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From the outside, this building look like a complete mess. You have heard that it was once a warehouse, but no self-respecting merchant would now store goods in such a place (not to mention the fact that the whole area is not suitable for it). The roof has collapsed in some places, some windows have been boarded up, and others are simply missing.
Cirok, you find that the entrance to the house is open (the front door will never close tightly anymore, it seems to be swollen with moisture), but there's also a simple trap set up there. However, you also find a stone at one of the broken windows that forms a convenient step. It seems that derro use this passage more often than the main exit.
From inside, you can hear the muttering of several creatures and from time to time some kind of incomprehensible noise, as if something is being moved or rearranged.
Colgrim twitches.
Soryan Dirge bolts upright startling himself as if spooked awake, accidentally asking under his breath, "Did I pass out?"
It's his second fugue state since descending the Darklands, this one lasting longer than the first -- a whole day. As he theorized after the first time he fell into a brief fugue state, perhaps the horror of pretending so well to be this evil, and being this far off the deep end, is more crushing to his soul than he'd like to admit.
Taking a moment to collect his bearings, he is discomforted in realizing that he has practically no memory of his actions the past twenty-four hours.
No, he doesn't remember noticing a Quasit spy while on patrol. No, he doesn't remember any part of a possible conversation he may or may not have had with a Ghoul. No, he doesn't even remember hearing news of House Azrinae and its new Matron leaving the city after starting a zealous pogrom of genocidal preparation against Elves, finding a Gate, and leaving.
He doesn't even remember how we left the Vonnarc compound.
But it's clear that, at least for now, Soryan Dirge is awake and cogent.
I remember the Ghoul quietly calling me out as an "Elf" rather than a Drow. And that's the last thing I clearly remember. I remember it really disturbed me that he knew. I wonder how I responded -- I so desperately hope I get the opportunity to meet with him again. .... I also remember him saying he was from "across the great sea" from 'NEMRET NOKTORIA' -- not really familiar to me.'
'I also vaguely remember Cirok telling us of what he learned about Allevrah Azrinae and how she publicly usurped the matriarch position rather than privately. .... When we return to the Vonnarc compound I have to remember to ask if any young Nobles from House Vonnarc left 'our' Great House to join Matron Allevrah and her cultlike House, abandoning Areshkagal for Abraxas. .... And perhaps while we're out here I can try to learn any leads on former members of House Azrinae who were too traditional and conservative, appalled by Matron Allevrah's actions, who are now in hiding .'
"So the window then, Cirok? Anyone want to cast anything first? I assume the fighting will start almost immediately."
Soryan Dirge nods that he is ready, and takes his position behind the melee combatants.
Only spell I have is 'Fist'
Cirok will reverse the stone position and trap position while humming softly to himself.
He further instructed his Unseen Servant (Pete) to patiently hold the rock high and to let it down quickly once the door opens.
The smiling Rogue returns to the others.
So, that is what I seen, did and heard.
Cirok considers.
Best use the roof. Plenty of holes and better vantage points.
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"I'm not the best climber in armor. Why don't I and anyone else wanting to get in the mix right away go through the window. You and any other interested party can take the roof and cover us from above?" Cuthalians offers. Assuming all are good with this, Cuthalian approaches the window. About twenty feet out he casts Shield of Faith and waits for Cirok et al to get into position before going through the window.
Colgrim follows to go through the window.
"Colgrim, do you want a Bulls Strength? It stacks with your rage bonus."
Terzarin casts it upon him if he says yes.
Colgrim nods
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After passing through several small rooms for accounting and similar trading tasks and one corridor of an obviously abandoned and battered house, you find yourself in a large hall, which was obviously the "warehouse itself".
Both those who walked on the roof and those who entered through the entrance have a view of three derro there, too busy playing something gambling to look around carefully. They are sitting on makeshift chairs made of all sorts of junk near a leaky barrel.
However, since you did not try to go stealthily, they notice you as soon as you enter, so they reach for their weapons with a shout. In this city, the sudden appearance of dark-skinned elves cannot mean anything good to them.
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Still mildly disoriented from his 24-hour fugue state, Soryan Dirge barely registers the Derro at first, always seemingly a step behind the others.
Cirok (who is always Stealthy) easily climbs to the roof. The Rogue gives Santa Claus pause, as the old man is seen about to jump down a chimney.
Give these F+@~ing asshats coal, sir.
With a jolly wink, the Fatman disappears down the chimney....
Cirok then Strides to the hole in the roof above the room with the action. Spying the hole at their level (20' from derro), Cirok grins.
Reaching into his Haversack, he pulls out a Wand. He points it at the hole below....
Springing out of said hole (which is 20' from derro) are the unmistakable multiple heads of a hydra!
Cirok giggles....
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Cuthalian strides up to them, "Ketephys guide me," he says using his divine power to cast divine favor on himself (1 use of fervor). Reaching the Derro he goes into the sword form known as the Lion slashes (cleave + power attack + furious focus) and swipes at two of the nearest derro.
(AC 23 - 2 cleave + 2 shield of faith = 23)
Colgrim enters and sees the Derro. Time to do what we do best. He then charges a derro.
