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As the webs entangling him burn away in a flash of flame, Nisfeollyn screams out in shock and surprise. He looks around to see who rescued him from the webs and salutes Dvalin with the torches, calling out, ”Thank you!” He turns his attention to the spider once more and sneds an acid orb flying towards it.
More vermin immune to my sleep spell, Nisfeollyn thinks as he meets the multiple eyes of the giant spider. The elf moves one torch to his other hand, his dexterous fingers straining to keep both held. Not at all concerned with the failure his last use of magic produced, he chants words of arcane power and shoots an orb of acid from his free hand.
Nisfeollyn continues running with the torches. He scowls at the sky when he thinks he hears a laugh-like caw from Wuntholor.
Nisfeollyn hears Fala and hurries from the cave. Along the way he picks up the torch he left on the ground. Once out of the cave he can feel Wuntholor observing him from the sky. He knows his appearance must be amusing: a nearly naked elf carrying two torches running to confront a giant spider. ”I’m right behind you Caderyn. With torches,” he pants.
Nifeollyn drops one of the torches he’s been carrying and steps ten feet closer to the spider. Holding one torch above his head, the elf casts a spell and sends a small orb of acid towards the spider.
Nisfeollyn hurries farther into the cave and holds a torch to the webs . The elf keeps his wits about him, ready to evade the spider’s attack.
Nisfeollyn sheathed his sword and picked up the torch that Cad just dropped. After sparking it to life, the elf stood at the entrance to chamber with the two torches raised above him.
Nisfeollyn called out to Wuntholor to circle above the the area. Seeing one of the torches thrown from the top of the hill, Nisfeollyn hurried to one and used a spark from his finger tips to ignite it’s head.
Nisfeollyn looked on helplessly as Bal disappeared into the dark web strewn hole. ”You have the right idea, Caderyn. Torches! We need torches!” the elf called to any of the workers in the area to bring torches. ”And buckets of water too.” This will get smokey and dirty, he thinks.
Thanks for explaining your “party encounter” perspective. I hadn’t really considered such matters. Your reasoning with the problem of increasing HD and Attributes makes sense. The solution you offer sounds fun and reasonable.
Nisfeollyn calls out, ”A new entrance! The spider returns!” He plants his feet, pulls back on his bowstring, and fires at the spider, knowing that the webs may ruin his shot.
Nisfeollyn hears Bal’s scream and points to the sky. As he hurries towards Bal, short bow held hip high in front, he draws an arrow with about a quarter of the full tension needed to fire.
Nisfeollyn issued a string of Arcadian curse words as the elf restrung his bow and drew an arrow. Aiming, he exhaled to relax. The taught sound of the string was a final, delayed exclamation to his frustration.
After all the ogre’s items were gathered, Nisfeollyn cast a detect magic spell and studied the pieces one by one. ”This pendant has Abjuration magic. Nothing else is magical. The boots and gloves are simply thick leather.” On the surface, Nisfeollyn walked tall, as if wearing fine robes and not the rags remaining from his near death experience with the gelatinous cube. ”Foreman Bal, is there a tent for bathing? Also, are there any spare clothes? I would even wear pants,” he said with a slight shudder.
Nisfeollyn saw that the others were returning to the room they just fled. The elf laughed in confusion and turned around. He retrieved his short bow while moving into the room’s corner for a more advantageous position. Once there, it took a moment to load an arrow, pull the string taught, and fire towards the ogre.
At the limits of a close throw, Nisfeollyn sent another ball of acid at the leeches and moved down the corridor past Bladud.
Nisfeollyn heeds Bladud’s call for retreat. He casts an acid globule at the leeches swarming the area in front of him and then scampers past Dvalin and Bladud. ”Did you hear that? I think that suspected ogre is arriving.”
”If only we could contain these leeches somehow and lure the ogre into them,” the elf says as he backs up and throws more magically created acid at them.
Nisfeollyn retreats further, casting more acid towards the leeches. ”I do not blame the leeches. Elven blood must taste like wine. That does not mean they can dine on me.”
LOL well done Bladud. I was going to ask whose turn it is in the round too.
Nisfeollyn gave a shriek as he realized where the leeches were coming from, all around them. ”Get back, get back,” he said. The elf waved away Wuntholor, sending him back towards the group. He was about to step retreat when the area around the turn in the corridor erupted in flames. He covered his face with his forearm for a moment then heard Cad’s words urging him to dash through the fire with the promise of water. The elf shouted out his understanding, proceeding to speak arcane words and gestures; casting another small orb of acid onto the leeches. He turned to gaze at the fire for a moment, summoning his courage against the fierce heat. The elf took a breath and ran through the fire.
