## page was renamed from Cauldron8
= Cauldron, Part 8 =
1/2/08
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1/2/08

Calico sniffs and listens for unfriendlies.

Jiona takes a couple of unconscious steps further down the west-headed hallway, lured by the fresh scents of outdoors that smells so much like her home.  She has her head slightly raised, her nose visibly tasting at the air in that direction.

Tillandor peers down the western path, trying to penetrate the dimness.

Calico takes the lead headed down the western passage.

Ethkin is still causious about that westward hall, and it's... broken feel.

DM types up a VERY long room desc.

* The doorway opens up into a small forest.  Four great trees sprout from grassy terrain, their leafy crowns fanning out twenty feet overhead to form a roof of decidious leaves through which rays of sunshine filter. (more)

* Brambles and thickets line form impassible walls, though bramble archways set into the north and south walls lead to dark passageways.  A mound of stony rubble flank the hole in the wall you are looking out of. (more)

Rayne catches up to Calico and leans in behind Calico whispering, "Is this the way our foes traversed?"

Tillandor moves forward in wonder.  "I wonder where the sunlight is coming from.  Are we not still underground?"

* To the west is a round gear door framed by brambles.  A gentle breeze causes leaves to rustle, and birds chirp merrily in the boughs above.

DM is done.

Ethkin stays in the hall...

Ethkin is warry of Gnomish illusion magic.

Calico evaluates whether climbing a tree would get her a better view across the room.

Tillandor peers in, looking for clues to explain the room.

Jiona is right behind Tillandor, her eyes bright with wonder.  But her movements are still tempered by caution, already having learned that this place is prone to surprises.  To Tillandor, she inquires, "Is this... more magic?"

* Tillandor rolls 3@[1f20+9]: 5,12,9 = 26.

Rayne catches Jiona's remark and peers at the room intensely and with caution.

Tillandor says, "Er, that must not have worked."

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+9: 2,9 = 11.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+9: 9,9 = 18.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+9: 30,9 = 39.

Calico doesn't recall seeing a door in the passage they passed through north of this room, and presumes the door in this room passes above or below the passage.

Calico chechs closer to the south door, scenting for visitors.

Tillandor says, "How odd.  I don't see anything specifically magical about this place."

DM says, "Xs are tree trunks."

Tillandor says, "But it can't be natural."

* Rayne rolls 1f20+4: 9,4 = 13.

Tillandor peers up toward the sky, looking for the rock walls that MUST be enclosing the room.

* The bramble walls go up perhaps 30 feet, then only branches are between you and the sky.

Ethkin asks Jiona, "What's up ahead?":

Rayne begins an incantation and looks at the room, eyes slightly aglow.

Ethkin continues, "What's everyone all ooh-aah about?"

Tillandor carefully watches Rayne, keeping particular eye on his sword.

* Rayne rolls 1f100: 67.

Rayne says, "Oh its magic alright."

Jiona squeezes by Rayne to step into the forest proper, but looks back as Ethkin speaks.  To him, she replies, "It's... a wooded area.  But we're underground.  It seems impossible, but it... huh?"  She breaks off, looking at Rayne in surprise.

Calico says, "figures, the birds don't sound quite right."

Tillandor says, "Well it would have to be."

Tillandor asks, "But what kind of spell?"

Rayne looks around the room and back down the hall they came from.

Tass has reconnected.

Calico peaks through the south door.

Rayne looks back at the room and squints.

Ethkin walks up the corridor, and tries to sense... anything.

Ethkin asks, "What kind of magic is it, Rayne?"

Rayne says, "Illusion magic."

Ethkin hmmms quietly...

Tillandor examines the northern doorway for magic.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+9: 14,9 = 23.

Calico asks, "Ethkin, see anything alive in here, besides us?"

* Rayne rolls 1f20+4: 18,4 = 22.

* In the south, what was once a dining hall, this chamber contains only the wreckage of once-fine furniture.  Some iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling, while a third - rope severed - lies in a heap on the floor, ruined.

Calico says, "this place has seen better days."

Jiona sniffs the air again, amazed.  "It's an excellent illusion," she remarks.  She brushes by one of the trees, testing the surface of the bark with slightly extended claws with her free left hand.

Ethkin spends a Spirit Point to try and increase either his range or his fidelity, and sees what her 'sees'.

Tass has reconnected.

Tass has dropped a connection.

Tass has dropped a connection.

Calico looks around the dining hall, staying in sight of others in the party.

* Rayne rolls 1f20+4: 15,4 = 19.

Ethkin mutters, "I think those Creepers dug their way into this room from this side."

Rayne mutters something under his breath and looks nonplussed.

Rayne says, "Its definitely a powerful illusion spell but I can't seem to reveal what is the truth..."

