Lina moves linguistic magic another step up on her prioritized acquisition strategy.
“Mekmek is the son of the kobold chief,” she explains, inclining her head respectfully as she adds a few more details to help Meneas get his bearings. “According to the customs of his people, he needs to repay our assistance in kind. We decided to leave comparing constitutions for later.”
She switches between Draconic and Common for the next bit to make sure everyone’s on the same page about what’s on the other side of the chasm. “So there’s at least one other bug somewhereabouts that’s even bigger than the centipedes we fought already, something else that’s the leader’s pet, and the leader himself.”
Himself? Hmm. First things first, though. “Would this pet over there be anything like a very big dark bird? Does the leader normally keep it close? And what’s he like, if you know? The person we met at the door was a mite woman.” So she wasn’t their chief, then. Or someone else was pulling her strings regardless.
“We’ll have to go there sooner or later,” she decides, but turns to Meneas and Brental for their thoughts. “The question is whether we want to press on directly or if we’d like to check the other branch we saw above first. If the leader’s sanctum is up ahead, we could be in for a brutal last stand, but if he’s got Signy and Wisp…”
“I’m fine with either,” she concludes nervously, letting the other two make the call.
Brental waits for Mekmek to answer Lina's questions before offering his own two copper (mostly in agreement with Lina). Comparing constitutions--she and Meneas had different senses of humor, but Brental was growing to appreciate their dry wit.
"Discretion is the better part of valor. We are relatively fresh now and could engage with the more dangerous threats. If we expend ourselves exploring, we may feel too weakened to do much by the time we have encountered the most vicious foes. We should be smart about this."
He pauses, considering their options. "If we need to retreat, it may take some effort to return to this passage. But we should be prepared to if we are overwhelmed."
Before they make their choice, Brental reaches to his belt and withdraws a small tree branch. "Was anyone injured above, by the way? I can ensure that we are our best condition."
"That's good." Meneas nods at Lina's translation. "Having friends in high places can be handy." He glances up at the pit they've just climbed down. "Though none of us are in a high place now."
"Signy and Wisp both seem to have come down here - not in the other direction above." The Hooded Knight adds after a moment. "But I can't find any sign of where they went from here."
"Neither mites nor centipedes landed a hit on me - or on Veil, come to think of it. I guess the rest of you provided a bigger distraction. Especially your spell, Brental." He says gratefully. "Well done with that, by the way."
At the question of where to next, Meneas flexes his fingers uncomfortably. Would that Lady Medvyed was here now. He takes a deep breath, slowly letting the air slip out of his lungs. "I say we go rescue our companions first - if they're still alive, they might not stay that way for long. Then we can go explore the rest of this sycamore - or retreat. Killing the leader will cause some disarray, and we can come back later, once we're rested and refreshed."
Brental smiles at the compliment. "I'm happy that my efforts have helped to keep us alive."
As Meneas concurs, the druid nods. "Mekmek, I know that you advise against proceeding ahead. If you would like us to escort you away from danger, we can get you out of here. But we would like to get your idol, along with our own companions stolen by the denizens of this tree. After that, I am fine with retreating."
Brental will also look around for tracks or other signs of their companions.
Meneas looks ahead at the deep and ominous chasm that splits the passage. The chasm is a few yards wide, and twice as deep, but thick ropes of tangled roots fill the entire area. The passage continues
on the far side of the chasm, and between the two ledges, numerous loops have been tied into the roots to serve as hand- and footholds.
Meanwhile Mekmek cocks his head to the side at Lina like a confused puppy. <"Bird? No... Mekmek has seen no bird here. This underground not sky-facing silly tall-thing. Mekmek saw a bird like that once though... but no-no that was just a sleep-dream! Leader is ugly blue mite like rest. He has gap teeth make funny whistle-sound when talk and many purple splotches on face... Pet is big monster that drink kobold blood and hop around underground. Only mites can control such evil beast!>" Mekmek glances about as though seeking approval of what he's said before he falls on his butt and sighs exhausted.
