|
The remaining troglodyte, in its blind panic, abandons hope of regaining its footing and continues to lash out in a mad effort to stave off the dwarves' assault.
Alerion darts forwards, diving past the troglodyte, , but slips and allows an opening for the troglodyte to claw at, , . Managing to get into a flanking position without suffering harm, the elf flashes his blade towards the panicking creature, , .
|
|
Olomorn's axe buries itself deep into the troglodyte's back, putting a permanent end to its struggles.
In the southwest corner of the chamber, in a small pit dug from beneath a patch of upturned tiles, smolders the remains of a recently doused fire along with three sticks tipped with mildly roasted rats. The body of the crocodile and two of the troglodytes float silently in the now somewhat bloody pool of water fed by the channels at either side of the room, and the large drain pipe jutting from the ceiling.
|
|
You are pretty certain from your examination of the crocodile floating in the water that it is of the completely natural variety.
Your search of the room and the corpses reveals nothing more than a few more skewered rats waiting to be cooked. About fifty feet down the tunnel opposite the one through which you arrived, what looks to be a pile of rubble partially blocks the flow of water.
|
A look of surprise crosses the sorcerers face, "You think that was the creature?! Somehow I was thinking it would look more.....distinctive. Maybe even bipedal."
Olo takes a drink from his flask of whisky and nods. "I agree, I suspect we're not finshed yet." He offers the flash to anyone in the group who wants a drink. "Where to next then? I would like to leave the smell of this place behind."
|
|
Olo takes a drink from his flask of whisky and nods. "I agree, I suspect we're not finshed yet." He offers the flash to anyone in the group who wants a drink. "Where to next then? I would like to leave the smell of this place behind."
Possibly to his surprise, Levistus grabs the offered flask and takes a big swig. After a moment of coughing he hands it back, "Thanks, it'll help take my mind off this stench."
|
|
Approaching the pile of debris, its source becomes clear; the right wall of the tunnel has collapsed inward, apparently something has punched through the bedrock behind the wall creating a rough tunnel, about eight feet tall and just as wide, leading off into the darkness. A slight breeze carries a salty smell towards you, along with a few wisps of smoke.
|
|
“If it gets to the open sea...it will be harder to find and stop. Let’s move quickly."
Olo turns to the party and asks: “Same plan as before? Those stealthier go forward...the more...”clumsy” close behind? I can be twenty feet behind the leads, ready to dash forward and give anything hostile a taste of my axe.”
|
|
Moving cautiously onward, the pathfinders move further and further away from the foul smell of the sewers, and closer to the salty smell of the sea. After several minutes of walking, the winding tunnel widens into a natural cavern.
This small cavern, roughly hewn from the surrounding rock, soars 30 feet high over a roaring fire pit. An enormous throne, haphazardly crafted from wood scrap and rusty nails, sits in the northwest corner. Opposite, crates and barrels of various supplies all stamped with a variety of Absalom trading houses, sit stacked against the wall. A small table and chairs are tucked into the southeast corner of the room and a smaller chamber in the back, dimly lit from the fire, holds several smelly sleeping pallets. A steady wind pushes through the room from the back chamber, causing the fire to dance and snake toward the sewer entrance. The entire room is bathed in a flickering, cold chill.
Alerion, taking the lead, pulls up suddenly with a gesture off to the right side of the cavern, "he's over there," he whispers to Caelwyn.
|
|
"He, he, he," Olo smiles, a glint in his eyes as he waves his axe. “I have a few…”
“Let me know how you all wish to do this. I can be right behind you two and you can make attacks from afar. I will dash towards it and attack it. If there is anything anyone can do to make these short legs move faster or improve my “talents” – now would be the time to share the bounty my friends.”
|
|
Levistus looks thoughtful for a moment, "I can prepare my spell to hypnotize the creature then walk right in and unleash it before it realizes that we are not trogs. With Alerion and Caelwyn already in place and you dwarves at my side a think I'll be as safe as can be expected. With luck we'll avoid a bloodbath. Stop giving me that look of disappointment Olo!"