Soryan Dirge leans forward and cups his trilliant ear toward the Derro voices. "Let us wait a few seconds; I want to try to hear what they discuss -- gain a little information."
Are the Derro speaking in Aklo (or another language I know)? And can I understand any of the jibber-jabber?
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They seem to be arguing about when they should go looking for new slaves again, and what to do with them - send somewhere or sacrifice. Some say that the Mother will decide to put more flesh for experiments, while others object that some Sacred Child is gradually gaining strength, which means more sacrifices and flesh are needed.
Terzarin also waits for the signal or the return of the stealthy.
Not foolhardy enough to risk a bumbling attempt at stealth for information not likely critical, Soryan Dirge nods that he is ready to follow the plan.
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You are heading back into the cave, all together. As you get closer, you stop hearing derro's mumble. Maybe they've already left there? Or did they just hear you and lay low? In the silence, there is a barely discernible but very thick buzzing of insects. It's warm and humid here and you can feel the sweat on your (but not quite your) dark bodies. Tension hangs in the air.
- ROUND 1 -
==> Soryan
Blue
Cirok
Purple
Black
Yellow
Terzarin
Green
Red
Colgrim
Cuthalian
Soryan Dirge is concerned about the potential of a Swarm of biting and stinging insects perhaps Conjured by the insane Derro. He wants to step forrward and Evoke a fireball of eldritch magic at whatever lay just out of his current line of sight, but he Holds, just for another second, to make sure his allies are as alert to their walking in danger as he.
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Colgrim waits for the big ball of fire to explode
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A gloomy silence hangs in the air. A strange white insect flies by, similar to a mosquito and with the same nasty buzzing, but much larger and with a mobile disgusting proboscis, which seems to be smeared in blood like its paws.
- ROUND 1 -
Soryan (delay; I hope I understood you correctly)
Blue (?)
==> Cirok
Purple
Black
Yellow
Terzarin
Green
Red
Colgrim
Cuthalian
Cirok's white eyes slowly follow the appearance and path of the strange white insect flies by, similar to a mosquito and with the same nasty buzzing, but much larger and with a mobile disgusting proboscis, which seems to be smeared in blood like its paws.
That portends ill.
The Rogue activates his Wand of Obscuring Mist that he is currently holding.
The grinning Rogue then vaults over the side!
Heard bugs hate smoke...
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The fog obscures the position where your team was huddled before the sudden attack, and only a fleeting shadow hints to the rest of you that Cirok has already moved down. However, soon, the sounds of anger and combat are heard from that direction, and there can be no doubt – it has begun!
...Black and crimson molds grow along the walls of this disgusting oubliette, forming what look like crusty scabs at the edges of an expansive pool of hemorrhaging earth-blood. Stalagmite spears jut from the thick fluid—tiny mountains upon which vampiric insects fat themselves on a sea of gore...
But Сirok's attention is attracted not only by this disgusting picture, but also by a crudely made hatchet "flying" towards him, which was apparently held at the ready by the most watchful of derro .
The hatchet whizzes past your face and hits the wall behind you, smashing then into the thick, bloody slush that you are standing on the edge of.
Several more derro get up from their squats and screaming loudly take out two hand axes each .
- ROUND 1 -
Soryan (delay)
Blue
Cirok
Purple
Black
Yellow
==> Terzarin
Green
Red
==> Colgrim
==> Cuthalian
Cirok's white eyes barely even recognize the tossed hatchet.
Hello boys! Anyone wanna dance?
The Drow seems ready to play....
Cirok laughs!
How about you boys be good little derro and lifts those ugly throats to get cut. By the way, you boys haven'tseen a hydra about?
The Rogue is seen smiling at the banter.
Hearing the shouts in Aklo, and the fighting thirstily begun, Soryan Dirge springs into action to play his role in the games of butchery and slaughter.
As wary of his surroundings as he can be, Soryan Dirge creeps forward to get a view of the killing fields and, upon seeing a cleft in the stinking cavern wherein a cadre of insane Derro have thrown their axes at Cirok, aims an arcane blast of pure Calistrian Fire near the back of the Derro, knowing how big the ball of flames will spread. The scholar is confident he can evoke the flames to encompass all the Derro save one, who is standing adjacent to Cirok.
