Cassess City of Nets IC pages 20-40

[Jagg]

[ooc] Apologies guys the silly season is catching up with me. My wife's xmas party, my xmas party, my team xmas party, drinks with friends...you get the picture. Anywho sorry for the delay[/ooc]

Gurlen gets to his feet slowly after Targ's healing spell, shaking his head to try and clear it.

"You need to go back and get a cure disease." Argent says. "One of us should go with him." Argent says looking around the group. Thamyn steps forwards with a deep sigh. "I'll take him. I wasn't much good back in that fight." he says morosely.

After the two of them leave, the group walks further down the gallery.

You reach a long sraight gallery that fades into the sparse light on the tunnels (k19). The occasional boulder sits in the middle of the gallery jutting up from the floor. No further sign of undead can be seen as the group moves forwards cautiously, weapons at the ready.

Up ahead you can see the start of a tunnel stretching to the right (m20) and another tunnel that leads left further down (q18) no sign of any combatants can be seen in the long tunnel.

Listen check DC 12

Spoiler

Show

You can hear a gutteral sound that is hard to pinpoint in the tunnels and caverns. Beyond a vague sense of "somewhere ahead" it's hard to tell where it is coming from. If you were to guess the nature of the sound, you'd say it came from something large, possibly an animal of some kind.

[purepolarpanzer]

(1d20+2)[8]
Mara takes her place as scout, pressing ahead of everyone else, trying to hear or see anything threatening.

[Hastuur]

Listen Check (1d20+3)[23]

Targ walks carefully trying to be as alert as he can.

"Jus started an two down already. Not what I was expectin. And I canna cure diseases that these tings inflict. Gonna have ta devote more attention ta Moradin's blessin than fightin." he whispers to himself.

[ooc] whoot!!!, now why cant I roll that in combat-- [/ooc]

[lotofsnow]

Listen Check (1d20+2)[17]

Despite losing essentially two members of his group this early in the adventure, Relgan's hopes are high. Gurlen should never have been made to fight, Relgan realizes this now, and Thamyn seems skilled enough to be able to return to them once he's escorted the scout to safety. Argent didn't seemed too concerned over the severity of the disease, so why should Relgan be?

One thing that struck an odd chord within him was the sickly look of anguish on Mara's face after the fight. Had one of the creatures touched her? Was she in need of a Cure Disease as well? Relgan has come to like the whisper gnome and he would hate to haver her fall due to her pride. The dwarf knows that gnomes of her kind are generally very suspicious of stranger, and just as she seems to be opening up to the group, Mara pulls back into her shadowy nature. He makes a note to himself to talk to her alone at the most convenient opportunity. Unfortunately, she skipped ahead, no doubt investigating that strange noise coming from the caverns ahead.

Relgan motions the group to stay alert and follow, and he begins slowly tracing the whisper gnome's footsteps deeper into the cave.

[technophile]

[ooc]Listen check: (1d20+1)[4] Ha! oblivious as usual. [/ooc]

Ielisia takes her place in the middle of the column again, crossbow loaded and the arcane energy of her spells a comforting presence in her mind.

[Jagg]

MAP

Spoiler

Show

[ooc] Uh oh - Your scout didn't hear it - Mara give me a grid reference how far ahead of the group are you? Hastuur Give me a grid for the rest of the group.[/ooc]

The group moves as stealthily as possible down the corridor alert for trouble.

[Hastuur]

[ooc] I think we should all be around K19. Depending on how far ahead Mara is. [/ooc]

"I dinna know if y'all hear that, but sometin large sounds ahead. Keep your wits about ye". Targ says to his surrounding members.

[purepolarpanzer]

(Probably approaching N 19, as she would definately wait for the group at an intersection. I'd call it L/M 19 )

[Jagg]

Nothing happens as the group moves forwards to the first intersection (n20). The intersection is dark, no bugs light the way inside and the opening is irregular and cluttered with loose rock. It would be possible to move deeper into the passageway with a little effort, or someone who was small and nimble enough to do so, and a faint movement of air indicates that the passage is deeper than it first appears.

The sound heard before has ceased.

[technophile]

Is there enough light for low-light vision to work, or are there any bugs nearby?

