Suna seemed to believe her after all and the display of .. Society the greyskins displayed caught his attention well. His growls eased up and his deadly stare calmed. He lowered his crossbow and added to the conversation, " She at least.. tells the truth with those words. Take that as you will. Information would still be needed. "
Bob smiled a crafty smile. "That pipe is only of value with the upworld dried leaves to feed the contained fire. But I look forward to continue to share my treasure with you as we meet and learn your ways."
He winks to the head of the other delegation and confides, with a dramatic, conspiratorial manner and tone, as if sharing a great secret...
"I am told I do not fit in upworld. The treasures of the underworld draw me here and the teachings of the Mistress of the Vaults draw some of my companions. I fear these creatures you speak of are a threat to OUR world and the upworld."
Bob thinks a moment to bring up another point of common benefit to both parties.
"Rather than return to the surface for rest and draw continued attention to your world, would it be possible to draw rest and refreshment from your camp down here? It will also minimize the trail we leave to your world, and our prolonged disappearance will discourage others to follow us."
Bob talks to the man who he shared the pipe with. "I have heard of dwarves who grow a mushroom or fungus that, although not as great tasting, leaves the smoker with pleasant and compelling visions. Maybe I can find some for you to grow down here."
Zlota looks at Boba and then to Ksila, her faithful eidolon.
"Besterik gabe jarraitu behar dugu bidean."
"Boba, we should make camp down here, yes, if such a location presents itself. As for the mushroom or fungus, it sounds like something rather unpleasant and you should avoid it."
"If we were to try to camp down here, how would be able to have enough breath to make the swim after we find the rest of the villagers. If our magic expires, we are done for."
The leader of the Grey Folk (as you are coming to think of them), wathces the exchange between the group with some interest. Her eyes seem to calculate for a moment, but then she shakes her head and continues.
"The Cursed ones are in the naroow tunnels through that pathway", she points as she speaks, indicating one of the passages out of her campsite. "Staying here would not be suitable small man. My folk and upworlders do not....mix"
"We will get your body for you, but it is best you take the cursed ones early. If they catch scent of you in these tunnels, they will work their curses upon you and their defeat will not occur"
Zlota listens to the leader and nods. "We need to find and rescue who we can. But that is our mission first and foremost."
She takes a step closer to the tunnel, as she attempts to look down.
"We will be fighting the dark ones. Let us do so with surprise on our side. Then we will have many friends to rescue the body."
If Bob is upset at being turned down as guests for a sleepover, he does not show it.
Alyna says little as the conversations plays out. She seems focused on the mannerisms as if she were studying them in an analytical and logical basis.
Suna's eyes flicker once again gaining a raptoran feature as he pairs up with Bitha Stalking next to her his crossbow in hand. With a low growl he nods to the Kellid and they move forward in tandem," It seems the Hunt is on. Let's come back with a full satchel Warrior Bitha, I be the eyes and you be our blade " As Suna stayed poised to launch a Crossbow bolt if he caught sight of anything strange.
Bitha wields her greatsword, taking care to not shave her new feline companion. "Let's get rid of some gremlins."
With an accord reached, the two groups went to complete the tasks they had agreed to.
The leader of the Grey Folk took the pipe smoking man and some rope with grapples to retrieve the body from the mould room.
The last remaining male pointed the party to the tunnel entrance through which the Gremlins could be found.
They moved in, finding the tunnels narrowing rapidly and branching in all directions. It quickly became apparent that unless they took multiple paths, whatever creatures were in here could easily move and circle around them, attacking and running as needed.
The group split into three parties, each taking a direction and agreeing to watch the paths for cross overs and double backs.
Zlota and Ksiliss
Suna and Bitha
Down here, nothing moved, even the air. The rocks pressed and both of them had to turn sidewards and press flat to keep moving.
Suna's noze twitched, and she caught a glimpse of movement in the light of the glowing beetle gland. Ahead she could see a strange beast pressed against the walls of the cavern, using what it thought was shadowy light to hide. It was about 30 feet from Bitha, and stood poised to spring forwards and attack the girl.
Perception check DC 16
Alyna and Boba
Suddenly, the tunnel they were following opened into a small room, maybe ten feet across. It had come from around a bend without warning too, catching both Alyna, Boba and the small Gremlin crouched in the room completely by surprise. The thing swore in its own language, then reached for a weapon behind it.
Bob fired a shot from his firearm and there was a huge echo through the tunnels.
His firearm hit the center of the creature as he was taught to do.
Suna felt the beat of the Hunter's prowess flow through him as he stalked along with Bitha using his keen senses to point out the tripwire to his partner.
As they Squeezed tight coming in and around the bend he noticed the creature poised to strike Bitha and proceeded to strike first when it believed it had the element of surprise, surely to its dismay. Positioning the crossbow at a lower angle, Suna fired and dropped it pulling one of the Kukri's from his leg in the enclosed space. His Strikes Showed especially vibrant at that moment
The sound of a heavy Twang comes out in the Direction of Suna and Bitha
GM and Suna
Perception
Bitha moves toward the gremlin, stepping over the tripwire. She swings her heavy blade at the monster.
Attack
Damage
Ksila, though, is not too happy being blocked and lunges forward, taking a snapping bite at the creature.
