View source for Merkabah - The Glowing Lake

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== Log Info ==
*Title: Merkabah: The Glowing Lake
*Emitter: Cryosanthia
*Characters: Acedia, Zapolklnex, Lawson, Braelnoir, Elleandra
*Place: Merkabah, underground cavern with a lake.
*Time: Friday, March 13, 2020, 8:42 PM
*Summary: A sketchy map has been passed around, ending up with a small party of adventurers. Following it, they travel through the underground depths of Merkabah and discover a cavern, filled with water, with a crashed airship on the other side. The water proves to be a significant obstacle, having a depth of at least 2' and growing deeper near the middle, while most of the adventuring group is small. It also contains a strange glow, which resolves itself into a large school of tiny, flashing fish which seem drawn towards magic. Lawson attempts to walk around the edges of the cavern, but breaks the ledge he is using and falls in. Braelnoir discovers the fish might have a greater effect on her. The party tosses small items made with prestidigation and coins that have lights spells on them, into the lake and this distracts the fish enough for them to cross. On the other side, on the ramp into the airship, they find a slightly larger-than-life sized Goblin in heavy armour. Interacting with it wakes him up, and waking him up activates the airship as well, which whines as a power-core engages within. Braelnoir and Lawson recognize some things, and yell for the party to retreat. Doing so across the underground lake is difficult, the water slows them down, but not this thing. Elleandra distracts it, and manages to get the school of fish to attack it, and the party finally retreats. As they leave, it respondes to one of Braelnoir's messages and she realizes there is a person trapped in that armour, unwillingly conscripted, and Elly sees something suspicious suggesting this is a set-up. </div> 

<pre>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Acedia       3'4"     39 Lb      Goblin            Female    An ebon-skinned Goblin in leather armor.
Zapolklnex   4'5"     115 Lb     Shadow Elf        Male      A darkly dressed traveling Mul'niessa man
Lawson       6'5"     250 Lb     Human             Male      Muscular human w/short dark hair
Braelnoir    5'11"    246 Lb     Silver Chimera    Female    A silver scaled deer lioness wielding a scythe and a feral grin.
Elleandra    5'4"     108 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori in green leather. 
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'7"     245 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--</pre>

==The Glowing Lake==

Cryosanthia had a map. She explained how it came into her possession. "After I told my story about the adventure I had in Merkabah, this goblin came up to me. I think it was a goblin. Anyhow, he said he was very impressed and had found an airship. He also knew a gnome that would pay more than the goblins would for parts. He couldn't go, but I could if I wanted, and should take the map as a tip."

"It seemed kind of suspicious, but I wasn't going to go exploring. I'd feel bad if I sold it and it was some sort of trap, but you can have it for free. Be careful! This is literally all I know about it.

The map drawn on a torn piece of clothing. The cloth has various stains, something green, as well as oil. It shows a path from the main exploration camp into Merkabah. The passages are small but clearly delineated, and a few hazards are noted, such as 'needs rope'. It ends at a large circle with 'Airship Cavern' written inside it. She gave it to her friend Ezil, who put it up in the Explorer's Guild with a warning, 'Free to anyone, kind of sketchy'.

However to a certain group interested in adventure and salvage, it seemed like a good possibility.

A half a minute to read, a half a day to travel. Some of the passages are goblin sized cracks, and present difficulty to larger sized adventurers in full gear. Armour will scrape against rock. Finally the passage opens up into a dark cavern.

Lawson made it a point where he went in first, but seeing that it's pitch black.....He simply puts his hand on the wall and steps to the side. "If anyone has a light handy, I could use it."

<pre>GAME: Lawson rolls perception: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls perception: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Acedia rolls perception: (9)+9: 18
GAME: Acedia rolls sleight of hand: (18)+10: 28</pre>

The Gobbo was happy to let Lawson lead, she was smaller anyways and didn't want someone big to lumber over her foot or something in the dark. She frowns lightly and raises a finger to her lips. "Shh.", she whispers. "Remember that the map is sketchy... could be anything down here." When the large man asks for a light, she mumbles something under her breath, and makes a fist. She blows on it and offers up her hand to Larson. She closes her eyes and presses her hand as best she can into his... leaving behind a small coin that suddenly erupts in bright light.

The crevass opens into a large chamber. 100' away on the other side, there is a crashed airship. Also, water. The cavern is full of water, with a large pond. The airship is lying in the water, only in it a couple feet. A near wall on the right, that is about 40' at it's furtherset point, curving. To the left it goes a couple hundred at least, also water.

<pre>GAME: Acedia casts Light. Caster Level: 4 DC: 12</pre>

Zapolklnex points out in front of himself, coming up beside LAwson. "I don't need a light. There is a pool of water, a pond. On the other side, over there. In the water, there is a crashed airship. Or at least, the ship part. The balloon is gone. It's all about... 100 feet away."

There is a small splash. The first step out of the crevass is wet. It's not deep, at first, but the sound echoes in the vast chamber. There is also a faint sound of trickling water. It's dark, but not completely without light. There seem to be tiny glowing eyes in the far distance. There are also strange, faint light patterns off to the left, rippling and moving in space, in what seems like it would be underwater.

Zapolklnex says, "sheesh WARN me before you shine light in my eyes He hides in his hood.

Off to the left, approximately 200' away and 40' up in the air, is a small metal rod. It seems to be floating there, completely immobile. The strange glowing stuff is underneath it.

The light reveals, but not all. This is a large cavern, the top of which is lost in darkness. Directly across from the passage is an airship, as Zapoklnex described. It is clearly artifice, cylindrical in form. From appearances it was originally straight, but the impact of its crash has bent it like a banana against the wall. The airship is mostly horizontal, with one end propped higher against the wall. The cavern extends to the right approximately 40' more, and to the left, at least a couple hundred, further than the brilliant coin and low-light vision can discern.

In a straight line, the distance to the airship is 100', across an expanse of water that is dark and smooth. The ripples caused by the first step have faded into it. The strange glow in the water remains faint and in the distance, and there are a few glowing patches on the wall.

The Gobbo stops and stares at the scene before her. The airship is fixated on, and the wee woman gets a rather envious and covetous look in her eyes. She squints then, and crouches, waving at the other two. "Shhh... there's someone there." Acedia points. "In front of the airship. And what's that?" She looks up, into the air... and points. "Like... something floating there."

"That glow bothers me." Lawson says quietly before glancing behind him....and slowly drawing his sword. "Anyone have an ideas?"

