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"Hooray!" Nina cheers. "It may not be easy but we'll vouch for you and I know Vegazi will, too. Whatever help you need, we'll do our best to give it," she smiles, giving Yvogga's hand a pat if she'll allow it.
"I think Lord Braggett is probably right...if the tunnels might be unsecured we should try and secure them before we go," she continues. "It wouldn't do much good to save the scouts but leave a backdoor into town wide open!"
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"There you go!" Erlathan stands up triumphantly as Yvogga comes to her senses. "I'm glad we were able to get through to you. Thought I'd have to waste another spell or two to convince you, as much as I'd like to call my powers limitless." He dusts his robe free of decayed earth elemental. "I agree with Team Gnome. Let's continue with the tunnels and root out any stray devils, shall we?"
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"I think you will find that the Knights of Arwyll Stead are the most honourable people you have ever met." Lord Braggett butts in. "We are simply not the betraying type. Now, let us forge through the centre tunnel." He quickly checks that his ioun stone is suitably aflame, and points back where the Pathfinders came from. "If further dangers lurk in the darkness, I sense we shall discover them there."
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You ready yourselves to resume your mission, examining and treating your wounds, and otherwise preparing yourselves for whatever might befall you next.
You make your way back into the cavern with the collapsed tunnel, then follow a branch to the north and east.
The stench of brackish water fills the air from a small, dark pool in the northeastern corner of this cavernous antechamber .
Lord Braggett holds up a closed fist, signaling that he's spotted something. Bishop saw it too.
A seemingly mundane patch of moist stone lying submerged near the edge of the pool is suddenly revealed to be more, as a terrible pseudopod lashes out.
Map & Images
Hanlin
Shelzeba
Vegazi
Bishop
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
Erlathan
Nina & Inky
Yvogga
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???
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"Aha! I knew there was a threat to the people of Arwyll Stead!" Lord Braggett declares, although he can't quite pinpoint what the creature is. "Whatever this is, it is clearly planning to break into the town and eat the children." He whirls his flail above his head and urges Kibble to close the gap as he bellows an inspiring Lion's Call. "FOR THE CHILDREN! CHAAARGE!"
The first time Kibble is hit in a round, Braggett will use the Mounted Combat feat, and as an immediate action to try and negate any damage. The hit is negated if the Ride check result is greater than the opponent's attack roll.
For the first two adjacent allies (including Braggett) who are targeted for an attack, Kibble will use the Bodyguard feat to use an AoO and boost their AC.
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Bishop's dagger pierces the creature, but the blade does less damage than the rogue had expected, given his catching the thing flat-footed and with such precision.
What only a moment ago looked like an ordinary wet rock morphs into some kind of formless gel, lashing out with a horrifying pseudopod at Sir Kibble, but the nimble wolf dances out the way.
Map & Images
Hanlin
Shelzeba
Vegazi
Bishop
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
Erlathan
Nina & Inky
Yvogga
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???
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Erlathan looks at the pile of goop with intrigue. "Hmm, I have not once seen one of these things. Or if I have, it appears these tunnels have filled my mind with a fogginess. Anyway, I shall leave my more powerful magic to more worthy foes. For now, it's time for the Magical Mamba to shine!" He points his quarterstaff of entwined serpents and activates it.
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"Haha! You are no match for the noble Sir Kibble!" Lord Braggett boasts, whirling his flail ever faster until it starts humming with a satisfying ffwomp ffwomp ffwomp. As soon as the Magical Mamba strikes, Braggett enthusiastically urges his dancing wolf to attack. "Hahaha, show this goopy monstrosity that you are not to be trifled with, Kibble!" The wolf doesn't seem quite as enthusiastic to bite the ball of goo as his knight appears to be, but Kibble does attempt to sink his teeth into it nonetheless. "Aha! Take that, and this!" Followed closely by Braggett's own flailing attacks.
Standard action: Attack
Kibble:
Standard action: Attack
The first time Kibble is hit in a round, Braggett will use the Mounted Combat feat, and as an immediate action to try and negate any damage. The hit is negated if the Ride check result is greater than the opponent's attack roll.
For the first two adjacent allies (including Braggett) who are targeted for an attack, Kibble will use the Bodyguard feat to use an AoO and boost their AC.
