Ghroth slits the maggot open and Hannik shoots it in the gullet. Its horrid stinking organs flood mushily across the cavern floor.
Then it's the maggots' turn.
The maggot writhes around Rhok's spear where it pierces it, before shuddering and falling still.
The remaining maggots undulates forward before spewing the contents of its stomach all over Mulluq.
Mulluq takes the blast of putrescence in stride, actually pleased that he was targeted over anyone else. Regardless of his temperament, he can't help but have to focus on fighting back his own revulsion, and urge to vomit himself. He shakes a little, and works to stifle the gag reflex.
Sol's dagger hits the maggot and makes it shudder, but it is not yet mortally wounded.
Mulluq tries to maintain his protective posture, keeping his shield up before him. He does his best to fight past the revulsion and strike the filthy creature, but between his stance and the nausea, he is hard pressed. All his is able to effectively do is wave the point of his blade threateningly in its direction. If nothing else, he moves over to stand directly between it and the young man Sol, once again trying to remain the sole target of its attacks.
Jod moves around the maggot and attacks the over-sized bug with a huge overhead swing.
Just in Case Jod didn't get it.
Kira fires her crossbow, and begins to reload.
Mulluq swipes at the maggot but the nausea from being covered in half-digested pieces of rotted spider meat puts him off - understandably. Jod steps up and finishes it off with a well-placed blow. Just to make sure, Kira shoots its carcass.
Kira reloads her crossbow just in case and keeps as far away from the maggots as possible while keeping up the rear guard.
Jod tried to hide a smile at Sol's dismay, then finds a place on the spider carcass to clean off his falchion as much as possible.
"If someone can bring some light over here, perhaps we can see if anyone has used one of these tunnels recently."
With all the rubble and dust from the recent upheavals, it's basically impossible to tell who or what might have been through here in the recent past.
"There looks to be two ways out, which shall we take?"
Jod shrugs, "I have no reason to prefer one over another. Flip a coin, pick a favorite, scout each for a short distance?"
"We go north. The Kite, and its now-broken wardstone, is south of us, and is bound to be a focal point for the demonic invasion."
"I have some torches. I won't be carrying one if I'm fighting."
Mulluq easily nods as the decision is made, ready to follow orders, "I will take point. I have all my armor, and my demon-cursed ability to see in the dark for a decent ways. If anything comes out at us, I will bear the brunt of it, to allow the rest of you time to rally and strike back. Some of you may want to walk beside the injured or unarmed, to best protect them from harm or risk."
"We have a few magical lights, they wont go out. At least mine wont go out until I decide it should. North we go then. I shall take the rear."
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Sol feels that he's been misunderstood again and defends his candle request. "I don't want a candle for the light. A candle could tell us which way the air is moving. Air won't flow into dead ends. It could help us decide our way."
Sol falls in besides Jod. "Odd how we ended up down here together. Before the demons came I was going to ask you and your friend for a job as a native guide."
"Oh, that I can't help you with. Why don't you just lick your finger and hold it up?"
"A candle would be useful, but if we don't have one, will the flame from a torch work? You are welcome to try."
"Oh, yeah? I noticed you in the crowd, too. I wasn't expecting to spend so much time with you, either. We'll be fine as long as we watch each other's backs, though. A larger tribe has the advantage."
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"Oh, that I can't help you with. Why don't you just lick your finger and hold it up?"
"I could never get that to work."
"A candle would be useful, but if we don't have one, will the flame from a torch work? You are welcome to try."
"Oh, yeah? I noticed you in the crowd, too. I wasn't expecting to spend so much time with you, either. We'll be fine as long as we watch each other's backs, though. A larger tribe has the advantage."
"A torch isn't as sensitive. It's easier to see which way a candle flame sways." Sol shrugs. "Not that it matters now. Rhok's reasoning is sound. Away from the hordes of demons is the best decision, so north we go."
"OK, sure."
The adventurers head off. The going is slow, with Anevia's lameness and Aravashnial's blindness. They squeeze awkwardly through narrow tunnels before coming to a more open space. This smaller cavern appears to have once served as a campsite or temporary lair. A torn bedroll lies next to the cold remains of a fire. A pile of bones, broken equipment, and rubble lies just past the campsite.
Kira has a good look around on the way through, but doesn't move to stop to search.
Mulluq looks over the area for signs of either evil or possibly any survivors. "This can't be a recent victim, with the body already being bones. This was probably here before the collapse."
"Probably. Give me a moment." Rhok walks over to the campsite, sticking his hand into the pile of ashes before checking out the pile of bones.
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Sol starts the march in good humor. His small size is an advantage for once and he has less trouble than many of the others in the tight portions of the tunnels. Still, as time wears on and they are still underground, worry eats at his mood. The open cavern is a welcome reprieve from confinement.
He notes the bones and campsite, but focuses more on looking for a passage out. He swings his lights around the perimeter of the room looking for openings and even across the ceiling looking for a shaft or evidence of air movement from the inevitable smoke stains.
As Rhok pokes about, he disturbs some rats in the piles of rubbish. With a squeak a tide of tiny brown bodies sweeps out, gnawing and chewing.
"Arrgghh!, rats. Why is it always rats in tunnels?"