05-19-2016, 07:11 PM
Toot did not have to send an elemental to the surface to tell how far abovehead it was. He knew it took about six rounds for the previous one to return, i.e. 120 feet upwards; or 240 feet if the elemental was earth-glide-running. A burrowing thoqqua could get there in the same time (or double the time since can't run while burrowing), making it possible to dig the distance three to four times.
While waiting for the thoqqua to finish some bug began munching on Toot's brain. How could he hear footsteps echoing through hard rock if the creature was incorporeal?
There had to be other, corporeal creatures there, and since he hadn't seen any other ways down there they must have passed all along this tunnel that has a dead end.
Or did the druid miss something? Maybe giving up underground life for the surface took his innate edge of getting around in tunnels?
Anyway, the thoqqua made just enough turns for Boo to safely squeeze through. So they bid the magma worm farewell and waited for the rock to solidify and cool down. They heard hisses of evaporating water from above and as soon as the stone got cooler, drops of hot water started to collect into a puddle at the bottom of the tunnel. It was wet outside. Possibly raining.
By the time they got to the surface the sky was dark but the moon hid behind clouds. The white sun was about two hours to rise.
Peeking out at the edge of the tunnel Toot can see a wide circle of trees around a flat, wet area. Only the immediate vicinity of the tunnel exit was dried by the heat.
Beyond the trees to the south Toot spots a bush that would appear natural for the casual observer but not for the druid. That was a well disguised hideout of some creature.
Looking northeast he spots a copse of trees atop a mound.
While waiting for the thoqqua to finish some bug began munching on Toot's brain. How could he hear footsteps echoing through hard rock if the creature was incorporeal?
There had to be other, corporeal creatures there, and since he hadn't seen any other ways down there they must have passed all along this tunnel that has a dead end.
Or did the druid miss something? Maybe giving up underground life for the surface took his innate edge of getting around in tunnels?
Anyway, the thoqqua made just enough turns for Boo to safely squeeze through. So they bid the magma worm farewell and waited for the rock to solidify and cool down. They heard hisses of evaporating water from above and as soon as the stone got cooler, drops of hot water started to collect into a puddle at the bottom of the tunnel. It was wet outside. Possibly raining.
By the time they got to the surface the sky was dark but the moon hid behind clouds. The white sun was about two hours to rise.
Peeking out at the edge of the tunnel Toot can see a wide circle of trees around a flat, wet area. Only the immediate vicinity of the tunnel exit was dried by the heat.
Beyond the trees to the south Toot spots a bush that would appear natural for the casual observer but not for the druid. That was a well disguised hideout of some creature.
Looking northeast he spots a copse of trees atop a mound.
