Instead, Kanon casts light on a small pebble and holds it in his fist. They'll still have light, but at least they can cover it up as needed. When the spell is cast, Mara's fivehead loses it's brilliant luminescence.
After a few moments Mara gestures at Kanon to hand her the pebble. He does, and she drops it down into the cavern below. "What's happening, Mara?" Kanon asks in a whisper.
Of course Zina had followed Pettilaen's trail, and of course she had jumped into the underground lake when there was nowhere else to go. As annoying as the other gnome was, he had the expensive ring they needed. So she had swum over to the rock Gaia seemed to fixate on, and then promptly fell through the illusion Pettilaen was hiding behind. First off, I regret nothing. This place is so cool. And deadly. And I think I discovered a new species of elf, Pettilaen had responded to her message spell.
Getting Pettilaen to explain was like pulling teeth, and while Zina very much wanted to leave, Pettilaen was adamant that fate had brought them there. Apparently there had been a crab elf, and several other voices. Eventually, they decided to send Mirage into the water to scout things out. She found a symbol, one that she immediately recognized as belonging to the Temple of Elemental Evil. We are in so far out of our depth, Petti. She messaged to him, realizing that they had just angered an elemental lord.
MarMar, its Z. I found Pettilaen, who has apparently gotten us trapped down here with an elemental crab lord. Anyway, stay quiet, and don't come into the lake, the gnome tried to reach out to the other members of the party. She could see a little light, so she hoped they were close. Mara, can you hear me? Turn off that light. She attempted again. Pettilaen was still trying to talk to her through message, so now she had two different people in her head. Things were going to get confusing. I think---no, I know you're an idiot... wait, wrong person. Farjin hell, having two conversations in your head is tough. MarMar, you... can... think... back... to... me... and... I.... can... hear... it... remember?
What the hell, Zina? What is going on down there? I swear, I'm going to kick Petti for making me crawl through this cold wet tunnel after his ass. Mara's voice popped into her head, sending a wave of relief through her mind.
You'll have to get in line. I'm soaked to the bone because of that braegfol. Petti says that he was called down here by fate, and he's found an elemental lord he previously described as a crab elf. I haven't seen him yet, as we're currently in hiding, the illusionist replied.
What can we do? I have Kanon here staring at my ass, the little pervert. Mara thought back.
I knew it. He swore the thing in the bathroom was just- I digress. We need a solid plan, better than "fate brought me here Z! We have to investigate." We think your light may catch his attention and bring him back in the cave. Zina continued to message Mara, Pettilaen, and Kanon all at the same time in an effort to come up with a plan. Her head hurt, and she was getting confused and making mistakes. Messages went to the wrong person on a few occasions, which she would have to deal with later.
Just when Mara and Kanon were about to jump down into the cave and doom them all, Pettilaen finally admitted he had rope. Nonononono. They'll all die! Tell them to just lower the rope down. I'll get Gaia to bring it to us up here on the rock, and then we'll jump up on the rope so when it swings back, we'll hopefully stay out of the water. Or, tell them to give us a lot of rope, and I can just tie it to this rock and then we'll climb up the rope at an angle.Oh. and I have an extra set of rope, if it'll help. My mom gave me two lengths of rope, telling me it'd come in handy. Looks like it might!
WHY DIDNT YOU FARJIN SAY SO? HOW MUCH ROPE IS THAT? Somehow, Zina was able to mentally shout. It was a talent.
Fifty feet. You never asked, and I thought they'd just stay up here while we'd be exploring! But then the water elementals showed up, and now they're trying to come down here.... This is going to be a disaster, and I can't have their deaths be on my hands!
Oh, but mine was perfectly fine to be on your hands. Zina had also mastered the art of mental sarcasm. Have Gaia fly one end of the rope up, I'll tell them of the plan.
The rope secured on both ends, Zina went first. She attempted to tightrope walk the distance, but could feel the rope wobble beneath her. Not even thinking, she dashed across the last few bits of rope and fell on top of Mara in a pile of soggy gnome.
Pettilaen looked around the cave, one last time as Zina made her way up. What was he leaving behind? What arcane secrets, ancient artifacts, and priceless jewels was he forsaking in order to keep the rest of his group alive? Disheartened, he nimbly made his way up the rope into the channel above him. One thing for him was sure: he was going to return to this cave someday, and find out what lied beneath the rock and dirt. And he was going to get to keep it all for himself.
