Moving On, The Hole, Redistributing Some Of The Load
Subject: where from here?
Ignoring the barrage of weapon modification emails for a moment, where is the party going from here?
Please everyone check in.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: where from here?
OOC: Garyth is ready to move along down the path. He will want to check out the sanitation building.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: where from here?
Cadfael, noting Missions suggestion that this is the marker will take a few moments to search around its base for anything trapdoorish/somehow indicating where we should go. After quickly going over it he'll follow Rennik along the path to the temple (that is where we're going, right?)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: where from here?
Mission is ready to do the same.
From: Ty
Subject: Moving on
[I think the general consensus is to move on, so I am going to go ahead and write up the next turn to keep the game moving along. I will answer backward compatible questions if asked.]
Examination of the city map being complete, the group decides to move on to the public works building. If the rumor of access to an underground path near a marker is true, and if this is the marker, then a sewage building might very well lead to an ancient sewer system. No one can think of a better plan, so that direction is chosen.
The jungle density increases rapidly the farther east you travel. Within just a few hundred feet, it becomes difficult to move through the tangle without hacking creepers and branches out of your way. If people stopped using this trail, it would be overgrown and invisible in days, Rennik thinks.
Jack refuses to come out of his pocket in Farron's robes. The number of large snakes you pass as you move down the trail could be the reason why. Despite their size, the snakes seem to be fairly sluggish and docile. Perhaps this is not the time of day when they hunt.
A new hazard makes its appearance as you travel. Anywhere that there is a stable depression in the ground collects water. That water grows a thick layer of sludge and slime that looks indistinguishable from the jungle floor. After a few soggy feet, the group learns to watch out for such sinkholes. It is impossible to tell how deep they might be, and a person could sink out of sight in seconds if they stumbled into a deep one. Careful progress keeps this from happening, but running would be very hazardous.
A few hundred yards progress brings the group to the end of the path. Ahead lies a clearing about forty feet with, with a pile of cut stones that were probably a building once, though they are so covered with moss and growth that they would be easy to miss for the unwary. A sluggish stream of water comes out of the north end of the clearing, and disappears on the west side of the stone pile. Investigation of this shows that that the stream is falling into a dark hole in the ground surrounded by heavy stones.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Moving on
Rennik will motion for the others to hang back from the clearing as he scouts ahead with bow at the ready. He tries his best to stay within sight of the party, yet out of sight from the clearing. If all looks clear, he will venture into the clearing a ways, still within an easy dive of the cover of the jungle, to get a better look.
If nothing seems amiss, he will motion for the party to come out to the edge of the clearing (allowing them to move more freely if attacked), then creep forward to check out the piled stones and hole in the earth.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Moving on
Oh, as a side note, picking up this halberd, however it comes down with weapons modifications, puts Rennik over his carry limit by a bit. If someone would be so kind as to take Garyth's extra waterskin and Rennik's own waterskin, that'd be mucho appreciated. Rennik's also planning on dropping one of his three torches if no one seems to want it.
That'll shed 10 pounds, which will bring Rennik back to a light carry level (by one pound, but still)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Moving on
Mission will take the waterskin and the torch.
"Descending into dark holes. . ." he offers the halfling a grin. "Not a time to be tossing aside our light source."