Djebel Tarik

[Hotgoblin]

Iggway silently nods in agreement with Geoff's statement. She taps the ground in front of her as she walks, trying to not trip or fall.

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl " Dupre

Ooc: sorry so late to post. Last days to get grades in for the kiddos and surgery this morning.

Kicks at the skeletal hand in discust. Looking around for a good pile of loam that shows signs of being shoveled. Assuming he finds one he'll get straight to work.

[onlyme]

Geoffrey will assist in shoveling once they find suitable material.

[Spearmint]

The group decide to advance rather than take Sully's advice regarding sneaking into the mud cave alone.

Rexlin, musket strapped secure, spade and lantern in the wheelbarrow, he lashes out at the grasping dkeleton declining to shake his hand in a friendly greeting. The second cave is a rough rectangle in shape. From the maw like entrance it runs in a slight decline to beginnings of a large mud pool some 100+'ft away. The mud pool is fed by dripping sludge which falls in slow motion waves at the rear of the cave. Above the sixty foot high fall a cold chill emanates, water drips from the cave roof in genomic rythym. The cave sides are steep but a hardened mud pathway may be followed either side to dig out the sludge at the fall base. The mud flows to create this subterranean pool, a fragile looking hard skin of mud crust edges the pool, thick porridge like goo in the middle.

After his initial pause, Rexlin trots ahead and gets to the base of the mud fall and begins to spade bat guano spotted sludge into his Barrow.

Tapping the ground ahead, checking for a stable path and perhaps any pits or traps, the shaman Iggway and the young guide, Cobb and Geoffrey navigate through the first cave. The light ( I presume Iggway holding a torch as Rex has the lantern), and noise they make cause another flurry of bats to descend from the ceiling crevices. They flap around in a growing swarm, chittering and scampering away from the torch light edge. As the four make it to the step into the mud cave and see the skeletal hand beyond, Geoffrey eager to help and gather quickly runs ahead following the other hard path to the falls.

Geoffrey make a normal dex save please to stay on the slippery hard mud path.

After a moment the surface of the mud pool begins to vibrate. Ripples of sludge coalesce into vague humanoid firms. Stunted square shouldered humanoid shaped figures arise. They gasp and moan in frothy dribbles and move towards the two diggers.

actions please. Rexlin you are at the left hand base if the mud falls, Geoffrey halfway down the right side path. Iggway with Cobb and Sully at the cave entrance. Presently there are three mudmen figures firming in the pool.

[onlyme]

Geoffrey uses his balance to stay upright.
normal dex roll [3d6] = 9 or [1d20] = 3 I forgot which one

He will watch, knowing his weapons supposedly do not work against these. He will whisper,

What shall we do. How do we get out?

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Slogs the last scoop of mud into his barrow and holds the spade up defensively. "Well, boys... Looks like the rumors were true... Shot and blades don't work right? Let's see if they have any bones to smash, eh Mr. Blood?" That said, he will swing hard for the "head" of the first one to come into range of his spade.

To Hit:

[1d20] = 1

ooc: Well, that went well. Who wants a drink while we watch Rexlin find out what it's like to swim in a septic tank?

[Hotgoblin]

If these mud creatures get passed the others Iggway will attack them with her Staff.What odd creatures, they must be the protectors of this life saving mud!!!

Attack w/Staff [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 Damage [1d6] = 2

[Spearmint]

Sully, cries to the others. "I warned you Miss, I did truly. The beasts will keep on until we leave." He fires a bow at the Mud Men, hitting one firmly in the chest. The mudman hardly gives it a glance as it sticks in him like a dart but soon drops out with a splodge of dripping goo.

Cobb, sets up his musket, "yet to see anything that bleeds not be dropped by one of these.", he begins to prime his musket and takes aim at one of the forms reaching towards Rexlin. The tattooed mariner, wielding a short spade in hand side swipes at the head of one of the dirty abominations. The tool is slippery in his grasp from the dripping loam he dug from the mud fall and he flails aimlessly, losing his grasp and it falls with a thick 'plop' into the pool, slowly submerging beneath the ripples.

