Landhan feels like he should notice something, but doesn't quite notice whatever it was.
"Ye' kin stay with tha boat. Seems like a good aydea. This way ya won't git killed."
"I see how tents aren't going to be useful but packs and bedrolls still are. You should come with us Calaak. Everyone knows that adventurers never split up while exploring. Strength in numbers is our best bet against any danger we may find. We are certainly going to need someone who can see in the dark in there."
Calaak I would rather not separate
How about we just tie the boat off, at the bottom of our rope here? Sukumar looks around at the group to gauge their thoughts. Once we get the grappling hook secured up top, I'd be more than happy to make a few trips up and down the rope to bring all the necessary supplies up to the entrance.
Once the grappling hook is secured to Sukumar's liking, he ties the bottom end of the rope off on the bow of the boat, and shoulders his pack. Well...? We're burning daylight people, and that rope ain't gonna climb itself. Nandita, if you'd feel more comfortable with a pair of strong arms below you on the rope, I'll climb up right after you. Otherwise I think it best we go one at a time, to make sure the rope holds.
Thank you Sukumar. But one at a time does sound the safest,
Calaak nods at the requests to join and gives an appreciative smile, "Good to know I'm not seen as an old crone." You bundle up all of the supplies that you feel will be necessary and begin ascending the rope. The tall cliffside blocks the early sun, offering reprieve from its merciless heat. Once everyone has made it atop the portico, you get a good look inside the entrance. Moss grows on the stone ground hugging the walls revealing the center pathway of worn decorative stone. The walls are simple sandstone bricks with minor detailing. A recessed ridge runs along both walls from end to end which are filled with skulls in single file. Each skull has a symbol painted on it matching the necklace you found seemingly in blood. The tunnel stands approximately 5ft wide and 10ft in height. It extends for nearly 30ft before forking left and right. A faint glow emanates from the left hall flickering as if from a fire. Meanwhile, a low hum can be heard from the right.
I'm sure our brave compatriot Sukuamr would be happy to take the lead. Samuel says with a winning smile.
"Our first fork! I vote left. It's always best to go where one can see.
I a more than fine with starting off where we can see. How do we want our order lined up?
"'ll go secund. Kin use ma' extrax on'm if 'e needs 'em."
If you want me in the lead, I'm more than fine with it, but it'll be slow goings, as I'm a man who believes in thorough examination of all angles for danger.
Also, I believe in bringing my own light. So, if any of you can magic up some light, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise I'll light a torch and give it the professor to hold, so I can have both hands on my hammer. As he speaks he removes his hammer from the loop on his belt, gripping it tightly in both hands.
"You worree about holdin' yer weapons. 'll hold a torch."
Landhan lights a torch and holds it aloft, walking just behind Sukumar. He has a hand at his belt on his acid splash extract, ready to toss it at an enemy if we run into any.
Waiting to be in the last in line. Since the group will be taking their time she ignores the thorough examination as Sukumar puts it and dedicates her attention to the rear to try to make sure nothing is coming up from behind them. Keeping her scythe at the ready.
The narrow corridor drips with a collected dew that seeps in from the mountain ceiling. You slowly creep forward and around the left bend, inspecting every facet of the ancient temple. Evidence of foot-travel lurks in the dirt and dust on the ground. The moaning from the right corridor grows in intensity before finally calming to a hush followed by a heavy shuffle that fades to silence. The left corridor continues another a short distance before opening to a lit room. Peaking around the corner, you can see a raised altar at the opposite end of the room. Shadows dance across a altar fires and you can smell a sour odor wafting into the halls. Skittering and chittering coming from the room.
"Mucus covered altars. Charming. If you would be so kind, professor, I believe that torch could burn the slime away so we can retrieve the gold."
"Carvings show Dokhamaut shielding a buncha monsters frum r'incarnation. Bad god. Nasty biz'niss."
"Some sorta brown goo on th' altar. See some gold. Might wanna check 'tout."
It's not the slime I'm worried about, it's the thing wriggling underneath it. Sukumar says as he steps into the room to get a full view of what's inside, and allow the professor to bypass him en route to hopefully burning the slime off the altar.
Sukumar: When you enter the room, to your horror, you see that the wriggling mass on the altar is actually the body of a dead Vanara with something moving inside of it. On the west side of the room, covering a stone door is a stucco-like nest of two aberrant creatures. They appear to be a mix of humanoid and insect. Their flesh is grey and tough. Their face humanoid but devoid of eyes or a humanoid nose. Their lower bodies are an undulating mass like a termite queen's, supported by many small legs. Their torso and arms are humanoid in shape and with a perfect physique both male and female. The two creatures do not stir as you enter the room and lie coiled up. A third creature rests in the south west corner of the room and raises its head as you enter. From your skill with animals, you gather that it sniffing the air to detect you. It then lays its head back down.
