Flushed...

Tessalia and Jahlo, having been summoned back to their respective homes briefly, are now, racing through the tunnels, they were lucky enough to find the correct opening, and are hustling along quickly, trying to catch back up to the party. In their hurry, they step, at the same time, into a trap which sends them on a slide down into a freezing cold lake, where Tessalia manages to scramble onto shore, Jahlo struggles and flounders.

Tessalia shout to reassure him, “I will save you Jahlo!” and she leans forward with her staff, offering it to Jahlo, to pull him safely to shore. Ayrowynn hears the shout and wanders over to where she can see them and instead of assisting, she starts laughing at his predicament.

Reaching for her staff, Jahlo is so cold, he cannot hang on to it and glugs under the surface again, flailing to get back up. Ayrowynn finally decides she will attempt to help, leaping in the water, swimming to Jahlo, pushing him to shore, where Tessalia hauls him onto the frosty ledge.

When she hauls her butt out of the water, Ayrowynn points up the way, “There’s a fire and camp up there.”

Ayrowynn is shaking her head, “How does a Druid nearly drown?”

As the weary, wet arrivals come to the fire, it becomes obvious that everyone is exhausted. As they sit, warming themselves, Amaril has a few questions for Tessalia.

He questions her about the vials of liquid, the scroll and the ring he’s found. The ring causes a mighty GASP from the three serving ladies. He learns the scroll he discovered is a spell. Tessalia smiles as she reads, her eyes brightening.

“May I keep this?” she asks Amaril as she explains exactly what kind of spell it is, “It’s Minor Illusions. It allows me to fool enemies.” She rolls the scroll and replaces it in the case along with the rods with golden tops. (As long as Tessalia concentrates, she can maintain the illusion, if her concentration is broken, it will last two more rounds before fading.)

Tessalia does not know anything about the ring. Jahlo asks the serving ladies if they’ve seen the ring before and they nod, fearful and amazed. “That’s like... can I see it please?”

Amaril threatens them and finally agrees they can hold the ring. It resembles a spiral staircase in red gems. As they examine it, they notice inside the top gem a figure of a Lady. She seems to be seeking something. They are told they don’t recognise the figure, but, if Jahlo, Wik or Ooma stare long enough into it, a light may dawn and they may see the resemblance to another Lady they have met in the past. (DM NOTES: IF ANY OF YOU THREE READ THIS BLOG THIS WEEK, CONTACT ME, VIA E-MAIL OR POST IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN THIS INFORMATION QUIETLY...)

As the ladies hold Amarils hand (as he holds the ring), the ladies are fairly vibrating with excitement. Fequr looks directly into Amaril’s eyes, “You HAVE to save her!” She turns her eyes upon the group before releasing Amaril’s hand.

Ichabod requests to see the ring, and raises her eyebrows and smiles as Amaril offers her the same threat (to lop off her fingers) if she refuses to return the ring. Wik warns him not to let her hold it. He eyes Ichabod guardedly.

She questions him, “Why? Did I not return your ring?”

“Yes, but you took something from it, I know it.”

She laughs, and shakes her head, holding her hand out for the ring. As she draws her staff closer to the ring, it reacts with a violent start; glowing and vibrating. “This ring is part of my quest.”

Amaril asks the ladies, “Who needs saving?”

Fequr responds, “The Lady!”

As Ichabod rubs her fingers across the ring, it starts to hum. “This is the clue. DO NOT LOSE THIS RING!”

Amaril slides it on his finger, and, it is tight, and begins to vibrate or hum as he wears it. Ichabod sits very close to him and Wik sits on the other side of Ichabod as the group falls asleep, their snores softly wafting about.

The vials of coloured liquid are still a mystery.

Supplies are shared with Jahlo and Tessalia, filling their bags with rations and Jahlo is pleasantly surprised to find a squishy leather bag, about a foot by a foot big, and 10-twigs. (DM’s NOTE: JAHLO, IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE ASK ME FOR A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF THESE.)

Ooma seems to be under a sleeping spell and isn’t waking. The three, Fequr, Racelette and Adrie, offer to stay with her while the rest of the party goes off to explore.

Upon awakening, they discuss where they will head next. Wik suggests they head down to where he saw movement, and this suggestion is agreed to.

Traipsing back to the path, and down a narrow soggy sand path, down a slope and around a corner. As he crests the corner, he spies more of those reptilian creatures and immediately fires an arrow at the first one. He can see the bolt skewering through its eye and exploding his head into a mass of gore, dropping it.

Its’ friends are non-too-happy and swiftly fire back at Wik, the spear’s tip sinking into his thigh deeply. He yells, scrambling back around the corner, shouting.

The party stops and remains in place, listening to scrabbling noises. Morgan attempts to climb the hill when a spear comes sailing over the top. Ayrowynn, Jahlo and Tessalia scrape knees and fingers as they struggle to clamber up the tiered hill, and, after several tries, they are successful in cresting the top. Ayrowynn peeks over, coming face-to-face with one of the creatures. She fires her bow, killing it instantly. Catching the attention of those in the passage below.

Jahlo makes his way to Wik and lays hands on him, stitching the wound and nearly removing the injury, and as soon as he’s healed, he pops around the corner firing a bolt hitting a creature, and leaving him bloody, moving back behind the hill for cover. Ayrowynn, fires his bolt from the top down into the passage, killing it as the bolt rips through his throat as his parts splat everywhere.

Jahlo throws a bullet and nails his forehead, causing dripping blood to spurt down his face.

Morgan, finally reaches the top of the hill and chucks rocks at the creature, missing it. Tessalia throws her spear, losing it in the confusion. Wik fires an arrow, looking back at Jahlo, he snarls, “This makes us even.”

The arrow finds its way true into its heart. Wik shuffles forward, to check for loot. Amaril follows behind, and Morgan tumbles down the hill, reaching the bottom at the exact moment Amaril comes through the narrow opening.

In the flash of an eye, moving slowly, Wik steps on a trigger, a rock that moves underfoot and Morgan and Amaril are whisked away in a flush right behind him. He hears them shout and they are gone...

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XP for this week – 200 EACH for Amaril, Jahlo, Morgan, Tessalia and Wik, with Ooma receiving Ayrowynn’s and Benji receiving nothing this week as he nearly let his owner drown! Ayrowynn has been called back to take care of a problem with her brother and will not be returning for the foreseeable future. She wishes the party well.

Treasure - The four reptilian creatures were carrying 24 gold pieces, and pouches containing 48 gems total, varying from 100gp to 1000gp. (8-gems each, we'll roll at the beginning of next game to determine who gets what...)

Story XP – If you wrote in the Journal, or a story in the community, please add 100 XP to your sheet.

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Ooo look, sparkles...

Fledgling Dungeon Mistress,

khrys

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