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Drest

Drest will light a torch then he will check the water and see if he can tell if it is drinkable. If he thinks it is safe he will try some and fill any empty waterskin(s) he has.

Belloc turned to his companions, a sense of urgency in his voice. "The cave opens up ahead, and there's a building a bit downstream. It appears safe enough; at least I see no signs of an ambush."

He then signaled to those behind them, adding, "The cave opens up further down here."

Drest

"Good. We should mark this location so we can find our way back out."

Akhilleus takes a peek thorugh the trap door once Drest has lighted the torch. He also waits for his companions below to signal them that/if everything's fine for their descent.

Kainaxarthos

Kain tugs on the rope as planned, and speaks normally up the tunnel. "Looks clear. Come on down." He isn't yelling to try and keep unnoticed.

He kneels down and makes a small cairn of the flat river pebbles near the entrance. Hopefully, it can be spotted as they run back in terror.

Cyril

Not wanting to be the last one remaining, Cyril grabs the rope and repels downward toward the river. He checks his pack and notes, "I have two torches remaining, should we need them."

Xenos follows the others down the rope.

[1d12]=6

Taibhse

Watching the others descend. He looks at his too charges and seeing the fever sweat on their brow will give Sik & Drest some willow bark telling them to chew on it.

Drest

Drest takes the will bark and starts chewing on it.

"Thanks Taibhse."

Under The Zakath Desert
The Ruined Warlords Palace/Basement
Late Afternoon

Once everyone is down below the concealed cell door and through the slippery tunnel, they assemble on the stoney shoreline, looking around through the dim light of Drest's lone torch.

Taibhse the Ghost Bear continues to look over his 2 diseased companions, worried about their slowly deteriorating condition. He gives them more shamanistic medicines, hoping to buy enough time to heal them completely.

Drest tests the water, finding it fresh and potable. He fills his drained vessels. Kainaxarthos makes a small cairn at the river edge, hoping to use it as a marker to find their escape tunnel again.

Moving to the south, a strange structure slowly comes into view. You can't tell what it is made from, but there is a heady smell coming from that area, one of dirt and rotting vegetation. A small 6 man punt is tied off nearby, floating around in the swift current of the river. Sounds of croaking frogs and the low guttural trill of toads is evident in the complete darkness ahead.

Actions?

Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22 Diseased
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7 CLW
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32
Taibhse (Sh1) AC5 7/7
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9
Sik (Ba1) AC5 9/12 Diseased

Xenos relights his torch and takes a cue from Drest, refilling his water.

"Where to next? The obvious choice is the building."

Drest

"I think the building with the boat and the boat first. In case we need to use it in an emergency to make a getaway."

Drest leads the way.

Ceana

Not really sure if this was a wise idea, the druid also lights a torch and proceeds with the others.

Akhilleus

"I wonder where this river leads. Given that there's a boat it's obvious that this leads somwhere.
But the building. A building. Here. In a cave in the middle of the dessert.

I agree with you, we should check it first."

He goes to the front, only behind of those doing the scouting and holding the torches.

Belloc lets Crestos scout ahead

Unexpected indeed

then falls in line behind the group

Cyril
"I'm still trying to get over the fact that there is an underground river in the desert. Imagine where this may lead...?"

He readies his sling and follows the others, staying near the back of the pack.

Kainaxarthos

He looks around in the torchlight. "This is amazing! An underground river leading to an abandoned fortress. They write stories about things like this."

Kain points out the punt and frogs. "Is it oars or poles? That river can't be that deep, right?"

"You mentioned a smell earlier. Is this the same?" He picks up the pace to keep up.

Under The Zakath Desert
Below The Basement
Late Afternoon

Crestos flies around the nearby area, staying within sight of his masters torchlight. He espies another opening into the rock wall on the opposite side of the wide river, where another small river craft is tied off. There are no other signs of life outside the cave however.

Moving down the stoney beach towards the smelly structure with the croaking toads, their amphibian sounds amplified by the approach, the party is hailed from the darkness just outside their glowing torches. An unseen gruff female voice calls out. "Pretties in the darkness? Come to speak with the Matron?" You can hear her sniffing a few times in the distance. "Not more nasty dwarfs.......Who are you and what do you want from us?"

Actions?

Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22 Diseased
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7 CLW
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32
Taibhse (Sh1) AC5 7/7
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9
Sik (Ba1) AC5 9/12 Diseased

Drest

"Explorers, and what we want depends on who you are."

Whispering to the group, "Someone else best do the talking."

Kainaxarthos

He steps up. "Matron? Is that your name? Please excuse us and our lights, we are not used to the dim. I am Kainaxarthos, and it's not so much what we want, but what we could offer."

Kain continues, motioning for the group to spread out a bit. "Forgive me, but caution has been scarred into me. Could you come closer to the light? I would love to meet you properly."

"We weren't expecting anyone down here, so I'm pleasantly surprised to find a kind voice."