Edi makes his way down the corridor and down into a small room, about fifteen feet square. The ceiling height does not improve and the hanging tangle of roots brushes against everyone's ducked heads.
Three crude, wooden workbenches occupy the center of this room, their tops strewn with various tiny tools, metal and wooden hardware, and blocks of wood.
Another shaft at the far end of the room leads down, the only other exit from the room. There are no signs of mites in the room, though the clutter on the table seems to indicate that there were likely some here not long ago.
Acalon heads over to investigate the shaft down, looking to determine how far down it goes and if there are handholds to climb down.
Cael looks over the tables in the middle of the room to see what items the mites were working on and see if anything valuable was left behind "Acalon see anything down the next deep dark hole" he asks while dodging a particularly long mess of roots. Not much here. I wonder if they hid anything or it is really just this nasty." He takes a couple minutes to check out the room looking for possible doors, traps, or places that the mites might have hidden something.
+2 if human =
The shaft down doesn't look particularly deep. About ten feet perhaps, with the same tangle of roots that made it easy to climb down into the hole in the first place. (After all even Cael made it) By the looks of it, the drop opens up into yet another chamber.
The junk on the tables is, for the most part, just that. However, there are a couple of small and crudely made catapults sitting on one of the tables, along with a pile of caltrops (the bowls of the catapults being just big enough to fit a single caltrop inside). What they might have thought to use the contraptions for is anyone's guess.
As Cael is looking around, everyone can begin to hear muffled cries echoing up from below, through the shaft that Acalon is peering down. As if someone, or something were in pain.
Moving over closer to the shaft Cael almost whispers to the rest of the crew "I do believe we have an ambush set up for us. There be lots of whispering going on behind that cry of pain. I think we are supposed to rush to find out what it is and then the mites attack. So do we spring the trap or what?" looks around to all the group for a quick answer.
Red rubs one the spots he was previously stabbed, "I'd really like to prevent being a pin-cushion again, so let's try to NOT be ambushed."
"Well, we don't really have much choice. We could turn around and go back and hope we can come around behind them, or we go down the hole where they seem to be expecting us." Acalon stops and gauges the depth of the shaft again. "That's probably a little far to just jump, that would give them a surprise, I'd bet."
"Can we drop a light down or something like a thunder stone we could send in before us? Might want to keep a look out for caltrops as we know they were working with them?" looks around "If not i say send Edi first then Acalon, me and finally you magic types. We can try to form a spot that you all can stand in and get off a couple spells." looks around to see what kind of response this plan brings.
Adriana shrugs a bit. "I have no strong desire to go down first. I'm more than willing to let one of you big strong types go first." She gives Acalon a coy smile.
Edi shakes his head, as Red looks over at him, "Sounds like a reasonable order Cael, but yeah, we're probably walking into a trap. I don't think we have any thunderstones, so is there anything else we can to do introduce our own surprise?"
How about some flashy spells? perhaps you could throw a summoned creature down there instead of edi and have them trip the trap? could wind some rags around a couple arrow and light them and shoot but don't really want to be trying to breath smoke. sighs a bit or we could just wait to see if they get tired of waiting or finally just turn around and go home and forget what they did to us. Would rather not do that!
"I don't see any good way to surprise them if they're waiting for us. We might as well go and get things started. You all don't even need to come down right away if you don't want to, your spells and arrows should reach down just fine."
That said, Acalon heads to the edge and gets ready to climb down.
"Well if he's on his way not gonna let him go down alone. Back us up as quickly as ya can." Follows Acalon down into the hole as close behind as possible.
Edi and Red hurry behind Cael.
As Edi and Acalon drop down, the light from Acalon's armor quickly iluminates a rather gruesome scene. A kobold is strapped up against the wall, in an obvious state of interupted torture, the instruments of it scattered on a table nearby.
Scattered around the room are what could be the remnants of the attack on the camp, with a few reinforcements. A total of six mites crouch in the darkness, just waiting for someone to come down the hole, and as Edi and Acalon do, four of them launch into spellcasting as the others leap to attack.
