View source for The Shrew in the Cervice - RPLOG

=Participants=
* [[Cassidy]]
* [[Cirra]]
* [[Fenris]]
* [[Natska]]
* [[Rainer]]
* [[Rokarion]]
=Date=
27/10/477
=Log=
The courier has given anyone who accepted the invitation a map with a set of directions leading towards what he said is the merchant's camp. And sure enough whoever who arrives will be greeted by the sight of a cargo wagon a couple hundred meters outside of the Quarry area. The wagon is parked on the edges of the dirt road, with its beasts of burden grazing from a nearby patch of grass. Greeting the Freesword's who came is a shrew 3 foot in height and dressed in fine, purple robes of obvious Cliffside design, while the badge proudly displayed on his chest heralds him as a member of the Small Folk Clan. Standing right next to the shrew is an Adaptable Folk barn owl with a serious expression on his face. Three other beings stand around the wagon, one tending to the cart's beasts, while the other two seem to work behind the wagon. 
  
The shrew, with a smile on his face, seems to be restless, and says to his apparent bodyguard in a chirpy, squeaky tone, "Oh, that fungus would really help in my new enterprise, and selling some of it for that senile alchemist won't hurt either. I think she might want to test it too. I wonder who will accept my invitation. I am paying quite handsomely after all!" The owl simply nods to his employer, and keeps vigil on the road, waiting to see who arrives.


Fenris saunters slowly into the clearing in the guise of Bernard Bernard, the Saint Bernard! The portly old hound is wearing his white linen suit and flat straw hat as he comes tap tap tapping along with his silver fox headed cane. "I heard there was a mushroom hunt!" he says in his gruff voice, "Mind if a slowpoke like me joins in? I'm pretty good with plants and things."
After touching down a short distance away, Natska brushes off the flowing blue and white dress she had decided to wear today, adjusts her black domino mask, and makes sure that her book of math is securely closed with its strap and hung at her belt. With everything checking out OK, she approaches the clearing - and nearly stumbles as she finds a familiar face waiting. "B... Bernie?" she asks. Her ears fold, and then perk up as she recovers her composure. "Erm. I'm sorry. This is where the courier said to meet. Who is our employer today?"


The nurse shark makes her way to the camp, ears flattening at the Cliffside accent and the obvious Cliffside associations. She hopes her Shralestan robes will disguise enough of her heritage that they won't pry, but it's likely her magic style will give her away. She hears talk of mushrooms and winces, peering around for a shirtless wolf.


Rainer wears a paper hat folded from the map distributed at the Freeswords Guild as he parades down the path towards the quarry just a few paces behind Cirra, cheeks puffed out as he 'pa-rum-pah's something akin to a military marching drum beat. Not halting until he's front and centre of the group assembling by the camp, he stands tall and rigid, expression severe, salutes ... and slumps back into a more relaxed stance and brandish a lopsided smile. "What's shakin'?"


Letting herself fall from the sky, the dress-clad Cassidy takes her enjoyment in the feeling of the free-fall. It's not till she starts getting lower does she right her orientation, place a hand down to keep her dress modest, and slow her fall enough to come to a stop next to Natska. "I'm not late, am I?"


The diminutive shrew stares with excitement as the groups arrive, raising an eyebrow at Rainer, and clapping his hands at Cassidy's entrance, "Wonderful, almost as great as seeing the those of avian descent glide around the cliffs of dearest Cliffside." The owl on the other hand keeps on staring at the new arrivals, mentally documenting them, affording only Bernard a small smile, and a polite bow as a greeting, and a show of recognition. 
 
After all members of the group settle around, the shrew coughs, and begins speaking in his cheerful and squeaky voice, with a hint of bravado in it, "I am the merchant Charles Shrewsbury from the village of Cloudtop in beautiful Cliffside. I have called upon you dear adventurers to aid me in a quest." Charles takes a deep breath, looking at a note in his hand, and then continues, "There is a kind of fungus that grows in one of the abandoned mines here in the Quarry that I require for my business. The mine apparently had some eccentric earth magician of an overseer, who disappeared three years ago, after giving his miners leave for celebration of his greatest achievement or whatever. When the miners returned he was nowhere to be found, and one of the miners apparently got heavily injured by a shale elemental, so the mine was closed down and no one was allowed entry. I secured legal access to the mine for my own needs, and here is where you come in dear Freeswords. I merely want you to go in fill those two sacks with as much fungus as you can, and come back." The shrew motions, and a raccoon being, comes near the group, and hands them two large sacks, before going back towards the wagon. The shrew then raises a finger and says, "Oh, by the way, apparently the overseer was a fan of riddles, and so he had a lot of signs and waypoints around the tunnels. Those might help you. Now any questions? Or are you ready to go?"


"Hello, Lass," Bernie smiles at Natska, "Heard there was a bit of mushroom gathering that needed doing." The old Saint Bernard does not seem to realize how dangerous the deep quarry can be! He just smiles around at the gathered beings, leaning on his cane. He does spare the owl guard a nod. Old boy looks familiar. "Well," he says gruffly, "No sense in standin' round here, now, is there?" He takes up a sack and totters off toward the mine.