Zapolklnex hisses when the lights suddenly spring into being. He pulls his hood down over his eyes, folding his arms. "Ah. Light." he says softly. "Anyone have a bow? Fire it that direction and see what happens?"

Acedia waves at Lawson and shrugs. "Just put it in a pocket or pouch then if it bothers you." She eyes Zapolk, and shrugs. "Sorry.", she says in a whisper.

A rough layout map. On a piece of paper, the West side, where the crack opens up. The airship is 100' across to the East side. The cavern closes in a V to the South, 40' south of the midpoint. The cavern walls extend straight North, at least 200'. 60' north of the midpoint of the chamber is the bar floating in the air. The entire floor is water, and the floating bar is above the water, with odd lights happening below it in the water. The guy in front of the airship would be about 90' from the party.

"Not the coin." Lawson says pointing to the glowing at the pool. "THAT glowing bothers me." he then squints a bit...but he can't see anything beyond the glow of the coin.

Everything in the cavern seems still, the water, the airship, the barely discernable figure in front of it. The 'glowing eyes', seem to be lights on the crushed cylinder. The thing floating in the air, it's hard to make out, it seems to be simply a short metal bar, like a rung of ladder.

As if summoned, the glow in the water starts moving towards the crack in the wall the party is at. It's slow, and somewhat irregular in direction altering course from side to side, but definitely on the move.

<pre>casting identify, looking at the glow
GAME: Zapolklnex casts Identify. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls spellcraft + 10: (5)+5+10: 20</pre>

Zapolklnex remains under the hood as he stares at the glow approaching. His hands move, and eldritch words are hissed by the dark elf. Staring intently at the glow, he studies it.

"Well.. it's not a bow, but I do have a dragonspitter. It's awfully noisy though... I mean, if they don't know we're here by now, they will after I fire." Acedia reaches into her backpack and slowly pulls out a rather well-worn, almost ancient looking, pistol. She nods in reply to Lawson's statement about the glow. "Yes, it does not bode well... especially since it is coming towards us now." Her ears stand up and the Gobbo looks to Zap as he casts... something.

Not grumbling from the cramped crawling conditions because that wouldn't be a great idea, Braelnoir finally catches up to the group. Thankfully her new leg configuration made it a -little- easier. She taptaps a friendly hail, at least to those who know merc-talk, before she feels she's entering the light zone.

The glow is a long way off, but moving closer and the spell lasts. At first, not much information is revealed. There is something magical, then as the glow tracks closer it refines into a magical creature's aura. Many magical creatures, all very tiny, on their own seemingly insignificant. As a school or a swarm, perhaps a threat? It approaches leisurely. Continued observation with the identify spell isn't revealing additional information, unusual powers or characteristics beyond perhaps being attracted to magical things.

It is closing, and now is slowly moving from 30' away to 20' and still approaching the crack the party is huddled in.

"Then we've got a problem" Lawson says. "I'd back up, if we don't want to fight immediately." He then holds up his light source to find whatever is coming their way.

The Gobbo gasps and turns, running straight for Braelnoir, though she doesn't throw herself at the woman like many previous meetings. But there is hugging. Despite the dangers nearby. "I didn't know you were coming too.", she whispers, looking quite excited and happy. 
"There's an airship, and like, something hovering in the air and then this... creature thing?" She glances to Lawson and nods, and looks to the other two. "Shall we retreat a little and see if the thing will pass us by? I'm good for a fight, if that's where we have to go."

It's possible the party could all pull back into the crack. It would have to be single file. While It's possible to fight where the party is standing, if they retreat back into the crack, it would become harder.

The cavern is 100' across and seems to be at least 250' wide. It's not possible to see the far left (North) side. Sticking to, climbing along the right (South) wall, would be about 180' or so, possibly longer along the edge.

Braelnoir returns the hug with a wry grin, "O'course, luv." she says softly, then, "We got any idea what't looks like? How's it movin'?" There's a glance about the crew, "Case it comes up, do -not- dispel me." She props her scythe against her shoulder and loads her crossbow.

Surveying the Cavern again. It's crack like. On a piece of paper, using a compass, the passage the party has crawled through comes out at the West side. The cavern it's 100' across to the East side, where the Airship is. The cavern goes to a V to the South, the point is 40' directly south. The party is at the bottom end of the cavern. The cavern walls go straight North from the passage and airship at least 200'. 60' due north, in the middle of the chamber is a floating bar with the glow beneath it. The airship is 100' away, across the water, on the East wall, with the guy in front of the airship approximately 90' away.

There is no magic in the cavern. The bar floating in the air... it's almost out of range, but it's magical. It's an Immovable Rod. The Airship and guy is out of range. No movement there. The moving glow is magical.

In summary, it's a big cave. It's got a lake. On the opposite side is an airship and some glowy thing in the water.

Against her better judgment, Elleandra decided to tag along. She's heard nothing but tales of woe and regret from those who have been to this cursed place thus far, but when one is desperate for some coin, one must do some pretty fool things. Eventually there has to be some smidgeon of profit from all this insanity, right? She finds stepping into the water quite an unpleasant experience, but not altogether surprising, considering the location. She watches the glowing... things warily.

<pre>GAME: Zapolklnex casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls 2d4+2: (7)+2: 9
GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (19)+4: 23
GAME: Elleandra rolls survival: (13)+3: 16</pre>

Zapolklnex has a problem with being approached by a thing that's unclear. he mutters more Eldridch words, and two twin shots of force come out of his waving hand, firing right at the ominous glow. They hit, causing the glow to disperse! Then it comes back together. "What is that thing?"

Elleandra trains her eyes on the water, watching the glow approach. "It's little fish," she says suddenly. "Never seen their like before, honestly." She smiles, moving out to get a better look. Hopefully they aren't death minnows.

The glow quickly recovers from being shot, coming back together and for a moment milling around the point of impact where the magic missiles struck. They're close enough to see, tiny fish, going around and around where the magic was. Apparently interested in the residue for the moment.

Zapolklnex says, "Well if I can't hurt it then I hope someone can."

Elleandra says, "It's tiny fish, Zap. I don't think they are menacing. Think minnows."

Zapolklnex says, "And invincible, glowing fish, flying at us. In a place full of magical horrors"

"Apparently it's little fishes!", the Gobbo says excitedly to Braelnoir. "They probably chew fingers or toes, so be careful." She watches as a streak of light zips out from Zapolklnex's fingertip. "Oh. Well that is anti-climactic. Some very interesting foreshadowing going on." She looks to Zapolklnex a noment. "Have you uh got some fire spells?"

