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The sinuous tunnel of the Púca nest begins to broaden out before you as your Company move deeper into its bowels...
Soon it opens to a T- junction of sorts , two branches of which are blocked with rudimentary guardians; dead saplings from which is hung rusted and battered items of armour, helms, bones and sundry items (both small and medium sized)
Dead ahead - down the main branch of tunnel there comes, from an unknown source, the stench of spoiled, rotten meat...
Your keen eyes notice the faint outline in the dirt due south (where the tunnels open to their widest) - being a den of Púca it is likely a trap of some kind...
Perception:
Ragnar points down the main branch "Something rots there..." before jerking his head to the right and looking to move down that side passage...
Luke follows the lead of Ragnar.
I smell the rot too.
As he passes to the right, Muli looks further down the main passage. His raccoon eyes are sharp for such situations, "Not just skink, Muli sees a trap there as well"
Well done Muli. We will be sure to avoid it then.
At the words of the déor hwerfung, Disa adds, "Muli is correct. There is a faint line in the dirt just ahead."
Upon closer inspection there is indeed a faint ridge in the dirt which would signify a trap of some type... The Púca are know for their malevolent mischief and this would not be out of sorts in a nest of their ilk.
The stench of decay still clings to the environment, although no clear source presents itself...
The onerous odor of rot seems to be emitting primarily from the outlined trap before you, but also more faintly from the nest's side branches...
Apart from the discovery of the trap, the stink of rot and the crude effigies there is little else seemingly presenting itself to you at this juncture...
Perception:
Ragnar notes the mention of the trap with a curt nod, but does not turn from his intent to move into the side-chamber.
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Disa follows the rest down the right hand branch of the tunnel, but stops once inside the entrance. She places herself in a crouch, facing out toward the main tunnel with her shield at the ready. She quietly waits to see what may sneak in after them.
Muli will continue to watch the main corridor until Ragnar gives some indication of what awaits the group in the side chamber.
As the others hang back the burly huscarl moves dismissively past one of the guardian effigies. His bulk brushes the rusted armour and scrap dangling from the dead saplings branches, sending a clanging song throughout the tunnels...
Ragnar hears the song echo and pauses for any initial sign of reaction...
Perception:
...before plowing on through and into the side-tunnel.
As Ragnar moves further down the tunnel branch there is no apparent reaction to the effigies scrap song. The rest of you spread between the main channel of the lair and backing up Ragnar’s relentless pathfinding…
After the din of the effigy trap you swear you can hear some distant sound that is slow and scraping from deep within the bowels of the nest…
Once again the rancid smell of rot begins to assail your senses…
Your keen eyes and keener nose tell you that dead ahead of Ragnar’s position lies both the source of the au du decay… and it appears a pitfall trap of sorts akin to the one discovered in the main channel…
Perception:
Ragnar sees no reason to slow, despite the scent of rot upon his nose and breath...
Luke, also regardless of the pungent oder, follows Ragnar down the side tunnel with arrow drawn.
Muli continues watching the main aisle with an ear cocked to listen if Ragnar finds anything.
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Disa shakes her head and calls in a stage whisper to the two out in the main passage, "The shield doesn't offer much protection when you stand on the pointy side of it. Come down here, racoon, from the smell of it there is carrion for you."
Despite the scent of rot Ragnar strides belligerently onward…
… then without warning the ground beneath him gives way!
Tainted Water Pit (CR 3)
XP 800
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 20
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset manual
Effect 40-ft.-deep pit (4d6 falling damage); DC 20 Reflex avoids. Any character coming into contact with the tainted water must make a DC 10 Fortitude save or contract filth fever.
The victim falls into a hidden pit filled with muddy water and drowned animal corpses. The water is unclean and may spread filth fever.
NBD: Throwing something else into the mix… braiiiiiinnnnnssssss…
Reflex:
Ragnar is fairly quick to react to the giving way of ground... but given his bulk, not swift enough to lunge clear of it.
The ground beneath Ragnar gives way in a crashing rumble and he drops into a deep pit, smacking the hard walls on the way down...
Afore landing heavily upon several decayed animal corpses that float in the pit's brackish water...
The battered huscarl emerges from the cesspool of rotten offal and gazes balefully upward, when he realizes he is not alone - as from the sundered corpse of what was perhaps once a bear, slides forth a pulsating, pale maggot the size of Liten Mun.
Its circular mouth quivers and gasps as it moves toward the vikingr...
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Round 1:
Initiative:
Swearing as he falls "Jävla skiter hål ..." Ragnar has his breath forced from his lungs by impact. Recovering quickly he throws his head back, sewage wet beard and braids sending an arc of skit-water splashing on the side of the pit. Skaggig jostled from his grip, Rangar brings forth alfr smarta from it's scabbard, holding it like an oversized dagger with left hand on forearm to bring all his strength to bear. The langsword is then scythed down at the carrion slug...
Power Attack 2H Alfr Smarta: for
...but the blade catches on the wall of the pit and is fouled.
