The tunnel you've been following exits the far side of the snake's chamber, sloping just slightly upward. Another tunnel opens into this room on the right hand side. Other than the snake's carcasses you don't see anything of interest in this chamber.
Baradesh glanced at the sight wounds he'd received, and dismissed them. The worst of it was the poison. He just hoped it wouldn't take too long to recover from it's effects - with the city above likely in chaos even if they demons had been driven off it would be helpful for him to be at his best.
The Paladin glanced at the dead snakes. "I hate to bring up such a subject," he said in a thoughtful voice, "But I dinnae have any provisions on me, and I dinnae know how long this will take. How much food do we have? And water? If it nae be much, then yon scalies will make a decent meal. Seems only fair, after they bit me."
Baradesh pulled out his rag and wiped the axe clean of gore once more. "Also, I cannae help but notice these caves are a bit more lively than I'd imagined for the realm beneath a crusader filled city. We may wish to be even more cautious."
Asura looks to Bardesh "I have plenty of water if we need it, but I don't expect us to be down here that long."
Looking to the rest of the group "This looks like it may lead up, though there is another path. Do we have any preference?"
I have a bit of water. A snake can make a fine meal. I agree with Baradesh. We should field dress and take the bodies with us. If we make it back to the city then we were prepared for the worst. If we don't and need to camp here well then our bellies will thank us. I think we go up Asura seems to make the most sense.
Asura nods to Azim and moves to scout out the tunnel.
Andanan was humble enough not to brag about his success in killing the snakes and moved back into his position as rearguard.
I have a single waterskin. But I have enough food for, perhaps a day, between us.
I'm afraid I have nothing to offer myself. I did not expect this kind of situation to happen."
You travel through these narrow, natural tunnels, the path is ever so gradually sloping upward, but you feel its not rising fast enough to reach the surface soon. In this sunless place, time seems to blend together. You haven't been walking long enough to need a rest, but long enough that you've dropped into the steady gait of a long march, when you see Asura returning to you.
Up ahead you see a branch in the tunnel, to the left a worked tunnel splits off, while the natural tunnel continues to the right. The left hand branch glows with a slight sickly green. The tunnel opens into a small cavern in which you can see a stone building.
You travel through these narrow, natural tunnels, the path is ever so gradually sloping upward, but you feel its not rising fast enough to reach the surface soon. In this sunless place, time seems to blend together. You think you've travelled the duration you planned to travel, without finding anything and return to the party.
After finding the split Asura goes back to the others "Looks like there may be something of interest ahead. Seems we have come across a man made part of the tunnel although there is some odd lighting coming from inside. Let's move up and I can try and scout it out."
Yes a man made part seems promising. Could be sewers meaning we are getting closer to getting back to the surface. Lets give it a look.
Mia was somewhat anxious.
Somehow this doesn't bode well.
Once the others catch up to the split with the man-made section she will go ahead and see what she can find.
There is a small building taking up most of the space of the chamber. It looks roughly 20 feet across and 20 feet high, the natural ceiling of the chamber is 30 feet tall. The walls of the chamber, after the tunnel opens up are not worked stoned, just the entry tunnel.
The building is made of stone, and aside from a large carving of a hammer, is featureless. No windows are visible, no doors on the wall facing the tunnel.
A human sized fly crawls along the walls of the building, but has not noticed you
Scouting along either edge of the building looking for a door, or to see what the chamber does behind the building would likely give away your presence to the fly.
The entire chamber glows with the soft green light, you can't tell if it originates from the cavern walls or the building or both.
Asura moves back to the others. "Looks like we may have found what left those maggots. There is a huge fly in there. Also, oddly there is a building with a large hammer carved on it though the rest of the chamber is rough walls again the worked portion ends here. I didn't see any doors or windows from this side but I didn't get too close with that huge fly."
The hammer is a common symbol of Torag and often adorns his temples or shrines. Of course the hammer could also be a non-religious marking.
The hammer is a symbol of one of your western gods- Torag, the father of creation.
