Chapter 2: The Highway and Silver Spring

[Ythgar]

Hex

"I heard . . . laughter . . . Child-like."

[gurusql]

Heat Source
Early Afternoon of Godsday, 19th day of Planting, 597
14th day since leaving Loftwick

Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 40/53)
Boff (AC 5, HP 51/61)
Hex (AC 0, HP 22/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin) (Detect Illusion-1)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 31/65, Armor 13/26)
Qleceec (AC 1, HP 33/63) (Infravision, Lit Sword)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8) (Lantern)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 18/26) (Boff's Lantern)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)

PostRiver03.png (1.02 MiB) Viewed 533 times

The group reaches the corner, surrounded by the glow of multiple light sources flickering in the dimness. Boff, not wanting to risk carrying the lantern any longer, reluctantly hands it back to Frannie, who takes it with a quiet nod. He then slips into the shadows, trying not to be seen. Androgost, his face slick with sweat, seems agitated by the slow pace. He’s clearly eager to push the group forward, but for reasons known only to him, he remains silent, holding back his urge to push them onward at a faster pace.

Meanwhile, Nah Olos and Boff take it upon themselves to move ahead as quietly as possible. The two try their best to meld into the darkness, but the shadows are elusive, only truly existing when the faint light from Hex’s staff momentarily casts a shadow on the corner, making them nearly invisible for a split second. Nah Olos positions himself against the closest wall, while Boff takes the far wall, trying to use every inch of cover they can find. As they proceed cautiously, they round the corner and see the passage shift in a way that suggests it will turn up ahead.

Their breath catches in their throats as they spot something unexpected: a pool of lava, its molten surface glowing with an intense heat that finally explains the oppressive warmth the group had been feeling. But the lava isn't the only thing they sense. As the group holds their position, straining their ears for any sign of movement, the sounds of splashing reach them—accompanied by laughter. It’s a peculiar, unsettling noise to find in this tunnel cave system. Could it be that there’s a pool with children playing nearby, a sight they have yet to discover?

Actions?

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec continues to advance cautiously. Upon hearing the splashing noises she will look the lava pool over carefully for some type of fire or earth elemental.

[Ythgar]

Hex

Hex continues cautiously forward.

[shaidar]

Garrant

Garrant moves cautiously forward with the others.

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos quietly moves up to get a better look at the lava and anything beyond.

find remove traps 55
move silent 60
hide in shadows 53
hear noise 25

[GreyWolfVT]

Boff will head back to the others and meet those moving forward halfway. In a hushed tone he will inform them of what they heard ahead "Sounds like kids laughin' up ahead an we could see a lava pool i dunno no kids that can live in that an laugh."

[ravenn4544]

Androgost stays sharp and keeps to his place in line.

[gurusql]

The Children?
Early Afternoon of Godsday, 19th day of Planting, 597
14th day since leaving Loftwick

Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 40/53)
Hex (AC 0, HP 22/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 31/65, Armor 13/26)
Qleceec (AC 1, HP 33/63) (Infravision, Lit Sword)
Boff (AC 5, HP 51/61)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8) (Lantern)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 18/26) (Boff's Lantern)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)

Nah Olos advances cautiously, his footsteps light as the rest of the group slightly changes order and follows close behind. The passage opens into a vast chamber bathed in a fiery red-orange glow, the heat radiating from pool of molten lava that dominate the room. A narrow path snakes around the edge, offering precarious footing.

In the eerie light, Nah Olos notices four humanoid figures, each about five and a half feet tall, with gray-pink skin and unsettlingly broad smiles. Their appearance is both childlike and unnerving.

The first figure stands on a small island in the center of the bubbling lava, its grin fixed as it watches intently. The second humanoid swims effortlessly through the molten currents, its movements fluid and almost graceful as it approaches the edge of the path. The third and fourth figures potentially are blocking the group's path ahead, their expressions the same large smile.

From their position, Hex and Androgost can only make out the second figure, its head and shoulders visible as it glides through the lava.

The first figure says, "Come and join us for a swim. The lava feels fine!"

The second agrees saying, "Oh boy" and then giggles.

The fourth creature calls out looking to its left, in a language that is not understood, but heard by all, "Solenearcillus"

Actions?

Map

PostRiver04.png (1.49 MiB) Viewed 491 times

Creatures

temp.png (171.8 KiB) Viewed 491 times

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec remains silent but will continue to scan for anymore potential foes in case this goes wrong.