Mekmek looks up at Brental with a tired but happy smirk. <"Mekmek brave kobold warrior. Just give Mekmek weapon and will help fight-kill many mites with you! Is strong and brave and must be example to all other kobolds of tribe! Tribe needs leaders now more than ever!">
Brental jumps as he sees the shadow-bird from across the chasm.
"The creature that took Signy and Wisp was there," he points into the darkness. "It seems less real. I don't know what to make of it."
He shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. To Mekmek he nods and lays out a pair of weapons to choose from. For himself he keeps the cold iron dagger and the club, but brings out the shortspear and scimitar for the kobold to consider.
<"Are you proficient with either of these?"> he asks in Draconic.
Brental moves towards the chasm. He looks around to see if he can see the pet, or anything else interesting awaiting them if they aim to cross. He also cracks his knuckles and utters a few words under his breath .
"Yeah. I'm fairly certain it was at least partially made of... dreamstuff. First World magic, but of a sort I'd judge is way beyond the mites." Meneas looks on, uncomprehending as the kobold speaks in his native tongue. I should try to start learning Draconic, apparently. Who knew how critical it'd become? Settling back on his heels, he leans against one of the walls. "I don't think I'll be able to cross that gap - not easily, at any rate." A sigh escapes from the hood.
"Doesn't look like we have much choice, though, does it?"
Mekmek squeals in delight as he snatches up the shortspear and holds it close before rising up to his feet wobbling. <"Mekmek takes this one! Do nee master-onwers proud and kill many ugly blue mites yes-yes?">
In the pit Brental manages to see a tangled mass. Wriggling. Like the centipedes before but much MUCH larger at the very bottom of the pit. As Brental stares into the abyss however, it stares back at him, watching waiting.
Also Brental can't really seem to place his finger on what kind of monsters would fit the description that Mekmek has described. Probably a vermin of some description though since Mekmek says that only mites are able to control the beast.
As Brental looks Mekmek over, disheveled on death's door and gripping a spear, he frowns.
<"Before you courageously get yourself killed,"> he says, reaching for the tree-branch wand, <"Let me heal you.">
Brental utters an arcane word of healing to activate the wand. His hand glows with a warm, white glow, which he touches to Memek, healing him for:
It would have to do for now. If they survived this place, which Brental planned to do by hook or by crook, then he would see to the young kobold's more persistent wounds. Just try not to die until then...
After a moment, the druid reaches the edge of the chasm and stares down. He blinks calmly and calls back to his companions.
"The pet is below. I imagine it will attack if we try to cross."
He backs away and half-turns, trying to keep the wriggling mass below in his peripheral vision. "My facility at range is limited. I have a sling, but against a creature of this size I fear it will do little. Would that Signy were here with her bow. Although...wait, Meneas, you are good with a bow. And Lina, I have seen the bow on your back as well. We could stand at the edge and attempt to fire at it from range until it moves in, and then beat a retreat further in to manage the melee in more advantageous conditions."
Brental sighs, "Or else we can try to find another way to the room beyond and avoid the beast for now. I don't mean to be indecisive: just smart."
To be fair, whatever it was, they were coming into its lair. It had every right to defend itself, and further to seek prey. Unlike the mites, there was nothing inherently malicious about the creature that Brental could sense: just the usual law of the wild. Kill or be killed. That was what had to be done with the centipedes led by the mites above.
Of course, if the mites down here communed with this creature and formally set it to the attack, it could be worse for them all.
Discretion or aggression? Brental's hand reaches for his sling, loaded with a simple rock. Although he couldn't make out the full size of the creature, he suspected it would be the largest creature he had ever hunted.
"Yeah. I'm fairly certain it was at least partially made of... dreamstuff. First World magic, but of a sort I'd judge is way beyond the mites." Meneas looks on, uncomprehending as the kobold speaks in his native tongue. I should try to start learning Draconic, apparently. Who knew how critical it'd become? Settling back on his heels, he leans against one of the walls. "I don't think I'll be able to cross that gap - not easily, at any rate." A sigh escapes from the hood.
"Doesn't look like we have much choice, though, does it?"