[Jagg]

Low light vision isn't x ray vision. It's cluttered with large rocks that have spaces around them that a small person could squeeze through. You can only see maybe ten feet with the amount of rock in the way.

[technophile]

[ooc]Understood, I just meant was there enough light in the areas not blocked by stone that low-light vision made any difference. :)[/ooc]

[lotofsnow]

Relgan pulls Mara aside into the darkness as the rest of the group peers into the dark passage. His dwarven darkvision allows him to examine her face despite the shadow.

You didn't get hit by any of those undead, did you? You looked pretty shook up back there.

[purepolarpanzer]

No I'm... fine.
Her small head turns down and to the side, her face as solid as the stone the dwarf knew from birth. But like any stone, he had a sense for it, and he knew that it was a thin wall at best.
It's just... its my fault that Gurlen... if I hadn't... he would be...
She threw herself against the dwarf, sobs wracking her body as she quietly cried into his armor.
It's my fault he's so hurt! If I had been stronger I could have killed those undead my self! You would never have had to come rescue me, Gurlen would be fine, and... and...
Her voice dissolves into gasps for air as she chokes back most of the noise her anguish would evoke, if she wasn't using every ounce of her self control to contain herself.

[lotofsnow]

Relgan gently pats the whisper gnome, trying to soothe her guilt.

There, there, lass, he says softly, patting her gently on the back. It was no mistake of yours. You did what was asked of you, and you did well to get out of reach of those strange undead. Giving a man a sword and sending him into battle without training him first is more dangerous than sending him to fight without a weapon at all. The error was mine.

Besides, Argent seemed to think all the scout required was the aid of a cleric. I wouldn't be too concerned with him as he is in good hands with Thamyn.

The dwarf waits a moment for Mara to compose herself. Once she does, he adds:

Now, we need you to prove your value to us once again. It seems you might be able to fit into those cracks up there and see what lies beyond. Do you feel you're up to the task?

[purepolarpanzer]

Mara blinks back her sorrow, keeping herself together asmuch as she can for everyone's sake. The tears stop and the storm inside her calms, but she can still feel the dull pain of guilt.
Aye. I can go on.
She briefly wraps one arm around the broad dwarf, planting a small kiss on his cheek.
Thank you... for listening.
She turns to the cracks, ready to scout ahead.

[Jagg]

@ Mara

Spoiler

Show

It's obvious that you'll have to remove your backpack, bow and cloak if you are to manouver in the tight spaces of the side passage. The first few feet are problematic, but with a bit of squeeze and a nimble movement you are able to enter the passageway properly, which rises sharply and widens sligtly after about 25 feet. Very little light is available however, and no vivarium bugs are present to light your way. The rocks feel somehow gritty under your hands even though they look smooth in the dim light and traces of grit coat your clothes and hands. Without a light source it will be impossible to see where you are going and quite possibly dangerous as you will need to feel your way ahead blindly.

@everyone else

Mara has moved into the side tunnel and Argent has taken up a defensive position in the tunnel. He beckons the rest of you around and speaks in a soft voice. "We should keep moving forwards once Mara has explored the side tunnel. That sound I heard earlier would seem to indicate however that we are not alone in these tunnels. Do we wait here and see if it will come to us, or go find out what it was?"

[purepolarpanzer]

(Low light vision and dark vision. )

[Jagg]

[ooc] Whoops. Sorry just thought you had low light not dark vision[/ooc]

@Mara

Spoiler

Show

Once past the rock that blocks the entrance of the tunnel it widens and rises at a steep angle. The quarters are tight, even for one of your stature and black grains of what looks like sand coat your clothes and limbs from your squeezing through the tight spaces. After a short distance the tunnel breaks into two. You can see from your position that one of the tunnels is blocked by a large boulder and is impassable. The other tunnel curves and flattens out, following parrallel to the main tunnel for a distance. This gallery at one point widens considerably in height. At this point the ceiling of the tunnel would be 50 ft above you. Color is still hard to see in the tunnel but something metallic gleams in a thick vein far above your head. Once you continue on the tunnel curves again back towards the main tunnel and comes down to join the ceiling. (r21) It's steep and slippery from the sandy black grit that covers the tunnel. If you choose to go this way rather than return give me a balance check DC15. Note falling risk 2d6 damage if you fail you balance check. Will allow you to use climb skill if you prefer.

