Ginger holds her hand out and gentle grabs Oliver's pant leg (or cloak) to stop him. "Wait Oliver we should check to make sure they didn't trap it."
Good idea Ginger, and let's make sure there's nothing coming up behind us too. Do you see anything Sam? Haroon asks the squire.
Mordan keeps an eye down the shaft, watching intently for signs of danger. "I'll go down next. Should anyone be down there, I'll draw their fire until the rest of you can follow."
Valtyra holds her long spear in hand, having pocketed her sling in its pouch. "It would not do to go half way up this ladder if it does not go all the way up this tunnel or as Ginger suggest. You won't want to find it to be holding a trap for these mongrelmen's enemies." Valtyra then moves to look a bit farther down he hall to see if there is another exit from this room.
This room smells foul, a stink so heavy in the air it makes it difficult to breathe. Shredded strips of cloth litter the floor a considerably larger pile off to one side, and a trail of animal droppings heads down the corridor to the east. If not for Haroon's lights the chamber would be pitch black.
Haroon studies the pile of rags. Think something could be hiding under there? he asks no one in particular in a low voice.
Oliver pauses as Ginger grabs hold of his pants leg. "I will," he answers and takes a good look and carefully climbs on pausing every few steps examining and finally when he reach the top spends more time examining before climbs through. Moving up and to the side of the ladder he cover his mouth after having drawn shield and sword. "There is a foul stench up here," he calls down.
"...does nobody ever listen to me?" Sam grumbles as Oliver heads up the hole regardless of their advice. "We've got to clear the whole place out. Up leads out, sure, but we've got to make the trip through completely safe for the others. We should start with the lower sections first."
Ginger looks between Sam and then up at Oliver unsure what she should do. She looks back to Sam and says, "we could always block the hole up there so that no one can follow us through? I kind of want to be on the surface, even though I love the underground, here has been bad."
Haroon shakes his head. I agree with Sam. Let's make sure there's no danger behind us before we head upwards.
Haroon brings his dancing lights back down to the ground level.
A muted roar echoes down the wall of this hallway. near the eastern end, the worked stone gives way to natural cave walls, just before the hall ends at an open shaft. Hanging over the edge of the shaft is a knotted rope-the other end tied to an iron spike driven into the ground. The shaft is 40ft deep and leads to an underground river, with Haroon's lights dancing above your heads you can make out the outline of a bit of river bank.
"This must me where they get their fresh water...and dump their waste," Sam comments. "Send the lights down there, would you?" They ask Haroon.
As the light fly away Oliver mumbles: "I guess we'll take another way then." Climbing down again he hurries after the others. He smiles at Sam's suggestion He's becomming more careful, good, he thinks. "Stand back, he advices readying himself for whatever might emerge.
As the lights enter the cavern some reflects off of something pale in the water.
What could that be? Haroon strains to see and sends his lights in closer.
Valtyra hold her long spear at the ready, anything that appears to want to attack will be met with the sharp end of the blade. She is ready to be out from the tunnels of underground.
The glimpse of a large albino fish's tail dips deeper into the water away from sight.
"Looks safe enough," Sam whispers, before grabbing the knotted rope and slowly lowering herself down enough to get a good look to see if there's any more of the lower level to explore, or if entirely a dead end. "Keep the lights going, all right? I'm no dwarf."
Sam splashes into the shallow water at the bottom of the knotted rope, his/her keen eyes spotting a catch on the stone wall. (perhaps a secret door?)
"Hello...secret door. Don't make secret doors that don't lead to treasure," The gunslinger comments, keeping an eye out for that pale fish - it did seem large enough to possibly be a problem if it attacked. Sam goes for the catch though, working it open.
The entrance to this small chamber sits a foot above the water level to the west. A thick layer of dust coats the rest of the cavern. Near the far wall sits an old wooden chest covered with dust and cobwebs.
"I'll need a few minutes to check things over, but I found an old chest! Probably treasure inside...little concerned it isn't better protected..." Sam knew when something seemed too good it was prudent to be cautious, so the ex-squire set about taking a lengthy amount of time to check the chest over for anything dangerous before opening it.
Haroon keeps the lights steady and keeps his eyes on the water, his preternatural vision easily piercing the darkness below. Treasure's all well and good, just keep it moving Haroon calls down to Sam.
Ginger stays in the room with hole in the roof, she doesn't want anything to sneak up on them. She is tired and weary of being surprised.