Lina peers across the chasm trying to see what’s on the other side, but she’s promptly distracted by Meneas’ comment. “Dreamstuff? That’s interesting. I’ve only just dabbled a bit in shadow magic – I wonder if it works at all similarly! Hopefully we’ll be able to study the creature once we deal with it, one way or another.”
She refocuses, knowing the other adventurers’ lives are in danger even as the trio considers their way forward. She decides it would also be less helpful to point out that if it is anything like the shadow magic she knows of, shaping a creature out of whatever sort of arcane force for any length of time implies rather worrying things about the power of the mage involved.
“In any case, I think both of your suggestions are apt. Our friends are in trouble, we’re not likely to get any fresher anytime soon, but if we’ve got to cross this crack, there’s no sense in not trying to use it to our advantage to the extent we can.”
Lina quickly switches her sword for her bow, nocking an arrow and peering into the chasm in the direction Brental indicates the mite leader’s pet is lurking.
Meneas peers down the pit. "Er..." He draws out his bow, but looks down again. "I may be able to- oh, for the love of..." He aims and fires as well, reacting to his elf companion's shot. "Maybe next time we can all get prepared?" The knight-errant asks in exasperation.
Brental is as surprised as Meneas that Lina has rushed to the attack, and he pulls his sling up with surprise. He whispers a quick stream of frustrated sounding words in a language neither Lina nor Meneas understand (Druidic).
Oh rotting earth, I guess we're doing this...
The druid swings his sling through the air and chucks a rock down into the darkness below.
Lina's arrow strikes the monsterous vermin in the eye. With a splash if orange blood the beast hisses and makes to charge its way up before Meneas and Brental join the fray. A barrage of arrow and slingshot crack the hearty creature's carapace and already it looks severely bloodied.
Meneas stares down at the creature, before firing another arrow at it. "Well, at least it's not as menacing as it could be..." This time, however, his shot goes wide. "Damn." With that, he drops his bow and draws both sword and shield.
Meneas peers down the pit. "Er..." He draws out his bow, but looks down again. "I may be able to- oh, for the love of..." He aims and fires as well, reacting to his elf companion's shot. "Maybe next time we can all get prepared?" The knight-errant asks in exasperation.
“Sorry! It’s just, with the legs, and, gods! the length and, and all, I got nervous!” Lina apologizes, feeling her own skin crawl as the vermin starts to crawl towards her.
Encouraged by her first lucky shot, the witch quickly nocks and releases another arrow...
...to no avail. Trusting that Meneas knows more about such things than she does, she follows his lead in setting her bow aside and drawing her sword again in expectation that the monstrous bug is going to climb faster than she really wants to think about. If not, she has at least one cantrip that should work.
Brental sucks air through his teeth as he sees the creature take three solid blows and keep going. This was going to be trouble!
Then his companions' follow-up shots miss and they draw their melee weapons. The druid knows that if he stops to loose his shield and load another rock into his sling, the beast will already be upon them. And if he can guess at the size of it, it might be able to reach them while denying them the ability to attack without descending into its abyssal pit.
"You all might want to move back," Brental says. He drops his sling to the ground and reaches into a scabbard at his belt. For the first time that Meneas can recall, the druid draws out sharp, curved blade rather than his usual club. The club was his usual weapon of choice for its strong, oaken frame. But a creature of this size and fortitude would require a deadlier hand.
Blade in hand, Brental looks to Vodnykel. "Försvara draken."
Vodnykel readies an action to move in front of Mekmek if anything attempts to attack the kobold (providing cover/interepting the attack).
As he draws the blade, Brental moves forward to form a line with Lina and Meneas. Although he was recommending pulling back, he would not abandon them to the creature's grasp He bangs the flat of his blade against the shield as he adopts a defensive position, calling down a provoking taunt in his innate angelic tongue to the wriggling mass.
"Kom och slåss mot mig!"
Come and fight me.
Mekmek, now healed of all of his deadlier wounds stands back behind the mastodon looking a little flustered as he is unable to get in on the action in such cramped quarters.
