The Nexus

[The Shallows]

The shotgun isn't in great condition, rusted as it is, but it appears to be in better shape than the revolver out in the car was. It... might work? Maybe?

Probably a good idea to test it out.

Just to make sure it doesn't jam when using it quickly is important.

Pulling the spike out of the wall, Adrie will find that its surface is covered in tiny barbs and a channel runs to its tip from a shriveled up gland that used to sit at the base. Almost like a giant bee's stinger. Designed to stick into something and continue pumping venom into it until the stinger is removed. Except this stinger is about the size of a dagger. Whatever was employing them was quite large. And probably quite unpleasant.

The Shallows

It'll be good for intimidation, at least. Well, hopefully. It didn't help this poor chap when it was new. If nothing else, Adrie can check it for any shells and take those. The spike is not as practical as a hidden weapon as Adrie had initially thought, but he'll tuck it into a pocket of his trousers anyway. Or he would, but it's too long, so instead he'll hold it as he stands again and looks around for a bag of some kind, ideally one he can wear.

[Wading]

A floor that clicks and moves downward is a floor you don't want to be on!
The explorer hops away and scrambles onto other tiles until he can actually just hang onto a pillar for a moment and be sure there aren't any more spike traps coming.

Okay.

The oxen were a decoy. Next up is to try following that trail of matching floor tiles from one face to another.

[The Shallows]

Bags aren't terrible difficult to find. There's a collection of tote bags behind the counter that look like they had some kind of picture on them at some point, but they've been bleached by the meager sunlight filtering down through the canopy in the years they've sat unattended. They aren't exactly easy to wear, but one could loop an arm through them.

No doubt Adrie is planning on filling the bag up with provisions?

There are certainly plenty to choose from here.

Now it's just a matter of gathering things up, right?


[Wading]

The worst kind of decoy, in fact.

The kind that stabs you a whole bunch!

Following the train from face to face turns out to be significantly more helpful. Upon reaching the the pillar sunlight shines through the gloom of the ruins, illuminating a courtyard of sandstone arches and trees growing atop them, their roots clinging to the ancient stones like gnarled fingers. A flight of stairs flanked by pillars leads up to a large stone box sitting atop an altar, its lid sealed by rich green moss. The arched ruins nearby house a collection of ghoulish looking statues with great tusks and protruding tongues, several of which have been defaced. Beyond the ruins a small stream trickles up a hill in which a trio of river otters are romping playfully.

Shallows

Yes, Adrie is looking to fill it with supplies. Tinned food goes in there, along with the quiver of arrows, any shells from the skeleton's shotgun, and the spike he'd pulled from the wall. Now he'd like to find a new shirt, since this one's got holes in it and it's stained with his ichor. He's going to try keeping an eye out whilst he's working, but his senses are average human level so anything particularly sneaky will likely succeed at sneaking up on him.

[Wading]

Well, it seems he's made it to...the next part of the puzzle, at least!

The water is still flowing the wrong way. And there's some strange long creatures in it.
But they don't seem to be a danger as he makes his way out into the courtyard.

Thus, the current concern is the stone box atop the altar. This looks like a job for a crowbar, which of course, as a self-respecting adventurer, he has in his pack.

Falling Down the Stairs

"I think it's either raging or about to blow! Take cover!" Kol jumps back behind the stone column for the inevitable giant green explosion that's about to happen.
Maybe.
Maybe the ape just glows when it's mad.

[Falling Down the Stairs]

You don't have to tell me twice, Ash thinks as she removes her fangs from the ape's tough skin and webs herself back onto the trees, traversing them quickly thanks to the webbing she'd already set up by this point.

The spiderwoman finds cover in the same stone column Kol is at, where she decides to web the ground around it to ensure that if the ape does explode then at least the pillar shouldn't fall over and squish her like a... spider.

"Ugh. My venom is still fizzing in my fangs. And that baboon tastes freaking awful." she groans as she leans against the pillar.