He'll be out for a while Karthurg no worries there! I don't think our adventure ahead is gonna have much room for a feral beast though. Don't think we would be very mobile haulin' him neither. Anyone have any idea whats ahead? There a town nearby to sell him at?
"Aw, we'd have to use magic or ropes or treats or somewhat but I reck we wouldn't try to move him 'till after we solve this orc stuff. Then we'd come back and drag or charm or what him to Sandpoint and work on trainin' him there. Good lookin' pig. Cammy might be a good mentor. I don' think he's ever tried that, my Cammy."
Karthurg looks to Hank, a bit of sarow in his eyes. I am sorry Hank, but I think I must agree with Belliken on this. You may want to look away...
Karthurg looks down at the sleeping beast. He keeps trying to focus on the smell of pork chops firing on the camp fire. He hates this way of dishonorable killing but there is a greater task at hand and fighting this boar honorably might result in wounds and we cant have that.
Lining his hammer up with the skull of the sleepy boars head, he lifts it up and drops the hammer with all the force he can muster. Lets hope I dropped it in one blow.
"I know, Karthurg, I know--had to be done. Truth told it was pretty great how you and Bellie saved our butts from that big ol' pig."
Hank looks a little sadly at the pig, but like he said, at least it got a clean, painless death. And he's still a halfling...
"Gosh I hope we finish our work here quick enough to have ourselves a lil' cookout on the way back! And then we can take the best cuts back with us and share 'em with Sandpoint. Would likely go great with that ale they have at the inn..."
'Tis a shame, but least it went out quick and quiet like. Lets hope we come back this'a way soon and can bring all of this pork with us.
You begin to notice a stench like rotting meat as you begin to proceed. It seems to be wafting out from under a thick cloth curtain to your right, and to the left leads another tunnel.
Hank grimaces, his dreams of the scent of pork ribs in ale sauce suddenly interrupted by the real-life smells of rot.
"Ugh, dang, that smells nasty. I'll take a peek if no one else wants to.
Hank heroically sacrifices his olfactory organs and lifts the corner of the curtain with one hand, while holding his nose with the other.
Pulling back the curtain only strengthens the stench, which is nearly overwhelming now. Inside this room is a heaping pile of refuse, from old clothes to spoiled meat, and pools of brownish liquid coat the floor. After a few moments, scrabbling sounds are followed by the appearance of three creatures that resemble near-hairless rats, grown to a length of about 2 feet, and they snarl defensively.
Seeing how Phedean reacted Karthurg runs forward and around the curve, pulling out his large hammer. What are those things? Are they even natural?
Karthurg lifts his hammer and tries to crush the "animal".
Karthurg recognizes these as dire rats- animals not uncommon in city sewers, and they frequently carry diseases.
As Karthurg enters the room, his eyes water at the near-overpowering stench.
To make matters worse, a fourth rat crawls out of the heaping pile of garbage. While the opening into the room is small enough that only one of the rats can attack him, the others slink forward.
However, the creature's incisors narrowly miss Karthurg's ankles.
Hank transitions gracefully from being Cammy's personal buffer to working with his new associate. He casts Guidance on Karthurg (+1 to one attack, saving throw, or skill check; use it in the next minute).
: Rats
"Awww rats! These guys are always gettin' into my house and makin' a mess of things. Here's a lil boost to help you squash 'em, Karthurg."
Hank then moves north one square to make room for the rest of the party.
Cammy's Scent ability combines with his Common Sense and Sense of Self Preservation. He senses scents and sensibly stays well away, in the pig cavern where it's safe. He does move up a bit to get a better view of the fun.
That's nice, something smaller than me for a change, let's have a look here ey? Belliken grabs the crossbow from his back and takes a shot.
Belliken hits one of the rats with a crossbow bolt, and it collapses into the rubbish.
Karthurg has smelled some awful things before and has seen just as many but this will rank towards the top. He is holding back spewing his lunch as he swings his hammer, hoping to drop another rat.
It looks like holding back his illness caused Karthurg to miss his attack, smashing his hammer into the ground next to a rat.
Phedran's arrow vanishes into a heap of trash just a few inches to the right of the rat.
One of the rats tries to squeeze past Karthurg.
He is unable to stop it as it lunges at Belliken.
However, it has even less luck than Karthurg.
