Raising her crossbow Adela is a little too eager and puts the bolt into the ceiling. She blushes, hoping no one saw that misfire.
Alyssa moves to get a decent shot at her target, and lobs a ball of acid at it.
Alyssa's acid burns through the mite, dropping it to the ground.
Mimek rushes forward with his new trident, trying to impale one of the mites.
Unfortunately, the mite's resilience prevents the trident from drawing blood.
Seeing two of their comrades falling, the other four mites in the room retreat, calling out as they go. The mite Mimek attacked makes sure to withdraw carefully, keeping its guard up so that Mimek can't impale it during its retreat.
"Not good," Mimek says. "They're meeting up with the centipede keeper."
Erik
Rhiann [ooc]1 con damage, diseased[ooc]
Alyssa
Adela
Mimek
Giant Centipede 3
Giant Centipede 1
Centipede Keeper
Mite 4
Mite 3
Mite 6
Mite 5
Giant Centipede 2
Erik pulls his bow from his back, takes a step for a better line of sight, and snaps a shot at the last of the fleeing mites...
1 bab +3 dex -2 dex damage -2 caverns penalty
+1 str
Hustling forward, Rhiann takes a shot at the withdrawing mite, careful not to be lured into the trap the mites seem to be setting.
Erik's arrow goes wide, but Rhiann hits the mite right in the heart, and it falls to the ground.
Erik
Rhiann
Alyssa
Adela
Mimek
Giant Centipede 3
Giant Centipede 1
Centipede Keeper
Mite 4
Mite 6
Mite 5
Giant Centipede 2
Alyssa looks to her companions, unsure of what to do next. "Do we follow? Wait here for them? Or fall back?"
While she waits for a plan, she steps behind Mimek and prepares in case the mites come back for them.
Adela winces as another of her bolts buries itself in the ceiling. "Ummmm. I would suggest we pick off as many of them as we can from here, then advance if we need to."
Left unsaid is who is going to be doing the picking off? :)
Mimek steps aside and watches, readying a charge.
Soon, the three mites return, backed up by a fourth mite and three giant centipedes. Fortunately, these centipedes are nowhere near the size of the giant whiptail centipede the party fought in the chasm, only being around the size of a pony.
One of the centipedes gets within range of Alyssa's acid but manages to duck under the orb she launches at it.
Meanwhile, Mimek rushes at the foremost mite.
The mite staggers back, bleeding, but it's still standing.
Erik
Rhiann
Alyssa
Adela
Giant Centipede 3
Giant Centipede 1
Centipede Keeper
Mite 4
Mite 6
Mite 5
Giant Centipede 2
Adela targets the Centipede that is closest to her. Having no desire to get one of the loathsome things beside her!
With the threat of the centipede poison fresh in her mind, Rhian fires a spectacular shot at the one furthest back, before dropping her bow and moving to engage the oncoming enemies, drawing her weapon from across her back as she does.
Alussa looks worriedly at the number of creatures coming for them. Hoping to at least slow them down a bit for Rhiann, she conjures up another layer of magical grease, this time on the ground.
Erik steps forward, aims carefully, and looses an arrow at the closest centipede...
1 bab +3 dex -2 dex damage +1 studied target +1 PBS
+1 str +1 studied target +1 PBS
The centipedes fall one by one. First, Rhiann shoots the one furthest in the back through the head. Then, after Rhiann's cleared the way, Adela strikes the closest one, bringing it down as well. Finally, Erik brings down the last one, bringing it down just as Adela finishes casting her grease spell.
Both of the mites caught in the grease manage to maintain their footing.
Mimek once again goes after the foremost mite in the grease.
The mite manages to deflect his thrust.
The mite centipede keeper screams in rage and rushes at Rhiann, but she maintains enough sense to throw a dart at her rather than close to melee and risk a strike from her fauchard.
The dart sinks into a gap in Rhiann's armor.
Mites 4 and 6 move forward, trying to stab at Mimek and Rhiann.
Mite 6 is unable to maintain its footing and falls to the ground, having to pick itself back up.
Mite 4 moves in to attack Rhiann but provokes an opportunity attack from her. If it survives, it will get close enough to stab at her, only to fail miserably.
Mite 5 stabs at Mimek, drawing blood but not really causing significant harm.
Erik
Rhiann
Alyssa
Adela
Mimek
Mite 1
Giant Centipede 1
Centipede Keeper
Mite 4
Mite 6
Mite 5
Mite 2
Erik continues to step forward, taking another carefully aimed shot...
1 bab +3 dex -2 dex damage +1 studied target
+1 str +1 studied target
1 bab +3 dex -2 dex damage +1 studied target
X3 crit, 2*+1 str 2*+1 studied target
Adela advances to stand beside Eric, a touch concerned with Mimek and his throwing himself into battel she tries to shoot the Mite he is fighting.
Her shot again troubles only the earthen walls.
Erik's arrow strikes the centipede keeper square in the eye, and she topples to the ground, dead on the spot.
