Lero catches the ring with ease, "My thanks."  He studies it for a moment before slipping it on. Once he does he feels the silky webbing on his body slide right off. Looking at Flux, "This is pretty awe..." It's at this point that Namura yells out that she may have found a way out.  

He gestures for everyone to follow and climbs the ladder to the ledge, "What is it?" He sniffs the air. "You ******* did it! It smells like... green!" He's beaming as he says this and assists everyone else up the ladder onto the ledge.  "Lets get outta here."

Namura smiled, closing her eyes and breathing in as much of the refreshing smell as she could. "Thanks for believing in me, Lero," she said simply, itching to forge ahead again. 

Pushing forward, you follow the tunnel, as it ever so slowly climbs upwards. After about an hour of wandering through the lone tunnel, it empties into a massive cavern, approximately 100 feet wide by 200 feet long. The far side of the cavern is open, revealing the forested canopy of trees. It would seem that the tunnel you took put you well above your mark, but the scent coming from the jaketulmine plants all along the cavern walls is so invigorating that you don't even care. Looking down, you see it's about a 15 foot drop to a large pool of water, the fills up the entire cave. A cascade of water rushes down from an opening in the ceiling, causing the cavern pool to overflow, spilling out on the far side of the cavern as a waterfall. It would appear that the pool of water is the only thing standing between you and your freedom.

 Flux, upon reaching the cavern, asks Lero to let his thopter carry their servo so that it can be determined how high up they are. Upon seeing that the waterfall down is 140 feet to the lake below, Flux takes three of the 50 foot ropes and ties them together.

"Now, we need someone to spike this to the wall near the edge of the cliff, and we should be good to climb down."

Lero obliges, hammering a spike into the wall and tying a secure knot. "It's a far drop... be ready for it," he says. He gestures for Duncan or Flux to go first, "Rappel down the falls, and when you reach the bottom give the rope two sharp tugs before you swim to land." He looks over to Namura, "Namura and I will go last." 

Back at the drider's lair.

Kraithee listened Lero and Namura's exchange and could only think that she needs those harsh words for her skill is beyond the rest in tracking and that is the only way they would survive in the wild.

When flux and Azi returned to from their search with the items they have found, Kraithee saw the ring and understanding it's traits, it turned to Flux and said: If the group doesn't mind I would have that ring, it can greatly increase my ability to help, specially (raising his voice since Namura already took off) if Namura would lend me some of her healing abilities from time to time (back to normal voice level). Lero, I do have some silken rope we could use to go down to that chasm if you'd like it.

At the waterfalls

Kraithee can't hold his smile when they arrive at the waterfalls, while Flux is tying the ropes and Lero is securing them, it hears Namura thank Lero and couldn't hold a smile. It thinks this two work well together. 

After Namura tugs the rope as Lero said, Kraithee would descend the falls.

Duncan had faced many people on his travels but had never seen the likes of a drider. Still the shock of such a creature had stolen his will to fight for a time. As they walked through the cave Duncan couldn't help but ponder his own fears at such monstrosities and how such fear froze him to do nothing. Now that he was at the edge of the cliff he took a moment to compose himself. With the group he would descend down the rope. 

Buama looked over the edge the best she could after getting her lungs filled with outdoor air again. She did not like the underground. She did not really like the dark either. This was not anything of what she expected for this trip.

"So how deep do you think that water is down there?" She grins. "if one was to dive from this height they would have to hit the water just right and need a good amount of water to keep from bashing their head on the bottom."

She gladly took her turn going down the ropes knowing this time they would not have a way to get them back. At least, she still had several ropes and a couple of ladders too. She could have put a rope on the end at the first cavern that Numara fell into, but it had been fun pulling the ladder out instead. Once down the cliff she took a look around with her gun ready while waiting for the group to gather. She wanted to check on Elto, but she would wait until things were safe for sure.

As the others climb down, Lero turns to Namura, "After I'm down cut the rope and jump. Have a fun fall." He grins and as the last person goes down he takes his turn on the ropes. Once in the water he gives it three sharp tugs to indicate to Namura that he's down. When the rope comes tumbling down the waterfall he coils it back up and swims to land.

Namura untied the rope carefully, not wanting to lose an inch of it. She dove into the first pool gracefully, not bothering to use the Ring of Featherfall on the first drop. The ranger was so happy at the mere thought of freedom that the water felt fantastic on her skin. She did use the ring, however, rather than going over the waterfall. It wasn't a difficult swim, so the elf enjoyed herself as she swam towards the fresh air.

Drying herself off, Namura tried to get her bearings in the woods. The passage of time had been difficult in the tunnels, so she found herself surprised that the sun was high in the sky. She wanted to bathe in the sunlight, rather than continuing their journey. But, Namura knew that she didn't have that luxury. "We're 7 miles away from Fhestrynn," she announced to whoever was in ear shot. "If everyone is in good shape, we can continue traveling onward."

"Well done!" Lero says as he sloshes up the bank with 150 feet of rope coiled on his shoulder. He gives them back to their owners and looks off into the forest, "I never thought I'd be so happy to be out in the middle of nowhere." He then looks up at the sky, "But as long as I see the sky and clouds, and the sun is beaming down on me... It doesn't matter where I am." He gives Namura a little shake and smiles at her, "Lets go find Festrinn."

