Dav'eed is concerned about the trog - unless it appears that it could swim underwater and through the portal back into the watery realm on the other side. Keeping an eye on the waters in the same cavern, he responds, "Did you notice how we were travelling downwards from the house? That's the same direction as the wells, and water doesn't usually flow up! So there must be something blocking this underground river further upstream. If we can destroy this portal, then we'll go back up the way to see what's blocking the regular water! I don't want any more troglodytes, or worse, swimming through here!"
(Is there any kind of border that he can target with an arrow or his rapier? Or do the magic-wielders need to do their thing? Or both?!!?)
Zelaerys listens to Dav’eed’s words and nods. “You’re right, but is it possible that this portal fed the town and the wells all along? Perhaps, the problem isn’t a blockage of something upstream but rather a leak further down?” Zelaerys asks offering an idea that occurred to him. “I’m not sure if that makes any sense. And I’m not sure anymore that the troglodytes really came through this portal. Does the water that falls through carry any smell?” He adds pondering and tries to answer his question with his own sense of smell. “Anyway, you’re right, we should probably do something about this troglodyte or it might cause problems later on.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Huttmoff is completely confused by the portal. But he agrees with Zel that we should do something about the Trog, and that is a thing in front of us, we know what to do next.
He touches Dav'eed lightly on the shoulder, using his Vigilant Blessing to grant him advantage on his next initiative roll. Then he walks closer to the pool, trying to find the Trog.
"The woman that killed those rats mumbled something about a 'leak' in this direction," Hilke says as the group discusses the situation. "Perhaps this strange emanation is related. Not sure how she would have noticed something like that from afar though." She does share the concern about the Trog. "If we are going to try and figure out what it is, we should make sure there's nothing down there that might come after us first."
"OK...I'm going to dive into the deep end of this water and see what I can discover - make sure there isn't anything lurking down there...and if it gets bad I'll just use this nifty new ring to get out of the situation! Be ready..."
Dav'eed strips off his backpack, rapier, bow, and quiver, leaving them on dry ground. He will draw his dagger and wade into the water as far as he can. Once the depth exceeds his height, the rogue will dive under the surface and swim down, using his enhanced darkvision to see what lies beneath the water. He will continue to surface and draw deep breaths before descending again, until he checks out the entire cavern, including the area beneath and behind the magic portal 15' above the water surface.
Hilke, with her armor, does not really want to go into the water. She grabs one of her javelins, keeping it in hand in case Dav'eed runs into some sort of trouble.
Zelaerys sends off Dav‘eed with a divine spark of Guidance. „Be careful, perhaps there is more than one.“ He prepares a Fire Bolt to be ready to hurl at any trog that surfaces.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Three of you wait at the edge of the deep end, standing in thigh high water as Dav'eed dives beneath the black surface. Swimming to the edges he inspects the walls before diving again towards the depest point. The bowl reveals no further details beyond what could be expected, a deep bowl of water, the walls and floor eroded from years of swirling turbulent water. A flicker of light catches Dav'eeds attention, faint from distance. Just above the floor at the back of the cavern a small passage opens, only wide enough that he could reach both walls with his arms not fully extended.
Taking a closer look without actually entering the passage Dav'eed would guess it runs less than 100' perhaps only half that. There must be a chamber at the far end, light from a fire or torches glitter into the murky waters.
Dav'eed swims back and reports this to the others, then asks how they are at holding their breath... (So - DM question...how long can we hold our breath? Do the characters estimate that they could make it, or do we need to find a magical solution? Like Dav'eed and one other using the magical ring to dimension door to the edge of his vision and thus significantly reduce the swimming time? =)
A creature can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 1 + it’s Constitution modifier (minimum of 30 seconds). When a creature runs out of breath, it can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum 1 round).
At the start of its next turn, it drops to 0 hit points and is dying. For example, a creature with a Constitution of 14 can hold its breath for 3 minutes. If it starts suffocating, it has 2 rounds to reach air before it drops to 0 hit points.
