The stench grows less pungent as you move away from the rat's nest and the pools of Grimple vomit. Passing the gate, heading down the stairs, you push past the door and find yourself looking at a much larger room.
A fty-foot-diameter pool of rancid, brown slurry fills most of this circular chamber. Chunks of plaster have fallen away, leaving ragged patches behind in the walls and ceiling and mounds of rubble on the floor. What wall space remains is decorated in crude drawings and symbols of sinister form. Greasy-looking chains run between four stout pillars rising from the muck and anchor to various points on the wall.
The water, if it can still be called that, is too opaque to see what might be under the surface.
Rexus sighs. "I am beginning to regret bringing you all here. Each step forward brings us to a new, fresh horror."
"I'd love to tell you I've seen worse Rex, but...well I really haven't. This has certainly be a test, but I'm too invested to turn back. I certainly didn't earn my nickname being cautious."
With a smile Ignati moves forward looking for the next door that will lead them out of this mess and likely into a pool of curdled blood. He knows well enough by now to keep his sword ready.
The deeper we get the more I wonder if we'll actually find anything here. Our rebellion may end with our corpses being nothing but food for the grimples. He shutters at his own thought and continues slowly pacing around the room.
"With any luck we'll find something that will have made this all worthwhile. At the very least, while everything we've found so far has been disgusting, it's all been... manageable? I guess that's the best word for it."
He holds his spear at the ready for some new, fresh hell, and relieves a little frustration with this place by kicking a bit of fallen plaster while he looks around.
"I'll be a monkey's uncle if there isn't something horrible waiting for us in that pool."
Morrigan picks up a piece of debris and tosses it into the murk.
At Morrigan's toss, Valleria readies her shield, almost expecting filthy tentacles appearing to grab them all.
"Be careful you two..." She says to Ignati and Wilhelm.
A few moments after the stone sinks beneath the surface of the water, two lumps begin to rise from the water. They emerge as roiling waves of flesh, constantly in motion, with arms and hands emerging from the bubbling flesh amid horrific, tumorous faces. Whatever these things are, they cannot be of this world.
"Well, looks like Lady Winters is correct!"
"What in the world...?"
Morrigan is certain that these are creatures from Hell: Lemures, the lowest form of devil. They are best fought with silver weapons.
"This is starting to test my patience. Are we sure the Silver Ravens weren't just macabre conjurers set on making us all vomit?"
Iganti sighs as he moves toward his next foe, wishing not for the first time that he hadn't used up all of his magical assistance earlier in the day. This has been quite the gauntlet, and all these beasts are an affront to Shelyn, who knew such horrid creatures existed below my beloved city?"
He is too lost in thought when he makes his attack and swings wide, not even grazing his foe.
Wilhelm just isn't surprised that there would be something in the pool. Perhaps its better to get this one out of the way early while they're all expecting it rather than risking these things coming up behind them, or something. He waits for the creatures to fully emerge from the pool and do something, then attacks the closest one to him, moving as necessary.
Valleria takes time observing the new creatures, looking for a weak point before attacking.
"These are devils. Lemures to be exact. Use silver if you have it. I don't have much that will work against them, but I'll do what I can. Binding Darkness!"
Round Review:
20 - Ignati closes with one of the Lemures and finds it difficult to make contact with the strange, undulating abomination.
16 - The Lemure that Ignati engaged attempts to counterattack, while it's partner pulls itself from the brackish water and attempts to attack Valleria
The Lemure flails it's clawed appendages at Ignati ineffectually with blows that he easily parries.
The Lemure's claw bites in between the scales of Valleria's armor, digging in as deeply as one could expect such feeble weapons to. She suffers 4 points of damage.
14 - RESERVED FOR VORENI
10 - Wilhelm moves to reinforce Valleria and drives his spear deep into the quivering flesh of the creature. It's flesh is unnaturally tough and difficult to effectively harm.
9 - Morrigan, I'm unclear on which creature you are casting Blinding Darkness on. Remember that the creature will gain concealment.
5 - Valleria cuts into the hard, leathery flesh of the Lemure, finding that her usually devastating slashes struggle to create a lasting injury to the creature. Certainly it is hurt, but this will be work.
A Devil? This may be tough going. I never exactly needed silvered weapons in my usual duties.
It's clear that they are taking damage, even if that damage is less effective, so without silver the only real option is to do more of the same.
As his spear bites into the devil again, Wilhelm tries to make an impression on it and its cohort, speaking in their own, foul language.