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Hanlin leans his head forward a bit and squints his eyes as he sees the thrashing pile of goop "Never before have I seen... that. Iomedae protect us all." And with that he strides up to the creature, drawing out his longsword with a ring. With an overhead hack he does his best wood chopping swing in attempt to sever a pseudopod.
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Bishop's thrown dagger, embedded in the creature's slime-covered flesh, hisses and sizzles, almost dissolving before your eyes.
Erlathan's magic missiles slam into the creature, as Lord Braggett tries to determine the depth of the murky water. It's difficult to tell, though he can see a number of stones near the surface, so it's depth likely varies.
The cavalier strikes the thing with his whirling, twirling flail, and Sir Kibble sinks his teeth into its slimy, pliant flesh. The wolf recoils from the foul, burning taste of the mucous film covering the creature. Lord Braggett realizes why, when he sees the acid bubbling on his enchanted flail. It doesn't seem potent enough to damage the weapon, though.
Hanlin advances on the mysterious creature as well. He thrusts his longsword into the thing. As the cleric withdraws his blade, it's coated in the monster's corrosive fluid. The acid eats away at the weapon.
Map & Images
Hanlin
Shelzeba
Vegazi
Bishop
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
Erlathan
Nina & Inky
Yvogga
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???
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"Ewww...it's just a blob," Nina grimaces. "How do you fight something that's just a blob??? Come on Inky, let's see what we can do...but don't get too close, okay?" the gnome says, drawing her lance as Inky moves forward a bit. Once in range, Nina jabs at the blob creature with her lance, which sparks with arcane energy...
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Astride her eidolon, Nina rides toward the strange creature, piercing its exterior with her lance glistening with arcane energy. She pulls back on her lance before the slimy coat can damage her weapon.
Map & Images
Hanlin
Shelzeba
Vegazi
Bishop
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
Erlathan
Nina & Inky
Yvogga
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???
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Bishop retrieves his crossbow, locks and loads a bolt.
Vegazi moves through the tunnel and sees her friends in trouble. She fires her bow at the creature, burying an arrow up to its fletching in the monsters flesh.
The creature dissolves into a blob of formless whatever.
Yvogga follows and looks down at the thing. "A gray ooze. I'm impressed. A scavenger often best left alone, usually not aggressive if unprovoked. Who knows what lies in the mud beneath the filthy water that was once its home... "
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"Well that sounds like an invitation to a swim if I ever heard one," Nina grins as she pulls out her Continual Flame stone. "Still, um...there might be more so give me just a second to look around," she adds as she peers down into the murky water, trying to see if there's anything there.
"...yep, it's water alright...looks pretty wet, too..."
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"Wet water? Why, that is my favourite kind, Lady Brightspark..." Lord Braggett slides out of his saddle to take a closer look. "I fear, however, that I will be unable to join you. Although I am an exceptional swimmer, even I cannot stay afloat in all this armour without some difficulty." Before he lets anyone else take the plunge, he does dip a toe in, just to make sure the pool isn't as acidic as the ooze that lived there.
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Soaked to the bone in the murky pool, Lord Braggett pulls out quite a pile of loot.
Though most of the items have corroded or decomposed in the decades since they were lost here, the cavalier finds some valuables tucked behind a stone underwater, including an amulet of natural armor +1, a potion of remove fear, and six gemstones.
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"I'm reminded of a certain nagaji alchemist who claimed to have several varieties of water for all sorts of ailments. Her frozen water was her top seller, somehow," the elf says, oozing sarcasm. "In any case, I say the center tunnel should be our next destination! Let's go!" Erlathan puts a bounce in his step, still practicing his staff twirl as he'd done for days now.
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"Hey wow, I thought you said your armor would weigh you down?" Nina asks, blinking a little confusedly as Lord Braggett first declines taking a swim and then he's suddenly coming up for air with a fistful of loot. "Did you get it buoyant somehow? Magic? Ooh, I bet it was magic!"
"But anyway yes, center sounds good to me - like the center of a sandwich...or a cookie," she adds, ready to get moving again and possibly ready for a snack.
