Hurik is about to ask Miriani if she is taking scout or something, but then gawks, "Is that new, or have I been unobservant, my friend?"
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"Oh, Grandfather Winter took me away last night." she says, beaming with pride. "He saw how I had a talent for storm magic. He took me and threw me into the deepest storm there was. Colder than I had ever known, with winds that threw me around like a leaf. It was far too big to tame with magic. I simply had to go with the storm, learning its ways from the inside. I was there for what felt like years, seeing it in a new way. I then rode the winds back to Grandfather Winter, and he nodded and put me back into my body. Now I no longer cast spells. The storm is within me, always waiting."
Hurik nods as if understanding, though in truth he would admit there is much he does not know, "Better from Grandfather Winter than a dragon's heart, of that I have no doubt. I am nervous of this storm you speak of, but I trust YOU so..." A thin smile, "Let us move on, and put your new gifts to the test"
"Oh, this just shows that I've opened the path for the storm. I'd never hurt any of you." With that she gestures for Hurik to lead the way like the tough warrior he is.
Hurik actually looks amused, and then takes lead. Weapon ready
Hurik moves towards the outcropping and overhang. The crack that leads into the cave is visible, but there is also the cave painting and fire-ring, if any of those catch your interest.
Hurik does look over the cave painting. "Maybe there are signs telling us how to best appease Svarstik ?" He trusts their godmouth to read that better than he, but still.
Diurn begins to play a low and soothing song on his flute.
He gestures, and his dog leads the way sniffing the air.
Hurik and Kheyji move over toward the ring of stones to examine the cave painting more closely. As they both approach, you are all surprised to see the cat in the painting roars to life and leaps from the wall, attacking both with its semi-solid claws.
Both the scouts take 18hp dmg (can be reduced with basic Will saves). The spectral cat then disappears back into the wall, looking normal again for all intents and purposes.
The bard moves to scan the painting to see if there is any way to stop this.
Hurik is so startled he gasps!
Both Kheyji and Hurik react quickly enough to the startling appearance of the ghostly sabre-cat to avoid full damage, thought each takes wounds from the claws which seem real enough to draw blood.
As quickly as the image appeared, it re-apparates back into the wall, and the painting looks seemingly normal enough.
Diurn looks at the image carefully, but can't see anything triggering about it just from observation.
Hurik is too hurt and surprised to be able to recall anything about the painting, but Miriani remembers hearing about items like this -- they are called haunts -- which are the remnant of some curse or magical incantation. It's clear this protective ward is triggered when someone gets close to it. She does think she could destroy the painting given the right ritual, but its easy enough to avoid, if you wish to enter the cave and just leave it alone.
"I can release the spirit, but it was placed here as a guardian. We should go around it."
She then cocks her head and steps over to Hurik. She gathers up some soft snow and places it on his wound. The cold immediately soothes the pain. She turns to Kheji and does the same.
"I... thank you, Miriani." Hurik says as the wound closes some.
The bard follows the others as they avoid triggering the painting giving it a wide berth.
Miriani's use of Ocean's Balm makes each of you immune to future uses for 10 minutes. I have Kheyji at 31/35hp and Hurik at 50/53.[/ooc]
With some light sources to show the way, the party avoids the sabre-cat painting and eases into the cave mouth itself, leaving the overhang and the outside world behind.
The tunnel is narrow, only about 5' wide, allowing for the group to pass single file inside. At first there are rough-hewn steps leading down for about 10' then the passage continues. The smell is dank and earthy, and there is soothing rhythmic murmur to be heard, a faint sound, but easily audible.
At the bottom of the stairs, the passage turns to the north, leading deeper into the cave, while another passage runs to the south, looking like it might open into a larger cavern of some kind after short while.
Diurn and Wolf suggest going south.
Wolf stays at Hurik's right side in the first row as Diurn trails them both at about 10 feet back.
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A nod at the suggestion of South
The southern passage ends in cavern that is roughly 20x25'. Something wooden is smashed on the floor of the room at the far end, but its too dim in the extreme ends of the chamber to make out what it is/was. Also in the chamber are a pair of stubby humanoids with oversized, frog-like heads and bulbous eyes. Their eyes emit a faint light when they turn to look at you, and you see they each blink twice at each other, as if signaling something, then they make aggressive noises and motions to attack the intruders.
Cavern - Round 1
29 Red Creature
27 Kheyji
26 Diurn
25 Blue Creature
13 Hurik
9 Miriani
The Red Creature hisses loudly and aggressively. It turns its gaze on the party, its eyes suddenly flaring up with brilliant white light. The spotlight-like eyes make seeing difficult after the dim light of the cavern. The creature then leaps to attack Hurik who is in the lead. The barbarian is just able to fight off the snapping jaws of the creature wi with a quick shove.
Diurn motions for Kheyji to let him start the combat. His light senses overloaded.
As the bard inspires himself and others he casts a spell putting a series of biting words in play!
The song lasts inspiring his comrades as the biting words impose discordant sonic daage!!
Miriani hisses and covers her eyes, but it's too late.
Not only is he attacked, Hurik finds himself nearblinded by the light of the thing "Blast it."
Wolf cries in pain as his eyes get overloaded.
Diurn had attacked before assessing the creatures, an impetuous act.