With the tunnel well illumindated the party continues north. Dragomir and Aduon can see that the pile of bricks leads in to a natural cave on their east. The cave floor seems to be littered with--
Splash. Splash. Splash.
[larger]b]"Num, num, num, brglh."[/b][/larger]
Dragomir and Aduon do not stare into the cave too long though as sounds up ahead along with water splashing quickly draw their attention. The entire party sees a large creature move down the tunnel from the east. The large beast almost fills the width of the tunnel, it looks like some abomination! This three-legged freak is mostly mouth. Three tentacles, two tipped with barbs and one with eyes, extend from its sides.
The creatures eyes turn towards the small sized bear.
“Give something good to Togg. I am Togg. Give Togg good food with good taste.” it says as it begins to shamble toward the party. The creature's main mouth, a huge gap filled with sharp teeth located in its round torso, looks like it's grinning. With a roar the creature whips her toothed tentacles across the walls and ceiling. "Togg wants FOODS!"
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Torag follows closely behind the dwarf,
"Torag is not food, you beast. Go find something else to prey upon before we are forced to defend ourselves." Bear says through clenched teeth as he grips his spear tightly and prepares for battle.
The others notice a slight rippling of Bear's muscles as he flexes and readies himself for a fight.
. Togg then points a tentacle towards Torag and adds,
Pausing, the creature then adds,
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"Do you like dried meat?" Dragomir asks, withdrawing some of Scale's animal feed and showing it to the otyugh. "I'll give you some if you do." Scales looks up greedily at the scrap in his master's hand, but is well trained enough not to go for it. He shifts about under Dragomir instead, making the little man sway slightly from side to side.
The creature's eyes swing towards Dragomir. They look at the feed disinterested before turning to Scales.
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Zebulus shifts his weight from one foot to the other and back again. Then he reaches into his pouch and removes a large wrapped package, before uttering, "The teeth. They gnash same as Dart," the elf turns to glance at the tiny dinosaur whose head is peeking out of the pack he removed the package from. He hisses at the dinosaur's complaining cry, turns to unwrap the package containing a recently killed large lizard, and then bows low to the edge of the sewer line to place the food for the creature.
The creature shifts slightly in the passageway, but does not advance any further. It's eyes swing to Zebulus's offering.
Otyughs are particularly vile and horrid creatures that lurk in places most sane creatures avoid. Their lairs are middens, cesspools, offal pits, toxic swamps, and sewers—the greater a lair's filth, the greater the draw to the refuse-eating otyugh. They glory in the role of scavenger, wandering through vast underground caverns in search of the choicest cuts of garbage and waste. Upon finding such refuse, they gorge upon it, gathering what cannot be consumed in one debauch to bring back to their foul-smelling lairs. Otyughs spend most of their time in these filthy dens, which they keep constantly filled with carrion, dung, and worse sorts of stinking effluvia.
Intelligent creatures dwelling in subterranean areas near an otyugh often form a partnership of convenience with the disgusting beast. These creatures gladly provide their refuse and piles of raw meat to the otyugh, transforming the creature into an effective form of trash disposal. In return, the otyugh leaves its benefactors alone, and does not attack them, possibly even acting as a guardian.
The most horrifying thing to most races about the notorious otyugh is not the nature of its diet or its choice of lairs, but rather that a creature with an otyugh's tastes can be anything other than a mindless scavenger. In fact, otyughs are surprisingly intelligent, and often quite eager to form alliances with those who offer them a steady supply of delicious diversions in the form of offal and waste. Most otyughs understand the fact that other creatures find them unpleasant and hideous, but few really care.
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Grym tries to mask his revulsion at the monstrosity before him as he addresses the creature.
"Togg, I apologize for our intrusion into your demesne, but we seek passage to a vault deeper within these tunnels. Sadly, I must confess that we were unprepared to deliver a food offering to so brobdingnagian a creature as yourself. Would you deign to allow us to return above ground to find a suitable meal for your satiation?"
Togg shifts her tentacles around, feeling the walls of the tunnel. It appears she is excited about the prospect of you going up for food.
Togg is an Otyugh.
