Tabog follows relativity close to Imedren and listens to their conversation. He decided, as they left the tavern that it was better to remain separated from the regular interactions between any particular persons and simply be there to support his friends if they need any.
In this particular case Tabog jotted something down on a small note card and quickly presented it to Imedren before folding it up and sticking it in his pocket. He shakes his head and returns to his staggered following position.
Tabog has his bow at the ready as soon as they get there and keeps sentry duty for the most part. He does request to look at the books found with the logs, he reads over them quickly and notes important details that may be useful in the future.
He picks up the buzzing noise and goes into hunting mode. He finds a place to hide with a good vantage point, a view of the party with as few obstructions as possible.
Dramm hadn't noticed the buzzing while reading the books. Only when Imedren spoke up did he realizes the whining in the distance.
"Can't be good. Maybe we can avoid drawing attention." He quickly takes cover inside one of the buildings and pulls his knife from his belt.
Several minutes after you find hiding places around the camp, a swarm of dark shapes comes streaming down the hillside. As they get closer, you can see ten humanoid-shaped cockroaches the size of halflings creeping and crawling through the gloom. Above them, a human-sized roach buzzes on wings that emerge from its metallic green carapace.
Tabog nocks an arrow as he prepares to initiate the attack!
Naturally skittish creatures, Selgaer cannot overcome his faun nature. The sight of the creature sends goosebumps down his arms.
Drop my spear and draw my bow, knocking an arrow.
The arrow knocked, he takes aim. But the trembling in his hands throws it off.
As the buzzing gets louder Tabog can sense the bugs getting closer to the ground, nearing the his companions. He leans out from behind the door and sees the biggest of the bugs, takes aim and looses an arrow.
He quickly ducks back into the building before the arrow reaches its target.
Imedren steeled himself, the information he'd gathered from before had already sent his mind wheeling into conjuring all manner of frightening insectoid like imagery. When he saw the veritable swarm, he was not impressed.
He called upon the power of entropy to enhance his magics as things began to kick off.
Tabog's first shot punches deep into the thorax of the flying insect. It thrashes and falls to the ground, wings twitching for a few moments before it falls still!
Uruuna calmly draws her new bow, having switched it out for the crossbow she was previously using. She expertly fires two shots, each one taking down one of the smaller roaches.
Two of the giant insects are surprised, reeling about with antennae twitching. The other six charge towards you with clacking mandibles! Joy and Dramm pop out of hiding, and while the changeling misses with her sling, the sorcerer drops one of the onrushing bugs with a crack shot from his crossbow.
One insect rushes Dramm, while two each charge Tabog and Uruuna. Tabog takes a nasty bite from one's jagged mandibles.
After they attack, the bugs scatter, scrambling in seemingly random directions!
Seeing two of the insects ending up near the shaken Selgaer, Uruuna turns her aim to them. "Sel, look out!" she shouts. Her bowstring twangs twice in rapid succession, each of her shots a fatal one!
Dramm shoulders his crossbow and draws his ax during a careful approach toward Tabog's attacker. He lunges with a heavy swing.
Selgaer fires at one of the baddies. Trigger action to switch hunt target.
Tabog's opportunity attack and next shot both miss as the ferren retreats. Selgaer takes down another bug near him with a well-placed shot. The two nearby insects scramble back in to attack, but neither one hits!
Imedren's explosive spell and subsequent sorcerous eruption annihilate all four remaining insects! The mining camp falls silent once again, the bloody remains of exploded bugs littering the field.
Joy cautiously steps out of cover, unconsciously moving a hand to cover the small but still angry burn underneath her left eye.
"Were those demons or beasts?", she asks.
"Sometimes this world just has monsters, Joy." Imedren said, looking around the field.
"If everyone is alright, then it might be best if we get moving into the mines. No telling if there's going to be any more of those things."
Dramm peels off a chunk of chitin and bloody meat from his patched robe with disgust.
"Ugh, Imedren... I don't think there's enough of these robes left to stain like that." He draws his knife and approaches Tabog, grabbing ahold of his leg to inspect the bite wound. "Not too deep. Shouldn't be a problem. Here, this should get you walking normally."
His friend tended to, Dramm picks through the insect corpses. He peers with particular interest at the large one.
"Never seen a bug this big before. Maybe they used to be smaller? Something might have changed them. Hell of a shot, Tabog."
Joy is unable to identify what the insects might be. There doesn't seem to be anything of value to salvage from the corpses.
After a few minutes, you leave the mine camp and ascend the hill. Mine shafts burrow into the hill above the camp all the way to its summit. Scrub grass and tree stumps cover the hill, and several dirt paths wind up to the top. The first shaft descends at a steep but navigable angle into the hillside.