Lawson simply watches, as he'd likely be the last one in. "That's...unusual." He says as He lowers his sword. "Interesting." he says holding up the coin so he can see again.

"They seem harmless," says Elleandra. "Why not just move past them while they sniff at the remnant of the spell?" She decides to give it a go herself, moving through the water as gracefully as one can. Which isn't very, honestly. She leaves herself as much space between them and her as possible, seeking to just go around and test her theory.

Elleandra says, "Hopefully they aren't some kinda marine magical rot grub."

<pre>Cryosanthia: "let me know if you have something magic on you."
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "yes"
<OOC> Acedia has magical things. ;.;
<OOC> Elleandra says, "I have nothing."
<OOC> Lawson does too. other than the coin.
<OOC> Zapolklnex says, "I do"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "i'm magical atm, plus three items"</pre>

Zapolklnex says, "well I'm out of ideas"

Elleandra smiles, "Why out of ideas?"

Zapolklnex says, "I dont' know what it is, I can't interact with it, and We can't really get around it. So I don't know how we can proceed to follow the map."

Elleandra says, "I see. Hm. I will try to interact with it, then."

Acedia says, "Looks like we shoot our way out!"

Elleandra says, "I hope you have lots of ammo and time. There's probably hundreds of little fishes. Which so far haven't done any harm, right? I'm waiting to see what the fish do to me."

After watching with curiosity as the finger wiggling started, the Chimera looks to glowing school of fishes and shrugs, "Least I just gotta worry about the fingers I guess. I'm down t'one alchemist fire." Brae wonders of the others, "Anyone else carryin' alcheical weapons? Tanglefoot bags, thunderstones, anythin' o'the sort?"

With more light it's possible to see the floor of the cavern near the entrance. There is a shallow slope downwards, but the depth doesn't seem to be more than 2' near the walls. Ripples spread out as Elleandra wades in. The bottom is solid, a bit of gritty accumuation. The water is cold.

The light seems to attract the fishes, and they start moving closer, in a slow zig-zag. Twenty feet. Fifteen. Ten feet. Five. 

At Elleandra's feet.

And nothing happens. The tiny fish completely ignore the wild elf, and instead cluster at the passage where the rest of the party is. Dozens of tiny fish. As they swim, the movement of their tails makes a small pulse through neon stripes on their bodies. A single one on it's own, not much illumination, in a school of them enough to see through the water. There are underwater shelves, as if the water level was lower at one point and calcium deposits formed a layer on top of it.

The wild elf isn't far out from the passage. The fish swim around her, then go and cluster where everyone else is.

The Gobbo looks very dubiously at the water, and huffs. "I'm not doing it. It's too deep. And them fishes are tryin' t'eat us." She leans against Braelnoir, watching Elleandra wading into the water. "It looks cold." She shakes her head at Braelnoir's question. "I have some sooth syrup, but I am guessing that's not helpful."

"So we've seen them react to magic," says Elleandra. "At least that's my theory. Normally I'd expect fish to dart away from disturbed water and form their school away, rather than right where the danger was." She reaches into a small pack and pulls out some bread. "Now normal fish would be interested in something small disturbing the water." She tears it into crumbs and casts it over near the glowing fish. "They sure like you guys for some reason, though.."

"And yeah, sorry, the water is cold. It's a cave, there's no helping that," admits Elleandra.

Zapolklnex moves back into the crack, moving west away from the creatures as they approach. "Careful, this city is full of all sorts of dangers."

Lawson sighs and puts his sword on his shoulder. "Likely because of my cloak and sword." he says flexing his fingers. "We still need to figure this thing out." he says holding the coin high....

Elleandra says, "Thought: is your magic stuff all the kind of gear you could hold well above the water as you move across?"

Lawson says, "Can't do it with the cloak. But the sword is on my shoulder."

Acedia says, "I would say that they are actually interested in Braelnoir."

Braelnoir frowns a little bit, "Shit." She gives an odd look, then shrugs, "I'm this way cuz a'magic, plus some o'my loadout's enchanted. I'll be a favorite." She takes a moment to consider the walls for scaling purposes.

Elleandra says, "Roughly what is your weight at the moment, Brae? I'm trying to estimate the idea of carrying you."

Braelnoir says, "Prob'bly about 300 lbs with equipment."

Elleandra laughs, "Okay, that's outta my league."

Braelnoir chuckles, "Maybe 240 if I strip."

The bread scattered on the surface of the water draws the interest of the fish. The school goes for it, nibbling at the pieces, although some stay clustered around the entrance to the cavern. Some experimentation with the coin reveals they are interested in that, held close enough they'll follow it, although they also keep bumping at the shore, and near Braelnoir seems to be a favourite spot as well.

Acedia says, "I don't wanna be neck deep in cold water."

Braelnoir says, "You can ride on my shoulders?"

"Hmm.....They don't seem to be hostile, as much as curious." Lawson says as he holds the coin above a spot in the water...away from him, so the fish will be interested in the coin, not him. He says as he moves around the edge of the pool.

Acedia grins, "I could!"

"Okay, so here's the idea," says Elleandra. "We know they like magic. We don't know what happens if they get it. It appears Braelnoir is their favorite. I have nothing magical at all on me right now. Would the airship wreck perhaps have some kind of emergency boat that could float on water? If so, with some help we could bring that here and get everyone across without finding out what the fish do with magic."

Elleandra says, "It might be possible we can skirt this entire pond on the edge in the 2' depth of water and reach the far side."

Lawson says, "Doing that."

Acedia says, "I could make a whole bunch of those coins and toss them far away to distract them all."

Zapolklnex says, "There's no way through that doesn't go in the water, then?"

Elleandra says, "That may be our best plan, if there's no small rowboat or anything. It doesn't seem like it, Zap, based on what I can see."

There are underwater ledges near the walls that aren't that deep, closer to 6" to 12" down. They could break. Someone could climb around the walls standing on them, if they were careful with their balance. Near the walls, the cavern floor is only 2' under water, it would be possible to wade all the wary around the edge walking on the floor. 

<pre>GAME: Lawson rolls athletics: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)</pre>

The fish ingore Lawson as he starts working his way around the wall. The underwater ledge holds him, until it doesn't. It's only a thin crust and under his weight snaps off the wall. He falls.

Lawson feels the ground shift under his feet. "Shit." And under he goes. *SPLOOSH*

SPLASH

The glowing fish surge away from this momentarily, then return to the entrance of the passage.