Natska's ears start to fold again, and then she sighs and shakes her head. "No, mister Shrewsburry, no questions, simply tell us which one we are looking for and we will bring you your... fungus. And wait for us, Bernard!" She turns and gives Cassidy a small smile, then quietly greets the other members of their party while she waits for an answer to her question; once she knows where she is heading, she sets off after the Saint Bernard.


Cirra definitely knows the dangers and wonders of the deep quarry, though she hopes that she won't have to worry too much about the fungi down there, just collecting it. She signs to Natska and Cassidy, not sure among those there who understands sign. <Pleasure working with you two again, on another mushroom assignment, well, no worries about flying wolves this time, I hope.>


Rainer can barely contain the rolling of his eyes. Dear Cliffside this, wonderful Cliffside that. Like, gag me with a spoon~ He bows his head low and just keeps scratching his head like he has a persistent itch... or dandruff, or fleas, rap-tap-tapping his toes in the dirt 'til the exposition's out of the way. Why -do- these requesters always treat them like they didn't bother to read the job posting before they made the tripo-ut? Or... have someone else read it to them, in his case. He looks up in time to see that everyone else is already making towards the dig site and hastens to catch up. "At least let me carry the gear, eh? I'm young and able-bodied~ ...doesn't feel right lettin' an old dodger carry everything..."


Cassidy nods at Cirra and smiles. "Yes. Hopefully not," she says, starting after Natska. "This should be a nice relaxing assignment, compared to the last few I've been on."


The shrew shakes his head so fast one would assume he was trying to tear it off, "Of course, of course! Roger here will guide you to the mines, and give you a sketch of the fungus." With that said, the raccoon, his badge giving him away as a member of the Graceful Folk, sighs, and follows the group, with a piece of paper in hand. 
As the group begins to depart, the owl coughs, and says in a slightly gruff voice, with a hint of nostalgia in it, "Take care there Bernard. Old bones are not what they used to be you know." With that said the merchant and his employees go about their business. 
 
Meanwhile, the group gets lead by the raccoon towards one of the less occupied areas of a Quarry, before stopping near an old mine. The mine's entrance has a sign near it that says, 'Keep Out!', with a number of planks at the side, obviously used to close the mine, but they might have been removed when the shrew got his access. The raccoon shakes his head, and says, his Cliffside, slightly arrogant, accent marking him as one born in the city of Cliffside itself, if anyone would notice, "Ok then, here is the fungi that Mister Shrewsbury want you to get." He then hands the group the piece of paper with the sketch on it, "Furthermore I hope that you are actually prepared and have some torches on you. If not….." he sighs, and produces two torches from inside his bag, "Use those."


"Oh, Aye, William," Bernard says, waving to the owl, "I know as well as anyone! But I have these fine folks to help me along." The portly hound hand his sack over to Rainer. "Thank ye, Lad," he grunts, "That's right good of ye." The Saint Bernard takes up the raccoon's paper and squints at it. "These grow all over," he says, "For pain relief, aye?" He looks around at the others with a nod, his jowls shaking a bit, before he taps his way into the mine. "Someone bring a light!" he calls back.


Natska peers at the sketch. "Not something I recognize, but I am sure we'll know it when we see it." The jaguar nods, collects one of the torches, then grins and wills it into flame with a touch of fire math. "Alright. Cass, I am following your suggestion today, too. So Rainer, if anything nasty comes for us, it'll be up to you to keep it from reaching us."


Cirra takes up a marching position behind Natska, preparing protective magics and taking out her own sabre. She heard him talk about shale elementals, and she was no stranger to them she also notes the mushroom to be found, taking stock of its visual properties.


Rainer leans in to get a good, long gawking-at the drawing of the shroom they're after. Pictures he can understand! Why don't people just use pictures for writing, instead of words? So much simpler, with the empty collection bags slung over his shoulder he seizes up the second torch in his other hand, holding its business end near to Natska's 'til the fire's spread then, without a single thought, using it to give her and Cassidy both a mock salute. Yet, somehow, he manages to not set his face on fire in the process, or even singe his fur. "Business as usual then, eh? Hah, we might as well start calling ourselves the Divine Freeswords Unit, seems like it's always us doing all their work, right?"


Cassidy pauses near the boards and frowns. "Hold on a moment." She leans over and runs her gloved fingers along one of them, frowning. "These were removed... More recently than was implied. These were taken down a while ago. Too much dust for a recent moving." She looks up towards the others and stands again. "So be mindful of our surroundings."


The raccoon nods to the old Saint Bernard respectfully, "Indeed they are. I have no idea why we came here for them. You can talk to Mister Shrewsbury about that. So, go in get the things and come out." Roger then raises an eyebrow at Rainer, "The Divine what now? Aren't you Freeswords?" His line of questioning is interrupted by Cassidy. He gives her an indifferent shrug, "No idea. The mine's entrance was already open when we came; the authorities said that they will just close it again after we are done. So, there is that." 
 