Dexterously walking up the rope, he was met with the upside-down smiles of the cold, wet group. Turning his head at an angle to make them smiles, he smiled in return. "Glad to see everyone is in one piece! Are you coming down or are we going up?"
"Coming down!" Kanon whispered loudly from further up in the cave. "You two can't always be the ones that have fun adventures!" He didn't even get to see inside the cavern. He just sat there keeping the grapple secure on some giant roots. We can't end the spelunking trip here, it just started!
Coming down? Did he just say that? Over the crest of Mara's buttcheek, Pettilaen got a quick glimpse of Kanon's face. In it, he saw hope. He saw excitement. He saw the same vision which Pettilaen had when he looked at the world for the first time. Well, we can't spoil his first dungeon delve by turning around! His mind fluttered with ideas, trying to come up with a solution. Like a the crack of lightning, a plan formed in Pettilaen's head, causing him to smile.
"Down we go then!" he exclaimed jubilantly in the cold, wet channel they were huddled around in. "Kanon, I need you to back up, and then Mara follow behind you. We're going to need to triple-check the security of where the rope is tied off to to make sure it doesn't snap or break. ... And I need to send Gaia for fetch Portia. We'll need her too."
He looked to Zina's fuming, distraught face. "I know you think it's a bad idea. But who knows what arcane knowledge exists down there. The Temple of Elemental Evil. The stories of the place are common knowledge to anyone who has studied the arcane. Think about what we could find! And the best part is, this is only a small fraction of the four cults, and not even the main temple, so it'll be much easier to handle."
He glances back to Mara. "I know you're probably pissed at me, but I really think we're supposed to go down there. The world and the gods work in mysterious ways, and I think they're on our side as we fight against Balagos and the forces which decimated your hometown. Think about it! I'm just a curious gnome who's fighting one of the baddest villains in the world. And it just so happens that as we're resting, I find a hole which I fit perfectly in, and it leads to an evil cult? This close to Balagos? I think that's fate trying to point us in the right direction to do some good in the world... to do some good for all of the homeless that exist because villains like Balagos think they can do whatever they want without repercussion." He points down to the cavern below. "This place is an evil place, and evil often works together: especially if it's with a big scary red dragon. I bet you could find some answers on the attack of Beregost if we can find anyone down there. Aaaaannnnd lots of gold to share with your orphans, when we get to see them again."
He smiled, excited at this newfound vigor in the group. Here were a group of people who were willing to risk all of this just for his life. Or the very expensive ring. But he wasn't about to let that thought take hold. And he wasn't about to let them die due to his obsessive curiosity. No, I'll die before I let them die for me.
Kanon nods and begins backpedaling to allow Pettilaen room to examine the grappling hook's position. He continues as far as needed until Petti motions for him to stop. Backpedaling in this narrow cave was worse than spending nearly ten minutes lying in the cold stream of water. It was tough to see where he was going, so he lit another stone to provide some light. From the sounds of it, this was going to be an exciting adventure!
Mara narrows her eyes at Petti. As much as she wanted to pound him into a pulp, he had a point. She couldn't just let something evil continue to do evil things. If she had the chance to cleanse this evil presence, she had to do it. She nodded at Petti, conviction in her eyes. "Okay, Kanon, better back up unless you want kicked in the head," she called back before she started crawling backward. Still looking Petti in the eyes, she said, "If you're wrong on this, Zina is the least of your worries."
Pettilaen smiles. "Someday, I want to duel you, Mara. Just to see who would win in a fight. Maybe then I'll earn your respect."
"But, until then, let's keep moving people!" He commands, as the two humans continue to shimmy back... and back... back... until they're out of the channel and can stand again. Pettilaen continued to pull the rope until it was nice and tight. Examining the amount of extra rope they had to work with, he smiled. We've got plenty to work with. Eyeing Portia off near the mouth of the cave, Pettilaen calls out, "Portia! You've missed all of the fun! We're going on an adventure!"
Pettilaen continued lassoing and trying the end of the rope to a nearby stalagmite with Mara's help, allowing her to pull it nice and tight while he did the knots. They didn't call him the Hangman's Noose Gnome for nothing back in the Gate! ... They actually never called him that. But it'd make a pretty good nickname, wouldn't it? The thought made Pettilaen smile as he finished the knot and tested to tension. "Nice and tight." he said to himself with admiration.
"Mara, you're seriously going to agree to this?" Zina attempted to block the way out with her little body. "I thought you had sense! I was excited you were coming with us because I thought you weren't a braegfol." The gnome growled. "And you Kanon? We're all going to die down there, don't you get it?"
