New Campaign: Athelos Darkening

[BMR]

You use up the rest of the healing in the rod, leaving it "dry" for the rest of the day.

Everyone + 1 HP

(OOC: There's 1 hp left in the rod, who gets it? Or does it really matter?)

For now, there does not seem to be an impending threat, but one of the kobolds, the one shooting magically cold arrows, managed to escape down the western passage.

You listen for any sounds that might indicate a coming threat, but the caverns are silent for now.

[Bob the Hamster]

Beardthar groans, and dabs at his remaining wounds, and then fetches the grapnel and rope that they had been using previously for trap detection, and resumes the tedious task of flinging it ahead into the dark up the north passage.

[BMR]

You continue down the northern passage, with the grappling hook and rope though you don't encounter any further traps along the way. Half an hour of this passes, with nothing of note happening. It may be possible that there are no more kobolds, but that's probably very unlikely.

Soon, you come to a fork in the pass. The east seems to lead to a dead end, though there are a few crude sleeping bags there, probably used by the kobolds. The western path narrows to a space only just wide enough for a man to squeeze through. The air here is getting cooler, and looking back you notice that the path you were on is on an upwards incline.

The map you have says that the temple lies to the west.

[Bob the Hamster]

Does anybody have a guess as to how long we have been down here? I feel like it can't be night yet, but I rather lost track of time. Maybe we should rest before we go on?

[Gizmog]

I'm not sure how well I could rest down here. Feels kinda spooky..

[Spoonweaver]

It feels like it's only been a couple hours, calm down. In any case, sleeping here would most likely be more dangerous than shambling through here half asleep.

[Newbie Newtype]

Peanut finally chimes in, not having said much after the battle until now, "Let's make sure we secure the area first! I wouldn't want any dwarven zombies or other nasty monsters waking us up."

[BMR]

Listen (1d20 + Ranks + WIS)

• Akbar: 18 + 0 + 1 + 1 = 20 Success
  Beardthar: 2 + 0 + 3 + 2 = 7 Fail
  Peanut: 8 + 4 + 1 + 2 = 15 Fail
  Spittle: 12 + 0 + 0 = 12 Fail
  Tim-Tim: 18 + 0 + 3 + 2 = 23 Success

The area is mostly silent, though in the distance, to the south west down the passage you have not yet gone through, you hear the sound of a crackling fire. It's not a very big fire by the sounds of it, only perhaps a small camp fire to heat a meal over.


Spot (1d20 + Ranks + WIS)

• Akbar: 10 + 0 + 1 + 1 = 12 Fail
  Beardthar: 1 + 5 + 3 = 9 Fail
  Peanut: 10 + 5 + 1 = 16 Success
  Spittle: 13 + 0 + 0 = 13 Fail
  Tim-Tim: 5 + 0 + 3 = 8 Fail

Though it's dark, you notice that the moss here is rather sparser than the entrance. Perhaps this area of the caves sees more traffic, thus not allowing the moss to grow as thickly.


Knowledge (Nature) (1d20 + Ranks + INT)

• Akbar: 5 + 0 + -1 = 4 Fail
  Beardthar: 14 + 6 + 1 = 21 Success
  Peanut: 15 + 5 + 2 = 22 Success
  Spittle: 18 + 0 + 1 = 19 Fail
  Tim-Tim: 3 + 0 + 1 = 4 Fail

Among the moss you notice some fungus growing. One of the mushrooms there is familiar to you. You're not completely sure, as there are other mushrooms with similar colorations and physical features, but you're reasonably certain that this particular mushroom can drive one to a berserk rage when consumed. Considering the kobold's "bravery" in the battle, these mushrooms may account for such.

[Bob the Hamster]

Beardthar looks closely at the mushrooms gowing near the Kobold camp.

Huh. I'll bed those kobolds were snacking on berzerker-mushrooms. No wonder they were so unkoboldly ... BOLD.

Beardthar searches in his pack for the wrapper from the trail ration he ate for breakfast. Then he picks a few of the mushrooms, and carefully wraps them in the wrapper, and stows them in his spell component pouch to keep them separated from his food.

...not that I plan on eating these, but you never know when they might come in handy

[Newbie Newtype]

"I wonder if these mushrooms have caused any other problems..." He wonders, "Are they even allowed in the city?"

[Spoonweaver]

I think I hear a fire to the south west down the passage. Let's investigate.

[Gizmog]

Spittle will also pocket a few mushrooms, if there's any left.

I wonder what the fire is. I hope it isn't one of those rock-burning cults you hear about.

[Bob the Hamster]

Yes, let's go look.

[BMR]

You approach the fire. As you near it, you see that there's still a hunk of meat roasting on the spit. It's mostly charred now, though it still looks remotely edible. The other kobolds were probably cooking food here before they ran off to intercept your group.

Around the fire are a few pallets and sleeping bags. They're dirty and filthy, and are probably full of fleas and the like. Near the wall is a small leather backpack. It looks too finely made to be something the kobolds designed, so it might be something they stole from someone passing through here.

Looking around, you see no sign of movement at all.

[Spoonweaver]

Tim-Tim investigates the small leather backpack.