Iggway Gweequay, has not seen the like of these creatures of ill omen before. Rightly guessing they ward the gathering of 'Hurtloam'. In her mind it seems strange that such a healing boon would be shielded from being put to good use. These creatures emanate an evil aura. Stepping into the second cave she runs to bash one of the mud men around the head. Her reach is not long enough and it dodges with impunity.

Geoffrey Blood, half way down the hardened mud track faces a decision to either press on and gather the precious life saving loam or turn back to the safety of the cave mouth.

The three Mud Men, wade through the mud pool, leaving a wake of ripples behind. They are short creatures, about the height of a dwarf with thick square shoulders and hefty limbs. They seem to have vague facial features, dim black eyes and ever changing mouth shape, dripping with sludge. The three in the pool try to converge upon Rexlin and throw big wads of goo at him. Perhaps their aim is off, staying untroubled in this gloom for the past month, their last victims now skeletal and drowned.

Mudmen attacks vs Rexlin [1d20] = 1 [1d20] = 17 [1d20] = 2

One attacks fastens a huge quick drying wedge of sludge upon Rexlins leg. It begins to set almost immediately and slows your movement rate by 10'ft per round. Moving across the thin path without breaking the hardened skin is now a more difficult task. The other two foes close to attack, one throws the entirety of his single arm which splashes like a custard pie on the cave wall. He bends down into the pool to reform another limb. His muddy comrade fares no better, adding a lump of mud into the already full barrow.

actions please. Rex is at the foot of the mud fall, Geoff halfway down one side, Iggway the other. Cobb and Sully are at the cave mouth to fire from range. Three mud men at present are in the pool of sludge.

mudman.gif (26.97 KiB) Viewed 3293 times

[onlyme]

Without knowing how to fight them... I say we run.

Geoffrey retreats to the mouth of the cave, watching to see if any attack seems effective at all.
Retreat. Sorry. Let's live first. then fight.

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Oops... he thinks to himself as he sees the spade hit the dirt...er.. mud. He turns as Blood flees and angrily calls out. "Geoffery Blood! You Coward! Get back here...." He stops mid sentence and looks down at the glob of mud holding his leg and then back up to the advancing Mud Men. "Run Away!!! Run away!!!" He grabs the wheel barrow more out of desperation than greed... holding it between him and the advancing mudmen as he back away quickly as he can. "Kill them with fire! Turn them into Stone Soup or something!!!"

ooc: How fast are the mudmen moving? Are they moving towards anyone in particular like Rexlin is in the way or is he just the most convenient target?

Also... Anyone have an idea how to fight mud? LOL! This is getting interesting!

[Hotgoblin]

Iggway hears the other instructions and runs back to the mouth of the cave. If she had only replenished her spells! Water might keep them at bay! That is but just a guess!.

[Spearmint]

The group begin a hard fast retreat before Rexlin becomes hard fastened. Facing three mudmen who try to sling wads of mud to slow and suffocate the mariner who dares to dig away at their home.

Mudmen attacks vs Rexlin [1d20] = 9 [1d20] = 7

Two men quake the earth around them, rippling a mass if sticky goo which they lurch at him, the walls splattered with mud, not blood or Blood , who wheels his Barrow back to the lip of the cave.

Rexlin follows, as does the third mudmen who waves a single arm at him. Releasing it like a grasping arrow it flies awkwardly to land around his other, tripping him at the final hurdle. Sully and Cobb, pull him free. With no one left in the mudmen cave, they angrily shake fists or heads and then slowly melt away beneath the surface of the pool, small ripples and bubbles finally quelling as they dissipate away.

You have one barrow of 'Hurtloam'. actions please.

