As he maintains his Protective Ward, Fabian says to Seren, "We're on the threshold of the Worldwound. I fear it's only a matter of time before you have to face demons. But we will be here with you, and we will face them together."
Confident in his abilities and always looking to take advantage of reacting before anyone else, Kazul springs into action, hoping his companions won't panic and will back him up! He rushes to S25 and strikes at the northernmost maggot, maintaining his defensive posture.
Lucille whistles. "I knew there were more creepy crawlies. There always are." She moves forward to take a protective position between the maggots and Anevia and Arshavia, drawing her weapon as she does. Then she attacks a maggot.
Seeing the others advance, Bollwerk charges the nearest still moving enemy,
but his footing is completly off. He swings wildly and slashes a deep gorge into the ground. Balance,Bollwerk,Balance!
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Reaching out, Seren decides to offer a blessing of Desna on Dieter. Placing her hand gently on his shoulder, a calm feeling slowly filters through them as a pale, soothing light leaves her hand for a moment. "Bealtaine an Mhuire an Ghealach Dia duit." She then steps back, raising her starknife up. Desna preserve us...
Sera nervously watches the fight unfold before her, silently praying none of the maggots come near her.
Dieter's eyes widen as he get a divine pat on the back from Seren. He gives an appreciative wink, then turns and starts toward the maggots, drawing his rapier as he moves. When he reaches them, he takes a guard stance rather than attacking, as though waiting for them to strike.
Kazul springs forward, his falchion slicing a great gash in the first maggot he reaches, dropping in heap of blood and bile.
The second maggot lurches toward him, and with a great heave empties the contents of its putrid stomach all over the half-orc. The stench overwhelms Kazul, rendering him unable to concentrate on what he is doing.
The third maggot slithers forward, intestinal bile dripping from its mouth.
Fabian moves up to maintain supporting distance.
Seren prepares for a strike, should the maggots break through the front.
Dieter, trying to move up, finds his charge areested by the approaching maggot. Thinking better of it, he takes a defensive posture in a spot where he can flank with Bollwerk.
Horgus Gwerm is still holding on to Seraphyna, and his quaking causes her crossbow to go off, the quarrel skipping off of the ground perilously close to where Fabian is standing.
Sweet Lucille calmly draws her bow and sinks an arrow into the maggot that vomited over Kazul.
Bollwerk steps forward and attacks, but the rough terrain causes his swing to go astray.
Behind you all, Aravashnial I giving orders. [b]"Form a defensive line! Casters in back! Try to flank! By the gods Anevia, WHAT IS HAPPENING? TELL ME!!"
ROUND 2, READY, GO
Bollwerk nods at Dieter and advances 5ft forward.(W22)
Easy now, Titian, now a counterbody slash upward
Slashing up, this time his blade slices deeply into the maggot, slushing his shield with gore.
Dieter drops his defensive stance and shuffles sideways for better positioning. He thrusts his rapier straight toward the maggot, attempting to skewer the foul wretch.
5-foot step east
Attack (/w Touch of Good and flanking)
Damage
Lucille attacks again in support of those around her, her face expressionless.
If both maggots are still up then she will move to S22 and shoot the one on Kazul.
If this is a bow shot it will be at a -3 (-4 shooting into melee, +1 PBS)
Fabian points a finger, an icy ray shooting from his finger towards the maggot in front of him.
Casting Ray of Frost, targeting the maggot 15' to the right of Fabian on the map.
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Eyes wide at the sight of the beasties, Seren mutters under her breath. At least they aren't demons..." She raises her starknife, and moves towards the nearest one. "Don't scare me like that!" As she near the large maggot, she brings her deity's favored weapon high. For a fraction of a second it is held there before swinging down to the icky crawly thing.
By the gods...that thing vomited on me! Ughhh! Kazul struggles to keep his breakfast in. His anger takes over and he swings his falchion at the maggot again, moving to S26!
With the more aggressive people taking care of the maggots, Seraphyna defensively cowers, trying to look small and unappetizing.
Kazul's falchion once more cuts into a maggot, dealing the wounded creature a killing blow.
The last maggot heaves over Dieter, fouling him with its digestive juices. His return thrust, along with Fabian's ray, kill the monster.
Behind you, your "rescuees" are an extreme dichotomy of emotions. Horgus Gwerm can barely contain his shakes, still gripping Seraphyna's shoulders tightly, mumbling over and over "It's just a dream...it's just a dream..."
While on the other side, you can see Anevia helping Aravash down from the rubble, all while he is nearly livid with rage. "WHAT IS HAPPENING?? SOMEONE TELL ME THE TACTICAL SITUATION SO I CAN DIRECT!!" His voice echoes through the cavern, and you can hear continuing echoes leading east as they roll down a distant passage...
