Jess looks around the cave poking at the rather foul smelling bedding and kicking various bits of trash. Upon inspection it seems a pretty good bet that goblins have been camping here for at least a few days if not longer.
”So, he kept his minions here...great...” Hollie said in disgusted sarcasm. ”Let’s go check the next tunnel...”
"Good eyes!" Shaedeen praises Matthias, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
The teen thinks for a moment and then scans the beach for any footprints that aren't goblin in origin. "If we don't find any of Tsuto's footprints here," she whispers to the others, "that likely means we missed him in one of those side corridors."
”Yeah, let’s not give him too much of a head start...” Hollie agrees. She gives Matthias a nudge and a “good job” smile before leading the way back to the next tunnel branch.
Doubling back you again take the long trek through the tight tunnel until you reach the first fork that looks to have once been bricked off. Turning down it you travel perhaps thirty strides before you note two additional branches to your right.
Hollie and Drax lead the way, checking the first tunnel to their right before moving on...
Before taking off, she turns to the others and whispers "Drax and I can see in the dark. We can move ahead of you guys with the light a bit..."
Matthias smiles sheepishly as the others praise him in unison. This is so strange... Why are they all so nice?
While they're at the camp, he searches the ground for medium-sized footprints.
Why are they all so nice?
Shaedeen nods at Hollie's words, though she's frowning at the thought of the party leader (and healer!) taking point in the hunt for the obviously dangerous fugitive. Still, if Hollie can see in the dark (And how is that possible? Some mystical link with Drax?) it's hard to argue the point. Shae keeps an eye out behind the party so they won't get ambushed from that direction.
Looking over the cavern and beach outside Shae notes some booted footprints. Matthias has a look at them and is soon noting how one print has been trod on by a goblin while another contains seaweed pushed up by the last tide. A third, he begins to explain, is now home to a small variety of digging crab that, interestingly enough, can also be found on the coasts of the Linnorn Kings. He seems ready to continue on when he notes Shae's puzzled, if bemused, look and cuts himself short with a "They're old tracks."
Drax and Hollie lead the group into the first branch of this new tunnel. As Drax comes around the corner he passes through a choke point before the path opens into a wider chamber. Just as he's scanning the area a hiss that rises into a guttural growl sounds next to him.
The dragon whips his head in that direction and is met by the sight of a rapidly approaching abomination. The creature is roughly humanoid in shape but with bent, dog-like legs. It's torso is somewhat bulbous with steely muscle showing through pale skin. The arms are overly long and end in three taloned fingers. Perhaps worst of all is the twisted horror of a face. Pale and hairless with large rage filled eyes it's skull extends into a distended tooth filled maw with a short pair of arm-like appendages on either side and a sinuous tongue flicking about.
All this is taken in in a instant as Drax must immedately try and defend himself from it's attempt to bite into him.
He's unable to avoid the sudden attack however and the creature takes a chuck out of his neck. Leaping back a step it gives a slight lift of it's head as it swallows it's prize.
Matthias moves forward to bring the light for the others to see.
Once Matthias has illuminated the area, Shae moves in. As she squeezes past Hollie, she gets her first look at the monster. Guessing that the thing has reach with its long arms (but still not sure how it managed to bite Drax from that range), Shae tries to tumble into attacking position. Unfortunately, she again trips a bit over Drax's tail as she attempts her acrobatics, leaving her open briefly to attack. She recovers quickly and jabs at the beast, though it's not her best effort.
for
minutes
Shae enters the fray and immediately draws the creatures attention.
The nimble girl is quick enough to avoid the creatures bite however. She quickly counterattacks but her blade narrowly misses striking anything vital.
Turning back to it's original foe the abomination attacks with a frightful fury.
Again it bites deeply into your draconic companion, ripping out more of his hide. The first of it's claws rakes along the dragons scales without effect but the second finds purchase and gouges a deep line along it's path.
Drax roars and begins lashing out as well, trying to rip this offending abomination to shreds!
”Drax!” Hollie gasps as she draws her rapier and steps up to join the fray. She thrusts her blade into the beasts chest!
