Of Jungle Deeps and Ocean Depths

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Slowly the party eases themselves down the hole. Using a sunrod, you can see that it's not too deep down, about twelve feet, and slightly sloped from an accumulation of forest litter. You kind of have to work Erik down there, because of his armor and all, with some of you pull and some of you pushing, but eventually you get him down there. It's fairly dark down here, and the ceilings are fairly low, only about five feet high. It's going to be hard to fight if it comes to that. The rough stone-walled, dirt-ceilinged cave is barely three feet wide, and you're going to have to walk single file.*

*This place looks like it was once a stream bed that cut deeply into the rock, but then somehow a cap of earth was put over the gully. Rather odd, as there doesn't even seem to be a stream here now. Stringing yourself out, you slowly start down the passage. You only walk for a few minutes when you see a slight widening of the passage, and a shaft of sunlight coming in from above. Near the crevice grows a very thick and healthy-looking vine. A shower from fresh earth near it show that part of the ceiling gave away not too long ago.*

*Wrapped up in the plant like a babe in a bundle is a very thin, rakish looking man. His hair is black, and his skin has the coppery hue of one who spends much of his time out of doors. At the base of the plant is a pack and a beautiful golden cutlass, carelessly tossed aside. The man's bare feet wiggle a bit, and he opens his dark eyes and gives you a grin, displaying chipped teeth.*

~~~

*Harry, you aren't sure how long it's been, but finally the sun in your eyes woke you up. You were dismayed to see that you were still wrapped up in a plant, though pleased to note it hadn't eaten you yet. Even happier that dark thing from further down the passage hadn't come any closer. You could see your pack and Sunset's Edge from where you lay, though you couldn't even get a finger free to try to get to them. Making the best of it, you just lay there and stared at the lovely forest canopy and pretty flowers above. It really wasn't all that bad, the ground was comfortable and the vines weren't too tight.*

*A bit later you heard someone walking down the passage, giving a grin, you lifted your head to an entire party of people coming over to see you. What luck! You hoped.*

 

[Erekose13]

"Um hello there sir. Are you in need of assistance?" Undinar asks from the front of the column. Assuming that he doesn't get a negative reponce, he bends down to help free the man from the plant, though finding himself without any cutting tools he may have to let someone else help too if his hands dont do the trick.

 

[Zerth]

*Tiana, who is next in the line behind Undinar, squeezes next to him and grabs her whip dagger.*

"Poor chap. Had your share of bad luck. How long have you been stuck in here?" she asks while gently cutting him loose from the plant's grasp with the dagger end of her whip.

 

[Lichtenhart]

"Ahoy, me beauty! I don't know how long I've been swinging the lead here, but judging by my thirst, it's been less than a day."
*He reaches to his backpack, and as he opens it, his waterskin seems to spring out on its own. He takes long, deep draughts, some trickles of water running down his chin. When he's finally satisfied, he wipes his mouth and smiles to them all.*
"Shiver me timbers! A fine gang if I ever saw one! And since Lady Luck has been so kind to send you on my way, I'll say Mad Harry is very glad to meet you all!"
*He produces himself in an exxaggerated, comical bow, and takes advantage of it picking up his cutlass and sheating it on his belt. Then he takes another sip of water and empties the rest on his hair and bandana, enjoying a moment of relieving coolness.*
"Now, me hearties, would you tell me where I could find a stream to replenish my supplies?"

 

[Keia]

Rappai, Grippli Cleric/Divine Oracle (Jarrijan, Grippli Monk)

Rappai, who had been slotted to follow Erik into the hole had some difficulty helping him down the hole. Finally she resolved to jump up and down on his shoulders in hopes that the small amount of pressure (25 lbs) would make the difference. Jarrijan, to his credit, adroitly chopped at an offending root which was impeding Erik and the man slid down the hole.

Looking at the tunnel, both Rappai and Jarrijan looked comfortable, Jarrijan with his kukri out, Rappai leaning heavily on her staff. At the discovery of someone trapped within the tunnel Rappai took a moment to chant by Jarrijan (casting Bull’s Strength) on the young monk.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

OOC - Sorry silentspace, got distracted. Invellion gains 2 points of Con from endurance and Jarrijan gains 3 points of Str from bull's strength (or would they call it tyrannosaurus strength?)

 

[Zerth]

*Tiana can't help smiling, when she looks at Mad Harry's antics.*

"Well met, sailor! I am Tiana, one of Tymora's favourites myself. How did you find yourself stranded in this musty hole? Don't tell me you've already ran out of friendly ports, mate," she adds jokingly.

"I see you have a problem with water, the lack of it, to be more precise. That's no wonder, because so do we. We have came here to investigate the drying of the Sacred Spring of the Grippli. A beast of some kind is said to be behind all this. You wouldn't know anything about a beast, that lurks somewhere in these tunnels?"

 

[silentspace]

Watching Seeress Rappai cast Bull's Strength on Jarrijan (should be automatic Spellcraft success), Invelion thinks Now that I am travelling with a group, I will have to prepare some Endurance spells for my new-found companions. That will have to wait until tomorrow, though.

To Mad Harry, "Yes, perhaps you could join us? Once we restore the Spring, there should be plenty of water for all. Plus, you could tell us how one such as yourself came to be here. I am quite curious, myself."

 

[Lichtenhart]

"Well, you didn't happen to meet a son of a bilge rat, eyepatch o'er his left eye, gray beard, sparse hair and teeth, and a penchant for ale, dice 'n' women? That would be me father. I'm looking for him, or at least for the Tikira Lake, the place where the ol' goat should be, unless he has met one of these grabby plants too. Or even worse, a grabby wench.
I came here from Velen with an amnian carrack whose cap'n should have danced the hempen jig fo' how he kept his ship. As soon as we could see these jungles a bllody storm pulled us down like a rock, and and sent all o' us but me to the Bitch Queen's locker. I've been wanderin' the jungle for a week till I fell into this hole like a fly in the pitch, and when I woke up I found out I was to be some tree's lunch.
An 'bout the beast, aye, there's somethin' in these holes, an' if it wasn't fo' our Smiling Lady I'd be already dancing in its belly. But since you've been such good mates to free me, and ye, lass, are the sweetest thing since cane sugar, it's only fair that Mad Harry helps you look fo' this spring.
In a moment, though, 'cause now I have 'nother spring to set free, an' this one's shy in front o' the ladies."
*He climbs upon the very vine that hold him prisoner and disappear into the crevice. A minute later, obviously relieved of some pressure, he jumps head down into the crevice, somersaulting at the last moment and landing on his bare feet in front of the party with a big grin.*
"All hands hoay, me mateys, I'm ready to go."

OOC: I just assumed I could take 10 on a couple checks. If I couldn't , well, Harry's grin is not going to be that big.

 

[silentspace]

Invelion ponders.

"Eh, no, I don't think I have met your father..." Invelion doesn't really follow what Mad Harry's saying, but he figures it might not matter much. Harry said he would join them, which seemed to be the important part for now. "Well met, Harry, let's go find that Beast then, shall we?"