Selvin stayed still up on the wall above where he had flown up. His eyes narrowed as he took in the pair that emerged, especially the woman. She seemed otherworldly, but in a different way than he was...but he also noted the chains. He didn't like slavery. Not one bit.

For the moment, however, he gave Zuni a chance to talk to them...and filed away to ask her about the 'Lady' bit, if it was real.

OOC: Trying to see if he seems to be telling the truth or not.
11:00, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 16 using 1d20.  Sense Motive.

Zuni didn't trust the man but she wasn't about to let it show.  She did not need to give his offer too much thought.  "I think that pooling our resources would be mutually beneficial.  You mentioned that you were looking for something?  What might that be?  We can help you look."

OOC:
Sense Motive -> 20

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 30):

Knowledge, he says with little hesitation.

He says it easily and with no hint of hesitation.  Either he's a very good liar or he is sincere in his offer.  Of course, he doesn't seem chatty about what the 'knowledge' he is looking for is.

He gestures around the larger chamber.  This room was probably used as a divination chamber of sorts. At least that's my guess based on what I see. He smiles blandly.  Is that the sort of information you came here in search of?

I'm back.  Let's move along

Izzick and Belgar, you watch the exchange between Zuni and Today's Frenemy special, probably with some caution.  It is that same caution that causes both of you to turn to look behind you, though for different reasons.

You both hear the footsteps coming down the hall you came from. As you turn you see Krojun and his band of merry men coming down the hallway.

But Belgar you notice something else as well.  It sounds like a swish of water.  Nothing loud.  Just a small swish.  You look at the pool and see some movement to the water, but nothing indicating trouble.

"A divination chamber you say?" Zuni says.  She has no idea if this was true or not but she still gives the chamber a quick look around.  Could he be some manner of Cleric?  If he was telling the truth then a Cleric would certainly be knowledgable in that area.Perhaps she could pry a little more and get a better measure of the man.  "And how did you come to that conclusion?  I don't see anything here that might suggest that but I have to admit that I have little knowledge of the design of divination chambers."

OOC: Sorry, could have sworn I posted, but the unfinished post was still in my Scratchpad, sigh.


Selvin's eyes narrowed as he listened to the Chelaxian. He didn't trust him. He didn't fault the man's ancestry as he had no stones to throw in the regard. There was just something about him that rubbed Selvin the wrong way - oh, and of course there was the fact that man seemed to be a slave-owner.

But then the situation changed and that fricking idiot came in to the room, the stupid barbarian who wouldn't leave them alone. Selvin let out a quiet frustrated growl and muttered, "Oh, you gotta be kiddin' me. I'm sure he isn't here t'cause us trouble."

He then landed next to Zuni and set himself where he could see both Krojun and the fat man, visibly ready for a fight.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 34):

And what do we have here? Krojun throws his hands wide, as if surprised and delighted at your presence.  If it isn't everyone's favorite Outsiders?  And who's this?  A couple of new faces?  We should really have a cookout.

The Chelaxian is quiet a moment and then cocks an eyebrow.  Friend of yours? he says to you all.

Krojun barks a laugh but says nothing.  Nor does he make any other movements.  His men stand behind him, just as still.

"Well, we are looking to become family." That said, friends was hardly the word he'd call Krojun. Enemy? Nemesis at this point? No that was certainly still the queen. "And what reason to you have to follow us here Krojun? I can't imagine that you came all this way just for us. Or are you that interested in helping us out?" Oblivious to the sounds in the water, he stayed looking at the Moon-clan barbarian who'd been following them for days. He'd hoped the guides would keep him out. Or fears of trespassing on holy territory.

Selvin looked at the Cheliax man and quietly said, "More of a stalker really."

He smiled and spoke loudly to the group entering, turning to face them. "Ah, good, Krojun. You're finally here. I thought we were gonna have t'wait here all day for you. How nice of you t'watch the door for us."

He turned to his companions, "We should ignore him an' keep movin'."

Zuni couldn't help but roll her eyes at Krojuns entrance.  Why did he feel the need to follow them down here?  "He's really too obnoxious to ignore." She responded to Selvin.

Putting a pleasant smile back on her face, Zuni turned and made a sweeping gesture towards Krojun.  "Count Sial, Asyra.  May I introduce you to Krojun.  He happens to be travelling in the same direction as we are.  Krojun, this is Count Sial and his lovely assistant Asyra."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 38):

Assistant? Looks like only the first three letters of that are right

Sial smirks darkly at Krojun's comment while Asyra simply titters and blows a kiss in the Ashlander's direction.

Oh good. We're goin' high brow now, huh? Uh...lissen guys. Or look guys is more like it. <Aqua> Chandanar returns your stares and then glances at his left hand. It is pointing at the pool. <Aqua>I mean that literally. Look. There.

There is definite movement under the murky waters of the pool. And not just in one spot.

The half orc turned as Chandenar pointed, "Uh oh." Whatever was under the water was bad news and his brain was already trying to figure out which way he should face while they were flanked by Krojun and that. Taking a second look, he decided even Krojun had to be better than giant shadows hidden beneath waves...at least by a margin. "Krojun, are you here for something in particular? Or can we just ignore you while we handle this?"

Zuni shot Krojun a look composed of many, many sharp daggers.  So Asyra was really putting it all out there with that little bit of nothing that she was almost wearing, and from the looks of it she liked the attention, but Zuni was finding Krojuns behavior to be more and more grating.  She briefly thought about tossing Krojun into the water at the bottom of the room but that would probably just make him annoying and wet.

Zuni lowered her voice, hoping that only her companions could hear her.  "Get ready to back out of this room but let's wee what we're up against first."  She looked over at Lord Sial.  "Do you have any idea what that could be?" she asked, pointing towards the water.

