Zack circles around until he finds himself behind the crawler, the beast seemingly preoccupied doesn't appear to notice him. With one huge swing from the blade he cuts open a large section of the beast causing blood and guts to spill out. The crawler cries out in pain before going silent and then falling over with a thud. Combat is over. 

Nadaar couldn't help it. He dropped his scimitars and stare wide-eyed at shaky hands. The Crawler's flop to the ground draws his gaze, but only for a fraction of a second before they return to his hands once more. Eventually he clenches his hands into tight fist, forceful stilling them. ".... That was a curious experience. Though... ugh... My throat.. Mmph. Seems its poison and my being had an interesting... interaction." He coughs some and started rubbing at his throat. "Though, it feels temporary. I.. *clears throat*... potent but temporary. I could errect the dome again for a short breather at this crossroads. Though, I imagine the one we seek may mass their forces in full if we rest at all. I leave it up to you if we press or not."

He gestures down the tunnel where the carrion crawler had loosely came from. "It is doubtful we'll find more dead that way. Such a creature would not have bothered with us otherwise."

Zack had expected more, but it seemed his blow was the last. Far more overjoyed at it's demise than he was disappointed that it was .. so easy to kill. A complex mix of emotions. Either way, he took stock of the grotesque scene. He managed to hold his breakfast in well, all things considered. He had been in plenty of bad places with plenty of gore but never quite in on where something was actively just eating the dead. He sighed, covering his mouth with his armor to better staunch the smells oozing out of this chamber alone. Looking back to where Nadia was, he'd offer a thumbs up after sheathing his weapon. 

As Nadaar spoke, Zack considered it. He was out of tricks outside of a few more bursts of spells, but the idea of being surrounded had him hesitating, after what happened this morning. Not out of fear, but hating to intentionally put himself at a strategic disadvantage again. No. As tempting as that is, I think we should push forward. Or, if we really need to break, we should head back outside and do so there. I don't know the particulars of your spell but if it doesn't 'slide' and can camoflauge itself... we could always rest over the entrance and have someone keep watch while we recover. Else we should just push forward.

Nadia lowers her bow once she sees the creature fall from Zack's mighty blow followed by a thumbs up from the fighter, the elf mentally cheering for him briefly until she hears the clang of metal on the ground. With whatever adrenaline she had left coursing through her veins, she rushed right over and takes a quick look over each of them to assure that they were all okay. She breathes easier knowing they seemed alright for now, then furrows her brows in thought at the suggestion of a rest. Would it have been worth the risk? As she mulls it over, she listens respectfully to Zack's answer and nods.

"I'm... going to agree with Zack on this one. Despite the pain, I'm healthy enough to push forward without much issue, just need to watch out for more of those... things," She cringed visibly when referring to the crawler. "We have to be close to the ending of this cave soon enough... hopefully." With a sigh, she straightens up and readies herself to lead once more. "Let's get to it then, yeah?"

As the creature lies dead you all discuss your next steps. Angar agrees that the best plan is to keep searching. Soon after you are all back in formation and continuing on ahead. With only one unexplored tunnel from where you are now, the choice is easy enough. The tunnel isnt long, but the smell of death is somewhat lessened as you get further from the crawlers next though it's not gone completely. Soon Nadia sees what looks like a dead end, but on closer inspection, it seems this bit of stone is carved, not natural. At the very end of this tunnel, two large and heavy looking stone doors block the way ahead. The slabs of stone are a dull grey color, unadorned and simple in their design.

(5 for the healing word as previously discussed)

"Where not opening that one quietly." Nadaar states with a bit of mirth in his voice. But then his expression hardens into a more serious one. "What do you think Zack? Can you manage on your own, or shall I provide some assistance?" He asked with a tone and expression that gave away any sense of judgement.

Zack cleared his throat, now that breathing was a little easier without getting a nose-full of decay, Coming across the stone slab and Nadaars inquiry, he took just a moment to look it over. Whispering so only those near him could hear Well I think I can probably move it myself, if not then help. But.. first.. This guy has already set atleast one trap for us, whether he knows we're here or not... So everyone.. step back. he would wait for everyone's compliance, and once he was satisfied with how far back they all were, he'd inspect the door itself,  starting around the edges, nooks, joints, crevasses, before going over any solid spots, looking for traps.... Seeing if there was anything on the ground, the door, or anything immediately around it such as pressure plates, hidden buttons, levers, etc etc etc.