Otyughs are particularly vile and horrid creatures that lurk in places most sane creatures avoid. Their lairs are middens, cesspools, offal pits, toxic swamps, and sewers—the greater a lair's filth, the greater the draw to the refuse-eating otyugh. They glory in the role of scavenger, wandering through vast underground caverns in search of the choicest cuts of garbage and waste. Upon finding such refuse, they gorge upon it, gathering what cannot be consumed in one debauch to bring back to their foul-smelling lairs. Otyughs spend most of their time in these filthy dens, which they keep constantly filled with carrion, dung, and worse sorts of stinking effluvia.
Intelligent creatures dwelling in subterranean areas near an otyugh often form a partnership of convenience with the disgusting beast. These creatures gladly provide their refuse and piles of raw meat to the otyugh, transforming the creature into an effective form of trash disposal. In return, the otyugh leaves its benefactors alone, and does not attack them, possibly even acting as a guardian.
The most horrifying thing to most races about the notorious otyugh is not the nature of its diet or its choice of lairs, but rather that a creature with an otyugh's tastes can be anything other than a mindless scavenger. In fact, otyughs are surprisingly intelligent, and often quite eager to form alliances with those who offer them a steady supply of delicious diversions in the form of offal and waste. Most otyughs understand the fact that other creatures find them unpleasant and hideous, but few really care.
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Bear readies his spear in the off chance that the dastardly creature makes an attempt on Torag.
"If you are going for a treat for this beast make it quick. A small pony or large swine might do the trick." He says to the others behind him.
"Togg, I'll not allow you to dine on Torag. If you come close I will not hesitate to harm you."
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Grym springs back across the sewer flow and heads toward the ladder, but not before speaking to the party's "host" once more:
"Farewell for now, Togg. I will return shortly with viands to slake your hunger for things of the surface!"
The half-elf's flask collection jangles as he grips the ladder's rungs and begins to climb.
Aduon returns to the surface to procure the food and beverage for Togg. While he is away Togg's eyes flit between Scales and Torag quite often, saliva visibly building in her mouth. She does not advanced however and waits patiently for her offering.
As Aduon returns with his poor-grade feast, the otyugh's maw waters. He presents it to her in whatever fashion he wishes. In an instant, the otyugh puts on a grotesque display of engorgement, involving drinking entire gallon of ale in one tentacle and shoveling raw meat in with another.
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Grym's face is quite flushed as he makes his way back to the party, and the puffing of his breath indicates that he struggled a bit to get the purchases down the sewer tunnel.
The inanity of trying to carry a ladder back down a ladder -- such is a Pathfinder's life at times, though.
"I trust that our expiation of the surface world's . . . finest dainties meets your satisfaction, O most patient and calamitous Togg. When you have finished savoring your . . . repast, will you vouchsafe to allow us passage through your bailiwick to the vaults beyond?"
Togg finishes with the offering rather quickly. She looks around expectantly.
Togg devours the offering much the manner of the first. Afterwards she looks satisfied and grunts, "Food and drink good, Togg keep word and let you pass. You much nicer than others."
She slithers to the west, clearing a path for you to continue on.
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"Well I'll be a bearded gnome, that worked!" Grumbles Bear as he escorts Torag safely past the ravenous creature.
"Directions say we're looking for a small rat statue near a large pipe in the southern wall." He barks as he begins heading down the tunnel.
"Ya see anything interestin' in that cavern back there Grym?" He asks conversationally.
"Many thanks, O gracious Togg, and might I say in parting that I find your comportment indubitably fulsome."
Togg blinks her tentacle eyes several times and responds,
Turning towards Dragomir the distorted deep female voice groans.
As the party begins to move off to the east down the tunnel, Togg shuffles west down the tunnel away from them.
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"My conjecture, Sir Dragomir, is that the stone rat is the statue referenced in Lady Sascha's directions. I sincerely hope that is the case, anyway."
Grym pauses briefly and casts a final glance at the unexplored cave before following after Dragomir.
I do not like leaving something unexplored behind us. By Desna, let there not be some other abomination in that grotto to corner us later.
As the party makes its way down the tunnel, Grym calls out to Bear, "As I recall, Lady Sascha had a few magic arrows in her parcel for us. Would anyone mind if I deposit those into my quiver?"
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"As I recall, Lady Sascha had a few magic arrows in her parcel for us. Would anyone mind if I deposit those into my quiver?"
"Use bolts ... Aduon keep arrows."
"Must cross soon ... head east. No ladder, use rope."