Swimming out the lake, you all breath a sigh of relief. Fresh air. Birds chirping. No more dark tunnels. No more stale air. No more of the pitter-patter of water as it hits the cavern floor. The forest of Peema has quickly grown to be a welcoming vista over the past few days. And so after a short break, the party makes their way back to Fhestrynn.

The journey back is uneventful. The wind blows through the trees, bringing with it the scents of the forest. Aether streams slither through the foliage above, like a blue serpent carousing about aimlessly. Small forest critters scurry all around you; some furry, some fluffy, and some make from tree branches, dirt, and rocks, with those same mushrooms located in that first cavern. No sign of any tanar'ri or the Barad'Ellil? If it wasn't for those tanar'ri spiders, you might've forgotten about them during your travels below. Not to say the diversion wasn't rewarding. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Following Namura, she is able to swiftly guide the party throughout the forest, carefully avoiding any pitfalls and other chasms that have opened from the wurm activity below. Spotting the Talamari crest inscribed on the tree just two nights ago by Arial, she smiles, knowing that they finally made it home. Entering into the hidden cavern, the party is greeted by silence and darkness. Investigating, they see the remains of a large campground, where the refugees were once resting. Stoking the old campfires, Namura notes that it looks like these fires haven't been lit for nearly a week. Azi's eyes go wide, "Namura... that's not possible! We were here just two days ago. You must have it wrong." Searching the rest of the cavern, other signs to confirm that fact. This place hasn't seen any activity in over a week.

Lero's eyes open wide as realization dawns on him, "Arial!?"  He yells for her and runs up and around to the alcove she was fond of, "Arial!?"  

As he comes back down, "I don't know what's going on... maybe they were able to cover their tracks so that it looks like this place has been abandoned. Arial has gone with them... perhaps they're back in the town?"  

Namura was in a frenzy as she surveyed the campsite. It was all wrong, and while it didn't appear to be an illusion, she needed to figure out what happened to the rest. The ranger quickly found some tracks, leading into the tunnel toward the city.

"They've got to still be alive," she muttered, an idea coming to mind. She quickly sat down on the ground, her eyes losing focus as she concentrated on every construct within two miles.

"I know where they are!" Namura shouted suddenly, her eyes abruptly opening as she sprang to her feet. "They're only two miles away!" She didn't wait for a response, already taking off running in the direction of the cluster.

There was nothing to do here so Buama runs after Namura. "Well, Elto, here we go back towards the elf village....AGAIN!" She laughs as her long legs let her gain a little on Namura, but not much.

"It is best that we go ano..."

Another way. This is likely a trap.

That was what Flux was about to say, but Namura and Buama, the two who should know best to not blindly run ahead were doing exactly that. A more thorough investigation of the site should be had. Or the caverns should be investigated. Something had either distorted their perception of time, or something very strange had happened. In both cases, one should never run blindly ahead. Oh well. It is best that the group sticks together.

"We have to stick together."

Listening to Flux half comment and taking in account the groups experience with the demon's tactics, Kraithee could only think it is a trap, and watching Buama and Namura running towards it, Kraithee couldn't hold shake the feeling that the group was moving trap by trap.

Kraithee starts running toward the two women and yells with a sarcastic smile in his face: Let's run without a plan! Just look for holes in the ground, spiders in the ceiling or on trees over a puddle! 

With that said, Kraithee stops running and waits for his clear warning to settle in the group.

"What if they're in the middle of an attack?" Lero says as he starts to follow the other two, "What if it is a trap?" He turns haphazardly, "What if they're all dead?" He's looking at the rest of the group as he talks, "What if they're all ok?" He turns back around and starts to follow Namura and Buama, "We can 'what if' forever. I'd rather find out directly." He rushes to catch up to Namura.

When he catches her, he matches her pace, "They seem to think you're rushing in to things a bit, my dear. I don't mind it, but lets travel cautiously rather than rush in to something that could potentially add us to their army of demons. Are you sure you want to lead us back into some tunnels?" He looks her in the eyes, "What do you feel the best course of action is?"

"I don't want to be too slow again," Namura came to a stop, taking the opinions of the others into account had not occurred to her. "I don't want more deaths to hang on my consciousness. If I had been just a little faster, we would have gotten to your crew before the slaughter. If I had insisted we leave a little sooner, we would have arrived at the elven village before the cultists attacked."

"I can see the constructs, right there," she explained, realizing that no one knew exactly how she knew what she was doing. She pointed her finger down the tunnel in the direction of the ping in her mental radar. "Almost the same number as before, but now they have two more." Namura turned away from Lero, speaking more to the rest of the group. With a defeated sigh, she continued. "If Flux and Krai and you other thinkers of the group want to come up with a plan, then you'd best do it quickly."

Buama came to a stop by Lero and Namura. Despite the fact that there could be more danger she is smirking about Lero sprinting past her.

"We can't make a plan. We just know they moved to where Namura can sense them. Sure our senses are off with how long they have been gone, but we've been underground, too. Maybe we misjudged a bit. Who knows. We don't have time to pittle around analyzing a time space discrepancy. But we need to proceed with enough caution to be ready for weird stuff in the tunnels. At least we know the way in and can probably have an advantage to noticing something different since we've been here more than once."

She adjusts her lantern so it isn't bright but she can see the area around her. She starts walking further down the tunnel looking for anything that might be different from the last time she had been here.