Falling Deeper - Salisara PBP

Kanir grumbles slightly. He knows of magic that could fill this pitiful creature with food and drink several times over, but such abilities are beyond him. He sighs and holds out his waterskin. "Here is some water, but take care. We don't have much. We did not prepare for extra mouths." After the goblin drinks, he takes back the waterskin and cleans it thoroughly. "Now, what can you tell us about the mist and the people?"

Talon would look over the goblin, checking it's health and if it has any diseases.  He would add to Kanir's questions with some his own, asking "Gillik, how long have you lived here, and do you know anything about a vault?"
((Take 10 for a 20 heal))

Sirru, seeing the goblins reaction, would just start putting the things back, not necessarily where he got them.

((851506 407e4a))

After his fill of water, clearly more than Kanir would be comfortable with, Gillik with nod at the trio. His body posture relaxes as Sirru starts returning his stuff and though he still looks piteous he at least doesn't look like he's about to fall over. "Mist comes from below, eats people." he says, pointing to a few of the carved bones Sirru is putting back. "Just bones left, mist get bigger. Bits come off, more mist goes different ways." He'll shrug slightly, tilting his head slightly to the side in thought. "Mist whispers, but Gillik not know what means." He'll garble out some nonsense sounds that, whilst not being actual language, sounds very similar to the Necril language.

Pointing at the hole the trio came from, Gillik continues, "People up there come down before. Man with glass on face, he led them. They went up again, half gone." He'll turn and point to one of the larger rents in the rock that Talon and the others could squeeze through. "Man went there. Gillik not know what man want. Gillik hide." As he speaks Talon is able to get fairly close to him and give him a look over - there isn't any readily apparent sign of disease, though the goblin is clearly malnourished though not quite dying from starvation or dehydration. As Talon checks him, Gillik looks at him when he asks his questions.

"Gillik live here long. No remember when start. Gillik not know vault. What vault?"

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As Sev closes in on the people he's been tracking, he sees a well armed and armoured pair in dark fullplate flanking a large wedge-faced stout creature larger than both of them combined. A massive wedge head opens to reveal a multitude of teeth in vicious rows and it issues forth a cry that sounds like tortured and tearing metal. The pair dart forwards, the woman drawing its attention as the man scythes round behind it, carving into one of its back legs.

With another angry roar it deftly spins far faster than its bulk would suggest is possible, and a savage slam sends the man flying across the cavern to slam into the rough wall. Though winded he doesn't appear to be overly injured, his armour taking most of the force, though he winces as he pulls himself up.

Piotr runs into the cavern from the adjoining tunnel to see the creature. His first reactionary shot hits the creature but it's tough and curved hide deflects it aside as it barely notices the blow.

((Sev and Piotr - since this is a narrative combat, you're free to narrate and describe how you attack, what you're aiming to accomplish and so on. Consider it akin to how a fight would read in a novel. Sev, if you could list your take-10 to hit, average damage with weapons you'd be using and roll initiative like Tycho has. I'll be factoring in both of your to hit's, average damage and so on to narrate the other half of the fight. ))

Talon scratches his chin, or whatever of it remains,  and says "Hmm..That sounded close to Necril, I give him credit for that." He then ponders the information he has about the mist,, how it can kill and raise people, it apparently whispering necril, also how it sometimes straight up eats people.
((fESD|KB_+11 for a 21 Kn Religion))

Sirru would speak up as Kanir asked his questions, responding "While he certainly may have more information, Shorn'Dal sounds quite elven, and it being from below means it was either caused by the Drow, or perhaps something even they fear. If its the later, then we are probably not going to survive this." He then sighs slightly, and peers down the crack in the wall Gillik pointed out.
((+7 for a 12 perception))
((851506 407e4a))
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With a confused look at Kanir, Gillik says, "No shade in Salisara, too dark. Mist come from below." Gillik points at one of the narrower paths that would be a difficult trek for the trio. At the mention of Shorn'dal he shakes his head and doesn't appear to show any recognition. Looking at Sirru, he shakes his head at the man's words. "Not see drow but you, for long time. Only people above." Sirru notices nothing of import down the path Gillik points out, though does notice that getting through it would suits the goblin far more than himself.

