Valis looks to be human, of a slight build, with a short sword and a dagger drawn. He has emerald green eyes and long, dark hair, while dressing in neutral colors. He looks about, glancing at the party, spread out as they are. "I owe you one for finishing those things off!"

Valis steps toward them, sheathing his dagger but keeping the sword at the ready. "I suppose you're the adventurers the mayor said headed up this way. I was looking to join you, but I holed up in there to get away from the spiders. Name's Valis."

OOC: Valis is actually a half-elf, but you probably haven't spotted the ears yet. I'm confused by the layout. Is there a 20 ft. gap between the platforms, or a smaller gap within the 20 ft. distance that separates Valis from Fenris?

The dwarf looks at the spiders and sighs. “Nasty buggars!” He says, kicking one of them. He hears the new voice up the ramp and starts up there slowly with his staff clipping in the ice. “Ye owe us nothing valis....they attacked us, and we were here anyway.”

He looked at the others, then Valis again. “Me name is Brankx Onyxshield. How long ye been here?”

"A couple days. They had me surrounded, but I'm pretty good at hiding. Were you heading up or heading down?"

Valis looks a little more closely at the party, studying the faces of those he's come to adventure with. He looks relieved and rather excited.

Still injured from her brief battle with one of the spiders, Cumarinda looks around. Seeing the blood of the wounded elf ahead she quickly makes her way to his side. “Fenris, you're hurt again. Stand still and let me shine Pelor's blessing upon your wounds.” So saying she casts a prayer upon the barbarian.

OOC:
Cumarinda Imbrex rolled 16 using 2d8+10.  Cure Moderate Wounds.

After tending to Fenris, the youthful-looking human female wearing a chain mail shirt with wavy hair with the texture of silk and the color of fire, wide brown eyes, sun-kissed skin and a wooden holy symbol of a smiling Pelor, looks up to the newcomer.

"Pelor's eyes bless me! I'm sorry I didn't see you there at first. You say your name is Valis? I am Cumarinda Imbrex a humble priestess of Pelor, The Sun Father. It seems that Brankx has already introduced himself. Next to me here is my beloved, Fenris. He is a proud and mostly silent warrior. Last but certainly not least of us is Ballast, the most steadfast warforged I have ever seen."  she says with a bright smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Tue 16 Mar 2021.

The barbarian growls as he is healed up. Fenris looks at the cleric, wiping blood from his sword and moves towards her. Upon hearing the newcomer, he turns towards him staying in front of the cleric and raises his sword up about half-away not to strike as the half-elf is somewhat off but enough to be intimidating. Heck never know he could be the enemy. People lie he ponders, eyes narrowed upon the half-elf. Distance between them and Valis. Big gap. Be hard to get to them-but not him.

"A pleasure to meet you all," says Valis, sheathing his sword with a glance around for spiders. "It's Valis Burns, you can call me Val if you'd like. I'm a traveling adventurer, but our ship went down and I washed ashore in these parts. So I went looking for a job, and got sent this way to aid you, if you'll have me. I'm skilled at stealth and... infiltration. But I only use my powers for good! Heheh." He laughs awkwardly, hoping not to offend the priestess, nor provoke the warrior's rage.

Brankx looks at fenris and sighs, having a small shake of his head as he walked forward. "It seems we have somethin' in common....most o' us were washed ashore after a dragon attacked our ship. As I said, I be Brankx....Arcanist. Our eagre friend here is Fenris, and his lady friend is our healer, lady Cumarinda. The big wood and metal guy is ballast...good fighter with a heart o' gold. Not literally, just a kind spirit"

He looked at the spiders. "Seems ye have some skill ter get up here past us without us knowin'. I can't speak fer all, but someone with ye skills could help us in our task."

Fenris caught the sigh and growls as he glances at the dwarf. His hands tense on his blade but it stays towards the rogue. Heck Brankx knows the barbarian dislikes him-and that made it slightly worse. He listens to the conversation. Infiltration? He best not be talking about the cleric! If he is there will be blood.

Lots of blood.

Glancing at the cleric, he lowers the weapon but keeps it out. Fenris goes to get close to the cleric, keeping her to his back but relatively close. The elf looks at her tilting his head then back at Val but he gets a growl like some crazy beast.

Yup. Marking his territory.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Wed 17 Mar 2021.

She turns back to the elven barbarian and kisses him on the cheek before gently but firmly pushing his sword hand down as she speaks, “Beloved, I don't think he is any threat to any of us. I think our new ally is a friend we haven't met before. Please, Fenris put your sword away for now.”

Looking back to the half elf she says, “Valis we welcome your skills and your good intentions. We are most certainly in need of someone with your talents. If you wouldn't mind being our scout, we can all keep moving forward.”

Quickly looking over to Brankx and Ballast she asks, "Have either of you been wounded by the spiders?"

Brankx looked at the cleric with respect. Her effects being able to calm and reason with Fenris was amazing....Brankx knew of a barbarian in his clan that nothing short of death of himself or enemies would stop him.

He smiled at Cumarinda with a shake of his head. "I'm fine....i can go on."

Despite the clerics words, the barbarian keeps his sword out but pointed downwards. He grunts and stares at the half-elf, remaining between the cleric and the rogue. The man glances around and points to where Val came from and then in two other directions.

The area is quiet. Drips of water come down the walls despite it being very cold and snow covered. He starts to head up the ice ramp, watching the rogue seeming to be stuck bout 20' away on a upper ledge. Val could climb down or wait.

