Chapter 2: The Highway and Silver Spring

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I will take one of the healing potions."

[redwarrior]

Frannie will take the other anti-charm root and two flasks of oil.

[shaidar]

Garrant takes the four remaining flasks of oil and a coil of rope.

[ravenn4544]

Androgost takes a rope and 4 torches.

Sorry for delay was offline a few days.

[gurusql]

Hex will encourage Raffi to take a coil of rope and three flasks of oil. And a healing potion if no one else wants it.
The illusionist himself cannot carry anything else without becoming encumbered and well knows this.

Looks like these healing potions were taken by Nah Olos and Qleceec.

All the magic was taken.

[gurusql]

The Highway - Leaving the dwarven compound
Moonday, 17th day of Planting, 597
12th day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 62/63)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 64/65, Armor 26/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 53/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)
Garrant (AC 8, HP 49/50)
Hex (AC 0, HP 27/27, Armor 8/8)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8)
Boff (AC 5, HP 61/61)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 26/26)
Brak (AC 6, HP 8/8)
Hutdrok (AC 6, HP 9/9)
Goverlun (AC 5, HP 14/14)

The party gathers all their collected items and moves onto the Highway. The Highway is about 8'-12' wide (averaging 10') and 10'-14' tall (averaging about 12') and it appears to be a natural tunnel. The party decided(?) to continue in a single file manner following their same order as when they are outside.

I want to make sure I know whom is carrying an active light source.

Not counting your light sources the natural lichen on the tunnel walls does continue to provide some illumination, but other than not spoiling infravision it only allows you to see a few feet distance so I assume you will not be depending on this.

"Assuming that we make decent time and there are no delays we should be getting to the caves that you need to traverse to get to the Illithids lair in about 6-7 hours" says Goverlun

[ravenn4544]

Androgost salutes the elders with his sword as they embark on the next phase of their quest. "We shall find the source of these disturbances and eliminate the Illithid devilry in our wake!"

Androgost has the light of his sword but welcomes a lantern from behind to shine the way further forward.

[Rex]

Qleceec

"Or die trying."

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

Has a Continual Light rock. I prefer to see where I travel than bumble around in black and greys trying to distinguish heat sources.

[gurusql]

The Highway
Moonday, 17th day of Planting, 597
12th day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 62/63)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 64/65, Armor 26/26) Glowing Sword
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 53/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48) Continual Light Rock
Garrant (AC 8, HP 49/50)
Hex (AC 0, HP 27/27, Armor 8/8)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8)
Boff (AC 5, HP 61/61)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 26/26)
Brak (AC 6, HP 8/8)
Hutdrok (AC 6, HP 9/9)
Goverlun (AC 5, HP 14/14)

Time is hard to track in the tunnel, one hour seems much like another. The group decides to travel with only light from the Androgost's Sword and Siouxsie's continual light rock she got from the dwarves. The party learns that the Highway is quiet, but not silent. The rear of the formation is still in the continual light area, but the shadows from all the moving people in front of them make it hard to see anything at a distance. The air is moist and cool. There are occasional spots that tunnel is not uniform, some time a little wider or narrower, a stalactite or stalagmite or even boulder in the way. The tunnel is not always straight, but rather it is bending and twisting.

The group travels for a few hours and there is the first major decision point as the Highway splits into two tunnels, one is more to the left and one more to the right. Goverlun confirms what anyone that looked at the map and recommends moving to the right-most tunnel. Another decision point come over an hour later Goverlun confirming the left tunnel. Goverlun suggests that the group stop for lunch here and the dwarves will be returning home at this point. "In perhaps another two hours you will come to one more decision point. This point you will select the left tunnel. This will take you into a series of caves. We do not have a map of this area, but the far side (eastern side) is the Illithid's base of operations."

Anyone want more or less light?
Any final questions for Goverlun or the other dwarves?
Any other actions?

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec is all set. When traveling she will use her sword for additional light.

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "Thank you, Master Dwarves, for your guidance. Safe journey home." He then takes out a bit to eat, watching the tunnel ahead.

[Storm11]

Hex & Raffi keep their continual light items to hand but do not bring them forth just yet.

We must be cautious and smart here the gnome cautions quietly to the others. I would suggest we send out some scouts ahead of the lights, those who can move quietly and see in the dark, we should not bunch ourselves up. Perhaps Souxsie could take the form of some ceiling crawling reptile as well, and hopefully go unnoted as we move forward. The rest of us perhaps should split into two groups, some 30 feet apart or so, a mix of warriors and spellbinders in each. We should have a plan if the scouts encounter danger, and how we move as a unit. How we buff ourselves effectively before true battle is joined, and a safe word we can use if things are not going our way and we need to flee! How far we flee, and to where should also be a factor. What say you all, other ideas are always welcome.

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I can move quietly and have been told I am very alert, but I can not see in the dark."

[shaidar]

Garrant

"Well, that is certainly something I could fix, for the next 9 hours anyway."

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I am not opposed to that Garrant if we want me up front with the scouts."

As a Ranger she is the most difficult to surprise (1 in 6) and the likely to surprise someone else (3 in 6).

[ravenn4544]

Androgost agrees. "All sound tactical ideas for success in our mission. I will lead the first group as you see fit to organize."

[gurusql]

Assuming that the rear group is continuing to use Continual Light the separation will need to be much larger since the radius of light is 60 feet. (hence I would expect the separation between the front of the rear group and the back of the front group to be more like 80 feet to not spoil the infravision.)

And I would need someone to give me the new marching order, and whatever the other details that you want to work out in advance.

[Storm11]

Hex nods his agreement.

I am not really a natural leader, but here is my rough and inexperienced idea. Nah and Boff and the ranger head off some 90 feet ahead of the party, perhaps with a shifted Sousxie on the roof in animal form. Then Androgost, Garrant, Frannie, Raffi and I follow with the light source as both a distraction and a target. That way, there are two groups and if one is compromised the other can function and try and aid the other. Each is somewhat formidable and not out there alone. We can use buff spells and magic that defends ourselves, and maybe if desperate a transmute rock to mud upon the ceiling to bury the flayers for a bit if we have to leg it, rope trick once we are out of sight to properly hide some of us (or those who have survived at least) and maybe even charming or suggesting monsters we come across to aid us in our attack against the mind flayers if we come across any before we engage them. The warriors amongst us are going to be doing the heavy lifting when engaging these creatures. Anyone else please chime in if you have a better plan of action.

[Rex]

Qleceec

"It sounds like a good plan to me Hex. The forward party lacks healing, but we will just have to live with that."