"How can it be secret when everyone in town knows the building?" asks Oorgatch, incredulously.
With no traps present Oorgatch opens the door, to find a hallway strewn with webbing. Not nearly as dense as the rooms seen earlier but once the door is open Oorgatch does spot several particularly thick strands of webbing that could easily catch somebody's neck if you weren't carefuly.
Let me know if we can help. Yan will guard oorgatch as he disables the traps, on the lookout for danger.
Scarred One looks at the traps and nods his head. "We could burn them, but that would probably set the whole building on fire, so maybe it is better to use blade"
"Until I know for sure, staying back would probably be a good idea."
Oorgatch moves in, carefully, and tries to disable the first trap.
Having cleared the first trap, Oorgatch moves on to the second one.
He has the same difficulty as the first, but gets it done on his second attempt.
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As Oorgatch finishes disabling the second bit of problematic webbing a pair of strange bipedal spider-esque monsters come skittering up the stairs.
Init:
Y'all
Them
Everybody is up!
Yan moves forward so long as he doesn't;t see any more traps, and readies a Strike at whichever comes nearest.
Scarred One moves behind Yan "What are those things?"
He grabs with his right hand the wall and tries to manage the pain that flows through his body, his neck grows longer as his face changes. His skin begins to change to even more green color covered with scales. His fangs grow longer and his eye pupils resemble the ones of a snake.
"We ssssshoul sssstop them." says in an altered voice. His clothing and equipment change with the rest of his body into a giant snake that lies behind Yan.
A slithering sound can be heard behind Yan, a massive long body is moving in place waiting for the enemies to move.
Oorgatch draws his 'branch', moves forward, but tries to cover his approach by distractions.
Sendoski isn't sure what sort of creatures those are.
Oorgatch manages to hide from the critters with his distraction while Yan moves up, scarf at the ready and Scarred One turns into a snake.
One of the strange spider bipeds charges forward, dodges Yan's scarf and tries to take a bite.
The spider-esque creature injects venom into Yan as well.
The second one hurries behind, trying to bite Oorgatch.
Although Yan protects him from the worst and enfeebles the attacker Oorgatch still has to contend with the poison.
Saving Throw Fortitude DC 19; Maximum Duration 10 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison and flat-footed (1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison, flat-footed, and slowed 1 (1 round)
Initiative
Yan (32/44) Fort vs Poison
Oorgatch (35/43) Fort vs Poison
Scarred Snake (50/50)
Sendoski (28/28)
Orange Spider Dot[
Blue Spider Dash (Enfeebled 2)
Y'all are up!
The snake moves in the position, its the massive body moving across the planks. It focuses on the enemy and in an instant it's head darts to bite the enemy.
and slowed 1
Yan attacks twice, grunting with pain.
Scarred Snake slithers up the wall and bites a spidey-boy
Yan does not deal well with the poison, but he does crit!
---
Oorgatch is un affected by the poison.
Oorgatch gets through and stabs orange.
Oorgatch continues on past, out of the Sendoski zone of death.
As he leaves the Spidey boy falls, apparently Oorgatch's glancing blow having been enough.
The remaining enfeebled monster tries to stick Yan to the wall with some webs.
and double moving away past Oorgatch
Yan (26/44) Poison 1 (FF), Immobilized (DC 20)
Oorgatch (35/43)
Scarred Snake (50/50)
Sendoski (28/28)
Blue Spider Dash -7
Everybody is up!
Saving Throw Fortitude DC 19; Maximum Duration 10 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison and flat-footed (1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison, flat-footed, and slowed 1 (1 round)
It's probably luring us into a trap — a page out of old Gralgust's playbook! Don't fall for it!
Yan tries to escape but only entangles himself more. It's not funny! Stop laughing, Naught!
He spends his turn struggling as the poison runs its course.
Scarred Snake moves forward sticking to the wall, he moves over young warriors head and turns towards the stair just far enough to stab the fleeing enemy. The snake attacks in an instant ...
Fangs bite into the flesh
Oorgatch moves around, speeding past the spider with his now speedier feet, and attempts to stab the vermin.
He then attempts to tumble-through, ending up where he started.
With Sendoski cutting Yan out Oorgatch and the Scarred Snake chase down the fleeing spider-dude.
With that creature defeated and the spiders being non-hostile things seem a bit calmer.
Exploring doesn't reveal anything further of value but the cellar does connect to a bit of Osprey tunnels that seem to head northeast out of town.
Can we get rid of these gross 'non-hostile' spiders, Scarred one!?