The cave walls are mostly solid, with a lot of moisture on them, and the sound of dripping water echoes inside it. The group keeps on walking for five minutes or so, before they stumble upon their first fork. In front of them lies a rather large chamber, with four mathemagical lamps, however only two of them seem to work, and then only barely as they flicker, another torch is hanged near one of the broken down magical lamps. 
 
Of interest to the group is slab of stone in the middle of the room with different markings on them, one would quickly notice one of the list of markings having the picture of the mushroom at the end suggesting that the markings might lead to the group's intended treasure.


"These things grow wild in Cliffside," Bernard snorts as he walks forward into the dark shaft and starts to peruse the marked stone, "Can't see why they would come all the way to Sweetwater to gather 'em." The old hound runs a thick hand along the markings taking careful note of them. "Well," he says, "I suppose we go North then."
 

Natska perks her ears as she listens to Bernard, then she shakes her head. "Yes, but you heard mister Shrewsbury, Bernard. This mine had Special Circumstances," she says, the words clearly capitalized by her tone. "My sense for the dramatic tells me that the prior owner, with their earth magic, did something that makes either the lichens themselves, or the rock they feed on, special. At least to somebody in some way."


Cirra's not one to trust things as they are, especially given her experiences thus far as a freesword. She does not like the idea of fire, but she's worried there are definite traps around. She inspects the markings more closely, looking for signs of tampering or other use.


Rainer isn't all that interested in chatting up a Cliffsider, fortunately, so he just lets Cassidy's distraction be a distraction and whoops~ He's already heading into the passage before that can be sorted out. Bernard's not slowing down, can't have him wandering in there without a light, and all that, after all. "Probably just some bandits tried holing up in here to duck pursuit." he offers, once they've ditched the raccoon and emerged into the chamber, turning his keen canine peepers hither and tither. "Hey! Any scofflaws hiding in here?!" He calls into the darkness, and then holds his light down towards the floor, where it catches on a thin line, making the metallic wire gleam. "Don't touch that. ...Aw, who'm I kidding?" The pup proceeds to duck nice and low, and stomp his foot down on the trigger.


Cassidy pauses again, for a moment. "Why is there a torch in here, anyway? If this place is supposed to be abandoned..." She adjusts her hat and frowns before adjusting her grip on the grimoire. "We're not alone here. Be on guard."


Rainer's foolishness is rewarded with a silent hiss, and a bolt aiming right for him. However, his superior reflexes and foreknowledge of the trap allows him to 'gracefully' dodge the bolt. Now the group is still in the same chamber. There are still three paths, will they follow Bernard or not is still a raised question.


"Watch the trap wire," Bernard starts to say, then puffs out his jowls as Rainer triggers the trap "Take a shot to the head you will, Lad. But fair enough" The portly hound does not slow. Not that he is moving very fast. He just happily tap tap taps his way along the corridor into the darkness. "Course," he ponders aloud, "The stone could have meant to go East. But I like this hall for the trap." The portly canine's tail wags happily as he wanders into the dark.


Natska tenses for a moment, although she relaxes as Rainer seems to avoid injury. She shakes her head, gives Cass a small smile, then follows after Bernard. "Indeed, Cass. I'm sure they aren't expecting us, though."


Cirra nods at Bernard. She signs to Cassidy. <Bernard's interpretation is possible, and my own opinion is to follow one wall. It might not get us to the fugus, but it does keep us alive. So, I say we go East.> She's not too surprised that there are others in there.


"Whoop!" It's a dodger not a ducker, Rainer's adventurer instincts tell him the instant following that telltale his, and he hastily rolls back and upright. The arrow, meanwhile, ricochets first off the floor, then the opposing wall, then straight for his face. It's out for blood! The wolf's eyes bug out and he flails his arms as he twists out of its path for a second time, spinning 'round and snagging the bolt by its fletching before it can go zipping off to harm someone else instead. Relieved, to say the least, and breathing heavily, he casts the projectile away with a flick of his wrist and the wipes his brow on the same arm, letting out a few breathy chuckles as he slumps over. "Ah-haha... hoo... ahum... I mean AAAAAH, OOOOH, OH CRIPES! MY LEG! IT SHOT ME RIGHT IN THE LEG! THIS IS THE WORST PAIN EVER! I think they're buying it. OOAAAAOOOWWH!"


"Even if they aren't expecting us, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared," Cass says with a nod before looking at Cirra. "We'll be safe either way. But we need to find the fungus, and Bernard has already chosen his path. I'd rather not split up the party," she says, following after the large bernard.


As the party moves to the north, they are stopped by yet another three splitting paths. However, of interest is a triangle carving in the middle of the room. The rock sculpture seems to have no other things that stand out except its general shape. The paths to be chosen are once again north, east, and west. What will the group choose?


Bernard, snorts and smiles. "I take it back, Lad and Lasses," the old hound says, "This is the way, methinks." He nods at the eastern path. "This way!" The portly Saint Bernard hardly pauses as he continues on his merry way. "And please don't step on this tripwire, Lad," he says stepping carefully over another trap, "It has bells on. No need to advertise ourselves, eh?"