Erik
Rhiann
Alyssa
Adela
Mimek
Mite 1
Giant Centipede 1
Centipede Keeper
Mite 4
Mite 6
Mite 5
Mite 2
Rhiann lets out a soft grunt as she feels the point of the mite's dart through a gap in her armor, distracting her enough that her attack at the other one's approach is way off, though she still manages to get her defenses up in time.
Taking a step backward, she uses all the force she can muster to bring the cold iron blade in a sweeping slash across her enemy's body.
.
Once again the cramped terrain makes Adela miss her target, "I do so loathe this place!" She sighs gloomily.
Alyssa takes a small step forward and launches another conjured acid ball at one of the mites.
Adela misses the mite attacking Rhiann, but Rhiann herself cuts it down. Alyssa's acid burns down the mite furthest back.
Mimek stabs at the last remaining mite.
The last remaining mite tries to run, but both Mimek and the grease are trying to stop it.
However, both of them fail, and the mite gets out of the grease and starts running away.
Dashing forward to skirt the grease zone, Rhiann lashes out with a low sweeping cut.
Erik starts doing the dirty work of searching bodies...
Erik finds a dagger and six darts on each mite's body .
Seeing the room properly now that the danger has passed, this damp space is haphazardly cluttered with broken beds, chairs, wagon wheels, and an assortment of worn, tattered, dingy, and broken objects pilfered or salvaged from big folk. A row of bookcases stands crookedly propped against the far wall, the shelves filled with bits of bone, feathers, and dried centipede legs. Old window frames, cracked and splintered, hang on the walls like works of fine art.
The intended function or prize value of the bookcases' contents is known perhaps only to the dead mites. However, among the useless clutter lie two lutes in surprisingly good condition .
There are two routes back to the surface: the long way, returning south and retracing your steps back through the warrens (now littered with corpses); or the short way, through the passage north which slopes upward.
Traces of a foul-smelling grey liquid trickle steadily from the north passage to seep into the floor under a ragged straw mattress.
Erik proposes moving on: "Let's continue scouring this hole; once we have cleared the mites, we can loot at our leisure."
He heads up the passage to the north with his eyes peeled, moving as stealthily as he can manage...
2 rank +3 trained +3 dex -3 ACP -2 dex damage
2 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
Making sure her crossbow is loaded Adela will bring up the rear.
.
The wet-looking floor of this large cavern is criss-crossed by several shallow trenches, each filled with the same grey liquid trickling down the southeast corridor . Six foul mounds of compost and dung lie heaped about the room, each studded with small spherical eggs. To the west, the cave cinches down to a tunnel that slopes up toward the surface.
In one corner of the room is a small mite-sized stool with a (relatively) large bowl containing a partially-eaten, rancid-smelling paste.
The room is otherwise empty, its occupants having been summoned-- and summarily killed-- just moments before.
vs DC 10
+2 int
vs DC 10
2 rank +3 trained +1 wis
vs DC 15
2 rank +3 trained +1 wis
Erik whispers harshly:"I don't see any threat here. We can come back and search later..."
He ghosts across the chamber, and continues scouting up the passage on the far side...
2 rank +3 trained +3 dex -3 ACP -2 dex damage
2 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
About halfway down this tunnel you encounter an unusual amount of headroom. Looking up, you can see the root-lined shaft that extends roughly 10 feet up toward the surface. The tunnel continues east a few dozen feet before opening up into a room cluttered with three wooden workbenches, the tops of which are strewn with various tiny tools and blocks of wood. On the floor is a pool of blue liquid and a dead mite with a deep slash across its chest-- a slash which looks very much to have been made by a fauchard.
.
"Back to where we started. I guess we're done hunting mites! Let's get Roderick. He can bring up the wagon and the horse, and we can cart everything we want away."
You spend several hours meticulously searching every room-- even climbing down into the gorge that once housed the mites' ferocious centipede-- to collect and inventory the following spoils: 40 platinum pieces, 128 gold pieces (in coins and jewels), 185 silver pieces, 30 copper pieces, 18 daggers (including the 2 mentioned earlier), 108 darts (including the 12 mentioned earlier), 1 masterwork leather armor (Medium, so none of the mites could use it), 1 gold candelabra, 1 carved jade holy symbol of Pharasma, 1 silver hand mirror, 1 potion, 2 scrolls, and 1 wand.
The holy symbol is too chipped and cracked to be worth more than 30 gp.
The hand mirror isn't real silver and is worth 10 gp.
The holy symbol is worth at least 70 gp.
You recognize the hand mirror as belonging to a noble family back home, making it worth 150 gp.
The holy symbol is worth exactly 80 gp.
The silver hand mirror is worth exactly 120 gp.
When everyone has climbed up the vertical tunnel to the surface, Mimek looks nervously toward the southeast. He wrings his hands and takes a breath. "Can Mimek stay with big folk until go to the Sootscale cave? The Sootscale cave not far, just that way," he gestures southeast , "but Mimek alone not very scary. Already captured by mites once. And there could be others."
