Sade searches the room and creatures. "Keep on alert I would wager there are more."
3of4
Aknowledged. unceremoniously he will reach down and grab one of the creatures (or whatever is left) by the head and examine it closely, trying to decern more about what it is or might be, or at least some weakness that can be identified and exploited going forward.
(The creature has a humanoid head, stringy lank hair but the strangest feature are the two wide, serrated mandible that are protruding either side of the creatures human mouth.)
Trusting the head towards his companions to see (the rest of the body connected to it apparently of no consequence to the warforged) These humanoid creatures seem very bug like. Inquiry: are they a subspecies adapted to living underground?
Lothien "Friend Awwrak, I had thought that the people of this crypt were somehow spawning these things through black arcana. But they're coming from the plane of Shadow? So there may be a portal somewhere? Can you tell us what you know?" Lothien still feels uneasy about the room with the runes, and he periodically check the doorway to it for motion.
PCs
Dust to Dust (Stars Without Number) - Circuit Counsel Taavi Perttu Big Shiny Island (AD&D 1E) - Theo, low charisma ranger Samurai Adventures (Cold Iron) - Kiyoshi, ronin bushi
WW2 Supers d6 - Luther "Luke" Goodfox
Awwrak ruffles his feathers and speaks again. "The spiderwebs, and these spider creatures, are tinged by the Plane of Shadow, which may explain why they are attacking invisibly. The summoning circle we already found appears to have brought something, and it makes sense that these spiders may have been brought that way. It was old, and judging by the tattered webbing, these spider beings have been here a while. Of course, the strange non-intelligent birds don't belong down here, either, but they were not from another plane. The sacrificed gnoll bodies on the altar on the surface had their organs removed for a major ritual, which likely will align with the astrology in the next few days." He pauses, emitting a trilling noise, then continues. "That is why we came below. We must find where they took these organs and stop that ritual before they achieve its ends."
Marullus wrote: ↑Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:28 amAwwrak perches on a branch in the solitary tree at the middle of the clearing. He looks over those he knew before and his new allies as well. "News. And some urgency."
"We found a pack of dead gnolls, those Kura scented. They were sacrificed in a circle of standing stones." He straightens back up and continues. "They were slain over a day ago. No craft I know could save them. Their internal organs and their eyes taken out and stolen, their bodies wrapped in spider silk unnaturally - with their arms and legs spread wide." He flutters his wings, perturbed, taking a moment to look once again over the surrounds. "They are sacrifices for dark ritual, likely a summoning of something far darker. There are evil druids in these woods which I hoped we could all look into... it seems we found them sooner than expected. With the bowels and eyes already taken the summoning must be soon... I expect within two days, by the new moon. They have stolen the innards and taken them to a different ritual space."
"The Drudge. That is what the foul druids are rumored to be called," he looks around for Lothien, then pauses, disappointed. "It is what I hoped to speak to you about when we set camp here. We found them faster than expected. I do not wish their summoning to succeed."
He flutters his feathers, agitated. "In the henge of stones, we uncovered a secret hole. Stone steps going more than 50' feet down. It is an hour for you to walk there."
Here is the set up as it stands.
You are all in the room with the five creatures you have just finished fighting.
The door to the north and on the right was the one that was slammed shut.
Lothien takes a drink of water from his wineskin, wipes his face. I wonder what time it is? Past midnight? All spells used for today, down to only cantrips. But no time for rest and meditation, we have to work with speed. Quickens his step to catch up with Sade headed toward the door.
PCs
Dust to Dust (Stars Without Number) - Circuit Counsel Taavi Perttu Big Shiny Island (AD&D 1E) - Theo, low charisma ranger Samurai Adventures (Cold Iron) - Kiyoshi, ronin bushi
WW2 Supers d6 - Luther "Luke" Goodfox
Moves to the head of the line and stands before the door that had slammed. He turns and gives everyone a look, checking that they are ready, and then...
3of4 crashes into the door, which splinters inward and leaves the doorway wide open.
Inside the chamber you see what looks like some kind of camp.
Bedrolls and bags lay around in mostly disarray.
The chamber appears empty but a small hole appears to be in the far wall.
How small a hole? Big enough to crawl through? To walk through? Too small for either?
Having just again discussed their invisible tactics, Awwrak carefully scans the room for any sound, any movement, which might belie them and summons holy fire upon it if detected.
