|
Cuthalian's sword cuts through one of the derro, and he falls dead before he realizes what is happening. Meanwhile, the flow of sacred energy is diverging in all directions from Terzanin. Even though not many derro will be affected by this, but this place is definitely getting a little lighter.
The priestess, or whoever she is, is furious that someone dared to interrupt the chant. Screaming madly and bulging her tongue and eyes, she rushes forward grabbing on the move the falchion lying next to the mushroom body. She attacks the first person she sees, ignoring the fire that could well scorch her (but cannot). With all the acceleration, she crashes into Cirok and he realizes that although this figure is shorter than him, it has a power! He is thrown back and steps with his (probably stylish) boots into the red blood substance with a slurp. Blood flies onto his clothes and even pours inside his boot.
- ROUND 1 -
M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro (white -18, pink -18)
Cuthalian
Terzarin
Priestess?
==> Soryan
Four more eldritch wasps of true Force magic fly from Soryan Dirge's outstretched fingers, lancing through the air at the Priestess, or whatever she is.
|
|
Three derro trapped in a cave with Cuthalian decide to use their favorite battle tactics, that is, to knock down and beat the recumbent. Their curved clubss on long ropes are perfect for this, but... This elf is too nimble and moves his feet too agile for that.
Meanwhile, Soryan's four magic projectiles reach their target. Although the derro woman suffered obvious damage, but you don't think that in her rage she noticed it... yet.
- ROUND 2 -
M Derro
==> Colgrim
==> Cirok
F Derro (white -18, pink -18)
Cuthalian
Terzarin
Priestess? (-13)
Soryan
Colgrim Rages 30/32 and moves over to try to squash the white Derro
Colgrim just waits then.
Terzarin has a crossbow out, so doesn't get an AoO. He does channel again, to harm.
DC 16 Will save for half
Cirok takes an Attack of Opportunity on an advancing Derro!
|
|
Cirok kills another derro with a swift thrust to the neck. Meanwhile, Terzarin unleashes a wave of pure light, piercing the hearts of those who have surrendered to darkness...
Two more derros who had run out of the cave fell dead. The remaining one's pure, unclouded rage helps her cope with the wave of light, and she remains standing alone in front of you, and it doesn't seem like this scares her in any way.
- ROUND 2 -
M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro DEAD
==> Cuthalian
Terzarin
Priestess (-32)
Soryan
Concerned that Cuthalian is gone from line-of-sight and her allies are a five-foot-step away from a Witch's Cone or area-of-effect, Soryan Dirge prepares to cast a powerful spell, hoping he won't need it.
|
|
Cuthalian takes a step into the cave. None of you fully see how incredibly he dances with a blade. And in vain. These fast swings and incredible use of momentum from strike to another strike... It's like a song, but a song of violence. Three bodies fall to the floor gurgling with blood almost simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the priestess contributes her share of madness to the ongoing massacre. It is not known whether she notices that she is alone or not, but she brings down both blows of the axe on Terzarin. He manages to dodge the first one, but the second one leaves a deep wound on his shoulder!
- ROUND 2 -
M Derro
Colgrim
Cirok
F Derro DEAD
Cuthalian
Terzarin (-21)
Priestess (-38)
==> Soryan
- ROUND 3 -
M Derro DEAD
==> Colgrim
==> Cirok
==> Cuthalian
==> Terzarin (-21)
Priestess (-38)
Soryan
Moving into position and thinking upon his studies of Arcane exploitation, Soryan Dirge inwardly reaches into his inner pool of magic and lashes out with an Arc of Flame, a line of fire that cuts in front of his allies and fills the space of the Priestess.
.
Ref DC 16 for half
Colgrim runs in against the priestess and bashes her
Cirok grins at the Priestess. The Rogue Strides into a Flank with Colgrim!
|
|
Сolgrim unleashes a powerful blow on the derro priestess, at the same time the fire of Soryan's spell scorches the creature. It seems that Сuthalian misses only because of the abundance of attacks by his comrades, but Сirok took advantage of the mess, deftly shifted to the flank and delivered a well-aimed blow to the area of the heart...
Terzarin covers himself with his staff, goes into full defense and takes a step back. And this turns out to be a great solution, as the priestess blindly moves after him, brandishing an axe. Obviously, she has a monstrous strength in her hands, which sometimes happens to madmen and lunatics, but the elf manages to dodge both deadly blows... It seems that the light energy that he just channeled causes her to hate him especially bitterly. It's amazing that with such wounds derro can still stand on her feet. It is impossible to explain this otherwise than by dark magic or the wonders of the blind rage of a fanatic.