Calico noting little of importanced in the dining hall, decides to climb a tree and see what's above.

DM wonders if Ethkin and Rayne are still clumped by the doorway?

* Calico rolls 1f20+7: 13,7 = 20.

Rayne is.

Ethkin hmms again, "Well, tell me what you actually see, and I'll tell you what I can."

Jiona looks intrigued by Rayne's comment, but this false forest is losing its fascination to her.  Instead, she wanders over to where Tillandor is, wondering where that door could lead.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+11: 16,11 = 27.

Rayne says, "Well its a room somewhere around 50-60 feet square. There appear to be 4 trees, one of which Calico has climbed."

Rayne says, "There is an exit to our left, one to our far left, and one to our right where Tillandor is."

Tillandor asks, "If the trees are illusion, what has she climbed?"

Ethkin says, "I believe it is a stone collum."

Tillandor nods satisfactorily.  "Illusion.  With the same form of permanency as the sound in the other room."

Calico says, "this tree seems solid enough.  whether it's a real tree however..."

Ethkin remembers Tillandors conversation earlier with Rayne, "Why don't you use your sword on something Rayne, then you guys could see the room for what it is."

Rayne shrugs and says, "Ethkin any sign of our quarry?"

Calico attempts to reach high enough to see up through the leaves.

Rayne stops for a minute and says, "Come again?"

Tillandor asks, "And you, Jiona?  Any scent?"

Rayne looks confused.

Jiona tests the air again, trying to determine anything through what she is now sure is an illusion... plus any hints of where the creepers, or any of their quarry, might have gone.

Rayne puts his hand on his sword and turns around, peering down the hallway.

* Calico rolls 1f20+7: -10,7 = -3.

Calico fumbles.

* Calico comes tumbling out of the tree.

DM says, "Calico, roll a tumble check."

* Calico rolls 1f20+6: 15,6 = 21.

Jiona tilts her head slightly, and seems to catch on to something, her ears involuntarily perking forward.  "There's... someone else has been here," she announces after a brief hesitation.  "A half-elf, if I'm any judge.  Not one I recognize."

Tass rounds the cornner and leans forward with his hands on his knees, breathing heavely.

* A character appears coming from the eastern corridor you guys came up.

Ethkin exclaims, "Who's there?!"

Rayne draws his sword and positions himself between Ethkin and the intruder.

Tillandor takes a defensive stance, but stays behind Jiona.

- you see a slight young male half elf with blue black hair and a dark complection. He wears a light tunic and slacks, over which he wears a well worn ruddy brown traveling cloak. He wears multiple gold necklaces and a gold bangle on each wrist, but he wears no rings on his fingers. He has multiple peircings on each ear, and on his left ear a delicate chain connects two of them from which a pure crystal hangs. He also wears a small ruby on his nose and smudges red dyed khol under his eyes each morning. He doesn't apear to carry any wepons, but he moves with an air of confidence and subtle grace that comes with dilligent training of the body.

- and is currently panting hard.

DM says, "Seems like he must have been running recently."

Jiona also readies her spear when she picks up on the sound of approaching footsteps, not quite certain what to expect, except for roughly knowing what it is that's coming.

Tass says, "I am Tass Blackbyrd, and I was sent by Jenya of the Church of St. Cuthbert to aid aid you when news of what had happend in Gelves locks reached her ears."

Rayne's jaw hits the floor.

Rayne slowly puts his sword back in its sheath.

Tillandor frowns, still holding his stance.  And still standing behind Jiona.  "And you just ran down here?  Right past the wrinkly creepers?"

Rayne says, "Welcome Tass Blackbyrd, you catch us in strange surroundings."

Ethkin is not sure he believes this half-elf's 'cover' either.

Calico looks over the new arrival from a distance.

Rayne eyes narrow at Tillandor's comment and he looks at Tass, "How exactly did you find us?" he asks.

Rayne keeps a hand still on his sword.

Ethkin moves into the room, towards Calico, to see if she's alright...

Jiona also appears visibly skeptical, her tail swishing behind her.  As everyone else is asking the questions that occur to her, she remains silent, but is prepared for action.

Calico landed on her feet, like a cat.

DM says, "And time slows to a crawl as Tass words his response."

DM says, "He may seem slow to respond.  But in real life?  He's veeeery fast."

Tass says, "I have been wondering down here for half a day now, and I have been running from strange creatures since I have been down here. I started running as soon as I heard friendly voices."

Rayne looks at his companions and wonders out loud, "Half a day? We have barely been here that long ourselves."

Tillandor says, "Uh, methinks you forget."

Tillandor says, "We camped a full night already."

