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The group sets to work on clearing one of the newly revealed exits. They choose to excavate the...
...eastern entrance.
Two members of the group carefully climb the pile of rubble to the south to begin shifting rocks out of the way into the pile to the north. They aim to clear a channel wide enough to walk through; it need not empty all the rubble out of the chamber. Periodically the rubble underneath the workers shifts treacherously, but there are thankfully no accidents.
The rubble shifts again, and at first the adventurers just hold themselves steady, assuming this is simply another shift in the load of rubble beneath their feet. But the stones along the east wall give way and out of the rubble crawls a Fire Beetle! The glowing glands of more fire beetles can be seen in a small tunnel that is now revealed in the east wall. More beetles emerge from beneath the rubble near the first. The beetles hiss angrily!
Round 1 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Block 3: Fistep
Walia attacks with his sling
Seeing the beetles emerge from the rubble, Zynazyr casts a sleep spell.
Brathas moves up and readies to throw a dagger at any beetles that escape the Sleep spell.
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Wallia slings a stone but acts too hastily and fumbles the stone to the floor amidst the rubble.
Zynazyr casts a spell.
Sparkling sand coalesces on the three beetles that are standing on top of the rubble. All three sink down and become torpid and motionless!
Round 1 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas? Ferrous, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Block 3: Fistep
Ana kills one of the sleeping beetles before her.
Fistep brings his axe down on the head of the sleeping bettle before him, crushing it.
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Ana easily kills the other sleeping beetle.
Three more beetles emerge from the tunnel. No more beetles can be seen beyond. The beetles snap at the adventurers on the rocks. But the unsteady footing makes it difficult for the beetles as well.
Round 1 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Block 3: Fistep
Round 2 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Walia moves out of the rubble and attacks with his sling if hits
Ana strikes at a nearby (blue) beetle.
Satisfied that his sleep spell was able to help take out the first group of beetles, Zynazyr takes a step backward to give the others some room to move off of the rubble. He then throws an ustar at the beetle in the corner.
Brathas moves north of Ana and attacks a beetle.
His sword finds its mark.
Attacks the nearest red beetle with his sword.
Then attacks the nearest blue beetle.
Ferrous strikes at the nearest beetle, but his axe glances off the beetle's hard chitin.
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Brathas manages to find a weak spot in the beet's natural armor, but Fistep is unable to find his footing among the rubble and flails wildly with his sword, striking nothing.
The beetles snap their pincers at the party! But none of the beetles is able to catch their prey
Pre-rolled
Round 3 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep
Walia slings at the closest beetle if hits
Ana swings at the [blue] beetle in front of her, only to have her sword clang off the rocks.
Brathas continues to attack the beetle he wounded.
Another hit!
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Wallia slings a bullet that strikes the northernmost beetle in the eye; the beetle collapses.
Ana misses, but Brathas strikes the beetle to his southeast and manages to pierce its chitinous armor, causing ichor to spurt onto the stones. The beetle sinks to the stones.
Round 3 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep
Scanning the room for a target as the group continues to kill the beetles, Zynazyr tries to throw an ustar between Fistep and Ana to hit the remaining beetle.
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Synzayr's ustar opens a small crack in the insect's chitin.
The beetle snaps at Ana with it's mandibles! But Ana is easily able to step out of their way.
Round 3 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep
Round 4 Initiative!
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Bugs
Ana retaliates with an attack of her own!
Walia slings again at the remaining beetle if hits
Brathas moves and stabs at the beetle.
His balance undone by moving over the rubble, Brathas's swing glances off the beetle's shell.
Whacks at the last remaining beetle...
if hits
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Wallia's shot opens another crack in the beetle's chitin and then Fistep manages to get his sword point into the crack, running the beast through.
The beetles were healthy specimens and between them provide another 42 half-meals. The beetle glands are also harvested, and the party is able to extinguish their torch in favor of the new light source.
The tunnel the beetles came in through seems very small and uninviting. It goes in for several feet and then turns straight upwards.
Once finished dealing with the beetle carcasses, the group returns to dealing with the rubble. After a turn's work, they clear a path through to the eastern passage. The passage is narrow and only one person at a time can enter. But it goes for 10' and then the way is barred by a heavy stone block. The group examines the tunnel and the block. No traps are found, nor are any secret doors.
