Second Expedition

[jferngler]

"We should take the fight to them. Abominations such as those must be destroyed," Avery says, leaning heavily on his staff. Girt nods, and with his shield before him edges back into the corridor with the burning corpses.

[Raven Crowking]

Oh, and that's 2 more XP.

[jferngler]

Girt prods a smoldering corpse with the toe of his boot. He scans through the smoke for other shambling horrors, Avery just behind, holding Giant's collar, Toothy Herman just behind, mace held tightly in both hands. As a group they move towards the eastern corridor.

[caveman]

Silva wraps three arrows in rags soaked with oil and advances with the others Milner follows close by with his torch.

[Raven Crowking]

Beyond the smouldering remains, all now seems quiet.

The eastern way is now quiet. After 10 feet there is a dirty yellow ragged curtain, north and south, concealing niches, spaces, or corridors. There seems to be another set of these curtains some 30 feet beyond the four-way intersection.

[caveman]

"so, herman. You came back. Did you get stuck? Lets find some loot and unstuck ourselves.

[jferngler]

"Oh, aye. Seems those other boys we met pulled the rope up after we'd descended. Didn't you say we had a grappling hook?"

Girt is still edging down the hallway with Avery behind. Giant sniffs the air.

[Raven Crowking]

Edging down the hallway, Girt can see that, indeed, there is a second set of torn and filthy yellow curtains, similarly hiding alcoves or passageways, beyond which the tunnel continues. He has now reached the first set of curtains. Giant's hackles have risen, and there is a low growl in this throat. Whether this is due to the lingering scent of the unholy creatures that fled this way, or for some other reason, is not easy to say.

[jferngler]

Girt tells those behind to tear down the curtains as they pass, and moves beyond. Avery releases Giant's collar and grips his staff tightly, mumbles a prayer to Ulesh, asking the god to reveal nearby evil (spell check 21).

[Raven Crowking]

Avery becomes aware of the following: There are the remains of the dead horde driven off by fire in the western corridor. Seven animate corpses and ten animated skeletons remain. Ahead, to the left, he senses eight of the rat things, and farther ahead and to the left, eight skeletal dead. Farther ahead, he can sense three pit traps and a horde of 24 skeletons. Ahead and to the right, the two dead things that fled earlier. Away ahead and to the left, 11 more of the rat-things. Away to the north, more skeletons (7) and rat-things (8), as well as what seems to be some form of ghost. To the south, four dead similar to the lovers, an animated corpse, 10 skeletons, and a spirit which is not at rest. Near the edges of his awareness ahead and to the south, something that feels like five undead cats, two animated corpses, six creatures like the lovers, and nine skeletons. To the northeast, a stronger corpse. Two pits to the north, one to the south-southeast. Far to the north, seven skeletons. (More information than the spell would usually give you.)

Girt and Giant pass the first set of curtains, proceeding toward the second. Beyond, some 10 feet past the second set, a third set appears.

Does anyone follow? Tear down the curtains as Girt proposes? If so, who?

[caveman]

"umm. We need to get out of here... Psst Girt. Come back. We need a barrel of holy water to stay down here!" stage whispers Silva who does not follow.
Milner trembles.

[jferngler]

Girt and Avery share a look. "We cannot leave so much evil unscathed. We must do what we can before we retreat," Avery says. Girt nods, rips down a curtain and tosses the fabric to Silva.

"The rope's been pulled up anyway, so it won't be an easier task leaving this place than finding a fortune beneath the ashes of Nergal's host," Girt says.

Herman pipes up, too: "Could be we might find another way out that doesn't require the kindness of strangers."

[Raven Crowking]

By chance (I rolled), Girt rips down the north curtain, revealing a hideous sight. In a 10-foot-square area, a swarm of rat-things is consuming a human corpse. A quick estimate would say that there are between six and a dozen of the things. Avery hears the golden chimes of celestial trumpets, warning him that these things are evil.

[caveman]

"I have a grapple and rope... Doh. Well lets not get surrounded here you maniacs!"
Silva lights an oil soaked rag wrapped arrow and fires it into the mass of ratmen.
Init 12. Hits AC 11 with Deed of 3 if that counts for firing flaming arrows! Huzzah.
Milner looks around to be aware of foes approaching from the flanks or rear and readies his pitchfork in case any foes get too close.

[jferngler]

Girt swings his shield in front of him. He whispers a prayer for protection from the evil creatures (spell check 4), but Ulesh waits. Sure that the rat-things are a test of his faith, Girt raises his mace, and braces himself in the doorway, ready for all comers. Giant barking like mad, and Avery calling the companions to do battle, Girt feels power in his shield arm, and he knows his strength will be guided by his faith in the god of peace.

Toothy Herman grunts, and hurls a paving stone over Girt's head, hoping to squash a rat-beast at it's banquet before it can get at the boy in the door way. "Chunkin'!" he says around a belly laugh. (Initiative 18, attack 16, damage (based on a d4) 1).

[Raven Crowking]

Intent upon their feast, the ratmen do not seem immediately aware of the curtain being ripped aside, or of their exposure. They squirm over and around each other, trying to get their wet and dripping muzzles into the corpse's tender entrails.

Girt calls upon his god for protection, but feels no divine force in response (Disapproval Range increases to 1-2).

Toothy Herman hurls a paving stone successfully at a rat-beast, wounding it, but not killing it, and Silva’s arrow misses, striking the wall near one of the things.

They squeak and squeal as they turn blood-red eyes away from the dead man and toward your group, baring sharp yellow teeth stained with rusty streaks of gore.

[caveman]

"i think we are going to need all hands for this one! Come on lads!"
Init9 Silva fires another arrow to the same effect. Milner hurls a flask of flaming oil.
Hit AC15

[Lord Zack]

Char will fire his bow at one of the creatures (Atk 8), Alexatros also fire his bow at one of the creatures (Atk 13). Albert and George will get in front of the other two and prepare to attack any that enter melee range.

[Raven Crowking]

Char the Red fires an arrow, which strikes the floor. Alexatros has better luck, his arrow wounding, but not quite slaying, the black-furred creature. Silva's arrow likewise misses, but Milner's oil flask hits!

Corpse and rats catch fire in a sudden blaze, and most of the monsters come to a swift and sudden end, the flaming oil catching them in a tight mass. In panic, the three remaining rat-things attack those blocking their exit!

Albert and George may make their attacks before the rat-things can bite.

[jferngler]

(16 initiative for Girt, but a total attack roll of 8.) From behind his shield the boy cleric swings his mace, but to little effect.

(Silva still has that plus from the blessing I think.)

Herman readies his mace and stands close to the fighters in case one falls.