Kaylyn detects an aura of divination around the dagger as Pax lifts it from the fountain and stows it. The vials also have a slight aura, but by then Kaylyn is busy scooping coins and treasure out of the fountain and following the others out of the flooded room. Moving back up the corridor is difficult work against the flow of water, which grows deeper and deeper by the minute. By the time the group have passed the point of ingress, the water is almost at chest height.

After a brief consultation, the group decide to risk the longer journey to familiar territory. Glabbagool leads the way steadily along the corridor towards the exit, talking constantly into Rhayna's mind about the coming feast and its new followers. Kaylyn comes next with Rhayna following behind, only half listening to the voice as she contemplates the density of the gel, estimates that the specific gravity of the cube is low enough that it should float, and ponders whether it is resisting bouyancy by adhering to the floor or somehow channeling the water through its body. She assumes the former, seeing as the mace and skeleton inside the cube are not being moved by hydrodynamics.

Pax, Zeno and Kastix struggle along next, feeling wet and uncomfortable in the cold water, and increasingly nervous about the prospect of drowning. The only one who seems content in the current circumstances is Sekkar, who spends more of the journey now in a swimming motion than walking, and relishing the soothing feel of flowing water against his scales. Somewhere in the rear, under the water, the oozes and puddings slowly eek their way along, obediently placid under the leadership of the sentient cube.

Moving with the current makes the journey reasonably quick, and the group soon depart the temple into the flooded tunnel and up beside the rockfalls. With the water now up to the armpits (and even to the shoulders for the shortest of the group), Rhayna lifts the wand over her head and focuses on the magic required to activate it. Pointing it at the rocks, she feels the wand vibrate, and senses the vibrations radiate outward toward the rocks.

Within moments the solid stones start to liquefy and contract, but before the full effect can be observed, the water instantly starts to rush out of the newly formed gap into the tunnel beyond. The enormous bulk of water is too great to resist, and the entire group is propelled through the gap and out into the tunnel, some being pushed one way, some the other, and some into the wall opposite. Fingers desperately grasp for purchase on the walls and floor, arms and legs are grazed and bruised as they are pummelled between water and rock, and tumbling bodies struggle to right themselves enough to break the surface and gasp for air. Sekkar again fares the best as he swims back and forth aiding his companions and helping them to the edges of the nascent river.

Eventually the group all reach a place of security about 50 feet away from the rift, uphill and in the direction of intended travel. The river flows swiftly from the rift and down the tunnel in the direction they originally came from, but there is enough water to form a small lake that extends to the group's present location. Glabbagool is nowhere to be seen - even the eerie floating skeleton and mace can't be discerned anywhere nearby. However it can't be too far away, perhaps just around the closest bend in the tunnel, as Rhayna hears the voice once more - distant but clear:

Farewell Rhayna. It was a pleasure to talk with you, and I thank you for the aid of you and your followers. I go now with my followers on our long journey to the feast as bidden by he-who-awakened-me, the shepherd-of-slime, the lord-with-no-face. Perhaps then I shall learn if he has a name like you and I. Farewell.

And then the voice is gone, and only the sound of the rushing waters remains.

Kaylyn looks around to get her bearings and seems satisfied that the group is back on the original path that they knew.  She then watches the water to see if it is increasing or whether they are in a safe enough place to rest.

"I think we need to rest, at least for a short time, maybe longer.  I'm not use how long its been since out last rest." 

She judges the groups reaction to the thought of a rest.

"And why do I have a nagging feeling we just helped someone called by another demon?"

She takes the time to remove her tattered cloak and ruined armor.  She then sets to Mending the cloak and also seeing if she can repair the armor and make is usable again.  She also uses Prestidigitation to clean and dry her clothing and helps anyone else who needs it.

Pax drags her heavily armored body out of the water and collapses onto her back on the ground. She lays there, sopping wet, cold, and unmoving.  When Kaylyn mentions rest, one of her arms moves until it's sticking straight up, and then her hand curls into a fist...her thumb jutting upwards into a 'thumbs up'.  Then she drops her arm with a metal thunk. 

She lays there for a few minutes, just breathing. The water seeping from her body, running down the gently slopped tunnel, the rock and dirt around her dark with the wet running from her. Eventually though, parts of her armor poking through her makeshift under-padding and into muscle and against bone start to get uncomfortable. The sounds of Kaylyn trying to repair her armor also call her. She sighs heavily. and pushes herself into a sitting position.  Then she begins taking her own armor off, one piece at a time.  While she does so, she says to Kaylyn, "I can give you a hand with that, I know my way around armor....maybe we'll need to patch some stuff together...I can try to help." 