Meanwhile the creature, staying fifteen feet back, lashes out aggressively at Meneas. First its whip-like tails crack down against the ground at the cavalier's feet destroying some of the gravel and making the knight nearly plummet into the abyss below. Then its massive mandibles find their way around the cavalier. Meneas was not strong enough to hold back the onslaught but fortunately his armor just barely manages to hold off the creatures pincers before it retreats back to the hole.
Meneas grunts, staggering back under the force of the blows. "Ugh! Stronger than I expected. Smarter, too." He casts a quick glance at the elf woman. "Step back, I'll try to keep it at bay. You shoot at it!"
He sheathes his sword and tries climbing down into the pit to face the creature more directly. This may be the stupidest thing I've done since charging that bandit camp last year... some things never change.
As it moves up to strike, Lina realizes belatedly that the monstrous thing is big enough to mostly set the terms of the engagement, and a burst of extremely unkind thoughts about mites and all vermin everywhere fills her head.
Meneas grunts, staggering back under the force of the blows. "Ugh! Stronger than I expected. Smarter, too." He casts a quick glance at the elf woman. "Step back, I'll try to keep it at bay. You shoot at it!"
He sheathes his sword and tries climbing down into the pit to face the creature more directly.
“I’ll cover for you,” Lina nods, as Meneas starts to climb down to the beast. Before reaching to scoop up her bow, she leans over the edge of the chasm and calls up a bolt of acid to hurl down at the crawling thing below.
Meneas seems to be having some difficulty with navigating the climb down the chasm until he notices a few handy little knots tied into the roots, seemingly by the mites to help them traverse this space. This makes the climb much easier right up until the knight errant grabs at a root knot and the moment he puts his body weight on it... it loosens. In the moment of freefall Meneas acts with great haste and plunges his blade into the loose mass of vegetation on the wall and manages to just barely catch himself just and Lina's magic splatters against the centipede causing it to flail about grotesquely as the acid hisses on its body.
It is at this point Meneas is able to realize that several of the root knots are insidious traps set up by the mites to lure any intruder to an unfortunate fall into the maw of beast.
"Meneas!" Brental calls out as the knight starts to fall.
Although Meneas catches himself, he remains in a precarious position. Brental grips his sword and shield tighter, feeling helpless.
We're not made for this kind of a shooting match...
With a huff, the druid sheathes his blade and moves to the edge, reaching a hand out to Meneas. "Don't get yourself killed, damn it! Take my hand and get back up here."
[ooc]If that succeeds, it's a +2 to Meneas' next climb check. I can't increase his AC or Attack with Aid Another because I'm not in a position to attack the creature in melee.
Brental is able to catch, just in the nick of time, the massive centipede's whip-like tail lashing out against his struggling friend. In a burst of adrenaline he manages to lift his friend up just enough to where the tail cracks hard against the wall just below Meneas' feet.
There is a moment of relief where Brental smiles at the cavalier before Mekmek shouts out"Master!" and not a moment later Meneas cries out in agony as the creature rams its head into Meneas' back and its mighty pincers punch through his armor. Meneas' head starts to get a bit dizzy and he can feel the tips of his fingers go numb as something makes its way through his body.
Despite all of this Meneas maintains his grasp on Brental's hand tightly keeping him from plunging into the centipede-pit.
The wound looks hideous. Brental grips with all his might and tries to hoist the knight up.
"Live to fight another day," Brental seethes. He could heal Meneas now, try to keep alive a bit longer, but by the light of the moon and the dust of the earth this was bad!
In a flash of insight, Brental remembers some of his training with the Oakstewards. One of his mentors, an undine named Porphyra, was leading Brental and a few other Green Faith Acolytes on an expedition deep in the Wilewood. They were unfortunate enough to stumble on a lone marsh giant. Under Porphyra's guidance, Brental learned a valuable strategy that kept them alive that day. Porphyra was a defensive master. She stood against the marsh giant, provoking its attacks. On her command, the acolytes would strafe forward to a range from which they could strike. They did not lose a single acolyte that day. Could Brental replicate her strategy?
"We'll need to be smart. If one of us moves in defensively and provokes the creature's attacks, the others may be able to move in more safely. But we need to draw it back first."
