[KAUAI]The Rod of Seven Parts: Of Hexes and Gems

[SlagMortar]

Before setting to work, Brakkus smiles and says, "Look at me. I'm a mason." Brakkus sets down his varied equipment, sets his feet, and takes several good whacks, thinking to pound a way through with a few solid blows. Each of the blows sends a small chip flying, and Brakkus quickly realizes this is going to be no easy task.

After a few minutes of swinging the pick, smiles are gone, sweat trickles from his hair, and his breathe quickens. He continues about the task, toiling away and achieving a new found respect for the small folk quarry workers he had dismissed so readily growing up.

When the space if finally big enough to get through, he remarks through deep breaths, "That was no joke! If there's another crack to squeeze through later, how about I guard it while the rest of you squeeze through."

 

[Voadam]

Entering the cavern, Chev takes in what he can see in the torchlight.

"While we were working on opening the entrance up a bit more, I got to thinking." Chev says everyone is standing there. "I think those gnomes are mistaken. It isn't a frog this fish creatures, known as kuo-toa, worship. It is more of a lobster. And the story of throwing lightning is true. Their clerics can call upon Blipdoolpoolp, whom they worship fervently, to be able to do this. It requires a certain number of them to be together to do so. The more that there are, the stronger it will be. They are great swimmers also. And be wary of their skin, it may look slimy, but in fact is really sticky."

Realizing he is starting to get as wordy as Voadam on one of his smaller rants, Chev smiles. "This is only true if they are in fact, mistaken."

Full sized again Voadam listens to Chev with avid interest, "Blip dool poolp. A lobster god of lightning. Named Poolp. With slimy fish men worshippers. So we can know whether these are the ones you are thinking of when we come upon them, what do kuo-toa look like? They are generally monotheistic you say, worshiping only Poolp?" Voadam considers and then asks "Do any of you know of any other type of fish men? The only underwater men I ever encountered were dead sailors lost at sea and animated by the Whisperer of Impossible Secrets, one of the Lords of Chaos. Well there was that one dimernesti elven princess I courted, but the dimernesti turn into otters, not fish."

 

[Ambrus]

Listening to the outlandish things issuing from Voadam's mouth Maelicent is once more hard pressed to believe the giant-kin is speaking in serious tones. Fish-men that throw lightning? Elven princesses that turn into otters? A lobster god named Blipple-boople-lipple-apple-poolple...

Cloaked in darkness near the crevice at the back end of the cave, the Gudwulf warrior can't help but crack a rare smile and laugh at the absurdity he now finds himself in. Not for the first time he wonders if he were the only sane goblin left in the world.

 

[Voadam]

Hearing the black croaking of the goblin it takes Voadam a moment to realize it is laughter.

"Did you find something of the gnomes there? They are known for their love of jokes and the absurd."

"In any case light's burning, this is the most secure point we'll find so let's set up camp then I'll douse the torch. We don't know how far we have to go, or how many or what we'll have to fight or kill to gain the second Rod so let's start fresh in the morning."

 

[Ambrus]

Maelicent quiets down and answers the giant-kin. "Hm? Naw. Blessedly free o mongrel gnomes back here. Ya wanna make camp? Y'all tired already?"

 

[Voadam]

"Chev and Gamad have expended some of their magical resources for the day and it is late. This is the best spot to camp. However our magics are not exhausted and I feel good enough to press on. We could explore further, returning here to camp if need be."

 

[Ambrus]

"It'd be good ta know what's at the bottom o this crevice before y'all get your gear off and bunk down. Either way you'll need ta keep a watch goin; the things below don't likely care that you think it's late."

 

[SlagMortar]

"I agree. I'd rest better at least knowing that the first hundred feet or so of the tunnel is clear. Something could be watching us right now." Brakkus hoists his guisarme. "Mael and I can lead the way, though I will cede the honor of vanguard to Chev, if you prefer. One of us should take rear guard in case the fishmen decide to make a visit. The pool doesn't look like it goes anywhere, but then the stable behind the 'Trice didn't look like it would spawn wolf headed spider demons either."

 

[Voadam]

"All right then, Brakkus and Maelicent in the lead, Chev protecting the rear, I'll hold the torch in the center with Gamad next to me. The torches won't last forever so let's be off."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

With Brakkus and Maelicent in the vanguard, followed by Voadam and Gamad, and Chev bringing up the rear, the group treks into the gaping black maw of a hole in the rear of the cavern. A chill air billows up from the black tunnel, buffeting cloaks and fluttering hair. After two hundred yards of steady walking at a downward cant, the twisting passage shows no sign of abating, nor have there been any side branches connecting to the main tunnel.

[sblock=Gamad]Stonecunning...After 200 yards, the group is 50 feet underground. The grade is roughly 15%. A sharp descent. The twists and turns are deceptive; the tunnel is unerringly making for a destination. There have been no sidebranches that Gamad has detected.[/sblock]