Anti-Slavers of the Wildlands Expeditionary Guild IC

[TurboGhast]

As you move through the cave, the moss becomes more pronounced. Those without low-light vision can now see that some of the moss has been stained odd colors, and as you go further the colors become stranger and less moss has its usual color. The cave path does begin to become more downwardly slanted as you go on, but not enough to become dangerous.

Eventually, the cave begins widening up.

Spoiler: For those with normal vision

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From the point where the cave changes from tunnel to room, a large pool of water covers three-fourths of the area you can see into and goes even further than that. There seems to be an entire underground lake here! However, the water is crackling with elemental energy. Drinking it for long enough would definitely have strange effects, which could include gaining elemental powers like the animals you faced above had and being driven insane.

Looking to the left and right of you, you can see two openings which also go upwards, connected to the one you're at by the land surrounding the lake. Said land is five spaces wide. You're more likely to find answers by examining the area around the lake, though.

Spoiler: For those with low light vision

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From the point where the cave changes from tunnel to room, you can see a large pool of water which extends past the light the sunrod provides. There seems to be an entire underground lake here, since there's no other way seven-eights of the area you can see ahead of you could be covered in water! However, the water is crackling with elemental energy. Drinking it for long enough would definitely have strange effects, which could include gaining elemental powers like the animals you faced above had and being driven insane.

Looking to the left and right of you, you can see five openings which also go upwards, connected to the one you're at by the land surrounding the lake. Said land is five spaces wide. You're more likely to find answers by examining the area around the lake, though.

[ahyangyi]

Initially excited by the finding of the underground lake, Asjara soon realized the water isn't drinkable at all.

"While there are two ways leading up, I suggest we investigate the lake. Be careful though -- the elemental energy will not do us good -- even for a Genasi."

Asjara walks closer to the edge of lake to see the details of its features.

[Archemist]

SSana||ona takes a look around as well, admiring the strange moss and lake.

Spoiler: OOC - Nature

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Knowledge Nature regarding the "odd" coloration and properties: (1d20+11)[21]

[TurboGhast]

Spoiler: Details of the lake's features

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The lakewater is surprisingly rough for an underground lake due the elemental energy within it. While the sparks of electricity, crystals of ice, and gouts of flame showing the elemental energy's manifestation are small, they're present throughout all of the lake you can see, and are intense enough to tousle the water into small waves. There are slightly more flashes of elemental energy in the water to your right.

If the source of the energy was stopped a skilled druid could make the oasis usable again, although doing so would be difficult and lengthy process. In fact, that you've found such a large aquifer with evidence of past habitation but no evidence of a druid here is odd. Desert water sources usually have a druid responsible for their upkeep, and they would normally deal with this sort of problem before it got extreme enough force people to abandon their homes.

Spoiler: Information about the odd moss

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The discoloration is caused by the moss taking in elementally charged water. The moss from higher up was affected less because of access a little uncharged water from rain. Any animals that primarily ate the moss, along with everything higher on the food chain than them, would pick up the elemental charge and start exhibiting the powers that the animals you faced earlier had. The moss itself is inert because the elemental charge isn't concentrated.

Spoiler: For those with low light vision who make a DC 14 perception check

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Someone walks out of the rightmost side cave, of which you can only barely see. You can't make out much about them, though.

[ahyangyi]

Asjara observes the energy sparks and, sensing the uneven distribution of energy, points to her right hand side, "I think the energy source might be in this way..."

[ahyangyi]

Asjara walks along the lake side to her right hand side.

[Archemist]

SSana||ona follows Asjara. "This place really is the elemental equivalent of a midden heap, now, isn't it. Pretty, but might kill you."

[TurboGhast]

Upon hearing SSana||ona's comment, a humanoid wearing tattered shamanic robes rushes into the light to respond. "Midden heap? The elemental energy here is pure beauty!" Despite the crazed and angry tone of his voice, this person seems to be only barely managing to move his cracked and malnourished body.

[ahyangyi]

"Elemental energy is beauty only if it's under control. Otherwise, we call it a 'natural disaster'." Asjara answers.

[TurboGhast]

The person replies, "Control just hides the beauty behind an unsatisfying layer of artificiality."

[ahyangyi]

"A mad man." Asjara sighs, in a low voice. Then she asks the man again, "Are you a druid?"

[TurboGhast]

"Not quite, but close enough for most purposes. I am Parumin Klona, the shaman of this oasis, and have tended to it in a uniquely exemplary manner."

Spoiler: For those who make a DC 23 insight check

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Parumin's voice became shaky and subtly distorted when he gave his name.

[ahyangyi]

(Asjara needs a minor miracle to notice that subtlety among his words)
Insight: (1d20+3)[4]

EDIT: well, was expecting whiffing it but this is a critical failure

[masteraleph]

Spoiler: Insight

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(1d20+3)[12]- rather unlikely

"It's exemplary to torture those poor beetles?"

[Archemist]

Spoiler: OOC - Insight

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Well, SSana||ona's gotta try. (1d20+12)[16]

Even SSana||ona, normally quite perceptive, misses this one. He's still a bit distracted by all the pretty lights.

[TurboGhast]

"Torture? Their lives were improved by their elemental powers, and granting them was nothing more than pump elemental energy into the water they drank!"

