Carson whispers to Aniva, "Yeah, I'm sure most people don't."
He'll remain at the middle of the pack to make sure they can all stay in range of the floating lights.
As Khaz moves into the camp site and disturbs some of the site 3 giant cockroaches jump out, they are the size of a small dog.
Firinn retreats a hasty step before nocking an arrow and firing at the nearest cockroach.
The cockroach closest to Khaz bites at him with a trash filled mouth, the creatures hide glistens and it's wings buzz a little.
Aerleth drops his bow and closes in with the roach that's attacking Khaz
Carson slashes his wand through the air, lassoing a spike of enchanted wood into existence and hurling it at the next closest roach.
to hit
damage +1 bleed
Figuring that these oversized insects wouldn’t be the toughest of foes, Khaz opted for accuracy over power. Which didn’t stop him from bringing his axe down with enough force to drop an orc.
Even as the roaches approach and blows are traded, Lorena keeps looking out behind, wary of anything that might be lurking to trap them while they're distracted. However, seeing nothing behind and an opening in the battle ahead, she moves in to attack.
The cockroaches die as most bugs do, squished onto the ground.
Looking through what is left at the camp site turns up.
torn bedroll,
three candle stubs (each can burn for 30 minutes),
a bent fishhook,
10 feet of badly frayed hemp rope, and a
copper brooch depicting a bat perched on a mushroom—
both of the bat’s eyes are tiny amethysts
The tunnel leads further to the east about 90' to the next cavern it takes the group about 7 minutes or so with Aniva hobbling along and Aravashnial tripping on things he cannot see. Horgus' mood only gets more dour at the time it takes to move a short distance.
Carson lets someone else take the brooch, as it's the only thing of any remote value in the camp.
"Trimeresurus albolabris, a common pit viper. Not aggressive, but poisonous enough to merit dealing with. Anyone good with animals, or should I just send a hawk after it?
Khaz shook his head. "Good with animals? That wouldn't be me."
Aerleth racks his brain, trying to think of a way to deal with snakes peacefully... And comes up with nothing. He had spent plenty of time learning the ways of the ranger out in the Worldwound, but he was always more interested in learning how to defeat his enemies, not befriend them.
"I... I've got nothing." he says curtly.
Lorena grabs the brooch wordlessly as the others pass it by, feeling compelled to by some force, just as she frequently sees shadow bats in her dreams and visions. And besides, perhaps it could be of some value, or some use down the line.
When they come to the snake, she's also got no idea what to do. "Hawk sounds like a good idea."
Firinn approaches the snake making strange warbling noise that sounds, somewhat, like a bird. He skirts around one side of the cavern and seems to be trying to draw the snake away so the rest can pass through.
Firinn manages to get the snake to move closer to him at the southern portion of the cave, it doesn't attack Firinn.
Khaz watched Firinn as he attempted to soothe the snake. His patients were passing by, and he stood between them and the danger, his axe at the ready. He wished that there was something that he could do to help, but the only way he knew how to deal with beasts such as this was to apply his axe to the problem.
The group manages together to lead snake away from the injured and lacking in animal subtlety. This allows everyone to pass unharmed and further down the dark tunnel.
Aerleth resumes his place at the front of the group near Khaz, longsword at the ready.
The next stretch of tunnel is long and winding and very dark outside of the light of your torches and spells. you travel for 25 minutes at a pace that has Horgus fuming.
You finally come to a 5' tunnel leading off to the north, there is early green light coming from inside the tunnel.
”Do ye all see that? Approach cautiously. Strange green lights rarely be auspicious.”
Axe at the ready, the dwarf slowly approaches.
"Yeah, I see it. Want me and Feathers over here to take a closer look?" he asks Khaz, gesturing to Firinn.
Khaz nodded. ”Be careful.”
Firinn arches an eyebrow at his new nickname but doesn't say anything - it was hard to dispute when the name was so obviously appropriate. Keeping his bow ready he trills a quick bird call to Rionnag and sidles forward with the elf, ready to investigate.
Lorena continues to hang back and watch the rear of the group as the others go off scouting.
"What is going on up there? Is that a passage to the surface?" Horgus starts to move up.
”I have no idea, we only saw a strange green light. It is being investigated right now. I would suggest staying here where it is safe.”
Firinn takes point and goes into the cave, he can hear a buzzing noise from inside the cave, Firinn's astute hearing notes the sound of 3 different buzzing keys.
Two of the flies turn as Firinn drags his foot and makes some noise.
One of the flies moves down to bite at Firinn.
"Giant flies - look out!" Firinn yells, as one of them descends to take a chunk out of his flesh!
The flies are upon Aerleth and Firinn before the ranger can even slip into the shadows. With a grunt, he hefts his longsword in two hands and attacks the fly which has set upon the hunter.
Aerleth takes a large portion of the flies thorax out with his swing. The fly to the north west of the room flies up behind Aerleth, biting at hime.
Aerleth's armor proving to much for the fly to bite though.
Terry scoots forward, loosing an arrow at the most obvious of the . . . insects?
Once again the group is attacked from the front while Lorena guards the back. This time, she slips through the corridor behind the elf and stabs wildly at the left-most fly with her spear.
Terry puts and arrow Solidly into the Fly to Firinn's right. Lorena and Aerleth drop the fly to the west, it lands with a loud crunch, oozing blue ichor.
The furthest fly buzzes in and bites at Firinn.
Disease (Ex)
Filth Fever: Bite—injury; save Fortitude DC 14; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves.
Some flies might carry other diseases, at the GM’s discretion. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Hearing the sound of combat, Khaz lifted his axe and loudly ran down the tunnel.
Finn reels from the bite, staggering backwards and Rionnag swoops in front of him to buffet the fly with her wings.
Carson does the ol' swish, flick, summon, stab on the nearest fly. He'd been staying in the middle of the pack, and his attack has a fair range, so he can move in and do so at the same time.
to hit
damage +1 bleed
Rionnag kills the fly attacking Firinn, it's body crashes down with a chunk missing from its head. Khaz heads into the Fray as well.
"What is going on?" Aravashnial shouts from the tunnel.
The remaining fly tries to bite Aerleth again, ugly looking drool coming from its weird looking mouth.
With a grunt, Aerleth brings his blade up underneath the fly and slashes at its underside.
Aerleth kills the final fly, its bloated ugly body crashing to the ground. Silence settles over the cavern other than the breathing of everyone. The green light source is lichen that is growing on what looks like a stone building.
Just some more vermin. They're dealt with. I have to wonder if these were always under the city or if they're being stirred up by whatever is going on.
Carson will check to see if he knows anything about the lichen or any other relevant aspects of the room.
Terry retrieves his arrow before moving back to the non-combatants. "To be more specific, there was a green glow coming from a side corridor. Investigating it got us attacked by some giant flies. We've killed them, but a couple of us were bitten. The green glow looks to be made by some moss or lichen or something growing on the sides of a small stone structure deeper into that side corridor. And that's what I know up to now. I assume we're going to go look at the structure next. Any questions?"
”Those insect bites nay look good. I’ll treat ye all as soon as it be safe. For now though, I’ll be comin up front. I was too slow to be on any good in that fight, ye have me apologies.”
"IS that structure going to get me out of here?" Horgus asks overly frustrated at this whole thing.
"Maybe. We don't know. If it doesn't, though, there might be something inside to feed us a dinner tonight."