The Pod-Caverns of the Sinister Shroom (Game Thread III)

[Jenara]

Locky shrugs "I guess I could do that, the cavern is kind of boring. But you promise I can look when you've seen it? She shuffles her feet, her bottom lip quivering.

[Breila]

"Yes Jerrard, go ahead and examine it, Locky, Shay and I will watch the entrances. And yes Locky, you're the next to take a look at the mill."

Babushka moves ahead. Close to the exit, she leans her staff against the wall, easy to grasp, and takes out her sling, one stone ready in her hand. With infravision, she checks the tunnel ahead.

[JadedDM]

Jerrard closely examines the bizarre contraption.

The funnel is fairly small. Not large enough for Locky to climb into, for instance, but enough to stick one's hand in there. Although considering all of the clicking and creaking coming from the machine, one would question the wisdom of such a tactics.

Examining the spout at the bottom reveals some dried blood. The entire device bears the faint odor of fish. As far as Jerrard can tell, without using a magic detection spell at any rate, the device is entirely mechanical, not enchanted.

[Jerrard]

"This appears to be a food source of some kind. I believe fish are squashed here and turned into what the 'Podmen' eat." Jerrard turns back to the group, it didn't appear to be magical, so there was no use returning with the right spell.

"Locky, you wanted to look, it has an interesting smell." He motions to the Kender itching to move.

[Jenara]

Locky steps forwards getting closer to the wheel, she grabs her nose the moment she gets close enough.

"This is strange, what an interesting smell, Babuskha, have you seen anything like this?

[Breila]

Babushka asks: "Jerrard, can you relay me watching this tunnel?" and waits for his confirmation before going over to the mill.

She looks at it and confirms Jerrard's proposition. "Yes, it looks like a food grinder of some sort. Let's leave it here and go on, shall we?"

[Jerrard]

Jerrard nods, lightly dragging the Kender away from the machine and continues along the tunnel as Babuskha suggested.

"These creatures a not natural, I am certain killing them would be a great benefit to the balance."

[Jenara]

"Oh." Locky says as Jerrard drags her away, she recovers quickly,
giving him the slip.

"Lets go shall we?" She heads off down the Cavern in front, giving Bab enough time to catch up.

[JadedDM]

Having no further interest in the grinder, the party continues north. The tunnel continues about twenty feet before curving to the west. After another twenty feet, the tunnel starts to curve northward again.

However, there is a small chamber branching off to the south (roughly 20 x 20). If anyone looks inside, they will see ropey pillars of fungus growing from ceiling to floor here, ranging from one to four feet in diameter. In the far back of the chamber, on the back wall, is a small chest.

[Breila]

"Huh! I could imagine these pillars come alive and strangle you if you want to get to that chest" Babushka shudders. "Nothing I would want to try!"

[Jenara]

Locky smiles impishly looking at the group. "Lets see Shall we?" Taking her hoopak she fires off two random stones aiming at the chest.

(Roll 15 & 12)

[JadedDM]

The two stones bounce off the chest upon impact, but nothing happens.

[Breila]

Babushka throws her staff into the chamber, letting it tumble to give the impression of a more massive thing.

[Jerrard]

Jerrard looks into the cavern slightly attempting to check out the vines to see if they are something that exist naturally. (Plant Lore check: 1d20=8)

"Nothing in this godless place is even remotely how you expect it." He rubs his beard lightly, examining the fungus from a distance. "The trees caught me off guard, these will not."

He lowers his left arm at the elbow, opening his hand to reveal an open palm. Uttering some words of magic he attempts to pull a single piece of fungus to land at his feet. (Telekinesis Cantrip)

[JadedDM]

Babushka's staff tumbles into the room, clattering to the floor.

As far as Jerrard can tell, the fungus pillars are completely natural in origin. The small piece he tears off is of a mundane species he has encountered before.

Shay observes as the three do their various tests. He shakes his head at Babushka. "Well, if it is a trap...how are we going to retrieve your staff without triggering it?" he asks with a grin.