Azim puts a hand on Andanan's shoulder.
Maybe it is my friend, or it is just a hammer. We should see the style first and then we will know. As for the fly we could try the same tactics as on the snakes. This time I will stealth with you. The others will stay back at charge range. We should get the surprise as we fire at the beast when it comes down the others can charge. If this is a holy temple to Torag we may find shelter here if we find we need to rest. Any ohter that is stealthy and has a range weapon may come as well.
"A temple will be useful, as a blessed sanctuary." Baradesh nodded. "And this is certainly the kinda place where one would find a shrine to the Father of Creation."
"Since I am neither stealthy, nor especially skilled at range, I shall charge and trust in my armour and Iomadae's favour to see me through." The Paladin smiled and adjusted his shield. "Still, I cannae imagine something like a giant fly will be that dangerous. Which may be fatal last words..."
"Surely you won't let it come to that?"
Baradesh smiled and shook his head. "Nae, we should be fine. But I dinnae like to under estimate any foe, even a giant midgey."
Asura and Abdul-Azim successfully sneak their way into the chamber, and spot the fly, still on the exterior wall of the stone building.
Azim take carefull aim with the crossbow lent to him and fires at the beast as Asura lets an arrow loose as well.
The bolt and arrow speed into the giant fly, both sinking deep into its bloated abdomen. As the attack lands you see a second fly crawling over the top of the building.
Baradesh scanned the scene, taking in the second insect of unusual size as it crawled over the temple. "On consideration, I dinna much like these giant midges, either, anymore than the beasts they spawn." The Paladin considered trying to intercept the second creature and keep it pinned out of the fight, but it seemed a better idea to kill the already wounded creature before dealing with the second.
"IN IOMADAE'S NAME!" Baradesh bellowed, on the theory that it would hopefully attract both of the creatures attention to him. He didn't like the idea of these insects attacking the others.
Round 1
HP 8/8
AC 11 T11 FF10 CMD 11
F/R/W 2/2/1
Arcane Bond 1/1
Scale from Terendelev * 3/3
Spells
1st - 4/4
Effects
Meria takes a moment to explain the situation to Aravashnial before acting, "A second fly has appeared on top of the building. The first has taken two wounds but still comes on." She then begins to summon a creature from the heavens.
Asura nooks another arrow and takes aim at the one she already hit.
"What is with all the giant vermin?"
As far as you can tell, these is nothing extra-planar or arcane about these flies. You don't know if these are normal inhabitants of these tunnels, or if someone lured/magiced them here. But if the latter, they've been here long enough to lose the aura of magic.
As Aravashnial as posited, insects are associated with Deskari, but you'd expect locusts rather than flies in that case.
Mia, feeling she won't be able to help effectively yet, stays put for now.
There is another!!!
Azim reloads and fires again at the wounded one.
Asura and Abdul-Azim both shoot at the injured fly, but miss. Their ammunition scattering off the sides of the building harmlessly. Baradesh marks his time, waiting one of the flies to leave the building and soon gets his chance.
The injured fly lifts off the building and flies straight at Asura, its wings making a terrible droning. Any louder and it would be hard to concentrate.
Baradesh rushes in to protect you and sheers off one of the legs. The smell is horrendous and you wonder what horrible diseases this thing may harbor as it bits at Asura.
, you feel and hear its teeth scraping at your armor, but feel no sudden pains.
The other fly launches itself at Abdul-Azim.
and you see its teeth gnashing, but are able to easily avoid the attack.
Round 1 Action-
Andanan charged at the fly attacking Abdul, his heavy fist leaving a bleeding wound on the body of the oversized fly. What he had initially lacked in reaction time and initiative was more than made up for in brute strength.
Asura steps backing giving Baradesh room to work and trying to distance herself from the vermin while pulling out another arrow to take a shot.
