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Jayori detects no evil in the eggs, or the severed arm.
Bertha's extensive knowledge on these eggs suggests the creatures in these eggs are rather small when hatched, but can grow to the size of horses. Giant waterbugs, they call them. Judging by the nest's size it would be probable that the mother is nearby, or out scavenging for food.
Unfortunately as he is trying to loop the rope, he accidentally prods an egg. Immediately the ground shakes a little, and underneath the muddy bottom of the pond a giant beetle emerges, obviously feeling her nest threatened. It clicks its powerful jaws as an attempt to intimidate its foes.
ROUND 1
Riceak (0), Jayori (0), Jarlaxle (0), Sharien (0), Caboose (0), B.A.B.S. (0)
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Giant Water Bug (0)
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It comes as no surprise how the waterbug first emerges, flamboyant and threatening, and is downed in an instant as blades upon blades whack its chitin carapace, shattering it into a million little pieces, turning the creature into more or less bloody pulp.
Just before the waterbug disappears under the muck, Riceak gets a glance at it. It is–or was–a giant waterbug, very similar to giant ant queens, but as a mutated offshoot accustomed to live in semi-aquatic terrains. Its fearsome jaws are as devastating as a barbarian's greatsword, and its grip is almost inescapable.
"You sure showed it who's boss!" Deris says, nodding in acceptance to Mrs. Heracks, "now how about that arm?"
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Jayori prods the giant insect, to make sure it is indeed not going to continue fighting, then pushes it aside, so its not impeding the handle below the surface.
He will continue attaching the rope.
He tosses an amused smile at the others. "Guess we all got to experience the grime of this pool after all."
"Best step out of the murk. No telling what will open up here."
He takes the rope back to drier land, and gets some help pulling on the handle.
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"Clicky's not moving anymore. Aww...Clicky's gone to sleep. Isn't he cute?" Caboose asks as he 'pets' "Clicky" a few more times with the scimitar before leaving it behind. He has a silly grin on his face as he follows Jayori out of the water and grabs hold of the rope.
"Are we playing tug-of-war with that hand? I bet we're going to win. We have 7 and a half times more hands than he has!"
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Thoughtful as the druid is, she saves the nest of eggs from possible genocide.
And thoughtful as the paladin is, he waits for everyone else to get out of the pool before he or Caboose pulls the rope. It takes a few attempts, but eventually, like a plug, the arm pulls out of the pond, still firmly attached to the metal handle and the metal lid it was welded to. As the arm lands near Jayori's feet, the black water rushes through the new opening, draining underground, revealing a stormdrain-like passageway down. A crude, old ladder hewn in the drain's walls provides a way to safely traverse below.
"Most splendid!" Deris squees, "maybe I can come look for Cassiel too!"
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"Cassie? Is that your puppy? Did Cassie go chasing after this bone?" Caboose asks with genuine if completely-mistaken concern as he waves the bony arm about.
"Don't worry, we'll find Cassie. Here, you can hold her bone. Then maybe she will come running back to you!" He proffers the bony arm to Deris with a big grin on his face.
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There is no body where the arm might have come off. There's just the arm.
The hole is about 10 feet deep, after which is levels and begins a gentle slope downwards. You can still hear the water rushing, echoeing in the corridors below.
"Cassiel's my daughter!" Deris shouts in a sudden fit of irritation, calming down just as quickly, "but you're a good dog, hold on to that bone. You'll need it. Soon."
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"Perhaps you are right. This is all supposed to have collapsed, so I expect climbing will be common."
She points Betsy to the puddle with eggs she set aside. "Betsy, please stay here and guard this while we are gone. We shouldn't be long, since we still have a dinner to attend."
Once satisfied, Bertha climbs down the hole.
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One at a time the pathfinders descend to down the slippery stone ladder to what appears to be an ancient corridor, one way blocked by an old landslide, the other sloping downwards. Throughout the corridors a distant echo of water dropping creates an eerie ambiance. Water seeps through the walls and collects in floor cracks and ankle-deep puddles.
Deris Marlinchen follows you down, and is taken aback a little by the place. "Ooh, Cassiel sure is brave..."
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Although not his preferred position, near the back, Jayori is content to let those who can see clearer lead the way. He is content to be closer to Sharien's light source, regardless.
"If this is indeed a lost necropolis as the Venture-Captain intimated, then the gods only know what manner of evil might lurk in these halls, even after all this time."
"Some times, the dead rest peaceful..." He looks at the eerie hallways with a frown. "But this dreadful place seems anything but."
He glances back at Deris again frowning, but says nothing more.
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The corridor continues downwards, slowly succumbing underwater into murky, black dredge. Fortunately another path diverges to the right, leading to a door at a distance. Since the downwards corridor swirls beneath the water to unknown depths, the pathfinders decide to pick the long corridor with a door.
Opening the door leads to a chamber. Carved pillars in the corners of this chamber hold aloft a double-valted ceiling of cracked frescos. On either side of the chamber, a single step leads up into a deeply recessed area that forms an arched room of its own.
On the floor of the east recess, the perfectly preserved body of a young boy lies in a puddle and stares silently upward.
And for reasons untold, the room is lit with four everburning iron sconces.
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Jayori will enter the room cautiously, examining it all with a thoughtful frown.
"I was not expecting to see the remains of a child here." He observes, to no one in particular. "This area was closed off from the school above, was it not? They did not learn of it until after the disaster."
"And the body is remarkably well preserved. If this is indeed an ancient burial site, there could very well be all manner of magics for preserving the remains of the departed." He says, somewhat hesitantly, before adding, "Though whether it does such for weal or woe, I can not say."
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The pathfinders get ready to investigate the well-preserved body, but before they get their late autopsy ongoing, an echoing splash stops them, soon noticing a moaning undead creature advancing towards the room from where the team came! Its ripped clothes are soaking wet, and it obviously has been in a dormant state, awakened by the pathfinders' arrival and the rush of water.
Since everyone was preoccupied by whatever they were doing, the zombie of curious origin advances even closer, right next to Jayori and Sharien. Being so slow, however, it doesn't get to do much else than shamble about.
ROUND 1
Zombie
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Sharien (0), Riceak (0), Jarlaxle (0), Jayori (0), B.A.B.S. (0), Caboose (0)
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As the moaning and shambling sounds echo up the corridor behind them, Jayori turns to face the new danger with the others.
Seeing the zombie, he switches strategies, dropping his trident, and drawing a wicked-looking curved knife from off of his belt. He shifts to his left slightly, to stand directly before the creature to attempt to draw its attention, holding his shield high to block its attacks.
, for damage (slashing).
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Jayori is able to determine that this is indeed a zombie, but not a human zombie. Under its matted fur and large ears it seems to be a bugbear! What it is doing and has been doing in the necropolis is beyond you.
Despite many attempts, only Sharien and Riceak are able to wound the undead. Fiercely, yet mindlessly, it attacks anyone within its weapon's reach...
who happens to be B.A.B.S.
for
The morningstar hits the half-orc woman in the shoulder, possibly dislodging it, sounding an unsettling crackle.
ROUND 2
Zombie (-14)
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Sharien (0), Riceak (0), Jarlaxle (0), Jayori (0), B.A.B.S. (-8), Caboose (0)