The cave winds its way several hundred feet before coming to an abrupt stop. The only egress is a hole in the ceiling leading up to the chamber above.
The hole looks to be about 10 feet long, and rests 5 feet above the water's surface.\
Flying up it is of course easy, but climbing it would be difficult by the looks of things.
"Shall we use some charges from the plundered wand?" Daliya suggested. A faster, quieter approach seemed like a good plan, and it wasn't using resources they'd been counting on.
"Or Gurram could carry everyone up," Krom offers. Gurram seems indifferent to the idea.
"Going in flying seems wise regardless. At least for those of us who don't wish to be in hand-to-hand."
"Agreed."
"Would it not be wiser to send an inconspicuous scout up there first, captain? like those flying eyeballs or whatits you possess?"
"I would suggest using the wand, since that way we're not caught in two halves if soemthing attacks, but it's up to the captain."
"I can send the eyes ahead, but their range is limited. We should all fly, though."
Ixrul uses the wand to grant everyone flying, then we proceed with the eyes going in advance. He also casts his Extended Magic Circle Against Evil on himself.
The eyes ascend through the hole.
They catch a glimpse of something...large over the rim of the hole, before being snuffed out in utter silence.
"There's something large there. Instantly killed them both silently."
"Impressive," Daliya noted. "Any precautions we can take before we head up?" Perhaps a first wave of summoned creatures that could fly and were tough might keep it busy for a while so they could join the fight a moment later.
"Aye."
Ixrul begins casting Summon Monster 6.
Nothing interrupts you, what do you summon and what do they do?
Ixrul summons a Shadow Demon to scout ahead.
He will have it use its incorporeality to get a view of the creature safely so it can report back via its Telepathy.
The shadow demon ascends, and returns to report after a short time.
<The area above is a giant sinkhole, in which an enormous scorpion lurks.> it whispers in your mind.
<Beyond is a complex of 10 further rooms. Many of the rooms are occupied with armed men, but some mutilated prisoners and worshipers as well. A shrine to some god is the centerpiece; whose I do not recognize."
Ixrul will have it use its Shadow Evocation to attempt to exhaust the creature with Heatstroke , and its Shadow Conjuration to use Acid Arrow and injure the creature as much as possible .
Touch attacks:
Last acid arrow threatens.
Everything goes fairly well for you until the acid comes into play.
The creature, feeling already uncomfortably warm, and now covered with a burning acid, leaps down the hole into the water. Once there, you can see the shadow demon's description of it as a scorpion is...not quite accurate.
From its fin-like (yet still barbed) tail, you can deduce that it appears to be some kind of amphibious creature that is very much like a scorpion.
Ixrul (26)
Ace (24)
Mr. Clack (23)
Gremory (14)
Daliya (10)
Krom/Gurram (8)
Also I blew the dust off the map; it hasn't been needed since Sumitha.
This is a mutated Spiny Eurypterid, much larger than normal and apparently amphibious. They are a prehistoric "sea scorpion" with a deadly poison carried by the stinger, and covered in spikes that painfully hinder attempts to attack it unarmed or with natural attacks. It is an especially bad idea to grapple one.
They are large, mindless, and intensely aggressive vermin, and attempts to hide in the water or on the ground are fruitless, as they have Tremorsense.
"Be careful, it's stinger is very poisonous. Also, try not to attack it bare-handed."
Given that he would probably die in one or two hits, Ixrul Withdraws from the creature.
<Kill it.>
The shadow demon pounces in, using its Sprint as necessary.
"I aint even going near that thing even with a weapon"
Ace snaps off a shockwave at the beast
It surges forward, attacking the nearest target: Ace.
Ace feels the poison course through his veins and takes Con damage and Dex damage!
Since attacking the thing with physical attacks would end...poorly, Daliya used the Fly magic to keep her distance and cast instead. She instead tried to Entangle the thing.
Gurram lets out a frustrated grunt.
"Hey, don't worry, Gu!" Krom reassures her. "We'll find something here that you can eviscerate with your claws, I'm sure of it!
For now, the pair repeats the strategy they used on the anemone: Fly in, hit with lance, and fly out before it can retaliate.
Krom charges in and practically eviscerates the poor eurypterid.
...Or at least he thinks he does, until his lance comes to a jarring halt in the thing's thick carapace, leaving it with barely a scratch.
<Try to Magic Jar it. If you succeed, flip it to its most vulnerable angle relative to my compatriots.>
Ixrul will wait to see if the creature gets jarred before deciding what to do.
The mindless creature is surprisingly strong-willed, or maybe just too stupid to possess.
Ace growls as the poision works its way through his system, and lets loose a flurry of magic missiles.
How - it's literally a bug!
Shrugging off it's shockingly iron will, Ixrul begins casting Summon Monster 5.
As nobody else is close enough to viably attack the eurypterid, it focuses on Ace once more.
Ixrul (26)
Ace (24)
Mr. Clack (23)
Gremory (14)
Daliya (10)
Krom/Gurram (8)
Well, this thing was vicious. Daliya called up a Snowball, hoping to at least aggravate it.
The Demilich of Good Fortune clatters its teeth merrily before speaking.
"You don't have any healing items, but you might wanna take a chug of that Neutralize Poison potion you stashed away months ago! NYUK NYUK NYUK!"
Ace will do exactly that when his turn comes. (after moving a fair distance away first)
"thanks mr skeltal"
"Quit picking on Ace, you acrimonious arachnid!"
Krom and Gurram do the same thing as last time.
The Eurypterid closes in on...Ixrul I think is the closest guy now that Ace has moved away.
For lack of a more exciting option, Daliya tossed out her last Snowball.