Mara stretched, grateful to give her knees a break. "Zina... I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I walked away from this place and tomorrow Candlekeep was attacked by the thing down there." She knelt down, bringing herself closer to face to face with the gnome. "I have to think of all those refugees. All those orphans. I can't just walk away from this. Please understand."
"You do realize he just said the word 'orphans' to manipulate you because you are so very easy to read, right?" Zina raised an eyebrow. "See, I can do it too: How will you live with yourself if the information about Neiklot and the scrolls dies with us and Bálagos and the Red Wizards of Thay murder all of the orphans and everyone you have ever known and loved?"
Kanon stretched out as Zina started her lecture. He could tell she was serious, but he was a bit surprised that she didn't approve. "I'm tired of reading about the achievements of others, Zina. This is our chance to make our own story. But you're right... lets do this smart. What do we know about what's down there?" He asks. They can pool their knowledge about what has already been seen. If they can come up with a plan that works for Zina, maybe it'll bolster her confidence a bit.
Having finished the knot, Pettilaen whirled around to hear Zina's foul mouth blasting despair and and doubt into Mara's mind. He wasn't about to let her win Mara over. "Zina, the threat is going to be present no matter where we go: above or below ground. So your argument is mute on that basis alone. On top of that, we will die if we don't trust in our abilities. The battle must first be won in the mind in order to win on the battlefield. ... I read that in a book a long time ago, and it's stuck ever since. So have some courage and faith in yourself! You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"Stop it! Just stop," Mara yelled. "I won't be manipulated. By either of you!" She glared at the two gnomes. "I'm doing my best here with the current situation. I gave up on Baldur's Gate, and finding my parents, to help you! The least you could do is treat me like a ******* person!" She angrily snatched up a mask, wrapped it around her face, and stormed out of the cave.
Manipulated? The thought came across Pettilaen as odd. And here I was trying to inspire...Initially wanting to go after her and explain himself, he held instead. Time. Time is what she needed.He flashed a glare at Zina before heading back towards their camp, grabbing some rations, and looking out the mouth of the cave at their surroundings. Gaia banshee wailed at Zina before returning to the mouth of the channel and flying down it [Perception of 19]. Keep me posted if you see anything out of the ordinary, Gaia. At least I know I can count on you.
Zina was frustratingly doubtful of the group's capabilities, and that was a problem that needed to be addressed. Maybe Kanon would figure something out and lift her spirits so she wouldn't be so dreadfully dreary. Or Portia. Portia always knew what to say somehow.
Kanon was trying to think hard about any lore he might remember from the details that both Zina and Petti had given about their time in the cave, but then he heard it. Mara began yelling at the gnomes.
It was only a matter of time before she started pushing the rest of them away too. Something was off with her. She was an odd mixture of selfish and selfless. He felt like if you listened closely you could hear a tick tick tick before she exploded in anger. It brought him back to when she confronted him in Beregost. Was she really going to try to kill him? He could see it in her eyes... she was willing to draw a sword because she jumped to conclusions and decided to blame him for everything.
He thought about going after her and talking, but that feeling only lasted a moment. It was only a few days ago that she was willing to spill his blood for some answers... like a kobold tied to a chair.
Kanon finally speaks up, "The Gar Shatterkeel!" He rushes over to Zina excitedly, "The crab-elemental-master-lord that Petti saw is called a Gar Shatterkeel. That means he/it is searching for something... or there's a portal somewhere down there. One to..." The word eludes him, "some stronghold far from here." He tries to gain the gnome's focus for a moment, "Zina... that means these creatures are here for something powerful. We can't let them get it... Whatever it's searching for can help us, and that emblem you saw could be a marking for the gateway he used to get here. We can't turn down this opportunity!"
"I told you that there's a super powerful elemental lord that is way out of our league, and your response is to go and poke it with a stick?" Zina raised an eyebrow. But she was fighting a losing battle, and she knew it. When Kanon and Pettilaen started working together, it always spelled trouble for her. "I.. will... only... agree... to... this... if... we... have... a... good... solid... plan... do... you... understand?"
The gnome closed her eyes for a second, casting a spell that had definitely gotten more than it's fair share of use in the last hour. I'm not really sure what I'm apologizing for, but I am sorry, she messaged to Mara. You're not that stupid. You sure as hell are smarter than the boys. You just promised me you wouldn't let me die down there, and I was angry that you were asking me to go back.