Only one of the critters manages to get his blade past the defenses of his enemies, scoring a small cut on Acalon's leg.
save 1:
save 2:
Holding action hoping that the floor will clear. As soon as either Acalon or Edi move enough for me to have a landing spot will drop down and slice at the nearest attacker.
hit: -2 cramped penalty =
damage: 19-20/x2 crit
Will save 1:
Will save 2:
Acalon winds up the best he can in the tunnels and takes a swing at the closest mite.
To hit:
Damage:
Cain calls down to Acalon, Urging him on to greater bloodlust. "mites are just the right size for being squished like the bugs they are."
With the man in steel and a furry companion blocking the way, and no line of sight on the mites, Red thinks quickly and summons something fast and small as far in front of Edi (and as near the mites) as he can see. Red summons a Celestial Dire Rat, which promptly locks its beady little eyes on the nearest Mite, which seem to glow with holy fire (smite), and scurries (charge?) up to the foul thing and bites at it:
to hit:
damage
+ 1 if evil + disease DC 11 (not like it will survive that long)
Acalon's swing, inspired by Cain's cheerleading, crushes yet another mite, allowing him to step up and allow room for Cael to drop down. Unfortunately Cael's strike gets a bit tangled in the roots over his head and falls shy of the targeted mite.
Edi's lunge manages to take a small nip out of one of the mites, but more importantly he's able to get out from under the hole as well, making room for Red to drop down and summon his rat. The rat promptly locks itself onto one of the caster mites, but unfortunately is unable to lock his teeth onto it.
With the ground under the hole taken up, Adriana spends the time fishing through a tube, finally pulling out a scroll that she clasps tightly in one hand as she waits for a chance to join the others. Wonderful way to spend the night, jumping down dirty holes into ambushes.
The mites do not seem inclined to give up while they have the advantage. Rather, the rear ones move up to support the others with their jagged little blades, one stopping to help his compatriot against the rat.
However, after a flurry of attacks against Acalon, Edi, and the rat (with Edi taking the brunt) a scratch to Edi's foreleg is all they have to show for it.
Cain hears the sound of mites being squished by Acalon and cheers. "Keep it up! It's just like stomping cockroaches!"
Same song, second verse.
Acalon turns and takes a swing at the mite behind him.
To hit:
Damage:
Feeling blood spray from the mite north of him Cael turns his attention to the one directly in front of him and with a bellow attempts to skewer it with his sword.
hit: -2 cramped penelty
damage: 19-20/x2 crit
Edi:
Not liking to be flank, and feeling at least some protective instinct for Red, Edi goes into "ball of furry fury mode" (full attack). He will attack the one directly below him (map orientation), and if it succumbs to injuries he'll attack the one below Red.
To Hit:
Bite: Claw 1: Claw 2:
Damage:
Bite: Claw 1: Claw 2:
The Rat continues its crusade against the lone mite of its rage:
To Hit:, dmg: + 1 if evil
Red will drop his crossbow, ready his staff, and strike at the mite below him. To Hit , dmg:. Red then loudly curses his @#$#@$ Staff again.
Thanks in no small part to Cain's words of encouragement, Acalon's reign of carnage continues as he smashes another mite between the spiked ball of his weapon and the wall of the cave. Unfortunately, brain matter is the only thing that rubs off on Cael as his sword swings just can't seem to connect with the little bugger in front of him.
Edi seems to have better luck, clawing and biting at the mite below him, his attacks not seeming to do the damage they should, but still doing enough to drop the mite into a quivering cowering mass that huddles against the wall.
As for Red, well his curses are all the information anyone needs as to how he is faring, which is worse evan than the rat he had summoned. It manages to crawls up the mite's leg, biting and gnawing all the way as it brings the larger creature down beneath it, shrieking the entire time.
Seeing as no one has moved out from under the hole, Adriana shrugs and just waits for that to be the case. Really she's in no hurry to put herself into a situation surrounded by mites, and the others seem all to willing to do the work for her.
The mites don't seem to know when their licked, or maybe they just don't feel they have many other options. They press the attack, their little cries echoing off the walls.
The mite before Cael, ducks in where his comrade had been and turns to attack Acalon, apparently seeing him as the greater threat. Between himself and his compatriot however, they barely manage to scratch the armored warrior.
Edi finds himself still the target of attacks from multiple sides, racking up more cuts from the little knives.