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Shaking the water from his ears, Lord Braggett confidently states. "Ahem, yes, well... As a gentleman, I could not simply stand back and allow you to suffer the cold water and potential dangers all alone. Furthermore, I suddenly remembered how extraordinary humble I am when discussing my exceptional skills and realised that I could indeed swim soundly, even while wearing this heavy armour." Holding the loot in his hand, he casually inspects it for anything of value. "I absolutely did not slip..." The soggy knight squelches back to Sir Kibble, stuffs any unclaimed items into the saddlebags, and hops back into the saddle. Swiftly changing the subject, he urges Kibble to follow the bouncy elf. "Onward to the centre tunnel!"
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Hanlin does a small fist pump to Iomedae as Vegazi's arrow finishes off the angry, acidic pudding "A gray ooze you say? Let's hope it doesn't have any larger grandparents lurking around." He says as he inspects the blade of his longsword.
As the loot is retrieved he gives the little Knight a pat on the back "Great find, I've got to say I wouldn't have had the nuggets to swim down there to look. That amulet should get put to use by one of you up front, rock paper scissors!" He suggests before following up the center passage.
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You take a moment or two to prepare yourselves, then Lord Braggett and Bishop lead the way down the central tunnel, Erlathan's dancing lights illuminating the passage.
A pair of ten-foot-tall ledges flanks this passageway. Bones and thick ropes of pale gray filament litter the floor.
Everyone (except Nina and Yvogga) spots two man-sized, crab-like monstrosities clinging tenaciously to the rough stone of the ledges, their enormous pincers held out menacingly before before them.
"Look out!" Vegazi warns in a whisper. "I don't know what they are, but they look dangerous!"
A little dust falls from the ceiling, passing through Erlathan's dancing lights.
Shelzeba snarls, ready to defend her mistress.
Map & Images
Bishop
Nina & Inky
Shelzeba
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Red ???
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Yvogga
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
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Yellow ???
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Vegazi
Erlathan
Hanlin
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Erlathan recognizes the monsters and whispers they're cave fishers.
Cautious, if not quiet, Inky edges closer to the creatures, Nina on her back.
Loaded crossbow in hand, Bishop fades into the shadows.
The cave fishers clatter down the sides of the ledges and scurry closer to their next meal.
At the approach of a threat to her mistress, Shelzeba's hackles rise, ready to attack a cave fisher if it gets too close.
Map & Images
Bishop
Nina & Inky
Shelzeba
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Red Cave Fisher
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Yvogga
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
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Yellow Cave Fisher
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Vegazi
Erlathan
Hanlin
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Bishop's crossbow twangs, and the bolt cracks the cave fisher's carapace, striking deep.
Nina lobs a gob of butter at the two vermin. The accompanying verbal component causes a rumbling in the cavern and tons of rocks rain down in the cavern. The massive tumble of rocks nearly kills the monsters.
Yvogga shrugs, unable to affect the fight's outcome. She notes the cleric's damaged longsword. "Priest, I can mend your blade, when you have a ten minutes."
Map & Images
Bishop
Nina & Inky
Shelzeba
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Red Cave Fisher
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Yvogga
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
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Yellow Cave Fisher
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Vegazi
Erlathan
Hanlin
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"Haha! Excellently done, Lady Brightspark, Sir Bishop." Lord Braggett cheers as the trap is triggered flawlessly. "Now, let us finish this. Sir Kibble, CHARGE!" Kibble picks his way through the rubble, his knight excitedly whirling a flail on his back as they get closer to the cave fishers. In his excitement, Braggett completely forgets about the layer of grease, but fortunately his agile steed, dances through the mess with consummate ease.
Standard action: Attack yellow
Kibble:
Move action: Double move
The first time Kibble is hit in a round, Braggett will use the Mounted Combat feat, and as an immediate action to try and negate any damage. The hit is negated if the Ride check result is greater than the opponent's attack roll.
For the first two adjacent allies (including Braggett) who are targeted for an attack, Kibble will use the Bodyguard feat to use an AoO and boost their AC.
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Riding his wolf-on-a-slip'n'slide, Lord Braggett winds up his flail brings it down with a thunderous crack on the cave fisher. It's yellow guts spray the wall and floor of the cavern. The sound echoes throughout the chamber, and another cascade of rocks falls from the ceiling a few feet away.
