Jack looks on with something akin to mock consternation as just about half the group starts vying for the scouting job, but just shrugs his shoulders and retires next to Lia with an easy smile. As the group starts down the corridor, he whispers to her:
"Are they always all chewing at the bit like that? No wonder even dragons don't seem to be a match for this lot… Rarely seen the like !", he chuckles softly to himself as they proceed, then nudges Velon in a conspiratory manner: "We should gather everyone into squadrons of scouts. Now that would be something to behold."
He gives the red-bearded man a wink then gets back to concentrating on the path ahead, all his senses in alert.
Out of Character:
Perception check like anyone else, just in case.
Edited: AshDrunbar on 19th Jul, 2017 - 3:50am
Silas smiles and shakes his head a bit, but doesn't say anything, merely taking up position at the fore of the main group.
The group proceeds along the passage to the north. They don't go very far before the scouts encounter something unusual.
There is what looks to be another adventuring band lying dead in the hall. Their bodies are shriveled, almost mummified. Apparently growing out of a large crack in the wall is a large mass of mold, it has spread to surround and cover the bodies.
Lia shakes her head as Jharen speaks. " They aren't usually this eager. I guess it is because we haven't adventured together in a while. Those dragons stand no chance at this rate. " She grins at him. As the others suddenly stop up ahead, she peers all around to see what is the matter.
Noticing how well Poljen has blended into the shadows and hearing his offer to scout, he motions for Poljen to join him in the front. He suggests; "Someone should watch the back with Lia, and everyone should keep their eyes peeled; especially for traps. The more eyes active; the less likely we'll miss something."
"Call out if you see something, even if it's loot. Especially if it's loot. Remember, loot can be a trap too."
He turns the corner and sees the fallen adventurers. He signals for Poljen to halt and then motions to the group for Geoffroy to come forward. "What do you make of this. I don't believe that I've dealt with something like that before. One thing is for certain, we don't touch the mold."
Edited: Robertreaper on 19th Jul, 2017 - 6:12am
Poljen nods as Oswald takes the lead. Even an obviously seasoned scout like Oswald will find an extra set of eyes useful, looking right while the other watches to the left. He is just learning Oswald's tendencies when the man stops. Poljen quickly sees the bodies on the floor, and for a moment is planning on which body he will search first, when Oswald points out the mold. The barbarian frowns and thinks. As the others join them he suggests, "Fire? Maybe we burn the mold first… "
Cratol sees the bodies and his first thought is of possible weapons they can use and treasure in the way of monetary value that they could take from the bodies but at the same time he wants to stay away from the mold. Burning it can help maybe but the fumes that will fill the hallway could cause more issues than it helps. HE waits to see what the others wish to do.
Silas turns the corner, sees the situation, and calls out, "Get back!"
After taking a slightly closer look, he says, "Ixen Sonear, or in the common tongue, Fire Eater. I think its more commonly known by the benign seeming name of Brown Mold. Here, let me show you what happened to those poor souls. This stuff really is remarkable."
Once everyone is well clear, Silas lights a torch and lobs it towards the mass. It lands a few feet outside of the edge of the mold and starts guttering. The mold begins to grow rapidly, enveloping the area with the torch, which goes out just before the mold covers it up. The whole process took less than a second.
"This species thrives on heat, and it sucks every scrap of it it can out of its environment. High temperatures causes it to grow incredibly fast. The dead were likely carrying torches, and brought them too close to an outgrowth. The mold ate the heat from the fire they brought, grew around them before they could get away, and then ate the heat from their bodies as well. Pay attention to what it looks like, the feel and smell of the air around it. This may not be the last time you encounter such a thing, and it may not be so obvious a hazard later on."