Then, if a trap was discovered he would inform the others if it wasn't obvious, if nothing was discovered, he'd press himself against the doors.. attempting to push them open once everyone would indicate they were Ready to push forward.

Zack stood at the door while the rest of the party moved to a safe distance. Once the others were at a safe distance Zack started to inspect the door for possible traps, but even with his light use having a hard time seeing. As far as he could tell there were no traps on this door and that was safe to open. Zack put both hands on the door gave it a few test pushes to see how heavy the door was. The door was solid stone and quite heavy it would be a workout the open but Zack was reasonably confident that he could do it. Zack pushed but the door wouldn't budge, he pushed again and still it would not give way. Zack finally had to push with all his strength and the door started to budge. Unfortunately, as soon as the door budged a rumble could be felt in the tunnel, and small rocks started to his Zack in the head.

Nadaar could see that a collapse was imminent. He called out to Zack to get out of the tunnel just as larger chunks of rock started to fall where Zack was standing. Nadias first instinct was to rush to Zack to help get him to saftey, but Nadaar grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back as he too started to flee from the danger Zone. Angar and Nadia both get hit with falling rocks as the tunnel starts collapsing faster than they can run. Nadaar is somehow lucky enough to avoid being hit at all. 

When the dust settled the party looked around for Zack, who was nowhere to be seen. Seemed he was tone a tunnel buried by debris. Nadia rushed to the tunnel and started digging out rocks, hoping to find the fighter. It was long before she found him, awake but hurt, having taken the full force the collapse. It took some time but between the three of them the rest of the party was able to dig Zack out and back to saftey.

Zack takes 18 dam, angar and Nadia 9. Nadaar nothing.

Nadaar too had joined in the digging, if albeit somewhat after the fact. The shock of the situation had yet to fully leave his senses before he finally noticed Nadia making some measure of headway. Once Zack is fully extricated from the rubble, a fairly winded Nadaar has to lean against the wall and catch his breathe.

"That... was a far more exciting conclusion than expected... Or so our prey no doubt hopes we would come to." Nadaar stated a bit breathily, but more in control by then. "We should expect guests, just in case, for I very much doubt that noise did not go unnoticed either which way. Shall I erect the dome now, so that at the very least we can recuperate in momentary peace? Or do we further entice the advances of the Lady Bashaba?" He inquired nonchalantly in spite of the all too serious danger the group might all the more be in. "Personally, if I were not already in a fairly steady relationship with Lady Hlal, I might personally be more inclined to do so myself. But as things stand...." He leaves the words hanging there, allowing their others there moment to think without his yammering on.

Nadia had tried, very briefly, to wrestle out of Nadaar's grip when the rocks began to fall on Zack. She knew he was only trying to help her get out of the way from getting crushed, which he very much did, despite her getting hit with a few rogue rocks, yet her worry was more on the fighter than herself. She watched in horror at the cave in having quickly blocked Zack from her view, and as the rocks continued to fall, she felt a sickening feeling sink deeply in the pit of her stomach. When it seemed as if the cave in settled, she rushed through the dust and debris as soon as she could and started digging and pushing rocks with all her might, calling his name for him to respond and give her some sort of indication of where he was and if he was okay. 

Despite the panic running through her entire system, when she sees him, she's able to breath easier, using determination and the help of both Nadaar and Angar to get him out. The ranger is on her knees beside him, head in her hands, muttering something incoherent to herself before bringing her attention to the fighter, looking him over like a worried girlfriend teammate would. "Are you okay? Anything broken? Bleeding? How much pain are you in? Can you see how many fingers I'm holding up?"

Upon being asked if whether or not they wanted the dome, she is quick on the dime. "Yes, put it down. I would rather not play into the games of Bashaba right now... And if he says anything otherwise, don't listen to him. He got hit too hard on the head and isn't thinking properly." There's a short pause, then a small exhale of breath, a signification that her nerves were finally calming down. "Please and thank you, Nadaar."