Edi:
Furious at the paper cuts he keeps getting, wheels around, takes a step, and unleashes all of his fury at the mite above him. (5 ft free step right, full attacks the mite above, any carry over to the mite above and right)
To Hit:
Bite: Claw 1: Claw 2:
Claw 1 Crit:
Damage:
Bite: Claw 1: Claw 2:
The Rat is poof as the spell fades.
Red, who's face and hair now match from rage, flails both ends of his staff at the mite below him, in hopes of at least making contact (full attack). To Hit , , dmg:, .
Red steps 5 ft right, to make room for someone to drop down, but after both swings fail to connect, the string of profanities might discourage the last two from doing so.
...but after both swings fail to connect, the string of profanities might discourage the last two from doing so.
Cain hears more cries of dieing Mites and figures the odds are more even now. Not wanting to use up too much of his strength with more tunnels to explore, he points his crossbow down the hole and waits for something to shoot at.
Taking a second to glance at his blade that is still covered in just clumps of dirt and a trailing rootlet Cael takes up the screaming profanity, describing in disgusting detail the parentage of his weapon, while he tries to stab another mite.
hit: -2 tight quarters
damage: 19-20/x2 crit
Acalon turns to his right and levels a swing at the next mite.
To hit:
Damage:
Seeing Red step out of the way, Adriana makes the drop down. A quick survey tells her that the majority of the work is done and, seeing no good targets, she lowers the scroll to her side and turns to face the mite that Red had been ineffectively attacking.
The mite quails from her gaze, looks around the room and seems to see how few of his kin are left standing. Without a thought it turns to run for it. This seems to spark a mini stampede as the other two break for it as well.
The first doesn't make it past Adriana's spear thrust, catching it in the back and sending it sprawling to the ground.
While the second doesn't make it past Acalon's flail of mite slaying.
The third, closest to the exit, makes a clean getaway, escaping through a tunnel to the east.
It takes a few moments, but a soft whimper calls attention back to the kobold strung up against the north wall, his body obviously having been made the plaything of his mite torturers.
Looks down at his sword in disgust and then at the tunnel the mite used to escape. "There will be another ambush down that tunnel I would think." turning to look at the pitiful remains of the kobold. "Well those of you who thing we can speak to the kobolds instead of taking care of the issue, you can always try starting with this fellow." shakes his head "If he lives long enough that is." walks around the room doing a quick check for any valuables, traps, or compartments.
+2 if human =
Red watches as the un-hittable mite before him dies on Adriana's spear. Red contemplatively looks at the end of his staff and pokes the dead mite with it a few times. Then returns to a disgusted look, puts his staff away, and collects his dropped crossbow.
Edi comes out of his blood lust, and gives a disgusted "Blech", apparently mite doesn't taste as good as kobold. Which Edi then turns towards the kobold hanging on the wall. Edi looks over it, and turns away like it was a spoiled piece of meat.
Cain finally gets his chance to hop down the hole to find... nothing happening. Seeing the Kobold as the only think left of interest in the room, he walks over to it and with a touch of his hand eases it a bit (lvl 0 stabilize). "Too bad I don't speak Draconic." He comments to no one in particular. He then addresses the Kobold. "Do you speak common? Or do I need to get a translator?"
Looks up from his investigation of the room "If it's really necessary I can translate for the vermin"
The broken kobold looks up at Cain with a gleam of understanding in his eyes. After taking a look about the four intruders, as though wondering if he would be any better off with humans, he gives a nod.
Red: <in Draconic> to no one in particular "There a few of us that understand it, if it is easier for the kobold."
"Ok, Good. First off, what's your name? Second, storytime. How came you to be here? Third, What can you tell us about these mites and there home here?" Cain waits upon the Kobold's answers with patience.
The kobold looks at Cain for a long moment, taking in wracking breaths, then glances to either side where three other kobolds are strung up to the wall held in place by the roots and all quite dead. Turning back to Cain he asks in pleading common. "Let down?"
Adriana spends a moment cleaning mite blood from her spear before walking over to the exit the fleeing mite took and peering down it into the darkness. Reaching into her pack for a moment, she produces something and tosses it down the passage before turning back to the group.