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Catching his breath and working to get the mud off his legs he rather embarrassedly looks to his companions. "Thanks lads, I thought they had me. Mr. Blood, I think this make us even." standing he looks at the loan barrow, then back at the cave mouth. "Well, they didn't follow us. I wonder just how far in we can go without rousing them again. Or do you have another idea? Find the water source maybe?" He looks to Iggy. "What where those things?"

[onlyme]

Blood asks,

Maybe we can time it just so, get another barrow full and come back out before they materialize? then rest and repeat?

[Hotgoblin]

Iggy shakes her head at Rexlin's questions.I've never seen anything like them before...they sure don't want the hurtloam disturbed, that's for sure!!! We must get more, then rest!

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin

"well, we have two more barrows to fill and two spades. Let's creep close and see if we can get enough for a couple loads from the runoff at the entrance. Sully, can you help me make a couple torches? I wonder if these things might not like fire, being mud and all. If nothing else maybe a club will do the job since musketballs and blades apparently don't work."

[onlyme]

Blood nods.
OK, lets attempt at least one more. double time a single barrow load, and then exit. If we can do it before they arise, then we will attempt the 3rd afterward. If not, we scoot.
Oh, and that fire idea aint a half baked idea, if I may say so.

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin "Devil's Scowl" Dupre

Nods to Blood. "Well, Getting a little wood will be easy enough. Place like this is bound to have plenty of deadfall around here. Need some cloth and maybe some oil..." He takes off his shirt since it is already torn from earlier. "We can use this. I need a new one anyway. Should be enough to make a handfull of torches. Does anyone have flint? I have a little in my pistol if we don't. I suppose we need to decide who is digging and who is on lookout. I wouldn't mind a chance to get a piece of them if it is all the same."

[Spearmint]

Fresh torches supplied by the intrepid Sully, he soaks rags and dried tinder bush in some oil to light them, handing one to Rexlin and keeping one himself. Geoffrey and Cobb decide to 'hit and run' to the mud fall and dig a barrow load of fresh loam. They hope the wisdom and spells of Iggway, native shamaness can cover their backs though she has no knowledge of these animated and enchanted beings. How do you defeat them when normal blades slide through their forms but cut no blood, slice no vital organs, smash no bones? With no spells left she clutches faith and carved tribal club.

Looking from the cave mouth into the cave of the mud pool, all is quiet. Occasional bats flare away from the flaming torches and blind salamanders squelch hungrily after burrowed beetles and cave floor critters. One inches up the finger bones of the skeleton arm to flick a long tongue at passing flies. The mud pool is still, only drips and sloops of forming sludge drip slowly from the top of the fall, cascading down in chocolate like ripples.

Pushing the barrows ahead of them dex save blood[3d6] = 10 cobb [3d6] = 11 the pair wobble but navigate down the long thin path that traverses the pool rim. They make it halfway when the pool begins to stir and familiar forms animate to take shape. Drawn by your footfall vibrations and the noise of the barrow wheels squeaking the mudmen focus there dripping visage on the pair and from the middle of the pool begin to wade in your direction. Seeing them Cobb redoubles his efforts and pushes past Geoffrey almost knocking him into the pool. He frantically begins to spoon a spadeful of loam into his barrow. Sully cries out and running down the other side of the path waves his arms and torch shouting "Over here, over here," in an to misdirect the focus of the mud men.

actions please.

and happy new year

[Bluehorse]

Rexlin " Devil'sScowl " Dupre

Seeing the mudmen resurfacing he gives a toothy grin. "here we go, boys! Whatever happens, let's look lively!" he holds his torch out waving it slowly side to side hoping to see some sign of fear or at least hesitancy from the mucky humanoids. He puts himself more between the diggers and the mudmen. He is about to check with Iggy for ideas when he sees the young ranger run decoy and raises an eyebrow, admittedly impressed. "Sully! Good show! Now don't be foolish and stay close!" Rexlin will stand in guarded action, observing the mudmen for action. If one comes within reach he will hold the fire close, if no effect is seen he will club them.