Athletics 10

Grenk splashed back down into the acidic slime.  "Toasted toads.. " he groans as he stands back up.  He brushes his hand against the wall and tries again.  "Anyone, else still in a pit?" he calls out.  If he does make it out he'll take a moment and check. 

"We're all clear," shouts Mal as Grenk finally pulls himself free of the pit. As Grenk gets out, he clambers out across the last pit, one errant arrow from a toppled archer statue fires down the hallway. Attack: 8 Damage: 4

Moments later, everyone is clear of the shrine.  Badger pulls out the two cubes.  One has vaporized, a green hazy powder all that remains.  The other ones seem to be intact and real. 

"I am starting to really dislike all these shrines." As Mal starts to gather her rope and puts it away, then sighs, "Ok which shrine are we going to next?"

"Sleep," Silas mutters as he walks around looking for a camp site and pulls out arrows from his armor.

I agree with Silas, sighs Badger, removing his helm and rubbing his nose. I think I've had enough shrines for today. Although, there's something I would like to try before we retire...

(How far are we from the site of the battle against the snake-people? If not too far, Badger would like to use his remaining two 3rd level spell slots animating a couple of zombies)

Grenk sees Badger start the process and growls.  His hand goes to his mace and he casts scornful stare at Badger.  "You messing with the dead?  Think that's smart.  Think that won't draw the eyes of those we hunt?  Think you can keep control.  Be weary, ive seen enough foolish mages toy with death only to cause more misery.  For others... for themselves."

(Ooc) no disrespect intended, hes built to kill undead so is inherently distrustful of all this.)

Mal will move up to stand beside Grenk and gently places her hand on his shoulder, pulling him aside. "I have no love for the undead either, especially in this jungle with what is going on. However, from my experience Badger has maintained control of his....servants, I guess we can call them. I was rather concerned myself about his intentions but so far I have witnessed nothing untoward with his actions. Also," as she points back to the pit traps, "It is better for them to find the traps than us. I know you don;t know this group well, neither do I really being a new member for the past couple of days. But trust me, so far none of the group has stepped out of line."

Quote from Bduds2006 >>

(Ooc) no disrespect intended, hes built to kill undead so is inherently distrustful of all this.)

 (Go for it - I like a bit of internal party conflict)

Badger throws Grenk a scowl, giving him another taste of the 'fire and iron' the goliath saw in him previously. There's a true necromancer out there somewhere, no? he snaps. Would you rather I leave the corpses for them to abuse? Better that they are under our control, and we fight fire with fire.

The group leaves the shrine behind and carefully makes their way across the lava pit using their rope and climbing gear.  Leaving the edge of the lava lake behind, the air in the main city smells sweet and clean in comparison and you all find yourselves breathing deeply.  The air is still the humid jungle weather, but compared to the intense waves of heat that would eddy down on the wind, this is practically comfortable.  With signs of relief, the group picks their way back to the scene of the battle. You find the snake bodies have been arranged in a pyre, their bones staked onto long poles, and the flesh is burning.  Though this work was done recently, the Yuan-ti who did it didn't seem to wait around for the fires to burn down.  Badger can raise some skeletons if he wants, but the zombies aren't available.  If he does, there are some tense moments with Grenk.  But, Mal seems able to talk him down, and though he seems to accept the situation, he eyes the undead, and badger regularly with distrust in his eyes. 

It's time to rest, so the group picks their way back to the evening resting spot. Grenk follows them finding an easily defended basement under a large ruin. They seem to keep spotters up top with a good view of the surrounding area. It's still the afternoon, but the group is injured and exhausted from their trials and hunker down to recover.  The afternoon stretches into evening, with the sweltering heat giving way to a warm evening.  Clouds close in and soon there is a steady rain falling. The pool in the corner slowly reforms as rivulets of water stream through cracks.  Grenk is given a chance to talk to his new allies.  They seem comfortable with each other, and it's clear, aside from Mal, that they've been through a lot. Their banter brings sadness to Grenk's soul, at the loss of his own friends and allies.  The rain slowly becomes heavy.  Everyone start to wonder at the state of your other group of friends, and with Grenk's outburst, tense moments seem to be in your future whenever Mandra and the others eventually show.   However they don't appear, and soon it seems clear they won't be returning this evening. Concern of a different type fills the groups thoughts as you set watches and quickly fade off to exhausted sleep. 