Round 2
HP 8/8
AC 11 T11 FF10 CMD 11
F/R/W 2/2/1
Arcane Bond 1/1
Scale from Terendelev * 3/3
Spells
1st - 3/4
Effects
As Meria's spell completes itself, an eagle appears and attacks the nearest of the giant flys, smiting as it rakes with it's talons.
;
;
;
Meria herself then lashes out with her cold spell against the creature.
"Ack, ya fowl beastie," the Paladin growled at the fly, "Ya smell as awful as ye kin did." Baradesh swung once more, hoping to shear off more than the creature's leg.
Andanan pummels the unijured fly facing Abdul-Azim landing power blows. The fly's belly is a soft, easy to hit target that pulsates with each blow, cracking and oozing.
Asura's shot strikes home on the more injured fly and it drops to the ground, twitching.
Baradesh lands a telling blow on the remaining fly, spilling more of its guts to the ground. It looks like this battle will be over shortly.
Mia shouts encouraging,
"It looks pretty hurt, it's almost over."
Azim drops the crossbow and draws his blade slashing at the beast.
Azim's slash misses the fly and the fly bites at him:
The fly bites you, scoring a weak hit. Up close the smell and filth are nearly overpowering, but you persevere.
Between Meria's eagle and Andanan's fists the last fly drops quickly and is soon a squashed pulp next to the other one.
After combat has ended you explore the chamber more completely. The chamber doesn't appear to have any other outlets, just the path you came in on. The stone structure is very well made. Judging from the outside dimenions you'd guess that the inside is a 20 by 20 room, with a 10x10 alcove at the entrance. Around the left corner of the giant hammer carving you find a door. You haven't heard any sounds coming from the structure.
Asura checks the door for anything out of the ordinary before attempting to open it and peek inside.
After letting Aravashnial know how the battle went, Meria looks around the chamber, checking for magical auras.
You don't detect anything out of the ordinary around the door.
Asura opens the door, the stone door swings easily, making no noise. Inside you see a narrow hallway or antechamber. A stone bench lines the exterior wall, a basin with water the far wall from the door you opened, and another stone door with another carved hammer is closed, next to the basin, leading deeper into the building.
"This place.... you're right, it seems designed to honor Torag. An honorable god, a good god. Like the one my Irabeth follows... How can anyone survive what happened above?" she collapses, weeping a little .
"I thought you were a soldier, now look at you. Slowing us down"
"How ... dare ... you! What I'd expect from one who is ashamed of his own faith"
"Ah dinnae know what this is about," Baradesh said as he stood between the two, "And I care not. This is nae place to be fighting with each other! And before the sight of the Father of Creation! Ah may be a servant of Iomadae, but respect for Torag is always wise. We are deep beneath the earth, and He has not time for squabbling by my memory."
The Paladin turned to Horgus. "The Lady has walked with us on a broken leg with nae complaint, worried sick about her wife above in a demon infested city. Do you have kin? Do you nae worry? A moment of weakness is mortal, sir, nae slowing us down."
Then Baradesh turned to Anevia. "I have nae idea as to why someone would choose to hide there worship. I am a Paladin - I proudly and humbly wear my Goddess' mark above my own. But if he is not a devotee of something such as the Rough Beast or the Lord of the Pit, or one of the beasts assaulting above right now, then he has a right to worship as he chooses, in private or public, and you and I have no place in mocking how
he does it. Not everyone is comfortable in sharing there faith as I do."
Looking around at both, he added, "I know this is not good. Our city is under attack, everyone and everything we care of above while we are trapped here, beneath it all. But now is no time to fight each other. You two seem to know each other somehow, and like each not much. No one asks you like each other. But we nee your help and, as you've seen, there is foulness here as above. Together we are stronger than apart, and our chance of surviving best if we work as a team."
Azim poors some water over the wound.
Filthy beast got through my armor. Well spoken Baradesh. We have bigger problems then those petty ones that existed before all of this. Now lets finish searching the temple as it may provide a fall back point if things go poorly.
Asura moves inside as the others bicker wanting to get in and out and on their way. Trying to be quite she will search the place before checking the other door and taking a look inside.