Chapter 03: Beyond the Great Cavern

[amosias]

The next day greets the adventurers with some mundane matters. Food is prepare by the perpetually lit flame, and spellcasters renew their spells.

Ursula complains that her light-headedness has abated slightly, but has not gone away -- something that worries Blackjack and Eren, who have also begun to feel the same despite fully recovering from their wounds.

Boris, after hours of keeping cheerful watch, has finally caught a quick nap as the spellcasters finish their preparations (and prayers).

Blackjack muses idly by the sight of the now-dry rope tangled near the hook when he realizes that the stone base that the hook is tied to is not natural, yet is fused to the surrounding rock.

[Rolf]

OOC: How do you mean "fused"?  Sorry, I noticed your usage of the word before, but forgot to ask...

Anyway, Boris will continue to catch up on sleep until the others are all ready to go.  I'll assume now that people are waking up, there are enough eyes around to easily spot any danger.

[maskmanjoe]

He traced his right hand over his neck to check his wound. The lightheadedness that the mage Ursula complained about earlier has seemed to have affected him as well. "The tainted water?" Eren wonders to himself, remembering how grotesque the Striges seemed, and that plagued the creature Logbrag had on his back. He looks to see if any of the others are feeling it as well. He will have to confirm his suspicions before jumping into conclusions. He packs everything he took out when they camped and, slinging it over the left shoulder, he picks up his shield and sword and heads over to have a meal.

[OOC: Does my shield have the same AC despite the damage it took from the attack?]

[amosias]

OOC: How do you mean "fused"?  Sorry, I noticed your usage of the word before, but forgot to ask...

Anyway, Boris will continue to catch up on sleep until the others are all ready to go.  I'll assume now that people are waking up, there are enough eyes around to easily spot any danger.

[OOC: Fused means like the stone seems seamless -- no crack -- between the cave rock and the sudden smooth (and differently colored) black basalt square.[/OOC]

[amosias]

Sword and shield seem none the worse for their encounter, and the others who've been wounded also seem to be suffering -- occasional temple-rubbing giving their troubles away.

With some experimentation, Blackjack realizes that the light-headedness eases a little when tilting the head a bit.

[amosias]

Boris, now intrigued by the basalt block (though distracted by the preparations for breakfast) can see traces of writing or symbols or some kind of pattern on the basalt.

Eren, after shifting his shield about testing its strength and reliability, is struck by an odd notion. After hefting it in one hand, then the other, concludes that it seems lighter somehow.

It is Gregor Haldane, who -- after helping Ursula lie down once more -- notices the absence of Hagar.

[ysigne]

"Hagar's missing! Get everyone together!" Gregor bellows. He looks around and tries to verify that no one else is absent.

"Ursula needs to rest some more so we'll need someone to look after her. The rest of us should try to find Hagar."

[OOC: Since the rope is dry, we should probably check out openings 2 and 3 first. Should we split up?]

[maskmanjoe]

The realization confused Eren as he finished his meal. He lowers his shield and turns it over once again, examining where the Stirge struck. He doubts the damage could have modified its weight by that much. But there is no mistaking it. He traces a hand over his neck wound once again and is lost in thought when he hears Gregor.

Eren straps his shield back on and approaches Gregor. "Did anyone notice him last night as we camped? I can't seem to remember myself."

[OOC: I am fine with splitting up btw.]

[Rolf]

OOC: While on watch, didn't Boris notice what happened to Hagar?  Or did it happen after watch, while Boris was napping?

[amosias]

Boris, brought to wakefulness by Gregor's call to arms, struggles to remember the details of his watch.

Yes, he did see Hagar at the start of his watch. No, nothing out of the ordinary happened during the rather dull shift. But no, he hadn't checked everyone again before turning in. He glances quickly at Hagar's last position hoping to find some clue to the missing party member's whereabouts.

Gregor's headcount is completed -- no one else is missing.

Ursula has already shifted position nearer to the ogre's cave, ready to cast her spell if circumstances necessitate it.

The cave is suddenly a scene of quiet activity as the party rouses itself to readiness.

[Rolf]

OOC: oh man...what a terrible guard Boris is

[zhenxiao]

blackjack wanders slowly over to the pool to see if Hagar fell in. 

[amosias]

To Blackjack's astonishment, the pool has shrunk leaving about a foot of water near the center, and a somewhat dangerous, irregularly shaped pit in the center of the cave. Hagar is nowhere to be seen.

[zhenxiao]

Slowly, blackjack looks upward to see if the water has decided to rest on the ceiling...

Blackjack then slowly leans to see if he can see a bottom to the pit.
He then calls to the others. 

"Um, guys...The pool is shrinking.  If this floor decides to give way to this pit below, I hope someone still has the water to pour onto the rope so we can grab the floating rope.  But no sign of Hagar here."

[amosias]

Blackjack looks up, confirming that most of the water has indeed transferred to the ceiling.

After he checks to see that there is a bottom (with some last remnants of water) to the pit and says:

"Um, guys...The pool is shrinking.  If this floor decides to give way to this pit below, I hope someone still has the water to pour onto the rope so we can grab the floating rope.  But no sign of Hagar here -- WAIT."

And up on the ceiling, he sees Hagar looking down at him, waving and apparently yelling.

Hagar stands on the ceiling, weapon drawn, yelling something that cannot be heard.