Elleandra says something she once heard a Veyshan merchant yell at a thief. She has no idea what it means, but it sounds appropriately vexed for the moment. She rushes towards Lawson, but it doesn't take a lot of intelligence to look at him and look at her and realize that she's going to contribute nothing to this rescue except encouragement. Nonetheless, she pushes herself deeper into the water, reaching out her hand.

Zapolklnex continues to hide in the crack, out of the water, away from those mysterious, invincible, glowing fish.

The Gobbo looks to Braelnoir, "I could throw some coins into the water, with a light spell on them. Woooooould.. you let me sit on your shoulder?" She huffs. "That water is up to my neck..." Acedia huffs grumpily.

Stepping closer to the water with a dubious look on her face, "Sure, luv, just lemme test somethin' first." Brae approaches the water, watching the fellow hit the drink. She looks down at the little glowing fishes and holds her hand back ready to be grabbed, "Be ready t'pull me back." With that, she very daintily pokes the edge of a hoof into the water.

<pre>GAME: Zapolklnex casts Prestidigitation. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14</pre>

A glowing hand reaches up out of the water to grab Elleandra's. That's where the good news ends. Cuz the pull of the man, as well as the weight....also pulls Elle into the water WITH him.

Zapolklnex is hiding, but is encouraged to try something. So, he mutters in Eldritch words, creates a very obviously magical, and obviously fake, pearl bauble in his hand. Holding it, he grunts, and throws it away from the party, toward the left.

plunk.

Elleandra is a sorcerer, which means she's used to living by intuition. And she's a cook, even moreso. But at the moment, she's mostly wet, because neither of those professional interests helps when trying to lift a man of this size. She finds pulling on Lawson's hand roughly as effective as trying to lift a mountain. With a rather embarassing yelp she is pulled into the water by the mountain of a man that is Lawson.

The vigorous splashing produced by Elleandra and Lawson does draw the attention of the school, about a dozen fish, roughly, break off to see what it's all about and swim over to the pair. The fish surround them as they struggle underwater. Elly sees one swim very close past her eyes, a little glowing streak. Hopefully they aren't getting into clothing. They end up clustering around Lawson, however, largely ignoring the wild elf for the most part except when she gets in the way. Its Lawson's cloak and sword they're going after.

Braelnoir's hoof however, draws a lot of interest! The remaining school goes straight for where it touches the water, and jostle to bite at it. To no apparent effect, other than a very bright halo around where her hoof touches the water.

At the plunk, a few fish leave Braelnoir's hoof and head in that direction, but the Chimera's hoof seems a lot more interesting to them. The few that left, don't come back however.

Acedia blinks as the woman is pulled into the water by Lawson, and she takes a firm hold of Braelnoir's hand. For all the good holding onto a forty pound Gobbo will do if Braelnoir is yanked off her feet. "Does it hurt?", she wonders, of the vicious mauling received from the fish.

Braelnoir snerks, wiggling her foot a little, "It... kinda tickles.. it's a wierd feelin'. it feels kinda like..." She frowns, "Wait..." With a sudden look of alarm, she staggers back away from the water and stares at her hoof, then looks at her self, arms, tail, legs, "Did anythin' change?" It takes her a second to look over to the others, "Ya'lright over there?"

Lawson, at length....finally stands up.....putting the point of the sword on the ground and using it to stand. He lets out a fairly irritated growl at most of the others. "Glad to see at least one of you was willing to try and help get me out of the water. And one other decided to get their feet wet." He doesn't answer Braelnoir, but he raises the coin again.....and looks to help Elle out of the water...and hopefully more effective than her attempt.

While the fish are beautiful, the water is so cold that Elly needs all the control she can muster to avoid taking a lungful of it in with a gasp. She pushes herself out of the relatively shallow water and gratefully takes Lawson's hand, shivering. "Thank you," she says softly. "Sorry about that. Instinct doesn't convey ability, I suppose. But I have an idea. Let's get all the magic out of the water, have something magic throw in over on the other side. Everyone will then cross and I'll stand between those with magic and the fish. If they charge, I will distract them while you all rush across." It sounds good in her head, anyway.

Braelnoir makes 'a quick inspection, no change, a slightly longer one, no change. She feels unsettled. She actually has an idea where those arcanist pegs might be in her body now.

Zapolklnex looks up. "I threw something magical, and it barely distracted a few away. We can try, but ... under no circumstances can I safely wade into water that deep."

Elleandra says, "I don't have any magic for them to ruin, nor am I magic, but I can cast spells to distract them. Hopefully buying you all time and not getting myself killed."

Acedia squeaks as Braelnoir staggers back from the water's edge, and she looks the woman over to see if anything changes. "I dunno, not that I can tell." She raises her eyebrows at Lawson's grumbly outburst, and shrugs to him. "We're trying to ascertain what these creatures will do to magic... my friend here has an ailment... if the fish mess with her somehow, it will be quite bad... it is not our fault that you're clumsy and fell." She crosses her arms and frowns. "Besides... you're likely several times my weight. Whatcha think I'm gonna do about it? Lift ya out of the water and carry you like a babe in my arms?"

The Gobbo snorts and glances at Elle and Zap. "Well, if you give me a few minutes, I can cast as many light spells as I can, and I can liberally throw them into the water."

"Try to use your least powerful magic, and spare some. We have to get out again, and I have a feeling this isn't the most dangerous thing we will encounter," suggests Elleandra. She knows little of how powerful her allies are, but is quite aware of her own limitations. Which at the moment includes chattering teeth.

Elleandra says, "Okay, Zap and Acedia lob some cantrips and light spells and we'll give this a shot? I'll position myself out towards the middle of the pond, perhaps where it is about 3.5' deep. If fish charge the team, I will use mage armor to draw them to me."

When Braelnoir removes her hoof, the fish resume a swarming behaviour that concentrates on the party in the passage in general, although some split off. The object which Zapolklnex threw in attracts a few, and Lawson is also a popular target with a small school surrounding him, the halo they produce making his position very obvious in the water.

Zapolklnex says, "I'm fine with that plan, since I can do it from safety."

Acedia will throw light safely from Brael's shoulders.

Elleandra says, "I'll get to the middle, since I'm non magic. And I can be bait if it starts to go south."

Zapolklnex says, "for the non-magical person to cross, try to find a boat, and come back with it to let us cross. If there is no lifeboat... then I have no idea what we can do. I have no idea what the short among us can do anyway."

Elleandra says, "Get carried by the big?"

