Why is Tats holding her head? Yellowjackets! She might have injured her head on the way down. There was so much rubble falling, even with the feather fall, something could have hit her... I'll need to check her later. We can't have anyone else being rendered weak. What is that thing? Is it... Just an insect of unusual size?
Trying to keep the fly's attention on him, Jens takes another swing at it, taking advantage of the creature's failed attempt to bit through his shield. "Keep your wits about you, Tats!" he calls over the whooshing of steel.
[ooc]Cashing in on Piousa's touch of luck.
With the fly wrapped in the sticky mess of webs that Claylyth hit it with, the fly proves to be an easy target for Jens and Tatyana, who finish it off with a slash and stab. The fly rolls onto its back, legs twitching lifelessly in the air.
***********End Combat**************
"Too...too many bugssss here. Can we ssstop for a moment? I need to...I need to eat sssomethink." Tats sits against the wall of the building, holding her head for a moment before searching her pack for some trail rations. She tears into them quickly, using her teeth to pull the hard bread apart like a predator devouring its prey.
Looking at the remains of the fly in disgust, Iolana turns away quickly from the grotesque sight. Seeing that Tatyana is having troubles and eating ravenously, she moves over and reaches out a cautious hand to lay on Tatyana's shoulder, "Are you alright Tatyana?"
Jens draws his sword from the fly's remains with a grunt, producing a rag from his pack and cleaning the blade. "Nearly lost your head a moment there, Tats," he states, glaning across at her. "Does it hurt? You shouldn't go clutching it like that in times of conflict." With those words, he heads back to collect the others.
Stepping over to Tatyana, Piousa places a hand on her shoulder. "Are you fine? Not hurt are you?" She was really worried for her comrade now, especially at the mention of the clutching and what not.
"Were you hit somewhere?"
"No, eet eez...eet eez nothink. Thank you for checkink, but eet eez sssomethink I haff to deal vith myssself." Tatyana finishes her impromptu meal and stands, grateful as her father's voice recedes. "My father ssspeaks to me ssometimessss. Like I ssaid, eet eez nothink. Shall we take a look in zisss buildink?"
it would seem i was not the only one to notice her illness. All for the better. Even with no medicinal training it is good to have them be wary should she collapse, though that bit about her father worries me. The way she phrased it, it seems this is something she has been dealing with for a long time. If "father" and her sudden fits of hunger are anything to go by, she is likely to be daemonic in ancestry. I remember her saying something about not being a demon before everything fell to ruin. Perhaps "father" is a manifestation of her heritage. She is to be watched.
Claylyth rebinds herself to Aravashinial and tells him they've defeated the cause for alarm." I agree with searching the building. If it is structurally sound we could rest and search for supplies. As I've just displayed, I am a spellcaster of the arcane, so magical items, such as the tinctures we found earlier, are of interest."
Curious as to what she means by 'her father talks to her sometimes', Piousa lets it drop for now. "Agreed, a thorough inspection of the building should be done. Why, we might even be able to reclaim it if we get out of here proper!"
The decision made, Jens inspects the doors of the building, as if sizing them up.
The group moves to the door, and Jens pushes it experimentally, only to find it stuck. He then places a shoulder against the door, and heaves mightily, getting the doors to slide forward with a protesting scrape of the door on the stone floor. The air that comes out of the temple is stale, but not enough so to cause any real problems.
As you all filter into the stark antechamber, you see the features of the room. A stone bench lines the southern wall of the chamber. At the far side of the room, a basin of water sits atop a stone pedestal. A stone door engraved with an image of a hammer stands to the north.
Anevia looks around a bit and seems a bit shaken. She sits on the stone bench and looks up at the rest of the group, "Sorry, my leg is sore. I just need to sit for a moment." To further her claim, she begins to rub her sore leg.
Horgus watches the woman, and scoffs, "She's just slowing us down. When we leave, it may be best to leave her here, she can fend for herself."
Anevia's eyes narrow and snap to the nobleman, and explodes "Leave it someone who is too afraid to show his own faith to not be moved by a forgotten temple like this! Being ashamed of your faith is as bad as worshiping demons!
Horgus' face reddens and shakes his head, "Imagine that, being chided by someone that is a known consorter with thieves."
Anevia simply glowers at the man then, hand gripping tightly on her bow, but showing some resolve.
"Quiet you two. Horgus, one more outburst like that and I may have to gag you to keep the things down here from hearing you! Anevia, do you need assistance with your leg?"
