The Romance of the River Kingdoms

Xielt moves close to the water, but avoids actually touching it as he searches the ground, and then scans the water, for any sign of life. I hope there's a way around this. I would hate to have to swim in such a place.
[sblock=ooc] search +6 to look for tracks, etc. around the water, spot +8, knowledge nature +4 for what might be in there.[/sblock]

[sblock="Xielt"]
Xielt finds no tracks on the steps, nor any sign of life. Over on the far right hand wall there is a trickle of water dribbling through a crack in the stonework. If this is the only way that water can get in, then it is unlikely that anything larger than a minnow could be living here. On the other hand, it looks like the water level has remained fairly constant, so there must be an outflow somewhere. On balance, however, it seems unlikely that anything could live in this water - it is covered with an oily slick and seems pretty lifeless to the ranger's eyes.
[/sblock]

By the light of Jar'Thol's sunrod, the room beyond is revealed to be a long, wide hall, the far end just visible in the radius of the sunrod's illumination [OOC: The misty looking area on the map]. The walls and ceiling are all made of dressed stone, the ceiling rising to vaulting about 8 ft. overhead, supported on simple stone pillars [OOC: The circles].

The room is filled with dark water covered with an oily slick. The water is mostly still, mirroring the ceiling in its black surface. The only disturbance is from a dribble of water trickling through a crack in the right hand wall [OOC: The white ripple effect at the top-middle of the map].

There appear to be no exits from the room. The walls are covered with bas-relief carvings.

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

OOC: How slippery are the walls looking ? Is there any chance Jar'Thol could make his way along the wall (assuming he gives his sunrod to someone else) ? I'm not sure I like the idea of having water up to Jar'Thol's neck.

OOC: The walls are damp with moisture, but not slimy. The gaps between the dressed stone are small - we're talking minimal finger and toe holds all round. Difficult, not impossible for a salsham'ai

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

"Well, I don't see any way to avoid a bath, unless ..." Jar'thol glances for a short while at the wall. "Maybe I should take my own advice and climb rather then swim. Could one of you hold this for me ?" He says while holding up his sunrod in the direction of Three Flowers and Annika. The salsham'ai once again stares at the wall for a moment and, then, satisfied with what he sees, starts rising himself on the wall. The tip of his toes and fingers grab as best they can to the small holds the wall offers. Once he is close to the ceiling, Jar'Thol will try to make his way horizontaly toward the crack on the right hand wall.

OOC : Climb +10, taking 10 if that is possible and 20 is enough to beat the DC.

Three Flowers takes the sunrod in his free hand and looks amazed as the small creature finds cracks in the wall to support himself. "Well I can't do that so I think it's bath time." He walks slowly to the water. Somehow all the grime parts just before him, refusing to soil his clothes.

Growling Ape

Not being as lightweight as the salsham'ai, Ape just wades through the water, all senses but smell at high alert.

ooc: spot/listen +7

The Rolling Man said:

OOC : Climb +10, taking 10 if that is possible and 20 is enough to beat the DC.

Click to expand...

[OOC: Yes, that's plenty. I forgot that there were bas reliefs along the walls as well, which would make it easier in places.]

Xielt looks completely unimpressed with the reality of having to enter the water. Once it becomes clear that there is no choice he does his best to choke down his disgust and follows Growling Ape.

"I don't like this," Annika says in a shivering voice as she looks around the room.

"Where is the statue, so we can leave?"