"Ready to go, Ignati--what harm could possibly await us in a little used cellar where someone or something has been routinely eating the food?" says Corian with a grin. He has been sipping water and also using his cup to vainly clean off some of his robes. "No doubt it will be just as safe as the nest we just strolled through."
Laria retrieves a quiver of arrows from one of the side rooms and hands it to Wilhelm.
"Just take them, no gold needed. Somebody stashed these here while they were passing through."
"Oh. Okay. Many thanks, then," Wilhelm says, nodding, as he slings the quiver over his shoulder. It feels weird there, but he'll probably get used to it before long. Harder to come to grips with is his change in roles. Normally if he'd heard about smuggling tunnels it would probably be in the context of being tasked to shut it down. The stables, being an abandoned place, required no thought. It's probably not going to be the last time he will have to wrestle with this internal conflict, though, on this new path of rebellion.
"Healing potions are probably a good choice, when we get the chance to resupply," he agrees with Valleria, while making a mental note to learn some medical talents. Potions are great in a pinch, but will be trouble if they have to be relied on as the only source of healing. "Unless anyone has any further business, I say we move out. Hopefully Mister Comerivos turns out to be the one eating his food, after all."
Once everyone has eaten and readied themselves, Laria hustles you all downstairs before the morning rush, then into the pantry, shutting the door behind her. Opening a small, hidden trap door in the floor, she leads you down to the entrance of the "Wasp Nest" (see map)
"The stuff down here is all legitimate" she says, indicating the crates and sacks of coffee beans, flour, and other ingredients. "There's a secret door over here...I'll show you how to open it, so pay attention."
Laria walks to the western wall of the room and carefully manipulates the the stones in the wall to unlock the secret door, then pushes on the wall, which pivots on its axis, giving you access to the rooms beyond.
"I've gotta get back upstairs before the morning rush arrives. If I don't hear from you by lunch, well...don't worry me like that." she says with a wink as she quickly ascends the ladder into the pantry.
"Well let's get to it then. Would it be to passé to simply call out Nan Comerivos' name?"
"Not at all," Wilhelm says in response to Morrigan. "Even if it causes something -- else -- to come running, it will still save us time finding whatever that else might be."
Wilhelm sidles through the secret door to the other side and calls out, loudly, down the hallway in which he finds himself.
"Mister Comerivos? We're here to check on you on behalf of Lady Laria. She's concerned that she hasn't seen any sign of you in days. We're coming in, do not be alarmed."
Corian turns to Morrigan, doing his amiable best to look at her face, not her chest, speaking quietly. "Your little friend, Bacon. Does he sniff things out well? Could he smell, say...a dead person? Actually, we would as well..."
"Hullo!" he chimes in, following Wilhelm.
"Well he can certainly try..."
Valleria moves after Wilhelm, prepared to any attack... after all, even after all these years, she is still not fond of the underground.
"Careful..."
You have all entered a long, damp hallway that opens to the southeast into a calm reservoir of dark water. A wooden pier extends 20 feet into the water, and a rotten smell emanates from the pier.
Valleria catches sight of bloodied, mostly-eaten human remains wedged among the pier's pilings, likely the source of the smell.
Another 20 feet beyond the pier is a partially-submerged statue of a beautiful elven woman, submerged below the waist. It seems likely to be of some cultural or religious significance. To the west, two large holes lead to other rooms, while to the south there is a staircase leading to another chamber.
Ignati carefully scrutinizes everything they see within the hallway, particularly after they find the dead body, and he debates looking it over for any clues as to who it was.
The statue seems familiar to him, but he's not quite sure, after a cursory look he moves to the staircase and pauses before the first step, listening to see if there's anything waiting for them at the other end.
I knew Corian was right when he suggested this wouldn't be simple, but damn it all anyway.
Valleria follows Ignati and also tries to discover if the body was eaten alive or after death. She also keeps an eye open for the surrounds.
Since her wounds are still fresh, she is especially cautious.
"Why anything could be simple?..."
"Hopefully this isn't Sir Comerivos..."
