Session 11

After a small catnap, Trance woke from a dream about picking locks. She felt guilty for making all those bad suggestions leading to the contents of the large chest being (supposedly) shattered. She then went to find Mischief to request a simple lockpick set. Mischief set to work as Helena poked her head in to check up on her. Trance, seeing the flask in Helena's hand, inquired where the wine was, and was directed below decks. The tabaxi set off to get soused.

Above decks, Alarac staggered after the crew as they did repairs. He attempted to help, but the crew, seeing the state of him, insisted he go rest instead. He simpered softly to himself, then fell face-first onto the deck and went to sleep, snoring loudly.

Sylas had gone straight to the sick bay to see Casimir, the ship's doctor. The old laprin examined the sorcerer and announced there was nothing to be done except that he should get loads of rest. Sylas protested, but was too weak to disobey. He did, however, manage to sneak out to get a book.

Umi had gone to her quarters to count out the coin she had found in a small chest, and divided it up for party and crew.

When Trance had swayed her way back up to check on Mischief's progress, she found a full theives' kit, complete with leather roll-up case. Overcome with gratitude (and wine), Trance picked up Mischief in a big hug, almost getting burned by Mischief's soldering tools.

After a restful night of sleep for all, and some hearty meals, the party was refreshed and ready to set off exploring the next day. It was decided that they go nearly due east, toward a cliff face and some caves. Between, though, was a maze of canyons and cliffs they had to navigate. Soon, a buzzing was heard, and they came upon a strange, stonework hive attended by large, fist-sized stag/scarab beetle-wasp hybrids. Seeing the bones littered about the immediate area, it was assumed caution was necessary. The party began brainstorming a way past the threat. Trance pulled out her catnip pipe, pulling a large hit, and blowing it at one of the insects. It calmed the bug considerably, putting it to sleep. She realized she did not have enough herbal blend to put them all to sleep, nor could she keep her wits if she kept breathing the smoke herself.

Alarac found a dry branch and set it ablaze, waving it toward the beetles. This frightened them off effectively, so Trance followed suite. Umi surrounded herself in an aura of frost breath, which also repelled the bugs, and she kept the remainder of the group protected as they made their way past the hive.

A little further on, and they came to a long cliff face with several small cave openings, and one large cavern. The largest looked as if it had been carved, and there were signs of construction done ages ago. Sylas and Trance poked their heads in to check for danger, but only Trance had a bad feeling. She chalked it up to nerves, and the group ventured forth into darkness.

In the pale glow of Umi's dancing lights, they saw the odd, white, eyeless crab skitter past. After several hours of travel, they came to a spot between two monoliths next to the shore of a vast underground lake. Here, they made camp. A small campfire was started, and Trance waded into the water to look for fish. Seeing none, she cast Detect Poison and Disease, discovering some strange clam-crab creatures which were venomous, and that the water had microscopic parasites. She filled her cauldron with water and boiled it till it was safe. She went to scrape a layer of scum off the top of this with her wooden spoon, but Sylas (unnecessarily) prestidigitated it away. Trance eyed him warily. Was he courting her? Surely not. The party refilled their waterskins.

There was discussion on who would keep watch and when, as only three of the party could see at all in the dark. It was also decided that light in the cave might attract creatures, so the fire was put out. Helena took first watch, seeing a procession of small, eyeless crabs skitter southward. Mischief took the next watch, noticing a huge lizard hanging upside down on one of the monoliths. It licked its own eye. Trance was next, and saw one large crab making its way south. It was large enough to warrant hiding. Later on, the large lizard slid quickly away, as if startled.

When the device Mischief had given Trance began to chirp, Trance assumed this meant it was morning, as bird sounds usually meant it was time to wake up. She went about to everyone's tent, batting them on their faces to wake them. Alarac belched in her face, causing her to hack and gag her way hastily out of his tent.

Faint lights could be seen far off over the water as the party packed up their campsite. Trance had suggested they go south, as that's where all the crabs were going, and no one had an objection. It was decided to continue exploring without light to be safe. Trance unwound her rope, and everyone held onto it. They went with Helena in front, then Alarac, Sylas with Mischief on his shoulders, Umi, and Trance bringing up the rear. She held to the rope with one hand, and stroked her jeweled saber with the other.

They came upon a tower covered in the strange, white crabs. More seemed to be coming out of it, and none went in. The crabs skittered out of their way, so it seemed they were harmless. Inside the tower were shelves and workbenches, and a truly massive crab laying eggs. It took no notice of them, so they continued in. Mischief patted Sylas's head to remind him to look for metal. Trance had dropped the rope, drooling, and unsheathed her saber. She muttered in Tabaxi, growling and chittering as though she had lost her mind. Before anyone could stop her, she leaped at the mother crab, and was quickly swatted away by one of its claws. Sylas, quick-thinking, shielded her against most of the damage, but she bounded to her feet to attack again. He prestidigitated an egg and threw it at her face, snapping her out of her frenzy. After they had collected some metal scraps, the party made a hasty retreat.

Back in their single-file rope line, the party headed north along the shore. They made camp in a shallow concave in the wall for the night.

In the morning, they set forth again, this time toward something of a stagnant delta. It was slow going across, but their progress was halted when a khezu dropped from the cave ceiling and landed on Umi and Trance, knocking them to the ground.