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "I'm not here for that, sorry. Just looking for a path forward." Nah Olos remains standing where he stopped, ready to draw a weapon if needed, but not looking like he is aggressive or anything.

[Ythgar]

Hex

Hex remains quiet, and carefully observes the area and the creatures.

[Dicey]

Siouxsie, druid

Souixsie sighed inwardly at the news of the lava children. The druid often regretted these subterranean quests. They got her deep underground and far from the Green. Nature down here was perverse and often uncooperative.

The Initiate of the 7th Circle whispered the words of the Protection from Fire abjuration.

Would creatures childlike in appearance have the innocence of children? Siouxsie wondered - could we parley past them, or offer diverting toys, or obscure our presence to sneak by?

Hi everyone! I’ve picked up the druid character. Look forward to playing with you all. I’m not familiar with the party PCs, so I thought I’d ask if anyone can Detect Evil or Know Alignment of these things, which could help decide whether to talk? Or barter, or if someone has illusion or group invisibility to sneak? I have a Precipitation spell which in this environment should produce steam that may obscure (if the DM agrees with that reading of the spell.)

[GreyWolfVT]

Boff "Hmm lava elemental kids maybe? Dunno what are they but i hope they don't mean ta harm us." he expresses his thinking aloud.

[Rex]

Qleceec

No spells for me.

[gurusql]

Cerulean and Magma!
Early Afternoon of Godsday, 19th day of Planting, 597
14th day since leaving Loftwick

Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 40/53)
Hex (AC 0, HP 22/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 31/65, Armor 13/26)
Qleceec (AC 1, HP 33/63) (Infravision, Lit Sword)
Boff (AC 5, HP 51/61)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 48/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8) (Lantern)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 18/26) (Boff's Lantern)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 21/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)

Most of the party remains silent, their eyes darting between the strange, ever-smiling figures and the treacherous molten landscape. The suffocating heat presses down on them like a physical force, the air thick with the acrid scent of brimstone. Flickering light from the lava casts long, shifting shadows across the walls, making the humanoid figures seem almost like phantoms in an otherworldly dance. Nah Olos stops and says "I'm not here for that, sorry. Just looking for a path forward.". His words hang in the sweltering air, met only by the soft bubbling of the molten river. Boff tilts his head, rubbing his chin in thought. "Hmm lava elemental kids maybe? Dunno what are they but i hope they don't mean ta harm us."

Nearby, Siouxsie begins to weave a lengthy protection spell. She wishes she could whisper the incantation, but magic—especially of this nature—demands to be spoken with power and intent. Arcane energy crackles faintly around her fingertips as she murmurs the last words, the spell settling over her like an unseen shield.

The individual nearest to Nah Olos (#2) its ever-present grin remains unchanged, but its eyes close as if reacting to something in the Druid's incantation and says "Cerulean!". As if bound by some unseen ritual, the other three figures immediately respond in unison, their voices ringing out through the chamber: "Magma!"

The four begin moving in the lava, their motions almost rhythmic, like an eerie game or a ritualistic dance. As they swim in the lava, the chant continues— "Cerulean!" (only from #2), followed by a resounding "Magma!" from the rest. The only thing that stops one from answering is being under the surface of the lava. Their expressions remain unchanged, their eyes gleaming with an unsettling childlike glee.

Then, from the depths of the chamber, a presence makes itself known. A deep, resonant voice rumbles from the unseen southern recesses of the room, reverberating through the stone like the distant growl of an impending eruption. "Who is here, messing with my children? What do you come for?" The words are heavy, dripping with authority and warning.

A moment of silence follows. The only sounds are the continued chants of the gray-pink figures, their calls of "Cerulean!" and "Magma!" now feeling less like playful nonsense and more like an incantation of their own.

The air itself seems to hold its breath, waiting for someone to answer.

Actions?

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "We are just looking for a path forward. We do not wish to disturb you or your children." Nah Olos remains standing where he stopped, ready to draw a weapon if needed, but not looking like he is aggressive or anything.

[Ythgar]

Hex and Raffi

Hex plumbs the depths of his memory from his arcane training for something about these magma swimming children.

Raffi studies the area for a tumbling route he could safely take to the other side.

[Rex]

Qleceec

Whispering for the party only to hear, "Spread out."

She moves to get some cover or if not possible at least some space from the others so that an area of effect spell can't get them all at once.

[ravenn4544]

Androgost fans out to give room for his sword. He is loathe to dip his precious blade in liquid fire but would so for glory if challenged!