Jess as surprised as everyone else moves around the corner to see what is going on. Seeing the bizarre creature she pulls out her crossbow to take a shot when she can, but looks the thing over to try and see if she knows anything about what it is.
Shaedeen winces as she sees the damage Drax is taking. The rogue steps into flanking position opposite Hollie and launches a swift jab at the monster, aiming for where she guesses its black heart beats.
for (18-20)
Drax returns the bite, tearing at the creatures shoulder while Hollie perfectly times her own attack to land at the same time. The twisted being roars out, seemingly more in rage than pain. Meanwhile Shae takes the opportunity to step behind and drive her rapier through your opponent. The thin blade emerges just below it's neck before rapidly withdrawing.
Reeling from the attacks it seems to barely be standing.
As something comes to her she blurts out to the others "Oh my! That thing it is a Sinspawn! Some soldier of the ancient Thassilonian's. Don't know why or even how it is here but maybe we can try and ... capture it?" She hesitates as she says the last part then looks to Matthias as she adds "They are resistant to magic, just so you know"
Matthias nods anxiously at Jess's warning. He decides to call forth grease beneath the creature to try and trip it.
At Matthias's arcane call a coating of grease covers the cavern floor beneath the creature. Unable to adapt quickly enough to the sudden change it falls heavily to the ground.
This seems to send the creature into a fury and it begins scrambling toward Shae, lunging to try and bite at her.
Leaping straight up she avoids the awkward attack. This last effort seems to have exhausted the creatures rage and after a few half hearted attempts to grab at Shae it falls still.
Jess watches the chaotic scene unfold and as the thing lays there motionless for a moment she asks "Um... is it dead?"
"Missed me! Missed me! Now you gotta…." Shaedeen decides she doesn't want to finish that old rhyme.
"I think it's still alive but bleeding out," she tells Jessa, looking sideways at her gnome friend. "Do you really want to take this thing alive? Cuz I sure don't want to carry it, even though it looks pretty emaciated."
Jess nods excitedly "Oh yes!! Let's tie it up, then can we maybe stop it from bleeding out? These things haven't been around for who knows how long. It would provide an extraordinary research opportunity!"
She looks around to the others "Does anyone have any rope?"
”We...we should likely try,” Hollie reluctantly agrees. ”If there are more of these, the guards and militia will need to be ready and prepare how to deal with them. Let’s...let’s get it to the garrison and then see if Father Zantus can heal our wounds before we come back to try and secure these caverns.”
She steps to Drax and puts a hand on his neck, asking worriedly ”Are you alright, big guy?”
He just nods, but it is clear he is in pain.
Jess looks to Hollie and quirks her brow "Uh head back already? I mean... sure but..." She wrings her hands anxiously "What about Ameiko's brother, or... I mean there are more tunnels here"
”We...we leave a guard. Drax and I can stay...Mattie too. You and Shae try and get this thing to the Garrison and see if Father Zantus can come provide some healing for us. The three of us will hold the breach...” Hollie replies, trying to sound confident but is obviously a bit uncomfortable with making these decisions.
Jess scratches her head and purses her lips as she considers Hollie's suggestion.
She looks at Drask's injuries and smiles to herself as she sets down her pack and pulls out a vial and various containers of stuff. She spends a minutes adding some components to a vial and some water then shakes it up and hands it to Drax to drink. "Here Drax, this should help heal some of your injuries."
Seeing it didn't do much she pulls out one of her pre-made vials and hands it over to him as well. "Maybe this one will work a little better."
Seeing that one did a little better she looks back to the others with a sheepish smile "So maybe now we can just keep going? I mean I don't have any more of those for today, but now we know we just need to be careful. I'm sure once we tie this thing up and stabilize it it will be out for awhile."
Shaedeen looks at Hollie and then at Jessa as the two discuss opposing plans in a very civil manner. She opts not to put her two coppers into the discussion--at least not yet--and focuses on trying to stabilize the gnome's prized specimen of evil.
"I have no rope," she says over her shoulder as she does her best to stop the monster's bleeding. "And on closer examination, this thing's pretty damned tall and not as emaciated as I thought."