Sial is studying the water with narrowed eyes. He shakes his head at Zuni's question.

Krojun looks at the pool as well. He makes some signal to his men and they all draw weapons. Krojun mutters Yeah. Let's consider the flirtin' on hold until....this... He seems lost for words and shrugs, hoisting a spear as he watches the pool.

Neither he nor Sial seem to have any inkling of what's going on.

The water in the pools suddenly begins to froth and rock in it's basin. Then several largecolumns shoot forth from the bottoms of the pool.

Oh no. Wait. Those 'columns' are sort of rubbery and slimy. The tips of them are curled into odd barbed hooks. They smell...off. Not nauseating. Just...not right. You can't place your finger on it. It's a bit like walking into a field of lavendar only to find all the flowers smelled like garlic. That's the scent these giant tentacles give off. They just aren't right. Eight of them emerge from the water and bounce off the ceiling. Ten more seem to be coming up from below on their heels. Each tentacle is as thick around as a half orc necromancer or a barbarian asshole.

In short, this looks like a bad way to start off your exploration of these ruins.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 42):

I am going at init 6. Ya'll go

Would Izzick recognize this?
02:11, Today: Izzick rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Knowledge Arcana.
Figure it can't hurt to try and guess.

His hands moved in arcane gestures and immediately the tentacles came under a barrage of fire, searing the pillars of bizarre barbed flesh with twin rays of flame as he finished speaking the words of the spell. "Sial, Asyra, Krojun? Any of you have a good way to cut these down to size. Looks like more are on the way."

02:16, Today: Izzick rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Scorching Ray 1.
02:17, Today: Izzick rolled 13 using 4d6+1.  Ray 1.

02:16, Today: Izzick rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Scorching Ray 2.
02:18, Today: Izzick rolled 21 using 4d6+1.  Ray 2.
(OF COURSE, I do almost max damage on the one that probably doesn't hit)

These are touch attacks, and if it matters, I'll hit two different tentacles.

Selvin, for some reason, was a bit slower to react than the others. Maybe he'd just been watching Krojun so intently, that he missed the pool. He let out a roar and flew in at the tentacles, biting, clawing and stinging at them as quickly and ferociously as he could.

In blur of motion, Zuni drew her blade and slipped into a readied stance.  "Careful Selvin." She said after her companion.  Those tentacles looked nasty and smelled wrong.  "Anyone have any idea of what this is?"

OOC:
Initiative ->27
Ready Action to attack any Tentacle that comes within reach

Izzick, these are beyond your experience. They are definitely not of this world. But from where?

As you and Selvin slam into them, the whole mass seems to react. As a whole, they head towards Selvin. Because he is airborne, he is able to manuever out from under them. But lkke a wave breaking against the beach, the mass begins to duverge and speead outwards.

More are breaking the surfa e.

Sial scowls. This is unnatural. In the worst kind of way. We need to flee this chamber. He eyes the door to the east. To get there you'll need to rush through the worst of the tentacle mass.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 47):

Krojun snarls and motions his men to head back the way they came. HEY SLIMY TOES! OVER HERE!<Blue> he yells, flining his spear into one tentacle and a torch into another one. The tentacles turn his way. <Blue>Now! RUN! You think this time he's yelling at you.

Chandanar gulps. I think he's giving us an opening? Run further in? Or back outside?

Selvin didn't run, at least not right away (nor fly away as the case would be for him). "Krojun, unless yer comin' in deeper with us, you should get your people outta here!" He looked at his teammates, "We ain't done here yet, so let's get goin' deeper inside, yah?"

He then attacked the creature again and moved slightly away.

"He's doing what?"  Zuni chanced a glance over at Krojun.  Why was he helping them?  "I knew that you really liked us, Krojun."  Zuni said and made a dash for the other end of the chamber.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 50):


The Tentacles dive first after the retreating Krojun, then at Selvin, who performs a last dash-and-slash, before following the rest of you into the door to the east.  Sial and his companion elect to go with you.

The door is thick stone but swings open as easily as a well oiled house gate.  As the last of you make it inside, the door is shut with a satisfying THUD sound. From behind it, you can hear the tentacles whipping around the room like a sand storm in a tornado.

You are standing in a bare room whose only feature is glowing hole in the floor.  The hole it the entrance to a shaft that leads down into the earth.  The light comes from the sides of the shaft and appear to be the result of some enchantment.  The shaft sniffs benign to your more magically inclined members.  Some slight alteration magic designed to allow the shaft to be used as an elevator of sorts.  You can ascend or descend by stepping over the lip of the hole.  The magic will either slow your descent or raise you up from below.

Sial studies the hole and peers down the shaft.  I think it is safe enough.  Though what lies below...Well.  Would you like me to go first?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Tue 27 June 2017.

Izzick inhaled as they entered the 'safe' room. At least the tentacles didn't sound like they could get through and that was a relief. He took a look around. This was certainly a strange place and even as he moved over to the mystical passageway, he gave it the ok of safety. At least, as far as he could tell. "Maybe just a minute to catch our breath first. And maybe figure out the hells Krojun was doing here. And the hells that was..."

Is Krojun with us or did he retreat outside?

Selvin deftly, and barely, avoided the probing thrashing tentacles after he bit and clawed and stung the things some more. Then he pulled back and headed after his allies...and some strangers along with them. He barely pulled his tail in before the door would have slammed shut on it! He was panting heavily as he landed and caught his breath, trying to let the adrenaline fade.

I don't...know what...it was...but it was...unhappy. Heh." He gave a weak grin.

He grimaced at Sial. "Hells no! You're not some expendable cannon fodder. If we ain't all goin' t'gether, I'll go first."