Climbing, Swimming, and Crawling
While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless a creature has a climbing or swimming speed. At the GM’s option, climbing a slippery vertical surface or one with few handholds requires a successful Strength (Athletics) check. Similarly, gaining any distance in rough water might require a successful Strength (Athletics) check.
Zalaerys has a Con 8 (-1) so can hold his breath for 30 seconds, Dav'eed Con 12 Can hold his breath for 2 minutes.
Zalaerys can take 5 rounds of movement (with Dash) and cover 150' before he begins to drown.
"Hold my breadth?" Zel asks incredulously, "Do you mean to suggest that we should dive for one hundred feet or who knows how much more? We don't even know what we find when our heads pop up, or what happens if something holds us up and we can't surface?" Looking up and with a brief prayer he adds, "Yondalla willing, it won't come to that." He feels that Dav'eed is quite convinced that they have to go that way. (A 100 feet dive with armour sounds a horribly long distance. With simple clothes it would be doable (in reality). Question: Do all of us know about the result of Huttmoff's Detect Magic result? The stone between us and the next cavern must be less than 1 foot thick. Not sure if we have anything to break through that, though. )
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Huttmoff, now understanding there is a passage beneath the water would acknowledge it wasn't coming through the rock, rather it must have emanated from the passage below.
The rules make no distinction between naked, armored or heavily laden with gear. (Encumbered reduces your movement, no body is encumbered). IRL free dive fishers in the Philippines and area ofter swim down a couple hundred feet and hold their breath for 2+ minutes. The record (without motion) is nearly 25 minutes.
You are not diving 100' down but rather 20' down and 100' (more or less) laterally.
"I suppose there is some risk. But a passage well below the water level is likely where all the water is going," Hilke says to Zalaerys. "I can give it a go first if you'd prefer. But I think this is the way forward in our search."
Huttmoff relays the results of his Detect Magic, "I sensed a faint magic earlier, it seemed to come from the wall, but now I can see it came from the other side of this passage. I believe it is the way forward." And Huttmoff prepares to dive deeper into the water with the others.
„Can‘t argue with that,“ replies Zelaerys to Hilke and Huttmoff. “But I think, Dav‘eed is the most stealthy and perhaps he could check out first what‘s on the other side and if it is safe we follow and if not he can return in an instant with the ring.“
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Additionally, Zel grants a divine boon to Dav‘eed (in form of Guidance) should he agree to go first alone.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
After their conversation, Dav'eed nods and agrees to go first. He will swim the whole way, saving the magic of the ring to get him out of a stinky situation if he should surface in a cavern full of troglodytes - or get trapped in the passage! (Here we go...)
Dav'eed cuts through the cold dark water, the passage can be felt on either side closing in around him. The sparkle of dancing light can be seen ahead getting closer with every stroke. It only takes a few seconds to cover the distance, eyes slowly rising above the surface of the water.
A large cavern, only slightly smaller then the portal room, has a rocky pool rising to a crescent shaped dry shelf on the far side. Several Troglodytes sway and shuffle around a burning fire. The largest of the group, a headdress of colored feathers running down its back chants with arms twisting in an intricate pattern before it. The smaller reptiles, you realize are female all cradle and caress leathery eggs. Even from this distance you can see something within the eggs stretching and pressing against the leathery casing.
