"I hope they will stay dead this time."
Knowledge Religion
Chitleen just offers Lockjaw a neutral smile. "Perhaps best we see where these creatures emerged?"
Survival to track:
The digging along the edges of tombs looks very much like it could have come from the festrogs. Chitleen seeks to follow their trail over the packed ground and pine needles and has some success, but soon becomes confused by the amount of trails crisscrossing under the pines. You find the scattered bones of less fortunate victims both four-legged and two-legged, but after a couple hours you are still looking for their lair.
"Ye've the right of it, findin' their lair is a good plan."
Lockjaw will attempt to assist in tracking the festrogs.
Pausing to study the problem, Lockjaw points out to Chitleen that the majority of paths seem to head toward the landslide at the foot of the mountain that holds the mine.
Continuing through the forest of lost tombs toward the mountain, the pines abruptly open onto an immense rock field which becomes a talus slope which ascends the mountain. The festrog runs point you to a more recently cleared area where pines have clearly been cut and rocks cleared.
"Now this bodes ill... fresh work upon the slope and ghouls from within the mine. Our dear employer's assertions seem somewhat less than accurate now."
"Dunno what ye said but I reckon yer thinkin' he was lying to ya. Probably us too eh Karrak?"
Lockjaw absently scratches his rear before adjusting his shield and settling his stone armor.
"Might as well look."
From the clearing you can see that the festrog run leads to a tunnel into the talus slope. The tunnel is well constructed and shored up with heavy timbers.
Mankato tries to understand what he is seeing here. He doesn't know much about nature other than try to live in harmony with it. Feels like there might be something he should see or hear though.
Lockjaw stares intently at the tunnel.
"Reckon we should see how deep that goes. Or collapse it."
Don't fancy a horde of festrog on me tail.
"He was either not telling us the whole story, or unaware of these foul creatures, but I am afraid you are right, brother Lockjaw."
Perception:
Karrak looks around and points out the remnants of old mining equipment and the T&T Mining crate. "At least we seem to be in the right place."
Perception:
Know (Nature):
Chitleen's mood darkens further as he sees direct signs that their employers have been less than truthful "We may have slain the party that was sent before us... pray we don't end up the same way."
"And I think it best if our malodorous dwarf led the way... lest my sweet scent betray us." making ready to follow Lockjaw below.
"Eh, think yer right Sweet, I'll be talkin' to that blighter when I get back."
With that Lockjaw takes the lead, shield and axe at the ready.
Pressing on to the shored up passage beneath the scree, Lockjaw takes the lead. Immediately noticeable at the entrance is a concentration of debris. You find arrowheads and pieces of burned wood as well as bones among which you find scattered gnoll and dwarf skulls.
Just beyond the entrance are what appears to be burned and broken pieces of crates, weapons, and other equipment piled in what must have been a barricade. The wall is now trampled down and proves little hindrance to passing into a dark foul smelling chamber beyond.
Karrak readies his dorn-dergar and says a quick prayer to Torag. "Does anyone require light?
"Let us not broadcast our presence so readily." and Chitleen draws a small eyedropper from his satchel and delivers a couple of viscous drops to each eye. Clinching his eyes shut in pain for a few moments, when they re-open they are bloodshot and the pupils dilated wider than nature would provide.
To Karrak and Daeron "Stay near to Karrak and let him guide you... though if need comes, call upon your light with haste."
I would follow your regard my kin. But first my familiar would fly ahead and warn of any apparent dangers.
Daeron gently scoops out his continuously slumbering familiar before whispering a few words and tossing the furball into the air.
He nods ready, bow and arrow in hand.
Karrak goes outside and finds a pebble to cast Light on, puts it in a small pouch and gives it to Daeron.
With an amused smile Daeron accepts the pouch. Addressing the dwarven priest,
Do not concern yourself with provision for light on my behalf, I am capable myself on such matters.
The drowsy bat flitters around the chamber beyond a moment and then into the passage heading deeper under the mountain. In little time, Daeron senses nervousness from his familiar and then that the bat can go no further. A few moments later, Ghema returns.
Sensing Ghema eager to return to his bat-pocket, Daeron cups the creature before placing it within his robes deep recesses.
Needless to say, we should proceed with caution.
With a final gesture, Daeron envelopes himself within a cloak of protective energies.
