[Sat Feb 02 20:34:25 GMT 2002]

Tollong wakes "well what now lets head back into the darkness

Borathor looks over at Bilgrom and smiles, Yes lucky indeed. I am still wondering who they serve and when that person or being will return to find us here."

Bilgrom glances at the metal and shakes his head; "This nay bode well. I's see more metallic creatures in a very near future. Do ye not think the mage was their owner? And them's were commanded to snatch whomever decides t' come by?" Rubbing his forehead as he tries to have a look down the passage they have not yet crossed. "Ye want t' move on right away? We's got lucky them giant metal scorpions were not after killing' us. But only makin' us prisoners!"

Jarl looks about "well if we can stay away from them and find a way out of this places that be to me liking" as he collects his stuff and readies to move on

Bilgrom looks over at the mage and cleric, which he was aiming his question at.

[Tollong]: "ok then wake the others and lets move on"

[Borathor]: "I think that we are far from that mage and his dwelling. This place has a strange familiar smell. I can't place it yet, but if my gut is right we are far from that place for sure." grinning at the thought of where he could be...

[Balthazar]: "So, do we have any reason to remain here?"

Jarl nods "me thinking that if that mage made them he must have a way to control them or at least talk with them hmm"

Tollong grabs his torch an lights it with his flint an steal "ok Bor an I well take the lead if that is ok with him an lets get moving"

[Balthazar]: "Well yes, unless they are given a command to follow when they are created. But that would be alot of effort for something not too useful."

Bilgrom keeps eyeing Syrenia, waiting to see if she requires more time to memorize new spells or what.

Borathor looks to the unexplored area and points, "Well, if we are all ready we should get moving along."

[Balthazar]: "I'm ready to go, I'm just curious to know if we are heading in, or out."

[Tollong]: "well not an way out back the way we came so on this way"

Bilgrom nods to them and shrugs as he looks at Tollong, "If I's only could see in t' dark like me cousin." He murmurs to himself.

Jarl looks about the stone-works "aye me as well. Will let ye knows when me knows"

[Balthazar]: "Ah yes. The portal."

[Borathor]: Hearing Balthazar's words he turns to Jarl as if expecting the dwarf to know if we are heading up or down.

[Tollong]: "well here little one carry this torch I made"

Syrenia intently reads her spellbook, taking no notice of what is going on around her.

Bilgrom shakes his head at Tollong, "I's wield two weapons at once. One else should be carrying' t' light!"

[Jarl]: "me will keep a lookout, and let you know if I spots anything worked into the stones as well as depth of this place"

Borathor sits and patiently waits for Syrenia to finish her studies. While standing there he begins to think of the adventures past. The scorpions were something he had seen before and the smell seems to get more and more familiar. He then blurts out, "Has anyone heard of Waterdeep, City of splendors? It is really a wonderful place that I would love to see again."

[Balthazar]: "I was taught of it during my training."

[Jarl]: "well we be at about 50 feet down, lookin to be mostly natural make. "

[Balthazar]: "It is the major trade city on the upper sword coast."

Most of you are tired and worn from the past few encounters not getting much sleep over the past few days you wait for the others to ready up and move out forgoing sleep once more and valuable time in the search of the unknown dungeons.

Borathor looks to Balthazar and smiles, "Right you are!"

[Balthazar]: "I know little about it though."

Bilgrom laughs at Borathor as he drops to the ground and sits up against the wall next to the passage. "I's rather love t' see the light for now. Then perhaps pay a visit. To the city."

Kirarae rests aside the wall, waiting for the others. "I wonder how that Ruffus guy got out or is he still down here?"

[Jarl]: "Bah! Well know cities be for me why ye wants to see the Deep Water?"

[Borathor]: "Soon enough Bilgrom...soon enough. I think we are near my home. These passages have a familiar feel about them. I spent a great deal of time in them a while back, something not easily forgotten."