"Konan taka bein mín, Horgus, we've already told you we won't leave anyone behind," Jens sighs, taking a seat next to Anevia on the bench. He can almost hear his own bones creaking as he removes his helm, looking about the room. "We're moving as fast as we can with everyone. I note you aren't complaining about Aravashnial's need to be guided at a crawl, so I suspect there's some bad blood between the two of you here." He gestures to both Horgus and Anevia. "If you have grievances, air them; if you don't, hold your tongues. There is real danger down here, and while I can dispatch vermin, there could well be worse."
Giving Horgus a rather sweet look as she moves to distract him, Iolana tries to point out a few realities to him. "You do realize Horgus, that everytime you start complaining and demanding we leave the injured behind to get you back quicker it starts an argument. Every time an argument starts it costs us time, delaying your return to the surface. We are leaving no one behind and all the complaining in the world won't change that. So, if you want to return quicker, why don't you find a way to be of actual use to the group."
Anevia sighs and leans back against the wall "Its just the leg aching." She looks at everyone and then her gaze falls to the floor "And this temple...it just reminds me of my wife. Not knowing if she's even alive..." Her voice trails off and after a bit she clears her throat and sets herself, appearing to be ready to go. There is still a bit of a faraway look to her eyes though.
Horgus looks between the group, "Of course you would take her side in this. He huffs a bit and starts to leave the building, "I'll just look around the outside of the building to see if I can find anything 'useful'"
He leaves out the door that you opened and starts to examine the outer walls of the building. For a few moments, the only sound is the sound of the water dripping in the basin.
Tatyana follows Horgus out the door, tail swishing in agitation.
"Vat eez zee problem you haff vith Anevia? Eet sssseemss eet eez ssomethink from before zisss dissasster, but you need to let eet go eef ve vant to sssurvive zisss. And vat do you expect to find out here?"
Piousa hears Horgus's suggestion and takes off after him. "Horgus, don't go anywhere too far. We don't know what is out there."
Tats can guard the fool long enough for us to arrive I hope. Had he gone off alone I suspect he'd fall victim to the horror story trope of being "the one who wandered dies first.
"A temple, huh?" Claylyth takes a moment to admire the artistry of the hammer on the door. You are right Piousa, we could reclaim this place. If it is still strong we could even make something out of it. If the hammer is anything to go by, this was a temple to Torag, and if there is anything Dwarven architecture is known for, it is durability."
I know you and the Savored Sting never got along Dwarffather, but please give her servant, and these lost souls, amnesty in this time of dire straits. I will return here, should I survive long enough to do so, and lay a crafted work upon your altar as thanks for your kindness.
growth during the First Crusade saw the construction of more of these tunnels than would ever see use.
Dwarves were not uncommon when the city was first built, but became less common as time, and city development went on. A small settlement underground existed before the city expansion below ground, but soon those dwarves joined the city above, or retreated back to larger settlements below the surface.
Piousa and Claylyth are correct, and looking about Piousa gets more the feeling that Torag abandoned this place after the clergy did. It would take some bit of time, and the help of everyone to clean and consecrate the building. The first thing would be to get into the Nave to see what kind of shape the actual "church" is in.
"Do vee really haff time to be explorink zisss church? Eef everyone eez ready, vee ssshould pressss on, and try to get out of here." Tats steps back inside the building, choosing to ignore Horgus's complaints. After all, she'd been a thief too, in a previous life.
Looking at Tatyana as she makes her comment, "If we can clean this place up and reconsecrate it, it will give as a good place to stay if we find ourselves stuck down here, still I agree getting to the surface should be a priority having a place to fall back to might well be worth the delay."
"So sorry to put you on the spot, but Anevia, the choice to proceed should be yours. Aravashinial and I are doing well enough, but your leg giving out prematurely would be problematic."
Not to mention the surface is likely to be crawling with demons, and at the very least this room is not. Who knows? We might even find something useful here. Torag would be no ally to demons, maybe he even had something here as a defense mechanism.
Anevia gets up, gamely and shoots a look at Horgus, "I'll continue with the rest of you."She looks at the temple and her eyes mist over a bit before she shakes her head, clearing her vision, and speaks quietly, "What are we going to do about the temple?"
Claylyth bites the tip of her thumb contemplatively.
"Unfortunately we don't have the materials, or even the ability, to truly reinforce this place just yet. I would say we check the building for anything useful, and then move on."
"It is true, we do not have the supplies to do much with it. But if forced back at any point further on, this should make a good place to hide out if needed."
Looking between Horgus and Anevia, Piousa holds her tongue for now. They have a history, obviously, so they should work it out at least.
"Onward, then?"
"Yess. Vee ssshould moof. Let'sss try zee ozer tunnel." Tats stands and makes her way out the door and down the tunnel.
Tats doesn't go very far down the tunnel, and returns to the temple on realizing she's not being followed.