With a shrug at the aerial antics Lockjaw proceeds as soon as it's clear everybody is ready.
The tunnel widens out at this point into a storage area. Anything of value has been looted and little remains now except broken crates marked as your employers' property. An overturned cart lies near a pair of rails that continue deeper into the mountain.
The tunnel is too narrow to allow more than one person at a time comfortably and the walls are shored up by heavy logs at short intervals as the load appears made of poorly sorted boulders and dirt. The dwarves can readily see that this is not the most stable arrangement and many supports show signs of strain.
Chitleen silently beckons for Lockjaw to lead the way, before filing in immediately behind him as they delve deeper...
Lockjaw leads the way followed by Chitleen and then Karrak leading Daeron. Mankato watches the rear. The clatter of the dwarves' armor echoes down the narrow tunnel and moments later the hoarse barking yells of festrogs sound in response. Those with darkvision see a chain of the undead beasts rushing toward them.
Chitleen
Karrak
Daeron
Lockjaw
Mankato
Festrogs
roll off-
Karrak
festrog
** spoiler omitted **
Chitleen pauses to allow the festroog to draw nearer before he acts.
The shuffling movement carries on to Daeron at the back, accompanied by the foul stench of the same undead beasts met at the entrance.
Remembering the light touched stone, Daeron unfurls it and tosses it to the front with a short overarm movement, avoiding any dwarven or elven heads in the way.
These beasts receive succor from the fresh flesh they imbibe. Try as best not to offer them any.
Daeron stands ready, awaiting for the festrogs to close.
"Oh aye, I'll see to it!"
Seeing the fiends approaching, Karrak says a quick prayer to Torag asking for protection.
3 rounds of +2 AC and +2 CMD.
Mankato is looking for room to get up and assist Lockjaw.
Chitleen waits for the creatures to close as Daeron tosses the light stone forward to illuminate the situation. Karrak provides magical warding to his allies as the undead charge forward.
A naked, pustule covered dwarf lopes in on all fours distended jaws covered in a mangy beard. It manages to tear a fleshy chunk from Lockjaw's leg, but the dwarf keeps his feet. Four more of the creatures follow, but are unable to squeeze forward to enter the fray.
Round 1
HP = 26/34
AC = 25/14/25
SR = 8
Weapon Equipped = Mwk Cold Iron Dwarven Waraxe
Speed = 20'
Lay on Hands/day = 3/3 (1d6)
Smite Evil/day = 1/1 (+2 hit, +3 damage, +2 deflection AC)
Status Effects = None
Lockjaw grunts as the creature takes a chunk out of him.
"I'll hold 'em."
I shall not move.
Karrak cries out "Return to your graves!" as he channels energy to blast the festrogs.
Lockjaw returns the favor carving a chunk of flesh from the invigorated festrog with a spray of coagulated blood and puss.
Daeron stays in place, before drawing his bow and firing at the lead festrog. He chooses an acute angle as to avoid the throng of people infront, sending the arrow over dwarf's heads and elven shoulders.
bomb toss
damage
Chitleen tosses a bomb into the middle of the line and a feral undead beast screams as it burns out of existence. Those in front and behind are badly burned by alkhahest as well. Daeron fires an arrow into the face of the beast savaging Lockjaw and then a burst of holy energy washes over all leaving two undead destroyed and two badly wounded.
The surviving festrogs rush forward hungrily. A severely burned beast lunges at Lockjaw, but its broken jaws fail to find living flesh.
Mankato apologizes that he did not think to bring any ranged weapons while he is stuck in the back.
Round 2
HP = 26/34
AC = 25/14/25
SR = 8
Weapon Equipped = Mwk Cold Iron Dwarven Waraxe
Speed = 20'
Lay on Hands/day = 3/3 (1d6)
Smite Evil/day = 1/1 (+2 hit, +3 damage, +2 deflection AC)
Status Effects = None
"What in Torag's name was thet?"
Lockjaw squints in the face of the bomb blast but continues to hold the line.
Lockjaw halves the critically wounded festrog and Chitleen encourages Mankato to fill the resultant hole at the front.
Mankato moves to the front and swings his fist.
Mankato sees an opening as Lockjaw's foe falls and the monk springs forward to destroy another wounded festrog.