Suna, Zlota, Bitha and Ksila
Everything went fast. The beast had run but still Ksila couldn't grasp it. It's leathery skin and small stature made it impossible to hit in these confines.
Suna tried a new tactic completely. If he couldn't hit the thing while it stood, maybe he could get to it when he'd knocked it over. Rather than swing to hurt the thing, he swept his long pole arm weapon in a deceptive arc, knocking the Gremlin from its feet.
That was all the opening that Bitha had needed. Her sword swept forwards and pinned the creature to the ground through its chest. It squirmed and squealed on the end of her blade for a moment, like an insect skewered by a pin. Then the great weapon slid fully through its rib cage as the last resistance from its body faded and it died at last.
All
The caverns fell silent again, the sounds of combat fading from all areas and leaving the upworlders breathing a little heavily as they quickly recovered from the frantic action.
Then a scratchy voice screamed from somewhere up ahead. "NOOOOOOOOOO! You think you can drive us from our play!! Come to me short lives. Come and see what it is to dance with the FEY!!
The last word held pure rage. You had certainly upset something deeper in these caves. Something that had heard the death cries of its companions.
Perception
Acrobatics
Stealth
Know. Nature
Bitha listens carefully to try and pinpoint where the voice might be coming from. As she does so, she tries to place the voice with any teachings her ancestors might have given her.
She tries to follow it silently, and not make any noise as she deftly attempts to squeeze as necessary to avoid any possible dangers that might fall and alert the voice where she was coming from.
She allows the more stealthy party members to go ahead of her if they want. If they desire to try and set up an ambush, Bitha will allow them time, before she brings up the back, taking the creature's attention and allowing her compatriots to strike from surprise, if possible.
Sensing that their run in with the gremlins might not be over, Alyna speaks in a low, hushed tone. "Mister Aloysius, how well can you see in the dark? My eyesight is exceptional and I do not need any light source to see."
Bob smiles, "I have perfect darkvision, but let me just move ahead a bit. Maybe you can cast you like on a coin and diffuse it your fingers?"
Bob hopes to sneak up and take the creature by surprise. He has his dog stay back with Alyna.
Bob is quiet as a mouse as he advances.
Suna smiled as he figured out an exploitable weakness the creatures had. It could be used to great effect.
Suna feels the drums of the wild bat in his heart as the sound of the Fey warning primes his instinct. First he uses his keen sense to pinpoint where the Fey resides (). He then takes what he had gathered from meeting two of the beasts and their unnatural resilience, thinking of the perfect way to dissect his prey (). Suna then leaped upon the walls thinking such a creature wouldn't expect an attack from above or the sides hugging them tight and fluidly, much like a spider that stalked its next meal, Right before becoming silent he gives a small growl. (). Eventually homing in on the creature by foiling it own attempts at hiding by using his nose (). Once the quarry was found he used his eyes once again, completely used to the dark (). He was poised to strike.
Zlota and Ksila attempt to follow Suna as quietly as possible, having Ksila move up to be near her fellow adventurer to better deal with any threat these creatures may pose. Zlota, herself, will be about 15 feet back. Her trust in Suna's nose is logical, that is why she follows him.
The groups moved through the caverns, guided by each others strengths.
Each avoided a trip wire as they approached what looked to be a 30 foot diameter cavern.
The room was filled with debris of a technological nature, as well as what appeared to be the remains of at least two more of the previous groups that had come this way.
The most astonishing thing about the cavern was the far wall. It was made of pure metal, looking like nothing less than pure adamantium, though most likely the alloy that Dura had told them about when they signed up.
There was a strange circular pattern marked into this wall about half way up, but what it was couldn't be told from here.
The more immediate threat come from a Gremlin, bigger and tougher looking than the others they'd met so far. It was crouched amongst the debris, trying to conceal itself but in its eagerness to fight the group it had failed to do an adequate job.
Suna - You've managed to find a higher vantage point access tunnel to this chamber. you've come in on your own path, 15 feet higher up the wall. It gives a clear shot to the creature, even in combat. Good climbs, good rolls. 30 feet from you (accounting for height)
Zlota and Ksila - You easily spotted the creature. It hasn't seen Ksila yet but has seen zlota. You have come in a narrow entrance with Bitha. She's in the lead. 20 feet from you
Alyna and Boba - Survival wasn't overly crash hot. You two have actually come in closest to the gremlin. It hasn't seen Boba yet, but knows that Alyna is there. 8 feet from you
Bitha - You've managed to creep in and get yourself a small amount of cover if the thing charges you (+2 AC in combat). No advantage if you leave the spot though. 15 feet from you
Bitha, Ksila, Suna and Boba all get a surprise round.