Balthazar shrugs "I don’t know either. Kirarae something tells me the scoundrel knows more about this place than he let on though."

Borathor goes on..."If we are near my home then the passages we are in are massive and we could be down here a long time if not permanently. "

[Tollong]: "good at least one of us think we are almost out of the forsaken place"

Kirarae nods, "great just where I wanted to spend my day." Twisting his head to turn and look at the dwarf.

[Borathor]: "Scoundrel!" he blurts out as he turns to Balthazar, "Would you care to defend that remark?"

[Jarl]: "ye, should have asked him more questions before letting him go. And someone needs to watch our backs for him as well. Are we ready to leave yet?" Looking about

[Balthazar]: "I don't know much about dungeons, but I suppose we should keep a lookout for well maintained passages, stairs up, or portals of any sort."

Kirarae laughs, "Not you fool Ruffus the guy Tollong let out of his prison cell near the water."

Balthazar arches an eyebrow at Borathor "I was talking about Ruffus. The elf stank of evil as much as an orc."

[Tollong]: "bash that man will not mess with us as long as we stay together so stay together"

Borathor looks at Balthazar and smiles, "You have my apologies. I have had little rest and I am not in the best frame of mind." He then looks over at Syrenia to see her progress.

Bilgrom rubs his chin as he looks up at Borathor and shrugs, "I's thought ye elven types did not lime mountains?"

Balthazar nods and gets back to making sure his equipment is in good order.

Kirarae yawns, "Yeah well were not in the mountains now aren't we little one. We are under one."

[Borathor]: After a long yawn accompanied by some red watery eyes, Borathor looks over at Kirarae and laughs, "I think they are contagious>."

Jarl takes this time to look over his weapons and armor for any wear or breaks that might have happen in the last few days

You throw questions and options around for a few hours before the lass begins to show she's almost ready to go on.

Tollong looks about the group shaking his head "all this wasted time"

Syrenia yawns as she looks up from her book..."Well you're all still here." She smiles as she gets up and dusts herself off a little..."I'm ready."

[Tollong]: "great lets go I am ready to be rid of this place"

Borathor takes note of Syrenia and he too stands and looks around. "Ok, I'm ready too, so let’s get out of here"

Tollong takes up the lead

[Jarl]: "if one does not prepare for the tasks ahead then one should be prepared to fail" as he finishes his once over of his armor

Bilgrom glances over at Jarl, then back at Syrenia. He pushes himself up and fetches his blades, "Ya. We decided t' stay after all. Say, ye still use tha' magic blade o' yours?" He points to her dagger, interested.

Jarl stands ready to move on

Syrenia starts to walk then suddenly stops..."Oops I forgot."

Borathor watches Tollong walk out ahead of Syrenia and sighs, "I think we need Syrenia to check things out as we move, just to be safe"

Balthazar sheaths his sword, obviously not satisfied with his attempts to remove the notch left by the hit on the metal scorpion.

Syrenia begins to chant in her arcane language again and before anyone in the group as time to sigh...a white light covers her for a moment before disappearing. Puts away her spellbook and then nods..."Now I'm ready."

[Tollong]: "it is safe for a way back to where I found those monster"

Heading off the left side of the room you make your way down a passage leading straight several yards before splitting off in three directions left, right, and dead ahead.

Borathor looks at the intersection and inspects the ground. He looks the area over being careful not to step into the intersection itself.

Balthazar takes position as rear guard.

Syrenia leans against the wall as Borathor looks at the ground..."Anything?"

Tollong also examines the ground for any sign of Ruffus "I don’t see anything around

Observing the area the strong smell acid flows through the air, being to thick to determine which way it is coming from.

Bilgrom moves over into each passage, he perks an ear up and listens carefully, motioning the others to keep it low as he does so. He also brings his ear to the wall, inspecting for noises.

Syrenia moves over to Jarl and asks him..."Hey Dwarf.... Got any healing spells left?"