Further up the hill, three wooden shacks cover vertical elevator shafts that lead down to other parts of the mine. Between them, a slanted roof held up by wooden posts acts as a ventilation shaft for the mine. Iron rungs are hammered into the shaft wall for climbing.
Past all of these, a few narrow tunnels appear to burrow into the top of the hill.
Joy moves on from the monstrous insectoid corpses.
"We'll have to find answers somewhere else.", she notes.
Looking at the shaft top and tunnels, Joy looks about, seeking signs of monstrous passage.
"Does anyone see tracks?", she asks.
Numerous insectile tracks lead in and out of the narrow tunnels. Several are recent--the bugs you fought in the camp likely emerged from there.
Joy points out the many tracks.
"Lots of insect tracks, in and out of the tunnels. And that tunnel has fresh tracks. I think that's where that group we fought came out of.", she says, pointing finally at the tunnel in question.
"Shall we go in?"
"We should avoid the narrower tunnels. It might be best to start with the lower tunnels and work our way up to the elevators from there."
"May as well." Dramm looks down the hole. "Do you still have that hook, Joy? If I'm going first, it would be good to have something to hook onto the rung above in case one gives way."
Bypassing the elevator car in the first shaft, you climb down the iron rungs and descend the shaft into the mine. A few short passages lead away from the shaft but end after a few yards, exploratory excavations that didn't produce results.
Halfway down, a passage connects to the wider vent and proceeds deeper into the hill. You can also continue descending, which will bring you into the main passage from the entrance.
Sounds echo around you in the narrow shaft. It is dark, and the air is warm and oppressive. Uruuna suppresses a shudder. "This place gives me the creeps. I've got a bad feeling about this..."
"I'd rather clear above before going any deeper. We'll be boxed in enough already." Dramm steps from the rung onto the secondary passage. "Can rest the arms. Didn't expect it to be warm. Thought it'd be cold."
He pulls a torch and tries to light the passage more clearly.
The tunnel is 3 yards wide and 2 yards tall. Wooden posts support the ceiling and shore up the walls every 4 yards. Bundles of torches and barrels of pitch stand at the tunnel entrance. The tunnel features two sets of iron rails on which stand 3 ore carts.
Dramm peeks inside the barrels first, but pulls away quickly wrinkling his nose.
"Pitch. Careful" He keeps the torch a healthy distance from the barrels. "Could be useful though..."
He wanders over to the ore carts and looks inside, hoping to recognize the ores from the reference guide.
"What were you digging up down here?" He mutters to himself.
There appear to be a few chunks of iron ore in the carts.
"Put that torch out, Dramm. Spotting Lanterns are going to be more effective methods of light in these tunnels." Imedren says, reaching into his pack and lighting up an iron plated lantern.
"Oh. Right, good idea. Thanks." he quickly douses the torch. "Iron. Doesn't seem like anything special. Maybe they found something else?"
"I trust your instincts on this better than mine, Uruuna. If you think that we might be in over our heads at any point, say so and we'll get out of here." he frowned in thought. "This mine was primarily an iron mine for general purposes of the city and for helping to equip the Crossings military. Not surprising really. But those insects came from somewhere, I just hope they weren't what completely shut down this place. I think you're right about not getting too surrounded here though Dramm. Let's check this middle tunnel first before we go any further down."
You follow the tunnel for several minutes, not coming across much of interest. The lantern light casts strange shadows along the path ahead, but nothing jumps out of those shadows to attack you.
Eventually, the tunnel intersects with the second of three elevator shafts. You can see three more tunnels below you, two proceeding deeper into the hill, one heading back the way you came. The main tunnel is likely further below. Above you, a hole in the wall of the shaft opens onto a burrowed tunnel leading further into the hill.
Dramm looks up at the intersecting burrow. "Shit..." He turns to the others. "... Shoot for it?" He holds up a hand to play.
Uruuna rolls her eyes. "I'll do it." She clambers up and peers into the burrow. "It twists around a lot. Can't see exactly where it leads."
Imedren chuckled at Dramm. "Don't take it too personally. That's just how Uruuna is. She tends to do what she feels is best, and I just try to make sure she has the best chance of succeeding."
When Uruuna gets back and reports Imedren nodded. "Hopefully there won't be anything then... TaBog, you can see in the dark and make yourself smaller. Why don't you take the lead for us all going, that way you can warn us if you spot anything before we all wander into it."
Tabog stops as his name is mentioned. Halfway into the hole; he listens to Imedren and looks around slowly, he nods his head and continues into the darkness.