Natska can't help but smile with amusement at Rainer's antics, even if they do increase the chance they'll run into other people. She pauses in the room as Bernard examines the stone, then digs into her bag for something; the jaguar produces a small chunk of engraved ice, and while the others peruse the sign she breathes life into her ice elemental, then follows along behind the Saint Bernard. "I thought you retired, Bernie," she says quietly, although the smile is still there in her voice.


Rainer comes into the new chamber last, rubbing the back of his neck as he recovers the last of his lost composure with a few measured breaths. "If we're not advertised already, I don't think we ever will be." the pup mumbles, briefly considering the other paths before finally falling in with the rest again and, obediently, makes care not to set off the second trap. "So... any theories on what we're -really- in here for? 'Cuz it's really starting to feel like the answer is 'not mushrooms.'" Though, speaking of which, he waves his torch around to sweep for the fungi in question. Just in case.


Cassidy lofts a brow as Bernard just seems to keep moving. "Well, if you want, sure, why not. Though it might be nice to get the input of others before you keep wandering off, you know. Else we might end up splitting up after all," she says with a little scowl behind her mask as she moves off none the less.


Cirra continues silently, still searching for hidden messages, hoping her companions don't further alert anyone inside. She's already watched one bolt go flying. She's not too upset at her plan not being chosen, and understands the need to keep the party together.


As Bernard once again spearheads the group's advance, with Rainer close behind him, the group delves into the east tunnel. As they move the sound of a click from beyone can be heard, and a piece of the wall seems to open, with some flickering light appearing from it. A wolf being, holding a torch can be seen slowly coming out, while grumbling, "John go check this, John go do that. Its only rats not like we are having some Spyguards coming after us.............." The wolf's voice trails, as he momentarily stares at the approaching group. The wolf spends no time, and runs back through the secret passage screaming, "INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS!" The wolf in his haste, has forgot to close down the secret passage, allowing the group quite a lucrative path to choose from.


"Aye, Lass," Bernard says quietly to Natska, "Retired from innkeeping. Never tried my hand at adventurin' though, and I thought, well, how bad could a bit o' mushroom pickin' be eh?" The round hound pats his big belly. "And a body's got to do sommat to keep his appetite don't he?" his says jovially in his gruff voice, "Might wither away soon if I don't keep meself busy!" The Saint 


Bernard claps his hands as the surprise bandit peers from the secret passage and makes his escape. "Well ain't that a sight?" he says, "A secret passage in a mine!" He holds out his arm to Natska and the other to Cassidy. "Shall we my dears?" he asks with a smile, "I'll need my two favorite lassies to keep me from getting lost!"


Natska sighs and rubs at her muzzle for a moment, fingers moving along the bottom of her domino mask. Then she looks over at Cassidy, grins, and steps up to -firmly- take Bernard by the arm. "Well. With us here, it hopefully won't be dangerous at all. Just let us handle things if it gets dicey, you are one of my few friends, Bernie. Cirra? Are your spells ready?" She watches the shark for a moment, then turns to the passage and calls out. "We are no threat! We will not cause any problems as long as you let us go about our business in peace!"


Cirra grins. It's not exactly the most comforting sight. At least, if you were expecting something warm. She's always got her spells ready, and this time is no different. Granted, much of her magic is woven into her arms and armor. She casts a single spell, coating Natska and attempting to extend the spell to cover herself.


Rainer snaps his fingers with a triumphantly-proclaimed "Ha!" Called it. He starts to bolt ahead, only to realize the others are continuing to move at a more casual pace, so he slows to a stop and turns around, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. "C'mooonnn, he's getting awaaayyy!" The pup beckons both with a hand and by tossing his head in the direction of the new passage. "You guuuyyys! We have to hurryyyyyy!"


Cassidy brings her free hand up to the brim of her hat, holding it down before she's off like a bolt to chase the fleeing thief down the secret passage, taking air-magic assisted leaps and jumps to try to gain ground on him. "Don't run. We don't want to harm you. We're looking for mushrooms!"


Entering the tunnel one would notice that it branches once in the middle, and seems to go again until it reaches a dead end, and another fork. The wolf is wasting no time, by the time that Cassidy followed him he is already on the far end of the tunnel, turning to the east, and still sprinting along.


