"I've got a rope. We can tie it off and use it to get down, but then we'd have to get past the grubs." Cole says.
"Maybe you two should have a quick look to see if its worth the trouble for us all to get over there."
The hole itself can be reached from one of the adjacent ledges. It would have been difficult to spot from any angle other than in the air. Passing through the narrow hole, Simo and Isavara are greeted by a large amount of dusty, empty bottles and scattered metal trash. The tubing and large copper flasks look like a liquor still may have once been here.
The pair quickly spot a tan tarp covering other items. Specifically, five days worth of rations, three potions of cure moderate wounds, a bag of dust of disappearance, two elixirs
ef tumbling, and a newly crafted flask of dust of weighty
burdens.
"Probably one of our rodent friend's caches. And seeing that he was far less than candid about the critters around here, we should help our selves to it."
"Woulda been nice if he had a cache of alchemist fire. We still need to be rid of that swarm. "
"I've been giving that problem a little thought and I think we should have another chat with our rat friend. If memory serves me his lab quite likely has the incendiary chemicals to do the job, or at least the makings for such devices. And given his general lack of candid information about this place I am sure he could be convinced to help. With the proper inducement that is."
"Seems like a useful cache of gear" Cole says.
"Do we need to worry about the grubs now, it seems like they're down there in that pit and pretty happy to stay there."
Isavara will pack up the cache as quickly as she can. "Let's head back across and see if there's another way to go. We still haven't found this Ettin the rat spoke of. Wasn't there some steps that the gnome saw as well?"
"We can try that I suppose. "
Take the stairs which don't lead to a wall.
At the top of the stairs is a ten-by-ten foot landing. Three doors are set into the rough cut stone.
A reverberating noise of several snoring creatures can be heard at the top of the landing.
"Ah! so it's the stairs now? Right, lads the lets be about it.
Upon hearing the apparently sleeping creatures, Nigel whispers.
"I wouldn't normally attack a fellow who's asleep but given the general demeanor of the residents of this place I could make an exception. Which of us is the quietest?
Isavara moves to the top of the steps and tries to listen to pin point which door the snoring appears to be emanating from. She moves slowly and quietly, hoping not to disturb those that slumber. At least not until she is ready to do so.
Simo will sneak up behind her.
Isavara realizes that there is snoring coming from behind all three doors.
"Does anybody have anything that could smoke them out and when they run down the stairs, we could slaughter them?"
"I'm a bit short on tricky stuff. I'm just good at shooting stuff. "
Cole looks to Nigel and says "If we make some noise, they're bound to wake up, come down, and investigate."
"Do you have anything we could use to trip them up at the bottom of the stairs?"
"I think I might just have the very thing for this situation."
Says the Gnome as he is furiously digging in his backpack. A moment later holds up two items, one a small blue bottle and the other a little silver device. Grinning he says.
"These ought to do the trick, a bottle of liquid ice and my signal whistle."
Feel free to move me to a good location for ambush.
I'll be at the bottom of the stairs where it open up ready to take them on in melee while the ranged fighters take up position to hit them from behind.
Simo is waiting with his crossbow ready.
Seeing the others ready in their spots, Isavara takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. She quietly mutters a few words to summon her god's favor and then she tries the closest door.
Tatsumi Casts Shield Spell and waits with Sword drawn.
Isavara opens the door to see a large chamber filled with damaged furniture and two sleeping gugs.
Both gugs sit up when the door creaks open and look about groggily. Seeing the half-orc at the door, the pair bellow and look ready to charge.
Isavara briefly prays to Gorum for protection and moves south back towards the stairs.
Simo conceal himself.
Then he waits till the targets present themselves
I've been heavily distracted by things going on around me IRL, but I need to get this back on track, so calling for actions in the next 24 hours! If you've been checking in but not posting, come back to the game :)
Surprise round + full round actions can be taken before the gugs come out, upset at the interruption to their sleep.
Cole moves up behind Isavara and casts Divine Favor on myself.
For the suprise round Tatsumi casts Long Arms and will wait around the corner for them to come out.
Nigel moves to the bottom of the stairway taking coverand leveling Prudence
Intending to use covering fire to aid Isavara's armor class (+2) with a shot when a Gug appears
The first gug bellows then swiftly moves to Isavara, squeezing through the door to try and knock her out of the way with a heavy strike.
The clumsy attack is hindered by a combination of the narrow space and the distraction from the shards of rock and wood as Nigel's shot whizzes past it's head.
The other gug squeezes into the small landing at the top of the steps, and likewise tries to tear the half-orc apart with a vicious bite.
The teeth are stymied by the magical force of Isavara's force field.
The third door at the top of the stairs is flung open to a third angry gug. It bellows loudly, the terrible cry echoing through the mine.
"Cole, remember the plan and fall back. I'll be right behind you." She drops the tip of her greatsword down towards the ground before bringing it up as fast as she can, slicing upward at the Gug adjacent to Cole.
Isavara casts burst of speed on herself and retreats down the steps after Cole.
Despite the clumsy attack, Isavara manages to connect with her greatsword before scurrying down the stairs.
Simo is holding his action until he has a target.
Cole backs away with a move action. (probably provoking)
He squeezes through Nigel's space. "Excuse me, pardon me, just passing through."] and ends up behind him and Isavara.
He rasies his pistol high and fills it with Holy Power
Tatsumi is waiting for Nigel to move so I can take his place (don't think Nigel whats to be in the front line) and readies an action to attack when they get into range.
Cole backs away with a move action. (probably provoking)
The first gug through the door takes a nasty slash in the gut from Isavara's sword and roars in rage.
Nigel falls back taking cover and readies Prudence to engage the Gugs
Ready attack action when Gug appears
The gugs bellow and pour out of the door, crowding the stairwell in pursuit of Isavara. On the narrow stairs, they're at a serious disadvantage.
It takes a swipe at Isavara with a meaty claw.