Talike keeps walking after retrieving Ash, and jokingly says "Hey, where's mine?" before returning to the back of the group.

Ash smiles and raises an eyebrow, a slightly playful smile on her face. "I didn't think you'd want one. Do you?"

"All right, darling." Amara pats Ash's shoulder and releases some healing light into her, healing 3 hp. "You're just fine, and we don't have to worry about angering any future fungi groves."

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 1 | AC 15 | HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 2 | Spell Slots 1/1 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1

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Having readied his arcane energy to blast the violet fungus lashing at Ashryn, Ree'lyn makes it disappear after the combined efforts of Gwen and Quinn pull her away. " Welcome to the Underdark" - the Drow says dryly through the communitarian telepathic channel.

As he gets ready to move on, he sees Quinn trying to swallow another handful of ash and blast it with a puff of wind, before moving on to the front line of the group for scouting.

THE DARKLAKE - CHAPTER 3

DAY FIVE
PACE: FAST
ENCOUNTERS: 11, 11
PURSUIT LEVEL: TWO

Everyone go ahead and level up! Nice job! You've all survived 4 days so far.

True to its name, most of the Darklake exists in pitch blackness. The only light available is whatever the characters are able to provide. The Darklake is a giant labyrinth of lakes, waterways, and canals that connect myriad caverns and chambers. Some of these caverns are massive, with immeasurably deep water and vaulted ceilings far outside the range of any light. Others are narrow, with only a few feet of space between the ceiling and the surface of the water. Some are completely submerged, navigable only by those able to breathe underwater. You spent day five walking along the edge of the lake, Shuushar happy to know his home was only about 2 days away.

Luckily, we didn't encounter anything during our day of travel.

Ash nods and offers Amara a slight smile. "Thanks for the healing, but next time I'm burning them." 

Weak Mortal... You were the only one. Learn to be better. 

You need to be better... 

 In that nights rest, she felt more power begin to flow through her. 

Looks like you don't hate me after all.

DAY FIVE UPDATE
THE BLOCKED PATH

At some point in the late afternoon walking along the Darklake, we came across a blocked path and the only means through was into what appeared to be a passageway that went further underground. Seeing as we had no way to cross the lake, Shuushar calmly suggested that this was the way to continue on. The passageway split in two ways eventually. To the right, and the left.

Which way shall we go?

Duke looks at Svana. "Declaration: You can use your familiar to scout ahead. It can be used to go down each path and see what lies ahead."

"Not a bad idea, Iron Lung. 'nd if its snatched up, we /definitely/ don't go that way." Enkindle said, nodding sagely in agreement. "It just can't take too long. That cave in, and our pace slowed those other ****ers down 'n all, but that don't mean we outta the woods yet."

"Very true," Svana says with a snap of her fingers, Chandra reappearing from her pocket dimension. The mouse looks up to the group, wiggling her nose as if to say hello to everyone before scampering off into the left tunnel to do a look about. The noble places a hand on whomever was nearest to her and explains sheepishly, "It's easier when I'm holding onto something, or someone." Her eyes glaze over as she begins to look through Chandra's eyes.

Perception (if needed): 20
Perception (with adv due to keen sense, in case something is stanky): 17

When Ash wakes up, she looks almost startled when she opens her eyes. 

Well this is new... and... very bright... What else have you given me Ophidian?

I have given you gifts. More strength. To make you less... Killable. That armor simply would not do.

As they walk, Ash spends time suddenly doing figures with her hands, something that seems natural now. Once they reach the fork, her symbols have been master and her outfit seems to gleam and shimmer a little, adjusting to her typical costume attire. "Huh... well that's handy."

 (She will proceed to cast this every 8 hours unless she is asleep) 

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 2 | AC 15 | HP 14/14 | Temporary HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1| Eldritch Invocations 2

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Feeling strangely at home after the last distressing moments across the violet fungi grove, Ree'lyn took a moment to set camp and rest with the others. His eyes looked somewhat glassy at some point. As if the distinguish reddish lilac were looking at something else; somewhere else. His body felt as if he was partaking of a feast. His mind felt as if he was enjoying the most glorious ball. He swayed; a beautiful gossamer dress covered the body of his dance company. But he could not quite look directly at her. It was as if he was too close. He did know she was there, he felt her smile, he felt her perfume, they danced together. Her dress was majestic. So was she. He didn't see her, but he knew it.

In the cave where the party scattered around to rest and talk, Ree'lyn went through a visible change. His equipment, more precisely, went through a visible change.

His armor acquired a blackish green shade with differents shades of reddish brown and green in different patterns as if his armor itself was made of leaves and darkwood. Entwined vines and overlapping leaves, much similar to what his rags looked like when that was all he was wearing in Velkynvelve, now made the very material or his armor. Even the hardest parts. Certainly, although intricate and majestic, it was not Drow craft.

The darklake. He knew this place.

Walking around these tunnels and exploring those caves should not be hard for him if he could just pinpoint the reference sites he knew were around here.

“I can put some decoys in the route we don’t take. Might throw them off our tail”

Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 2 | AC 15 | HP 14/14 | Temporary HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 3 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 1 | Innate spells 1| Eldritch Invocations 2

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After taking a much needed rest and feeling reinvigorated, Ree'lyn decides it is time for some strategy talk.