Tass says, "Really? I guess time must do funny things to the mind while one is underground, or are we anymore?" He looks up for the first time into the next room.

Calico says, "not much real here."

Tillandor says, "We are underground.  This is illusion."

Ethkin nods.

Tass straightens up and looks around in awe. "If it is an illusion, it is certianly an impressive one!"

Jiona inquires curiously, "How did Jenya learn of what happened at Ghelve's?"

Tass moves towards trees reverently.

DM notes there is a Rayne in the way.

Rayne is blocking the way.

Rayne nods approvingly at Jiona's line of thinking.

Ethkin pipes up, "Ghelve wasn't exactly being quiet about it."

Rayne stifles a small chuckle at what must have become of Ghelve.

Jiona's tail twitches a bit at Ethkin's comment.  "While that is true, it's rather a leap to go from Ghelve's ravings to concluding that it was us down here, and to then send... Tass... to assist us."  She falls quiet again, listening for Tass's explanation.

Calico tries to read the strangers bearing, sense motive.

Ethkin leans nonchalantly against on of the 'trees'.

* Calico rolls 1f20+4: 3,4 = 7.

Tass says, "When Keygan informed the guards, word of this came back to Jenya, and she sent me down to investigate for her."

Tillandor says, "Give us a token or pass.  Verify your story to us."

Rayne says, "And what became of Ghelve?"

Tass reaches into his cloak and pulls out a potion of cure moderate wounds bearing the symbol of St. Cuthbert.

Rayne tenses when Tass reaches into his cloack and then relaxes when he sees the potion.

Calico decides to give Tass a pass for now.

Ethkin hears clothing rustle, and liquid in a bottle slosh...

Tass says, "she said that she had also given each of you one of these potions as a tokem of appriciation for your takeing on of this quest and told me to show this to you to verify myself."

Tillandor nods.  "That will do for me, barring an evaluation of action."

Jiona also nods, returning her spear to its normal walking-stick position.  "Me as well, under the same conditions," she affirms.

Rayne releases his grip on his sword and nods in approval. "Well spoken Tass, please excuse our skepticism."

Calico looks around, "we seem to be done here, back to the chase?"

Rayne says, "We have been attacked twice while in these tunnels."

Rayne says, "So I assure you it was not ill intended unless you were one of our foes."

Tass says, "As for Ghelve, his fate is not yet determined, and there will be a hearing, and it sounds like they might want to speak to you all, especially you, Rayne."

Rayne asks, "Why me?"

Rayne looks innocent.

Rayne chuckles and says, "I am sure they do. We will make sure they get their chance once we have recovered the missing children."

Tillandor asks, "So North, South, or West?"

Calico says, "the scent trail leads south past where we turned off here."

Jiona also looks uneasy at the thought of a hearing, but puts it beind her.  That's still far off in the future.  "If I recall correctly... yes, what Calico said."

Rayne says, "Then that is where I suggest we start. I don't like the looks of this place."

Ethkin chuckles, and looks at Jiona, "It may take a while, but we *could* go west..."

Tillandor says, "Ah.  Then let us abandon this pleasant illusion and continue the hunt."

Rayne takes the lead going back to the room he had previously stopped his pursuit.

Calico heads back into the tunnels.

Jiona gives Ethkin a kind of smirking smile.  "Just so," she agrees.  She nods to Tillandor, and starts heading down the hallway again, a short distance behind Rayne.

Tillandor follows shortly behind Jiona.

Ethkin follows close behind Jiona, reveling again in his new ability to 'see' the walls, but still feeling the need for a living guide.

Rayne turns to look at the others, noticing Jiona behind him he asks, "Can you tell if our quarry draws near?"

Tass Tass follow a step behind everyone else, still in awe of the room they are leaving.

DM asks, "Do we have a light?"

Ethkin chuckles, thinking Tillandor works just as well.

Tillandor has no light.

Ethkin needs no light.

Tass says, "I have flint and tinder, as well as candles."

Rayne asks, "Hmmmm, does anyone have a torch, or on of those devices we saw last night?"

Jiona looks up at Rayne, and pauses for a moment, attempting to track them again by scent.

Calico says, "agreed.  I don't need much light, but I do need some."

Tillandor says, "A moment.  The dim path may suit some well, but I need a bit more illumination."

Tass pulls out a candle from his backpack and the flint and tinder from his pouch and proceeds to light it.

Rayne nods in consensus with Calico.

* Jiona rolls 1f20+11: 5,11 = 16.

Calico pulls a candle from her pack, ready to light once there's a fire.

* Tass manages to light his candle.

Tillandor says, "If a ball of ice could be produced, I could make some light."

Tass holds up candle for Calico.

Ethkin spends a point of Fire and lights Till's candle.