As Pax removes her armor, and then her padding, she uses magic to dry and clean each piece.  Eventually when it's all set to one side, clean and dry, she goes over to help Kaylyn.  She tosses the dagger she grabbed onto the ground, "I picked up this, figure it must be magical to have survived in the water. I'll identify it once I'm done helping Kaylyn with her armor...." 

(will cast identify as a ritual if nothing interrupts us)

"Everything's down here is being called by a demon," Kastix states, sitting down to calm himself and just try remotely comprehend the insanity that the Underdark is becoming, "Come here Kaylyn. I'll patch you up a bit," He'll cast Cure Wounds on them.

Healing: 10 Using sorcery point to reroll  and Empowered Healing 12 

As Rhayna exits the flooded temple, she looks for Glabbagool, making sure that she hasn't lost the wand. After she receives it's last message. "Juiblex. The one who awakened you is called Juiblex." Rhayna, gasping for air, remembers her encounter with an ooze when escaping Velkynvelve. She tries to telepathically project the direction to Araumycos' location. "Go south west, and there, you will find the Lady of Rot. Do be careful though, she is an extremely powerful demon. I would like to request a personal favor. If you encounter mushroom people, ask if they belong to Sovereign Basidia. If they do, tell him that you have encountered me, and they will aid you in your feast. For they also fight The Lady." She is not sure if the jelly still hears her. "Farewell to you as well... My Friend."

"I would eat something." Sekkar was not particularly skilled in armor repair (more like "repair, period") and the wound from that last pudding though still hurt was not that bad, unlike hunger - the fight and swim takes too much energy. He looked into his backpack and pulled out a slightly sticky ball that included everything a ration consisted of mixed, moisten and pressed together. Lizardman sniffed the resulting "energy ball" of dry meat, nuts and fruits, shrugged and threw it into his mouth. "Chewy, a bit crunchy," commented he, "but will do. Anyone wants some?"

After the short snack, he stretched by the river using the backpack as a pillow not concerned the slightest by the sogginess of it and using a rare quiet moment to rest. "If we are not running any time soon, as wise as it can be, what do you say to a short rest here?"

With a river flowing away from them and still another pile of rubble blocking the tunnel further ahead, this dark underground lake-side beach is possibly one of the safest places the group has found in a long time. (Can rest here as long as desired with no interruption)

Pax and Kaylyn work on the armor and manage to salvage or modify enough pieces to make a chest-piece and two pauldrons. It isn't great but offers more protection to the front than the damaged armor did. (Can equip "leather armor" for an AC of 11)

Sekkar's offer of food is spoken at the same moment as Rhayna projects her final thoughts of the 'feast' to Glabbagool. The juxtaposition of the two thoughts makes Rhayna hungry and at the same time somewhat revolted.

While Kastix casts his curing magic on Kaylyn, Pax meditates on the dagger and discovers it to be a Dagger of Warning. She sighs with relief knowing that once someone in the group attunes to it, it should provide them with an added measure of security in the dark tunnels.

Time to go up a level everyone. 

((Hurray!))

(Its a little earlier than planned, but better to do it during a break)

(Sweeeeeet!  Pax learns Fireball and Gaseous Form for her two spells as she goes up to a 5th level wizard. Can I use any of this time to copy any spells from the spellbook I found into my own?) 

While in the temple, Rhayna sensed some abnormality with the spores inside of her body. With everything that was happening, she didn't give it further thought. Now, suddenly, she is no longer able to ignore them, for it seems that they are not only "living" inside of her, they are now flowing outside of her body as well. Green and black spores float around her, almost imperceptible to other, and it also crawls inside of her, like worms worming just under her skin. Also, unbeknownst to her, mushroom, and mold grows from her body and skin as well. Somehow, she now feels even more connected to fungi life around her.

(Folks, please meet the new Rhayna Nursk)

((Very fitting and cute, though kind of scary too))

Pax takes a sudden pause when she notices Rhayna. "Rhayna....there's....something wrong. There's....something under your skin...moving..and...I think you're infected by the fungus things."

She looks around at everyone, hoping for support.  "I...don't think there's anything I can do for you...we are going to need to find you a powerful healer."

(Yes, you can take as long as you like here. But then it won't be too much longer before you get a nice long rest at the comfortable city of Bligdenstone, before being escorted safely back to the surface without any further problems. Right?)

Kastix takes a moment to look at Rhyana, shrug and goes back to experiementing as he feels more arcane energy flowing through him. 

OCC: He is a dragon scaled covered Tiefling. Who is he to judge appearance. Still can't decide on new spell(s). Playing with Cleric and Sorcerer spell list is a grind and lot to figure out. 

