Brankx crouches, and indicates Balayst over, picking what looked like a metal arm. "This looks like an arm from a warforged, like yerself."

He looks around, and sniffs. "I can hear water runnin'. Be on ye toes boys and girls....somethin' doesn't feel right."

Cumarinda looks around and asks Brankx, "From where do you hear running water? Too many times have we seen those Sahuagin anytime we're close to water."

She hefts her shield and sword and prepares to defend against any attackers.

Ballast points to the blocked-off areas where Fenris is at work.  "If we cannot see the running water, it must be where we cannot see," he says logically.  He'll go to assist Fenris with blows from his adamantine-clad fists where necessary.

Brankx nods at balayst and his logic. "Lets follow him anyway...he'd probably get himself killed without us."

He trots after the warforged

A growl comes from the barbarian as he turns and stares at the dwarf, his eyes narrow and he grips the crowbar tightly. He puts it into his pack and pulls out his sword after the two get through the boarded up door. The man steps inside.

It looks like some sort of abandoned manufactur area but it looks run down. A corridor leads off to the north. It looks like it was unused for some time and is covered in muck. Some odd debree lines one of the walls. It looks like some sort of sewage area.

Ballast looks off to the passage to the north and concentrates to see if he can hear anything.  While the area had been blocked off, that did not preclude dangerous creatures being present.  Had not that earth creature come up from the ground?  While he listened, he walked over to peruse the odd debris, just to see if there was anything of note: writing or some indication of what it had once been.

OOC: 22:32, Today: Ballast rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Listen check.
22:32, Today: Ballast rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Spot.

The dwarf walked beside the warforged, ignoring the glare from Fenris. He sniffed as they walked down the corridor noting the filth as they went.

"If he's here....then he needs some education about cleanin' up" he muttered

The barbarian stops in his tracks as he glances to the right and to the left. Both of the area slope downwards from here. His eyes dart to the right, tilting his head as if he hears something then to the left. Fenris kneels down, checking for anything that looks odd.

The young cleric of Pelor quietly continued down the north passageway with Brankx and Ballast while watching Fenris' actions. She started to speak but quickly stopped before uttering a sound and watched for any signs from the barbarian.

the dwarf, not as quiet but cautious none the less, grasps his staff, looking around, waiting for fenris to move.

"I 'ave a bad feelin' about this." he mutters.

"The water is definitely closer now," Ballast says.  He walks over to where Fenris is and looks over to the right.  He took a few steps closer, trying to see or hear if the water was closer that way.

Both areas look the same. Fenris starts to head down the left path leading downwards. The sound of water seems to get lounder now for the group.

The young human cleric smiled to Brankx speaking in an encouraging voice. "With the goodness in our hearts, the strength of our bodies and minds, and the blessings of the Sun Father, there is little that we cannot face. Separately we are strong, together we are truly mighty!"

With that she briefly hugged the dwarf and patted Ballast on the back as they followed Fenris down the left path.

Ballast clanked after Fenris, as the barbarian's nose for danger was unmatched.  He watched for the water, whether it might be spring, waterfall, stream, or an improbable sea cave.

Brankx listens to Cumarunda's words and nods. "Ye be right there girlie....together we can do much."

The dwarf followed Fenris, with a hint of consern. The elf seemed focused and a little more surly than normal. Sure, he and the elf had difference of opinions, but they still worked as a team pretty well.

He spoke as they walked. Aa"Keep an eye out fer the water Fenris....those bastard water demons could sneak up on ye, as well as the mage...but try not ter kill him, we gotta talk to him first."

The group keeps moving down the passageway and it comes into a small opening. Its circular and can fit the group almost looking like a sewertunnel but in better shape. As Fenris and the others get to the other side, they see a grate with a gate that's closed and inside the gate are three pipes leading down and stopping about four feet from the ground. Three circular levers are near them. To the right is another sewertunnel opening and to the left it looks like a magical door thats sealed shut but they can see through it barely.

Ballast gives a metallic shrug.  "One open way, three closed.  The obvious way first, the levered way, or the magical way?  I'd vote for the obvious way, unless someone has a hint that another way is more useful for our quest."

the dwarf stopped looking at Fenris. "Anyway is as good as any at this moment. Fenris has led the way, unless he thinks otherwise, let him lead."

He turned and muttered under his breath. "Like we could stop him!"

The barbarian kneels down and looks at all the directions. He puts a hand to the ground for a moment and looks around again. Fenris stands up, grunting and goes over to the gated closed door. He tries to open it with a sharp tug but can't.

A cold breeze comes from the other sewer type area and the sound of water becomes more apparent.

The young cleric looks thoughtful for a moment then says, "Brankx and Ballast, could either of you open this gated door? If not, then I guess we'll have to take the way that is clearly open to us."

The dwarf looks at the girl with a shrug. "There is a spell that could open th' lock, but i know it not. Sorry girlie...I'll not be much help fer ya."

Ballast nods and bends to examine the door.  Sheathing his sword for the moment, he grasps the door in one large hand and pulls, the first time his grip slipping, the second time much more firmly to see if he can dislodge the grate.

OOC: 01:50, Today: Ballast rolled 8 using 1d20+7.
01:50, Today: Ballast rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Str check.

The barbarian and the fighter seem to be unabled to open the door even together. Perhaps its welded to the ground or some other area but that is quite a bit of strength to go against. Fenris grunts and looks at the magic gate then towards the other sewer area. He grabs his sword, drawing it and motions for the others to follow.

Ballast nods, hoping they will find a better way to get into the grates eventually.  He's certain that with his adamantine plating and a certain amount of time he could bash his way in, but that was certainly far more noise than was necessary in a place that had possible enemies.  And if the mage lived in these caves, he might not appreciate Ballast doing a remodel of his sewer system.

With only way way open to them, Ballast followed Fenris, sword drawn, torch wedged at the top of his pack for light.