Piousa enlists Jens' help and the push on the door, which opens with a reluctant crack as the seal that had been formed from settling dust snaps. A trickle of dirt falls from the frame as the door swings open. Inside is a simple temple with a few benches facing an altar. Seated at one of the benches is a stout, hooded figure who makes no move in reaction to the door opening, nor to the light that floods the chamber as you enter.
Speaking quietly, "Something about this doesn't seem right, let me try something to see if this is a trap of some kind." Stepping back outside, Iolanna sings a brief tune and gestures causing an illusory duplicate of herself move forward and into the temple, up to the seated figure.
The silent duplicate of Iolanna walks forward towards the figure leaning in next to it, as though concerned and looking to help, but the figure makes no move, or shows any indication of recognizing that it exists.
Hmm, that's unusual, either he's really disciplined, asleep or dead."
"Must be dead," Jens mutters, as if voicing Iolana's thoughts. "We've made enough noise here to wake any sleeper."
"Zere eez only one way to find out for sssure."
Tatyana steps into the room, rapier in one hand, and places a hand on the stout figure's shoulder."Hello?"
Tatyana closes on the figure and notices that figure is covered in a thick layer of dust, as she touches it, it turns and lurches up at her with a shriek.
********Combat Rd 1*************
Shrieking almost as loudly as the thing, Tats thrusts forward with her rapier while conjuring a ball of lightning in her free hand, which she swings toward the dusty figure.
Unsure what the thing is, Iolana draws her whip and begins to sing a hymn of courage.
"Tats!" Jens bellows, voice like thunder echoing off the stone walls. He charges in, barely thinking, as he draws his sword and slashes at the creature, shield at the ready.
Claylyth helps Aravashinial find a spot in the back of the pews, so that he is out of the fray. The creature turns in the midst of his shriek, and Tatyana, more out of reflex than anything stabs forward with her rapier piercing the thing deeply. As the weapon withdraws from the wound, only thick, black tar like ichor comes out, and doesn't seem to bother the creature at all. When she swings her hand, crackling with electricity, the thing hisses and avoids the blow. Seeing her compatriot's blow having little effect, Iolana's voice rises up above the creature's with a heroic tune, which settles everyone and bolster's their courage.
The creature takes a swing at Tatyana. It's fingers have withered away so they resemble claws more than anything else, and the blackened tips bear evidence to the foulness of the creature. It rakes both claws along Tatyana's rapier arm, gouging deep furrows in the skin. The wounds burn for a moment, but that soon passes.
Jens, seeing Tatyana on the receiving end of the attacks, flies forward, smashing into the creature with sword and shield. His longsword carves a deep furrow in the thing's flank, and this time it appears that some of the damage lingers.
**************End Round 1***********
Tatyana 5/10 hp
Claylyth 6/6 hp
Iolana 9/9 hp
Piousa 10/10 hp
Jens 12/12 hp
Creature 1 damage
"Change your stance, Tats. It's a big enough threat, and you're hurt." Tats shifts into a more defensive stance, stabbing once again at the thing. This time, she aims less to hurt and more to help Jens with his much more effective assault.
I don't like today. Today is the worst day of my life. Nothing is sacred anymore is it?
Claylyth moves behind Jens after dropping the tie binding her to Aravashinial with a whispered assurance of swift return. She waves her hands at Jens' fighting form. She begins to chant words of throbbing flesh, of the wellspring of life, and an allusion that size matters. Glyphs hang in the air luxuriously as the spell's casting continues.
"Come on," Jens growls, moving alongside Tats, sweeping his shield aside as he brandishes his sword at the creature. "Come on, I'm the one you should be worried about!" As if to illustrate his point, he sweeps the blade in a swift arc at the thing again.
The creature continues to hiss and snarl at the group, and becomes enraged at the sight of the heraldry on Jens' shield and attacks Jens with fervor. The first claws screeches against his shield, but the second claw scratches furrows on his neck. Tatyana feints with her rapier, distracting the creature slightly and providing an opening for Jens. As he moves to make his attack, Claylyth lays a hand on him, and Jens swells in size till he looms over the undead monster. Jens brings his now huge longsword down on the creature with devastating effect, the giant longsword cleaving a tear from the things neck down to its guts. Amazingly, the thing is still standing, although reeling.
**************end round 2*************
Tatyana 5/10 hp
Claylyth 6/6 hp
Iolana 9/9 hp
Piousa 10/10 hp
Jens 10/12 hp
Creature 12 damage
Iolana continues her song and draws her whip, ready to trip the thing if it tries to get to the injured.
Tats drops her defensive stance, once again thrusting at the creature, trying to get it to drop its guard.