The next morning the group awakes. Mandra, Boris, Ham and Orvex did not show during the night. What's the plan?  Resume looking for shrine on the other side of the river, or go looking for the other group, or something else? 

Updated map.  Green is where you've explored. Yellow is where the other group was supposed to be exploring.  

Badger takes the last watch of the night, passing the time by mentally directing his two skeletons to walk increasingly complicated patterns around the nearby jungle. He also flicks through the spellbook, and attempts to interpret, transcribe and memorise the spell that creates small flaming meteors (Swap out Slow). As the new day dawns, seeing that Mandra's group hasn't returned, Badger takes the opportunity to consult the oracles and engages in some ornithomancy to help predict the day's events and also to decide what to do.

New Portent rolls: 19, 13

The morning wildlife seem blissfully unconcerned with the world-shattering events that Badger and his companions are engaged in. The gnome watches the birds as they fly; some from tree to tree, some circling high in the sky, some diving for a morning meal, some sucking pollen from the flowers. Attuning himself to the patterns inherent in their movements, Badger attempts to learn whether his missing companions are well or in danger...

(Basically, flip a coin: evens = well, odds = danger: 2)

The flight of the high-soaring birds is erratic and graceless, while the smaller birds in the trees hide in fear of the larger raptors. When his companions arise, Badger will recommend that they explore north, and see if they can learn what has become of their missing friends, who Badger believes are in danger.

Sickle looks over at the goliath and the gnome facing off. A grim smile crosses his face. “The truth is my friend...we’re all already dead!” The half-orc laughs maniacally as he steps out onto the rope over the lava pit.

He awakes isn’t the night and lay in the dark staring up at the crumbling ceiling.  The scream of some jungle cat echoes through the city.  Worries fill his mind about the rest of their companions, about the ever-present threat of the Yuan-Ti, and the countless other dangers here. He tosses and turns, finally giving up to take his watch.  As he does he digs through his bag, and pulls out a scroll, reading it thoroughly to try to understand the nature of the spell it contains.  When he finishes, he falls asleep hard and sleeps til light.

When he awakens, as the group prepares for their day, Sickle offers a thought.

”I have here a spell titled Commune With Nature.  This will allow me to ask three questions of the land around us and have them answered.  There is a chance it won’t work at all, either because there is too much civilization here, which I doubt, or because I may not be able to fully master it.  But, I can’t think of a better time to wait to use it. I could ask about the location of our companions, and of the Yuan-Ti’s base, but I’m not sure what else I would ask. Any thoughts on whether it is worth the time, and of another question we should ask?”

Silas will load three level 1 cure wounds into Ioun Stone before going to sleep. During his morning prayers, he considers but decides against changing his spells for the day. 

Looking at Sickle, "Are anyone preparing to strike at us?" Silas puts forward, "We have upset at least two group of enemies if wizard man is that vindictive,"  

Grenk awoke calmly and easily.  Years of martial training with his order has beaten in a particular habit of sleeping.  One where he falls asleep quickly and wakes easily... usually.  All in preparation for a constant threat.  Being this close to the Soul Monger he couldn't help but feel that threat constantly and with each near brush with death he felt that inexplicable tug at his soul.  He briefly wondered if the others could feel the same or if it had more to do with his orders close proximity to the undead and blood magics.

Stretching as he was getting up, Grenk set about making some food.  "I hadn't seen any but doesn't mean they aren't out there searching or waiting.  We hadn't used this place before so odds are good neither knows where we are at but that may not last long.  Come, eat, and lets discuss the next move.  Won't do anyone any good if a situation arises and a growling stomach betrays out position," Grenk says to the others.

Mal sleeps heavily from the days adventure and when woken for her turn at watch will grumble but get up and take a spot on the roof to keep a watch out.

Once morning comes she will gather her belongings and et ready for today's adventures. Waiting on what the group will decide to do today as she basically  knows these people are probably friends now, but she will treat them as they are employing her as a guide/scout.