<div></div><br> <br>Natska gives Bernard a quick, apologetic glance, then takes off down the hallway after Cassidy. She doesn&#39;t move quite as fast as the fennec did, but she is determined to not let her out of her sight. &quot;Better move quick, then! Come on everyone.&quot;<br> <br>Bernie sighs as everyone dashes off without him. &quot;Go on!&quot; he waves at Rainer, &quot;I&#39;ll catch up!&quot; The old hound continues along at a sedate pace, his eyes bright and lively as he examines the tunnel, following after the others.<br> <br>Cirra, coated in a healthy layer of mathemagic, dashes off after Cassidy and Natska. She&#39;s possibly faster than either of them, though they both have a headstart on her. She prepares another spell, but keeps this one on the brink of casting, waiting to see what happens. Kinda hard to do the diplomacy if you can&#39;t speak.<br> <br>Rainer feels the rush of air on his fur as Cassidy zooms past him, prompting him to further grit his teeth and STARE at the rest of the team dragging their heels, until finally they all jump into action! ...except the old mutt. Still bouncing eagerly at the mouth of the secret passage as Natska and Cirra join the charge, he keeps looking back and forth between it and the plodding hound, starts whimpering, and finally throws back his head with a sighed &quot;dammit.&quot; So he squashes down all his impatient mannerisms and forces himself into a more relaxed posture, brushing a hand through his hair, acting all nonchalant. &quot;Well, -I&#39;m- not leaving you back here by yourself. Who knows where else these passages open up? Can&#39;t have them getting the jump on you while everyone else&#39;s lost behind the walls, eh?&quot;<br> <br>Cassidy comes to a halt just outside of the potential ambush sight and flashes a little grin. She lets her book hang from the belt at her waist to free up her hand as she pulls up a few black pouches. &quot;Now... Let&#39;s try this,&quot; she murmurs. Without any sound to give the foes ahead a tell, she opens each of the three bags and places them on the ground before kicking up a bit of air magic to try to carry the powder down the tunnel, dispersing it in the room. The only thing off would be the sudden breeze, but by then it&#39;d likely be too late.<br> <br>Rokarion __;*<br> <br>The voices of dropping bodies can be heard from the eastern tunnel. Was it all of them or not is hard to tell without going into the tunnel. The rest of the group meanwhile reached Cassidy, and now they only needed to move into the tunnel to see the bandits. However, Bernard and Rinaer are still behind, reaching the first intersection as the rest of the group are already at the far end of the tunnel. They are treated to the sight of the rock formations, and water dripping around them. Also, they would notice that in the first intersection there is obvious movement of something in the western tunnel, obvious from the outlines is that they are elementals, most likely due to the nature of the cave, and its old overseer.<br> <br>Bernard stops Rainer gently at the intersection. &quot;Just a moment, lad,&quot; he says, stopping to fumble at his plain soul pendant for a moment before tucking it back into his fine linen shirt. &quot;There,&quot; he says, patting the spot where his pendant is hidden, &quot;Let&#39;s catch up with the others now. No need to bother the rocks back there. We&#39;re lookin fer fire, after all.&quot;<br> <br>Natska comes to a stop at Cassidy&#39;s shoulder, glancing down at the bags then over at the fennec. She takes a moment to set herself, then nods her head. &quot;Shall we?&quot;<br> <br>Cirra headtilts at Natska, blinking as the pair ahead of her stop, looking beyond them to see the bandits that are down. She keeps her spell ready, making sure the coast is clear before rejoining the old dog and the younger wolf.<br> <br>Rainer watches the shadowy forms of the elementals moving about in the distance and... starts bouncing again. He turns his head to cast a gaze down the tunnel to the rest of the group, then back to the elementals again. &quot;...I really wanna though...&quot; the excitable pup moans as he ushers Bernard ahead, sparing a look back the way they came for signs of pursuit before following. &quot;Also I thought we were looking for mushrooms.&quot; Seeing the sharkess heading towards them he gives her a wave before motioning her back the way she came, &quot;All clear back here~&quot;<br> <br>Cassidy takes her book up in one arm again, drawing her rapier in the other. &quot;Yes. Let us. We can get the mushrooms after we deal with them. Maybe they have the mushrooms, themselves,&quot; she says, striding forward, approaching with soundless steps.<br> <br>As Cassidy and Natska step into the tunnel they notice it opening up into a small hallway, with another passageway going to the north, most likely the bandit&#39;s &#39;room&#39;. However, much more urgent is the scene in front of the two, five beings lie on the floor dosing off, with a sixth one throwing a bucket of water on top of himself. 

