Zynazyr again tries to hit the new beetle with a ray of energy.
Hacks at the dumb creature again...
Sets sword and shield aside, then pulls out the shortbow. "If this doesn't work, I'm going down after it." He leans over and shoots an arrow at the remaining beetle below.
Not seeing an acceptable angle on the last beetle Ferrous descends through the middle tube.
Thylla advances on the beetle. Thylla and Fistep both turn on the newly appeared beetle, but fail to connect.
Thylla disgruntledly pushes her foot against the beetle carcasses
"Precious spit and sweat used taking these things down... Sooner we find water the better eh?"
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Sets sword and shield aside, then pulls out the shortbow. "If this doesn't work, I'm going down after it." He leans over and shoots an arrow at the remaining beetle below.
Unfortunately, the beetle on the level below has already scuttled off into the darkness and is not visible from your vantage point.
Not seeing an acceptable angle on the last beetle Ferrous descends through the middle tube.
The ladder goes up and down; there is a small bit of light coming in from the top, but once you are in the tube it is dark enough for your infravision to work. The bottom of the cylinder is open to the south. There is no door.
The room is as large as the one above. However, you can make out tables and counters running the length of the south wall; they are cluttered with objects but without light it is difficult to tell what they are.
Shoulders his bow and shield, jams the sword back into the scabbard. He descends down the ladder of the middle tube following the dwarf after lighting a torch and dropping it down the tube.
Sliding her battleaxe into place on her back harness, Ana follows Fistep into the tube.
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Peering around the edge of the cylinder, Fistep and Ferrous can see the faint red light of the fire beetle at the north end of the room; the dead beetles on the floor cast a little light as well. There is also bit of light coming in from the hole in the ceiling above where Zynazyr has a torch, though the corners of the room are dark.
As with the south end of the room, there seem to be tables and boxes lining the north end of the room; the beetle is hiding under one of the tables.
There are two doors visible in the room; one to the east and one to the west.
Draws his sword and shield and advances on faint red light of the fire beetle.
With a ferocity stemming from his ineffectual combat above Ferrous charges at the remaining fire beetle. Swinging his hand axe across his chest towards the last of the buggers.
hurrah I hit armor class -100!
Zynazyr follows the others down to the next level.
Ana exits the tube, getting close enough to the beetle to strike, and brings her axe down upon it! However, the blow is ill-timed and merely takes a chunk of stone from the floor!
(+1 for thirst)
(-1 for thirst)
Montague carefully descends bringing up the rear, He stops on the ladder about 10' from the floor, and brings his bow around, just in case he feels the need to waste another expensive arrow.
Thylla too follows her companions, she keeps her maul readied, but does not engage - allowing the others to batter at their chitinous foe.
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Ana and Fistep swing wide, while Ferrous's axe glances off the beetle's chitinous hide. The beetle snaps at Ferrous...
... but Ferrous jumps back and the mandibles close on empty air. The beetle then retreats back under the counter on the north wall.
(rolled himself)
The beetle's initiative roll tied for last, so:
Initiative Block 1:
Everyone!
Initiative Block 2:
The Beetle
Goes to a knee, holding the shield in front and stabs at the beetle with his sword.
As Ferrous positions himself so he can cut away underneath the counter with his axe Fistep drops to a knee stabbing forward with his sword. A stream of fire beetle blood squirts onto Ferrous face as he prepares his stroke.
Bah. Never get to have me any of the fun. He mumbles to himself as he wipes the bugs blood off his face.
After doing so he takes a quick look at his new surroundings the threat to life neutralized. He moves to inspect the door to the east.
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The beetle quickly dies on the point of Fistep's sword.
Examining the room in the torchlight, you can see that the room is some kind of workshop. The counters are lined with tools and supplies, including some kind of small foundry and forge. It looks as if the equipment has not been used in a long time.
* There is no water here.
* There are a wide variety of tools here. If your character wants to pick up a tool, indicate what kind of tool you are looking for; it is probably here.
* Among the gear are 9 bronze ball bearings that would make passable sling bullets.
* There are several pots of oil. The oil is thick and probably not especially good quality for burning in a lamp but could still be used as a thrown missile. There is enough here for 6 flasks.
* Neither door seems to be locked or trapped, but the door to the east seems to be jammed and will have to be forced or broken open to pass through.
* The party detects no traps, secret doors, evil, or magic in the room. No sound is audible at either door.
"I would suggest we all take oil in a flask, never known when it comes in handy." he says. Wanders over to look at the tools to see if there are any whetstones. If so, he picks one up and puts it in his backpack.
Moving over towards the jammed door he looks around the area to try and determine if there has been any recent activity through the door before turning to address a fellow party member, "Montague, any thoughts here?"
Noticing that the door is jammed. Ferrous returns to the Fire Beetle corpse and with his axe begins butchering the corpse as he has seen done before. Carving long slices of meat off the beetle into a pile. He turns to the group.
We might not have water yet but I sure am hungry too. These buggers roasted over a fire taste acceptable. The best parts are just under their fire glands. Anyone want a strip.
Ferrous continues his gruesome but necessary work until the beetle downstairs is harvested of all edible parts.
Montague takes a crowbar, hammer and spikes, and the ball bearings. "I say we try the un-jammed door first".
"Should probably get the beetles from upstairs. These might not last long without salting it." he says as he takes a strip. "Thanks Ferrous."