Ref DC 20
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Perhaps the derro who missed with the axe throw and shouted something in the direction of Сirok should have looked up and not missed the wizard's appearance. This would have helped them avoid being burned alive in the raging hurricane of flames that erupted behind them. Two more derros are struggling in agony and will soon fall silent forever, while the other three, although badly burned, are now even more enraged.
A suffocating smell rises from the red liquid boiled by this explosion. It unpleasantly tickles the nostrils and makes the eyes water. Whoever's blood it is, it's not humanoid blood, you're sure of that...
- ROUND 1 -
Cirok
Purple
Yellow -13
Soryan
==> Terzarin
Red -13
White -13
==> Colgrim
==> Cuthalian
Cuthalian hustles across the stone bridge, keeping an eye on his foes and the western tunnel as best he can. (double move)
Colgrim moves to the edge of the pit and draws his bow so he can help the elf.
Cirok then attempts to cast from his Wand of Obscuring Mist!
Obscuring Mist
Terzarin dashes forward without knowing the battleplan and uses another channel to harm. It should catch three of the derro. Maybe we can get one prisoner?
Will save for half damage.
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A wave of negative energy rolls down, injuring two derro and killing another burned one... Two of the slowest finally jump up and grab their axes... And then suddenly everything is covered in mist again! This creates a problem for Сolgrim, standing on top with a bow - no one below is now visible anymore
That derro, who is next to Cirok, falling into some even crazier state than usual for this race (the state of a doomed madman who is not going to survive but wants to take you with him into the Abyss!), brings down two blows of hatchets on drow's knees.
- ROUND 2 -
Cirok -8
Purple -11
==> Soryan
==> Terzarin
Red -13
White -22
Colgrim
Cuthalian
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Cuthalian looks out through the corridor and sees another cave there. Tumorous protuberances of flesh-colored rock protrude from the walls of this ovular cavern, while numerous knobby stalagmites futilely reach for an inverse maze of stalactites above. Rivulets of filthy fluid give the walls an organic sheen, like the half-formed flesh of something unnaturally born, and dribble steady drips that echo like the footfalls of unseen lurkers. Cuthalian also notices that there are bones lying on the floor, and something is moving on the ceiling. It is impossible to make out what exactly, but there is no mistake either...
Firps, ding, blast mist! Colgrim stays where he is.
Confident in Cirok Brokencrown's ability to earn his blood currency through the Mist he Conjured, Soryan Dirge Moves the few steps out necessary to see better around the area, the added benefit of having a better view of what Cuthalian sees, and also being a little out of reach of what may target his cluster of allies near Cirok -- and is able to see the battlefield.
He notices a lone Derro outside of the Mist in the back of their hole, injured from the Fireball a moment ago, and Evokes another spell, this one of pure Force, directly at the insane Humanoid.
Four unerring Calistrian Wasps of eldritch power strike the Derro: One on his cheek, the second stings his throat, a third Wasp strikes his breast under-where his heart may pump vile blood, and the final blast hits the Derro's left leg at the knee.
I think Terzarin can't see any targets so he will just double move closer.
Colgrim moves up to keep the wizard protected.
With visible relief loosening his facade as Colgrim approaches his vulnerable position, Soryan Dirge whispers to his ally, "I wish we knew what was happening in the Arcane Fog. I'd call out to make sure everything is okay down there but I'd hate to interrupt a gambit or plan and ruin everything for Brokencrown. Let's give it another few seconds; hopefully he'll call to us if he needs aid."
What the f&+& spider queen's balls is happening!
The frustrated Rogue just grins and shrugs at the two Daring derro in front of him.
You girls have Bern wonderful. Really. It's not me. It's you.
Cirok then begins performing Acrobatics that would make Simone Biles a bit jealous!
The Rogue then uses the Obscuring Mist to Conceal himself, as he Strides out the far end.
