You are able to retreat without a problem.
The stairs descend into a rough-hewn chamber, the far side of which looks like a natural cave. In the southeast corner, a passageway winds off into darkness. A sputtering torch is mounted next to the door. In the distance, you can hear the sound of rushing water.
The walls here are veined with a green ore that the formula book you found refers to as flaystone. According to the book, it is a key ingredient in the viridian vapor disease.
At the bottom of the stairs, you come to small passageway to the south.
"After you, braved friends."
The twisting corridor opens into a large cavern filled with large, glistening stalactites and stalagmites. Puddles of brackish water dot the floor, and while the sound of rushing water seems to be close by, the source is not in this room.
Also, there are bats. A swarm of them, and one quite big one swoop down on you as you enter.
The swarm of bats moves over to cover Uhtred, takes a nibble, and flies back.
Uhtred: Basic Reflex Save (DC 16)
The larger bat wings up to Uhtred and attacks him, then swoops back into the stalactites on the ceiling.
for
~+~Round 1~+~
Yellow
Red
BGG
Vetch
Guldun
--Telly
Uhtred
Guldun will pull out a minor alchemist fire as she moves into the room
She will study the larger bat and throw an alchemist fire at the swarm
for
If that hits the swarm will also get 1 persistent fire damage
Vetch strides twice and raises his shield while sussing out the battlefield.
BGG's attack chills the large bat, which screeches in pain. Guldun's well-thrown bomb almost disrupts the swarm in one hit, but enough bats remain for it to cling together a bit.
The swarm of bats rushes Guldun, bites at her, and retreats.
Guldun, basic Reflex save DC 16
The large bat flies up and attacks Vetch.
for
~+~Round 2~+~
Yellow (-9, 1 persistent fire)
Red (-8)
BGG
Vetch (-7)
Guldun
--Telly
Uhtred (-2)
Vetch gets closer to the swarm and then shouts a guttural word and flames shoot from his fingertips engulfing the bats.
Basic Reflex vs. DC 19
Despite Vetch's disapointment, the blast of fire is enough to scatter the rest of the swarm. Uhtred's readied attack misses the large bat.
~+~Round 2~+~
Yellow
Red (-8)
BGG
Vetch (-7)
Guldun
--Telly
Uhtred (-2)
She will reload an fire at the large bat (which she studied last round)
for and
She will tell Telly to get into the room and backup Uhtred
The bolt sinks deep into the bat, but it remains aloft.
Uhtred's first attack misses, but his second swing cleaves the creature clean in half!
The winding passage ends in a large cavernous chamber. Running through the middle is an underground river rushing from east to west. A narrow bridge crosses the water; it looks slick with moisture and mold. On the far side of the chamber are immense formations of cloudy, green rock, and in front of them is a large black cauldron with a fire burning at its base. Light filters into this chamber from above through a twisting crevasse in the ceiling; the far side of the cavern is lit by glowing green orbs suspended by chains from stalactites.
Vetch pulls out a minor elixir of life for Uhtred and another two for himself
Guldun will try to patch up her own wounds
If we are ok with waiting another 10min
Remembering that poor burning cat and all the other twisted creatures the group has encountered, Guldun clenches her fist
"Lets put a stop to this"
Stepping out from behind the massive cauldron is a thin woman, gently pointed ears rising up from her raven-black hair. She is wearing stitched leathers bearing countless pouches and pockets filled with glass vials.
She looks at you with a sneer.
“So, you must be the fools that arrived with Bort. Sorry about your friend,” she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “I couldn’t let anyone piece together what had happened here, and he knew too much. I am sure you think you can stop me and save the town. You shouldn’t have bothered. They are a wicked, worthless lot and don’t deserve compassion. How could they, when they let their own suffer and die in agony? Scorning a child out of spite?” As she says the words, she looks at each of you in turn. “Leave now and never look back. No one need ever know you were here.”