Zapolklnex says, "So if I get dropped I die? Seems very dangerous."

Elleandra says, "No, that's where I am going, not where you guys are. Your area is as low as six inches, and no deeper than 2 feet."

Zapolklnex says, "I mean if there's no boat, and we have to try to cross :)"

Elleandra says, "I don't think we'll even need a boat with this plan. But if you are riding a boat, generally it's not good to fall off."

Zapolklnex says, "Is there a dry place on the other side?"

Braelnoir says, "well, i can wade through and carry someone on my shoulders, then throw them to someone else when i get devoured."

Acedia says, "Hah."

The plan requires a little bit of jockeying and jostling. All magic is pulled out of the water, Acedia casts light on some coins, Zapoklnex creates small magical objects and they are tossed away from the party. The splashes soon draw the fish, which leave in small groups until all of them have moved away. Their positions are visible by the small auras they leave under water.

At this point, Elleandra wades in, and starts across. The cavern floor continues its shallow slope, the cold water creeping up her. When she's half way across, it has a depth of 4'. The wild elf can feel the floor sloping upwards, it will get shallower on the approach to the airship. Wading through the water is slow going, but seems effective and while there was some splashing, the fish appear to be more interested in the magic objects thrown in than they are with the elf.

<pre>GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Elleandra rolls knowledge/arcana: (12)+7: 19</pre>

Elleandra can see there is a guy standing on the ramp to the airship, with his feet in the water. He has not moved. Looks short. Parts of the exterior of the airship have been dismantled. There were two turret sorts of things, one near the front, one near the back. it's maybe rotated 45 degrees, so the turrets on the other side are crushed against the wall/ground. It has symbols on it, non magical but they look like things associated with healers.

Elleandra moves towards as many of the fish as possible. She's going to get their attention in all likelihood anyway! Raising a hand and pointing back at Lawson, she uses Message to send a whisper to him. "I see.. a person. Maybe a man, standing on the ramp of the airship with feet in the water. He's not moving. The airship has been partially dismantled."

Zapolklnex says, "I'm not wading into 2-4 feet of water, no. I thought we were looking for a boat"

Elleandra says, "I assume Lawson or someone else can carry you, Zap. Lawson, would you oblige?"

Zapolklnex says, "Invincible creatures in deep water arent' a small matter."

Elleandra says, "They aren't invincible, they are tiny little fishies. You may have killed one, but who'd notice one in a school of fish?"

Lawson tilts his head at the voice in his head, before looking back. "yeah. We need to move up. We've spent far too much time on these fish." He then looks to Zap. "Come on chuckles. You're either gonna move up with me, or you can get dunked. Your choice."

Zapolklnex says, "well effectively invunlerable to our abilities to combat it."

A shrug from Brae toward the big man and she nods then, "Let's see how this goes..." She hunkers down so Ace can get up on her shoulders, and once she's climbed aboard, she starts into the water, pulling a small thunderstone from her pouches, holding between her fingers as though ready wo whip it into the water should things get messy.

Zapolklnex will submit to being carried by Lawson, nodding to the man.

The Gobbo has far, far too much fun tossing the well lit coins into the watery depths, cackling each time the fish are fooled into moving.

Lawson grabs zap by the front of whatever he's wearing and puts him on his shoulder. he even gives him the coin. "Hold the light high, shorty." he says putting the sword BACK on his shoulder.

<pre>GAME: Braelnoir rolls reflex: (14)+4: 18</pre>

Elleandra says, "Don't worry, I still have my idiot move to draw attention and buy you time."

The fish seem quite content with the magic items thrown their way. Elleandra's approach doesn't appear to draw their interest. Likewise, when Lawson enters the water, he's ignored. Things are a little more uncertain for Braelnoir, but she manages to keep the splashing to a minimum and the fish stay where they are.

Crossing the cavern, the water gets deeper, then starts getting shallow at the midpoint. Once everyone is closer to the airship, a few more details are obvious.

The airship lies against the cavern wall, partially in the water, and partially rotated. It's bent like a banana, and visible fore and aft are what appear to have been turrets, which were removed. The front is partially crushed and hard to make out details. The back has an opening with a ramp. There is a figure standing on the ramp, feet in the water. It has not moved. Looks shorter than a human. There are markings on the airship, symbols which are non magical but they look like things associated with healers, and also lights which glow faintly red along it's surface. It's hexagonal in overall form.

Lawson walks his way towards the ramp...rather boldly. If uncontested, he'll put Zap on the ramp. His word is still out, but it's still resting on his shoulder.

Zapolklnex will take the offered magic item, holding it away from himself. Once placed down, he'll nod up to Lawson. "Thanks, crouch," he'll say, offering back the light.

Elleandra watches the team make their way across out of the corner of her eye, though most of her attention is on the fish. Sure, she has no idea if they are dangerous, to her they honestly look really beautiful.

Shaking herself out of it, Elly looks to see the others have reached the ramp. With her eyes still on the fish, she backs towards the airship slowly. Only when Braelnoir is safely out of the water will she finally turn her attention to the airship.

Braelnoir has a look of intense focus as she wades through the water, unsettled to her absent toes, and doing everything she can to only move as much as she needs to carry through to the other side, going against her body's natural inclinations and trying to limit her tail's movement in the water, keeping her other movements as small as is practical.

The fish stay where they are. Nothing moves as Lawson approaches the ramp and climbs up on it. Braelnoir is likewise able to make her way across, and the party finally unites.

Standing on the ramp, some details are obvious. It has a track running down it. The figure is on some sort of stand, and held up by two armatures. There is a very corroded cable running up to its back. A couple more of these cables trail off into the water, the ends of them are visible, and seem to contain a cluster of small tubes. One cable vanishes off in the water, roughly in the direction Elleandra was, the end of it not visible.

The figure is unsettling. It seems to have goblin proportions, but those are hidden under a tremendous layer of armour. It is life sized but larger thana regular goblin because of the armour. It is encased in a thick breastplate, arm and leg pieces. The helmet covers the head fully, with large goggles over the eyes and some sort of filter over the nose and mouth. Even examining the typical gaps one would have in armour, it seems like there's a second layer of armour underneath and some kind of solidified goo between them.

There is a cable going into the back of the figure as well.

Elleandra is very curious about the figure, though she can't make heads or tails out of it. Falling back to instinct, she tries the arcane to discern something about its nature. Is it magical? At the same time, she takes the very odd step of curtseying to the figure and saying, "Hello! My name is Elleandra. Can you hear me?"

