Rennik the Dragon
Subject: Re: The hole; the next turn
Mission meets Rennik's stare with a grin, but keeps his mouth shut. Now would not be a good time to offer to help the halfling across the water. Let him make his own, arrogant way. He'd probably rather drown than ask for help from a shortsighted human.
(OOC: Don't let Rennik forget his gear, which is still over by the rock pile. Oh, and how's he going to get all that across the water by himself? Is there a devilish grin icon available >:) ? Does that one work?)
If Mission can, he'll retrieve the rope he was trying to tie to the rockpile pre-explosion.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The hole; the next turn
Mission says to Garyth, "The ground is pretty soft above-- maybe the explosion knocked some holes up top that will open down on the tunnel east." More to fill the silence in the tunnel than in any hope that their luck will run so well. Luck had been slim since the tower-- since they had attacked those men.
The party is bedraggled, and in a foul mood. Mission realizes that of all of them, he was the only one to escape unscathed from the explosion. Sa'id had almost died.
"The alchemist fire we found-- I wonder if that was what was used to collapse the tunnel." He shakes his head. "Maybe Cale and his lot were involved with this."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; the next turn
As it stands now, Rennik has left his gear, bringing only his bow, some arrows, and his handaxe. In fact, I think he's going to take off the chain shirt, too, and stow it in the backpack for the time being. He's not expecting to get into any real fighting up there, just to peek his head out of the hole.
If the coast is clear, he'll pull himself out of the hole and scout around a bit with his bow. If, again, all is clear, he'll ask Garyth if he could bring the gear over to the rope. He'd then climb down, put on the backpack, then climb back up. Otherwise, he'll set to work finishing the log he had started to cut with his handaxe earlier, while the rest of the party surfaces.
If the coast is NOT clear, that's a different story.
From: Ty
Subject: The hole; out of the fire and into the frying pan
With the tension in the air so thick you can cut it, Rennik and Mission back away from each other. Mission walks nonchalantly back over to the rock pile and begins collecting his rope. He winds up having to cut off about five feet of it, when he discovers that one end is hopelessly burned. The rest is charred, and he fears its strength has been compromised.
Rennik leaves his gear in a little pile at the base of the rubble. Taking only his bow and handaxe, he makes his way cautiously along the wall toward the rope. Without his armor on, it is much easier to tread water, and he has little difficulty working his way back to the rope. He climbs it quickly, and spends a few moments with only half his body visible to the rest of the party while he scans the surface.
[Waiting on response from Matt for the rest]
From: Matt
Subject: Bad News from Rennik
Dropping down the rope to just above the water, Rennik will call out to the others.
"I bear no good news. The Hrug'da has not left, and is not alone. It has a mate, and young. It looks like they've chosen this as a safe place to graze during the midday, and they aren't likely to move on soon."
"If I attempt to scare them away by attacking, they will turn on me. I have no doubt. Hrug'da are murderously protective of their young and would fight until their last breath defending them."
He considers.
"It might be possible to make life uncomfortable enough for the adult female that she would try to herd her young away. The swamp dragons and the Hrug'da are natural enemies... if I could make a convincing enough swamp dragon roar from just below the edge of the pit, they might seek a safer clearing."
"I've heard the swamp dragon's call only a few times, but I think I can make it sound convincing."
(if this is acceptable to the rest, he will make just such an attempt)
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Bad News from Rennik
Mission shrugs. "I don't have any objections to that."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Bad News from Rennik
Sitting in the dark with Farron, Sa'id allows himself a little grin at the thought of the swamp dragon's roar issuing from the mouth of the diminutive halfling.
"Okay, Rennik," he calls quietly.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The hole; the next turn
It has happened so many times in the past few days, it is now a matter of course. Cadfael quietly makes his way to each member of the party and simply reaches out to them, their wounds closing under the power of his touch. Not a word passes between them, even if the man being healed is in the middle of a conversation he does not falter under the heat of Pelor's touch, indeed, beyond a tightening of their eyes there is no sign that they have even felt it. The act seems somehow banal. There is nothing sacred to it, Pelor's blessing now seems something owed rather than given. Even potion that restored Sa'id to life became a gift from one man to another, the grace of God removed from it.
This seems lost to the party though, even Cadfael flits about like a shadow, casting spells of miraculous healing without comment as if it were the norm.
The one thing that does catch Cadfael's attention, however, is Rennik's attitude toward Promise. The others who have little at stake in the conversation see a dark look on Cadfael's face, and for once his features are easy to read. It was only this morning that Rennik told of Elise's words concerning Cadfael. If, indeed, he is important to the plans of this Dark God will Rennik kill him without a second thought as he would Promise?
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Bad News from Rennik
Garyth just nods at Rennik's suggestion.
From: Ty
Subject: The hole; rennik the dragon
Having gotten agreement from the majority of the party, Rennik moves back to the rope and climbs again. When he reaches the top, he sucks in a huge breath of air and lets loose with a sort of rattling bellow. It's actually fairly impressive coming from someone his size, and as far as anyone in the party knows, it is a perfect imitation of a swamp dragon. Sadly, the Hrug'da is a more discriminating audience (Perform roll 7 +0 skill +2 wilderness +2 animal empathy =9 vs DC 20; failed). There is a pause, then Rennik lets go of the rope and drops back toward the water with a barely discernable curse half spoken when he strikes the surface.
Above, there is a loud rumbling sound that rolls to the hole like thunder. A large snout is thrust into the hole, and loud sniffing commences. The sniffing is followed by several ill tempered grunts, then thunder as the creature runs off.
"Dammit!" yells the Halfling as he makes his way back to the party. "He'll be keeping his eye on this hole now. I guess that didn't work."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
Rennik treads water near the party, his brow furrowed in thought.
"There's more of a trill in the back of the throat, almost like gargling... These were obviously not afraid of my weak attempt at imitation."
"I suppose I could sneak up and try to draw them off, or even just get a better idea of the land. If I eased away from the hole eastward, I could see if the explosion created any other holes. I might be small enough to be disregarded as nonthreatening."
"Does anyone else have any other ideas?"
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The hole; rennik the dragon
"Would an explosion scare them off?" Sa'id asks. "I have Fireball memorized today."