The river deep

As you look out over the water where two riveers meet you see several small islands in the midddle of the river that spans hundreds of feet. The shoreline of the rivers are more heaviy wooded than the grassy hills near the tower and the cool breeze and warm sun are refreshing and the gentle sounds of the river help ease the tension of being ripped to this place, not knowing how or when you might return home.

Give me a test to try and locate your target and let me know your plans and any questions you may have

The two of you place the amulets on and they slowly thicken and constrict until they press uncomfortably into your neck but nothing else seems to change. Reasoning that perhaps you need to enter the water to trigger their magics you step into the river and find your guess was correct. As soon as you step into the waters you feel odd stretching sensations on your hands and feet. It grows hard to walk and looking at your hands you see the fingers are now connected by webbing, like a frogs, and lifting your feet you see they have grown long and are similar to your hands but even larger.

Somewhat emboldened by the change you make your way deeper and find that as your skin becomes when it changes and fuses with your skin as scales appear to cover the area. Even you packs become sealed by the scales and you notice that you no longer feel the need to breath. Making your way deeper into the water the both of you experiment with your new forms. Serig is a bit bolder and experiments looking with his eyes underwater and shares with Dree that even his eyes change so that the water does not bother them and he can see very well underwater.

Give me tests for how well you adapt/swim and tell me how you want to start looking.

Both of you surface to converse, finding that though the amulets let you stay long underwater they do not help with communication and any attempt at talking is rendered unintelligible. Just as you are about to examine the device to help you find the tower artifact you notice the river currents suddenly increase in speed before multiple massive water columns and spat up from the river surface. This draws your eyes and you see a boat in the midsts of the water spouts. The people onboard begins to shout with the crew striving to void the great gouts of water only to realize that a whirlpool is growing ever larger in front of them.

The whirlpools currents are also dragging you in towards it so that you are close enough to see some comotion where it looks as if some of the people onboard are fighting just as it is pulled into the spinning vortex of water. Knowing your amulets will help you breath and swim is one thing but using them to rescue those on the boat is a daunting task as the sudden violence of the river currents seems unnatural and not just a bit frightening.

AS you watch the boat is pulled entirely under the river's surface and the whirlpool begins to collapse with the faint sounds of cry's and please barely audible over the rush of the water that seems to be calming with the collapse of the whirlpool and water columns

The rod reacts when pointed in the general direction but seems a bit stronger off to one side. The river has returned nearly to normal and the natural currents resume and wash away the ripples and eddies of the water spouts and whirlpool. Though neither of you is a true boatmen you have seen current and eddies on streams and rivers enough to believe whatever it was that just happened was not natural. The sudden appearance of waterspouts surrounding and the vortex tarteding the boat strongly suggests potent water magic of some kind.

You swim on the surface and use the rod to track the Tower orb and end up swimming near where you saw the boat disappear before you are forced to leave the surface and head into the depths of the river. As you dive deeper the light is quickly reduced to nothing but you are still able to see a bit, though colors are all muted and grey blue or green, for a short distance. To keep it simple assume you can only see 25' at max Following the rods directions you dive and deeper and begin to search the muddy river bottom only to come to a place where the rod indicates nearly straight down into the mud. Looking around you see a rocky outcropping with a large irregular cavern that may allow you to go deeper? Still unable to talk while underwater you are force to use gestures and actions to communicate.

You swim into the cave and it does indeed seem to be getting nearer the destination but then the passage splits a smaller fork to the left and a larger to the right. The rod does not seem to distinguish either as a better path. You hesitate in indecision but then see a flicker of light from the smaller passage. Deciding to check it out you swim towards the light cautiously.

As you talk the two figures move slowly closer to shore to be heard without shouting. As they near Glidbem notices they are not quite normal looking. The larger one has a pair of horn peaks atop their head which has a large tooth filled snout and odd spiky iridescent scales. The other is smaller and has long flowing tresses that but likewise covered in scales.

As Serig and Dree dry off after climbing ashore and standing a bit the necklaces magics fade and Nel exclaims in surprise at the change but seems a bit more reassured by the human woman and wolf-kin man.

The feeble light from Glidbem's amulet makes it easier to rumage through your packs to get a torch and light it. The brighter light reveals a bit more of the cave and a quick search reveals a tunnel leading away from it. Unfortunately it does not lead directly towards where the rod points, but neither is it completely the wrong way.