Terzarin moves in after Colgrim and gets within thirty feet of the derro. He then uses a channel to harm.
damage, save for half. (Will DC 16)
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Two quick swings of a traditional elven weapon, and one derro falls dead and the other barely stands with a deep wound in his chest. However, a second later, another drow's huge hammer descends on his head and everything around is covered with blood and the remains of his brains. The last derro () wants to escape, but the head of a giant lizard is showing out of the passage! Realizing that this is impossible, she pulls out a short sword with a wild squeal and tries to stab Cuthalian.
- ROUND 1 -
Cirok
Cuthalian
Terzarin
Colgrim
Derro 2
Derro 3
Soryan
Derro 1
- ROUND 2 -
Cirok
Cuthalian
Terzarin
Colgrim
Derro 3
Soryan
Bold are up!
Confident in Blood Currency to cash in on the remaining, low-morale Derro, Soryan Dirge looks closely at the lizard head poking out of the escape-route passage preventing escape to guess whether the giant lizard be friend or foe -- and just casts See Invisibility in order to view any spectators hiding behind a stealthy spell.
Colgrim smacks the Derro
Terzarin actively looks around.
Neat trick there, how often can you do it?
With the minor threat of the Derro so expertly handled, Soryan Dirge keeps scanning the area with his spellpowered eyes, searching for any creatures hiding under the guise of Invisibility.
Cirok ceases to concentrate on his illusion, as the derro are expertly dependent on Pharasma now.
The Rogue stays put for a few, awaiting a possible renewal of derro to present themselves.....
"13 times a day."
Start searching the area.
I guess we'll be going down the hole then. Colgrim peers down the hole
Soryan Dirge follows behind the group, "I have cast the spell that allows me to see creatures masked with Invisibility, perhaps that will help us."
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A cursory inspection of the place helps to understand the obvious - derro climb in and out of this hole and their main nest is not inside the warehouse but under it. For about a minute you wait in silence for help to come out to their comrades, but nothing happens. Perhaps you killed them so quickly that they just didn't have time to call for help. Or perhaps it was necessary to do more than just call, but run down - which one of them tried to do until he saw the "hydra" from a hole in the floor.
Carefully looking through the hatch, you see a stone staircase leading to a cellar, basement or something like that.
A bit disappointed, the Rogue replaces his Wand, as he easily stands, Steps and floats down the 20' to the inside flooring of the warehouse.
Lucky that hydra showed up.
The grinning Rogue then stands next to the hole in the floor.
Probably should find it to thank it.
Cirok then begins his Trapper duties as they descend into the depths of the derro....
"Glad you're feeling better, Soryan."
Terzarin stays alert while following the group from the back.
Colgrim follows Cirok.
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The descent takes some time. At first, you find yourself in a sort of basement, which is very spacious and has different rooms. Сirok finds several traps and easily eliminates them. Here and there, you can see traces of derros presence: leftover food on the table, feces on the floor in the hallway, and so on. Additionally, in some rooms, you find hooks with chains attached to the walls, presumably to keep prisoners there. Now all the shackles are empty, but a cursory examination reveals fresh blood here. Not so much to suggest that someone was killed here... but enough to suggest violence and torture. You continue your descent, and this time, it is a vertical shaft in the ground that starts after the dismantled floor. There is a rough staircase that leads down, and there is also a device with a pulley system and a lever, that allows something to be lowered or raised on a rope. Having descended a further fifty to seventy feet, you find yourself in a dark tunnel going down at an angle of about thirty degrees. There is only one way forward, and as you gradually move along it, you start to hear the voices of derros. It seems that this tunnel should lead to a bigger cave, and there are quite a few of those little crazy creatures in there...
Soryan Dirge perks up his glossy-black ears at the ineffable sounds of Derro, remembering his time studying 'That Which Should Not Be' during his stay in dreaded Ustalov: The non-Euclidean language of Aklo.
Cirok follows the proffered path down to derro land. The rogue seems to be enjoying his time finding, dodging, disabling and pointing out Traps, hazards and cool feces depictions of derro dirty dancing in the darkness.
Regular f@~&ing Picasso.
At the sounds of derro voices drifting down to them, the Rogue grins.
Give me a moment.
Reaching into his Haversack, he pulls a Wand of Obscuring Mist into his hand before striding easily off ahead to scout.
Cirokwould tap himself with a Wand of Expeditious Retreat first for Stealth Speed 60'
S#*~!
A quick look.
Colgrim looks around the rooms after they have been scouted and snorts at the bloody chains and foul mess. As the party descends lower, he keeps silent and lets his darkvision pierce the gloom.
Terzarin turns to look at Soryan at the mention of fireballs. Those definitely weren't in his training at cleric university.
A little cleansing sounds good.
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Сirok, a disgusting picture is opening up to your eyes.
A breath of warm air and the echoing trickle of slow moving liquid resounds through this humid chasm — a moist, uncomfortable ulcer that feels less like a cave and more like the bowels of some impossibly sized beast. Between steep, mold-covered cliffs hangs a natural bridge of slick stone, while at least twenty feet below ripples what appears to be an underground pond filled with countless gallons of thick, semi-coagulated blood.
Derro's voices are coming from somewhere below.
Cirok grins down at the collection of derro. The rogue retraces his steps back to the others to report.
The Rogue describes the scene ahead.
Colgrim and Cuthalian and perhaps Terzarin can be Featherfall down while Soryan Dirge and I can hit from ranged.
The Rogue does grin.
Try to block any escape paths. Might not get lucky with another hydra showing up.
All set here.