Screaming like a freaked out drow surrounded by derro, Cirok runs out of the fog.
I really could use a Flanking partner if anyone has a bit of time?
Seeing Cuthalian on the ramp, the Rogue waves.
He then--Swiftly--extends his wrist to allow another Wand to land in his hand.
He aims at the edge of the Obscuring Mist just in case his dance partners follow...
Well you have this place covered with fog so I can't see what is happening!
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Grease underfoot does not bother derro. Magic fog, blood lake, and so on... Everything is drowning in their madness and fits in there quite "harmoniously". Arrrgggghhhh! Spluttering furiously, derro loses one drow in the fog, but immediately stumbles upon another! The second hatchet turns out to be parried by a sword, but the first one goes somewhere very deep between the plates of Cuthalian's armor.
- ROUND 3 -
Cirok -8
Purple -11
==> Soryan
==> Terzarin
White -22
Colgrim
Cuthalian -17
Terzarin tries to move toward Cuth if he hears him being struck.
Unsure of what is still happening and finding himself in a precarious position, tactically, Soryan Dirge struggles with a moment's indecision on whether to return to the spot of entry or to move to his visible allies. He chooses the latter and runs adjacent to Terzarin Lightbringer, with Colgrim and Cirok Brokencrown close by.
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Gnashing his teeth furiously, derro carefully moves somewhere from where the sounds of battle can be heard. When he comes across a drow, he hits him on the toes with a hatchet...
...and a joyful scream comes from the derro's mouth when he sees that the axe has found its target!
- ROUND 3 -
Cirok -8
Purple -11
Soryan
Terzarin
White -22
==> Colgrim
==> Cuthalian -26
- ROUND 4 -
==> Cirok -8
Colgrim runs down to help his ally.
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The two bodies stagger for less than a second and then fall almost synchronously at Cuthalian's feet.
The unnatural odor is getting stronger. It seems that some of the red liquid evaporated after it was hit by the fireball. The air has a sour and metallic smell at the same time. But there is also good news – insects are hardly heard. However, in such fog, they are not visible… A premonition of something bad lies behind a strange lake of blood and the fog, envelopes each of you...
Soryan Dirge whispers to Terzarin Lightbringer, hopeful that Colgrim was able to help Cuthalian and Cirok deep in the mist, "I'm confident the three of them can handle whatever is left in the fog -- but it would be nice if someone were to poke their head out and let us know if they need help or have it under control."
Soryan Dirge readies his fingers to lash out with another Magic Missile if he sees an enemy.
Looks like I am not the only reckless one here. We'll make a Slayer out of you yet!
Cirok waves from his un-fogged area at Soryan Dirge.
Just heard a thumb and a thud. Sounds good in there.
The Rogue waits the remaining less then 1 minute for the Mist to disappear....
Studying the strange lake of blood and the fog, envelopes each of them, the Rogue grins.
Is this dangerous?
Soryan Dirge, pleased his allies are safe and the fight won, grins at Colgrim and Cirok and lamely attempt to reciprocate humor -- not his strong suit, "Dangerous? .... Looks like treasure to me."
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"Thank you," Cuthalian says to Colgrim. Then to everyone he calls out, "We still need to see what is in that side passage. I saw something moving in there." Before heading up he pulls out his holy symbol and calling upon the power of Ketephys and converts his admonishing ray into a cure moderate wounds applied to himself. Then he begins walking back up the slope.
When Terzarin's turn comes back around, he finally applies the 6 points of healing to Cuthalian.
I don't like that smell, he says to no one in particular.
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When the fog lifts, you take a look around. A feeling of being inside some kind of organic space overwhelms you with a nauseating urge. Pushing these thoughts away, you consider your options. There are two obvious paths. One leads to an area where a creature of some kind is hidden among the stalagmites. The other takes you south through a lake of blood. It is difficult to estimate the depth at each point, but near the shore you see that the descent isn't too steep. Maybe this lake can be crossed on foot, squeezing through the passage.
I vote creature first. It may help us learn more about the area. (Unless one of the derro is not quite dead and we can interrogate him.)