The sounds of combat suddenly errupted from multiple locations throughout the cavern system. There cries of battle from both Suna and Bitha as they had obviously found something to fight. The echoes from the winding passages meant that when Boba fired his pistol, none of the other groups could reliably tell from where it came.
Suna and Bitha
Bitha rushed it, trying her best to maneuvre her greatsword in the cramped conditions of the caverns. She was too hampered though and her swing missed horribly.
The creature panicked none the less. It desperately began to harness some form of arcane power to tis body, the filmy light of magic distorting the air around it like a heat mirage.
Zlota and Ksiliss
Seeing the strange creature before her, Alyna immediately moved in and swung her hammer at the gremlin.
;
DM and Suna
Attack
Damage
A very intimidating roar echoes out from Suna.
Sun starts hunting the little shrimp down.
Boba and Alyna
Bitha and Suna
Bob attempts to maneuver past the creature to cut off its retreat. In the close confines. This was quite difficult and would allow an immediate counter attack.
Cutting the creature off with an amazing display of acrobatics, Bob calmly levels his pistol at the creature. He stands on the other side of the creature having squeezed past the gremlin with an amazing leap!
"It is over. You are my prisoner."
Bob readies an attack if the creature tries to escape.
DM and Suna.
Realizing that her physical attacks may be ineffectual against the gremlin, Alyna instead opts toward a more supporting role.
Moving to within arms reach of Boba she closes her eyes and places her hand on him, asking her Goddess to provide her companion with the guidance needed to aid him in his actions.
DM and Suna
Bitha headed toward the next closest tunnel, anxious to help out the group against any remaining gremlins.
Alyna and Bobafett
A look of complete surprise came over its face as the bullet drilled through its forehead. For a moment the body didn't realise the brain had already died, and it staggered to the left slightly. Then the things legs fell out from underneath it. The corpse twitched upon the ground momentarily then lay still.
Bitha and Suna
They turned as one and made their way through the tunnels. hoping they were closing in on one of their groups of friends to aid them as best as they could.
It was pure luck that led them to Zlota and Ksiliss. More importantly, it led them directly behind the Gremlin that seemed to be intent on killing the two of them. There was much spitting and hissing from gremlin and eidolon alike, while Zlota seemed to be methodically and calmly trying to stab the gremlin with a knife. While impressively noisy and visual, none of the combatants seemed to be doing much harm to each other.
Alyna cautiously approached the downed creature wanting to be sure that it was dead. After verifying it was indeed no more, she began to examine the creature and the surrounding area for anything of use or value.
[ooc]IE He shoots, moves back, You shoot, move forward, And while you get in there to fight he provides ranged support or aid anothers.[ooc]
DM Suna and Zlota
"I have a sling. Let's try your plan, then.". Bitha loads up her sling and fires away at the gremlin.
Attack
Damage
Bob helps search the creature.
" Good, now let me try "
Suna cast a spell () first then fired a shot from his crossbow as his Tiger stripes prominently stood.
DM, Suna & Zlota
Zlota sees her allies assisting. She steps back a bit
Ksila, though, attempts to attack the beasty. However, the wiley little thing avoids it.
Alyna and Boba
The Gremlin was definitely dead. Not many things could walk away from a solid slug through the brain pan, and this gremlin certainly wasn't one of them.
Both of the uplanders checked over the creature, but the only thing it seemed to be carrying was the dagger it was wielding. This small cave it had been in was certainly some type of home, as there was rudimentary bedding in here. However, nothing of value was kept here. Given that gremlins were notorious thieves as well as cursed kin, whatever this thing had been stealing was kept somewhere else. Maybe a central home?
In one of the tunnels nearby, the echoes of combat still rang off the walls. At least one set of their companions where still engaged in a fight here somewhere.
Suna, Zlota and Bitha
Suna's prepared ambush of the creature paid off. His shot from the crossbow took the thing high in the back, penetrating through its unnaturally tough skin and causing orange coloured blood to spray from the wound.
The gremlin screamed and spun around, rushing down the tunnel to attack this new threat, leaving itself exposed to attack from Ksiliss.
As it rushed forwards to get to Suna, Bitha stepped into its road, her greatsword hefted and ready to kill. The creature wasn't ready for that and swung at her instinctively.
Suna roars out as the creature gets close, intercepted by Bitha . He remembers how difficult the creature was before and formulates a plan. How could he help Bitha from here.. as reloading the crossbow was only useful if the creature remained engrossed in fighting Zlota. The area around the catfolk gave a clue. The creature was fast but was quit small... He could exploit that. With a much stranger crouch Suna began to grow a prominent overbite much like a saber-tooth and drew his fetish adorned hammer from his back. His muscles grew much larger and toned as he jabbed forward and pulled to sweep the legs from under the wretch. his voice was much louder and deep. " Warrior Bitha, JUMP! THEN STRIKE! "
Bitha keeps attacking as best she can.
Attack
Damage
Though the gremlin left itself exposed, Ksila was still thinking of it's master, missing the little beasty.
"Mister Aloysius, shall we proceed and explore more, or shall we regroup with our companions once again?" Alyna asked inquisitively. She was eager to get moving as she didn't want to be caught unawares by another gremlin.
Nodding, Bob reloads and continues, looking to find the others.