The group follows Saria and her lights to the east. It enters a smaller room with no discernible function but another exit to the south. Following that hall, the team comes to another room with the hall going west back into the main hall on the south side. There, the team can see down the southern exit and the companion exit to the west.
"Perhaps we should head across to the west to make sure it is clear before heading that way," Shathee says indicating holding off on going south.
"Not a bad idea. Those spiders had to go somewhere, right? Best if we try to make sure we're not leaving them at our backs, waiting for a possible ambush."
Gripping her spear tightly and glancing at the ceiling every few steps, Saria cautiously leads the way to the other side.
Doc follows, grumbling quietly under his breath about his dislike of spiders.
The team crosses to the west and only finds a passage running north. Thinking it is just like the east side but needing to clear the area they proceed. In the northern room they find a new passage running west that turns north. At this point there are two choices, west to north or return to the south passage.
The team turns back to the south. The south passage continues for twenty feet before opening into a sort of foyer with a passage leading off to the west too far for the elves to see the end. Another passage continues to the south, the elves and those with darkvision can make out the end hall about a hundred feet away but it obviously opens up after fifteen feet or so but the angle is insufficient to see what sort of room it opens into. Near the end of the southern route there may be yet another passage headed west.
"Shall we continue on south then?"
"Indeed, Molasbar, your suggestion to further explore the southern passageway holds merit. We must understand what lies beyond that threshold, especially given the presence of those ominous webs. Knowledge is our greatest weapon, and I would rather not be caught unawares by whatever may dwell within."
Cimrôdel gestures towards the passage, his expression a blend of curiosity and determination. "Let us proceed with caution, keeping our wits about us."
Cimrôdel considers his situation. "Would it be too unlikely of a coincidence that one of you have a flask of acid, or a bottle of liquid ice, you could loan me, until I can get to an alchemist and procure those items?"
"Sorry, Cimrôdel, I only brought some flasks of alchemist fire with me, no acid or liquid ice."
Saria shakes her head at Cimrôdel's inquiry, as she sends her lights further south along the passage before following behind them cautiously, alert for any danger.
The group moves further to the south and the passage opens into a room. The chamber opens out in a wide half circle. Giant brick ovens have been built into the curved wall, and fire pits outfitted with multiple spits for roasting are set nearby. A passage leads west from the southern corner of the room. It has a door on the north, south, and at the end (west).
Saria hears a rustling sound coming from the southern brick oven.
"Saria, your response is perfectly appropriate. You had no reason to believe such was needed. Nor did I, until I started hurling those magics repeatedly, and concluded that the addition of several alchemical items would make my spells more effective."
Doc frowns at the banter. "Why would you pay some alchemist to make you liquid ice or acid flasks, when I could brew 'em for you at cost back in my lab?" A flash of doubt crosses his face. "Though I ain't never made any before. Acid shouldn't be too hard, but I don't know about liquid ice..."
As the soft glow of his ioun stone bathes the dark dungeon in a pale light, Cimrôdel keeps a watchful eye on the creeping shadows, alert for any lurking threats, especially the spiders that had previously attacked.
"Doc, while I greatly value your expertise as an alchemist, I did not want to assume that you would be available for such tasks. I was considering the street merchant alchemist for this matter. However, if you are willing to assist me, I would be more than happy to have your help!"
Cimrôdel shifts his weight, maintaining his vigilance against any unseen dangers.
Raising a hand to get the others attention without making much noise, Saria points her spear at the southern oven. "Be alert, I'm hearing some kind of... rustling noise, coming from that oven over there. "
"Maybe it could be Clickylegs?"
Shathee hears the noise just a heartbeat before Saria brings it to the other's attention. Once it is mentioned, everyone quiets down and they too can hear the strange shuffling sound.
Shathee cautiously moves towards the oven with the rustling sound. He listens closely to see if he can determine if it is a single creature trapped inside the oven or potentially even an entire swarm. With a nod to the party to get ready, he gets his free hand near the door and stands to the side ready to release whatever is inside once the party is ready.
Shathee gets about halfway to the oven when a ton of pale yellow centipedes begin to pour out of the oven and the cracks around it. Shathee was quiet and no one was still making noise but it is likely the light has drawn them. They keep pouring forth.
Doc pulls out a jar of vermin repellent and smears it over his skin. "I got five more o' these, who wants 'em?"
He looks over the swarm to advise the others its strengths and weaknesses.
Cimrôdel listens intently to Shathee’s report, shaking his head slowly in concern. "We ought not to engage the swarm of centipedes without first gathering magics that are better suited for such foes. Their numbers could overwhelm us, and I would prefer not to risk an encounter without proper preparation." He glances around the dimly lit dungeon, his ioun stone casting flickering shadows on the walls as he considers their options carefully.
"I could prepare a couple of spells that should prove effective, but that will take a bit of time to do." Saria eyes the centipedes carefully as she takes out a flask of alchemist's fire. "I'm not sure we have much time to decide. If we're falling back, we should do it now."
