Wrukaog grunts and steps forward to pick up the dice again. He offers them to Aurion then grins at the expression on the elf's face. He turns and rolls them across the floor again.

Wrukaog_ rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Roll dice for Aurion.

He laughs out loud when he sees how many dots are showing on the dice.

"You sure are a lucky little bastard, snake boy," he tells Aurion.

"Well, perhaps not technically a trap."  Tesseryn clarifies for Leisha as he sizes up a cautious swing. "Perhaps more of a lair?"

21:29, Today: Tesseryn Brightsoul rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  Sword to water serpent .

"Tell you what Goom... If you lose I'll let you keep the gold, but you just have to give me that note in your pocket, for a short time, so I can make a copy for the ladies."

21:48, Today: Aurion Moonbeak_ rolled 15 using 1d20+10.  Bluff Goom.

"They're not wholly incompatible concepts," Leisha points out, though she appreciates his precision.  "I know you're having fun, but maybe we should consider Brindle's suggestion?  I don't think it can follow far from its pool, and you can't kill it for long.  `Stay Dead' just isn't a trick they've learned."

That draws a bark of laughter.  "Ha! Do you know, I cannot tell whether this is actually a creature or merely a figment, or summoning?  I cannot even tell whether or not it is evil!"  Incredulous!  "I shall walk away from this fight."  Another first!  Although wholly contingent upon the cooperation of the towering water monster.  Tesseryn withdraws another 5' towards Brindle and Leisha's position, on guard against counter attack.

Brindle stops and creeps back to stand beside Leisha and watch Tesseryn trying to master the art of retreating. He holds his wand of magic missiles ready to blast the water serpent if it tries to attack Tesseryn.

OOC: Readied action.

Faced with the menace of the snake-like elemental, the ex-Paladin is struck by a few more exhilarating insights.  First that the creature may not be evil, secondly that he can no longer tell, thirdly that the words of his companions can now be weighed on their own merit ... and lastly, that it is all quite terribly amusing.

Taking a step back to Leisha's side, and with Brindle appearing silently at, well, his waist, wand at the ready, Tesseryn holds his sword forth, watching with wonder as the water creature sways and bobs ... but does not attack !

Back in the gambling den, Goom's face falls as he runs out of fingers counting the pips on the dice after Wrukaog throws exceedingly well on Aurion's behalf, and nods eagerly at the Elf's offer, tossing the dice for his turn with at least a modicum of confidence though that swiftly proves unwarranted as they land and it is obvious he's lost.

21:18: Skald, for the NPC Goom, rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,1

"Oh, dash it," Goom growls in defeat, though Gogant is quick to call out, "No take-backsies !" motioning to his compatriot to quickly hand over the note to Aurion to borrow and to grab the coins.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Tesseryn releases a held breath and glances behind at his companions.  "Is everyone dry?"

"We still need to rescue the prisoners.  Perhaps it will be safe if we stay close to the wall.  I shall find out."  He stalks along close to the west wall, sword still held on guard.  If he reaches the door he will take a look and try the handle.

Brindle stays where he is to keep watch on the water serpent while Tesseryn creeps past. That really is something worth seeing, after all - and the water serpent is interesting, too.

"What do you think, Leisha? When Wrukaog gets here shall we suggest he could do with a bath?" he asks with a cheeky grin.

OOC: Still ready to zap the water serpent with the wand of magic missiles if it attacks Tesseryn.

Opening the tattered parchment, Aurion glances at its contents then folds it away into one of the pockets in his robe. "I'll need parchment and a quill to copy this, I shall return it to you later, but don't worry, the ladies aren't due here for a day or two yet. You do know what 'ladies' are, don't you?" It never pays to assume that everyone can be motivated by more than one deadly sin. Probably best to stick with greed for these two.

Wrukaog looks puzzled. He looks at the dice, counts on his fingers, frowns, looks at the piles of gold coins are scowls.

"Dis is a stupid game! You won but still don't get the gold? I don't wanna play any more!"

He turns and stomps out of the room and down the corridor where Tesseryn, Brindle and Leisha went.

Goom looks a little uncertain as Aurion swiftly pockets the scrap of parchment, though his confusion is swiftly forgotten as Gogant starts pocketing the Elf's forfeited coins, ignoring his question.

"Dey are mine !" Goom yells at his companion.  "I wun dem fair an' square !"

Wrukaog disgustedly leaves the pair to it, making his way down the eastern passage as the two giants bicker, leaving Aurion and Cogwitz to watch them.

As Tesseryn makes his way towards the door, sticking closely to the wall, the water serpent follows, though makes no move to attack the ex-Paladin.  Likewise, Brindle keeps his wand of missiles pointed at the creature, ready to let loose a volley should it make any threatening moves. 

Reaching the end, Tesseryn opens the door, pauses for a moment then steps through into the darkness beyond ...

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Wrukaog makes his way down the corridor to join Brindle and Leisha. He stares at the water serpent in the pool in fascination.

