Djack looks around, seeming surprised to have lived.
What the... fralk... was... that?! He seems a bit out of breath.
"'They are The Hand' if we're to believe them," Zia says, quoting their opening statement.
Rocko ponders that idea, "The hand. The hand ... of what?"
Yoltzin calmly offered the crocodillian spirit a hunk kf dried meet in offering foe its thanks, well aware that rocks were of little statistics. When it vanished in smoke, it left behind ash in the meats place. "I know not who this hand is, yet I feel was must find the body in which connects to it."
The area you're in appears to be a large central gathering place. There are indications of a fire for cooking, and a few mining carts scattered about. In the gloom of your light sources, the mines and natural fissures go off in several directions.
Djack enters yet another irregular cavern. Whatever one could say about the skill of Kobold miners, they were obviously neither organized nor meticulous in their methods. Detritus lay everywhere; tarps with bits of rock and broken picks were mixed among food scraps and other odds and ends. This particular cavern goes in roughly 35', then veers to the right (map east). Beyond was still obscured, though Djack would judge that the cavern continues.
In between, however, another little nook is barely visible in the glow of the lightsource (toward map south). In the dim light, Djack can just make out a large wooden chest.
The young man continues, Place is a mess. This tunnel must continue. Look out for any hands... was that plural or singular collective?
He looks in every direction, including up and down.
The elf follows along behind at a respectable distance, tiltign her head upon seeing the chest sitting out in the open. "I... don't really understand the difference?" Commented the non-native speaker, keeping an eye open regardless.
Djack gives the chest a once over, looking for danger.
The little alcove in which the chest is nestled is a bit unstable. Djack thinks he can probably get in and out safely, but it will require great care.
Djack picks his way through...
Djack carefully makes his way through the unstable narrow space to where the chest is located. The rough iron latch is not locked or trapped, and it creaks open with a groan that echoes off the narrow stone walls. The lid lifts slowly, dust trailing into the dim air, and inside—a dazzling hoard of uncut gems bursts into view, flickering in the dim light. For a moment, the beauty of the treasure is overwhelming. Then—crack. A rattling noise, followed by a sprinkling pebbles and dust from the ceiling. The cave's patience is wearing thin.
The chest can be safely, if carefully, dragged into the more stable main cavern. The value of the gems inside is inestimable due to their raw state, but easily 2000 gp worth or more.
Djack communicates the dilemma... and starts moving the chest.
Yoltzin (and anyone else following close behind) sees Djack pulling the dusty old chest out of a corner inset in the rock; the sound of gravel falling to the floor just out of site is punctuated by a plume of dirt.
Once Djack and the chest are in the clear, the group is free to consider its next moves, as well as the disposition of said chest.
"Does this belong to the kobolds?" She asks aloud, a heart untested by wealth.
Wiping sweat off his brow. No time to look back there, but... we can inspect. If it's theirs, we should give it.
If not, guess it is payday!
Amideo's eyes go wide at the chest full of gems, "What a prize! If it is theirs, it is the dragon's even more. While I have no desire to steal from the kobolds, it is a terrible idea to steal from a dragon."
Leave it here and move on, for now? He look to the others.
She gives a nod to Djack, "Yes, that feels sensible. The weight of material wealth is a heavy burden to bear. Especially inside of an unstable cave system."
The next cavern is roughly 30 feet square, its irregular walls and ceiling sloping unevenly with jagged stone. Your light source throws shadows across the walls, making the whole space feel alive with twitching motion. The air is thick, heavy with the scents of earth, old sweat, and the metallic tang of disturbed rock. Scattered around the chamber are the leavings of kobold industry: splintered crates, rusted picks, bent shovels, and crude wooden supports that creak ominously under the weight of stone.
Suddenly, with grinding motion of stone against stone, a horizontal in the far wall yawns, not breaking but unfolding—and from within, a single enormous eye opens.
"I am the soul," a voice echoes loudly in the chamber; you get the distinct impression the eye "spoke" the phrase.
Rocko's eyes widen at the eye's words.
"Oh, the soul! So you be lookin' to see what bein' right or wrong, yes?"
"I am awareness, I am memory, I am motive. With the Mind, I control the Hand. You have slapped the Hand. I will strike back," the voice answers Rocko. With that, a beam of light flies out of the eye.
Will Save from Rocko.
Initiative from everyone.
Rocko feels kinetic energy leaving him, as if his every muscle is slowed as a turtle might be. But then, a cackling growl rumbles from deep within his throat, and he pushes the feeling away.
Eye of the Soul:
Amideo:
Yoltzin:
Zia:
Party split on Intiative: Rocko, Amideo, and Yoltzin go in first block.
Second block is the Eye.
Third block is Djack and Zia.
Unsure of the capabilities of this entity, the elf calls fourth Small Stone Elementals with a sacrificed spell, keeping them spaced equidistant away from the party on the chance everyone might get caught in a wide area attack.
Rocko will growl in response to the sudden attack, "Maybe not so right."
He'll move as close as possible in preparation of teaching the eye thing some right and wrong gnoll style.
Rocko smashes into the eye, shield out, with all his might. There is no scream, but a single bloody patch appears in the eye itself. The unusual opponent makes a single blink in response.
On behalf of Amideo:
"I stand unshaken! You now face a Caballero and Circuit Judge of The Caldovan Marches! Face Justice!"
Amideo charges and makes a single attack.
"Now you will feel the full power of my wrath!" the Eye says. With that, it fires a beam at Rocko point blank.
Ranged Touch:
Fort Save DC 17 from Rocko for half
Djack and Zia may act.
I guess diplomacy isn't going to work... why are you here?
Don't want to destroy you, but... you seem unreasonable. Djack moves quickly.
Djack charges into the available area on the left of the Eye and thrusts, piercing the surface. An entire portion of the Eye immediately clouds over in blood.
Zia moves up and casts Cure Light Wounds on Rocko.
Top of Round 2. Rocko, Amideo, and Yoltzin (and summons) may act.
The elf slams her spear into the ground, casting a powerful Blessing upon the gathered party. "Spirits of Earth, become one with the cave, attack this unnatural blight at it's source!"
In obeyment of her command, the pair of earth elementals meld into the cavern walls, gliding through the dirt as if air. They move to behind where the eye was located, and become to push up against it with great force.
The Earth Elementals have no problem entering the wall; the eye itself, however, is surrounded by its own rocky skin from behind, making the two small creatures pushing it an unlikelihood. That said, they have no problem damaging it from the inside.
"Rocky" hits the rocky flesh, but not hard enough to do damage to the Eye.
"Stony", on the other hand, manages a solid hit on the odd being's backside, causing it significant damage.
Rocko will make the attempt to unleash his full fury on this eye thing.
"You tell them other parts of you that we not be turnin' tail!"