Talon's pondering only serves to confirm Kanir's suspicions - based on the information they have, the black mist sounds like a type of undead shade or shadow, albeit they usually don't appear as a gaseous cloud, nor do they consume corpses. Even the greater shadows Talon is aware of leave the bodies behind. As he's pondering, Gillik speaks up once again, saying, "Gillik show you below for food? Gillik knows path mist take, Gillik followed before. Mist come from stone." He looks between the three he's speaking to, clearly hopeful for more food.

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As the beast opens it's mouth to roar with aggression once more, Piotr's grenade sails into its gullet. It doesn't even seem to notice as it tucks it's head in, building up speed as it charges the recovering Jhoren. Just before it hits the grenade goes off and most of its momentum is abruptly wrenched upwards as it bodily convulses. Pure momentum carries its bulk smashing into Jhoren and compressing him into the wall with enough force that the creature's bulk covers him from view. Massive rents list open across it's body, bloody tears trailing back from its mouth as it semi-collapses.

It weakly tries to rise, animal incomprehension and fear showing in its eyes as gouts of blood laced with charred fleshy chunks spill from its wounds. Silently and with an expression of grim determination, Cassia rushes towards the creature, her sword neatly carving along its flank before she pushes away from it, clearing herself from Piotyr's next attack. At a safe distance, and with Jhoren barely visible crumpled on the floor and covered in a light dusting of rocks, she yells out to Piotr, "Kill it."

"I agree, Kanir. Let us check this one first" Talon would say, slightly motioning towards the crack. He would then put his hand on Kanir's shoulder and lean in slightly, whispering "While food is slightly more difficult, don't worry about water. I can always make more. As for food, if it comes down to it we may have to..scavenge." He would flick his dagger up slightly as he said the last part.

Sirru, upon hearing the other two, would first peak into the crack itself, then ready his longspear leveled out in front of him and begin leading the way into the dark. He would poke at anything that seems overly suspicious, making sure to warn the others as the followed of anything far ahead he saw with his superior darkvision.
((Take 10 for a 17 Perception, 120ft Darkvision))
((851506 407e4a))

"If go other way, Gillik stay." the little goblin says in response to Kanir. He makes his way over to where he was hiding and picks up a small piece of bone and a little knife, easing himself down slowly into a sitting position. "If Gillik needed, Gillik here carving." he says, going back to work on his next little trinket.

Sirru, looking down the traversable path, sees that it's no longer than ten feet before it branches away to the left at a slight downward slope. It's somewhat tricky going and uncomfortable at times but entirely doable. Several rocky formations jutting down from the top of the tunnel are surreptitiously tested with the spear and revealed to be just rock rather than an unfortunately placed darkmantle. It's not too far before it opens out to a relatively small cavern, no more than fifteen feet in any dimension. The far wall has a host of pick and shovel marks and with the rubble over the floor it looked like excavation had been going on.

In the middle of the partially excavated wall appears to be a chest half uncovered with the side unceremoniously hacked off. Spilling out of it are old dusty papers that are falling apart, as well as several bone writing implements that use ink, or some other liquid. Most notable amount them is that the bone calligraphy tools share an aesthetic with the inkwell from the study - covered in scrimshawed formulas. Unlike the inkpot, these don't appear to have been taken or polished and have a patina of dust and tarnish on them. Otherwise, the room appears to be unoccupied.

Seeing Kanir cast Detect Magic, Talon would quickly follow suit. He would also gingerly check the crumbling papers, with his translator gloves if needed, to see if perhaps any more clues could be uncovered. After this he would inspect the bone calligraphy tools, cleaning some off with prestidigitation to better see the formulas, and checking ones that seem stained to see if they were really using ink, or perhaps blood.
KedoAKNH+11 for a 21 Spellcraft on anything picked up with Detect Magic
+11 for a 26 Linguistics on the papers along with Translator gloves
+11 for a 15 Kn Arcana on the formulas
+10 for a 12 Craft: Tattoo check to determine the material used on the calligraphy tools.

