Elinor's in the lead unless someone is scouting ahead - she's still got expeditious retreat) and a glowing sword. She ascribes to the 'let the heavies at the front take the damage' school of trap finding but is perfectly happy to enable a different school (as long it doesn't take too long).
I'd suggest Elinor and Abbas in front, furries next, frails next and Pluchak bringing up the rear.
Taedric will stay near the front, but off to the side to have a clear charging lane.
Ok, so far it's
Elinor & Abbas
Narnel & Taedric
Brydyn & Pluchak (rear)
The group edges around the corner, using Elinor's blade for a light source. At first, the hallway is empty then, as you go deeper, it starts showing the detritus of goblins and wolves living in this section of the tomb. Scat and garbage are strewn along the floor, along with the descreated remains of some of the tombs interned.
The goblins were obviously using the man sized niches on either side of this portion of the hall way for sleeping. Ruined and dirty skins and blankets can be seen in many niches.
The hallway bends left, and Narnel picks up a soft gurgle of water. Using extreme caution, the group turns the corner and sees a small room just after a T junction. One side (the long part of a T) turns back to the right. The top of the T ends in a room with a fountain against the far wall. You can only make out general details from here, but it seems to be an elegant fountain much abused by time and these humanoids.
Elinor & Abbas
Narnel & Taedric
Seneca & Aidan
Harlynn & Bryndyn
Pluchak (rear)
Elinor pats Abbas on the shoulder.
"Paladin's are well meaning busy bodies who have very strong ideas about the right way of doing things. Not like you at all."
Taedric nods, "They are, Abbas. Very good ones. A paladin was the hero of Umok, and he stopped the goblins from killing us.... which is why no paladin would stop me from running down the goblins."
Elinor watches Abbas struggle with the Gnome's series of double and triple negativesand then takes pity on him.
"What he means is paladins, good, goblins, bad. Anything else is just gnomes being gnomes. Me, I've always wanted to corrupt a paladin, just a little."
She smiles dreamily and gives Abbas' muscular upper arm a good squeeze.
Narnel rolls his eyes, and whispers so that Abbas and Eli can hear just in front of him.
Such corruption now would certainly lead to us giving away our position, no?
Elinor pouts at Narnel.
"Always so cautious. You could help?"
She's joking (they think) and she strides forwards towards the fountain, pulling Abbas along beside her.
IMPORTANT - please read my post in the discussion forum
"...she strides forwards towards the fountain, pulling Abbas along beside her..."
Taedric nods at Abbas' statement, and then says in a very quiet tone, "Thank you.", and seems almost pleased when Elinor drags his friend away.
Elinor and Abbas approach the fountain first, followed loosely by the others. The fountain is structurally sound - a solid basin decorated with sculpted leaves in the stone. Water flows from a large vase, held in place about 6 feet above the water fountain by the carved effigy of a pleasnt faced woman adorned in relatively simple clothes. The woman is a full sculpture, standing about a foot away from the wall. The oddity of the woman came with the smiling mask she wore...on the back of her head.
The water, however, is fouled. A few floating rat corpses are prevalient, along with some indescrible sludge caked just under the water near the near lip. The water falling seems clean, but it immediately merges with the brackish water below, making the whole unpalatable.
Religion checks are appropriate if you wish.
Harlynn contemplates her past studies
For Harlynn And anyone who gets 20+ on their Religion check.
For Abbas and anyone who touches the water.
|
Moving further down the hall, you note that the progress has seemed to be continually made in a downward direction. Gradual but definite. All along the way you find the leavings of the recent invaders. Offal, rags, broken bits of armor or weapons, and far more mundane things. A bent spoon. A cracked bowl. A shredded book. A frayed bit of rope. All this stands in contrast to the ancient stonework that seems to be more or less in perfect condition.
Soon, the passage opens into another room. Vast is the immediate word for it.
Narnel quickly moves to the flank and into the shadows of the vast chamber with an arrow drawn.
YAY! Welcome back Sigil.
"Come out come out wherever you are!"
No doubt most of the group shake their heads in despair at Elinor's continuing refusal to take the potential for immediate death seriously.
"What are we doing here again?" she asks Aidan in what is obviously a blond moment.
Alesta what are you hiding here?
Taedric shrugs, "We came down here following the goblins that needed killing. Now, I think we're trying to figure out what they were doing down here."
Detect Magic, success.
"Don't drink that my lovely; it'll probably turn you into a toad!"
Taedric asks, "Can we see what's befouling the basin water? This stuff send clean enough. Might Aidan be able to purify it?"
Taedric shakes his head then says, "So what's wrong with the clean water Abbas took from the source? "
"I'm not so sure of that Bryn. Someone's enchanted it."
Taedric says, "Might it be the magic that makes it pure -- before this filth, Elinor?"
"I doubt it. It's magic of change and chance, not protection."
Taedric nods, then smiles grimly, "Well, it never hurts to be lucky."