- or Cal's.

Tillandor has no candle.

* Two stone hearths fill the east corners of this kitchen.  Stone shelves, barren and dusty, fill the wall space between the blackened fireplaces.  In the middle of the room stand two stout tables covered in old webs, while against the south wall rests a dilapidated wooden cabinet on the verge of collapsing under its own weight. Debris from a roughly hewn fife foot diameter tunnel in the north wall spills into the room.  Near the opening are heaped the shriveled husks of three enormous spiders.

Calico thinks 1 candle at each end of the line is plenty.

Calico asks, "Till, would you like a candle?"

Tillandor says, "I'm far more interested at the moment in those spiders."

* Your flickering candlelight casts frightening shadows on the far wall from the dead spiders.

Tillandor enters the room, and cracks a few bits of the nearest spider into a pouch.

Jiona samples the air some more, but ends up shaking her head to Rayne.  "Too many conflicting smells," she admits.  "I'll keep checking, though."  To Tillandor, she says, "I could make another ball of ice for you, but that'd be the last one for a fairly long while."

Rayne wonders aloud, "I wonder if those spiders had anything to do with the previous room?"

Calico examines the dead spiders, "did they starve, or did something else kill them?"

Tass grimices at dead spiders and walks delicatly around them.

Rayne enters the room, hand on the hilt of his sword, looking around for danger.

Calico says, "some slice and dice action here."

Jiona eyes the shriveled husts disdainfully, then moves curiously over to the barely-standing cabinet.  She attempts to open one of the doors with the business-end of her spear, from a safe distance.

Calico tries the door at the west end of the kitchen.

* Tass cringes back in pain from an unseen assailant.

Ethkin says, "Walks boldly into the room, and rolls DEX to not trip over the spiders..."

Calico turns towards Tass, her dagger drawn.

* Ethkin rolls 1f20+3: 30,3 = 33.

DM says, "Roll initiative."

Rayne looks around attempting to identify Tass' attackers while drawing his sword.

* Calico rolls 1f20+dex: 6,5 = 11.

* Jiona rolls 1f20+3: 7,3 = 10.

DM says, "Nice dodge, Ethkin."

* Tillandor rolls 1f10+2: 4,2 = 6.

* Rayne rolls 1f20+3: 4,3 = 7.

* Tass rolls 1f20+4: 18,4 = 22.

* DM rolls 1f20+3: 15,3 = 18.

DM says, "Tass, you get the first move."

Ethkin feels the spiders' coarpses with his shin at the last second, and deftly walks OVER them, like it was a common occurance...

DM says, "You see noone there, by the way.  But you think the attack came from the west."

* Tass rolls 1f20: 9.

* Ethkin rolls 1d20+3: 9,3 = 12.

Ethkin notes, "12 is my initiative."

DM says, "Tass.  You options are (as I see them) blindly attack (you might hit something), or back away.  You might think of other options."

Tass backs away swiftly from where he was attacked.

DM says, "Into the hall or by Tillandor?  You can move up to 6 squares."

DM says, "I would recommend only moving 1 square, though.  Otherwise you MIGHT provoke a free attack."

- "And you can move through your friends no problem."

DM says, "Right"

Ethkin exclaims, "Tass, Jiona, watch out!"

Tass moves fearfully behind Ethkin.

- although you can't remain in the same square methinks.

Tillandor could be nudged a bit south.

DM exclaims, "Jiona and Rayne are hit!"

Tillandor exclaims, "There's more than one of them!"

Ethkin spends another Fire point and tosses that point at the closest 'whatever' to him, and hopes...

DM says, "Good.  It is Ethkin's turn."

* Ethkin rolls 1d2+1: 2,1 = 3.

Rayne staggers back with a very nasty gash across his chest and blood oozing out.

* A figure at the X bursts into flames for a moment.  A squeal of pain is heard.

DM says, "Calico go"

Ethkin intends to smack it with his staff next turn, if it don't move first.

Calico fires a sling bullet at the flaming something.

Tass startles at the burst of flame so near to him.

* Calico rolls 1f20+dex+1: 17,5,1 = 23.

* Calico rolls 1d3: 3.

* The flaming figure crumples at an apparent direct blow to the skull.

DM says, "Jiona go"

Ethkin shouts, "Jiona, to your right!"

DM blinks.

DM asks, "Um... how do you know which way she's facing?"

Ethkin grins at the DM, "I'm assuming, and hoping I'm right."

DM says, "Excellent."

Ethkin sighs, "Or else hoping she gets what I mean."

Jiona staggers as she's struck hard by something.  She growls, and - hearing Ethkin's call just in time - she puts the strength of both hands behind a strike to her right with her spear, hoping to feel an impact.

