Academy of Drell, Part III

[Zhure]

Having silently followed everybody from the library, Sildarin curses in his mind for not bringing his armor.

He hopes that Serbanas' blade isn't going to get all rusty and then enters the water.

There seems to be no time pressure; you can easily return and get whatever gear you think you might need (that's a subtle hint, but go unarmored if that's what your character would do).

Kith takes point, going first into the placid pool.

Sildarin realizes Serbanas's blade doesn't feel like steel, and in any case it's well-oiled.

Arana also clambers into the water, with all her gear.

Fian, speaking mentally, flatly declares he will not enter the water.

Rallyn recovers from his surprise, loads his pockets with rocks and gingerly steps a foot at a time into the water.

The water is cool, but not nearly as cold as one would expect, given the climate. After a brief shock of chill, it's almost soothingly warm. Soft currents waft up from the bottom of the pool, making it warmer. Oddly, no steam had been rising from the surface of the small pond.

The water is clear and the entire bottom can be seen in the daylight, although it would've been hard for the nature priest to see what transpired last night, in the hours before sun rise.

After a few moments of floundering around, getting accustomed to the bouyancy, Kith espies, aided by Rallyn's dancing lights, a small outcropping, hidden from casual view from the surface. Inside is clearly a cave.

Stealthily entering the cave mouth, he surfaces inside a small room, filled with air. Kith takes a few seconds to listen, but can hear the sounds of no one else in the area.

 

[Jeremy]

Rallyn walks along the bottom with a big grin on his little face as the water makes his thick hair and bushy eyebrows flare every which way. He follows Kith and after unloading the rocks, floats up into the entrance as well to see what he can see.

 

[novyet]

Ellie

OOC ---> Ok, sorry about that! Server crash up here has kept me at work for almost 30 hours straight. Ugh.

Ellie will follow the rest of the group down into the pool guided by rallyn's lights. For reasons of modesty she will stay behind the rest of the group.

 

[Lichtenhart]

Victor removes from his backpack all the stuff he doesn't want to wet, and cover it with his blanket. He closes his shawm and flute in their waterproof case, and thinking that his sword and armor are heavy enough to make him sink, he turns to the others.
"Is this supposed to be usual here at Drell?" he says with a puzzled look then he dives into the pool.

Once in the cave, he helps Rallyn light the lantern he notices at his belt with a tindertwig, then noticing Ellie's discomfort, he walks towards her again with a hand covering his eyes, like yesterday evening and he says: "It looks like I have to come to your help again, Miss." And with a gesture of the other hand "Exsiccetur"
He casts a prestidigitation, and you begin to feel your dress dry and warm. In less than a minute you should be confortable.
"May I help anyone else?" He turns to Arana. "Milady?"

 

[Dalamar]

OoC: I don't think Sildarin would go get his armor, he would need to tell the others to wait and that means he would be on the 'spotlight' for a moment. Do we need to make swim checks and Con checks to see if can hold our breath

Sildarin swims towards the cave and surfaces as fast as he can, knowing from experience that he can't hold his breath for long.

 

[Jeremy]

Rallyn grins as Arana wins out over her familiar.

I don't have to show you who's in charge do I, Karenia?

Nope. Because we both already know--- The psicrystal giggles good-naturedly, then points out that no one has answered Victor's question.

Don't make me drop you into the lake to play look out, I'll do it.

Rallyn replies softly to Victor in the entrance of the cave, "Hardly. But usual is equally hardly ever as interesting now is it? Let's just hope one or more of us doesn't end up plant food for our interest, no?"

Rallyn starts with a smile but by the end the reality of the situation has dawned on him and as he unshoulders his spear, he is more focused than adventurous. As Victor produces the tindertwig, he readily offers the lantern and offers encouragement, "You're just helpful in every situation, aren't you lad?"

 

[Zhure]

Do we need to make swim checks and Con checks to see if can hold our breath

No, as there's no pressure, everyone can take ten and make it easily. The tunnel entrance is only a few yards from the surface and takes about a round to swim to it.

The inside of the cave is warm and dry, save for right beside the pool entrance where occasional drops of water have beaded into small puddles. A raised ledge around the kidney-shaped pool is shaped of quarried stone; it's clearly not a natural formation.

With Rallyn's dancing lights illuminating the area, a clear view can be had. The cave itself is short, for humans, only five feet on the average, dipping down to as low as three and as high as six in a few places. Basically round in shape, the cavern is only about thirty feet across. Other than the pool entrance, it all looks like unworked, naturally occuring stone.

The air inside the cave is warm and doesn't smell stale, although a hint of sulphur is coming from the east. On the eastern side of the cave is a small opening, almost like a crawlspace, from which this heated air is coming. On the northern side of the cave is a far larger opening, leading off into the darkness, with a slight downward slope.

 

[evileeyore]

"Hang on a minute guys. Let me look around a bit, before we go wandering down the tunnels."

"And you might as well dry everyone Victor. Thanks."

Kith takes a few steps into the cave and intones Templa Elear[i/]. He looks around intently.

Kith cast Detect Magic. He look around the room for signs of magic. Near the two tunnels he'll look for footprints. Search 14 (take 10+4 skill)

 

[perivas]

Backtracking a bit…

Arana looks back at Fian. “Oh, come on. You know it won’t hurt. It’s just a little water.”

No. Fian starts to walk away.

“But I need you. It would be fun. Adventurous. Aren’t you a bit curious?”

Not about the water. No.

“I’ll buy you that down pillow you wanted. I’ll feed you fresh tuna for a week.”

At least a month and I’ll consider it.

“A month then.”

No.

“Why you!” Arana lunges and grabs Fian. She proceeds to wrap the struggling feline in a blanket and stuffs it into her backpack and buckles it up.

“Ready or not, Fian.” She quickly leaps into the water and searches her way for the cave. When she emerges from the water, she quickly unbuckles her backpack and retrieves her feline companion. Fian is a bit wet, but apparently no worse for the experience. She hisses at Arana. Arana picks Fian up and tries to cuddle it, but the cat struggles and scratches at her. “Ouch. Stop that. It’s too late to complain now. But I really needed you for this. I promise to be nicer about it in the future.” Another hiss. Arana produces her glowing orb and drops it into her lantern. She approaches the source of the heated air and then tries to dry Fian as best she can.

 

[Dalamar]

This place looks like a you: silent, sole and boring.
Ouch!
By the way, how do you think the two lovers are faring?
What does that have to do with anything right now?
I dunno, just thought that I'd ask.
Don't think, it's not one of your strenghts.
Ouch!

Sildarin draws Serbanas's blade, staying alert for the chance that the cave houses somebody hostile.