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Kiboko addresses the alchemist: "You - you are a healer? Yet you hide in the sewers and rob people. Kiboko tells you to give up your wickedness! You will find more wholesome and more useful employment elsewhere, that does not require you to cower in the darkness.
Tell us now who is the master of the Steel Wyverns, and what are his plans for the Almsman? Why are they enemies? Hold nothing back, or you may not escape this place with your life, never mind your equipment!"
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You look after your buddy there and see that he similarly changes his ways. As for you alchemy supplies, I don't think we care about those. We're taking the finished items though. Think of it as a tribute you're paying us.
Kramac will gather up the items, unless Oret does it first as he was searching the area.
Looks like we're done here. Shall we press forward into the sewers?
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The party travels the next 300 feet or so to the east, on the dark walkway with Kramac providing the light source. They then approach a junction where a smaller sewer line once joined the main passage. Qatala sees that the ceiling of the smaller passage looks partially collapsed, filling most of that tunnel with rubble...
The surface of the rubble pile seems to shift strangely. Closer examination reveals thousands of tiny vermin fleeing into cracks and shadows.
The ceiling here is stable, having already collapsed as much as it is likely to.
A hollow point in the ceiling above the rubble could present a big danger as it traps sewer gas.
Mvumbu senses that her dearest friend Kiboko is disturbed. She tries to calm him with playful nudges, but he seems disinterested. What could be wrong?
"Haaaaarrrrr?"
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Qatala easily clears the gap...however, as soon as she enters the junction of the tunnels, two swarms of scarab beetles emerge from the rubble...one scurrying along the walls towards Qatala's position the other towards the rest of the party...
Bold may act!
Kramac
Mvumbu
Qatala
Swarms
Kuumaa
Oret
Kiboko
Mvumbu's default command is to defend Kiboko.
So if a swarm should move over Kiboko, Mvumbu will try to bite/stomp it. This works as a readied action now combat has begun.
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KA-BOOOOOOM!!!
While Kramac's flask missed the swarms, it was enough to ignite the sewer gas into a huge explosion...
Kiboko, Mvumbu, and Qatala, as well as both swarms take the damage from the blast (Reflex DC14 for half)
On the bright side, when the smoke clears both swarms cannot be seen...other than dead beetle guts on the walls...and some on the party as well...
... but Mvumbu escapes the blast. She worries that Kiboko is injured.
"Haaaarrrrr?!"
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"Aaarggh! What was that? Mvumbu!"
The giant half-orc turns to his companion, disregarding his own injuries. Seeing that the hippo has escaped the fire, Kiboko draws his healing wand. Looking ahead once more, he sees Qatala also injured.
"Brother Kramac, Oret, please see to the Maiden's wounds."
Once healing is complete, Kiboko casts Longstrider and then jumps the gap (take 10 for 15, with speed 30'). Mvumbu, with her animal focus set to frog, also easily jumps the gap (take 10 for 19).
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After healing your wounds, the party continues on further east. The main line then turns south for a couple hundred feet and then back east again.
Once the party makes the turn back east, they see a faint light glimmering in the dark in the distance. Slowly it resolves into a crude lantern held by a toothless old beggar who holds a chair leg in his other hand. Beside him stands a scrawny youth, similarly armed but obviously terrified. Behind the two derelicts is an open door bearing the symbol of the beggar’s bowl, coin, and key.
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Kramac decides swiftly dealing with the swarm is worth the risk, and launches an alchemist fire at them. As it sails through the air, he ducks and shields his head against the impending explosion. After the air clears, he looks around, pleased that the swarms are gone.
Hahahahahah! Did you see that! I've never seen a hippo move like that! Truly Mvumbu is as swift and graceful as she is beautiful! Apologies for the fireworks my friends, I thought we could use the sewer gas to deal with the swarms. Hopefully nobody is singed too badly?
Once everyone is packed up, Kramac accompanies the rest of the party down the hallway. Upon seeing what he believes is the Almsman's hideout, Kramac approaches, unarmed and with his hands out in a gesture of greeting.
Hello there! I am Kramac, and these are my companions Qatala, Kiboko, Oret, Mvumbu and Kuuma. Might this be where the Almsman lives? We wish to speak with him about a vagrant that came drifting by yesterday.