DM says, "Roll to hit.  And also roll d100"

* Jiona rolls 1f20+3: 15,3 = 18.

* Jiona rolls 1d100: 46.

* Jiona swings wildly with her spear, but doesn't seem to hit anything.

DM says, "Go rayne."

Ethkin cries desperatly, "Your other right!"

Rayne, seething with rage, and guided by the strange cries from the blind monk, rushes over to the other side of Jiona, swinging hard but mindful not to strike Jiona. "Kord!!!!!" he shouts as he brings his sword to bear.

Ethkin caught up in the action calls out as well, "KORD!"

* Rayne rolls 1f20: 14.

Rayne says, "oops"

Rayne says, "that was supposed to be +5"

DM says, "Just add your bonus.  Ah."

DM says, "Roll d100"

* Rayne rolls 1d100: 7.

DM says, "You manage to hit... nothing."

DM says, "Till's turn."

Rayne grunts in pain as the gash in his chest seems to deepen and more blood flows out whetting his tunic.

Calico prepares to cast Cure Light Wounds on Rayne.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+10: 15,10 = 25.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+2: 9,2 = 11.

DM says, "Roll initiative."

* DM rolls 1f20+3: 4,3 = 7.

* Rayne rolls 1f20+3: 8,3 = 11.

* Ethkin rolls 1f20+3: 11,3 = 14.

Tillandor rushes forward, chanting and gesticulating.  As he nears the assumed location of his opponent, his left hand begins to glow with a pale light.

* Tass rolls 1f20+4: 4,4 = 8.

Tillandor eventually reaches the wall, having encountered no enemy, and the light fades away.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+2: 8,2 = 10.

Ethkin gets frustrated and hopes there's nothing in his way as he prepairs to charge on his turn...

DM says, "Calico/Jiona.  Come on girls."

* Jiona rolls 1d20+3: 17,3 = 20.

* Calico rolls 1f20+dex: 2,5 = 7.

DM says, "Go Jiona"

- Growing frustrated at the inability of almost everyone to hit whatever these things are, Jiona decides against another wild attack, in favor of trying to figuring out just where this thing *is*.  Raising her free hand to her *other* right - thank you, Ethkin - she spews a gallon of water in a rough cone in front of her.  This probably spatters Tillandor and Rayne, but it's just water.  She watches carefully for the droplets to stick to anything that's *not* those two.

* Tillandor and Rayne get drenched in water.  Nothing else seems to be affected.

DM says, "Go Ethkin."

Ethkin gives a suprizingly deep throated "KI-YAH!" as he charges to the 'correct' side or Jiona, 1/4 staff whirling like a propeler, and he attempts to WHACK the invisible ____!

* Ethkin rolls 1f20+3: 19,3 = 22.

* Ethkin's palm slams into something solid with a crunch.  The creature seems to slip out of the shadows and crumple to the floor.

Ethkin was going for staff, not unarmed, but that works!

DM says, "Oh.  Well, we'll fix it in the log."

Rayne asks, "Is that the last of them?"

Ethkin nods, and goes into a one-footed pose, bringing his palms together, takeing a looooong breath to calm himself..

Ethkin lets the breath out slooowly, saying, "That's it," with the last of it.

Calico chants in cat qas she approaches Rayne to deliver some healing.

Tillandor examines the nearby foe.

Rayne slumps to the floor, eyeing his wound.

Ethkin calls, "Tass! If you can use a rope, tie up 'Crispy' over there."

Calico touches an open palm to Rayne's wound...

Jiona releases a deep breath when the last one falls, also clearly in some discomfort.  Like Tillandor, she investigates the last one Ethkin brought down, and makes a note of its smell, if it has one, for the next time.

* The enemy that Ethkin knocked down appears to be unconcious.  It's form is rather shadowy, and seems to constantly partially slipping into the shadows, and yet it never moves.

* Calico rolls 1d8+2: 8,2 = 10.

Calico casts cure light wounds.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+11: 12,11 = 23.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+9: -10,9 = -1.

Rayne looks astonished as the wound closes most of the way concealing what had been previously showing bone underneath.

Rayne says, "Thank you." he breathes.

Rayne winces in pain and says, "That will probably take a few days to sit right, but you repaired most of the damage."

- as soon as the action ends, Tass is struck by a wave of pain and colapses to the floor as adrenaline and blood leak from him.

Calico casts an eye around for others in need of her services.

* The creature wears a short cloak, and has pallid skin, a large nose and hairy brows.  Instead of feet, it has small black hooves.

Ethkin feels guilty, and moves back to Tass.

Rayne picks himself back up off the floor and goes over to examine the creature.

Ethkin spends a couple Spirit Points (or less) to fix Tass.