Sera grimaces in pain as Horgus' fingers dig into her tiny shoulders. "They're dead." she states, trying to wriggle free of the painful grasp, "You are safe for now."Looks like we are heading east. she thinks, having no real clue how she can tell without seeing the sun or stars.
Kazul looks at the two dead maggots on the cavern floor with pride. The one thing I do thank the orc tribe was training me in the use of this wicked sword! It has done well to keep me alive. Alive yes, clean no! The half-orc ignores the blind elf's ranting and begins cleaning the vile vomit off his skin and armor, yelling "Any of you have any water to spare to wash this vomit off me?!"
Dieter dispatches the last maggot and pulls his rapier back with a sneer on his lips. "Foul vermin." As he turns to smile at the other combatants, the first whiff of the vomit hits his nose and his expression twists into a look of pained disgust. He lets out a gurgling noise and dry heaves, desperately trying to scrape the vomit off of himself. "What kind of gods-damned creature vomits in battle!? Blerg!"
He stumbles over and shakes his head, trying to clear the stench. He calls out to Aravash, "THEY ARE ALL DEAD, ELF! A spider the size of a pony burst open and three maggots as long as my leg attacked us. They vomited on myself and the half-orc before dying. It is foul. Does anyone have a kerchief they don't mind ever seeing again?"
Dieter walks over and retrieves his chakram from the spider's corpse.
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"I'm sorry, Dieter, I don't. Hmm... I should have prepped my water spell today." Seren let's out a feeble laugh before walking over to Aravashnial. "And stay calm, friend. Know that you are well for now. If you wish to be of more help in your condition, and we can use it, trust me, do you know any spells? Anything might help, after all..."
When Dieter and Kazul approach, Sera does vomit from the stench, narrowly avoiding Horgus with the splatter. Once she recovers a bit, she pulls a broad item from her pack and starts fanning at the two, hoping to avoid the horrible smell. The wind around them picks up and slowly begins to blow off the vomit. Once she realizes what is happening, with an excited squeak she continues, making sure to aim the refuse away from anyone.
Lucille watches her companions finish off the maggots. She nods to herself at their competence, then reslings her shortbow. She walks back to the nearest pile of rubble and sits down on it. Then pulling out her musket and her smithing kit, she begins cleaning and reloading it, while everyone around her continues to bicker.
Cleaning his sword Bollwerk adresses the group."It seems all clear and present danger is taken care off. No fresh injured, that´s good. It is time to find our way up. Kazul, can you take point? Maybe with someone to help. Middle team Seren, Seraphyna and our non combatants. Dieter, do you think you can do the readguard?"
Aravashnial looks as if he is about to say something sharp, then rethinks it as he ponders what Seren says. "Listen. All of you. I am sure you do not need me to tell you that we are in grave peril, and that something terrible has happened to Kenabres. I was standing right...there" he falters, "when she fell. It was the Storm King's lash that took my eyes and made this ruin of my face." He says quietly, as his right hand touches the bandages over his eyes.
For a moment, all is silent. The elf continues. "I am sorry. Forgive me. The stress of being trapped with strangers in this time of need overcame me. But understand this: I have a great deal of experience fighting the demonic hordes. I suspect that you do not...as yet. You would do well to heed my advice, and I will do my best to help you...help us...survive this."
"As will I," Anevia says quietly.
"For my my part,"Horgus says, hitching up his belt,"I will trust that you all will see me safely to the surface. I will not die down here amongst the peasantry."
Kazul thanks Seraphyna for the cleanup. "See halfling, I'm not going to eat you. You're too fun and useful to have around." Afterwards, Kazul stands ready. "No problem with being point leader for this group. Just try to keep it quiet. I don't know what populates the cavern or how deep we are." When the party is ready, Kazul leads them east.
Dieter touches a hand to his forehead, then to his chest. "I am Dieter Stolzdorf, nephew of the 9th Baronet of Stolzdorf, Friedrich Stolzdorf. I just returned from my apprenticeship in Brevoy for the festival. It would be an honor to learn from one such as yourself, Aravashnial. Are you a member of the Crusade, or an adventurer?"
He gives a smile and a small bow from the waist to Anevia.
His smile drops for Horgus. "I hope you have money, Mr. Gwerm. If someone addresses me as a servant, I expect to be paid."
With a shrug the tiefling hands over his waterskin.
"I will manage. Tomorrow I think our cleric can ask her god for some water. But.. I have just one, please make it last"
Lucille finishes working on her musket, which is now loaded with a standard bullet, and meticulously repacks all her gear. She takes a judicious sip from her waterskin, before strapping it to the side of her backpack.
