Grargath crouches as best he can in his armor, getting a closer look at the lizardfolk tracks. "Looks like a lot of 'em come through 'ere. 'Bout a dozen or so, at least."
He shakes his head and glances around at the skulls and decapitated heads that decorate the cavern. He cautiously walks closer to the two that appear to be recently slain, checking for anything that might indicate who they were.
Keeping close to the cavern's wall, Grargath manages to keep his head above the water of the pool, stopping once he reaches the first head. It belongs to a human male, rammed on to a bloodstained branch stuck in the mud. It appears quite old—its eyeballs have rotted away and the skin has dried and receded. The rest of the heads, another man, a woman, and child—all human—seem in a similar condition.
Now that he's close enough to the southern beach, Grargath can spot the source of the light. The cavern here branches to the west, forming a watch-post of sorts. The dwarf can only see a low, wooden palisade crossing the entrance here, but he can hear voices now, low and susurrous coming from within.
Marcus follows behind Gargath and Francis, coiled whip ready to hand and we looks about. Noticing the various heads, he grimaces and mutters, "Great decor, love what they've done with the place." trying to add a tiny bit of levity to offset the seething rage slowly burning at the sight.
Cira glowers and wrinkles her nose in disgust upon seeing the skewered heads. She swallows hard, coaxing her stomach to be still. "Barbaric," she says in a low voice. "To do this to anyone is horrific, but a child?" She unconsciously wraps her arms around herself.
"Look like they're about a month old," Grargath mutters. "Terrible."
Shaking his head, Grargath turns his attention to cavern branching off to the west. "I hear voices comin' from this way," he gestures, lowering his voice.
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Francis walks over to the heads and begins to pray over them. After offering the closest thing he can to last rites for the deceased, he turns and comes back to the group. "I would have preferred to talk things out, but I fear that this tribe will only listen to cold steel." he whispers. He draws out his mace and shield with a grim look.
"Perhaps I can get us a better look before it comes to the commitment of bloodshed," Maffei says softly while striding towards the western cavern. She draws in her cloak tightly, diminishing the reflective flair her well oiled armor would take in the dim lighting. As she presses against the wall, the shadows seem to coil around her, almost as if they were helping her to hide.
Although the party can see clearly where she is, the sound of her foot falls is masked eerily by a gentle drop of water somewhere in the cave. As she approaches the voices, she carely peers around the corner.
A group of four lizardfolk braves huddle around a smoky fire towards the back of the cavern. Two are engrossed by some sort of crude game involving hand gestures, with the other pair placing bets using something that twinkles in the weak light. The braves all bear dark green scales, a stubby snout, and a thick alligator-like tail, although dried sores cover much of their bodies. One stands a head above the others, its status marked by bits of cast-off armor and the crocodile skull it wears as a helmet
Crude pictures daubed in mud decorate the walls. One of the images depicts a gigantic crocodile swimming through rough water with a struggling human in its mouth. Others show lizardfolk creeping through swamps, hunting and engaging in other everyday pursuits. All the images are rough; the artist obviously lacked talent. Shattered pots, shredded fishing nets, and discarded tools litter the floor.
The braves are protected by three wooden palisades, each no more than a few feet tall. The timber is sharpened, but rotten. Each stake has been shaped to appear like a rearing viper, their mouths open wide.
"What should we do?" Cira whispers, moving ahead slowly. "Attack? Or head the other way?"
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"If we fight them we need to set an ambush. They will stay behind the protection of their palisades if we all go in. But if one of us goes in and runs back they will probably give chase. We might even be able to draw them back to the fork and ambush them from both sides." Francis says. "Being surrounded may be the only way they would stop and listen as well, although I doubt they would be interested in atoning for their crimes I would like to try. If not..." Francis leaves the rest unsaid.
Grargath carefully makes his way back to the others. "There must be more than just th' ones around th' corner lurkin' around. Fightin' out in th' open 'ere might draw 'em out." He looks down the rougher waters that flow toward the east.
