Bardigan claps Larenti on the back, chuckling. "Now, now, my friend. If they'd hit me in the face with whatever that was, I doubt I'd have kept even half the composure you did."
Jinx says, "Let's make those stones serve a useful purpose.". She recovers one of the rocks that had been thrown at her companions, and whispering a quick prayer, causes it start glowing like a torch. "That should work," she says, holding the stone out for Ganner.
Larenti grinned despite himself, cheered by Bardigan's good humor and Aula's healing.
Ganner takes it with a smile and nod. "Thanks! Let's search!" He attempts to aid Larenti's search.
Larenti kicked some filth and rubble out the way. He noticed there was puke on his boots.
"Well then, can anyone fit into these small spaces and look around? It seems the walls are filled with passages after all..."
Despite the rooms expansive size, there is very little within of any note. The slabs stand empty of either tools or meat, and the only remarkable feature is the large gate to the east. Larenti does notice, however, that the depression filled with old decrepit bedding is hiding a few stashed baubles. All in all, there is a healthy amount of coin, about two-thirds of it copper, a pair of quartz earrings, a set of nine silver coat buttons, and a very well-made albeit slightly gnawed cloak.
Bardigan grins at Larenti as he pulls the small rewards from the pile. "Ah, well if we don't find any ravens at least there's some coin in the end. Even if it is only enough for a few drinks, it's better than naught!" He claps Larenti on the shoulder again then heads toward the large grate.
"Let's give this a look, shall we? Some light?" He peers through as some of the magical light is brought over, shielding his eyes as he tries to see as far back as the scant light will allow.
Ganner leans over and stares at the gate as well, then tries to open it.
Peering through the gate, with a nearby light source, the group is able to make out that the stairs lead down to a short hallway that ends in a set of double doors. Ganner pulls at the gate, and although it groans with the strain, he is unable to manage to get the thing open.
Bardigan runs his hand along the perimeter of the grate, looking for a latch or hinge of some kind that might point to an easier way of opening it. "Well those doors look promising at least. Or maybe there are more rock throwing malcontents waiting just beyond." He chuckles at his own joke with a shake of his head.
"Even if there are, I am sure you can handle them. Larenti, Ganner, can you crack the rust on this gate? Or remove whatever lock is holding it closed?"
Larenti gave the grate the once-over. "Perhaps, but before we go down, I'd like to search that northern wall, even the the first room. I'd rather not leave those little blighters behind us. I don't want them vomitting on the back of my neck."
Outside what he had already found within the torn and tattered pile of old leathers and furs, Larenti still finds no more of interest in this room or the last. Deciding to move to the gate, after very quickly surmising that it isn't trapped, Larenti finds that the lock is unused and very rusty. It doesn't make the act impossible, though, beyond taking about three times as long to open. During his handling of the lock, once again an odd lilting of pipe music can be heard almost as a backdrop.
"What is that music?" Ganner whispers, standing close to Larenti in case of attack.
"Sounds like a flute? No... pipes. Maybe there's a satyr down here prancing around in the muck." He chuckles at the mental image as he recalls some rather poor, rotund illustrations from his days of schooling. With the lock disengaged, Bardigan tugs on the grate and gestures for everyone to pass through as if he were a butler accepting them all for afternoon tea.
"It's nothing Ah recognize." Aula steps through the open grate and waits just on the other side.
"Maybe it's some sort of magical alarm? I don't know."
Larenti couldn't think of any positive explanations for the music, and he grew grim as he lead the way down the stairs.
Jinx wonders, "Maybe the smarter of these possum-things are musical?"
Ganner smiles. "Maybe if it is, it can be reasoned with!" He passes through and takes up a guarding position on the other side. When Larenti goes first, Ganner takes the tail position to keep their flank guarded.
The group congregates past the grate to move down the wide stairs. The stairwell becomes a little tighter as they descend, ending only as wide as the sturdy double doors that rest at the bottom of them.
"Goodness, how far down do these passages go?"
Larenti moved carefully down to the double doors, searching the stairs for any traps, and then doing the same for the doors.
Ganner follows, keeping his eyes and ears peeled.
Larenti finds that neither the stairs nor the doors are trapped, nor are the doors locked. Opening them reveals a short hallway leading into a much bigger room, as the southern wall curves in a large arc toward the east and then further northward. An odd gurgling and splashing can be heard coming from within the larger chamber to the north.
As the group moves through the doors, Bardigan remarks with a shake of his head, "Is that water? I'll admit, I was expecting running water down here less than I was those annoying little rock tossers."