Your fault, your fault, your… A guilty refrain starts up in Lina’s thoughts as a sickening crunch and Meneas' cry echoes from the chasm. Slinging her bow over her shoulder, she launches another bolt of acid conjured more by reflex than anything else, the familiarity of the cantrip a saving grace as she tries to think of a way out of her mess.
The spells she’s strongest with won’t work on a creature with instincts as basic as the centipede’s, nor can she provoke it with bitter words, though she tries to make herself as obviously threatening as she can to draw attention away from Meneas.
Brental’s words register through her racing thoughts. “Right! I’ll try to hold its attention while we fall back, at least!”
Something else occurs to her, and she continues in Draconic. <“Mekmek! Can you throw that spear as soon as that thing sticks its head over the edge, and then get clear?”>
The centipede thrashes about in pain againsts the walls of the chasm causing them to shake violently as Lina's acid burns through the beast's carapace.
Meanwhile Mekmek nods solemly at Lina and holds his spear tight. <"Mekmek shall protect new master-owners yes-yes.>" He murtters in response. A look of grim determination flashing in his reptilian eyes.
Meneas staggers forwards as the blows strike him, a pained wheeze escaping his mouth. Okay, yes, that was really stupid. Why did I...? He thrusts the thoughts aside, shaking his head vigorously and lifting his shield as he turns to face the creature again. "Thanks, Brental. Sorry." He pulls away cautiously.
Brental barely has time to raise his shield after scooping up his bleeding friend before the centipede's tail smashes into it with immense force. The druid barely manages to stave off the first blow but it has knocked his shield aside and exposed an opening!
The centipede strikes out like a snake and digs its pincers deep inside the aasimar with another sickening crunch. Brental feels the agony of the bite and the venom seeping into his body but his is able to stand to the venom and deny its effects through sheer force of will and determination.
Gasping for air and looking on in horror the party prepare themselves for another round with the fearsome beast when they hear a mighty cry from behind them.
All turn to look as their small kobold friend rockets forward as fast as his little legs will carry him! The brave little creature pushes past his injured allies and, before anyone can stop him, throws himself over the ledge at the creature, spear raised high above his head, crying out "<A SOOT-SCALE ALWAYS PAYS HIS DEBTS!!!>" Plunging off the cliff and down into the ravine below he thrusts his simple weapon down at the target with an unexpected force!
The beast raises it's wretched maw to meet the small creature, hissing wildly as it opens its mandibles wide to accept the new snack when Mekmek plunges his spear into the monster's waiting mouth so deep it burst out the other side in an explosion of bits of black carapace and orange guts! The kobold and the beast fall back together down into the pit.
There is hissing and tumultuous thrashing about in the depths of the pit for several following seconds before only silence follows. A few seconds more and the dust settles revealing the upturned, lifeless body of the titantic centipede. And the small, still, broken body of their new friend still proudly clutching his loaned weapon.
"Er..." Meneas steps slowly forwards, looking down into the pit. "Are you still alive?" He calls down, sheathing his sword slowly and carefully.
"Be careful." He adds to his companions. "The hand holds and such are traps - to get those attempting to cross to fall down." Gods, I hope he's not dead. We don't need a pissed off kobold chieftain in addition to all the other troubles this expedition has faced so far...
All turn to look as their small kobold friend rockets forward as fast as his little legs will carry him! The brave little creature pushes past his injured allies and, before anyone can stop him, throws himself over the ledge at the creature, spear raised high above his head, crying out "<A SOOT-SCALE ALWAYS PAYS HIS DEBTS!!!>" Plunging off the cliff and down into the ravine below he thrusts his simple weapon down at the target with an unexpected force!
“What?! NO!” Lina has just time to call out as Mekmek charges past her at the centipede. She’s in pursuit as soon as it registers, but before she can do anything more, the pair are tumbling over the edge.
By the time she gets some good foot- and handholds herself, silence settles, which only inspires new haste in her. Irate mutterings in Elven float up through the roots as she descends, “Godsdammit! Stupid kobold, you let go of the spear when you throw it!”
“And what part of fall back is so hard to understand?”
Her facial expression, if the others follow, belies her words with its softness. Foolish, but brave. We had that, though! We could have fought through!
