Tanith nods silently as Carina explains the details of the statue.
"Should we take it with us?"
The big man studies the thing to determine its portability.
Erip stage-whispers back, "Perhaps Spiny could carry it, if it's not too heavy? It could fetch a good price from my master."
He also examines the carvings on the wall he's walking along, keeping a (hyperopic) eye out for any hidden buttons or unusual seams. He runs his other hand through a repetitious series of gestures, whispering something under his breath.
Tanith, oblivious of any potential danger, squats down and tries to lift the 'statue' from the base to test its weight.
If there was ever any magic on this device, it's long gone now.
He also examines the carvings on the wall he's walking along, keeping a (hyperopic) eye out for any hidden buttons or unusual seams. He runs his other hand through a repetitious series of gestures, whispering something under his breath.
Tanith attempts to lift the statue, but it appears to be a part of the floor--just a raised platform.
The central hallway opens into a large chamber with wings leading to the east and west. Across the chamber to the north yawns a twenty-foot-wide open arch draped from top to bottom in translucent spiderwebs. An eerie green light flickers from beyond the webs, casting strange shadows about this room.
The room smells of animal spoor and wet fur.
To the west, three short stairs lead to a wide marble dais, but the far end of the wing is obscured by darkness.
Huge slabs of cracked masonry and irregular piles of scattered debris choke the eastern wing, giving the appearance of complete collapse.
The sibilant, almost human whispers present in the passage become a chorus in this massive chamber, eerily echoing off the walls.
Tanith’s hulking frame swells with power as the big suel tries to lift the thing but a moment later, he dusts his hands off and shakes his head. ”It’s not good – it’s part of the floor or somethin’.”
Moving on, he frowns as the whispering grows louder. ”Is that the wind?”
"Hmm, it looks like there are pipes under here making the whispering sound."
Robin follows the group in and attempts to think of a profound statement. "We appear to have encountered a noise." He pauses. "Well, it's the same noise. But it's louder." Good job.
"There's something talking down there it sounds like. I can't understand it though."
Suddenly, some of the rubble in the east wing is sent flying to the side as four wolves run out.
Two of the wolves look half-starved, like they haven't eaten in days. Oddly, the third seems well-fed.
The fourth is unusually large, and it has an evil, almost intelligent light shining in its deep red eyes. It barks out something in an odd language.
The two scrawny wolves charge at Farrukh. The third fatter wolf...
...goes after Spiny. The red-eyed wolf growls and follows her.
The first latches onto Farrukh's arm, while the second nips at his leg. He barely manages to keep his footing.
The fatter wolf wraps her teeth around Spiny's leg and yanks him off his feet.
The red-eyed wolf moves to stand between the fat wolf and Cuetzpalli. He attacks the Olman.
However, the creature lets out a humanlike cry as it appears to lean too much on an injured paw, and its attack is wide off the mark. Cuetzpalli and the others notice that some of its fur has been burnt away recently, exposing raw skin.
Carina gives a start as the wolves come bounding towards them, gnashing teeth and howling.
"Hey, the red-eyes over there's a worg!" She calls out.
Seeing the two wolves start chomping at Farrukh, she pulls out a vial filled with some kind of unstable substance, shakes it and throws it, aiming behind the wolves to hit them with splash damage.
It hits its mark, going off with a loud
"Red-eyes?" the worg snarls. "You's one to talk, hellb+%+!!"
The wolves give high-pitched yelps as the flames scald them. One of them manages to avoid the worst of it, but the other is hit badly.
Farrukh grimaces in pain and looks at the wolf that bit him.
"You. You are DONE." he says.
”Worg? Or those the ones that breath fire or the ones that grant wishes?” Tanith asks as the melee erupts around him.
Cuetzpalli swings his already-drawn terbutje at the worg in front of him.
The barbed club smashes into the worg's back, eliciting a howl of pain.
The worg staggers, then gives a shrill scream of rage and attacks again.
It's not very effective.
The heavier wolf bites the prone Spiny mercilessly.
One of the wolves rushes past Farrukh to attack the girl who burnt it.
