Move 381:  Climbing the Walls

Smooth Caverns--Early, Day 38 (Marpenoth 21)

Azrun scaled the wall in front of them, taking out one of the light stones so he could see around the dark areas all around them. From a little farther back, near where they had last heard Echo's voice, there were quiet skittering noises followed by a soft thud.

Azrun sat down on the wall to get his bearings, "I think we need to back out and try another path. I can see something but I'm not sure what it is. If we go back to the entrance of the tunnel and skirt to the left I think we can find another path...I think." With that, he slid back down the wall to the floor.

Jana whirled around at the sound of the thud and started backtracking, moving her feet in a slow, shuffling motion and crouched over, hands in front of her. "Echo? Echo, say something," she whispered.

"Yes, what was that sound?" Blacky asked as well.

"Ow," Echo replied.

"I'm okay," she added quickly. "Don't step on me."

Jana stopped and whispered, "You're sure you're okay? Forget the wall. If it seems important, we'll bring Aloysius and those boots of his in here and let him float up."

"So, we are going into the unexplored branch which is nearest the main entrance to this cave?" Renn asked quietly.

"If Echo's absolutely sure she's not hurt, that's fine by me," Jana whispered.

Azrun got down from the wall he was on, and Echo seemed to be all right. The group retreated out of the dead-end passageway and took the next turn they came to. About one hundred feet in, two more walls brought their choice of paths up to three. Down the path farthest to their left, at what seemed to be the center of the cavern, they could see something that looked somewhat like a tree, twelve feet in height, but nobbled and irregular, really more like a tree crafted by someone who had heard about but never seen a tree.  Instead of wood and leaves, it seemed to be formed of roseate crystal and sprouted large bloodstones like fruit on its limbs.

"Oh, wow," Jana murmured. "Echo, are those things like, gems? Real ones?" She chuckled. "Money growing on trees, who'd'a thunk it."

"That looks promising. Anyone know what it is?" Blacky asked

"I need to get a closer look to be sure," Echo said.   "But it looks like it. This place is so strange."

"Can someone come with me?" she asked. "I don't want to go up to it by myself."

"Okay," Jana agreed. "Uhm, where are you? Uhm, well, since you can see me, I'll just walk over there and you come with me, 'kay?" Jana walked toward the 'tree', sword out and moving slowly.

Azrun stood back watching the tree, "Maybe Renn should go since he has that danger sense spell going. Not that you couldn't protect her, Jana......anyway, I can cast a detect Magic if need be."

"Jana and Renn could go," Echo said. "Maybe all of us should go. A detect magic is a good idea too."

"I've felt nothing so far," Renn said from the side of the tunnel. "But let's see what happens when we get closer. I'm ready if everyone else is."

"Good with me," Jana agreed.

Azrun nodded, "I'll drop a detect magic once we get close to it."

"Might as well. I betcha something bad happens if we pick the 'fruit'." Blacky commented

The group approached the crystal tree, hoping to get a better look at its gemstone fruit. Renn suddenly called out a very brief word of warning as a creature lunged out of one of the nearby walls towards them. It stood a little less than the height of a man and had a wide body that looked to be made of stone, with a large mouth on the top of its head. The creature had three stumpy legs and three long arms symmetrically positioned around its body.

"Oh, crap." Jana turned to face the creature. "Any ideas?" If the creature continued toward them, Jana hacked at it twice with her sword.

Azrun backed away, watching the creature wearily, "Let's back up a bit and see what it does?"

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