Following the path of the tunnel, you see a passageway narrow and slope downwards, further into the mines. To the north, there is another cavern, which would be unremarkable were it not for the metal tower that occupies most of the space and pushes against the fractured ceiling.
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"Oh, what's that? Looks strange to be in a mine. Well, I'm not a miner, but I think a mine is just a hole, you don't build stuff into it. Mimi, come, let's go looky. You can sniff if it's something fishy."
Kiti walks to the tower, and around it, trying to spot anything of interest and especially the purpose of the structure. Mimi is slowly following, sniffing the ground for anything unusual.
The building Mimi and Kiti approach is clearly out of place, it's architecture clashing with the local style and it's upper walls and ceilings wedged awkwardly into the top of the cavern.
Mimi purrs, not smelling anything unusual, but as the cat and the gnome approach she hears muffled voices from inside. A faint 'shhh' quiets those noises, but a moment later a low, raspy voice whispers out from the door.
"So, have you come to torment us again? It won't help. Our resolve is strong and your perversions will never reach us."
"How, how do I know that this isn't another ploy?" the voice behind the door responds, a bit louder now. A more clever one than I'd expect certainly, but evil is nothing if not cunning. Who are you, and who sent you here?"
"All, all right." You hear shuffling sounds, and a moment later the door opens a crack, with a dwarven man peering through at you. At the sight of two aasmiar and the others, the figure breaths a sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank goodness. My name is Bertrag. I was captured by these so caled 'Doomsday Knights' and convinvced them to bring me back here, to be sacrificed properly rather than cut down like an animal. I'd hoped I could bide my time and learn the extent of the cult, but once I saw there were other being fed to tat monster I couldn't just sit by. So I grabbed who I could, and we holed up here. We've been waiting about a week.
But shh, we must be quiet. The Doomsday Knights are still about. Have they spotted you?"
The dwarf gives a weak snort. ”In most cases I’d be glad to fight alongside you. But," he cracks the door open more to reveal a half-dozen gaunt and shivering dwarves and humans. "The whole reason I abandoned my first plan is these people needed protecting. I activated my instant fortress the keep them safe. And even though you could sneak past those cultists, there's no way all of us could."
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"Oh hi! I'm Anne Catherine White but my friends call me Kiti. The monks asked us to come here, and here we are! What is the thing that wants sacrifice? Is it living here or is it some summon thingy? We met some of the cultists, three, they weren't nice so we had to kill them. This is really nifty, this tower, but a bit metal, what if you could have a tree that did same? The horsies said there's at least one more here and someone who's gone outside, what do you know of them?"
Happy to get new people to talk to, Kiti begins her chatter, while curiously examining the tower.
"Thank you Jory, and Anne, and thank you all." Bertrag cracks a smile. "It is good to see that we are not forgotten."
To Wyrgan he replies: "A few of us have some scratches and bruises, but nothing too bad. Our major problem has been hunger: I've been able to create water for us to drink but food is beyond me sadly. Still, we have been using some of our meditation exercises to help. This is not the first time most of us have fasted."
"And no," he says to Jory and the others. "If the way is truly clear I can guard the rest as we head towards the entrance. You say you've slain three of the cultists?" Bertrag thinks, counting. "From what I saw there were four of the vile men. Well, four humans anyway. And that beast of theirs. I never faced it myself praise to Irori but every so often the Knights would drag one of the captives down below for a sacrifice or something. Those that went down did not return. Whatever it is its down below on the lower level. Be careful, its even hotter there then it is up here."
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Jory nods:
"Sometimes I think dwarves were made to watch out for others."
He looks around.
"The dwarves in the monastery were hungry, or I'd have a sandwich or two to pass around. You may want to get these people there."
Jory gives directions to the monastery. "I might want to buy one of those fortresses someday. They look useful. Well, I will scout ahead and see what we find."
"You've done plenty for us already!" Bertrag says shaking your hand heartily as he motions for the rest of the prisoners to follow him out of the magical fortress. "I'll pray for you to strike on, and clear these nihilists out for good."
As the nervous prisoners begin to spill out towards the mine carts, Bertrag turns to Jory. "If you think you can get that out, feel free. Just be sure you don't bury yourselves in the process. No tool is worth that. The deactivation word is," he leans in towards Jory and whispers softly "Очистить".
Bertrag begins leading the rest of the prisoners back to the surface.