"Oops!" the teen exclaims as the monster spurts blood when she applies pressure to the wrong spot. "And I'm not very good at healing monsters, apparently...."
Hollie steps over beside Shae and says ”Let me help...” as she kneels down and reaches out to move Shae’s hands to the best spot to staunchest the bleeding. Her hands slide down Shae’s forearms to the backs of her hands before Hollie realizes the intimacy of the touch, resulting in her blushing furiously.
Once it’s clear the thing should survive, she removes her hands and stands back up. ”So...I have rope, but I keep it with my tack with Midnight in the stables...”
With Hollie's help, Shaedeen's able to get the monster's bleeding down to a minimum; it seems likely the beastie will survive. Shae gives her friend a slight smile and asks, "Is there anything you're not good at?"
Shae doesn't flinch when your hands do some sliding and/or exploring. Her eyes are full of admiration for you--and maybe something more--but at the same time they seem a bit troubled. She may be unsure of commitment or possibly even hiding something (else) terrible about herself that's keeping her at arm's length.
Matthias looks very surprised as his grease spell apparently... knocks the monster unconscious? When Jess mentions studying the monster he looks both fascinated and terrified. "Oh my... what a fascinating and completely deadly subject for study..."
Jess shrugs when no one has rope "It should be unconscious for awhile right, from it's wounds?" With a bit of a bounce in her step she turns back to the hallway and says "Ok, so let's keep exploring!" She pauses for a moment then looks to Hollie "Right?"
Shae gives Hollie a questioning glance when Jessa asks to keep exploring. Her first impulse is to back Hollie's play: She was the one who told the Priestess of Sandpoint she was the group's leader, and it would look bad to undermine her authority here. Still....
"Tsuto's still loose...and I really don't want to lug that thing up all those stairs by myself...."
Hollie looks to the thing. It certainly seemed out cold...
”Alright. Just keep an eye and ear out for it to come up behind us...” before moving on further down this branch to make sure it is clear...then on to the next deviation...
Shaedeen gives Hollie a nod, but as soon as her back (and Drax's) are turned, Shae flashes Jessa a big grin and thumbs-up. Then, rapier again at the ready, she stalks quietly behind the mithral champion and her dragon, again all business.
Making your way down the next branch of the tunnel you soon come to a point where the nature of the floor and walls change. So far you've been walking on earth and stone, similar to a mining tunnel but just ahead of you the floors become well worked stone tiles and the walls are similarly manufactured in nature.
A small chamber sits at the end of this branch, the floor covered in some kind of rubble and a closed door stands along the northern wall.
Matthias examines the rubble but only half-heartedly as he keeps looking back where they left the unconscious monster. "Um... this looks like rubble. Should we open the door?"
As the natural tunnel gives way to worked stone Jess's eyes fill with excitement Is this some sort of hidden ruin!.
Seeing Matthias examine the rubble she gives thins a look as well. With the way the earth is pushed into the room she exclaims "I bet that whomever made the tunnel we're in must have broken through into this other chamber here!"
When Matthias mentions opening the door Jess nods and looks to Shae "Maybe make sure it is safe first?"
"Sure!" Shae replies breezily to Matt and Jessa's questions. "Just let the Queen of Trap-Finding take a quick look first...."
Shae silently wonders if and when this whole 'Queen of...' shtick will run its course. On one level, she enjoys it, as it helps to play up some of the qualities she brings to the new adventuring party. On the other hand, it doesn't say much for her humility. The teen suddenly realizes the whole reason the gag took on a life of its own was because Hollie had been the one to first dub her 'Queen of the Bow,' and it thrilled Shae that someone so popular thought so highly of her. Now it was her turn for a bit of furious blushing, and because of her wandering thoughts she didn't put in her best effort in the search for traps.
Still, Shaedeen feels confident enough in her efforts to open the door herself so that Hollie and Drax can pass through.
Opening the door you find a narrow hallway constructed of the same materials as the room you were in that heads to the west before turning north. Ahead you can just see that it seems to open into a larger room while a side hall heads east.
Hollie and Drax cautiously move forward...looking for signs of anymore of those...things...
Shae follows close behind, rapier at the ready, eyes darting to and fro.