OOC
So there's 4 doors. 1 was storage, one was near it thats closed, another that's straight ahead on the ramp and another in the oppsite from the storage.

Valis hops off of the ledge, dropping slowly and harmlessly to the ground. Then he starts up the ramp to catch up with the others.

OOC: Ring of Feather Falling activates.

Cumarinda makes sure to keep a reassuring hand on Fenris's sword arm. When Valis arrives to join the party she is privately amused to discover that he's a half elf. Looking at the places where there seem to be doors she asks him, "Valis, in all the time that you've been here, have you learned anything about the contents of these rooms around us?"

"Well, that room up there is a storage area.. Lots of dust, an old skeleton with tattered gear, and that's about it. Other than that, I was a little too preoccupied with those spiders to get a good look."

Valis starts to head up the ramp. "I guess I should give this door a look over."

He proceeds to examine the door, looking for the telltale signs of traps, and giving a listen to see if anything's moving on the other side.

OOC: 26 Search and 22 Listen, I'm checking the door at the end of the ramp, but if someone wants to redirect me that's fine.

08:29, Today: Valis Burns rolled 26 using 1d20+11.  Search door for traps.
08:29, Today: Valis Burns rolled 22 using 1d20+8.  Listen at the door.

The barbarian remains in the front and steps to the side, sword still drawn but he grunts as the cleric rests her hand upon his arm. Still it remains lowered as Fenris glances around followed by the mage and warrior. Valis listens to the door and checks it for any traps. Finding nothing, he steps back. There is enough room for everyone to be near the door but the ramp moves off to the left to another door further up and the two doors loom across the way with a big drop between them. When the group is ready, Fenris opens the door and its a small hallway covered in ice. About sixty feet away is what looks like a lever straight ahead. The room seems quiet besides the occasional drip of water from above.

OOC
Everyone can make Spot checks.
The room is all ice and snow.
60' x 60' approx.

The rogue half-elf looks into the icy hallway carefully, noting the lever and keeping an eye out for any evidence of its purpose.

OOC: That's a 26 Spot.
09:35, Today: Valis Burns rolled 26 using 1d20+8.  Spot check.

Cumarinda looks into the room and gently squeezing Fenris' shoulder. She notes the leaver and hopes that everyone here resists testing it until Valis finishes searching the room.

OOC
Cumarinda Imbrex rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Spot check.

Ballast waves to the newcomer as his comrades introduce him, uncommonly pleased by their praise.  It's not something he's accustomed to, being described so extravagantly.  "Valis, fortunate that we met.  A clever bit of magic, to fall so lightly."  Ballast makes a noise like rocks grating against each other; a laugh, one not often used, likely because Ballast has never landed lightly in his entire life.  He looks solid enough to roll down the mountain and likely leave some dents on the rocks.  "You're braver than most to risk this place.  Is the village your home?"

He talks quietly as Valis joins them, listens to his answers, then steps back to let Valis busy himself at the doors.  The newcomer moves quickly, neatly, and competently; so far, he seemed to be willing to pull his weight.

"Hmm, cleats would be welcome on this ice. Had I known it was going to be quite so slick, I might have put some nails in my feet for traction," Ballast comments.  "Is that lever decorative, or useful?"

OOC: 03:44, Today: Ballast rolled 18 using 1d20+6.  Listen.
03:44, Today: Ballast rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  Spot.

Everyone can hear something shifting in the room. The wizard comes up from behind and glances into the room but doesn't seem to see anything odd. Fenris grunts and raises his sword, not letting anything immediatly through as they seem to try to look inside. They can make out the lever and Fenris raises the sword and points at the left and right wall. Nothing comes out of the area and besides the dripping inside its quiet. Fenris grunts and looks at the left and righ "Wait." His sword glows a green color and POOF! the barbarian is gone and appears right next to the lever. Nothing comes out. He uses his left hand and presses it on the lever, lowering it. A blue light forms and goes up the wall to the door and out into the hallway area. Appearing near the walls are four odd creatures, two on each side.


This message was last edited by the GM at 00:38, Sat 10 Apr 2021.

Valis carefully draws a pair of daggers, keeping his eyes on these strange creatures. "Has anyone seen these before?", he asks quietly.

Brankx clutches his staff, a grim look on his face. "Never seen one, but i know what it be.....That's an ice Mephit. From th' plain of air and cold. Carewful, as cold and weather effects do nothin ter them, fast healing and some resistances ter non magical weapons."


He looked at the group. "their fas and hide wellt, but not too srong, best thing is fire against 'em. But ye gotta be careful - they can call allies ter them"

"Any chance they'd accept new allies?" Valis grins, semi-hopefully, and lets the grin fall flat. "Well now what? Fenris is over there, on the other side."

OOC: Valis is starting to figure out what things will be like with this group.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:40, Tue 13 Apr 2021.

Cumarinda looked to Brankx and asked, "Would they have any reason to attack us rather than talk to us?" while she firmly gripped her shield and rested a hand on the hilt of her sword.

Gripping his sword double-handed, the barbarian grunts and looks at the four adversaries. His eyes narrow, not playing attention to the group. Stepping forwards, the four creatures turn and stare at him. They start to take flight, watching Fenris. Cold billows from them.

"Fenris!" Cumarinda warned, "Don't attack them first but be ready to strike if we have to fight them."

She turned to address the Ice Mephits, "If you can understand me, please let us know how we can pass you peacefully. I'm also willing to listen to what you might want."

OOC
Cumarinda Imbrex rolled 24 using 1d20+9.  Diplomacy
This message was last edited by the player at 07:08, Wed 14 Apr 2021.