"Careful now, we wouldn't want the balcony to collapse," Herodian cautioned after the fireball went off.

The fireball streaks into the center of the writhing mass of vegetation, flames enveloping most of the vines as it detonates. The effect is immediate. Though many of the vines are consumed by the blaze, reduced to withered, blackened shoots or ash, several portions of the plant mass survive. Those that longer respond with apparent panic, moving swiftly down to the floor of the enclosed jungle, retreating from the area near the balcony to escape the conflagration. Within moments, the remaining vines have vanished into the dense foliage below, as the last flickers of combustion dissipate.

OOC: Combat over.

"Nice work," Ella says in compliment of Azad's quick thinking and magical prowess. Then she approaches the bannister and prods the inert vines with her flaming sword a few times just to ensure they are truly, dead.

Assuming the vines do not spring to life, she retrieves a rope and ties a knot to the railing in preparation for a trip down to the forested garden below.

"Impressive," Wandreck says simply.  "But I hope we don't end up needing that later, and finding ourselves without it.  I suspect this jungle harbors far worse threats than those vines."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

"Even if we are reduced to flesh and steel we will still prevail, for a just cause and a courageous heart trump all manner of threats and terrors. Though I wish we could blast the jungle below to smithreens too." She takes a deep breath to steel herself; heights are not her strong suit. "I volunteer to go down the rope first."

"The main plant survived," Herodian pointed out as the vines retreat.

"We'll need to be careful once we are back on their level. Unfortunately the fireball seems to have destroyed the rope that the scouts used. So does anyone have some rope with them?" he said.

"Perhaps before we venture below we should check out a couple of the doors along this walk way? To avoid any surprises for one or something blocking our retreat if need be." Ranzarth remarks as he looks back and forth along the walk way from their position, noting the archway just down the way and the closed doors near to them.

Trisvyre looked a little pained at Ranzarth's suggestion.  "I would prefer to keep after my kinsmen, as the longer we delay the less likely we are to find any alive." The scout looked meaningfully at the remnants of the attacking vines to underscore the deadliness of the place.

"But I will not split us up.  That would be even more unwise.  If everyone agrees with Ranzarth I will simply ask we do these additional checks as quickly as possible."

"I concur I would like to go after your kinsmen. But I do not want to head over the railings and when we try to return something come out of these doors that are near our exit." Ranzarth stated softly "It would be unwise to at least check the immediate doors before climbing down the rope."

When talk turns to opening doors, Ella shrugs her shoulders while retrieving a coil of rope from her pack.

"I thought we were looking for the scouts and figured there was a good chance they followed the rope down..."

"But I am in no rush if others think it best to check behind these doors first."

"I agree with Trisvyre. We should continue after the scouting party.

Your thought, Ranzarth is prudent. But we have left at least a dozen doors unopened and unexplored above; and likely there are many dozens that we did not even see."

The large dwarf offers.  "I have rope. Though I'm not sure even a double braid would support me."

Ranzarth shrugged at the others "We have not gone down every path nor opened every door that is true. But we have two passages ways next to our only known exit here and we are not thinking of checking them. I believe that to be unwise. But if we feel that is prudent, so be it." He moves towards the rope that was already tied to the walkway and checks it for any damage before he nimbly swings over the side holding onto the rope, ready to drop down below.

"I have seen many a just cause and courageous heart defeated by ruthless cunning and unchecked greed," Wandreck tells Salenth.  "But in our case, I'm sure you're right."

Although the party seems to have already resolved the rope issue, he does offer his own for general use, should it be needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

"I believe Ranzarth raises a valid point. It would only take a few moments to open the doors and look in, if nothing more there immediately we can continue down the rope, otherwise better to take care of any hostiles prior to trying to get back up while climbing the rope," Herodian offered.

"I confess I am of the opinion that we should not delay any further and climb down presently. We are like to blunder into awakening sleeping menaces and waste our energies putting them down if we just wander around", Salenth says.

Ella is also of the mindset the party needn't open every door they come across, particularly since part of their mission is to find the missing scouts and they have come across tangible evidence of their recent passage.

While the party attempts to resolve the impasse, she looks over the banister and tries to see if she can see any tracks near the end of the rope...

OOC: Is it possible to discern tracks from this height?

Wandreck keeps a close eye on Ella, ready to spring to her aid should the need arise.

Azad rolls his eyes as his companions dither.

He waves his hand, and says "Ortum."

He rises in the air, until he is feet are just about at the top of the railing. He then steps on the rail, and into the air on the other side.

"Ready, when you are, Ranzarth."

He will descend at the same rate as Ranzarth.

---

Cast Levitate
Duration 10 turns; move vertically at a rate of 20 ft per round.

Seeing some of her companions already committing to following her elven brethren, Trisvyre joins Ella near the rail, readying herself to descend after Azad and Ranzarth.

Herodian wasn't sure about this but he would follow the others, there was safety in numbers and they still needed to find the scouts though he feared the vines may have killed the scouts.

Salenth keeps an eye out for trouble while she waits for her turn to descend, more nervous about having to make the climb than other dangers.

Rather than trust that flimsy rope, Wandreck jumps down, trusting in his magic boots.  Onward!

Ranzarth, Azad, and Wandreck descend into the enclosed jungle. The soil feels soft beneath their feet as they take their first steps upon it, the thick green grass standing just above their ankles.

The trio are surrounded by tall trees, the leaves of which vary in hue from green to purple to blue. At the moment, none of the adventurers see anything moving within their vicinity. A few paces ahead of them a stream of clear water, no more than two feet deep at its lowest point, winds amongst the tree trunks, making a soft babbling sound as it passes. Beyond a nearby bend in the stream is a thick pile of rotting vegetation, possibly the remains of plants that have have failed to grow within the massive garden.

Directly south of where the group stands, they can can see that the brook has formed a short branch off of the main waterway, flowing a few feet before halting in a small, deep pool. A tall plant, almost seven feet in height, stands beside the pond, its thick green stalks topped with flowers of bright yellow, vivid orange, and intense red.

Roughly fifteen feet ahead, the three company members can see a pathway, made up of what appear to be flat pieces of slate, which leads from northwest to southeast. Portions of both branches of the trail screened by the thick foliage overhead.

Behind the company members, situated beneath the metal walkway, is an enclosed area which is accessed through a steel door. Wide windows allow the adventurers to see that the area beyond the door is set up like a tavern, the centerpiece of the room a long, polished bar fronted by several empty stools. Shelves behind the bar hold a number of different bottles that are thick with dust. A few round tables and chairs offer additional places to sit. Behind the bar stands a construct, a metal cylinder that is similar in appearance to those that the party had battled on the upper level. It is perfectly still, making no discernible movements.

The adventurers that are still on the walkway above do not perceive any activity in their vicinity.

Trisvyre wasted no time in joining her companions below.  She was convinced the other elven scouts had come this way, and finding them was her top priority.  She slid down the rope nimbly and joined the others in taking in their strange surroundings.