The next morning Everyone rises refreshed especially after sleep on the cold hard ground with little to keep you warm. Chieftain Sull greets you with a warm meal and acts as a guide to the tunnel to the lair of the traitors.
The tunnel winds mostly in a southeast direction for about 26 minutes where the the tunnel narrows to a 5 foot passageway the walls carved with picks and chisels.
As always, once they are on the riad, Olivier keeps a fair and watchful distance ahead of the others.
Two mongrels stand guard at the covered tunnel entrance across from you you both see each other at the same time. you act first
Ashe thanks Chieftain Sull for his generosity, and follows along.
"Good, uh... It's day now, right? Good day! Sorry if I startled you. My friends and I seem to be slightly lost... You wouldn't happen to know a way up and out, would you?"
Unsure how she became the pack mule, Eve stows all their newly gifted items in her pack and follows the rest of the group down the road.
Shortly after Olivier scouts ahead the rest of you see him backing up hastily toward you, followed by howling and shrieking.
Ashe reflexively casts a spell.
Rema draws his spear and readies for a new threat.
"Well," Olivier quips as he draws his blade "I think we can scratch diplomatic relations off the list..."
|
Arc moves forward 20 feet, to the mouth of the cave. "Didn't come here to negotiate." She readies to swing her shield at the source of the noise.
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
Roderic draws his blade while slowly stepping forward and performing the sign of the sword on himself and asks Iomedae for her blessing
Two Mongrelmen enter the cave mouth ready for combat, but Arc gets the drop on them.
Arc's target sees the attack coming and moves out of the way.
The one Arc attacked, seeing an opening gets passed her guard dealing 6 points of damage. Arc's recoil throws off the others aim causing it to miss widely.
Eve waits for someone to get injured, or for a way into the melee.
Ashe hums a lullaby to one of the Mongrelmen.
Eve channels energy from the middle of the group.
Ashe's song doesn't seem to impress her target.
Roderick squeezes past Arc and brings his sword down on top of the thing.
Roderic slashes the mongrelman deep causing it to cry out in pain. Though hurt it still stands ready to attack again.
Angered by Roderic's assault The monrelman swings back catching Roderic off guard. The other however seems to have no problem getting through Arc's defenses breaking Arc's guard once again.
Eve moves forward and heals the paladin.
Ashe takes a deep breath to calm her nerves and attempts her lullaby on the other mongrelman.
Ashe's performance goes by unnoticed.
Roderic brings his sword back down on the thing.
Roderic cuts deep causing blood to spray out distracting the other resulting in one miss and one dead traitor.
Arc's hopes are realized as she connects for the first time. It is a telling blow braking the traitors guard completely, one good follow up and this could be the end for him.
Ashe looks nervous as she doesn't have another way to contribute.
Roderic steps up to the side of the last hostile spinning away from it almost full circle, building momentum and bringing the sword down atop it.
Unable to recover in time Roderic's downward slash nearly cleaves the mongrelman in two.
Roderic pulls the sword out and slips a little in what is left of the two before saying, "Is everyone ok to continue on?" He waits a moment before walks further.
Ashe nods her head, and says a small prayer for the lost souls.
Rema replies to Roderic, "We all appear in good health, let us remain cautious though", then continues forward with the others.
"Well. That... Did not quite go as planned."
Frowning at the downed heretics, Olivier casts a questioning look at the others. "I doubt stealth will avail us much from here on out..."
"There is not much room to maneuver down here." Eve adds in warning.
"Very well." Roderic said in response to Rema, Olivier, and Arc's comments. He looked around the chamber and considered how to proceed in the confined quarters, which Eve pointed out. Roderic began again to walk, slowly still, so that he could talk to his companions while continuing to cover ground. "Arc, why don't you and I stay together in the front. Ashe and Rema, would you be kind enough to keep an eye behind us so we're not so easily ambushed. These caverns are likely populated with all sorts of hidden nooks and cranny's, and we could otherwise lose some of our number to carelessness if we do not prepare for attacks from both directions." There was no doubt to him that anything near by would have heard the sounds of battle, and more may soon be upon them. "Olivier I understand stealth is more your forte, but if we are moving quickly from here on out I defer to you to decide where you would best fit in our marching line. Eve, perhaps you could stand behind Arc and I and aid us if we are injured?" Now looking forward and preparing for ambush, he did not turn to gauge their response but listened for it.
Ashe, feeling a bit overwhelmed about this whole experience, manages to let out an agreement, "I think I can do that." She hopes she doesn't let the others down.