Along with the other two, Sirru would also quickly use detect magic in the room. However, instead of investigating the contents of the old chest with them, He would keep an eye out for danger while investigating the excavated room. In particular he would be looking for anything that seemed more out of place then the rest of the room, perhaps a sign of a secret door or if it seems that this place was dug simply to get to this chest.
+7 for a 19 perception to search the room.
((851506 407e4a))
Edit:
Will Save, as requested
+4 for a 22
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Upon learning that the ancient documents do in fact seem to be written by someone other than the person in the settlement and properly aged, and not detecting the sort of aura that he had encountered in his previous journeys, Kanir breathes a slight sigh of relief. "At least time seems to be flowing normally," he says to no one in particular.

He turns his attention to the curious tunnel. He has studied enough about illusion effects to know that such spells do not generally linger unless someone is actively maintaining it. "Look sharp, boys," he says to the others. "We may not be alone here. Whatever lies down this tunnel clearly does not want to be found." As he says this, he conveys a sense of wariness to Scragg, at which the weasel's head pokes out of the satchel and begins darting back and forth.

Meanwhile, he examines the tunnel more closely. Who (or what) could have carved it out?

Perception:
Kanir: vbAOhuEb + 8
Scragg: + 8

Knowledge check on the tunnel:
(+10 Arcana, +7 Dungeoneering, +5 Engineering, +5 Geography, +4 Nature)··

Though Kanir is unable to draw a match as to what could have made the tunnel, Talon is at least sure it wasn't an ankheg - the spirals are too precise and look like they were etched into the tunnel walls after whatever caused the blackening of the rock. They looks so very incredibly perfect in all particulars, with no variations or deviations. Whatever carved them was impressively precise. With all of Kanir's knowledge largely drawing a blank, he can only surmise it may be planar in origin, guessing similarly for the scorch marks. These, at least, are irregular and Talon can see that whatever caused them likely melted its way through the rock considering how smooth it is.

As Sirru carefully leads down the tunnel the spiral markings become more noticeable, though nothing seems to differentiate them from those that came before. It's not long before sigils and glyphs accompany the lines, also impossibly precise. Their appearance matches a curious blend of the writing on the implements and papers and Necril, which Talon is able to read without his gloves. Though largely nonsensical in terms of structure, they all appear to be benedictions and venerations for 'Shorn'dal' and 'the cycle' continuing, or being propagated. There's almost a resonance for Talon, who feels a slight bout of vertigo as he reads along the inscriptions.

No more than 5 minutes down the tunnel it takes a downwards turn at a severe angle, going almost straight down immediately. From below comes a warm light, as well as a crackling hissing noise and the occasional sharp crack of splitting stone that the trio easily identify as rocks splitting under intense heat. The ambient temperature also drastically rises closer to the hole, with it being warm enough to cause those nearby to sweat freely. For anyone glancing down the hole quickly, so as to minimise being seen in return, it is revealed that there is a large and brightly lit smoothed out cavern below, absolutely infested with multiple rock-like serpentine creatures, their conical heads glowing white hot with heat.

((Will save for Talon for the scripture. Knowledge Planes for identifying both the cause of the smooth tunnel and serpentine creatures below, as they're the same.))

Talon, upon glancing around the caverns, would stumble somewhat as he looks at the scriptures. He would oddly continue to stumble over towards the drop, where he would then look over the strange creatures, racking his brain for any information on them. He'd then unhitch his heavy crossbow and proceed to load it, keeping it at a resting position but ready to aim if need be.
yiUTndcd+10 for a 14 will save vs the text, +7 for a 9 to learn what these things are.

Sirru, upon seeing the weird cone-headed rock serpents would keep his spear at the ready, in case any decided to come investigate them instead. He'd stay back to where they couldn't see him, but would keep an ear out to listen if they decide to travel back up.
+7 for a 19 perception
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