Borathor looks at Syrenia and replies, "Just scratch marks on the floor from the scorpion"

[Tollong]: "well witch way should we go?"

Syrenia nods to Borathor.

Tollong looks to the group "well witch way will it be?"

Syrenia scratches her chin..."Right...no, no left" She rolls her eyes..."Just pick one..."

Bilgrom points to the left passage, "Let's be makin' it simple and go down tha' way. Left t' right."

[Borathor]: "Ok the marks on the floor all stop before each passage as if the creatures never entered these areas"

[Tollong]: "ok left it is " Tollong starts down the left passage

Kirarae shakes his head, "Let’s go straight." Laughing to the others.

[Balthazar]: "None seem worse than the others, so I'd have to agree. Whatever way."

Syrenia turns to Borathor as she follows..."Someone else's territory?"

Borathor looks to Jarl, "Do any of the passages slope upwards compared to the others?

Bilgrom quickly follows, hopping from one foot to the other, trying to see ahead but the two burly warriors stopping his view.

Borathor thinks a moment, "Because if so we should take that one. I also think that Bilgrom should go ahead and check these passages for anything dangerous"

Syrenia raises an eyebrow..."Bilgrom?" Puts her hands on her hips and looks at Borathor angrily..."Why him?"

Tollong comes back out of the left passage "nothing down there just a room of stone"

Bilgrom nods to the others as he grabs the torch from whoever's hand. He slowly but surely makes his way down the left passage, as silent as he is able to. He waves the torch at the ground to inspect it for any treacherous traits.

Balthazar shifts his weight on his feet.

[Borathor]: "Well one of you should and I figure you aren't that intrigued with that sort of thing anymore" He blushes a little trying to wiggle his way out of the situation.

[Tollong]: "I will go down the center passage now anyone going to follow me this time?"

Kirarae snickers, "He short and plump better eating then the rest of us."

Balthazar waves for everyone to follow Bilgrom tired of standing around.

Syrenia grunts at Borathor before heading to the passage on the right.

Tollong follows Syrenia down the left passage "glad to see you moving again my lady"

Balthazar rolls his eyes as he sees the party split up and just stands at the intersection, waiting for everyone to finish.

Bilgrom quickly strides back and joins with the others, where he gives the torch back and draws his dagger again, he shrugs and decides not to try leading again he just watches, listening.

Syrenia begins to make her way down the right passage leaving the dead ahead, passage alone.

Borathor moves along behind Syrenia....

Balthazar follows, staying behind everyone to protect the rear.

Proceeding down the right passage it runs some 50 feet or so before turning to the left and ending at a dead end some 30 feet away.

[Borathor]: "Syrenia, you want me tie the usual rope off, just in case?"

Balthazar grunts as he sees the others turn back. "Back to the middle passage?"

Borathor looks at the dead end and then to the ground as if expecting to see something else. He takes a long look at the area while thinking.

Bilgrom looks about the passage and shakes his head as he pushes against the walls around, "There must be an way. Somewhere."

Syrenia shakes her head to Borathor..."I've got a spell if that happens..."

[Tollong]: "this cant be right the only other way is to go back to the water an see where it goes unless one of the dead ends be a magic cover"

Syrenia makes her way to the dead end and begins to run her hands over it.

Jarl studies the walls and the floor for any signs of hidden passages or triggers

Borathor raises an eyebrow to Syrenia and her I don't need the rope attitude and laughs. "Ok, then I am glad you seem confident in your magic"

Tollong looks at the walls running his hands over them

[Borathor]: After looking over the area he shrugs and replies, "I don’t see any secrete passages here, or tracks"

You rub your hands along the walls causing little bits of dirt and rocks to fall to the floor and get your hands dirty nothing seems to happen or is found.

[Balthazar]: "Perhaps the left and right were where the metal scorpions were kept."

[Jarl]: "did any of the other rooms have halls leading out to the north?"

Bilgrom shrugs as he comes back to the intersection, looking down the three halls with little concern, he scratches his head and sheaths his blades, as if not expecting much to happen.