"Είστε λιγότεροι και έξωσυμφωνημένα. Είναι μόνο ένα θέμα χρόνου προτού να μας συντρίψουν τις υπερασπίσεις σας. Αν δεν σταματήσει τις επιθέσεις σας και να αφήσει αυτό το χώρο μας θα σας καταστρέψουν."
Rexus moves into the room and, suppressing his revulsion towards these awful creatures, imbues Valleria with a bit of his magical power.
(Rexus uses Touch of Destiny on Valleria, giving her +1 on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws)
Round 2, Initiative 5
Valleria lashes again at the creature.
"Hum... any ideas? My sword is not doing that great..."
Round 2: Intiative 9
"If you can't hurt them, subdue them for those who can."
Morrigan drops her crossbow and leaps upon the nearest lemure to grapple it.
"It's just like wrangling pigs back home."
Voreni drinks his shock shield extract then draws his rapier.
Voreni drinks his shock shield extract then draws his rapier.
Okay, that would have been your round 1 action. Go ahead and post one for round two as well :)
Round 2 - Initiative 20
"Morrigan, I believe I'm having enough trouble hitting these monstrosities without you covering them in darkness." Ignati quips good naturedly while taking a stab at where he believes the creature to be, failing once again, he take a step backwards.
"Perhaps someone else would like to handle this one?"
He then moves to back up Ignati. Though his weapon can't harm the creatures, he stabs at it in an attempt to distract it from harming his companion.
Corian wisely steps back, then taps Valleria for Protection From Evil. "There's something...you may have to wear them down, Valleria; this will protect you."
Round 2:
Corian then steps back and swings at the nearest lemure...no effect.
ROUND TWO SUMMARY
20 - Ignati's rapier flashes in the dank, dim lighting under the livery, narrowly missing the Lemure.
16 - The Lemures continue their assault. The one that had struck Valleria earlier finds that her defenses have adapted, and he cannot find an opening; each of his attacks is easily rebuffed by her shield. Meanwhile, its counterpart flails at Ignati with and lunge so clumsy that it seems to collapse into itself, like a wave of putrid flesh.
14 - Voreni moves into melee with the Lemure attacking Ignati and attempts to create an opening for Ignati, but is unable to overcome the creature's defenses.
10 - Wilhelm thrusts into the thick, fatty flesh of the Lemure, digging into its flesh more deeply than his previous attack.
9 - Morrigan Jumps onto the back of one of the Lemures and wrestles it down, struggling to keep a hold of the slippery devil.
5 - Valleria's AC against the Lemures has increased by 2 due to Corian's spell. Her blade makes contact with the Lemure, but is unable to penetrate it's thick, elephant-like hide.
4 - Corian misses his target badly, failing to make contact.
Rexus moves up behind Voreni and offers him his Touch of Destiny (+1 to attacks, skill/ability checks, and saves)
Round 3: Initiative 9
Morrigan attempts to pin the lemure she's grabbed.
"Eat pavement, hellspawn! I'm going to make you squeal!"
Round 3: Initiative count 16
The lemure bucks wildly underneath Morrigan, attempting to escape. Surprisingly, the damn thing manages to break free!
Meanwhile, another Lemure is locked in mortal combat with Voreni. It's first claw catches him by surprise, slicing across his forearm, but Voreni pulls his hand back in time to parry the second attack with his rapier.
Morrigan easily avoids the Lemure's claws and wrestles it down again.
Wilhelm starts to wonder if these things are actually devils. Given the nature of the Chelish empire -- combine with the one or two he's seen on official duty -- he's always gotten the impression that they were fearsome creatures not to be trifled with or taken lightly. These... well, they look like a couple piles of crap and seem to be as effective. They're certainly resilient, though, the progress they're making is slower than would be comfortable in any normal battle. He stabs the same one again with his spear, wondering how many more times he'll have to do this before the thing finally succumbs.
And, naturally, as soon as he starts underestimating the enemy, fate gives him a slap to return him to his senses. This time in the form of a last minute slip in a puddle of the thing's.. blood? Ichor? Offal?
Wilhelm's not sure what to call it, but he is certain that he'll need some really good way to clean his banner if they're going to keep fighting things like this. Preferably one that works without having to touch it.
Round 3 - Initiative 20
Ignati nods at Voreni. "Thanks for the assistance. These things are too stubborn to die by my blade it seems. Perhaps..."
Seeing how clumsy his opponent is, Ignati lashes out, trying to sweep the demons legs from beneath it.