(Nevermind on the copying spells, I have no money and/or equipment for copying....) 

Pax fails to suppress a shiver as she watches a bug crawl across Rhayna's eyeball, and quickly stands up and begins putting her armor back on.  "I need to get out of this place. Alright folks, we've had our rest, let's get moving.  I think it was....this way?  I think we'll need that wand a few more times...guess we have to kill the slimy messes it makes since Goobly gop left?"

That evening Kaylyn helps Pax with the Ring of Storing.  She explains what spells she knows and offers to store any that Pax may wish to have access to into the ring.

The following day Kaylyn awakens after the rest to find that the campfire has died down.  Yet she is still able to see in the darkness.  In fact she finds that she can see better than she had the day prior.  "I must be getting used to the darkness as my vision has greatly improved."

(I'm not too concerned with the money/equipment requirements for scribing spells, but I'm sure when you get to Bligdenstone we can arrange something)

The group enjoy their rest on the dark shores of the new lake, taking the rare moment of security to release the long-accumulated tension of Underdark travel. But they can't stay here forever and are just preparing to resume their journey, when a small pop is heard and two figures suddenly appear in the tunnel nearby. Weapons are quickly drawn, but Kaylyn's improved sight reveals the return of the two unusual travellers Skriss and Y.

Well met, surface folk, calls out Y. With undisguised sarcasm he continues: Enjoyin' your little 'oliday 'ere in our beloved tunnels, I see. Nice little spot you've found 'ere. Very quaint. Can we get ya anyfink?

Skriss waves a hand of dismissal at the derro and says: Enough, Y. We have scant time to waste. Then turning to the group the troglodyte continues: The demonic incursion is accelerating. The madness of Demogorgon is spreading throughout the regions of the Darklake. Myconids everywhere are on the move, with reports that those from Neverlight are being led by Zuggtmoy herself. Rumor has it that Baphomet and Yeenoghu are roaming throughout the Labyrinth with growing hordes. And other events suggest the presence or influence of Grazz't, Juiblex, Orcus and Fraz-Urb'luu. We are yet to ascertain the means by which these demon lords have arrived here, but have come seeking your aid.

After a brief pause, Skriss continues: Grazilaxx has directed Y and myself inflitrate Menzoberranzan and seek for clues there. The drow are infamous for consorting with demons, and likely know more than any. Then pointing to Zeno, Skriss says: I inquire if you would be willing to assist us. In such matters three can cover twice as much ground as two, and you seem as competent at both stealth and intrigue than any other we know.

Zeno gulps but then nods in agreement and replies: Menzoberranzan? That's the end of the holiday then, I guess. Well we've been all over the Underdark and aren't any closer to the surface, so... yeah, why not? Maybe if we can solve the demon problem it would make escaping that much easier.

Y speaks again to the group: Don' worry, we'll do our best to look after ya friend. We'd take more of ya but yer all too noisy. (Hehe) Yer not far from Bligdenstone now, and the gnomes'll help ya out. We'll bring Zeno back as soon as we find out what we need.

Zeno looks to his companions, grins and says: Looks like I'm going from running from the drow to jumping right down their throats. But who knows, I might get the chance to stick it back to them. He slips out of his cloak, hands it to Sekkar and says: This will probably just attract more attention in a drow city. You'll be doing the scouting for both of us now, so better than you have it. Then almost as an afterthought he also hands Sekkar the magic crossbow and adds: Better take this too. Works better against demons, and I've still got my old one which works fine against drow. Finally he removes the ring and hands it to Pax, saying: I never did figure this thing out. Maybe you can give it a try.

Walking over to Skriss and Y, Zeno turns and says: I want them back though, as soon as I return, okay? The look on his face however makes it obvious that he isn't sure whether or not he will return.

"If you hate him that much why don't just kill him? Less painful and less chances to be fed to an illithid." Sekkar was angry (as much as lizardfolk is capable of anger): of member of the tribe voluntarily got a fungus infection  without any means (known to him here - not a single wise hag around!) to save her, another was about to just walked away to fight demon lords in the middle of the the drow city. It was beyond suicidal! He heard about "tunnel madness" of course, but saw it himself for the first time, and did not know any cure form that either. He shook his head in disapproval but did not waste time in needless conversations. "I'll keep an eye on the stuff, but you better return. Alive." He took the weapon and the cloak, gave Zeno a friendly punch at the shoulder and returned to packing up their small camp. That part was true - they needed to move.

Kaylyn smiles at Zeno.  "Good luck friend.  We've been through a lot and it seems there is more to come.  We'll keep searching for the roads that lead to the surface.  I'm afraid I am getting to used to this dark place, I cannot wait to see the sun again."