Kellen

Damn...I can't find anything else to carry water. You're going to need it for traveling until we find someone to heal it. He looks around at the room wrinkling his nose. Let's get out of here, gods knows I've been here long enough.

Gerrard:

As they pass the aboleth, Gerrard takes up the rear and tows the carcass after him.  When they reach the opening pool, he drags it out of the water until the lack of buoyancy defeats his efforts. As they surface, Gerrard spits out the filthy water, but now the clean-ish air seems like an arid desert.  "What did this foul creature do to me?" he thinks.

Wrapping the heavy cloak around him, he says, "I am not sure what more proof we could have that we have slain the aboleth."  Looking at the creature, he adds, "As dangerous as this creature was, I don't think it was nearly big enough to threaten destroying the city in the way the drawings depicted.  Let's get back to Master Refrum and see if he can help my...condition."

As Gerrard emerges from the water, he begins to choke. He cannot breathe. Instinctually, he submerges himself back in the murky waters. He finds that he is unable to breathe air. At all. His skin slippery and translucent, he quickly finds relief in the foul pool.

Gerrard:

Momentarily considering suffocation in air as an alternative to this foul corruption of life, Gerrard settles back into the water, trusting in his friends to get him healing.

Cursing, he says to Kei, “Either bring me healing or death, my friend.  I will not live like this.”

Kellen

Kellen looks back at Gerrard in surprise. He goes back into the water with him, Can you not breathe? You should still be able to breathe at least...what the hell did that thing do to you?

Gerrard:

”Apparently not—the air suffocates me,” responds Gerrard.  He uses his dagger to cut off a likely piece of the Aboleth and puts it in a pouch, saying, “Maybe a sample of the creature will help a healer diagnose what has been done to me.”

More grimly, he continues, “And if healing is not possible, perhaps my death can be of use against the foes in Landgrave’s Folly.”

With a chunk of the Whisperer in his pouch, Gerrard remains under the scummy surface of this foul pool, breathing freely again.

Kellen

Kellen slaps his forehead, wait a second, I remember something like this happening. Were you ever inside a big cloud of nasty that came from it? It should fade within a few hours...but that also means you're stuck here in the water until then. He thinks for a moment. I do have someone that might know who can get this taken care of for you...we need to move quickly to make sure you don't become one of those skum. He checks out the empty space above the water, no sign of the others, and they shouldn't be enslaved any longer. Do you want us to wait for you to be able to breathe or go find a healer without you?

Gerrard:

”Go and find a healer—Master Kei knows one who may have the connections needed even if he doesn’t have the cure.  I can wait here for now.  Take this pouch with you if you like, but don’t touch the slime.  It may help the healer concoct an antidote to have a bit of the slime that caused it,” says Gerrard, thinking about what little he knows of snake bites.

”And yes, its tentacles were all over me as I tried to kill it, and they have the same slime my skin is trying to turn into,” he adds.

Kei 

The gurgling noise coming from Gerrards mouth shocks Kei. He had never seen magic, let alone a being, imbue such a curse or disease on someone. Back underwater he listens to Gerrard's harsh truth. Death or healing. Kei looks his friend in the eyes as he says, "Healing it will be. You do not die here today".

He listens closely as Kellen asks questions of Gerrard but grows increasingly impatient. "You say you're from here? So you know the alchemists quarter? If we get split up you must find Refrum's workshop. He's an odd man but he's on our side and may be able to help." Kei snatches the pouch and without further delay he leaves the water, and his friend in its embrace, and heads straight for Refrum's shop. He pays little heed to anything else other than taking the most direct route.

Kellen

Kellen looks after Kei, not having had a chance to give an answer to any of his questions before he took off. He shrugs, and turns back to Gerrard. Look, I'm sure he's a lovely person, but I'll check with my contacts all the same. You should be fine here in the water until we get back...I'll try to be as quick as possible. He pulls out a two vials from his pack. Here, one's acid, one's alchemist's fire. Won't do much, but could provide a decent distraction if you need to get down the tunnel if anyone comes back in a less than friendly mood. He hands over the vials, then takes off towards the Marketplace.

Gerrard remains in the murky - but strangely comfortable - pool.

Kei exits through the foul-smelling hallway exit with the bag of goo. Spongy wood creaks beneath his feet. He finds himself back on the ancient ship’s prow jutting over the foul water of the canal. It is evening, the sky black, the polluted air heavy with humidity and acrid odors. The rain has stopped. He finds the area mostly deserted – only a few shadowed figures are visible among the canyon-like visage of the crowded jumble of ancient buildings leaning over the canal. He crosses the narrow timber bridge that sags across the channel, and enters the crooked alleys of the city. He is heading east toward the Alchemists’ Quarter, to Refrum's workshop and home.

What does Kellen do? And Boko?

Kellen

Kellen breathes in the acrid air topside, looking around to make sure everything is clear. As he crosses the bridge, he cleans and warms his clothing so he'll look more presentable. He heads straight to the Marketplace, ducking through alleys and climbing fences and walls to keep off the main streets. Once he arrives, he'll go to speak with Amos the rug merchant.

(We will continue Kellen's and Kei's adventures in separate PMs.  Gerrard and Boko may post here.)

Minutes pass. Gerrard waits under the slimy embrace of the dark temple's pool. He sits on the slippery stairs, directly below the suspended, head-adorned shark carcass, just under the surface. He breathes the murky water easily.

What is he doing while he waits for assistance?

Gerrard:

Taking a short rest, Gerrard thinks about his recent activities and wonders if the Aboleth was being truthful about the threats to the city.  When he has finished his rest, he tries to breathe the air again.

A silent hour passes, punctuated only by the sounds of distant dripping. Nobody enters the temple. (You may receive the benefits of a Short Rest.)

Gerrard tries again to breath air, only to quickly submerge himself in fits of choking, gargling coughing. It takes a moment to get the air bubbles out of his lungs. It's maybe marginally better, but he can only tolerate the air for a breath or two. He relaxes again in the soothing befouled pool.

Gerrard:

At one repulsed by the filthy water and thankful that it is keeping him alive, Gerrard continues to monitor his own condition and periodically try and breathe air.  He alternates between looking above and below the water’s surface for anyone or anything approaching, but stays away from the Aboleth’s slime now that he has shoved its corpse partially on land.

Time passes slowly. Gerrard tries again to breathe air. He finds he can tolerate a lungful for a second or two before he collapses back into the pool in a fit of coughing.

Another long, quiet hour passes. Gerrard finds he can hold air in his lungs for a few seconds, then a few breaths. Soon he finds it easier to breathe air rather than water.

His skin, however, remains translucent and slimy, and shows no improvement. It quickly dries out, and he finds he has to bathe every few minutes to keep himself comfortable.

(Gerrard can’t regain hit points unless he is underwater. When he is outside a body of water, he takes 1d12 acid damage every 10 minutes unless moisture is applied to the skin before 10 minutes have passed.)

Gerrard:

Becoming restless, Gerrard paces around the room, looking for anything of interest or clues.  He doesn't really expect to find anything, but he spends the time between necessary baths examining the walls for useful graffiti or perhaps secret doors.  In his time underwater, he looks down the underwater tunnel to see if anything is trying to sneak up that way.

Perception:  22