Episode 1: Pradesh

Ybus-with-the-head-of-Timear diligently maintains his watch of Erden. Specifically, he watches as he tests which of his fingers fit neatly into that slightly-bigger nostril.

Baracus cracks his knuckles.

"The Baker-Priests of the Glazed Hills are here to avenge the Adamantine Chefs, perhaps."

Baracus describes the subterranean surroundings to Urban, who is not blessed by Gruumsh with dark vision, and assists others into the hole if they wish it.

Ryder grasps his holy symbol of Lathander and climbs down.

Urban thinks back to moments ago, when he was climbing down into the tunnel.

"Damn!," he thinks to himself. "I NAILED it on that climb!"

He chuckles as he watches Rydler barely make it down, clutching onto his necklace medallion and mouthing silent prayers.

Erden comes back to his body to see Timear's face right up to his and a small halfling finger reaching for a nostril and instinctively reaches out with his staff and bops Ybus on the head.

"Damnit Ybus! How many times have I told you to leave me alone while I'm not in my own body?" he says, a note of amusement under his stern tone.

Popping his cigar into his mouth and lighting it, Erden begins heading down the ladder, "Be ready to catch me, Baracus! I'm not a strong climber."

"You sure these are the heroes Sashvar said for us to meet, Lio? Don't look like much!" growls one behind you, brandishing twin kattari.

"We should get moving before something hungry comes along." pipes up the one beside him.

"The only thing hungry around here is you, Myche," says the one beside Lio. He steps towards you, spear at the ready. "Well, other than the sewer slimes." He turns to Urban. "You smelled them coming. Cinnamon."

Seeing your confused expressions, Lio explains. The city of Pradesh employs an ingenious waste disposal system that involves the clever use of corrosive, sentient ooze. Smelly refuse is consumed by the oozes, and the by-product is a harmless greenish liquid that smells deceptively like cinnamon and baker's yeast. This explains the sticky bun aroma wafting about.

"The water is quite clean once the slimes are done with it," Lio says, "but it does tend to cause hallucinations if you were foolish enough to drink it. Myche's right, we should get moving. Although...Sashvar said you hadn't decided yet whether to bring us along?"

Ybus drops his Timear head disguise and rejoins the group.

As the strange creatures approach and speak, Ybus mutters to Erden, "Sure we ain't drunk that water already?"

Baracus observes each of his friends descend, a perfect rendition of the members of this group. Rydler's foresight paired with his faith in his mysterious god, Urban's athleticism accented by his bravado, and Ybus - wait, how did he get down here? He puts the halfling's methods out of his mind, too clever by far.

Lastly, Baracus instinctively reaches out to support his friend. The weight of the trust that the group has developed over time is palpable in this moment.

He shifts his awareness to the turtle warriors as they approach, and stands tall and stays silent. It was decided long ago that Baracus would not handle introductions. Better to let those with silvered tongues handle the banter while the watchful Baracus sizes them up. (insight roll included, paying attention to signs of lying and tactical considerations should this turn into a fight)

However, he hears their dismissive tone and his calm is damaged. Visions of splitting their shells with his father's axe begins to cloud his mind.

Rydler outstretches his arm and touches Baracus, in an attempt to lasso him back in. He looks to the twin kattari turtleman "Careful. It's wiser to insult a bear than it is to insult my friend here." He breaks his gaze to address all of them "Convince us otherwise that you are a benefit to take along. Telling us not to drink sewage water isn't exactly wisdom beyond father time."

"Please forgive my brother." Lio says, trying to smooth things over. "He tends to forget his manners."

"We know the sewers better than anyone. They're quite extensive; without us you might lose your way. If you'll have us we'd be your guides but you'd be in charge. Those were Sashvar's terms. But if your group prefers to work alone we can respect that."

Baracus: you can tell the turtles mean you no harm, and are quite sincere in their desire to help. The one called Rafiel is simply the abrasive sort with a chip on his shoulder.

Ybus stirs the sewer water at their feet, muttering something about shrinking boards. A Light spell graces the back of his head, like a shining beacon of... well, light. "Shrieve us ye holy man, tally up your righteous brand," he says as he counts out the number of strange creatures. "Four times... one, equals we free five."

Urban raises an eyebrow and poses a short question to the speaker with the blue head band, "So what do you know about a rat cult and a shape shifter demon? They kidnapped the young goddess a couple of days ago."

Urban holds a bit of a scowl. He had never seen anything like these turtle men, and he is still wary as he watches in his periphery vision to see how Barracus sizes them up.

Baracus continues to frown gravely, but his eye isn't twitching yet, so anyone who is trying to read him see he's going to tolerate the shellfolk for now. He continues his silent observation.

"Demon? We don't know anything about a demon." Lio says, his swords drooping a little. "The rat cult though, we've been trying to rid the sewers of them for years! But no matter how many we kill they seem to breed as fast as....well, rats!"

"Look, are we gonna stand around yapping while the trail goes cold? I mean, if you're not taking us then we have other places to be."