”I have a weak acid spell that will help,” the elf said moving towards the turn in the corridor, thinking of leeches, trying to remember what he knew about them. He slid past Dvalin to see Bladdud covered in leeches. ”At least I hope it will. This will sting a bit,” he added before executing a quick series of gestures and words. He opened his right hand, and an orb sprung from his palm streaking towards the leeches covering Bladud’s legs.
”Use the first roll as the augend and the second as the addend,” the elf said. ”When you are ready I will teach you negative numbers.” The raven began to give the summation of his die rolls.
Nisfeollyn sniffed dismissively. ”I doubt any ogre could speak Arcadian, or if it could speak in that most illuminating and melodious language it would have thoughts worth communicating.” Nisfeollyn raised an index finger and idly tapped his cheek. ”If I graciously learned one of those grunting and barbaric tongues perhaps in the future I could negotiate peace. Avoid needless conflicts. Hmmm, would that be an effective use of my time? Even those who live for centuries do not want to see any of our mortal hours wasted.”
Nisfeollyn walked into the room and stood next to Bladud. He watched Dvalin use his divine magic to peer through the door. ”Would it be possible to create a trap for the creature? Anyone capable of setting up a trip wire?” he replied in a whisper. ”I think we should press on with our normal caution. We do not need to track him down, do we?”
Nisfeollyn knelt to examine the tracks closely.
He pointed out the length and width of the print. "An ogre or ettin is the most likely source of the footprints."
”An excellent point about loose fingers,” the elf said as he helped Bladud load his sack with treasure. ”How very considerate, but I don’t need any rest at the moment. No more than anyone else. I have a spell for secret doors, so if you find a place that might have one, or is some area feels suspicious, let me know.”
”Yes, I believe someone is held within the gem, physically or spiritually. Perhaps a prison or perhaps a trap, much like the pit I fell into,” Nisfeollyn said with a head nod towards the pit. ”The topaz has enchantment magic radiating from it, so perhaps it preyed on one’s natural avarice. The other gems appear ready for magic. I am not sure what their purpose is. Speaking of ‘purpose,’ do you think there is a purpose to the white and black tiles floor?” The elf looked at his ragged clothes. ”Shall we bring the recovered treasure to our camp?”
Nisfeollyn didn’t touch any of the gems as he examined them. He was looking to see if all the gems emitted the magical aura or if it was only one gem. The symbols piqued his curiosity. He spent a few moments thinking he could decipher them.
”Yes, you're right about there being something inside the topaz. " "Nisfeollyn, does it detect as magical?"
The elf quietly examined the gems, looking for any additional clues to the nature of the gems. He also checked the aura of the gems, looking for an enchantment aura. "Necromancy can trap a being within a gem. Either the body or the soul. To trap a soul within a gem requires powerful magic. We should reseal this. Do you think dwarven craftsmanship accounts for the fine cut of the gemstones? I wonder how old it is.”
”Drinking that will give you fire breath, like a dragon,” the elf says pointing to the vial. ”There’s a magical aura coming from the box. Enchantment aura.” He leans in closer once the lid is popped and looks inside.
”As for the ankheg eggs, how quickly could they be carted away? I fear the corrupting influence to the land above may also corrupt animals below. If the eggs could be taken to a safe place and the hatchlings trained, I think it might benefit the Society.”
”In the span of time for two dozen heart beats, I can tell you,” the elf said sitting near the items. A few arcane words and simple gestures granted Nisfeollyn the ability to detect any magic auras from the items recovered from the gelatinous cube’s pit.
”As for the ankheg eggs, how quickly could they be carted away? I fear the corrupting influence to the land above may also corrupt animals below. If the eggs could be taken to a safe place and the hatchlings trained, I think it might benefit the Society.”
Nisfeollyn’s voice came through the magical earring. ”We have progressed further into this place and discovered evidence that it is ancient, predating the hunting lodge built above ground. A bronze axehead, for one piece of evidence. Beware of pit traps filled with gelatinous cubes. I had the misfortune of discovering one. After nearly drowning within the monster and being dissolved by its acidic interior, I must suffer the indignity of wearing little more than rags. The others managed to defeat it using fire, axe, and hammer. If you use fire be prepared to extinguish party members that were engulfed by the monster. We hope you are well and discovering items of historical importance.”