Sickle, as you sit on watch, the cold from the ring on your finger seems to pulse, drawing your attention. As you look at it, you feel a presence...it moves about your mind, demanding you pay it more heed...demanding you let loose a torrent of ice upon the world.  In your mind you imagine a spider made of ice walking across the roof nearby.  It's quiet and safe, there would be no harm in....trying....you feel your will give way.  On the roof, a spider the size of a dog slowly forms out of ice, the very air crystallizing into its shape.  Then, unlike the immobile ice sculptors you would make for Boris, the ice spider moves. It clatters about the rooftop. It then stops and awaits your mental commands.  Beads of water appear on its icy surface, as it slowly melts in the heat of the jungle.  About thirty minutes later, it crumbles into chunks of ice.  

Let me know what things you wish to learn from Commune with Nature.

Sickle raises an eyebrow and smirks a bit at the icy spider.  This should be good,he thinks to himself.

After breakfast, Sickle isolates himself a bit from the group, removing his boots and kneeling in the soil in the compound.  He spreads the scroll out in front of him, chanting the ancient writing.

Spell Scroll - 5th Level: Commune With Nature

Spellcasting Ability check, DC 15: 19

He reaches out, using the knowledge taught to him by his mother, his grandmother... silence.

His brow furrows, and he tilts his head. He asks anyway...

Where can we find our allies, Boris and Mandra and the others?

Where is the yuan-ti base of operations?

He hesitates. Is anyone preparing a strike at us?

Sickle sighs heavily as the scroll magic disperses, having failed to properly channel the powerful spell. He feels the dirt around his feet feeling cool...no..a bit icy.  It doesn't seem to bother his feet, but he sees ice crystals forming amidst the dirt.  He withdraws his feet and moves away. He can't help feeling as if the ring just mocked him.

Sickle returns to the others, dejected. “No use my friends. I nearly had it and then... I say we push north and look for our companions... and be prepared for the worst.”

"North it is." Mal responds placing a comforting hand on Sickle's shoulder and then gathers her belongs getting ready to move out when every is ready.

While moving north Mal will keep a watch out and scout ahead.

Survival: 16

Perception:  15

Mal's foot steps over a patch of dry leaves into some soft loam, already seeing the next twelve steps along the ground that carry her through the darkest shadows in the jungle city. She pauses to take in her senses, the sweet smell of the nearby tiger lilli, the pungent skunk cabbage, the rays of light piercing the light forest canopy and falling upon a grove of horsetail. Small flies flit through the air, dragonflies making chase in a tiny fierce air battle. She absently reached up with her gloved hand and wiped a spider off of her neck. Who knows how they always seem to get there.  

The thunderous shriek of the king of Omu can be heard to the north as it declares it's dominance over the ruins. North, and west a bit...likely not upon their path.  For now. The group made slow going of the day, picking their way through ruins looking for the obelisks that mark the site of the shrines. With so much of the city flooded and swampy on the right side it required a lot of time to check to see if this or that was a collapsed obelisk under the water, or if that structure over there might be a shrine. 

Mal noted a Sinda berry bush off to one site. Eat a handful of raw, fresh berries, and they'll help your body fight of disease and poison for the next day or so.  They're bitter though, not particularly tasty.  A bit further on she notices some Wukka nuts. They're they size of a fist, and as long as you keep the shell sealed, they light up when shaked, like torchlight for a minute then fade.  But you can keep using them over and over as long as you don't crack the shell.  

She crouches, noticing a troop of jungle kobolds. They wear bits of leaves, flowers, and vines as decoration and have rudimentary bamboo spears. There are six of them and they don't notice her as they follow a small rabbit trail through the woods. Not a threat, and probably not worth questioning, but, you never know.  (You can always react to them if you wish, let me know.) 

She leads the party on, passing three large crocs crouched in a swampy area near the river, and continues north. Late afternoon the group is just about as far north as they were when they entered when they finally spot another shrine.  Carvings of monkeys hanging by their tails decorate two cracked obelisks that stand before a shrine enclosed by broken walls. Past the obelisks is a courtyard filled with horsetails and arum lilies. Five archways open into darkness at the base of the ruin. Mounted above the central arch is a stone plaque bearing a cuneiform inscription. Badger translates for the group, "Better to be Wongo's friend than his enemy."   Before the group enters though, the spot what appears to be numerous Kobold around inside. The chirp at each other in Draconian, one barking loud orders as the others work diligently on the inside of the shrine.  They appear to be using some levers and tools to lift heavy portcullis' that block various doorways.  It looks like they've already managed to raise one and somehow keep it from falling.  Though their purpose doesn't appear to be looting.  If you didn't know better, you'd say they're in the act of resetting traps.