“Where’s Tessy? Go on, tell me he’s gone for a carking swim!” He chuckles.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:19, Thu 11 Apr 2019.

Sorry to disappoint but Tesseryn is still quite dry.  He pokes his head out from the doorway and reports "A dead end, although there is a large section of ominous-looking marble."  He pauses, bracing for wit.  "And no prisoners."

He returns to where the others wait, keeping close to the wall to stay out of reach of the water monster.  "I think we should search at the far end of the pool.  But how to get there without getting wet?"  He gazes thoughtfully at the passages running east alongside the pool.  "The paths are narrower along the sides than at the ends of the pool.  I feel sure the water monster could reach us on the narrow sides, but surely it can only strike at one side of the pool at a time ... and did you note that it followed me along the end of the pool?  Perhaps if I distract it here at this end, then a more fleet-footed runner could dash to the far end?"  He looks dubiously at Brindle, then appraisingly at Leisha, then approvingly at Wrukaog_ who seemed to have arrived at just the right moment.  "Does anyone have a better plan ... for rescuing the prisoners?"

Greed it is then, Aurion concludes. His eyes follow Wrukaog down the wide passage. "They are taking their own sweet time about it. The prisoners will be late for their own execution! How about another fistful of gold for the first giant who can guess why they haven't found the prisoners yet?"

Aurion takes a wineskin and cup from his pack (those packed for him at the World Serpent Inn) and pours himself a cup.  "Anyone else?" he offers, looking to see if Gorant and Goom own cups.

Brindle shrugs and shakes his head.

"I'm not sure it would attack at all if we stay near the wall."

He looks at Wrukaog too.

"Do you want to try it? I'll keep you covered."

He gestures with his wand to indicate what he has in mind.

Wrukaog scowls and glares at the water serpent. Then he sets Tessy Junior down so he can grip his greataxe in both hands and starts to walk along the edge of the southern passage, sticking close to the wall.

Tesseryn sets off along the west end of the pool, close to the wall, trying to draw the attention of the monster and give Wrukaog a clear run.

"I..."  Leisha holds up a finger, pausing for a moment, and then frowns, looking at Brindle.
 "I can be helpful, can't I?" she asks Brindle.  "On occasion?  I'm almost certain I did something with the dragon.  Well, anyway."

She pulls out a long crystal that glitters in the torchlight, and waves it towards the snake.  "Excuse me," she calls out.  "If I could have your attention for just a moment?" she asks, hopefully.

The giants lack such niceties as cups (or even much in the way of manners), but take Aurion's filling of his own as a good excuse to join him, and the pair take turns in swigging from their bronze bottle, passing it back and forth between them.

The drink, coupled with the Elf's promise of more coins entice them to offer their own speculation as to what might be delaying the return of the condemned prisoners.

"Mebbe ... der guards 'av killed dem all ?" Goom ponders.

"Nah ... I reckon dat Ishp .. Ishp ... der clever one is tryin' ter get your friends to 'elp 'im take over !" Gogant disagrees.  The giant nods happily to himself, then grins and offers to pour Aurion a glass of wine from the bronze bottle.

Over by the pool, it is in fact the water-snake that is causing the delay.  As Tesseryn suggested, the creature slowly follows him as he retraces his steps, but then suddenly whips around and dives for Wrukaog as the big Orc begins to saunter along the south edge of the pool.  But before it reaches the Orc and before Brindle can loose the power of his wand against it, Leisha holds up her glimmering crystal, calling out to it ...

The water-snake pauses ... then slowly turns around and moves to the near edge of the pool where it sways back and forth before the young woman, seemingly intent upon the dangling crystal.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Wrukaog continues around the outside wall although he pauses at the eastern opening to call back a brief report.

"Dead end," he says, pointing down the eastern corridor.

"Keeps going," he says, pointing at the northern corridor.

"Stairs down, then a black wall," he adds, pointing at the northern corridor but hooking his finger to point to the left.

Sticking close to the eastern wall he heads toward that northern corridor to investigate the stairs.

"Ishp..!" Aurion prompts, feigning outrage. "That is not how we show respect to out leaders, is it? Try harder!" The snakes appear at his collar and flicker their tongues at the giants.

Tesseryn stands almost as fascinated as the water monster.  "That is impressive, Leisha, truely.  How long will it last?  And are you also able to cross to the other end of the pool?"

Wrukaog's mention of a black wall sounds like what Tesseryn saw in the western passage, but stairs sound more promising for rescuing prisoners.  He takes advantage of the monster's distraction and makes his way along the northern edge of the pool to join Wrukaog on the stairs.

Brindle grins at Leisha and follows Tesseryn's lead. Although it is actually Wrukaog's footsteps he follows in as he trots along the southern passage around the pool.

"Well, no," Leisha answers Tesseryn while smiling at the water snake.  "But I should be able to hold its attention long enough for you to find any prisoners and bring them out.  You've got about an hour."