Tillandor scrapes at the creatures arm, and examines his fingers.

Calico looks over Jiona, "need any help with that scratch?"

Rayne lowers the tip of his sword down towards the creature's throat, hovering a bare inch away from impaling it.

Tass recovers with the help of ethkin, and shouts "Wait! We can take him alive!"

Rayne growls, "If he tries to slither off, I'll gut him from stem to sternum."

Calico says, "might help if he can tell us something."

Tass says, "I'll tie him up so he cannot."

Tillandor looks up.  "That one's still alive??"

Jiona satisfies herself with memorizing the strange creature's scent, then looks up at Calico, exposing a fairly deep slash to the cat.  "If you have anything else, I'd appreciate it.  It'd take several days to heal on its own."  She shakes her head, growling slightly again.  "I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of *those* things.  Not only are they hard to hit, but they hit hard right back."

Ethkin spends some points...

Calico removes any obvious weapons from the prisoner.

Your status is IC.

* Ethkin rolls 2d4+1: 4,2,1 = 7.

DM adds +1 to Ethkin's roll for his MP bonus.

* Tass seems to heal up rather nicely.

Calico also removes any obvious weapons from the other prisoner.

* Tass rolls 1d20+6: 17,6 = 23.

Rayne says, "You might want to check and make sure it doesn't have any other daggers concealed on it somehow."

Rayne says, "I'm guessing this sort probably has more than just one at its disposal."

Tass rolled for a rope check, and pulles out his silk rope and defitly ties the prisoner with it.

Ethkin senses over 'Crispy', next to him, to see if he/she/it is worth healing and saving.

Calico says, "Unless someone else has a use for small daggers, I'll be taking their weapons."

Rayne shakes his head.

Tillandor draws his dagger and slices a small square of skin from the shadowy creature.

Rayne says, "I have no use for such things."

Rayne looks at Tillandor and says, "Not that I mind, mind you but they are both still alive."

Jiona carefully sits down, waiting for Calico to finish her inventory of the creatures.

Tass says, "I could use a small knife. I do admit that I came here unprepared in the area of weaponry."

Calico casually juggles the coin purse, "money I don't have as much use for."

Tillandor glances at the creature.  "Not for long, and I don't think he'll miss it."

Rayne looks at Tass in disbelief.

Calico hands Tass a knife, "a bit small for you, but better than nothing."

Tass takes knife and tucks it into his belt, looking sheepishly at Rayne.

* Rayne rolls 1f20+4: 4,4 = 8.

Ethkin considers his the state of the two 'prisoners', his alignment, his 'fuel' levels...

Calico feels a bit weighed down with 7 more daggers, "anyone have use for 9 sling bullets?"

Calico applies her skill at non-magical healing to a prisoner.

* Calico rolls 1f20+wis+1: 12,4,1 = 17.

Ethkin wonders briefly if he has the skill to toss a sling bullet in the air and whack it with his staff, and have any hope of target accuracy...

Tass says, "Oh, and thank you for healing me Ethkin, I'm sorry I didn't say so sooner."

Calico finding her efforts too late, she tries with the other prisoner.

* Calico rolls 1f20+wis+1: 7,4,1 = 12.

Ethkin thinks, <Perhaps in a few years, with practice, if these new senses get any better.>

Tillandor cleans his dagger on the creature, sheathes it, and tucks the bit of skin into a belt pouch.

Ethkin distracted by 'Crispy's' dieing, and his own thoughts murmers, "No prob Tass."

Rayne shivers a little and says, "If you will excuse me, I think I will change into a dry set of clothes."

Tillandor, his attention brought back to the present by Rayne's comment, begins wringing out his robes.

Rayne walks into the hallway and begins digging out a fresh set of clothes.

- Seeing Calico move on to the fallen creatures, Jiona shrugs a bit to herself and uses her spear to brace herself back up to a standing position, trying to keep her weight off of her injured thigh.  She gives Rayne and Tillandor an apologetic smile.  "Sorry... it seemed like a good idea at the time."

Tass looks down and picks at his own blood stained front, but makes no move to change.

Ethkin tries to get his spirits up again, wanders in Jion's direction, "I wonder what it would take for you and I to draw someone a hot bath."

Tillandor says, "Ethkin, I think we may see more of these kind of things."

Tillandor says, "It would be nice if we could work out a better way for you to guide us."

Calico sees Jiona struggle, and begins chanting again in cat.

Ethkin smirks at Tillandor, "We could always put me in the fronto of the line."

Jiona gives Ethkin a half-smile.  "Down here?  At least 24 hours, for me.  And it'd be a small bath.  There's just not much water around."

Calico approaches Jiona and lays an open paw on her wounded leg, cure minor wounds.