At least this one’s deserving of Brental’s good offices with a spade, she thinks, the practical part of her mind immediately turning to the most diplomatic way to report to the kobolds when the time comes. Beyond that, she fixes the remains of the centipede with a baleful, calculating glare.
“We should move him,” she calls up, gently, “while we decide if we want to proceed directly, or how.”
At the bottom of the chasm you inspect the wreck of bodies left behind.
The centipede appears fully dead and so too does the kobold known as Mekmek. Until you notice subtle breathing from the kobold's body.
Mekmek is alive! But bleeding out quickly.
Haste will be needed if one were to wish to save his life.
Stooping to move Mekmek, Lina realizes he’s just clinging to life, and she immediately stops short and tries her best to stop the worst of his bleeding, though she knows she’s no healer.
She has to improvise, badly, but despite her frantic movements and lack of proper materials - she even resorts to wadding up a scrap of parchment as she checks her pockets for a handkerchief or anything - luck is with her, and she thinks she hears his breathing strengthen and stickiness stop flowing under her touch.
“He’s still breathing! Barely, but I think I've managed to make him stable,” she announces, eyes wide as she looks back up to the others, hands covered in kobold blood still applying pressure to keep his wounds closed.
The kobold murmurs in his sleep as Lina stabalizes him. He is very unconcious and still heavily wounded but it seems that the quick thinking improvisation of Lina has managed to save the little fellow!
Meneas sighs, relieved. "Good." He slowly descends into the pit to join Lina. "We won't be able to bring him up without his help. He'll need healing." He looks up at where Brental is.
The end of the battle has Brental reeling. Between barely rescuing Meneas only to find himself nearly bisected by the centipede and then watching Mekmek launch himself into a suicidal attack, the druid kneels at the edge of the chasm not fully processing what is happening for a few moments. He's covered in blood: his own, Meneas', the centipedes', and the mites'. So he doesn't register that Meneas and Lina have already gone down into the chasm for an uncomfortably long time.
"...still breathing..."
"...he'll need heaing..."
Brental blinks a few times and looks down to see Lina holding some of Mekmek's wounds closed with her hands. How long had he been dazed?
"Right," he murmurs. "Rust and rot..."
Brental drops his shield and climbs down to join the others.
Despite his severe injuries, he seems to climb down easily.
Brave fool...there are things in this world worth killing for, worth dying for. But this was foolhardy. Maybe if Mekmek survived this, he would recognize the value in his own life, consider his life debt paid, and be less reckless going forward.
Rather than withdrawing his healing kit--which he would absolutely be using later--Brental draws out the tree branch wand and begins gently tapping it to Mekmek, Meneas, and himself in turn. Pulses of positive energy illuminate the darkness down here.
Several of Brental's wounds magically heal with the wand, but he still looks deflated after the furious melee that had nearly just taken three of their lives. There was something different about engaging with one titanic foe as opposed to ten or twelve regular-sized foes. Numbers were deadly, but so was size.
Brental isn't much for lectures though, much as he feels frustrated with the foolhardiness of his companions. But to feel like their protector? No, that was not his responsibility either. He could only stand by their side as an ally. Lead by example.
He slumps back after several taps of the wand.
"Please try not to sacrifice yourselves," he sighs. "We are being reckless in our pursuits."
"Mm." Meneas nods slightly at Brental's words. "It was foolish of me. I figured it would try to come out of the pit to attack us, but it proved that it didn't need to. At any rate, I'm somewhat stiffer than I was. That venom..."
A sigh escapes from his hood. "I think at this rate, our companions might be dead whether or not we rush to get to them - It depends how far away they are."
"Before we departed, Riftun gave us a single curative potion, the sort of which would help with the sluggishness of poison. If you want it, I have it in my pack."
After Meneas brings up the fate of their erstwhile companions, Brental hangs his head. "Time is of the essence. We're none of us at full fighting strength, but we're better than we were. I'd like to press on when you all are ready."
Meneas reaches beneath his hood, scratching his chin. "I don't... why don't I hold onto it? So that I can use it if needs must. I'm reluctant only because there might be other, worse poisons in play here. To say nothing of our companions' potential injuries."