"I don' like 'em. Kin we kill'um?"
The Professor doesn't really wait for a response, readying an extract for the moment the creatures turn hostile.
Sukumar's voice drops to a low grumble. Good gods... Normally I'd kill creatures like that just based on principle. What kind of twisted mind creates such abominations? He grips his hammer tight in two hands, and turns to the group. Just give the word everyone and I'll start swinging. Call me a simple man if you want, but I don't need any more motivation to kill those disgusting things than their hideous appearance.
Samuel keeps his hand gripped on his cane. "I don't think we need to antagonize them needlessly, professor. But do keep on your guard."
No longer looking back but starring at the creatures residing in this room. It is never good to kill unnecessarily. That welcomes violence and cruelty into our lives.
Turing to look at Sukumar with a neutral expression, Nor should we want to kill something based on appearance alone. Humans are strange and hideous to many creature and we would be outnumbered.
Sukumar chuckles... In my experience, sweetheart, violence comes whether we invite it or not. You got questions about that, you can seek out my dead father's soul, and ask him about it. Wherever in the hells it now resides. With that he steps to the side and lets the others enter the room. By all means, please, come on in, and wait to see if the buganoids leave you in peace. He motions with his hammer for the group to enter at their leisure. But I can just about guarantee you that before this is over one or more of us is going to have more chitin dirtying their outfit.
Well it shan't be me. I can clean it instantly. In fact, I can clean chitin off of everyone's clothes. So we needn't fret. But thank you for your concern, Sukumar.
Now that everything's settled, onward to treasure I say.
Shooting Sukumar a dirty look. I was objecting to the reason you mentioned wanting to attack. I see no reason to slaughter everything in our paths that is all I meant.
Sukumar chuckles again, smiling. Well, little lady, how 'bout I leave 'reasonin' to you, and you leave attacking things to me? Sound good? Don't worry, if the things we run into don't try and eat me, or kill me, I'll leave 'em in peace. O' course, if they do try to eat me or kill me, I'll be leavin' 'em in pieces, if it's all the same to you.
You all filter into the small chamber lit by the altar candles. They blaze with a deep red either supernatural or alchemical. In the southeastern corner, a small five-by-five alcove is cut into the wall with a slim window viewing out over the basin. As you enter the room, a deep rumble grows from within the mountain. Within seconds, the ground and walls are violently shaking and a quiet murmur grows into a loud roar from outside. You can hear the sound of crashing water echo in through halls behind you and from the window in the room. The commotion has disturbed the creatures in the room which are now riled up sniffing the air. The one in the southwestern corner skitters up to the writhing body of the Vanara and picks it up with its powerful arms, tearing it away from the sticky ooze. It carries the body over to the nest and drops it in a mucoid hive. They turn to you and get in a defensive position, guarding their nest...and the door.
"Think they mighta made the d'cision fer us. Think they wanna fight."
The professor mixes a quick extract, steps toward the badguys, and fires off a spray of rainbow colors at them.
Samuel cautiously draws his cane sword and readies a flare to cast at the first being to attack him.
Tightening her grip on her scythe Why must I always be proven wrong? Cannot catch a break.
Well, we're either heading back the way we came, or getting rid of the buganoids. You just tell me which and I'll either skedaddle out or go to work crushing carapace. Sukumar says, with hammer angled in front of himself, read to strike.
With the rapid onset of commotion, the professor steps forward with a potion in hand and spews a wave of color across the insectoid creatures. The one closest to him drops to the ground with a thud, seemingly unconscious. The other two still stand, however, now poised to attack. They begin retching and gagging as if preparing to spit something across the party.
The rumbling and seismic activity has died down slightly, but the roaring water outside is still in full swing.
Sukumar moves immediately to protect the rest of the party, stepping between the professor and Samuel, blocking everyone else from whatever spew is about to exhale from the bugs' mouths.
Samuel focuses his hypnotic gaze on the bug in front of Landhan then his flare spell goes off. Samuel moves in front of the professor with his sword drawn.
[ooc]I don't know if I can actually attack now because it turns out I can't just ready a spell RAW. If so, then he just casts flare and moves.[/occ]
Oh yeah, this campaign is deader than disco, as the expression goes. Unfortunately the GM got a promotion at work right after starting this bad boy up. C'est la vie.
Edit: I should clarify. Unfortunate for us and this campaign. It is certainly fortunate for the GM that he got a promotion! :)
I liked the group but I totally understand.
I was enjoying it while it lasted. Also my other campaign as this character died. Now I'm just saving him for my IRL group. Let me know if you guys ever need someone for a PBP. I've got a ton of characters I can roll out within a day.