[ahyangyi]

Gazing at the lake and distracted, Asjara wonders what happens if they just go back and report about this finding.
The best result seems to be that they are ignored because this is not a usable water source. The worst, the news about a new magical water source will spread beyond the guild's control, and some of the slave owners will love to experiment with the elemental powers with their slaves... which is horrible to think about. Asjara feels chills running down the spine, and her cold resistance dose not help with this chill either.

"We must find some way to purify this lake," she thinks, "maybe some more historical bits will help".

"Parumin, I want to hear a bit more about your history. Was the lake always like this, or did something happened?"

[TurboGhast]

"This lake used to be a boring, mundane one until I enhanced it with elemental energy." With a wink, he adds "You're welcome!"

Spoiler: For those who make a DC 15 insight check

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This isn't the whole story, and feels slanted towards Parumin's current views.

[ahyangyi]

Roll insight again!
(1d20+3)[4]

Asjara wants to say something, but for some time she fails to decide what to say, SSana||ona speaks first.

(I apologize for promising to edit this post quickly but didn't make it :D )

[Archemist]

Spoiler: OOC - Rolls

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(1d20+12)[31] for Insight, and also (1d20+13)[15] for Diplomacy. SSana||ona is going to try to convince this guy to spill the beans to his new friends.

"Sir, I apologize for my earlier comment. You are right, it's much better this way than it was. However did you accomplish it?"

[TurboGhast]

"It was actually surprisingly easy." Parumin pauses to think about how to word his next sentence, then switches from a braggart's tone to a slightly remorseful one. "Although I may have used somewhat underhanded tactics to do so. I had to forcibly borrow this body to execute the plan. After that, all the humanoids ran rather make an attempt to physically oppose or work with me, leaving me free to pull energy from the elemental chaos to enhance this oasis. I hope to expand this to other oases, but have ended up stuck for want of a next target. Want to help?"

Spoiler: Perception DC 20

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When Parumin said "forcibly borrow", another voice from the same source faintly screamed "You mean steal!"

[ahyangyi]

Perception:
(1d20+10)[20]

Asjara heard the other voice. But that coincided with "... forcibly borrow this body", which is a strange statement in it self. She decides not to directly speak about that new finding at this moment, and instead asks,

"Did you just say 'borrow this body'? Are you Parumin Klona using the body of someone else, or are you someone else using the body of Parumin Klona?"

[Archemist]

Spoiler: OOC - Perception

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(1d20+6)[18]

SSana||ona adds, "What an interesting idea, pulling elemental energy - how does that work? Do you need any special tools for that, or can you just do it by thinking about it? It seems like most people don't put in the effort to appreciate the process."

[TurboGhast]

Perception:
[roll0]

Asjara heard the other voice. But that coincided with "... forcibly borrow this body", which is a strange statement in it self. She decides not to directly speak about that new finding at this moment, and instead asks,

"Did you just say 'borrow this body'? Are you Parumin Klona using the body of someone else, or are you someone else using the body of Parumin Klona?"

"I'm Parumin borrowing someone else's body, because I need the body's strength to perform the ritual."

Spoiler: For those who make a DC 12 Insight check

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Parumin said the second half of the sentence with way more confidence than the first half. It's likely that the first half is a lie and the second half is true.

Spoiler: For those who make a DC 22 Perception check

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When he said "Parumin", his voice became subtly distorted.

Spoiler: OOC - Perception

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[roll0]

SSana||ona adds, "What an interesting idea, pulling elemental energy - how does that work? Do you need any special tools for that, or can you just do it by thinking about it? It seems like most people don't put in the effort to appreciate the process."

"Said ritual is fairly simple to complete, but requires a piece of a preexisting portal to the elemental chaos. The ritual turns the portal piece into a miniature portal to the elemental chaos which pulls in energy to enhance the water. I have plenty of materials for the ritual stocked up, I just haven't got the opportunity to use them. Fortunately, even if someone found the portal piece and destroyed it, the water would still have enough elemental energy to last a few decades. Diminishing the water by removing the energy would be a lengthy, albeit doable, task."

Spoiler: For those who make a DC 10 Arcana check

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None of this information contradicts your knowledge.

[ahyangyi]

Spoiler: Various Rolls

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Insight (1d20+3)[10] (fails)
Perception (1d20+10)[24] (succeeds)
Arcana (1d20+3)[5] (fails)

Asjara notices the distorted voice when Parumin says "Parumin".

"So, if the body is not Parumin's, can I know his original name?"

[TurboGhast]

"Why do even want to know? It's not important."

[ahyangyi]

"To be frank, I don't see strength in your current body..." Asjara says, and completes her question, "So, what exactly do you mean by 'needing the body's strength to perform the ritual'? Does it mean something different from physical strength?"

[TurboGhast]

"Yeah, it isn't physical strength, although this body has a surprising amount of fight left in it. The first time I tried the ritual, I ran out of magical energy before I could complete it. That's why I had to borrow this one. Using the magical energy of my original body and this body together gave me enough power to complete the ritual."

[ahyangyi]

"Ewww". Asjara reacts disgustedly.

"So, where is your original body?"

( Hey other guys! Don't let Asjara ask all the questions! )

[TurboGhast]

"I don't know, as I never bothered to keep track of it. My original body could be dead outright and I'd have no way of knowing nor would I really care."