Zack had found no traps, and as such, confidently began to push against the doors Uff.. this shit is heavy as hell... he thought to himself, as he pressed harder against it. Finally, the door began to give way, just a bit.... and then... the sky came falling down. He had a brief moment of relief that he'd had the others stand back, assuming that whatever trap he'd sprung would likely only hit him, and as that thought hit him, he spring from the door, pushing off, but as he did, an early bird rock fell in front of his shit, tripping him up as it impacted. As he face-planted into the ground, barely managing to break his fall with one arm, his other arm had reached behind him to pull the sword up enough to shield his head as the world closed in.

Tremoring earth collapsing around him, burying him alive, and filling his lungs with dust as he attempted to breathe in before it happened, forcing him to cough and spittle, and close his eyes as the wight pressed down, pinning him in a blanket of cool earth. He sat there, his entire backside sore, though protected, the impacts still hurt, and the weight pressed down only keeping the pressure. What felt like hours passed by, and the air was beginning to thin. And from this angle.. he couldn't get any power behind himself to dig himself out.

Eventually, he hears a muffled voice calling out. Calling his name. He couldn't get enough air in his lungs to respond, it was all he could do to keep himself breathing, and he wasn't entirely sure he wasn't just hallucinating. Just as he was fading out of consciousness, the weight around him slowly lifted. He was barely conscious, mostly due to lack of air, and when she first help him there, and started assailing him with a rain of arrows questions, he coughed up dust and dirt off to the side. Ough... and he took a moment to refill hisl ungs with air, instead...

Yeah...... his words were slow and tired. Much better now.... Don't know.... Don't *cough* know... feel bruised but... used the big sword to block some of it... his eyes were closing in tandem with each-other but at random times, like someone struggling to stay away when tired. At the last question, he smirked just a bit... Eight.... all your fingers, and both your thumbs are under my head.... his eyes closed but he was still awake. And your'e so soft.

"I will just take that as two in agreement." Nadaar said with a raised brow ridge and a bemused grin. "Keep a close eye out for us, won't you Angar? This will take me some time." On that note, Nadaar breaks out the scimitars once more and following a spinning wind up of both at his sides, began the ritual dance for Nadaar's Novel Necessity about the group, cordoning off the southern section in ton in a brown and opaque barrier force.

He could only hope that with its completion, any rovers might mistake the barrier for just a blockading boulder.

The last of Zack's reply was enough to get a snort out of the elf followed by a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I swear, if it's not the undead, then it's you that's going to be the death of me."

As Nadaar sets up the dome, Nadia adjusts her position to where she can gently settle Zack's head on her lap, finding that that would be more comfortable for him for a sounder rest than the dirt floor. With that said and done, she quietly watches Nadaar's dance. When he had erected the dome prior, she was too tired to truly appreciate the strange beauty of his movements, and despite there being no music, she was able to imagine a beat to go along with it. It was enchanting in its own little way, and she claps for him lightly when he finishes, very quickly, as to not disturb the resting fighter. 

"Where did you learn to do that, Nadaar?" She questions with genuine curiosity. "Is it something you taught yourself or is it something, um..." She trails off a bit, trying to find the right words. "Of your culture?" The elf wasn't entirely sure if that would have been the right way to put it, but she hoped it was enough to get her question across. 

"A bit of both, I suppose." Nadaar said after a moment of hesitation and staring pensively off to the side. "As with all Dragonborn -- or at least, those not born an exile of Tymanthor, are taught in part to be responsible for those around us. Which for part of my clan in particular, included being able to come to each other's defense; particularly, with the blade, least we face the dark times of Dragon rule once more." He explained before finding a comfortable enough spot in the muck to sit.

"For unlike the people of this world, my ancestors did not have any 'saviors' whose mad plan to turn the dragons against themselves, or natural enemies to always keep them in check. Not enough, at least. And certainly no allies that cared enough to aid us in any significant way." Nadaar pauses for a moment to pat himself down as if looking for something, only to scoff and briskly carry on. "The more rigid and simpler forms are those taught to me by one of my mentors -- my Father, as was tradition. Which, I have taken great pleasure in perverting over the years into more fluid forms." Nadaar said with a bit of mirthless chuckle.