Nodding he heads over to the other door. "Good point Montague." he says shrugging as his surveillance did not turn up much.
Ferrous will take a full meal for himself right now. Not sure what others want to do.
Ana also takes a strip of beetle meat (full meal) and roasts it. "I suggest that we share our fortune with our companions. It is the right thing to do." When the beetle is finished roasting, she takes a cursory bite and almost immediately gags. "This is disgusting, but I'm almost hungry enough not to care." She eats until her stomach is filled.
Takes a full meal for himself too, and another half-meal for later. "I would suggest that we each take at least another half meal for later. Fighting and such is going to sap us of energy fast." He nodes to Ana, "Since it won't really keep, best to make sure of it now."
Montague not really being the sharing sort disagrees with Anastoria.
"The right thing to do is to survive as long as we can. They didn't share the danger with us, so they don't share the spoils".
Montague eats a half share, and saves a full share in his sack.
"Let's find something to drink".
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Thylla takes some beetle meat for the others as she leaves. "We can give them a little bit for now but when we find more food we should make sure they are looked after."
Montague takes a crowbar, hammer and spikes, and the ball bearings. "I say we try the un-jammed door first".
After checking the door to the west, Montague opens it only to discover a short 10' long and 5' wide hallway with a door at the end. The heavy stone construction is in the form of a barrel vault that is only 7' high at its peak, making it seem rather claustrophobic. The party investigates the door at the far end and detects no traps or noise from the other side of the door.
Zynazyr watches Ferrous carve up the beetles and start eating. He gags a little at the thought of eating it. After seeing the others manage, he accepts his portion and begins to eat. He wishes he had some wine to wash down the tough meat, but manages to eat a half-meal.
He then looks around the room trying to find a metal bar that could be used as a baton, a shovel, and a small mirror. He also takes one of the flasks of oil and puts it in his pack along with any other useful equipment he finds.
"Might as well proceed through the door." he says after the party had examined the door. He opens the door, holding his shield out in front of him.
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After seeing the others manage, he accepts his portion and begins to eat. He wishes he had some wine to wash down the tough meat, but manages to eat a half-meal.
He then looks around the room trying to find a metal bar that could be used as a baton, a shovel, and a small mirror.
"Might as well proceed through the door." he says after the party had examined the door. He opens the door, holding his shield out in front of him.
Fistep opens the door and steps out into the hallway. Unlike the central chambers, the hallway's walls are covered with plaster and have a delicate geometric border at the top of the bottom of the walls painted in blue. Though the plaster is old and cracked, it nevertheless is much more refined than the rooms you have seen so far.
PICTURE (border pattern)The hallway runs north and south. The hall continues to the limit of your light to the north; while to the south the hallway turns westwards after about thirty feet, right at the limit of your vision. In the south wall facing you is a door, and in the western wall just south of your position there is another door. The door to the west seems like it is badly damaged and has been smashed in at some point; large chunks of wood are missing from where the handle might have been along with the section of the door below that.
As you pause to listen you can hear the sound of footsteps to the north; they are not heavy and it sounds like only a single person, but the sound is getting closer.
Ferrous motions quietly towards the North indicating that he wants to explore the source of the sound of footsteps. He then takes a few steps in that direction and turns around to see if the others are following.
Ana follows, with some trepidation, her battleaxe at the ready.
Zynazyr walks into the hallway. He seems a little concerned when he sees the damaged door and even more so when he hears the footsteps. "I hope what did this isn't coming down the hall now." With a confused look on his face, he points to his eyes and then down the hallway to the north and shrugs his shoulders.
Using the glands for light he pulls out his sword and proceeds down the hallway to the north motioning to the others that sound is being heard to the north.
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Moving north, the light now illuminates the north end of the hall, which turns east; there is a door at the end facing the party.
The footsteps come closer, and into the beetlelight walks a woman, dressed in a pale colored gown and wearing a silver mask decorated with feathers, clearly meant to represent a bird.
Her skin is deathly pale and her hair is white, though she looks young. She has a dagger in a sheath at her waist but she does not seem threatening (she certainly doesn't look like she was the one that smashed the door). In her hands she holds a small leather bag.
She stops as she sees the party. She looks bewildered for a moment as she looks over the group, but then she smiles. She says nothing.
Montague moves forward, and hides just around the corner ready to spring into action if needed.
Lowering her battleaxe, Ana speaks. "Who are you, child? How come you to be here?"
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Lowering her battleaxe, Ana speaks. "Who are you, child? How come you to be here?"
The strange woman slowly approaches, holding up the bag she is carrying in her hands. As she gets close to the party she reaches out tentatively, as if planning on touching the people she sees to determine if they are real... but she holds back, flinching.
When she reaches Anastoria, she holds out the bag, offering it to Ana.
Fistep keeps his sword and shield at hand, but moves out of any threatening stance of the moment. He appears to be content to watch the interaction between the woman and Ana, although he does keep a careful eye on her.
Ana takes the bag and bows as a gesture of thanks.
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The strange woman smiles and starts walking towards the south, gingerly almost-touching the people with her hands she passes by. Perhaps she is feeling the body heat coming off you? Or maybe she is touching your "aura?" Who knows. When she gets to the door she starts for a moment, seeing Montague in the hallway, but her strange smile quickly returns.
The bag Ana now holds weighs perhaps a pound. It is full of some soft, yielding material, like sand.
Once the strange woman passes the party, she turns her back and walks along the passage to the south.