R3-R4. Priestess (-101). Party is UP
Soryan Dirge Moves over to angle another Arc of Flame at the raging Priestess -- without hitting any of his allies -- and once again reaches inwardly to his Pool of Arcanist energy to unleash more fire against the villainess.
Ref DC 16 for Half.
Cirok grins at the Priestess. The Rogue takes full advantage of being in a Flank with Cuthalian!
Colgrim thinks Cirok has this in the bag and doesn't want to kill steal and so holds his attack.
|
|
Under a hail of blows, this crazy woman falls dead. Death comes instantly, it seems like a second ago there was a violent vile life in her, and now there is no trace of this fierce urge to kill and the energy of destruction that fed her. Instant death, as if the soul was pulled out of the body in a second.
The cave is plunged into silence. There are nine derro bodies lying around you, and their blood is slowly draining into a pool of blood. The buzzing of insects can be heard, which seems deafening in the ominous silence. In the cave, covered with drawings, under the image of the three-eyed jackal - the obvious symbol of Lamashtu - there is still a body with mushrooms sprouted in it.
And in this silence, broken only by your heavy breathing and the buzzing of insects, from somewhere in the east comes what you least expect to hear - the cry of a baby.
"She was...ferocious. I'm glad you all worked so well together to end her evil ways. Praise the light."
Terzarin channels to heal before anyone steps away to explore.
"Ah, that feels much better."
A fierce battle lust in her, much like the Slayers from My lands. Hmm this altar should be cleansed of taint.
Cirok winks at Colgrim.
Never hurts to be thorough. Unless you are the target, of course.
The Rogue divests the dead Derro of anything of value or note worthy before presenting an inclination to go see a sound about a crying baby...
The Rogue then recalls that this is not second edition...
Soryan Dirge steps in and comforts Colgrim, a friendly hand on the back shoulder, "Are you okay, BarrelHouse? I saw you hold back for a moment and not strike the killing blow -- as though you were willing to let Cuthalian steal the kill from you. It was so uncharacteristic from the Dwarf we all saw in battle back home. .... But I know what you're going through, I've been completely out of sorts myself, too, sometimes. I just wanted to make sure you're-- Is that a baby Crying?!"
Soryan Dirge stops himself as the buzzing of insects is interrupted by a wailing that echoes through the caves. He sees Terzarin the Lightbringer channel the Healing magic of-, and though not injured, Soryan Dirge feels blessed by the Divine energy. And he sees Cirok Brokencrown racing to loot the dead and begin to investigate stealthily around.
"The wailing may be a trick or trap -- if it is a baby, it's like as not a Surface Elf or Human." He sheepishly looks toward Colgrim Barrelhouse, "Or Dwarf or Gnome or Halfling.
"We should continue to be cautious. If there's a baby there, it's been there a long time already."
Finally, unless the rest of the group immediately begins leaving to follow the infant's sounds of pain, Soryan Dirge points out the blood awkwardly draining into the pool, "Yeah, Disturbing with a capital 'D.'" Then he enters the cave to inspect the body with the growing fungus, the mural of Lamashtu, and the writings on the wall. "If it's okay with you all, I'd like to take a moment to learn what I can here, then go fight the Swarms of those Insects."
And he looks to Cuthalian and Colgrim with a nod indicating he'd love their muscle to come into the cave with him in case he needs protecting from those in Blood Currency far stronger than he.
I am doing fine, I was just going to let Cuthalin have the kill. When a comrade is going in for the kill, it would be wrong to deny them the final blow.
Curious about the potential for dark Lore and vile Knowledge, Soryan Dirge studies the mural of Lamashtu, blood pooling, and body of putrid fungus -- hoping his allies are willing to pause a moment before pursuing the sound of a babe in the Underdark.
Colgrim accompanies Soryan as the elf studies the mural.
|
"Take your moment then we need to go check on the crying babe. I'll be happy if it is a child but like you said, it's likely a ploy to draw us in." Cuthalian says. Inside he wonders what they would do with a baby. If it's non-drow the drow back at the house will kill it. If it's drow and not of house vonnarc, they will kill it. "It will be easier if is a trap." he says putting words to his thoughts.