"... If you meant the magic, however... hmm... I know it is possible to learn it, as some do, harnessing the echoes of the Words of Creation or the other various methods. Because I am a dragonborn however, we are more attuned to the Weave -- magic itself -- in general. It's in our scales, our breathe, our... everything! Or so the stories go. Thus, I found it easier to... "feel" out this connection, and experiment. Strong emotions and recalling past experiences play no small part in further harmonizing and expanding my capabilities with it." He looked to the scimitars that had been absently set in his lap with a melancholy expression. "For me, this Novel Necessity of mines, for example, is not just some spell; but, a representation of the only times I've felt at peace and safe." He admits.

Nadia wondered briefly if she had over stepped her boundaries with how delayed his response was, she ready to apologize for asking, but instead smiles when she hears his response soon after the thought. When he sits down, she straightens herself, her dark brown eyes on him as an added signification of her intent listening while her hands mindlessly went to stroke back Zack's hair, a way to soothe him into a deeper sleep (and to keep her hands busy). She knew next to nothing of Dragonborn, so all of what he was saying was new information that she willingly soaked in and was more than happy to listen to, not to mention it helped her learn more about him as a person. 

Truthfully, she found it fascinating, but his sudden solemn expression did not go unnoticed under her gaze, the ranger tilting her head slightly in question before he said the last of his piece. "What do you mean by that, Nadaar?" The question came out thoughtlessly past her lips, the elf quickly backtracking on her words. "I-- uh, sorry, that's probably personal, isn't it? I don't mean to pry, especially since you're telling me a lot already." She stops for a moment, seemingly looking for more to say. "But, ah, your technique-- your dance-- it's quite enchanting, really. The wave you weave your magic... the way you move your blades... I've never seen anything like it before, and I would have to admit I'm rather glad you're able to... to share this space with us." Her eyes glance about the dome. "It does make me feel safe... at peace, despite where we are."

Another question pops into her mind, and she decides to take a chance and ask it, seeing as it wouldn't be too personal, just a cultural thing, she hopes. "What other traditions did you learn from your... clan?"

Nadaar had snapped quickly out of his reverie at the question, though fortunately appeared more confused than upset by it. The apology that soon followed only made him more so, prompting head tilt to the side. Unfortunately before he can gather his thoughts to even consider an answer, she had already shifted to another angle. And Nadaar, ever the polite one, closed his trap and chose to accept her wish for other topics. Although there is at least one moment he appeared almost apprehensive, or at least as apprehensive as any dragonborn can be about not providing an answer.

"... You honor me with your appreciation on two fronts. Iss'ignar, even if... a bit undeserved given the lack polish to it." He gives her a rueful grin. When questions turns back again to matters of clan, he freezes up for just a second, as having not fully expected it. Sure, they've danced over the subject in the past, but always had he been quick to divert to some interesting side venture about the time after his departure. Hearing it asked so bluntly, if perhaps a bit hesitantly in some ways... he bowed his head and tugged at his whiskers.

"... There are a number of them, though few particular unique to my... /the/ clan I once belonged to. That said, it is a particular tradition of them that even an exile is not exempt from the ruling of the Clan." He looks up to Nadia and Angar. "For instance, if I was told to slit your throats on the spot, regardless of previous connections, it would be a command that I cannot refuse. A crude and extreme example, but... a truth that I cannot deny. That said, you would be safe, so long as I could not follow it to the letter. So, there's that at least." He smiled, but with little mirth behind it. "The Humans have a funny term, er, phrase for an individual's relationship to the Clan as a whole. Blood is thicker than Water, or some such... heh.... That aside, another tradition was the nurturing of martial or merchant skills over the magical. While you were free to pursuit it if so chose, and with understanding that if you did, by the Nine you better become one of the best around at it, it is something to do so during your own time." He expresses before letting out a small tired sigh. "And then, there is this... your word is your bond. Always. Thus, if you fail to live up to it, or dare to lie, you must accept all consequences for it. And I do mean /All/."

With her wish to lighten the air a bit seeing his apprehension, she begins to say, "Oh, don't get all humble on me, Nadaar. I mean absolutely every word I said, but if you're insistent that it's not 'polished'..." Nadia returns his grin with her own more bright one, continuing, "That's nothing a little practice can't buff out, yeah?" 

