Rexus smiles, "I was afraid that we would be entering an underground lair and I have just the thing we need!" He reaches into his backpack and produces an Everburning Torch.
"We used these to light the grounds of our home at night and it seemed the proper way to use it in light of what I discovered about my mother. I have a second one too if you think we need it".
"I have some normal torches, but an everburning torch is better for this." Zeldana told the group. "Fire plus underground, doesn't always work well after all." She said.
Rexus hands one to Zel and draws the other one from his pack, "So uh I guess I need to go first?"
How about this? Drop the torch down, and I'll go with Hiranno if she's agreeable to that. We'll check things out ahead a bit while the rest of you come down.
Rexus drops the torch into the pit. It hits the floor relatively quickly. Hiranno is able to see that the ladder leads to a stone floor about 15' down.
Well, that doesn't seem to have made anything angry. Down I go...
I still don't like that dog growling.
Sholti climbs down the ladder then, as quickly as possible, takes a look around.
The eye-watering stench of urine and feces fills this large room. Nests made of chewed crates and barrels line the walls, while rusty knives and hooks cover the tabletops. This place, you hope, has seen better days.
As your foot touches the floor you hear the telltale sign of the chittering of rats, large ones!
Faintly you hear the sound of music from far off but the rats must be your primary concern as they race across the room towards you!
Zeldana
Sholti
Irisa
Tiel
Dire Rats (3)
Stay together!" Hiranno shouts, raising her sword in preperation for an attack.
"Desna bless our fight against these foul rats so we may continue seeking freedom for this city." She chants and kisses her holy symbol.
Hiranno's attack misses the agile dire rats and they swarm over the two women!
The first rat is overeager and charges right past Sholti! The second is unable to get through the defense of Hiranno but the third scores a bite on her ankle.
Tiel will go down the ladder as soon as her friends clear some space.
Zeldana drew the paladin from her deck once more, using it to cast a protective spell upon herself.
Sholti strikes at the rat as it over extends itself in its attack on her.
Hiranno flinched from the bite and immediately starts to not feel rather well. Taking a step away, Hiranno tries once again to slash out at one of the rats that bit her.
Hiranno knows that the rats bite will not be pleasant to deal with soon but for now is steady on her feet. Her step forward allows Tiel to climb down the ladder and into attack position, the rats are now outnumbered due to Sholti cleaving one in half.
Hiranno's strike injures but does not slay a second rat.
Slashing out again, Hiranno hopes to the rats life.
Irisa steadies her crossbow and fires at the foul beats. Hopefully I won't hit any of my new companions. Before she loads in another bolt.
Sholti comes to Hiranno's support, slashing at the rat she's fighting from behind.
Zeldna closed her violet eye, causing her golden one to glow as she glared at the rat.
Tiel slices at a rat with her glaive.
Hiranno, usually sure striking misses the agile rats.
The Rats strike back ineffectively against both Hiranno and Sholti.
In turn the Ladies, inexperienced fighters in this sort of setting are unable to lose out the combat.
Zeldana does seem to rattle one of the Rats though as it begins to shiver as it looks at her.
Rexus pulls a hand crossbow but holds his shot afraid to hit his new allies.
Hiranno
The 2 Rats
The Rest of Fox Force
"Just be careful and you won't hit them. We can't let those foul rats live longer than necessary. You can do this." Irisa shouts to Rexus as she shoots again before readying another bolt.
Hiranno slashes out at the rat in front of her. This time, she steadies her aim.
One of the rats snaps at Sholti and finds purchase on her shin. Sholti winces, grunts, and slashes back at it.
Sholti and Hiranno manage to steady their strikes and bring down the rats but not before both are bitten by the vermin.
The way is not clear for the rest of the group to come down the ladder. The Mastiff stops barking as the fight stops and whimpers a bit knowing it cannot easily negotiate such a passage.
"Are you ok down there? Hold on a moment and I'll come down to heal you." Irisa shouts out worried.
If combat is over Irisa eventually makes it down and prays to her deity. "Desna, can you close up the wounds of these brave warriors so they may live to see another day, to fight for freedom." She puts a gentle hand onto the bitten women. "I'm afraid I can't do much about them being infected. Hopefully they are not."
Rexus peers down the ladder, "Perhaps we ca find a cure for what ails them down there. If not I have contacts who can get me a potion to aid them, let's of course hope they are alright".
He scratches the ear of the Mastiff and gives it a treat then heads down the ladder with the rest of you bearing another Everburning Torch.
With a second torch the room comes into better focus. The room has a semi-circular wall to the east and is nearly 60' deep running north to south. The vermin had their lair among the crates where along the flat southern wall which spans 40'. From there, the wall takes a 45 degree angle for 30' where it meets the west wall. Along the west wall is a door.
Sholti calls up the ladder to the other that she and Hiranno are okay as they begin their descent. She then goes over to Hiranno and takes care of her bites.
Not knowing much about rats or their bites. Sholti doesn't think too much about hers. It smarts, but it's just a rodent bite, right?
After the others have descended into the room, Sholti suggests "We should probably take a look around here before going on. We don't really know what we're looking for or where it might be, so we should be sure not to pass it by on accident."
"Thank you," she says as the healing magic flow through her wounds, "we'll have to get checked for something. No good comes from these filthy creatures."
Hirrano moves away from the ladder, inspecting the rather filthy room. She looks towards the where the rats made their burrow, cringing at the smell. Maybe something of use was there, maybe just rubbish.
Tiel will also take a look around, while keeping an eye on the door.
Zeldana joined with the others in looking around the room for anything they could find.
Sholti does the same, it was her suggestion after all.
Irisa pats the dog apologetically, "I'm sorry that you can't follow us down, just keep guard up here and we'll be back for you shortly."
"I'll help to look around. Here, may you have the guidance of Desna." She touches everyone briefly, granting them guidance before helping out herself.
Rexus stays by the ladder wary of the danger down here as the ladies search the room for anything of value.
Sholti truly looks through every nook and cranny but even her keen eye finds nothing of value here, this truly is a rat's nest.
As the ladies finish their search though the rusty knives and hooks on the filthy table tops begin to rattle and shake. Moans, as if from restless spirits, begin to echo around the room!
Rexus draws his hand crossbow again and looks about the room for a foe.
"What's this?" Irisa says and look worried around the room, her crossbow in hand. "I'm don't want to let some moaning stop us now that we are so close. Let's try the door." She continues after a bit, starting to walk towards the door.
"I agree," says Tiel, tightening her grip on her glaive. "Maybe we'll find answers further in." She follows Irisa to the door, but keeps an eye out for flying rusty implements.
"Some one else is here... this is a simple spell that even a child could do." Zeldana told the group.
Or I am totally wrong and this place is haunted...
"Come out, we're not going to hurt you." Zeldana called. "Oh wait... what is this was simply set here long ago? And just not triggered?" She wondered.