"Don't worry, Mr. Gwerm," she says, flashing him a smile, "there may be dangers ahead, but I have no intention of letting you die down here."
"Because there is no way in the Nine Hells I'm carrying your fat carcass back to the surface," she adds silently.
She falls into line when they begin to head out, with the intention of taking rear guard.
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Seren smiles at Aravasnial a little sadly. He couldn't see her, but she places a hand gently upon his shoulder. "Once we get to the surface, we'll get you better care, and you'll be fighting once more, friend. It may not be much, but you have me at your behest." She takes a deep sigh, then turns to the party. "Well, I suggest we move on. I don't about you all, but I get antsy if I can't see the sky and moon for too long."
She breathes deeply while touching her holy symbol. Desna preserve us, grant us a small amount of your luck that we may dance under your light once more.
Fabian says to Aravashnial, "Thank you, Aravashnial. I know that I have no experience fighting demons; I only know what I've read. Growing up in Kenbares, I've read a fair amount, and I've talked to those who have fought demons, but I have not experience myself."
Turning to Anevia, Fabian says, "Thank you for your help as well."
Turning to Horgus, Fabian says, "We will do our best to get all of us out of here. I would suggest that while we're down here, we not stand too much on protocol; we're in trouble, as Aravasnial has said. We don't know what has happened to Kenbares, but we all know that it must be dire. I respect you, and your position, but please understand that we're short on resources here, and will all have to work together if we wish to get out of this alive. For your own safety, please, rely on the exprtise of Aravasnial and the others here who have experience."
Looking around, he says, "Is there a way out of this cave? Are there any passageways that head upwards? We should try to find our way back to the surface."
Looking around for exists; take 10 on Perception for a result of 15. If he doesn't find any, spend a lot of time and take 20 for a result of 25.
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Seren begins to look around as well. [i]A way out...[/b] She slowly begins to look around. Sure, there may not be a large beam of light from an opening in the rock above that they could climb towards, but surely there was other ways out. "We should stick together, or at least split into no more than two groups. I'll stay with Anevia, Aravashnial and Mr. Horgus to tend to them if their wounds need it. Maybe a few should scout ahead, see if there are tunnels or an opening or something."
She turns to the three she named. "Is there anything I can do for you? Bind a wound, perhaps? It may not be much, but we need to make sure you don't catch sick down here where only my faith can heal after all." She gives them smiles all around (though Aravashnial, once more, cannot see it.
A quick wash with the water from Bollwerk, along with Seraphyna's magic, and the maggot stench abates enough to function.
Aravashnial smiles grimly, and places a firm and hand on the shoulder of Seren. "Lead on." With that, he and Anevia find their place in the line.
"Hrmmph." says Horgus, but he takes his place.
It is slow going, what with the unfamiliar terrain, the threat (real or perceived) of demonic hordes at every turn, and the hobbled Anevia. Fortunately, it nothing accosts you for some time as you make your way through the rock passage.
After an hour or so, you come upon a small opening in the tunnel. A small cave, really, just big enough to get the group into should you choose to do so. On the right hand wall, about 15' feet up, the strap of some object is hanging from a ledge out over the tunnel.
Fabian holds his hand up. "Hold up," he whispers. He looks at the object hanging from the ledge, trying to ascertain what it is.
"Is this the sign of a trap?" he asks. "Traps are not really my specialty, I fear...."
"Kazul, Fabian, what do you see?"
"There's a small cave up ahead, we might just fit through. Let me look around first."
Bollwerk walks to Lucille and whispers:"Can you guard Kazul? You are our specialist for distance fighting."
When the group stops, Lucille sees Fabian, Bollwerk, and Kazul conferring and pointing at a ledge up on the wall. She stares at it for a bit and notices the strap, fifteen feet up.
"Got it," she says, striding forward and drawing her whip. She spends a few seconds whirling it around her head, cracking it above her twice to get a feel for the distance. Then -- unless someone stops her -- she grabs the strap with her whip.
Lucille then gives it a gentle tug, to see how much strength is required to move the strap. If it is attached to a light object, she will do everything she can to make sure it doesn't hit the ground -- including catching it. If it is attached to the wall, or something heavy, she will wait to see what the others want to do.
Dieter whispers to Fabian, "Do you think you could use mage hand to give the strap a tug from a safe distance?"
"Unfortunately," Fabian whispers back to Dieter, "I didn't prepare that spell this morning. Otherwise, I could."
Fabian watches to see if Lucille is succesful with her whip.
Kazul waits to see also if Lucille's whip can help. He looks ready to catch the strap and whatever it is attached to if it falls off the ledge.