Rayne returns after a few minutes in dry attire.

Tillandor says, "Perhaps just try for cardinal directions, if possible."

Ethkin says, "Seriously though, we *could* put me in front, with some one just behind me with a hand on my shoulder."

Tillandor asks, "Are you aware of north and south?"

Calico sits and rests a moment.

Ethkin thinks, and points towards Rayne, "That's north isn't it?"

Tillandor ponders out of character, "Of course, then we'd all have to roll to see if WE knew north from south.  Especially underground."

Calico almost calls out, then reconsiders and walks over to Tass, "you've been wandering about for half a day.  what you see around?"

Jiona looks up at Tillandor, considers for a moment, and points 'up'.  "That way is north," she says with absolute certainty.

Tillandor says, "Well good.  Then next time we might make use of the good information Ethkin can provide."

Ethkin thought he already did that with Till, but it was never confirmed.

Ethkin smirks, "Next time I WILL use cardinal directions."

Jiona also thanks Calico for the healing.  The gash seals up considerably, although not totally.

Jiona grins at Ethkin.  "That would help," she agrees.

Rayne glances at his comrades and says, "Are we finished here? How did the other prisoner fare?"

Tillandor asks, "Prisoner?"

Ethkin looks at his feet...

Tillandor says, "This corpse fared quite well."

Ethkin says, "I think I jog him too hard..."

* Jiona rolls 1f20+7: 13,7 = 20.

Tass recovers his rope from the corpse and rolls it back into his bag.

Rayne doesn't look unhappy at the fact their assailants are dead and says, "Are we ready to continue?"

Tillandor asks, "Quite ready.  Which way the trail?"

Calico hefts her sling bullets, "unless someone is interested, I'm chucking these."

Rayne says, "Well I see only one exit from here." and points to the corridor to the west.

Jiona looks over at Calico, and shakes her head.  She's not interested.

DM says, "That's a door."

DM says, "By the way.  With a symbol on it."

Tass asks, "I wouldn't know how to use them?"

Tillandor says, "Uh oh."

Tillandor says, "Hopefully you haven't noticed yet, but the closed doors around here are all trapped."

Rayne ponders the door for a moment and then says, "I have an idea."

Ethkin shrugs, "I'll take them Calico."

Rayne moves to stand about 10 feet away from the door and then begins chanting and moving his hands to form arcane gestures.

* Rayne rolls 1d100: 43.

Calico tosses the bag of sling bullets and sling to Tass, "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

* Rayne rolls 1f20+4: 7,4 = 11.

Tass catches the bag, shrugs, and ties the bag to his belt.

Jiona watches Rayne with interest, wondering what he has in mind.

Calico figures, "if we went back to the forest and then south..."

Tillandor asks Jiona and Calico, "Does the trail head through that door?"

Rayne shakes his head and mumbles something about practicing harder.

Tillandor says, "If not, there's no point abandoning the trail to go around."

Calico says, "Ethkin, stay here a moment.  Tass, watch my back."

Calico heads towaqrds the forest.

Tass follows Calico nervosly.

Jiona tries scenting the air for the trail, and also looks for recent tracks that would seem to have gone through the doorway.

DM says, "You see what you saw before."

Rayne walks over to Tillandor and says, "Till, did you ever study a spell that would allow you to read magic?"

Tillandor says, "A spell, no.  I'm a fair hand at identifying spells though, if that's what you mean."

Rayne shakes his head and says, "With a spell that allows you to read magic, you could feasibly identify the glyph and perhaps the means to pass through it. I am unable to translate the glyph although I can read it."

Jiona looks up after several minutes,  scratching the side of her muzzle.  "The trail... seems to have stopped here.  That's odd."  She starts cautiously poking around the rest of the room, looking for other sign.  As she passes the decaying cabinet against the south wall, she'll again attempt to pry it open with her spear.

Calico walks into the dining hall, towards what she thinks is the other side of the door.

Calico cautiously knocks on the door, making no attempt to open it.

Tillandor says, "Ah, I see what you mean.  Yes, I can read magic."

Tillandor says, "But I cannot read gnomish."

Tass looks around dyning hall, scanning for any un friendlys.

Rayne looks around suddenly and asks, "Where are Calico and Tass?"

Tillandor says, "They went around through the forest room."

Tillandor says, "Hoping to find a way to the other side of the door."

Rayne asks, "Alone?!?"

Tillandor says, "No, together."

Calico knocks again.

Tillandor says, "That's probably them now."

Tillandor shouts, "The trail doesn't go through the door.  Come on back!"

* Calico and Tass are in what was once a dining hall, this chamber contains only the wreckage of once-fine furniture.  Some iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling, while a third - rope severed - lies in a heap on the floor, ruined.