The being is obviously from the heavy clan if his stature is any hint. He looks like he is a fish being. Looking closely, one would notice that he is a herring being, with deep red skin color, a wicked looking scar on his face, and ginger hair. The large herring looks at the two with bloodshot eyes, before screaming in a gruff voice, &quot;I am Clancy Roth! The Crimson Scar of the East Bank Forest! Who dares challenge me?!&quot; Clancy then takes out a wicked looking, great sword, and points at the two, &quot;Your trickery won&#39;t help you. Face me honorably if you dare!&quot;<br> <br>&quot;Aye, lad,&quot; Bernard says, &quot;But the mushrooms aren&#39;t like to be that way or this.&quot; He nods at the passage ahead where the shouts are coming from. &quot;I fear I made a wee misstep back in the stone room,&quot; he admits, &quot;Y&#39;see, we should have gone West to reach the mushrooms.&quot;<br> <br>Natska levels a flat stare at Clancy, then gives her head a tiny shake. &quot;We are just passing through. Don&#39;t mind us.&quot; She takes a step back, and a chilly breeze begins slowly swirling around the jaguar.<br> <br>Cirra leaves the talks to Natska, preparing her most powerful spell. Granted, she doesn&#39;t have enough space for her full lead-up, but she might as well keep the spell ready. This guy looks tough.<br> <br>&quot;Hah, admit it: you were more interested in picking a fight with whoever was setting the traps!&quot; Rainer brings his teeth to bare in a big old smile, shrugging the two still-empty collection sacks off his shoulder and dropping them aside. &quot;Well you better get up there before the ladies hog all the fun, then.&quot; Himself, he just looks for an optimal place from which to witness the spectacle.<br> <br>Cassidy raises her brow at the fish and does her best to not laugh. &quot;Oh pipe down, we&#39;re just here to look around. We don&#39;t want to kill you. Or I don&#39;t. That&#39;s why they&#39;re asleep. We&#39;re looking for fungus. Have you seen it? If you&#39;ve got any, I&#39;ll just turn around and make my way. I&#39;ve got no quarrel with you.&quot; All the same, a number of fireballs start to flicker into existence around her, just in case. &quot;So please. If you can tell us if you&#39;ve seen one, or at least let us go to keep looking, that&#39;ll be the end of it. Well. From us, anyway!&quot; She couldn&#39;t speak for the other three, when they managed to catch up.<br> <br>The red herring squints at the increasing number of opponents, before letting out a growl, and saying in a gruff voice, &quot;I have no idea what mushrooms are you talking about. My lads and I have yet to finish exploring the caves. However, there are none such at the eastern side of the caves. Try western.&quot; With that Clancy gives another growl, &quot;Now get out of my sight. All of you.&quot; He then looks at the group, sword still in hand, waiting to see the group&#39;s actions.<br> <br>Bernard lets Rainer go ahead and watch the face off with the bandits with a chuckle. &quot;Aye, lad,&quot; he says, &quot;Ye got me.&quot; The old hound then turns and quietly saunters back the way they came, being careful of traps. The bandits were handled, but there were mushrooms to find!<br> <br>Natska keeps a wary eye on the fish as she backs down the corridor, then glances behind to see Bernard is already off; she waits for Cassidy, then hurridly walks after the elderly Saint Bernard.<br> <br>Cirra curses mentally, returning to Bernard and Rainer, looking down one of the westward halways as she goes.<br> <br>Rainer thrusts out his lips like he was expecting any one of the women to plant a smooch on him as they passed, brows furrowed and glancing about between the players in this little be of suspense drama. &quot;What, are you kidding? We&#39;re just gonna ignore the bad guys?&quot; Despite the protesting tone he collects the bags and follows anyway. &quot;Auuuaahhhuuuaghhh. Worst. Adventure. Ev-ur.&quot;<br> <br>Cassidy turns and strides off alongside Natska, returning her sword to its scabbard. &quot;Yes. There is no need for pointless bloodshed. We, at least most of us, I hope, are not murdering psychopaths. That&#39;s Thel&#39;s job.&quot;<br> <br>The group leaves the growling herring as he goes back inside to his own business as he heads into the northern cave-in. The group, following Bernard all head back towards the room they were in previously, passing the intersection with the elementals, and exiting the secret passage, before standing once again in the room. The room remains the same, a trip wire on the eastern tunnel where the group is arriving from, a northern tunnel, and another western tunnel.<br> <br>&quot;West then,&quot; Bernard says, &quot;Like the stone up front said.&quot; He turns a joweled smile back on his younger compatriots. &quot;That was well done back there!&quot; he says, &quot;Shall we press on?&quot; He holds out an arm for whoever might like to take it, standing by the western corridor.<br> <br>&quot;Sure, west,&quot; Natska agrees, nodding her head. &quot;This place is huge, goodness.&quot; Her tail swishes back and forth, and she waits for everyone else before continuing on.<br> <br>The Nurse sharks deactivates her spell, not wanting to seem threatening to the shale elementals. She&#39;s kinda curious where they are expected to find mushrooms, and if those bandits were telling the truth.<br> <br>Rainer&#39;s eyebrows go up and his mouth starts to open when Cassidy&#39;s remarks first reach his ears, but he abruptly smacks his muzzle shut and keeps it that way, just quietly stewing and loitering at the back of the group. His gaze frequently turns back to the path behind them, likely hoping he&#39;ll spot the thugs trailing them or otherwise doing something he could use as an excuse for provocation.<br> <br>Cassidy chuckles softly and nods. &quot;West is fine, yes. And it certainly is quite large,&quot; she agrees, leaning against Natska for a brief moment before starting off down the west, fishing a flask from one of the pockets in her cloak. After taking a sip, she offers it towards the jaguar. &quot;Care for a bit of tea? Ought to keep our energy up, incase we run into a giant bullfrog or something.&quot;<br> <br>The group moves towards the western path, one would notice that the walls here were somehow looking more sturdy than the rest of the mine. As the group move through the tunnel they reach a small fork, obviously not a main path, as the fork only has one other small, side tunnel that leads directly to a closed and battered door. One could check what was inside or continue their path at their leisure.<br> <br>Bernard is in no hurry. &quot;This is more adventure than I&#39;ve had in a decade!&quot; he says happily as he taps his cane along the hall, &quot;What do ye suppose that is?