Round 1
The Rotian Maða () slides free of its corpse nest with a sickening pop. With surprising speed the oversized maggot brings its clamp like maw to bear on the skit encrusted Northman;
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:
But its raking mouth merely rasps across the huscarl's steel hauberk.
As you look between the clamour and chaos that ensues between the side channel and your own station, your keen eyes are drawn to the shadows ahead... Yes! There! Something... something heavyset and manlike moves cautiously toward you...
"What's he dun fallen in, a hole? Muli's pack is outside, if'n I even have rope."
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"What are you talking about? We three are all standing here."
Come...Ragnar has fallen in a trap.
Round 2:
Pushing into the grub as it's jaws slide off his mail coat, Ragnar tries to keep it close "Stay still..." The burly warrior then uses his body as a guide, sliding alfr smarta down the mail before levering it out in a flashing arc...
Power Attack 2H Alfr Smarta: for
...luck with him as the lead edge of his blade catches the grub in the maw before arcing through flesh.
Luke leans over the edge of the pit and fires at the slug.
Ragnar's langsword slides effortlessly into the dog sized maggot, spilling yellow ichor from its bloated body as the grub writhes in pain.
As it lurches forward in fury an arrow from above grazes the beast's skin, opening a thin cut along his side.
Round 3
Angered, the Rotian Maða engulfs the battered huscarl;
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:
and this time its circular mouth bites down on his shoulder, penetrating his armoured coat of mail...
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... and firmly latching on to his flesh!
As your senses flit between the clamour and chaos that ensues between the side channel and your own station, your keen eyes are drawn to the shadows ahead... Yes! There! Something... something heavyset and manlike; (far larger than any Puca) lurks in the murky black bowels of the nest...
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Round 3:
Fort Save:
Roaring as the beast latches onto his shoulder, Ragnar lets his conscious thought fade and the black rage take hold. Spitting fetid corpse water, the vikingr pins the grub to the wall with his bulk and thrusts blade repeatedly up and into it, desperate to end the grub...
Raging Power Attack Alfr Smarta: for
"Wha-? Fell into a trap? Gah!" Disa moves farther into the passage, reaching back into her backpack as she does to retrieve her fine rope. Moving to Luke, she hands back the rope. "Here take this." She says as she keeps her eyes looking toward the main shaft and her skoldur in position in front of her.
To Skol as Disa leaves, "Hsst! Something comes to find Ragnar in his pit. Let her go help them. Point your spear towards the back, but mind the trap right there in the main passage." Muli will ready a rodent bomb for when something come into view.
Muli’s keen senses draw eyes toward a lurking figure... it moves from the shadows with an awkward gaint which sits at odds with its heavy build. You get a flash of pallid skin, pale lank hair, small milky eyes and a slack mouth filled with sharpened teeth.
With a feral hiss, the creature... the man (?) draws a crude rusted sickle and moves unnaturally quickly towards you... covering more ground than even a transformed Muli could with its shambling sprint.
As it gains speed an low, eerie whistling emits from the numerous bone sections tied and tethered to the leathered cuirass it wears...
From the central passage comes Muli's shout to look to the shadows... then a distant hiss and a strange keen whistling coming ever closer...
Luke secures the rope on his end from Disa, then fires another arrow into the Grub.
RD1
Frerin steps up and fires a bolt at the carrion.
Rd2
Fires another bolt.
Pit of Rot Group...
As both Luke's keen arrow buries deep into the pallid hide of the rot grub, and the second magick flame sears it further, the repulsive creature writhes in pain - giving Ragnar momentary relief from its gnawing jaws...
... yet weakly it mindlessly chews on;
Round 4
:
However the enraged huscarl proves too strong and the giant grub too weakened to find purchase on Northern flesh...
Luke fires another arrow as he yells to Disa.
Disa, get that rope down to him, I have this end secured!
Disa drops the rope down the hole.
Round 4:
Ragnar's chance to deal the killing strike is stolen as another arrow lances in from above the kill the grub. Though death throes begin to come to the grub, the burly and bloodied northman still hacks at it with his blade for good measure before his head hangs and eyelids grow heavy. His eyes turn first to the murk he finds himself in...
Perception:
...before he raises head to see Disa's hung rope.
The foul parasite is hacked beyond recognition, its soft flesh peeling apart revealing slimy internals that mingle with the rot within the pit.
Ragnar's eyes see nothing of obvious value, although his sense of smell does threaten to be overpowered by the rotten stench...
Whilst the big huscarl can be forgiven for not noticing anything, your keen eyes do pick out what appears to be not a bone, but a bone handle of a weapon or implement...
Meanwhile... Elsewhere in the Nest...
Muli's pyrokinetic rodent does miss its mark, smashing just to the side of the oncoming creature...
However whilst the pale brute is showered in droplets of fire, it is the flare of the flame that causes the creature to halt its frenzied advance; bellowing in a low, alien voice that echoes throughout the Puca nest...