Both, likely. It's a big creature. Dorian answered, plunging his longsword into the floor. , ,
The flurry of stabs into the ground seems not to wound the creature.
Hal stands ready to hack at anything hostile that comes within range of his axe
The ground shifts and the massive bug comes up beneath Lyla again.
It sinks it's mandibles into her puncturing deep into her below the ribs. The pain was intense, causing her scream to be cut short as she passed out.
Nar and Hal looked on in horror as the big bug grabbed it's prey and retreated back underground.
The bug seems to have retreated back to it's original position. You're pretty sure it just followed it's tunnel back to the broken ground just in front of Torgan.
"Can´t see it anywhere. What was that sound, has it resurfaced behind the corner?"
It has grabbed Miss Summerholt and dragged her/is dragging her back to where it was before.
New rule. Rule 1: No rationing resources if at risk. That said; FIRE IN THE HOLE
, .
Good one Maule!
The little elemental disappears, a muffled crack is heard, the ground stops shuddering and the little stone man returns carrying an unconcious Lyla.
I think ve should head up and get her some medical attention and us a chance to discuss with the other team
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"Well, we still should try to rescue that guy taken by the spider. Time is of the essence. I will pray to Loki to return her some health."
Torgan kneeled by the unconcsious Lyla, touched her and murmured a prayer to Loki. "Great Trickster, grant health to this poor girl, she will surely continue to speak some weird language in the heat of combat and this will be a source of amusement to you."
Torgan's healing prayer called the warm laughter of Loki Wolfmother. Lyla woke with a start.
""Aaagh mənə onu almaq!....." Lyla shouted, her reaction coming before her brain was able to process that she was no longer in danger.
After a few moments, her thought were once again communicable. "Thank you Torgan."
"Everyone ok? Anyone know what this thing is?"
Know Dungeoneering
An Ankheg, I think.
Torgan smiled at Lyla "No problem, we are a team, right?" ... a team of comedians...
Than he looked at the others studying the dead creature.
"So, with the... Ankheg? dead, should we move forward?"
The stone creature resurfaces holding a head-sized oily looking sphere.
"Јајца, мислам, г-дине. Многу од нив."
"Eggs, I think, sir. Many of them."
As you wish, the dwarf squeezes around the hole and moves onwards down the corridor.
It seems to have a large clutch of eggs. Anyone able to tell when they are due to hatch? They might be worth something to the right person. Or might cause problems later if left. Check with management?
Is a good idea - they may know if the eggs have vorth. I did not think of this.
"Well, it is an interesting and maybe profitable idea. It is not neccessarily a good one, though."
Please to check in. Ve vill see.
"Dorian, please ask your friend to bring the eggs to the surface and put them all in one place. I'll make contact, let them see what we do and see what the verdict is." Lyla said, taking out the monocle and placing it in the hollow of her eye as she retrieved the journal.
.
By the time the little stone fellow is called back home he has managed to unearth nearly three dozen eggs.
Fitting the monocle into place, Lyla begins scanning the scene of the collected eggs.
“Jonas, I think we have something you should see. A clutch of ankheg eggs for your perusal.” she says as if displaying a newly purchased trinket.
The eggs need to be kept warm and damp. Insect larvae tend do grow pretty quickly. It's impossible to tell when they were laid, but you'd guess no more than a few weeks. Many will die trying to escape the eggs. When they hatch they'll need a lot of readily available food. Most insects provide that with either animal carcasses or a nutrient rich jelly. Without seeing the nest you don't know which Ankhegs need.
"Ah, very good. Some of the northern clans use them to aid in their farming. The creature's acidic excretions and ability to burrow are useful for plowing up the rocky soil of the highlands. They can be trained while young, so these could be quite valuable. Unfortunately they are reputed to be quite voracious as well. Our camp is certainly not equipped to house and handle them. We will need to transport them elsewhere before they hatch or we will have quite the difficult infestation to deal with."
Vell?, Hallvarðr asks.
"Seeing what we managed to botch so far, I must say it again. This is not a good idea. With our luck, they will hatch before we move them to a better equipped location. Just take my word for it." Torgan was definitely not too happy with taking the eggs.
The surveyors took a breather while discussing what to do with the eggs and how to progress next.
"Shall we continue before we get the answer?"
Not sure vhot ve should do... smash them seems best and then move on.
Nisfeollyn’s voice came through the magical earring. ”We have progressed further into this place and discovered evidence that it is ancient, predating the hunting lodge built above ground. A bronze axehead, for one piece of evidence. Beware of pit traps filled with gelatinous cubes. I had the misfortune of discovering one. After nearly drowning within the monster and being dissolved by its acidic interior, I must suffer the indignity of wearing little more than rags. The others managed to defeat it using fire, axe, and hammer. If you use fire be prepared to extinguish party members that were engulfed by the monster. We hope you are well and discovering items of historical importance.”
"Actually after surviving an encounter with an ankheg, we have a clutch of 35 ankheg eggs. While they can be valuable and useful to interested parties, there is the risk of them hatching and infesting the campsite. The debate is whether to try to salvage and sell them or burn them right now. Any thoughts?"Lyla responds.
”As for the ankheg eggs, how quickly could they be carted away? I fear the corrupting influence to the land above may also corrupt animals below. If the eggs could be taken to a safe place and the hatchlings trained, I think it might benefit the Society.”
Take them up?