"What do you see Thorfinn?"
"Signs of passage. Old tracks north, older east."
We know where the old ones came from most likely. Lets check out the older ones first.
"Sounds good to me Gallus."
The dwarf nods and heads north, following the tracks.
"I'm thinking Tsuto and his goblins came from the north; the ones from the east are too old for me to guess what made 'em. Sorry, Gallus--you want to follow those east?"
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Ioxeia chimes in after a moment of thought, "I think that makes sense as a first step. If these are smuggling tunnels, then west would probably just lead us to a cave opening off the cliffs. Why anyone would dig deeper than they had to into the side of the plateau the town sits on is rather more curious."
Gallus nods at the Thorfinn's question. We know these recent ones are probably from the goblins and likely lead to the cliffs. However, I am more curious what lies deeper under the town? Perhaps this quasit and her freaks lies deeper. I think the goblin threat is over for now but this quasit might represent an even greater threat.
Gabriel is content to go either way.
Heading down the tunnel to the east you eventually pass by a torn down wall that apparently use to brick off this section of the tunnels. Continuing further the tunnel slopes in a north easternly direction and you see two branch offs to the east.
Gabriel will triple check his crossbow before speaking.
"I'm surprised to see so many branches down here. Does anybody have some chalk to help mark our path?"
"No chalk here. This might work, though." Thorfinn scuffs one shod foot back and forth in the dirt, then tries to leave a bootprint low on the wall. "Now, where are those tracks?"
Gallus shrugs at the request for chalk. No chalk here. Which way do the tracks lead?
"Boot prints and memories it is." says Gabirel in a satisfied voice.
Can't be any harder than memorizing the lines to Stavian's last dance. Gabriel thinks to himself
Thorfinn grunts disgustedly. "Hmph. Can't tell which way they went. Start to the right?"
"Sounds good to me."
Thorfinn leads; not sure if Ioxeia or Gallus is with him.
The dwarf holds up a hand and speaks quietly. "Something moving up ahead."
Just as Thorfinn warns the others a hairless humanoid lurches on back-bent, dog-like legs, its hideous mouth flanked by tiny arms with three-fingered hands. It comes from around the corner and moves to bite Thorfinn.
The dwarf moves just in time to avoid the bite.
Round 1:
Thorfinn jumps back out of the way, then advances with a mighty swing of his axe. The blade buries itself in the peculiar humanoid. "How's that feel?"
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As the monster comes into sight, only to meet Thorfinn's axe, Ioxeia presses the attack, slipping through the group to aim a spear thrust from the dwarf's side. Her blow angles up awkwardly at the thing's ribs...
"What..." is this thing? she wonders, words and thoughts mixing confusedly as she tries to identify the monster and bring it down at the same time.
Gabriel slips around into the room and takes a shot with his crossbow.
Gallus, at first sight of the creature lumbering out of the dark, moves beside Gabriel trying to find room to swing his glaive. Unfortunately he caches part of the ceiling as he swings causing him to miss badly.
Whatever it is, lets make sure it never leaves!
Thorfinn meets the monster head on striking a solid blow, Ioxeia follows behind adding some measure of damage to the creature. Gabriel's shot goes wide as well as Gallus' galive.
Gabriel shouts out a bit, in between breaths
"It's some sort of... sinspawn... mage-made, not sure what... it does."
Chim lobs a ball of force at the creature but as it impacts it fizzles and seems to have no effect. The creature continues it's assualt on Throfinn, unyeailding to the vary apparent wounds it has sustained.
It 5 foot steps back and pulls out a ransuer to attack the dwarf with.
The weapon slides by Throfinn unable to connect.
Gabriel tumbles around behind the creature, drawing his dagger as he goes.
Once in position behind the creature Gabriel will aid Gallus's next attack against it.
Thorfinn follows the unnatural creature back, but misses his return strike.
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I'll have to ask about that later, if we can bring it down - abominations like this give all mages a bad name, Ioxeia thinks as she slashes her spear back to prepare another thrust. The thing dances back surprisingly nimbly, and manages to turn her strike with the shaft of its polearm. And it's resistant to magic, the elf notes grimly.
Gallus moves forward with the creature swinging his glaive across his body. Unfortunately the tight quarters only allow Gallus to wave his weapon ineffectually.
Now with the ranseur the Sinspawn seems to easily avoid the attacks even with Gabriel attempting to distract him so Gallus can get in a blow. He continues his assualt on the dwarf.
His aim improves but the dwarf still manages to deflect the blow.
Gabriel will continue to try and assist but will only provide flank.
Gallus continues to watch the sinspawn looking for an opening to strike. Then as Ioxeia connects with the creature it stumbles for the briefest of moments, thus allowing the warrior to deliver a viscous overhand blow that bite deep into the aberrations body.
Gabriel beware that no more approach down the hallway.
Between Ioxeia and Gallus they manage to put down the creature. The tunnel the party is in ends shortly around the corner.