OoC:Nice pic of Arngen. Gang, perhaps you are waiting on me...though I thought there would be some discussion of the Magical things that Wesellu discovered.No matter, that can be done retroactively, I guess...
IC: Loading down into the 2 surviving Boats, the Party prepares to head downriver to the Abandoned Duergar Hold.
Boat One:Wesellu in the Fore, Grolvus at the first pair of Oars, Enraela next and Arngen at the Tiller.
Boat Two: Gentaria in the Fore, Jikull at the first pair of Oars, Vitrene next and Brogark at the Tiller.
OoC:Arngen,Brogark and Grolvus all have ranks in Boatman. Everyone else has their base Wisdom Mod (Which should be decent for the Clerics).
let me know if you want to move the order around a bit, but I put a heavy hitter in each Boat, as well as a Cleric.Any of the three mentioned above should still be at the Boat's Tiller, if you move it around a bit.
The tunnel providing home for the River vaults overhead into the darkness...sometimes the ceiling comes low, within 20 feet or so, but for the most part, it stays from 40 to 60 feet or more. Along the River there is little in the way of Landings, it seems that whoever delved the last part of the tunnel leading to the Quayside must have happened upon the River by accident, and set up somewhere from which to Trade with whoever or whatever might live down (or up) stream. At any rate, the river seems to be a prolific environment, as Arngen and Gentaria can cleraly see the luminescent glow of fish, some giving off the glow from colorful yellow or green scales, some glowspots a strangely static thing along the side of the River, deeper under the water.
Brogark pipes up when he spots one of those. "Those are Maw-Fishers, great Fish able to swallow any one of us Whole, even the Half Ogre there. They wait with a lure,gulping down any foolish enough to come near. A Kuo-Toa I spoke with once said that they often lair near Oyster Beds, waiting for any foolhardy enough to dive looking for Pearls. I asked who would be foolish enough to dive there, to which he replied that the Great Mother bade his people to gather the greatest of the Pearls for Tribute to her...I garner that many Kuo-Toa end their days in the mouth of such fish.Some of them reach lengths of 20 feet."
The Boats move along downriver, slowing gradually. The River seems to be growing more sluggish as you go, though this could be for any number of reasons.Bats, some as small as Wesellu's familiar, some as large as a Drow wheel and dive at the water, snatching insects and flying lizards from the air, as well as catching many a fish from the water. Skimming over the water, the Bats and Lizards plummet down, to come up with a wriggling and scaly morsel. Sometimes, the Hunter does not come back up, seeming to become the hunted instead. About two hours into the trip,perhaps some 10 miles downriver(as the sluggish waterway meanders here and there, side tunnels often jutting off, though you keep to the main Fork, as instructed), you observe a bat the size of a goblin dive down, coming up with a slimy eel: something large bursts forth from the water,a great black fish (15 foot at the least,a long mouth full of serrated teeth and tiny luminescent green eyes) snatches it, plunging back into the River.
Another two hours, and you have made perhaps a mere 5 miles further, the River almost still.
Jikull and Grolvus put their backs into the Oars, as well as Gentaria and Arngen in the Fore with hand-held paddles. Something must be blocking the flow of water, you all think as you round a bend.
Ahead stands a great Bridged Dam.
The top of the Dam is ringed with jutting metal spikes, facing towards you, though they seem to be for repelling those attempting to climb, and pose you no threat while seated in the boats.The Dam itself is stone, perhaps 10 feet above the waterline.A cave on the left side of the tunnel emits a faint light, and the Dam goes right up to this cave. The whole structure isn't solid, however, as a central section is made of some organic matter (perhaps created from the stalks of Giant Mushrooms, as several varieties are bouyant), this seems chained in place, as if to allow passage when undone.
The Boats are perhaps 50 yards off when a voice sounds from the Dam 'Pay you must, 100 coins of Gold for you each. Pay you must...'
The voice has a gurgling quality that Brogark easily recognizes as Kuo-Toa, though most of the others know it for what it is as well.
Several figures can be seen as the boats move closer, taking cover behind the Wall, perhaps a dozen in all.
Arngen and Brogark see more however.
In the water near the base of the Dam something moves. Smaller disturbances abound, though something big seems to be there as well, making much larger ripples...
Sorry to hear that. Take it easy, get lots of rest and don't worry about the game if you feel it's too much work right now, it'll still be here when you get well.
Thanks...