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2048, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 2mins
Cimrodel 18/18<<<
Shathee 19/19<<<
Saria 25/25<<<
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22;<<<
Centipede swarm
Unsure if they would be able to lose the swarm by falling back (and there are still those spiders lurking around!), Saria figures their best option is to take the swarm down quickly, before it has a chance to do much harm.
Cimrôdel glances towards the swarm of centipedes with a frown, stepping back cautiously. "I must apologize for my lack of means to harm them effectively. It seems wiser to retreat for now and watch for other dangers lurking in this ancient Thassilonian fortress. We can return better able to face this particular threat." His ioun stone continues to glow softly, casting light over the eerie surroundings as he keeps a watchful eye on the dark corners, ready for any unexpected threats.
Cimrôdel moves 30' north. He'll double move in that direction, if it seems the group is all coming along in a full on tactical retreat.
As soon as the centipedes begin crawling out of the oven, Shathee begins his tactical retreat and calls others to do the same. Not desiring to go back directly into the northern area with a potential spider ambush, he cuts back to the west as he ends his rapid 70' of movement.
Molasbar will join the retreat. He'll call out "Do any of them look like this clack-legs thing you're looking for?"
The group begins to withdraw as Saria covers the withdrawal with an alchemist fire. It seems to have significant but not devastating effect on such a large mass of centipedes.
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2048, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 2mins
Cimrodel 18/18
Shathee 19/19
Saria 25/25
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22;
Centipede swarm -7 moderately injured
Doc moves forward to cover the rest of the party's retreat and stands his ground, trusting in his chemical repellent to keep the swarm at bay. He throws another flask of alchemical fire.
I am good at throwing if you hand me some of these, if not ill see myself out. I dont do anything to swarms.
As it turns out, Doc is very repellent to everyone else but this horde of centipedes seems set on eating something. Yet, after his fire hits the mass killing another significant portion of the creatures the centipede's self preservation kicks in and they begin to melt back into the wall.
Round 1
Arodus 14, 4712
2048, 73 degrees, humid (outside)
Group mod: +2 Int/Wis rolls 2mins
Cimrodel 18/18
Shathee 19/19
Saria 25/25
Doc adams 28/28<<<
Aurie 20/26;<<<
Molasbar 22/22;
Centipede swarm -14 moderately injured
Cimrôdel's blue-green eyes scan the dimly lit chamber, shadows flickering ominously as the distant sound of skittering legs echoes through the ancient Thassilonian fortress. He turns his attention to Molasbar, his expression thoughtful. "Molasbar, did you not mention having the spell Burning Hands in your spellbook? I did not memorize my full allotment of spells this morning, and while I recognize that the location and circumstances are far from optimal, if we could stop for an hour, I could attempt to add that spell to my own spellbook and memory. This would give us one instance of it to use against a swarm today. Of course, there is a chance of abject failure, and I could not attempt this for another week, but I am willing to try." He glances around, wary of any lurking threats in the shadows.
Shathee is the last one to stop his retreat after the centipedes flee back into the oven. "I'm good with anything to take care of those creepy-crawlies," he says with a shiver. "Since we know which oven they are in, it'd be great if we could add fuel and light it from a distance. Probably not, but just a thought. At some point, I would definitely appreciate some of those fire flasks too," he said appreciatively seeing their effectiveness against the centipedes.
"Well, I could hand out the ones I'm carrying, and prepare the spell Cimrôdel is talking about, as well. It will take quite a bit of time to do, though. Shall we take a break, or do you want to press on?"
Cimrôdel nods appreciatively at Saria, his blue-green eyes brightening with understanding. "Saria, your suggestion is most prudent. Your method will undoubtedly take considerably less time than my own. We should proceed with your plan, allowing us to address the imminent threat more swiftly. Let us not waste any precious moments." He casts a cautious glance around the shadowy chamber, remaining ever vigilant for any signs of danger.
The team draws up in a passage just north of the old kitchen where they can defend themselves more easily. Those not preparing spells take guard duty (Shathee & Doc on the west, Aurie on the east). The preparations seem to take forever but eventually and without incident the spells are prepped and everyone is ready to move.
As she rises back up from her meditation, Saria takes out her remaining three flasks of alchemist fire and hands them off to whomever wants them.
Gripping her spear again, she points back to the room they were just in. "Do you guys want to go back? I think we're more than ready to take on those centipedes if they show up again. Or would you rather explore the rest of this passage first?"
If you think we can defeat them easily? Sure, lets not have confirmed hostiles behind us!
Doc shrugs. "This vermin repellent I put on will last for four hours. Shame to waste it if we don't go back and finish off them bugs."
"Very well."
The group heads back into the kitchen. With Shathee acting as bait and doing the two-step closer to the oven he gets the centipedes' attention. They come swarming out of the oven and begin to move forward.
I'm not getting close!
Shathee keeps his distance as well and will light a torch and stay near the back in case any of the critters come his way.