's road, and uncover the rest of the lair.
Hitting more fork, Khalia examines what she can, and reports any possibilities of things to come.
"Unnerving, but at this point not surprising. I wonder what their relationship is to the Dominion." Ruha gathers to cylinders, happy that they don't currently have brains in them. "Whether they're valuable or not, I'll be pleased to see them not in the hands of mi-go doing experiments or whatever they were planning."
She joins the others in retracing their steps back, though she stays in the front and keeps her gaze moving in case any mi-go had come up behind the group while they were exploring. Once the party gets back to the split intersection, she peers down the right path.
Hyrsek crouches beside the severed hand, his expression tight as he wipes some of the gore away from the metallic bracelet "I... I can't say for sure. But this? This reeks of Technic League. The tech, the way the flesh was stripped. I've seen them do worse"
Rūha gives a look to the eastern tunnel. It seems to go far away into the darkness. Rhoreen pushes to the northern branch though. It snakes for some hundred of meters before ending in a wide cavern covered in mold.
A narrow corridor opens up into this large chamber, the ceiling thirty feet above. The floor and walls are caked with a layer of fuzzy green mold, although along the southern wall, a ledge twenty feet above the ground seems relatively clear of fungal growth. A skeletal body clad in chainmail and missing some of its right arm is slumped atop this ledge.
Most of the floor of this chamber is actually 15 feet lower than it appears. What seems to be the floor is in fact a thin film of mold growing over a 30-foot-deep lake of toxic sludge.
"Unpleasant. Be careful - although all this fungus looks to be growing on the floor, there is actually a deep pool underneath it. Best we don't fall in and find out if it has any inhabitants." She looks across to the skeleton "You don't think this is the owner of our recently discovered arm, do you?" She looks over at Hyrsek to see if he thinks it might be his quarry.
"Might be easiest if someone who can fly goes over there to check the skeleton."
(heroism)
Yambul heeds Rüha's warning, though he doesn't see it himself. Still, "That's not a soup I want to be a part of."
He keeps to the edge and waits to see what the fliers discover.
"The tech, the way the flesh was stripped. I've seen them do worse"
Rhoreen nods at Hyrsek, appreciating the knowledge and perspective.
"Okay. Yeah. F+$+ the Techjerk League," she adds, glad to have disrupted this part of their plans.
* * *
Perception
Know (Nature) -
She looks at the green mold room, and makes sure not to get close to any of it. But then realizing that she's the flier, she casts Detect Magic to see what might be learnt before she goes in.
The ledge is clear of mold, and so Rhoreen can safely fly over the overgrowth and reach the skeleton.
The owner seems to have lost her hand and then escaped to here only to perish from her wounds. Her chainmail bears the gear symbol of the Technic League, and she still wears the missing half of the black force field bracelets on her remaining wrist. The chainmail effectively rings with magic under Rhoreen's spell.
+2 fire resistance chainmail
She also can tell the mold is not dangerous, but the pool hidden below is not that inert.
Rhoreen will grab the mail, instantly ready to regurgitate the mind-blending acids of the nomadic barbarians should things go wrong. She will take the bracelets as well.
When packed with loot, she will turn incorporeal and return to the party.
"Good catch, Calliope!" Zzvkgrogk exclaims.
He presses forward to uncover the rest of the caves secrets when everyone is ready.
6 first, 5 Second, 4 Third, 2 Fourth
(1st)
(1st) True Strike
(1st)
(1st)
(1st) longshot
(1st) longarm
(2nd)
(2nd) Cure Moderate
(2nd)
(2nd) See Invisibility
(2nd) Owls Wisdom
(3rd) Animal Aspect. Greater
(3rd)
(3rd)
(3rd) Fly
{4th)
(4th) Greater Inviso
Can use craft (alchemy) to identify potions as if using Detect Magic
Inspirational Pool: (Feat Amateur Investigator): 4
Hits: 53/53
AC Current: 25/17/19
AC: 19 / 15 / 15 (Normal/Touch/Flatfooted)
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 14/50
Radiation Detector (3/10 charges)
Laser Pistol (Charges): 4/10
Arc Pistol (Charges}: 7/10
Batteries Charged): 5/20
Empty Battieries: 15/20
Zzvkgrogk Special (Alchemical Ordinance): 9/13
Hero: 2/3
Ruha glances at Hyrsek to see what he thinks of this chainmail and its erstwhile owner. It certainly seems there may have been many victims here beyond just his target, and his particular target is proving quite elusive. She's starting to reevaluate whether Hyrsek even knows what he's looking for.
Thanking Rhor for handling the retrieval, she joins Zzvkgrogk in heading down the other path.
