"Look for traps, I don't see the ratman or the gugs leaving a room like this undisturbed for no reason."
The trap, Nigel notes, is quite secure. In addition to the extremely dangerous trap mechanism which could fill the chamber with a gas of some sort, multiple times, it has an extremely complex locking mechanism which requires multiple keys to open. One of the key slots looks to be roughly the same size as the key Isavara took off the gug savant.
Cole spies a book beneath the bed. It is written entirely in the Dwarven language and well-worn with brittle, yellowed pages.
THE EIDlTE POISONING HAS TAKEN ALMOST FULL-HOLD
OF MY BLOOD BY NOW. I FEAR THAT I MAY BE
ITS NEXT VICTIM IN THIS STRUGGLE TO COMMAND
THE PROPERTIES OF THE ENIGMATIC MINERAL, AND I
AM REGRETFUL THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN A MORE
NOBLE MARTYR WHO COULD TEACH MY FELLOW MINERS
THE FOLLY OF THEIR AVARICIOUS WAYS. I LEARNED
BUT TOO LATE THAT All THE WEALTH IN THE WORLD
COULD NOT REPLACE MY LOYAL COMRADES, WHO HAVE
SEEN ME THROUGH TO THE END IN THESE DARKEST OF
NIGHTS. TO MY MOST FAITHFUL FRIENDS, I PRAY
THAT YOU SEE TO MY FELLOW INVALIDS AFTER MY
PAASSING, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING UNFORTUNATES:
THREE FELLOW MINERS: HEKRIN , PYNDLE , AND
SORTARE
ONE PRIEST: CLOCKMOTHER INGLED
TWO PETS: MAXIMOS AND TOR
TO THOSE WHO HEED MY DYING WISHES, I SEEK
FOR YOU ALL THE BEST IN THE GREAT BEYOND , AND
HOPE THAT FORTUNE FINDS YOU WELL.
- CAPTAIN RETHAM
"Can anyone disarm the trap on that safe?"
"Not in my skill set, sorry. "
"It does look a wee bit complicated. I tinker now and then but that thing is out of my league. I think we will need the keys, perhaps we should have a look for them. Or we could just shoot it. Says Nigel after studying the device for a while.
In a top desk drawer, Cole locates another iron key. It is about the same size as the one found on the gug.
"It seems there must be a third key somewhere. Seems like a silly system to me. Seeing how we lack the expertise to disarm and open it otherwise, we should keep our eyes open."
"Yes, best to wait for the keys. We should probably head downstairs now then. "
"Agreed, maybe we will run across another key and we can return to see what lies in the safe. It is probably immaterial to the main purpose of our quest in any case."
"That worm looked nasty, but we would have the drop on it and get to attack it from surprise."
"I am looking forward to having a go at the great beastie but I believe there are still a few places to have a look at. We should check the aeration sw of the Gug den, then we should have another look at stairway that ended in a wall because they don't usually do that. It's likely there is a hidden door or some such. We should also have a quick look upstairs just to be sure of no surprises. Then I hope to treat you this absolutely marvelous purple worm fritter recipe."
Also is there anything southeast of the secret door and above A27.?
Is there a tunnel northeast of A3?
"Let's find this last key, leave the Purple Worm for last. We should explore the rest of this level."
Tatsumi begins to check the tunnels below A 15.
Cole doesn't have any objections to Tatsumi's plan.
"Lead on, snake-man" he says and then he follows him to the tunnels in question.
"Fine with me. "
"Right lads let's be about it, then have a peak up the stairs."
Tatsumi rounds the corner and is confronted with a horrible smell of rot. Thousands of thick worms are crawling all over what was once a kitchen counter.
Seeing the swarm Simo will take out his potion of ly and guzzle it to get clear. "I don't think I have anything for that people. Poor planning on my part. "
Should have bought that swarmbane clasp.
Tatsumi makes a tactical retreat.