&quot; The portly hound nods at the small branch. &quot;Don&#39;t spose our mushrooms are behind the door,&quot; he says, &quot;But it could be most anything else!&quot;<br> <br>Natska glances over and eyes the door. &quot;It certainly could... I suppose we have no way of knowing if we don&#39;t check.&quot; She thinks for a moment, then her ears perk and she grins, turning to the sulking wolf behind the party. &quot;Hey, Rainer! Do you want to have the honors of opening the door?&quot;<br> <br>Cirra blinks. She&#39;d like to explore the smaller path if at all possible, but is reasonably sure that&#39;s not the path to their goal. She looks around for clues, keping in mind the clues from earlier.<br> <br>Rainer jumps when his name is called, as he&#39;d been checking for followers yet again when it came, and stares bewildered for several beats before he catches up with the situation. &quot;It&#39;s probably just the foreman&#39;s cabin.&quot; he remarks, less than enthused, as he approaches the door, &quot;Er, hole. Cave. Y&#39;know what I mean.&quot; Grabs the knob, gives it a twist, pushes! ...And then/or pulls. Whichever way it&#39;s meant to open.<br> <br>Cassidy shrugs and tucks her tea flask away, leaning back to watch Rainer and the door. &quot;I was expecting more mushrooms, actually. It&#39;s a little disappointing! I&#39;m surprised we&#39;ve not found a single one, yet.&quot;<br> <br>The main tunnel still stretches beyond, with a faint flicker of green light promising some form of compensation for the group; however, Rainer receives a whole different form of compensation. Opening the door, he is met with quite a grizzle, and strange scene. The room looks like that it used to be the Overseer&#39;s quarters, with many destroyed alchemical equipment, and strange liquids on the walls. The room looks as if it suffered the fury of a powerful fire mathemagician, or the most likely story, an alchemical mishap. Around all of the charred debris, near the alchemical work station is the skeletal remains of what one would assume the old overseer, his, or maybe her, charred robes and the damaged equipment around him belaying their mathemagicial vocation.  There seems nothing to do here, except notice how that some of the compounds and mixtures seem to be still clinging or dripping from the walls.<br> <br>Natska peeks around Rainer as he opens the door and then frowns. &quot;What, really? This can&#39;t have happened that long ago, especially for nobody to have found it...&quot; she trails off and frowns, and something makes her glances around as she checks up and down the hallway.<br> <br>Cirra continues heading down the main hall, trying not to retch from the scene she saw past the blind charge into the overseer&#39;s office.<br> <br>Rainer&#39;s face twists in disgust with an audible &quot;bleck,&quot; and he has to turn away from the scene several times before he&#39;s finally able to stomach it long enough to take the whole room in. &quot;Was gonna say... guy disappears ages ago and no one thought to look behind a door? ...Think he was with those bandits?&quot; He casts his gaze down to the floor, a thoughtful frown upon his muzzle, and decides to venture into the room, doing his utmost to avoid stepping in the drippy gunk where possible as he makes for the remnants of the workstation. Well, alright, for the sake of brevity: he wants that corpse&#39;s clothes. For raisins. And soon as he has them he&#39;ll scoot right back out.<br> <br>&quot;Oof. This is quite a mess.&quot; Cassidy shakes her head and makes a face. &quot;I doubt it, but I&#39;m starting to wonder if we got set up or something! Or if this is all just a bad mess.&quot;<br> <br>Bernard frowns and pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, placing it firmly over his sensitive canine nose. How had THIS not been uncovered before? It probably explained why the bandits had not strayed this direction. &quot;It certainly could have happened at least a year ago, Lass,&quot; he says to Natska, &quot;Looks like this all blew up in his face. Must have been during the elemental attack. Or just before.&quot; The hound turns and follows Cirra down the main hall. &quot;Nothin&#39; more to see here, methinks,&quot; he says, leaving the dead where they lay, &quot;We can get someone to come for the poor body later. Didn&#39;t expect things to turn so unpleasant.&quot;<br> <br>As Cirra moves closer to the end of the tunnel, the green light grows brighter. Taking a right turn at the end of the tunnel, anyone who enters will be greeted by an almost awe-inspiring sight. The tunnel expands to a large chamber, more damp, and wet than the rest of the cave, and with almost every surface covered in the glowing fungus. The room radiate a pleasant green color, awaiting the group to come and pick up their intended prize.<br> <br>&quot;Ah!&quot; Bernard barks a little cheer, &quot;That&#39;s more like it!&quot; The old dog taps his way to the wall and reaches up to break off one of the luminous mushrooms to study. &quot;Remarkable!&quot; he says.<br> <br>Natska wrinkles her nose at the mess, then quietly slips her arm through Cassidy&#39;s as she follows Cirra and Bernard down the hallway towards the glow. &quot;Well then. This wasn&#39;t too bad at all! And who knows, maybe someone will put up a contract to clear out the elementals and such later on.&quot;<br> <br>Cirra smiles a bit as she starts collecting the fungi, carefully placing them in the bag they brought along with them. She is still nervous about the overseer and hopes that whatever did all that fire isn&#39;t either causing more harm or isn&#39;t in pain anymore, since she couldn&#39;t tell if it was the overseer who cast it.<br> <br>&quot;Yuck yuck yuck yuck...&quot; Rainer comes hopping back out of the overseer&#39;s room, lifting his feet one at a time to give them a shaking out, convinced he stepped in a puddle or two, before hurrying to catch up with the others, nondescript sacks over one shoulder, gawdawful-smelling magician&#39;s robe over the other. &quot;...Yup, they&#39;re mushrooms. Woo-hoo, thrilling, into the saddle bags, eh ladies and gents?&quot; He tosses one bag to the ground for the others and keeps one for himself, using his sword to scrape the shrooms into it quick as he can.<br> <br>Cassidy raises her brow and peers at Rainer. &quot;For someone that wants to fight so much, you seem to have an aversion to gore and dead bodies.&quot; She reaches up to rub at one of her ears before leaning into Natska again, letting herself be taken by the arm. &quot;Maybe they will!&quot;<br> <br>The group grabs as much as they want from the fungus, hopefully filling the two sacks, while Bernard, and any other who chooses to, takes some for personal experimentation. The group then heads back the way they came from, facing nothing in the cold tunnels of the cave, fortunately. 