After that, the gremlin goes first then your group. This one is tougher than the others, so its AC is really high. No squeezing this time though - luckily.
Suna stalks his prey, eyes focusing strongly on the prize. He watched the creature until he sees the light others needed for sight. Once he noted most of the groups positioning, he waits for Boba to fire off a shot before descending from the wall with a roar. From seemingly nowhere, he slammed his tribal spiked hammer into the Gremlin while also giving the next person a flank target. He takes advantage of his weapon's reach.
Bob lines up his shot, but it barely pierces the skin of the bad gremlin.
Bob prepares to draw his polearm.
Bitha abandons her advantageous position and charges the beast, yelling a challenge as she does so!
Attack
Damage
[oocAC is 12 this round.[/ooc]
The violence happened so fast that half the group didn't get to react. There was a roar of gunfire and Boba unleashed a shot from his pistol. It struck the gremlin which staggered backwards in shock.
Suna then leapt from the tunnel which he had come from. Given his height advantage and the aggression he was displaying, the big cat man stuck the gremlin fairly in the head. The cracking blow blasted through its toughened hide and pulped the brain inside, dropping it to the ground instantly.
Just as Bitha arrived. The barbarian woman swung her sword but pulled the attack midway through, realising that the creature was already dead.
There was a sound through the tunnels then, as of hundreds of voices suddenly hushed in shock. A glimmer of movement from various darkened corners and the tell tale popping noise as dozens of gremlins throughout the tunnels suddenly evacuated as their leader was crushed.
The threat was over.
Alyna stands momentarily, stunned by the ruthlessness of her companions, before making her way to the technological debris and the wall, examining everything she could and searching for anything of value or interest.
Bob smiles "Good coordination. Let me see what this tech has to show." Bob joins Alyna and looks around as he thanks her for her help in the tight tunnels. "Thanks my lady. I am growing to like magic almost as much as tech."
"Take its items. Let's show our partner that the gremlins are dead, so we might find out more about our missing people.". Bitha ignored the technological debris, knowing the road to ruin was paved with such devilish items.
"I may need a boost up the wall to look at that spot up there."
Bob pointed to the circular patch up high.
Suna pulled out the kukri upon his thigh and went to the grizzly task of beheading the creature to show it to the Greyskins. His Nature had overcome the leader and thus he reigned as the predator in this hunt. He looked to the rest of the party , especially Bitha and Bob and nodded. " It was a fine hunt.. the creature was too weak however. " We have succeeded in staving off the cursed ones.
While the room seemed filled with tech based gear, it was all pretty much rubbish. They did find a single set of E-picks though. Apparently they would be better for trying to break into some of the doors and safes that had come out from the technic leagues discoveries in the last few years. Given the nature of what was apparently down here, they would be useful there too.
The bi metal wall was completely smooth except for the circular pattern in the middle section. This looked as if someone had etched a large circle in the wall, and drawn a crooked line though the centre of it. Boba felt around it, and could tell there was a slight crack running around the entire thing and along the line in the centre. This pattern had a purpose, but whatever it was he couldn't discern it, and certainly couldn't get through it.
The upper ledge of the Gremlin room held a sort of throne area, if you could call it that. A flat rock had furs draped across it, obviously stolen from the town above. Scattered around this were the possessions of those the Gremlins had slain or stolen from.
Treasure
3 x suits of studded leather armour. Good condition
1x masterwork buckler
1x shortbow with 11 arrows
1x masterwork pistol (belonged to George Remi, a known affiliate of Khonner, and missing below town)
2 x short swords
2 x sets of masterwork thieves tools
2 x potions of cure moderate wounds
1 x sunrod
1 x scroll of shield
1x scroll of flaming hands 3rd level
143 gp
49 silver disks
The grey ones cavern
When the group finally arrived back at the cavern of the grey folk, the body from the cold room had been recovered. The mans remains lay slumped against the wall, the grey ones staying distant from it.
The chief woman smiled, though it looked uncomfortable on her face.
"We heard the fighting. Is it done? Are we finally secure enough here that we can start to work on a way back into the true dark below?" she asked enthusiastically.
"It is done. One of the creatures did survive, but I suspect it will never darken your tunnel again. The leader is finished."
Bitha grabs a sunrod from the pile, and adds it to her pack.
"Thank you for upholding your end of the deal. We must take this body back to the surface and let the town know what has happened. I have one more question, however, what is that strange metallic wall? Have the town's people ventured this far?"
Suna hoisted the head for all the greyskins to see, giving an exaggerated smile as to show a successful hunt. " It is done, the prey might have been fast, but easily dealt with once you caught them unaware. This was the leader of the Cursed Ones. You Greyskins are safe now and I see you brought the body. Now tell us what you know. "
Bob took the new pistol and quickly stripped it and examined the pieces then he nodded as he put it quickly back together and loaded it. Given the reliability of these things, it would be nice to have a backup.