Again, she would fall silent and listen with intent ears when he spoke of his-- no-- the clan he belonged to's traditions, though she quickly regrets the question as she is automatically taken back by his example of their first, the grin that she wore falling to a thin frown. "That's..." Her words die in her throat, not wanting to be rude to the Dragonborn, but she does take a mental note of the human quote he mentions, swearing by the Gods she read something about it being misquoted in a book once. She sets that on the back burner of her mind and listens to the rest of what he had to say, and when he finishes, the first thing out of her mouth is, "Wow, talk about intense."

She clears her throat, cursing internally at her malfunctioning filter. "I-I mean, while interesting, they do seem a bit... extreme, but, ah, traditions are traditions, I suppose." She chews on her bottom lip in thought, one question looming over her head to ask, feeling as if this would be a definite over-step, but... she takes the shot. "You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but you said you 'once' belonged to them... What... happened?"

Again, Nadaar found himself perking up at an almost question. But again, she heistated, leaving at this point both confused and almost worried. He soon pushed it out of his mind to continue his story, feeling just a bit lighter with every word. A strange feeling that towards the end left him tugging at his whiskers again; as much of a nervous habit as it was from simply straining his mind over a line of thought. "Heh... Extreme, is it?" He asked with a toothy grin as she mulled over her next question.

"Perhaps from an outsiders view. But for us it is the way of things. As much a means to protect our very much still fledgling race upon this world, as ties in to our sensibilities in regards to Honor and Honesty." He replied nonchalantly before looking to the remains of the worm. The more he stared, the clearer the tingling sensation's absence left him wistful about not having made use of it. Perhaps in the future, and after harvesting the poison...

"Hm? Ah! I wondered when either you or Zack might ask that.... Technically speaking, I still do, by virtue of traditions that would require me to come to the Clan's aid if called. But, be that as it may, for now all I can say is that to protect someone very dear to me, I had to make a choice... So I did, accepting the consequences that came with it. And though I avoided death, as what would've been tradition for my... transgression, in some ways,  I mine as well be such in the eyes of my Clan." He admits frankly. "Convenient in an emergency, but unwelcome. So really, nothing much changed except locale." He stated with a smile that didn't quite reach where one might expect ears. "If I might ask but one thing in turn, why the inquiry?"

There were words that jumbled at the back of her throat that she had forced back when he spoke more of the clan, she keeping a rather neutral look upon her features despite wanting to express how... awful they sounded. Even though she felt better that he had already anticipated the question, whatever feeling of relief was replaced with sympathy. How could he sound so unbothered by it all? Certainly he was simply conditioned to it, but how he spoke of them didn't sound like family at all... But what would she know of Dragonborn clans? Were they all like this? Hopefully not... I really hope they don't call him back.

She would look at him, but past him, seemingly distracted with all the questions in her mind, assumptions being formed, but when he questions her, she blinks herself out of it. "Curiosity, really," She answers rather simply. "I want to learn about what brought you here, somewhat, and more of you as a person, so what a better time to ask than now, yeah?" She chuckles lightly. "But, um, if that was in reference to asking of your traditions and culture, I just like learning of them because I... I didn't get the chance to fully learn my own." She gives a one shouldered shrug as her eyes go to the resting fighter on her lap. "So... Thank you for answering my questions... and I hope the person you left for is safe."

Rest: 24

(Supposed to be a +4 so 15 healing, my bad!)

Nadaar cannot help but squint at Nadia for a second or two, as if straining to read between any lines from her reply. But almost immediately after, he's chuckling softly as he rested there. "I suppose not." He had replied to her first question. The rest he listened to with respectful silence. At her admission towards the end, Nadaar could not help giving her an almost pitying look. For a person denied their tradition and culture is one of the cruelest thing one can inflict to others. There were exceptions, of course. Some perspectives were naturally anathema to others. But at least in those cases, malice often had little to do with a resulting conflict and future denial of it.

Then he looked between Nadia and Zack, and couldn't help but smile a bit... until she spoke up again. "Hmn. A nice sentiment. I, myself, am not overly worried. She was a better fit for what I was meant to be, and has proven it time and time again. If I had to hope for anything, it is that she does not walk my path." On that note, Nadaar is ready to settle into a comfortable silence for the hour. As soon as most appeared more or less recharged, he spends another 10 or so minutes to summon Wonder, and command her to follow right behind the group.

A little invisible obstacle for any that might sneak up on the group.

(Spent 2 die in Discord that came out to a 9.)