"As much as she tried to help them survive the plague, my poor mother was cast out of the town by their corrupt priest. She caught the disease herself and died cold and uncared for, except by me, her young daughter. And what could I do? Nothing! Nothing but cry and watch her die in front of my eyes." The half-elf dramatically sniffs. "Boo hoo, poor Vilree. The town didn't care a fig about me either. I lived on the street for a few years before I was able to hone my craft and make a living."
She brandishes an alchemical bomb. "I just had to find people who appreciated my unique talents. There are those who will pay dearly for my concoctions." Now, she gives a sly smile. "Not as dearly as the people of 'Plaguestone,' of course. Their account is long overdue."
"You're as nuts as a squirrel's den."
"Most of the people who wronged you aren't even around anymore! And either way its not excuse for what you have done to the forest"
Guldun retorts, much less eloquently
"Doesn't sound like you're willing to do this the easy way. What a ."
At her last word, a large monstrosity pulls itself out of the river running through the room and takes a place on the bridge. It looks to have been cobbled together from several creatures and animated with alchemical fluids.
~+~Round 1~+~
Vetch
Guldun
--Telly
Red
Blue
Uhtred
BGG
“I don’t like to be judgmental, but he’s an ugly one!” Vetch calls down the power of the storm on the brute.
vs. basic DC 19 Reflex save.
"Holy moly!
Guldun studies the big creature as best she can, and will move into the room.
She will send Telly to start attacking it
for and
But Telly is very intimidated by this thing, it seems
The behemoth shivers as Vetch's storm dances across his skin. It roars with pain and lashes out at Telly, winding up for a huge attack.
for
It roars in frustration and attempts to backhand the wolf.
for
The half-elf clucks her tongue at Vetch. "Now, don't go rough-housing with my pet!"
She aims a strange-looking crossbow at Vetch, and fires.
for and
Undaunted, she reloads and fires again.
for and
~+~Round 1~+~
Vetch (-11)
Guldun
--Telly
Red (-5, clumsy 2, 2 persistent elec.)
Blue
Uhtred
BGG
~+~Round 2~+~
Vetch (-11)
Guldun
--Telly
“Ouch! That hurt. Two can play that game, witch.”
vs. basic DC 19 Reflex save.
Guldun reloads and fires her crossbow at the big guy
for and
Telly will attack it
for and
BGG blasts the behemoth and slips behind a bolder.
As Uhtred takes a flying leap across the river , the large construct takes a swipe at him and he pays for it!
for
The alchemist attempts to avoid the worst of Vetch's storm, but the electricity seizes her muscles.
Guldun scores a critical hit against the creature, though Telly misses.
The monsterous creation takes a mighty swipe at Uhtred, attempting to push him back from its mistress.
for
The barbarian is knocked back to the rear wall of the cave.
DC 19 Fortitude save or you are also knocked prone.
The alchemist laughs at Uhtred's plight, loads her crossbow and fires at Vetch again, scoring a precise hit.
for and
Then, she draws a vial from her vest, before wincing from the lingering electrical damage.
~+~Round 2~+~
Vetch (-11)
Guldun
--Telly
Red (-41, 2 persistent elec.)
Blue (-15, clumsy 2)
Uhtred (-48)
BGG
~+~Round 3~+~
Vetch (-15)
Guldun
--Telly
Guldun will reload and fire again at the construct. Yelling for Telly to keep at it
for and
for and
Vetch uses his reach magic again to cast heal on Uhtred.
Uhtred advances on the alchemist and hits her due to her clumsiness. Though BGG, Guldun, and Telly miss their marks, Vetch is able to restore some of the barbarian's hit points.
The behemoth steps toward Uhtred and tries to hammer the barbarian back again, but misses.
for
In frustration, he swings again.
for
With a barbarian upon her more swiftly than she would have bargained for, the half-elf is forced to re-evaluate her tactics. She quaffs the potion in her hand, then draws and drinks from another vial.
The creature finally recovers from the shock running through its body.
~+~Round 3~+~
Vetch (-11)
Guldun
--Telly
Red (-43)
Blue (-15)
Uhtred (-49)
BGG
~+~Round 4~+~
Vetch (-15)
Guldun
--Telly