The group begins working on the western passage, hoping for better luck. Another turn is spent clearing enough rubble out of the way of the western passage to allow passage through. Eventually the way is opened. As with the eastern passage, a stone block bars the entrance... mostly. Somehow, a gap about 20 inches high exists at the bottom of the stone block, and a crawlspace can be seen underneath.
Ferrous thinks that these blocks were dropped into place from above, and this block may have not been completely vertical and jammed in place before it could fall all the way down.
Brathas can see that the area under the block is about 8' x 8' and that there is a narrow opening to the west at the southern end of the "room."
If the party wants to proceed, crawling on hands and knees will be required, and this will be impossible in plate mail or brigandine.
"I'm not especially keen on removing my armor to crawl through there without knowing what is on the other side."
"I can take a look. Let's tie a rope around my foot so you can pull me out quickly if needed."
Brathas prepares to crawl through. He asks Zynazyr to cast Light on a dagger, which he holds in his teeth.
Ties a rope around Brathas, and holds onto it while passing the end to Ferrous and Ana to add more strength to easily pull the man back if trouble arises.
Be careful Brathas and give the rope two quick tugs if you need us to pull you up. Ferrous says as he grabs the rope offered by Fistep.
"Unfortunately, the only light spell I can cast right now is only as bright as a candle. It would allow you to see about 5 feet. I can do that as a backup, but it might be better to send you with half of our new glands," Zynazyr says as he casts the light cantrip on Brathas' dagger and divides up the new beetle glands.
"If I'm crawling on my hands and knees I can't really hold a torch well, or the beetle glands. But I'll light a torch once I'm through."
Should I go with the lad and use my dwarven eyes to pierce the darkness? Bet I would have to leave my shield here though.
The dwarf asks the party members as Brathas gets ready to descend.
Nods to the dwarf, Might be wise... but wait til he clears so that we don't have two of you stuck
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Zynazyr creates a tiny light for Brathas and Brathas, followed by Ferrous, crawl under the stone block. Occasionally the stone groans ominously, and bits of dust drop from the ceiling, but Brathas and Ferrous get to the far side of the block without incident. Ferrous has to remove his shield but is able to drag it behind him.
Once at the southwest corner the opening opens into a taller but very narrow passage. Ferrous thinks that this passage is not deliberate and is the result of ill-fitting stone blocks being dropped in. The narrow passage winds between blocks, varying in width from three feet to only one (a tight squeeze for just about anyone in the party, but still navigable), and the ceiling varies in height from twelve feet to only four. The passage is hemmed in on all sides my massive stone blocks.
After traveling for about 50' Brathas and Ferrous reach a small 20' x 10' chamber. A heavy wooden door stands in the middle of the south wall. Brathas and Ferrous do not detect any traps on the door (or elsewhere).
"What do you see?" Ana calls in. "Is it worth going through?"
"It's tight, but you can make it. There's a bigger room here and a door. No traps that I can see, but I'll wait for you all before going through."
Zynazyr waits patiently for Brathas and Ferrous to return. He scans the rubble and the hallway watching for any "visitors". When he hears Brathas mention the door, he frowns. "Hmm, in a way, I was hoping it was a dead end. I can go through to help with spell support, but we could be in trouble with just the three of us if there is a strong enemy. That said, even with all of us, we will be weaker than usual as some of you will be without your armor," Zynazyr says as he contemplates the options and waits for a reaction from the others.
I would go, but I'd be pretty naked without the armor and we left the chainmail back at camp.
"Fistep, you could take the halberd and attack from behind Ferrous and me. Or use a bow. If there is trouble I'd rather have you there."
Walia says, "I hope you are not in the buff under the plate, put it in your pack and put it on once we get to the other side, plus you should have your Gambeson. Or you can borrow my chain and I will wear my just my robes."
Looks oddly at the priest, Yes, of course I'm in the buff... what else would I be in under my armor?!
Walia looks at the fighter quizzically, "Most people wear a Gambeson under their armor be it mail or plate to protect them from chaffing and cuts from bare metal on skin."
Ignores the cleric and takes off his armor, stuffing it in a sack and tieing the sack with a rope to his waist to drag behind him. Tossing his shield across is back, sword in hand he crawls forward.
Ana removes her armor (she has clothing underneath to prevent chaffing and to retain her modesty) and carefully breaks it down before crawling through, dragging her armor behind her. On the other side, she puts her armor back together and dons it again.