"Well," Kanon responds, "They're elves, so it'll be able to see us coming with our light. It can summon elementals, those are pretty hard to kill without magic, and it can probably use some pretty painful magic. Ambushing is out of the question... unless we distract it. Petti said it came to investigate the noise, right? So what if both you and Petti were invisible, we caused a ruckus in the cavern to get its attention, and you both got the drop on it? If it gets far enough into the cavern, I could cause the ceiling to collapse on it." He thinks for a moment, "Oh! I think I got it! He wasn't able to see through Petti's illusion, right? We can lure him further into the cavern with your amazing illusions and collapse the ceiling on it, then finish it off if it's still alive!" Kanon was proud of this plan. If they could get it to work, they might actually beat this thing before it knew what was going on.
Mara reentered the cave and sat silently on the ground. Zina's thinly veiled apology didn't make her feel any better. She pulled the mask off her face and sat staring at it in her hands. She knew this group of people would never accept her, not really. She decided she'd help them destroy this evil, then if they wanted her gone, she'd leave. There was no sense in fighting something that would never be.
Pettilaen let Zina and Kanon hash out some pointless details. He heavily doubted Gar was still in that cave. The elementals would be an issue, but they would just cross that bridge when they get to it. They just needed a way to spot the elemental while still in the water. Zina knew a good spell that could illuminate and tag targets. Or maybe just cast light on it?
He took a break and rested, seeing Mara return. She seemed sad. Or confused. But talking to her, trying to comfort her, would just be looked at as manipulation. He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair. They needed to be together if any of this was going to work.
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Instead, Kanon casts light on a small pebble and holds it in his fist. They'll still have light, but at least they can cover it up as needed. When the spell is cast, Mara's fivehead loses it's brilliant luminescence.
After a few moments Mara gestures at Kanon to hand her the pebble. He does, and she drops it down into the cavern below. "What's happening, Mara?" Kanon asks in a whisper.
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Idiots. She was surrounded by idiots.
Of course Zina had followed Pettilaen's trail, and of course she had jumped into the underground lake when there was nowhere else to go. As annoying as the other gnome was, he had the expensive ring they needed. So she had swum over to the rock Gaia seemed to fixate on, and then promptly fell through the illusion Pettilaen was hiding behind. First off, I regret nothing. This place is so cool. And deadly. And I think I discovered a new species of elf, Pettilaen had responded to her message spell.
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
Pettilaen looked around the cave, one last time as Zina made her way up. What was he leaving behind? What arcane secrets, ancient artifacts, and priceless jewels was he forsaking in order to keep the rest of his group alive? Disheartened, he nimbly made his way up the rope into the channel above him. One thing for him was sure: he was going to return to this cave someday, and find out what lied beneath the rock and dirt. And he was going to get to keep it all for himself.
Dexterously walking up the rope, he was met with the upside-down smiles of the cold, wet group. Turning his head at an angle to make them smiles, he smiled in return. "Glad to see everyone is in one piece! Are you coming down or are we going up?"
"Coming down!" Kanon whispered loudly from further up in the cave. "You two can't always be the ones that have fun adventures!" He didn't even get to see inside the cavern. He just sat there keeping the grapple secure on some giant roots. We can't end the spelunking trip here, it just started!
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Coming down? Did he just say that? Over the crest of Mara's buttcheek, Pettilaen got a quick glimpse of Kanon's face. In it, he saw hope. He saw excitement. He saw the same vision which Pettilaen had when he looked at the world for the first time. Well, we can't spoil his first dungeon delve by turning around! His mind fluttered with ideas, trying to come up with a solution. Like a the crack of lightning, a plan formed in Pettilaen's head, causing him to smile.
"Down we go then!" he exclaimed jubilantly in the cold, wet channel they were huddled around in. "Kanon, I need you to back up, and then Mara follow behind you. We're going to need to triple-check the security of where the rope is tied off to to make sure it doesn't snap or break. ... And I need to send Gaia for fetch Portia. We'll need her too."
He looked to Zina's fuming, distraught face. "I know you think it's a bad idea. But who knows what arcane knowledge exists down there. The Temple of Elemental Evil. The stories of the place are common knowledge to anyone who has studied the arcane. Think about what we could find! And the best part is, this is only a small fraction of the four cults, and not even the main temple, so it'll be much easier to handle."
