Completed Play-by-Post: In Search of the Sorcerer

[Grimgravy]

"It looks clear, come on down." Rhenmyr calls up to the others while freeing up the rope.

 

[Wayward Son]

"Not sure if that bodes well or not. The Wolf may be hiding to get the advantage. We have no choice though. Damn it to the most fiery hells." Mab grudgingly goes down.

 

[L'ennui]

Urash joins the rest of the group when they have gone down.

 

[Llywelyn ap Gruffydd]

Cormac does the same.

 

[Siveon]

Marcán tries to stay near the front of the group going down.

 

[Grimgravy]

"Any ideas on how to deal with the fumes?"

 

[ERYFKRAD]

"We can either set them on fire from a safe distance, but mayhap we should test the nature of these fumes first."

Borric gets as close to the fumes as possible to inhale it for less than a brief instant.

 

[nikolokolus]

Borric gets as close as he dares. The vapors smell strongly of brimstone -- all rotten eggs and rot. Given that nobody has dropped dead yet in the confined space of the cavern it's probably a safe bet that the fumes aren't poisonous.

 

[Wayward Son]

"So... What next? Where would the Wolf be in a place such as this?"

 

[Grimgravy]

"Only one way to find out." Rhenmyr wets a rag with water from his canteen and ties it over this mouth and nose before heading for the larger grotto carefully checking his footing.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Borric covers his nose and mouth same as Rhenmyr and follows.

 

[L'ennui]

Ditto for Urash, who is swearing silently at the ambient stench.

 

[Wayward Son]

Mab follows suit, complaining that Drunes should get some sort of block stench spell.

 

[nikolokolus]

The narrow passage that the stream of fetid water flows through is very low, requiring you to crawl on your bellies. The way forward is hard going; sharp rocks scrape exposed skin, and the choking fumes sting your eyes and burn your lungs. Fortunately the passage isn't very long -- thirty feet or so -- and you emerge into a large cavern that is considerably colder than the small cyst you left behind.

Strangely, the chamber is filled with a very faint bluish luminescence, but there is no obvious source of light. As each of you raise yourselves up and take in the panorama, you surmise that the cavity is about fifty feet wide and about eighty feet long; roughly ovoid in shape. Hundreds of long, thin stalactites hang precariously from the vaulted ceiling and the stream meanders around several large stalagmites away from you spreading out across the stony floor in a wide thin sheet of water converging in a large, roiling pool of black water about twenty feet wide in a far corner of the cavern. The pool appears to be the source of the thick miasma of yellowish fumes.

 

[L'ennui]

Urash takes in the surroundings. "I wonder what creates that blue light... Some sort of chemical process, perhaps?"

Looking to Rashid, he says snidely in Acadian: "Although... I doubt our friends here would know anything of true alchemy... Would it not be for the dire task that brings us here, I would almost feel compelled to make a rough sketch of this place and collect some samples for the Academy's sages."

Spoiler

Does the black pool have a visible source? A crack in the cavern's wall or something like that?

 

[Wayward Son]

Mab whispers to himself, "So, here I am, at the end of this long road. I hope this ends well." Then, louder, "Well, what the devil are we waiting for? We got a demon to kill, and a town to save."

 

[Grimgravy]

Rhenmyr raises an eyebrow listening to the others. "Let's search the chamber."

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Does the black pool have a visible source? A crack in the cavern's wall or something like that?

Spoiler

The swamp water cascading into the cave and draining into this cavern seems a likely source

 

[nikolokolus]

Where are people focusing their search?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Borric moves to the center, while trying to make note of any sensory feedback the spear gives.

 

[L'ennui]

Urash cautiously follows a few metres behind Borric.

If there are loose stones or pebbles lying about, he picks a few of them up.

 

[nikolokolus]

Borric holds the spear in front of himself, almost like a dousing rod, and starts to walk to the center of the cavern. The floor changes from rock to a fine black sand, but the spear provides no other feedback, save for the constant sensation of eagerness for blood. The edge of the pool is now about 20 feet ahead and to your right.

 

[Wayward Son]

Mab scans and begins to walk along the walls and makes sure that he stays aware of his surrounding.

 

[L'ennui]

Spoiler

Nice map.

If there are any on hand, Urash will throw a stone into the pool and observe the results, mundane or otherwise.

 

[Wayward Son]

Mab passes him a sling bullet.