Re: Chapter 2, Phase 4 - Black Rock Chasm
Indrid's efforts are focused and dedicated, and after a little while of peering over his vials and jars, his mixture is completed. His initial calculations seem even exceeded by the result, and although he has yet to test the potion, he is already enthusiastic about the result. The mixture looks unstable and uncertain at first, but once it cools down, everything falls into place - sediments dissolve homogeneously, leaving the concoction a deep, clear blue. [Private to Indrid Cold: Congratulations, you've scored -11- successes on this roll - which means you've managed to develop a stable recipe that you will be able to reuse (and can name how you want). The stats for it will be (in the usual formula format) 2, Intelligence, 3, 1 Hour. For the duration (3 hours), you will be able to breathe perfectly underwater. You still will have to swim normally, but you will be able to breathe water as a native would.]
Meanwhile, Tomistoma takes his plunge to scout ahead, in order to observe what the group would be dealing with, casting his senses all around him to try to help himself get a better view of the surroundings. It takes a short while for him to get his eyesight to compensate for the blurry environment and the blackness of the water, but once it is done, he gets a pretty good image of the top of Black Rock Chasm.
The tremendous rock would have a conical shape, if it was widening consistently. Instead, it descends sharply down the depths, reaching a rock 'platform' before descending more abruptly once more. From what the Dragon King can tell, the pattern seems to repeat itself at more or less regular intervals, making it likely that the structure was shaped in this fashion by the Pelagials themselves. Whether it is for increased security or a more mundane reason, Tomistoma cannot tell, because he cannot see a single living being at this level, although there could be some further down, past the rocky 'platform'... But to see this far, he would need to separate himself considerably from the others.
Fortunately, the scouting is not fruitless - the Dragon King can readily spot the top entrances into the Chasm - three openings set around the roughly circular outcropping that serves as a platform. One of the three is likely a some sort of supply entrance, taller and wider than the other two. The only worrying part is that as far as can be seen from there, no guards are patrolling in front of any of these entrances.
[Private to Darel Arwan: There is no problem with your interpretation of Landscape Travel, either, so consider this approved. :)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Sun 22 Mar 2009.