As the last monster falls the snake slowly change back into Scarred One. Hands and legs grow back from the snake's body and the druid's gear materialize. The old one shakes his head few times
"Are we fine?" he looks at Worddancer and the Young Warrior and reaches for his tools
Can we get rid of these gross 'non-hostile' spiders, Scarred one!?
"Gross? Have you seen a mirror lately? They are no more gross than we are? Can we? We even should, I am also worried for them to not be able to find enough food here, they may even starve. When we have time I will handle it with Worliwynn, we shall find them some spot near the swamps."
he grabs knife and makes few cuts on Worddancers arm
"Come here, young one, let me heal your wounds"
"There is something wrong here, maybe the spider-hater should help you with his magic."
Scarred One will go and see how the small spiders are doing.
There's no more than a few dozen loose at the moment but eventually hundreds will birth from the infested kobold corpses. One is pretty close to opening up but we'll say that with some time and care Scarred One can safely lead the effort to move the kobold bodies out of town before the spiders burst forth.
What next?
Yan will help bury the bodies.
Perhaps a visit to Wrin for an augury would be wise.
Oorgatch helps take care of the bodies, then cringing, asks the elder orc, ”Did you want to try healing my wounds again, or should I try it?”
---
Wrin smiles "Nice to see the four of you together again. I sense you see answers from the stars, how can I bring their wisdom to you?"
Hello, Wrin. We know there is a River Drake under the tower. If we attack it in the daytime from the steps to Gralgust's Lair, weal or woe?
Wrin nods, "Let us consult the stars."
She frowns as cloud cover moves in. She takes a bit to refocus, lights some more incense but clearly can't get a reading.
"I'm sorry my friends, the stars are clouded from my eyes on this matter."
"It is as all things. We go in knowing we might die." says Oorgatch. "Drake... flyer. Maybe we need more ranged weapons?"
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Sendoski frowns at the murky outcome.
"What does this drake have to do with the mystery of who's lighting the Gauntlight? Can't we leave it alone or avoid it like we have been? the ghost of Belcorra is our real enemy."
Sendoski is eager to get back to exploring the ruins.
"Why don't we check out those tunnels under the Alpaca?"
Agreed. The drake might be harmless. Has it harmed anyone? Maybe we can make friends with it. Imagine flying above the swamps on your very own drake! Like a dragon lancer, remember those old books? I don't think they hold up well, but I digress…
Scarred One grunts
"Sure, let us leave the drake for now. DId anyone see any entrance to the tunnels in that inn?"
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Exploring doesn't reveal anything further of value but the cellar does connect to a bit of Osprey tunnels that seem to head northeast out of town.
"We found a tunnel down in the cellar that connects with the others. My guess is they head out toward the Gauntlight."
The next day the party heads under the Thirsty Alpaca to investigate the tunnels.
The first thing to be found is Kobold Warrens, maybe close to a dozen kobolds were living here until somewhat recently when they were eaten by spiders and spider like creatures.
From there you are able to find several more tunnels, one leads to beneath the Otari Fishery while several lead deeper into the Darklands.
There is one of interest that seems smooth, as though it had been burrowed out by some sort of worm. It leads northwest underneath Fogfen for quite a ways, likely getting at least close to Gauntlight.
There the tunnel turns more to the east while a dug out alcove ends in what is pretty clearly the back side of a secret door. The very feint sounds of a creature pacing or perhaps moving around modest items can be heard as well.
A mysterious door. How can we resist!? Yan checks it for traps along with his other friends' usual routine before opening it…
Scarred One nods his head, showing that he is ready for whatever is there...
"Lets just be careful." says Oorgatch, as he carefully checks the door.
Not finding any Traps Oorgatch opens the door to reveal a large, cross-shaped chamber that contains several long couches, the leather cushions that once adorned them cracked with age.
Dead plants lie slumped in planter boxes along the walls, and a long-dry fountain depicting a lighthouse stands in the middle of the room.
Seated in a chair reading a book is a ghoulish creature that resembles the morlocks above. He looks up from his book as you arrive.
"Oh my... my apologizes for that couch in your way, I didn't know about that door there. Please come in."
Ever the redeemer, Yan steps inside. Ahh! Apologies. Yan steps around the couch. I am Yan; it is a pleasure to meet a fellow person of words down here. Might I ask what you're reading?
The strange undead creature smiles, its teeth disturbingly sharp.
"Hermetically Open: An Embassy of the Free Mind. Some of its ideas are a bit... old-fashioned, but the Cult of the Canker and I are not on speaking terms at the moment, making it rather hard to get any other reading material."