DM says, "Hold on."

DM says, "I missed Calico knocking on the door."

DM says, "We back up."

DM says, "Calico, roll a Reflex save."

* Calico rolls 1f20+5: 10,5 = 15.

* Calico taps on the door, then barely manages to leap out of the most of three large jets of flame coming from the doorframe.  She only gets slightly burned.

DM says, "Okay, resume."

Calico scowles like an angry cat.

Tillandor grimaces, "That's probably them now."

Calico heads back towards the kitchen.

Tillandor shouts, "The trail doesn't go through the door.  Come on back!  And don't touch the doors!"

DM says, "On the other side, you guys heard a little tap, then ... flames."

Tass jumps back at full speed, and while unhurt, is visably shaken.

* Jiona leaps back from the rickety cabinet on the south wall as it collapses under it's own weight.  A few bits of debris fall on her, but she escapes the brunt of the heavy pieces.

Tass exclaims, "That's the second time I've had fire shoot within feet of me today!"

Tillandor jumps at the sudden collapse.  "Are you all right?"

* Bits of broken old dishes are scattered everywhere.

Tass sticks closer to Calico than before, scanning for things that might shoot flame out at him.

Ethkin waves to Tass as he and Calico reenter the kitchen.

Jiona pulls herself back up, grumbling mildly.  "I *thought* I was a safe distance away," she mutters to herself.  She brushes her fur off, wincing at a couple bruises, and waves off Tillandor's concern.  "I'm fine.  Just stupid... say, what's that?"  Spotting something in the debris, she cautiously peers at it, and prods at it with her spear, trying to draw it closer.

Calico says, "I don't think we want to be messing with those doors."

Tillandor frowns at the object of Jiona's attention.  "What is that?"

Jiona drags it free of the debris, and gestures for Tillandor to come closer.  "It's... a rod, maybe?  I'm not sure.  Take a look."

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+11: 11,11 = 22.

* Tillandor rolls 1f20+9: 12,9 = 21.

Tillandor says, "Indeed, a rod.  Alas, the Gnomish rune letters are beyond my skill to read."

Calico gets a crazy idea, "Ethkin, step away from the door if you would."

Ethkin backs away from the door...

Tillandor asks, "Rayne, did you say you can decipher the Gnome's hand?"

Tass moves into the room, curious to see what Calico does next.

Jiona wonders, "Is it safe to pick up?  I'm really starting to worry about this place."  She looks over her shoulder at Calico's announcement, and keeps an eye on what they're doing this time, noting that the cat looks a bit singed.

Rayne shakes his head and says, "Only the magic behind the glyph I am afraid."

Calico pick up a dead spider, gets a feel for the weight, and throws it at the door.

Tillandor frowns.  "What?  You can read the magic but not the rune?  I thought you said the other way 'round."

* The space in front of the door bursts into flames as the large spider corpse gets thoroughly scorched.

Rayne says, "I can read glyphs, not Gnomish."

Tillandor says, "Oh, I see."

Calico tries again with a second spider.

Tillandor says, "Well I don't know if it is safe then."

Tillandor asks, "What is going on over here?"

Rayne says, "As can anyone who can read magic and has studied the art of recognizing the intricacies of magic."

Jiona, having been watching while Tillandor and Rayne discussed the rod, offers, "Calico is tossing dead spiders at the trapped door."

Tillandor says, "Well that's a good idea."

Calico says, "just seeing if the doors can be temporially disarmed by triggering them."

* Another massive gout of flame engulfs the spider remains.  A small bonfire has been started next to the door, flaming spider husks as fuel.

Rayne says, "I think that route is not the safest to take."

Tillandor states testily, "They can be temporarily disarmed by properly saying the secret word and opening the door!"

Tass stays well clear of the door and the rod, not intrested in getting entagled in any more magic today.

Rayne eyes the door with disdain

Ethkin sniffs,

Calico eyes the writing above the door, and on the rod, "which would you like me to try reading?"

Tillandor says, "But we do not need to go through that door."

Ethkin exclaims, "UG!"

Tillandor says, "We need to discover where the trail leads."

Rayne says, "True, Jiona can always make a passageway next to it."

Rayne smiles.

Calico says, "wait, don't have that one prepared today."

Tillandor says, "Perhaps not, but if your nose is prepared, you might help discover the trail."

Calico says, "the nasty we chased came in here.  whether the children are through here is another question."

Jiona looks at the rod for a little while longer, as reluctant to leave it as she is to pick it up.  Looking up again, she admits, "The trail seemed to stop here.  I was poking around to see if I could find any sign elsewhere, before I was distracted by this."

CategoryCauldron