"Maybe it's best t' leave 'em for now an' try t' make out way down there."
"We could try to eliminate them, but that could draw more out," Cira says, considering their options. "Or we could move on, potentially encounter more down the tunnel, and have these come at our backs." She grins wryly. "Or it could end up being much simpler, but that hasn't happened for us yet, so I'm not sure why it would start now."
Unsure of her assessments, she picks at a loose thread on her dress, absentmindedly noting her garment's growing state of raggedness. "I'm no expert though," she says. "This kind of thing is still far outside my realm of knowledge. My thought is that we take them out as we come across them, but I'll defer to you three."
Marcus eyes the lizardfolk and growls, "I don't like them at our back if we move on, too likely they'll stab us in it. Plus" remembering the heads on the pikes, "I've all the sudden got this urge for revenge. And those Palisades don't look all that strong, Grargath here can probably belch them down. If not, we've bows and spells." he finishes with short grin.
Maffei leans out of the shadows, facing the lizardman camp, "It would be best to remove them as quickly and as quietly as possible." She turns towards the group, and flashs a perfect, unsettling smile. "And I think a bit bloodletting would be an excellent change of pace from this dreary damp trip."
"I agree with Marcus. And Maffei... to a point," Cira says, giving their strange new companion a sidelong glance. "Let me try to lure them from behind their barricades. Get ready. Oh, and... you might want to back up."
Retreating several feet, Cira focuses on a point ahead and closes her eyes, whispering to herself as her hands glide smoothly through the air in front of her. The air around her hands ripples and swirls before spiraling to its designated point. A moderate din emanates from the location, and the sounds of muddled voices echo through the chamber.
Cira opens her eyes and smiles to herself, pulling her crossbow out and readying herself for the lizards' reaction.
Grargath nods and draws his axe as he takes a few steps back. Memories of his near death experience come flooding back, but he shakes them away.
No time fer that.
The dwarf stands firm, waiting for the lizardfolk to react to Cira's spell.
The lizardfolk immediately jerk to attention when Cira's spell goes off. After a few moments of hushed, hissing debate, the skull-capped leader prods the others into investigating the source of the noise.
Grargath charges forward, battleaxe at the ready. The dwarf stops in between two of the lizardfolk, and swings his blade in a wide arc, striking both at once.
Pleased to see that her plan worked out, Cira takes a few steps forward, her hand beginning to burn with a red hot glow, and lets loose a laser of fire towards the lizard's leader.
Maffei's magical scimitar hums as it shoots out of the darkness, striking at the lizard man closest to her. At the enchanted black blade digs into the creatures neck Maffei smirks and jerks the blade up in a strange, violent arc.
As battle is joined, Marcus unfurls his whip with a flick of his wrist and lashes out at one of the lizards threatening Grargath, trying to tie up it's legs and bring it down.
Party Buffs:
Marcus HP: 33/33 - AC 17/12/15 Status:
Maffei HP: 17/17 - AC: 18/14/12 Status:
Cira HP: 26/26 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:
Grargath HP: 38/38 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Francis HP: 33/33 - AC: 16/10/16 Status:
________________________________
Order: Cira 22, Francis 20, Maffei 17, Grargath 16, Marcus 6
Cira casts scorching ray and hits the champion for 13.
Maffei hits red warrior for 13.
Marcus fails to trip green warrior.
Francis moves.
Francis wades through the water, into the fray. He passes by Maffei, whose blade cuts deep into the lizardfolk brave. The creature gasps in pain, one arm dangling uselessly at its side, but it does not collapse.
Grargath attempts a wide swing to strike two of the lizardfolk, but the blow only lands on the first’s shield, crushing the wicker barrier and grazing the warrior underneath.
The cavern is briefly illuminated by Cira’s spell, a beam of red-hot fire that sears the sergeant, drawing a sharp cry.
Marcus wraps his whip around the leg of one of the braves, but fails to drag it down.
