Maas looked up at Uthal, and then around to each member of the party. "Sorry for the whole, trying to have you killed. We thought you were here to do the same. And we're not exactly bred for combat. I was just a school teacher." Maas then also put a reassuring hand on Juppo's shoulder, before turning his gaze back to Uthal. "If not though, why ARE you here?"

"To save the world, or at least that is why they are all here." Austin says, nodding to her companions. "Me, I am here to catch a wanted criminal and bring him back, dead or alive, for justice." She looks to the human and halfling. "Did you see someone with a bow, and who was suppose to be with this group you were working for? It is a fairly unique bow I am told..."

Current cocks her head a little to the side as Austin points out that the rest of the group is out to save the world. Waiting for Maas and Juppo to respond to Austin first, she then says, "Saving the whole world is a lot, I'm just here to help free the ocean from the clutches of whatever black tentacled creature those people unleashed on the people of the water." At this point, Current climbs out of the water, and dries herself off a bit, although there are still droplets of water that cling to her hair and skin. "I don't suppose you've seen anything like that pass around here?" Thinking for a second Current begins to connect the dots. Turning to the group with her eyes wide, she creates a whisper near the rest of the party so that Maas and Juppo can't hear, but the party can, "Say... Do you think that that is what could have destroyed Bloth's suit?"

"The Goddess has directed my path to this place. If I am interpreting her will right she seems to believe that the Berrossus's and whatever they are doing is a threat to this world. So I am to stop them." He says it simply, like it makes perfect sense.

Hearing the faint whisper with Current’s voice, Anearis turns to her and nods grimly.

He then turns to the two civilians. "My mission has been to find the source of the darkness that plagues the land and my people. I have found it, and now, I must stop it."

"Uh...huh" Maas stared at each party member in turn, stunned and not really sure how he should be receiving what was being laid before him. "Well, if you should see Bloth, tell him we're here. He should be the only half-orge you meet down here."

With a hand still on Juppo's shoulder, the man guided the halfling towards the western wall, and guided him to sit on a table which had several tarps and cloth sacks draped across. "It's gonna be alright. We'll find Bloth for you. One way or another." The man consoled the halfling.

Uthal sits down to at least take a bit of a rest.

"Huh," Ura says.  "I'm just here to find the local elf settlement.  Not the city one.  The ones in the deep forests to the west.  But you know... kinda got distracted by that whole being kidnapped and experimented on business.  Plus they took their price in blood spilled.  Now I have a little payback detour to make before I can get on with my own personal business."  She crosses her arms and looks away, uncomfortable.  It feels like Mira's watching her from the grave with accusing eyes, calling her a liar.  "... Well.  I mean, if a little world-saving had to come up in-between, I guess I'd help with that too," she mumbles sullenly.

Positioning herself somewhere behind a crate, she leans back against it and tries to take a short rest away from the prying eyes of the others.

Seeing the others start to relax and rest a bit, Current is tempted to dive back into the water so that she can surround herself with a bit of familiar comfort, but knowing the black tentacle creature is still in the water somewhere, she is apprehensive of diving back down without the protection of the others. Chiding herself mentally for her reliance on the others already, after so little time together, she scoops Tide into her arms and props herself up against a crate to relax. She isn't as injured as the others, so she will sit closer to the pathway down to keep watch, if possible.

(OOC: At the end of the short rest/before spell slots recover, Current will cast Armor of Agathys on herself and concentrate on Invisibility on Ura (if willing). She should then immediately recover those spell slots, but I might be completely wrong with how this works, so feel free to correct me if so.)

The entrance to the stairwell that lead to the hall at the base of the stairs, remained empty. Even the gross sucking sound of the tentacles floors soon after faded.  As the members of the party took the time to catch their breathes, after what seemed to be an hour or so, there was no further sign of the cultist who had run from the fight.

Maas eventually convinced Juppo to lay down and rest, and once the halfling was asleep, he stepped out adressing the group, however, his attention was diverted by the water. Something that attracted the attention of some of the group's members as well. "What is that?"

A black mist began to come off the surface of the water, slightly fogging the air around the cavern.

Current sits up and takes a look at the water from afar. Thinking back on her time in the ocean, she tries to think of any time she might have read, heard, or seen anything like this.

Intelligence Check: 10 (+2 for Arcana or Religion)

(Rolling 3 hit dice for short rest recovery: 19)

Uthal reaches out and taps Austin on the shoulder, granting the warlock Selune's quickness should there be a fight coming. (Vigilant Blessing, advantage on initiative) He then backs a bit away from the waters edge. "I think it's time to go and find that other group of cultists. Or a safer place to recover longer."

Ura eyes the water, trying to sense if the black mist is dangerous to the group.

Arcana: 12 (these punk rolls... gimmie something over 10 for once, dice roller!)

"We shouldn't inhale that.  Let's retreat for now.  I've got no interest in fighting that lone cultist and whatever might be summoned in that water with Maas and Juppo right here.  Let's get to safety first and then think about returning to deal with this mess," she tells everyone.  "That room where we took a rest before would be a good start."

Even as she says it, she's slipping into the shadows, ever wary of nasty surprises.

Stealth: 26 (that's better)

"I'm ready to be away from that." Austin agrees, looking to the black mist.

Current searched back into the farthest reaches of her mind, only to come up empty regarding the black fog forming from the mist coming off the water's surface. She could say for sure though, it was something she had never heard of, and perhaps was not naturally of the sea.

Ura did not fair too much better. What magic caused the mist and fog was a complete mystery, however, she could say that it had the same feel as the fog they had experienced in Midgar and the castle of Aaaaargh. Whatever it was, it was linked to the same evil that the party had been following. 

As the fog filled the cavern, it began to make it difficult to see, even for those who didn't need light to do so. ((All sight is limited to a maximum of 30 feet.

The fog grew thicker, and while although the surface of the water remained calm, movement was noticed. A swarming squirm of black began to replace the blue waters, including the water's that the group would have to pass through, if they were to retreat back towards the cave entrance, as Ura suggested.

Uthal looks at the black water. "I say that is a sign that we should go forward. That is where our goal is anyway."

Unable to identify the fog, and starting to get a bit nervous, Current agrees with Uthal, "I think trying to pass through the fog is a poor choice. Proceeding forward and hoping that it will be gone by the time we need to leave seems like the best option to me."

"Fine.  Forward it is.  But then you two, you better stick close and come with us then," Ura tells Maas and Juppo.  "Whatever that fog is, it's evil, and I don't want you two trying to push through it alone.  I put your weapons behind the crate, if you haven't found them yet.  I have a spare leather armor here too, if one of you can manage using it.  Suit up and stay close," she says to the others quietly, still keeping to the shadows.

(Ura will give her leather armor to one of the NPCs if they know how to wear it)

Maas took the offered armor, struggling somewhat to equip himself, but ultimately succeeding in doing so. He helped the halfling to his feet. Even though Juppo had suffered to apparent physical injuries, he was obviously drained, from physical and emotional exhaustion.

Coddling the halfling with one arm, Maas let the ax hang from the hand of his other, ready to follow the party where ever they went. "I don't know what you all expect to find, and I would rather just stay put, but if you think this fog is dangerous, we'll come with, for now."

"Have a sword or two as well, if you think you can handle it better than those axes and daggers," Ura says, offering a shortsword or two to each of them.