Morrigan will cast detect magic and scan the room. She'll focus on the notable points of interest: the statue, the body, the two exits, etc.
The statue depicts Callistria, Elven goddess of lust, trickery, and revenge. She is closely associated with wasps, which is likely how this place came to be known as the Wasp's Nest.
The human remains are, unfortunately, too incomplete to make a proper identification, or a determination of the cause of death. However, given the lack of blood splatter in the area, it seems likely that whoever it was died prior to being eaten and deposited here. As for who did the eating, well...
Valleria peers out over the still waters and catches sight of a long, white shape beneath the surface. It's some kind of...white alligator? And it's coming closer...
The alligator surfaces and opens its jaws menacingly.
"Look, right there! I think it is an... alligator?"
Since she was already with her sword in hand, Valleria steps forward, baiting the alligator to come to her. She studies her target and prepares to slash at it once it comes closer. Concerned with her many wounds, she fights defensively.
"Laria didn't warn us of any guardians, so I'm guessing that beast is an unwelcome guest!"
Voreni draws his rapier and moves to stand beside Valleria.
"Damn it all. I've seen more dangerous creatures in these last two days than I have in several years in the guard combined. This rebellion business is starting to feel more like being an exterminator."
The thing is obviously dangerous; more than likely not supposed to be there; probably what killed the corpse; unlikely to be talked down; and -- hopefully -- not going to start vomiting all over them. Wilhelm moves to attack, trying to get around to set up a pincer move depending on when and where the creature makes its first move.
Ignati rushes forward and prepares his blade in case the crocodile passes by him or attacks.
Round 1: Initiative 17
"Ray of Frost!" Morrigan points her finger and fires a freezing ray at the alligator.
Callistria, Elven goddess of lust, trickery, and revenge. I could get down with that.
Round 1 Review
19: Albino Alligator emerges from the water
17: Morrigan blasts the poor beast with a beam of magical ice for 2 points of damage.
12: Valleria moves forward cautiously and slices the alligator for 8 points of damage.
10: Wilhelm attempts to speak the beast, but his spear cannot find purchase on the rough, leathery exterior of the alligator.
09: Ignati readies his blade to defend himself should the alligator move towards him.
Voreni draws his weapon, but has not yet rolled initiative. Corian has not yet acted.
Voreni moves forward, stabbing at the beast.
Wilhelm continues to keep his distance while trying to stab through the creature's tough hide...
...but is probably thoroughly distracted by Morrigan's second ray whizzing right past his ear.
Round 2 - Initiative 9
Ignati circles around the creature and takes a stab with his rapier.
Round 1 - Init 21
Corian wades into the fray and swings his (non silver) mace at the beast.
Round 2 - Init 21
Corian gives that another try.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I think my mace is cursed. My new plan is to have the crocodile eat me while you strike it," he announces in the ringing tones of a street preacher.
Round 2 Review:
22: Voreni plunges his rapier deep between the ribs of the white alligator, drawing a horrible cry from the beast, and dealing 11 points of damage.
21: Corian is unable to adjust for the creature's agonizing thrashing, and misses his swing.
19: The white alligator, blood seeping from the terrible wound Voreni tore into its flank, lunges forward in desperation.
Voreni is bitten for 6 points of damage, and is now grappled.
Spinning around violently, its tail lashes out at Morrigan
17: Morrigan fired another ray of frost, creating a small ice cube that floats happily on the surface of the water.
12: Valleria...TBD
10: Wilhelm's spear draws sparks from the rocky floor as it misses the alligator, who seems unflappable.
9: Ignati thrusts unsuccessfully at the alligator.
Voreni screams with both pain and a little panic as he feels the beast's strong jaws clamp down on him. Fearing that it will drag him into the water he desperately attempts to stab it again with his rapier.
Round 3: Initiative 17
Since Morrigan is having trouble hitting the beast amid the chaotic melee, she shouts a fearsome roar instead.
"Rawr!"
Seeing the beast grabbing Voreni, Valleria abandons her more defensive posture and tries to finish it.
Valleria slashes again, quite surprised any creature could withstand so much wounds.
