Pyros sheathes his blade and draws his bow. Nocking an arrow, he takes a shot at the hideous beast.
This time Autumn nocked an arrow as she took a deep breath, and let it fly. She heard a solid 'thunk' as it hit her target. "Wasn't, exactly where I was aiming but it found the mark." She said.
"Well, I think we got it's attention now" Caerwyn says to no one in particular as he unceremoniously drops the unconscious mite to the ground and draws his sword to stand between the beast and his friends.
Angered by the stinging arrows, the oversized centipede skitters along the bottom of the crack, then up to snap at Pyros with it's mandibles.
The ifrit dodges the attack.
Autumn took a step back as the centipede rose out of the crack in the earth. Taking aim once more she let fly another arrow.
Now that the hideous monstrosity had made its way into close range, Pyros dropped his bow, drew his dark blade, and took a swing.
using the torch he wavered it about trying to distract the centipede's vision.
Caerwyn takes advantage of Herger's distraction to slice a chunk off the creature's side with his sword.
Close range and explosives do no mix well. Forgoing the bombs for a dagger, which she is not as good with
Arrow and blade find their mark in the chitinous shell of the centipede, drawing gooey ichor in splashes. The attacks are sufficient, the beast falls to the floor of the chasm, probably dead, though it's coils and legs still twitch and writhe lethargically.
With the centipede out of the way, Caerwyn returns to the cavern and searches for a way across the crevasse.
Autumn collected what arrows she could and returned them to her quiver before she swapped back to her axes. "Now let's see about getting across." Autumn said as she began to look as well.
"I've got rope, if that helps." Pyros says, digging into his backpack.
The roots are woven together, making a passable bridge. The crossing is sized for mites so it will be a little difficult to cross safely.
With combat over you have time to take note of the decor of this side of the chasm. There are item of potential interest on a rickety table behind you.
"There." Autumn pointed out. "We can use those roots to cross but there are a few that are rigged to break away." She explained as she looked back to the group, it was then she noted the table.
Stepping up to it Autumn looked at the contents set upon it.
An ivory carving of a horned demon, or devil weighs down a sheet of parchment at one corner of the table. A charcoal writing stick lays beside it. The parchment has writing on it. It looks like a list.
Them: Magic dust, shiny human ring, Lots of coins.
The table is covered in dirt, carved sticks, and pebbles to form sort of a diorama, or perhaps a map.
Under the table is a tied bundle of 12 small sized spears, and a burlap sack tied shut. The sack seems pretty full.
The ivory carving is quite intricate, it looks like it would be valuable to a collector.
"Whoever crosses first needs to be really careful."
Letting her eyes follow Autumn then following her to the table. Picking up the parchment, "Us: Kobold statue. Lots of coin. Spears.
Them: Magic dust, shiny human ring, Lots of coins. Hmm, there is some further along with magic dust."
Gesturing to the mess, "Any idea what that might mean?"
"Shiny human ring? Whoever this "Them" is, I don't think Svetlana's ring is here anymore."
"We can still look though, right?"
"This statue doesn't look like any kobold I ever saw." Pyros says, picking up the statue and examining it.
"Hold onto it either way Pyros." Autumn said as she looked over the note with Regina. "Wait... Shiny human ring." She muttered as she tapped her chin. "Could that be Svetlana's wedding band?" Autumn asked as she looked to the rest of the group. "We didn't find it with the bandits remember?"
The statuette has a good heft to it.
"Yeah, but my point is, why would this be called a "Kobold statue"?" he says, glancing at it again. "Maybe "Them" is those kobolds we ran across earlier, and they and these mites are stealing from one another? It's not a statue of a kobold, it's a statue that belongs to kobolds. If I'm right, that would give us a good lead on where the ring is."
"Mites and Kobolds at one another? Perhaps we could use that to negotiate with the kobolds if it comes to it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all."
He grumbled still frowning and studying the roots. He certainly didnt want to fall.
"Well It does say then and us so it is very likely they stole that from Kobolds. Also I doubt those in the field where all of them. But yes, maybe we can talk to the kobolds." Autumn said as she had Regina keep a hold of the paper. Then she grabbed the sack and opened it. "Oh my, there is enough coin here to feed us for a while. Maybe even get a good amount of seeds for when we settle." Autumn pointed out as she put the sack away.