Nisfeollyn nodded. ”Very well, I will contact them.” "We have progressed further into this place and discovered evidence that it is ancient, predating the hunting lodge built above ground. A bronze axehead, for one piece of evidence. Beware of pit traps filled with gelatinous cubes. I had the misfortune of discovering one. After nearly drowning within the monster and being dissolved by its acidic interior, I must suffer the indignity of wearing little more than rags. The others managed to defeat it using fire, axe, and hammer. If you use fire be prepared to extinguish party members that were engulfed by the monster. We hope you are well and discovering items of historical importance."
He draws the group’s attention to a cuff bracelet and bronze axehead.”Please, look at this. What a fine Celtic knot. Quite remarkable craftsmanship. Quite old as well. Either the person who used these carried around ancient equipment, or the hunting lodge above was built over this pre-existing underground structure.” He lenses the two items together and then one at a time for greater detail. ”Has anyone contacted the other group about our latest encounter?”
”The creature’s acid was for digesting bodies, not metal. The items should be well preserved.” The elf kneels at the edge of the pit, examining his backpack for damage from the gelatinous cube’s acid. When Caderyn was ready to hand off the items, the elf happily took them.
”With my innate talent for finding them, I think I’d be a legend soon enough.” The end of his mouth curved upwards.
Nisfeollyn gagged, coughing up the last of the slime. He lied on his back, attempting to breathe slowly. Wuntholor landed near his head and began to scratch the elf’s forehead with his beak. He shuddered and sighed in relief when Dvalin’s healing magic restored all of his vitality. He rolled to his side and pushed himself to his knees and then to his feet. ”Your healing attentions are greatly appreciated. That was a gelatinous cube. Hopefully my first and last encounter with one,” the elf said, in a rasp. ”Thank you all for rescuing me...I thought...I felt Death’s grasp slipping around me.” He rubbed his throat, then cast a prestidigitation cantrip on each person, finishing with himself last, cleaning them of the normal grime of battle and the ooze and slime of the cube in particular. The elf retrieved his sword, sheathing after a flick to throw off any last bits of slime. He opened his backpack to examine his spellbook and other gear.
Nisfeollyn knew he probably had less than a minute to live. And there was nothing he could do about it.
Nisfeollyn’s mind screamed as the creature continued suffocating and dissolving him. He tried to push the panic and terror, to achieve an elven calm. Thoughts swirl in his mind as he tries to focus on a final message.
Nisfeollyn’s eyes and skin burned with the ooze’s acid. Through half-paralyzed eyes he saw the multi-colored fire above him, as if dancing on a solid mass of light since the cube was lit from within by his glowing feather. He wanted to choke as the gelatinous cube leaked down his throat and he began to suffocate. That reflex was beyond him. Through his empathic link with Wuntholor he felt the bird’s distress. He knew when wizards lost their familiars it was a blow. How did familiars fare with the death of their wizards? His vision was getting dim, darkness edging out the light he felt surrounded by.
Thanks for the heads up about posting rate until Monday. Dvalin, just to be sure, you threw (dropped) a pint of oil on the creature and Nisfeollyn? How many rounds does the fire last?
Finding himself in pit, Nisfeollyn felt a moment of panic as he began to sink. He saw Wuntholor circling above him, cawing a warning. The numbness started at his hands and feet, but maybe he only perceived that because those body parts were more sensitive. He thought of what this could be and tried to speak, but nothing came. As he started to sink further he saw Bladud peeking into the pit. At least this wasn’t like Helvellyn. Well, he thought as the tingling started, I still need to be rescued, but I’m not hanging upside down with my genitals exposed.
Hearing the sound of combat from the next room, Nisfeollyn gripped his long sword and held it in a defensive position as he turned the corner. One giant rat had the opportunity to bite him as he slid past Caderyn. The elf twisted around Dvalin to stand nearly in the center of the room, against the eastern wall.
Nisfeollyn shifted his weight from foot to foot in anticipation of what they would find behind the door. Wuntholor gave a tiny flap of his wings in a sign of annoyance at the elf.
”Perhaps more than one rat,” Nisfeollyn said. ”Wonderful.” He held his sword in a relaxed grip, glancing over his shoulder to make sure rats weren’t sneaking up behind them. The elf gently pinched his nostrils because of the smell. ”If there are more than one, I can attempt to put them to sleep.”
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