While Sam reports back Oliver looks to the others. "Did anyone see what was down there?" he asks. "Could it be another beastman?" he continues.
It looked like a very large, very albino, fish. Haroon calls back over his shoulder to Oliver in a low voice. I wouldn't categorically state that it's not a beastman, but I think the odds are low.
In the secret room: Sam walks to the chest and begins to examine it for traps... unfortunately the squire was too focus on the chest and failed to notice the floor. She lets out a startled cry before going suddenly quiet. A pit opens beneathe her feat dropping her roughly down onto spikes.
In the Sluice: The albino fish splashes again to the surface, another quickly follows it snapping it's large jaws above the water.
Back in the Trophy Room: Ginger stands watch under the hole to the upper cavern, keeping her eyes pealed for trouble.
"There it was again," Oliver remarks as he hears the splash of the water. He approach Haroon "Did anyone get at good looks at it? Was it a fish?" he asks.
Those are Gars. Haroon says in a quiet voice. Nasty buggers, they can grow up to seven feet long, top two-hundred pounds. Once they get those jaws on you, they can drag you down into the depths, wait until you drown, and then eat all they like.
Haroon takes aim with Terendelev's Scale and blasts a glimmering burst betwixt the gars, hoping to blind them.
Sam should have answered by now. Maybe you two, he nods at Oliver and Valtyra, should get down there and make sure he's ok.
Mordan doesn't hesitate when Haroon mentions checking up on Sam. Leaving his massive shield with Ginger, he swings down the hole and climbs down the rope.
Once down the hole, the elder paladin will look around for Sam, softly calling for him.
Valtyra follows Mordan down the rope into the other cavern to help the older paladin and check on the young squire.
Ginger holds onto the shield for Greylocke hoping they find Sam.
Only a split second after splashing down in the knee deep water of the edge of this underground river, the large cave fish strike out against the new comers.
Combat order:
Gar 1
Oliver
Valtyra
Elder Greylocke
Haroon
Sam
Gar 2
The first Gar moving nearly impossibly fast, strikes out at Elder Greylocke as he enters the cold water. It latches onto the old man's leg tearing into the meaty flesh of his calf.
hp 13 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1
Base Atk +1; CMB +3 (+7 grapple); CMD 15 (can’t be tripped)
Ginger looks to Haroon "Should we go down there? I don't fight well in water. What should we do?"
Valtyra drops down into the water and stabs at the Gar 2.
Valtyra cuts Gar 2 into two she stabs into the nasty creature and pulls up spliting it upper torso and head in two killing the creature instantly.
"Me neither," Oliver replies to Ginger. "But I think we are needed down there. Let me climb down and we'll see if there's room for more," he continues before he begins his climb. He attempts the climb with the shield still fastened so he is ready when he reaches the others.
"Damnable beast. Begone! I have more pressing matters to attend to than preparing dinner."
Mordan will bring the Morningstar out and attempt to bash the fish's skull.
The elder paladin is able to bring a crunching sound from the massive gar, but not enough to force the beast to relinquish its grip.
Looks like Mordan could use a hand down there, Ginger...
Haroon follows his words with a globule of acid thrown at the Gar grabbing Elder Greylocke.
The acid burns deeply into the fish, but some strength remains in it.
The first Gar tastes the blood in the water and keep up it's assault, despite its injuries. It flounders in the water, nearly beaching itself in the shallows.
Ginger hears that she straps Greylocke's shield to her back assuming he might want it and then attempts to climb down the rope.
Once she is down she whirls about and pulls out her warhammer awaiting for the creature to come closer
Trying to orientate himself Oliver sees Greylock struggling with the Gar, but no sight of Sam. He steps to the elderly man's side at tries to deliver him from the fish's jaw but can get a good angle for his blade. "Where is girl?" he asks loudly to cut through the sounds of battle.
Valtyra seeing that the other seem to have a handle on the Gar, she enters into the small room just off to the side and carefully looks around. Seeing the large hole in the ground she steps close to the edge to peer into the pit to see if Sam is down there since she doesn't see the squire in the room. Seeing that Sam in severely injured, Valtyra finds a spot to tie off a rope and begins to climb down to assist her comrade. Being careful to avoid the spikes at the bottom Valtyra safely reaches the young squire.
When its Ginger's turn she swings herself at the Gar growling "you let my friend go NOW you stinking fish guts of an eel"