A few seconds after Dav'eed takes to the waters, Zelaerys opens communication in way of Message. He isn't sure that it would work in the water and if Dav'eed surfaces in range but he figures that he should try. In the first message, he informs Dav'eed about the spell and that he will be able to respond in a whisper, possibly not until he is out of the water. Then, he continues to explain that it is possible for him, Dav'eed, to get out of range of the spell, in which case he will stop hearing the messages and won't be able to respond. After each message, Zelaerys waits three seconds to listen if Dav'eed responds.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
Zelaerys listens to Dav’eed’s words and nods. “You’re right, but is it possible that this portal fed the town and the wells all along? Perhaps, the problem isn’t a blockage of something upstream but rather a leak further down?” Zelaerys asks offering an idea that occurred to him. “I’m not sure if that makes any sense. And I’m not sure anymore that the troglodytes really came through this portal. Does the water that falls through carry any smell?” He adds pondering and tries to answer his question with his own sense of smell. “Anyway, you’re right, we should probably do something about this troglodyte or it might cause problems later on.”
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Huttmoff is completely confused by the portal. But he agrees with Zel that we should do something about the Trog, and that is a thing in front of us, we know what to do next.
He touches Dav'eed lightly on the shoulder, using his Vigilant Blessing to grant him advantage on his next initiative roll. Then he walks closer to the pool, trying to find the Trog.
"The woman that killed those rats mumbled something about a 'leak' in this direction," Hilke says as the group discusses the situation. "Perhaps this strange emanation is related. Not sure how she would have noticed something like that from afar though." She does share the concern about the Trog. "If we are going to try and figure out what it is, we should make sure there's nothing down there that might come after us first."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The Stench of the Troglodytes is faint, there are no living troglodytes in this cavern. The water smells as water should.
"OK...I'm going to dive into the deep end of this water and see what I can discover - make sure there isn't anything lurking down there...and if it gets bad I'll just use this nifty new ring to get out of the situation! Be ready..."
Dav'eed strips off his backpack, rapier, bow, and quiver, leaving them on dry ground. He will draw his dagger and wade into the water as far as he can. Once the depth exceeds his height, the rogue will dive under the surface and swim down, using his enhanced darkvision to see what lies beneath the water. He will continue to surface and draw deep breaths before descending again, until he checks out the entire cavern, including the area beneath and behind the magic portal 15' above the water surface.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Hilke, with her armor, does not really want to go into the water. She grabs one of her javelins, keeping it in hand in case Dav'eed runs into some sort of trouble.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Zelaerys sends off Dav‘eed with a divine spark of Guidance. „Be careful, perhaps there is more than one.“ He prepares a Fire Bolt to be ready to hurl at any trog that surfaces.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Three of you wait at the edge of the deep end, standing in thigh high water as Dav'eed dives beneath the black surface. Swimming to the edges he inspects the walls before diving again towards the depest point. The bowl reveals no further details beyond what could be expected, a deep bowl of water, the walls and floor eroded from years of swirling turbulent water. A flicker of light catches Dav'eeds attention, faint from distance. Just above the floor at the back of the cavern a small passage opens, only wide enough that he could reach both walls with his arms not fully extended.
Taking a closer look without actually entering the passage Dav'eed would guess it runs less than 100' perhaps only half that. There must be a chamber at the far end, light from a fire or torches glitter into the murky waters.
Dav'eed swims back and reports this to the others, then asks how they are at holding their breath... (So - DM question...how long can we hold our breath? Do the characters estimate that they could make it, or do we need to find a magical solution? Like Dav'eed and one other using the magical ring to dimension door to the edge of his vision and thus significantly reduce the swimming time? =)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Holding breath (underwater, gas cloud etc.)
A creature can hold its breath for a number of minutes equal to 1 + it’s Constitution modifier (minimum of 30 seconds). When a creature runs out of breath, it can survive for a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier (minimum 1 round).
At the start of its next turn, it drops to 0 hit points and is dying. For example, a creature with a Constitution of 14 can hold its breath for 3 minutes. If it starts suffocating, it has 2 rounds to reach air before it drops to 0 hit points.
Climbing, Swimming, and Crawling
While climbing or swimming, each foot of movement costs 1 extra foot (2 extra feet in difficult terrain), unless a creature has a climbing or swimming speed. At the GM’s option, climbing a slippery vertical surface or one with few handholds requires a successful Strength (Athletics) check. Similarly, gaining any distance in rough water might require a successful Strength (Athletics) check.