He glances back to Mara. "I know you're probably pissed at me, but I really think we're supposed to go down there. The world and the gods work in mysterious ways, and I think they're on our side as we fight against Balagos and the forces which decimated your hometown. Think about it! I'm just a curious gnome who's fighting one of the baddest villains in the world. And it just so happens that as we're resting, I find a hole which I fit perfectly in, and it leads to an evil cult? This close to Balagos? I think that's fate trying to point us in the right direction to do some good in the world... to do some good for all of the homeless that exist because villains like Balagos think they can do whatever they want without repercussion." He points down to the cavern below. "This place is an evil place, and evil often works together: especially if it's with a big scary red dragon. I bet you could find some answers on the attack of Beregost if we can find anyone down there. Aaaaannnnd lots of gold to share with your orphans, when we get to see them again."
He smiled, excited at this newfound vigor in the group. Here were a group of people who were willing to risk all of this just for his life. Or the very expensive ring. But he wasn't about to let that thought take hold. And he wasn't about to let them die due to his obsessive curiosity. No, I'll die before I let them die for me.
Kanon nods and begins backpedaling to allow Pettilaen room to examine the grappling hook's position. He continues as far as needed until Petti motions for him to stop. Backpedaling in this narrow cave was worse than spending nearly ten minutes lying in the cold stream of water. It was tough to see where he was going, so he lit another stone to provide some light. From the sounds of it, this was going to be an exciting adventure!
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Mara narrows her eyes at Petti. As much as she wanted to pound him into a pulp, he had a point. She couldn't just let something evil continue to do evil things. If she had the chance to cleanse this evil presence, she had to do it. She nodded at Petti, conviction in her eyes. "Okay, Kanon, better back up unless you want kicked in the head," she called back before she started crawling backward. Still looking Petti in the eyes, she said, "If you're wrong on this, Zina is the least of your worries."
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Pettilaen smiles. "Someday, I want to duel you, Mara. Just to see who would win in a fight. Maybe then I'll earn your respect."
"But, until then, let's keep moving people!" He commands, as the two humans continue to shimmy back... and back... back... until they're out of the channel and can stand again. Pettilaen continued to pull the rope until it was nice and tight. Examining the amount of extra rope they had to work with, he smiled. We've got plenty to work with. Eyeing Portia off near the mouth of the cave, Pettilaen calls out, "Portia! You've missed all of the fun! We're going on an adventure!"
Pettilaen continued lassoing and trying the end of the rope to a nearby stalagmite with Mara's help, allowing her to pull it nice and tight while he did the knots. They didn't call him the Hangman's Noose Gnome for nothing back in the Gate! ... They actually never called him that. But it'd make a pretty good nickname, wouldn't it? The thought made Pettilaen smile as he finished the knot and tested to tension. "Nice and tight." he said to himself with admiration.
"Mara, you're seriously going to agree to this?" Zina attempted to block the way out with her little body. "I thought you had sense! I was excited you were coming with us because I thought you weren't a braegfol." The gnome growled. "And you Kanon? We're all going to die down there, don't you get it?"
Yes, she was definitely surrounded by idiots.
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
Mara stretched, grateful to give her knees a break. "Zina... I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I walked away from this place and tomorrow Candlekeep was attacked by the thing down there." She knelt down, bringing herself closer to face to face with the gnome. "I have to think of all those refugees. All those orphans. I can't just walk away from this. Please understand."
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
"You do realize he just said the word 'orphans' to manipulate you because you are so very easy to read, right?" Zina raised an eyebrow. "See, I can do it too: How will you live with yourself if the information about Neiklot and the scrolls dies with us and Bálagos and the Red Wizards of Thay murder all of the orphans and everyone you have ever known and loved?"
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
Kanon stretched out as Zina started her lecture. He could tell she was serious, but he was a bit surprised that she didn't approve. "I'm tired of reading about the achievements of others, Zina. This is our chance to make our own story. But you're right... lets do this smart. What do we know about what's down there?" He asks. They can pool their knowledge about what has already been seen. If they can come up with a plan that works for Zina, maybe it'll bolster her confidence a bit.