Serig sniffs the ait but is only able to scent out your own little party, water, dampness, and aquatic life. As you move to examine the tunnel it is apparent it was either crafted or expanded by mining. As none of you are miners you can only guess how long ago the tunnel was carved but it's dimensions make it obvious it was for something vaguely person like in form and size.

With no other easy options you begin making your way down the passage and soon come to an intersection with two other tunnels. From the one to the right you hear faint echos of distant sounds. The passage to the left looks to have a downwards slope and matches more closely with the rods directions.

Give me the order you guys are waling in, any standard actions, who has a torch/lantern, etc..

You head down the passage towards the sounds but quickly discover that you have no way of gauging how far it may be as the sounds echo on the tunnels stone walls. You are definitely drawing closer as the sounds get louder and Serig catches the what sounds like a shouted word but is uncertain. Nel follows along and seems calm, if a bit anxious, and though he does seem interested in Dree's companions he tries to stay focused and alert.

When the spirit is active you can have it act and even test with you, thus gaining 2 test rolls for things like spot/listen/search etc. It just can not interact with physical objects.

As you follow the tunnel Glidbem notices her amulet is glowing ever so slightly brighter. The sounds become clearer and you all soon realize that the sounds are a mix of talking, with intermittent shouting, and what sounds like a waterfall. Soon the air becomes thick with mist that becomes thicker and thicker and it drifts about, blown by a faint air flow. The tunnel makes a turn and you see it opens into a large cavern full of mist that drifts into the tunnel. The mist and darkness make seeing any distance impossible but you clearly hear shouts of people shouting and calling to each other in common, form one direction, and a different language, off to the side of the first group. The other language is odd and more songlike than the common tongue. A sudden clash of metal on metal, followed by a bit more accompanied by shouting form both groups. Your best guess from the mist and echoes is that the cavern is large and the groupd are dozens fo feet from where you are but the thick mists limit sight to 10 to 20 feet at the most.

Some of the voices sound familiar but the roaring waterfall and echos of the cave combined with the muffling effects of the thick mist leave you slightly uncertain. As for the other language, you are only certain it is not one you know well.

This is a situation I would allow librarian to give advantage on the test to identify the language. I also often do success with a cost at times when you will is not quite there. This means you succeed but they're is a penalty or variation on results vs intent

Dree is able to discern the sounds of lapping water. Not unexpected save it seems that water lies between you and the two groups of people. One definitely sounds like normal people but the other is totally foreign. They have receded to mere shouting again though obviously quite agitated.

Taking the lead Dree advances, torch held aloft guttering in the constant deluge of mist from the fall nearby. After only a few yards into the larger cavern you find you are on a small shoreline with water to your left and the cave wall to the right. The shore gets bigger the further you go into the room and it curves to the left before narrowing again and ending in a small peninsula extending into the river/lake(?) The shouting is coming form ahead and faint flickers of light can be seen through the dense mist. Though the light is coming from somewhere in the middle of the water there are multiple large rocks jutting out of the water. The flickering light of torches reveals a larger mass with figures moving on it and it looks like you may be able to reach it by jumping form rock to rock

Glidbem knows from her brief time with Nel that he has little to fear from the slippery rocks as he is very nimble and experienced with moving about on slippery surfaces from living aboard a boat most of his life. Looking around and cocking his head at the sounds echoing around the misty cavern he whispers I would rather stay nearby you than alone with a mix of hope, fear, and bravado.

Len and Glidbem stay on the cave shore as Serig and Dree make their way across the slippery rocks. Save test to keep your balance, Any roll with at least one dice 5 or higher and you have no trouble. if the highest dice is a 4 you slip but manage to catch yourselves, anything lower and you fall in.
Moving out over the water you near the sounds and see a large flat river boat, likely the one you saw sucked under the river by the whirlpool. Though you still can not see individuals clearly you vaguely make out forms moving on and around the boat, which looks to be resting atop several rocks like those you are crossing on.

This cavern is under the river and has a small flow of water through it. You can tell form the waters surface that is has a current though it does not appear strong in this area.

The crew explained that the whirlpool turned into a massive wave/current that pushed the boat to its present location, resting atop the rocks, before dissipating. The crew could work the boat off the rocks that now hold it above the water but they would have to unload the boat first. They were in the process of preparing to do that when they were surrounded by people rising from the water.

