Eliza smiles at Syut's parting comment without saying anything.
After a careful search, the party succeeds in finding a hole in the ground concealed by shrubbery. It is close enough to be visible from the washing location, but the vegetation blocks the view. The hole is just wide enough for a humanoid to squeeze inside, and a dank odor drifts up from it.
__________________
Will save or click
Originally Posted by edhel I, for one, welcome our new petunia overlords.
Originally Posted by Malum It was a war of attrition. The players had a set amount of hit points vs. the FB who had unlimited hit points.
Originally Posted by K Anything with 'Elven' in the name does more damage.
Originally Posted by Nifft I have great respect for "realism" in its natural habitat ("reality"), but I find it out of place in D&D, and on this board in particular.
Well Syut, you're the only one of us carrying a blade. Mind cutting some of this shrubbery out of the way? Dzax says as he searches for a small stone from the ground. After finding one he casts a spell on it, making it shine like a star. No use going in without seeing what's there first. He flings the stone inside the cave so they can see what's in.
OOC
Cast Light on a fistsize or a little smaller stone and throw it in the cave after Syut has cleared some of the shrubbery
The hole is the entrance to a natural cavern of some sort. Though the entry itself is narrow, the light from Dzax's stone reveals a passageway inside. It looks tall enough for a man to hunch down and pass through; a dwarf might walk comfortably, but even dwarves would have to go single file.
Once again that dank odor drifts up, accompanied by the hint of some smell . . . perhaps that of an animal. It seems to be coming from further in the cave.
__________________
Will save or click
Originally Posted by edhel I, for one, welcome our new petunia overlords.
Originally Posted by Malum It was a war of attrition. The players had a set amount of hit points vs. the FB who had unlimited hit points.
Originally Posted by K Anything with 'Elven' in the name does more damage.
Originally Posted by Nifft I have great respect for "realism" in its natural habitat ("reality"), but I find it out of place in D&D, and on this board in particular.
As Dzax and Syut worked at the mouth of the hole, Sayida kept a watch on the area around them. Partially, it was because it would have been a problem if something caught them while everyone's attention was occupied- and partially it was a curiosity about the area. The green bush and water was very different from the arid mountains where Sayida had been "born".
But now that the opening was clearly visible, she stepped forward a pace or two, and gazed in. "Well, who wants to go first? Do we send someone crafty- a scout? Or do we go ready for a fight- I'm willing to try that..."
As the party enters the cavern, the tunnel widens. A point is soon reached where the humans are able to stand fully and comfortably, and then a further point where it becomes more than wide enough for two to stand abreast.
The animal odor grows stronger, and the light from the shining stone reveals a nest of rats. Though the cavern goes further, the rats make no move to scatter deeper into the darkness at the party's approach. Instead they back up towards the wall, watching very closely. The rats number at least a half-dozen, though there may be more hidden in the crevices and amongst the rocky outgrowths of the cavern floor.
A glint can be seen here and there amongst the twigs and bedding as the light shines over the nests.
OOC: Assumed you picked up Dzax's lit stone, since you didn't specify another light source.
If you want to count the rats, give me Spot checks.
__________________
Will save or click
Originally Posted by edhel I, for one, welcome our new petunia overlords.
Originally Posted by Malum It was a war of attrition. The players had a set amount of hit points vs. the FB who had unlimited hit points.
Originally Posted by K Anything with 'Elven' in the name does more damage.
Originally Posted by Nifft I have great respect for "realism" in its natural habitat ("reality"), but I find it out of place in D&D, and on this board in particular.
OOC: Aye, 'twas Dzax's stone, and yes, he definetly picks it up to light the way.
Dzax looks at the piles of refuge with disgust but comments anyway. "There seems to be something glimmering there. If I should take a look those rats might get agitated, and they are already showing unnatural bravery so they might even attack us. What do you think my friends?"
"On the one hand, stirring up a rat's nest never ends well. On the other hand, far be it for a dwarf to pass up something that glitters. Mayhap someone has magic prepared to put the little buggers to sleep?"
As the group ventured into the tunnel, Sayida stayed at the back of the bunch, acting as a rear guard. Once they stopped at the nest of rats, she risked a brief glance forward. "Those aren't squirrels- but maybe if someone were frightened or confused, they could make that mistake. Do we want to see how brave they are?" As she spoke, she began to twirl her quarterstaff casually- just in case...
Strange scraping noises issue from the darkness, further agitating the rats. Their squeaking reaches a crescendo, and then all at once, the rats move forward in a brown-furred wave, rushing toward the group and away from whatever lies deeper in the cave.
OOC: Initiative! Both parties are aware of each other, so there will be no surprise round.
Thanks for correcting me about the caster of the light spell.
__________________
Will save or click
Originally Posted by edhel I, for one, welcome our new petunia overlords.
Originally Posted by Malum It was a war of attrition. The players had a set amount of hit points vs. the FB who had unlimited hit points.
Originally Posted by K Anything with 'Elven' in the name does more damage.
Originally Posted by Nifft I have great respect for "realism" in its natural habitat ("reality"), but I find it out of place in D&D, and on this board in particular.
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