Into the Hool

[Rex]

Fahima

"I think you are right Cassius, time to see if we can find an entrance."

[Spearmint]

Gordansk

Invokes his Detect Evil spell as he climbs up the stairs.

[gurusql]

Zan

"Here goes nothing." Zan will mumble under his breath. Hoping he can get rid of this box sooner rather than later.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan "Good a place as any ta start. I just hope tha entrance aint underwater."

[Darklin2]

Grimnir

I will back everyone up. And keep our Arses safe from behind.

Hoisting another Javelin behind his shield.

[hedgeknight]

Grimnir
I will back everyone up. And keep our Arses safe from behind.
Hoisting another Javelin behind his shield.

Doug, I think you may have posted this action in the wrong group. Instead of Grimnir, what is Sai doing?

[hedgeknight]

Greyhawk, 586 CY, Readying 20
Southern Hool Swamp, Afternoon, Cool and Foggy
First Steps

Smoke is coming off of Fahima's parchment as she works feverishly, sketching the looming temple...well, not literal smoke.
Roan muses about the concoction given them by Mother MayEye...and hopes the entrance to Sakatha's lair isn't under water.
Cassius prods a lizardman's body and watches it bob in the dark water, and wonders aloud about the black dragon, Aulicus.
Gordansk prepares a spell and Zan is eager to rid himself of the box he has carried since Port Torvin.
"How are we going to get to the steps?" Vilana says. "I'm not looking forward to stepping into this water. How deep do you think it is?"

Remember, the temple is surrounded by water...are you going to wade and/or swim to the steps?

[Rex]

Fahima

Fahima looks around, anything to make a crude raft from? Standing or fallen dead trees maybe.

"A decent sized dead log can float a person easily enough if you are willing to get wet. Doesn't take much to float me."

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan not thrilled with the idea of wading or swimming in the water "What ya ain't got a boat in yer pocket?" he says in jest to Fahima.

[Rex]

Fahima

Laughing, "It would be a pretty small boat."

[Spearmint]

Gordansk

Scans the floating dead for an sign of unlife.

He wonders if a line of bodies spread like stepping stones across the watery gap, we could nimbly run across them.

Anyone agile want to give it a go?

[gurusql]

Zan

"I don't really want to swim or get that deep in water. I have a spellbook to keep dry." Zan will look around for something that float to keep the backpack and box dry.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan chuckles at Fahima's response. "I ain't one fer swimmin most o' us dwarfs swim bout as well as a rock." in other words he isn't going first.

[hedgeknight]

Bodies...floating in the brackish water...momentarily stalls the companions. Fahima looks for something that would make a raft, while Gordansk considers the bodies of the dead lizardmen. Could they be used as stepping stones, he wonders.
Zan fears for his spellbook and Roan really doesn't want to go for a swim.
There are several old logs floating in the water, and the dead are floating..."Perhaps we can use the dead," Vilana offers. "But not to walk across; rather use them as floating devices. Do we even know how deep the water is?"

While the companions try to come up with a way to reach the temple, there comes a loud, muffled roar that shakes their bones and sends marsh birds aflight! The roar comes from the temple area...and is that some primal scream? Or perhaps stone scraping against stone? Goosebumps break out on their arms and the hair stands on the back of their necks.
"What the hell was that?" Vilana hisses.

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

He gives Vilana's suggestion some thought when the roar interrupts visions of body surfing.

"Ok. At least we know someone's home." He tries to lighten the tension. "And as we said, if this were going to be easy, he'd have just sent heralds."

The archer moves to cut a limb from a nearby tree to determine the water's depth.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan thinks out loud "I dunno but that kinda sounded like tha dragon is in ta me."

[Rex]

Fahima

"Finding some cover would be nice right about now."

[Spearmint]

There are several old logs floating in the water

Gordansk

these are crocodiles?

I will prod a few with a very long branch.

[gurusql]

Zan

Zan thinking that the roar is perhaps the rumored black dragon will find some cover to the side to protect the box, yeah to protect the box.

[hedgeknight]

Cassius > cuts a limb from a nearby tree and estimates the water to be anywhere from 3-4 feet deep; could be deeper nearer the temple.
Gordansk > prods a few floating logs...and finds out they are indeed floating logs, likely snapped off during a ice storm or fell into the water due to old age and high winds.
Roan, Fahima, and Zan > seek shelter from whatever is roaring at the temple; kinda sounds like it could be a dragon.
Vilana > stands out in the open, arrow ready, scanning the skies and the surrounding swamp; alert for whatever killed these lizardmen.