Having spent much time in study Glidbem known that during the Golden Age, before the Dawn War, all the people spoke the One Tongue of the People. Though the Shattering had some kind of affect, diverging each local accent and dialect further from the source, most still retain traces of the common origin is the spoken word. Given time and cooperation Glidbem is confident she can get a basic dialog going. Alos, though the written word was more drastically changed than the spoken, arcane and religious text were less affected. If she could get into contact with a mage or priest of the other side Gligdem is confident that any written correspondence would be even easier to bridge the gap.

The surrounding conflict appears to have entered a lull. Perhaps the opposition is preparing something, have retreated, or noticed your arrival and are concerned with the increase in force. Still, vague shadowy forms can be seen occasionally moving the the heavy mist that fill the cavern with the light of the torches barely illuminating your surroundings.

The sailors are indeed present but are far too nervous about obvious external physical threat to bother being embarrassed or ashamed of their past behavior. Hank however, is not, and noticing your questing gaze resting on those particular sailors bends down and mutters something to Nel who wanders over to comfort the scholar.


Don't worry miss. Those won't bother you again. The whirlpool showed their true colors and they are destined to be dismissed once we get back upriver, and likely know it. One more misstep and they will be out of the captains good grace. A captain is master and ruler on board his ship, just below the gods. If they want to make is back they will have to be doubly careful, and now none of the crew trust them so all will be watching.

You discuss your plans with Hank and he approves, but is at a loss for how to proceed. We saw some fancier folk but that was towards the beginning of this mess. Likely they backed off as soon as they found us still aboard. I got the impression they were more surprise to see us than the boat.

You can roll a knowledge test or other, just let me know what, to gain hints or recall lore on opening dialog between the People.
Or
Go ahead with any idea you have.

The boatmen keep a wary eye on the mists, the torchlight fully illuminating the boat but fading quickly in the mist. The forms of the assailants are seen continuously but only for a moment before they vanish back into the mist or into the water with a splash.

The best they have onboard are some pitch, for torches or to help seal leaks in the boat, and some canvas. You can easily paint/draw on it without fear of the mist ruining it. Dree and Serig join the boats crew in keeping a watchful on on the surrounding.
You can give precise detail or just a lose description. Either way roll with you attempt to communicate

Hank is unwilling to abandon his ship and most of the sailors are too fearful to go with the priestess but after a short discussion they agree that a fight would not ensure returning to the surface. So they split the crew with half staying and the other half, including Hank and Nel agreeing to accompany they Triton.

Serig decides to stay behind with 3 of the crew while the rest of you go with the priestess. She guides everyone, save 2 guards left behind to watch the boat and crew, to the far side of the cave where a damp path leads behind the waterfall before descending further. Glidbem notices that as they walk her amulet is glowing increasingly brighter. The way is cool and mist continually wafts down the passage from the waterfall causing your torches to flicker and gutter. After several minutes the passage opens into a large cave.



Before you is a large town or small village set into stone and water. The cave is dimly illuminated by a variety of glowing crystals, plants and magic. Though the water is dark and the surface in constant motion from the may streams, boats, and waterfalls, you dimly perceive lights below the surface as well leading to the assumption that the city extends beyond what you can reach or see. The priestess guides you into the town and its many citizens openly gape at you. Children squeal and are shushed and pulled back by fearful parent. The priestesses escort falls back to flank your party as you begin winding through the twisting paths. Soon you find yourself descending into a dark passage that splits between a watery way and a dry way.

The guards will escort you while I go talk to the my superior and the council and she slips into the watery darkness.

The guards take you along the dry tunnel and you find yourself in a comfortable waiting room with a low pool occupying half of it and low padded benches on the other. After several minutes of waiting a splash from the pool alerts you to company and you turn to see several large and noble triton men and one extremely old triton female

The newcomers stand in the shallow pool and give you all short formal bows. They then seat themselves and of the the elders mumbles something and you feal a wave of magic before he speaks and you understand.

We learn from the priestess that you are from the above surface and were pulled below by our magics. We do apologize. We meant not to call others as we had not knowledge there are people still above. We can take you back but the boat may be a problem.

He goes on to tell that the people of this city once lived in Paphos and when the Shattering broke the lands their ancestors tried to flee on the river but were swept up by the current and storms and awoke here below the surface changed into what they are now. Every time they went to the surface they found only danger and monsters and so gave up trying years ago. Unfortunately things have started changing recently and many monsters from the deep caves have started entering the Triton caverns where they would normally avoid them. In addition new and fierce creatures they never encountered before have also been seen and driven off but with a great cost. The High Priestess sought guidance from her goddess and was shown how to activate an ancient magic, form the Dawn Age, which allowed them to control the water currents and flood more of the caverns to drive the beast off. However the longer the item remains active the more unstable their control of it becomes. Your recent trip below the surface was caused by them trying to have the currents bring additional food and other resources to town as most men were still forced to fight off beasts, weakening their own ability to find and secure foods.