Zapolklnex watches Elleandra talking to it, as he looks around. "That appears important. It seems as good as anything to bring back as a... trophy. Or something to study."

Braelnoir lets Acedia down gentle like and, carefully sets her thunderstone back in to its pouch before she sets her other hand on her scythe and gets ready, just in case, but she lets the elf try her way first.

The Detect Magic reveals a few things, gradually. This figure was subjected to some intense magic or artifice, but isn't currently magical. There are magical traces on all the cables, with the one heading off to nowhere having the second strongest aura lingering.

The aura itself around the figure seems somewhat druidic in nature. It's life-affirming, but twisted somehow. Corrupted. Related to mushrooms.

Speaking to this figure causes a reaction. A boot shifts an inch with a heavy clank. The goggles glow. It moans, "Trap... flee..."

Or perhaps, "Help... free me..."

It's words are muffled and heavily distorted by the mask covering its face.

"Trap, huh?" Lawson says as he looks the guy over....and tries to follow the black line behind him. "Magic isn't my forte, sadly....but I don't know what this could be."

Zapolklnex starts walking around the.... figure. As it now starts to speak? "So what is this, how do we get it out of whatev rit's inside, and how do we get this... thing... out of here and back to Alexandria?"

<pre>GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/engineering: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Braelnoir rolls knowledge/military theory: (11)+7: 18
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls spellcraft: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Zapolklnex rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Lawson rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (19)+8: 27</pre>

"I hate this," Elly says firmly. "This.. this feels wrong. Can we cut these cables?" She has nothing quite up to that task. Her best cutting tools are in her travelling knife set. For cooking. She looks to the figure, "Will you be ok if we cut these cables?"

There was a kind of a myth, a legend. An old story told at dinner by some mercs who might have dealt with this city when it was active. It had 'Corpse Wagons' that would pick up the dead and re-animate them somehow, and up armour them. The re-animated seemed to still have their memories, some of them, but would fight for Merkabah.

Dungeoneering lore holds that deep in the caverns there are some oozes, some mushrooms, that grow which will create a zombie-like thing. A corpse which isn't actually a zombie. One that still has memories, but they are fragmentary. The body is in good enough condition it can be used for reincarnate or ressurection spells, if it can be subdued. It usually fights anyone that tries to help it, and not being undead, can't be turned.

Braelnoir thinks about things, pacing in a semicircle around the construct to the limits of their dry patch, her tail lashing with increasing agitation before, with a sudden epiphany, her eyes widen and she levels her scythe between the artificed creature and anyone who edges closer to it, "Leave it!" she snaps firmly, "This's a Corpse Wagon, they stuff th'dead in heavy armor and reanimate'm. Got some recollection o'their lives, but they're slaved t'defendin' the city!"

Zapolklnex looks at Braelnoir. "Well. So will... severing these cords put us in more, or less danger? Do you know?"

Lawson says, "Leave it. Seriously. This guy's dead." He says before taking an odd stance. "We need to leave.......does anyone have a torch?""

Interacting with the figure seems to have initiated a sequence. There is a deep thunk, a rough mechanical rumble and the airship makes a revving noise, that cycles up into a high pitched whine. The lights on the outside grow brighter, the magical aura around the cable to the back of the figure increases dramatically. It has lights on the helmet, which illume and the goggles glow. The track on the ramp attempts to move, but seems jammed. The armatures drop away and the ... thing... straightens up, starts to move.

"I didn't build the fuckin' thing!" Brae replies incredulously, "No tellin' how far this damned thing got t'warpin' this poor bastard when it got shot down." With Lawson's remark, she reaches into one of her pouches. "Got an alchy-fire, luv. Best we can do fer the poor bastard-shit!" She takes a step back, as the situation changes "Someone take it, they're tough as hell with the cables intact!"

Lawson says, "THROW THE FUCKING THING AND RUN!" Lawson yells as he turns away from it as it begins to move. If Zap is near his left hand, he will be grabbed and carried like a sack of potatoes in his hand as he runs."

Zapolklnex is carried, with no problem whatsoever. Hanging on, going for the ride, definitely not wanting to end up in the water.

<pre>GAME: Braelnoir used a Alchemist's Fire.
GAME: Braelnoir rolls ranged: (19)+7: 26
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d6: (1): 1</pre>

This is not a great situation, and it's going south fast. Elly can see Braelnoir making her offensive move and uses that moment to put a plan of her own into motion. She wraps mage armor around herself and moves, but moves slowly, wanting to remain closer to that thing than Braelnoir. Hopefully it's just comes after whoever is closest.

Lawson's plan is GET OUT. While he'd like to get everyone out safe, he's not going to change people's minds if they want to stay and fight. Lawson trudges into the water, carrying Zapolklnex, getting a good 30' away from the figure.

Braelnoir,for her peculiarities, is just enough of a soldier to react to a rational order when she's properly primed. She pulls her ampoule free and smakcks the creature high in the center of it's breastplate and turns to grab Ace, "C'mon!" Her hooves clanking heavily on the deckplate as she slogs into the water trying to get the goblin over her shoulder.

She gets 15' away from the creature.

The figure, the creature, the Corpse Armour starts moving. The cable jumps and straightens as something physical as well as magical flows through it. Whatever is being pumped energizes the Corpse and it's movements become much more vigorous and swift.

It's still slow, just not encumbered beyond belief slow. The alchemical fire splashes across it, running off the armour. It turns its head towards Braelnoir, then switches to Elleandra when she becomes the closest thing.

The airship is shuddering, sending small ripples through the water. Off in the distance, the fish are responding, and abandon their little magical treats for the much bigger magical treats that seem to have entered the water. They start meanandering closer, Elly can see by the movements of the glowy spots. They'll arrive soon, but not too soon.

Meanwhile, the Corpse Armour faces Elly, clunking towards her down the ramp. It's moving slowly but the water doesn't seem to be slowing it down much. Before it's close enough to reach her, there's 'whrrrrr' noise, and a grey plume of something ash-like erupts from it's faceplate and washes over the wild elf.

<pre>GAME: Elleandra rolls fortitude: (15)+1: 16</pre>

Elleandra moves back as swiftly as she can. She's not sure what the monster just tried to do to her, but it wasn't for her health, to be sure. At least she has its undivided attention. So that's exciting! She doesn't know where her fishies are, but as she moves she scatters bread in their rough direction. It's wet, but she doubts the fish will care.

