With a scornful look, Merelda continues on, her voice dripping with obvious disgust.
"Lovely."
Innis' eyes go wide in horror and disgust as Merelda lands on top of the creature and momentarily starts to sink.
She holds down the bile building in the back of her throat and prays that she can make it past without touching the horrid mound in front of her.
She kisses the back of her hand for good luck, calls to the group on the other side to "clear the way!" and makes the attempt.
Innis places a hand on her chest, feeling the rapid beating of her heart and breathing heavily when she lands on the other side. The shock that she made the jump is clearly written on her face.
Innis clears the mound of dead flesh with great relief. As the others decide what to do on the other side of the creature Innis breathes deeply trying to compose herself.
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Lililinda looks in horror at the mound of rot. It's almost taller than she is!
"Umm, maybe if someone... tossed me?"
Nicias looks dubious for a moment.
"I am afraid I am not so very strong that I am likely to be toss you that far, milady. Alchemy does not require very much strength. You are welcome to stand on my shoulders and I will give you a boost - that may be enough."
"How about passing Lililinda across? Should be able to lift her at least," Him suggests.
"Guys! Get in here! NOW!"
With her Rapier and Whip already in hand, Merelda sets herself next to the wall, and to fight defensively for now.
ROUND 1
Now in the low light you watch as five of large headed blue fey creatures, mites, rush over the bridge. There is another creature that looks like some grotesque crab. It has attached itself in the nook of the opposite wall where the wall and ceiling of this chamber meet some 15 feet up.
Him rushes forward cold iron blade sweeping out and slashing through the flesh of the closest little blue creature.
"I am Death!"
Merelda Charges the mite closest to her.
Innis moves up behind Him'Wazir and Merelda who are engaged with the blue fey creatures. She gives Merelda a kiss for good luck and bolsters her defenses with a prayer.
Him rushes forward and with a flick of his blade quickly cuts down the first mite he meets. He readies his blade for another strike keeping his eyes both on the crablike creature and the mites.
Not one to be shown up Merelda attempts to follow up Him's dramatic display of swordsmanship but instead slips on a puddle of water completely missing her target and exposing herself to the waiting mites. From behind, Merelda hears Innis' prayer and feel an invisible force quickly surround her.
The crablike creature attacks again and you watch as a filament fires from its abdomen towards the closest meal, Merelda, but the filament only finds the floor beside Merelda's feet.
On the bridge, you watch as each mite's eyes begins to bulge out hideously in your direction.
The remaining mites attempt to stab Him and Merelda with their daggers. Him dances around one attack and then parries the dagger thrusted at Merelda. Seizing the opportunity he cuts down Merelda's opponent.
"Wait for me!" Lililinda calls out, as everyone else leaps off to join the fight. "Oh dear." She scans the bulk on the path, noting it was lower near the wall. She slips on a pair of silky gloves from her bag, and starts climbing the mass, leaning against the wall for support.
As the rest of you either jump, cautiously navigate a path or slither you make it over with no ill happenings. The battle goes on before you but you can feel the momentum is on your side.
ROUND 2
Him attempts to dodge past the nearest blue creature, but catches his foot and stumbles leaving an opening. Gritting his teeth he races on moving behind the crab-like creature and waiting for someone to flank with him before striking and sinking his blade between the chitinous plates!
Scimitar raised he rreadies himself to parry the crabs retort.
Merelda moves to the bridge to hold off the Mites as best she can, trying her best to push thoughts of gloom and doom out of her head!
"Watch out Him! That thing is a Cave Fisher!"
Free Re-Roll
A strike! Merelda skewers a Mite somewhat!
Him moves after Merelda, either finishing the mite she wounded or moving past her to cut the next one on the bridge down.
Merelda finally finding her strikes at one of the mites finishing it off while its eyes are still bulging. Quickly behind her Him follows up to cut down the next mite.
Not quite knowing what the capabilities of the "Cave Fisher" is Innis holds her ground and does her best to support her team with subtle magics. She also summons a mirage of deceit to protect herself in case the crab is more dangerous than it appears.
Watching in horror as you swiftly kill mite after mite. The last of the fey flees down the west tunnel in hopes of escaping its own death.
The cave fisher backs around the corner clearly seeing your party as too deadly a prey to attack.
Him chases after the mite seeking to prevent it warning any allies, the light spell on his hat eating away at the darkness.
Merelda, will try and shake off the Doom effect while waiting for Lililinda to catch up at the bridge, all while keeping
an eye out for the Cave Fisher in case the creature changes it mind and tries to suddenly follow the group.
"The last thing we need is that monstrosity dogging our heels."
Putting her whip away Merelda draws her crossbow with her left hand while carefully watching the corner the thing slunk around.
Lililinda hurries after the group as fast as she can while also casting prestidigitation on her rot-covered boots.
"When this is over, I'm going to take a bath. For a month."
Merelda smiles at the young Gnome and her predicament as she passes by.
"We'll make an adventurer out of you yet Lilli."
Mereleda will then follow quickly afterward, covering the rear, but moving as fast as Lililinda is moving so that they can stay close together while traveling.
As you chase after the mite. Nicias runs up and takes quick aim at the fleeing fey. The arrow takes the creature right in the back of the cranium instantly killing it.
You do not see or hear any other threats. Even the cavefisher seems to have moved off looking for an easier meal.
Kirzon indicates that there should be another chamber up ahead that joins up with the red line on the cultist's map.
"Beautiful shot Nicias!" Him enthuses, "let us leave yonder wall crab to its business and be about ours!" Before leading the way in the direction Kirzon indicates.
Heading along the west walkway you leave the cavefisher to its own devices. As much as the sewers stink you are grateful that it is relatively cool down here as every now and then you feel uncomfortably hot from the fever. It takes about a quarter of an hour to reach the next chamber and you are hopeful this will lead you to wherever the cultist's are hiding.
Once again this is another large cistern chamber. The landing above the cistern basin borders the chamber’s south and east walls, and is littered with garbage and other refuse that form a collection of garbage mounds that are each taller than a man’s head. In the cistern basin there appears to be some sort of machinery that you guess must be some sort of complicated sewage pumping system.
"Caution everyone. Eyes open. Gremlins are often known for ingenious traps and similar detrimental devices."
Once she gets a chance, Merelda will move up to flank Him and renew the light spell on his turban pin.