Right outside the cave, the shrew and his owl bodyguard wait, with the wagon parked right behind them. Upon seeing the group exit, the fidgety shrew grins in relief, and starts speaking in a cheery tone, &quot;Good good! You found the fungus? I hope you got as much as possible. I really appreciate your efforts Freeswords! Now can you please hand over the sacks? Your reward awaits you!&quot;<br> <br>Bernard pads thoughtfully from the mine, leaning on his cane. &quot;Maybe I won&#39;t be doing this again soon,&quot; he says, &quot;But thank ye all for lookin out for this old hound dog.&quot; The portly canine taps his way over to the owl. &quot;So, William,&quot; he says with a smile, &quot;How is it you keep this sort of thing up?&quot;<br> <br>Natska gives Benard a small pat on the shoulder, then snuffs her torch with another gesture of mathemagic. She offers it back to the shrew&#39;s guard, and then gives Charles a nod. &quot;Filled the two sacks all the way, and there was plenty more in there. Not a bad job, all things considered.&quot;<br> <br>Cirra nods, looking over to see what her reward is. She&#39;s hoping it&#39;s not a false reward. That happened a few times back in Cliffside. Have an underling do a job then get rid of them as a &#39;reward&#39;.<br> <br>&quot;Um, yeah. Just don&#39;t go wandering in there unarmed hoping to score yourself s&#39;more. Found some suspicious-lookin&#39; folk holed up in there too.&quot; Rainer slants his gaze towards the others as he passes them, dragging along the two bags full of shrooms, both of which he&#39;s wiped that wretched stench of fiery death and alchemical mishap all over, during the walk back. Because Cliffsiders! He deposits the load before the shrew, presuming there&#39;ll need be some inspection of the merchandise, takes his new, slightly used mathemagical robes and starts walking away, not even interested in the payment, apparently.<br> <br>Cassidy rubs her chin under her mask and shrugs. &quot;It was an interesting enough night, certainly!&quot; She rolls her shoulders for a moment and stifles a little yawn. &quot;That said... I could use a rest now. All that walking around in a cave has left me feeling sort of tired!&quot;<br> <br>The moment Rainer sets the two bags on the ground, the small shrew&#39;s cheerful act quickly fades, replaced by a serious, and critical expression on his face. He immediately begins scanning all over the fungus. Satisfied with the results, his smile returns, and he motions for one of the guards to take away the sacks, and bring the payment. &quot;Good job Freeswords! You deserve your pay for this!&quot; 

The aging owl chuckles at Bernard&#39;s comment, &quot;Standing around the merchant looking all important seems to do the job for me.&quot; He then moves towards the wagon, &quot;Give me a minute old friend.&quot; As the owl departs to the wagon, the raccoon, Roger, comes back with five pouches for the group. The shrew motions for Roger to hand the group their payment, as he says excitedly, &quot;There five hundred crowns each and some of those tokens your guild deals with! It was a pleasure doing business with you brave adventurers. Now if you will excuse me, I have to depart. The Airship going back to beautiful Cliffside is going to depart tomorrow in the early morning, and I need to prepare.&quot; With that the shrew walks towards the wagon, taking a side inside it. 

The owl after a minute of absence, with a bottle in hand. He hands the bottle of Cliffside wine to Bernard, &quot;Have this for old time sake&#39;s old friend. 462 a good year that one, enjoy it just like the old days at the university.&quot; The owl then gives the group one final nod, and enters the wagon. The Cliffsiders soon depart, leaving the group to their own distractions.[[Category:RPLogs]]