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You're far south of home-- closer to the River Kingdoms border than even the southernmost stretch of the familiar Gronzi Forest. Your reasons for coming here are your own, but tucked safely among your belongings is your charter:
"Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, has granted the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Exploration should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and west and sixty miles south of Oleg’s Trading Post. The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witnessed on this 24th day of Calistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne."
The wooden gate is dragged open from the inside, someone clearly having been made aware of your presence, to reveal a middle-aged human man. "One reinforcement? How generous of Restov," he mumbles under his breath. "Well come in, child, come in." He drags the gate further open, and once you're inside he pushes it closed again. "The ongoing effort started about a week ago. I was kinda hoping the others'd check in ever now and then, 'cause I can't say where they are just now. You're welcome to stay here until they do."
The elven looking girl nods in appreciation to the man as she picks up her belongings and makes her way inside. It has been quite the distance she has travelled, and finally arriving at a place to rest is quite a welcome sight
"Much appreciated sir, im looking forward to get some rest."
"Looks like the Candelabra might be worth a bit." Rhiann comments as they start loading items into the cart.
Looking down at Mimek, Rhiann smiles. "I think that would be fine Mimek. We can help you get safely to your tribe."
...
Looking down at Mimek, Rhiann smiles. "I think that would be fine Mimek. We can help you get safely to your tribe."
Erik gives an assenting nod.
Mimek grins a toothy grin. "Good good! Mimek can help at camp. Very helpful!" You get the impression he's quite glad to be in the company of such formidable allies (which you've proven yourselves to be).
You return to your camp without issue. Roderick is surprised to see you with a kobold in tow, but after realizing you don't seem threatened by the little creature, he doesn't question it. True to his word, Mimek helps as best he can by loading the cart and darting around the ruined building looking for objects that might have been missed. You see him frequently pat the statuette on his belt, as though reassuring himself that it's still there.
The two-day journey back to Oleg's is both safe and tediously uneventful, at least until you reach it. The small fortress has an unexpected guest: an elven girl wearing a rapier and outfitted for adventuring.
"I believe the candelabra is the most valuable piece, too." Alyssa nods at Rhiann's appraisal. "But I think the holy symbol and the mirror should fetch a good price as well. The both of them together should sell for about as much as the candelabra. As for the magic items, I think I got a good grasp on what the scrolls and the wand are for, but the potion is still unclear - I'll keep studying it tomorrow, see if I can make better sense of it then. The wand is a nice find, though - it's a healing wand, fully charged!"
Alyssa tries again to identify the potion's properties as they make their way back to the outpost, but without success. When they're finally back at Oleg's, she's surprised to see a new face. With an honest smile and a respectful nod, she addresses the elven girl.
"Oh, hello. I'm Alyssa, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Yuki is currently wearing very comfortable clothing. Skirt and a shirt that seems to droop over one shoulder. Her eyes bright green, long red hair, which is not common for an elf. She's rather tall, and she seems to be athletic. There seems to be a very deliberate sway in the way she walks. Even for an elf, and exotic aura is about her. Outlander seems to be a very good description of her. That and she seems rather young to be out here all alone
"You can call me Yuki. And it's good to see some friendly faces. There must be a lot going on, the keeper of this establishment seems a bit on edge, and almost a constant furrow." she shakes her head disapprovingly
Adela carefully climbs off the wagon and stretches a little, a slender, young woman from Restov. Her thick brunette hair in a long braid down her back. She looks around with an expression of calm interest on her face.
She is becoming accustomed to the travel but it's an ongoing process.
She looks at the new comer curiously but leaves the conversation to the more social party members.
"Nice to meet you Yuki," the tall, sleekly muscular woman in black leather armor says, stepping forward to extend her hand in greeting. Relatively tall for a human woman, she moves with a confident, almost predatory grace, intense steel grey eyes softened by a warm smile.
"Don't take Oleg personally, he's a bit grumpy and frazzled with everybody it seems." she says with a chuckle. "I'm Rhiann, and these are Alyssa, Adela, and Erik. What brings you all the way out here Yuki?"
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She gently took the hand of Rhiann, a very feminine touch as she follows the handshake with a curtsey
"A pleasure. And I'm glad it's not circumstances that cause him to be so frowny. And rather a demeanor. Though I personally like people to smile. Like you. You have a pleasant smile"
At the question, she picks out a small folded, but still neat looking paper and shows it to Rhiann "Was told to come this way and meet up with the first expedition I come across. I hope that's you. You people seem like a pleasure to be around" she gives those around her a very lovely smile
Rhiann looks first a touch surprised, her expression quickly shifting to a bigger smile, as the faintest touch of color rises on her pale cheeks. "Thank you! Yes...I'd say you're definitely in the right place. We're one of the charter groups, and while we haven't been here all that long, we've gotten started on doing what we can to make things safer around here, and create something people might like to be a part of."
Turning to look to her companions to see if anyone had anything else to say, she adds, "Welcome!"
Again the elf girl smiles at her now companions "That's lovely to hear. I must say I am looking forward to work with you. Hope I can help with your endeavours to make this land safe and a place to want to live in. Hopefully with smiles and laughter all around"
She will politely curtsey to each of the others as they introduce themselves