[LANAI] The Rod of Seven Parts: Into the Crucible

[Rhun]

"Grinai and I make two as well," replies Rowan, gesturing at the black rat on his shoulder. "Though I must admit, I'd prefer to spend watch with someone that wants to do more than eat."

 

[hafrogman]

Rhys follows the newly greased Phud into the cave beyond the opening, carefully feeding his spear through the opening. He gazes around and shrugs, it should serve well enough.

Phud's statement about watches causes him to crack a smile and he remarks to himself under his breath.

"I expect that Phud and Bird make at most one and a half."

He refrains from poinint out that he would consider Bird to be the one and Phud. . . He considers the half orc's bleeding nose with a small scowl. Tsking slightly, he hands the man a small scrap of cloth.

"Hold this to your nose."

 

[Brain]

Arden stands a while longer on the ledge overlooking the forest. She takes her time and studies the surroundings, reminiscing on years gone by. A stray tear rolls down her cheek.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Phud looks at Rhys's proffered scrap of cloth as if it's a foreign object worthy of suspicion. After three long seconds pass, Bird caws, startling Phud to action. With a grunt, the half orc grabs the impromptu handkerchief and stuffs it up a nostril to staunch the trickle of blood.

With the light outside dying fast, the cave quickly withdraws into even deeper darkness. The pool of water, when tested, seems clean for drinking and tastes of minerals. Not very deep, the pool is a mere five feet in diameter, and perhaps only ten inches deep. A drip of water from the cavern wall every few seconds feeds the pool, and the water must leach into the rock bed from there, for no means of egress can be seen within the water.

Set a watch order, please.

 

[hafrogman]

Rhys finds a spot to settle down with his back against a wall, somewhere where he can watch both entrances to their little home. He nods to Arden as he tries to get himself comfortable, but not too comfortable, as he starts his watch. He spear leans against his shoulder and he scratches idly at his stubble as he tries to get a handle on the day. It has been an unusual one. As the night closes in around him, he wonders how the Cockatrice is doing, what lingering effects will the attack have there?

 

[Rhun]

Rowan lays out his bedroll against one wall, near to the outer entrance to the cave. Anything coming that way would have to climb the cliff, and would probably be detected ahead of time. After a few minutes of puttering about, he lays down, and slowly drifts off into a deep slumber.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

The night passes away mostly uneventfully. During Rowan's tenure at watch near the cave's mouth opening, he wakes to the sound of snuffling outside. After moving to the door and peering discreetly down into the inky night, Rowan makes out the shape of a large hairy creature with tusks walking on four feet, its nose bent to the earth as it snuffles along in search of something. The creature lingers at the base of the cliff where Rowan and the others had stood ere climbing up in the afternoon, then moves on, its nose pressed to the ground.

At dawn, the southward facing crack doesn't permit too much light into the cave, but the quality of the air near the mouth changes enough to let everyone inside know that it's sunup.

 

[Rhun]

Rowan awakes with a stretch and a yawn. After a quick walk around the cave to get his blood flowing, the halfling sits back down to study his spellbook. After some quiet study time to prepare his spells, the halfling rolls up his bedroll and prepares for the adventure before them.


Rowan prepares:
Level 0 – Mage Hand, Detect Magic, Acid Splash, Daze
Level 1 – Sleep, Summon Monster I, Grease

 

[Brain]

Arden wakes and packs away her stuff carefully. Then she uses the morning light to examine the cave and tidy things up in the area. If there is litter from the other party members, she places it carefully near their packs.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Arden walks the length of the cave, tidying, and notes that the pool of water is slightly deeper today than it was yesterday. Not by much, but enough that she can detect a difference. Walking around the cave, Arden notes the cave entrance through which everyone slipped yesterday, the gaping hole in the back of the cave, and a third hidden alcove two feet up on the cave's sidewall that looks like it might contain a cunningly concealed door of some sort.