[Hastuur]

Targ turns and reguards Argent. "Aye, we should wait fer Mara ta finish checkin out this hole. Don't know if we should wait or go foreward." He turns to face Relgan. "Thoughts cousin?".

Anyone close to Targ can hear him slightly humming to himself. A silent prayer to ease the nerves of the upcomming findings.

[lotofsnow]

Relgan nods in agreement with Targ.

Once she gets back, we'll proceed with caution. I think we should try to stick as close together as possible from now on in. He looks anxiously down the tunnel, trying to catch a glimpse of the returning whisper gnome.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

(sorry guys, i had a dissapeared)

Edehel's face is grim. Well, grimmer then usual. They had barely started their journey, and already they had lost 2 teammates. Luckily, neither was dead, and Thamyn should return as quick as possible, but it is still a pretty heavy atmosphere in the tunnels. He waits a little behind the others, glancing behind them, straining for any sound of anything approaching them. Maybe the soldiers behind them would be early? That would be a lucky turn of events, and well welcomed. Or, maybe there was a small crevace, overlooked, behind which, dark things would creep up behind them...

He shook his head slightly, banishing unbidden thoughts of many-legged demons looming from the shadows, and watched, carefully.

Edit:I had some rolls here, but they didn't work, and were probably unnessecary. so i edited them out.

[Jagg]

[ooc] JAGG taps foot and looks at the bear. We are waiting on our scout, what's the hold up on posting?....[/ooc]

[purepolarpanzer]

(sorry. Holiday season=hectic)

Mara attempts to keep her footins across the sandy surface, moving slowly and carefully. Her sensesrun a knife's edge, and she is ready to roll with the fall if she slips.

Spoiler

Show

Balance (1d20+3)[9] And if she falls tumble (1d20+7)[22]

[Jagg]

(sorry. Holiday season=hectic)

Mara attempts to keep her footins across the sandy surface, moving slowly and carefully. Her sensesrun a knife's edge, and she is ready to roll with the fall if she slips.

Spoiler

Show

Balance (1d6)[3] And if she falls tumble [roll1]

Mara feels her footing slide as she starts down the end of the tunnel at a steep distance. Seeing no other choice, she attempts to thrust with her feet and turn her uncontrolled fall into a controlled tumble which stops her from taking most of the damage. She lands badly however striking her knee hard on the rocks that have obviously fallen from this end of the passage and lie on the floor of the gallery.

falling damage (1d6)[3] Position s19 on map

[technophile]

[ooc]Sorry about the lack of posting, fellas; things have been crazy the last few days.[/ooc]

Ielisia watches the tunnel ahead of them, her senses straining at the encroaching darkness and her heart drumming with her need to find the lost dwarves. She wasn't even sure why she felt it so strongly, but since the moment Dumathoin explained their plight she's been able to turn her thoughts from Coin and his students only with an effort of will. Her determination shines in her face.

"I hope Mara returns swiftly," she murmurs to Edehel. "The longer we linger the more time our enemies have to improve their position."

[purepolarpanzer]

Mara favors one leg as she carefully looks at her surroundings, before heading back along the path, as silently as possible, to meet her companions.

Spoiler

Show

Spot (1d20+2)[12] Search (1d20+6)[23] Move Silently (1d20+9)[26] Hide (1d20+13)[20]

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

"I hope that too. It might really slow us down. And I have really bad feelings about those shadows."

He mutters his reply to Ielisia without turning his head from his back-watch, and doesn't look around to see if Mara is there.

[Jagg]

As Mara makes her way back carefully towards the rest of the group, hiding and moving as silently as possible, she crosses the intersecting passage (Q19). In the light cast from thousands of glowworms she can see a large shape resting beside a boulder that has come loose from the wall. It looks like a toad, but larger than any she has seen before. It's larger than a horse, and it's wide mouth looks capable of swallowing the gnome whole. She manages to creep past gingerly however and return to the group. (N19)

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Gwyn hears a soft crunch come from behind him. He whirls around, only too see that it was only Mara.

"What news?" he whispers.