I was doin it, I was walking into the hole, endangering myself without being asked to and he asks me anyway. Like I wasn't about to do the damn thing right then. For the love, I don't know what I gotta do. I mean really, how hard is it to OpEn YoUr EyEs. Some people. Good guy, great guy, tough time in his life. But come on....
Tabog was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he forgot to look around in the dark tunnel to seem much of anything
Peering into the adjoining cave, Tabog doesn't notice anything unusual. The buzzing whine you heard in the camp is present here, though. It may indicate more of those insects are nearby.
"It looks clear," Tabog calls back.
"I'll take the lead," Selgaer says, holding his spear. He squeeze past Tabog and into the cave, the rest of you following behind.
As you are getting your bearings in the larger cave, two hulking monsters suddenly lumber into the light of your lantern, trailing glistening slime behind them! These horrid brutes are headless but sport wide, vertical slashes down the center of their fleshy bodies. The slick opening is filled with rotten, brown teeth, the gaps clotted with bits of rotting flesh and caked with yellow-white plaque. They lumber about on elephantine legs and swing club-like appendages ending in three-fingered hands.
As they notice you, they begin to mutter and grumble as they stomp closer!
"Heads are gone. Can't be too bright." Dramm's confidence may be a little misplaced. "Think we can lead them back to the barrels, Imedren? Burn them?"
With several quick motions, the gently humming force barrier covers Dramm. He spreads out a little, giving the party some space to circle the creatures.
Uruuna raises her bow and fires two arrows in quick succession at the closer monster, both managing to find their mark.
Tabog, now is human form, was confused at the horrible creatures that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
The seemingly daily bombardment of wickedness and demonic abominations seems to be taking it's toll on the once optimistic and friendly ferren. Tabog get low to the ground, hoping he wasn't already sensed over his louder companions and remains as silent as possible.
He notches his bow and fires at the monster.
Imedren had seen enough monstrous entities these were nothing new for him.
He shook his head at Dramm's question.
"Too fast. They'll catch us." He coursed with chaotic energies empowering the dark curse magic aiming for the closer of the two monstrosities.
Sensing that he couldn't control his power he let out a breath and warped away to behind the monsters.
The horrifying monsters cause Selgaer's mind to reel, throwing off his aim enough to miss his shot.
Imedren overwhelms the unwounded monster with pain, causing it to be momentarily stunned. His explosion rips through the stunned one, though the other avoids the worst of the burst.
The other creature reaches for him with a heavy fist, but the sorcerer dodges the clumsy swipe.
Three slobbering mouths suddenly open up in the floor around Imedren, biting at him!
"Gah! So, you like causing pain? Well so do I!"
Another burst of dark energy flowed around Imedren and he struck the second monstrous entity with a flash of pain.
This time however, Imedren was able to keep his power in check.
"Quick, strike at both of them and we will make short work of this!"
Joy makes sure that her hands are fully covered by her sturdy gardening gloves before she goes near the rungs.
Better to risk slipping than touch *iron*!
After that, a few headless monsters don't seem half bad.
And very flammable. Joy tests this by launching witch fire at the one Imedren has struck at!
Sel is having a hard time keeping his focus. These things aren't just dripping with grossness; they're Banes against Nature itself. Their very presence is an afront against all that is good.
He tries to set his resolve, loosing the arrow. But instead of penatrating an eye, it flies right through the gigantic unnatural upright maw.
As Joy's fire burns the nearer monster, Uruuna shoots at the other one, scoring one hit! Both creatures shriek and reel with pain!
It didn't seem like the abominations were troubled by anything Tabog did. He stands up, dejected, and continues firing.
The monsters continue to stumble around in a daze of pain!
Sel fires another arrow.
Ah! Damn it! Sel complains as yet another shot misses. He throws his bow to the ground and grabs the obsidian tipped spear, preparing to charge.
Imedren grimaced against the pain a second time as he managed to dodge two of the maws this time but stepped right into the mouth of the third one. Starting to really feel the pain and seeing neither of the monsters were going down he began to move around them. As he did, he reached into one of the leather side pouches he'd had attached to his armor and grabbed one of the loaded syringes there.
He frowned as he saw most of his allies attacks bound off the unnaturally tough exterior of the monsters despite their inability to fight back for the moment.
"Fine, I'll just have to burn you both to ashes." As the monsters faced him he unleashed another bout of fire at them.
Imedren felt the energy well up within him and he jammed the syringe of healing elixir into himself. Explosive sparks danced in the air as the fire lit up the tunnels and the power proved too much for him to hold in this time, another wave of destructive energy released against the monsters.
Dramm advances when Imedren teleports.
"Always into the middle, eats up magic, gets himself chewed up, and I gotta put him back together." Dramm mutters to himself and grips a burning sigil. His force field flare to protect his arms as the amber glows a deep orange.