Surprisingly, Carina is able to dodge its savage assault.
The other wolf keeps attacking Farrukh.
This time, it manages to drag Farrukh to the ground as it grabs hold of his leg.
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Farrukh grins falls flat on his ass with an "Oof" and but takes his sword in two hands, slashing hard from the ground.
Farrukh slices up through the scrawny canine, his sword going straight through its stomach. The wolf doesn't make a sound as it dies.
Carina leaps away from the oncoming wolf, throwing her dagger at it. Might not have been the wisest option, but considering there were too many people around...
The wolf yowls as the thrown knife grazes its arched back. It fixes Carina with a murderous glare.
Tanith’s brawny frame wasn’t especially quick but once he started moving, it was with a visibly powerful grace. As Carina retreats a step to his side, the big suel rears back with his poleaxe and takes a mighty swing at the worg. "It talks?! You didn't say it talks."
"Is that all you--"
Tanith leaps over and brings his polearm down on the worg, burying the axe in the creature's head. Its eyes bulge, then glaze over. It stumbles, held upright only by Tanith's weapon.
With a flex of his powerful shoulders, Tanith wrenches his weapon free from the beast's skull. "Finish them off!"
Erip unstraps his heavy pick and steps up to the snarling wolf. He tries to block its jabs at Farrukh.
However, he mostly gets in the way.
Robin looks on, nodding happily. "Splendid work, chaps! Keep at it!"
He pauses before stepping back and preparing his bow.
Robin's feeling good today. He takes a deep breath and decides to treat it just like a hunt.
I haven't hunted in a while.
Robin fires an arrow. It sticks in the beast's side, but doesn't stop it as it continues its advance on Carina.
Cuetzpalli moves to flank with his companion, swinging his terbutje again.
His swing goes wide.
Spiny scrabbles to his feet...
...and proceeds to unleash his fury upon the one living target it can see: The wolf that knocked it down.
The dinosaur rakes a claw down the wolf's side, then sinks his teeth into her chest. He shakes her viciously, and doesn't stop shaking.
The last wolf looks around and, seeing where its rampage has taken it, gives a yelp of fright.
It turns and runs for it.
Erip actually manages to nick the beast with his pick, but not severely enough to bring it down. It scampers past Robin.
From outside the cave there comes a thump.
Tanith rears back again, waiting for more wolves to attack. A moment later, when it becomes clear that the threat’s passed, he lowers his weapon and starts to slow his breathing. ”Har! That was a rush”, the big man laughs.
Seeing that a few of his companions were bleeding, he subdues his mirth. ”You gunna be alright? Those teeth were sharp.”
Carina breathes a sigh of relief as she retrieves her dagger from where it landed.
Looking up, she notices that Farrukh was badly injured during the fight. Without hesitation, she drops her backpack on the ground, fishing out what appears to be a healer's kit.
"Those look pretty bad, Farrukh. Tanith, could you perhaps do something for him?" She asks as she fiddles with her kit.
"I'm fine," Farrukh says. "Just a little massive blood loss is all."
He tries to get up and stumbles, but makes it to his feet.
”I spose I can carry him”, Tanith offers as he scratches at his scruffy chin.
Robin puts his bow back, frowns, and heads over to Farrukh. "I don't know much, old bean, but I'll do my best."
He takes his hand off Farrukh. "That's the best I can do, I'm afraid."
He steps back and looks back outside at Bermintrude. "Shall we bring you in, then?
Bermintrude doesn't like the underground setting, but he's been well-trained, and he follows Robin down.
Where to now?
"Thanks Robin."
While open, the area in the eastern wing is still mostly blocked off. Everyone except Erip must get on their hands and knees to negotiate the rubble passage.
The den is rank with the smell of wild animals. Irregular piles of rubble litter the den, as do hundreds of bones and bone fragments from the wolves' past meals. Most of these belong to animals, but a few are unmistakeable human.
The north side of the den is only slightly more tidy, containing a big pile of old blankets and furs. There's about enough space in the unkempt bed for two wolves.