Khalia is relieved when Rhoreen makes it back from the other side unscathed, the mold pit unprovoked. "Very brave of you, Rhoreen. If that skeleton animated, you would have been its sole target."
The android is ready and willing to continue back to the fork, and proceed deeper.
When Hyrsek spots the chainmail he nods affirmatively "This is confirmation. Therace's group was here, and it seems they perished. This explains why they never made it back. But I still need proof of Therace's fate" despite it seems he is close to his bounty the hunter's words are devoid of emotion.
You press on through the caves to the east.
The ceiling of this tall cavern comes to a peak along its axis thirty feet above. The walls are hung with the bleached bones of an untold number of creatures. Bony limbs point in every direction, eyeless skull sockets stare back plaintively, the scope of death here is disconcerting. Corridors pierce this cathedral of death to the north and west, while a ledge leads up from the lower fungus-riddled cavern to the south.
This type of art is typical of non alien creatures. The bones were probably placed by these caverns' initial gug inhabitants. The mi-go probably saw no reason to tear down the skeletons here.
The bones hide two additional exits from the room—one leading to a narrow crawlway to the north, and one masking a hole in the floor that leads to a tunnel below.
The tunnel to the north requires a Medium creature to squeeze because it is narrow.
Ruha stops at the entrance of the room. Certainly a disconcerting sight, but the Scar had already provided a heaping helping of nauseating horrors. She had been doing her best to forget the rotting biological starship...
She points to the ledge "Two more ways up there to proceed from the looks of it. A little crawlway that'll take us deeper and a hole that might lead somewhere closer to the entrance to this place." With the aid of her autograpnel she anchors a cable for people to climb up to the ledge. "How about we take a peek in the hole first?"
"Mmmr," mutters Zzvkgrogk. "Maybe we should shoot something into it first." he grumbles still air walking.
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Know (Local)
Rhoreen, who is ever so smugly smart, mentions that this type of art is typical of non alien creatures. The bones were probably placed by these caverns' initial gug inhabitants. The mi-go probably saw no reason to tear down the skeletons here.
"How about we take a peek in the hole first?"
Rhoreen agrees, noting that Ruha can probably point 4 ways at once, and that is pretty cool.
With the help of the autograpnel you make an easy way over the ledge, and then after Zzvkgrogk checks down, an as well easy descend into the lower level.
Below, you find another tunnel leading into a chamber to the west.
The air in this long, low-ceilinged cave is particularly close and foul-smelling, and the fungus growing thick on every surface seems particularly decayed and corrupt. The ceiling is a mere six feet high, with a hole leading to a tunnel at the east end . The western reaches of the cave pulsate eerily with a black, throbbing miasma.
The pulsating blackness is like absorbing the very light you bring into the room.
Interestingly, there is no magic in the room. The source of the blackness is strangely a natural phenomenon.
"Uh, smart folk? What's that? I don't think I like the way it looks."
Yambul hesitates before going far into the room hoping for some clue as to what it is first.
Ruha furrows her brow at the dark miasma. "I may have suggested the hole first, but I admit I'm rather regretting that decision. Anyone know what that is?"
Khalia takes point, waiting for the others to examine what they need to, before continuing northerly.
"Probably best to leave it alone. This place is a generator of threats to our well-being."
"Uh, smart folk? What's that? I don't think I like the way it looks."
Is that a plural or singular use of 'folk'? I'm obviously one, but does he think there are others as smart as me? Rhoreen smugs internally then deigns to answer his question.
Rhoreen casts Detect Magic as she might, and looks with her active mind.
Know (Arcana)
"Harrumph...uh...hmm...not what I expected...interestingly, there is no magic in the room. The source of the blackness is strangely a natural phenomenon," Rhoreen says, but cannot say how that is, but it is. "It's not magic, I can say that, and I'm not sure I can offer more...unless..."
Rhoreen continues to ponder this.
Know (Nature?)
Know (Planes?)
In her deep knowledge of all things Dominion, Rhoreen identifies the darkness for what it truly is: a disease engineered by the Outer Gods' servants to evolve alongside their hosts, ensuring maximum spread and lethality. One particularly chilling case she recalls involved a Dominion-modified contagion designed for light-dwelling species, warping their physiology to exude darkness instead. This allowed creatures like the neh-thalggu to weaken their prey's senses before harvesting their minds.
The mi-go, ever the obsessive experimenters, must have infected themselves on their war against the other alien faction, and here there are, the results.
The half-elf knows touching the darkness will be enough to risk contracting the disease.
Rhoreen will explain the non-magical darkness and when finished, will spin around and move back to the next area of unexplored map. She has no desire to interact with the ick.