Ignati deftly slides into the Lemure's guard and sweeps the melting blobs of flesh that serve as its legs from underneath it.
Voreni continues to attack the creature, attempting to distract it from focusing on Ignati. He glances at Morrigan. That may be the best weapon we have against these devils.
Round 3 - Provoked AoO
Ignati tries to take advantage of the lumbering demon as it rises but fails to connect.
"Round 3, Initiative 5"
With her patience coming to an end, Valleria bellows.
"Why don't you die, blasted creature!?"
Corian gives his mace another swing. "Hmmm...head must be loose on this thing," he says, as it makes another profound swoosh.
Round 3 Summary
20 - Ignati gracefully swept the legs(?) of the Lemure in front of him, setting it up for Voreni
16 - The Lemure facing Valleria attempted to escape its grapple with Morrigan, and did so, but the distraction proved fatal. The other Lemure recovered from Ignati's trip and clawed Voreni for 2 points of damage.
14 - Voreni continued to support Ignati's attacks, but found it difficult to create the openings he was hoping for.
10 - Wilhelm was unfortunately unable to pierce the Lemure's defenses during this round.
9 - Morrigan wrestled the Lemure that was attacking Valleria, holding it in place while her partner finishes it off.
5 - Valleria strikes down the Lemure while it wrestles with Morrigan, and the horrible thing finally shudders and grows still, melting back into the foul, stagnant water. Free to focus on a new enemy, she steps forward and drives her sword deep into the gullet(?) of the other Lemure.
4 - Corian threw himself into battle, but the damned Lemure has proven a wily opponent.
ROUND 4, INITIATIVE 16 - LEMURE
Fighting desperately for its life, the Lemure shifts 5 feet to the side and attacks Ignati. For those who cannot see the map, this means that Ignati and Voreni are in melee with the creature, but Valleria (who critted it in round 3) is not, and would need to move to strike it.
The lemure's foul claw grazes Ignati's leg, drawing a thin red line of blood.
Round 4: Initiative Count 10
With only one of the things left standing, Wilhelm moves into position to start attacking it so they can finish it off in an expedient manner... hopefully.
The Lemure falls to the ground, ichor leaking from its many wounds. You are now left in a quiet, still fairly unpleasant, partially-flooded chamber.
With time to examine your surroundings, you can see that the walls are marked with sinister-looking runes. Anyone who can read Infernal may make a Knowledge(arcana or planes) check to decipher the purpose of the runes. If you continue north for some distance, you will find rooms that have been ravaged by time, but which do appear to hold some furniture and paperwork. Perhaps worth searching through?
"Good work, Valleria." Morrigan wipes the gore from her face.
Morrigan will help search through the paperwork.
Ignati looks at the runs and makes an attempt to decipher them despite his limited scope of magical information.
Unable to glean anything from the runes Ignati turns his attention to the paperwork and sifts through it all, meticulously going over everything he can read, a habit enforced early in every Vashnarstill's life.
"What do you think, Rex old friend, are we almost at our destination or have we more horrors to face? My sword arm may be rusty but thankfully we have no shortage of other capable warriors in our group, though I'm sure we're all ready to be done with this."
Morrigan's search bears fruit very quickly. She finds three creates in the northeast corner.
The first crate contains:
+1 Leather Armor
Composite Shortbow (STR +1)
Masterwork Hand Crossbow
Masterwork Silver Morningstar
Cloak of Elvenkind
A pouch containing a dozen pearls
The second crate contains a locked, watertight iron coffer.
The third crate contains a large volume of straw, but after digging through it Morrigan finds six silver figurines, each depicting a raven.
Meanwhile Ignati, searching the same area, finds a small next that appears to have recently been used by a tiny humanoid creature. No other signs of the creature are visible, even after a thorough search of the area (taking 20).
"Well the silver ravens are definitely a tell...unless they are a plant. This locked coffer might have further clues. Perhaps Vorenai can pick this lock too?"
"Oh my...a silver morningstar. Praise be to Milani," says Corian almost involuntarily. "I would dearly like that."
"I think I'm already well armed... go ahead and take any armaments you need."
Valleria walks towards the wall, where she sits on the ground to examine her wounds, first the bite in her ankle from the mastiff and now the claws at her torso. She looked especially worried about any disease, but, at least apparently, she was alright.
From now on if all my days are like this, I'll need more potions... and those things are not cheap.
Morrigan thinks she could sell those pearls on the street for 50gp a piece, but the workmanship on those silver figurines is very, very nice. You'd probably want to haggle with an art dealer for those. Could be worth thousands.