Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2110264" data-attributes="member: 1210">The Ur-Fish7 p.m., the ruins of Thixil TestaSuddenly our heroes are there. Teleportation is like that.  It takes some getting used to, certainly; but it is far superior to the weeks of travel overland followed by weeks on a boat followed by another few days overland to get to where they were.Our heroes have surmised that there is a dimensional lock on at least the entry, directly behind the passage that was originally sealed by the force field that they disintegrated to get inside.  They take a chance and try to teleport into the natural, unworked area that the irradiated umber hulk was in.  They succeed; even if all of the Miloxi-built artificial areas are locked down, the surrounding area is not.  Inoke’s theory is that ingress to the lower levels can be gained via a waterway the party found past the umber hulk.  “I bet we can bypass those golems we knocked into the water, too,” he says.  “I’m not afraid of them, but I don’t really want to get zapped with a bunch of that radiation stuff.””I’m afraid,” admits Gerontius.The party returns to the waterway: a small section of underground stream flows through a cave, its rapid current rushing past.“If you’re wrong, it could be very dangerous to jump in that,” comments Veil.  “That current could sweep you right away.”“Yeah...”  Inoke gazes at the current, stroking his chin.“Is there a way we can scout it out first?” asks Gerontius.”Let me try,” Lillamere offers, and sends some prying eyes down the waterway.  They do not return.  “Hmm,” the elf muses, “maybe the current was too much for them... or maybe something’s down there.”“Well,” Veil says, “I’ll be able to detect your thoughts within 400’ of me... that’s something.”A few spells are cast, for the ability to move and breathe freely in the water, and Inoke jumps in to the water.  Immediately, the current starts sweeping him away.  He can only resist it by expanding to huge.“I’m not so sure this is a good idea anymore!” he cries to the others.  “I don’t know if I’ll be able to get back!”Lillamere snaps his fingers.  “I have it!”  He casts a wall of force that blocks off most, but not all, of the water flowing into and through the room.  The pressure on Inoke eases immediately, and shortly all of our heroes are moving down the waterway, assisted by magic.Soon enough an opening presents itself.  Perhaps Inoke is right; it leads to a chamber with several more tunnels leading out, including one with a swift current running out another hole running deeper into the earth.  The caves here are wide; the narrowest one stretches almost 20’ across.  One of them leads upward at a gentle slope.“Let’s try that one,” Inoke says, gesturing at it.  “Maybe it connects with something.”The others agree and the party begins moving up the passage, trying to maintain relative quiet.  Slowly, scanning the passage walls around them, our heroes move along.  After just over a hundred feet, another smaller passage appears to their left.  This one drops sharply downward.“Let’s stay to the big one for now,” recommends Horbin.  “We’ll come back and check on this one later.”***Through the dark water, behind our heroes, a gargantuan sharp-eared creature slowly lashes the water with its tail, driving its massive bulk after our heroes.  It has heard them and it is hungry.  The lunatic intellect within the thing wonders momentarily what has come into its domain; but it knows the answer well enough.Food.The water around it churns as it swims forward. ***“GAH!!!”  Suddenly Veil gives a great shout and darts forward.  “Behind us!” she yells.  Her eyes are frantic.The party whirls about and faces a nightmare.Like some horrible monster spawned by a Jack Kirby comic, the Ur-Fish rushes forward at them.  Thick pebbly skin stretches open as its great maw opens, revealing row after row of jagged dagger-like teeth.  Its huge eyes blaze with intelligence.  “Look out!” shouts Gerontius, swimming frantically out of the thing’s path.With a loud booming noise, the Ur-Fish clamps down on the huge Inoke, its jaw squeezing his arm for incredible damage.*  It shakes him like a dog worrying a toy, and he groans in pain.  Then he smashes his club into it once, twice; and it backs off for an instant-There’s a tell-tale flash of magical energy.  Inoke feels several of his protections fall to the Ur-Fish’s greater dispelling.  Suddenly- he can’t breathe.Shedding spells that our heroes cast like drops of water, the Ur-Fish gets ready to rush him again.Next Time: Our heroes in battle against the Ur-Fish!*66 points in one bite.</blockquote>

Verification