Syrenia shrugs and says..."Back we go" before heading back to the intersection.

Jarl follows them back

[Bilgrom]: "Inspect them passages carefully. If nothing's found then we's go back."

Tollong starts back to the split an decides to go down the straight passage

Jarl tugs on his beard "well why don't we look in the other two northern rooms, he heads that way

Valin follows along still feeling pretty tired.

[Balthazar]: "That's the coffin room and the one next to it. The only place we haven’t visited carefully is the room with the lake, I think."

Tollong heads off down the dead ahead passage making his way off into the darkness as most of you stand in the center hub of caves.

Syrenia follows along...

Balthazar follows Tollong.

Valin is following Jarl.

Borathor moves along with Syrenia...keeping to himself mostly.

Jarl smiles and mumbles "smart lad"

Balthazar follows Tollong to reveal the area by the light of his sword. It appears Tollong has walked out into the middle of an acid filled room standing upon a small bridge like path only a foot and a half thick. He is currently facing away from you.

[Tollong]: "well I bet the monsters never came in here

Valin remains quiet, obviously still quite distraught and nervous over the fact that they are still in the cave. " Hmmm..... I wonder what time of day it is outside..."

Balthazar walks a bit further in, looking to see if the acid has any chance of seeping over the bridge.

Looking at his feet you see the shimmering of what looks like a faint glimpse of a floor covering the area. The path continues beyond you light source.

[Balthazar]: "Tollong! Is there anything further on?"

[Tollong]: 'yes "as he keeps going onward

Most are still in the hub, only Tollong as entered the area with Balthazar only a few feet in.

Balthazar follows Tollong onto the bridge and beyond.

Syrenia follows in behind Tollong.

Jarl looks about and follows the others, but stops before the pool of acid

Borathor moves along with Syrenia...

Bilgrom moves along the wall, listening down any of the passages they have not yet traveled into. He grasps his weapons again tightly and mumbles to himself with impatience.

Jarl waits for the others to checkout the acid pool area "well we ye finished there we can look in the other rooms as well the stone box room be a good start"

Bilgrom dangles from one feet to the other and hums a small tune as he moves around trying to find the area they have yet to visit, lost in the cavern's maze.

Tollong heads for the light

Syrenia moves straight ahead from the three-way intersection...

Borathor moves along with Syrenia...

Jarl stays with the largest grouping in a split, grumbling all the way

Syrenia drags Borathor along as she joins up with Balthazar and Tollong.

Kirarae looks into the area, 'You thinks its safe everyone climbing out on that little path above bubbling acid that’s only a foot or so wide. I'll wait here call me when you get to the other side."

Jarl grumbles along muttering that at least we aren't in the forest anymore

Balthazar keeps walking across, his arms spread to help his balance, until he's across.

Jarl doesn’t cross any acid at this time

Following along the small winding path you see it runs straight up to the far wall of the area going no where to the visible eye.

Valin is not crossing the acid either.

Tollong pokes at the end of the path with the tip of his sword

Valin waits patiently beside Jarl, watching those who dare brave the acid walk farther away.

Balthazar arrives at the far wall.

Jarl stands away from the acid. He watches the others walk along the bridge as well as about the room for that long elf or other nasties

Bilgrom decides to cross along with Balthazar, concentrated on his balance, he seems to do well.

Poking the wall causing small stones and dirt to fall into the bubbling mix below creating and extra burst of vapors into the air.

Borathor moves along with Syrenia, each step precise and balanced...

[Balthazar]: "Does the stone look loose? Maybe we can scratch a way in."

Syrenia waits for the pair to cross before giving it a try herself.

[Tollong]: "there has got to be something here where not seeing." Poking more then tries to move the dirt with his hand

Borathor looks the area over for anything suspicious...

Tollong checks the wall

Syrenia moves along with Borathor..."Hey you...keep your eyes ahead..."