Lawson moves rather frantically through the water. "MOVE IT!" he yells behind him as he makes so much noise splashing to move faster. Thankfully, his armor keeps him from floating backwards. 

He's almost half way across the cavern.

The slog continues as the Chimera glances back over her shoulder now and then both to make sure Ace is ok, and to check on Ely's progress. Her face is grim and she doesn't like running, but she has to get her passenger clear before she can properly support the elf, which is her plan.

The Corpse Armour lumbers after Elleandra. It clanks off the end of the ramp and into the water. It's moving, as slow as someone in full plate typically moves, except the water isn't impeding it. The wild elf was barely 5' away from it before when she was engulfed in a cloud. Now despite her best efforts, she's only doubled that distance, and the water is getting deeper.

The fish have swum a lot closer. Some cluster randomly, perhaps eating floating pieces of bread. Others are drawn towards all the splashing. None have redirected towards Larson, a few seem to be going in Braelnoir's direction. Most though are heading towards the wild elf and the walking corpse armour thing.

The Fish are not at Elly yet. The water is deep, she'll only move this turn will be 15' and the Fish are 20' away. Hopefully they'll come for her. The silvery chimera is slightly over halfway across. Lawson is two thirds across, moving faster as he comes out of the deep water.

This thing is faster than expected. Which is definitely not working in Elly's favor. Still, there's nothing to do but trust in this plan, based on a few reasonable assumptions. That seem less and less reasonable with each moment. She focuses on moving as far away as she can. At least she is wearing only clothes. Maybe those fish will be inspired to move faster as she draws nearer. The mage armor better not be their least favorite magical flavor!

<pre>GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4: (4): 4</pre>

From what the chimera can see, the Corpse Armour is right on top of Elly, a quick step away. The water doesn't impede it at all. Their movement on an angle has taken them away from the escape route. Elly and the thing are 50' from Brealnoir now, and the distance is growing.

The water is deep, cold, like a barrier pushing against the chest. It's hard to move quickly, it drags on every limb and piece of equipment. Most of the party is in the middle depths, slowed but on their way out.

The Corpse Armour continues after the wild elf, despite her best efforts, it is closing. As it gets closer, there is the 'whrrr' noise again, but no cloud this time. Trailing behind it the cable still seems connected to the Corpse Wagon.

The fish have reached Elleandra and surround her, nibbling and bumping against the faint aura of her Mage Armour. They also seem to have discovered the Corpse Armour. The glow heading towards Braelnoir hasn't reached her yet, but seems in danger of doing so in a round or two, especially if the chimera doesn't keep moving.

Braelnoir grits her teeth, and continues trying to hustle her way through the water with the odd glance to keep track of Ely and her situation. Her crossbow is ready, but she doesn't have enough hands free to use it without possibly shooting Elly by accident.

Lawson reaches the crevass.

When he gets back near the entrance crack though, he looks back over his shoulder. "COME ON!" he yells, before looking to Zap.....and gets a sneer on his face. 

Suddenly he feels his body surging downwards! 

*BLOOSH* 

*SPLOOSH* 

And Lawson hauls him out of the water. "NEXT TIME, SMART GUY, GET YOUR FEET WET!" And he carries the soggy Zap into the entrance....and onto dry land.

<pre>GAME: Elleandra casts Magic Missile.
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Elleandra rolls athletics: (10)+0: 10
the DC to swim in Calm water is 10. you make it.</pre>

Elleandra confronts the monstrosity at nearly point blank range. Flanked by her unlikely allies, she does the most risky part of her plan. In a wink of arcane unravelling her mage armor is gone, and at that moment she pushes back and as she starts to plunge under the water she lashes out, sending a magic missile ripping through the water at the submerged body of the monster.

<pre>Corpse Armour attacks. Elly has +8 to your AC, underwater.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15</pre>

The fish lose interest in the wild elf when her Mage Armour drops. Her magic missile draws them like a lure and they follow it straight to the Corpe Armour. The former goblin is nearly completely submerged at this point, only a little dome of its helmet still above the water.

It's still very easy to spot however, as the fish form a glowing halo around the thing. Despite being completely submerged, its location is immediately obvious.

Which is how Elleandra knows the Corpse Armour has caught up to her. Even as she swims away, she's surrounded by the glowy tiny fish again, as they swarm the corpse. She feels the water pressure as it takes two swings at her, but the water serves as effective armour and it misses as she's pushed away by its underwater waves.

The silvery chimera is in the shallows. She can move, she'll get within 3' of the wall. As she does the fish catch up with her and surround her waiste. Just ahead, Lawson is pulling Zapolklnex out of the water.

The water is slowiny her down , though the wading is getting easier as she nears the goal, thankfully Ace's mischief with her glowing coins has been breaking up the school coming her way, "They're almost on us!" She sounds relatively composed, though her inner monologue is more: Shitshitshit... as some of the glowing pisceans manages to reach her in time for her to deposite her friend on the bank, "Where is she? Ya see her?" as she tries to bring up her crossbow.

Well, the fish are in position. So that's good. The question now is if there is any way they are actually helping. Still, they are beautiful. Funny how that sticks out in Elly's mind as she does her best to avoid being pounded into a pulp. She moves away as much as she can, pushing herself as much as she can on the shortest path towards shallow water and the entrance of the cave. Which is.. thattaway! To be precise.

<pre>GAME: Elleandra rolls athletics: (13)+0: 13</pre>

The fish, the little glowing fish, swarm after the coin-bait and stick around the Corpse Armour.

The wild elf is moving like a fish herself, shooting out of the school, leaving it behind. The Corpse Armour is still after her, but the glow surrounding it receeds as she puts in some good strokes. She doesn't have far to go, she's more than halfway there, but it will be a couple rounds yet.

<pre>GAME: Braelnoir rolls weapon11: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)</pre>

Tingling, really not liking this 'withdraw' thing, Brae finally stomps out of the water and sets Ace down, drawing her crossbow, still dripping glowing ini an odd spot, and she brings it to her shoulder to pop off a shot. Alas, the little glowing fishy caught in the track makes the bolt skip free entirely to sommersault disappointingly into the high parabolic arc, landing with a disheartening, 'ploop!' into the water probably a dozen feet from the shapeshifted merc.

<pre>GAME: Elleandra rolls athletics: (6)+0: 6</pre>

Elleandra's swimming is not graceful. In fact, it's rather off-course in the extreme. It takes her not towards her goal, but face-first into the skull face of another of these nightmare creatures. After a moment of horror and fear, it occurs to Elly that this may be a /good/ thing. Did the fish devour this one? Hopefully?