Jinx shrugs, "Water access, maybe? Some sort of a smuggler's cavern, to sneak things into the city?"
Larenti shrugged and offered his own guess. "Could just be a leak letting in all that damn rain."
Trying to keep his breathing steady and his wits about him, the damp, filthy half-orc moved forward to investigate the room.
Ganner shrugs, and follows Larenti into the north room.
"Perhaps some subtlety is appropriate here? If another group of those dirty little creatures is splashing, it would be nice to get the drop on them." Aula slows her pace, concentrating on being unheard and unseen.
Moving up to peer around the corner Larenti sees that a fifty-foot-diameter pool of rancid, brown slurry fills most of this rather large circular chamber. Chunks of plaster have fallen away, leaving ragged patches behind in the walls and ceiling and mounds of rubble on the floor. What wall space remains is decorated in crude drawings and symbols of sinister form. Greasy-looking chains run between four stout pillars rising from the muck and anchor to various points on the wall.
Wallowing and flopping about aimlessly in the fetid water are two disgusting creatures. The things appear to be roiling waves of flesh gushing forward. Amid the fatty surges wriggle half-formed limbs and a dripping tumorous face.
Aula covers her mouth, making a disgusted face as though she is about to vomit. She pulls herself together and draws her whip while following a bit behind Bardigan.
Bardigan shudders at the disgusting sight around the bend and backs up slightly. He whispers, "Ok, so not fresh water. Not fresh water at all and it's got some uglies wallowing in it. Anyone have any idea what they are? Besides revolting, I mean."
Jinx watches the disgusting things for a moment, trying to force any memories she might have to the surface while fighting against the revulsion, then finally shakes her head, "I don't know what they are or what they are capable of... Besides ensuring I'll not want seafood any time soon."
Ganner peers at the things and gags. "Are those... alive?"
Bardigan shudders again, "Ugh. For their sake I rather hope not."
Larenti joined in the whispers. [b]"Well, if we don't know what they are, we likely don't know what they want. And they aren't what we're looking for, so ain't none of us happy now. Should I try to fast-talk them? Maybe learn what they are, and what they're doing here? Who knows, maybe they can help."[b]
He glanced back over his shoulder towards the room, but then turned back with an unconvinced grimace.
Bardigan glances back around the corner with another grimace, "I don't know, Larenti. Expecting those things to be able to speak seems to be giving them more credit than they likely deserve."
"Seems ta me whatever they are they should be put out of their misery--and ours." Aula whispers.
Larenti gave a grudging acknowledgement to both comments. "Well, it's not like I'm going to get dirtier."
He thought for a moment. "But I don't want to be throwing my daggers into that mess. Who can shoot them from farthest away?"
Ganner shakes his head. "I'm no good from far away. Sorry!"
Bardigan slips his shortbow free and looks at the others with a shrug. "I never was the best at this, but let me know when you want me to start firing and I'll give it a shot." He pauses for a second then droops his head with a groan as he realizes his unintended pun.
When the group indicates their readiness, Bardigan steps near enough to get an unobstructed view then lets an arrow fly - far and wide over the splashes creatures. So far wide that Bardigan glances back and offers, "I, uh, meant to do that. For a distraction!"
HP: 10/10
AC: 16 (12 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 15
F/R/W: +4/+2/+3
Hellfire strikes used: 1/3
Eldritch Pool used: 1/5
Lvl 1 Spell Slots used: 1/2
Ongoing Effects
Despite Bardigan's efforts to fire on the creatures, whose locations he can only guess at in the dark, Larenti can see that the arrow lands very near the roiling folds of the nearest rolling creature. The two of them stop their splashing, and move over to stare at the newly appeared arrow. The things look like they have no idea what it means, or maybe even what it is.
"Bardigan, darling, you really must work on your aim. Ah can help you later, after we clean up a bit."
"Hmmm..." they seem confused by the arrow. How can that be? I'm going to go find out what these things are. If I need help, I'll give a signal. It'll be a high, girlish scream."
Larenti crept softly nearer to the distracted creatures, trying to get a better look, or overhear any conversation.
Through habit, he checked each step before placing a foot, but made his way slightly into the room and to the east.
Ganner follows, trying to stay stealthy.
Bardigan shakes his head in ignorance, "I can't even see what I'm shooting at," he hisses quietly. "However close I got was impressive regardless!" As Larenti and Ganner slink forward, he stows his bow for his rapier again, not wanting to risk tagging one of them with an errant arrow.