Frowning at his failure to pull the lizard down, Marcus shakes out his whip then does the next best thing, Sing!
He belts out a haunting elven piece, highlighting the bravery of some warriors succeeding against incredible odds in some gods forsaken swamp or another.
Grargath grins at the first hit, but the unexpected miss on the second lizardfolk almost makes him lose his balance as his swing goes further than expected.
Marcus' song fills him with new courage, and he swings his axe down again on the first lizardfolk.
Before any of the lizardfolk can react, Cira launches two missiles of energy at the leader.
Maffei laughs gleefully as she spins her blades around her hands before bringing them back together and slicing down across the lizardman braves eyes.
Party Buffs:
Marcus HP: 33/33 - AC 17/12/15 Status:
Maffei HP: 17/17 - AC: 18/14/12 Status:
Cira HP: 26/26 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:
Grargath HP: 38/38 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Francis HP: 33/33 - AC: 16/10/16 Status:
________________________________
Order: Cira 22, Francis 20, Maffei 17, Grargath 16, Marcus 6
Cira casts scorching ray and hits the champion for 13.
Maffei hits red warrior for 13.
Marcus fails to trip green warrior.
Francis moves.
Marcus begins inspire courage bardic performance. 12 rounds remaining.
Grargath misses blue warrior w/ power attack.
Cira casts magic missile at champion for 6 damage.
Maffei crits red warrior for 30 damage. Red warrior dies.
Francis hits blue warrior for 9 damage.
Blue warrior withdraws.
Marcus’s melody does little to improve Grargath’s swing—the dwarf’s axe is batted to the side by the Dark Oak warrior’s wooden shield. The act leaves him open to Francis, who swings his morningstar directly into the lizardfolk's exposed chest. Ribs crack and the warrior retreats from the melee, circling the edge of the cavern.
The other warrior attacks Grargath with spear and teeth, but the dwarf sidesteps out of the way. The Dark Oak champion rushes forward with a strangled cry. He sweeps a great falchion towards Maffei, but the rogue ducks under the swing.
Scanning the chaos before her, Cira turns her attention to the lizard currently engaged with Grargath and lets loose another volley of missiles.
Having started his song, Marcus focuses his energy then slashes out with his whip at the closest lizard ().
Irritated, Grargrath grunts as he swings his axe again at the lizard, hoping to make contact as the magic missiles soar around him.
Maffei giggles as she rotates her body and flips behind the Champion, bringing her enchanted black blade down across its back.
Party Buffs:
Marcus HP: 33/33 - AC 17/12/15 Status:
Maffei HP: 17/17 - AC: 18/14/12 Status:
Cira HP: 26/26 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:
Grargath HP: 38/38 - AC: 18/12/16 Status:
Francis HP: 33/33 - AC: 16/10/16 Status:
________________________________
Order: Cira 22, Francis 20, Maffei 17, Grargath 16, Marcus 6
Cira casts scorching ray and hits the champion for 13.
Maffei hits red warrior for 13.
Marcus fails to trip green warrior.
Francis moves.
Marcus begins inspire courage bardic performance. 12 rounds remaining.
Grargath misses blue warrior w/ power attack.
Cira casts magic missile at champion for 6 damage.
Maffei crits red warrior for 30 damage. Red warrior dies.
Francis hits blue warrior for 9 damage.
Blue warrior withdraws.
Cira casts magic missile. Spell hits green warrior for 9 force damage.
Marcus hits blue warrior for 11 damage. Blue warrior dies.
Maffei tumbles and hits champion for 18 damage.
Francis misses champion.
Grargath misses green warrior.
Champion 5fs and drinks potion of cure serious wounds. Heals for 17 damage.
The lizardfolk champion hisses in pain as Maffei slices into its back. Rather than flee, it steps back and produces a potion from its belt. It opens the flask and chugs its contents, the wound Maffei dealt it nearly closing up entirely.
The warrior facing Grargath grunts as Cira’s missiles strike it, but it still blocks Grargath’s swing with its shield. The dwarf easily dodges its clumsy jab with a crude spear.