Possibly, possibly. The glow surrounding the active Corpse Armour has caught up with the wild elf again. Relentlessly, it's pursuing. The water has grown shallower, so it more of it appears above the surface.

The chimera is able to see the scene, they're so close, the horrors lit by the eerie glow of the little fish painting a target around the lumbering artifice creation.

The other party members start the retreat with Lawson leading. He's larger, getting away through the crevass will take some time especially when he gets to the tight spots. Zapoklnex and Acedia are moving after him, with Ace waiting back with Braelnoir, ready with coins.

<pre>GAME: Braelnoir rolls ranged: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Braelnoir rolls 1d10: (5): 5
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "Support fire incoming."</pre>

The Chimera, not sure if the ballsy elf even knows the code scrapes what's left of the fish out of the bolt track as she readies another shot. While that's underway, a practiced enough task that she can focus on the lingo, starts to heavily stomp her heavy hoof against the stone, hhoping the sound carries properly through the water, "sandy sandy sandy" The message sent, received or not, she brings the crossbow up to her shoulder and sends some hard lov into the bigger abomination. <unknown>

In the rush to escape, Elly suddenly realizes there is barely enough water to swim in anymore. Instead, she pushes herself out of the water and moves full speed away. Somewhere along the way, her pack top has fallen open, her prized cooking knives now permanent residents of this strange place. Paying this loss no mind, she's heading towards the exit. She doesn't know the code, unfortunately, so she's unaware of what Braelnoir is trying to convey to her. Hopefully it's something like 'run like hell'.

The bolt hits, solidly, no mistaking the accuracy. It sticks in, and a brown-ish fluid leaks out around it. A similar brown to the cloud it sprayed.

The Corpse Armour follows after Elleandra. It stumbles... hopefully it stumbled. Braelnoir feels vibrations through her hooves, the kind of thing that sends a chill up the spine.

"Ack... know... ledged..."

Then, "... kill..."

The last two are ashore. They're out of the water. The Corpse keeps coming. It's 15' away.

Elleandra says, "Brae, I'm thinking we better make ourselves scarce. Any inclinations? I have no idea what we're up against."

...

... "Kor...!" Brae whispers as she straightens. She shifts her weight, tail lashing in agitation as she hastily loads another bolt into the track and lines up again. "A POX ON THE SCABROUS GIT WHO BUILT THIS DAMNED THING!" She lowers the weapon as Elleandra emerges and reaches out to haul her out of the water, "Grab th'scythe!"

Elleandra can follow simple directions pretty well. "Sorry, plan failed!" she blurts as she stoops to grab the weapon and race out at top speed. She's feeling really amazed to be alive. And if her math is right, that thing will not be following them through this tight cave. She's not terribly good at math, though.

As the Corpse Armour approaches closer, it's possible to see the bolt sticking in its chest fall off. There's a sizzle around the hole it was in, a bubbling and more of the strange brown fluid swells out and forms a plug. The damage, seems repaired. Almost repaired.

The fish are completely swarming it. It has their undivided attention, although what that attention is doing is unclear.

She's wet. Slogging through the water is all it is as the silver merc, transformed by artifice stares in horrified sympathy at another soul similarly no longer truly in it's own body, in it's right mind, a feeling that doesn't simply gnaaw at her, it's ravenous. She's wet, dripping as she turns to follow her comrades away from the defiled warrior, unable right now to send him to the Hall, that's why droplets are left in her wake. That's why some of them are saltier than the rest.

"... me..." 

The distant tapping is felt through the rocks. In the cavern, the former soldier is left as a hostile sentry at the mouth of the passage. Around it, the fish circle and swim.

The lights on its helmet slowly dwindle. The rumble and hum of the 'airship', the cruel battlefield device dwindles. Its lights fade as well, allowing the enveloping darkness to return and swallow everything.

Everything except a goblin in heavy armour who waits with the fishes. Fishes which circle and nibble and surround him with a faint glow.

<pre>GAME: Elleandra rolls perception: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Braelnoir rolls perception: (9)+0: 9</pre>

It's a long struggle back through the narrow crevass. The going is slow and steady. Soon, when soon is at least a couple hours, the party is free of the worst and it's a clear path back to the main station.

Except, Elleandra is sure someone was waiting for them to emerge. Someone that vanished before she caught sight, and there might have been a scattering of stones but it was hard to tell with all the noise the rest of the party was making.

It's a long, cold walk out. Elly is freezing since her long swim in that icy water. Fortunately stealth doesn't matter, cause her teeth are chattering the entire way out. Stepping out of the cave is a relief. Except for.. "Wha.. who was that?" She looks towards where she thought she heard something, but sees nothing at all.

Elly doesn't dwell on it. "Well, it seems everyone always comes back empty handed from this place! At least no one was hurt." She thinks immediately of rations and matters of camp and that brings her attention to her pack. Her laughter rings out as she sees what is inside, "Well, not empty-handed after all! My little friends are here." She shows off her catch, a pouch full of the glowing fish, to the others. "I'll take good care of them."

Braelnoir emerges from the tunnel after, rising to her full height and reaches out without a word at first for her weapon while her gaze is fixed back toward the way they came. Her expression is grim, harrowed, and the tears have had time to stop flowing, their trails lost among the tiny seams between her scales. She grimaces and picks up her hoof to stomp out a message in return, in alternating patterns, "Acknowledged." then looks to Elleandra and in a low, grim tone simply says, "S'get th'fuck outta here fer now." She was going to send a different message, but that would have been a promise, one she isn't sure yet how to keep.

There is no reply. The rock is solid and the message would have carried. Perhaps the distance is too far. Perhaps ... many things.

==Epilogue==
Elleandra is able to determine a few more things, fish-wise, with a detect magic, identify, some small experimentation. They are tiny, resembling Neon Tetras, except more translucent, and the very shiny part of them is also the part that flashes as they swim around. They're mildly magic, attracted to magic things, and they try to nibble on them. Enough of them will knock a few rounds off the duration of a spell, but this is a really, really weak effect. So, they are somewhat effective as a living detect magic item, and not very effective as a dispell magic item. It might not be a good idea to leave a magic ring in their bowl with them for months, they might break it. They don't need magic to live, it is more of a snack, but they can live off it as all the things they were able to eat in the cave were magical, so for them magic equals food.

With this understood, Elleandra feeds them cantrips every day. In any case The magic minnows suddenly get swole.

[[Category:Logs|Merkabah - The Glowing Lake]]