Zalaerys has a Con 8 (-1) so can hold his breath for 30 seconds, Dav'eed Con 12 Can hold his breath for 2 minutes.
Zalaerys can take 5 rounds of movement (with Dash) and cover 150' before he begins to drown.
"Hold my breadth?" Zel asks incredulously, "Do you mean to suggest that we should dive for one hundred feet or who knows how much more? We don't even know what we find when our heads pop up, or what happens if something holds us up and we can't surface?" Looking up and with a brief prayer he adds, "Yondalla willing, it won't come to that." He feels that Dav'eed is quite convinced that they have to go that way. (A 100 feet dive with armour sounds a horribly long distance. With simple clothes it would be doable (in reality). Question: Do all of us know about the result of Huttmoff's Detect Magic result? The stone between us and the next cavern must be less than 1 foot thick. Not sure if we have anything to break through that, though. )
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Huttmoff, now understanding there is a passage beneath the water would acknowledge it wasn't coming through the rock, rather it must have emanated from the passage below.
The rules make no distinction between naked, armored or heavily laden with gear. (Encumbered reduces your movement, no body is encumbered). IRL free dive fishers in the Philippines and area ofter swim down a couple hundred feet and hold their breath for 2+ minutes. The record (without motion) is nearly 25 minutes.
You are not diving 100' down but rather 20' down and 100' (more or less) laterally.
"I suppose there is some risk. But a passage well below the water level is likely where all the water is going," Hilke says to Zalaerys. "I can give it a go first if you'd prefer. But I think this is the way forward in our search."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Huttmoff relays the results of his Detect Magic, "I sensed a faint magic earlier, it seemed to come from the wall, but now I can see it came from the other side of this passage. I believe it is the way forward." And Huttmoff prepares to dive deeper into the water with the others.
„Can‘t argue with that,“ replies Zelaerys to Hilke and Huttmoff. “But I think, Dav‘eed is the most stealthy and perhaps he could check out first what‘s on the other side and if it is safe we follow and if not he can return in an instant with the ring.“
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
Additionally, Zel grants a divine boon to Dav‘eed (in form of Guidance) should he agree to go first alone.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
After their conversation, Dav'eed nods and agrees to go first. He will swim the whole way, saving the magic of the ring to get him out of a stinky situation if he should surface in a cavern full of troglodytes - or get trapped in the passage! (Here we go...)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Dav'eed cuts through the cold dark water, the passage can be felt on either side closing in around him. The sparkle of dancing light can be seen ahead getting closer with every stroke. It only takes a few seconds to cover the distance, eyes slowly rising above the surface of the water.
A large cavern, only slightly smaller then the portal room, has a rocky pool rising to a crescent shaped dry shelf on the far side. Several Troglodytes sway and shuffle around a burning fire. The largest of the group, a headdress of colored feathers running down its back chants with arms twisting in an intricate pattern before it. The smaller reptiles, you realize are female all cradle and caress leathery eggs. Even from this distance you can see something within the eggs stretching and pressing against the leathery casing.
A few seconds after Dav'eed takes to the waters, Zelaerys opens communication in way of Message. He isn't sure that it would work in the water and if Dav'eed surfaces in range but he figures that he should try. In the first message, he informs Dav'eed about the spell and that he will be able to respond in a whisper, possibly not until he is out of the water. Then, he continues to explain that it is possible for him, Dav'eed, to get out of range of the spell, in which case he will stop hearing the messages and won't be able to respond. After each message, Zelaerys waits three seconds to listen if Dav'eed responds.
Sorry, I'm beginning to enter a vacation period and while I will try to check-in at least daily, I cannot promise that I will always be able to do so. From September 1, I should be back to normal.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus ||
The passage is under 60', the message would get through easily.