Dropping his song for the moment () Marcus targets the lizard targeting Francis ()and lashes out again with his scorpion whip.
Grargath regains his footing after avoiding the lizardfolk's blow, and quickly brings his axe back around.
But once again, his swing falls short of his foe.
Seeing Grargath stumble through his attacks, Cira forms an orb of green, swirling smoke between her hands before pushing it through the air towards the dwarf.
Maffei lunges forward rolling to close the gap and land on the flank of the lizardman champion.
As she lands the roll she swings out her black blade, the shadows seeming to leap to the blade as cuts into the creatures ankle
Maffei and Marcus combine to cut down the champion. The remaining warrior tries to flee, but is boxed in by Grargath and Francis and killed.
The sounds of battle fade, replaced by the sound of water slowly rushing deeper into the cave.
Cira pushes her hair back from her face as she surveys the damage before them. "Alright then," she says as she steadies her breathing. "Everyone okay?"
She glances at Maffei. "You have been... astoundingly helpful. Thank you."
Grargath groans as his body shrinks back to normal size, feeling slightly queasy from being enlarged suddenly and without warning. "Shout somethin' next time, will ya? So I can be ready fer it."
He takes a step back from the fallen bodies of their foes. "Aye, Cira's right. Thank ye. Let's keep goin'."
Marcus recoils his whip and relaxes.
"OK then, that's a start anyway."
Grargath groans as his body shrinks back to normal size, feeling slightly queasy from being enlarged suddenly and without warning. "Shout somethin' next time, will ya? So I can be ready fer it."
Cira cringes. "I-I'm so sorry, Grargath. I wasn't thinking." Slightly red in the face, she sidesteps the bodies and hurries ahead to make her way carefully down the tunnel.
Grargath shakes his head. "'Salright, lass. Jus' a very stange feelin', growin' suddenly like tha'." Grargath follows down the tunnel, keeping his axe in hand.
Marcus pats Cira's shoulder briefly with a wry, yet understanding, smile as he moves past and further into the complex.
The only way deeper into the cavern is through a narrow passageway to the east, its stone archway strangely reminiscent of a gigantic snake's gaping maw. Dark water, flowing from the river outside, continues through the opening where it churns turbulently.
Grargath stops to examine the archway as the party makes their way deeper into the cavern.
"Can't 'elp feelin' uneasy, walkin' into a snake like this," he mutters, looking for anything out of place on the unusual stonework.
"The ambiance just keeps on improving..." growls Marcus as he eyes the tunnel entrance.
"Though the dead lizardmen is a nice touch, let's see if we can't add more."
The swirling water deposits the party inside a wide cavern dominated by large mud beaches studded with natural stone pillars. The ceiling drops to only five feet above the thick, glutinous mud.
Reptilian tracks, drag marks, shards of pottery, and shredded nets lie scattered about. Several of the stone pillars have been carved to bear lifelike, coiled serpents. Between the coils are more crude representations of lizardfolk tribal life.
Several patches of small blue mushrooms grow here, exuding a mild blue light. Among them are a number of half-eaten corpses.
Carefully avoiding the mud and filth, Maffei, glances around the room.
"This dung hole smells about how it looks. and it looks like something left its meal sitting out, simply wasteful." Maffei mutters gesturing at the bodies coldly.
"I sincerely hope it doesn't get any... smaller through here," Cira says as she hunches over to avoid the lowering ceiling. Summoning an orb of light, she affixes it to the end of her staff and inches carefully towards the carved stone pillars. Crouching low, she runs her fingers over the designs. "I wonder how old these are," she mutters, looking around her for anything more of interest.
Grargath looks up at the ceiling above him, unaware of the sudden change until Cira's comment.
"Might almost feel at home 'ere myself if it weren't for the smell," he chuckles, wrinkling his nose. "Aye, an' look at these mushrooms. Doubt they're safe t' eat."