Having seen Amara, the elf, unfold a parchment, looking at it, folding it back again and fixating her eyes at some point, Ree'lyn has come to realize the woman was relying on a map to be the guide in this journey. Passing by the other members from the party, the Drow addresses himself to her in the most chivalrous manner he could muster. 

"Lady Amara." - he says in a low voice, privately. " If you would be so kind, I would like to have a moment with you."

Ash looks between the two paths and communicates telepathically. "Hmmm... I suppose we could lay a trap on the path not taken? Gwen. Have any contraptions that might injure our trackers as well?" 

While waiting for Svana to finish her scouting, Duke took the time to make some improvements so that it could be more effective at its new job.

Internal recording: Increasing speed of communication from audio and ocular sensors to motor chassis to improve evasive maneuvers. Introducing protocol to momentarily suspend self-preservation directive to increase effectiveness of attacks. Assessment: Effectiveness of unit in combat has increased by 5%

Amara has a dream that night while trancing.

She finds herself seated on the roof of her treehouse. Her left arm hangs limp at her side, as always. As Amara sits, a brilliant golden light flares into life, causing Amara to raise her right hand to shield her eyes. When she's able to look again, a woman stands in front of her, her face impossible to make out, but dressed in shining golden armor. Amara inclines her head deeply, her concession to a bow. "Sarastriel."

The angel stares down at the elf. "You have been using the powers I granted you a great deal lately."

Amara shrugs. "Isn't that why you gave it to me? For use?"

Sarastriel's voice grew harsh. "I gave it to you for use against the drow! Not to help them! And yet you used my healing power to bring one back from the brink! Have you no respect for my purpose-for your family's legacy?"

Amara's eyes narrow. "I aided Jezzika because she is my ally. I was doubtful at first as well, but now I see she is not allied with the others of her kind."

Sarastriel paused for a moment, then carried on. "And the other? Ree'lyn? What of him. I hope you aren't planning anything foolish regarding him."

"Sarastriel," Amara says with a hint of forced patience. "He's annoying, but also an ally. I may not know his story, but he's been relatively useful so far. This is just until I can get out."

There was another pause, and Amara could almost swear the mighty angel was feeling...embarrassed. "Yes...about that."

Amara's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Sarastriel began to pace. "There is a problem in the Underdark. Beyond the dark elves and their machinations. An ancient enemy has entered this world." She fixed the elf with a piercing gaze. "You must stop it. If you want to protect Laia and Kira, if you want to protect your family and their legacy, you must stop it."

Amara gritted her teeth. "You're not giving me a choice in this."

"No," Sarastriel stated simply. "But I can give you some help." The angel gestured for Amara to rise, and once the elf did, bent and kissed her of the forehead. "I give to you some more of my power. Let your words move others, let your being be protected from harm, and may you extend such protection against the unnatural to others."

With that, the dream faded.

When Amara woke up, her clothes had a faint golden shimmer to them, and her eyes were far more serious than usual.

(Response to posts that went up after I started writing this coming in another post shortly)

When she's approached by Ree'lyn, Amara folds up her map and raises an eyebrow at Ree'lyn. "Certainly," she replies evenly in an equally low voice.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Please teach me something. Just a little something?

VERY WELL. I WILL EXPAND YOUR MIND AS IF A DROP FROM AN OCEAN.

Finally! I am ready! Thank you!

SLEEP, AND YOU WILL DREAM. DO NOT BE AFRAID.

When she lay on the rock to for the night, she put her teddy bear next to her, close. As soon as she fell asleep, the dream began. Her heart pounded in anticipation. In an instant, she was no longer in the Underdark, but on the surface of a massive star. She jerk instinctively, expecting to be instantly incinerated, but laughed joyously as this didn't happen. She hugged herself, delighted and ever ready for the knowledge she was about to receive from a cosmic force from another reality. They spoke with their minds, no words were needed, and impossibly black tendrils of shadow erupted from the star's surface, lovingly wrapping them around her form. It was almost orgasmic in nature how she felt the power course through her form and she glowed blacks and purples and she closed her eyes and accepted everything, and anything, that Umbra was willing to share with her. She was elated. She was giddy. She screamed for more, the pleasure, the joy of the revelations that were imparted upon her mind. Each time Umbra took her spirit to this place was euphoric, and the star turned black, blacker than anything the cosmos could create and Umbra dropped a single morsel of power into her soul through the tendrils and she shook, quivered, spasmed in ecstasy. In return, he uttered a single command.

ESCAPE THIS PLACE.

During the night, Jezzika was heard softly laughing in her sleep. Ash would notice when she woke up in the morning, that the teddy bear was staring directly at her.

NOW

Chandra: Sniff sniff sniff look look look food? No. Go Left. Yes. Sniff sniffity sniff. What's this? No. Not food. Look. Curious. Looking sniffing looking curious Rock walls. Holes. Holes. Holes. Many holes in walls. sniff sniff ew. Oil. Oil. Lots. Dislike. Square room. Sniff sniff sniff sniff oil. oil. oil. wet. wet. Look. Wall another another another. Passage. Return! Too far. sniff sniff sniff sniff. Return. Return. Return. Return.

Huey: “No worry, friends!  Huey get extra mad if bad not-friends show up. Huey protect friends!”

Some of the group, the elves especially, begin to notice that Huey is especially malodorous. His voluminous body hair has taken on a musky smell.