Alynoa looks over at Nenne and very awkwardly shuffles over to her and sits down next to her. Silently just sitting by her trying to be supportive but not really knowing how. 

“Would you be able to tell where the cavern is in relation to the entrance we came through?   That might help us decide where is best to start searching for this water course.  A full on assault seems unlikely to succeed now, they are just too strong, though if that was Ras-nsi himself defending their lair, we must have been worrying them.”  He looks to Alynoa.  “Your idea of turning a couple of us invisible is worth exploring.  As for the Theyans.” He looks thoughtful for a moment, “could we get an update from Orvex?”

A tiny, grateful smile flickers on the cleric's face at Alynoa's kindness. 

"Please remember," Nenne speaks up at last, keeping her eyes on her amulet, "that many creatures do not rely on sight. While invisibility could benefit us greatly, it may not guarantee a stealthy ingress. As for Orvex, I am afraid that conversation will have to wait until the morning, though I think you are wise to suggest it, storyteller."

She falls silent again before convincing herself to speak her mind. She glances up at the party, looking weary. "What is our timeline for this second invasion? Today? Tomorrow? And what would you ask of me? If we are discussing skills, mine are best suited to augmenting your abilities, protecting your minds from enemy mages, and staving off death. I am not a front-line combatant. Not anymore." Her voice loses a lot of strength in that final statement.

Eku sighs deeply and says to the group as a whole, "Whatever your decisions are, know that I am beside you in most of them. I will not put my own high morals to the side at any cost, but I am a benevolent companion who has found a measure of comfort in this group. Each one of you, even you Alynoa, who is a new and unfamiliar face, are staking your lives for countless around the world. Whatever your motives, you have found inner strength enough to come here to Omu and battle forces evil enough to threaten the world. Should we succeed in that task, your names will be remembered in history for the rest of time. Each. One. Of. You." She respectively pointedly points to Allister, Alynoa, Boosey, and finally Nenne with those last four words.

 Allister chuckles after Nenne´s and Eku´s speeches. "Thank you, Eku, but I think neither of us in this for fame and glory. In all this I´m the least involved, at least from a personal point of view. I´m here to help you after you helped me. As for the timeline, Nenne, how are we supposed to answer that question? Maybe Ras Nsi and his monions will storm this shrine before I finished talking, maybe they lick their wounds, maybe they take their sweet time cutting the truth out of Lemon. I only want to remind you that you made it clear several times how important this quest is for you and for your god, that you don´t want more people to be the victim of this curse." He turns to Boosey. "And you... we wandered through the jungle without Eku because you wanted us to make haste. We took a big risk to finish this curse as quickly as possible. In other words, we don´t have a fixed timeline, but time is running out. For the infected and for Lemon. So we have to get inside this lair as quickly as possible. So no time for days of scouting or hit-and-run fights with the yuan-ti. Thin their ranks out once, then proceed to the main task. That is what I think."

Nenne shakes her head. "You misunderstand. I only mention timeline because I am nearly out of resources," she clarifies. "That fight was taxing, and though I did my best to ration my energy, I am hardly in a state to attempt it again today. I doubt the storyteller is in better condition. Now that Sthara and Lemon are gone, we have to shoulder twice the burden of supporting you fighters. If you want to engage the enemy before sunrise, just know that your mages will be severely limited in their ability to heal, protect, and inflict damage."

"Whether we talk about today, tomorrow or any other obstacle we have to face, we are still running out of time. I know that you need your prayers and sleep to replenish your spells, but we cannot sit around the rest of the day waiting. The least we can do is look for another entrance."

Eku smiles at Allisters words. She looks the man in the eye as she responds to him, "The fact that you aren't here seeking fame likely increases that fame. You life will be forever changed in this place one way or another, humble warrior. If you would permit me another hour, I may be able to help once more today. There is no guarantee and it will take a lot out of me, but if my prayers are answered, I don't doubt the effect would go a long way towards our goals."

Silver curls turn to pewter. "None of us believes we have time on our side," the cleric says quietly. She closes her eyes, and a familiar grimace spreads across her features. Her fingers tighten on her amulet.