Round 3 Initiative 9
"Let's hope the third times the charm!" Ignati quips as he attempts once more to skewer the beast in front of him. However he's focusing too much on jokes and not enough on his thrust and nearly trips himself in the process.
The white alligator is cut to ribbons by Valleria's precise, brutal bladework. Its jaws go slack and fall away from Voreni, doing no further harm. The large, cavernous room is once again quiet.
"Oof!" Voreni hits the ground bleeding. "I hate to suggest this...but we might need to cut that thing open. Examine the stomach contents. See if our missing smuggler is within."
"Well I'm glad one of us kept their wits." Morrigan pats Valleria on the shoulder. "The rest of us were floundering like fish out of water."
Morrigan gives the alligator corpse a solid kick for good measure. Then pauses with a pensive stare. "If the hide isn't too damaged, white alligator leather would be a stunning fashion statement. Although black is more of my style."
To Voreni's statement, "I'm not squeamish about gutting a creature if no one else volunteers."
"Well, perhaps we should make sure to turn over every stone and examine every crevice before unleashing such a horrible smell."
When the others are somewhat distracted Voreni approaches Morrigan and whispers conspiratorially to her.
Morrigan whispers back to Voreni.
A bellowing voice from the room to the west cries out in anguish:
"YOU KILLED MISTER SNOWBALL!"
A human-sized creature resembling a crow emerges. Large, muscular arms ending in sharp claws quiver with unthinking rage.
22: Voreni
21: Corian
17: Morrigan
16: Monstrous Crow Person
12: Valleria
10: Wilhelm
9: Ignati
FYI, you can identify this creature with Knowledge: Nature. You each would have had a round of actions prior to this creature's entrance.
"Oh, great. We should try to take this one alive. He...she? It might have information about Lady Laria's missing compatriot. Or even other information we could put to use." Voreni tells the others as he tightens his grip on his rapier.
He takes a defensive stance, ready to and determined.
Round 1: Initiative 17
"Yes, let's question him."
"Who and what are you? If that was your pet, you should have kept it on a better leash."
"Mister Snowball?" Wilhelm mutters to himself, though his frustration is more directed at himself for his inability to do much against the creature. "What an inspired choice of name."
Wilhelm isn't sure whether the arriving creature is naturally hostile, or is going to be hostile because they -- well, really, Valleria -- slew his pet. He holds his spear where it's obviously visible, though he tries talking first since the creature obviously speaks.
"Your pet is not well controlled. It had to be put down. We can talk about this rather than coming to blows, however. Do you know a Mister Comerivos?"
Round 1 Initiative 9
"Yes listen to my friend Wilhelm here. We were attacked by your Mr. Snowball, and defended ourselves as one might expect, but we have no issue with you, please, parley."
Round1 - Initiative 9 (2.0)
Ignati steps up next to Wilhelm as he speaks and stands ready with his rapier to strike if the crow moves in to attack.
Here's hoping my aim is more true than it was with Mr. Snowball.
Round 1 Initiative 16
Bathed in brightly colored light, the beast shrieks in pain but quickly shakes off the effects and slips forward a few feet to attack Ignati, taking a sharp cut to the arm from his rapier (1 point of damage).
Ignati easily slips between the hulking bird-person's clumsy claws.
"Mister Snowball?" Wilhelm mutters to himself, though his frustration is more directed at himself for his inability to do much against the creature. "What an inspired choice of name."
The bird-man quickly shows its hostile intent by attacking.
"I think we should take this one alive, if possible. It may know something about what happened down here and whether that mostly-eaten corpse was Comerivos."
In order to help with that endeavor, Wilhelm tries to trip the creature with his spear.
Something in the timbre of the creature's voice suggests that it might be female, but damned if you can identify what species it is.
Also, sadly, it is a bit too steady on its feet for Wilhelm's trip attempt to be effective.
Valleria moved sideways, with her blade still dropping blood from Mister Snowball. At Wilhelm's plight, Valleria attacked with the flat side of her blade.
She then looked deep in the creature's eyes.
"Look at me, creature! Are you sure you still want to fight?"