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Jory shrugs:
"After we get the cultists, I'll get the fortress, I may have to run very fast. Maybe some of you magic types have a spell that will help. Anyway, on to first business--cultists!!"
Jory looks at his fifty feet of rope. "I think I'll be tying this to the fortress, deactivating it, and running like the dickens pulling it behind. Bertrag, can you point out a feature on the fortress that stays after it turns small that I can tie a rope to. The door handle perhaps?"
Nevertheless, he heads down, thinking the plan is to use the fortress to keep the cave stable for now.
The tunnel downward gradually descends over the course of five-hundred feet, occasionally branching out into short side passages and broader, but empty chambers.Exploring these dead ends reveals no sign of any further activity beyond a dried bloodstain here or there, but after five minutes you hear the dripping sound of water and a roomopens up ahead.
Stepping forward, you see a flooded chamber, whose pools of murky water release strange and foul-smelling fumes. Large slick boulders protrude form the water, many covered in bloodstains and profane markings. Greenish filaments crisscross much of the water by a narrow rocky ledge lining the area. The heat down here is unbearable, even with your magical endurance.
Crouching on one of the distant boulders stands a man decked in a breastplate marked with Rovagug's sign, with a sharp greataxe in his hand. His face is horribly disfigured with scars, deep claw marks seemingly from self-mutilation garishly visable as he straightens up and calls out to you.
"Well, so we have more guests come here to offer themselves up to the Rough Beast! It is always looking for volunteers. So, have you seen the truth of oblivion? Embrace it, and let your sparks forge a key to crack the great Cage!"
Initiative
Jager
As Jory approaches the cultist, he gives an eerie grin and smiles at you some more. Up close you can see he does not look well-it appears the room's fumes have taken their toll. ”Why yes, fire. Fight! For destruction is everything-the end of all! Our world is a lie: simple vanities we spin for ourselves before the tide of horror and decay. Oblivion is the only truth: can you not see it?”
As he continues to speak, you think his words may have the rhthym of a spell.
Initiative
Wyrgan
Kristen
Wyrgan detects a strong aura of evil radiating off or the cultist.
As Wyrgan mmoves up next to the water, the gases coming off of the liquid start to sting his eyes.
Initiative
Kristen
Two arcane bolts fly from Kristen's hand and slam into Tasutek. He grimaces as they slam into him, but keeps speaking sonorously.
Meanwhile, a monstrous...thing emerges from the water. This obscene mass looks like a melted blob crossed with a spider, ceaselessly lashing out with its hairy, wriggling legs. It's many mouths and limbs click and twirl as is shoots a green tinged webbing at Jager, though the webbing just misses the tiefling.
The creature's form and appearance is so hideous, that Kristen and Mimi find themselves sickened for rounds.
Servitors of Rovagug, Thognoroks have numerous posionous bites, but are also notable for spinning acidic webs that burn even as they entangle.
Initiative
Jager
Kiti & Mimi
Ka Kaw
Jory
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Jory just does what he does best, shoot his bow. He fires four shots, taking care with the first one, and uses his ability to aim with deadly effect. Using his enchanted bow, Jory feels confident in the first and third shot as he targets the chanting fanatic.
The thistle arrow opens a wound on the chanting warrior. Jory hopes it stops any magic the cultist is attempting.
These barbed arrows are crafted from the thistles of a poisonous plant, causing pain to persist beyond the initial injury.
Benefit: Thistle arrows deal damage as a bleed effect for 1d6 rounds.
A creature that is taking bleed damage takes the listed amount of damage at the beginning of its turn. Bleeding can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or through the application of any spell that cures hit point damage (even if the bleed is ability damage). Some bleed effects cause ability damage or even ability drain. Bleed effects do not stack with each other unless they deal different kinds of damage. When two or more bleed effects deal the same kind of damage, take the worse effect. In this case, ability drain is worse than ability damage.
Two of Jory's arrows hit home, emphatically breaking the Rovagite's concentration and causing his spell to be lost. He stares daggers at the dwarf as he hacks out a cough.
Initiative
Jager
Ka Kaw
The cultist. winces as two bullet holes pierce his already bleeding side.
"Fine, you would spurn the Great Beast's gifts? Then let Tasutek bring them to you more directly!"
He mutters a prayer to Rovagug as most of his wounds seem to heal Then he strides confidently atop the water, effortlessly dodging the green strands that lie just above its surface as he casts a second spell.
Initiative
Wyrgan
Kristen sickened