Taicho will hold up his rope waiting for either Aduon or Dragomir to indicate they are ready to catch the coil if he throws it (and holds on to one end). If that happens, he will request they secure it on their side and he will try to secure it on his side (otherwise we are stuck holding it) to allow it to be used by the party to cross the water. Taicho will go last, holding his end of the rope, and take a running start with a jump and "glide" to get to the other side ...
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"That she did. I've no silly elf bow so yer welcome to 'em." Says Bear to Grym as he casually hops over the small gap that the sewer presents.
"I believe they may have been handy against that last beast had you not paid it off. Better that you have them." he states handing over the three arrows.
Torag follows Bear across the sewer...
...falling just short of the other edge he splashes into the sludge and then pulls himself out on the far side.
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"Oh dear, Sir Bear. Is your companion all right?" Grym frowns, hoping his comrade has not exposed himself to any predators or other threats by falling into the sewage. Turning to Zebulus, he asks, "Sir Zebulus, might you be able to prestidigitate Torag clean?"
Grym holds up his hand to stay Taicho from tossing his rope. "Do not forget my other purchase," as he sets the ladder across the effluent.
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Grym smiles at Taicho's obvious appreciation of the ladder.
"I would entreat that someone else act as porter for the ladder going forward. The additional heft may leave my manual dexterity lacking in a crucial moment."
Grym rubs the side of his neck a bit. Not to mention the unfortunate incident at the sewer entrance . . .
Turning around the corner, past the Otyugh, the party enters another tunnel. The tunnel terminates in a small shrine centered around a large statue of a rat, around which handfuls of baubles and trinkets lie as if left as offerings. Nearly every brick bears some type of scratch marks, many having the appearance of writing without actually forming coherent letters. About one foot above the walkway, a large pipe emerges from the southern wall.
As Dragomir leads the party nears the pipe he hears faint voices emanating from the opening. Within the space of a few breaths, he is able to discern that the voices are approaching. He halts the party and soon the entire party can hear the voices. The voices gradually get closer and you begin to understand the words spoken. "Oi, quit pushing you damn son of a hag." says a deep voice. "I'm tired of this pipe oaf, I don't know what smells worse, this sewer or your arse. Get a move on!" a higher, more nasally voice says. "Sshh, we're near the end, let me peek out an see if that tentacled thing is still around." says the deeper voice. Suddenly a human man's head pops out of the pipe and looks around, freezing when he glimpses the party. You hear a curse of pain as the first man apparently kicks the second and he tucks his head back in the pipe. "Pellius, we gots company" the deep voice says. After a few moments of furtive whispering, two men exit the pipe and stand staring at you in silence. They're dirty and disheveled, and have a sort of haunted, crazed look in their eyes.
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As Dragomir opens up the conversation with the sewer "rats," Taicho will drop the ladder across the stream and move to the other side. Once over, he points his heavy crossbow at "deep voice" and calls ...
"Rautus ..."
Taicho will try to observe the two to see if either react to the name "Rautus" ...
Taicho moves across to the far side of the sewer.
"Ho, sewer men! I am Dragomir. What drives you to crawl down here amongst this filth?"
The man responds to Dragomir, "We're trying to get away from that three-legged freak out there. Lemme tell ya, ain't no profit in this sewer. Misery, and filth, that's what awaits you. Shouldn't've gone down here in the first place. "
"Rautus ..."
The deep voiced one looks to Taicho as he moves his hand to his weapon he says, "We ain't no rats! What are YOU doing down here?"
The second one speaks up, a hesitant scratchy human female voice. "Name's Marixite, and this is Pellius." Pellius just stares at Taicho, warily.
"What are you..." Pellius holds his hands up in the air, "We're just traveling through these sewers, that's all! Okay, that sounds weird... We have to traverse these sewers for a job, that's all. Then this big tentacle thing came and we hid inside this pipe. Except that's where we came from, and we need to go west."
Marixite nods in agreement. "Could you please let us pass, please?!"
The couple seems very much on edge, and eager to get away from the party.
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"Why are you so scared, poo-pipe people?" Dragomir asks, continuing to stare at them suspiciously. What are you hiding? The dinosaur, sensing his master's unease, lowers his head into an aggressive posture and hisses softly at the two men. The little kellid lays one hand on Scale's neck to calm him. "Hush now," he whispers.