Isavara knows she has seen these grubs before and tries to recall any vulnerabilities they may have. Disgusted at their sheer appearance, Isavara moves away from the grubs and fires a ray of searing light at the mass.
"I think we should avoid this if we can." Cole suggests to the others.
He backs away from the oncoming disgusting worms.
"Damn nasty wigglies, have a bit of this."
Nigel hurls a small flask at the mass of worms
Cole flinches away from the blazes as they spring up.
Isavara remembers that they have no real weaknesses aside from the fact that any attack which strikes an area is more likely to kill the tiny worms. She also knows that these creatures can consume a person from the inside out. Dealing with such an infection requires powerful magic or extreme damage to the affected areas.
Isavara's spell cuts through the mass, burning a path that is quickly filled with writhing grubs.
Nigel's fire has a similar, but more limited affect. The mass of grubs smothers the flames before they can spread.
The masses of rot grubs move forward, threatening to engulf Isavara.
Simo will fly over and lift Isavara off the ground, out of reach of the swarm.
Cole backs away.
Nigel moving toward Tetsumi while keeping his eyes on the worms, says.
"I've got a couple more flasks of oil, I don't think it will do the bugs in. I do however have a notion, do you think we could lead the nasties to the big worm? That would be something to see, wouldn't it?"
"Maybe you could put a dead gug's arm on a rope and drag it before them to lead it through the complex."
"Faster, FASTER!" Isavara shouts as the wind whips through her hair and the grubs close in. She looks back and points her finger back at the swarm as a ray of searing light springs forth.
"Look, it's a potion. I don't get a lot of control here. This is as fast as I can go. " he replies while carrying her away from the swarm.
Cole keeps backing away.
Isavara burns another channel through the bugs which quickly fills up with the mass of grubs. As they soar down the tunnel, the bugs spill onto the tracks before Cole's feet.
On with the plan.
Nigel throws another flask of oil at the swarm next to Cole and shouts.
"Run for it lad!"
Then scurries down the tunnel to the west.
Cole hurries down the corridor, away from the swarm.
As before, a few of the large grubs are immolated, but the mass retains cohesion.
Tatsumi continues to move away.
The swarming grubs split up, each pursuing their 'dinner' seperately. The group of grubs following Tatsumi and Nigel are not as full of the worms as the other group.
"Maybe we should quit trying to lure them and just avoid them and get on with exploring the rest of the mine." Cole shouts to his fellows.
"We're heading down into see the worm, and they might soften it up for us. "
The group splits up down the tunnels. Cole, Tatsumi, and Nigel hiding in a corner as the grubs wriggle past in pursuit of Simo and Isavara, who need to double-back at one point to avoid outpacing the grubs that have fallen harmlessly into one of the gug's traps.
Simo and Isavara soar over the purple worm, which briefly snaps at them as they pass, then the first bunch of grubs pours into the monster's lair. The creature snaps at the swarm ineffectually. The grubs swarm all over the worm, consuming it in under a minute. Sated and bloated, the swarms stop thrashing as they pick the bones of the purple worm clean.
"Well that was just disgusting ... good idea though Nigel." Cole says with a nod to the little hunter as he takes his hat off for a moment and wipes a cloth across his forehead to collect the sweat.
"Damned glad that swarm didn't get to us. Vicious bunch of critters. There's a hole in there on a ledge. Might be a safer way to proceed. "
"Mighty handy potion to have there, Simo. You're all right in my book. I just hope we don't have to go down there for some other reason. Can you get us to that hole?"
"Yeah, I can, but I only have the one potion, so I hope the rest can climb down." and he will fly down to the hole.
"My but those wiggles were most ravenous, ate up the great beastie so fast. I am glad I remembered the run in I had with another swarm years ago. My cousin, alchemist by trade had brewed up a swarm of tiny ferocious sheep. Things were looking bad when I got the idea to lead to the cauldron. Let me tell you mutton nuggets are quite tasty. Now let's have a look at that tunnel."