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Having finished the knot, Pettilaen whirled around to hear Zina's foul mouth blasting despair and and doubt into Mara's mind. He wasn't about to let her win Mara over. "Zina, the threat is going to be present no matter where we go: above or below ground. So your argument is mute on that basis alone. On top of that, we will die if we don't trust in our abilities. The battle must first be won in the mind in order to win on the battlefield. ... I read that in a book a long time ago, and it's stuck ever since. So have some courage and faith in yourself! You're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"Stop it! Just stop," Mara yelled. "I won't be manipulated. By either of you!" She glared at the two gnomes. "I'm doing my best here with the current situation. I gave up on Baldur's Gate, and finding my parents, to help you! The least you could do is treat me like a ******* person!" She angrily snatched up a mask, wrapped it around her face, and stormed out of the cave.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Manipulated? The thought came across Pettilaen as odd. And here I was trying to inspire... Initially wanting to go after her and explain himself, he held instead. Time. Time is what she needed. He flashed a glare at Zina before heading back towards their camp, grabbing some rations, and looking out the mouth of the cave at their surroundings. Gaia banshee wailed at Zina before returning to the mouth of the channel and flying down it [Perception of 19]. Keep me posted if you see anything out of the ordinary, Gaia. At least I know I can count on you.
Zina was frustratingly doubtful of the group's capabilities, and that was a problem that needed to be addressed. Maybe Kanon would figure something out and lift her spirits so she wouldn't be so dreadfully dreary. Or Portia. Portia always knew what to say somehow.
Kanon was trying to think hard about any lore he might remember from the details that both Zina and Petti had given about their time in the cave, but then he heard it. Mara began yelling at the gnomes.
It was only a matter of time before she started pushing the rest of them away too. Something was off with her. She was an odd mixture of selfish and selfless. He felt like if you listened closely you could hear a tick tick tick before she exploded in anger. It brought him back to when she confronted him in Beregost. Was she really going to try to kill him? He could see it in her eyes... she was willing to draw a sword because she jumped to conclusions and decided to blame him for everything.
He thought about going after her and talking, but that feeling only lasted a moment. It was only a few days ago that she was willing to spill his blood for some answers... like a kobold tied to a chair.
Kanon finally speaks up, "The Gar Shatterkeel!" He rushes over to Zina excitedly, "The crab-elemental-master-lord that Petti saw is called a Gar Shatterkeel. That means he/it is searching for something... or there's a portal somewhere down there. One to..." The word eludes him, "some stronghold far from here." He tries to gain the gnome's focus for a moment, "Zina... that means these creatures are here for something powerful. We can't let them get it... Whatever it's searching for can help us, and that emblem you saw could be a marking for the gateway he used to get here. We can't turn down this opportunity!"
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"I told you that there's a super powerful elemental lord that is way out of our league, and your response is to go and poke it with a stick?" Zina raised an eyebrow. But she was fighting a losing battle, and she knew it. When Kanon and Pettilaen started working together, it always spelled trouble for her. "I.. will... only... agree... to... this... if... we... have... a... good... solid... plan... do... you... understand?"
The gnome closed her eyes for a second, casting a spell that had definitely gotten more than it's fair share of use in the last hour. I'm not really sure what I'm apologizing for, but I am sorry, she messaged to Mara. You're not that stupid. You sure as hell are smarter than the boys. You just promised me you wouldn't let me die down there, and I was angry that you were asking me to go back.
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
"Well," Kanon responds, "They're elves, so it'll be able to see us coming with our light. It can summon elementals, those are pretty hard to kill without magic, and it can probably use some pretty painful magic. Ambushing is out of the question... unless we distract it. Petti said it came to investigate the noise, right? So what if both you and Petti were invisible, we caused a ruckus in the cavern to get its attention, and you both got the drop on it? If it gets far enough into the cavern, I could cause the ceiling to collapse on it." He thinks for a moment, "Oh! I think I got it! He wasn't able to see through Petti's illusion, right? We can lure him further into the cavern with your amazing illusions and collapse the ceiling on it, then finish it off if it's still alive!" Kanon was proud of this plan. If they could get it to work, they might actually beat this thing before it knew what was going on.
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Mara reentered the cave and sat silently on the ground. Zina's thinly veiled apology didn't make her feel any better. She pulled the mask off her face and sat staring at it in her hands. She knew this group of people would never accept her, not really. She decided she'd help them destroy this evil, then if they wanted her gone, she'd leave. There was no sense in fighting something that would never be.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Pettilaen let Zina and Kanon hash out some pointless details. He heavily doubted Gar was still in that cave. The elementals would be an issue, but they would just cross that bridge when they get to it. They just needed a way to spot the elemental while still in the water. Zina knew a good spell that could illuminate and tag targets. Or maybe just cast light on it?
He took a break and rested, seeing Mara return. She seemed sad. Or confused. But talking to her, trying to comfort her, would just be looked at as manipulation. He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair. They needed to be together if any of this was going to work.