The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[Dr Simon]

Three Flowers misses the insect, which buzzes its way down the entrance tunnel and out of sight.

Xielt exchanges blows with the one remaing spirit, still edging towards the entrance tunnel and still clutching its prized loot. The stalemate is broken by the sudden arrival of Three Flowers. Caught between to foes, the spirit evades their attacks for a few seconds before a sweep of White Lotus removes its head.

[sblock="Rolls"]
Three Flowers AoO 6+4 =10, miss

Xielt clawstick attack 3+3=6, miss
Three Flowers attack 4+4=8, miss
Spirit claw attack, miss

As this was a dull round, I carried on...

Three Flowers attack 10+4 =14, hit. Damage 1d6+2 = 8.
[/sblock]

The three spirits are defeated. The statue is now in your hands, and extra treasure lies under the water if you wish to claim it. There are seven corridors to explore, although they all seem to end after about 10 ft.

And the water level is rising.

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

While relieved that they were able to defeat the greedy spirits without suffering any grave injuries, Jar'Thol is alarmed by the rising water level. He quickly kneels down to retrieve and pocket the jewelry that was holding the third spirit. "Quick, get the statue. We have to get out of here !" He says as he rushes back to the entrance and gets ready to climb back up.

 

[Shayuri]

Jar'Thol encounters Annika there, standing near the hole leading out, already holding the statue. She's watching the water with apprehension, and gives Jar'Thol a worried nod.

"Okay," she says, clearly happy about the chance to leave this wet, claustrophobic place.

 

[Walking Dad]

Ape hustles to them, then tries to use his strength and natural climbing ability to ascend.

ooc: climb+11, can take 10

 

[Dr Simon]

Despite the water pouring down the shaft, it isn't to hard to climb up, merely unpleasant as you all take an unwanted cold shower.

In the chamber above, it is clear that the small breach in the wall has crumbled open. Dark water now freely pours in from the river outside. A steady stream pours down the shaft to the chamber of the greedy spirits. The floor to this room is wet, but no moreso at the moment than the ground after a light rain. How much longer the breach will hold, however, is unknown. Even as the last of you climbs from the chamber below it gives another worrying groan as a few more bricks come loose and the flow increases.

It is no problem, however, to return to the temple at the surface.

By now it is well into the night but a few wolves still wait patiently outside, watching for you return. As you appear, their hackles go up and the growl, leaping back in a surprising show of fear and anger.

Luckily the pack leader is on hand to defuse things. He barks a command at his underlings who slink away, tails between their legs.

"You are still alive," says the wolf. "They mean no harm, but you stink like the men who drove us from our old home."

[Sblock="Treasure"]
Your spoils are as follows:

One statue, presumed to be the Grand Mutta
One golden pitcher
One silver bowl
One necklace of silver and pearl*
One silver hair comb
Two golden bracelets

*Not Three Flower's one, this was already in possession of the greedy spirits
[/sblock]

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 17 (T17, FF13), HP 22/25, F +5,R+4,W+5

Ape changes back to human, for more easy conversation. After putting his clothes on, he asks the big wolf: "Are these things smell like the ones that drove you away, or is it something in the water?"

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

Jar'Thol lets the others deal with the wolves for now. He instead focuses on the items they got from the spirits of temple. Invoking the spirits to grant him with a simple detection charm that allows him to establish if anything has magical properties.

OOC: Detect Magic on all the treasure. Spells left 1/2

 

[Blackrat]

Three Flowers slips his necklace back on and bows to the wolf. "The stench was foul and spirits even fouler but we seem to have found what we were looking for. Thank you for allowing us to pass your grounds and as promised I will put in a good word for the people of the city to leave you in peace."

 

[Dr Simon]

WD: I assume you mean the treasure rescued from the greedy spirits?

The big wolf sniffs the items and then Ape.

"These objects carry the taint too, but it is all of you that smell the strongest." It seems disinclined to say more, and pads back out of range.

Three Flowers slips his necklace back on and bows to the wolf. "The stench was foul and spirits even fouler but we seem to have found what we were looking for. Thank you for allowing us to pass your grounds and as promised I will put in a good word for the people of the city to leave you in peace."

The wolf bows its head slightly. "We will keep our oath if the city dwellers do also, " it says. "Now you must leave."

[SBLOCK="Jar'Thol"]
The statue of the Grand Mutta radiates faint magic, the other items are not magical. I think I gave the school last time, which was a mistake - you need a Spellcraft check for that which can't be done untrained.
[/SBLOCK]

If you don't want to interact further with the wolves:

The journey back to Cormondal from the temple is uneventful, just a few hours walking in the moonlight along the riverside. Doing so in clothes soaked by sweat, blood and river water make sit less pleasant, but you have succeeded in the Vashti's task, and rewards await you back in town. The young Vashti said that she would be conducting funeral rituals at the ghat and could be found there at any hour.

As you reach the outskirts of town you find two young men sat on a low wall, one bearing a lantern on a stick. They stand as you approach.

"Hey there," calls one of them. "Are you the folks working for the Vashti? We've been sent to wait for you."

[SBLOCK="Jar'Thol"]
You get a sense, perhaps a warning from the Wise Crone, that these humans are up to something. You would not be able to verbally warn your companions, however, without also alerting the two men.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Shayuri]

At the sight of the men, Annika stops where she is and watches them warily. Even if they -had- been sent by Vashti, groups of human men had a tendency to get pushy. All of her magical gifts had been expended fighting the spirits, and she was no great warrior under her humble scrap of cloth.

She clutches her poncho around herself more tightly, wishing she had more between herself and them.