Caerwyn picks up the statue and looks it over, before placing it in his backpack "Well, whatever it is, it might mean something to the kobolds. Let's take it with us to use as a bargaining chip to get Svetlana's ring back."
The statue is carved mammoth ivory, worth 250 gp for the quality of artistry in the carving.
Shifting on her feet and glancing over to the bridge, "We should work on getting across that. I can go first unless one of you want to."
Caerwyn will take a look at the diorama on the table and see if he can place it, otherwise he will take some time to memorize it so that he will recognize it if they should run into it in the future.
The diorama does seem to depict the area around the Old Sycamore, but the actual view from the hill top that the old tree is rooted in was far more useful. The mite's mapmaking skills are not too good.
The ridgeline gives a fine view of the lands that slope away to east and west. To the east, and far away, a glint of water can be seen. Perhaps a river. Whatever it is, it several miles away. Beyond that, distant hills can be seen, purple and indistinct. Farther beyond that, mountains make a jagged horizon against the dark blue sky.
To the west lies a valley of grass, lightly scattered with trees, and beyond that, the dark green bulk of heavy forest.
Back along the ridge to the north, is also thick dark forest, some of which you have already explored. Now it is some miles behind.
To the south of the Old Sycamore the ridge drops away, hill crests block your view of what may be at the base of the ridge to the south, but beyond that it looks to be open country. It is too far away to tell much about the landscape.
The Kobold's map seems not to show the distant mountains in the east, nor the plains to the west. It seems to show the land surrounding the mites lair, and southward.
"Allow me to go first Regina, I do have the ability to see in the dark." Autumn said before she began the process of getting from one side to the other.
"I'll take second, then." Pyros says, a bit frustrated that the huntress had beat him to the punch.
Autumn Moon crosses the chasm safely, but she manages to make it look difficult.
Once across, she can see to the end of the cave; there is a root lined shute leading upward. It is similar to the one that you descended down to get to this level.
Pausing to look around Autumn realizes that she can hear what sounds like distant, muffled screams from far ahead.
Caerwyn will cross the chasm using the hanging ropes. Once on the other side he will draw his weapon and quietly make his way up the passageway.
"I'll bring up the rear with the light, Be careful my stealthier friends."
He gruffly began holding the torch up as high as he could to provide light while the others crossed. When it was his turn to cross he moved cautiously almost nervously.
The aasimar seemed to wait till Herger was across before she crouched low the the ground, axes in hand once more, and follows Caerwyn's lead of stealth.
Waiting a little but moving just before Herger. Tightening her fingers into a white knuckled fist. Just like a ladder... Just like a.. Letting out a yelp and her foot slides to the side and sh falls to the side.
A Climb check that fails by 4 or less means that you make no progress, and one that fails by 5 or more means that you fall from whatever height you have already attained.
Loaded with heavy gear, Regina finds it a struggle to cross on the vines. In fact, she slips, almost falling. Twenty feet is a long way down... Finally she manages to clamber and claw her way across the crack.
Wincing and not meeting anyone eyes while joining the group
Caerwyn scrambles up the chute, moving very quietly. The scene is appalling when the half elf's head pops up into the chamber above. Mites are gathered around a strung up kobold. They are stabbing at it with sharpened sticks. This was the cause of the shrieks of agony. The kobold is bleeding and near death.
The mites turn their attention from the kobold when Caerwyn's head emerges up from the hole, their eyes bug out of their heads in rage and hate.
Caerwyn rushes the nearest mite, his sword drawn. Sweeping his blade across the mite's abdomen, he draws a deep cut.
Caerwyn's powerful slash nearly chops the mite in half. In a spray of blood, the creature crumple in a heap.
Pyros moves up to the next mite and slashes with his cold iron blade.
With the mites being dealt With, Autumn quickly moved to the kobold and cut the creature free. While it was commonly known that Kobolds where not always the nicest creatures, she was sure none deserved this. Once she cut the kobold free she planned to make her was back to Herger, as he was the one with healing hands.
"I have you now, you're going to be okay." Autumn told the kobold in draconic.
Pyros gets a good slice in. The mite squeals in pain, but does not drop.
Autumn tries to push past the mites. With no success. Instead she gets a painful cut with a dagger. The kobold just hangs it's head, uninspired by Autumn's words.
Moving forward and palming one of her daggers since everyone is so clustered.
Regina stabs at the mite that Pyros had wounded. It is a powerful poke, but the little, horrid, ugly mite moves it's bulbous head out of the way just in time.