The red cave fisher moves into the grease and falls. Its claws lash out at Sir Kibble. Lord Braggett spurs the wolf in the withers, and his mount yelps but dodges the blow.
Vegazi moves forward for a close, clear shot at the red cave fisher.
Map & Images
Bishop
Nina & Inky
Shelzeba
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Red Cave Fisher
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Yvogga
Lord Braggett & Sir Kibble
Vegazi
Erlathan
Hanlin
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Erlathan brings the boom, and the red cave fisher's legs and pincers curl up in its death throes.
Yvogga grabs Hanlin by the elbow and asks to see his longsword. It takes ten minutes, but she mends his longsword. "There, priest, good as new."
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You proceed through the erstwhile cave fishers' lair and enter another cavern from the north. To the west is a depression in the cavern floor. The tunnel continues to the south.
The end of the tunnel complex is in sight!
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Lord Braggett waits patiently as Yvogga gets to work on Hanlin's sword, staring at the tunnels to the south. He's sure that there's something important he should know about it, but can't quite put a finger on it. Bah! It's probably nothing... Guiding Kibble through the rubble and crushed cave fisher, the curious knight decides to have a peek at the depression in the cavern floor.
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As the group finally begins to approach the literal light at the end of the tunnel, Nina's eyes drift up towards the ceiling of this new cavern.
Oh boy, here we go again.
"Hey! Hey Lord Braggett!" she hisses, trying to keep voice low. "Watch your head - the ceiling's weak in here too!"
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Hanlin pauses and thanks the woman for her magic talents "Iomedae thanks you, and I thank you. She doesn't suffer a damaged blade for long before you'll know about it..." He gives it a quick polish before creeping along once more behind the others. Stopping quickly as the industrious gnomes notice more unstable ceilings.
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The bright-eyed Nina spots another weak spot in the cavern's ceiling and warns everyone to keep their voices low.
Lord Braggett peers into the depression on the west side of the chamber, and he's convinced there's nothing down there.
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After you depart the tunnels, Yvogga sets a brisk pace. As she leads you through the forest, she fills you in on the current situation.
"When Kelseph left her Hell's Fury tribe, she ordered most of the orcs of Hell’s Fury to remain at the tribe’s holdings to the north. However, she deemed a few of her favored female warriors trustworthy enough to keep tabs on her half-orc sons, Korlum and Grache, whom she suspected to be disloyal to her. Those Hell’s Fury orcs have camped here with the brothers in the weeks since Kelseph’s campaign began, and along with the bearded devil Netokkurai, the group is responsible for slaughtering the human scouts captured outside Arwyll Stead and delivering their heads to the town’s gates. Additionally, if any of the tiefling sisters had been able to capture Vegazi, they were tasked with bringing the half-orc here, so Netokkurai could escort the sacrifice to Kelseph’s hiding spot."
Eventually, Yvogga pulls up, signaling a halt. Through the edge of the treeline, she points to the distant cliff face where Korlum and Grache are encamped.
"This is where we must part ways. I must forge my own path to redemption, and I know not where it will take me, but I feel a sense of urgency to begin the journey without delay."
Yvogga regards you with a concerned and critical eye. It doesn't miss much. "You might want to rest before you take on the entire camp. You would be wise to prepare yourselves for the coming battles."
She withdraws a pair of scroll cases from her satchel and removes her vest, handing the items over to you. "Please accept these gifts as a token of my thanks. This is a vest of escape, and these are scrolls of summon monster II and summon monster III ."
"Fare thee well, Sister." Tears glisten at the edges of her glowing red eyes. She gives Vegazi a warm embrace. As Yvogga walks away, she chuckles and calls back over her shoulder, "When you finally see Mother again, give Kelseph my regards."
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Lord Braggett salutes the summoner. "Thank you for your assistance, and for the gifts!". Even though some dirt gets in his eye, threatening to ruin the touching moment when the sisters embrace, the courageous knight carries on regardless of his now misty eyes. "I admire your commitment and eagerness to embark on the road to redemption, Yvogga. I wish you the very best of luck in your endeavours!"