After Kramac finishes his greeting, he turns his gaze to the youth., Do you like dogs, friend? This is Kuuma. Would you like to give him a treat? He's very friendly. As Kramac speaks, he pulls out a strip of dried meat and offers it to the boy. Assuming the boy takes it, Kramac will pull out a few more strips. And these are for you. You need some meat on your bones if you're to grow up to be strong like Kiboko and Kramac!
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Kuuma stands protectively next to Kramac, wary of the new people. Once Kramac approaches them with a friendly tone, Kuuma seems to relax a bit and begin sniffing around lazily. Upon hearing the word 'treat', Kuuma lets out a bark and swiftly moves to sit at Kramac's side facing the boy, happily panting in anticipation.
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The old man eyes you all warily as you approach but relaxes a bit as Kramac speaks. The boy calms down a bit and smiles shyly. He takes the treat from Kramac and gently feeds it to Kuumaa...his smile gets larger. The boy looks up to the old man first, but takes the meat when the older man nods and eats it ravenously...
The old man speaks. “If yer intentions be peaceful, Abadar makes you welcome.” He opens the door and lets them pass.
Beyond the door, a short flight of steps leads up into what appears to be the basement crypt of a church of Abadar. Perhaps two dozen beggars huddle among sarcophagi, some sleeping, some haggling over bits of junk or scraps of food laid out on blankets.
A tall man in clean robes wearing a plain copper mask walks among them. As you all enter he regards them coolly and says, “If you respect this sanctuary, I offer you what sanctuary I can. Otherwise, begone!”
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"Kiboko wishes you no harm. Oret, these are your people."
Yet more evidence of the poison that is civilisation, sapping the strength of its slaves. These pathetic creatures should leave this city, and learn to live at one with the earth.
Kiboko is earnest, but struggles to conceal his disdain even whilst he feels some sympathy for the beggar-folk.
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Clearly recognising his own, Oret boldly moves forward of the group and speaks up. "Greetings friend, I am Oret, a staunch follower and knight of Adabar myself, my friends andand I come in respect. Our intentions are pure, to uphold peace."
Pausing for a moment, he curiously looks around his surroundings and addresses the man again, "If you don't mind me asking. Pray tell, who might you be, and what business do you bring in this holy place?"
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The Almsman calmly replies to Oret. "As you can see, I give sanctuary to the poor and decrepit...and nurse the sick, particularly those with filth fever, back to health...
You and your party are neither sick, poor, or decrepit...you look robust and most capable. Pure as it may be, what is your purpose here?"
Oret thinks he is being truthful...
To Qatala, he bows. "A most worthy gift, it will be put to good use, thank you ma'am."
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"You are the Almsman? If so, perhaps we can help each other. We seek news of a vagrant who calls himself a prince. Said he came this way, until he floated off a waterfall into a harbour. This prince may be one of our own."
"Brother Kramac, tell the Almsman about the alchemist's work. Let him have the filth fever cures. These poor wretches have greater need than Kiboko."
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The masked cleric studies Kiboko for a moment before speaking...
"Yes I am called the Almsman...do you speak of Gandros? The one who calls himself the Prince of Augustana? Yes, I know of him and have tended him before...but did not know he had left the sewers...
Perhaps we can help each other...while I appreciate the filth fever cures, I need more immediate...and physical help..."
The Almsman takes a deep breath and then continues on...
"I know where the 'Prince' dwelt and I’ll show you the way there…but only if you’ll help me fight off the Steel Wyverns. They’re demanding more tribute now than I can pay; they want me to steal from the Temple above and that I will not do…
Their leader, Randalan, said he’d pay me a visit, some two hours from now, and destroy this sanctuary and everyone in it if I don’t change my mind. I’ve sworn a personal vow against violence and the meager folk here are no match for the Steel Wyverns. Will you help us?”
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"Get your people to safety, Almsman. Go to the surface, or retreat down the sewer tunnels. We have made the way safe, if you follow the flow of the water. Return after two and a quarter hours. The battle will be long over.
We shall need someone to keep watch. Alert us when Randalan approaches. If one of your people has the courage to do this Almsman, it would be best.
This place is easily defended. We can oil the stairs and defend the top. Or we could hide ourselves behind these stone tombs and allow Randalan inside, then cut off his retreat. What do Kiboko's friends think?"