Tollong checks the wall and keeps poking at it

Balthazar makes sure to give Tollong room, considering how cramped the space is.

Borathor looks ahead after hearing her words...he smiles a false smile, actually no liking the crossing one bit.

Looking around the area the only thing that seems odd or not in the norm is you and your comrades standing on a small path above a room for of unknown depth.

Tollong keeps poking at the wall

Jarl continues to watch and wait hoping to himself not to find any more metal monsters anytime soon

Borathor moves his way back to the others that chose to not cross. "I think that is a dead end. We need to get a move on"

Bilgrom proceeds into the path, inspecting its solidification’s and making sure it will not open and drop him into the boiling acid to his certain death.

Balthazar tosses a pebble into the wall to see if it falls in or bounces off. Trying to disbelieve the possible illusion.

Syrenia follows Borathor..."Ahh hell..."

Valin is standing quietly in the room with the strange path, watching for any signs of group members returning, or something else arriving.

The small stone thrown buy Balthazar bounces off the wall and falls into the acid below.

Balthazar shrugs and heads back. Unless someone's in the way, in which case he waits patiently.

Borathor nods to Valin as he steps into the room. He looks back for Syrenia and waits for her to catch up.

Valin nods to Borathor as he arrives, then looks back to see who he is looking for.

Tollong walks back out toward the split "well I am going to check the lake maybe there be a way out through there

Jarl waits for everyone to return "any luck?"

Balthazar eventually arrives safely at the other end of the path. "Well, that was a risky waste of time."

Bilgrom continues dangling on his feet, waiting for an opportunity to get the hell out of this hole.

Jarl nods his agreement to Balthazar's comment

[Balthazar]: "I suppose we should return to the lake room. I believe we didn't inspect the area completely."

Kirarae nods in agreement, "I think we should go back and try to find that other guy or at least put the damn rangers to work and track him. Otherwise start drawing straws on whose going to get wet at the lake area."

Syrenia nods to Kirarae..."Well I'm not going in. I’m a lady and all that stuff..."

Jarl will do quick, once over of the other rooms as we make are way to the lake room

[Kirarae]: "Had Tollong not cried for help we would have already been through this side by now." Begins making his way off to the coffin room.

[Tollong]: "I will take the swim I am mot scared"

Borathor looks to Syrenia and laughs...."Never stopped you before, lady. Anyway, I would swim, but I would like you to make me hidden like you do yourself before, just in case."

Balthazar leads off in point position, towards the lake room.

Syrenia nods..."That I can do but with the tomes I have...swimming wouldn't be the best idea..."

[Balthazar]: "There will be volunteers I'm sure, let's go."

Tollong starts back for the lake

Borathor nods to everyone and in agreement he walks towards the lake room...

Balthazar walks off, with an unusual amount of determination, his armor making a steady clanking sound.

Kirarae sighs, "Oh great another big debate on who gets wet. I say we just throw in Bilgrom his hands and fingers seem to be sticky anyway could use a good cleaning."

Jarl lets out a little chuckle, but nothing more

Passing through the coffin room, and into the area with the four boiling vats of malted metals, en-route to the large cavern and lake

Jarl looks, about the two rooms in passing for the number of exits leading off each of those rooms

Borathor looks at the vats again as he passes, rubbing his chin and humming very low to himself.

Arriving at the lake once more you see the two ruined remains of the metal monsters. Looking off to the right you see a small spot of land out near the center of its waters. Passing by the area the first time in order to feel safer resting you now have the chance to get a better look.

[Tollong]: "well I will start for that center island someone follow me" Starts into the water

Balthazar stops and turns to the others, a smile on his face. Rubbing his hands together he says, "Who wants to swim first for re-con?" Shrugs as he sees Tollong go, and waits.

[Bilgrom]: "Get on there if ye's be wantin' to. Might be another' portal. Like t' other one we's came from."

Tollong starts his swim to the small island and seams to be doing well