He takes the potion from the druid and stores it in a place he'll easily be able to take it from.
Brental relinquishes the potion of lesser restoration.
"We have it if we need it."
At this point, Brental looks up towards poor Vodnykel, who is stamping around nervously above.
"Vod is strong and reasonably dexterous, but I'm not sure how well he'll be able to manage this chasm if we had any difficulty."
Despite his misgivings, Brental climbs back out of the chasm and retrieves his climbing tools from the entry shaft. With a few minutes of work he tries to secure an even easier path for them--especially if they find themselves needing to retreat this way. He then positions himself to help everyone up and across this chasm.
After making a series of strengthening ties, Brental can figure out how to help everyone clamber up except for his poor mastodon.
Healing energies surging through him from Brental's extremely useful magic wand, Mekmek slowly opens his golden reptilian eyes.
In a sudden jolt of energy the kobold shoots up looks atound in a panic for the centipede until he sees its ravaged corpse. Mekmek then cheers loudly and dances around with an energy you would not expect from one so close to death moments ago before he turns around and beems at his new conpanions, proudly. "<Mekmek wins! Kill-slay evil beast! Prove might of Soot-Scale tribe and... and..."> he gasps and starts dancing about again as a thought occurs to him. "<Paid life-debt! In record time too! That means you are no longer new master-owners! Now we are friend-kin!>" He chirps happily and hugs Lina.
"<Now we must go get Old Sharptooth back from nasty blue mite leader! Then you will be welcome to tribe as family-kin!Mekmek will speak-talk for you. Say how brave-strong you all are!>"
The party slowly make their way up to the other side of the chasm, being sure to look out for false handholds which is fairly easy to spot now that they know to look for them. After a short time they arrive at the other side and see only one path before them. They are also able to hear the sound of loud arguing in Undercommon just ahead.
Mekmek grabs his spear tightly and looks to all of you, waiting to see how you wish to proceed.
Meneas manages, with Brental's help, to get to the top of the chasm. Upon hearing the Undercommon, he grimaces. "Sounds like we're in for some trouble."
A gloved hand hesitates over his bow, before falling onto his sword's hilt and pulling it forth. Cold iron. Even if they have another large pet, it's not worth trying to shoot holes into them. "How do we proceed?
"Please try not to sacrifice yourselves," he sighs. "We are being reckless in our pursuits."
“I’m sorry,” Lina says contritely. “It didn’t look quite that big in the shadows from over the edge of the chasm. And if it did, I'm not sure that wouldn't have made it worse, to be honest.”
As Brental sets to with his wand, her gaze returns curiously to the remains of the centipede, and she rummages in her pack for a bit, though she gives a bit of a start at the druid’s next words and digs deeper, eventually emerging with two vials, one empty and one already full of potion.
“My grief, but I had forgotten about this! It will do for about two passes of that wand… That Riftun seems to be a rather providential young person, if they dispense so many useful potions.” I wonder if they have a bit of the Sight? A good word in our next report would be the least we can do…
“Do you think we have a few minutes? The mites are obviously vicious when roused, but they decided to toy with that fop, and Signy and Wisp are quite persuasive. Otherwise, we can stop later, but on that note. Are either of you gentlemen better versed in invertebrate anatomy? I can clean game, but…”
She turns beseeching eyes, still wide, at the others. It is unfairly reminiscent of the innocent wounded elk calf from yesterday, especially considering that her hands are covered in gore and what she’s suggesting. “I could do something useful with that.”
"<Mekmek wins! Kill-slay evil beast! Prove might of Soot-Scale tribe and... and..."> he gasps and starts dancing about again as a thought occurs to him. "<Paid life-debt! In record time too! That means you are no longer new master-owners! Now we are friend-kin!>" He chirps happily and hugs Lina.