I can just imagine us trying to raise a derro babe in secret, hah!
"Uncle Barrelhouse"
I can just see it now, telling the tale of how I died covered in blood and poop.
Cirok winks.
That is parenting.
"It's probably a haunt. This whole place needs to be purified. Anything else to search here before we go? We should search the bodies, of course."
|
|
And so, after exchanging stress-relieving remarks, you go each in your own direction to study what is there...
Terzarin studies bodies. In general, all they have on them is garbage for you, except for the wicked axe of the leader. It's a powerful magical thing, although it looks a little rough.
Soryan goes into the depths of the cave covered with drawings. The body you approach seems to be dead. No one should survive when filamentous fungi that look a little like thick mold grow through his body. You can see the internal organs through the holes in the ribs. It looks creepy, especially considering that there is no smell and no sign of decomposition. The body undoubtedly belongs to the dark stalker. Although there is no wind here, it seems that the mushrooms are swaying in time with some light blows. And a second later, you realize that it seems that the victim's chest is still slowly rising and falling, and even some of his organs are seen slowly pulsating while continuing their work.
Cirok goes to the east, where the crying of the baby was heard. He passes several caves to the south, without burdening himself to look there. He walks along the very edge of the blood lake to go to the other side and look around. At first, you did not understand where this sound could come from. The cave goes further to the east and apparently connects to the place from which you came. If you suddenly had to urgently run back, it could be this way, but knee-deep or waist-deep in blood. Several times Cirok kills large strange insects that try to land on him. Something tells you that sucking blood is the most pleasant thing that can happen to you if one of these creatures bites you.
The stone ledge in the south is covered with bones and the remains of bodies, as if someone had wanted to create a combination of a garbage dump, cemetery, and butcher's shop. The damage to the bodies is not clear. Some appear to have been hacked, others have been gnawed, and others have been pierced... There are few fresh bodies, but there are a couple that are so tightly covered in insects that it is difficult to determine whose bodies are these.
Then another baby cry is heard, and Cirok realizes that it is coming from the wall to the north. Looking closely, you realize that there is a secret door there, and it is rather crudely made. .
Exiting the inner-cavern with Colgrim, Soryan Dirge offhandedy mentions the body is likely still alive but growing fungus for food -- if someone wants to perform the coup de grace -- it's about the only grace it deserves. And may prevent it from spawning as an Undead later on. Seeing Terzarin Lightbringer admire the enchanted Axe, Soryan Dirge nods, "Maybe we can sell it -- if we can't think of a way to Bless it with a Calistrian 'Curse' so to speak.
"Let's go see what our scout has discovered." And Soryan Dirge slowly moves toward Cirok Brokencrown with his allies -- approving if Colgrim or Cuthalian chop off the Fungus-Stalker's head preventing it from animating as an Undead, just in case.
Colgrim stands a way back and shoots an arrow into the thing's head. I don't want a facefull of mushrooms if it explodes.
Cirok casually crosses crevices, caves, caverns and cliffs while his ears attempt to follow the strange sounds of crying. Creeping through the lairs of vermin, bones and worse, the whistling Rogue finally finds the fugitive and frustratingly furious focus of the crying.
Taking out a Wand of Unseen Servant, the Rogue pronounces the word.
Pointing at the Secret Door, he commands
Stand here for...10 minutes then begin knocking. Be right back in say 10 minutes.
Cirok then makes his way back to the group where he summarizes his recent exploits.
Accidentally found the Crying Door. I have a suspicion that something may happen in about...6 minutes...now. We should go see.
|
|
Cuthalian moves to the narrower section at the south end of the cavern and leaps across headed east. "Might as well get this over with. If we are lucky it is some noble's child and we could return it for a reward." Then he stays close to the southern wall as he moves toward the cavern indicated by Cirok.
|
|
An arrow pierces the dark stalker's head. The body convulsively sighs and falls silent - forever. Mushrooms continue to grow indifferently from his body, towering over his ribs like odd trees on the hills of an alien landscape.
Ten minutes after casting the spell, Cirok's invisible servant knocks on a hidden door... and ... nothing happens, except that after knocking, the baby's scream is heard again from the other side
Put em out of it's misery I reckon. Now we go follow the baby cry?
Soryan Dirge moves to provide backup for Cirok Brokencrown -- assuming the others are moving too.