He put in his pack a set of the masterwork tools and held up the other set. He examined the balance and heft of the picks and files and whistled appreciatively.
"If anyone else has the aptitude for locks and such, you probably want to try these. I have an e-pick for the tech, but we may need these for the old lock and pit trap."
Alyna looks through the assorted treasure and takes interest in the scroll of shield and the masterwork buckler.
"I would like to perhaps acquire one of those silver disks to examine at a later time."
Reviewing the equipment gained, Zlota pokes through them. "We should allocate these to those who would best use them." She lifts up the scroll of shield and looks it over. "Perhaps I could use this?"
Suna looked at the items with disdain, there seemed to be little here that could interest him at all, let alone help him. " You can have whatever the prize is this time.. I shall take the gold. Otherwise we can salvage what is left and sell it. "
Zlota looks at Suna and nods. "That sounds agreeable, Suna."
Looking over at the chief woman, Zlota nods. "Most likely, unless there are more creatures though. I doubt it however. And yes, we do need to get the bodies topside, Bitha."
Suna grins at Zlota and sniffs at the air before nodding back, " We will take them up soon, rather our.. 'benefits' not wear out if we travel too far. Warrior Bitha and I will drag the bodies through the.. DREADED waters and back to their final resting place. But only after we find out the information of the other groups here.. so that we can prepare ourselves accordingly.." Suna seems to stalk around the leader of the greyskins and some of the members of the party as well.. he seems restless.
Bitha nods in agreement. "We upheld our part of the deal. Tell us what you know, if you expect us to turn over the tunnels to you."
The grey woman's smile broadened into something that looked real for a change.
"Then you truly have saved my people. My gratitude is deep, and I shall fulfil my part with joy."
She points across to the body lying against the wall. "We have retrieved your upworld friend. However, I urge caution in handling it. I can see no reason why he has died. There are no wounds and he was not in the mould long enough to have perished from thirst. Something else killed this man."
"As for the information you ask. We have had three groups through this place. A large group led by a purple haired woman with glowing tattoos came first. She bartered with our first leader. What they agreed on we do not know, but she took many upworlders with her into the metal walls that you saw earlier."
"Another group came down the tunnels then, and we were ordered by our leader to attack them. Some made it out, but our leader tracked them through the tunnels and when she returned she stated they wold not see the sun again. I believe they are dead"
"The next group through had a man of powerful magic and his companions were capable killers. We attacked them again, not knowing why not what we faced. Many of our kin died there, including our leader. She foolishly faced the mage, and his spells incinerated her. We four fled and hid, but I saw the mage man unlock another metal wall very close to here. It was not the one you claim to have seen in the Gremlin Tunnels."
She trembled a little at the remembered fear that this group had instilled in the grey folk. Then she continued.
"The mage and his friends came back not long after, carrying a metal creature of great size but no life. I have never seen its like. That group returned some time later and we hid again. They have not returned from the metal rooms since. I scouted the wall and some rooms beyond, but did not dare go far. There was much blood on the floors and walls inside those first few rooms. I do not think the mage man will be killing my folk anymore."
After she finishes her tale, she simply hands across a small pouch. Inside are four more silver disks, and 6 flexible cards with a single brown stripe running down their side. They look identical to the one that Bobafette already owns. She mentions that these were in her leaders possession when she died.
She also points out a small exit that wasn't easily seen from the room. Through there is the metal wall that the magic man led his group, and that is where she found the metal rooms to explore.
Alyna looks to Zlota, her expression blank as usual.
"Badirudi erorita gure motatako beste bagina bezala dirudi."
"Let me check the body. I may be able to determine the true cause of death," she says, walking over to the once-frozen corpse.
"Tomorrow we shall return and check those strange metals walls. Until then, we ned to get the corpse to the surface and have our water breathing magic reapplied. We can decide what route to pursue then."
"Tomorrow we shall return and check those strange metals walls. Until then, we ned to get the corpse to the surface and have our water breathing magic reapplied. We can decide what route to pursue then."
Bob gets two pipes going and hands the second one to his gray smoking buddy as the others talk and negotiate. He whispers to his gray friend: "I see why you are apprehensive about strangers. Anything else I should know?"
Bob looks around. "I would rather investigate a bit before returning, but I am flexible. These access cards should get us in to the lower levels. I agree we should be cautious and ready to withdraw quickly, but I think we should get a start on it. The journey of many miles starts with a single step."
"It is still early enough in the day. Maybe we can look around for a bit and follow the path of the group's."