"I am not suggesting we sit and do nothing," she continues, looking up again. "I simply know that reconnaissance missions can turn into bloody combat very quickly. If we are going to investigate another entry today, that is fine with me as long as we agree to avoid a battle at all costs. I do not have what it takes to protect you all. I am just one woman, feeling her age." 

She nods toward Eku. "You are an invaluable ally. Whatever help you can provide is welcome."

Eku spends the next hour sitting with her legs crossed again. She doesn't say anything, nor does she move. Throughout the hour, she gradually looks more and more tired. Sweat pours from her brow and down her neck and chest. Even the feathers in her hair seem to take on a wilted appearance. Her eyes are marked by bags when she is done and she slumps to the side when she opens her eyes. She tries to stand, but fails to do so. She motions to Boosey and places four berries and a small, circular container in his hand. She says to the gnome, "Eat these now. Take your time. One to each of you. The salve is for Lemon. Go now and leave me here at once. I will be fine."

"What on earth did you do?!" Nenne exclaims, rushing to her side. She mops the sweat from the guide's forehead and sneaks a quick, bewildered glance at the berries in Boosey's hand. "I do not recognize this magic. Are you certain you will be well?"

She takes a moment to perform a quick medical evaluation and blanches as she makes her initial diagnosis. She stands and backs away, staring at the woman in rising anger and disbelief. 

She nods gravely to Nenne and she says with a wilting voice that obviously hurts, "I am sure of it. I have never been more sure of anything. Go now and don't forget the berries. They will not last long." She lays back to rest her head on the stone so that she can catch her breath.

Allister grabs one of the berries and eats it. He goes to Eku, puts a hand on her head, smiles at her and says "Thank you for everything, we will bring you his hea... uhm, you know what I mean."

"Damn you," Nenne growls. She rifles through her pack and produces a small vial of red liquid. She takes a step toward Eku, uncorking it violently, and freezes. She tosses a glance at Allister and Alynoa and grinds her teeth as she thinks. A flush of magenta colors her cheeks and she re-stoppers the vial. She walks over to Allister and roughly hands it to him without looking him in the eye. 

"Let's go," she says to the group. She then utters something in eladrin and takes a magical berry from Boosey's hand. 

 @DM

The berries are incredibly filling, much as the goodberries Boosey has been providing. These carry more spark though and rejuvinate you. All tiredness flees from your bodies. Your wounds close and you feel closer to your magical abilities as if they have returned. Your minds become focused and solid; they are so sharp that the world almost seems like it is in slow motion around each of you. Any fears that any of you had become all but forgotten. Eku smiles up a the ceiling as you depart.

„Let’s not waste this gift we received. Has anybody a better idea than searching the waterfront east of the circular wall?“

"The waterway might be an easier entry point than a reinforced door," Nenne agrees. "If we get close enough, I can attempt to peer inside it with clairvoyance. Or I can spy on the room we fought in earlier today to see how well defended it is now. I will only risk this spell once, however, so choose my target wisely."

"Either is fine by me. Should you want that my patron's maddening hunger again, I can do that but while it is up I will need to focus on it and can't fight as well as i can without it."

"They know that we know of one entry point, it will be better defended than the other entry. At least that´s what I think. Boosey and I can sneak ahead of the group and see if we find the entrance. Then you can use your spell, Nenne."

The search around the marshy water is perhaps the worst environment the party has encountered in Chult so far. The mud is thick and sometimes deep enough to keep a boot, causing the unfortunate one to lose it to backtrack and dig it out. Insects are everywhere adding to everyone's misery. To make things worse, there is a smell at one point that is overpowering and rotten. The smell turns out to be a pile of bodies - 2 humans, a dwarf, two elves, and a pile of yuan-ti. Most of the yuan-ti are those monstrous shaped things with long arms and legs. The wounds on the freshly killed yuan-ti become clear and familiar.

A thorough search of the area reveals a cave that is tucked into a raised building. The cave descends through the floor and is unguarded at the moment. Many slither and footstep marks have recently come out of the cave.