Action Thread #3 - The Second Valley

[Buzz]

"Ehug, this is disgusting," he holds the polearm's end away, glob's of dissolving flesh still sticking to the blade. "Reming me never to eat anything I hit with this.... Ever!"

[Ra the monk]

"I just... mmmm. Ok then. Well, how about we stop for some lunch now? Maybe some fish? Too bad we don't have any butter though." Glancing sideways at the dissolving beast "mmmmm, fish with butter... Well let's go" and with that the young rogue heads to the waters edge to clean his blades.

[Sir Clarence]

Andrin takes a closer look at the hot pool. "That sound we heard earlier might not have come from this strange creature but is possibly indicative of an active geyser inside this pool. I strongly advise against cooking fish here and suggest to withdraw from this place quickly until we know for sure. Otherwise it might be us who get boiled...."

[Stonjuz]

"Do a quick search and lets gets outta 'ere. How could this pile of jelly possibly make you hungry? I tell ya what it makes me want...., research. If we only had something to contain it in. A new poison perhaps. Can ya imagine if this stuff was on your blade when slicing into a meal, or anything else for that matter?"
Stonjuz begins to shake his head to the contrary, as if having a battle of wits with himself, and rubs his silver idol in thought while he helps with his part in the survey of the area.
"On second thought, I have no idea how we could test it. Any volun...er, ideas?"

[zebediah]

Ogirdor searches the area being mindful of any changes to the surroundings (the water for example). He also tries to assess wheter would it be possible to cross to the other side of the water from here.

[Vargr1105]

Day 2 - Afternoon - The Second Valley/Bubbling Pool



As some in the band exchange impressions about culinary and other matters, Ozborn cleans his blades on the warm waters and Ogirdor scans the area looking for ways of egress. The pool is not very large and can be taken in with a single glance, roughly circular, the waters fail to reach the edge of the rock walls leaving a margin all round that could be trekked to reach the other side. This is indeed the birthplace of the misty river the party had been following. The pool also appears to be quite shallow in most parts, from his position Orgidor can see the bottom of the pool easily and all the way to the other side. If travelers are willing to wet their ankles in warm water they could wade though the pool and get to the other side of the nascent ever faster.

Then...the waters of the bubbling pool seem to become more agitated, a faint, barely heard murmuring sound seems to emanate from the pool itself, or perhaps the ground beneath it and grows higher with each passing second.

[Sir Clarence]

"Run!" Andrin hurries to get away from the pool as fast as possible.

[zebediah]

The ranger also rushes as far from the pool as he can.

[Stonjuz]

Staying on the first side of the water, Stonjuz turns tail with the others..., "Its gonna blow!!! Back out the mist."

[Sheldomar]

Thurinor backs quickly away from the pool as the others do the same. At the same time, the elf's curiosity is raised by the murmuring sounds coming from the pool. Torn between plunging into the mist and watching what is to come, he decides that discretion is the better part of valor, this time. He follows the others deeper into the apparent safety of the mist.

[Buzz]

Malone follows the trend and retreats with the others. Underground rumbling is never a good sign.

[Ra the monk]

"What's everyone running for?" Oz then starts walking, not running, after his new acquaintances muttering "You would think the ground was about to give out under their feet..."

[Stonjuz]

A familiar voice comes from the mist ahead of Ozborn and a waist high arm protrudes out of the smoky vapors grabbing Oz by the belt, "No time for fishing", hurrying him into the mist.

[Ra the monk]

OK! OK, I'm coming. Jeez what is with you guys and not wanting to fish?

[Vargr1105]

Day 2 - Afternoon - The Second Valley/Bubbling Pool



Musical Theme: Expeditious Retreat


Wisely predicting what is about to happen, some of the party members give out the alarm. The result is a general exodus from the immediate area of the pool. The rumbling grows louder and louder and even the ground beneath the scrambling companion's feet seem to vibrate slightly. The rocky protrusion on the middle of the pool puffs wisps of vapor in unison with the waves of tremor in a omnious buildup to...eruption!

With a mighty "Whoosh!" made louder by proximity and the echoing for the enveloping walls of rock the rocky center of the pool vanishes under a ferocious, generous stream of superheated water and hot vapor. The steamy mists expand over the entire pool area in a matter of a few heartbeats.





Ozborn, who had lingered a bit behind, is hit on his back by a rushing wall of steam with sufficient force to unbalance a running man.

Ozborn Athletics Roll: [1d100] = 32

But the warrior-rogue's stout physicality prevents him from falling and he continues sprinting after his mates, who experience the very warm embrace of the vapor a moment after, but not with sufficient violence to risk causing a fall.

Being among these fast-moving vaporous emissions of Oerth's innards is akin to being in a hot sauna at the middle of a gale. The air gets almost unbearably hot and for a few seconds all minds are taken over with the fear of death by suffocation; breathing the hot, almost liquefied atmosphere is next to impossible. Fortunately the dreadful condition does not last long. After some moments (which seem like ages) of near blindness, gasping and much coughing the wind abates, the air temperature drops and the mist clears a bit.

A minute of calling out and wandering gets the party together anew and it is confirmed that no one was hurt by the event; except for being quite soaked and sweaty the six companions are fine.

[Stonjuz]

"So much for poison research !!!. The jelly's gonna be gone for sure. Timing of this geyser's steam fountain could be noted if we camp nearby long enough. Later on, if somebody gets frostbite, we know where to come. Matter of fact, me bones arent creakin' so deep after that now." Stonjuz arches backward and then forward to test his body for signs of any cold damge still lingering, and suddenly realizes he may have an injured amphibian on top of his head.
"Boccob's backteeth!!!" Un-doing his chinstrap , he nervously removes the helm and examines Turtlepoo, without even noticing the, if any, turtle poo.

OOC: what are the odds the suana has healed his initial 1 point of cold damage?

[Ra the monk]

"Oh I see. Well then what say we cross over this thing now before it has time to do whatever it was that it just did.

[zebediah]

"Oh I see. Well then what say we cross over this thing now before it has time to do whatever it was that it just did.

Yes, we should be able to cross to the other side and continue south from here.

Before crossing Ogirdor will have a look at the area of the pond where the creature was when he first seen it.

[Stonjuz]

Readjusting his helm into place, the dwarf continues. "I'm wet again. We are gonna have to dry out over there too. Dont want to go into the night all damp. We gotta hurry along in case it blows rather frequently too. And the gold, almost forgot, not letting chance go by again, Malone, hand me that shield. Is it concave on the inside?" As Stonjuz crosses over the ankle deep water, he will scoop some of the mud along the bottom and up the bank to carry it to a better site for panning. Walking with the mud, IF ANY, he rubs a pinch between the fingers, sniffs it for smell and will even tongue it for taste, unless it has a foul odor.

[Sheldomar]

The elf nods his assent at the thought of crossing the pool of water before it decides to blow again. As the party gathers to agree to this plan, Thurinor takes the time to ensure that his blades are dried and sheathed, hoping that the moist air will do no damage to his belongings.