Alyna handed her light steel shield to the leader of the grey folk.
"I would like you to have this. I know it is not much of a compensation for your assistance, but I trust it will aid you in your travels."
Alyna straps the masterwork buckler onto her arm. It would provide her with an easier time casting her spells with her light hammer in hand.
Zlota nods at the leader. "Your assistance has already proven fruitful. Perhaps we will have just as good dealings in the future? Who knows how the fates will work."
Looking back at Alyna she assumes a poker face as well. "Zuzena izango ahal izango duzu uste dut."
Suna looks over the man with his keen sight before thing of anything that might discern how he died.
Suna looks to both of the strange marked humans speaking an odd language with narrowed eyes.
He finds it telling they speak in a different tone than what the rest of them could use a low growl coming from his throat. Suna, however doesnt press it. Instead he begins towards the direction of where the greyskins pointed out the tunnel.
" Let's leave them to their own needs. we have people to find "
The body - The man's lower jaw and neck seemed to be stained with dark red streaks. On closer inspection, Alyna could tell these were'nt external markings, but seemed to originate from under the skin itself. On further examining the body, she could see that this was indeed another form of mould or fungis that was invading his body, and it was most likely this that had killed him.
Suna had also picked up on the evidence and identified the mould as Russet Mould. He knew it was lethal, but not much more than that. However, between the two of them they did realise that the cold from the brown mould had most likely made the Russet Mould dormant for the time being.
Alyna felt that soaking the mans body in alcohol or vinegar would most likely kill the mould, but it would also be tampering with the body. If any of the locals knew the man, it would go against local traditions for care and burial of bodies, that was for sure.
The pipe smoker - At Boba's offer of more tobacco, thegrey man cheerfully accepts. He seems to have the impression that Bobafette has now given him the pipe, and it's clear he intends to kep it. He replied to Boba's comment in very bad common "Upworlders no trust. That true. That smart" He grinned at Boba, and for a moment the small man couldn't tell whether the comment was about the dark folk not trusting the upworlders or the other way around. It was a little unsettling.
Alyna's Gift - The grey woman takes the shield and bows briefly. She places it carefully on the ground next to her feet, looking at it a little quizically, but recognising it for a sign of good will. With a brief nod, she steps aside, indicating the group was free to proceed with their investigations of the deeper rooms. The barter was over, and she clearly wished to move on to her own business.
The Wall - Following the concealed passage a short way, the group found themselves faced with another grey metal wall like the one they had found in the gremlin caves. As had been indicated though, this one had a semi cirular hole in it leading into what looked like a set of metalic rooms.
The light from the fire beetles glands gleamed dully from the walls and floor of the rooms beyond the hole. For a small moment, a blue light seemed to flicker deep within the darkened space beyond, but then it winked out of existance again. They had found the path of Khonnir Bane and his lost party.
Suna pats Bitha on the back signaling he supported her. A low growl to match his intentions.
"A metal house that metal creatures live in, I bet," Bitha mutters upon closer inspection of the walls.
Perception
Suna smiles, " They make for a greater hunt than most Warrior Bitha. Let us hope we find..more. Khonnir was strong, this much the Greyskins learned, so he must have killed many metal creatures. "
As the party shuffled themselves into position, nearly all of them noted the presence of another robotic creature just beyond the first room. It stood in a hunched position, unmoving but for a flickering blue light seemingly pulsing in its chest. It looked identical to the one they had destroyed in the town above, yet this one seem in far better condition.
It was a wonder that Khonnir hadn't dragged it back to the surface instead of the damaged one.
The first room seemed to boarded on either side by sections of collapsed metal and scrap. Heavy wires hung from the collapsed sections at different locations. A sudden burst of steam from one of the pipes in the rubble made them all jump a little, but then everything went quiet in the area again. Ahead, the small corridor with the hunched robot awaited.
"There's another of those damned robots that attacked me! It looks confused...we can sneak up on it and tkae its head quickly..."
Suna simply responds with the click of his crossbow being loaded and aimed towards the head of the construct. This hunt would not be too exciting but he did not dislike the prospect.
Suna launches the bolt ith precise aim and bias against such mechanical beings.
"An undamaged robot! How exciting. Now would be an excellent opportunity to study one, especially if it is inactive."
Alyna cautiously moves to inspect the robot.
"Hey, maybe we can make this robot friendly?"
Bob moves in with his firearms ready, examining the robot with care.
Bob looks for a power source.
Spotting the thing, Ksila and Zlota tense, ready to strike if need be.
"I think I am going to be better served on point. Plus I have the extra senses of my loyal dog."
Bob looks for traps and other pitfalls as they move in to check out the robot.