The magic fails to take hold, and the creature simply shrugs away the destructive energy. Dramm's tattoos surge as the amber glows brighter. His face scrunches in concentration, but the magic still breaks loose. Fortunately, no one is within the radius.
"That's getting faster. Greater draw? An interaction with the Oracular's influence?"
His previous spell a failure, Dram decides to impair them instead. He slashes an empowered sigil and drives the magic into the monster.
A burst of multicolored threatens to burn both of the large creatures. Frustration ekes its way into the Sorcerer's voice.
"Dammit. Definitely evolving. The draw is becoming greater. That could be... interesting."
Uruuna fires two shots, but only one hits the northern monster, leaving it reeling. "Joy, Tabog, hit the other one before it can recover!" she says.
The fray begins to make Tabog nervous as Imedren keeps narrowly escaping the maws.
Unfortunately, Tabog and Joy both miss with their attacks, leaving one of the monsters momentarily free to act. It chomps at Imedren with its gaping maw, but the sorcerer's arcane armor barely keeps its clashing teeth at bay!
Dramm moves in to punish the monster for daring to attack, magical energy blasting both of the creatures.
Imedren moves around and blasts them both with fire, and his subsequent outburst of power finishes both monsters off! They fall to the floor, smoke rising from their charred forms. The slobbering maws in the floor vanish as quickly as they had appeared.
In the aftermath of the fight, you can see that you are beneath the third and furthest most elevator shaft. The shaft descends to a cave below you, and twisting tunnels intersect ahead. One tunnel leads up to the surface, one down to the room at the base of the elevator shaft, and one opens up to what seems to be a truly immense cavern ahead. Buzzing insect sounds echo from that direction.
Joy gulps, the witch fire sti hanging in the air near her.
"I think we need to follow those sounds."
I agree, young one. Keep behind me. Sel cautiously advances forward.
You cautiously approach the end of the tunnel leading to the large cavern ahead. The ceiling rises up several dozens yards, while a drop-off leads about five yards down to the cavern floor. Here, dozens of wriggling white larvae and even more large, fleshy eggs litter the floor. You count no less than fifteen of the big bugs that you fought in the camp scurrying about, tending to the larvae. If they notice you looking down at them, they pay you no heed. A few tunnels on the lower level descend deeper into the hillside.
A narrow ledge winds around the cavern to a wide shelf at the far end. Your light only illuminates the nearest edge of the shelf--the recesses of the cavern are obscured by darkness...
Selgaer backs up. He whispers to the group, looking at Imedren and Dramm, I think this is a job for a large explosion.
"That's your specialty, Imedren. I'll support." Dramm situates himself behind the other sorcerer.
Joy keeps her witch fire hidden behind her when she realises the danger.
"Imedren, I think they're right.", she whispers.
Imedren nods.
"Okay then."
Looking around the room he lets out a low breath and calls forth his magical energies to replenish. He watched the movements of the insects for a short time nodding to himself, then he reached into his bag and pulled out an incantation.
"Alright, here's the plan. I'm going to be moving around very quickly for a time. When I do, those insects are going to start swarming around me. I'll need the rest of you to be targeting them when they do."
Imedren nods.
"Okay then."
Looking around the room he lets out a low breath and calls forth his magical energies to replenish. He watched the movements of the insects for a short time nodding to himself, then he reached into his bag and pulled out an incantation.
[smaller]"Alright, here's the plan. I'm going to be moving around very quickly for a time. When I do, those insects are going to start swarming around me. I'll need the rest of you to be targeting them when they do. Joy, this is a blessing scroll. I'll tell you when, use it on everyone." he handed over the scroll.
"Now we wait."
Several minutes more he finally thought he saw several of the insects gather next to another.
"Get ready." Imedren said, as he called upon the energies left by the rifts in the world. "Now Joy!"
He waited for the girl to use the incantation and once it's effects had taken place, he disappeared reappearing on the far ledge.
He saw the insects below and he charged the air with sorceress power and unleashed his a round of explosive darts at the gathered insects.
He'd expected as much as he felt the power rush within him. He warped down next to the eggs.
Joy, this is a blessing scroll. I'll tell you when, use it on everyone."[/b][/smaller] he handed over the scroll.
"Now we wait."
Several minutes more he finally thought he saw several of the insects gather next to another.
"Get ready." Imedren said, as he called upon the energies left by the rifts in the world. "Now Joy!"
He waited for the girl to use the incantation and once it's effects had taken place, he disappeared reappearing on the far ledge.
He saw the insects below and he charged the air with sorceress power and unleashed his a round of explosive darts at the gathered insects.
He'd expected as much as he felt the power rush within him. He warped down next to the eggs.