"<Now we must go get Old Sharptooth back from nasty blue mite leader! Then you will be welcome to tribe as family-kin!Mekmek will speak-talk for you. Say how brave-strong you all are!>"
She smiles at Mekmek, hoping that with his sense of obligation satisfied, he’ll be a bit more cautious. <“Thank you so much! I can’t think of the trouble we’d have had without you, but please, a bit more careful? You gave us a fright!”> she asks, but ends on a more upbeat, less remonstrating note. <“All’s well that ends well, though. I’m sure the tribe will be thrilled to hear how gloriously you fought!”>
NOW:
Meneas manages, with Brental's help, to get to the top of the chasm. Upon hearing the Undercommon, he grimaces. "Sounds like we're in for some trouble."
A gloved hand hesitates over his bow, before falling onto his sword's hilt and pulling it forth. Cold iron. Even if they have another large pet, it's not worth trying to shoot holes into them. "How do we proceed?
On the other side of the chasm, the sound of the argument ahead brings Lina up short. Recognizing more Undercommon, though she knows she’ll only be able to guess at every other word at best, she strains to hear, trying to count voices and hoping for any hint of what the argument’s about, in case it suggests any tactical possibilities.
She shrugs slightly. “I don’t have any defensive spells stronger than cantrips prepared today. I have some tricks for close in, but after what just happened…”
“I could turn the corner ranting and raving to try to set them off-balance, but otherwise, I think it’s bladework,” she whispers.
You also hear at least four distinct voices.
As Mekmek rouses, Brental breathes a sigh of relief. With the new declaration of friend/kinship, the druid adds his warning to Lina’s.
“Vos autem fortes amicus. Vita tantum aes dare animam tuam noli. Nos auxiliatus sum tibi recuperet Vetus Venenum Dentis.”
Brental explains briefly to Meneas. ”He considers us friends instead of masters now. The life debt has been paid. I told him not to be suicidal.”
Lina seems curious about the centipede’s venom sacs. Brental observes the shattered creature and then nods. ”I haven’t encountered this particular specimen before, but I’m sure it’s not all that different: just bigger. I have some tools. And while Signy and Wisp could talk their way out of an execution if they are captured in here, I’d rather move ahead. The venom sacs will still be here when we’re ready for them.”
Later, if they survive, Brental will removes the surgical tools he recently purchased from his pack, bless himself with the Guidance of the earth, and set to work on the venom sacs.
”My remaining magic is martially-oriented: making my club hit extra hard. It’s a tradeoff between that and cold iron, which I know is effective with the mites. I might use the spell if it looks like we have another large beast. I don’t think we have the element of surprise on our side in any case. The best path forward may be the most direct one.”
Brental loosely translates the planning for Mekmek.
"Tribulatio praemisit. Certus non procedat. Posset eos fallere conatur. Verisimile non est mirum. Te nobis in recta moveri."
Around the corner from the mites, Brental listens carefully and consults his linguist’s codex to see if he can get anything substantial from the conversation before they move in.
Meneas nods at Brental. "It's good to know what you're talking about with him."
The Hooded Knight flexes his fingers. "I never was very good at sneaking around." I will need to work on it. They always were able to be quieter than me...
When the others look ready, Meneas takes the lead, ready to move into danger for his fellows. He keeps a careful eye out for any traps that might be forthcoming, but is too distracted by the dimness and his own footsteps to see anything.
"I'm not stealthy either," the druid says, trying to hold as still as possible and glancing back at his mastodon. Not a chance there either.
Brental thinks for a moment. He hasn't mastered the ability yet, but he knows druids of his lodge who are able to transform themselves into other animals. If you were not particularly stealthy as a typical humanoid, then you could still be surprisingly inconspicuous as a butterfly or a toad.
If I were a better druid, I would be able to help us even more...
Brental also keeps his eyes focused ahead.
Lina catches what sounds quite close to the Elven for ‘bird,’ though strangely accented. It stands to reason that Undercommon might rely on a direct loanword for surface creatures, she considers.
“At least four voices, I think. I wouldn’t swear to any of them belonging to our friends, given how the walls here reflect sound,” she informs the others, “but it could be. Either that, or we’re not the only ones at a bit of a loss here. Someone’s definitely talking about that bird, and dreams…”
She shrugs uneasily, draws her dagger, and mentally reviews the elements of her spells for the day, ready to follow Brental and Meneas once they’re ready to lead the charge.