Mvumbu follows her sick friend, nuzzling him frequently.
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The path is relatively safe, likely the Derro's had no suspicions that the Pathfinders would attempt to track them down. Flyn is able to see the dangers ahead, and warns the group through sign language about what he notices.
A large pool fills most of this chamber, its green waters bathing the high ceilings in an eerie green light. The pool is open to the cavern on the south and east sides, but borders the cavern walls to the north and west. On the north side of the cavern, a small alcove sits above the water line, inside of which rests a small stone table. Dozens of corpses float serenely on the surface of the pool.
Hundreds of prisoners, both human and mite, fill the caverns to the west of the pool. A line of prisoners, herded by injured derros and mites, marches from the western caverns into the pool. A formidable looking female Derro stands overlooking the operation, she immediately spots Flyn as he makes his move deeper into the cave. She shouts out warnings to the rest of the operatives!
Soon, several brave prisoners and mites start to swarm the operations hoping that the Pathfinder reinforcement would give them enough power to overthrow the operations. Shouts and blood is drawn! A couple of Derros find themselves outside the perimeter of battle and eye the Pathfinders. One of them being the commander herself.
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Paicho recalls that Derro's are very rogue-like and cannot harm themselves while using poisons due to their inherent use of poisons in their culture. The Derro commander, seems to be similar in nature, with rogue-like abilities causing her to easily evade and dodge many trials and tribulations that come her way. In addition, she's likely able to resist magic with her experience.
The derro's move around the front and fire some crossbow bolts in Flyn's direction. However, it seems the madness has them distracted and unable to perform their duties adequately.
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Spurred on by Paicho and encouraged by the renewed rebellion of the mites, Kiboko and Mvumbu rush into the battle.
Kiboko does his best to encourage the mites, shouting to them in their own language.
"ពួកគេអាចសម្លាប់ប្អូនប្រុសតិចតួចណាស់! ពួកគេមិនអាចយកសេរីភាពរបស់អ្នកបានទេ! ប្រយុទ្ធនិងត្រូវបានដោយឥតគិតថ្លៃ!"
Kiboko draws his hooked lance as he goes, setting up an attack from Mvumbu.
AC: 18 this round.
"MOOOOAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!"
Raging Mvumbu enters the battle, bounding up alongside Kiboko to savage the Derro slavers.
She chomps on the nearest derro (blue).
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Qatala's swift moves is able to pull a Derro off his feet, and mvumbu's raging charge towards the other Derro knocks him out cold. Kiboko moves forward and stands guard.
The Commander fires an arrow towards Mvumbu, but curses herself for missing the shot. She then attempts to move shrouded in darkness.
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Paicho moves forward toward the other. Paicho weaves his casting into his performance, as he spots the hiding derro.
When evil rears it's head it must be cast into the light, the glittering! Bright and brilliant light.
A cloud of golden particles covers the Derro Commander, failing just short of Kramac.
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Flyn shows no mercy to evil underground dwelling kidnappers, and shoots a powerful shot against the fallen derro to immediately kill it. The arrow places itself right between the eyes.
The darkness is no stranger to Paicho, Kramac, and Kuuma, easily tracking down the Derro commander that attempts to shroud herself in the darkness. Moving swiftly in the darkness, the dynamic duo of Kramac and Kuuma move immediately to engage the commander with brute force, taking advantage of each other as distractions to wound the Derro heavily.
Paicho follows them towards the darkness and releases glitterdust all over, leaving the creature unable to seek the cover of darkness anymore.
As the Pathfinder's forces start to overwhelm the Derro's, the inspiration brings strength to the resistance! Mites tower over their captors and bring them down slowly, overwhelming the Derro's. Soon the Derro's start to retreat. Mites swarm in to take down the Derro commander as she attempts to move through the darkness, unsuccessfully with glitterdust revealing her every location.
Loud cheers, and roars erupt from the rebel forces! Shouts of joy echoes all over the caverns. The mite coup leader comes forth and signs a crude eagle symbol with his hand before fleeing off into the darkness with the rest of the slaves, enjoying their new found freedom.
A couple surving swift imates and guards stand dazed in the grotto. The stone table in northern alcove is a clearly a shrine to Groetus. And he pool is filled with dozens of corpses of prisoners, guards, mites, and a variety of recently kidnapped Cassomir citizens.
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Kiboko joins in the celebrations. He returns the sign of the eagle to the mites' leader.
"បងប្អូនប្រុសអើយបងមានសេរីភាព! យូរយើងត្រូវចាំពីជ័យជម្នះនេះ!"
Kiboko asks the victorious mites (or any surviving derro) : "ហេតុអ្វីបានជាសម្លាប់អ្នកទោសជាច្រើន? អ្វីដែល derro សង្ឃឹមថាដើម្បីសម្រេចបាននៅទីនេះ? Groetus មិនមែនជាព្រះឃាតកម្មទេ។"
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The mites point bodies in the pool with much concern as they depart the area, "កងទ័ពហ្គូវ!"
Flyn is able to find two letters on the commanders persons, they reveal striking evidence of Aspis involvement in the whole ordeal, as well as future grave plots. The first confirms that the Aspis Consortium agent Kafar funded the smugglers who in turn supplied the cult. The second letter details plans to penetrate other Cassomir buildings (such as the Admiralty Citadel and Harbor Watch) and perform additional mass abductions in the near future.
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Kiboko puts the pieces together, and reaches a conclusion.
"The Aspis are behind this! They are the 'corrupt baker', brother Kramac! They have forged the alliance with the Derro, and they have twisted the Cult of Nature's Cataclysm to serve their own ends! They intended to create a great number of ghouls. We must ensure that they have failed."
Kiboko utters a prayer and studies the pool and the shrine using detect magic and spellcraft to try to learn if there is any inherent magic present.
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Paicho helps organize the efforts and continues to perform to keep spirits high.
We need to remove those bodies from the water and deliver them to the Pharasmans, if possible, I think. We must take care to be sure none are already ghouls.
Although they have won the day, Paicho is dismayed so many have died and they lost the bell too.
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The group organises the remaining efforts to secure the rest of the prisoners who are unable to help themselves, as well as remove the bodies from the pool. Which Kiboko definitely recognizes that there are inherent necromancy auras emanating from within.
You return to the surface after all's been done, one of the Cassomir constabulary quickly approaches you and ask you what you might know about the stolen chapel bell. After your detailed explanation, he explains that a fellow constable found the note nailed to the front door of the Greedy Narses (The name of the building which houses the chapel) and hands it over to you.
Furthermore you report your findings to the authorities, and of course, Venture Captain Hestia. This time with clear plans, the authorities quickly plant guards and cover all perimeters and angles to trap and spoil any future derro advances.
Over time, as you keep note of the development, it seems months later nothing ever comes off the plots detailed in the letters. Likely indicating your last thwarting of the derro's activities may have been the catalyst needed to hinder future advances.
If anything, it could be learnt from the whole ordeal, that the Aspis are never ever to be trusted...