Fires of Creation, Part II

[Sajuuk]

"Onwards to the South then," Harksgun replies, hefting the surprisingly light suit into his pack.

(Deep Diving Suit added to Party Supplies list)

[thespoonbender1]

emma agrees to follow the party to the south, hanging back to the next-to-last position in any single-file order.

[littleangryman]

The temperature drops noticeably in this tunnel, and a rime of white frost lines the walls and floor leading into the cavern beyond. What seems to be a light layer of brown dust carpets the cave floor beyond, and a body sits slumped against the eastern wall.

Knowledge: Local, Perception, and either Knowledge: Dungeoneering or Survival checks, please.

[Berryshine]

(And Manizei has none of those. So, untrained Perception, 1d20+1 = 17)

[Sajuuk]

(INT Check (not trained in either Knowledge): 1d20+1 = 18)
(Perception: 1d20+3 = 22)
(Survival: 1d20+3 = 5)

[Mr_Praetorian]

(Perception: 1d20+5= 14 (15 vs traps)
Survival: 1d20+1= 17)

[littleangryman]

Conferring with one another, you arrive at the conclusion that this is a bad place.

Know: Local: Given his close association with Khonnir, Harskgun instantly recognizes the body as belonging to Gerrol Sonder, the rogue from Khonnir's party. He also recalls that Gerrol recently got engaged to local weaponsmith's daughter Emelia Otterbie, who would be... well, grateful to at least have his body back.

Perception: Most of you are able to spot strange ribbons and filaments of rust-colored fibers growing on Gerrol's spine, throat, and chest.

Survival: Niles' knowledge saves the day, as he is able to identify not one but two dangerous fungi in the room. The powdery brown stuff covering the floor is in fact an exceptionally large patch of brown mold, which, while not fatal in and of itself, will leave you unconscious and at the mercy of anything else that might kill you. Case in point, the growths on Gerrol's body indicate an infestation of an even more dangerous fungus called russet mold, which will not only kill you, but will result in a nasty little plant-based chestburster called a vegepygmy a day or so later.

As brown mold generates a great deal of cold in the area, it seems to have temporarily halted the russet mold's growth, and as Gerrol's chest is still intact, it can be safely surmised that no vegepygmies have developed. Yet.

Although one can see a passageway leading east, it cannot be reached without braving the bown mold.

[Mr_Praetorian]

(I'm assuming we shared all of this information which each other).

"Well, Harskagun, it would be noble for us to return the body, but it could get us all killed."

[littleangryman]

(It's safe to assume that in its current immature state, the russet mold shouldn't be contagious at this time. As for the brown mold, he's not *that* far in. You surmise that if you were to tie one of your ropes to whoever's got the best Fortitude save, getting him out shouldn't be too difficult.)

[Berryshine]

"I don't feel right just leaving the body there, though," Manizei comments sadly. "But if we move it, or even just remove the brown mold to approach ..."
She sighs. "Is there nothing we can do? Burn the mold away, perhaps?"

(If only I had knowledge skills)

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Actually, fire would lead to rapid expansion? What we need is a source of cold. Emma, do you know any cold based magic?"

[Sajuuk]

(If it matters, I do have prepared, so I can do some cold damage.)

[thespoonbender1]

Emma responds quickly. "Are you sure about this? I know nothing about which mold will kill us and I dont want to die because I froze the wrong mold and then the deathly one explodes"

[Mr_Praetorian]

"Well. Let's back up then." Niles moves to be at least 30ft away from the mold in question.

[polahburr]

"I know it's grim, but we can always come back for the body." She frowned a bit. "Though maybe examining it would give us some clues about what we're up against before we venture onward. How far away can you be to fire the ice, Emma? Do you think we could all back up to a potentially safe distance before you freeze it?"

Enlali was not enthusiastic to act afraid of mold, but since she couldn't see to offer much in the way of helpful solutions, so afraid of mold it would have to be!