Session 22: Diving to the Lair Report

General Summary

Waking in the swamp "cave". Breakfast is eschewed in favour of backtracking to the dead giant crocodile, skinning it and cooking the flesh for breakfast. Teeth are pulled, possibly for use as caltrops or fashioned into a souvenir. Discussion turns to Zeke's lair and its location, and Tarral reveals to Theia that she believes it was beneath the waters next to the village.   The party returns to the village and Bella and Tarral are reunited with the rest of the villagers. Theia explains the conundrum of finding the entrance to the lair to AD-2000 when it is likely underwater. The robot simply wanders into the water and begins to search the bed of the river. He is shortly joined in his search by Ongar and Jakuki, and between them they eventually discover a wide tunnel leading downwards into a narrowing mouth of a cave. Upon breaching a surface, they agree to return for the others before proceeding, and 2K waits near the mouth underwater.   Jakuki returns with Ongar and they explain their findings. With trepidation, Theia asks to go first with Jakuki's assistance, and Gwen moves to tag along. Diving into the murky depths, Jakuki notes at the bottom that Gwen ends up tangled in the mangrove roots of the trees and thinking quickly pushes a surprised Theia into the mouth of the underwater cave - still some distance from safety - and turns back to assist Gwen. The two of them get disentangled and return to the surface. Meanwhile, Theia overcomes her surprise and manages to forge ahead, barely surfacing in time before drowning. She collapses in a coughing heap on the sodden ground and is soon joined by 2K.   The others eventually join them without further incident, Gwen and Ceonwulf making their own way down with Ongar while Jakuki assists Roderick in making the journey. Reunited, Theia launches into an outburst at Jakuki until he explains what happened, and gruffly she accepts his apology as she regains her composure.   The gathered group turn to peer into the abject darkness of the cave, dripping water echoing off the walls the only sound to greet them.