After telling their story they ask you where you are from and if there are other people nearby that they might be able to buy food, weapons, and other supplies from.

Who sends you to sell the list relic asks the priests and your catch a hint of suspicion as she looks you over.

The elder waves this of and send excited There are towns nearby? Are they large? How far are they?
He seems very interested in learning all you will tell about the situation on the surface and about selling string allies to help protect the Triton village. He continues to ask more questions but the high priestess just watches you carefully.

Dree picks up a hint of fear and greed, which does not surprise her as they seem like politicians, from the elders. The high priestess is more distrustful and concerned

The watery current grow fiercer as you all struggle to hold on to the tunnels walls and the rope tether. Unfortunately the current pulls down debris which bounce around the passage slamming into everyone, knocking you all free of the walls and breaking the rope. Glidbem, Dree and Ishtara manage to cling to each other as you are swept away and the priestess glows dully. You notice that the glow forms into a bubble around the three of you, protecting you from most of the damage. Roll a Save tes (2d6). Pass to minimize damage to 1 point. Fail and take 2 damage.

After a minute of this your bubble bobbs up and pops to reveal another cavern, with one addition to your group floating nearby.

You begin making your way with the glowing orb of the priestess floating some ways ahead to illuminate the way forwards.The much softer glow from Glidbem's amulet in the midle of the group casts just enough light to allow yopu to move safely. Gutelos can tell by the stiffled air currents and lack of echo that the cavern is large and likely deep underground. As you walk around the lake the gloom and pressure of the deths begin to sink in now that the "excitement" of your arrival has somewhat passed. You find your thoughts wandering to your former comrads and a few offer silent prayers to the heavens that they are safe and hopefully together as the thought of trying to navigate this place alone a frightening is a frighteningone.

The shift of sand and gravel underfoot is the only noise for some time then Gutelos, who has taken the lead, raises his hand to bring the group to a stop. Raising his nose he inhales and his ears twitch a bit then he points up. Raise the light he instructs Ishtara. As the triton raises he hand so too does the ight ascend. Soon a gap in the wall is seen above.

The smoth slope of the wall looks to be a bit of a problem to climb but as the tunnel mouth is not too high up to reach easily. However Ishtara soon provides a solution. Drawing water from the nearby lake her magic pulls it o the wall where it begins ascending then freezing into thick ridges providing a ladder to climb up. During this time her glowing orb colapsed, as she is unable to maintain both magics at once, so you are forced to work byt the amulets dime glow. As you each cary packs with some form of light this is brought up as an option but Ishtara recomends avoiding torches and lanterns as their smell can be tracked from afar by many of the creatures that live in the darkness below the surface

Now up above the cavern floor, once again illuminated by Istara's water lantern, you set out to explore the tunnel.

Any one up for a round of player created travel situations?
Basically each player posts a short description of an obstacle to your travels. Then the next posts a solution that the team uses to overcome the problem, highlighting their own character. This let you help build the world your characters are traveling through while showing off a bit of your character to the party.

Now Gutelos and Glidbem stand in a corridor with one end sealed by large stone doors that quickly lose the light that moments before provided light and passage to you. A quick inspection reveals the doors will not move for you no matter what you try. Turning around you look down your only choice left and begin to make your way from the doors, praying to your respective gods that you may find a way from this place and pass on your troubles to others better suited to handling them.

As you walk Gutelos is quick to note that though these caves are cool and damp the air does not have the same feeling as when you were below the river and he speculates that you truly have moved elsewhere. After some time you leave the shaped corridor and enter natural caverns heading up. You notice signs of life, fire pits, and bits of leather, rope and tools, easing your minds that you are at least close to other people. Then you come to a cavern larger than your lights can illuminate. However you see two other sources of light in the darkness. A larger set of flame, with several large figures below and in the distance and another, smaller light, off to one side.

You advance further into the large, by the sound of the echoes an curvaure of the wall, open cavern. The rough ground continues to make travel difficult. As you move further you are faced with a decision, head towards the further large fire or the closer smaller light source.

The light shifts and starts to retreat towars a tunnel as you move across the rough cavern floor.