While one of the remaining rats stays out of the range of Karthurg's earthbreaker as it moves for the rest of the party, the other one makes another attempt on Karthurg's shins.
He is able to stave off the creature's jaws.
Unrelatedly, Hank can see that the tunnel leads further west, curving north after about twenty feet.
Angry little buggers, don't know when their beat.
Belliken takes a step back, reloads his crossbow, and fires at the rat that attacked him.
Once more, Hank leans in to cast Guidance--this time on Phedran, as Karthug has moved out of reach. Cammy loiters around in the back.
"You'll get 'im this time, Pheddie! Here's a lil magic to help ya out!"
Frustrated that the rats went right by him to attack his new allies, Karthurg turns and swings his heavy weapon at the rats closest to his allies.
Karthurg is starting to get used to the smell. It's still sickening, but he can continue to stomach it.
With a thunk, Karthurg sends one of the rats flying, and it doesn't get up.
Phedran's arrow whistles past the creature's ear.
The southernmost rat snarls and tries to bite Karthurg.
Once again, he is able to avoid the bite. The two to the north of Karthurg advance slightly.
One of the rats attacks Phedran, and the other takes advantage of Karthurg's preoccupation.
Neither is successful.
Karthurg takes advantage of the day trying to run by him. He makes a quick swing with the hammer.
Karthurg is frustrated that these rate are running by him to attack his allies so he takes a swing at the one between him and his ally.
Luckily after all the swinging he has done, Karthurg is still able to resist the smell of this room and not let it get to him.
SPLAT
SPLAT
The single remaining rat looks very scared.
"Way ta go, Karthurg! One more, get 'im Bellie! Here's a boost!"
Hank puts Guidance on Belliken this time, hoping they can put the last rat out of its mourning misery before they continue deeper into the cave...
Belliken aims his crossbow in an attempt to finish off the last of the critters.
Sorry little fellow, ought not to pick on us bigguns like that.
The remaining tat tears up to strike, but suddenly an arrow buried itself in the creature’s head, and it collapses.
I hope we fare better against our next foes. These rats sure gave us the ol' run around eh? Everyone all right?
Belliken takes in the scene, clipping his crossbow back onto his pack.
"I'm alright--let's get out of this stink hole though."
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Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, you all feel strangely refreshed and empowered.
Hank, feeling suddenly competent, turns his keen eyes to the tunnel leading away from the rat hole.
"Friends, I never felt so good as I do just now, rat stank n'all. We oughta keep movin'. An those orcs, monsters, spiders, baby dragons, rats n'anywhat else that wants to try to stop us--well they best watch out because I feel like I could throw a giant over my shoulder."
If'n by giant you mean one of these normal sized folks than yes I agree with you my friend. I'm feelin' might well ready to keep on keepin' on.
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Belliken....Hank....is...is that you? I can barely see a thing.. Sofia winces gingerly in the darkness, feeling her way along the wall, the pain from her leg, occasionally sending a shooting spark of pain up her spine, but much less so than the infection that had nearly taken her. She hadn't told the others, but the orc that had managed to get a strike in outside the tavern had managed to nick her arm with his rusting blade. She'd thought nothing of it, because it was barely a graze but that twisted vine, when it had grabbed her and squeezed must have found the wound. Unconciousness had taken her quickly around the back of the cave and many visions followed. Only two that I remember though. A floating disk and upon it, the skeleton of Black Fang, alight with flame. Searching for something, or someone.
Helllooo?....
When Karthurg hears the voice, his first reaction is to draw his earth breaker, but then he catches that the voice is using the names of his new allies. Do you guys know this mysterious voice?
"Sofie! Where are ya? Can you smell nasty rats? If so, head to the stink. If not, we're comin'!" Hank calls into the darkness. He explains to Karthurg, "That's our pal Sofia, she went off to scout and I was just startin' to get worried 'bout her."
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Rats? I thought it was something Cammy had eaten.
The familiar shapes of Hank and Phedran begin to appear from the gloom. Sofia pauses, one hand resting on the damp wall of the cave and a smile crosses her face. As they get closer, the smile dissapears. Behind them is a hulking shadow, 6ft plus. An Orc! Sofia screams to herself. Her arm buckles but she summons the strength to fight for Hank and Phedran until her dying breath.....