Editing Menace Under Otari (section)

== Tangent Log's, Pathdate: 2023.1029 ==

=== The Missing Supplies ===
The passage continued and began to widen out. The stone looked carved rather than natural. Our party happened on a large wooden door with rusty hinges and the sound of arguing whispers. Spike took lead to investigate to discover four Kobolds arguing in Common as one was trying to pick a lock to a cage with crates and barrels. Spike used a magic Ventriloquism spell and began to insult the Kobold working to pick the lock. "You call that pick-locking? No wonder you never amounted to anything." This caused the kobold trying to pick the lock to lunge at one of his companions. Three of them began to brawl while the fourth attempted to pick the lock. Distracted and entertained by the brawl, he wasn't paying very much attention.

Rhus snuk up to the one attempting to pick the lock ran his rapier through the Kobold and whispered in its ear "Nighty night" as it silently falls dead to the floor. Jerrick and Cheesers attempts to strike one of the Kobolds, but it twists out of the way, still fighting with its companions. Spike conjures up three crochet needles from their purse and using magic and fires them through the Kobold's skull. The remaining two Kobolds, realize they are under attack and scramble to defend themselves. One attempts to use his sling on Jerrick, but misses while the other attempts to take out Cheesers. Before the Kobold can reach Cheesers Jerrick reacts and quickly decapitates the Kobold yelling "Not so fast!". Cheesers squeaks its thanks. Ruby shoots the last Kobold with a bolt of ice who dejectedly accepts his death and it last words were "Aww, dang it!"

Using one of the spears of the fallen Kobolds, Rhus forces the lock and gate open. These are clearly the crates taken from the cellar, but most of the food has spoiled. Jerrick investigates the contents while Spike and Ruby wander off to the previous door. Cheesers decides to remain near his newfound friend. Jerrick finds a sword, gold coins, and a golden ring in various barrels and chests. Jerrick makes a mental note to ask what these bits and bobs are doing inside barrels and crates meant to only contain fish. He suspects other goods were smuggled in as the actual cargo since much of the food and fish has been left to spoil. He hands Rhus the sword and golden ring to hold onto.

=== The Alter to the Sea ===
Meanwhile Ruby and Spike wandered back to the previous large wooden door and work together to open it. It creaks and groans loudly in protest. They see a large room with a squid-man sculpture. It is moist and damp and the smell of mold hangs heavy in the air. Spike illuminates the two small candles in the room. While studying the room, Spike recognizes it as an alter dedicated to the Gozreh, The Winds and the Waves, a deity of air and sea. The eyes of the statue are intently staring at a bow of water in between the two candles. The water is pure and has no scent or contaminants. Ruby tells Spike that he can detects magic coming from the bowl of water. Spike grabs the bowl and pours the liquid into their water skin. Spike hears faint whispers as the water pours the water and staches the bowl in their pack. They make their way back to the others.

Jerrick and Rhus continue to check the room and find a stone slab hides the passage into what looks like an entrance to stone dungeon. Once inside a trap is triggered that causes stones to fall from above. Jerrick is struck by a few while Rhus makes it out unscathed. Once the party regroups and ensures everyone is alright, they continue to the next room.

=== The Alter to Wealth ===
The room has three statues, two standing facing a seated one with its palm facing upward. Spike recognizes this as a statue of Abadar, The Master of the First Vault, a deity of wealth. in the center. A disembodied voice boom loudly to our heroes offering them a riddle. Of the 9 coins presented to them, one is a deception. Jerick groups coin into three groups. Coins 1-3 on the left, 4-6 on the right, and 7-9 are set aside. Once the statue's right-hand sinks down and the left is lifted up, Jerrick knows the deceptive coin must be in the left hand. Jerrick removes coins 1-3 from the statue and places coins 4 and 5 in each hand and holds up coin 6 in his hand. When neither hand moves and stay level, Jerrick declares "I have 'ye fake coin right here." All coins disappear and the voice says "Congratulations, you have passed my test." One of the two doors in the room slides opens. Jerrick steps into the chamber to see a large chest and a pull lever of sorts. Opening the chest reveals some gold coins, an unusual gem, and an unusual scroll that Spike holds onto. behind the chest is a small hidden level that when pulled results in an audible click from the other room.

=== Kobolds, Kobold, and More Kobolds ===
Jerrick and the rest of the part leave to inspect the remaining door. They can hear voices coming from behind the door. Jerrick presses his ear to the door to try and get a better idea of what is going on. Meanwhile Spike is very curious about the pull lever in the chamber, and throwing caution to the wind, cranks it down. Jerrick steps back as the door begins to rise in front of him. Thankfully, the now revealed Kobolds are too busy bickering to notice our heroes.

Our party quietly file into the large room with columns and stairs that lead to a raised section. They take up positions while staying hidden in the shadows. Jerrick gestures to his party that he will begin combat by drawing his blade and looks to them for Approval. Rhus nods and the others look at each other and ultimately nod as well. Jerrick strikes one of the Kobolds dead in the middle of their conversation and gestures the other Kobolds are next. The Kobolds struggle to grab their weapons as they are taken out one by one by our heroes. One of the Kobolds was about to fling a stone from his sling at Jerrick, but Cheesers put everything he had into taking down the Kobold. After the Kobold ceased to struggle and death claimed them, Cheesers fell apart. His skull rolled until it stopped, having made contact with Jerrick's boot. Jerrick gently picked up the skull and handed it to Spike, who began to sob. Jerrick turned away to hide the single tear from his eye and said stoically "T'was a good rat".

The click heard earlier was the result of the party unwittingly disabling a large trap. This had caused the Kobolds to argue about what could have gone wrong with their machine, giving our heroes the advantage in the fight. After the Kobolds have been dispatched, our heroes take a moment to catch their breath. At the top of the raised section of the room, the entrance to a long spiral stairway can be seen. It leads down and into the darkness. As they continue forward, Spike feels a tingle in their felt that might indicate a demonic presence.<blockquote>-End of Log</blockquote>